Karl du Fresne Vs Kathryn Ryan



Karl du Fresne. 



Karl du Fresne and Radio NZ

Karl du Fresne wrote an opinion piece about Radio NZ and in it he clearly expresses [in my view] his total bias, this of course is his right, if you will excuse the pun. He by the careful and selective use of words and implications creates the impression that RNZ has a leftwing bias, He does this by failing to indicate that RNZ also permits a heavy rightwing bias at times and on a regular basis which is obvious when one considers Jim Mora’s afternoon programme which makes maximum use of well known rightwing guests such as past Act Party hacks like Steven Franks etc. He also writes for the Listener now owned by the NZ Herald. Karl du Fresne bias is dressed and hidden in journalistic jargon and skillfully camouflaged self defeating praise such as this paragraph:

RNZ is a national treasure, but it's a flawed treasure, and that makes it vulnerable. By correcting the most obvious of those flaws, whoever takes over from Mr Cavanagh could help protect the organisation against political interference.

Karl du Fresne then moves on to describe what those flaws are and there appears to be only one in his view…that RNZ leans to the left. So he offers some advice to any future RNZ Chief…

So what might the new RNZ chief executive do to enhance the organisation's standing in a political climate that is less than favourable? One obvious step is to take a tougher line against the editorial bias that still permeates some RNZ programmes.

He then for doubtful reasons tells us that; public broadcasting tends to be left leaning because its journalists distrust capitalism! Good God, two thirds of the world distrusts capitalism. He does this in a fairly meaningless paragraph where he hopes to convince the readers that none of these traits exist in those of right leanings which are simply wrong in both fact and practice.

Public broadcasting organisations, by their very nature, tend to be Left-leaning. It's not hard to understand how this comes about. Journalists distrustful of capitalism naturally gravitate toward state-owned media organisations, seeing them as untainted by the profit motive. This becomes self-perpetuating, since the more Left-leaning an organisation becomes, the more it attracts other people of the same persuasion. The result is often an ideological mindset that permeates the entire organisation.

But to cover his backside he adds this to attempt to prove that he is wonderfully balanced and without bias.

Overall, RNZ presents a more balanced range of perspectives than it used to. But on some programmes, a stubborn Left-wing bias persists.

But alas his true colours appear and overtake any rationality in his argument thus far. Here we come to his pet hates; perhaps hate maybe a too stronger word, dislikes may be better…but they are obvious.

Kim Hill is the worst offender. This is a problem for whoever runs RNZ, because she's also its biggest name.

But he fails to supply any evidence of why Kim Hill is the worst offender, could to be it’s because she recently won worldwide recognition for her interviewing ability?

Chris Laidlaw lists to the Left too, as does Jeremy Rose, a journalist who frequently crops up on Laidlaw's Sunday morning show. Rose appears to be on a lifelong mission to convince people that there are humane alternatives to nasty, heartless capitalism.

He's perfectly entitled to believe that, of course, but he has no right to co-opt the resources of RNZ to pursue his fixation. It's an abuse of power to use a taxpayer-funded medium to promote pet ideological causes.

Really, doesn’t the PM do this everyday…

The question is ‘why he is worried about Chris Laidlaw and Kim Hill, are they too popular, are they too good in their respective roles, do they challenge too often, question too often. Once again Karl du Fresne covers his backside when he wrote…this denigration of Kathryn Ryan

And while I used to be an admirer of Nine to Noon host Kathryn Ryan, I've reluctantly been forced to file her under "L" too.

I had my first misgivings when she conducted a disgracefully partisan interview during the furore over the beleaguered Auckland employers' leader Alasdair Thompson in 2011. I was reminded of that episode when I recently heard her aggressively hectoring Chester Borrows; the Minister of Courts, over a Government proposal to take action against the partners of welfare cheats.

No-one who heard the Borrows interview could doubt that Ryan allowed her personal views and emotions to override her professional obligation of impartiality (which, I stress, doesn't preclude hard and rigorous questioning)

I heard both interviews and if ever a strong and demanding interviewing technique was called for it was both of those, Alasdair Thompson was forced to resign his position by his own organisation. Question; did Karl du Fresne agree with Alasdair Thompson’s outburst.

