Jones promises utu against whistleblowers

Stuff reported:

Shane Jones has a stern word of warning for foreign-owned forestry companies looking to undermine him: “Political utu is a dish best served cold”.
He said the people who tried to undermine him would learn this lesson closer to the next election. 
Jones made the remarks after he was publicly rebuked by the Prime Minister for trying to solicit votes for NZ First at the Northland Forestry Awards.

Once again he ignores the PM. How many times has she publicly rebuked or chided him? Five? Six? Could you imagine him behaving that way if Helen Clark was PM? He obviously has no respect for her of the office of the the PM.

It was reported that Jones told attendees to vote for NZ First or risk missing out on Provincial Growth Fund money. 

Give us the money, or else.

A number of attendees contacted The New Zealand Herald, saying they felt Jones’ remarks were an example of the hot-mouthed MP buying votes. 
But now Jones is firing back. He wants the attendees to know he’s aware of who they are, and their relationship to the National Party. 
“They were playing a dangerous game,” Jones said.
“I know them. A handful work for international forestry companies,” he said. 
“It is wrong for overseas-owned forestry companies to have their staff briefing the media and using the same language as the National Party against me.”
Jones rubbished the leakers, saying that the rest of the people at the event had already reported their identities to him.

Except Jones was full of shit, as usual.

The Herald reports:

It’s not about politics, minister, it’s about you and your behaviour.
That’s the stinging retort from frustrated forester Pat Cox, who was one of those who criticised Minister of Forestry Shane Jones for electioneering at an industry awards ceremony.
“If he wants to have a scrap with me, then bring it on,” said Cox. “Bring it on Mr Jones, I’m the bushman you are looking for.”
Cox – and others – had told the Herald they were angered by Jones’ behaviour at the Northland Forestry Awards, during which he told the 550 people attending they needed to remember to vote for NZ First if they wanted continued access to funding its policies had brought.

Cox was appalled that an awards dinner turned into a political shakedown for money. Yet Jones thinks Cox is the bad guy, not him.