Yes I was recently pointed to Sean’s particularly horrific post about anorexia. Then I began reading and it’s like every post or repost is just awful. I also saw the one about incest not starvation being responsible for the children of Gaza suffering. But by his logic the parents are also affected by incest and wouldn’t they be suffering the same symptoms, which she (I think) says they’re not. So that post negated itself.
In other news thanks to this post I’ve just enjoyed a very interesting read about Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I also loved the Looper movie. I was also rather bemused by his app. It seems so odd. I got out of it without contributing, not my jam. And I wondered what he was up to. Fancy Ubisoft a games company I admire being involved with that.
With all respect - maybe you could consider taking this article down, David?
If Wayne Wright Junior stopped supporting The Platform in March 2025, why is Plunkett and WWJ sitting together in May 2025 with Plunkett gushing about the Wright Family’s support
And saying that WWJ is a “Director” and “team member” of The Platform?
I won't be removing this article - far from it. Also kind of a bummer you posted this directly under my message about giving aid.
This piece contains all the context - including the fact Wayne Jr remains a director and majority shareholder at The Platform.
His responses saying he no longer funds The Platform (whether truthful, or the lies of a spineless millionaire) are on record, and we'll see where things go from here.
Probably because you ignored all my other comments about it many hours before your clarification - which merely affirmed the same and the headline is misrepresentative - but way to go on doubling down and then trying to make me the Debbie Downer.
Just for clarity here - nothing you said was being ignored. I don't have eyes on comments here 24/7. I replied to you as soon as I saw your comments (there were many, I replied to all).
I added clarity to the online version that he remains a director and majority shareholder in The Platform about 5 minutes after publishing. The fact Wayne Wright Jr said he has stopped putting money it is the thrust of this article, and I stand by it. Including stating that we should not trust him.
But I stand by this piece - which lead to a further deep dive on the Herald.
I am OK with the headline and subheading (Sean Plunket Has Lost His Multi-Millionaire Backer: Webworm can report that "The Platform" has lost the financial support of Wayne Wright Jr.") and it is an editorial decision I stand by.
Finally - I'd add that in all my Webworm stories that require it, I add followup information at the top of the piece - including this one. It's how I have always done things for the last five years, and will continue to do so: https://www.webworm.co/p/waynewrightjr
I just did a bit of moseying around on the companies website & I see Mr Wright did remove WCW Trustees Ltd from that company on the 31st of March and the company registered a new company as shareholder which happens to have the one Wayne Leslie Wright as sole shareholder 🤔
Yes I have just seen the screenshots too from someone - it's not true at all and I think this article is making the rounds as the headlines, regrettably..
"Jeepers well that was a rabbit hole that took me most of the day to navigate. I feel like anyone who has several pages of companies listed under their name is gonna be questionable at best but what do I know about creative accounting practices… 🤷♀️
I did find two hotels that I will subsequently never be staying at:
- Quest on Johnston, 35 Johnston Street, Wellington
Cheers David and Anyaj. I myself have been down the Wright Family rabbit hole a few years ago, and I think there is a deeper, sadder story there. I'll flick you an email.
On the Companies Office website you can search by "director" - insert name and voila... a list of their current and past companies should magically appear.
Jeepers well that was a rabbit hole that took me most of the day to navigate. I feel like anyone who has several pages of companies listed under their name is gonna be questionable at best but what do I know about creative accounting practices… 🤷♀️
I did find two hotels that I will subsequently never be staying at:
- Quest on Johnston, 35 Johnston Street, Wellington
I very much note in my piece that this multi-millionaire could be, as most multi-millionaires are, full of shit.
But - I think it's important for the record to log *what he's saying* to people as he says it - and if he's a massive liar, we (and Webworm) will be here to hold him accountable:
The issue is the headline took his comment on face value and has ricocheted around as some truth. It’s because people trust Webworm that it’s even more critical to correct that Plunket not only didn’t lose his millionaire backer - but Wayne Wright Junior was publicly backing him and their joint business yesterday.
