Open mike 14/02/2013

78 comments on “Open mike 14/02/2013 ”

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1. BLiP 1

   14 February 2013 at 6:34 am

   .

   Hmmm . . .

   . . . Labour Minister Chris Finlayson has trimmed the criteria for the annual minimum wage review from 20 factors, which have been considered since 2008, to just four: the consumer price index, the median wage, effects on jobs and a catch-all category called “other relevant factors”.

   A footnote in a paper he took to Cabinet last month says “other relevant factors” means, “For example, the effect on the public sector, particularly on ACC, the Ministries of Health and Education” . . .

   . . . sneaky lawyer is sneaky, but John Key speaks with forked tongue.
   • tc 1.1

     14 February 2013 at 8:05 am

     Yes once Findlayson got Labour off nana Kate it was always going to come to something like this.

     Keep and eye on the sneaky ones like him, Ryall, Joyce and also watch housing now it’s in with ‘wouldn’t lie straught in bed’ Smith as Heatley didn’t plunder the stock for mates enough and got the shove.
2. geoff 2

   14 February 2013 at 7:07 am

   Peter Dunne wants multi-nationals to pay their fair share:
   http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/128020/minister-backs-global-action-on-tax-avoidance

   Why is this creep pushing this policy? Trying to stay relevant for the next election?
   • BLiP 2.1

     14 February 2013 at 7:21 am

     .

     Well, see, “global action on tax avoidance” = contracting out the collection of taxes to private companies with an international reach. Privisation. But worse: contracting multi-nationals to collect tax from themselves. Good luck with that. Basically, he’s selling the public on the idea of putting the fox in the hen house but, because he’s so stupid, he doesn’t realise it. Alternatively, John Key has just given him a wee media spot so he can feel he’s helping out. You know, keep the Belmont Bouffant busy doing something useful rather than standing around being a dork.
     • muzza 2.1.1

       14 February 2013 at 8:30 am

       Correct, Dunne is actually showing his support for global governance in the open, this is no surprise!
3. Afewknowthetruth 3

   14 February 2013 at 7:24 am

   Harry Duynhoven, the mendacious, bullying, cowardly, fascist mayor of New Plymouth, has just orchestrated the silencing of one of the few honest and caring councillors on NPDC via yet another ‘code of conduct’ hearing, the third under his nasty regime and just the fourth in the history of the council.

   Harry Dunhoven was Labour MP for the district until booted out. He was known locally as Harry Do-nothing (though he did manage to sign away a slice of our fossil fuel reserves to overseas corporations and orchestrate raised CO2 levels) .Via a massive advertising campaign (paid for by his corporate mates no doubt) and a series of lies he told at the local body elections he managed to win the mayoralty by a very slim majority.

   It all goes to show what awful people have constituted the Labour Party in recent decades.
   • Te Reo Putake 3.1

     14 February 2013 at 8:03 am

     Harry wasn’t booted out as MP, he lost by a mere hundred votes in 2008. He then went on to comfortably win the mayoralty. He’s not a fascist. The councillor concerned was rightly censured for a cowardly attack on a person who could not fight back. Other than those minor points, you’re 100% correct.

     A more balanced account of what happened can be found here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/8300708/Conduct-vote-against-George

     btw, Sherrill George is an unrepentant racist; her last censuring was for trying to destroy the business of a Waitara couple for being too Cambodian.
     • Afewknowthetruth 3.1.1

       14 February 2013 at 10:01 am

       Duynhoven was booted out [by the voters]. If he wasn’t we would still be enduring his mendacity as an MP.

       Do you really think that the corporation-owned Daily News gives a balanced view? Everything in the Daily News is propaganda, designed to keep ‘proles’ believing in the system that has enslaved them from birth (and keep the advertising revenue flowing). Neuro-linguistic programming and manufacturing consent for corporate looting is the norm for ALL mainstream media.

       Having spoken at length with both Duynhoven and George and seen the policies they promote I KNOW who the lying fascist is.

       Harry’s most recent push for complete control is to implement a ban on public deputation to the council for anyone who tells the truth… nasty, vicious creep that he is.

