Open mike 22/10/2010

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 22nd, 2010 - 81 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

Comment on whatever takes your fancy.

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

Step right up to the mike…

81 comments on “Open mike 22/10/2010 ”

  1. CrosbyTextor 1

    .

    * * * * C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T.I.A.L * * * *

    TO: Media Operatives

    FROM: HQ – Campaign Control

    SUBJECT: Operation Gandalph

    Above operation, commenced in Septemebr, is on schedule. PJ’s tax issues are on hold at this time and not to be mentioned. Instead, continue with inserting following memes:

    – John Key working to resolve

    – if anyone can, John Key can

    – technicians counter protests

    – jobs at risk

    – international reputation at risk

    – promote division amongst unionists

    – all stories to contain “$US500 million at risk”

    Warner executives will be arriving early next week, dates and times to be confirmed. A successful outcome will be announced and photo-ops with John Key and executives will be made available.

    That is all.

    • Bored 1.1

      Its all going well, watching the media circus, you forgot to list “tell a sob story to Campbell on camera”, Jacko did a fabulous turn on that last night. Also you forgot “obfuscate and hide any truth, then run a poll on Campbell”…..

      • Adrian 1.1.1

        And if you watched “Lie to Me ” on TV3 who do you think they fingered as the bullshitters, evasive, failure to make eye contact, general air of discomfit, excessive fidgeting, half closed eyes when answering direct questions or Robyn Malcolm and Tandi Wright looking direct to interviewer and chins up. Take’em away boys and throw the book at ’em.

        • comedy 1.1.1.1

          Odd, I found Jackson (who’s not an actor) far more convincing than Robyn and Tandi who are actors by trade.

          And don’t let’s even talk about the performance of Helen Kelly.

        • Crashcart 1.1.1.2

          I always like to use things I learn on fictional T.V shows to make judgments in real life. Thank god for CSI proving that any crime can be linked 100% by physical evidence and if it can’t then the person must be innocent.

          I had to laugh though when the first question directed at Tandi resulted in her producing a classic stunned mullet before throwing it to Robyn. Someone should have told her that putting on the glasses don’t actually make her smart.

      • Dan 1.1.2

        Can someone get the Ian Mune interview on TV1 Morning Tv up please. Very good analysis of the issue.

  2. Bored 2

    Im going to post this again, its about the death of our pollinators, the bees. Have a read please, dying bees leads to dying ecosystems, and in our case hunger (big time).

    http://civileats.com/2010/10/15/sorry-new-york-times-the-bee-die-off-case-is-not-closed/

  3. Jim MacDonald 3

    ~ ~ Newsflash Questions ~ ~

    * Gerry Brownlee uses The Hobbit to soften up public for changing employment rights ?

    * Judith Collins announces $1m golden handshake for alleged conflicted Supreme Court judge case, burying many unanswered questions ?

    New Zealand pays a high price under John Key’s Government

  4. Lazy Susan 4

    On the very same day that the UK government announces “austerity measures” slashing 500,000 jobs in the public service there’s this!

    They also estimate 300,000 jobs will go in the private sector. There are currently around 29 million people in employment in UK so that’s around 1 in 36 jobs gone and not even a grumble from the masses. Did Thatcher really disempower them that much?

    • Bored 4.1

      Its a sad commentary upon how we as a society forget the lessons of previous generations and as a consequence have to refight their struggles again. We take todays benefits for granted without ever asking how did we come by them? And our two enemies remain the same, they are “those that have”, and the “rest of us” who have let them have it.

    • Carol 4.2

      There have been some protests, but, I think pretty small. There’s a lot of private grumbling from some friends I have in the UK.

      Yes, Thatcher disempowered the unions and tamed the media. As one Brit friend said recently, the majority of the population are showing how they have been affected by a couple of decades of being fed Thatcher principles via the media.

