Open mike 23/02/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 23rd, 2013 - 147 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

147 comments on “Open mike 23/02/2013 ”

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  1. Jenny 1
    23 February 2013 at 6:30 am

    “A DECADE OF DECEPTION”

    Police say they cannot discuss the Christchurch man’s claim, but do not accept the allegations and will be “vigorously” defending the proceedings.

    The draft claim alleges that, on the instructions of police, Mr Gilchrist foiled a plan to “gas” 50,000 battery chickens.

    Stuff.co.nz @ Farifax News

    Apart from the civil action…..

    When will see senior police commanders in the dock to answer for their alleged crimes?

    For Incitement:

    For aiding and abetting Rob Gilchrist in his campaign to incite his unwitting victims to commit crimes.

    For collecting fake evidence:

    For aiding and abetting Gilchrist in the manufacture and collection and the storage of false evidence.

    For knowingly accepting and holding this fake evidence, knowing it was fake, against citizens accused of no crimes.

    Evidence produced through the use of staged photo shoots, with protesters holding weapons. Weapons supplied from an arsenal kept by Gilchrist, presumably with the full knowledge police.

    For still holding this illegally obtained staged photographic evidence of ‘domestic political terrorism’.
    If Gilchrist’ double life had not been uncovered. It is quite likely that under the Suppression of Terrorism Act this photographic evidence could quite legitimately have been used to arrest those depicted. Serving the political purpose of discrediting them, as “terrorists”.

    Why aren’t the police officers responsible not facing charges?

    Am I wrong in thinking that such serious actions against protesters are illegal in this country?

    Are these sort of politically motivated police tactics legal in New Zealand?

    Is it legal for the police to pay agent provocateurs to cause incitement and discredit those they see as political enemies of the authorities?

    Aren’t these the sort of tactics more normal in a police state?

    Are these sort of political police tactics being normalised here?

    Or is this just a one-off aberration?

    Is there any politician in this country prepared to stand up for civil liberties in parliament prepared to forward a private members bill making it a crime punishable by imprisonment, for the police to wittingly, or unwittingly hire, or otherwise engage, or encourage an agent provocateur or provocateur to act against protesters or any other political target?

    It it is not already, let us make the use of agent provocateurs by the state forces a criminal offence in this country.

    • Tiger Mountain 1.1
      23 February 2013 at 7:33 am

      Under the NZSIS Act 1969 and Ammendment Act 1977 such things are perfectly legal. And the numbers of these would be “Johhny English” types like Ghilchrist are large enough to stop the majority of people that apply for a copy of their SIS file to either be refused or get pages of black marker pen. The identity cover of these junior snoopers (stasi indeed) is more important to the service than the freedom of information for other citizens.

      • Rogue Trooper 1.1.1
        23 February 2013 at 1:43 pm

        allegedly police had Gilchrist SPY on EPMU, SFW, MU, CTU, environment, peace, animal rights and political groups (with no related charges found against animal rights groups; wtf is wrong with these conformist idiots?)

    • xtasy 1.2
      23 February 2013 at 3:36 pm

      Jenny –

      “Aren’t these the sort of tactics more normal in a police state?”

      “Are these sort of political police tactics being normalised here?”

      “Or is this just a one-off aberration?”

      I am sure you and many others know the answers.

      What is most worrying is that key persons in this government, same as in former governments, know about all this, were at least in part informed about certain activities by state agencies, and they are sitting there silently, condoning it all.

      So draw your conclusions, those that do not quite get it yet.

      If in a small country like NZ true freedom of speech and other actions were allowed, this country would indeed look very different to what it looks like now (as it has looked like for a damned long time already).

    • xtasy 1.3
      23 February 2013 at 3:46 pm

      I would not believe everything Gilchrist claims, but for sure, it is nothing new, that Police and SIS have their focus on certain groups in society, who generally and to my best knowledge all just act within the law.

      One prime evidence of excessive surveillance was to see police film anti social welfare reform protest actions in Henderson, West Auckland on 04 October 2012, from even before the start, to the very end, non-stop! Every attending person was filmed!

      Now, what was the reason for that, I ask? There were only limited numbers of protestors and supporters, there was NO threat or danger to the public or anybody else at all, at no time then.

      This kind of stuff going on makes you wonder, yes indeed quite scared!

  2. The Al1en 2
    23 February 2013 at 7:03 am

    “Police software mines social media”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10867135

    Shouldn’t they be out blocking roads and checking wof and reggos in low decile areas at school drop off/pick up times?
    The thin blue line – Debt collectors in drag.

    • marty mars 2.1
      23 February 2013 at 8:26 am

      I do agree that that seems like a total waste of time and sinister too, especially in combination with jenny above talking about that scum gilchrist. I wonder if they check the blogs for moaners and stick-pokerers – you could be on the list A 🙂

      • The Al1en 2.1.1
        23 February 2013 at 8:47 am

        I’m egotistical enough to think I deserve to be on it, but I doubt a no-one like me is 😉

        I got stopped the other day, and when the officer came over I said my warrant had just run out. His face lit up. That’ll make Ma proud – Join the force and protect us from criminals.
        Then I said, oh, hang on, I’ve still got four months left, my mistake.
        Gutted. 😆

    • Draco T Bastard 2.2
      23 February 2013 at 10:15 am

      During the Rugby World Cup, it allowed police to detect a boy racer convoy heading from Auckland to Hamilton.

      The drivers “felt they would be able to get away with dangerous behaviour on the roads because they believed police resources would be busy elsewhere”, he said.

      One wonders why the police think a convoy of people being sociable is dangerous.

      • QoT 2.2.1
        23 February 2013 at 10:26 am

        I love the over-dramatic phrasing – “allowed police to detect a boy racer convoy heading from Auckland to Hamilton”.

        Because “police ran a Twitter search for “road trip to the Tron this weekend?” and found a number of tweets saying “You guys wanna road trip to the Tron this weekend?” and freed up a couple of officers to set up a checkpoint” sounds far less futuristically awesome.

        Let’s also note that there is no mention of anyone being arrested, or of the police’s exact response to the Great Boy Racer Convoy, because that isn’t at all relevant.

      • Roflcopter 2.2.2
        23 February 2013 at 11:28 am

        “One wonders why you think a convoy of people being dangerous is sociable.”

        FIFY

        • Draco T Bastard 2.2.2.1
          23 February 2013 at 12:41 pm

          There was no indication of danger, there was no arrests made. Sounds to me like young people being sociable and the police then turning that into fear mongering.

