The Dom Post has made quite a bit of a story today about Bill English’s crown car and security car illegally parking in Wellington while the Finance Minister has a haircut. I would actually cut English a bit of slack on being driven the couple of blocks to have his locks chopped in this case as he was suffering from a painful back injury this week. But there is no need for his cars to stay parked illegally and using space reserved for people with disabilities. Its not that hard for the cars to find somewhere else to go. And is it really necessary for the Diplomatic Protection Squad to even be there anyway?
But two questions arise. With due respect to Bill he mostly looks, as my mother would say, as if he has been dragged through a hedge backwards. Is he really getting value for money here? And are there really no good hairdressers in Dipton, I mean that is where Bill lives isn’t it?
LOL
Grant, the expression I grew up with is; dragged through a “gorse bush” backwards. Do you think there’s a suburban difference in expressions in Dunedin? We were living up in Wakari, across the road from gorse, so maybe that’s why. You were living in South Dunedin, where there’s more hedges?
I reckon Bill English would have grown up with a fair bit of gorse.
Plus, I wonder if there’s a decent cheese roll to be had in Dipton?
Actually, there is a hairdresser in Dipton, called Junction Hair Design. I just did a search. South Hillend-Dipton West. Surely that can’t be too far from where Bill “lives”. The phone number is 034349761
Firstly, have you been to Dipton? I suspect there is not a good hairdresser there – and I suggest if there was he would have got it heaps cheaper.
Secondly, why does he need DPS? Why would someone waste their time…
On a final note, I have no issue with the car taking him if he hurt his back – makes sense – but to park in that park – please – thats just lazy on the drivers part. Have they not heard of a cell phone to say – need you to pick me up in 5? (I guess tho, to be fair, if hes acting PM and there is a security issue he would need to go fast…stil…)
@Clare. There were a lot of hedges in South Dunedin so that might be it. I still regard South Dunedin as the spiritual home of the cheese roll, and indeed the mutton pie. That’s my excuse for a lifetime of weight problems anyway!
Serious question – does he need DPS to escort him 600 metres in Wellingto? is this normal practice?
@Paul November 28, 2009 at 12:52 pm
“I have no issue with the car taking him if he hurt his back”
He’s hurt is back so he CAN’T SIT DOWN.
In which case walking has to be safer and more comfortable than going in a car!
@Harry. Under the Nats DPS are everywhere. I know Helen had them with her regularly but not in the numbers John Key does. Michael Cullen as Deputy and Acting PM never had them with him as far as I can remember. The most bizarre aspect is the heavy presence of DPS inside Parliament. I really don’t get that, and as an MP I find it kind of offensive too.
It used to crack me up when I saw Michael Cullen walking to work by himself even while he was acting PM. That kind of thing makes NZ special. I’ve never understood why English has such a large DPS team, and on an even more quirky level, why he travels in CR1 while the PM is away. Once again I don’t think I ever saw Michael Cullen travel in CR1. Perhaps Bill just likes to pretend?
Most people with a loyal dog find if they leave the the dog behind in the car they immediately sit in the drivers seat to wait for your return. Bill is just doing the same with CR1.
Just as well the Dalai Lama didnt turn up in the barbers. Bill would have had to make a run for it
The irony is the name of the Salon.A place in San Francisco where you went to join those who don’t want a haircut.
Interested to know the cost increase/decreae for DPS this year. Any figures?
And someone needs to tell Bill that walking is often the best thing for a bad back…
Back injury? Bill’s not doing as his physio will have suggested – keep active, walk as much as possible. Sitting in a car is the worst thing to do. Sitting in a chair at the hairdressers wouldn’t have been much better – the sacrifices that man makes for his country…
Of course Bill could have killed two birds with one stone by walking to the hairdressers. Everyone knows walking keeps you trim.
I don’t think this is a huge story: after all, it’s not like Bill English did something terrible, like when the Labour Ministers were a lead story on the TV news (I kid you not) simply by walking to a caucus meeting, in Wellington. Ah, those were the days: every unwiped nose became proof of a “tired” and “out of touch” government (repeated ad nauseam).
So anyway, is John Key still sending out cards with his forged signature? Because that would be a scandalous “-gate”, right?
I think we should be told.
I have a friend who ran into Helen twice walking through the tracks of the Waitakere ranges un-accompanied by DPS!
If Dipton really wants to save the country some money he should come and see me when he’s next in Aucks. I’ll cut his hair for free, if he doesn’t mind it westie style (put in a couple racing stripes or corn-braids}.
@ Sammy’
No ,maybe not a huge story, majority of news rarely is in NZ but it is minor news when our Minsters (acting or not) don’t want to take responsibility for disrespect, like moving out of a disabled park. TV3 think it worthy of a mention. This piece was posted as humour not major breaking news like Tiger Woods all over MSM.
Need Edit button! Minsters= Ministers but I quite like the Minsters
Last weekend I saw Sam Lotu-Iiga’s car, with National branding and his face on it, parked in a 10 minute spot for about an hour in Onehunga. Not sure if it got a ticket. What was particularly annoying was that the event he was at (St Peter’s Parish Fair, which was fantastic) was held in a venue right by a big carpark with free 2 hour parks which he could just have easily have used. (And then he would have been able to park in the shade too). Perhaps he doesn’t know the area well enough to know that?
As someone who used to be pretty ill and literally couldn’t go to the library if I couldn’t get a park close enough, I have zero tolerance for people who park in disabled spots. I don’t care if it’s only for a couple of minutes, suck it up and move on.
As for Bills back injury, did he claim for physio under ACC ? ….. is the pope catholic?
Deleted. Offensive. Banned for trolling. Clare
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