       However, he has been very successful as a conman.
       • The Fan Club 3.1.1.1

         14 February 2013 at 2:01 pm

         Cr George tried to organise a racist boycott. That sounds pretty fascist to me, to be honest.
4. mickysavage 4

   14 February 2013 at 8:09 am

   The Richard Prosser (or is that Tosser?) saga gets more and more bizarre.

   His professed reason for his anti muslim rant was the “confiscation” of a prized pocketknife when he tried to board an Air New Zealand plane. Most people would have the good sense to realise that taking a potential weapon onto a plane was not a good thing to do and it is reasonable for the authorities to have rules about this sort of thing. But apparently not Richard. He obviously does not think that rules should apply to him. The incident happened in December last year and he was an MP at the time.

   The weird thing is that Stuff reports this morning that the knife was not confiscated and that Airport staff facilitated the checking in of the knife as baggage.

   He is one unusual individual …

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8295162/Wogistan-MP-should-resign-Islamic-leader
   • JK 4.1

     14 February 2013 at 8:34 am

     This is on Scoop NZ news this morning. IMO Harawira is justified in his stance.

     Wednesday, 13 February 2013, 2:55 pm
     Press Release: Mana Party

     Today I opposed a request from Richard Prosser to make a personal statement to the house. I did so because if he has an apology to make for his offensive remarks to the Muslim community, then he can make his way to the nearest mosque and ask forgiveness there.

     I do not accept that he should be able to make such remarks and then simply wash away his venom via an unchallenged explanation in the house.

     Hone Harawira
     MANA leader and MP for Tai Tokerau
     • marsman 4.1.1

       14 February 2013 at 9:02 am

       Well done Hone.
     • vto 4.1.2

       14 February 2013 at 9:56 am

       Fair enough Mr Hone, but what do you make of what will be a big fat rump of the populace slowly shaking their heads at the apparent double and triple and quadruple standards around the big stinking pile of shit that is race relations and bigotry in this country. It is ok to be racist or advocate for racist policies, or to mock other genders and ages and races, in some but not in others.

       I am not defending that rump nor wanting to debate the pluses and minuses, I am wondering how you deal with that rump and their relatively simple concern. Because today the views in this arena simply fly all over the place, each missing each other and flying off on their own tangents. No connection. Hence no start at understanding each other.

       And meantime the smell gets worse.

       I wonder, genuinely, whether this area is something you could speak to.

       Over.
       • marty mars 4.1.2.1

         14 February 2013 at 11:32 am

         🙄
         • vto 4.1.2.1.1

           14 February 2013 at 2:47 pm

           Keep rolling your eyes and taking the mick mickey mouse. It is all you ever do. If you don’t want to engage on the subject then leave it alone. You have made your point well clear on what you think of me personally. That’s fine. But the ongoing schoolyard mocking is offensive and abusive and a decent person would stop wallowing in it.

           mickory mockery
           abuse and offence
           just make for one big pile of stench

           … punch out your next piece mick, but I am off for a few days and wont see it. Your fans will though so go right ahead, knock yourself out, rub that ego …..
     • David H 4.1.3

       14 February 2013 at 10:32 am

       Well done Hone.

       Tosser/Prosser should be booted out by 2 faced Peters,, but he won’t be as it fits right in with Peters racist rants.
     • marty mars 4.1.4

       14 February 2013 at 11:33 am

       Good job Hone – thanks for doing that because I agree we let these race baiters off too easy.
     • Colonial Weka 4.1.5

       14 February 2013 at 2:37 pm

       +1000 Hone.
   • tc 4.2

     14 February 2013 at 9:57 am

     Maybe it’s time he went back to winemaking.
   • bad12 4.3

     14 February 2013 at 12:30 pm

     Yes it is usually the province of the Terrorist to be attempting to board airplanes armed with knives,

     It is also border-line illegal as it is illegal to possess a knife in a public place without a reasonable excuse,

     What reasonable excuse can there be for a Member of the New Zealand Parliament to be wandering round in public armed with a knife…
     • BLiP 4.3.1

       14 February 2013 at 1:06 pm

       .

