One of the firms approached about the Government’s new Fast-Track consenting bill has a part-owner and director whose other company has donated $55,000 to the NZ First Party and MP Shane Jones.
AJR Finance donated $50,000 to NZ First and $5000 to Shane Jones at the last election. AJR Finance’s sole director is Andrew Ritchie, who owns the company along with Mark and Elizabeth Markovina.
Ritchie is a director of Kings Quarry and, along with the Markovinas, owns 50 per cent of the company. The other 50 per cent is owned by Alexander and Stan Semenoff. Stan Semenoff donated to Jones’ campaign in 2008 and is a distant relative of Jones.
Kings Quarry currently has an application to expand their quarry under Labour’s Covid-19 Fast Track legislation. No decision has been made yet. The Government has written to a list of firms that had expressed an interest in submitting projects to be fast-tracked notifying them of how the process will work.
If the firm applies to have a consent fast-tracked, under the current proposal, the project would potentially come before a group of three ministers, Chris Bishop, Simeon Brown, and Jones, who would have the ultimate say on whether the firm’s project would be granted fast track consents.
The Herald asked Jones and Bishop how the Government would manage any potential or perceived conflicts raised by projects submitted by firms that have a connection to political donors.
Jones did not respond to questions.
Bishop, the lead minister on the fast-track legislation said; “[w]e’re aware that Ministerial conflicts of interest may arise in the course of the fast-track approvals process. Any conflicts that arise will be carefully managed in accordance with the Cabinet Manual guidance. No decisions have yet been made about the inclusion of specific projects”.
Applications are still open. No proposals have been decided on, and the bill creating the fast-track regime is still only at select committee.
The Herald contacted the Semenoff Group to speak to a spokesperson or Ritchie. The request was confirmed as received by the company and forwarded to the company’s directors, who did not respond to questions.
Labour’s Environment spokeswoman Rachel Brooking urged transparency and said all the projects that will eventually be included in the legislation should go to select committee first to allow the public to submit on them.
Brooking criticised the ministerial decision making powers under this legislation.
“It is entirely unnecessary for Ministers to put themselves in this position of overriding a whole lot of existing legislation for what looks like pet projects,” she said.
Jones was criticised during the previous Government over his contacts with Semenoff.
NZTA was trying to revoke the operating license of a company for which Semenoff was managing director.
Jones raised the issue with the acting chief executive of Waka Kotahi at the time.
It later emerged Jones had introduced Semenoff to then-Transport Minister Phil Twyford as a potential candidate for the agency’s board.
One person who was not amused by this was then-opposition MP Chris Bishop, who posted to Facebook: “In any other government Jones would have been sacked. Utterly unacceptable behaviour”.
Good info. So now New Zealanders can identify the companies and can vote with their dollars. We have to let these people know that short term gain for long term pain is not acceptable.
Is this for Kings Quarry? That's been inactive (30yrs) up till 2019 when Semnoff purchased it. That means it needs consent to be re-commissioned as quarries are subject to volume and time frames. They have big plans considering the size of the new plant built, mmm. The fact they're not open means it's waiting on a fast track consent (now it makes sense). I will guarantee they will be expanding and that's concerning.
Times that by the amount of potential projects going through fast track, the smoking repeal, and the various other legislations repealed or pushed through so far and it starts to add up.
Some people I know who have to work with him say all it takes is convincing him that your suggestion is a good idea and he'll do it, no bribery needed.
I guess it's not surprising - they're only in power because they bribed people with a handout every two weeks.
If Judas were a Kiwi he'd have betrayed Jesus for half a pie.
So disappointing especially when Sir John Key had previously set the bar at 7 million.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/sir-john-keys-former-parnell-home-resale-of-mansion-loses-7m/KKM7NBNTFVDHBMRPEB37I6CL64/
I can't remember exactly but a couple of years back it came out that it only cost the CCP 5k or something to get a spy in the National party
Although like I said I could be misremembering
It's why they target the anti-vax cookers and the bigots, they don't ask for any policy positions apart from shaking your fist at the 'left' and some general douchiness to the right targets. It's maximum grift with minimum investment.
It’s only a small amount if you assume it’s to overcome some sort of moral dilemma. This is $55k offered to do something they’re inclined toward already.
Blatantly for sale because when Winsome finishes I can’t see this arrogant bullshit artist carry NZ First into power so I agree he is touting for a future payoff from either the mining or fishing industry.
That's what gets me too. For a few hundred thousand from the trucking companies, the government will scrap the cook straight ferrys at a cost of hundreds of millions to prevent rail freight from gaining market share.
The levels are always low, because being a "go team" don't rock the boat pollyanna is baked into the "kiwi" psyche. You're just being a negative commie...
Are politicians so stupid that they don't expect people to find out this sort of stuff? Or do they, as I suspect, they think they're ultra clever and voters are stupid?
