Petrus Point

Tauranga Rena Ship Stranding

2011-10-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

I read with interest the hundreds of expert opinion on the cause, clean-up and the salvage.

Really in the end of the day these disasters happen frequently enough to have some precedent and learnings can be had.

First problem is New Zealand has a vast coast line and hundreds of reefs that are significant to shipping and they have been there for a long time. But the authorities did not have a workable plan in place. With that I mean no emergency planning that included training equipment and procedure existed. So for a coast line that has significant hazards and the chance of this happening is realistic no one decided to go down the 'what if' road and put something in place for when this happened.

Secondly it makes the clean up look very amateurish, allowing the media to overstate the hazards and turn 10 dead oil covered birds into hundreds by showing them over and over again. It allows a group like Greenpeace to say see crude oil is bad. It causes Government officials to look under prepared.

We are not good at setting standards and policing them we believe in bottom of the cliff control and running around in circles waiving our hands in the air screaming blaim to each other.

A bit of planning and control will go a long way to minimise these events as you will not be able to eliminate them!

After Libya, Western credibility is shot

2011-03-16T11:23:00.001-07:00

Lorne Gunter: After Libya, Western credibility is shot

Lorne Gunter Mar 16, 2011 – 12:14 PM ET | Last Updated: Mar 16, 2011 12:35 PM ET

REUTERS/Chris Helgren

All hail the glorious ruler

It’s said that Teddy Roosevelt used to enjoy quoting a West African saying, “Speak softly, but carry a big stick.”To the extent that the current U.S. president, Barack Obama, has a foreign policy doctrine, it would have to be the exact opposite, “Shoot your mouth off, but carry no stick whatsoever.”

Just look at the disaster the U.S. and the Western allies have created in Libya.

In early March, Mr. Obama insisted that the murderous Libyan strong man, Col. Muammar Gaddafi, “step down from power and leave” Libya immediately. Everyone, including Gaddafi, thought that meant that if he didn’t depart, the U.S. was prepared to use some level of force to make him go. Shortly after the president utter his threat, it was reported that Col. Gaddafi was trying to negotiate his exit with the rebel forces that, at that time, seemed certain to depose him.

But then there was no no-fly zone imposed by the U.S. or NATO. And there were no arms shipments to the rebels. A few automatic weapons and some grenades might have tipped the balance in the war.

The U.S. and its allies have aircraft carriers and air force bases within easy striking distance of Libya. With little effort (and little risk to their flyers), they could have pinned Col. Gaddafi’s jets on the ground and silenced his anti-aircraft batteries. They likely, too, could have restricted his use of helicopter gunships.

Imposing a no-fly zone had European and Arab League approval. It’s true the two major multilateral organizations the U.S. wanted to sign-off on no-fly before it put it a zone in place — the UN Security Council and NATO’s governing council — are both still dithering over whether to approve such a move. But independently, the French, the Brits and the Arab League have nodded their support.

No one would have truly complained. There may have been some public posturing against U.S. Imperialism and the usual rot by leaders in the Arab world and elsewhere, but privately, almost no one likes Gaddafi — not even his fellow Arab leaders. So there would have been little real opposition to a U.S. move.

But President Obama is the new Jimmy Carter — a sanctimonious do-gooder, who makes all kinds of high-toned moral pronouncements, but then never follows through. He did the same when Iranian protesters threatened to overthrow the mad mullahs of Tehran in the spring of 2009. He wished them well, then abandon them to the thugs and guns of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose blatant theft of a democratic election had sparked the protests in the first place.

Mr. Obama might be forgiven for missing his opportunity in Iran. After all, he was new in office then. But he is two years into his job now, and Libya was a much cleaner opportunity. It’s easier for U.S. forces to get to than Iran and far less capable of throwing up resistance to U.S. military efforts.

Even the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak shows Mr. Obama’s fecklessness, in a way. Had Mr. Mubarak not chosen to go on his own, he might still be in power. He didn’t have the army on his side — as Col. Gaddafi appears to — but then the Egyptian protesters didn’t take up arms, either, as their Libyan counterparts have.

My point is, nothing Mr. Obama did seems to have decided events in Egypt. The Egyptians took care of their own problem. Had it been left up to the American president, Mr. Mubarak might well have chosen a Gaddafi-like crackdown and succeeded in keeping power.

It is said that the U.S. has faltered because as bad as Mr. Gaddafi is, the Obama administration feared the rebels might well have been worse; they might have turned out to be extreme Islamists who are pro-al Qaeda.

That’s certainly possible. But it’s hard to see how they could have been much worse than the Colonel, who at one time was a more enthusiastic sponsor of anti-Western terrorism than even Iran.

Whatever their intent, the rebels might have been grateful to the West, too, for helping free them from a corrupt and brutal dictator. At the very least, having seen Western might used against their foe, they may have been reluctant to test that might again by permitting their country to become a staging ground for terror attacks against Western targets.

The problem now is that no one in Libya feels any gratitude towards the West. And no one around the world fears the Americans.

Both the rebels and Col. Gaddafi will be angry with the West, especially the United States. And no one in any other country will take American threats or pressure seriously. American pronouncements about democracy and freedom and free and fair elections will be assumed to be just so much hot air.

The world may moan about American unilateralism. The French may sniff, and the Brits and Germans and others may wring their hands about American disdain for the UN and other international collectivist organizations. Still, everyone looks to follow the American lead. If the U.S. takes a firm stance and backs its up, others fall into step. They may not always like it, but they do it. And there is a certain stability in international affairs that comes from U.S. clarity and decisiveness.

Now, thanks to Barack Carter, we’re back to the point where the worst, most vehemently anti-Western elements feel emboldened. Meanwhile, moderate and pro-Western elements are afraid to stick their heads up because they are justly concerned the Americans won’t back them up. Iran has been lost for a generation thanks to Jimmy Carter’s unwillingness to stand up for moderate, democratic forces in the face of Ayatollah Khomeini’s Islamic revolution. Now in Libya and elsewhere there is a real chance of a repeat under the vacillating Mr. Obama.

National Post

Follow Lorne on Twitter @lornegunter

Posted in: Full Comment, U.S. Politics, World Politics Tags: Libya, Lorne Gunter, Middle East, NATO, United Nations Security Council

Transocean Sedco Forex Inc.

2011-02-25T13:58:00.000-08:00

http://www.deepwater.com

Statistics:
Public Company
Incorporated: 1953 as The Offshore Company
Employees: 15,600
Sales: $1.22 billion (2000)
Stock Exchanges: New York
Ticker Symbol: RIG
NAIC: 21311 Drilling Oil and Gas Wells

Company Perspectives:
Our mission is to be the premier offshore drilling company providing worldwide rig-based, well-construction services to our customers through the integration of motivated people, quality equipment and innovative technology, with a particular focus on technically demanding environments.

