Don Brash an extremist, an idealist you decide.

33 11th August 208

Wheeler's Corner

'Concerning citizens who care' 
You can contact me by email at
wheeler@inspire.net.nz

Who is or was Don Brash? Well those with computers can turn to Wikipedia for a picture of the man. This is what I’ve done: We are the same age 77, not that that implies any connection and strangely we both came from Whanganui only I use the 'H' .Poor Don can't use Maori words or even listen to them, only joking..

His recent political history is interesting:

On 30 April 2011 Brash became the Leader of ACT New Zealand after his bid for its leadership was accepted and he was confirmed by the ACT caucus and board.[2] He resigned later that year on 26 November 2011 due to ACT's poor showing in the election, and its failure to gain any seats apart from its gifted electorate strong-hold of Epsom.

His family background at a glance:

Don Brash was born to Alan Brash, a Presbyterian minister and son of prominent lay leader Thomas Brash, and Eljean Brash (née Hill), in Whanganui on 24 September 1940.

His marriage history:

In 1964 Brash married his first wife, Erica, with whom he had two children. In the 1980s he and his Singaporean secretary, Je Lan Lee, entered into a relationship. Both were married at the time. He separated from his first wife in 1985 and four months after they were divorced he married Lee.[4][5] In 2007, his second marriage also broke up, following an affair with Diane Foreman, then Deputy Chair of the Business Round Table.[6] Brash and Lee had one child together.[7

How did he get into politics. Note: he has never been elected to Parliament.

Brash's first entry into politics came in 1980 when the National Party selected him to stand as its candidate in the by-election in the East Coast Bays electorate. Brash's attempt at the seat, however, failed – some believe that this resulted from the decision by Robert Muldoon, National Party Prime Minister, to raise tolls on the Auckland Harbour Bridge, an important route for East Coast Bays residents. The seat went to Gary Knapp of the Social Credit Party. Brash again failed to win the seat at the general election of 1981.

Reserve Bank Governor performance:

There is a range of opinion on Brash's performance as Reserve Bank governor. The New Zealand Association of Economists describe Brash's success in establishing an independent central bank with an inflation target and in reducing inflation as a highlight of his career.[8] Documentary maker Alister Barry described Brash as "an extremist, an idealist" whose "ideal world is where the free market reigns supreme". Barry considered that Brash manipulated public opinion towards neo-liberal economics and gave as examples Brash's advocacy for abolishing the minimum wage and his Hayek Memorial Lecture to the Institute of Economic Affairs in London

His demonstration of his love of free speech:

In 2004, following a political speech given by the Prime Minister Helen Clark inside the Christchurch Cathedral, Brash wrote to the Dean of the Cathedral, Peter Beck. In his letter he criticised Clark's use of a church-venue for delivering a political speech, and he raised questions over her views on religion and on the institution of marriage. After Clark retaliated, Brash apologised for any offence that his comments had caused to her, and revealed that his Chief of Staff, Richard Long, had written the letter, not Brash himself.

His views on welfare :

Brash proposed a number of ways to reduce welfare dependency and to refocus the DPB back to its original intent of giving aid to single-parent families in need or in danger. These proposals included enforcing child-support payments from absent fathers, requiring single parents to work or perform community services once their children reached school age, and introducing penalties for women seeking the DPB who refused to name the father of their child. He also acknowledged adoption as an acceptable option, particularly for teenage girls, and drew attention to the growth in numbers of single mothers giving birth to additional children while already receiving the single-parent DPB benefit. Some elements of the speech put his Social Welfare spokesperson, Katherine Rich, at odds with Brash, and he fired her from the portfolio, promoting the MP for Clevedon, Judith Collins, in her place.
The book that sunk his dreams: 
On 16 November 2006 Brash had obtained a High Court injunction[22] prohibiting the distribution or publication of the private emails allegedly unlawfully taken from his computer, following ongoing rumours that his opponents would publish a series of his personal emails as a book, and he confirmed that the police had commenced a criminal investigation into the alleged email-theft.[23] However he claimed he had no awareness of and did not wish to stop the publication of the Hager book.[24] As part of his resignation announcement, Brash also announced he had cleared the way for the book's release by providing copies of his emails to Hager, and stated it had nothing to with his resignation.[25]
His entry into the world of racism:
His activities with Hobson's pledge, anti Maori anything behavior is well known, his promise to wipe the Maori electorate seats, his claim the no Maori exists these days has been fully covered by the media, and needs no further comment. Well one last word maybe:
AUT Senior lecturer Ella Henry told Morning Report the university's actions stimulated more people to speak up. "I do think that Massey has probably created more of a spin for Don Brash than actually try to make a moral stand," she said.
She also compared it to when his criticism of the use of te reo Māori on RNZ actually resulted in more people standing up for the language.
"What I think is most interesting about Don Brash's stance on te reo is that his decision was so extraordinary that it started a conversation that continues today ... he's got more people talking about why te reo is important."

Any way that's it for Don Brash. 
Read to see what Massey students actually think about Brash's claims: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/106149540/massey-vicechancellor-versus-brash-not-a-concern-for-some-students
Or this to see what a grown up reporter and commentator thinks:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/106130184/our-past-is-a-foreign-country--and-thank-goodness-for-that  

***

So lets move to my social media top item of the week, her report on a visit to an Inquiry in to Mental Health and Addiction hearing held in Palmerston North last week, her language is easy to understand and paints a clear and dynamic picture of her reactions. It's well worth a read:

2. This from a wonderful mental health care advocate and free lance writer Rachael Andrews:

"Yesterday the panel for the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction finally graced Palmerston North with their presence after initially neglecting to schedule a public hearing here. 

When I walked into the room I heard one of the organising people say as they hurriedly organised more chairs "well we didn't expect this many people". Then I looked at the way the room was arranged - them, the panel, over there at the front (or back depending on perception) and this vacuous empty space in front of them. Then there some rows of chairs for the people to sit in so very far away from the panel - this vacuous space between us. 

That is how it felt - the entire hearing - to me. Bereaved families, stressed staff and ex-staff, past and present users of services across health, education, justice, corrections spoke across a vacuum to a panel who sat with their backs against a wall. I hope the visual (re)presentation doesn't reflect the outcome of this inquiry.

Fixing a mental health system implies a focus still on people being ill in order to be healed. My hope is that we can learn to arm children from the youngest possible age with tools for wellness and navigating lifes challenges effectively. It is a community responsibility. 

If more people saw it that way perhaps there could less mental distress and a more harmonious, productive, and sustainable society. Wairarapa Intergenerational Playgroup, along with Mutual Aid Networks, TimeBanks, Community Circles, food rescue initiatives like Just Zilch, Satisfy in Porirua, and sharing economies of all kinds (skills, knowledge as well as resources) are initiatives that create real and meaningful change. To learn more go to: https://www.facebook.com/TheProjectNZ

We don't have to ask for permission to start these kinds of initiatives - just do it. This playgroup is a perfect example of how sharing and simplicity can heal not just individuals but communities".

 You can listen to Peter at MPR AM 999 on Mondays at 4pm
and never forget you are amongst the most important people in the world...why because all people are important.