Clark stretches new Peter's revelation into wafer thin excuse

Not that it matters materially anymore because those that vote for him are going to anyway but Winston Peters continued denials that Owen Glenn was in the running for Honorary Consul General in Monaco and that Peters had at some stage advocated for Glenn to get that position have been revealed today as another lie in a long list from the disgraced bent politician:

Foreign Minister Winston Peters initially pushed hard for expatriate billionaire Owen Glenn to be made New Zealand honorary consul in Monaco, papers released today reveal.

Mr Glenn donated $100,000 to pay for the New Zealand First leader's legal fees in 2005.

A memo on April 19, 2007 from Mfat chief executive Simon Murdoch said Mr Peters "wants to appoint an honorary consul in Monaco. It is a distinguished expat of his choice."A memo the next day said the name mentioned was Owen Glenn... "I have no further details except that he is a mega-rich NZer living in Monaco. Presumably someone can google him".

Mr Peters said after the donations row exploded that questions about the Monaco appointment were hypothetical as there was no such post. More

The fact that when Owen Glenn mentioned he had been offered the position he called Glenn some sort of fantasist for saying so rubs salt into the whole scandal.

And finally and perhaps more importantly Helen Clark sees nothing wrong for a Minister of her Cabinet to accept $100,000 from an individual and latter advocate an important government position in return because:

Prime Minister Helen Clark also said there was "no issue" because no appointment had been made. More 

Well Ms Clark, the simple advocating for cash regardless of a position in return or not is the crux of the matter not the outcome.

About trust indeed.




c Political Animal 2008

Evidence conflict in Peters case clear cut in Glenn's favour

"They say the conflict of evidence is there as it has been all the way through."

Helen Clark, 17 Sep 2008

In reference to the Winston Peters/Owen Glenn case,  Prime Minister Helen Clark has trouble with a "conflict of evidence", so wont sack the hapless crooked politician.

The only problem with that is that there is some conflict of evidence but overwhelmingly the evidence of Owen Glenn and Owen Glenn only is able to be backed up with fact.

Winston Peters and his Perjured Lawyer Brian Henry have provided no proof of their accounts and in most key areas of evidence they not only conflict with Owen Glenn but they conflict with each other.

Helen Clark has also lied over her and her parties involvement in the saga.

Clark's soft stance on Peters is not only a desperate and grasping attempt at retaining power but it calls into question what Winston Peters must know about Clark and the way herLabour Party operates.

I'm sure Peters knows secrets she cant afford to be revealed publicly.

Peters is due to give further evidence in another Priveleges hearing today.

c Political Animal 2008

Clark's lie central to Glenn donation scandal

It wasn't the actual break-in that cost "Tricky Dicky" his presidency in 1973 but the cover-up that brought his government down.

A similar focus of light should be shone on Helen Clark and her knowledge of the $100,000 donation back in December 2005, when the Labour Party President, Mike Williams, helped execute the loan to Winston Peters for his legal case in the Tauranga seat after the 2005 election..

We know that Williams and Clark are self confessed best friends, we also know they are in constant contact via phone or email and we are all aware that Mike Williams gives all information to her leader-in fact she insists on being fully informed, what she called a "no surprises" way of governing.

It is beyond the realm of possibility and past history that Ms Clark didn't know about the loan from its genesis.

The question is why did she not come forward in February 2008 when the donation scandal broke and only tell the public of her knowledge in August but then say "I knew about the donation in February 2008".

She omitted to reveal what she knew about the scandal in February 2008, then clearly lied about the timing in August.

One has to ask what more is she hiding, more donations scandals, evidence of her or Labour's deeper involvement? We just dont know.

We don't know because our journos are too gutless to ask her the hard questions. They are afraid of her.

Kiwis need to know of her part in the cover-up and her or Labour's involvement in the donation itself.

Not to know is akin to the running of tenuous democracies in Africa, the Pacific Islands and the current turmoil occurring in Thailand.

Kiwis wont be protesting about their crooked lying Prime Minister like the Thai people currently are but where is our Woodward and Bernstein when it comes to the likes of exposing our own "Corrupt Clark"?

Mike Williams knew of Glenn donation in 2005, did Clark?

In  an admission by Owen Glenn today he has revealed that he had consulted with Labour Party president Mike Williams before contributing $100,000 to New Zealand First/Winston Peters so it would not be seen by Labour as "being unhelpful to its own interests".