    • muzza 2.4
      24 February 2013 at 8:48 am

      Signal was developed as part of a $60,000 emergency management tool.

      Is this attempting to insinuate the tool was inclusded in the 60k EMT costs?

      If so, this is bull pucky – The social media monitoring capability, will not have been developed (as a part of anything else, let alone in silo) for 60k, and its unlikely that it was developed in NZ, I would guess it to have been given provided to the police, free of charge from offshore!

      There are deliberate attempts to ratchet up the *scare factor* in NZ, but the best thats been come up with was , Uruwera, and in this article, car convoys, and possible rugby team protests..

      One could speculate that some other *event* might be hatched to bring in the police state, but on reflection, we are long past that stage, and the weapon used, was apathy of the NZ public, job done!

      Michael Jackon said it well – * Just (a) Beat Up!* –

      • Draco T Bastard 2.4.1
        24 February 2013 at 10:40 am

        Not just apathy but ignorance. NZers are purposefully kept ignorant of what the government is doing and that ignorance produces a feeling of powerlessness.

  3. karol 3
    23 February 2013 at 8:25 am

    NAct song and dance show – Key the Clown, Gerry-the-showman (all performance, little political substance).

    I was looking for the Onion by-line, but’s all Vicki Anderson and Fairfux.

    • Rogue Trooper 3.1
      23 February 2013 at 1:49 pm

      Reid poll into Brownlees’ performance as earthquake czar; 50% approval (chancer)

      Insurers response to claims; 27% approval (Two years on 70% of claims still not processed)

      while a poll on forcing beneficiaries to relocate to a recent disaster zone revealed 39% support

  4. marty mars 4
    23 February 2013 at 8:34 am

    I do not agree with DOC cutting down a 500 year old tree to make extensions on a tramping hut. The excuse that it was a health and safety issue and that there are plenty of more trees is bullshit – it was all about saving money. D for DOC on this one, they have let us all down.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10867084

    http://www.mars2earth.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/dr-doc.html

    • Colonial Weka 4.1
      23 February 2013 at 11:40 am

      Completely agree marty. NZ still has a long way to go putting right our relationship nature, and DOC, who should be aware of the spiritual, cultural and social issues, treat the conservation estate as a fucking resource.

      I notice that DOC didn’t way what the actual safety issues are.

      Did DOC go through a public consultation process on this? Imagine if a council or private person cut down a tree like that because they wanted to extend a building. Unbelievable arrogance. Looks like the real issue is increasing income for DOC (not just saving money).

  5. johnm 5
    23 February 2013 at 9:25 am

    The USK situation
    The Artistic Taxi Driver. Key has the same agenda.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_viGMBe1fg&list=UUGThM-ZZBba1Zl9rU-XeR-A&index=3

    🙁 🙂 The Benes in this country have been stigmatised for a long time.

  6. bad12 6
    23 February 2013 at 9:25 am

    The ACT Party will hold it’s annual general meeting this weekend under a banner of ”rejuvenation” of the party,

    i have to assume that this will mean that the Doctors will be in attendance and a full public display of John Bank’s being pumped full of Botox will take place,

    Bank’s in what appears to have been a panic filled nervous fit heaped praise on incoming Prez of ACT John Boscowan for the latter’s ability to raise money, money money,

    2013 is probably a bit early for Boscowan to avail Bank’s that the Party doesn’t ‘see’ Him as the candidate for Epsom at the 2014 election and i expect the move to knife Bank’s wont occur until the 2014 meeting where Boscowan will become the ACT Party candidate for Epsom…

    • chris73 6.1
      23 February 2013 at 9:35 am

      Remove John Banks from pary and issue apology+ Promote younger talent + Stop cosying up to the SST = More seats in parliament

      • bad12 6.1.1
        23 February 2013 at 9:41 am

        Remove John Banks from ACT Party and Parliament=a slightly lessened stench of corruption+whip the tired discredited philosophy of naked greed around the track for another election on the back of the nod of electoral gerrymandering from a Slippery Prime Minister=

        1 seat in the 2015 Parliament and bye bye to this FAILURE of a National Government…

        • chris73 6.1.1.1
          23 February 2013 at 9:46 am

          Yes well the Labour party know all about corruption I guess

          However in the interests of democracy its good that Act (like I grudgingly concede the Mana party) are in parliament however if they were to get back to core values then they’d do a lot better

          • felixviper 6.1.1.1.1
            23 February 2013 at 10:02 am

            Meh, seems like their core values only attract a point or two. Without cosying up to the SST they’re nothing really.

          • bad12 6.1.1.1.2
            23 February 2013 at 10:07 am

            You guess??? proof please…

            • chris73 6.1.1.1.2.1
              23 February 2013 at 10:50 am

              Taito Phillip Field ring any bells…

              • felixviper …
                23 February 2013 at 10:57 am

                It’s a disgrace that he’s still in the house. Labour should’ve stood him down as a minister and booted him from the party.

                • James Thrace …
                  23 February 2013 at 12:08 pm

                  TPF isn’t in Parliament anymore..

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    23 February 2013 at 12:17 pm

                    uh, I reckon fv saw that memo 😀

                  • NoseViper (The Nose knows) …
                    23 February 2013 at 12:20 pm

                    James Thrace
                    The Standard commenters require an ability to understand irony, sarcasm amongst other things. Everyone knows that Mr Field is in his house now, (different from The House in case you don’t understand the allusion) and that was the sarcastic response used to reply to a weak comment. You need to exercise your brain cells here.

              • bad12 …
                23 February 2013 at 12:55 pm

                Ring ring, can you hear that bell, it is the one which gives an estimate of your time left here at the Standard, the clock just struck 5 to midnight,

                You should be more careful of making such insinuations, you make claim of corruption in the Labour PARTY, proof please,

                Taito Phillip Field was an ex MP and i now assume ex member of the Labour Party, get something right wont you…

                • McFlock …
                  23 February 2013 at 2:10 pm

                  yep.
                  ACT would have made him party leader because he was the only MP that remained. And lauded his entrepreneurial spirit.

                • chris73 …
                  23 February 2013 at 2:37 pm

                  Unless I’m mistaken he was a member of the Labour party at the time of his offending and his offending was minimized by Labour and Dear Leader at the time…

                  Something about only being guilty of being helpful comes to mind

                  Also I don’t know if its troughing but certain labour MPs certainly spent up a storm on the taxpayers dime…Chris Carters a good example

                  “Ring ring, can you hear that bell, it is the one which gives an estimate of your time left here at the Standard, the clock just struck 5 to midnight,”

                  – Are you telling the moderators of this blog what to do? Is that because you think they can’t make decisions of their own?

