Thread by @We3forDemocracy

Nippert reports the cost to the New Zealand taxpayers has doubled in the last decade, from 12.5 to 25 per cent of production costs.

[The spin to justify this is] About two thirds comes back to the Govtin tax from activities related to the production🤨 nzherald.co.nz/business/news/…

Industries should not be allowed to blackmail govts (or demand bribes by way of taxes) to support their profit margin.

Why should tax payers subsidize 12.5 to 25 per cent of any companies’production cost?

Next we will talk about Sapere.

How long has the NZ govt been relying on Sapere for advice on everything but the kitchen sink?

How is it possible the NZ govt takes advice from a small group of men whose current company and principals appear largely unknown (other than what they assert in their own advertising)

What are the political affilations of the Directors of Sapere?
The sketchy summaries below are from Bloomberg.

I hope @MattNippert will follow up with an article on LECG / Sapere

🐘What is required to become an “Expert Lay Member of NZ’s High Court?”🐘👇🏼

How many other reports by experts challenge assertions made by LECG/Sapere likethis one does?

transport.govt.nz/assets/Import/…

Bloomberg has a lot more people listed as “Principals” of the Australian branch of Sapere than the NZ op.

Who are these people?
What is the basis of their alleged superior expertise?
What are their political, and corporate connections?

bloomberg.com/profiles/compa…

@MattNippert

US has become an oligarchy - with elected lawmakers manipulated by PR spin doctors and lobbyists - who make assertions, that serve the interests of big money (and an unelected Shadow Govt.)

NZ needs to become more transparent in who is providing advice, and their connections

Bloomberg lists 👉🏼an American company👈🏼 called LECG which appears to have the same business model as Sapere.

In addition Bloomberg lists other “consulting” companies called Sapere

Bloomberg says Sapere was previously LECG

🐘Were LECG/Sapere involved with TPP

@MattNippert

🐘How much influence do multinational corps gain over govts 👉🏼through covert use of so called Think Tanks and “expert” Consultants?🐘

Were any of the corps who were given an inside track on the secretive trade pacts being used as “advisors” by govt?
What are their connections?

Is there a list of major Consultants used by govt for advice on various projects, and how much 🤑 they were paid?

It should exist, and the info should be in the public domain.

If it doesn’t exist, and is not publicly accessible; the potential for fraud and cronyism is huge.