Councillor don’t tell us, we know Dunedin industry and manufacturing is Tops

But Rachel Elder did need to inform Mr Mayor, since it’s he who opines that [singularly ???] “weightless” manufacturing will one day make Dunedin great.
A while back Mr Mayor lauded expansion at Speight’s, Emerson’s and Greggs ….but recently, dreadfully, when interviewed by John Campbell on RNZ Checkpoint, Mr Mayor had trouble remembering these and other multimillion-dollar manufacturing investments in the good people, raw products and knowhow of Dunedin City. As well, he slipped past the convenient fact that the deputy mayor is a director of Scott Technology Ltd, and his old flower Mr McLauchlan, advisor and confidant, is the company’s board chairman.

Notwithstanding, Ms Elder thought it necessary to set herself a free writing project, an op-ed to ‘tell’ Mr Mayor, as well as advertise her paid work skills. Yes, yes, we’re all for free speech and pumping political mileage; however, we are the converted and connected, we know just how great Dunedin manufacturing is and can be —if not for DCC.

It must be said, though, that Mr Mayor’s speech at the Cadbury protest in the Octagon last Saturday was a large complimentary step up from the fatal Checkpoint phone interview.

—

“Messaging that it is too expensive to export from Dunedin and that we are too far away from markets and that manufacturing is best not done here does not support the many families and individuals who work in this sector.”
–Rachel (take that Dave Cull) Elder

### ODT Online Wed, 15 Mar 2017
We have skilled workers and can make it all here
By Rachel Elder
OPINION As an employment consultant and someone who advocates for a wide range of jobs in Dunedin, I am keen for Dunedin to be advertised nationwide as a place that is great for manufacturing and production as this will supply jobs to our skilled workers. The fact is Cadbury is owned by a multinational that has caused its demise. Manufacturing can be done here well and efficiently.
Read more

Comment published at ODT Online:

ej kerr Wed, 15/03/2017 – 7:59pm #
As a city councillor Ms Elder should be overtly aware that the Dunedin City Council-owned power distribution company Aurora Energy Ltd does not and cannot offer a safe and secure electricity supply network for businesses, manufacturers and other large power users (this aside from the now obvious inability to offer safe supply to residential users). The mayor and councillors are not listening and not communicating clearly on the state of Aurora’s burnt asset. Thankfully, the Otago Daily Times has filled that void with strong news reporting. At a cost of one billion dollars to repair and upgrade the existing lines and facilities – not counting the cost of new development work required in Central Otago and Lakes District to meet growth and increasing infrastructural demand – there will shortly be a very heavy impost landing on all local businesses via rates increases. Such an unpopular debating topic at the head-in-the-sand Dunedin City Council.

****

Truly fine examples of the sort of thing your grandmother and mother will tell you about Dunedin that Mr Mayor can’t:
. . . .

McMeeking Manufacturing, 123 Maclaggan St

Jaytee Baking Cups have been a household name since the 1930s, when the company was founded by a printing engineer James Thomas Williamson, hence the name Jaytee. Since acquiring the company in 1979, McMeeking Manufacturing has been the largest supplier of Baking Cups in New Zealand with exports to Australia and the Pacific Islands. Due to the dramatic increase in bakeries, cafes etc, the range of products – all manufactured in the Dunedin factory – has grown to fulfil customers requirements and follow the latest trends. Read more at https://www.jaytee.co.nz/

. . . .

### ODT Online Wed, 15 Mar 2017
Machine tool smart, versatile
By Simon Hartley
Farra Engineering’s latest $1.3 million machining kit not only has the capacity to work 24/7, but can text its progress to operators day and night. The DMG Mori “multi-pallet (work bench) horizontal machining centre”, supplied by a German-Japanese merged company, has been running for about a fortnight, at Farra Engineering, Dunedin, chief executive John Whitaker said. The DMG Mori could work on castings weighing just a few grams, on pieces weighing up to three tonnes, and castings up to 1.4cu m in size. “Being so productive, we’re going to the marketplace to fill the spare capacity,” Mr Whitaker said.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

*Image: jaytee.co.nz – jaytee baking cups

Coastal erosion, Taieri Mouth : ‘DCC shouldn’t rush into potentially costly repair job’

Hands Off | Let’s Write Another Report | Let’s Take Another Year….

[The same appears to apply to repair and upgrade of the Aurora Energy power network (except, minus the DCC reports!) and Delta’s Yaldhurst subdivision (let’s spend UNTOLD MILLIONS with no due diligence by DCC itself!). And what was that about another subdivision hitherto unmentioned, patience Whatiffers…..]

Instead, DCC rushes to spend Public Funds by building cycleways on SH1 before external subsidies dry up.

The core infrastructure DEBACLE continues.
Thanks DCC, you’re a star.

—

Taieri Mouth by Alastair Smith [flickr.com]

### ODT Online Sat, 28 Jan 2017
Board wants urgent action on erosion
By Chris Morris
The Saddle Hill Community Board is calling for “urgent” action to address worsening coastal erosion threatening part of Taieri Mouth Rd. A group including board chairman Scott Weatherall and Dunedin City Council staff visited the area, about 100m north of Dicksons Rd, again this week to inspect the damage. The area had been slowly slipping away for years, monitored by the council, but Mr Weatherall said  action was now needed.
It was reported last year erosion had stripped about 10m of the bank, exposing fence railings and a telecommunications cable, and Mr Weatherall said this week it was continuing to creep closer to Taieri Mouth Rd. “It’s absolutely getting worse,” he said. The problem was at its most “significant” at that location, but also a problem in other areas along the coastal route, he said.
The council, after monitoring the situation for years, had responded more recently with a traffic management plan, including cones and new fences, he said. However, the advice from council staff to the board had been that money to fix the problem was not available until the next financial year.
Read more

[click to enlarge]
Google Maps – Taieri Rd and (flagged) Dicksons Rd, Otago

Google Earth – Taieri Rd and (flagged) Dicksons Rd, Otago

DCC Webmap – Taieri Mouth Rd and Dicksons Rd coastal area JanFeb2013

****

Comment received:

Donald
2017/02/08 at 2:03 pm
I see Cr Wilson’s at it again with her expert knowledge on road issues. First it was the cycle ways and the shambles she headed. Now she is giving her knowledgeable opinion about the erosion hazard on a section of Taieri Mouth Road. Even though the Chair of the Saddle Hill community board called for urgent action. Cr Wilson calls it concerning, but council should not rush a solution. Could the gestation period for this fix be another 20 reports and $200,000 later it is decided that ‘Oh we did have a problem, but not any more, we don’t have a road’. Clean out the swamp.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

DCC hideous ‘Adam of your labours’

ODT 28.1.17 (page 30)

[phoneshot scribbled – click to enlarge]

DCC is rubbish governance.

Comparing the two territorial authorities, ORC and DCC, ODT says “the regional council has been a wiser council-company owner”.

Ain’t that the sheer truth with bells on, oversewn with screaming sirens and flashing red lights.

Stuff that up your blood-soaked jumper, Dunedin City Council.

DCC takes the knife to Ratepayers’ private wealth, there’s no sign of let up. Blunt force trauma, gushing blood and the decimated entrails of a city once thriving.

The squalid recent history of Dunedin City Council is one of incompetence and worse : failed schemes, massive overburden of debt, inability to prioritise, budget and project manage, crippling levels of deferred maintenance and upgrades for essential infrastructure, unprosecuted thefts, corruption in certain of the CCOs and serious questions about the holding company (last year, a ‘partial audit’), Otago power network assets burnt off (no safety and security of supply), a dead loss-making stadium and associated companies clawing $20million per annum off ratepayers (no valid explanation, just mindless spin), destruction of high class Taieri soils for housing sprawl initiated by city councillor with a private profit motive, trite succession of gormless city councillors lining own pockets/inflating egos at the council table – leaches and nematodes have more credibility. On it goes at DCC.

Otago Regional Council is debt free.

—

### ODT Online Sat, 28 Jan 2017
Editorial: City and ORC merger unlikely
OPINION Any progress towards one or more unitary authorities in Otago will be difficult, largely because of the region’s geography. The Dunedin City Council this week ordered a report into a possible merger between it and the Otago Regional Council, and it would be surprising if proposals which might emerge make much headway with the Local Government Commission.
….Since 1988, the [ORC] has received a total of $148.9million in dividends and special payments from Port Otago. How the city must covet that cash. Given the city’s pressures on Delta/Aurora for dividends and the regional council’s hands-off attitude to the Port Company, it would seem, however, the regional council has been a wiser council-company owner.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Delta : Latest Outage #Tainui #DegradedUnsafeNetwork

Otago Daily Times Published on Nov 16, 2016

“Standard safety protection operated immediately ensuring that the downed line was de-energised and electrically safe.” –Delta [PR]

### ODT Online Wed, 16 Nov 2016
Power restored in Tainui
By Vaughan Elder
Power has been restored to 430 customers in the Dunedin suburb of Tainui after it was cut this morning when a line came down. The outage happened at 9.10am after a power line fell on Cavell St near the intersection with Magdala St. […] Despite the line leaving scorch marks on the ground, the Delta spokesman said the line coming down presented “no danger to the public”.
Read more

****

█ Alert To Future Posts:
Delta is riddled by massive HEALTH AND SAFETY problems, perpetuated by a Sick and Dysfunctional executive culture (CEO, and ELT silos), resulting in a preyed-upon, demoralised, risktaking ‘make-do’ workforce.

