Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Sky is the limit

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  • DexterX,

    Keys is crafty at what he does - however - what he does is not what he
    should be doing.

    Key, the Nats, are masterful at taking a position of strength, being the government, and negotiating/legislating to a position of absolute weakness and liability for the tax/rate payer.

    The con centre will bring a swinging velvet lounge non stop disco party to benefit Sky City and although you ain't invited you sure as hell are going to pay for it - Party on Suckers.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Marc C, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Indeed, this post is yet another very good summary for yet another huge screw up by this government. And yes, the bad news get released just when most are too busy filling the malls, tidying up their desks and workplaces before going on leave, and are partying to forget another stressful year.

    The news are full of items about retail sales turnover, stressed out parents trying to cope with their kids during the holidays, warnings about not speeding and drink driving, the weather we can expect and of course the usual crime reports, and sports. So who will bother spending much thought on this.

    After the holiday, Key will come back "replenished", having done a few courses of golf with Obama, FBI and NSA leaders, and Hollywood studio managers. He will have done another teflon help yourself personal management and media course, and will smile from ear to ear, and the nation will think, hey, what a nice man, so successful, and in with all those "great ones" from overseas, we will be assured another year of the "brighter future".

    So it will go for another year, Andrew Little will end his media honeymoon, and the knives will be out, to kill him off, in time before the next general election.

    All is well in Aotearoa NZ, the system is "working", working that is for the mafia like elite, the ones doing well, the ones pulling the strings, the ones stitching up "deals" between government and private enterprise. Next will be much of Housing NZ's stock, ready to go, to developers, to cut to pieces, and to "develop" into high rises, and to only offer 5 % of dwellings to those on or below the median incomes. That is how it is done, sell the dirt from under your bums, and get rich, while pulling the carpet from under the feet of your nation's less fortunate, never mind, they can dig their own graves, while John Smilin Assassin Key will retire in his mansion on Hawaii, with golden door knobs, and 24/7 air condition and security at the gate.

    Auckland • Since Oct 2012 • 437 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Russell Brown,

    See also: the release of a nine-month-old report into what a complete clusterfuck Steven Joyce's "super ministry" is.

    The word on the street (in the Bubble, at least) is that MoBIE is about to implode and has been for a while now. They're laying off contractors (sorry, "exercising early termination options") and not allowing replacement hires in a lot of areas, even though those areas are running below minimum requirements. They're also trying to restrict how much leave staff can carry (legislation says 30 days, they're trying to say 20 - good luck with that!)

    Indications are that they are running out of opex and the financial year is only half over. Couldn't happen to a more deserving Minister.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Mike O'Connell,

    I think if the ‘Gerry Brownlie Memorial Stadium’ were to be given the green light, there’d be riots!

    With lots of the rioters wanting to make the "memorial" part immediate.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    areas are running below minimum requirements

    Just like the end of National's last time in govt then - public service run into the ground and still their chums the captains of enterprise need public handouts to make their way in the world. Crowding out, my arse.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    Just like the end of National’s last time in govt then

    Yup, the same "more with less" mantra being openly parroted as well.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    On another note (because it is Friday, after all), I saw this today:

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    What was the inside-bubble scoop on our 1999 near-failure to be capable of conducting an election?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    public service run into the ground and still their chums the captains of enterprise need public handouts to make their way in the world. Crowding out, my arse.

    When is austerity not austerity? When it's neo-feudalism.

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

  • Sacha, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    NZ missed austerity until now. About to cop it if that target of 25% reduction in beneficiaries is followed through.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    What was the inside-bubble scoop on our 1999 near-failure to be capable of conducting an election?

    Not sure what you're obliquely referring to but then, 99 was a bit of a blur for me, getting diagnosed with clinical depression and getting medicated, and then my dad passed, so I wasn't really paying too much attention to the mechanics of election. I remember that National lost (and there was much rejoicing) but that's about all.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    Recall there was a Commonwealth public service report that revealed ours was so depleted we almost couldn't run the election process. Sorry to hear your circumstances at the time.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    Hah! The Gospel according to Auntie Fran....

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11379425

    and from the "what I learned in the holidays" file.....the meaning of the expression "butt snorkelling".

    Thank heavens for the Young People.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to nzlemming,

    very Drole...

    On another note

    'The Aluminati', heh!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    I wonder if Cr Brewer has shares in SkyCity? It’s always fun sorting out those who’ll stick to their principles, and those who have a price.

    Shares are not a way to make real money, this is 2015 its being a partner in a public relations consultancy. Heard of Graham, Brewer, Simich & Associates ?
    Yes , thats Carrick Graham in there.
    Also well known is Sky Citys 'ambassaador' program where certain certain celebrities and assorted Auckland big noters are paid to promote Sky City.

    "SkyCity is paying tens of thousands of dollars for the services and star-power of some of the country's biggest celebrity names.

