THE GREAT PRETENDER

Our mate David Farrar has been having a nosebag courtesy of Ngai Tahu. He told me in passing earlier this week that he was a guest of the PR firm that Mark Solomon hires to write all his stuff at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce celeb breakfast this week.

Its a common enough ploy of PR people to invite influential people to enjoy their hospitality. Been there and done that.

I think I suggested to David that he was dining with Ngai Tahu's spinners far too often and they were wanting to take advantage of his position as a serious media influencer. I think I was pretty rude ( actually I was ) but he took it in good grace. My position on Solomon is well documented and David accepts my right to have a differing opinion. I like that in a person.

I think, for the sake of the tribe that Solomon must go.

However it appears for a plate of Bacon and Eggs with some OJ on the side, David has succumbed yet again to the web that was woven by Team Solomon and is happy to sing the praises of Mark.

Its a shame really. A shame that better analysis and probing is not applied to the Ngai Tahu machine.

Solomon is like Helen Clark - he has past his Use By Date. Only difference is Clark was the brains behind the speeches and policy she made.

Solomon, on the other hand relies on the wit and wisdom of others. That does not an inspiring leader make.

JOHN KEY BREAKFAST

Full marks to the energetic and wise Charles Finny and the Wellington Chamber for putting on the breakfast address by John Key this morning . It was inspiring and as we walked down the waterfront on the way back to work - people were enthusiastically talking about Key and his message.

The venue was good - the breakfast was the antithesis of the healthy eating healthy action breakfast of the past. hash browns, cheese filled franks, bacon and a cheese filled omelette and white toast bread with a passing reference to healthy food in the form of a cooked tomato and a lilliputian bowl of bircher meusli.

Starters were heaving baskets of danish pasteries. Bliss.

Anyway - to the serious stuff. Key reiterated that he thinks we are well placed to weather the global financial storm. Our banks are some of the most solid in the world and they are still lending.

Our economy is based on exporting food and we are well regarded as producers of excellent food so that will stand us in good stead.

And the government is peeling back all the government restrictions on business growth such as the RMA and other regulatory impediments.

And they are refocussing the public service effort into areas that have an impact. No more "hug a polar bear campaigns" that sounded good but were bloody useless ( we resisted the urge to rush up to the stage and give him a hug at that point)

And he said that Broadband roll out plan is to be announced by Stephen Joyce in the next few days.

All good stuff and a very pleasant way to start the day. We met some very nice people and John stopped at our table to talk to a lovely woman about a helicopter trip. He really is a good bugger.

ITS ALL ABOUT SME AND CACTUS

Key is saying that the government focus is going to be on SME's - that's good for us because we are a SME. So cutting the red tape, and tax relief will help and the type of initiatives that the Wellington Chamber have initiated make bloody good sense too. Cactus, the icey eyed bint, has some reservations about Mr Weldon - we like to see alternative views and she has raised some valid issues - take a look here. We however, remain Weldon supporters. We would also like to see Alex Sundakov in the mix - if he isn't already, and anyone who has taken a business from 0 - $10 million plus in 5 years - There are more of them than you think and no property developers thank you. Then add in the boys from the Southland Building Society and South Canterbury Finance - they are prudent investment boys and know what a durable investment is. Chuck in Chris Lee as well - He knows what doesn't stack up. And of course Gareth Morgan. And check out what some of the boys in Maori Fisheries have been doing. - They have been wise stewards of a uber freezer full of fish.

There are heaps more - but we don't want to see the same old tired faces at the summit - we want successful new faces. And no sandals, batik skirts, dreadlocks and greenpeace tee shirts.

And the Mantra is a simple one - Governments don't create jobs Businesses create jobs - its the governments job to create the environment for businesses to create jobs. Simple.

We also want to be part of the task force that gives the public service a shake up - Public services are pissing themselves laughing at the government - you see in the time honoured tradition of public service they started to shift money, hide money, change the names of projects and whole departments, mid last year so that they could front up to the new boys and say savings - sure we will give you savings, when really Ministers will be presented with some manipulated accounts. So it will need an external review to ensure that there is no shilly shallying.

