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notices and features - Date published:
6:03 pm, June 25th, 2015 - 19 comments
Categories: open mike -
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The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
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Gee hot on the heels on spending $11m on a Saudi agrihub business the Government has spent $11.5 m on a New York apartment for our ambassador …
Man …
From Stuff:
“The Government has shelled out mor than $10 million on a luxury New York apartment for our man at the United Nations.
Gerard van Bohemen, who was previously deputy secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and responsible for multilateral and legal affairs, was appointed New Zealand’s new permanent representative at the United Nations in February.
The US$7.9 million pied-a-terre in Manhattan’s Zeckendorf Development’s 50 United Nations Plaza lists the buyer as “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of New Zealand”.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the apartment in New York had been bought as the residence for the Head of Mission.
He said it cost $10,975,228.
“This follows a decision to sell the old residence, which is now on the market.”
He said the new property would be a working space as well as a residence.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/69701478/NZ-government-shells-out-11-4m-on-New-York-apartment-for-UN-representative
how many Housing NZ upgrades could you pay for with $10M?
MFAT staff will be seething at the many operational budget cuts of the last few years and then this kind of BS splurging on luxury condos for the NAT’s blue eyed boys
Stuff knocked up a list foryou. http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/69719294/What-11m-could-buy-the-Government
Hair straighteners!
expensive home office. how much further away was the old apartment?
and how much did the old residence cost?
Riches to even richeser, I suspect…
oh the stuff article got updated: “It is understood the most recent valuation of the old residence was about $5.5m,”
Even selling above the valuation, it’s a multi-million dollar upgrade.
Ironic isn’t it. Helen Clark, a top UN administrator and one of the most powerful women in the world purchases or rents her own ‘middle of the road’ apartment. Yet we are forced to pay $11milion for a top of the range apartment for some Foreign Affairs pipsqueak to live in.
Mafia is the key word!
Labour finds a tiny little microscopic bit of backbone
Yes I noticed that at the time. It’s a bit like giving truck drivers lower levies because few die in crashes but boy do they make a mess of anybody that they hit. So if you have that newer “safer car” you can cause as many injuries to others as you like while you sit in your safe little capsule with the lower ACC levy payment.
Would be better to tie ACC to the driving / insurance record.
Agree it is a racket. I have not had an accident in the last 37 years of driving in Auckland plus a few trips to the North and the South but as my current Toyota was made in 1999 I get no recognition for being a safe driver.
The flash Harry drivers who regularly run red lights in their big new cars do. Garrrrrh!!
The worst example of victim blaming at ACC would have to be the staggeringly high cost of motorcycle licensing, particularly if you want to licence more than one bike a year, on top of a car – and their answer is that you are more likely to be hurt in a crash. Well that’s true, but it fails to take into account the reasons for the crashes, which are just as likely to be other road users as the vehicle operator.
+1 on the motorcycles.
Just under $600 yr to register my bike.
We have a government that spends money recklessly showing no care in the world for the people, the country or our future generation. The ever growing national debt is absolutely shocking. What a tragic disgrace!
Maybe Labour could use a Bob Marley song as part of the election strategy, see if Crosby lie injector can do anything about that
We goin to chase those crazy baldheads out of here chase those crazy baldheads out of town
I was walking past parliament yesterday as the media were doing their midday news reports with the protesters in the background. So thought I would listen in.
Not a WORD about the reason for the protest, just setting their own news agenda of parliamentary security.
There was a time when protesters like those at parliament would have become national heroes, now they are ignored or vilified.
The MSN are traitors to the people of New Zealand.
Classic Thorndon Bubble behaviour from the gallery journos and pollies – the security of the building they all work in is something they feel concerned about, so they think the rest of us share their priorities.
Also makes it easier to avoid the topic of the protest. Otherwise would require some reading and examination of what’s left of their consciences.