• Hobsons Pledge blunder

    From Crash@nogood@dontbother.invalid to nz.general on Thu Oct 2 20:02:01 2025
    From Newsgroup: nz.general

    They have quite rightly started a campaign against continuation of
    Maori wards on local bodies:

    https://www.votenotomaoriwards.nz/

    But the photo they lead to is a monumental blunder. Included in the
    lead photo are pictures of the Far North Mayor and deputy Mayor. While
    both were elected in non-Maori contests (ie not involved as Maori ward candidates) their presence in this photo, for those of us in the Far
    North, implies that they gave permission to use their likeness (from
    open sources) to support the Hobson's Pledge campaign against Maori
    wards.

    Both Moko Tempania and Kelly Stratford were elected to their positions
    with votes from all races. Both though have vehemently campaigned for
    the retention of Maori wards, and neither of them gave permission to
    Hobson's Pledge to use their likeness in this campaign. In doing this
    they have lit up the opposition to Hobson's Pledge in the far north,
    and this was completely avoidable by only using photos of candidates
    that support the abolition of Maori wards.

    For the record, I support the removal of Maori wards, but I cannot
    remain a member of Hobson's Pledge when they make blunders like this.
    --
    Crash McBash
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  • From Tony@lizandtony@orcon.net.nz to nz.general on Fri Oct 3 19:08:20 2025
    From Newsgroup: nz.general

    Crash <nogood@dontbother.invalid> wrote:
    They have quite rightly started a campaign against continuation of
    Maori wards on local bodies:

    https://www.votenotomaoriwards.nz/

    But the photo they lead to is a monumental blunder. Included in the
    lead photo are pictures of the Far North Mayor and deputy Mayor. While
    both were elected in non-Maori contests (ie not involved as Maori ward >candidates) their presence in this photo, for those of us in the Far
    North, implies that they gave permission to use their likeness (from
    open sources) to support the Hobson's Pledge campaign against Maori
    wards.

    Both Moko Tempania and Kelly Stratford were elected to their positions
    with votes from all races. Both though have vehemently campaigned for
    the retention of Maori wards, and neither of them gave permission to
    Hobson's Pledge to use their likeness in this campaign. In doing this
    they have lit up the opposition to Hobson's Pledge in the far north,
    and this was completely avoidable by only using photos of candidates
    that support the abolition of Maori wards.

    For the record, I support the removal of Maori wards, but I cannot
    remain a member of Hobson's Pledge when they make blunders like this.


    Yes very silly and lazy really. A pity bhecause some of their campaigns are excellent in concept.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Mutley@mutley2000@hotmail.com to nz.general on Mon Oct 6 08:20:40 2025
    From Newsgroup: nz.general

    Tony <lizandtony@orcon.net.nz> wrote:

    Crash <nogood@dontbother.invalid> wrote:
    They have quite rightly started a campaign against continuation of
    Maori wards on local bodies:

    https://www.votenotomaoriwards.nz/

    But the photo they lead to is a monumental blunder. Included in the
    lead photo are pictures of the Far North Mayor and deputy Mayor. While
    both were elected in non-Maori contests (ie not involved as Maori ward >>candidates) their presence in this photo, for those of us in the Far
    North, implies that they gave permission to use their likeness (from
    open sources) to support the Hobson's Pledge campaign against Maori
    wards.

    Both Moko Tempania and Kelly Stratford were elected to their positions
    with votes from all races. Both though have vehemently campaigned for
    the retention of Maori wards, and neither of them gave permission to >>Hobson's Pledge to use their likeness in this campaign. In doing this
    they have lit up the opposition to Hobson's Pledge in the far north,
    and this was completely avoidable by only using photos of candidates
    that support the abolition of Maori wards.

    For the record, I support the removal of Maori wards, but I cannot
    remain a member of Hobson's Pledge when they make blunders like this.


    Yes very silly and lazy really. A pity bhecause some of their campaigns are >excellent in concept.
    It is indead but I see the media and LGNZ are trying to block their
    message every inch of the way.
    From their latest email

    "This is a scandal. While Hobson's Pledge advertisements are shut
    down, while our supporters are harassed, while the media churns out
    hit piece after hit piece against us - another pro-maori wards group
    is given a megaphone by the Electoral Commission itself.
    That lobby group is LGNZ. And let's be clear: LGNZ is nothing more
    than a lobby group like any other. It represents councillors who
    choose to pay their membership fees - not the people of New Zealand.

    Yet while our voices are silenced, their website is linked directly
    from the Commission's own website on M?iori Wards.
    We will not sit back while bureaucrats undermine the will of the
    people. The Electoral Commission must be forced to remember who they
    work for - ordinary New Zealanders.
    Why is it that when Hobson's Pledge speaks up on the M?iori wards
    debate, our voice is silenced, smeared, and censored by the media -
    yet another group has its website linked and effectively endorsed by
    the Electoral Commission? Why are our ads banned, our volunteers
    harassed, and our supporters ridiculed - while LGNZ is treated as
    though it speaks for the people? It doesn't. It speaks only for
    councillors who pay their fees.


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  • From Tony@lizandtony@orcon.net.nz to nz.general on Sun Oct 5 20:47:57 2025
    From Newsgroup: nz.general

    Mutley <mutley2000@hotmail.com> wrote:
    Tony <lizandtony@orcon.net.nz> wrote:

    Crash <nogood@dontbother.invalid> wrote:
    They have quite rightly started a campaign against continuation of
    Maori wards on local bodies:

    https://www.votenotomaoriwards.nz/

    But the photo they lead to is a monumental blunder. Included in the
    lead photo are pictures of the Far North Mayor and deputy Mayor. While >>>both were elected in non-Maori contests (ie not involved as Maori ward >>>candidates) their presence in this photo, for those of us in the Far >>>North, implies that they gave permission to use their likeness (from
    open sources) to support the Hobson's Pledge campaign against Maori >>>wards.

