His work here is not yet done

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 1st, 2020 - 71 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, class, climate change, education, health, housing, john key, national, Privatisation, same old national, Simon Bridges, uncategorized - Tags:

Remember this guy?

He was the perfect National Party leader. When he was young he grew up for a while in a state house. He was superficially liberal and managed to get on the right side of some social issues. He was goofy and did some funny stuff. He was the sort of guy most kiwis would like to have a beer with. He had cut through with swinging voters.

As leader he managed to temper and divert the morally conservative tenndancy of the National Party and seduced them with power. Who cares if your world view is not being put into place as long as you are in power.

He sold off public assets and smashed our health and education institutions into the ground but slowly enough so that with a smile and a wave he could deny wanting to do anything evil.

He was the opposite to Ruth Richardson. Instead of shock and awe we had smile and wave. Instead of revolution we had the frog in a boiling pot gradual change so that only the most observant of us realised that the country was being wrecked.

And it took a decade for most of us to realise that under his rule our environment was being wrecked, poverty was soaring and our climate change response had been completely undermined.

Key has been making a bit of a publicity comeback recently. It is strange but a leadership vacuum causes that. Simon Bridges must be hating it.

Over the past week he has crashed into National’s leadership contest by publicly endorsing Chris Luxon. If Key has his way the leadership putsch will have to wait until after the election,

And his work as a director for Air New Zealand and ANZ Bank has suggested that his commitment to sustainability as well as ordinary battlers’ way of life may have been superficial.

His commitment to the ordinary bloke is exemplified by what he recenntly said to a Remuera Real Estate company. From Andrea Fox at the Herald:

Key believed companies would, after lockdown, operate with significantly fewer people – another looming issue for commercial landlords.

“Everyone is going to kick out 20 per cent of their people . . . even if the company is doing well . . . their worst performers. Never waste a crisis.

“I don’t want to be doom and gloom but property might take longer [to recover] – it just has to go lower over time.”

Get that? A big fuck you to one in five employees. But with a bit of care the property market may recover. Never waste a crisis. And lets sacrifice everything so that the landed gentry can recover their privilege over time.

It is funny but among the left when we talk about never wasting a crisis we are referring to a chance to do something meaningful about climate change, creating jobs for people building sustainable infrastructure. Or we are talking about a universal basic income, so that poverty can be eradicated.

Only someone with really stuffed up class ideals would think that you should not waste a crisis by sacking one in five people with jobs.

71 comments on “His work here is not yet done ”

  1. Tiger Mountain 1

    SirKey has always represented international Finance Capital first and foremost throughout his career before, during, and after politics. That is the context in which any of his utterances are made.

    He was responsible, along with his personal lawyer, for starting an ultimately short-lived offshore Trust “industry” in NZ. 10,000 plus of which melted away in the wake of the Panama Papers, and IRD requiring more than a perfunctory A4 sheet of info from these offshore parasites seeking to hide their loot.

    The NZ National Party exists to shovel socially produced wealth upstairs to 1%ers and their enablers–Mr Key hanging around is just a reminder of that.

  2. Unicus 2

    A timely post given the clear divisions in the NP

    Wheeling out political cadavers like Joyce English and this ghastly pratt is an established practice when the Tories are in deep trouble

    It's a fraught tactic given the popularity of the PM . The electorate is now given the opportunity to compare her with a shady obfuscating troup of has been's.

    Key pushing Luxtons boat will probably be the kiss of death just as it was for his last protégée the terribly unfortunate Simon Bridges

  3. Blazer 3

    Ex forex gambler and now active property pimp,ex P.M ,notorious pony tail puller John Key has put his Point Piper pad up for another profitable play.

    Not sure how many he has flipped so far.

    All part of his plan to ensure 'NZ'ers do not become tenants in their own country'.

    Quit because there was nothing left in the tank.

    Must have refuelled recently with Cashtrol Gtx.

  4. Tricledrown 4

    BT bankrupt,Elders finance bankrupt,Merrill Lynch bankrupt.Key Morally Bankrupt.

  5. pat 5

    I have no time for Key and there is much he can be criticised for but what about this statement is problematic?

    Key believed companies would, after lockdown, operate with significantly fewer people – another looming issue for commercial landlords.

