Open mike 01/04/2012

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 1st, 2012 - 99 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

99 comments on “Open mike 01/04/2012 ”

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  1. just saying 1
    1 April 2012 at 7:04 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/

    Key Apologises for Wasting Police Time in Teapot Saga

    Prime Minister John Key says he misused his authority when he complained to Police after a tape of a semi-private conversation with ACT Leader, John Banks was given to the media. A microphone was left on the coffee table during a staged ‘cup of tea’ media event in which Mr Key publicly endorsed the ACT Party’s Epsom candidate in the last days of last year’s election campaign. This week Police decided not to lay charges against the the taper, Bradley Ambrose, and Mr Ambrose still maintains that the taping was accidental….

  2. Pete George 2
    1 April 2012 at 7:21 am

    David Shearer has issued a statement requesting all MPs start setting an example of positive leadership, and has asked all Labour MPs and staffers to set an example of putting the good of the country first, and to stop petty political attacks. Shearer in strong show of leadership.

  3. KATY 3
    1 April 2012 at 7:50 am

    Latest document to be leaked from the donkey’s office.

    http://www.lynchs.com/cat–Costumes-For-Clowns–clowncostumes12.html

  4. Kotahi Tane Huna 4
    1 April 2012 at 7:51 am

    What are the chances this is an April Fools Day prank?

    It’s fun to watch the civil war within the National Party. The National Party’s civil war on New Zealand? Not so much.

    • Bill 4.1
      1 April 2012 at 8:43 am

      No ‘social responsibility’ clause. That’s good, innit? Wonder how many ‘earth hours’ electricity companies will claim credit for?

      • Kotahi Tane Huna 4.1.1
        1 April 2012 at 8:53 am

        SOEs Minister Tony Ryall refused to be interviewed about the concerns. But in a written statement he said successful private companies maintained “strong relationships with their stakeholders and customers” because it was “good business”.

        Which explains why they had to write a social responsibility clause in the first place. Someone should make Ryall watch Alan Greenspan’s Congressional testimony until he gets it through numb skull that he is talking shit.

        Why isn’t there a requirement in the cabinet manual that ministers statements should not be demonstrably deceitful?

        • Acting Up 4.1.1.1
          1 April 2012 at 11:14 am

          Typical of this lot to avoid interviews – another minister diving away, leaving some junior in the media department to knock out a quick statement that says “don’t worry – the market incentives will look after that for us – now stop bothering the minister with things below his super-strategic view”.

  5. Uturn 5
    1 April 2012 at 7:59 am

    It is going to be fun watching the developments at Narrow Neck beach in Auckland. Looks like iwi are about get some prime waterfront land back. So far as I can see, the dispute is about rich capitalist whities, pointing to how “poor” they were in the nineties and in a desperate act of ingenuine socialist solidarity, trying to align themselves with an imaginary aggrieved public. If that doesn’t catch, they then point to the slippery slope argument that marine park fish will be endangered by treaty settlement land on top of a cliff. The consultation process wasn’t transparent enough, they claim. Jesus, they are pretty transparent themsleves. They complain they were hoodwinked by the people they voted into government, even though they knew those people used the same measure of self interest as their lifestyles and attitudes hold dear. Can’t risk maori building “cheap in-fill housing” on prime land, one woman said on TV last night. I assume that’s because we all know how maori and cheap go together… don’t we? No sir, it should be whities doing that, building exclusive residences, keeping the tone of the neighbourhood clean, you know, like they did over the harbour in Okahu bay all those years ago. So a few maori got burned out of their homes, couldn’t they understand the City had a raffle running? Even poor old The-Law-is-Complicated Len has found his voice and come out saying a private consulation “…doesn’t cut the mustard”. Ooh, steady on there Len, your masters will get twitchy! The irony is that after almost 175 years of maori learning the hard way how to be good colonialists, rich whities are being out-whitied by rich maori and can no longer choose their neighbours. Gee, that must sting.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10792849

    • Carol 5.1
      1 April 2012 at 8:04 am

      But, those uppity Devonport activists seem to have got the wrong end of the stick and assumed Ngati Whatua have the same motives for acquiring prime coastal real estate:….

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6673729/Angry-residents-threaten-to-take-over-naval-base

      Ngati Whatua spokesman Ngarimu Blair said there is a misconception the deal involves the coastal area, sports field and surrounding reserve.

      “We’re not buying that. We never were. We’re only talking about the navy barracks, the sheds, carpark areas and building which we are purchasing and is set well back from the coast.”

      The RNZ Navy, which leases the land, will be offered a minimum lease of 15 years under the agreement.

