Sludge Report #131 – Sludge Scoop Haunts Hide

Tuesday, 12 March 2002, 4:12 pm
Article: C.D. Sludge

In This Edition: Sludge Scoop Haunts Hide - The Free Money For The Greedy Mystery (Episode II) - What’s This All About? (Links From The Scoop Archives)

NOTE: Authors of this report will be anonymous and wide ranging, and occasionally finely balanced. Indeed you are invited to contribute: The format is as a reporters notebook. It will be published as and when material is available. C.D. Sludge can be contacted at sludge@scoop.co.nz. The Sludge Report is available as a free email service..Click HERE - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/myscoop/ to subscribe...

Sludge Report #131

The Free Money For The Greedy Mystery (Episode II)

One of the Sludge Report’s greatest hits has come back to life. Sludge wondered at the time how such as story could so quickly die. But it is back…. For links to the whole sorry saga scroll down.

But first an extract from today’s Scoop coverage of question time…

See...
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0203/S00072.htm
SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day – 12 March

Question 6.

PHILLIDA BUNKLE to the Minister of Consumer Affairs Jim Anderton:

Q: Has he received any reports alerting New Zealanders to the operation of any companies that may impact on consumers; if so, what do they say?

A: Yes I have received a report about an investment seminar scam in Fiji, where people get offered 15% per month compounding interest. The Consumer Magazine reports that as many as 300 NZers have lost up to $10 million to this scam.

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Q: What should NZers do about such scams?

A: We advise people to contact the Securities Commission about them. I am a very concerned that an MP has promoted these scams however. This MP appears to have attended a scam seminar and not to have alerted victims. The MP associated with this scheme is Rodney Hide. I am deeply concerned that in his speech he describes himself as part of the Government.

Q: Does he accept that a large number of these scams take place on the Internet and what will he do about the Democrats shabby web page?

A: I have no responsibility for the democratic party web site. But a blank page on the internet is a lot less sinister than the schemes Mr Hide is tied up in.

Q: Does he know how much the Australian SEC wants to sue Air NZ for?

A: I have no responsibility for Air NZ. But when an MP describes officers of the IRD as state sanctioned thugs that is a problem..

(Richard Prebble – He was asked a specific question. He refuses to answer. The biggest fraud in New Zealand is Air NZ.)

Q: Winston Peters: Can he confirm that Mr Hide’s travel was paid for by the promoters of the scam and that he stayed in Fiji at their expense?

(Speaker - That question is out of order

Winston Peters (NZ First) - This is a person who poses as an Economist. This is a scam in which an MP is involved.

Speaker - The Minister has no responsibility for who paid for his fair to Fiji.

Leave to table the Democrats web site blank page – granted.

Rodney Hide - Given the level of Interest I seek leave to read my speech to the house after Question time…. given there is such great interest in it.

Jim Anderton - If the member would seek leave to table the speech.

Rodney Hide – Yes, to the tape of the speech – granted.)

So hear’s hoping that this time the Audio gets a run. As can be seen in the links below. Rodney’s speech was a scorcher and the tape is more than entertaining. Later in Question 9 the subject of Rodney’s trip to Fiji came up again when Rodney ventured to ask a question to Michael Cullen….

….

Q: Rodney Hide (ACT): Is he planning on hauling NZ back into a dank socialist cellar?

A: No. We have reduced expenditure as a percentage of GDP and run one of the most open economies in the world. We do not however support pyramid sellers or people who call the IRD officers “thugs” at overseas seminars on scams.

….

What’s This All About? (Links From The Scoop Archives)

In this story the truth really may be stranger than fiction. Take it away C.D. Sludge and the ever present Scoop archive.

EARLIER SLUDGE ON FREE MONEY

- Sludge Report #10 - Free Money For Greedy Mystery [1]
- Sludge Report #11 – More Evidence In Money Mystery [2]
- The Sludge Report #12 – Rodney’s Trip To Fiji [3]
- Winston Peters on Investors International [4]
- Sludge Report #14 – Rodney’s Speech In Fiji (1) [5] -
- Sludge Report #15 (Part 2) [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0006/S00034.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0006/S00043.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0006/S00053.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0006/S00295.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0006/S00072.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0006/S00073.htm

Anti(c)opyright Sludge 2002

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Alastair Thompson

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Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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