New Zealand Natural has opened an ice cream outlet on the wintry Russian island of Sakhalin.
Because I am still to hear whether we will get them in Hong Kong.
Unlike my good friend Mr Whale Oil, I'm not after anything for a free plug. I'm quite happy to pay export prices for the Hokey Pokey. But I want the damn chips.
Ross Munro (father of much vilified alleged Indian taxi driver beater Simon (what did happen to that story?)) has showed his true character. Admitting that it's all his fault that Line 7 failed.
"It's just bloody sad, to be fair, but it's my fault, it's nobody else's."
He said the business didn't hedge itself against the recent big falls in the dollar "which we normally did but we just didn't think it would drop as aggressively as it had, so that had a significant impact for this season on our margins".
As well, its customers had been slow to pay their bills, and the firm hadn't reacted quickly enough in cutting overheads.
"Fundamentally I just think the business model over the last few months hasn't worked," Mr Munro said.
While probably not entirely true as the economy and bad debtors are sometimes a bitch, Rosco has manned up and carried the can for the business going down the toilet. He hasn't bludged to the government for a bailout on the basis of "iconic" status. Even though his wife is a true equal partner in the business he has taken the can.
Whatever the nice lady tells you, if it not what you wish to hear such as "all our flights are full this week due to 4th July weekend so you can't leave until Wednesday night":
Call up again and speak to someone hopefully less lazy. Remember rebooking your flight takes EFFORT that the monkey on the airline desk isn't paid one more cent to actually spend.
Madoff is a dirty crim. A 150 year sentence is completely appropriate.
But then so should all murderers really......all Madoff did was steal a whole heap of lolly. And as people say that life is more important than money, surely killing someone should attract similar sentencing?
And the rest of Madoff's family? Well I say put them in a cell next to him. There is absolutely no way they did not know what was happening.
Lets hope Bernie suffers from a "Michael Jackson".
Apparently California only has enough money left to pay one more month's worth of wages to its employees and is close to bankruptcy.
Having dealt with some of their employees during the past few days I can vouch for not only the lack of funding evident for some of these department's but the lack of cohesion and integration between their systems.
Lets not even start on the attitude and intellect of the servants. As I am in need of assistance I have been (to the shock of my Kiwi lifesaver here) very polite at all times. When I really wish to yell out "record unemployment should motivate you f******".
I shall write some more words when I have time. For an apparent first world country and a first world city Los Angeles is atrocious in many respects.
There are fortunately pockets of beauty such as the palm trees and Malibu where the Kiwi lifesaver and his American lifesaver partner took me to today for an icecream.
A refinement on the Cactus Kate "rules to travel by"!
It will start with - ditching the standard black luggage and going for as brighter colours as possible so you know when your bag has been thrown in the wrong pile. The thief may spot it sooner but then so do you when the thief takes off with it.
Oh....and shopping for one of those (previously deemed) gay strap bags where passport, tickets and cash can be stored.
It's a wee bit of a lesson for a girl whose only substantial loss to date was that of virginity.
Yes, I am stuck in Los Angeles without my passport that was taken along with my (underinsured as there are so many insurance exemptions) carry on bag thrown from the hotel shuttle bus I assume on one of the stops before me.
Lesson learned - never use shuttle buses.
Lesson still learned - other people are c***s for not returning the bag. Another reason why I have little faith in fellow man.
Now shall be living my worst nightmare trying to get new travel documents.
If NBR wish to pick up business, perhaps they should get their Friday edition delivered to the airport before 9am. Considering most of their readers are early-risers and chances are on the morning flights across the Tasman....that is.
Well after getting the sympathy of Hand Mirror (lnked above), it appears that once again a "victim" is not really a victim.
This one has always smelt froggie. When you see the size of Mr Bastareaud and the fact he was sent home immediately, there was no victim there. The news media smelt it as well. Heather D-P-A-S from TV 1 was all over it as well. Good job. Cheating lying froggies.
"I got pissed once and fell over"......
"On Saturday evening I went back to the hotel after drinking too much. I fell over in my room, I struck the table and cut my cheekbone. I was ashamed, I panicked and I thought I was going to be sent home from the French team. I told a story thinking that this would settle things, but given the way it has snowballed I prefer to tell the truth.
Why oh WHY would you tell everyone you have won lotto?
Seriously. FAIL. Bludger alert incoming......
Already the Mayor has started:
Garry Daniell said the prize equated to "about $1000 for every person in the Wairarapa". His council would welcome some of the winner's cash to help with infrastructure projects particularly a proposed $25m sewage plant.
Anyway, it's nice to see that four people have won the prize and they all seem to previously qualify in the broken-arse category.
The winning syndicate is made up of a woman (who is also a great-grandmother), her two daughters (Fiona, a nurse, and Siobhan, a bakery worker) and her granddaughter (a fulltime mother).
And a worthy comment is from the tax advisor which should put paid to any stupid ideas to give it all away.
But before the winning syndicate considers giving some of their new riches to family and friends, they may want to think about the taxman. Tax expert Greg Bishop said that for every $1m gift, up to $250,000 would have to be paid to the Government in gift duty. However, if the gift was for a registered charity, the giver would receive a refund of $333,000.
However Lotto will be creaming themselves. The broken-arse stories are the best PR they can EVER get to ensure more broken-arses slap down their $20 a week to buy tickets they cannot afford.
The hardest decision would be whether to keep the Audi R8.
While it is reasonably easy to hide the fact you have $35 million more this week than you had last, driving an Audi R8 around Masterton, or indeed anywhere in New Zealand would be the biggest giveaway of the lot.
For the sake of your own privacy you'd have to ditch the car wouldn't you? Or move to California, Monaco or in general the South of France.
In other words - an alcy. I have little sympathy to those who engage in the drink and cannot control themselves. I am a reasonably heavy drinker myself, disgracefully termed a "binge" drinker due to large sustained experiences of alcohol consumption. However I do have detoxification periods where I will go cold turkey for weeks on end. And I never drink at home or alone or have alcohol in my home. That's a no-no. And better still, it does not affect my ability to engage in productive written or thought processes at work. Alcohol is our friend that I consider makes other people far more interesting.
It is self-monitoring as it tells you when you have had enough so you must listen to your body for things such as throwing up, shaking hands and excessive weight gain. You recover slowly from the flu, you have a nagging cough or can't get rid of feeling like crud, then you simply remove yourself from the drinking circuit, have cups of tea and early nights in fluffy slippers until the inevitable boredom sets in and you get back out there.
Everyone knows alcohol can affect people differently. If you can't control your own consumption then it is your own damn fault. I refuse to view alcoholism as a sickness, addiction or disease. It's a symptom of deeper issues within a person. Usually that they have low self-esteem, are weak or have fucked up family or personal issues such abuse, rape, horrific marital situations etc. They turn to drink to forget how shit these underlying issues are. That is why there is no "recovery" for an alcoholic unless they have sorted these underlying issues.
Now unwanted Telco Commissioner Dr Ross Patterson is back from his "alcohol related medical leave". Nine whole months of it. An entire baby gestation period. A new government.
However, NBR also understands that neither Commerce Commission chairman Mark Berry (who is acting telecommunications commissioner) nor associate commerce minister Rodney Hide, who is responsible for the commission, want Dr Patterson back.
Now the sooky labour laws in New Zealand probably guarantee Dr Patterson his job back for not being able to handle his piss. But should they?
Should workers now be able to get "alcohol related medical leave" in description of a vicious hangover gained in the business of "drinking for the company" (as Bob Jones calls it) or even in their personal capacity of not being able to handle their piss?
I quite like the idea of having "hangover leave" at least. Perhaps instead of maternity leave, those of us who consume on behalf of the company can have "alcohol related medical leave" for 12 weeks? Problem is people would spend it on holiday for 12 weeks most likely on a remote party Island getting trolleyed and having a dangerous amount of sex that would lead to an increasing likelihood of an increase demand for maternity leave.
It seems that earth has already been moved for Dr Patterson.
While his predecessor had been based with the commission in Wellington, Dr Patterson moved the telecommunication commissioner’s office to Auckland, to be in more convenient travel reach of family in Sydney.
