Open mike 01/02/2016

107 comments on “Open mike 01/02/2016 ”

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1. savenz 1

   1 February 2016 at 7:34 am

   Stop trade agreements that limit rights of citizens to know where their food is coming from and how it is processed!!

   “‘Chinese chicken’ will soon have a whole new meaning, as the US Department of Agriculture [USDA] recently gave the green-light to four chicken processing plants in China, allowing chicken raised and slaughtered in the US to be exported to China for processing, and then shipped back to the US and sold on grocery shelves here.”

   Due to the recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling against the Country of Origin Labeling law (COOL) and it’s subsequent repeal in the Dec., 2015, omnibus bill, the imported processed poultry will not require a country-of-origin label. Additionally, US inspectors will not be on site at processing plants in China before it is shipped to the United States for human consumption.

   FULL ARTICLE: http://bit.ly/1WUZMGy
   ______________________

   2009 WTO RULING OVERRIDES CONGRESS

   In 2006 the Bush White House approved the USDA request to certify Chinese facilities for the processing of US-raised poultry. Once processed, these chickens would be shipped back to the US market for sale. Severe health problems arising from the way food is processed in China resulted in Congress defunding this certification program.

   China “appealed to the World Trade Organization, which ruled in 2009 that Congress’s treatment of the country was unfair. Funding was restored and the process of approval began again. A series of USDA audits followed, all of which found China unfit to process U.S. poultry. Then, in 2013, without further inspection, the agency granted four Chinese plants certification.”

   FULL ARTICLE: http://bit.ly/1SqbxkG
   _____________________

   And then there’s the carbon footprint to take into account!
   • Paul 1.1

     1 February 2016 at 7:49 am

     Fran O’Sullivan pimps for large corporates and forced trade agreements for the 2nd week running.
     ‘After TPP – fine-tuning to get full value’

     Notice the assumption, the TPP is a done deal. By writing that, O’Sullivan is trying to persuade the ever diminishing band of Herald readers that it’s all over. My, some people would sell their country away for a few pieces of silver.

     http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11582661

     Maybe she needed to come and listen to Lori Wallach. It is not a done deal.
     • maui 1.1.1

       1 February 2016 at 8:49 am

       Does the fine tuning include making rushed changes to our domestic laws soon after Feb 4 while the US just sits on this agreement for years. This is a foreign corporate takeover as far as I can tell.
       • Paul 1.1.1.1

         1 February 2016 at 8:51 am

         ‘This is a foreign corporate takeover as far as I can tell.’
         Yes and it’s obvious by who supports it.

         Key. Merrill Lynch henchman.
         Brash. Ex-Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand

         The Hollow Men.
         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hollow_Men_(book)
         • Rosemary McDonald 1.1.1.1.1

           1 February 2016 at 8:57 am

           Hear for yourselves Don Brash being his usual self, up against a graciously determined Jeanette Fitzsimons…

           http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/201787485/don-brash-and-jeanette-fitzsimons-politics-2016

           I believe it is very important to remind ourselves who the enemy is.
           • Paul 1.1.1.1.1.1

             1 February 2016 at 9:01 am

             Yes, heard it.
             People like Brash do not care about ordinary New Zealanders.

             From the Hollow Men wikipedia article.

             ‘The book describes Brash’s rise to power in the New Zealand National Party as being assisted by an “informal network of people from the right of New Zealand politics”, including a number of ACT members, and alleges the funding of the National Party in the 2005 election was mainly from prominent New Zealand businessmen through blind trusts.’

             Seems like people who do not care about democracy or NZ wanted Brash to become PM. When that failed, they put their money behind Key.
           • marty mars 1.1.1.1.1.2

             1 February 2016 at 10:18 am

             “I believe it is very important to remind ourselves who the enemy is.”

             wise words indeed

             the Hollow Men, as Paul mentions below, are still here, still dong their thing, for themselves. We know and we don’t forget.
     • pat 1.1.2

       1 February 2016 at 9:36 am

       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8taG38o_bo

       encore for Wayne
   • Paul 1.2

     1 February 2016 at 8:54 am

     We all need to remember that is not a free trade agreement.
     It’s a forced trade agreement.
2. Pasupial 2

   1 February 2016 at 7:53 am

   Rosemary McD mentioned this on Saturday, and there didn’t seem much I could add then. Last year I had been working on a timeline of the SDHB Compass foodoutsourcing/ Board sacking/ Comissioneer installing story, but it was getting way too long and involved for a post, so was discontinued. Besides, it just angried up the blood way too much.:

   http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30012016/#comment-1126040

   However there is an update in today’s ODT:

   A Dunedin woman says she had better food growing up in a Nazi-occupied country than the ‘‘disgusting” meals on wheels trucked from Auckland and Tauranga…

   The Otago Daily Times reported on Saturday that fears have emerged about the viability of the volunteer delivery system run by Age Concern Otago, because of cancellations and shrinking delivery runs…

   Aileen Baker (89), of Dunedin, said she was likely to cancel the ‘‘dreadful” meals. Her neighbour received St Barnabas Trust meals on wheels, which were excellent but more expensive than the health board service…

   The meals were not supposed to be reheated, but Mrs Baker was doing so anyway, as she was used to eating a portion later in the day. Anne Marie Parsons (74), of Dunedin, said she had no choice but to continue with the meals, as at $5 a day they were cheaper than alternatives.

   http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/371588/better-meals-under-nazis-87-year-old-says

   Age Concern executive officer Susan Davidson said the organisation had noticed the runs had become smaller, but did not have a full understanding of the situation yet.

