Open mike 06/10/2021

112 comments on “Open mike 06/10/2021 ”

• Comments are now closed

1. Gezza 1

   6 October 2021 at 6:27 am

   .

   One of my favourites, mary.

   Boss Tui breakfasts on sugar water at Gezza's Cafe
   https://i.imgur.com/f6Gg5j5.gif

   He lets me get so close, it feels like a real privilege.
   • weka 1.1

     6 October 2021 at 9:52 am

     Tui trolling the cat with that bowl 😈
     • Gezza 1.1.1

       6 October 2021 at 10:12 am

       🙊 Tee hee. I wondered if anyone would notice that. 🙂

       Boss Tui is the one who attacked the pūkeko who was stealing his sugar water.

       Wouldn’t be surprised if he dive-bombed any cat on my property. 👷🏼
   • Puckish Rogue 1.2

     6 October 2021 at 11:23 am

     Nice
   • mary_a 1.3

     6 October 2021 at 4:05 pm

     Your Tui is one magnificent bird. You have quite an amazing menagerie of wildlife where you are Gezza. Thanks again for sharing.
2. Adrian Thornton 2

   6 October 2021 at 7:33 am

   "Trusted, impartial and independent? Or largely unaccountable and part of the Establishment? Sociologist Tom Mills considers the evidence on the enormously influential British Broadcasting Corporation or BBC."

   A very interesting interview which goes a long way to explaining some of the very biased reporting from the BBC through some good old fashioned historical analysis…

   https://kpfa.org/episode/against-the-grain-september-1-2021/
   • Tiger Mountain 2.1

     6 October 2021 at 8:19 am

     The BBC has soiled its reputation so many times–Iraq WMD, Tony Blair, Russia, China, Mid East, Wikileaks etc. etc. it is amazing anyone takes it seriously as an accurate news source.

     The Beeb has an old school tory class based internal culture (with a fair share of pervs of various persuasions).

     I watch some BBC dramas, nicely produced usually–for a change from Netflix–but they too can have a sting–like submarine based whodunnit “Vigil” which has an interesting subtext supporting US and British Imperialism!
     • Adrian Thornton 2.1.1

       6 October 2021 at 8:33 am

       Yep the BBC has got plenty of good points (like The Guardian) which is what makes them so dangerous (politically) I guess.
     • UncookedSelachimorpha 2.1.2

       6 October 2021 at 2:07 pm

       I remember my father telling me that the BBC did not report anti-nuclear testing activity by NZ against France in the Pacific….at a time the UK was hoping to join the EC and didn't want to offend the French (1970s)!

       BBC corruption is nothing new.
3. Gezza 3

   6 October 2021 at 7:41 am

   The head of Waikato's Mongrel Mob chapter was given an essential workers exemption to travel in and out of Auckland last weekend.

   Newstalk ZB can reveal the exemption was granted to Sonny Fatupaito – who's been working with some of the harder to reach communities in the city, such as those with gang affiliations.

   In a statement, via a spokesperson, Fatupaito said he has been liaising with health officials and police to assist in reaching people in communities within the gang's chapters and their whanau in Auckland.

   He was asked to travel to Auckland by South Seas Healthcare, who have been co-ordinating much of the response to the South Auckland clusters.

   I loathe the gangs. But I think this was probably a good thing to try. Will be interesting to see if it prompts any Auckland Mongrel Mob members to front up for Covid vaccinations.

   But National's Police spokesman Simeon Brown is not convinced, and has called on the Government to front up on why Fatupaito was allowed to travel in and out of Auckland.

   predictable knee jerk reaction from National. The answer's already in the news article. As many incentives as possible should be tried to get vax rates up as high as possible.

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-mongrel-mob-boss-granted-essential-worker-exemption-to-come-to-auckland/BJZJRLGN3GQHAXOCMD5EB7INTE/
   • Jenny how to get there 3.1

     6 October 2021 at 11:43 am

     During my recent, admittedly brief, interaction with the Mongrel Mob, or the 'Kingdom' as they refer to themselves as.

     What struck me most forcefully about the Mongrel Mob, was their poverty.

     They say power corrupts. Well so does poverty.

     My respect to Sonny Fatupaito for attempting to lift his people out of their degradation.

     I heard him give a talk about the rise of P in the Waikato, which he claimed to have been against. Resorting to vigilante justice against the dealers. For which he was jailed. He said that when he was in prison many of younger 'Kingdom' members became P dealers.

     Sonny Fatupaito recounted, that one day when he wasn't expecting any visitors he was called from his cell because there were visitors who wanted to see him.

