Port of Napier partial sale - conflict of interest?
Port sale: conflict of interest - real or imagined? See Bruce Bisset's column in today's paper and what we can expect thanks to an Aussie called Stephen Bradford, appointed to the Port of Napier Board in 2014 under Andrew Newman's reign (remember HBRIC - their specialty was setting up holding companies to keep regional council at arms length from "complicated" financial investments): A company called Flagstaff Partners Pty Ltd, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Flagstaff Partners Holdings (formerly called HoldKing), is a "mergers and acquisitions" corporate advisory firm based in Melbourne. STEPHEN BRADFORD has been a "senior adviser" with the firm for several years. BRADFORD was CEO of Port of Melbourne Corporation from January 2004-December 2013. BRADFORD then became specialist adviser to Flagstaff on the Port of Melbourne "transaction" (2016), which resulted in that publicly-owned port being commercially leased out for a 50-year term. BRADFORD was also involved (2015) in a scoping study for the Northern Territory Government examining the future of Darwin's port – which was ultimately leased out to Chinese interests on a 99-year term, causing a stir with the US over its strategic value. BRADFORD is currently chairman of Tasports, which runs all major ports in Tasmania.
BRADFORD'S involvement with Napier Port began in November 2014 with his appointment (by HBRC) to the port's board for a three-year term. The port board and the council began discussing a planned expansion and how to finance it at the beginning of 2016.
BRADFORD resigned from the port board in July 2018, saying while he had a "minor role" with Flagstaff he was resigning on account of a "public perception" of conflict of interest, rather than an actual one. (He'd done his job.) GREAT INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM... THANKS Bruce Bisset. www.nzherald.co.nz...
Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.4% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.6% I want to be able to choose.
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47.1% Against. I want to deal with people.
Time to Tickle Your Thinker 🧠
If a zookeeper had 100 pairs of animals in her zoo, and two pairs of babies are born for each one of the original animals, then (sadly) 23 animals don’t survive, how many animals do you have left in total?
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Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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