Wayne Mapp

ᔥ NZ Herald

Fran O’Sullivan discusses the stand-over tactics of Bronwyn Pullar and Michelle Boag.

Many New Zealanders will be disgusted at the clear suggestion Pullar was able to point to a well-connected bunch of National Party insiders, including Key himself, to try to screw a $14 million settlement from Sovereign Insurance for the damage she suffered in a cycle accident a decade ago.

Most people would not be able to tally up 28 well-connected names to champion their cause, let alone such influential people as Key, former National Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley, Sir Selwyn Cushing – a former National Party fundraiser – and former minister Wayne Mapp.

They were among those Pullar yesterday tried to explain were simply “a list of known people who were aware of my dispute with the insurer, and who the insurer may encounter in the course of their business”.

Anyone in the commercial world would regard the provision of such a list as an undue attempt to exert influence. It carries with it an implicit message of “don’t mess with me because I have friends in high places”.

Yet Pullar maintains the list was provided simply “in the context of us entering into negotiations to reach a confidential settlement. Provision of this list was necessary in case the insurer subsequently faced questions from these parties who had knowledge of the dispute”.

Frankly this is the deluded spin of a person whose own credibility has been shot to hell by Key’s denial that he was ever part of her web of influence.

Fran then shows up the ineptitude of Michelle Boag when it comes to trying stand-over tactics on ‘Crusher’ Collins:

Collins clearly pricked a nerve when she included the former National Party president among those who could have leaked the email.

The minister was simply pointing out those who had the email; herself, two ACC players and Boag.

But Boag did not engage her brain before telling the Herald her email was sent to Collins in the expectation it would not be sent to anyone else.

“I sent it to the minister only … and I asked whether it was a secure email address before I sent it,” the Herald reported, going on to quote Boag as saying, “When you can’t send a communication to a Government minister without fearing that the privacy of that communication is going to be breached, that’s very, very dangerous”.

In fact, Boag had earlier phoned Collins to say she had some information on the privacy leaks. Collins told her any communication would have to be forwarded to ACC.

Yet Boag went on to email Collins at her parliamentary address. The email was copied to one of the ACC Minister’s senior staffers.

It’s hardly surprising Collins – via her staffer – made sure ACC chief executive Ralph Stewart and ACC chairman John Judge were sent copies of the email, given Boag’s insistence the privacy breach should be investigated for the “sake of your ministry, your board and your CEO”.

To her credit, Collins did not let herself get drawn into the behind-scenes influence game.

Despite leading National to its biggest ever failure, Michelle Boag still tries to put across that she is very well connected and well liked within National.

Her connections with the brat pack have waned, and after bringing down Nick Smith are non existent. She is still close to former MPs like Wayne Mapp, but has very few friends left in caucus. Murray McCully is big Boag supporter, and a man reputed to admire her total shamelessness.

Most of the last three intakes have seen through Boag, although she is known to have been close to Paula Bennett and shaken down donors for Nikki Kaye. Unfortunately for Nikki much of Boag’s stomp on everyone to get to the top has rubbed off on her, which is why Nikki is not liked or respected by her peers. Campaigning to get Wira Gardiner to be president built some links with Hekia Parata, but these links apparently soured when Boag was outed as a liar and Wira lost.

Boag’s major influence in the last few years has been over the board. Though she lost the fight to install Wira Gardiner she has propped up the failing regime of Peter Goodfellow. When Peter was going to be voted off the board by the members who regarded him as being next to useless, lazy and not a patch on the loved previous President Judy Kirk, Boag got hold of the PMO and told them as the PM had installed Goodfellow it would be a big defeat for him if Peter was kicked off the board.

Word was then put around MPs that Peter was to be saved and they were to tell their delegations they should vote for him. Boag is known to continue to trade off this relationship.

Boag has positioned an ally to take over from Goodfellow.  Alastair Bell is one of the leaders of the Buggers Muddle. Alastair is an amiable but useless twit of a man who served in the Prime Ministers Office in the 1990’s and was regarded by his peers of having a particularly good day if he managed to complete the Dominion Post crossword by 2pm. Given the rest of the staff managed to finish the crossword within 10 minutes Alastair was not a highly esteemed member of the team. It is reported that David Farrar could finish the crossword inside 5 minutes and complete a new Powerpoint presentation before Alistair had even found “two down”.

More to come tomorrow.

Labour and other assorted lefties are having a swipe at Judith Collins for appointing Wayne Mapp to the Law Commission. They suggest that she has done this for a mate. They clearly have no idea about who Judith Collins considers to be a mate, but Wayne Mapp wouldn’t even remotely qualify. This is simply a case of taking one for the team and having to put up the name because others have said you have to. She will be very annoyed that she now has to grimace and take it even harder.

However the rank hypocrisy of Labour is unsurprising in an attempt to try and get a hit on Judith Collins:

Labour leader David Shearer said the appointment needed scrutiny.

“The perception is that there have been a number of appointments made that have been close to National.

“These types of appointments might just fuel that perception – that National is looking after their own.”

Remember Mike Williams $240,000 worth of board positions anyone? Or indeed any number of patsy appointment of unqualified but loyal Labour supporters to positions.

Wayne Mapp at least is qualified for this position.

National has done what Labour failed to do despite three separate announcements over two election cycles, they have sold the Skyhawks:

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp has announced that a United States company, JDI Holdings, is going to buy the eight remaining Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) retired Skyhawk fighters.

“I am also announcing today that Aermacchis and Strikemasters no longer needed by the RNZAF will go to aviation museums around New Zealand,” said Dr Mapp.

“The Skyhawks, Aermacchis and Strikemasters are an important part of New Zealand’s aviation history and they will make fine exhibits in our aviation museums.”

