Open mike 03/12/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:43 am, December 3rd, 2013 - 199 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmike

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step right up to the mike …

199 comments on “Open mike 03/12/2013 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. phillip ure 1
    3 December 2013 at 7:17 am

    john key claims he ‘doesn’t know’ if the american spooks are spooking all over new zealanders..

    ..see john twist…see john squirm…

    ..phillip ure..

    • phillip ure 1.1
      3 December 2013 at 7:37 am

      wow..!..and both the herald..and the paid/compliant-mouths @ tvone breakfast..

      ..are reporting/pro-govt-spinning this ‘don’t know’ story..

      ..as ‘gcsb not spying on us’..reassures key..(!)

      ..is that the most blatant example of both grovelling to govt..and dereliction of basic journalistic ethics/duties..in quite a while..?

      ..i wonder if the opposition parties will do their job in questiontime today..and will press key on this/his (pathetic?) ‘don’t know’ if the american spooks are spooking all over us..

      ..whoar..!..eh..?

      ..this story/issue has more ‘legs’ than a millipede..eh..?

      ..phillip ure..

      • David H 1.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 8:18 am

        Need to have Journalists to ‘journalise’. Not the jonolists we have, that are a sorry excuse for said Journalists.

        And the bailout on the death’s in the forestry industry was just disgusting to say the least.

  2. Tracey 2
    3 December 2013 at 7:19 am

    they dont need to spy on us, he bends over and freely gives whenever the US asks.

    • phillip ure 2.1
      3 December 2013 at 7:50 am

      @ tracey..this relates to the snowden-revelations yesterday..that australian spooks/govt offered ..at a ‘five-eyes’ meeting in 2008..(attended by nz)..

      ..the aussies offered the american spooks unlimited access to raw data from australian citizens..for them to do with what they wish..

      ..and this is what key claims to ‘not know’..

      ..this is the question key is yet to answer..

      ..did we/nz match that oz-offer in’08..?

      ..did we offer the american spooks unlimited access to new zealanders’ raw-data also..?

      ..and have they been wholesale spooking over all of us since ’08..?

      ..and are they still doing it today..?

      ..and what is also of interest..

      ..is who was the prime minister at the time of that ’08 meeting/offer..

      ..eh..?

      ..these are all the questions key/we have to know the answers to..eh..?

      ..key going ‘i don’t know’…just doesn’t come anywhere near cutting it..eh..?

      ..phillip ure..

  3. vto 3
    3 December 2013 at 7:40 am

    Why did David Cunliffe let himself be photographed supping out of a beer bottle in celebration of the Chch East by-election?

    Not a very good look, especially in light of the doozy photo of Key with Prince William guzzling away.

    bit silly

    • phillip ure 3.1
      3 December 2013 at 7:52 am

      @ vto…subliminal-message/wink/thumbs-up to ‘waitakere-man’..?

      (..and of course from ‘the bottle’…

      ..beer in/from a glass would be far too herne bay..

      ..eh..?..)

      phillip ure..

      • vto 3.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 8:02 am

        hmmmm, maybe. Although of course drinking from a 7 oz glass poured from a big bot is the working class, not to mention a vastly superior sup. The stubbie is a yuppie from the past, all fizzed and unsettled…

        • phillip ure 3.1.1.1
          3 December 2013 at 8:33 am

          yr 7 oz thesis has merit..(cunnliffe should take note..)

          ..and yes..’all fizzed and unsettled’..indeed..!..

          phillip ure..

          • phillip ure 3.1.1.1.1
            3 December 2013 at 8:46 am

            cunnliffe might need to ask his herne bay bottle-shop to start stocking those big bottles of lion red..

            ..(or as i saw/heard it named the other day..’lion-rouge’…

            ..maybe his bottle-shop might like to label it as such..?

            ..some cachet to/for the ‘umble’-brew..?

            ..(and i do mean ‘umble’..)

            ..phillip ure..

            • Tiger Mountain 3.1.1.1.1.1
              3 December 2013 at 12:15 pm

              lprent may go spare having enough to do but a like button seems good to me, “Lion Rouge”–classic.

              • Te Reo Putake …
                3 December 2013 at 12:21 pm

                Best pronounced ‘lee-on rouge’, of course. Used to have an ace boss back in the 80’s who always referred to Red that way, so it’s been around awhile.

        • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.2
          3 December 2013 at 5:22 pm

          Pretty sure in the constitution the Labour Leader is allowed a beer when his party wins a by-election.

        • felix 3.1.1.3
          3 December 2013 at 5:57 pm

          “drinking from a 7 oz glass poured from a big bot is the working class, not to mention a vastly superior sup”

          indeed v. Even better (imho) from a 4 or 5 oz.

      • greywarbler 3.1.2
        3 December 2013 at 9:50 am

        phillip u
        Are delving into the sociological class propensities of NZs comparing a bottle for imbibing to a glass! I got interested in the class distinctions of things after reading Paul Fussell’s book Class. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Fussell

        In Class he has defined 9 USA strata. Then there is is X-class, separated from other classes, but still definable and on this he says:
        http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=537
        In 1982, these folk were not as political as today, where they now comprise the vocal left. An enjoyable test of X-hood is to say to your subject that you noticed something on FOX news. If your listener, who is ordinarily lucid and tolerant, begins an excited, extended rant about that network being “reactionary”, then she is likely an X. More evidence is if she wears a knit skull cap, dresses down, sports an Obama decoration, drives a hybrid, eschews makeup, or boasts of shopping at Whole Foods to buy “organic” food.

        Here are some of his quotes that will resonate with many commenters.
        http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/8278.Paul_Fussell
        “If I didn’t have writing, I’d be running down the street hurling grenades in people’s faces.”
        ― Paul Fussell
        “The more violent the body contact of the sports you watch, the lower your class. ― Paul Fussell
        “If we do not redefine manhood, war is inevitable.”
        ― Paul Fussell
        “The day after the British entered the war Henry James wrote a friend:

        The plunge of civilization into this abyss of blood and darkness… is a thing that so gives away the whole long age during which we have supposed the world to be, with whatever abatement, gradually bettering, that to have to take it all now for what the treacherous years were all the while really making for and meaning is too tragic for any words.”
        ― Paul Fussell, The Great War and Modern Memory

        • alwyn 3.1.2.1
          3 December 2013 at 12:31 pm

          Are you sure those quotes are by Paul Fussell?
          They sound, particularly the one about “… running down the street hurling grenades …” rather more like Martyn Bradbury.
          Actually Fussell is someone I’m not familiar with but he sounds interesting. Next visit to the library perhaps.

          • greywarbler 3.1.2.1.1
            3 December 2013 at 7:23 pm

            alwyn
            click on the links for an hors d’oevre – spelling?

            • alwyn 3.1.2.1.1.1
              3 December 2013 at 8:26 pm

              I think it is hors d’oeuvre but I wouldn’t bet on it. Actually I suppose that it should be hors d’oeuvres as there are multiple links
              I have had a look at some of the links and I am definitely going to have a look on my next library visit. Wellington Central has a great range of books.
              On second thoughts, if you are French the plural wouldn’t have the “s” as both the singular and the plural are the same. Oh to hell with it. I know what you mean.

    • TheContrarian 3.2
      3 December 2013 at 9:25 am

      Because MP’s, like other people, drink alcohol in times of celebration.

      • Tiger Mountain 3.2.1
        3 December 2013 at 12:32 pm

        Well ShonKey (said with a soft ‘H’ like jeanqui) has been celebrating well for a loooooong time then.

    • Dumrse 3.3
      3 December 2013 at 4:53 pm

      Never mind the drunkeness, what about deliberately flouting the lawWRT telling CHCH East voters to get out and vote…..on Election Day.

      • McFlock 3.3.1
        3 December 2013 at 5:00 pm

        You’d better make a complaint to the Electoral Commission.

        And get McCready on the case.

        • greywarbler 3.3.1.1
          3 December 2013 at 7:25 pm

          McCarthy too – he’d rise from his grave to agitate about a good leftie scare.

          • Colonial Viper 3.3.1.1.1
            3 December 2013 at 7:28 pm

            he was the figurehead for a massive Federal initiative to smash the socialist Left. Teachers, doctors, social workers, university lecturers, turned into the “other” and destroyed. Setting up the massive rise of large corporations and consumer culture replacing American culture in the 60’s and 70’s

      • Colonial Viper 3.3.2
        3 December 2013 at 5:24 pm

        Uh, you’re allowed to get people out to vote on election day…

  4. Tracey 4
    3 December 2013 at 7:52 am

    ” It was slaughter, pure and simple”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11165503

    Some of the comments show how well National’s lies about safe seat were… not much mention by pro national commenters on the 4000 party majority for national in 2011

    • swordfish 4.1
      3 December 2013 at 9:01 pm

      Yep, Tracey, I see in the DOMPOST that both Vernon Small (Dec 2) and the anonymous editorial writer (Dec 3) continue to describe pre-by-election Chch East as “a Labour stronghold.”

      Sorry, esteemed senior journos, but precisely how can a seat in which National (46%) massively out-performed Labour (32%) in the 2011 party-vote be characterised as “a Labour stronghold.”

      I mean it’s not rocket science !!! Under MMP, there is a thing called “the party-vote.” It indicates which party people want in power, thus revealing a seat’s core political allegiance. Largely thanks to a post-quake exodus that clearly disproportionately involved Labour voters from rental accommodation, Chch East went fundamentally Blue in 2011.

