INSULT FROM THE PAST
He's been dead for 20 years this weekend, but the spectre of Robert Muldoon still comes in handy. Expressing outrage this week at an Inland Revenue announcement, Chapman Tripp didn't pull any punches, firing out a release headed "IRD channels Muldoon". The lawyers' point was that, as Muldoon once did, the IRD was telling people to ignore the law - as it applies to taxing lease inducement payments - because it was bound to be changed anyway. Interesting that after all these years, an accusation of Muldoonism remains a potent insult.
EXTRA ATTRACTIONS
The upcoming Pacific Islands Forum in Rarotonga looks likely to attract more than the usual interest from media and politicians. Not only is it being held in a rather more pleasant location than some forum get-togethers, but rumours are flying that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will make an appearance, as the US continues to worry about China's growing influence in the South Pacific. The forum runs from August 27 to 31.
FARE DEAL
The Department of Internal Affairs is reviewing the pricing of the country's most expensive taxi company, VIP Transport. This arm of the government ferries ministers and others around, then charges for its services. The cars are nice - new ones arrived in March - secure and safe, but the problem is that users pay not only for their trip, but also the cost of bringing a car to their location, then returning it to base. This means the charge for similar length journeys can vary considerably. This arrangement may be replaced with a pay-as-you-use service which charges users only for the distance they travel, just like a real taxi service.
DOUBLE SAVING
Always looking to cut costs, budget airline Ryanair has hit on another wizard scheme: make the plane doors wider, so two passengers can get on or off simultaneously, enabling faster turnarounds in a business where time is money. The Guardian reports that the airline is talking to a Chinese planemaker about building an aircraft customised for budget carriers, including bigger doors. Whether this is a genuine proposition or a flight of fancy - like Ryanair's infamous idea of charging passengers to use the toilet - remains to be seen.
BACK IN THE HOT SEAT
Former National MP Graeme Reeves has been reappointed to chair the Gambling Commission, as the Government prepares to deal with some curly gambling policy and legislative issues. The commission's roles include handling applications for renewal of casino licences, dealing with appeals against regulatory decisions on pokie machines, and advising governments on the administration of the Gambling Act.
