This is really weird, given all the focus on “enhanced” cv claims over recent years, but who does look at the CVs that MPs post about themselves? I was told by a former National Party supporter that my failed Nat opponent at the last election who squeaked in on the list had exaggerated his “brilliant career”. I didn’t pay any attention to this until yesterday when I heard that Aaron Gilmore had told one of my colleagues that I should essentially pull my head in because I have been advocating for my constituents over their need to know what’s happening with their future post the earthquake – apparently I have been expressing these views a little bit too publicly for his liking. I will not apologise to anyone for doing my job. I have constituents demanding answers and I am entitled to seek those answers on their behalf. I am not asking for anything for myself – it is for the people I have been elected to serve. I remember how viciously I was attacked on an earlier post for daring to suggest that frustration was growing while Christchurch East waited, despite my best efforts to get answers through official channels. The truth is that MPs were not given a dedicated 0800 number to call until 10 days after the earthquake. I will explain at a future time how it was the government that was playing politics with the earthquake – including enabling Aaron to leave a Ministerial briefing on the earthquake to join with the Deputy Prime Minister in my electorate as EQC started doing exactly what I had asked to be done three days before.
This was why I thought I would look at Aaron’s cv and play with the internet – just to see if the story I had been told was worth investigating further:
- Senior Associate, Australasian Financial Services Association – No such organisation that I could find
- Member, Chartered Financial Analyst Institute – Website does not show him as a current member
- Member, Associate Chartered Accounting College - No such organisation that I could find
These anomolies need to be addressed. The following two are not really examples of inaccuracies in his cv but they gild the lily so to speak. He says on his cv under qualifications: Postgraduate Diploma (Accounting), Massey University (75% complete) – I don’t know about you, but I don’t think you can include something under the definition of a qualification if it is not completed – but I suppose it proves he is an optimist – “75% done” sounds better than ”25% shy of the qualification”. And under Awards he has included Finalist, 2007 South Island NZIM Young Executive of the Year – there were 7 finalists that year – only one woman, and she was the one who won the award. But good on him for getting that far.
So my quick scan produced a little interest – personally I don’t want to waste too much time on this guy, who spends time criticising me for nothing more than advocating on behalf of my constituents and seeks to undermine me by making up stories about me – e.g. moving out of the electorate (untrue) or applying for jobs overseas (untrue) - sigh! But I am sure I can find someone who will do a more complete analysis on Aaron’s CV and his register of pecuniary interests, because my contact says there is much more. Although I will say one of those disclosures of pecuniary interests did catch my eye – Property Ventures Ltd. I already knew that name from when I was researching the interests behind the Council bailout of David Henderson’s properties - what a surprise! You would be gob-smacked to find out who Aaron is backing for Mayor; setting aside all personal interests of course.
Can someone give some context to this post please? Something to do with Christchurch? Who is Aaron Gilmore?
It sure is interesting comparing CVs pre Parliament, this helps voters determine who has the experience to lead a county.
Lianne-
- Organiser and Legal Officer, Canterbury Hotel and Hospital Workers Union 1984-1987
- Union Secretary, Canterbury Hotel and Hospital Workers Union 1987-1990
- National Council member, Federation of Labour
- National Council member, NZ Council of Trade Unions
Aaron-
- Economist, Ministry of Transport 1995-1997
- Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit 1997-1999
- Manager, Ernst and Young 1999-2000
- Associate Director/Director, Cameron Partners 2000-2003
- Senior Manager, Ernst and Young 2003-2004
- Mergers and Acquistions Director, General Cable Corporation Oceania 2004-2005
- Head of Corporate Development (Asia-Pacific), General Cable Corporation 2005-2007
- Managing Director, General Cable Superconductors 2007-2008
It might help if you linked to the actual CV.
His Canterbury qualifications check out. As for Massey, if he graduated from there, he did it pre-1997. Their online database does not record a PGDip in his name.
You are joking Lianne? I suppose you wouldn’t understand as his CV doesn’t outline extensive experience as a Union rep but if you are going to have a “whose got the biggest ****” competition with Aaron over qualifications and important things like who has made the most money in a commercial environment then I am afraid you are going to lose. Lose badly.
Lianne, surely you could get the Labour Research Unit to look into this. I find it odd that you’ve chosen to put it on the blog without proplery researching it first. You might be on to something here, but if you’re not it’ll end up hitting you in the face. Best to check it out first.
It seems a bit iffy to attack your electorate rival on such a personal tone + what cactus K said. This post I noticed was made around 12-1am too…I don’t mean to sound rude but a midnight rant about the qualifications of your electorate rival stinks a bit of something wrong on your end… I don’t know, perhaps you should pull this post Ms Dalziel.
This is going tobe verrrryyyyy interesting, I hope none of your collegues have been fudging their CVs either….
