So, a major foreign corporation threatens capital flight, and the Key government obligingly bends over for them, offering a further NZ$34 million in subsidies. The one good thing to come out of the 80's was ending the government's habit of subsidising failing businesses (at that time, the entire farming sector) for votes. Now we're subsidising successful ones, who don't actually need the money.
Worse, the deal will also see a law change clarifying that film industry workers are contractors (i.e. removing all their employment rights) rammed through Parliament today under all-stages urgency, with no select committee process. In other words, our laws are not being made in Wellington, but Hollywood; not by New Zealanders, but by foreigners; and not to benefit us, but to benefit them. Trader John hasn't just signed away $34 million of our money - but our independence as well.
