Nats try to muscle the Waitangi Tribunal

Written By: - Date published: 7:29 am, August 3rd, 2012 - 67 comments
Categories: privatisation, public services - Tags:

A stockmarket float can’t happen at just any time. It needs to be close to the annual report or late enough in the new year to allow new numbers to be made after the Christmas break. So 2 windows a year. 5 to the election. Treasury says the stockmarket can only handle 1 asset sale a window, preferably 1 a year. The Nats know they will lose the next election. So they can’t afford to lose this sales window if they’re to do all the sales by the election.

That’s why they’re trying to muscle the Waitangi Tribunal into giving its full report on the water rights issue by August 24th, allowing the government the time it needs to put the sales process into action for a float in late October, early November. They’re essentially threatening to push on regardless if they don’t get the finding by then.

A few reasons this attempt at bullying is a bad idea.

The judiciary reacts really badly to attempts by politicians to curtail their actions. The Tribunal has said it will report in September, and it will be September. If it’s earlier, the Tribunal will be subjugating itself to the political imperatives of the government of the day, and lose all its mana.

Even if it did report early, any sign that its determinations had been rushed by the government’s deadline would be fuel for the Maori Council’s high court injunction. As would any move by the Nats to push ahead with sales before getting the Tribunal’s report.

And nothing in bullying the Tribunal addresses the actual problem for National, which is the coming injunctions. They will easily suspend the sales through the end of this year and possibly well into the next. If National was smart, they would be cutting a deal with the Maori Council and the iwi that are likely injunct. But, they don’t want to be seen doing deals with Maori. They could have quietly done it months ago, but it’s too late for that now.

National’s determination to sell all our assets before they lose the election has set them an incredibly tight timetable. Hence their attempt to subvert the Waitangi Tribunal. Fortunately, for New Zealand, it won’t work.

67 comments on “Nats try to muscle the Waitangi Tribunal ”

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  1. tracey 1
    3 August 2012 at 7:38 am

    I cant see them wanting the float moved closer to christmas…. Most “mums and dads” are trying to find money for christmas festivities…

  2. mickysavage 2
    3 August 2012 at 7:51 am

    Pita and Tariana, do you think this is mana enhancing behavior by the Key – Banks Government?

    • Jim Nald 2.1
      3 August 2012 at 8:27 am

      “National’s determination to sell all our assets before they lose the election has set them an incredibly tight timetable. ….. Fortunately, for New Zealand, it won’t work.”

      Yes, quite frankly, the case to sell doesn’t stack up and the government is looking more desperate with each passing day.

      • vto 2.1.1
        3 August 2012 at 8:31 am

        There was a brilliant point made in the Press this morning.

        A reader asked what Gerry Brownlee would do to pay for the Chch rebuild if all the Christchurch City Council assets had been sold back in the 80s and 90s, when Councils were pressured to sell them, and so had no assets to sell now…

        Maybe Gosman would like to answer that one …………

        please indulge us gosman

      • Georgecom 2.1.2
        3 August 2012 at 10:48 pm

        My words to myself exactly, starting to smack of a bit of desperation. Want to get the sales done in the next 2 years because they can see the chance of bring turfed from office.

    • Wyndham 2.2
      3 August 2012 at 8:37 am

      Just where does the Maori Party stand on this issue? Does anyone know?
      They were “going to their iwi for discussion” but so far there does not seem to be any conclusion drawn from these ‘discussions’.

      • Shane Gallagher 2.2.1
        3 August 2012 at 10:02 am

        Those ministerial limos are VERY comfortable…

        • grumpy 2.2.1.1
          3 August 2012 at 12:20 pm

          I hear Darien Fenton is so envious, she hires one at the airport rather than just catch an ordinary taxi…….

          • Colonial Viper 2.2.1.1.1
            3 August 2012 at 10:57 pm

            I always figured you could buy your way into one of those Ministerial Beeamers

    • Dr Terry 2.3
      3 August 2012 at 11:25 am

      tracey, by the time they have met again with their master, I dare say they will emerge pacified once more. Would Key really care a damn about mana (or anything else to do with getting his own way? He continues to count on Pakeha good will).