Key Dates:
1942: Forex is founded in France.
1947: Southeastern Drilling Company is founded.
1953: The Offshore Company is incorporated.
1967: The Offshore Company goes public.
1978: The Offshore Company becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonat Inc., formerly Southern Natural Gas Co. (SNG).
1993: Sonat Offshore is spun off.
1996: Sonat Offshore acquires Transocean ASA to become Transocean Offshore.
1999: Transocean Offshore merges with Sedco Forex Drilling to become Transocean Sedco Forex Inc.
2000: R&B Falcon is acquired.

Company History:

Transocean Sedco Forex Inc. is the world's largest offshore drilling company and the fourth largest oilfield service company overall. Officially a Cayman Islands corporation, it operates out of Houston, Texas, with more than 16,000 employees located around the globe. Transocean's drilling rigs and work crews are contracted by petroleum companies at a day rate, over the course of long-term and short-term contracts. Although the company offers inland drilling barges and shallow water drilling rigs, Transocean is especially active in the deepwater and harsh environment drilling segment, offering semisubmersible rigs as well as massive drillships that have drilled to record depths in the range of 10,000 feet. Transocean's mobile rigs cover all of the world's major offshore drilling markets, including the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the waters off eastern Canada, Brazil, West and South Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and India.

Corporate Lineage Dating Back to 1953

Transocean is composed of a number of drilling operations that were merged, especially during the late 1990s when the offshore drilling industry as a whole began to consolidate. The surviving corporate structure belongs to The Offshore Company, incorporated in Delaware in 1953. It was created when the pipeline company Southern Natural Gas Co. (SNG) purchased DeLong-McDermott, which was a contract drilling joint venture of DeLong Engineering and J. Ray McDermott's marine construction business. A year later, Offshore established the first jackup drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil and gas exploration then began to move farther offshore and to more remote areas of the world. Offshore was also one of the earliest companies in the 1960s to operate jackups in the inhospitable environment of the North Sea, which would develop into one of the world's most significant sources of oil. In 1967 Offshore went public. Ten years later it expanded its range of operations to southeast Asia, where it drilled its first deepwater well. In 1978, the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of SNG, which had greatly increased its emphasis on offshore drilling and exploration operations. As a result, Offshore developed one of the largest U.S. fleets of drilling rigs. When SNG changed its name to Sonat in 1982, The Offshore Company became known as Sonat Offshore Drilling Inc.

During the 1970s new "floaters" were developed to accomplish deepwater drilling. Semisubmersible rigs were partially submerged below water and usually moored to the ocean floor for stability. Drill ships, able to reach depths of 3,000 feet and particularly useful in exploring remote areas, were also introduced as a cost-effective option during this period. By the late 1970s a large number of companies began to build and operate floaters, leading to a highly fragmented industry. When oil prices reached $32 a barrel in 1981, a drilling boom ensued, with oilfield service companies purchasing a great deal of equipment and saddling themselves with considerable debt. As the price of oil plunged in the mid-1980s, reaching a level below $10 by 1986, oil companies canceled drilling programs or negotiated much lower day rates for offshore rigs. A 300-foot jackup in the Gulf of Mexico that once commanded $50,000 a day now rented for less than $10,000. Many service companies went bankrupt or were swallowed up by stronger rivals. During this decade-long lean period, offshore drilling rigs in operation declined precipitously, from more than 1,000 in the early 1980s to around 500.

When oil and gas prices appeared to be rising, Sonat took advantage of investor optimism in 1993 to spin off Sonat Offshore, making $340 million while retaining a 40 percent interest, which would then be sold off in 1995. In this way the parent company hoped to transform itself from a diversified pipeline company into an exploration and production company. The newly independent Sonat Offshore, as a result of the offering, had a clean balance sheet and money in the bank, and was well positioned to weather an ensuing decline in gas prices. Moreover, the company's emphasis on deepwater oil drilling also would prove to be a wise strategy. It was recognized that the most desirable energy plays that remained in the world resided under great depths of ocean. Although the technology existed to tap these deposits, only until oil prices reached a certain level would it become economical for a company like Sonat Offshore to invest in a new generation of drill ships. The cost of such rigs was so high that only large companies were able to afford them.

Consolidation Among Offshore Drilling Contractors in the 1990s

There were other reasons why consolidation among offshore drilling contractors became desirable in the mid-1990s. It would likely bring pricing discipline to a highly fragmented industry, in which the top three companies served just 27 percent of the market. In 1995 there were around 400 jackup rigs owned by as many as 80 companies, creating a supply/demand imbalance that gave oil producers tremendous leverage over contractors. A small drop in the price of gas or oil could result in a major decrease in day rates. Clearly, companies could not expect to achieve long-term health by simply building more rigs to expand their business. Growth had to come by acquiring existing rigs, to gain some leverage with producers. With fewer but larger contractors in the industry, the addition of new rigs would hopefully become more of a rational and systematic process. In addition, larger players could operate more efficiently around the world, with rigs strategically positioned to save on moving charges while building a more diversified customer base.

In 1995 Sonat Offshore announced its proposal to acquire Reading & Bates Corp., which began offshore drilling operations in 1955. Although discussions continued over the next several months, in the end Reading & Bates rejected a $501 million cash and stock offer. In May 1996 Sonat Offshore announced a $1.5 billion stock and cash deal to acquire Norway's Transocean ASA, which a few months earlier announced that it was looking for a partner. Transocean ASA had been created in the mid-1970s when a Norwegian whaling company entered the semisubmersible business, then later consolidated with a number of other companies. Because of its large North Sea operations, Transocean ASA was considered a prize catch, one that would automatically make the buyer into the unquestioned leader in deepwater drilling. Reading & Bates attempted to outflank Sonat Offshore, venturing an unsolicited bid for Transocean ASA, which because of Norway law did not have any of the American takeover defenses at its disposal, such as "poison pill" provisions. After a month-long skirmish, Sonat Offshore sweetened its bid and agreed to retain much of Transocean's management team, the fate of which was uncertain under the Reading & Bates offer. The deal became effective in September 1996, and Sonat Offshore changed its name to Transocean Offshore.

Rising oil prices, in the meantime, benefited offshore drilling contractors. Day rates by December 1996 doubled over the previous year, topping $130,000 a day. The chairman of Transocean Offshore, J. Michael Talbot, concluded that the trend could continue for as long as 20 years and made a commitment to expand on the company's fleet. With long-term contracts with oil companies in hand, Transocean Offshore began the development of a new generation of massive drill ships, featuring the latest in technological advances, and designed to drill to 10,000 feet, as opposed to the 3,000-foot capacity of the drill ships built in the mid-1970s. The first ship, the Discoverer Enterprise, would be 834 feet in length with a derrick that stood 226 feet high. It could sleep 200 and carry 125,000 barrels of oil and gas. Because it featured two drilling systems in one derrick, the ship could reduce the time to drill a development well by up to 40 percent and could drill and lay pipeline without the need of a pipelay barge. With its increased productivity the ship could command much higher day rates, in the neighborhood of $200,000. Moreover, the Enterprise would essentially serve as a floating research and development project for two additional high-tech ships. Due to some setbacks partly caused by accident and weather, it would be more than a year late in becoming serviceable and see its price tag grow from $270 million to more than $430 million.

