This press release was brought to you on behalf of National’s sponsors

Written By: - Date published: 8:25 am, August 22nd, 2023 - 25 comments
Categories: chris bishop, national, politicans, same old national - Tags:

Some action today on twitter shows how allowing large donations can raise questions about parties having conflicts of interest.

It started with this tweet which attracted my attention.

And a deeper dive into the background raises some interesting issues and a few questions that National should answer.

It starts with Developer Winton Land Ltd’s desire to develop some land in South Auckland.  Winton’s directors include Chris Meehan and one Stephen Leonard Joyce who was appointed in June 2023.

The land appears to be zoned mixed rural and is in the middle of a rather large flood zone.

Development of the site will be somewhat difficult and normally you would expect care to be taken before allowing fairly intensive urbanisation of the area.

The developer has major plans for the land including the construction of 5,000 homes including three retirement villages, retail hubs, and green space.  The proposal has some very positive aspects to it, being designed to be a 15 minute village and minimising the need to drive.

Winton requested the Government to allowing the application being dealt with under the Urban Development Act 2020 to speed up development.  This request was declined.

It is then that things become interesting as shown by this timeline:

  • October 2021 – application filed under the UDA.
  • November 19, 2021 – application declined.  The letter from Kainga Ora notes that “Winton’s proposal notes that it is a capable developer that is well-funded and does not require access to the funding and financing aspects of the Act, nor does it seek Kāinga Ora’s assistance with the completion of the development” in making its decision.  Flooding issues and the fact that the area is in the flight path of the Ardmore Airport are factors raised.
  • May 5, 2022 – Speargass Holdings Ltd donates $51,994.70 to National.  Speargrass has one shareholder, Chris Meehan who is also a director of that company.
  • October 20, 2022 – Winton files proceedings under the Commerce Act stating that the decision to decline its UDA application constitutes anti competitive conduct.
  • That same day Chris Bishop issues a press release stating the following:
    “The Government passed the Urban Development Act 2020 to enable developments like Sunfield, but now refuses to let the private sector use the powers under the Act. It’s no wonder Winton thinks this is anti-competitive behaviour, particularly when Kāinga Ora repeatedly outbids the private sector.“Ministers need to explain why they have said no to fast-tracking over 4000 new homes that would have created thousands of jobs. The excuse that Kāinga Ora is ‘too busy’ isn’t good enough. What exactly are the almost-2000 extra bureaucrats at the agency doing?”
  • July 31, 2023 – Winton confirms that the quantum of damages it is seeking is $138.5 million.

If there was a change of Government I suspect the decision would be reversed rather quickly.

And it raises an important issue: Should the National Party be forced release a disclaimer every time it issues a message in support of one of its sponsors?

25 comments on “This press release was brought to you on behalf of National’s sponsors ”

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  1. Barfly 1
    22 August 2023 at 9:03 am

    The National Party corrupt as……….

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2
    22 August 2023 at 9:23 am

    Yea…that Meehan character.

    Property developer Chris Meehan has just spent “tens of thousands” running a series of national newspaper ads attacking government “red tape”, and calling for a meeting with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/300852684/housing-standoff-escalates-as-developer-attacks-govt-red-tape-in-ad-campaign

    Some previous. (There might be more?..)

    https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/queenstown-developer-loses-14m-damages-claim

    His "connectivity" with the Nats..unsurprising.

  3. Daz 3
    22 August 2023 at 9:32 am

    Its too late children. You are finished for at least 3 years. Time to roll Chippy. Get some GOOD people, workers, in there.

  4. Ngungukai 4
    22 August 2023 at 10:02 am

    WOW ???

  5. Tiger Mountain 5
    22 August 2023 at 10:20 am

    Appears to be common Natzo style “networking” which others might term insider trading or bent politics. Flood risk designation?–certainly has not stopped developers in the past!

