Daily review 08/08/2022

62 comments on “Daily review 08/08/2022 ”

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1. Robert Guyton 1

   8 August 2022 at 6:31 pm

   Silliest? One of the silliest things???

   "The National Party’s newest MP, Sam Uffindell, was asked to leave his exclusive boarding school after viciously beating a younger student late at night.

   Uffindell only offered the man an apology last year, 22 years after the attack, and nine months before he publicly announced his political aspirations.

   He says the timing of his decision to say sorry is not linked to his decision to begin a career in politics, but that the incident had been “nagging” at him, and he wanted to atone.

   “It was one of the silliest, stupidest things I’ve ever done. I really regretted it, I do really regret it still,” Uffindell said."

   Uffindell. Ufindell.

   Remember that name.

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300656643/national-mp-sam-uffindell-asked-to-leave-prestigious-kings-college-after-violent-nighttime-attack-on-younger-boy
   • Incognito 1.1

     8 August 2022 at 6:41 pm

     A late apology is better than no apology, but 22 years late(r) has a whiff of political opportunism (or desperate risk mitigation) about it. That said, I do believe in remorse and learning from mistakes; I sure have made (too) many myself (and even apologized a few times …).

     The much more interesting thing is how this got through the National Party review & selection process, how it has been kept quiet, and how it is handled (or not handled) now it has finally come out after all those years (cf. comments by observer https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-08-08-2022/#comment-1904247 and https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-08-08-2022/#comment-1904260).
     • Matiri 1.1.1

       8 August 2022 at 7:01 pm

       My husband was at boarding school in the UK and we've just been discussing this. He wasn't a bully, and wasn't bullied, but he said his parents would have made him apologise to the poor kid at the time if he had done anything like this.
     • Graeme 1.1.2

       8 August 2022 at 7:10 pm

       Well, I wonder how this fell out? The Stuff piece reads as if it wasn't instigated by the victim. Looks like Mr Uffindell may have pissed off a few people in his time, and if there's this, what else is lurking in the drains.
     • Robert Guyton 1.1.3

       8 August 2022 at 7:40 pm

       Nandor says: "Nandor Tanczos

       Markus Petz I'm not sure I'd compare 4 young men jumping a 13 year old at night and bashing him with wooden clubs for a laugh, with having a mental illness."
   • Lukas 1.2

     8 August 2022 at 6:52 pm

     Can we have a list of all your sins from when you were 16 please?
     • riffer 1.2.1

       8 August 2022 at 6:56 pm

       Very true. There is no way I could be an MP if some of the things I did as a teenager could come out.
     • observer 1.2.2

       8 August 2022 at 7:02 pm

       For me, plenty. And if I ever ask the voters to employ me, I'll tell you. They are entitled to know.

       Again, it's not about when he was 16. It's about how National hid it until they had no choice, today.

       Disclose your past, and trust the public. Or they won't trust you.
     • joe90 1.2.3

       8 August 2022 at 7:22 pm

       Lotsa stupid shit but nothing approaching the bully-boy thuggery National's hierarchy considered so serious, Uffindell was obliged to apologise.

       Twenty two years too late.
     • Robert Guyton 1.2.4

       8 August 2022 at 7:39 pm

       Sure; here it is:

       crickets
     • aj 1.2.5

       8 August 2022 at 9:30 pm

       Not many of us can include something as nasty as a group assault on a kid with wooden clubs.
   • Peter 1.3

     8 August 2022 at 8:18 pm

     "Asked to leave"? What a lot of crap. He was expelled for violence.

     Where I come from being chucked out of a school for bullying is serious.

     Some 15 year old Maori kid beats someone up at a low decile school and constituents in an electorate like Tauranga come out with all the racist classest shit possible.

     His parents, the ethnic group he belongs to get crucified. His age, how long ago it happened no matter – he's condemned for life.
2. Kat 2

   8 August 2022 at 7:09 pm

   Latest poll sees National/Act govt……

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129513705/poll-shows-national-and-act-could-form-a-government-at-next-election

   Who says we are not a divided nation……..
   • Belladonna 2.1

     8 August 2022 at 7:32 pm

     Polls still really looking too close to call between the right and left blocks. A fairly small number of votes one way or the other can tip the result. And polling is notoriously unreliable with small differentials.

     TPM votes are worthwhile (assuming they retain at least one of their current seats – which I'd say they're on track to do). Of course, the ideal for them would be winning 4+ of the Maori seats – and getting an overhang.

     But NZF, TOP and the rest of the minor parties are just wasted votes – since they're nowhere near the 5% threshold.

