Open mike 15/04/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 15th, 2015 - 184 comments
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184 comments on “Open mike 15/04/2015 ”

  1. Paul 1

    This post by Clemgeopin at 11.03 p.m last night was so good I thought it should be put at the top of this thread as it deserves more attention.

    “But yet, in that same interview Key says this :

    “Look I don’t know anything about the show other than what I read in the paper, but if you look at what you read in the paper, it’s rating badly and it’s been rating poorly over the last while.” Asked whether the programme’s work in Christchurch was worthwhile, Key said “I don’t know, I don’t see enough of it to be honest.”

    I think Key is bull shitting again!

    Today, Campbell Live topics included, Zero Hour Contracts and Auckland housing problems. Michael Woodhouse and John Key were invited.

    BOTH of them declined to attend!

    Yet Key is supposed to have graced Paul Henry’s show twice in one week already!”

  2. CnrJoe 2

    Noted from Twitter-
    Maurice Williamson sacked for cabinet rule breach.
    Simon Bridges? John Key seems a bit unsure of what the rules are all of a sudden.
    Goldenboy must be protected?

    • rawshark-yeshe 2.1

      if Bridges is the ‘Goldenboy’, heaven help us from the nats’ tin men ! what a joke.

      • Lanthanide 2.1.1

        I really hope Bridges becomes their next leader. Or a future leader, anyway.

        His smiley veneer will easily crack under the pressure.

        He also talks very very slowly, I can’t tell if it’s because he’s thick and slow-witted, or deliberately talking slowly so as to chew up interview time and reduce the signal-to-noise ratio.

        • Realblue 2.1.1.1

          He had a stutter as a child. Much like Matt McCartan. So I imagine speech therapy has been the answer to people like you mocking his speech.

          • Lanthanide 2.1.1.1.1

            Ok, didn’t know that. I shall decline from mocking him further on that basis.

            • McFlock 2.1.1.1.1.1

              He was also raised by pirates, which is why he has such an affinity for using ships to get buried treasure, and gets all shouty at the slightest excuse.

            • emergency mike 2.1.1.1.1.2

              No shortage of ways to mock Simon Bridges.

            • Anne 2.1.1.1.1.3

              Its not a speech defect that’s the problem. Its his hideous accent – like a deep toned version of a cat’s meow repeated over and over again.

          • Kevin 2.1.1.1.2

            Paid for on the public teat?

            • Realblue 2.1.1.1.2.1

              He was a child, so it probably was. Are you the type that would deny a child healthcare?

              • Murray Rawshark

                “Are you the type that would deny a child healthcare?”

                My guess would be no, but Bridges, Bennett, and Key certainly are.

              • tracey

                Hateatea 15
                15 April 2015 at 1:42 pm

                http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/a-failure-to-deliver.html

                Anyone who has attempted to obtain funding / support for a child with cognitive delay and / or behavioural issues that impact on their education will attest to the frustrating buck passing that goes on between DHB, GSE and MoE and now we discover that they are not delivering on a specifically funded programme that could be helping children right now.

                If it wouldn’t hurt my elderly brain I would be hitting my head on my desk!

          • tracey 2.1.1.1.3

            It’s also a trait of criminal lawyers when they speak publicly, especially older ones. Had to speak slowly to enable stenographers and juries to clearly follow. There were still stenographers in the 90’s so he may have cut his litigation teeth on that system too.

            All of that aside can you explain why he lies?

        • utu 2.1.1.2

          He talks slowly because he thinks WE’RE thick!

  3. Armchair Critic 3

    Yes all a bit telling isn’t it ?

  4. Paul 4

    We are reminded all the time around ANZAC Day of the deaths of soldiers at Gallipoli with the words. ‘Lest we forget.’

    I read in the paper today.

    “First New Zealand troops set to deploy to Iraq”

    Clearly we have forgotten.
    Sending our soldiers to foreign countries to deal with other people’s arguments is a recipe for death, division and destruction.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/67756596/first-new-zealand-troops-set-to-deploy-to-iraq

    • Paul 4.1

      And large corporates exploit the deaths of ANZACS 100 years ago.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/67755660/woolworths-anzac-campaign-hijacked-by-internet-memes

      In the UK, a supermarket there was also shown to be totally cynical in their using people’s memory of WW1 to sell their products and increase their profits.

      http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/13/sainsburys-christmas-ad-first-world-war

      • Charles 4.1.1

        On the weekend, in New World, I saw a box of ANZAC 100 year anniversary chocolates, made in the shape of WW1 tin hats. Now you too can celebrate the glorious deaths of your ancestors by eating their hats. I hope they didn’t sell any, I don’t need anymore evidence that the people around me are insane.

        What will we accept next? Chocolate in the shape of cancerous tumours to remember the loss of your loved ones?

        • Paul 4.1.1.1

          Remember when you see Key and Abbott showboating at Gallipoli in 10 days’ time that they have both sent young men and women to the Middle East to fight and potentially die in a war that does not have anything to do with NZ.

          • Charles 4.1.1.1.1

            I will not argue your opinion, since we share what seems to be the same desired outcome. Unfortunately (from my point of view) it does have something to do with NZ, as much as WW1 had anything to do with NZ. The question I prefer to ask is why we need to send people away to kill or be killed to sustain unsustainable thought processes that could be fixed without sending anyone anywhere, or having anyone kill anyone else.

