This drop in manufacturing has not been caused by peak, oil or the complete nuclear shutdown, (previously responsible for 30% of Japan’s electricity supply), but by a global drop in demand for manufactured products caused by the global economic recession.
Though undermined by this latest drop in manufacturing demand, Japan had recently been experiencing a recovery due to government spending on earthquake reconstruction and incentives to buy fuel-efficient cars.
This points the way forward for the Japan economy. A switch to the manufacture of WWS and away from private automobiles would see a huge drop in cost per unit of this technology, kick starting demand, and possibly creating a brand new global market for this technology.
At a time when the world needs it most.
With the unused manufacturing capacity caused by the recession Japan has the historical opportunity to harness their industrial might and reputation for innovation to become a global leader in WWS.
An unexpected drop in Japanese manufacturing? Unexpected to whom, the gormless business wizards at the Herald? Global PMI numbers a full month ago showed the truth in manufacturing across the world.
We can also see that Japan, a country which has been extremely reliant on (and succesful at) massive trade surpluses with the rest of the world is currently going under because, as you say, falls in foreign orders have been dropping signficantly.
This drop in manufacturing has not been caused by peak, oil…but by a global drop in demand for manufactured products caused by the global economic recession.
But the global economic recession is driven (in part) by peak oil. BTW Japan only got away with shutting down its nuclear power plants because its economy was slowing down by happenchance.
This points the way forward for the Japan economy. A switch to the manufacture of WWS and away from private automobiles would see a huge drop in cost per unit of this technology, kick starting demand, and possibly creating a brand new global market for this technology.
You are advocating a ‘green growth’ strategy here, in order to “kick start demand”? You do know that if Japan succeeds in greatly increasing WWS manufacturing, it is going to be through firing up fossil fuel power stations?
Since CV doesn’t read links, I will have to try the Sysop’s patience by putting in large slabs of text.
Today the maximum power consumed worldwide at any given moment is about 12.5 trillion watts (terawatts, or TW), according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The agency projects that in 2030 the world will require 16.9 TW of power as global population and living standards rise, with about 2.8 TW in the U.S. The mix of sources is similar to today’s, heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
If, however, the planet were powered entirely by WWS, with no fossil-fuel, nuclear or biomass fuels, intriguing savings occur. Global power demand would be only 11.5 TW, and U.S. demand would be 1.8 TW. The decline occurs because, in most cases, electrification is a more efficient way to use energy. For example, only 17 to 20 percent of the energy in gasoline is used to move a vehicle (the rest is wasted as heat), whereas 75 to 86 percent of the electricity delivered to an electric vehicle goes into motion.
Even if demand did rise to 16.9 TW, WWS could provide far more power. Detailed studies by us and others indicate that energy from the wind, worldwide, is about 1,700 TW. Solar, alone, offers 6,500 TW. Of course, wind and sun out in the open seas, over high mountains and across protected regions would not be available. If we subtract these and low-wind areas not likely to be developed, we are still left with 40 to 85 TW for wind and 580 TW for solar, each far beyond future human demand. Yet currently we generate only 0.02 TW of wind power and 0.008 TW of solar. These sources hold an incredible amount of untapped potential.
The other WWS technologies will help create a flexible range of options. Although all the sources can expand greatly, for practical reasons, wave power can be extracted only near coastal areas. Many geothermal sources are too deep to be tapped economically. And even though hydroelectric power now exceeds all other WWS sources, most of the suitable large reservoirs are already in use.
The Plan: Power Plants Required
Clearly, enough renewable energy exists. How, then, would we transition to a new infrastructure to provide the world with 11.5 TW? We have chosen a mix of technologies emphasizing wind and solar, with about 9 percent of demand met by mature water-related methods. (Other combinations of wind and solar could be as successful.)
51 percent of the demand, comes from 3.8 million large wind turbines (each rated at five megawatts) worldwide. Although that quantity may sound enormous, it is interesting to note that the world manufactures 73 million cars and light trucks every year.
40 percent of the power comes from photovoltaics and concentrated solar plants, with about 30 percent of the photovoltaic output from rooftop panels on homes and commercial buildings. About 89,000 photovoltaic and concentrated solar power plants, averaging 300 megawatts apiece, would be needed.
The rest includes 900 hydroelectric stations worldwide, 70 percent of which are already in place.
Only about 0.8 percent of the wind base is installed today. The worldwide footprint of the 3.8 million turbines would be less than 50 square kilometers (smaller than Manhattan). When the needed spacing between them is figured, they would occupy about 1 percent of the earth’s land, but the empty space among turbines could be used for agriculture or ranching or as open land or ocean. The nonrooftop photovoltaics and concentrated solar plants would occupy about 0.33 percent of the planet’s land.
If we stick with fossil fuels, demand by 2030 will rise to 16.9 TW, requiring 13,000 large new coal plants, which themselves would occupy a lot more land, as would the mining to supply them.
If we do not adopt a plan along the lines laid out by Sci Am, see above, then the world is on a track to a 6 degree C increase. According to scientists such a huge increase in global temperatures will destroy agriculture and render large parts of the globe uninhabitable. On top of the environmental disaster, rising sea levels will see large areas of coastal land either covered by sea water directly or severly degraded by salt water inclusion, leading to forced mass migration on a scale unmatched in human history. No part of the globe will be left untouched by the catastrophe.
“The world’s energy system is being pushed to breaking point,”.
“Our addiction to fossil fuels grows stronger each year.”
“Many clean energy technologies are available but they are not being deployed quickly enough to avert potentially disastrous consequences.”
“Energy-related CO2 emissions are at historic highs, and under current policies we estimate that energy use and CO2 emissions would increase by a third by 2020, and almost double by 2050. This would be likely to send global temperatures at least 6C higher within this century.”
Maria van der Hoeven executive director of the International Energy Agency
SciAm plan is unachievable. World can’t convert to electric or hybrid vehicles. Would require massive (fossil fuel) energy investment just to refine the rare earth minerals, steel and aluminium required.
Has Weldon ever produced the number for donations to chch earthquake recovery he gathered while taking a leave of absence to collect from his overseas contacts ?
I have asked this question twice and had no response. I have seen nothing anywhere EXCEPT the big splash when he went away. My suspicion is he raise very little, else there would have been
Lotsa news.
Is there any way to find out?
Sir Graham Henry risking rugby ridicule NZ Newswire, 30 July 2012
Former International Rugby Board referee selector Bob Francis fears Sir Graham Henry will be “ridiculed” by the global rugby fraternity following his controversial claims about the All Blacks’ 2007 World Cup quarter-final.
Henry claims he pushed for an IRB investigation following New Zealand’s loss to France in Cardiff.
In his biography, Graham Henry: Final Word, the former All Blacks coach was highly critical of the performance of English referee Wayne Barnes and his assistant referees.