       What reasonable excuse can there be for a Member of the New Zealand Parliament to be wandering round in public armed with a knife…

       Too many to mention:

       – good for keeping the nails clean

       – handy for getting a key started on those tight-as key rings

       – great for getting staples out

       – opening envelopes

       – slicing box tape

       – flicks those SIM cards out of the back of cell phones easy-peasy

       – sharpening pencils

       – taking bottle caps off

       – all manner of emergency uses

       . . . I’ve always carried a pocket knife, inherited my ole man’s one a while back, and its a beauty. The one time I got nabbed with it at the Airport it was too late for me, a mere voter, to be “expedited” through to checked-in baggage. Instead, the nice lady there said if I gave her $5 and my address she’s stick in a courier bag. She said it was a personal favour and not policy. (Love ya, Tui).

       I get that you’re probably making a joke, but I shall defend forever the right for anyone to carry a pen knife. I don’t think its unusual or bad or sufficient evidence of anything. Perhaps its a bit old fashioned, something of an affectation, and, maybe, a bit blokey. Believe me, I do understand how a person might feel if a such treasured item were to taken from them at an airport, especially when a cigarette lighter is a far more lethal weapon aboard an aircraft.

       I think Prosser’s act of terror was not in being “armed” but that he used a lie to generate hate.
       • McFlock 4.3.1.1

         14 February 2013 at 1:38 pm

         you can take my Zippo from my cold, dead fingers!
         But I make sure I don’t carry it onto a plane.
       • bad12 4.3.1.2

         14 February 2013 at 2:18 pm

         Yes many of us carry a pocket knife, should the plods find you with one tho i believe you would still likely to be charged and convicted for carrying an offensive weapon in a public place as all your list of reasons are easily accomplished with other tools,

         Prosser adding whine to His cheese makes a mockery of Himself by raving at being held up at an airport security checkpoint specifically set up to detect passengers attempting to board domestic flights carrying just what He was, a concealed weapon for which i would suggest that He had no reasonable excuse to be carrying in a public place let alone an airport security check-in…
         • BLiP 4.3.1.2.1

           14 February 2013 at 4:05 pm

           .

           Not that I’ve had much to do with them, the plods seem okay about it. The fact that a multitude of other tools can be entirely replaced with a single penknife strikes me as being a perfectly reasonable excuse to carry one. Plods tend to agree, most of the time . . . once the knife was sitting on the front passenger’s seat and that, apparently, was sufficient cause for an otherwise arbitary search. South Auckland wankers.

           And, yeah: the airport staff did their job and caught an idiot, probably, half a dozen other passengers were held up while the matter was sorted out . . . and Prosser is pissed off?? Odd MP is odd.
           • McFlock 4.3.1.2.1.1

             14 February 2013 at 5:00 pm

             My understanding is that it’s a bit of a balance – the front passenger seat issue would be that it’s too readily accessible (as opposed to fishing it out of your pocket while seated), and they might have had a wee op on for proactive policing. “Fishing”, in other words.

             Basically it’s a balance of “reasonable”. No prescribed criteria: tradies with multitools would be cool, some guy with a history of violence and a fucking great scimitar on a friday night … not so much. Holding for self defence = very uncool, taking it to and from self defence practise = probably cool, especially if it’s wrapped up or in the bottom of your gym bag.
             • bad12 …

               14 February 2013 at 5:57 pm

               Get arrested for anything and be found with a knife in your pocket and you can bet the charge sheet includes a charge of carrying an offensive weapon…
               • McFlock …

                 14 February 2013 at 11:27 pm

                 Most likely, yes.

                 Because you were carrying it in the apparent commission of a crime.
                 For the same reason that you can carry a screwdriver every day, but if you were breaking into a house it would suddenly become “carrying a tool for burglary”.

                 But then, if you were carrying a little swiss army knife, cooperated with the officer, advised them of its presence and volunteered it willingly, had not threatened them or anyone else with it, and had no history of violence, then any weapons charge could well just be a “contempt of cop” issue. You’d be amazed at how charges can disappear if you don’t make life difficult.

                 And if it’s a particularly small knife and all the other charges fell through, it could still be realistically challenged in court.