                  You should be more careful of making such insinuations, you make claim of corruption in the Labour PARTY, proof please,

                  – You are a sad, strange little man and I pity you 🙂

                  • bad12 …
                    23 February 2013 at 6:05 pm

                    Lolz, me tell the mods who to spank, nah, i just like making little predictions about how close to being past their use-by you wing-nuts are on any given day,

                    Even if i do say so myself i am getting quite good at identifying the nut-jobs in your little tribe that have committed hari-kari on the mountain of their own stupidity,

                    2 in the last 3 weeks have bit the dust after having been handed the poison chalice of my little prediction,

                    Ah i see the usual wing-nut tactic you have employed here, when called upon to provide ‘facts’ for a baseless accusation and having none it’s change of subject time…

      • Trickledrown 6.1.2
        23 February 2013 at 1:00 pm

        ACT r fucked they should join the crazy Con servatives!

      • millsy 6.1.3
        23 February 2013 at 7:37 pm

        ACT needs to ditch the neo-liberal bullshit and start looking to the libertarian left (as much as the libertarian right). Things that a new look ACT party could adopt:

        Universal Basic Income – the whole ‘free money’ think may rub a few of the faithful the wrong way, but it would fit into the whole small government thing. All you would need to do is fill out a form at the post office, show your ID, and you get paid. No MSD/WINZ to administer the whole thing. ACT’s idol, Freidman, proposed a form of UBI to Nixon, but the volatile changes in the 1970’s kinda meant that it came to nothing.

        Direct consumer ownership of utilities. Everyone owns shares in Genesis/MRP/MERI via their power account. Full democratic collective control and no big government in sight.

        The whole dope decrimisation thing.

        Universal health insurance, similar to the ACC system. People pay into a universal healthcare scheme, and get to choose what hospital/doctor they go to, etc.

    • David H 6.2
      23 February 2013 at 9:42 am

      So which phone box will be unavailable ?

      • Treetop 6.2.1
        23 February 2013 at 10:32 am

        I heard that the annual general meeting will be on private farm land just up from Auckland. Were the meeting to be be held in Wellington (a mid point) the media would out number the party faithful attending.

        Banks probably thinks that the Dotcom donations are all forgotten just because he got away with it.

        I wonder if Dotcom would be welcome at the annual general meeting?

        • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 6.2.1.1
          23 February 2013 at 12:26 pm

          Would the ACT meeting at a farm north of Whangarei be at the Newmans, of the living on the Smell of an Oily Rag advice book for prols, and why can’t Maoris just agree with us and be happy with what they’ve got, beliefs?

          • bad12 6.2.1.1.1
            23 February 2013 at 1:02 pm

            No it is at the property of rich lister Alan Gibbs, Banks along with going all gushy over Mr money money money Boscowan also went into a thrall possibly the closest He has been in the past time of His life to that of sexual orgasm over the Gibbs property,

            1000 acres of productive land that Gibbs treats as if it’s a front lawn and it is glowingly described how once a week 5 tractors are used to mow the grass amid a few statues that the owner having more money than brains paid ten times the going rate for such art to obtain…

            • Treetop 6.2.1.1.1.1
              23 February 2013 at 1:13 pm

              I haven’t looked up where the farm is. Banks would be orgasmic over Gibbs money.

            • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 6.2.1.1.1.2
              23 February 2013 at 2:17 pm

              I remember seeing in some psycophantic womens magazine, a long solid fencelike sculpture, I think painted orange snaking over the Gibbs pad. I think it is so nice of him to spread his money around the needy artistic community.

              • Treetop …
                23 February 2013 at 3:26 pm

                Gibb has got to spend his money on something. I’d like to see him donate to breakfast and lunch programmes in schools.

          • Rogue Trooper 6.2.1.1.2
            23 February 2013 at 1:53 pm

            i got that book LOTSOAOR on my table 🙂

            • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 6.2.1.1.2.1
              23 February 2013 at 6:42 pm

              “i got that book LOTSOAOR on my table:
              Are you using it for a placemat, that would be useful for a start.

    • bad12 7.1
      23 February 2013 at 9:44 am

      Take your blubber boy sewerage back to the sewer where it belongs and seek the opinion of the inhabitants of that particular dark place, it appears to be your natural ‘home’ after-all…

      • chris73 7.1.1
        23 February 2013 at 9:50 am

        So didn’t read the opinion of the well-known bastion of right wing thinking The Guardian then…

        Gives more insight into charter schools, you really should read it. Its less about what experts say may happen (in their opinion) and what actually is happening in practice

        • felixviper 7.1.1.1
          23 February 2013 at 10:18 am

          I didn’t read any of it, but I blame you for saying we should read them in order and then putting Slater’s dreck at the top.

        • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.2
          23 February 2013 at 10:34 am

          Again, why would we want to follow the US considering that our education system is already better than theirs?

          • chris73 7.1.1.2.1
            23 February 2013 at 10:51 am

            Because the results in New Orleans are quite astounding…

            • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.2.1.1
              23 February 2013 at 10:54 am

              No, not really. Even the thinktank that did the research was ambivalent about its results.

              • chris73 …
                23 February 2013 at 2:05 pm

                From the Guardian:

                “Before Katrina, the graduation rate was less than 50 percent. Now it’s more than 75 percent. Test scores are up 33 percent.”

                “Over the past few years, there is a story that has been unfolding down on the Gulf Coast that all Americans need to hear or read about. It is the story of the turnaround of the New Orleans Schools. This major city school system has gone from being one of the worst in the nation to one of the best. It is important to understand that we are talking major city schools here, not all schools, and there is a huge difference.

                There has been renewed national focus on New Orleans schools and its students’ progress. The school system has slowly ramped up the number of students served. In 2005, just before Katrina, it had 65,000 students; the next year it was down to 25,600. Enrollment has now climbed to 38,000. The demographics are still daunting: 95 percent of students are minorities and 83 percent are eligible for free or reduced lunches. Last year, 61 percent went to charter schools (a number that will increase this school year), by far the largest percentage of children in an urban area attending charters in the county. And the students have made progress.”

                • McFlock …
                  23 February 2013 at 2:32 pm

                  The most interesting thing about that quote is the post-Katrina school population recovery, or lack thereof.

                  As to whether charter schools are responsible for any of the apparent improvement: who knows? Nobody knows. As mentioned in the Guardina artice:

                  A study by the Cowen Institute at Tulane University notes the improvement, but is cautious about the reasons why. Many claims have been put forward “but few have been proven by the available data,” it says.