The risks to individual lines staff are Ginormous. ‘Fatal conditions’ abound. Corporate care ensuring the physical and mental wellbeing and safety of staff is almost completely lacking. The risks to life are exponentially Unacceptable.

What’s needed ?
Independent senior industry experts (plural) prepared to Scrutinise Delta and Talk Out Loud : to see to immediate replacement of the inexperienced ‘make-worse’ CEO Grady Cameron – and to swiftly empower thoroughly coordinated, highly risk averse and analytical professional work teams to prioritise and carry out network upgrades and replacements.

But what about the money….. there is none. The cost of bringing the electricity network up to compliance standard is Astronomical. A different model of ownership and operation is required –potentially, an opportunity, the Community could assume ownership of the network. Hopefully, ODT can explore the options by looking at other successful models – and which have No Ability to ‘strip and burn’ the asset.

Various sources inside Delta tell us the company has brought in an ex staffer as ‘Consultant’. They are paying him $5000 a day…. to skim the surface, was it. But really, Delta is setting up a new company ‘within Delta’ to replace the dangerous poles (at a Very Slow rate) – the work will be contracted out to the usual culprits. More soon.

Related? The NZ Companies Office notes:
‘DELTA NETWORKS LIMITED – Approved Name Reservation’

****

Wed, 16 Nov 2016
Valpy Rosebowl winner
Otago Daily Times reporter Vaughan Elder has been named the newspaper’s 2016 Valpy Rosebowl Trophy winner. […] The award, for editorial excellence, is presented annually on the anniversary of the November 15, 1861, publication of the first issue of the ODT, New Zealand’s oldest daily newspaper.
Read more

****

Certainly, Vaughan Elder and the other journalists at ODT are holding their end up with timely coverage of the unfolding Delta ‘dangerous poles’ situation. However, the poles – although highly visible and a useful tool to raise Community awareness – are actually the least of it in terms of danger to Delta lines crew and the Community.

Lots to come out in the next days from sources inside and outside Delta.

All the while the Dunedin City Councillors sit on their hands, without a peep about COST TO RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS.

Remember, through the glass darkly, Mayor Cull made a song and dance before the local body elections about having reduced the council’s debt by some small millions; crowing his success with “straightening out council companies”.

This was ‘reinforced’ by [fleeing] Richard Thomson ‘at the end of his last meeting as chairman of the council’s finance committee’, informing us the council’s debt at the end of June had dropped to $217.25 million. ‘This was $30.6 million below budget and well below its target of $230 million by 2021.’

Ahem, ticking the third box of authoritative commentary, on 7 October Graham Crombie rolled up to tell us DCHL’s profit was up 57% and ‘debt across the companies and the council has reduced by $16.8 million to $581 million’. Oh dear, All progress lost and squandered now as Delta borrows $30M to replace the odd pole here and there, with god knows what other spending to be made in the vain hope of compliance.

Dear Daaave : Win some, Lose squillions more.

Otago Daily Times Published on Sep 2, 2016
Dunedin mayoral candidate Dave Cull
The clock is ticking as Dunedin mayoral candidate Dave Cull gets 30 seconds to explain why he should be mayor.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

*Image: odt.co.nz – Vaughan Elder, tweaked by whatifdunedin

Report from the University Landscape Trenches : Financial shoring collapsing, trouble brewing

Received from Rhodes
Mon, 24 Oct 2016 at 9:14 p.m.

Saturday’s ODT had an interesting article about delays on the troubled University of Otago landscaping project. This article is the canary in the University construction goldmine, as there are other even much larger disputes brewing on current University projects that certainly will become a goldmine for the contractors, to the detriment of the University’s financial health.

Hoarding, University of Otago

Mr Mackay said the complications on the landscaping included “replacing old water, sewage and drainage pipes”. What he did not say is that this work was meant to have been done two summers ago, BEFORE the academic year, but due to the project management, it was not. However, this landscaping project is small beer, there are much bigger problems looming.

The University, in their biggest ever project, at the 11th hour, on the “advice” of a contractor, Fletcher Construction, who we understand did not even finally submit a bid, told the University they could save a few hundred thousand on the $100 million project by deleting the need for a cost control schedule…. that would have severely limited what the contractors could charge for changes and extra work. In a monumental display of incompetence, the University stopped production of the schedule – which was already underway and had to be part paid for anyway and put the drawings and specifications out to tender without a schedule. If the drawings were 100% complete and the University wasn’t to change its mind that would be OK, but the Pope is more likely to preach at Canterbury Cathedral than this happening. Of course, the drawings are woefully incomplete, and the arguments and changes have started. Watch out for Someone from the University Property Services division, in about a year, to be in full dissembling mode about the delays, and how, “even though it’s six months late, it’s still on budget”. If that is the case, the budget has massive doses of incompetency cover built into it !

An additional problem that’s about to come home to roost in the University and Otago Polytechnic’s coffers is insistence, by University Property Services, on the use of “Early Contractor Involvement” (ECI). (Someone at University Property Services has never met a new construction euphemism he did not use or a project delay that he could not justify). Both the University and Polytech on recent large projects have engaged in tender processes where there is no fixed sum, because the documents are far from complete, and the current fashion du jour is to have “early contractor involvement” where the builders are paid to be involved in the design phase, to provide “constructability” expertise. Basically the builders make a submission to say what nice people they are, and advise percentage site overhead and profit margins they would build the project for. The rest of the cost, about 85-90%, is just guesswork. (“Provisional Sums”). This process allows the “tender evaluation team” (mainly the Architect and the University) to choose who they want, without regard to price, because the weighting for “non-price attributes” is a lot more than 50% of the total weighting.

On both the University commerce building project, just started by Naylor Love, and the Polytechnic Hostel project (also won by Naylor Love), this was the process. Both projects are around $20 million all up. Significantly, the architect on both projects was Mason & Wales. There were a number of other consultants in the design teams. The politest way to put the next point is that there appeared to be “confusion” about the proposed early contractor involvement process from the team. It was thought, inexplicably, that this wonderful new system of selecting builders without worrying about price meant not only did they get to choose ones with very high margins who wouldn’t cause problems when the inevitable design problems arose, some consultants also thought that they could charge full fees and offload all of the detailing onto the builder…. which of course did not happen. Builders, in the South Island anyway, do not employ armies of CAD operators who can document bespoke large projects. That is what designers are for…. In both cases, the successful Naylor Love bid was hundreds of thousands of dollars more expensive than lower bids. Also in the case of both bids, the University and the Polytech paid a premium of around $500-600,000 to have the “ECI/ constructability” experience of Naylor Love…. only to find that the advice received was NOT what was expected…. the Polytech project has been now costed by Naylor Love and is $1.5-2.0 million over budget, and the “expert” constructability / ECI advice that the Polytech effectively paid $600,000 for is…. wait for it…. to make the building smaller. Hmmm, expensive and brief advice! Best not tell the Humanities students ! The other unsuccessful contractors may well feel aggrieved about how this process played out, as before they were even allowed to provide a proposal they had to prove their capability and experience to do the work, so in theory all tenderers were equally capable, and there was no logical reason for the favouritism to Naylor Love…. but were there other reasons ? There appears no meaningful financial oversight, the project teams seem a law unto themselves, and the suspicion is that both institutions’ funds are being spent in a very free and easy fashion.

[ends]

—

Related Posts and Comments:
18.7.16 Misero-mercenary at U of O
1.7.16 No one wants to work for U of O
25.9.15 University calling Property Services
28.3.15 University of Otago landscaping
24.7.13 University: Leith flood protection scheme and landscaping
31.5.13 University of Otago development plans
27.5.13 Carisbrook and Leith flood protection
17.11.10 Leith Lindsay Flood Protection Scheme
17.5.10 Campus Master Plan
28.1.10 University of Otago Campus Master Plan

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Dunedin Voting Paper Returns

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█ Daily return of voting papers for Dunedin City Council

█ Daily return of voting papers for other 2016 Local Elections

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Election Year. This post is offered in the public interest.

*Image: screenshot tweaked by whatifdunedin – click to enlarge

DCC Voting Paper Returns

Voting Paper Returns – check these out daily

Once voting opens information on numbers of votes returned each day will be available:

█ Find out the daily return of voting papers for the Dunedin City Council

█ Find out the daily return of voting papers for other 2016 Local Elections

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Check out election candidates’ names and profiles here:

DCC & Community Boards
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/electoral-information/elections-to-be-held-and-nominations-dunedin-city-council

ORC
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/electoral-information/elections-to-be-held-and-nominations-orc

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Election Year. This post is offered in the public interest.

*Image: electionz.com

DCC & ORC Electoral Officer on Voting

### channel39.co.nz Wed, 22 Aug 2016
Nightly Interview: Pam Jordan
Most residents should have received their local body elections voting packs in the mail by now. Tonight we’re joined by Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council electoral officer Pam Jordan, who’s going to explain the ins and outs of voting.

Channel 39 Published on Sep 21, 2016

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█ Check out election candidates’ names and profiles here:

DCC & Community Boards
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/electoral-information/elections-to-be-held-and-nominations-dunedin-city-council

ORC
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/electoral-information/elections-to-be-held-and-nominations-orc

On the STV voting system
Go to this post and comments to read more about STV – note comments by STV advocate Steve [Stephen Todd of Wellington]:

26.8.10 In defence of STV

█ For more, enter the term *candidate* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Election Year. This post is offered in the public interest.

ORC : Official complaints show integrity

### ODT Online Mon, 15 Aug 2016
Two complaints laid against ORC
By Simon Hartley
Complaints against the Otago Regional Council have been laid by Cr Gerry Eckhoff with the Ombudsman and also the Office of the Auditor-general over exclusion of the public from a recent meeting. A decision was publicly released by the regional council late on Friday, from an in-committee, meaning non-public, non-media meeting on Wednesday, which the ORC yesterday defended on the basis the decision could be appealed.

The regional councillors voted in favour of accepting commissioners’ recommendation that a minimum water flow be set for the Lindis River catchment in Central Otago.

Mr Eckhoff released a statement yesterday outlining his complaints, and in an interview said not having the issue aired in public revealed a “grossly inappropriate process”. […] Council staff made the recommendation to hear the Lindis matter in public exclusion after seeking legal advice on matters where a decision by the council is open to an appeal in a court or tribunal, [ORC chief executive Peter Bodeker] said.
Read more

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█ ORC : Combined Council Agenda 10 August – Public.pdf

Go to PART D – EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC
See Item 14 Recommendations of the Hearing Committee on the Proposed Plan Change 5A (Lindis: Integrated water management) to the Regional Plan: Water for Otago.
In relation to item 14, this resolution is made in reliance of section 48(1)(d) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

█ Otago Regional Council http://www.orc.govt.nz/

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Election Year. This post is offered in the public interest.

Takes the Cake | What Dairy Crisis ? #DUD #PropertySpeculation

Updated post – audio links added below
Mon, 21 Mar 2015 at 7:48 p.m.

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WHERE ARE THE PERMANENT JOBS, DUNEDIN

Real estate across the city is suddenly booming for the first time since 2007.

### radionz.co.nz 8:05 am on 18 March 2016
Is Dunedin out of the doldrums?
By Ian Telfer – Otago reporter
Dunedin has been economically stagnant so long that no-one is brave enough to declare the gloomy times over. But all the signs say it is out of the economic doldrums it has been in for 10 years.
The city is enjoying booms in real estate, tourism and niche technology industries such as video gaming. A report from economic monitoring company BERL shows 1770 new jobs have been created in the city in the past two years and Dunedin’s economy is now growing at 1.3 percent a year per capita.
[…] An example of the city’s turnaround is Highland Park in Mosgiel, Dunedin’s first major housing subdivision in many years. Today, 100 tradespeople are on site, building 25 homes.
The subdivision’s developer Syd Brown said they set themselves a decade to sell 225 sections, but the demand is so strong they are two-thirds sold and three years ahead of schedule. “It’s racing ahead for us. Sometimes you wake up in the morning and think ‘is this real?’, but that’s the market at the moment, and the demand is here,” Mr Brown said. Mr Brown said 60 percent of the people buying were from out of town, mainly from Christchurch and other South Island locations, such as Ashburton and Timaru.
Read more

### radionz.co.nz 8:49 am on 18 March 2016
RNZ National – Morning Report
Dunedin out of doldrums for the first time in a decade
8:36 AM. Dunedin’s economy is sailing out of the doldrums for the first time in 10 years.
Audio | Download: Ogg  MP3 (4′13″)

QUESTIONS : What did Syd Brown have to do to convert rural zoned land to residential zoned land ? How did a position on council enable zone changes, new roading and infrastructure services to benefit these properties ?

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[the blurb]

Highland Park is an exciting new community located in the heart of the Taieri and is set to redefine living standards in the Otago region. Seamless integration with Mosgiel’s rich Scottish tradition, Highland Park properties express qualities of modern urban living right on the doorstep of Dunedin city. With a high level of amenities and land and home packages to suit all, Highland Park offers a unique lifestyle defined by openness, green spaces, and a nurtured sense of community.

All section packages are designed to take the hassle and stress out of building a new home. Every section with Highland includes:
• Quality Timber Fences
• Professionally Installed Vehicular Crossings
• Storm Water Discharge Connections
• All Services To The Boundary … Including Fibre
Sections are priced with services as above and with flexible land and home packages available to suit all lifestyles, there has never been a better time to move out to the Taieri.

[click to enlarge]

DCC Webmap – Highland Park, Mosgiel JanFeb 2013

GROAN – #ImpoverishedSubdivisionDesign #UrbanSprawl
Shades of 1940s-style cul de sac living without neighbourhood amenity, includes migration from central Dunedin to flat sections (urban drift). It looks bad, and is. ‘Browning’ the greenfields.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: whatifdunedin – Syd Brown + Mosgiel sign

60km off Oamaru coast —huge oil and gas prospect #Barque

NZOG completes 3D in Clipper-permit [1derrick.com]

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NZOG gives itself a 10 to 20 per cent chance of success at the Barque prospect.

### Stuff.co.nz Last updated 19:04, July 30 2015
NZOG eyes potentially huge Barque oil and gas prospect
By James Weir
New Zealand Oil and Gas may be on to a huge oil and gas prospect in the Canterbury Basin off the South Island’s east coast, but it is still early days and the chances of success are uncertain. The Barque prospect is within the Clipper permit, about 60km off the coast from Oamaru, and it could hold the equivalent of hundreds of millions of barrels of oil. But it is in a higher risk and little explored “frontier” area.

NZOG says in the largest of the three prospective horizons in the Barque prospect, “the best estimate of unrisked prospective resource is 530 million barrels (of oil) equivalent”.

A test well could be drilled in 2017 at a cost of up to US$120 million, if NZOG can bring in a new partner or two to help pay for what the company says is a “pretty attractive prospect” which was likely to be gas condensate, a light oil.
“We are pretty excited about that (Barque) opportunity,” NZOG chief executive Andrew Knight said on Thursday, but the company now needed to get “farm in” partners to take a share of the permit and help pay for the costs of exploration. It is all looking very positive….or as positive as it can be till you stick a hole in it and test it,” he said.
Read more

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Related Posts and Comments:
9.1.15 DCC: Non-notified decision for Harbourside subdivision
18.3.14 Dunedin Harbourside: English Heritage on portside development
17.2.14 Oil and gas: Supply base competition
21.1.14 Jints, this one’s forya
13.1.14 Taking to water like a duck on oil
21.10.13 Harbourside: Access to a revamped Steamer Basin has public backing
9.4.13 Dunedin: Future service town to Shell? #realitycheck
24.9.12 Stadium Councillors back coastal oil exploration
13.4.10 Dunedin – an oil base?
18.3.10 Dunedin harbourside for oil base?
26.2.10 Latest on Dunedin’s offshore oil and gas prospects

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DIA —poor job as gambling regulator

LAUGHABLE
The costs of regulation outweigh revenue from fees by $9 million a year.

### NZ Herald Online 5:00 AM Monday Mar 9, 2015
Breaches by pokie operators spark fee increase
By Nicholas Jones
Half of all inspections of pubs and clubs with pokie machines identify breaches or non-compliance with the law. Fees paid by pokie operators are to be increased as levels of fraud and other breaches challenge the Government’s ability to police the sector. Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne is overseeing consultation on proposals that will increase fees paid by clubs and pubs with gambling machines by 54 per cent.

OPERATION CHESTNUT NEAR COMPLETION
DIA, SFO and the Organised Financial Crime Agency NZ scrutinised $30 million in gaming grants made by trusts including Bluegrass. Bluegrass’ licence was cancelled after the DIA ruled its start-up funding was sourced from three racing clubs, rather than from South Canterbury Finance, as claimed.