I'm old enough to remember a BBC journo who was in Ethiopia in the early 1980's, Michael Buerk. Interviewed recently about the famine in Ethiopia and Live Aid, he said: “I’d never seen anything like this, there was a lot of drought and a lot of hunger in South Africa in the 1980s (but) what we hadn’t seen was famine, death at that kind of scale before…" Now I feel like I'm watching a repeat. As a former paediatric nurse, in my humble opinion there is NO EXCUSE for what is being done to the children, the families in Gaza. As a western Christian in Aotearoa (stuff off Winston and Brooke), I make no difference between the horror being inflicted on Christian or Muslim or secular Gazans. And don't forget the West Bank situation. If you've been following the saga of Emily Writes (you go girl!) you know how hard it is to get support through.
Finally, those who repeat Plunket's words in any form have lost their humanity - in my humble opinion. Oh and yes Mr Wright would appear to be one of those "I get it, I'm wealthy, I'm sorted" types.
PS my heart broke last night sitting with my nearly 20 yr old daughter as she articulated what she was feeling over this - she follows a journalist from Gaza on Instagram. Even as she cried, I felt huge respect as she said she'd decided the only thing she could really do was to love people, no matter who they were.
Yuck..he is too disgusting for words. His followers also on FB are all very nasty rabid white racist who say the most sickening comments ever and sadly they do live in Aotearoa. Makes me feel sick
💪 I don't have a high profile like you, so have reluctantly kept my FB page for those dinosaur relatives I wouldn't be in touch with otherwise, & some interesting nature sites I like to see good people doing good work just because they are good people 🫂 In the past a relative with a higher profile had to contend with trolls & lies etc - so soul destroying if you are basically a decent person just trying to share and care 🥹
yes-I like to keep up with friends and family in other countries . I have made some great friends via a shared liking for a music group and have great catch ups. ItS called Sleaford MODs if your interested. Great punk poetry .
Ugh two horrible, horrible men, how fortunate for them to wake another day with food to fill their tummies. What is happening in Gaza is no joke, it’s awful. I give my thanks to people like you and Emily Writes, who I am so happy to support, as you are both actually trying to do something to help these starving people in Gaza, not treat the situation as a joke.
All Wright did was restructure his 75% equity stake and yesterday he publicly backed Plunkett and said he didn’t think their business would be affected by the Gaza tweet.
According to the Companies Register, Wayne Wright is still a director, and a 75% shareholder. Is four months too long to change the register if in fact he is no longer supporting The Platform?
Looking at the filings shareholding was updated on 31 March to the Ngen Trustee. Plus Wayne is a director and that’s absolutely current. Definitely suss
Don't know much about those two people, but I do know that if you've made millions from owning early childhood centres then there is a high chance that you do not give one iota about child welfare. There is just no way that good-quality, well-staffed, well-paid childcare centres make that amount of profit. It is a failing of our tamariki on such a large scale and I cannot fathom how it got this far out of hand. But apparently it's acceptable business practice to the current and previous Governments
If the deal was that Wright would supply the start up capital and then the Platform would become profitable and stand on its own, and he would in fact get his investment back…well I sincerely hope that this kind of media *isn’t* profitable.
I remember reading Wright’s reasoning for bankrolling it - that during the second lockdown politicians and journalists at the 1pm daily briefing seemed too pally, with PM Ardern addressing them by first name and so on. That they were colluding somehow. Well, I’ve worked with loads of people who I have to be collegial with. You can be kind and polite while challenging each other. Hate to think what it’s like working for Wright, since it seems that concept is completely foreign to him.
I don't think I can write down what I'd like to see happen to Mr Plunket; all I can do is reflect on the absence of cosmic justice or karma that might otherwise mete out a deserving fate. I used to think Simulation Theory was pure farce, but now I cling desperately to it as a preferable alternative to accepting that humans can—and do—willfully treat each other so poorly. Humanity is no longer the foundational or aspirational trait of our species; hubris has taken its place.
