One of the questions put to Prime Minister John Key on Stuff’s live chat yesterday was: What drove you into becoming a politician?
He replied:
“I wanted to make difference to the fortunes of NZ, and NZers.
It was the fascination of politics I had at a very young age, watching PMs of the day engage with the issues that confronted NZ.”
That’s refreshing.
He’s doing the job for the right reason – to help New Zealand and New Zealanders rather than implementing a personal political agenda.
(If the live chat on the link above doesn’t work you can read the text of it here).
Homepaddock 
“It was the fascination of politics I had at a very young age, watching PMs of the day engage with the issues that confronted NZ.””
Issues that confronted New Zealand
And yet he had no opinion about the highly political Springbok Tour!
Astonishing!!
Not puzzled by that Ele?
If you were as fascinated by politics as Key claims to be, would you have ‘no opinion that I can remember’ about such a significant political issue?Streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech!
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‘t’
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You’ll probably find this hard to believe but people on the left were a whole lot more interested in/wound up by the Springbok tour than those on the left.
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Not only hard to believe but hard to understand as well!
Why would politically fascinated Key have no idea what he thought about the tour?
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And maybe you can help me with this question Ele (you seem to be on very familiar terms with ‘John’) – Key said he donates his salary to charity – can you tell me which charity that is?
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He did have an idea – last I can remember – and that memory may be unreliable, I can’t remember where I saw or heard it because I don’t think someone’s teenage views are particularly important. But what I recall he said was something to the effect of not having a strong view, probably mildly pro at the time but would be anti if faced with that sort of issue now.
I have no idea what he does with any of his money and it’s no one’s business but his and his family’s. He earns the money it’s his to do with as he pleases.
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Have you got a ‘hot’ Norwester your way Rg.
You seem a little niggly today.
By the way, I had a very strong opinion on the Springbok Tour.
My view has changed over time and I firmly believe any view held then to be TOTALLY irrelevant today.
Having just returned from 5 weeks in Southern Africa I came away that while aparthaid (sp) was obnoxious, what they have today is little better.
Okay the S…t now comes from your own people – but it is still S…t.
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“probably mildly pro at the time but would be anti if faced with that sort of issue now.”
He probably fudged it because, like for much of the population, there were conflicting thoughts, ideologies and emotions at work..
Its easy to say Apartheid is bad, so is politics in our recreation activities, protest is a right, but the rule of law must be enforced and so on. Statements favouring the more extreme positions at either end are only really appropriate for those who were more committed than the average.
Personally I was against the tour, but as it wore on I certainly didn’t want my view associated with Minto and the Mongrel Mob.
As for Key giving to charity.. he said he gave a “good” proportion of his Opposition leader’s salary to charity, and he would continue to do that if elected as PM.. thats it, nothing more and nothing less. It appears Robert et al are outraged that a person should donate to charities of their choice.
JC
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RG – John Key will name the charity or charities he donates his salary to when you mate Peters repays NZ taxpayers the $158,000 he alledgedly gave to charity.
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JRM>says.The antics of Minto and his mob alienated most decent nzers Shoud have been incarcerated early at his and their lack of respect for the law.Even today he and his ilk are still dog tucker!!IM amazed that today any onecould suport such rabil-pro tour not
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