It would seem that the Auditor-General is going to have a pretty straightforward job inquiring into the tendering process for the Auckland convention centre; the Herald reports:
Bids for the convention centre were also made by Auckland-based iwi Ngati Whatua and ASB Showgrounds, a consortium led by infrastructure company Infratil and The Edge.Ngati Whatua chief executive Tiwana Tibble said SkyCity had been given an unfair funding advantage because of the Government's promise of an extended gambling licence.But he did not begrudge SkyCity its advantage: "I lobbied to the PM, I went and saw him a couple of times. It's a $350 million contract, that's what people do."They don't just stick a tender in the envelope and hope for the best."Mr Tibble confirmed that Ngati Whatua would bid if the process was reopened, but he felt that calling for tenders again was "a waste of taxpayers' money".Spokesman for The Edge Paul Brewer said the company felt the tender process had been robust at the time.The Edge would not bid for a convention centre again, because its role had changed since being absorbed into a council-controlled organisation.ASB Showgrounds chief executive Mark Frankham said that while SkyCity's proposal to pay for the convention centre gave it an advantage over competitors, he had no concerns about the tender process."We've been involved in a lot of tenders. This one was done with the utmost efficiency."
So none of the unsuccessful tenderers have any issues with the process. It's a bit of a struggle to see what there actually is for the Auditor-General to investigate! Perhaps the Greens, who called for the inquiry simply don't understand the realities of the commercial world.
And on the subject of the convention centre, we bet that Trevor Mallard wishes hed kept his mouth shut yesterday. He handed Steven Joyce a free hit, which Joyce gleefully accepted:
Labour would far rather have us forget that Helen Clark welcomed Sky City's convention centre in 2001 with arms open wide, despite the fact that Sky City got more pokies as part of the deal. Steven Joyce is dead right; their opposition now is solely political.
Hat-tip (for the video): Whaleoil
9 comments:
How can you say they had no problems with the process when the article points out explicitly that they did?
Judge Holden, three people are quoted: Ngati Whatua chief executive Tiwana Tibble, who says that SkyCity's lobbying was the norm for tenders of that value, Paul Brewer of The Edge says that they felt that the tender process was robust, and ASB Showgrounds chief executive Mark Frankham says that the tender was efficient.
None say that the system was corrupt.
As for the comment, KS that "Perhaps the Greens, who called for the inquiry simply don't understand the realities of the commercial world", well I look forward with great anticipation to your revelation that perhaps water is wet.
Where can I go for some intelligent political posts? Anyone?
"Ngati Whatua chief executive Tiwana Tibble said SkyCity had been given an unfair funding advantage because of the Government's promise of an extended gambling licence."
Please define "unfair funding advantage" Grant.
Anonymous@6:41 Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. Try there. I have other suggestions too.
It will be a short inquiry. Key will be exposed soon.
You missed out a bit from the Ngati Whatua bloke Judge; this bit:
But he did not begrudge SkyCity its advantage: "I lobbied to the PM, I went and saw him a couple of times. It's a $350 million contract, that's what people do.
"They don't just stick a tender in the envelope and hope for the best."
Mr Tibble confirmed that Ngati Whatua would bid if the process was reopened, but he felt that calling for tenders again was "a waste of taxpayers' money".
the drudge is infecting blogs all over the place KS .. would be interesting to know who he .. or indeed she, is. Talk about bitter and twisted
Yawn. You're seriously boring jabba. Just calling it as it is.
to be called boring from drudge holdingthemtootight is a true insult BUT I'm a big boy and can take it, seems the drudge and his mate can't though
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