                  Hence “ambivalent”. No data = no verifiable claim = more WO propaganda.

                  • chris73 …
                    23 February 2013 at 2:42 pm

                    Something about clutching at straws comes to mind…

                    • McFlock …
                      23 February 2013 at 3:11 pm

                      Sorry, yes, charter schools must be wonderful. It can’t be because of:

                      reduced school population
                      federal or charity funding injections post-Katrina
                      greater community spirit among those who stayed or returned
                      housing relocations removing the poorest-performing students
                      or sample bias as poorest-performing students slip through the cracks and aren’t registered at any school

                      Or a thousand other reasons.

                      Any source of improvement must be charter schools, because otherwise there wouldn’t be a single item from the tory catechism that actually works in the real word. The economics are bunk, private prisons and no rehabilitation increase crime, and kicking beneficiaries doesn’t seem to lower unemployment. What is a poor toryboy to do?

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      23 February 2013 at 3:24 pm

                      Yep, that’s what you RWNJs do all the bloody time when reality fails to be what you want it to be. Hell, you and WO are taking some research that conclusively proved nothing, which is what the researchers say, and are now ranting about it as if it proved your ideology. That is most definitely “clutching at straws”.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      23 February 2013 at 4:06 pm

                      What do you do, Draco, when your reality collapses around you and doesn’t correspondent to what you want it to be?

                    • Puddleglum …
                      23 February 2013 at 9:27 pm

                      Hi chris73, being open-minded about these things, you’ll be interested in this link from the comments on the Guardian piece.

                      Seems that superintendent White is in a bit of a bind …

            • Foreign Waka 7.1.1.2.1.2
              23 February 2013 at 5:53 pm

              Yes, because in the land of the blind the one eyed is king. If anything NZ should focus on standard orientated and not populist today’s fashion ragout education. Private or public – the difference is the quality of the teacher and parent support. EVERY child has potential – EVERY one o them. It is the adults who mess it all up.

          • TheContrarian 7.1.1.2.2
            23 February 2013 at 4:04 pm

            This is one of those moments where Draco says something not stupidly crazy.

            Agreed – the education system in the US is fucked. We don’t want to emulate it.

    • AsleepWhileWalking 7.2
      23 February 2013 at 11:12 am

      I’m offended you even linked to that hate driven site from this one. I don’t need nor want to know what that nasty piece of right wing trash has to say.

      • chris73 7.2.1
        23 February 2013 at 2:03 pm

        Yeah ‘casue the Guardian is well known for being a tool of the tories…ideology is not a good way to run things…

        • Colonial Viper 7.2.1.1
          23 February 2013 at 2:06 pm

          Ideology is critical, otherwise you will never understand why you are in charge or why you should even be there.

        • Colonial Viper 7.2.1.2
          23 February 2013 at 2:07 pm

          By the way, not all stories have different sides, and sometimes those ‘different sides’ are plain BS.

    • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 7.3
      23 February 2013 at 6:54 pm

      Teachers evaluated on each lesson? Throwing out crisp questions that demand instant return.
      Sounds like a military academy.

      In NZ we already know that peer pressure can stop bright children from extending themselves mentally. In fact in the country there was hostility to facts and ideas from universities. They were called ‘ivory tower’ academics.

      As quoted in google –
      ” It is a world where people are remote from worldly or practical affairs.” But the common-sense practical approach can’t handle change well as it can’t be bothered studying ivory tower facts. That’s our problem in NZ. Charter schools won’t help that.

    • Puddleglum 7.4
      23 February 2013 at 10:00 pm

      chris73,

      Here’s another article from the same Guardian journalist (when he wrote this and the one linked to by you, he was the Guardian education editor, I believe).

      Basically, it’s a sad tale of the consequences of the impoverished view of education that hails rote learning and teaching to the test as much-needed reform (also note the motivation for it in the US – ‘slipping behind’ East Asia in producing engineers – we’re all Koreans and Singaporeans now).

      It also betrays the view that all an education should produce is conformist workers willing to do what they are told (i.e., it trains children in being monitored, evaluated and told what they should do – excellent preparation for the modern workforce, if ever there was one).

  8. bad12 8
    23 February 2013 at 9:52 am

    Why would ‘Bill from Dipton’ be in anyway surprised by the fact that the States coal miner Solid Energy this week declared it’self all but insolvent,

    As the Minister of Finance Bill is the shareholding Minister who yearly negotiates with Solid Energy over what dividend that company will pay to Government and is fully briefed on future plans of the company including it’s proposed debt structure,

    Perhaps Bill had either a hangover or brain fade during that briefing…

    • vto 8.1
      23 February 2013 at 10:35 am

      Over the last few years, when coal prices were up, Bill English would have known the consequences would be this if coal prices dropped. It was widely known that the mining boom would come to an end, as it did, and coal prices have dropped back.

      Given this knowledge, why did the shareholder (English) take so much money out of the company by way of dividents? And why did he let it take on so much debt?

      The responsibility rests entirely with him.

      It is in fact eerily similar to the Mainzeal collapse, who had ex-National Party PM Jenny Shipley as a director.

      You have to wonder…

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1
        23 February 2013 at 3:27 pm

        Given this knowledge, why did the shareholder (English) take so much money out of the company by way of dividents? And why did he let it take on so much debt?

        Because it allows him to:
        1.) Help cover up the holes he made in the budget by giving the rich tax cuts and
        2.) to say that it’s losing money and should therefore be sold at which point he’ll sell it for far less than what it’s worth to his rich mates

      • Foreign Waka 8.1.2
        23 February 2013 at 5:59 pm

        You really expect the farm boy to support the people of NZ? It should by now be crystal clear that his mates are his foremost and major concern. He does not want to know the peasant’s woes, the market will take care of everything!

    • Treetop 8.2
      23 February 2013 at 10:40 am

      Oh don’t be so hard on Billy, after all he has been very busy filling in for Key to do with the GCSB and has not had a lot of spare time to run his own portfolio.

      • Colonial Viper 8.2.1
        23 February 2013 at 12:18 pm

        Let’s all just remember that Solid Energy is sitting on assets worth billions upon billions of dollars.

        Companies like this might be illiquid, but they are definitely not balance sheet insolvent, far from it.

        • tc 8.2.1.1
          23 February 2013 at 12:27 pm

          +1 another manufactured crises a-la ACC, etc what are they up to while the hand wringing routine’s performed over SE.

          It’ll be WOMD if the opposition ever gets it’s shite together enough to place some serious sunlight on this nasty corrupt NACT regime and show them for the life sucking vampires they are.

