Open mike 29/01/2014

72 comments on “Open mike 29/01/2014 ”

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1. phillip ure 1

   29 January 2014 at 7:24 am

   sue moroney was on tvone breakfast..

   ..and she did a good job..

   phillip ure..
   • The Pink Postman 1.1

     30 January 2014 at 2:24 pm

     She always does a good job ,Phillip .Most likely the hardest working MP in the house. Cabinet post after the election a certainty .
2. phillip ure 2

   29 January 2014 at 7:37 am

   pete seeger..sonny terry..and brownie mcghee..

   ‘down by the riverside’..

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9eDU045u_E

   ..and this will take you to a pete seeger playlist..

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgzl1Sai4Y0&list=RDI9eDU045u_E

   phillip ure..
   • Ad 2.1

     29 January 2014 at 8:22 am

     I spent a couple of hours last night listening and watching him on utube last night.
     We listened to him in the car in the great trip up north last weekend.
     Truly an inspiring man, living a replete life.
3. North 3

   29 January 2014 at 8:08 am

   Hone Harawira got it so right in his reponse to Key’s “taking the mickey’ comments about his (Harawira’s) speaker approved absences from Parliament:

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11193245

   He said Mr Key’s remarks were “just a continuation of his petty bickering about my going to South Africa.”

   Clearly John Key still smarts about the fool he looked rushing off to South Africa with two architects of the anti-Anti-Tour Movement whom he chose.

   Little Churchill asprayshins fucked up again.
   • David H 3.1

     29 January 2014 at 10:42 am

     Any way Key and English seemed to be missing on every Thursday in the last period.
     • fender 3.1.1

       29 January 2014 at 11:50 am

       Mandate
   • aerobubble 3.2

     29 January 2014 at 1:50 pm

     Hone should demand at question time, that Key resign for not getting a penny out of him for being absent. Call Key weak over and over. Then bring up Dunne and how weak Key was to catch the leak.
     • aerobubble 3.2.1

       29 January 2014 at 1:52 pm

       However there was great fact that came out. Hone has been up and down the country touching skin, just like Peters who worked the rooms from North to South.
4. freedom 4

   29 January 2014 at 8:22 am

   Those who are buying into the PM’s nonsense about MPs being absent and skivving off, have obviously not been watching Parliament since National took office.

   If the sums being paid are the issue, the House of Representatives is where the criticism should be focused. The behaviour of the Government benches is a good place to start. We could begin with the PM himself.

   The Prime Minister is the only representative who whilst sitting in the House, made a throat slitting gesture towards the opposition. This is a man whose own rampant absenteeism is for what? Photo ops and roundtable reach-arounds. A PM who has repeatedly refused to answer direct questions with direct answers. All the while being accommodated by a Speaker whose allowance to Ministers not to answer questions at all, makes Lockwood Smith’s loose interpretations of Ministers’ answers look responsible and fair.

   Whoever does take the reigns later this year has to begin our nation’s recovery by reforming the behaviour of the House of Representatives. Without that vital step, even the best policy will flounder and our nation will continue to fail. We are better than the bleating of the backbenches. We are stronger than the rubber spine of our Speaker. We are a nation that once lead the world towards democracy and equality. New Zealand did not destroy that dream, politicians did.

   This year, your vote has never been more important. Do not waste it on wishes. Offer it the care with which you would handle any taonga and hand it to someone you respect, someone you trust and someone you believe will build again the great nation of Aotearoa.
5. Chooky 5

   29 January 2014 at 8:26 am

   Labour should AXE the super toll motorways proposed by John Key ( no one wants them except John Key and his ‘ Chosen’ cronyist Capitalist mates….to line their pockets

   …eg from what I have heard at least one of these motorways is proposed to be constructed by an Australian company ….AXE them !

   …….. and and put the money into:

   1.) free university education for young New Zealanders up to and including PhD level ( these young people are NZ’s future!)

   2.)…..reinstating Continuing Education around the country( a great way for adults..from school leavers to 90 year olds….from Maori to Pakeha….from country to city….from new- comer immigrants to generational NZers to learn new skills and meet people…. and make life -long friends)

   ( John Key’s NACT axed Continuing Education!….. and gave the $90 million dollars directly to private schools… SHAME ON THEM!)

   3)…..Free polytech education, apprenticeships and internships ( we owe it to our young to look after them and help them into employment…before allowing in workers from overseas)

   ( Hear that Winston….no dirty deals with the Key NACT desperate Banksters…as John Armstrong suggests!)

   4) pour money into our starved STATE SCHOOLS ( better pay for All teachers not just John Key’s Ponzi few bullshit so called ‘excellent’ Principals)…Bring back the State School Inspectorate with very little extra cost ….Make all NZ schools genuinely run and funded by the State! ….not done on the cheap by unqualified, struggling and stressed parents

   ….Teaching is a Profession like Law and Medicine …..TREAT EDUCATION and TEACHERS with the RESPECT they deserve.!!!!!…this will raise education attainment levels to world class as in Finland)

   These policies would be a huge vote winner for Labour/Greens from young New Zealanders ( our future) and their parents….as well as every other New Zealander who values education and social cohesion.

