Daily review 30/06/2020

59 comments on “Daily review 30/06/2020 ”

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1. SPC 1

   30 June 2020 at 5:46 pm

   Watergate newsboy burns the bully pulpit effigy of a POTUS.

   https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/29/politics/trump-phone-calls-national-security-concerns/index.html
   • Cinny 1.1

     30 June 2020 at 7:30 pm

     Dang!!!! That was well worth the read. Thanks SPC. God help them.
2. Dennis Frank 2

   30 June 2020 at 6:12 pm

   Woohoo! Nash drops bomb on Winston. TV3 newsreader: "The New Zealand First leader exploded." Too bad they didn't have pictures of that!

   The story had a secret recording from several years ago, and featured comment from Russel Norman. The guts is who's to blame for the long delay on cameras in fishing boats and the donations from Talleys to NZF also featured. There was a blame zig-zag between Labour & NZF, but by the end it wasn't clear who won…
   • observer 2.1

     30 June 2020 at 6:33 pm

     After all the hyped up TV3 trailers, the "secret recording" was about as exciting as a wet Wednesday in Westport.

     Nash has form for fruity language, so I was expecting at least "F**k Winston and the rest of them". We got nothing more than a mild-mannered explanation of how a coalition agreement works. Boring!
   • Cinny 2.2

     30 June 2020 at 7:20 pm

     Good job.

     Did you know that PT went to Winston's 2017 speech at our local RSA…mhmm.

     There is no way PT or young andrew would want camera's on their vessels or fisheries loopholes closed.

     I'd like to see a red and green government with the addition of Tracey Martin, that would be awesome.

     Nash is archetypical as Minister for Fisheries, it's not a role for the meek, that's for certain. He would however, be more effective in helping to bring about much needed change if he didn't have so many other portfolio's.
3. Dennis Frank 3

   30 June 2020 at 6:23 pm

   Tova spills Nats internal polling result: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/06/national-party-s-internal-polling-revealed-as-caucus-springs-another-leak.html

   the leadership told MPs Labour is on about 55 percent and National 34 percent. That's less than the 35 percent the party was polling under former leader Simon Bridges the week before Muller rolled him. It follows former deputy leader Paula Bennett's resignation revenge dance with comedian Tom Sainsbury on Monday. Bennett told Sainsbury about her resignation before even telling her boss Muller.
   • Incognito 3.1

     30 June 2020 at 6:27 pm

     Labour could have been on 60+% if it wasn’t for David Clark and Ardern’s lack of leadership
     • weka 3.1.1

       30 June 2020 at 6:43 pm

       Or 60+% if not for Tova 😈
     • anker 3.1.2

       30 June 2020 at 7:17 pm

       Incognito I am pretty happy with 55%.

       Ardern continues to show incredible leadership throughout this crisis. With phenomenal results. Making her own decision about David Clark is leadership. Not giving in to the whining media calling for blood. As Ardern said early on after the border breach was discovered "Clark is not part of the problem, he is part of the solution". She also said when questioned about Clark early this week, that she knows what's really happening and based her call re Clark on that.

       If you think Ardern is showing a lack of leadership, think again
       • I Feel Love 3.1.2.1

         30 June 2020 at 7:42 pm

         IKR? To moan that Labour are only polling at 55% …
       • Anne 3.1.2.2

         30 June 2020 at 8:03 pm

         Yep. This is the tactic. Bully her into an action she will later regret. That is how the Right operates. Basic principles and political honesty is not part of their play book. They genuinely believe anything goes if it brings them closer to power.

         It's the primary difference between National/Act and Labour/Greens.
       • Incognito 3.1.2.3

         30 June 2020 at 10:05 pm

         I was teasing Dennis Frank, see this thread in OM.
   • SPC 3.2

     30 June 2020 at 6:30 pm

     Funny bit, was that some still want the police to have a raptor group (this after the …) to show they're a bunch of toughs.
4. Muttonbird 4

   30 June 2020 at 6:32 pm

   Simon Bridges lives on.