  3. vto 3
    3 August 2012 at 8:17 am

    The Banks-Key government are trying to flex their muscle (does John Key have muscles?) down Christchurch too. Foisting the most lavish stadiums and convention centres and facilities they could wet dream up and then harranguing (sp?) ratepayers to up their rates and sell their assets to pay for their wet dreams…

    For fucks sake, Key is like a drug dealer – just try some of this, you’ll love it. Can’t pay for it? Don’t worry fulla, that will sort itself out. Come one, come on, buy it, spend it, borrow it. We’ll lend it to you ee he ehe he (evil laugh).

    But you know, I loves situations where bully boys come along. They are in fact the easiest of all pressures to resist. You simply stand up, look them square in the eye and tell them to fuck off. Call their bluff 100%. Challenge them to carry out their implied threat. It is extremely rare that the threat is carried out. Then you close the deal by quietly showing them a back door where they can scurry away without losing all face / mana.

    I would have thought that the Waitangi Tribunal would have no problem in choosing this path.

  4. tracey 4
    3 August 2012 at 8:24 am

    But but but he loves ritchie mccaw, how cld he not want to pay for a big grand “house” for him? When the assets turn out to not be a panacea for the economy what is the next step, no one demands answers on this yet it is more crucial than the sales themselves

  5. travellerev 5
    3 August 2012 at 8:34 am

    Added to that the Euro is in eminent danger of collapsing in September and that would mean the end of the banking system as we know it with the banking elite exposed for the bankrupt (Both financially and morally) criminals that they are. Not a good time to buy real world assets with fake money.

    • lanthanide 5.1
      3 August 2012 at 9:27 am

      Ahh, the “financial collapses always happen in the 3rd quarter” meme again – just like AFewKnowTheTruth warned us about last year.

      • vto 5.1.1
        3 August 2012 at 9:34 am

        Yes lanth, but that’s because they do always happen in the 3rd quarter.

        But yep people should just ignore all these warnings because the world is never going to have another great meltdown, and certainly the interlinking that globalisation has brought will have no additional effect, and the great bureaucrats and money-printers in the northern hemisphere have it all under control.

        do you really believe that lanthanide?

        • Lanthanide 5.1.1.1
          3 August 2012 at 9:57 am

          Make up a bunch of stuff and ask if I believe it? No, I don’t believe what you said there.

          Just that we’ve been hearing about how the economy was going to crash every 3rd quarter since 2007, and it hasn’t happened yet. I’m not saying it won’t ever happen, or that it won’t happen this year, just that that ZeroHedge site doesn’t have a lot of credibility when it comes to predicting these things.

          • vto 5.1.1.1.1
            3 August 2012 at 10:05 am

            Well ok, but it aint that hard to see and predict this stuff. Plenty of people have done it before.

            Bear in mind it is easier in fact to dismiss as loony anything which doesn’t fit into various preconceived ideas. There is stacks and stacks of evidence for these predictions.

            Gonna bet the family stash on it happening Lanthanide? We have.

            • Kotahi Tāne Huna 5.1.1.1.1.1
              3 August 2012 at 10:19 am

              “It’s not hard to predict this stuff”.

              Yes, that’s right, any witless cretin can do a Ken Ring and predict it so often they’re bound to be right once or twice. And there’s no shortage of breathless dupes getting all excited about it. So there’s a match made in heaven – idiots, meet idiocy.

              • vto …
                3 August 2012 at 10:49 am

                Thanks kotahi for confirmation of my sentence 2 above.

                I aint talking about people who predict the end of the world each and every year, or people who predict earthquakes each and every year. Though I note that Ken Ring and the links travellerev generally provides do neither of the things you claim.

                This was always going to be a double-dip. I even said as much to mine bank manager back in 05. Too much debt leading to debt system failure (happenned), followed by politicians desperate to shore up the system and their power ride in to the rescue (happenned), followed by obvious inability and lack of capacity on governments parts to solve the debt system problem (happenning now), followed by the second and biggest dip / crash (about to happen).

                Without drifting off into loonies and conspiracy theories (I know humans never engage in conspiracies) and end of the world waste of time stuff ….., what do you think of that outline in the para above, given what has happenned already since 06 and the state of play today in the financial system? How do you see it playing out? And Lanthanide, how do you see the world financial system playing out over the short term?

                So many people seem to ignore this

                (apologies for the threadjackage)

                • Kotahi Tāne Huna …
                  3 August 2012 at 10:52 am

                  ROFLMAO – did you just argue that Ken Ring has some credibility? Were you expecting to be taken seriously? You poor thing, please accept my deepest sympathy.

