This is a selection of some of the more interesting and insightful tweets about Maurice Williamson's resignation as a minister. As usual the tweets are in reverse-chronological order. More will be added. [Read more below]
Do we want a country led by plonkers who can't competently help their neighbours? #rilly#nzpol
You perform my citizenship ceremony, own a neighbouring beachhouse and have a word with the Police, and still I'm not a mate?
In which @CampbellLiveNZ offers Maurice Williamson a spade, and he does the rest.
Campbell Live @CampbellLiveNZ
To summarise: Williamson & Lui are neighbours at the beach, in a property Williamson suggested Lui buy & the Williamson family have used.
Otago Law Faculty @OtagoLawFaculty
It's funny coz Maurice Williamson called while I was marking LAWS204 assignments and said I better have a solid basis for failing a student.
Ministers should be locked inside Zorbs inside their offices, and never talk to anyone, and only be let out for question time #sarcasm
saying you 'aren't looking to influence it' doesn't change jack sorry Maurice, you're a bloody minister ffs.
NZ Media, ask former National Minister Maurice Williamson what John Key knew about me before the raid. He might just tell you the truth now.
#AlsoToo Our political class doesn't seem to be managing our nation's new relationship with China terribly well.
Martyn Bradbury @CitizenBomber
If Key knew about Williamson's call to Police on Tuesday night & admits he had 'crossed a line' why did it take Herald till he resigned?
Maurice Williamson tells police the applicable law for his friend is the Law For The Rich. The police say they'll double-check.
Will de Cleene @ZippyGonzales
Was the Williamson intervention just an operational matter, or did some top cop have a word to the Police Minister about the impropriety?
Maurice Williamson has kept the flame of National Party liberalism alight in some pretty dark times. I am very sad today.
Trevor Mallard @TrevorMallard
Williamson clarifies status with Police - sacked. Collins used with border official by company paying her family a fortune - survives. Why ?
Matthew Hooton @MatthewHootonNZ
.@williamson_nz issue has taken 1% off @NZNationalParty's forecast party vote and 2% off its chances of winning election, says @iPredictNZ
Makes you wonder what other bad behavior is going un-punished because someone doesn't know to OIA it.
What's so attractive about wealthy Chinese businessmen? Like honey to the beehive. O'Connor,Jones,Williamson.....Collins
I think Williamson should resign from Parliament. I'm sad about this, but that shit is unfuckingacceptable.
Winston Peters @winstonpeters
So, the 'Rainbow Warrior' has been sunk. Will the Oravida Milkmaid be next?
ol
I've given Greens/Labour tens and tens of dollars so if they get into Govt they better let me jaywalk with immunity.
Williamson to Police: "Nice ground you're on here ... be a shame if it turned out not to be solid."
I think @jaredsavageNZH deserves bonus points for whatever he said/did to Police in the last week to make them hand him Williamson's head.
Family violence: it's not okay. Unless someone "is investing a lot of money in New Zealand."http://goo.gl/pcUx5h
Laura McQuillan @mcquillanatorz
Police refer to Williamson as "the Minister" - suggesting they viewed his query as involving ministerial influence #rtpt
Williamson's reason for talking to police: Liu "is investing a lot of money in New Zealand." So now our justice system is for sale?
So Williamson resigns over misconduct and one of his portfolios goes to an MP who has previously resigned over misconduct.
Dame Seamus Brady @iamseamusbrady
Awkward the Williamson domestic abuser donor story broke the same week National launched their "Building a Stronger NZ for Families" slogan.
Service Charges... pic.twitter.com/umRxdjbQKf
Imperator Fish @ImperatorFish ·
So was Williamson's main failing the fact that he made inappropriate contact with the police, or that the media found out?
Winston Peters @winstonpeters
They were riding, Maurice & Key, on their Kawasaki 2553. They hit a hole going 93, and Key carried on Mauricelessly.
Breaking news - politician screws up without any known connection to Kim Dotcom.
Morgan Godfery @MorganGodfery
Banks (*that* donation), Collins (Oravida), Dunne (leak), Worth (forced resignation), Wong (travel perk) and now Williamson. Dirty politics
Hoping we can still get @williamson_nz on @OUVoteChat later this year, important to get full story & students want to ask about gay rainbow.
Morgan Godfery @MorganGodfery
This is a dirty dealing government. It makes Heatley's credit card stuff ups and the Antoine donations look positively clean in comparison.
I guess the difference is Police communication got caught under OIA. Communication with Chinese Ambassador not caught under OIA. #OIAreform
actually pretty cool though that the police response was basically "thanks for your input, Maurice, but we're still going to prosecute"
Williamson should have used the Collins defense. I was ringing as a friend on behalf of another friend to a friend and it was personal, kay.
Williamson's portfolio going to Nick Smith who was stood down two years ago for the exact same offense. Brighter Future.
It is blindingly obvious that Williamson should go and Collins should stay. Orivida donated over 55k to Nats whereas Liu only donated 22k..
The stench of corruption abounds around the dying corpse of the National government.
Another Minister with no sense of proper boundaries. Where do the Nats find so many?#nzpol
Looks like someone may need to 3D print themselves a new job.
Don't think that Maurice Williamson will be able to 3D print his way out this.
Wow, I guess National take a hard line on Ministers who use their position to forward interests of friends/family except when they don't.
Judith Collins opens the paper. Sighs and says "Oh Maurice", then skips down the hall.
Hey, Maurice was just helping out a National party donor, it was for the good of the country.
If any truth at all to @nzherald's story this morning, then Williamson is toast. If true, a disgraceful error of judgement.
Big grey rainbow over the Pakuranga highway.
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Bryce Edwards
Fri, 02 May 2014
Fri, 02 May 2014
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