By the time I got to the end of this article, I was fuming again about the BestStart empire (with a dear friend being an ECE teacher I always knew they were money-making trash, but I'd forgotten about the particular WTFness of the "charitable foundation" BS). Then I went back to the beginning of the article and felt...a lot of things, from well-directed anger at the IDF committing war crimes, to disgust at those either joking about or denying the genocide, to poorly-directed anger at myself for being worked up about the Wright Foundation existing when I have the privilege of having just enrolled my firstborn at a non-BestStart daycare whereas a Palestinian mother would yearn for the stability to enroll her child anywhere
I’m not much on social, so this was new news to me. My mouth fell open reading what this abhorrent human wants to share. Have subscribed because this stuff needs better visibility. Thanks for what you do!
If you want to support Gazans, it's a complex situation out there - especially with aid being blocked by Israel.
Personally, I turn to World Kitchen: https://wck.org/relief/chefs-for-gaza
For anyone US-based, Stephanie does incredible peer to
peer mutual aid - and her contact is a journalist in Gaza: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniehshih
You can check her saved stories for receipts.
But as with all things: Do your research on where you give.
Oh, and fuck Sean Plunket.
Yes I was recently pointed to Sean’s particularly horrific post about anorexia. Then I began reading and it’s like every post or repost is just awful. I also saw the one about incest not starvation being responsible for the children of Gaza suffering. But by his logic the parents are also affected by incest and wouldn’t they be suffering the same symptoms, which she (I think) says they’re not. So that post negated itself.
In other news thanks to this post I’ve just enjoyed a very interesting read about Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I also loved the Looper movie. I was also rather bemused by his app. It seems so odd. I got out of it without contributing, not my jam. And I wondered what he was up to. Fancy Ubisoft a games company I admire being involved with that.
With all respect - maybe you could consider taking this article down, David?
If Wayne Wright Junior stopped supporting The Platform in March 2025, why is Plunkett and WWJ sitting together in May 2025 with Plunkett gushing about the Wright Family’s support
And saying that WWJ is a “Director” and “team member” of The Platform?
Hey M T
I won't be removing this article - far from it. Also kind of a bummer you posted this directly under my message about giving aid.
This piece contains all the context - including the fact Wayne Jr remains a director and majority shareholder at The Platform.
His responses saying he no longer funds The Platform (whether truthful, or the lies of a spineless millionaire) are on record, and we'll see where things go from here.
Probably because you ignored all my other comments about it many hours before your clarification - which merely affirmed the same and the headline is misrepresentative - but way to go on doubling down and then trying to make me the Debbie Downer.
Just for clarity here - nothing you said was being ignored. I don't have eyes on comments here 24/7. I replied to you as soon as I saw your comments (there were many, I replied to all).
I added clarity to the online version that he remains a director and majority shareholder in The Platform about 5 minutes after publishing. The fact Wayne Wright Jr said he has stopped putting money it is the thrust of this article, and I stand by it. Including stating that we should not trust him.
But I stand by this piece - which lead to a further deep dive on the Herald.
I am OK with the headline and subheading (Sean Plunket Has Lost His Multi-Millionaire Backer: Webworm can report that "The Platform" has lost the financial support of Wayne Wright Jr.") and it is an editorial decision I stand by.
Finally - I'd add that in all my Webworm stories that require it, I add followup information at the top of the piece - including this one. It's how I have always done things for the last five years, and will continue to do so: https://www.webworm.co/p/waynewrightjr
I just did a bit of moseying around on the companies website & I see Mr Wright did remove WCW Trustees Ltd from that company on the 31st of March and the company registered a new company as shareholder which happens to have the one Wayne Leslie Wright as sole shareholder 🤔
Yes I have just seen the screenshots too from someone - it's not true at all and I think this article is making the rounds as the headlines, regrettably..
Well, I just hope people read Webworm.
How do I found out what hotels and business these twats own? Coz I want to make sure not a single dollar of my money ever goes to the Wrights…
Asking the same question. Would be good to know what companies these cesspools are hiding behind.
