At some stage John Key has to make clear that the taxpayer has not subsidised Michael Jones’ trip to the pacific given the fact that Key is promoting him as a candidate for the next election.
At some stage John Key has to make clear that the taxpayer has not subsidised Michael Jones’ trip to the pacific given the fact that Key is promoting him as a candidate for the next election.
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 8:23 am and is filed under national. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I am sure you were equally disgusted at the taxpayer funding Labour’s ‘rejuvenation” by giving the dynamic Dianne Yates all those tax payer appointments in return for her retirement from Parliament
I don’t think that Michael Jones should stand as a candidate. It’s not that I don’t like him, I do. But that is the problem. He is a well loved New Zealander and I think that it would stain his reputation, as it would for any NZ celebrity. Whereas as at the moment he is regarded as a former top rugby player, he would become “that bloody National MP”.
Recent examples Steele, Thorne & Laidlaw didn’t really have stellar careers.
I read somewhere the PM’s holiday companions paid a token $200 for the pacific plane ride, so it stands to reason there is a hefty taxpayer subsidy. The media seem to have different rules for John Key, sort of like those applied at the time to George W Bush. They expected him to say and do dumb things, so when he did, he was never called on it.
So Jones is the next political football! I’m not sure how he’d tackle the job of being an mp, at least he’d be used to staring at an opposition. – I think it’s kinda tacky though – the all black vote!
Maybe we could look forward to a haka at the beginning of sessions in the house.
Wasn’t he linked to the Christian Coalition in the 1996 election?
Its just sad that so many of you cannot see part him as a rugby player.
He has achieved a lot since leaving the rugby field and personally I believe that both National and Labour would benefit from having more people like him in their parties.
We can see past him as a (great) rugby player. But does John Key really want us to do that?
Michael Jones is an ultra-conservative who strongly opposes (for example) civil unions and the Section 59/child discipline law. Is that National’s message?
You should Ben Couch to that list, Trev.
Ben was b4 my time, just. Didn’t go back into ancient history. Trevor
Trevor, and don’t forget Paul Quinn, a genuine drop kick if ever there was one.
My mate Paul was never an All Black – prob a couple of inches short. Trevor
It’s an interesting question, Mr Mallard.
Was Steve Maharey using the appointment of Rajen Prasad as a families commissioner in 2004 as an opportunity to recruit him to the Labour Party?
How about Charles Chauvel’s appointments to the Lotteries Commission and as deputy Chair of Meridian Energy?
Or should we forget Clare Curran’s controversial appointment to the Environment Ministry following Madeleine Setchell’s sacking?
It looks as though Michael Jones paid his own way on the trip, Mr Mallard. It doesn’t appear you have any evidence that the bill was footed by the taxpayer, in the same vein that you didn’t have any evidence when you accused Melissa Lee of misusing taxpayer funds or failing to declare a conflict of interest with NZOA.
It is quite common for prime ministers to lead large delegations to the Pacific, including significant leaders. There are few New Zealanders who are better known in Samoa than Michael Jones.
[link]
Of course, with reference to Michael Jones, I can quote you a former Labour minister, who had this to say about him:
It seems to me that it’s okay to make the most of all black legends, as long as they’re on your side.
Tim, that last quote (according to a quick Google) is from the launch of a Pacific Youth Development strategy. That is not quite a trip to the Islands, that is a pretty ugly strawman from you. The point is about whether he is on a taxpayer-funded or subsidised trip, not whether it is ok to receive his support.
“It looks as though Michael Jones paid his own way on the trip, Mr Mallard.”
Where does it look like that, Tim? Did you get his receipts along with the recipts of the hip-hop tour group?
Maynard J, the Herald reported:
That sounds to me like Mr Jones paid his own way.
Michael Jones aligning himself with National/Key has damaged his credibility already out West Auckland, which is really sad. Some PI families already have Identified him as a turn coat
So called stars or Icons getting involved in politics hardly ever works as their reputation takes the nocks.
I wonder what his position was on the Spring Bok Tour????? or Nuclear Free NZ ??????? or how he thinks we should treat the unemployed, these are the folk Jesus referred to as the poor.
Michael would be well advised to stay out of politics while he may be flattered by smiley John it will all end in tears if he does go down the politician tract.
Key is using Jones to try and build his own credibility, really sad stuff.
Michael Jones is on Family First’s Board of Reference. It’s an easy argument that, like Christine Rankin, this is part of National’s payment for the help of the anti-anti-smacking lobby, the anti-EFA lobby, the crime-n-punishment lobby, and the traditional-values lobby.
I should probably say that I reckon it’s actually a single lobby with multiple public faces, and National owes it big time.
Tim: “Mr Key said those accompanying him would not pay for the flight, but were expected to meet their own costs for accommodation and other expenses.”
So, taxpayer-subsidised. I do not really begrude that in of itself at all if it is of benefit to NZand these pacific countries.
I guess it is up for us to decide whether this is crossing a line, though, the electioneering while on tour. I think the committee apointments are chalk and cheese. I also can not remember someone being appointed to such a committee and being welcomed into the job by the PM with a comment such as “We’d love to have him stand as a candidate. If he was to put his hand up, I think he would be a very welcome addition to the National Party caucus. But in the end the ball’s in his court.”
‘Mr Jones said later that he had no plans to stand as yet but could not definitely rule out doing so in the future.
He described Mr Key as a “progressive thinker” with a strong commitment to economic development in the Pacific, with a need for social benefits’.
we all know about Mr Key’s ’strong commitments’ – they’re about as strong as his understanding of economic development and social benefits (for him they’re a contradiction in terms if we are to believe everything else he says)- does the Pacific really want to experience his interpretation. Somebody should explain to the Pacific how that works in Johnkey world!
“Couple of inches short” to be an All Black yet had all the intellectual grunt needed to become a National MP. Go figure!
WilleyC
You don’t need intellect to be a National MP
I suppose it depends to a certain extent on position in both politics and rugby. There is no doubt that the best No8 of our time Zinzan Brooke was really smart as well as having exceptional skills. Sir Brian is prob the other standout No8 and he too is very intelligent.
Parliament is after all a House of Representatives and Paul represents a significant group of New Zealanders.
I should just make it clear that while I disagree with Michael Jones’ view on lots of issues and some of his values I am not suggesting that he is either uncaring or unintelligent.
[Edited, personal - admin]
So Michael Jones went to the South Seas with the Pm and he might have an eye for parliament.
He’ll do a better job than you and in my estimation [Edited, personal - admin].
To be frank I hope he does [Edited, abuse - admin].
[Final warning Mike. Disagreement is fine, personal abuse is not - admin]