As to the interview with Chester Borrows I felt it was both appropriate and timely after the constant and bitter attacks on those on welfare that has been orchestrated over the last four years. Does he not listen to ‘from the right and from the left’ every Monday at 11am? Is he suggesting that Mathew Hooten doesn’t get a fair go from Kathryn Ryan, surely not? I think he does protest too much...

Karl du Fresne went on to say.   

An editor-in-chief who was doing his job properly would crack down on such abuses, for two reasons.

The first and most important is that they breach RNZ's duty to the public to present information fairly and impartially.

If he calls those interviews abuses I would suggest that he is being a little too sensitive, has he not listened to Paul Holmes, Paul Henry, Don Brash and John Banks all of whom have been interviewed on RNZ. Is he suggesting that they are without bias?

Now I think we come to the real reason for Karl du Fresne column:   

The second, more pragmatic, reason is that the Left-wing bias apparent in some of RNZ's programmes is hardly likely to endear the organisation to the politicians who control its fate.

Lastly and in one final effort to cover his backside he wrote:

In saying this, I'm not suggesting for a moment that RNZ should become a tame government puppet. That would be far worse than the status quo.

But we all have an interest in Radio New Zealand surviving, and a genuinely independent, non-partisan RNZ will be in a far stronger position to defend itself than one that consistently leaves itself exposed to allegations of bias

I agree with that last paragraph, Karl du Fresne needs to remember the Governments change often and a sound public service organisation such as RNZ should ensure that it is not sucking up to the government, or the opposition for that matter. The present government has rewarded its media supporters like private radio with interest free bail out loans [40 million] it has driven TV7 off air. So RNZ is the last bastion of public broadcasting in NZ. I don't see it as being left or right but balanced and if I had to pick between Rupert Murdock's Fox News or talkback radio and RNZ... I'd go for RNZ.

I am left to wonder if Karl du Fresne is lining himself up for a job at RNZ and if he is then I’d say he has a good chance of success, if Ian Fletcher can become head of the GCSB and Susan Devoy boss of the Human Rights Commission then anything is possible…but it would help him if he could have a cup of tea with you know who next time he is in Wellington.

Job for a buddy

 

Ian Fletcher. 



Ian Fletcher GCSB boss

This from 2010:

“A former high flyer in the British civil service is New Zealand's new top spy.

Ian Fletcher has returned to New Zealand from stints in England and Australia to head up the Government Communications Security Bureau (GSCB).

He replaces Sir Jerry Mateparae, who was sworn in as Governor-General last week.

Fletcher will quit his post as the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland State's Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation and take over running the GSCB early next year, for five years.

He began working in the British civil service in 1989, after working as a diplomat for New Zealand. He's worked at the European Commission and for the UN before becoming principal private secretary to Sir Andrew Turnbull, head of the Home Civil Service. He was also chief executive of the UK Patent Office.

Announcing the appointment Prime Minister John Key said he has '' policy and operational experience particularly in relation to international economic and trade matters.'' The GCSB gathers foreign intelligence to protect New Zealand's security, defence, economic and other”.

What the Prime Minister never said at that time was that Mr. Ian Fletcher was a very good friend of his and because of that we need to ask, why did he not share this important bit of information? It is important that these sorts of friendships are declared to ensure that democracy and democratic processes are upheld. Could it be that John Key actually and covertly helped his friend Ian into this very high paying and powerful position as New Zealand’s top spy?

Let’s just imagine that he did. Could it have been that they had a wee cup of tea together, or maybe a chat over the phone? Could the call have been something like this?

“Hi John its Ian here”…

“Ian Fleming”, the James Bond man”, asked John

“No, Ian Fletcher, I’m visiting from Australia

“Oh gid-day Ian, nice to hear from you again, what can I do for you old buddy?

“Well it’s a little bit sensitive actually John”, says Ian.

“You know I’m the PM, nothing is too sensitive for me, this is a very safe telephone line, its checked each week for bugs etc, so ask away old mate”, says John.

“Yes I’m aware that you are the PM, well you remember that position you told me about, the one with the GCSB when I was up at your place in Auckland last year, asked Ian softly.

“Yes I do, why Ian, inquired John

“Well I applied”, said Ian apprehensively and I’ve just had my final interview with the State Services Commissioner and his team, he added.

