First they sold Auckland, then the rest of NZ…?
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10:00 am, October 3rd, 2014 - 28 comments
Categories: accountability, auckland supercity, capitalism, democracy under attack, john key, Public Private Partnerships, same old national, slippery, Spying -
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So, John Key has quietly (secretly?) shifted the already dodgy SkyCity deal. Meanwhile, in Auckland, the Auckland Transport Authority has apparently done a deal to sell oversight of all of our daily lives to a US corporate, and thereby rendering the data accessible to the US state surveillance agency , the NSA.
Unveiled in May last year, the initial deal between SkyCity and the government was extremely controversial. John Key’s government agreed to SkyCity building a new convention centre, to be paid for by SkyCity. In exchange, the government would allow extensions to the usual licensing agreements with respect to the SkyCity casino, and a lot of extra pokie machines and gambling tables.
The deal was locked into government legislation so that any future government could not change the deal before 2048.
A few months later, it was revealed that TVNZ land, owned by the government (or as they say, owned by tax payers) was sold to SkyCity so that the convention centre could be built on the land. The justification was that the convention centre would be great for Aucklanders, New Zealanders and the economy.
Today, David Fisher reports the latest dodgy change to the already the dodgy new SkyCity deal – a deal that was meant to be unchangeable by future governments. SkyCity is actually going to build a new hotel on the land that was once TVNZ land: something that is purely for the profiteering by the owners of SkyCity. Fisher reports:
SkyCity is building its new hotel on land surrendered by the taxpayer for the creation of the $402 million convention centre, the Herald can reveal.
[…]The decision to build a hotel on the former TVNZ property came just three months after the casino company bought the land – the result of three years campaigning for it on the premise it was needed to build the convention centre.
As justification, John Key uses his nothing-to-see-here pose:
A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said Mr Key was comfortable with the process and the changes proposed.
Such a non-explanation is way beyond not good enough. Here we have a PM who avoids being held to account, with a slippery, bu existentially barefaced, thumbing of his nose to NZ citizens . This is totally anti-democratic. Essential Key is supporting corporate rule of the country’s laws and regulatory system.
This news comes a day after we learned that the surveillance of just about every movement of most Aucklanders’ daily lives has been sold to US corporate, Hewlett-Packard.
Michael Field reports on Stuff:
Surveillance technology that uses high definition cameras and software that can put names to faces and owners to cars is coming to Auckland.
The surveillance has the capability to also scan social media and news websites.
Auckland Transport, the regional transport provider, announced the multi-million dollar deal in June, and California’s Hewlett-Packard Development Company said today it has the contract.
[…]“The system will leverage data from a variety of sources, including thousands of security and traffic management cameras, a vast network of road and environmental sensors as well as real-time social media and news feeds,” HP said.
Of course, Auckland Transport justifies this in terms of safety and combating crime. They also claim there will be limites on the kinds of surveillance undertaken.
However, Idiot/Savant reports that Hewlett-Packard’s own press release contradict such statements:
Auckland Transport have since denied some of the claims, saying that its all about traffic-flow management and that ANPR and facial recognition will not be used (and that no data will be shipped overseas to the NSA), but its all there in HP’s press release:
In the first phase of the project, Auckland Transport will focus on improving public safety. Law enforcement will use HP Intelligent Scene Analysis System and license plate recognition for accurate identification and scene analysis for dangerous activities and analyzing safety threats from over 2,000 cameras deployed within Auckland. Going forward this information will be linked with rich insight from social media news sources to provide a comprehensive solution that can proactively identify breaking trends and respond to critical safety incidents for cyclists and transport users.
Of course, as the NSA can tap into any communications going into the US, this means that they will be able to access the data about Aucklanders going to HP in California.
Auckland Transport is ultimately accountable to Aucklanders. However, the way Rodney Hide set up Auckland Supercity Council, means that it tends to no be directly accountable.