Teenaa koe, Lianne
Your remarks are suitable for playground drama only. “…oh, that Aaron boy, is playing with my toy, I don’t like him..I’m gonna throw mud in his face…(evil little girl cackle).” Truly your remarks are more worthy of an ACT member than ummm, what party is this again?
Naa, Adele
Aaron does seem to ‘not last long’ in his jobs. Once the feet are under the table, it seems another job ( someone elses?) is in his sights ,or the same job has a new title to keep this child from throwing his toys out of the cot.
Even Key seemed to do 3-5 years before his next step.
So either AG is the most brillant member of Nationals Caucus or just another clueless twit who thinks turmoil in his job history is a sign of knowledge, experience and maturity.
I guess Oliver you think that experience in big corporates and private for-profit enterprises – instead of institutions dedicated to the welfare of the many and not the few – makes Aaron suitable to lead a country.
Well in a Right Wing Govt., perhaps.
But I do agree, CV’s need to be accurate and balanced, and we know that big fish civil servants have got away with a lot of big lies in the past.
Plus I’m very pleased to have an MP’s post named after me
What is most funny is that Aaron thinks it important to include his primary and secondary education on his CV. Just to prove he’s a Christchurch boy I imagine, but come on, as a voter not something I care about.
As for awards – being a finalist isn’t an award.
It seems to me Lianne that your internal polling is showing you that the government is performing so well on handling the Chch earthquake aftermath, which must be very frustrating for you. However lashing out at your opponent (who you rightly say is a failed opponent) in a safe seat just makes you vindictive and spiteful. It’s not a very attractive feature in a politician. Obviously the aftermath of the earthquake has left you exhausted and stressed. Maybe you need to take a break.
Before people get too excited about my post, I have not questioned whether he has a masters degree from Canterbury. I am questioning the listing of his memberships of 2 organisations that I couldn’t find on the internet. He’s either got the names wrong or he’s gilding the lily. I really don’t care; but the question is legitimate. The other two examples are clearly gilding the lily but he admits that (’75% completed’ and ‘finalist’).
And no I am not a running a competition over whose cv is more impressive – Aaron wins hands down – even when he describes himself as employed as an economist when he was employed as an analyst, but I didn’t mention that one.
Aaron wants me to be quiet about the plight faced by my constituents – he is telling my colleagues to tell me to pull my head in. I was elected to represent my constituents and I know their best interests are served by advocating for them to be fully engaged in an open and transparent process about their future. I haven’t stopped working since the earthquake and I am tired of this constant undermining of what is a legitimate advocacy role for an electorate MP regardless of who is in government.
What a waste of time and effort.
Where is Labour’s vision and policy instead of giving free publicity to racist gits and ad-hominum attacks on opponents.
and labour languishes in the polls why. Oh thats right.
Did you think of calling him and asking?? – Would have been more helpful and quicker than google. But nope – little mud raking and a uninformed rant on the internet is way more professional.
@CV, you made that judgement not me
Anyway try http://www.nzica.com, and http://www.finsia.com
Pathetic.
I’m happy for you Viper Man
“Who is Aaron Gilmore?” – The future Prime Minister of New Zealand – after Goff has finished in the job of course
Funny – Clare thought my comments were “laughable” when I said Labour was working on a campaign of misinformation and scare tactics…
Uh, its laughable because this is National’s bread and butter, indeed, its special sauce, and imitating National is definitely not something that Labour wants to be doing.
Spud, hi
@CV – okay leaving aside your claim of Nationals bread and butter – given last elections absurdly positive National campaign – (let’s not debate the issue itself here it will go on forever!) it does sound like you agree with the substance of what I said that Labour is going down the line of misinformation and scare tactics.
And that in total fairness, you don’t agree with that strategy
far from being vindictive or spiteful, it is perfectly correct to query the bona fides of someone who exaggerates their CV. Isn’t that what Anne-Marie Thompson did? Her PhD was probably 75% completed. I seem to remember the right wing bloggers going mental over her – yet somehow when it’s one of their own, it’s bad manners to mention it!
It is of course germane for Lianne to investigate this because Gilmore may well stand again next year, and is presumably telling fibs about Lianne in the hope some people will believe them – what a disgrace.
As a (non-Labour) constituent of Christchurch East some context is needed for this post. Aaron attempts to act as the “MP for Christchurch East,” and competes for constituent services in East. In fact, I have had much more communication from Aaron (without asking for it: through my letterbox) than I have from Lianne.
There already exists a level of competition between Aaron and Lianne. This was not an unprovoked post; it is merely is an acknowledgment of the competition that exists between the two.
As for the reasons behind Aaron doing this, given that his mandate comes from around 100 people at last check, he needs all the help he can get to hang on to his nice cushy job as East MP in exile.