        • Rosie 4.1.1.2

          I saw those ANZAC WW1 tin hat shaped chocolates in New World too. Couldn’t believe I was seeing such a tasteless and inappropriate grocery item.

          I couldn’t get to the display stand for a closer look to see who manufactured them as there was a bunch of people milling around in that vicinity.

          I had wondered if it was a RSA fundraiser idea gone terribly wrong.

          Chocolate I associate with celebration, indulgence and festivity, not commemorating the war dead, and all the misery and suffering that goes with that.

          Just plain weird.

          • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 4.1.1.2.1

            On another topic related to Anzac, Woolworths across the Tasman has been in a bit of a pickle but let off.

            http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/15/woolworths-pulls-anzac-ad-campaign-after-failing-to-ask-for-official-approval

            An interesting question that should be asked is how much has Woolworths been donating to Tony Abbott’s party in recent years.

            • Rosie 4.1.1.2.1.1

              Yes, thats the story that Paul linked to above. God knows what the ad agency was thinking when they came up with that one. It’s disgusting that they could be so brazenly exploitative, once again, of misery, suffering, loss and death.

              The boundaries of sensitivity were well and truly breached with that campaign.

              This WW1 100 year commemoration, already gratuitously hyped is spilling over into the strange and bizarre.

              • tracey

                Most bizarre is our fixation with a lost battle… Men don’t usually like to re-live losses…

                • Rosie

                  I wonder what social psychologists would offer in the way of an explanation. A collective need to mourn?
                  As humans maybe there is a tendency to commemorate out losses as well as wins or gains.
                  I’m thinking about the great defeat for the Scots at Culloden in 1746. They have a centre dedicated to education and the commemoration of the battle.

                  http://www.nts.org.uk/Culloden/PPF/VisitorCentre/

                  • tracey

                    I could understand if we were marking it as the first of a step toward realising the UK was using us and we didn’t need them…

                    • Rosie

                      We were still so beholden to the Mother country, and staying in her shadows. Being a dominion of Britain, maybe we had little sense of self identity as a population of NZ and clung to our over bearing parent for a sense of false security.

                      What sense of identity we did develop post dominion seems to have dissolved as we shift from the Little Britain of the past into Little America.

                  • tracey

                    I don’t think Key met the Black Caps at the airport when they came home? He even took time out of his schedule to meet the rugby world cup at the airport (that’s right the cup).

          • weka 4.1.1.2.2

            http://business.scoop.co.nz/2015/03/22

            Chicago are an RSA fundraiser, kind of.

            • Rosie 4.1.1.2.2.1

              Thanks weka. That’s interesting. I’m familiar with the importer, William Aitken Ltd. I used to deal with them in a former job role, as one of our suppliers.

              So it seems they are close with the Belgian supplier of the chocolate and have the blessing of the RSA, and that 50 cents from each $7 sale will go the RSA………
              It seems WA Ltd are enthusiastic about the part they play in distributing the chocolates and have thought about the history, and considered the role of their ancestor in WW1. Interesting to look at it from their view.

              BUT! I find it creepy, crass and plain odd. Imagine sitting around with people passing around a box of chocolate WW1 helmets, and munching away on them. It would be like eating a representation of the uniforms of the dead.

              What next? Little chocolate headstones, war monuments, crosses, the saddles of the poor traumatised war horses?

              • tracey

                Poppies used to be made out of Killmarnoch Enterprises in Christchurch. What we used to call Sheltered Workshops. Now they are done in conjunction with RSA and an expensive machine. That’s kind of sad.

                • Rosie

                  Yes, I remember. It was sad that the work got taken away from the people that enjoyed making the poppies. They got something out of doing that work.
                  Made in China now aren’t they?

  5. Tony P 5

    Can someone look at the RSS feed please as it does not seem to be working. This message comes up when clicking on the RSS button.

    “The requested resource/feed/ is no longer available on this server and there is no forwarding address. Please remove all references to this resource.”

    Thanks.

    • wyndham 5.1

      Yes Tony P I’ve had this problem for a week or so now. My existing link to RSS Feeds no longer responsive.

    • lprent 5.2

      Try now.

      I knew I forgot something last night. Just had to put some exceptions in for the post feeds so they didn’t get caught in the exclusions for the comments feed that some bot net was harassing the site for in the weekend.

      It did however get rid of the annoying bots that have been chewing up bandwidth for the last few weeks.

      Anyway off to work.

  6. adam 6

    Good News – been quietly watching, and hoping this would happen for some time — it was announced yesterday. Good to see cross region co-operation and I wish them the best of luck.

    http://libcom.org/news/anarchist-federation-central-america-carribean-13042015

  7. Penny Bright 7

    How would employers like it if the shoe were on the other foot – regarding ‘Zero Hour’ contracts?

    Where employers would have to give paid work to employees who turned up whenever they felt like it, for as many hours as they liked?

    How could any business possibly operate on that basis?

    Just saying ….

