Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Auckland Council as leaky building

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  • Andre Alessi,

    The nub of the story is that because the Super City process is being pushed through in such haste, only a "veneer" (and that's the word that's actually being used) of unified services will be put in place. This means that the money spent on the process will not achieve the ostensible aim of the whole exercise – cost savings.

    I see this sort of thing all the time in the private sector: senior management decides X is a good idea and will save the company millions of dollars a year, so tells middle management to find a way to make it work by date Y. Middle management realises they'll never be able to achieve the goal literally as stated, so come up with a "good approximation" that will allow everyone to say the goal was achieved, even though the bits that are left out of the final result were the bits that were going to produce the efficiencies in the first place.

    It's always driven by one thing: senior management with no real understanding of the day-to-day details of the organisations they manage. This encourages people further down the totem pole to work to achieve the arbitrary goals they're set, rather than focusing on genuine improvements to the organisation.

    I'm so glad we're starting to run our local government like a private company.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    It seems to me that the best thing Labour could do now would be to come out and say "we will re-nationalise (localise?) every Auckland asset that is privatised in the current process at 10c on the dollar" - that should basically make everyone refuse to touch them or invest money in them - the Nats will be forced to backpedal and keep it all in the public domain

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I know you're sick of hearing this, Russell, but instead of "stern" editorials and "blazing" polemics, it would have been more useful (with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight) if Auckland's print media hadn't decided that serious local body repotage was as passée as dressing for dinner.

    It seems to me that the best thing Labour could do now would be to come out and say "we will re-nationalise (localise?) every Auckland asset that is privatised in the current process at 10c on the dollar" - that should basically make everyone refuse to touch them or invest money in them - the Nats will be forced to backpedal and keep it all in the public domain

    Quite coldly: I'd call Labour's bluff, because it's a totally meaningless (and cost-free) promise unless you've drunk the 'secret privatisation agenda' Kool-Aid and really love the taste. Meanwhile, they've opened the door to question about whether the next Labour is going to substantially amend - or even repeal - the Super City legislation, and how it's going to be paid for.

    But we are talking about an Opposition that's running an 'Axe The Tax' bus tour where nobody has the balls to give a straight answer to the rather simple question whether it is now Labour policy to repeal any GST increase or personal tax cuts. It might be a very simple idea to you, Paul, but it would require some political testicular fortitude I'm not seeing at the moment.

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

  • Roger,

    It is consistent with the new Orwellian approach to the world, where a CCO is any organisation that is 'owned' but not controlled by a council.

    Hamilton • Since Jun 2007 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I know you're sick of hearing this, Russell, but instead of "stern" editorials and "blazing" polemics, it would have been more useful (with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight) if Auckland's print media hadn't decided that serious local body repotage was as passée as dressing for dinner.

    The Weekend Herald editorial refers specifically to the paper's own reporting on the issue. There's been quite a lot of that lately.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    The Weekend Herald editorial refers specifically to the paper's own reporting on the issue. There's been quite a lot of that lately.

    Fair enough, Russell, but it still has the faint air of "oh, look, an open stable door! And just as a matter of interest, anyone seen the horses recently?"

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    Aren't you a supporter of the party that opened the stable door in the first place? What are you doing now, blaming the Herald?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Mayor Quimby supports revolving door prisons. Mayor Quimby even released Sideshow Bob -- a man twice convicted of attempted murder. Can you trust a man like Mayor Quimby? Vote Sideshow Bob for mayor.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    More from the Harbour News editorial:

    We said at the start of
    this process that the lack of accountability was a disgrace.

    We used the saying "no taxation without representation" yet here we have the transport group alone able to spend more than $1 billion without any kind of accountability.

    If the council controlled organisations have all that power you could be forgiven for wondering why we are bothering with a mayor, a council and local boards at all.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Aren't you a supporter of the party that opened the stable door in the first place? What are you doing now, blaming the Herald?

    Are you blaming the National Party for APN's decision to starve local government rounds of staff and resources, while confusing what Alison Mau does with her twat in private with consenting adults (who may or may not be of the same gender) with actual news?

    Hey, I'll be a Pollyanna and say it's really nice that the only daily newspaper in Auckland finally thinks local body politics actually matters. Long may it continue -- at least through the local body elections that are a little more than a Banks-Brown cat-fight.

    It just would have been nice if that a-ha! moment had happened a long time ago.

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

  • Kumara Republic,

    It is consistent with the new Orwellian approach to the world, where a CCO is any organisation that is 'owned' but not controlled by a council.

    And not to mention the Ministry of Truth is trying to feed us bread and circuses to distract us from knowing too much.

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

  • Julie Fairey,

    The Aucklander has been reporting, in a concerned manner, and including dozens of interviews from people from all over the Auckland region, for months. I think that deserves to be acknowledged, just as it is acknowledged that many of the other print outlets have been slower to bother following up on the outrage out there in many communities.

    I do have a sense that it is too late to shift the Govt on this. Rodney is in charge and he has made it very clear that he's not for turning. How Key could now manage to change the outcome of this, and keep his coalition partner, I can't see.

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • Roger,

    ... it still has the faint air of "oh, look, an open stable door! And just as a matter of interest, anyone seen the horses recently?"

    Brilliant

    Hamilton • Since Jun 2007 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    It just would have been nice if that a-ha! moment had happened a long time ago.

    The real a-ha moment should have occurred when the Key government decided to ram through the supercity legislation under urgency.

    In project management, you can have things done good, fast, or cheaply - and you can only have two of those dimensions. The Key government chose fast and cheap, and what's the result ?

    A veneer of IT integration to go along with a veneer of represetative democracy.

    I agree that the Herald should have been better at covering Auckland issues from a long time ago, however, the supercity train wreck is simply not related to the Herald's coverage in any way - it's the predictable outcome of the way the project has been undertaken from day one.

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Perhaps we can take a clue from our rural friends in Northern Hawkes Bay on how to take a more direct approach to this corporate fascism?

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I do have a sense that it is too late to shift the Govt on this. Rodney is in charge and he has made it very clear that he's not for turning. How Key could now manage to change the outcome of this, and keep his coalition partner, I can't see.

    I gather Bill English and other ministers are deeply unimpressed by the emerging cost-benefit horrorshow, but sadly, I fear you're right.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Aren't you a supporter of the party that opened the stable door in the first place?

    I don't believe Craig is a supporter of the party that set up the Royal Commission into Auckland Governance, but I'll leave it to him to confirm, deny, or keep this to himself =)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    APN's decision to starve local government rounds of staff and resources, while confusing what Alison Mau does with her twat in private with consenting adults (who may or may not be of the same gender) with actual news?

    It speaks volumes that it's all happening without the influence of Rupert Murdoch or Conrad Black.

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

  • FletcherB,

    This report from the Royal Commission.... Rodney's following it to the letter, right? :(

    Some people dont like the idea of an amalgamated Auckland "supercity".... and they are entitled to complain as much as they are able...

    But that's not the issue here...

    You can do a supercity right and you can completely F%$@ it up...

    Theres an awful lot of Aucklanders that dont mind the idea of a super-city but arent impressed with what Rodney (with Key's permission) is doing...

    And if you're not in Auckland yourself, dont get too smug because you could be next.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    The Aucklander has been reporting, in a concerned manner, and including dozens of interviews from people from all over the Auckland region, for months. I think that deserves to be acknowledged, just as it is acknowledged that many of the other print outlets have been slower to bother following up on the outrage out there in many communities.

    You could always try the letters page of the North Shore Times- though I sometimes think it gets overrun with all of Andrew Williams's alter egos.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    The thin veneer of civilisation...

    This might suit the government, which can declare that the delayed spending -- of the order of $200 to $300 million -- is being done at the discretion of the newly-elected council.

    INCIS II anyone?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    This report from the Royal Commission.... Rodney's following it to the letter, right?

    No. I just don't think the amalgamation would be happening this quickly (i.e. this term) without it. When we're talking about who began this "in the first place", it's nice to remember

    That said, some of the Royal Commission's recommendations were appalling, so I'm not too disappointed it hasn't been followed to the letter.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    You could always try the letters page of the North Shore Times- though I sometimes think it gets overrun with all of Andrew Williams's alter egos.

    I'd suggest the Flagstaff too, but I think they're a little too busy outing lesbian ministers to bother with anything as insignificant as this.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Robbie Siataga,

    Jeez, I'm sick of hearing about fucking auckland and its problems....ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH !!!

    ...sort ya shit out :)

    Since Feb 2010 • 259 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And, now an exercise for the class.

    This is John Roughan's Herald column on the Super City and CCOs.

    Can you tell what his point is?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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