In April 1999 Transocean Offshore was approached by Schlumberger Ltd., which proposed spinning off its offshore drilling operations, Sedco Forex Limited, as part of a merger of equals. Paris-based Schlumberger had been involved in offshore drilling for many years. The Forex company was created in France in 1942 to engage in land drilling in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as France. Forex teamed with Languedocienne to create a company called Neptune to engage in offshore drilling. Forex had gained complete control of Neptune by 1972, when Schlumberger bought the remaining interest in Forex. The Southeastern Drilling Company, Sedco, was an American firm, founded in 1947 by future Texas governor Bill Clements to drill in shallow marsh water. In the 1960s it began to provide drilling services in deeper water. Schlumberger acquired the company in 1984 and a year later combined it with Forex to create Sedco Forex Drilling.

Merger of Transocean and Sedco Forex in 1999

The proposed Transocean Offshore and Sedco Forex merger was announced in July 1999. It called for an exchange of stock valued at approximately $3.2 billion. Schlumberger shareholders would receive roughly one share in the new company, Transocean Sedco Forex, for every five Schlumberger shares held. In the end, Schlumberger shareholders would control approximately 52 percent of the new company. Both Schlumberger and Transocean would receive five seats on the board, while Schlumberger's vice-chairman would serve as the chairman of the company and Transocean's Talbert would become president and CEO. With a market capitalization of more than $9 billion by mid-March 2000, Transocean Sedco Forex was an independent powerhouse among offshore drilling contractors and the fourth largest oilfield service company. Its fleet included 46 semisubmersibles and seven deepwater drill ships, with others under construction. It was widely expected that the deal would create added pressure on other contractors to merge, as much needed consolidation in the industry continued to gain momentum.

Transocean Sedco Forex was added to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index on the first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 2000. It enjoyed an immediate boost in price, caused in large part by money managers adding the stock to their funds that mirrored the S&P 500. The company soon was involved in yet another major expansion, acquiring R&B Falcon for more than $9 billion in an all-stock transaction, which included the assumption of $3 billion in debt. After failing to beat out Sonat Offshore in the Transocean ASA acquisition, Reading & Bates had merged with Falcon Drilling Co. in 1997, then acquired Cliffs Drilling in 1998. The company's fortunes suffered a downturn in 1998 and although it had made strides in redressing its situation, its debt load remained high and management decided that the time was ripe to merge with Transocean Sedco Forex. Under terms of the deal R&B Falcon owned approximately 30 percent of the new company and received three new seats on the board of directors.

Transocean Sedco Forex was now a company worth approximately $14 billion and was the third largest oilfield services company, eclipsed only by Halliburton and Schlumberger. With 165 offshore rigs, inland barges, and supporting assets, the combined company easily outpaced its closest rival, Pride International, with just 59 offshore rigs, of which 45 were shallow-water jackups. Moreover, Transocean provided almost half of the world's ultra-deep drilling ships. In effect, Transocean Sedco Forex was able to expand its global fleet with the most extensive range of offshore rigs and markets, while gaining a presence in the shallow and inland waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where it previously had no fleet. Because of high gas prices R&B Falcon's 27 jackups in the Gulf and more than 30 inland barges promised to be an attractive addition. Overall, there was very little overlap in rigs. Nevertheless, Transocean Sedco Forex estimated that it would still be able to realize about $50 million in annual savings in purchasing, overhead, and insurance. Because the company had changed its origin of incorporation to the Cayman Islands in late 1999, it was not allowed by law to operate vessels in U.S. waters. The company complied with the law by becoming a 25 percent joint venture partner in the former R&B Falcon transportation business, which consisted of 102 inland and offshore tugboats, four crew boats, and 58 inland and offshore flat deck cargo barges and inland shale barges.

Clearly, Transocean Sedco Forex had taken the lead in the consolidation of offshore drilling contractors. Everyone agreed on the need for consolidation, but with so many operators of similar size it was difficult for executives to sort out who was to be the acquirer and who was to be acquired. In 2001 a number of contractors merged, but no one came close to rivaling Transocean Sedco Forex in size, especially in the deepwater and harsh environment offshore drilling markets. Although management's first priority was to pay down debt, there was every reason to believe that the company would continue to snap up desirable firms in an effort to grow even larger.

Principal Subsidiaries: Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc.; Sonat Offshore International LDC; Transocean Offshore Europe Limited; Transocean AS.

Principal Competitors: Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.; Global Marine Inc.; Noble Drilling; Saipem.

NZ wine's premium international position under threat as falling profitability and rising indebtedness continues

2010-12-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

Gareth Vaughan,

As New Zealand wineries continue battling steadily declining profitability and rising indebtedness, an expected bumper 2011 grape harvest could undermine the industry’s premium international positioning, Deloitte is warning.

Accounting firm Deloitte and New Zealand Winegrowers released Vintage 2010, the fifth annual financial benchmarking survey for the New Zealand wine industry, today. Deloitte partner Paul Munro said an increase in bulk wine sales at reduced margins was resulting in falling profits across the board. The report notes that it's fair to say the industry in New Zealand is experiencing "a major financial crisis."

New Zealand Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan said turbulence stemming from big 2008 and 2009 harvests, combined with the global financial crisis, continued to "afflict" all sectors of the industry. Munro said although a reduced 2010 vintage had gone some way towards alleviating over supply problems, predictions the 2011 harvest may top 300,000 tonnes threatened to add to the industry’s woes.

The 2010 vintage was 266,000 tonnes, both 2008 and 2009 came in at 285,000 tonnes. The wine industry topped NZ$1 billion worth of exports for the first time in the year to July 2009, with exports reaching NZ$1.01 billion. Gregan said at the time NZ$1 billion annual wine exports was the equivalent of five bottles per second.

“Future supply must be matched to global demand, otherwise a cheapening of our wines in key international markets could occur,” Mr Munro warned.

“This may result in a rapid undermining of the industry’s premium positioning, which has taken many years to build.”

He said currently the ability to price New Zealand wine at premium levels had a crucial flow-on effect for grape growers and domestic companies servicing the industry.

"Any reversal would have a similarly negative impact," said Munro.

"Large scale wineries (with revenue over NZ$20 million) continue to be the most profitable with an average profit before tax of 7.8%, while the smallest wineries (revenue under NZ$1 million) are suffering the most with an average loss of 31.9%. For the smaller wineries, this translates to a loss of around NZ$50 per case."

Goal to catch Australia by 2025 is a "red herring" says former 2025 Taskforce member Jeremy Moon

2010-11-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

This guy is the business he has a business plan that not only produces the goods during a recession, he also promotes the green image the rest of the world envies. If there ever is a case for going 'Green' al the way this guy is on to something. We can never live the Australian dream we have to live the New Zealand one, green and clean and wealthy!

By Alex Tarrant

Former 2025 Taskforce member Jeremy Moon, who left the controversial group earlier this year, said although the taskforce's goal of catching Australian incomes by 2025 was a great challenge, he thought the idea was a "red herring".