                 Of course, if you said you carried it “for protection”, you’re fucked.
     • felixviper 4.3.2

       14 February 2013 at 4:45 pm

       “What reasonable excuse can there be for a Member of the New Zealand Parliament to be wandering round in public armed with a knife…”

       Very handy if you come across someone who looks like they might tag your fence and you have to chase them 300 metres and stab them to death.
       • Colonial Viper 4.3.2.1

         14 February 2013 at 5:16 pm

         I go by Garth McVicar’s judgement on matter such as these and he said it was OK.
         • QoT 4.3.2.1.1

           14 February 2013 at 9:49 pm

           Be fair, CV, he said it was fair because the guy was really frustrated. He’s not advocating total anarchy.
       • bad12 4.3.2.2

         14 February 2013 at 5:52 pm

         Lolz, yes a perfectly reasonable excuse for carrying a knife, and if Garth says its ok then who is a mere peasant like me to argue with such a great um, (expletive deleted)…
5. Colonial Viper 5

   14 February 2013 at 9:14 am

   Prosser gets told what is what; someone make this writer an MP

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10865255

   Dear Mr Prosser,

   Unbeknown to myself, I am your enemy.

   I consider this strange as I have never met you and harbour no ill will toward you. I am certain that if I walked past you on the street your suspicions would not be raised. If you were a customer in my shop I am certain you would not suspect that I pose your family any risk. For you see, I am Muslim, I am 30, and I am also white. Throw in the fact that I am an American expatriate – accent and all – and I possess quite the subterfuge. After all, I could sit next to you on a flight, our arms negotiating the armrest for space, and you would think nothing of it. And yet if between us the subject of religion arose, my reply would disable you with fear.

   Or so your column would lead me to believe.

   I am writing an open letter to you out of sympathy, respect, and the desire for understanding. I do not write this so publicly in order to give your opinions greater status than they deserve. Instead, I hope to circumvent your vitriol from tainting the views of other people who, through lack of personal experience with the Muslim community, may be susceptible to your very limited and ignorant view of our religion and families.
   • Colonial Weka 5.1

     14 February 2013 at 2:47 pm

     Very good letter. Extremely generous to invite Prosser to dinner.
6. Colonial Viper 6

   14 February 2013 at 9:52 am

   A good State of the Union speech from Obama. He has signalled a legacy building last term in office.

   He promises to pull out of Afghanistan in the next year, but unfortunately I suspect Gitmo will still be open and operating strong.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKwE2EGsfMk
   • Anne 6.1

     14 February 2013 at 10:02 am

     A video from Greenpeace 3.

     Sub-Antarctic islands. Beautiful. Must be protected.

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oZZhf6VM7k&feature=youtu.be
   • joe90 6.2

     14 February 2013 at 10:09 am

     Full transcript.
   • muzza 6.3

     14 February 2013 at 12:29 pm

     CV did you leave the sarc tag off?

     Or were you pointing people to the speech in the hope that they might read/view their way past the lies and spin, while trying to interpret what he might, actually be telling the world!
     • Colonial Viper 6.3.1

       14 February 2013 at 2:58 pm

       Oh you cynic 😛
   • Murray Olsen 6.4

     14 February 2013 at 4:24 pm

     It’d be nice if he promised to ground the drones. They don’t need boots on the ground as much as they used to.
7. Polish Pride 7

   14 February 2013 at 10:13 am

   Tragic situation where 5 people have lost their lives in the US and MSM media show their ineffectiveness yet again…

   I have been following the Christoper Dorner saga in the US with great interest. Whilst not a fan at all of his methods, I am interested in anything that outs racism and corruption.
   Yesterday Police had him surrounded and cornered in a cabin. The Cabin then catches fire.
   At this point There are 3 possibilities
   1. Dorner set fire to the cabin himself – Unlikely in my view as he was inside
   2. The police set fire to it either accidently or on purpose.
   3. it caught fire for some other reason. perhaps a freak lightening strike, an electrical fault, or perhaps he was cooking himself something to eat whilst trying to figure out a way out of this mess and left the oven on. – I’m pretty sure we can rule this one out too.

   This then begs the question why none of the mainstream media are asking the question of how did the cabin actually catch fire. Some non MSM media are asking this very question. What makes it even more chilling is reports and recordings puported to be from police via a local radio station KCal 9 where police can be heard saying.
   “burn this F#$*er”
   Someone is heard to shout: “Burn that smoke grenade out. Burn that F$%*ing house down!”

   Moments later another voice says: “Get it going right now! F%^&ing burn this F$%&er!”

   Another video, posted to YouTube, purports to be a recording of police radio conversations during the raid.

   Posters on some sites have already started likening this to Waco Texas (obviously less people but same tactics),
   The course of action Dorner took was clearly wrong but should he not be caught if possible and brought before the Justice system? Or were police exacting their own justice as revenge for fellow officers and family members killed by Dorner.
   Given two earlier incidents involving trucks where police opened fire without warning that involved members of the public (two hispanic women in one and a white male in another) that were not Dorner, and now with how this appears to have ended. Were police hell bent on ensuring he didn’t have his day in court especially as he was alleging ongoing racism and corruption within the LAPD…. Conspiratorial??

   But again MSM show their ineffectiveness and bias by not asking the questions that need to be asked.
   • Colonial Viper 7.1

     14 February 2013 at 10:17 am

     It seems if you’ve gone deliberately hunting for US cops, killing them, this is the usual favour that they return to you.

     But yes, the MSM are unquestioning and ineffective at bringing important points to light.
   • joe90 7.2

     14 February 2013 at 10:21 am

     http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/dorner-manhunt-highly-incendiary-hot-gas-used-on-cabin.html
   • joe90 7.3

     14 February 2013 at 10:25 am

     This too.

     http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/13/audio-catches-cops-shouting-burn-this-motherfcker-during-dorner-siege/
   • muzza 7.4

     14 February 2013 at 12:33 pm

     Remember that that next link in the sequence of events to *destroy America*, is to create situations, where people and the police turn on eachother – These events have been predicted, and appear to be playing themselves out through the media, what a surprise /sarc!
     • Polish Pride 7.4.1

       14 February 2013 at 4:09 pm

       I try to be more subtle in my approach 🙂 but understand where you are coming from. Do you have any links I think they may be useful to help wake some people up or at least start them thinking in this instance…..
     • joe90 7.4.2

       14 February 2013 at 5:54 pm

       Do you have any links I think they may be useful to help wake some people up or at least start them thinking in this instance…..

       The Mystery of the Urinal Deuce.
8. Morrissey 8

   14 February 2013 at 10:20 am

   Conveniently “forgetting” who supported Pol Pot
   National Radio, Nine to Noon, Thursday 14 February 2013
   http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon

   Kathryn Ryan this morning interviewed Denise Arnold, a Tauranga lawyer who runs the Cambodia Charitable Trust. This is by all accounts an excellent organization, and Denise Arnold is a hard working and articulate advocate for it.

   http://www.cambodiatrust.org.nz/

   However, it is surely incumbent on someone like Denise Arnold to speak plainly and honestly about all aspects of her work, and about the political and historical reality of the country in which she is doing so much good work. Sadly, however, she has chosen to rigorously censor her public utterances. So when Kathryn Ryan said, only half-accurately, that Cambodia “was devastated after the Khmer Rouge years”, Denise Arnold restrained herself from pointing out that Cambodia had already been devastated by the United States, and that the horrors of the Khmer Rouge were made possible largely because of that.

   Sadly, she simply reiterated Ryan’s anodyne and dishonest approach. “Cambodia lost,” Arnold said, “one quarter of its population due to Pol Pot’s genocide.”

   Of course, the rise to power of Pol Pot was only possible because of the genocidal attack on Cambodia by the United States. This history was studiously ignored by both Kathryn Ryan and Denise Arnold. No one benefits from such cleansed public discourse—except the people who colluded with the Pol Pot regime, both at the height of its atrocities and for years afterwards.

   As Ms. Arnold would know perfectly well, one of the governments that obediently followed the U.S. directive to support the Khmer Rouge was our own. Read more HERE…
   http://brothernumberone.co.nz/nzcambodianrelations

   [lprent – the information in the comment history vs the ban list is inconsistent, I can’t work out if Morrissey has served his time or not. Can we let him out of purgatory? r0b]
   • tc 8.1

     14 February 2013 at 11:50 am

     Kathryn Ryan – like morning TV except on radio, lightweight and trying hard not to be challenging to whatever line’s being pushed.
     A publicly funded soapbox most of the time oh goody.
     • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 8.1.1

       14 February 2013 at 4:43 pm

       tc
       Don’t moan at Kathryn Ryan and NinetoNoon – it’s meant to be current news that tells it like it is but doesn’t push the barrow. If you want a drop of the hard stuff go to Mary Wilson at night. But Kathryn seems okay, asks good questions. But then I used to think Maggie Barry was good. I was a bit younger then and perhaps less cynical.
       • bad12 8.1.1.1

         14 February 2013 at 5:49 pm

         Much preferred Kim Hill, She has the ability to put people completely at their ease and then ask them a hardie right out of left field which deflates their egos big time…
         • Tim 8.1.1.1.1

           14 February 2013 at 7:55 pm

           Let’s hope KH is still around when we eventually get PSB TV back. And by that I mean true PSB.
           That doesn’t mean pseudo PSBTV like FACE or KIDZONE or HEARTLAND designed to give a monopoly interest a veneer of “corporate responsibility and concern” and only available to the “UN”digitally-divided.

           I fear though, she’s getting to the stage of weighing up whether pushing shit uphill is worth the effort.
           Still – she likes gardening and feeding the soil with seaweed, sheep and cowshit, so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that a bit of poli-shit could be worth an experiment.
           I’m sure there’s some sort of ‘smart-think-recycling-politician-anal or verbal crap’ possibility there, whereby a fascist Key-NAct-brand type kaka could be fed into fertilising a crop of something useful. And if it all fails, we’ll just put it all down to a venture that was ‘mis-sold’ and appoint Steven Joyce to investigate it’s failure (on minimum wage)
       • Mary 8.1.1.2

         14 February 2013 at 5:56 pm

         Kathryn Ryan asks good questions, initially, but doesn’t take the time to listen to the answers so misses the opportunities for killer follow up questions. Kim Hill is brilliant at that.
   • Morrissey 8.2

     14 February 2013 at 3:22 pm

     Okay, okay, r0b, I’ll come back in March.

     [See you then – r0b]
9. kiwi_promtheus 9

   14 February 2013 at 10:54 am

   [deleted – sorry you picked up a one week ban. r0b]
10. Rogue Trooper 10

    14 February 2013 at 1:41 pm

    hee hee, from through the Square Window
    RNZ-there is a slip to the lowest common denominator when it comes to the training and experience of people caring for the impaied in this country (and this is current info from friends employed in the sector)

    61/2 % Current Acount Deficit, heading towards 8% (not so good I read); Parker “2nd worse in the developed world”

    the fishing industries are slaughtering marine mammals and comparing the collateral to “road kill kiwis” (yep!)

    Nathan Guy “well, I’ll read the briefings , talk to the officials, then get some advice.” :), talk about drivel!

    Shearer, NEATs now 90,000.

    ha ha! on 3 “have the US negotiate MORE with N.K”, when previously their leader is on record referring to “sworn enemy” and Major Tom (North Korean astronaut) dreams of a US city being annihilated by nuclear attack!

    Robertson-describes Regional Equivalent GDP akin to economic apartheid, with mainly the extractive, polluting provinces proceeding…and outside promary industries, foreign investment contracting (never fear, English Budget nearly here). Did you see how primary produce is exported overseas and then flown back to restock cruise ships???

    Winston appears to be an ongoing nemesis for Carter. then there is the price of groceries in NZ compared to OZ (where food used to be more expensive). Now, Campbell Live, the comparitive total was $24 less in OZ, incl. a lamb roast that was $8 cheaper.

    Bertram-“no NZ govt in the last three decades has been prepared to tackle economic problems like the food-supply duopoly”.
11. Te Reo Putake 11

    14 February 2013 at 1:43 pm

    Brighter Future Update:

    Joint Media Release

    PSA?EPMU

    100 jobs cut at Datam

    New Zealand Post-owned print and mailing house Datam has today informed unions it intends to make 100 redundancies in Wellington and Auckland.

    The proposed job cuts come as a result of a restructuring exercise and will lead to the closure of the Petone plant at a cost of 75 jobs and a reduction of 28 roles in Auckland.

    This announcement follows recent mass redundancies at Summit Wool Spinners, Mainzeal and Contact Energy.

    EPMU postal sector organiser Joe Gallagher says the job cuts are a blow for communities already struggling with high unemployment.

    “These redundancies have come as a shock to workers and it will take a while for everyone to digest what it means. New Zealand Post has committed to a fair consultation and timeframe but the reality is redundancy is never easy for anyone.

    “While we accept the restructuring is a result of new machinery being installed, we have serious concerns about the state of the job market our members will be facing and we believe this shows the need for a Government strategy to tackle the jobs crisis.”

    The PSA says unions will be working with the company to look at future options for workers.

    “It’s always disappointing to see good jobs being lost and given the lack of employment opportunities in the market, it’s important that Datam look at retraining and redeployment possibilities for affected staff within the organisation. We’ll be working hard to make sure that happens,” says PSA Assistant Secretary Jeff Osborne.

    The unions understand the company intends to create 30 new positions in Christchurch as part of the restructure.
12. Rogue Trooper 12

    14 February 2013 at 1:52 pm

    re Corrections Amendment Bill; govt wants to dilate all the inmates orifices for inspection, while even the Dept. says this is inflammatory; Goff made a good summary of the contrast between private and state prison provision, and Chauvel articulated some real concerns Human Rights; Serco have come in for a lot of criticism remember, for scandals and abuse in the UK NHS and Prison Service; even NZF supports state provision of corrections.

    Dom-a “Laziness Pandemic” is active in our population, burdening the purse to 1.3B in 2010. (sometimes i wonder what happened to the outdoorsy, sports mad, country I grew up in); The Lancet-“50% of population insufficiently active.”

    meanwhile, back at the batsh*t cave; “NZ exchange rate effectively a pawn in the currency wars between larger economies”.

    “We are effectively destroying ourselves by violence masquerading as love.” R.D Laing
13. Rogue Trooper 13

    14 February 2013 at 2:00 pm

    a lament or two for that ‘Dick”; you know who.
    Surah 43:83
    So leave them to babble
    And play (with vanities)
    Until they meet that Day
    Of theirs, which they
    Have been promised (perhaps retribution)

    Surah 3:10
    Those who reject Faith-
    Neither their possessions
    Nor their numerous progeny
    Will avail them aught
    Against Allah; they are themselves
    But fuel for the fire. (Liked that one Alot)

    Surah 2:171
    The parable of those
    Who reject faith is
    As if one were to shout
    Like a goat-herd to things
    That listen to nothing
    But calls a nd cries:
    Deaf, dumb and blind,
    They are void of wisdom. (cannot distinguish intelligently between shades of meaning or subtle differences in values)

    now, for some comedy I’m going to watch par-ley-ment. 🙂
    • David H 13.1

      14 February 2013 at 6:37 pm

      More like Par LIAR ment.
14. joe90 14

    14 February 2013 at 3:22 pm

    The beginning of the collapse of an entire marine resource?. Probably.

    http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21571386-global-warming-may-make-northernmost-ocean-less-productive-not-more
    • joe90 14.1

      14 February 2013 at 7:27 pm

      http://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/climatesnapshot/arctic-death-spiral-leaves-climate-scientists-shocked-and-worried
15. mickysavage 15

    14 February 2013 at 3:59 pm

    David Cunliffe on free markets …

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C7er64lx9A
16. Draco T Bastard 16

    14 February 2013 at 4:20 pm

    Wages produce dependence. This governments attack upon the welfare system is a means to ram that dependence home. As a society we need to break that dependence and that means breaking the capitalist ownership model that brings it about.
17. VivaciousViper 17

    14 February 2013 at 4:36 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10865297

    Claire Trevitt: Shearer’s reshuffle comes out of the shadows.
    Worth a giggle.
18. VivaciousViper 18

    14 February 2013 at 4:55 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/8304869/Salisbury-School-consultation-a-sham

    This shows up the shonky dealings that have enveloped this Key led Nact govt,just disgraceful
19. Chris 19