    • weizguy 4.3

      I’m in the UK at the moment, and there’s plenty of grumbling. There will be even more when people start losing their jobs…

      What’s most bizarre, and for me, delusional, is that the coalition is planning to reduce the number of prisoners, in a recession, when they’ve cut 500,000 jobs, and when they’re cutting the police budget, and the number of courts. Unless they’re planning on pulling police off the streets so they can’t arrest anyone – it’s a tall order…

    • Vicky32 4.4

      To judge by my penfriends, they’re grumbling all right, and also on the BBC WS vox pops, but they need to make their displeasure louder and more public!
      Deb

    • Draco T Bastard 4.5

      British Fashion Victims

      No widespread fad ever passes, however, without leaving some fashion victims in its wake. In this case, the victims are the people of Britain, who have the misfortune to be ruled by a government that took office at the height of the austerity fad and won’t admit that it was wrong.

      The economy does need rebalancing but not through the means of making poor people poorer and the rich richer as seems to be happening with the British Government and ours.

  5. Pascal's bookie 5

    COIN is hard. Especially when UR doin it rong…

    Mahmoud Dawood, a 35-year-old farmer from the western tip of the Horn of Panjwaii, the area Afghan and Nato forces are trying to take, described how he was woken last Thursday night by explosions in a neighbouring village. Suddenly the blasts came closer, and the silhouette of an Afghan commando appeared in his open door. “There was a bright white light and a voice said in Pashto ‘Stand up’,” he said.

    “They took me, my brother and our neighbours” to a prison they’d established in a hamlet called Saidan, he added. Dawood claimed to be one of 66 prisoners held there, a figure confirmed by a local elder. The district governor, Haji Baran, confirmed that he had intervened to help secure the release of many of the prisoners following the weekend assault on the peninsula. After being questioned and having biometric data taken, Dawood claimed he was taken home to fill sandbags as they turned his home into a firing point. “They made us walk in front,” he said, “so if there was a mine we’d hit it.”

    Julias Cavendish reporting in the Independent, via…

    http://www.newshoggers.com/blog/2010/10/taliban-flee-us-offensive-but-promise-to-return.html

    …that boldy bit? A war crime as it happens, not that the west pretends to care about that shit nowadays. beyond that though. It’s stupid. We are supposed to be protecting the civilians. We are supposed to be getting the civilians to prefer the government to the Taliban. When you have the civilians being sacrificed to protect the government, that’s not COIN, it’s occupation.

    And someone should ask John Key, (who tells me we are in Afghanistan to prevent the Taliban taking over because terrorism that’s why), if the fact that NATO is flying Taliban highups to ‘negotiations’ means we lost.

    • prism 5.1

      Ironic that Britain is there in Afghanistan bringing democracy into bad repute (the opposite of their stated intention), while at home there are huge sackings of civil servants because the Brits can’t afford to run their own country. They’re like a dog after a stick that the USA throws. Panting, tongue out, catch and repeat, still fixated to the game.

    • Colonial Viper 5.2

      Yeah COIN is hard especially if you make prisoners walk in front of you at gun point, forgetting that a decent AP mine will have an effective blast injury radius of 15-20m, sometimes more.

  6. jacinda 6

    Heres one to warm the cockles, and is relevant seeing as its provisional tax week next week:

    This financial year I will pay $24,000 in income tax, on $165,000 of income which includes zero-rated salary from an offshore contract and rental income on two properties which are both making a slight loss.

    Morally, my obligation is to legally pay as little tax as possible, so that I can provide for my family, and also ensure that our future is looked after.

    However, there is also the moral debt to society to pay my fair share of tax. In my opinion, my moral obligation to society is completely fulfilled by paying around 24k in income tax, plus GST on top of that, the other incidental taxes as well as the business I generate for other people via my property investment company. Additionally, my salary is totally generated offshore, so I am bringing in money into the country as opposed to shifting deckchairs around.

    Additionally, all my health care, where possible is paid for by private insurance and ACC (my ACC bill is $2800 this financial year). I actually have only used physio therapists in the last 15 years for sports injuries, as I don’t get sick.

    Why then, do certain left-leaning people I have had discussions with, call me a greedy prick and selfish and acuse me of “stealing from hard working Kiwis”? Surely I more than pay my debt/obligations to society, and do it far and above most other Kiwis? What the hell do people expect?

    • Bored 6.1

      A few words Jacinda. Without being in any way judgemental (given I too run the tax on a number of ventures)…your approach has me a little puzzled.

      Morals dont come into legal obligation to pay as little tax as possible. Its a regulatory relationship, you comply. Any moral virtue is attached to compliance as opposed to minimisation.

