‘I’m not dirty!’ – Dunne. ‘Yes you are!’ - Gower

11 Aug 2011 04:51p.m.

DEBBIE wrote:

BEFORE THE LAST ELECTION PAT THE MEDIA GAVE LABOUR ONE HELL OF A HARD TIME ABOUT THESE KINDS OF DEALS , FIX THE ELECTION THEY SAID . NOW ITS NATIONAL DOING IT YOU THE MEDIA SAY NOTHING AGAINST THEM . WHY DOUBLE STANDARD PAT ? WHY DO YOU GUYS HAVE ONE SET OF RULES FOR LABOUR AND ANOTHER WHEN IT COMES TO KEY . THEY WINGED WHEN CLARK TRAVELED THIS MR KEY IS NEVER IN THE COUNTRY AND YET PATRICK GOWER YOU GUYS DONT SAY A WORD ABOUT IT . WHY DO YOU PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA DO THAT ? WHY ARE YOU DOING IT ? LOVE A RESPONCE MATE CHEERS.

07 Aug 2011 11:14a.m.

Clarke wrote:

@Fred All parties hire public relations companies, and yes that even includes online bloggers so Patrick has every right to suspect you of being a paid National party hillbilly. Thats the way the new media empire works, politicians have even resorted to using facbook and twitter. I believe that most people have paid mouthpieces, National uses Cameron Slater (a known nut job) to leak information to on a consistent basis. Even though whaleoil has severe mental health issues and no impulse control, National still utilises this idiot. The problem with a mad dog like slater is that you have to really careful that he doesnt also bite the hand that feeds him too. So Patrick asking if you are a paid mouthpiece given the times we live in and the fact that social networking is utilised by all political groups now is a valid question.

02 Aug 2011 08:51a.m.

Clarke wrote:

When you have a party that is blatantly manipulating the popular vote you dont really need voters to hop out and into the voting booths come November do you, they just arrange everything for themselves and bypass the whole democracy aspect. It should be a legal requirement that all parties stand candidates in each electorate, that way they then have no choice and cant manipulate the vote to suit themselves. That these deals are happening is a damned good sign that Key knows the polls are very wrong, if they were right National would have no need to manipulate the vote like this. However they could just be doing it to bring ACT into parliamanet so that they have a coalition partner to blame for some of their more radical policies. No more interest free student loans? no more working for families? Upping the retirement age. All of these are options under and National / ACT coalition agreement.

02 Aug 2011 02:01a.m.

"Fred" wrote:

Wow Patrick, what a fiery response. It is just me or are you quite the paranoid little man? First it's Dunne's spin doctors after you (can't even write that with a straight face), and now the beehive has people commenting on your blog! Then again, I shouldn't underestimate your power and influence, you did afterall attend a John Key press conference (which I'm lead to believe is the true mark of a serious and respect-worthy journo - they don't let just anybody see the Prime Minister).

You are of course entitled to your opinions; my concern is when you present these opinions as fact. This is exactly what I was getting at with my first post - you (and by this I mean the media in NZ in general) are misleading us. Come on Patrick, you used to be a serious investigative reporter but now you run a political gossip column. Shape up!

01 Aug 2011 10:39p.m.

UFS wrote:

... and United Future is undoubtedly the most honest of our political parties too.

31 Jul 2011 11:18a.m.

Ruz wrote:

Peter Dunne and the dubious deal making that goes on between parties is one of the resons why I will be voting for a return of FPP. Get rid of the party vote and the gloves are off. Dunne will be history then as National try and take the electorate seat.

30 Jul 2011 03:01p.m.

AndrewF wrote:

@erm : to understand how FPP is corrupted/manipulated you need to look up 'gerrymandering'.

29 Jul 2011 02:39p.m.

Doug wrote:

Why has everyone got so precious about this issue with Peter Dunne? After all others are doing the same and while you may not agree with it the fact is that having smaller parties in parliament does provide a wider and more representative range of views. If Peter Dunne gets into parliament he will bring in policies that no other party wishes to touch. Whether you agree with him or not, Dunne is putting 1080 on notice and saying he wishes to see it banned. No other party has said this and yet there are tens if not hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who want 1080 banned - should their voices not be represented?

And as a resident in the Oahriu electorate I am amazed that not one of the other party candidates standing against Dunne actually lives in the area or has even said they will move here if they win. At least Dunne is a true electorate MP who looks after his constituency.

And I am not a United Future spin doctor. I just happen to like the fact that under MMP we are getting a much fairer and truer representation in parliament of more sectors in society. One of the great successes of MMP in my mind has been the Maori party. They are able to speak for thier nationwide constituency in a way that FPP did not allow.

Get with it people - we need to have parliament represent as wide a sector of our population as is possible. It is something called democracy.

29 Jul 2011 01:20p.m.

Taylor Dane wrote:

Peter Dunne has 'henchmen'? He's starting to sound like quite a player. This has been quite an interesting couple of blog-posts. Just typical to see all the usual Trotskyist inebriates having a pathetic bash at his hairdo to shut down any debate. As for a deal, can't see the dirty aspect myself. That's politics ladies.

29 Jul 2011 11:15a.m.

Patrick Gower wrote:

C'Mon "Fred", if you are going to come on here and bag and belittle me you must get your facts straight you are a liar.
I was there when John Key was asked about the possibility of a deals on April 18 and he said "maybe Ohariu". So it was never out in the open as you attest. It only came right out in the open when Shanks kneecapped by National chiefs. If not for her we still wouldn't really know for sure. So tell the truth Fred, and come out of the shadows you sound distinctly as if you work in the Beehive, or at the very least some sort of party hack apologist who has watched too many West Wing DVDs and dreams of being some Machivellian type. Its a deal, yes they do happen I'm not naive, but that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion about them. Please keep reading and if you are ever bored up there in your Beehive office just come down and see me. PG