Cactus Kate wants to stand for Act
Act has confirmed that Cathy Odgers, a Hong Kong-based corporate taxt lawyer best-known for her acerbic Cactus Kate blog, is seeking to stand for the party.
Ms Odgers, who flew home last night after a month-long visit, told NBR that she had thrown her name into the hat, but that decisions won't be made for a while yet.
The news coincided with Act MP Heather Roy's decision to leave parliament at the election.
Ms Odgers strongly supports the party, but as "Cactus Kate" has not been shy of taking pot shots at those she sees as its weaker members (sample posts: "Earth to ACT - Throw Calvert Overboard!!! Please Dear God shut this woman up!!!" ...: "[John] Banks is just awful. He makes you want to consider voting Len Brown .... his political philosophy isn't even close to Act's.").
"Whether she will stand or not is yet to be determined," Act president Chris Simmons told NZPA.
"But she has put her name forward. Anybody can put their name forward, as with any party to be a candidate, then the party needs to determine whether Cathy stands in a seat or as a list candidate."
The party list would be completed within two months.
Mrs Roy, 47, confirmed her retirement in her weekly newsletter. She will leave at the November 26 election after nine years in Parliament, during which time she rose to be deputy leader of her party and a minister before being dumped from the posts by her party last August. The move was led by then ACT leader Rodney Hide -- who has since been rolled by former National leader Don Brash.
"The big low point was last year when I was dumped. And pretty unceremoniously," Mrs Roy told media yesterday.
"In politics they say it's not being stabbed from the back you have to worry about, it's being stabbed from the front. It was pretty torrid and tough. But it is politics."
The time was right to leave now and, while it would have been the easy option last August, she was too worried about the state of the party.
She planned to spend more time with her husband, Duncan, and five children aged 15-23, and said she bore little animosity towards Mr Hide.
"You just have to move on with life."
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Comments and questions28
Roy was shoved. Cactus will provide ACT with some intellectual grunt and personal courage and integirty.
Thanks Mum ;)
Roy was pretty ineffectual in her 9 years in parliament, evidenced by the fact that everyone asked 'Heather who?' when she launched her putsch for the ACT leadership.
Odgers is a gutsy woman, she'll do well in the House.
Did you say integrity? A dead dog standing for Act would provide that party with integrity.
Considering Cathy makes paul henry sound like mother teresa, I am not sure the country is ready for her to enter politics.
We need this woman to run. Both National and Labour are the same, and we need to dump the ETS scam. Only ACT is against this. In other words, our 2 party system has the same goals -- to bankrupt the common people of this country.
No ACT in remmers PLEASE,not wanted at all .
Ogders will find out what it is like to be a pleb, and on the taking end
"Considering Cathy makes paul henry sound like mother teresa..."
Actually, I don't think either of them are as keen on the poor staying poor as Mother Theresa was. They're also kind of down on that whole Catholic mumbo jumbo thing.
Speedo Weldon wont be happy as Cactus Kate hasnt been intimidated by him and has exposed his failings. She has been a very good contributor to open debate and accountability and has been a breath of fresh air willing to say her mind and what many others think but dont have the balls to go public on. Go for it Dr Don. She will be a huge addition to the ACT party and will make me change my vote.
A self-promoting oddball - just what ACT needs.
Perfect candidate in the Brash vision to move this country to the right, somewhat a tad further to the right of where Gengis Khan used to sit, and off the map.
I can see the policies from here, and the reaction from the countries we are aiming to promote our exports to in very tight competitive global conditions, not to mention the new divisive national identity being peddled here - 'looking & sounding like ignorant louts'.
I am sure we can do better than this and want to be seen as being better than this, especially as we are being dominated on all fronts within the OECD as well as being overtaken by a number of Asian economies.
What makes you think Genghis Khan was on the right of the political spectrum? They lived with a tribal mentality didn't they, just like the backwards modern leftwing. I'd say Genghis had more in common with Stalin.
Cactus Kate has a prick on her shoulder !
Shoved where? That was Rodney Hide. Act needs unification and organisation, not more brain surgeons with the divide and rule mentality of the old leader.
Yes, a man eater, all night drinker and toxic blogger. Its all good.
I would vote for her.
actually your correct name is tarquinfintinlim bimbuststopftangftangolebiscuitbarrell
Kate will be a great asset. All you dreary socialist moaners should go and blow Hone's trumpet. This country is going to hell in a hand basket - not helped by Key's "Labour-Lite" policies. We need a real alternative on the right.
It would be a great learning experience for her to be an MP. Though her genodical and ethnic cleansing tendencies will not go down so well with those outside the blogosphere.
I bet she is cleansing her blog archives as we speak.
Not at all. All still there.
Good luck CK and hope you get in. We need more wimmin with your kinda balls to deal to the limp wristed left leaning morons in the House
You go girl !!!!!!!!
A women like Cathy obviously needs some much needed psychological help; as she enjoys continually being malicious towards people for her own enjoyment. Cathy, Please get help for your, Narcissistic Personality Disorder. You will find plenty of great Psychologists in NZ that will help you with this. Also get out and help in your community and with food banks etc... This will help you overcome your battle with your disorder.
Miss Kiwi - you are deluded and should heed some of your own advice - scared it sounds like CK will be an asset to any NZ parliment and fingers crossed will lower the tax rate on Champers - it's crazy!!
Anonymous, if you would like to address me you can at least leave a name, you are purely a major supporter of person/s who enjoy being nasty towards others while; making themselves feel more important. How is this attitude going to help lower the tax rate? Show some decency and respect and stop your maliciousness towards others Cathy. You are looking like a joke to the majority of Kiwis in NZ. Go get some help, for your own good! By the Way there are much more important issues to deal with then your pathetic climb into political stardom!!
Pretty sure 'Miss Kiwi' is just as anonymous as 'Anonymous' ..
And I don't think the majority of Kiwis in NZ would even know or care who she is .. I surely didn't .
Just don't let Campbell Live interview her.
Also any great psychologist would know there is no money in psychology in NZ unless they own their own practice, so would probably be overseas ..
In her own words Cactus Kate gives us a rundown on why she would be the perfect candidate...
- extra marital relations with men(tick)
- weakness for hot male groupies (tick)
- has made a career out of assisting others give less money to governments to waste (tick)
- admitted recreational drug use (tick)
- likes champagne (tick)
- random bouts of tourettes (tick)
- a late night partying record equal to Winston Peters (tick).
- honest about all of the above (tick)
Yes the perfect candidate.
http://asianinvasion2006.blogspot.com/2011/04/act-sequel.html#282247340283307413
need some butch-slap fire-works - hope she stands in Auckland Central - the incumbent who is 31 going on 69 - now that would fun to watch
Would be nice to see someone who doesn't mind offending a few people - too long with the dreary risk free Clark / Key yawning deadbeats.
Pleeeease stand and be as obnoxious as you like!
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