   New Zealand has a proud record in Education which has been undermined by monetarism , Neo Liberal economics and John Key and his mates who would split it, undermine teachers and unions ……and privatise it a la USA charter school businesses and religious organisations…..This is not the New Zealand way! Hands off our New Zealand State Secular education system for ALL New Zealanders! ( the unions should be fighting for this)..
   • Tautoko Viper 5.1

     29 January 2014 at 8:24 pm

     +1 Chooky. When I read your posts, I feel as if I am reading my own thoughts exactly.
6. ak 6

   29 January 2014 at 8:28 am

   Crikey dick, she moves in mysterious ways alright.

   After freeing up our most accomplished politician for wonderful world-serving roles at the UN, our wee interim manager is cracking glorious home goals (Hone 68 days off, the Keyster…..81!) and thus ensuring the ascendance of a genuine human for our leader once again.

   And all at the very reasonable cost this time of only a few billions from workers and the poor to the rich, and a level of immiserating victim-bashing almost benign by historical tory standards.

   Well done that wairua!
   • bad12 6.1

     29 January 2014 at 8:45 am

     Hone calls Slippery the Prime Minister ‘petty’ for His ridiculous attack,(obviously a hypocrite as well), i think Hone is being far too reserved in His riposte to the ‘used car salesman in charge’…
     • Lanthanide 6.1.1

       29 January 2014 at 9:21 am

       Agreed.

       Hone should call it like it is, race-baiting and being divisive.
       • idlegus 6.1.1.1

         29 January 2014 at 12:48 pm

         +1, the lazy maori meme/dog whistle. national voters are treated like idiots, can they not see that?
7. adam 7

   29 January 2014 at 8:29 am

   This just goes from bad to worse.

   http://dissentingdemocrat.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/fukushima-what-fukushima-there-is-no-fukushima/

   A re-armed Japan is a worry. But a re-armed Japan with this type of power – mmm 1935 anyone.
   • freedom 7.1

     29 January 2014 at 9:12 am

     http://naturalsociety.com/dead-sea-creatures-98-percent-ocean-floor/

     The sheer fact that the effects of Fukushima were not even considered make the study and its findings all the more suspicious
   • Bill 7.2

     29 January 2014 at 10:11 am

     1935? No.

     There was a wide-ranging embargo in place against Japan back then. Lack of domestic energy sources was one of the reasons they embarked on military expansion. Post WWII, that lack of oil, gas etc was behind the US and the UK slapping up nuclear power stations there…
   • millsy 7.3

     30 January 2014 at 7:50 am

     You must be hanging out at the RSA for too long mate. We have nothing to fear from Japan.

     We should really be worried about the Chinese — though they seem to be happy with using chequebooks in leiu of guns ATM.
     • adam 7.3.1

       30 January 2014 at 11:53 am

       My point was that the restriction of democratic principles and rearmament have a historical comparison with Japan military Circa 1935.

       Indeed Bill the forcing of Nuclear stations on Japan was a disgusting, especially as like her, NZ is another country directly on the ring of fire.

       I think the fear of Chin is pushing a lot of crap Millsy, I just don’t think a rearmed Japan is a good response.

       It is the removal of the ability to question the state which is the real problem.
8. bad12 8

   29 January 2014 at 8:56 am

   Court cases defending defamation, a web-site that He has been unable to make work for 24 hours, and death threats from those close to a young man who tragically died while the back-seat passenger in a car,

   Hell we could almost feel sorry for ‘Wail Oils’ Blubber boy, yes what the hell am i saying, as far as i can see Cameron Slater is simply getting the rewards of His own feral behavior in the vein of the old old adage ”you reap what you sow”,

   It appears that there are many out in the real world who have had enough of Slater’s ugliness and feral attacks on those who havn’t the means of public reply,

   In saying that we here at the Standard cannot support criminal behavior of any sort(said with a snigger)…
   • ropata 8.1

     29 January 2014 at 9:56 am

     Slater’s sewage pond has tarnished all NZ blogs and his constant media appearances for opinion demonstrates how lazy and devoid of substance our news media is. If Labour do anything, our intrepid reporters go out and interview a deranged slob who sits online all day in his underwear eating chips and whose life is paid for by daddykins.

     One day we might see a reporter interviewing real people affected by National’s sociopathic policies. But after National’s chilling response to the child poverty doco near the last election, our tired hack reporters are probably all scared of being sued or fired.
9. Chris 9

   29 January 2014 at 9:10 am

   hahahaha poor old cam says its malicious I say its delicious

   http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/2583839
   • ropata 9.1

     29 January 2014 at 9:43 am

     WhaleOffal is a nasty little man, when the Christchurch earthquakes were mentioned he goes (verbatim, to me) “Fuck Christchurch” and raves on about how they are freeloaders subsidised by Auckland. There is no logical response to this sort of wilful malice.