“Great, said John, and how did it go he asked.

“OK I think, oh and I never told him about our friendship or of our school boy days together when we used to play cops and robbers”, said Ian quickly.

“Probably that was best, said John feeling a bit more relaxed about where this conversation was heading. Do you know how many candidates there were seeking the position asked John?

“I heard that about a half dozen were being interviewed but I’m not sure, anyway I’m flying back to Australia in a couple of days and I’ll be in Auckland tomorrow will you be home”, asked Ian feeling a bit more relaxed now.

“Sure am, I’m at home till Sunday and then I’m to Hawaii for a weeks break, so pop in tomorrow for dinner, we’ll have lamb stew just like our Mom’s used to cook back in the good old days, if you let me know when your flight arrives I’ll have my driver pick you up in the BMW at the Airport”…

“Thanks John, said Ian, adding it’ll be just like the old days.

Now officially the suggested conversation above never took place, but if it did it has now been long forgotten or expunged from the memory cells of both John and Ian. Why, because it would have been against and in contradiction of existing recruitment processes. You are meant to declare relationships or conflicts of interests.

By upholding these safe guards we protect our country from the birth of dictatorships.

But the matter did not end there because it would appear that when the State Services Commissioner sent two names to the PM as the minister-in-charge of the GCSB for him to approve one of them to be appointed as head of the GCSB, John Key decided to not approve either one.

Later he was sent a longer list with a further list of names to select from. It is suggested that Ian Fletchers name was on that list, but he was not among the top four, the names were in preference order so we have been informed.

Yet Ian Fletcher got the job and since that appointment has worked very closely with John Key especially during and after the infamous smash and crash military styled raid on Kim Dotcoms mansion by the combined efforts of the GCSB, SIS, FBI and the NZ Police hit squad…which then hit the headlines and was later was declared illegal by the courts. John Key denied any pre-raid knowledge and Ian Fletcher supported this strange view.

2013:

When questioned in Parliament about the issue regarding the appointment of his school and family buddy Key said:

• Their mothers were best friends,
• Their [John and Ian] acquaintance dated back to their childhood, when their mothers were "best friends",
• He also went to school with Fletcher's brother

• He said, that he cannot recall if he declared the relationship, to the State Services Commissioner.

Green MP Steffan Browning later told the media “that Key, Fletcher and Fletcher's brother "Were all close mates" who "hung out together" in their schooldays.

After question time, Key told reporters he "vaguely" knew Fletcher. He would characterise him as a friend and saw him "from time to time, but not very often".

He was asked if the pair renewed their relationship when they both worked in London in the 1990s.and he replied: “"I can't recall particular occasions,". [was this a yes or a no?]

The point clearly indicated during both question time and later with the media was the fact that John Key couldn’t remember key issues. By using the words ‘I can’t recall’ doesn’t mean that he didn’t but obviously means that he avoids or side-steps telling untruths and this is a difficult line to follow over a longer periods of times as new evidence becomes available.

Feed The Kids National Symposium

On the 4^th of Feb 2007 John Key released a press release on the planned National Party programme to introduce a food in schools scheme.

According to Key the National Party was going to introduce a food in schools programme because Labour and Helen Clark had failed to do so…when it was much needed.

Key’s lied…yet again because on being elected he dumped the so-called programme. This was strange when one considers that he had said that this programme is greatly needed today but National seems to have forgotten about kids these days. Here is what he said:

3 February 2007

National launches its Food in Schools programme

National Party Leader John Key has announced the first initiative in what will be a National Food in Schools programme.

"National is committed to providing practical solutions to the problems which Helen Clark says don’t exist," says Mr Key.

During his State of the Nation speech on Tuesday, Mr Key indicated National would seek to introduce a food in schools programme at our poorest schools in partnership with the business community.

Mr Key has since received an approach from Auckland-based company Tasti foods.

"I approached Wesley Primary School yesterday, a decile 1 school near McGehan Close, a street that has had more than its fair share of problems in recent times. I am told Wesley Primary, like so many schools in New Zealand, has too many kids turning up hungry.

"We’re putting Tasti and Wesley Primary together. This is a fantastic first step. In addition to this, Tasti has indicated they may wish to expand their generous donation of food to other schools in need, and we’ll be looking to facilitate that.