I support you in this one Lianne. Gilmore’s only claim to anything genuine is his asking patsy questions of (for) the Minister of Finance. What does that tell you.
Aaron Gilmore. Is there a Member of Parliament by that name? Which electorate? Which party?
Sounds like a back bencher forever if he is an MP.
Wow nice Helen Clark style attack. Thought those ugly days were over.
A bit more of that spite closer to the election please so National can govern alone with an increased majority.
What a joke this is, Nat supporters claiming it’s Labour that does the negativen campaigning. After the long whispering, and vindictive campaign blog and talk-back full of misinformation and diversions, spraying vitriol at HC and Labour for years. Then Key goes on TV in the campaign period, smiles & waves & says “not me, not me”.
Then targetting any little misstep by Labour MPs, with the help of the MSM, while they fail to truly hold National/key to account for greater crimes against our democratic ideal.
Kind of indicated by labelling Clark above as being responsible for “ugly days”. Pot, kettle.
@Dorothy – Well it wasn’t investigated very well before posting….
Lianne said “Senior Associate, Australasian Financial Services Association – No such organisation that I could find” and a quick search reveals http://www.finsia.com
@Johno – What is Lianne’s claim to fame?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3550428
Liane, this is a shamefully bad attack.
Firstly – his qualifications all seem to check out (and even if they didn’t check out, it wouldn’t change much…let the public judge him on his performance as an MP)
And secondly – you start to question the qualifications themselves (eg: a finalist not being an award)!! This not only defeats the purpose of a CV online (for the public to decide what are worthwhile achievements/background to warrant their vote), but it creates a pathetic (and rather dull) debate about who has had the most successful past.
Considering that you are both in parliament (and assumably have a background which impresses the public enough to vote for you), this pathetic debate is irrelevant and unneeded. The public of New Zealand want MPs who are capable and willing to debate the actual issues in the electorate. (like the growing calls for a new high school in Christchurch East)
Perhaps if you started do this, you would move up in the labour ranks, rather than remaining dismally low for someone with a career in politics as long as yours.
Hi Lianne
I saw that Darien Fenton was seeking nomination for the Te Atatu seat and since I don’t know much about her looked at her CV on the parliamentary website.
I noticed that she had a BA from Victoria (incomplete). I immediately thought of you and hopes that the information helps for this latest crusade of yours to bring greater honesty to MP CVs.
Lianne,
You may be right … his resume might include a few half-truths.
But given your history as Minister of Immigration in 2004 I’d have thought it prudent to adopt a principle of “People in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones” before accusing others of half truths.
Hi CV
! Does that mean he might not be Prime Minister? 
!
@Josh – gasp
Fenton for Te Atatu
!!!!!!!
Trolling. Warned. Clare
Wow I would pull this post, it makes you seem lost and not very good at using the internet. Here are two of the links that you failed to find.
http://www.finsia.com
http://www.nzica.com
Sad, really sad. I hope you learn to use the internet one day. If this is how you run things, it is a sad. Please for the sake of your credibility, apologize and move on from the playground antics.
Lianne, thanks for posting this – I find the rights indignation to be, quite frankly, typical of trying to detract – again.
In this case, Gilmore is a petty little bit player who would love to have the CHCH east electorate – but as someone who lived in that electorate, let me tell you now that what he is doing is trying to undermine Lianne to bolster his own self importance. That bloke may well fill letterboxes with unwanted bits of party propaganda – propaganda that other chch Nat mps were also filling letterboxes with, (and which I think if you investigated these (christmas 2009 in particular) they were nothing short of electioneering).
He constantly tries to undermine what the actual elected representative is doing (as in Lianne) – remember, he is a only a list member for the nats with sod all support from the people who live there – his track record is abysmal and it is perfectly ok for Lianne to confront back. Ask those who are struggling in that area post earthquake – some of whom have been left to languish while the ‘posher’ parts of town get support – and they will say they are grateful that they have an advocate and that Lianne is working for them – as she should be. Well done Lianne, and never feel the need to have to justify the good work you do, have done, and will continue to do. In fact, if you were to ask Aaron what sort of support he gives those who live in Aranui in particular he would have to say none – he is far too busy promising new high schools so he does not have to send his kids to the local one – which he neither supports or wants.
Those on the right would be crying out if the shoe was on the other foot – in fact, lets look at the attacks (from the past which penance has duely been paid!) you are using now. As an MP who looks after those who need it – there are few who can show to be as articulate, experienced and skilled as Lianne. Aaron wishes he was a smidgeon as competent.
Oh, and for the record, it should never be about how much money you make, can make or did make – money doth not make the man, or woman – its what you do for your people that make the difference – not the bank balance. In this count, Lianne wins hands down.
