Daily review 07/07/2020

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 137 comments
Categories: Daily review

Daily review is also your post.

This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

137 comments on “Daily review 07/07/2020”

Comment numbers have changed to permanent references. Older quoted numbers may no longer identify the same comment.

  1. 1

    So it turns out that Hamish Walker might just be a contemptible little weasel's arsehole. Who'd have thought it.

        1. 1.1.1.1

          Not quite Gabby, Muller sez "while awaiting the results of the inquiry", weak leader, what a shambles.

      2. 1.1.2

        Really?

        There was the pretty good photo actually of Muller and co. at Cardrona the other day announcing one of the few policies they have, the 'Tourism Accelerator". Ruining it was one guy in a cap who looked like a naughty schoolboy – Hamish Walker.

      3. 1.1.3

        He hasn't sacked him, he's given the portfolios to someone else while the Inquiry is happening, at the same time minimising the seriousness of Walker's actions.

        Given Walker's racist press statement the other day, it's bizarre he hasn't been permanently demoted. Might be time for National to look for another Clutha/Southland candidate, but I won't hold my breath.

        https://twitter.com/justinCgio/status/1280374877405364224

        1. 1.1.3.1

          @weka

          Fair enough. Given that Walker will hold the seat anyway, Muller has under-reacted there. No loss to him if Walker is on the back benches for 2 months, he's hardly a Bridges.

          1. 1.1.3.1.1

            I guess it shows us what to expect. Bennett had form on this, she's gone, but obviously National consider privacy breaches to be a minor matter.

            1. 1.1.3.1.1.1

              @weka

              Have a listen to RNZ this morning,Privacy commissioner say politicans have some sort of immunity re- leaking info,not just parlimentary privilage.

              Also how about supporting people with dis-ablitys on this site and have a spell check,it is 2020. Dyslexic count, do you know how long it can take just too write a wee note like this,or shall I give up,is that the idea.

              regards Alex

              1. 1.1.3.1.1.1.1

                thanks, will have a listen when I get the chance. Am pretty happy that the PC is very unhappy about what has happened, both Walker and Boag.

                I agree about the spell check, I will ask Lynn when he is around.

              2. 1.1.3.1.1.1.2

                Hi LFD,

                I have dyslexia and use the Grammarly addon for chrome which works here. It's also available for other platforms too. I only use the free version and it suits my needs. Hope it helps.

                The chrome browser extension is here

                And for other platforms etc check it out here.

              3. 1.1.3.1.1.1.3

                Hi Alex,

                This may or may not help.

                Pressing Ctrl and right clicking on words marked as spelling errors should bring up the browsers usual menu. In most browsers that will bring up the browsers dictionary support. Just found that gem…

                Being a programmer and mildly dyslexic myself, I have been using the "Source" when I want to fix words because the right click context menu works well there.

                But I’ll have a look around for other server side tools that may help.

          1. 1.1.3.2.1

            Clutha Southland, I'm not so sure about that. Although after young Toddy as well, maybe there will be a swing.

            1. 1.1.3.2.1.1

              Amy Adams is probably looking for a seat to get back in after the election. She has a house in Cromwell which is now in Clutha Southland after the boundary changes this year.

                  1. 1.1.3.2.1.1.1.1.1

                    Ought we to feel some compassion for the true-blue Nats of Clutha-Southland, who must be feeling sick to their stomachs with this latest exposure; Todd Barclay, Sarah Dowie, and now Hamish Walker?

                    Or not?

                    2. 1.1.3.2.1.1.1.1.1.2

                      bout time they did something about it then. National have the same dilemma as Labour now, their party has been taken over and it will take a lot to set it right.

                    3. 1.1.3.2.1.1.1.1.1.3

                      Brought it to the attention of my fellow councillors – met resistance to the idea that the behaviour of MPs is of concern to local body politicians smiley

                    5. 1.1.3.2.1.1.1.1.1.5

                      just the ones they know 😉

                      Are you following what's happening with the ORC and Hobbs?

                      (lol, I feel there should be a LotR pun in there somewhere).