This is interesting because it marries up with the fact that Williams boss, Helen Clark, knew about the Glenn donation back in February. 

Both Clark and Williams therefore withheld sensitive damning evidence from New Zealanders to preserve Clark's Government.

It also begs the questions did Williams tell Clark about the donation in 2005? It is not Helen Clark's style not to know everything going on regarding her party. She simply demands complete control and it defies logic and her political history for her not to have known about the Glenn donation, in 2005.

It is time Clark was forced to give evidence in her defence about what she knew and when she knew it before the Privileges Commission.

Kiwis wanna know before an election.

Williams begged Glenn for a further contribution to the Labour Party less than 2 months ago.

c Political Animal 2008

I smell something very unfunny

The bullshit from Winston Peters is set to continue this morning.

The Privileges Committee that is looking into secret donations from Owen Glenn to Winston Peters/NZ First sits again and will apparently hear new written evidence from Owen Glenn and clearly yet more bullshit from Peters.

It has been rumoured that Glenn will appear in person before the Committee next week.

Since the committee sat last Thursday Peters and his party has been beset by a slew of new donation revelations and more bullshit from Winnie supporters to explain these revelations away.

The more time passes, the closer Winston's initial lies and denials over getting money from Glenn, the Vela Brothers, Bob Jones and probably yours truly(I forget) cant withstand scrutiny.

More lies and excuses have had to be spun to explain away the inconsistencies of previous bullshitting.

The latest revelation earlier this week from Peter Brown, NZ First MP and Winnie's bed mate, was that office staff had "make a mistake" over $50000.00 of donations made to the party in 2005 and not declared and therefore that is the end of the matter.

Id like to know the name of the auditor blamed and hear what he has to say.

The stink over that cow dung is extruded to great lengths even further because Prime Minister Helen Clark believes that the explanation from Brown is plausible and things are just hunky dory.

Perhaps the fact that Ms Clark's Labour Party are now passing multiple poorly drafted and fraudulently intentioned laws(the Emissions Trading(TAX) Bill and Bio-fuels Bill two glaring examples)under urgency and she needs Peters vote to get them through, has something to do with her complicity in the face of the cow pats raining down on her from her support Party.

Meanwhile Bauble Boy Peters has been stood down from office but still receives the $500 a day salary, expenses, ministerial limo and car and various taxpayer funded support staff.

From an individual who said before the 2005 election that he would "not take the baubles of office" over his political principles(I'm doubled up and writhing on the floor with laughter at this point) it is clear that it is only the Baubles that now exist.

It is time that Winston Peter's Baubles were taken in hand and removed by Clark but because her political future is in doubt she is afraid to grab them.

And that just stinks.

c Political Animal 2008

Labour Party Blog echoes its leaders sentiments

The Labour Party's direct mouthpiece on the Internet, the Labour Party funded The Standard Blog is doing a Helen Clark-she refused to speak over the weekend. It is discussing everything but the Glenn/Peters/Clark payola scandal because even "Steve Pierson" who wrote this, cant spin the news story of last week and at least another couple of weeks, in Labour's favour.

I’m not going to spend a lot of time on Peters because its not the kind of issue that affects Kiwis lives (its messy but its not like secretly planning to sell public assets). I’d rather use my post-writing time taking a deeper look at the findings of the Social Report. But…

What else are the girls at The Standard talking about instead of THE most important political crises since Muldoon got pissed and called an early election in 1984?

John Key on Facebook-or my Facebook is bigger than yours

After I was part of the ‘Great NZ Sell-off’ skit protest outside the National Party conference at the start of the month, I did a wee interview with a journo from NewstalkZB and he, knowing I’ve got something to do with this interweb thing, asked ‘what do you think of the fact that John Key’s Facebook page has twice as many supporters as Helen Clark’s?’

Morris Williamson's sensible ideas on road funding from a week ago-Labour will toll and has already passed legislation to allow local politicians to charge 5c a litre on your gas. Extra taxes for your Holden will also be on the cards under Labour.

John Key tells us that National hasn’t decided yet what it would spend its extra borrowing on, what projects would be PPPs, what roads would be tolled under National.

Labours List-buried by the Glenn/Peters/Clark scandal, I think the author meant to write "our" instead of "their".

Comment soon but for now here’s their full list (PDF link).

A deluge of Australians moving to New Zealand-What?