      Dalziel’s 2011 candidate-vote does not – I repeat DOES NOT – represent support for a Labour government. It was a purely personal vote for a highly popular long-term MP. Almost two-thirds of it coming from people who, at the same time, party-voted for a National government !!!

      But it’s certainly intriguing to see just how profoundly Farrar and National’s Canterbury-Westland divisional chair, Roger Bridge, have shaped media discourse on this really quite extraordinary result.

      • swordfish 4.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 9:07 pm

        I should quickly add that the “two-thirds” comment (above) refers to Dalziel’s 5334 majority, rather than her entire candidate-vote.

  5. AsleepWhileWalking 5
    3 December 2013 at 7:54 am

    Hey hey,
    Headline in Stuff:

    Plan to nab benefit fraudsters
    Snoopers could soon be calling on solo parents to check whether they are still living alone.

    Tried to read article but link isn’t working. Hmmm….just what every single mother living alone needs. Campbell Live yesterday demonstrated how easily authority of a vest and simple laminate card can do – what happens when sexual preditors pose as investigators from MSD? They could go door to door and establish the level of vulnerability of each occupant.

    I do wish MSD would think things through more especially given that many of these people will be domestic violence survivors.

    – EDIT –

    Here it is on TVNZ http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/house-checks-possible-solo-parents-benefit-5744488

    • AsleepWhileWalking 5.1
      3 December 2013 at 8:01 am

      Quote: Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows said the proposal was still being tested and was about “checking in rather than checking up”.

      “I imagine people respond in different ways. Hopefully they will see it as the department being helpful.”

      Actually my first thought was it comes across as the government equivalent of tradesman going through panty draws.

      • Descendant Of Sssmith 5.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 8:59 am

        Never ever thought we’d see the return of “DPB field officers”.

        Yep we’ve had them before in this country – making excuses to use the bathroom to see if there were two toothbrushes in the bathroom cupboard. Naturally a blue one and a pink one.

        Many were judgmental sanctimonious pricks – much like the ones currently running the country.

        The way this reads they won’t even be public servants either – more money to right wing fascist companies no doubt with little accountability.

        • greywarbler 5.1.1.1
          3 December 2013 at 12:22 pm

          Such intrusive officers inspecting people’s lives, homes and stripping them of privacy and respect are far more hostile, discriminating, prejudiced and sanctimonious than the purse-lipped members of government.

      • fender 5.1.2
        3 December 2013 at 10:00 am

        When reading this part of the Stuff article:
        “With about 34,000 fresh solo-parent benefit applications a year, officials advised that contractors would need to be hired to handle the workload.

        Those contractors could then report back to Work and Income, which would decide whether to cut payments or lay fraud charges.

        Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows said the proposal was still being tested and was about “checking in rather than checking up”. “

        It seems to suggest that people receiving a benefit will fall into one of two camps; either they will have payments cut or they will face fraud charges. To me that implies that they believe (or want others to believe) none of the recipients are complying with the rules/law. It’s a solo-parent hating dog-whistle from a bunch of nasty pricks.

        • karol 5.1.2.1
          3 December 2013 at 10:04 am

          And it also seems to be partly a make work scheme for the middle classes, while trying to cull the numbers of low income people receiving benefits.

          Serious fraud charges? And would most of the accused have any money to pay fines, or would they be sent to the workhouse (debtors) prison, where they would kept on tax payer money in order to work for private enterprises?

          • tricledrwown 5.1.2.1.1
            3 December 2013 at 12:19 pm

            Karol They would be encouraged to join gangs so national can build more prisons.

          • fender 5.1.2.1.2
            5 December 2013 at 1:09 am

            National won’t be happy until solo parents, the unemployed and the disabled are going through garbage cans for something to eat and live in shanty towns.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.1.2.2
          3 December 2013 at 12:35 pm

          And you can pretty much guarantee that those “contractors” will believe all the myths about those on the DPB that National have been inventing and spreading for the last 30 odd years and thus will find something wrong.

      • greywarbler 5.1.3
        4 December 2013 at 8:24 am

        AWW
        This is just another attack on women and their sexuality. Which is to be allowed strictly to benefit the government’s desires and plans and the established social order. If it breaks out in a non-sanctioned way then help with offspring is to be done reluctantly. Help and respect for the sole parent is retreating back to Victorian attitudes and the latest attack on beneficiaries personal lives and dignity deserving respect echoes earlier responses to women parents receiving financial support as sole parents

    • phillip ure 5.2
      3 December 2013 at 8:03 am

      @asleep..

      ..and of course the fact to hold in the mind when considering this latest round of beneficiary-bashing..

      ..is that benefit-fraud in new zealand is estimated @ $23 million per year..

      ..whereas (recoverable) tax-dodging by corporates/elites in nz..is $2.5 billion per yr..

      ..(that fact/stat from the poverty-doco a little while back..from an ‘industry-expert’..)

      ..i wonder what the gummint-plan is on that..?

      ..oh..!..that’s right..!

      ..that’s john keys’ constituency..

      ..isn’t it..?..

      ..that $2.5 billion tax-dodging corporate/elites..

      ..that’s who he/the national party works for..

      ..but just keep that fact in mind when watching bennett/this govt as they whip up their latest batch of targeted-hatred against beneficiaries..

      ..eh..?

      ..and ponder on what cynical/evil fucks they are..eh..?

      ..phillip ure..

      • ak 5.2.1
        3 December 2013 at 8:14 am

        Ae, right on cue. Borrows-Bennett-Bully-Benny-Bash right in time for Christmas. Scum. Of the lowest, fithiest order.

        • vto 5.2.1.1
          3 December 2013 at 8:18 am

          Agreed.

          Maybe we could “dob in a tax cheat” too… after all they cost the country about 100x times more than the occasional silly beneficiary.

          The process could be shortcut by simply sending the National Party membership list to the police

          • yeshe 5.2.1.1.2
            3 December 2013 at 11:31 am

            VTO — so if we know a businessperson is cheating on tax with an undeclared rental apartment under their house providing hidden cash income of approx $19K p.a., and you know it’s undeclared because they don’t want you to lodge a bond and you have to share power and water meters etc etc … would you dob them in ? Please discuss …..

            • vto 5.2.1.1.2.1
              3 December 2013 at 12:14 pm

              sure……

              Almost always no. It is not my business to provide policing to the state. And these things are tricky – he who lives in glasshouse should not throw stones and all that.

              But it is a catch-22 because if it was my money they were defrauding directly from me then most certainly I would launch into it. But given the lack of direct-connection (apparently) and the independence of people from the state in this situation then, no.

              However, I didn’t seriously suggest dobbing people in, if you read closely. I was parroting the bene-bashers. If they want to dob people in for ripping off the state then it needs to be consistent and comprehensive – only dirty evil scum target one lot of thieves while having other thieves to their dinner table.

              The other point is – I would suggest that every single person in business rips off the tax system. Betcha you would never find someone who has declared every single cent of income, not done a cash job, claimed personal phone expenses as business, it just goes on and on and on and on …….. everybody …………. everybody …………
              which is possibly the reason why politicians always turn a blind eye to this kind of thievery and focus on the easy targets such as beneficiaries……..

              What about you yeshe, would you dob them in? Please discuss …..

              • yeshe …
                3 December 2013 at 12:34 pm

                Thx VTO — I was genuinely interested in your thoughts; not niggling at your previous post which I read to be tongue in cheek, or similar !

                Well, I didn’t dob them in. Couldn’t do it. I did leave the property though as swiftly as I could find another — and I’ve wrestled with it since, which is why I asked if you to discuss for me. Appreciate your thoughts and agree …. thank you !

                Toujours le Catch 22 !!!

                • vto …
                  3 December 2013 at 12:49 pm

                  Non problema. You know though, there was an instance once where a dobbing occurred. It followed some unappreciated behaviour and actions thrust intentionally in our direction so the motivation of revenge swamped any higher (or lower) ideals (although never found out if the dobbing came to anything…)

                  And that’s it isn’t it. It is not a simple straight forward equation – it involves a balance of many circumstances and principles…. such is life itself..

                  .. and back to the original point. If the National Party members want a formal dobbing-in process for people who rip off the state, then why are they selecting only one type of beneficiary? Why do they not select tax cheats too? (I wonder if there is a National Party member around here who could answer that ….)

              • Draco T Bastard …
                3 December 2013 at 12:44 pm

                Almost always no. It is not my business to provide policing to the state.

                And that’s where you’re wrong. It actually is your business to provide policing for the state. This belief that we should just leave it to the state to find perpetrators is what allows a hell of a lot of crime to go unpunished.

                The other point is – I would suggest that every single person in business rips off the tax system. Betcha you would never find someone who has declared every single cent of income, not done a cash job, claimed personal phone expenses as business, it just goes on and on and on and on …….. everybody …………. everybody …………
                which is possibly the reason why politicians always turn a blind eye to this kind of thievery and focus on the easy targets such as beneficiaries……..

                Yep, can’t go round telling the middle classes and the rich that they’re a bunch of thieving arseholes which, almost invariably, they are.

                • vto …
                  3 December 2013 at 1:04 pm

                  Draco, the point around it being our business to attend to matters of crime has merit of course. Our society today is much more disconnected (from each other that is). Because the actions of our neighbour can be ignored to an extent and the problem placed with the state it means that more crime goes unreported.

