The Darren Hughes saga
June 10th, 2011 at 12:20 pm by David FarrarMy weekly column at the NZ Herald is on the the Darren Hughes saga. I compare the Darren Hughes and Richard Worth affairs in some details. My final sentence was:
There has been much speculation about Darren’s future. At the risk of being accused of trying to polish a turd, maybe Darren should look on what happened as an opportunity. Darren is a smart personable guy who could probably excel in any number of roles. My advice is to get out of New Zealand for at least a couple of years – travel the world, find some interesting jobs to do, visit your mates and then decide down the track whether you still have that burning desire to serve in Parliament.
I wasn’t sure if “polish a turd” would get through the sub-editors 
June 10th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Jeez, as if you haven’t got enough on your plate, you’re now a self-appointed careers advisor.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Unlikely that Darren would be seeking advice from DPF.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
who you calling a “turd”?
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
“My advice is to get out of New Zealand for at least a couple of years”
In other words, “Get the fuck out of here so we can smear you in peace.”
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
“Polishing” a turd may have been where all the trouble began…..
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
I would have thought that in this case the subbies were the last worry, surely the gay mafia will be at you for homophobia for even contemplating using such a phrase in relation to someone like Darren. I won’t get any further into this, hanging onto some shreds of decorum, but the phrase would have cost me a new keyboard had I been drinking coffee at the time… the possibilities were boundless.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
It’s interesting that the police have felt compelled to clarify that they did NOT regard the allegation against Hughes as a “false accusation”.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5124869/Hughes-false-complaint-claims-rejected
Perhaps the decision not to prosecute came from a little higher up the food chain …
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
good column David, reasoned and clear even if some may find some debating points within. Quite a contrast to the rabid bitter frothing in Pagani’s column on the same subject which provides a very clear example of someone trying to rewrite history by word association and to frame an issue by the language used. Very Clare Curran but total blindness to reality and historical facts.
Oh well, as they say never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
…..not sure about polishing……..perhaps pushing or thumping?
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
> Perhaps the decision not to prosecute came from a little higher up the food chain …
Yeah I am sure John Key and Police Minister Judith Collins are very good mates of Darren and felt he had suffered enough
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
I bet he ends up with a job in the UN …
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:41 pm
I see you are getting attacked by some vile people in the comments there David:
“David – my advice would be to take your own advice, except the only difference would be that I for one would prefer you didn’t come back in a couple of years. Actually I would prefer that you never came back at all.
While you are at it – take John Key with you. I would recommend Gerry Brownlee as well but I sincerely doubt you can afford the cost of the excess baggage. This country would absolutely be better off in every way with you, your type, or the political party you support.”
I’m sure they mean “better off in every way without you,…” – but hey, we are all well aware of the brain capacity of our left wing friends.
Typical though – the left would love a one party state, that way they would have a chance of winning in November.
[DPF: People are so brave when they are anonymous. I replied and asked if he was bullied as a child as he seems very uptight]
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
I hope he gets back on the horse straight away and rides it for all it’s worth.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
I hope he gets back on the horse straight away and rides it for all it’s worth.
I thought it was a young bloke?
Are you saying it was that ex army guy?
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
All I can say is that should this case have gone to trial, given the status uf Hughes, it would have been an absolute media circus which I am sure the 18 year old man in this case would have wanted to avoid at all possible cost.
Pretty hard to convict if your victim won’t testify, and if this is the case, Hughes remains free by virtue of his position. Not that I am saying this has actually happened, but at least this theory has the virtue of being somewhat plausible.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
I am sure that if he was to go to the Old Country Tim Barnett would be able to welcome him into the fellowship there and find a place for him. Likewise if he chooses the Land of the Free, Chris Carter will get in behind him under the avuncular guidance of Helen,
Of course you don’t cover all the similarities or any of the differences, both alleged victims were Labour party stalwarts, the boy, an innocent disciple of his sponsor, the strikingly attractive mature woman closely associated with Phil Goff and an aspiring potential Labour party candidate.
Still a well written column which attracted cross party readership going by the number of leftwing abuse among the comments.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
You may not be able to polish a turd, but you can role it in glitter.
Looks good but still smells like butt!
It does not matter if it is 18 yo or 33. It never gets better with age.
I hope he takes your advice DPF, but I doubt that he would have the confidence or ability to be able to stray far from the easy money of the public tit. It would be my preference for him to never enter the arena of the public service again in any way shape or form.
I will always subscribe to the were there is smoke theory. I still feel for the Lad, and have absolutely no sympathy for Hughes, the police have not exhonerated him, merely decided not to proceed. We may never know the real reasons why.
Hughes is tarnished goods, and his “victim” is damaged goods.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
> Pretty hard to convict if your victim won’t testify…
Even harder to convict when the accused is the victim
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
I would disagree with DPF, Hughes has been totally exonerated of the allegations made against him, and is free to resume his career if he so chose. This young man has the talent to go on and build a political career, regardless of the chatter that may go on. Alternately he could pursue a diplomatic career, but at his age my advice would be to get back into the fold.