We’re used to hearing opposition parties talk about people rushing to Australia. But let’s remember we’re attractive to Australia too

The Social Policy Report-A self-congratulatory Labour prepared report on how much Labour have helped the proletariat.

These things do not just happen and they are not just the actions of ‘evil’ people who deserve punishment; they are social phenomena linked to the health of a society.

Homosexuals in New Zealand-The fascination by Labour for everything but Mum Dad and the kids. Apparently one cant have a different opinion if you are not a Homosexual and if you do you are somehow a "gay hater".

Youtube Video

Dancing around the subject is not my style. I like to face up to my accusers. It is something that one does when one doesn't have anything to hide. One can have respect for an individual, even if they have committed a heinous act, if they simply front up and tell the truth.

You have to ask yourself then if you are being truthful about getting donations from wealthy business people or having timing and disclosure issues over when you heard something then if you were telling the truth you would front up with the goods.

Our Prime Minister, Ms Clark, hasn't been up front yet and there have been questions over her honesty, again, and Winston Peters has clearly been caught out lying through his back teeth.

The Labour Party Blog, The Standard is echoing its Prime Minister's prevarication on the truth, stalling tactics, bluster and spin.

Meanwhile today, back on the main news story of the past week and probably this one and longer, Helen Clark may be called before the Privileges Committee to give her evidence that she knew about the Owen Glenn donation in February and kept it secret until last week.

Interesting that a Lawyer that works close with the Government on Government legal contracts, May Chen, said yesterday on Agenda that those with hearsay evidence-Helen Clark and Owen Glenn-should be before the Privileges Committee, so they can see witnesses' "demeanor".

Chen dismissed having Clark as an in-person witness but mentioned that Owen Glenn in the same capacity was crucial for hearsay evidence.

Funny that Clark spun that same line this morning on the Paul Holmes show and quoted May Chen and the Agenda programme.

It really is a small world.


c Political Animal 2008

Labour begs for more!

Owen Glenn really is the gift that keeps on giving. At least the Labour Party think so because they are asking him for more money!

In the wake of The Winston Peters donation scandal, over secret money from Glenn and other sources, Labour Party President Mike Williams has had the temerity to meet with Glenn within the past few months, and beg for more money for the upcoming election.

Most Kiwis would be a little confused by all this though.

Why would you ask for more money from a donor that you have publicly ridiculed on more than one occasion, and had two of your ministers, Michael Cullen and Winston Peters, question Glenn's honesty?

The simple answer is that Labour are desperate. Only desperate and out of control individuals or groups would stoop this low.

Labour were embroiled in an Owen Glenn funding saga of their own earlier this year. That revolved around when certain money was given by Glenn to Labour, how much it was and whether it was a gift or a loan.

They pretty much had done their dough with Glenn at that point because they dissed him in a highly public arena just after the scandal broke out and for Mike Williams to get on his knees to Glenn again shows a double lack of respect for the man.

Considering Labour passed their anti democratic and poorly drafted Electoral Finance Act in December 2007, in Helen Clark's infamous words, "to stop big money from buying elections", to keep going back to a billionaire to fund your election campaign is highly hypocritical to say the least and highly desperate again if I am to be fully accurate with my choice of words.

Given that Helen Clark knew that Owen Glenn had given money to Winston Peters and Peters had lied about it, it isn't beyond the realms of possibility to think that Ms Clark told Mike Williams that Peters had received money from the billionaire but asked Glenn for more money under these highly suspect circumstances anyway.

Helen Clark meanwhile has been backward in coming forward about dispensing with Peters services, because she needed his votes to pass fraudulent legislation and she has gone to ground over that issue and today's revelation.

You can bet she knew about Mike Williams plea from Owen Glenn for more money but she will not speak to the media.

Meanwhile, Winston Peters has been "stood down" or "stood himself down" from his portfolios and the Serious Fraud Office is investigating the multifaceted inaccuracies of his donations web.

Peters has employed well known ambulance chaser Peter Williams QC, whose main claim to fame is a penchant for advocating for those whose personalities who have acquired the "victim hood mentality" and whipping up media coverage. Winnie clearly fits that description to a tee.

Kiwis have had a gutsful of Labour's duplicity and lies over the Glenn scandal, theirs and Winston Peters.

We all now need a chance to either vindicate the present Government or elect a new one.

Lets get it on!





c Political Animal 2008

Helen Clark uses the Nuclear Option

"I am not a crook"

Richard Nixon 1973


I don't slow down and gawk when passing a car wreck and look away at carnage on news footage.
I will make an exception for the Winston Peters/Helen Clark/ Owen Glenn Payola scandal because it is highly satisfactory to me to see the train wreck of a Labour Government crumble before my very eyes.

Labour say they don't want nuclear power in New Zealand but the nuclear option was used on the public today when she revealed that she is donkey deep, smack in the middle of the Peters/Glenn donation scandal.

Helen Clark knew back in February that Peters had received $100,000 from Owen Glenn because Glenn told Clark that when he came to New Zealand on Government business in February 2008.

She has been watching on the sidelines for 6 months.

She has seen his denials, watched his performances in New Zealand and attempts overseas to bring democracy to Fiji and relied on his support in the house to pass important legislation, that changes New Zealanders' lives-the latest legislation the economy crushing Emissions Trading Bill.

She had a chance to bring this to a head 6 months ago, she had the evidence but because she wanted to protect herself politically, so chose to say nothing.

She came out today with the H Bomb simply because any further evidence from Glenn to the Privileges Committee next Thursday would have put Clark in a very difficult decision.

This afternoon Labour has also called Owen Glenn "confused" about his recollection of events regarding the money that Winston Peters asked Glenn for, even though it is Peters whose lies have been clearly exposed.

Glenn has been one of Labour's biggest donors and has given them a total of $600,000 over the last 3 years, $100,000 of it was denied by the Labour Party president earlier this year , Mike Williams, and he and his party were therefore embroiled in a similar donation scandal earlier this year.

Critiquing your major donor isn't a good look or smart, especially when he probably has evidence that will bring down the Labour support partner Winston Peter's NZ First.

Clark in effect has covered up for her Minister Winston Peters and now her thin veil of respectability has been completely demolished.

This isn't the first time Clark's credibility has been exposed and it wont be the last.

New Zealanders need and deserve more than the banana republic that we have become.

Clark must now call an early election and let the people decide if they forgive her for her latest cover-up.


Related Political Animal reading

Clarks credibility now see-through
Clarks rudeness to Owen Glenn plumbs new depths
Snouts in the trough bent out of shape
The Owen Glenn story: Singing the same tune but hitting a bum note
Labour Party Election funding murky at best

c Political Animal 2008

Helen Clark lies down with dogs

The Labour Government has found itself in a difficult position today.

It relies on one Winston Peters to pass their Emissions Trading Bill, a bill so deleterious and poorly drafted that it will have a huge negative impact on New Zealanders and their economy.

If the bill is not passed into law and we have the unfortunate occurrence of another Labour Government after the 2008 election, they will not be able to pass the various taxes and charges that they have devised so that they can adhere to the Kyoto Protocol that they signed us up to.

While to rely on such a corrupt individual as Winston Peters to pass such a corrupt law as the Emissions Trading Bill might be understandable and clearly appropriate in that respect, it behoves Helen Clark to have principles for a change. She needs to sack Peters for his lies over the Owen Glenn donation and not rely on such an individual to pass such a country changing law, regardless of the politics that she is pushing.

To do nothing is to lay down with the Banana Republic dog, list member of Parliament, one Winston Peters and it reflects poorly on the credibility and honesty(again) of Helen Clark and her Labour Party.

It also tarnishes the high office of the position of Prime Minister, regardless of who the Prime Minister is.


Related Political Animal reading

Don't let the Bastard go
Dompost reels in another Peter's Payment
Winston isn't a conspiracy theorist: Yeah right!
Winston Peters lost in Wonderland
Winston peters Scrutiny tazered by Anette King
Owen Glenn's letter to the Privileges Committee
Winston Peter's letter to the Privileges Committee
Winston Peters caught out lying
Winston Circus hangover continues
Winston Peter's Glenn donation scandal: But wait, there is more!
Peter's hangs himself in February Paul Henry Interview
Peter's admits lying about Glenn donation
Winston's silence is telling
Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn
The Owen Glenn Story: Singing the same tune but hitting a bum note

c Political Animal 2008

BREAKING NEWS: Winston caught out lying

Winston Peters has been caught out!

Owen Glenn has provided written evidence that Winston Peters asked him for a donation and further evidence to show that Peters thanked Glenn for a $100,000 donation.

Peters has in the past denied that he knew of the $100,000 donation made to him or his party and has repeated that in Parliament.

This clearly means Winston Peters has lied about the Owen donation and also increases the doubts over numerous other suspect donations to Peters and his NZ First Party.