The past three years have seen an increase in complex investigations into fraud and illegal activity at clubs and societies with pokies. That, and the declining number of pokie machines, has put severe financial pressure on the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). Gambling enforcement is funded through fees paid by gambling operators.
Read more

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Related Posts and Coomments:
2.2.15 Operation Chestnut: DIA, SFO fluffing round the edges #TTCF #ORFU
11.1.15 Southern complainants: IPCA won’t ensure upfront investigation…
14.12.14 DIA regulates what? Not white collar crime, not with govt looking on!
5.8.14 Gambling Commission shuts down racing’s Bluegrass pokie trust
3.2.14 DIA signed up Intralot amid concerns about bribery and corruption
31.12.13 Martin Legge: Operation Chestnut [DIA’s PR exercise]
30.12.13 DIA insights: Pokie rorts, money-go-rounds, names
11.10.13 New Zealand: Pokie trusts same everywhere #pokierorts
10.10.13 Whistleblowers’ message heard ??! #OtagoRacingClub #pokierorts
1.8.13 Politicians keeping DIA/SFO quiet on ORFU and TTCF #pokierorts
31.3.13 DIA and Office of the Auditor General stuff up bigtime #pokierorts
21.2.13 DIA, SFO investigation #pokierorts
11.11.12 Department of Internal Affairs #pokierorts #coverup #TTCF
25.7.12 Martin Legge backgrounds TTCF (pokie trust) and Portage and Waitakere Licensing Trusts #DIA

█ For more, enter the terms *pokies* or *pokie rorts* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

University of Otago: Toga Party 2015 #video

OMG —fubar stadium (barely seen) has a use, plays second fiddle to Vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne dressed in hot pink, buffeted by excited teens. Watch.

Otago Daily Times Published on Feb 17, 2015
Toga Party 2015
First year University of Otago students head to the annual Toga Party at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

****

### ODT Online Wed, 18 Feb 2015
Hundreds gather at Toga Party
Otago University Students’ Association communications manager Tess Trotter said about 2200 people attended the 2015 Toga Party at Forsyth Barr Stadium last night. The event acted as a “test run” for the other events coming up this week and “everything has gone really smoothly”, she said.
Read more + Slideshow

### ODT Online Wed, 18 Feb 2015
Comedy gig stands out from social haze
As part of O Week’s celebrations, a live filming of the TV show 7 Days will be recorded tonight at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin median house prices down

Link received Thu, 5 Feb 2015 at 9:18 a.m.
Comment: “Median property prices down in Dunedin and other centres just as Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) are making plans to grab a bigger slice of your pie.”

—

### interest.co.nz February 5, 2015 – 07:00am
Property
Want to see what movement in the NZ median house price excluding Auckland would look like? All is revealed here
By Gareth Vaughan
We all know that if you took the Auckland housing market out of New Zealand the overall housing market picture would look very different. Would the Reserve Bank have ever felt the need to introduce restrictions on banks’ low equity residential mortgage lending without Auckland? Very unlikely. And would the likes of Brian Gaynor be raising eyebrows with warnings that house prices could fall by up to 25% if it wasn’t for the Auckland market? Nope.

Just how big a driver Auckland is on national house prices is made clear in the table below.

Table: interest.co.nz

Based on Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) data, Auckland’s median house price rose $238,000, or 54%, in the six years from December 2008 to December 2014. Over the same time period the national median price rose $121,500, or 37%. But the national median price excluding Auckland rose just $50,000, or 17.5%.

Figures for the 2014 calendar year are perhaps even more stark. The REINZ Auckland median price was up $78,000, or 13%, last year to $678,000. The national median rose $23,000, or 5.4%, to $450,000. And the New Zealand median price excluding Auckland rose just $3,500, or 1%, last year to $335,000.

So if you take Auckland out of the picture, where according to REINZ about 38% to 40% of national monthly sales are made, the national median price barely budged last year. No wonder many people outside the City of Sails get so grumpy about the Auckland housing market and the Reserve Bank’s high loan-to-value ratio restrictions.
Read more

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Related Post and Comments:
2.2.15 LGNZ run by Mad Rooster Yule, end of story

Tax Payers’ Union – Media Release
2.2.15 LGNZ Push For Local Income Taxes, Fuel Taxes and Regional GST

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Yurts for Tunnel Beach *names [commercial activity proposed]

The following information exists in public domain. -Eds.

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Andrea (36), who did not want her last name used, said she and husband Brendon (40) planned to use the yurts to offer a unique type of homestay accommodation. (ODT)

### ODT Online Fri, 9 Jan 2015
Couple to put up yurts
By Chris Morris
A Dunedin couple are planning to install three yurts – traditionally used by Mongolian and other nomads across Central Asia – on 2.8ha of gorse-covered land they own above Tunnel Beach. The yurts would be built sometime next year, the first to be used as a family space, but the couple hoped to turn their idea into a tourist attraction.
Read more

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DCC Non-notified Decision:

47 Tunnel Beach Road Green Island (LUC-2014-69)
This consent was an application to/for construct dwelling, barn, three yurts and undertake earthworks at 47 Tunnel Beach Road Green Island.
This was considered by the Council’s Senior Planner (Consents) on 1 April 2014.

http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/planning/browse-non-notified-decisions/non-notified-decisions/2014/luc-2014-484

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[click to enlarge]
DCC Webmap – 47 Tunnel Beach Road, Green Island, Dunedin

Dunedin City District Plan – Map 59

Rates information

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Recent comment at Facebook page Dunedin NZ:
Andrea Buhr Tunnel beach track, lovely in a sunny day!!!
Like · Reply · 1 · 30 September 2014 at 18:09

Andrea Buhr – Facebook page as at 9.1.15 [Andrea.B.Lemm]

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Brendon Lemm – Facebook page as at 9.1.15 [another car man]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Vandervis: Deloitte and Police Citifleet investigations

Received from Lee Vandervis
Fri, 19 Dec 2014 at 11:54 a.m.

Deloitte and Police Citifleet Investigations – information I believe should be public in the public interest.

Message: I have had verbal and email responses from both CEO Bidrose and the Police denying that the scope of the Police investigation had been limited to missing or inappropriately sold DCC vehicles. These responses remain confidential currently because of other content they contain.
The fact remains that the investigating officer Detective Matthew Preece was adamant when he interviewed me on what I understood to be the last week of his investigation that he was not able to pursue my concerns of wider fraud other than missing vehicles, such as allegations regarding DCC contracts, and credit card and other financial spending fraud, because the complaint laid related just to missing vehicles.
Even more concerning was Detective Preece’s assertion to me that ‘all those that had acquired DCC vehicles needed to do, was to say that they understood Mr Bachop had the authority to dispose of them’ for them not to be liable for receiving or criminal prosecution. Detective Preece said that all those he had interviewed who had acquired DCC vehicles had said just that.

My worst fears that the tragic death of Mr Bachop would not be used to fully investigate the wider implications of a DCC staff self-serving culture were confirmed by the very limited scope of the belated Police investigation as relayed to me by Detective Preece. I wrote the following email to CEO Bidrose, Sandy Graham head of Governance, and Detective Mathew Preece that night. No demurring or other response to the email below has been received from Detective Preece.

Regards,
Cr. Vandervis

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 22:57:31 +1300
To: Sue Bidrose [DCC], Sandy Graham [DCC], Matthew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Police Citifleet Investigation
Subject: Police Citifleet Investigation

Dear Sue,

An hour and a half spent with Detective Matthew Preece and another Policeman called Regan has left me with deep concerns regarding the Police Citifleet investigation.
Mr Preece has informed me that the scope of his investigation has been limited by the complaint the DCC has made to the Police, and that this complaint only concerns missing or inappropriately sold DCC vehicles.

Mr Preece says that because Police have not had a complaint from you or the DCC regarding;
– fraudulent Citifleet tender processes,
– fraudulent Citifleet tyre supply contracts,
– fraudulent Citifleet maintenance contracts
– fraudulent use of DCC Citifleet vehicle fuel
– fraudulent DCC accounting of Citifleet credit cards and other payment methods used and Citifleet managerial oversight
– and fraudulent use and conversion of DCC Citifleet vehicles [eg the conversion of a DCC-owned vehicle by Mrs Bachop]

and that consequently none of these fraud areas is being investigated!

Mr Preece did say that if you as CEO were to request that he broaden his investigation to include these other areas and not just the missing cars, that he would broaden his enquiry to include them. He insisted that he would have to have a broadened complaint from you as CEO for this to happen, and implied that a complaint from me as a City Councillor would not be enough to act on.

I have highlighted to Preece and Regan the urgent need to use the Citifleet manager’s tragic death to investigate and prosecute all Citifleet fraud areas, as a failure to do so will result in the loss of an unprecedented opportunity to clean out the culture of entitlement at Citifleet and in other DCC departments.

Can you please with urgency broaden the DCC complaint to include the 6 areas of potential Citifleet fraud listed above, so that Mr Reece can broaden his enquiry to include them.

Can you please also now with urgency, forward to me all instructions to Deloitte regarding the Citifleet investigation as previously requested in my email of 26/10/14 as below.

Is it possible to meet with you at any time tomorrow at your convenience to learn whether you have broadened the DCC Police complaint or not?

