Auckland's Mayor wants to sell Auckland Airport shares for $2b to save $88m/yr in interest costs, but has no plans to sell golf courses costing $162m/yr to run and worth over $2.9b. Why not?
It is the same old playbook. Transfer profitable assets into private hands and private liabilities into public hands. Thank you Mr Hickey for calling it out every time.
Love it! ...I recall, fondly, our family having a lovely picnic on the Takapuna golf course during the covid lockdown, without any fear of being killed by a stray projectile from one of the 50 or so people with normally-exclusive use of that space: A space next to a major transport hub that we can effectively never safely use, and one on which you could easily fit 1000+ houses on, and still have room left over for plenty of public parkland, softball diamonds, tennis courts, swimming pools, BMX tracks....
I know exactly zero golfers who don't own a car. By all means, play your stupid game, but why do we need to have these huge things in the middle of our cities??
Release it in full please Bernard. Another masterful exposition. Elderly rich white male developer now in control of Auckland. Doing exactly what a neoliberal capitalist would do,as expected. White median voters rejoice. Let us get those house prices back up ASAP. To hell with those that do not own anything. "They need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps" and start worshipping Capitalism.
Hi Patrick. While I agree with the sentiment of your comment, your use of “white male” and “white median voters” is actually unnecessary and derogatory to “white” people. Many of whom (myself included) vehemently oppose Wayne Brown being mayor of anywhere, and totally disagree with his policies, opinions, morals and political viewpoint. Less of the ethnic slurs, thank you.
Oh FGS Beer, can we not rise above reading a racial slur into every statement by every person? Patrick's statement about the Mayor was entirely factual and the rest was tongue in cheek. The point of his statement is serious and he is being cynical with good reason. It is actually about a situation we should all be considering without going down side-roads.
It’s a slippery slope Beverley, so I call out ethnic references wherever I see them. It’s just unnecessary. Agreed the description of Brown (how ironic) is correct, but I think you can be cynical without getting ethnic.
I hear you Beverly, the foregrounding of identity is useful at times. As a Pākehā male with a freehold house I fit the dominating model and no doubt contribute at least in part to inequality in Aotearoa. What’s much more important is the divide between rich and poor and this cuts across identities. A glance, for example, at the homeless in our streets shows males and females and a range of ethnicities. Let’s not look for get out of jail cards but in the process, let’s not bury the most salient factors.
Doesn’t the three water assets changing hands also come with some compensation? Feels like that’s another opportunity for Wayne to pay down debt he should be in favour of.
Or had the figures in the investor pack already taken that into account?
The Mayor has wasted little time in establishing a narrative. Convenient that he has just the cure for the crisis he declares.
Isn’t he essentially doing what he was elected to do, though? Like any candidate waving the flag of that morality-politics which speaks in the language of “common-sense” fiscal conservatism, Wayne *must* declare a debt crisis. Even though, as Bernard unpacks for us, no such crisis exists, the Mayor’s politics demands the declaration of a crisis in order to justify austerity.
I see this as a case study in how conservative politics cloaks ideology in the nominally sober language of finance. We need more journalism like Bernard’s which doesn’t accept those claims at face value.
This was fantastic. So glad you are helping the voters hold the Powers That Be to account. What a masterful piece of research and analysis. I would love to share this more widely.
You are doubling your targets Bernard to golfers who drive double cab utes. I understand non golfers thinking of golf courses as a waste of space, but they are also green areas, usually open to public pedestrian access. Every time I drive past Ellerslie Racecourse and see what used to be a beautiful green area now occupied by commercial buildings I question the environmental balance. So why doesn't Wayne Brown carve up the Auckland Domain and hock that off as well? I see your point, I think, that Brown is just kite flying, but Phil Goff had the same idea, and I think it is a bit scary. Can you imagine New York City hocking off Central Park?
It is the same old playbook. Transfer profitable assets into private hands and private liabilities into public hands. Thank you Mr Hickey for calling it out every time.
Act Party policy.
Love it! ...I recall, fondly, our family having a lovely picnic on the Takapuna golf course during the covid lockdown, without any fear of being killed by a stray projectile from one of the 50 or so people with normally-exclusive use of that space: A space next to a major transport hub that we can effectively never safely use, and one on which you could easily fit 1000+ houses on, and still have room left over for plenty of public parkland, softball diamonds, tennis courts, swimming pools, BMX tracks....
