One of the more interesting/infuriating things about living in a Westminster-tethered constitutional monarchy-cum-democracy is the annual spectacle of the New Year’s Honours List; in which a compilation of civic luminaries, as chosen by the Prime Minister and Cabinet, are endowed with fancy titles through the power and good graces of our intercontinental sovereign, the Queen.
I’m not going to get into the ins and outs of whether titular honours that hearken back to the days of the movers and shakers of the realm doing their moving-and-shaking while on horseback with lances are really appropriate for a modern, antipodean, and most importantly, nominally *egalitarian* society such as ours – we’ve already had capacious national debate on that score, and at the end of the day, the distinctions between the new/old system we have under National, and the previous attempt at de-feudalization under Labour are mostly cosmetic.
But what I *will* say is that I’m genuinely surprised and incensed by some of the more … curious choices and justifications that have appeared on this year’s list. Two, in particular, stand out.
Theresa Gattung, and Tariana Turia.
We’ll start with Gattung.
According to the Honours List, she’s been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for “services to business and philanthropy“. This is rather curious in my view, as Gattung et co’s actions while running Telecom between 1999 and 2007 inarguably *cost* Kiwi business millions of dollars in lost revenue and forgone economic potential.
One of our greatest comparative *disadvantages* when compared to just about all of our major trading partners and competitors, is the fact that we’re a small collection of islands on the literal other side of the world and at the ends of the Earth relative to just about everyone who’d want to buy anything off us. The Information Revolution, and gradual linking up of everywhere via the internet represented the greatest hope for overcoming that difficulty since the invention and adoption of refrigerated shipping in the late 1800s. We have awesome creativity, ingenuity, and intellectual potential in this country – and the intercontinental interconnectivity represented by the internet would, in an ideal world, have meant that the tyranny of distance which ensures our best and brightest have to go (offshore) to the Mountain to get recognized and earn a buck would pale into insignificance.
Unfortunately, in 1990 some neoliberal economic genius decided that the best way to develop our economy was to parcel our formerly state-run telecommunications utility and associated line infrastructure off into the private sector; apparently heedless of the fact that i) in a country as small as Aotearoa, line infrastructure is something of a natural monopoly, and ii) that private enterprise given control of a natural monopoly tends to price-gouge, under-invest, and otherwise generally take advantage of a lack of competition and/or regulatory oversight in order to earn its daily caviar-dipped bread.
This is *exactly* what then ensued with Telecom – a situation that even those notoriously unreconstructed socialists in Treasury are prepared to (vaguely) acknowledge.
Thanks to Gattung’s Midasian emphasis upon turning exploitative monopolistic corporate revenues into gold for her shareholders (rather than, say, transmuting copper into fiber-optics when it came to our national communications network), New Zealand consumers and businesses enjoyed internet connectivity that was, by 2006, slower and less reliable than literally every other country in the OECD apart from Mexico. The situation got so incredibly bad for business that in mid-2007 the Auckland Chamber of Commerce threatened to build its *own* local broadband network if Telecom refused to pull finger and actually deliver the goods.
Needless to say, when the company you preside over is so *astoundingly inept* at providing the business-essential service in question that the organization representing local business has to step in and suggest it’s more than capable of doing a better job *itself* … it’s literally “Disservice” rather than “Service” to business that best describes what you’re doing.
About the only positive thing I can say about Gattung’s tenure running Telecom, is that by creating and exacerbating a situation wherein the then-Labour government had to step in and “unbundle” Telecom from its lucrative line-infrastructure monopoly for the good of the Nation, Gattung inadvertently triggered the end of a monopolistic setup that had previously allowed her company to charge well over *double* what a fair market rate would be for other telecommunications businesses to connect to and use its shoddy and outmoded line infrastructure.
This is without even getting into the AAPT fiasco (where Gattung’s leadership managed to turn a $2.2 billion dollar investment in cracking the Australian market into a rout worth $270 million), the Roger Award for Worst Transnational Company Operating In New Zealand which her company “won” in 2004, or the memorable 2006 incident in which she proudly declared that the “marketing tool[s]” of “confusion” and “not being straight up” with customers were the secret to Telecom’s ability to “keep calling prices up and get those […] high margin[s] for a lot longer than would have been the case [otherwise]”. That last one, obviously, came at the *direct* expense of Kiwi businesses and consumers; and demonstrably proves that when it comes to Hanlon’s Razor, Gattung’s corporate conduct was the result of both incompetence *and* malice.
