Open mike 10/07/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 10th, 2013 - 126 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

126 comments on “Open mike 10/07/2013 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Morrissey 1
    10 July 2013 at 6:08 am

    Humbug Corner
    
No. 15: JOHN KEY

    “Labour are finding themselves in the wrong place. They know this is an issue of national security…”

    —Vacuous NZ prime minister John Key, defending Steven Joyce’s GCSB bill, TV3 Firstline, Tuesday 9 July 2013

    Humbug Corner is dedicated to gathering, and highlighting, the most striking examples of faux solicitude, insincere apologies, and particularly stupid recycling of official canards. It is produced by the Insincerity Project®, a division of Daisycutter Sports Inc.

    More humbugs….
    No. 14 Charles Saatchi: “I abhor violence of any kind against women…”
    
No. 13 Toyota NZ: “The more Kiwis that lean, the more motivated our ETNZ crew will be to win.”
    
No. 12 Pem Bird: “We’re there to do the business of advancing our people.”
    
No.11 Whenua Patuwai: “They’re my brothers and to see one of them goes [sic]—it’s tough.”

    No. 10 [REMOVED]
    

No. 9 [REMOVED]
    


No. 8 Barack Obama: “…people standing up for what’s right…yearning for justice and dignity…”


No. 7 Barack Obama: “Nelson Mandela is my personal hero…”
    

No. 6 John Key: “Yeah well the Greens’ answer to everything is rail, isn’t it.”
    

No.5 Dr. Rodney Syme: “If you want good, open, honest practice, you have to make it transparent.”
    


No. 4 Mike Bush: “Bruce Hutton’s… integrity beyond reproach…such great character…”



    No. 3 Dean Lonergan: “Y’ know what? The only people who will mock them are people who are dwarfists.”



    No. 2 Peter Dunne: “What a load of drivel and sanctimonious humbug…”





    No. 1 Dominic Bowden: “It’s okay to be speechless.”



    • David H 1.1
      10 July 2013 at 8:49 am

      Key on firstline this morning Oh I’ver had shhhome lemshhips and a few shhippss of shhomething else.

      He sounded pissed to the eyeballs!! at 7.45 AM for shame

  2. Morrissey 2
    10 July 2013 at 6:31 am

    Apology to Sir Owen Glenn
    Wednesday 10 July 2013

    It appears that I was wrong to place Sir Owen Glenn on the Humbug Corner list. Having watched him last night on TV3’s Campbell Live explain the circumstances of that Honolulu incident, I am convinced he did not do the things that he has been accused of.

    I apologize to Sir Owen and herewith remove his entry from Humbug Corner, which belongs to real, nasty, proven humbugs, such as John Key, Mike Bush and Barack Obama.

    • Lanthanide 2.1
      10 July 2013 at 12:41 pm

      Yes, hence my comment yesterday. I think a lot of your humbug corner recipients are just on your judgement, for example Obama saying Madela is his personal hero – you’re effectively saying that Obama is lying. It’s entirely possible that he is his personal hero; just because he does things that maybe Mandela wouldn’t approve of, doesn’t mean that Obama is lying or being insincere.

    • ropata 2.2
      10 July 2013 at 12:50 pm

      Plenty of other wealthy and powerful humbugs to replace Owen Glenn… Mark Hotchin, John Banks, Bob Jones, Peter Jackson

      • Morrissey 2.2.1
        10 July 2013 at 4:42 pm

        As a matter of fact, ropata, three of the four you mention are in line for an appearance in the series . Hotchin I have not really kept up with.

    • Populuxe1 2.3
      10 July 2013 at 12:57 pm

      Owen Glenn has provided plenty of other humbuggery to be worthy of inclusion, from his attempt to bribe the electorate into voting National to his obsession with having things named after him.

  3. Raa 3
    10 July 2013 at 6:52 am

    Is there any fresh news on the Labour leadership situation ?

    • Morrissey 3.1
      10 July 2013 at 7:16 am

      Here is the state of the Labour (and Labor) Party leadership around the world…

      New Zealand: hopeless.

      Australia: about as warm and cuddly as a Tibetan royal family reunion.

      Great Britain: “Led” by a teenage boy, respected by no one.

      Israel: ineffective as always.

      Fiji: in turmoil.

      • Tom 3.1.1
        10 July 2013 at 8:22 am

        I admire your endurance in the face of widespread cynicism, but polls I have seen online have been favouring Rudd slightly. The date of polling has not yet been announced and momentum is running towards the ALP, which Crosby & Textor will be trying to disrupt. Everyone is globally connected these days, so anything can happen.

        In NZ, Shearer’s leadership campaign looked like a soft coup – but anyone in that job would have faced an uphill battle against Key’s popularity. These days he seems a tarnished figure, but Shearer – a product of teaching, as a Labour researcher and then the UN, does not seem to have the smarts or the motivation to do exploit it.

        Rudd faced a similar coup, and the question has to be asked if there is anyone with the motivation and ability to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable future for this country.

    • Rosie 3.2
      10 July 2013 at 7:59 am

      Sadly not Raa. Check it out here:

      http://thestandard.org.nz/the-coup-that-wasnt/

  4. James 4
    10 July 2013 at 7:40 am

    Duncan Garner has tweeted:

    Good source. Coup on in Labour. Letter of no confidence being circulated. It’s over for Shearer. Watch for his resignation.

    So what is it ?

    Who leaked this to Garner?

    Is it real ?

    If not what is the purpose of doing this ?

    If it is real – who is the leader being suggested?

    Thoughts on a postcard please ….

    Any way – its just another train wreck side show for labour.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 4.1
      10 July 2013 at 7:55 am

      Behind the eight ball aren’t you James? Shearer has gone. Cunliffe is leader. You heard it here first.

    • Saarbo 4.2
      10 July 2013 at 7:57 am

      We continue to watch Labour Caucus play their silly and immature little political games. Meanwhile Nats gifted another 3 years in 2014.

      This seems to be the ABC’ers realising that their man Shearer is not up to it, pre empting a backlash, that’s my guess.

