Both sides of Joyce’s dirty deal bad for NZ
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- Date published:
4:50 pm, April 8th, 2012 - 89 comments
Categories: economy, national, uncategorized -
Tags: gambling, National's civil war, SkyCity, steven joyce
It’s interesting to see Fran O’Sullivan, fresh from attacking the Boag faction and praising Collins over the ACC affair, now having a crack at Joyce’s crony capitalism. Without doubt, Joyce’s dirty deal is a juicy target for his internal critics and an example of this government at its worst.
David Cunliffe has done sterling work bringing the details of this disgraceful ‘law for sale’ deal to the public eye. Unfortunately, much of the media coverage, including Q+A this morning has framed this as a question of whether the trade off between an economic boon from the convention centre and the social damage of more gambling is worth it. This is falsely construed because there is no economic boon from the convention centre – the government’s own numbers show it would barely break even with a BCR of 1.1 to 1.6 ie. barely break even under MED’s operatic assumptions. MED warns that SkyCity would demand ‘subvention’ -ie ongoing subsidies from the council and government in return for the added tourist income the centre would supposedly bring (I doubt it would attract many of these 1000+ person international conventions, not in today’s economic climate and with peak oil making air travel ever more expensive).
Around the world, convention centres actually make their money from these kick backs from governments, not from hosting the conventions themselves. They hold governments to ransom with the threat that they close and the tourist revenue will be lost and, thereby, turn the governments’ tourism revenue into private profit.
So, the convention centre is just a white elephant, which is why no-one will build it without government subsidies. Sky City’s price is a law change to allow it to make at least $40m a year profits and create 400 more problem gamblers. What meagre economic gains a contention centre might generate would also go back to its owner, SkyCity, via subvention.
SkyCity tried the same ‘convention centre for more pokies’ deal in Adelaide and were told to get fucked by the South Australian government.
So, the question isn’t whether we should give SkyCity more pokies and cop more problem gambling in return for an awesome convention centre. It’s whether we should accept SkyCity’s ‘gift’ white elephant, and have to pump millions in every year to feed it, and let them exploit more people in exchange. It’s not one side of this equation that is bad for New Zealand, it’s both.
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- Release: National should heed Tribunal warning and scrap coalition commitment with ACTThis afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: More accountability for preventable workplace deaths this Workers’ Memorial DayLabour is calling for more accountability for preventable workplace deaths because everybody who goes to work deserves to come home safely. ...2 weeks ago
- Gaza: Aotearoa Must Support Independent Investigation into Mass GravesTe Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Working together on consistent support for veterans this Anzac DayOur two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Penny drops – but what about Seymour and Peters?Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...2 weeks ago
- Another ‘Stolen Generation’ enabled by court ruling on Waitangi Tribunal summonsTonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Budget blunder shows Nicola Willis could cut recovery fundingIt appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...3 weeks ago
- Further environmental mismanagement on the cardsThe Government’s resource management reforms will add to the heavy and ever-growing burden this Government is loading on to our environment. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: RMA changes will be a disaster for environmentThe Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour supports urgent changes to emergency management systemLabour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls for New Zealand to recognise PalestineThe Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Three strikes law political posturing of worst kindThe Government is bringing back a law that has little evidential backing just to look tough, Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Government cuts unbelievably target child exploitation, violent extremism, ports and airpor...Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...3 weeks ago
- Three strikes has failed before and will fail againResurrecting the archaic three-strikes legislation is an unwelcome return to a failed American-style approach to justice. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Environmental protection vital, not ‘onerous’The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...3 weeks ago
- New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...9 hours ago - Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure SymposiumIntroduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...23 hours ago
- $571 million for Defence pay and projectsDefence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...1 day ago
- Climate change – mitigating the risks and costsNew Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...1 day ago
- Getting new job seekers on the pathway to workJobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...2 days ago
- Accelerating Social InvestmentA new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...2 days ago
- Getting Back on TrackCheck against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...2 days ago
- NZ – European Union ties more critical than everYour Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...3 days ago
- Therapeutic Products Act to be repealedThe Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...3 days ago
- Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District PlanThe Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...3 days ago
- Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violenceRape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...3 days ago
- Smarter lunch programme feeds more, costs lessAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...3 days ago
- Report provides insights into marine recoveryNew research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...3 days ago
- NZ to send political delegation to the PacificDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...3 days ago
- Low gas production threatens energy securityThere has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...3 days ago
- Defence industry talent, commitment recognisedDefence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...4 days ago
