Open mike 03/10/2011

113 comments on “Open mike 03/10/2011 ”

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1. Jenny 1

   3 October 2011 at 6:38 am

   To my mind the so called “Chris Carter amendment” currently before parliament, shows the fear that the establishment and the state have of any ‘populist’ democratic movement that may arise to challenge the accepted neo liberal market led austerity measures proposed to deal with the coming combined crises of economic and environmental collapse.

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10754883

   Hone Harawira has stated publicly on more than one occasion that he intends to spend most of his time after the election outside of parliament.

   I imagine that behind Hone’s public statements may be some sort of plan to build his Mana Party into a popular mass party/movement.

   Such a project would require Hone to spend a lot of his time outside parliament forging the necessary broad links with many grass roots groups and organisations and other NGOs.

   The amendment before parliament seeks to increase the fine for MPs absent from the house with out proper excuse, from the current $10 per day, to a whopping $270 per day!

   Also pointedly targeting Hone Harawira – In this amendment, is a clause that will give the Speaker of the House greater power to evict from the house any MP who deviates in any way from the archaic legal oath to the Queen and her heirs, in a way that displeases the Speaker.

   As well as increasing the power of the Speaker to evict our elected representatives from the House, the bill also gives he Speaker the power to banish that MP from parliament for as long as the Speaker sees fit.

   Included in the bill is a clause to take the power to moniter and control MPs presence in the House away from the political parties and hand it to the State forces.

   A register of MPs attendance in parliament will be kept and monitored by the parliamentary police instead of, as at present by the respective party whips.

   This Bill can only be seen as an attempt to increase the power of the state to hinder the possible development outside of parliament of a ‘populist’ led movement powerful enough to challenge the power of big business to undemocratically set all public policy.

   To call this bill “the Chris Carter amendment”, is a deliberate misnomer it’s real title should be “the anti- Hone Harawira Law”
   • davidc 1.1

     3 October 2011 at 9:41 am

     You object to an MP being pinged HALF of their wages for wagging work?
     I wish my boss was so kind!
   • Lanthanide 1.2

     3 October 2011 at 9:59 am

     “A register of MPs attendance in parliament will be kept and monitored by the parliamentary police instead of, as at present by the respective party whips.”

     This used to be the way it was done up until about 1986 I believe it was. The politicians became under too much negative publicity so they effectively gave the record over to the whips so it wouldn’t need to be published.

     IMO they’re elected to do a job, they should do it. If they don’t, we should know that.
     • Jenny 1.2.1

       3 October 2011 at 6:17 pm

       You object to an MP being pinged HALF of their wages for wagging work?
       I wish my boss was so kind!

       davidc

       davidc, We are their bosses!

       And what sort of work is it, that MPs that really want to serve their constituents are forced to attend powerless back room committee hearings, to be endlessly patronised by having their views listened to and then ignored?

       What sort of work is it, that people who claim to be leaders let themselves become infantilised in parliament by engaging in endless and pointless parliamentary debates that always descend into childish one-up-man-ship point scoring that change nothing and only disgust the public?

       The greatest New Zealand political leaders of recent history achieved more out of parliament than they ever did in it.

       Dame Whina Cooper who led the Maori Land March, and brought about the creation of the Waitangi Tribunal.

       Eva Rickard and Joe Hawk who through land occupations and protest action saw that Tribunal given legislative teeth.

       John Minto who rescued New Zealand’s reputation from collaborating in apartheid sporting contests with South Africa while that regime was murdering protesting school children.

       Nicky Hager who led the anti-nuclear movement that made this country nuclear free.

       Parliamentary politics is a purpose built machine designed to manipulate and crush sincere MPs into the corporate politician mould.

       I get really sick to the stomach when I hear that so and so was a really hard working MP, what is really meant, is that this MP jumped through all the hoops like a trained poodle and never ever rocked the boat.

       What the mainstream corporate politicians and big business lobbyists they serve, fear the most, are elected leaders who are determined to stay close to their constituency, refusing to become isolated and buried alive under the tight bureaucratic constraints of parliament.

       Hence the need to tighten the leash that this amendment represents.
     • Jenny 1.2.2

       9 October 2011 at 5:09 pm

       So what sort of work is it, that this legislation seeks to keep our MPs noses ground into?

       National MP Simon Power gives us a clue in his valedictory speech to parliament:

       At a day-to-day level, politics, particularly at a ministerial level, can quickly deteriorate to the daily management of tasks – dealing with papers, the media, OIA requests, Question Time, Written Questions, expectations from colleagues and your Party; tasks that become all consuming, and tasks that in the end do not improve the lives of New Zealanders at all.

       It’s like Simon Power read my comments on this thread and they had struck a chord with him:

       That’s not why we run for Parliament. We run to lead agendas, improve the lot of our countrymen, to push change, and to execute ideas. People don’t spend years getting elected, more years waiting to get into Cabinet, to then say “Well, I managed that week well, I minimised risk, had no view, took no decisions, stayed out of trouble: well done me.”
   • Vicky32 1.3

     3 October 2011 at 6:11 pm

     To call this bill “the Chris Carter amendment”, is a deliberate misnomer it’s real title should be “the anti- Hone Harawira Law”

     Really, I don’t see it! I think you’re being too kind to Hone here…
2. BWS 2

   3 October 2011 at 7:26 am

   So how about that TV3 poll and the TVNZ poll last night? Very very bad for Labour. Phil is now going backwards. Does anybody seriously still think Labour is on track to win the election off National?

   And what do you think of the Greens continuing to cannibalise Labour’s vote? Personally I think that’s a good thing, because at least the Greens know where they stand on policy, and can be counted on to do what they say they will do.
   • The Voice of Reason 2.1

     3 October 2011 at 7:40 am

     Actually, it’s not been a good weekend’s polling for National, given that we have MMP. You righties always seem to forget that salient fact, eh. 4 polls, all of them strongly suggesting it’ll be No Mates National on the big day. Which means the pressure is on Key to deliver the holy grail of an outright win. Which isn’t going to happen.
      
     The gap between the left/right blocs is still consistent and a small shift away from the right on election day can easily lead to a Labour led Government. Especially as Labour have not released their campaign policy yet, and the Nats can only offer more of the same muddle.
      
      
     • BWS 2.1.1

       3 October 2011 at 8:17 am

       Voice of Reason, do you really think Labour’s got a big game changing policy up its sleeve? Capital gains tax, no GST on fruit and vegetables, no asset sales. This is what we’re seeing on labour party billboards up and down the country (you know, those signs without Phil Goff on them, wonder why they’re not proud of him?), if Labour had a bigger and brighter policy up its sleeve why wouldn’t it be hammering it now? If you did have a better policy, you know, it might better distract that you’re trying to hide your leader.
       • The Voice of Reason 2.1.1.1

         3 October 2011 at 10:14 am

         Why would Labour put out all their policy now, BWS? The real fight isn’t till November and laying all the cards out now would only give the Tories time to counter-act them. There is plenty more to come from Labour, don’t you worry!
          