Aucklanders should be directly consulted on such a big change to enable the surveillance of their daily lives. The money deals with an offshore corportate, that enables such spying on Aucklanders should not be the result of deals beahind closed doors. And the contradictory public statements need to be cleared up.
As Idiot/Savant at No Right Turn concludes:
…we really have to ask why Auckland Transport is paying for a system with these capabilities (even if they won’t be used yet), why its installing a (turnkey) mass-surveillance system without any public mandate. And we need to start looking at whether any of our other local authorities have been doing the same.
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- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...6 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...1 week ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Child Protection Investigation Unit established
A new Child Protection Investigation Unit is being established to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in care, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “The report released by the Royal Commission into abuse in state care shows us all the risk of not acting immediately when there are serious ...1 day ago - Speech at United States Business Summit 2024
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Ka mihi ki te mana whenua ko Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Kia ora and good morning everyone. Thank you Fran and Simon for inviting me here today, and importantly your leadership of this forum over several years now. I want to acknowledge David Gehrenbeck, Deputy ...1 day ago
- Record number of submissions received on granny flat proposal
Nearly 2,000 submissions have been received on the Government’s proposals aimed at making it easier to build a granny flat of up to 60 square metres without a resource or building consent, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. “This is the highest number ...1 day ago
- District Court Judge appointed
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Rebecca Guthrie as a District Court Judge. Judge Guthrie was admitted to the bar in 1997 following her graduation from the University of Canterbury in 1996 (LLB, BA). She commenced her legal career in Hastings in 1997 before moving to London in ...1 day ago
- Appointments strengthen Predator Free 2050
The latest Predator Free 2050 Board appointments will help to strengthen biodiversity efforts across Aotearoa New Zealand, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Mr Potaka today announced two appointments to the Board of Directors of Predator Free 2050 Limited, a key player in the wider Predator Free 2050 Programme. “The Predator ...1 day ago
- New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today opened Kahurangi, an innovative and much-needed facility for Canterbury’s Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Services. “The new state of the art outpatient facility opened today will be a gamechanger for the way mental health is delivered for young people in Canterbury,” says Mr ...1 day ago
- Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Auckland’s bus fleet by 2026.“The Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...1 day ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...2 days ago
- Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...2 days ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...2 days ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...2 days ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...2 days ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...2 days ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...2 days ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...2 days ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...2 days ago
- Fighting for Kiwis in Trade
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- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...2 days ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...3 days ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...3 days ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...3 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...3 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...3 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...3 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...4 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...4 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...4 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...4 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...4 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...4 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...4 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...4 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...4 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...5 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...5 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...5 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...5 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...5 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...5 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...5 days ago
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The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.
I believe the HP surveillance data will be transferred and analysed in California….
Added:
“All the data gathered by the cameras will be processed by HP cloud servers based in Palo Alto, California”. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10567293/Sophisticated-surveillance-coming-to-Auckland
Well the Auckland Transport Authority says that no Auckland data will be sent overseas. But as I/S states, the ATA statements are contradicted by the press release from HP.
It’s not clear to me how the HP could provide the analytical services with support from “HP Software Professional Services” (as stated in the HP press release), could be done by only using hard and software in NZ.
Edit: thanks for the added quote on using cloud servers based in Palo Alto, California.
Oh, please, Nz isn’t interested in criticism of ‘the faith’ as Key put it. NZ kept the faith.
It will take Fonterra to fail, maybe more ill judged overseas investments, coupled with a long term decline for our dairy, and kicked off with dairy farmers being forced in numbers to sell up to pay off debt (or be force closed).
Key won’t stop until the co-op is taken out of Fonterra. Then kiwis will realize Key’s real legacy, of increased revenue burden on lower and middle income earners in Keys first months of office. Robbing the middle of NZ of its future.
Isn’t removal of Fonterra co-op part of the TPPA we aren’t allowed to view ?
