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Malfeasance

Yesterday I started wading through the hundreds of documents that were released by the South Waikato District Council under my IPP6 Privacy Act request.

Within a few short minutes I had uncovered some really disturbing "smoking gun" emails.

I really don't think this council realises how much trouble they are now in.

Not only are they now incredibly exposed to my claim for financial damages but they've also effectively demonstrated why it is not safe for *anyone* to set up a business in this district.

They have conducted a concerted campaign of malfeasance against me and there is just so much evidence to prove that.

You will recall that last year I received an email from CAA, following up on a complaint about the drone flying see in some of my videos.

Since I roasted CAA a few years back when, following another IPP6 request they violated my privacy by sending the results of several investigations to a completely unrelated party, the Authority and myself have a comfortable working relationship.

I think I've proven to them that I certainly know all the rules (in fact I know them better than their investigators who had to be schooled by me) and that I do not pose a threat to public safety when flying my models and drones.

For this reason, I was surprised therefore to find CAA investigating my flying again. Well I was surprised until I saw the complaint. CAA never discloses who has made a complaint but the wording contained the phrase "near council property" -- which kind of gave the game away didn't it.

However, it seems that the SWDC hadn't just laid one complaint. Oh no. It's looking as if they complained about every video I posted that involved drone footage. CAA, to their credit, seem to have not felt it necessary to investigate the guy who flies safely and even makes videos to promote awareness of the rules.

However, I also discovered this email in the trove of documents. It is from the SWDC's deputy CE (Michael Booth) to the CE (Susan Law) and says:

Yes, the SWDC badgered CAA so much that they investigated just to get the SWDC off their back.

And the result of that investigation?

Mr Simpson had done nothing wrong.

Holy crap! Given that drone flying is an important part of many of my videos and these videos are how I earn a living, this is clear proof that the SWDC, having successfully thrown me off the airfield by making up bogus rules and justifications, wants to further compromise my right to earn a living through lawful activities.

But wait... it gets worse, *much* worse!

Here's an email from a councilor (Michael Thomas) to the Mayor (Gary Petley) and CE (Susan Law):

That's right -- instead of dealing with the important issues such as providing water, roading, parks, reserves and all the other things a council should be focused on, this group of clowns is far more fixated on "shutting me down" -- breaching my rights under section 14 of the NZ Bill of rights and depriving me of the ability to earn an honest living.

Every year, the South Waikato District Council spends ratepayer dollars trying to convince businesses and investors to move to Tokoroa. They say that they want to create jobs, grow the economy, and put this district on the map.

But look at how they treat an established, independent local business when they don't like being scrutinized. Video-making is my primary source of income. It's a weightless, digital business with a massive global audience that brings international attention directly to this district. And yet, here we have internal emails proving that this Council was actively scheming behind closed doors to deploy national regulators to 'shut me down.'

They have created phantom rules to prohibit my flying activitiess at the Tokoroa Airfield where I pay ground-lease for a hangar. They have effectively killed my ability to produce highly popular content at a public asset.

Think about the message that sends to any outside investor or business owner looking at South Waikato. It tells them that the rule of law doesn't apply here. It tells them that if you lease council land, build an asset, or invest your life savings into this district, your business security is entirely dependent on whether or not the Chief Executive and the Mayor like your attitude. If you dare to criticize their performance, they will weaponize the system to try and put you out of business.

That is called local sovereign risk, and it is absolute poison to economic growth. No serious business will risk capital in a district where the local government behaves like a retaliatory cartel. The Chief Executive and her executive team aren't just violating my civil rights; they are actively driving investment out of Tokoroa and sabotaging the economic future of this entire community just to protect their own egos from a camera lens.

I can't wait for the Ombudsman's report so I can sue the big, baggy, striped pants off these clowns.

Carpe Diem folks!

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