What’s in the friday dump this week?

18 comments on “What’s in the friday dump this week? ”

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1. karol 1

   20 September 2013 at 2:54 pm

   Meridian shares at low price?

   Russel Norman responds:

   National’s plan to sell Meridian shares off cheaply shows that it is fixated on trying to avert political disaster, rather than focusing on what is best for the New Zealand economy, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

   The Meridian offer documents released today forecast an “underlying gross share dividend yield for New Zealand retail applicants of 8.4%-8.9%”. The Mighty River Power sale price was set to achieve a 6-7% dividend yield. This means that Meridian is being sold at a significant discount compared to Mighty River Power.

   Latest official figures put the cost of the asset sales at over $124 million, with the net foregone profits from Mighty River Power running at an additional $2.3 million a week. The ‘buy now, pay later’ scheme for Meridian shares has been costed at $60 million by the Parliamentary Library. The Government has failed to produce a costing.

   “This is a fire-sale by a National Government that’s desperate to convince Kiwis to participate in these unpopular asset sales,” said Dr Norman.

   “Hocking off Meridian at a bargain basement price only worsens the economic case for selling these profitable, strategic assets.

   Edit: Labour Party responds (good to see Labour quick of the mark on this)

   Meridian Fire Sale a $1b Hole In Asset Sales

   Meridian is being sold off in a fire sale for $1b less than the $3.1 billion the Government needs to reach its hopelessly optimistic goal of raising $5b to $7b from asset sales, says Labour’s SOEs spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove.

   “The Government’s asset sales plan is under crisis management. With Meridian now set to raise $1b less than expected the Government hasn’t got a hope of raising the money it promised Kiwis it would.
   • lprent 1.1

     20 September 2013 at 3:00 pm

     Yep. Predictable. Hide the bargain basement sale of our assets (in the interests of the National party) in a friday press release.
2. Tracey 2

   20 September 2013 at 3:19 pm

   interesting that at a function to meet british govt mps it was also attended by political strategists. is that normal here too, to have a state funded function full of partisan strategists? crosby texter in the midst of it all again… might not be a friday dump as such but it is something lost on the masses
   • karol 2.1

     20 September 2013 at 3:27 pm

     This from Claire Trevett at NZ Herald:

     Key pictured also meeting with Ed Miliband – to show him being kinda balanced (yeah right).

     Partisan politics are normally put to one side on overseas visits. In that respect, Mr Key’s address to give his tips for success to the Conservative Party was an unusual part of the visit.

     However, Mr Key defended it saying the Conservatives were National’s sister party and he did a wide range of events on overseas trips.

     “It’s actually not unhelpful from New Zealand’s point of view because we get some informal time to talk to ministers and build those bonds and relationships.

     In the end, politics is a lot about knowing people and being able to pick up the phone and have a conversation with them. So was it a good use of my time? I’d say yes.”

     Others at the conference included Australian political campaign strategist Lynton Crosby, from Crosby Textor, which has done work for the National Party. Mr Key said he did not know Mr Crosby well, had not seen his presentation but had spoken to him briefly.

     “I just generally said hello and what he’s doing over here, it wasn’t a very detailed conversation.” He said Mr Crosby was not involved in New Zealand politics – he tended to focus on Europe.
     • handle 2.1.1

       20 September 2013 at 7:11 pm

       So Textor is the prick to watch here. Is he the one who has been pushing boat people as a threat on both sides of the Tasman?
       • karol 2.1.1.1

         20 September 2013 at 7:53 pm

         Mark Textor is certainly the one pushing Boris’s boat –

         and then Key seems well in with Boris.
3. Anne 3

   20 September 2013 at 3:24 pm

   I’m fairly sure Crosby/Textor were also hired by Conservatives at the last British election so I guess it’s a case of being ‘all in the family’ Tracey.
4. Tracey 4

   20 September 2013 at 3:28 pm

   yes siree but why should taxpayers pay for these people to be entertained?

   perhaps something in employment will be slipped under the radar. doesnt it speak volumes about this govt that transport is put together with industrial relations.

   if anyone has time rwad this one page submission on the employment relations act from airport cleaners.

   perhaps more politicians should take the time to kkep in touch with hard working kiwis

   http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/documents/evidence/50SCTIR_EVI_00DBHOH_BILL12107_1_A352886/sina-fameitau-and-12-others
   • karol 4.1

     20 September 2013 at 3:37 pm

     Thanks. A heart felt plea.
5. Tracey 5

   20 September 2013 at 3:33 pm

   anne i copied this earlier today

   Key was invited by Conservative Party leader and British counterpart David Cameron to a gathering of most of his MPs in Chipping Norton, a couple of hours northwest of London.

   Key gave a speech to the MPs and strategists and joined in a “deeply political conversation” with high-ranking Cabinet ministers including Chancellor George Osborne and Home Secretary Theresa May.

   Key also chatted with the controversial Australian political strategist Lynton Crosby, who advises Cameron.
   • ghostwhowalksnz 5.1

     20 September 2013 at 4:30 pm

     Old friends catching up

     . Remember it was Key who put C+T on retainer when he became National party leader.

     Highly unusual outside an election period, and must have cost an arm and a leg, but worth it dont u think as they created the “legend” we see today
     • mickysavage 5.1.1

       20 September 2013 at 7:15 pm

       I heard they were on a fairly regular retainer to check up on things over here …
       • Linz 5.1.1.1

         20 September 2013 at 8:16 pm

         An early election maybe?
6. Treetop 6

   20 September 2013 at 3:35 pm

   I am looking forward to question time over the sale of Meridian shares. Key will have to give excuses when he gets back; he will not admit any blame from his government.
   • tc 6.1

     21 September 2013 at 7:19 am

     Blaming labour greens power policy is already part of the rhetoric
     • dumrse 6.1.1

       21 September 2013 at 8:39 pm

       They didn’t have a policy, they plucked some ideas out of there arses. The term policy implies some thought and discussion went on over a period of time, horses arse it did. Extreme left politics at its worst.
7. xtasy 7

   20 September 2013 at 11:53 pm

   Is this of the “brown cake” type, fresh out of the gut type? whoa, I get sick just reading the headlines, and no surprises after all, Natzies are just what they are “Na(t)zis”. Enjoy the weekend while you can.
8. Treetop 8

   21 September 2013 at 11:20 am

   “The lure of money does funny things to people … that are not funny.”

   Sara Henderson (author on the outback)

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