Dame Susan's speech 'train crash'

New Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy's speech at a charity event at SkyCity Hamilton is being criticised by fellow attendees.

The Tauranga resident and former squash champion was a guest speaker at a charity event in Hamilton on Friday to help raise money for macular degeneration – the most common cause of blindness in New Zealand.

Dame Susan Devoy is being criticised over a speech made in Hamilton recently.

Stuff.co.nz is reporting comments made by the race relations commissioner did not impress on the night.

Hamilton public relations consultant Jeanette Tyrrell labelled the speech a train wreck waiting to happen.

'She should be commended for giving up her time, free, for charity, that's laudable. But watching her was like watching a train crash in slow motion - people just wanted her to stop,” reports Stuff.co.nz.

When contacted by SunLive this morning Jeanette said she did not want to go into a 'public slogging of Dame Susan” and declined to comment any further.

It is also reported than when Dame Susan was asked about the nature of her work by the MC, she responded 'same s…, different day”.

Macular Degeneration New Zealand trustee Alan Jones and chairperson Dr Dianne Sharp say Dame Susan was an inspiring speaker and a key factor in the organisation raising $46,000 on the night.

The Mad Butcher, Sir Peter Leitch, who was also a guest speaker at the dinner defended Dame Susan saying she made no lewd jokes, and the comments make him think differently about being involved in these community work.

More than 300 people attended the private function including former All Whites coach John Adshead, Olympian Sarah Walker and Sir Colin 'Pinetree” Meads.

Dame Susan did not respond to SunLive's request for comment.

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32 comments

WTF (Why The Fuss)

Posted on 26-04-2013 12:27 | By Fagin

I just hope these dorks get over this bashing that they seem to be in the groove for over Dame Susan ... she's a person who can have opinions that others may not like, but, Why The Fuss!!


Poor Dame Susan

Posted on 26-04-2013 12:43 | By jennyjoe

I was at a graduation ceremony last Friday in Tauranga where Dame Susan received an honourary doctorate. She made a wonderful speech, from the heart and very inspiring. She calls a spade a spade which may offend some people!


Really

Posted on 26-04-2013 12:47 | By HPBenjamin

Whats has Squash and race relations in common?....um....um......um NOTHING, so once again we have a person in a position that quite frankly knows nothing about race relations...


People who do good often get abused

Posted on 26-04-2013 12:57 | By Accountable1

That's why nobody sticks their head above the parapet these days. You just get it shot off, even for expressing an opinion. Some people are jealous that Dame Susan has been made race relations commissioner. I think it's always been a job for the boys whichever party is power, so get over it and let Dame Susan get on with the job.


.

Posted on 26-04-2013 13:08 | By Poppet

I think we can trust that Dame Suzan has metal to let the critique bounce off. I only hope that their miserable comments don't take the shine off her enthusiasm for her role. 'Once more unto the breach, dear [Susan], once more'


Keep telling it like it is

Posted on 26-04-2013 13:49 | By Ted the Mechanic

Dame Susan! You were selected by good people for the right reasons. I'm sure by the time your term is up you'll have justified your appointment.


3rd Degree

Posted on 26-04-2013 13:51 | By pomfart

I saw her on this programme and it was embarrassing. She is getting good money because of who she is, not what she knows. It's all well and good giving a heartfelt speech when receiving a doctorate but this is not relevant to her ability to do her job.


Complainers?

Posted on 26-04-2013 13:58 | By WOMBLE

Typical someone gives of their personal time to be wined and dined for a few hours so as money flows in for a good cause and all a few over sensitives can do is complain about the fact that she is there up front and they are not. What is the world coming to a pack of moaners from start to finish, how about the moaners put there hand up and get up the front, then lets see how many dollars roll in the door, I would guess that the newly deemed speakers would be paying to be there, paying all the punters to be there and suffer through whatever and paying the bills to get to break even.