    “Everyone is going to kick out 20 per cent of their people . . . even if the company is doing well . . . their worst performers. Never waste a crisis.

    “I don’t want to be doom and gloom but property might take longer [to recover] – it just has to go lower over time.”

    They are statements of opinion about what is likely to occur, not instructions….and recognising real estate prices need to fall has been a call on this site for years.

    Strange times indeed.

  6. Dennis Frank 6

    I agree with the critique, but the guy is merely recycling his traditionalist perspective. Leftists are eternally reluctant to learn from history, but they would acquire a more sophisticated view of things if they were to get over that aversion. There are damn good reasons why the capitalist system evolved over the centuries to constitute the basis of our social reality today. Marx merely took a bite out of that cherry.

    Knee-jerk distaste is understandable, but I can read Key's stance from the rightist side of things too: businesses will now trend towards online operation even more than before. As he suggests, a 20% average staff reduction could be the outcome of their reconfiguration. It may not end up that high: people will still be employed to perform functions that online design cannot.

    I disagree most with Key on his fundamental stance, which seems to be that people should serve the system as per tradition. I reckon a social system that serves the people works better. Design for the future, not the past.

    • Isn't he "merely recycling" his views as a nasty heartless money-obsessed capitalist where the 20% staff he sees the opportunity to chuck out are seen as a resource rather human beings?

      Your craven acceptance of the inviolability of the capitalist system speaks volumes Mr. Frank. There are other, much better ways to run the country.

      • Dennis Frank 6.1.1

        Yes. You've misread me, apparently. I don't accept that the system is inviolate – never have. I've always pointed to various ways it ought to be transformed. Financial transaction tax, for instance. Adoption of the steady-state economy as operational paradigm. Worker profit sharing. UBI. I could probably extend the list to a dozen or so components, given time to recall them.

        I first advocated this mix as a member of the Greens' Economic Policy Working Group (1991, convenor Jeanette Fitzsimons).

        • Bearded Git 6.1.1.1

          Fair enough I agree with most of that, especially FTT. (I very much like land tax as an option that shifts wealth from rich to poor).

          But I still take issue with your passionless acceptance of Key as he is-passion has its place in debate.

  7. tc 7

    Good salespeople always get work, no govt part owner board role now so onto the granny soapbox.

    Reckon theres probably several pieces ready to go to fire up the machine as this is what national do so well.

  8. RosieLee 8

    There's something deeply dodgy and fishy about this man's return and meddling in NZ politics. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

    • Muttonbird 8.1

      Curia will be polling this right now. If the results are positive, Surge-on will be back.

    • Cinny 8.2

      There's something deeply dodgy and fishy about this man's return and meddling in NZ politics.

      Strongly agree with you RosieLee, well said. yes

      • Chris T 8.2.1

        I missed people saying this about Clark and her 2nd in charge, who is still there.

      • patricia 8.2.2

        Cinny and RosieLee, he is like a shark that can smell the opportunity of "blood in the water."

        He has huge hide that is for sure No shame at all. Next thing he will be having a cup of tea with Act again.

        It appears he knew the score a few days ago?

    • Janet 8.3

      Been having the same feelings for the last couple of weeks…..

    • mary_a 8.4

      You are dead right there RosieLee (8). I'm feeling uncomfortable that the smiling assassin slime is being rolled out on a daily basis by msm at this time giving his opinion, a few months before a general election. Something dark and evil waiting in the wings planning to spring and attack.

  9. Muttonbird 9

    Rocketman, Peter Beck, uses the same language:

    Never waste a good crisis.

    Seems an unfortunate choice of words. I'm not sure in what way one in one hundred year pandemic, Covid-19, is "good".

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2020/04/rocket-lab-founder-encourages-kiwis-to-think-big-in-rebuilding-economy-after-covid-19-crisis.html

  10. Wensleydale 10

    Nice to see Key hasn't changed. Still a smirking bag of poison with a condescending and dismissive attitude toward the suffering of the peasantry. I wonder if Goodfellow and friends have had a quiet word with him about propping up the ailing fortunes of National Inc. during Simon's less than stellar reign (of destruction). We all know how much he loves being the centre of attention.