- Speech to the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for IndustryWelcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...4 days ago
- Speech to the Sixth Annual New Zealand Government Data SummitIt is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...4 days ago
- Ceasefire agreement needed now: PetersNew Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...4 days ago
- Daily school attendance data now availableA new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...4 days ago
- Ambassador to United States appointedForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...4 days ago
- New permit proposed for recreational gold miningThe Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...4 days ago
- NZ and the UAE launch FTA negotiationsMinister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...4 days ago
- New Zealand Sign Language Week an opportunity for anyone to signNew Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...5 days ago
- Next stop NASA for New Zealand studentsSix tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...5 days ago
- $1.9 billion investment to keep NZ safe from crimeNew Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...5 days ago
- OECD reinforces need to control spendingThe OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...5 days ago
- Agreement delivers Local Water Done Well for AucklandThe Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...6 days ago
- Gaza and the Pacific on the agenda with GermanyForeign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...1 week ago
- Decision allows for housing growth in Western Bay of PlentyThe Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...1 week ago
- Speech to New Zealand China CouncilThank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...1 week ago
- Modern insurance law will protect Kiwi householdsThe Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...1 week ago
- Government recommits to equal payThe coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...1 week ago
- Transforming how our children learn to readStructured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...1 week ago
- NZ not backing down in Canada dairy disputeTrade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...1 week ago
- Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable childrenThe rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...1 week ago
- Streamlining Building Consent ChangesThe Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...1 week ago
- Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...1 week ago
- Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...1 week ago
- Accelerating airport security linesFrom today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...1 week ago
- Australian Strategic Policy Institute warns AUKUS could 'crush' its defence industry
An Australian Strategic Policy Institute report says Pillar Two could raise the industry to state of the art capability - or "crush" it "under the weight of the globe's biggest player". ...3 hours ago - Indigenous women are most affected by domestic violence but have struggled to be heard. It’s time ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marlene Longbottom, Associate Professor, Indigenous Education & Research Centre, James Cook University Shutterstock This article contains information on deaths in custody and the violence experienced by First Nations people in encounters with the Australian carceral system. It also contains references to ...4 hours ago - UN vote: NZ supports 'enhancing Palestine's status' – PetersNew Zealand has voted in favour of a resolution to broaden the Palestinian role at the United Nations General Assembly. ...5 hours ago
- Cold houses to blame for people needing to 'blast the heater' – Green Building Counc...New Zealand's housing building standards are decades behind most other countries in the OECD, green building advocates say. ...8 hours ago
- Austerity For Everyone Except Weapons Dealers
“Instead of following along countries that are investing in death and better ways of killing people faster, we need to invest in life and in making Aotearoa a fair, just and equitable place where everyone has what they need for a dignified life.” ...8 hours ago - The Secret Diary of .. Te Pāti Māori
MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI, TPM MP FOR TAI TOKERAU This Government will not waver in its mission to exterminate Māori. CHRISTOPHER LUXON Oh well look you know I don’t think that hard-working Kiwis want to hear language like that. It’s just really unhelpful rhetoric. My Government is genuinely committed to advancing outcomes ...8 hours ago - When body positivity morphs into toxic masculinityThe body positivity movement started with women confronting the unrealistic expectations and unrepresentative portrayals of them in media and advertising. Men weren’t part of it … their bodies hadn’t been sexualised to the same extremes and they didn’t really need it. But now that’s changed. And in a warped sort ...8 hours ago
- ‘A curse and a blessing’: Ginette McDonald on how Lyn of Tawa changed her life
The New Zealand comedy legend takes us through her life in television, including the time she hugged Elton John and the unshakeable legacy of a girl named Lyn. In 1981, Ginette McDonald stood on the stage of Auckland’s St James Theatre and directly addressed Queen Elizabeth II. It was a ...9 hours ago - ‘Mothering looked beautiful but also chaotic and stifling’: On flatting with a newbornAn essay by Lily Duval from the just-released anthology Otherhood: Essays on being childless, childfree and child adjacent. I was 22 when my friend Alice gave birth in the living room of our pokey Addington flat. She laboured in the blow-up pool for hours. Garish fish swam along the inflated ...9 hours ago
- Motherhood: A reading journeyElla Borrie on the best books about motherhood she’s come across so far. Over the past few years I’ve been drawn to books about motherhood. I’m fascinated by the joys and horrors of becoming a parent. The question of children also feels more pressing than it used to. It’s like ...9 hours ago
- The Steve Awards 2024: Honouring the year’s worst Mother’s Day marketingOut of gift ideas for mum? You can’t go wrong with a bottle of toilet cleaner and a new squeegee. Emily Writes is the writer and editor of Emily Writes Weekly. This week marks five years since I published a post on The Spinoff about Mother’s Day marketing titled ‘A ...9 hours ago
- The Sunday Essay: A buzzy yearMy husband is posted overseas for 12 months and I’m armed with an expensive, newfangled vibrator. Will I miss him? The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. A few days after my husband leaves, a new sex toy arrives at the front door. Nestled ...9 hours ago
