Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand|Politics

Norman: Key 'acting like Muldoon'

31 May, 2013 11:00 PM3 minutes to read
Dr Russel Norman says John Key is undermining New Zealand's democracy. Photo / Greg Bowker

Dr Russel Norman says John Key is undermining New Zealand's democracy. Photo / Greg Bowker

Isaac Davison
By
Isaac Davison

Social Issues Reporter

VIEW PROFILE

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman has made a rare personal attack on Prime Minister John Key, comparing him to former Prime Minister Robert Muldoon in a scathing speech which accused the National-led Government of "crony capitalism".

Dr Norman escalated his criticism of Mr Key and the Government at the Green Party annual conference this morning, saying that the Prime Minister had come into office with a message of inclusiveness but had become a "divisive and corrosive figure".

"Next time you see John Key smiling, remember he's not smiling because he likes you, he's smiling because he's giving favours to his mates while undermining your democracy," he told an audience of around 120 people at the Canterbury Horticultural Centre in Christchurch.

"But we have seen all this before... Robert Muldoon would recognise this Government as one after his own heart, but with better spin doctors and a smilier disposition."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

He added: "Mr Key may not look like Muldoon but he sure as hell is acting like Muldoon."

Dr Norman also gave stark warnings to Skycity that it would be treated differently under a government which included the Green Party.

The Greens co-leader listed what he felt were undemocratic laws or dodgy deals, including legislation to prevent carers for disabled people from being heard in court, and moves to limit anti-mining protest in the deep seas.

"Something is rotten in the state of New Zealand politics," he repeated throughout the speech.

Dr Norman told Christchurch residents that they had been victims of the Government's "attacks on democracy", pointing to the abolition of the regional council.

"Under National's crony capitalism, National's friends get the profits from intensive corporate dairying and the people of Canterbury literally get cow faeces in their water."

Related articles

New Zealand|Politics

PM defends 35-year SkyCity deal

13 May 05:30 PM
New Zealand|Politics

Jane Kelsey: Casino deal may tie Parliament's hands

14 May 05:30 PM
New Zealand|Politics

Toby Manhire: SkyCity smirking all the way to the casino

16 May 05:30 PM
New Zealand|Politics

Brown: Give us the convention centre we want

30 May 05:30 PM

His most stinging criticism was reserved for the Government's deal with Skycity for the building of a convention centre in Auckland, in particular the extension of the casino's licence for 35 years and the promise of compensation if future governments interfered with the contract.

"This would be the equivalent of Robert Muldoon in 1978 guaranteeing the profits of tobacco companies for 35 years - we would still have smoking in the workplace."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

He sent a highly-charged message to the casino's owners.

"We've got news for SkyCity: unlike other political parties we didn't take your campaign donations and we didn't go to your corporate box at the rugby.

"Your tools of crony capitalism don't work with us ... and if the people of New Zealand tell us to turn off the tap on your blood money, then we bloody well will."

Dr Norman said that if Greens were part of government, it would close the door to lobbyists and special interests.

He argued that clean politics was required to create a fairer society, and to make a transition to a smart, green economy. He felt that Government's economic strategy sent signals to businesses that lobbying Government for deals was more important than innovation, research and development and hard work.

Co-leader Metiria Turei will give her leadership speech tomorrow.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Local Focus: Graeme Taylor on Candidate Camera

18 Aug 11:14 AM
New Zealand

Live: Army evacuating residents near Nelson over slips, high tide fears

18 Aug 09:00 AM
New Zealand|Crime

Armed police respond to 'serious assault' in Otahuhu

18 Aug 08:46 AM
New Zealand

Waikato Hospital ward in lockdown after Covid spreads

18 Aug 05:30 AM
New Zealand|Crime

Judge changes little boy's name to avoid links to criminal dad

18 Aug 08:00 AM

Most Popular

Live: Army evacuating residents near Nelson over slips, high tide fears
New Zealand

Live: Army evacuating residents near Nelson over slips, high tide fears

18 Aug 09:00 AM
Judge changes little boy's name to avoid links to criminal dad
New Zealand|Crime

Judge changes little boy's name to avoid links to criminal dad

18 Aug 08:00 AM
Seally season: Seal chases cat into marine biologist's lounge
New Zealand

Seally season: Seal chases cat into marine biologist's lounge

18 Aug 06:18 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP