Open mike 03/09/2023

50 comments on “Open mike 03/09/2023 ”

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1. pat 1

   3 September 2023 at 6:59 am

   "Immigration officers say they’ve been told to ignore criminal convictions and investigations, not to read supporting documents on visa applications, and not to check work visas at the border in a “light touch” drive to grant more visas faster."

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/immigration/132853434/shambles-of-our-visa-regime-immigration-staff-reveal-their-truth

   NZs only growth lever.
   • Blazer 1.1

     3 September 2023 at 9:06 am

     Unbelievable isn't it!

     The consequences of immigration policy is an indictment on all govts of the last 2 decades.

     I see NZ First want to limit it to 15,000.Possibly one extreme to the…other.
     • Adrian 1.1.1

       3 September 2023 at 12:00 pm

       This is bloody annoying. In Marlborough there is a French young French woman who stayed on over covid and has now tried to get residency, she is highly skilled both in wineries and vineyards, can operate bottling and labeling machines and many other complex and much needed skills in this 2.5 billion dollar export earner industry that is desparatley short of skilled staff. But her qualifications at masters level are not in viticulture or oeneology therefore she does not qualify as she is historically a couple of grand short of the target income and works for different companies on a contract basis. But hey, look over there thats what we need , a fucking barista with bugger all English speaking skills and a phalanx of relatives waiting in the wings for a family reuniting visa. Is there under the table corruption involved here?
       • Craig H 1.1.1.1

         3 September 2023 at 1:49 pm

         Pretty difficult for a barista to qualify for skilled residence in the normal scheme of things.
         • Adrian 1.1.1.1.1

           3 September 2023 at 2:37 pm

           So how come there are so many of them, anecdotally, getting in?
           • Craig H 1.1.1.1.1.1

             4 September 2023 at 3:22 pm

             Not sure, you would have to ask them.

             https://www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/statistics/statistics-occupation-region-for-resident-principla-applicants.pdf has numbers of skilled migrant residence visas granted by occupation (among other things) for the past 10 years, and there are no baristas at all.

             https://www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/statistics/statistics-work-applications-approved-by-occupation.pdf has the same numbers but for work visas and there are a few of those granted to baristas. The figure show a steady increase up to a plateau of around 130-140/yr but dropped to 50 last fiscal year (1 July 2022-30 June 2023).

             In terms of other residence pathways besides skilled migrant residence in their own right, they may have qualified as partners of NZers or skilled residents (skilled migrant residence applications can include partners and children) or the 2021 Resident Visa.
         • Law 1.1.1.1.2

           4 September 2023 at 3:49 pm

           Movie projectionist was one ….so barrista would'nt surprise … also from memory Petrol Station attendant …
           • Craig H 1.1.1.1.2.1

             5 September 2023 at 11:13 am

             Checking the links provided here for visas granted by occupation in the last 10 years: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-03-09-2023/#comment-1966812

             Motion picture projectionist = 0 skilled migrant resident visas, 1 work visa (in 2013/14).

             Service Station Attendant = 0 skilled migrant resident visas, approx. 20-40 work visas per year in the 2010s, but only 2 in 2020/21 and 1 in 2022/23.

             As in that link, looks like they got resident visas through other categories e.g. partnership or 2021 resident visa.
       • Bruce 1.1.1.2

         3 September 2023 at 3:24 pm

         Its on the table corruption. Hundreds of "workers" that can't speak english with visas for labor hire companies . The first requisite would be to understand english or how can they understand instruction for the day.
   • pat 1.2

     3 September 2023 at 7:05 pm

     The problem is not the immigrants….its the blind eye exploitation for a supposed political benefit…something both wings of politics engage in.

     They are all a disgrace
2. satty 2

   3 September 2023 at 8:31 am

   Sounds interesting:

   The Food Crisis: The urgent, timely documentary every Kiwi voter should watch

   Only one quote from the linked site:

   “Why is it – in a land of plenty – does food cost so much? And what can we do about it?” the Scottish-born septuagenarian asks.
   • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1

     3 September 2023 at 8:54 am

     No competition. Total Duopoly control. I just got my minimum "supermarket" food. Two supermarkets nearly opposite each other. The new one Countdown…All gonna be rebranded as Woolworths (rebranding they are spending $400 Million ! Just an insult.)

     https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/493925/countdown-to-become-woolworths-in-400-million-rebrand

     My trolley…fark all in it…expensive as. And the specials? A joke. Where is the competition?
   • gsays 2.2

     3 September 2023 at 4:48 pm

     We can ask the same question of fish. In an modern developed island nation, it shouldn't be a rare luxury.