"We all instinctively know that hungry kids aren’t happy and healthy kids."

Mr Key is also inviting other businesses to contact National so it can work on expanding the programme.

"I want this to be the first of many schools and businesses that we put together.

“I’m interested in what works and I am humbled by the support this idea has received already.

"We are going to put together the package while in Opposition. We are not waiting to be in Government, because all our kids deserve better."  [source: Scoop]

Question: Did National do this on becoming the Government in late 2008? The short answer is NO they did not, so we can presume that no package was put together and the words were hollow words from a hollow man. In simple words he was bull-s**ting and simply pretending to actually care about the kids in low decile schools. That is a fact and any person with half a brain knows that the lot of children has got worse since 2007 the evidence is overwhelming and obvious. Even a blind person would recognise that fact.

MP Hone Harawia on behalf of the Mana Party will introduce his private members bill to parliament on ‘Feeding the Kids’, he like thousands and thousands of others is sick and tired of National’s procrastination over doing something about the ever growing task of making sure our kids are fed. He is, as are thousands of others tired of listening to the clap-trap of the very well fed Minister of Social Welfare Paula Bennett and that most unpopular Minister of Education Hekia Parata who seems to have disappeared off the radar since Novopay hit the headlines.

At this point it would appear that a majority of parties will support his bill going to select committee where people can make submissions and speak to those submissions, but the National Party has yet to commit itself to that course of action [unlike in 2007 when they promised action]

The bill will be discussed at a symposium to be held at Papa o Te Aroha Marae, Tokoroa on Saturday 13 April 2013. I and three others [at this stage] from Palmerston North will be attending the symposium so if you have any views or ideas that you would like shared please contact me by email and share your thoughts we me so I can present them to the gathering. Just send them to wheeler@inspie.net.nz and I will include them. I am especially interested in any suggestions from schools themselves about what they think would work for your school in your area.

The symposium is being organised by Andrew Paul and a hard working organising committee and if you want to know more you can contact them at
Feed The Kids National Symposium Mobile: 028-25899141 or Email: andrew@imic.co.nz You may even consider attending if so please contact Paul as soon as possible.

Cuts for Miners and our Youth

Solid Energy…and Youth Rates:

Solid Energy has had a melt down and is no longer solid; in fact it is rather like ice-cream left out of the freezer, but at least with melted ice cream you can drink it.

Solid Energy is on the brink of bankruptcy yet the PM won’t order an official enquiry in to its spectacular fall from grace. The board has failed dramatically and put hundreds on the dole and put at risk hundreds of other jobs . The board had been entrusted to guard our asset but instead have blown your money on empire building, while giving themselves enormous over-the-top salaries and bonuses and trips overseas.

You and I deserve better, and you should demand answers to the serious question as to how this stuff up happened but you are not going to get them without pressure because the government majority on the Commerce Committee has voted against an inquiry:



Younger Tony Ryall. 



I’m absolutely sure that the Prime Minister and the SOE minister Tony Ryall instructed them to vote as they did and It bloody stinks, don’t be surprised if they appoint Colin Meads as the next Chairperson of Solid Energy. I mean if they can appoint Susan Devoy as the race relations commissioner then anything is possible.

TV 3 on Thursday on Campbell Live they showed clearly how Solid Energy bosses wasted millions of dollars buying plant and property that has never been used and has sat idle for years. They also explained how Solid Energy are right now negotiating changes that will lower the wages of those few employees who may remain and it would appear that their union has given up on working to preserve jobs and are simply accepting managements demands.

It is ironic when one considers that the government also passed a bill today reducing wages for those 16 to 19 years old, this is really the reintroduction of youth-rates. I don’t why it is, but a year or two ago the government made all these speeches against youth rates saying how wrong Roger Douglas was when he tried on behalf of the Act Party to reintroduce a private members bill reinstating them.

Oh sure they changed the name to ‘The starting out wage’ bill but it is the same as youth rates, in fact its worse especially for those coming off a benefit [unemployment or sickness] at ages above 16 because the rate is the same for those aged 16.

McDonalds, Pack and Save, Burger King, Count Down and such like will love the new bill. But what is even more ironic is that the same National Party back benchers who spoke against youth rates spoke in favour of the new bill. The PM and Finance Minister were not present in Parliament as is normal on a Thursday, why is it that the PM only works two days [Tuesday and Wednesday] a week when parliament is sitting, is it because he is off to Hawaii...who knows.