  11. ianmac 11

    Whenever I read a transcript of Key's speeches I could find very little of substance. And he usually had a bob both ways then claimed the way that eventuated. "Told you so. See my speech?"

    Contrast that with Jacinda's words. Clear. Consistent. And unequivocal. Love her or hate her you cannot misunderstand her.

    • Carolyn_Nth 11.1

      Yep. I'm not a great Ardern fan. But, it has been noticeable in her Covid-19 1pm updates. It's such a relief after FJK's slurring and sloshing about with obfuscations and (attempted) jokes.

      It's very noticeable that Ardern is very knowledgeable about the details of the C-19 developments (locally and internationally) and policies across all ministries. Must be working long hours staying informed. No pissing off to Hawai'i when the going gets tough.

      • Bg 11.1.1

        Nice sarcasm

      • Adrian 11.1.2

        Through a friend of the one senior advisors who has told them said that as a group they are seriously impressed with Ardern''s intelligence and overview of the highly technical details of the many disciplines involved and her ability to put in clear terms what has to be done.

        But then thats what a good PMs job is really . We are very lucky, like the old saying, cometh the hour, cometh the woman.

        • patricia 11.1.2.1

          Adrian when I had the good fortune to meet her and speak with her two + years ago, I was impressed and reassured by her incisive intelligence , her grasp of the facts and her genuine interest in people.

          I remember telling people early on that she was exceptional and Labour was lucky to have her Leadership. Far from being a "Show Pony" as someone said in the early days, she is "the real deal"

          I do believe she is genuine and that we are so fortunate to have such a Leader.

  12. RedLogix 12

    Key is a sick man; it's not only a wicked perspective, it's wrong on the facts.

    I used to work for a company in an inherently cyclic business, and in it's 20 year history it had already been through 3 cycles of boom and bust. The owner hated it, but worst of all he told me that each time he was forced to start letting people go it was never the simple process an outsider would imagine it to be … as Key is glibly putting it.

    What actually happens is that you start losing your promising 'next generation' staff, anyone who can sniff a better opportunity elsewhere suddenly up and move pre-emptively before you have time to complete any formal review and redundancy process. And then because you can only cut the company so far before you lose capacity and start overburdening the remaining staff … you wind up having to keep on at least some staff who actually wanted to take redundancy, or you might have preferred to go as your 'worst performers'.

    And then those left all feel unsettled and betrayed anyway, and productivity plummets for a good year or so.

    Even on purely utilitarian grounds the notion is a bad one, because it turns out organisations are more complex than Key's reductionist and idiotic ideas.

    • AB 12.1

      Well said – and his comments assume that you know who your 'worst performers' are. Frequently you don't really. So you rely on hunches – or if too uncomfortable with doing that, then resort to something even worse, using metrics that are a gross over-simplification anyway.

    • pat 12.2

      "Even on purely utilitarian grounds the notion is a bad one, because it turns out organisations are more complex than Key's reductionist and idiotic ideas."

      Key may have reductionist tendencies but what about his comment is inaccurate?

      The economy is going to shrink and therefore revenues will shrink leading to rationalisations….its a fact, not a position. Wishing otherwise isnt going to change it.

      Like your example shows difficult decisions will be made, often not achieving the desired outcome….and all on a bigger scale than a typical business cycle.

      When Key starts advocating policy direction there may be something to complain about….but even then he has the right to express his views…we just need to remember what and who he represents should he do so.

      • Poission 12.2.1

        The economy is going to shrink and therefore revenues will shrink leading to rationalisations….its a fact, not a position. Wishing otherwise isnt going to change it.

        It is more the redistribution in the economy,that has Key et al concerned.

        At the end of March we (nz) has never had so much cash in the Bank.Overall an increase of around 13billion in one month.

        Households 4.5 billion in one month,as they forgo spending,and get out of risk such as shares (managed by idiots with KPI's and powerpoint presentations)

        https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/s40-banks-liabilities-deposits-by-sector

        • pat 12.2.1.1

          And what is the purpose of that cash?

