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Don't Go Helen


OPEN LETTER TO HELEN CLARK FROM STEPHEN TINDALL -THE WOMAN.


Dear Ms Clark

I understand that you are opening a new store of The Warehouse Ltd in Rolleston tomorrow.

I am also aware that a photo of yourself, alongside a caption describing you as their "Number One Supporter" was recently published in The Warehouse's in-house publication, "The Warehouse Way".

You have also been pictured in The New Zealand Herald, purchasing a "Team NZ Loyalty Card" from a Warehouse store, when the very same store was selling "Loyal" flags - made in China.

You have also been heard in the House, extolling the virtues of Mr Stephen Tindall, founder of The Warehouse Ltd, the largest importing retail chain in New Zealand.

More recently your government has spent taxpayers money rubber-stamping The Warehouse Ltd, by aligning the government sponsored "Reduce Your Rubbish" campaign, with that company. I believe it to be inexcusable for the prime minister of our country to be so consistently aligning herself with a commercial enterprise such as The Warehouse Ltd. It has become such, that many people are wondering if our Prime Minister is seeking to be elected to The Warehouse Ltds Board of Directors in the near future.

Not withstanding the conflict of interest that occurs when politicians align themselves closely with business leaders, I am equally concerned that you are consistently endorsing a business model that has imposed huge losses to the New Zealand economy and to New Zealand communities.The reasons for my concern are outlined below:

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a.. Based on The Warehouse Ltds financial statements and a report by BERL stating that every $1million of imported products costs the NZ economy 20.2 jobs and $548,345 in welfare payments, loss of taxation and loss of spending power - the products imported by The Warehouse Ltd alone during the years 1990-2001, cost the New Zealand economy a total of $2040 million ($ 2.04 billion).

b.. Based on the above, The Warehouse Ltds imported products cost 75,706 New Zealand manufacturing jobs between 1990-2001.

c.. The Warehouse Ltd big-box stores have been the direct cause for the closure of hundreds of small retailers and family businesses throughout New Zealand.

d.. The Warehouse Ltds business model of purchasing non-durable, non recyclable, poor quality products has resulted in an exponential increase in rubbish, waste and land fills throughout New Zealand.

e.. The Warehouse Ltds business model of sourcing the majority of their products from the 21st century workhouses (IE the foreign owned factories in the export processing tax free zones of China), has pitted the New Zealand's productive workforce against labour rates of 10cents an hour and has thereby reduced New Zealands wage rates to levels that are not family supporting.

In light of the above, Ms Clark, I urge you to cancel your appointment to open the new Warehouse facility in Rolleston.

Yours sincerely Stephen Tindall- the woman Founder of MADENZ TEL/FAX 07 5745822 PO Box 4580 Mt Maunganui


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