Vote:He would be strengthened by the experience, wiser and perhaps more circumspect socially.
June 10th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Give it up ross, you don’t even believe that and you’re not going to convince anyone else. You’re just going through the motions for the sake of being “anti” for no rational reason.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Oh for goodness sake KevinH, he most certainly has not been exhonerated and you know it.
Vote:This young man is better off away from public life, as his judgement calls will always be suspect.
He may well come across as “everyones” friend etc…Smoke & Fire Kevin, Smoke & Fire.
June 10th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Dont forget the 2009 Labour Xmas Party incident.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
You can bet your last dollar that “Paree” Hughes will return to local/national politics as soon as possible.
Where else would he be paid that amount of money for the little value he adds, given his scant exposure to real life activities other than politics? Once a trougher, always a trougher.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Even harder to convict when the accused is the victim
It seems the Police do not agree with you….
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
No matter how nice someone is, if his sexual habits are coercive, then he should go. Just go away, Dirty Darren.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
KevinH- let’s hope Hughes takes your advice, I’m looking forward to seeing him back in the Labour fold.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
@ Kevin H – refer my 1.12pm
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Lets be honest, with Labours history, National and others would love him to come back, as he is a train smash waiting to happen. The problem is he is the wrong example for parliament period.
He was fortunate the 18yr old was that and not 17!
What was that about the Labour 2009 Christmas party?
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
@Mick Mac – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10715181
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
I suspect Polish Turds may take a case to the UN human rights discrimination commission.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
@ Bevan
The extraordinary thing about the attacks is that they seem to be so personal. I have to concede that the one you highlighted would suggest that the moron had actually read the article but what he failed to recognise was that DPF had made a very sensible suggestion. I am left wing ( according to me at least ) but I have to say I find very little to get upset about on Kiwiblog, Keeping Stock, Home paddock. Gotcha and Cactus Kate can be outrageous on occasion but on the whole they still manage to be funny while being outrageous
“David – my advice would be to take your own advice, except the only difference would be that I for one would prefer you didn’t come back in a couple of years. Actually I would prefer that you never came back at all.”
That really fucks me off. DPF knows my politics and has never failed to give me good advice when I have rung him and asked him for it. I wish the NZ centre left would wake up. Can you imagine DPF making such a statement to centre left bloggers / Commentors ?
Yeah I could see Slater doing it but you would have to provoke him.
“[DPF: People are so brave when they are anonymous. I replied ....]”
Anonymity pisses me off. If you have something to say, say it.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Jeeze Intellectually Handicapped Stewart. What a name dropper!
Have you no morals?
It’s sad to see such as you prostituting yourself to attract traffic to your grotty little wankfest blog.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Darren is a smart personable guy ..says DPF ( you do piss in a lot of these guys pockets David, obviously not wanting to burn any bridges)
Until he gets on the piss and starts to prey on those who may be naive or drunk or both…maybe he should watch a couple of the ads on telly at the moment.
And for the fucktards.. just because no charge was laid doesn’t mean there was no offence as has been stated ad nauseum, its called …….. being able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt… its a criminal matter not a civil matter, but there may still be a place for civil redress if the victim is not satisfied with the police investigation , best you get on a plane Dazz
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Plenty of room at the UN for such as Darren I suspect.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
There is a really creepy picture of David Garret in the Herald. Does anyone think that he will be charged??
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
Nah joana.
Helen would be doing 25 to life if looking creepy was a crime.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
@johnboy
Are you sane
I have dropted no names mate, I have included a few blog name’s all right. You are exactly the sort of fucking fool that confirms we on the left have far to many fool;s
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
Shit Intellectually Handicapped. You write a blog?
http://hamishinauckland.blogspot.com/
Bugger me, with spelling like yours we might as well ban English and all converse in Murri!
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
I didn’t realise you were so guillible, Bevan. You clearly believe everything the police tell you, as do some others on here. Fortunately, we know that the police can be and are biased, as the following story illustrates. Alas, taxpayers had to pay for the police’s mistakes in this case.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/163873/police-case-criticised-judge
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Joohnboy get fucked. You have added nothing
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Thank God we lesser brains are blessed with intellectuals such as yourself to point out the errors of our ways.
Vote:June 10th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
Excuse me DPF but the fifth and most important factor was surely the disparate nature of the dispicability between the two events with Worth being at the minor, or lessor end and Hughes being at the gi-normous unbelievably mind-bogglingly serious end of the despicable spectrum.
Maybe it’s just me.
Anyway, shame you didn’t mention it. I understand the editorial difficulties in doing so in the MSM and I just have to say to any MSM editor listening, that it’s a shame you don’t live up to your editorial responsibilities and allow a spade to be called, in fact, a spade.
Vote:June 11th, 2011 at 8:20 am
Here’s what happened:
Hughes plied an 18 year old boy with booze at Annette king’s house
rendering him comatose. He then removed all the boy’s clothing and
sodomized him.
The boy woke up, turned around, looked in horror at what was behind
him, and in a blind panic ran out into the street naked where he was
picked up by a police patrol.