   “Overall, the runs do seem to be smaller,” she said.

   Cancellations are handled by the health board, and Age Concern did not know how many people had ditched the service…

   “If the meals are not satisfactory and people choose to leave that service in droves, it will affect us. It will affect our ability to organise the volunteer delivery of meals on wheels.”

   The health board is staying tight-lipped about the number of cancellations in the past couple of weeks, and did not respond to a question on the subject yesterday.

   http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/371407/absolutely-yuck-meals-upset-elderly

   The trial run for Compass/ Medirest meals on Wheels was at Christmas, and didn’t go well – so these issues can hardly be a surprise:

   Diana Graham said she was ‘‘absolutely shocked” when she saw what her friend, whom she did not want to name, was given.

   ‘‘If this is what we can expect in the future from this new Compass Group which has taken over, I really fear for the health and wellbeing of our sick and elderly in our community.

   ‘‘These people must be making a huge profit at the expense of our sick and elderly,” she said.

   The meagre meal her friend was given consisted of tiny bits of potato, two very small bits of broccoli and diced bits of pumpkin, a ‘‘minute sliver of white sauce” and two and a-half paper-thin slices of dry turkey, with gravy too salty for her friend to eat…

   The Christmas Day meal was the first frozen meal trucked down from Auckland.

   ‘‘They are back to normal being made by the kitchen at the moment.”

   http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/368472/compass-dinner-panned
   • Rosemary McDonald 2.1

     1 February 2016 at 8:16 am

     Compass is to food what Serco is to ‘security’.

     Well worth a google cruise….I’m having computer problems else would have put up some links yesterday.

     ? If over 50% of the consumers think the Compass food is inedible should the 15 year contract be cancelled.?
     • Pasupial 2.1.1

       1 February 2016 at 10:14 am

       Links for Compass Group linked; Listeria, employee exploitation, horsemeat in school meals & bribery:

       http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/possible-listeria-exposure-in-ontario-jails-1.702077

       http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/22/i-am-a-cook-in-the-us-senate-but-i-still-need-food-stamps-to-feed-my-children?CMP=share_btn_tw

       http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-21476736

       http://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/oct/16/money.internationalnews

       R McD’s comparison of Compass to Serco is apt.
     • joe90 2.1.2

       1 February 2016 at 10:17 am

       COMPASS – specialists in bribery, listeria and horse meat.

       joe90 4.4
       20 March 2015 at 10:22 am

       Bribery, listeria and horse meat, things go better with Compass.

       http://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/oct/16/money.internationalnews

       http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/possible-listeria-exposure-in-ontario-jails-1.702077

       http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21476736

       http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-20032015/#comment-988733
       • Chooky 2.1.2.1

         1 February 2016 at 3:58 pm

         my Mother gave up on ‘Meals on Wheels’…she now has scrambled eggs on toast for lunch

         ( mind you the people who delivered ‘Meals on Wheels’ were lovely…and I am sure the cooks were too and did their best)
   • weka 2.2

     1 February 2016 at 9:52 am

     Thanks Pasupial and Rosemary. I have to say the rage factor is very high for me on this one too. The sheer incompetence that tells elderly people what time of day to eat and gives them measly portions and basically treats them like stock units. Wheels on Meals bought to you by Federated Farmers.

     Fuck you National and Act parties (yes all of you) and voters, and fuck you Jonathon Coleman, and fuck you Peter Dunn.

     Here are the Health Portfolio contacts if anyone wants to talk to the responsible people,

     http://www.beehive.govt.nz/portfolio/health
   • McFlock 2.3

     1 February 2016 at 11:37 am

     Credit where credit is due, when the nats fuck something up, they fuck it up good and proper.

     I suppose a pensioner could commit a crime if they want a decent meal – I think prison food is still made on site…
3. gsays 3

   1 February 2016 at 8:05 am

   Hi pasupial, I have kept half an eye on this issue thru last year.
   What peeves the most ( blood boiling indeed), is the well renumerated looking to trim fat from their budget, by having the most vulnerable bear the brunt of the boards penny pinching.

   Why o why can’t these decisions be viewed from a wider lens?
   Eg social cost, carbon footprint, nutritional value.

   It reminds me of toll buying their locos from China because they were25% cheaper. Ironically another recent kick in the teeth for Dunedin workers.
   • Pasupial 3.1

     1 February 2016 at 11:18 am

     gsays

     Here’s my coverage of that meeting where the majority of the elected board (bar two) voted to accept the Compass contract – after the public were excluded:

     http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-07052015/#comment-1011080

     The reasoning seemed to be that if they didn’t, then the board would be sacked and a commissioner appointed who would do it anyway. So what happened? They voted for the outsourcing and were soon sacked leaving the new commissioner’s hands clean. The term of democratic hiatus was supposed to be just until the next local elections, then late last year it turned out that the commissioner hadn’t even assembled her staff yet, so it had to be extended to 2019.

     This required legislation in parliament, and what was the local Labour MP’s response to this ECaning of the SDHB?

     The Labour Party voted for the Bill, but it was opposed by New Zealand First and the Green Party.

