As TDB suggested, Crusher Colins replaces Serco Sam.
The ironies of Crusher Collins being allowed to become Minister of Corrections are numerous.
How can someone who was associated to a conspiracy to attack the head of the Serious Fraud Office become the Minister of Corrections? How can the Minister who started Secro actually stop them now and how can a Minister who was so deeply involved in Dirty Politics be trusted to be in charge of the Police?
How indeed.
David Fisher did a devastating article highlighting all that Collins had done. It’s a must read to understand the irony of appointing Judith…
Judith Collins and blogger Cameron Slater appeared to have frequent contact over the entire time she served in John Key’s Cabinet, according to electronic files obtained by the hacker Rawshark.
The Herald has seen email records which appear to cover 2009 through to 2014.
The files purport to include a discussion about the editing of Mrs Collins’ Wikipedia page with the then-minister sending Slater a new image with the note: “Cam, any chance of a better photo going up?? Eek it looks really bad.”
The records and the level of detail in the records are a stark contrast to earlier claims Ms Collins and Slater made about Facebook conversations being faked.
Ms Collins said the previously released information were “likely forgeries” and threatened a complaint to the police. Police have confirmed no complaint has yet been made — and Ms Collins has not responded to subsequent inquiries from the Herald.
Requests to Slater resulted only in an obscenity.
The information supplied to the Herald by the hacker Rawshark show a range of contact, from personal messages to discussion about government information – and appear to include incidences in which Ms Collins passed on information which Slater then used to attack political opponents.
Nicky Hager’s book Dirty Politics, based on the hacked exchanges, allege the National Party used Whaleoil to carry out “attack politics” to drive others out of the debate.
Instances include the mocking of NZ First leader Winston Peters in February 2012, after he raised questions in Parliament about spending by the Department of Corrections.
Mr Peters tabled a letter in Parliament shortly before 3pm — but by 3.42pm the letter was on the Whaleoil blog. That day, the hacker’s collections of records shows Ms Collins sent Slater the “document tabled by Rt Hon Winston Peters in House”.
Slater’s commentary on the blog post — one of a number that day — made derogatory comments about Peters.
Ms Collins also appears to have sent to Slater an email she received from Labour’s Trevor Mallard. The email had been sent accidentally by Mr Mallard using “reply all” when responding to someone who had emailed dozens of MPs.
Ms Collins sent it on to Slater with the subject line: “Note to self Trev, don’t reply to all.” It appeared on Slater’s site with the headline: “Note to self trev, don’t hit reply to all,” poking fun at a perceived lack of technical ability.
In September 2013, Slater received another misfired email meant for Labour MPs which had gone to Cabinet minister Amy Adams. It appears to have been copied, sent to Ms Collins and then to Slater who used it to make fun of the party’s new leader David Cunliffe.
The records also show discussion about information which could be obtained under the Official Information Act.
Questions have already been asked about two other OIA requests made by Slater. There is an inquiry into a fast-tracked release of information from the Security Intelligence Service. In a separate release, Slater was sent a letter from David Bain’s first lawyer containing damaging allegations against his former client by Ms Collins’ office on the same day it was received.
The Herald’s review of material appear to show other discussions about the OIA.
In 2009, while Ms Collins was Corrections minister, she appears to have told Slater “re the OIA” that she had been ” alerted to the fact that Corrections domestic travel seemed very high”.
In November 2010, Slater is said to have asked Collins: “Any news on those dates for my OIA? Really want to catch those Labour guys out.”
In September the following year, according to the Facebook records questioned by Ms Collins and Slater, she was asked by the blogger: “Have you got those details for my OIA about annette’s briefings.”
The records also appear to show Slater’s contact was not just with Ms Collins. In June 2010, the blogger, Ms Collins and then-press secretary Stefan Herrick appear to have been part of an email chain discussing the prospect of gaining early access to Ministerial expenses.
Other staff were also brought in during Slater’s work on behalf of a Russian immigrant couple. Through 2010, Slater appears to have passed on references to Ms Collins, handled inquiries from her on their behalf and also arranged a meeting with her through the blogger.