                  In them olden days when we lived in small communities where everyone knew everyone else and their business it was important to maintain standards of behaviour lest the whole community start unravelling at the seems. So we all played our part. The connection between individual crimes and the quality of our community was direct.

                  Today that connection is seen as less direct. Result equals more crime.

                  Roughly….

              • KJT …
                3 December 2013 at 3:06 pm

                I wouldn’t say I declared every cent when in business, I don’t know, I get rather impatient with accounting, but it certainly often makes life difficult when almost every one you compete against are doing “cashies”.

                The assumption, that every business does it, worked in my favour when getting a mortgage. The bank manager just assumed my real income was at least twice the declared one.

                I used to tell customers, who made that sort of noises it was a “cash” price despite putting it “through the books”.
                They were happy thinking they were getting a “cheaper” cash price, and putting one across the Government.
                I was happy because “cashie” customers always pay, cash, on time, not dud checks, or “I will pay you next week”.
                And. What people do not realise, with a ‘cashie” there is no guarantee. How can you enforce a guarantee when there is no record of the job ever being done.

                I had to laugh when, a noted, below the counter tradesman I knew, was whinging to all and sundry that his kids lost their student allowances after he declared his real income, for a year, to get a loan.

                Attacking desperate impoverished people over a few hundred dollars when there are people ripping of the tax system for thousands just shows how morally bankrupt National are.

                The IRD published, (It seems to have disappeared, surprise, surprise. So cannot give a link.), that over half of New Zealand’s rich list have a declared income of less than 70 thousand a year.

          • tricledrwown 5.2.1.1.3
            3 December 2013 at 12:56 pm

            ie google $85 million in revenue $15,000 in tax facebook apple all paid virtually no tax.

        • joe90 5.2.1.2
          3 December 2013 at 1:56 pm

          Ae, right on cue.

          Well called.

          Brace for one final, desperate benny-bash.

          http://thestandard.org.nz/axe-the-copper-tax-wins/#comment-735809

    • David H 5.3
      3 December 2013 at 9:28 am

      And they rant on about Benefit Fraud and then show some pretty low numbers when you check up, and compare to how much was rorted by the workers there?

      Worker 194k
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9087915/Home-detention-for-Winz-fraud

      Beneficiary 10k
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/8709045/Hamilton-couple-defraud-Winz-of-more-than-10-000

      Worker 210k
      http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/mp/13562142/winz-case-manager-accused-of-fraud/

      Over payments and supposed fraud 1.1 million 2011 document
      http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/10592-winz-prosecution-statistics-for-fraud-overpayments/

    • Tiger Mountain 5.4
      3 December 2013 at 12:26 pm

      For freaking f***s sake, parenting alone gets a bad rap from many and then if some one tries to take on a genuine new caring participative partner they are likely to get snooped on and cut off. The current policy encourages one nighters, go figure.

      If the old WINZ standard of “living in a relationship resembling marriage” is still around there will likely be less sack action than the one nighters. Though it really comes down to a regular discernible financial input from sleepovers. Talk about nanny state.

      Really if union density rises and people could enjoy a better life a lot of this negative bennie bashing would fade away.

  6. Saarbo 6
    3 December 2013 at 8:02 am

    Todays Herald does an article about Compulsory Life Jackets equating to Nanny State.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11165938

    But they forget to mention that Compulsory Life Jackets are being strongly supported by Nationals Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga:

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Bid-to-make-kids-life-jackets-compulsory/tabid/423/articleID/311738/Default.aspx

    Is naughty granny trying to hide something here???

    • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 6.1
      3 December 2013 at 8:57 am

      Yeah. Because National is all about the freedom…

    • Draco T Bastard 6.2
      3 December 2013 at 1:14 pm

      The rules will have unexpected consequences like the smacking bill, compulsory bicycle helmets and paddling pool fencing, the 400-strong Hibiscus Coast Boating Club said in a submission on a new lifejacket bylaw.

      /facepalm

      Haven’t seen any “unexpected consequences” from any of those. Just the RWNJs whinging again but that’s to be expected.

      The club’s submission said a more effective and efficient way of reaching the target group of new immigrants about safety issues would be through a boat ramp campaign.

      Now that’s probably a good idea. I do wonder, though, if they’re willing to accept the rates rises to pay for it.

      What I’d like to see is a license to operate a boat over 8′. Do that and the boat ramp inspection and we’ll probably see a lot of the drownings and other stupid accidents decrease.

      As a precursor we should probably do a survey of boaties to determine how many of them actually know the rules of the sea. Hell, from reports from my family, there’s a hell of a lot of them out there that don’t even realise that there are rules.

      • s y d 6.2.1
        3 December 2013 at 4:14 pm

        nah, you’ll just see a shit load of 7’11” dinghies, with 2″ freeboard, a couple of boxes of cody’s, and a banana heading out into the gentle ocean…..

  7. ultra- 7
    3 December 2013 at 8:03 am

    Torture hasn’t silenced Tonga’s revolutionary cultural activist Tevita Latu, who leads a movement dedicated to the transformation of his society called the Seleka Club:
    http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/why-tevita-latu-is-new-lou-reed.html

  8. Tracey 8
    3 December 2013 at 8:50 am

    Cunliffe tweeting to voters to get to the polls in CHCH EAST breaks rules?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9467876/Cunliffe-tweet-investigated

    • dv 8.1
      3 December 2013 at 8:58 am

      “If you are resident in Christchurch East don’t forget to vote today – for Labour and Poto Williams!” he wrote.

      Don’t forget to vote is possibly OK, for Labour and pogo williams is careless.

    • Lanthanide 8.2
      3 December 2013 at 9:17 am

      How could he not be aware of the rules at the time?

      I’m not a politician and I know the rules.

      • Puckish Rogue 8.2.1
        3 December 2013 at 9:41 am

        Gee a labour politician breaks the electoral rules again…colour me suprised, the only thing more surprising would be if the electoral commision did anything about it

        • gobsmacked 8.2.1.1
          3 December 2013 at 10:07 am

          Cunliffe’s statement (from Stuff link):

          “I take responsibility for that, the tweet was sent in error and deleted within seconds and it was reported as soon as possible to the returning officer,” he said.

          So, in just one sentence, 3 clear differences between Cunliffe and Key/Banks:

          1) I take responsibility for that – not “I blame somebody else”, “I know nothing”

          2) deleted within seconds – not “nobody did anythng until we got found out”

          3) it was reported as soon as possible to the returning officer – not “we ran away and hid”.

          He’ll be a real Prime Minister, not the fake one we have now.

          • Puckish Rogue 8.2.1.1.1
            3 December 2013 at 10:12 am

            So you’re happy with someone making such a basic error in the first place because its not like Labour don’t have form in this area…

            Good to know

            • karol 8.2.1.1.1.1
              3 December 2013 at 10:15 am

              its not like Labour don’t have form in this area…

              Citation needed

              – and contrasts with Key & Nats not commented on…. why?

            • Lanthanide 8.2.1.1.1.2
              3 December 2013 at 11:14 am

              I’m not happy about it and I suspect gobsmacked isn’t either.

              Ok, so now what? gobsmacked has made it quite clear that Cunliffe at least does the right thing after he makes a mistake.

              Are you going to defend Key and Banks? Do you have any other lame angle of attack you’re going to try and trump up?

            • gobsmacked 8.2.1.1.1.3
              4 December 2013 at 8:24 am

              So you’re happy with someone making such a basic error in the first place

              Are you saying Key takes responsibility for his Twitter account? That’s new.

              When he tweeted the wrong David Cameron just last week, it was a staffer.

          • Rosie 8.2.1.1.2
            3 December 2013 at 1:29 pm

            well said gobsmacked. It’s all about a leader being accountable and honest about their mistake,(and remedying it) Vs.a leader who can’t and won’t.

            One day, surely, Key will be recognised in our history as one of the most devious and dishonest PM’s this country has ever seen. And remember there’s still more shit to be uncovered once Dotcom gets his hearing, in, when is it, April?

        • fender 8.2.1.2
          3 December 2013 at 10:16 am

          What punishment would you suggest for a tweet that was deleted “within seconds”?
          1 minute in jail, 10 years jail, $50 fine, $50,000 fine, or expulsion from parliament so your beloved shonKey can complete his destruction of our country?

          • Puckish Rogue 8.2.1.2.1
            3 December 2013 at 12:41 pm

            Well Labour (and yes National too) do it far too many times that maybe a deterrence, a massive fine maybe, is needed to make the parties start to obey the laws

            • tricledrwown 8.2.1.2.1.1
              3 December 2013 at 12:46 pm

              PR A massive fine would benefit the well funded parties over the minor parties.
              In this case a donation to the RedCross would be more appropriate.
              No doubt you would prefer it went to the exclusive bretheren!

  9. CC 9
    3 December 2013 at 8:53 am

    Transmission Gully featured on Radio NZ this morning. Who does one trust, Julie-Anne Genter, the qualified and respected road transport expert of Gerry Brownlee? A cursory analysis suggests the former knew what she was talking about and the latter went straight into the bluff, bluster and bull-s**t he is well known for. Seems Brownlee has no costings, doesn’t understand the proposed financing situation, believes there is some congruence between motorway and house prices and he even conveniently managed to make disingenuously incorrect comments about rail disruptions in Wellington.

    • tc 9.1
      3 December 2013 at 9:42 am

      Cost benefit ratio of about 0.6 I last recall, so for every dollar spent get 60c back, natonomics at it’s finest.

