Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Nobody wanted #EQNZ for Christmas

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  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    *chundering
    *bringing up breakfast
    *losing the curry
    *feeding the fishes (this maybe a fishers-only one...)

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    My! Doesnt he look a happy healthy chappie?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    . . . awarded the Australian of the Year in UK

    Anyone who’d fill a pair of gumboots with custard and title it Pus in Boots deserves the world’s gratitude.

    Jeez Islander, two new to me there :-)

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    If I cogitate for a wee while, I'm sure I can think of others...

    Oo- didnt know about 'Pus In Boots' - morbidly delicious...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    I got angry enough to read the Local govt Act 2002 & have come up with a couple of options.

    Schedule 7 we might Oust our members from Office, because they all a pack of incompetent dicks & they are saying so themselves.
    Schedule 3 we get 10% of the CCC electors to petition for a new election. Not stated specifically but there's enough room it might just work.
    Schedule 3 we get 10% petition for a unitary authority - don't like this at all but we get Ecan back at the same time.

    Alt - Bloody & Violent Revolution or was that Bloody Marys & the Violent Femms.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    When the Crown undermines Council, democracy fails.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Just thinking,

    There aren't any electorate recall powers in NZ. Think before you vote. If you don't like any councillor, you've got a chance (if you live in their ward) to vote them out next year.

    People forget that councillors are not employees, they are representatives. If people want to vote in an awkward sod, that's their right.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    There aren’t any electorate recall powers in NZ. Think before you vote. If you don’t like any councillor, you’ve got a chance (if you live in their ward) to vote them out next year.

    Maybe not, but it is possible to do a Woodward & Bernstein on them, and turn their names to mud.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    No such thing as a free Naked Lunch...

    ...and turn their names to mud.

    Wood would burn & Stein frankly incense, and in this case the pressure from below would most likely turn their names to fine silt, to be blown away with the next wind - as we link arms and dance the Liquefactionist Jig...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Do council CEOs get performance reviews? Would they be OIA-able?

    Incidentally.

    Dad came down to visit from Hamilton last week. What an interesting talk we had about the stadium and the V8 races and the organisation thereof.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    What an interesting talk we had about the stadium and the V8 races and the organisation thereof.

    Despite Braithwaite being brought to Christchurch to oppose Marryatt's reappointment, the best that could be achieved was to halve his term. Which, of course, didn't stop him gouging a backdated payrise, though the resultant furore indicates that the old Marryatt magic ain't what it was. Speaking of which, the comments from Hamilton readers on Joe Bennet's re-published Press column are interesting from a Chch POV.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    Do council CEOs get performance reviews? Would they be OIA-able?

    Not sure. It might be withheld for privacy reasons.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    Parker has gushed about Maryatt's performance review. Suspect it would be protected from OIA as part of his employment relationship.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Sacha,

    Saint Bob is being slowly broken on the wheel of media scrutiny. Staggering hubris for a creature of the media to presume to have risen beyond accountability. Now he & his enablers reap the consequences.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Seems the "town clerk" meme is catching on too. Hope it spreads to other councils.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Parker last week announced an $80,000 review of the council's communication problems by independent communciations consultant Felicity Price

    Isn't that running his re-election campaign on ratepayers money?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    PR and CCC
    And from Joe's 1st link on Stuff just to rub it in for good measure.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    Where's Gerry?

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Campbell live is doing Christchurch now. Appropriate to this point here

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Campbell Live story - interview with Parker follows a profile of a young lawyer couple leaving for Australia.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    as we link arms and dance the Liquefactionist Jig…

    I love this. Perhaps to the tune of The Vatican Rag? Anyone care to adapt the words?

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    I now see I was wrong and this is a Perrin ploy to be fired and therefore get out of jail free, as Ecan did.

    To compare CCC & Ecan is a little unfair. Ecan worked well, except for the Cr/farmers feathering their own beds, by making decisions to increase their own farms profitability.

    CCC have never been that blatant or efficent. There offense has always been petty by comparrison to Ecans self serving abuses of power.

    Cr Wells junket to drink wine in Europe was an obvious abuse. If anyone knows the inside of a bottle, its Cr Broughton DIC.

    Cr Williams put a dog leg in the sewer out let so as not to go down her street (check the map).

    These are only petty abuses by comparrison.

    CCC have failed to secure the safety of the City. What was reported as an earth quake without compare is now seen by many overseas Engineers as Man Made.