     It's always possible that Peters can pull yet another rabbit out of a hat, or find a political cause to ride into power on – but I wouldn't put money on it.

     It'll be interesting to see if these potentially wasted votes drop away as we get closer to an election. Whether NZF voters or TOP voters (for example) would prefer to hold their noses and vote for one of the main parties, or risk having their least-favourite coalition in power.
     • MickeyBoyle 2.1.1

       8 August 2022 at 7:38 pm

       I disagree, the trend is clear. Labour will be in the 20s soon.

       Keep pushing Three Waters and co-governance though. These are sure election winners…

       I would personally prefer Labour to go down delivering comprehensive progressive tax policy, environmental regeneration and all beneficiary entitlements reinstated. Who knows, maybe the trajectory of their polls would change if they did.

       But thats just me…
       • Alan 2.1.1.1

         8 August 2022 at 7:46 pm

         3 Waters – Keep going Labour, this is a winner

         https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129513710/auditorgeneral-raises-concerns-about-accountability-in-three-waters-plan
         • joe90 2.1.1.1.1

           8 August 2022 at 8:22 pm

           “Water Services Entities cannot be held to account by ratepayers like local authorities are,

           Like Mangawhai ratepayers held the Kaipara DC accountable for the wastewater debacle?
           • LibertyBelle 2.1.1.1.1.1

             8 August 2022 at 11:59 pm

             The point the AG is making is that Mangawhai ratepayers were able to vote against the Councillors who made those decisions. That option is not available with WSE's. Here's a direct quote from the AG's submission:

             WSEs cannot be held to account by ratepayers like local authorities are, nor can they be held accountable by Parliament because they are not Crown entities this makes direct accountability to their respective communities more important. I am concerned about whether these mechanisms will be sufficient, individually or collectively, to enable comprehensive and effective public scrutiny and accountability.
       • Kat 2.1.1.2

         8 August 2022 at 7:56 pm

         "Three Waters and co-governance…."

         How will you vote then when Labour reintroduces the Ministry of Works, you know low unemployment, jobs for all at good rates but……..but……anti neoliberal ideology and……and….and….for heavens sake……….govt run

         Oh no…..govt run!

         Bloody govt meddling in our lives….what next!
       • Belladonna 2.1.1.3

         8 August 2022 at 8:18 pm

         Mmm, maybe. But, setting aside the Talbot Mills polls – which seem to be consistently over-estimating support for Labour & under-estimating National – against the trend of all of the other results; Labour have been receiving poll results of between 33 & 35% since April (well, one stray 31.5)

         I'd have thought that that's pretty much within the margin of error (2%). And it's been fairly consistent across 3 months. That may indicate that the drop in support has at least slowed and possibly halted.

         Although, you could look at it the other way, too: 1 News/Kantar poll results for Labour this year: 40, 37, 35, 33. Which supports your argument for a continued downward trend.

         I dunno. My crystal ball is cloudy. Must be affected by the endless fogs of Auckland…. 🙂
       • swordfish 2.1.1.4

         8 August 2022 at 8:30 pm

         .

         Probably overshadowed in swing-voters' minds by inflation / cost of living … but:

         As a rule of thumb, if Governments, in all their arrogance & hubris, allow themselves to get too far ahead of the voters on fundamental issues then the electorate will metaphorically cut them off at the knees.

         Surreptitiously attacking the constitutional basis of liberal democracy ……. (with self-righteously authoritarian Woke supporters wildly smearing anyone objecting as "racist") …… would certainly comprise one example of the phenomenon.
         • Kat 2.1.1.4.1

           8 August 2022 at 8:35 pm

           "Fundamental issues…."

           What, like, clean drinkable water for everyone and Maori having a say in how the country is run………………..
           • ozaki 2.1.1.4.1.1

             9 August 2022 at 11:10 am

             Clean drinkable water = woke.

             Moronic.

             [Please stick to the same e-mail address as used here previously, thanks; I’ve changed it, this time – Incognito]
             • Incognito …

               9 August 2022 at 11:16 am

               Mod note
         • ianmac 2.1.1.4.2

           8 August 2022 at 9:05 pm

           Wonder what the "undecided" number was?

