Wow! – fancy that! – a Cabinet Minister who does house calls – but not if you are a poor Pasifika family!

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Far too little attention has been paid to the house call Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse made to Chinese Businessman Donghua Liu.

Remember Liu is the wealthy donor to the National Party who was arrested on charges of assaulting two woman last December. The then Transport Minister Maurice Williamson phoned police to request a “review” of the case saying the police “had better be on strong ground” with their prosecution because Liu was a wealthy property investor. That call rightly resulted in Williamson’s sacking from cabinet and he should have resigned from parliament as well.

Williamson had previously lobbied immigration ministers on three occasions on behalf of Liu and when the Immigration Minister finally overrode official advice and granted Liu citizenship Williamson did the ceremony himself the next day in his electorate office.

Now it turns out that Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse made a house call on Liu when Liu wanted to lobby the government on immigration policy. Such is the power and influence a wealthy donor to the National Party will receive – but don’t expect the same if you are a poor Pasifika family.

For the last couple of years I’ve been giving some advice and assistance to a Pasifika family with three children faced with deportation from New Zealand as over-stayers. The family had exhausted their financial resources and didn’t seem to be getting anywhere.

At the centre of the issue was one of three children who has a medical condition which a medical expert said would be exacerbated in a hot Pacific climate and advised strongly against the child being forced to live there (the child was born in New Zealand). To add to the financial hardship from large legal bills were large medical bills for the child’s treatment at Middlemore Hospital because as non-residents they had to pay for what we take for granted.

Despite all this the family were repeatedly rejected for residency and have been left in a precarious position. I gave some help writing to the Immigration Ministry and the government for a work permit for the mother so at least she could work here to help the extended family cope with the extra mouths to feed. Immigration officials refused as did National’s immigration minister at the time.

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This family weren’t asking for special treatment – just a bit of compassion and understanding. They didn’t get it.

There was no house call from a cabinet minister – just a few lines of cold type effectively giving the family the fingers – National’s good at that when it comes to the poor and needy.

To get heard the family would have needed to make a substantial donation to the National Party. Then other cabinet ministers and maybe even National’s Pacific MPs Sam Lotu-Iiga and Alfred Ngaro may have shown some interest and most likely even made a house call.

We need to see Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse’s behaviour towards Liu for what it was – corruption at the heart of government. He has to be sacked.

54 COMMENTS

  1. It is all about the pursuit of the mighty $.

    Lower socio economic groups do not count in the modern neo liberal economic thinking.

  2. Well done John Minto .

    What a fucking bastard Woodhouse is . Strip the prick of his lavish entitlements and his salary immediately .

    @ Gosman ? What do you think of this then ? Any excuses ? Any of your pallid reasoning ? Any excuses for this scum bag ?

  3. Thank you for another excellent post.

    The more people hear these stories, the more they’ll see that this government only pretends to represent them and that it only looks after its rich mates.

  4. Michael Woodhouse’s behaviour in this issue is unsavoury to say the least. He’s following his leader and senior ministers Collins and Williamson, going down that dark, murky road of bribery and corruption. Makes you wonder who else is part of the rotten game.

    Also it seems by visiting Liu, Woodhouse is prepared to bow to Liu’s request, considering changing immigration laws to support wealthy, non English speaking Chinese. Only in doing so, Liu has stated will he proceed in carrying out construction work. It’s called blackmail!

    No doubt Woodhouse, like Williamson will be sacked, simply because he got found out, which smears Key’s filthy facade. Another point is I doubt Michael Woodhouse has anything over Key, as it’s now obvious Judith Collins does, hence her keeping her ministerial position!

    The Collins, Williamson, Woodhouse and the Cabinet Club issues, have Key’s dirty hands all over them!

    Roll on September, when the whole damn rotten lot of them will be sacked!

    • Keys golf game with the Oravida owner Stone Shi back in late 2012 which related to nearly $60000 in donations to National seems to have been left out of the debate as well. Were there other golf matches, dinners or cups of tea?

      • There were kauri swamp deals to make, and Key making sly deals for Northland kauri!
        I suspect Key used these kauri swamp deals with China within the Treaty of Waitangi settlements.
        There was a Shi on the Oravida kauri payroll back in 2012.

        Corruption is rife.

        Opinion.

  5. “Such is the power and influence a wealthy donor to the National Party will receive ”

    Rubbish. The power and influence of the union movement within Labour, using other peoples money, is far more insidious and odious. How do you explain the Services and Food Workers Union donating over $500k of their members money to the living wage campaign, John? This is crony socialism, undemocratic and disgusting.