Moon, who runs New Zealand merino clothing company Icebreaker, was speaking to Paul Holmes on TV1's Q&A on Sunday morning. Holmes asked Moon whether New Zealand had to catch Australia by 2025, or whether the whole exercise was just a distraction?

"I haven't been on the Taskforce for a year," Moon said.

"It's a great challenge, for me it's actually a red herring, because I'm not interested in catching Australia," he said.

Moon said it was up to private businesses, not the government, to create high paying jobs in New Zealand. He promoted more focus on protecting New Zealand's environment and creating incentives to create international businesses in the clean-tech arena, given "the fantastic green opportunity and image that we've got".

Asked by Holmes if there was one thing the governement could do, Moon said there was a "huge advantage for the country if the government can commit to a piece of thinking to come up with a framework that balances carrot and stick [around clean-tech].

"Some incentives to encourage businesses based on New Zealand’s green credentials and to dis-incentivise businesses which are hurting, or any behaviour, which is hurting New Zealand’s green reputation," he said.

Moon also said he thought talk of the tall poppy syndrome in New Zealand was a conversation that was ten years old.

The 2025 Taskforce released its second report last week, recommending, among other things, that government withdraw from commercial activities, focus more on public-private partnerships and raise age for superannuation eligibility.

It is chaired by former National Party leader and ex-Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Don Brash.

* * * * * *

NZ trade surplus NZ$378 mln in Sept quarter; Third in a row as imports fall more than exports

2010-10-31T16:16:00.000-07:00

This article by By Alex Tarrant has got a good ring about it, but we have shrunk a lot over the last two years. When growth picks up again will we keep this advantage?

New Zealand’s seasonally adjusted overseas trade balance was a surplus of NZ$378 million in the September 2010 quarter, the third consecutive quarterly trade surplus, Statistics New Zealand said.

“While both exports and imports values decreased, imports decreased slightly more (from the June quarter),” Stats NZ overseas trade manager Neil Kelly said.

ASB economist Jane Turner said the third consecutive surplus was testament to the economy's export-led recovery.

"NZ’s export sector remains a key driver of growth for the NZ economy," Turner said.

"However, demand in the domestic sector remains sluggish, with business and consumer confidence low and credit appetites weak. Given this weakness in the domestic economy, the RBNZ is likely to leave the OCR unchanged until March 2010," she said.

Unadjusted figures show New Zealand had an overseas trade deficit of NZ$532 million in the September 2010 month, slightly better than the NZ$561 million deficit in September 2009.

The September 2010 deficit was wider than market expectations of around NZ$450 million.

“September months are typically deficits,” Stats NZ said.

In the year to September 2010, New Zealand had a trade surplus of NZ$921 million, up from a surplus of NZ$892 million in August and a NZ$1.7 billion deficit in the year to September 2009.

Beneficiary strain on workers grows

2010-10-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

Beneficiary strain on workers grows

By Alex Tarrant

The ratio of employed workers to adult beneficiaries in New Zealand fell further to 1.7 : 1 in the September quarter after being as high as 2.5 : 1 in June 2004, according to a series compiled by interest.co.nz.

The figures indicate fewer workers are supporting each of those who receive benefit payments from the government, such as the Domestic Purposes Benefit, Working for Families (WFF), and super payments for those over 65. Interest.co.nz uses quarterly beneficiary figures from the Ministry of Social Development, the Inland Revenue Department's annual report (for WFF numbers), and the Household Labour Force Survey (for number of workers) in compiling the ratio.

This would indicate that the need to grow New Zealand's add on to exporting is crucial not only to become more productive as a country but also to relieve the burden on tax payers. The CTU I am sure would like to undermine our economies under the old slogan of 'sharing the profits' but can not see that a buoyant employment market translates into higher wages (the natural result).

I just hope that voters have a good memory as spin doctors like Andrew Little and Helen Kelly can convince those that are vulnerable to these peoples hype!

Pétrus

New Zealand needs to add more value to food exports in quest to catch Australia by 2025, report says

2010-10-28T14:54:00.001-07:00

By Alex Tarrant

New Zealand needs to add more value to food exports before shipping them overseas in order to help the economy catch up with Australia by 2025, according to a report commissioned by the government.

The report focussed on the growth of the country's processed food and beverage (F&B) exports, saying they were the biggest lever available in the quest to double New Zealand exports per capita by 2025. Based on the experience of its temperate climate, small country peers, New Zealand should be looking to at least double its exports per capita if it wanted a 60% increase in GDP per capita by 2025, the report says.

"To double exports in 15 years, we must work with what we’ve got – the biggest lever available is food and beverage exports (53% of export value)," the report says.

"While New Zealand achieves good F&B exports per capita, it achieves poor F&B exports per square kilometre; we would appear to have “spare capacity” to export more," it says.

"However, declining available farm land and falling overall animal numbers strongly suggest that the path to exporting more F&B in the future is not just “more of the same”.

""In many traditional sectors, New Zealand has failed to forward integrate along the value chain," it says.

"New Zealand still significantly makes ingredients, which are sold to food manufacturers, who add value by turning them into processed foods ready for consumers."

"Relative to peers, New Zealand has good F&B exports per capita; however, our mix is currently skewed towards traditional minimally-processed products; we underperform in added-value processed foods."

"Adding-value is an obvious idea; historically there have been major barriers limiting the ability of New Zealand food processors to move into value-added processed foods; this will not be true in the future."

Minister of Economic Development Gerry Brownlee said the report identified "a number of reasons why New Zealand can and should build its focus on processed foods, including growing global demand and New Zealand’s strong history of food exports".

“The maths is pretty simple – a kilo of infant formula is worth ten times the value of a kilo of milk powder – so we know which one New Zealand should be selling,” Brownlee said.

The people have spoken

2010-10-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

The people have spoken!

Yes the election result is a reminder of those that seek and gain public office of any kind, is that you are representing those that voted you in after what you promised. And if you promise to spend money to build your own memorial to be admired by future generations the present generation may not take to kindly to your dream and send a message of reality.

That is pretty much what has happened in the Te Awamutu council elections to the Waipa District Council. But do we have a new bunch of green councillors that will take time to get up to speed and under perform as a result? Time will tell and it is up to those that voted these people in to steer them and give them support and keep them honest on promises of more open information flows.

One thing is certain the Museum/Cultural Centre is no where near to a point that will come up with a consensus and I can not help thinking that if some one had rang the bell a bit earlier and had this discussion a year ago that the outcome may have been a lot different. May this be a lesson, you need to drag the majority along with you to have your dream become reality.

And long may democracy live!

The world order is changing

2010-10-03T16:12:00.000-07:00

By Neville Bennett

There have been few periods in global economic history which are as dynamic as those presently shaking and formatting the world system. The rapid decline of the West is creating a vacuum which the BRICs especially are moving into.

