Posts by Nick Kearney
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Thanks Andy.
I don't come by here very often, please don't ruin the times I do visit.
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Now now Sofie, said in total jest of course, with tongue firmly in cheek.
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Never even heard of any others.
That's 'cos they're all working behind the scenes, under the radar as it were, corporatising and privatising Auckland's assets and stealing Auckland's democracy from its ratepayers.
You heard it here first
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Or, thank you MMP, which you probably voted for.
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Point 1: it takes time to find directors.
Point2: it takes even longer to recruit them.
Point 3: I'd prefer the directors are in place before November 2010, rather than 9 months later (the expected timeframe it'll take to find, scrutinise and appoint).
No director is going to go near a CCO if their appointment is temporary, until the new Council decides to "Len Brown" them out of office.
As for accountability - how many here manage to keep track of the 332 CCO's currently in place across Auckland? Or, even from your own city?
I expect the silence to deafen the answer.
And Sacha, as for me being a "major player", I always laugh at descriptors like that, I mean, ACT is at 2% or thereabouts and is not even represented in Cabinet, yet somehow a pleb like me working voluntarily and trying to keep the party going on the Shore converts into a "major player".
Puhlease.
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Irrespective Martin, we'd still have elected politicians appointing directors. It's just that, if it's Brown, it's the "better" elected politician, or one on the "proper" side at least.
That's what this is really about - the Labour/Left crowd are shut out for a few years and don't like it.
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This from mayoral hopeful Len Brown is surely in jest?
One of my first priorities, if elected, will be to appoint new directors to Auckland Transport, and to rewrite its statement of intent. I would insist on there being a direct report into the Mayor’s office, and a close relationship with the new Council’s transport committee. As Mayor, I will expect to be seeing all reports and all board papers.
If he appoints new directors he will have 'golden handshake' problems with the old ones - or personal grievances, you take your pick. No director in his/her right mind will agree to be a director if Brown threatens to turf him out upon being elected. That'a not a good statement, but an unsurprising one nevertheless.
A direct report into the Mayor's office? Good god. Brown should just get on with getting Auckland moving, instead of bothering himself with corporate governance. I mean, the faux outrage against Rodney Hide is nothing when compared to this statement.
And Brown can calm down. The CCO's are under an obligations to report to Council - about every four months. I'm pretty confident as Mayor he will see the board papers.
It's called reading.
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If Power is really interested in having wars on drugs, he should look at what America's war on drugs has achieved over 50 years: massive prison muster, massive state spending and increased drug offences.
That's the evidence, so yes you're right Russell, it's the death of evidence, but there is no dearth of evidence to the contrary Mr Power.
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Legalising narcotics worldwide worldwide would allow business financiers like Soros to control large chunks of the drug trade "legitimately". They could own the opium poppy field, pay poor peasants to harvest, control distribution and supply of drugs to market …
Wow!
Much better for the Highway61, Hells Angels, Black Power, Headhunters and other sundry gangs to control it, without paying tax.
Just ask Millie.
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Nick, while you're here, do you understand how Rodney Hide's plans for local government fit together, long term? Seriously.
I have a fair idea. Of course the Auckland restructuring and then local government in general are different beasts but with the same body.
Rodney's views haven't changed much over the years in terms of local government and I don't think I'm speaking out of class by saying he thinks rates should be capped and spending should be restrained. That's pretty trite. He is also very keen on greater fiscal transparency in local government and having the central government legislation apply in that regard (Public Finance Act etc). But I guess to get a real answer you'd have to ask Rodney. There are some offerings here:
Of course, Rodney being Minister makes him responsible but it's very important to note he is not in Cabinet. That's often overlooked. Like most things under MMP governance, their is another party that is pretty bloody big and sits around the cabinet table as a monopoly.