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A week back, a government agency, namely the Commerce Commission, prosecuted Kiwibank, a government-owned entity, in another government agency’s premises, namely the Auckland District Court.
The upshot, doubtless involving costly lawyers, was Kiwibank being fined $1.5 million.
The prosecution related to Kiwibank’s computer cock-ups resulting in some customers being overcharged.
This was a classic case of spending other people’s money in which commonsense went out the window. What possible purpose was served by the government prosecuting one of its own entities, paying the fine and then via another of its agencies, receiving it at an all-up probable cost in staff wages through the process, wasting perhaps at least $1m?
Were all of the dozens of people involved bloody stupid? Probably, yes.
What should have happened? Having discovered overpayments, the Commerce Commission should have advised Kiwibank, which could then have made the refunds and corrected their computer systems.
All of this spell-binding stupidity points up why the government should stay out of commercial activities. Kiwibank should be floated as a public company pronto.
This article was originally published by No Punches Pulled.
