…it’s been a long winter but Spring is nigh
One of the joys of living in a temperate climate is the clear distinction between seasons. It’s been a long tough winter but there are signs of a fresh new Spring emerging around the country. Today we have been doing some jobs at home, pausing occaisionally to look out the window at the teams of journalists, camera people and photographers camping on the footpath. At the same time, it occurred to me that the money spent on these people could be used on a force for real good within the community.
Imagine if all the money being spent by the media peering through our fence today was used to help retrieve the billions of dollars of old peoples’ money lost or frozen in finance companies. This is the most scandalous issue to hit the country this year but it has been touched on only lightly by the mainstream media. There is no doubt in my mind that the loss of a lifetime’s savings will shorten the lives of many elderly people. At the very time when they should be enjoying some peace of mind and some comfort earned through a life of thrift and sacrifice, they have been thrown to the wolves and there is no adequate system in place to protect them.
One of the biggest problems we have in New Zealand is that we judge the morality of larceny in accordance with the scale of it. Low socio-economic individuals who find themselves on the wrong side of the law are dealt with more harshly than those who take tens of millions in shonky deals and set up family trusts to hide their assets. In fact, in some cases, the unscrupulous rich are held up as role models of our society. These people have the cheek to hold themselves up as true pillars of the community, when they are really part of the rotten foundations.
We want a better system to protect savings. We want to go back to the guarantee of savings that existed before the reformers of the eighties turned everything upside down. We need prudence and expertise in the finance industries and it’s time to weed out the cowboys.
Have a good weekend and warm regards to the happy campers on the footpath. Enjoy the warmth of the coming Spring!
August 31st, 2008 at 1:12 am
Well said Winston.
You are still a hero in NZ politics, and people will see that in time.
“Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me” Micah 7:8
“Then my enemy will see, And shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will look on her; At that time she will be trampled down Like mire of the streets” 7:8
Best regards
August 31st, 2008 at 7:22 am
Where is a good late frost when you need it?
This will be a new spring in politics, if these brave so called reporters of the “news” in this country do the right thing and apologize to you Winston, but don’t hold your breath. How many compaired the reports on the TV last night,? TV 3 said you are to keep all your privileges of a Minister, it was no supprise to me when the TV 1 reporter stated that you had lost them. although that is to be expected, I think you may have upset them in some way, your a baaad boy! now you’v gone and upset Rodney again, he says “it’s not on”. Someone on talk-back said Rodney was John Key’s sacrificial lamb, I think it would be nearer the mark to say he was a sacrificial goat, (skape goat) the Jews laid all their sins on it and drove it out into the wilderness, that made them free to carry on sinning for another year.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:54 am
I think the journalists reporting on the issues that matter is doing good for the community of New Zealand. Their job is to report, and give the New Zealand public, fact and/or opinion about the above mentioned. The only reason why they’re peeping outside your window is obvious, and wouldn’t you blame them? Winston is involved tremendously with the media of late and being a politician, he must comment on what has been happening, if not for the sake of honesty, then for the fact that its in his job profile - or is it not. The wrong thing for anyone who has a job that involves the public arena is to avoid the media. Why not have a reputation of, trust, honesty, and the like. Winston has been in politics for many years, and considered the dark-horse, the joker among other things, has always fronted the media and given his perspective on things affecting him and his reputation. As any politician would do. Personally, I commend Winston for stepping down his portfolios in the meantime until this whole saga is dealt with. Hopefully, his demeanor and his actions work in his favor.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Comment Should read (scapegoat)
August 31st, 2008 at 1:39 pm
It is a sunny day in Christchurch, and Yes I am going to give two ticks to Winston and NZ First. This will be my first NZ first vote.
I may even donate to the party.
Yes this is a witch hunt.
It is true Winston Peters is an arrogant and sometimes angry man. I think that if I gave money to a Politician to help them, well that is that.
It does not allow me claims over his life.
look at Helengrand.
She knighted Owen Glenn for giving her money, and now the mad woman wants more from him . Suck.
I sincerely hope and think Peters will be back in Parliament next election.
Certainly the SFO investigation will come to nothing because the donations are accounted for properly.
I used to be active for the ACT party and I could tell you about the disgraceful things that that party is.
Winston Peters gets sacked because he is a real and charismatic person, John key will rue his decision.
August 31st, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Winston Peters blogs:
“there is no doubt in my mind that the loss of a lifetime’s savings will shorten the lives of many elderly people. At the very time when they should be enjoying some peace of mind and some comfort earned through a life of thrift and sacrifice, they have been thrown to the wolves and there is no adequate system in place to protect them”
Recently my secretive girlfriend told me she had money invested with a finance Company. I asked her what the finance rate was. It was 9%.
That is 0.5% advantage over bank deposit for huge risk.
I will write to John Key shortly to tell him of his bad decision.
But then its not so bad.
When the SFO finds nothing Winston Peters will be part of a
NZ GOVT NAT
I am one of the 6% who will vote Winston Peters NZ first
sincerely
Paul Scott
August 31st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
This is a disgrace but it more than likely will end up favouring NZ Firsts vote.
In their glee at destroying Winston they forget fair minded people will back the underdog.