      Adjoining Takapuna Reserve and Narrow Neck Beach – totalling 11.9ha and covering the shoreline – remains in the public’s possession and unaffected by the deal.

      Plans are also under way to formalise a public walkway on the eastern strip of the base. Currently the navy can revoke access at three months’ notice.

      “We’re the last people to restrict public access to great pieces of land on the harbour or river. We did the same thing for our land at Bastion Point,” Blair said. “We’re very sensitive to these issues.”

      • Anne 5.1.1
        1 April 2012 at 10:55 am

        Having been on the periphery of the previous stoush in the late 1990s involviing former environment minister, Nick Smith, I think most people expected the land presently covered by buildings and a car-park would be added to the reserve once the Navy abandoned their barracks. Indeed from memory we were given to understand by the Shipley govt. that is what would happen. Anyone who knows the area intimately can appreciate the significance such an enlarged reserve would have for the whole of Auckland. It has the potential to be a sparkling jewel in our ‘maritime reserve’ crown with magnificent views of the harbour and gulf. The uppity Devonport activists fought a costly court battle to stop all but a very narrow strip along the top of the cliff being sold off to speculators and turned into a rich man’s paradise and they won. I can tell you Nick Smith and his (then) colleagues were thoroughly pissed off with us at the time.

        The fact that this latest deal was done behind closed doors without the knowledge of the local community and the community board, hasn’t gone down well and I’m not surprised. I have no wish to deprive Ngati Whatua of their rightful heritage, but I want to know one hell of a lot more about what plans they have for the land once it comes into their possession. Like North Head, it is a very special place with a fascinating history – both Maori and Pakeha.

        • Anne 5.1.1.1
          1 April 2012 at 11:11 am

          One small error. We were certainly given to understand that the reserve would be extended after the departure of the Navy but I doubt it came from the govt. of the day. We were not on their Xmas card list. 🙁

      • marty mars 5.1.2
        1 April 2012 at 8:53 pm

        There is another part of that article that also deserves mention

        Shortly after the Treaty was signed the Crown purchased 3000 acres of what is now downtown Auckland for 281. Within six months, it had on-sold 90 acres of that land for 24,500.

        I don’t often agree with finlayson but I do when he says

        In a letter to the community paper, Finlayson called on residents to remember how Maori suffered significant land losses in Auckland and this needs to be addressed. “There is no way the scale of redress to Ngati Whatua Orakei can be anything like what they lost.”

        The upset residents should take some time to consider those quotes and the quotes that Carol has put up too. What is the actual fear and where does it spring from? At the moment it seems not far off what uturn has written.

    • prism 5.2
      1 April 2012 at 11:42 am

      Man that’s a solid wall of words Uturn. l

    • Anne 5.3
      1 April 2012 at 12:20 pm

      You are talking a load of crap Uturn. Rich capitalist whities? Bullshit! If they hadn’t done their dash nobody would have the land now including Ngati Whatua. It would be covered in dirty great mansions belonging to rich capitalist whities.

      Ngati Whatua and the Devonport Trust (which was set up to protect the reserve) worked together last time and I’m sure they will end up doing so again. To categorise Devonport activists and by inference residents – most of whom are behind them – as a bunch of self serving, racist capalist pigs (yep, that’s what you’re saying) just shows up your ignorance of both them and the past and present situation.

      • Uturn 5.3.1
        1 April 2012 at 1:03 pm

        Lucky ol’ whitey and his self interest came to Ngati Whatuas aid, huh? People not familiar with Auckland’s North Shore and specifically the area in question will be surprised by the raft of rich man’s mansions on both sides of the land in question – just keeping the land safe, that is, “for all of Auckland” – and the neighbourhood in general. How bewildered visitors will be to find the diversity you suggest exists. I know I was warmly accepted into the multicultural egalitarian environment when I lived there. Then again, I am white. I don’t mind calling my own out as racists and hypocrites, when they are. Like you, they really hate it, though.

        • Reality Bytes 5.3.1.1
          1 April 2012 at 8:11 pm

          “People not familiar with Auckland’s North Shore and specifically the area in question will be surprised by the raft of rich man’s mansions on both sides of the land in question”

          Yeah that’s the point. It is prime awesome land, it would be best for every kiwi if it remained in the public commons. If Ngati Whatua doesn’t guarentee it will be turned into a park for ALL to share, then it will inevitably become more ‘rich man’s’ mansions.

          • marty mars 5.3.1.1.1
            1 April 2012 at 9:17 pm

            it would be best for every kiwi if it remained in the public commons

            (my emphasis)

            How would it be best for Ngāti Whātua?