      • alwyn 9.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 12:43 pm

        I believe that the Light Rail proposal for Wellington, that the Greens are very keen on has a CBR of less than 0.05. Thats five cents on the dollar! Green economics at its finest?

        • tricledrwown 9.1.1.1
          3 December 2013 at 1:12 pm

          alwyn light rail costs 1/3 that of motorways to construct carry 18 times more passenger per km per hr.
          Petrol heads in national prompted by very large donations to their party by oil industry manage to spin a story that small minds like your self will fall for over real research!
          The Tories in the UK have figured it out and canned all Motorway construction except 1or2 connecting junctions.
          New Zealand and yourself Alwyn are behind the times just keep repeating the mantra don’t think good we alwyn pleased to see!

          • alwyn 9.1.1.1.1
            3 December 2013 at 1:40 pm

            The alternative to the light rail proposal for public transport in Wellington is NOT a motorway. It is a bus system using enhanced priority on existing roads and existing types of vehicles or a bus rapid transit system using dedicated lanes and larger vehicles.
            The nearest piece of motorway to Wellington runs north from Tawa and up to Levin. The light rail was intended to run south from the railway station in Wellington toward the Hospital.
            Please keep up with the times. tricledrwown (My God that is hard to type correctly)

            • Te Reo Putake 9.1.1.1.1.1
              3 December 2013 at 2:01 pm

              “The nearest piece of motorway to Wellington runs north from Tawa and up to Levin.”

              Do you mean the J’ville/Porirua motorway? That’s only 11km long, which leaves it a long way short of Levin. The actual nearest motorway to Wellington is er, the Wellington Urban Motorway (Ngaraunga to te Aro).

              Do keep up etc.

              • tricledrwown …
                3 December 2013 at 2:37 pm

                TRP its hard to keep up when your stuck in a traffic jam.(outdated form of transport)

              • alwyn …
                3 December 2013 at 2:49 pm

                Damn, I missed out a few words intended for that sentence. It was meant to say “The nearest piece of motorway planned for Wellington runs north from Tawa and up to Levin”.
                Planned, planned, planned. Not existing. Write this 100 times Alwyn.
                That is Transmission Gully, McKays Crossing to Peka Peka and Peka Peka through Otaki to Levin bits that have now all been approved.
                The reason I brought it up is because there is no motorway planned within Wellington city as an alternative to light rail as t***d was implying. (not meaning to be rude but I have terrible problems spelling your non de plume.

                • Te Reo Putake …
                  3 December 2013 at 3:13 pm

                  Fair enough, Alwyn. If I had my way, the highway would bypass Levin to the west as well, joining up again about 10 kms north. Not that I’m a big fan of tarmac, but my job has me on various roads every week and I’ve driven just about every major and minor arterial at some point or other.

                  It’s clear to me that Kapiti is going to get a rapid rise in population over the next couple of decades, so my preference would be a decent rail service from Palmy, through Kapiti and on to Welly. Light rail along the T Gully route would also make sense, as history shows that population growth follows new roads, so that route is bound become urban sooner rather than later.

                  (just for the record, can I just say that not putting passing lanes or at least slow vehicle bays on the Hawkes Bay Expressway is the stupidest bit of road design I’ve ever seen in this country?)

                  • alwyn …
                    3 December 2013 at 3:49 pm

                    The viewpoint does make a bit more sense with the correction doesn’t it.

                    I’m not 100% clear on where the road actually goes whan you get up to Levin. Whether you wanted West, or East of Levin would depend on whether you were going up SH 1 toward Auckland (or Whanganui) when west is better or whether you wanted to go to Palmerston or Hawkes Bay when an Eastern bypass would be preferred. I normally go to HB and turn of the road to avoid Levin anyway.

                    Just for the record I think the Hawkes Bay Expressway is one of the most unnecessary roads in the country. It was built to get Hastings people to accept that the Airport should be developed on the barren land at Westshore instead of half way between Napier and Hastings at Pakowhai on the best horticultural land in New Zealand. It is there for perhaps 100 people a day flying in or out of HB and who come from Hastings or south.

            • tricledrwown 9.1.1.1.1.2
              3 December 2013 at 2:42 pm

              wow.

              • tricledrown …
                3 December 2013 at 3:02 pm

                with the problems this site has had, having to put in non de plume every time you reply mistakes can happen.
                Transmission Gully won’t be finished for atleast 7 to 10 years the costs will blow out.
                Show me a public private partnership that has worked. In Australia every public private roading project has been an utter failure with the govt having to front up with billions more to cover loss of profit by the private partner.
                Chorus is an example of Joyces folly here!
                Do some Googling on public private partnerships its not good reading especially on infrastructure projects!
                Don’t get me started on schools!

                • alwyn …
                  3 December 2013 at 3:30 pm

                  That was a real pain, having your Name and Mail fields being deleted wasn’t it.
                  Spend 5 minutes composing 200 words of immortal prose to compete with Shakespeare at his best, hit submit comment and you get “required fields missing” or whatever. Try and get back to put them in and all you have is a blank comment box. Moan, moan mumble etc. The greatest literary work of the 21st century lost in space.
                  I can’t think of a roading PPP that has worked. As you say the Australian ones, particularly the tunnel in Sydney and I believe the one in Brisbane seems to have been financial disasters. I thought that it was merely that the company involved went bust and the State took over was the result. Have the companies become less gullible?
                  I’m not really sure what the difference would be between guaranteeing a company a certain return and paying interest after borrowing the money yourself would be though.
                  Costs of big projects always blow out of course. The going rate when I was studying Economics was about three times. Didn’t matter who was doing them though.
                  Your ndp is so close to trickledown, intentionally I’m sure, that that is what my typing produces automatically.

        • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.2
          3 December 2013 at 1:29 pm

          [citation needed]

          And, no, I’m not going to ask tc as that particular piece of information has been about this blog ever since the RoNS were put forward by this government.

        • tricledrwown 9.1.1.3
          3 December 2013 at 1:49 pm

          alwynger look at how much our balance of payments on our overseas trade.
          Then look at how much we pay for oil / fuel.
          If we electrified our rail and light rail.
          With new induction powered buses and cars our countries overseas debt would disappear!
          Carrying on down the Brownly Joyce National path is going no where except deeper in debt!
          We are going to have a huge surplus of electricity when Tiwae closes we could make ourselves a very rich country.
          But no doubt National will leave it to the blind hand of market forces bribes from the existing powerful corporates.
          Alwyn time to look around for some new ideas and help this country foreward just repeating blindly Nactional party propaganda shows lack of independence and intelligence.

  10. karol 10
    3 December 2013 at 9:53 am

    Seen on Al Jazeera this morning (and I see reported quite widely in the news media here and abroad, Amazon has stated it has some drones that could be used for delivering packages.

    There’s a lot of speculation and criticism, about the safety of such uses – for other air traffic, and for people under the drones’ flight paths (package dropped on someone’s head?).

    Not to mention, if commercial drones became common place, how would a citizen know if there were spy or military drones amongst them?

    • Lanthanide 10.1
      3 December 2013 at 11:16 am

      A person on the radio this morning, I didn’t catch all of it, but they were suggesting that it seems very unlikely Amazon literally means delivering packages to your door via drone within 5 years. But conceivably they could use drones to transfer items between nearby distribution centres, say a large one outside of town, sending items to a smaller one located inside town, with the items then transferred to regular couriers.

      I would question the point of that, personally.

      • greywarbler 10.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 11:24 am

        Having drones in the air would mean more work for airport controls and sky navigation I would
        think. And there would be no pilot with all control done as part of call centres probably. I see problems with externalities that will fall on the general public!?

        Apart from the aspect of vertical integration resulting in less business to other firms that should be playing an interlocking role. More of the takeover by robotised businesses to sell to people whose jobs are continuously being lost to robotised systems. Spiralling down the plughole for people – all that will be left will be a firm called Gurgle.

        • Lanthanide 10.1.1.1
          3 December 2013 at 11:50 am

          “Apart from the aspect of vertical integration resulting in less business to other firms”

          More business for firms developing drones.

          “should be playing an interlocking role.”

          Says whom? Why “should” couriers be involved in this business at all? If an alternative business can actually offer better service at cheaper or similar prices, why “should” the old companies continue to get the work?

          • greywarbler 10.1.1.1.1
            3 December 2013 at 12:11 pm

            Thanks Lanthanide you put a neat. straight line through my suggestions. You love efficiency. I love the idea of people having a place in a thriving, sustaining, prosperous community trading with each other, and one with each person, person! being able to contribute to the human group in their locality and share its societal benefit.

            • alwyn 10.1.1.1.1.1
              3 December 2013 at 12:48 pm

              That ideal seems to preclude having companies like Amazon altogether. One would have to limit ones choices, for books, to local bookshops and never deal with firms like Amazon at all. After there is no person to person dealing with Amazon.
              On the other hand you can get almost anything and they are generally a great deal cheaper so I’m not giving them up.

        • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.2
          3 December 2013 at 1:50 pm

          Having drones in the air would mean more work for airport controls and sky navigation I would think.

          many years ago I was watching a documentary about air-control and one of the things mentioned in it was a computer that could do most of the air-control over British airspace. At the time some was still required to be done by humans but I suspect that that’s changed or is in the process of changing. I also suspect that it won’t be long before pilots are removed from commercial aircraft.