           Wasn't one of the earlier polls in excess of 30%
           • Kat 2.1.1.4.2.1

             8 August 2022 at 9:10 pm

             Yes but mentioning "undecideds" would raise questions….wouldn't it, and that would spoil the headlines "Massive concern for govt"……..
           • Incognito 2.1.1.4.2.2

             8 August 2022 at 9:14 pm

             11%

             https://www.scribd.com/document/586016024/August-2022-1-News-Kantar-Public-Poll-Report
             • Kat …

               8 August 2022 at 9:34 pm

               11%…reminds me of that Buck Owens song A11.
               Just love that drummer……

               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UNJaSO8Jtk
           • Belladonna 2.1.1.4.2.3

             8 August 2022 at 9:59 pm

             According to the poll, it's 11% – unchanged since the last poll

             https://www.scribd.com/document/586016024/August-2022-1-News-Kantar-Public-Poll-Report

             Typically, 'undecideds' don't change the results materially – most of them don't vote.

             The exception is what was called the 'shy Trump voters' who actually planned to vote for Trump, but chose not to tell the pollsters. I don't think that that is a big factor in NZ politics for the main parties (although Peters support often kicked up in the final election results)
             • Incognito …

               9 August 2022 at 8:06 am

               In the 2020 General Election about 18.5% of the enrolled voters were non-voters, which is more than 11%.

               https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2020-general-election-and-referendums/voter-turnout-statistics-for-the-2020-general-election/

               People who have no intention of voting are not likely to participate and show up in opinion polls, IMHO.
             • Incognito …

               9 August 2022 at 9:05 am

               Actually, it’s all explained:

               Note: Undecided voters, non-voters and those who refused to answer are excluded from the data on party support. The results are a snapshot in time of party support, and not a prediction.

               As well as:

               Likelihood to vote

               “If a general election was held today, how likely would you be to vote?” NOTE: Those claiming they would be ‘quite likely’ or ‘very likely’ to vote have been included in the party support analysis.
     • swordfish 2.1.2

       8 August 2022 at 8:02 pm

       .

       This 1 News-Kantar Poll raises questions about the fairly popular notion among media commentators that the Māori Party (TPM) are currently enjoying a surge in support (supposedly as a result of some sort of unprecedented mobilisation of non-voters) & may therefore be destined to hold the balance of power.

       The argument was based on Roy Morgan & Curia results … but I've always said Wait for the TV Polls before speculating. Kantar puts them on 2% … no change from previous. This doesn't rule out a surge, of course, Kantar may be the outlier … but it definitely puts a spanner in the works. Be interesting to see the next Newshub-Reid Research.

       Based on the margin of error for smaller parties the size of TPM & attempting to reconcile different Pollsters, I'd guess TPM are currently around 2.4 – 3.1%.
       • Belladonna 2.1.2.1

         8 August 2022 at 8:06 pm

         I agree about the ballpark estimate of support for TPM. The interesting thing (and not something I think any of the polls are set up to measure) is how much of this is electorate vote? Because it raises the scenario of an overhang – and how that might affect a relatively close right/left block result.
       • Kat 2.1.2.2

         8 August 2022 at 8:19 pm

         Was this polling just another one of the cuts from the thousand cuts promised to Jacinda Ardern from the DP brigade when she became PM…..Jessica Much had a very peculiar, but that seen it before, smug look on her face, almost glee-full….
         • Anne 2.1.2.2.1

           8 August 2022 at 8:44 pm

           Jessica Much had a very peculiar, but that seen it before, smug look on her face, almost glee-full…

           Hard to tell Kat. She's normally very professional. But the hard sell which led into the poll item was way over the top. The impression given was that one of the parties had catapulted ahead at the speed of lightening. That was not true. both L&N lost 2% each from the last Kantar poll but ACT is back up to its January level – 11%.

           Can't believe ACT is on a roll that will last. They're merely the recipient of Nats who are less than enthralled with their leader?

           Seymour is a slimy jerk. He lies constantly and reduces every topic to primary school level. Yuk………
           • Kat 2.1.2.2.1.1

             8 August 2022 at 8:55 pm

             That is the thing Anne, the media see it as a big game, red against blue and now with small bit players of green, yellow, black and brown….

             We are witnessing the gaming of our fourth estate before our eyes……he who pays the piper calls the tune….
3. Stan 3

   8 August 2022 at 7:16 pm

   Also his actions at the age of 16 weren't just a "mistake". They were a brutal and premeditated assault on a young boy.

   This would have resulted in a serious charge, though no doubt there was input from an expensive lawyer paid for by mummy and daddy.

   And he takes 22 years to apologise.

   The only label I can think of for such a person is scumbag. Violent men like this don't do it on only once; there will be other deeds, skeletons in his closet.

   I assume that the victim sprang the story, great revenge I feel.
   • Anne 3.1

     8 August 2022 at 8:05 pm

     "I assume that the victim sprang the story, great revenge I feel."

     Revenge is a dish best served cold.