            Why not get some of the ‘rich men’ to turn their mansions into parks for all to share?

            The second question is rhetorical of course – we know the answer to that one – we know the system we live within and where the privilege is held.

        • Anne 5.3.1.2
          1 April 2012 at 8:44 pm

          Actually, it was Ngati Whatua who came to ol’ whitey’s aid. You would do well to remove that chip on your shoulder mate.

      • Hami Shearlie 5.3.2
        1 April 2012 at 10:54 pm

        I’ve lived near Narrow Neck Beach since I was born (50 years) had my first swim in a rock pool there. So I claim it as my local beach. I have strong ties here and I sure don’t vote National or Act! All the people who live here have a right to a say, for themselves, their children, their grandchildren, because many people brought up here stay here all their lives. Why are Ngati Whatua the only important ones here? Surely there is other land that can be sold. That land was safe, or so we thought, for future generations as permanent reserve. I can certainly understand that the wealthier residents of the Shore who obviously voted National, especially Devonport, are pretty irate , as am I, and I don’t think that will die down easily. So Maggie Barry, be warned! No seat is safe if you do the dirty on your electorate!

  7. rosy 7
    1 April 2012 at 8:09 am

    The Brits panic-buying fuel due to a strike that hadn’t been called was encouraged by the government – “re-fuel before it gets too low”, they said, “store petrol in a jerry-can in the garage” one said.

    After hours-long queues for days, empty petrol stations and a serious burns incident it’s found to have all been a pre-planned ‘Thatcher Moment’ to break the union. Note that it this news was broken by the Daily Telegraph aka the Torygraph.

    But now that I have heard the Conservatives’ private explanation, which is being handed down to constituency associations by MPs, I begin to feel angry.

    The private message is as follows. “This is our Thatcher moment. In order to defeat the coming miners’ strike, she stockpiled coal. When the strike came, she weathered it, and the Labour Party, tarred by the strike, was humiliated. In order to defeat the coming fuel drivers’ strike, we want supplies of petrol stockpiled. Then, if the strike comes, we will weather it, and Labour, in hock to the Unite union, will be blamed.”

    Absolute contempt is what I have for the people who have engineered this state of affairs.

  8. Eddie 8
    1 April 2012 at 8:42 am

    Looks like someone has threatened Slater with consequences if he doesn’t pull his head in and allow a ceasefire in the Nats’ civil war:

    “That’s it!
    by Whaleoil

    I’m over them. National that is…cuddling up to Boag.

    I think I will join the Labour party. They seem to be having so much more fun right now.

    Plus, since they are the nasty party they should welcome my particular skills.”

    Slater, your particular skills are having a mad blog that Lusk sometimes puts interesting things on (which you promptly bury with trash – 4 posts in 2 hours so far, it’s Sunday dude!)

    • deuto 8.1
      1 April 2012 at 8:54 am

      Or is his post his idea of a 1 April joke although it would not surprise me if he had been told to pull his head in. However, that sort of advice usually seems to provoke certain types of people to do the opposite.

      When I looked just before seeing your post here, he was up to 5 posts and its not yet 9am.

      Time for a shower.

  9. locus 9
    1 April 2012 at 8:43 am

    Agreed Rosy. These utterly manipulative scumbags governing the UK only considered how they could turn public opinion against the union – before the union had even voted whether to take action. The result was a public run on fuel; artificially created shortages; worries that emergency services wouldn’t be able to find fuel in an emergency; people storing petrol without understanding the hazards; a woman severely burnt because while decanting petrol for her daughter who had run out of fuel. What do these people stand for? Do they give a damn about the people they are supposed to be governing?

    • Bill 9.1
      1 April 2012 at 8:55 am

      Decanting petrol in the kitchen while cooking…

    • Draco T Bastard 9.2
      1 April 2012 at 9:30 am

      Do they give a damn about the people they are supposed to be governing?

      Nope, they only care about themselves and the power and wealth that they can accumulate using the rules that they’ve put in place over the centuries.

  10. randal 10
    1 April 2012 at 8:58 am

    yeah sunday should be an amphetamine free day over at the whaleweightstation.

  11. Lanthanide 11
    1 April 2012 at 9:35 am

    Go Winston! This is fantastic! http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/6673678/Winston-Peters-takes-up-red-zone-cause

    I bet if Jim Anderton were in parliament, or mayor, he’d be on this case too.

  12. DH 12
    1 April 2012 at 9:40 am

    More privatisation madness that’s slipped under the radar

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/6673557/Car-parking-The-ticket-for-returns

    Get this bit….