Henry described the match as bizarre, believing at least 40 infringements committed by the French were overlooked.
Francis, on the IRB panel that selected Barnes to control the final, described Henry’s views as extreme. He was also disappointed that Henry’s legacy would take a hit after having guided the All Blacks to World Cup glory last year.
He expected the IRB to shortly pen a critical response to Henry’s comments.
“There will be some support for his views within New Zealand,” Francis told NZ Newswire. “But having some knowledge of the northern hemisphere scene, I think his comments will be ridiculed, without doubt. The saddest part really is that Graham Henry bounced back from 2007 and did so well. He won the (2011) World Cup and was knighted and so he left on a great note. I think this has taken some gloss off that.”
Francis, a former test referee and mayor of Masterton, said he and former IRB referees boss Paddy O’Brien – also a New Zealander – analysed the Cardiff Test for several hours the day after it was played.
“We admitted all along there were some referee mistakes in the game, or omissions,” he said. “But we never at any stage believed it was anywhere near the extent in this book. We reject the assertion totally and would question the method of the analysis.”
O’Brien refused to comment on the Henry revelations on Monday. He was critical of the opprobrium aimed at Barnes in the weeks following the defeat.
The NZRU produced a short statement on Monday distancing itself from Henry’s comments.
“It was well documented at the time and as part of our 2007 campaign review, that there were concerns about the refereeing. We took our concerns to the IRB, they listened, and everyone has moved on since then,” the statement said.
NZN
The actual text of his interview read something like “I briefly considered match-fixing, then dismissed the possibility.” The only person who deserves ridicule is the SST journo who blew it all out of proportion.
Besides, 40 missed penalties? You’d be a fool to not at least briefly consider it.
The actual text of his interview read something like “I briefly considered match-fixing, then dismissed the possibility.” The only person who deserves ridicule is the SST journo who blew it all out of proportion.
The person who rightly deserves ridicule for this foolish claim is Henry, for even raising it. There is nothing at all to support his allegation.
Besides, 40 missed penalties? You’d be a fool to not at least briefly consider it.
You’d be a fool to accept such a baseless and unsupported claim. Henry has no evidence to back up that wild claim. The fact is that France did NOT infringe during the long period in the second half when the All Blacks tried (in vain) to breach their defence.
I hope there’s a chapter on cheating by the All Blacks, the current captain specifically. However, the guts of rugby’s problems lie with its ridiculously complicated nature. Football has 11 ‘laws’ that have stayed essentially constant for a century, rugby has hundreds of rules that regularly change. In football or league, the crowd usually sees the offence that causes the whistle to be blown; in rugby, nobody knows.
ps. “To choose sports for fashion or you personality. The basic idea is to enjoy yourself. That is important. It’s outdoor sport that has recently started to shine. Outdoor sport is the science to raise spirits”
Rugby Union is doing just fine around the world with it’s ‘complicated’ laws. It’s extremely debateable that simplyfied games do better anyway. Rugby League is definately less popular than Rugby Union around the World where it is only in Papua New Guinea and the Eastern states of Australia where it is the more popular form of Rugby.
League is also more popular in the UK in terms of spectator attendence, I understand, though Rugby has the better TV audiences. And the Perth Pirates will be joining the NRL in two seasons, taking that code to both coasts of Oz.
Rugby in NZ is dying, according to a report released this morning. The ITM cup teams are losing millions each year.
I think you will find that your view about the spectator attendance difference between Rugby League and Rugby Union in the UK is based on out of date data. Rugby Union has pretty much caught up and surpassed Rugby League in the Club game and in the International game there is no comparison. Rugby League struggles to fill 40,000 seat stadiums whilst England, Scotland, and Wales regularly fill 70 -80,000 seat stadiums for the big Internationals.
It is also incorreect when to state it is in the UK and not England. Rugby League is pretty much non-existant outside the North of England and (one) London club as a Professional spectator sport.
The NRL expansion is not as settled as you would like to make out. I have seen reports over the past few years which have said expansion to any number of places was imminent, (including to Wellington even). As for ITM provinces losing money, this happens in professional sport all the time. The Warriors had to be bailed out a few years ago. That didn’t mean Rugby League in NZ was dying or even in much trouble.
That link you posted doesn’t state that they are losing millions each year? It says their revenue dropped in 2011 and states the world cup as the likely reason for that.
That report said that 9 of the 14 teams made a profit.
The special treatment and high levels of tax payer subsidies required in order to operate its loss making events and venues, for starters.
What’s your beef? Be a man and face the facts. CV stated facts which are sour – the facts about rugby’s present situation, with the money and interest sucked up by the business interests and professionals not the keen people in the regions. But the money guys still present rugby as a family and nationwide sport and therefore the venues should be provided by the public.
My beef, is that I volunteer a lot of time to community rugby and two other sports. I think it is good for kids to be involved in it. I dont like arm chair wankers who do nothing but run it down.
My beef is that my city council keeps writing off debts accrued by the local rugby union, after building a multihundredmilliondollarfuckingstadium. At the expense of everyone else in the city.
Rob
I said
“with the money and interest sucked up by the business interests and professionals not the keen people in the regions. But the money guys still present rugby as a family and nationwide sport and therefore the venues should be provided”
My beef is that I was stating real problems that affect your good efforts so why not try and read through a full paragraph and form an understanding from the full comment. Then comment on whether I was suggesting something you had experienced, understood or whatever. Otherwise it’s a waste of time you trying to participate in a forum where people enter their thoughts and respond to others thoughts not just repeating some litany of moans. No reason for you to call us armchair wankers, know thyself son.
Fuck providing breakfasts in schools dear tax payers, these professional corporate (and government) sponsored rugby teams need a new half billion dollar stadium to strut their stuff!
“Fuck providing breakfasts in schools dear tax payers, these professional corporate (and government) sponsored rugby teams need a new half billion dollar stadium to strut their stuff!”
Damn straight.
It sez a lot for our skewed sense of priorities that National could oversee spending of $220 million of public money on a rugby tournament, when 220,000 kids live in poverty.
No matter which way you colour it, Rob, that is sickening.
Fuck providing breakfasts in schools dear tax payers, these professional corporate (and government) sponsored rugby teams need a new half billion dollar stadium to strut their stuff!
That hacks me off, too! Thugby can pay its own way – if enough people give a toss about it! I assure you, far fewer do than the media think – even Radio NZ assumes we care. I thought they’d know better!
Perhaps, Gosman because unlike you, fairly sensible people prefer public money to be spent on housuing, education and healthcare – rather than wasting $220+ million on a rugby tournament.
When we have 4,276 people on a State Housing waiting list – whilst spending millions on a rugby game – then there is something seriously wrong.
The question is, Gosman, why do you find it so hard to relate to something so basic in our needs?
I’ve already mentioned this to you previously, (which unsurprisingly you seemed to fail to comprehend for some reason), if you had a problem with Government funding for the RUWC you should take it up with the members of the last Labour led Government in this country who were instrumental in winning the hosting rights. In short blame Helen and Trevor.
Oh Gossie, that’s past wasteful expenditure on rugby (a “sunk cost” in the terminology, you know). And so if you agree it was shit, let’s stop doing it from now on eh?
Because a large part of the expenditure was built into the Hosting right’s agreement which Labour signed. The tens of millions of dollars in funding the Government paid to cover the shortfall in the ticket sales was something Labour signed up to. So essentially was the money to provide suitable stadiums and support infrastructure. Yes some funding was driven and controlled by National when they got into power but the vast bulk of it was already committed the moment we won the hosting rights. You seem to fail to grasp this rather simple concept.
Re HNZ, King said on Morning Report that a person has to take three rejection letters to HNZ from landlords as part of being housed. HNZ are doing all they can to not subsidise housing for those who are really struggling.
Frank don’t forget the billion dollars local bodies spent as well.
Now the rugby brain injured National party want to stop local authorities from doing it again after Shonkey has taken all the Kudos
Cat walk
team photo
Kinky handshake
Especially losing businesses and events which are showcases and wallet stuffers for the rich and the corporates. It seems the Right are very fond of that kind of state provided “welfare”.
Chris, you need to read the article again. I didn’t say that each franchise was losing millions each year. I accurately reported that they are losing millions collectively. And that’s over many years. Further to that, clubs are dying in the provinces. Forced amalgamations or just closure are the realities for grassroots rugby. Meanwhile football continues to grow ever more popular (go the Footie Ferns!).
Gossie, dead right about the UK, I should have said England. I disagree about your assesment of local league, though. The Perth Reds (cheers, Rob) and the Warriors both went broke because of financial mismanagement, not because of the state of the game. The NRL will be expanding to WA and they will make it work. Just look at the turnout at the Warriors game there a week ago; bad result, but a whopping crowd. The next expansion phase will also include a new Brisbane team, likely to be based in the suburbs.
Grassroots rugby is going the way of grassroots yachting. Too much emphasis on those who are competing at the top end internationally, while starving those who play at local level.
Bullshit, you guys know absolutely nothing as usual. Go to rugby grounds early Saturday morning if you could actually get out of bed on time and you will see loads of grass roots volunteers (coaches, refs , administrators) plus loads of kids playing the game. This is what you fundementally do not get and never will. Whatever your hatred of NZRU or the All Blacks , or the wold cup is, you guys have no idea of what it means at a local community level where lots of good families get involved just as they do for many sports.
Take your bigotry and stuff it up your pompous backside .
“Take your bigotry and stuff it up your pompous backside” .
Yes, I’d forgotten Rugby’s obsession with buggery, thanks for reminding me. And do check the sports draw section of today’s newspaper wherever it is you live. Count the number of rugby games. Then count the number of footy games. You’re not going to like the result, Rob.
Rugby doesn’t even make it into the top twenty on this list of the games we play.
Hey Frank, “have you taken your meds this morning” HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, oh really, how original, wow I have never heard that before, my god you are an original comic genius, please stop my sides are acheing. The originality and the humour, classic…
As to you TRiPe, obviously we should just call off the whole game as you dont like it, Why dont you go out there if your legs can support your enourmous head and explain to the very few people who play the game or are at all interested in Rugby, that its all waste of time as you are an intellectual genius from the Standard and this is how you deem it to be. How about you tell these guys at half time that its boring you and that they engage in buggery, you dork.
Cheers, Rob, but I can’t take credit for the slow painful death of rugby as a player sport. That’s entirely down to the game itself and its professional version fixated leadership who don’t give a toss about grassroots rugby, as long as the AB’s get paid. Funnily enough, in the small rural town where I live, the local rugby club limps on, reduced to a single team, with players mainly drawn from the nearest large town instead of from the locals. The sons of the soil round here either work on Saturdays or, you guessed it, play football.
” oh really, how original, wow I have never heard that before ”
Heh, while I don’t actually care about this conversation either way I can’t help but wonder how many people are asking about Rob taking his meds and in what capacity.
If they are medical professionals I strongly suggest following their advice.
Why would I want to name the club, Rob? It’s not as if that’s an unusual situation; as I mentioned earlier, clubs are either shutting up shop or going through forced amalgamations right round the country. In the case of my local team, the other clubs have lent them players just so the competition can retain a rural away game every second week. It’s a pretty sad situation, but that’s how the NZRFU seem to want it.
By the way, have I mentioned how pathetic the AB’s and Super 12 salaries actually are? The richest sportsmen in NZ tend to be footballers, golfers, yatchies and the occasional basketballer or baseballer. Rugby incomes reflect the global presence of the game, ie. zilch.
“Hey Frank, “have you taken your meds this morning” HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, oh really, how original, wow I have never heard that before, my god you are an original comic genius, please stop my sides are acheing. The originality and the humour, classic…”
I never claimed to be “original”. I don’t get paid enough to deliver original comic material on blogs.
“Take your bigotry and stuff it up your pompous backside .”
What? Anal sex on our first date? Do I get dinner first?
How is football or in our language soccer growing more popular. What happened to the Nix crowd numbers this year, where is your proof. In Auckland Junior club teams are down and have been decreasing for 3 years now.
The Nix had a poor season and they play in a rubbish venue. Both factors kept attendence down. Even so, the atmosphere at a Nix game is still more exciting than listening to drunken twits moooing Ohhhtagohhh or ringing a cow bell. That does not alter the fact that football continues to grow in player numbers, while rugby continues to decline. I’m too polite to ask for a citation for your claim about numbers dropping in Ak, but for the benefit of the others you might want to front up with the evidence.
It’s a cricket ground, Gos. It’s an awful venue for watching the football codes because the crowd is so far from the action. Which I why I hope West Ham United don’t move to the London Olympic stadium and why league games in Sydney look so poorly attended, too. 20k spectators in a stadium built for 80k always seems dismal.
It’s a cricket ground, Gos. It’s an awful venue for watching the football codes because the crowd is so far from the action.
I agree with this – I wouldn’t call it ‘awful’ but a cricket ground is certainly inferior to a rectangular ground.
It’s not just watching to the action. The Dunedin stadium has a far better atmosphere per 1,000 of crowd, even smallish crowds of a few thousand can generate a great mood. A RWC pool match in Dunedin had a far better buzz than a semifinal at Eden Park with twice the crowd.
You should have stated English Rugby but as stated you would have been equally wrong about that too. The attendances for the Super League and Premiership are basically on par. However English Rugby Union has a more dynamic international and cross border competition that Rugby League in England cannot compete with. There is no equivalent of the Heineken Cup for example in Rugby League.