News events were discussed — Ms Collins appears to have sent on press releases and links to news articles. In March 2010, the Herald ran a story about a mother’s heartbreak after her baby drowned during a bath. The following day’s story, which stated the mother had been visited by CYFS, saw an email purporting to be from Ms Collins to Slater saying: “How embarrassing for nzherald.”
Correspondence seems to have been occasionally driven by press releases. One from the NZ Maori internet Society in late 2013 had Ms Collins purportedly ask Slater: “So how is Maori internet different from the rest of our internet.”
There were apparently also jokes at the expense of the Opposition, who were often called by their nicknames. In August 2010, Ms Collins appears to have told Slater “Pluggie (Clayton Cosgrove) now beaten up by Geoff Robinson”, sending on a Radio NZ link to an interview with the Labour police spokesman.
…that’s our new Minister of Corrections. Put aside working with a crypto-facist for a moment and also add…
– Using her position as part of the Government to lobby a Chinese border-control official for preferential access to a premium export market for her husband’s company;
…why should this style of politics be rewarded?
That’s right Martyn, this kind of shoddy fraud could only come from a government so out of touch that it is no longer laughable but sad and extremely frustrating. Someone like Judith Collins, who continually shows a lack of genuine caring/respect and overwhelming greed and fraud is perfect for the job in the eyes of this corrupt and elitist government.
Minister of Corrections – Judith Collins – what a massive joke on us.
Watch JUSTICE ; ethics and the law fall deeper into the dungy with her at the helm. Seems the Natz are scrapping the bottom of the barrel with this one. How many Natz politicians have shares in SERCO ?
A one way ticket to Siberia would be to good for her.
There is no place for the likes of her in Public Office as she always seems to have her own agenda.
She is not a team player.
She’s a piece of work, ain’t she? TDB should run a sweepstake on how long before she gets fired/mounts a leadership challenge. Could be a good fundraiser. I’d pick by June next year. Is Key going by the maxim “keep your friends close, and your enemies closer”?
I knew she’d be back. I also know that we’re plummeting towards Banana Republic status without the joy of eating free bananas.
Isn’t it deeply chilling to know that, without a doubt, we’re being ruled by crooks whom we pay to fuck us over?
What a bizarre country NZ/Aotearoa’s revealing itself to be? Weirdly? I’m kind of looking foreword to what madness next ?
+100 good post…it all beggars belief
It literally doesn’t matter what you do now, as long as you are ‘known’. Rizalman could get a sweet position in Gov.
If the Governor General has any guts he will refuse to grant this monstrous woman her ministerial warrant.
That’s exactly what SHOULD happen! I fear we have a toothless wonder however as GG (actually literally)
Because “corrections” just happens to really mean the opposite in reality, that is under this government of double speak and flip flops and large scale spin and manipulation.
So as Minister of Corrections Collins would rather have to be seen as the “correcting force” that corrects the actually correct, and thus creates spin out of it, being anything but “correct”.
We have seen it with the Oravida revelations, she was caught out taking a long trip through Shanghai in China, to visit the Oravida Office there, and tried to tell us she went straight to the airport, and just made a brief stop on the way there. In reality their Office was not even close to the airport route from her hotel, so she basically just made up and excuse, to go there, see her friends, and present herself (as Minister) for a photo shoot.
In China a visit by an official “dignitary” is respected, and implies trust and confidence, so it was a smart marketing exercise, which she did for her partner and friends, who own and work for Oravida.
All that is forgotten now, we are made to believe, I wonder though, what she has over John (Not the Baptist) Key, for him to let her back into a ministerial job so soon after her resigning due to other questions that were raised re her conduct.
This may actually benefit the opposition, if they play it right, they can hammer at her again, and Oravida, swamp tree logs up North and more to come will be a topic again. I look forward to that, until she will really get her final chop from a job in the near future.
I think Key just made a purely pragmatic decision. He could stick with Serco Sam, a man hopelessly out of his depth, whom Serco was obviously running rings around, and who was repeatedly crucified whenever he fronted the media — or he could appoint Collins, who is about as trustworthy as a pissed off rattlesnake, but will undoubtedly put the boot into Serco and subsequently keep them on a short leash.
