If it's true that NZ is one of the least corrupt countries in the world., I shudder to think how corrupt other countries must be...
"The idea was hatched by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as a so-called "lighthouse" project in 2020-21 after Internal Affairs asked it to come up with some special work for Microsoft."
@christopherd
> This is going to end in tears, from the Govt
It already has. Significant public money was spent, nothing much was achieved, and now Phil Pennington is revealing it all to the public. This is not his first article on the subject.
Would be interesting to know which government put in place the decision-making structures that led to this...
When I see shit like this, I realise the NatACTs are kind of right about wasteful government spending . But they're always focused on the wrong stuff. Instead of blatant corporate welfare like this - and most public service IT spending - they pick on social welfare (eg unemployment benefits).
Maybe we could maintain quality public services, a life with dignity for beneficiaries, and tax cuts (eg lift lower tax thresholds, abolish GST), if we just stopped giving free money to corporations?
@strypey It is not just government that does this. Having worked for a large bank I can tell you they get to spend big dosh on useless stuff suggested by their IT partners. SO I am sure it happens everywhere.
@bananabob
> Having worked for a large bank I can tell you they get to spend big dosh on useless stuff suggested by their IT partners. SO I am sure it happens everywhere
OK, but that's the bank's money. It's not accountable to anyone for that but its shareholders, and as long as they're ok with it, there's nothing corrupt about it, it's just bad business.
Governments spending money to find excuses for giving money to corporations is corrupt. There's just no other word for it.
@strypey the wrong people make strategic governance decisions and operational IT decisions most of the time. Nearly all of it, from what evidence I can see. Most do it based on marketing and account managers' influence rather than relevant knowledge or experience. They don't tend to ask more informed people advice (they usually reject it). I've never yet met a CTO who could build a website. @bananabob
@lightweight@strypey Let's face it decisions are made financially not on the technical merits. Otherwise companies and government agencies would not be victims of ransomware, they would be so secure that a duck would give its right wing for an arse so tight.
@bananabob I'm not sure I agree - the financial price businesses, orgs, and gov'ts are paying have made each BigTech corp a $trillion entity. A couple have hit $2 trillion in market cap. That is a LOT of skittles that could've been spent far more wisely and have achieved much more in local industries especially if, say gov'ts & orgs were smart enough to collaborate & commission #LibreSoftware rather than accepting proprietary software! @strypey
@bananabob
> it is not big tech that gets hit with the 💩 but those running their 💩 offerings. Ergo they don't give a 💩
If you're saying decision-makers take whatever option seems cheapest in the short-term, regardless of technical merits or long term financial cost, then I think we're all in agreement here ; )
@lightweight
> I'm afraid I'm unaware of Terry Colby, but intrigued. An Office reference perhaps?
He's a CTO from Mr Robot that totally fits your description, and gets mercilessly mocked by both the narrator and plot.
If you haven't seen Mr Robot, boy have you got a treat in store. I wish I could watch it for the first time again. At some point I'm going to rewatch all 4 seasons, maybe next winter.
@strypey
I returned to live in NZ after 17yrs in Melbourne because of the huge amount of daily corruption happening in business & Government, check out the most corrupt Countries' via the web to see that NZ is about top for the least corrupt.
@kiwipaulb
I see in your profile you invest in gold mining and care about climate change. That's an intriguing combo. Which one has been true for longer?
@strypey
Always been concerned with #climatechange and the lack of action by all Governments. As for Gold mining I invest in those who have underground projects where the environment is not prone to damage as with open pit mining. Being retired I have to earn extra income 😀
@kiwipaulb
> Gold mining I invest in those who have underground projects where the environment is not prone to damage as with open pit mining
Not as much damage, for sure, although depending on the underlying hydrology there can be some. It's riskier for the workers too.
The open pit gold mining on farmland in Central Otago, where they restore the land to working pasture as a condition of land use, is arguably the lowest impact method in this country.
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