You are having a hard time comprehending this aren’t you Frank?
A large amount of the Government funding for the tournament was explicitly (i.e. written down) stated in the Hosting agreement.
Additionally the Labour led Government provided a degree of confidence that the Government of NZ would ensure the tournament venues met the standards required and external factors such as security etc would be taken care of.
In short the last Labour led Government signed up for a programme that led to much of this funding. Why do you think people like Trevour Mallard haven’t really qubbled with the big ticket items like spending on Eden Park?
I comprehend your ACT-style hypocrisy only too well, Gosman.
“A large amount of the Government funding for the tournament was explicitly (i.e. written down) stated in the Hosting agreement.”
Source please.
“Additionally the Labour led Government provided a degree of confidence that the Government of NZ would ensure the tournament venues met the standards required and external factors such as security etc would be taken care of.”
Source please.
And why couldn’t private enterprise take care of funding security? I thought you were big on not subsiding private enterprise?
So you endorse private enterprise enjoying subsidies – when it suits you?
“In short the last Labour led Government signed up for a programme that led to much of this funding.”
Source please.
“Why do you think people like Trevour Mallard haven’t really qubbled with the big ticket items like spending on Eden Park?”
Pffft! Deflection. Not a particularly clever one at that.
Please note the proposal for the loss to be split 2/3rd to the Government and 1/3 to the NZRFU as well as this section:
“What else is the government doing to support the bid?
The government is working with various partners to ensure there is infrastructure in place to support the hosting of the event. This includes security, transport and tourism matters so that New Zealand can deliver a safe, well co-ordinated and vibrant tournament. ”
This was specified in 2005 under the Labour led government of Helen Clark.
There was also the matter of the upgrade to Eden Park which the Government agreed to help finance as a result of getting it up to standard for hosting the Cup matches. Remember that Trevor Mallard would have spent hundreds of millions of dollars more if he had his way with his waterfront stadium idea. Do you remember him pushing for this Frank or have you conveniently fogotten any bad stuff that Labour did?
How will the costs of hosting the RWC be met if the bid is successful?
The government and NZRU make cash contributions towards costs of $20 million and $10 million respectively.
It appears you’ may not have read that PR properly, Gosman.
Labour offered $20 million in 2005, when our economy was bouyant; nett sovereign debt was low-to-nil; unemployment was low; and the Labour Government was in surplus.
National blew that out to $220 million of public money during a high deficit; high unemployment; and a stagnating economy which the WRC seems not to have helped much.
“Remember that Trevor Mallard would have spent hundreds of millions of dollars more if he had his way with his waterfront stadium idea.”
You left out… at a time of low sovereign debt and government surpluses. Neither of which National has achieved with their unaffordable tax cuts.
But at least you’re focusing on issues and offering backed-up information (even if it doesn’t prove your argument at all). You’re improving, slowly.
Seriously Frank are you expecting people to believe your nonsense about Labour only committed to 20 million dollars of expenditure. You do realise that the large amounts of the 220 million dollars was on the additional costs such as infrastructure and other support services that went into the tournament.don’t you? That spending would have been required even if Labour was still in power in 2011.
I note that you try and avoid the fact that Trevor Mallard wanted to spend even more money on the cup by trying to argue that the Government could have done so. Irrelevant. The point is if he had got his way it would have been well above the 220 millions dollars that it eventually reached.
Are you still trying to argue that Labour didn’t commit us to much of this spending?
Seriously Frank are you expecting people to believe your nonsense about Labour only committed to 20 million dollars of expenditure.
Seriously, Gosman, do you not accept the information that you yourself provided?
You provided the figures and now you’re backtracking on it’s veracity?!?!
If you have info that Labour would’ve spent more, put up, or shut up.
You do realise that the large amounts of the 220 million dollars was on the additional costs such as infrastructure and other support services that went into the tournament.don’t you?
Sorry, no, you’ve not provided any evidence of that. You saying so doesn’t make it so. That spending was done by your political party, not mine.
Try taking responsibility for a change. It’ll be a novel experience.
That spending would have been required even if Labour was still in power in 2011.
Oh, not the old Labour-would’ve-spend-more line?!?!
*facepalm*
Not very original, Gosman.
I note that you try and avoid the fact that Trevor Mallard wanted to spend even more money on the cup by trying to argue that the Government could have done so.
Dishonest response. That’s not what I said. Not even close.
Grasping for straws now.
Irrelevant. The point is if he had got his way it would have been well above the 220 millions dollars that it eventually reached.
… and back to the old Labour-would’ve-spend-more line.
Face it, Gosman, you shot yourself in the foot.
You presented information. But unfortunately you didn’t read it carefully enough.
Okay Frank. This is easily resolved. What was that 220 million figure made up of? Do you know and if so do you know what part of that spending was as result of decision that National made in Government that it is unlikely Labour would have made the same decision?
BTW where did you get this 220 million figure from anyway? Do you happen to have a source for it or are you pulling this out of the air like many of your ‘facts’?
“Okay Frank. This is easily resolved. What was that 220 million figure made up of? ”
“BTW where did you get this 220 million figure from anyway? Do you happen to have a source for it or are you pulling this out of the air like many of your ‘facts’?”
“Do you know and if so do you know what part of that spending was as result of decision that National made in Government that it is unlikely Labour would have made the same decision?”
So what you’re asking here is how much more Labour would have spent had it been in government?!
Tell you what, sunshine, when I get back from a visit to Parallel Earth 2, where National lost the 2008 election, I’ll let you know. (Or I’ll just send you a postcard.)
How about you just focus that libertarian mind of yours on What Is, rather thasn What Might Have Been? Because I tell you what, Gosman, the constant “Labour-would-have-spent-more” excuse wears mightily thin after a while.
I’ll say one thing though; Labour would not have cut taxes in 2009 and 2010. That is a dead cert.
No I’m not asking you how much MORE Labour would have spent. I’m asking you of that budget where would Labour not have spent money.
Remember Labour committed us to this tournament and the costs associated with holding it. Of that Government spend where would Labour likely have saved money?
Would they not have spent any money on a Party central in Auckland on the waterfront? Certainly Trevor Mallard wasn’t against this idea as far as I’m aware.
Would they not have spent money on upgrading stadiums? If so then then it is unlikely the IRB would have been very pleased to be playing in substandard stadiums.
Start to use the analytical part of your brain for once Frank and delve a little deeper into issues beyond the superficial ideological level.
BTW this link suggest the spending by Government was much higher than 220 million dollars.
Gosman, you’re deflecting from National’s $220 million spend-up, to something theoretical, had Labour been in government.
Do you realise how pathetic that attempt at deflection looks?
National is in power, not Labour.
