RWC Tickets
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- Date published:
8:40 pm, May 23rd, 2012 - 32 comments
Categories: business, david shearer, Gerry Brownlee, john key -
Tags: RWC, SkyCity, tickets
So Key is ‘surprised’ that David Shearer, the local member for Eden Park, accepted tickets to a local game, and doesn’t feel beholden to corporate interests? He can accept hospitality and still criticise a company is somehow shocking? I think this tells us more about John, than it surprises the rest of us about David…
Also, Government ministers – as seen in corporate boxes – according to Gerry Brownlee don’t have to declare their gifts as it was ‘work’ because the Government was hosting the World Cup. Seriously?
Were they in the SkyCity box too? You can’t see an organisation like SkyCity just getting one set of party leaders in…
Which one seems like the hypocrisy and lack of accountability here?
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- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
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- Child Protection Investigation Unit established
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Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Ka mihi ki te mana whenua ko Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Kia ora and good morning everyone. Thank you Fran and Simon for inviting me here today, and importantly your leadership of this forum over several years now. I want to acknowledge David Gehrenbeck, Deputy ...2 hours ago
- Record number of submissions received on granny flat proposal
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- District Court Judge appointed
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- Appointments strengthen Predator Free 2050
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- New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders
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- Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
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- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
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- Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
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- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...24 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...24 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
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- First arrests made under gang patch ban
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- Better support for victims of sexual violence
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- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
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- MSA pilot participant update
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- Fighting for Kiwis in Trade
Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...1 day ago
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- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
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Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
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- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
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- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
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- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
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- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
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- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...3 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
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- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
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- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
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- Red Tape Tipline goes live
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- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
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- Police stats show promising change
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- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
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The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Jonathan Cape, $26) The slight, superb winner of the Booker Prize ...1 hour ago
- ‘Wanted’ for war crimes over Gaza: Israel’s Netanyahu, Gallant face ICC arrest warrants
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In-person submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill will all be held at Parliament or by video call. ...3 hours ago
- ‘Got my support’ – Christopher Luxon stands by Erica Stanford after ‘stupid ...
The prime minister says it wasn't appropriate behaviour but that Erica Stanford had apologised. ...3 hours ago
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The first arrest was made just three minutes after midnight, with 11 more to come. ...3 hours ago
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The first arrest was made just three minutes after midnight, with 11 more to come. ...4 hours ago
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The committee plans to hold hearings in the week starting Monday, 27 January and the weeks starting 10, 17 and 24 February 2025. ...5 hours ago
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Don’t worry its just phase three of an electoral cycle, flinging faeces around like a rabid monkey, ignore it, phase four is defeat.
Too right Bunji, this is probably the most absurd comment Key has ever come out with and illustrates what a complete fool we have as our PM.
So was Key drinking on the job?
Most likely yes, his own urine probably!
Eeeeew! I was thinking ‘trotie’ myself.
“according to Gerry Brownlee don’t have to declare their gifts as it was ‘work’ because the Government was hosting the World Cup.”
I think what is meant by that is that they have to be there in an official capacity (Key and McCulley at the least) therefore it isn’t a pecuniary interest.
But as an apparent conservative, Tory, ring-wing, John Key fanboi I would say that, eh? Instead of, you know, it actually being true.
Ok fanboi, what do you think about John Key’s apparent belief that a gift from a corporation should buy that corporation the silence of the Leader of the Opposition?
“Ok fanboi, what do you think about John Key’s apparent belief that a gift from a corporation should buy that corporation the silence of the Leader of the Opposition?”
John Key’s assumption would, realistically, be based on personal experience and a critically objective observation of New Zealand’s political class. These people, both Labour and National, have a long and sordid history of subordinating ‘public’ policy to corporate interests.
National more than Labour. After all, National is the Party of Big Business.
“These people, both Labour and National, have a long and sordid history of subordinating ‘public’ policy to corporate interests.
“
Which is sort of the opposite of what Shearer was doing and Key was complaining about.
Isn’t it?
What did Key actually say ?
“I think what is meant by that is that they have to be there in an official capacity (Key and McCulley at the least) therefore it isn’t a pecuniary interest. ”
How does the wrod “gift” fit into that?
I mean, if they are there as part of the official proceedings in their role as Minister of World Cups or whatever, they are unlikely to need a comp ticket from a third party now are they? I’m pretty sure that the RWC people wold make sure that all the people needed in an official capacity were admitted to the event. If not, ie, if they were supposed to pay for their attendence, then the pecuniary advantage still exists.
If the argument is that they were gifted a ticket simply because the third party thought it would be nice to have the Minister in their corporate box, I’m not sure I see how that is different from any other MP who got gifted a ticket because the gifter thought it would be nice to have them there as MPs.
I’m a bit thick though, so I’m sure you can explain this truth to me.
It was just a thought – don’t know if that was the reasoning behind it though.
But as a John Key fascist conservative fanboi (who is somehow, despite this, further to left than the Dali Lama using the political compass you guys love to use) I probably think it’s all OK either way. I don’t think it’s OK to not declare a gift in these circumstances but, hey, I am probably lying.