    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."

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

    Join the dots , as they say!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Handy backgrounder at Te Standard about why SkyCity's recent shakedown efforts come as no surprise (unless you're a gullible tool like the Herald's Roughan).

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    Recall there was a Commonwealth public service report that revealed ours was so depleted we almost couldn’t run the election process.

    Ah, yes, I do vaguely recall that. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be in the Commonwealth's iLibrary, or anywhere else.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • tussock,

    What's the return on investment here? OK, for the National party they invest public money in Sky City, and get 0.5% of that back to the National party through the trusts, so that's only costing them a fourth term. Or not even that, as three years for people to forget the Christmas news dump will be plenty. Plus, early retirement's coming up anyway.

    How about the rest of us? Obviously I get nothing from it, wrong end of the country and all, everything here's got to be closed and moved to Christchurch to show how well that rebuild's going. Oh, well, sharing the load.

    But ... you know, someone must get a return. Sky City seems a bit like they're going to struggle to make any money off it, and even then it relies on a massive increase in gambling to pay for the thing. Auckland Council could bleed money into it for decades and only ever see more costs. Hoteliers? I mean, yeh, maybe, for a handful of days a year they get booked out, which to a large extent just displaces regular visitors and creates more empty capacity the rest of the year as the market compensates.

    I mean, we're a long way from anywhere. New Zealand. US convention centres have tens of thousands of people mostly drive to them out of the surrounding population of tens of millions, and most people only do it a few times in their life, meaning most conventions have to move around every few years to find the right city and right venue as their audience changes. A bunch of them fold up every year, it's a tough business.

    Auckland's going to struggle to get a thousand people a day at any sort of regular convention at that, most being locals and not even needing a room, and we've not as much money to spend as the Americans do when we get there. The speakers and exhibitors have to pay more to get here, but they can't collect as much when they do. So we'll simply have al lot less of them viable.

    Everyone knows that's what conventions are, right? A few people flying in to milk the locals. Dedicated fans doing the clown-car trick to get there cheaper. Maybe sneak some extra people into the hotel room.

    What's the business plan? That'll tell you. Hope it's not like the fucking stadium down here, all hopes and dreams of transformation and all "build it and they will come", because that shit really means a big-ass public cheque every year for a big empty building, for the rest of my life at least. Surely someone's expecting a return.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to tussock,

    stadia distance...

    a big empty building

    I'm thinking dirigible airship storage hangar might be a good use for that stadium - follow the steampunk dollar, and it could just be tethered outside for the few days a year it gets used for other fixtures...

    I'd stay away from those budget hydrogen-lifted zeppelins though...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    I accidentally watched 15 seconds of telly just now.

    Caught the Sky City ad.

    Goodness me....who would have thought SkyCity was bordering on a charitable institution?

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Yeah my kids will be paying for Dunedin's stupid stadium, probably my grand kids too, if some councillors have their way.

    Even if you ignore the horrendous mortgage its costing the local ratepayers $4M a year in what are basically subsidies to its only user, professional rugby, who blatantly ignore this situation that they created in the first place.

    No city makes money on stadiums, their proper remit is playing fields, not propping up the good old boys who run professional sport who couldn't finance their way out of a wet paper bag.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    croup to croupier....
    Speaking of horses arses... Whatever credibility Colin Espiner ever had is now well washed away, as he justifies Sky City's current ad campaign

    SkyCity spokesman Colin Espiner said the company did not want to highlight the casino and gambling operations.
    "What we were looking at was areas of the business that perhaps people didn't know about, particularly in the hospitality side."
    The ad was intended to share the story of staff and the business, he said.

    ...

    The ad makes only a scant mention of SkyCity's casino business, which Wilcox said was so unbelievable it could backfire on them, he said.

    ...

    Of SkyCity's $820m revenue last year $570m came from gambling and less than $200m was from non-gambling business.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Of SkyCity's $820m revenue last year $570m came from gambling and less than $200m was from non-gambling business.

    Ahhh, here, that's the thing see....If we help Sky City to make more money out of non-gambling business then the percentage of profits from gambling goes down. Unless, of course, the convention center somehow, accidentally and in the most unlikely scenario, increases the profits of the casino by actually attracting overseas visitors.
    Which, of course is not going to happen because...... erm.... OOOH LOOK.... New Flag......

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    It also glosses over SkyCity's history of uneasy industrial relations. As for Colin Espiner, every man has his price.

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

  • Joe Wylie,

    Deja vu all over again. Saatchi's Wellington attempted a similar campaign for Tower Insurance in the early 90s. Tower staff, supposedly filmed without their knowledge, delivered expansive soundbites about how being in the insurance game was the next best thing to being Mother Theresa. Essentially it was standard issue corporate motivational porn unleashed upon the TV public, and the angry reaction saw the campaign pulled in short order.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

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