He also has the added benefit of being able to keep a closer eye on what she’s up to, given she’s prone to nursing grudges and attempting to undermine him. As loathsome as he is, Key makes decisions based on simple calculations relevant to what is most advantageous to him and his government. All those years spent as a dead-eyed, soulless money trader have taught him that emotion and sentiment have no place in political decision-making.
Come on now, she survived a brutal no holes barred “enquiry”. Well okay an empty bullshit enquiry set up by John Key with one simple task; find nothing wrong, ever.
But my, my, my, the cupboard must be empty if Key is reviving that monster, the same monster that was looking at rolling the great John Key no less just over a year ago and that was the real reason she was dumped! What has possibly gone on since??
To be fair to Sam,he was given an absolute hospital pass with privatised prisons, no one except a polished liar and an immoral, unethical manipulator could have done anything with that steaming pile of shit and even then Key would have struggled. Quite how Crusher will deal with it will be interesting but I expect truck loads of money going Serco’s way courtesy of the taxpayer and shit loads of Collins bluster to make this mess vanish off the front pages.
Watch this space for a leadership coup in the next 18 months!
Re your ‘the cupboard must be bare…’ comment, I wonder if it is? JK has a lot of backbenchers reduced to asking patsy questions at QT and that’s about it. There must be some of them who fancy themselves as Cabinet material and JK brings back on old hack! That will really ruffle a few backbenchers’ feathers.
The more ambitious among the overlooked backbenchers won’t stay still or keep quiet for too long. JK might have a few fronts to fight on within his caucus sooner than he would like. All because he brought back Crusher. If he left her out in the cold he may well have had only one front to fight on – JC herself and her few toadies.
But not now. So to the scorned backbenchers, bring it on, I say! Let’s have a mutiny in the ranks. No more kowtowing to JK. He’s shown no loyalty to you so why reciprocate it? Time for JK to go, guys!
“no one except a polished liar and an immoral, unethical manipulator could have done anything with that steaming pile of shit”
But isn’t that a perfect description of Collins? If so, are you saying she’ll be pretty good in the role?
It’s that crusher is the best of the rest. NZ’s politicos picked in the 80’s. It’s a down ward spiral from then on. That’s to say more poverty, more poverty, and more poverty.
Shown to be a devious, two-faced lying psychopath …….. a perfect fit for this government. And to be honest, only a psychopath would have reinstated her. Alas, the trouble with psychopaths is – they don’t always play well in the sandbox together….. especially when one of ’em likes to “pay back double”. Either this is a prearranged deal, or Crosby Textor have hit the Xmas cheer a bit too soon.
@ Quicksilver – brilliant summation of both FJK and the Crusher. Two psychos working closely together again should make for a fiery and very nasty game next year! Wait for the sharpening of the knives process to begin in 2016.
Good reminder, and I look forward to a post on mensa candidate Paula Bennett becoming minister for climate change.
Then pigs WILL fly , mate !
Perhaps shonky jonky is setting up JC by passing her the poisoned chalice she created in the knowledge that no natmin will come away intact after drinking its contents.
WTF?
“…why should this style of politics be rewarded?”
Simple really, because if Key does not do what Collins expects, then the truth about him will come out, and it will be much worse stuff than pulling pony tails or pissing in his shower!
That is the only really logical conclusion we can draw, that woman, possibly jointly with Slater, has something that she knows about John Key, which she can use to basically “convince” him to do certain things, and not do certain other things.
Remember how damned long it took Key to accept her resignation, when issues about her conduct were daily fare in the political sphere and some media?
That woman has no scruples, and want the top job eventually, so she expected the next best opportunity to be “rinsed clean” and taken back into the ministerial fold, to prepare for more. If Key had opposed this move, she would have hung him out to dry, and he would have been virtual mince meat in the eyes of the public, fallen from grace, due to what Collins knows about what Key has done or is involved in.
It may all come out anyway, we can prepare for “interesting times”.
