INVESTIGATE MAYOR LEN’S PROPERTY GAMBLE Is this a big waste of ratepayer money, or a bold new vision? ’S BEST NEWS MAGAZINE

NGATI TOO MUCH? Should a tribe get Treaty compo for not being allowed to continue genocide?

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Third Parties Why the news media are out of touch with the public

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Aug/Sep 2013 12 SUPER COSTLY CITY Did the Auckland Council pay too much to a private property developer to get a new satellite city built? IAN WISHART covers both sides of a fascinating story about how ratepayers’ money is being invested in infrastructure 22 OBAMA’S SCANDALS Is Obama one of the most dangerous presidents in modern times? HAL COLEBATCH argues that he’s more corrupt than Richard Nixon 26 THIRD PARTIES New Zealand, with an election just over a year away, could take some lessons from the recent British elections. MARK STEYN explains how a conservative-leaning third party is tearing up British politics, despite the sneers from mainstream media.

12 contents departments

OPINION EDITOR 4 Speaks for itself, really COMMUNIQUES 6 Your say STEYNPOST 8 Mark Steyn RIGHT & WRONG 10 David Garrett

ACTION INVEST Peter Morici talks financial opium 32 SCIENCE Bringing back ancient beerzies 40 MUSIC Vinyl’s resurgence 42 MOVIES Way, Way Back 46

GADGETS The latest toys 34 36 The Mall 35 Online privacy issues 36 40 Hotel website issues 38 MINDFUEL BOOKCASE 44 The lastest reads CONSIDER THIS 48 Amy Brooke 38 46

Editor

Keep calm and carry on

I remember my first big really well. It was in in 1968 – I hadn’t yet started school – and I was climbing the bank on one of those typical hilly sections beloved of Wellingtonians, when the ground suddenly threw me up in the air.

I couldn’t stand up, it was rocking so building swayed – a rare event in into what would once have been much. Auckland. regarded as semi-desert areas. In other Growing up in the windy city you get Two hours later, thanks to a char- places, rivers and lowlands flood with used to quakes, always with the knowl- tered light aircraft, I was on the ground monotonous regularity, sweeping away edge that “the big one” might strike. As in Whakatane and surveying signifi- hundreds at a time in densely popu- kids, the prospect of a big earthquake cant damage in a city with no power. lated areas prone to the monsoon. was exciting, rather than frightening, The ground on that occasion never Still others choose to live in regions and we all knew as we cycled around stopped moving – not for the 24 hours swept bare by hurricanes and cyclones, as town about the major fault that ran I was there. As I and other journal- they have been since time immemorial, along The Terrace. ists walked away from a Civil Defence and then there are those who build towns The thing I remember about that media briefing that first night, and and lives in areas they know are highly Wellington childhood, however, is the down the darkened main street, I’ll vulnerable to massive vortex tornadoes. apparent lack of aftershocks. There would never forget a huge shop window sud- In New Zealand, like everywhere be random from time to denly shattering into shards beside me else, there are risks. They can never be time, but I don’t recall an endless session as another aftershock struck. eliminated, only adapted to. Despite of aftershocks. Maybe that’s just memory, I leaped into the street to avoid the being at the epicentre of the lat- but I’m not the only former Wellingto- glass, straight into the path of an oncom- est quake, no one died in the towns nian to have expressed that view. ing car – its driver no doubt perplexed of Blenheim or Seddon. Our newer I was there in 1977 when the mag- at why I’d suddenly appeared in front of homes, wooden-framed in particular, nitude 6.0 tremblor rocked the capital him. We both took evasive action. are far more robust than concrete and just after five pm one summer evening. I say all of this to indicate that, like masonry buildings are when it comes We all raced for doorways and tables as many New Zealanders, we are not to taking the punishment of a quake. the house swayed. But that quake was ‘earthquake virgins’. We live in the Life, from the moment we are born, 50 kilometres deep; it didn’t do much shaky isles and it comes with a price. is about beating the odds. Most of us damage. But it’s not too high a price to pay. will die of cancer or heart disease. A When the 6.8 magnitude shocker Nowhere on the planet is immune fractional few will perish in natural slammed through Whakatane and from natural disasters. In some places disasters. Significantly more will died Edgecumbe in 1987, I was working for it is bushfires that spread terror nearly crossing the road. a radio station in an Auckland office every summer – a product of humans None of this stops us from living our tower. We felt the quake because the pushing their housing developments lives. Nor should it. In New Zealand, like everywhere else, there are risks. They can never be eliminated, only adapted to

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THEY SHOULD ASK MADGE the media and streets of Hamilton Hamilton City councillors voted with the same sort of disinforma- seven to six to hold a referendum in tion and scaremongering that failed Volume 10, Issue 139, ISSN 1175-1290 [Print] conjunction with this year’s local to impress councillors during the body elections. Fluoride Action tribunal process. Network NZ applaud Mayor Har- The Commission of Inquiry into Chief Executive Officer Heidi Wishart Group Managing Editor Ian Wishart daker and councillors Chesterman, Fluoridation stated in its 1957 report: O’Leary, Forsyth, Hennebry and “A referendum inevitably means NZ EDITION Gower for not bowing down to a that the will of the majority prevails Advertising Josephine Martin vociferous and vocal minority who and occasionally on inadequate 09 373-3676 ironically have demanded a refer- information… We are of the opinion [email protected] endum under the guise of “freedom that it is an unsatisfactory method of Contributing Writers: Hal Colebatch, Amy of choice” when the referendum arriving at a decision on [this] matter.” Brooke, Chris Forster, Peter Hensley, Mark Steyn, is about taking freedom of choice They cannot win the scientific Chris Philpott, Michael Morrissey, Miranda away from their neighbours. argument on fluoridation, so now Devine, Richard Prosser, Claire Morrow, James We can now expect to see the they are making a last ditch effort to Morrow, Len Restall, Laura Wilson, and the worldwide resources of MCTribune Group, UPI “highly organised campaign of undermine the democratic process. and Newscom disinformation” in conjunction We are pleased that the referen- with “out-of-towners”, as described dum will be non-binding, as this Art Direction Heidi Wishart by Health Minister Tony Ryall. allows the Council to consider the Design & Layout Bozidar Jokanovic The Waikato DHB, the Ministry extent to which an organised and

Tel: +64 9 373 3676 of Health’s million dollar-funded massively funded campaign of dis- Fax: +64 9 373 3667 lobby service, the National Water information might have influenced Investigate Magazine, PO Box 188, Fluoridation Support and Co-ordi- the result. Kaukapakapa, Auckland 0843, NEW ZEALAND nation Service and the NZ Dental Mary Byrne Association will no doubt flood Fluoride Action Network NZ AUSTRALIAN EDITION Editor Ian Wishart Advertising [email protected] Tel/Fax: 1-800 123 983 Poetry

SUBSCRIPTIONS Online: www.investigatemagazine.com God Defend New Zealand Made up of many races By Phone: Australia 1-800 123 983 who live upon this shore, May God defend New Zealand NZ 09 373 3676 what once was called God’s country By Post: To the PO Box with all our sin and pride, can not be anymore. NZ Edition: $85; yes, God defend our free land If peace and good and plenty AU Edition: A$96 your laws we’ve brushed aside. should cease this very day, Our triple star needs guarding Email: why should you still defend those from hatred, murder, war; [email protected], who hardly ever pray? [email protected], for in this special country [email protected], your words are heard no more. Lord help us to acknowledge [email protected], our deeds have brought you shame, [email protected] May God, the God of nations, our record is not spotless, defend our land today, we do not love your name. All content in this magazine is copyright, and the One who shaped the mountains, may not be reproduced in any form without Lord, may we come to realize sent rivers on their way; the written permission of the publisher. The true freedom comes from you, who formed the mighty oceans, opinions of advertisers or contributors are and let us bring you honour not necessarily those of the magazine, and no placed sun, moon, stars above, by what we say and do. liability is accepted. may God defend New Zealand; We take no responsibility for unsolicited the mighty God of love. May God defend New Zealand, material sent to us. Please enclose a stamped, help us to see our wrong, SAE envelope. Inquiries in the first instance May God defend New Zealand to live the way we should have should be made via email or fax. morality has gone. Investigate magazine Australasia is published been living all along. This State denies your writings by HATM Magazines Ltd Our love for you increasing our laws are based upon. will then bring hope and light, Instead there is corruption, may God defend New Zealand dissension, envy, hate, and help us do what’s right. Lord, help us see our error COVER: NEWSCOM/MAXPPP before it is too late. Janet Fleming

6 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 7 Mark Steyn

Torturing the Constitution

Wednesday, June 26, 2013 — just another day in a constitutional republic of limited government by citizen representatives: First thing in the morning, Gregory the George Zimmerman trial, excused need for further debate – not that Roseman, Deputy Director of Acquisi- her inability to comprehend the letter anything recognizable to any genuine tions (whatever that means), became she’d supposedly written to Trayvon legislature as “debate” ever occurs in the second IRS official to take the Fifth Martin’s parents on the grounds that “the world’s greatest deliberative body.” Amendment, after he was questioned “I don’t read cursive.” Senator Hoeven Say what you like about George III, about awarding the largest contract doesn’t read legislative. For example, but the Tea Act was about tea. The in IRS history, totalling some half a bil- Section 5(b)(1): so-called comprehensive immigration lion dollars, to his close friend Braulio Not later than 180 days after the reform is so comprehensive it includes Castillo, who qualified under a federal date of the enactment of this Act, special deals for Nevada casinos and “set aside” program favouring disad- the Secretary shall establish a strat- the recategorization of the Alaskan vantaged groups – in this case, disabled egy, to be known as the ‘Southern fish-processing industry as a “cultural veterans. For the purposes of federal Border Fencing Strategy’ … exchange” program, because the more contracting, Mr. Castillo is a “disabled On the other hand, Section 5(b)(5): leaping salmon we have the harder it is veteran” because he twisted his ankle Notwithstanding paragraph (1), for Mexicans to get across the Bering during a football game at the U.S. nothing in this subsection shall Strait. While we’re bringing millions of Military Academy prep school 27 years require the Secretary to install fenc- Undocumented-Americans “out of the ago. How he overcame this crippling ing … shadows,” why don’t we try bringing disability to win a half-billion-dollar Asked to reconcile these two para- Washington’s decadent and diseased IRS contract is the heartwarming stuff graphs, Senator Hoeven explained that, law-making out of the shadows? of an inspiring Lifetime TV movie. “when I read through that with my Just when you thought the day Later in the day, Senator John lawyer,” the guy said relax, don’t worry couldn’t get any more momentous, the Hoeven, Republican of North Dakota about it. (I paraphrase, but barely.) So Supreme Court weighed in on same- and alleged author of the Corker- Senator Hoeven and 67 other sena- sex marriage. When less advanced Hoeven amendment to the immigra- tors went ahead the following day and societies wish to introduce gay mar- tion bill, went on Hugh Hewitt’s radio approved the usual bazillion-page riage, the people’s elected representa- show and, in a remarkable interview, we-have-to-pass-it-to-find-out-what’s- tives assemble in parliament and pass revealed to the world that he had abso- in-it omnibus bill, cooked up in the a law. That’s how they did it in the lutely no idea what was in the legisla- backrooms, released late on a Friday Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Norway, tion he “wrote.” Rachel Jeantel, the afternoon and passed in nothing flat Sweden, Portugal, etc. But one shud- endearingly disastrous star witness at after Harry Reid decreed there’s no ders to contemplate what would result were the legislative class to attempt “comprehensive marriage reform,” Whether or not, per Scalia, we should complete with tax breaks for Maine lobstermen’s au pairs and the hiring “condemn” the United States Constitution, of 20,000 new IRS agents to verify it might be time to put the poor wee thing business expenses for page boys from disparate-impact groups. So instead out of its misery it fell to five out of nine judges, which means it fell to Justice Anthony Ken-

8 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 nedy, because he’s the guy who swings both ways. Thus, Supreme Intergalactic Emperor Anthony gets to decide the issue for 300 million people. As Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben so famously says in every remake, with great power comes great responsibility. Having assumed the power to redefine a societal institution that predates the United States by thousands of years, Emperor Tony the All-Wise had the responsibility at least to work up the semblance of a legal argument. Instead, he struck down the Defense of Mar- riage Act on the grounds that those responsible for it were motivated by an “improper animus” against a “politi- Supreme Court ruled President Clinton’s cally unpopular group” they wished to Defence of Marriage Act was motivated by an “improper animus” against a “disparage,” “demean,” and “humili- “politically unpopular group” they wished ate” as “unworthy.” What stump- to “disparage,” “demean,” and “humiliate” toothed knuckle-dragging inbred as “unworthy.” swamp-dwellers from which hellish Bible Belt redoubt would do such a thing? Well, fortunately, we have their names on the record: The DOMA legis- not to condemn, demean, or humiliate still for citizenship, do you seriously lators who were driven by their need those who would prefer other arrange- think any of that hooey will survive its to “harm” gay people include notori- ments, any more than to defend the first encounter with a federal judge? ous homophobe Democrats Chuck Constitution of the United States is In much of the Southwest, you’d have Schumer, Pat Leahy, Harry Reid, Joe to condemn, demean, or humiliate jurisdictions with a majority of His- Biden, and the virulent anti-gay hater other constitutions.” Indeed. With this panic residents living under an elderly, who signed it into law, Bill Clinton. judgment, America’s constitutional disproportionately white voting roll. It’s good to have President Clinton’s court demeans and humiliates only You can cut-and-paste Kennedy’s guff animus against gays finally exposed by its own. Of all the local variations about “improper animus” toward “a Anthony Kennedy. There’s a famous through which same-sex marriage group of people” straight into the first photograph of him taken round the has been legalized in the last decade, immigration appeal, and a thousand time he signed DOMA, at a big fund- mostly legislative (France, Iceland) but more. And that’s supposing the admin- raiser wearing that black-tie-and-wing- occasionally judicial (Canada, South istrative agencies pay any attention to collar combo that always made him Africa), the United States is unique in the “safeguards” in the first place. look like the maître d’ at a 19th-century its inability to jump on the Western As I say, just another day in the life bordello. He’s receiving greetings from world’s bandwagon du jour without of the republic: a corrupt bureaucracy celebrity couple Ellen DeGeneres and first declaring its current vice presi- dispensing federal gravy to favoured Anne Heche, who’d come out as gay dent, president pro tem of the Senate, clients; a pseudo-legislature passing the week before and, in the first flush majority leader, chairman of the Senate bills unread by the people’s represen- of romance, can’t keep their hands off Rules Committee, and prospective first tatives and uncomprehended by the each other even with President Happy First Gentleman raging gay-bashers. As men who claim to have written them; Pants trying to get a piece of the action. the Paula Deens of orientation, maybe and a co-regency of jurists torturing For a man motivated only by a hateful they should all be cancelled. an 18th-century document in order need to harm gays, he’s doing a grand There is something deeply weird, to justify what other countries are at job of covering it up, looking like the not to say grubby and dishonest, about least honest enough to recognize as an guy who decided to splash out for the this. In its imputation of motive to unprecedented novelty. Whether or two-girl special on the last night of the those who disagree with it, this opinion not, per Scalia, we should “condemn” sales convention. Nevertheless, react- is more disreputable than Roe v. Wade the United States Constitution, it might ing to the Supreme Court’s decision, – and with potentially unbounded be time to put the poor wee thing out President Clinton professed himself application. To return to the immigra- of its misery. delighted to have been struck down as tion bill, and all its assurances that a homophobe. those amnestied will “go to the end Mark Steyn is the author of After In his dissent, Justice Scalia wrote of the line” and have to wait longer America: Get Ready for Armageddon. that “to defend traditional marriage is for full-blown green cards and longer © 2013 Mark Steyn

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 9 David Garrett

Full and final settlements?

From the time of its election in 2008 this government has done one thing consistently – pay out large sums of taxpayers’ money to supposedly achieve “full and final” settlements of a plethora of Maori grievances.

Almost every week the galleries of the findings of a Royal Commission King records that Te Puea was so sur- Parliament are filled by one group of support them. prised by Fraser’s generosity that she Maori or another who proceed to sing Back in 1926, the government of urged her chief negotiator to his feet to beautifully as the Bill settling “their” the day set up the Sim Commission accept, before Fraser could change his grievance, supposedly once and for all, – chaired by a Supreme Court Judge mind. Then, in Maori, Te Puea said, is passed into law. – to investigate claims of unjust land according to King: “all is now settled”. Each recently enabling law contains a confiscations in the Waikato, Bay of Similar Acts as that settling the lengthy recitation of what “the Crown” Plenty, and Taranaki. Its report was Tainui confiscation grievance were did wrong all those years ago, and released in 1927, and recommended passed around the same time, settling makes a cringing apology for it. But that annual compensation of about the claims by Taranaki iwi and Ngai that won’t in fact be the end of it, and $500,000 in today’s money be made. Tahu. All of those Acts were over- all the players – including the Attorney For twenty years, nothing happened, turned less than 50 years later, in the General, who is responsible for the and the grievances festered through 1990’s, when it became politically expe- settlements and the laws giving effect another generation. dient for the government of the day to to them – know it. Then, after further pressure from “settle” the grievances once again. First some history. In the 1940’s the Tainui, came the Waikato-Maniapoto It is now claimed that for at least Labour government of the day made Maori Claims Settlement Act of 1946, three reasons, the settlements of the real and genuine efforts to settle Maori which gave force to an agreement 1940’s were invalid: firstly that those grievances which had been festering reached personally between Prime settlements were negotiated with the for years – and they had been, despite Minister Peter Fraser and Princess Te wrong people; and/or they were for the claims of some that Maori “griev- Puea. In his authorized biography Te trifling sums; and/or that the sums ance” is a very recent phenomenon. To Puea, Michael King devotes a chapter agreed upon were eroded by inflation. take just one example, it is quite true to the settlement negotiations, and in None of those three claims stand up to that since their land was confiscated particular the final session, at which scrutiny. after the Land Wars of the 1860’s, Fraser agreed to pay 5000 pounds (a As to the first , it didn’t get any Tainui bitterly protested what they million dollars today) per year for ever, higher than the PM on one side, and claimed was unjust and unlawful con- and an additional 1000 pounds per the undisputed matriarch of her iwi fiscations of land. They were right, and year for 45 years, commencing in 1947. and the most respected Maori leader of her day on the other. As to the “trifling sums” claim, that is clearly nonsense. Now, twenty years on from the settlements of My research shows that in 1946, 6000 pounds was about the value of an average the 90’s, we are still “settling” grievances, and dairy farm, or about $2 million today. still passing laws which can be repealed when It is certainly true that thirty or forty years later, that annual payment the next generation decides to have a crack of 6000 pounds was worth much less, because of inflation. But anyone who

10 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 relied on a fixed income before infla- tion became an established phenom- enon had that problem. People who retired in 1970 on a fixed income of a then comfortable $75 a week from AMP or the Government Life were in real trouble twenty years later, after ten years of double digit inflation. That was just too bad; unless policies were indexed – and most weren’t, because inflation had not been considered – retired people just had to suck it up. Why should Maori grievants be any different? Fast forward fifty years after the grievances had been settled, and the Tainui and other iwi convinced the government of the day that the “settlements” of 50 years earlier weren’t settlements at all; the whole issue was revisited, and millions more taxpayer dollars were paid. In Tainui’s case twice, after they blew the first settle- ment on unwise investments like the Warriors rugby league team. Again, the shiny new settlements were given force in legislation – the laws passed in the 1940’s simply being repealed because they were no longer convenient. But we did not learn the lessons of the 1940’s, and we still haven’t. Those prior settlements could simply be written out of existence because the laws which gave force to them were not “entrenched”; they could be repealed by any government able to muster a simple majority, as any government which is able to remain in office can. the more honest Maori leaders now say ments, it would at least be a signal that Now, twenty years on from the that no generation of Maori can bind this government was serious; that the settlements of the 90’s, we are still the next. Secondly, Finlayson is well settlements of the last 20 years were “settling” grievances, and still pass- aware that the legislation he sponsors intended to be full and final, that this ing laws which can be repealed when now is no more legally durable than was accepted by the grievants, and the next generation decides to have a that passed 50 years ago – these most that any attempt to reopen the can crack. Since National was elected in recent laws can also be repealed by of worms would simply be a venal 2008, Attorney General Chris Fin- any future government with a simply attempt to get more money. layson has proudly sponsored 16 new majority. Why hasn’t this government laws giving effect to settlements, all of There is at least a possible solution entrenched its “settling” Bills? There them trumpeted as being full and final. – entrenching the laws being passed are various answers, none of them He has also – so far – signed 33 Deeds by this government so they cannot be complimentary. Finlayson and his of Settlement which will eventually repealed without a “supermajority” of ilk simply cannot argue, when we go be given effect to by legislation. On – say – 75% of MP’s in favour. Or if we down this path again, that everything National Radio recently, Finlayson really want to be serious, unless there was done at the time to finally close claimed that the current settlements is a popular referendum with a similar the books. Until that is done – as well will not be revisted, yet again, in 40 majority. as our constitutional arrangements years time. In making that claim, he is While legal academic opinion is allows – none of the settlements now at best being disingenuous. divided on just how effective such being made can be considered “full Firstly neither he nor anyone else entrenchment attempts would be and final”. And the Attorney General knows what will happen in 40 years – under our constitutional arrange- knows it.

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 11 The Super-Expensive

HasCITY Auckland Council squandered millions of ratepayer dollars in a property development?

12 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 It’s billed as the biggest urbanisation project in the country, outside of the Christchurch rebuild. A public-private partnership between Auckland City and a major shopping mall developer. But IAN WISHART discovers ratepayer-funded multi- million dollar payments to the developer that the council doesn’t want to talk about, or let the documentation be released, and a developer who says the council has cost them a fortune.

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 13 here was a time, not so substantial landholdings on the north- on the issue, Waitakere City Council v long ago, when anyone ern side of Hobsonville Road, and Estate Homes Limited, was decided by shooting up Auckland’s as anyone driving past the area now the Supreme Court back in 2006. nor’western motorway knows, they are well on the way to con- In fact, on this Massey North site came to a screeching structing what they call “Westgate 2” itself, individual landowners, not halt at the very edge and what the Auckland Council refers affiliated with NZRPG, have been Tof the city. In the rear vision mirror, to as “Massey North”. threatened with huge bills from bright lights, big towers and urban It’s been a largely under-the-radar council if they don’t give up some of sprawl. Through the windscreen, a development, a $1.2 billion plan to their land for future road construction T-junction where the motorway met build a new “town” as part of the new to the council. One resident, a widow Hobsonville Road and just stopped, supercity plan. The Massey North retail warned her bill could be a million dead. Across the road, rabbits frolicked complex will rival the current Sylvia dollars under a principle known as happily amongst the grass, while the Park Mall in size, most of it in under- ‘betterment’, complained to Mayor Len trees in ancient backyard orchards cover shopping unlike neighbouring Brown, while on the other hand fellow dangled juicy apples and sweet peaches Westgate. When Auckland Mayor Len landowner Cannuck Holdings Ltd – a from gnarly branches on trunks resem- Brown and the Government’s Hous- company related to NZRPG – managed bling contemporaries of Methuselah. ing Minister Nick Smith talked up the to get the council to agree in writing Not so long ago. housing supply on the city fringes, that “the Council will acquire that part Then, in the 1990s, on the city side of Massey North was one of the areas of the CHL land required for road- Hobsonville Road, developers carved they were referring to. widening under PWA [Public Works up sleepy hollows, booted out the sheep But here’s where it gets interesting. Act] and will compensate CHL for the and gave us Westgate: the city limits The Massey North development land taken.” shopping mall. Unlike the Westfield turns out to be a “public/private part- So why, you may well wonder, have malls that feature all-weather covered nership” between NZRPG and the city Auckland city ratepayers been asked to shopping, Westgate was a giant carpark council. For “council”, read “ratepay- fork out around $7 million to pay for rimmed by big retailers. ers”. And according to critics who’ve a street within the existing Westgate The developers behind the project, approached Investigate with internal Mall that was built some 15 or so years New Zealand Retail Property Group council reports, this PPP appears to be ago? Great question, the story goes (NZRPG), housed bigger ambitions, a sweet deal for the “private” side of the somewhat like this: however. The prime mover behind partnership. According to an internal council NZRPG is Auckland businessman As anyone who has ever subdivided report, New Zealand Retail Property Mark Gunton. Nearly 87% of the land knows, part of the cost of subdivi- Group ran into financial difficulties company is owned by a trust associ- sion consent is setting aside areas of during the planning for the Massey ated with Gunton. Aside from West- “reserve” that the council can have, North development. They needed to gate, NZRPG own the Highbury and and paying to construct roads within sell assets quick to raise money. To Milford shopping centres on Auck- the subdivision that will then also vest help fund Massey North, they asked land’s north shore and Fraser Cove in in the council. Auckland City Council to buy 6,000 or Tauranga. The way it works is the developer so square metres of internal roadway It is the meadowland at what was the coughs up for the cost of internal roads inside the existing Westgate Mall for end of the Northwestern Motorway for the subdivision, and if council between $6m and $7m. That’s a stonk- that is slated to become the jewel in requires any of them to be built to ing great $1,000 per square metre of NZRPG’s crown, however. higher, arterial road standard, the coun- roadway. The council didn’t have to Over the past decade, NZRPG and cil pays the difference in cost. It’s not buy it, because that road had long ago associated interests have purchased rocket science, and the leading test case been built and paid for. Nonetheless,

14 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 council went ahead with the purchase, although to date they are resisting numerous requests to disclose publicly precisely how much they paid. Curiously, the internal council report reveals that the valuations were based on ordinary values of countryside in the wider area. If true, that would mean two-hectare (20,000m2) lifestyle blocks in nearby Kumeu should be selling for $20 million, not $500,000. On the face of it, suggest complainants, clearly, something isn’t right. Why did ratepayers make effectively a $7 million gift to a private developer by purchas- ing an internal thoroughfare originally built and paid for back in the 1990s? The internal council report speaks the answer this way: “It’s for the public property developers to get even richer? their plans to what they apparently good”. The way council sees it, they’d It’s a good question. Mall developers knew was around the corner. prefer to pay millions to developers in are not the ordinary breed of subdi- The $7 million paid for an existing public-private partnerships who can’t vider, they’re like the SAS of the con- internal street within the Westgate meet their obligations, than see lynch- struction sector, with a special ability Mall is merely the tip of the iceberg pin projects like Massey North delayed. to get planning dispensation on things when it comes to what the critics label There was a risk, officials told council- mere mortals and ordinary rich-listers ‘corporate welfare’, however. Ratepay- lors, that the entire project could col- would find impossible. ers are being asked for fork out around lapse if NZRPG did not get some quick “If you wanted a nuclear power plant $30 million in total to NZRPG, accord- cash from the council. built in the city, these guys could get ing to internal council reports. The consent to do it,” remarked Mt Wel- council claims NZRPG was upfront n the one hand, it’s an argu- lington resident Brent Murdoch, only about being in financial difficulties and ment that is hard to argue half-jokingly, to The Aucklander back needing the council to buy some of Owith. The new mall complex, in 2010. Murdoch was opposed to plan- its assets. The question is, what were at 77,000m2, will rival Sylvia Park and ning consents allowing Sylvia Park’s those “assets” really worth? provide hundreds of local jobs, as well owner, the Kiwi Income Property The council report gives as an as increase the value of properties in the Trust, to build 20 storey office blocks example a 1500m2 site in the proposed rural northwest of Auckland by bring- on its site. Massey North development suitable ing such a huge shopping hub so close. Mark Gunton’s NZRPG, likewise, for a town library. “NZRPG values With Auckland’s controversial draft hit local bite-back from North Shore the library land at over $1.8 million, unitary plan hanging on city limits residents when he announced plans to whereas Council’s valuation is $0.59 developments like this, it is easy to see build similar towers above the Mil- million”. For anyone who can’t do the why it’s become a political cause as well. ford shopping centre. Of course, now math, NZRPG wanted three times But on the other hand, critics argue, “at that the draft unitary plan has been more for the land than council had what price?” unveiled with its blueprints for multi- valued it at. Other developers, they say, are not storey buildings all along suburban But again, here’s where it gets getting multi-million dollar hand- streets throughout Auckland, the wider interesting. Even at the lower level, outs from ratepayers. Why should the agenda has started to become clear – the council is clearly valuing land in public pay the city council’s favoured these developers were simply adjusting Massey North at around $400,000 per

The $7 million paid for an existing internal street within the Westgate Mall is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what the critics label ‘corporate welfare’, however. Ratepayers are being asked for fork out around $30 million in total to NZRPG, according to internal council reports

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 15 1000m2, or $4m per hectare. That’s a crisis in full swing, Westgate Power Massey North involved tearing down massive increase on existing lifestyle Centre was in trouble. the massive overhead Transpower block prices, by a factor of about 20x. “The cheques are still in the mail for pylon lines, and re-routing the electric- So what are we to make of NZRPG long-suffering minority shareholders ity supply underground. Normally, then asking ratepayers to fork out three in Westgate Power Centre, although as anyone who has built on a lifestyle times more than the already inflated investors have been hearing that story block can attest, the subdivider or council valuation? for some time,” wrote Fairfax’s Greg new home builder pays the cost of any Auckland councillors were informed Ninness in February 2011. power assets required, and then “gifts” that the council had calculated NZR- “Minority shareholders in the those assets to the lines company. PG’s assets on offer “valued at pre PC15 company, which owns the Westgate [Plan Change 15, the official moniker Power Centre in Auckland and Fraser n the case of Massey North, how- for Massey North] zoning levels, ie, as Cove Shopping Centre in Tauranga, ever, the Council ended up on the Countryside Environment. If Council were supposed to have their shares Iwrong end of a deal to pay a large seeks to purchase these assets after the redeemed for cash by the company’s chunk of the $17 million cost of putting town centre is built then the price will majority shareholder, NZ Retail Prop- the Transpower lines underground. be significantly higher.” erty Group, in February 2009. The first two million dollars was paid Really? “But NZRPG, which is majority by council, with the balance of $15 mil- If the library land was valued at ordi- owned by interests associated with lion supposed to be paid on completion nary “countryside” levels, that would directors Bryce Donne and Mark in a 65/35 split between NZRPG and make a 10 hectare lifestyle block in Gunton, did not have the $12 million the Council respectively. Nearly ten Auckland worth around $40 million, in cash required and defaulted on the million dollars was supposed to be paid not the two million or so that most payment. Since then, the company has by NZRPG, and a little over $5 million people would pay. It appears obvious embarked on a major asset-sale pro- was the council’s share. Nonetheless, even the council’s valuation was way gramme, selling individual retail units because of NZRPG’s financial plight, off the mark. If you then go on and at both Westgate and Fraser Cove, but Auckland ratepayers had to pay the full accept NZRPG’s valuation of land for so far the minority shareholders are yet whack to Transpower, because when sale to ratepayers, then you are saying a to see any of the cash. the bill fell due NZRPG was allegedly 10 hectare lifestyle block is worth $120 “In December [2010] Gunton said not able to pay it. million. he expected to send shareholders their Now, this electricity deal to put the Normally when a company is in overdue cheques by December 22, lines underground is also fascinating for financial difficulty and wants to flick meaning they would have had them for another reason, critics have told Inves- off assets quickly, they go cheaper, not Christmas. ‘It will be nice to clap them tigate. Transpower has a requirement three times higher. To understand on the shoulder and say there’s your known as its “Corridor Management NZRPG’s financial situation when money back’, Gunton said at the time. Policy” which forbids constructing this was going down, you only have to But the cheques never arrived.” buildings directly underneath high volt- examine the news stories. Soon after that article was printed age pylon lines. These overhead lines cut NZRPG had set up a subsidiary com- in the Sunday Star-Times in February a massive swathe through the proposed pany called Westgate Power Centre to 2011, the cheques did finally arrive. It Massey North township, which you will hold its existing Westgate mall assets, goes to show just how tight things were recall is a project valued at $1.2 billion. but in 2009 with the global financial for NZRPG, as it tried to negotiate a The added value to NZRPG’s land of share buyback and the costs associated getting those overhead lines removed, with planning for Massey North. and thus allowing shops and houses Clearly, NZRPG was bleeding money to be built in what would have been at this period in time, which makes its Transpower’s “corridor”, may have far property and infrastructure deals with exceeded the $17 million cost of putting the Auckland Council fascinating. the high tension lines underground, Part of the construction project for so critics have asked in their official

In the case of Massey North, however, the Council ended up on the wrong end of a deal to pay a large chunk of the $17 million cost of putting the Transpower lines underground

16 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 complaints why ratepayers have had to fork out any of that money when the commercial capital gain benefit clearly lay with NZRPG. One of the other deals done was for Council to contract NZRPG to carry out infrastructure development work for the Council in the Massey North project. Critics have told the coun- cil that normally such big contracts involving public money are put out to competitive tender, but in this case that did not happen and the Ombudsman is investigating a rival developer’s allega- tion that the contract again involves much higher payments to the NZRPG- led consortium than normal.

o put it in simple terms, critics say, the developer of the land – Thaving agreed to sell a chunk of land to the Council for its public works purposes, then offers to act as the Council’s project manager or head contractor on site, arranging for sub- contractors to come and work on the Council areas. The Council, instead of bringing in a project manager/ head contractor entirely separate from everyone else or putting the job out to tender, accepts NZRPG’s offer and agrees to pay them a management fee of 8.5% of the value of the work done. If this were a Disney movie, say crit- ics, Auckland Council would be the foolish Pinocchio, accepting too much uncritically. Auckland Council has publicly indi- cated it is investing $300 million in the approved the contract wording, there edly done the same kind of work for Massey North development and nearby was no requirement for the earthworks $3.25 per cubic metre, according to areas, which is a huge amount of rate- to be put to competitive tender. So an official complaint on the Massey payer funding. Two hundred million NZRPG just happened to appoint A North project. When you are moving of that ratepayers’ cash is exclusively & R Earthmovers Ltd, a company also hundreds of thousands of cubic metres being spent at Massey North alone. The directed by Bryce Donne and sharing of earth or more, these things make a total value of the Massey North devel- the same registered office as NZRPG, difference. If you as a head contractor opment is said to be $1.2 billion. to do the earthworks. Although Donne are earning an 8.5% fee on $10 per cubic One of the NZRPG project contracts is no longer a director of NZRPG he metre, it is considerably more than was signed by then-NZRPG director remains a shareholder in the company. the 8.5% fee you might have earned if Bryce Donne, and the contract pro- In other words, the actual size in a cheaper subcontractor had done the vided for NZRPG to act as Council’s dollar terms of the NZRPG 8.5% fee same work at $3.25 a unit. agent in getting earthworks done on was dependent on the actual cost of the None of this is illegal or even the massive site. Even though NZRPG earthworks, and the earthworks were immoral, and you can’t blame private had no significant background in being done by a related company, argu- enterprise – when given a blank cheque doing civil works for councils or gov- ably at high prices according to critics. to play with – for taking advantage ernment, it would earn that previously- Earthmoving costs, for example, of commercial opportunities. It’s not mentioned 8.5% management fee on the have been listed at a rate of $10 per the job of private enterprise to babysit value of the contracted works. cubic metre for “bulk cut to stockpile”, the Council through sharp contrac- Although the Council and its lawyers but other contractors have report- tual negotiations, but with millions of

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 17 vide or develop a property. In Auck- land city’s urban areas, those charges exceed $20,000 if you wish to split your section in two. Of course, those costs are eventually passed on to housebuy- ers or tenants, so the Council’s argu- ment is that it can afford big payouts to NZRPG because Aucklanders can foot the bill later. With plans to allow much more infill housing in Auckland, you can see how the Council stands to potentially make a lot of money, and how Aucklanders’ wallets will be tapped to cover the massive expenses of Massey North. The critics say that while there may turn out to be reasonable explanations for why private companies associated with NZRPG are apparently being paid well above market rates for their work, ratepayers cannot assess the reason- ableness unless they are given access to the documents.

gain, blame for this, if blame is eventually apportioned, rests Aentirely with Council. There’s a principle in law called “contributory negligence”, which means that if you lose money because you were not care- ful, it is your fault. Council knew the rules regarding its stewardship of pub- lic monies, Council took legal advice, Council agreed to the contracts. Even dollars in ratepayer funding at issue did take independent advice to ensure the critics say they admire NZRPG’s the critics believe there’s a potentially it was getting value for money. business acumen in getting contracts massive conflict of interest and have Internal council reports indicate it so advantageous out of a civil works protested to council, the Auditor- has attempted to justify its special pay- project. It is the Council that is respon- General and the Ombudsman asking ments in regard to Massey North. For sible for any wastage of public money if to see the contract and independent example, it says it offered millions for it exists, and responsible ultimately for valuation documents, and proof that the street in the existing Westgate Mall the contracts it signs. there was a transparent, independent because it will form part of the bus There’s another angle to this as well. tender process at all levels of the vari- route into the new town. Release of the council documents would ous contracts. The council is refusing The Council also argues it can claw show for certain just how much ratepay- to hand over the information, citing back the money it needs from develop- ers have actually paid to NZRPG for its commercial sensitivity. ment contributions from ratepayers land. Now that NZRPG has just onsold The Council admits that although in coming years. These are “contribu- sold four hectares of that land – the des- competitive tenders were not held in tions” that landowners are required to ignated shopping mall land - to another key parts of the contracts, it argues it make to council every time they subdi- property developer for $25 million, or

The Council admits that although competitive tenders were not held in key parts of the contracts, it argues it did take independent advice to ensure it was getting value for money

18 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 $625 per square metre, it will be easy “Absolutely! We’ve got a lovely shop- a requirement because they needed to to see whether ratepayers got a good ping centre at Westgate that we were buy the road to get parallel access to deal in their purchase of the $7 mil- perfectly entitled to develop into a the motorway system. The agony they lion Westgate Mall street for a reported mall [on its current site], and Council had was that it was our ‘Main Street’ $1,000 per square metre, or the $17 arrived in our offices in January 2002 not theirs.” million Council agreed to pay NZRPG and said ‘Don’t do that, let’s build a Mark Gunton says the asset prices for land used for the new town square, town’. And we have travelled that jour- were based on the overall cost of the library site and roads. ney now for eleven and a half years at development and the cost of servicing Investigate magazine is aware that all no small cost as you can imagine. bank loans. this is a sensitive issue inside Auckland “We’re terribly frustrated that the “We have resource consents now for City Council headquarters. So much so process has taken so long that only now some 200-odd thousand square metres that Council asked the Crown solici- are we anticipating being able to build of retail and town centre develop- tor’s office, Meredith Connell & Co, to something in what is a Council-deter- ment, and we’d like to think we will investigate the allegations surrounding mined outcome. It’s their plan, right? commence building that this spring. I the NZRPG contracts. We know that a People moan and groan, but the reality mean, it’s a town so it will go on for a number of critics were never contacted is the Council sat with us for eleven long time. in that investigation, and we know that and a half years and ground us through “Just bear in mind in terms of the the Council is now refusing to release a comprehensive development plan, road purchase – they are buying a fully the results of that investigation as well. and determined that the outcome they developed, sealed and paved road. wanted here was a town of some sub- They’re not buying a bit of land. Coun- ith the National Govern- stance, and we have staggered, punch- cil never willy-nilly just write a cheque ment urging more “public- drunk, from one crisis to another. It’s out for what somebody wants. Wprivate partnerships” for been a long torturous process. “The fact of the matter is, we’ve spent major infrastructure projects around “Now, looking at the purchase of north of $70 million standing the test New Zealand, ratepayers in Auckland Westgate Street, it would have been of time over eleven and a half years of and elsewhere run a risk of incurring done on the basis of an independent the planning process to deliver an out- big financial bills that benefit the cho- valuation. I would doubt that Council come that they requested we undertake sen private partners, if there is not full would agree to acquisition without that with them through a Memorandum of commercial transparency. happening.” Understanding that we signed in 2004 With all this in mind, Investigate As for the alleged $7m price? for God’s sake. The Council should not asked Auckland Mayor Len Brown to “Mate, they got a bargain. The leverage feel aggrieved about this, we are the comment on the apparent high pay- that was applied by Council to get the ones who feel the aggrieved party in ments to NZRPG and its associates in deals done, we had no choice over, but I this whole process.” the Massey North project. The mayor’s would argue till I’m blue in the face that In regard to the cost of under- team refused to make him available. they got very well-priced assets. grounding the Transpower powerlines, By now, you may be thinking, “We didn’t go to them and say ‘Buy Gunton is equally adamant: this town like us, that the council has some the road and save our soul’, they had idea was Council’s, not his, and Coun- explaining to do. Thankfully, even if the Council was running for cover, NZRPG was not, and agreed to answer the claims from critics. Director Mark Gunton says he wasn’t aware of complaints to the Ombuds- man or the Auditor-General, nor had the Council ever briefed him on what it wrote in its internal report from May 2009 – the one where the council wrote it was buying the assets because “NZRPG has informed Council it is having trouble funding the overall proj- ect and this is one of the reasons they have asked Council to buy the assets.” Gunton isn’t impressed at the way Council portrayed it. The whole idea of building a town at Massey North was Council’s, not his, and was in return for NZRPG not building further on the existing Westgate site.

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 19 cil should have worn the full cost. As it proper checks and balances were in were refusing to refinance in light of is, he says NZRPG will be honouring place. He rejects criticisms of the A&R the global financial crash. its commitment to pay the 9.75 million Earthmoving contract prices, saying “No bank in its right mind was going outstanding. that in the end they’ve come in signifi- to fund anybody at that time to replace “We have reached an agreement cantly under the original quoted costs, equity with debt.” with Council in terms of payment, and and that the independent oversight put Gunton says the same pressures were that’s privy to Council. I’m sure if they in place ensured no conflicts of interest coming on NZRPG over council delays want to release it they can. We have actually arose. in sorting out planning permission an obligation to pay that money and “Their brief initially was to look for during the supercity transition. The have agreed to do that. But I deeply evidence of fraud, misappropriation, project had begun in 2002, and by 2009 resent having to pay it. This is a town malfeasance, bad-faith dealings, all there wasn’t even a hole in the ground centre development which the Council that sort of thing. My understanding to show for it. “They were saying ‘how have very much been in control of the is that the report eventually concluded long is this piece of string guys? We process for the last 11 years and we’ve that our deal set an example of how do not want to continue to fund this been dragged kicking and scream- these things should actually be under- debacle that you’ve got into in terms of ing through a planning process, for taken in the future. the planning process’. something they actually came to us “We entered a process with Council “Hindsight’s always 20/20. If I had and wanted, not something we actually in 2002. The issue I have is – God bless known back in 2002 that I was going went to them and said ‘let’s do this’.” Rodney Hide for creating the supercity, to be dragged kicking and screaming but it just stalled everything into a through a process that’s taken longer unton sighs the sigh of a prop- nonsensical environment. So we have – given it was Council’s idea to do this erty developer who literally suffered the planning nightmares for – than it took Kiwi [Income Property Gfeels like he’s in an Auckland eleven and half years in a process that Trust] to do Sylvia Park in terms of City Council version of ‘Groundhog the Council came to us initially and planning, I would have never entered Day’, just another chapter in a 138 asked as to party-up with them to do. the process. I would have just built month neverending story where the The last five years have been a lost half- what we needed to build here [at West- weather changes but the situation is a-decade, and it’s been a pretty hard gate]. Every week there’s a new planner always strangely the same. road to hoe. turning up with a new idea of how the “What you need to get hold of,” he “Along the way we’ve sold $70 million world should turn. assures me after a moment, “is a report worth of property to fund the dream “As the Chinese proverbs would say, undertaken by Meredith Connell in [while waiting for planning approval] so ‘an interesting experience’.” 2010-11, undertaken at the behest of we’ve done our fair share, mate.” NZRPG’s General Manager, Camp- the council and engaging, I think, five Part of the reason NZRPG was in any bell Barbour, says the controversy lawyers for six weeks in the Crown financial difficulty was because of the surrounding Massey North is largely law office, reviewing the totality of the Council’s grand plans, Gunton says. because the development is unique. contractual package and suite of docu- Instead of allowing NZRPG to expand It is not just a routine subdivision, he ments that we entered into with the the existing Westgate Mall and provide says, as critics try to compare it to: Council. the financial growth that would have “It’s bespoke, because this was a mas- “It makes really interesting reading. repaid small investors, that income ter plan building a new town, a public- I don’t have a copy, but I have had sec- stream was put on hold for the long private partnership type of arrange- tions read to me.” term development of the new town. ment, so the traditional approach Gunton says the report, which as The initial investor bonds for the first where council is a regulatory body and previously noted Council has not Westgate Mall were paid back in 2008, the developer is some sort of private released, confirms that the contracts but further instalments that fell due in individual – they just never would have were proper and above board and that 2009 couldn’t be paid because banks got there.

Part of the reason NZRPG was in any financial difficulty was because of the Council’s grand plans. Instead of allowing NZRPG to expand the existing Westgate Mall and provide the financial growth that would have repaid small investors, that income stream was put on hold for the long term development of the new town

20 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 “There had to be a degree of coopera- tion, and the parties throwing stones over the fence at us don’t understand that if it wasn’t for that cooperative, collegiate approach the land would not have been zoned, the land would not have been developed, and there wouldn’t have been a town centre. “The councils have been burnt with the likes of Albany, where there was a lot of council money poured into North Shore’s commercial node at Albany but the outcome is basically a lot of roads, a big mall and some bulk retail. It hasn’t produced the civic realm that they were looking for or the town form. “At the end of the day, the owner of the existing Westgate shopping centre could have sat there, as Mark was say- ing to you, not cooperate with any- thing, and build a bloody big mall on his site, and there wouldn’t be a town.”

o just how big is the Massey North town going to be? The SNZRPG town centre develop- ment covers some 50 hectares, and is mostly commercial and retail, but it is being built to service the new residen- tial construction scheduled to take place in Kumeu and Huapai. “There’s a relatively small sprinkling of residential development within Massey North,” says Barbour, “but this project is really designed to service the catchment that’s grown in the area over the last twenty years and the catchment predicted for the next twenty years.” That catchment, if Len Brown’s uni- tary plan vision goes ahead will include 20,000 to 30,000 new homes in Kumeu “Waitakere Council said ‘No, you held them in private ownership and Taukapi over the next 20 or so buy the land Mark, you carry the cost [instead of selling to Council], what years. In the old days, you would call of time, you carry the cost of plan- you would have is Disneyland, not a that a ‘city’ with a population between ning, and we’ll provide the outcome by town,” says Barbour. 40-80,000 people. masterplanning the town, and you will So there it rests. The supercity’s con- “There’s really no normal approach deliver the outcome. We historically struction of a satellite city at Westgate to this,” remarks Barbour, “because owned the roads through Westgate may be proceeding on site, but its pros no private developer has ever built a Mall and were quite happy to continue and cons are hotly contested and as town, and never was going to. The civic to do so. I mean, my dream is to be a blueprint for future private-public component, the standard and quality, the old man who runs up the street col- partnerships the critics would like this is not a subdivision, this is not just lecting the threepenny bits out of the more openness surrounding access to building a road to subdivision stan- parking meters.” documentation. dards, this is building the Queen Street Gunton says Council chose to buy Intriguingly, both NZRPG and its of Northwest Auckland for the future.” the Westgate mall street because it critics are calling for Council to release That, says NZRPG’s Gunton, is why needed the road to help service the new the Meredith Connell investigation the prices were higher: more engineer- town. into the deal, to silence the debate once ing, more cost. “If we had built all the roads and and for all.

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 21 Why Obama’s Scandals are worse than Watergate

Commander ‘n CHEAT 22 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 23 Amid new revelations about state surveillance, HAL G. P. COLEBATCH fears we are sliding towards totalitarianism as freedoms are chipped away

n his inauguration speech of henchmen’s encouragement it would to be cutting the cords of national 1981, US President Ronald Rea- never have happened. unity that held the Western system of gan stated: The day after the Benghazi massacre values together. Its Government has “We are a country that has a Obama promised, almost as a mat- already acquired a Third-World look. government – not the other way ter of course, that the killers would be US Professor of Law Warren L. Dean round.” brought to justice. It was an open and has written, comparing the present IRS IThe gulf between these sentiments openly-accepted lie. No one believed scandal – targeting Republican, Tea and the style of the Obama adminis- him and of course nothing has been Party and other anti-‘Democrat and tration is a stark illustration of how done. Dr Afridi, who made possible the anti-Obama groups – to Watergate, the strongest and proudest of political execution of Osama bin Laden, is still the only recent US scandal of even cultures can go rotten in a few years. a tortured prisoner in a Pakistani jail. remotely comparable magnitude: The Obama administration has given There is no evidence of a determined “This is far worse than the burglary up even attempting to hide its corrup- US effort to free him apart from feeble at the Watergate in Washington. This tion and its perversion of the US execu- diplomatic protests, though the US particular offense was directed at tradi- tive power for political ends. certainly had the requisite “soft power” tional, law-abiding Americans all over Even its poodle-in-chief, The New if it cares to deploy it. the country and involved chilling and York Times, has at last come to find it These might be simply matters of widespread abuses of federal power. indefensible in its abuse of the taxation bad and weak government. However, “Another important difference is service. the Obama administration’s blatant that the Watergate burglars were not There is no doubt that the US – and and admitted misuse of the taxation government employees. No govern- this flows on to affect its friends and system to punish political opponents is ment agency was implicated in the allies as well – is suffering the worst something new and deadly dangerous initial break-in. This time around, the and most openly criminal government in Western politics. misconduct is taking place in what may in the history of the Republic in mod- What was perhaps the greatest be the most powerful — and feared — ern times, and probably the worst ever. source of strength for the English- government agency in the country. To The vital factor of confidence in the speaking peoples during the Cold War, ordinary Americans, it looks like the institutions of government has been, and indeed in World War II before IRS spent taxpayer money to conduct a in the US, drastically undermined at that, was a generally-accepted feel- potentially criminal enterprise directed a time when it has seldom been more ing that their governments – of which at the Americans who pay their salary. needed. that of the United States was the most It was not only wrong, it was a betrayal It is hard to know if Obama him- important – were, on the whole and of the public’s trust in government. self is a deeply incompetent amateur, despite the shortcomings of certain At this stage, the IRS scandal is far unaware of the consequences of his individuals, fair, honest and incorrupt. more serious than the initial Watergate actions, or a deliberate wrecker, though This enabled the West to not only sur- break-in. a certain strain of cunning suggests the vive the age of the Totalitarian State, “It is also clumsier, if that’s possible. latter. but to emerge from it victorious and The head of the IRS office responsible At present no “smoking gun” links still largely free. for the misconduct tried to get ahead him directly to the scandals and This was not, of course, a general of the report of the inspector general abuse of government instrumentali- human condition. It made the Eng- with a planted question-and-answer at ties but that is not necessary, just as lish-speaking countries and what is a bar association meeting. There, she no document links Hitler directly to loosely known as “The West”, largely apologized for what she described as the Holocaust: everyone knows who is exceptional. activities that were “wrong.” She then responsible. Without Obama and his The Obama administration appears insisted to Congress that she had done

24 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 nothing “wrong,” and then pleaded the Fifth Amendment” [Refusing to answer on the grounds that it might tend to incriminate her]. “Her perfor- mance made Nixon’s plumbers look like surgeons.” More might be said: Watergate reached the proportion it did because it was part of a political brawl in which a President, in the midst of a difficult war, showed excessive loyalty to his own Party workers and, not unreason- ably in the circumstances, confused political opposition with national treason. To repeat Professor Dean’s point, no government employees were involved. Nixon, a veteran of World War II, had some reason at the time of Watergate for thinking “Anything goes” but at bottom Nixon’s motives, however clumsily he handled the situ- ation, were to safeguard US interests, not to institutionalise the use of the US Government in his own interests and those of his cronies against the opposition. Presidents John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton, among others, were involved in playing pool at least as dirty as Nixon, but none of them sought to debauch the institu- tions of the US Government against the people of America for their own ends. With the Obama administra- tion’s abuse of the IRS, we are seeing noting less than a coup d’etat against the republic. In Robert Bolt’s play A Man for All Seasons there is a famous passage in where the young lawyer, Roper, says he would cut down every law to get to the Devil. Sir Thomas More asks him who would protect him then when the Devil turned upon him, all the laws being down. The situations are not exactly parallel, but the lesson is the same in both: without the rule of law, which means the universally-respected rule of law, no-one in the whole State, or indeed the life of the State itself, is safe.

The Obama administration appears to be cutting the cords of national unity that held the Western system of values together. Its Government has already acquired a Third-World look

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 25 COMMENTARY The Rise of THIRD PARTIES Why a sneering media are increasingly out of touch with the public

WORDS BY MARK STEYN

t’s all but impossible to launch a new not three opponents but also a fourth – a media political party under America’s elec- that have almost universally derided the party as toral arrangements, and extremely easy a sinkhole of nutters and cranks. UKIP’s leader, to do so under European proportional the boundlessly affable Nigel Farage, went to P. G. representation. The UK’s Westminster Wodehouse’s old high school, Dulwich College, first-past-the-post system puts the task and to a sneering metropolitan press, Farage’s Isomewhere in between: tough, but not entirely party is a déclassé Wodehousean touring com- the realm of fantasy. The Labour party came into pany mired in an elysian England that never was, being at the dawn of the 20th century, and formed populated only by golf-club duffers, halfwit toffs, its first government in 1924. The United Kingdom rustic simpletons, and hail-fellow-well-met bores Independence party was born in 1993 and now, a from the snug of the village pub. When I shared a mere two decades later, is on the brink of … well, platform with him in Toronto a few months back, okay, not forming its first government, but it did Mr. Farage explained his party’s rise by citing not do eerily well in May’s local elections. The Liberals Wodehouse but another Dulwich old boy, the late were reduced to their all-time lowest share of the British comic Bob Monkhouse: “They all laughed vote, the Tories to their lowest since 1982, and for when I said I’d become a comedian. Well, they’re the first time ever, none of the three “mainstream” not laughing now.” parties cracked 30 percent: Labour had a good The British media spent 20 years laughing at night with 29, the Conservatives came second at 25, UKIP. But they’re not laughing now – not when and nipping at their heels was the United Kingdom one in four electors takes them seriously enough Independence party with 23 percent. to vote for them. So, having dismissed him as a They achieved this impressive result against joke, Fleet Street now warns that Farage uses his

26 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 famous sense of humor as a sly cover for his dark totalitarian agenda – the same well-trod path to power used by other famous quipsters and gag- merchants such as Adolf Hitler, whose Nurem- berg open-mike nights were legendary. “Nigel Farage is easy to laugh at … that means he’s dangerous,” declared the Independent. The Mirror warned of an “unfulfilled capacity for evil.” “Stop laughing,” ordered Jemma Wayne in the British edition of the Huffington Post. “Farage would lead us back to the dark ages.” The more the “mainstream” shriek about how mad, bad, and dangerous UKIP is, the more they sound like the ones who’ve come unhinged. UKIP is pronounced “You-kip,” kip being Brit slang for “sleep.” When they write the book on how we came to this state of affairs, they’ll call it While England Kipped. A complacent elite assured itself that UKIP would remain an irritating protest vote, but that’s all. It was born in 1993 to protest the Maastricht treaty, the point at which a continent-wide “common market” finally cast off the pretense of being an economic arrangement and announced itself as a “European Union,” a pseudo-state complete with “European citizenship.” The United Kingdom Independence party was just that: a liberation movement. Its founder, a man who knew something about incoherent Euro-polities, was the Habsburg-history specialist Alan Sked, who now dismisses the party as a bunch of “fruitcakes.” As old-time Perotistas will understand, new move- ments are prone to internecine feuds. UKIP briefly fell under the spell of the oleaginous telly huckster Robert Kilroy-Silk, who subsequently quit to found a party called “Veritas,” which he has since also quit. But Farage was there at the founding, as UKIP’s first-ever parliamentary candidate. In 1994, a rising star of the Tory party, Stephen Mil- ligan, was found dead

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 27 on his kitchen table, with a satsuma and an Ecstasy tab in his mouth, and naked except for three lady’s stock- ings, two on his legs and one on his arm. In his entertaining book, one of the few political memoirs one can read without forcing oneself to finish, Farage has a melancholy reflection on Milligan’s bizarrely memorable end: “It was the sad destiny … of this former President of the Oxford Union to contribute more to public awareness – albeit of a very arcane nature – by the manner of his death than by his work in life.” That’s to say, the late Mr. Milligan more or less singlehandedly planted the practice of “auto-erotic asphyxiation” in the public conscious- ness – since when (as John O’Sullivan suggested here a while back) the Tory party seems to have embraced it as a political philosophy. At the time, Milligan’s death enabled a by-election in the constituency of Eastleigh. Farage stood for UKIP, got 952 votes (or 1.4 percent), and narrowly beat the perennial fringe candidate Screaming Lord Sutch of the Monster Raving Loony party, which, in a percep- tive insight into the nature of govern- ment, was demanding more than one Monopolies Commission (the British equivalent of the Antitrust Division). While waiting for the count, Lord Sutch said, “Oi, Nige. Let’s go for a drink, shall we? The rest of this lot are a bunch of wankers.” In the BBC footage of the announcement of the results, Mr. Far- age appears to be flushed and swaying slightly. Let Kilroy-Silk split to form a breakaway party called Veritas; Farage is happy to be in vino. He is a prodigious drinker and smoker. I can personally testify to the former after our Toronto appearance. As to the latter, not even

In 2010, Farage became a global Internet sensation by raining on the EU’s most ridiculous parade – the inaugural appearance by the first supposed “President of Europe”. “Who are you?” demanded Farage from his seat in the European Parliament during President van Rompuy’s address thereto. “No one in Europe has ever heard of you.”

28 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 Obama can get away with that in public. This is rude, and to Britain’s hor- London for a long time and still get to But Farage does. rified chattering classes, appallingly Britain every few months, but I can The wobbly boozer turned out to “xenophobic.” But it’s not altogether barely tell any of these guys apart. They be the steady hand at the tiller UKIP unwarranted. Mr. van Rompuy is look the same, dress the same, talk the needed. He was elected (via propor- one of those chaps “no one has ever same. The equivalent British shorthand tional representation) to the European heard of” who nevertheless decide for “the Beltway” is “the Westminster Parliament, which for the aspir- everything that matters. As M. le village,” which accurately conveys both ing Brit politician is Siberia with an Président remarked casually, “2009 is its size and its parochialism but not expense account. Then, in 2010, Farage the first year of global governance.” perhaps the increasingly Stepfordesque became a global Internet sensation by I don’t remember getting the memo quality of its inhabitants. The Labour, raining on the EU’s most ridiculous on that, and it’s not altogether clear, Liberal, and Tory leaders all came off parade – the inaugural appearance if one chances to differ with Mr. van the assembly line within 20 minutes by the first supposed “President of Rompuy, where one would go to vote it of each other in the 1960s and, before Europe,” not a popularly elected or down. So if it takes a barrage of cheap they achieved their present ascen- even parliamentarily accountable invective from Farage followed by a dancy, worked only as consultants, figure but just another backroom deal fine for lèse-majesté to make the face- special advisers, public-relations men. by the commissars of Eutopia. The new less transnational hacks into household One of them did something at the “President” was revealed to be, after names, bring it on. European Commission, another was the usual Franco-German stitch-up, something to do with a think tank for a fellow from Belgium called Her- ot everyone feels the same. As social justice – the non-jobs that now man van Rompuy. “Who are you?” the aforementioned Jemma serve as political apprenticeships. The demanded Farage from his seat in the NWayne wrote, “To see politi- men waiting to succeed them are also European Parliament during President cians and voters fleeing to the UKIP all the same. There are mild varia- van Rompuy’s address thereto. “No camp is therefore a terrible indictment tions in background – this one went one in Europe has ever heard of you.” of Britain’s zeitgeist.” Which sounds to Eton, that one is heir to an Irish Which was quite true. One day, Mr. like the plonkingly humorless Miss baronetcy – but once they determine van Rompuy was an obscure Belgian, Wayne’s characteristically leaden way on a life in politics they all lapse into the next he was an obscure Belgian of acknowledging that there might the same smarmy voice, and they all with a business card reading “President be something to the late Lord Sutch’s hold the same opinions, on everything of Europe.” But, as is his wont, Nigel assertion that “the rest of this lot are from the joys of gay marriage and the warmed to his theme and told Presi- a bunch of wankers.” As I understand vibrant contributions of Islam to the dent van Rompuy that he had “the cha- it, at some point in the last decade vital necessity of wind farms and the risma of a damp rag and the appear- a Labour prime minister exited 10 historical inevitability of the EU. And ance of a low-grade bank clerk.” A few Downing Street by the back door and they sound even more alike on the stuff days later, having conferred in their a Conservative prime minister came they stay silent on – ruinous welfare, inner sanctum, the Eurocrats ordered in through the front. And yet noth- transformative immigration, a once- Farage to make a public apology. So he ing changed. And the more frantically great nation’s shrunken armed forces… did – to low-grade bank clerks for hav- Tory loyalists talk up the rare sightings Occasionally, the realities of electoral ing been so ill-mannered as to compare of genuine conservatism – Education politics oblige the village’s denizens to them to President van Rompuy. He was Secretary Michael Gove’s proposed dissemble to the barbarians beyond, then fined 2,980 euros (about $4,000) reforms! – the more they remind you of as in David Cameron’s current pledge for his impertinence, since when he has how few there are. of a referendum on EU membership referred to the European president as And, even more than the policies, sometime after his re-election, which is Rumpy-Pumpy, a British synonym for the men advancing them are increas- intended to staunch defections to UKIP a bloody good shag. ingly interchangeable. I lived in by seizing the nuanced ground of pre-

Mr. van Rompuy is one of those chaps “no one has ever heard of” who nevertheless decide everything that matters. As M. le Président remarked casually, “2009 is the first year of global governance”

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 29 tending that he’s not entirely opposed to media-handled, liquored up and lit up Westminster village really want is adopting the position of conceding the and detouring at whim into eccentric to put ever more topics beyond the prospect of admitting the possibility of anecdotes about a night at a strip club bounds of public discourse, so that any potentially considering the theoretical with a French presidential candidate even slightly unorthodox thought on, option of exploring the hypothetical (“not Sarko”), Farage manages to stay say, immigration puts you in potential scenario of discussing in a roundabout effortlessly on message. “hate speech” territory. way Britain’s leaving the EU. He doesn’t The most telling item on David Cam- On the Continent, on all the issues mean it, of course, but he has to toss a eron’s thin résumé is the job he held in that matter, competitive politics bone out there from time to time. Lord the Nineties, when it fell to him to sup- decayed to a rotation of arrogant co- Feldman, the Tories’ co-chairman and ply au courant pop-culture references regents of a hermetically sealed elite, Cameron’s tennis partner, rather gave to heavyweight Tories before their and with predictable consequences: If the game away when he was overheard appearances on the BBC’s top-rated the political culture forbids respect- dismissing the massed ranks of his discussion show Question Time – so able politicians from raising certain party as “mad, swivel-eyed loons.” they could sit across the table from the topics, then the electorate will turn to Weary of being insulted by Cameron Labour guy and say, “You are the weak- unrespectable ones. As noted, Farage is and his Oxford chums, Conservative est link – goodbye!” or “I think we all too funny to make a convincing fascist, voters began phoning the local UKIP agree we need to vote Mr. Blair off the but, with the great unwashed pounding office for membership applications. island” or “I’m afraid the prime minis- on the fence of their gated community, In nothing flat, “swivel-eyed loons” ter didn’t have me at hello” or “I’ll tell the Westminster village have redoubled became a badge of honor, and the prime you what I want, what I really really their efforts. To be sure, as with any minister was giving speeches to the want, and that’s for you to resign!” fledgling party whose candidate-selec- effect that, underneath the insincere And the impressionable rubes would tion process lacks the ruthless filter- unprincipled elitist veneer, he was a think wow, this dull middle-aged bloke ing of the Big Three, UKIP’s members swivel-eyed loon himself. in a suit is really cool. The man who are somewhat variable: One recently If only. After UKIP cost the Tories provided fake populist flourishes was expressed an antipathy toward women control of Oxfordshire County Coun- subsequently hired as party leader, in trousers, another was glimpsed in cil, that body’s longtime leader offered with all too predictable consequences. a cell-phone photograph either doing some advice to the prime minister: a Nazi salute (albeit sitting down and “You have to work out how to be one n the other hand, Nigel Farage, with his left hand) or reaching out to of us without affectation.” Good idea; who skipped university and seize the phone in mid-snap. Consider- maybe we can focus-group it. As for Omade a ton of money in the ing the oppo research launched against the UKIP leader: “He is unafraid to City of London in the Thatcher years, UKIP by all three major parties plus be filmed with a pint of beer and a has a genuinely popular touch. Unlike the media, these are thin pickings. cigarette in his hand when all of our the “mainstream” parties’ tripartisan The Tories in particular might be media training tells us to eschew either agreement, in the wake of the Murdoch better off thinking seriously about image. He also uses soundbites that phone-hacking scandals, to gang up for UKIP’s appeal: If you reckon things are appeal to Conservatives. I suspect a disgraceful assault on freedom of the grand just as they are, having a choice many are unrehearsed – again some- press, he is a free-speech absolutist – as between three indistinguishable “social thing professionals are trained never to am I. But I usually dust off the same democrat” parties – as Farage calls do.” Yet, oddly enough, untrained, un- old John Milton quotes from three Labour, Liberal, and Conservative – is centuries back, whereas Farage essays fine. If you don’t think things are grand, a different approach, recalling that then it seems increasingly strange and, Murdoch’s News of the World did a big indeed, unhealthy that not one of the exposé on him, but one that revealed three “mainstream” parties is prepared he was “hung like a donkey” and could to support policies that command “do it seven times.” “Which isn’t true,” the support of half the electorate (EU he adds, modestly. He is a great sayer withdrawal) and significantly more of the unsayable, and he understands than half (serious border enforcement). that what the control freaks of the Underneath the contempt for UKIP lies

By wanting out of the European Union before it collapses under its Eutopian vanities, Farage is a “Little Englander” or a “19th-century imperialist”

30 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 a careless assumption by the antiseptic metropolitan elite that their condescen- sion is universally shared – that these beery coves with fag ash down their golf-club ties are demographic dino- saurs in a Britain ever more diverse, more Muslim, more lesbian, more transgendered. But the Britain to which UKIP speaks resonates beyond the 19th hole. It was not just that the party won an unprecedented number of seats in May’s elections, but that they achieved more second-place finishes than any- body else. Beyond the leafy suburbs and stockbroker counties, in parts of Britain where the traditional working class has been hung out to dry by Labour in pur- suit of more fashionable demographics, UKIP has significant appeal.

et, holed up in the Westminster village, on they push. By want- Ying out of the European Union before it collapses under its Eutopian vanities, Farage is a “Little Englander” or a “19th-century imperialist.” As an old-school imperialist a century past my sell-by date, I didn’t find him back- ward-looking at all. When we appeared together in Toronto, my National Review colleague Conrad Black, not- ing the woes of both America and the European Union, observed that Britain and its Commonwealth cousins – Can- ada, India, and Australia – between them account for about half the GDP of the U.S. or the EU, and that this was a basis for future economic arrange- ments. In a thoughtful response, Far- age, while agreeing with Conrad on the economic logic, insisted that any such Anglospheric rebirth would require a new name, as the Commonwealth carried too much imperial baggage. He’s more forward-looking than Tory, Labour, or Liberal, all of whom remain, The western-based Reform party could half a decade down the road. on Europe, wedded to a 1970s solution not get elected nationwide, but they After all, what, other than the to a 1940s problem. kept certain political ideas in play, walled-up windows of the Westminster He understands, too, that, unless you which moved the governing Liberals to village, makes UKIP’s 23 percent the lead the stunted, reductive lives of the the right, and eventually enabled them “lunatic fringe” and the Conservatives’ lifelong residents of the Westminster to engineer a reverse takeover of the 25 percent the “mainstream”? The real village, political success doesn’t neces- Tory party. UKIP, likewise, is keeping problem facing Britain (and Europe) is sarily mean being in government, or certain important, indeed existential a lunatic mainstream, determined on a even getting elected. Farage is a close questions in play, and it’s not incon- course of profound, existential change student of the near-total collapse of ceivable that Farage, who regards him- for which there is no popular mandate the intellectually bankrupt Canadian self as a member of “the Tory family,” whatsoever. UKIP – like Nigel Farage’s Conservative party in the early Nine- could yet engineer a reverse takeover of bar bill at ten in the evening – will ties, and its split into various factions. whatever post-Cameron husk remains climb a lot higher yet.

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 31 invest by peter morici

Easy money

uch like a drug addict, the U.S. economy builders will be unable to sell options-ladened is hooked on the Federal Reserve’s easy homes and some will default on their bonds. Mmoney policies. Like the first crack taken by the dysfunctional Since the financial crisis, the Fed has pumped personality, easy money made the economy function trillions of dollars into banks and financial markets somewhat better for a brief period. From the begin- – first, by buying banks’ troubled real estate loans ning of the recovery through September of last year, and then by purchasing long-term Treasury and gross domestic product grew at a modest 2.2 percent. mortgage-backed securities to push down mort- But like the addict, it needs ever larger doses to gage rates. stay on task. Last September, the Fed nearly dou- This rescued Wall Street banks from near-death bled purchases of long-term securities but growth experiences, while federal regulators shuttered has since slowed to about 1 percent. more than 480 smaller banks. Unable to cope with Early in June, Chairman Ben Bernanke caused more cumbersome regulation, many other regional panic by merely stating that as the economy banks sold out to bigger institutions. improved the Fed would scale back securities Bank consolidation reduces competition for purchases. Two weeks later, forced to backtrack, deposits and drives down certificate of deposit he stated easy money would continue as long as it rates. Retired Americans who rely on interest from takes – that may be forever. savings to help pay bills have taken an enormous The White House and Congress have done little loss. At resorts around the country, for example, to fix what caused the Great Recession: a growing many once prosperous seniors are tending bar and trade deficit with China that saps demand for U.S. waiting on tables. goods and destroys jobs; dysfunctional federal Yield hungry investors have scarfed up the junk policies that invest in bogus alternative energy bonds of troubled companies. Should the Fed schemes and limit drilling for oil offshore; burden- permit interest rates to rise, defaults would burn some business regulations that raise the cost of new investors in a replay of the financial crisis. projects; and bank reforms that enrich the Wall Homebuyers, farmers and speculators, armed Street Banks, while starving America’s biggest jobs with cheap mortgages, have bid up home and agri- creators – small businesses – of credit. cultural land values and should the Fed let mortgage Easy money is the opiate of the U.S. economy. It rates rise, many wouldn’t be able to sell properties as has few prospects for genuine improvement as long needed and ultimately would default on loans. as President Barack Obama pursues an extreme left- Smaller businesses can’t get credit from disap- wing agenda, conservatives in the House of Repre- pearing regional banks. Smaller real estate devel- sentatives indulge in the fantasy that free markets opers are selling out to big national builders, which can solve every malady of mankind right down to can access the bond market to finance projects. athletes’ foot; and senators posture like toga-clad Reduced competition pushes up new home prices aristocrats attending the games on Mount Olympus. but, when cheap money goes away, those mega- With growth slowing, the Fed may have to pump even more cash into the economy with diminish- ing results. Sooner or later the recovery could falter and, much like Europe, a few pockets will prosper Like the first crack taken by but much of the rest of the country, like Spain and Italy, will sink into double-digit unemployment. the dysfunctional personality, A note to our readers: Long-time money columnist easy money made the Peter Hensley has had to hand in his keyboard as economy function somewhat he explores new opportunities. Jim and Moira are therefore no longer with us. We wish Peter all the better for a brief period best and thank him for his valuable insights for the past thirteen years.

32 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 33

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Acer Aspire R7 Olympus PEN E-P5 Kobo Aura HD BlackBerry Q5 1The patented Ezel hinge 2Inspired by the now-legendary 3Kobo Aura HD is the only 4With a QWERTY keyboard provides the right resistance at PEN-F camera from 1963, the premium eReader on the market. and a confident design, this the right time so you can easily retro-style E-P5 has been given a Designed for the discerning reader, new BlackBerry smartphone convert the Aspire R7 with just one thoroughly modern revamp that Kobo Aura HD offers a completely has been built to provide a fast, hand and the touchscreen stays pushes the frontiers of quality immersive reading experience effortless experience that helps nice and still when you tap and imaging in the 21st century. Take and the most paper-like E Ink you explore, create and share scroll with your fingers. This PC is shots with the same pro-standard display. Get lost in your favourite while on the go. The BlackBerry packed with high-end components quality excellence as D-SLR eBooks thanks to Kobo Aura Q5 features a classic BlackBerry to enhance productivity and cameras. Harness the full potential HD’s advanced, high-resolution, Keyboard with discrete keys entertainment. Ezel mode brings of your lens with a mechanical extra-large screen and elegant, that has been re-engineered and the touchscreen closer to you – a shutter speed of up to 1/8000s, inspired design. For readers who elegantly designed to help you position that’s more efficient and ultra-focus autofocus with Pinpoint want the best, Kobo Aura HD type fast, accurately and with the comfortable for combining touch AF, high-speed release time lag is your eReader of choice. Kobo least amount of effort. Plus with control and typing. One fluid mode, 5-axis image stabilisation Aura HD takes E Ink clarity to Instant Action shortcuts you can motion converts the Aspire R7 into with IS Auto, and so much more – the next level. ClarityScreen+ type to perform tasks faster. The a touch notepad with the power for capturing shots with incredible delivers an incredibly crisp, clear BlackBerry Q5 smartphone gives of a desktop computer. Pad mode precision and clarity. The E-P5 also reading experience because with you the best of both worlds – a is ideal for drawing with a stylus or excels in wireless connectivity: It a 1440 x 1080 resolution and classic QWERTY keyboard for for browsing on your lap. Flip the lets you shoot remotely yet as fast 265 dpi, it’s the best E Ink screen optimized communications and a screen over and invite others to join as from your camera straight from on the market. Enjoy a completely 3.1” touchscreen for all the rest. you for a viewing session. In this your smartphone’s touchscreen, glare-free eReading experience You can even share your screen, mode you can focus solely on the or record your location by assign anytime, and rest assured that your whether it’s a photo, a page in the display because the keyboard is out GPS data from your phone to each eReader’s screen is durable in the browser, an idea, or a view from of sight. photo you take. face of scratches and drops. your camera. www.acer.com www.olympus.com www.kobo.com www.blackberry.com

34 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 mall 3 1

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BEOLAB 14 Nike Max Farmers Fashion 1Bring the experience straight 2Sunglasses 3Farmers know the to your living room with BeoLab Nike and Transitions Optical have importance of the masculine 14. Serious surround sound teamed up to create a remarkable aesthetic and so are delighted to that will have you lost in the lens. Nike Max Optics delivers an introduce two new men’s brands moment. Even if your home isn’t advanced high-precision solution to the winter 2013 collection. graced with a Bang & Olufsen to the world of sport. Together For all your sporting needs, TV you can still take your audio with Transitions photochromic Farmers’ introduces Trespass experience to a whole new level. technology, this lens adapts to into your winter offerings. You’ll feel the space inside your different athletic environments Trespass’ product is functional EMU Men’s Boots room expanding, changing its and changing light conditions. and innovative with easy-to- 4Keep your feet warm this character as you delight in the Speed tint – a red color designed wear garments in various styles winter with EMU Australia’s tiniest acoustic detail. Don’t let to eliminate road glare and allows and colours. Originating from collection of men’s boots. Made your living space compromise your calming red light to enter the eye the UK, Trespass has 20 years’ with the finest sheepskin and sound system. BeoLab 14 offers which helps during endurance experience in designing male vintage leather, styles fuse solid virtually endless combinations and sports. Golf tint – designed to sportswear. For the male with a craftsmanship with modern flair. possible placements. Whether enhance critical details of the dynamic youthful charm, Farmers Whether you’re looking for a you enjoy Eastern mysticism or fairway and green, muting visual introduces The Fresh Brand – a hiker inspired lace-up or ornate Nordic minimalism, BeoLab 14 information you don’t need label that infuses relaxed casual brogue detailing, these boots are adapts to your tastes and enhances and amplifying the ball to help wear with a vintage feel. Created the masterclass in rugged design. the mood of any decor. BeoLab you track your shot. Outdoor with American and European For the man that appreciates 14’s universal connectivity brings tint – designed to amplify the influences in mind, The Fresh luxury quality and durability, the joy of Bang & Olufsen sound visual spectrum found in natural Brand offers casual styles to the look to EMU Australia’s winter to any TV, whether it’s Bang & environments, adapting to harsh man that appreciates quality and collection for protection against Olufsen or some other brand. sun or brightening dark shadows. comfort. the winter elements. www.bang-olufsen.com www.nikevision.com www.farmers.co.nz www.emuaustralia.com

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 35 tech by pete carey

Online privacy – tough to achieve

ervices that offer secure Web browsing and charged with insider trading. And we spill out our search have been enjoying a surge in popu- lives on Facebook and our opinions on Twitter. Slarity since the revelations about National Experts say that while sites offering online ano- Security Agency monitoring of domestic phone nymity can conceal part of your Internet activity calls, email and Internet activity. from prying eyes, they can’t hide all of it. Even “We always knew people didn’t want to be when you use a secure Web searcher, by clicking tracked, but they didn’t know what to do about it,” on one of the links it displays, you leave privacy said Gabriel Weinberg, founder of the Pennsyl- behind, and your information is visible to whatever vania-based DuckDuckGo, which allows users to Web page you land on. search the Internet anonymously. “Now there are “There are limits to what they can do,” said Seth private alternatives you can switch to and never Schoen, the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s senior look back.” staff technologist. But how secure can we really be in an age of Jeff Chester, executive director for the Center for social networking, e-commerce and the cloud? Digital Democracy, says most Americans “have We now store our documents and photos in the already sacrificed their privacy” by shopping, sign- cloud, where a determined hacker might find them. ing up for discounts and engaging in other online Federal authorities armed with a search warrant activities that people take for granted. can read our texts in real time, as Galleon hedge That makes it easier for the government to spy on fund founder Raj Rajaratnam learned when he was us, Chester said, if that’s what it wants to do.

36 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 Still, there are many ways to increase your online privacy. Online Security Tips You can tinker with the privacy settings on your browser; add encryption and ad-blocking extensions to it, and search Here are a few ideas for specific situations where anonymously with several search engines. You can encrypt you want more privacy than is afforded by your emails and mobile phone calls and the data you store in the native software and system, courtesy of Seth Schoen, cloud. senior staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier For browsing, for example, Chrome’s “incognito mode” Foundation. doesn’t save a history of where you have been, and deletes cookies after you’re done with a Web page. Firefox and 1. You want to keep your browsing private at Internet Explorer have similar settings. work: Use a browser made by the Tor Project A browser extension called HTTPS Everywhere defaults to or a paid VPN (for virtual private network) link, the encrypted version of a Web page if it’s available. or a personal hotspot. Don’t use an employer- The Tor Project is considered by some to be the ultimate provided or administered computer if company in protecting your identity on the Internet. The project policy allows surreptitious monitoring. provides a free bundle of software, including a special 2. You want to avoid government surveil- browser, that it says prevents the tracking of the source and lance: Install HTTPS Everywhere on your destination of your Internet activity, which could be used to browser and consider the Tor Browser Bundle. track your behavior and interests. Tor routes your activ- 3. You want your mobile calls to be shielded ity through three randomly selected computers around the from eavesdroppers: Install an encrypted VoIP globe out of a total of more than 3,200 staffed by volunteers. application such as RedPhone or Silent Circle. HTTPS Everywhere is built into the browser. 4. You want your information in the cloud For searching, DuckDuckGo provides anonymous Web secure from snooping: Encrypt your data searches and Blekko has its own proprietary “spam-free” before uploading it. Some services actu- search engine so it doesn’t send your queries to other search ally require data to be encrypted before it is engines, as many “anonymizing” platforms do. uploaded: SpiderOak, Wuala and Tarsnap. The Netherlands-based Surfboard Holding’s Ixquick and Startpage let you continue to Web pages via a proxy server, which substitutes its address for yours, masking your identity. But Jeremiah Grossman of WhiteHat Security says “prox- ies and Tor are the way to go” but warns “the value provided by proxies is completed voided when using sites like Gmail and Facebook when you voluntarily hand over your data – something that pretty much everyone does.” If you’re worried about government snooping, the Dutch company that makes Ixquick and Startpage is beyond reach of a U.S. court subpoena and doesn’t save your data anyway. “It’s a lot harder to force a Netherlands-based company to cooperate with programs like PRISM than it would be with a U.S.-based company,” said Ixquick CEO Robert Beens. For phone calls and emails, PGP by Symantec and the free GPG offer public key encryption for email and data, while RedPhone and TextSecure by Whisper Systems encrypt your mobile Android phone and text messages. Both people have to be using the software. For the advertising averse, Adblock Plus lets users filter ads on websites. It claims 40 million users. Yahoo allows visitors to its Web pages to opt out of ads through its Ad Interest Manager. Some search sites filter content, blocking out most adver- tising. Blekko searches are pretty much free of unwanted clutter. And Yippy is a search engine that blocks malicious and objectionable content and is considering moving to a subscription-based model with no ads. “Advertising is Big Brother,” said CEO Rich Granville. On the other hand, Google likes to remind people that advertising pays for the many services it offers.

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 37 online by ben mullin

Hotels check in to Web for a long-term stay

otels are steadily recovering from the reces- recession but has recovered to pre-recession levels, sion, but that doesn’t mean it’s back to busi- she said, adding that positive reviews of her hotel’s Hness as usual. service have helped draw people. The rapid rise of online booking and reviews in “All the marketing we do is online,” Bommer the past several years has sharpened competition said. “We don’t do any print advertising.” as travellers consider service, price and location Angela Welch, who manages the 16-room Ster- on websites visited by hundreds of thousands of ling Hotel in downtown Sacramento, also adver- potential guests. tises with Google and TripAdvisor, and does about The Web has given small hotels a better chance 25 percent of her booking online. of competing with their larger counterparts for Advertising with Google is inexpensive because out-of-town travellers, but all owners need to be the company charges a fee only when visitors constantly vigilant about protecting their online click on the link to the Sterling Hotel’s website, reputations. Welch said. The search engine ads, combined with Amber House Bed and Breakfast, a 10-room inn increased use of online booking, has changed the tucked into a residential street in Sacramento, Cali- mix of guests at the Sterling. Welch said the hotel fornia, has seen its business transformed by online once depended heavily on business travellers and exposure. weddings but now pulls in more tourists, who tend When Judith Bommer bought Amber House to book online. in 2004, she quickly realized she wasn’t reaching Welch said revenue rose about 20 percent from many customers by spending the majority of her 2011 to 2012. This year so far, it’s up another 10 per- advertising budget on Yellow Pages ads. So she cent. Today, about 70 percent of the rooms at the began scaling back her print ads and instead began Sterling are occupied each night, compared with advertising on Google and TripAdvisor while about 55 percent in 2011. working with online booking sites. Welch attributes the improvement to increased Nine years later, 50 percent of her business comes online advertising and the end of the recession. from the Internet, Bommer said. The hotel now sits She reaches out to customers and builds the hotel’s at the top of the TripAdvisor results page for Sac- reputation by monitoring online customer reviews ramento bed and breakfasts, and has an online ad and responding to them in a timely fashion. allowing customers to easily find its phone number “Whether it’s good or bad, it is good to respond and website. to (show) that you’re paying attention,” Welch said. Business at Amber House dipped during the By getting good reviews, smaller, independent hotels like Amber House and the Sterling can vault to the top of search pages on such popular sites as Google, Expedia and TripAdvisor. They can also Because every hotel inevitably take out paid advertisements on TripAdvisor that makes a mistake, the key to will showcase their hotels’ contact information alongside customer reviews. Google’s AdWords success in today’s hyper-social service allows hotels to target specific keywords that potential guests use when searching for hotels. market is to reply to online Larger hotels are also highly conscious of their criticism rapidly – and be online presence, and are fighting to stay at the tops of those pages, too. But because Internet ads courteous at the same time are relatively inexpensive, it is harder for them to dominate.

38 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 “With AdWords, the quality and relevance of an ad are Large hotels often have just as important as the amount an advertiser is willing teams of people dedicated to spend,” Google spokeswoman Winnie King said in an to preserving and bettering emailed statement. the property’s online pres- In this changed market, consumers themselves possess ence. At the 503-room Hyatt unprecedented power. The savviest aren’t just looking at Regency in downtown Sac- online hotel reviews; they’re scrutinizing and comparing ramento, for instance, four prices using multiple online booking sites, said Anthony people monitor the hotel’s Dimond, a hotel adviser and asset manager at Horwath website and ensure that HTL, a hospitality consulting firm. managers are constantly The recession made both leisure and business travellers engaged with their guests. extremely conscious of room rates and forced hotels to be Scott VandenBerg, the hotel’s general manager, gets a increasingly competitive with one another, Dimond said. notification sent to his phone whenever someone reviews the Travellers are getting better at shopping around, and hotels hotel on TripAdvisor. have taken to hiring revenue managers that monitor room Hotel staff members also hand out cards to guests who rates to make sure they’re competitive with other hotels in compliment the hotel’s service, and encourage them to the region. report their kudos online, VandenBerg said. The rise of online reviews also has forced managers at large “It’s almost replacing the comment cards that used to be and small hotels to be ever-vigilant and in constant commu- in the guest room,” he said. nication with their guests, said David Jones, the director of Guests use social media to review the hotel at a much hospitality management at the University of San Francisco. higher rate than they used to, VandenBerg said. Several “Ten years ago, if you had a bad experience, you would tell years ago, he would receive one or two comments online a nine people about it,” Jones said. “Today, though, you have a month. Now it’s 10 to 20 per day. bad experience and you post a review, you’re telling hun- These comments pop up on multiple sites, including Yelp, dreds of thousands of people about it.” TripAdvisor, Expedia, Hotels.com, Facebook and Twitter, Because every hotel inevitably makes a mistake, the key to VandenBerg said. success in today’s hyper-social market is to reply to online criti- “Generally it amounts to quite a few systems that you have cism rapidly – and be courteous at the same time, Jones said. to watch,” he said.

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 39 science by ron grossman

Craft brewing, B.C. style

he mission of the Oriental Institute of the for weapons to use against marauding nomads. University of Chicago is the study of van- So at the urging of Pat Conway, a Cleveland Tished civilizations and dead languages. Its brewer and their partner in the project, Oriental scholars generally consign to science fiction the Institute scholars created clay vessels like those notion of bringing the past back to life. presumably used by Sumerian beer-makers. But now some of those scholars are engaged in a Using the U. of C.’s clay vessels, Great Lakes project something like that: re-creating Sumerian Brewing Co. has produced several facsimiles of beer. Sumerian beer, tweaking the recipe according to Some might see it as a quixotic venture: try- the professors’ theories about the ancient brewmas- ing to make a potable brew according to a list of ters’ craft. Conway will come to Chicago to brew ingredients inscribed on a clay tablet 4,000 years the final version for the August tasting. ago. Chicagoans will be able to judge the results for A former U. of C. graduate student, Conway took themselves. The university will host an ancient beer time out on a sales trip to Chicago about a year ago tasting in August. to visit the institute’s museum, where his imagina- This isn’t the first time contemporaries have tried tion was captured by the history of beer. to make Sumerian beer, noted Tate Paulette, a U. of “I was fascinated that people were brewing beer C. graduate student, and point man on the current for thousands of years before they were writing,” project. But previous attempts have used modern Conway said. “The Sumerians were amazing. They equipment, the shiny kettles and pipes to be seen in gave us law, mathematics, cities, empires.” the microbreweries of hip, urban neighborhoods. Indeed, the Sumerians, who lived in what is now The Sumerians knew how to work metal, but they Iraq, used those innovations to lift human society to had to reserve the product of their furnaces and forges the level of a civilization for the first time, according to one school of thought. The Sumerians were one of the first peoples to realize they could preserve their thoughts by setting them down in writing. Their version of writing, known as cuneiform and inscribed on clay tablets, has enabled modern scholars to understand how the Sumerians felt

40 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 about ethics, education, religion and beer. “Beer is mentioned repeatedly in the tablets,” Paulette Beer is mentioned repeatedly in said. “They tell us that it was brewed in palaces and temples. Ordinary people made small batches, sort of a home brew.” the tablets. They tell us that it was Sumerian is the name of a language; the people who spoke brewed in palaces and temples. it are unknown to us. Unanswered too, is the question of where they came from and where they went. They appear Ordinary people made small on prehistory’s stage around the fifth millennium B.C. and disappear a few millenniums later. batches, sort of a home brew It’s not clear what they were up to when they first har- vested cereal crops. By the time of written records, Sume- rians were using a form of bread in their fermentation process. Did they brew beer and then realize that a breadlike “The tablets speak of a golden beer, a dark beer, a reddish substance could be eaten, or vice versa? beer, a dark and sweet beer and a filtered beer,” Paulette said. “It’s called the ‘bread-versus-beer controversy,’ “ a varia- What Sumerian brewers used to produce those varieties tion on the egg-and-chicken puzzle, Paulette said. isn’t known, Paulette said. At a recent archaeological confer- “I think the beer came first, but then I’m a brewer,” Con- ence, he presented a paper titled “What Happens in Sumer, way said. “The artisanal baker helping us with the Sumerian Stays in Sumer: The Archaeological Invisibility of Beer in beer project is just as convinced that bread was first.” Mesopotamia.” Miguel Civil, a professor emeritus at the Oriental Institute All he can do is suggest that the brewers at Conway’s Great whose translation of a key document inspired the search Lakes Brewing experiment with flavoring supplements the for neo-Sumerian beer, takes a third position. He notes that Sumerians are known to have possessed: dates, coriander, almost any organic product will turn to alcohol, if given time. fennel and juniper berries. “People ask me: ‘Did the Sumerians invent beer?’” Civil Conway reports that the current mixture of ingredients – said. “I tell them: ‘It invented itself.’ “ cooked over dung, as might have been done in a land where It’s known that the Sumerians produced beer in various wood was scarce – produces a mildly sour taste, similar to a flavors, much like the brands on a liquor store’s shelves. Belgian beer.

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 41 music by kevin c. johnson

Matchbox Twenty takes North to the top

t has taken five long years, but projects. The lead singer has a success- but getting the four of our schedules Matchbox Twenty is finally back, ful solo career with albums such as together even without Rob’s situation I with its latest album, “North.” 2005’s “... Something to Be,” and his is hard,” Doucette says. “We’re lucky to The last time the pop-rockers deliv- guest feature spots included huge hit have been doing this a long time, but ered fresh music was with the 2007 “Smooth” with Carlos Santana. this is only one aspect of our lives. We album “Exile on Mainstream,” though Doucette says he’d be lying if he have kids and are involved with other some fans may have considered that didn’t admit Thomas’ solo career didn’t things. All of that has to factor in.” release a bit of a cheat. cause inconveniences for Matchbox On “North,” Doucette says Matchbox The set featured seven new songs but Twenty. Twenty reflects the band’s admira- was mostly dominated by greatest hits. “We all recognize that. We get it. tion for the craft of songwriting. “We Paul Doucette, rhythm guitarist and There are times when the band has to leaned toward songs that tapped into drummer for Matchbox Twenty, says suffer a little bit,” he says. “But at the that part of us. This record is a lot the long break was never the plan. end of the day, he’s our friend and we about craft.” “It was one of those things,” support that.” The set scored Matchbox Twenty its Doucette says. “You don’t plan to take He adds it has worked both ways: first No. 1 album, a milestone it seems five years in between records. But At times Thomas put his solo work on the band would have already reached people have things to do.” hold for Matchbox Twenty. by now. Rob Thomas was busy with many “Rob could be making a record, “When we put the record out, we knew we had spent a lot of time away,” he says. “But there are still people out there who want to know what we’re doing.” The success of “North” reminds the band members that they still have more left in them. “Seventeen years and we’re still here,” Doucette says. “That’s pretty great. But we know we still have more to do, still people out there who care about what we’re doing. And we still know there’s things out there we haven’t accomplished.” This summer, Matchbox Twenty has hooked up with Goo Goo Dolls for a tour. As Matchbox Twenty weighed the idea of different acts to tour with, Goo Goo Dolls kept coming up. “We knew they had a new record,” Doucette says of the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Magnetic.” But it goes deeper. “We share a lot of fans,” he says. “We sort of do run in the same musical circle. If you’re a Goo Goo Dolls fan, you’re a Matchbox Twenty fan. And if you’re a Matchbox Twenty fan you’re a Goo Goo Dolls fan.” THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE LOST ART OF GROWING FRUIT, VEGETABLES, NUTS AND HERBS IN YOUR BACKYARD OR LIFESTYLE BLOCK Learn how to plant, graft, sustain, harvest and serve your produce...

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www.ianwishart.com Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 43

food garden book.indd 1 21/05/2013 2:02:45 p.m. bookcase by michael morrissey

Drop The Pilot A poet discovers his father, and Dan Brown keeps milking it

THE LOST PILOT makes nearly all other memoirs pub- A Memoir lished here seem (perhaps) a trifle shal- Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, low and rendered with less poignancy. Penguin, $40.00 Then there is Holman’s magnificent Jeffrey Paparoa Holman – impressive heartfelt style, which is at turns supple, moniker, isn’t it? – is hardly a house- sensitive, intelligent and moving. And hold name. But then, in the main, he the book is gloriously designed. In fact, has been a poet. And even though he I’m going to happily go out on a limb has seven books to his credit, poets and say it may well be the very best- seldom cut much ice with the general designed New Zealand book ever. The public except of course that wonderful cover shows a greener than normal troubadour Sam Hunt whose shaggy sky shading into a smoky red ocean haircut only adds charm to his gravelly broken by a plume of smoke where a voice. I have thus far only read one of crashed kamikaze pilot has just missed Holman’s books of poetry – Autumn the warship on which Paparoa’s father Waiata – but it prompts me to seek out was crewing. The red ocean is surely further volumes. symbolic of the blood of the lost sail- Incidentally, the publisher of Waiata ors’ lives. is Cold Hub Press run by Roger Holman’s book begins in the most Hicken. In three short years, it has heart-wrenching way. Holman’s virtually become the leading New Zea- dying father – just 50, yet cancer land poetry publisher leaving behind already has him in its cruel relent- But if your heart strings haven’t been the moribund play-it-safe Auckland less grip – declares with a sob, “My plucked enough already wait until Pap- University Press and the Manhire- life’s been such a bloody waste!” “No aroa starts on the life of the kamikaze Barrowman Victoria University clique Dad,” his son consoles, “no it hasn’t.” pilot who nearly took his father’s life. who do publish many fine works yet Who cannot be moved by such a Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, after their authors often lack grandeur and simple confessional moment? Instead this book is read, there won’t be a dry are somewhat infatuated with their oh- of father consoling son, it is son who eye in the house. What could be more so-clever miniature literary canvases consoles father. Then Holman reveals moving than the photograph on p 251 that challenge the mind but leave the his father’s many faults – he was (near the book’s end), when Holman heart cold. (I better come clean with discharged from the Navy for dishon- warmly shakes hands with Yoshiaki my bias – I am one of the poets pub- esty; he had a drinking and gambling Nishida, younger brother of Hisashi lished by Cold Hub.) problem and yet ... Holman makes us Nishida, who died in the failed attack This memoir is one of the very best feel that all is forgiven. In that old yet on the ship Illustrious in April 1945? to be published in this country. It true cliche, loves conquers all. The small sombre black and white pho- tographs are in keeping with the tone of the narrative. Some of the young This memoir is one of the very best to be Japanese pilots were not the mindlessly dedicated fanatics that they appeared published in this country. It makes nearly to be. Others thought the Emperor all other memoirs published here seem should have ended the war sooner. War makes bitter enemies, but on (perhaps) a trifle shallow and rendered occasion it makes unexpected friends. I cannot recommend this book too with less poignancy highly. I will be surprised if it doesn’t Using the question and answer format, find an award in the fullness of time. it lists 182 queries spread over 234 44 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 pages of deliciously fact-studded information about New Zealand’s quirky flora and fauna plus geography, geology, history, oceans and weather INFERNO population back in the late eighteenth Dan Brown century before the world population Bantam Press, $49.99 had even reached its first billion. Now In 2003, I witnessed a phenomenon it’s a hulking seven billion and calcu- never observed either before or since. lated to reach nine billion by 2050 with On buses, in parks, on trains, on China and India contributing a third aeroplanes, on beaches, at bus stops, of the total. How can we cope? Either (and possibly in toilets) people were all pessimistically by having a series of reading the same book: The Da Vinci nuclear wars (one might be enough) or Code. In New Zealand, this wretchedly a plague spawned of some new virus to written novel with its purloined and help thin the numbers. An optimistic inaccurate notion that Mary Magda- view might be that science will find lene and Jesus Christ had children, new forms of energy or ways to grow sold 250,000 copies. This is roughly food crops more efficiently than seems equivalent to sales of 20 million in currently imaginable. Shrinking the the United States. The subsequent two population to the size of ants would be thrillers, The Lost Symbol and the cur- a good start. rent Inferno along with the earlier The Bertrand Zobrist is the bad guy – or Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons is he the good guy? – who is deeply have all starred Harvard symbologist troubled by the planets’ teeming bil- Professor Robert Langdon. Compared lions and intends to do something to the infinitely more vivid James about it. Just what exactly would be Bond, the Harvard “detective” seems major plot spoiler but let me hint that it get it? The secret society of the Priory curiously two dimensional. Nonethe- doesn’t involve violence or catastrophe. of Sion in The Da Vinci Code is here less, Brown must be given credit for As is usual in a Brownian thriller, replaced by the Consortium (name inventing a new popular genre – one the hero and heroine are constantly changed to protect the conspirators!) that involves a secret code or potent moving from city to city and country and the Da Vinci painting of the last object which, if let loose on the world, to country in a way that never seems supper is replaced by the death mask of will bring about the destruction of to quite make sense but keeps the Dante. And yes, ladies and gentlemen, civilisation. Thus the hidden code/ action dynamic. Florence, Venice, and all the art works referred to are real! object/secret becomes the equivalent of Istanbul all swirl by, each one given a By now, Brown must be the second a nuclear war, black plague, AIDS etc. full if somewhat gauche tourist treat- richest writer in history – second only Personally, I think the world is made ment. Let’s take Florence. Now I have to J.K. Rowling (who by the way is a of tougher stuff than Brown’s plots give visited Florence and the famed Uffizi much better writer). I think it’s time it credit for. But that’s what thrillers gallery but until now (thank you, Dan) Dan dragged the Illuminati kicking do, imperil our sense of safety, only to I didn’t know it was part of a much and screaming into the plot. My fee provide salvation when all seems lost. longer corridor in which the intrepid for this suggestion is a very modest ten This time it’s the burgeoning world Langdon finds a place to hide. Time for per cent of the handsome profits. Gosh population that is the menace – a Tom Hanks to reprise his role in Angels darn it, Brown has already thought of proposition that’s hard to deny. Mal- & Demons? the notion. How about a flying saucer thus raised the spectre of excessive One could almost call this book a buried under Rangitoto by Nazis? The novel of ideas but Brown does not have inscriptions on the Tamil Bell contain One could almost the felicity of style or depth of intellect the clues ... Yet once you choke down of (say) Aldous Huxley or even John Brown’s execrable style, suspend dis- call this book a Fowles. Like Irving Wallace (shud- belief in the preposterous plots, there’s der), Brown’s speciality is the one line always the thrill of the chase. Langdon novel of ideas but paragraph rendered in italics – a device alas, is a wooden fellow compared to Brown does not that is apparently guaranteed to make 007. Compared to Brown, Ian Fleming the reader’s pulse rise. An editor might is Graham Greene on steroids. Such have the felicity well have blue-pencilled out the the- is Brown’s pervasiveness that his new atrical first chapter which reads like a genre has spawned a flurry of imitators of style or depth series of comic book captions, sans the who write books with titles like The of intellect of (say) cartoons. As for the secret pocket in Atlantis Code, The Lucifer Code, The Langdon’s suit – as Eddie Murphy used Oracle Code etc etc. It seems the world Aldous Huxley or to say – give me a break. This went out has gone conspiracy mad and a few with John Buchan. authors whose prose is as purple as a even John Fowles Of course, there is the heavily themed bishop’s mitre can hee-haw all the way presence of Dante – Dante’s inferno – to the bank.

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 45 movies by betsy sharkey & roger moore

Rough waters for teen in moving Way, Way Back

he writers, who also co-direct mer red-eye car rides to the beach. The the tension played out on the home and have small roles in the film, only ones awake are Duncan (James) front with Trent. A meltdown over T take a fairly straightforward and Trent (Carell), the car salesman Candy Land is classic. story of coming of age in a time of who hopes to marry Duncan’s mom, The difficult dynamics at Trent’s divorce, with all the frictions that arise Pam (Collette). Trent’s frustrated eyes become apparent as soon as the car as kids find themselves dealing with in the rearview mirror are all we see as parks at the beach house, aptly named Mom and Dad’s new loves, but they he digs into the kid. Riptide. Pam, barely a year past divorce make it feel fresh. “Hey, buddy,” he taunts, “on a sliding and desperate to make a new family And real. Authenticity gives the scale of 1 to 10, where would you put with Trent work, comes alive as Collette movie its witty, heart-warming, hope- yourself?” walks that wire. All her insecurity is ful, sentimental, searing and relatable When the 14-year-old finally ven- immediately embraced by Trent’s out- edge. It is merciless in probing the tures a “6,” Trent’s reaction reveals rageously naughty narcissist next-door tender spots of times like these, and exactly what Duncan is up against. The neighbour, Betty. Janney is a total gas in tough-guy sweet in patching up the crushed curl of Duncan’s shoulders, the role, playing Betty in tight pants and wounds. A nifty balancing act by the the headphones that can’t block out with nonstop patter that, like shots of first-time directors, who almost didn’t that voice, the hurt in his eyes capture tequila, is better in small doses. get to make their film. how unprepared the boy is for Trent’s Betty’s daughter Susanna (AnnaSo- Way back in 2007, The Way, Way treatment. James, whom you may know phia Robb) is one of the cool kids who Back was on that year’s Black List of from the AMC hit drama The Killing, is begins to redefine Duncan’s life. Their best, unproduced scripts. The charac- a standout. Carell should play bad guys awkward attempts at teasing is a lovely teristics that put it there haven’t been more often. first flirt. Trent’s daughter, Steph (Zoe lost either. The dialogue remains too The movie itself will roll between Levin), like most of the girls, is there pure, too quirky, too conversational two worlds. Ground zero for conflict to be beautiful, sullen and dismissive. to have been tampered with by studio is Trent’s beach house on the Boston Rob Corddry and Amanda Peet play execs or nervous backers – so a shout- shore, where a full assault is underway. Kip and Joan, Trent’s best friends and out to all the folks who kept their notes Trent’s out to squash any resistance to complicating factors. to themselves. his plans to marry Pam. Though Trent represents the torturer The sting is there from the film’s Kid paradise, or something close, dealing out daily humiliations and opening moments – one of those sum- is the Water Wizz Water Park, one of Owen the saviour, what really drives those local spots that give small-town Duncan and the movie is his mother’s life its charm. Owen (Rockwell) runs indecision. What he sees so clearly, and the place in the way of a cool dude for- what she refuses to admit, becomes the ever giving into his inner Peter Pan. dividing line that the film keeps work- Rockwell, most acclaimed for his ing toward. How Pam and Duncan nearly silent tour de force a few years eventually cross it comes as close as the ago in Moon, is a comic revelation as movie ever gets to giving into a Hol- the wisecracking good guy who takes lywood moment. Duncan, and other strays, under his wing. In that punch-him-in-the-arm THE WAY, WAY BACK playground style of support, he tries to Cast: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, help the kid find himself and some self- Allison Janney, Sam Rockwell esteem. A flunky job at Water Wizz Directed by: Nat Faxon & will work wonders. Jim Rash The core of the film rests in the Running time: 103 min contrast between Owen and Duncan’s Rating: PG-13 who-you-really-are heart-to-hearts and GGGG

46 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 hey bicker, emotionally black- mail each other, kiss and make T up. Because they have history. But Bruce Willis and John Malkov- ich aren’t the “real” couple at the heart of RED 2, the action comedy sequel about retired government assassins. They’re just part of a love triangle, one that Mary Louise Parker completes. Her character Sarah may be Frank’s (Willis) dizzy but decreasingly naive lady love, but Marvin (Malkovich) is the one who gullibly fills her in on this bloody if exciting life they’ve led and somehow continue to lead. And he’s the one who gives her guns. Frank is incredulous. But as the bullets fly and the plot thickens, once mild-mannered Sarah gets into the spirit of things entirely too quickly. “Let’s face it, Columbo,” she purrs at him. “Things were getting a little stale.” It’s a movie of hilarious reaction The joy of RED was seeing a cast packed with Oscar winners (Helen shots – little moments where the mere Mirren, Morgan Freeman, Richard expression on Parker, Mirren, Hopkins Dreyfuss, Ernest Borgnine) and very good actors (Malkovich, Parker, Brian or Malkovich’s face sells the gag – and Cox and Karl Urban) flesh out and class up a Bruce Willis action film. “Codgers scores and more scores of jokes make the coolest killers” was its motto. And if anything, this “Retired, Extremely Dangerous” sequel ups the Russian spy boss. And David Thewlis French Citroen deux chevaux and ante. There’s a new acronym – “ICE: shows up as a sadistic spy and snooty shouts, “I’ve SO got this!” even when Incarcerated, Cannot Execute.” They’ve wine lover. she SO doesn’t. And the fights are both replaced killed-off Oscar winners with Some bit players are bland, but the credible and, in the case of the skilled Anthony Hopkins as an addled old difference between Willis in the more Mr. Lee, INcredible. scientist and Catherine Zeta-Jones as a recent Die Hards and here is that of It’s all ground we’ve sort of covered Russian agent and one-time lady love an exhausted old man forced to repeat before and things do tend to drag of Frank’s. And the change in direc- himself and carry a movie, versus before the too-violent third act turns tors to comedy-specialist Dean Parisot a lark where he gives action cred to too-bloody. (Galaxy Quest) means there’s a laugh a supporting players who do the heavy, But RED 2 goes down easily, from minute amid all this mayhem. funny lifting. Malkovich’s demented moments of rela- Somebody’s Wikileaked info about It’s a movie of hilarious reaction tionship advice to Dame Helen’s tender a secret bomb project named “Night- shots – little moments where the mere and amusing Hitchcock reunion with Sir shade” that Frank and Marvin were expression on Parker, Mirren, Hopkins Anthony. There’s a knowing twinkle in linked to decades before. Now they or Malkovich’s face sells the gag – and their eyes, and in everybody else’s. need to survive the hitmen – played scores and more scores of jokes. Mal- “Yeah, we could’ve done a Bond film,” by Neal McDonough (The Guardian) kovich is a laugh riot – watch how he they seem to wink. “And it would’ve and Korean actor and martial arts star pizza-schools a Russian whose Moscow been a bloody fun one, at that.” Byung-hun Lee (I Saw the Devil, G.I. Papa John’s they take over while break- Joe: Retaliation ) – sent to get them. ing into the Kremlin. Moments after an RED 2 Frank and Marvin also have to find epic brawl ends, Byung-hun Lee’s Han- Cast: Bruce Willis, Mary Louise the mad scientist who built the bomb the-Hitmanlimps away, and for effect Parker, John Malkovich, Helen (Hopkins) to clear their names. gives a vigorous shake of the leg that Mirren, Anthony Hopkins Frank drags Sarah along to Paris, early in the fight we saw take a vicious Directed by: Dean Parisot Moscow and London as they do. Mir- whack from a fire extinguisher. Running time: 108 min ren returns as her droller-than-droll The car chases are played for exciting Rating: PG-13 MI6 assassin, Brian Cox reprises his laughs. Sarah dives into an ancient GG

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 47 Amy Brooke

A shocking state of affairs

The furore in relation to the recent children’s book awards can do nothing but good. But this is only if decent, well-meaning, but far too uncritical New Zealanders – or those too long intimidated by the group-think of so-called “experts” – at last hold to account those with a highly questionable agenda. Government, i.e. taxpayer funding guished largely by an inevitable medi- America, which, although with an is supporting many of the literary ocrity and unsuitable themes – the over-heavy speaker or two, legitimately awards, grants, promotions. All are third-rate replacing the first rate – is homes in on the very specific aims of now highly politicised, and firmly con- nothing new. those long working to undermine our trolled by the usual suspects. Whether these judges are simply families and indoctrinate our children. However, Booksellers NZ, which misguided, Lenin’s “useful fools” or It is late in the day for so many administers the New Zealand Post agenda-driven activists, the result is parents and others in the community Children’s Book Awards, choosing the the same. For the agenda underpin- to cotton on to the destructive, long- judges, is funded by 350 bookshops ning the takeover of our institutions planned, radicalised activists’ attack whose owners should long have been is very real, specifically signalled in on our children and grandchildren, questioning what has been happening. the neo-Marxist literature outlining and to the knowledge that the field of That some are now refusing to stock the ways for fellow-travellers of the far children’s writing, long well and truly this year’s winning book is at least a Left to propagandise and undermine controlled by those who certainly do healthy start. the West, in order to destroy the values not have the best interests of chil- The very poor judgment judges have which long stabilized our society. dren at heart, has been captured and shown this year is not new, although I was reminded of their very focused contaminated. utterly out of touch with the values of areas of planned infiltration – includ- Among those who do not respect most parents. The placing of the win- ing the particular intent to gain control the fact that a child is a child; that ning book is not only challengeable, of all areas where children could be teenagers are both emotionally volatile but has left many almost incredulous, reached – when the admirable Esther and vulnerable; and that it is morally and shocked. And the recycling of Henderson recently forwarded a copy wrong, if not quite wicked, to corrupt other in-writers whose work is distin- of the DVD Agenda – Grinding Down and destroy the world of childhood, are far too many cerebrally-challenged reviewers, librarians, teachers, and The content of award-winning children’s principals. These have long stood by and done nothing to confront the very stories (long deliberately mis-called obvious agenda of those controlling “novels”) is now often not only damaging, but our well-funded literary circles – not only here, but in other Western coun- depraved, and it is the authors whose writing tries these recent decades. The content of award-winning is particularly challengeable that inevitably children’s stories (long deliberately end up heavily promoted, rhapsodised over, mis-called “novels”) is now often not only damaging, but depraved, and it is and offered to our young the authors whose writing is particu- larly challengeable that inevitably end

48 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 up heavily promoted, rhapsodised over, The very poor and offered to our young. Philip Pull- man’s award-winning His Dark Materi- judgment judges als, highly troubling in its content, have shown this year contains the gruesome murder of chil- dren, the featuring of the occult, and is not new, although deliberately caricatures Christianity. It’s no coincidence that Pullman is so utterly out of touch extraordinarily hostile to C.S. Lewis’s with the values much-loved and far more wholesome and valuable Narnia series. of most parents. Naturally His Dark Materials was heavily promoted in this country – in The placing of the the same way as our all-controlling winning book is not literary Left invites its favoured, con- troversial speakers to annual Writers only challengeable, and Readers Festivals – as with the “moral philosopher” Peter Singer, for but has left many example, “voted one of Australia’s ten almost incredulous, most influential public intellectuals’. Included in Singer’s often specious but and shocked essentially perverse thinking is the discarding of the notion that a vulner- reality,” as ever-so-plausibly invoked, Shadows They Come, which were in able baby in the womb has any right but that it is profoundly disturbing, considerable contrast to those of other, not to be killed. He also maintains that nasty, third-rate, and designed to including overseas, reviewers – http:// sex with animals, i.e. “mutually satisfy- be shocking in what it offers to our www.amybrooke.co.nz/books/. (No ing activities” of a sexual nature…is children. Its prioritising is a substitute prizes for guessing whether there was reasonable and permissible. for far better writing, and far more any point in presenting my books to Typical, too, is UK children’s prize- worthwhile reading. Agnew with his new, judge’s cap on.) winner Melvin Burgess’s Hitman, Those of us who have stood up to Similarly, the thing I most recall about a new euthanasia drug called the bullying agenda of the children’s about sitting through two episodes of Death; his controversial Junk, about writing establishment in this coun- the recent TV series, Top of the Lake, teenage drug addicts slipping into the try have paid the price for doing so. set in the hauntingly beautiful coun- company of murderous psychopaths; With eighteen books for children try of the lower , is that and Doing It: e.g. “Jonathon likes and young readers alone published it was bizarre, unreal, utterly amoral Deborah, but she’s overweight; fearing to date, initially attracting excellent and basically disgusting – a shocking condemnation from his friends and reviews, I gave up sending books for and distorting advertisement for small because of a disgusting looking bump review, given the takeover of the chil- town New Zealand – if overseas view- on his penis, he fears showing his true dren’s literary establishment and the ers should tune in. The levels of crudity feelings. Ben’s been secretly seeing his antagonism of a captured reviewers’ and grossness that permeated this teacher, Miss Young, the typical teen- pool deeply antagonistic to my then whole production, too, are arguably an age fantasy. He used to love it, but now Dominion columns. Indicative of this indictment on those who would find it overwhelms him. Ben tries to break new climate has been, as my former it acceptable. But I suspect that these it off for a girl his own age but it causes distributor told me, the apparent fact would be largely confined to the related big trouble for him, Miss Young, and that “They hate you…so they are tak- ultra-liberal, pseudo-intellectual in- his new girlfriend.” ing it out on your children’s writing.” crowd now obviously also controlling It is our own fault – or at least the Hate is a very strong word, but the children’s writing establishment. fault of those who never speak out – the menace of those who do not like that Muslim spokespersons, even given their arguably warped values or poor © Copyright Amy Brooke some of their more than challengeable thinking challenged is palpable in this www.amybrooke.co.nz cultural practices, can call the West country – hence the prevalent abuse www.100days.co.nz morally corrupt, even decadent, with or ridiculing of those who stand up to www.summersounds.co.nz the inappropriate sexualising of our be counted. I found this in reviewer http://www.livejournal.com/users/ young. They have a good case. (and subsequently children’s awards brookeonline/ The point of the fashion for dark, judge) Trevor Agnew’s extraordi- edgy, unpleasant, and agenda- narily destructive and factually wrong programmed writing for children is “reviews” of my titles – Who will speak certainly not that it is “a reflection of for the Dreamer? and From Whatever

Aug/Sep 2013 | INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM 49