@ pomfart

Posted on 26-04-2013 14:28 | By Captain Sensible

Are you saying only a maori can be a Race Relations Commisioner....and so continue the myth, by hiding the facts, that maori are hard done by? Most kiwis have had a gutsful of all the treaty lies and fraud that masquerades as "settlements". I hope Susan gave a reality check to the professional grievers.


What rubbish

Posted on 26-04-2013 15:30 | By dclyle

Did HPBenjamin not ever play a sport and take an interest in the rest of the world at the same time. It would seem not. Any NZer who has been where Dame Susan has, born and grown in the area she was, travelled the world as she has and fronted charities as she has, could not help be very aware of NZ race relations. She will do the job very well, much better and more honest that her highly prejudiced predecessor.


@ Capt Sensible

Posted on 26-04-2013 15:33 | By pomfart

No and I'm not sure where you got that idea other than in your warped mind. Try reading comments rather than inserting your own thoughts on someone else's. I couldn't give a rats whether the job holder is pakeha, moari, chinese or any other race - I merely say I saw her on TV and she came across to me as bambling, poorly informed and out of her depth. Her race has nothing to do with it. I look for ability and knowledge rather than their ethnicity. You, on the other hand have just clearly demonstrated what race the jobholder should be!


.

Posted on 26-04-2013 16:04 | By never learn

Dame Susan you continue to be the person you are and leave the critising to ones that do it best! Yup you know exactly who you are!!!! Those that have all the opinions in the world but have no heart! Why dont you get off your butts and do something upstanding for this country instead of talking alot of crap.


Knockers are alive and well

Posted on 26-04-2013 16:34 | By Starling

Keep up the great work Dame Susan. How refreshing it is to have a Race Relations person who is not frightend to stand up and tell the truth. New Zealanders are very fortunate to have wonderful people who are willing to fill these often thankless positions.


@ never learn

Posted on 26-04-2013 16:35 | By pomfart

So it's ok to earn $200k a year out of tax coffers even if you are out of your depth? And nobody is allowed to be "critising" (whatever that is) because she's a good egg? Get real and wake up. It's about accountabily and credibilty not whether she's a jolly good sort.


@ pomfart

Posted on 26-04-2013 16:41 | By Captain Sensible

Whoa, take it easy!! Sometimes whta you mean and what you type do not always match. Read what you wrote and see how it is easy to interpret as I did. Apologies if wrong, but only you will know exactly what you meant. As for the rest of my comment re treaty rorts....I stand by those 100%


@ pomfart

Posted on 26-04-2013 20:47 | By Major Think

Who rattled your cage?? A lot of anger there!


The knves are out

Posted on 26-04-2013 22:18 | By Fonzie

Dame Susan doesnt fit the mould of the last Race relations heads so they want her out and they are going to make it tough for her If she has commonsense and I believe she has then she is exactly the right person for the job


Good on ya Capt Sensible

Posted on 27-04-2013 09:23 | By PLONKER

Your comments are right


Not the Job

Posted on 27-04-2013 13:13 | By Blessed

for Susan Devoy, She is a Gr8 sports person, and NZer but Race Relations should have went to someone with more Cultural awareness/knowledge of the major nz races.... Indian, Maori, Pacific Island, European, Chinese... blah blah, Surely they have someone in that area with more expertise. She has come across pretty inexperienced in TV interviews :/ Good Luck to her other wise


Once Again

Posted on 27-04-2013 16:18 | By HPBenjamin

Once again everybody recognizes Dame S because she plays sport...does that mean Richie M should run for prime minister? NO because he knows nothing about politics just like dame S knows nothing about race relations. Why should i have to pay a sports person big $$$ to really produce no result? People should be put into jobs based on merit not status...its just wrong !


Go Susan!!

Posted on 27-04-2013 17:31 | By Sambo

say what you feel, you are a proud New Zealander and have my support, no matter what your colour or creed, you live here you abide by our rules!!!!, some of you need to harden up, she will gain in experience and learn, but I sure hope she does just not become another "yes" person.


You go gor it girl

Posted on 27-04-2013 18:52 | By PLONKER

Tell them how it is, you are not in RR to be "nice" and tell em what they "want" to hear you are tehre to say it how it is.


