Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Armstrong's Immediate Resignation Called For

Armstrong's Immediate Resignation From NZ Post Called For

"New Zealand Post chairman Ross Armstrong must resign or be fired before he brings this New Zealand icon to its knees," National's Finance spokesman Bill English said today.

"The outcome of last night's crisis board meeting makes it clear the board of NZ Post has no confidence in Mr Armstrong, and for good reason. Despite explicit directions from CCMAU Dr Armstrong has failed to produce a single piece of evidence to back his accusations against his own deputy chairman, Syd Bradley.

"The only thing keeping Ross Armstrong in his job is his close association with Prime Minister Helen Clark. Without her personal support Armstrong would have been sacked by now. Taxpayers are paying the price of Ms Clark's cronyism.

"The Government's failure to act means the Opposition has to act. As of yesterday the Auditor General gained new powers to investigate the governance of SOEs. I have written to the Auditor General today asking him to investigate the governance of New Zealand Post. This will be a ground breaking investigation, reflecting the serious threat to taxpayers' assets because the Government continues to indulge Mr Armstrong.

"NZ Post is far too valuable a state-owned asset to be left exposed by this sort of infighting. NZ Post is now dogged by public disagreements between board members, controversy over its overseas operations, a struggling mail operation and the albatross of the People's Bank.

"Ross Armstrong just doesn't seem to understand that the job of a board, and its chairman, is to stay out of the firing line and above reproach. Instead he constantly involves himself in operational matters and, in this latest case, matters which have brought the board into disrepute.

"The Government has never understood how business works. That is now showing up in how they run their own businesses. They need to move Dr Armstrong out to restore some credibility," Bill English said.

Ends


Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.