National candidate for Tauranga Simon Bridges is backing Prime Minister John Key's decision to make a complaint to the police about the taping of his meeting with Act candidate for Epsom John Banks.
The taping was made at the media stunt held to show the Prime Minister's support for John Banks as a candidate for Epsom, provided electors gave their party vote to National.
Simon has appeared on web based politics show iPredict Election 2011 and you can view his appearance on video above.
16 comments
Ethically Simon is right
Posted on 17-11-2011 09:38 | By Gee Really
The only people who should be able to secretly record conversations are the Police, to prove or prevent crime. Secret recording of anyone in social or work situations is dirty and despicable whether they're politicians or the ordinary person. It's News of the World gutter style journalism and has no place in a decent NZ society.
INVATATION TO THE PRESS
Posted on 17-11-2011 11:39 | By YOGI
NOT Really Gee Really, On the video of the meeting and comments made, it was clear that both Key and Banks were keen for the press to be there, in end result it is a publicity stunt and nothing more. If you invite the press to a "private meeting" then don't expect them to remain silent.
This was a private conversation
Posted on 17-11-2011 12:25 | By Gee Really
The recording took place after the media had left. It was then clearly private. Amazing how nosey people think it's ok to spy on people's conversations if it suits them, but they'd be horrified if it was done to them. What's amazing to me is how some media commentators are weasling around trying to justify the taping. In my view it's Gestapo stuff and has no place in NZ. Either we have principles and ethics on this or we don't. Clearly some media don't.
Kissing the keyring
Posted on 17-11-2011 13:02 | By KAMIKAZE
What other reaction would you expect from Simon Bootlicker if he wants to climb up Nationals political tree.
@Kamikaze
Posted on 17-11-2011 14:11 | By morepork
So easy to launch a personal attack. What evidence can you offer to show that Simon Bridges, who, whether you voted/will vote for him or not, has been an excellent representative for Tauranga and worked long hours listening to local issues and lobbying in Wellington, is a "bootlicker"? Having met him on several occasions that is not the impression I got. Certainly, ANY political candidate has to toe the Party Line to some extent, but that isn't "bootlicking". I agree with you that Simon will probably advance within the National Party, but it will be because of his ability and passion, not because of bootlicking.
Key has lost it
Posted on 17-11-2011 14:34 | By pomfart
A stunt and nothing more and it is funny that it has backfired on Key. He's now completely lost his smugness and his true personality is coming out. I wouldn't expect anything less from Bridges. A politician with more backbone would tell Key to wind his neck back in and get on with the election. Pathetic all round.
Don't vote; the Government will get in...
Posted on 17-11-2011 14:54 | By morepork
They wonder why we don't exercise our deocratic right and less than 40% of the people eligible to vote, actually do so. The Teapot Tapes should give anyone interested an inkling as to why this is. A publicity stunt is staged; it goes wrong. Civil liberties are violated by the illegal recording of what purported to be a "private conversation". Does anyone care what they were talking about? (Anyone without some vested Political interest, I mean?) None of us like the idea of a Police State where a quiet chat can be secretly recorded. We might tolerate it if there is a clear and present danger to our security, but as a follow on from a Political Circus Event? It shouldn't have happened and the PM has a right to pursue legal redress, but wouldn't you think that by now, ANYONE who aspires to or holds Public Office would be aware that technology exists where their conversations can be listened to from blocks away? Wouldn't you kind of be a bit careful about what you say, ESPECIALLY when you have just had a media conference and you know the sharks are still in the water? If there is nothing to worry about on the recording then publish and be damned. If there IS something you'd rather not have published, then don't say it in the first place, or activate Maxwell Smart's Cone of Silence...:-) Don't throw a petulant fit and refuse to discuss it; the sooner it is cleared up the sooner the real business of governing the Nation can resume. The really sad thing about all of this is that we are coming to EXPECT ineptitude from our representatives. Don't blame the media, blame the voters for electing simpletons who can't seem to see that courting the media is a two edged sword.
Better watch our step
Posted on 17-11-2011 15:03 | By Writerman
Anyone who thinks Key had a right to privacy is ignoring the fact this was a publicity stunt arranged by him. If he wanted a private yak with Banks they could have done it at their homes rather than at a very public restaurant with reporters around. If Key's security people had let the cameraman back to retrieve his bag when he first attempted to none of this would have happened. To suggest it was covert is ridiculous as anyone could see the bag on the table and anyone with a brain might have tried to find out what it was doing there. But we'd better not criticise too much because Key has shown his hand over his desire to muzzle the press and anyone else who disagrees with him. Sending in police with warrants to grab material of some of our major news organisations is, even by his standards, extreme. If you vote for him you can expect more of the same - if Simon supports this stuff then by implication he is also happy to live in land where freedom of the press will become a distant memory. I don't think that is any larger bow than Key drew over his ludicsous comparison between his situation and that of a couple with a suicidal child. In fact his comparison was downright tasteless.
Woof Woof !
Posted on 17-11-2011 16:16 | By Jitter
No surprise really as Simon Bridges is Key's little lap dog and never steps out of the party line.
If you want to secretly tape people . .