     The Government is taking the unprecedented step of removing the embattled health board from the 2016 local body elections and extending the commissioner regime until 2019, despite earlier promising the next election would go ahead as usual…

     Dunedin North MP David Clark told the Otago Daily Times Labour believed the commissioner’s good work might be lost if a health board election was held next year.

     http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/366244/sdhb-bill-passes-its-first-reading

     Dunedin North MP David Clark said he did not have a ”crystal ball” and did not know what, if anything, Labour – if elected in 2017 – would do to change the arrangements at the Southern DHB.

     Dr Clark said the Government had become incredibly protective about information pertaining to the Southern board, so it was hard to know what was going on.

     http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/365764/no-dhb-election-2016

     Really? The idea of talking to his constituents is obviously too much for Clark to contemplate. Fuck that shithead!! The only good thing I have to say about him is that he isn’t Michael Woodhouse.

     The only board member who remains democratically accountable is Richard Thomson, who is still a city councillor while acting as deputy commissioner. As he voted for the compass plan at that closed meeting, I suspect that he will lose his place in next year’s council election. I sure as hell won’t be putting him very high up the list!

     So he’ll only have the $900/ day he gets in his new job (the commissioner gets $1400/ day).
     • gsays 3.1.1

       1 February 2016 at 11:30 am

       call me naive..

       when do we stop playing by their rules, and start doing stuff for ourselves.
       a fight can’t be won by fighting against someone who writes the rules and judges the outcomes.

       is there an option of a local group starting up a local food supply initiative, with food from community gardens, donated food and labour?
       harvesting, preperation, cooking and drop off by volunteers/community groups.
       scouts, rotary, schools, retired folk.

       start small and sure, maybe have a small premium to start with and grow the service.

       i know there is lots of knowledge and experience sitting in retirement villages and council flats just waiting to be organized/utilized.

       keep up your good work in keeping us updated.
       • North 3.1.1.1

         1 February 2016 at 8:43 pm

         +100 to you Gsays. No you’re not naive. Neither are you an effete anti-social like The Gauche Man Key. Your comments mark our community being taken away from us. In favour of a small percentage of already fabulously wealthy people distinguished by their narcissism, sociopathy, and greed. Key to a tee. We will come up with answers !
     • Rosemary McDonald 3.1.2

       1 February 2016 at 11:59 am

       “Dunedin North MP David Clark said he did not have a ”crystal ball” ”

       Or any balls at all?

       You know…this shit has to stop, but won’t unless Labour pulls whatever from out its collective aft crevasse and totally refuses to back…in fact kick up mega shit…when National pulls anti democratic stunts like this.

       Free Tertiary for Three Years is all very well…but it is the bedrock that is being undermined….

       If miracles happen and they ever get to the government benches there will be nothing solid left for them to build on.

       THIS is what we need to hear from Labour.

       Thanks for the links….
   • Draco T Bastard 3.2

     1 February 2016 at 1:46 pm

     Why o why can’t these decisions be viewed from a wider lens?
     Eg social cost, carbon footprint, nutritional value.

     Because then the profits, a dead-weight loss, would have to be decreased.
     • gsays 3.2.1

       1 February 2016 at 2:45 pm

       Hi draco, I am teeing up an exit interview with my rural cafe owner boss.
       The main bug bear is low staffing levels.
       Now I all too well know, the perils of being overstaffed- cruise mode, some one else will do.it …

       When wages are 40% of yr income you have to be careful.

       Surely one of these business minded execs could see the wider good of investing in their communities. The pay off isn’t: on this years balance sheet, it occurs on someone elses or on yours in years down the line.

       I do this with my meagre income even easier with someone else’s money.
       • gsays 3.2.1.1

         1 February 2016 at 7:54 pm

         oops, poor grammer and punctuation, typed above on my phone at the river.
4. Molly 4

   1 February 2016 at 8:25 am

   Good graphic comic explaining “Free Trade” and the TPPA (pg 24 onwards) over on filmsforaction.org.
   • Janice 4.1

     1 February 2016 at 9:07 am

     Thank you for this, it made me late but was a good way to start the day.
5. Molly 5

   1 February 2016 at 8:32 am

   Strange world in Norwegian politics, where “temporary” means … temporary.

   Norway to disarm its police force after officers ordered to carry guns for just one year’

   Norway has announced that the armament of its police officers, which began in 2014, will cease “as soon as possible” after it was no longer deemed necessary.

   A raised terror threat level saw officers ordered to carry firearms at all times in November 2014, but the measure was described as temporary….

   …The Police Directorate announced plans to end the armament on 13 November 2015, but it was extended after the Paris terror attacks hit that same evening.

   Police have announced once again that the armament will cease, with the Police Directorate saying that “there are no longer grounds to continue”.
6. cogito 6

   1 February 2016 at 8:40 am

   Great news for those of us who oppose the lockwood tea towel:

   “John Key’s hopes of changing the flag have been dealt a blow with a poll showing 61% of voters want to keep the flag we’ve got.
   The Newshub/Reid Research poll shows only 30% want to change to the Kyle Lockwood Silver Fern design. The other 9% either didn’t know or didn’t care about changing the flag.”
   http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/poll-shows-most-kiwis-opposed-to-changing-nzs-flag-2016020103#axzz3yqtgPwjt

   **Keep the NZ flag** and get rid of Key.
   • weka 6.1

     1 February 2016 at 10:12 am

     Turnout will be interesting. I bet there are a lot of people motivated to make sure they vote specifically to prevent the teatowel.
7. ianmac 7