     I”m guessing Slater said something incredibly rude and offensive (as usual) to offend the whole West Coast community.
     • weka 9.1.1

       29 January 2014 at 10:23 am

       Yes he did. A young man was killed in a car accident where his mate was driving. He’s the third and last son in that family to die (one was killed as a boy by a drunk driver, the other died in Pike River mine). Slater’s response to this was an article headlined “Feral dies in Greymouth, did world a favour”.
10. Anne 10

    29 January 2014 at 9:26 am

    It’s called karma. He’s getting back everything he deserves.
11. captain hook 11

    29 January 2014 at 9:43 am

    SCOOP:
    Foreign power demands right to harpoon Whale boil for experimental purposes. “It is the only living example of an organisn with a zero blubber/ integrity ratio and needs further exploration” a foreign minsistry spokesman explained.
12. Disraeli Gladstone 12

    29 January 2014 at 9:55 am

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2014/01/not-credible-solution.html

    Sigh.

    Can someone take David Clark aside and then swiftly lock him in a cupboard? Firstly, we had Clare Curran talking absolute nonsense on anything to do with technology and now we have David Clark threatening to ban websites like Facebook, Amazon and Google.

    Firstly, it’s ridiculous. You can’t ban them. People get around it with ease. Secondly, really? That is such an easy hit for National now. The problem of these companies not paying tax is an important one to solve. And instead Labour suggests a stupid fix, which will also be mocked by National for the next few months.
    • weka 12.1

      29 January 2014 at 10:37 am

      I sighed too, but more at Clark’s media ineptness.

      “Firstly, it’s ridiculous. You can’t ban them. People get around it with ease”

      I get really sick of people saying this. It might be easy for some people to get around, but not all.

      When the NZ Police raided Tuhoe and others, the Ao Cafe website got taken down. It’s never returned, and there is no trace of it in the Internet Archive (how is that possible?). Generic statements like ‘you can’t ban the internet’ are just as ridiculous as what Clark did.

      While I agree with NRT that comparisons with child porn were stupid, it’s also stupid to use the example of child porn to say you can’t control the internet. It’s harder to access child porn now than if it was just left as a free for all.

      Would also like to know the source of “2.2 million users in New Zealand” for FB. I’m guessing that it’s more like 2.2 million NZ based accounts, which is not the same thing.

      Anyone got a link to the Labour press release that NRT refers to? Can’t find it on Labour’s website.
    • Turtle 12.2

      29 January 2014 at 11:24 am

      I think you may find that many in the IT sector would not agree everything Clare Curran said on technology was absolute nonsense considering that she worked closely with them on several issues…
    • Ant 12.3

      29 January 2014 at 4:53 pm

      Uh, ill disciplined and stupid…
13. greywarbler 13

    29 January 2014 at 10:33 am

    lprent
    Has the system changed from any comment that refers to another’s name showing up in that person’s archives? I have always used my archives to check on comments directed to or referring to me. Lately there have been none so perhaps no-one is bothering to read what I have written. It is interesting to see who is commenting within a numbered comment on a thread, but I haven’t got time to scroll through looking at each.

    It actually is difficult as a double click on the thread for the particular comment in the list doesn’t take me to the actual comment position, just to the head of the site. To find the comment I have to go back to the list and click on the same place. But sometimes I can’t find where the comment is listed again.
    • lprent 13.1

      29 January 2014 at 11:21 am

      I haven’t changed anything (but here is a reply to test with).

      I had the code for the “Replies” section (next to comments) working two weeks ago. But it won’t go in until I have a holiday at home (Yay!!!!) next week. I have to tune the database so that it doesn’t chew too much CPU.

      You may (haven’t tested it for anyone else) get the same effect by logging in using a wordpress.com account. Then the dashboard (under Site Admin on my screen) will have a little orange chat box highlighted. That shows people replying to you across a range of wordpress sites.
      • greywarbler 13.1.1

        29 January 2014 at 11:22 am

        lprent
        Ta and I hope you have good weather for your holiday. Enjoy!!!
        • idlegus 13.1.1.1

          29 January 2014 at 12:52 pm

          hi, while you are on tech issues, im using firefox & for some reason my standaRD page is tiny, the lettering is small, its like the margins are squeezed into the middle. other web page sites are normal size, just seems to be when i visit the standard. any idea what could be happening to my text? any remedies? thank you.
        • lprent 13.1.1.2

          29 January 2014 at 1:00 pm

          Doesn’t matter. I intend to (mostly) stay inside. I have some code to write and no socialising to do….

          Be like old times.
          • greywarbler 13.1.1.2.1

            29 January 2014 at 1:33 pm

            lprent
            And here was I thinking it was all fun times for you. My son was sent over to France for his firm to assist with something in transition, and he said looking at his photos of Paris, doesn’t it look good, we were in that high, modern building which looks somehow luxurious.

