Surprising developments at NZME and Contact Energy’s Manawa takeover bid

Source: Manawa Energy.

Being a journalist has long been underpaid and, since the internet stole the “rivers of gold,” an increasingly precarious career path.

But it also gives you a ringside seat in whatever arena you choose to cover, mostly business in my case, with a smattering of politics when the latter impinges on the former.

It’s one occupation for which the Chinese curse, “may you live in interesting times,” is actually a blessing because it gives us lots to write about.

No sooner had I published Friday’s column on Barbara Chapman’s baleful manipulations over board control at media company NZME when, lo and behold, peace suddenly broke out, which blessedly means Chapman retires after next month’s AGM.

And it was only a couple of weeks ago that I was explaining why I thought it would be difficult for the Commerce Commission to approve Contact Energy’s takeover of Manawa Energy, and then the competition regulator turned around and did approve it.