The Sky City ghost jobs

Written By: - Date published: 9:39 am, June 8th, 2016 - 63 comments
Categories: capitalism, Media, national, radio, same old national, Steven Joyce, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: , ,

ghost jobs

Remember all those jobs the construction of the Sky City Convention Centre was going to create? And how we were going to increase the incidence of human misery and sacrifice the country’s legislative independence just so we could have a convention centre? And the process that was described as banana republic stuff without the bananas?

Well it appears that the construction will create some jobs but many will be in Thailand, not New Zealand.

From Radio New Zealand:

Half of the work on the steel frames for the SkyCity Convention Centre in Auckland has gone to a foreign contractor, despite New Zealand factories having prepared for it.

Steven Joyce unveiling the new SkyCity convention centre design.

With 8500 tonnes of steel frames needed for the SkyCity convention centre, the making and fitting contract has gone to one New Zealand company and a United States-owned company in Thailand.

The loss equates to about 100 full-time skilled welding jobs for 12 to 18 months – and the same thing has happened in two other projects of similar scale.

The government touted job creation as a big plus when it sealed the controversial deal for SkyCity to build the centre in return for large extra gambling concessions.

The government said last night this was the way the free market worked.

Get that?  Selling legislative concessions to a private corporation so that it can increase despair and hardship in our community on the basis that jobs will be created but then having those jobs created in a third world country because their workers are paid less is truly the way the free market works.

The article makes some comment on the promised jobs.

When Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce turned the first sod on the ICC’s construction in February, Mr Joyce said “this important national facility will now bring 1000 new jobs during the construction phase”.

Last night, the Minister, who was travelling in Asia, said in a statement that “any decisions around which building materials are used … will not affect the number of people being employed” to build it.

It was unclear how that could be.

Unclear?  It is perfectly clear the same number of people will be employed in the construction phase.  But they will not all be New Zealand workers.

It appears that the Government must have had a say in this development.  Clause 11.2 of the Convention Centre agreement says this:

SKYCITY must consult with the Crown, and provide the Crown with reasonable opportunity to comment, on which contractors it will request to tender for the Building Works Contract and the basis and contract terms on which tenders will be sought, including, without limitation, participation by the Crown in a procurement workshop with SKYCITY, and appointment of a Crown representative on a panel to be established by SKYCITY to review and advise on buildability.

I read this clause as applying to all tenders, not just the Building Works Contract tender.

So the Government must have had a say in the terms of the tenders.  Why it did not insist that local suppliers should be preferred is not clear.  For an agreement touted as providing economic benefit because of the construction the failure to ensure the contracts were awarded to local suppliers to maximise the economic benefits is extraordinarily negligent.

Update:  Sky City spokesperson Colin Espiner has helpfully pointed out in comments that under clause 5.1(b) of the supplementary agreement clause 11.2 of the agreement has been deleted and there is no requirement for Sky City to consult with the Crown.  This was an interesting change to make and obviously Sky City must have thought that there was a financial benefit in not being required to consult with the Crown about the tender process.

63 comments on “The Sky City ghost jobs ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. save nz 1
    8 June 2016 at 9:51 am

    Disgusting!! The whole deal was criminal – giving more gambling and corporate welfare to National’s favourite money laundering facility.

  2. save nz 2
    8 June 2016 at 9:53 am

    British Industry is also facing similar problems. A good article by Bryan Gould.

    “The steel crisis shows Britain has given up on industry. But it doesn’t have to

    extract…

    The consequence of the decline of manufacturing is that we have run a perennial trade deficit in every year since 1982. We have, in other words, traded at a loss and failed to pay our way in every one of the past 34 years. That deficit – the country’s and not the government’s – is of course the one that really matters; yet it is now so much part of the familiar economic landscape that it scarcely warrants a raised eyebrow.

    How do we get away with pathetic rates of investment (a net rate of nil) and productivity growth (almost zero), and with running at a loss year after year? We don’t. We have to borrow from overseas and sell off our assets to foreigners to close the gap. We have sold more than £600bn of assets over recent years. This is a rake’s progress that cannot be sustained for much longer.