                  • vto …
                    3 August 2012 at 10:56 am

                    you’re a waste of time.

                    But maybe you’re right… not only do humans never engage in conspiratorial behaviour but gravity has no effect on the planet.

                    duh

                  • vto …
                    3 August 2012 at 10:58 am

                    and tell me oh great wise one – what happenned on march 20 last year, when Nick Smith famously had a picnic on the port hills. Do you know? Do you have any substance to your hot air disappearing into the ether? Or do you just spout empty derogatory nothingness as in each of the above?

                    • Kotahi Tāne Huna …
                      3 August 2012 at 11:16 am

                      On the contrary, you are the one demanding to be acknowledged as the “wise one” – desperately seeking a tiny shred of agreement with your ravings. Lanthanide said it all at 9:57.

                      Christopher Hitchens knew the best response to this crap. I like the part when the truther whines that “he’s insulting me!” It sounds like he’s about to start blubbing, wouldn’t you agree?

                    • vto …
                      3 August 2012 at 12:17 pm

                      great contribution.

                      “1. Yes, that’s right, any witless cretin can do a Ken Ring and predict it so often they’re bound to be right once or twice. And there’s no shortage of breathless dupes getting all excited about it. So there’s a match made in heaven – idiots, meet idiocy.

                      2. ROFLMAO – did you just argue that Ken Ring has some credibility? Were you expecting to be taken seriously? You poor thing, please accept my deepest sympathy.

                      3. On the contrary, you are the one demanding to be acknowledged as the “wise one” – desperately seeking a tiny shred of agreement with your ravings. Lanthanide said it all at 9:57. Christopher Hitchens knew the best response to this crap. I like the part when the truther whines that “he’s insulting me!” It sounds like he’s about to start blubbing, wouldn’t you agree?”

                      zero

                      you have said nothing.

                    • Kotahi Tāne Huna …
                      3 August 2012 at 12:23 pm

                      To recap – the “predictions” you find so compelling are no more credible than those made by Ken Ring. The echo chamber does the rest.

                      I’m sorry if you don’t like these observations, but there they are.

                    • vto …
                      3 August 2012 at 12:31 pm

                      “To recap – the “predictions” you find so compelling are no more credible than those made by Ken Ring.”

                      Again kotahi, you simply make a bald zero statement. (and you have no idea of how compelling I find them – that is just your silly assumptions)

                      Got any evidence for your statement above? I have outlined events in support of my statements. You haven’t. Again.

                      Bald and empty. Zero. Waste of time.

                    • Kotahi Tāne Huna …
                      3 August 2012 at 12:34 pm

                      Christopher Hitchens was right – the only way to win this stupid game is not to play.

                    • vto …
                      3 August 2012 at 12:37 pm

                      again.

                      that’s quite unbelievable.

                      stupid troll.

        • Te Reo Putake 5.1.1.2
          3 August 2012 at 11:05 am

          ” Yes lanth, but that’s because they do always happen in the 3rd quarter.”
           
          I’d love to see some evidence for that. From memory, the Great Depression’s two crashes weren’t in the 3rd quarter; stockmarket in October, banks the following Feb/March.

          • Lanthanide 5.1.1.2.1
            3 August 2012 at 11:16 am

            When challenged on it last time, AFKTT came up with a bunch of examples. I believe wikipedia is about 50/50 split on 3rd quarter vs the rest of the year, when it should be 25/75 otherwise.

            There is something in it – because it’s the end of the northern hemisphere summer, but in general I think it’s well overplayed.

            • Te Reo Putake 5.1.1.2.1.1
              3 August 2012 at 12:22 pm

              Cheers, Lanth. I suppose the gloom of a northern hemisphere winter might drive some bankers and stockbrokers to despair, but I’d put it down to a statistical anomoly, unless someone can come up with a rational reason, such as it being triggered by earnings reporting season or some similar trigger.

              • vto …
                3 August 2012 at 12:34 pm

                try human nature and the swing of the seasons and the cycles etc, the most rational and predictable of the lot, surprisingly.

                a bit of internet searchery will locate it.

                • travellerev …
                  3 August 2012 at 2:10 pm

                  Oh dear,

                  I didn’t have a lot of time this morning so I didn’t link to some interesting stuff you might want to read up on.
                  I was not suggesting it would happen in September because Financial crisis always happen in the third quarter although there is a tendency for them to do happen in the autumn.
                  I meant it would likely happen in September because Spain only has about 30 days of money left in their coffers and needs $300 billion just to make ends meet before they have to borrow more as the interest rate on their debt eats up most of what they borrow.

