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# Winning on the Water, DNA, and Cancel Culture
- URL: https://goodoil.news/winning-on-the-water-dna-and-cancel-culture/
- Published: 2021-08-16T19:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2021-08-16T02:07:38.000Z
- Author: General
- Tags: Censorship, Free Speech, Media, NZ, Sport, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-17 01:54

**Hobson’s Pledge Trust**

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A scrap between a couple of entrepreneurs, **Sir Ian Taylor** and **Troy Bowker**, would probably have died a quiet death if Bowker was not part-owner of the Hurricanes rugby team, according to talk show host Peter Williams. See [Troy Bowker](https://www.hobsonspledge.nz/r?u=3TobGWN%5F9OfEkU%5F0Cl7kHdJDg-%5FJQFHoAYLiyCDZUNxtnZ22MrXuNs1G%5FcDhhbMGHjov9hPe2lDwoU4mHFIZTyi%5F0JoEBShYf6cHMat1bD6as9FgM8V0VaaJDAdi1efqPHfgVf1WjTPw8vP8RQrEMUgY8CMHvsSalN2l5bwSrN%5Ff3CHtXavpfQIpyBXGrDfx3zMBwVzWqwRw-4dYkqzwaY0iUTCoh1ZxyAjOGDxMsvPwiC%5FFfFyM8vhr%5FCvhxz8g&e=bd7bae96f436b2630063070c50ff935c&utm%5Fsource=hobsonspledge&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=update%5F169&n=5)

In response to a post by Taylor linked to a Tom Scott cartoon which had the words: “How come NZ excels on the water in yachting, rowing, kayaking etc? Answer: Our ancestral DNA!”, Bowker? accused the animation entrepreneur of “sucking up to the left Maori? loving agenda”, despite Taylor’s Maori heritage. See [Polynesian voyagers can inspire](https://www.hobsonspledge.nz/r?u=zORAq3YFWZow1qou6WcJdiH%5Fhc5m1RnNS%5FUWjM9XVBcZQVk63HjVXOqEhlSUUfE%5F881BCrcy-tuA3G5DMQ3lar8wGYc3zf7qF%5FiHO1VMHK%5FaghBo-bQMTVj9L4NTBBQIzJcMaj2Fk5ombH4VYwXxDgZEc5oA8u8Oomy8oTjgBfI&e=bd7bae96f436b2630063070c50ff935c&utm%5Fsource=hobsonspledge&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=update%5F169&n=6).

When approached for comment, Bowker said in an email:

> “Stuff is a far-left extreme publication essentially surviving on being nice to Labour and the Greens in exchange for subsidies.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/f4/31f4e20a-0315-499e-83ff-139e8eab53bf/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/the-bfd.jpg)

Troy Bowker is a significant property owner in Wellington, as well as a part-owner of the Hurricane Super Rugby franchise. Photo: Stuff

Cancel culture kicked in. Hurricanes chair Iain Potter distanced his team from Bowker (See [Hurricanes distance themselves from Bowker](https://www.hobsonspledge.nz/r?u=7EL176YFyxKF3ox3wD2rUdBpncBXOD1vk4NiB7VWgn7qw0UqaUSEp8olXY1vf3b6qLmcGirVWFOD8OySEaxDuPui6pciaFbbwoURVcKV%5FJMVobQU9Lw4nPkOdI0Pk9P0R5dkup2yL-t4swoYW-gVJFQc0SQVU0A4IoI6I4zWR%5FqKzFQX3cZrCuG8cxA5FcBY&e=bd7bae96f436b2630063070c50ff935c&utm%5Fsource=hobsonspledge&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=update%5F169&n=7)), as did Labour Minister **Stuart Nash**, who had benefited from $51,000 in donations from Bowker. See [Nash received $51,000 from Bowker](https://www.hobsonspledge.nz/r?u=7EL176YFyxKF3ox3wD2rUTHoXFBj79N07zaFGdRZAdiMzFNh6jfe7hYKHSlefGWFvZ0fWuyDZga3lpUHKDcIvF%5F52r9fISThBA-wErijubxu%5FRvGz-BOemeMA8rhnNih&e=bd7bae96f436b2630063070c50ff935c&utm%5Fsource=hobsonspledge&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=update%5F169&n=8)

In response, [Bowker sold his shareholding](https://goodoil.news/press-statement-from-troy-bowker/) in the Hurricanes. A further unintended consequence will be for Nash, who will have to look elsewhere during the next election campaign to replace that $51,000.

Who are the winners and losers in this one? The supporters of free speech certainly gained an outspoken, fearless, and well-heeled advocate.

**Please share so others can discover *The BFD.***