    Penny Bright

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz

  8. adam 8

    Saw this link on the daily blog – disturbing comments from Key incorporated. Around the role of the media and his opinions.

    http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/entertainment/john-key-dismisses-campbell-live/#.VSxF99AxtZN.twitter

    • Chooky 8.1

      Orwellian double speak…Key is really afraid of investigative journalism….look what happened to Hager

      Key knows John Campbell is one of the few television journalists to look in depth at what Key is doing to this country and how he operates

      http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/campbelllive/keys-meeting-with-gcsb-boss-revealed-2014052019

      http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/john-key-hits-back-at-nick-hager-over-gcsb-claims-2015032405#axzz3XKAtacjT

      http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/04/14/why-the-axing-of-campbell-live-is-being-driven-by-dirty-politics/

      • Puckish Rogue 8.1.1

        If Campbel is that popular, if the people want what Campbel is selling (and yes hes selling advertsiing) then someone will offer him a slot

        If no one offers him a slot then it means the people of NZ have voted (boy you lefties hate it when voting goes against you) with their remote

        Maybe you hand wringers could start set up a kick starter to keep Campbel on the air…naah much better that someone else foots the bill as always

        • McFlock 8.1.1.1

          … this is the word of the Market.
          Praised be the Market.
          For even when measures of audience viewership be imperfect, or CEOs have clear conflict of interest issues when making programming decisions, the market is infallible.

          • Puckish Rogue 8.1.1.1.1

            TV3 has to answer to its owners and its owners have to answer to its shareholders

            If its such a big deal and it has the viewers then start a petition to have Campbel run on TV1 instead, sounds like it’d be a better fit there

            • McFlock 8.1.1.1.1.1

              Indeed. The market mechanism is perfect and can never be doubted in any way. After all, there’s a clear association between, for example, CEO performance and CEO remuneration – oh, wait…

            • tracey 8.1.1.1.1.2

              and yet firstline’s numbers have been way below CL for years…. instead of dumping the show they changed the host to a very expensive one. Week one stats still put it behind CL’s older quoted figures.

            • freedom 8.1.1.1.1.3

              Campbell Live have stated they make a profit…
              Some would say that’s a pretty good answer for the shareholders

              • Puckish Rogue

                But can something else in its place make more of a profit? If the owners think they can then its their decision not anyone elses

                • McFlock

                  Spoken like a true moral and intellectual vacuum.

                • tracey

                  Hmmm a decision to dump a profitable show, hire the most expensive tv host in NZ history, on the punt they can make money from a low rating show.

                  Occams razor PR?

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    Campbells ratings have been dropping for the last couple of years, something has to change

                    • tracey

                      so have Firstline’s but they get the most expensive braodcaster in NZ, not the chop. What does Occums Razor say to that PR?

                      Did you deliberately avoid addressing (with Occums Razor) the fact that CL is currently profitable, despite the falling ratings?

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      C’mon Tracey as a lawyer (is that right?) I’m sure you’re aware that the pay packet of the host is small change in comparison to the advertising earned

                      So the pay packet is a red herring however I’d say good on the producers for trying something to raise the ratings

                      so my question is how long has Firstline been going on in comparison to Campbel live or don’t firstline deserves a chance?

                      Next thing is Campbell Live probably is profitable but since its in prime time its not profitable enough to justify being in that slot

                      For example one of parents rentals was only returning 6% on their investment and they saw a propert they believed they could get 7.5% from so being the conservative type they should their house making 5% and bought the house making 7.5% (they got it upto 8% by the by)

                      Should they have sold the first house?

                    • Paul

                      You really have no idea.

        • Paul 8.1.1.2

          It’s just a wee bit more complicated than that, pr.
          Still, I guess you are attracted by the simplicity of the neoliberal Randist theology.
          Beats realising the world is complex.

          • Puckish Rogue 8.1.1.2.1

            Occans razor here, if he had the viewers (remember hes been losing viewers for years now) we wouldn’t be having this conversation as it wouldn’t have been brought up

            • Paul 8.1.1.2.1.1

              Occam.

              ‘Occam’s razor (also written as Ockham’s razor and in Latin lex parsimoniae, which means ‘law of parsimony’) is a problem-solving principle devised by William of Ockham (c. 1287–1347), who was an English Franciscan friar and scholastic philosopher and theologian. The principle states that among competing hypotheses that predict equally well, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. Other, more complicated solutions may ultimately prove to provide better predictions, but—in the absence of differences in predictive ability—the fewer assumptions that are made, the better.’

              • Puckish Rogue

                Exactly, lower ratings in a prime time slot = cancellation

                and the reverse holds true higher ratings = not even having this conversation because it wouldn’t be happening

                • McFlock

                  Get with the spin: “review”, not “cancellation”.

                  You’re supposed to minimise the threat to the show until after the decision has been made, in which case it”s a done deal that would be far too difficult to reverse.

            • Paul 8.1.1.2.1.2

              Of course, the fact that he questions some of the challenges facing NZ under the God Key has nothing to do with it, pr.
              Life is much simpler when we look at life as just black and white, as opposed to many different shades of grey.

              • Puckish Rogue

                Sure you can think like that of course however Keys been in power since 2008 and its only now Campbell Live might be finishing

                Of course its got nothing to do with a couple of years of falling ratings

            • tracey 8.1.1.2.1.3

              Then why was firstline kept with far lower numbers than CL? You know, Occams…

              • Puckish Rogue

                C’mon Tracey you’re smarter then that. Firstline was a breakfast timeslot show not primetime so you can’t really compare the two.

                • tracey

                  hmmmm. have you seen TV1’s ratings for their breakfast comedy show with Crawlin Christie?

                  double-hmmmm so it has a smaller audience but the most expensive host in NZ… interesting decision, economically I mean 😉

                  and stop trying to distract me with your flatterin chatter!