Dr Mapp said agreement has been reached on a $7.9 million purchase price for the eight Skyhawks including engines and spare parts. The deal depends on approval from the US State Department.

“This is the resolution of what has been a long process,” said Dr Mapp. It is expected that JDI Holdings – which intends to fly the Skyhawks – will take delivery of the planes within six months.

Presumably this would be one of the assets that Labour wouldn’t sell under their new policy.

John Key doesn’t like being put under pressure. He comes across as whiny when asked repeated questions about inconsistencies in his story.

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On Friday he was interviewed about the difference in his story on the SAS in Afganistan and Wayne Mapp’s story.

For a man who has handled just about everything this year very well he doesn’t do a great job here.

This blog has a strict policy of not endorsing candidates, though it did endorse the “Anyone but Brent” candidates in Rodney.

The selection contest for the last safe National seat in the Auckland area is shaping up to be a race between broadcaster Maggie Barry and a former Auckland City Councillor.

Ms Barry is highly fancied for North Shore where Defence Minister Wayne Mapp is retiring at the November election.

Paul Goldsmith, a former press secretary to three Cabinet ministers, is her closest probable rival, but businessman Michael Single is said to be in with a chance thanks to his local credentials.

So for all five candidates in North Shore tonight good luck and you can rely on the National members to select the best person for the electorate.

Labour seem to have nicked National’s election playbook….from 2002. They are mounting attacks on anything that moves in utter desperation of their predicament. They simply can’t see the wood for the trees. Trevor Mallard is flailing away on Red Alert smearing Don Brash as though he is the enemy, he is then in the House smearing people who aren’t even politicians randomly in a desperate attempt to join some dots that don’t exist. It is hilarious to watch.

Labour are essentially trying to re-run The Hollow Men meme. It might have worked in 2005 with mentions of American bag-men and the Brethren boogey-men but it won’t run now. They are simply chasing their tails for relevance

Watch as Goff and Mallard get smashed up by the PM and by Lockwood in Question one today. labour just don’t get it that ACT isn’t the enemy, nor is Don Brash. They are simply playing into Brash’s hands by continually talking about him. Right now any air time is good air time.

Heh…John Key suggested they hire someone like my hunting mate Simon Lusk to roll Goff.

Then I got mentioned again in parliament by David Shearer, this time on his beat up of a months old issue chasing Murray McCully. Again I have to re-iterate that if I could have gone after Murray McCully I would have, with boots on.

Hehe…Wayne Mapp suggested I was “woefully mis-informed”. He doesn’t know who my sources are so was prob­a­bly ill-advised to say that. But then again he has spent his entire career being “woe­fully mis-informed” so he is National’s res­i­dent expert on the topic. He then denied ever reading my blog…to guffaws from both sides of the house.

Nice to know that Wayne Mapp isn’t responsible for whether or not I am correct.

This beat-up back-fired on Labour though because Wayne Mapp slapped them back with an example of Helen Clark’s use of a 757. Dumb, dumb, dumb…as I said before wood and trees is the issue.

In a surprise move, it was announced today that outspoken former North Shore City mayor Andrew Williams has been appointed as a public spokesman for the AA.

“For some time now, many people have encouraged me to join the AA, particularly after the rigors of three years as Mayor and the experiences I had over that time. My wife and family have been especially pleased at this move.”

“I have spent many a late night contemplating whether I should join the AA or an organization just like it. In the end, I decided that life is too short, and I needed to do this. My life experiences and the public interaction I had as a community board member, a councillor and as Mayor of a major city make me one of the best candidates in New Zealand to be an advocate for the AA”, said Mr Williams.

Paul Thutherwarn, general manager of the Automobile Association, congratulated Mr Williams into his new role. “We have been convinced for some time now that Andrew Williams needed to be a part of the AA. We would have been concerned if he didn’t join us!”

Former political colleagues Len Brown, John Banks, George Wood, Bob Harvey, Chris Darby, John Key and Wayne Mapp all warmly welcomed the announcement. “This was long overdue”, said former Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey.

Williams new role was agreed to as of 2:43am on April 1st.

Unfortunately for National there is no one with the ego or moxie of Michelle Boag to quietly going around kneecapping MPs who are past their used by date. Credit to Michelle, she was bloody good at kneecapping people and she helped the selection process that saw John Key and Judith Collins take nominations from incumbents. It pays not to get in the way of an angry, egotistical woman on the warpath, discretion is definitely the better part of valour etc.

National has a fair bit of dead wood who don’t add a lot to caucus and would be better doing something else useful for National outside of caucus, letting someone else take their seat.  As mentioned in a previous post, Helen Clark waited too long to regenerate.

MPs like Wayne Mapp, Allan Peachey, Paul Hutchinson, Sandra Goudie and Lindsay Tisch hold safe blue seats, and have been good party people for a long time. They should be offered dignified exits and interesting career opportunities outside of parliament. No kneecapping, just a friendly chat about the future and their prospects.

Someone like Paul, who is far too nice to be in parliament, could well end up chair of a couple of health boards, or some other significant health appointment. Wayne could end up with an offshore posting where his intellect and experience are valued. Someone could have a word to Sir Peter Jackson about a starring role for Lindsay.

Then there are some list MPs who contribute little and probably wont win a seat any time soon. They also need to be moved on, often back to sectors where they were very successful, unlike their lack of success in parliament. This includes Paul Quinn, Katrina Shanks, and Jacqui Blue. They would be better off outside parliament, and if National were like Labour they would be given jobs were National needs someone they can trust. Jacqui Blue especially could provide vital expertise to Tony Ryall in helping correct the wrinkles in the health sector.

Since it seems to be the season for change and my wires are tingling about a couple of pending announcements this Friday it might be a good idea to add a few more to the list.

UPDATE: Wayne Mapp has announced his retirement at the next election.