Friend seeks friends
The Conservative Party is showing its friendly side, sending out invitations to journalists on its mailing list to a "special volunteers' morning tea in appreciation of everything you have done for the Conservative Party since its inception". Those at the August 7 event will include party leader Colin Craig and chief executive Christine Rankin. In their email, the optimistic Conservatives urge the journos and other recipients to do volunteer work during the Auckland City Council elections.
Royal spam
Phishers and spammers are quick to take advantage of the gullible and the curious. One, apparently in Panama, set up one such scam soon after the birth of Prince George, registering the domain name babykingishere.pw to push spam on unsuspecting visitors. The Queen would not be amused.
Shaky logic
The quakes rattling Marlborough and Wellington have created an opportunity for some people to push their own causes. Port Marlborough is telling officials that the quakes should scuttle the proposed new Cook Strait ferry terminal at Clifford Bay, because it is closer to the epicentre of many of the quakes than Picton. But Picton and Clifford Bay aren't that far apart, and a big quake would probably hit them both. There are also other fault lines near Picton, and if being near a fault or a volcano is a reason not to build something, we might as well all move to Australia.
Secrets to share
Emails promising to reveal the secrets of business success are nothing unusual, but the Insider was surprised to receive a series of such messages from Tane Rakau - the adopted name of convicted fraudster Shane Wenzel. In December, Wenzel was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a mortgage fraud, but the discharged bankrupt had served 11 months by then and his lawyer says he has now been released. Wenzel formerly ran business seminars in Takanini and coached "recruits" on "wealth generation". One of the emails promotes the "Kapai.thecustomeradvantage.com" programme - described as "an unforgettable 3 day experience that can help you join an elite group of leaders and entrepreneurs who have achieved their dreams, and who are now eager to help you do the same".
Pass the parcel
Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae is off to visit Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in the first two weeks of this month. He will be the first GG to visit Cambodia and Laos, and only the second to go to Vietnam. Nothing unusual in this - it's part of his job to promote New Zealand's interests - but the timing could be interesting. It is likely the Government's GCSB legislation will pass while Sir Jerry - himself a former GCSB head - is overseas. If he is away when the legislation requires head-of-state assent, Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias will sign it, as Administrator of the Government. If she isn't available, the job falls to the next most senior judge and so on down the line.
Rich... and cross
On the topic of the GCSB legislation, internet multimillionaire Seeby Woodhouse has made his feelings clear. Woodhouse was spotted with a companion, marching and placard-waving in the big protest last week.
