I have grown to love politics it’s an exciting game but can be very cruel in destroying peoples lives. My favourite Prime Minister was Rob Muldoon. I liked the man because he was not afraid to call a spade a spade and he knew how to put the news media in their place. I also like Don Brash whom I met when he was CEO of Broadbank Corporation. We both worked for the same company and he is a very intelligent man who was well respected by all those below him.
Before the last Government elections I attended a public meeting to listen to John Key during his election campaign and he seemed a nice man. He dressed well and said all the right words. I understand he is a self made millionaire and I admire successful people. Little did I know back then that when he became prime minister he would be instrumental in the collapse of Allan Hubbard’s empire and South Canterbury Finance Ltd in so doing cut the heart out of Timaru. Little did I know back then that before the next elections he would be instrumental in making half the Inland Revenue Department staff in Timaru redundant.
Central Business Area is dying
The downtown Central business area in Timaru has 50 empty business premises. How do I know that? I counted them and I can name every one of them. As I type this I read in the Timaru Herald that well known retailer Toyworld is to close. How many empty desks and rooms will be left in the Inland Revenue Department building when the staff are sent packing. When will the Government raping of Timaru end.
Government Buildings have been raped
Most of the Government Departments were once housed in the old 4 story Government Life building but it got to small so they built another 8 story building alongside it. Timaru once was the proud owner of a grand old building called the Canterbury Farmers building but the Government knocked that one over and built a more modern building in the centre of the City and moved all their departments out of the new 8 story Government Life building leaving both buildings with hardly any tenants. Only the ACC and an Education office are left in a 8 story Tower building. I spoke to one lady in the Tower building who worked for the education department and she told me that her little office would soon be left empty because she had been made redundant.
Inland Revenue Staff are Gagged
I took photos of the IRD building for this article but when I approached the staff of the IRD for comment on their redundancy I was told I would have to speak to someone in Wellington. I thought of going to and see the local M P Jo Goodhue but then I remembered she does not like me and wont even read any emails I send her. John Key is the same his email inbox is full of my emails but he just deletes them and totally ignores me. Sorry John Key, like my parents before me I have voted National all my life and was once the local treasuer for the National party in Timaru but unless you do something to replace the damage you have done to Timaru then I’m afraid you wont be getting my vote or the vote of many of my SH 1 Business News supporters who regularly read my blog.
Inland Revenue Department offices with Housing New Zealand Sitting on the land that once was the home of Canterbury Farmers.
The old Government Life is on the left and the new Government life building is on the right. Both these buildings now have just 4 tenants above the ground floor between them.
They call this modern Government owned building Timaru Community Link which is the home of Work and Income.
