Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Reputation and remuneration

192 Responses

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  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Islander,

    You seriously think 100,ooo people of any interest group are actually EVER going to come to any kind of convention here EVER?

    Islander, if you can't be bothered responding to what I said - and trying to wrap your head around the full context - I'm not going to repay the discourtesy.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Islander,

    Conferences can also include diplomatic meetings like those of the UN or Red Cross. A conference done well could even attract people to the cause it represents.

    As for casinos, they're really just part of the FIRE sector with a tourism veneer. Again, the issue here isn't the conference industry, but the stink of old boys networks and corporate welfare.

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

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Rumours are that the Human Rights Commission is facing cuts up to a third of its funding (although I haven’t been able to find confirmation of this), which will affect the ability of its Human Rights Review Tribunal to do its work. Punishment for taking up the case of the solo mother v the Minister?

    I have no idea whether or not the HRC is under threat of a funding cut, but if it were, it would not affect the HRRT, as the HRRT is a court, funded by the Ministry of Justice (or whoever it is that funds courts), and not funded in any way by the HRC. However, I think you mean the Office of Human Rights Proceedings(OHRP), which prosecutes breaches of the Human Rights Act, the Privacy Act, and the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer Rights. A cut to HRC funding could affect the OHRP, but I believe prosecutions under the Privacy Act are funded by the Privacy Commissioners, not the HRC. If this is the case, then a cut to HRC funding might limit Human Rights Act cases, but would be unlikely to affect Privacy Act cases (such as the case against Paula Bennett). Indeed, a funding cut to the HRC would presumably allow the OHRP more time to pursue Privacy Act cases, as the HRC would be less able to fund Human Rights Act cases.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    allow the OHRP more time to pursue Privacy Act cases

    bet that's how it would be spun too :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • merc, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    The question is whether it is a public or a private good. If a conference centre is trickling down money from attendees to local business and airlines and hotels I'm pretty much of the view that these things, once AirNZ is privatised are a private good.
    Townhalls and libraries are a different case though.
    Mind you the whole thing is very muddy here.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    One of the biggest problems with corporate welfare is that it isn't distributed fairly or effectively (or transparently so most of us can check). Why should tourism industry companies get no-strings handouts more than say software exporters?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • merc, in reply to Sacha,

    I agree, and they are not no-string handouts, nothing ever is. This is also apposite,
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/small-business/news/article.cfm?c_id=85&objectid=10793644
    Still just rain follows the plow.
    Oh and a bit of quid pro quo for the Govt, http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6623187/Nannies-baulk-at-doing-states-nanny-business
    Asset sales agenda should be discussed in depth and vigorously as to what constitutes public and private good and what this is measured against. I see the new super ministry has no identifiable public aims, seemingly no monetary ones either other than cuts.
    Prison closures could also be measured against social outcomes, if indeed any were in place. Casinos would be an epic fail, even if sweetened with conference centres.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    a conference centre is trickling down money from attendees to local business and airlines and hotels

    You could apply the same logic to a brothel.

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

  • merc, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    I wouldn't :-) Also you missed the "if".

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Sacha,

    Why should tourism industry companies get no-strings handouts more than say software exporters?

    The simple answer is they shouldn't, and everyone who claims to live by the market should be left to die by it as well. But good luck porting that over to the world we live in, and where one man's "corporate welfare" is another's "essential investment in the economic common good".

    Hell, if you've got any easy way to square that circle please share. I'm all out of easy answers. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Thanks for clarifying that, Lucy. There is also a Human Rights Amendment Act before Parliament aimed at creating more generic commissioners, which is also a dilution. Not sure when it will come back into the House, but I can imagine that weakening the HRC in any way possible would fit with the agenda of the government.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to merc,

    I see the new super ministry has no identifiable public aims, seemingly no monetary ones either other than cuts.

    Or the possibility of giving Prostetnic Vogon Joyce a free rein on energising the demolition beams.

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

  • Sacha, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    The 'public aims' will be more explicitly making the state subsidise companies who on the whole refuse to pull their weight on R&D by world standards. Oh, and hacking away at building standards to make life easier on developers. Our puny Atlases need all the help they can get.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    The ‘public aims’ will be more explicitly making the state subsidise companies who on the whole refuse to pull their weight on R&D by world standards. Oh, and hacking away at building standards to make life easier on developers. Our puny Atlases need all the help they can get.

    My compression algorithm computes that as:

    "white shoe brigade".

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

  • Scott Chris,

    Here's another example of a morally dodgy endorsement:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10794477

    Mike Hosking has done regular work for the casino, and Paul Henry has a “long-standing association” with it. SkyCity sponsors several big-name sports stars and provides a ‘chairman’s card’ for a small number of celebrities allowing them free five-star hotel rooms, meals and drinks.

