Open mike 18/07/2012

65 comments on “Open mike 18/07/2012 ”

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1. Bored 1

   18 July 2012 at 6:30 am

   Some headlines make you wonder how crazy we are when we allow this scenario….

   “Systems in history are defined above all by who controls the wealth,” Alperovitz says. “The top 400 people own more wealth now than the bottom 185 million Americans taken together. That is a medieval structure.”

   Makes me wonder how it looks here in NZ and how much that tiny group control our politics?

   http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2012-07-17/gar-alperovitz%E2%80%99s-green-party-keynote-we-are-laying-groundwork-next-great-revoluti
   • rosy 1.1

     18 July 2012 at 7:11 am

     Fits nicely with George Monbiot’s article After 800 years, the barons in control in Britain
     About young people trying to opt out of the corporate structure.

     But the alternatives have also been shut down: you are excluded yet you cannot opt out. The land – even disused land – is guarded as fiercely as the rest of the economy. Its ownership is scarcely less concentrated than it was when the Magna Carta was written.

     These things are related. The thing for me is that if you have no rights to collect or gather food or to create a shelter then the ‘barons’ have an obligation to ensure you have a means of exchange for those things. This is being seriously eroded in the UK and US and NZ is on the same path albeit closer to the beginning.
     • Carol 1.1.1

       18 July 2012 at 7:33 am

       The whole access to (and poor can’t create) shelter issue is at crisis point in NZ. There is a seriously lack of sufficient affordable housing, especially in Auckland. And all NAct can do is to set Bennett on to blaming (alleged) slum landlords.

       http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7296777/Bennett-challenged-to-visit-caravan-park

       The Waitakere MP yesterday singled out a caravan park in her electorate – Western Park Village – as “very expensive for what I’m sure most New Zealanders would see as quite substandard living”.

       But the park owner, Darryll Heaven, said they did everything they could for many tenants that were forced upon them by Work and Income.

       “That is absolute bulls . . . That really annoys me because she won’t get off her fat arse – she’s only 500 metres away – to come down and see us. We’ve got a dozen staff and we’re working 24 hours a day to control the place. She doesn’t understand that and if she thinks we’re ripping her off, come and have a look at our bottom line any time she likes.”

       My long-time experience of landlords, is that most of them are OK, and not out to rort me. But when there’s a shortage of affordable housing, the rents go up. Some prospective tenants are offering over the advertised rent, in order to secure accommodation. So what happens to those at the bottom of the income hierarchy?

       I remember being shocked a few decades back when I first heard of Americans living in trailer parks. I didn’t realise WINZ was recommending caravan parks for the unemployed here.

       But Mr Heaven said Western Park had a challenging task with its tenants.

       “Yes, there is a lot of sub-standard [housing] here. But we try to put the right people into the right accommodation and Winz will turn around and say, no, we’re not paying it, put them in a caravan.”

       The park supported tenants with a range of services “like medication and running a bus service”.
       • yeshe 1.1.1.1

         18 July 2012 at 10:04 am

         if we had real subs instead of walk-ins, the headline could have read:

         ” Heaven challenges Bennett to visit ”

         🙂
         • Te Reo Putake 1.1.1.1.1

           18 July 2012 at 10:23 am

           ‘Minister won’t go to Heaven’?
            
           ‘Fat Arse won’t fit through Pearly Gates’?
            
           ‘Bennett won’t go to Heaven; Devil denies entry to Hades: ‘We have standards too, you know’.’
       • DH 1.1.1.2

         18 July 2012 at 10:34 am

         “My long-time experience of landlords, is that most of them are OK, and not out to rort me.”

         I think you’ll find that’s changed a lot Carol. There’s a different breed entered the landlord market over the last decade or so, only need look at how many took up the opportunity to raise their rents in ChCh and Auck. A lot of them are venal parasites sucking the blood out of the working class. People in business at least pay workers for their labours, these leeches want to get rich off the toil of others and give nothing in return.