Ergh....don't they have direct flights between Sydney and Wellington now? Yes....perhaps they leave a little early in the morning for Dr Patterson as he's still recovering from large nights out on benders. Truth is, he probably just didn't like the weather in Wellington as with his propensity to drink at the time he sure as hell would have loved Wellington for its bar scene which is considerably more fabulous than Auckland's.
He's been gone since September 2008. Well Winston's only been gone since Novermber 2008 and no one seems to miss him.
It's not a matter of whether Dr Patterson is now fit to go back to work, but that the world and government's have moved on since he departed. The new administration seems to not want him. Ta ta. Dr Patterson is fit to work again but he's not fit to work in this job if he is unwanted. Go find another.
To assist I suggest Vodafone and Telecom send around jeroboams of champagne to the office to celebrate Dr Patterson's return to the fold.
David Farrar is a statistical and political whore. Here he has analysed the pay of MP's without the editorial. The reason for this is that David is friends with politicians. That's right he sits at lunch with them and doesn't calculate that their pay is a joke on the taxpayer. Which is why David could never be a fully-fledged member of the VRWC. We don't respect any politician just because they are a politician.
Apart from my lack of ability to ever be elected by people of below average intellect or ambition, which now constitutes more than 3/4's of the New Zealand adult population, the thing that would kill me as a wanna-be politician is sitting in the House, looking across and realising that people who could barely pull a teachers wage are now being paid the same or more as you are. Some MP's are grossly underpaid for a) the actual complexity of the work they do and b) their private sector salary or entrepreneurial sacrifice to be in politics. Most are severely overpaid. Their 60 hour weeks are really a lot of sitting around doing jack all, using minimal parts of the brain and posturing.
David states: "The Remuneration Authority notes that the remuneration package for a backbench MP is now roughly in line with comparative jobs".
You are joking? Not PC - Peter Cresswell nails it by calling them the Nations "highest-paid" beneficiaries.
The Remunerations Authority must be disbanded. There is no comparative job. Seriously, where else would you pay people with no qualifications, no skills or no experience, to sit and make judgment over others? To sniff at the public trough and only have accountability every three years. To fly up and down the country and be treated with far more respect than they have ever deserved. To have more staff than sets of fresh underwear. To be as bald and ugly as you want to be and still have groupies want to give you pleasuring after hours.
I am disgusted for all of New Zealand. And I am not even paying the salaries anymore of these snuffly trough-dwellers.
So let is look at a selection of MP's and see what their career prospects actually were before politics and the salary and earning potential they had. It has to be a selection as I could spend a month posting on the outrageous underachievement of these plonkers prior to being given the ultimate ticket to ride.
Backbenchers who are on $167,900. Where on earth would the following EVER earn this amount of money with their skills, qualifications and experience if they had never enters politics?
People like:
Catherine Delahunty former career - activist, feminist, mother, gardener, writer, teacher, mediator, advocate - and stand-up comic
Estimated maximum earning potential in private sector = $60,000 per annum. That's the only part of her comedy act that is standing up.
Russel Norman - "worked as a policy researcher, assistant to Green Members of Parliament, campaign manager for the Green Party". Australian.
Estimated maximum earning potential in private sector = $50,000 per annum. Could never keep down a private sector job. PhD political science.
Salary as Green Leader = $199,220 (if he was man enough to not have a "co" leader)
Gerry Brownlee
He was a school teacher. The best example of a National Party MP who is overpaid and overindulged in the Wellington life.
Estimated maximum earning potential in private sector = $100,000. A corporate would take pity on him and offer him a job outside of teaching. NO ONE would be offering him anywhere near the $300k he now troughs from the taxpayer.
Salary as a Cabinet Minister = $303,140
Hone Harawira
Manager, Aupouri Maori Trust Board Manager, Aupouri Ngati Kahu Te Rarawa Trust Manager, Te Reo Irirangi o Te Hiku o Te Ika Former CEO, Tehiku Media Director, Aupouri Fishing Company Ltd June 1990-March 1995 Director, Te Hononga Whakapaoho Maori Maori Media Network Ltd September 2001- Director, Te Tai Tokerau PHO Ltd March 2003-April 2005 Director, Starnet 2000 Ltd June 2004-
Estimated maximum earning potential in private sector = completely unemployable in private sector, has built a career around bludging off Treaty Settlement money, his family name and the "Brown" train.
Tariana Turia
Former Chief Executive of Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority (the longest and largest Maori Health Service provider in the Central Region); Service broker for Te Puni Kokiri (Whanganui Office) 1993-95; Manager Whaioranga Iwi Social Services Unit, 1991; Manager Whanganui Regional Development Board Trust, 1989. Worked in the head office of Maori Afairs and Southern Regional co-ordinator for Maori Access training programmes. Tariana was also a member of an evaluation team for first pilot cervical screening project for Maori women; a member of two task forces to establish kura kaupapa Maori and member of a team that established the Te Awa Youth Trust (the first marae based training establishment in 1980).
Estimated maximum earning potential in private sector = completely unemployable in private sector, has built a career around bludging off Treaty Settlement money and "Maoriness".
Salary as Minister outside Cabinet = $255,860
Peter Dunne
He worked for the Department of Trade and Industry from 1977 to 1978 and then for the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council until 1984. He served as Deputy Chief Executive of the Council from 1980 onwards
He worked for the Department of Trade and Industry from 1977 to 1978 and then for the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council until 1984. He served as Deputy Chief Executive of the Council from 1980 onwards
Estimated maximum earning potential in private sector = would slave away for years and reach the dizzy heights of middle management on $120,000 before being made redundant at financial crisis time.
Salary as Minister outside Cabinet = $255,860
Darren Hughes, Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins,
Hipkins - BA in Politics and Criminology Hughes - BA in Public and Social Policy. No work experience. Ardern - BCS (communications and political science)
Estimated maximum earning potential in private sector = Hughes - now unemployable in private sector given his bludging from trough from birth, no work experience at all. Hipkins - tried to work in big Oil not lobbying for big Oil but training - maximum $60,000. Ardern - gave up a career of nothing particularly special to join Parliament - maximum $60,000.
My challenge to the Sunday tabloids is to research and perhaps even complete a survey of MP's as to what they are paid now versus their estimated likely salaries had they never entered into politics. Given the MP's are paid twice, perhaps three or four times what journos are currently pulling I would imagine there is no shortage of takers for this assignment.
You have to wonder about journalism when they are referring to Facebook updates to create stories such as
"Millie Says Maybe Baby"
There are Supreme Court Judges with fewer court appearances coming up than Silly Millie and her stupid retard of a boyfriend Con-her Roberts.
Auckland District Court, June 29, defended hearing for charges of possessing cannabis oil, ecstasy and methamphetamine. A single charge of receiving stolen property and two charges of breaching supervision.
Auckland District Court, July 13, defended hearing for two charges of breaching supervision.
Papakura District Court, July 23, callover hearing for theft of a scarf from Farmers, one charge of possessing a cannabis plant and two charges of possessing methamphetamine.
Waitakere District Court, August 3, status hearing for possessing methamphetamine.
Elder's boyfriend, also aged 21, has his own set of criminal matters progressing through the courts.
Auckland District Court, June 29, defended hearing for charges of possessing cannabis oil, ecstasy and methamphetamine. A single charge of receiving stolen property.
Waitakere District Court, July 27, status hearing for a charge of possessing a knife in a public place.
Waitakere District Court, July 30, defended hearing for driving while disqualified for a third time.
Surely she MUST go to jail for one of those!
So I ask, how media can actually look at a person's facebook updates or status and create a story from it? First it's a bit creepy. Next, it's a little unreliable as from what I can see, people update their facebook when they are absolutely and completely munted. Usually alcohol but Millie has excellent drug contacts so chances are she's absolutely munted every time she's at the keyboard.
There would be shock and awe for example if I updated my facebook status from "single" to "in a relationship". In fact I will do it now and see the reaction. I have just updated my facebook status to "in a relationship".
