The start of consultation for a new defence white paper, announced this week, could be well timed. The Air Force's long-serving Iroquois helicopters are to retire at the end of the month and there have been mutterings in the service's ranks that the NH90 replacements are not up to scratch. Though they are big, they are also expensive to run, and some wonder if they will end up like the Army's light armoured vehicles " little used, then sold at a loss. Defence spending is always costly and controversial, and many people enjoying playing the armchair general, but if the NH90 turns into another white elephant, perhaps a white paper process might cast some light on what keeps going wrong.
Wrong number?
The New Zealand Business Number - 13 digits which uniquely identify each company - is the Government's latest attempt to cut red tape, and "enable service integration and innovative time-saving administration solutions between businesses, their suppliers, and the Government." But a few alarm bells are ringing. Big chunks were blacked out in the long regulatory impact statement looking at the Business Number - even parts which set out the benefits were censored. Perhaps officials have warned ministers the business number will work only if people and departments use it. Perhaps officials fear it will be yet another system for business to deal with, rather than replacing the others now in use. Or even, perhaps, the expense of departments all changing their systems to allow centralised registration and maintenance of business details may be too much to bear.
No secrets
The "secret" marriage of Justice Minister Amy Adams' movie actor namesake provided the latest headlines to amuse political junkies. Adams - the minister - dryly thanked all the commenters who noted that she wasn't the Amy concerned.
What I mean...
New-age English, from Twitter chief executive Dick Costolo, as reported by the Financial Times: "As we iterate on the logged out experience and curate topics, events, moments that unfold on the platform, you should absolutely expect us to deliver those experiences across the total audience and that includes logged in users and users in syndication." Absolutely.
Local focus
Once again, people are gossiping about who might stand in next year's local body elections. Everyone seems certain Phil Goff will have a tilt at the Auckland mayoralty, except Goff, likewise with Annette King in Wellington. National might look to offload some longer-serving MPs by encouraging them into new careers in local government. One name cropping up is former National and NZ First MP Tau Henare, who seems to be missing life in politics and might covet a seat on the Auckland Council.