Posted on 17-11-2011 20:19 | By Gee Really
go and live in a fascist or communist country where secret taping is par for the course. Stalinist Russia or Nazi Germany would have been ideal for those who try and justify it.
Whispering effeminates
Posted on 18-11-2011 07:36 | By EYESPY
Morepork > Bridges working long hours and lobbying Wellington for exactly what ? Please name some benefits Bridges as secured for Tauranga or BOP.Sure he turns up and poses for the photo shots at every opportunity at the usual fetes and openings but that is only Hollywooding. What else does he do.Holds clinics to hear peoples gripes sits there like a wooden Indian and then explains he can't and won't try to change Cabinet policies - in other words he toes the party line. Where was he on the Foreshore and Seabed Act debate. He was bloody near invisible.In fact where does he stand on any of the major issues.Of course he would support Key on the reading of the tea leaves with Banks(rhymes with)in a Newmarket cafe .He wouldn't even think to query these couple of turkeys powers of observation on something that was sitting on the table right in front of them DAH
WINNIE DID MORE IN A DAY
Posted on 18-11-2011 13:22 | By THE PELICAN BRIEF
@ EYESPY, He got the bridge over the Habour, thanks to Winnie. Bridges has not done anything remotely like that for Tauranga in the many years of being an MP, says a lot mate.
@EYESPY
Posted on 18-11-2011 13:38 | By morepork
I share your concern over the Seabed and Foreshore and actually set up a meeting with Simon Bridges to discuss it. I didn't find a wooden Indian. I found a man who had started at 6:00am that morning, eaten lunch at his desk and probably wouldn't get home much before 7:00pm the same evening. He works hard and he tries to be there for constituents. It isn't just the Hollywood photo opportunites (which all politicians have to participate in), he actually cares about Tauranga and it comes across when you talk to him. You requested a list of things he has done for Tauranga. It's a fair request; however, as I am not politically involved I don't have such a list to hand. (I know he listened to people on the Foreshore and Seabed and I suspect he would have been aware of the strong feelings that issue engendered on both sides of the fence.) I suggest you call his office and ask for details of the issues where he has represented our interests. We had a lively debate over the seabed issue and he made some good points and gave me some information I wasn't aware of, but he didn't change my mind. (I'm pretty sure I dind't change his, either, but both of us had more to think about having had the korero. :-))Simon is fiercely committed to the rule of law (as you might expect with his legal background) and I share that. I want a fair and level playing field for all NZers, irrespective of race, religion, age, sex, or any other prejudicial attribute. I think he does too. He believes that the deal worked out is the best that can be legally obtained for all parties; I'm not so sure, but I respect his integrity. As far as the Teapot Tapes go, I believe his position is that the Law was broken. He made it clear in the video what he thinks. Personally, like most of the rest of the country, I think it is a big yawn and just wish they'd get over it. I haven't decided yet who or which party I'll vote for in the coming election, but I like Simon Bridges as a man, irrespective of any politics. YMMV.
@ Gee Really
Posted on 18-11-2011 14:01 | By pomfart
You're wrong to compare a STATE that 'tapes' it's citizens in order to oppress them. This is a free country with what should be a free press to carry out investigative journalism. They were invited to this tea party by Key. Quite rightly they want to know what Key and Banks are plotting, and so do I. I'm the electorate and they are there to represent me - end of story. Therefore, I want to know what they are cooking up for after the election. I think we have a right to know what their plan is. It would seem that you want to live in a country where there is no free press to investigate these crooked politicians. If we're talking comparisons, them I would compare Key's tactics of USING the press as a PR machine for his own ends and then trying to gag them using the Police and the Courts, to perhaps those states like Iran, where the press are merely the lapdogs of the crooked politicians. I say well done to the cameraman who tried to find out what they are up to because we have a right to know. If Key were meeting his kids' headteacher to talk about them then of course it would be wrong. But he wasn't.
PUBLIC PLACE PUBLIC RIGHTS PREVAIL
Posted on 19-11-2011 20:10 | By MINDER
@ MOREPORK > I tend to agree with EYESPY but I hear what you say.Mr Bridges is a cut above the buffoon he replaced. As an individual he is reasonably pleasant and well meaning enough but he must get free of the leader is always right yes leader how high do you want me to jump yes sir mentality.He flatly refuses to criticise any National policy some of which like FS & SB Act is clearly wrong.He must learn to be his own man on policies he believes in and not someone elses toady. Key had it coming on the "Mad Hatters Tea Party" and simply confirmed he is a surly woosie who spits the dummy when the going gets tough.Oh and I have to agree with EYESPY that it is hard to find anything Mr Bridges has gained specifically for Tauranga over last 3 years ??
INVITEES
Posted on 21-11-2011 13:49 | By MISS ADVENTURE
Simon is being a bit "clone-like" by doing as the "leader" instructs. Not the obvious answer here at all. You invite the media to a "PRIVATE MEETING" in a "PUBLIC PLACE". Sadly there is a huge gap between the desired outcome and the path taken to get to that. In truth of it, the media were entitled to record as the whole thing was a staged election show/circus for the media to feed off, nothing more, you get what you deserve from that.
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