If you’re going to constantly blame Labour, then they might as well be in power and I expect you to vote for them in 2014 (or earlier).
The Nats wasted $220 million, for little appreciable gain, whilst,
* 200,000+ kids live in poverty
* State houses are damp and mouldy
* a critical housing shortage goes unaddressed
* we have 160,000 jobless, whilst the Christchurch rebuild is crying out for skilled tradespeple.
That is what you should be focused on.
Not what Labour “might” have done had it been in government.
It seems bizarre that when National wastes $220 million on a rugby tournament, you don’t seem to mind. So much for your libertarian views of keeping the State out of commerce.
On the other hand, you’re desperately deflecting onto Labour – who hasn’t been in government for over three years.
When will you take responsibility for the policies of the Party you voted for, without trying to blame others?
That report you point to was dated 4:00 AM Sunday May 2, 2010.
The report I pointed to is dated 5:30 AM Wednesday Oct 19, 2011, and thus more recent. And this kinda proves that you don’t read the info I present to you.
This was the very first paragraph on the Oct 19 2011 report,
“Budget blowouts have pushed public spending on the Rugby World Cup well above $200 million – without counting $555 million in stadium upgrades and $39 million in direct losses from hosting the tournament.”
You are having a hard time comprehending this aren’t you, Gosman?
It isn’t theoretical at all Frank. That spending largely became a reality as soon as the IRB awarded NZ the rights to hold the cup in 2005.
It is like the Olympics. You don’t simply hold the current Government in power in the UK responsible for the budget, especially considering the Labour party was in power for much of the time that London has spent preparing for the games.
I’ll ask you again, which part of the spend on the RUWC would a Labour led government have likely not spent the money that eventually was spent?
Would they have cut back on security arrangements?
Would they have cut back on tourism promotion?
Come on Frank it doesn’t take a genius to carry out this intellectual exercise.
Still deflecting attention from National/ACT wasting $220+ million of our tax dollars, Gosman?
Sorry sunshine; ain’t going to work. Bill English writes the budget, not David Parker.
Your Party is going to have to wear responsibility for mismanaging the economy – no one else.
However, after 2014, things will change.
By the way; next time you carp on about people taking responsibility for their economic situation, I’ll be sure to point you back to this page. Your ideas about “taking responsibility” seems to be at variance with your beliefs.
Anyway, you’re starting to get repetitive… You’ve run out of ideas, Gosman. And the sources you present are out of date…
funny as hell – not satisfied with Frank being the only one to oppose him, gos proceeds to provide evidence against own position, then deny its reliability.
saves everyone else the bother of demonstrating for the xxxth time that he’s a moron.
The cold hard reality is Trevor wanted to build a $1B whitehorse on the waterfront for the stupid fucking thugby world cup.
Thank god someone stopped him.
It was the worse decsion ever made by Helen Clark. To bring that stupid tournamnent to New Zealand.
Name one benefit it brought us. Thugs on display. I haven’t met one person who enjoyed that silly 7 week spending binge by the government. I suppose Key enjoyed it.
Helen was the best PM in history. This decision showed she was at least human after all.
You may be right, Gossie, but I ain’t seen the numbers yet. I take it you have them at hand?
I do suspect league vs union probably reflects the north/south divide in the UK. League being a primarily working class sport and union being associated with public schools. No money vs loadsamoney, etc
Depends on whether you’re looking at total attendance or match averages. And whether you include RFU championship in Rugby Union match averages, I suspect.
League
Sport
Country
Season
# of Teams
Games
Total attendance
Average attendance
Source(s)
BS goose as per usual no proof clubs including professional are struggling .
The high profile players are doing all right but those lower profile players are finding it tough.
right across the major rugby playing countries.
Something calling itself “Te Reo Putake” started off well, then got itself just a bit confused…
I hope there’s a chapter on cheating by the All Blacks, the current captain specifically.
Footballers will cheat if the referee (or non-referee) lets them get away with it. McCaw, Kaino, Woodcock, and the rest of the All Black pack cheated consistently in the second half of the RWC fiinal because the non-referee refused to penalize them.
However, the guts of rugby’s problems lie with its ridiculously complicated nature.
That’s true. So far, so good. But, unfortunately, it was at this point that poor old “Te Reo Putake” lost his way….
Football has 11 ‘laws’ that have stayed essentially constant for a century, rugby sic has hundreds of rules that regularly change.
Rugby is football too, in case you hadn’t noticed. Do you mean soccer? Then say so.
In football or league sic, the crowd usually sees the offence that causes the whistle to be blown; in rugby, nobody knows.
That’s not true. In last year’s RWC final, everybody could see that the home team was repeatedly fouling, and that non-referee Craig Joubert was refusing to penalize them.
Cheers, CV. The good Prof’s argument is parochial pedantry and historically weak to boot. The game is football. It’s run here by Football NZ. Only the dimmest or willfully foolish sports fan would be confused by the terms football, rugby and league.
Tell that to the 8 year olds that play soccer for Central United, because that whats they call it, the volunteer coaches call it soccer too.. Maybe you should go and ‘educate’ them all on your way of the world.
Tell that to the 8 year olds that play soccer for Central United, because that whats they call it, the volunteer coaches call it soccer too.. Maybe you should go and ‘educate’ them all on your way of the world.
You’re trying to argue with a zealot, Rob. He hates and resents rugby football for some reason. Maybe one of these days he’ll tell us why…
“You might be arrogant enough to call it Football but even the governing bodies acknowledge it is just another form of Football.”
Laughibly ignorant, Gossie. At the time Association Football was codified, there were no other kinds of football. You do recall that William Webb Ellis ‘invented’ rugby during a game of football, don’t you?
And the word ‘association’ in FIFA and FA means the organisations are associations. D’oh! The association came first and the game, after being codified, became known as association football. Not the other way round.
But thanks for the stats on rugger and league in England (somewhere above in this thread). Must have taken a while to find; I tried and gave up.
At the time Association Football was codified, there were no other kinds of football.
There were, actually. Rugby football was very popular, and in Australia and Ireland variations of Gaelic football were flourishing by the late 1850s. The Football Association was formed in 1863, and the Rugby Football Union—note the name—was formed in 1871.
You do recall that William Webb Ellis ‘invented’ rugby during a game of football, don’t you?
No, that’s a myth invented by the Rugby Football Union to establish an entirely bogus provenance for Rugby football. It’s as factual as the Abner Doubleday myth in baseball—that’s something else I’ll bet you know next to nothing about.
The association came first and the game, after being codified, became known as association football.
It became known as association football to distinguish it from another popular football—rugby football.
