Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Things worth knowing

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  • Russell Brown,

    Ah. Someone has responded to the question here about the purpose of Collins' October trip to China -- oddly enough, in a thread at The Standard.

    Her October trip was to attend a conference on corruption.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Richard Aston,

    Is that enough to seriously toast Collins ?
    Who will take it up , Labour or media ?

    I notice Winston Peters raised the issue of Oravida's Chinese Customs problem in the House today.

    This would seem to have a way to go yet.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    A new blog post by the Greens' Eugenie Sage finds milk and water, together again:

    Judith Collins failed to recognise the conflict of interest in having dinner with a Chinese border official and the CEO and director of the Oravida company on which her husband is a director. An equally troubling conflict of interest is occurring in regional councils.

    Water is a common property resource which regional councils manage on behalf of the Crown and all New Zealanders. The Resource Management Act (RMA) charges councils with maintaining and enhancing water quality and maintaining water quantity.

    Under National regional councils, instead of being independent managers of water on behalf of a wide range of public values, are shelling out millions of dollars of Council funds to help promote and subsidise big new irrigation developments.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    It seems other companies ship Green Valley milk to China, so Oravida might not be connected. Seems worth asking though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It seems other companies ship Green Valley milk to China, so Oravida might not be connected. Seems worth asking though.

    Anything to do with this?

    Baby-milk makers on edge
    Rumours fly of Chinese plans to limit number of importers as audit of NZ facilities looms.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Rumours fly of Chinese plans to limit number of importers as audit of NZ facilities looms.

    To be expected if we already ship our NZ cows over and allow training of our farming technique. Plus show and sell our farms. What do we expect? They must think we are gullible. I think we are gullible. In the first instance we have some business with fast gains. In the second instance we have Chinese using the opportunity to learn how to do it themselves. Their vast population must deem it to be necessary for self interest alone , and I don't blame them. At least they want to feed their people.
    If they get our cows then bulls must follow and just like the States , a Kenworth truck can grain feed them all. Arid land isn't really a problem, arable land isn't even needed.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh,

    Arable land might not be needed, but water is. The entire North China Plain - including Beijing and Fonterra's farms - is sinking because of the sheer amount of artesian water being pumped up. Water seems to me to be one of China's biggest problems.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Her October trip was to attend a conference on corruption.

    Which presumably means a conference on the subject of corruption, rather than the alternative reading “aided by”.

    (... This is attending a conference.
    ... This is attending a conference on drugs. ... Any questions? )

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • The Ruminator, in reply to Russell Brown,

    She told me she was invited there because of her Justice portfolio and that she gave speeches on New Zealand's system.

    Since Apr 2013 • 54 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Water seems to me to be one of China’s biggest problems.

    And back full circle to Canterbury plains.Adams want water for her cows which in turn produces milk powder which in turns helps Collins and Co to produce milk products which in turn helps Orivida. Percieved interest much? With another conflict (in my book ) being Speaker of the House who makes sure things run smoothly for National interests. People don't wish to call him biased but I will.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Hebe,

    for Russell's sake

    I'm sure he has encountered farming metaphors before :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    So much to do , so little time

    John Key pulls out

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Bevan Shortridge, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Her October trip was to attend a conference on corruption

    The official announcement on the beehive site:

    “New Zealand consistently ranks as one of the least corrupt countries in the world,” Ms Collins says.

    “I look forward to speaking to the Academy about our experience in building an accountable, transparent government and how these features benefit our governance system and economy.”

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 122 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Bevan Shortridge,

    “I look forward to speaking to the Academy about our experience in building an accountable, transparent government and how these features benefit our governance system and economy.”

    Transparency! Excellent! So there'll be no problem with telling us who paid for your dinner, minister?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    And more . More goss from all directions. care of Te Herald

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    who knew China was short of salt?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Back in the late 80s Marco Marinkovich, then known as a “leading creative” in Auckland ad circles, established the Ideas School. It offered a 12-week course for would-be copywriters and gave them a taste of agency life. One of the challenging hypothetical assignments set by Marinkovich was to produce positive spin for Union Carbide in the wake of the 1984 Bhopal disaster. The reason I remember this is because of the idea’s sheer draw-dropping moral bankruptcy.

    In light of that. you’d expect a little botulism scare to be a piss in the hand for an advertising legend like Marinkovich.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    I know Chris Trotter isn’t too popular around these parts...

    Surely that's Christ Rotter you're thinking of?
    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    draw-dropping moral bankruptcy

    now there's a billboard series

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Chris Trotter isn't too popular around these parts

    only when he's being silly

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Given former master communicator Marinkovich’s past clubfooted attempt to tout the evils of P

    God. I'd forgotten how spectacularly the Stellar Trust would routinely get it wrong.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    only when he's being silly

    From a logical standpoint, most of his doomsday predictions have so far never come to pass.

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

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    chin, chin...

    ...sheer draw-dropping moral bankruptcy.

    Aaah!
    Is that like a silk uni-undie?
    (for when you're
    standing unopposed...?)

    I know, I know,
    drawers-dropping
    ruins the cadence...
    ;- )

    ... you’d expect a little botulism scare to be a piss in the hand for an advertising legend...

    Indeed, and there is that pesky
    next big extinction period
    to presell to a complicit public...
    will they go for baroque,
    and pile on the 'guilt',
    or all green-pandering
    with hollow echoes of eco...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I know, I know,
    drawers-dropping
    ruins the cadence…

    Thanks :)

    Marinkovich in his 80s heyday sported the kind of red-framed face-furniture of the type later favoured by Jim Hopkins. One decade's off-the-shelf bold statement of cutting-edge individuality became the next's must-have accessory for cracking jokes to rest home audiences.

    Indeed, and there is that pesky
    next big extinction period
    to presell to a complicit public…
    will they go for baroque,
    and pile on the ‘guilt’,
    or all green-pandering
    with hollow echoes of eco…

    Eco watch repair.
    Being just contaminates the void.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

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