Open mike 03/12/2023

26 comments on “Open mike 03/12/2023 ”

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1. bwaghorn 1

   3 December 2023 at 6:54 am

   https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/taxpayer-union-offers-free-re-brand-for-government-departments/

   While I wouldn't let the tax payers union near anything official, and don't care which language gets top billing.

   The taxpayers union makes a very valid point about the ridiculous waste of government rebranding when a simple repeatedly format is all that is needed.
   • Dennis Frank 1.1

     3 December 2023 at 9:16 am

     Interesting. You're right to focus on the efficiency prospect and unions touting for business from govt is sufficiently maverick behaviour to be worthy of comment.

     The govt would have to offer the contract for public tender, I presume, as a nod to the level-playing field fig-leaf usually deployed in govt contracting. Dinosaur unions can always grow a competitive brain. Imagining them doing so isn't easy yet there is no inherent reason leftist thought is unable to incorporate enterprise.
     • bwaghorn 1.1.1

       3 December 2023 at 9:56 am

       Eloquence is a gift wasted on simple farm boys.
     • Ed1 1.1.2

       3 December 2023 at 11:36 am

       I share your scepticism about the usefulness of the NZ Taxpayer Union, Dennis, but apparently they have enough money to be able to offer their services for no charge . . ..
2. Johnr 2

   3 December 2023 at 8:07 am

   One hopes that by the time parliament resumes, the three opposition parties have cooperated with each other to form a concerted plan of attack. Not only, for the govts actions but to also drive a wedge between the govt parties.

   If successful we may soon hear 'you know who' say. " I used to run a country, you know".
3. Pat 3

   3 December 2023 at 8:23 am

   "Official measures of inflation are a long-running tragi-comedy: comedic in the transparency of the distortions, and tragic in the consequences: what will you believe is true–the statistics or your lying eyes?"

   https://charleshughsmith.blogspot.com/2023/11/never-mind-bogus-measures-of-inflation.html

   A succinct article that puts the ramblings of the politicians into perspective.
4. Dennis Frank 4

   3 December 2023 at 10:01 am

   Donating millions of dollars to media corporates was deemed a good idea by the last Labour govt. Winston framing it as bribery recently seemed to strike a nerve though. Will Lux eventually figure out that copying Labour is normal politics for National?

   He'd have to do a reframe to sell it as strategy (particularly to Winston) yet the prospect of National ignoring the need to manufacture consent seems minimal. The lure will prove too powerful, I suspect.

   The scientific poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was carried out by Curia Market Research and found that 59% percent believe the funding undermines media independence, compared to just 21% who believe it doesn't. Twenty percent were unsure. https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/poll_reveals_distrust_of_taxpayer_funded_media

   So an overwhelming portion of kiwis disagree with Labour that it was a good idea for the govt to fund media corporations. Is that sufficient to stop Lux succumbing to the copycat urge? Only if his neoliberalism is ideological commitment. Seems to me it isn't, it's just pragmatism, so it can be tweaked for electoral advantage.

   Crucially, the belief that media funding undermines independence is strong among supporters of all major political parties, including Labour and the Greens.

   Supporters don't really matter though. It was the Labour elite that made the funding decision. Elitism comes naturally to Labour in government. Such cultural conformity is produced by political systems so nobody can wish it away…
   • Populuxe1 4.1

     3 December 2023 at 1:04 pm

     Although people like you seem to be willfully obtuse about the fact, said funding was administered by NZ on Air, a completely independent body.
     • Dennis Frank 4.1.1

       3 December 2023 at 1:59 pm

       So 59% of kiwis believe NZ on Air were doing wrong by enacting Labour's decision as they did. Unsurprising that Winston would see the opportunity in representing them: it supplies potential leverage to get NZF from 6% public support to 60%.
       • Populuxe1 4.1.1.1

         3 December 2023 at 2:16 pm

         While it may be true that 59% of people with a landline may not know their arse from their elbow, the assumption that they are also one issue voters is not supported by the actual electoral results.
         • Dennis Frank 4.1.1.1.1

           3 December 2023 at 3:15 pm

           True, but they'll still look like a plum target market to Winston!
   • Incognito 4.2

     3 December 2023 at 2:20 pm

     Donating millions of dollars to media corporates […]

     Stop with your idiosyncratic clueless dork act and make at least an effort to educate yourself before you act like a pretentious self-righteous plonker criticising others about framing and fact.

     For your edification: https://www.nzonair.govt.nz/funding/journalism-funding/#public-interest-journalism-fund-now-closed
   • gsays 4.3

     3 December 2023 at 3:25 pm

     I thought it was more a once-off payment.

     Part of the Covid lolly bowl of cash hand-outs.

     Edit: yep, I posted that before reading the whole thread. Pesky Parrotdog Hazy…
   • observer 4.4

     3 December 2023 at 3:35 pm

     Poll result: Majority of voters think TV/radio/news is rubbish, biased, wrong, etc. We enjoy shouting at (insert broadcasters' names here, according to taste …).