                  Germany is now 300% in hock having paid Greece a bundle and is not keen on paying more. In Italy almost every major city is going bankrupt and Italy needs even more than Spain in order to keep tugging along. All these debt mount up and with Greece once again needing a bail out the pressure is on.

                  If Greece goes and return to the Drachma (Something Geithner predicts and hopes for will be around the 20th of August) there is no incentive for Spain to pay back their debts and neither is it for Italy.
                  Every bank exposed to the CDS they sold all these big hedge funds, Pension funds and to each other will have to pay up to the tune of anywhere between $ 500 Trillion to $ 1.5 Quadrillion which they don’t have because they are leveraged between 30 to 80 times. I mean we’re talking around about 20X the global GDP here.

                  In other words they are insolvent.

                  China, Russia, Brasil and Iran are making deals to exclude the US $ from their trades and that means the US $ loses status fast as the global reserve currency. (Sorry you’ll have to google as I don’t want to overstep my quota of links as that means I get put in purgatory)

                  The Syrian situation is not going as planned and if they can’t destroy the Syrian army (With Russia and China drawing a line in the Syrian sand and Russia bringing nukes to Cuba invading it like they did Libya is not really an option) they can’t get to Iran.

                  That means game over.

                  So what I’m trying to say here is that it’s a perfect storm and the US and NATO are in the middle of it and judging by the sequence of events September seems a likely time frame for some serious turmoil.

                  • Kotahi Tāne Huna …
                    3 August 2012 at 2:15 pm

                    In other news, I saw a wolf! Yes, I know I saw one yesterday and the day before that and the day before that and the day before that but this one’s real. Honest.

                    • vto …
                      3 August 2012 at 2:28 pm

                      you are consistent in your ability to say nothing aren’t you

                    • Kotahi Tāne Huna …
                      3 August 2012 at 2:32 pm

                      Implying that Cassandra is crying wolf, again, is not nothing: you just don’t like the message.

                    • vto …
                      3 August 2012 at 2:35 pm

                      see if you can answer with logic and reason, some of the points people make. If they are as loony as you keep making out then it should be a doddle.

                      Can you take on a doddle?

                    • Kotahi Tāne Huna …
                      3 August 2012 at 2:46 pm

                      Yes. To recap: if you predict disaster all the time eventually you’ll be right, just like Ken Ring’s earthquake predictions. That’s logical, but there’s a reason people will dismiss your ravings out-of-hand, since the source has proved itself wrong and delusional on so many occasions.

                      Further, you will always be able to find a chorous of like-minded Chicken Littles, and together you will echo one-anothers’ meanderings until you’re all thoroughly convinced, just like right-wing policy development.

                      Once in a while you’ll probably quote something credible, but it will be lost amongst all the other garbage, and when people respond with ridicule and contempt, you’ll get all blubby like the truther in the Hitchens video.

                      I think that about covers it.

                    • vto …
                      3 August 2012 at 2:55 pm

                      Not that obssession of yours you silly egg…

                      The actual points raised. Like ev’s points about debt limits and Spain and Greece and the fact that it hasn’t been domsday for ever and ever like you suggest, but only a few short years. Like my points about the double dip logic. The actual point of the posts – that doddle. Take that on. Answer her points with logic and reason.

                      Who cares about your cassandra points… bloody hell. Everybody knows that palava. And Ken Ring doesn’t say there will be earthquakes every week of every year like you suggest. Ev doesn’t say the world has always been on the edge of the brink edge for years and years and years.

                      So take aim at that doddle again because you missed the first time, which is hardly surprising.

                    • Kotahi Tāne Huna …
                      3 August 2012 at 3:14 pm

                      I will watch it with interest: will the indebted nations grow spines and issue arrest warrants for fraudulent banking practices? Will they continue the lemming-like austerity kool-aid? Will they simply default?

                      And please educate yourself about Mr. Ring and his parasitic behaviour.

                    • vto …
                      3 August 2012 at 3:20 pm

                      I don’t mean just watch. I mean this is a bloggy thing where people make points and others answer them, not just pull faces at them.

                      Both above and below our squabble here, travellerev has laid out a whole bunch of points backed up some evidence. That is the doddle to answer – each of those points and claimed facts.