     It is yet another example of how the wealthy among us feel so entitled. They think they can do any shit they like and get away with it. What they do depends on their age. But it is still the same sense of entitlement.
4. Cricklewood 4

   8 August 2022 at 7:30 pm

   I'm a little torn, I'm not sure doing horrible dumb shit as a teenager should preclude someone from political office.

   Someone I went to school with did similar with a far worse outcome for the victim. Parents got an expensive lawyer went through diversion etc. Now in a quite high profile roll and likes to partake in moralizing. His victim has lifelong injuries and cant actually say anything without getting himself in legal trouble.

   But taking 22 years to apologize and doing so because you want to enter politics and someone has probably told you to kinda says alot about about the guy.
   • Robert Guyton 4.1

     8 August 2022 at 7:43 pm

     "The National Party’s newest MP, Sam Uffindell, was asked to leave his exclusive boarding school …"

     He was asked to leave.

     Minor matter?

     I don't think so.
5. Robert Guyton 5

   8 August 2022 at 7:47 pm

   Chester Borrows says:

   "Chester Borrows ·

   Follow

   Good point, and I feel 16 year olds deserve to be able to leave their past behind … however nothing Nats are saying in Opposition indicate that they can see a 16 year old being allow a chance to redeem themselves, even when that offending is symptomatic of their own victimization and abuse by others.

   I'd like to think this incident would give the party a pause for thought which would move towards an evidence-based approach towards crime and punishment.

   Your question would be a great one to be asked by Jack Tame on Q&A or Coran Dann on Morning Report."
6. Rosemary McDonald 6

   8 August 2022 at 7:51 pm

   Oh dear. Three Waters legislation gets a big, fat fail from the Auditor General. He's not a happy chappy, and his report…

   …revealed clear shortcomings in the Government’s legislation, which he said should have been abundantly clear to the Government given it took four years to get this far.

   “This legislation has been poorly thought through, poorly drafted and not well-thought-out. It raises significant issues in regard to performance reporting, accountability and transparency,” he said.

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129513710/auditorgeneral-raises-concerns-about-accountability-in-three-waters-plan

   Robertson basically dismisses the concerns saying …

   “Our goal is that these entities are accountable to their communities, and we will have that via the representative groups that appoint members of the board and set the performance expectation documents. No doubt, all the local authorities involved in that will have some considerable say and influence,”

   But the Auditor General found that…

   “Water Services Entities cannot be held to account by ratepayers like local authorities are, nor can they be held accountable by Parliament because they are not Crown entities this makes direct accountability to their respective communities more important,”

   This is going to be very interesting. I wonder what Chris Finlayson will have to say about the report.
   • Alan 6.1

     8 August 2022 at 8:37 pm

     Certain elements of the Labour caucus will be very tetchy about this, a walk out perhaps??
     • Kat 6.1.1

       8 August 2022 at 8:45 pm

       Yes yes, elementary dear Alan, they are already out, taking a walk in the cool night air and reflecting on how divided little ol Nu Zilind really is.
   • Graeme 6.2

     9 August 2022 at 7:23 am

     That's a feature of 3Waters rather than a bug, the object is to take water infrastructure management away from local councillors. Because they fuck it up, repeatedly.

     Elected councillors should just be left with providing 'community facilities' and be taken as far as possible from roading a water infrastructure delivery. Councils have had very little influence over roading for a long time and the same, or a more capable model, has to happen with water.

     The only council in my region that does a half pie job wit water is Queenstown Lakes, and that's only because we have a large and willing development community that is willing to bend over for the rape and pillage (development contributions) to provide new infrastructure and pay for upgrades. This is a recent occurrence however, go back 30 years and raw sewage was going into the lake right beside the water intake. This wasn’t intentional but was a disaster waiting to happen because of elected council out of it’s depth not wanting to make big decisions and the piecemeal engineering that resulted. Fortunately no one died but 3000 people were quite ill.
7. Robert Guyton 7

   8 August 2022 at 7:51 pm

   NRT says:

   "Uffindell characterises this as "just being silly and playing up". Which is typical for bullies, and tells you everything you need to know about the man. The kicker is that the National Party knew this "and were grateful he had disclosed it to them", but they selected him anyway. They think someone who got together with a gang and beat a kid with a bed-leg is fit to be an MP. And then he gave his first speech about cracking down on crime…

   Well, maybe we should. Beating someone with a bed leg is assault with [a] weapon. It has a penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment, which makes it a category 3 offence in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act. And since the penalty is more than 2 years, s25(2)(b) means that charges may be filed at any time. And from the Stuff report, it seems there's no shortage of witnesses. If National wants to have any credibility on crime, maybe it should start by expunging the criminals from its own ranks, rather than selecting and covering up for them…"

   https://norightturn.blogspot.com/2022/08/party-of-bullies.html
   • woodart 7.1

     8 August 2022 at 8:16 pm

     party of personal responsibility so, yeah nah.
   • Brigitte 7.2

     8 August 2022 at 8:38 pm

     It's not unique to National. The current speaker pleaded guilty to assaulting a national MP. An Act MP left after getting a passport in a dead persons name. I'm sure with a bit more thinking I could add (quite) a few more.