     Also poll result: Very small minority of voters wish the news only belonged to Rupert Murdoch. 0% wish the news didn't exist, at all.
5. Dennis Frank 5

   3 December 2023 at 10:59 am

   Nicely-framed media critique of Winston:

   Peters’ personal need to draw attention to himself would be frowned upon, in a younger person, as solipsism. His behaviour brings to mind the old quote, attributed to Alice Roosevelt about her father President Theodore Roosevelt, and more recently applied to President Bill Clinton, that he has “to be the bride at every wedding, the corpse at every funeral.”

   https://newsroom.co.nz/2023/12/03/peters-week-of-talking-bulldust/

   I query the writer's expectation that youngster would see solipsism in Winston's use of bribery. It would be cool to test it though – get a social scientist to organise a representative sample of youngsters & get them to answer suitable questions…

   1. define solipsism

   2. explain its relation to Winston Peters

   Then publish the results. I expect the most popular answer to 1 would be too many syllables, and the answers to 2 would be entertaining in their improvisation…
6. Kat 6

   3 December 2023 at 11:28 am

   Chris Bishop has contested the argument that Labour's smokefree changes would have saved lives.

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/301019486/live-national-casts-doubt-on-labours-smokefree-changes-saving-lives

   Politics is touted as a contest of ideas….that is if there are ideas in the first place….if Chris Bishop ever had any idea, it was forever an orphan…….
   • ianmac 6.1

     3 December 2023 at 11:58 am

     Thanks Kat. Luxon and Bishop keep saying that Labour would have had only one cigarette outlet in the whole of Northland. Not so says Jack. There would have been 35 stores in Northland but Bishop just carries on with the image of the one store under siege. Even with the Health Department figures Bishop just carries on with the lie. Fancy Bishop telling blatant lies.
     • Kat 6.1.1

       3 December 2023 at 12:53 pm

       Ian, this coalition of cruel idiots is based on lies……the more the participants are pushed the bigger the lies become…..
     • Patricia Bremner 6.1.2

       3 December 2023 at 1:29 pm

       Chris Bishop and his Dad, are steeped in Smoke and Spiel, so Truth is Perception according to "I used to run an Airline you know".
7. Ad 7

   3 December 2023 at 1:50 pm

   Shoutout to Todd Niall who is retiring from journalism after 46 years.

   Todd IMHO you should have got the Morning Report job instead of the lightweights we have now.

   That year you did the Christmas holiday shift was the best one I've had the pleasure of engaging with.

   The support that you gave the people of West Auckland over so many decades in particular railing against the provision of public transport while the rest of Auckland got it by the billion.

   The scrutiny you gave without fear or favour to the post-2010 mayors of Auckland was excellent.

   The thousands of columns provided to the Western Leader and then to Stuff generally were always to the point, willing the political order to deliver more and more honestly.

   Plus you never 'played the man'; you went 100% for better service, stronger policy outcomes, and the good of all.

   You never had a bitchy tone or a hatchet job designed to pitch to prurient interest and stupid clickbait. You were a good guy to deal with.

   I am sorry you are going and really happy that you delivered such consistently high quality journalism.
   • Dennis Frank 7.1

     3 December 2023 at 2:07 pm

     Someone likely to see you as an exception to the rule, Ad. Plus credits.

     In most industries, being told “nobody misses you” after nearly half a century of service is a kick in the delicates. But for a journalist, it’s the ultimate accolade.

     That three-word text message was sent by a politician to retiring journalist and veteran broadcaster, Todd Niall in his last week as Stuff’s Senior Auckland Affairs reporter. In his typically professional manner, Niall doesn’t want the politician identified.

     Councillor, and former Auckland City mayor, Christine Fletcher spoke of Niall’s reporting playing an “instrumental part” in the Council pulling out of an early Britomart development plan that would have excluded trains.

     Councillor Mike Lee had a similar story about Niall’s reporting of a proposed international cruise terminal that would have seen the iconic Shed 10 bulldozed. Lee said it was only after being interviewed by Niall that he realised the plan was not right and the building which links Downtown Auckland to its cargo-shipping past was saved.

     https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/301018445/without-fear-or-favour-todd-niall-retires-after-46-years-in-journalism

     Those were the days…

     “I was told by the chief reporter, rather dryly, that I was hired because I was male and under 20, so could be paid cadet wages,” says Niall. Veteran Pat Booth was the editor.

     Niall and his young colleagues diligently covered the protest movement. “We got called into the manager’s office… were told we were potentially upsetting the advertisers and we needed to ‘tone down’ our coverage.”

     Niall and his colleagues refused. The union was called in and “this young guy” Bill Ralston from Wellington’s regional television station did a story.
     • observer 7.1.1

       3 December 2023 at 3:39 pm

       So is he a conscientious, capable reporter who keeps us informed and serves the public … or a corrupt taker of bribes?

       Can't have it both ways, and please don't say "perception".
       • Dennis Frank 7.1.1.1

         3 December 2023 at 4:04 pm

         Huh?? Are you suggesting a link to another comment on another issue? Regardless, I see no evidence upon which to base any negative categorisation of the retiring chap. Seems to have earned a reputation as a diligent worker.
         • Patricia Bremner 7.1.1.1.1

           3 December 2023 at 10:07 pm

           100%
8. Muttonbird 8

   3 December 2023 at 7:28 pm

   It's becoming apparent Chris Luxton's actual role is in this government is less prime minister and more sweeper.

   Having disinvested himself of authority over his two deputies and his own ministers, all he can do is apologise for them.
9. Obtrectator 9

   3 December 2023 at 11:34 pm

   An interesting analysis of what Winsome could really be up to:

   https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350122628/what-winston-doingprofessional-wrestling-can-give-us-guide

   In other words, he's out front, performing the Trumpian distraction role, playing to the gallery of thickheads, while the real dirty-deed stuff is being quietly carried on in the wings.

   And he doesn't necessarily believe himself all the crap he's peddling.

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