         BTW, isn’t it great to see all the Labour hoardings going up around the country? They seem to outnumber the National ones by a large margin and they have actual policy on them, rather than just a photo of the drunk guy we use to open sporting events.
         • BWS 2.1.1.1.1

           3 October 2011 at 10:31 am

           This is the first time ever Voice that Labour has a leaderless campaign. Is this the new campaign strategy, to pretend that the public don’t care who’s going to lead them, and appeal to the 2% who care about obscure policy?
           • The Voice of Reason 2.1.1.1.1.1

             3 October 2011 at 10:37 am

             I think it has always been policy versus personality, BWS, and this isn’t a presidential campaign, thankfully.  Goff can’t out poll Key on the popularity stakes but Labour and friends can out poll National on the things that matter. Can and will, I think.
             • the pink postman …

               3 October 2011 at 5:46 pm

               I agree V/R I think the well thought out excellent policies Labour is forwarding are going to impress once the Rugby madness is over. Now having said that I just cannot understand how Key can be so in front,(if he really is>) I have watched this goon (and thats a kind word) acting in the House like a nutty teenager ,Flounting shouting and grinning, Then outside unable to answer questions , Playing silly buggers in bumper cars .Swanning up and down in womens clothes and wrapping his arms around young women. Always has a drink in hand and shows the signs of having drunk to much,.All this when the financial news is terrible and our young men are now being killed protecting a corrupt government. Its baffling and concerning.
           • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1.1.2

             3 October 2011 at 11:31 am

             The public don’t actually need leaders – they need engagement and empowerment within the political system. We certainly don’t need Nationals authoritarian approach to government where everyone just does as the “leader” tells them to.
           • McFlock 2.1.1.1.1.3

             3 October 2011 at 12:22 pm

             Bloated With Stupidity, I find your comments here fascinating.
              
             Your comments regarding polls are, best case for you, pure gloating by somebody who doesn’t realise that slime alienates voters. A more realistic case is that you are either so dumb you believe your bullshit or you are desperately trying to make it true by repeating it often enough. Both of those options look quite foolish.
              
             Keep it up – the left need more tories like you!
       • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.2

         3 October 2011 at 10:53 am

         (you know, those signs without Phil Goff on them, wonder why they’re not proud of him?)

         Why aren’t National proud of their entire caucus? They only ever promote Jonkey.

         Better question though: Why is National so keen to stay away from discussing policies?
         • Treetop 2.1.1.2.1

           3 October 2011 at 2:58 pm

           Why aren’t National proud of their entire caucus?

           I’m with you on this and perhaps doing a rating on the cabinet may open up the eyes of those who are asleep?

           As well we all know what happens to tall poppies when they wilt.
         • mik e 2.1.1.2.2

           3 October 2011 at 8:29 pm

           They have none except borrow and hope
       • Vicky32 2.1.1.3

         3 October 2011 at 6:15 pm

         This is what we’re seeing on labour party billboards up and down the country (you know, those signs without Phil Goff on them

         Maybe you can tell me why all the National billboards have only John Key’s face on them, and never the local candidate? Is this because everyone else in the National party is a nonentity? We don’t elect the PM here, we don’t have a presidential system…
     • Zaphod Beeblebrox 2.1.2

       3 October 2011 at 9:48 am

       The right vote actually declined in those polls- not that anybody could be bothered pointing it out.
   • tc 2.2

     3 October 2011 at 7:46 am

     Those polls have as much credibility as the news services they sit within and have the task of making people think it’s a done deal…..that same media that claims the nats romped it in 08 when they still need the MP and ACT to govern.

     I’d like to see Lab work hard keep it simple and maybe force a coalition on the Nats by all opposition making inroads and ACT disappear off to rest homes.

     Tough to win with a rigged game where the MSM give the govt an armchair ride and ignore solid policy from the opposition in preference for a smile and wave she’ll be right bankster approach…..a level playing field would see it closer and these polls are part of that agenda to tell you it’s over.
     • mikesh 2.2.1

       3 October 2011 at 9:23 am

       In 2008 it was the 0.8% of the vote that NZ1st failed to get that made the difference, so it can hardly be said that the right wing parties “romped in”.
   • Lanthanide 2.3

     3 October 2011 at 10:03 am

     “Does anybody seriously still think Labour is on track to win the election off National?”

     Are they on track? I’d have to say no. Can they still win? Yes.
3. Adrian 3

   3 October 2011 at 9:00 am

   It sounds like the dairy farmers are telling Key to keep his nose out of their business, they are not happy about him wanting to get Fonterra on the stock exchange. The subtext is that they don’t trust his motives. About bloody time.
4. Hilary 4

   3 October 2011 at 9:05 am

   Earlier this year Laurie Penny (blogger Penny Red) wrote vivid accounts from the London riots. Here she reports from New York, at the escalating Occupy Wall Street protest.
   http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/laurie-penny/2011/10/wall-street-york-police-bridge
   • just saying 4.1

     3 October 2011 at 10:28 am

     Ta,
     Nice to read something heartening amongst all this gloom. And Penny Red is such a good writer.
5. Adrian 5

   3 October 2011 at 9:14 am

   And further to the above, I don’t think we are going to win the Cup. Just ask the Warriors, the Key jinx strikes again! We’ve never had such bad luck as a country since he turned up. Keep him well away.
   • Carol 5.1

     3 October 2011 at 9:18 am

     Well, now Key has to do a press conference in front of the Aussie flag, having lost a grand final bet with Gillard. A great photo op, worthy of billboard, and viral vids highlighting the draining to Aus of NZ workers and money to banks… contradicting Key’s over-optimistic promises to NZ.
     • Joe Bloggs 5.1.1

       3 October 2011 at 9:33 am

       …viral vids highlighting the draining to Aus of NZ workers…

       but, but, but Carol, one mustn’t distort the numbers.

       Statistics New Zealand figures show that there was a greater net migration to Australia under the last three years of the Clark administration – so net migration has actually slowed under National…
       • mik e 5.1.1.1

         3 October 2011 at 8:48 pm

         JB only while they believed that Key would bring them a brighter future. now we are moving into negative territory again Blinglishs last term as finance minster of borrow and hope lead down the same path.Telling half the story again.
     • mickysavage 5.1.2

       3 October 2011 at 9:34 am

       I thought that too Carol.  Catching up with Australia?  More like selling out to Australia.  That image could be very damaging.
   • Chris 5.2

     3 October 2011 at 9:33 am

     Yeah cause the All Blacks have always had great luck at world cups before?
   • Colonial Viper 5.3

     3 October 2011 at 10:16 pm

     Key jinx strikes again! We’ve never had such bad luck as a country since he turned up. Keep him well away.

     Struth mate!

     Its like the only way that Key’s own personal good luck can be powered is by sucking it up from everything else around him, leaving jinxes and misfortune instead.
     • NickS 5.3.1

       3 October 2011 at 10:46 pm

       Nah, he’s probably got a summoning grid in the basement with the appropriate Da Nho geometry to create a destiny generator with which to manipulate probabilities, only need a drop of blood to activate it, or a willing, suicidal, young nat… (see The Jennifer Morgue, by Charles Stross)

       No bad luck required, unless you try a break the geas generated by the trap…
       • Colonial Viper 5.3.1.1

         9 October 2011 at 5:43 pm

         😯
6. Dave 6

   3 October 2011 at 9:36 am

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5717428/Govt-targets-names-not-ranks-for-cull

   Sorry if it doesn’t hyperlink people, now I know a lot of NZers are apathetic and don’t care too much about our defence force, but have a read of this article and see if you can smell the bullshit.

   If I had some backing I would start my own party to contest this sort of crap, our boys in green (blue and white) deserve better from us the public.
   • Draco T Bastard 6.1

     3 October 2011 at 11:37 am

     National always talks up the defence forces and always cuts them to ribbons at the same time relying on the hope that someone else will save us when we’re invaded. The last Labour led government, despite being led by a seeming pacifist, was actually building up the defence forces.
     • Tigger 6.1.1

       3 October 2011 at 12:46 pm

       Where’s all that ‘honour’ Key was crapping on about now? Key, happy to swap lives for trade desks, not happy to treat our forces with respect.
7. marty mars 7

   3 October 2011 at 10:09 am

   This NZ Food Bill is bad news.