    On the few occasions that the matter is raised, we are given reassuring answers. We can’t compete in manufacturing against low-cost, low-wage competitors, we are told – so how come the Germans can, and that some of those “low-cost” economies now enjoy higher living standards than our own?”

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/04/britain-manufacturing-decline-tata-steel

  3. Richardrawshark 3
    8 June 2016 at 10:04 am

    Another second another lie exposed.

    How can we now move forward when you politicians never keep your words or even your promises at election time.

  4. Colin Espiner 4
    8 June 2016 at 10:09 am

    Hi Micky, I thought I’d get in early on this one before your commenters started picking up the ball and running in the wrong direction with your “ghost jobs” illusion.

    I’m afraid RNZ has rather over-egged this one. They didn’t ask us for comment, so we didn’t know what they were going to claim until this morning. So here are some facts for you:

    1 All the jobs originally promised – the 1000 construction-related jobs, plus another roughly 1000 additional downstream jobs created by the project, will still be created.

    2 These will all be New Zealand based jobs, not overseas-based jobs.

    2 The contract for steel for the NZICC is one of literally hundreds of contracts on this massive project. It was won by a joint venture between a New Zealand company and an American one.

    3 The New Zealand company that won the contract, Culham Engineering, is a small Whangarei company. They say they plan to hire at least 50 more people as part of this contract. That’s new jobs, in Northland. That’s great news for the region.

    4 The company that didn’t win the tender – which was an open, contested tender – is upset it didn’t win. That’s fair enough. There’s always a winner and a loser in a bidding process. It claims it “may” downsize by 100 people if it can’t pick up other work elsewhere. May.

    5 So, you’ve got one Kiwi company hiring 50 people, and another threatening to downsize 100. Total potential loss of 50 jobs. In a project employing 2000 people.

    6 Repeating, for emphasis: All the NZ jobs promised on the project will still be delivered.

    Can I just ask – and I know you’re no fan of SKYCITY and I understand respect that – that you bring a modicum of sensibility and rationality to this argument. You’re talking about potentially 50 fewer jobs out of a total of 2000.

    It would be nice, for once, to get some credit for investing $470m in a project employing 2000 people rather than being criticised because one New Zealand firm has missed out on a sub contract in favour of another.

    Regards

    Colin Espiner
    General Manager, Communications
    SKYCITY Entertainment Group

    • mickysavage 4.1
      8 June 2016 at 10:19 am

      Thanks for dropping by Colin.

      The issue of local suppliers being overlooked in preference to overseas suppliers is a live issue that needs to be explored, especially with a contract as contentious as this. And you will agree that it would be better for the New Zealand economy if these jobs were given to locals?

      RNZ made the estimate about the 100 jobs. Are you saying the job loss is less?

      The job numbers seem to move all round the place. For instance there is this article (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10810802) where John Key says that the jobs created would be 900 construction and 800 in the convention centre itself. The Howarth report mentioned in the article which thought that the convention centre jobs would be less than 500. The article predates the reduction in size and scope that the Convention Centre went through. Can you point me to the source of your figures?

      Finally what say did the Crown have in the awarding of the contract?

      • Sabine 4.1.1
        8 June 2016 at 10:50 am

        can you save this discussion for later when all that PR spin has been shown to be precisely that, PR spin.

        🙂

        ohmygosh, pass the popcorn.

      • Colin Espiner 4.1.2
        8 June 2016 at 12:45 pm

        Any time Micky 🙂 The Standard is always required reading.

        In answer to your questions, the 100 job estimate was provided to RNZ by the failed tenderer, who claimed he may have to lay off that many unless he could find other contracts. He went on to note he had lost a few other contracts recently (not NZICC related ones).

        My point was Culham Engineering in Northland has said today it will hire an additional 50 people to cope with the work that is coming its way; it says this is a conservative estimate and the true figure could be more. So therefore worst case net loss (assuming the other party made good on its threat to lay off 100 staff) is 50 fewer jobs.

        I agree the job numbers created by the project are always going to be an estimate. But Fletchers has again issued an assurance today that it still believes 1000 new jobs will be created through this project. I can’t speak for where the PM has got his figures.