         To me one of the most offensive & contemptible acts of the last Labour Govt was giving property speculators more tax breaks via LAQCs etc. We pay a fortune in tax to support the underprivileged and the group who contribute the most to causing poverty in this country got to pay even less tax.
         • Carol 1.1.1.2.1

           18 July 2012 at 2:26 pm

           DH, I do think that under certain circumstances the amount of exploitative and parasitic landlords increase: e.g. when there is a shortage of houses and little regulation of property speculation.

           To me this means housing can’t be left to the “market”, but government should create the conditions for there to be sufficient, safe and affordable housing.

           My experience of renting over the last decade or so in NZ as been good. I do think most landlords are not of the unfair and exploitative kind.
       • weka 1.1.1.3

         18 July 2012 at 2:05 pm

         I remember being shocked a few decades back when I first heard of Americans living in trailer parks. I didn’t realise WINZ was recommending caravan parks for the unemployed here.
          

         I completely agree that there is a housing crisis in NZ. I do want to point out though that there are people in NZ living in caravans and quite happy with it. Some people even choose this over living in a house. There are also long standing communities existing in camp grounds that are completely legitimate ways for people to live together. Please do not automatically assume that living in a caravan or camp ground is a bad thing.
          
         I also think that as we get into energy descent we need to rethink what housing means. At this point in time it makes sense to try and build as many durable, well insulated, and easy to heat houses as we can, and obviously the govt should be prioritising resources to the most vulnerable people in the community. But a time will come when we don’t have the resources to build the way we do now, and we need to be thinking about that now.
          
         • Carol 1.1.1.3.1

           18 July 2012 at 2:27 pm

           Agreed, weka. When I recently moved I considered getting a caravan. I would be happy living in one or in a camp. But I’m single and don’t have children.
           • Jim Nald 1.1.1.3.1.1

             18 July 2012 at 4:55 pm

             For a start, members of Parliament should set the standard: non-Wellington based electorate MPs should live in caravans on the few nights of the week when Parliament is sitting.

             Times are tough and NZ has had to weather the Chch earthquake, etc etc and savings need to be made.

             The accommodation allowance for our value-for-money MPs, including Cabinet Ministers, can be capped at the level suitable for a basic caravan at a nearby caravan park. Shower and toilet can be accessed via Beehive & Bowen House.
       • Treetop 1.1.1.4

         18 July 2012 at 2:15 pm

         In the last month or two Turia attended a world indigenous housing summit. There was an audible gasp from the audience when she said that 3 million was alocated for housing. I assume it was for indigenous housing from the NZ government.

         How much housing does 3 million buy?
         • the pink postman 1.1.1.4.1

           18 July 2012 at 3:44 pm

           It would not even buy one in Key – Land treetop.
           • Treetop 1.1.1.4.1.1

             18 July 2012 at 4:44 pm

             I’d love to email your comment to Turia, Morning Report (source of info) and the recent world indigenous housing summit in Vancouver. A National disgrace.
     • Carol 1.1.2

       18 July 2012 at 8:02 am

       The Diggers 2012 movement that Monbiot writes about, is an interesting one. And this from one of the present day diggers, is relevant to NZ, Waitangi Tribunal issues, etc:

       As Simon Moore, an articulate, well-read 27-year-old, explained, “those who control the land have enjoyed massive economic and political privileges. The relationship between land and democracy is a strong one, which is not widely understood.”

       And Monbiot nails it here:

       The young men and women camping at Runnymede are trying to revive a different tradition, largely forgotten in the new age of robber barons. They are seeking, in the words of the Diggers of 1649, to make “the Earth a common treasury for all … not one lording over another, but all looking upon each other as equals in the creation”. The tradition of resistance, the assertion of independence from the laws devised to protect the landlords’ ill-gotten property, long pre-date and long post-date the Magna Carta. But today they scarcely feature in national consciousness.
     • Olwyn 1.1.3

       18 July 2012 at 8:19 am

       If you look at some of the rural areas, and the pressure on housing in the cities, we are further down that path than we like to imagine. And would be even further along still if Australia wasn’t absorbing our work force.
   • Rosie 1.2

     18 July 2012 at 10:07 am

     Thanks for the link Bored. There is always fascinating reading and listening on http://www.democracy.org. Amy Goodman shines a light in America’s murkiest places and it requires courage on her part often, to do so. If you haven’t read it already “Exception to the Rulers” which is co authored by her and among other things discusses the functions and social effects of the power elite.

