A Week of It: Paving Paradise + Mapp and Sharples

Friday, 17 March 2006, 5:27 pm
Column: Kevin List

Whangamata: The Difficulties Of Putting Up a Parking Lot In Paradise
Wayne Mapp Plays Employment Amendment Trump Card
Dr Pita Sharples Chats About Culling MP's And Supporting National's Employment Amendment Bill

Parliament this week resumed and amazingly the three magic words "David", "Benson" and "Pope" were scarcely to be heard (outside of the general debate on Wednesday). Instead there was much gnashing of teeth and general wailing regarding the inability of some good citizens in Whangamata to park their boats and SUV's carrying boating equipment in the middle of the Whangamata Harbour - thanks to Chris Carter torpedoing their plans at the 11th hour and 59th minute.

In an effort to understand whether New Zealand was on the way to becoming a Robert Mugabesque dictatorship - as National's environment spokesperson Nick Smith hinted in the House - A Week of It contacted Mick Kelly of the Whangamata Marina Society and Green MP Metiria Turei to get their opinions on the Whangamata controversy. Mr Kelly wants a place to park his and his chums boats – Ms Turei is of the opinion the Whangamata salt marshes are no place to drop anchor or build car parks.

Scoop Streaming Audio: Mick Kelly of the Whangamata Marina Society
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Scoop Streaming Audio: Green MP Metiria Turei
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An interesting change is emerging in the MMP landscape. For the last few years allegedly anti-worker legislation has been torpedoed thanks to the efforts of various combinations of Labour, Alliance and Green MPs and more recently Labour, Progressive and Green MPs. This week, with the assistance of New Zealand First, ACT, United Future and three of the four Maori Party MPs, National's Wayne Mapp was able to get his "Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill" past its first hurdle. This means the bill can now be referred to a select committee.

According to a press statement from Dr Mapp, Labour "should take a leaf out of Tony Blair's book and introduce probation periods. This bill will enable employers to take a chance with new employees without facing the risk of expensive and protracted personal grievance procedures. And it will enable people who have not had previous work experience to find their first job and make it easier for others to re-enter the workforce."

According to the Green Party's industrial relations spokesperson Sue Bradford the bill was "mean-spirited, anti-worker legislation" that would end up "stripping protections from the most vulnerable workers".

A Week of It caught up with a very chuffed Dr Mapp the day after his embryonic law had escaped the slings and arrows of opponents in the House to find out just why he thinks his legislation will be a boon to both employers and employees. To counterbalance Dr Mapp's cheery optimism A Week of It also contacted Ross Wilson, the Council of Trade Unions president, who plans on vociferously opposing Dr Mapp's legislation.

Scoop Streaming Audio: Wayne Mapp
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Scoop Streaming Audio: NZCTU's Ross Wilson
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This week the Maori Party seemed keen on firmly staking out some ground near the centre of the political spectrum by supporting a number of member's bills to at least select committee consideration. Maori Party Co-leader Pita Sharples had a short korero with A Week of It while in Napier awaiting a flight. During the conversation Mr Sharples launched a moderately blistering attack on breakfast TV, political pundits and pointed out one bill he wouldn't be supporting getting to a select committee was Ron Mark's Young Offenders (Serious Crimes) Bill.

Scoop Streaming Audio: Maori party Co-Leader Pita Sharples
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ENDS

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