Open mike 09/01/2016
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6:00 am, January 9th, 2016 - 57 comments
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
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It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
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The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...3 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
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The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
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Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
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The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
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The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
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The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
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The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
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The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
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New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
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Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
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Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
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The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
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Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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Here we are at 9.49am on a grey overcast day in Auckland and not a single comment on Open Mike.
I went to the heading Water, one of my pet subjects
and this is what I found.
WATER
Categories under water
No categories
I am puzzled (that’s not unusual) but whilst there are big discussions going on on TS about TPP and Free Trade ad nauseum, mostly trolls winding up the argument it seems, there is NO category for Water.
I have commented on other occasions about my concerns and in
particular the Ecan(Environment Canterbury) has been set up with National Party appointed members and will stay that way for another 3 years at least. This in an area that has huge dairy growth and is a major pollution problem.
Ensuring that the water quality in Canterbury, is preserved for future generations might just be a more fruitful subject to discuss and argue than the some the other subjects which trolls start and TS contributors perpetuate.
We’ve had a high number of comments about water quality in the past week or so. In fact I would say it’s been one of the main discussions. Including about Ecan.
If you want to see posts on water, you can always submit a guest post 🙂
The water heading under Environment has 80 posts.
http://thestandard.org.nz/category/environment/water/
Hi Weka,
Thanks for your reply but I am still puzzled or not understanding how the site is set up.
I got to http://thestandard.org.nz/category/environment/water/
as you suggested but apart from a good recent article from No Right Turn there seems to be little about water and most of the articles are older rather than recent.
Time to sort dinner will have another go later.
Most of them are about politics and water. ie oils spills, political fiddling to Environment Canterbury (which administers water in Canterbury), water pollution standards, irrigation, dams, lack of water, etc.
9 posts in 2015. It varies according to what is happening and if authors find something they want to write about.
Hi Weka,
Thanks for your reply but I am still puzzled or not understanding how the site is set up.
I got to http://thestandard.org.nz/category/environment/water/
as you suggested but apart from a good recent article from No Right Turn there seems to be little about water and most of the articles are older rather than recent.
Time to sort dinner will have another go later.
Hi John.
A few days ago (?) I read a lengthy thread about water quality and Ecan on Open Mike. It was, as usual for most discussion on TS, a worthy read. I’m guessing this is what weka is leading you too. Sorry I can’t help you with the date.
I think you can also search the site by the name of the commenter. From memory weka contributed to this discussion (?)
Helen Kelly’s post is attracting huge attention. I suspect that most people are heading straight there.
I’m sure we should be thinking about water more. Here is something relevant that was on RADIONZ this morning.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201785128
Choose Clean Water
8:10 AM. Marnie Prickett is part of group touring around the country to draw attention to diminishing water quality. She is part of the Choose Clean Water tour, traveling down the east coast of both islands, then up the west, finally finishing in Waitangi on Waitangi Day. The group will be filming their travels, engaging with locals to find out about what’s polluting our waterways and what people are doing to restore their streams, lakes and rivers. On the tour she will be stopping to see Jill Roberts in Geraldine. Jill has been a resident in the town for 10 years and has seen the water quality of the river diminish quite significantly.
If you’re that concerned about it then submit a guest post on it. We’ll all love to read it.
Out of interest, how does this work? I recently submitted a Guest Post by e-mail and although I didn’t expect it to be posted, straightaway or at all, I’ve not heard a dicky bird. Just asking.
The problem is me. A lack of time to deal with the mail queue, and I think that I am the only person left who reads it. The other authors who had logins have long since gone.
Basically I pick off things that are urgent (problems on the blog, legal threats, etc) and leave the rest until I have time. Because of the time taken to set up a post, that tends to be the lowest on the priority queue, and I used to get around to it every week.
But these days I seldom have any time. Either work or family or blog or simple exhaustion always seem to get in the way.
In fact I will be heading back to the chills of a European winter next week for work with some very long days. That isn’t going to help.
I’ll see if I can get some of the others interested in reading and acting on the mail.
Thank you for the reply and clarification, which I (now) fully understand. There are many high-quality posts appearing on TS so my ‘mind-spew’ can wait indefinitely 😉
Seen this?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11571162
Another story how a young fellow managed to start buying property so he could play WOW all day. What a great had work story!
But, read the fine print.
He started with a $200,00 wedding gift..
About the plutocrat – Mickey has a post on it now.
Consumer power is a big weapon against corporate power.
+1 TMM
Kiev is having corruption tussles – there is talk about not being a banana republic. There is a familiar ring about their difficulties.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/kiev-struggles-to-battle-rampant-corruption-1451641811
It has to be viewed in the context of the pre-existing endemic corruption though greywarshark. From what i read it’s not that corruption is getting worse, the complaint is the Govt isn’t doing enough to combat what’s already there
The ousting of Yanukovich looks to have been largely driven by a population finally fed up with the top-level corruption, he and his cronies alone looted close to Ukraine’s national debt it’s no wonder the country is broke.
The ordinary people in Ukraine would likely be pretty upset that corruption is still rampant but I doubt many would be pining for the old days of even worse corruption.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11571180
Canadian company set to sue USA under NAFTA this is what key the shmuck is signing us up to with tppa.
Fern-themed teatowels are the policy focus at the moment.
Your “facts” are just an annoyance.
The Pacific islands will need our attention and concern. Already some have had drought conditions and there is a fear that a big weather depression is going to form early in the season.
Water rationing introduced as Port Moresby copes with drought.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201783140/water-rationing-introduced-as-port-moresby-copes-with-drought
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201783140
800,000 people short of food in PNG
…A co-author of a compilation of 200 reports from government, NGOs, church organisations and individuals in drought- and frost-affected regions says immediate action is needed to alleviate ongoing suffering.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/293730/800,000-people-short-of-food-in-png
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/75600686/tonga-takes-stock-after-cyclone-ula-creates-widespread-damage
http://reliefweb.int/report/world/el-ni-o-strengthens-pacific-preparing-impacts-drought
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/rare-january-depression-in-central-pacific-atlantic-subtropical-storm
Oxfam is keeping an eye on the Pacific plight and watching this strong El Nino.
Oxfam said that New Zealand must immediately act on promises made under the new global climate agreement, as evidence suggested climate change may increase the frequency of extreme El Niño occurring.
Around 4.7 million people face hunger, poverty and disease across the Pacific alone due to El Niño-related droughts, erratic rains and frosts. Globally, 18 million people are already in need of assistance. –
See more at: http://www.oxfam.org.nz/news/el-ni-o-warning-bells-deafening-early-action-vital-saving-lives#sthash.oVDuVB3x.dpuf
http://phys.org/news/2015-12-urgent-aid-super-el-nino.html
http://phys.org/news/2015-09-el-nino-strongest.html#nRlv
News story-Philadelphia policeman shot by Islam nutter.Policeman survives, defends himself and wounds the nutter.
Other TV channels report the facts but Fox news (sic) blames Obama. If the policeman didn’t have a gun (because of Obama as Fox implies) he’d be defenseless. Never mind that the nutter had his own (stolen) gun.
Intrigues me how Fox spins it that Obama wants to take guns away from Police.
..Fox republican policy…….More guns = less dead people…WFM
Not to confuse, that less guns will equal less ‘dead people’
Which is a false equilvilance that many attach themselves to
Pedants Revolt: https://twitter.com/johnrentoul/status/439327593687703552
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/less-versus-fewer?page=all
Indeed Grant.
The words were lifted from the comment by Rodel, which should have been obvious ,” ” aside
Pedants add nothing to a conversation…..
Thank you gentle people. Point taken. Hope I make fewer or less grammatical errors in future. Thanks for reading my comments.I too suffer from pedantopathy.
I’ve attended lots of barbeques over the last month and negativity to the National government was never heard even once. I sense no mood for change in real people. I honestly do not know what Andrew Little can do to change things.
You go to the wrong bbqs every one I have attended the feeling is universal …
fishy probably has a primus set up on his back porch and talks to himself 😜
Something like this?….
Grant
Delightful. Any fisher would look at that and say my precious. And fishiani?
Who can follow his train of thought. I keep wishing he’d find the station and leave for a holiday.
Perhaps we could send him a brochure for this little excursion?
http://www.phoenixexpeditionmedicine.co.uk/snowy-morning-in-the-steppes-of-northern-mongolia/
Sounds good. Big steppes.
The idea brings to mind Peter Sellers in Balham Gateway to the South
where the tone-deaf son of the Mayor bangs away on a piano before the villagers who are raising money to send him away – to Vienna, or Paris, or anywhere.
lol
I haven’t attended any bbqs – I prefer my meat cooked.
But the mood I pick up at my dinner parties is also universal and totally opposed to the present govt!
But then again that’s what happens when like meets like. But Fisi being of little brain wouldn’t understand the error of sampling bias.
Polling certainly backs up my BBQ findings.
yes, we all know there is power in the Dark Side.
Polling over last 6 months suggests Govt and Oppo neck-and-neck, if anything with the Oppo slightly in front.
