The Inquiring Mind

Crafar Farms – Shearer shows only tenuous link with reality

adamsmith1922 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:49:36 +0000

Oh dear, barely has Caspar donned the leadership mantle of Labour than his inexperience is revealed. David “saviour of 50 milion in his own lunchtime’ Shearer is quoted at Stuff as stating the approval of the Shanghai Pengxin bid for the Crafar farms is:-

“This latest decision will be a massive kick in the guts for the local group of iwi and farmers who also put in a bid,” Shearer said.

“Labour is not against foreign investment but any deal must demonstrate added value for New Zealanders. This one doesn’t.”

This silly statement is neatly demolished by Tim Watkin, hardly a rabid VRWC member, in his piece at Pundit where he writes:-

The OIO writes it’s also excited by the fact SPGL has “very strong contacts with the supermarket industry” in China, will create two new NZ brands (Nature Pure and Pure 100) and is promising to spend $100m over the next five years promoting New Zealand dairy in Asia.

If the commitments are honoured, it all has to “benefit New Zealand” economically.

If the commitments are not honoured, then SPGL will have breached the investment permission and presumably penalties can be sought. If the commitments are met, then SPGL will have invested at least NZ$14m in the farms direct improvment, plus NZ$100m in creating markets for NZ produce in China and Asia.

Watkin then spears Caspar’s line with the following:-

Labour leader David Shearer in opposing the sale said this week:

“If there is going to be foreign ownership then we have to make sure New Zealanders have a real interest in it and get real value from it. Now I don’t think that this sale here gives us any return.”

The details of this deal make that a hard argument to sustain; there are clearly significant returns to New Zealand. It’s hard to imagine how, under current law, New Zealand could have done better out of this deal.

In addition, Watkin deals to the vacuous comment by Shearer about the group of local iwi and farmers:-

The original New Zealand bidders couldn’t have offered the strategic links into Asia and, I’m sorry, I simply refuse to take seriously a Michael Fay-led anything as a champion of retaining New Zealand assets in local ownership. Fay cheated and betrayed his homeland for massive personal profit in the 1980s, selling key strategic assets offshore for knockdown prices. The deals he did weren’t nearly as good for New Zealand as this one, so he has simply no credibility on the subject.

So far as Adam is aware the only other bid on the table apart from Landcorp was the Fay led group. It is hard to take Caspar Shearer seriously when he talks about the Fay led group as ‘local iwi and farmers’. boy Fay’s PR people have invested in a whole new spin machine there. Fay, a former tax exile, is playing the nationalist/brownwash card to obtain assets on the cheap so that he can make a profit. After all he is a businessman. Like many before him Fay is cloaking himself in the flag in order to obtain a personal benefit. Backing the Fay group is a silly move by Shearer. Furthermore, Shearer is like many asking the Government to ignore the relevant law and/or change the rules whilst the ball is in play. However, that of course is what the ancien regime of Clark/Cullen did; plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

Caspar needs to get a grip and engage brain before stoking the fires of racism, xenophobia and increasing the dislike many in NZ have for business and economic improvement. After all we have Winston Peters and the Greens to do that for us anyway, so Caspar is hardly seizing upon a differentiator, nor demonstrating a break with past Labour behaviour and attitudes.

More stupidity re Crafar

adamsmith1922 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:44:07 +0000

In a post at The Stranded, Redlogix has a diatribe about Fran O’Sullivan’s excellent Herald article this morning.

The post soon degenerates into a tirade against the government, with a good dose of Key Derangement Syndrome, finishing with this ‘gem’

Anyone now doubt what Key is and more importantly WHY he left a very well paid, highly influential job in the merchant banking industry back in 2000 to become a very lowly back-bench MP for a party that had been firmly booted from power just a year before?

Clearly insinuating that Key is somehow personnally gaining from the deal. Redlogix in his post seems to have only a tenuous grip on reality.

The comments are as usual at The Stranded full of bile, copious instances of KDS, and a lack of any relationship with normality and as usual one Millsy has to have a go, this moniker will be familiar to readers of other blogs. His bilious contribution was

millsy

28 January 2012 at 12:25 pm

Quisling, Laval, Petain and the other collaborators were rewarded for their treachery with a one way trip to the gallows.

In time, the likes of O’Sullivan, Key, Williamson and Coleman, will find themselves heading there too.

So Millsy now advocates the slaughter of those who he takes a dislike to. Clearly an individual who believes, like Stalin, in only one view – his

Adam is now off to shower away the stink that comes from reading The Stranded.

Ignorance, racism and hypocrisy now the main NZ characteristics

adamsmith1922 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:42:44 +0000

The above characteristics, which are it seems the key elements in the thinking of many New Zealanders, are fully displayed in the comments made in the NZ Herald’s Your Views on the Crafar Farms decision.

Many seem to hate all foreigners, the majority are out of touch with any form of economic reality and furthermore attribute a degree of mendacity towards Chinese that is appalling and frightening.

Makes Adam ashamed of New Zealand.

Crafar Farms – some facts #2

adamsmith1922 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:26:48 +0000

Overheard on Jim Mora’s panel discussion today.

