..we donated some money…
We were forced to issue a press release about a donation we made to a very worthy cause. It speaks for itself.
DONATION GIVEN TO SUSAN COUCH TRUST
New Zealand First made a donation of $78,000 this year to the Susan Couch and Crime Victims Charitable Trust, Rt Hon Winston Peters announced this evening.
Susan Couch was working at the Panmure RSA when she was attacked, beaten and left for dead by convicted murderer William Bell in December 2001. She suffered severe injuries but was not covered by any ACC lump sum compensation.
Mr Peters said Ms Couch was an extremely plucky woman who was left in a terrible plight through no fault of her own and the system had failed her.
“We were pleased to donate the money to a trust that could assist her and we deeply regret that we have been forced to reveal this publicly but our hands have been forced by harassment by the Dominion Post newspaper.
“We appeal to other sections of the media to show some restraint and to allow Ms Couch some privacy.
“The money is in the trust’s bank account,” said Mr Peters.
ENDS
October 25th, 2008 at 3:24 am
Good on you.
The story about those RSA shootings always struck something in me. That woman never got enough from the government for what she suffered so I’m glad to see that she’s finally getting something.
I’m not sure if you have posted about this before but I was thinking today about the; on the whole, shocking gang situation all over New Zealand and obviously especially in Auckland.
Paticularly young children getting accidentally shot and the still existent sick ‘initiation’ rituals which often include sexual violence. It’s possible that I just hear a lot about this as I’m doing Crim, Politics and Law.
I’ve always thought though that whenever something bad happens such as the Jhia incident the government will jump on it and proclaim their fight against gangs but then nothing happens.
I was just wondering if you believed in any sort of prior education or prevention for at risk teenagers/young people or anything like that or if you think there’s something further that can be done.
Thanks
October 25th, 2008 at 3:29 am
I guess what I’m really trying to ask is whether there is any way we can stop the gang violence before it gets to tertiary prevention in jail. It’s great that there are more police out on the streets, really great. I’m just wondering if you have any ideas of how to dispel the gang culture before the police even become involved with up and coming members.
Winston says: Cara, if you read through our Justice and Law & Order policies (available from the main menu on this blog site) you’ll see we’ve got a number of ideas to combat the influence of gangs and keep our young people on the straight and narrow. Our #1 policy is to ban criminal gangs outright.
October 26th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Nice pick. Can’t argue with that.
October 26th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I like this whole thing dude,
things are returning for you Winston, and I say you should join a Coalition with John Key.
Reason : you know
New Zealand : prosperous
from Paul Scott
October 27th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Good one Winston we also believe you have done the right thing.
I see the Dominion Post, Monday 27th October is at it again re this issue, & are trying to misconstrue things & cause more confusion. It seems to be their only way to get their paper filled. I hope you are going to sort them out. Perhaps you could revamp the whole New Zealand media as they certainly need to be brought into line.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Go Winston your the man and the only one prepared to stand up to the corruption that pervaded this country by the Nats. Not one of them had the guts to stand with you when the tresury was being pillaged by those who thought it was their devine right to do so.
The outcomes you have delivered for NZ seniors and as treasurer will long be remembered. Long may you have a say in NZ and your last three years has shown how stable government under MMP can suceed. Remember also that those who knifed Bolger when you and him were achieving for NZ (except Shipley) are still waiting in the wings ready to sell off all our public services like Water,Rail, Kiwibank and Kiwisaver, oh i forgot ACC. So good you donated the money to a very worthy cause. Congrats and all the best for the Election and winning back the Tauranga Seat.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Can you please explain how you think you have the right to donate taxpayers money. The cause is worthy, but it was not your money to donate.
When are you going to pay back the $158,000 taxpayer money to you used illegally at the last election?
Winston says: Some simple facts for you Mike:
1. The Auditor General shifted the goal posts after the election on the use of public money in the campaign. We totally disagreed with his view.
2. However, we recognised that the public view was that the political parties shouldn’t benefit from any money the Auditor General said they were not entitled to.
3. Obviously it was not practical to give the money back to individual taxpayers and paying it back to “Parliament” meant it would go into a big, black hole never to be seen again.
4. We therefore made the decision that the appropriate use for this money was to pass it on to worthwhile charities, which we did.
It is disappointing that our opponents and lazy journalists have turned this into such a negative. Our motives were positive.
Why aren’t the same journalists asking if United Future has made amends for all the money it owed (it hadn’t last we heard) or if National ever paid back the “forgotten” GST from its election advertising?
October 30th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
In response to your reply to Mike D - does your position suggest that I it is right for me to withhold my taxes and pay for services directly rahter than having them wash through the state? This looks like something Act would advocate.
I often disagree when authorities “shift the goal posts” after elections - this does not provide me with moral authority to break the law Winston.
Winston says: The difference is that you know the tax laws in advance. We too applied the law as it stood in advance of the election and we had the material concerned cleared by Parliamentary Services and the Chief Electoral Officer before the election. The Auditor General then interpreted the rules differently six months after the election - that was a shift of the goal posts we found very difficult to accept.