   Afewknowthetruth highlighted the concerns in this comment

   “While the masses were being distracted with bread and circuses some REALLY NASTY stuff was being done. I received another alert today with respect to the sneaky tactics the government is using to widen the scope of the control their neofascist state has over the people.”

   http://thestandard.org.nz/game-on-2/#comment-380308

   Some strong opposition from Dr Jessica Hutchings and Te Waka Kai Ora (the National Māori Organics Authority)

   “the law change will increase costs, bureaucracy and government control over our food taonga (treasures) and will ultimately undermine our tino rangatiratanga (self-determination).”

   http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1109/S00376/new-food-bill-presents-a-serious-threat-to-maori-food-sovere.htm

   Amazing breakdown of the Bill and its ramifications fron NZ Food Security with an shocking video showing ‘a SWAT team raiding an health food store in California with guns drawn’.

   “Under the bill, any “undertaking” (anyone) that “processes” (grows/produces) “food” (plants/anything that can be eaten/plant material/seeds) for “sale” (bartering/offering/giving away/feeding people/selling for reserve bank notes etc) OR that just “sells” (barters, gives away) any “food” (plants, seeds etc) however that “food” is acquired will need to be licensed by the government in some way, or have a specific exemption.”

   http://nzfoodsecurity.org/

   and my angle

   “One of the features of this world is that much is topsy turvy – organic food should be half as cheap as non organic not twice as expensive. Heirloom seeds and diversity should be cherished not blown away by monoculture and profit. It doesn’t get more fundamental than this and the Bill is almost ready to become law – all so that we can comply with agreements signed with the WTO. We must oppose this any way we can and the first place to start is to talk about it with others.”

   http://mars2earth.blogspot.com/2011/10/bad-nz-food-bill.html
   • aerobubble 7.1

     3 October 2011 at 1:07 pm

     Douglas made this abusive claim on Sunday QA. That the welfare
     budget was too high. As compared I suppose to OZ. Well in OZ
     citizens do not pay tax on food, or on the first $5,000. So of
     course welfare would be more costly in NZ if the government
     has to pay more to cover 15% GST on food and more people
     are forced into welfare because they pay tax on the first dollar.
     It also explains why Australia is in the habit of denying Kiwis
     there the dole, because the policies of Lab and Nat, have been
     to depopulate NZ and push kiwis over to Aus.
     Just think about it for a moment, Douglas last major interview,
     he calls crisis on a policy that gives people welfare funds and
     then takes it back from them as GST, as being too expensive.
     That’s how much turd rate our politics is, and only now has Labour
     pulled its figure out, good on Goff, finally some policy to
     bridge the growing divide between Aus and NZ, poor and rich.
     Think about it, a business is competing for workers who
     can come from Perth or Dundin, do they set up in Auckland or
     Sydney. Well here they have to pay more in tax so that
     its worth workers while to take the job, and workers here
     pay more tax and so demand higher remunartions, but its
     worse! Govt gives roughly $200 a week, and every week
     most of that is spent and 15% collected as GST, thats
     every week, the churn goes on the welfare budget blows out.
     And all government need to do is pass a law saying fresh
     good is GST off and bring us into line with those Aussies
     who can handle the complex maths involved, not taking
     GST off items instead of adding it.
     Geez…
     • Penny Bright 7.1.1

       5 October 2011 at 12:02 pm

       How much is being spent on CORPORATE welfare?

       The private ‘contractocracy’ as opposed to the ‘in-house’ public ‘bureaucracy’?

       Where’s the Government ‘Review’ of CORPORATE welfare?

       How much public money is being spent by Public-Benefit Entities – (local and central government departments, most CCO’s and Crown Entities) – whose primary objective is ‘social benefit’ – not a financial return for equity shareholders – on Profit-Oriented Entities ?

       ie: Private sector consultants and contractors whose primary objective is most definitely a financial return for equity shareholders ???

       How many BILLION$ of hard-earned public monies could be saved by ‘cutting out the contractors’?

       Penny Bright
       Independent ‘Public Watchdog’
       Candidate for Epsom
   • NickS 7.2

     3 October 2011 at 3:45 pm

     Lawl:

     http://www.foodsafety.govt.nz/policy-law/food-bill/key-aspects/questions-answers.htm

     On proclaiming it’ll destroy heirloom varieties, I call bullshit as seed distribution networks in NZ are fairly robust and any stupid attempts to crush them will just result in a return to the older mail networks. And given the number of people on trademe etc who sell seeds, bulbs and others bits inside NZ, any attempts at a crack down will result in massive backlashes.

     One of the features of this world is that much is topsy turvy – organic food should be half as cheap as non organic not twice as expensive.

     lulwat?
     Organic food’s more expensive simply due to limited supply, on top of the higher costs of production of crops @commercial levels, as more labour is required to deal with pests, combined with potential lower yields. Some crops can do just as well, but they’re usually low maintenance crops such as brassicas, pumpkins and other plants with decent defence genes that haven’t been inadvertently removed by breeders without extensive knowledge of plant genetics.

     And frankly, for the most part organic farming is full of shit, with far too much pseudo science (hello biodynamics) and scientific illiteracy infesting it. Perhaps not as bad as big agri’s myopia when it comes to crop genetic diversity (protip, it’s all down to defence gene diversity/numbers, not shape/taste etc) and patenting GMO’s without thinking through pests evolutionary adaptations (defence in depth, i.e use BT + 1 or more others) or bothering with adding in some slightly more specific gene regulation to insure inserted genes are only active in vegetative tissue, rather than reproductive tissue.
8. joe90 8

   3 October 2011 at 10:58 am

   Canada’s Arctic ice shelves breaking up fast

   Canada in just six years has lost nearly 50 percent of the massive ice shelf area that holds back glacial ice from melting into the ocean, scientists report.
   Two of Canada’s biggest ice shelves diminished significantly this summer, one nearly disappearing altogether. The two are among six that make up Canada’s biggest shelves, all located on Ellesmere Island.
9. mickysavage 9

   3 October 2011 at 11:28 am

   Hooton on morning report this morning is appalling.
    
   He keeps trotting out the slogans.  “Decade of deficits” is mentioned repeatedly.  He cannot respond why you would then give tax cuts if the country’s banks were so bad.
    
   Word for word he probably spoke twice as much as Mike Williams was able to and kept interrupting.
    
   He destroys the show.  He is a disgrace and should be replaced.
    
   • felix 9.1

     3 October 2011 at 11:41 am

     I quite like hearing Hooton lose his rag. Means he’s panicking.

     I also think there’s some value for the public in having a raving, frothing, irrational, transparent fool representing the National Party on a show where the host doesn’t take him at all seriously.

     But yeah, today’s vein-popping meltdown was a doozy alright:

     http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ntn/ntn-20111003-1109-politics_matthew_hooton_and_mike_williams-048.mp3
     • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 9.1.1

       3 October 2011 at 12:21 pm

       Means he’s panicking.

       Those record poll leads must be scaring the shit out of him.
       • McFlock 9.1.1.1

         3 October 2011 at 12:29 pm

         if only because they’re imaginary
       • felix 9.1.1.2

         3 October 2011 at 12:50 pm

         Yeah Ole you’re probably right.

         He’s only freaking out because everything’s going so perfectly according to plan.

