A Week of It: Employment and Peachey's Periodical

Monday, 15 May 2006, 3:34 pm
Column: Kevin List

A Week of It: Employment, Peachey's Periodicals and Dead Ducks

Once seen as the party that protects the poor and dispossessed, Labour has recently come under fire from some new and unlikely champions of the marginalised poor – Business New Zealand, the National Party and Roger Kerr of the Business Roundtable. Those who as, Dr Don Brash said, are "too old" or "too brown" to get a job are being championed by those on the right side of New Zealand politics through the introduction of a 90 day probationary period whereby an employer can fire a new employee at will.

Initially three of the four Maori Party MPs seemed to think this proposed employment legislation was a good enough idea to send it to the select committee for a long korero. Perhaps Tariana Turia, Te Ururoa Flavell and Pita Sharples were persuaded to give Wayne Mapp's Probationary Employment Bill a go because of hypothetical arguments espoused by Roger Kerr where he imagines life will be made easier for unemployed former drug addicts who may just happen to be Maori.

Take it away Mr Kerr;

It was interesting to note the support of three Maori Party members for Wayne Mapp's bill on its first reading. I made the point in a paper to the Hui Taumata last year that the most disadvantaged Maori (or non-Maori) should be able to say to an employer: "Give me a chance. I realise I have a bad employment record, I've been on drugs and in prison, but I'm now determined to get my life back together.

"I know I can do the job you're offering and I'll work hard at it. I don't even care if you won't pay me much for a while as my family will support me, and if things don't work out you're free to dismiss me, no questions asked. But I'm confident I'll make the grade and that you'll be happy to give me a permanent job and good wages down the track."

Sadly, the freedom to make that sort of contract does not exist in New Zealand today.

It is indeed tragic that people can't offer their bosses the opportunity to fire them at will after 11 weeks of hard graft while working for little or no money supported by their family – however with Tariana Turia, Pita Sharples and Te Ururoa Flavell's continued assistance this shameful state of affairs may be rectified.

Unfortunately this noble desire on behalf of the Business Roundtable to ease the pressure on ex-criminal former drug addicts of Maori descent looks likely to run into some stiff opposition from Unions, the Green Party and the Government.

A Week of It popped up to Minister of Labour Ruth Dyson's office last week in an effort to try and understand just why she wanted to stop the Business Roundtable from assisting society's weakest.

Scoop Streaming Audio: Ruth Dyson Discusses Probationary Employment periods
Click here to download file (mp3)

The blessed and lucky residents of Tamaki in Auckland don't just enjoy living in the same urban area upon whose streets the venerable Sir Robert Muldoon once trod – they are also potential recipients of National MP Allan Peachey's Tamaki News.

Though living hundreds of kilometres from the vales of Tamaki, Scoop's Wellington office was enlivened recently by receiving Volume 5 No.1 of Mr Peachey's periodical.

In this poorly-designed, four page, black and white newsletter the reader is able to discover that Mr Peachey does do more than just incessantly moan to the Listener and Sunday Star Times about the NCEA and school standards. On page one Mr Peachey spelled out just what he's been up to recently in Parliament. Evidently Mr Peachey had the "much sought after" opportunity to ask a question in the House.

Mr Peachey followed this up with a 'point of order'.

"[I followed] that up with a point of order when I was not satisfied with the answer that I was given," explained Mr Peachey to his readers.

As well as learning that Mr Peachey was not afraid to make a 'point of order' when he was unsatisfied with an answer, the readers of the Tamaki News were also treated to an excerpt of a speech Mr Peachey gave during the debate on the Prime Minister's statement. Rather generously, Mr Peachey opted not to bother editing his speech - instead leaving in interjections from the Government side such as Rick Barker asking 'Who wrote this rubbish?'

To which Mr Peachey replies "I did, I tell Mr Barker, and it was not difficult"

Scoop Game Bird Food Festival Review

For those that enjoy the thrill of the hunt, Hope Bros restaurant and bar in Dixon Street have come up with a great way for Duck shooters to enjoy their spoils. Their chefs will pluck, prepare and cook your duck for you, while you recover from a day in the Maimais with a strong G&T. A Week of It enjoyed a night out recently to sample the fare. Bluff oysters to start - plump and juicy.

Then the duck, cooked with Chinese five spice, which proved to be deliciously tender and not pellet in sight! All washed down with a Lawson's Dry Hills Gewürztraminer which beautifully complimented the mains. Sadly, after such a superb meal there was no room for the tempting range of dessert options... perhaps we should have gone out to catch our meal after all, dressed as tramps so as not arouse any suspicion!

ENDS

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