The Pike River Commission of Inquiry wraps up.

I think what we have seen through this inquiry is a company that operated with serious shortcomings.

1) that safety standards were sub standard.

2) that practices in that mine were high risk.

3) that consenting that mine the way it was, was a very bad mistake.

4) that the decision to axe mining inspectors was a critical factor.

This all leads me to the conclusion that more charges will be laid.

This is turning out to be correct advice.

He didn't turn up to work because a pack of journalists were there waiting for him, and if he had of done so his job on the check out counter at Huntley's Countdown would have been a nightmare.

If he goes back to work he will never escape.

There are reports he's being hounded for money. No surprises there. He's gone into hiding.

The media are now mocking him with headlines like 'where's Trev ?'.

It's almost certain that the Chinese purchaser will be cleared to buy the farms.

There will some outrage I guess but I can't get too uptight about it all.

I fail to see how the sale of 16 farms is a massive assault on our productive land.

The PR offensive by the likes of the Fay group has whipped up some hysteria but even if Michael Fay has had something of a 'Come to Jesus' moment, he's the last one to be talking about selling assets to foreigners.

It's just hypocritical to be against some of our land being sold to overseas investors when we too are buying up land in other countries.

Indeed Fonterra is looking to invest more in China to develop dairy farms.

The polls don't ask that.

The government is about to do the deal with Sky City.

We get a $350m convention centre and they get some more pokie machines.

Labour claims its a shonky deal. They would prefer the taxpayer or ratepayer pay for the convention centre. Fair enough. The council and the government differ on that one for obvious reasons.

I have even see the absurd argument by the anti's that the city doesn't need a convention centre.

Of course the anti gambling folk are going to point to a possible increase in gambling problems. I'm not sure about that but with a sinking lid policy on pokies at worst it it will simply transfer the problem from pubs and clubs to the casino.

The great majority of folk don't go near these pokies or the casino but if they do they gamble responsibly. They are not stupid.

And that's the crux of the matter.

Why should the city reject a convention centre for the sake of a few losers -to put it bluntly ?