                      Come on, it is a doddle, give it a crack. After all, it is all just loony stuff so it should be easy to debunk.

                      Remember though kotahi, you are on your third strike now.

                    • Kotahi Tāne Huna …
                      3 August 2012 at 3:24 pm

                      You really aren’t paying attention are you? I had a bit of a look through Travellerev’s comment at 2:10, for example, where I found this little gem:

                      “The Syrian situation is not going as planned…”

                      Can you see why that remark might lead me to suspect that Travellerev is full of shit?

                    • vto …
                      3 August 2012 at 3:25 pm

                      ssttttrriiiiiiiikkeee …..

                      you’re out

                    • Kotahi Tāne Huna …
                      3 August 2012 at 3:41 pm

                      Oh, sorry I didn’t realise you were the umpire. Come to think of it, you aren’t, are you? You’re just some random who thinks Europe is about to end and drag the world down with it, or something, but as Te Reo Putake neatly illustrates below, it won’t, and as I’ve pointed out, when your source is Travellerev and your analytical method is by Ken Ring, why should anyone pay the slightest attention?

                      Sob.

                  • Te Reo Putake …
                    3 August 2012 at 2:22 pm

                    Cheers, Ev, that’s a pretty comprehensive summary. I can’t say that I disagree with your logic, though obviously things are bound to happen out of sequence.
                     
                    For me, the big question is what happens next. Even if there is a complete collapse of the banking system, Europe goes kaput etc. , I still think capitalism will re-emerge, because without a credible alternative, that system will fill the void. So what I think will happen is that the world economy will shrug its shoulders and move on. As it has done in every financial crisis for the last thousand years.
                     
                    So, while I think many of the things you point to will happen, I don’t think its ‘game over’ at all. But I would be interested in what you think the world post September will look like. How do you see it?

                    • travellerev …
                      3 August 2012 at 3:01 pm

                      You know, I don’t recall ever having said Next month is when the Shit could hit the fan. I have pointed out many times that the situation is unsustainable and will collapse at some moment in time.

                      So no I have not been crying wolf but rather there is a lot of wolf shit around and therefore there must be wolfs. Now I’m saying I smell wolf, hear wolf and there is seriously warm fresh wolf shit on the sole of my booth so the wolf must be very close.
                      In a post September world we could face bank holidays as banks can no longer service their debts and can’t keep up with bank runs as have been happening in Greece, China and Spain in the last couple of months.

                      With banks collapsing people might lose their savings, won’t be able to pay their bills the computer systems might shut down as happened in England recently and with Westpac in NZ.

                      Countries bonds might become worthless overnight as countries are no longer able to pay the interest or only cents on the dollar as happened with Russia defaulting.

                      The Cullen fund will be reduced to zero as it turns out that the crappy Derivatives they invested in really are worthless.
                      That’s $19 billion dollars and the future pensions for the baby boomers and their offspring gone. (Provided the manipulated zero LIBOR rates of the last 4 years haven’t done that damage already)

                      The $ 112 Billion in derivatives  this government has amassed on borrowed money will be gone leaving us with an odious debt only payable in our resources just like Greece, Spain and Italy are facing now.

                      And that is just the beginning. No money, no oil. No oil=no industry, no farming, no nothing.

                      We’re not talking a local collapse here which as you point out has been happening throughout history. We are talking a global collapse of an intertwined financial system.

                      In Greece farmers donate their produce to stop Athenians from starving. Prisoners are starving in their cells because the government can’t afford food any more and in Spain hositals can’t pay their staff and old age pensioners homes are closing. fire fighters and police are fired. In the US San Bernadino just filed for bankruptcy (as so many cities have down already and in Detroit whole areas have no more running water or streetlights and California is on the verge of collapse because the whole facebook pump and dump is coming down like a ton of bricks.
                      Here is a nice list of disasters befalling the US population which by the way is now almost 16 trillion in debt. That is 10x their GDP with a 100 million people out of work or 30% of their population while the the six Wall mart heirs own more than the bottom 40%.

                      China now has 65 million empty houses. They build those to keep the illusion of growth going but they too are experiencing bank runs and social unrest because the US and Europe aren’t buying any more.

                      I suggest you google these items. I did but don’t have the time to put them in as I am going to weed my veggie beds.
                      But googling may also help you to wean yourself off the denial teat. You need it.