        • tc 8.2.1.2
          23 February 2013 at 12:27 pm

          +1 another manufactured crises a-la ACC, etc what are they up to while the hand wringing routine’s performed over SE.

          It’ll be WOMD wheeled out if the opposition ever gets it’s shite together enough to place some serious sunlight on this nasty corrupt NACT regime and show them for the life sucking vampires they are.

  9. DH 9
    23 February 2013 at 10:11 am

    When issues like SkyCity come up it’s an opportunity to check the mettle of various journalists. John Armstrong has the bit between his teeth & written three very scathing articles on it. John Roughan, on the other hand, writes this bizzare psycophantic whitewash;

    “SkyCity deal insight into PM’s mind”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10867117

    There must be a few versions of the AO report. The one I read doesn’t have the phrase “social regulations” in it. In my copy the AO call it an “exchange of value” where the Govt trades regulatory changes with a monetary value for something of similar value.

    Nothing social or ambiguous about this John;

    “Even if the Government provided little or no upfront funding, SkyCity had made clear that it would need regulatory reform to create an enhanced revenue stream for the project to be viable. It was apparent that any further discussion would eff ectively be a commercial negotiation about an exchange of value to achieve the desired outcome”

    Then there’s this gem from Roughan……

    “And the casino is the best place for them if their gambling is to be monitored and limited.”

    The gaming machines at SkyCity rake in more money than the non-casino ones, monitoring and limiting really works there doesn’t it.

    (Roughan is the Herald Assistant Editor)

    • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 9.1
      23 February 2013 at 10:37 am

      DH
      Very terse new word to me ‘psycophantic’ – could be used a lot these days.

    • David H 9.2
      23 February 2013 at 10:37 am

      And let us not forget they want to make it easier to spend your money by just using an innocent looking plastic card. And they also want the Taxpayers to help with god knows what, to the tune of 10 Million bucks a year.

    • Treetop 9.3
      23 February 2013 at 3:11 pm

      Any deal which manipulates the government and exploits addicts is morally corrupt.

      The biggest problem in Christchurch resulting from the earthquakes is being caused by home and land owners being manipulated and exploited.

      The land in the CBD is more earthquake prone than the land in the red zone, they are rebuilding in the CBD and not in the red zone. I am wondering if it is too expensive to replace the water system and roads in the red zone compared to the CBD.

      The government is going to be the biggest land owner in Christchurch, they may even want to turn Christchurch into a Vegas gambling mecca. That would really bring the tourists in.

  10. KhandallaViper 10
    23 February 2013 at 10:28 am

    I am worried.

    Too many people are repeating the line that National & Key will loose in 2014 and that some type of Shearer led coalition will follow. A “political cycle” change of government.

    The coach of any team would ban such talk: VERBOTEN!

    Let s not believe our own wishful thinking.

    The talk has complacency underlying every word. It is the surest way to loose. Ask any team coach. Self-belief is critical for success. I see an element of self-delusion. We need more self-awareness.

    Key, English, Joyce and their well funded supporters are not about to give up. Parata will be sacrificed-up at a suitable time. They are not stupid despite the series of cock-ups.

    Labour needs to have its best possible team in best possible mental condition.

    That is what Shearer has to achieve with his shuffle. Anything less will blow our chances.

    • vto 10.1
      23 February 2013 at 10:37 am

      It’s not “loose” it’s “lose”

      sheesh, it’s becoming out of control…

      • KhandallaViper 10.1.1
        23 February 2013 at 10:50 am

        vto, sweetie darling, I spotted the mistakes and some wrong hyphenation as Soonbas I pasted it from Pages and read through. Unfortunately the delete command would not work in the site,

        I’ll go to my grave in shame.

        • Foreign Waka 10.1.1.1
          23 February 2013 at 6:10 pm

          No worries, those who have a bit of tolerance read beyond that – alas the new methodology introduced for reading classes some 2 decades ago: “recognize the word”. 😉
          In any case, I am not convinced that the current labor party formation has anything to offer. So far only intrigue – invented or otherwise – and a”plan” for affordable housing. With the amount of unemployed people we have we may see them selling their property and there will be plenty of those “affordable” ones around. So for all intend and purposes, where is a plan to get people into meaningful paid full employment? Any such undertaking would in itself solve a lot of other ills.

    • Lanthanide 10.2
      23 February 2013 at 1:06 pm

      Well the alternative is what we saw in 2011: everyone talking about how National were surely going to win, resulting in a low turnout and bad performance for Labour, when actually they were within striking distance of winning (assuming Winston played ball) if only there had been a stronger turn out.

      • bad12 10.2.1
        23 February 2013 at 1:26 pm

        Just about snuck the impossible under the wire in 2011, commenting on another web-site at the time i happily whipped up the chances of NZFirst being in the Parliament after that election, even going so far to predict their vote at 6.2%,

        i can easily ‘see’ a Labour/Green majority in the House after November 2014 without either the Maori Party or NZFirst…

        • Colonial Viper 10.2.1.1
          23 February 2013 at 1:36 pm

          Labour can form the next government with just 31% or 32% of the vote. Assuming as you say NZF plays ball.

          Sure, that’ll be a much improved result on 2011. But what kind of Labour Government will it be.

          And do they realise with that result on e-day, that they’ll have to give away 1/3 of the seats around the Cabinet table.

          • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 10.2.1.1.1
            23 February 2013 at 1:45 pm

            Sharing the Cabinet seats with demanding bodies from other parties of the left could be the only way of getting some new blood into Labour – stir up the cocoa instead of it just falling to the bottom of the cup. I should cocoa!

    • bad12 10.3
      23 February 2013 at 1:21 pm

      Wishful thinking???, my opinion is that this far out from the 2014 election a blind donkey called Brucie, after the current Slippery Prime Minister has taken a break from plucking the soft hairs from between it’s anal crack to use as replacement for the hair He is fast losing could topple the present Government on any given day,

      This far out it’s a 1-2% game for Labour/Green to be able to form a Government, the economy does not perform some miraculous recovery this or next year and unemployment has not stopped at the usual suspects and is now beginning to bite the middle class severely in the butt,

      That middle class will be unforgiving as tax cuts and asset sales are of no use to those of them personally or with family or friends facing the job cutting axe…

      • Colonial Viper 10.3.1
        23 February 2013 at 1:47 pm

        KV is right. Underestimate the enemy at your own peril.

        National can win an election easy-peasy. Three easy steps.

        1) A massive affordable housing programme. Trade apprenticeships and new employment galore. And the kicker – housing built to outstanding environmental and energy efficiency standards.