Is your bank account safe?

It would seem that not only do the Green Party offer us hope for the environment and the future of the planet but they also offer us a better and wiser way of protecting our savings. Most of us have our income paid directly into a bank account of some sort and rely on the fact that that bank is both secure and sound in its operation.

Most other countries make sure that banks have some type of insurance cover that securers its deposits especially it’s smaller account holder.

The government in Cyprus has just rejected an effort by the ECU to take money from private account holders in Cyprus to bail out its banks.

Blogger No Right Turn said the following:

The Cypriot Parliament has voted against the German-imposed bank robbery, with not a single MP voting in favour. While the plan had been modified to exclude smaller deposits, that wasn't good enough, and tellingly not even government MPs voted for it - they all abstained. I guess the crowds gathered outside Parliament made it quite clear what the consequences of robbing them would be.

So, the EU/IMF's bluff has been called: they can either pony up more money, or let Cyrpus default or risk it taking down the rest of the Eurozone. Let’s hope they're not gamblers.

Meanwhile, this is the first real democratic pushback against EU/IMF austerity. Long may it continue?

The Greens and NZ First have stated their opposition to the National Governments plans.

Press Release: Green Party 

19 March 2013

National planning Cyprus-style solution for New Zealand

The National Government are pushing a Cyprus-style solution to bank failure in New Zealand which will see small depositors lose some of their savings to fund big bank bailouts, the Green Party said today.

Open Bank Resolution (OBR) is Finance Minister Bill English’s favoured option dealing with a major bank failure. If a bank fails under OBR, all depositors will have their savings reduced overnight to fund the bank’s bail out.

“Bill English is proposing a Cyprus-style solution for managing bank failure here in New Zealand – a solution that will see small depositors lose some of their savings to fund big bank bailouts,” said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.

“The Reserve Bank is in the final stages of implementing a system of managing bank failure called Open Bank Resolution. The scheme will put all bank depositors on the hook for bailing out their bank.

“Depositors, will overnight have their savings shaved by the amount needed to keep the bank afloat…

“While the details are still to be finalised, nearly all depositors will see their savings reduced by the same proportions.

“Bill English is wrong to assume everyday people are able to judge the soundness of their bank. Not even sophisticated investors like Merrill Lynch saw the global financial crisis coming.

“If he insists on pushing through this unfair scheme, small depositors can be protected ahead of time with a notified savings threshold below which their savings will be safe from any interference.”

Dr Norman questioned the Government’s insistence on pursuing Open Bank Resolution when virtually no other OECD country uses it.

“Open Bank Resolution is unprecedented in the world. Most OECD countries run deposit insurance schemes which protect people’s deposits up to a maximum ranging from $100,000 – $250, 000,” Dr Norman said.

“OBR is not in line with Australia, which protects bank deposits up to $250,000.

“A deposit insurance scheme is a much simpler, well-tested alternative to Open Bank Resolution. It rewards safe banks with lower premiums and limits the cost to taxpayers of a bank failure.

Deposit insurance will, however require the Reserve Bank to oversee and regulate our banks more closely A  measure which is ultimately the best protection against bank failure.

The NZ First Party released this PR on the same issue:

PROTECT THE SAVINGS OF NEW ZEALANDERS

New Zealand First is calling for the introduction of a bank depositors’ guarantee scheme to protect the savings of blameless Kiwis during any financial crisis;

The policy would provide a government guarantee for deposits of up to $100,000 in New Zealand-owned banks.

The call comes as the Reserve Bank moves to adopt measures that would, under certain financial circumstances, allow it to take a portion of bank deposits from New Zealanders accounts.

A similar policy has caused public outrage and panic in Cyprus as that country works towards a Eurozone-endorsed bailout.

Rt Hon Winston Peters says the possibility that a New Zealand financial crisis and subsequent bailout could hit the savings of innocent, hard-working mums and dads is not the Kiwi way.

“Why take money off innocent New Zealanders who have simply used a bank in which to store their hard-earned money?

“Essentially that would see innocent New Zealanders being financially penalised for something that wasn’t of their making.

