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Open mike 13/05/2025

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 13th, 2025 - 46 comments
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46 comments on “Open mike 13/05/2025 ”

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  1. Res Publica 1
    13 May 2025 at 9:01 am

    Has anyone noticed the irony of the Deputy Police Commissioner being allowed to resign after 4 months of investigation of his various misconduct, including accessing porn on a Police computer?

    If I got caught watching a midget threesome on a work device, I'd probably be fired in 4 minutes.

    It looks like the government is tough on crime for thee, but not for me. And that the honour of one senior cop is more important than the lives and futures of the thousands of young kiwis currently locked up in prison.

    • Belladonna 1.1
      13 May 2025 at 9:51 am

      It's not the case of someone being allowed to resign. There is no possible way to prevent someone from choosing to resign.

      • gsays 1.1.1
        13 May 2025 at 9:55 am

        I did hear it framed as allowed to resign before he was dismissed.

        From (albeit a tad shady) memory, it was refreferring to Mitchell in RNZ.

      • Res Publica 1.1.2
        13 May 2025 at 10:15 am

        You're right that resignation can't literally be prevented. But that’s not really the point.

        In cases like this, resignation is often facilitated: used as damage control for senior officials. It allows them to exit quietly, preserving their dignity and career prospects, instead of facing the consequences that others would. And often, take a generous compensation package with them as they leave.

        The minister could have fired McSkimming at any point during the past four months. He chose not to.

        For most people, especially those in junior roles, or from marginalised communities, the process is far harsher. There's little room for reputation management or graceful exits.

        • Belladonna 1.1.2.1
          13 May 2025 at 11:00 am

          Given that the investigation is ongoing – resigning is unlikely to prevent criminal charges and/or conviction. The only thing it can prevent is being sacked.
          Preemptive resignation is seen by everyone as an effective admission of guilt. This is not a case of quiet quitting, preserving dignity.

          If the Minister had summarily fired someone (even if he has the power to do so) while an investigation was underway – surely that would be an abuse of process. The investigation determines whether or not someone has committed the crime (in the opinion of the investigators) and/or can be charged (so the courts can determine whether or not they committed the crime (in the legal sense).
          The Minister pre-determining criminal liability seems to be a bridge much too far, IMO.

          The kind of facilitated resignation you're referring to happens well before any investigation or criminal charges – and happens where the management is 'concerned' rather than has an official complaint or a smoking gun.
          It also often happens in large businesses – and especially over financial crimes (where the business doesn't want the reputational damage that litigation would garner). And it's a significant issue – since the 'criminal' often goes on to repeat their actions, since new employers don't know their history.

          • Res Publica 1.1.2.1.1
            13 May 2025 at 12:26 pm

            I don’t think this was ever about criminal charges. Nothing McSkimming has been publicly accused of is illegal: just deeply unethical and sleazy.

            That distinction matters, but it doesn’t absolve him.

            On the subject of distinctions: this wasn’t necessarily just a resignation taken in disgrace. It's obviously a slow, managed exit, months in the making, with plenty of time for crisis communications, legal choreography, and golden parachutes.

            To your point, you're right that this is not a case of quiet quitting or preserving dignity. But that it is, is a calculated move to protect both the individual and Police from further scrutiny.

            If this were truly an admission of guilt, he’d have left long before now. Otherwise, why try brazen it out?

            But instead, we got four months of paid leave and a stage-managed departure.

            I agree that employment law and due process are essential. And that no one, Deputy Commissioner or otherwise, should be sacked without a fair investigation. But let’s be honest about what just happened: he was permitted to resign after four months on paid leave, wrapped in layers of spin to cushion the fallout.

            Yes, the government has been hastily shitting on him from a great height: but that's just damage control.

            If he were a librarian, a plumber, or a junior policy analyst, he’d have been shown the door months ago. No press conference, no softened language, no “respect for process.” Just an HR memo and a security escort.

            This isn’t about process. It’s about privilege, protection, and PR management for someone near the top of the food chain. Let’s not pretend otherwise.