     As he told it, the visitors were senior Waikato police officers who told him we may have made a mistake.
     • Gypsy 3.1.1

       6 October 2021 at 4:16 pm

       "They say power corrupts. Well so does poverty."

       A question – are people in gangs because of poverty, or they in poverty because of the gangs?
       • Craig Hall 3.1.1.1

         6 October 2021 at 4:42 pm

         Both? That said, one of the major reasons to join a gang is loss of hope in a prospect's future, and poverty plays a big part in that loss of hope.
         • Gypsy 3.1.1.1.1

           6 October 2021 at 8:15 pm

           True that.
       • Drowsy M. Kram 3.1.1.2

         6 October 2021 at 5:00 pm

         A question – are people in gangs because of poverty, or they in poverty because of the gangs?

         That's two questions – yes to both, I reckon.

         Wealth, power, inequality and poverty can all contribute to the breeding grounds for corruption and other antisocial behaviours, that's for sure.

         Offshore havens and hidden riches of world leaders and billionaires exposed in unprecedented leak

         Inequality and Shared Prosperity
         For more than two decades, extreme poverty was steadily declining. Now, for the first time in a generation, the quest to end poverty has suffered its worst setback.

         Tips for Reporters Seeking to Reveal the Scale of Inequality

         There are exceptions, but it seems to me that most people with wealth and power don't really want society to change for the better, as they don't perceive that change to be in their own best interests, at least in the short-to-medium term. And who wants to think any further ahead these days?

         If one aspires to extreme wealth then go for it – whatever floats your yacht. But it seems so pointless and short-sighted – an ‘own goal’ even.

         Why poverty in New Zealand is everyone's concern
         Liang describes poverty as a "heritable condition" that perpetuates and amplifies through generations: "It is also not hard to see how individual poverty flows into communities and society, with downstream effects on economics, crime and health, as well as many other systems. Loosen one strand and everything else unravels."

         A Kete Half Empty
         Poverty is your problem, it is everyone's problem, not just those who are in poverty. – Rebecca, a child from Te Puru
         • Gypsy 3.1.1.2.1

           6 October 2021 at 8:14 pm

           Thanks Drowsy, a thoughtful response.
4. Adrian 4

   6 October 2021 at 8:01 am

   I think the ever so slight loosening of restrictions is in recognition that at about 50% people need encouragement and hope that things are on the move and that contacts would become more surreptitious anyway. This is no way a” giving up” otherwise even at 95% the whining arseholes would be saying the Government was giving up the elimination strategy.
5. Tiger Mountain 5

   6 October 2021 at 8:04 am

   “Open up and let it rip” has been a relentless campaign in the media channels, which broke cover perhaps when sirkey was wheeled out. Brian Tamaki to some extent did what Judith Collins would liked NZ National to have done!

   The sheer ratio of whingers to those quietly getting on with lockdown and vaccination, showed the establishment campaign is a reality. Elements included privatising MIQ, ending restrictions on foreign students and migrant workers, opening up free in and outflow of capital, and generally business as usual. The bad news for this lot is some people will not resume eating out, shows, sports or cinema for a long time yet.

   In the end the NZ petit bourgeois sector with their well stocked pantrys, will get what they think they want, but at what cost? Owner operators, SMEs and corporates who espouse the superiority of the market were quick to put their hands out for State assistance. The Govt. bent over to appease them with wage subsidies and even a second tier unemployment benefit!

   A lot of people are going to pay for this bullying of the Govt.–including those with non COVID healthcare and social needs.
6. Jester 6

   6 October 2021 at 8:05 am

   Hell pizza always seem to 'push the envelope' when it comes to advertising and marketing. This is a bold move.

   How dare they! 'Greta Thunberg can go to Hell' – Kiwi company's message to environmentalist – NZ Herald
   • Gezza 6.1

     6 October 2021 at 10:15 am

     Yeah – I saw that yesterday. Had a smile on my dial as I idly wondered whether Greta would get to hear of it & know what it was really all about. 😎
7. RedLogix 7

   6 October 2021 at 8:06 am

   For at least 20 years the CCP has deeply subsidised industries with incredibly damaging results across the rest of the democratic world, hurting workers and the middle classes.

   As a small example – here in Australia the company I was working for found that it could buy steel skid frames (about 400kg of laser cut, drilled, fabricated and painted framework as equipment bases) delivered from China – cheaper than buying the raw steel locally. There was no way this was possible unless the Chinese govt was deeply subsidising their own industry. This story has been repeated millions of time across the developed world this past few decades and finally someone is saying enough.