Actually countries have for differing reasons, sports which are referred to as football in general conversation. In the US it’s american football, Ireland gaelic football, NZ rugby football and in Aussie you have league and rules as well…
The term Soccer originated in the UK prior to football become the common parlance around 18 tears later. In 1863 rules were written up for association football and the game was refered to as assoccer (short for association) shortened again to Soccer before Football took hold years later.
As a general rule of thumb it seems that each country refers to it’s first prevelant type of football game as football.
So again the business world proves its inability to function without sucking on the tax and rate payer tit. Unable to do or create business without social welfare and subsidies provided by those on the minimum wage. Proof this week lies in…
1. Government proposal that ratepayers pay for a convention centre for businesses to talk business. Why can’t the business world build and operate its own place to meet and talk?
2. Government proposal that ratepayers pay for a covered stadium for businesses to do business. Why can’t the business worl build and operate its own place to play business?
This lines up with countless others such as…
a. NZX needing taxpayer support to make its flawed business a little better, lest it completely crashes and burns.
b. Farmers and dairy companies needing taxpayer money to build their irrigation in Canterbury.
c. Banks and finance companies needing taxpayer guarantees to stop them completely falling over.
d. Business investors needing taxpayer power companies to invest in because they are incapable of building and investing in their own.
e. … please add ….
The business world is useless. The centre-right model fails. They are shown by the above to be bludging beneficiaries.
I would dearly love someone to explain how this is not the case …. pleeease, please please, someone ….. anyone ….. come on gosman, tsmithfield, david farrar, john key, mark weldon, someone, someone.
If i was a chch ratepayer i would be really pOff, being lumbered with the convention center and a covered stadium. ESpecially if i was having problems with rebuilds etc.
I agree VTO, why is it the ratepayer is expected to prop these up buisnesses
I could understand it IF they were good money spinners, BUT they dont appear to be.
And then there is the really smart idea to sell the profitable parts of the council busineses to fund them.
I agree with the convention centre being ridiculous but Jade Stadium used to be a good money spinner for Christchurch and there is a bit of evidence that a covered stadium would increase the numbers through the gates.
Ummmm… you assume the National led Government is so ideologically driven it doesn’t see any role for Government. That is plainly not the case as witnessed by numerous policies of the National Party where it makes clear it wants Government to be involved directly in infrastructure development. Whether this is a good or bad thing is a different matter entirely.
“Ummmm… you assume the National led Government is so ideologically driven it doesn’t see any role for Government.”
Ummmm, no, Gosman. That’s not VTO’s p.o.v. That is the neo-liberal dogma of the free market and it’s adherents. VTO was simply pointing out the sheer hypocrisy that on the one hand, Business doesn’t want state interference in it’s activities – but on the other, is only too happy to accept billions in corporate welfare.
Can you say, “hy-po-cri-sy”?
“That is plainly not the case as witnessed by numerous policies of the National Party where it makes clear it wants Government to be involved directly in infrastructure development.”
Oh…. so, private enterprise by itself can’t deliver infra-structural development and the role of the State is paramount?
Hmmm, well colour me gobsmacked, I think you may be realising the realities of a modern State, and why your neo-liberal Nirvana doesn’t exist anywhere except in the kinky masterbatory fantasies of Ayn Randists.
Congratulations, Gosman. You have just crossed over from the Twilight Zone of the “free” market, into Realityland.
Even the 25,484 ACT (not so much Libertarian) voters will have varying views on how free the market should be. From their policy on SOEs:
In the last parliamentary term, with ACT’s pressure and support, the government:
• Opened up the debate about privatising some State Owned Enterprises.
ACT will continue to advocate for sensible SOE policy. A Party vote for ACT is a vote to:
• Continue a rational, evidence based debate about the role of government ownership in the economy.
That’s hardly free market ideology. From what I see of their website thay are only mildly promoting a partial free market.
Conservatives (or Colin Craig) didn’t support part asset sales so can’t be called ‘free’ market fans.
A number of National voters were against or lukewarm on the partial sales. National is a very moderate centre-left party so I’d be surprised if many of them are anywhere near pure free market fans.
It’s not a “weak” claim at all. Despite their website, ACT has stated that they intend to “sell the lot” when it comes to asset sales.
And you missed this statement freom thweir website, Pete;
“Sell state assets such as power generation companies; the overwhelming evidence is that such valuable assets produce more wealth when managed privately;”
“Conservatives (or Colin Craig) didn’t support part asset sales so can’t be called ‘free’ market fans.”
No, but they do believe in a free market in other areas.
“A number of National voters were against or lukewarm on the partial sales. National is a very moderate centre-left party so I’d be surprised if many of them are anywhere near pure free market fans.”
That’s why I wrote “With certainty ranging from 1% – 99%: 1,117,873 (National & Conservative Party voters)”
Goose thats to do with who donates the most to the National party.
Roading contractors
Trucking industry(Nationals retirement policy for over the hill mp,s)
Global oil companies cartel
banking Cartel
Very well said. Contrary to the beliefs of the RWNJs and mainstream economists (and many heterodox) wealth does not come from the private sector. Wealth comes from the community.
1. Government proposal that ratepayers pay for a convention centre for businesses to talk business. Why can’t the business world build and operate its own place to meet and talk?
Presuming that this is correct, public/private partnerships are often used to initiate a better business environment. It’s true that some businesses benefit from public money but the public benefit from employment and economic activity.
In which case, one wonders why PUBLIC assets have to be PRIVATISED? Why isn’t private enterprise capable of building it’s own pwer generation; transmission; retailing; etc?
Why the parasitic semi-privatisation of assets that were built up by the PUBLIC, for the PUBLIC?
I’m listening to Radionz and a business person Peter Townsend Chch Chamber of Commerce and Chch Councillor Yani Johanson who is talking about repairs in suburbs being in the shadows and large expensive projects in the CBD dominating the spending. And that those may not provide a return and so being supported by the taxpayer. Who may be struggling as his and her own life remains on hold and needing help and repair.
The business person is all ready to sell off part of Chch council’s substantital assets to fund essential investment to prevent ‘Chch underperforming as an iconic city going forward’. The money raised – would it then be spent on what residents really need and which would promote job-creating business.
I wonder can Christchurch have a good playing area for sports purposes and holding rock concerts etc with a stadium built to a low budget but with a second stage incorporated into the design when and if there is sufficient customer demand and finance available?
prism, Townsend and others take the moral high ground on these things and claim, due to their great business acumen and knowledge about all things money, that without this big spend then the city will fail.
What Townsend and others fail to answer is the question I outline above.
Their model doesn’t work, and the evidence for that is plentiful (see above). They refuse to answer it. There is no answer to it.
You have that about right, upon a politician,(or anyone else for that matter), using the words ”going forward” in a phrase it is best to start looking for the Con involved,
”Going forward” replaces ”At the end of the day” as the current favorite in the lexicon of the Conman…
‘going forward’ I think it forms one in a series of accepted code words for business and to use it shows that you are ‘one of us’ and understand our language, which often is convoluted so it can’t come back and bite the speaker in the bum.