        The Howarth report is out of date. SKYCITY’s own figures, which it stands by, is that 1140 new positions will be created once the NZICC is open for business. That is separate from the number of construction jobs, supplied by Fletchers.

        To your final point; the Crown had no say. As you’ll remember, the Building Works contract was amended when SKCITY agreed to pay more to build the centre ($470m, up from $430m originally) in return for SKYCITY being allowed to run its own procurement process.

        The proviso to this is that SKCITY must deliver a building that meets all the design parameters and specifications laid out in the agreement with the Crown.

        Fletchers appointed the Whangarei-based Culham Engineering to lead the JV project to provide the steel for the NZICC. It’s their decision; SKYCITY has placed its faith in the great Kiwi company to build this centre and they make their own subcontracting decisions.

        Hope that helps

        Regards

        Colin

        • TC 4.1.2.1
          8 June 2016 at 3:12 pm

          So they knock $40m off the taxpayer subsidy to get full control over procurement with fletchers. My how convenient but then I guess chch was a learning experience.

      • Clare 4.1.3
        8 June 2016 at 3:19 pm

        great questions micky

    • dukeofurl 4.2
      8 June 2016 at 10:19 am

      1000 downstream jobs created by the project ?

      You already have a convention centre thats been operating for more than 10 years ( for which you got more pokies) so those people will be transferred to to new centre.
      http://www.skycityauckland.co.nz/functions/conventions/

      “This includes a multitude of bars, restaurants, a convention centre with two levels and 21 function rooms, and a 700 seat theatre.”

      You dont even stick to the rules that you claim others should not ‘over egg results’

      • Colin Espiner 4.2.1
        8 June 2016 at 12:47 pm

        Dukeofearl, no, not true. SKYCITY plans to keep the existing centre open. These are new jobs, not duplicates.

        Cheers

        Colin

        • dukeofurl 4.2.1.1
          8 June 2016 at 2:54 pm

          Thats not in the written agreement is it ?

          You have already changed the original agreement to make it friendlier.

          “A new procurement and construction process which is run entirely by SkyCity where SkyCity takes the risks for all costs from now on. The Crown’s ability to insist on changes during the construction process and its ability to put cash into the construction have been removed.
          The Crown requires SkyCity to follow procurement processes that are consistent with best commercial practice and industry standards. Previously the Crown had approval rights over the procurement process.”

          Plus there is additional carparks, retail and hotel space which is part of the centre but not part of the NZICC. Why would that be.

          Thats because they will offload operating costs onto the public purse that are soley part of the NZICC.
          The usual blackmail rules will apply, we will shut the convention centre unless get more money, as the place turns not to be the money spinner hoped for ( usually the case)

    • infused 4.3
      8 June 2016 at 10:30 am

      “It would be nice, for once, to get some credit for investing $470m in a project employing 2000 people rather than being criticised because one New Zealand firm has missed out on a sub contract in favour of another.”

      Mate. You ask too much.

      • save nz 4.3.1
        8 June 2016 at 10:38 am

        Be good if the companies didn’t get NZ tax payer welfare to build it, then they can do whatever they like. If they take Kiwis hard earned taxes then they need to justify it.

        And I feel that for $470 million you could get more than 2000 jobs out of it, under a change of government.

        • Colin Espiner 4.3.1.1
          8 June 2016 at 12:47 pm

          SaveNZ, not one cent of taxpayers’ money is being spent on the NZICC.

          • RedBaronCV 4.3.1.1.1
            8 June 2016 at 8:11 pm

            Hi Colin
            Can you explain please why Sky City is using competitive tendering and outsourcing jobs off shore using a market model when there have been some doubts as to how level the playing field was when Sky City actually tendered(?) for the Convention Centre?
            Isn’t it possible to skew the field more than once and what conditions allow for field skewing?

            • Colin Espiner 4.3.1.1.1.1
              9 June 2016 at 3:28 pm

              Hi RedBaron, SKYCITY is not doing anything of the sort. The only tender let by SKYCITY was to Fletcher Construction. It’s Fletchers that make all the decisions on subcontracting, so you’d have to ask them.