        • Craig H 1.1.2.2
          13 May 2025 at 11:01 am

          Firing the Police Commissioner or Deputy Police Commissioners can only be done by the Governor-General. In our constitutional framework, that requires cabinet approval which in turn requires a cabinet process. That was underway but obviously that was rendered moot by the resignation.

          • Incognito 1.1.2.2.1
            13 May 2025 at 11:09 am

            yes

          • Res Publica 1.1.2.2.2
            13 May 2025 at 12:29 pm

            I appreciate the constitutional requirement for a proper process. No one is disputing the need for legal safeguards, even for senior officials. Especially at cabinet level.

            But let’s be honest: we now live in a country where women’s pay equity can be extinguished overnight: without consultation, without process, without debate. Yet it takes more than four months for the government to decide to remove a senior police officer accused of deeply unethical conduct.

            That contrast says a lot about whose reputations we prioritise, whose careers we protect, and whose dignity we think is disposable.

            • Craig H 1.1.2.2.2.1
              13 May 2025 at 1:00 pm

              Agree that it says a lot about the current government's views on process – to be followed when they care, and not when they don't. Usually they care about process when they don't like the outcome, and don't care about process if they agree with the outcome.

              • Incognito …
                13 May 2025 at 1:23 pm

                The Right tends to protect individual members of its group (aka class) and to throw the faceless, the nameless, the hopeless under the truck. Breaking [up] a collective is a bonus point for the Right.

        • Obtrectator 1.1.2.3
          13 May 2025 at 11:32 am

          This pattern – non-publicised investigation, culminating in a face-saving resignation to preserve pension rights etc, with potential charges dropped – was/is pretty much standard in UK police forces, notably the Met. (The prospect of a decent job in "security" was often part of the "package" too.) No surprise that NZ is any different.

    • bwaghorn 1.2
      13 May 2025 at 10:05 am

      Out of interest what law did he break?

    • SPC 1.3
      13 May 2025 at 11:56 am

      The only clues we have is there being an investigation (not use of his workplace computer to access porn).

      That would have involved looking for communications on his devices for evidence of any inappropriate behaviour towards someone. That would have uncovered historic activity on his workplace computer.

      In short he was not caught out for this and subject to 4 month process, it was more a raid that found no stolen goods, but found some marijuana plants.

      Once upon a time, the former police HQ person in the office of Clem Simich became head of prosecutions but was then spotted asleep in his car after some time in a police bar.

      Drinking and nakedness and the fall of a man.

      The Hebrew can spot the pun, that those who hold others to a standard have to be held to one themselves. Those who read the NT would say, oh a witness of the Galilee street, those who are without any wrongdoing are the ones … are you men perfect … .

  2. Anne 2
    13 May 2025 at 9:40 am

    I have not followed the case closely and I am a technological dummy, but is it possible the alleged pornographic material – found on the [now] former Deputy Commissioner of Police's work computer – was planted there by someone?

    I know the case is shrouded in secrecy, but from what I have read about this McSkimming chap, it appears out of character to do anything so silly.

    • Belladonna 2.1
      13 May 2025 at 9:48 am

      The original issue was reported as over conduct towards a young woman (non sworn police) – many years his junior.

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360520568/police-deputy-commissioner-under-investigation-leave

      That is the reason he was on leave for 4 months.

      I suspect that this latest issue is the result of that investigation.

      While, of course, it is *possible* that someone planted this. It seems fairly unlikely.

      And, if that were the case, he'd certainly not have preemptively resigned.

    • Res Publica 2.2
      13 May 2025 at 10:16 am

      but from what I have read about this McSkimming chap, it appears out of character to do anything so silly.

      Or maybe he just wasn't caught until now?

      • aj 2.2.1
        13 May 2025 at 10:54 am

        It seems almost unbelievable a person in such a high position would be so stupid to jeopardise his career in such a way, so it also crossed my mind he may have been set up. But humans sometimes do extremely silly things.