   US Trade Representative Katherine Tai lays out the Biden-Harris Administration's policy approach to US-China trade relations this speech. The language is measured as you might expect – the implications are wide ranging:
   • Ad 7.1

     6 October 2021 at 8:51 am

     "The core of our strategy is to ensure that we work with our allies to create fair and open markets."

     Her use of the word "allies" is instructive and unhelpful. Trade partners are not allies; they are simply entities who agree to rules to trade by. "Allies" conflates security with trade interests.

     Trade Representative Tai didn't mention either CPTPP or RCEP. China is a member of RCEP. Neither China nor the United States are members of CPTPP. Instead she focuses on the World Trade Organisation, and doesn't acknowledge that the US went out of its way to kill it over 4 years.

     Both CPTPP and RCEP have strong things to say about intellectual property protection, tariffs, market access by category, and bunches of other good stuff.

     It would be a strong diplomatic signal for international trade and for multilateralism generally if the US and China jointly signed up to these (albeit imperfect) agreements.

     https://www.nber.org/papers/w26877

     Signatories to those agreements should call for the strengthening of multilateral trade law that this would achieve.
     • RedLogix 7.1.1

       6 October 2021 at 8:59 am

       The key insight here is that Biden's experience under Obama in dealing with the PRC on trade issues clearly comes through. He's no longer interested in promises.

       And her reference to ‘allies’ aligns with the idea that the US is now going to start defining it’s interests much more narrowly. AUKUS is probably a very good example of this – and of the more transactional nature of these alliances.

       The US can neither afford, nor is all that interested in, providing a security umbrella more or less for free. And sooner or later NZ is going to find this out. Of course all the anti-US types here will delight in this prospect – but will remain silent on the alternative.
       • Ad 7.1.1.1

         6 October 2021 at 9:45 am

         Trade agreements aren't generally tied to security agreements and nor should they be.

         New Zealand's only useful contribution to Trade Representative Tai is to do what we have successfully done before, which is to build mechanisms that enable countries and companies to make good and fair money. We've done that very well over 20 years.

         Once countries consistently conflate trade agreements with security agreements by selling huge new arms technologies to opponents, all they do is militarise trade. You yourself have pointed out many times that China has every economic reason not to go to war in any form.
         • Gezza 7.1.1.1.1

           6 October 2021 at 10:21 am

           US war materiel is over-priced. I’ve sometimes wondered if we can’t get F16s, what the Russians might have on offer. I believe they still build their hi-performance warplanes as solid & dependable as brick shithouses.
           • Scud 7.1.1.1.1.1

             6 October 2021 at 3:09 pm

             The F16 Lease Deal brokered by Bill Clinton & Jenny Shipley in the late 90’s, was a very good deal, as the 28 F16’s had very low hrs on the clock with highest of F16’s was about 7hrs. Funding had already been set aside by then National Government & the RNZAF of between $250m & $350m NZD for Kahu 2 which was the planned A4 upgrade, but the money was then transferred to up grading the F16’s once they had been bedded in 75SQN & 2SQN’s respectively.

             My Uncle who was the FSGT & acting. WOE in the RNZAF Ohakea at Base SQN Avionics, was heavily involved with the Kahu 2 Project which became the F16 Project & the later when the F16 Project got canned the Macchic Project until the bloody Greens jump up & down demanding that 14SQN got disbanded as well.

             The Russian Aircraft aka the Su27- 30’s & Mig 29’s were actually studied by the RNZAF, but were dropped for a number of reasons when talked to Malaysia AF who operate the Mig29, TNIAF operating the Su27’s, the Indian AF who doing some crazy stuff on their Su30’s and the both the Luftwaffe & Poles as well.
             1, Was the very poor after sales service from Russia,
             2, The time it took to translate the various manuals & training the Tech’s
             3, the mean time between technical failures & engine overhauls was very very low compared to their contemporaries with Western built Aircraft.
             4, the small numbers of Aircraft being used the RNZAF was another issue, the RNZAF would’nt been unable to tap in the NATO Stores System if it was operating alongside Oz, the Poms, Canada or other like minded nations.
             • Gezza …

               6 October 2021 at 7:59 pm

               👍🏼 Thanks for that Scud.

               Very informative. I’d forgotten Clinton offered a sweet deal on the F-16s.
               • Scud …

                 6 October 2021 at 9:13 pm

                 If NZ did decide to get back into the Fast Jet game ie Maritime Strike/ Interdiction

                 My pick would either be the Super Hornet similar to the RAAF ones, or failing that
                 The French Dassault Rafale B F3-R Two Seater
                 SAAB Gripen or this wee hot ship from
                 Sth Korea https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/KAI_T-50_Golden_Eagle.