     I look at docos on different countries, recently Peru was featured and its bustling fish market in Lima. Folk without much were eating fish regularly.
     • joe90 2.2.1

       3 September 2023 at 6:51 pm

       Oh that we too could have the current that brings cold, nutrient-dense water to the surface, and the <0.1% of the world's ocean surface that produces about 10% of the world's fish catch, on our door step.

       Although tbf it's not all anchovies and skittles in Peru.

       https://www.intrafish.com/fisheries/peru-cancels-all-important-first-anchovy-fishing-season/2-1-1464552
       • gsays 2.2.1.1

         4 September 2023 at 7:09 am

         It's not a lack of fish (that may have changed recently) that has prices so high here. The whole system- selling quotas to the big boys who then sub-contract to foreign ships and crews- that is keeping fish out of our diets.
       • Hunter Thompson II 2.2.1.2

         4 September 2023 at 9:24 am

         Just bring in the pest known as Lion fish. Native to the Great Barrier Reef, it breeds like crazy. With our oceans warming it might take off here, like it has in Florida.

         You can eat it if you remove the toxic spines and it is said to be tasty.

         Mind you, it eats many other species so the range of fish for NZers to eat would decline markedly.
3. PsyclingLeft.Always 3

   3 September 2023 at 9:39 am

   Some recent discussion on The Standard re median/mean wage NZ. And, as I and others have said …And IMO… the few at the top skew it UP due to their Lotto like pay..This article is paywalled..but the video of them plays.

   Number 10..ie the "lowest" and above $3 Million….

   CEO Pay Survey: NZ’s top bosses richer than ever following big pay rises

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/ceo-pay-survey-nzs-top-bosses-richer-than-ever-following-big-pay-rises/3ML6SP5AZFAJJEDBRXG2CF34SI/

   How many others?
   • PsyclingLeft.Always 3.1

     3 September 2023 at 9:58 am

     Has any Standardista seen other reports? I found this..(Its a small PDF..if dont want…but its got a lot of info)

     Chief executive remuneration in New Zealand has
     gone up by 67% over the period 2000-2020.

     https://www.anglicanadvocacy.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PayRatiosInAotearoaNewZealand-AnglicanAdvocacy-compressed.pdf

     Also Dr Helen Roberts, Otago, had done a lot of research on…has anyone heard of latest info?
     • alwyn 3.1.1

       3 September 2023 at 10:31 am

       They should have become politicians instead of running a business.

       As far as I can determine the basic salary of a Minister in the New Zealand Government in 2000 was $149,200 and in 2020 was $296,007.

       Any Minister therefore was paid 98.4% more in 2020 than 2000.

       That certainly is a great deal more than your quoted figure for CEO's isn't it? Why do we pay the. generally incompetent Ministers of today such inflated salaries?

       See page 25 of

       https://oag.parliament.nz/2001/salaries/docs/salaries.pdf

       and

       https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2020/0327/latest/LMS438252.html
       • Hanswurst 3.1.1.1

         3 September 2023 at 6:11 pm

         Erm… no. The figures for CEO pay rates are inflation-adjusted, and expressed in '2020 dollars', according to the data linked by PsyclingLeft Always. A quick look at the RBNZ inflation calculator says that the purchasing power of $149,200 in 2001 would have been somewhere between about $216,500 and about $223,000 in 2020, depending on exactly when in each year one takes. Additionally, the figure you give for 2020 is for a cabinet minister, whereas the figure for 2001 is simply for a 'minister'. The figure for a minister outside cabinet in 2020 is $249,839, so the actual increase on an apples-with-apples basis may very well be as little as from around $223,000 to $250,000, or around 12%.

         Then there is the fact that the ministerial salaries are very much comparable with the bottom end of where the salaries for CEOs are, so why CEOs in general would be envious of the lot of a minister in terms of remuneration is well beyond me.

         So I think that's a fairly comprehensive fail for your analysis there.
         • Drowsy M. Kram 3.1.1.1.1

           3 September 2023 at 7:15 pm

           So I think that's a fairly comprehensive fail for your analysis there.

           Yes, a comprehensive fail – still, no doubt alwyn is comfortable with his figures.

           Election 2023: Concerns National's foreign buyer tax idea could breach international treaties [3 Sept 2023]]
           Christopher Luxon is comfortable with National's plan.

           Election 2023: Dispute widens over legitimacy of National’s foreign buyer tax – Audrey Young [3 Sept 2023]
           She [Willis] and Luxon continue to say they are comfortable that their policy can be implemented.
         • alwyn 3.1.1.1.2

           3 September 2023 at 11:22 pm

           You are quite right about the inflation adjustment that I hadn't allowed for.

           On the other hand your comparison with the rates for Ministers "not in cabinet" isn't. There was apparently no difference back in 2000.