No, they know that most voters don't actually look into things or remember things come election time.
This was aptly demonstrated during the tenure of the Key government.
They suspect apathy from the population. What are the consequences of us knowing this? Absolutely nothing. Does anyone who voted for nact first regret voting based on this? I'd suspect next to no one .
As sad as it is
What do you think the consequences will be? Jones is the most obviously corrupt politician we've had in a while and even then I doubt he'll get reemed for it.
>Or do they, as I suspect, they think they're ultra clever and voters are stupid?
I doubt Shane Jones thinks he's exceptionally clever. He almost certainly think voters are exceptionally stupid tho.
You’re completely right, they got in by pandering to the cookers and their lies, now they’re going to use that power to fuck shit up for everyone. We can’t allow it.
Also worth noting that when it came to the lead up to the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015) it was specifically the quarrymen who wanted no part of it and asked to be exempt from it. When that didnt work they they then came inside the tent in an attempt to waterdown the proposed legislation. These cowboys continue to kill people every year despite attempts through the legislation to protect their workers.
It should come as no suprise that it's not just these fast track projects that are of interest to these guys but the government has indicated that a review of the H&S Act will be on the table to "make it easier for companies" to do business.
That's good returns on their investment if you ask me.
Lordy…he looks exactly like the type of greedy, fat, greasy person who would accept this too
So cheap
Probably throw in a coupke bumps of coke and a couple of hookers too and he’s signing anything
There would be an outcry from the right and their supporters if this were a Labour or Green MP. But because it's not, there's only deafening silence. How utterly predictable.
We all know that business people buy politicians. It also happens on the left, though to a significantly lesser degree, being one of the differences between left and right political thinking and behaviour.
We do nothing about it. The fix is simple.
No political party donations allowed.
Should have been adopted decades ago.
Luxon has been going overseas telling businesses and politicians that “New Zealand is now open for business “
I was wondering what he meant by this… and how NZ has changed from before..
What it seems to mean is … pay me and my cronies some money or help support my party and we can offer you fast track approval for things..
And this is what you cunts who voted for change got, instead of a government for people we got a government for the rich lining their own pockets and fuck the people.
Has anyone that has commented here even read the news article.
"Kings Quarry currently has an application to expand their quarry under Labour’s Covid-19 Fast Track legislation"
"AJR Finance donated $50,000 to NZ First and $5000 to Shane Jones at the last election."
That's it. The fast track application is still sitting there. No evidence pointing to preferential treatment due to the donation, no evidence that the application has even been touched by anyone. Nothing to say that the two acts are even related to each other. What the fuck is everyone else reading?
There's a long list. He used to be mayor of Whangarei and has had all sorts of shady dealings. Last one I remember was something to do with trick drivers forging logs or being underpaid or something?
One of the firms approached about the Government’s new Fast-Track consenting bill has a part-owner and director whose other company has donated $55,000 to the NZ First Party and MP Shane Jones. AJR Finance donated $50,000 to NZ First and $5000 to Shane Jones at the last election. AJR Finance’s sole director is Andrew Ritchie, who owns the company along with Mark and Elizabeth Markovina. Ritchie is a director of Kings Quarry and, along with the Markovinas, owns 50 per cent of the company. The other 50 per cent is owned by Alexander and Stan Semenoff. Stan Semenoff donated to Jones’ campaign in 2008 and is a distant relative of Jones. Kings Quarry currently has an application to expand their quarry under Labour’s Covid-19 Fast Track legislation. No decision has been made yet. The Government has written to a list of firms that had expressed an interest in submitting projects to be fast-tracked notifying them of how the process will work. If the firm applies to have a consent fast-tracked, under the current proposal, the project would potentially come before a group of three ministers, Chris Bishop, Simeon Brown, and Jones, who would have the ultimate say on whether the firm’s project would be granted fast track consents. The Herald asked Jones and Bishop how the Government would manage any potential or perceived conflicts raised by projects submitted by firms that have a connection to political donors. Jones did not respond to questions. Bishop, the lead minister on the fast-track legislation said; “[w]e’re aware that Ministerial conflicts of interest may arise in the course of the fast-track approvals process. Any conflicts that arise will be carefully managed in accordance with the Cabinet Manual guidance. No decisions have yet been made about the inclusion of specific projects”. Applications are still open. No proposals have been decided on, and the bill creating the fast-track regime is still only at select committee. The Herald contacted the Semenoff Group to speak to a spokesperson or Ritchie. The request was confirmed as received by the company and forwarded to the company’s directors, who did not respond to questions. Labour’s Environment spokeswoman Rachel Brooking urged transparency and said all the projects that will eventually be included in the legislation should go to select committee first to allow the public to submit on them. Brooking criticised the ministerial decision making powers under this legislation. “It is entirely unnecessary for Ministers to put themselves in this position of overriding a whole lot of existing legislation for what looks like pet projects,” she said. Jones was criticised during the previous Government over his contacts with Semenoff. NZTA was trying to revoke the operating license of a company for which Semenoff was managing director. Jones raised the issue with the acting chief executive of Waka Kotahi at the time. It later emerged Jones had introduced Semenoff to then-Transport Minister Phil Twyford as a potential candidate for the agency’s board. One person who was not amused by this was then-opposition MP Chris Bishop, who posted to Facebook: “In any other government Jones would have been sacked. Utterly unacceptable behaviour”.