      You operate income through an off shore contract at zero rate: as above if it is legit that it is zero rated then good luck, nice if you can do this. And you are only taking a tax loss position like so many property owners who took advantage of the tax minimisation policies followed by successive administrations, so far so good. Nothing moral, immoral etc here, virtue all dependent on your viewpoint.

      The paying a moral debt to society bit through tax??? And the greater moral position garnered by bringing the benefit of offshore money to NZ plus the savings on private healthcare to society? I just dont get this, this poses no superior position to my thinking. When we work we all generate some contribution, especially tax which is what we pay to have the society we have. Its not a debt, it is how we afford healthcare etc. If you wish to pay again so be it, your choice, but it does not represent any greater good.

      Maybe those calling you a selfish greedy type are reacting to your claims of deserving your position as opposed to keeping your affairs to yourself. Flaunting your good fortune as a “virtue” is never a good look.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.2

      Have you considered that it maybe because you actually have those tax write offs and most other people don’t? You do realise that you’re boasting about paying ~15% tax where most other people are paying closer to 20%. Someone on $100k PAYE will actually pay more tax than you. As I’ve said – everyone needs to be on the same tax rules.

      (my ACC bill is $2800 this financial year)

      My nephew is paying $3500 even though his income this year, after expenses, is slightly less than the dole. Apparently it’s based on his income from 2008 when his income was as high as yours. He’s a builder.

      And, to top it all off, I can’t actually see where you’ve produced any wealth. If you’ve described yourself accurately then you’re one of those parasitical rentiers that cause damage to the economy by taking wealth out away from productive enterprises.

      • nzfp 6.2.1

        you’re one of those parasitical rentiers that cause damage to the economy

        I couldn’t have said it any more elegantly!

        Captcha:ENGINEERS – now there is a productive industrious member of society.

    • Cnr Joe 6.3

      sports injuries = “I don’t get sick”
      does now compute

      • Vicky32 6.3.1

        How many sodding sports injuries? Are you aware that a huge chunk of ACC payouts are for sports injuries? I forget the exact figure but it is the majority…

    • millsy 6.4

      Jacinda,

      Do you support the concept of a public health care system?

  7. joe90 7

    Tea party nationalism, a report from the NAACP about, well, the tea party.

    We know the majority of Tea Party supporters are sincere, principled people of good will. That is why the NAACP—an organization that has worked to expose and combat racism in all its forms for more than 100 years—is thankful Devin Burghart, Leonard Zeskind and the Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights prepared this report that exposes the links between certain Tea Party factions and acknowledged racist hate groups in the United States. These links should give all patriotic Americans pause.

  8. freedom 8

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1010/S00385/justice-wilson-resigns.htm

    and it is business as usual for the scammers that wear the right ties. Have we not seen this enough times, a high ranking official type person gets accussed of suspected wrongdoing, a huge amount of tax dollars get spent investigating the accusations only for the eleventh hour to raise its head and the accused falls on their sword as ‘To proceed with this case would have caused incalculable damage to confidence in the judiciary.’

    If ever one of these b’satrds was actually convicted of their crimes the judiciary would probably gain some public confidence, instead we have just thrown a million bucks into another rigged game as the marked deck is slipped back to the dealer.

  9. john 9

    UK’s Ignorant,stupid Prime Minister,Cameron follows NeoLiberal othodoxy over the cliff:Bankers get billions in bonuses and Vodafone owes 6 billion in Tax but Osbourne says they needn’t pay!.Meanwhile poorer people are having their supports cut away from underneath them such that Britain is heading for Dickensian times again! Refer report:

    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26657.htm

    Relevance to NZ? Be assured our NeoLiberal Dinosaurs want to go down the same path if they can get away with it!

    • john 9.1

      Further comment on UK’s current garb.ge Prime Minister by George Monbiot: The current crisis is being used to implement what Naomi Klein calls “Shock tactics”: UK is a Government-Corporation Fascist State,where ordinary persons’ needs and opinions matter not a jot! John Key is our Corporate Man : Majority of kiwis don’t want privatization of ACC but does that democratic majority matter? not a jot! The whole NeoLiberal thrust is anti democratic and downright criminal from the criminal invasion of IRAQ for oil to the overthrow of the Chilean democracy by Pinochet later lauded by Thatcher:One of the most Pig Ignorant pollies the UK has ever had the tragedy to spawn.

      http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2010/10/18/britains-shock-doctrine/

  10. nzfp 10

    German economist and environmentalist Margrit Kennedy demonstrated in her 1987 book (free to read online) “Interest and Inflation Free Money (ISBN 0-9643025-0-0)” that all widgets produced in a debt based economy such as ours incur interest costs totaling 50% of the total cost of production for each item.