          Of more concern is what further 'stimulus' is applied to…I see no position indicated by Key in the piece posted re that…and even if he had done theres no reason why he shouldnt…last time I looked we were a democracy

          Key's concerns I would suggest are quite obvious but his statement was simply one of fact

          • Poission 12.2.1.1.1

            Key wants stimulus into the non productive economy,(needs to read adam smith on the waste of capital on property),the growth of the productive sector will be resilient,the conference centres and hotels will be the relics of days gone past.

            The cash may be used to repay debt,which is always troublesome to bankers,as we see with the repayment in march of half a billion in interest bearing credit card debt.

            • pat 12.2.1.1.1.1

              the initial cash was to avoid cascading defaults during lockdown…its worth noting it covers a 12 week period, which we are only halfway through….that is more troublesome to bank security (and social cohesion) than minor debt repayments.

              The growth of the productive sector MAY in some instances be resilient…but in aggregate it will decline, for how long and how much is still uncertain but the direction of travel isnt.

              The waste of capital (and the disconnect from the real economy) in property is the key consideration in any further stimulus…we must avoid perpetuating that disconnect as much as possible….and thats where the debate lies.

              The owners of capital want the stimulus to flow towards them and we must work diligently to ensure it does not (as much as practical) but rather to employment and (useful) production.

              Think we all know which team Key bats for.

  13. He was the sort of guy most kiwis would like to have a beer with.

    This claim always felt like a stinging indictment of New Zealanders, that for many of them someone of Key's cultivated and unrelenting blandness was the kind of company they'd enjoy.

    • Carolyn_Nth 13.1

      And a very traditionally masculine perspective.

    • Cinder 13.2

      He always struck me as the sort of person that if you had arranged to "have a beer" with him, he would have shown up late.

      Not asked once how you are or how you are doing.

      Taken off to talk with the attractive woman / famous person at the bar and left you sitting alone for ages.

      And then went home the moment it was his round.

      We all know "friends" like that.

    • Barfly 13.3

      He was the sort of guy most kiwis would like to have a beer with

      Not this kiwi I wouldn't piss on that arsehole if he was on fire

  14. Peter 14

    Over the past couple of years I've become used to reactions to things Helen Clark has said. Reactions often not so much to what she's said but the fact she was even being quoted.

    Clark made her voice heard in her community about the use of Eden Park. As you might expect from those living locally. It became "Fuck off, you're yesterday's woman."

    She's 'had her turn' and should not be heard of apparently. 4 million plus can use social media but she shouldn't. Media shouldn't pick up what she says. She's wielding power she shouldn't have. The attack dogs invariably go in.

    Key turns up and it's "Welcome back Uncle John." I happily admit to being no better that those who attack Clark every time she gets a mention.

    Fuck off Key, you're allowed to be dog vomit but don't come back up expecting us to feed on it like your moronic supporters.

  15. But yeah, the main point is that Key is the only National Party figure being honest about what he'd like to see: never waste a crisis, take the opportunity to get rid of a fifth of your staff. Stuffed shirt Goldsmith will be thinking the same but wouldn't have the bollocks to say so – mind you, neither would Key when he was PM.

  16. Key is such a shallow, conceited arrogant human being .

    Also he is a blatant lier.

    I reckon I have worked out why he left in such a hurry.

    He was desperate to get a knighthood as he new it would open doors in his after political life.

    But he couldn't really give himself that knighthood could he.

    So by getting out before the last election in time for his double dipper mate to take over, he was assured of that knighthood, even English said Key asked often enough.

    So today he prancis around the world as Sir JK.

    Even on one site he still calls himself the RT Hon Sir John P Key.

    He has no shame.

    • Ffloyd 16.1

      He should call himself SirPlus. Nobody wants him. He obviously couldn't cut it in the big world. Mr Irrelevant looking for a village to be an idiot in.

  17. bill 17

    So John Key's an arsewipe. Fine. We get that.

    But if everyone goes back to work and carries on as before…what happens next? (Hint: we crash and burn in the not too distant.)

    • Adrian Thornton 17.2

      Of course this also exposes the Liberals centrist main problem..ie they stand for pretty much nothing and have absolutely no long term political or structural vision, which is not really surprising as, and let's face facts here, they have really just been cut from the same cloth as Key, so why wouldn't their short termist, free market, ideologies often overlap?

      We all know these so called centrist moderates have more in common with Key's ideologies than they do with any kind real Left wing progressive ideology..so imo they should just shut the fuck up.