    Brings to mind Stacey Jones’ endorsement of Instant Finance.

    Auckland • Since Feb 2012 • 167 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Can anybody give me any assurance that this is not a list of jonkey’s previous Employers/Mates?
    It all fits a little to neatly for my liking.

    The following suppliers were appointed by The Treasury as members of the Joint Lead Managers Panel to provide joint lead manager services for the extension of the Mixed Ownership Model programme as required by The Treasury:

    1. Deutsche Bank AG New Zealand Branch and Craigs Investment Partners Limited
    PO Box 6900, Wellesley Street, Auckland

    2. First NZ Capital Limited and Credit Suisse (Australia) Limited
    Level 39, ANZ Centre, 23-29 Albert Street, Auckland

    3. Forsyth Barr Limited and Merrill Lynch
    Level 13, Forsyth Barr Tower, 55 Shortland Street, Auckland

    4. Goldman Sachs New Zealand Limited
    Level 38, Vero Centre, 48 Shortland Street, Auckland

    5. Macquarie Capital (New Zealand) Limited
    Level 17, Lumley Centre, 88 Shortland Street, Auckland

    6. UBS New Zealand Limited
    Level 17, 188 Quay Street, Auckland

    Contract Title… Extension of Mixed Ownership Model – Joint Lead Managers Panel and First Transaction
    From the Government Electronic Tenders Service website.
    Which, I must add, is one of the worst designed websites I have seen in years.

    But wait… there’s more…

    The nature and potential duration of the services to be provided means that it is not possible to specify the value of services to be provided.

    A blank cheque will do fine thank you.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Scott Chris,

    TVNZ's response, in that story?

    "I know nothing about SkyCity's programme. I'm not aware of any of our employees being a part of it. Mike is a contractor with us."

    Another use of contracting to deflect any responsibility.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Sacha,

    Another use of contracting to deflect any responsibility.

    I was talking to a guy last night who is a manager for a large real estate agency, he told me he was regarded as a contractor and as such if he wanted to take a holiday he had to find and pay another manager to take his place in his absence, about $2500 a week.
    He couldn't see what was wrong with that picture, in fact he thought being a contractor was great and everybody should be one.
    Managers eh? such quality thinking.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    If you are a small business you often don't get a holiday period - You are the meat in a pretty vicious sandwich most of your waking hours - such is life.

    Really phuck working for yourself - I'm off to buy myself a bicycle and an income protection policy – Problem solved:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10794421

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to DexterX,

    Really phuck working for yourself

    Cos working to hard can give you a heart Atack acc acc acc

    You ought a know by now...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    he told me he was regarded as a contractor and as such if he wanted to take a holiday he had to find and pay another manager to take his place in his absence,

    The minutes get filled, the days pass, years nary a worry. Maybe he can do someone a favour. Are we talking about a fallen idol or a flash -in -the pan.
    So hard to tell...

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Billy Joel was also amatuer boxer winning over 20 bouts until he got his nose broken - hence the wide flat nose.

    I don't know if he rode a bicycle or had an income protection policy - so I guess he is not as much a puller as people may think.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Bennett,

    I enjoyed your (time-shifted) Media7 last night, Russell. Fascinating as usual.

    One tiny point: actor Jared Turner was already well established as the 'Energy Spot Guy' when he was cast in The Almighty Johnsons. So in this case, no-one is trading on his fictional image as a God of cold things and dodgy sexual proclivities.

    Nice visual gag, though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 174 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Simon Bennett,

    dodgy sexual proclivities

    Thought that was his missus? Or his brother. Or several other characters, now that I think about it.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Public CEOs enjoy big pay hikes

    The highest paid of the heads was Mighty River Power's Doug Heffernan, at $1,769,342.

    Remuneration for the bosses of Solid Energy, Meridian Energy and Genesis Power also topped the million dollar mark, at $1,410,00, $1,220,620 and $1,180,000 respectively.

    Funny that those are the same companies that jonkey has in his bargain bin.Not only will those massive salaries contribute to the soaring cost of electricity but the profits will flow offshore to help good ol' NZ sink further into the mire.

    "CEOs in the public sector do carry enormous responsibilities and they have big jobs - nobody's questioning that - but everyone in the public sector is under a lot of pressure, and when the people on top of the pile get rewarded well in excess of everyone else, it's not a good look and it really just doesn't feel fair."

    This always gets me. So much responsibility the poor dears, it's not like any losses from their fuckups comes out of their pockets is it? In fact, if you look at the Ports debacle, Tony Gibbon is lording it over a massive downturn in productivity which will cost the shareholders (us) dearly but he will still get his squillion dollar salary and if the worst comes to the worst he will be kicked out with a "Golden Parachute" so much for the cost of failure with all that responsibility eh?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

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