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    Its not flattery when its true 😉

                  • alwyn

                    “but the most expensive host in NZ…”

                    You have some evidence for this claim Tracey?
                    It isn’t just s a debating trick I hope?

                    The TV show is only part of his program isn’t it? Doesn’t it also get broadcast on some radio station? In that case it would be the combined audience that matters. If the radio part was high enough then the cost of adding TV to it would be effectively zero.

              • Paul

                Wasting your time discussing the issue with a blinkered ideologue, Tracy.

            • Paul 8.1.1.2.1.4

              You may believe the spin about ratings your God Key has told you.
              I choose to think.

    • adam 8.2

      Let me see If I got the numbering right 🙂

      Interesting how Puckish Rogue – took the conversation away from the detrimental comments made by Key – I think he and the rest of the cupidity worshipping squad are worried about Key’s comments.

      They see this is a PM who is out of order and are using every trick in the book to deflect and change the conversation.

      Put propaganda holds only so much Puckish Fool – and your beloved PM is on the decline.

      Now for freedoms sake – I hope Key’s fall is a replay of the last disaster laden change of leadership we expect from national – when they feel they are tarnished with the public. This is happening as nationals lies are exposed, and the amorality of national party is being laid bare.

  9. Molly 9

    Mentioned a book called Locavesting a couple of weeks ago, regarding direct investment into local businesses.

    Just received an email that the website for this book has gone live. Haven’t had a good look yet, but others may be interested.

  10. Clemgeopin 10

    Please offer your support to the McDonald workers by signing the petition on the Unite website. See link below.
    ——-
    McDonald’s staff around the country will strike on Wednesday afternoon in a bid to get rid of controversial “zero-hour contracts”.

    The industrial action, organised by Unite Union, follows a failed mediation with the fast food franchise earlier in the week.

    Strike action kicks off in selected Auckland, Wellington and Palmerston North restaurants at noon, with more than 200 people indicating they will attend the Auckland event.

    Dunedin workers will strike at 5pm, followed by Christchurch workers at 6pm.

    All outlets will remain open during the strikes.
    ————
    Sign here :
    http://www.unite.org.nz/

    News report is here:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/67756727/mcdonalds-workers-prepare-to-strike-over-zero-hours

  11. Paul 11

    ‘McDonald’s workers prepare to strike over zero hours’

    If you know people who eat the ‘food’ McDonalds sell, encourage them to buy instead from an establishment that has promised not to use zero hours contracts.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/67756727/mcdonalds-workers-prepare-to-strike-over-zero-hours

    ‘Restaurant Brands, which owns KFC, Starbucks, Pizza Hut and Carl’s Jr, has escaped the union’s ire, agreeing last week to end zero-hour contracts by July.

    Burger King has also avoided strike action, as Treen said it had come back with an offer that would ensure regular shifts for workers within the next six months.’

    • grumpystilskin 11.1

      Don’t eat that food, there’s a better option.
      Support your local bakery or the like, Your body will thank you later.
      Ironically I can’t eat modern wheat but you get the message..

  12. Draco T Bastard 12

    Why not voting is such a pitifully ineffective form of protest

    The first and most obvious reason that not voting is such a feeble form of protest is that the result is totally indistinguishable from total apathy. If the opponent of the political status quo does exactly the same form of non-action as the hopelessly apathetic fool who doesn’t care a jot about who rules over their lives or how the political system is structured, then how is it even possible to tell how many of those non-votes are ill-conceived protests and how many are manifestations of sheer apathy?The “just stop voting” advocate will often try to claim that if enough of us stopped voting then the election results would become illegitimate through lack of participation. Without explaining the mechanism by which the Westminster establishment parties would be removed from power after a mass non-vote, and without explaining what the system would be replaced with in the short-term, the “just stop voting” advocate is promoting a sheer fantasy. If they want us to believe that not voting is a sensible form of protest, the onus is on them to explain the mechanism by which the government is replaced with something better as a result of simply not voting.

    I, too, am really sick of the people who tell us not to vote. You don’t get change by not voting as it is seen as supporting the status quo rather than being against it.

    • Murray Rawshark 12.1

      You also don’t get significant change by voting, except when you accidentally vote ACT into power, as in 1984. As far as I’m concerned, what is important is what people do besides voting (or not voting). Apart from the sequential ACT governments since 1984, important changes have come from mass pressure outside parliament, when elected representatives have bowed to pressure. The neoliberal changes were brought about by minority pressure outside parliament, but in either case the parliamentarians didn’t come up with the changes themselves. Looking at the calibre of most, this is not at all surprising.

      • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 12.1.1

        Just read that. Not sure whether to laugh hysterically or cry really hard.
        From what Felix had said in another context, do I have to choose?

      • Draco T Bastard 12.1.2

        There is certainly more to electoral participation than only voting but voting is still an essential part of the process.

        • Murray Rawshark 12.1.2.1

          As an example, I have no idea whether Penny Bright votes or not, but I would say she participates more than most in the democratic process. I vote myself, but I see it as a pretty passive method of participation.

    • Paul 12.2

      What do you do if you live under FPP in either the US or the UK and the two main parties are called Tweedledee and Tweedledum?

      • Draco T Bastard 12.2.1

        Vote for a change in the voting system which, I see, the Brits didn’t actually do.