            And then showed us their working room. One of many that closed off on each side of a bare corridor, with 6-8 chairs and computers down each side of the room and just a narrow alley between the people in the chairs from the window one end to the door at the other, and blank concrete walls. Didn’t have any Matisses, or the Mona Lisa, or reproductions of anything.. inspiring. And walking along the corridor, all that could be seen was closed doors.

            He did get to see a bit of Paree, but mostly it was soulless stuff. So if that was old times, you probably can get a lot done, but it isn’t too different from being in a battery hen farm.

            Hope all your eggs hatch.
            • lprent 13.1.1.2.1.1

              29 January 2014 at 2:04 pm

              I live in a cave at the top of a ridge. Actually a largish one bedroom apartment with a 10 ft stud and polished concrete floor.

              The nice thing for a programmer is that you can place yourself so you don’t get the sun on your screens or on your eyes. It doesn’t get too hot or cold because it has near perfect insulation. If there is wind then there is always an airflow. If it is cold then the concrete by the 10ft high windows retains all heat that falls on it even in winter. I use a oil heater for maybe 30-40 days in the year. If there is no wind or it gets too muggy then there is aircond – which I usually use for about 10 days in Feburary when it goes really muggy.

              I live next to the corner of Ponsonby and Newton Roads in Auckland. Right next to some major bus routes.Near enough to the motorways that I can get on them with ease.

              I have had jobs in Albany and Manakau. Currently I work within 15 minutes walking distance. But I also spent 7 years working from home with monthly meetings for one company.

              And if I get bored and/or stuck on whatever I was working on there was always the long streets of cafes up the road… Family tend to live pretty close apart from those offshore or my parents who retired and moved out of Auckland.

              It is pretty damn comfortable for the type of lifestyle I have. Also a hell of a nice place to jump into the computer from. I can roll my set the fridge and the coffee machines! What can I say – I’m a geek

              Of course having Lyn arrive into my life has caused a bit of adjustment for an “mature” bachelor like myself. Fortunately she is almost as much of a geek as I am in her own special, irritating and fun way.

              But it was less of an adjustment than having to move out while the building was de-leaked and leak-proofed.
              • greywarbler …

                29 January 2014 at 4:06 pm

                It’s a different life style working from home a lot isn’t it. You have been able to organise your own work surroundings for practical outcomes for you better than you would get probably in an office. My son lives within biking distance of his work and within child care close by for when they are both working.
                So that’s pretty good too.
14. ianmac 14

    29 January 2014 at 11:07 am

    Thought so. When Key was using Hone as a target about absences from Parliament, he forgot the target on his own head. From Andrea Vanse on Stuff:

    “Prime Minister John Key scored an embarrassing own goal yesterday after launching an attack on Hone Harawira’s attendance record.

    Key accused the Mana party leader of “taking the mickey” over his frequent absences from Parliament. Mr Harawira has taken 68 days leave – all approved by the Speaker – since 2011. National, along with Labour and the Maori Party, refused yesterday to release the records of its own MPs.

    However, the Green Party used Hansard, the official record of Parliament, to calculate that over the same period Mr Key was absent on 81 of 186 sitting days. Three of these were urgency days on a Friday or Saturday.
15. greywarbler 15

    29 January 2014 at 11:31 am

    ianmac
    Is that Andrea Vance A Good One then? What a jolly good piece from her.
    And Hone made a dignified and reasoned and factual response to the mocking smarmy piece of political cowpat from apprentice dung beetle the Jokeyhen.

    I must stop using that term perhaps my comments are so influential that he is getting a bad feedback loop or something! How one addresses people affects their response doesn’t it. So, sorry from me Mr Key. You can get on and be the good PM you always intended and I’ll withdraw from my evil influence. (Magical thinking from me.) Hah!
16. Ennui 16

    29 January 2014 at 12:59 pm

    I have been away for a few weeks, so when I came back into “net” range I did a quick survey of the blogs etc.

    Somethings caught my eye, first Max Keiser was talking about Tom Perkins, a multibillionaire who complained in the Wall St Journal that the 1% were being persecuted, Kristallnacht was invoked on their behalf…poor poor sods, so much money and so little perspective. Joe 90 was onto it, http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-26012014/#comment-763280 I am surprised that this extravagant whinge elicited so little comment from Standardistas.

    To top things off I read two Trotter articles, the first of which indicated that all is not well in the Labour caucus with the same old suspect neo lib leaning types doing their best to undermine Cunliffe and prop up their failed ideology. Goff and crew, must be thinking about the nice little roles they might garner post being an MP, at the WTO, or on some board of directors. Dont rock the boat…..

    The second Trotter article I read pretty much confirmed the thinking of the first, that capitalism wont deliver to non capitalists because it is not meant to BUT DONT MENTION IT…and Trotter flays all of the party leaders including Cunliffe…….None of our political leaders has yet delivered an adequate response to the extraordinary statistic released by Oxfam on the eve of the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland. According to the UK based aid organisation, the world’s 85 richest individuals control a sum of wealth equal to that of the poorest half of the world’s human population – 3.5 billion people.