    Margrit Kennedy speaks on interest free economy (youtube video linked below). For those of you who are Green Party followers – you really need to consider the importance of monetary reform. Kennedy’s work on ecological architecture in 1982 led her to the discovery, that it is “virtually impossible to carry out sound ecological concepts on the scale required today, without fundamentally altering the present money system or creating new complementary currencies.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuBy3BzCXwg

    Watch the video (6mins 39secs).

    • nzfp 10.1

      After you watch the youtube clip above – watch an excerpt from the film “The International” which describes “The Essence of the Banking Industry…”

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B_SxGmSJP0

      • nzfp 10.2.1

        Thanks KJT.
        However I don’t see monetary reform in the green Party policies:

        http://www.greens.org.nz/policysummary/economic-policy-summary-thinking-beyond-tomorrow

        Monetary Policy

        Inflation is now being driven by new factors such as the world prices of oil and food, a carbon price to address climate change, and shortages of key resources. These cannot easily be controlled by changing interest rates, the one tool available to the Reserve Bank. The Green Party proposes:
        * Better coordination of monetary and fiscal policy.
        * Economic policies to minimise the effects of resource shortage driven price shocks.
        * Measures to limit future asset (especially house) price inflation.
        * Consideration of a more actively managed exchange rate through measures designed to reduce the attractiveness and profitability of currency speculation.

        Without a change in the monetary system – the system remains the same. did you watch German economist and environmentalist Margrit Kennedy’s comments about debt based monetary systems?

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuBy3BzCXwg

        Watch Kennedy’s video, then compare the Greens with Social Credit

        http://www.democrats.org.nz/Policy/Finance/tabid/83/Default.aspx

        Make the Reserve Bank the sole provider of new money.
        • Abolish GST and replace it with a Financial Transactions Tax which would mean the currency speculating “financial sharks” would pay their fair share of tax.
        • Make the Reserve Bank responsible for seeing that foreign debt is repaid, and overseas transactions are in balance.
        Establish a social credit economy where people will be able to use the country’s resources without mortgaging their own or their children’s future.
        • Replace local body and D.H.B. debt with interest-free community credit.
        • Recover effective control of New Zealand’s economic affairs and establish greater political independence.
        • Ensure a property-owning democracy, in which the ownership of assets is spread as widely as possible amongst individuals.

        Without a change in the monetary system – the system remains the same.

        Why isn’t monetary policy central to the Greens?

        • Colonial Viper 10.2.1.1

          The Greens don’t really get the nature of money, do they?

          And perhaps tacitly believe that anything which facilitates commerce, industry and trade is going to be problematic from an environmental stand point.

          I have a lot of time for the Social Credit guys.

          We should move to a debt free, interest free source of money – issued directly by the Govt, with the quantity of currency in circulation closely controlled by Govt.

          Cut the private banks out of the picture in terms of the creation of interest bearing ‘bank cash’.

          • nzfp 10.2.1.1.1

            Hey CV,

            The Greens don’t really get the nature of money, do they?

            No and that is a concern – especially as the Greens were in a coalition with Social Credit for the duration the Greens and Social Credit were part of the Alliance party.

            The Greens would have been given a thorough grounding in the importance of monetary reform from the Social Credit MP’s – yet despite this there is zero acknowledgment of monetary reform in their literature.

            However there is discussion on water levy’s – yet as has been explained many times over in this forum – the monetary system drives the behaviour of corporations and farmers.

            No, the lack of monetary policy from the Greens greatly concerns me – at times I wonder if the Greens are a limited hangout for the Left. Voting Greens allows one to assuage their collective guilt for environmental destruction – but hang on – I’m not responsible for BP’s behaviour.

            The Greens offer the Left some great environmental policies and some great societal policies – but they don’t offer true monetary and economic reform. Their policies are peripheral to the question that really matters – who controls the creation and distribution of money!