In sum then, I very strongly feel that awarding Gattung a CNZM for “services to business” is rather akin to Obama being handed a Nobel Peace Prize, and for much the same reason.
Moving from private sector to public, we have Tariana Turia, who’s picked up a gong for “Services to Parliament”. I’m racking my brains trying to divine what manner of august contribution she can have made to deserve *that* accolade; and beyond “spends two Parliamentary terms supporting the same National government that then does the awarding”, I got nothing.
Some additional clarification for the reasoning is, however, provided by Turia herself; who notes that she’s a “firm believer in the private or NGO sector carrying out a lot of the functions of the state” as a concrete expression of Rangatiratanga; so perhaps National decided she deserved to be called a four letter word in compensation for apparently trying to be the most prominent female Maori MP in favour of the anti-state Neoliberal agenda since Donna Awatere Huata.
Whatever you think of them, titular honours ought to be used for recognizing and – as the name implies – honouring the contributions of New Zealanders who have done things that truly improve our Nation and the lives of our people. They should be particularly applied to those who frequently operate outside the public eye and who do their duty bereft of the easy rewards and recognition of a pre-existing public profile.
They should *not* be used to back-slap and nod-wink-golden-handshake political cronies whose greatest identifiable contribution in the category “Services to Parliament” appears to be pliantly propping up the government doing the awarding … nor should they be used to curry favour with, or otherwise keep sweet, that same government’s pals in the upper echelons and tax-brackets of the business community.
In sum: when it comes to the Honours, I don’t care *what* you call them (although as applies the two focal points of this piece, a thesaurus opened to the entry for “perfidious” supplies any number of suggestions); but I *do* care *who* gets called what – and, just as importantly, why.
Otherwise, we’re left with a situation wherein the “Honour” rings about as hollow to many of us down here in the cheap-seats as the “Honourable” in “Rt. Hon. John Key”.
[My thanks to Nick Keesing for his assistance with this piece]
Brilliant sum up especially of Gattung.
Where do Theresa Gattung, and Tariana Turia live ?
That should be the question .
They should be pursued relentlessly and answers demanded of them . In front of MSM cameras . If no reasonable answers were forthcoming then they must be subjected to an inquiry . ( Paddy Gower can swear like any common , disrespectful bogan but can he hunt down and force answers out of high-end fraudsters ? No . He can’t . The gutless twat . ) If that inquiry found them wanting for reasonable excuses for their actions , then surely they must be tried for treason , then if found guilty , they must surely go to prison ? Is it not that simple ?
Anything else can be seen in many guises . Some , not so flattering .
I see it this way .
The dark arts of anti-homeopathy might suggest that the very discussion without concrete result is , in fact , a way of deflecting inquiry thus normalising gutting and turia’s treachery , amongst many , many others . Sir roger douglas is a favourite of mine . I would dearly like an opportunity to have face to face question time with that particular brave and honourable Knight .
There are some very clever ways of making people believe in what YOU want people to believe . The advertising industry is particularly adept at that . And if you think for one moment that your mind is your own , think again . If you watch television , if you listen to the radio , if you read the news papers , if you glance at the flyers that come in your mailbox , if you read magazines and articles , if you listen to your friends , family , even strangers with a point of view , if you drive past hoardings , if you watch sport at a stadium , if you follow buses , if you drive past bus stops , past shops , go to malls , pubs and clubs … then you do not have a mind of your own . Your mind is constantly being programmed and re programmed and the stuff it’s being given sinks in . No matter how aware you think you are . It sinks in .
Hardly surprising , that Telecom had taken out copy rights on the colour yellow but that was over turned back in February 2007 .( http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/telecoms-yellow-trademark-pulled )
Therefore ;
I’m getting increasingly anxious with all this toothless debate and the pointing to the elephant in the room thing with no outcome what so ever . That , is a weakness in those of us who see this nightmare for what it is . All gas and no gumption . And it gives ‘ them ‘ greater confidence . As can be seen in jonky’s bold displays of arrogance given Nicky Hagers book ‘ Dirty Politics ‘ . So far , he knows he’s untouchable . And that is why I would urge us to reach out and touch jonky’s heart . Take that how you will .
gattung and turia should be quaking in their designer shoes . What might they be doing instead I wonder ? Stuffing down blue cheeses and olives ? Swigging on Sav Blancs ? Floating along in their European cars to their beach houses ?