        • Paul 12.2.1.1

          I agree.
          Can’t believe the Lib Dems didn’t force it last time.

          • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 12.2.1.1.1

            The Con-dems effectively killed real moves to change the voting system, as well as truly reforming the House of Lords.

      • McFlock 12.2.2

        SNP.

        Or anyone else, really.
        It’s less responsive than under FPP than under MMP, but if the local votes start going towards a particular policy direction, the incumbent has a vested interest in going in that direction, too. And the UK council elections are also more party-aligned, so those are also a good way to give the local MP a fright.

        Certainly not reliable, but more reliable than not voting at all. It’s the hand the electors are dealt.

        • Paul 12.2.2.1

          If you live in England, you can’t vote for SNP.
          I agree though. Not voting is giving away one of the few powers we have.
          If I lived in England, I’d vote Green as they are anti-austerity.
          If I lived in Scotland, I’d vote SNP.

          • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 12.2.2.1.1

            Those are fine in terms of the general spirit.

            However, my friends in England in some constituencies are considering tactical voting to keep the Cons or even Lib-Dems out, and not even voting Green because of that.

  13. AUDNZD 13

    The vain Key, the fixated PM, continues to push the flag change referendum. A national disgrace.

    • Paul 13.1

      Despite the RSA being against it?

      • tracey 13.1.1

        He knows what is best for them… Nah joking he knows what is best for him. On the one hand going on and on about Gallipoli, on the other hand ignoring the RSA… I am MOST surprised that he keeps mentioning Gallipoli, cos we lost.

        “”losing feels like failure and I don’t kinda like failure”.” John Key 2014

    • tc 13.2

      Such an arrogant egotist pushing the flag nobody seems bothered about changing as it actually means something having history and identity.

      Granny has been running with a pointless and costly football world cup bid distraction also.

    • McFlock 13.3

      He’s committed now.

      Maybe a brown turd with dollar signs coming off it in wavy lines (like smells), all on a blue background?

      • Puckish Rogue 13.3.1

        I actually like the idea of a new flag (and anthem) but i don’t get why hes pushing it so hard

        • McFlock 13.3.1.1

          Because there’s nothing else for him to push. And legacy syndrome, before he bails. It’s something suitably shallow for him to look at as an achievement, and it’s not like he can be proud of anything else.

        • tracey 13.3.1.2

          I think it is his coup d’etat as PM. He is lining up a major sponsor for NZ, their emblem will be on our flag, and we will reduce debt and have a surplus.

          New Zealand Flag

          • McFlock 13.3.1.2.1

            Hmmm.
            Remember how sweden gave it’s twitter account to a different citizen every day?
            Maybe we could market logo rights to a different company each day, in the space where the Union Jack currently is. 🙂

  14. On the dues front, Mr Peters’ win was helped by Labour voters. He denied that meant he now owed Labour a favour. Instead, he said Labour’s support was simply payback for his endorsement of Labour’s Te Tai Tokerau candidate, Kelvin Davis, in last year’s election. Mr Davis managed to win the seat from incumbent Hone Harawira. Mr Peters had endorsed Mr Davis because “Hone made a disastrous decision by going with Kim Dotcom”.

    “I didn’t have to do it. It’s the only time I’ve ever done it. We don’t owe anybody a favour at all.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11425003

    simply payback means repaying the debt doesn’t it

    at least this might stop the bullshit kelvin did it all himself spin – hold your heads up labour you are just like the gnats – sad bastards

    • Murray Rawshark 14.1

      Pretty much par for the course for Winnie. His ego is so huge he is unable to even think of giving credit to anyone else. I actually doubt if his preference for Davis made much difference in Te Tai Tokerau anyway. What worries me most is that his statements have a heap of emphasis on making NAct do things differently. This strengthens the idea that he might actually want some part in the NAct regime.

      Ah well, we knew not to trust him, but he was really the only show in town.

      • marty mars 14.1.1

        Winnie understands reciprocation though and so does labour

        • Murray Rawshark 14.1.1.1

          True. I certainly don’t think his statement is a positive development.

          • marty mars 14.1.1.1.1

            Yep – for winnie, he and labour are back to square, no favours owed either way now that the labour support for him in Northland repaid the davis favour in TTT.

          • Puckish Rogue 14.1.1.1.2

            If Winston gets a few more percentage you can bet he’ll be calling the tune and either National or Labour will be dancing to it

            • tracey 14.1.1.1.2.1

              ACT’s been wagging National from time to time and no one seems to squeal… Shit we have a super City and charter schools and 3 strikes cos of ACT wagging the dog

              • Puckish Rogue

                Imagine what the Greens could leverage if they went in with National

                • tracey

                  I think you fundamentally misunderstand how the Greens operate PR. Truly, am not taking the piss. I think you overestimate what National would concede, compared to the 1-2 member ACT “coalitions”. ACT is easy, cos they see it as just the other end of the National Party. It’s the ultimate electoral scam, how to get two parties out of one to maximise house numbers 😉

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    Seriously you would be surprised how many potential blue green votes are out there

                    Look how many hunters there are in NZ, some of us wouldn’t mind seeing a greater representation by the Greens in parliament

                    But at the moment the Greens are tied for better or worse with Labour…or with what Winston decides

                    • tracey

                      Seriously, I know. My ACT/National voting brother is one. BUT as long as you all expect Greens to compromise, not National, you are breaking a Greens commitment, to the environment and people first. Greens have proven they can share policies. Compare to National and Labour this week refusing an accord on Housing affordability cos they think it is more important to govern than do what is best for NZers. Sure people mock Green MPs BUT how many have had to resign, or been asked to resign due to bad behaviour and ethics?

      • tracey 14.1.2

        ““I didn’t have to do it. It’s the only time I’ve ever done it.”

        Plenty of “i”s in team NZF

  15. Hateatea 15

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/a-failure-to-deliver.html

    Anyone who has attempted to obtain funding / support for a child with cognitive delay and / or behavioural issues that impact on their education will attest to the frustrating buck passing that goes on between DHB, GSE and MoE and now we discover that they are not delivering on a specifically funded programme that could be helping children right now.

    If it wouldn’t hurt my elderly brain I would be hitting my head on my desk!

  16. tracey 16

    Great talk about why privacy matters by Alessandro Acquisti

    about 15 minutes

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_pqhMO3ZSY

  17. tracey 17

    God save us all…

    The NZ Initiative is NZ Initiative is researching feminist campaigns around the world. If you go to their About Us, they overlook letting people know that they are the love child of the Business Round Table and New Zealand Institute, those doyens of equity practices.

    “The New Zealand Initiative is a market-oriented thinktank that operates from Wellington, New Zealand. It was formed from the merger in 2012 of the New Zealand Business Roundtable (NZBR) and the New Zealand Institute.[1]

    Following the merger, Oliver Marc Hartwich was appointed executive director of the new organisation, bringing with him a number of fellow researchers from the Australian-based Centre for Independent Studies.” (CIS)


    Centre for Independent Studies
    Motto Ideas for a better Australia
    Founder(s) Greg Lindsay
    Established 1976
    Focus A “free enterprise economy and a free society under limited government where individuals can prosper and fully develop their talents”.
    Executive Director Greg Lindsay
    Location (33.8246°S 151.1987°ECoordinates: 33.8246°S 151.1987°E)
    Address 38 Oxley St., St Leonards
    New South Wales, Australia
    Website http://www.cis.org.au/

    The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is an Australian libertarian think tank. It was founded in 1976 by Greg Lindsay.[1] The CIS focuses on libertarian issues such as free market economics and reducing the size and scope of government. The CIS is endowed by donations, membership subscriptions, and book and event sales. According to the 2014 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report (Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania), CIS is number 101 (of 150) in the “Top Think Tanks Worldwide” and number 11 (of 60) in the “Top Think Tanks in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.”[2]”

    No women on their Board
    http://nzinitiative.org.nz/About+Us/Board.html

    Their may be Maori on the Board but none identifies as such in their profile

    Staff is more even

    http://nzinitiative.org.nz/About+Us/Staff.html

    No one declares as Maori

    Here’s the membership

    http://nzinitiative.org.nz/About+Us/Membership.html

    Yes, I look forward to their balanced view of modern feminism. You can hear a bit of her here. For my part she seems to not completely understand Feminism based on her comments about wanting to get a job because you are the best not just because you are a woman. I also tihnks she misunderstands what Clinton is saying.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/paulhenry/interviews/clinton-should-run-on-her-merits-not-gender#ixzz3XL6VOCgF

    • Paul 17.1

      Extreme right wing think tanks.
      Paid for by the 0.001%

    • RedBaronCV 17.2

      Time to put a little pressure some of the members to quit. There are the likes of Kiwibank in there and some other businesses that take in large $ from women.
      Subscriptions to this should not be tax deductable

      Frankly at a quick glance some of the proposals are directly against member interests – be careful what you fund

  18. tracey 18

    I see TV3 ran a poll…

    Would you

    Watch Paul Henry
    Listen to Paul Henry
    Both

    One answer was glaringly absent from choices.

  19. rawshark-yeshe 19

    colour me speechless.

    “Former Northland MP Mike Sabin has been appointed the new general manager of Northland’s luxurious Peppers Carrington Resort.

    A Carrington Resort spokesperson confirmed Mr Sabin was appointed to the role two days ago.

    The resort was recently bought by Chinese company Shanghai CRED for close to $29 million dollars and the new owners are planning to turn the resort into the biggest five star resort in the country, bringing in tens of thousands of Chinese tourists to the Karikari Peninsular each year.

    Mr Sabin’s appointment follows his resignation from Parliament amid what he said was “personal matters that are best resolved outside Parliament”. It came amid claims Sabin was under investigation by police.

    At the moment the resort only has 51 rooms but the new owners want to spend $360 million building 751 rooms.

    A shopping and entertainment centre’s also planned at the resort making it a “one stop” holiday destination.

    “This is going to be the biggest tourist centre in New Zealand by twice,” says Far North Mayor John Carter.

    Despite some opposition, it’s expected to bring jobs and dollars into an area that desperately needs it.

    “If it really works out it could become the Port Douglas of New Zealand,” says economist Oliver Hartwich.”

    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/embattled-former-mp-mike-sabin-heads-luxurious-golf-resort-6288575

    • tracey 19.1

      “economist Oliver Hartwich”

      Now, now, let’s be accurate here

      Dr Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director, The New Zealand Initiative

      This amalgam of Business Round Table and New Zealand Institute
      “We are committed to developing policies that work for all New Zealanders, and we believe that promoting such policies will benefit all of our members as a matter of fact. But we are certainly an Initiative that usually prefers Adam Smith’s invisible hand to government’s visible fist.