      • bill 17.2.1

        Radical centrists (centrist moderates) aren't ever going to "shut the fuck up" unless and until power is wrenched from them.

        I'm just fucked off at myself for vesting any hope in compromises like Sanders or Corbyn – seems incontrovertible that capitulists versus capitalists = we's fucked.

  18. Great post Micky. So many people were taken in by Key.

  19. JanM 19

    It actually gives me the creeps to have him circling around like a jackal seeking the weak ones to prey on again. It's like a scene from a horror movie

  20. Wayne 20

    This set of comments has the same level of KDS as there is JDS on the part of many Kiwiblog commenters.

    • Barfly 20.1

      Well he is an evil piece of filth – but then he is your evil piece of filth -so he's ok by you

    • left_forward 20.2

      Keep telling yourself that its all nicely balanced and equivalent then.

      But it is not so is it?

      Jacinda has qualities that can be greatly admired no matter what your political background – and if not, then one ought to have a close check of what is truly of value in your life. This will be the difference in the kinds of delusion you are referring to.

    • Enough is Enough 20.3

      Have to agree with you there Wayne. I am at the polar end of the political spectrum from Key, but I am gobsmacked at the way he gets such a deranged reaction from some people. Just a small selection from some very odd people:

      this ghastly pratt

      Ex forex gambler and now active property pimp

      smirking bag of poison

      Key is a sick man

      cultivated and unrelenting blandness

      I wouldn't piss on that arsehole if he was on fire

      Fuck off Key, you're allowed to be dog vomit

      Key is such a shallow, conceited arrogant human being

      He should call himself SirPlus. Nobody wants him. He obviously couldn't cut it in the big world. Mr Irrelevant looking for a village to be an idiot in

      he is an evil piece of filth

    • Chris 20.4

      What's your point?

    • bill 20.5

      Yup.

      Pathetic tribalism.

      Something you'd know a thing or three about there Wayne, aye?

    • Incognito 20.6

      It is disconcerting on both levels.

    • RedLogix 20.7

      Wayne,

      Normally I'm not all that fussed by Key, but his blatant advocacy of exploiting this tragedy for such a base gain, is not just useless business advice, but ethically it's sick to the core.

      I'll go back to not wasting mental energy on him.

    • Tricledrown 20.8

      Wayne Key is Vulture Capitalist .Look at Merril Lynch's History.The Panama Papers.

      You can't tell me Key wasn't deeply involved as the head of currency trading where the money is laundered and the $38 lent for every$1 on deposit is exchanged and sold to unlucky customers Ireland being one.PonzKey wanted to do the same to NZ.

      Until his lawyer was exposed in the Panama Papers .He Denied and lied his way out of that one.The money from Drug Cartels corrupt world leaders defrauding their countries Sir John was happy to help hide and profit yet when sunlight was put on it Sir John new nothing.

      Merrill Lynch giant ponzi scheme that cost US taxpayers $100 billion. KEY

  21. Ffloyd 21

    I agree JanM. You can guarantee he has an agenda and it won't be in the best interests of NZ. He still looks very unappealing and as sincere as……. well nothing really. Bet the Herald will be ramping him up. Nothing good happens when he is slithering around.

  22. RedBaronCV 22

    " Everyone is going to kick out 20% of their people" . Is this a prediction for the National party? Or is he being used to reassure the Nact overseas backers? Remember that dreadful remark of Bridges? Hold up the wall in case something comes out of the various court cases?

    What I am more of a loss about is why NZME keeps on pushing this and same with Stuff. Both of them are in poor shape financially(NZME's market capitalisation is around $39m- petty cash really) so it must have dawned on them that the RW that they support so avidly is not going to put their money into supporting & keeping them going so what would the journalists have to lose by pivoting and writing some of the better articles that they are capable of ? I'd be happy to "tip" the better articles providing the journo's got the money and pass on the pot stirring items.

  23. JustMe 23

    Sir Lies-alot(John Key) has always cared and loved money more than anything and anyone else in the world.

    He has never cared about New Zilland or New Zillanders(as he called us and the country). He cared more for playing golf with Barak Obama or pulling ponytails of low income workers.