Kind regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

—

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 18:23:41 +1300
To: Sue Bidrose [DCC], Sandy Graham [DCC]
Conversation: LGOIMA requests
Subject: LGOIMA requests

Hi Sue,
Further to my verbal requests of a week or two ago please forward copies of all original correspondence and or other direction given to Deloittes in regard to their investigation of Citifleet.
I wish to have the original brief stating the terms of reference, the subsequent brief where the investigation needed to be extended, and any other direction written or otherwise given to Deloittes regarding the Citifleet investigation.
I am deeply disturbed by what I have seen in parts of the investigation conclusions appearing without covering page or any details identifying them as parts of the Deloitte findings in non-public parts of the Audit and Risk subcommittee meetings.
I note a severe slowing on responses to my recent LGOIMA requests, and hope this has been a temporary frustration.
Kind regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Citifleet by email . . . . woops! (another timeline proof)

Received from Lee Vandervis
Thu, 18 Dec at 11:35 p.m.

Message: I have spoken with Michael Allan at Radio NZ tonight. I have also sent him a selection of emails from 2011, which I also sent to Kyle Cameron of Deloitte and to Mathew Preece of the Dunedin Police and which I will now copy to you.

[five threads follow]

I —Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 23:30:47 +1300
To: Michael Allan [Radio NZ]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:27:17 +1300
To: Matthew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:21:24 +1200
To: Kyle Cameron [Deloitte]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

****

—— Forwarded Message
From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:56:17 +1200
To: Sandy Graham [DCC]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: Re: Info re Brent Bachop
G’day Sandy,
Thank you for the limited response you have given me to below. I still hope to get 2007, 2008 and 2009 credit card spending details as per those already provided for 2010.
Regarding “spending by Brent Bachop, especially September 2007. I wish to have the details confirmed on a purchase of Falken tyres size 195/65-15 as fitted to an Alfa Romeo.” is it possible that these tyres may have been paid for by some other method that still ended up on the ratepayers’ account? Please advise if I have to discover the registration plate number of the particular Alfa Romeo to get the information on who paid for this set of tyres.
Re purchase of Mazda Bounty vehicle that it is alleged Mr Bachop sold to himself, surely complete information on this type of transaction must be on Council records?
Looking forward,
Lee

On 14/10/11 10:21 PM, “Lee Vandervis” wrote:
Hi Sandy,
Sorry to keep coming back with this, but the info required has been difficult to tease out.
Thank you for 2010 DCC credit card spending list.
I am now looking for 2007 credit card spending by Brent Bachop, especially September 2007. I wish to have the details confirmed on a purchase of Falken tyres size 195/65-15 as fitted to an Alfa Romeo.
Could you also forward 2008 and 2009 credit card spending.
Also of interest is the sales, sale prices and sold-to information on the sales of all Mazda Bounty vehicles, especially one that Mr Bachop allegedly sold to himself.
Sorry I have no dates for this, but the vehicle type, Mazda Bounty should hopefully be enough to establish DCC ownership and subsequent disposal.
Re DCC vehicle disposals, can you confirm which business or businesses the DCC disposes of fleet vehicles through currently, and which businesses have been used in the last 5 years.
In case you are wondering, these info requests are not fishing expeditions but responses to repeated allegations form a number of Dunedin businesses, many focused on Mr Bachop.
I have had no personal dealings with Mr Bachop and do not even know what he looks like.
Kind regards,
Lee
—— End of Forwarded Message

II —Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 23:29:22 +1300
To: Michael Allan [Radio NZ]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:27:41 +1300
To: Matthew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:15:31 +1200
To: Kyle Cameron [Deloitte]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

****

—— Forwarded Message
From: Sandy Graham [DCC]
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2011 11:02:33 +1300
To: Lee Vandervis
Subject: RE: Info re Brent Bachop
Dear Lee
Just an update on this.
I should have the purchase card info this afternoon and will flick it onto you.
Sandy

From: Lee Vandervis
Sent: Friday, 14 October 2011 11:21 p.m.
To: Sandy Graham
Subject: Info re Brent Bachop
Hi Sandy,
Sorry to keep coming back with this, but the info required has been difficult to tease out.
Thank you for 2010 DCC credit card spending list.
I am now looking for 2007 credit card spending by Brent Bachop, especially September 2007. I wish to have the details confirmed on a purchase of Falken tyres size 195/65-15 as fitted to an Alfa Romeo.
Could you also forward 2008 and 2009 credit card spending.
Also of interest is the sales, sale prices and sold-to information on the sales of all Mazda Bounty vehicles, especially one that Mr Bachop allegedly sold to himself.
Sorry I have no dates for this, but the vehicle type, Mazda Bounty should hopefully be enough to establish DCC ownership and subsequent disposal.
Re DCC vehicle disposals, can you confirm which business or businesses the DCC disposes of fleet vehicles through currently, and which businesses have been used in the last 5 years.
In case you are wondering, these info requests are not fishing expeditions but responses to repeated allegations form [sic] a number of Dunedin businesses, many focused on Mr Bachop.
I have had no personal dealings with Mr Bachop and do not even know what he looks like.
Kind regards,
Lee
—— End of Forwarded Message

III —Councillor Vandervis question about tyres

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 23:27:51 +1300
To: Michael Allan [Radio NZ]
Conversation: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres
Subject: FW: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:28:26 +1300
To: Matthew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres
Subject: FW: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:11:32 +1200
To: Kyle Cameron [Deloitte]
Conversation: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres
Subject: FW: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres

****

—— Forwarded Message
From: Kevin Thompson [DCC]
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:55:33 +1200
To: Lee Vandervis
Cc: Brent Bachop [DCC]
Subject: FW: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres
Good afternoon.
At the Finance & Strategy Meeting this afternoon I was incorrect in saying we go out to tender for the supply of tyres — as stated below we work through the GSB to get the best discounted rate — my apologies for putting you wrong on this point.
At the time I was thinking of our tendering process for the mtce and servicing of the vehicles which is going out for tender next year.
If you would like to further discuss this please give me a call.
regards,
Kevin

—–Original Message—–
From: Brent Bachop [DCC]
Sent: Monday, 26 June 2006 4:31 p.m.
To: Kevin Thompson [DCC]
Subject: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres
Kevin
In answer to the queries you had from Councillor Vandervis about the purchase of tyres.
Citifleet spend under $50,000 annually so we are not required to go to tender.
All tyres are purchased locally from Bridgestone NZ (trading as Firestone) through GSB Supply Corp (formally the Government Stores Board) giving us nation wide buying power so we get our tyres and repairs at a heavily discounted rate.
Most large Council’s and the likes of the Police etc use GSB not only for tyres but fuel as well as do we.
We have in the past used other suppliers but none of them could match the service and buying power we get through GSB.
I have looked into using other suppliers as recently as last Friday and after working through this issue with the Expenditure Manager in the Finance department we both came to same conclusion that Firestone is the best option for us at this point in time.
All tyres purchased are done so using our Fleetcard system.
Let me know if you need any more info.
Brent
—— End of Forwarded Message

IV —Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 23:26:31 +1300
To: Michael Allan [Radio NZ]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:29:10 +1300
To: Matthew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 22:14:44 +1200
To: Kyle Cameron [Deloitte]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

****

—— Forwarded Message
From: Vivienne Harvey [DCC]
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:17:33 +1300
To: Paul Orders [DCC], Lee Vandervis
Subject: RE: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Hi Lee
I have checked the diary for 30 November and Paul can fit a meeting in with Turners and yourself at 11.00 am that day or 1.00 pm. Due to the Community Development Committee at 2.00 pm that day and a Maori Participation Working Party meeting at 5.00 pm there is no other time in the afternoon.
Who else do you want in attendance at the meeting?
Thanks
Vivienne

From: Paul Orders
Sent: Friday, 11 November 2011 6:38 a.m.
To: Vivienne Harvey
Subject: Fwd: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Can we try to accommodate something on this.
Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:
From: Lee Vandervis
Date: 10 November 2011 11:40:00 AM NZDT
To: Paul Orders [DCC]
Cc: Shane Gall [Turners]
Subject: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Dear Paul,
Further to my more general email this morning about building partnerships, Dunedin’s largest car auction business has contacted me regarding on-gong [sic] problems trying to do business with the DCC.
Turner’s Auctions big cheese Mr Kachwalla from Auckland will be in Dunedin on the 30th of this month, and was hoping to organise a brief meeting with you and local Turners management on the afternoon of the 30th to attempt to normalise a Turners/DCC business relationship.
I was hoping to bundle similar issues with other Dunedin business issues with Mr Bachop, but am still awaiting information ex DCC after over a month in order to do this.
Hopefully you will have time on the next Wednesday the 30th to accommodate Turners Management hopes for a meeting.
Kind regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

From: Shane Gall [Turners]
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2011 14:30:03 +1300
To: Lee Vandervis
Subject: FW: Turners
Good Afternoon Lee
Attached below is the response we received from Brent less than one minute after sending the email. After 2 emails & numerous phone calls leaving voice messages I’ve yet to get a response.
Asgar Kachwalla is the national accounts manager, & will be here on the 29th / 30th of this month. So if we could get an appointment to meet with Paul Orders this would be much appreciated.
Kind Regards
Shane Gall