Fuck the yap .
How about some ideas on some action instead ?
Where do these fuckers live ?
What would an audit reveal ?
What would an inquiry reveal ?
Tailor made laws and acts of parliament to fit their dishonesties perhaps ?
Ok then . Who instigated those convenient laws and Acts ?
What would an audit reveal ?
What would an inquiry reveal ?
You can see where I’m going with this .
The fish rots from the head down, so goes the saying . Who’s the rotting head ? Where does it live ? Lets drag it out into the open and see what flies start circling the stink ?
@ Curwen Ares Rolinson
Contributor “Part Apache; Part Swede. Part Attack Helicopter; Part Kitset Furniture.”
You mentioned refrigerated shipping . That first ship was called The Dunedin .
When it sailed , so began the Great Swindle of such magnitude and endurance that , that swindle has shaped our country . A country of swindlers , liars and cheats . And a few others now trying to hang on for grim death while trying to make sense of it all .
That ship sailed to a vast , wintry , snow encrusted European market of such wealth as to be beyond comprehension for those few making / growing / farming here . And do you know what ? That ignorance endures to this day . And those same old creeps still hang in there . Ancient parasites , their diseased fangs sunk deep into our veins . Swindling is in our blood . It’s what we do best . It has to stop .
You’re totally wrong and ignorant about Tariana. Try and go around to her house. You won’t survive. Believe me. She has done more for Maori people than you and your ilk ever will or wish to. The thing with the Left is that they support Maori superficially. At least the Right make it plain that they are an enemy and not a pretending friend. Good on Tariana.
Mary Stuart…please read my comment further down the page.
Yes, I have met Tariana and found her to be warm and attentive…and seemed to understand my specific concerns.
However…she either lied about the way she voted on the PHDAct in May 2013…or she had forgotten.
Although, how one could so casually forget voting for legislation that removed the rights of others is beyond me.
Either way…BIG FAIL…
If her gong is for doing the job she has been handsomely paid for, then at least she should have done it with both her brain and her conscience engaged.
You one trick ponies don’t get it. All your bleating on about helping the poor and disempowered. How many of you voted for Maori wards? How many supported compulsory Maori? How many of you endorse Maori custody of our natural resources like water? Oh that’s right, if it affects our Chardonnay socialism and latte lifestyles no thanks Maoris. Stay in your little box. Please carve us more tow-ongas to wear, give us a Mayori poehuri and a why arta. But that’s about it. Please spare us your patronising arrogance. Tariana has more courage and mana within our communities than any Maori politician of the last decade, bar Parekura. And please keep your half baked irrelevant opinions on our tikanga and kawa to your ignorant selves. You see, nothing unites us Maori more than opposing Ngati Kuare and their pathetic feigned non attempts to understand our customs, culture, history and aspirations.
Tariana Turia is indeed blessed to have such a friend and supporter.
Love is blind.
Is that it? I do hope you get better soon.
Oh so “saintly” about what Tariana is supposed to have achieved. I do not doubt she has good intentions and made some sincere, good efforts, to improve the lives of Maori and others.
But what is wrong with the Maori Party and some in Maoridom is that they are now trying to establish the same “class system” and structures that the Pakeha or settler society has established so firmly.
Corporatisation of business, of welfare, of everything out there, that will only benefit a few that run and may somehow gain from these newly created organisations and businesses, and others will continue to be “beggars”, just then dependent on their “tangata whenua” MASTERS, who tell them what to do and where to go.
It is one major failure of the MP to have supported the National Party led government full stop. They knew full well, that voting against a few measures here and there, like welfare reform parts, that was NOT going to have ANY effect at all. In essence the government did NOT NEED MP votes on most legislation, and so MP came as beggars to the table of Key and consorts, to accept the crumbs they were given.
If that is anything to be proud of, then Roger Douglas can retire and live in peace, as he will according to such logic be “deserving” even more so than Tariana.
MP deserves to fade away, as a merger with Mana appears to be out of the question, as a support of Labour does appear to be the same.
