Reporting on a plain fare, new two level Tauranga building, its construction project managers, an outfit called ‘The Building Intelligent Group’, wrote in their newsletter, “New Zealand Businesses are imprinting a strong social element into their DNA”. If that tosh is not bad enough, the name of the building is definitely a flogging offence. Brace yourself – it’s called “The Kollective”.

Why? There’s no such word although plainly it’s meant, so they tell us, not as a pointless butchering of English but “as a play on the word collective, inspired by local iwi Ngai Tamarawaho”. What world class cock! It will come as no surprise that behind all of this running amok with other people’s money, is a public body, in this case the Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust.

My company is a longstanding client of Colliers Valuers in the capital, but now face a dilemma, namely should we continue using them. Here’s why.

First however, we employ a number of young women and in the interest of their enlightenment have encouraged them to read the morning newspaper. They’re probably the only females under 30 in the country who do. As a result, rare among young females, they have a general idea of say, where Belgium is.

Following Trump’s unexpected victory justifiable alarm arose everywhere. He certainly hasn’t disappointed on that front.

At the time and in the months following, I took issue with a regular correspondence friend, a noted Berkley Professor. He argued that he and his colleagues could do no more than view Trump’s outrages as daily entertainment. The passing of two years has seen him now recognise the bugger is dangerous, but, rightly I suppose, he takes a realistic view and asks what can he and his colleague do about it?

If you think our central and local Government “safety” regs are over the top, trust me, they’re worse across the Tasman. Take this sign on an inner harbour Sydney beach.

Once again the issue of abortion had reared it’s ugly head in which the protagonist factions waste their time trotting out the same old arguments to deaf ears.

Every time it arises it gives me a small flush of pride for it was the cause of the nicest compliment I’ve ever received. Here’s what happened.

Back in the mid-1970s the issue arose and took a bitter tone to an extent never since matched.