Open mike 09/04/2025

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 9th, 2025 - 20 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

20 comments on “Open mike 09/04/2025 ”

  1. PsyclingLeft.Always 1

    As with everything on Earth, there is always a measure of infighting…

    In my lifetime observation (incl much reading on History) the rich and powerful even more so. …..esp pertinent considering the blend of narcissistic and aggressive egos in the Nu Amerikan nightmare

    Sometimes brings them crashing down.

    Elon Musk brands Trump aide 'dumber than a sack of bricks' in tariff spat

    Billionaire Elon Musk blasted President Donald Trump's senior trade advisor Peter Navarro as "truly a moron" and "dumber than a sack of bricks" in a growing rift over the US tariff policy that has rocked the world.

    The extraordinary public spat Tuesday (Wednesday NZT) came after Navarro described the Tesla boss and so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief as "not a car manufacturer" but "a car assembler" who relies on imported parts.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/557579/elon-musk-brands-trump-aide-dumber-than-a-sack-of-bricks-in-tariff-spat

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2

    Our Earths climate is changing, and not for the better….the sea is maybe going to rise up. what will the Future hold for NZ low lying areas like South Dunedin? Also Insurance, for many, is becoming unaffordable.

    South Dunedin residents asked to choose between flood mitigation or relocation

    South Dunedin residents have choices ranging from fight or flight as their low-lying community faces inevitable flooding and damage without action.

    A recent report shows half of all buildings are at risk of flood – and that figure will be closer to 70 percent by the turn of the century.

    Councils are talking to locals about the hazards and asking them how they want to adapt.

    It's an anxious time in South Dunedin when it rains.

    Henry Tanner has obviously been thinking..

    He wanted South Dunedin homes built to withstand the rising water.

    "New builds should be higher on foundations … and then at least they know the house is gonna be safe, it's not going to get flooded because some of these houses here are close to the ground," he said.

    And a Future (non Canute) thought, with which I agree, and have also posted about many times ….Design with Nature.

    He would like to see more green spaces including wetlands to store the water and attract native wildlife.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/557574/south-dunedin-residents-asked-to-choose-between-flood-mitigation-or-relocation

    Sponge Cities

    'Sponge city' urban design needed to help New Zealand survive climate change-induced increased rainfall – experts

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350476895/sponge-city-urban-design-needed-to-help-new-zealand-survive-climate-change-induced-increased-rainfall-experts

    We need ‘sponge cities’ to avoid future flooding disasters

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/31-01-2023/stormwater-reform-wont-be-enough-we-need-a-sponge-city-to-avoid-future-disasters

    • AB 2.1

      We need ‘sponge cities’ to avoid future flooding disasters

      We needed to start building sponge cities decades ago. We didn't because it would have been dismissed as red tape, an inefficient allocation of resources and likely to increase construction costs. Plus we didn't do it because it would have been pilloried as climate alarmism. And to retrofit it now will be even more expensive, so it won't be done and all the same reasons will be trotted out for not doing it. Our problem is not a lack of ideas, but entrenched beliefs about how society and the economy must work. The question to be asked is: “are these constraints real?”

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1.1

        We needed to start building sponge cities decades ago.

        Well, of course. Being positive and proactive, I have done, and still do my level best to bring the change.

        Certainly its not easy…how does that saying go? Nothing Good is ever easy….

        It has to start somewhen. I've found there are a few people who are fully engaged. You just have to find them.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1.2

        A place to start? Have they got the imagination and drive for a different direction?

        Auckland councillors to discuss uses for land left vacant after storm buyouts

        the advice said most of the land assessed (70 percent) was not ideal for re-development and expected to have a very low value or market appeal.

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/557697/auckland-councillors-to-discuss-uses-for-land-left-vacant-after-storm-buyouts

    • Ad 2.2

      South Dunedin is such a saga over a decade it deserves post of its own.

      The 2015 flood impact timing Vs state funding Vs Council funding Vs community aspiration Vs property owner rights large and small Vs South Dunedin poverty Vs community group capacity Vs government change …

      … is a mighty challenge that is taking too long to land but is still more prepared than most.

      • I Feel Love 2.2.1

        "South Dunedin Poverty" errr…. the area covers St Clair, Mussleburgh, Waverly, St Kilda, Forbury etc which have some of the wealthiest residents in the city, Downton Abbey type mansions in some areas! My kids went to St Clair school one of the best funded by parents in the city, the wealth here is incredible & that's not including ALL the businesses & industry at Anderson's Bay & South Dunedin. I do joke with friends tho if it wasn't for our wealthy neighbours we would have been left to drown. But it's a misnomer to say South Dunedin is "poor" (yes a section is but this area is massive).

        • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.2.1.1

          Hi, I hope you and other South Dunedin residents get not only a good hearing, but a lot of positive action !

          I keep an eye on all news about this, if you could follow as well would be cool

          Cheers

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.2.2

        Yes, sadly its a lot of Vs.

        IMO under NAct1 it will be very difficult to progress to any Future Positive for Dunedin South.

        Definitely votes available for our Left parties here. Hope they see that….

  3. Ad 3

    Imagine nationalising Glenbrook Steel or Tiwai Point.

    Apparently Starmer is considering nationalising Britih Steel as a response to the international trade crisis:

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/apr/08/british-steel-could-be-nationalised-as-pm-and-chancellor-consider-all-options

  4. Ad 4

    Great to see Andrew Little get full Labour endorsement for Wellington Mayor.

    He'd be excellent.

  5. weka 5

    Vance and Mitchell really went to town on this. Good job. I'm hardcore against doxxing people, including political opponents, but this account went so far beyond what is ok and well into 'it's in the public interest' to know who they are territory.

    Businessman behind toxic online Benjamin Doyle campaign

    The anonymous online account that helped spark a political firestorm over Green MP Benjamin Doyle’s past Instagram posts is understood to be run by a businessman who is a former NZ First member, The Post can reveal.

    Rhys Williams, from New Plymouth, is understood to be the person behind the inflammatory X (formerly Twitter) account @2ETEKA, which last month unearthed posts from Doyle’s pre-Parliament Instagram page, “BibleBeltBussy”.

    https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360646129/businessman-behind-toxic-online-benjamin-doyle-campaign

    https://archive.is/9jhoS (archived version)

    • weka 5.1

      re NZF,

      Paul said neither the party nor Peters had “ever coordinated, planned, or even communicated with [Williams] about Doyle, and it was not the party’s role to act as “some sort of totalitarian thought police”.

      “We became aware of the Doyle issue just like everyone else – reading the plethora of posts on multiple social media platforms,” Paul said.

      “Our party has a huge number of members, most of whom have personal social media accounts, that they and they alone are responsible for. We do not scroll through and monitor every member’s posts and vet them – nor should we.

      “We believe in the freedom of expression and freedom of speech. If there are any accusations of slander, slurs, smears, or false allegations, that is for the individual involved to address.”

      This is followed in the article by a whole section representative of the kinds of tweets from the account that are full of slurs, smears and libel.

      https://archive.is/9jhoS/bd17ff6b08ec7557dcc0210c02a1fa2d0bd19db8.webp

    • Kay 5.2

      My God, if there were ever a case for mandatory doxxing…

    • SPC 5.3

      Senior NZ First figures, including party president Julian Paul, party secretary Holly Howard, board member Helma Vermeulen, and MPs Shane Jones, Jenny Marcroft, and Tanya Unkovich

      all follow Rhys Williams Twitter account.

      His involvement at Inflection Point with Brian Tamaki is indicative of where NZF is at.

      Wanted a referendum in 2013.

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gay-marriage-how-mps-voted/WLPKK4734FBZEKJIDHBFO4MWFA/

      Opposed civil unions bill, because homosexuals wanted equality.

      Wanted a referendum on civil unions.

      https://www.parliament.nz/mi/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/47HansS_20041209_00000892/peters-winston-civil-union-bill-procedure-third-reading

      Peters explains he voted against legality for homosexual activity, because of AIDS …

      https://gayexpress.co.nz/2020/10/winston-peters-first-lgbt-media-interview/

      • SPC 5.3.1

        Inflection Point language is related to the idea that something can change, if there is found a way to change perspective.

        It can be the lie

        Who was to blame for the German WW1 defeat.

        Inferring that Germany was too strong to lose unless there were enemies within.

        Who had an election stolen from them in 2020.

        Inferring that the strong man cannot lose in a fair fight and there were people to be removed (from the USA, Capitol Hill or the MSM etc) to ensure that he would win next time.

        In matters of society culture, there is the issue of acceptance of a diversity of citizens, equal despite difference, unless the issue of public safety/security is raised to negate this.

        So we can guess what they mean by, Inflection Point.

  6. lprent 6

    I'm about to start sending the the standard towards its new home for testing.
    There should be more than enough bandwidth.
    But I'll keep an eye on performance.

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