    Kāinga Ora recently completed a 37 dwelling state house and apartment project in Puriri Park Rd, Maunu, Whangārei. Boy did the local Torys go off about that one. The site was a longstanding MoE one that was transferred to KO, so cost the taxpayer very little at all compared to a private land purchase.

    Private sector developers essentially went on strike with the Kiwibuild project, because they always prefer high margin jobs and detest social housing on principle.

    In answer to Micky’s question in final para, yes, the Natzos should be required to come clean about their grubby deals.

    • lprent 5.1
      23 August 2023 at 9:15 am

      I call it "crony capitalism".

      In business it is what you do if you can't handle a free market. It is a characteristic of supporters of Act and National.

  6. Mike the Lefty 6
    22 August 2023 at 11:58 am

    National and big money – the kind of alliance that Mother Nature dreads.

  7. Corey 7
    22 August 2023 at 1:03 pm

    I've always believed we should have fully publicly funded elections, with every candidate getting about 10 K and playing on a level playing field.

    Sure it's expensive but I'd rather an expensive democracy with level playing field than have the wealthy, corporations and special interests be allowed to basically buy politicians and elections.

    It's not fair if normal people can't compete and the interests of average kiwis will never come first.

    Also $10 K spend per candidate means goodbye to fancy campaign launches, good bye to being bombarded with electoral ads and goodbye to billboards!!

    The billboards are by far the most annoying part of elections, noone likes them apart from tribal party voters, they are a waste of money, resources and ya can't escape politics (which is toxic ATM) without being reminded about the divisive election.

    The only good thing about the election billboards is NZs long tradition of humourously vandalizing then, not the low effort vandalizing but the kind that makes even the candidates whose billboards were vandalized laugh.

  8. roblogic 8
    22 August 2023 at 4:42 pm

    There were a bunch of contentious developments around Christchurch on marginal land that were subsequently wrecked by liquefaction or kiboshed post earthquake.

    Developers only see dollar signs, they need to respect what geotechnical engineers tell them.

  9. Bearded Git 9
    22 August 2023 at 4:44 pm

    Chris Meehan is not well liked in Otago ….he has been associated with developments in Cromwell, Wanaka and Queenstown that have got up many people's noses because planning rules are pushed to the limit where resource consents are gained and then get radically changed down the track.

    None of this appears to be illegal…..

    • roblogic 9.1
      22 August 2023 at 6:07 pm

      Not illegal but pushing councils around and trying to skirt the rules seems to be the business model. Which is how we got the leaky homes scandal of the 90s that made a complete mess of housing in this country and ruined the lives of thousands of people.

      • Graeme 9.1.1
        23 August 2023 at 8:15 am

        There's a pretty strong correlation between this business model and a spectacular tits up at, or approaching, the next down turn. Been keeping a close eye on this outfit for a while.

  10. Charlotte Rust 10
    23 August 2023 at 8:04 am

    Do Nat voters actually care? What exactly are their values? I saw a meme someone posted on another feed that pretty much says it all – money and making more of it.

  11. roblogic 11
    23 August 2023 at 6:00 pm

    Another concerning piece of data from RNZ about the influence of money in politics. (Via @antihobbes)

    • Ad 11.1
      23 August 2023 at 6:09 pm

      Life is always unfair when you're losing.

      The current government have had 6 years and a public service with 530 communications staff to explain the impact of their policies.

      That's an increase of more than 50% doing communications since Labour took office.

      The only time that staff were not working in furtherance of the policies of a Labour government is when the House rises for the election.

      Used well, the advantage of incumbancy should dwarf fundraising edge.

      • roblogic 11.1.1
        24 August 2023 at 4:37 pm

        The post is about National's crony capitalism and the pernicious impact of money in politics, which is not something to ignore or be excused. I prefer democracy to plutocracy

      • SPC 11.1.2
        24 August 2023 at 5:50 pm

        Is the government able to use comms staff to promote their government in the media with taxpayer paid advertising or even message on social media during work hours?