      Most of all, though, we believe that our goals and values are similar – if not identical – to what most New Zealanders want to see achieved:”

      Wouldn’t “most New Zealanders” want to see someone under police investigation appointed to a plumb high paying job? I guess his “personal problems” are resolved now?

      “…

      A good education system.

      Affordable housing.

      An open economy.

      A free and democratic society.

      The protection of our natural resources and heritage.

      Sound public finances.

      A stable currency.

      These goals are not business goals. They are not left-wing or right-wing goals. These are public policy objectives that most, if not all, New Zealanders would agree with.

      • rawshark-yeshe 19.1.1

        i strongly suspect the new Chinese owners wouldn’t have a clue about it …. boy, are they in for a few surprises. Keep your investors close and your children closer.

        • Murray Rawshark 19.1.1.1

          Someone from Australia could always send them an email. Stranger things have happened.

          • tracey 19.1.1.1.1

            Interestingly the economist didnt seem to think it important, financially for the brand that the new GM might have a very serious cloud hanging over his head. That’s Libertarians for ya 😉

          • Murray Rawshark 19.1.1.1.2

            An email address: carrington@peppers.co.nz

            I sent this:
            Dear sir/madam
            It was a courageous decision indeed to appoint [redacted] as [redacted]. Hopefully exactly how courageous will become obvious next Monday, the date of his [redacted]. If there is still any justice in Aotearoa, he will lose his [redacted].
            By the way, his [redacted] may have been almost twelve years old. The maximum [redacted] just means they were under 12. They may have even been 11 and a half, which you mustn’t think is really bad. John Key seems to agree with you.
            Yours
            Muzza

            and troll, Nazi, troll to make sure this goes into moderation in case more needs to be redacted.

        • Ergo Robertina 19.1.1.2

          Oh for goodness sake, best not to get started again with the odious focus on the ‘children’ in respect of this case.
          If nothing else this surprising development should suggest much of the speculation about the case has been pointless.
          Not to say there aren’t legitimate questions about National’s handling of it but that doesn’t justify potential defamation and unpleasant insinuation.

          • rawshark-yeshe 19.1.1.2.1

            maybe go to court and have a listen for yourself Ergo … but of course, you will not be able to to tell any details, exactly the same as the rest of us.

    • Colonial Rawshark 19.3

      You have to love how the Tories can organise the smooth, quiet and trouble free exit of MPs whom they want to get rid of. Labour can organise no such positions for its unwanted MPs to move on to. So they don’t.

      • tracey 19.3.1

        So does this mean Sabin might not even have had the decency to resign, but was demanding a quid pro quo.

        • Colonial Rawshark 19.3.1.1

          Possibly even offered a quid pro quo as opposed to demanding one. Co-operate with us, support our by-election campaign, don’t say anything embarrassing or angry at having to go, and you’ll get this nice $200K pa position a few months down the track which doesn’t even look like a quid pro quo.

          • tracey 19.3.1.1.1

            which still would suggest, if true, that he was not wanting to go, or to go quietly…

            • Colonial Rawshark 19.3.1.1.1.1

              Well, I’ve only mentioned the carrot side of the equation. The way these things work to motivate people like Sabin is that there is a big stick used as well. Fuck with us, and this [whatever embarrassing communication, email or factoid] gets out into the news, and your family won’t like that one bit will they. And that’ll be the end of any future career. Now just do the smart thing, keep your trap shut, and wait for your nice new corporate job.

              • rawshark-yeshe

                remember the major rumour about the National MPs paid $300k each to move on prior to the last election … I guess that kind of available ‘largesse’ can arrange almost anything at all, especially when nobody is looking very closely, as in MSM for example.

                we have become a banana state, haven’t we ? omg.

    • jenny kirk 19.4

      How does that happen ? Who/what has let him off the leash ?

      • tracey 19.4.1

        So, he is not expecting to do any prison time is he?

        • rawshark-yeshe 19.4.1.1

          something stinks doesn’t it ? Sounds awfully pre-determined somehow and how corrupt is this suggestion ?

          I bet Winston s watching very, very closely and is still trying to get his bill introduced for sexual abuse victims to annul suppression rights for their abuser.

          • alwyn 19.4.1.1.1

            If he really wanted to get such a bill introduced he would at least sit down and write one and then put it into the Private Member’s Bill ballot.
            ” trying to get his bill introduced ” my foot.
            Come on then. If you think there is such a bill please tell us where we can find a copy of it. Then we can all be informed of what he is proposing.
            Just a reference to where we can find the bill will be enough.

            • rawshark-yeshe 19.4.1.1.1.1

              Best you do your own homework on inthehouse Alwyn. Not sure you and I are even on the same planet, so I’ll leave it to you, if you don’t mind. 🙂

              • alwyn

                But I have been doing my homework old chap/chappess.
                Nothing at all that I have been able to find.

                Given that you appear to be so sure that there is such a bill I’m sure you will be able to tell me where I can find a copy.
                You wouldn’t be talking about “trying to get his bill introduced” if you didn’t know what it said would you?

                Reference please if you are going to claim such a bill exists.

                • rawshark-yeshe

                  pse refer to 19.4.1.1.1.1

                  life is just too short.

                  • alwyn

                    To express that more accurately you mean that your talk about Winston reintroducing his bill is just rubbish as there is no bill in existence.
                    I guess Abraham Lincoln best described you when he said.
                    “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”
                    You are in the 5% or so of the people who Winston manages to fool all of the time. Luckily the rest of the population are not so silly.

      • Anne 19.4.2

        The way he went after months of police investigations and the wording of his resignation statement struck me at the time as ‘convenient’.

        First, he is not the type to make such a statement except under duress. Indeed, it is highly likely the statement was prepared for him and he was instructed when to release it. Second, the fact he was appointed chairperson of the Law and Order select committee two to three months AFTER the police investigation began is hugely suspicious. (Forget the lying crap which came out of Key’s mouth. He knew all about the allegations and the on-going investigations.) So, why did they promote him? Was it a way of keeping Sabin quiet because Sabin knew something and they feared that if they didn’t stand by him he would spill some beans? If so, what did he know?

        This is why Key and co. will never set up an inquiry into the affair – the same reason why they will never set up an inquiry into Dirty Politics. He, along with other National Party so-called luminaries, have a lot of dirty muck on their hands.

        • Anne 19.4.2.1

          Ooops, just seen Colonial Rawshark @ 19.3, 19.3.1.1 and….

          He puts it more succintly. 🙂

    • Alpha z 19.5

      reckon what cards sabins holding in chest againest BBF flend john carter & sum other higher national peoples. all dirty crims.

    • sabine 19.6

      there will be no jobs created in Norhtland if this resort is for chinese by chinese.

      There will be a few jobs created to fulfill a quota, the rest will be chinese students on a workvisa working for a chinese company serving chinese customer. I am sure the company will also find many a loophole so as to avoid paying taxes altogehter.
      however Northland will have to put up with the environmental costs of this resort. WasteWater (toilets need flushing) is just to name one.

      and Mr. Sabin is going to be General Manager. Oh goodie…what could go wrong.

    • RedBaronCV 19.7

      Oh dear – this could get really interesting –

      but with Kaitaia airport closed they will have to bus the tourists in pay an overseas owner for accomodation, spend money in the overseas owned gift shop (can’t see them be let out to shop), eat imported food and be tended to by people on work permits. Can’t see much for the locals there really and somehow I think it qwill need more sun to be Port Douglas.

  20. tracey 20

    Today I read about a NZ prize winner. It made my heart sing. The people his work will help, the lives it will save, the benefits to the world and NZers is immeasurable. Not only that, I have long wondered “when will someone study the applicability of Multivariate wavelet de-noising applications to intra-day currency trading of the New Zealand dollar.” And now they have.

    The Research required an in-depth knowledge and application of quantitative finance, time series analysis and programming as well as proprietary trading system design, and was documented over 120 page research document. And, a Kiwi won! I know!

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1504/S00388/first-new-zealander-to-be-awarded-brooks-memorial-award.htm

    • rawshark-yeshe 20.1

      funny that,Tracey … long have I pondered the same issue … truly, I feel safer already.

    • Murray Rawshark 20.2

      Wavelet analysis is actually a fairly obvious method to apply to currency trading, as it will show the frequency of trades at certain times of the day. I’d guess that these guys want to use it to predict movements and scam us a bit more. This is always possible when not much is changing in terms of macroeconomics. When a drastic change happens, however, it can be almost useless.

      As an interesting aside, one of the most useless physicists I have ever known claimed to be an expert on wavelet transforms.

      • tracey 20.2.1

        Thanks Murray

      • rawshark-yeshe 20.2.2

        may I also suggest ‘wavelet transforms’ sounds like something Peter Dunne might be an expert on as well, and he’s one of the most useless politicians we have ever known ! (sorry, it’s been a long day!)

  21. freedom 21

    Video has been posted of last night’s Table Talk on the Campbell Live situation

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/04/15/table-talk-the-ramifications-of-threats-to-campbell-live/

    a very dynamic and worthwhile discussion

  22. Clemgeopin 22

    Don’t forget to watch Campbell Live today at 7 pm to help save this worthwhile show.

    Today’s topics include: (from what I gathered approximately from an ad)

    * How corporates are making big money from selling OUR water.
    * How 3 D is changing the life of a kid
    * Zero hour contract interviews with people on the street.

  23. alwyn 23

    @clemgeopin
    “How corporates are making big money from selling OUR water.”

    Why does anyone bother to buy bottled water?
    I can understand it in a third world country with dodgy tap water but the water supply in 99% of New Zealand is excellent. Why does anyone except a prat bother to waste their money on the bottled stuff?

    I am reminded of one of Alistair Cooke’s “Letters from America” about 20 years ago.
    The purest water in the whole of the United States was from the reservoir supplying most of New York’s taps. All bottled water was worse.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5rg7bNq7Zwjm09kT7nRTSS4/bottled-water-15-august-1997
    A wonderful commentator was our Alistair.

    • idlegus 23.1

      read ‘no logo’ about branding, surely you know about this stuff? why bottle it unless theres profit in it? bottle it, package it, brand it, sell it, ka-ching!

      • Clemgeopin 23.1.1

        I hope the opposition parties and the people will oppose and stop this kind of disgraceful crap.

    • Clemgeopin 23.2

      I am more worried about the lax laws!

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    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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