- Tracing four decades of Wellington street artJaimie Baird’s new book Here Today Gone Tomorrow is a record of four decades of graffiti and street art in Wellington, told through more than 1,200 photographs. He spoke with Joel MacManus about what inspired the book. How did you first get interested in photographing street art? I remember ...9 hours ago
- The Weekend: How the woke sausage is madeEditor Madeleine Chapman looks back at a busy week where food of all political leanings dominated. Sometimes you’re just going about your week thinking you’ve got a good handle on what might be coming as far as news topics and then someone (usually a politician) says something so ridiculous that ...9 hours ago
- The Boy in the Water: Police caught in ‘zone of uncertainty’ In a week of cold rain and frost, the climate in courtroom four upstairs at the Invercargill courthouse was simmering with restrained indignation. At times it felt like the famous Mexican standoff scene from Reservoir Dogs, or, as someone watching the proceedings described it, there was so much throwing of ...9 hours ago
- Short story: Message me, by Lucy O’ConnorA banner notification alerts me to the fact that I’ve received an Instagram message from @felicity.loves. She always comments on my posts. I shouldn’t have opened the message, but clicked on the notification before rationalising this. OMG! Are you in Wellys? X I debate not replying, but Instagram will inform ...9 hours ago
- Callum Donaldson has his head in the gameIn Melbourne’s hardscrabble western suburbs where AFL – Aussie rules football – is a state religion, Callum Donaldson has been quietly grafting away, four months into an odyssey that he hopes will take him to another promised land: the NRL. It was a solid 2023 for the softly spoken 20-year-old ...9 hours ago
- TVNZ Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver awarded ONZM for investigative journalismPacific Media Watch Television New Zealand Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to investigative journalism and Pacific communities in a ceremony at Government House, reports 1News. She has been the Pacific correspondent for 1News since 2002, breaking many ...12 hours ago
- Budget to pledge billions more in funds and fresh effort to tackle intractable housing crisisSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tuesday’s budget will respond to the deepening public agitation over Australia’s housing shortages by pouring new money into crisis accommodation for women and children, social housing and infrastructure. A specially-convened national cabinet late Friday ticked ...13 hours ago
- Pacific journalists are world’s ‘eyes and ears’ on climate crisis, says EU envoyBy Kaneta Naimatu in Suva Journalists in the Pacific region play an important role as the “eyes and ears on the ground” when it comes to reporting the climate crisis, says the European Union’s Pacific Ambassador Barbara Plinkert. Speaking at The University of the South Pacific (USP) on World Press ...15 hours ago
- Why the Defence Force has been calling for a Budget boostFailing accommodation, tarmac problems and a deteriorating naval base were all laid bare before a $571 million spend-up was unveiled today. ...16 hours ago
- Back in Black: Aldora’s year gets even betterAldora Itunu is back in the Black Ferns squad after a three-year absence. The last of her 24 internationals was an underwhelming loss to France (7-29) in Castres to conclude the disastrous 2021 Northern Tour. The powerhouse prop won a Rugby World Cup in 2017 and thought she was done. ...16 hours ago
- ‘Who’s actually governing this city?’The fight to control major transport policy and projects in Auckland has burst into the open again, with councillors rejecting Mayor Wayne Brown’s latest attempt to steer things more under his influence. Councillors from the left and right broke ranks on the mayor’s bid to control Auckland Transport more directly ...16 hours ago
- The return of .. Raw PoliticsExhausted by the general election campaign, horrified by the twilight zone of coalition negotiations, distracted by the silly season and waiting for the honeymoon to begin, Raw Politics has been in hibernation since October. From today, we’re back. Our weekly political video show and podcast returns for ...16 hours ago
- New Caledonia marks Armistice Day with new NZ war memorialBy Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Authorities in the small town of Boulouparis have commemorated Armistice Day on May 8 with a new memorial honouring New Zealand soldiers who were stationed in New Caledonia during World War II. The ceremony took place in the township on the ...16 hours ago
- High Court dismisses key challenge to indefinite immigration detention. What does it mean?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Dehm, Senior lecturer, international migration and refugee law, University of Technology Sydney The High Court unanimously ruled today that the Australian government can keep asylum seekers in immigration detention indefinitely in cases where they do not “voluntarily” cooperate with their own ...19 hours ago
- A brief history of found footage video art – and where Macklemore’s Hind’s Hall fits inSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Munro, Lecturer, Creative Industries and Digital Media, University of South Australia Twenty-four hours after the release of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine protest song Hind’s Hall on social media on May 7, the video had already notched up over 24 million views. In ...19 hours ago
- Transmission Gully could need new builder – Infrastructure Commission reviewFailing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...20 hours ago
- Transmission Gully could need new bulider – Infrastructure Commission reviewFailing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...20 hours ago
- Proposed repeal of Oranga Tamariki Act section 7AA breaches Treaty of Waitangi – TribunalThe government is planning to repeal Treaty obligations from the Oranga Tamariki Act. ...20 hours ago
- Committee Silences Majority Of Submitters On Fast-track Bill350 Aotearoa is calling the Environment Select Committee’s decision to allow oral submissions from just 40% of individual, unique submitters who asked to speak to the committee ‘a disgraceful blight to democracy’. ...20 hours ago
- Sky-high vanity: constructing the world’s tallest buildings creates high emissionsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Helal, Assistant Dean (Sustainability), The University of Melbourne Dubai skyline AleksandarPasaric/Pexels Since ancient times, people have built structures that reach for the skies – from the steep spires of medieval towers to the grand domes of ancient cathedrals and mosques. Today ...21 hours ago