The West in 2007 produced about 55% of global GDP - it now produces only about 45%. A telling fact is that for the first time emerging market IPOs have attracted more capital than those in industrialised country markets. Emerging markets will grow at about 6.5% while the “West” may reach 2.4%.

Usually a dominant but declining great power resists change by many pressures ranging from financial to political. Political pressures include building up allies and can involve conflict. The US presently seems too involved in the Middle East to confront China but there are signs of a trade war developing.

I think that globalisation is showing signs of wear and there could be rapid change into a world where each nation begins to take special measures to protect themselves. This is happening in currency markets and has hindered further progress on the reduction of tariffs, especially in agriculture.

Feeling vulnerable

There are signs that many societies feel that some protection is needed against the uninhibited capital flows which, among other things, bring great volatility to foreign exchange markets. Bernard Hickey’s opinion piece is a brilliant example of an intellectual’s dilemma: a nationalist struggling with the consequences of globalisation.

Globalisation has depended on a sense of security. With the US policing the world, as Britain did in the 19th century, nations and business could assume the continuation of peace, and the orderly working of institutions and markets. Markets were the most important institution in the sense that nations and business could be certain that they could access resources world-wide at the going price and sell their goods and services on the same basis as most other nations/businesses.

There were some anomalies but markets were improving and access was adequate for most nations’ needs. There were risks such as Russia closing its gas pipeline to Europe or renewed conflict in the Gulf disrupting oil supply. But these risks could be guarded against. But China is a student of history and it knows that the West is in a position to strangle it, just as Japan in 1941 was strangled by the West freezing accounts and denying the sale of strategic materials.

There is too, a shortage of materials, best expressed as “peak oil” or “peak water”. Commodity suppliers face rising costs as ore grades have declined. Food is also a problem as land for food is contracting as more industrial crops are grown for ethanol etc. More fertilizer is necessary, and climate change has increased the number of climate events which impact on food stocks and supply.

There are reports this week that the Amazon is running dry and stocks of soy bean and coffee are not assured. Russia’s wheat crop has been scorched by the worst drought in history. India is very worried about food supply, and South Korea and Taiwan are leasing foreign land to guarantee production.

History's perspective

While I do not see history repeating itself, I am reminded of the 19th century transition from informal to formal empires and the race for control of resources. Through the 1850-70’s the British and French tended to avoid colonies unless there was a pressing case.

Except for strategic harbours and the like, they preferred to benefit from an “informal empire” where they controlled client state’s foreign relations, got trade access, safety for missionaries etc, and then reaped the advantages of trade, banking, insurance and services without the cost of administering a state.

As allies in the 1850’s, they attacked both Russia and China to enforce their views. Britain tried to force low tariffs universally, but matters changed when Germany and the US resisted. Germany demanded colonies too. There were few African colonies, save coastal enclaves in 1870; by 1885 it had been pegged out, and any gain was deeply resented by competitors. Imperial owners placed huge tariffs on their possessions and claimed advantages for themselves. Some of that dog-eat-dog attitude is reviving.

Trade wars

Today, states are trying to lock up access to key resources.

The obvious push is by China which has made a vast number of contracts on oil and gas. The most significant move may be the construction of a pipeline from Russia to China. This is fascinating in geo-politics: old rivals are burying the hatchet and working to further self- interest by cooperation.

China provides the capital and Russia the gas at a contract price. It lessens the threat of the US cutting China’s energy supplies by a blockade in the Malacca Strait. It may be doing China an injustice to see all of its investments as strategic. A company which bought into Canterbury's Synlait also bought control of a British biscuit maker.

The problem is that China is accumulating vast amounts of foreign exchange. For a long time it recirculated that cash through US bonds. Then the yield fell. China has better opportunities elsewhere. So it competes for Canadian potash or Australian iron whenever the resource comes into play.

This is competitive; India is also trying to get long-term coking coal access, hence Adani investing US$4 billion in Queensland today. I have been following the lithium story for some time: it is a deadly battle in which both China and Japan are somewhat insecure about getting regular supply of this essential ingredient in many batteries. I suspect the rare earth minerals war will really hot up.

Japan is outraged that China has limited exports. Japan had made contract with Lynas for rare earth mineral supply, but it needs more. Where can it get it?

Can it risk not being able to produce cutting-edge goods because of shortfalls in mineral supply? I think not. Meanwhile, as I foreshadowed in my recent New Normal column, just about every country is trying to increase exports. The fact the not everyone can win, does not prevent states doing all they can in order to impress their electorates. The Wall Street Journal said in a piece entitled "A fight to be weaker":

At least half a dozen countries are actively trying to push down the value of their currencies, the most high-profile of which is Japan, which is attempting to halt the rise of the yen after a 14% rise since May. ...

To counter the yen's rise, Japan sold some $20 billion worth of its currency, which traders said was it’s biggest-ever effort in a single day. The US has also embarked on a dangerous road. Its House of Representatives enthusiastically passed legislation condemning China’s foreign exchange practices.

The measure allows the US to levy tariffs on China. The measures may not become law, but China has indignantly said the measures would breach World Trade Organisation rules.

Observers feel that a trade war would hurt US exporters. I think this reinforces a trend of US-China rivalry that could have serious implications.

* Neville Bennett was a long-time Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Canterbury, where he taught since 1971. His focus is economic history and markets. He is also a columnist for the NBR. neville@bennetteconomics.com www.bennetteconomics.com

Meet the Waipa Council Candidates evening Tuesday 28th of September

2010-09-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

Meet the Waipa Council Candidates evening Tuesday 28th of September

It is obvious by the questions asked from the floor that the community is very concerned with the current spending spree of the outgoing Council.

The problem is if the current batch of Councillors are voted off the alternatives are not good.

Outgoing Mayor A. Livingstone is set on his path with Cox and Jull ready to bulldoze any suggestion to slow down the spending and budget over runs.

Peter Lee although he claims to have seen the light this time around, what has he been doing for the last 6 or more years when he had the opportunity.

Leaving Mr Steve Baron, he has the qualifications, he does have a desire to reduce spending and he wants to communicate on major issues through referenda. Is he the person to take Waipa into the next 10 years or are we missing out on something these outgoing Council members are spending all that money on. I can tell you one thing, Steve Barron is going to save money and get more bang for our dollar. Current spending is out of control as the Waipa Business needs someone to refocus on quality spend and smarter ways of achieving results.

But who would you pick to be on a Barron lead council? It is obvious that the current councillors are not going to support him but who would benefit the ‘team’?

Vern Wilson may not have been exposed to this kind of organisation before but will have the live experience to cope and stand up to be counted. We need one more but the remaining options are either to inexperienced or just not up with the play. This means either Cox or Jull need to stay on to carry on with some of the knowledge. My guess is Jull but would he want to be there without his support system?

Time will tell, just study these people before you make up your mind.

Hamilton super-city finds common ground

2010-09-18T21:53:00.000-07:00

As reported in the Waikato Times

All three Waikato District Council mayoral candidates have doubts about the feasibility of an Auckland-style super-city council if it were to be formed in the Waikato.