    • Pascal's bookie 4.3
      10 July 2013 at 8:13 am

      Looks like Gower was Garner’s source. Garner was pimping a Gower on Nightline exclusive that didn’t happen.

      So Gower’s source lied to him, apprently telling him he’d be given a copy of the letter. Zip.

      Ball’s pretty much in Gower’s court now as to what he wants to do about that to hold on to his credibility.

  5. geoff 5
    10 July 2013 at 7:56 am

    David Shearer = The Julia Gillard of NZLP

    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/election-race-neck-and-neck-as-kevin-rudd-streaks-away-from-tony-abbott/story-fn59niix-1226676231604

    Nothing’s going to happen. The vampire zombie old guard are thwarting the possibility of a better NZ as they hold the tiller steady while we go over the waterfall. We’re going about things the right way if we want to guarantee a National win next year folks.

    To all you Shearer/Robertson supporters out there: Thanks for condemning us all to another shitty 3 years.

    • James 5.1
      10 July 2013 at 8:03 am

      “Thanks for condemning us all to another shitty 3 years”

      You have to remember that the largest %age of voters (according to polls) think that NZ is heading in the right direction.

      And the bright side is when they get in again I think that they will bring in harder policies that will really have a huge impact (in a good way) on NZ.

      • geoff 5.1.1
        10 July 2013 at 8:21 am

        And the bright side is when they get in again I think that they will bring in harder policies that will really have a huge impact (in a good way) on NZ.

        Presume you mean National?
        If so, fuck off you puerile little worm.

      • muzza 5.1.2
        10 July 2013 at 8:21 am

        Voters know nothing, and the vast majority would be ineligible to vote, based on any degree of cogent understanding!

        • Te Reo Putake 5.1.2.1
          10 July 2013 at 8:31 am

          Hey, Muz, are your fascist leanings a consequence of your personal research project or the motivation for it?

          • muzza 5.1.2.1.1
            10 July 2013 at 8:41 am

            They are just my observations, Voice, that’s all!

            You’re right to use the *F-Bomb*, but it’s not me you should be setting the sites on!

            Reasonably certain you’re aware of that however, but simply couldn’t resist the urge to take a shot 😉

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 5.1.2.1.1.1
              10 July 2013 at 8:55 am

              No-one who disagrees with you should have the right to vote. That seems fair.

            • Te Reo Putake 5.1.2.1.1.2
              10 July 2013 at 9:20 am

              Interested to know which of the regulars here you consider to be vote-worthy, Muz. A very short list?

              • muzza …
                10 July 2013 at 9:57 am

                Vote worthy, most of them!

                My comment was aimed wider than this site, out into the *real world*, if you like.

                Voting, requires little to no intelligence, or understanding of the micro/macro impact of this temporal world, anyone eligible, and registered can vote.

                Playing a positive role, in what people believe is democratic process, requires active involvement, it requires cognizant awareness, and removal of one’s own self from the decision tree, and instead, making choices for involvement, based on human traits, of kindness, generosity, caring, but being active, and if necessary, disobedient!

                In order to remove, thy self from the decision, one must be suitably evolved, aware and able to examine/disseminate complex situations, using simple, innate capabilities.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  10 July 2013 at 10:03 am

                  🙄

                  • muzza …
                    10 July 2013 at 10:46 am

                    What I didn’t mention (as it should be self evident), is that the *simple, innate capabilities*, have become buried, under what most types believe to be, intelligence/knowledge, and exhibits itself as arrogance/egotistical behaviors, many examples of which can be found on this site.

                    • McFlock …
                      10 July 2013 at 1:25 pm

                      Your capabilities have not been buried by knowledge or intelligence, yet your arrogance and egotistical belief in your superiority knows no bounds.

                      Or were you trying to say that with knowledge comes humility? I tend to agree.

                    • muzza …
                      10 July 2013 at 1:39 pm

                      Standing “O”, for you, McFlock!

                      Slow hand clap, Standing O, but a Standing O, none the less!

                    • McFlock …
                      10 July 2013 at 4:12 pm

                      that’s the shit

      • framu 5.1.3
        10 July 2013 at 8:27 am

        “in a good way” – oh please do explain what you think these might be and just how they will benefit all NZ

        i suspect it will all boil down to “well im going to do all right out of it – i think”

    • McFlock 5.2
      10 July 2013 at 12:56 pm

      you do know how quickly he managed to lose that support last time?

      Gillard had a similar bounce when she took the reins. It was transitory.

      • geoff 5.2.1
        10 July 2013 at 1:59 pm

        You’re scab Labour

        • McFlock 5.2.1.1
          10 July 2013 at 2:30 pm

          Ah, so should I take that to mean “oh, but Rudd was exceptionally high in the polls before he was deposed, and Gillard made no ground whatsoever in the immediately subsequent roymorgan polls”? Because that is what one might regard as “counter-argument based on evidence”.

          It would be incorrect, but at least an attempt at not being a dickhead just because someone disagrees with your own personal polly-crush.

          • geoff 5.2.1.1.1
            10 July 2013 at 2:43 pm

            What the fuck are you on? You’re away in your own wee world aren’t ya? That’s why you can sit back happily twiddling your thumbs and cheering for the McFluckwits like Shearer and feel really good about yourself when the left loses next year.

            Until you get it into your skull that Shearer et al are disliked by the voters, have no skills and are condemning the country to another 3 years of right wing control, then you are part of the problem, McFlock.

            You must be personally connected to the old guard lot because otherwise I can’t see how any sane person would still be honestly supporting them and believing they will lead the Left to a win.

            • BM 5.2.1.1.1.1
              10 July 2013 at 2:52 pm

              I think Shearer just needs a bit more time to find himself.

              Rolling him would be a terrible mistake.

              • geoff …
                10 July 2013 at 2:57 pm

                See McFlock, youre in great company, with the turds of the world like BM here. You wont get any clearer sign that you should abandon your sinking Shearer ship.