    The failure of buildings wasn't uniform, it was only the weakest that failed. These were all known to be below code.

    We could have had our friends and loved ones with us if not for incompetence of Policy & Governance and the greed of Property owners.

    Where Ecan has proved its worth is showing that incompetence can be excused and escape pubishment by being removed, but otherwise not being held to account.

    Reginald Perrinesque

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Lilith __,

    hand jive...

    the Liquefactionist Jig

    credit must go to Mr Burroughs
    (Bill, not Edgar Rice...)


    What happens in Hamilton, stays in Hamilton...
    or so it seems....

    What an interesting talk we had about the stadium and the V8 races and the organisation thereof.

    I've been trying to interest The Press in this story from 1999 Hamilton
    In which Marryatt makes an example of a senior city manager for one small alleged infraction of the council vehicle rules
    Quotes include:

    Mike Martin, who managed the city's many community services, resigned on Friday after 20 years with the council in senior roles.
    The council's chief executive, Tony Marryatt, alleged Mr Martin had breached the council's light vehicle policy by taking a car home without the authority to do so. The breach could lead to dismissal.
    "It was serious misconduct," Mr Marryatt said.
    ...
    Some at the council were unaware of the resignation yesterday.
    Mr Marryatt said a stern warning had been issued to staff two years ago after a spate of problems with council workers breaching the car policy. Mr Martin's seniority meant he should have been setting an example.
    "That's part of the message - the rules were broken and it doesn't matter who broke them," Mr Marryatt said.

    the article goes on to mention

    Mr Marryatt has also been controversial. In May last year the council was forced to pay compensation to high-ranking manager Hugh Kettlewell, who was sacked after a clash with Mr Marryatt.

    a follow up article points out that Marryatt's handling of the matter cost the council at least $30,000 - and the services of an excellent employee.

    A senior Hamilton City Council manager who quit amid claims he abused car privileges is denying the charges and has been offered $30,000 compensation by the council.
    Mike Martin, who managed Hamilton City Council's many community services, resigned on Friday after chief executive Tony Marryatt claimed he had broken rules by taking a council car home.
    But Mr Martin denied yesterday "any impropriety regarding the unauthorised use of a council vehicle" and said he would take his case to the Employment Tribunal.
    Mr Marryatt said he had agreed with Mr Martin that $30,000 compensation would be paid once he lodged a grievance claim.
    The money was for the hurt and humiliation caused by media speculation about his quitting. It was now irrelevant whether Mr Martin had broken the car rules because he had resigned.
    ...
    The resignation threatened to grow into a public spat yesterday. Mr Martin said he was extremely disappointed with comments Mr Marryatt had made to the media about his quitting.
    "The comments were made after confidential discussions," he said. It was unclear whether he would seek more than the agreed $30,000 when he went to the tribunal.
    Mr Marryatt had earlier alleged that use of the car was serious misconduct and he had been thinking of sacking Mr Martin. Yesterday he repeated those comments.
    "At the end of the day he resigned because I was considering dismissal," he said.
    Mr Martin was one of four council managers who had power second only to the chief executive. His salary of $125,000 to $130,000 included $12,000 for using his own car, rather than those supplied by the council.

    I think it is arguable that Marryatt has transgressed some of the Chchch City Council's own guidelines, (not to mention 'leaking' confidential discussion details) and should hold himself to his own intractable high civic standards and also resign...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6307884/Another-council-boss-pockets-huge-pay-rise
    Council, Crown corporatism = epic fail.
    As for Marionette, if he goes so should Sideshow and all the way up to the Minister for Local Government for demonstrating lack of governance.
    What ever happened to,

    a local government system that works in partnership with central government to promote economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being for New Zealanders in their communities. Labour wants both local and regional councils to have the powers and flexibility to fulfil their role, and to be responsive and accountable to their communities.

    http://www.waikato.ac.nz/igci/pucm/Linked%20documents/LGA-discussion.pdf

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    What happens in Hamilton, stays in Hamilton…
    or so it seems

    Specifically, we were talking about how the stadium suffered massive cost overruns. There were no penalties for late completion, the job was effectively time and materials, and the contract had been let to a local firm without tendering.

    Subsequently, the V8 races ran at a large loss to the city.

    These events happened during the Marryat tenure. When he left, he had a 6 figure exit package negotiated.

    These issues were widely discussed in Hamilton at the time.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

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