SPCS

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

“Shambolic state of NZ’s sex education curriculum” says charity “experts”

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The perpetual advocacy of a point of view that New Zealanders have become all too familiar with – criticism of NZ’s sex education curriculum – comes yet again from two registered charities that receive significant government funding – the New Zealand Family Planning Association Incorporated (CC11104) and the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (Reg. No. CC22230).The trigger that has caused them to proclaim their fury is a single question put to intermediate-aged boys at an Auckland school last week, and came from a sex-ed kit provided by healthcare giants Johnson & Johnson. As most NZers can guess the question involved [male] homosexuality. Green Party MP Kevin Hague an expert on the subject had much to say about the 21-question quiz which was part of a "positive puberty" session, put to boys aged 11 to 13 at Glen Eden Intermediate. Executive director of the “charity” NZ Aids Foundation Shaun Robinson, a “gay” lobby group, claimed that five per cent of the boys in the class quizzed would be “gay”. He provided no scientific evidence for this bald assertion and then claimed there were a lack of resources in schools for teachers to use to help homosexual intermediate aged boys to keep “safe” when having sex.

For full story see:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/8859178/Questions-over-sex-education-raise-eyebrows

More jail for Capital + Merchant Finance pair

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Jailed Capital + Merchant Finance directors Wayne Leslie Douglas and Neal Medhurst Nicholls have had their record-setting prison sentences increased after pleading guilty to misleading investors.

They appeared before Justice Geoff Venning for sentencing in Auckland High Court today having, in February, pleaded guilty to five charges between them of signing prospectuses that contained false statements between 2006 and December 2007.

The misleading statements included information about Capital + Merchant’s liquidity and cashflow, management of loans and related-party lending.

Douglas was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment and Nicholls was sentenced to 12 months on the charges, brought by the Financial Markets Authority.

The jail time is on top of the seven and a half year jail terms they are currently serving for fraud after a prosecution by the Serous Fraud Office [SFO] last year.

See full story here by Georgina Bond:

Published Friday June 28, 2013

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/more-jail-capital-merchant-finance-pair-gb-142172

See earlier story published 15/02/13

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/prison-garbed-duo-admit-misleading-investors-gb-135950

Dr Michael Gousmett on Charities – NZ Herald

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Charities getting million of dollars in tax breaks need to be more open about what they do with our money, says a former insider.

It is tempting to describe Dr Michael Gousmett as that rare beast – a poacher-turned-gamekeeper. But in the game of shadows that is the charities sector even that description begs clarification.

Gousmett has been involved with charities for a quarter of a century since first working for the Pacific Leprosy Foundation. That got him interested in the history of charity, the value to society of volunteerism and altruism; what The Economist termed “the glue of society”. And that curiosity led to university, a Phd (on tax and charity) and to become something of a de facto inspector-general of charities.

He is dogged in his research and resolute in his call for stronger regulation to provide a leap in accountability for a sector that is worth $14.7 billion and benefits from tax exemptions of up to $400 million plus $200 million in rebates on donations.

For more go to”:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893671

Ex-hotel boss wins pay case against Chow brothers

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A PAST employee of the Chow brothers will finally receive some of the money he is owed by the Wellington sex entrepreneurs.

Former general manager James Jesudhass was awarded nearly $120,000 after the Employment Court found he was unfairly dismissed.

Liquidators were days from going to court to recover what they considered to be a voidable transaction from Michael and John Chow’s company Just Hotel when they offered to settle.

The Just Hotel, in Willis St, was sold in 2008 and put into liquidation in 2009. That same year, after protracted mediation and drawn-out legal proceedings, the Employment Court found Mr Jesudhass had been unfairly dismissed from his job four years earlier.

He was awarded $119,237, but the company had not paid a cent.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment claimed the company had made an insolvent transaction from Just Hotel to the Chow Group in an alleged bid to avoid the Employment Court settlement.

A hearing was to have taken place in the High Court at Wellington last month.

In the final liquidator’s report, issued last week, Official Assignee liquidator Marc Graham said that, after the issuing of a voidable notice, “as expected the creditor filed an objection in response”.

“Prior to the scheduled hearing date the liquidator presented the creditor with a settlement offer which, after some deliberation, was accepted.”

A ministry spokesman would not disclose the sum obtained, but said the distribution to creditors was likely to be about 30 cents in the dollar.

“The Official Assignee’s move to settle out of court avoided a costly court case and possible appeal – expenses which have been taken out of the dividend,” the spokesman said.

The recovered funds were put into the liquidator’s trust account and would be used to pay costs and make a partial payment to Mr Jesudhass and another creditor.