Watch for a spin cycle so agitated from Peters that he calls Glenn's recollection vague and not to be trusted. In effect calling Glenn a liar.

Peters new lies will have to be big ones to cover off these latest revelations.

Yesterday, in his own letter to the Privileges Committee Winston Peters comments are at odds with today's Glenn revelations.

Helen Clark really has no choice but to call an early election because Peters has to be sacked for lying to Parliament (Video) over the Glenn donation.

The last post in a crumbling Labour Government has just fallen and it is a shameful day for us all.

Related Links

Parliament 22nd July 2008 Video of Peters Denying knowledge of Glenn Donation

C Political Animal 2008

Take an early poll Helen

The latest outburst by Winston Peters today at a press conference staged by him to defend the indefensible; the Owen Glenn, Vela and Bob Jones donations, all clearly made and all clearly denied in various degrees by Peters comes at a crucial time for Peters, his NZ First Party and Helen Clark and the Labour Party.



Winston Peters denies any wrongdoing TV3
Statement from Winston Peters
Winston Peters faces media


The accusations made against Winston Peters, with written proof in all three cases, are sackable offences for a Cabinet Minister under the terms of Labour's own cabinet manual.

But with some crucial Labour legislation, like the economy wrecking Carbon Credit trading law to pass before an election, the Prime Minister wont push Peters because it will mean an early election.

More proof of course that Clarks politics and lust for power have preference over rules, the country and its laws.


Related Political Animal reading

I didn't give Winston Peters a donation
Discretion was the essential part of Vela Donation
Winston Peter's Glenn donation scandal: But wait, there is more!
Peter's hangs himself in February Paul Henry Interview
Peter's admits lying about Glenn donation
Winston's silence is telling
Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn

c Political Animal 2008

I didn't give Winston Peters a donation

c Blanch 2008

OK, who in New Zealand didn't give little Winnie a secret donation in the past?

Faster than you can say Hanover Finance has gone bust, the latest revelation from the Dom Post is that Bob Jones has given secret money to a trust administered by Winston Peters brother .

The donation has not been declared to election officials.

Like Labour, Winston Peter's NZ First has railed heavily against secret donations from wealthy individuals and companies but has nevertheless been at the centre of controversy himself by accepting secret money from Owen Glenn, the Vela Family and now Sir Bobby.

Last year Peters and Labour were at the centre of the passing of the Electoral Finance Act, an act they contended would stop these sorts of donations in the future.

In particular, fingers were pointed at the National Party over "big money" buying favours for their donors, but the fingers have clearly been pointing right back.

There is nothing like a little bit of hypocrisy to get the mind focused.


Related Political Animal reading

I think I love you Sir Bobby
Discretion was the essential part of Vela Donation
Winston Peter's Glenn donation scandal: But wait, there is more!
Peter's hangs himself in February Paul Henry Interview
Peter's admits lying about Glenn donation
Winston's silence is telling
Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn
The Owen Glenn Story: Singing the same tune but hitting a bum note

c Political Animal 2008

Discretion was the essential part of Vela Donations

The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life.
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), 'King Henry IV part I'

Well, Peters has been discreet, until found out by the NZ Herald and the Dom Post, but his fighting spirit in the face of political danger hasn't been for the better when it comes to his survival. Helen Clark's support of him is neither discreet or advantageous to her or her party.

In Parliament today Helen Clark defended Winston Peters (Video) to the hilt.

This is in spite of overwhelming evidence that Peters took secret money from Owen Glenn, spent NZ $45,000.00 of taxpayers money on his lawyer and accepted NZ$150,000.00 from the Vela Family, a wealthy family with interests in the racing and fishing industry.

Peters is the Minister for racing and gave tax breaks to the equine industry last year.

Giving backing for Peters leaves Helen Clark in a difficult position. In supporting him she has given approval for his behaviour and as he is part of the minority government it is really incumbent on her to make a move on Peters to remove him from his position.

She has done it with countless MPs over the years who have strayed from legal or moral lines and there have been many.

However, her Party relies upon Peters to support Labour's wafer thin grip on Parliament so it is unlikely she will do anything unless she has to.

It could lead to an early election if she puts Winnie's nose out of joint.

Coming on top of secret donations from Owen Glenn to Labour, revealed earlier this year, and Labour and NZ First campaigning heavily on secret donations in relation to their passing of the Electoral Finance Act, Ms Clark has a orgasm of egg all over her face given her support for her Partner in Parliament, Mr Winston Peters.


