Christine Rankin and child abuse

Have been away for a couple of days but was listening to Morning Report this morning. They mentioned that Christine Rankin has spoken up in an Investigate Magazine article against the anti-smacking legislation. How dare she! John Key has said that Rankin was appointed to the Families Commission because she was a good advocate and could speak up on child abuse. John Armstrong says Key's dictum is that Rankin confine her public comments as a Families Commissioner to her expertise on child abuse "and nothing else".

But I'm sure I heard that Jan Pryor, chief families commissioner saying that it is unlikely that Rankin will have a role on the Families Commission that has to do with child abuse. Which begs the question. Rankin was appointed because of her advocacy on child abuse, why is the commission saying that her role will not involve speaking out on child abuse?

update yep. Interview here

A question for National

If John Key wants Christine Rankin to only speak about her role in the Families Commission, would it be a good idea if he told his MPs to desist from speaking publicly about the appointment, and instead advised them to stick to speaking about their own portfolios?

Christine Rankin releases a statement

This statement was released by Christine Rankin tonight.

Over the past week there has been a media storm over my appointment as a families commissioner and most recently the awful circumstances relating to the death of Margo McAuley.

It is a situation that is almost beyond dealing with. Margo was for a long time, a friend. A complex friend, at times a difficult friend, but a friend.

Emotionally, her marriage to Kim was over a very long time ago, and last year Kim decided to leave Margo.

Many think there was an affair. There was not. Read the full statement here. and watch the TVNZ interview here.

Someone likes Christine Rankin. Very much

I for one, like Christine Rankin. I like her very much. I know she is unusual but I know her to be honest and committed to what she believes in. I met her first when I went to Wellington years ago to interview her about the allegations of extravagance with the hiring of the aircraft and the WINZ conference.

It's from Paul Holmes. Posted tonight. Can't disagree with him. Too much.

The Herald on Sunday needs a butt-kicking over Rankin report

post updated this afternoon
I used to be a journalist and I know shoddy journalism when I see it. I saw it today and it was the lead story in the paper that won the newspaper of the year award in the Qantas awards. The story, written by the paper's assistant editor, was all about Christine Rankin's fourth marriage, a quarter of it being editorial comment and quotes from an anonymous close friend - possibly a workmate - of Rankin's husband's former partner who committed suicide.

The Herald states Rankin's "insensitive" marriage is drawing "fury". Rankin married Kim McIntyre less than six months after his wife, successful real estate agent Margo McAuley took her own life. I was aware for some time that McAuley had committed suicide but I think it is the first time I have read it in the MSM - and I really didn't need to read it in the context of Rankin becoming a Families Commissioner - and then have a quote from McAuley's former boss Tommy Heptinstall, only for the HOS to spell his name incorrectly.

People are allowed to marry when they want to, it doesn't mean the media has to tell everyone about it. Where was the media when some of the current and former lefty MPs were cheating on their wives and why was it all of a sudden there when Don Brash was? Where was the media when Steve Maharey allegedly swore at Rankin at meetings - he's now the Massey University chancellor. Why didn't the media question whether State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham was fit to do his job when he offered to visit Rankin in Australia if a job could be organised for her there, but added that any such encounter would be platonic, because he was celibate?

But Wintringham wouldn't say that to Carolyne Meng-Yee, who wrote the story. She's not exactly as slim or as attractive as Rankin, and doesn't wear short skirts - for obvious reasons - but that has nothing to do with anything either. She does, however have a penchant for writing stories about well known people outing problems their family members have, such as Millie Holmes drug offending, Anna Paquin's sister's cancer, and stories surrounding Tony Veitch's partners - as well as the silly Veitch glass of water assault story. Like, that was important! Meng-Yee is an ex TVNZ producer who also asked Peter Davis if he showered with his wife and also asked Davis, "do you like sex"? Her first HOS piece was a page three story which investigated a prominent doctor (who) cat-napped a neighbour's cat (Max) and released it across the harbour bridge. Then there's this, also in today's paper:

By day, advertising executive Reece Shadbolt worked hard to convince New Zealand women that Toffee Pops were all they needed for a satisfied sex life.
But by night, the man behind the Carlos Spencer chocolate biscuit ads demanded far more to satisfy his own sexual appetite.

Oh Puhleeeease! The guy was stabbed to death, and they angle it on his toffee-pop ad!

But thank God New Zealand finally has a Govt that is prepared to appoint individuals who are willing to step outside the PC safe zone and act in accordance with what the majority actually want.

UpdateAnd guess which well known journalist wrote tonight that he likes Christine Rankin. Very much. Also Rankin's statement and TVNZ interview are both online now. Oh, and this, from Ali Ikram is worth reading.