     And yes, it does make you wonder how much of that influence makes it to our shores. Definitely we already have some really dodgy multi nationals operating here, that is known, but what about the hidden connections and agenda’s? They have their fingers in pies everywhere. Its quite chilling.

     I was recently told by a Scots new immigrant that one of the reasons he was drawn to NZ was because we are 20 years behind the rest of the world, in every respect. I felt he thought we were quite naive and quaint (I’m sure he’s not the only one!)So if things are bad enough here in regards to the weakening of our collective influence as a people, our access to common areas etc, and the people of USA and Britain are being to returned to a new feudalism under corporate rule, how long before we are totally absorbed by it too?

     Er, that would be http://www.democracynow.org
2. Tony P 2

   18 July 2012 at 6:53 am

   Kelvin Smythe is always a good read on educational matters, especially concerning the current situation. Here’s his take on a John Roughan editorial from last week.

   http://www.networkonnet.co.nz/index.php?section=latest&id=431
   • Campbell Larsen 2.1

     18 July 2012 at 11:18 am

     Thanks for the link Tony. The practice of unattributed Editorials must stop – the only reason a name was not attached in the past was because everyone knew who the Editor was – now it could be any one of a number of different people. Given the often nauseating opinions expressed within there is no excuse for these so called journalists to be hiding behind the paper skirt of the institution. Sign the petition:

     http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/An_end_to_unattributed_anonymous_Editorials_in_New_Zealands_Newspapers/
     • Te Reo Putake 2.1.1

       18 July 2012 at 11:32 am

       “…  the only reason a name was not attached in the past was because everyone knew who the Editor was…”
        
       That is not the case at all. The leaders are attributed to the Editor because they are responsible for what is printed in the newspaper. It has been a journalistic tradition for quite literally centuries for deputy eds and other senior staff to share the editorial responsibilities. The editorials represent the views of the paper, not those of the hack writing them.
       • Campbell Larsen 2.1.1.1

         18 July 2012 at 11:41 am

         I stand corrected TRP – However tradition or no I can see no valid reason for readers to not be informed of who is responsible for the article. An editorial coveys an impression of authority – however there can be no authority without accountability. If ‘senior staff’ wish to say something then they should own it.
         • Te Reo Putake 2.1.1.1.1

           18 July 2012 at 12:02 pm

           Cheers, Campbell. I note that the tradition is changing though and I think most regional newspapers now have an editorial that is openly written by the editor. Probably because there is no one else to do it, what with there being little need for real journalists these days!
            
           With a lot of journo’s encouraged to blog as well as publish articles, it is easier to see what individuals think. But, at heart, this is a philosophical question. That is, does the editorial line reflect the paper’s views or does it represent the views of individual writers? And does the paper’s views, as represented in editorials, nowadays more accurately reflect what the owners think, rather than the editor?
           • Campbell Larsen 2.1.1.1.1.1

             18 July 2012 at 12:29 pm

             A paper cannot hold a ‘view’ or an ‘opinion’ these are person specific attributes. The words belong unequivocally to the author, the decision to publish is attributable to those whom have the authority to make the decision.
             My assertion is that the public have a right to know who writes the Editorials and who approves them. Only with this disclosure can we assess the context of the opinion on display, and hold the correct people accountable when this process appears to be corrupt.
             • Te Reo Putake …

               18 July 2012 at 12:45 pm

               Well, as I pointed earlier, papers do hold views. They promote an editorial line. That is why the Gaurdian is different from the Times, the NBR from the Kapiti Shopper. Not becaue of the individual reporters, but becaue this is a projection of how the title sees itself. All sorts of organisations have values that they seek to project publicly. That’s not a refelction of the individuals that work for them, but of how the organisations see themselves and how they want to be seen.
                