        • Incognito 2.2.1.1
          13 May 2025 at 11:06 am

          Generally speaking, I believe that people in high places, especially in hierarchical organisations with vertical power structures (with 14 layers of management), tend to have or acquire […] an irrational level of arrogance of feeling untouchable and beyond reproach.

    • Muttonbird 2.3
      13 May 2025 at 8:12 pm

      At the time I thought it was a hit job by Mitchell and Chambers. No reliable information thus far has convinced me otherwise.

      • Muttonbird 2.3.1
        13 May 2025 at 8:25 pm

        Also worth noting Farrar yesterday, on his shitty blog, directly linked Chris Hipkins to McSkimming.

  3. Ad 3
    13 May 2025 at 9:57 am

    Manawa Energy was one of New Zealand's very last of the old local assets that retained a strong local shareholding, and now by approval of the Commerce Commission it's now gone to the Australian-dominated Contact Energy.

    Infratil had 51% and Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust had 27%.

    Why the Commerce Commission has allowed a further concentration of our energy generation is quite beyond me.

    Hopefully there are no other fools who think that energy prices won't go up as a result of this takeover.

    https://www.thepost.co.nz/business/360683551/contact-acquisition-manawa-making-bad-situation-worse#:~:text=And%20this%20week%2C%20the%20Commerce,future%20of%20clean%2C%20affordable%20energy.

    • Ad 3.1
      13 May 2025 at 10:13 am

      Also, Z Energy is shutting down Flick. Yet another little bit of competition gone.

    • gsays 3.2
      13 May 2025 at 10:34 am

      "Why the Commerce Commission has allowed a further concentration of our energy generation is quite beyond me."

      Surely that is an example of the CC being staffed by neo liberal acolytes.

    • Obtrectator 3.3
      13 May 2025 at 11:41 am

      All part of an ongoing pattern. Locally-owned and operated Electra Energy (based in Levin) sold out a few years ago to an outfit called Pulse Energy apparently HQ'd in Auckland but claiming strong affiliations to the South Island and being "community owned".

    • SPC 3.4
      13 May 2025 at 11:42 am

      Trustpower retail transferred to Mercury. They then renamed themselves Manawa (energy producer). Infratil became the 49% minority shareholder when Trustpower was established in 1994 – why it was more than retail as they were able to developed energy production assets.

    • mikesh 3.5
      13 May 2025 at 3:46 pm

      And Meridian are taking over Flick and Z's electricity customers from Ampol.

  4. joe90 4
    13 May 2025 at 1:10 pm

    Wild indeed.

    .

    Mike Sowden‬ ‪@mikeachim.bsky.social‬

    · 9h

    OK, this is wild. In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them. It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*. What the HELL? 1/

    https://bsky.app/profile/mikeachim.bsky.social/post/3loydfeegsc2s

    skyview

    https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adm9247

  5. aj 5
    13 May 2025 at 2:06 pm

    Rob Campbell is on point again.

    The coalition Government has committed itself. It will continue on its path like a compulsive gambler, doubling down when initial outcomes are adverse. I can picture them in a bunker in the final moments of economic and social collapse chanting slogans like “grow baby grow” and “we are all the same” and “drilling is thrilling” to keep their spirits up. The “big investments” will have long abandoned them to seek better security and profit elsewhere.

    https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/05/12/never-mind-big-investors-regular-workers-crave-stability-too/

  6. SPC 6
    13 May 2025 at 2:52 pm

    Liberal Party reads the room and makes an appointment to say mate to the 21st Century.

    Now post Trumpism, nuclear power and no non white male hire policy.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/560831/sussan-ley-becomes-first-woman-to-lead-australia-s-liberal-party

    Fear of pink and teal made them do it.

    Do pink and teal go together?

    It's a colour combination that shouldn't go together, but it really does. The strong teal colour contrasts with the pretty shade of pink and ensures it doesn't feel sickly sweet.

  7. Incognito 7
    13 May 2025 at 3:06 pm

    If you get close enough something magical can happen.