                 Eventually the NZG will have to go down the UAV route at some stage if it wants to get the full use out of its for P8’s and whatever 2nd Tier Maritime Patrol Aircraft it choses under the 2018 DCP which both have to be Networked in with the Navy.

                 There are some major technical, including Security (both Active& Passive measures) issues to operating a UAV in NZ given the huge area that both the NZ Navy & RNZAF are likely to Patrol & operate in NZ before we even discuss the Moral & Ethical reasons to operate UAV’s.
         • RedLogix 7.1.1.1.2

           6 October 2021 at 12:31 pm

           I agree the US will probably only require NZ to continue to operate as the 'good citizen' it has in the past – but it doesn't take too much to imagine some other more subtle things they might ask of us.

           And yes I agree that rationally Xi Xinping has no intention of going to war with the rest of the world – but if he continues his high stakes game of chicken over Taiwan, or elsewhere, events could easily run away from even his grasp.
   • Tiger Mountain 7.2

     6 October 2021 at 9:10 am

     Another day, another China bash.

     PRC, as any country, has to deal with the global trade reality of blocs and agreements and “rules” organisations–which is in a bit of a mess when you tote them all up.

     Various US producers were quick enough to move to China for cheaper production costs off the back of the Chinese working class, and still the free marketeers complain when China maximises its production strategies.

     Essentially the US is complaining about a centrally planned economy, and it is rich indeed for the world centre of union busting (e.g. Amazon), and a poverty level federal minimum wage ($7.25 since 2009!) to criticise how workers are treated elsewhere.
     • RedLogix 7.2.1

       6 October 2021 at 9:32 am

       I thought you'd love it.

       and a poverty level federal minimum wage ($7.25 since 2009!) to criticise how workers are treated elsewhere.

       Of course the actual story is more complex than this. And you might want to take a look at the data before painting the US as a poverty striken hell-hole. In reality it's a large diverse economy that defies simplistic characterisations.

       Essentially the US is complaining about a centrally planned economy,

       And yes – I gave an example above of precisely why this should be opposed. The Chinese workers who made those steel frames were not necessarily low paid – but that the companies involved in the supply chain could access unlimited state subsidies by various means to cover the fact that they were selling their product at a loss.

       In essence this policy was a zero sum game that transferred jobs from one country to another – which is how China became the 'workshop of the world'. And then you wonder where the decent working class jobs in our part of the world went to.

       As for the 'China bashing' – you may want to note the ethnicity of the person making the speech. Fail.
   • Ad 7.3

     6 October 2021 at 11:41 am

     Also to note New Zealand is currently sending a frigate and an Orion to participate in Operation Bersama Gold 21, which is a big operation between the navies of Australia, New Zealand, UK, US, Malaysia and Singapore. Looks to be quite a big exercise.

     https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300423965/hmnzs-te-kaha-joins-uk-carrier-strike-group-in-south-china-sea
     • Scud 7.3.1

       6 October 2021 at 2:42 pm

       It should actually read Ex Bersama Gold not Op Bersama Gold as there is no 2 Way Range. Ex Bersama Gold is the Annual 5 Power Defence Ex which has combined Ex Spearfish & Ex Vanguard together which were from memory 1-2 mth long Ex’s. The Yanks are not involved with 5 FPDA Ex, as it’s an all Commonwealth of Nations Affair & there has been talk of involving India over the last few yrs..
       • Ad 7.3.1.1

         6 October 2021 at 3:15 pm

         Cheers Scud on point with the military detail as ever. A bit more detail here.

         https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/news/nzdf-exercises-with-international-counterparts-in-south-east-asia/
8. Ad 8

   6 October 2021 at 8:14 am

   If anyone wonders why Act is rising so fast and so high, well, it's got something to do with David Seymour’s speechwriter:

   https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2110/S00055/the-speech-ardern-should-have-given-yesterday.htm
   • RedLogix 8.1

     6 October 2021 at 8:35 am

     Yup. That nails it.
     • garibaldi 8.1.1

       6 October 2021 at 9:16 am

       Yeah, nail it to a coffin. That Act contribution is piffle – the virus doesn't comply with set dates.
       • RedLogix 8.1.1.1

         6 October 2021 at 9:35 am

         Delta beat the lockdown policy and the vaccines. It's endemic and you need to face up to the reality that like say the common cold or flu – we're all going to catch it sooner or later.