                    6. 1.1.3.2.1.1.1.1.1.6

                      Council staff are often referred to as 'the orcs', especially when they have their enforcement hats on. I've seen a couple of instances, fires mainly, where it was quite apt. Fortunately not directly on the receiving end. A few texts do the rounds warning of orcs abroad or at the gate….

    2. 1.2

      …and on RNZ just now …it was leaked to Walker by Michelle Boag.

      Same old Dirty Politics.

          2. 1.2.1.1.2

            Not much at all. Jeez, I dunno – get a gift of a juicy story and turn it into a cause for complaining some more. Tedious, really.

            Try Kim Hill and Nicola Willis this morning. Now that's RNZ quality.

            1. 1.2.1.1.3.1

              She was answering emails too and this was commented on. She said she was multitasking. Obviously she was getting ready for the storm.

                1. 1.2.1.1.3.1.3.1

                  About 4:30 or so. Wallace Chapman made a comment about her emails making a sound and she said she was multitasking.

      2. 1.2.2

        Acquired in her role as acting CEO of the rescue helicopter trust.

        There's still the question as to why the trust had patient-identifed data sent to it, e.g. was it an analyst screw up or did it have a genuine need for that information.

        And if the trust got the data in error, did Boag or anyone else report this to the data supplier, or did she run straight to her party? lol even odds either way?

        1. 1.2.2.1

          I'm assuming they had it in case they needed to transport someone fro quarantine.

          why would Boag have access to it though?

          1. 1.2.2.1.1

            It depends on how big the admin team is, I suspect. If it's five tiers below her, there might be vertical compartmentalisation issues for the trust to look at.

            But if the acting CEO was actually working for a living in a small team and helping develop the staffing plans if any of those folk need air transport, she might have reasonably legitimate access. Or maybe someone emailed her going "I got sent this, seems to be more than I should receive, what should I do?" And her response speaks for itself.

            1. 1.2.2.1.1.1

              I would have thought the people who would need the list ahead of time would be whoever manages the call outs, and the staff that go on call outs. I guess Boag could be hands on in that management.

              The second scenario makes sense, although the person emailing shouldn't have emailed the information, but described it instead.

              1. 1.2.2.1.1.1.1

                I mean, if I got something I felt completely out of my depth on and the boss says "give it all to me, I'll handle it", suddenly all my problems are solved because the managers will be the ones doing battle.

                But those are the causes of the train:car collision, and investigators need to confirm that all the signals are working, the car was functioning normally, the drivers were all sob – holy crap, that train had three wagonloads of illegal ammunition and weapons?! And they belonged to the people who reported the crash to make a point about the safety of that level crossing?! WTF???

                That's the sort of vibe I'm having at the moment, lol.

    3. 1.3

      Just sacked from his current shadow cabinet roles or dumped as the candidate as well hopefuilly?

    4. 1.4

      There are some idiots around 😱

      Pity there is not stronger support for the 3 strikes rules, from my reckoning that this is his 2nd.

      1. 1.4.1

        It's OK, he belongs to the 'personal rsponsibility' party. I am sure his leader will sort it out. /sarc.

    5. 1.5

      The news says ( Acting chief executive of Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust Michelle Boag has confirmed she gave the patient details to Walker. )

      So it was National people all the way trying to do a hit job on the current government.

      She has fallen on her sword according to the news article, but I think should face charges for using her position to access those detail.

      https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/national-mp-hamish-walker-admits-leaking-covid-19-patient-details/ar-BB16q0uY?li=BBqdg4K

      1. 1.5.1

        The info went to her private email, until we know who sent it to her I am not buying her story at all.

          1. 1.5.1.1.1

            I am guessing burner phone, so not work related at all.

            From lines about the spreadsheet not being protected, an external to work hack is inferred. Of course that might be to protect a NP source at some level within the public service or management regime.

  2. 2

    The Electoral Commission once again bowing to the powerful elite.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/election-2020-electoral-commission-finds-jacinda-ardern-aroha-posters-are-political-ads-not-art.html

    "Under the Electoral Act, party advertisements require a promoter statement and the written authorisation of the party," the commission spokesman said.

    Obvious answer is to put the required "promoter statement and the written authorisation of the party" on it and stick them up on every street corner!

    Similar to the, 'Let's do this' moment, she grabbed something real, popular and already in existence and ran with it. Do the same here, Hayden!

    And get them in the Labour shop, I'll buy one.

    1. 2.1

      The Electoral Commission was found to be wrong in banning Darren Watson's Planet Key song.

      To my mind this poster is way more apolitical than the song.

  3. 3

    And Michelle Boag. What a shocker. Errors of judgment all around apparently. Nothing to do with being vile little shits. Horrible, horrible people.

  4. 4

    Boag gave the info to Walker who passed it on to media.

    How Boag got it is now the issue – she says it came to her as CEO of Auckland of Rescue HelicopterTrust. I am not sure if this credible, time will tell.

      1. 4.1.1

        And why was it sent to her private email address if it was related to her role as CEO of that Trust?

        Heron needs to identify the sender of that email before Boag accidently deletes it. And if the sender used a burner phone etc and Boag could not identify who sent it …., why would she think it was related to her work …

        My suspicion is she is protecting a National Party asset, the question is where MOH, or in the border security system, or …

    2. 4.2

      Clearly shows there is a Nat plant in the ministry. Got to get them out as they must have breached all those forms they signed when they were hired.

  7. 7

    On track and trace monitoring.

    Maybe the MOH needs to look at a system for monitoring the Apple and Android apps that have come out about a month back.

    In this regard, one should note the USA is no longer taking in Indian IT migrants under their H-1B visa, and the government should look at bringing in IT expertise – US IT workers (leaving a commmunity spread environment) and a few of the Indian migrant workers (around 60,000 a year) shut out of the US employment market.

  8. 8

    Wonder if Muller knew earlier in thw week when he was failing to comment on the matter?

    What a shambles and lack of Leadership in the National Party.

    1. 8.1

      They tried to dismiss an investigation as politics to deter it, but once Heron had those powers to question people they were done.

    1. 9.1

      Clutha Southland will still go Gnatsy. The prick would probably get credit for his 'honesty' as well as his racism.

  10. 10

    Farrar watch:

    Farrar attempted to soften this earlier on today. He went down the avenue that the real crime is that the information wasn't password protected.

    I see that Nats are now using this line.

    Farrar = Dirty Politics.

        1. 10.1.1.1

          Walker said he had received legal advice that he had not committed any criminal offence.

          "The information that I received was not password-protected by the Government. It was not stored on a secure system where authorised people needed to log on. There was no redaction to protect patient details, and no confidentiality statement on the document. "By exposing a significant privacy issue I hope the Government will improve its protocols and get its safeguards right."

          Article link: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12346280

          They are running the same line they did with the Treasury leak, the Bishop snoop. The racist dog whistler is now claiming he was doing us a service.

          His defence is that the information was not secure. Yet Boag is claiming it came to her on a private email to her in her work capacity. Something does not add up.

          Their lines are NOT in synch.

          2. 10.1.1.1.2

            The information that I received was not password-protected by the Government. It was not stored on a secure system where authorised people needed to log on.

            Yeah, I'd say that the lawyer giving that advice needs to go back to school.

            Stealing from an open house is still stealing. Same would apply here.

            And I'd say that it propably was stored on a secure system – until it was removed from that system and sent to Boag.

            1. 10.1.1.1.2.1

              It's also personal information relating to a patient of our health system, which I thought was about as private and confidential as it comes.

              1. 10.1.1.1.2.1.1

                Any boy who graduated from a Good School should know what is correct behaviour and not look for excuses for exposing people's private information to others, that’s nasty hacking stuff. . Or was he home-schooled? There is no excuse Walker, get your boots on and go. And take your granny dolly with you.

  11. 11

    Still nothing on the story at the Herald, don't want to know, don't want to tell – waiting for National to prepare a cover up they can run with?

    2. 11.2

      Don't be silly, it's been there since before 6.

      Too many commenters here buy into media conspiracies. It's a big story so it gets covered.

      The opining idiots (Hosking et al) are not the reporters.

      1. 11.2.1

        When I posted the main story was the one on Trump's twitter post. And the only breaking news was the new cases in Victoriaa.

  12. 12

    Bridges relieved he lost to Muller – let the resignations flow. Anyone feeling for Hooton?

    Maybe there’s a book in it: The Hollow Men – Dirty Politics – Dirtier Politics: How attack politics is still poisoning New Zealand’s political environment

    Have felt for some time that Boag is naturally 100% pure poison – surely now Wallace can finally stop inviting her back to appear on The Panel.

  13. 13

    Well, well, well. Sleaze, dishonesty, sheer nastiness – the adjectives coming like a tsunami.

    To see Muller and the Woodhouse twerp on the news tonight trying to be so serious was pathetic and laughable.

    And speaking of Woodhouse, his toilet seat with Clare Curran on it is disgusting. And now he says he can't remember it. Despicable.

  14. 14

    Many of us foresaw that Dirty Politics was going to be rife this year. The Nats will go to any lengths to grab the reins of power. Not the least bit surprised Michelle Boag is implicated.

    And no thought for the distress it must have caused the targeted individuals.

  15. 15

    dirty lady…

    Clean out your mess before you leave your dirty dirty scene – National Girl !

    Hose out the Helicopter and disinfect it before you leave it – Mrs dirty Boag

  16. 16

    I had a nasty feeling that Muller would be manoeuvred out and it would be Nikki Kaye as leader in a head-on with Jacinda… replicating Labour's manoeuvre last election.

    Of course, I may be wrong…

  17. 17

    "National- Putting the Shame in Shambles".

    Unbelievable. From the top down. I hope the enquiry hunts them all the miscreants down and sheets the responsibility home.

    Resignations, repudiations, renewal.

    National needs time in the wilderness to reassess, to discover its soul, to reflect and repent.

    And discover decency.

  18. 18

    Wonder how Boag got the spreadsheet? If it was done in a way that looks / is malicious (as opposed to ‘shambles’), then Nats are done for. Yay!

  19. 19

    Todmunter will be disappointed that Winsterfirst seemingly has bagsies on Arron Banks and his crew of lying little shits.

  20. 20

    This is just the tip of the iceberg. Why did someone supply Boag with the list? Why did she pass the list on to Walker, and who else – apart from the media – received a copy of the list?

    If Boag is telling the truth (?) and she didn't know Walker had given it to the media then what was the original plan of action? Was it just going be left lying around in strategic places?

    The mind boggles at the potential scenarios. 😮

    1. 20.1

      Walker is saying he made claims about govt covid systems and needed to back that up so gave the details to the media. So it's conceivable Boag hadn't intended that esp given Walker is a loose unit. Otoh, it's inconceivable the statements today weren't coordinated, so why should we trust anything any of them say? Boag makes a better apology but she made this bed so will have to lie in it either way.

    2. 20.2

      If to her in her work role, why by email to her private email?

      And if Walker's claim the spreadsheep was not protected, why presume the person who accessed it did so in their official work role?

      Now let's go back to the snooping on Treasury budget information before the official release.

      Synergy – like twins born the same day – lets illuminate. Barclay and Bishop came from the same background. Both from uni to work in parliament then onto the same job corporate affairs for an Auckland based international tobacco corporate (where there is dirty smoke …) before to parliament as MP's in the same year 2014. Barclay has since been replaced by Walker. For mine Heron should invite Bishop to speak to him.

  22. 22

    The leak might not be illegal but wasn't there something in the Privacy Act that it was illegal to disseminate information which you had no legal right to have – or something?

        2. 22.1.1.2

          Seems to also be a likely breach of s92U of the Health Act 1956, but again I can't find any penalty for it:

          Despite anything in the Privacy Act 1993, information provided or obtained under a direction under this Part may not be used or disclosed by anyone except for the effective management of infectious diseases, but nothing in this section limits the right of an individual to access or disclose information about him or her under that Act or any other Act.

