12 questions with Katherine Rich
March 19th, 2013 at 3:00 pm by David FarrarAn interesting 12 questions with Katherine Rich:
3. Was there, and is there still, sexism in the House?
Yes, but you’d strike that anywhere. Just think about the way politics is reported. I’ve never seen a “Battle of the Babes” sort of headline for any electoral battle between male candidates or seen them described with words like feisty, perky or shrill.
Very true.
4. How did you cope with that?
I can’t think of any recent example, but years ago I’d deal with issues with either a sense of humour or by choosing battles. Sometimes I’d be less patient or polite. Although I would, of course, never resort to violence, I did tell one colleague who patted my pregnant tummy too many times that if he did it again I would punch him on the nose. I said it with a smile, but with sufficient firmness that he didn’t do it again.
Heh, I wonder who it was?
8. Your role at the Food and Grocery Council can be a controversial one, especially when you are opposing food campaigners on issues such as food labelling and salt. Are you doing God’s work?
I don’t see it as controversial. I see it more as providing the other side to a lot of grocery industry discussions. You’d be surprised but many shock/horror stories about the food and grocery industry aren’t true. I don’t doubt the sincerity of those who call for fat taxes, bans, salt regulation or all sorts of different warning labels, but many ideas are completely unworkable. A fat tax in New Zealand would raise the price of cheese and butter, so support for these ideas falls away when Kiwis understand the implications. There’s only so much salt, fat and sugar that can be removed from a product before [it] tastes like cardboard. Eating a healthy diet and moderation in all things is something I talk about a lot.
I love that quote I have bolded.
12. Will you always be a Tory?
I’m a centre-right thinker and I did vote Labour in ’87 – my first vote – when they were the more centre-right party.
I voted Labour in 1987 also.
Related posts:
- Will Rich head up Wellington business?
- Rich on Food Safety
- Russell Brown on Nick and Katherine
- Rich and Maharey
March 19th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
1987, the Lange utopian wave [cue motivating Obama video clips]. Worked as well for us as a chocolate teapot. I stayed true.
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
I can not believe you Farrar, this is the end of you and me, because you voted Labour in 1987, that’s it pal, you are in big trouble, I rescind your medal of Quixote
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Surely an male MP/candidate has been called feisty?
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
The last time I heard Catherine Rich radio whatever, she was sneering in the most hateful tones about what an utter idiot some food labelling campaigner or another was. It wasn’t very professional sounding at all…
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
DPF, twenty five years later you continue to vote Labour…..lite.
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 3:16 pm
Oh snap. To be fair, the Nats weren’t really cutting it as a CR party then however.
I believe some male MPs have in fact, resorted to fisticuffs. It’s a useful precedent.
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Graeme E: I was called “National’s poodle” once…but it was by the Carpet Inspector so I guess it doesnt really count…
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
Oh DPF, this is all a bit too (Katherine) Rich for me…
1. “All West Coasters are feral” – Helen Clark (a woman)
2. (of John Campbell) “A sleasy little creep” – Helen Clark (a woman)
Katherine, you’re a delicate flower.
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 3:50 pm
Maybe someone should get some public trough funding and write a book of parliamentary insults since 1840. That would be interesting. If it had a gender breakdown and researched nuanced acculturated patriarchal typology it could be a PhD at Victoria).
…(Why did I have that third coffee at 3.30pm)…
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Judging by the bimbo quality of the questions, this was an article for “New Idea” right?
The whining wet liberal/ progressive Katherine Rich a Tory..??
FFs…!!!!!
God save us from the deep ignorance that is overtaking this country.
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
The last time I heard Catherine Rich radio whatever, she was sneering in the most hateful tones about what an utter idiot some food labelling campaigner or another was. It wasn’t very professional sounding at all…
I’m sure she’s quite capable of not doubting their sincerity while still considering them idiotic food faddists who need to be kept from turning their bizarre obsessions into regulations inflicted on the rest of us. Basically, her answer to “Are you doing God’s work?” for the Food and Grocery Council could have just been “Yes.”
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 4:48 pm
Oh Christ, he’s arisen from his afternoon nap…
Vote:March 19th, 2013 at 6:50 pm
I’m glad Rich has found her vocation. I didn’t think much of her as an MP. She was as wet as Kim Kardashian in a shoe shop.
Vote:March 20th, 2013 at 7:53 am
It’s true that if Rich had been a male, she would never have had to endure these insults. But that’s because she wouldn’t have been high enough on the National list to get into Parliament at all.
Vote: