INVESTIGATE MAYOR LEN’S PROPERTY GAMBLE Is this a big waste of ratepayer money, or a bold new vision? NEW ZEALAND’S BEST NEWS MAGAZINE NGATI TOO MUCH? Should a tribe get Treaty compo for not being allowed to continue genocide? Obama’s Scandals Is he really a more corrupt president than Richard Nixon? Third Parties Why the news media are out of touch with the public Aug/Sep 2013, $8.60 MARK STEYN /AMY BROOKE/ & MORE Fancy Thai tonight? Our one-stop connection will have you in Phuket same day. Fly THAI to the world, smooth as silk. For48 more INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM information and details of Aug/Sepour latest 2013 special deals, ask your travel agent. publiceye_3754_M2 contents features 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 earthquake really well. It was in Wellington 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 earthquakes 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 4 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM | Aug/Sep 2013 imagine comfort Imagine a place for mindfulness and wellbeing that includes all the calm and relaxation you could ever dream of. A personal oasis of tranquillity where time is your own and every movement is in slow motion. 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STRESSLESS® STUDIOS NZ DISTRIBUTOR DANSKE MØBLER: AUCKLAND • HAMILTON • TAUPO • HASTINGS • PALMERSTON NORTH • LOWER HUTT Whangarei Fabers Furnishings Tauranga Greerton Furnishings Rotorua Van Dyks Gisborne Fenns Napier Danks Furnishers New Plymouth & Hawera Cleggs Wanganui Wanganui Furnishers Masterton Country Life Furniture Paraparaumu Paula’s Furniture Blenheim & Nelson Lynfords Christchurch D.A. Lewis • McKenzie & Willis Ashburton Redmonds Furnishing & Flooring Timaru Ken Wills Furniture Dunedin McKenzie & Willis Queenstown & Invercargill H & J Smith www.stressless.co.nz 110997 Investigate Aug-Sep13 stressless.indd 1 5/20/13 11:11:16 AM Communiques 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.