mike sabin

Early heavy voting in Northland continues

Written By: lprent
Date published: - 28 comments

It looks to me like the early voting for Northland is likely to be close to or more than 50% of the total vote. Part of that is because it is a by-election. Part because of National’s hapless and tainted candidates (past and present) going against effective opponents. But also due to the strong trend to early voting. It will need to cause changes in electioneering.

A tale of two no surprises disclosures

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 34 comments

Anne Tolley was told about the prosecution of Beverley Sepuloni under the no surprises policy nearly a month before the news became public. Release of this information makes you wonder why we cannot be told the date that the Government was told about Mike Sabin’s difficulties.

National wants to take away our right to silence

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 109 comments

A bill designed by Mike Sabin has resurfaced this week. The intention is to take away the right to silence by allowing a Court to draw an adverse inference if someone choses to say nothing when facing certain charges.  This proposal needs debate.

Key crosses a bridge too far

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 127 comments

I kid you not but John Key thinks that Dotcom and Hager prevented him from announcing the Northland bridge decaboondoggle. And Sabin is having no effect on the by election campaign.

Third termitis

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 69 comments

The John Key led National Government is showing signs of third termitis.  Symptoms are a confusion of the national interest with National Party political interests, a willingness to sell state houses and pay the proceeds to large corporates when even your best friends are saying don’t, a staleness and inability to handle issues properly and being completely bereft of new ideas to improve the country.  The condition is almost inevitably terminal.

Police told the Government about Sabin’s problems

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 218 comments

Police Commissioner Mike Bush has essentially confirmed that under the no surprises policy the Police told either Anne Tolley or Michael Woodhouse or both about the Police investigation into Mike Sabin. The issue will be when they were told. If this occurred before the time that Labour told the Prime Minister’s office about Sabin’s difficulties the veracity of what John Key has told us will have to be questioned.

Andrew Little – principled politician

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 302 comments

Issues surrounding Mike Sabin highlight the handling of the matter by Andrew Little. With commendable restraint he chose to privately notify the Prime Minister’s office that one of his MPs faced problems. And his recollection of matters is clearly better than Key’s recollection.

The Sabin issue timeline

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 277 comments

An analysis of the timeline and a reading of Cameron Slater’s comments concerning Mike Sabin raises real questions about the veracity of what Key has been saying to the media.  Update:  It appears that David Garrett and Rodney Hide have expressed views wondering if Key’s statement about when he was told is actually correct. Update:  And Matthew Hooton suggests that the Police may have advised the Government of the invesigation.

National knew about Sabin allegations since before the election

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 67 comments

The Sunday Star Times has revealed today that the inquiry into Mike Sabin started before the last election and that senior National figures knew about it.  And it appears that two private members bills he drafted have disappeared.  The questions has to be asked, why is he still the chair of Parliament’s Law and Order committee.  And when did John Key find out about the allegations?