   1 February 2016 at 9:03 am

   Mike Hosking has a great interview with Andrew Little re the tertiary policy. Well answered Andrew. Good questions too from Hosking.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_cid=1&gallery_id=157449
   • Paul 7.1

     1 February 2016 at 9:11 am

     Yes, that was weird….
     Hosking actually listened and did not speak over Little
     Little also was very well briefed it appeared.
   • b waghorn 7.2

     1 February 2016 at 11:32 am

     Holy shit a Polly that talks clearly and concisely, no evasiveness or spin , never triggered my bullshit detector once ,
8. cogito 8

   1 February 2016 at 9:29 am

   I liked this…. from the Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/31/google-tax-osborne-cameron-spaghetti-westerns

   “Since Lynton Crosby OBE started showing off about his “dead cat” news management methods, we can now see dead cats coming a mile off, like smallpox-infected pigs catapulted over the walls of a besieged medieval citadel, and a political gaff one might once have forgiven as a thoughtless slip of the tongue, we now realise is in fact a cynically scripted media misdirection strategy.

   In short, if Cameron said “bunch of migrants” by accident, he is a dick, but if he said it on purpose, in order to draw the eye, dead-cat-style, away from the Google atrocity, which he did, then he is a bastard, which is worse.

   Increasingly, the once proud visionary dreamer of the “big society” is like those sleazy guys they warn you about on posters at railway stations, who call your attention to an imaginary problem while pick-pocketing your wallet and grabbing your genitals. David Cameron is the Cologne New Year’s Eve of British politics. “
9. gsays 9

   1 February 2016 at 9:57 am

   i heard on the ozzy segment on rnz, just before the 9.00am news, an item about immunisation and child care centres.

   i dont want to open an immunisation debate.
   to me this is wrong.
   i see many parallels with mid central health’s policy of not having sugary drinks in the vending machines. instead you can have your sweet soda laced with an accumulative neuro-toxin.
   it is disgraceful the hospital holding hands with coke all in the name of a few $ more.
   how about getting rid of all the vending machines and having chilled water dispenser instead?
10. Incognito 10

    1 February 2016 at 10:03 am

    Could this possibly go up as a Guest Post if that’s o.k.? It has some points of connection with Andrew Little’s comments on the Future of Work in his State of the Nation Speech and presents a different point of view.

    Politics is Pointless …

    That’s the answer. So, what’s the question?

    It’s the Economy, Stupid – this is the political equivalent of a black hole that all political discourse gets sucked into.

    Almost everything political is put in an economic framework and discussed in economic terms. Our ‘wellbeing’ is described in economic terms, in metrics, data tables and stats dutifully compiled by Treasury. Quality of life that cannot be easily measured or indexed is often ignored. For example, elderly or disabled people living in dignity, dying with dignity (cf. euthanasia debate) are put into the too-hard basket. Economic indicators such as CPI, GDP or Government surplus, for example, get a special status that they don’t deserve and this detracts from dealing with real and pressing issues.

    At the same time it is becoming more obvious that all is not well in and with our political system. Democracy is in dire straits according to some. But we have little idea what to do about it, on how to ‘fix’ it. Some political parties are almost tearing themselves apart (AKA ‘soul-searching’) in an attempt to reconquer lost political ground and regain some traction in the polls. Voter turn-out is at an all-time low and still declining. People just want to get on with their lives, which is somewhat ironic given that through politics it is decided what we can and cannot do.

    This delicate and dire situation is further threatened by rapid changes in the nature of labour. While productivity is going up the shrinking labour market combined with growing labour force will force wages down. It must be neo-liberal Nirvana when work-seekers compete ferociously with each other for fewer jobs at ever-decreasing pay – a Darwinian struggle for ‘life’ and survival of the fittest. This is literally a race to the bottom.
    We are slowly running out of secure well-paid full-time employment in the traditional sense because we may have passed peak-employment some time ago – the precariat is growing. But we are so used to the current situation and conditioned by the economic thinking of our time that we haven’t got a clue what to do.

    Our current plight and the ongoing conflict between liberty and equality will not be resolved by clinging to dogmatic orthodoxy or through (new) Schools of Economic Thought and/or economic theories. Neither will a solution be found on the left or right sides of the political divide. I believe that we need a new and different approach.

    What might this look like? Well, it seems that our behaviour is conditioned to a large degree, i.e. it depends on and is influenced by many factors but foremost by cultural and societal forces and we, in turn, collectively exert these influences on the members of our society, i.e. on ourselves! So, if we could integrate our own internal conflicting personality traits and resolve swings between empathy and cooperation, or group solidarity, on the one hand, and selfishness and competition, or individualism, on the other, we may find a way forward out of the current quagmire. According to primatologist Frans de Waal it all depends on the environmental context which of the two traits dominates. But we can and do influence our environment!

    If/when we know what we want, how we want to live our lives in a truly meaningful manner guided by purpose, besides and alongside working for a living or trying to find work, we will (have to) see this mirrored in politics. After all, politics exists for us, because of us and through us and parties need to align with us, not the other way round. Most of all, the Government of the day needs to reflect and represent the ‘will of the people’, and most definitely not the other way round.

    So, now you know what the question is, as well as the answer.
11. debatewatcher 11

    1 February 2016 at 10:20 am

    If you want to follow NZ politics on Facebook, there’s a new list which brings all the different pages together at http://bit.ly/NZpolitics

    The list has MPs, media, interest groups etc. Completely cross-partisan.