- How can we measure the size of Australia’s illegal cannabis market – and the billions in taxes t...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Williams, Professor of Economics, The University of Melbourne Canna Obscura/Shutterstock At the end of this month, a senate inquiry by the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee is due to hand down its report on a bill to legalise cannabis. ...21 hours ago
- Wearable devices can now harvest our brain data. Australia needs urgent privacy reformsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Musole, PhD Law Student, University of New England Girts Ragelis/Shutterstock Recent trends show Australians are increasingly buying wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These electronics track our body movements or vital signs to provide data throughout the day, with ...22 hours ago
- Labour Up, Greens Down But Centre-Right Remains AheadThis is the first time since February that voters have had a net positive view of the country direction. ...22 hours ago
- RNZAF Hercules, NZDF Personnel Arrive In Papua New Guinea To Help Distribute Relief SuppliesPapua New Guinea experienced a significant earthquake on 24 March in East Sepik and there has also been recent flooding there and in surrounding provinces. ...23 hours ago
- Sleep wrinkles are real. Here’s how they leave their markSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yousuf Mohammed, Dermatology researcher, The University of Queensland Maridav/Shutterstock You wake up, stagger to the bathroom and gaze into the mirror. No, you’re not imagining it. You’ve developed face wrinkles overnight. They’re sleep wrinkles. Sleep wrinkles are temporary. But as your ...23 hours ago
- Week in Politics: Triumph and disaster, but no austerityAnalysis - A big announcement about Auckland's water woes was overshadowed by a chaotic press conference about prisons, Peter Wilson writes. ...23 hours ago
- Community Groups Furious That Government Silencing Hundreds In Fast-Track HearingsThe Environment Select Committee has just announced that 60 percent of individuals who asked to speak at the hearings will not be heard. This equates to almost 700 people who made individual submissions and more than 1000 more who made a form submission. ...24 hours ago
- Review: Swan Lake is a reminder of how much work it takes to look effortlessThe Royal New Zealand Ballet is performing Swan Lake around the country. What kind of dream does the ballet sell? Before going to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform Swan Lake, I had about as much familiarity with the plot of this ballet as could be expected from having ...24 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘High Tide at Local Maxima’ by Eamonn TeeA new poem by Auckland poet Eamonn Tee. High Tide at Local Maxima It is only going to get worse. The streams will be narrow and fickle. The week will bend and buckle like a pot-bellied waist. You will make it to the weekend with one ...24 hours ago
- The plastic-heavy drinks industry is in for a shake-upThe New Zealand entrepreneur behind beauty business Ethique is gearing up to launch a new eco-venture. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Our thirst for a tasty bevvy is insatiable, but it comes with a hefty plastic price for the planet: 580 billion ...24 hours ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending May 10The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 James by Percival Everett (Mantle, $38) A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from ...24 hours ago
- Puna calls for Pacific ‘journalistic vigilance’ in face of climate crisisBy Kamna Kumar in Suva Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna stressed the importance of media freedom and its link to the climate and environmental crisis at the 2024 World Press Freedom Day event organised by the University of the South Pacific’s journalism programme. Under the theme “A Planet for ...1 day ago
- Downsizing Of ERO Inconsistent With Govt Priority Of Lifting Student AchievementThe PSA is concerned that Government spending cuts have forced ERO to downsize at a time when student achievement is a significant challenge. ...1 day ago
- Education Review Office set to cut 13 jobs, union saysThe Education Review Office is set to cut 13 jobs, the Public Service Association says. ...1 day ago
- Judith Collins announces $571 million Defence spend-upAn extra half a billion dollars is going to Defence in this year's Budget for pay and equipment upgrades, the Defence Minister has announced. ...1 day ago
- This new TVNZ anthology is Motherhood as you’ve never seen it beforeTara Ward previews a new local TV series offering alternative visions of motherhood. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. A woman is clambering up the side of her two-story house, clinging desperately to a drainpipe. Nearby, her child is perched on the ...1 day ago
- LGNZ Supportive Of Cross-party Approach To Climate AdaptationLocal Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is supportive of the cross-party approach to climate adaptation announced by the Minister of Climate Change today. ...1 day ago
- SBC And CLC Welcome Bipartisan Climate Adaptation InquiryThe Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) welcome today’s announcement from Government around a bipartisan inquiry into an enduring climate adaptation framework for New Zealand. ...1 day ago
- Another Victory For Free Speech: DIA Abandons Proposals For Online CensorshipThe Free Speech Union welcomes the decision by the Department of Internal Affairs, and Minister Brooke Van Velden, to abandon proposals to further regulate online speech. ...1 day ago
- Confused or playing for time? 3 possible reasons NZ is taking so long to make a call on AUKUSSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert G. Patman, Professor of International Relations, University of Otago Getty Images New Zealand governments have been actively exploring the option of joining pillar two of AUKUS for over a year now. But according to foreign minister Winston Peters, the government ...1 day ago
- Archives NZ says it has enough space – for nowIts new building in Wellington will not be nearly big enough for all its records, and it has also run out of money to build its new storage facility in Levin. ...1 day ago
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This entire plan by the government seems “a den of iniquity”. Are they really willing to “sell their soul to the devil”, as it were (aiming at government income, of course). This is “cash before creatures”. In the days of M.J. Savage, human ethics were regarded as important and relevant to government policy. Is this absolutely NOT the case in the days of John Key? I guess the answer is patently obvious.