    “Often the district health board would also rent back a substantial number of the car parks for its medical staff, on long-term contracts with regular rent reviews, providing a built-in lift in revenue…”

    So the upshot is that for a sugar rush of $15.3million the DHB gave away income of at least $2.36million per year for twenty years, plus incurred higher costs for staff parking. We’ve got some real financial wizards in charge of the DHB. A taste of what’s to come methinks.

    • Tc 12.1
      1 April 2012 at 2:12 pm

      Yes parking is a juicy earner, especially with a captive market that has nowhere to go. Always was easy money as the structures are concrete shells, require little maintenance, need virtually no staff and you just keep raising the cost.

      Parkings been Auckland airports juiciest plum for years and again shows what an ideological lemming Ryall is on top of his lies about doctors and nurse numbers is a nasty and evasive dude…..perfect NACT material.

      Are there any escalation clauses or do they just charge what they like?

      • DH 12.1.1
        1 April 2012 at 4:08 pm

        Don’t know, I’d have thought the hospitals would have some say in the parking levies but maybe not, look at Auck hospitals outrageous charges;

        “The car park charges visitors to the hospital $18 for stays of 6-8 hours….”

        The main point is the hospital (and other) car parks are publicly owned assets being signed over to profiteering private businesses for twenty year leases when there is no commercial or financial justification for such lengthy terms. The owners, ie us the public, are also losing very substantial sums in income from the asset.

        • tc 12.1.1.1
          1 April 2012 at 10:04 pm

          true but NACT consider any public asset ripe for their business mates to profit at the public’s expense, sick and vulnerable even easier kaching.
          Ryall’s doing long term damage in health and it goes pretty much unoticed, of of the darkest lords quietly going about the hollowmans business.

      • Reality Bytes 12.1.2
        1 April 2012 at 8:21 pm

        As annoying as they are, I guess they promote more efficient public transport in a way.

        Of course it is unavoidable when you do need a car, but mostly I think parking charges and tickets are mostly a rich persons tax.

        We still have it way better than most parts of the world. In the UK 10pd+ per hour was pretty standard in CBD type areas. Even in the suburbs you needed a ‘pass’ that verified you as a resident or you risked being towed. So pretty much your mates had to pay for temporary passes to park there, even outside YOUR flat. We are nowhere near that bad here.

        • lprent 12.1.2.1
          2 April 2012 at 8:13 am

          Even in the suburbs you needed a ‘pass’ that verified you as a resident or you risked being towed. So pretty much your mates had to pay for temporary passes to park there, even outside YOUR flat. We are nowhere near that bad here.

          That is what we have just down the road from me in Grey Lynn.

  13. lprent 13
    1 April 2012 at 9:46 am

    Bespoke custom pets – just press print.

    http://www.economist.com/node/21551450?frsc=dg%7Ca

    Ah I was almost half way through before I realized the date.

    • lprent 13.1
      1 April 2012 at 9:48 am

      There was a great obituary as well

      http://www.economist.com/node/21551439?frsc=dg%7Ca

      Which wasn’t a joke.

      • deuto 13.1.1
        1 April 2012 at 10:05 am

        Well worth reading, thanks for the link.

        We all too often forget or don’t know about such people, who are the real leaders of this world albeit in a small way in the overall scheme of things. Leaders is not quite the right word, but brain is not yet functioning fully.

        A truly inspiring article – recommend it to other Standard readers.

        • LynW 13.1.1.1
          1 April 2012 at 3:40 pm

          Ditto Very inspiring

          • seeker 13.1.1.1.1
            1 April 2012 at 8:19 pm

            Thank God for people like Lyn Lusi, who selflessly defied the darkness in the heart of man and brought healing and light to those maimed by human wickedness.Such a heart warming and uplifting life to aspire to.

            Rest in eternal peace Lyn Lusi knowing that you faithfully fought the good fight and I thank you for it.

            Love the acronym H.E.A.L. standing for health,education, action and love. I wish we could put this into action for our poverty stricken children. Thank you so much for this link lprent, stirring stuff.