    It’s easy to miss updates in your timeline because of the Facebook algorithm, so the list is a way to make Facebook politics a bit easier.
12. rhinocrates 12

    1 February 2016 at 10:24 am

    Labour caucus on the TPP
    • Colonial Viper 12.1

      1 February 2016 at 2:13 pm

      Odd, people were claiming just yesterday that the caucus was completely unified behind Andrew Little.
      • marty mars 12.1.1

        1 February 2016 at 2:24 pm

        lol that really says so much about your motivations – real scraping the bottom of the barrel – why bother?
13. joe90 13

    1 February 2016 at 10:31 am

    This bloke blogged his Conspira-sea Cruise. Hilarious.

    http://violentmetaphors.com/2016/01/26/a-skeptic-on-the-conspira-sea-cruise-day-1/

    http://violentmetaphors.com/
14. weka 14

    1 February 2016 at 10:36 am

    Some good news then, we’re going to have a fisiani-free summer 😀 May I suggest we make the most of it? Instead of filling the void with another RWer with a man-crush on FJK, how about we start talking to each other about the things that really matter? Or what we want to have happen in the world?
    • cogito 14.1

      1 February 2016 at 11:04 am

      🙂

      “Or what we want to have happen in the world?”

      Anyone for a South Island Independence Party? 🙂
      • gsays 14.1.1

        1 February 2016 at 11:47 am

        independent of what/whom?
      • Puckish Rogue 14.1.2

        1 February 2016 at 11:56 am

        Only if the headquarters are based in Cromwell
        • weka 14.1.2.1

          1 February 2016 at 12:40 pm

          That’s an odd choice.
          • Puckish Rogue 14.1.2.1.1

            1 February 2016 at 12:44 pm

            Yeah true Cromwells so nice why would you want to ruin it…Dunedin it is then
            • McFlock 14.1.2.1.1.1

              1 February 2016 at 1:10 pm

              yeah, nah.

              Make the capital Invercargill. That way we have employment substitutes for the folks out of work when the smelter is shut down, and we can sell the Manapouri power to north islanders for huge profit.
              • cogito …

                1 February 2016 at 1:35 pm

                I have a soft spot for Invers. Some local bright spark has even been stealing the lockwood tea towel from Queen’s Park.
              • Puckish Rogue …

                1 February 2016 at 2:37 pm

                I like it
        • cogito 14.1.2.2

          1 February 2016 at 1:17 pm

          @PR
          Perfect! With transport policy tested at the Highlands race track, food safety sampled at one of the orchards, and tourism strategy explored out on the lake. What a winner!
          • Puckish Rogue 14.1.2.2.1

            1 February 2016 at 2:55 pm

            I knew the left and right could work together
      • weka 14.1.3

        1 February 2016 at 12:21 pm

        Tempting cogito, but I’m not sure how the left/right balance would work out.
        • Puckish Rogue 14.1.3.1

          1 February 2016 at 12:32 pm

          I’m sure theres enough consensus that the South Island is superior to the North between the left and the right to smooth things over
          • weka 14.1.3.1.1

            1 February 2016 at 12:44 pm

            Too many Aucklanders living here now.
            • Puckish Rogue 14.1.3.1.1.1

              1 February 2016 at 12:49 pm

              They can stay as long as they pledge allegiance to the South Island (or Richie)
              • weka …

                1 February 2016 at 1:04 pm

                Yeah but they might not play by the Mainland rules and so your point about the left/right divide being smoothed over probably won’t work.
              • cogito …

                1 February 2016 at 1:50 pm

                “They can stay as long as they pledge allegiance to the South Island (or Richie)”

                ….and join the local pipe band!
                • Puckish Rogue …

                  1 February 2016 at 2:39 pm

                  I’m ok with that
      • b waghorn 14.1.4

        1 February 2016 at 12:33 pm

        As a north islander I’d vote for that, you can have your barren rock and your racist undertones. Hell I’m white and they treated me with a vague sort of racism when I lived there for time. “Pig Islander” ring a bell
        • weka 14.1.4.1

          1 February 2016 at 12:43 pm

          Pig Islander, I’ve not heard that before, what does it mean?

          I agree about the racism. Kāi Tahu’s recolonisation of Te Waipounamu will eventually sort that out 😉
        • joe90 14.1.4.2

          1 February 2016 at 12:55 pm

          “Pig Islander” ring a bell

          Indeed it does – anyone born in the South Island.
        • cogito 14.1.4.3

          1 February 2016 at 1:58 pm

          LOL. You should have rolled your “r”s and not complained about the porridge!
15. Paul 15

    1 February 2016 at 11:10 am

    No wonder so many New Zealanders don’t know about the TPPA or the state of the global economy. The corporate media wants them to talk about this

    Christchurch cafe trims its coffee menu – and maybe some customers
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11582804
16. Paul 16

    1 February 2016 at 11:18 am

    No wonder Herald readers might think the TPPA isn’t a disaster for NZ.
    It allows propagandists to write pieces without any challenge.
    Neither article has the damning quote marks the Herald uses when it says this is an opinion we disagree with.