+1 Very well said Dr.Terry.
If you’re going to quote the MED BCR index, at least quote it correctly. It’s based on the initial build cost that the govt won’t have to pay.
When the very wise CV called you a SkyCity shill the other day he was 100% correct.
How so?
Your total support for this corrupt Joyce deal makes me think you are on the payroll. And despite the name you use there’s been a total lack of balance in your unwavering support of this corruption.
The problem with your reasoning, Mr View, is that the govt is under no obligation to spend a single cent building convention centres regardless.
Hi Felix. Very true. But as pointed out in the main article, the financial return from the convention centre alone is questionable, so at risk of not being built to begin with.
This way, NZ gets an international standard convention centre and approx $80M a year in incremental tourism dollars.
SkyCity should just build and maintain their own next-door convention centre and let the market underwrite any losses should the numbers fail to deliver. Are there big queues at these slot machines are there?
Why should they?
I go to sky city about 10 times per year. I have never seen it so busy that you couldn’t get a machine. There must be something about the psychology of not wanting to sit next to someone that will make this venture by sky city profitable for them.
“Why should they?”
I’m not saying they should. There no shortage of convention centres and no queues at machines, why the drama?
If we want to target medium to large scale international conferences then we need appropriate venues, of which we have none that are currently suitable (apparently).
Yes, it’s the lack of a conference venue that stops people flying 10,000km to have a conference here.
And the pretty mediocre BCR took “if you build it, they will come” into account, anyway.
Well let’s not build or bid for anything then. After all, how could we be sure the benefit is really there……
Well they took a risk on a casino venture, if they want another wing on their empire why should taxpayers underwrite it?
That’s what BCRs are for: a BCR of say 1.5-2.3 in today’s climate would be awesome. But a lower limit BCR of 1.1 based on the economy a few years back would suggest that it might well be a white elephant in exchange for 3-400 more gambling addicts.
If you want to throw government money away without necessarily getting it back, try putting it into healthcare or education.
Mr View,
“Well let’s not build or bid for this thing then. After all, we’re not in the frickin’ casino business“.
FIFY
We’ll have to agree to disagree on your estimate of the number of additional problem gamblers produced from this deal. I personally can’t see many more being added at all.
What you can personally see or not see is of no import.
What I want to see released is the amount of time, and the times, that SkyCity;s current pokies are more than 50% utilised.
This will give us a clue as to why they want these additional machines.
Fair enough, I only took the figure from a comment by the problem gambling foundation.
So what is an acceptable number of problem gamblers created by pokies in exchange for funding of a conference centre that might not break even over 20 years, in your opinion?
just more bullshit semantics masquerading as logic “balanced view” …. if your figures were provable($80million per annum) then any bank this side of copenhagen would be happy to underwrite any loan required to build it…..
the FACT is that the figures being pulled out of various arses (read “guess” a la bill english). including yours. ….
this is nothing more than another scam devised to allow national, and steven joyce to dispense their obligations to their owners and to ensure future financial support…..
i’m surprised that there are people on this site (quite clever people) who seemed to think you could be reasoned with…… i know as well as you just how pointless that is…..
when one has already sold their soul for the opportunity to worship at the feet of the money god, one becomes part of the problem… never the solution…..
I heard someone from the Problem Gambling Foundation speak to this. I was given the impression that this figure is derived from an overall average, and doesn’t take into account that they will be added to an existing venue with 1600 already. For me, this should change the formula.