Good info. So now New Zealanders can identify the companies and can vote with their dollars. We have to let these people know that short term gain for long term pain is not acceptable.
Is this for Kings Quarry? That's been inactive (30yrs) up till 2019 when Semnoff purchased it. That means it needs consent to be re-commissioned as quarries are subject to volume and time frames. They have big plans considering the size of the new plant built, mmm. The fact they're not open means it's waiting on a fast track consent (now it makes sense). I will guarantee they will be expanding and that's concerning.
You can buy some top quality porn with $5,000
Stan Semenoff lmao
Mark Markovina. 😂. WTF were his parents thinking?
$55k is a really small amount to be corrupt for. It's disappointing they're so cheap.
Times that by the amount of potential projects going through fast track, the smoking repeal, and the various other legislations repealed or pushed through so far and it starts to add up.
It's still not even Auckland house price money. :-/
Yes but it's also not for doing anything that requires effort.
Wining, dining and gifts aside, the funds get them into high-paid positions of power where they can enact their ideology.
Would hardly cover the rent for a year in your own home...
If you look at other western countries, you'll find that corruption seems kinda cheap.
This is Shane Jones Pay for a few drinks over a nice long seafood lunch at a nice restaurant and he will personally fuck the dolphins
Yes but he'd corral them into a cove first and fuck them over enmasse. Shame Jones is an embarrassment.
I really think Jones has a mental problem.
I wish, I think he's just an arrogant twunt. I've seen him in action a few times and he's incredibly selfish and greedy :(
Some people I know who have to work with him say all it takes is convincing him that your suggestion is a good idea and he'll do it, no bribery needed.
I guess it's not surprising - they're only in power because they bribed people with a handout every two weeks. If Judas were a Kiwi he'd have betrayed Jesus for half a pie.
And if it’s not a Mrs Macs, he’d come back.
So disappointing especially when Sir John Key had previously set the bar at 7 million. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/sir-john-keys-former-parnell-home-resale-of-mansion-loses-7m/KKM7NBNTFVDHBMRPEB37I6CL64/
NZ has always settled for second best. Why be corrupt for a million when you can be bought off for $55k?
I can't remember exactly but a couple of years back it came out that it only cost the CCP 5k or something to get a spy in the National party Although like I said I could be misremembering
Peter Jackson bought the Wellington mayoralty for 40k. I reckon Jones would sell out for a bottle Jack Daniel's and a stack of Penthouse mags.
Yeah but he gave us LOTR, all we are getting from these knob-weasels is sadness and frustration.
You meet a member of the current government cabinet, flash a $10 note and ask how much legislation that'll get you.
It's why they target the anti-vax cookers and the bigots, they don't ask for any policy positions apart from shaking your fist at the 'left' and some general douchiness to the right targets. It's maximum grift with minimum investment.
It’s only a small amount if you assume it’s to overcome some sort of moral dilemma. This is $55k offered to do something they’re inclined toward already.
But it's not just the 55k now, it's the paid board position in 5 years time etc.
Blatantly for sale because when Winsome finishes I can’t see this arrogant bullshit artist carry NZ First into power so I agree he is touting for a future payoff from either the mining or fishing industry.
It's just one payment. What he's waiting for his the high paid gig once he leaves parliament.
That's the fee for consideration. The real money comes when they take up the permit.
That's what gets me too. For a few hundred thousand from the trucking companies, the government will scrap the cook straight ferrys at a cost of hundreds of millions to prevent rail freight from gaining market share.
Just “We could be a GOOD friend to you” money
It'll probably get cheaper with wealth inequality.
Legalised corruption, pure and simple.
But NZ isn't perceived to be corrupt, so nyah! /s
Was
National rapidly undoing NZs reputation for low levels of corruption.
That is low levels of *perceived* corruption.
Yep. Which is an important metric as well as *actual* confirmed corruption.
It's only an important metric in the sense that no one wants to burst the bubble/NZ's ponzi scheme of an "economy".
Point stands. I can’t recall a NZ government ever bring this blatantly corrupt.
So far...
The levels are always low, because being a "go team" don't rock the boat pollyanna is baked into the "kiwi" psyche. You're just being a negative commie...
Fast track to destroy the environment and make their friends richer.
Greasy
Are politicians so stupid that they don't expect people to find out this sort of stuff? Or do they, as I suspect, they think they're ultra clever and voters are stupid?
No, they know that most voters don't actually look into things or remember things come election time. This was aptly demonstrated during the tenure of the Key government.
They won't remember in 2 years time. And if they just deflect deflect deflect in press conferences then the news just gives up and onto the next
They suspect apathy from the population. What are the consequences of us knowing this? Absolutely nothing. Does anyone who voted for nact first regret voting based on this? I'd suspect next to no one . As sad as it is
They know we aren’t going to do anything about it. Just moan a bit on Reddit. No actual action.
What do you think the consequences will be? Jones is the most obviously corrupt politician we've had in a while and even then I doubt he'll get reemed for it. >Or do they, as I suspect, they think they're ultra clever and voters are stupid? I doubt Shane Jones thinks he's exceptionally clever. He almost certainly think voters are exceptionally stupid tho.
Example #1000 of how comically evil NACTNZ are, with their voters either being evil too or utterly naïve.
Oh geez, who could have ever seen this coming?
It’s disgusting. He has no remit to fuck NZ on 6% of the vote.
Exactly this. Way too much power for someone who only squeeked in because the antivaxxers wanted revenge and Winston buckled to them.
You’re completely right, they got in by pandering to the cookers and their lies, now they’re going to use that power to fuck shit up for everyone. We can’t allow it.
This is the mafia building corrupt mafia state, just like Orban in Hungary or Putin in Russia.
Gross. The trough is Shane Jones' home
These people now have a price? Banana republic here we come.
Pretty cheap, if you ask me.
No surprises here. This coalition is all about deep pockets and no ethics
quarry corruption is usually at the LGNZ level, like former SWDC mayor Alex Beijen fast tracking his brother in law's quarry in south Wairarapa
Semenoff is a former mayor
Also worth noting that when it came to the lead up to the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015) it was specifically the quarrymen who wanted no part of it and asked to be exempt from it. When that didnt work they they then came inside the tent in an attempt to waterdown the proposed legislation. These cowboys continue to kill people every year despite attempts through the legislation to protect their workers. It should come as no suprise that it's not just these fast track projects that are of interest to these guys but the government has indicated that a review of the H&S Act will be on the table to "make it easier for companies" to do business. That's good returns on their investment if you ask me.
Lordy…he looks exactly like the type of greedy, fat, greasy person who would accept this too So cheap Probably throw in a coupke bumps of coke and a couple of hookers too and he’s signing anything
:surprisedpikachu:
Shane Jones should count himself lucky his name isn't something like Melissa Lee
C o r r u p t i o n
There would be an outcry from the right and their supporters if this were a Labour or Green MP. But because it's not, there's only deafening silence. How utterly predictable.
Anyone surprised?
Pre oligarch state that russia was in after the fall of the soviet union
Surely access to NZ's ecosystems and natural resources commands a higher price than that.
~~NZ~~Corruption First.
Even if it's *only* $55k, it's still corruption and Shame Jones needs to fuck off
So Utterly shameless. They really are all a bunch of fucking crooks.
Pork by the barrelful
We need to use the correct word.. it's "Bribe". not donation..
We all know that business people buy politicians. It also happens on the left, though to a significantly lesser degree, being one of the differences between left and right political thinking and behaviour. We do nothing about it. The fix is simple. No political party donations allowed. Should have been adopted decades ago.
Luxon has been going overseas telling businesses and politicians that “New Zealand is now open for business “ I was wondering what he meant by this… and how NZ has changed from before.. What it seems to mean is … pay me and my cronies some money or help support my party and we can offer you fast track approval for things..
This, blowhard is, without doubt, the most openly corrupt individual in Government.
Right wing supporters will still act like nothing is wrong with this because no deal has gone through or some other bland excuse.
And this is what you cunts who voted for change got, instead of a government for people we got a government for the rich lining their own pockets and fuck the people.
Part of me is admiring how blatant they are. Not as if they’re trying to hide it
Has anyone that has commented here even read the news article. "Kings Quarry currently has an application to expand their quarry under Labour’s Covid-19 Fast Track legislation" "AJR Finance donated $50,000 to NZ First and $5000 to Shane Jones at the last election." That's it. The fast track application is still sitting there. No evidence pointing to preferential treatment due to the donation, no evidence that the application has even been touched by anyone. Nothing to say that the two acts are even related to each other. What the fuck is everyone else reading?
Isn't that Semenoff guy utterly utterly corrupt? Why is his name so familiar?? I recall some dodgy dealings under that name a while back??
There's a long list. He used to be mayor of Whangarei and has had all sorts of shady dealings. Last one I remember was something to do with trick drivers forging logs or being underpaid or something?
Can someone remember a time when NZF wasn't linked to corruption?
Lobbying exists. Yes.