Related Political Animal Reading

Winston Peter's Glenn donation scandal: But wait, there is more!
Peter's hangs himself in February Paul Henry Interview
Peter's admits lying about Glenn donation
Winston's silence is telling
Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn

NZ Herald Link

Helen Clark defending Winston Peters in Parliament today-Video

c Political Animal 2008

Winston Peter's Glenn donation scandal: But wait theres more!

Seems the Dom Post has been digging for gold over the Winston Peters secret donations scandal as well as the NZ Herald, who kicked it all off a week ago.

The latest revelation is that Peters has received money from the Vela family, owners of large fishing and racing interests in New Zealand.

It is thought that the Vela Family could have given up to NZ$150,000.00 and it hasn't been disclosed and must be. Donations have been made in amounts under $10,000.00 so don't have to be disclosed when made separately. Again big money going to a politician who has campaigned against the National Party for doing similar things.

The donations do not appear in NZ First's annual declarations to the Electoral Commission. A clear breach of electoral law if it is true.

The Dom Post hasn't made a direct comment on the fact that Peters has had donations from a family deeply involved in the racing industry while at the same time Peters is the Minister for racing. Political Animal will. That is corruption at the highest level, even if Peters latest donations are legal.

A second revelation by the Dom Post has been that Mr Henry, Peters Lawyer, also received at least $45,000 for legal services - paid for by Parliamentary Service funds last year.

Winston has replied in typical fashion that taxpayer money has been used to pay his legal bills:

"That is a lie."

MPs Rodney Hide and Gordon Copeland have taken a breach of privilege over Peter's secret Glenn donations to the speaker of the house, Margaret Wilson, while John Key asked Winston to apologise for misleading the public, too soft for my liking, and our great leader, Helen Clark, backs Winston all the way - why wouldn't she, her party has been arse deep in the same sort of corrupt practices.

In characteristic political fashion, something he has no doubt learnt from Helen Clark, Peters is leaving the country on another bauble filled junket.

He hasn't given a press conference, as is his want, to clear things up, so will get away with commenting until he gets back.


Related Political Animal Reading

Peter's hangs himself in February Paul Henry Interview
Peter's admits lying about Glenn donation
Winston's silence is telling
Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn

c Political Animal 2008

Peters hangs himself in February Paul Henry Interview

Back when the shite first hit the fan over Labour accepting secret donations from billionaire Owen Glenn, Winston Peters was grilled on TV One's Close Up about possible donations to NZ First.

In this interview he states at one point,in reference to being accused of accepting donations from Owen Glenn by the NZ Herald, again, " the story is categorically, emphatically and palpably untrue.

There is much more on this video pertinent to the current Peters/Glenn payola scandal, including references and reaction to Dale Jones, Party President, admitting that "there could have been a donation made".

Make your own mind up.

Peters clearly cant.


Related Political Animal Reading

Peter's admits lying about Glenn donation
Winston's silence is telling
Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn

c Political Animal 2008

Winston Peter's nose continues to grow

Winston Peters, caught out lying 2 weeks ago when email evidence confirmed that he and or his party, NZ First, had received donations from Owen Glenn, the billionaire from Monaco, denied the initial accusation revealed by Audrey Young from the NZ Herald.

This was after denials made by Peters earlier this year when secret donations from Glenn to the Labour Party were revealed.

On Friday 18 July came the bombshell that Peters said he found out from his lawyer "at 5.00pm that day" that Peters had indeed received money from Glenn for legal action taken by Peters after he challenged his big loss against National's Bill Clarkson, in the Tauranga electorate at the 2005 Election.

The twist with Peters though is that even after he was revealed as a liar the second time, himself, he now says because the money from Glenn was used to pay "an existing legal bill" it is neither he or his party that had received the donation:

Asked about pecuniary gain, Mr Peters told NZPA he did not believe he had benefited personally from the arrangement whereby his legal bills were paid by anonymous donors and he paid the shortfall.

Mr Henry(Peter's lawyer) concurred last night.

"There is nothing I am aware of where someone contributing towards a bill you have incurred needs to be declared."

Peters is in effect creating a "third entity", in the existing legal account outstanding, to dodge the fact that he was a beneficiary of Owen Glenn's largess. Legalese at its most immoral and repugnant, just like Peters stance over this matter.