            It appears that the Greens are defining the Left debate – without the key issue ever being discussed. Hence they are a limited hangout.

            This begs another question – is this by design, is it purposeful or do they truly not understand the nature of money. Remember that they used to be in the Alliance with Social Credit and the Progressives who incidentally have nearly identical monetary and fiscal policies as Social Credit.

            Therefore the Greens should understand money in the same way that Social Credit and the Progressives do.

            That leads me to conclude – for now – that the lack of monetary reform policy from the Greens is purposeful – therefore Limited Left hangout.

            Green supporters – please prove me wrong! Show me the literature – show me the statements from Metiria Turei ma – e pa ana ki te kaupapa o te putea.

  11. Carol 11

    And Nat Rad is now reporting an item that shows that the attacks on unions is being extended to scaremonger about union action disprupting next year’s rubgy world cup.

    So the struggle contunies, with Cosby Textor pulling out ll the stops to appeal to kiwi iconic activities.

    Unite has said they haven’t ruled out action during the world cup. Others have responded angrily.

    • Colonial Viper 11.1

      Unite should state a very clear and simple list of requirements. Put the ball back in the employers court to show the world what a first world country we are, one which respects workers rights.

  12. Carol 13

    So the reports scaremongering about union action comes from an employers organisation, and links it with the Hobbit controversy….. easy to see how this is further aimed at undermining unions:

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/60139/don%27t-disrupt-rugby-world-cup,-employers-tell-unions

    A major employers’ group is urging unions not to take industrial action during next year’s Rugby World Cup.

    Employers fear union action similar to that threatening The Hobbit movies could disrupt the Rugby World Cup.

    David Lowe of the Employers and Manufacturers Association says disruption is possible after Unite Union said it will take industrial action during the Cup if employment agreements aren’t settled.

    He’s calling on the Council of Trade Unions to say they won’t take any action during the tournament.

    He says the tournament is not the right time to pursue agendas, and if industrial action is taken next year, New Zealand’s reputation for welcoming hospitality could be wrecked.

    • Draco T Bastard 13.1

      Personally, I’m quite happy for the RWC to be disrupted. It’s only purpose is to enrich the already rich. The majority of people will receive no benefit from it and will most likely be out of pocket because of it. Those are our taxes going to pay for it.

      • prism 13.1.1

        DTB Haven’t the taxes already been spent? Our only way is to go through with it and hope we break even.

        • Carol 13.1.1.1

          Hmm… and who would think less of NZ for union action during the RWC?
          The French team and supporters, cos, like, their country is not associated with such shinannigans?
          The Aussies, cos like, they don’t have strong unions at all do they?
          England? – well they might feel shamed that their country can’t produce demos like France.
          Wales, Scotland, with their strong working class sentiments?
          South Africa, which has no troubles of disorder and dissent, does it?

        • Draco T Bastard 13.1.1.2

          The RU was anticipating it running at a loss even before the government went ahead and got it. The point of the RWC (and other similar events like movies) is that the economy has more money coming into it from overseas sources but the people who will get that money are the people already with money as they’re the only ones in a position to do so. Basically, such events are a government subsidy of the rich to make them richer. If the rich want such events then they can pay for them – government shouldn’t be subsidising them.

          It’s going ahead anyway, doubt if there’ll be that much disruption anyway the cookie crumbles, but it’s not an excuse to stop asking for a better deal.

      • M 13.1.2

        In agreement here DTB – can’t see any way a profit will be made given the situation in Europe and the US getting worse by the day. Oz could conceivably inject some money into the economy but for your average Joe the wallet is staying firmly closed.

        As usual the beleaguered tax payer will pick up the tab – our version of TARP?

        • Crashcart 13.1.2.1

          This you have to side with the unions on. They have let employers know well ahead of time there could be disruptions. The ball is now in their court to negotiate an acceptable solution to prevent those disruptions. If they can’t do that any disruption is as much the employers fault as the union. The employers are just trying to use the Hobbit issue to remove any teeth that the unions may be able to use in negotiations.

          As to holding the cup here. I would think you would find a large number of Kiwi’s aren’t looking at it from the standpoint of the money made as you are DTB. They are more interested in the Rugby itself funny enough. I don’t care who is making money off it. I just want to take my kids to some games.

          • Draco T Bastard 13.1.2.1.1

            That may be so but the rational for it, and why the government supported it, was the hypothetical boost to the economy.

    • Colonial Viper 13.2

      Thats almost funny, a call for not pursuing agendas when such a call is exactly part of the EMA pursuing its agenda.

    • Colonial Viper 14.1

      Whenever SAG lifts a boycott on a production, it immediately informs many different parties, officially. Studios, actors, agents, casting companies, affiliated unions, the whole works.

      For Warners to say that the first they heard about the boycott lifting was on the news: Utter BS.

  13. prism 15

    Gerry Brownlee is not interested in helping ordinary people hard hit by the Christchurch earthquake. I thought being all-powerful he could move things along to assist worst-hit residents to recover and regain a normal life. Instead they have been left with very few options – have to rebuild etc and maybe not for two years. No matter if getting out is what you need. It’s a bit like the attitude to the leaky homes, tight-fisted and limiting so that people can be stuck with awful housing and no help to improve their lot

    It seems that all the money being spent is on infrastructural large projects with below-earth ‘dams’ ringing the liquifaction area. The people affected by it have to suck it. Bob Parker sounds fairly lacklustre about what he is trying to do for residents too.

  14. Draco T Bastard 16

    More bullshit from Gilmore

    Last month, National MP Aaron Gilmore was exposed as having lied on his CV.

    Gilmores excuse?

    He also told the Herald it had been confirmed that the information was not sent by him.

    “However, there is an email from my secretary saying:

    The butler secretary did it…

  15. KJT 17

    http://www.management.co.nz/Editorial.asp?eID=52146&Wcat=12

    As Walshe points out, research has “been telling us for decades” that financial rewards are limited in their value to motivate. “But,” she adds, “one of the things we did learn over the past year or so is that remuneration packages loaded with bonuses encourage behaviours that may not be good for business – or ethics.
    “Customers and shareholders have watched in horror as executives with key roles during periods of significant stuff-ups are still paid sizeable bonuses. Consequently, trust is undermined, reputation is lost, and brand and share values fall.
    “The bonus is perhaps becoming another four letter word – never mind that it contains five letters – and may yet become the currency of shame,” she offers”.

  16. nzfp 18

    Woohoo!

    “VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY BREAKS SIEGE AND ENTERS GAZA” (youtube)

    New Zealand is represented breaking apartheid Israels seige of the Palestinian people.

    Day 34: 21 October 2010

    […]

    3.54pm: Chris

    We’re through the gate! We’re in Gaza! Our heartfelt thanks to all our supporters back home in Aotearoa! Without you all we would not be here.

    3.58pm: Roger

    Red Cresent youths arrive and pose for photos alongside convoy vehicles. A relaxed atmosphere.

    4pm: Chris

    We’ve parked our vehicles just past the border, and are being guided to seats for a media rally.

    4.23pm: Chris

    There’s a festival mood. Everyone is hugging each other, and there’s lots of joyful tears.

    […]

  17. Draco T Bastard 19

    Queenstown airport sale under wraps

    The partial sale of Queenstown International Airport was kept secret because there was no time to consult the public, the airport’s board decided.

    Records of a Queenstown Airport board meeting on June 28 – released under the Official Information Act – show the board was concerned informing the Queenstown Lakes District Council would delay the sale for up to a year.

    “Markets for QAC [Queenstown Airport] is strong right now; this may not be the case next year.”

    Delays associated with the possible election of a new district council was another reason given for keeping the deal under wraps, the records show.

    I’m pretty sure selling something without consulting the owners is considered theft.

    • wtl 19.1

      I’m a bit confused here. It seems that the board of a company can issue a new shareholding without consulting with or having this approved by the current shareholders? Is that this case? And so CCOs can do this as well, i.e. they can effectively self-privatise if the board decides to?

    • come get some 19.2

      how quickly will this happen in Auckland? Especially with Hide setting up his new commision

  18. big bruv 20

    Oh joy….Labour have had a shocking week.

    A huge public backlash at the parasitic union low life.

    A thrashing in the house.

    And now we find out that two Labour party MP are acting for those solid citizens the Mongrel Mob.