PC garbage and Separatist bashing will get to her in the end

Posted on 28-04-2013 08:49 | By Scambuster

Ms Devoy is completely unqualified for the position with a rose tinted CV and simply does not have the work history(playing squash is not a qualification)to currently meet the challenge.Corporate Iwi and vested maori interests inane challenge on the basis Ms Devoy does not understand the terms of the Treaty(their misinterpretations of it) is sheer stuffwittery because the real Treaty is very a simple document with a very simple message.


Joris de Bres

Posted on 28-04-2013 09:18 | By crazyhorse

Dame Susan is a normal kiwi but certain people are saying she is not fit for the job, these same people have not said a word about our former race relations head man, Joris de Bres a marxist activist, how did he get the job,he said New Zealands treatment of (part)Maori was akin to the way Germany treated Jews, even going to the UN,not a word said about him,come on everyone whats the agenda here.


wait, watch, listen

Posted on 28-04-2013 11:56 | By Papamoaner

I too originally focussed on her squash background, but after reading up on her other attrubutes, I would say she was doubtless carefully selected for this job. Already, she is starting to look like a much needed breath of fresh air. Unlike the hot air emanating from the aptly named Pomfart and his ilk. We wish you well in your new position Susan.


Scambuster

Posted on 28-04-2013 11:57 | By PLONKER

She would be qualified enough I am sure to be able to undestand the "simple words of the treaty" as you state that they are, and they are. Perhaps the powers at be have a purpose in appointing her, she will say it how it is, Maori and other co-lovers will claim "racist" the public of NZ will rise up to defend her and Maori will have to back off. This could be a really cunning plan you know?


Unqualified?

Posted on 28-04-2013 12:46 | By morepork

She is a Kiwi, a wife, and a mother. She has demonstrated the will and determination to achieve a goal, she has a background based on fair play and has learned to deal with whatever the game brings. She is intelligent enough to study Ethnic cultures and understand them and she will have people who can advise her. What more would you want? Someone who has a vested interest in seeing that their own Ethnicity is promoted? We've had more than enough of that. It is time we had someone in RR who can bring some grass roots common sense to it.


A Person of Honesty and Worth

Posted on 28-04-2013 16:57 | By carpedeum

While being aware of Dame Susans sporting prowess in the past- I have had the pleasure of meeting and interacting with her in the Philanthropic portion of current BOP life and I must really applaud her appointment. She is no bodys fool or puppet - just a good New Zealander with HEAPS of common sense and the courage to say it as she sees it. She will do a great job and will (hopefully) restore some balance back into NZ Race Relations in 21st Century


STICK TO SQUASH

Posted on 30-04-2013 17:20 | By Badzac

She has very little ability in anything helpful for this role...being a competitive sports person is not really a skill....with race relations you need patience, understanding, compassion & dignity. She will fail. She will fail miserably. Not because I want her to or even wish her too...but because she's has no idea about race relations whatsoever,none....but she thinks she does. & that is why she will fail. She would rather steer the ship straight to hell rather than listen to advice.


Train Crash Heading

Posted on 01-05-2013 15:57 | By YOGI BEAR

I a good call to use that, the result of the speech is that the fiction type Maori claims are about to "Train Crash" and that is a good thing, go Susan!


@Badzac

Posted on 01-05-2013 16:10 | By morepork

OK, so what do you think the required qualities are? You mentioned some good ones but there is no guarantee Ms Devoy doesn't have them or can't develop them. Your concern appears to be that she won't listen to advice; I don't know the lady and don't know whether you're right or wrong but I can bet you this much: If she's not listening now, she will very quickly learn to. I don't share your pessimism because I believe she is a capable person. I guess time will tell.


Hang in there

Posted on 02-05-2013 10:11 | By Hillbilly

Susan devoy can only excel in this role - many great achievers have a rough start but she has proven she has the resolve, tenacity,thick skin, and stamina to endure any thing that comes her way - and a straight talker to - something that the people who are holding this country to ransom do not want (the truth hurts).


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