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Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Sky City sale could be off

Christchurch March against EFB: Report

The piece below was written by Andy Moore and republished at Political Animal with his permission. From the NZ Debate Blog

Proving that even South Islanders have some passion left! Good on Andy and the rest there today.

Approximately 350 people turned out in Christchurch today for the march against the Electoral Finance bill. Starting at 1:00pm at Victoria Square, we followed Bob McCoskrie of Family First, John Boscawen and a Korean War veteran, winding through the streets of the inner city, on the way to Cathedral Square.

Two of us carried blank signs, reference to the fact that if the EFB passes into law, it may become necessary for people to protest with blank placards to avoid being fined or imprisoned simply for speaking out against the Government or a particular party!

John Boscawen spoke powerfully against the bill, and passers by stopped and joined the rally. Next, Bob McCoskrie brought people's attention to the seriousness of the bill - and also paid tribute to John for the time and money he has put into the fight so far. Then we heard from a lecturer from Canterbury University who's main and most excellent point was that...

"This bill makes it a lot harder for the challenger, and easier for the incumbent Government."

An excellent point, which only then really hit me. Of course, it is obvious that Labour is pushing this bill through as a last ditch attempt to steal the election in 08 - I just didn't quite understand how. But the statement above puts it pretty simply and accurately. I will be looking round for an audio version of his speech.

At about 1:30pm we finished up with a round of applause.

A table had been run at the starting point in Victoria Square, and then in Cathedral Square to gather signatures for the petition calling for a referendum on the question: "Should a smack as a part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"

Click here (www.unityforliberty.net.nz) for more info on the fight against the oppressive new anti-smacking law, yet another arm of Nanny State.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Helen Clark and Jenette Fitzsimon's in conflict with business

Helen Clark, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, continues to have a problem with separation of her job from conflicts of interest and possible conflicts of interest.

Apart from the numerous personality, and socio-political conflicts she has in her day to day activities the topic up for discussion here is her and her Government's numerous conflicts of interest with the business world.

We have had recently Clark herself, Micheal Cullen and other Government Ministers interfering in Air New Zealand by making public statements that have affected the share price of the airline, likewise she and her Ministers erred again in 2006 when making inappropriate comments, on several occasions, about Telecom New Zealand that lost shareholders 100s of millions of dollars.

Most recently we have had Winston Peters, a Labour Government partner and lapdog making inappropriate comments in the media about influences they could use to stop the Auckland International Airport from being sold.

The most glaring example and probably least known, is the conflict that arises from Jeanette Fitzsimons from the Green Party and her major shareholding in the listed NZ windfarm owner , manufacturer and developer, Windflow Technologies.

Fitzsimons is a partner to the Labour Government and drives Labour's "Green Agenda" for them. Fitzsimons has been responsible for passing law and changing rules to give companies like hers an advantage over competitors and as a result she has financially benefited directly from her activities in Parliament. Jenette has a knack of forgetting to mention her large shareholding in Windflow Technology when dealing with such matters when doing Parliamentary business.

You cant get more corrupt and conflicted than that but she has a good role model for her modus operandi in Al Gore, but that is another story.

If we get back to Clark's role in this though, not only is her Government culpable in the conflict of interest by allowing Fitzsimons to feather her own nest but she has also been directly championing the company with financial, moral and media support for Windflow Tech.

Helen Clark with Windflow Technology
head Geoff Henderson,centre, and Derek Walker,
chairman of NZ Windfarms, at the commissioning
of NZ Windfarms' turbines near Palmerston North.

This sort of Parliamentary, legislative and Prime ministerial support for Windflow Tech is clearly a huge conflict of interest that shouldn't be allowed to continue, although we shouldn't be surprised by this sort of conflict as it is apparent at most of our listed companies: Tim Saunders at Contact Energy, Lloyd Morrison at Auckland Airport and a host of other rapscallions and rascals at a whole host of other listed companies.

The shareholders at Windflow Tech should be worried too.

Government interference, as outlined above, can also change to the negative at a whim, should policy, Government or thinking change.

We have to remember, as shareholders in companies, however small or large our holding maybe, it is our personal property rights that are at issue here. Interference from individuals, entities, whether Government or private have no more rights than you or me and their influence shouldn't be able to be subscribed to the extent that they can change laws to suit their own agendas and line their own pockets.

C Political Animal 2007

Fletcher's got game

Artist impression of the new Eden Park

In a provisional decision, it has been announced today that Fletcher Building Ltd [FBU.NZ] has been picked as the preferred builder for the new Eden Park revamp, valued at anywhere between NZ$190 million and north of $300 million, depending on who you speak to.

The stadium is to be rebuilt for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and construction is expected to start in August 2008.

If Fletcher's can negotiate a good deal for them, it is going to be good for the company. I'm mindful though that many stadiums built around the world have caused construction companies much grief, as changes to design, construction problems, and political meddling has put profits at stake and even put company futures at risk.

The new Wembly Stadium almost sunk the Australian builder Multiplex last year and the company building the new Vector Arena in Downtown Auckland lost big dollars on that project.

It is more than likely that the big New Zealand construction company will win the bid as it has the size and experience to be able to complete the project

Grab your seat for the game, Fletchers could be in for a bumpy ride.

Fletcher Building @ Share Investor

Fletcher House built on hard times
Fletcher Building down tools in the short term
Why did you buy that stock? [Fletcher Building Ltd]
A solid foundation for the future
Fletcher Building raises profit through canny management

Related Reading

Fletcher Building History - Auckland University

Fletcher Building Financials

Share Investor

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Sky City sale could be off

Christchurch March against EFB: Report

Monday, November 26, 2007

Helen Clark and Jenette Fitzsimon's in conflict with business

Fletcher's got game

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