   I see the government has taken up one suggestion from the opposition, 100% depreciation of business asset purchases in the first year.

   This of course does help small and medium businesses in the short term but it is open to abuse long term which is why it's not law already.

   Not surprised Todd Muller isn't promoting this win – it's not his idea.
5. Muttonbird 5

   30 June 2020 at 6:41 pm

   Wow, this infighting in National is showing no signs of abating just 2 months out from the election.

   They are just as unstable and unelectable as they were before. Many careers are about to end…

   https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/06/national-party-s-internal-polling-revealed-as-caucus-springs-another-leak.html
6. gsays 6

   30 June 2020 at 6:47 pm

   Bob Mould has a new song.

   American crisis.

   Warning; contains some enthusiastic rock n roll.

   youtu.be/zD7TxGTPsV4

   Makes me think of Beaster era Sugar.
   • riffer 6.1

     30 June 2020 at 8:14 pm

     Thanks for the heads up. A big Bob Mould fan. Zen Arcade is one of my top 10 albums ever.
     • gsays 6.1.1

       1 July 2020 at 3:22 pm

       Candy Apple Grey and Warehouse Songs and Stories for me. I also really enjoyed Workbook for a differently paced listen.
   • Gabby 6.2

     30 June 2020 at 11:34 pm

     Has he gone electric again? I thought he'd given it up. Beaster's 20 minutes of shock and awe.
     • gsays 6.2.1

       1 July 2020 at 3:20 pm

       It's great to see a 60 yr old still able to tear the roof off.

       I was in the Uk in the early '90s and saw Sugar live a couple of times, JC Auto is incredible.
   • te reo putake 6.3

     1 July 2020 at 5:24 pm

     Oh, wow! Angriest song he's done in years, excellent stuff.

     My Bob Mould gig story is seeing him at the Phoenician, a large barn at the top of Broadway, Sydney, early nineties. Just him and a guitar. He wandered on stage with a hoody up, covering his face. No applause because everyone thought he was just a roadie setting up. Also memorable because a bunch of 'straight edge' proto emos chose to sit down en masse in the mosh area in front of the stage. Got trampled, of course.

     btw I cover a lot of Husker Du songs at open mics and gigs around my 'hood. Somebody's got to keep these songs alive, may as well be me.
     • gsays 6.3.1

       1 July 2020 at 6:11 pm

       I know I shouldn't ask, do you enjoy performing one of the songwriters in Husker Du over the other?

       2541 will be at my funeral.
       • te reo putake 6.3.1.1

         1 July 2020 at 6:25 pm

         Ah, the favourite child question! To be fair, Grant Hart's stuff goes down best as his were written in a more traditional rock structure, but as a guitarist I love playing Bob's song's more.

         You'll be pleased to know 2541 gets a regular airing, as does The Main. Mind you, I often go with Never Talking to You Again as the opening song in a set. Good warm up for the fingers and always surprises the hell out of the audience!
         • gsays 6.3.1.1.1

           1 July 2020 at 7:16 pm

           Chur.
7. Dennis Frank 7

   30 June 2020 at 7:07 pm

   Recycling the old Alliance combo meme, Tim Murphy (co-editor of Newsroom) anticipates "a red-green coalition": https://www.newsroom.co.nz/politics/1287008/the-greens-cunning-plan

   It's a shame the Labour Party leader, Greens' governing partner and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern damned the plan with the faint, back-handed praise that it relied on 'heroic' revenue assumptions.

   It's a shame National's finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith didn't read the not-so-fine print in the policy and had to correct himself for condemning the plan for supposedly slapping taxes on anyone with a $1m house.