    14 February 2013 at 4:59 pm

    I look after two children once a week and normally they do not have their TV on One, which I do not watch.EVER!!! While I was trying to turn Breakfast off (up high,couldn’t find remote) and I heard the cute giggly Toni? and the pom waaing on about valentines and I THINK ! I heard that the honourable (“we would love to see wages DROP”) tedious little mankey had been voted DRUM ROLL!! sexiest something or other for the fourth year in a row.
    Question. Did I hear this or was it just an extremely hilarious dream.
20. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 20

    14 February 2013 at 6:34 pm

    If only they’d been painting the roof:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10865417
    • Draco T Bastard 20.1

      14 February 2013 at 7:07 pm

      The point you seem to miss is that them being on the sickness benefit has nothing to do with the drug bust.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10766619

      A millionaire businessman is among 19 people arrested after a covert investigation targeting a criminal syndicate allegedly making and selling thousands of Ecstasy pills every week.

      Or perhaps we shouldn’t trust businessmen either?
      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 20.1.1

        15 February 2013 at 8:11 am

        My point is the exact opposite. I admire their industry. Goes to show that sickness is no impediment to supporting yourself through running a business.
        • felixviper 20.1.1.1

          15 February 2013 at 8:18 am

          Can you explain how it shows that?
          • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 20.1.1.1.1

            15 February 2013 at 8:34 am

            They were running at least a retail operation. That requires a procurement, business plan, systems, marketing, cash handling procedures, a policy for dealing with returns and dissatisfied customers and a plan for dealing with emergencies.

            If they were running a wholesale operation, they would need manufacturing and distribution.

            I admire and support the small businessperson. To do all that while you are sick as well shows real grit.
            • felixviper 20.1.1.1.1.1

              15 February 2013 at 8:45 am

              But you said “Goes to show that sickness is no impediment to supporting yourself through running a business.”

              Perhaps you’d like to rephrase that so it relates to those particular peoples’ particular sickness and their particular business. Cos as it stands your statement says anyone with any sickness could be running a business, which is pretty much saying anyone on a sickness benefit or invalids benefit is a bludger for not running one.

              And I can’t figure out how you get that from a story about a small business that failed so spectacularly.
              • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …

                15 February 2013 at 8:57 am

                Well, it seems it only failed because the sale of the product was illegal. That was a hole in the plan.
                • felixviper …

                  15 February 2013 at 9:47 am

                  Many illegal businesses operate successfully for decades, lifetimes, even across generations.

                  This failed because a) it wasn’t run well enough to avoid detection and b) plans weren’t in place to cope with such a predictable event.

                  But anyway, what about your ‘anyone on a sickness bene can run a business’ schtick?
                  • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …

                    15 February 2013 at 10:32 am

                    Well, was the failure to plan for the events which led to the demise of the business caused by the sickness the business owners were suffering under, or something else?
                    • Rogue Trooper …

                      15 February 2013 at 3:28 pm

                      hey, when you were deep-sea trawling, did you come across any of the wall posters I seem to have mislaid over the years; had a really excellent on with The Rolling Stones as Tolkien-esque characters, oh those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end…
21. Penny Bright 21

    14 February 2013 at 6:51 pm

    Happy Valentine’s Day folks!

    🙂

    “Derivatives have been described by the US investment guru Warren Buffett as “financial weapons of mass destruction”. NZ Prime Minister John Key was the former Head of Derivatives for Merrill Lynch, when he was also a Foreign Exchange Advisor for the New York Federal Reserve. In whose interests is NZ Prime Minister John Key working? ‘Once a Wall St bank$ter – always a Wall St bank$ter’?

    http://theconversation.edu.au/uk-banking-reform-bill-wont-curb-reckless-risk-taking-12087

    Cheers!

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate
22. Bill 22

    14 February 2013 at 7:05 pm

    For folk in Dunedin who have a bit of spare time this coming Monday (18th Feb).

    Gordon Holmes was underpaid by WINZ and was awarded $17 000 damages by the Human Rights Commission. And, of course, WINZ are appealing. His court case is on Monday (not to be confused with the Wednesday stated in the linked article)

    He has asked for public support. And so if you are of a mind to gather with others at 9:40 a.m. on the grass outside the court in Lower Stuart Street I’m sure he would greatly appreciate the show of solidarity.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7779571/Jobless-battler-takes-on-Winz-for-a-3-cause

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