Recent events

Yesterday North Korea tested a nuclear weapon under ground to the out cry of many countries around the world. Many people are contrasting Iraq's lack of WMDs with North Koreas apparent nuclear test. However the big difference is korea's next door neighbour China. North Korea is pretty much under the Chinese thumb with China providing a life line to the country. And in return China uses North Korea as a lighting rod to defect attention from it's own problems. But the erratic Kim Jong-il must be worrying for even China.

Civil servants galore………

Over 10,000 more civil servants have been employed by the govt over the last seven years.  This means:

• More desk space occupying over 40% of Wellington's CBD.

• Office area increases from 226,124m2 to 371,547m2

• Translates to 37 rugby fields - with 15 added on in the last 7 years.

• 34,000 more people employed in the state sector.

• Total of 280,000 people employed by the state.

Yet no increase in serves!

"Little to indicate New Zealanders are getting more services and better results for the large increase in resources....What little information exists is not encouraging"  Treasury Report, 2006.

So there we have it. There are more civil servants to moderate our lives and to collect taxes for the govt coffers. And more state sector employees to pay union fees which ultimately fund Labour's election campaign. Tidy little arrangement.