   But there was no shame for the Greens in being the first party to offer a big, detailed and transformative policy in response to the economic tornado that is Covid-19. This is what political parties should be doing, 80 or so days out from a general election in the context of a major economic downturn.
   • Herodotus 7.1

     30 June 2020 at 8:55 pm

     Where is this detail you refer to ?? Because there isn't any on The Greens site.

     https://www.greens.org.nz/support_our_poverty_action_plan

     Pity that the 2nd aspect of their announcement on how to fund the policy was lazy and lacked factual support. James Shaw at least should have been well versed on his numbers. Pity he talks around such things in generalisations. So his tax could tax in 12billion per annum and that is only counting the assets that are disclosed in the Household Wealth or IRD, there are many that are excluded from this. So what will he do with the added tax take that he conveniently passes over ? "By 2024 the party expected the new tax changes would net $10.34b a year, mostly from the wealth tax." Someone is being economic with the truth either that or they haven't done their homework.

     He states that valuing peoples assets are easy yet only a few months ago the tax working group commented on the difficulty.

     
     
     
     • Dennis Frank 7.1.1

       30 June 2020 at 9:28 pm

       Best if you ask Weka or someone else re details of the policy – I don't go there. I'm the kind of person who prefers to wait for implementation & results before forming an opinion about how well it was designed. And note that I was quoting their co-editor, so it wasn't me who referred to it…
       • Herodotus 7.1.1.1

         30 June 2020 at 10:10 pm

         I prefer to see well thought out policy even if it doesn’t go and achieve all that was intended. Unfortunately many if not all political groups are lazy ( to be kind) and just want to capture the headlines of the moment. This is a case in point , no reason as to $100 &$150k or the $1m and $2m levels. I had some idea that James Shaw has some depth of financial understanding – but the interview dispels that. He didn’t know the details or could not support his numbers. Just as well he wasn’t challenged by the interviewer. Doesn’t give confidence.
         Is there any party that has an idea of a coherent vision and strategy, we are being led by clowns on all sides.
8. Pat 8

   30 June 2020 at 7:14 pm

   "All of the above leads to uncomfortable issues for New Zealand to face. With a population that continues to increase rapidly, it becomes puzzling as to where and how New Zealand is going to find the export markets that underpin current per capita living standards in New Zealand."

   https://www.interest.co.nz/rural-news/105757/neither-europe-nor-usa-are-going-do-us-any-trading-favours-says-keith-woodford

   "The blunt reality is that if market forces are allowed to play out unhindered, then the likelihood is that New Zealand’s trade dependence on China is going to further increase. The reason for this is the same natural alignment that has led in recent years to China becoming the most important trading partner for New Zealand.

   Coming to terms with that hard reality requires a conversation that goes well beyond issues of trade. That discussion has to include issues such as immigration policy. It also has to include a discussion as to where New Zealand sits within global geopolitics. And it is no good simply stating the things that New Zealand should not do. It has to be specific about what New Zealand should do."

   NZs forever problem….exports.
   • greywarshark 8.1

     30 June 2020 at 7:36 pm

     Something to think on pat. Not good to have all our eggs in one basket.

     We used to have a trade department that helped look for overseas business. That should help more, setting up some small bilateral deals outside of the cccppttt trade thing we signed up to. But most of all slow down on imports, bring in customs on everything. I'd hate it on the occasional thing I buy, but encouraging more NZ buying NZ. We need to stop living in airy fairy land. We used to think we were going to work towards being a small copy of the USA, a modern democracy knowing how to do business. But that was a 20thC thing. Now it is a new ball game and it isn't gridiron.
     • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 8.1.1

       30 June 2020 at 7:57 pm

       Absolutely. If we can shake off the cult of conspicuous consumption, the planned obsolescence of the neoliberal free market and return back to the days of my grandmother where everything had a second use and clothes lasted for decades, then we would be able to cut back on imports while our exports (food in a world growing heavy with people) continue to bring in the revenue.

       It might mean tough times for The Warehouse and other Chinese cheap junk markets, but so what!

       We simply cannot keep using once and discarding the precious world resources like we have been doing since the days of Rogernomics.
       • Pat 8.1.1.1

         30 June 2020 at 8:10 pm

         much needs to change
         • Janet 8.1.1.1.1

           30 June 2020 at 10:52 pm

           Yes much has needs to change. Yes much has been waiting for change for a good while now. The Covid situation seems almost “God Blessed” to arrive at this moment when change has been long long overdue. The restraints it puts on us helps us see the change needed. We must trim back excessive unnecessary travel, importation and consumption. We must return to waste not want not. We must close the doors on immigration to just those skills we absolutely do not have ( maybe a lot of needed skills are coming home anyway at the moment).The faster the population grows the less produce we will have to export. Overstocking destroys the environment and finally the people. I am looking for the politics that will immediately address the futures needs for a sustainable, stable and comfortable New Zealand.
       • greywarshark 8.1.1.2

         1 July 2020 at 12:46 pm

         Don't pick on The Warehouse – I think it is still NZ owned. Try KMart- Australian and open from 8am to 12pm a lot of the 7 days a week it is open like the great big mouth at the gate of Luna Park! And KMart is doing very well. At least we have kept some of that competitive market money in NZ. What we need of course is more going down the road to the shoemaker, and the dressmaker and tailor. I

         t will cost us more initially, but I'm thinking if we had a system of paying out people in part local dollars that could only be accepted at local shops, and have it integrated into the tax dept with just playing 15% GST on the available dollars, then we could gradually refloat the economy into shallower waters. And bring in some of the discarded workers, give them opportunities to help themselves, and support them with working space, small loans to get started. We have to prepare for the tech-cut of jobs with planners telling us how lucky we are that we no longer have to do anything boring but forgetting to say that we will find doing nothing boring, and get verbally thrashed for it by the wolfare system that leaves teeth marks where it hurts.
         • gsays 8.1.1.2.1

           1 July 2020 at 7:20 pm

           Less about where the peddler comes from, it is what they are peddling is the issue.
   • weka 8.2

     30 June 2020 at 8:17 pm

     Hopefully our borders will stay closed long enough that we get to have a fuller conversation about this.
   • Macro 8.3

     30 June 2020 at 9:47 pm

     Stop being such a worry pants. NZ products are in high demand.

     And with the the rest of the world in lock down they are not exporting because they are not producing. Have a look at the shelves in KMart or similar for instance. Empty. But our world is not falling apart because we can't buy a new cake mixer or expresso machine. Car imports are way down. Japan is keeping their old cars – can't afford to buy new ones.

     The result is that NZ had a record Trade Surplus for the first quarter 2020 and we will have another trade surplus this 2nd quarter just finishing.

     https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2005/S00568/record-monthly-surplus-as-imports-dive.htm
     • Pat 8.3.1

       30 June 2020 at 10:03 pm

       2 quarters do not a future make.

       In case you didnt realise i wasnt the author of the article (or the many others over the years)….we can stop concerning ourselves with our exports when we either become self sufficient in the demanded necessities or learn to live (or not) without them
   • Draco T Bastard 8.4

     1 July 2020 at 1:48 am

     NZs forever problem….exports.

     Nope. Out forever problem is believing that trade will make us wealthy. It won't do that, its not even supposed to. Trade is supposed to balance in a free-market.

     Getting wealthy through trade is Mercantilism.

     Of course, capitalism has never been about everyone getting wealthy – just the few at the top.

     If we want the nation to get wealthy then we need to boost productivity and minimise the imports and exports.
     • Pat 8.4.1

       1 July 2020 at 5:14 pm

       "Nope. Out forever problem is believing that trade will make us wealthy. It won't do that, its not even supposed to."

       who said anything about trade making us wealthy?

       "Trade is supposed to balance in a free-market."

       not sure where you get that idea

       "If we want the nation to get wealthy then we need to boost productivity and minimise the imports and exports."

       now THAT is mercantilism…..but again why are you obsessing about wealth when it hasnt been mentioned.
       we need to export to earn the currency to provide those things that we cannot provide for ourselves that society expects/requires….”getting wealthy” has sweet FA to do with it
       • Draco T Bastard 8.4.1.1

         1 July 2020 at 10:29 pm

         who said anything about trade making us wealthy?

         Politicians, economists – you name it, they've said it.

         not sure where you get that idea

         Studying economics. Hell, the whole point of having a floating exchange rate is to balance trade.

         now THAT is mercantilism

         No it's not. Mecantilism is minimising imports while maximising exports.

         but again why are you obsessing about wealth when it hasnt been mentioned.