              I do take issue with your claims about jobs being outsourced offshore. As I think has now been made abundantly clear, yesterday’s story was a political beat-up featuring a disgruntled contractor who made some wild claims that were sadly accepted at face value by some media outlets.

              The owner of the Northland business who won the joint venture bid has now detailed how he partnered with a US firm because no New Zealand company was capable of producing either the quantity or the quality of the steel required for the NZICC on its own. This salient fact was sadly ignored by Radio New Zealand in its initial reporting.

              For the record, Culham Engineering is spending millions of dollars on new plant to gear up for the contract – money going straight into Northland pockets. They also believe very few jobs will actually go offshore, if any, as the US party is keen for the vast bulk of the work to be done in Northland.

              But that doesn’t fit the narrative, so doubtless will be ignored by those who constantly seek to portray the NZICC as a bad deal for the country.

              Cheers

              Colin

              • RedBaronCV …
                19 June 2016 at 7:19 pm

                Hi Colin
                It’s taken a while to get back to you – sorry – and thank you for your answer. However, you seem to have missed my point completely.

                At the time Sky City was awarded the contract to build the convention center there were some doubts that all tenderer’s had access to the same level of information and had the same opportunity to negotiate.
                So much so that the Audit office investigated.

                So my question was – How come Sky City (thr’ Fletchers) is using competitive tendering and outsourcing jobs off shore using a so called market model ( not a wider benefits to NZ model!) and defending this process when it is far from clear that a competitive tender and level playing field existed when Sky City gained the right to build the center.

                In short was there one set of rules for Sky City when it bid, which advantaged Sky City over others and Sky City supported that. .. But SC now uses another set of rules that disadvantages the people of NZ the same people whoare after all are paying the bills.

        • Enough is Enough 4.3.1.2
          8 June 2016 at 3:28 pm

          Save NZ

          Can you provide me with a source for your assertion that the New Zealand tax payer is paying for this?

      • mickysavage 4.3.2
        8 June 2016 at 10:38 am

        You mean Sky City is constructing the convention centre out of the goodness of its heart and the extra pokie machines and the extension of its licence to 2048 had no effect on its decision?

        • dukeofurl 4.3.2.1
          8 June 2016 at 2:38 pm

          What about the sweetheart deal for the TVNZ building , that they were a very reluctant seller.

          “Taxpayers are contributing to SkyCity Convention centre with TVNZ allowed to deliver a smaller dividend to make up for disruption caused by sale of its land to Sky City.”

          “Documents from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment show officials advised that after SkyCity decided it would build a hotel on ex-TVNZ land, rather than the agreed Convention Centre, the land became more valuable.
          The Government was advised it should be seeking more money for the land – advice the Government ignored.”

          Another dodgy side deal to the main dodgy deal.

          Interesting that the disclaimer is ‘taxpayers’ money wont be used when it should say ‘no public money’ as the ratepayers will have to cough up for running costs, as well as them stealing business away from Auckland Councils own convention centre

          • Colin Espiner 4.3.2.1.1
            9 June 2016 at 3:32 pm

            Dukeofurl, do you mean the $15 million SKYCITY paid TVNZ for the land which they are now using to completely refurbish their studios? TVNZ’s board approved the sale, and is on record as saying they were extremely happy with the price received.

            Cheers

            Colin

    • save nz 4.4
      8 June 2016 at 10:33 am

      +1 Colin for joining in the discussion. Have you any comment on, proceeds of crime being laundered through Sky City should be given back and what is Sky City is doing to stop money laundering?

      Govt enabling money laundering in SkyCity

      http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1312/S00176/govt-enabling-money-laundering-in-skycity.htm

      Also I notice you say These will all be New Zealand based jobs, not overseas-based jobs. Are these going to be New Zealand based jobs for Kiwis or are we just adding to our immigration and housing woes, by flying in cheap labour at the expense of the NZ tax payer for these companies who will be based in NZ or migrants getting NZ citizenship at the end of it?

      Also how do you check that the construction companies are using Kiwi labour and not cheap offshore labour?

      Where are all these labourers going to live? We now have 2700 state houses sold?