        2) Secondly: a true blue-green strategy, not a PR facade. Vast steps to improve waterway quality throughout NZ. This is already underway in a stuttering fashion but National can lend its weight and make it happen. Scientific monitoring, regulations, enforcement. New R&D and environmental monitoring positions, grants for universities.

        Make the Blue-Green thing real and suck 1%-2% back off the Green Party.

        3) Thirdly: immediately phase in the $15/hr minimum wage. A 75c increase this year, with another planned for 2014 before the election. Head the pressure for a living wage off at the pass by saying that we need to get there, but the economy is not yet ready for it and doing more will harm jobs. But that the Government recognises that ordinary NZ workers are doing it tough and need help.

        • Colonial Viper 10.3.1.1
          23 February 2013 at 1:56 pm

          By the way, this is only $2B-$3B in spending over a term. Easy.

          Oh yeah, re-introduce a 39% tax rate on those earning over $200K pa as a 4th step.

          • Colonial Viper 10.3.1.1.1
            23 February 2013 at 2:04 pm

            And close a few more tax loopholes. Which will only cost National supporters a hundred million or three but will be a hat tip towards making the ‘everyone pay their fair share’.

            • KhandallaViper 10.3.1.1.1.1
              23 February 2013 at 3:27 pm

              And they have all of that budget allocated to Roads of National Significance to play with.

              I see them doing a great U Turn on the roads investment and putting it all into housing an R&D or some such like…

              We need all out top players included in the re-shuffle including those the ABC faction want obliterated.

              • Colonial Viper …
                23 February 2013 at 3:34 pm

                Yep I hear National is working on a big phat housing plan. Yes, their private sector mates are going to hit paydirt with the scheme (of course), but cheap affordable housing will be built.

                • Foreign Waka …
                  23 February 2013 at 6:12 pm

                  Is that as in affordable in Auckland – today’s news 480k? I think I need a break to have a good laugh cause I cannot hit the keyboard anymore…

        • Colonial Weka 10.3.1.2
          23 February 2013 at 4:20 pm

          “2) Secondly: a true blue-green strategy, not a PR facade. Vast steps to improve waterway quality throughout NZ. This is already underway in a stuttering fashion but National can lend its weight and make it happen. Scientific monitoring, regulations, enforcement. New R&D and environmental monitoring positions, grants for universities.”

          Except that is utterly incompatible with industrial dairying. The only ‘true’ way to clean up that part of the environment (water and land) is to change the farming model, including reducing intensity. Can’t see that happening under NACT.

          • ropata 10.3.1.2.1
            24 February 2013 at 12:28 am

            a great stonking fuck-off tunnel under the southern alps to pipe that lovely rainwater from the Coast across to the cash cows of canterbury…

          • Colonial Viper 10.3.1.2.2
            24 February 2013 at 9:44 am

            Indeed, however no one is going to get rid of industrial dairying, not National, not Labour, not the Greens. The best we can hope for is enforcement of regulations and ‘best practice’ to minimise run off into waterways.

            To change the farming model, the government would probably have to take over financing of the dairy industry as well as deflating the value of dairy farms.

            • Colonial Weka 10.3.1.2.2.1
              24 February 2013 at 4:29 pm

              The GP position is to promote organic conversions, and to route research funding into sustainable farming. Along with regulation, I think those things will take time but will influence dairying in the medium long term. Then there is Peak Oil….

              I still can’t see NACT doing anything meaningful in terms of real green solutions, because they go against everything else they are trying to do. eg making the Regional Councils adopt sensible regulations that protect the environment vs what is happening in Canty?

        • bad12 10.3.1.3
          23 February 2013 at 5:33 pm

          LOLZ CV, you is being funny right, the National Government Cabinet doing any one of those things???

          All of those things??? they would all rather have their genitalia removed with a chainsaw,

          Bill from Dipton saw the recovery yesterday out of the corner of His eye, triple doses of self medicating alcohol and a prescription for double ups on the prozac dose should see no-one in the Cabinet blinking and business as usual till 2014,

          Bill from Dipton has His own record to break after all….

          • KhandallaViper 10.3.1.3.1
            23 February 2013 at 5:40 pm

            A strategy based on another person’s failure rather than a strategy based on something under one’s own control is lazy stupid and gutless.

            The election will be won by the choices and action plans undertaken by the Labour Party.

        • muzza 10.3.1.4
          24 February 2013 at 8:08 am

          KV is right. Underestimate the enemy at your own peril.

          Erm, that should read :*Fail to recognise your enemy at your own peril*

          In this case the enemy is the entire system, but lets keep the focus to parliament only for now.

          This constant belief that a change of govt is going to make the beneficial differnce in direction, is starting to reek of desperation.

          Instead of waiting for the system to right itself (it won’t, it can’t, because the owners of the system don’t want to change it). go out and take it back for yourselves – Stand as independents, for your tactics amongst friends and strangers who would love to see some real people in parliament, who were not controlled, corrupted and bent over to do the bidding of others..

          What are you waiting for by not getting involved!

  11. BLiP 11
    23 February 2013 at 10:39 am

    .

    As Bradley Manning’s 1000th day in capitivity approaches, his legal options for presenting his case are, again, arbitrarily narrowed . . .

    In a potential blow to his defense, Pfc. Bradley Manning has been largely denied the opportunity to present evidence about his motives for leaking documents to WikiLeaks in his upcoming trial.

    Manning’s defense attorney David Coombs has argued in the soldier’s pretrial hearings at Fort Meade that Manning’s intentions to act as a whistleblower show he had no desire to harm U.S. interests. However, military judge Col. Denise Lind on Thursday’s pretrial session ruled that the defense would not be permitted to argue motive except against the specific charge that Manning knew giving information to WikiLeaks meant he was “dealing with the enemy” . . .

    Meanwhile . . .

    A former CIA officer, who was the first member of the agency to publicly acknowledge that torture was official US policy under the administration of President George W. Bush, has been sentenced to thirty months in jail. He was convicted in October of last year of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act (IIPA) when he provided the name of an officer involved in the CIA’s Rendition, Detention and Interrogation (RDI) program to a reporter . . .

    . . . John Kiriakou is wearing his conviction as a badge of honour; as, indeed, he should.

  12. Draco T Bastard 12
    23 February 2013 at 10:56 am

    Your Currency Trade on Tarnished Gold

    So rather than gold, Brian Kelly of Shelter Harbor Capital is eyeing a currency he’s calling the new gold: the New Zealand dollar. New Zealand is not participating in whatever currency wars are taking place, and he expects that to keep the currency relatively strong.

