During the weekend, New Zealand entered the preliminary stages of what might come to be known as "Brethrengate II." Unexpectedly, it began when the Leader of the Opposition, Don Brash, acknowledged that he had had a further meeting with the Exclusive Brethren after last year's general election. This occurred on TVNZ's Agenda current affairs programme on Saturday morning. By Sunday morning, the Sunday Star Times carried prominent news items that indicated that Katherine Rich and Gerry Brownlee were aware of the danger that the party was in if this story arc culminated in further revelations, and tried to shut it down. They noted that Katherine Rich, Simon Power and Maurice Williamson had refused electoral funding, and Brownlee described their interference as disastrous for the National Party. Once again, he acknowledged that Brethrengate had cost them the general election. As for the business community, Rod Oram reiterated the earlier Independent Financial Review calls for Don Brash to step aside within the newspaper's business section. Will this cost the head of Don Brash? While the One Network News Colmar Brunton poll showed a rise in support for Brash and National at the cost of Labour, the poll was taken before Brethrengate II arose to haunt National. It also occurred before Investigate launched its ill-timed smear campaign against the Prime Minister and her husband. Speaking of which, Investigate's 'source' for its ridiculous 'gay kiss' allegations can now be revealed- it's Chuck Bird, an anti-feminist and antigay mens rights campaigner and conspiracy theorist, who is hardly a reliable source. All of which suggests the raving right is out of control and National needs to act promptly. If I were National, I'd do what needs to be done at Tuesday's caucus meeting, rather than wait for bad news at the next opinion poll. As for Labour, it now seems determined to hammer the Exclusive Brethren in terms of industrial relations policy, and I can't say that I blame it at all. Meanwhile, across the Tasman, the Melbourne Age continues to run its series of stories related to the antics of the Exclusive Brethren in Australia. It doesn't make enlightening reading. One former Exclusive Brethren sect leader, Ron Fawkes, confessed to illegal transport of funds to assist other branches of the church, acting on behalf of former sect leader James Symington. While Joy Nason left the sect in 1968, she has also made damaging allegations about the sect's purported tolerance for child sexual abuse, and its concealment of offenders, albeit nearly thirty years ago. The Brethren also appear to be engaged in tax free donation benefits as a religious institution. In December 2005, the Supreme Court of Queensland rejected rates rebates on the basis of their secretive nature from the Brisbane City Council. For the first time, we also now have some idea about the Brethren's businesses. According to Michael Bachelard and Christian Cacalano, Exclusive Brethren own A Line Garages, Sitecraft storage and materials management, Billi-Systems undersink water filters, Allpump and Quickflow. It might be worth noting if any of these businesses operate in New Zealand, and take a closer look, especially at the water purification industry, given its pronounced involvement there. This story arc won't go away. The Exclusive Brethren are a clear and present danger to the New Zealand LGBT communities, trade union movement and even the National Opposition. All of us need to be vigilant about the activities of this sinister organisation, hell-bent on interference within our sovereign politics, no matter what the cost. In the end, though, that arrogance may prove its fatal flaw. Recommended: http://www.stuff.co.nz Sunday Star Times: 24 September 2006. Irene Chapple and Ruth Laugesen: "Brethren Cost Nats Win: Rich" Alan Dudding: "Telling Tales" Anthony Hudding and Ruth Laugesen: "Oh Brother." Rod Oram: "Leaders: Winners and Losers." http://www.theage.com.au Melbourne Age: 23 September 2006. Michael Bachelard and Christian Cacalano: "Brethren Reap Millions in Tax Free Donations" "Ex-Members Expose Exclusive Brethren" 24 September 2006. http://www.tvnz.co.nz Television New Zealand Craig Young - 25th September 2006