That or you don’t say anything and blame that on the need for protecting information because of ‘commercial sensitivity’. And we are getting this more and more from government itself when we want information and answers, and this can only increase as private enterprise is used to carry out government services. No option of Information Act to call on there.
Agreed, prism. Also, “going forward” gives the superficial impression of being dynamic and on top of the issues. But it’s an irritating piece of jargon and over-used.
If in a country where the commentary on tv Olympics is totally in another language (Spanish) it is great to watch coverage, turn the sound down and make your own commentary. Reckon it still makes just as much sense, if not more.
True. I tend to leave the sound to get used to the way the language is spoken (spoken too fast to catch a word, but. Especially Spanish!), although I know I’m sort of fooling myself.
It might seem like a small bunch of crooks getting away with ripping off creditors but it goes a lot deeper than that. The wrong people are prospering at the expense of the right people. An extreme example of this is Feltex who raised huge sums from shareholders only for the bank to take it all and the shareholders losing everything
IMO one of the best ways to get our economy moving again is to clean out all the crooks in business & leave the market to the people who do contribute something to society. Labour have never done anything there, I think because so few of them know anything about business they have no idea what goes on in that world.
IMO one of the best ways to get our economy moving again is to clean out all the crooks in business & leave the market to the people who do contribute something to society. Labour have never done anything there, I think because so few of them know anything about business they have no idea what goes on in that world.
So you would support Labour in directly and centrally intervening to clear out the crooks, ticket clippers and parasites from the economy and from the business community?
You do realise that most of the people who will be cleared out will be National supporters?
Something few people really understand is that there’s been a quiet undeclared war waging in the business sector for a very long time. The crooks who exploit the lack of law enforcement gain a commercial advantage over those people who play by the rules. Most people in business in NZ are actually pretty honest but it’s the crooks who tend to prosper because they have that extra edge which gives them a better profit margin, lower costs etc and prevents the real achievers from competing on a level playing field. Those crooks go on to form networks that protect each other & we end up with the mess we have now.
Yeah they do, they infiltrate every sector that involves other people’s money.
The really, really, depressing part is that we have all the laws we need to put an end to these crooks. They just don’t get enforced. People complain regularly to the various regulatory & enforcement bodies and they do nothing. Liquidators & receivers have been complaining about their side of it for a very long time, they got so frustrated about the lack of enforcement action they stopped making complaints… was no point.
All Labour needs to do is vote enough money to that side of law enforcement to ensure that every single complaint is followed up. Would cost a bomb to start with but once the cleanup started it would only take a few years to get the costs back down. They only do it because they know they can get away with it. It really is that simple.
The director had failed to keep accurate financial reports, accounts, or hand them over to the liquidator, but that sort of non-compliance was now ‘routine’, he said
If anyone sees that as anything other than outright corruption then they’re deluding themselves. And it’s now routine in NZ.
Has been for years. White collar crims are good at working out the loopholes in our laws, it’s their modus operandi really. The biggest loophole by far is non-enforcement, the crims know that the chances of getting caught are virtually nil. Commerce Commission alone get over 10,000 complaints a year and they bin them all…. except for the odd one that suits their own agendas.
There’s a perverse irony in it really. Labour could have put paid to a lot of their most ardent ideological enemies if they’d simply ensured that our laws were properly enforced. And the country & economy would have been a lot better off from it.
So, yesterday I had a go at Labour for their poor performance at question time.
But it’s easy to be wise after the event, so this time I’m going to predict what can – or should – happen. Posting this in advance of the questions (2 pm).
An unusual and interesting question today:
Hon TARIANA TURIA to the Minister of Finance: “Did the Minister of Māori Affairs discuss with him how the Crown would meet its Treaty obligation with respect to the Mixed Ownership Model?”
So I’m guessing that’s an attempt to bail out Pita Sharples, after yesterday’s embarrassment. Turia and English will want to say they’ve been consulting, it’s all good, nothing to see here. (I am assuming it’s a patsy question – but if it’s a real question, an opposition-type question, then all bets are off, the coalition is falling apart).
Then supplementaries – a chance for the Opposition to score a hit.
Previously Chris Finlayson answered on behalf of Sharples on a related matter (the recent late night meeting between Key and Turia/Sharples, the one where they kissed and made up after Key had dissed the Waitangi tribunal).
But Finlayson dodged the questions. He claimed that there was no ministerial responsibility, because Turia/Sharples and Key had only been meeting in their capacity as party leaders. Not as Ministers.
Now Turia is specifically asking the Minister (Bill English) about “the Minister of Māori Affairs” meeting the “Minister of Finance”. On the same subject.
That’s a clear contradiction. Labour should stop shouting, LISTEN carefully to the answer, and seize on it …
“Was the meeting [from English’s answer] between Ministers?” etc.
And more follow-ups, depending on the anwers.
The basic point is … the National/Maori Party coalition only holds together because Turia/Sharples pretend to be two different things – the party leaders who stand up for their people, and the government Ministers in the limos. It’s a fiction, and it’s the Opposition’s job to expose it. They have a chance to do this today.
(note – this is only one suggestion, there are many other lines of attack for Labour and other parties. Any hits will do. But faffing around and achieving nothing is NOT good enough).
that was a meeting between party leaders, for which there is no ministerial responsibility.
I wonder where they are going with this because that is a real squirmer. My take is key never said what turia said he said. He will use any and every trick, in and out of the book, to get these sales through. There is real murk in that meeting and it should be getting significant questioning – the more questions – the more murk will be revealed.
Before question time Pita Sharples made a “personal explanation”, about his answers yesterday. Maybe Labour thought he’d suffered enough …
There’s a “No Surprises” agreement between the Maori Party and National. Judging by Bill English’s answers today, Tariana Turia may have broken it.
Earlier, Norman and Robertson both did a good job on the Banks story. Only undermined by Trevor Mallard being a self-indulgent fool, as usual. “Yeah, that’s a good tactic, Trev, just remind everyone that you were fighting in the lobby, that’s the headline we want”. Idiot.