    NZs failure to invoke policies to lower the forex value of our dollar has been noted by the country that is steadily working to lower the value of theirs.

    • AsleepWhileWalking 12.1
      23 February 2013 at 11:17 am

      Now all I need is many more of them.

    • Lanthanide 12.2
      23 February 2013 at 1:08 pm

      Australia isn’t either, though, so surely you’d treat the Oz $ as gold before you treated NZ the same, just on their fundamentals? This is backed up by the fact that the Oz $ is quite a bit more valued than the NZ one.

      • Colonial Viper 12.2.1
        23 February 2013 at 1:19 pm

        Fundamental valuation is not a driver of financial market pricing any longer, and previously rarely has been particularly for currencies.

        Ability to speculate on a predictable currency that is free from Government interference is a more valuable characteristic to traders than any ‘fundamental (asset or financial statement based) valuation’ of a currency.

      • Draco T Bastard 12.2.2
        23 February 2013 at 3:29 pm

        Actually, due to Australia’s dependence upon commodities, I wouldn’t be so sure that the value of their dollar will stay as stable as ours.

        • bad12 12.2.2.1
          23 February 2013 at 6:40 pm

          The ‘driver’ of both currencies at the moment is the US$, $40 billion dollars a month of printed money by the US will continue to devalue their currency and over-value ours…

  13. AsleepWhileWalking 13
    23 February 2013 at 11:26 am

    “Affordable” housing at only $400,000 or less!
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10867157

    Bargain!! If only I could be one of the priviliged few to be able to secure this nice 400K stone around my neck.

  14. Penny Bright 14
    23 February 2013 at 2:10 pm

    FYI

    Be interesting to see whether the ‘rejuvenated’ ACT Party still believe in ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’?

    YES or NO?

    If YES – the ‘rejuvenated’ ACT Party still DO believe in ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ – will they support the private prosecutions lodged by Graham McCready against the current and former Leaders of the ACT Party, John Banks and Don Brash, who both signed, as former fellow Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd, Huljich Kiwisave Scheme registered prospectuses and investment statements which contained untrue statements?

    IF NOT – WHY NOT?

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/should-directors-be-held-more-liable-company-performance-set-go-weekend-review-db-136267

    “Second, directors are already personally accountable for their actions when managing the affairs of the company. It is the directors who are in the firing line after a company fails if they have in any way acted in bad faith, had a conflict of interest, acted recklessly, misled investors, or traded while insolvent.”

    Not if your names are John Banks or Don Brash and the company that they were the Directors of – was Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd?

    Unless, of course, private prosecutor Graham McCready is successful?

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    (For more background information – check out:

    http://www.pennybright4epsom.org.nz

    http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com

  15. Rogue Trooper 15
    23 February 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Koinonia- in for a penny, in for a Poundcake,

    EPMU organiser- “there is desperation out there” (1500 apply for 48? jobs at a Warehouse) while Solid Energy pay 23M in bonuses in the last two years.
    On RNZ this am, Transpacific to lay wastage to up to 200 jobs to “reduce costs” in unprofitable waste management.
    Eurozone economy will contract (where did we read that before), unemployment will expand to 20M / approx 12%
    the insect swarm above NI “beyond comprehension”; another aussie pest.
    China officially acknowledges “Cancer Villages” mutating out of waste and pollutants. Dioxin anyone?

    HBT-Road maintenance to become increasingly difficult to afford with “very serious long-term effects”- council assets management group manager

    Dom- paediatrician doctor sentenced for possessing images of child abuse “could be back treating”
    new entrant ” patients by next year”.

    Gluckman-“the greater the mismatch between biological maturation and acceptance as an “adult” (wtf that is) the greater the morbidity; Resilience is what is necessary yet majority of children are experiencing greater mollycoddling (risk protection) while increased exposure to digital life. what a dilemma; brain death by social media?

    awhi to Helen; in FORESTRY, since 2008, 900 Serious Injuries, 23 deaths
    fine print- 9 prosecutions by 2010 with the industry narrative felling the workers as root cause.

    while in the UK operation “Prevent” extremism (Islamic), despite millions of pounds spent, not making any inroads into domestic IED interception.

    “Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge; fitter to bruise than polish.
    -Anne Bradsheet

    • Colonial Viper 15.1
      23 February 2013 at 2:21 pm

      China isn’t the only place where people are going to be growing gills. US hanford site dating back to Manhattan project looks real bad.

      http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-02-22/radioactive-waste-leaking-washingtons-hanford-nuclear-reservation

      • Rogue Trooper 15.1.1
        23 February 2013 at 2:25 pm

        I think Robert Guyton’s Art is beautiful yet “I couldn’t possibly comment” 🙂 (btw, was reading the intro to 1 John this morning (yes in the NIV) and it was very interesting 🙂 what was your occupation? was it that “branch” you linked to all those months ago?)

        • Colonial Viper 15.1.1.1
          23 February 2013 at 2:46 pm

          Ahhhh, I am nought more than a pilgrim on a long and dusty road. One which although beset by inequity from all sides, along which I am hoping to find some suitable clothes and a gourd of sustaining water for the long journey ahead.

          • Rogue Trooper 15.1.1.1.1
            23 February 2013 at 2:56 pm

            true.you certainly have a broad understanding though, particularly of economics it appears
            add this up…
            http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10867176
            (I always stock-pile water in me emergency kit; might live as long as Methuselah…)

            • Colonial Viper 15.1.1.1.1.1
              23 February 2013 at 3:11 pm

              I feel that I have an incomparable advantage in economics: I never studied it at university.

            • Colonial Viper 15.1.1.1.1.2
              23 February 2013 at 3:18 pm

              14: I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
              15: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
              16: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
              17: And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

          • muzza 15.1.1.1.2
            24 February 2013 at 8:26 am

            Cv, so you will be standing in local elections this year, or perhaps as an independent next year then?

            With all that time on your hands, and no financial pressure (by your words), surely not doing so, yet blogging all over the place, might not be best use of those *understandings* RT seems to feel you have.

            Most on this site indicate little idea what understanding truly means, RT might be one of the few who does, although I must say that economics would not fall into the understandings category, but could be a helpful tool in the journey!

    • Colonial Viper 15.2
      23 February 2013 at 3:10 pm

      Gluckman-”the greater the mismatch between biological maturation and acceptance as an “adult” (wtf that is) the greater the morbidity;

      I’d say this is bullshit. Remembering that the life expectancy for most was no more than 35 or 40, only a couple of centuries ago. People did not tend to spend the first 30 of them as immature teenie wannabes.

