KEY POINTS:
The tsunami of political appointees Labour placed in all manner of jobs in the weeks before the election date was declared was breath-taking.
But it's not just National - and other political opponents - who are calling foul by alleging the Government has stacked entities like the new transport super-agency with "its stooges".
Many businesspeople are so aghast at the practice, that 65 per cent of the company bosses who contributed to the Mood of the Boardroom survey believe there should be an independent political appointments commission.
"The present system is flawed. It doesn't get the best outcome," said a manufacturing chief. Another warned that the number of political appointees to State-owned enterprises and other boards means some top commercial directors "will now not go near them"- the example of how former TVNZ director Ann Hercus (also a 1980s Labour Cabinet Minister) went behind the board's back and spilled the inside story on television stars' salaries to her old political cronies, was cited. Hercus' resignation was announced within hours, after Ian Fraser told a select committee of the events that led him to quit as TVNZ chief executive.
Many SOE directors are very well-qualified. But the SOEs are not free from the "diversity" mandate: "Appointing by gender, geography, race and political persuasion can't possibly ensure the selection of the 'best'."
An independent commission that screened Government appointments would "help build confidence in the quality of appointees" and enable a merit-based and peer-reviewed process.
But 21 per cent were dismissive. "Most are appointed on skill and are conscientious," said an oil firm boss.
"Who determines whether the committee is truly independent?" questioned another.