As per Anyaj above:
"Jeepers well that was a rabbit hole that took me most of the day to navigate. I feel like anyone who has several pages of companies listed under their name is gonna be questionable at best but what do I know about creative accounting practices… 🤷♀️
I did find two hotels that I will subsequently never be staying at:
- Quest on Johnston, 35 Johnston Street, Wellington
- The French Country House in Tauranga"
Cheers David and Anyaj. I myself have been down the Wright Family rabbit hole a few years ago, and I think there is a deeper, sadder story there. I'll flick you an email.
Please: davidfarrier@protonmail.com
So far googling isn’t turning up much for me so hopefully someone knows 🤞
On the Companies Office website you can search by "director" - insert name and voila... a list of their current and past companies should magically appear.
Jeepers well that was a rabbit hole that took me most of the day to navigate. I feel like anyone who has several pages of companies listed under their name is gonna be questionable at best but what do I know about creative accounting practices… 🤷♀️
I did find two hotels that I will subsequently never be staying at:
- Quest on Johnston, 35 Johnston Street, Wellington
- The French Country House in Tauranga
Thankyou, A.
Sean Plunket has lost one backer but I suspect that there are many more out there that will/have fill/filled the gap. To tweet that children
in Gaza are suffering from anorexia when there is next to no food available to them is reprehensible. New depths of depravity are being
mined with comments like that
It's misleading to take Wright's comments on face value here.
PS I've looked it up: As recent as May 2025, Plunkett described Wayne Wright Junior and the Wright Family as backers, "Director" and "team member"
As an aside, the Best Start Empire are worth around $400 million. In 2022, 75% of their revenue was from taxpayer subsidies.
I very much note in my piece that this multi-millionaire could be, as most multi-millionaires are, full of shit.
But - I think it's important for the record to log *what he's saying* to people as he says it - and if he's a massive liar, we (and Webworm) will be here to hold him accountable:
https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/8227657/directors
The issue is the headline took his comment on face value and has ricocheted around as some truth. It’s because people trust Webworm that it’s even more critical to correct that Plunket not only didn’t lose his millionaire backer - but Wayne Wright Junior was publicly backing him and their joint business yesterday.
....and suggesting said parents are not starving is abhorrent.
I'm old enough to remember a BBC journo who was in Ethiopia in the early 1980's, Michael Buerk. Interviewed recently about the famine in Ethiopia and Live Aid, he said: “I’d never seen anything like this, there was a lot of drought and a lot of hunger in South Africa in the 1980s (but) what we hadn’t seen was famine, death at that kind of scale before…" Now I feel like I'm watching a repeat. As a former paediatric nurse, in my humble opinion there is NO EXCUSE for what is being done to the children, the families in Gaza. As a western Christian in Aotearoa (stuff off Winston and Brooke), I make no difference between the horror being inflicted on Christian or Muslim or secular Gazans. And don't forget the West Bank situation. If you've been following the saga of Emily Writes (you go girl!) you know how hard it is to get support through.
Finally, those who repeat Plunket's words in any form have lost their humanity - in my humble opinion. Oh and yes Mr Wright would appear to be one of those "I get it, I'm wealthy, I'm sorted" types.
PS my heart broke last night sitting with my nearly 20 yr old daughter as she articulated what she was feeling over this - she follows a journalist from Gaza on Instagram. Even as she cried, I felt huge respect as she said she'd decided the only thing she could really do was to love people, no matter who they were.
Manaakitia me tea aroha nga hoa.
Yuck..he is too disgusting for words. His followers also on FB are all very nasty rabid white racist who say the most sickening comments ever and sadly they do live in Aotearoa. Makes me feel sick
I deleted Facebook and am really glad I did.
I kept it until recently as I figured my public page of 50k or so followers would help get my work out there... but it wasn't worth it.
It's a cesspit with no moderation rules. Running my public page and keeping it free of racist, transphobic comments became impossible.