                      Because there is not just one wolf. There is a whole pack gnarling at your door. If you can’t smell them, hear them or see them mate you deserve to be eaten by them but don’t say I didn’t warn you!

                    • Te Reo Putake …
                      3 August 2012 at 3:24 pm

                      Yeah, cheers, Ev. No need for the snide comments, by the way, I was asking a genuine question about your economic views, not your other obsessions. And your first sentence (“You know, I don’t recall ever having said Next month is when the $h1t could hit the fan”) is somewhat contradicted by your comment at the start of this thread, which says exactly that! But never mind.
                       
                      My inner anarchist is kinda looking forward to the imminent collapse, probably as a result of reading too many Jerry Cornelius books as a teenager. What I’m trying to work out is what difference it is going to make to the world. My house will still be there, my garden will still grow food. I’m guessing there will be a period of instability, but people will still go to work, the schools will still be open, the sun will continue to shine. For the starving millions in the third world, well, I’m picking there’ll be no difference at all. Life will still suck.
                       
                      My gut feeling is that if the western world economy collapses, it’ll quickly be replaced by western world economy 2012 (in receivership) Ltd and it’ll be back to the beginning again. But I may be wrong. Again, I’m keen to know how you think this will actually affect people on a day to day basis. I certainly don’t think riots are going to break out or we’ll revert to cannibilsm or anything apocalyptic, because the fundamentals of functioning society will remain, whatever happens to printed money or shares.

                    • Tiger Mountain …
                      3 August 2012 at 4:07 pm

                      TRP, you are talking systemic continuance but for how long. I see an uneven result inline with how human society has developed thus far in countries and regions. Certain rural and third world communities may keep on truck’n for a while as usual, but imagine in Auckland, the ATMs are out, ‘just in time’ supplied foodmarkets empty, toilets backing up,Watercare switched off like some land bound cruise liner with power failure.

                      What are middle class working for families pussy types or even rough tough types gonna do? We are all more vulnerable to a nasty societal breakdown than is comfortable to think about.

                    • travellerev …
                      3 August 2012 at 4:33 pm

                      TRP,

                      You are right. Today was the first time I actually set a time limit on when the SHTF.
                      Please explain why me saying that Syria isn’t going as planned makes me full of shit. Oh I forgot you don’t do any research yourself you just like bullshitting someone else’s.
                      Syria is not going as planned because until now the US and NATO have not been able to bully China and Russia into compliance like they did with Libya.
                      Russia is preparing troops for battle in Syria and has battle ships lined up to confront NATO and the US and a report today said they were transporting Nukes to Cuba. And they have not been able to convince the rest of the world that bombing the shit out of millennia old cities for a bunch of al Qaeda aligned Christian, and Shia killing extremists (The ones we were going to exterminate in Afghanistan if I’m not mistaken) is a good idea..

                      They are losing their window of opportunity because if they can’t attack Iran in October as Israel wants them too they will be to late to use their carefully branded maniacal Iranian leader who wants to return to teaching at the Tehran University as the law does not allow more than 3 periods for a President. The university were there are two female students for every male studying those typical female studies such as Physics and engineering.
                      Yesterday it was announced that the high speed cable to Australia and the US promised by our government was cancelled. A couple of years ago shell sold their ges stations  to the muppets of the Cullen fund I recall because the economy was “mature” that is oil company speak for on the verge of collapse.

                      Our young are either unemployed, in low paying jobs or burdened with huge study debts. Jobs have been all but exported to China and other low wage countries and able bodied men and women are leaving NZ by the tens of thousands for a better future in Australia.  

                      I think that we are better positioned than most but it’s not going to be a walk in the park either.

                      With regards to social unrest. In the US more and more kids are organising themselves in looting mobs, gangs (In Chicago 500 to 1 gangs versus police) and empty houses are robbed of copper and other useful things to a point were the police doesn’t even interfere any more.
                      You may think that a collapse is easy and even fun to survive but judging by the fact that the homeland security fascists in the US are arming themselves to the teeth against their well armed citizenry I sort of think that Mad Max is going to be tame compared what is awaiting the average Joe over there and if you think that kids or guys with no hope of a reasonable life are going to be taking it lying down you’ve got another thing coming.

                      And yep that goes for New Zealand too.

                  • travellerev …
                    3 August 2012 at 4:35 pm

                    Shit, Purgatory!!!!