      Do you not think it is adding to our housing crisis?

      • TheSocialDemocrat 4.4.1
        8 June 2016 at 10:41 am

        Save NZ, the Kiwi company is using domestic and well-paid labour.

      • Colin Espiner 4.4.2
        8 June 2016 at 12:50 pm

        Hi Save NZ,

        I have no comment on your unrelated issue of money laundering, except to point out that SKYCITY complies and exceeds all regulatory requirements in this area, and to note that no-one has ever been charged or prosecuted for money laundering at SKYCITY.

        These will be NZ based jobs. I can’t workforce plan any more than you can – who gets them and whether any are foreign workers is up to the Immigration Service, but I understand they operate a NZ citizens-first policy.

        I can’t comment on the housing crisis!

        Cheers

        Colin

        • Lanthanide 4.4.2.1
          8 June 2016 at 12:57 pm

          Thanks for answering these questions Colin, I was sure you were going to stay silent and not reply.

          • dukeofurl 4.4.2.1.1
            8 June 2016 at 2:26 pm

            Answering ?
            ‘A wealthy businessman caught up in a money-laundering investigation gambled nearly $300 million in the VIP lounge of SkyCity casino.
            And in one astonishing losing streak, he squandered almost $5 million in just 82 minutes.
            The “volume of play” – or the combined total of money gambled and won – by William Yan was $563 million between 2001 and 2013, despite the businessman being twice banned for two-year stints in that time.

            “The staggering figures are found in court documents filed by police, who as part of a money-laundering inquiry have seized millions of dollars of assets they believe belong to Mr Yan.”

            hes a colossal gambler at SKyCity, millions seized due to suspicions of laundering but Skycity says not us !! banned by SKycity but still plays the tables!

            And hes only one of ‘persons of interest’
            “The Department of Internal Affairs has described Mr Yan as “one of a number of gamblers of significance whom the department has discussed in its interaction with SkyCity”.

            • dukeofurl 4.4.2.1.1.1
              8 June 2016 at 2:29 pm

              Very large sums were defintely ‘washed’ through Skycity Accounts

              “Mr Yan’s wife, Vienna You, received $2.3 million in a bank account from a foreign exchange dealer, which she withdrew in two bank cheques of $1.8 million and $500,000.
              Those cheques were deposited in SkyCity accounts, but 30 minutes later she withdrew $300,000 and Mr Yan then “cashed out” $200,000 worth of chips. The cash was given to the real estate agent inside the casino.”

              30 mins !

            • Kevin 4.4.2.1.1.2
              8 June 2016 at 3:19 pm

              Good job he wasn’t winning at that rate or he would have been out on his ear.

            • Lanthanide 4.4.2.1.1.3
              8 June 2016 at 4:35 pm

              duke, I didn’t say I was happy or satisfied with the answers provided.

            • RedBaronCV 4.4.2.1.1.4
              8 June 2016 at 8:02 pm

              That amount should fund Ngatai Poaka for a few years

            • Colin Espiner 4.4.2.1.1.5
              9 June 2016 at 3:35 pm

              Dukeofurl, I image you’d be familiar with the rights of citizens to be presumed innocent until proven guilty? You’re entitled to suppose whatever you like about the businessman you refer to, but I am just dealing in the facts here – neither he nor anyone else has ever, to the best of my knowledge, been found to have engaged in money laundering at SKYCITY.

    • b waghorn 4.5
      8 June 2016 at 12:40 pm

      Will sky city commit to nz residents getting jobs ahead of those on “student visas”

    • North 4.6
      8 June 2016 at 10:12 pm

      And who the fuck pays your mortgage Colin, ye the employee of the calculated and unrepentant generator of human misery to the additional extent of not less than $470 million ? You gave the figure yourself Colin. Unless you’re saying there’s some philanthropy going on here. If so do tell !

      Anyway, why should anyone listen to a paid mouth/gun ? I guess I’m saying “Fuck Off!” to an effective ‘corruption by mouthpiece’……..congratulations on doing that at least as well as the portentous ‘Billy Boy’ Ralston, and the ‘Slight Man’ Hosking…….