    He comes across as a very shallow person who has always jumped ship from his jobs before he was booted/fired from the job(s).

    Look at the mess he left in Ireland and his lies when it came to his fellow work colleagues in America that they wouldn't lose their jobs. I recall he told the American work colleagues that at morning tea but by lunchtime they were out of a job.

    Another observation is John Key has always preferred America. He is on record as saying that he loves America and there is no other country in the world he loves more. Which really has put New Zealand into a poor light. He used NZ and NZers for HIS OWN intent and purposes. He will continue using people as long as he can make money out of the transaction for himself or his cronies.

    He is not trustworthy let alone credible. I most certainly hope Karmic Payback hits him hard in the very near future. He well deserves it.

    • @Just Me

      He does love America, but he al.so loves China, maybe even more so.

      This is now becoming a problem for the National Party, Bridge soaking up the hospitality of the Spy apparatus up in Beijing, and large donations etc.

      While China is very financially important to this country, we do need to be very weary in what they get up to here.

  24. Anker 24

    Maybe at some point in the article John said “and of course this would not be good for NZ if companies doing well get rid of 20% of their workforce. These companies need to think of the greater good of preserving jobs in NZ right now, knowing if they are doing well right now they are lucky. After all we are all in this together“.

    while I am not a gambler, I would bet money they Key didn’t say that. I am sorry the man is an arsehole

    • pat 24.1

      you're probably right he never said such…but then how does a business retain all its current staff when their turnover has dropped through the floor…and in many cases isnt coming back?

      He may be an arsehole, but that aint the reason.

  25. Anker 25

    I have complete sympathy for business whose trade has drop through the floor and many will have to do this just to survive. Key was saying even those who are doing well will get rid of some staff. It shows to me how key operates “never waste a good crisis” in other words if your business is doing well, let some staff go cause then your business will do even better ie make more money. What a psychopathic way (ie without conscience) of operating…………he is a complete arsehole and the comments he made absolutely demonstrate this…..

  26. David Mac 26

    Key is highlighting a reality, a fact. The $10,000 that used to come into the till each week is now $5000. Rather than chanting Ponytail Puller, can we please forget the prick and get on with the $10k – $5k situation.

  27. Obtrectator 27

    This man's relentless accumulation of money, titles and honours (and regular flaunting of the same) smacks of the sort of behaviour you associate with the early careers of tinpot dictators. In some countries, by now, he'd have been putting up statues to himself – idealised ones of course, not displaying the dumpy, poor-postured figure to be seen in the well-known photos of him playing golf with Barack Obama.

    Hawaii is his spiritual home, and a highly appropriate one to anybody with even a smattering of those islands' history. An independent monarchy, internationally recognised, was overthrown in 1893 by a cabal of American landowners, backed by rifle-toting ruffians. A republic was then proclaimed, complete with tame president. Outright annexation followed a few years later. What price the likes of Peter Thiel and others of his kidney, allowed by the last government to set up shop here on easy terms, trying on something of the kind?

    The contempt for genuine democracy, should it happen to conflict with his own notions, was never better illustrated than by the ECan affair, one of the most disgraceful episodes in NZ political history. A regional council was fired, basically for doing its job responsibly in the best sense of that word.

    Finally, let's recall the case of Argentina in 1973. "Cámpora al gobierno, Perón al poder" (Cámpora in government, Perón in power). Luxon as Campora, Key as Peron?

  28. Does John still publicly endorse Orange Panda now he thinks we should drink bleach while looking directally at the sun?

    • Sacha 28.1

      He will take any advantage he can get on the golf course – to better convey the depth of his supplication when he loses.

  29. Heather 29

    I too have had a very nervous feeling about the public return of this poisonous toad. Is he going to rescue the National Party and stand again to save NZ? It is too early for Luxton, he has no experience at all, came across as another disgusting toad.

    He is a sactimonous, self opinionated, rich prick who cares about no one but himself,and how many people that can be screwed making more money. He does not understand democracy, never has and never will.

    Rust Never Sleeps.

  30. mary_a 30

    John Key hideous master of the dark arts, arises from his place of darkness, spitting his vile venom once more!

  31. millsy 31

    Paul Henry, John Key, with Cameron Slater recovered and blogging again.

    We are now partying like its 2010.

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