           For convenience therefore I have looked at the one person who could be classed as the CEO. That is the Prime Minister. In 2000 she got $244k. In 2020 it was 471k. The RBNZ inflation figure was about 1.45.

           Therefore the increase, inflation adjusted was about 32%. Nice but not as good as the sample of CEOs were supposed to have got. Well spotted.
4. Barfly 4

   3 September 2023 at 9:51 am

   Well it's election season and I see the right wing parties have sprung into action

   No longer an unending litany of complaints and whining

   Now it's election mode – So far we have seen

   1/ Punching down – National wants to harm Beneficiaries and ACT wants to harm Superannuatants

   2/ Magical thinking – proposed taxes with insanely dubious forecasts of the $ gatherable.

   3/Magical thinking – National wants to cut Government expenditure but because they are the National Party their Magic is that they can do the same with less

   4/Punching down – Public transport charges to increase – Prescription charges back – The spirit of the "Paper Boy" tax lives on.

   5/ TAX CUTS $2.1 Billion for Landlords and one third of a burger for pensioners
   .
   6/ Roads they love tarseal

   I usually find election time with the real and implied threats from right wing parties to be really difficult and find that my problems with anxiety and depression worsen. This election I feel safer due to turning 65 a couple of months after it.I believe the right wing parties cause a lot of harm to the vulnerable in New Zealand and that they don't give a shit that they harm people
   • PsyclingLeft.Always 4.1

     3 September 2023 at 10:07 am

     Yep. I feel the looming threat of the NAct "punch down" as a very real worry.

     I'm at the lower end…and one of the "working poor". I feel much empathy for ALL at this end.

     IMO NAct will take NZ…to the cleaners…for the benefit (! )..of the rich and nasty.

     Fight back. !
   • bwaghorn 4.2

     3 September 2023 at 10:18 am

     I reckon if you hired the last national government to run your farm for 9 years they would have sold a couple of best paddocks, stopped putting fertilizer on to make the books look good, built a shiny new drive way so you feel good when you drive in , while the fences out the back fell down, .

     Can't see this lot being any different.
     • Shanreagh 4.2.1

       3 September 2023 at 10:56 am

       Agree.

       Don't forget the light touch regulations so not only have the fences fallen down but what stock there is have access to the waterways and wallow in knee deep mud during winter.
     • Barfly 4.2.2

       3 September 2023 at 10:57 am

       , while the fences out the back fell down, .

       Being the National Party they would have sold the fences, arranged a lease back at too high a rate, secured the promise of a directorship in the fencing company post wrecking the farm and then the fences out the back fell down, .
     • Patricia Bremner 4.2.3

       3 September 2023 at 1:17 pm

       Agree with all of the above . Barfly, I am so pleased you are entering a space with more money and dignity, but you are right about Nact causing extreme anxiety, PLA you are clearly a caring person who wants what is good for others, and can see the damaging agenda of the right, and bwaghorn, that is the best description of organised neglect, but you forgot to mention their bulging back pockets and business & banking buddies. but I see you have explained the money go round.
     • Binders full of women 4.2.4

       3 September 2023 at 3:26 pm

       Yeah but they may not have endangered back country lives and wrecked biodiversity by allowing the hut-burning that the current vandals HAVE allowed.
   • Roy Cartland 4.3

     3 September 2023 at 1:34 pm

     I feel for you Barfly and others. The anxiety is horrible, I remember it. Often it is worse then the reality, so please try to take some solace from that.

     I'm fortunate enough to have transcended worrying about money now. I had a massive life-and-death health scare which, as often happens, gave me a new perspective. Nothing really matters in the Grand grand scheme, and worrying doesn't fix anything.

     I now just worry about those who do it tough. Struggle dawn to dusk and still can't get by. I wish I could help but I don't have the wealth. If only I was Allah or something I could solve all the problems. Start with eliminating all the parasite billionaires.
     • mary_a 4.3.1

       3 September 2023 at 2:42 pm

       Agree 100% Roy (4.3) Cheers.
     • Patricia Bremner 4.3.2

       3 September 2023 at 2:59 pm

       Roy 100%
5. weka 5

   3 September 2023 at 11:35 am

   Confirmation from WRP National Secretary Jill Ovens that the Women's Rights Party has been registered.

   https://www.facebook.com/jill.ovens.5/posts/pfbid0rwnxMzG5TYzrjMkLf344ACcBmBV1ihnMxqTZiGuN83Gw8TD7hYCu9KCh6NW3ceMzl

   https://thestandard.org.nz/the-womens-rights-party/
6. adam 6

   3 September 2023 at 12:47 pm

   weka.

   next time you get a dumb question on rights – make them watch this video – first minute and a bit are truly worth it.
   • Blazer 6.1

     3 September 2023 at 1:10 pm

     Heres a question for…you-what's the relevance of that video to womens rights?