               When I do media interviews, I do not speak for myself, I speak for my employer. And a good thing too, because I don’t think my employer wants to hear my personal views on the Randian Superheroes and other assorted incompetents I have to deal with every other day broadcast to the nation at 6pm. I put the view of the organisation I represent, which is what they expect of me and what newspapers expect of their leader writers.
               .
               • Campbell Larsen …

                 18 July 2012 at 2:16 pm

                 I see where you are coming from, and I agree that the owner/ paper/ writer relationships do raise questions regarding journalistic Epistemology/ Ontology which are not easily settled.

                 With the transfer of more and more of the fourth estate into the hands of corporations who have few qualms about furthering their own interests the individual integrity of journalists is fast becoming the only separation between news and PR – that and the increasing ability of the public to challenge their authority and hold them to account.

                 Andrew Geddis has this to say in the comments when discussing a piece by John Roughan in the Herald:

                 the editor probably doesn’t regulate what the opinionators in his stable write, and all-in-all it probably is a good thing that he doesn’t (otherwise the paper would be a single voice on everything, which is not desirable).

                 Which suggests that in his opinion the diversity of views in editorials comes about from having a range of different views expressed, and that the choice on what to publish rests solely in the hands of The Editor (singular).

                 However how are we to be assured of a representative pool of contributors if this information is not publicly available and routinely displayed? In any case I’m not convinced that this results in a truly representative Editorial and can see no valid reason why this practice persists. Perhaps someone from a paper would like to defend the need for Editorial anonymity?

                 I understand the need for anonymity here on the Standard, having had one of my employers threatened over one of my comments here, but the Herald writers are professional journalists and routinely display their names in conjunction with their opinions, so why the discrepancy when it comes to the Editorial?
                 • Campbell Larsen …

                   18 July 2012 at 10:31 pm

                   Edit: Which suggests that in his opinion the diversity of views in editorials comes about from having a range of different authors, and that the choice of which author to publish rests solely in the hands of The Editor (singular).

                   Insufficient proof reading before button pressing.
           • Campbell Larsen 2.1.1.1.1.2

             19 July 2012 at 7:30 pm

             Oh the shifting sands of meaning TRP – until 2010 the editorial was wiki this:
             http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Opinion_piece&oldid=349195101

             The Oxford however is quite clear:
             http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/editorial

             The Public’s perception is that Oxford defines what we are getting when what we are actually being given is the newWiki – and that my friend is the problem.
3. Dv 3

   18 July 2012 at 9:27 am

   This was on the 13th july
   So much for the openess touted by Parata

   A secret meeting of some members of the ministerial cross sector education forum is being held today, without the knowledge of many of the group’s members.

   The group – called the G30 – was formed in the wake of the government’s class size backdown and has been touted by education minister Hekia Parata as a way of ensuring such a disconnect with the sector did not happen again.

   However, PPTA has discovered a meeting is being is being held today of hand-picked members of the G-30 group, general secretary Kevin Bunker said.
4. Tiger Mountain 4

   18 July 2012 at 12:59 pm

   The media reports today (Herald) that ACC Minister ‘Crushless’ Collins has secured a High court date in Feb 2013 in the matter of the long whinged about (by her) alleged defamation by Andrew Little and Trev Mallard re brain injured Bronwyn Pullar’s ACC whistleblowing and surrounding events.

   Now that may seem a long wait for ‘Crushless’, (kicking for touch actually as there is apparently going to be a last chance pre court conference in November ’12), but how about Paula Bennett’s drawn out privacy case resulting from when she publically outed several dirthy filthy DPB bennies personal details in July 2009… still waiting on the outcome of that one.
   • Treetop 4.1

     18 July 2012 at 3:28 pm

     When it comes to Collins I find her to be pathetic when it comes to defending her reputation because when it comes to being a minister she has to DECIDE why she is there and that she is there to be effective. Collins needs to walk in the shoes of sensitive claimants (in particular historical cases) and she will get an education.

