Internal affairs investigation
Maybe you should complain to the Sunday Star Times because this could be another beat up article
Nightz..... Is Lower Hutt Football Club teaching kids to swim at Bell Park?
Nightz..... Is Lower Hutt Football Club teaching kids to swim at Bell Park?
Based on the state of it I'd say that's more than possible.
Another thing though, isn't all this confusion being caused by the name of the Trust alone? Wouldn't a name change solve the problem? I don't think anyone could realistically say that pokie machine gamblers choose to gamble at their local because they think they are supporting Water Safety, could they?
Why don't they just change their name to the Mermaid Trust or whatever, and then this becomes a non-story.
Nightz..... Is Lower Hutt Football Club teaching kids to swim at Bell Park?
Based on the state of it I'd say that's more than possible.
Another thing though, isn't all this confusion being caused by the name of the Trust alone? Wouldn't a name change solve the problem? I don't think anyone could realistically say that pokie machine gamblers choose to gamble at their local because they think they are supporting Water Safety, could they?
Why don't they just change their name to the Mermaid Trust or whatever, and then this becomes a non-story.
Nightz..... Is Lower Hutt Football Club teaching kids to swim at Bell Park?
Based on the state of it I'd say that's more than possible.
Another thing though, isn't all this confusion being caused by the name of the Trust alone? Wouldn't a name change solve the problem? I don't think anyone could realistically say that pokie machine gamblers choose to gamble at their local because they think they are supporting Water Safety, could they?
Why don't they just change their name to the Mermaid Trust or whatever, and then this becomes a non-story.
Time for a government overhaul methinks.
Nightz..... Is Lower Hutt Football Club teaching kids to swim at Bell Park?
[/QUOTE]Based on the state of it I'd say that's more than possible.
Another thing though, isn't all this confusion being caused by the name of the Trust alone? Wouldn't a name change solve the problem? I don't think anyone could realistically say that pokie machine gamblers choose to gamble at their local because they think they are supporting Water Safety, could they?
Why don't they just change their name to the Mermaid Trust or whatever, and then this becomes a non-story.
Except that the confusion around the name of the trust vs its authorised purpose is only one of three different issues under investigation.
The key passage in the story is this one:
[Quote=Sunday Star Times]In January 2010, in response to questions from the Sunday Star-Times, Department of Internal Affairs said it was auditing the trust, and "investigating" the grants process for conflicts of interest and any possible "unlawful involvement of key persons... it is too early to reach any conclusions".
That audit report, released last May, criticised the foundation's excessive administrative costs, but didn't dip a toe into investigating its grants, saying these were the subject of separate investigations.
Last month, in response to another inquiry, the department said Water Safety was making grants which matched its authorised purpose, which was to give grants to its local communities. The department said an investigation into "possible conflicts of interest" around the Lower Hutt football club was "unfinished"
So...
Issue 1: Are the administration costs of the Water Safety Education Foundation excessive? (meaning less money is available to be distributed through grants).
Answer: Yes, but the DIA has already warned them about this in May 2010 and presumably they are taking corrective action.
Issue 2: Is the Water Safety Education Foundation making grants outside of its authorised purpose?
Answer: No. Despite the confusing name, its authorised purpose allows it to make grants to other community organisations and the DIA has confirmed this is OK.
Issue 3: Are there "possible conflicts of interest" and "unlawful involvement of key persons" in the relationship between the Water Safety Education Foundation, its venues and Lower Hutt City Football Club?
Answer: We don't know yet. The DIA's investigation is unfinished.
I don't particularly like that New Zealand has become so completely reliant on the proceeds of gambling for community funding.
Given that it is the system currently in place, however, the least we should all expect is that it is being run fairly and that organisations are competing for funding on a level playing field.
Yes, it is good that the sport can obtain funding but only if all clubs have the same chance of getting some. If some clubs are able to get more than their fair share through improper relationships between clubs, venues and trusts then that not only reduces true competition on the field but also brings the whole system into disrepute. I'm all in favour of those involved being prosecuted if caught.
Thought a relative (son IIRC) plays or played for LH?
[QUOTE=terminator_x]
I'm all in favour of those involved being prosecuted if caught.
I don't particularly like that New Zealand has become so completely reliant on the proceeds of gambling for community funding.
Given that it is the system currently in place, however, the least we should all expect is that it is being run fairly and that organisations are competing for funding on a level playing field.
Completely agree with this.
They pay Brendan McIntyre. I have no idea how much, but I'm sure it's a fairly modest salary. And they pay some of their first team to run coaching programmes, but they do actually run those coaching programmes.
And they have spent a whole lot of money upgrading their gym at Fraser Park, but that's a good thing surely? The sort of thing we would hope to see gaming machine funding used for.
I suspect the remaining investigation is historical. If I'm right, to what extent is it fair to punish the club for things that have happened some time ago under different management?
They pay Brendan McIntyre. I have no idea how much, but I'm sure it's a fairly modest salary. And they pay some of their first team to run coaching programmes, but they do actually run those coaching programmes.
And they have spent a whole lot of money upgrading their gym at Fraser Park, but that's a good thing surely? The sort of thing we would hope to see gaming machine funding used for.
I suspect the remaining investigation is historical. If I'm right, to what extent is it fair to punish the club for things that have happened some time ago under different management?
They pay Brendan McIntyre. I have no idea how much, but I'm sure it's a fairly modest salary. And they pay some of their first team to run coaching programmes, but they do actually run those coaching programmes.
And they have spent a whole lot of money upgrading their gym at Fraser Park, but that's a good thing surely? The sort of thing we would hope to see gaming machine funding used for.
I suspect the remaining investigation is historical. If I'm right, to what extent is it fair to punish the club for things that have happened some time ago under different management?
Right I getcha.
I guess what I'm wondering is what would be a fair consequence IF (as I'm guessing) this all happened some time ago.
Remember if you're punishing the "club" you're effectively punishing hundreds of football playing men, women and children who had nothing to do with any of these decisions except insofar as they might have exercised their voting right to elect a Board to manage the club.
I also think it's poor to judge the club in the court of public opinion. There's a lot of info we don't have, so I think people should at least give them some benefit of the doubt.
LHFC probably didn't get the funding illegally, rather though an unscionable route. Fairness in accessing the pokie fund by other applicants would be another issue. Transparency, conflicts of inetrest, ethical issues and governance at the Water Safety Education Foundation should be examined by Internal Affairs though. Water Safety Eduvcation Foundation sounds like a sham just to collect the pokie money to benefit a small select group of applicants.
As both a Junior Coach and a player for Lower Hutt. I would be really pissed if the whole club got punished. I don't care if individuals get punished if they did something wrong. But I would hate to see the kids I coach keep punished for mistakes others have made.
If club gets punish, it would most likely collapse with everyone leaving it. Just look 3 senior members of the club have left and gone to Upper Hutt. So quite worried about what is happening internally.
It's not fair but I cant see why not. The whole of New Zealand Football usually gets punished when those at the top get it wrong.