          More of the takeover by robotised businesses to sell to people whose jobs are continuously being lost to robotised systems.

          Use of more robots to do boring and unfulfilling jobs is good. The problem is with the capitalist system that forces people to work for money to be able to live. Work is, of course, narrowly defined, so as to force people to work for capitalists rather than allowing them to go to university or polytechs or to work from to do R&D or work on art/crafts and culture.

          The system is the problem and we need to change it before it destroys us.

          • greywarbler 10.1.1.2.1
            4 December 2013 at 1:13 pm

            DTB
            Youre my hero. It would be super if we could all do what we want?

            Many would probably stop having children because they are such a nuisance to get up to in the night, especially if they are vomiting, and it’s boring cleaning their bottoms. Especially if they get nappy rash. Which good parents don’t get. Of course it’s not so easy with cloth naps that have to be washed and sun dried. So boring and smelly, especially if they aren’t tackled quickly and there is no sun. But what we won’t have because they are really part of capitalism and catering to the masses with throwaway products that use resources wastefully.

            In an ideal world I suppose you would let them run round with bare bottoms and not have to worry about the new oppressors, crazy sexualised nutcases who never had good parental training helping them to withstand the problems of lif. Problems of a different order whether under capitalism or whatever system has hegemony.

      • McFlock 10.1.2
        3 December 2013 at 12:29 pm

        I suppose it comes down to the math: 100 packages in a van with a driver and all that that entails, or 100 <20kg drones that are largely autonomous, and small amazon depots from where you collect or arrange door delivery at a price.

        Given their likely operational range, terrain mapping plus GPS should be fine for tooling around the city. Whack in some basic object avoidance, shroud the props, and have the docking stations that collect the packages out of pedestrian way, and it would be reasonably reliable – safer than many courier drivers I've seen, anyway.

        But I think the other thing they're probably looking for is enough stretch in the drone regulations to enable unpiloted cargo flights.

      • Draco T Bastard 10.1.3
        3 December 2013 at 2:04 pm

        A person on the radio this morning, I didn’t catch all of it, but they were suggesting that it seems very unlikely Amazon literally means delivering packages to your door via drone within 5 years.

        The video shows that they already have a working prototype that can deliver to the door within a 16km radius of the distribution centre. There’s probably a few things to work out but my impression from the article is that they’re more waiting for rules from the FAA.

        • McFlock 10.1.3.1
          3 December 2013 at 3:17 pm

          The interesting thing about “to your door” is that this actually involves a massive amount of thought and adaptability – what if 15A is around the back? Do you just drop the package there, or how would you alert the occupant? How would you stop an idiot sticking their fingers in the rotors? What about dorms?

          But a sort of reverse post box might work – a safe and clear docking station every couple of hundred metres, and the recipient gets a receipt/qrcode/reference number to collect the package from the station. And a pay-service bike courier does the true “to the door” delivery if required.

          • Chooky 10.1.3.1.1
            3 December 2013 at 3:42 pm

            …what about drone mid- air collisions?… airways congestion?… traffic control?….safety below…it is one thing to watch out for bikes and cars….another to watch out for things falling on you from the sky

            ….sound like a Boy’s Own Biggles dream to me

            • McFlock 10.1.3.1.1.1
              3 December 2013 at 4:43 pm

              We’re probably close to making them far safer than piloted aircraft, and they are small enough to operate below the minimum heights for piloted aircraft. And we’re not talking 50 tons @ 400kph. Hell, we’re not even talking a lite-ace at 40kph.

              The congestion/traffic control thing is not realistic, imo – three dimensions frees up the maps significantly. 10ft height blocks from 100ft to 300ft (piloted aircraft ground separation is 400ft if I recall correctly) gives you a 20-lane highway over every street.

              • Chooky …
                3 December 2013 at 6:44 pm

                ….where will be the sky?

                ….a swarming of metallic locusts…. of black/red/silver /yellow drones

                ….a ‘Boys Own’ dream of hell

                • McFlock …
                  3 December 2013 at 7:27 pm

                  possibly (although I think larger scale efficiencies – i.e. “trucks” or Futurama tubes 🙂 – might flip in at some level).

                  But possibly better than the multilane highways we have today, on all levels from noise to emissions to safety to visual impact.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  3 December 2013 at 11:27 pm

                  ….where will be the sky?

                  Don’t know about your neigbourhood but mine has very few courier vehicles going through it.

                • greywarbler …
                  4 December 2013 at 2:21 pm

                  What would the birds think? And drones would be creepy if they silently passed your window, and nasty if they had a whine or some air-induced noise feature. And they could be fitted with cameras and do surveillance work on the fly or sly.

                  Stuff technology rolling on, making life more complicated and individuals more isolated and more dependent on machinery. Has anyone walked into a door expecting it to open and it didn’t?

                  I had a dairy once, with an old till which had an emergency handle like the old starting handles for cars. If the electricity went off, in went the handle and manually you operated the till. There was an option. We weren’t helpless, completely wiped when piped energy or battery energy wasn’t available.

                  Time for a Russian poster celebrating the muscles and hard work of the proletariat!

          • felix 10.1.3.1.2
            3 December 2013 at 6:31 pm

            “The interesting thing about “to your door” is that this actually involves a massive amount of thought and adaptability – what if 15A is around the back? Do you just drop the package there, or how would you alert the occupant?”

            I note that these issues haven’t been entirely resolved with human couriers either…

            • McFlock 10.1.3.1.2.1
              3 December 2013 at 7:33 pm

              yeah – but at least you have someone to complain about.

              That’s also one of the big issues with autonomous anything (e.g. driverless cars) – who’s accountable if it fails? Currently if someone follows applemaps off a boat slipway because the gps said it was a road, the driver is still accountable. But a self-teaching, auto-updated car? A massive case of OEM vs third-party vendor vs vehicle occupant vs maintenance contract vs network provider…

              And no accountability means a shitty system that has a much higher likelihood of dystopic outcome, imo.

              • felix …
                3 December 2013 at 9:51 pm

                Yeah the human is still my preference. Or a pneumatic tube. Never liked those creepy little flying droids.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                3 December 2013 at 11:30 pm

                That’s also one of the big issues with autonomous anything (e.g. driverless cars) – who’s accountable if it fails?

                The owner?

  11. Bill 11
    3 December 2013 at 10:13 am

    Curiosity. Using Firefox. In the address bar, I’m informed that ‘Skeptical Science’ is asking to store info on my computer for off-line use. Never seen such a notification before. Anyone got any idea what it might be about. (I don’t get the same notification if I open their website)

  12. lprent 12
    3 December 2013 at 11:10 am

    Drat lost two web servers. Started them again.
    Looking at why they didn’t restart.

    • Anne 12.1
      3 December 2013 at 11:40 am

      Yes, me too and it’s still happening. Isn’t Skeptical Science that bunch of nutbars/pseudoscientists who are really CC deniers? The sort of place Leighton Smith sources his deranged diatribes?

      • greywarbler 12.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 12:05 pm

        Deranged diatribes. So apt. Just change a letter and he would deal himself a deserved end if he pressed his hands to his chest. A new app of value. Just a conundrum for the day.

  13. Ake ake ake 13
    3 December 2013 at 11:32 am

    Catching up with news about the John Key government’s Ultra Fiasco Broadband project. This was meant to be their flagship project that has been handled incompetently and resembles more like shipwreck cock up.

    • Ake ake ake 13.1
      3 December 2013 at 1:29 pm

      Great informative and evaluative piece by Chris Barton:

      “… The slap in the face to John Key is particularly significant, because it was the PM who hatched the corporate welfare plan to artificially inflate copper access prices to subsidise Chorus. …

      ” … With Hooton there, not to mention other telcos which had made significant investment in an unbundled, competitive market, this was a campaign that couldn’t be dismissed as left wing bleating. …

      “… But great as the outcome is for New Zealand consumers, the copper tax debacle reflects three disturbing trends. The first is the aberration of democracy … The second is that influencing this government seems directly correlated to financial muscle, and while on this occasion Chorus’s buying power was circumvented by a collective consumer will, the situation suggests a corruption of democratic process. Thirdly, you have to ask whether, without the Coalition’s campaign, any of the information needed to reveal the truth about Chorus’s and the PM’s claims would have been exposed.

      “On this front, the story is far from over. Look at what the PM said in September – that if the Telecommunication Commissioner’s wholesale pricing ruling stood, there was chance Chorus would go broke. We now know that wasn’t entirely true. …

      “… In the real world such a stuff-up would cause heads to roll. Taxpayers could rightly point the finger at Chorus’s chief executive, but also Steven Joyce the architect of the UFB and the Chorus partnership. But rather than accountability, we get: “Oh dear, we’ll have to bail Chorus out.” ”

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11165725

  14. captain hook 14
    3 December 2013 at 11:33 am

    somebody here compared doncoyote to piggy muldoon but there is no comparison.
    mulddon payed his dues but coyote was and is a ring in jacked up by boagey and hootone and will vanish as quickly as he appeared next year.

  16. greywarbler 16
    3 December 2013 at 12:00 pm

    Gavin Ellis on Radionz this a.m.
    Some notes –
    More than half shares of media now in the hands of financial institutions who have no interest in the topic of the business – providing news and information.
    Are paywalls viable?
    Blogs – whaleoil top with 3/4 million visitors a month. He has broken news stories. Blogs as legitimate forms of news.
    Law Commission report should have been adopted in full. Good one – suggested one regulator and Blogs could opt in if they desired.

