this post was submitted on 20 Nov 2023
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Mt Messenger bypass opponents claim it will cost $500k in free pies for workers (www.rnz.co.nz)
submitted 1 year ago by Dave to c/newzealand
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Opponents of the Mt Messenger bypass project in Taranaki have a new beef with Waka Kotahi - the cost of 'Pieday Friday' although the agency is disputing the cost.

They say the staff event - also known as "Whānau Friday" - could cost up to $500,000 over the life of the project. But Waka Kotahi said it would cost about $50,000 and was good for morale.

But New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom - a vocal critic of Waka Kotahi's road maintenance programme - had no appetite for that argument. "If you think, what does a good employer working in a reasonable remote site do, and anybody who begrudges someone working hard an $8 pie once a month sounds pretty petty to me.

Holdom said it was a bit rich for opponents of the project, who had cost the country millions of dollars fighting it through the courts, to complain about the cost of the pies.

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[–] Dave 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

It's not clear to me whether this is a weekly or monthly thing. Is it a poorly worded article or does the author not know? Is it weekly, but the New Plymouth Mayor says he things monthly is ok?

Anyway, I think if you raised their pay by $8 a week no one would argue. But because it's a pie then it's wasted money.

Edit: Oh I see, it's monthly but the complaining group assumed it was weekly because it's called Whānau Friday/Pieday Friday

[–] SomeoneSomewhere 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If they're supplying pies in bulk to the workers it seems like they could be much cheaper than $8 too. I wonder who came up with the figure?

[–] Dave 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Every figure in that article is made up from on the spot assumptions, except the $50,000 tag that Waka Kotahi said it would cost.

Edit: In terms of the $8, the project actually broke down the cost in the article. It costs $400 each time, and is for 80-100 people. So you're looking at no more than $5 per person.

[–] middleman35 6 points 1 year ago

But if people don't make up random bullshit how ever will they get completely unnecessarily mad about things that don't concern them?