What is even worse is that Peters, uncovered as a liar by Audrey Young is still being called a liar herself by Peters because she wont reveal the email evidence she has. Peters had contended last week that Young and the NZ Herald had "made it up" owed him an apology and should resign from the paper.

This kind of tough stance by Peters is characteristic of him and his political and legal past, in his long winded "winebox" saga especially. He has demanded jail, fines, apologies resignations and sackings against his political foes in the past, for imagined and actual corruption and lies.

It is a shame Winston Peters doesn't look in the mirror past his shallow facade.

Related Political Animal Reading

Peters admits lying about Glenn donation

Winston's silence is telling

Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies

Leaked Glenn Email

Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn

Labour Party Election funding murky at best

c Political Animal 2008, c Emmerson 2008

Peter's admits lying about Glenn Donation

As pointed out in this blog last week Winston Peters lied about receiving money from billionaire Owen Glenn.

He has just been reported as saying minutes ago in the NZ Herald(story below) "he had only just found out about it" today, thereby admitting his lie, finally.

This is after he labeled Audrey Young from the Herald and the Herald itself liars for reporting that his party, NZ First, had accepted money from Glenn. Earlier this year, when it was discovered that Labour had received secret donations from Glenn, Peters was asked then if his party had received money as well, but he denied it.

His party and himself, strongly supported the Electoral Finance Act, that Peters purported that the act would, "stop big secret money from buying elections", only to accept large donations himself.

This individual has to go.

Pass me a bucket.



Peters: "I just found out Glenn gave me 100K"

8:14PM Friday July 18, 2008

Winston Peters. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said tonight expatriate billionaire Owen Glenn donated $100,000 towards a legal action he mounted after the 2005 election, but he denied the money was given to his party and said he had only just found out about it.

Since July 12, when the Weekend Herald published an email from Mr Glenn in which the business tycoon said he had given money to NZ First, Mr Peters has angrily denied that any was received.

He has called reporters liars and called for the resignation of the Herald's editor Tim Murphy and its political editor Audrey Young. Continued

Related Political Animal Reading

Winston's silence is telling
Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn
Electoral Finance Bill: The purpose is clear

c Political Animal 2008

Winston's silence is telling

It seems more than a little hypocritical of Winston Peters to say what he calls the "National Party having secret donations from rich backers to trusts and other intermediaries to hide when the money comes from", when his party has probably been doing the same thing itself.

What is even worse is that Winnie backed and voted for the Electoral Finance Act. Something that he and its other backers said would "stop big money from buying an election".

Peters and his party have clearly been given money from ex pat billionaire Owen Glenn, there are emails and other evidence to support this. Peters still denies that he or his party have benefited from any large donation from Glenn, "into his or his party's bank account", going to the extent of asking Audrey Young, from the NZ Herald, the journo who broke the scandal, to "check his accounts".

Of course Winston or his party may not have got money directly into any of their respective accounts but money from Glenn may have been paid into a trust account, his PR company account or any other trust that Peters or his party or members operate.

Every other party in Parliament do similar things but it is usually no secret when asked by media.

In the light of evidence that Owen Glenn did give money to Peters, at least through a related party, Peters needs to front up with the truth rather than hiding his sanctimonious hypocritical manoeuvres under spin and bluster.

Yet can bet that Peters would want the full picture from anyone else in his position.

It was his trademark when he was in opposition.

Related Political Animal Reading

Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn
Labour Party Election funding murky at best
Electoral Finance Bill: The purpose is clear
The Owen Glenn Story: Singing the same tune but hitting a bum note

c Political Animal 2008

Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies

The New Zealand public all know Winston Peters has got where he has today by stretching the truth. For goodness sake he is a lawyer /politician, it is ingrained in him to lie.

The latest truth expansion lies in the big story of the week, Peter's secret donations from Owen Glenn and his denial that he got these donations, after it was revealed in the NZ Herald over the weekend, in leaked emails from NZ First PR man to Owen Glenn, that they keep secret the money given to Peters by Glenn.

Winston Peters is in a very important position in the Labour Government, as Foreign Minister. If the New Zealand public cant get the truth about the Owen Glenn donations to NZ First then we cant trust him on important issues surrounding his position as part of the Labour Government.

Helen Clark's position is a tenuous one at best. Her party relies upon support from NZ First to stay in power. If one of her "insiders", in Peter's, has an issue over honesty, then what remains of her integrity(sorry to use the "I" word) is sorely stretched to breaking point.