                • McFlock …
                  10 July 2013 at 3:07 pm

                  Apart from the fact that if the tories really did want shearer in charge of labour, they’d be speaking in favour of cunliffe, robertson and little because they know lefties would mistrust them.

                  BUT then knowing that, they’d argue in favour of shearer as reverse-reverse psychology.

                  BUT maybe they don’t partiucularly give a shit either way, and just like watching labour chicken-littles running around with a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure.

                  Fortunately, I’ve spent the last five years developing an immunity to iocaine powder…

            • McFlock 5.2.1.1.1.2
              10 July 2013 at 2:58 pm

              If I understand your position correctly, it consists of four main points:

              1: Shearer is going nowhere in the polls
              2: Gillard went nowhere in the polls
              3: Rudd has made enormous ground in the polls since rolling Gillard
              4: therefore, if shearer is rolled the new leader will make enormous ground in the polls

              1 is plain wrong.
              2 uses too crude a measure – Gillard gained ground significantly immediately after gaining the leadership, and lost it again.
              3 assumes that rudd will not lose the ground he gained from the leadership change just as gillard did, and just as he did before being rolled by gillard.

              So 4 is wishful thinking, and certainly doesn’t warrant you being so worked up about it all.

              One thing I’m pretty sure about is that the voters aren’t particularly enamoured with “if you’re not with us then you’re against us” zealots.

          • Puddleglum 5.2.1.1.2
            10 July 2013 at 10:12 pm

            A close look at the graph you linked to on the Roy Morgan site seems to show that even Rudd’s ‘dip’ in 2010 still left him generally ahead of or, at worst, even with, the N-LP. Gillard’s immediate pre-election ‘bounce’ (though it could have been static given margin of errors) did not get back to where Rudd had been in April that year (a matter of a month or two before being rolled) prior to his ‘dip’.

            By contrast, Gillard in this term had not only been consistently polling well south of the N-LP but also well south of Rudd’s pre-2010 election ‘dip’. Gillard spent most of her term well behind in the polls. Rudd had not spent any time well behind the N-LP in the polls prior to being rolled.

            I don’t hold a flag for either Gillard or Rudd (I see them as disappointingly similar in their politics) but purely from the ‘who’s most likely to win an election’ viewpoint, the evidence you linked to suggests to me that Rudd is a far better bet in relation to the Australian electorate (for good or bad reasons).

            Of course, none of that has anything to do with the New Zealand situation (different electoral system for one thing). I would, however, be very interested to see how the polls would react to a change of leader in the parliamentary wing of the New Zealand Labour Party. I can’t see that they would take a major dip (the 30-ish percent seems fairly ‘solid’ in polling terms irrespective of leader or events – and they are clearly immune to Key’s ‘charms’ which, if anything, are tarnishing) and it would get people looking at Labour again with, perhaps, some mild curiosity as to whether, this time, they will renew and reinvigorate themselves.

            In some ways, changing leader would be a ‘no-risk’ option for Labour, I would have thought. Shearer has clearly not brought with him a chunk of extra support (e.g., over Goff’s pre-2011 election polling) as was presumably expected given the back story, ‘fresh face and no direct personal connection with the previous Labour government, etc..

            The slight improving trend for Labour in the last 18 months of Roy Morgan polls looks, to me, more like regression to the mean (of the ‘natural’ level of Labour support post/late-Helen Clark) rather than a turning point in fortunes. That is, once the population went off Helen Clark, to a certain degree, they’ve stayed right there. The 2011 election was just a brief and temporary ‘dip’ in that overall static situation (‘show me the money’ and Winston’s resurgence over the teapot tapes pretty much explain it).

  6. muzza 6
    10 July 2013 at 8:36 am

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_LAC

    Military and science, protecting you, naturally!

  7. Adrian 7
    10 July 2013 at 10:19 am

    If Cuniliffe had got the job instead of Shearer ( I favoured DC ) does anyone honestly think that Cuniliffe would not have faced exactly the same Nat and it’s arselicker germs campaign smears and innuendo that Shearer has.
    Sick of this bullshit, tell TV3 board and recievers that you will not watch TV3 while they continue to employ this incompetent liar Gower.

    • Santi 7.1
      10 July 2013 at 12:10 pm

      Exactly right. David Shearer has been unjustly crucified.
      He deserves the leadership. No ifs or buts.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.2
      10 July 2013 at 12:29 pm

      Just stop watching TV. Doing so generally means that you become better informed/educated and better entertained.

      • TheContrarian 7.2.1
        10 July 2013 at 12:41 pm

        No need to stop watching television. Just make sure you don’t get your information solely from TV.

    • David H 7.3
      10 July 2013 at 5:52 pm

      @Adrian
      Maybe he would have. BUT it’s more of how he would have handled them. Way different methinks.

  8. Rosetinted 8
    10 July 2013 at 10:19 am

    karol
    I think you might be interested in this great woman being interviewed on Radionz now. She is a NZ historian in the UK and is giving a lecture at Otago on Thursday.

    10-11am: Professor Joanna Bourke – historian and “socialist feminist”, who has written about gender history, working-class culture, war and masculinity, the cultural history of fear and the history of rape.

    She has wide interests taking in working class culture and is now working on sexual violence history. Sounds really thoughtful. She says she takes an anthropological approach to history.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon

    • karol 8.1
      10 July 2013 at 10:35 am

      Thanks, Rosetined. Yes, you are right, it is something that interests me. I will check out the online audio when it goes up.

      Cheers 🙂

  9. vto 9
    10 July 2013 at 10:22 am

    I reckon Gerard Hope, the man who pursued Scott Watson for the murder of his daughter and her friend, has grave doubts over whether Watson actually did the dirty deed.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/8900144/Hope-to-Watson-Did-you-do-it

    As for offering to meet Watson and get an explanation, who does Hope think he is? Watson has absolutely no obligation to Hope, especially in light of his dogged blind pursuit over so many years.

    Imo this is another Arthur Allan Thomas case, complete with treachery by the leading investigating coppers such as Rob Pope, being selective and manipulative with evidence.