“That sort of scenario is never acceptable in a court of law so why make it part of the Reserve Bank’s policy,” says Mr Peters.

This is a very serious matter and we should never forget that the greatest percentage of our banks are overseas owned.

Wheeler's Corner 08 21st March 2013

Wheeler’s Corner

Connecting Citizens Who Care

08 21^st March 2013

This Week: 1. Why would you trust these people: 2. Dame Jenny Shipley since leaving parliament: 3. Brazen Hussies to entertain:

1.

Would you buy a specific brand of four wheel drive utility because you saw a really old ex-All back [Colin Meads] dump a load of fence posts using that brand? Would you buy a life insurance policy because a deeply religious ex-All Black suggested they were trustworthy? What about taking a quick loan from ‘Instant finance’ because an ex Warriors half-back [Stacy Jones] suggested that you could solve all your financial problems by doing so?

What about investing your retirement savings with ‘Lombard Finance and savings’ because Sir Douglas Graham [National] and Bill Jeffries [Labour] were directors of that esteemed company? Were you amongst the hundreds if not thousands who lost millions when Lombard went belly up?



Dame Jeeny Shipley 



Would you have considered contracting Mainzeal to build your next home or building if you knew that ex-PM Jenny Shipley [National] was the chairperson? I mean shouldn’t we ask, what does Jenny Shipley actually know about the construction business, in fact what does she actually know about business in general.

We all are aware that both Sir Douglas Graham and Bill Jefferies are awaiting sentencing because they misled investors and that Dame Jenny Shipley conveniently walked away from Mainzeal just three weeks before they went bust…owing around a billion dollars to unpaid creditors…and to make matters worse the very same Dame Jenny Shipley is the chair of state-owned enterprise Genesis Energy, so is it safe for us to presume that Genesis Energy is at risk.

What skills, if any, did any of the above people have for the roles given them on a plate? Did they actually have any skills at all or did they simply have a public image that others thought could help sell what ever product was on offer. Or was it simply just public relations hype or jobs for the boy’s and girls? The Listener had this to say on the subject:  

“Trophy Directors:

Retired politicians can come a terrible cropper when they accept appointments to company boards. Just ask former Cabinet ministers Sir Douglas Graham and Bill Jeffries, both convicted last year of misleading investors while serving on the board of Lombard Finance and Investments. More recently, the reputation of former Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley took a substantial hit with the failure of the big construction company Mainzeal, whose board she had chaired. Why ex-politicians are offered such appointments, even when they have no relevant business experience is no mystery. As Auckland investment commentator Brian Gaynor explained to the Listener, a former prime minister or Cabinet minister is perceived as bringing an aura of credibility and respectability to a board. They may not realise it, but some boardroom appointees are shoulder-tapped not for their perceived ability but purely for their name; hence the term “trophy director”. Quote ends.

When you couple this obvious behaviour to patsy but well paying jobs for mates… it’s not hard to make the connection between performance and skill shortages by board members or chairs to now ask, is this the reason why Solid Energy, Lombard’s and heaps of other companies went belly up or fell foul of the law..

What were the directors of state-owned enterprise Solid Energy doing while the company amassed debts of $389 million? It would appear that they were sitting on their backsides collecting millions and actually doing little. And these are the people that the Nat’s simply give a free hand to spend taxpayer’s money willy-nilly and get knighted while doing so. This [once again] from the Listener who managed to stop defending the national government for a moment or two:

“Solid Energy chairman Mark Ford appeared before a parliamentary select committee this week to explain how the SOE, once a star performer in the public sector, was now on the critical list.

They were also curious to know why bonuses totaling $23 million were paid to chief executive Don Elder [pictured] and top managers when Solid Energy was evidently in freefall.

Ford wasn’t the only SOE chair fielding curly questions at Parliament.

MPs also grilled former Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley about her involvement in the construction company Mainzeal, which collapsed only weeks after she resigned as chairwoman.

Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove was keen to know whether Shipley’s role at Mainzeal might damage the reputation of state-owned enterprise Genesis Energy, which she also chairs.

Mighty River Power was on the mat too, especially when it emerged during select committee hearings that directors were being paid $1200 a day as the company prepares for its flotation on the stock exchange.

