The Recruiter's Blog

by Alan Charman

"If you want to get the inside oil on New Zealand employment (and social!) conditions, forget the Department of Labour and newspapers, read this blog!"

 

17th May 2009

Yes, thank you, I will take a moment to gloat.

Today's Herald leads with the story of Christine Rankin and her new husband in conjunction with her appointment as a Family Commissioner.

From the blog below, two days ago, in my criticism of her appointment, I said:

To me, the story I'd like to see followed up on is the fact that the widower's wife died only four months before his wedding to Rankin.

Bingo!

And, I got the wedding date wrong, they got married only two months after the suicide of Monica McAuley!

Another interesting point has been raised by Stuff.co.nz, with this comment:

So, not only do we have a person with highly suspect morality being a Family Commissioner, she is clearly a National Party supporter.

This is a disgrace, and it's no surprise Key has taken the Mark Todd approach of saying nothing and hoping it all blows over. To admit he got Paula Bennett wrong as a Cabinet appointment would be a disaster, but by doing nothing, he is opening himself to further trauma down the track, as the likes of Bennett and Rankin will be millstones around his neck.

 

15th May 2009

It seems that the wheels have gone a bit wobbly on John Key, just at a time when the stability of the country demands that we have a unified plan of action to lift us out of the recession.

The Budget becomes of prime consideration, and already we see the meddling fingers of John Key as he blithely announces 50 mio for his pet cycleway. Sure, he's a bloke used to tossing around billions, but that was always with someone else's money and not with New Zealand's future in his hands.

My understanding is that John Key is a pretty decisive and intuitive bloke, which is all well and good when you're in a position of someone fucking up, cut them off and move on. He's already found out that in the political arena, it ain't that simple, and for a party which only won the election 6 months ago, this is not an impressive CV:

Paula Bennett. "Failed to disclose" information. Cleared, by clever semantics, of charges of inappropriate use of ministerial power.

Kawaljit Bakshi. Owned house operating as a brothel. Investigated for immigration fraud, in a case where the prime witness appears to have been paid off. Bakshi - whose name is amusingly close to "baksheesh" - even raised the spectre himself that "someone else" may have decided to pay her off! Tui's had a couple of billboards thrown out recently, that could be a new one for them.

Bill English. "There will be no $50 million for the cycleway, this year or any other year." Uh, yes there will, Bill. The Fight for Life must've been tame compared to being in Cabinet right now - there is no doubt whatsoever who's holding the Key.

Melissa Lee. Watch out for those coons from South Auckland!

Christine Bleeding Rankin! (And Bruce Pilbrow) Need I even detail these two freaks? Christine Hitler married to Mother Theresa is as close as I could describe.

And why, oh why, oh why has nobody yet really chomped onto the story of Rankin's new husband. The bloke in question was a widower.

To me, the story I'd like to see followed up on is the fact that the widower's wife died only four months before his wedding to Rankin. Her fourth husband! And this is the woman we've appointed to be part of the guardianship of our country's families?

On the other hand, Bruce Pilbrow is almost a worse choice. Head of the fundamental christian Parents Inc, he believes that the best guide for how families should operate is a 2000 year old text.  Absurd.

Given that Key has stamped his impression firmly on the reins of power, all of these must lie directly at John Key's feet.

At least it took Labour several years to get to charges of corruption; it's not a good look for National, and it's being exacerbated by some very peculiar actions.

Note to John Key: Cut the pissing around and straighten the ship up.

 

7th May 2009

Well, having served it up to John Key last week, it's only fair that I should serve the same up to his imbecilic colleagues on the red parliamentary benches. David Cunliffe* - Labour's spokesman for finance has just blamed National for worsening the country's finances. Coming from the party which has been running the joint for the past nine years, blaming a government of a few months is an absurdity beyond belief. I know pollies expect Joe Public to be naive, but this is a shocker. Cunliffe; you're officially an idiot.

* shouldn't there be a "T" in that name?

Anyway, the state of the economy does show some important factors for the employment situation:

Unemployment is - as predicted - still rising

Most people are expecting things to deteriorate further yet.

The most important thing is that we can help ourselves by being positive and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. In this type of economy, we need to focus on the opportunities rather than the bad news. Spend time looking through the business sections of your local newspaper and see who's growing and who's not. Ring up companies which work in your area of expertise and see if they might intend hiring later in the year.

I have said that spring will start to lift the recession in NZ, and my opinion has firmed more since I first said that. A combination of migration and already-increased commodity prices will drag us out, along with that famed Kiwi inspiration, as many of our better companies grow.

On that basis, jobs will become more readily available in the spring, so if you're struggling now, try to plan for the future by finding an leads to jobs later in the year. Be aware that a lot of seasonal work also starts in late spring, so find out where it is and get your name down now. If you get a good job in meantime, no worries, but it might save you joining the long-term unemployed.

Be creative!

 

2nd May 2009

New Zealand's top climatologist and a world-renowned figure in climate change research has been sacked from his job as head of NIWA. (National Institute of Water & Atmospherics)

The reason given - that Jim spoke to media without permission is indescribably stupid. Or, it's indescribably stupid in a place where I can't resort to four-letter words.

Salinger has for years been the face of climatology in New Zealand, and he is an extremely open bloke. His style has always been to give an honest question an honest answer, so the charge is fake. He has thousands of examples of precedent, where nothing has been said and no action taken.

Even worse, the idea that the CEO of an organisation which works internationally needing to ring his political masters to talk to any representative from the media is absurd. It is the Soviet Union, circa 1968. (or an attempt to silence someone)

There is another interesting facet in play with the timing of his dismissal. The new National Government raises the question of whether this is a policy from the halls of the Beehive. What reasons they have for wanting Salinger to get prior approval for talking outside of class is unknown, if that's the case.

Far be it from me to conspiracise, but there is another point of interest.

National has but 58 seats in a 122-seat Parliament, and to make up the difference and give them a clear majority, their main coalition partner is ACT, with 5 seats.

ACT has long been sceptical and critical of climate change science, to the degree that its leader, Rodney Hide, says on his website:

His opinion is blatantly - "I don't believe the science, and even if it's true, it's not NZ's problem."

National has clearly accepted Hyde's position to gain his votes in Parliament, with a clear signal that it no intention of trying to meet Kyoto protocols, and using the recession as a means of trying to get those paltry numbers lowered anyway.

Fortunately, I see that Jim is taking legal action, but I doubt he'll be reinstated.

Whether or not Jim Salinger's sacking is politically-inspired or just Public Service stupidity, if John Key and National want to retain integrity in government, they will need to roll some heads in the corridors of power and reinstate Jim immediately.

I have $10 on that not happening.

 

 

More blogs, letters, essays and other stuff from Alan Charman

 

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