      • Colin Espiner 4.6.1
        9 June 2016 at 3:40 pm

        Hi North, I’m sorry, I mistook the Standard for a place of eloquent if impassioned debate that welcomed the views of all sides … my apologies if I got that wrong. Actually, apart from yourself, everyone else has managed to keep the debate from descending into either the obscene or the personal.

        I’m not sure whether there’s a question in your comment, but to address your remarks: Yes, I’m paid by SKYCITY – I’m one of the 6000 Kiwis proud to say I work for the company. I imagine you have a job (?) who pays your mortgage? I’m completely upfront about my affiliations and unlike you, I don’t hide behind a pseudonym.

        Why should anyone listen to me? Well, I guess it depends on whether or not they’re interested in the other side of the story or not. If you’d like to bang on in your little bubble, be my guest, but there are always, as 25 years in journalism taught me, two sides to every story.

        Regards

        Colin

        • lprent 4.6.1.1
          9 June 2016 at 8:42 pm

          …I mistook the Standard for a place of eloquent if impassioned debate that welcomed the views of all sides … my apologies if I got that wrong.

          🙂 It is. But we’d really be letting whole concept of social media down if we didn’t have at least one crass outburst for people to observe…

          Actually, apart from yourself, everyone else has managed to keep the debate from descending into either the obscene or the personal.

          Partially that is everyone getting better at it. And partially because while we’d tolerate some outbursts of what some people REALLY think, we’re not that interested in tolerating too much without some interesting points to go with it. Besides, comments like your response do tend to make it more enjoyable for others to read..

  5. TC 5
    8 June 2016 at 10:12 am

    Colour me surprised, just another chapter in this con job of a govt.

    Time gluon’s brother earned his keep as the pr spin will be locked and loaded. How much taxpayer property was acquired again for this eyesore ?

  6. adam 6
    8 June 2016 at 10:12 am

    Was this not predicted here on the Standard?

    I think by you too MickeySavage.

    Ideology at its rigid best, from a national government that has lost the plot.

    • TC 6.1
      8 June 2016 at 11:55 am

      Its not lost the plot, chickens meet roost and on cue the spin gets rolled out. This is where henry and hosings earn their troughs.

      Works as designed, what the sheeple were sold on was brochure ware, this is the reality of nacts blighted future.

  7. srylands 7
    8 June 2016 at 10:35 am

    ” Why it did not insist that local suppliers should be preferred is not clear. ”

    Yes it is clear:

    https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-in-force/thailand/

    Also the Government’s own procurement rules prohibit discrimination against foreign suppliers:

    “Non-discrimination

    1.All suppliers must be given an equal opportunity to bid for contracts. Agencies must treat suppliers from another country no less favourably than New Zealand suppliers.”

    http://www.business.govt.nz/procurement/for-agencies/key-guidance-for-agencies/the-new-government-rules-of-sourcing/1-getting-started#rule3

    So are you suggesting that the Government should demand that Skycity discriminates against Thai suppliers when government agencies cannot?

    • mickysavage 7.1
      8 June 2016 at 11:00 am

      Are you saying that Sky City is a Government agency? A few of us suspected this to be the case but …

      • shorts 7.1.1
        8 June 2016 at 11:47 am

        I think the point is the govt should have procurement policies that put NZ owned businesses first and should where possible encourage private enterprise to do likewise

        I know this goes against the modern trend of neoliberalism and globalisation… I’m comfortable with that

        • dukeofurl 7.1.1.1
          8 June 2016 at 2:21 pm

          The Thai agreement is ambivalent about preferential local suppliers

          “The Parties shall work progressively to reduce and eliminate barriers to
          the supply of goods and services between the Parties arising from government
          procurement laws, regulations, policies, practices and procedures, and to
          increase transparency in government procurement”

          Its just a bit of blah blah… as there are no measures, no expectations,and no timetable for future changes
          /www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/_securedfiles/FTAs-agreements-in-force/Thailand-FTA/thainzcep-agreement.pdf

  8. save nz 8
    8 June 2016 at 10:40 am

    If you want to research what a scam these convention centers are – here is a good article.

    https://dimpost.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/win-by-not-playing/

  9. Keith 9
    8 June 2016 at 10:50 am

    “The government said last night this was the way the free market worked.”, translated, The government doesnt give a fuck about employing Kiwis.