In answering a question from the floor at a candidates meeting in Te Kowhai on Monday night, Allan Sanson, Clint Baddeley and Frank McInally found common ground.

Mr Sanson said he was totally opposed to the concept.

"There is no benefit whatsoever to our ratepayers," he said. "The city (Hamilton) has a spiralling debt problem."

Frank McInally called it "a geographic impossibility" in the Waikato.

"It is the only thing I agree with Allan on. I strongly oppose it, it would be a nightmare."

Mr Baddeley had more of an open mind, and pointed out there were already shared services between councils, but he was not totally convinced. "The problem is the community has been left out of the super-city process," he said. "I take the view we need to work with our partners in the region."

But his starting point would be to delegate more powers to community boards. "Our communities have to feel like they have a voice that is listened to."

On the issue of Tainui's Waikato River settlement, aimed at restoring the well-being of the river, Mr McInally was the only candidate to express doubts.

Mr Sanson backed the process, saying everybody wanted a clean river.

Mr Baddeley said aspirations to restore the health of the river for future generations were at the forefront of Tainui thinking.

But Mr McInally was concerned too much of the river settlement money would be frittered away on administrative costs

Waipa local body elections

2010-09-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

Who would, in their right mind stand for Council?
Not as if you are paid well, you will not get praised for doing it, in fact you get a lot of abuse when you get it wrong!

This is most probably they way the incumbent councilors are thinking right now, who are we as a community?

Not so long ago we where far enough away from Hamilton to be a self sufficient rural town with a hart and soul. These days we are a bit of that and a bit a satellite town for Hamilton. Our rural identity is not as strong as it once was, even farmers look around for the best deal and can not always find that in Te Awamutu anymore. The rest look at the bigger world out there and find anything they wish for in Hamilton and beyond.

Our counselors, apart from Dean Taylor and Hazel Barnes, do little to give us a hart, a hart developed by communication with the rate payers, after all as counselors you are suppose to represent their needs, not your own version of or hobby project. The rate payers are about as connected with the council as a beef farmer with the vegetarian movement.

An example is the bomb shell when the Museum/Cultural Center plans where reveled. Rate payers shockingly claimed to know nothing about it, council claims it has been on the table for years. Have the past councilors done enough to communicate with the rate payer? .........I think not!

I read the claims for re-election such as, 'I have worked hard and have achieved for the council', I have experience, (in what?) look people we want some evidence of that, anyone can say those empty words. Sorry, if I have just hurt your feelings but to work in a state of disengagement with your voters is just not good enough. Say what you stand for make yourself available to the community and listen to what they are saying. Write some letters to the Courier Editor from time to time to inform rather than to defend. Sure Dean Taylor has got a unfair advantage there but that is why he gets people on side at least you know what he is up to!

Oh and did I mention there is a shrinking job market and people are struggling financially out here?

'LOWER RATES' is a good catch cry!

Te Awamutu Museum

2010-09-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

Reading the Courier this week, I noticed a advertisement depicting post office staff in front of the Post Office taken in 1963. This was incidentally as the ad describes the third building for this purpose build on the same site.

It came as a bolt from the sky.

A historical significant building with a rich local historic story to tell. Right in the middle of Te Awamutu, accessible to all people. It has even potential for a museum cafe!.

I believe the building ownership is in the hands of a Maori group in payment for grieves settlement of the historic past. The building has been neglected and has become a negative image for the town ship right on the corner of the very hart of Te Awamutu.

This is getting better all the time, the museum has significant Maori art affects by the dozen and wants to display them at a cost of 15 million dollars in the proposed new building.

Am I missing something here?................can you join the dots?........... I have!!

Hone Harawira (alias John Hadfield ... his true name)

2010-09-15T21:59:00.001-07:00

Enjoy

Walking Eagle

On a recent trip to the U.S.A., Maori Party M.P. Hone Harawira (alias John Hadfield ..... his true name ... his grandfather was a pakeha) was invited to address a major gathering of the American Indian Nations in Kitimat, B.C. due to his recent examples of how to inflame the Maori Indigenous situation in New Zealand.

He spoke for almost an hour.... echoing his racist mother's doomed to fail radical ideas for increasing any First Nation's present standard of living.

At the conclusion of his speech, the tribes presented Hone with a plaque inscribed with his new Indian name - "Walking Eagle".

The proud Hone then departed with his entourage, waving to the crowd as he left.
A news reporter later asked the American Indian chiefs how they came to select the new name given to Hone.
They explained that "Walking Eagle" is the name given to a bird so full of shit, it can no longer fly.

The latest from Hone

Osama bin Laden and Hone Harawira

THU, 05 MAY 2011 6:59A.M.

By Dan Satherley

Controversial ex-Maori Party MP Hone Harawira has called Osama bin Laden a freedom fighter, saying the former terrorist mastermind should be "honoured", not "damned", as according to Maori custom.

According to the English subtitles of Maori Television's Native Affairs, Mr Harawira said bin Laden "pursued independence for his people, his family and his tribe", reports the New Zealand Herald.

"I acknowledge him and bid him farewell," said Mr Harawira. "Return to your ancestors who wait for you beyond the veil of death.

"Despite what the media has said, his family, his tribe, his people are in mourning.

"They mourn for the man who fought for the rights, the land and the freedom of his people. We should not damn them in death, but acknowledge the positive aspects of life."

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said utu, or revenge, was a Maori custom, but was uncomfortable at celebrations over bin Laden's death.

"We don't agree with the extent of the celebrations or with anyone celebrating the assassination of anyone and then the person's body being discarded into the sea," he told Te Karere.

Labour's Shane Jones slammed Mr Harawira's comments, saying it was not Maori custom to uncritically honour the dead.

"In the old days, a great enemy - if he wasn't eaten - his bones were used to make musical instruments," he said.

"So this romantic notion that in the old time, Maori spent hours of their time saluting the enemy was not the case.

"Enemies were turned to dust and people rejoiced, because of the suffering they had caused."

Mr Harawira's understanding of Maori culture and history was also rejected by new ACT Party leader Don Brash on last night's Close Up. Dr Brash said the Treaty of Waitangi granted all New Zealand citizens the same rights, an assertion Mr Harawira rejected, saying the Maori version of the treaty guaranteed Maori rights other New Zealanders didn't necessarily have.

10 Reasons why we in New Zealand are so lucky (no thanks to Helen Clark)

2010-09-12T15:39:00.001-07:00

September 13, 2010

Ten reasons to be cheerful

By Bernard Hickey

New Zealand has just suffered its biggest corporate collapse since 1989 and its biggest natural disaster since 1931. Both events have the potential to destabilise the economic recovery, but they won't.

There are 10 reasons to be cheerful after two weeks of gloom. They are also an antidote for those who say I am a permanent harbinger of doom.

1. We are lucky to be next to the luckiest country

New Zealand is lucky to have the luckiest country on the planet as its largest trading partner and nearest neighbour. Australia's economy just created another 53,100 jobs in August and it continues to benefit from China's apparently insatiable appetite for raw materials.