Or, to put it another way
2014 Election Party-Vote = NZF nowhere near holding balance of power
Poll Average over last 6 months = NZF holds balance of power.
All down to Labour’s 6 point surge since last election.
You having a laugh or just thinking no one would call you out?
http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6599-roy-morgan-new-zealand-voting-intention-december-2015-201512092333
You’re simply pointing to one solitary poll, I’m talking about poll averages over recent months.
In case you haven’t noticed, a clear gap opened up in 2015 between:
(1) The TV News Polls (One News Colmar Brunton and 3 News Reid Research) = which, since May, have consistently placed the Oppo ahead of the Govt
and
(2) The Roy Morgan and (infrequent) Herald-Digi Polls = Most of the former (and all of the latter) favour the Govt.
(You’ve simply quoted the latest Roy Morgan)
Result of this divergence between the 2 sets of polls = Oppo and Govt neck-and-neck over last 6 months, when taking all polls into account.
Take, as an example, Polls since Sep 2015.
Average of All Polls
Govt 49.9 … Oppo 49.2
Average of Colmar Brunton / Reid Research Polls
Govt 48.4 … Oppo 51.0
Average of Roy Morgan / Herald-Digi Polls
Govt 51.1 … Oppo 47.7
polling says roughly 50/50, has done for the last 7 years.
Your bbq was 100% tory.
So, no, your bbq survey was more shit than what you usually spew out.
National rode to power on the coat tails of the GFC promising magic fairy dust to all and sundry. They have a solid bloc of perhaps 30% support from the highly influential upper middle class who also happen to run the elite news media and their sponsors.
Little and the Left need to engage the “missing million” voters who, if motivated, could easily kick out the incumbents
The missing million was mana territory and their hopes were sold for
$3 million .
Mana should have told Dotcom to stick his money up his arse. They may have had a chance.
yep that was a colossal fuck-up on their part. but Kelvin Davis was a good result for TTT.
I actually belive that Davis will become leader of the Labour Party and NZ’s first Maori PM.
Though he and his supporters need to take care that he isn’t placed in the job too soon, like Shearer and Cunliffe were.
I honestly believe the dotcom fiasco gifted key the election and possible the next one to. With no rabble rousing far left party there is a lot of votes going begging.
Money is not to be sneezed at, at election time. Mana should have told Dotcom to keep his mouth shut and breathe through his nose. All election stunts and rallies should have been passed by Leila and her cohorts without putting pressure on her to compromise with what she knew would work best.
The election push got mixed up with Dotcom’s private fight and the Mana message got overlooked, as it got overshadowed by Dotcom’s grievance and the dirty government spying and secretive message from Julian Assange. That was not the main problem that Mana was wanting to put forward.
I like this bit of plain English analysis from Bryan Bruce. http://bryanbruce.co.nz/feature/election-2014/voting-and-inequality
Great link,
Also the rise of Dirty Politics has turned a lot of people off *all* politicians.
If engaged….despondency and fear are the 2 things that stop people voting according to Tony Benn, so National have it sewn up, unless people have hope and stop being afraid!
Hi WN. Did you read my Bryan Bruce link above?
It’s worth a look, but you may find parts of it challenging.
Here’s a taste.
“One of the things we do know about voting behaviour is that a high voter turn out favours truly left wing governments. Why? Because, in theory, the Left can appeal to a larger number of ” have not” people than the privileged Right. However 30 years ago that pattern was disrupted when a supposedly Left wing Labour government introduced the New Right economics of neo-liberalism. So for 3 decades now voters on the traditional Left have not seen a viable alternative economic policy for which they could vote.
The result? A general decline in the number of people voting which has increased the chances of the Right of being elected . “
Could Health Policy be the Nats’ Achilles Heel?
Hat tip @GSilbery:
Somehow #HeraldActPartyNewsletter would rather tell us someone owns 11 houses so what are the poor complaining about
Talking about the health system. For some months I have briefly chatted to an Indian man who works in my local supermarket. I noticed him limping and expressed sympathy. He said he was waiting for an appointment for treatment for a sore foot.
I saw him at Christmas and he said he has been waiting to see a specialist, not for the treatment as I had thought. He can’t even get his foot examined and diagnosed, though he has pain as he’s standing and walking all day. He says he has decided to get it done in India, along with treatment to his knee which is also giving trouble. I said that’s no good, it’s a shame that our health system is declining. He made the side to side hand movement of judging on balance, and said that overall NZ was still better.
But that is based on how we are at present, we are still declining, and the present tranche of politicians and power brokers have no desire or vision to return us to the vibrant, hopeful, socially mobile, modern society that we were.