         Lolz.
     • Vicky32 9.1.2

       3 October 2011 at 6:32 pm

       But yeah, today’s vein-popping meltdown was a doozy alright:

       Oh yes, heaps of ranting and raving! At least Ryan stopped him from using the Peter Leitch diversion and tried to get him back on topic.
       • McFlock 9.1.2.1

         3 October 2011 at 7:04 pm

         ” At least Ryan stopped him from using the Peter Leitch diversion and tried to get him back on topic.”

         Lol – and how!
         14m5s when Hooten tries to go into it again – “oh for goodness sake – don’t start talking to ma about bloody sausages, for goodness sake. I mean you saying you’re not going to patronise the public over the fact that they can’t watch the rugby at the same time, are you now saying that the mad butcher is the centre of the election?”
         Had a nice chuckle over that one.
         • Campbell Larsen 9.1.2.1.1

           3 October 2011 at 8:18 pm

           : )
           • The scottish play 9.1.2.1.1.1

             3 October 2011 at 8:28 pm

             Macbeth !
             • Campbell Larsen …

               3 October 2011 at 9:03 pm

               Keep up the good work – your repetitive and lame attempt at a taunt serves only to convince people of the lack of sincerity in your claim of outrage.
               • The scottish play …

                 3 October 2011 at 9:58 pm

                 Macbeth
                 • McFlock …

                   3 October 2011 at 11:04 pm

                   Is this a dickhead who commented before me?
                   • felix …

                     3 October 2011 at 11:12 pm

                     lolz it’s just higherstandard. He and Farrar are all excited about Blackadder today.

                     Silly Geese.
                   • McFlock …

                     3 October 2011 at 11:35 pm

                     Oh, and I assume that we here are akin to the actors who had to do the funny ritual every time it was said?
                      
                     Boys will be boys, I guess. Saves actually trying to sell whatever passes for nact policy these days.
   • Mac1 9.2

     3 October 2011 at 1:23 pm

     The thing is, it’s probably a tactic which Hootton and the Right are practising. Keep the debate so boring/unintelligent/frustrating that no one will listen. It’s the practice that leads to the conclusion- why get involved, don’t encourage them- the dumbing down of political debate to the point where people cease to engage.

     And lose.
10. Brett Dale 10

    3 October 2011 at 12:04 pm

    Good to see Crime is down.
    • Mac1 10.1

      3 October 2011 at 12:35 pm

      Good to see the rain today.

      At least I can look out the window and verify that the rain is falling. Can you verify your claim, please, Brett Dale?
      • Tigger 10.1.1

        3 October 2011 at 12:48 pm

        You really need to start giving your member better nicknames BD.
        • felix 10.1.1.1

          3 October 2011 at 1:18 pm

          Ah, so that’s what Lockwood means when he says “I call the member…”
    • aerobubble 10.2

      3 October 2011 at 1:50 pm

      Saw a ad for a bicycle service fee, cost about a quarter of the price of
      new bike I saw elsewhere. Thirty years of exploitation by faceless
      markets have left us with the absurdity that its cheaper to buy a
      new bike every other year than get it services properly, then use
      the parts. One reason for the high price of service is the bike
      shops don’t had you the tools that come with the new bike and
      give you the once over on how to maintain it, making the service
      fee worth while every other year. And why is that, because
      the right has reduced consumer power by letting lousy lazy capitalists
      off their responsibilities. Parliament was about reconciling differences,
      where the needs of the consumer and producer were balanced, not
      so under ACT/NAT, its now an offence under PC to call for
      proper laws that all parties have a say on. Just look at the Police
      video law, this law will only push up costs for consumers of
      justice as lawyers have to charge even more for watching every
      frame by frame, for getting names of everyone in the picture,
      for, etc, etc. A picture is a thousand words, and like art, it
      depends on the viewer even more than ever. So I’m firstly gobsmacked
      that Police are asking for so much power, and if they had needed
      it why wasn’t already in place for the slated terrorism possibilities
      of the Rugby world cup.

      Sorry crime ain’t down, its seething out of every pore of corrupted
      democratic practices that now passes as ‘fair and balanced’.
    • Treetop 10.3

      3 October 2011 at 3:20 pm

      Mixed reaction for me regarding the crime rate as not down in some areas e.g. sexual assault up 12.4% and the CBD in Christchurch being a ghost town is a variable.

      Lowest murder rate in 25 years is pleasing.

      Possibly crime in some areas is not being reported e.g. minor theft from business, home and inside vehicles as excess is more than value taken or no insurance.
    • mickysavage 10.4

      3 October 2011 at 9:13 pm

      Yep that will be the next big “wow how great is John Key” line.  Those extra thousand cops that Helen brought into play up until 2008 are finally hitting their straps but of course this has nothing to do with it.
11. thejackal 11

    3 October 2011 at 1:53 pm

    Destroying State Housing

    We all know that National MP’s have very little empathy for the poor. In just one term of governance, National has managed to profoundly disadvantage them by markedly increasing inequality…
    • Treetop 11.1

      3 October 2011 at 2:18 pm

      The average income of a person in a HNZ home is the minimum wage. Average person in a HNZ dwelling is better off by $8,000 PA, those recieving accommodation supplement will get about $4,000 PA so a loss of $4,000 PA.

      Heatley on the Nation last Saturday said that any new tenants will be on the three year review, those current in a HNZ dwelling are not being given notice. I expect notice will be given if National win the election.

      166 homes built last year by National, 639 in a year by Labour. Heatley said that they were renovating a lot of the housing stock because it was run down. Garner kept raising the long waiting list and the shortage of homes.

      HNZ policy is to pit people against one another, to have condensed housing and for the elderly, unwell, people with addictions and those on the lowest incomes to be their tenants. Social problems will escalate because you will have people home all day pissing one another off.

      Heatley did not mention the income formula that HNZ uses either and the formula excludes most people on NZ super and invalid benefit in provincial NZ. Starting to troll on this.

      The future of HNZ is ghetto style living with increased social tension.
      • Vicky32 11.1.1

        3 October 2011 at 7:00 pm

        Heatley on the Nation last Saturday said that any new tenants will be on the three year review, those current in a HNZ dwelling are not being given notice. I expect notice will be given if National win the election.

        It’s a bit personally worrying for me, as I’ve been told that applying for a transfer means I am considered a “new applicant”, and will have a “new tenancy”. I don’t understand? I would be made up to not be a state tenant, if I could only get a job! But chances are that can’t happen.. 🙁
        • millsy 11.1.1.1

          3 October 2011 at 10:38 pm

          Vicky, I hate to say this, but if I were you I would be very afraid …:-(
        • Treetop 11.1.1.2

          4 October 2011 at 2:11 pm

          Vicky32 I am so mindful of that which I write about when it comes to HNZ as I do not want to upset anyone and I try to be accurate on what information I state.

          Were I in your position when it comes to downsizing the property you live in and HNZ want to make you a new tenant, tell them to SHOVE it. Heatley raised puting people into a smaller property but he did not say that they would be classified as a new tenant.

          Heatley needs to tell the country of the new HNZ income criteria. People on NZ super or invalids in the main centres probably quailify but not in provincial NZ.

          Yesterday I came across “Pensioners fear new landlord as council looks at selling units”
          http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nikki-preston/news/article.cfm?a_id=7628&objectid=10756257

          “… investigate whether Housing New Zealand wants to buy the rest of its portfolio of 395 units.”

          I am left wondering how many pensioners will make the HNZ income criteria in Hamilton? Perhaps if you have a car it will help but the main benefit rate for a person on NZ super is $339 a week and the accommodation supplement can be applied for. I really need to have it confirmed on what is required to make the cut. I thought it was a minimum of two 3s.