    Sigh, know your enemy.
    • bad12 16.1

      29 January 2014 at 3:20 pm

      i am pretty sure i heard David Cunlifffe make a reference to who controlled the wealth,(in a New Zealand sense), in His reply to Slippery the Prime Minister on the opening day of the Parliament,(yesterday), and, Chris Trotter might want to pay more attention because i have heard various Green MP’s including both Metiria and Russell include such details when speaking in the Parliament,

      i don’t always agree with Trotter but always find Him a good read….
17. greywarbler 17

    29 January 2014 at 1:23 pm

    Ennui
    We can’t think about that stuff at present – we are too busy thumbing our nose at the execrable
    Slater, who has emerged from the woodwork a sadder but not wiser blogger or pilgrim of life.
18. Tigger 18

    29 January 2014 at 1:51 pm

    This has niggled me for years…

    The Open Mike intro ends with ‘Step right up to the mike.’ Maybe just ‘Step up to the mike’?

    The ‘right’ is redundant. If the phrase was ‘Step right up…’ it might have a place but with ‘the mike’ there it’s unnecessary.

    And, of course, it would be nice for a left blog not to have the word ‘right’ there.

    Yes, I’m nitpicking. Yes, there are bigger problems in the world.
    • lprent 18.1

      29 January 2014 at 2:37 pm

      easy enough to fix…
    • greywarbler 18.2

      29 January 2014 at 4:39 pm

      +1 It’s a nice change not to have to worry about affairs of state all the time!
19. Molly 19

    29 January 2014 at 2:06 pm

    Has Imperator Fish satire leaked over to the Herald or is this issue truly what Crosby Textor have told John Key will inspire the public in an election year?

    From today’s articles: PM tests water for NZ flag change. (They forgot to add: – again)

    With his usual concise and decisive language…
    “I’d like to see a change. But one of the problems is that firstly it’s not the single … biggest issue that we as a country face. And secondly, even with those who want to change there’s not universal support for what we should change to.”…

    …The Prime Minister’s personal preference was for a silver fern on a black background, but he said it would be very difficult to get a consensus on a new design….

    Guessing this will be difficult to get a consensus on because of the Rugby trademark associated with his personal preference.

    Shades of Susan Devoy in the final sentences of the same article – (where is she by the way?)
    “…Mr Key had earlier said that he hoped Waitangi Day this year would be a day of celebration instead of being marred by protests.

    He wished New Zealand’s national day was similar to Australia Day, with shows of patriotism such as flag-waving..”

    More confirmation that he does not read any newspapers – either here or from across the ditch, or watch tv.
    • Lanthanide 19.1

      29 January 2014 at 2:38 pm

      Bingo: http://thestandard.org.nz/anti-democratic-tendencies/#comment-701020
    • Will@Welly 19.2

      29 January 2014 at 7:00 pm

      Why do you think they picked Dame Susan Devoy ?? Silence. She will be like the Maori Party, sitting at the table, silent and smiling, happy with the trinkets that fall her way. In her case, a very nice case of “trinkets”.
20. the pigman 20

    29 January 2014 at 3:23 pm

    Both the PPTA and NRT have blogged on this today, but it is worth re-iterating that those guardians of fiscal responsibility in NACT have in the last year managed to piss about $14 million against the wall for their ideological charter schools project (to educate 369 students).

    http://ppta.org.nz/component/easyblog/entry/exorbitant-charter-schools-funding-revealed?Itemid=202

    Does seem like a pretty useful counter against Nactional’s claims of left wing fiscal largesse?
21. Herodotus 21

    29 January 2014 at 4:00 pm

    All is good within NZ, as we must now have found a cure for the cold. Our next big issue is….
    Our flag.
    Great emotive topic to take attention away from anything and everything.
    And Jesus wept.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9662819/Key-Silver-Fern-should-be-our-flag
    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 21.1

      29 January 2014 at 7:23 pm

      @ Herodotus

      “Our flag.
      Great emotive topic to take attention away from anything and everything.
      And Jesus wept.”

      +1

      …particularly to distract New Zealanders from the complete hash John Key and his cohorts are making of governing this country

      …and hoping to distract New Zealanders from the delightful alternative being presented to the New Zealand public by Labour & the left

      Distraction tactics are about the only hope to stay in government they have left, really – well that and horribly divisive hate politics that appeal to peoples’ worst nature….
22. greywarbler 22

    29 January 2014 at 4:37 pm

    It occurred to me that neo lib direction in NZ has come from experiencing duty free advantages when they went overseas all those years ago, and got special tax free advantages. So they thought why not go overseas and have tax free advantages all the time.