SMART THINKING FROM WELLINGTON CHAMBER

Anyone in the export business will tell you its hard to get a handle on all the things that a prospective exporter needs to do. Its a minefield. We worked on a project to simplify regs for food exporters a while back. I alwasy reckoned that the concept that the chamber has up and running was the way to go. Well done guys.

Here is the Chambers Press release

New Operation for Wellington Exporters to be Established

EMA Central and the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce are delighted to announce their intention to establish a one stop shop for exporters in the Greater Wellington region.

The new operation will be a joint venture between the two organisations with each contributing export related services and support staff. The joint venture will both make it simpler for exporters to receive advice on exporting and increase the quality and range of services available to exporters in the region. It is hoped that the operation could more cost effectively deliver some of the export support operations of NZTE. We also intend to work very closely with Grow Wellington and explore expanding the concept to involve other Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development Agencies in the central region.

The joint venture operation, to be called Export Wellington, will be guided by the Export New Zealand Regional Committee, who are locally elected exporters and advisers, with additional members appointed by EMA Central and the Wellington Regional Chamber. The joint venture will provide a continuation of the services already being offered by Export New Zealand in the Wellington Region. Events and activities will take place at the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce in the Majestic Centre on Willis Street.

The joint venture will offer the following services:

• Export certification;
• Information on export markets;
• Export related training;
• Export consultancy services
• Exporter events;
• Regional export awards;
• Events for visiting delegations
• Links to the international Chamber of Commerce global network.
• Channelling contributions for export advocacy

The joint venture has also been structured to enable Wellington regional exporters to join the recently re-launched Export New Zealand organisation via a membership with EMA Central or with the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce. That in turn provides access to the full range of services and advocacy offered nationally by Export New Zealand.

“The Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce and EMA Central have been working for the last few years towards a better collaborative relationship. It is good we can now formalise that collaboration,” said Chamber CEO, Charles Finny, .

“This offers the opportunity to increase the value proposition for both sets of memberships and to expand the range of services available for Wellington regional exporters,” said EMA Central CEO, Paul Winter.

“Times are tough out there and they will get tougher. In these circumstances it makes sense to consolidate operations and expand the range of services and supports available. Monitoring the impact of the international financial crisis and conveying latest intelligence on what it means will be a key role for the new operation,” Charles Finny concluded.

and the Chambers CE Charles Finney has some more background here at the Dear John blog

CAPITALS CHAMBER ALSO FAVOURS BOLD RESPONSE TO FISCAL CRISIS

This from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce

The incoming government should not be deterred by the deteriorating fiscal position revealed today and should implement further tax cuts as soon as possible according to the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has also challenged all political parties to announce their tax policies immediately now that the books have been opened.

Yip time for everyone to show us their plans

“Tax cuts are still warranted in spite of the deteriorating fiscal position.” said Chamber CEO Charles Finny.

must have big balls those boys at the chamber - how sexy is that!

“In fact we argue that a carefully constructed tax package that aims to boost the economy by improving the incentives to work, save and invest will be beneficial to the fiscal position in the longer run.

further reductions in company tax would be very welcome

“We favour reductions in tax rates, rather than a lift in tax thresholds, because these incentives are increased with lower marginal tax rates.

“Now that the books have been opened and Treasury’s forecasts released, we call on all political parties to announce their tax policies.

“The current government’s prudent fiscal management over the last nine years means that the fiscal position is strong enough to withstand further tax cuts. They would also be beneficial at this time.

“We acknowledge that as the economy slows, significant tax cuts will be less affordable without reductions in the growth of further government expenditure and savings from some specific cuts in non-productive bureaucratic spending.

oh boy we here at the prawn can tell them where to save shitloads in a heartbeat

“Today’s opening of the books increases the need for a review of all government spending which we think the incoming government should undertake as soon as it takes office”, Mr Finny concluded.

This is seriously overdue.. the prawns are happy to help...