I wonder if the media owners condone the actions of their staff, or perhaps they instructed it to happen.
Where is the organisation that calls reprorters to be fair and ensures broadcasting standards. Unnamed editorials prejudging Winstons so called guilt are not of a high standard.
This situation is a national disgrace.
And it is so ironic that failed Finance coompany executives still drive Mercs..and the media dont give a toss!!!
August 31st, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Dear Winston, I do hope that you have been able to take some time for yourself over the last couple of days. I am personally horrified by the disrespect shown to a person who has worked hard for our country for approximately 30 years. That you still fight for us, the every day guy trying to live under the policies of government, amazes me if this is the type of treatment that effort brings you. I hope you know that we are out here, the ones that do appreciate what you, Doug, Ron, Peter, Pita, Barabara and now Dail try to do for us everyday. Please take care of you!
August 31st, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I think Bishop Brian Tamaki was right on the money when he described the NZ media as he so eloquently put it “modern-day witchcraft”. That may seem a little harsh even for the likes of them but i think he has a valid point.
The media might as well be in the entertainment business. In any given movie you have your villains, and you have the heroes who save the day.
For some reason they have continued to perpetuate and typecast Winston as the arch enemy of all that’s good and pure in NZ.
I’m not saying that winston is clean as a preachers sheets when it comes to politics or business but when is enough enough when it comes to demonizing someone to the point of stripping them of their dignity almost. I’ve seen the press do it so many times and quite frankly someone needs to put there feet on the ground because they’re forgetting that unlike america who have created an art form out of countless smear campaigns we here in new zealand still believe in balanced journalism and fairplay for all until proven otherwise. I think Bishop Tamaki should be more vocal these days, kind of like our very own NZ’s version of the late dr. Martin luther King where future generations of up and coming young kiwis quote his sermons on the social and political commentaries of their day.
Let’s just hope Winston doesn’t end up playing Dick Nixon or else it’ll be dubbed the “Spencergate” Trust.
September 1st, 2008 at 8:17 am
To the gutter press including TVNZ and National and ACT. “At the going down of the sun and in the morning after the election we will remember them.” Election 2008 bring it on.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:02 am
I agree with the previous post. Would it not be ironic if the Broadcasting Standards Authority forces the mass media to publish an apology and retraction? It would be even more ironic if much of the anti Winston media campaign is ruled to be “electioneering” by the Electoral Commission….the consequences would be mind boggling…this might be too good to be true.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I have compared the names of the “reporters” and people driving this campaign to get rid of New Zealand First, with “The Hollow Men,
it is amazing to see how may feature in both. At least a couple of talk-back hosts are active on this front. How many know that John Key’s mentor is the head of a large merchant bank,? Winston Peters is the last person that they would want on hand to stop them stripping our assets. On that note I would have thought that the wanna be Prime Minister would be clever enough with figures to work out that 5% is not a lot. I know of two true blue National supporters in Tauranga and there will be many more, who are going to give Winston their constituency vote and National their party vote because they don’t like the witchhunt!
I challenge TV 3 to publish the true figures of their last poll in Tauranga. On polls, one had around 80% wanting Winston to go, and about 30% want him to stay, after a ring around I found most of those that I rang were not able to get through on the phone, what good is a poll like that? but remember over 5% is a pass!
September 1st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
With press allegations now being formally investigated, we can leave it at that, and focus on policies.
I believe our NZ First election campaign should start with an aggressively strong, higher and widening domestic savings, investment and ownership based economic growth policy as a priority.
Practically the whole nation
is still interested in accelerated economic growth, with every party having a stake in it for the better sustainable delivery of whatever they stand for - better productivity, wages, NZ Super, health services etc.
The least disruptive and most effective step towards an all-inclusive higher savings (etc.)culture in NZ is through allocating the NZ Super Fund to Personal Accounts, with immediately visible benefits from their 1st year of introduction.
There is no other such all-inclusively constructive policy on the political horison so far, and what other policy could credibly compete with this?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
What a joke for John Key to say that he is like Obama because he has been eighteen years in finance.That makes him a money changer. My bible tells me that Jesus took a whip to John’s ancestors and drove them out of the temple. And remember it also says “by their works we shall know them!”
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
oops sorry out of the two TV polls
highest was around 80% that Winston should go and around 30% that he should stay! 5% is a pass!
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:52 am
Could you please explain what sort of commentary is allowed on this campaign billboard? I have made several posts, none nasty in any way whatsoever, though they do go against the grain here, and none have got through ‘moderation’.
Winston says “Try again VTO. We do have the choice of what we publish. Have a good day.”
September 7th, 2008 at 8:22 am
It seesm to me that most of teh time, “journalists” appear to be “commentators” and give their opinion of news instead of factually reporting it. Journalists should be saying “This is happening”. They are actually saying “this is my opinion on what I think is happening”. There is a huge difference and thus colours what we, the general public see and hear.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Oh hi there Winston. Just seen your comment re my post above - why did you delete 2/3 of my post?
Come on. I can understand nasty abusive and vindictive posts getting the chop but toughen up and handle some more robust debate.
Honestly, this blog is all a bit pathetic. It looks like most of your commenters are NZF staffers
Winston says “Say something Shane - we’re all dying to hear it!”