    Reporting of crime – when editor did a search and found that crime stories on every page so he grouped them in a special crime page.

    • karol 16.1
      3 December 2013 at 12:35 pm

      It seems the financial institutions are taking over everything, including the media.

      • alwyn 16.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 12:57 pm

        Once you get things like Kiwisaver you are going to see financial institutions appearing to take over everything. After all the organisations that run Kiwisaver are by definition Financial Institutions. It is them that show up as the owners of the assets, not the people who have put up the money in the first place.
        I think, although I’m not certain that something like the Cullen Fund would show up in the same way. The pass the money on to financial institutions to invest and I would think it is them who would show up as the ownwers of shares, not the Cullen Fund.

        • karol 16.1.1.1
          3 December 2013 at 1:16 pm

          I’m not talking about the likes of Kiwisaver. the evidence points to corproate finance companies taking over NZ media and other things here and overseas.

          The AUT media ownership report (published in the last week or two, lays out the sort of finance institutions taking over NZ media.

          Financial institutions take control of Sky TV and MediaWorks

          Full report here PDF.

          This New Zealand Ownership Report 2013 published by AUT’s Centre for Journalism, Media and Democracy (JMAD) outlines how the financialisation of New Zealand media intensified as News Limited pulled out of Sky TV, and as lenders took 100 percent control of MediaWorks.

          See also details p8 onwards.
          P9:

          The financialisation of New Zealand media ownership has been noticeable since 2010. Over the last three years stock market listed financial institutions such as major banks and unlisted financial institutions such as private equity firms, have increased their ownership shares within New Zealand based media companies. This is a worrying development since the financial owners “have no inherent interest in any particular media industry or sector.” (Hope & Myllylahti, 2013).

          In other areas of enterprise, in the news today – I think i saw an article about Fletchers’ losing out in an NZ deal to a Japanese investment company – can’t find the article now.

          • alwyn 16.1.1.1.1
            3 December 2013 at 2:39 pm

            I had a look at this report, although I confess that it isn’t easy to follw,
            I don’t think it is in disagreement with my premise. The ownership figures for Fairfax list a number of the Australian banks as major shareholders. I would suggest that the investments are not being made by the banks in their banking capacity. They don’t invest in such long term, and inherently variable value proposals. It is the Superannuation funds that the Australian, and on a much smaller scale New Zealand banks manage. that are making these investments and which show up as the owner of the shares.
            In Australia, in 1990, the total amount in Superannuation was about $80 billion. It is now something like $1500 billion. Where people used to save, and may have invested as individuals they now do so almost entirely through superannuation, with the majority of the money being invested through funds managed by Financial Institutions. It is this enormous amount of managed money that is showing up in the shareholder lists as being shares owned by Financial Institutions. After all, they have to invest it somewhere.
            There is some concern that these organisations have no inherent interest in media organisations. There are plenty of left wing commentators who are thoroughly in favour of this. See the screams when major shareholder in Fairfax, Gina Rinehart, flexes her strength and threatens to sort out Fairfax operations.

            Regarding your comment about Fletchers, you are probably thinking of the preferrd group named for Transmission Gully. They were part of the Group that missed out.

  17. ak 17
    3 December 2013 at 12:34 pm

    Ardern leaving.

    Don’t panic.

    Just another totally useless retarded rat ordered off the sinking ship…..

    • tricledrwown 17.1
      3 December 2013 at 12:53 pm

      part of the rights long term agenda to bounce back quickly from defeat and continue privatization path

    • Ake ake ake 17.2
      3 December 2013 at 12:53 pm

      Oh, you mean Shane.

      Changing of the puppets. New ones to be brought in.

    • alwyn 17.3
      3 December 2013 at 3:58 pm

      He wasn’t totally useless. I remember when he drove a tractor partway up Parliament’s steps. He could actually drive it.
      Years before, for some reason I can’t remember, Bob Tizard tried to do the same thing. Not being a farmer he didn’t actually know how to drive a tractor and he stalled and darn near tipped the thing.
      So put him down as an MP who could handle an important tool in New Zealands major industry.
      When are the Labour Party going to start getting rid of their has-beens and never-weres by the way?

      • Murray Olsen 17.3.1
        3 December 2013 at 10:00 pm

        Norman Kirk could drive a train. Key could probably pull one.

        • felix 17.3.1.1
          3 December 2013 at 10:32 pm

          naughty!

        • mac1 17.3.1.2
          3 December 2013 at 11:19 pm

          Norm Kirk was a stationary engine driver at Firestone in Papanui, Christchurch. That means he operated a boiler producing steam for pressure-cooking tires etc. in a factory. I worked in the same boiler room as a Varsity holiday job as a coal trimmer.

          I doubt whether Norm Kirk could drive a train.

          But who needs facts when a joke is a good one!

      • Te Reo Putake 17.3.2
        3 December 2013 at 10:20 pm

        Yeah, nah, alwyn. Tizard drove it up the steps without a problem. Weirdly, the National party’s nanny-state do gooders only complaint was that it didn’t have a roll cage. PC gone mad, I tells ya!

        Just for the sake of accuracy, it’s worth noting that Bob made it all the way to the top of parliament’s steps; Ardern chickened out halfway.

        • alwyn 17.3.2.1
          4 December 2013 at 2:39 pm

          For the sake of accuracy a rather spoil-sport security guard asked Arden to stop when he was half way up. Arden did as the security man asked. If that is what you call “chickened out” you have a different interpretation than I do. Your memory of Tizard is a bit more flattering than mine. I do remember Lange and Palmer standing, laughing,, way out of the danger area in case he rolled.

  18. Tracey 18
    3 December 2013 at 2:06 pm

    Mps don’t have to buy shredders

    ” Parliament’s privileges committee has slated as “unacceptable” a prime ministerial inquiry being handed private information, including a journalist’s records, despite having no formal powers to demand it.

    In its report to Parliament today, the committee slated the failure of those handling the information to consider the role of MPs, and the important role particular groups such as journalists might play “in our democracy” was worrying.

    “That such an intrusion has been allowed to occur does not reflect well on the agencies responsible,” the report said.

    The privileges committee was asked to investigate by the Speaker David Carter after it was revealed emails, phone and swipe-card records belonging to Fairfax Media journalist Andrea Vance and MP “

  19. tricledrwown 19
    3 December 2013 at 2:32 pm

    MOBIE’s investigation into immigrant seasonal farm workers found 1/3rd of all farm workers not being paid for extra hours worked slave labour !
    No records of hrs worked kept on these farms!
    My own research would suggest the problem is far worse with bullying and abuse as well!
    Animal abuse is also common right up their with titford!
    A lot of farmers are taking advantage of the isolation of workers coercing them to to work long hrs with no pay.
    Beating and neglecting cows is also more widespread than fonterra nactional would have you believe.
    Farming is being let down badly by this very large portion of rogue operators.
    in my investigation over many farms farm workers farm advisors.
    Its widespread.
    You will find the same farmers are polluting as well.
    Productivity is also poor because what happens when these abuses continue over a period of time s that workers don,t do their job properly are not trained by cheapskate farmers.
    Neglected and abused cows don’t produce as much.
    The list goes on !
    Safety is also compromised.
    Cows that should be isolated are left in the herd.
    Cows are supposed to be rotated from paddock to paddock so they don’t pass on diseases.
    Cows left out pregnant in winter with little or no feed in muddy paddocks just to save on feed.
    This industry is as bad as the forestry industry if not worse!
    Nactional a sleep at the wheel again.
    Fishing industry not fixing slavery on ships till 2016!
    forestry 5 years of free-market self regulation!
    Mining!

    • Chooky 19.1
      3 December 2013 at 3:07 pm

      @ trickledown

      …my son is a farm worker and he is treated very well

      ….the cows are also treated well

      ….while I dont deny what you say is true….can you be more specific?….what areas was your survey conducted in?….how many farms? …how many workers?….how many cows not treated well?…does the SPCA know?….the SPCA is very proactive in this area

    • Rosie 19.2
      3 December 2013 at 4:20 pm

      “Beating and neglecting cows is also more widespread than fonterra nactional would have you believe”

      I’m waiting for the day when there will be a formal government inquiry into the welfare of dairy herds but am not holding my breath given the amount of influence the farming lobby have upon government and having a derp like Guy running the MPI.

      Chooky, thats good to hear that your son is doing well working on a dairy farm and that the animals aren’t neglected but you know, I’ve found several articles, this year within the “farming” section of stuffed.co.nz of prosecutions against farms hands and managers on dairy farms. I don’t have any links sorry but one example that springs to mind was of a dairy worker who broke the tails of several cows. He also hit them with piping. He left them in pain and distress. His reason was that he was stressed. I recall the vet said she had never seen such cruelty inflicted on farm animals.

      Another case that went to court was similar in that cows tails were broken through a common practice of twisting the cow’s tail to coerce them into the milking shed. I was so stunned at the attitude of the prosecutor for the MPI, Grant Fletcher, that I wrote this down on my file of “bad people doing bad things”

      “The prosecutor for the MPI, Grant Fletcher, said there was an industry understanding that a degree of force was used to put cows into dairy sheds”. (I’m guessing I also got that quote from stuffed). As a result the sentence for the pain and suffering that was caused to these animals was light.