We don’t know, yes, but I too believe we will when Key leaves office and takes up in Hawaii, as officially worst most divisive PM in history of NZ.
In my conversations with leading NZ politicians (including Helen Clark and David Cunliffe) they curtly dismiss binding citizen initiated referendums with excuses that are best summarized as “you can’t trust the people.”
But we can trust these politicians and bureaucrats.
Yeah, right.
If the Labour Party self-destructs, I might start a party whose ONLY platform is binding citizen initiated referendums. It would be neither Right nor Left. Let the people decide if the government of the day is spending too little or too much on whatever program they pass.
Take back our country!
And there are some rich old folks in the Waikato who may fund you as well as the Conservatives. However, unless there are very strict controls on wording and finance, binding referenda are just more ways for the rich to buy legislation.
That sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Policy by popularity.
Reminds me of the old saying. A camel is a horse designed by committee.
“connotes an attitude and a brutal policy of draconian control by propaganda,
surveillance, misinformation, denial of truth, and manipulation of the past”. Orwellian
if you remove the word brutal, what springs to mind
Joyce says that the hotel falls within the definition of convention centre, which I guess makes it “pretty legal”. Or it could be another left wing smear campaign?
HP is probably the best in the world for surveillance of workers – it works for Palestinians.
Ask Israel.
http://www.whoprofits.org/company/hewlett-packard-hp
Where on earth is the scandal in shifting the hotel from the southern side of the site to the northern side (David Fisher’s breathless article notwithstanding). In fact looking at the plan in the Herald, it was pretty logical, since the convention part will be a rectangle and clearly easier to design.
Honestly if this is the best you can do to generate a scandal, why bother. No wonder John Key said he was pretty relaxed about the change. In reality the change is just detail, that has no public impact beyond what was already proposed.
Correct Wayne.
Skycity is an abomination, whether built on crown land or not.
Any decent Government would nationalise it and turn it into a entertainment centre for kids.
All the news reports I saw, stated that the planned convention centre was separate from the planned hotel. And the reports on the sale of TVNZ land, stated that it was to be used for the convention centre.
For instance, this report of August this year:
It was never made clear that the hotel would be built on the TVNZ land.
At best, this is a little bit slippery. Already many people were not happy that TVNZ land would be sold to SkyCity for the convention centre.
And, and the end of the day…. SkyCity ends up with a big hotel on the former TVNZ land, with great harbour views, etc.
SkyCity profits – little in it for ordinary Kiws, as we watch further state assets being sold to the profiteers.
“since the convention part will be a rectangle and clearly easier to design.”
Yes Wayne, public land should be sold under false pretences to make life easier for the poor architects. You obviously don’t see anything wrong with this, but apart from anything else it sets a precedent. National lies when it wants to give away the commons. Key and certain ex-ministers are comfortable about that. Brave new world. Great.
Commercial land owned by an SOE which had old commercial buildings on it is hardly “public land” or the “the commons.” SOE’s are regularly buying and selling things, including various assets they have.
On this issue it is time to lighten up.
Unless, of course, you put money into rival proposals only to be shafted by the Prime Minister’s insider trading.
Then it would be time to what exactly, Dr. Mapp?
+100 OAB
and how about commercial land valued independently before sale ? It’s not just the sale; it’s the pittance of the purchase price.
Does the S in SOE actually stand for private property of the directors? State Owned Enterprises are owned by the state, even though you no doubt see them as back door privatisation. Land is a finite resource. Why are we selling our land cheap to build hotels for the profit of casino owners? Why did we never get to make an informed decision?
Nah, Wayne. I won’t be lightening up. Key is reading from the same script as Harper. The aim is to slowly and sneakily do away with civil society.
I imagine the sale was at normal commercial prices.
Imagine all you will, Wayne. It wasn’t. Check for yourself. Please.
I imagine a New Zealand with no starving kids. But it doesn’t make it so.