Now we have seen the Prime Minister lie many times before, after all she has made it the centre piece of her Labour Party administration for the last 9 years. To allow Peters to drift in the wind(to Fiji this week) over the secret donations made to NZ First by Owen Glenn simply smacks of hypocrisy and is morally corrupt at best.

Considering Ms Clark and her Party passed their Electoral Finance Act last year to stop what they said were secret large foreign money donations "buying elections" then Clark must make her move on the top poddle and its party.

Clark does have a wee problem on the Glenn front though. Their Party accepted donations from him before and after the 2005 election and their party president Mike Williams lied about it earlier this year.

We deserve the truth from our Prime Minister and Winston Peters. We are simply not getting it.

Related Political Animal Reading

Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn
Labour Party Election funding murky at best
Electoral Finance Bill: The purpose is clear
The Owen Glenn Story: Singing the same tune but hitting a bum note

c Political Animal 2008

Email excerpt condemning Winston Peters as a Liar

It just gets worse for Winston Peters. Conformation in the email below that Peters has lied to the media over the secret donations made by Owen Glenn to his NZ First Party surely must mean he should step down from his role as part of the minority Labour Government.

Like the Labour Party, Peters wanted the Glenn donations kept secret for some reason and he lied to the public to maintain that secrecy.

I guess the old adage is true, you lie down with dogs and you get fleas.

5:00AM Saturday July 12, 2008
By Audrey Young

Photo / Mark Mitchell

Controversy over secret political funding is likely to be reignited by private emails that suggest Labour's biggest donor also gave money to NZ First.

The emails suggest repeated denials by Foreign Minister Winston Peters that his New Zealand First Party received a donation from businessman Owen Glenn appear to be incorrect.

A private email from Mr Glenn to his public relations man in New Zealand says he did give the party a donation.

Mr Peters was last night sticking by his story, saying through a spokesman that Mr Glenn had not given the party money - "he did not" - but he refused any other comment.

The conflicting stories raise credibility issues, as Mr Peters produced a large "NO" sign at a press conference soon after questions of a donation to his party arose.

Prime Minister Helen Clark refused to comment last night.

While she has sacked ministers for incorrect comments, they have been Labour ministers. She runs a minority Government, relying on New Zealand First in confidence and supply votes. With an election less than five months away, she would want to avoid any conflict with Mr Peters.

The email exchange between Mr Glenn and PR man Steve Fisher, managing director of Baldwin Boyle, occurred in February this year when the Monaco-based businessman was visiting New Zealand to open the Owen G. Glenn building at the Auckland University Business School.

Mr Fisher emailed Mr Glenn on February 21 about a Herald story on the businessman's donations to political parties. He was concerned that Mr Glenn and Mr Peters continued to give the same story.

Mr Glenn, in his reply to Mr Fisher, disclosed that he gave to the party.

Steve Fisher: Our plan worked well. There is nothing new about you in here Owen. Note that Winston says you have never made a donation to NZ First, so at all costs you must stick to that line. It was definitely the right thing to do to deny the Maori party offer as well.

Owen Glenn: Steve - are you saying I should deny giving a donation to NZ First?? When I did?

Steve Fisher: No, just stick to the line of referring stuff to NZ First. What I'm saying is we don't want to contradict Winston.

Last night, Mr Glenn was in Monaco, and when asked why he had not said in February that he gave money, he said: "I made a decision not to say anything to anybody because there was so much controversy about everything. I was just there to open the business school so I just didn't want to get caught up in anything ... I elected not to say anything."

He also expressed disappointment at the fuss made over his political donations, saying: "I just don't find New Zealand a very friendly place and it's unlikely I will go back."

When Mr Glenn was in New Zealand in February, he also said he was hoping to be appointed the country's honorary consul in Monaco - a decision that would have been made by Mr Peters as Foreign Minister.

Dail Jones, NZ First party president at the time and now a list MP, fuelled speculation of a donation to his party when he told the Herald during Mr Glenn's visit that a large anonymous donation - "closer to $100,000" than $10,000 - had appeared in the party's accounts last December. condemning

But Mr Peters said the money was an aggregation of smaller donations.

Related Political Animal reading

Winston Peters got secret donations from Owen Glenn
Snouts in the trough bent out of shape
The Owen Glenn story: Singing the same tune but hitting a bum note
Labour Party Election funding murky at best

c Political Animal 2008