Winston fires and misses
June 28th, 2012 at 3:00 pm by David FarrarTariana Turia says:
Winston Peters has once again demonstrated his love for political theatre by creating a great melodrama out of a series of unproven facts said Tariana Turia following question-time today.
Mr Peters has cast doubt on the value of Whanau Ora – speculating about the spending of “$174 million of hard-earned taxpayers’ money-some of which is in this audit here-when many providers are using it to pork-barrel, and rort, and commit fraud”.
“Problem is – and it’s a problem for Mr Peters – the organisation he referred to in the House today has never received any funding from Te Puni Kokiri; it is not part of a Whanau Ora Collective – and in actual fact in the audit he referred to there was no mention of Whanau Ora.
“Mr Peters makes allegations at his whim about Whanau Ora – and deserves to be challenged about the veracity of these claims. Sadly his attempts to undermine Whanau Ora will not work because there is no truth in these claims.
This is very lazy work by Peters. He saw some report about a Women’s Refuge having dodgy accounts. But instead of actually finding out where does it get its funding, he just assumes it is a funded via Whanau Ora and alleges it is as that is his pet target.
A modicum of research would have meant that Peters could have avoided this. It’s not hard. Read the annual report. Ask some written questions. Grand-standing is no substitute.
No tag for this post.
June 28th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
Wots new about Mr Peters being lazy.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
As usual he is not interested in facts. He knows he will get media coverage because they all seem to think he is so clever.
Vote:He knows this coverage will create more suspicion about Whanau Ora because so many are keen to have evidence that Maori organisations are up to no good.
It’s sad.
And sadder still that a Maori should stoop to such disreputable tactics.
It amazes me that Peters gets so much attention.
He has proven over and over again that we are mad to believe a word he says.
June 28th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Anyone listening to Tariana Turia on the radio this morning would be in little doubt that Winston Peters had scored a palpable hit. She sounded about ready to have her CE shot.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Is it just my imagination or is the dodgy old git having more difficulty getting words out of his mouth nowadays? All those nights on the piss catching up with him?
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Winston is indeed showing evidence of cortical impairment and increasing inability to construct a sentence. It is difficult to ascertain a diagnosis from brief clips but alcohol induced brain damage is certainly a strong possibility.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
He might have got his story a bit bent – but far more important is why the Dept didnt tell the minister.
According to radio NZ at 4pm today – Key did have an email from way back in feb and there had been a lot of correspondence about this case. The organisation had also had funding frozen.
It was no secret – yet the Dept didnt tell Turia.
This says much more about the relationship of dept and ministers than it says about Peters.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
So why was Turiana whinging and whining about being misled by her officials about the 80K? She demanded answers…are you saying that she has no idea who receives govt money?
Are you ever going to stop with your hatred of Winston? Remember you contributed to his election win!
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
This from this morning’s Herald:
The [Maori Women's] refuge has received at least $80,000 in Government funding.
Associate Minister for Social Development Tariana Turia told Radio New Zealand’s Morning Report programme she had no idea about the extent of the problems facing the service.
“It is the first time I have seen the audit report and I was completely unaware of the significance of the issues that have been highlighted in it.”
She said Family and Community Services had not informed her of any issues in meetings she held with them.
Mrs Turia said she would ask agency head Murray Edridge to explain why she was not advised.
“I am disappointed because every minister generally has an arrangement with their agency that if there is a red alert they would contact me.”
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Oh Ross69; I just love it when you lefties try to excuse Peters lying, whilst demanding a different standard for the Right; you can’t have seen this story:
http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/whanau-ora-claims-unjustified-turia/5/127593
And Turia nails him with this quote in the same story:
Game, set and match to Mrs Turia. Winston Peters has once again been caught distorting the truth. Who would have thunk it?
http://keepingstock.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/winston-tells-fib-who-would-have-thunk.html
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
hey, ross69,
have you answered Ed Snack’s questions from last night yet? Remember, by your own rules you are obliged to do so!