      You could once serve as an officer in the Royal Navy at age 15, with powers over many men, and over life and death itself.

      • Rogue Trooper 15.2.1
        23 February 2013 at 3:34 pm

        “morbidity” not mortality; for a number of researched and documented reasons humans (well, in the West anyway) are reaching biological and socially constructed “maturity” milestones earlier in their lifespans, yet, as Gluckman identifies, not the required brain development maturity, therefore the increased risks of morbidity I would suggest? Keh? (occupations? go on give us a clue) I showd ya mine… :). (was watching a Doco on The Forbidden City last night briefly, gotta love those people).

        • Colonial Viper 15.2.1.1
          23 February 2013 at 3:35 pm

          Ahhhh but brain development is stimulated by the pressures and environment (or lack of) placed upon the brain…

          • Rogue Trooper 15.2.1.1.1
            23 February 2013 at 3:52 pm

            lack of EEA pressures not as helpful as a World War, or “life red in tooth and claw” I would suggest (not much “feel” in these modern technologies); anyway evidence appears to be in the escalating morbidity stats, whether it be meds, cancers, PTSD, hyperventilation, well, just tragedy in general, and yes, it’s “innit”, not “ofit”; nothing new there, been followed since Origen 🙂 and does require the od dusting off of the sandals 🙂 (who wuld a thunk it)
            -i thought the Farquar et al; was Very insightful! (was all over Town yet she too has gone to OZ)

      • Saccharomyces 15.2.2
        23 February 2013 at 9:48 pm

        Just a small point, most of the life expectancy figures are at birth, and infant mortality was a huge factor back then, hence the low average expectancies. Once people were out of the danger zone of childhood their life expectancy increased greatly, many people lived to ripe old ages, not infrequently 60+. That’s not to say there haven’t been improvements since either, just that it’s not as dramatic as the figures seem to suggest.

        I don’t disagree that people in the past did seem to mature much earlier though.

  16. yeshe 16
    23 February 2013 at 3:00 pm

    The mangled mess of Mainzeal .. can Shipley be held accountable ? Complete lack of governance … Brian Gaynor this morning …

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10867172

  17. xtasy 17
    23 February 2013 at 3:57 pm

    Brain Gaynor, Herald columnist, sometimes writes some revealing stories about listed and not listed companies in New Zealand, or active here. Today he wrote a revealing article about Richina Pacific and Mainzeal:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10867172

    So no reports to shareholders for years, no annual meetings since 2008, a registration in Bermuda, and Shipley, former NZ Prime Minister is in the midst of all this.

    No wonder she suddensy resigned from the Mainzeal board of directors not long ago.

    More must be revealed on her role in all this, and about how much she knew about what went on at Mainzeal Construction.

    • Arfamo 17.1
      23 February 2013 at 4:41 pm

      I would have thought her role in all this is perfectly obvious. To collect a fat directors fee and associated benefits and to ensure she would be unaccountable when it went belly up through mismanagement. It’s the New Zealand company directors’ standard isn’t it? It’s only the fools who neglect the steps necessary to be unaccountable who end up in Court.

    • Foreign Waka 17.2
      23 February 2013 at 8:08 pm

      Maybe she was coned and used as an “advertisement tool” overseas – since she was once PM of NZ, that would have given Richina some credibility. I think that vanity got her as she promoted for a very long time the “fantastic opportunities” in the Asian Market. Somehow she had to follow trough – maybe?
      Looking at some markers, it was already clear in 2009 that something does not work as well as shareholders got news that they will not be paid as quickly (??) as promised.
      I don want to be mischievous – but everybody right down to the cleaner of the beehive would realize that something is up when a company is listing in Bermuda. Sad part: not everybody knew that the NZ shareholder has had basically no regulatory protection. Who was the Trade Minister at the time of restructure 2008 when Richina was de listed?

      • xtasy 17.2.1
        24 February 2013 at 1:07 am

        Foreign Waka:

        Hey, you have just “revealed” something else by commenting this:

        “Maybe she was coned and used as an “advertisement tool” overseas – since she was once PM of NZ, that would have given Richina some credibility.”

        That explains why John Key was so keen to become PM of New Zealand, right?!

        So it enhances his CV/Resume and “reputation”! His own personal reputation is not much worth by now, so having been PM of NZ may make him look a lot better again, that is in front of overseas representatives, who only know very little about what Key has been up to here.

        NZ’s reputation is not quite so bad yet overseas, this would enable him to put on a new “coat” and get up to more mischief kind of deals in big business and finance.

        It is all falling into place now, the use of that “childhood dream” story.

  18. Rogue Trooper 18
    23 February 2013 at 4:18 pm

    Lightbulb (strobe)
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10867166
    m.sadness / sl. loss
    seroquel nation

  20. Tim 20
    23 February 2013 at 5:25 pm

    Hey peeps, Hello People, Kia Ora, Non bloody Jour – etc.
    What do you reckon John Key’s greatest fear is?

    I reckon it’s that one day, an offspring (though they may lerv the cnut) will wake up and realise what a shallow, lacking in intelligence, ideologically-driven, over-ambitoius, wiki-defined-psycopath the guy ‘ekshly’ is. They’ll have no problem understanding how and why the specimen was propped up for so long, but when shit comes to push – I’m happy to keep a distance

    • bad12 20.1
      23 February 2013 at 6:34 pm

      Lolz, funny you should mention this, and, probably the reason why a certain journo is now not ‘with Murray McCully but instead now is said to be with Trev,

      Prodigal son of the Slippery one is said to have, according to Jane writing in the Dominion Newspaper, is said to have txted His old man calling Him a wanker over some offense real or imagined…

  21. Tim 21
    23 February 2013 at 5:27 pm

    Since ‘Edit duz’t werk dot dot dot’ I meant Bon bloody Jour, not Non Bloody Jour, though in the case of our Proim Minsta – Non bloody Jour could be more appropriate

  22. Pascal's bookie 22
    23 February 2013 at 8:06 pm

    Well if this plays out, it looks good for the battery side of a whole of issues:

    http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/science/more-good-news-on-those-carbon-supercapacitors.html

    • Draco T Bastard 22.1
      23 February 2013 at 11:16 pm

      That’s awesome. Still, there’s the problem of generating that power in the first place. I also don’t think he really has an issue with mass production:

      English translation: He painted a DVD with a liquid carbon solution and stuck it into a standard-issue DVD burner.

      I mean, really, how many billion DVD burners are there in the world?

      That is the power of 3d printing. It doesn’t have to be fast, it just has to fit in any garage.

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