         This speech faces this truth square on – regardless of who was saying it.
         • Gezza 8.1.1.1.1

           6 October 2021 at 10:32 am

           Damn straight 💪🏼
         • aom 8.1.1.1.2

           6 October 2021 at 3:23 pm

           Delta did not beat the lockdown. It was those who wanted 'Freedom' (from what?), the conspiracy theorists and God Squaders along with the screamers of 'I want to make a profit' and the "I want to come home' moaners that have compromised the lockdown.

           We should all now be ready to hear from those who can't come back to NZ for funerals or whose surgery is endlessly postponed, to start kicking up a ruckus?
       • Anne 8.1.1.2

         6 October 2021 at 10:52 am

         Simplistic nonsense – typical of the black and white mentality so prevalent among ACT supporters. I know this from personal and historical experience.

         They are not able to see all the grey areas… or human intransigence together with a virus that is elusive and constantly changing direction.

         God help us if they ever gain the treasury benches.
   • mickysavage 8.2

     6 October 2021 at 8:38 am

     Elimination is not dead, it is merely a flesh wound!
   • Gypsy 8.3

     6 October 2021 at 11:34 am

     On the money. Again. Never voted ACT, but it's getting tempting.
9. Forget now 9

   6 October 2021 at 8:16 am

   Long term Pfizer (BNT162b2) immunity is better against hospitalisation (figure B) in California against SARS-CoV-2 delta variant (now it's been around long enough to tell, at least for 16+ age groups) than infection (figure A). Which suggests that boosters may come more in the form of natural infections, than yearly vaccines.

   

   Effectiveness of BNT162b2 against infections caused by the delta variant, which became the predominant strain in KPSC {the health-care organisation Kaiser Permanente Southern California} by July, 2021, was 75% (95% CI 71–78) over the study period. Effectiveness against delta infections at 1 month after being fully vaccinated was high at 93% (85–97) but fell to 53% (39–65) up to 5 months after being fully vaccinated. Effectiveness against other (non-delta) variants within 1 month of being fully vaccinated was also high at 97% (95–99) and also waned, to 67% (45–80) up to 5 months after being fully vaccinated. Effectiveness against delta-related hospital admissions over the entire study period was high, at 93% (84–96) and was similar to effectiveness against hospital admissions for other (non-delta) variants.

   https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02183-8/fulltext

   And this one is just neat for showing how Delta took over other variants:

   
   • roblogic 9.1

     6 October 2021 at 10:03 am

     Thanks FN that's a great summary. Hope that it convinces vaccine hesitant friends on Facebook.
   • Patricia Bremner 9.2

     6 October 2021 at 12:16 pm

     Forget now Most informative Thank You.
     • Forget now 9.2.1

       6 October 2021 at 1:34 pm

       I still haven't got the knack of posting images though! The second graph displays fine on mobile, but half of July is cut-off on laptop. The buttons where gone when I tried to edit and strange tech gibberish in its place (which I didn't dare touch).

       This is also an interesting read on the Lancet (endemic coronaviruses = common colds; SARS-CoV = SARS) :

       Reinfection by SARS-CoV-2 under endemic conditions would likely occur between 3 months and 5·1 years after peak antibody response, with a median of 16 months. This protection is less than half the duration revealed for the endemic coronaviruses circulating among humans (5–95% quantiles 15 months to 10 years for HCoV-OC43, 31 months to 12 years for HCoV-NL63, and 16 months to 12 years for HCoV-229E). For SARS-CoV, the 5–95% quantiles were 4 months to 6 years

       https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00219-6/fulltext
       • Patricia Bremner 9.2.1.1

         6 October 2021 at 2:16 pm

         On the Gibberish. I got the same when I tried to edit a comment to Barfly. It did not put the smiley up.. just the word! You do great from a phone.
10. Sabine 10

    6 October 2021 at 8:41 am

    I called the cops yesterday to do a welfare check on a young women (natal women) who got 'man' handled in front of our shops. – I don't think i ever felt more like a true Karen ever. But what is one to do when that shit happens, and fwiw, it is escalating in our fair wee town.

    I did get a call from an officer later that day – rehashing the events that let to my call, and i did precise that i called for a 'welfare' check, essentially for both of them, the young women and the young bloke, as both were obviously not able to resolve what was going on without violence. Also that the guy bought booze at opening time of the booze shop.

    So here we are, we have lost 4 women to violence in the last month. And yet, i still feel stink about calling the police. And i truly hope, that the young women has someone in her life that will tell her that getting the bash is not a sign of how he loves you, but rather is a sign of how he believes he ownes her and she is his to do as he likes, as i hope that the young bloke (natal) has a person in his life that will help him overcome what ever led him to bash his girlfriend in front of our shops.
    • Ad 10.1

      6 October 2021 at 8:55 am

      Good bold step there Sabine. Never been in that situation myself.
    • RedLogix 10.2

      6 October 2021 at 9:36 am

      And yet, i still feel stink about calling the police.

