New Zealand Listener Issue 17, 2022

The term “co-governance” has become a lightning rod for polarised commentary and confusion, particularly in relation to the government’s Three Waters reforms. Yet the concept of shared governance is not complicated. My thoughts reflect some decades of experience as director and chairman of a range of entities. Many have involved partnerships and co-governance, among them Sealord, where Māori hold equal shares with a Japanese fishing company. Co-governance has worked positively for Sealord since the 1990s, with benefits to both parties, and such jointly owned and governed businesses are not unusual. Co-governance in business works as long as partners share common objectives – and because objectives can diverge over time, partners almost always have a pre-agreed divorce procedure. So, if it can be positive for business, is it a good idea in other…

WINNING CAPTION Hans Zindel, Palmerston North FINALISTS Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge: “Seriously, Will, there’s no point in shouting mush, mush! We’re in the Caribbean. Do you see any huskies?” – Dean Donoghue, Papamoa Beach Catherine: “No, you can’t take it home. Those days are gone.” – Paul Kelly, Palmerston North Prince William, Duke of Cambridge: “By my giddy Aunt Anne, it’s a bit tight for the crown jewels down here.” – Greg Dunn, Matamata Catherine: “Remember asking me what happens when push comes to shove?” – Alan Belcher, Christchurch Prince William: “Tee hee. You’re touching me in my funny place.” – Kim Taylor, Leeston Prince William: “Just what The Firm needs – another slippery slope!” – Steve Godsiff, Timaru Prince William: “Kate, you realise it’s all downhill from here!” – Laurie Sanders, Tauranga…

It should be no surprise to union members and activists that BusinessNZ opposes Fair Pay Agreements (“Labour Pains”, April 9). The focus of BusinessNZ has always been on the businesses, not the workers. It is also no surprise, but still disturbing, that a security guard and a supermarket worker have to endure such appalling conditions. Security firms have long maintained their practices of casualised labour, long shifts, minimum wages and little or no overtime as we know it. The ongoing tragedy and scandal is that workers in many industries have to work such long hours merely to survive financially. Nanaia’s story highlights why it is that many people over the age of 65 have to keep working simply to enable a degree of financial security. That a single, female, low-paid older worker has…

“But he’s not in it. That’s a bit sad.” – Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, after seeing the shirt Colin Firth wore in the TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice on show at a Jane Austen exhibition“Buying Russian oil and gas is financing war crimes. Dear EU friends, pull the plug. Don’t be an accomplice.”– Gabrielius Landsbergis, foreign minister of Lithuania“Is David using sex bots to boost his Instagram presence? If people wanted to hear from you, they’d follow you.”– Shaneel Lal on David Seymour gaining almost 50,000 Instagram followers in one day, with thousands suspected to be fake accounts“Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it’s better to be alone than in bad company.”– Booker T Washington“It’s very gendered. The nature of the feedback I get is nothing compared…

1. In which area would you find an iconic landmark called Mitre Peak? ❑ Milford Sound ❑ Coromandel Forest Park ❑ Te Urewera ❑ Arthur’s Pass National Park 2. Which of these TV series was NOT based on an earlier motion picture? ❑ Taxi ❑ Westworld ❑ Fame ❑ M*A*S*H 3. Which of these companies or brands was NOT named after a real person? ❑ Jenny Craig ❑ Wattie’s ❑ Heinz sauces ❑ Betty Crocker 4. Which of these ships was used for Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 Antarctic expedition, and recently rediscovered as a wreck on the sea floor? ❑ HMS Terror ❑ Endurance ❑ Terra Nova ❑ HMS Challenger 5. True or false? There’s no difference between a glockenspiel and a xylophone. ❑ True ❑ False 6. Which of these is NOT one of the personas played by members of the rock band Kiss? ❑ The Catman ❑ The Starchild ❑ The Shaman ❑ The Demon 7. What…

The United States is, at present, like a bear that forgot to unhibernate. After two years of being masked, indoors and under the covers as much as possible, we are re-emerging, bleary eyed and foggy-brained, into the fractured dissonance that currently passes for our society and culture. Logic dictates that our first movements upon reawakening should be slow, measured and thoughtful, but that’s apparently not how we roll. Instead, Americans are blasting back into “normal” life. Our national parks are overflowing with people and trash – carry in, carry out, anyone? – hotel occupancy rates are back to pre-Covid levels, and no one except me seems to be hoarding toilet paper any more. Don’t ask. The reopening of society seems popular with everyone except extreme introverts and agoraphobics, but it’s naive to think…