{{RE: Ute}}
—— End of Forwarded Message

Attachment To Shane Gall’s Email

[Bachop] Another staff turn over, they wonder why their clients cant strike a good relationship.
As received (Sep 2011); date, time and recipient detail lost from email chain (recoverable). -Eds

—

That’s great, talk to you soon Peter.
Brent Bachop
Citifleet Team Leader
Dunedin City Council
As received (Sep 2011); date, time and recipient detail lost from email chain (recoverable). -Eds

—

From: Peter Boyle [Turners]
Sent: Thursday, 29 September 2011 3:51 p.m.
To: Brent Bachop
Cc: Shane Gall [Turners]
Subject: RE: Ute

Hi Brent
Jeff has finished up with us as of last week so Shane Gall will be handling this for you. The vehicle has just arrived and once he has given it a look over he will be in touch to discuss your expectations, setting the reserve, etc.
I am the new manager down here and would love to get out and meet you in the near future. Shane will talk to you about setting up a meeting
Kind Regards
Peter Boyle
Branch Manager Otago/Southland

From: Brent Bachop
Sent: Thursday, 29 September 2011 1:37 p.m.
To: Jeff McLean [Turners]
Subject: Ute
Hi Jeff
Ill have a Ford Courier coming out you this afternoon for disposal.
Talk to you soon.
Regards
Brent Bachop
Citifleet Team Leader
Dunedin City Council

—— End of Forwarded Message

V —Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 23:24:12 +1300
To: Michael Allan [Radio NZ]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:30:38 +1300
To: Mathew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 22:12:36 +1200
To: Kyle Cameron [Deloitte]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

****

—— Forwarded Message
From: Shane Gall [Turners]
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:57:03 +1300
To: Lee Vandervis
Subject: RE: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Thank you Lee

From: Lee Vandervis
Sent: Thursday, 10 November 2011 11:40 a.m.
To: Paul Orders
Cc: Shane Gall [Turners]
Subject: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Dear Paul,
Further to my more general email this morning about building partnerships, Dunedin’s largest car auction business has contacted me regarding on-gong [sic] problems trying to do business with the DCC.
Turner’s Auctions big cheese Mr Kachwalla from Auckland will be in Dunedin on the 30th of this month, and was hoping to organise a brief meeting with you and local Turners management on the afternoon of the 30th to attempt to normalise a Turners/DCC business relationship.
I was hoping to bundle similar issues with other Dunedin business issues with Mr Bachop, but am still awaiting information ex DCC after over a month in order to do this.
Hopefully you will have time on the next Wednesday the 30th to accommodate Turners Management hopes for a meeting.
Kind regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

From: Shane Gall [Turners]
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2011 14:30:03 +1300
To: Lee Vandervis
Subject: FW: Turners
Good Afternoon Lee
Attached below is the response we received from Brent less than one minute after sending the email. After 2 emails & numerous phone calls leaving voice messages I’ve yet to get a response.
Asgar Kachwalla is the national accounts manager, & will be here on the 29th / 30th of this month. So if we could get an appointment to meet with Paul Orders this would be much appreciated.
Kind Regards
Shane Gall
—— End of Forwarded Message

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC: Deloitte report released on Citifleet

██ Deloitte Report – redacted copy (PDF, 3.8 MB)
Project Lewis – Investigation Report

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Deloitte Report Released

This item was published on 18 Dec 2014

The findings of an independent investigation into a fraud at the Dunedin City Council have been released publicly.

DCC Chief Executive Officer Sue Bidrose says, “The Police have advised their investigation is now at a point where the Deloitte report can be released. We have committed to keeping ratepayers informed and can now make the findings of the report public.”

Deloitte was engaged by the DCC in May to launch an investigation after staff identified what appeared to be a discrepancy in the number of Citifleet vehicles when implementing new financial procedures related to DCC assets. The alleged fraud totals more than $1.5 million and centres on the DCC receiving no proceeds from the sale of 152 vehicles from the DCC’s vehicle fleet. A formal complaint was laid with the Police in August following the Deloitte investigation. The Police were asked to investigate any matters arising from the Deloitte report.

Ms Bidrose says she cannot comment on the Police investigation.

Commenting on the Police investigation, Dunedin Clutha Waitaki Area Commander Inspector Jason Guthrie says, “This is a complex series of offending involving the significant misappropriation of DCC assets. There are a number of aspects to the Police investigation and whilst it is well progressed, it will be subject to a final review in the new year.”

The Deloitte report looks at a range of issues, including the ways the fraud was carried out and internal control failings at the DCC. Some parts of the report have been redacted for privacy reasons.

Ms Bidrose says, “The Deloitte report is clear that a single person committed the fraud in a number of different ways over an extended period of time. The fact this could happen was an indictment on our business processes and we have made considerable efforts to improve and modernise these. This work was already underway and was how the fraud was uncovered. Measures have been, and continue to be, taken to make sure the appropriate level of accountability and oversight is in place in the future across the organisation. We are committed to continuing our programme of work to ensure we have best practice across the board.”

[STOP. Who aided, abetted and benefitted from the deals ???]

Ms Bidrose says the DCC has completed all the employment processes identified in the Deloitte report. These relate to a small number of staff, but she will not be discussing individual employment matters in public. The DCC has received a $1 million insurance payment following the Citifleet fraud. The DCC had $1 million fidelity insurance and insurers QBE have paid out the total amount, in two separate payments.

Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says, “The Council has pushed for more transparency and tighter processes, with the clear aim of becoming a best practice public sector organisation. We totally support the work senior management has been carrying out and the changes which have resulted from this scrutiny.”

Ms Bidrose says a wide range of work has been completed to improve and modernise DCC processes, including:
● The introduction of a new Audit and Risk Subcommittee, with an independent Chair.
● All tenders that are awarded through the DCC Tenders Board are published on the DCC website for greater transparency.
● A central contracts register has been put in place.
● The ‘whistleblower’ policy has been updated.
● A review of fleet card processes and the issuing of cards.

Further work in progress includes:
● The appointment of a dedicated Risk and Internal Audit Manager. This position has been advertised.
● A fraud awareness campaign and training for all staff will begin in the new year.
● A risk management framework, which is almost complete.
● The development of new procurement and tendering processes across the DCC.

█ A copy of the redacted report is available at http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/deloittereport

Background
Citifleet is responsible for the management of all DCC vehicles and the operation of an internal courier service. The fleet includes cars, trucks, motorcycles, vans and various trailers, plant and machinery. There are currently 122 vehicles, but the DCC is in the process of reviewing whether all those vehicles are required.

Contact Graham McKerracher, Communications and Marketing Manager on 027 294 6301. DCC Link

—

[screenshot]

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

University of Otago —um Harlene, what you sellin’ now, girl?

Perhaps you shoulda stopped at the ballet boys. Or dropped the watery “Hello”. But if you’re REALLY good, Santa will bring you some kiwi elocution lessons to rid the ‘broad-ness’.

University of Otago Published on Dec 14, 2014

Selwyn Ballet and Vice-Chancellor’s Christmas Greeting
Watch a day in the life of members of the University of Otago’s Selwyn Ballet troupe, followed by a Christmas message from the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne.

First convened in 1928, the Selwyn Ballet is the second oldest amateur ballet troupe in the world, and certainly the oldest all-male one. It began as a Capping Show performance intended to take-off popular London musicals of the time but by 1937 the ballet had become a tradition of Selwyn College and more of a spoof of classical ballet. The Selwyn Ballet has also performed prior to international rugby matches at the Dunedin stadium.

http://selwyn.ac.nz/discover/heritage-and-traditions

****

All preceded by the University’s Scrooge message at ODT yesterday:

“The university would prefer to take extra time to ensure planning, design, estimates and approvals are carried out to a very high standard.”
–Barry MacKay, Property Services

### ODT Online Wed, 17 Dec 2014
University delays building
By Vaughan Elder
The University of Otago has delayed the start of construction on two of the largest buildings in its more than $600 million building programme.
Construction on both the replacement dental school – previously estimated to cost between $50 million and $100 million – and science precinct redevelopment were scheduled to begin next year, but have now been delayed until early 2016, dependent on completion of designs, and approval by the university council.
Read more

● It was possible the Portobello Aquarium and Commerce Building redevelopment would start next year.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DIA regulates what? Not white collar crime, not with govt looking on!

This one’s for Sue Ingram, DIA.

Charity expert Michael Gousmett has labelled the failure to pursue the investigation a cop-out. “To brush it under the carpet, [Internal Affairs] is basically abdicating their responsibility,” Gousmett said. “They tend to pick on the low-hanging fruit and you would have to question what the real purpose of the regulator is.”