    Stephen Jacobi: What Labour’s not seeing in TPP deal
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11582655

    Charles Finny: TPP deserves praise from Maori, not condemnation
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11582657
    • Reddelusion 16.1

      1 February 2016 at 11:32 am

      Maybe you can enlighten us where these two opinions are wrong Paul,
      • seeker 16.1.1

        1 February 2016 at 12:26 pm

        @Reddelusion 11.34am re Paul’s 16 comment, this might help :

        http://www.bryangould.com/a-second-bite-at-the-cherry/

        A clear history and explanation as to how we have been beguiled in to thinking the TPP is a ‘trade’ agreement.
      • greywarshark 16.1.2

        1 February 2016 at 1:10 pm

        Waste of time trying to enlighten you deluded Red.
      • Paul 16.1.3

        1 February 2016 at 8:07 pm

        Here we go
        Have a read on what the experts think.
        Jacobi is not an expert, rather a publicist.

        https://tppascratchspace.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/complete-public-citizen.pdf

        https://tpplegal.wordpress.com/nzlf-expert-paper-series/
        • Tautuhi 16.1.3.1

          1 February 2016 at 8:25 pm

          Jacobi is a National PR Agent – Academic
17. indiana 17

    1 February 2016 at 11:21 am

    I wonder if the insurance company paid the claim that Andrew Little signed off in the story he told in his speech? It sounds like there was so much gross negligence in that episode that I’m sure the insurance company would have framed the insurance claim form to be put on display.
    • Puckish Rogue 17.1

      1 February 2016 at 2:42 pm

      His story was about as believable as Rufus Paynter
18. sabine 18

    1 February 2016 at 11:22 am

    Yea, nah, nah,

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/295415/six-iwi-refuse-to-perform-tpp-powhiri
    • Reddelusion 18.1

      1 February 2016 at 11:34 am

      Silly but their call, not sure anyone will really care
    • ianmac 18.2

      1 February 2016 at 12:11 pm

      A pretty good non-violent protest sabine.
19. Michael 19

    1 February 2016 at 12:09 pm

    Audrey Young has written a mildly pro-Labour article.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11582692
    • ianmac 19.1

      1 February 2016 at 12:14 pm

      The screeching noise coming from Audrey’s column was from her agony for having to write even mild approval.
      “Never mind,” she was heard to mutter.”I’ll put the knife in and twist next time!”
20. aerobubble 20

    1 February 2016 at 1:57 pm

    Why is Cruz so weak? Can’t he find the money to have a simple neg ad! How stupid Trump would look in Office whinging and whining, Pocking fun at world leaders, etc.
    Ain’t it obvious the guy is there to lose big, just to draw out the rep party into the public arena, for some eleventh hour selection at the come.
21. gsays 21

    1 February 2016 at 2:46 pm

    Hi draco, I am teeing up an exit interview with my rural cafe owner boss.
    The main bug bear is low staffing levels.
    Now I all too well know, the perils of being overstaffed- cruise mode, some one else will do.it …

    When wages are 40% of yr income you have to be careful.

    Surely one of these business minded execs could see the wider good of investing in their communities. The pay off isn’t: on this years balance sheet, it occurs on someone elses or on yours in years down the line.

    I do this with my meagre income even easier with someone else’s money.
22. vto 22

    1 February 2016 at 3:05 pm

    Duncan Garner on the TPPA in his NewShub column says “We won’t get rich buying and selling to each other”

    Ffs this is one of the most basic errors silly eggs make… perhaps best explained by asking “how then has the world itself got richer? By trading with f$#king Mars or Venus?”

    People who think the only way to get wealth is by bringing in from the outside… sheesh, fails at the outset.

    Bloody useless Duncan Garner

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/opinion/opinion-tpp-or-die—-why-we-need-it-2016013120#ixzz3ysTIhKlQ
    • indiana 22.1

      1 February 2016 at 3:48 pm

      Based on your logic, China has no need to trade with the world. There are over 1B of them happily trading with each other, all of them are equally getting richer together!
      • DoublePlusGood 22.1.1

        1 February 2016 at 4:09 pm

        Try some reading comprehension . Vto’s post does not imply that vto considers internal trade to be the only way to trade, only that external trade is not the only path to wealth.
        • Alan W 22.1.1.1

          1 February 2016 at 4:16 pm

          realistically for an educated, innovative nation of 4.5 million stuck at the bottom of the Pacific, international trade is pretty much the only path to wealth.
          • DoublePlusGood 22.1.1.1.1

            2 February 2016 at 3:22 pm

            I see that the point has been missed.
      • vto 22.1.2

        1 February 2016 at 6:46 pm

        That is correct Indiana, and there are many many many similar examples of past societies on the planet which achieved extraordinary wealth with little to no dealings or trade with other societies on the planet at the time.

        You might even want to look at the contribution such external dealings contributed to earlier US wealth.. you know, virtually zip..

        This idea that we can only get wealth by bringing it in from outside is just loopy banana-head thinking believed by true believers and other extremists. And poorly thinking opinionists like Duncan Garner
    • Alan W 22.2

      1 February 2016 at 3:59 pm

      I have a friend that designs and sells specialist steel framed building systems best suited to extreme climate conditions.
      He employs 130 staff, is a major contributor to technical advances within his industry and runs a very successful business.
      Over 95% of his sales are international, NZ simply does not have either the population or extreme weather conditions that his product is designed for.
      Sheesh VTO, simple examples like this are everywhere.
      • vto 22.2.1

        1 February 2016 at 6:42 pm

        Sure. But you miss the point.

