Today, I briefly thought we might get an answer to the question I posed last week about who actually leaked Tau Henare’s email . This was the question that was put by media to Tau Henare, but his only response was to describe Rodney Hide as a ‘buffoon’ and a ‘jerk-off’. Oh dear.
The tail truly is wagging the dog here. From Rodney Hide and Pita Sharples answers in the House today we learn that the reason John Key went to see Hide in early June was to see how he would feel about a possible deal Key was doing with the Maori Party on Maori seats. Hide told him that he would have to resign as Minister if that happened, and lo and behold no deal is done. Key has acknowledged that Hide’s threat was ‘ a factor’ in the Cabinet decision. I think this reflects poorly on Key’s leadership, and Hide must be delighted that he can play the PM in this way with 3% of the vote behind him.
Meanwhile the Select Committee process on this issue seems to be utterly irrelevant. I actually feel really sorry for John Carter who in my observation has done a great job with the Committee, and the other members who put in so much time. Above all I think the submitters and the Committee were owed the courtesy of the Select Committee finalising its report before announcements were made. Alas no, somewhere between Rodney tossing his toys, Tau losing the plot and John doing a flip-flop, the Parliamentary process went out the window.
As part of this debate are the revelations of boundary changes. Now Rodney (County) has a rapidly growing area of pretty prosperous development – including some very prominent property owners in places like Matakana and Omaha. Now, if being part of the Greater Auckland Super City was to impact on planning and other issues, what benefits might there be by be separating from the behemoth?
And here was me thinking that John actually had some balls. Well, let’s see what the Maori Party has to say about this, though they have proved themselves pretty toothless so far.
Tau Henare is a great example of the downside of giving people positions based on race.
Good on Rodney Hide for putting a stake in the sand.
Why in gods name T
Tau Henare is a great example of the downside of giving people positions based on race.
Good on Rodney Hide for putting a stake in the sand.
Nice to see that Rodney could take Tau Henare’s rude comments he made yesterday and not end up punching the guy.
Good on Rodney – Top man!
It made for great TV