      Understood – but it was still the least worst choice in that moment.
    • Treetop 10.3

      6 October 2021 at 11:40 am

      I would have done the same and I did so earlier in the year as a male was explosive toward a female outside my home. More than one person reported it. I always shudder to think what goes on behind closed doors. Intervention is required and ongoing support. The shortage of affordable housing contributes to not having somewhere to be safe.
    • McFlock 10.4

      6 October 2021 at 3:18 pm

      Sometimes calling the cops has to be done. That stuff needs to be addressed quickly and unequivocally. Good job.
11. miravox 11

    6 October 2021 at 8:58 am

    Morgan Godfery in The Guardian

    "Ardern’s perpetual struggle is transforming her care and compassion into public policy. Thus, the contradiction where she thrives in a crisis yet falters in its aftermath … the prime minister’s personal care and compassion do not always align with her public policy decisions."

    But then – the young, brown, medically-compromised and disabled are not Ardern’s targeted voters.

    A contrast of her gift of inspiring people when a political response aligns with her personal values, and her political work that is centrist at its core. She'll need her gift to regain that political capital she's just spent on changing tack, because Collins and Seymour don't even have to change their Covid policy to gain disenchanted who left National last election for the promises of Ardern – Labour has come to National/ACT (granted, ACT policy is a bit more blatant about everybody for themselves). They just have to convince people they can do Covid better and the opening is now there.

    There are big questions for the Left that believes in social cohesion and equity.
    • Patricia Bremner 11.1

      6 October 2021 at 10:24 am

      The biggest danger is the buy-in of Nat/Act attitudes in Media and the business forum. The promotion of stories which point up every bump in the road, the wailing about MIQ, returnees and low rent supports and costs in general. Saying changing to the next step is a sign of failure, just generally white anting the elimination strategy. The stories about money for Gangs, Covid in the gangs. Certain Suburbs, so it goes.

      It wasn't the entitled couple who flew south, it was not the Lawyer who went to the races over the border, it was not the entitled who spread covid, no no it was the poor.

      Well wow!! What part of ghettoizing people is still not understood? If you live in large airy well ventilated warm housing with a full pantry reliable internet and respect from all health and other services… you live in a world of plenty with your expectations the Government will smooth any difficulties that you can't deal with then you conform to social norms generally, unless you are one of the spoiled entitled.!!

      If you live in a crowded neighbourhood with older smaller homes without central kitchens food in the pantry money in the bank, poor transport, poor health with co-morbidities, and you are not trusted by a large section of the community because… you are poor, surly through past experiences, hungry, full of mis-information reinforced by facebook or in the certain religions/black economy/ gang communities , with bad experiences when you turn to "Social services", generally non-conforming to social norms.

      How do we change that? Definitely NOT by austerity programmes. We have to practice inclusivity. If people opt out we separate them for special intensive assistance, as they have a social disorder.

      We continue to increase education initiatives and investment, we increase health home visits and investment. We provide to mothers a suitable sum on the birth of a child to help with expenses universally. We listen to what communities want more actively and create a Welfare Ombudsperson.

      We don't fall for PR letters and speeches written by vested interests… when did they work in the community? rather manipulating the view to a politically skewed window?
      • Macro 11.1.1

        6 October 2021 at 11:24 am

        
      • miravox 11.1.2

        6 October 2021 at 12:47 pm

        All of what you say is true.

        However, we have a PM who said the most important part of our Covid-19 response was health and that they were following the science.

        Now, we know have some of those same scientists worried, disappointed and hoping for a bit of good luck to see us through this.

        "If you live in a crowded neighbourhood with older smaller homes without central kitchens food in the pantry money in the bank, poor transport, poor health with co-morbidities, and you are not trusted by a large section of the community because…"

        These are the people who are likely to be most severely impacts by this approach that includes crossed fingers and hope.