    • I always find this feral line of argument from the Right regarding Unions terribly amusing. Unions are there for worker rights and they spend their resources fighting for those rights. Corporations/elites spend their resources to continue destroying everybody else’s rights. Only the most one eyed Right wing Goon tries this line of attack on Unions any longer.

      Essentially IV, Unions fight on the side of the angels, Corporations/elites do not.

      • Bollocks. Unions use strong arm tactics to force workers to join, and then give their money to ludicrous campaigns that will actually cost working jobs. Many unions are simply corrupt, getting wealthy feeding off people who need the money in their pockets, not in those of fat cat union leaders.

        Unions had relevance 50 years ago, now they have none. Their association with the Labour Party is an enduring corruption that does Labour no credit.

        • Never, ever been strong armed by a union. Had plenty of times when I was strong armed by the employer though.

          • Suggested by my work that I join the union but not strong armed by the union.

            Worked for a union no strong arming by me To get people to join a union. Which Union are you talking about IV?

        • Intrinsicvalue says:
          May 11, 2014 at 3:28 pm

          Bollocks. Unions use strong arm tactics to force workers to join, and then give their money to ludicrous campaigns that will actually cost working jobs.

          Evidence for that stupid comment? Or else you’ve shown yourself as the lying troll. Again.

        • “Unions use strong arm tactics to force workers to join, ”

          bullshit – why do you feel the need to lie in such a way that makes you look like a really big idiot?

          i picking your not really that stupid – so why are you doing it?

      • It’s a bit like them jumping up and down about Phillip Mills’ donation to Labour and the Greens. Strikes me that the BIG difference between his donations and the likes of Liu to the Nats is that Mills is not seeking to feather his own bed. Obvious, I would have thought, but then, having to state the obvious to some seems to be an almost full time job

      • Yep, it’s a line fed to them in sound-bites by National ministers. As far as I’m aware unions donate for the good of their shareholders; the working class. Corporates also donate for the good of their shareholders; themselves and the wealthy elite.

    • Such logic. So you think its wrong that unions, who workers choose to belong to, advocate for a reasonable wage on behalf of their members? What are they meant to do then? Collect the fees and do nothing????
      The two cases are completely different. One is about privilege, the other is about rights.

    • Paid troll IV again trying to justify the slimy behaviour of the Tory ministers and their big business backers.
      Why aren’t you out organising $5000 a head fund-raisers at Antoine’s? Or $56,000 influence golf games with the PM?
      What Wodehouse, Collins, Williamson, Key, Bridges and the croneys are showing is a corrupt cabal running New Zealand like a third-world tinpot Government with influence bought with backhander donations.
      I wouldn’t be surprised to hear there are offshore bank accounts and brown envelopes of cash, as well as the dirty-deal money already outed, as the currency of corruption and Tory croneyism.

    • Intrinsicvalue says:
      May 11, 2014 at 1:29 pm

      “Such is the power and influence a wealthy donor to the National Party will receive ”

      Rubbish. The power and influence of the union movement within Labour, using other peoples money, is far more insidious and odious. How do you explain the Services and Food Workers Union donating over $500k of their members money to the living wage campaign, John? This is crony socialism, undemocratic and disgusting.

      Considering that you’ve been lying your head off again about unions, you should be aware that they are voluntary.

      Therefore, any donation they make is supported by members who joined voluntarily.

      By the way, feel free to post a link to your claim about the $500,000 donation by the SFWU. Just so we can read the whole thing and put it into context.

      Because as we’ve learned by now, Anonymous ACT Supporter Intrinsicvalue no link, no truth in the matter.

      • Providing the moderators don’t censor it out this time…refer to the notes to the 2013 annual accounts of the SFWU.

    • “using other peoples money”

      whos money exactly? go on – tell us who owns this “other peoples money”

      then after that can you show where the unions get priviledged access to sitting cabinet ministers due to their donations?

      you cant – your just being either deceitful or ignorant

  6. The specific case studies are building up. JM has cited but one (and good on him).
    The number of instances that have employment related issues (usually where visas have been issued and tied to a specific employer) …. tik tok tik tok.
    Note though the protangonists ….. Bridges for one, and now Woodhouse, among others… I’m quite confident their arrogance and sense of self-importance will eventually fuck them up. (Neither btw., are actually the brains of Britain are they!)

  7. To get heard the family would have needed to make a substantial donation to the National Party.

    Make no mistake, they would also have had to be rich. If a poor family had sold their house and gave $30k to National but were now slumming it in a car there’s no way that National MPs would have even looked in their direction.

  8. In a similar vein I was wondering if Maurice went into bat for wife bashers who didn’t make big “donations” to National?