To answer your question, I would expect four or five full time jobs for every new problem gambler created.
How about you?
Shit, that ratio’s close to drug dealing!
My response is none for generic “jobs”. That’s a bullshit way to govern, because the harm caused will have flow on effects down the generations. You know what: nobody needs gambling to live, and we don’t need the conference centre for “jobs”.
Maybe NZ should start actually building shit again, rather than hoping to be a conference paradise in a shrinking global economy?
It’s the one we’ve got so it’s the one we use. You want a better formula then I suggest you cough up the time and money to do the research to bring about a better formula. That said, the Problem Gambling Foundation is probably already working on one with their limited resources.
Not bloody likely. At that sort of exchange rate there would be no way pokies would turn a profit.
DTB, the jobs won’t be paid for directly out of pokie money, they will be paid for out of tourism dollars.
The argument about the cost of the convention centre, or it’s ongoing operational costs is one for the sky city board. They’re the ones that have chosen to take it on.
Even if it runs at a massive loss and only attracts half the number of international guests that have been forecast, NZ still wins provided the social cost isn’t to high.
Which it is and some of those tourism dollars will be coming from the pokies.
We have no need of a convention centre as indicated by the fact that it doesn’t have a viable business case unless it gets a government subsidy.
Exactly!
No need for Govt. to underwrite this venture. Welfare is getting chopped sorry SkyCity, tough times ‘n’ all.
I wonder how many tax payer funded events John Key has promised SkyCity for this new convention centre.
And I understand that National frequently use SkyCity as well? I wonder if the National Party is going to get cut price rates at the new convention centre. They damn well should for all the help they are giving to SkyCity.
Yep it doesn’t matter where you move around this deal theres the same smell wofting about in the air.
And where’s there any evidence for that? I am working in Europe and over the past two years touting by conference organisers has skyrocketed. Venues can’t be filled, despite simply ridiculous incentives are being offered. Competition is cutthroat. Venue operators have to work out deals with hotels which are also discounting heavily. Moreover, it’s been said more eloquently by others – who the heck would come all the way to Auckland at vast cost, not to mention the time zone difference, when there’s hundreds more desirable venues closer to home? I think it was Rosy who suggested a name for this grotesque misuse of public funds: “the John Key Center”
@Unbalanced view
Stop trying to play the real devil’s advocate via dollar/economic temptation and by minimising, justifying or distracting from any negatives.
Who cares what New Zealand gets in dollars the social cost is too great. Gambling is addictive and destructive to many and I believe you know that, just as Key and Joyce do. They just can’t resist making what they see as a “quick buck” no matter how and no matter who it harms. Banal, I know, but evil.
You can’t be serious? So no matter how many jobs are created (yes the tourism dollars mean jobs) the social cost is too high?
Based this ideology, the social cost of obesity (which is far greater) would lead you to remove all businesses (and jobs) associated with this?
Laughable.
Back to your 1000 jobs created for every problem gambler created irrelevant nonsense, are we.
Nope but that’s because I don’t do anything on ideology. I take into account facts and the fact is that obesity is, almost invariably, a condition of poverty. Poor people can’t afford to eat well enough (often combined with poor food education) and so are hungry all the time making them eat more of the poor food that they have. So, the solution to poverty is to improve the food that’s available to them.
Poor food education I agree with. Affordability I completely disagree
Because education helps you think you’re better than poor people, whereas affordability makes it something other than a personal choice issue.
Or, the less cynical amongst us will understand that nutritious food need not be, and usually isn’t, as expensive as the junk quite often consumed by people with an obesity problem.
Wow BV you sound like you live in a country where milk is cheaper than Coke. If that’s true, I want to know about it ASAP because I want to move me and my kids there. Because in NZ, where we happen to produce billions of litres of milk, it turns out that milk is waaaaay more expensive than frakking sugary Coke.
meh.
Coke vs milk.
lean mince vs watery fatty mince.
low sodium bread vs 450(or even 500)mg/100g generic bread.
Lol, the old coke vs milk trick. I don’t know anyone that drinks plain milk these days.
Beside, milk is only marginally more expensive than coke if you really want to use the comparison. Personally I would suggest water from the tap.
Fatty mince, this can easily be drained during the cooking process.
I’ve never even heard of low sodium bread, but the budget brands are usually pretty similar to the branded ones.
As I said, if willing, there should be no reason to use affordability as an excuse on diet
So you don’t know anyone who drinks “plain” milk these days?
Never wonder why?
Nice tip about draining fat. Still not as good as lean mince.
Most breads are sodium 350mg/100g. Budget plain white, last I looked, was 400mg. I saw another cheap bread at 500. Saw bread once as low as 150mg – about 3 tiimes the price of non-on-special Budget.