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 6:12 pm
> Game, set and match to Mrs Turia
Did you even bother to read the Herald article I quoted from?
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
F E Smith
I’ve no idea what you’re talking about…I don’t spend as much time on here as you do.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
ross69,
go to yesterday’s discussion re Megan Woods and her Nazi comment. Ed Snack asked you a few questions. You haven’t answered them yet.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 6:17 pm
ross69 believes Winston Peters?
Say no more!
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
“Game, set and match to Mrs Turia. Winston Peters has once again been caught distorting the truth. Who would have thunk it?”
You can always tell when Peters is telling porkies – his lips move.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Yes Ross; I’ve seen the Herald article. And Peters’ hatred of Tariana Turia has caused him to go after the wrong Minister. This crowd, which may or may not be dodgy, has received no money from Te Puni Kokiri or from the Whanau Ora programme; that Winston said it had does not make it so.
Once again Winston has put two and two together, and got 22. He is well known for not doing his homework, and this is just another example where he has screwed up. But go on defending him; it’ll do wonders for your credibility
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
It’s very confusing and I am not a leftie. Looks like there was a letter head change somewhere between 2010 and 2011 which still had the words Whanau Ora. There was an audit on the woman’s refuge and it was found corrupt and they got another contract till 2015. Tariana is acting unaware. She said she is responsible, she got hit with the facts and now she is backing down by claiming she knew nothing. It doesn’t make any difference. You torries know if if a ceo screws up, he’s fired. This is only one refuge and there is 170 million going into Whanau Ora. I say, keep going Winston.
http://alfgrumblemp.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/the-ministry-website-says-whanau-ora-so-what-is-winston-supposed-to-suspect/
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
So Winston said it was about Whanau Ora and it was a different agency and that makes him all wrong, eh? Ha Ha. If that’s so, why is Turia threatening to disembowel her officials?
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 7:06 pm
ross69 always jumps to Winston First’s defence – anyone ever seen ross69 & Winston in the same room ?
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 7:28 pm
I wouldnt believe everything comes out of Aunty Tarianas mouth . One of the most racist people in Parliament ( next to sharples and harawira ).
Vote:I would trust her as far as I could kick her.
June 28th, 2012 at 7:30 pm
As usual trolls rush to Winston’s defence
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 7:33 pm
adam obviously didn’t bother to follow the link helpfully provided by jackp. Winston Peters is an arsehole, but he seems to be right about this one.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Looks like the gweens have come out with some more details that put aunty tariana back in it.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 8:17 pm
As usual trolls rush to Winston’s defence.
…
The proponents (and beneficiaries)of globalisation hate Winston.
TV3 Cambell Live gave NZ mothers a taste of globalisation tonight:
Baby milk formula flying off shelves
http://www.3news.co.nz/Baby-milk-formula-flying-off-shelves/tabid/817/articleID/208913/Default.aspx
Milk powder from New Zealand
Hi, We are foods importer company in Shanghai, China. Now we want to buy Milk powder from New Zealand, we want to buy from ……
Quantity Required: 180000 Pieces
http://www.alibaba.com/countrysearch/CN/milk-powder-importer.html
First it was baby formula – now it appears New Zealand-sourced Fonterra milk powder is also being sold online in China.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10621048
According to some U.S. media, in recent years the American Chinese community has become a major source of milk powder purchases for relatives in China. Many American Chinese often buy boxes of milk powder, which has resulted in product shortages for local consumers. Consequently, Target, Wal-Mart and some other big supermarkets have limited purchasing quantities (against Chinese consumers) — five to twelve cans. American Chinese say that the limit cannot restrain those who are in real need; Consumers can still trick the sellers by disguising themselves, and the sellers will not be too serious about the limit’s implementation.
http://watchingamerica.com/News/164111/limit-of-us-milk-powder-purchases-is-a-slap-in-our-face/
Macao is following Hong Kong in reporting a shortage of, and price increases for, infant and baby milk powder, with visitors and smugglers from the mainland snapping up stocks during the Chinese new year holiday.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-02/14/content_12006719.htm
Chinese traders are buying up large quantities of baby milk powder in Dutch shops and supermarkets. Outlets in some areas of the Netherlands have limited the amount that can be sold at one time, because the bulk buying is making it difficult for Dutch residents to get hold of milk powder for their babies. Why are the Chinese buying up Dutch supplies?
