Comments on: Michelle Boag misleads on super city job

By: Damage control on Boag affair « Red Alert

Damage control on Boag affair « Red Alert — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:51:21 +0000

[...] McCracken’s original story in the Herald on Sunday, my Red Alert posts from Sunday and Wednesday, Thursday’s Herald story by Derek Cheng, the transcript from question time, and the video. [...]

By: Spud

Spud — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:51:59 +0000

That’s scary Anne

By: Luke

Luke — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:47:08 +0000

“UMR was not run by someone who was a leading political operative/propogandist for Labour.”

We don’t know that for though do we? Anyone of the authors at any political blog like DPF’s could be an analyst for UMR.

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:12:29 +0000

I realise the Michelle Boag affair has to take precedence at this point in time, but the revelation concerning David Farrar’s commercial relationship with a government department is equally alarming. It has to be suspected that it’s not the first such contractural arrangement and is unlikely to be the last. That a person as closely aligned to the Nat govt. and John Key should be conducting these polls has serious implications for the neutrality of the public service. Who are the ultimate beneficiaries – and at the tax payers’ expense? The National Party?

By: Phil Twyford

Phil Twyford — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:12:58 +0000

@ Luke – I dont know if they did Luke. But if they had it wouldnt be analagous anyway. UMR was not run by someone who was a leading political operative/propogandist for Labour.

By: Armchair Critic

Armchair Critic — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:43:18 +0000

Ironic, isn’t it, that Rodney can’t decide what the powers of the local boards should be
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10616964
but he knows exactly who the directors of the CCOs should be.
Gordon McLaughlin made an interesting point on RNZ this afternoon, essentially that the reorganisation of Auckland is not about democracy (because it weakens democracy, and is in all aspects being undertaken in an extremely undemocratic manner), rather it is about the theft of assets in the name of efficiency.
Democracy is meant to be democratic, and should not be sacrificed in the name of efficiency.

By: Luke

Luke — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:08:41 +0000

Phil, did UMR ever conduct polls for Government departments in the last 10 years?

By: Tracey

Tracey — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:50:51 +0000

jennifer, agreed. It might go awry (sp) if Aucklanders do what the Brits did to Thatcher’s poll tax… refuse to pay. Perhaps we need to consider refusing to pay our rates to the new owners our assets which we never sold but which were stolen from us? National sure must have built up some HUGE debts being in Opposition for 9 years because the Directorships of this country are being carved up big time. I wonder who they already have lined up for RNZ?

By: jennifer

jennifer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:36:58 +0000

Tracey, they ‘elite’ are already shoulder tapping their mates, drawing up lists, and dividing up the spoils. It’s shocking and venal. If only the people knew. But as you say, the Herald is asleep at the wheel, even when their own polling shows 57 percent of Aucklanders want to keep their current councils now the true horror of the government’s super city is revealed. It reminds me of the tales of Huey Long’s Louisiana. No kidding. Boag is just the tip of the iceberg.

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:05:03 +0000

That should get Farrar’s bovver boys going