NBR Radio Weekend Rumble: *Gasp* – TPP text revealed and the world did not descend into chaos

NBR’s Nathan Smith, Tim Hunter, Andrew Patterson and Jason Walls – joined this week by Rumble regular Lance Wiggs, chew the fat and address some of the week’s most newsworthy stories.

The Rumblers kicked it off by talking TPP.

Some 6000 pages of text were released by the government last night, detailing the intricate parts of the controversial trade deal.  

Following the heated NRB Radio debate between columnist Matthew Hooton and TPP critic Jane Kelsey, The Rumble addressed various issues of the trade deal.

“It’s unusual to have the text released so quickly and so far away from signing,” one Rumbler comments.   

“I think the government is trying to do as much as it can to come across as transparent, given that’s one of the arguments which has been levied against it,” they continue.

 So, is this simply a government knee-jerk reaction?

NBR poll participants have thrown their weight behind the deal, with 66% suggesting the TPP is a good thing overall for New Zealand.

Some 17% disagree, and a further 17% say there is still too much ideological noise about it all to judge.

The conversation shifted to an NBR exclusive story in this week’s print edition.

An NBR investigation has uncovered information suggesting one of the country’s biggest private training providers has been generating substantial income from thousands of failing students, despite reporting success rates of more than 90%.

The findings raise concerns about the accuracy of statements in prospectus documents for the $177 million initial public offer of NZX-listed Intueri Education Group [NZX: IQE] last year, as well as the effectiveness of the government’s huge investment in private tertiary education.

The Rumbler behind the story explains there is an anomaly in the way the institution’s figures are being reported.

“Quantum was saying to the TEC it had 1800 students but it actually said in its IPO prospectus document it had 4600.

“Now what that boils down to is that most of the students which were enrolling were not getting more than 10% through their courses and were failing,” comments the Rumbler.

Developments with the Lochinver station were also in the crosshairs.

This week it was revealed that Lochinver Station has been bought by a privately owned New Zealand farming group after the government vetoed its sale to a Chinese company.

In September, Associate Finance Minister Paula Bennett said the government had rejected the Overseas Investment Office's recommendation on the sale of Lochinver Station to Shanghai Pengxin.

“New Zealanders will be rightly celebrating the fact that finally we have a New Zealand buyer, buying a New Zealand asset,” a Rumbler says.

But, is it clear the buyer is from New Zealand?

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