    Both Moko Tempania and Kelly Stratford were elected to their positions >>>with votes from all races. Both though have vehemently campaigned for >>>the retention of Maori wards, and neither of them gave permission to >>>Hobson's Pledge to use their likeness in this campaign. In doing this >>>they have lit up the opposition to Hobson's Pledge in the far north,
    and this was completely avoidable by only using photos of candidates
    that support the abolition of Maori wards.

    For the record, I support the removal of Maori wards, but I cannot
    remain a member of Hobson's Pledge when they make blunders like this.


    Yes very silly and lazy really. A pity bhecause some of their campaigns are >>excellent in concept.
    It is indead but I see the media and LGNZ are trying to block their
    message every inch of the way.
    From their latest email

    "This is a scandal. While Hobson's Pledge advertisements are shut
    down, while our supporters are harassed, while the media churns out
    hit piece after hit piece against us - another pro-maori wards group
    is given a megaphone by the Electoral Commission itself.
    That lobby group is LGNZ. And let's be clear: LGNZ is nothing more
    than a lobby group like any other. It represents councillors who
    choose to pay their membership fees - not the people of New Zealand.

    Yet while our voices are silenced, their website is linked directly
    from the Commission's own website on M?iori Wards.
    We will not sit back while bureaucrats undermine the will of the
    people. The Electoral Commission must be forced to remember who they
    work for - ordinary New Zealanders.
    Why is it that when Hobson's Pledge speaks up on the M?iori wards
    debate, our voice is silenced, smeared, and censored by the media -
    yet another group has its website linked and effectively endorsed by
    the Electoral Commission? Why are our ads banned, our volunteers
    harassed, and our supporters ridiculed - while LGNZ is treated as
    though it speaks for the people? It doesn't. It speaks only for
    councillors who pay their fees.
    LGNZ has no valid role, they are working against the best interest of ratepayers.
    Thanks for the post.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Crash@nogood@dontbother.invalid to nz.general on Mon Oct 6 10:48:08 2025
    From Newsgroup: nz.general

    On Sun, 5 Oct 2025 20:47:57 -0000 (UTC), Tony
    <lizandtony@orcon.net.nz> wrote:

    Mutley <mutley2000@hotmail.com> wrote:
    Tony <lizandtony@orcon.net.nz> wrote:

    Crash <nogood@dontbother.invalid> wrote:
    They have quite rightly started a campaign against continuation of >>>>Maori wards on local bodies:

    https://www.votenotomaoriwards.nz/

    But the photo they lead to is a monumental blunder. Included in the >>>>lead photo are pictures of the Far North Mayor and deputy Mayor. While >>>>both were elected in non-Maori contests (ie not involved as Maori ward >>>>candidates) their presence in this photo, for those of us in the Far >>>>North, implies that they gave permission to use their likeness (from >>>>open sources) to support the Hobson's Pledge campaign against Maori >>>>wards.

    Both Moko Tempania and Kelly Stratford were elected to their positions >>>>with votes from all races. Both though have vehemently campaigned for >>>>the retention of Maori wards, and neither of them gave permission to >>>>Hobson's Pledge to use their likeness in this campaign. In doing this >>>>they have lit up the opposition to Hobson's Pledge in the far north, >>>>and this was completely avoidable by only using photos of candidates >>>>that support the abolition of Maori wards.

    For the record, I support the removal of Maori wards, but I cannot >>>>remain a member of Hobson's Pledge when they make blunders like this.


    Yes very silly and lazy really. A pity bhecause some of their campaigns are >>>excellent in concept.
    It is indead but I see the media and LGNZ are trying to block their >>message every inch of the way.
    From their latest email

    "This is a scandal. While Hobson's Pledge advertisements are shut
    down, while our supporters are harassed, while the media churns out
    hit piece after hit piece against us - another pro-maori wards group
    is given a megaphone by the Electoral Commission itself.
    That lobby group is LGNZ. And let's be clear: LGNZ is nothing more
    than a lobby group like any other. It represents councillors who
    choose to pay their membership fees - not the people of New Zealand.

    Yet while our voices are silenced, their website is linked directly
    from the Commission's own website on M?iori Wards.
    We will not sit back while bureaucrats undermine the will of the
    people. The Electoral Commission must be forced to remember who they
    work for - ordinary New Zealanders.
    Why is it that when Hobson's Pledge speaks up on the M?iori wards
    debate, our voice is silenced, smeared, and censored by the media -
    yet another group has its website linked and effectively endorsed by
    the Electoral Commission? Why are our ads banned, our volunteers
    harassed, and our supporters ridiculed - while LGNZ is treated as
    though it speaks for the people? It doesn't. It speaks only for
    councillors who pay their fees.
    LGNZ has no valid role, they are working against the best interest of >ratepayers.
    Thanks for the post.

    LGNZ is historically a lobby group to represent (member) local bodies
    in dealing with local government issues, generally with central
    government. However with the development of Labour's 3-waters
    program, it became a lobby group for the Government to local bodies -
    the reverse of its intended role. As a result several local bodies
    resigned their LGNZ membership - most notably Auckland Council. LGNZ
    was never intended to represent ratepayers, and it does not.
    --
    Crash McBash
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