      I have heard of several other cases, some of which have been on Campbell Live. I also have a cousin and a friend who grew up on dairy farms and have told me the stories – not to mention the vegan kid I used to work with who grew up on a dairy farm who was so horrified by the industry that he quit dairy products. It’s my guess only but I would think dairy cow cruelty is far more widespread than we know. We often think of sow crates for pigs and battery cages for hens (and now the no-improvement colony caging system) but the day needs to come where we focus the same amount of attention on our darling dairy cows.

      • Chooky 19.2.1
        3 December 2013 at 7:16 pm

        @ Rosie….yes that was a notorious case which hit the front pages down here!….but I had never heard of this practice before ….certainly it is outrageous and it has never been a common practice! …down here you are likely to get reported….and have the SPCA check up on you …. if you have a dead sheep in your front paddock or your cows look a bit thin to a passing car load of city slickers

        Yes I really like cows too…and my son is a vegetarian……our piggy and chooks and sheep…are all free-range and we dont eat them….but I cant help myself, I do get meat from the supermarket in a package … which is hypocritical because really if one eats meat one should be prepared to kill the animal…..this I could not do and would be a vegetarian if required to do so

        I am appalled by sow crates and battery hens and buy NZ free-range ( overseas meat should be banned imo…there is no need for it)….also I would hate to see cows and cattle barn- farmed as has been suggested by mainly new immigrant farmers where it is common place in Europe

        ……I am all for as many govt inquiries as it takes to treat animals well and give them a good quality of life!!!! ( also I applaud academic animal studies on consciousness /intelligence etc) ….but I dont think animal cruelty is commonplace amongst NZ farmers …not the ones i have ever known , anyway

        I also think young NZers should be given jobs on farms rather than immigrant seasonal workers

        • Rosie 19.2.1.1
          3 December 2013 at 9:19 pm

          Hi Chooky. Can I ask, where’s “down here?”

          I don’t think you are being hypocritical. You have a conscience. It sounds like you are of aware of the human responsibility to keeping farmed animals humanely.We all have our own different needs and as a vegetarian of 30 years I’ve never judged others for their food choices. (I’m no longer a vego though because I now eat one fish meal a week so I would be the one to be a hypocrite if I were the one to point the finger! I also got involved in that discussion last week so no need to go there again)

          My judgement lies with the scale and intentional and unintentional cruelty of industrial farming and our reluctance to regulate to a higher standard of care of animals first and foremost but also to our reluctance to regulate for the best environmental protection.

          As for individuals, personally I think it would be awesome if they learnt about where their meat and dairy comes from and think about the part they play in the food chain and maybe consider dropping their intake to ease up on the demand and the environment.

          And yeah, something has gone quite wrong somewhere along the way that we require (or prefer?) immigrant seasonal workers to work on our farms.

          • Colonial Viper 19.2.1.1.1
            4 December 2013 at 12:20 am

            cheaper more compliant work harder, is the usual refrain.

          • Chooky 19.2.1.1.2
            4 December 2013 at 8:39 am

            Hi Rosie

            Answer to your first question: “down here” is the South Island…”up there” is the North Island….where everything happens.

            …I think in the international scheme of things NZ is pretty good regards animal welfare ie lots of free-range and space….. at least for sheep and cows and cattle… not over-farming

            ( free-range farming for chickens and pigs is improving and the consumer demand is increasing for this…good on the animal rights activists!).

            Like you I believe in the absolute importance of quality of life for an animal…just as for humans!…ie not overpopulation…. which causes stress and viruses and disease ……and this is also absolutely crucial for the environment (where farming must be regulated to prevent stress on the natural landscapes and waterways).

            As regards random incidents of systematic cruelty to animals… there will always be aberrant psychopathic humans who ill-treat animals, just as they do other humans…(usually they have been abused by other humans themselves)

    • Draco T Bastard 19.3
      3 December 2013 at 11:33 pm

      Nactional a sleep at the wheel again.

      I doubt that. They probably know about these things but won’t do anything about them as it’s against their ideology of owners always do the right thing.

      • Colonial Viper 19.3.1
        4 December 2013 at 12:18 am

        against their ideology of slave owners always do the right thing.

        with your permission.

        • Draco T Bastard 19.3.1.1
          4 December 2013 at 1:57 am

          Brings back what Adam Smith said in the Wealth of Nations about slaves and the difference in treatment between the French and USA slave owners.

          The French were massively regulated requiring fine clothes, good meals and good accommodation – effectively, they had to be treated as humans. Owning a slave was status symbol simply because no one who couldn’t afford it would ever own one.

          In the USA there was no regulation as it was believed that the state shouldn’t regulate how people treated their property. This resulted in large land owners owning lots of them, keeping them in atrocious conditions and abusing hell out of them. In the USA the people owned slaves to get work done and so the more they owned and the less they paid to take of them the more the land owners could appropriate for themselves.

          We see the same types of abuse here in NZ now from the farmers and their abuse of the land causing massive pollution of our waterways, the abuse of employees and their tax avoidance.

          Smith almost, almost, saw the problem with the capitalist ownership model in that part of the Wealth of Nations.

  20. The Pink Postman 20
    3 December 2013 at 3:03 pm

    Has this incompetent government made another balls up. ?
    I refer to the TV .digital change over , how many people especially the elderly have found that there
    g,boxes and video are out of date .Some only a couple of years old.

    • Te Reo Putake 20.1
      3 December 2013 at 3:24 pm

      I think you may be right that many have missed out, though the freeview boxes can be had for around $100 I think. Factor in another $100 for someone to set it up, get the aerial right etc.

      From here on in, I imagine it won’t be possible to buy a TV that doesn’t have freeview in it anyway, so for some getting a new telly might be just as cost efficient.

      btw, anyone got Igloo? I’m thinking of giving sky the flick once the darts finishes on New Years day and $30 a month for a scattering of sky channels seems a reasonable compromise.

      • felix 20.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 3:46 pm

        Get a dog. Throw a stick and watch the dog chase it. Try to get the stick back. Repeat.

        Costs a bit more than 30 bucks a month but it’s far more entertaining.

      • Hayden 20.1.2
        3 December 2013 at 3:53 pm

        From here on in, I imagine it won’t be possible to buy a TV that doesn’t have freeview in it anyway, so for some getting a new telly might be just as cost efficient.

        A fair few of us can’t get terrestrial Freeview, so require a satellite dish and a separate box.

  21. The Pink Postman 21
    3 December 2013 at 4:03 pm

    It not the free view TV ,T reo its the recording boxes, Bought in good faith for the introduction of digital TV . In fact ours is just 3 years old able to hard drive record digital until the change. Informed by Panasonic that it is unable to now record . My enquirers indicate that this is all over,
    Of course the TV is receiving the channels but no recordings . I suspect this is another National Party blunder ,

    • karol 21.1
      3 December 2013 at 4:27 pm

      TPP, is your hard drive recorder High definition? If not, is that the problem? I gather from this page on the freeview site, that it’s not only a switch to digital, but to high definition on freeview terrestrial – but not via satellite.

  22. greywarbler 22
    3 December 2013 at 4:07 pm

    I looked up my comments and have none showing since Nov 30th. Has there been a group of these lost? I think here should be something from yesterday 2/12 at least.

  24. Morrissey 24
    3 December 2013 at 5:16 pm

    “The world is full of internet tough guys!”
    Kiwi comedian comes out swinging
    The Panel, Radio NZ National, Tuesday 3 December 2013
    Jim Mora, Andrew Clay, Susan Hornsby-Geluk

    Today’s episode of the Panel was generally mild and unmemorable—but it sprang to life during the “Soapbox” segment, when the professional comedian and co-opted spokesman for the New Zealand Army in Afghanistan, Andrew Clay, suddenly climbed up on his high horse and started shouting insanely about the likes of Te Reo Putake, Anne, McFlock, Tim, North, felix, Queen of Thorns, and this writer, i.e., moi….

    ANDREW CLAY: The world is full of internet tough guys! Internet tough guys sitting in their darkened rooms! They have no life!
    JIM MORA: [mockingly] The world is full of haters!
    ANDREW CLAY: [fervently] Their comments are vicious, pointless, inane! They are weaklings and cowards!
    SUSAN HORNSBY-GELUK: They should get out into the sun!
    ANDREW CLAY: Ha ha ha! I agree! Get a life!
    SUSAN HORNSBY-GELUK: Yep. Get a life. Get a life.

    Meanwhile, over in Blighty another Andrew has been sounding off in similar fashion, portraying bloggers as “inadequate, pimpled and single”, and citizen journalism as the “spewings and rantings of very drunk people late at night”.….
    http://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/oct/11/andrew-marr-bloggers

    More by and about Andrew Clay….
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-18102012/#comment-536281
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-28032013/#comment-611053

    This is the kind of blog posting that riled Andrew Marr, that fine, serious and brave BBC journalist….
    http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1385317693.html

    • gobsmacked 24.1
      3 December 2013 at 5:31 pm

      Given your definition of “meanwhile”, we can safely assume that there is the usual gap between what you claim and what is said.

      • Morrissey 24.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 8:42 pm

        Given your definition of “meanwhile”, we can safely assume that there is the usual gap between what you claim and what is said.

        What I wrote was pretty much exactly what poor old Andrew Clay said. I didn’t use a tape-recorder, so I have no doubt missed a few more choice epithets he hurled at the likes of me and you.

        Your rather hostile post does raise a couple of interesting points, viz. (1): If you don’t know what “meanwhile” means, could you consult a dictionary? and (2): Could you point to one instance of a “gap” between what I have claimed and what has been said?