Only Nat boot lickers now, I am afraid.
Class system? Not another non Maori expert on Maori society. Please. Spare us your musings. There is no class system anymore. And that which existed predates colonisation. You imports merely added a further layer of gaudy trinkets, beads and baubles. Yes there are ariki like Sir Tumu and the Waikato King. But they would be the only two with influence largely confined to their own areas and even that is diminishing by the year. Yes there are uri of chiefly families some of whom can be bothered to participate in tribal life. Most don’t. They’ve become so colonised that they have lost all touch with those realities. But apart from occasional acknowledgment of such on formal occasions this traditional (pre European) lineage counts for little today, much like primogeniture. Results and performance are what count, not birthright. That’s why Tariana successfully held her seat with healthy majorities for so long. She’s an inspiration to many Maori people. She has her detractors likely anyone in public life. But her successes public and private will outlive the Maori critics. For example one of her contributions was to ensure the appointment of many progressive Maori to important positions within SOEs, NGOs, CEO roles, judiciary, quangos and numerous boards and committees. They act to ensure resources are properly targeted to communities in need. She went about this with Pita’s support, quietly and determinedly to change. The face and mix of these resource rich entities ensuring a Maori voice was heard and that a more equitable allocation of scare resources took place. Most of this was under the radar. This is but one of the ways I which Tariana acted to benefit Maori communities. The trouble with the Left is that you are no more interested in constitutional change and power sharing than the Right. At least the Right don’t pretend that they are. Rich Pakehas rarely resent Maori potential and success. Pakehas brought up on welfare can never shake off their jealousies and “we are one people” cliche. Just below the surface is that ugly streak of resentment. This is why the hard Left has never been attractive to the majority of the Maori vote. Never will be either. No doubt Hone rues the day he got into bed with Minto, Bradford and their daddy, Kim.gone.
What nonsense you put together there. In what world do you live, claiming there are no classes anymore? It must be on Planet Key, I suppose.
Is that it? Last time I looked in Maori society we have no class system. We have workers, beneficiaries and self employed. As it will always be. There is no egalitarian utopia except in text books. Never has been, never will be. Perhaps you were thinking of peoples democratic republics of totalitarianism? And unsurprisingly it is most telling like all apostles of the Left you never deal with Maori sovereignty, power sharing, control of natural resources and te reo.
Mary Stuart…have you read my post….here, I’ll save you the scroll down the page.
Tariana Turia voted with the government to pass legislation to ammend the Public Health and Disability Act.
This was done to give the single digit salute to the Human Rights Review Tribunal, the High Court and the Court of Appeal who all agreed that the Ministry of Health practise of not allowing family members to be paid for providing disability supports was discriminination.
A breach of our rights.
Tariana Turia, as Minister for Disability Issues and Minister for Whanau Ora, had supported the bid by disabled people and their family carers to have their rights acknowledged.
Oh, yes, she said, this is what Whanau Ora is all about.
Then bugger me dead if she and Te Ureroa and Pita didn’t vote with their National masters on the 17th May 2013 for legislation that made the discrimination legal AND bugger me even more dead, for legislation to ensure that we can never again take this issue back to court.
Gee thanks, Maori Party.
And THEN…to add insult to injury, both Tariana (to my face) and Te Ureroa (to a pre election meet the candidates meeting for disability issues) denied that they had voted with the government on this issue.
Yep, denied it.
Check Hansard people.
However, Tariana, et al, did manage, in that particular Budget Round, to secure $1.2 billion for “Maori initiatives”…about three times what they had secured the year before.
So, a Party that was founded on equality, equity, and a desire to end opression of minorities quite happily supported the marginalisation of non-Maori disabled people.
Because, Maori disabled have been able to pay their family carers for years, and under Whanau Ora???
Tariana Turia is not the only gong recipient whose ‘contribution’ is tarnished. Pretty much ALL of this years line up have somewhat questionable worthiness.
In fact, so much so that NOT being recognised is recognition in itself.
– See more at: https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/01/04/the-new-years-honours-list-is-a-joke-in-parts/#sthash.ZjGx2nJB.dpuf
This is true. This is a fact.
Tariana ‘supported’ this case….then when it came down to the wire…she and her Maori Party collegues stabbed us in the back.