                    • Pukeko …
                      3 August 2012 at 5:06 pm

                      Kei te mōhio i a tatou te āhua o te pōrangi, kua ngaro ngā whakaaro, kua kore e mōhio ki te pai ki te hē.

  6. ad 6
    3 August 2012 at 8:37 am

    Contemptible behaviour from Key and English.

  7. marty mars 7
    3 August 2012 at 8:45 am

    Even if it did report early, any sign that its determinations had been rushed by the government’s deadline would be fuel for the Maori Council’s high court injunction. As would any move by the Nats to push ahead with sales before getting the Tribunal’s report.

    Very true. In the previous paragraph mention is made of the potential for the Waitangi Tribunal to “lose all its Mana” – that is not a reality, or even a potential reality.

    and i love how the msm always go to certain commentators – for instance this ex ACT party lawyer. Frankly he is dangerous – especially to those wanting equality.

    A leading public lawyer and former MP, Stephen Franks, says he is “heartened” by threats from the Crown to push ahead with asset sales this year.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/7404750/Ex-MP-backs-new-deadline-for-tribunal

    piss off back to ACT I say franks the last thing this debate needs is your imput IMO.

    • Kotahi Tāne Huna 7.1
      3 August 2012 at 9:06 am

      Disagree: the ravings of ACT loonies don’t enhance anyone’s credibility or mana. The National Party likes to present itself as “centre-right” – because they know their true doctrine renders them unelectable. The more their vandalism is associated with the fundamentalist minority fringe, the better.

      • marty mars 7.1.1
        3 August 2012 at 9:18 am

        Yes but he is not presented as “the fundamentalist minority fringe”, he is presented as a reasonable person, ooh and a lawyer. I do agree that the more the two parties are entwined the better.

  8. captain hook 8
    3 August 2012 at 11:22 am

    the nats want to muscle everybody.
    that is the way they are psychologically constituted.

  9. Penny Bright 9
    3 August 2012 at 11:51 am

    Seems that the campaign to help stop the privatisation of Mighty River Power by SWITCHING OFF / SWITCHING FROM MERCURY ENERGY (100% owned by Mighty River Power) is gaining traction?

    Are YOU a Mercury Energy customer?

    Are YOU opposed to the proposed privatisation of Mighty River Power?

    Then SWITCH OFF / SWITCH FROM Mercury Energy!

    Switch to whom?

    Publicly owned Meridian Energy ( Powershop Ph 0800 1000 60) http://www.powershop.co.nz )

    Publicly owned Genesis Energy ( Energy Online Ph 0800 086 400 http://www.energyonline.co.nz )

    THE CONTACT ENERGY PRECEDENT!

    In 2008, already privatised Contact Energy doubled directors fees and increased their prices 12%.

    In 6 months 40,000 customers left Contact Energy and their profits halved.

    If we can get thousands of Mercury Energy customers to SWITCH OFF / SWITCH FROM Mercury Energy – then the share value of Mighty River Power will drop thus make any proposed investment less attractive. (Remember Facebook?)

    IT’S PEOPLE POWER TIME!!!!

    Please help to spread the word!

    🙂

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’

    http://www.dodgyjohnhsagone.com

  10. AmaKiwi 10
    3 August 2012 at 12:39 pm

    Thank you to Penny Bright (posting 9 above.)

    Stop posting and DO SOMETHING.

    Switch power companies NOW. (I am a Genesis customer.)

    “SWITCH OFF / SWITCH FROM Mercury Energy!

    “Switch to whom?

    “Publicly owned Meridian Energy ( Powershop Ph 0800 1000 60) http://www.powershop.co.nz )

    “Publicly owned Genesis Energy ( Energy Online Ph 0800 086 400 http://www.energyonline.co.nz )

    “THE CONTACT ENERGY PRECEDENT!

    “In 2008, already privatised Contact Energy doubled directors fees and increased their prices 12%.

    “In 6 months 40,000 customers left Contact Energy and their profits halved.

    “If we can get thousands of Mercury Energy customers to SWITCH OFF / SWITCH FROM Mercury Energy – then the share value of Mighty River Power will drop thus make any proposed investment less attractive. (Remember Facebook?)”

    Thanks, Penny.

  11. captain hook 11
    3 August 2012 at 3:52 pm

    send out for some pillars and cecil b. demille
    the sun is not yellow it’s chicken.
    b dylan
    1966