    Where did the ketch ever get to?

    • Te Reo Putake 9.1
      10 July 2013 at 10:33 am

      “As for offering to meet Watson and get an explanation, who does Hope think he is? ”

      The father of one of the kids Watson has been convicted of killing. Had you forgetten that?

      • vto 9.1.1
        10 July 2013 at 11:29 am

        And how does the obligation arise there? You need to be more specific.

        • Te Reo Putake 9.1.1.1
          10 July 2013 at 11:58 am

          “And how does the obligation arise there? You need to be more specific.”

          How could I possibly be more specific?

          And as for your obtuse and ignorant ‘innocent until proven guilty’ comment below, you need to get over yourself. You’re not the judge and jury. Watson has been proven guilty already. And lost every appeal since.

          Having said that, I, like Gerald Hope, believe that cases based on circumstancial evidence are always subject to doubt. If Watson didn’t do it, that’s a tragedy for him and a blow to the families. The use of the blinking photo is pretty typical last century cop behaviour designed to secure a conviction and that, and the ID witnesses changing their minds, suggests to me that the case needs looking at again. But that doesn’t mean Watson wasn’t convicted of two counts of murder, because he actually was.

          • vto 9.1.1.1.1
            10 July 2013 at 12:03 pm

            There is no obligation on Watson to have anything to do with Hope. Other than some misplaced wobbling moral compass particular to your person, but that’s yours – don’t impose it on others.

            I have no idea what you are saying in your third paragraph. What’s your point?

    • Adrian 9.2
      10 July 2013 at 10:50 am

      VTO, You are wrong, Gerald has always had misgivings about aspects of the investigation and trial. His only ” pursueing” was to wish that the Police caught whoever did it. An apology is in order.

      • vto 9.2.1
        10 July 2013 at 11:28 am

        I suspect it will end up being Watson who needs the apology.

        Imo, Watson knows something crucial though is innocent of the crime. And our law states that we have no obligation to investigators or to others. We are innoent until proved guilty. These principles have been established over many centuries by some of the worlds’ great minds – if people have a problem with that then they need to take the principles up with them.

    • yeshe 9.3
      10 July 2013 at 11:08 am

      Police answer: There was no ketch. There never was a ketch.

      So many experienced yachties and boaties reported on the non-existent ketch. But none interviewed in depth or called as witness.

      Policeman Pope: There was no ketch. There never was a ketch.

      And from close to one reported sighting of it, a mayday call reportedly was received from a woman on Jan 2 … but don’t know more detail than that.

      Yachties have reported the ketch was seen on the east coast, and then scuppered. But we can never know until it is properly investigated.

      Yes, it is another Arthur Allen Thomas case with equal treachery and deception. And Collins as Justice Minister ? A continuing travesty for Scott Watson.

      • yeshe 9.3.1
        10 July 2013 at 11:19 am

        Meeting with Gerald Hope might be his last remaining hope of justice. Hope has always said if he felt Watson was innocent, he would fight for his freedom. Too many lives and families destroyed in this case.

        • yeshe 9.3.1.1
          10 July 2013 at 11:54 am

          From Keith Hunter yesterday .. here’s a fight for Collins:

          Governor General – :

          9 July 2013

          It’s out. Scott Watson’s application to the Governor-General for the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been declined by Minister Collins today. Wholly predictable in view of the Ministry of Justice’s administration of the application, it is the consequence of the most corrupt piece of paper I have ever seen. It suggests that Ms Collins only finds justice where the innocent are found guilty. Hence the Bain review is reviewed while the Watson review is confirmed.

          Written by Kristy McDonald QC under instruction from the MoJ’s Chief Legal Officer, Jeff Orr, the report was only made available to Watson’s legal team after they pressured former Minister Simon Power for access to it. Even then, the Ministry did not copy the report to the lawyers until they signed and swore agreements that it would not be copied to anyone else and that Watson and his father could read it but not have copies of it. The report is 150 pages long. Watson would have needed ten or a dozen prison visits by his lawyer just to have time to read it. That’s justice in the eyes of the Ministry of Justice.”

          For much more:

          http://www.hunterproductions.co.nz/?page=news&article=news-txt#Report01

          but you need to scroll down to heading “Governor General” …. this is not going away any time soon !

          • muzza 9.3.1.1.1
            10 July 2013 at 12:34 pm

            Collins, or which ever name is listed as Minister of Justice, exists only to protect the state, the machine, that is the job!

      • vto 9.3.2
        10 July 2013 at 11:31 am

        That ketch and the non-investigation of it will continue to haunt Policeman Pope until his dying days. Fundamental mistake – letting emotion and personality cloud his actions.

      • Adrian 9.3.3
        10 July 2013 at 11:42 am

        There was a ketch, it had been moored at Punga Cove in the evening and then moved to Furneaux and dropped anchor behind a witness’s boat at about 12.15am. The police used only a composite photo of the various craft at Furneaux taken around 9pm. If the boat wasn’t in the photo they didn’t want to know. The young witness who held onto the ketch to steady the inflatable worked a few days for me and he showed me how high he had to stand and reach up to grab the gunwale, he also described the round brass porthole in the hull that he was next to. Scott Watsons boat didn’t have much more freeboard than the inflatable and no portholes.
        An Auckland friend with over 40 years of yachting experience reported a ketch fitting the description and particulaly the stern design, quite rare and of NE US type design. He was very specific about time colour and place but did not even get a call back from the Police.
        Coincidentally, a ketch fitting the description was prevented from sailing out of Gisborne ( I think) some months later, and the crew changed to a smaller Cat 1 eligible boat and were subsequently arrested outside Sydney harbour with tonnes of dope etc on board. It had met up with a Columbian registerd freighter north of NZ.

        • vto 9.3.3.1
          10 July 2013 at 11:58 am

          You sound very knowledgeable on it Adrian. Do you know what the police response to questions about the ketch have been? Why did they not investigate it further? Surely they have a complete and credible answer to this question and not just some flippant derisory non-answer.

          I don’t think there are many people who have followed this case that don’t acknowledge the ketch as the yawning great missing link in this ……….

          • yeshe 9.3.3.1.1
            10 July 2013 at 12:05 pm

            VTO — he says it here : “The police used only a composite photo of the various craft at Furneaux taken around 9pm. If the boat wasn’t in the photo they didn’t want to know.”

            They looked no further, ever.

            • vto 9.3.3.1.1.1
              10 July 2013 at 12:15 pm

              Well doesn’t the entire case fall apart as it tumbles into that glaring great cavernous hole?

              Ffs, do the police have no comment on the ketch? At all? None nada zip?

              Why didn’t the police want to know about any boats that turned up after 9pm?

              Why are the police ignoring the 3-plus hours after 9pm?

              What is the police motivation for dong this? personal Pope antagonism towards Watson?

              • yeshe …
                10 July 2013 at 12:24 pm

                Yes it does and welcome to a fraction of the truth VTO .. read the link to Keith Hunter’s website I posted above .. if a retrial was held today, there is no evidence available to convict Scott Watson. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE. ( sorry for shouting, but it needs it.)

                It’s Arthur Thomas’ problem in reverse … for him they had to plant a cartridge to make their case work. For Scott Watson, they had to make a whole 40ft ketch disappear by whatever means they could.

                Scott Watson is innocent, and someone else out there is not. And Policeman Pope let him get away simply and easily by denying the ketch ever existed.

                And Collins just colluded in ensuring this bid for mercy failed. Read Keith Hunter.

        • yeshe 9.3.3.2
          10 July 2013 at 12:02 pm

          Thanks Adrian. Hope Keith Hunter has all this info — there is so much information the police simply ignored.

          Your Auckland friend who reported a ketch — do you know where his sighting was ? Thx.

          • Adrian 9.3.3.2.1
            10 July 2013 at 3:22 pm

            VTO and Yeshe. only as knowledgeable as anyone who read the local paper , that did a very good job of coverage by the way.
            My friend saw the boat about 6days later on a Sunday evening sailing up the Waitemata harbour, which if ( big if ) it was the same ketch seen off theTaranaki coast, incidentaly by a cop out fishing roughly 2 days after the disappearance,and that would tie-in with sailing times. That cop said he thought the boat suspicious as he waved at it, the people on board looked at him and didn’t wave back, very unusual at sea.
            It’s a small area so people know people who know people, a local retired cop told me that they always go for the last person that saw the missing alive, that was the inflatable driver, and when that dosen’t work the next person is the local ratbag and Bingo, Scott Watson filled the bill. He also said that the investigation was incompetent and a shambles as it was just after New Years and all the cops bought into the area were pissed off about being bought back from their holidays.
            Gerald Hope was right to criticise as he had first hand experience of how slack the cops were in the first weeks, They thought that Olivia and Ben had just buggered off on a tiki-tour, but parents always know better.
            A lesson for anyone who has anyone go missing, the cops aren’t interested until they have evidence of foul play. You’ve basically got to drop the dead bleeding body off on their bloody doorstep.

    • BM 9.4
      10 July 2013 at 12:15 pm

      I actually think Gerald Hope feels a bit of guilty.

      It was his rushing to the media and his public on going criticisms about why the police were taking so long to find the killers that probably led to the police stitching up the wrong man and the real killer/killers going free.

  10. karol 10
    10 July 2013 at 10:45 am

    Simon Prast on The Daily Blog on life imitating art (“Anne Boleyn” in fact.). Excellent stuff.

    The best show in town (aside from us thespians of course) was the Key-Dotcom showdown over the GCSB. “Are your eyes and ears everywhere Master Cromwell?” asks the doomed Cardinal Wolsey in the play, moments before he is lead away. Well, yes, they are it seems. EVERYWHERE! The NSA is listening to everyone and the GCSB wants to hear more. “Did she think I don’t have spies watching the stables, as I have spies everywhere?” says Cromwell. Well, it seems there were spies all over Dotcom’s Coatesville stables. Himself an escapee from the Goldfinger auditions, Dotcom is a master of theatricality. Articulate, razor-sharp and dangerously rich, Cromwell would have recognized a kindred though Germanic spirit.

    The drama was palpable. “Why are you turning red, Prime Minister?” “Why are you sweating?” (who writes this stuff?). “You know I know” says Dotcom to Key. “You know I know” says Anne to Cromwell. Line for line, art imitated life imitating art.

  11. Tim 11
    10 July 2013 at 11:47 am

    Anyone else have any opinions on the mean-spiritedness of WINZ regarding cutting pensions where a partner has been a contributor to an overseas (often private) super scheme?
    It’s generated a heap of controversy (Nine to Noon).

    I’m with the recipients (having an American bro-in-law who already has his NZ super adjusted downwards). Now my sister faces having hers effectively taxed (or tithed) to the State.

    Having said all that, I do wonder how many of such recipients are amongst the bennie-bashing ilk.

    • karol 11.1
      10 July 2013 at 12:39 pm

      I’m one of the people now getting a UK state pension. Like the US one, it’s based on the amount I paid into the scheme when I worked there. I also get a UK Teacher’s pension, which is based on what was taken out of my pay and put into the scheme when I worked in the UK.

      So, actually, both UK pensions (state & occupation) have the same basis – but a different basis from the NZ scheme.

      However, I am told that when I qualify for an NZ state pension, the UK state pension will be deducted from my NZ entitlement, while the occupation pension will not be taken into account. There does seem to be an inconsistency.

      I can see why people are complaining, though, for myself, I reckon under the current rules I will still get enough to support my frugal lifestyle – unless cost of living escalates a huge amount, but then we will all be f**ked.

      The way it impacts on married couples looks pretty problematic.

      I hope I never get into bennie bashing.

      • Tim 11.1.1
        10 July 2013 at 1:15 pm

        “I hope I never get into bennie bashing”
        Fear not! I KNOW you won’t. Well – unless of course we’re talking about corporate bennie bashing – in which case, please LET RIP

  12. Rosetinted 12
    10 July 2013 at 12:13 pm

    On Radionz this a.m. was a scathing interview about the position of overseas superannuation recipients living in NZ. Their treatment by the NZ taxation authorities has been disappointing to say the least. All emailers also agree that there is a very twisted and unfair scheme. Who has been in charge of super recently? Ms Poorer Benefit?

    And on noon news –
    Elective patients waiting for quite a while have been cut from thousands last year to 12 today. And how has this drop been achieved? Perhaps by forcing them off the lists after a wait beyond the target time allowed. If so that represents another bad mark against the target system. In the USA you may be sent home after a set number of days whether well and fit or not. We are probably following similar because we don’t have the will to develop and follow our own systems.

    • Tim 12.1
      10 July 2013 at 12:18 pm

      See above Rose – the more I think about it, the worse it is on so many levels.
      I just thought of another reason. Why would anyone with those skills the Nats are telling us we’re so short of, want to come to NZ knowing that their spouses (and they) are going to be severely affected.

      In my bro-in-law’s case – he’s lived here more about half his life and is a NZ citizen. His wife, being an independent sort of person, is now going to be ‘truncated’ on her retirement.
      Yes – it sounds like a Pulla Bent sort of oidear.

      • Rosetinted 12.1.1
        10 July 2013 at 4:56 pm

        Tim
        Yes unfortunately it underlines my belief that NZ government has no vision and no common sense (despite all Peter Dunne’s efforts!) and tries to do everything on the cheap that is needed, but they are prepared to treat their favourite projects lavishly. In the end we don’t get good, sound results and returns from anything we do. And there is sure to be something that goes against that trend, but it’s in the tiny minority group.

        And I’ve heard on the radio, nz people who have come back with good skills and experience and the greeting was less than welcoming. I think many of the managers here are afraid that these “smart arses” from overseas are going to show them up.

  13. Rosetinted 13
    10 July 2013 at 12:16 pm

    Radionz 12.15 pm Interesting research that could turn Auckland’s sprawl to good energy use. So many roofs with unshaded sun aspects could make it viable to put solar panels up and run all electrical appliances with leftover for electric car battery topup.

  14. Penny Bright 14
    10 July 2013 at 12:42 pm

    FYI

    10 July 2013

    Councillor Des Morrison,

    Please be advised that I will be attending the Auckland Council Regulatory and Bylaws Committee meeting on Wednesday 10 July 2013, at 1.30pm, Auckland Town Hall, and I shall be raising my concerns about the on the ‘Public Safety and Nuisance’ Bylaw, and related matters in Public Forum, for 5 minutes.

    I have followed ‘lawful due process’ in my application for ‘speaking rights’, which I believe you are (unlawfully) denying.

    I am quite prepared to test this in Court, if you want to try and have me arrested for taking the ‘speaking rights’ which in my considered opinion, you are unlawfully denying me.

    If you wish to contact Auckland Central Police to have me (unlawfully) removed – here is their phone number: (09) 302 6400

    You could directly contact Auckland Area Commander, Inspector Andrew Coster, if you wish.
    (I have already copied him into my previous email correspondence on this matter).

    Respectfully, I do recommend that you discuss with other the Mayor and other Councillors, my proven track record in Court, on matters pertaining to Local Government and the democratic/ human rights of citizens, because to date, it arguably
    shows that I have a better grasp of the LAW in these matters, than those upon whom Auckland Council appear to be relying for legal counsel?

    Please note the latest (UNLAWFUL) violation of the rights of your fellow elected representatives, as reported in today’s NZ Herald, by Bernard Orsman, by unelected senior Auckland Council Officers, (namely, CEO Doug McKay, General Counsel Wendy Brandon, and Chief Planning Officer, Dr Roger Blakeley – who appear to be running Auckland Council as if it were their own private company?)

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10896123

    Request to see legal response on new rulebook denied.

    Auckland Council’s senior management are refusing to give councillor Sandra Coney access to a legal review of the new planning rulebook for the city.

    Ms Coney considers it essential to have access to the review to make good decisions on the rulebook – or Unitary Plan – that sets out more intensified housing to squeeze another one million residents into the city.

    The council has undertaken a legal review of the plan, which chief planning officer Dr Roger Blakeley told Ms Coney was very specific and to help staff ensure it was legally correct for formal notification.

    She disagreed. “You seem to think you can judge what is necessary for me to govern. This is fundamentally wrong. The legislation charged elected people with the responsibilities and accountability to govern well, not the management,” Ms Coney wrote in an email to Dr Blakeley.

    Following a series of emails on the issue, chief executive Doug McKay said last Thursday he, Dr Blakeley and general counsel Wendy Brandon had disagreed with each of Ms Coney’s requests.

    He said there was a difference between management and governance “and we have a duty to ensure advice we give is legally and technically accurate”. …..”

    _________________________________________________________________________

    What a DISGRACE!

    Yours sincerely,

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation’ campaigner
    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

  15. lprent 15
    10 July 2013 at 1:13 pm

    Kind of freaky sitting at Robert Louis Stevenson’s house and waiting for the rain shower to stop – reading a blog via a cellphone on my tablet…

    Kind of different..

  16. amirite 16
    10 July 2013 at 1:15 pm

    Fucks sake, Im sure they’d find suitable people to do the job for a quarter of a price:

    $2000-a-day fee a ‘significant discount’

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8898640/2000-a-day-fee-a-significant-discount

    A lot of corruption and money grabbing going on right now in Christchurch, it seems. Why is no one discussing this?

    • Draco T Bastard 16.1
      10 July 2013 at 1:29 pm

      Yep. The fees that these aresholes charge and pay themselves is a disgrace. They aren’t as unique as they like to think themselves. There are, quite literally ATM, thousands of people unemployed who could do the job just as well as they could and be willing to do it for far less.

      The problem seems to be that the administrators over value themselves and so are both willing to overcharge for their services when being hired and willing to pay those overcharges when doing the hiring.

      EDIT:
      For that $2000 per day Chch could easily solve the problem by the simple expedient of hiring 5 people to actually do the work.

    • weka 16.2
      10 July 2013 at 3:14 pm

      “Martin had taken a leading role in several public sector reviews previously, including evaluations of Environment Canterbury and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.”

    • The Murphey 16.3
      10 July 2013 at 3:28 pm

      Q: What numerical value would you speculate on as a ceiling, for hourly/daily rates in Auckland?

      A:$_____

      • muzza 16.3.1
        11 July 2013 at 8:49 am

        Probably up around the 5/600ph mark, at a guess, long term contracts, 12-24 months + would not uncommon!

        The bill from the ATA has been closed, and there are hundreds of millions in hidden costs, which the public are unlikely to hear about!

        Move along!

  17. Draco T Bastard 17
    10 July 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Minority Rules: Scientists Discover Tipping Point for the Spread of Ideas

    Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have found that when just 10 percent of the population holds an unshakable belief, their belief will always be adopted by the majority of the society.

    We only need to inform 10% of the population about how banking actually works to get some change.

    • weka 17.1
      10 July 2013 at 3:12 pm

      No, you need 10% to hold those views as unshakable belief (apparently).

      • yeshe 17.1.1
        10 July 2013 at 3:39 pm

        crosby textor depends upon it …

      • Draco T Bastard 17.1.2
        10 July 2013 at 4:21 pm

        I suspect that there won;t be much difference as far as the monetary system goes. Once 10%+ know how the banks rip us off everyone will be demanding change.

      • karol 18.1.1
        10 July 2013 at 3:47 pm

        Ha!

        I’m never sure how men manage to make stuff that’s not about them (affirmative action) all about them (“Man Ban”) but, gosh darn it, aren’t they good at it. I doubt the quota idea will fly, but it was worth a chat, if only so we can all remind ourselves what sexism is.

        Sexism (like racism) is when the dominant group discriminates against the less powerful group, not when the less powerful group has a crack at catching up.

        And today in the General Debate, Grant Robertson did a number on John Key’s “ManDates” – with John Banks; with Ian Fletcher…. etc.

        And Metiria Turei on women’s affairs minister (Goodhew), who said women should be selected on Merit – then Turei asks if only there are only 25% Nat MPs who are competent to be MPs? etc… and onto Nat’s male dominated elite.

        • weka 18.1.1.1
          10 July 2013 at 9:24 pm

          “I’m never sure how men manage to make stuff that’s not about them (affirmative action) all about them (“Man Ban”) but, gosh darn it, aren’t they good at it. I doubt the quota idea will fly, but it was worth a chat, if only so we can all remind ourselves what sexism is.”

          That’s now my favourite summary of the whole thing.

  19. karol 19
    10 July 2013 at 3:40 pm

    Well, Robertson was certainly on fire in his General Debate speech today – launching into a major attack on John key over Kim Dotcom. Seemed inspired.

    • aerobubble 19.1
      10 July 2013 at 4:08 pm

      Well its hard to fathom how Key did not know of such a large contributor to the National parties candidate in the first Auckland election, how DotCom realized he could help out immediately shows political knowledge that must have been sort and given. And knowing he lived in the PM’s electorate… …its staggering Key didn’t know.

    • Te Reo Putake 19.2
      10 July 2013 at 4:45 pm

      The video of Robertson: http://inthehouse.co.nz/node/19871

      Well worth a look! More please, Labour.

  20. Draco T Bastard 20
    10 July 2013 at 4:19 pm

    The Money Revolution

    So recessions, far from being periods of unremitting economic gloom, are actually a unique time of opportunity for governments to invest in public assets, in the process creating millions of desperately needed jobs and increasing prosperity and wellbeing for decades into the future.

    A particular present need is to effect a rapid transition to an economy that no longer depends on fossil fuels. Not only is their supply unsustainable beyond the short term (oil) to medium term (gas and coal), but also pollution from fossil fuels threatens global climatic stability and is a major cause of ill health around the world. There can be few better investments in our future quality of life than in renewable energy generation, the wider energy infrastructure needed to support it, and in improving energy efficiency.

    But those managing recession-hit Western economies are squandering that opportunity, and instead seizing another: the opportunity to attack ordinary people’s living standards and the provision of public goods like housing, health and education. One might reasonably ask why.

    [My Bold]

    One might, indeed, ask why the governments of the world are making things worse off for the many while making the rich richer.

  21. Morrissey 21
    10 July 2013 at 4:33 pm

    Hooting with laughter at the plight of Edward Snowden
    The Panel, Radio NZ National, Wednesday 10 July 2013
    Jim Mora, Elly Jones, Simon Pound

    If Stalinist Russia had vacuous radio talkshows, this is what they would have sounded like. For “Edward Snowden”, insert the name “Nikolai Bukharin”….

    JIM MORA: That’s a sharp-looking houndstooth jacket you’re wearing.
    SIMON POUND: Thank you!
    MORA: Simon Pound, always sartorially elegant! And now it’s time for Noelle McCarthy with what the woooooooorld’s talking about! And where is Edward Snowden?
    NOELLE McCARTHY: Y-y-y-y-yeeeeeessss, …. [snort] ….he he he! He’s still in hiding. He he he!
    JIM MORA: He’s still in the terminal isn’t he?
    NOELLE McCARTHY: He he he he he! Yes he is still in that terminal! …[snort]…
    SIMON POUND: Ha ha ha ha ha!
    MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha!
    ELLY JONES: Well, Tom Hanks hid in an airport for YEARS in that movie, so why can’t Edward Snowden?
    SIMON POUND: Maybe he’s wearing a moustache!
    MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha!
    ELLY JONES: Ha ha ha ha ha!
    SIMON POUND: And a cowboy hat! Just like Bin Laden did!
    MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha!
    NOELLE McCARTHY: He he he he he he! ….[snort]….
    MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha! So where is he going to, Edward Snowden? Ha ha ha ha ha!
    NOELLE McCARTHY: He’s got a choice! Venezuela, Bolivia or Ecuador!
    SIMON POUND: [with deepest sarcasm] Venezuela, Bolivia or Ecuador! All jurisdictions FAMED for their dedication to the protection of whistle-blowers!
    MORA: [whimsical] Hmmmmm…. I wonder which would be the best of those three places to be a fugitive in.
    NOELLE McCARTHY: Bolivia would be hard with the altitude.
    MORA: They’re all warm, sunny places.
    ELLY JONES: I actually feel sorry for the guy.
    MORA: Oh really?
    ELLY JONES It’s like the X-Factor. He keeps getting voted off!
    SIMON POUND: Haw haw haw haw!
    MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha! That’s true, I suppose.