For a few pieces of silver.
And political expediency.
Yes, I do understand about supply and confidence agreements….BUT…Tariana gained the respect of many in NZ when she crossed the floor on the Foreshore and Seabed legislation. She stood on her principals.
Not only did she vote with the Government on this Bill….that removes hard fought for rights and removes the right to take the issue to court again(ringing any bells yet?),
she and Te Ureroa denied voting with the government on this legislation.
Again..did she lie…tell and untruth…bullshit…whatever term you understand, or was she and her Party so disengaged that they had no idea of the ramifications if this legislation was passed.
The Maori Party refsing to vote with the Government on this might not have changed the outcome…but it would have been and ideal opportunity for the Party to show it still had principals.
So, while you are so busy defending Tariana…please…discuss this one action of hers.
I would love to know what you think on this.
What you describe is exactly a form of class system. And the fact that there may be some mobility between classes now, more than in earlier times, does not mean there is no class system.
The self employed tend to think they work hard and deserve all the profits they make, the workers claim they work hard and these days in NZ Aotearoa increasingly despise the “beneficiary”.
The beneficiary is at the bottom of the pile.
And you forgot the new Maori corporate businesses there are, they are not just “self employed”, they are similar to Pakeha or any other “corporate business”.
Tariana Turia has been “handsomely” rewarded with her new four letter title, because she contributed to keeping Key and his rotten lot of sub rock dwellers in power! More a contribution to Key & Co, than to Parliament in general!
I have always been suspicious of any government rewarding ex MPs, particularly their own, as well as honouring judges. The latter, likely to be called upon to sit in judgement on politicians, their cronies and other connected ne’er-do-wells!
Don’t forget Key’s mate and fellow co conspirator, one John Archibald Banks is coming up for (yet another) trial this year. Be interesting to see who the judge is and who he/she is closely connected to!
I have given up even taking note of these “honours” that are handed out each year, at Queen’s Birthday or the New Year. The whole process and procedure is so farcical, it is so obvious that these are the old boys and old girls clubs handing them out to each other, it has lost all credit.
I ignore them and treat them as every other person, no “Sir” or “Dame” exists in my world, and they wipe their bums with the same tissue as everyone else, I suppose.
Yep, and my best friend has made a complaint about one such “Dame”, Beverley Wakem, the Ombudsman, who has been covering one of her incompetent of biased staff, and we will see how that comes out.
I doubt though the higher authority that was approached will do anything about this, as they are likely also part of the same “club” and class of people, all scratching each other’s backs and backsides.
Yes,….now do we all remember what Slater and his mates called those who didn’t support their neo liberal thug mentality?
That’s right……
Troughers.
I would suggest it is such viruses who are guilty of the pot calling the kettle black.
And do you all remember the Shipleys , the Bolgers , the Douglases , the Richardsons , the English’s …the list being almost inexhaustible that bullshitted and lied and mislead the people of this country that ” privatization would lower prices as it would encourage competition?
We have have endured 35 years of these piratical bums in our midst bullshitting their way across the political stage – and also the sickening additive of watching the scum award themselves with title’s that are supposed to be some sort of antiseptic to clean up the neo liberal disease that these vampires inject into the country.
Well its good you’ve posted about at least two of em , – but whats really needed is an online ‘Hall of Infamy ‘ highlighting the ways these cancers have conducted themselves over the last 35 years…..if anything to at least start educating the young about how viscous these snakes really are.
Gattung ? …….a Class A Trougher. Nothing more.
Thanks for the term Slater, shows your good for something ,…even if you called the wrong people that term.
Turia?…………so you reckon being a neo liberal thief is the finest expression of Rangatiratanga? Well …I dunno who taught you about your own culture , mate …but with an attitude like that you wouldn’t even make a Rangitira’s arsehole.
Another non expert on tikanga Maori.
Kia tupato e tama ma te wa ka kitea.
Call me naïve if you like but shouldn’t such honours go to people who actually do something good? When you get people like Roger Douglas undeservingly being awarded a knighthood instead of deservingly being put on trial for treason then you know the system is totally f……d up. Yes I know that there are some people who genuinely deserve their honours, but there are many others who spend their lifetimes enriching themselves at others’ expense and get rewarded for it. Is that fair?