          A reporter needs to go to every provincial council in NZ and ask if the council waiting list is growing due to people on NZ super and invalids not making the HNZ income criteria?

          I would ask this question in the main centres as well.

          To think that elderly frail people may end up in costly rest homes because of the income criteria that HNZ now use is mindless. Also private sector rental it is costly to move and the rents increase.

          People need to have control over their housing as this gives them some control over their life.
          • Treetop 11.1.1.2.1

            4 October 2011 at 2:46 pm

            I haven’t finished with my opinion on HNZ.

            Maybe HNZ strategy is not transfering people into a smaller property so then they can make you a new tenant and impose a three yearly review.
            It is a fact that properties are remaining empty as they want to sell stock or subdivide.
            Under National 30 people have purchased a HNZ property where they were the tenant. (Average 10 a year; and not an error).

            My strategy is that were I to be housed in the near future, in three years time there is no way National will be the government, if they are lucky enough to win on 26 November.
            • Treetop 11.1.1.2.1.1

              4 October 2011 at 2:53 pm

              correction: is transfering, ignore the not.
          • Vicky32 11.1.1.2.2

            4 October 2011 at 4:35 pm

            People need to have control over their housing as this gives them some control over their life.

            That’s absolutely true! The transfer idea was mine to start with, but I am not at all happy about the “new tenant” thing… however that does explain why after saying it would be a matter of days or at most weeks, they’ve kept me waiting for months… This place is such a dump – the Tenants Protection woman was gob-smacked when the boss woman said no, when asked if a family could be straight in here if/when I got a transfer – no, said the boss woman, because this dump is not considered habitable for a family! (What were my son and I, chopped liver?)
            • Treetop 11.1.1.2.2.1

              4 October 2011 at 5:36 pm

              In 11.1 I raised that Heatley gave as a defence for building 166 homes as focusing on renovating the dwellings as they are run down. Well Vicky32 it is obvious that the property you live in has not been attended to and just may sit vacant in its dilapidated state. Heatley cannot organise himself when it comes to renovating, increasing dwellings, transferring/down sizing.

              I found this link which gives more on the categories and other information but does not have the income test formula which will vary as private sector housing and accommodation supplement is in the formula. I think the categories have been posted here before but see: http://www.dbh.govt.nz/social-housing-assistance inparticular [5] – [8] at the end of the article.

              I really don’t think that NZ super are exempt from the HNZ income test even though NZ super is not means tested at Work and Income even though there are different NZ super catergories. There maybe a new assest limit for HNZ and most councils have an assest test. It always comes back to HNZ being there for needy people and the older a person on NZ super generally the more needy. People with permanent health conditions also have enough to worry about.

              The unemployment benefit is survival money and in particular single older people, flatting does not suit them and due to age, employment can be harder to engage. Heatley needs to get his a into g and build a lot of 1 bedroom properties.
              • Vicky32 …

                4 October 2011 at 6:53 pm

                 Well Vicky32 it is obvious that the property you live in has not been attended to and just may sit vacant in its dilapidated state. Heatley cannot organise himself when it comes to renovating, increasing dwellings, transferring/down sizing.

                I am sure you’re right! Most of the State houses in Segar Avenue parallel to our street) have been sold off…. advertised as “starter” houses, or “do-er ups” for investment. Either way, they’re not available for state tenants…

                 the older a person on NZ super generally the more needy. People with permanent health conditions also have enough to worry about.

                True! My former neighbours, in their 80s, all had serious conditions, which is why they’re now the late Mrs & Mr T., and Mrs P.

                Heatley needs to get his a into g and build a lot of 1 bedroom properties.

                But what will it take before he does that?
                • Treetop …

                  4 October 2011 at 7:47 pm

                  But what will it take before he does that?

                  Pensioners saying they will not vote National until they are suitably housed in a insulated 1 bedroom HNZ dwelling saying they are too independent to go into a costly rest home.

                  Heatley having it pointed out to him that there is a shortage of 1 bedroom homes and that a person only reqires to sleep in 1 bedroom each night and not the three bedroom dump they are now allocated.
          • thejackal 11.1.1.2.3

            4 October 2011 at 7:53 pm

            People on NZ super or invalids in the main centres probably quailify but not in provincial NZ.

            Nup! Although HNZ is taking new applicants in the A and B categories, they are no longer placing people in categories C and D in houses. It does not matter where you are located, whether you’re a pensioner or an invalid… Housing New Zealand is making zero houses available.

            That means if HNZ say you need to relocate or downgrade and re-apply under the new criteria, don’t! It’s simply more bullshit to get you out of a state house and paying higher rents in the private sector. You could be in a wheel chair living on the smell of an oily rag and they will say you are not category A or B and do not qualify.

            This is especially the case where the value of the property you’re currently in is high and can be easily on-sold.

            National are a bunch of heartless cretins!
            • Treetop 11.1.1.2.3.1

              4 October 2011 at 8:22 pm

              If not a current tenant and you meet the criteria A or B then a HNZ dwelling is allocated.

              Current HNZ tenants are not being given notice, cunning how when you apply to tranfer you lose your current status. Vicky32 pointed the transfer status out.

              I was talking about the income criteria for invalid and NZ super that if in a main centre you would qualify but not in a provincial centre. There are five criteria in the link I posted 11.1.1.2.2.1 as well as A – D criteria. Cannot see the income criteria anywhere, aware of private sector rent in the area and accommodation supplement that a person is entitled to regarding the area private sector rent but there has to be clearly allowable costs. Next the allowable costs will be slashed.

              Did you read about the Hamilton Council and the pensioner housing?
              • thejackal …

                4 October 2011 at 11:28 pm

                I presume you mean this article in the Waikato Times by Danial Adams. Hadn’t read it before but it is a similar story to other areas around New Zealand.

                Rents for the city’s pensioner housing stocks have been unchanged since 2009, providing an obvious target for council managers looking to carve $14.5m from their budgets and lift city hall revenues by 5 per cent by 2014.

                The chance to slash looming maintenance and renewal costs for the city’s pensioner housing over the next two years from $1.3m to $565,000 will make it even more difficult for council to resist the proposals.

                Selling the housing would also allow council a big head start as it tries to rein in its galloping debt levels.

                Management has recommended that rents rise next year from the current levels of 50 per cent to 60 per cent of market rates.

                Such a cowardly thing picking on the poor and old just to balance the books. Surely there are better places to reduce spending?
                • Treetop …

                  5 October 2011 at 10:35 am

                  The story was in the NZ Herald by Nikki Preston and another reporter, link is in 11.1.1.2 in this thread.

                  Infield International based in Auckland are doing a survey for HNZ: Information on housing choices. Apparently HNZ are running seminarrs on housing choices and the person who rang me could go no further as I had not attended the seminar. I did not know that HNZ offered seminars.

                  Is the seminar compulsory for prospective HNZ tenants?

                  What does the survey expect to achieve?

                  I was told that participating in the survey would not affect my HNZ application.
      • mik e 11.1.2

        3 October 2011 at 8:51 pm

        Building poorer communities
      • swordfish 11.1.3

        4 October 2011 at 5:06 pm

        “The future of HNZ is ghetto style living with increased social tension.”

        Spot on. We’ve lived in (and owned) a former state house for more than 20 years. It’s part of a 2-house unit, the other house (stuck on to us on the other side of a flimsy/not-even-remotely-soundproof wall is still a state house).