    …..ad infinitum, ad nauseam….

    • Ron 21.1
      10 July 2013 at 4:51 pm

      Stop listening to National Radio. Once morning report is over the rest of the day is a complete waste of spectrum space.

      • Bearded Git 21.1.1
        10 July 2013 at 5:38 pm

        No, Mary Wilson is brilliant at 5pm

      • aerobubble 21.1.2
        12 July 2013 at 5:35 pm

        I found life to much more pleasant once I started ignoring Mora in the afternoons, its just the pre-spin cycle of the MSM, on the fact-tory line, to produce right wing propaganda.

    • North 21.2
      10 July 2013 at 7:41 pm

      Morrissey, I half hope you didn’t watch Campbell TV3 tonight. Why ? Well my health has been adversely affected by what I saw. As one with far sharper antennae than mine, I expect a major adverse impact on yours.

      In pure selfishness however, I really want to hear your take. I’m prepared to hold(er) on until you pick yourself up off your 100% New Zealand Wool carpet and fly staunchly at your keyboard.

      Who the fuck could believe ShonKey Python when repeatedly he told Parliament that he knew nothing about Sir Kiwi Kim Dotcom until 18 or 19 January 2012 ?????????????????????????????????

      I’m starting to suspect that the Big O is a bit of a demon akshelly. And anticipate that ShonKey Python might just be the weak link. Imagine. Never being invited to the White House again. Blackballed from all the finest gentlemens’ clubs in Washington/London/Parnell/Omaha. Oh Fuck ! What pain !

      Smartarse schoolboyish vanity, pride and lies cometh before a fall, what ?

  22. Penny Bright 22
    10 July 2013 at 5:32 pm

    FYI

    I was (unlawfully) denied ‘speaking rights’ by Auckland Councillor Des Morrison, Chair of the Regulatory and By Laws Committee – so – I stood up on my hind legs (as it were) and TOOK ‘speaking rights’.

    In my considered opinion, it was an extremely foolish move by Auckland Councillor Des Morrison, who claimed he was ‘a stickler for process’.

    I’m a stickler for LAWFUL due process.

    Auckland Council Standing Orders are based upon underpinning legislation. particularly – The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1987/0174/latest/DLM122283.html

    4 Purposes
    The purposes of this Act are—

    (a) to provide for the availability to the public of official information held by local authorities, and to promote the open and public transaction of business at meetings of local authorities, in order—

    (i) to enable more effective participation by the public in the actions and decisions of local authorities; and

    (ii) to promote the accountability of local authority members and officials,—
    and thereby to enhance respect for the law and to promote good local government in New Zealand:

    (b) to provide for proper access by each person to official information relating to that person:

    (c) to protect official information and the deliberations of local authorities to the extent consistent with the public interest and the preservation of personal privacy.
    ____________________________________________________________

    Auckland Council Standing Orders cannot be ‘ultra vires’ this underpinning legislation.

    (ultra vires – beyond the legal power or authority of a person or official or body etc; “an ultra vires contract”

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ultra+vires )

    Given the proven track record of arguably incompetent legal advice that Auckland Council has been receiving via their General Counsel, Wendy Brandon, on matters pertaining to Local Government and the human/democratic rights of citizens enshrined in the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, the Local Government Act 2002, the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009, the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990, the Human Rights Amendment Act 1993 – in my considered opinion, it would have been sensible for the Regulatory and ByLaws Committee, to listen to what I had to say, for a mere 5 minutes.

    As one of the two successful Appellants in the Occupy Auckland vs Auckland Council Appeal, which raised a number of similar legal matters, I have some proven expertise in this area, and was prepared to give my ‘considered opinion’ free of charge. (Situation normal).

    Given that Auckland Council has already wasted at least over $200,000 in unnecessary legal expenses pertaining to the (unlawful) eviction of peaceful Occupy Auckland protestors from Aotea Square, by means of an injunction (which was quashed by the ruling of High Court Judge Ellis), surely it would have been simple commonsense to help prevent further potential wastage of Auckland Council public monies, based upon possible incorrect and incompetent legal advice?

    http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/?p=130

    http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/?p=113

    Former Auckland City Councillors have learned that my word is not to be taken lightly, when it comes to defending my lawful rights as a citizen to participatory democracy.

    If I am (unlawfully) denied speaking rights, after having applied in a proper way, I will defend these democratic rights, by taking them.

    As always, I take full personal responsibility for my actions, which I was and am prepared to take to the point of arrest.

    ‘Faint heart never won fair go’!

    Bugger the ‘Beggar By Law’! (As it were 🙂

    ‘Her Warship’

    Penny Bright

    ‘Anti-corruption /anti-privatisation’ campaigner
    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

  23. weka 23
    10 July 2013 at 9:18 pm

    Micky, nice write up of your move to ts and how you see the place, where it fits in the scheme of things 🙂

    http://waitakerenews.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/im-off-to-standard.html

  24. felix 24
    10 July 2013 at 10:06 pm

    So it seems that whassisface with the eyering, posting on facebook as “The Pakeha Party”, has revealed himself a bit more today.

    He’s been posting some pretty horrible shit, and deleting some of it pretty quickly too. Stuff about how there are “too many dirty blacks” and how “maoris don’t have jobs”.

    wtf, infused?

The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.