    So therefore, the duty free economy and country where you are free to not do your duty, if you can pay your way out of it. (Here I’m thinking of paying fair tax on earnings, the higher then more, to a reasonable degree. and sharing that portion you do pay with everyone instead of trying to capture it back.)
23. greywarbler 23

    29 January 2014 at 5:19 pm

    The flag design is to be chosen by National. I think not. No way are they going to get away with giving us the opinion of either Key’s silver on black (and as someone says that is already probably trademarked), or another one chosen by the government.

    The flag is a symbolic thing to wave in the breeze and carry at events etc. and we want one that is worthwhile and represents us with something meaningful. Though it is not the sacred icon that Helen Clark’s government raised it to, making it an offence to jump on it or burn it etc. What a dopey idea, it’s far better to vent at a symbol, hang it upside down, stick holes through it than more destructive actions to buildings or people. All the same we need to have a say, not this grimy bunch of charlatans take over.

    I would suggest we have an on-line consultation with people being able to send designs in, which would be added to those already held over about two months, with a vote held every fortnight.
    and the residual flags put in order of popularity. Any new ones would be shown alongside so they could be compared to the top ones to see if anything offered was better. At the end of the two months, the best twenty or thirty would go up for voting for a month and then the best four would go to the referendum which would be binding. After everyone had had time to form their opinion the result would go ahead and be instituted in say 6 months.

    The Maori flag if that was not chosen, would become a second official flag, with the national flag to be flown outside NZ if there was only one to be flown, and within NZ it would be flown at the same height if it was up, and at times could be the only one flying if appropriate.
24. Will@Welly 24

    29 January 2014 at 6:53 pm

    Key wants to leave a legacy – excuse me while I baff . Funny while we can “vote” on a flag but not on the supposed referendum to the changes that was supposed to take place within MMP.
    As Hone said, is this just a distraction to mask the real issues at the general elections. I tend to concur.
    And why should John Key think he should make the decision as to which flag we should have to replace our present one, if we do decide to replace it – the man’s self entitlement knows no bounds.
25. greywarbler 25

    29 January 2014 at 7:05 pm

    Abuse by the Salvation Army in Australia? and to a woman in Ireland when she was young was the topic of news tonight. The European Commission has said that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that children are safe, and that this remains throughout the years. The Irish woman has been awarded $30,000 for what was done when she was a child.

    The ongoing nature of this unmet responsibility is going to be a matter in the future as we hear things about the charter schools that will be very regrettable because they were expected before the schools began. In 20 years or so we will start hearing the cases, and they will come to light for some time as people feel strong enough to make their protest and gain some solace from delayed justice.
26. greywarbler 26

    29 January 2014 at 7:24 pm

    The Electricity Authority spokesperson Carl Hansen has been talking about how they are judging the price which should be charged for power. They allow for a 10% return to the shareholders.
    So the government has sold our electricity assets, and this is the profit that gets returned to the
    shareholders by us, while we continue to pay more and more to others for what we used to own ourselves. And the more we pay the more the 15% GST amount will be, and the line charge goes up regularly and arbitrarily, now we are paying about $30 a month. And so it goes on.

    And if the 10% is calculated on the assets, to give a satisfactory return to the shareholders.
    And the assets are revalued, according to constantly rising market value, then we will have to pay more for the same amount of electricity.

    Just to keep the books right in the market system which treats the system and the returns from it as if it was God-given prognostications chiselled in stone, instead of an approach to counting things, valuing things and dealing with one another in a rational symbolic way. This is just so that we don’t have to personally take a duck to the shops, or a sack of lemons to exchange for 5 loaves of bread, or whatever the going rate would be. And perhaps no-one wants lemons that day. Trouble is along the way, it is easier to get rorted.
27. Penny Bright 27

    29 January 2014 at 7:41 pm

    FYI

    I have been declined speaking rights at tomorrow’s Auckland Council Governing Body meeting:

    (Thursday 30 January 2014
    9.30am
    Auckland Town Hall)

    My response:
    __________________________________________________________________________

    29 January 2014

    ‘OPEN LETTER’

    Dear Elaine,

    Please be advised that I do NOT accept that the declining of my request for ‘speaking rights’ at the Auckland Council Governing Body upcoming meeting (to be held at the Auckland Town Hall on Thursday 30 January 2014) was lawful.

    “3.21.3 Subjects of Public Input

    Public Input is not to be used to speak to a matter:

    (i) that has already been considered and determined.”

    _____________________________________________________

    The FACT is that the (former) CEO of Auckland Council, Doug McKay, and his appointment of Ernst and Young to conduct this ‘Independent Review’ of Auckland Mayor Len Brown, did NOT follow the ‘due process’ as clearly outlined in the Auckland Council ‘Code of Conduct’ (s.8 Compliance), thus has NOT ‘already been considered and determined.’

    Please be reminded that as an ‘anti-corruption’ campaigner, I attended a full-day specialist workshop on ‘How to Conduct an Inquiry’ at the recent 2013 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference.

    I now have a very comprehensive understanding of how such an inquiry should have been carried out, and the Ernst and Young ‘Independent Review’ was anything but, in my considered opinion.

    I respectfully request that this decision to decline my speaking rights, is reconsidered as a matter of urgency.