Absolutely spot on there Mike and no, it’s not fair at all.
An honour should be awarded to someone going beyond the call of duty, to improve the wellbeing of others and to benefit community, for no personal gain. They are out there, but few are recognized.
Active politicians, ex politicians, their greedy cronies and the like, are far removed from this category of selfless contribution!
Murray McCully would have been a more appropriate target for your choice of a public sector individual on this year’s list.
Tariana Turia has championed the Whanau Ora policy initiatives (refer below to the Foreword of the Taskforce chaired by Prof. – now also Sir – Mason Durie, who developed the recommendations of those initiatives), and pushed the Key government to take a tougher approach to tobacco control. Those are valuable contributions to sustaining the well-being of not only her constituents, but Kiwis in general – refer to this article to learn more http://www.maramatanga.co.nz/news-events/news/research-examines-significance-whānau-ora-policy.
Foreword from the Taskforce
E te Minita
Tēnā koe
We are pleased to present you with the report of the Taskforce for Whānau-Centred Initiatives. Since our first meeting on 24 June 2009, the Taskforce has been privileged to hear the views of hundreds of New Zealanders and to read more than a hundred written submissions. As a result we are confident there is strong support for the kaupapa, and enthusiasm for a fresh approach that will bring demonstrable benefits. We have been especially impressed by the high level of optimism around the country and are confident that the time is right to forge new pathways that will contribute to the empowerment of whānau.
Our report recognises the transformations that have occurred in te ao Māori over the past two decades and acknowledges the innovative capacity of iwi, Māori communities and Māori practitioners to meet new challenges, embrace new technologies and model new practices. Those same attributes will be pivotal in implementing the recommendations made in our report.
But we have also indicated that assurances will be required from a number of government departments and a spirit of collaboration must be embedded between funders, providers, practitioners and whānau. In that respect, the positive and optimistic interest shown from a wide range of agencies and communities has given us every reason to believe that the necessary goodwill and commitment will be forthcoming.
Minister, our work has been greatly influenced by the resilience, determination and aspirations of whānau all over the country and we are conscious of our obligations to them. If there is a single conclusion to our deliberations it is that the potential within whānau has never been greater, and unleashing that potential will not only bring benefits to Māori but will add greatly to the nation and to the prospects of future generations.
Noho ora mai
Mason Durie (Chair)
Rob Cooper
Di Grennell
Suzanne Snively
Nancy Tuaine
Tariana Turia voted with the government to pass legislation to ammend the Public Health and Disability Act.
This was done to give the single digit salute to the Human Rights Review Tribunal, the High Court and the Court of Appeal who all agreed that the Ministry of Health practise of not allowing family members to be paid for providing disability supports was discriminination.
A breach of our rights.
Tariana Turia, as Minister for Disability Issues and Minister for Whanau Ora, had supported the bid by disabled people and their family carers to have their rights acknowledged.
Oh, yes, she said, this is what Whanau Ora is all about.
Then bugger me dead if she and Te Ureroa and Pita didn’t vote with their National masters on the 17th May 2013 for legislation that made the discrimination legal AND bugger me even more dead, for legislation to ensure that we can never again take this issue back to court.
Gee thanks, Maori Party.
And THEN…to add insult to injury, both Tariana (to my face) and Te Ureroa (to a pre election meet the candidates meeting for disability issues) denied that they had voted with the government on this issue.
Yep, denied it.
Check Hansard people.
However, Tariana, et al, did manage, in that particular Budget Round, to secure $1.2 billion for “Maori initiatives”…about three times what they had secured the year before.
So, a Party that was founded on equality, equity, and a desire to end opression of minorities quite happily supported the marginalisation of non-Maori disabled people.
Because, Maori disabled have been able to pay their family carers for years, and under Whanau Ora???
Tariana Turia is not the only gong recipient whose ‘contribution’ is tarnished. Pretty much ALL of this years line up have somewhat questionable worthiness.
In fact, so much so that NOT being recognised is recognition in itself.
Question: How many domestic assaults, sexual attacks and car crashes do you have to have played a part in to get a knighthood ?????
Go ask Sir doug myers ………. former owner of Lion breweries.
And that pretty much sums up the value system they employ in giving out knighthoods.
An honors badge for those who play dirty or play along…..
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