Lets see the reaction. I will be back later to report the carnage. It would be more if I found one of my mildly famous facebook friends and named them as the unlucky gentleman.
In the meantime I say to the media - when have Millie Holmes' facebook updates become a "source"?
Update - 10.27pm: three "what the f*** emails from friends who read facebook before the blog"
This is a nonsense. Some girl (and I don't use the term "woman" on purpose) has complained about David Garrett's behaviour for using a "sexual comment".
I don't argue that Garrett is a tad mental, however he is ACT's quota for the mentally infirm so we need to protect him with the same gusto that other political parties have protected the likes of Nandor Tanczos, Judith Tizard, Sue Bradford, Sue Kedgley, Dover Samuels, Michael Laws, Arthur Anae, Mike Moore, Richard Northey, Clem Simich..need I go on.
Well, go figure. Bring out the burning bras girls.
There is only one way to deal with David Garrett:
Wait until there are numerous persons in attendance and then turn around and loudly state
"Is it true what your wife says Mr Garrett that you Sir have a small penis?".
Chances are the alleged sexual comments will end right there and then.
I would never let Garrett out in Wellington without Jesse Ryder's minder however there is only one way to fight fire and that's with more fire.
It is the only thing a man like that will respect.
Against rumours to the contrary, Winston from St Marys Bay appears not to have died in a puff of cigar smoke.
No Winston is making a comeback in his taxpayer funded retirement spending his days correcting spelling in The Herald and with masterful comments such as:
"Unless I say it, then nothing's true."
Please write in and mock this comment mercilessly.
I have had several (well 12) links sent to me to stories that NZX have failed in their attempts to takeover NSX. People seem to be salivating in Mark Weldon's failure to pull the deal off.
I am not.
A strong NZX is good for the New Zealand economy which means all of you. I have never bagged the commercial arm of NZX and Weldon's plans for it or his ability to run that side of the business. This deal I imagine has taken the best part of his last month of public silence to concentrate on.
My issues with NZX revolve solely around their regulatory function and their performance relating to. I for one hope Weldon now either re-negotiates the deal for the takeover of NSX or finds something else to invest in that will provide a profitable return.
"It's almost like writing about food ... Ladies who lunch, should not really write about food because they don't really love food. They don't salivate at the thought of a great steak."
Must say the worst thing in the world is having to pack for a seven week period away, visiting one freezing cold place and the rest lovely, sunny and warm. Seven weeks is a long time in travel land. Fortunately I repeat visit most countries every year so know precisely what I can and can't take with me and what will and won't be worn. Right down to the washing and drycleaning facilites available.
So battling a (cough, splutter) slight massive temperature, sore throat and tiredness from the twenty days of work you need to do that everyone gets back to you one day before you have to leave, I managed it. I also managed to down the scarce pseudoephedrine left in my medicine cabinet and miraculously most symptoms disappeared. Everything was good to go and I systemically had everything in order for the departure after work.
The maid comes on Wednesday. I left strict instructions that I would be away and that she must come every two weeks to air out the apartment and clean.
I didn't leave one strict instruction however as I thought it would be self-explanatory.
DO NOT UNPACK MY BLOODY SUITCASES.
I arrived home at 6pm from work, budgeted one hour to get ready and taxi to the airport.
Another reason why Donald Tsang is my favourite politician and why Hong Kong is a model of democracy for the people.
Hong Kong's chief executive and top government ministers will take a more than five percent pay cut as part of the city's belt-tightening during the economic downturn, reports said Monday.
The latest move comes as the government was expected to announce a pay cut for around 18,000 of the city's best-paid civil servants, a move that has sparked protest from unions.
And they STILL dished out a tax cut to those of us in the private sector. It's enough to keep you getting out of bed in the morning for sure.
Imagine New Zealand's public sector taking a 5% pay cut so those in the private sector can enjoy a tax cut.
Gratuitous panties over hay bale shot of farmer's daughter.
“When you’re running your farm on a day to day basis, you’re not going to have the time, or energy to ensure your product is being maximised on the other end. That’s where the government comes in”.
There is nothing more patronising for farmers in New Zealand than a person so clearly not connected to their community discussing what farmers want or need. This comment above from Jacinda Ardern relating to product being "maximised" comes in a stunted context of an example of a farmer stating they will need to fix their own plant and machinery and all of a sudden jumping into R&D spending. It's a post all over the place like a mad-cow pat.
Where does the government come in?
Just because a person grows up in a small hick town like Morrinsville (or a neighbouring more successful town admittedly in my case) doesn't give them the right to assume what farmers want or need. Plenty of New Zealanders grew up in small rural communities and moved to larger cities. They are not farmers and never will be. Being part of a wider rural community and treading on grass every day is not the same as being a farmer. It's like being a filing clerk in an accounting firm and pretending to know what an accountant wants or needs. Or picking fruit and pretending to represent orchard owners.
Although the left consider pointing this out a "personal" attack, Jacinda's CV reads of no work in the private sector. This is everything a farmer deems useless. They like lawyers more than politicians. We cost them less money, they can ultimately avoid using us on an annual basis and even when they do we are tax deductible. Your responsibilities are:
Member, Regulations Review Committee
Member, Justice and Electoral Committee
Spokesperson, Youth Affairs
Associate Spokesperson, Justice (Youth Justice)
Nothing to do with speaking even on rural issues, let alone specifically farming.
And unlike Ms Ardern who boasts just a grandparent in farming, all of my immediate and even extended family are farmers. I am not a farmer and very proud not to be. I think rolling around smelling animal shit all day is not desirable. I would much rather be a lawyer dealing with people who may end up getting into shit. I don't profess to know the first thing about milking a cow, making haybales or mending a fence. I don't care. I am often critical of farmers and their excessive lobbying demands and power in New Zealand. I'm not 100% sold on farming as the answer to every question with respect to a strong economy, far from it.
When we were given an annual day off to attend the Fieldays (and it is officially spelt like this) I used to stay home and study for mid-year exams. A far more productive use of my time in the short and long run.
However I do know that the more money farmers have in their pockets the happier they are and the more money they spend which, like in any sector is good for the economy. For representing what farmers really want and need we have to trust Fonterra, Federated Farmers and other Rural lobbying groups. Not throw more money and tax credits at the ever popular feel-good bottomless money-pit spend of "R&D" if it is not providing what it is intended to do or the nation cannot afford it. So I refer to an article linked in May 2009 stating that rural sector lobby groups including Fonterra are actually pleased with what National are doing for them. Oh and here are the Federated Farmers saying the same thing.And even praising David Carter, the Agriculture Minister.
They appear neither to need or want a Labour approach. They don't mind a private-public sector partnership where government funding matches their private initiatives and it is controlled investment. Details can be found here.
Obama and subsidies are terrible for farmers and Tim Groser has a role to ensure subsidies don't happen. He's the only politician who can remotely make a difference to the lives of New Zealand farmers and if he does his job they will not notice he has been effective. Tax cuts help farmers as do low interest rates and a reasonable exchange rate as well as lower costs of production. Labour had nine years to deliver these conditions. Labour had nothing to do with the boom years, no substantial tax cuts. Nothing they did made a blind squat of difference to the farmers lot. World markets and the free market forces of supply and demand did. You only look at spot prices to see the mechanics.
Do farmers trust politicians? Hell no!!!
And Moana Mackey? 35 year old Former Unionist and Council member? M.P since 2003? No considerable work experience in anything other than spending taxpayers money? A woman who did her honours thesis on "flystrike and the role of the mixed function oxidase system in insecticide resistance in the Australian sheep blowfly". A woman who even Duncan Garner has written off as a political light-weight amidst his sneers.
Well, come on in common sense........
So Jacinda Ardern, first term list MP, flown in Shearer style from England over New Zealand based "underemployed youth" such as Kate Sutton and Jordan Carter in the Party with a CV highlight of being President of the Young World Commie Union (IDYU) you FAIL.
Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark, 2005
Policy Advsior*, Cabinet Office, London 2006-2007
Assistant Director, Department for Business and Enterprise, London 2007-2008
Senior Policy Advisor to Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Home Secretary's Professional Advisor on Policing and HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary
Once again this cut and paste of mine illustrating the lack of a solid CV is seen by the left as a "personal" attack. When it is not, it is to the contrary. I am merely pointing out as I always have how shallow the breadth of experience any of these Labour MP's who are deemed "stars" actually have.
Nikki Kaye wouldn't produce nonsense such as this outside an area where she was comfortable commenting on. Nor would Simon Bridges or Sam Lotu-liga. They all have far more discipline and are better advised.
Jacinda fails as a first term MP and rather than "breathing through the nose" she quotes her solidly unremarkable colleague mighty rural powerhouse, Moana Mackey. And then covers a topic that the two main farming sector lobby groups actually praised National for in the 2009 budget.
Is this the best Labour can come up with to talk "farming"? A twenty something Policeman's daughter (nothing wrong with that of course in itself if she wasn't trading off the wholesome "I lived in a small town so I know about farmers" image) who has only ever worked enhancing government intervention and a thirty something scientist with a Trade Union background who has been an MP for the vast majority of her working life?
And while we are on topic Jacinda and Moana, what are your views on signing the Kyoto protocol? Up with subsidies, farmers' largest threat.
If there is anything New Zealand farmers have learned over the years is that they provide their own answers to their own problems and know the limitations of the budget and what is available to spend or invest in their farm or industry. And if you are from a true farming family this is what you are ultimately taught - self reliance. Which is precisely why true inter-generational farming families will never vote Labour.
The more Labour tries to lure farmers with the idea that the likes of Jacinda and Moana can solve their problems, the more they will drive the votes to National by even massive default.
Politicians are literally as useless as "tits on a bull".
* yes your own Parliamentary website has a typo, but you've only had seven months to notice that..... ** Oh thank God West Indies beat the Poms....order restored in 20/20.
Phil Goff receives plenty of correspondence in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition. The past weeks he has received numerous requests from his MP's with respect to their behaviour and his new code of conduct. Some of the juicier correspondence follows handed to me from Kiwiblog:
Dear Phil
Everywhere I go women throw themselves at me. I would normally not worry about this but now there appears to be a blanket ban on attractive Labour Party members from fraternising outside the Party until further notice.
I have been told I am attractive by women even of the right-wing persuasion. I am worried now that this will count against me and I will be asked to participate in a "honey trap" in the future.
Yours sincerely
Stuart Nash M.P. (great-grandson* of former P.M. Walter)
* by adoption ______________________
Dear Stuart
You are indeed one of our finer looking gentlemen. You remind me a lot of myself at your age. I am interested in your theory of the "male honey trap" and you have a fine career ahead of you.
Do you find Paula Bennett attractive by any chance? Or Nikki Kaye? Or what about Judith Collins?
Kind Regards
Phil ________________________
Dear Phil,
Simon keeps asking me for coffee after our Breakfast television spot early on Thursdays.
Should I take a chaperone?
Thanks and keep up the good work. I am enjoying your strong positive leadership.
Yours sincerely
Jacinda Ardern M.P.
_________________
Jacinda
Lovely to hear from you. I have looked up your parliamentary profile and indeed you are a strikingly beautiful young lady. I don't know how I haven't noticed you before and for that I apologise.
It is clear to me that you should always take a chaperone. That Bridges lad reminds me a lot of myself at that age. In which case you are always under danger.
I suggest speaking to one of Helen's old people and arranging a chaperone. They could possibly wait in the car while you have these meetings and you can text a warning to them if you feel in danger. Make sure you keep these texts for later use. We could set Bridges up a beauty.
Regards
Phil.
___________________________
Dear Phil
Just reminding you that when you appoint me a Minister I will never invite National Party women for coffee.
Thanks and I adore working under your regime.
Yours sincerely
Darren ________________________
Dear Darren
Can you please ensure that my suits are drycleaned at Taylors Drycleaning Karori rather than that god awful Mall Drycleaners.
Phil __________________________
Dear Phil
You have recently been quoted as saying in relation to an older man and a younger woman, "Why would she? Why would a woman of her age be interested in a relationship with a man of his age."
A few of us older blokes in the Labour Party were discussing it at a BBQ the other night and we wish for your guidance. Shall we:
a) dump our missus? b) pay them more of our salaries and benefits to keep them happy? c) sign a register with you stating that our relationships are genuine?
Cheers
Anonymous.
________________________________________
Dear Anonymous
Women are the root of all evil. I can only refer you to the Lange/Pope incident to illustrate the concern I have with Labour Party men fraternising with any younger more attractive women. A whole life's work was ruined by that Pope creature.
I suggest you choose partners that are mild, neutral and sit nicely when photographed against plain wallpaper. Remember you are the attraction to the public, not your wife if you want a career in the Labour Party.
How many times do I let my dear wife Mary Ellen out in public? Seriously. Love her, but don't want her next to me in public. Don't let her be photographed at all actually.
Now I wish to have a list of all members at the BBQ. Your confidentiality is assured and releasing the list to me will enhance your advancement.
Yours sincerely
Phil ______________________________________
Dear Phil
I am embarrassed to mention this but considering your comments recently I need clarification.
As a woman if I receive some 100 text messages and phone calls in the space of a few months, should I think a man finds me sexually attractive?
I ask as it is Duncan Garner again, he just won't leave me alone. Is he hiding his attraction to me under the guise of journalism? I am old enough to be his mother, but he's a cuddly little pup.
Sincerely
Hon. Annette
______________________________
Dear Annette,
The next Full moon is not until July 7th.
Regards Phil
__________________________
Dear Phil
I'm addicted to blogging. I have visions of Kiwiblog in my sleep and I can't draw my fingers away from the keyboard.
Please help.
Trev
____________________________
Dear Trevor
I would rather you were a blogger than a fighter. Please stay on topic and I was concerned to read you didn't appear to back me during the Richard Worth saga.
This just in, the leaked diary of "Plane" Jane Diplock, Head of the New Zealand Securities Commission and IOSCO Executive Committee, recently in Tel Aviv for the 34th Annual Conference of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
June 4th 2009 - Arrive at Wellington airport via Corporate Cab, exhausted already from packing, three formal suits, four pairs of shoes and formal ballgown. Fingers crossed on the upgrade to first, am sick of travelling business and what about these queues? Third world airport. A family obviously travelling economy jumps in front of me. Outrageous. Browse itinerary and note Wellington-Auckland-Bangkok-Tel Aviv. What a nightmare. Air New Zealand in New Zealand, awful. You have GOT to be joking, no first f***king class on Thai and what on earth is the airline to Israel? Note to self to discipline my P.A Pru when home. Called parents yet again before I leave to remind them yet again not to invest in Cynotech. They think that Adam Bennett is just mean picking on Hawkins.
June 5th 2009 - Arrive Tel Aviv - reception difficult. Hilton have put me in a standard Executive room. I remind them of my importance as Chairman of the conference and am upgraded to a King Corner Executive Suite. Praise the Lord. Soak in the jacuzzi while positively visualising my speech. Disappointed that my call for more funding and twice as many staff has not caught on among the media. Cynotech still haven't responded to our queries with respect to their prospectus disclosure. Gosh, I really don't know what to do. Have another jacuzzi and read up on Israel business and political etiquette. Almost as complicated as dealing with Helen and Lianne.
June 6th 2009 - Contemplating the lack of funding from Si Power in latest budget. Angry as I have to shuffle looking after those damn finance company Shylocks now. Get nails done in salon down the road. Back in jacuzzi contemplating my speech. Think I will call on "greater global regulatory co-operation". Inclusive language, powerful, statesmanly like. Bit of cut and pasting from old speeches when I am done. Had driver take me to the Dead Sea and I had a swim. Analogy to my job really. Whatever I do I can't seem to sink. This must be one of the most incredible places on the planet. Get some postcards for the staff back home. Grab a falafel while out exploring. Feel a bit sick as not used to fast food. Meet up with Saul and Ester from The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
June 7th 2009 - Highlight of the day will definitely be the welcome cocktail here at the Hilton Tel Aviv. Richard Worth sex scandal drags on. Excellent, that bloody Cactus Kate will not even realise I am in Israel. The breakfast olives are superb here. Also fancy the Zucchini Pritti. Taskforce of Unregulated Entities session was interesting. MW would have been great Chairing that one. text him to joke. No response.
