John Key’s all but endorsement of Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker last night indicates how out of touch he is with Christchurch voters. Key attended a widely-promoted ‘John and Bob’ gathering at Sticky Fingers in Christchurch last night, their handshake making the front page of The Press. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/4034228/Praise-from-PM-but-no-endorsement
Key praises Parker as having done “a very good job.”
Ok, as a Labour MP I’m not dispassionate here. I totally support Jim Anderton’s bid (though I will say Parker is an extraordinarily gifited speaker and his full-time unpaid Mayoress wife Jo deserves better than to be remembered for having muffins and coffee with the Mayor – (even Key referred to ‘muffingate’ last night)
Point is that it’s not just Labour supporters who are openly saying they want to see Parker go. So are card-carrying Nats and many others. On Monday my dentist, just returned from his European holiday, couldn’t wait to say how much he wanted to see a change. Last night at Saunders Unsworth’s bash, yet another senior Christcurch business leader told me he won’t be voting for Parker. His reason? The way Parker responded to criticism of the $17m bail-out of property developer Dave Henderson. To compound matters for Parker, ‘Hendo’, once praised, defended and befriended by Rodney Hide, has recently been exposed as having not paid IRD for the GST on the $17m paid to him. So ratepayers and taxpayers are both out of pocket from the deal.
Add to that, the council’s attempt to hike council tenants’ rents by 24% in one go (defeated in the High Court) and the $3m purchase of the “Ellerslie” flower show for Christchurch, have all led to a city-wide view that Bob has to go. Not that Jim is resting on his laurels; he has had a large and vigorous campaign team from before his launch several weeks ago capitalising on the mood for change.
Key’s handshake alingment with Parker at Sticky Fingers might be a touch of the tar baby for both of them.
Im sure when it comes to the crunch people will vote for Parker because their dislike for him is less than their dislike for Anderton.
Parker gets blamed for a lot of things but he was just one vote .
Their are a lot of councillors in Christchurch who have been promoted past their level of competency.
I have never liked Jim Anderton but his wife was a very competent lady who veiwed issues for what they were not for any particular ideology.
Parker is more concerned with what car he gets to drive
Key’s handshake alingment with Parker at Sticky Fingers might be a touch of the tar baby for both of them.
Leaving aside the distasteful racial association with your terminology, I guess you’d say it’s exactly the same as Helen Clark and Gary Moore?
Once a loser always a loser, and so on?
Developers not paying GST ? Not surprised as they seem to avoid that normally by using a financial transaction, ie buying or selling shares in the company that owns the building.
The other trick for developers not to pay personal income tax by only getting ‘loans’ from the business for personal expenses
Super Jim for Mayor!
!
Deleted Offensive and defamatory. You are warned Jeremy. Clare
Hi Brendon, wrong “Hendo” it’s the Auckland one that goes by that nickname. Can be spotted by the permantely attached Panama hat…
Phil, the tar baby analogyis straight out of Brer Rabbit! And political leaders are of course free to choose who to associate with and endorse, it’s just they usually back winners.
And Hendo is the name also given to Chch-based developer Dave Henderson, who it seems, is very well connected.
the tar baby analogy is straight out of Brer Rabbit!
Yes, I know that. It was my favourite story as a little kid I made my Dad do different voices for all the characters… but I digress.
As with much language, meanings morph over time. The modern definition and usage is most certainly offensive.
Anyway, despite being familiar with the story, I’m struggling to see how it’s even relevant. Is Key the Briar Patch for Parker’s Rabbit?
Curious – what’s your position on whether Anderton should resign as an MP if elected Mayor? Double-dipping much?
Maybe he’s trying to avoid a by election, like a good dawg
Jim has repeatedly said he’ll donate one salary to Christchurch charities when he wins on October 9
That Jim, what a Super guy
Jim has repeatedly said he’ll donate one salary to Christchurch charities when he wins on October 9
Oh, for f-sake, Brendon!
Being an electorate MP is a Full Time Job.
Being Mayor is a Full Time Job.
It is simply not possible for Jim to undertake both roles, at the same time, with any degree of competency.
Jim Anderton’s views on flouridation are not popular in ChCh.Unfortunately ,his wife has ”history”with some ex shop keepers in Selwyn St. These people still talk to one another. She may have forgotten but they certainly haven’t. She may well turn out to be his biggest liabilty.
The line that the Mayor is “only one vote” is nonsense. The Mayor sets the agenda of Council and with HIS CEO and his senior management team can elevate and frustrate councillors and their agendas. Besides, most of the current councillors have been only too willing to back Bob’s adventures this term.
Most of Bob’s team have gone a bit AWOL on him now its election time, but if they get back in they’ll cosy up again for more of the same.
It is fascinating that The Press reports 3 Councillors as being at the “let them eat cake” gag session between the Mayor and John Key but does not name them. Who are the three remaining loyalists?
Fascinating to see all the old guard pollies of Auckland trotting out for the bigger, more powerful, higher pay packet Coucnil jobs…were the old council positions too lowly for them???
@Theresaj – Oh no, I hope he’s not in favour of forcing that bleepin health threatening neurotoxing into the water!
No one should have industrial waste chucked into their water! The elderly have fragile bones and don’t need the bleepin flurosis! 