I just had a look at the sodium levels on the loaf of bread I purchased from the dairy for $1.70. 296mg. The similar branded one I paid nearly $4 for from the supermarket has 320mg. Mostly irrelevant really, I’m sure that sodium levels in bread have little to add to the obesity problem.
fuck – which brand?
Bread’s been pissing me off since the doc put me on low sodium. Spoiled for choice, as sodium levels vary wildly between brands and types within brands. I’ve actually thrown up my hands lately and just not bothered buying it.
Gold max from the dairy, natures fresh from the supermarket. Both white toast.
My biggest battle in bread is trying to find the best date. You almost have to conduct a grid search of the bread aisle to find that extra day.
“Beside, milk is only marginally more expensive than coke if you really want to use the comparison.”
2 litre milk: $3.50
2 litre coke: $1.80
P’n’save figures, 50%=marginal / nah unbalanced again
hmmm. I have a feeling I ditched NF for some reason related to sodium or something. Don’t recall seeing Gold Max anywhere.
Anyway, cheers for that – finally got some common ground 🙂
And so to bed.
Fender, $1.80 for two litre coke, really? If that’s the case I’m going tomorrow. And for milk, I haven’t paid any more than $3 for two liters for at least two years, sometimes cheaper.
But as I said, if it’s too expensive drink water
Yeah good advice as theres shit loads of calcium in water.
Your balance reminds me of getting on the see-saw with someone like Brownlee
But it shouldn’t be too expensive in NZ to give your kids some fucking milk, BV.
That’s the whole point.
edit: swearing with you, not at you 😉
So you’re allowed to use a comparison with coke, but I can’t use one with water?
How much calcium in coke?
“Both white toast.”
You eat white bread?? How is that taking personal responsibility for your health? 😉
Missing the point again BV.
It doesn’t matter from a calcium point of view whether they’re having coke or water.
It matters that they’re not having milk.
No Felix, the point (as much of a tangent to the original topic as it is) is that affordability shouldn’t contribute to obesity.
But on milk, I could understand why it is a reasonably pricey commodity. It is an amazing process to produce and get to store in such a short time.
I know rosy! But it’s soooo good…..
Stuff the coke mate.
How about the milk and honey created by the casino getting welfare, clever buggers with friends on the 9th floor.
Felix, you’re right. Should definitely be having some sort of dairy food. I don’t think it’s cost prohibitive, I think it’s a necessity and should be some of the first dollars spent of the weekly shopping budget
Pointing out that there are reasons for milk to be so expensive isn’t really helping your case though BV.
Sure it’s cheaper to drink water. That’s as read.
But it’s not an either/or choice. Kids need water AND milk.
edit: I’m getting a bit confused as to which comments are replies to which (teach me for butting in to a perfectly good thread) so I’ll bid you all a good night and a happy easter.
Agree, I raised the water comment once coke was raised as an alternative.
Noting the importance of milk, as well as it being a food source on top of being a drink, it should be on every shopping list, no matter what you financial position. I don’t see it as being cost prohibitive.
Here’s an article written in 2008 about the cost of milk and carbonated beverages and effects of consumption upon health.
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/5/1/1
Not good in 2008, pre NAct accession to power. It’s probably worse now.
Despite your continued disbelief there’s truckloads of good scientific research showing that affordability does contribute to obesity. Maybe a personal story will help? I was unemployed while with my wife was on a low wage and we had three teenage children to feed. We could save $30 a week (double that in today’s $) on getting the cheapest brand of everything. We grew our own veggies and tried to feed the kids healthy food, but to save that $30 we also filled up on pies, chips and cheap mince. And coke was a cheap treat. In our case the kids were skinny and always hungry. There is no way that we could have filled them up only on healthy food.
Thank goodness I didn’t have Skycity pokies on my doorstep encouraging me to win win win to make our lives easier.
So the net net of all this is: BV has shown he has no real idea or understanding when he said
Viper, I stand by those comments 100%.
Just for once I think I agree with BV.
In the last three months I’ve achieved three things:
1. Lost 12 kgs in weight and I’m fitter than I’ve been in decades
2. Eaten as much delicious tasty food as I wanted
3. Saved about $100 per month in food bills.
Now I agree that obesity is linked to poverty. But not for the obvious reason that “they cannot afford good food”. It’s more complex than that.
Part of the reason is linked to poor education, and a lot of it is a food industry perpetuating and profiteering off that ignorance.
Well done RL! What do you attribute it to?
the real cost to the community is in the $ billions the damage gambling does to our society
Is it really billions?
Yes indeed because if the damage to society was only $500M annually that would be quite acceptable to the corporate casino operators.