        And a word to the wise, my friend: minor discrepancies like the odd missed or gratuitously inserted “ummm”, “ahhhh”, or “ha ha ha” are just that: minor discrepancies. Your job is a bit more difficult than seizing on insignificant transcription errors: you have to back up a rather extravagant accusation.

        • Te Reo Putake 24.1.1.1
          3 December 2013 at 8:50 pm

          “Could you point to one instance of a “gap” between what I have claimed and what has been said? ”

          Jebus wept.

          • Morrissey 24.1.1.1.1
            3 December 2013 at 8:56 pm

            Jebus [sic] wept.

            That’s not an intelligent answer, my friend. Surely you’re not back on that discredited jag of picking on minor transcription errors and shouting about that forever?

            • Te Reo Putake 24.1.1.1.1.1
              3 December 2013 at 9:22 pm

              Poor sad, moz. No self awareness whatsoever. No honesty, no ownership. Makes me sic to my stomach..

              • felix …
                3 December 2013 at 9:34 pm

                Oh come on TRP, you know Moz only changes little things.

                Like words.

                And sentences.

                And context.

                And tone.

                And chronology.

                And sometimes the identity of the speakers.

                • Te Reo Putake …
                  3 December 2013 at 9:44 pm

                  Yes, quite right, felix. As you were, everyone.

                • Morrissey …
                  4 December 2013 at 9:39 am

                  1.) Oh come on TRP, you know Moz only changes little things.
                  Correct so far, felix. Good going. So far.

                  2.) Like words.
                  Yep. As we all know, my transcripts are often done hurriedly, on an envelope, or a piece of wrapping paper, or whatever is to hand, and therefore minor errors are inevitable. I need a secretary. Mary Rose Woods, where are you?

                  3.) And sentences.
                  Yep. Happens occasionally. See previous excuse.

                  4.) And context.
                  Wrong. You know very well that one of my strengths is that I contextualize the ravings and witterings of the likes of Andrew Clay or Dr Michael “Bonkers” Bassett or Nevil “Breivik” Gibson. I show, or attempt to show, that what they say has roots, and is not just some random inanity (Clay) or casual lie (Bassett) or insane racist opinion (Gibson)

                  5.) And tone.
                  Again, you are out of your depth here. I get the tone of these often depraved conversations just about right every time, as many people have attested. The fact you appear to be tone-deaf, and unable to gauge just how pompous and nasty and irresponsible some of these media commentators are is a reflection on you—and not a very flattering one, I’m sorry to say.

                  6.) And chronology.
                  Minor errors occur when doing a rush transcript. See No. 2 above.

                  7.) And sometimes the identity of the speakers.
                  That’s very unusual, but it is possible. For instance, it would be easy to accidentally transpose the words of John Key, Bill English and Steven Joyce: all of them are glib, smooth and practised dissemblers. They all stay resolutely on message and doggedly parrot talking-points. Similarly, I have no doubt I have occasionally put inane laughter into the wrong mouth in a transcript, and attributed an inane comment to the wrong guest on the Panel. It happens.

        • sockpuppet 24.1.1.2
          3 December 2013 at 8:58 pm

          Ah Morrisey what wit, it beggars imagination that dubious personages on this blog seem to have their own particular personal issues with your most excellent reconstructions.

          • Morrissey 24.1.1.2.1
            3 December 2013 at 9:04 pm

            Ah Morrisey what wit, it beggars imagination that dubious personages on this blog seem to have their own particular personal issues with your most excellent reconstructions.

            It’s not a problem at all, my friend. To quote the great Jonah Lomu, it comes with the territory.

            (In fact, to employ a sporting analogy, I must admit I rather enjoy dispatching the likes of “gobsmacked” to the boundary. Is that petty of me, I wonder?)

        • gobsmacked 24.1.1.3
          3 December 2013 at 9:05 pm

          “Meanwhile” implies that it is happening at the same/similar time.

          You told us that Andrew Marr “has been sounding off”, which – along with “meanwhile” – suggests a recent piece by him.

          This was a surprise, since in 2013, Andrew Marr has been recovering from a stroke …

          http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/sep/17/andrew-marr-stroke-radio-times

          But in fact the piece you linked to was from 2010.

          Misleading, at best. So … I don’t know or care what Andrew Clay said today, but I won’t be relying on your version as fact.

          • Morrissey 24.1.1.3.1
            4 December 2013 at 8:35 am

            “Meanwhile” implies that it is happening at the same/similar time.

            The term “meanwhile” was perfectly acceptable. If you prefer, feel free to replace it with “three years ago”. Whether Marr wrote that three years ago, or three days ago, the import is the same: he was having a go at people who have assiduously recorded and critiqued his government-friendly, biased and often dishonest political witterings. (In other words, he’s been a dependable State TV operator.) Here’s an open letter by an English writer, confronting Marr on his hypocrisy and his lack of empathy for poor people who suffer from strokes…
            http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/open-letter-to-andrew-marr.html

            Misleading, at best.

            Nonsense. I compared the anti-blogger ranting of a second-rate comedian with the anti-blogger ranting of a second-rate State TV journalist.

            So … I don’t know or care what Andrew Clay said today, but I won’t be relying on your version as fact.

            My version was perfectly accurate, as you’ll quickly ascertain with a quick listen….
            http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons

            Off you go now…

    • Murray Olsen 24.2
      3 December 2013 at 10:22 pm

      Who is Andrew Clay and should I be worried?

  25. gobsmacked 25
    3 December 2013 at 5:16 pm

    Well, I did try and warn our rightie friends up-thread …

    John Banks is going to trial, for electoral fraud.

    Key to dump him and ACT in 5,4,3,2,1 …

    • bad12 25.1
      3 December 2013 at 5:37 pm

      YE-EES, John Banks is to stand trial on a date next year yet to be set, just caught the tail end of the story on RadioNZ,

      The news just keeps getting better, a small vision just sprung into my mind of Bank’s sharing a jail cell with Blubber Boy and Alen Titford, a match made in heaven…

      • Ad 25.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 5:59 pm

        Parliaments’ Hulk Hogan finally steps out of the ring and into the street:
        Togs, togs, togs, togs, undies, undies! Undies

    • McFlock 25.3
      3 December 2013 at 5:48 pm

      The trouble with Banks being an entitled smart arse is that it caused him to play silly buggers with the paperwork, silly buggers with this review and he’ll play silly buggers for the case next year – and the longer he plays silly buggers rather than accepting the most likely outcome, the worse it will be for him.

  26. felix 26
    3 December 2013 at 8:46 pm

    One of the people in this exchange looks and sounds like a Prime Minister.

    http://inthehouse.co.nz/node/22331

    • mickysavage 26.1
      3 December 2013 at 8:48 pm

      Yep I thought David nailed Key today. Key obviously knows what the revised figure for asset sales is but did not want to say it. Tomorrow should be interesting. This is the first time in 5 years that I have seen the leader of the opposition consistently beat the Prime Minister at question time.

      • felix 26.1.1
        3 December 2013 at 9:41 pm

        And notice how Key’s repeated attempts to change the subject – the only defense he could come up with – just fell so flat?

        He’s been getting away with the exact same tired and transparent tactic for years, but it’s just not working anymore.

    • Murray Olsen 26.2
      3 December 2013 at 10:50 pm

      At least Key mentioned a Scissors Initiated Referendum rather than pretending it was just a stunt by the Greens. Is that progress?

  27. Penny Bright 27
    3 December 2013 at 10:33 pm

    BREAKING NEWS!

    Here we go again folks!

    The 2013 Transparency International ‘Corruption Perception Index’, has New Zealand and Denmark tied as 1st-equal.

    http://www.transparency.org/news/pressrelease/corruption_perceptions_index_corruption_around_the_world_in_2013

    Pity about the CORRUPTION REALITY?

    If New Zealand was truly the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ – wouldn’t you think we would at least have ratified the UN Convention Against Corruption?

    New Zealand can’t ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption – because our anti-corruption domestic legislative framework is not yet in place.

    (Germany hasn’t yet ratified the UN Convention Against Corruption, and that’s where Transparency International is based!)

    In my considered opinion, Transparency International’s ‘Corruption Perception Index’ is not worth the paper upon which it is written.

    For a genuine New Zealand anti-corruption / pro-transparency framework – try this:

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ANTI-CORRUPTION-WHITE-COLLAR-CRIME-CORPORATE-WELFARE-ACTION-PLAN-Ak-Mayoral-campaign-19-July-2013-2.pdf

    I look forward to debating this on mainstream media.

    Penny Bright

    Attendee: 2009 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference Brisbane
    Attendee: 2010 Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference Bangkok
    Attendee: 2013 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference Sydney

    • Will@Welly 27.1
      4 December 2013 at 12:18 am

      Are we allowed to swear ? Cos the word fudge just came to mind. So is New Zealand the least corrupt, or the most corrupt – my money’s on the latter with old snake oil in charge. Anything for a dollar, preferably U.S.$$$$!!

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
    Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    50 mins ago

  • The worth of it all
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago

  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    6 hours ago

  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    6 hours ago

  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    6 hours ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    6 hours ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    6 hours ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    6 hours ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    6 hours ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    6 hours ago

  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    7 hours ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    13 hours ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    15 hours ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    15 hours ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    17 hours ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    18 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    19 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    20 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    23 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-19T22:59:02+00:00