June 8th 2009 - Looking forward to tonight and the "Cultural Mosaic" tour. Receiving negative feedback again from Brian Gaynor. Fuck. He's going to write again in the Herald on Saturday about ING. Can't stand the little man. IOSCO is on twitter. It's all about embracing 21st century change and 21st century technology. Enjoyed a drink with Kathleen Casey from the US SEC she's an incredible woman. The SEC is an incredible organisation. So strong and powerful and well-funded. Budget I can only dream of and the powers.... ohhhh.... June 9th 2009 - Can't wait for the nightlife tour tonight. "Walk in the footsteps of some of the great men of all times and discover the spot from which Jonah set sail before being swallowed by the whale; where Saint Peter miraculously restored life to Tabitha; from where the wood to build Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem arrived from Lebanon, and view the home of Simon the Tanner, where Peter first realized the gospel message extended beyond Judaism". It just sounds amazing. Being such a great man, MW would love this. I must make a note to check up on him, haven't heard from him for a while. Hope he hasn't scurried off on holiday. Wonder how he's getting on with his plan for world domination? And to think that I once tried to reign him in. ROTFL.
June 10th 2009 - Getting the ballgown ready for the gala dinner tonight at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Wonder if I can get a shot for the boys back home with Shimon Peres. Everyone talking about my phrase "sampling some of that cool". That would be exciting. Top table of course. Read Cactus Kate's tips for the travelling businesswoman. I can relate to the point#6, there are some very shifty looking staff here at the Hilton. Also point #17, you never would believe how many men hit on me in business class, especially when I am in my cashmere pyjamas. Read Whaleoil.co.nz and saw the shot of Neelam Choudary. I remember her. I am sure she tried once to be pictured with me when I was in Lianne's office. Email from parents re: Cynotech, they still don't believe that Allan Hawkins even went to jail.
The opening ceremony was fabulous, it's like the Olympics. My speech went off the charts. Everyone was most complimentary. The media back home better report that. Fabulous dinner, got the shot I wanted with Peres to add to my collection with world leaders. He's such a lovely man.
June 11th 2009 - Spoke to NZPA told them that New Zealand's banking system is strong and fundamentally sound and that toxic products that have brought other banks in the world into trouble don't exist n NZ so that does not require any regulatory reforms connected to the global meltdown. Drank with Mary Schapiro, Chairman of the US SEC and Dame Clare Furse, completely and utterly in awe of her. Isn't it wonderful how women are in charge these days? In awe again at SEC power and funding. Conference over and Montreal in 2010. Can't wait as these conferences are just incredible. MW's bid for the NSX looks dicey. Perhaps now he can answer my bloody emails.
June 12th 2009 - Barely a whimper back home. What is wrong with New Zealand? Roger should of had the Comms covered. Bloody hell, pressured with my travel spend so people must know I am BUSY! Flying up to London now for more business. Awaiting hotel confirmation from Pru. And first class airline ticketing changes. SO much work to do but I luuuuurve my job.
All this week when Richard Worth's alleged misbehaviours were in the spotlight, it seems that the leftie feminists have missed this disgraceful judicial decision
Oh please. Where is the leftist feminist outrage over this? You want a victim? Here is one worthy of your time. This is outright disgusting. And while the wife and mother was terminally ill.
''[The complainant] didn't come to bed intending to have sex with her father. No one is saying she did,'' Mr Harrison said.
''This is a spontaneous thing ... it just happened. They weren't thinking of where they were, or who they were, or was in the bed as well. It just happened.''
When sober the next morning, the complainant realised the horror of what had happened and made contact with Women's Refuge, a doctor and the police. The accused, however, was still feeling comforted by what had occurred in the bed, sent text and voice messages to her cell phone. In one he said: ''Come over so we can do what we did this morning.''
He said the combined affects of the complainant's inebriation and the accused's trauma and lack of sleep over several weeks while looking after his wife, whose condition was then considered as possibly terminal, resulted in the usual barriers breaking down between father and daughter.
I may have a good stomach for gory but I feeling like puking just reading the brief report. It might be normal to shag your daughter in Blenheim but the man drought isn't his bad for women to have to put up with this!
He had no cause to believe Mrs Choudary had behaved inappropriately with Dr Worth.
"Why would she? Why would a woman of her age be interested in a relationship with a man of his age."
Fool has made an incredibly large error here. He is not insulting Worth insofar as EVERY man of Worth's age who has a much younger girlfriend or wife. And also insulting the women of Mrs Choudary's age who find men of Mr Worth's age attractive. Replace the word "age" with "race" and Goff's comments become front-page news offensive.
As it is Age Concern should be putting out press releases quick smart.
And in Wellington there are plenty of young women for everyone. Worth seems to have no problem having relationships with them, sharing hotels with them or having them shower glory on him no doubt when he travels all around the world. Wellington is a strange place. Ipredict wouldn't even run odds on Fool"s capability of getting a shag with a woman in her early 20's. Age differentiated relationships are everywhere.
In the Press Gallery there are some. Working in Parliament there are some. Sitting on his side of the House there are some.
Mrs Choudary's age, like her employment history (estimated - very little) appears a closely guarded secret not even the National Party has leaked that to the VRWC in the SIS file on her** . But I wouldn't put her any younger than 35, possibly closer to 40. Therefore Worth at almost 61, is just 20 odd years older. Hardly even an age crime these days.
There are three reasons I have figured out that younger women hook up with older men. Money and with it increased opportunity, geriatric care and with it harbouring their maternal instinct or because they genuinely think the guy is a mangod.
I always pick the third category as a man has to be a mangod before I am interested fullstop, however:
Another Cactus Kate rule to live by is that a man must be very financially secure by that age because there is nothing unsexier as a woman than not only having to get him up the stairs with the arthritis but forking out yourself to pay for his new hip.
** - sarcasm for The St(r)andard. The National Party have never been kind enough to leak any good stuff to me. Useless Tory bastards.
Lee slurping through another coconut on the campaign trail.
That'a GIRL!!! When has a National Party MP last achieved that?
Appearing in a candidate's debate in front of members of the Unite union, Ms Lee was asked how she would survive on the minimum wage of $12.50 an hour.
"I think I am currently on $2 an hour," Ms Lee replied.
Ms Lee appeared to be joking about MPs' long hours, but it did not amuse the audience of low wage earners.
The joke is on the Unionists as Lee was once a solo mother who had to at the same time support her own mother.
But the question is a good one:
How would I survive on the minimum wage of $12.50 an hour?*
The answer is I spent five years at High School studying hard while everyone else mucked around and another five years at University while others got pissed up and stoned and four years sweating photocopier dust at a stressful demanding shit of a job in a professional services firm to ensure that I never have to.
And children of people on $12.50 an hour should already have the motivation they need to use the same educational opportunity I had that they have access to in order to ensure they don't grow up a broken arse like Mum or Dad.
National need to worry about getting votes from people at $12.50 an hour about as much as the Maori Party need to pander to those earning $100,000 a year. Why she even bothered to show for the meeting is beyond me, but if you are attending don't be a namby pamby. Tell them like it is.....
It's not just $12.50 an hour workers who work long hours in shitty jobs in their way up the career ladder or to feed their families.
*plus welfare for families, alowances, credits and state housing.
Shit Dennis, why didn't Simpson Grierson give me summer clerks like this?Might have stayed in law.
Received today.
"Can I tie U 2 a bed @ the (insert hotel name) using a tie from the Gachibowli Indian School of Business" xx
compared with this weak effort at seducing a woman in so much obvious distress being harassed by the "Remuera Panther"' that she asked him while on holiday with her husband, if Worth needed anything from India:
I don't need anything. Perhaps a tie from the Indian School of Business at Gachibowli but that might be impossible. RWW XX
If you are going to go down, you go down - well and proudly (s)exting. For example:
* How you getting on with the Goa purchase?