Ok Paul, cute you’re trying to debate for Lianne on the schools, but newsflash – he doesn’t have to send his kids to Aranui or Mairehau at all. He could do what 90% of the electorate do already – go in the ballot for other schools. Then it becomes a lottery. And those who miss out usually choose to move out of the electorate, into one which is actually in zone for a half decent school.
So while it’s nice to say “make the current schools better”, this is proof that any work Lianne has done towards that in her last 10 years as Chch East MP has failed. The smart option is to start from scratch, build a new school with new facilities – to attract students and teachers.
It is my real name.
I worked with Aaron at Cameron & Co (now Cameron Partners) from 2001-3 and he and I are the key individuals with Clare Capital (Register of Pecuniary Interests).
Aaron is a friend but also a business partner. The Cardiff Oil and Gas Field (Royalty), also in the Register of Pecuniary Interests, is the result of a sale transaction we ran together (NZ$25 million sale of Calgary Petroleum to listed Canadian company TAG Oil in May 2006). Aaron is a high-quality corporate finance professional.
Aaron is also a really smart guy – that is very good at passing exams. I know, because I have been around him studying for the exams you note above. To the absolute best of my knowledge – he has passed them. Some of the qualifications mentioned – example: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute – have some expensive annual fees, which are only worth paying if you are active in the industry. A CFA certification is not very relevant in his current role.
Aaron has always been passionate about politics – and while his former colleagues have supported him becoming an MP, we do feel it is a waste of high-quality corporate finance talent. Reading posts like this don’t really change that view.
paul thanks for adding some much needed common sense to the discussion.
I hope you first sent an e-mail to all the other Labour MPs asking if anyone had got a “creative” with their resumes…
Christchurch East. That rings a bell.
“E Tipu E Rea creche in Aranui, Christchurch, plans to raise fees from $4.20 to $5.20 an hour.
Do you want to disclose the link between this preschool gouging parents as political fodder and the Local Labour Party.
If you want to talk CV’s then divulge all material.
@Clare
I linked to a parliamentary web page, that showed your own workmates are committing the same offense that Lianne was so against in her post… I was merely interested in why it was so awful, and if she held that judgement against Aaron Gilmore, presumably she held the same opinion of Darien Fenton doing the exact same thing…
Why not share the link yourself? it promotes your party?
As long as Aaron has a passion for helping and supporting the people of NZ, and he has the ability to translate his private sector experience to the demands of the public sphere, he will make a great MP.
Undermining local MPs trying to assist their constituents and playing politics aside, that is.
I have joined this late today and can’t help notice the strong reaction from the righties being noisy and on the defensive. Funny that.
It’s not really a case of right vs left (I’m a centrist), it’s more of a case of lame-personal-attacks-and-fishing-for-dirt-on-opponent vs maturity.
The majority of New Zealanders don’t care much for right vs left – more ‘who can represent me the best without being a childish twat’
@mark clare – I applaud your support of Aaron, it is appropriate for someone who knows him on a different level to support him, so thank you for your pov.
The point that viper made re having a passion about making a difference for the people he represents, is what is actually the most important thing here – and his efforts to undermine Lianne in order to bolster his own self importance is both unprofessional and unhelpful to those in their electorate. Its a very diverse community, and his ability to be a corporate high flyer is not going to mean squat to the peoples in his area that are struggling. From where I sit, the most appropriate behavior in light of the recent events in chch would be NOT to undermine and criticize his colleague but to actually put party politics aside and work alongside her to the benefit of those in need. And, there are many, as mentioned above, who feel quite let down. In this light, Lianne has a proven track record for helping those in her electorate – perhaps Mark you are right to some degree – perhaps Aarons true skill and gift is to not work with people in politics, but finance, where you have quite clearly spelt out how good he is at this.
as for the new high school – its a waste of taxpayer money, and the arguments for a new high school when there is two that service the electorate already – is neither fiscally or population wise, feasible. Perhaps if there was less of a ‘white middle class not mixing with lower decile students’ attitude, things would be better for those two schools. (and yes, you are right, people who subscribe to not supporting their local schools are more than welcome to apply out of zone)
Jellybean says:
“What is most funny is that Aaron thinks it important to include his primary and secondary education on his CV.”
Well of course. Given the ‘Standards’ of expertise shown by some ‘National’ parliamentarians, it’s important we know that some at least did go to ’school’.
‘desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?’. Remind me Liane ..you are Labour shadow minister for what portfolio? Seriously what is your brief and what are your policies? You might get my vote back if you weren’t so desperate and negative.
I can remember the “CV” of the last Labour party leader on the party web-site.
It talked about, and I am putting the words in from memory.
“Her PhD research was on” etc.
When someone does that I assume she has such a degree. Can you confirm that or did she not complete the degree. And no, I don’t mean the “honorary degree” that Auckland gave her.
Richard Feynman, a true genius, gave the best view of those sort of doctorates.