        Moreover, we have a new health system on the way – why oh why did the government not recognise the spirit of the new system and (visibly?) bring in Māori to share the decision-making at the highest level around this response?
      • I Feel Love 11.1.3

        6 October 2021 at 6:39 pm

        Thanks Patricia, best thing I've seen written on the Standard in a long time, appreciated!
    • Patricia Bremner 11.2

      6 October 2021 at 12:07 pm

      At least she is trying.. Boris???
12. Barfly 12

    6 October 2021 at 9:25 am

    Well not that it's news or an opinion or a discussion point but congratulations to me one year without alcohol today.
    • Robert Guyton 12.1

      6 October 2021 at 9:35 am

      Well done! Time for a pseudonym change? 🙂
    • Ad 12.2

      6 October 2021 at 9:37 am

      New handle suggestion: FreedomDay
    • RedLogix 12.3

      6 October 2021 at 9:40 am

      Respect.
    • weka 12.4

      6 October 2021 at 9:51 am

      well done 😎
    • mac1 12.5

      6 October 2021 at 9:51 am

      Barfly, your comment has really made me stop and consider. It’s not an “I reckon” or a political salvo, a sermon or a serve.

      Rather, to me it is a true use of the word 'need'. Instead of reading someone opining "They need", I have read that someone said "I need" and acted upon that realisation. Thanks.
    • Sabine 12.6

      6 October 2021 at 9:59 am

      Well done!
    • Patricia Bremner 12.7

      6 October 2021 at 10:40 am

      Bloody Brilliant.!! We know the struggle you faced. Our son faces that as well. Well done Barfly. I know you have other health issues, but that is a huge win. Made my day.. Suggest new monica Flying Free
    • Molly 12.8

      6 October 2021 at 10:44 am

      Congratulations, indeed. Well done!
    • Whispering Kate 12.9

      6 October 2021 at 11:28 am

      I am now thee years – its great as it only gets better. Good on you.
      • Patricia Bremner 12.9.1

        6 October 2021 at 12:08 pm

        
    • Jimmy 12.10

      6 October 2021 at 1:04 pm

      Well done! You deserve a drink to celebrate a great achievement.
      • Patricia Bremner 12.10.1

        6 October 2021 at 2:23 pm

        Jimmy that is not reflecting well.Thoughtless or cruel.
        • Jimmy 12.10.1.1

          6 October 2021 at 5:06 pm

          It was obviously sarcasm. I'll have a drink for him tonight.
    • McFlock 12.11

      6 October 2021 at 5:16 pm

      onya
    • left for dead 12.12

      6 October 2021 at 6:05 pm

      Good stuff,Freedom day.
    • Treetop 12.13

      6 October 2021 at 9:24 pm

      Happy anniversary.
    • miravox 12.14

      6 October 2021 at 9:27 pm

      Congratulations for sure!
13. Puckish Rogue 13

    6 October 2021 at 10:51 am

    Have I missed anything?
    • Gezza 13.1

      6 October 2021 at 11:11 am

      Only this, at my Chemist's yesterday:

      https://i.imgur.com/DN0gVoy.gif
      • Puckish Rogue 13.1.1

        6 October 2021 at 11:22 am

        I like your posts, best things on here
      • Patricia Bremner 13.1.2

        6 October 2021 at 12:08 pm

        
      • weka 13.1.3

        6 October 2021 at 12:49 pm

        love how she stops on the other side of the car park and they all congregate towards her and wait.
        • Gezza 13.1.3.1

          6 October 2021 at 3:19 pm

          That mallard hen knows where she's going, weka. Around the back of the buildings a little way further ahead of her there's a brook, one of several, that feeds, via a very large under-the-township culvert, straight into my stream.
    • weka 13.2

      6 October 2021 at 12:48 pm

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/452419/judith-collins-sinks-below-david-seymour-as-preferred-pm

      Well, you did ask 😇

      Welcome back PR.
      • Puckish Rogue 13.2.1

        6 October 2021 at 12:54 pm

        The media have never liked strong, powerful woman.

        They always try to bring them down but I'm confident that, like the Phoenix, JC will rise from the ashes and attain her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

        Sorry about that freudian slip, I mean as the Prime Minister.
        • weka 13.2.1.1

          6 October 2021 at 1:18 pm

          Chloe before Collins
          • Puckish Rogue 13.2.1.1.1

            6 October 2021 at 1:23 pm

            
            • weka 13.2.1.1.1.1

              6 October 2021 at 1:26 pm

              is that Nat/JC's smiley icon?

              Other options: 🤡 🃏

              😀
              • Puckish Rogue …

                6 October 2021 at 1:32 pm

                Typical.