The bcr is the present value of the whole of economy benefits divided by the whole of economy costs
If the costs were just the capital costs, then the actual bcr would be even worse
I’m pretty sure the costs used to calculate this BCR only include the cost of capital
Well, reread s9.2 in the article’s source document (government’s own numbers). You might change your mind.
I don’t see anything there outside of direct capital costs with the small exception of $10.8M of subsidies for initial operating costs over the first three years
Have I missed something?
Yep. The entire bit where they said operating costs are expected to break even after 3 years, hence the $10mil subsidy. Operating costs were examined in detail in s6.3, but I thought you would have picked up the gist from the BCR calculation section.
So yes, not just capital cost was taken into account for the BCR.
Joyce seems to opt for policies that not only are bad financial deals but also damaging to people in general e.g. more pokie machines, more trucks on roads.
National are very good at giving tax payers millions to Corporate bludger’s. Wheres those 170,000 jobs we were going to get from the last budget?
I’m more interested in where the 170k jobs are from the previous budget. By now we should be seeing ~85k of them.
Any day now we should have the announcement that there are no unemployed people in NZ 🙂
Of course there are no unemployed in NZ. Anyone who wants a job in this country can find work, so the people who aren’t working can’t be ones who want a job, which means they are lazy bludgers Q.E.D.
egad! That’s a cunning plan!
How many NZ corporates could organise a conference requiring a large venue? And why would overseas corporates go to NZ with the travel cost and time involved? My bet the international organisations being targeted are political – Commonwealth heads of govt, ASEAN, APEC and the like – a vanity project methinks. The John Key Centre/Center (depending on how bought we are) 😉
The paper says “every spent on the midtown option would bring $1.433 of benefits” -which is a shit bcr, ece is 8:1 or higher- that seems to be alk the costs. But, like I say, if it’s only the capital costs, and operational costs are needed as well to realise those benefits, then the total bcr is even more shit
Don’t worry about the operational costs buddy, by removing the minimum wage and importing Filipino workers, they will be negligible.
The tory “Brighter Future” is coming our way. Pity that the brightness is the result of flashing video screens on slot machines, illuminating the deathy pallor of the trapped, frantically hitting those buttons in the hope of being declared a winner.
I think that most people are missing the really important issue here, that of our laws being put up for sale. The legal restrictions on Sky City Casino were not put there for economic reasons, they were a reflection of our collective moral values.
The laws we have are grounded in the basic concept of right & wrong. They are not based on economic formulas, these are NZ society’s morals here. If we’re prepared to change our laws for money then we have to also accept that our morality will change with it. Once we start down this track where does it end? What other of our laws will be sold next?
The economics of a convention centre is an entirely separate issue to selling our laws and it’s the latter that people should be concerned about IMO.
Definition of BRIBE
1: money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust
2: something that serves to induce or influence
+1+1+1 DH.
“The laws we have are grounded in the basic concept of right & wrong. They are not based on economic formulas, these are NZ society’s morals here .”
Phil O’Reilly redefined morality on CloseUp when being interviewed about the Ports of Auckland debacle with Helen Kelly. When asked to take the moral highground on the situation by Helen he ignored her at first and so she said she would take a moral stand at which point he said of course he would take a moral stand -“It is about productivity and competitiveness” said the Lord High priest of BNZ. My hair stood on end, so this is how they justify corporate/business action now!
http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/wednesday-february-29-4748673
All these cruel and wicked things they are doing to employees e.g POAL,Gbson and Pearson,Talleys Lockout, Oceania made sense. It means that in their rather twisted and lost minds they are behaving “morally” under their redefinition of an almost sacred, until now, human societal concept.
First they get rid of society, then they highjack our language for their own machiavellian justifications. Furthermore, it appears that they don’t even know, or perhaps care, how soulless and lost they have become judging by Phil’s nonchalant chanting of this new order/definition of morality.
Now I view all National policies through this evil definition/filter and realise they think they are behaving in justifiable,”morally” correct way. No wonder they are so self righteous about kneecapping our country and assaulting her people.Their sense of entitlement and arrogance is explained, as unearthly and disgusting as it is.
Unfortunately for them they do not realise that the moral order of the universe will not be twisted, it will rebound and they will wish they had remembered that they are not the be all and end all. This can’t come soon enough, before there are too many more casualties in the name of productivity and competitiveness, the antimorality of Business.
”It is about productivity and competitiveness” said the Lord High priest of BNZ
Literally exactly the same argument constantly trotted out 200 years ago to rebut and delay the abolition of chattel slavery….
Just the down under version of social Darwinism.
@Redlogix- unbelievable. Time stands still. Never thought ‘conservative’ could be so conserved.
@Joe90- grotesque.
So Nacts can be now known as SDs. Think SD needs a little vowel in between- can’t decide on o or a………But my preference, in anger at their unbecoming existence is o. I can now aptly call them SODs. Thanks Joe 90