It is quite reasonable to assume that this is very close to the truth in the absence of an explanation from Hughes.
Bill.
Vote:June 11th, 2011 at 8:38 am
Bill, Don’t give up your day job just yet, though I must admit it’s brought a little humour to my day. And please stop making shit up.
Vote:June 11th, 2011 at 8:44 am
BR your scenario is pure rubbish based on utter speculation. More likely Hughes got a bit fresh, made his intentions clear and the boy panicked and ran from the house. Being naked is utter speculation. The sodomy thing is pure mischief and shows ignorance – on your part.
Vote:June 11th, 2011 at 9:53 am
Being naked is how he was found so it’s not speculation it’s a plain, bald fact. How come he was naked? How did he become naked? He has a girlfriend from the first reports of the incident. How come a straight, young 18 year old man is found naked. Most 18 year olds don’t like running around naked in public, it’s not a common desire amongst that age-group. The fact he was hiding his privates while trying to get a lift, indicates he wasn’t doing it on purpose.
All of these reported facts all indicate he didn’t just get up, shake Darren’s hand, walk out the door, take his clothes off outside, saunter down the road and start thumbing. Rather they indicate in the common-sense world of actual reality that something else went on to make him end up in the situation where we know all of those facts about how he was found.
So in the real world of actual reality where human beings operate and there are no pixies, what might logically and realistically explain all of that?
Perhaps he wasn’t sodomised as Bill suggests, but something sure as heck happened, to make him naked. So he either did it voluntarily and then for some reason he changed his mind after he was naked, or he was asleep and someone took his clothes off, or someone just attacked him and tore off his clothes.
There are no other possibilities.
Which of those is most likely, given how 18 year old straight males generally behave?
Vote:June 11th, 2011 at 10:52 am
What we are left with is that the’ brilliant’ politician with a glittering future led a grubby private life. Even with his supposedly winning personality, rather than find a stable partner of his own age he preyed on drunk teenagers. Any man with these habits is not fit for public life. We have excused too many of these abusers.
Vote:My grandmother used to say a man who was still single at 30 wasn’t fit to marry. Perhaps like many who seek fame and power, Dirty Darren had a fatal flaw that has brought him down now he is not protected by Helen Clark etc. That cosy clique has gone and we have seen some sad fall-out with Chris Carter and now Hughes.
June 11th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
If only the exercise ball could talk.
Vote:June 11th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Darren should leave some of his mates at home. You know: shouty Darren, punchy Darren, hit on everyone’s little brother Darren… And then there’s almost get arrested Darren.
Kiwiblog and Darren are mates, right? He’s just got to sort his drinking out.
Vote:June 11th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
That cosy clique has gone
You know Bea I wouldn’t put it past the NY Branch to have had a hand in some way in this. She had lots of networks and used our money quite frequently to make sure lots of people in all sorts of positions owed her favours of one sort or another and just cause she’s not physically here doesn’t mean the network has dissolved.
Not that I’m saying, that is what happened and indeed with Collins in charge I’m damn sure she would have been watching for just that. I’m simply saying, it’s how Hulun operated when she was here and I don’t expect she’s changed her spots and her moles are most probably widespread and some probably very deep indeed.
Vote:June 11th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
reid
You might be getting a bit a touch of Brightitis on this.
The cops are quoted as saying that the evidential threshhold wasn’t met, but that there were matters that warranted police attention. The police spokesman didn’t wish to comment further in light if the fact that no charges were to be laid and also noted that he was “mindfull of respecting the privacy of the individuals concerned’. Note that is a reference to both of them. Read into those comments what you like, including that there is no suggestion that the complaint was vexacious or frivolous. However to infer that the the long claw has reached out from NY is a bit of a stretch given the departure of Klerkula not just physically, but from power also, and the fact that we now appear to have a policeman as Commissioner.
My sympathies in the circs are with the complainant and the speculation isn’t doing him any favours. Hopefully he has learned a valuable lesson.
On the other hand, for Hughes to claim “exoneration” given the evidential issue is no different from Bain claiming innocence. All this simply means is that the police appear to have received a serious complaint but were not in a position to substantiate the charge to the threshhold required to take that complaint to trial.
Vote:June 11th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
You mean Annette King is unable to speak? Round enough.
Vote:June 11th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
You might be getting a bit a touch of Brightitis on this.
DVM my 9:53 spells out my position.
That is as far as I know based on what we all know in the public domain and is a reasonable summary IMO but if your mileage varies then why?
Like how else do we explain reported facts in newspapers as to the circumstances of that night?
Vote:June 12th, 2011 at 9:56 am
Reid,
What reported facts are you referring to? It’s been reported that the complainant was advised by “several” lawyers. Why would he need more than one?
Vote:June 12th, 2011 at 11:14 am
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5132373/Darren-Hughes-claims-unwise
Darren’s statements that he was “falsely accused” and had “done nothing wrong” are incorrect – according to the young victim’s lawyer.
Paul “Publicity Whore” Henry also adds his two cents:
Vote: