RIP Bill Birch
Was sad to see today that Bill Birch has died. I knew him quite well, and he was one of the most competent Ministers of any Government.
His worth ethic was legendary. For the 1998 Budget I was in charge of producing the information sheets (propaganda) for the Government about them. This meant having each iteration signed off by the Finance Minister. They were taking me longer than I expected so I popped in to see him at 10 pm to say I didn’t think I’d get them finished tonight, but could show them to him tomorrow. He asked when I thought I’d finish them, and I said around 1.00 am to 1.30 am. He said that he would still be there, so just come through then.
He was the only Minister I knew that if there was a meeting with him for 11 o’clock, you would have to check if it was am or pm.
His ability to express unhappiness in extremely restrained terms was also legendary. If in a meeting he would press the base of his nose, just below his glasses, and say “This is a bit untidy”. That was enough to send Treasury officials into a total panic, as that statements from Minister Birch was the equivalent of Minister McCully shouting at a room of officials that they were the most incompetent people he had ever known. No one ever wanted to hear Birch say twice that something was untidy.
His approach to meetings with colleagues was also somewhat well known. He would sit there for an hour or so while everyone had their say, and then at the end of the meeting announce that he took the initiative to have his officials prepare some draft minutes, and that he was sure everyone would agree they reflected the consensus. Of course no one would dare to say they didn’t. This is how he was a very effective Finance Minister.
Another story I recall is a bilateral meeting with Treasury officials on a Vote. Each vote has an analyst who is meant to be over every detail. It is their full-time job. The guidance from Treasury though was that they don’t focus on anything under $2 million, as that is departmental loose change. At one meeting Mr Birch said “Wasn’t there $300,000 we put into a reserve two years ago. Did that ever get used? If not, we can claw it back”. The Treasury officials realised with shock that the Minister actually knew their vote in greater detail than they did!
One of my other recollections is the two day caucus meeting in 1999 held at Te Papa. I was in attendance, and the guest motivational speaker was Kevin Roberts of Saatchi and Saatchi. A recent issue that had been in the news was controversy around the Government not funding Plunketline, and its possible closure. Now the reality is that the Government had never funded Plunketline. Plunket just set it up on their own initiative and self-funded it, and then emotionally blackmailed the Government that they would be blamed for its closure.
Ministers were not inclined to back down, as the principle was they shouldn’t be forced into funding something they never agreed to. But Kevin got up and spent several minutes telling caucus what a bunch of morons they were. He said that no institution is more beloved than Plunket, and trying to take them on will cost you 5% in the polls, just to save $1,500,000. He asked if there was anyone in the room who really cares about $1,5 million of extra government spending. Not a single hand was raised, except for Bill Birch. The room erupted in laughter as this was so on brand for him, and he was being truthful.
Bill (I never called him Bill in person – he was one of two Ministers I would never call by their first name) was an incredibly nice unassuming guy. He was devoted to public service, and served the public very well. He will be missed.