Should have read:
"If u wern't w the fraudsta , I wd buy 100 red sari's and roll around naked w them caressing our warm wet skin".
* Does that possibly mean you might be back [in India] in mid January with a discreet ITG group?
Should have read:
"When u cum w me 2 India I will ravage u in evry possible way after official functions. We may even skip 1 4 nooky in sand w camels watching"
* You are my favourite new best friend to use a Facebook expression. RWW
Should have read:
"I want 2 f**k u so now I hv 2 remove u as a facebook friend cuz Cactus educated me so. RWW".
* Do you want to come swimming?
Should have read:
"I want u 2 swim in the red sari as I remove it w my mouth n lick ur cold stiff nipples as we read some Sun Tzu 2getha".
That is the quality of vulgar and smut that I am looking for from the "deleted" (s)exts. Anything less you have to wonder just why this woman could possibly be offended and what she wrote to Worth to have him engage in such social discourse. ** Yes, until Mark Weldon comes out of self-isolation, Jane Diplock comes back from Israel or Allan Hawkins tries to sell his Grandmother, this is the news.
As a right wing feminist I found this curious little gem on Hand Mirror from the infamous Maia. Please, no negative comments about Maia that are personal as she gets all upset and starts banning people.
Anyway here is the offending paragraph, where she's having a good go at David Shearer. Some of it makes sense, until she gets to this point:
"As a unionist I couldn't finish this post without pointing out that the gender pay gap is not just a women's concern. I was working late tonight, and was still there when the cleaners came round - they were all men, but they were paidwomen's wages".
So I have raised the obvious comment with respect to equal pay for equal work:
"Isn't that what you want? For men to be paid women's wages? Everyone to be paid the same for equal work?".
Fran O'Sullivan's piece on Friday struck a large chord with me when she stated:
Surely any business woman in her 40s would be street-wise enough - this is the 21st century - to make her own hotel bookings, pay her own tab and let her sponsor know in no uncertain terms that she did not want him near her hotel room, unless she was prepared to go along with the seduction
Of course all the Unionist, school teachers and public sector junketeers who have never actually worked in a male professional environment before were all up and arms about what Fran said. That is because the men that they work with are generally not in any way sexual, testosterone pumped, money making motivated machines. To not protect yourself when you are travelling is particularly stupid and borders on being contributorily negligent if anything happens that could be avoided. Of course men should never put you in these positions, but if we could change mankind for the better, it would have already happened. We shouldn't need to lock car doors, look out for children crossing roads, wear helmets on bikes, lock our homes at night or walk children to school - we do, because it is sensible.
In the midst of discussions last week relating to hotel rooms, businesswomen and etiquette I recall a presentation I gave to a group of Chinese businesswomen not too long after coming to Hong Kong. Many had never travelled outside of Hong Kong and so their employers sent them on a course relating to business culture and expectations.
In a drunken moment with one of the organisers I boldly accepted an invitation to speak to these green members of the business community, most of whom truth be known were much older than the 28 years that I was at the time. I pull extracts of my speech to them and use numbered points for reference. As you could imagine it was quite a riot at question time when the questions were all directed towards me and my more practical examples that point to my hairier experiences in Europe, the Caribbean and America.
1. Your hotel room is your bedroom
Never let anyone into your hotel room under any circumstances while on business, treat the room as you would the bedroom of your house. If people want to meet you at the hotel make them wait in reception or at the bar. Never accept invitations for something even as innocent as going to a man's room to pick up papers. Make him bring them down to you at reception or send a hotel staff member to get them.
2. Be very careful drinking
Always know where the toilet and the taxis are. That way if you need to leave a bar or restaurant you have an escape route. Never get drunk around a client unless you are personally comfortable with them. Never be in a situation where you have to rely on a taxi being present. If in doubt or in a new city, get the hotel to order you a driver to pick you up at a set time at the restaurant. It is important if you are not a good drinker that you practice in the safety of your friends and home to find out precisely how much you can drink. I have had plenty of practice and know almost to the glass what I can handle before I need to leave. The only time I fail is when I am in the company of very good friends, never on business or in front of a client.
3. Invite the wife
If meeting clients or other businessmen for dinner or drinks that are male, always invite the wife. Not only does it neutralise any intentions the man may have, it also creates a far safer environment for you to do business. It also makes the wife comfortable that you are doing business with her husband if you at least invite her.
4. Never flirt with a client
There is a fine line between being nice and having a client enjoy your company, and danger when it comes to having the client believe you want a sexual relationship with them. Never cross that line.
5. Never sleep with a client or anyone in your industry
News spreads and if you are known for sleeping with clients or other members in your industry it will almost always eventually be detrimental to your career.
6. Do not always trust hotel staff
Hotel staff particularly in Asia are not well paid and often work as informants for criminal gangs and people who wish harm on travellers. Tip the staff to look after you but as a female travelling alone on business you are a very large target so extra caution is needed. Always deadlock your hotel door and be as less conspicious as possible around the hotel.
7. Conferences
Never give out your room details to other conference attendees and never drink with men after hours at conferences unless either other women are present or you are completely comfortable with the men. Conference organisers are usually women so make yourself known to them when you arrive as chances are you will be one of only a few females in attendance. Always try to stay at the conference hotel as it will mean you will not be stuck arranging transport after hours or to off site dinners and functions.
8. Drinks
Always be present when your drink is poured. Insist on an ice bucket placed next to you for wine or champagne so you can watch even the waiter pour the alcohol from the bottle to ensure it is not contaminated. That bad hangover may not be 100% alcohol related. This is particularly important in Asian countries but increasingly important in Western countries as well.
9. Hotels and Flights
Get to know the locations you travel to and do ALL the bookings yourself. Even when a client suggests a certain hotel, research it and ensure that it is central, as safe as it can be and family friendly. That is, until you are confident of handling the situation, be careful as a female travelling to "business" hotels as they are often full of travelling males, choose family chain hotels instead.
10. Hotel bars
If you have to drink at a hotel bar make sure once again that you watch the staff as they may receive larger tips from men for information about you than you give to the staff to look out for you. If drinking alone, expect men to come and talk to you. They will not necessarily be interested in what you are doing, but more interested in picking you up.
11. Hotel cars
In Asia a driver from the hotel is a cost-efficient method a travel and safer than using local taxis so I recommend simply hiring a driver for the day for meetings. In Western countries however you will be forced to use taxis and public transport to get around so you must study each country you travel to and work out the safest and most efficient method.
12. Men on business
They are in the same position that you are. Away from home, on their own and bored after hours. Whereas women can happily order room service and watch television before going off to bed early, men cannot and generally are more adventurous in looking for entertainment. Unless you are very interested in a man, don't go near travelling businessmen until you are confident enough to get out of the situation that will inevitably happen nine times out of ten - that he will attempt to have sexual relations with you.
13. After hours
Under no circumstances should you be out on your own after dark, particularly in a city you are not familiar with. Always aim to end your day meetings before it gets dark so you have time to get back to the hotel and either take a hotel car to dinner with clients or retire for the night. If absolutely necessary to entertain a client in the hotel, pick the "business" restaurant and not the "romantic" one. Most large hotels have a distinct selection of restaurants and bars for such purposes.
14. Emergencies
Especially at the most expensive business orientated hotels, staff are on call for you 24/7 to run errands. Do not be afraid to use them as it will mean you don't have to go out after-hours or unnecessarily during the day so you can stay safer. Even if the services are expensive, it is always cost effective once you factor in your time, energy on staying safe and the transportation cost to get to where you need to go.
15. Your Boss
Speak to your boss about the clients you handle. If he or she is a good boss they will not assign any clients to you that they suspect will cause you any of these issues. In Asia frequently the female staff are assigned "safe" clients or clients that you can meet at their offices. The Big Boss will then fly over and deal with clients he knows like to go out after-hours for certain activities. A good boss will differentiate this for you and never put you in a position where you have to ward off advances from his or hers clients.
16. Never accept an invitation by a client to a strip club or night area
As a female this will never end well. Men generally only invite you to be polite, they don't actually want you to come with them. Learn the areas in the different cities that you travel to that are dedicated for sexual entertainment and until you are confident in that environment, stay well away. In Bangkok it is Patpong or Nana, in Hong Kong it is Wan Chai, Singapore it is the infamous "four floors of whores" on Orchard Road.
17. Business Class
If travelling business class or using lounge facilities, chances are you will also be one of a few females at least mid-week that will be flying in that section of the aircraft or using the lounge. Until you are comfortable with the attention, keep to yourself and do not engage in any unnecessary conversation with fellow passengers. Outside a hotel bar, I consider business class to be the single largest attempted pick-up join in town.
18. Are you married?
This is a leading question that men will ask you while you are travelling on business. If you are not completely comfortable, many times it is easier just to say you are. Not always, but sometimes, men will back off at that point on the grounds that you are probably going to be too difficult to pursue in terms of women having a guiltier conscience about extra-marital sex than men.
To be fair, Asian women are rather naive when they start in business but catch on to these essentials very quickly. They are more likely to be conservative in their approach so have fewer problems on business than other cultures as they are more likely to stay in the hotel room than go out or drink. They are also less inclined if they are married to go out entertaining with any man, and if they are single chances are they live at home still under the thumb of their father and as such would not participate in any activity that he would forbid.
There are of course a few hell-raisers. But I am yet to come across an Asian businesswoman who wasn't very quickly in control of all of the above points I raised in this seminar.
Broncos prop Joel Clinton has been hit with a $50,000 fine for breaking the club's code of conduct and inviting a woman to his hotel room in Sydney last month.
I would hope for $50,000 the earth moved. They say you can't put a price on a good sex, but $50,000.....nah.
This is precisely what John Key should do to Richard Worth before the next caucus meeting - fine him for being in the same hotel room as a woman who is not his wife. Has National Party fundraising potential doesn't it?
7. If a "strikingly beautiful" woman doesn't know what "xxx" on a text message means, what is her threshold of vulgar and offensive phone calls going to be? Seriously.
6. With the concerted "The Stranded" effort this weekend to heap blame on John Key and rabidly defend Phil Goff over his handling of Witness A where in the intervening period before 6th May, Witness B claims she was sexually assaulted, don't Labour just look even more politically motivated?
5. Why does Witness A wish to meet John Key? He's never said the texts and phone calls never happened? And Worth has already resigned his Ministerial portfolios. There is a meeting he shouldn't do without an aide in the room!
4. Are there any left-wing feminists capable of thinking possibly that in male v female with anything to do with sexual allegations, that a female could be anything other than a poor defenceless victim?
3. Will Michelle Boag now be handling all appointments made by male Ministers of the Crown to control the flow of "strikingly beautiful" women?
2. So what happened between 23rd February when Witness A in her statement said the harassment stopped and 6th May when Fool Goff raised the behaviour of Worth with John Key, some six months after he first found out about her terrifying, horrific treatment at the hands of the "Remuera Panther"?
I was hoping for more evidence on Witness B's complaint against Richard Worth to come to light with the usual Sunday newspaper competition for the gutter. Top gutter-slutter Carolyne Meng-Yee was brought in to find out the gossip. As we all know, if the Meng-yee can't find the pong then there probably is non. Having I imagine by now trawled the gutter through Auckland and Wellington for any other signs of jilted women in Worth's life.
Sadly they ALL failed miserably on the basics of what we already seem to know from the reporting from the gutter:
1. The woman is Korean, a businesswoman, divorced with three children and in her 40's. 2. Richard Worth organised her a hotel while she was visiting on an invited function in Wellington. 3. The woman has subjected a "respected" man in the Korean community to similar allegations before. 4. She likes powerful people and spending money on nice things. 5. She asked the Korean man to introduce her to political leaders and businessmen. 6. She met Richard Prebble and Rodney Hide. 7. The Korean man then distanced himself from her when she "changed". 8. She had breakfast with Worth the next morning of the alleged criminal act. 9. She got into property development (sigh) and several of her companies have tanked.
All this does not point to Police charges actually being laid I am afraid for this woman. At worst it looks like an affair or one-nighter gone terribly wrong. At the least, a woman scorned by men who wouldn't give her the access and power she would have liked to get ahead in her business. An evil piece of work indeed.
But once again we have to reserve final judgment until the Police make a statement regarding whether charges would be laid.
So far though the best comment comes from Richard Worth's own daughter 28 year old Virginia, complete with "strikingly beautiful" front page picture who claims:
"It's a pity [the complainant] has problems and needs help. I really, honestly hope she gets the help she needs."
Virginia looks thus far to be speaking the most sense of anyone and you can't help admiring her courage for fronting. Shame her father wasn't advised to do the same on the day the allegations broke and he may not have been crucified the entire week.
Fool Goff has now just turned the debate entirely to how Witness A presents and has diminished the sample-size of the identity of the witness to a handful of people.
Mr Goff said yesterday that the woman was strikingly beautiful. He said she first approached him on November 26 to seek his advice because she was a Labour Party member and Dr Worth had offered her a job as an ethnic affairs adviser. The concern she had with the nature of the contact developed as the messages continued.
And in the process now every red-blooded Kiwi male is thinking "Good on the old bugger (Worth) for having a crack". As they have little wet dreams over a hot exotic looking Indian lady. A lady we can now assume is used to unwanted attention from men adding fuel to the fire that she was not a total innocent in this clear set-up by the Labour Party.
Imagine a man from the centre-right of politics objectifying a woman as "strikingly beautiful". The left would be outraged.
Is it appropriate for a Party leader to be commenting on the physical appearance of one of his members? A member you are meant to be protecting the identity of? At what point did Goff feel the need to comment at all on her appearance? What possible context would it have been necessary to utter this stupid answer?
Would Helen Clark have ever described a man as "hunky and handsome"? Or even a woman as "strikingly beautiful". This is just awful from the heterosexual white middle class Fool.
Well done Fool. I wonder what the Labour Party feminazi wing thinks of your handling of this?
The description will only increase media intensity from the male set to find and interview this woman. Garner v Espiner v Sainsbury v Henry v Holmes. Who will be first?
Resign now Fool before the women of the Labour Party who are not "strikingly beautiful" push you.
While the VRWC called on Richard Worth to be kicked to touch months ago for his murky business affairs, the media are now interested to the point of delirium on his alleged sexual indiscretions.
As the media are well versed in sex rather than the academics of conflicts of interest and improper business conduct as they are all rooters over thinkers, it is little surprise they've all acted like dogs on heat. Men appearing on camera commenting about Worth's behaviour when many have over the years committed relationship atrocities on more than one woman.
Suddenly the Press got all moral and decided to slay the male. No analysis at all of the alleged victim's statement.
Today Witness A from Camp Goff came forward with a statement that deserves comment from a female who is not partial to jumping on the "kill a man" bandwagon. I repeat I have NOT been paid by Worth or his PR company (donations welcome), but I should be as we can put large question marks on the credibility and political motivation of this woman and Fool Goff in one post.
Let's have a look at Witness A's evidence. In her own words. I'm not interested in any other side of the story at this point as this is best evidence.
First up she answers a random text to meet him. Mistake number 1. At this point she had the chance to ignore the message and write it off to a weirdo. She didn't. She enjoys the attention and is flattered to be asked.
She CALLS the number and agrees to meet a man in an official position as Minister of Crown whom she has met during the October/November 2008 election campaign. First, how would he have known her number unless she gave it to him? Worth isn't that good and she's a pinko. Second, there is no mention she turned up with a friend or helper. She turned up aloneto meet a man she didn't know. Not asking for trouble but definitely not the actions of a female shrinking violet. Least of all meeting him at a Sylvia Park cafe. That's a tad trash. I would of at least made him take me somewhere salubrious and where I know friends were close by should the meeting turn nasty.
Worth at that point offers her a job as Ethnic Affairs advisor.