         Because you quoted it?

         New Zealand is going to find the export markets that underpin current per capita living standards in New Zealand."

         we need to export to earn the currency to provide those things that we cannot provide for ourselves that society expects/requires….”getting wealthy” has sweet FA to do with it

         In other words, maintaining our present wealth.

         And there is nothing that we can't provide for ourselves. The fact that you think that there is is proof that you've swallowed the Kool-aid about the necessity for trade.
         • Pat 8.4.1.1.1

           1 July 2020 at 11:08 pm

           "In other words, maintaining our present wealth'

           No…in the words used….providing those things expected/required…if i meant to say 'maintaining our present wealth' I would have written such.

           "Studying economics. Hell, the whole point of having a floating exchange rate is to balance trade."

           And if you have studied economics you would know there is no relationship between a floating exchange rate and balanced trade…..like most economic theory the practice does not match the theory.

           "No it's not. Mecantilism is minimising imports while maximising exports."

           Afraid not, that may be the hoped for outcome but it is the method that makes it mercantilism.
           • Draco T Bastard 8.4.1.1.1.1

             1 July 2020 at 11:26 pm

             And if you have studied economics you would know there is no relationship between a floating exchange rate and balanced trade…..like most economic theory the practice does not match the theory.

             True but that's probably because the exchange rate is left to speculation rather than being trade weighted.

             Afraid not,

             And you'd wrong again.

             https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantilism

             Mercantilism is an economic policy that is designed to maximize the exports and minimize the imports for an economy.

             I said to minimize both. Its what we need to do to remove our reliance upon trade while still having what we want/expect.
             • Pat …

               1 July 2020 at 11:38 pm

               and how do you propose to minimise both….I expect the method engaged would amount to mercantilism…but youre welcome to explain otherwise.

               and then theres the not insignificant matter of providing all those expectations/needs
     • Patricia Bremner 8.4.2

       1 July 2020 at 5:20 pm

       We need to build sustainable infrastructure and our well being resilience and cultural integrity. All activities should be put through those sieves first. Needs versus wants. IMO
9. Dennis Frank 9

   30 June 2020 at 7:25 pm

   How social realities get constructed, lesson 1: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12343541

   Growing majority of Kiwis support legalising cannabis, new poll finds. Licensed medicinal cannabis company Helius Therapeutics commissioned the independent Horizon Research survey of nearly 1600 Kiwis. It found 56 per cent of respondents plan to vote for legalising cannabis for personal use on September 19.

   Respondents to the latest survey came from Horizon's nationwide research panels and represent the adult population of the 2018 Census with results weighted by factors including age, gender, income and party voted for at the last election. The maximum margin of error is 2.9 per cent. The online survey was conducted between June 10 to 14 and questioned 1593 adults.

   How social realities get constructed, lesson 2: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/majority-kiwis-still-against-legalising-cannabis-according-latest-1-news-colmar-brunton-poll

   Those polled were asked if they are planning on voting for cannabis to be legalised or to remain illegal at this year’s referendum:

   Legalise: 40% (up 1 from February's poll)
   Remain illegal: 49% (down 2)
   Will not vote: 1%
   Don't know/refused: 11% (down 2)

   Between June 20 to 24, 2020, 1007 eligible voters were polled by landline (404) and mobile phone (603). The maximum sampling error is approximately ±3.1%-points at the 95% confidence level. The data has been weighted to align with Stats NZ population counts for age, gender, region, ethnic identification and mobile or landline access.

   Now given that there's about a week between the two samples, could be that 8% of the public had a sudden change of mind and reversed their stance.