Mr Jesudhass, who now lives in Dunedin, said he was delighted the matter had been settled.

Though he may not receive the full amount he was owed, he was “just glad [it] finally did have to pay”.

Source:

1. Ex-hotel boss wins pay case against Chows by Marty Sharpe

The Dominion Post: 29 June 2013 p. A21

Further background reading see;

1. Hotel boss gets $120,000 after dismissal by Paul Easton 3/04/09

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2330603/Hotel-boss-gets-120-000-after-dismissal

2. Man gets huge payout for unfair dismissal.

TVNZ – OneNews. 13/04/09 Source NZPA

http://tvnz.co.nz/content/2638938/423466.html

A former hotel manager has been awarded $120,000 after being unfairly dismissed from his job.

The Employment Court found James Jesudhass was unfairly dismissed while in mediation over his job at the Just Hotel in Wellington four years ago.

The court ordered the hotel’s owners, brothers John and Michael Chow, to pay him   $119,237, including $68,000 in lost wages, $20,000 for loss of a car and $10,000 for distress.

The brother’s had suspended Jesudhass from work soon after the mediation about management issues began, and then dismissed him two weeks later.

Judge Barrie Travis said the defendant’s actions were both procedurally unfair and substantively unjustified.

The hotel on Willis St has since changed hands

3, Shoddy treatments costs Just Hotel $120,000 by Greg Cain, 21/04/09

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10567791

4. A case of Just how not to manage staff. The Dominion Post 25/04/09

by Peter Cullen is a partner at Cullen – the Employment Law Firm

http://www.cullenlaw.co.nz/Site/Publications_Media/2009/A_case_of_Just_how_not_to_manage_staff.aspx

5. Powell, Carol, “Casenote: Just Hotel Limited v. James Jesudhass (NZ)” (2010). ADR-related Case Notes. Paper 4. http://www.civiljustice.info/adrcases/4

6. Chow brothers face High Court action. By Blair Cunningham 21/09/12

Source: http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/chow-brothers-face-high-court-action-bc-129222

The business, innovation and employment ministry is taking high-profile property developers the Chow brothers to the High Court over an insolvent company transaction.

The Wellington-based brothers are widely known through their investment in strip clubs and brothels, including Il Bordello and Splash in Wellington.

John and Michael Chow are also behind a planned “super brothel” opposite Auckland’s Sky Tower, on the site of the demolished historic Aurora Hotel, which developed fatal cracks in its walls during refurbishment in 2010.

The decision to take the pair to the High Court relates to a transaction made between their companies Chow Group and Wellington’s Just Hotel Ltd.

It took place around the time the Willis St hotel was sold in 2008 and put into liquidation the following year.

A former manager, James Jesudhass, was awarded nearly $120,000 in costs after taking the brothers to the Employment Court, claiming he had been unfairly dismissed.

Ministry spokesman Britton Broun told NBR ONLINE the official assignee had written to the Chow brothers asking for them to set aside the undisclosed amount for the insolvent transaction. However, they wrote back, objecting.

He says that as a result papers will be filed with the High Court within the next month.

Mr Broun says even if the court action is successful, it does not necessarily guarantee Mr Jesudhass will receive any money.

If it is, the transaction will be handled by the official assignee, who will divide the money between creditors.

Tourism Board Wastes Taxpayer Funds On Marriage Stunt–says Family First NZ

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In a media release issued on 25 June: Family First NZ a registered charity, is slamming the NZ Tourism Board for wasting taxpayer money on a stunt which is politically motivated. It also discriminates against couples who are of the opposite sex.

New Zealand’s tourism promoter is offering to fly two Australians to NZ and pay all ‘wedding’ expenses for them to become the first same-sex couple to wed under the redefinition of marriage laws, which come into effect on August 19.

“The Tourism Board is using a highly controversial law change which was rejected by more than half of NZ’ers to push a political agenda – and using taxpayer funds in the process. It is also disrespectful towards the Australian public who are currently debating the issue,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“Not only is the offer discriminatory against a man and a woman who want to marry, but it fails to take in to account Australia’s marriage laws where less than a week ago, attempts to recognise gay couples who tie the knot overseas were shot down in the Australian parliament.”

“Did the Tourism Board make a similar offer to prostitutes when the decriminalisation of prostitution happened, or to students when the interest free student loans were introduced, or to families when the Working for Families package was announced?” says Mr McCoskrie.

“The Tourism Board should stick to promoting the country for its scenery and tourist attractions – rather than entering in to the culture war around the definition of marriage.”

Family First will write to the Minister of Tourism expressing their concerns. They will also consider laying a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

ENDS