Vote:http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/chinese-buying-dutch-baby-milk-powder
June 28th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Take your own advice and do a modicum of research yourself, David. Turia is being disingenuous.
The term ‘Whanau Ora’ does not refer to a specific programme or set of programmes administered by Te Puni Kokiri. It is an approach to service delivery, and cuts across a number of government agencies and departments.
In this case, the organisation in question received funding from the MSD through a fund called the ‘Family Violence Whanau Ora Fund’: http://www.familyservices.govt.nz/working-with-us/programmes-services/whanau-ora/family-violence-whanau-ora-fund.html
So Winston is right this time.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
That’ll wind the populous up.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Winston Peters makes stuff up while whoring for the media, item number 43568 in an endless series. Who knew?
In other news sun expected to come up tomorrow, Foreigners blamed!
Wonder whe Winston will pay back the $158,000 he accidentally “borrowed” from taxpayers? Wonder when he will front on the cash for votes in the fishing and racing industries ?
wonder when the Labour party will grow a pair and remember why they bribed him to keep themselves in office?
The Clark-Peters Government is not that ancient history, some of us still remember the corruption that surrounds this horrible little dwarf and his enablers.
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Turia knew about refuge’s financial problems – Greens
The Green Party have released a letter that shows minister Tariana Turia was briefed on financial problems within a women’s refuge – contradicting her earlier claims.
Turia has blamed officials for not telling her about problems involving Palmerston North-based Women’s Refuge Te Roopu Whakaruruhau O Nga Wahine Maori.
The organisation was funded to the tune of $80, 000 in taxpayers cash – despite an independent audit revealing it made a $109,000 loss last year.
After NZ First leader Winston Peters criticised the Government for failing to do basic checks, Turia this morning said she had not seen the report and was ”completely unaware of the significance of the issues that have been highlighted in it.”
She said Family and Community Services had not informed her and said she would ask the agency for a “please explain”.
The audit found issues with the payment of bonuses and other personal costs and revealed $75,000 in unpaid GST and PAYE.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei has called for an ”unequivocal apology” to officials and an investigation into how refuges are funded.
The letter shows Turia was informed of problems at a meeting in April.
– http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7188845/Turia-knew-about-refuges-financial-problems-Greens
Ooops! –
Vote:June 28th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Well Peters is an old crook and liar. (holds up placards saying ‘No’)
Vote:The ‘refuge’ is as straight as a corkscrew.
Auntie Turia tells porkies.
Now what do we learn from all that?
June 29th, 2012 at 1:17 am
Why are you always giving Winston a hard time? He’s a great politician – he’s good at grandstanding and making speeches – that’s his job, that is what politicians do. In terms of this – not a big deal. It will get a sorted out. Not sure why it’s taking up air time.
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 6:55 am
Hj
How terrible that bloody foreigners are buying our produce.
Winston is the man to sort this out.
he will ban foreigners from buying from us.
That way we can be in control of dumping our own produce in our own rivers, and printing our own money to pay beneficiaries like you HJ,
Go Winston (To the Gallows)
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 7:09 am
Here’s the real Wonmen’s refuge scandal.
While parties try to score political points, the poli bashing machine.
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 8:41 am
Its seems from the radio this am that Tariana has been telling porkies – and that winston was far from missing the target.
In fact he probably got a direct head shot.
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 8:44 am
But what’s he shooting for? Political blood rather than public good?
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 8:49 am
markm (48) Says:
That way we can be in control of dumping our own produce in our own rivers, and printing our own money to pay beneficiaries like you HJ,
…………..