I know exactly zero golfers who don't own a car. By all means, play your stupid game, but why do we need to have these huge things in the middle of our cities??
Exactly right.
Hey Bernard - there might be something up with your travelling audio set up. That sounded pretty buzzy and crackly to me. Anyone else?
The second half of the recording in particular
Yes, same for me
Lots of crackling and buzzing. Hard to hear the insightful commentary unfortunately (and not just due to Wayne's appalling asset sale idea).
Thanks Scott
Sorrry Sarb. Yes. On the road. Will try to fix for tomorrow
Release it in full please Bernard. Another masterful exposition. Elderly rich white male developer now in control of Auckland. Doing exactly what a neoliberal capitalist would do,as expected. White median voters rejoice. Let us get those house prices back up ASAP. To hell with those that do not own anything. "They need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps" and start worshipping Capitalism.
Patrick Medlicott
Hi Patrick. While I agree with the sentiment of your comment, your use of “white male” and “white median voters” is actually unnecessary and derogatory to “white” people. Many of whom (myself included) vehemently oppose Wayne Brown being mayor of anywhere, and totally disagree with his policies, opinions, morals and political viewpoint. Less of the ethnic slurs, thank you.
Oh FGS Beer, can we not rise above reading a racial slur into every statement by every person? Patrick's statement about the Mayor was entirely factual and the rest was tongue in cheek. The point of his statement is serious and he is being cynical with good reason. It is actually about a situation we should all be considering without going down side-roads.
It’s a slippery slope Beverley, so I call out ethnic references wherever I see them. It’s just unnecessary. Agreed the description of Brown (how ironic) is correct, but I think you can be cynical without getting ethnic.
I hear you Beverly, the foregrounding of identity is useful at times. As a Pākehā male with a freehold house I fit the dominating model and no doubt contribute at least in part to inequality in Aotearoa. What’s much more important is the divide between rich and poor and this cuts across identities. A glance, for example, at the homeless in our streets shows males and females and a range of ethnicities. Let’s not look for get out of jail cards but in the process, let’s not bury the most salient factors.
Will do thanks. Sorry. Have been on the road from Canberra to Sydney today.
Agree that this should be opened up widely.
Great ideas. I hope he’s open to them as alternatives which are wiser for the most people and their city and New Zealand.
Doesn’t the three water assets changing hands also come with some compensation? Feels like that’s another opportunity for Wayne to pay down debt he should be in favour of.
Or had the figures in the investor pack already taken that into account?
Already taken into account
Hi I am an elderly rich white male too. Rich if you count being in top 20% but own own house and still working.
Hi. I don’t own a house. That means I must go about my daily life in despair. Is that fair?
The Mayor has wasted little time in establishing a narrative. Convenient that he has just the cure for the crisis he declares.
Isn’t he essentially doing what he was elected to do, though? Like any candidate waving the flag of that morality-politics which speaks in the language of “common-sense” fiscal conservatism, Wayne *must* declare a debt crisis. Even though, as Bernard unpacks for us, no such crisis exists, the Mayor’s politics demands the declaration of a crisis in order to justify austerity.
I see this as a case study in how conservative politics cloaks ideology in the nominally sober language of finance. We need more journalism like Bernard’s which doesn’t accept those claims at face value.
Thanks Liam
Get it out there free of charge and lets have the debate!
Thanks. Doing that shortly
This was fantastic. So glad you are helping the voters hold the Powers That Be to account. What a masterful piece of research and analysis. I would love to share this more widely.
The best way to ruin a good walk
You are doubling your targets Bernard to golfers who drive double cab utes. I understand non golfers thinking of golf courses as a waste of space, but they are also green areas, usually open to public pedestrian access. Every time I drive past Ellerslie Racecourse and see what used to be a beautiful green area now occupied by commercial buildings I question the environmental balance. So why doesn't Wayne Brown carve up the Auckland Domain and hock that off as well? I see your point, I think, that Brown is just kite flying, but Phil Goff had the same idea, and I think it is a bit scary. Can you imagine New York City hocking off Central Park?
Thanks Pat. It is possible to do both. More in that tomorrow
Thanks, Bernard.
Please open this one up Bernard. I want to share it with so many people who voted for Wayne!
Will do
I’ve opened this up completely now for all to share.