        I’m sure if the rest of the world did not exist your very talented friend would be contributing very successfully to the only 4.5million people on the planet here in NZ. And that we would not be living under a rock.

        But do please answer the question – if the only way to wealth is to bring in money from outside the system, then how has the world got wealthier? Where has the money come from? Mars? Or Venus? Does the moon have a secret bank perhaps?

        You believers need to open your eyes to some basic assumptions in your bible.
    • Paul 22.3

      1 February 2016 at 8:51 pm

      Garner is a dreadful journalist.
      Where did he learn his trade?
    • North 22.4

      1 February 2016 at 9:34 pm

      Stop it VTO…..Garner’s a bumptious fellow and a ‘star’. Is that not enough for you ? Do not question Te Wahanui !
      • vto 22.4.1

        1 February 2016 at 9:48 pm

        Yeah these opinionists are like politicians – get people liking them by talking about fishing and boats then morph that popularity into a qualification for informed comment…..

        …. suppose it gets them the audiences

        nothing else matters in their worlds

        it is what pays them
23. Rosemary McDonald 23

    1 February 2016 at 3:13 pm

    We were having a conversation yesterday about disability and it was discussed how the Ministry of Health has contracted out the supports for disabled people to various providers.

    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31012016/#comment-1126446

    Further conversation was had about the “piss-poor” service from some of these providers.

    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31012016/#comment-1126504

    Almost on cue, this article appears in the local rag…

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/76437205/hamilton-woman-who-had-stroke-at-38-said-her-life-is-much-better-than-before

    On the surface it is a happy clappy article about sudden disability, institutionalisation and ultimate liberation to community living with the assistance of the contracted provider tasked with the job of providing Needs Assessment and Service Coordination for those with disabilities.

    However, the employee of this business credited with enabling this move from residential care to community living is quoted as saying…

    “”When I found Cathy in this environment, at 38, it just broke my heart really.”

    Disability Support Link can help with home care, supported independent living, rehabilitation and respite.

    “It took several months before we could get her into a community home,” Walters said.

    “She had to be able to stay overnight on her own and to be able to look after her personal needs.””

    Now lets stop right there….”…and to be able to look after her personal needs.”

    Wrong. Bollocks. Total misrepresentation.

    You do NOT have to be able to look after your own personal care needs to be able to live in the community as opposed to living in a residential care facility.

    That’s why there are Home and Community Support Services providers…to assist those with disabilities with personal care needs.

    See what we have to put up with?
24. sabine 24

    1 February 2016 at 3:34 pm

    Eviction notice worsens dog attack victim’s woe

    By Shawn McAvinue

    6:08 AM Monday Feb 1, 2016

    The victim of a “horrendous” Dunedin dog attack is set to be evicted from her cottage as she remains unable to work, struggling to pay rent.

    The woman sustained injuries to much of her body when three Irish wolfhounds attacked her in Walter St about 6.30am on December 2 last year.

    The most serious injury was to her right leg.

    “My leg will never be the same again … the deep wounds are still healing and raw.”

    Before the attack, the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, worked two part-time jobs, delivering newspapers and doing cleaning jobs, to supplement her benefit, but the injuries left her unable to work.

    She declined ACC compensation for lost income because every dollar ACC gave would reduce her benefit by a dollar – making her financially no better off.

    ————————————————————————————————————————-

    New Zealand, not so compassionate, and WINZ and ACC missing in action. And for what its worth, personally i would like the dog owner charged with providing for this women to the tune of lost wages. She would not be where it not for his dogs – and yeah I know stuff happens, but having three irish wolfhounds by yourself does not seem safe to me in the first place, unless i were partnered up to controll and maintain the dogs.
25. Chooky 25

    1 February 2016 at 3:51 pm

    ‘Goldman Sachs executive takes ‘personal leave’ amid Malaysian fund corruption probes’

    https://www.rt.com/business/330665-goldman-leissner-malaysia-corruption/

    “Tim Leissner, chairman of Goldman Sachs Southeast Asia’s operations, has taken a “personal leave” amidst corruption scandals associated with Malaysia’s state-owned 1MDB fund, with which Goldman worked closely.

    President of Goldman’s Singapore operations since 2006 and chairman of its Southeast Asia operations since 2014, Leissner oversaw the bank’s operations in Malaysia, where it became the top international bank with a 20.3 percent market share since 2010.

    Leissner was seen as a “key player” in cultivating the bank’s very profitable relationships with Kuala’ Lumpur’s banking and government elite, including Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, the Financial Times reports….

    …and in New Zealand…where NZ KiwiRail is being run down

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/treasury-hires-goldman-sachs-run-ruler-over-kiwibank-bd-136461

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11262662

    http://www.goldmansachs.com/what-we-do/investing-and-lending/direct-private-investing/equity-folder/gs-infrastructure-partners.html
26. Puckish Rogue 26

    1 February 2016 at 4:10 pm

    http://jacobi.co.nz/open-letter-to-andrew-little-leader-labour-party-on-tpp/

    Not sure if this has been posted but food for thought
    • One Anonymous Bloke 26.1

      1 February 2016 at 4:18 pm

      Are you too incompetent to use the search function much?