We have our own lucky attributes. Our water-rich land, fisheries and mineral resources are a real asset married to our stable political and legal systems.

2. We are in the Asian hemisphere

New Zealand also has plenty of its own strong connections with an economy that is set to overtake America and become the world's largest by 2030. China is now our second largest trading partner and wants more of our knowledge, resources and clean, green attributes. There are challenges that come with that demand, but it's better to be wanted than not.

3. Our economy is underwritten by Australian taxpayers

Whisper it quietly when you're next visiting the relatives in Australia, but we are lucky that our banking system is owned by Australian shareholders and backed by its government. The core of any economy is its banking system and it is the element most vulnerable in any crisis.

Australia's taxpayers and savers proved they would underwrite our banks in October 2008 when they provided a guarantee and pumped in A$20 billion worth of fresh cash.

4. We are learning our lessons

New Zealanders have pulled their heads in after the excesses of the naughty noughties (2000s) and are saving again. A Treasury paper out this week showed household debt to disposable income is falling and consumers are being a lot more careful through this recovery to repay debt or save more before spending more.

5. The government is reforming our tax system

However slow and limited the reforms are, our government is trying to restructure the economy away from consumption and housing and towards production and exports. The increase in the GST rate, the removal of some of the property tax breaks and the reduction in income taxes from October 1 will start to tilt the economy.

6. The hot money has dried up

The Global Financial Crisis and the introduction by the Reserve Bank of its Core Funding Ratio (CFR) have combined to force our banks to find their funding from local Mums and Dads rather than on 'hot' wholesale money markets overseas.

All this is helping to stop our foreign debts growing and keep a lid on the housing market. It has also kept our currency remarkably stable in the last year.

7. Many of our best are staying

Ambitious and talented technology entrepreneurs such as Sam Morgan and Rod Drury remain here in New Zealand, reinvesting their wealth to build great new businesses such as Xero and the Pacific Fibre cable. They will connect us to the global 'computing cloud' and allow services exporters to overcome the tyranny of distance.

8. We are a resourceful, creative and resilient bunch

The earthquake and our reaction since the Global Financial Crisis has been to pull together and to get on with rebuilding with a minimum of social strife and disruption. Not every country has that ability.

9. The rest of the world loves us

Many New Zealanders underestimate how popular and loved we are elsewhere. We're small enough not to be threatening. We seen as innovative, creative, open and friendly. We shouldn't be complacent, but we can grow and trade and collaborate on the strength of that good vibe.

10. Summer is coming.

*This article appeared in the Herald on Sunday.

Candidates for Waipa Council and Te Awamutu community board

2010-09-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.elections2010.co.nz/2010/elections/waipa-district-council#waipa-district-mayor

Makes you wonder what the incumbents have done for the rate payer.

You do get the feeling many do it for their own power trip?

I would like to see other publicly stating what they are standing for.

We have one Mayoral hopeful wanting to reduce rates, well that is a first!

Are the mayors going to exchange blows?

2010-09-09T18:24:00.000-07:00

The Auckland Super City mayoral race is getting tetchy with Auckland City Mayor John Banks and North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams accusing each other of personal attacks after they reportedly almost came to blows at a candidates meeting.

Another contender for the mayoralty, Simon Prast, has told the New Zealand Herald he saw Williams leap from his seat and come within millimetres of Banks at a candidates meeting in a Castor Bay church hall on the North Shore on Wednesday night.

Banks has said Williams' behaviour has been unacceptable at joint candidate meetings.

"I am happy to engage in vigourous and robust debate on the issues affecting Auckland. However Mr Williams has been more interested in aggressive personal attacks," said Banks.

Williams said Banks clearly feels threatened when issues concerning Aucklanders are openly and forthrightly discussed, such as bus lanes and water pricing.

"At no time in any of the meetings have I made any personal attacks on him or any other candidates.

"By contrast John Banks last weekend embarked on what is becoming a concerted series of personal attacks on me verging on defamation.

"It appears his transmogrification to the new nicer John Banks is over as he begins to feel the pressure of his chances in the mayoral campaign. It is very apparent that the old Banks is back."

Williams said those attending recent meetings have noted that Banks is now being joined by a group of party supporters who are actively disrupting the meetings for all candidates.

"They are constantly interjecting and haranguing many of the candidates but in particular (Manukau Mayor) Len Brown and myself, using insulting and demeaning personal attacks.

"We saw it at the Auckland Museum debate on Tuesday night and again the following night at the Castor Bay meeting."

By contrast, Williams said, the other candidates do not operate in this fashion and their supporters have all been respectful towards the meeting and candidates.

"It is also disturbing that these same people who are causing this disruption are linked live during the meetings to politically aligned blogsites," he said.

"They want to create disharmony both at the meetings and via the internet. This is dirty politics we are seeing coming from that quarter."

'Grumpy Baby boomerangers' - Ian Cowie at The Telegraph

2010-09-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

reports on demographic and financial trends in Britain that threaten to create some tension between the debt-ridden and jobless young and their cashed-up property owning baby boomer parents.

He looks at the notion that many youngsters can't afford to leave home and are sat steaming and resentful in their bedrooms. A small number are even hoping their parents kark it and pass on the dosh...sheesh.

The growing financial plight of younger adults is building tensions between the generations that may create some ugly scenes in homes across the country in years ahead. Santander – the Spanish bank that bought Abbey, Alliance & Leicester among others – surveyed 2,000 people to come to the conclusion that student debt and shortage of jobs for young people has created a generation of what it calls “baby boomerangers”.
These are adult children aged over 18 unable to leave their parents’ home who seem to be slouching on sofas across the land, resenting Mum and Dad’s good fortune. More than four in 10 of the families affected see no hope of these young adults flapping their wings and finding a home of their own any time in the foreseeable future.
Reza Atta-Zadeh, a director of Santander, says: “The term ‘flying the nest’ could soon be made redundant as the credit crunch and rising cost of living is altering the structure of Britain’s families.” The most disturbing research published today, suggests that one in five young adults admits to “looking forward” to a receiving an inheritance.
More than one in 10 said they were relying on these future inheritances to pay off debts or provide a deposit on their first home. A ghoulish 3 per cent of the 1,300 people questioned by the website MyVoucherCodes said they would rather have the money than keep their parents alive

Does Te Awamutu’s new retail development affect main street businesses?

2010-09-06T18:02:00.000-07:00

Worldwide evidence suggest this is the case. America has lead the Mall phenomena and are already re-inventing the malls as the next trend is being developed by the ever cycle of keeping the shopping experience fresh and exciting.

So the simple answer is yes, Te Awamutu city centre retailers are wise to be concerned and sit up. What is the difference between the new shopping centres and the traditional town centre shops? The obvious differences are national branded shops with slick marketing and displays, utilise every opportunity to maximise profit.

Shadow of former selves

According to James Bacos, an American retail expert at a German branch of Mercer Management Consulting, it took two decades for the centres to recover but only as a shadow of their formers selves, reduced to specialty shops, boutiques and restaurants.