    Also, I do NOT consider it appropriate, or in keeping with the basic principles of ‘natural justice’, for Auckland Mayor Len Brown, to the one to make the ultimate decision on whether or not speaking rights should be granted in this case, for this matter, as he is a directly-affected party.

    http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/N/NemoJudexInParteSua.aspx

    A fundamental principle of natural justice which states that no person can judge a case in which he or she is party or in which he/she has an interest.

    Also known as:

    nemo judex in sua causa; or
    nemo debet esse judex in propria causa
    __________________________________________________________

    (As Auckland Mayor Len Brown has been a lawyer, I’m sure understands this fundamental principle).

    Please also be reminded of the statutory duties arising from the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987:

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

    4 Purposes

    The purposes of this Act are—

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

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

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

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

    (c) to protect official information and the deliberations of local authorities to the extent consistent with the public interest and the preservation of personal privacy.
    Compare: 1982 No 156 s 4
    ____________________________________________________________________________

    Please also be reminded of the rights of citizens to ‘freedom of expression’ as guaranteed under the NZ Bill Of Rights Act 1990:

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0109/latest/DLM225513.html

    14 Freedom of expression

    Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form.
    __________________________________________________________________________

    Please be advised that I shall be attending this Auckland Council Governing Body meeting to be held tomorrow, Thursday 30 January 2014, starting as 9.30am at the Auckland Town Hall.

    Please finally be reminded that I have a proven track record of successfully defending my above-mentioned lawful rights as a citizen, in Court, in the (hopefully) unlikely event of these matters being taken to the point of arrest.

    Kind regards,

    Penny Bright

    ‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation’ campaigner

    Attendee : 2009 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
    Attendee: 2010 Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference
    Attendee: 2013 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference

    2010 Auckland Mayoral candidate
    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate
    • ropata 27.1

      29 January 2014 at 8:34 pm

      lprent, any chance of a button to expand/collapse comments, or a 5000 character limit??

      cheers
      • lprent 27.1.1

        30 January 2014 at 12:36 am

        Will do. I have code to put in a collapse for a comment or a whole comment thread.

        It got stalled on how to persist this data for a individual user for some period of time.

        Looks like the only effective way is via client supplied cookies.
28. freedom 28

    29 January 2014 at 7:58 pm

    geoff over on the Note to Media post suggested we do a mail out of Blip’s List

    that is a hugely expensive undertaking, so i thought there may be a better cost to publicity stream we could tap into, so i posted the following, repeating it here for general consideration.
    =================================================

    maybe we crowd-source a basic and sporadic poster campaign and take Blip’s List to the people

    pretty sure the companies who do the paste ups would be ok with it, and we know then they are pretty safe, (although for the dedicated poster grabber they become instant collector items)

    they may even cut us a good $ deal too

    so to get Blip’s List public we need:

    ; the data – check

    ; Layout and formatting
    – I think i just saw a couple of dozen hands go up
    – perhaps they all put one together and we have Standardistas choose the preferred design
    – It would be good to print the links in full under each line
    – people will snap images of the poster with their phones so it is useful to include the info

    ; a call to Sticky Fingers to fix a contract price & terms
    – i think they cover paste ups for all the main centers now

    ; approximately a couple of grand for printing a whole bunch of posters,
    – I am guessing that price would be generously supported by the printers
    – posters can be printed in whatever center that they end up in so freight is not necessary

    seems pretty doable to me

    I pledge $20 here and now
    (which is 9% of my income this week)
29. Jenny 29

    29 January 2014 at 9:17 pm

    Welcome to New Keyland

    “It’s on the All Black’s shirts”
    John Key

    The All Black’s Shirts
30. greywarbler 30

    29 January 2014 at 9:18 pm

    freedom
    $20 rest don’t know
31. Clemgeopin 31

    29 January 2014 at 9:27 pm

    I think a separate new article is needed about Key’s flag urgent red herring. Wish one of the regular article writers of this site would consider writing it.

    Here is my opinion on it:

    [1] For National, the Warner Bros logo may be more appropriate.

    [2] Key is trying desperately to raise a red herring to distract people during this election year because he is sensing that he and his party and coalition partners are going to lose this coming election and/or, Key is trying to create an immortal legacy for himself by pushing this issue forward now and wanting a referendum on it at the election this year!

    [3] During this year, people should be more focused on political party policies and leaders and not be distracted by Key’s cunning tactics of introducing what is at present an unnecessary and absolutely non urgent ‘change of flag’ issue.

    [4] In my opinion, the flag issue should be raised sometime in the near or distant future when the people are ready to change to a Republic.

    [5] And at that time, it would be very fair and good to incorporate some Maori cultural aspect too in the design.
32. Penny Bright 32

    29 January 2014 at 9:47 pm

    errr….. what happens when it is the PRIME MINISTER who fails to uphold, and is SEEN to fail to uphold, the ‘highest ethical standards’, as required by the ‘Cabinet Manual’?