### NZ Herald Online 5:00 AM Sunday Dec 14, 2014
Glenn charity probe dumped
By Bevan Hurley – chief reporter
Internal Affairs has abandoned an investigation into alleged irregular payments for a thoroughbred racehorse made by Sir Owen Glenn’s charity. After being under investigation for 18 months, the Glenn Family Foundation Charitable Trust charity was voluntarily deregistered on December 1. The charities regulator launched an investigation after emails appeared to show payments from the Glenn Family Foundation to a bloodstock company and Sir Owen’s personal bank account.
The alleged irregular payments surfaced in an email from former trust chief executive Peter McGlashan to Sir Owen, in which he wrote “large international transfer payments you requested be made to Bloodstocks Ltd and to your account in Sydney”. McGlashan’s email stated the payments “are not typical” of a charitable trust and will “no doubt need explaining” when the charity’s accounts were being prepared.
Charities service general manager Lesa Kalapu defended the length of the investigation, and lack of a resolution, saying there had been delays because Sir Owen lived overseas. “Purely because of the scale, and the international aspect to it, there were delays.” She said there was a “fair level of co-operation”.
Sir Owen told the Herald on Sunday negative media coverage had forced him to leave New Zealand.
The Charities Service came under the Department of Internal Affairs in July 2012.
Read more

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A lot has happened, a lot of investigation files have been deliberately buried.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has been deficient, dissembling and politically influenced to not pursue prosecution of innumerable persons — recognised pillars of society, professional trustees, lawyers and accountants amongst them — known to be involved in multimillion-dollar white collar crime.
A public disgrace, no less for the successive Ministers concerned.
But don’t worry, no-one is naïve in saying this.

A short reflection, by topics 2012 – 2014 . . . .

Related Posts and Comments:
27.11.14 Sport Otago’s Brimble and ORFU’s Kinley never give up —ugly paperwork exists boys !!
19.9.14 Chief Ombudsman Beverley Wakem to launch post-election inquiry
22.8.14 DCC: Deloitte report referred to the police #Citifleet
5.8.14 Gambling Commission shuts down racing’s Bluegrass pokie trust
27.7.14 NZ journalism, Ean Higgins got it in one #knowwhatwethinkofGerry
13.7.14 Great quote: men
13.5.14 Stuff: Colin Espiner usefully defines Corruption
31.3.14 Audit services to (paying) local bodies #FAIL ● AuditNZ ● OAG ● LynProvost
20.3.14 Delta: Report from Office of the Auditor-General
19.3.14 ORFU: Black-tie dinner, theft or fraud?
15.3.14 Mayoral DISGRACE: DCC won’t ask ORFU to repay $480K bailout
14.3.14 ORFU flush to pay creditors
20.2.14 National-led government rejects state sector reform
15.2.14 Corruption: US mirror to ministerial meddling in DIA business
3.2.14 DIA signed up Intralot amid concerns about bribery and corruption

31.12.13 Martin Legge: Operation Chestnut [DIA’s PR exercise]
30.12.13 DIA insights: Pokie rorts, money-go-rounds, names
8.12.13 SFO budget slashed, how useful were they ?! #politicalinterference
7.12.13 Corruption in NZ Sport: Where has John Key PM been hiding ???
15.10.13 NZRU, ORFU blasphemies etc
11.10.13 New Zealand: Pokie trusts same everywhere #pokierorts
10.10.13 Whistleblowers’ message heard ??! #OtagoRacingClub #pokierorts
26.8.13 New Zealand rorts and sports —dependence on gambling and white collar crime
1.8.13 Politicians keeping DIA/SFO quiet on ORFU and TTCF #pokierorts
15.7.13 Leave Otago white collar criminals ALONE, and other unfairness
29.6.13 Audit NZ and OAG clean bill of health —Suspicious!
7.6.13 Peter Dunne, undone
28.5.13 Carisbrook: Auditor-General #fails Dunedin residents and ratepayers
31.3.13 DIA and Office of the Auditor General stuff up bigtime #pokierorts
15.3.13 ORFU should be subject to full forensic investigation
21.2.13 DIA, SFO investigation #pokierorts
11.2.13 Recognising whistleblowers
7.2.13 DIA not releasing report #ORFU #NZRU #pokierorts
24.1.13 Pike River, Department of Internal Affairs #skippingthebusiness

30.12.12 Internal Affairs is a whole other planet #whitecollarcrime #DIArorts
18.11.12 Martin Legge: DIA audit criticism #pokierorts #coverup
13.11.12 Martin Legge replies to Sunday Star-Times story #DIA #coverup
11.11.12 Department of Internal Affairs #pokierorts #coverup
26.10.12 Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) – CULPABLE #pokierorts
3.10.12 DScene: Russell Garbutt seeks DIA file to Crown Law #pokierorts
15.9.12 Martin Legge responds to NZ Herald news
27.8.12 DIA’s political cover-up of TTCF and ORFU rorts
22.8.12 Martin Legge releases emails to Dunedin community #ORFU
15.8.12 Keeping ORFU sweet [email]
12.8.12 DIA reshuffle: new investigation teams, money laundering, criticism
28.7.12 Pokie fraud: ODT fails to notice own backyard
25.7.12 Martin Legge backgrounds TTCF (pokie trust) and Portage and Waitakere Licensing Trusts #DIA
24.7.14 Mention in NZ Herald dispatches: TTCF and friends ORFU
15.7.12 Martin Legge responds to media stories on Murray Acklin, TTCF and DIA
● 26.6.12 Department of Internal Affairs, ORFU, Centre of Excellence for Amateur Sport, and TTCF
22.6.12 Connections: ORFU and local harness racing
5.6.12 The Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill
● 4.6.12 Questions: ORFU and the Centre of Excellence for Amateur Sport
27.5.12 Again: Oh, Mr Curragh… [emails]
26.5.12 DIA media release
23.5.12 Latest: Oh, Mr Curragh… [emails]
20.5.12 Update: Oh, Mr Curragh… [emails]
18.5.12 Oh, Mr Curragh… [emails]
2.5.12 Ratepayers pay for ORFU black-tie dinner at stadium
29.4.12 Department of Internal Affairs, the gambling authority
22.4.12 DIA, OAG, TTCF and Otago Rugby swim below the line
23.3.12 ORFU position

● [3.3.10 Yep, Kereyn Smith thinks like ‘stadium boys’ – see more]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin’s “period architecture”, not so quaintly….

The overall look of some of Dunedin’s downtown streets meant the city could “knock off other city’s looks in other periods”. –Kevin Jennings

### ODT Online Tue, 28 Oct 2014
‘Incredibly valuable’ – City, surrounds lure film-makers
By David Loughrey
Dunedin is …. attracting film-makers, and more movies may be on the way. Film Otago Southland executive manager Kevin Jennings said Dunedin – and the wider southern region – had plenty to offer film-makers, despite being “at the bottom of the planet”. The Light Between Oceans, which stars Rachel Weisz and Michael Fassbender, began shooting in Dunedin this month, and is using locations including Port Chalmers, Otago Peninsula and the former Dunedin prison. […] Dunedin’s period architecture was one of its strengths, but not the only ammunition in its movie arsenal.
Read more

****

### ODT Online Tue, 28 Oct 2014
Full head of steam
By Shawn McAvinue
Steam locomotive Ja 1240, also known as Jessica, leaves the Dunedin Railway Station yesterday, heading to Sawyers Bay. [….] The engine, built at the Hillside Workshops in 1947, came back to Dunedin from Christchurch to appear in the film The Light Between Oceans, which is being shot around Dunedin.
Read more + Photo by Peter McIntosh

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█ The Light Between Oceans: The movie is in pre-production and scenes will also be filmed in Otago, New Zealand and Tasmania. The film is directed by Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines) and co-produced by Heyday Films’ David Heyman, who produced all eight Harry Potter films, and Jeffrey Clifford (No Strings Attached, Up in the Air).

[excerpt/ Random House Books Australia 2012]

█ For more on Dunedin’s historic heritage and architecture, enter the terms *heritage*, *historic*, *warehouse* or *harbourside* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Citifleet, more revelations….

Dunedin City councillor Lee Vandervis said he alerted council chief executive of the time Paul Orders that the Dunedin branch of Turners was consistently shut out of contracts it sought, mainly for the disposal of used cars in 2011.

### stuff.co.nz Last updated 09:57 24/10/2014
Citifleet ‘stonewalled’ auctioneer firm
By Wilma McKay
A Dunedin city councillor says the council should have investigated its fraught Citifleet unit three years ago, when he expressed concerns that it shut out firms like car auctioneer Turners. Lee Vandervis said that in 2011 he alerted council chief executive of the time Paul Orders that the Dunedin branch of Turners was consistently shut out of contracts it sought, mainly for the disposal of used cars. The city council said in June this year it was investigating practices within its vehicle fleet unit Citifleet.
Unit team leader Brent Bachop had died suddenly in late May. His death has been referred to the coroner.
A subsequent Deloitte investigation, commissioned by the council, unravelled a vast network of alleged fraudulent activity, some with selected car dealers and other individuals, over 11 years, equating to more than a million dollars in lost council revenue. Some of the activity involved profits from the disposal of second hand Citifleet vehicles allegedly being pocketed instead of being paid into council coffers.
Vandervis said he was concerned about Bachop’s business dealings when he was told by Turners and other Dunedin businesses they were having difficulty even engaging with Citifleet. He began pressing Orders on the issue and made a raft of requests for information around Citifleet. Vandervis suggested Orders meet the manager “to attempt to normalise a Turners/DCC business relationship”. Vandervis said Turners’ staff had expressed “long and on-going frustration at trying to deal with Citifleet vehicle disposals”.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Citifleet, undetectable….