    Are you guys really that desperate for votes?

    • Vicky32 20.1

      ” that two Labour party MP are acting for those solid citizens the Mongrel Mob”
      Details, link and proof please…

      • KJT 20.1.1

        Two Labour MP’s gave constituents in their electorate advice, on their rights ,when Housing NZ decided to evict them because of possible connections to the MM.

      • felix 20.1.2

        Yep as KJT says, nothing very exciting: http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/labour-mps-supported-gang-associates-3848292

        Just big bruv bullshit as usual.

        • Carol 20.1.2.1

          Charles Chauvel explained on Red Alert. Sounds like a bit of a TV One ambush and beat-up. Is the journo a Crosby Textor intern?

        • NickS 20.1.2.2

          I was laughing at it, it’s basic civics 101 that MP’s are there to provide help and support to people in their electorates. Even if they’re partners to otherwise dodgy types, and especially more so if a government department is seemingly treating them like subhumans.

          Also, Phil Heatley was oh so adorably stupid in trying to say MP’s should say anything about teh government’s stuff ups. It’s like he was never in opposition at all…

    • millsy 20.2

      God forbid that women should have a decent roof over their heads. Even if they are in relationships with gang members

  19. just saying 21

    http://liberation.typepad.com/

    For anyone wanting a break from PJ vs the union, and other issues of the day, Bryce Edwards has an insightful piece on the Carter affair, and what it demonstrates about the state of the Labour Party and parliament as a whole.

    Marty G, Eddie, and Rex Witherspoon feature….

  20. millsy 22

    While we are arguing about hobbits, the government plans to flog our military bases off to the Chinese.

    The Defence White paper comes out in a couple of weeks, and there are hints that we could see a mass privatisation of defence force functions – which should be a very close core role of the state.

    Can you imagine Blackwater goons racing round Burnham in their Humvees?

    • NickS 23.1

      /snark.exe

      snark.exe failed to load

      try again? Y/N

      /Y

      No. Because they only reason it seems this is happening is because once more a NZ local government body is failing to do the right thing and hand back land they’ve appropriated in the past, which has violated the Treaty of Waitangi or generated significant bad blood via other means.

      It’s also a iso-fucking-lated incident.

      So, prey tell, where art the armies of more than understandably pissed off Maori’s storming the Beaches, the National Parks, even your local, sacred Cricket Ground?

      Oh that’s right, it’s only in the racist majority’s delusions of what actually going on.

      __________________________
      Hmmn, I really had to force that, and summon up past readings of kiwiblog comment threads and stuff on Reading the Maps. So only partly a successful snark.

  21. millsy 24

    I dont care if the land was ‘stolen’. I do care that Maori want to take it over and charge white people for having picnics.

    Dont come crying to me when you cant take your kids for a walk along the maori owned beach.

    [lprent: Deleted the comments. Do not repeat that stupidity. Just to remind you of how it annoys me cleaning up after people – have a 5 day ban. ]

    • KJT 24.1

      Millsy. I have had a Pakeha land owner set their dogs onto me when I was going along the public access to a beach. Another trying to tell me I could not row up a creek and yet another trying to stop us landing on Mercury Island.

      While I think the Popata’s are not the full quid, I do not see hundreds of Maori trying to stop access to the beach.

      Some Maori suggest we should all have access to the foreshore and seabed. It all becomes unsaleable public domain and all current owners are compensated equally.

    • NickS 24.2

      Lolwut?

      Here’s an idea, go take a night class in high school english, I hear they teach this skill called “critical reading”.

      Because nowhere in their are they saying that they want payments to be made, what they do say want is that permission should be asked of the local Iwi to use the beach etc, as it forms land that was taken from them, in their view, without due process. Besides that, there’s likely other beaches within a short drive to go to if you want a picnic etc.

      And we already have privately owned beaches and water fronts you fool, which we don’t have access to, because it’s private land. Along with the rather obvious inference that blanket bans are deeply unlikely and that access will probably only be restricted to culturally significant sites and bits they can get a income off via renting it out to those with teh cash. Which is pretty much restricted to the east coast of Northland.

      Oh yeah, with private roads, the owners have to pay for the up keep etc, so really, they are well within their rights to charge for access.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T11:14:26+00:00