This is edition 2024/122 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Welcome to the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
This is normally for members in the VIP tier (old Silver and above), but for the next few days I will be sending it to all paid members.
I hope you continue to enjoy this weekday newsletter and if you aren't currently on the VIP plan please consider upgrading.
Enjoy!
1. The Rise and Fall of a top lobbying PR firm
Bryce Edwards
- 💼 The top lobbying-PR firm SenateSHJ has closed its doors, going into liquidation.
- 😲 Reaction from Wellington's industry insiders is one of shock and sympathy.
- 🤔 The wider public shows little sympathy, viewing lobbyists as connected to wealth and power.
- 📉 Government contracts decline for major consultancy firms like Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG.
- 🎉 SenateSHJ's demise seen as a shift in public sentiment against political-corporate entities.
- 🏛️ Controversy over SenateSHJ's conflicts of interest in government contracts, notably with the Commerce Commission.
- 🤝 Hybrid model of lobbying and consulting under scrutiny for creating conflicts of interest.
- 🎩 Founding partner's dual role with Prime Minister's office raises ethical concerns.
- 🌏 Rise of consultancy firms linked to political shifts since the Fourth Labour Government.
- 🎉 Annual parties and events highlight SenateSHJ's role in Wellington's political circles.
- 📢 Growing calls for better regulation as lobbying firms face public scrutiny.
- 📜 Weak regulatory efforts criticized, highlighting ongoing accountability issues in the industry.