  14. bad12 14
    1 April 2012 at 10:00 am

    Questions of ”cheque book legislation” again arose at Parliaments question time when both Brownlee and Joyce were questioned on whether Skycity had given any favor of any sort to either of the Ministers in the Slippery Sleaze administration,

    The method by which Brownlee replied was slightly enlightening, complaining to the House Speaker Lockwood Smith that such a question from the Opposition should not have included the word ”corruption”,

    Brownlee once put in His place answered a no to the question as to whether He had ever recieved favor or cash from Skycity as did Joyce,

    A forensic psychologist tho would have been all over Joyce as when He rose to answer in the negative to the question of ever having recieved cash or favor from Skycity the first few words of His reply in the negative only managed to escape the constriction in His throat as a girlish squeak,

    The real question that should be asked of Joyce in particular is has He set His business interests into a ”blind trust” with no knowledge to him management by others thus giving Joyce the perception of freedom from conflict of interest as a Minister of the Crown and would He be surprised if such a ”managed blind trust” held an amount of Skycity shares???…

  15. Jackal 15
    1 April 2012 at 10:31 am

    Wasn’t Q+A better without Holmes, and Fran O’Sullivan even made some sense for once… I’m almost lost for words.

    • Frank Macskasy 15.1
      1 April 2012 at 10:18 pm

      Indeed, Jackal. Greg Boyd did surprisingly well, and even Shane Taurima managed to make Key look less confident than he used to be. (Though more to do with the end of the Media Honeymoon, methinks. Just about to blog on it…)

      The episode seemed more professional; less show-ponyish; and dealth with the issues (the issues! Oh no, say it ain’t so, ma!)

  16. bad12 16
    1 April 2012 at 10:33 am

    Just how wide-spread is this little bit of inspired Public/Private business???

    It appears that Housing New Zealand Ltd has a contracted out inspection service where once a year tenants are visited by Housing New Zealand,s privately contracted building inspectors to check on issues of maintainence and/or tenant damage to the property,

    It would further appear,and we have as yet not ascertained the numbers,that at least one tenant has had 2 new smoke alarms installed despite the 3 already at the property being in perfect un-damaged working condition,

    The tenants in this particular piece of work are not asked for their consent nor are they told that they will be billed for the installation,

    3 months later Housing New Zealand sends the tenants an invoice for ”damage” to the property with a claim that the smoke alarms were installed as ”replacements” for damaged alarms supposedly already at the property,

    Tenants are given 7 days to pay for this little rort and we wonder just how many of Housing New Zealand,s tenants are being rorted in this manner and how many have meekly paid up thinking that ”they have to”….

    • prism 16.1
      1 April 2012 at 11:51 am

      Housing NZ Ltd for what should be a government service department. And then this outsourcing of real work to robot arms so that at the centre is just an ugly alien with giant eyes and a flaming mouth, the horror fantasy films come to reality.

  17. bad12 17
    1 April 2012 at 10:45 am

    We have posted twice here this morning and not wanting to hog the page we are off to spend a little energy on the chores,

    What we have posted tho has as an afterthought to us addressed a somewhat intertwined issue that has effects at the top end of society as it does the bottom,

    In reality we have simply addressed the issue of the supposed public/private partnership and that reality simply shows us that such a relationship is rotten at its core and should such a dissolution of the line between the role of Public business and Private business continue the rotten core will begin to give off a stench all of its own…

  18. prism 18
    1 April 2012 at 11:19 am

    I see Airnz has new strap hanging stand-up-straight cheap offers going. Maybe just for 1st April.

  19. Jackal 19
    1 April 2012 at 11:48 am

    National’s economic treason

    The National led government have in fact increased government debt by over 190% since they gained power in 2008, and such economic bungling will undoubtedly cause problems for New Zealand for decades to come…

    • ianmac 19.1
      1 April 2012 at 2:02 pm

      It always seems strange that Bill English’s litany of, “All Labour does is borrow and spend.”
      But who has been borrowing us into huge debt since 2008?

      • freedom 19.1.1
        1 April 2012 at 7:30 pm

        I am still trying to figure out what the PM meant with his spiel on Q+A this am, when comparing 2 billion borrowed by National compared to 12 billion from Labour ???
        Was he trying to say Nats have only borrowed 2 billion in the first three years ?

  20. Te Reo Putake 20
    1 April 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Rather disturbing story about a teenager trying to go all Equus on his Dad’s business in the Herald. It’s accompanied by a graphic picture of a dead horse. What caught my eye was the juxtaposition of that photo with one immediately to its right, which illustrates the difficulty a young Philippino woman is having getting bikini shots published on facebook. I think there may be a feminist on the sub’s bench trying to make an obscure point.