          The suspicious thing to me is that it turned up in her personal email by itself, even though it was part of her role (apparently). So she didn't actually steal the data, because she didn't remove it from the Trust's systems herself. Wasn't that lucky for her? /sarc

    2. 22.2

      Boag said she got it in her role of Rescue Helicopter, yet the info went to her private email – from whom we do not yet know.

      1. 22.2.1

        I think we need to borrow one of those Police Helicopters until election time and have it hovering over various National Party people – as you would with potential criminals. Just think of the loot that the police could restrain? – lots of deckchairs and lounges and nice cars and expensive clothes and properties and….

      1. 23.2.1

        Hoo boy, weka! as a distraction from what?

        What 'indiscretion' needs distraction by a cheetah-sized dead cat in the guise of a former President of the National Party, heavily involved in former dirty tricks campaigns, passing on sensitive and private information on patients to an MP who had recently been sanctioned for inappropriate behaviour by his leader, who then passed it onto the media, purely for political advantage in a bid to discredit a successful and popular government.

        Well that one will rebound on them, like a very live tom cat with claws sharpened and feral instincts aroused, spitting fury and retribution.

        What's still hidden in the closet, weka?

          1. 23.2.1.1.1

            The dead cat is on Muller's top lip. He is growing a moustache, trying to put a new face on National.

            People will also forget the other stuff when they notice the moustache- the old 'putting on a wig for the first time' trick.

            Perhaps that's it. Muller is about to start wearing a wig. It's a well-known political fact that 'big hair' pleases the punters!

  24. 24

    Hoots David!

    @DavidSlack

    A short story in which captain 'Sully' Sullenberger is bringing his powerless plane down to the Hudson River and irate passenger Todd Muller keeps knocking on the door & telling passengers "Well no I don't have a better suggestion right now but this is an utter shambles&quot

  25. 25

    Who were they talking about/? The Herald reports……

    "On Saturday, before they knew Walker's involvement, Muller and National's health spokesman Michael Woodhouse were damning of the privacy breach.

    "This is unconscionable and unacceptable that those suffering from the incredibly dangerous virus now have to suffer further with their private details being leaked," Woodhouse said.

    "The Government needs to get to the bottom of this, and quickly."

    Muller told RNZ the breach was "quite staggering" and "unacceptable".

    "Is it a deliberate leak or is it accidental? It doesn't really matter at a level … it's loose, it's shabby and it's a reminder these guys can't manage important things well."

    It points to National's failings. Decency? Fail. Hypocrisy? Fail. Management? Fail. Leadership? Fail. Credibility? Fail. Political nous? Fail.

    1. 25.1

      What comes around goes….. or is it Karma.

      Wonder if those keen "journalists" will quote Muller's words back to him?

  26. 26

    Sat at the table beside Muller, Woodhouse and Penk? at the Otago Museum cafe today. They were being hosted by what seemed to be a gaggle of starry-eyed Young Nats (guessing), none of whom were/seemed to be Maori. No sign of Hamish Walker. A bloke approached one of the cafe staff once the group had left to ask what the occasion was. He seemed infuriated by the response.

  28. 28

    National has known for some time that the only chance they had of making inroads into Labours support was to discredit it on the Covid19 issue. Clearly this whole appalling saga has been master-minded by the the Crosby-Textor brigade and, this time, it has back-fired spectacularly in the most ham-fisted way. First there was the Bishop-Woodhouse "expose" which was clearly orchestrated. Then there was the "man who never was" fabricated by Woodhouse ("can't possibly disclose my source" ) and now this debacle. This is "attack" politics of the first order. The Nats bought into the C/T scheme several elections ago. It is their Party that has lost all credibility.

    1. 28.1

      Don't call it ham-fisted and run it down. It has turned out just fine. It is really funny that people start acting like coaches for the Opposition and advise them what they should do to succeed. I want the buggers to fail so all of you coaches go back to your day jobs. You will be doing some good there I hope. I am interested in what is happening and any thing useful we learn perhaps go direct to Labour or the Greens to make sure they don't step in the smelly stuff themselves.

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