It was a rare instance of directors being subjected to close public scrutiny. More often, they fly below the public’s radar. But as the latest issue of the Listener points out, directors are the “last men standing” – the ones who must carry the can – when companies fail”. Quote ends.

The Chair of Mighty River Power Joan Withers [pictured] also has her problems; she is a defendant in a civil class action against Feltex Carpets brought by investors in relation to Feltex’s IPO and Mighty River Power is the first of the governments vital sell off’s as it desperately attempts to replace its cash flow after giving away millions in tax cuts for the rich [people like Withers, Elder, Key, Joyce etc] and handing over millions to Warner Brothers and Peter Jackson and his various companies. Goldman Sachs is advising Australian investors about the MRP sell off…and when Goldman Sachs looks at anything you know there is easy money to be made by those with insider knowledge. Goldman Sachs has often breached US financial regulations / laws; will they do the same here?

The Prime Minister John Key has had a rough couple of weeks, his ability to pay teachers correctly has reached crisis point and they are planning strike action and who can blame them…I mean would you work for nothing? The boss of Solid Energy wouldn’t that’s for sure.

Solid Energy has proved to be anything but solid and is in melt-down but is still paying its departed CEO 1.3 million dollars per year after sacking hundreds of miners and other front line staff. And while he was away having cups of tea with drug lords his Minister of Education [Parata] was hiding and his Minister of Everything [Joyce] has proven to be a draft-horse rather than a unicorn. Poverty and unemployment is growing at expanding rates and around a thousand Kiwis’ per week are heading off-shore.

And we now have the latest poll that shows that citizens want Warner Brothers to pay back the 65 million dollars that he handed over to them, and much to National’s shame…

The Mana Movement is introducing a ‘Feed the Children’ private members bill to the house shortly because they are sick of the government doing nothing in the fight against poverty. If just a fraction of Warner Brothers 65 million was used to fight poverty it would make a huge difference for those at the bottom of the heap, the children of New Zealand.

2.

Jenny Shipley’s history [edited] since departing parliament: From Wikipedia…

She was a school teacher.

She appeared on an episode of the television reality/travel show Intrepid Journeys where she visited Namibia.^[5] She later started a charity to help a school she came across as part of that trip.^[6]

In 2007, Shipley joined the financial services firm Source Sentinel.

Shipley also has business interests in China and is currently on the board of the China Construction Bank.^[7][8]

According to Companies Office records, Jack Chen, Jenny Shipley and another investor founded a business together in 2004 called New Zealand Pure & Natural. Mr Chen quit as a director a year later but only quit his shareholding in 2010.^[9] Mr Chen was instrumental in promoting the 'Chinese Business Roundtable Council' in NZ,^[10] and set up a new political party in NZ, before being forced to resign due to fraud & corruption charges being laid in Hong Kong. ^{[9] [11] [12] [13] [14]}

In 2010 the China Construction Bank agreed to help finance a proposal by May Wang [also known as Hao May] & Jack Chen [also known as Chen Keen] to invest in the New Zealand dairy industry^[9] by taking over the Crafar Farms.^[15]

Shipley accepted a dame-hood on 14 August 2009 after the Fifth National Government reinstated them.^[16] Since 2009, Shipley has chaired the Genesis Power board.^[17]

In December 2012 Shipley resigned from the board of directors of Mainzeal Property & Construction which later went into receivership on 6 February 2013. At mid-day on 5 February 2013 she was one of four independent directors who resigned from the board of Mainzeal Group Limited.^[19]. Both Mainzeal Property & Construction (MPCL) and Mainzeal Group Limited are part of the Richina group, controlled & majority owned by Yan Ci Lang (Richard Yan). ^{[20] [21] [22] [23]}

3.

  

The Brazen Hussies and Friends Fundraising Concert for

Te Whare o ngā Wāhine

Palmerston North Women’s Centre

Saturday 6^th April 3-5pm

Te Manawa Art Gallery (upstairs)

                                                $10 (waged) gold coin (unwaged)

(Children free)

(Plus donations welcome!)

Door sales only

Featuring

Bullfrog Rata and friends

Celia Briar - Celtic Harp

Sarah Bingle and Rob Thorne

The Brazen Hussies – with Helen Simmons MC

Peter J Wheeler

Wheeler@inspire.net.nz