        Up until 3 years ago, HNZ had always allocated the house next door to low-income elderly or late middle-aged couples. We know for a fact that this had been the policy since the houses were built in the early 60s. So, for 45 years – quiet, elderly tenants. They were always quiet, conscientious, concerned not to disturb us with noise and they always became good friends.

        Suddenly, over the last 3 years, it’s been allocated to young dysfunctional or incredibly bloody selfish Maori couples/solo mothers. The first couple (who lasted about a year) would – almost without fail – come home at 1am and have a loud, violent, abusive shouting match on the other side of our bedroom wall, while their pre-schooler (who we felt really sorry for) would still be up and (naturally enough) crying his head off. We just got used to waking up in shock at 1 or 1.30am and then being kept awake for 1, 2 sometimes 3 hours. So loud that you could hear every word the fuckers were shouting. It’s hard to over-emphasise the shock of this after 20 years of peace and quiet. It felt like going from something akin to a quiet stand-alone home to a cheap, nasty boarding house. All courtesy of the useless, incompetent, negligent fuckers at dear old HNZ.

        The current tenant is a 30-something Maori solo mother (from, it seems, a middle-class background), with a 5 year-old and an unemployed boyfriend who regularly turns up like a bad penny. Normally, we’d have a great deal of sympathy for them, but Christ !, when they’re on the other side of a flimsy dividing wall with their stereo up full bore until late at night (and sometimes through to 3 or 4 in the morning), large dog constantly barking its fucking head off in the yard straight outside our house and 5 year-old stomping relentlessly back and forwards on wooden floorboards like a 24/7 childcare centre – well, let’s just say we’re not big fans of constant sleep deprivation, constant stress or loud never-ending fucking noise.

        Its not only making the time we spend at home intolerable but also potentially putting our careers in jeopardy.

        Like I say, it’s pitting us against the sort of people we’d normally have a great deal of sympathy for – Maori, solo mothers, public service employees. At the moment, I’m just feeling extreme anger towards both them and the useless fuckers at HNZ.
        • Treetop 11.1.3.1

          4 October 2011 at 6:01 pm

          I posted on Openmike 01/10/2011 (17.) about social problems which are evident in HNZ dwellings in particular. HNZ need to invest in some jib solutions and hush glass for their more inconsiderate tenants, but when it comes to children being emotionally or physically abused sound proofing the home endangers them.

          I haven’t started on the social housing yet.

          Housing needs to be a big election issue and the housing stock needs to double, not be reduced by a third.

          Shame Heatley couldn’t spend the weekend at your place!
    • millsy 11.2

      3 October 2011 at 10:36 pm

      I wonder if this policy is written for the benefit of private landlords to compensate them for changes in the tax treatment of rental properties. It would seem that this is the perfect recipe for across the board rent rises.

      Its not only the poor that are going to be hit hard with this policy. The rot will extend up into the middle class as well with rents rising for them.
12. ianmac 12

    3 October 2011 at 2:59 pm

    Just listened to the Hooton Brainstorm thanks Felix. Wow. Listen to the panic! Sort of looking over his shoulder fearfully, at the shadows behind him.”Look out Matthew. They are right behind you. Boo!”

    Michelle Boag and Brian Edwards are on the Panel tonight. Would be great if they discuss politics because Brian’s intellectual approach to issues makes poor old Michelle look rather sad.
    • Janice 12.1

      3 October 2011 at 4:05 pm

      Nah they are going to discuss Dan Carter’s groin – it suits Jim Mora better.
13. joe90 13

    3 October 2011 at 3:27 pm

    Nicholas D Kristof:
    The Bankers and the Revolutionaries.

    Kristof points to the the “Occupy Wall Street” movements lack of clearly stated goals and has some suggestions.

    Impose a financial transactions tax. This would be a modest tax on financial trades, modeled on the suggestions of James Tobin, an American economist who won a Nobel Prize. The aim is in part to dampen speculative trading that creates dangerous volatility. Europe is moving toward a financial transactions tax, but the Obama administration is resisting — a reflection of its deference to Wall Street.

    Close the “carried interest” and “founders’ stock” loopholes, which may be the most unconscionable tax breaks in America. They allow our wealthiest citizens to pay very low tax rates by pretending that their labor compensation is a capital gain.

    Protect big banks from themselves. This means moving ahead with Basel III capital requirements and adopting the Volcker Rule to limit banks’ ability to engage in risky and speculative investments. Another sensible proposal, embraced by President Obama and a number of international experts, is the bank tax. This could be based on an institution’s size and leverage, so that bankers could pay for their cleanups — the finance equivalent of a pollution tax.
14. Penny Bright 14

    3 October 2011 at 3:32 pm

    (Just published the following comment on NBR – but given that the last two comments that I have made referring to POGO research – (which has proved that at USA Federal Government level – the cost of contracting-out Government services is twice as expensive as ‘in-house’ public service provision) have been removed – I don’t know how long it will stay up!

    If the USA Federal Government could potentially slash $250 BILLION from their $500 BILLION Federal Government budget – how much could NZ save?

    Could NZ slash $35 BILLION from a $70 BILLION central government budget by ‘cutting out the contractors’?

    (My above-mentioned comment………
    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/wr-nbr-editorialpublic-keeps-key-perspective-101771#comment-204752 )

    In my view, The Don’s brash support for the decriminalisation of marijuana was a smokescreen.

    A smokescreen to distract public attention from the fact that neither he nor John Banks have been convicted of any offence arising from their being Directors of Hulich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd – unlike their fellow (former) Director – Peter Huljich?

    Wonder what the ACT Party policy is on ‘white collar’ crime and ‘white collar’ criminals?

    Wonder what ACT Party policy is on eradicating the infestation of (in my considered opinion) corrupt corporate cockroaches that push vested interests at the highest levels of central and local government?

    How is it that ‘Public Benefit Entities’ at central and local government transform public monies into private profit for private sector contractors and consultants?

    If the USA (P.O.G.O) research figures are anything to go by – NZ could save $35 BILLION per year – by ‘cutting out the contractors’?

    How come no one seems to be focussing on Government SPENDING – rather than debt and borrowing?

    (Wonder how long THIS comment will remain published? 🙂

    Penny Bright
    Independent ‘Public Watchdog’
    Candidate for Epsom

    [lprent: I can’t see what this has to do with the post (which is about National’s policy or lack or it) except tangentially in Act. Bouncing it and it’s replies to OpenMike. ]
    • Afewknowthetruth 14.1

      3 October 2011 at 4:07 pm

      Penny

      One of the main purposes of government is to increase indebtedness and expand debt slavery. Without increased indebtedness the international money-lenders Ponzi scheme would fall over very quickly. Hence, the name of the game is not to do things efficiently and save money, but to do them inefficiently, spend money and have to borrow more of it. The government is doing it. Local government is doing it. And a lot of people are doing it. (Note that the US has already broken through the debt ceiling that was raised just a couple of months ago; it’s all going exponential.)

      The other things governments are charged with are keeping the civilian population under control and keeping them misinformed. Part of the ‘keeping them misinformed’ includes persuading the general populace to reject anyone who challenges mainstream dogma.

      The National government of John Key is doing quite well on all counts at the moment. In the process it is destroying the future of the nation and the future of humanity, of course. But money-lenders are not concerned about such things.

      That awful film on TV last night, 2012, presented an end-of-the-world scenario and then portrayed the psychotic sociopaths at the top as caring people. It also provided a ‘happy-ever-after ending. That is not what happens in the real world, I’m afraid.
      • Draco T Bastard 14.1.1

        3 October 2011 at 5:51 pm

        That ‘happy-ever-after ending’ made me laugh. What do you really think is going to happen to a bunch of rich-worlders washing up on a starving Africa?
    • Draco T Bastard 14.2

      3 October 2011 at 5:48 pm

      Wonder what the ACT Party policy is on ‘white collar’ crime and ‘white collar’ criminals?