  9. “The power and influence of the union movement within Labour, using other peoples money, is far more insidious and odious”
    I don’t get it. Why is it far more insidious and odious? And by merely being ‘far more’ are you saying that what is happening is still insidious and odious, just not as much?

    Similarly: “This is crony socialism, undemocratic and disgusting”
    Sorry but I still don’t get you. Are you saying cronyism is wrong, undemocratic and disgusting, or just crony socialism?

  10. I have seen Michael Woodhouse around Dunedin on several occasions. He had his nose stuck so high in the air you would have believed he was an English toff. He was rude and exuded arrogance. Everything in his office down here remained in boxes and unpacked for months like the dishonourable Aaron Gilmore. Is there an in house competition for who can attract the largest donors from their cabinet club meetings!

  11. congratulations on yr appearance in the minor parties’ debate..

    ..you kicked arse..

    ..more of that please..

    ..you cut thru the usual bullshit from the usual suspects like a cauterising-knife…

    ..’twas most refreshing/cheering..

    • something else you achieved..which was no mean feat..

      ..was in one interview you buried the false-idea that the mana party is only for maori..

      ..and the linking back to how you got into yr first house..

      (..and how young people/first-homeowners etc should have those same rights/options now..being the subtext..)

      ..was very potent..

      ..and should be used again..and again..

      ..synthesising complex policies down to such a simple example..

      ..just illuminates that policy more than a thousand earnest words will..

      ..and resonates with the most political-nuance-ignorant/non-voter..

      ..(it could be useful to try to break down each mana policy into such a simple/potent message..

      ..that would be a good/useful arsenal to have to hand..)

      ..and don’t hold back on calling bullshit..(as you did there..)

      ..you woke the room/debate up..

      ..heh..!

  12. “The then Transport Minister Maurice Williamson phoned police to request a “review” of the case saying the police “had better be on strong ground” with their prosecution because Liu was a wealthy property investor.”

    “on behalf of Liu and when the Immigration Minister finally overrode official advice and granted Liu citizenship Williamson did the ceremony himself the next day”

    Yes. Woodhouse should go too.
    So this will be one of the reasons that WIlliamson stepped down so quickly then. Key didn’t want too many scalps taken if ALL of it was exposed.

    The governor general must know about this too.

    When will the GG be called to account!

    Opinion.

  13. The GG gave a very straight talking indication to the media last year for the media to hold the Govt to account in election year…who lays the charges and when?

  14. Money “talks”, and when they hear “rich”, “influential”, “keen to invest” and other words, the National MPs AND ministers are ready to jump up and rush ahead, to shake the hands of the ones that fit the wording.

    Like willing servants and mercenaries, they will go the extra mile, to assist these people, to make them feel comfortable and looked after, as in one way or another, there will be “rewards” for the picking, at some stage down the track.

    That is why John Banks was keen to become friendly with Dotcom, that is why Maurice Willamson was happy to help out his batch neighbour with some “troubles” with the police, and that is why John Key is playing golf with wealthy and influential businessmen and “leaders”.

    It is in their blood, in the Natsies blood, same as the ACT pollies. Money is their elixir, that oils all machinery, and as the business world is full of money, they have so many willing donors, to provide the means, to run effective media and election campaigns, to stay in government.

    Yes, if you come from another background, where there is no or little money, when you may have the wrong colour or cultural background, associated with poverty and “issues”, then the motivation is not so great, that is except in election year in a few South Auckland electorates, where they are now trying to make some inroads. Promises and grooming of some favoured community members, that is how the Nats try to buy their sought loyalties and votes.

    Once the election is over, nothing much will be done to address any matters that the poorer voters face daily.

    The sooner these money lovers and “false”, mercenary boot-lickers are voted out, the better.

    • This is the real agenda…getting your grubby little hands on public money because you can’t attract the support any other way. There is no corruption going on, it is a beat up to angle for more of taxpayers money to be given to fund the incompetence of the left, and the public are seeing through it, as the latest Q&A/Colmar Brunton poll shows.

  15. Years ago I worked at a prestigious Auckland School. A colleague was “thanked” for helping a wealthy international student get a place at the school. When he found out that he had been given the “thank you” he contacted the family to return their money and inform them that their child would not be coming to the school. It was an important lesson to them (and to me as a young teacher) – full of integrity and one that conveyed the message that education is not for sale. My colleague had more integrity and decency in his pinkie than the entire National cabinet.

  16. Woodhouse: “I have helped many Pasifika families, I just cannot remember their names”, he may wish to say, going by his face on that photo. Never remember the “unwashed” and “untouchables”, I presume, it maybe “bad karma”?

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