Back to Sunday afternoon February 22nd (checked my Amex receipts) as I was about to fly out that night but was boozing it up with a friend where Worth, a woman I assume to be his wife (as I have met Worth twice and he never even acknowledged my presence) and a blonde who I don't think was his daughter were sitting at Prego in the next table loudly and rather inappropriately discussing the possibilities of a posting for her to Colombia.
This is a man who tongue in cheek offers jobs I hear to everyone. At Umi one afternoon from hazy drunken memory he suggested that I go work for him when I first met him. That would have been his only good judgment call regarding staff in years as I would have made this Labour plant disappear. As a professional female over a lazy lunch men offer you jobs all the time, usually because they don't know that they can never afford you. I myself have been offered a position at the UN by a diplomat while on a long lunch in London. Did I take it seriously? Ergh no. Because I am not flattered with such stupidity.
She obviously never laughed and stated words similar to "hell no pervert", which is what I do in similar circumstances or laughed him off as being insane. Worth followed it up with more positions available and told her she had to quit Labour and join National. I don't think this is an unreasonable request. A Tory Minister couldn't possible be seen to be employing pinkos in these sorts of positions. At no point did he say "fuck me and I will give you a job" and the statement did not cover what Worth wanted in return for offering the job. At no point at this stage did she state "do not contact me again pervert". We assume or she would have included it in her statement that no doubt Fool Goff's office had a hand in writing.
Where is this supposed job-for-dirty-relationship accusation? It's not coming from Witness A.
Still obviously not stating "piss off Richard", she went overseas and Worth followed up her interest in employment possibilities. Nothing wrong with this. She's with her husband and two kids so I don't see how she could feel that uncomfortable. Even if he then went drunk in charge of a cellphone and recommended flirtations with skimpy clothing or holidays overseas. Remember before this point she hasn't said "no go away". She probably needs a job. Maybe stringing him along a bit. It takes her this long to deduce he was making sexual advances? Yeah. Okay how naive is this woman?
Worth then responds with "xxx" at the end of his messages. And the woman has to ask her husband what it means!! Oh dear. This woman really is thicker than a lift shaft. She states at that point she turned to her husband to ask what it means. So therefore having support of another man with this supposed horrible "sex pest". Shocking. She at this point wouldn't have told Worth to stop if what she claims is true - she had no idea that he was looking for a sexual relationship. At what point could she feel creeped out if she didn't even understand what a married man texting with "xxx" at the end of the message means? Did she grow up among Nuns?
Worth made drunk sexually explicit calls. What? While you were on holiday with your husband? Was the phone glued to your ear? Could you not state "please go fuck yourself Richard" and get rid of the man? Or hand the phone to your husband to deal with it? Nope, you answered the calls because YOU WANTED A JOB. And you thought Worth could give you one (job).
This woman (and presumably her husband) put up with this repeated harassment from 26 November through to 23 February. The day after I saw Worth at Prego. He apparently made 60 text messages and 40 phone calls! You are joking? A man makes one unwanted phone call with me and the expletives fly in the "combine sex and travel" method. He's married, could she not have threatened say after unwanted call number 19 not to call the four letter word starting with "w"(w.i.f.e) that his harassment was unwanted? Come ON!!
I have had actual affairs with married men and they don't CALL ME 40 times in four months! And the relationship is wanted. There's no way a professional man with a marriage at stake and a reputation to lose would make this many calls unless there was reciprocation of at least a friendly relationship.
What did they talk about for 40 phone calls? Did Worth just talk dirty down the phone for all those calls? What was between them to sustain 40 phone calls presumably about employment opportunities and what Worth would like to wear while they go swimming. Phone calls are not one way meetings of audio are they?
No the texts and phone calls were "unwanted". Dear...at what point? Call and text number 1 or call and text number 60 or 40? Come ON!!
So instead of her husband doing his job as a protector and sorting the "pervy" Dr Worth she whinged off to "Fill in" Goff and cried that Worth had harassed her. At what point? Call or text 1 or 60 or 40. Texts that she seems to have kept for some six months. Why?
She showed "respect" to Worth as he was an "older person" and a "Minister of the Crown". Oh rubbish. Respecting elders is a convention that went out with the dark ages and you are a Labour Party member for heaven's sake and he's a National Minister of the Crown! It's a breach of the Labour Party membership rules to show "respect" to any Tory. Let alone one as wet as Worth. You were nice to Worth the same reason plenty of women have been nice to older married men - as you thought he could GET YOU A JOB.
Your Labour Party membership hasn't ruined your credibility Dear, your own statement has. Little wonder John Key's staff deemed you a silly tart and ignored it without any substantive evidence to back up the nature of the conduct.
So some more Cactus Kate rules for women to live by:
1. If a man harasses you in any way, shape or form - either slap him, kick him in the nuts or tell your BOYFRIEND OR HUSBAND. Men are good at dealing with other men in this situation.
2. If you are single or a married man keeps harassing you in any way shape or form, simply threaten to CALL HIS WIFE. Hello anyone home in your head? As I'm sure Mrs Worth is kicking his backside all over the house at present for being so stupid as to deal with this vindictive nasty nutbar.
3. If that doesn't work, he's a complete WorzelGummidge so either make the call to the wife or call the phone company.
4. If that doesn't work, call the Police.
So called "feminists"' will argue a woman shouldn't have to be this assertive when dealing with "sex pests". I say you do and you owe it to yourself to go to these lengths to rid men who genuinely upset your life. The married man is the EASIEST to get rid of for heaven's sake. If you keep them in your life like this it is BECAUSE YOU WANT THEM IN IT.
Feminists will also cry of a "power imbalance" between an older man and a younger woman. I say poof to that. The man is married. Witness A had ALL the power in this situation, a portfolio of texts and call logs she deviously and cunningly stored for months such that she could produce as evidence of the behaviour to hang over a married man in a position where his reputation has to be of a high standard. And she seems to have done just that. To present the evidence to the wife pursuant to #2 to make him stop would have been acceptable had the harassment been that worrying or disgusting to someone as green as not knowing what "xxx" means.
If you do anything other than # 1-4 you are either too stupid to breathe or if your complaint is sent directly to the leader of an opposing political party then it is the very definition of being POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.
Women are employed in politics every day for how attractive they appear to their employer. Have a look at the hot babes in the office termed "Charlie Wilson's War Room". Sure they may be capable but that shaggy-dog looking Minister does not employ mingers. It is his personal standard. Winston Peters had an eye for the ladies, didn't do him any harm. Have a look at TVNZ and TV3 newsrooms. The "casting couch" (for himbos and bimbos) is well and alive. Women play the game as well as the men. Rich or powerful connected old men give them jobs. They flirt with that man to get the job. Transaction complete. It doesn't mean the man wishes to have sex with the woman. He just likes something pleasant to come to work to look at. Millions of women are employed for this very reason where form over substance has taken over. It's worked for the gender as a whole and made unemployable halfwits employable for years.
Richard Worth should have been sacked for his shady business dealings or even perhaps the criminal complaint to come that I reserve judgment on until the facts are in ........but this woman is an amateur time waster.
The alleged harassment ceased on 23 February, it took three months in total for the woman to complain and Fool Goff to send this to the PM in May. The woman instructed Goff she didn't wish to take the complaint public, but told him wanting Goff to tell Worth's boss? Whatever. Vindictive. We can safely assume that she wasn't offered the job!
Questions need to now be asked about the motivation behind this complaint and whether it was from Fool Goff's office.
I trust the criminal allegations from Witness B are far more credible than this or Worth was hung out to dry for nothing when he should have been sacked as a Minister over his murky and bumbling professional rather than personal dealings months ago.
The worst thing I can see that Worth did pursuant to Witness A's evidence is offer a pinko activist a job. That on its own should be enough to expel him from the National Party.
Update: - Fool Goff knew about Witness A's issues with Worth as early as last year. So one has to raise the question:
Did Phil Goff's failure to report the allegations to John Key then contribute to the situation where we now have in March 2009, a Witness B alleging a crime was committed against her?
Fool Goff could have stopped Worth in his tracks late 2008/early 2009. He didn't and another woman allegedly suffered at the hands of Richard Worth.
Yum. "Strikingly beautiful" beefcake.