Carry on, sugar
The application of a nanosecond of intelligent thought would have it that Key, McCully, Brownlee et al were actually hosting VIP guests at any games they attended so would not have been enjoying the free booze at the Sky City Corporate Box. As such they would have been on duty and working. I understand that quite a large list of foreign government representatives just happened to make official visits to NZ during the RWC and that quite a few Ministers were tasked with hosting them.
IF it’s the case that every game they attended, they were hosting people then spot on. I don’t think anyone is questioning that.
If our PM/MPs was hosting other officials then why didn’t we buy them the tickets? See, that’s what happens with official business, the organisation doing the hosting buys the tickets. It doesn’t get the tickets given to them by other organisations so that the other organisations end up hosting the officials come to visit and speak with ours.
One of the most appalling pieces of reporting I read over the last year or so was the sentence in a piece that went something along the lines of “Dominique Strauss Kahn, Socialist party candidate was staying in a $3,000 a night hotel…”. You cannot be a Socialist and stay in a hotel that charges $3,000 a night. Similarly, David Shearer cannot pretend to be a candidate of the ordinary person while shmoozing with the ruling elite in their corporate boxes.
Those tickets and gifts Shearer so readily accepts have strings attached to them. I am, and I suspect so too are many New Zealanders, heartily sick of political candidates flopping around on their bellies like performing seals for corporate interests.
We need representatives that are prepared to implement policies that reflect the interests and aspirations of ordinary citizens, not functionaries of a corporate elite who see their purpose as managing the population of this country in the interests of big business profits.
How hard would it have been for David Shearer to have said, “No. I can’t accept these tickets, it would be inappropriate.”
Apparently it was too hard.
AndrewK worries about a few rugby tickets.
Meanwhile the PM gifts $100M in fees to the investment banking fraternity that he used to work for (and will no doubt again before long).
Get real my man.
Corruption often starts small. Personally, I’d prefer it if public servants didn’t get gifts from corporates/people.
Frankly I’m not happy with Labour MPs taking patronage from corporates. I expect it from tories.
Well, yes – I don’t see why any MP can’t buy their own rugby tickets…
But I guess we’re all tempted by freebies.
MPs probably should resist them though – corporates do give them for a reason…
Key and McCulley wouldn’t have needed tickets in the first place. They were there in official capacities, working, so I don’t know why they would need tickets
If my view of Labour MPs wasn’t already low I’d be appalled by it. Exploiting a privileged position for personal gratification displays a lack of integrity & ethics. Shearer is probably used to mixing with sponsors from his UN role & may not have thought much about it but he should have known better. The rest of them certainly should.
It’s interesting that Key is implicitly admitting that he does feel feel beholden to corporate interests. Well, not interesting really we already know that but he’s as much as admitted it there & they’re usually more circumspect.
If they were working then the expense would be listed because we would have bought the tickets. So, all you have to do is show us where that expense shows up on the governments books.
Accepting freebies from any large corporate is a stupid idea. If MPs had any sense they wouldn’t do it,
Unfortunately they think they’ve earnt it. All about them after all.
Corporates dont gift anything to an mp without an expectation it xan help them in some way whether its dedicated one on one time or favours. Owen glenn and dotcom show that they dont do it for nothing, and look how thry turn when they dont get what they expected. On their salaries these guys and gals shld have been buying their own tickets.
Exactly, tracey.
Did any Greens MPs or Mana candidates take such “gifts”?
Probably not Carol. After all you have to have something to offer or hold some type of power to make you attractive to the lobbyists.
I see Darien didn’t receive any either.
Maybe Shearer should ban any contact with Skycity. No corporate boxes, no meetings, no dinners, no quiet drinks, no staying at their hotels. Staff included. Shut down their lobbying.
It’s interesting that one of the main ways that MPs were given corporate gifts was to the Rugby World Cup. This sort of blokey event is very much in keeping with the way the financial elite operates:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10808003
According to my estimates, it’s not only that twice as many National than Labour MPs accepted the RWC gift tickets from corporates (32 National, 16 Labour), but also a higher proportion of Labour gift tickets went to women (25% of the Nat PMs were female compared with about 37% of the Labour ones).
This probably reflects the difference in proportions of women MPs for each party, as well as the relative proportions in the senior ranks of each party.
Both parties need to clean up their acts and stop participating in this influential elitist and blokey networking.
Years ago when I worked for a large NZ owned corporation that was trying to do a lot of work in the health arena , we often sponsored Annette King and other high ranking Govt officials into our corporate boxes. She loved it…
Did anyone really expect any politician, of any stripe, not to enjoy the RWC to its fullest? Everyone has to have some fun – at least it was public fun, not behind closed doors-don’t know it’s happening fun. Just like I didn’t care that JK used an airforce chopper to get to the car races, it’s just a perk. All a matter of knowing where to draw the line as to what’s a risque but acceptable perk (in the public’s eyes) and what’s not.
However, tis also good to remind them that they are getting perks and we’re getting a sh*t sandwich. So what about it?