History tells us that the chamber of commerce is ineffective as an association to band retailers together only a handful of retail outlets have the foresight and recognise this but are unable to come up with anything to combat the competition.

The need to increase marketing requires a larger budget, but a lot of smaller shops don’t want to foot the bill, nor want to put in the extra effort. Most bought a business as a lifestyle investment and would never have contemplated the energy needed to run in this new competitive market.

Winning formula

‘Price, range and quality’ is the winning formula of shopping malls and is hard to beat.

There are no features in the main CBD to bring in either tourists or outside shoppers.

Parking is one major consideration as we all know and want to drive to the shop.

The novelty factor may in time develop permanent habits. Main street retailers should have been working hard to maintain their share of the retailing dollar. And with the current economic climate the competition just got harder.

Some Rspca back ground

2010-09-04T18:23:00.001-07:00

http://rspcanotwhattheyseem.blogspot.com/

Te Awamutu SPCA breakdown

2010-09-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

Looking back over the Te Awamutu history until the disbanding of the Te Awamutu SPCA committee removing them and taking over the control of the facility by the RSPCA national office under direction of Charles Cadwallader. The reason for doing this in the first place was, as has been stated publicly by Charles Cadwallader in different public statements, the facility was under managed. Under managing their consent, over population by a fantastic number, (including animals from volunteers who would bring their own animals to the centre). Bob Kerridge does in his office in Auckland all the time. After all these are animal lovers and they own animals themselves, and enjoy their company. Further there where claims of under manageging the cleanliness of the facility with faeces and flies in the facility. Further claims of under managing the long term tenancies of animals and generally breaking the Animal welfare Act by acting as animal inspectors and making financial alliance’s with interested parties.

Now we have had some time to reflect on these things let analyse these and get the facts straight.

First some historical facts, Te Awamutu SPCA has been around for 30 or more years and as with all volunteer community organisations gone through highs and lows as members came and went and with strong leadership came with real commitment and some of the true animal heroes are still on the scene. At one point the group was almost defunct after the RSPCA disbanded the committee and one must remember this organisation was a back yard operation. But when the group was close to falling over and the RSPCA was about to become the recipient of all the cash in the kitty (including a bequest), a local vet stepped in and called to wider Te Awamutu community to take action or loose a badly needed service that truly looked after the animals in need of a second chance and life. this was the start of what was until recently the Te Awamutu SPCA Animal Heaven. The steering group started again with energy that has not been seen before and from this back yard operation the plan to do it properly was formed and Fundraising and building began.
[Image]
A design for a 35 dogs and 100 cat facility was worked on and eventually build. Along the way when in the out skirts of town the facility was connected to all and every dog barking for miles. This resulted in the overnight housing to be noise proofed and ultimately a reduction in dogs allowed to be cared for, down to only 20, almost halve the original required size for this town. The Council has a 5 dog facility and started to rely on this for dogs the Dog Control staff decided should get another chance. So the need to turn dogs over faster was created with a very active re-homing focused operation. With this close working relationship between Waipa district council staff animal welfare worked great. This was until Council had to swap Cambridge dog control oficers between Te Awamutu and Cambridge. The person had a price on her head for her aggressively catching and killing of “stay dogs”. Even if they were on their own section she would price them of and hurdle them in her van before residents knew of the plight of their beloved pet. She herself owns 8 dogs and after the Waipa Dsistrict Council passed a by law to restrict ownership of dogs to maximum 5 with permit she had to move out to a neighbouring council to get around this by law.
You can see where this is going and yes on her insistence she organised through the RSPCA enforcement inspectors (ex-policemen) to raid the Te Awamutu facility to get rid ones and for all this animal mad committee that has a no-kill policy and hides dogs from her that she wants to kill to satisfy her mental quota. And when a green new Environment Team Leader was place in charge of the council dog enforcement department earlier this year she saw her chance and her dream finally came true.
[Image]After decimating the successful working committee and place a volunteer in charge the Te Awamutu SPCA has slowly lost all its gains. No money to pay mortgage or power. Phone is about to be cut of after the RSPCA run up massive bills ringing all over the world. No advertising and consequently no animals re-homed. Waipa animal control officer after putting down eight of the SPCA and peoples privately owned dogs is using this facility as if it where its own. A recent introduction of a Parvo infected dog to the facility and the consequence re-homing to a volunteer high lights the incompetence of those involved. This virus is now on all the animals that come through the facility. All dogs used to go into a holding situation and get checked by a vet before it was allowed to join other animals let alone get let out for re-homing.

The Parvo virus

Sadly all the expertise has been lost amateurs with good intentions are making a hash of it and the RSPCA has run away trying to find anything on past members to make out they knew all along what they were doing. It now appears they had no grounds to do the raid and if anything they have done more damage to the lives of Waipa's abandoned animals than anyone before. So we had the best of people and systems but some people in powerful positions combined with ignorance and self-interest have managed to embarrass themselves to the point they cannot admit to the truth and now have to stick to their original story and in the process we are left with badly treated local hero's, dead animals and no future for the others or future animals in need.

WHAT A MESS!

Update: http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/6571372/Troubled-SPCA-branch-is-put-out-of-its-misery

Te Awamutu Museum/Cultural Centre

2010-09-02T17:07:00.000-07:00

Te Awamutu District Council is hell bend on pushing through the proposed new Museum/Cultural Centre. It is true a committee have done all the right things, planning communication, and having flagged this possibility in the Council books. But lets take a step back, If you like myself get turned off by “boring subjects” you can be excused to turn off by this kind of process. And dreams are free, in comparison if you want your dream to come true and want the community pay for this that is an entire new proposition. Look Councillors and Committee members you now have got our full attention. Please rewind as this is going to take a bit more than “it is to late”. Lets first of all recognise the fact that we are in possibly the worst financial situation due to banks over inflating property prices crash. And secondly the Council by what seems their right to increase rates annually regardless of the outside world realities. And thirdly a lot of people are struggling due to the shrinking employment market and rate payers are put in a unfortunate position of having to cash in their assets to live. Now lets pick up this grandiose project again, it is not going to happen. Possibly the timing of the forthcoming elections is perfect for the community to have a say and to veto this grand scheme. What I can not figure out is why have the drivers of this project not picked up on the communities angst? Is it because they are all retired or semi retired seniors that have had a opportunity for a good life and used their time well to make substantial incomes. And that they may very well be isolated from the reality of the current financial climate and can’t figure out what they are all getting so excited about. After all the process is being followed and this will be a great asset to the wider community. I was wondering that 1/3 of the funds where going to be rates funded (my assets), the other 1/3 asset sales (our assets), and the last third by donations, (our assets). Yep this will be a interesting few months and no local bodies are not boring any more and yes we are hanging on every word that comes from council…they have been a bit quite lately!

2010-09-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

Look at these children, introducing the grandkids. Henry on the left Pinky behind and little me me me on the left!

Kick start

2010-09-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

This could be a interresting start of things to come!