I resign

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 pm, March 22nd, 2012 - 13 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, uncategorized - Tags: ,

Dear Simon Allen

I wish to tender my resignation as Chair of the Ports of Auckland Board.

I do so because my performance was so wholly unsatisfactory.

I took a profitable and efficient Port and lost it millions of dollars in contracts. I spent, inappropriately, substantial amounts of money on a public relations campaign against our staff that could have been spent reinvesting in the port or returning to Auckland Council.

The financial position of the Port is in a dire decline.

However, Simon, you tolerated my ineptitude. I have appreciated the support you have shown me as I run the Ports into the ground. Without your support I could not have done it.

But I must tender my resignation now. I encouraged, promoted and oversaw the Chief Executive’s and the Board’s decision to act unlawfully. The Judge’s comments yesterday were scathing. The back down was embarrassing. I tried to save face this morning. But we both know we acted unlawfully.

We should have negotiated in good faith. I should have upgraded my editions of “Employment Law for Dummies”, “Management for Dummies” and “So, You Want to Be an Economist” to reflect current thinking. To treat staff the way we have not only decreases productivity, but it loses the respect, trust and buy in necessary for a functioning Port.

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Pearson
Chairman
Ports of Auckland

13 comments on “I resign ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. infused 1
    22 March 2012 at 7:26 pm

    Resign from posting on The Standard. Do us all a favour.

    Not funny, nor witty.

    [Take week off for attacking the author instead of having anything to say…RL]

  2. marsman 2
    22 March 2012 at 7:31 pm

    If only he would resign, but doesn’t he have a privatisation agenda to accomplish first?

  3. fender 3
    22 March 2012 at 8:14 pm

    Good call Jimmy.
    If only pearshaped Pearson was man enough to use your letter. But these gold digging gravy train types don’t seem to have the conscience or integrity to do the right thing. They have narcissism on their weet-bix every morning.

  4. Jim Nald 4
    22 March 2012 at 8:27 pm

    An honorable letter befitting an honorable man taking appropriate action. Well done.

  5. mickysavage 5
    22 March 2012 at 9:23 pm

    Great post Jimmy.  I hope Cathy Casey adapts your text into a notice of motion for Auckland Council.

  6. Ant 6
    22 March 2012 at 9:41 pm

    He gets something like $100,000 for 1 days work per week, can’t see him resigning any time soon.

    • Philip 6.1
      23 March 2012 at 3:09 pm

      I have not seen any facts to indicate that he only works 1 day a week. I bet that if you really look into it you’ll find that he works in excess of 40 hours a week, well more than the 8 hours a week you work in your job.

      Please stick to true facts when attacking people.

      • deuto 6.1.1
        23 March 2012 at 3:31 pm

        Perhaps you are the one that should look in to it before suggesting he works a 40 hour week.

        For starters, try this interview with Michele Hewitson in last Saturday’s Herald – in particular paragraphs 7 and 8.

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=10792610

        I also seem to recall there was an article on Stuff in the last week about Pearson and his working arrangements (hours/pay) indicating that he only works 1 to 2 days a week but will leave you to find it.

  7. Peter 7
    23 March 2012 at 7:56 am

    And Tony Gibson as well.

  8. John72 8
    24 March 2012 at 1:30 pm

    When debating this argument, so many writers consider what has happened in the past. This is irrelevant. 50 years ago the whole world was living in the shadow of a War that affected how we ate, slept and treated each other. It affected so many things that we could and could not do. Every day we were affected in some unnoticed way by The War. Something we took for granted. Most peoople were grateful for what they had. We respected our neighbour. We cared for a stranger.(Mathew 25:35). A generation that has not experienced it can not understand it.
    We are developing a generation that will never be satisfied with what they have got, regardless of whether they are workers or executives, untill they have learned to stand back and say “I am fortunate to have this.” They are demonstrating this attitude now with constant, irrational demands for “more” and less care for their neighbour. This P.of A. cat fight illustrates it in so many ways. Neither side is prepared to stand back and admit that they have more than they need. They are scared that someone else might have more than them. An imature attitude.

    • millsy 8.1
      24 March 2012 at 1:48 pm

      Last time I looked, the PoA workers wanted to hold onto what they had.

      • John72 8.1.1
        25 March 2012 at 6:11 pm

        The workers probably were happy. Were the people who represented them at the table happy? A point that is not new.