Daily Review 08/12/2016

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, December 8th, 2016 - 36 comments
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Daily review is also your post.

This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

36 comments on “Daily Review 08/12/2016 ”

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  1. Muttonbird 1
    8 December 2016 at 6:01 pm

    I guess this is the only way Bill English was going to get to be prime minister – someone else handing it to him.

    No way the NZ public would elect him.

    • James 1.1
      8 December 2016 at 6:55 pm

      Me thinks you will be proven wrong.

      • Muttonbird 1.1.1
        8 December 2016 at 7:09 pm

        Don’t think so. English has been in the back room for so long, and the only time he’s fronted anything it has been a failure:

        See the SCF payout in the dead of the night.
        See the asset sales return well below the lowest estimate.
        See the NZ flag disaster.

        No, English has been at his level beavering away in the back room but when asked to be the face of something it’s always turned out badly, just as it did in 2002.

    • Tory 1.2
      8 December 2016 at 7:14 pm

      I agree, a “conservative catholic” is the last thing National needed and it’s hard to see him improving on his one election defeat as leader.

      • WILD KATIPO 1.2.1
        9 December 2016 at 7:18 pm

        I do wish people would stop referencing his chosen faith and more reserved delivery in his speeches… That in itself is not a reason to berate anyone.

        However , – simply stating the fact that somebody is a complete and utter miserable arsehole has absolute validity and will indeed suffice .

        So there you go . Nailed it for you.

        Neo liberals are complete and utter miserable arseholes.

        And Bill English is a neo liberal.

    • Wayne 1.3
      8 December 2016 at 7:55 pm

      One of Australia’s more successful Prime Ministers, John Howard, had an early stint as a failed Leader of the Opposition.

      Bill English could well repeat Howard’s success, now that he has had 12 years more experience since 2002 to 2004.

      • Muttonbird 1.3.1
        8 December 2016 at 8:06 pm

        It’s possible if he has somehow reinvented himself as the blokey, barbecuing, beer-drinker that both Howard and Key were.

      • swordfish 1.3.2
        8 December 2016 at 10:39 pm

        Would’ve thought “Mad Monk” Abbott was a more suitable comparison.

  2. ropata 2
    8 December 2016 at 6:26 pm

    Gareth Morgan has followed up that travesty of an interview with a brilliant rejoinder

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/opinion/gareth-morgan-defends-tax-policy-after-paul-henry-interview-2016120814

    At the moment the burden of tax falls unfairly on wage and salary earners. Who cares? Henry doesn’t that’s for sure. Along with the Hard Right such an assessment reflects the view of a “socialist wowser”. He needs to read the reports of a succession of tax reviews that the government here has commissioned. Sorry I forgot, not part of his job spec.

    Let’s be clear. I’m all for rewarding hard work and talent that generates wealth. What I am totally against is maintaining a flawed income tax system that enables people to get rich by doing nothing apart from speculating on housing. What I am totally against is Establishment parties and career politicians who have presided over this debacle because they haven’t the guts to call it out.

    You wonder why it is so hard to get ahead in modern day New Zealand, particularly for young people? Why are decent paying jobs in short supply yet housing costs the earth, even to rent? This tax loophole is right at the centre of this cancer. Far more successful economies than ours have not had a rise in real house prices over the last 50 years. Our leaders have let New Zealanders down badly.

    • Carolyn_nth 2.1
      8 December 2016 at 6:58 pm

      I didn’t see Morgan’s interview by Paul Henry. But earlier on his website, Morgan says that when people hear the rational reasons for his policy, they will be more accepting of it.

      Except, the likes of Paul Henry don’t appeal to rationality. They go for the emotions.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.2
      8 December 2016 at 7:17 pm

      Far more successful economies than ours have not had a rise in real house prices over the last 50 years.

      And that’s the big one. A house should never go up in value as it’s value never changes except possibly to decline as it wears out.

    • WILD KATIPO 2.3
      9 December 2016 at 7:29 pm

      Hmmmm… this Gareth chap is singing some of the right tunes…so far.

  3. Muttonbird 3
    8 December 2016 at 6:54 pm

    This is a blast from the past.

    After John Key quit the other day I thought again about the first time I realised he was not like me. It was the first time I realised he was uninterested in nurturing potential of the disenfranchised, the people who struggle to compete in life. He was happy to block them of new opportunities.

    As always is the case with Key there is dispute about what he said, or what he meant when he said it but the lasting phrase, the one that I remember, and the one that is unambiguous, is that affordable housing requirements at Hobsonville are, “absolutely…economic vandalism”.

    It looks like 10 full years later the people occupying the lofty heights in Grenada Village are channelling John Key upon his demise. They too are unaccepting and unaccomadating of people less fortunate than themselves.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/87207969/residents-fight-unacceptable-plan-for-affordable-housing-in-grenada-village

    To be honest, the place looks like a barren shit-hole to me so a bit of colour and diversity wouldn’t go amiss.

