Richard Worth resigns

STATEMENT FROM DR RICHARD WORTH

 

 

“It is with deep regret that I have resigned my role as a Minister.

 

“I am resigning from the role for personal reasons.

 

“I tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister last night and he accepted.

 

“It has been a privilege to have been a Minister in this Government.

 

“I will not be making any further comment to the media.

 

“I have been granted two weeks’ leave of absence from the House.”

 

Comments

[MacDoctor]

Hmmm. Mystery and media are not good bedfellows. Worth may as well have invited all the journalists in New Zealand to move in with him.

[Tanya]

Ian, why is Investigate magazine getting thinner and thinner? Sorry, I know this is off-topic, but comparing the magazine of today (now at nearly $9.00 with that of a few years ago, it seems very thin, and what happened to the 'Eyes Right' column, this was great! Still buy it though, because it's an interesting read! Poor Richard Worth, too much pressure, I guess.

[Rick]

Richard Worth - a victim of climate change if ever I saw one.

lol

[Tanya]

Just wanted to add that I think National's honesty and integrity is refreshing, rather then cover-ups and excuses, ministers are being held accountable by their boss. How refreshing is that.

[Ian]

Hi Tanya...you might be confusing us with North & South...Investigate has been at 96 pages plus covers since its second issue in March 2000...there's been no change.

Richard would be most distressed to hear we dropped his column, so it's just as well we haven't and that Eyes Right is in its usual place in the current edition...

I'm convinced you picked up a rival publication by mistake... :)

[Tanya]

Hi Ian, I bought a pile of old copies, all the way back to 1993 or so, was reading one with John Tamihere on the cover, the funny thing is, they still make for interesting reading ooday, the layout just looks slightly different. Investigate is the only magazine I buy these day, just for something different. I do tend to skip through it sometimess, Chris Certer writes a great colum too. Thanks, Tanya

[baxta]

Chris Carter also my favourite.

[Luke]

Hi Tanya, Investigate was not around in 1993 :D

[John Boy]

Its a police matter now and I suspect this is one political case where the cops will attempt, no matter how feebly, to do their job. They'll look at the evidence and, if his car was unwarranted, he'll get a ticket like the rest of us.

[peter]

There are allegations that John Key has been sitting on this one for some time.

For a while you were onto Richard Worth yourself Ian, hot on the trail!! Did you then back off for some reason? This could have been your scoop!!!

Whoops - this is the National-led Government.

Ian - Do you think it will be because of inappropriate behaviour towards a woman? I thought this kind of behaviour was not unheard of in the portals of Parliament Buildings by other parties as well. It is a big place.

Perhaps someone will know - what form of behaviour toward a woman would be criminal? Pointing a gun?

I think rape or attempted rape would never be described as "inappropriate behaviour"

Is Worth a flasher?

Surely someone know something?

[robk]

Be patient Peter, you're drooling!

Good to see action is actually being taken when what appear to be serious allegations are made. What a change from the cover up mentality of the last regime...

[Carol Stewart]

Not really fair, RobK. Auntie Helen could be quite ruthless when the occasion demanded. Think Ruth Dyson, Dover Samuels, Taito Field, and probably others that don't come to mind right away.

[robk]

Carol you're right, Helen could be ruthless. Perhaps the perception is it was mainly on people she didn't need. Benson Pope and David Parker were given a lot of slack.

Helen's own painting and speeding 'indiscretions' and Nandor's weed smoking, Howard Broad's seedy past (not an MP but appointed by Helen) and other things were steadfastly ignored.

BTW I suspect the National led government could now be said to be 'Worthless' :-( or :-D

[Rick]

The difference between a sexual incident within National and Labour:

A male National MP is caught "making a nuisence of himself towards women". Members of the National party supporting public find this outrageous and when a further incident goes too far the MP is reported to the PM and is effectively sacked. The MSM are all over it like it's 1909. The police investigate without delay.

Compared to...

A female Labour MP is caught "making a nuisence of herself towards women". The members of the Labour party supporting public find this courageous and when a further incident goes too far the MP is reported to the PM and she is promoted. The MSM ignore it like it's a free and liberal 2009. The police find the case not in the public interest and do not investigate.

Given the poor economic decisions of the current National party, this is more or less the difference you will vote for at the next general election.

[Carol Stewart]

Rick, what on earth are you referring to?

[Maizina]

Look at our leftist media though, ripping into Key for all they're worth (no pun intended), at every opportunity. Why don't they report the news rather than trying to skew public opinion? Bunch of minions!

[Grant]

Like Tanya, I too enjoy the eye's right column and Investigate is the only magazine I buy as it is consistently good with fresh views on issues that you just can't find anywhere else. I love it. Investigate and the MandM blog are the two best reads available in New Zealand. The only thing that could make Investigate even better would be if MandM had a column in the magazine.

[Tanya]

Yes, I agree, Investigate is the only magazine worth buying, I'm always looking out for the next issue. Was it nominated for any Qantas Media Awards, Ian? If not, it should have been, I love it for both its entertainment and informative values, I'm so over poxy Metro and North and South, these two are for too secular and self indulgent, I much preferred Metro in its former and much more informative format.

[peter]

Tanya and Grant

Just wait while I tune my violin. "Investigate" to win a Quantas media awards - why would Ian bother with such mainstream and meaningless baubles.

John Key has walked into a noose of his own making by saying he would have sacked Worth if Worth had not resigned. Don't you think this is bordering on the constructive dismissal scenario.

Meanwhile Richard Worth jumps to his own defence - and vows to fight back in light of all sorts of comments that may be libellous or defamatory in a number of cases.

All of which is turning a case about a minion minister outside cabinet into a national figure - who in time will attract sympathy as well as derision. Interesting times.

[ropata]

Whatever Rick.

JT & Willie (John Tamihere and Will Jackson) on Radio Live used the occasion to lament the downfall of their mate Dover Samuels, a "victim of the sisterhood". Richard Worth doesn't have that excuse.