Apparently Ngai Tahu have sold, yes sold some forestry land, yes land, to foreigners. Yes nasty foreigners, in this case Swiss, have purchsed land from Ngai Tahu.

Where is the hullabaloo about this?

Where is Winston Peters re this?

Where are the iwi protesting the sale of land?

Adam thought Maori did not sell land?

Where is the MSM manufacturing news re this?

What benefits do the Swiss bring to our forsetry sector?

Where is the left wing outrage?

Where is Caspar in this?

Seems that white yodelling Swiss are somehow not as dangerous as men from China.

Again Adam says far too many people in this Crafar matter are two faced hypocrites.

Crafar Farms – some facts #1

adamsmith1922 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:01:16 +0000

So Government is to permit the Crafar farms to be sold to Chinese interests.

Immediately we see out pourings of faux indignation.

For example No Right Turn writes:-

so we end up with a strategic asset and a significant chunk of our dairy production falling into foreign hands

Reading that one might be concerned.

Yet apparently in mid-2005, there were 12,786 dairy farms, with a total area of 2.1 million hectares. Adam understands that the Crafar farms are some 8,000 hectares max. So this so called strategic asset, about which NRT and others are so concerned is 0.003% of the land in dairy. My god that really, really is strategic NOT

Then the 16 farms represent 0.001% of the number of farms, another hugely significant chunk of farm ownership.NOT

Given that it is estimated that of NZ productive agricultural land that some 7% is foreign owned, it is hard to take the concern of NRT seriously, other than to conclude that he like many has a hang-up about inward investment.

Yet as usual in NZ it seems that many, including some politicans are not afraid to let facts get in the way of a beat-up, xenophobia or good old hyprocrisy

Adam’s Little List

adamsmith1922 — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 06:06:12 +0000

Drawing upon the immortal Gibert & Sullivan operetta, The Mikado, where the ‘patter song’ was about those who would not be missed if dispensed with, via the executioners block. Adam has some thoughts in a NZ context:-

Winston Peters

Trevor Mallard

The entire crew at The Standard

Darien Fenton

Maryan Street

Andrew Williams

Andrew Cunliffe

Brian Edwards

Bomber Bradbury

Penny Bright

Patrick Gower

Tapu Misa

John Campbell

Mark Sainsbury

Petra Bagust

Brian Rudman

Duncan Garner

Rajan Prasad

Raymond Huo

Jonathan Coleman

Ruth Dyson

no particular ranking and there are others, but a starting point.

Please feel free to add new names

Here is Thomas Allen from the Proms, enjoy

Guess who!

adamsmith1922 — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:35:36 +0000

Which blogging legend, in his mirror’s view, wrote this drivel:-

” we revel in a year of media banality and political apathy as the country slowly faces the collapse of the entire neo liberal Washington consensus hegemonic structure with all the awareness of a brain dead coma patient.”

There is no need to parody or make fun of anybody who can write such mind numbing crap, as they do the deed all on their own.

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to all

adamsmith1922 — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:50:56 +0000

Thanks to all my readers and commenters.

Enjoy this time and relax

Greens on foreign policy

adamsmith1922 — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 06:06:03 +0000

Whilst not converted to their viewpoint, Adam has a liking for their looking at foreign affairs as a Global Affairs issue as Kennedy Graham writes thoughtfully

Ministerial competence and other things

adamsmith1922 — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:42:53 +0000

Trevor Mallard has been blogging about how the number of Ministers appointed by John Key is ridiculous, to some extent Adam agrees, but let us look at the Ministry as of November 2005, just after H1 was returned for the third time:-

1 Rt Hon Helen Clark
Prime Minister
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
Ministerial Services
Minister in Charge of the NZ Security Intelligence Service
Minister Responsible for the GCSB

2 Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Finance
Minister for Tertiary Education
Leader of the House
Attorney-General (includes responsibility for Serious Fraud office)

3 Hon Jim Anderton
Minister of Agriculture
Minister for Biosecurity
Minister of Fisheries
Minister of Forestry
Minister Responsible for the Public Trust
Associate Minister of Health
Associate Minister for Tertiary Education

4 Hon Steve Maharey
Minister of Education
Minister of Broadcasting
Minister of Research, Science and Technology
Minister for Crown Research Institutes
Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office

5 Hon Phil Goff
Minister of Defence
Minister of Trade
Minister of Pacific Island Affairs
Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control
Associate Minister for Trade Negotiations
Associate Minister of Finance

6 Hon Annette King
Minister of State Services
Minister of Police
Minister for Food Safety
Associate Minister of Defence
Associate Minister of Trade
Coordinating Minister, Race Relations
Minister of Transport

7 Hon Trevor Mallard
Minister for Economic Development
Minister for Industry and Regional Development
Minister for State Owned Enterprises
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Associate Minister of Finance

8 Hon Pete Hodgson
Minister of Health

9 Hon Parekura Horomia
Minister of Maori Affairs
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
Associate Minister of Education
Associate Minister of State Services
Associate Minister of Fisheries