Judith Collins represents the National Party. As a reinstated Cabinet Minister, Collins sets the bar for membership of that body under John Key’s government.
An absolute joke!!
The only good thing is that Collins is so immoral that even the public and a trickling of MSM can work it out!
This woman is Slaters best friend who will be getting the cops out doing personal errands to strengthen her grasp.
Well Whaleoil Slater will be pleased, together they can topple Key which cant be a bad thing,they can use dirty politics on him.
Slater has a lot of dirt on Key. Collins might swear to be loyal to Key,but shes not known for being honest anymore than Key is.
The rest of National party wouldn’t be for her if she toppled Key.
With the spy agency Key probably has a lot on all MPs to use to make them vote with him.
Paula Bennet has been given a new portfolio she can use against the people ,shes good at that.A real Key player.
Meanwhile Groser has been removed ,he was very disliked by people for the TPP so hes got his reward for his selling out of NZ. He goes to USA with a flash apartment and a green card his reward,for sure he wont be welcome back
Expect trouble with Collins ,maybe Serco has met its match or maybe it will cost them heaps to keep her onside.
If the TPP goes ahead Key will say job done and sod off to Usa where is loyalty lays,he will leave the mess for someone else to clear up if the corporations will let them.
Don’t rely on Governor General ,he too maybe has an incentive to join the Speaker in their exit. All hopefully off to America.
@ Elle – I’m also picking Groser will go to Washington adorned with a knighthood. The honour being FJK’s way of showing Groser gratitude for his treason!
Paula Bennet has climate change portfolio ,well that’s not an easy one. Martyn is not going to like Wake up New Zealand today ,an article on the “Hoax that is Global Warming,”so much proof that global warming is a trick to fool the people .Read it Martyn and see if you change your mind.
ELLE – have you not noticed, the “climate” has changed already, right after that reshuffle announcement had been made yesterday. Can’t you see the sun shine brighter today? Can’t you see that under Bennett the glass will be half full instead of half empty, and that means, climate change issues will be dealt with in the same way welfare and social housing have been dealt with, with endless SPIN, more of the same, and NO delivery of anything in substance.
Bennett has already created the impression among so many in the public and among the media, that all is just fine with WINZ and welfare, after her years of Minister, and few bother taking note of the huge increases in trespass orders, in persons accused of abuse, intimidation and assault in WINZ offices.
People have been spun so much propaganda, they do not even ask any questions anymore, so the same way the “climate” will change.
Welcome to the “brighter future”.
Well said Mike in Auckland spot on.
Elle, you would do well to be very wary of the “wake up NZ” site.
It’s an uber-crank conspiracy-theory site.
Collins and her ilk of the inner sanctum of the national caucus revolt me. I feel like I could puke. She has much in common with Brownlee and Bennett , aside from arrogance and insensitivity in portfolios unsuited to them. She is as unsuitable as they are, given that the ” trio ” have shown appalling track records in bad behaviour towards the people who are affected under their departments.
Oh Yes , one other thing she has in common with them is her SIZE.
Any Prime Minister with a decent code of principles would lock her out
of his caucus for her recidivistic calculating and corrupt conduct and throw away the ” KEY “.
Sam Lotu-Iiga was (in rugby terms) given a hospital pass when he took on the job of Corrections Minister. He is probably a thoroughly decent man which begs the question why he is part of such a corrupt and ethically bankrupt government.
I can imagine his inner torment as he was forced day after day to try and defend himself and Serco against the justified allegations that they were useless and corrupt, with no-one standing behind him.
Sam was set up by Key, Joyce and the other National Party dirty dogs. He was set up to fail so they would have an excuse to do what they wanted to do all along – bring the Crusher back.
Sam must now be seriously considering why he should be part of such a loser government. He took the humiliation and dirt just so they could dump him when it suited them.
Sam you are too good for National, kick the turds in the arse and find another party where you can actually make a difference for your constituents, rather than be John Key cannon fodder.
Perhaps Sam is better suited to the loyal party ? Maybe NZ First
Maybe Winston should shoulder tap Sam
Comments are closed.