      Basically Jacobi is lying, probably to himself as well as others…
      • McFlock 26.1.1

        1 February 2016 at 4:26 pm

        bookmark that link.
        Another nactoid will probably recycle the same bullshit tomorrow, and pretend to be equally surprised that they’re not the first one to mention it 🙂
27. Paul 27

    1 February 2016 at 4:30 pm

    Why why why did Jordan Williams get a platform on the Panel this afternoon?
    Why does someone representing the viewpoints of the ACT Party get so many opportunities to propagate their extreme viewpoints?
    Please explain Mr Mora.
    Please explain Mr Griffin.
    • Chooky 27.1

      1 February 2016 at 7:45 pm

      Mora also regularly has on David Farrar…
      • Paul 27.1.1

        1 February 2016 at 8:01 pm

        Jordan Williams in this instance was invited for his ‘expert’ opinion. The panellists were two others.
28. Michael 28

    1 February 2016 at 4:58 pm

    Interesting contrast between the Clinton and Sanders campaigns…

    Clinton’s hashtag/slogan: #StandWithHillary #ImWithHer
    Sanders hashtag/slogan: #NotMeUs

    Hillary Clinton’s campaign is about standing with the (multimillionaire and establishment) leader. Bernie Sanders’s campaign is about the grassroots rising up together, with Bernie: it’s not about me, but about *us*.

    As the Iowa caucus looms with Bernie and Hillary tied….go Bernie!
    • North 28.1

      1 February 2016 at 9:18 pm

      God I hope so. Of course if Bernie did make it he wouldn’t be long for this Earth. The one world government of multi-billionaires would swing into action.
29. greywarshark 29

    1 February 2016 at 6:04 pm

    Euthanasia submissions close tonight.
    if you make a submission by email or through the website, it must be sent through by midnight (ie before.)
    Please send any submissions on the petition of Hon Maryan Street to Health@parliament.govt.nz

    Just to recap – another way of submitting:
    This link put up by a commenter on RADIONZ comment channel RNZ Talk –
    Frithogar
    Make submissions here – note there is a verification process at the bottom of the page
    The closing date is February 1
    http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/make-submission/0SCHE_SCF_51DBHOH_PET63268_1/petition-of-hon-maryan-street-and-8974-others

    and from chienfou
    There’s a prospect of appearing before the committee to speak to your submission. I’d encourage anyone who possibly can to volunteer. It adds a lot of weight to the democratic process, especially if it’s not just the same old Wellington hacks turning up.

    RADIONZ broadcast Matt Vickers asking people to come forward and take up Lecretia’s plea.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/294319/have-your-say-on-euthanasia,-urges-lecretia%27s-husband

    Ms Seales took legal action for the right to die with dignity in a case that played out as the curtain fell on her life. She died hours after the High Court ruled it was a debate that needed to be had by Parliament and not the courts.
    Lecretia Seales’ husband Matt Vickers after her death and the judge’s decision

    Parliament picked up on that challenge, with its health select committee launching an inquiry in response to a petition calling for a law change to permit medically assisted dying in the event of terminal illness or other specific circumstances.
    Her husband Matt Vickers said it would be a tragedy if the chance to have a debate on the topic was wasted.

    Lecretia and Matt’s blog – http://lecretia.org/
    Lecretia’s Choice
    Lecretia Seales believed ill people enduring intolerable suffering with no hope of recovery should have the choice to request assistance to end their lives.

    Scoop reporting the Lecretia Seales tragedy and the initiative taken by her and her husband.
    http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=76594
30. North 30

    1 February 2016 at 8:03 pm

    Another of The Gauche Man Key’s Higher Standards – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11582779

    It’s unabashed “Let them eat cake !”

    And Compass’s response – “Last week Compass issued a statement saying it welcomed feedback and would make changes if there were “genuine problems”. ” What alot of bullshit !
31. McFlock 31

    1 February 2016 at 9:42 pm

    Holy shit – NZers get free dental care in the UK. We don’t even get that in our own country.

    But we should.
    • Andre 31.1

      2 February 2016 at 6:29 am

      I’ve never seen or heard any reasoning why dental and visual health is excluded from governmental health assistance for adults in New Zealand.
32. Lara 32

    1 February 2016 at 11:28 pm

    So… this is planned for 6th February.

    I figured they’d find their way to NZ eventually.

    For those who don’t know, these “pick up artists” think things like: women shouldn’t be allowed to vote, rape is sometimes okay (like, on private property), a woman’s value depends on her beauty and fertility while a mans value depends on his resources, intellect and character…

    And a bunch of other self serving BS.

    The “pick up” tips they advocate border on illegal. Some of it instructs guys to physically force women to do as they wish, sexually. Which is sexual assault. Illegal.

    So… with the NZ police all up in arms about groups that promote terrorising the public… I wonder if they’ve got these guys under surveillance?

    Yeah. Right.

    It’s just NZ women at risk here. I suspect the NZ police don’t give a shit actually.
    • McFlock 32.1

      2 February 2016 at 12:05 am

      Hmmm. 12,000 global likes and he reckons he has handlers/contacts in 44 locations, including Dunedin.

      I wonder if they’ll lurk in their anoraks in front of the Dunedin town hall, or do they mean down the Harrop St side, or in the Octagon?

      I suspect that the role of the contact is to immediately collect a large amount of money from the sad, frustrated dicks for a skype session where they’re told that they’re lions, not timid little rats.
33. cogito 33

    1 February 2016 at 11:43 pm

    The Aussie Unity Flag:
    http://www.flagforaustralia.org/

    Now that is a pretty stunning flag. Makes that lockwood piece of sh*t look even worse than it did already.

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