NZ’s Right wing students burn first and ask questions later.
The Waikato Times today published a story saying the head of the Waikato Student’s union and a former member of the Young Nats is alleged to have bought 202 copies of Hager’s book “Dirty Politics” to burn. The youth wing of the National Party has previously been in the spotlight for anti-Semitism at its annual ball.
Here’s the Waikato Times story
Aaron Letcher has denied the claims, but the leader of NZ First Youth and a Waikato University source, who asked not to be named, said he did.
Letcher said the claims were false.
“There is nothing to it. I saw the allegations on Facebook by a NZ First person”
The Facebook page Letcher was referring to belongs to NZ First Youth leader Curwen Rolinson, who posted: “So apparently, the CNI Young Nats (and, assumedly, the NZ Young Nats) are buying up copies of Nicky Hager’s #DirtyPolitics . . . and burning them.”
Rolinson said he stood by his post.
His claims have been backed by a Waikato University student who saw the books in Letcher’s possession.
The source understood that Letcher had been given money from someone within the National Party to buy the books.
Letcher said: “I have one copy of the book and I haven’t finished it yet. I’m not involved in this.”
National Party MP for Hamilton West Tim Macindoe was surprised to learn of the allegations…
According to the university source, seven out of the 10 members of the Waikato University Student board are affiliated to the Young Nats group.
Central North Island Young Nats policy chairperson and campaign manager Jason Howarth backed Letcher, saying the claims were false.
Asked if he was 100 per cent sure Letcher did not have anything to do with the books, Howarth stated: “CNI Young Nats have not authorised or paid for any of Nicky Hager’s books.”
Asked what would be the consequence if a member of the Young Nats had been involved, Howarth said: “We would consider their involvement in the party.”
more here
Well, they would say that wouldn’t they. Meanwhile, the book continues to be printed and is also available in public libraries. It may also be purchased from online bookstores including Amazon.com.
Comment from Twitter
This is the Young Nats, Dirty Politics? Aaron (Book Burner) Lecher in fine form. This from him 2011 #nzpol #TeamKey pic.twitter.com/GBB3c8yKO9
— Max Dillon Coyle (@MaxDCoyle) August 20, 2014
Young Nats buying & burning #dirtypolitics. Will the real Nazis please stand up ? http://t.co/WjtrMVdw2X How will they burn digital copies?
— Denis Tegg (@denistegg) August 20, 2014
@E2NZ Look, it may be ill advised, but if you put that next to our abortion position, it will catch the Catholic vote #minimise #nonaziref
— JohnKey (@AJohnKey) August 20, 2014
E2NZ.org 
Well … this is a misspelling of their family name, but try someone close to “Schlumberger-Organ” 🙂
Gotta love someone gunning and trained for management, but ignoring the welfare of the workers. Yet, in the Labour party …
If you believe “Labour” is any better, I remember being ignored when John Key turned up on our university campus and I had some questions for him during a session he had with us university students.
The Student Union President, a current (2014) Labour candidate, pointedly ignored my upraised hand to ask questions regarding the Silver Fern visa for international students gaining qualifications in a skills shortage area.
But of course “she is there for the good of the students”.
I am not sure if it is the rise of Fascism, but rather, a return to the ignorance, superstition, and backwardness of the Inquisition. The religious fanatics of yesteryear loved to burn books with which they disagreed and disdained scientific and technical knowledge just as the modern Kiwis do. The Fascists could make runs on time, which is something the Kiwis seem incapable of doing.