Received from Lee Vandervis
Tue, 21 Oct 2014 at 7:36 p.m.

Message: In discussions with Sir Julian [Smith], apparently the ODT Editor has said, since Mr Cannan’s comment, that the actual reason for non-publication of my ‘Citifleet Years of Inaction’ letter was that I already had a letter printed on a similar topic recently.
My previous letter was not however on a similar topic or recent. My first letter which was printed, was sent on 24 August on the topic of Coroner and Police inaction.
My second ‘Citifleet Years of Inaction’ letter that the ODT have chosen not to print was on the topic of CEO Paul Orders’ inaction in 2011, and Mayoral misrepresentation.
It is a shame that most people will not now get the true story.
Feel free to publish so that at least some people get to know some of what has been misrepresented.

—— Forwarded Message
From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 21:20:41 +1300
To: Cushla Turner [ODT], Nicholas GS Smith [ODT]
Cc: Murray Kirkness [ODT]
Conversation: Citifleet chain dragged – Letter to the Editor
Subject: Re: Citifleet chain dragged – Letter to the Editor

Resent – ODT chain dragged?

___________________________

On 4/09/14 8:02 AM, “Lee Vandervis” wrote:

Hi Cushla,
Monday has been and gone, and the mysteries of Coroner and Police inaction linger.
Is there any new reason for delay?

Kind regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

___________________________

On 29/08/14 10:44 AM, “Cushla Turner” wrote:

Dear Cr. Vandervis,

Thank you for your letter to the editor, which was received on Monday, August 25. Given the content of your letter, it has been referred to the Dunedin City Council, the police and the coroner’s office for comment, with the deadline for responses being Monday, September 1. Our intention is to publish the letter once we have responses (or confirmations of no comment) from these sources.

Kind regards,
Cushla Turner
Editor’s secretary
Otago Daily Times

___________________________

On 29/08/2014 7:31 AM, Lee Vandervis wrote:
FW: Citifleet chain dragged – Letter to the Editor
Hi Murray,

I am interested to know whether or not the letter below is soon to appear in your paper.
There is a great deal following these questions that needs to be made public, and I am concerned at the spin so far, and that further delays will hinder urgently needed changes at the DCC.

Kind regards,
Cr. Vandervis

___________________________

—— Forwarded Message
From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 09:57:37 +1200
To: EditorODT
Cc: Nicholas GS Smith [ODT]
Conversation: Citifleet chain dragged – Letter to the Editor
Subject: Citifleet chain dragged – Letter to the Editor

Citifleet chain dragged – Letter to the Editor

Dear Murray,

Why is the coroner taking more than 3 months to deliver a verdict on the DCC Citifleet manager’s sudden death?
Why have the Police only just begun an investigation when so much evidence has been floating around for years and was so tragically highlighted over 3 months ago?
I have been asking for Citifleet manager and other tender process investigations recorded back at least as far as 2011.
Justice delayed is justice denied. Or with so much public money gone is that perhaps the reason?

Cr. Lee Vandervis

—— End of Forwarded Message

___________________________

—— Forwarded Message
From: Dave Cannan [ODT]
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 10:57:03 +1300
To: Lee Vandervis
Cc: EditorODT
Subject: citifleet

Hi Lee — in response, we regarded your email of 13.9.14 as more of a helpful backgrounder to assist us with our ongoing inquiries into the Citifleet scandal – which, as you will have no doubt observed, we are continuing to do regularly — but not as a letter for publication..

regards,\Dave Cannan [Day Editor, ODT]

___________________________

On 29/09/2014 10:59 PM, Lee Vandervis wrote:

Re: Citifleet years of inaction. – Letter to the Editor
Resent – hoping for some response.
Cheers,
Lee

___________________________

On 13/09/14 11:08 AM, “Lee Vandervis” wrote:

Citifleet years of inaction. – Letter to the Editor [ODT]

Dear Editor,

It has been reported (26.8.14) that “Cull said the recent alleged fraud within Citifleet was detected during a comprehensive internal review of the department, one of a series initiated by former council chief executive Paul Orders and continued by his successor, Bidrose.”, who said (3.9.14) “Bachop had told her all car sales went through Turners Car Auctions.”
In fact DCC vehicle disposal and other Bachop issues had been flagged in verbal questions and emails from me to CEO Orders and other senior DCC staff in 2011 following many complaints from Turner’s Auctions and other motor industry businesses. I also set up a meeting to resolve DCC/Turners issues between CEO Orders and Turner’s Auckland based national accounts manager Asgar Kachwalla in November 2011. It seems that little was done until CEO Bidrose began an investigation almost three years later. Perhaps the ODT should be doing some more investigating of its own. [confirming email example below].

Kind regards,

Cr. Lee Vandervis

___________________________

From: Lee Vandervis
Sent: Thursday, 10 November 2011 11:40 a.m.
To: Paul Orders [DCC]
Cc: Shane Gall [Turner’s Auctions]
Subject: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

Dear Paul,

Further to my more general email this morning about building partnerships, Dunedin’s largest car auction business has contacted me regarding on-gong (sic) problems trying to do business with the DCC.
Turner’s Auctions big cheese Mr Kachwalla from Auckland will be in Dunedin on the 30th of this month, and was hoping to organise a brief meeting with you and local Turners management on the afternoon of the 30th to attempt to normalise a Turners/DCC business relationship.
I was hoping to bundle similar issues with other Dunedin business issues with Mr Bachop, but am still awaiting information ex DCC after over a month in order to do this.

Hopefully you will have time on the next Wednesday the 30th to accommodate Turners Management hopes for a meeting.

Kind regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

—— End of Forwarded Message

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC adds staff positions, significant ratepayer cost

Two permanent full-time project co-ordinators to run the Project China and Export Education Uplift initiatives.

### ODT Online Tue, 21 Oct 2014
Vandervis takes aim over funding request
By Chris Morris
There were heated exchanges between Dunedin city councillors as a debate over an economic development funding request turned into a spat yesterday. The dust-up came as councillors considered a request from the Grow Dunedin Partnership to use $190,000 a year from existing council budgets to pay staff salaries for two projects during the next three years.
Read more

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█ Report – EDC – 20/10/2014 (PDF, 126.7 KB)
Economic Development Strategy Projects Budget – Project Co-ordinators’ Funding Request

From the report…

Enterprise Dunedin’s EDS projects budget is $518,000 for the current 2014/2015 financial year and has yet to be ratified for the 2015/16 year and future years. This budget pays for progressing EDS projects and includes payment for the project co-ordinators and project management costs.

RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Committee:

1. Approve the earmarking of $190,000 on an annual basis from the Economic Development Project Budget for the purpose of employing two project co-ordinators.

2. That this funding be included as two line items within the Economic Development Project fund for a period of three years:
- Export Education Uplift Co-ordinator – $95,000
- Project China Co-ordinator – $95,000

BACKGROUND
Dunedin’s Economic Development Strategy (EDS) was adopted in 2013 by its six partners. There are two specific economic goals:

1. 10,000 extra jobs over 10 years (requiring employment growth of approximately 2% per annum.

2. An average of $10,000 extra income for each person (requiring GDP per capita to rise by about 2.5% per annum).

. . .

The Strategy is built around five themes:
1. Business vitality
2. Alliances for innovation
3. A hub of skills and talent
4. Linkages beyond our borders
5. A compelling destination

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Related Posts and Comments:
14.8.14 Mayor Cull’s reflections on Edinburgh #SisterCity #Junkets
21.4.14 Dunedin economic development strategy — low flying Year 1
15.3.13 Dunedin showcase (election year tripe): economic development strategy
19.6.12 DRAFT Dunedin Economic Development Strategy
31.5.12 Public Forum: Dunedin’s DRAFT Economic Development Strategy

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

ORC: New strategic plan fosters Otago prosperity

### ODT Online Tue, 14 Oct 2014
ORC could take up different ‘posture’
By Rebecca Fox
Enabling “development opportunities” and “unleashing potential to enhance prosperity” through planning could be the new direction of the Otago Regional Council. […] Its vision of a “prosperous and sustainable future for Otago” was expressed in four goals – active resource stewardship, active regional partnerships, realisation of new opportunities and the emergence of an “Brand Otago”. Those goals would be delivered through nine proposed areas of focus covering activities around land use change, rivers, efficient water use, benefits of coastal space, biosecurity, hazards, air and transport.
Read more

See agenda and reports for the additional Ordinary meeting of the Otago Regional Council to be held on 15 October 2014:

█ “For Our Future” – A prosperous and sustainable Otago
Otago Regional Council Strategic Plan 10 October 2014 (PDF, 821 KB)

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr