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Paula Bennett

107 replies · 11,287 views
over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Paula Bennett
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe. 
20/5/20

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

What say you?

Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe. 
20/5/20

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Wrong to disclose the info
also wrong for a beneifiaciary to earn more than me after tax when i work 45 hours a week- but thats not the point.
UberGunner2009-07-29 12:10:55
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
The minute you go on stage with the big boys, you're going to be completely exposed.  Don't expect sympathy because you're a solo mum.  Political statements get a political response.
Whoever is advising the Greens and Labour lately are a bit naive.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Wrong.  But it did amuse me.
 
Also +1 for Uber's comments.  Those are some ridiculous benefit payouts.

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
She does have three dependant kids and medical problems......715 dollars a week doesn't sound that huge.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Alistair wrote:
She does have three dependant kids and medical problems......715 dollars a week doesn't sound that huge.
thats after tax. it means before tax she is likely earning around 50k per annum. the National average income is only mid 60k's (that is per household so it includes two income familes).
What gets me is she started it by complaining to the media that she wasnt getting enough!
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
UberGunner wrote:
Alistair wrote:
She does have three dependant kids and medical problems......715 dollars a week doesn't sound that huge.
thats after tax. it means before tax she is likely earning around 50k per annum. the National average income is only mid 60k's (that is per household so it includes two income familes).
What gets me is she started it by complaining to the media that she wasnt getting enough!
 
+1
 
 
 
 
C-Diddy2009-07-29 15:23:10

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Are benefit payments taxed at source? (or taxed at all?)

When Hibs, went up, to win the Scottish Cup - I wisnae there - furfuxake!

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Politicians and any oither civil servant whom are paid by tax payers have their salaries and benefits open for public viewing and scrutiney, so why can't beneficiaries? They are after all being paid by the tax payer and are in the same position.
 
Uber's point is a good one. He works his tail off and she wants to study. I'm sure there's a few students on this very site who'd like to receive $750 per week so they could study too.
 
Maybe it was morally wrong of Bennett but then as said, she didn't start it. Question time in Parliament was fun today. I have to congratulate Lockwood Smith for keeping it under control.
 
Certain Labour and Green MP's need to look in the mirror before they throw stones. after all, these two beneficiaires didn't just start their benefits yesterday I believe.
 
Labour and Greens = Pot, Kettle, Black - Assume what you wish.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I think if you are prepared to open yourself up by saying look at what has happened to me you have to be prepared to let all the info be put on the table

www.kiwifromthecouch.blogspot.com

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
UberGunner wrote:
Wrong to disclose the info
also wrong for a beneifiaciary to earn more than me after tax when i work 45 hours a week- but thats not the point.


surely as a tax payer you have the right to know what your tax dollars are being spent on?
I think full disclosure is crucial! just perhaps not using the media as the vehicle.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
bopman wrote:
I think if you are prepared to open yourself up by saying look at what has happened to me you have to be prepared to let all the info be put on the table


Wrong
Everyone has the democratic right to publicly criticize government policy's  but also everyone has the right to their own personal  privacy  as well .
Bennet may have had a point but to simply take aim at two beneficiaries like this and attempt to  demonise  them is really unfair.
As has been said in other discussions on this issue Bennet should learn to attack the ball and not the man ,she is an amateur and I can see a mini NZ  Palin on the political horizon or something like  that mad chip shop lady Pauline Hanson who came to political  prominence in Aussie a few years back with populist bozo comments like the ones she (Bennet)is making !
Kiwi Jambo2009-07-29 21:52:41

The answer to life's problems are rarely found at the bottom of a beer glass - but it's always worth a look.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
ginger_eejit wrote:
Are benefit payments taxed at source? (or taxed at all?)


You are from Leith you should know!!
Kiwi Jambo2009-07-29 21:53:11

The answer to life's problems are rarely found at the bottom of a beer glass - but it's always worth a look.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Lonegunmen wrote:
Politicians and any oither civil servant whom are paid by tax payers have their salaries and benefits open for public viewing and scrutiney, so why can't beneficiaries? They are after all being paid by the tax payer and are in the same position.
 
 
 
With that in mind, how much are you earning LG? Would you want your salary details disclosed?
 
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe. 
20/5/20

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Kiwi Jambo wrote:
ginger_eejit wrote:
Are benefit payments taxed at source? (or taxed at all?)


Your from Leith you should know!!
 

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
dairyflat wrote:
Lonegunmen wrote:
Politicians and any oither civil servant whom are paid by tax payers have their salaries and benefits open for public viewing and scrutiney, so why can't beneficiaries? They are after all being paid by the tax payer and are in the same position.
 
 
 
With that in mind, how much are you earning LG? Would you want your salary details disclosed?
 
only the top civil cervants and MP's have thier salary as public record. which can be found here.
 
Pages 107 -110
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Lonegunmen wrote:
Politicians and any oither civil servant whom are paid by tax payers have their salaries and benefits open for public viewing and scrutiney, so why can't beneficiaries? They are after all being paid by the tax payer and are in the same position.
 
While the two woman in question seem to be getting a heap of money( a lot more than most working nzer's do in an average week i'm picking) It's not the beneficiaries fault the Government allows them to claim the amounts they do, why wouldn't you take with both hands if W.I.N.Z are going to give it to you,who turns down free money not bloody me
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
giddyup wrote:
Lonegunmen wrote:
Politicians and any oither civil servant whom are paid by tax payers have their salaries and benefits open for public viewing and scrutiney, so why can't beneficiaries? They are after all being paid by the tax payer and are in the same position.
 
While the two woman in question seem to be getting a heap of money( a lot more than most working nzer's do in an average week i'm picking) It's not the beneficiaries fault the Government allows them to claim the amounts they do, why wouldn't you take with both hands if W.I.N.Z are going to give it to you,who turns down free money not bloody me
If she was onto a good thing, why did she go, cap in hand, and ask for more?
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Weren't they complaining the money or "subsidy" was being taken off them ?? I think they wanted to gain qualifications at a tertiary institute  and the government weren't going to pay for part or all of it ?
They only complain when they have stuff taken  away from them
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
dairyflat wrote:
Lonegunmen wrote:
Politicians and any other civil servant whom are paid by tax payers have their salaries and benefits open for public viewing and scrutiney, so why can't beneficiaries? They are after all being paid by the tax payer and are in the same position.
 
 
 
With that in mind, how much are you earning LG? Would you want your salary details disclosed?
 
 
Me? 50k. I dont mind saying, it is in the public records, I'm not embarrassed to say. Why? What are you earning?
 
Yes, the beneficary is earning almost as much as me. I think hers works out to be 47k. I also pay max for everything and dont get a beneficary discount on anything such as Doctors fees. Your point being??
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

she does have huge mams
I like tautologies because I like them.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
dairyflat wrote:
Lonegunmen wrote:
Politicians and any oither civil servant whom are paid by tax payers have their salaries and benefits open for public viewing and scrutiney, so why can't beneficiaries? They are after all being paid by the tax payer and are in the same position.
 
 
 
With that in mind, how much are you earning LG? Would you want your salary details disclosed?
 
 
 
That is the pithy response I was searching for.
 
LG that is moronic.  Of course beneficiaries are in a completely difference position from politicians.

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Kiwi Jambo wrote:

As has been said in other discussions on this issue Bennet should learn to attack the ball and not the man ,she is an amateur and I can see a mini NZ  Palin on the political horizon or something like  that mad chip shop lady Pauline Hanson who came to political  prominence in Aussie a few years back with populist bozo comments like the ones she (Bennet)is making !
 
That's perhaps a bit harsh.
 
The thing about both Hanson (who I had the joy of having to listen to ad nauseum when I was living in Straya) and Palin is that every time they opened their mouths they revealed a devastating lack of intelligence.  Both of them are just plain dumb.
 
I don't think that's true of Bennett.  Definitely a newbie, but has a compelling back story and seems to be relatively insightful.
 
I quite like her.
Smithy2009-07-30 09:30:56

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
How can you figure out she's relatively insightful when she can't string a single proper sentence together?
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Anyone who has any connection to either Politics or Law is shonky IMO!

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
All of the fuss over Bennett's action does rather obscure the original argument the two women had put forward. Why are the Government  axing an allowance to help those on welfare into tertiary study?
Let's be clear the RIGHT of the National Party, who were out of view during the election, are now popping up and asserting themselves. Look at the the government decision to cut funding to  for night classes. They say that times are tough and we have to save money.  The amount they are cutting is 0.6% of the total education budget.
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe. 
20/5/20

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

You're right dairyflat, the Government are between a rock and a hard place on this one.

Its their obligation as a Government to provide education to the people but they need to be careful that people don't become too educated as they could actually be encouraged to use their brains and would then find out that all Goverments are a crock of shiite!

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I'm happy with the goventment cutting the WINZ payments for education....f**k it I paid for my tertiary education, by working through the year and any odd jobs I could - no I have a full time job and these women are been given more a week than I earn. I have no problem with helping people out of a bind, but giving them free education is bollocks.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Im still paying of my student loan and will be doing so for many years to come.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
To say beneficiaries should be held to the same public scrutiny as elected officials is nonsense.

When Hibs, went up, to win the Scottish Cup - I wisnae there - furfuxake!

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
why?
our taxes pay for their payments do surely we are entitkles to some clarity on where our money is being spent.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
theprof wrote:
why?
our taxes pay for their payments do surely we are entitkles to some clarity on where our money is being spent.
 
Yep, we are entitled to SOME clarity.
 
You can ring up WINZ and find out exactly what benefits are available, to whom and in what circumstances.  They'll also probably tell you how many beneficiaries of each type there are, and what the total expenditure of the government is on each type of benefit.
 
What we aren't, and shouldn't be, entitled to is the details of any one individual's personal circumstances.  Just because they're on a benefit doesn't make them public property.
Smithy2009-07-30 17:16:08

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
giddyup wrote:
Lonegunmen wrote:
Politicians and any oither civil servant whom are paid by tax payers have their salaries and benefits open for public viewing and scrutiney, so why can't beneficiaries? They are after all being paid by the tax payer and are in the same position.
 
While the two woman in question seem to be getting a heap of money( a lot more than most working nzer's do in an average week i'm picking) It's not the beneficiaries fault the Government allows them to claim the amounts they do, why wouldn't you take with both hands if W.I.N.Z are going to give it to you,who turns down free money not bloody me
your right
 
I know someone who is studying and working under the table and is claiming for a load of stuff it is unreal and makes me really
When she was married she hated people that did it too and now the tables have turned
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Paula Benefit is just an arrogant women who swaggers around like she's better than everyone else. I've heard she's really anti 'intellectuals'. Probably because she can't keep up. Am well sick of this whole 'Westie' thing. Typical tactics to put an ex solo parent beneficiary in charge of those benefits, so she can get on her high horse and gloat about how she did it...
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Interesting item on the news tonight, one of the ladies has decided not to lay a complaint and the one that got most of the media attention apparently appears in Hansard some time ago on a similar topic (losing study allownaces or something like that) and gave a then MP permission to use her name and plight.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Colvinator wrote:
Paula Benefit is just an arrogant women who swaggers around like she's better than everyone else. I've heard she's really anti 'intellectuals'. Probably because she can't keep up. Am well sick of this whole 'Westie' thing. Typical tactics to put an ex solo parent beneficiary in charge of those benefits, so she can get on her high horse and gloat about how she did it...


A bit like Sue Bradford - IIRC she's the daughter of two academics - sounds like a South Aucklander, effecting a westie accent.

When Hibs, went up, to win the Scottish Cup - I wisnae there - furfuxake!

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
National are out of order cutting adult learning spending.
 
But she done right, letting the public know about the sponging bitches!
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
football_mum wrote:
giddyup wrote:
Lonegunmen wrote:
Politicians and any oither civil servant whom are paid by tax payers have their salaries and benefits open for public viewing and scrutiney, so why can't beneficiaries? They are after all being paid by the tax payer and are in the same position.
 
While the two woman in question seem to be getting a heap of money( a lot more than most working nzer's do in an average week i'm picking) It's not the beneficiaries fault the Government allows them to claim the amounts they do, why wouldn't you take with both hands if W.I.N.Z are going to give it to you,who turns down free money not bloody me
your right
 
I know someone who is studying and working under the table and is claiming for a load of stuff it is unreal and makes me really
When she was married she hated people that did it too and now the tables have turned


So not only is she under the table but the table has turned as well!!

The answer to life's problems are rarely found at the bottom of a beer glass - but it's always worth a look.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Smithy wrote:
Kiwi Jambo wrote:

As has been said in other discussions on this issue Bennet should learn to attack the ball and not the man ,she is an amateur and I can see a mini NZ  Palin on the political horizon or something like  that mad chip shop lady Pauline Hanson who came to political  prominence in Aussie a few years back with populist bozo comments like the ones she (Bennet)is making !
 
That's perhaps a bit harsh.
 
The thing about both Hanson (who I had the joy of having to listen to ad nauseum when I was living in Straya) and Palin is that every time they opened their mouths they revealed a devastating lack of intelligence.  Both of them are just plain dumb.
 
I don't think that's true of Bennett.  Definitely a newbie, but has a compelling back story and seems to be relatively insightful.
 
I quite like her.


Well lets hope that if she does have a" compelling back  story" she will make all the facts about it including the money she received as a beneficiary public !

The answer to life's problems are rarely found at the bottom of a beer glass - but it's always worth a look.

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