As the man from Harcourts Shanghai said:
“We’re all New Zealanders, we all love the country so I think it’s healthy for us to have the debate and make the right decisions for our country…. but hey!…. young people coming through see it as “our planet” rather than “our country”
http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/audio_item/0011/2385074/mnr-20100824-0842-More_than_800-million_dollars_worth_of_property_on_display-m048.asx
In other words “our” is not the logic of globalisation, it is contracts between people in other countries and the benefits are seen on a global rather than a national level. While it is true that a large number of China’s 1.3B have been lifted out of poverty in developed countries like NZ we are seeing mixed results. Many New Zealanders will be worse off due to higher property prices, more expensive food and lower quality of life.
Not on a benefit are you?
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 9:03 am
Is it time to change the headline to ‘Winston scores a hit’?
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 9:05 am
“This is very lazy work by Peters”
Vote:Actually this is very lazy work by you. David. Relying on a press release from the besieged minister for your ‘facts’
A modicum of research, even just a quick google on ‘whanau ora + womens refuge…
Family Violence Whānau Ora Fund
Te Roopu Whakaruruhau O Nga Wahine Maori Inc, Palmerston North, $80,000
June 29th, 2012 at 9:31 am
Is the primary objective, of Peters and now the political opportunist bandwagon, to get some good out of this for Women’s Refuge staff and women and children victims of family violence?
Or is itmainly an attempt to trash the Maori Party and destabilise government? Public good or political blood?
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 9:34 am
Oh Pete, must everything be from a noble and pure motive? Can Winnie not draw attention to malfeasance at a government-funded organisation unless he is doing it with the best interest of that organisation’s clients at heart?
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 9:57 am
mikenmild – why not FFS?
Surely Winnie should be doing it in the best interests of everyone, in a way that dioesn’t come across primarily as destructive grandstanding.
I know there’s still a fair bit of Romanesque clamouring for blood sports, with a lot of downward thumbs itching, but shouldn’t politicians rise above all that?
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 10:04 am
Family Violence Whānau Ora Fund is a fund run out of the Ministry of Social Development.
It just happens to have a similar name to the Whānau Ora project run out of Te Puni Kōkiri.
So Tariana is right, it was not money from her Whānau Ora project.
it’s so inspiring to see Labour supporters gettting right behind Peters. Again.
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 11:43 am
> ross69 always jumps to Winston First’s defence
Really? So how do you explain the fact that I think the guy is a tosser?
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Womens Refuge Chief Executive Heather Henare is now demanding an apology from Tariana Turia for claiming that she knew nothing of the issue revealed by Winston Peters in parliament on Wednesday.
Vote:Heather Henare has said that Tariana Turia was briefed by the Refuge; Te Roopu Whakaruruhau o Nga Wahine Maori, of the difficulties they were experiencing during a meeting of the National Executive in April, and was subsequently couriered documents the following day.
Tariana Turia has not responded to the request for an apology as pressure from Womens Refuge mounts.
The issue which Winston Peters raised in parliament relates to serious financial problems at the Palmerston North refuge which in an audit report of August 2011 reported a loss of $109,000 for the previous financial year and a number of unauthorised transactions. The Refuge received $80,000 of taxpayer funding.
June 29th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Does Winston smoke only New Zealand grown tobacco ?
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Heather Henare has said that Tariana Turia was briefed by the Refuge…
Tariana never denied she wasn’t aware the refuge had financial troubles, what she says is that she was not aware of the particular issues that Peters raised.
But what’s the big deal? There was some mis-management that was found out and it was being delt with.
It’s just Peters yet again attacking funding for maori and getting cheered on by people who should know better.
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
“Tariana never denied she wasn’t aware the refuge had financial troubles, what she says is that she was not aware of the particular issues that Peters raised.”
Who’s protecting who?? She knew about it but denied it plain and simple. She even went so far as to include her dignity in her previous statements. I don’t seem to hear anything from her now but it is still early in the game.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10816234
Vote:June 30th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Looks like Farrar should appologise as well for putting the wrong title on this thread.
http://news.msn.co.nz/nationalnews/8491303/turia-challenged-over-refuge-problems
Vote: