Isn't it funny how you never see photographs of people smoking these days? From my experience of events like this there's always decent photo opportunities in the smokers' corner but the photographer has neglected them - note the proliferation of beer and wine glasses, though.
The pics in question appear to be from last year's INFINZ (Institute of Finance Professionals of New Zealand Inc) awards night, not the 2010 event, which received so much press coverage this week (I wasn't invited).
Despite the many news stories mentioning the INFINZ night of nights the actual awards winners got buried in the avalanche of news that thundered out of Simon Power's speech to the gathering of finance's finest. The INFINZ website looks like it needs an update too, as I couldn't find any reference to 2010 on it.
Nevermind, Power had much to say including: announcing the new uber-regulator, the Financial Markets Authority; upgrades to KiwiSaver, and; extensions and alterations for the new, but leaky, financial advisory regime.
Looks like Power could've banged on for ages more but was constrained by the imminent awards ceremony and the serving of dessert.
"There is more to come, including a discussion paper on our securities laws that is due to be released in the next few weeks," he told the INFINZ crowd. "Watch this space."
There's hardly a news vacuum at the moment - space is at a premium. But I have been watching the space between Power's lines in this story where he denies the government will ban adviser commissions, as Australia has recently done.
"However, I currently have no plans to mirror this initiative in New Zealand law." Power says.
After all the Australian and New Zealand governments are not joined at the hip. And it was just a coincidence that Australia and New Zealand jacked up the price of cigarettes on the same day.
I currently have no plans to take up smoking. But I wouldn't mind a drink.
David Chaplin
Smokes and mirrors in the hall of Power
Commerce Minister Simon Power at this week's INFINZ awards night. Photo / Richard Robinson
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