Re-port

Post-modernism, which holds that Oprah is as worthy of deconstruction as Aristotle, seems to be all-pervasive in our schools despite falling out of favour in the real world. We're taught at kindergarten how to analyse the latest episode of Big Brother, yet we seem to be having trouble understanding the letter from Westgate to the Council explaining the latter's position on dealing with Port of Wanganui Ltd.

The letter says:

We have received visits from the Port of Wanganui Limited (PWL) and have listened with interest to their plans for revitalising the port area.

Which they presumably would not have done were they not at least interested in the proposal. It then goes on to say:

We have, however, made it clear to PWL that we can not deal with them on this issue without the Council's indication that they want us to do so.

Setting aside for the moment the uncertainties caused by a law which vests control of the port in a Harbour Committee made of of bodies which don't actually exist, it's nonetheless clear that the intent of the Act is to empower local authorities in and around Wanganui as "owners" of the port.

So naturally, anyone wanting to negotiate with a third party over the fate of the port would require the permission of its owners, which is precisely what Westgate are saying. To go beyond that interpretation and to connote meaning such as "they don't want to deal with Port of Wanganui Limited" or even "given the choice, they would rather deal with Council" is pure speculation.

Let's see if we can interpret this another way, for those whose post-modernist credentials are as tattered as our own:

Two entirely fictional characters meet. Morgs says to Michael: "I have considered having an independent thought of my own from time to time, but can not do so without your indication that you want me to do so."

Is Morgs saying:
a) He does not want to think for himself; or
b) He would rather have Michael think for him; or
c) We cannot connote either meaning from the text?

Hint: It's not a or b.

We raise this because a particularly alert commenter noticed this conference held as recently as April and which featured an address by Jon Hacon, Business Development Manager of Westgate.

11.55 Case Study:

• Forecasting expansion methods at Westgate Port of Taranaki
• Investing in the future of one of New Zealand’s largest West Coast ports
• Maximising strategies to encourage further shipping lines berthing at Westgate
• The huge increase in coal shipments - how Port of Taranaki will benefit
• Evaluating the merits of becoming involved in the expansive port and industrial park proposal currently being finalised by the Port of Wanganui group.

So not only would it suggest, as the commenter noted, that in April Westgate thought they were dealing with the POW group, but they were serious enough about the proposal to talk about it with with a group maritime industry leaders.

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