   A more intriguing possibility is that there are two (or more) publics in Aotearoa, as defined by stats polling methodology. I'll leave that to the stats experts to figure out. But a bit of a Schrodinger's cat situation, eh? Which one is real, or are they both simultaneously??
10. I Feel Love 10

    30 June 2020 at 7:45 pm

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2020/06/lloyd-burr-hey-duncan-garner-your-covid-19-border-idea-is-bonkers.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true yep, Duncan is a dunce, and frightening those NZrs overseas, luckily he's about at faraway from the levers of power as anyone could be.
    • observer 10.1

      30 June 2020 at 7:57 pm

      Well said, Lloyd Burr. Everyone should read that, and not just Garner.

      Armchair assumptions by the simple-minded have been a constant annoyance throughout this pandemic. Monitoring everyone is easy (no), testing everyone is easy (no), quarantine is easy (no), decisions about what is open/closed are easy (no) … in fact there are no practicalities to think about at all, we just reckon something and it magically happens.

      And when Dr Bloomfield explains any of this for the 100th time, he must remain calm and patient. Maybe he really is a saint.
      • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1

        1 July 2020 at 1:53 am

        Armchair assumptions by the simple-minded have been a constant annoyance throughout this pandemic.

        This sums it up:

        For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.

        H. L. Mencken
11. SPC 11

    30 June 2020 at 7:53 pm

    The sad tale of a stateside success unravelling – LA faces the prospect of its hospitals being overun.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/29/us/california-coronavirus-reopening.html
    • I Feel Love 11.1

      30 June 2020 at 8:56 pm

      I've been watching the US Late Shows and Cooper Anderson and Casie DC CNN etc & the despair of the reporting is getting more and more noticeable, they are desperate for some leadership!

      Also to see the Florida and Texas Governor backtracking and pleading for people to wear masks is quite something.

      & now the military & intelligence services are starting to get angry, a perfect storm.
12. weka 12

    30 June 2020 at 8:19 pm

    Ardern on Monday sternly warned New Zealanders against recreational travel abroad, despite the European Union’s announcement that the country was on its new list of accepted travellers. She said those leaving New Zealand for non-essential reasons could be forced to pay for their mandatory two-week quarantine upon returning – to the tune of thousands of dollars.

    Sounds reasonable to me. Unless there is a crucial reason for leaving NZ, it should be paid for by the individual. What counts as crucial might need some discussion. Not sure the govt can legally charge people trying to get back in since covid, but those leaving deliberately for a holiday or to travel, yeah, nah.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/30/jacinda-ardern-decries-dangerous-calls-to-reopen-new-zealand-borders-coronavirus?
    • observer 12.1

      30 June 2020 at 8:31 pm

      It's canny politics, and we can see the message control in real time (except the fools who think she's a lightweight, only does the hugs blah blah).

      Ardern discussed the issue at yesterday's post-Cab, knowing it would be picked up. It has become the main "border story" in the past 24 hours. It deflects nicely from the trickier issues – PM doesn't want to be blaming the returners but this is a much softer target. Cue the vox pops on tonight's news, all on side.

      I'd guess potential holiday makers leaving and returning would be a small percentage of the total, but never mind, it plays very well (privileged, unpatriotic, entitled but taxpayer-funded etc). Media manipulation, job done.
      • weka 12.1.1

        30 June 2020 at 9:08 pm

        I haven't been following. Is there a reason they can't slow down arrivals so that quarantine services can cope (and upscale)?
        • Craig H 12.1.1.1

          1 July 2020 at 1:45 am

          Can't refuse entry to citizens or residents and they are starting to expand other groups e.g. partners and children of citizens and residents, a slightly wider definition of essential work.
13. joe90 13

    30 June 2020 at 8:56 pm

    'Murica….

    https://i.imgur.com/0CJlMYM.jpg
    • Macro 13.1

      30 June 2020 at 9:54 pm

      The American education system is unrivaled

      😂
      • Incognito 13.1.1

        30 June 2020 at 10:16 pm

        Unravelled, more like it.
14. Incognito 14

    30 June 2020 at 11:31 pm

    Iceland is opening its borders tomorrow.

    https://www.covid.is/categories/tourists-travelling-to-iceland

    One to watch: https://www.icelandreview.com/ask-ir/whats-the-status-of-covid-19-in-iceland/

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