     1. Some historical sensitive claimants cases go back to before the 1961 Crimes Act.
     2. Often a claimant is not being treated individually e.g. their case is complicated, they have a mental health condition or an addiction.
     3. The small pool of ACC assessors are being managed by ACC and ACC have reinterpreted legislation.
     4. 3.6 % of sensitive claims have been accepted (think in the past year). 60 % of sensitive claims were accepted in 2008.
     5. 40 % less sensitive claim applications (think in the past year) probably because of how hard it is to access the 16 counselling sessions and how disengaged ACC assessors/non medical staff are towards sensitive claimants.

     In 18 months ACC is to go back to Dr Disley who is on a panel which looked at 14 recommendations for sensitive claimants when Smith was the ACC minister. In the meantime I do not think anything will change because Collins doesn’t get it what being sexually violated and raped in childhood can do/does.

     My message to Collins is that cover determination has been reinterpreted for sensitive claimants and every one who puts in a claim to ACC for ANY injury has the right to have their entitlement under the Act and some past Acts.

     I am no fan of Bennett, but I have to give it to her that she has some focus on her portfolio when it comes to children being abused while in CYF care. From July 2010 – June 2011 71 children were abused while in CYF care. It took 7 weeks to collate this information. Bennett knows there needs to be a centralised data base to collate the abuse of children while in CYF care. Currently information is kept at local sites and for there to be a centralised site important information is more likely to be seen. Bennett has also had a focus on compensating historical cases of children being abused while in the care of social welfare.

     When it comes to Collins she is also the justice minister and no doubt some of the historical social welfare cases are because of decisions made by the courts.

     ACC now has to solve the many problems thay have caused due to their stingy penny pinching.
     CYF have to put children at the top of the pyramid and provide the neccessary resources.
5. TheContrarian 5

   18 July 2012 at 2:07 pm

   You know, I must say I find it quite sad to see The Olympics, which should be a pinnacle for human sports achievement and something all us can be proud of, turned into a fucking branding exercise.

   http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britain-flooded-with-brand-police-to-protect-sponsors-7945436.html  
   • higherstandard 5.1

     18 July 2012 at 2:35 pm

     I’m just woefully disappointed that none of the truly British events are going to be included in the games.

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmyz_f8Sx14
     • felix 5.1.1

       18 July 2012 at 7:17 pm

       How about a bit of “Urban Sprinting”? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8CEzILvtg8

       Or “Knock and Don’t Run”? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoxcZiWK79c
       • rosy 5.1.1.1

         18 July 2012 at 7:53 pm

         😀
6. captain hook 6

   18 July 2012 at 2:16 pm

   according to JK Galbraith in ‘American Capitalism’ the landlords rent price is adventitious and a result of the other imbalanced forces in the economy.
   The real problem and it is going to get worse as the days go on is jobs and income but while this government is busy screwing everything as far down as possible there is not much hope of the labourer being worth his hire and receiving his/her due.
7. John Connor 7

   18 July 2012 at 2:29 pm

   Yes: master use-more and use-less ness.

   DEMOTIC

   hmmmm. much to learn master!
8. John Connor 8

   18 July 2012 at 2:35 pm

   rarely look back. did today.

   versiform another interesting word

   more?
   • Te Reo Putake 8.1

     18 July 2012 at 2:52 pm

     We’re told that the brown acid is not specifically too good. NO RAIN, NO RAIN!
9. John Connor 9

   18 July 2012 at 3:01 pm

   not “mushies”. sensitive regretably
   -adrenaline
   -serotonin
   -dopamine etc

   mastering self

   In-valid

   reparenting self. urrgh!
   self-doubt

   eclectic thinking comes,goes

   “John”-watches
   then
   Elijah

   apprentice
   not
   Master

   in “past” TS like other papers folded away and rarely caught up with
   mastering Time

   happy to share

   RIGHT cannot adopt (pun). strategies mutually exclusive, hence game playing down

   only just came to “blogosphere” ; some people TOLD me i was “not real”
   hmmm

   if fearfull comments intended to be “helpful”
   long way from my reich analogy beginnings.hee
10. John Connor 10