    Is Prime Minister John Key going to tell himself off, or stand himself down as a Minister, over his arguably disgraceful treatment of Mana MP and Leader, Hone Harawira?

    When is New Zealand going to have an enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ for Members of Parliament – given that we’re supposed to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’ …. blah blah…… ?

    http://cabinetmanual.cabinetoffice.govt.nz/2.50

    Conduct, public duty, and personal interests

    General

    2.50 To protect the integrity of the decision-making process of executive government and to maintain public trust in the Executive, Ministers and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries must conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to their office. Accordingly, the guidance in paragraphs 2.52 – 2.96:

    explains the standards of personal conduct expected of Ministers;
    assists Ministers to identify those personal interests that might be seen to influence their decision making;
    sets out options for managing conflicts of interest where necessary.

    2.51 The guidance on conduct, public duty, and personal interests applies to all Ministers (inside and outside Cabinet) and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries. References to Ministers in this guidance include Parliamentary Under-Secretaries.

    Conduct of Ministers

    2.52 A Minister of the Crown, while holding a ministerial warrant, acts in a number of different capacities:

    in a ministerial capacity, making decisions, and determining and promoting policy within particular portfolios;

    in a political capacity as a member of Parliament, representing a constituency or particular community of interest; in a personal capacity.

    2.53 In all these roles and at all times, Ministers are expected to act lawfully and to behave in a way that upholds, and is seen to uphold, the highest ethical standards. Ultimately, Ministers are accountable to the Prime Minister for their behaviour.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    Not exactly ‘leading from the front’ on this one – Prime Minister John Key?

    Penny Bright
    • Chooky 32.1

      29 January 2014 at 10:29 pm

      +100 Penny
33. Chooky 33

    29 January 2014 at 10:28 pm

    +100 Clemgeopin

    …Changing the flag issue is a real red herring( and note John Key wants to be the final arbiter on the flag…..what an arrogant EGO ).

    …As a strategy Key is trying to shore up his credentials as a real NZer for the people , by the people, of the people by waving the flag …… when he is nothing of the sort ……He is a NACT monetarist Neo Liberal rorter of NZers assets and way of life…he cares not a fig for NZers only his rich crony Capitalist Bankster mates overseas

    Lets hope other politicians from Labour and the Greens don’t fall for this…… but keep their eye on the ball and the impetus going on the REAL issues for New Zealanders!….

    ….for example I dont think it will do the Greens vote any good if Russell Norman falls for this and gets distracted and swings in behind Key’s agenda for changing the the flag and also brings up the Republican anti -Royal issue….as I heard him do on radio

    1) Norman doesnt understand NZers attachment to their flag and Queenie…there are very very few votes in this for the Greens no matter what Norman’s personal feelings ( and Charles is a Greenie!)

    2) as an Australian it will backfire badly on Norman and the Greens..it will just remind NZers that Norman is an Australian ( Winnie will be the vote winner)

    3) John key will have provided a successful red herring and undermined the Labour/Greens roller coaster on real issues concerning NZers….and if this issue is allowed to gather momentum Mana will have been sidelined also on the flag issue….Key will have grabbed the flag from the Maori and done a one- up-man-ship on Hone ( which for some reason he is keen to do….maybe because Hone Harawira is a real genuine NZer and he shows Key up as a Ponzi)

    imo….Let John Key swing with the flag issue….and let him hang himself out to dry …in other words he should be ignored ….so people see it for what it is…as a red herring and a distraction to the most important issues facing New Zealanders
    • Clemgeopin 33.1

      29 January 2014 at 10:51 pm

      I think it would be good idea for the leaders of opposition parties to state that Key is simply trying to distract the voters from the important and urgent issues and the voters should not fall for it at this time.
      A matter such as the change of flag of a country is a serious issue and needs some time, a few years of discussion and careful consideration, different designs incorporating history, aspirations and culture. The ideal time would be when and if the nation is ready to become a Republic.
      Perhaps a campaign needs to be started to thwart Key’s cunning trick by pushing the point that it is too hasty to change the flag at this time. The discussion and debate needs at least a couple of years. If Key decides to have a referendum, among others, ONE of the choices in the vote should be
      (..) This is not the right time to change the flag.
      • Paul 33.1.1

        30 January 2014 at 5:58 am

        Desperate Key
    • Jenny 33.2

      30 January 2014 at 12:24 am

      The fact that John Key is pushing for this flag change exposes him as a schill for the corporates.

      Just like the TPPA it is all part of the plan to sell New Zealand down the river.

      Money is his only loyalty if the British ensign in the corner of our flag is getting in the way of that, get rid of it.

      In a contradiction to the flag issue, John Key has invited the Royal couple and their new born member of the British aristocracy to tour the country in election year. John Key supports the political concept of having a small privileged elite that the majority should bow and scrape to, Because sees himself as member and shyster for that same global elite.

      (even though he comes off as a social climber in the Basil Fawlty mold.)

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