  21. David 21
    1 April 2012 at 3:17 pm

    Mike Hoskings doing a ‘cash for comments’ deal with a major corporate with an image problem looking for concessions from government is following in a well worn track. See the John Laws link below. Laws’ people went out to recruit a corporate ‘with a big PR problem’: at that time it was the banks, who were in the middle of a major rarking up of fees. So: wonder who esle might be paying off our celebs and shock jocks? Aussie Banks here? ASB bank? Offshore owned utility companies? Super market duopolies?? Mind boggles: suggestions please!!! http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/johnlaws.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_for_comment_affair

  22. Jackal 22
    1 April 2012 at 5:26 pm

    Full independent inquiry required

    It looks like Boag and Pullar have been utilizing their associations in the National party for personal gain and it is likely that very senior members of the National party (including Key) are implicated in the stand-over tactics of a private insurer and a government department…

    • Pete George 22.1
      1 April 2012 at 5:39 pm

      It looks like you are trying to utilise old accusations backed by little or nothing. Pullar and Boag have been trying to utilise their National associations, but without much success.

      The private insurer said their name drop overkill harmed rtaher than aided their claim there. They could see the “support team” was nonsensical, as could anyone with half a clue.

      Nick Smith stuffed up but for nothing, things still haven’t been resolved at ACC so there doesn’t look like any personal gain there.

      Key has adamantly discounted any involvement and that seems credible with facts the facts that are known and common sense.

      • Jackal 22.1.1
        1 April 2012 at 6:08 pm

        Did you happen to see Q+A this morning Pete George? Fran O’Sullivan disagrees with your and John Keys argument.

        I can count the number of times I’ve agreed with O’Sullivan on an amputees hand, but I happen to agree with her that undue influence is wrong even when it’s not successful.

        Is a bank robber not a criminal when he doesn’t get away with any money Pete George?

        Could you link to where Sovereign Insurance said the support and advocate people listed in the leaked letter was nonsensical?

      • starlight 22.1.2
        1 April 2012 at 7:53 pm

        Wayne Mapp on tv said he organised meeting(s) with pullar’s support people regarding
        the claim from soverign insurance,the claim for $14 mil.
        She also got closer to the $3 mil amount
        according to a tv report.

  23. tsmithfield 23
    1 April 2012 at 6:07 pm

    WTF!!? How can National still be rising in the polls? Even as a strong National supporter, I can’t believe they have escaped so unscathed from all the shit that has gone down.

    • ianmac 23.1
      1 April 2012 at 6:43 pm

      Have ask TS. Which poll are you writing about?

        • Pete George 23.1.1.1
          1 April 2012 at 7:29 pm

          Tim Watkin says:

          The problem is that even a damaged National Party still looks more attractive to most voters than Labour. Voters are looking at National in turmoil and still ticking their box. If that’s not a signal that Labour needs to up its game dramatically, then I don’t know what is.

          Or change it’s game. A few here Labourites here could take note.

          When will they realise that they need to worry less about trying to make Key and National worse (they’ll do that themselves over time), and more effort making Shearer and Labour better?

          • McFlock 23.1.1.1.1
            1 April 2012 at 7:40 pm

            The day the labour party needs popularity advice from UF would be the day it should shut up shop.
             

      • McFlock 23.1.2
        1 April 2012 at 6:53 pm

        One news released a poll tonight showing the three big parties up and NZ1 back down to 3% (lols – that’s what they said before the election 🙂 ). Not on the CB site yet.
             
        On the plus side, that’s 51% all up for the nats government. Error-level shite, and not a spike.

      • starlight 23.1.3
        1 April 2012 at 7:58 pm

        It was the colmar brunton poll,what the hell is wrong with people,it was taken in the
        midst of the acc debacle too,i give up.

        • Carol 23.1.3.1
          1 April 2012 at 9:01 pm

          Mostly the poll shows no change. Except this, which puzzled me most:

          Voters were also surveyed on their views on the economy, with 50% having an positive outlook, up six percentage points. 32% remain pessimistic, with the reminder believing there will be no change.

  24. Vicky32 24
    1 April 2012 at 6:30 pm

     I get annoyed at the constant drone from greenies about everyone getting out cars and biking because its so good for the planet. Yes. But for the individual, it can be very unsafe and some on bikes don’t seem to have the cautionary control of a toddler

    What angers me most is that they don’t frickin’ wear helmets! A good example of the sheer selfish nature of some cyclists is the 35 year old man who came whizzing, helmetless, across Carrington Road outside Unitec, and down the street on the footpath, missing me by millimetres as he zoomed past me. I called out “idiot!” and he turned around, poked his tongue, screamed an insult about old ladies clogging up the footpath, ‘flipped me the bird’ as I believe the American expression is, and rode on laughing.

    Cycles are not legally allowed on footpaths. Many cyclists have told me that the law says they are allowed to not wear helmets if they ride on the footpath. So I made a point of checking with the police. (Who won’t enforce their own law even if an offender is pointed out to them as they are just too damned lazy).