    • mauī 3.1
      8 December 2016 at 7:38 pm

      You are right the place is a hellhole (sorry Grenada), it’s basically in an elevated position along the wind funnel following SH1 towards Porirua. Any decent northerly winds and you have to batten down the hatches and your outside areas are more or less unusable.

      Oh and the neighbourhood are worried about new affordable housing costing $450-550,000. Well in Wellington that’s going to attract the upper middleclass, not state housing tenants lol.

      To me any different form of housing there would enhance the character of the area. Unless they would rather stick with what they’ve already got, paddocks of monstrous, grey coloured grazing turtles in tight wooden pens.
      http://www.russellproperties.co.nz/sites/default/files/2012-10-10%2015.18.35_1_0.jpg

  4. Anne 4
    8 December 2016 at 7:06 pm

    I see Paula Bennett is marketing herself for the Deputy PM position as “the bubbly one who loves people”.

    Yeah? Tell that to the two solo mums who dared to mildly criticise her for scrapping the night classes for people – like themselves – to be able to gain qualifications in preparation for returning to the work-force. Opportunities she took when she was in the same position and which set her on the upward path to political glory. And that was just the start…

    • Carolyn_nth 4.1
      8 December 2016 at 7:09 pm

      John Campbell a couple of nights ago, critically question someone (maybe Boag) who said Bennett had empathy. Campbell was skeptical with respect to what he’s seen of her.

      here’s the video:

      About 5 minutes into it

      • Anne 4.1.1
        8 December 2016 at 7:35 pm

        Thanks for that Caroline nth. Been missing Checkpoint lately. Yes, he put Michelle Boag on the spot over that one. Paula has empathy? That’s got to be the joke of the year.

        • Grey Area 4.1.1.1
          8 December 2016 at 7:50 pm

          He challenged her but he could have done much more. Boag has been allowed to get away with far too much for far too long. I don’t know if you heard Kim Hill take Anne Tolley apart on Morning Report recently – now that was impressive!

          • aom 4.1.1.1.1
            8 December 2016 at 10:17 pm

            Kim Hill also took Key apart over the same issue as Tolley. He threw in the towel the same day – now that was even more impressive.

        • TootingPopularFront 4.1.1.2
          8 December 2016 at 8:23 pm

          Don Brash said Judith Collins has integrity…

      • Grey Area 4.1.2
        8 December 2016 at 7:42 pm

        Boag spinning her usual BS adding to the business as usual pile of lies of the “commentariat” and the media: The Double Dipper “innovative in the policy area”; Pullyah Benefit “empathetic”; a “lot of talent at that second-tier level”…. blah blah blah.

        Key may have (nearly) gone people but don’t forget who still controls the narrative: We have a safe pair of hands on the tiller who has guided us through the GFC …etc etc etc

        The lies and spin continue unabated.

    • Rosemary McDonald 4.2
      8 December 2016 at 7:49 pm

      Yep…Paula really pinned her colours to the mast with her first major policy change…

      “Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has been accused by Labour of cutting funding for training allowances that she benefited from while a solo mother herself.

      Labour’s associate social development spokeswoman Carmel Sepuloni said Ms Bennett had said she knew how hard life was on the domestic purposes benefit and she wanted those on it to have the ambition to get off the benefit.

      Ms Sepuloni said instead of giving more support the budget had cut $3.6 million from the training incentive allowance for sole parents on benefits next year — an $8.7 million total by 2013.”

      And when righteously taken to task for this outrageous display of ladder kicking,
      Paula ‘Bubbles’ Bennett proudly states (while puffing away the feathers stuck around her mouth)

      ” the Government still wanted to help sole parents with training, but changes were necessary because of the recession.

      “This means that we are making decisions accordingly, $22.5 million will be spent on the training incentive allowance in the next year,” Ms Bennett said.

      “We have not cut the training incentive allowance; we have not cut the training level, we have merely changed the level.”

      Sole parents would still be helped with a “foundation course or other certificate”, but at university level they would be treated as other students, she said.”

      Kick them when they’re down,
      Kick them when they’re down,
      We are National, quite irrational,
      We kick them when they’re down.

      (Please feel free to alter/ add)

      https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/bennett-cutting-a-benefit-helped-her-labour-103907

      • Anne 4.2.1
        8 December 2016 at 7:56 pm

        Sole parents would still be helped with a “foundation course or other certificate”, but at university level they would be treated as other students, she said.”

        Well, that never happened. As for changing the level? It plummeted to zero and that’s where it still sits.

      • Rosemary McDonald 4.2.2
        8 December 2016 at 7:59 pm

        And godalmighty just read the comments (from the nbr article)….from 7 years ago.