      Oh, that’s an easy one to answer. IMO, Act doesn’t believe in white collar crime.
    • mik e 14.3

      3 October 2011 at 8:56 pm

      This company was also selling a MLM scheme with the ultimate vitamin pill that when it was researched by govt lab was found to have no benefit.Con Artists in charge
15. NickS 15

    3 October 2011 at 3:59 pm

    http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/the-god-dividend/

    It might be from ’08, but seriously, in these cash strapped times, why the fuck are we still subsidising religious groups oft highly profitable businesses? Not to mention the issue with regarding proselytising as a “charitable act”, despite the NZ government being rather secular…
    • Vicky32 15.1

      3 October 2011 at 7:11 pm

      http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/the-god-dividend/

      Having read that article, I have to say it seems like nothing more than paranoid bigotry. (Rather typical of the Listless, which is one of the reasons why I don’t read it any more. The main reason of course is that it’s so relentlessly middle class, it’s Metro/North & South in disguise.)
      The head of the Secular Association is a truly objective fair-minded guy, hey? 😀
      • NickS 15.1.1

        3 October 2011 at 9:13 pm

        /raised-eyebrow

        So because he’s biased, therefore none of the real issues he’s raised have any legitimacy?

        What

        The

        Fuck?

        That’s the sort of bullshit reasoning I’d expect over at kiwiblog. Then again, QoT has time and time again pointed out how much of a muppet you are on certain things, so yeah…
16. Penny Bright 16

    3 October 2011 at 4:24 pm

    Mainstream media are refusing to pick up or publicise this HUGELY significant POGO research.

    So – it would be REALLY helpful if people help by passing it on to as many as possible?

    If this USA research has similar results in NZ – then potentially $35 BILLION could be saved by CUTTING OUT THE CONTRACTORS at central government level!

    Shouldn’t the public majority benefit from OUR public monies?

    Why should a greedy private minority get bloated on OUR public monies – if the services they are providing AREN’T more cost-effective than providing them ‘in-house’?

    Isn’t it time to bring back (for example) – the Ministry of Works and Council Works Departments – and cut out all those private ‘piggies-in-the-middle’?

    What is ‘efficient’ about allowing private companies to effectively write their own cheques?
    ___________________________________________

    This, (for those who have missed it) is the research to which I am referring…..

    “USA Project On Government Oversight (POGO)[1] decided to take on the task of doing what others have not—comparing total annual compensation for federal and private sector employees with federal contractor billing rates in order to determine whether the current costs of federal service contracting serves the public interest.

    http://www.pogo.org/pogo-files/reports/contract…/co-gp-20110913.html
    Executive Summary

    Based on the current public debate regarding the salary comparisons of federal and private sector employees, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO)[1] decided to take on the task of doing what others have not—comparing total annual compensation for federal and private sector employees with federal contractor billing rates in order to determine whether the current costs of federal service contracting serves the public interest.

    The current debate over pay differentials largely relies on the theory that the government pays private sector compensation rates when it outsources services. This report proves otherwise: in fact, it shows that the government actually pays service contractors at rates far exceeding the cost of employing federal employees to perform comparable functions.

    POGO’s study analyzed the total compensation paid to federal and private sector employees, and annual billing rates for contractor employees across 35 occupational classifications covering over 550 service activities. Our findings were shocking—POGO estimates the government pays billions more annually in taxpayer dollars to hire contractors than it would to hire federal employees to perform comparable services. Specifically, POGO’s study shows that the federal government approves service contract billing rates—deemed fair and reasonable—that pay contractors 1.83 times more than the government pays federal employees in total compensation, and more than 2 times the total compensation paid in the private sector for comparable services.”

    Penny Bright
    Independent ‘Public Watchdog’
    Candidate for Epsom

    [lprent: Bounced to OpenMike. I’d suggest that not causing me work is probably a good way of ensuring that they stay up here as well. I can’t see anything that this has to do with Nationals lack of policy. ]
    • Colonial Viper 16.1

      3 October 2011 at 10:08 pm

      Penny the US system is screwed; you are talking about a bureaucracy that shipped million dollar pallets of shrinkwrapped USD to Iraq and ‘lost’ the whole shipment, one that cannot make a new fighter plane for less than US$100M a piece, and one which runs on pork barrel earmarks greasing the wheels of every state and every congressman.

      These things certainly hold warnings for us in NZ but their way of doing things is (thankfully) far removed from ours.
17. Colonial Viper 17

    3 October 2011 at 6:02 pm

    Auckland councillors have been summoned to an urgent meeting tomorrow to approve more than $1 million in new funding for the Rugby World Cup.

    The Herald understands the funding includes extra costs for the knockout stages of the cup, including regional fan zones at Albany, Henderson and Manukau.
    …
    Since then, the council has been severely embarrassed by the failure of its tourism and events arm to forecast a crowd of about 200,000 for the opening ceremony that led to a transport meltdown and chaotic scenes on the waterfront.
    ….
    Auckland ratepayers have already spent about $102 million on the cup, including $65 million for infrastructure and $37 million for running costs and events, such as the $2.7 million opening night extravaganza.

    Homeless people, social services and the public sector can go rot, but another $1M needed for the RWC? Now that’s a real emergency to be approved with urgency!

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10756265
    • Vicky32 17.1

      3 October 2011 at 7:16 pm

      Auckland councillors have been summoned to an urgent meeting tomorrow to approve more than $1 million in new funding for the Rugby World Cup.

      Why oh why? I’ve just muted Clive, because I am so sick and desperately tired of hearing about Don Carter’s injury, and hearing it referred to as if it’s equivalent to the suffering of a child with leukaemia! Why don’t these media idiots get that heaps of us don’t care, and if forced to watch thugby would sooner gouge our eyes out!
      • millsy 17.1.1

        3 October 2011 at 10:44 pm

        Yeah I’m over Dan Carter and his groin too. The way some people are going on its like the end of the world.

        Im actually over the World Cup full stop, and rugby in general. Thank god after its all over we wont hear about rugby till the Super 123 starts in Feb.
18. Draco T Bastard 18

    3 October 2011 at 6:18 pm

    Labour have complained to the electoral commission about Key’s radio electioneering. Will be interesting to see how it goes.
19. Puddleglum 19

    3 October 2011 at 8:14 pm

    I presume this was what Duncan Garner was referring to on the other thread.

    Green and National supporters support a formal coalition with each other. 
    • McFlock 19.1

      3 October 2011 at 9:12 pm

      Fascinating.
      I’m not sure it’s worth the electoral experiment to see whether the polls are right (literally 🙂 ) though. 
       
      It’s sort of all or nothing – if 60% greens really do want to go blue (notwithstanding the vociferous denials on this issue from some greens), then the nats will probably govern alone, anyway. If the polls are substantially skewed (from the greens I know I would have put the “coalition with national crowd” at 30-40%. Unscientific, it’s just that I’m a bit surprised at 60%), then the Greens won’t do a Maori Party.
        
      More likely the “green vote” sampled consists largely of “not nat / not lab” floaters, rather than the green core support – the ones who keep them in parliament when the “floating voter” gets distracted by a shiney toy. Plus the landline bias, of course.
      • NickS 19.1.1

        3 October 2011 at 9:50 pm

        This +1

        Colour me sceptical about their polling methodology too.
      • Puddleglum 19.1.2

        4 October 2011 at 1:10 pm

        I think you’re ‘right’ ( 🙂 not really!).

