Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Cullen investment

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  • Rich of Observationz,

    So a choice of:
    - John Banks (National/ACT)
    - Alex Swney (ACT
    - Richard Simpson (Action Hobson, so not exactly National, but not really anywhere near the left).

    Still, maybe simon g is right, there'll be a backlash and John Minto will get elected mayor. In which case expect National to pass under urgency a measure making the mayor of Auckland a government appointment.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    Alex Swney (ACT

    Now THERE'S a surprise...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Paul Williams,

    What a paucity of choice! You can't compare with Sydney, the federal political system changes the equation, but the Lord Mayor's pretty damn significant as a service provider etc here. I'd be bloody worried if I was a voter and that spread was my choice. When was the last decent mayor of Akl? Meyer-Robinson?

    Ok, I'll be the first to say it, Rusty Brown for Mayor... I'm not kidding.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant,

    They're not privatising Watercare. Glad to hear it...

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    If it isn't going to be privatised, why structure it as a council owned enterprise in the first place?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • FletcherB,

    "If it isn't going to be privatised, why structure it as a council owned enterprise in the first place?"

    It is already structured that way... It's a stand-alone enterprise owned by the 6 councils it supplies... if those separate owners get amalgamated... Basically what is proposed is as close to "do nothing" as they can get away with.

    I guess you could disband the company structure and make it part of the broader council bureaucracy? Would that really gain much in efficiency?

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    They're not privatising Watercare

    ...yet. Rodney's views on government providing (waste)water services are well-known, and they're not compatible with the above statement. All this "We won't privatise anything in this term of Government" nonsense just means the inevitable is delayed until the next term. If Rodney returns after the next election, and is once again Monster of Local Government, expect some big shake-ups in council-owned assets and service providers.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

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