💪 I don't have a high profile like you, so have reluctantly kept my FB page for those dinosaur relatives I wouldn't be in touch with otherwise, & some interesting nature sites I like to see good people doing good work just because they are good people 🫂 In the past a relative with a higher profile had to contend with trolls & lies etc - so soul destroying if you are basically a decent person just trying to share and care 🥹
Keeping in touch with family is a *very* valid reason to keep it around.
yes-I like to keep up with friends and family in other countries . I have made some great friends via a shared liking for a music group and have great catch ups. ItS called Sleaford MODs if your interested. Great punk poetry .
Sometimes bad things happen to the wright people.
Ugh two horrible, horrible men, how fortunate for them to wake another day with food to fill their tummies. What is happening in Gaza is no joke, it’s awful. I give my thanks to people like you and Emily Writes, who I am so happy to support, as you are both actually trying to do something to help these starving people in Gaza, not treat the situation as a joke.
Yeah, Plunket and Wright family both morally down the tube.
He only says the Wright Family Foundation is not funding it - but he doesn’t say that he’s not funding it through another channel.
I agree absolutely.
As I note in the piece:
"To be clear — I have zero reason to trust the words of Wayne Wright Jr.
He is a millionaire with a million ways to get money to whoever he wants without me knowing about it."
All Wright did was restructure his 75% equity stake and yesterday he publicly backed Plunkett and said he didn’t think their business would be affected by the Gaza tweet.
Once ,like 45 years ago Sean Plunket on RNZ had something to offer.
He is a disgrace and a huge disappointment ; some things improve with age , others become rancid and rot. Like Sean
Turds of a feather flock together
Very correct. Also, thanks for making me lol.
According to the Companies Register, Wayne Wright is still a director, and a 75% shareholder. Is four months too long to change the register if in fact he is no longer supporting The Platform?
He is - this is in the piece. Link also for anyone reading along: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/8227657/directors
Looking at the filings shareholding was updated on 31 March to the Ngen Trustee. Plus Wayne is a director and that’s absolutely current. Definitely suss
Ngen Trustee is 100% owned by Wayne Wright Jr
Yesterday Wayne Wrighr Jr was in multiple articles still publicly supporting Plunkett and saying this would affect their combined business.
Don't know much about those two people, but I do know that if you've made millions from owning early childhood centres then there is a high chance that you do not give one iota about child welfare. There is just no way that good-quality, well-staffed, well-paid childcare centres make that amount of profit. It is a failing of our tamariki on such a large scale and I cannot fathom how it got this far out of hand. But apparently it's acceptable business practice to the current and previous Governments
If the deal was that Wright would supply the start up capital and then the Platform would become profitable and stand on its own, and he would in fact get his investment back…well I sincerely hope that this kind of media *isn’t* profitable.
I remember reading Wright’s reasoning for bankrolling it - that during the second lockdown politicians and journalists at the 1pm daily briefing seemed too pally, with PM Ardern addressing them by first name and so on. That they were colluding somehow. Well, I’ve worked with loads of people who I have to be collegial with. You can be kind and polite while challenging each other. Hate to think what it’s like working for Wright, since it seems that concept is completely foreign to him.
I don't think I can write down what I'd like to see happen to Mr Plunket; all I can do is reflect on the absence of cosmic justice or karma that might otherwise mete out a deserving fate. I used to think Simulation Theory was pure farce, but now I cling desperately to it as a preferable alternative to accepting that humans can—and do—willfully treat each other so poorly. Humanity is no longer the foundational or aspirational trait of our species; hubris has taken its place.
By the time I got to the end of this article, I was fuming again about the BestStart empire (with a dear friend being an ECE teacher I always knew they were money-making trash, but I'd forgotten about the particular WTFness of the "charitable foundation" BS). Then I went back to the beginning of the article and felt...a lot of things, from well-directed anger at the IDF committing war crimes, to disgust at those either joking about or denying the genocide, to poorly-directed anger at myself for being worked up about the Wright Foundation existing when I have the privilege of having just enrolled my firstborn at a non-BestStart daycare whereas a Palestinian mother would yearn for the stability to enroll her child anywhere
I’m not much on social, so this was new news to me. My mouth fell open reading what this abhorrent human wants to share. Have subscribed because this stuff needs better visibility. Thanks for what you do!