10 Hon Mark Burton
Minister of Justice
Minister of Local Government
Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
Deputy Leader of the House
Minister Responsible for the Law Commission

11 Hon Ruth Dyson
Minister of Labour
Minister for ACC
Minister for Senior Citizens
Minister for Disability Issues
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)

12 Hon Chris Carter
Minister of Conservation
Minister of Housing
Minister for Ethnic Affairs

13 Hon Rick Barker
Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister of Civil Defence
Minister for Courts
Minister of Veterans’ Affairs

14 Hon David Benson-Pope
Minister for Social Development and Employment
Minister for the Environment

15 Lianne Dalziel
Minister of Commerce
Minister of Women’s Affairs
Minister for Small Business

16 Hon Damien O’Connor
Minister of Corrections
Minister of Tourism
Minister for Rural Affairs
Associate Minister of Health

17 Hon David Cunliffe
Minister of Immigration
Minister of Communications
Minister for Information Technology
Associate Minister for Economic Development

18 Hon David Parker
Minister of Energy
Minister for Land Information
Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues

19 Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Customs
Minister of Youth Affairs
Associate Minister for the Environment
Associate Minister of Local Government

20 Clayton Cosgrove
Minister for Building Issues
Minister of Statistics
Associate Minister of Finance
Associate Minister of Immigration
Associate Minister of Justice

21 Hon Jim Sutton
Minister for Trade Negotiations

MINISTERS OUTSIDE CABINET

22 Hon Judith Tizard
Minister of Consumer Affairs
Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand
Minister Responsible for the National Library
Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
Associate Minister of Commerce
Associate Minister of Transport
Auckland Issues

23 Hon Dover Samuels
Minister of State
Associate Minister for Economic Development
Associate Minister for Industry and Regional Development
Associate Minister of Housing
Associate Minister of Tourism

24 Hon Harry Duynhoven
Minister for Transport Safety Associate Minister of Energy

25 Hon Mita Ririnui
Minister of State
Associate Minister of Corrections
Associate Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
Associate Minister of Forestry
Associate Minister of Health

26 Winnie Laban
Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector
Associate Minister of Pacific Island Affairs
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
Associate Minister for Economic Development

27 Mahara Okeroa
Minister of State
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
Associate Minister of Conservation

MINISTERS OUTSIDE CABINET FROM OTHER PARTIES WITH CONFIDENCE AND SUPPLY AGREEMENTS

Rt Hon Winston Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister for Racing
Associate Minister for Senior Citizens

Hon Peter Dunne
Minister of Revenue
Associate Minister of Health

There were 29 in this ministry.

Trevor has opined as well that many ministers, especially in the latter part of the rankings were effectively deadwood, so does he mean:-

11 Hon Ruth Dyson
Minister of Labour
Minister for ACC
Minister for Senior Citizens
Minister for Disability Issues
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)

12 Hon Chris Carter
Minister of Conservation
Minister of Housing
Minister for Ethnic Affairs

13 Hon Rick Barker
Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister of Civil Defence
Minister for Courts
Minister of Veterans’ Affairs

14 Hon David Benson-Pope
Minister for Social Development and Employment
Minister for the Environment

15 Lianne Dalziel
Minister of Commerce
Minister of Women’s Affairs
Minister for Small Business

16 Hon Damien O’Connor
Minister of Corrections
Minister of Tourism
Minister for Rural Affairs
Associate Minister of Health

17 Hon David Cunliffe
Minister of Immigration
Minister of Communications
Minister for Information Technology
Associate Minister for Economic Development

18 Hon David Parker
Minister of Energy
Minister for Land Information
Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues

19 Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Customs
Minister of Youth Affairs
Associate Minister for the Environment
Associate Minister of Local Government

20 Clayton Cosgrove
Minister for Building Issues
Minister of Statistics
Associate Minister of Finance
Associate Minister of Immigration
Associate Minister of Justice

21 Hon Jim Sutton
Minister for Trade Negotiations

MINISTERS OUTSIDE CABINET

22 Hon Judith Tizard
Minister of Consumer Affairs
Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand
Minister Responsible for the National Library
Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
Associate Minister of Commerce
Associate Minister of Transport
Auckland Issues

23 Hon Dover Samuels
Minister of State
Associate Minister for Economic Development
Associate Minister for Industry and Regional Development
Associate Minister of Housing
Associate Minister of Tourism

24 Hon Harry Duynhoven
Minister for Transport Safety Associate Minister of Energy

25 Hon Mita Ririnui
Minister of State
Associate Minister of Corrections
Associate Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
Associate Minister of Forestry
Associate Minister of Health

26 Winnie Laban
Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector
Associate Minister of Pacific Island Affairs
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
Associate Minister for Economic Development

27 Mahara Okeroa
Minister of State
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
Associate Minister of Conservation

were all deadwood. If not he should tell us after all it is unfair on the competent to tar them all with the brush of incompetence.

Intriguingly a number of names at the lower end of the rankings have achieved much exposure and higher rankings recently. Were any of these amongst those Trevor did not rate as competent?

Has the whiteanting of the Shearer front bench begun?