        * Cycling on footpaths is illegal.
        * Riding helmetless is illegal.
        * There is a cycle path on Carrington Road! There’s a big brass plaque pointing that fact out. It’s still ignored even by the Greenie tarts on bikes (I mean frocks on bikes isn’t it? One of them cycles around here, too proud of her expensive hair-do to wear a helmet.)
        * Footpaths are for pedestrians, and with the Segar Ave residence for people with cerebral palsy and Rehab + for brain injured people both off Carrington Road, wheel chair users.

    (I put this on the 31.03 Open Mike, and it ended up promptly in moderation. Therefore this is an expoeriment to see if I can find out why. I end up in moderation about once every 2-3 days, and have yet to understand or to be told why.)

    • Vicky32 24.1
      1 April 2012 at 6:32 pm

      Yes, in moderation… one day I may find out why. In the meantime, I get the hint, I have nothing more to say about anything – but you can’t stop me thinking it!

      • ianmac 24.1.1
        1 April 2012 at 8:11 pm

        Just watched the 60 minutes on Tv3. The Casino deal was in the gun. Guyon Espiner in good form questioning Joyce over the sweet deal. Joyce unable to answer some fundamental questions and I bet he will be unwilling to face up again. (Guyon said that in Adelaide the same Casino chain sought special privileges in exchange for law change. The Government response there? “You must be dreaming!” Joyce knew nothing about this – and he should have.)

        Hope some clever Standardista can follow this up?

        • Kotahi Tane Huna 24.1.1.1
          1 April 2012 at 9:49 pm

          Stuff reported on the Adelaide comparison in August last year. That explains how Joyce had never heard of it: he was lying.

          Slippery has also been running the lie about casinos being “safer” despite having no evidence.

          Joyce oozes corruption from every pore – he doesn’t even try to hide it. How anyone can imagine that he would make a good party leader is beyond me.

          OAB’s policy suggestion: require that Sky City’s owners build the convention centre for free, then confiscate their assets and drive them out of the country.

    • KJT 24.2
      2 April 2012 at 4:38 am

      Personally I think that law should be changed.

      Requiring 10 year olds on bikes to mix with traffic in Auckland while there is a, mostly unused, footpath available is totally stupid.
      Of course if you would rather a cyclist got killed than a pedestrian injured?

      Never heard of any pedestrians getting major injuries or killed by cyclists on footpaths.

      Many deaths from cyclists being forced to bike on the roads, in places like Petone and Tamaki drive.

      Tauranga has mixed bike and footpaths with a speed limit for bikes. Works fine.

      Nelson and Mt Maunganui bike lanes would be alright if they did not put you right in the path of opening car doors.

      • rosy 24.2.1
        2 April 2012 at 5:34 am

        Personally I think that law should be changed.
        +1. Even if it means narrowing some roads to widen shared paths for bikes and pedestrians. Works extremely well where I live. Shared paths are probably not suitable for speed-training cyclists, but for commuting, shopping trips etc, they’re spot-on.

        Many cyclists have told me that the law says they are allowed to not wear helmets if they ride on the footpath

        They’re correct (however they wreck their case by illegally riding on designated footpaths)The law states that helmets must be worn when cycling on roads.

        A person must not ride, or be carried on, a bicycle on a road unless the person is wearing a safety helmet of an approved standard that is securely fastened.

        • KJT 24.2.1.1
          2 April 2012 at 6:33 am

          I like the idea on the Tauranga Mt bridge. The mixed path has a speed limit for bikes.

          So. If you want to ride safely on the bike/pedestrian path you go at a speed that is not too dangerous for pedestrians.
          Kids and late middle age cyclists can stay safe while the members of the lycra brigade, that want to ride fast, have the choice of mixing it with the cars.

          • Carol 24.2.1.1.1
            2 April 2012 at 7:07 am

            There’s a few shared paths in Auckland, too. The path labelled as the North Western cyclway is actually a shared path. There’s loads of signs telling people to keep left. But I’ve come across a minority of pedestrians who think that it is for walkers only. They spread across the path in a group, blocking the way for cyclists.

            This also happens on the split pedestrian/cycleway over the southern motorway on Symonds Street, with people walking in both the pedestrian lane and cycle lane at the same time, blocking the way for cyclists.

            I’ve also come across a guy walking his dog without a leash on the north western cycleway. This is scary for a cyclist because you don’t know which direction the dog might run.

        • Vicky32 24.2.1.2
          2 April 2012 at 2:36 pm

          They’re correct (however they wreck their case by illegally riding on designated footpaths)The law states that helmets must be worn when cycling on roads.