                All this talk of female empowerment and getting more females (sorry is that the correct term or should I say person who chest feeds) into politics but as soon as a person with XX chromosomes joins the "wrong" party its pitchforks and torches time

                Poor Jude
                • Gezza …

                  6 October 2021 at 3:37 pm

                  Part of Judith’s problem is that most of “The Girls” (who seem to make up most of the Press Gallery journo pack these daze) just don’t like her.
                  • Puckish Rogue …

                    6 October 2021 at 3:41 pm

                    Thats true
        • Patricia Bremner 13.2.1.2

          6 October 2021 at 2:27 pm

          She has asked for her Christmas present. "Lock down must be over by Christmas"…… Should have been "Vaccinated ready for Christmas"
          • Puckish Rogue 13.2.1.2.1

            6 October 2021 at 2:30 pm

            Shes not wrong
14. Stephen D 14

    6 October 2021 at 11:34 am

    Despite what the MSM tell us, it’s not just Brian Tamaki.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300423371/destiny-church-isnt-the-only-problem-what-about-the-white-megachurches
    • McFlock 14.1

      6 October 2021 at 3:21 pm

      I dunno. The brethren get shit whenever they get caught dabbling in politics.

      Maybe we have some megachurches running covid rallies that I've not noticed?
      • I Feel Love 14.1.1

        6 October 2021 at 6:43 pm

        Not sure about rallies but certainly misinformation & discouraging vaccines & lockdowns from their pulpits. Webworm has put up a story
15. satty 15

    6 October 2021 at 12:10 pm

    Surprise… the world did not end:

    Small Business cope with minimum Wage increase

    and, not surprisingly, employees are happier.
    • Gezzau 15.1

      6 October 2021 at 3:31 pm

      
      • weka 15.1.1

        6 October 2021 at 6:08 pm

        please fix username on next comment 🙂
16. Stephen D 16

    6 October 2021 at 12:35 pm

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-mp-mark-mitchell-not-standing-for-auckland-mayoralty/2H376ZQG5AW3W5KYTMFK6YJTUM/

    He must fancy his chances come coup time.
    • Patricia Bremner 16.1

      6 October 2021 at 2:29 pm

      really.. the plots thicken!!
    • Gezza 16.2

      6 October 2021 at 3:43 pm

      Not an unreasonable deduction there, imo.

      Mitchell, as my late ma would say, has got tickets on himself. 😐
    • RosieLee 16.3

      6 October 2021 at 5:04 pm

      With his back story?
17. Forget now 17

    6 October 2021 at 1:24 pm

    This name may be implying more of a sense of panic than Labour really wants to present for the planned event on the 16th of October!

    Super Saturday or Panic Saturday is the last Saturday before Christmas

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Saturday
18. Macro 18

    6 October 2021 at 2:09 pm

    This reminds me of the debate we are having here right now..

    
    • Gezza 18.1

      6 October 2021 at 3:45 pm

      😄
19. Poission 19

    6 October 2021 at 2:15 pm

    RBNZ moves to innoculate those with FOMA 21

    https://www.reuters.com/article/newzealand-economy-rbnz/new-zealand-central-bank-hikes-interest-rate-to-0-50-idUSW9N2OR01A
20. joe90 20

    6 October 2021 at 3:04 pm

    Appeared to be 100% mask/distancing/recording compliance in the main street of Whanganui this AM.

    Meanwhile….

    https://twitter.com/Te_Taipo/status/1445531030002176001
    • Sabine 20.1

      6 October 2021 at 5:16 pm

      one of my customer is anti mask and anti vax, she is also african / american.

      So anyways, we get to talk about things, and end up talking masks. I ask her why she did not wear them, and she said she did not see the point. Then she asked me why i wore mine. lol….I said, its simple really, i am vaccinated and thus might become a carrier of the virus but stay a-symptomatic not even a sniffle, thus risking the spread of the virus unknowingly. So i told her, that is why you should wear a mask, to protect yourself from someone like me.

      Today she came to the shop wearing a N95 mask. Good girl. Good girl.
      • francesca 20.1.1

        6 October 2021 at 5:26 pm

        Good for you Sabine

        Good psychology too.
        • Sabine 20.1.1.1

          6 October 2021 at 5:34 pm

          It is true though.

          That is one thing us vaccinated people really must understand that we might become unwitting carriers. So testing is essential, which is why i hope that saliva tests will become a standard household item. My partner goes to test once every week and is considering doing it twice. His territory that he looks after is large, very large. He could potentially infect the lower half of the north island in a busy day. And he is an essential worker. As for myself, the shop is not open to anyone, its no contact pickup and will be for a long time coming.

          I like this customer, she is a lovely lady and due to her own particular trauma as an african american women she has her own reasons to worry about this particular vaccine. But i am happy to see her now in a Mask everytime she is outside, rather then only wearing a flimsy cloth masks when in her office and nothing when out and about.
21. Stephen D 21

    6 October 2021 at 6:55 pm

    Did the most recent Roy Morgan get much MSM time?

• Comments are now closed

• Log in
• Donate
• Contribute post

• Articles RSS