    […] Run 3 has produced almost double the amount of gold that Run 2 did, but the total still amounts to trillions of times less than would be required to make a piece of jewellery. While the dream of medieval alchemists has technically come true, their hopes of riches have once again been dashed.

    https://home.cern/news/news/physics/alice-detects-conversion-lead-gold-lhc

  8. Muttonbird 8
    13 May 2025 at 4:01 pm

    Farrar watch:

    National's corrupt pollster is having fits about the Labour Party response to the government cutting the wages of hundreds of thousands of women to the tune of $10B over the next 4 years.

    Australian Labor showed how very direct campaign marketing can yield big results and Farrar is shit scared.

    Also, it's a bit rich him complaining about lies after his constant dishonest attacks on every single Labour policy, Maori, academics, public servants, etc, etc.

  9. Tabletennis 9
    13 May 2025 at 5:25 pm

    Could Fiordland loose its UNESCO Accreditation?

    “The Minister has today announced he is going to start a process to provide special protected status to wapiti deer, an introduced feral species contributing to biodiversity damage in Fiordland National Park "

    "It is recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the largest and least modified area of New Zealand’s natural ecosystems and the world’s best intact modern representation of the ancient biota of Gondwana."

    "Instead of trying to ensure Fiordland can welcome kākāpō back to their home, this Government is instead looking at changing the law to let a North American deer species use the national park as a glorified vege patch – eating away at the very natural heritage that these sanctuaries have been legally designed to protect. What’s next? A sanctuary for stoats?” Ms Toki says.

    https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/resources/forest-bird-says-national-parks-not-game-parks

    • SPC 9.1
      13 May 2025 at 6:45 pm

      The Hunting and Fishing First Minister's name is James Meagher.

      https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2025-media-releases/wapiti-herd-of-special-interest-process-begins/

      A descendant of moa hunters.

    • Muttonbird 9.2
      13 May 2025 at 7:50 pm

      On the face of it I can see how this move is just a way for taxpayers to foot the bill for recreational hunters to shoot deer rather than them having to fund it themselves.

    • gsays 9.3
      14 May 2025 at 7:07 am

      This interview provides a view from the 'other' side.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018986948/protecting-a-herd-of-fiordland-wapiti-causes-controversy (15 minutes)

      Some of those objections were put to Cam Speedy. His view was balancing an idealistic, expensive and highly unlikely outcome (no Wapiti) with controlling a low density, thriving herd with a balance of highly desirable bulls.

      Trout being exempt from eradication in the DOC estate was given.

      The 700 traps operated by hunters showed they are not anti environment, working to protect bats, whio, kiwi, kaka etc.

      • Tabletennis 9.3.1
        14 May 2025 at 12:56 pm

        On the Forest&Bird FB page Wapiti stalkers supporters were asked how the protection was going to change anything if its already a "well managed herd".

        I got no answer as to how large the Wapiti herd was or is over time, or how it has spread over the National Park. Or if shooting a 1000 as they claim, in a good year, is what 10% of the population? Forest & Bird claim more like 86 per year.

        A low density animal population is meaningless, without data (of an introduced pest animal, that seems to be interbreeding with deer)

        In regards the upkeep of the trapping line, according to fwf-PR:
        "Estimated costs are approximately $45,000 per year to run the program"
        "in conjunction with the Department of Conservation and the Genesis Energy Whioforever Program".
        https://fwf.net.nz/conservation/whio-project/

        IOW that works at no more than $30 p.p. p.y. for each of the 500 members.
        ($45,000 over 3 organisations, / 500 Wapiti stalkers).
        What you think would happen to their contribution if there wouldn't be any Wapiti in the NP ?

        And so the story of 2019 repeats itself:
        "Last September, the Conservation Minister [Eugenie Sage] announced she'd asked her department (DOC) to step up efforts to control Himalayan tahr on public conservation land. The estimated population had reached 35,000, she said, way above the department's control plan which permitted tahr numbers to reach only 10,000."

        "But many questions remain unanswered. Why did tahr numbers get so out of control? How much influence do hunters have over DOC operations? And where will this debate move to next?"

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111237741/the-truth-behind-tahrmageddon