          So, that means that if they cycle on the footpath, they don’t need helmets? That is not what two police officers told me… I fear that you have interpreted the law the way you want it to be, Rosy.
          You should hang around Auckland for a while. (I know you’re overseas atm, but still). People who wear helmets are in the minority,  and most of those who don’t are kids whose Daddy has told them to ignore Helen’s nanny state law, (my son was at school with many of those) or kids who whinge that they can’t afford a helmet (when they’re riding expensive bikes, of a like that we could never afford) or 30 somethings who respond with libertarian arguments, or more usually, insults.
          I have taught and cared for people with brain injuries, and the Brain Injury trust man was actually in tears, when I spoke to him about this. I could not care less about the well-dressed idiot who nearly hit me, or the ex-colleague who claimed that he couldn’t afford a helmet, (he lied of course, and when I offered him Leon’s old one, had a well of excuses why he wouldn’t accept it. Ironically, I lost my job, he kept his – I can hardly afford to eat, and him?? Little barsteward. Brain damage might make him a nicer man, though I doubt it.) Howebver, I do worry very much about the kids. Even if their libertarian parents are morons, the kids don’t deserve brain damage.
           

      • Vicky32 24.2.2
        2 April 2012 at 2:26 pm

         

        Requiring 10 year olds on bikes to mix with traffic in Auckland while there is a, mostly unused, footpath available is totally stupid.

        Are you responding to my (moderated) post about cyclists and footpaths? (I don’t even know if it left moderation.) Because if you are, you seriously missed my point, which is that footpaths are not unused! Especially not here – Pt Chevalier near Unitec. Rehab + and Segar Ave (residence for people with cerebral palsy), a day care centre and several schools are all in the area. The idiot cyclist I referred to missed me by millimetres, and could easily have bowled a child, an actually old person or a person whose walking is, because of their disability, very unsteady. So, don’t be so stinking selfish! The 10 year olds use the cycle path – only the helmetless teenagers and 30 somethings, use the footpath. (Some actual children use the footpath, infrequently, but I don’t begrudge that as they are careful.)
         

        Never heard of any pedestrians getting major injuries or killed by cyclists on footpaths.

        That you have never heard of it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
         
         
         
         
         

        • Te Reo Putake 24.2.2.1
          2 April 2012 at 2:50 pm

          You are right that such accidents do happen, V32. In this case it was the cyclist that came off worse, but it could easily have been the pedestrians. Not even a busy path, either, but a fatal collision none the less.

          http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/cyclist-dies-in-freak-accident/1112431/

          • Vicky32 24.2.2.1.1
            2 April 2012 at 3:53 pm

            accidents do happen

            Oh yes. None that I know of have happened here *, but my own near miss shows that they easily could – and the footpath is always thronged with people in manual and power chairs, and a cyclist would not be guaranteed to be the winner if they hit someone in a power chair (I am told by my son the health professional that the term ‘electric wheelchair’ is seriously banned! :D)
            Many people at Rehab + are out on their own in manual wheelchairs for the first or one of the first times – I see that even I, a slow and small pedestrian, make them nervous, especially if they’re survivors of disabling car accidents!
            That story you linked to is very sad. 
            * Although I do know of many children from Gladstone school who have been killed or injured by motorists nearby. These things are apparently so common that they never make the newspaper, but my son used to go to Gladstone school, and his teachers told me…

  25. Half Crown Millionare 25
    1 April 2012 at 6:53 pm

    Just watched TV1 news, you know the one that has won the Qantas Best News Award (hate to see the losers) News item, says Donkey is still top of the hit parade. Two questions

    a, Are the general public thick or,

    b, Is it the usual spin and bullshit put out by the right wing MSM. The reason why I ask is, the people I talk to including ones who confess that they voted National, say completely different to what that pathetic news channel called TVNZ One news says.

    • McFlock 25.1
      1 April 2012 at 6:56 pm

      about 5% bias for b, and a bit of a.

    • tc 25.2
      1 April 2012 at 10:16 pm

      a) for sure as swinging voters love the beads and coloured glass the nats sprinkle about, we’ve don’t have an electorate that can remember broken promises or actually show up and vote.

      b) TVNZ is very NACT friendly, always has been since early 08 when it know they were on the way in, Holmes/Hosking/Sainsbury etc and the endless stream of kid reporters are to serious journalism what chalk is to cheese.
      Most of the lines come from high up, they’ll be going flat out to smudge the latest in NACT’s impressive corruption resume.

      The nats use carrott/stick very well with those relying on govt funding….just look at the police.

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