Prime Minister John Key may be ‘comfortable with the process and changes proposed’ – but as a proven anti-corruption campaigner, I am appalled.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11335925
SkyCity is building its new hotel on land surrendered by the taxpayer for the creation of the $402 million convention centre, the Herald can reveal.
It is just one of a number of changes to the deal in which the Government gave the casino company gambling concessions in return for building the centre.
The decision to build a hotel on the former TVNZ property came just three months after the casino company bought the land – the result of three years campaigning for it on the premise it was needed to build the convention centre.
It means SkyCity will now have three major hotels offering 1000 beds within a stone’s throw of the convention centre.
The accommodation boom will add to the boosted income SkyCity will earn from its special law to allow increased gambling which the Government traded for the building of the centre.
…….
The need for the land was written into the July 2013 contract with the Government, saying it would build a smaller and less suitable convention centre if TVNZ would not sell it the land. SkyCity bought the land in September 2013.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said the casino approached officials three months later to negotiate a change to include the hotel.
She said Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce was told just before Christmas and kept briefed until the design was finalised in May. It was announced publicly in August.
SkyCity’s “need” to obtain the TVNZ land for its convention centre was such that Prime Minister John Key told Parliament last year the firm needed more land for the design of the centre. “The place it was going to be built, it was quite clear, was TVNZ’s land.”
A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said Mr Key was comfortable with the process and the changes proposed…”
__________________________________________________________________________________
How ‘shonky’ is this?
Seems that with ex-Wall Street ‘casino capitalist’ NZ Prime Minister in charge, Sky City can do as they please?
If no one has done any ‘due diligence’ on the increased risk of money-laundering arising from the Sky City ‘deal’ that was later entrenched in the NZ International Convention Centre Act 2013 – wouldn’t it be fair to say that on Prime Minister John Key’s watch, Sky City have been effectively able to set up, in the heart of Auckland City, a ‘money-laundering factory’?
No one who is anyone – including PM John Key, Minister Steven Joyce, OFCANZ, Auckland Council, and Auckland Central Police – did ANY ‘due diligence’ on the increased risk of money-laundering arising from the NZ International Convention Centre (Bill) Act 2013.
For starters – here is the OIA reply from OFCANZ, who get $10 million a year as part of ‘Vote Police’ to supposedly help prevent money-laundering – where they admit that they did NO ‘due diligence’:
http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/SKY-CITY-OFCANZ-OIA-REPLY-NO-DUE-DLIGENCE-RE-MONEY-LAUNDERING-bright-penny-06-c211711-2-sent-reply.pdf
More background FACTS and EVIDENCE is available here :
http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/2013/11/
Is this why I’m being ‘neck-stamped’ as an anti-corruption ‘whistleblower’ – because I’m telling the truth and alerting the public?
Penny Bright
I seem to recall over 50 percent of those who participated in the last elections actually voted for mass survelliance so I guess this is just a case of giving the people what they wanted. All complaints from National voters should go in the big box marked “Complaints” to be recycled as toilet paper.
The 30% majority are comfortable with what ever Mr Key decides. He will have the time of his life over the next three years and beyond, as this country now belongs to him.
Where is the evidence people voted for mass surveillance? John Key always has insisted there is no mass surveillance of New Zealanders. So many people will have voted with that in mind.
I’ve been joking with my mates for quite a while about AT, we came up with a nickname and we’d been calling it that for a while.
We’ve been calling them Auckland’s Traitors.
This bad joke/play on words, has just got a ring to truth to it now, especially after reading this -thanks Karol – I think…
Hey here is a way to stuff them…
[Deleted]
[lprent: advocating acts of property damage is not allowed ]
I’m just curious what all their surveillance and data is ogoing to show up. They’re probably going to have a tonne of self storage units chock full of all their archives and records before we actually get anything truly concrete out of their findings. At the end of the day, it’s probably just another way to generate profit for those companies than actually trying to do anything to better the situation.