Politics 🗳️ NZ Politics

[defensivebomb]

I was approached by a man who had set up a charity that was "hidden" in a trust where it would provide "emergency" housing while not paying tax. The beneficiaries of the trust were his children. Once there that been enough equity built up in the houses through government funding, he was going to close the charity, sell off the houses and "give" the money to his kids. All the time, his children were going to be employed by the trust to "manage" the houses.

I told him I wasn't interested in doing the documentation necessary for the project.

Yeah that stinks to high heaven

There is regulation on charities (which I am aware only), which sounds like he’d be falling short on. Trusts themselves have a purpose.

Though with a lot of our tax system, you can get away with a lot if you want to break the rules. Until you get caught. Same as smuggling drugs or doing cashies. Preventative controls aren’t there. Detective controls are weak but are in place

 

[Inruin]

Watch: Hipkins says leaker of Labour’s capital gains tax policy will be ousted from party if found

Labour says all CGT revenue would go towards health spending including free GP visits.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Leaked policy. Seems maybe the party aren't all united on this. Hipkins starting to look like he isn't in control of his team or policy. This, the health policy bungle, the inability to name a business that would benefit from his future plan. Must only be a matter of time before McAnulty takes over?

 

[miket12]

Yeah that stinks to high heaven

There is regulation on charities (which I am aware only), which sounds like he’d be falling short on. Trusts themselves have a purpose.

Though with a lot of our tax system, you can get away with a lot if you want to break the rules. Until you get caught. Same as smuggling drugs or doing cashies. Preventative controls aren’t there. Detective controls are weak but are in place

What annoys me even more is the ability of a developer to close one business (limited liability company) only to start up another one to avoid liability if something goes wrong. TBH, the changes the government is proposing to limit the exposure of the councils will end up making it even worse. It's all designed to protect those who should do better (council, consultants, developers) while exposing even more those who are innocent through the building process... the eventual owner of the building.

One of the most ridiculous things we allow is when consultants are able to limit their liability by putting it on others. The classic one is when you get a geotechnical report prepared. You'd expect that you should be able to rely on the information contained in it and be able to build your structure according to it but most of them aren't worth the paper they're written on as they contain a clause that will say "it is the clients responsiblity to ensure the ground conditions are the same as what is written in the report". How the hell is a client supposed to kknow the bearing strength of the soil? They don't undertake the lab tests of soil samples like the geotech engineer gets done. They don't know if the share strength is the same as what's in the report. That's why they get the report done anyway.

And then the reports get even worse. The ones prepared for a subdivision final report will state that it's only been prepared for use by the developer.... meaning that the builder/owner can't rely on it because they don't have permission to use it.

The reason building has become so expensive in NZ..... the whole industry is more interested in covering their butts than actually producing good products. The house I live in now, I did the architectural drawings for it over 30 years ago... and it took the equivalent of 6 A3 drawing sheets.... I've just finished off the drawings for a 29m² addition (bedroom, w/r and ensuite) for a client in Papatoetoe with the same exterior products on the roof and walls and it took over 25 A3 drawings. And Council have sent through an email requesting more details and more manufacturer's product information

 

[Noitall]

What annoys me even more is the ability of a developer to close one business (limited liability company) only to start up another one to avoid liability if something goes wrong. TBH, the changes the government is proposing to limit the exposure of the councils will end up making it even worse. It's all designed to protect those who should do better (council, consultants, developers) while exposing even more those who are innocent through the building process... the eventual owner of the building.

One of the most ridiculous things we allow is when consultants are able to limit their liability by putting it on others. The classic one is when you get a geotechnical report prepared. You'd expect that you should be able to rely on the information contained in it and be able to build your structure according to it but most of them aren't worth the paper they're written on as they contain a clause that will say "it is the clients responsiblity to ensure the ground conditions are the same as what is written in the report". How the hell is a client supposed to kknow the bearing strength of the soil? They don't undertake the lab tests of soil samples like the geotech engineer gets done. They don't know if the share strength is the same as what's in the report. That's why they get the report done anyway.

And then the reports get even worse. The ones prepared for a subdivision final report will state that it's only been prepared for use by the developer.... meaning that the builder/owner can't rely on it because they don't have permission to use it.

The reason building has become so expensive in NZ..... the whole industry is more interested in covering their butts than actually producing good products. The house I live in now, I did the architectural drawings for it over 30 years ago... and it took the equivalent of 6 A3 drawing sheets.... I've just finished off the drawings for a 29m² addition (bedroom, w/r and ensuite) for a client in Papatoetoe with the same exterior products on the roof and walls and it took over 25 A3 drawings. And Council have sent through an email requesting more details and more manufacturer's product information

It always to me felt like it was obvious who the enemy was when extra money was to be put into chasing beneficiaries despite the potential reap fairly minimal, while white collar crime didn’t get the same treatment

 

[miket12]

It always to me felt like it was obvious who the enemy was when extra money was to be put into chasing beneficiaries despite the potential reap fairly minimal, while white collar crime didn’t get the same treatment

Annoys me every time we hear the cries from politicians about the "expectations" those receiving a benefit have (only buy these products, go to this many interviews, move to another part of the country).... while letting white collar crime not getting treated the same. Putting a mother in jail because of benefit fraud will only make things worse for her family.... but how does home detention for someone who has ripped off their employer or the IRD make things better? Buggered if I know mate!!!

 

[juju]

Annoys me every time we hear the cries from politicians about the "expectations" those receiving a benefit have (only buy these products, go to this many interviews, move to another part of the country).... while letting white collar crime not getting treated the same. Putting a mother in jail because of benefit fraud will only make things worse for her family.... but how does home detention for someone who has ripped off their employer or the IRD make things better? Buggered if I know mate!!!

Even Luxon with the "entitlement's I'm entitled too" when renting his own freehold apartment was pretty galling.

Social Welfare is an entitlement citizens are entitled too - but we have no issues meddling with them and punching down on those who receive them.

 

[Noitall]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

This is starting to get a bit of a Tariana Turia vibe, could see the māori party breaking in two here

 

[miket12]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

This is starting to get a bit of a Tariana Turia vibe, could see the māori party breaking in two here

There's a rumour going around that at least two mps won't stand for Te Pati māori at the next election but will switch to Labour. Reading the stuff article, it's not to hard to see who two of them may be.

 

[Inruin]

There's a rumour going around that at least two mps won't stand for Te Pati māori at the next election but will switch to Labour. Reading the stuff article, it's not to hard to see who two of them may be.

Wouldn't surprise me to see a majority of TPM seats switch back to Labour next election which will put them in a strong negotiating position.

 

[Noitall]

There's a rumour going around that at least two mps won't stand for Te Pati māori at the next election but will switch to Labour. Reading the stuff article, it's not to hard to see who two of them may be.

Will be interesting to see how many echo the sentiment her son has and feel a dissatisfaction with the direction of the party

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

This is starting to get a bit of a Tariana Turia vibe, could see the māori party breaking in two here

Isn’t there still issues with their accounts unable to be signed off by an auditor…

John Tamahere has question marks with everything he’s involved in.

 

[Noitall]

Ley attacks PM’s Joy Division shirt over antisemitic connotations

The acclaimed post-punk band’s name comes from a term for sexual slavery in concentration camps.

www.smh.com.au

Albanese copping grief for donning a joy division t shirt. People not happy of the connotations of nazi sex slavery