0 The Herald; playing games again

The Herald's Dotcom correspondent David Fisher joined a few dots this morning and decided there was "political pressure" to approve Kim Dotcom's New Zealand residence application.

The Herald has published a number of documents, and one of them completely contradicts that line of attack. It is a statement from Immigration New Zealand dated 8 July 2014, just one week ago. Here it is, snipped from the Herald story, and with the addition of highlighting to key passages.

We presume David Fisher has read all the documents his story this morning relied on. Unfortunately for him, the INZ statement blows his, Dotcom's and Labour's argument clean out of the water. Immigration New Zealand is emphatic the decision was made by senior INZ staff, and the Minister was only informed (on a no surprises basis) AFTER the decision was made. Equally, INZ is adamant there was NO political pressure brought to bear by the Government.

That the Herald went ahead and ran the "political pressure" line anyway, despite a categorical denial from those accused of bending to political pressure suggests there is an agenda at play here. Kim Dotcom has made no secret of his desire to bring down the New Zealand Government. He has a willing media plant in the form of David Fisher, and Labour Party politicians who, despite a pledge to campaign cleanly, are happy to participate in spreading serious but incorrect allegations. 

However the Herald does itself no credit by publishing as fact allegations which have already been unequivocally denied. Granny Herald was once New Zealand's foremost newspaper. Those who made it that must turn in their graves on days like this.

0 "A bad but wealthy man"

There's yet another revelation about Kim Dotcom in the Herald this morning. And former Immigration Minister Jonathon Coleman must be wishing he'd never heard of the Large German Gentleman.

With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight (what a wonderful gift that would be for politicians!), we reckon Dr Coleman now wishes that he had instructed his Immigration New Zealand officials to treat Dotcom's residence application strictly according to Hoyle. But he cannot turn back the clock, and New Zealand is stuck with Dotcom until the US application to extradite him is heard.

Probably the most interesting aspect of the Herald story however is Laila Harre's reaction to her boss. The Herald reports:

Last night the leader of the Dotcom-funded Internet Party, Laila Harre, said she "wouldn't have been comfortable" granting the tycoon residency if she had been the Minister of Immigration.

We wonder if Ms Harre is also uncomfortable receiving her weekly pay-cheque from Dotcom, now that she has been made aware of all the background information. Will she reconsider leading the Internet Party, given what she now knows about her boss?

Neither National nor Labour has a good record with regard to rich immigrants. Labour is dogged by two men named Liu, and National has Dotcom to not boast about. Whilst the investment that wealthy immigrants bring is welcome, perhaps it's time for cross-party consensus that it is not so welcome that essential elements of immigration policy can be waived.