I know its basically been forever since I posted anything to do with NZ Politics at all, but I thought this was rather important.

To tell the truth, I first heard about it on the radio over the weekend and it was being discussed last night on my way home from the workshop. In fact, the only thing that gave it pause was the NRL announcement about the Warriors cheating.

David Benson-Pope should be fired. Not only has he bold faced lied outside Parliament, he has lied INSIDE Parliament.

Mr Leadbetter said he told Mr Benson-Pope in September 1997 about parents’ complaints that he burst into female dormitories, and a shower block, while 14-year-old girls were in various states of undress.

“I can recall the complaint and I can recall raising it with David Benson-Pope, who was the teacher in charge of outdoor education,” Mr Leadbetter told the Otago Daily Times.

Late last night Mr Benson-Pope said through a spokesman: “That doesn’t accord with information we have received from the school.”

NZ Herald

I’m sorry, but thats a very limp wristed response, and a blatant lie. As I recall it, he’s apt to change his statements rather abruptly when people come forward with evidence or statements that go against his. In fact, his memory seems to change events quite often depending on who is talking.

A school doesn’t change their policies for no reason. There was a formal complaint made to the school which had the school change their policies. There is no way a teacher would not have been made aware of that. More importantly, if the teacher was the reason for the original complaint, EVERY employer would make sure that employee was aware of it.

Its not happened much, but I have never been in a position where I have not known about a complaint made against me. You cannot improve in your trade if you are not made aware of what you do wrong or the mistakes you make. So too does that apply to teachers… and politicians.

I trust the principal of the school in this. Why would he lie? What would it achieve him to make something up? The school had a serious concern at the time, enough to warrant a change in the policies of the school. To my knowledge, you don’t often change policies unless there is a good reason to do so.

David Benson-Pope is a liar and, to be blunt about it, completely untrustworthy. He should be sacked from his position within the Government, and if the Labour Party had any sort of moral fibre in their body, he should be removed from their ranks as a possibility of ever returning to Parliament. He has no credibility left with the general population that I’m aware of.

In fact, the only person in the media I have heard defending him has been Kerre Woodham on the radio last night. No surprises there. But even she was very cautious in what she said. A pretty blatant lefty supporter with massive public sway and even she’s not going near this with a public opinion one way or the other.

Says a lot on its own really.