        “Like Paula Bennett I have gone places since I was on the DPB and received a training allowance. I went to law school and am now on $120k+ pa. I am happy that the $40+k that I pay in taxes helps others including bankrupt developers and other Act/ National supporters who are now bennies themselves. Watch out for karma, Tom, Paula et al.”

        “I am a solo mum, however I receive the widows bene which in essence is the DPB just a diff name, The TIA being taken away from people in my position that have lost their husbands and been left with children to support and have no qualifications is totally wrong, I and my three children have to survive on 540$ per week I have a 500+ mortgage and now a credit card bill due to not being accepted to receive a TIA, Shona who commented earlier you have no idea what its like to lose your life partner and then have to struggle to feed 3 children, yes some may abuse the system but why should those of us that really really need help get punished.”

        “When I was told by WINZ that I no longer could receive the TIA for Bachelor of Nursing (could get it only if I was doing some lower level course that probably wouldn’t get me off the benefit anyway) I was told to get a student loan to cover the $60+ per week I pay in petrol and childcare when studying (which I already have for course fees – people think govt pays for everything – not true!) . (And I only get $342 per week for 4 kids, Paula Bennet wouldn’t publicize that figure I bet!). So rang studylink to apply for living costs, which is a loan not a handout, and was told that I wasn’t eligible due to being on the DPB!! So not only have the govt removed the TIA, they have prevented beneficiaries from being able to borrow the money they need to study, which any other struggling student is entitled to borrow. ( which they would obviously pay back, so the taxpayers can rest easy on that one). It is blatant discrimination – and so counter-productive, because it prevents people getting off the DPB. Hearing about the MP’s expense claims in the same week as this has me absolutely fuming!!”

        Real people.
        Really, real people.

        Collateral damage in National’s ‘toughen up and be more resilient’ program.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.2.2.1
          8 December 2016 at 8:56 pm

          It is blatant discrimination – and so counter-productive, because it prevents people getting off the DPB

          If our politicians understood what was necessary to develop our economy there wouldn’t be long term unemployment and people on the DBP would be able to show their kids how to succeed – because everyone not in or between work would be either training people with their skills or learning new skills themselves.

          Innovation doesn’t come from a few special people – it comes from the multitude of ideas that a nation has. All of them need to be heard, all of them need to be tested and then the best are developed.

          • Rosemary McDonald 4.2.2.1.1
            8 December 2016 at 9:12 pm

            What struck me was that these women (I am presuming) will now be qualified lawyers, teachers, nurses and social workers.

            It comes as no surprise that there is growing unease amoungst ALL these professions at the damage that this government has wrought over the past eight years.

            We have heard members of the legal profession expressing extreme concern at human rights violations this government seems happy to enact.

            We have nurses and doctors expressing extreme concern that government policies are putting people’s lives at risk.

            We have had teachers kicking up a considerable amount of shit at National Standards, crap funding for Inclusive Education and the unfair funding and now dodgy pass rates of Charter Schools.

            We’ve had social workers crying foul that their voices were ignored in the cyfs reforms process, while they are at the frontline copping the flak for systemic failures that cost children their lives.

            A completely cynical person might suggest to Parties on The Left that these people constitute an electoral goldmine.

            They will be demanding to hear policies that will undo some of the damage their professions have suffered.

            These policies MUST be clear, unequivocal and realistic.

            Because the message will be going to those whose education and eventual rise to ‘middle New Zealand’ has been hard won.

  5. Muttonbird 5
    8 December 2016 at 7:45 pm

    The Vanguard Military charter school on Auckland’s North Shore reported a 100 percent Level 2 NCEA pass rate, but that fell to 60 percent when the school’s results were calculated the same way as state schools report.

    Vanguard has been held up by Farrar and Slater in particular as an example of charter schools’ success. This is the only school which they’ve been able to point to as being ‘successful’.

    But it turns out charter schools are reporting in a way which inflated their results and ‘created an imperfect impression’, lol.

    As for Seymour, he thinks it’s fine to go easy on charter schools because – just because.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/319865/charter-school-ncea-reporting-to-be-brought-into-line

  6. Muttonbird 6
    8 December 2016 at 8:32 pm

    Bridges just promised Northland a motorway from Auckland to Whangarei while, with hanger-on John Key, ceremonially starting the 18.5km bit between Puhoi and Warkworth at the cost of $709.5 million.

    Now lets see…162km…divide by…carry the one…equals…yes, here it is, a $6.2 billion motorway is what Simon Bridges just promised.

    I do wonder what Farrar will make of the BCR on that!

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11763178

    • Draco T Bastard 6.1
      9 December 2016 at 2:04 am

      I do wonder what Farrar will make of the BCR on that!

      The only figure that the Gnats are concerned with is the profit that the roading contractors will get for building it and then the ongoing maintenance of it.

  7. Jenny Kirk 7
    8 December 2016 at 9:37 pm

    Note the photo of 3 guys turning up the sod – for this event. Obviously, they were well dug out beforehand ……… no muddling around on this one !