  10. JonL 10
    8 June 2016 at 11:19 am

    “…..a National government that’s lost the plot”..
    Not so – the National government is fully on plot….enriching themselves and their sponsors at the expense of the country as a whole, and by tossing a few baubles to self important minnows on the way, they get away with it year after year……after year………….

  11. NZJester 11
    8 June 2016 at 11:38 am

    Are we surprised?
    Even our National rugby team long ago shipped jobs out of New Zealand by dumping a NZ clothing company for an over seas company that then proceeded to charge Kiwis more to buy the same gear offered cheaper out side of NZ.

  12. esoteric pineapples 12
    8 June 2016 at 11:54 am

    I wonder if this steel is going to be as shoddy as all the steel being used for all the other construction in New Zealand. This is something that is going to one day break big in New Zealand. The moment one building suffers from low quality steel, , every other structure using it will be condemned because no-one will know if it was using faulty steel or not. Bridges, skyscrapers etc etc will either have to be pulled down or need additional reinforcing.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/299688/uncovered-more-faults-in-steel-testing

    • Colin Espiner 12.1
      8 June 2016 at 12:53 pm

      Esoteric Pineapples, the steel will be of the highest quality and manufactured to exacting specifications. In fact, one of the whole reasons a JV with US company Herricks is so valuable in this case is that Herricks has specialised knowledge about high rise towers, convention centres, and other large scale commercial buildings.

      Culhams, the Kiwi-based part of the JV, plans to send some young Kiwi apprentices to the US to learn and train with Herrick. The result will be one of the most technologically advanced fabrication plants in the country, right here in Northland.

      Cheers

      Colin

      • TC 12.1.1
        8 June 2016 at 1:34 pm

        Citation and evidence of such a venture please.

        • dukeofurl 12.1.1.1
          8 June 2016 at 2:18 pm

          Reality is that it will be sourced cheaply and fabricated using cheap labour .

      • North 12.1.2
        8 June 2016 at 10:18 pm

        Yeah cheers Colin……now I understand why you don’t have a mortgage….. the one you had has been bought and forgiven. Shill you. For value……

    • TC 12.2
      8 June 2016 at 3:01 pm

      Then theres the pipelines…….at least our dams were built in another era thankfully.

  13. DLANZ Disabled Liberation Aotearoa NZ 13
    8 June 2016 at 1:35 pm

    Thank you for raising this. DLANZ posted on our Facebook page…”Sky City as a place for jobs was a Con….This should be raised as an Urgent Debate in The House as the history of a one seat majority that saw this Bill passed was done on the grounds of big job growth, especially in construction and its manufacturing / services sector. The ‘official’ comment is that is the way of the Market. United’s Peter Dunne should shudder at his Coalition Partner’s lack of integrity and support Opposition calls . DLANZ hold that Co Leadership requires Co-responsibility and the Laissez-faire..We don’t care attitude is pitting our Society at risk…John Key, Stephen Joyce and all need to be held account for this ‘Systemic Indifference’ of failed economic models……it not Manaakitanga or Manaaki..tia Governance”
    Lets hope MP’s take note

    Regards and keep smiling
    Doug Hay
    DLANZ Cordinator

  14. Brett Cooper 14
    8 June 2016 at 2:44 pm

    I wonder what percentage of the jobs will be full time and what percentage will be part time jobs.

    • Sabine 14.1
      8 June 2016 at 4:45 pm

      more importantly how many will be paid enough so that th workers don’t need to live in cars or under bridges and can actually afford to live in the city that they work for.

      but then maybe Sky City will provide housing for the staff, i think if they look at Foxconn in China they could get inspiration for the dormitories. 6 – 12 to a room, sleeping in shifts.
      And of course the staff would have to pay for bed and food. Win Win.

  15. Bruce 15
    8 June 2016 at 9:13 pm

    Shoddy steel, slave labour, military govt , no health and safety, coruption at every level. Of course it’s a bargain.