     It's the same overseas too. Is it politics in general or does that sort of bullying behaviour help in getting to the top in large partys?
     • Robert Guyton 7.2.1

       8 August 2022 at 8:44 pm

       Trevor Mallard, along with a couple of his mates, beat a 13 year-old boy with wooden bed-legs??

       I didn't know that, Brigitte!

       Appalling!
       • Kat 7.2.1.1

         8 August 2022 at 9:20 pm

         Oh Robert, do catch up…everyone knows (but you it seems ) that Trev was a bully and when Tau Henare asked him what the time was one day in parliament Trev just punched him to the ground….telling him not to be so provocative!
         • Robert Guyton 7.2.1.1.1

           8 August 2022 at 9:32 pm

           "Tau" – that means "shrinking violet" in te reo Maori, right?
           • Kat 7.2.1.1.1.1

             8 August 2022 at 9:40 pm

             Or 'receding hairline' depending on particular Iwi……
     • Peter 7.2.2

       8 August 2022 at 9:21 pm

       I'm not sure 'getting to the top' actually describes the three you mention.

       Whatever, do you have a list of those guilty of "that sort of bullying" who've got to the top of large parties in NZ?
8. Poission 8

   8 August 2022 at 8:21 pm

   Germany sits on powder keg as they prepare for social unrest over high energy prices and subsequent inflation.

   https://www.dw.com/en/germany-braces-for-social-unrest-over-energy-prices/a-62726300
   • joe90 8.1

     8 August 2022 at 10:38 pm

     Reasons to be optimistic.

     https://twitter.com/JeremyCliffe/status/1556298504070381569
     • Poission 8.1.1

       8 August 2022 at 11:28 pm

       They are burning gas to run electricity at present 7% of total generation,and now moving to oil and diesel for electricity.Norway is now moving to limiting electricity exports to conserve hydro for the winter so interconnections (intergrated euro electricity market) in addition Korea and Japan are now standing in the market for LNG for winter (both being substantive owners of lng producers) They also want long positions,and have shorter turn arounds.

       https://twitter.com/SStapczynski/status/1556494284182163456
       • Poission 8.1.1.1

         8 August 2022 at 11:33 pm

         UK exporting electricity to Norway at present (goes into scan network) and Finland and Estonia et al all paying 797 euro a megawatt .
9. Blazer 9

   8 August 2022 at 9:10 pm

   Ufindell reeks of private school boy privelege and entitlement….NZ's equivalent of the David Cameron/Boris Johnson 'born to rule' mindset.

   Even has the classic finance background via Rabo Bank.You will find plenty of these type of stories…

   Rabobank agrees to pay $368 million over processing illicit funds | Reuters
10. joe90 10

    8 August 2022 at 9:43 pm

    Poots seems to be worried.

    https://twitter.com/francis_scarr/status/1555187252401160192

    https://twitter.com/TadeuszGiczan/status/1556236025940385793
    • joe90 10.1

      8 August 2022 at 10:22 pm

      lol

      https://twitter.com/Mykhailova_A/status/1556227250839748608
      • Stuart Munro 10.1.1

        8 August 2022 at 11:00 pm

        Amnesty sparked outrage in Ukraine with the publication of a report on Thursday that accused the military of endangering civilians by establishing bases in schools and hospitals, and launching counterattacks from heavily populated areas. ~ Al Jazeera

        It has always been a pretty dubious foundation for criticism – the US used it in Iraq to justify bombing hospitals. I doubt Ukrainian use of civic buildings has been especially systematic – when the shelling starts, anything solid with a decent basement will be used for cover – and why shouldn't it. Russian shelling has tended to be imprecise as well as indiscriminate – had they refrained from targeting such structures the criticism could have had some merit.
    • Blazer 10.2

      9 August 2022 at 8:29 am

      Some western countries are calling for popular social network Tik Tok to be banned.

      It is Chinese owned and a 'security' risk…apparantly.

      https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2020/07/25/beware-tiktok-really-is-spying-on-you-new-security-report-update-trump-pompeo-china-warning/?sh=1f37b8c54014

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