    18 July 2012 at 3:04 pm

    Master died,teachings live on
11. John Connor 11

    18 July 2012 at 3:10 pm

    understanding
    Master/puppet
    master Puppet

    light
12. John Connor 12

    18 July 2012 at 3:14 pm

    ahh
    man/Muppet? though not a concordes follower
13. John Connor 13

    18 July 2012 at 3:17 pm

    Parley-a-ment Live
    Live to parleyment
    hmmm
    hammer the tories
    “tall peg hammered down”
14. John Connor 14

    18 July 2012 at 3:23 pm

    Global pathos superceded by Individual pathos then weak bathos
    clowns
15. John Connor 15

    18 July 2012 at 3:31 pm

    “All the time the guard was looking at her,
    first through a telescope,
    then through a microscope,
    and then through an opera glass.
    At last he said, ‘You’re travelling the wrong way,’
    and shut up the window…..

    -Carroll
16. John Connor 16

    18 July 2012 at 3:36 pm

    supporting (N)ational in “droves”:sheep
17. John Connor 17

    18 July 2012 at 3:39 pm

    Hot! very hot
    (very ‘eavy, very ‘umble)
    (J-A.G)
18. John Connor 18

    18 July 2012 at 3:41 pm

    brownlee; Fred
    dinosaur plodding around swamp….(quarry)
19. John Connor 19

    18 July 2012 at 3:50 pm

    will be master/slave
    in or out

    people “outside box”
    look over wall
20. the pink postman 20

    18 July 2012 at 3:52 pm

    Now watch this cunning Key. He has opened up debate on water rights,
    The red necks are back in force.Will he call an early election then fight it on ownership of water for Maori.I would not be surprised . Unfortunatly race issues gets the red neck Tories out in force. I hope im wrong ,but Key is trying o back out of the asset sales at this moment.
21. Treetop 21

    18 July 2012 at 4:10 pm

    Did anyone see Bryan Bruce last night re investigating the mid June 1970 Crewe murders?

    Throughout the programme it dawned on me how much transparency the police lack toward Rochelle Crewe because she may never be able to even read the police file. I feel that if this is what Rochelle wants, Rochelle should have it, and if she choses to have it independently scrutinised this should also be allowed. Possibly there are people out there who will not talk to the cops (because of their track record with the Crewe case) but they would talk to someone like Bruce and were he to see the entire police file, you never know what oxygen could turn up.

    Bruce is so right when it comes to every police commissioner in the last 40 years not being transparent. What Meurant had to say about Walton, my ears pricked up. I also have something to say about Walton re a 1979 CIB police inquisition. Cover up, after cover up, after cover up …

    I wonder where all the police files are/go which the police do not want interested parties to see?
22. John Connor 22

    18 July 2012 at 4:51 pm

    Prasad effective (revolutionary name)

    when TORY individualist found maggie barry familiar
    now
    see camera seeking

    TAF?
    50/50% numerically-cooperative

    66% by solids weight production ie large and fat
    (it is a human number)

    Look at child abuse, emotional and psychological, personally used canadian RED CROSS
    lists sequelae etc

    mastering self but not master parent
    yet…

    id (want) to be mean about DoC minister but
    who knows…

    DEFLATION?DEFLATION?DEFLATION?deFLATION?deflation?

    English acknow. further drops in CPI to come….

    Frank and earnest; importance of being earnest
    (insert platitude)

    Master enquiry/slave data

    measure men t

    sadness not pain
    sadness-sadness
    weep
    water
    washes

    objective not objective
    perspective

    telegram float
    on water

    pilgrimage-way
    prodigal-way

    master planning/slave manager
    (not harm:many managers)lol

    repair or rebuild
    win-win
    machine not mind

    pen sword

    heres a word

    INSANITIZATION

    Aspire?
    specialization mediocre shard
    ala Lacan

    Look
    not agenda

    mana
    give

    way

    build a way, people will come

    a-muse@qualityoflife.hawkesbay.nz

    taught to BUY stuff from machine slot machine at time/s

    be wary “little victorians”-self-seeking bias
    prophet necessary

    SOCIAL ARCHAEOLOGIST

    social archaeologist
    Master of tomb

    machine look in
    Being look out

    Debt being paid forward F.

    BIG FAT LIES; plenty of literature to consider on FRUCTOSE and some VEGETABLE FATS

    Vygotsky

    research and development; Look a-round be-fore a-long (alon(e)g Time

    be-haviour Way in to values
    behaviour-emotion-memory
    loop

    harley-davidson moment;get not get?
    (out from under willie now)lol

    homage
    age
    dying(regret)

    opinion;
    “we relied on books for centuries, no one seemed to mind that”.
    -education consultant (R) perspective

    opinion; rely on small books for centuries more

    centuries long enough? not e-nough read yet
    yet…

    machine transmits Dominant culture
    “boom box” ending
    wind beginning

    Behind Great man-great women

    attachment (ala Bowlby thru life)

    people

    UNDERSTAND

    People

    “put aside”
    shelter-warmth-food

    All Roads Lead to China

    Alter-bot Teaching
    • bad12 22.1

      18 July 2012 at 5:36 pm

      Pssst John i have stopped reading them, having to fast forward through multiples of them though is becoming a little annoying…
23. Gareth 23

    18 July 2012 at 5:58 pm

    Phill U by another name? Or hot air rushing to fill a vacuum
    • OneTrack 23.1

      18 July 2012 at 7:39 pm

      He’s broken the dot key on his keyboard
24. Anne 24

    18 July 2012 at 6:37 pm

    What’s this all about I wonder:

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Auckland-homes-raided-over-Fiji-plot/tabid/423/articleID/261783/Default.aspx
    • Draco T Bastard 24.1

      18 July 2012 at 7:46 pm

      Mr Singh says the woman told him she had a warrant but would not show it to him.

      Well then, you tell them to fuck off and don’t let them into the house.
      • Anne 24.1.1

        18 July 2012 at 8:52 pm

        Agreed, but Mr Singh and his Fijian colleagues were probably too polite and frightened to do that. Wonder who they really were?
25. Anne 25

    18 July 2012 at 6:42 pm

    And this:

    http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/alleged-bainimarama-assassination-plot-revealed-4975686
26. deuto 26

    18 July 2012 at 8:26 pm

    Just clicked onto Parliament TV to see what was happening there and caught Asenati Lole-Taylor, NZF’s Pacifica woman MP, speaking against the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill which is in its Committee stages in the House. And – wow; I was pretty impressed as IMO opinion she is someone to watch in terms of her slugging it to them and representing the Pacifica situation here in NZ.
27. gobsmacked 27

    18 July 2012 at 9:30 pm

    So the Key-Maori Party meeting has begun, at 9 pm.

    All smiles by midnight? Anyone want to pick the language for ‘Statement Bingo’?

    Something like …

    Key to acknowledge “need for improved communication between partners”, pledges “respect for mana of Turia and Sharples”, pays tribute to “their valued contribution”, yada yadda.

    Turia and Sharples reaffirm support for “the judicial process”, and “stable government”. More yadda.

    Come on, Pita, Tariana … surprise us.
    • rosy 27.1

      18 July 2012 at 9:42 pm

      … and a Mighty River share allocation.
      • Jim Nald 27.1.1

        18 July 2012 at 11:55 pm

        Baubles talk … business as usual:

        http://www.3news.co.nz/Maori-Party-National-still-friends-after-meeting/tabid/1607/articleID/261808/Default.aspx
        • Colonial Viper 27.1.1.1

          19 July 2012 at 12:14 am

          Beads and whisky, excellent compensation for selling out our country.
        • fender 27.1.1.2

          19 July 2012 at 1:12 am

          Right-wing Maori are just as toxic as right-wing Pakeha.
          • North 27.1.1.2.1

            19 July 2012 at 5:16 am

            They’re worse. They’ve travelled a greater distance from the wairua of Maoridom than has the same self-seeking Pakeha from his relatively more individualistic society.

            All for self indulgence and vanity. “My people…..” indeed. Peter’s and Toryana’s “people” are so far behind in the BMW exhaust fumes that they’ve been lost sight of altogether.

            Wonder when we’ll have our first Maori High Commissioner in London and our first Maori ambassador in Washington ?

            Last night’s meeting between The Ponce, Peter, and Toryana will have addressed those questions I guess.

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