     And another,- what rights are women missing out on these days?
     • Visubversa 6.1.1

       3 September 2023 at 3:15 pm

       The rights to name their bodies, the rights to organise as a sex class without the presence of men, the rights for lesbians to be same sex attracted, the right to female sports, changing rooms, shelters, rape crisis shelters etc, free from the presence of men. I could go on.

       And here we are in "Blue September" – and I bet we will get through it without a single man being referred to as a Penis Person, a Prostate Owner, a Testicle Bearer or and Ejaculator.
       • Rosielee 6.1.1.1

         3 September 2023 at 4:56 pm

         
       • Blazer 6.1.1.2

         3 September 2023 at 5:11 pm

         Not one of the things you have stated is prevented by law as far as I can see.

         Please do not ..go on…absolute drivel imo.
         • Tabletennis 6.1.1.2.1

           4 September 2023 at 5:43 pm

           Blazer, that's true: the right to be single sex places – without male transgender present – is not prevented by law, BUT and here is the but:
           it depends on the individual organisation, council facilities, to do exactly that.

           e.g. Christchurch women only swimming session is open to any men who claims to be/feel like a women. (reason why Muslim women don’t use the ChCh pool).
           NZ sport is in a similar train of thought

           according to the law:
           ‘Women-only facilities that exclude trans-identifying males would not be unlawfully discriminating against trans-identifying males on the basis of sex, and would not be in breach of the Human Rights Act.'

           <

           p style=”text-align:justify”>
           • Incognito 6.1.1.2.1.1

             4 September 2023 at 7:04 pm

             Please provide a link for your quote, which sounds like a legal opinion, but by/from who?
             • Tabletennis …

               5 September 2023 at 12:19 pm

               Incognito – according to Section 44 of the Human Rights Act 1993 covers the provision of goods and services.
               These are some of the exceptions- BUT its up to the providers

               45. Exception in relation to courses and counselling
               Nothing in section 44 shall prevent the holding of courses, or the provision of counselling, restricted to persons of a particular sex, race, ethnic or national origin, or sexual orientation where highly personal matters, such as sexual matters or the prevention of violence, are involved.

               46. Exception in relation to public decency or safety
               Section 44 shall not apply to the maintenance or provision of separate facilities or services for each sex on the ground of public decency or public safety.

               https://www.speakupforwomen.nz/post/know-your-rights-sex-self-id-in-new-zealand
   • Roy Cartland 6.2

     3 September 2023 at 1:23 pm

     Russell Howard, proper comedy. Weka's right, it is worth it. He even negates the trans discussion pretty well.
     • Roy Cartland 6.2.1

       3 September 2023 at 6:06 pm

       Navigates, not negates
7. joe90 7

   3 September 2023 at 1:33 pm

   Liar for big tobacco salivates at the prospect of people losing their jobs.

   /

   When asked if there will be job losses at the agency, he said: “Hope so”.

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/132860241/nationals-chris-bishop-promises-change-around-kinga-ora
8. Reality 8

   3 September 2023 at 1:52 pm

   10 years or so ago I was sitting beside a Canterbury farmer on a flight to Christchurch. Chatting away, he mentioned Auckland corporates had bought adjacent farms. But the corporates refused to contribute to the boundary fencing upkeep, leaving it to him to pay the cost of this. Not good neighbours.
   • Roy Cartland 8.1

     3 September 2023 at 6:05 pm

     It's that a point in favour of Nats or against?
9. AB 9

   3 September 2023 at 2:37 pm

   National's campaign launch seemed like a wall to wall doofus overload to me. Probably what happens when you have too much money dropped into your pockets – wasteful spending. At least the embarrassment was spread more generally, not just confined to Luxon. So that’s a positive I suppose.
   • Anne 9.1

     3 September 2023 at 6:39 pm

     It looked on the telly more like a funeral parade… all blues and blacks. The audience came across as unnatural – unlike the genuine exuberance of the Labour audience.

     I also noted that far from attempting to ruin the Nat. campaign opening, the Free-dumb crowd stood reasonably quietly at a distance. Made me think they are hoping for a Nat. win so their Free-dumb candidates will get in on the coat-tails of ACT and NZ First.
     • Kat 9.1.1

       3 September 2023 at 8:16 pm

       Looked like Luxon Inc wanted to be seen as the most presidential hence the very American style presentation. There were plenty of empty blue seats evident though………

       I would imagine a massive amount of security and vetting can be bought with all those donated millions in the Nat war chest.
10. weka 10

    3 September 2023 at 8:14 pm

    Anyone else having trouble with http://archive.is/ today?

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