        Faulty polling methods aside, it would suggest, perhaps, that the ‘bump’ in support for the Greens is ‘blue green’ rather than previous Labour supporters?

        Unless, it is that part of the Labour vote that switches between National and Labour on a regular basis? (So not ‘core’ Labour vote).
        • McFlock 19.1.2.1

          4 October 2011 at 5:00 pm

          It might be a combo – say a bump from 2008Nats (because they fell forLabour-lite) who are still a bit leery of labour and Goff (“magenta” greens?), as well as some discontentd blue-greens who are soooo happy that the nasty hippy nandor (even though he was a tory) and the red/greens seem to have left/aren’t so visible/now wear suits.
           
          But the core 3-5% of green votes would probably still be pretty pissed to see norman at the same table as english and brash. As the Maori Party have discovered with their core catchment. I don’t think that blaming it all on Hone is realistic.
20. randal 20

    3 October 2011 at 8:58 pm

    as soon as Phill Goff realises that people like him then he is a shoo in!
21. thejackal 21

    3 October 2011 at 9:50 pm

    Tuvalu’s State of Emergency

    If you haven’t had your head buried in the sand lately, you might be aware that unchecked climate change is starting to have a major impact on the earth, especially on low lying Islands.

    The Polynesian Nation known as Tuvalu declared a state of emergency today, because of a lack of clean drinking water. This is undoubtedly due to seawater intrusion contaminating groundwater…
22. Penny Bright 22

    3 October 2011 at 9:57 pm

    (See how long this comment lasts? 😉

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/nz-politics-daily-labour-wont-support-goff-wont-replace-him-ck-101875

    A week is a LONG time in politics……………;)

    John Key has been masterfully ‘packaged’ – but – in my considered opinion – the ‘packaging’ is coming unstuck.

    As the truth about ‘white collar’ crime and corruption in NZ is further exposed – I predict John Key’s popularity, and National’s will plummet.

    EG: Does John Key agree that Don Brash and John Banks (the National “B” Team?) should face charges for investors being misled by Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd?

    How come only Peter Huljich was charged – when both Don Brash and John Banks were also Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd?

    According to the Securities Act 1978
    s 58 (3):

    “Subject to subsection (4) of this section, where a registered prospectus that includes an untrue statement is distributed, every person who signed the prospectus, or on whose behalf the registered prospectus was signed for the pursposes of section 41(1) (b) of this Act, commits an offence.”

    How come – in a letter to investors, Don Brash (as Chairman) stated:

    “.. Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Limited is an independent specialist funds management company based in Auckland, new Zealand.
    ……………………
    Our company is owned by our directors and senior management and we all invest in the unit trusts that we manage, so you can have confidence that we are acting in the best interests of investors.

    It is my pleasure to invite you to invest with Huljich Wealth Management.

    Don Brash
    Chairman”

    How does this help inspire ‘investor confidence’ in NZ – ‘perceived’ to be the least corrupt country in the world (along with Denmark and Singapore according to Transparency International’s 2010 ‘Corruption Perception Index’?

    (NZ – which STILL hasn’t ratified the UN Convention Against Corruption – because our domestic legislative anti-corruption framework is not yet in place.)

    ‘Clean’, ‘green’ ‘corruption-free’ NZ – with the 51 (FIFTY-ONE) collapsed finance companies.

    Pity about the NZ corruption ‘reality’……

    Penny Bright
    Independent ‘Public Watchdog’
    Candidate for Epsom
    • Jenny 22.1

      4 October 2011 at 6:24 am

      Thank you for this information Penny, it just sounds unbelievable.

      So let me get this right, Both John Banks and Don Brash were also the directors of Huljich Investments, but only Peter Huljich is being charged?

      How does that work?

      How many other directors are there?

      Is anyone else facing charges?

      When is the court case due to be heard?

      Is the hearing before or after the election?

      Will Banks and Brash be called as witnesses to give evidence into their knowledge of the corrupt dealings of their company?

      I imagine that if sub section 58 (3) of the Securities Act that you quoted is correct, then, both Banks and Brash will at the very least will have to be called.

      Will the hearing be open to the media?

      Is the media even interested?

      Is this sort corruption by high profile business leaders considered by the MSM to be only a minor everyday hum drum occurrence like a parking ticket?

      I would also have thought that the opposition parties would have been all over this. Following so closely after the marijuana statement foul up, Surely this is another major embarrassment for both Banks and Brash.
      • Jenny 22.1.1

        4 October 2011 at 7:21 pm

        Penny, some further questions have come to my mind regarding your comment. Exactly how did Huljich allegedly mislead investors?

        Do you know what penalty he faces if found guilty?

        Are any investors out of pocket?

        Is Huljich investments now facing insolvency due to the alleged actions of one of their directors?

        If so, will these investors be entitled to be bailed by the tax payer under government’s investment guarantee scheme?

        Shouldn’t people know better than to invest in any company that has losers like John Banks and Don Brash as directors, and therefore have to wear it?
23. AAMC 23

    3 October 2011 at 11:32 pm

    Can’t post the pictures of these t-shirts obviously and no web site unfortunately. But those familiar with Sex Pistols fashion can probably get the picture, just swap Queenie for Key n bobs your uncle.

    “Hello fellow Hobbits my name is John Key and I
 am here
    to sell off your land and assets to foreign corporations,
    
privatise your water, jails, schools, hospitals under TPPA

    public private partnerships and basically leave you up a
    
proverbial (effluent infested) river without a paddle.

    I am proud to say that during my term as Prime Sinister I’ve: 

    • Doubled NZ’s international debt to $36+ billion

    • Provided excellent tax cuts to the rich, helping increase 
 
      the top 150 peoples wealth last year by $7 billion
    • Made inflation go up to 5.3% by introducing
      a GST rise to 15% last year
    • Helped triple the number of people receiving 
 
      unemployment benefits
    • Passed 17 pieces of undemocratic emergency 
 
      legislation without any form of public debate
    • Helped oversee a massive rise in child poverty
    • Made sure 7000 families won’t be eligible for 
 
      Working for Families tax credits next year

    • Dished out a 5 year deepsea exploratory oil permit
 
      to Petrobras which has absolutely no conditions for
 
      environmental protection, and that would leave the
 
      NZ tax payer to pay the clean up bill for any oil leak 

    • Agreed to not mine the National Parks, yet changed the

      boundary of the Oteake Conservation Park to exclude

      a 195 hectare area over the Hawkdun lignite deposit

    As you can see I am a great choice to lead you
 forward
    into oblivion, so I really hope you will support me 
by
    purchasing one of these campaign t-shirts I have had kindly
    donated by the kind folks at Anarkey & Lovely Ltd.
    If you could be so kind as to spread the good word
 about
    these I’d be most grateful. As an extension of my thanks
    I personally promise to gift you an 
extra dollar per week
    in the next round of tax cuts, should we be reelected.

    God Save New Zealand T-Shirts

    > 100% organic non-bleached cotton tees

    > Available in Sml, Med, Lge, XL, XXL

    > $30 +postage (or free pick up)
    
For orders email godsavenz@gmail.com

    or contact Roxanne on 021 701 494″
24. Colonial Viper 24

    4 October 2011 at 12:34 am

    Roseanne Barr politicised, running for President

    Great interviewer with Max Keiser. Starts around 13:50 in. She nails it to the banksters and the undead wealthy.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaU3wX6N1Tc

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