ImperatorFish: Key Explains Sky City Deal

Written By: - Date published: 3:25 pm, April 20th, 2012 - 11 comments
Categories: humour, john key - Tags:

Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here.

A guest post by John Key.

If you’ve been following the news you’ll know that the Government has agreed to allow Sky City to install up to 500 additional gaming machines, in return for the casino building a new convention centre.

I wanted to write to explain why we made the deal, because I’ve been asked a lot of questions about it recently.

Some people have even suggested we acted improperly in awarding the tender to Sky City, and I’ve been accused of favouring a large corporation at the expense of the taxpayer, while ignoring the social cost of problem gambling.

There has been so much misinformation spread about the deal with Sky City that I felt compelled to put the record straight.

I have looked back at the process we followed when awarding the tender, and I’m very relaxed about the deal we struck with Sky City. Not as relaxed as I would be if I were enjoying a luxury spa in one of Sky City Grand Hotel’s wonderful Presidential Suites, but if your budget is a more modest one, why don’t you try one of their fantastically luxurious Superior King Suites? Go on, treat yourself and your loved one!

The deal represents real value to the taxpayer. Almost as much value as a night out at the casino. Relax, stay a while and spend as little or as much as you want. You’re guaranteed to have a great night, and with a range of bars and some great live entertainment Sky City has something for everyone’s tastes.

Some people are now claiming that the casino has exerted some sort of undue influence over me and my ministers, that I am too close to Sky City and its executives, and that the tender process has been corrupted. Let me put it in the record right now that we assessed Sky City’s bid every bit as stringently as all the others on the table. But when it came time for the bidders to show their cards Sky City had the best hand. And it’s no wonder, when you look at the table games available at Sky City. Baccarat, Blackjack, Poker, Roulette: you’ll be impressed at the range of games you can play when you visit.

In the end we struck the best deal we could. And when it comes to deals, look no further than the Sky City Premier Rewards Programme.  Become a member now and become eligible for some great member-exclusive promotions and be in with a chance to win some fantastic prizes!

The deal of course necessitated some regulatory adjustments in order to accommodate the casino’s request for more gaming machines, but if you want accommodation Sky City has a range of modern and relaxing accommodation options, whether you’re in town on business or just looking for a night away with that special person. And while you’re there, check out some of Sky City’s award-winning restaurants.

The deal with Sky City was the very best one available at the time. Sometimes when you’re in negotiations you just have to take the best deal that’s on the table, and this was one such occasion. You have to know when to hold your cards, and when to fold them, when to walk away, and when to run, and I’m confident that we got the balance right.

Finally, I have made it very clear to members of my Cabinet that I expect them to maintain the very highest standards of conduct when dealing with organisations like the award winning entertainment venue Sky City. In order to avoid the appearance of undue influence I make it very clear that they are not to count their money when they are sitting at the table. There will be plenty of time for counting once the deal has been finalised.

11 comments on “ImperatorFish: Key Explains Sky City Deal ”

  • Comments are now closed

  2. fabregas4 2
    20 April 2012 at 3:59 pm

    Great post.

  3. bad12 3
    20 April 2012 at 5:14 pm

    A smelly shoddy shady deal that turns the office of the Prime Minister of New Zealand into nothing more than the ‘shack’ on any used car lot in this land from which used vehicles are bought and sold,

    My opinion?, the present incumbent as used car salesman in chief well suits the position…

    • Carol 4.1
      20 April 2012 at 5:37 pm

      IMO “my” is more problematic than “I”. The latter locates the POV being expressed. The meaning of the former slips between being merely associated with the self, locating the opinion being expressed, and being OWNED by oneself.

      • fabregas4 4.1.1
        20 April 2012 at 6:43 pm

        um…ok Carol.

        • Carol 4.1.1.1
          20 April 2012 at 6:47 pm

          Did I imagine it,or did Anne originally make a comment, which is what I thought I replied to?

          • Anne 4.1.1.1.1
            20 April 2012 at 6:58 pm

            Sorry Carol, I dropped you in it. Whilst my thought processes aren’t as academic as yours, I decided to edit out the comment cos something told me it wasn’t quite right.

            You were mighty quick off the mark. 🙂

  5. xtasy 5
    20 April 2012 at 9:49 pm

    Thank you Don Key, you are my friend. I will go back to the gloriously lit castle of flashy lights, ringing sounds, the bells, hums and tingles all over me. I love it so much, I cannot resist. You keep my true hope up to finally crack the pot, to win it so big, I will never have to go back to SkyCity ever again.

    You have given me hope, Prime Minister, you are a lovely sould, a dear old friend, for sure. I will now get my last property put on sale, to get the money to finally win, win, win, win it really big, like some of the hot, and big shots in Macau, in Singapore and in Monaco do. I also have been to Vegas, where Roger Sowrey and your mates went mad and dan ced on the tables. Wow, great fun, great time, you are a friend of a century now. I totally connect now!

    I hear that Roger (Sowrey) is still advising your ministers, particularly Paula (sexy) Bennett about welfare reforms, where your party had to let off late 1990s. We want him and her to continue, beat the shit out of those lazy layabouts and pretended sickness benies. Get them dealt to roughly, please.

    Those that deserve privilege, good time and fun, we are the hard working lobbyists, solidly and faithfully supporting your great work, with and without SkyCasino, with or without Pengxin from Shanghai. We are all on the roll now, the win, win and more win gamble is paying off now, I will vote for National Party “monopoly” next election, that is for sure.

    Thank you soooo much, Don Keypone, we love you, kisses are on your hands 24/7 now.

  6. David H 6
    21 April 2012 at 7:22 pm

    Thats an explaination??? Looks more like a sales pitch to me. Come to Sky city and sit in one of their over priced spa baths, and piss in the water, got to have that trickle down effect going.

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