Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Nobody wanted #EQNZ for Christmas

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  • Hebe, in reply to Islander,

    Sutton?
    Gone to ground entirely?
    Expensive smiley face?

    On a deserved holiday?

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Hebe,

    Jeez, that bad?

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

  • Lilith __, in reply to Islander,

    Sutton?

    He was in this briefing today.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Roger was on the Telly tonight. He doesn't look well, or that could have been the company, CERA or Gerry either way not doing what he normally does.
    He was hired to be himself, he hasn't done that.
    I suspect he can't quite deal with bellicose proclaimations.
    The expense isn't his salary, but the loss of a city as a Isaacs & Brownlee run riot.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    just about fell off my chair laughing at that one, Joe. kind of like the way my father used to laugh.

    p.s. would love to see Te Rerenga Wairua sometime. maybe the powers that be can organise a mini-festival of NZ animated films to tour Japan. big screen, loud speakers. that's what the film deserves.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Just thinking,

    He was hired to be himself, he hasn’t done that.
    I suspect he can’t quite deal with bellicose proclaimations.
    The expense isn’t his salary, but the loss of a city as a Isaacs & Brownlee run riot.

    He seems a safe pair of hands, but right now he looks like the meat in the sandwich.

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

  • nzlemming,

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to nzlemming,

    That was very interesting wasnt it?

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

  • nzlemming, in reply to Islander,

    Especially that Button was unsure what was in the CERA Act. Oy vey!

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    but rates will go up if commissioners replace the A team, just take her word for it #buffoon

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to nzlemming,

    the beleaguered league of extraordinary stupidity...

    Especially that Button was unsure what was in the CERA Act. Oy vey!

    Not surprising at all, Button is well out of her depth - it came out today that she and the other 3 directors (Mayor Bob Parker, Councillor Jamie Gough – and council chief executive Tony Marryatt) of Vbase (Venue management) which has been moved from CCHL control to management by the Council, are in breach of the company's constitution! Even though the Council's own director selection guidelines state that all directors must be fully aware of their Governance duties and obligations as well as bring relevant skills and expertise to the table, which I seriously doubt any of those 4 do - the upside is none of them get directors fees for being there.
    But relax, their first reaction is to plead ignorance and then to try and change the constitution retroactively - same old, same old...
    sigh....

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Yeah cause it's all about rates, in the city that many can't flush their loo for over 17months now, if they still have a house.
    Of course Eject Button didn't read the constitution of the Council owned company she was a Director of.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/6379811/Vbase-directors-breached-rules

    Edit - as always Ian said it better.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    try and change the constitution retroactively

    yes, that was boggling - been learning contempt for proper governance from the government, prehaps?

    The report also recommended adding a clause allowing directors to "act in a manner which he or she believes is in the best interests of the company's holding company [the council] even though it might not be in the best interests of the company".

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    Which used to be in breach of the Companies Act, but it was changed in 1997:

    s131 Duty of directors to act in good faith and in best interests of company
    […]
    (4) A director of a company that is carrying out a joint venture between the shareholders may, when exercising powers or performing duties as a director in connection with the carrying out of the joint venture, if expressly permitted to do so by the constitution of the company, act in a manner which he or she believes is in the best interests of a shareholder or shareholders, even though it may not be in the best interests of the company.

    Notice the wording similarity?

    Edit: By which I mean "Evidence of a lawyer acting in haste to achieve compliance"

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    That might apply if there were more than one 'shareholder' but can you imagine the can of worms in allowing directors who happen to be board members of their sole parent organisation to shaft the subsidiary organisation whenever it suits them? Would fail any conflict of interest test I've ever heard of.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    Yes, I agree. But they'll probably try to say it's a joint venture between the elected council and the corporate body. Bollocks to the lot of them.

    I'm not big on the usurpation of democracy by central government, but I'm trying to work out which would be the lesser of two evils.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Poor Councillor Aaron Keown. Just when he'd carved out a reputation as the undisputed brainfart king of Christchurch, Gerry blows him right off the stage.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    I'm sure he'll bounce back. Regrettably.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6386900/Clown-comment-reflects-frustration-Brownlee

    ... I am sick and tired of the council running and telling people what we're going to do."

    Some serious disconnect there.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Ah, what the hell. Brownlee untethered.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    And the underlying tension seems to be over govt trying to pressure council to privatise its assets.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    fixed url to embed here:

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to merc,

    Do we deserve this?

    No, but it's sadly one of the better exchanges of the day.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • merc, in reply to Sacha,

    Used to embed for me , thanks for that. Sadly also the law has been changed and Auckland Council is about to borrow http://www.interest.co.nz/bonds/57087/auckland-councils-overseas-borrowing-programme-first-nz-local-authority-set-us25-bln
    All this does not bode well for any of us, Christchurch included.
    nzlemming; I'd like to think that monosyllabic answers used at question time would be censured by the Speaker, or at least let it be known that Gerry is laughing in all our democratic faces.
    Is there a war going on between central and local govt. that we need to know about?
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/local-government/news/article.cfm?c_id=250&objectid=10783627
    Is it time that we not only unified warring councils, that we also need to unify central and local govt. on governance? Is this the most significant improvement we could make towards economic stability?

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

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