I’ve wondered if mallard was a double agent the number of times he offers them distractions – but then I remember indigenous trev and I realise he’s just a fool.
gobsmacked
But lots of people lerve TMallard – such a feisty contender in the House, a handy jester in the right place, but unfortunately takes it too far and has become resident buffoon.
gs, I think it played out according to your first guess: an attempt at face saving by Turia, and to show all is still well with the partnership between the government and Maori Party:
Just think about the CTV building. Which held up through the first Earthquake ?7.2? only then to collapse. One comment was that the engineers who certified the building said they had problems seeing important parts of the structure because of television cabling etc. When we have rules about getting access to water for fire crews, exit signs that can be seen in a fire, etc. Why don’t buildings have rules, by designers, about how to access buildings weak points after an Earthquake? Especially since after shocks are so much a factor in Earthquake events? Surely the designers were at fault and the building owners, for not collaborating not only after the first quake on weak points, but by not having done so well before any quakes hit. We do after all live in a country of quakes like the Gisborne quake not so long ago.
national are supposed to be the party of business so where is the new business?
most businessmen in NZ are inheritors and never started anything.
all they know is how to cut workers wages to the bone.
thats not really business.
thats just running a private horror show for the psychological satisfaction of the owners.
An RSA spokesman calls the conviction and punishment of an RSA official ‘laughable.’ What a bunch of twisted people RSA can be. They disdained servicemen from the Vietnam war for some years. Now this RSA official wore a Vietnam medal and they don’t like that. It’s fair enough that they don’t like people wearing medals they don’t deserve to, as this man did but have some balance can’t you.
He also wrote a cheque for $60 with a flimsy reason. He has been ordered to pay back $500. Considering people who have been actually hurt by war these are just misdemeanours. And a time to be magnanimous. And the fact that some offence he committed back in the 1950s is another indication of what a mean carping society we have. Such minor misdemeanours should be dropped from the ledgers after 20 years.
What a pity about the Pacific cable which would have been a great opportunity for NZ investors. It would be a solid investment and all those Mum and Dads who are desperate to put their money in blue chip investments in NZ had their chance. But no, I guess they frittered it all away on an extra one per cent on the risky investments of finance houses fronted by pretty boys with smooth smiles, and well cultured voices.
RIP Margaret Mahy (1936–2012 ) is the most acclaimed of New Zealand’s children’s writers. The author of more than 120 titles, and translated into 15 languages, …
I heard something about the Minister for Earthquake relief being forced to concede.. and he’s gone off feeling unwell, sick or tired or all the above and couldn’t. Concede? What’s that word.
The Greens pick at poor old Gerry incessantly don’t they, it’s hilarious to watch at times,
For a while there it was all oh so easy for one of Slippery’s bookends Brownlee to bat away such questioning barely deigning to give an answer,
Having tho learned the intricate nature of ‘points of order’ poor old Gerry has been finding it becoming increasingly impossible to do what He does best, be a condescending arse-hole, today the Greens hit pay-dirt getting Him not only a spanking from the Speaker but giving Him an obvious case of the s**ts as well,
10 points for good skills go to the Greens who have been doggedly grinding Gerry into the dust of His own bulls**t for quite some time,
I see no reason to be shy of Gerry’s sudden bout of dyp-something-or-other, (dip-s**ttery), there’s quite a bit more of the large edifice yet to be demolished and hopefully the Greens continue to apply the grindstone…
That’s no surprise Carol, wonder is it doesn’t happen there more often. Their power grid gets massively overloaded by all the hi-jacked power feeds, pinching power is a sport over there.
In some areas you see a crazy birds nest of wires running from the overhead transformers, people climb the poles at night & wire up their homes for free power. I had a transformer explode right above me when walking the street there once, huge shower of sparks with molten aluminium spraying everywhere, and not one local on the street batted an eyelid… happens all the time.
In the last five years, Mercury Energy have followed the present economic
wisdom of aiming for efficiency and a good return to their shareholders (the
Mercury Trust), raised power prices, reduced their field workforce by half, and
raised management salaries by 30%, with total revenues of $580M in 1997. In
addition for the last three years their energy has been poured mostly into a
pointless (and ultimately fruitless) struggle to take over their neighbouring
power supplier, Power NZ, which cost Mercury $300m. In the middle of the first
week without power, the Auckland City Council called an emergency meeting in
the town hall to discuss the problems people were facing. Some of the business
owners who attended were on the verge of bankruptcy because of the lack of
power, but Mercury didn’t even bother turning up, an act which the mayor
described as “a disgrace”
Is Jenny ready to turn Syria over to the bomb makers and islamic fighters of Al-Qaida Iraq?
Guess you better ask her, since for some naieve reason she thinks that the Syrian conflict is of the Syrian people, by the Syrian people, for the Syrian people.
“When we attacked the base with the FSA we tried everything and failed,” said Abu Khuder. “Even with around 200 men attacking from multiple fronts they couldn’t injure a single government soldier and instead wasted 1.5m Syrian pounds [£14,500] on firing ammunition at the walls.”
Then a group of devout and disciplined Islamist fighters in the nearby village offered to help. They summoned an expert from Damascus and after two days of work handed Abu Khuder their token of friendship: a truck rigged with two tonnes of explosives.
Two men drove the truck close to the gate of the base and detonated it remotely. The explosion was so large, Abu Khuder said, that windows and metal shutters were blown hundreds of metres, trees were ripped up by their roots and a huge crater was left in the middle of the road.
The next day the army left and the town of Mohassen was free.
“The car bomb cost us 100,000 Syrian pounds and fewer than 10 people were involved [in the operation],” he said. “Within two days of the bomb expert arriving we had it ready. We didn’t waste a single bullet.
“The United States and its allies should consider opening a second front in the Syrian war. In addition to helping end Bashar Assad’s rule, there is a growing need to conduct a covert campaign against al Qaeda and other extremist groups gaining a presence in the country.”
–But, hold on, nah that can’t be right…they must be making this shit up. Real people dying though!
That will learn that pesky Assad bloke to buy his big bangs from the Russians instead of from the Yanks right,
The American,(Hilary Clinton) geo-political plan for the Middle East would seem to be to simply ‘produce’ in those country’s that don’t strictly toe the American party line ‘popular revolutions’,
The CIA simply had to get out the old plans for South America and blow off the years of gathered dust,
Protecting it’s, (Americas), interests in whats left of the oil reserves under the desert sands of the Middle East has jelled quite nicely for the Yanks in that they get to add another layer of (closer) protection to the state of Israel which can only gain O’bummer some much needed political support back home,
Dove-tailing nicely into this is the ability to help prop up the House of Saud and the smaller dictatorial gulf states who religiously adhere to the American dream while they still can,(until the oil runs out),
The House of Saud grateful for the protection of 30,000 US troops busily partying up in the smaller Gulf States are more than happy to play bagman and paymasters for the latest US adventure in the Middle-East,
The bombers having learned their craft in Iraq via the US military while in the employ of the CIA,now to all extents and purposes assassins in the direct employ of the House of Saud doing the bidding of God knows who, but most likely the CIA or some obscure ‘think tank’ or ‘foundation’ back home in the States tasked with spreading such mayhem while giving the US administration deniability thus allowing Barak to wash the blood of martyrs off of His hands every night befor he puts His kids to bed…
How is it the Pacific Fibre venture Sam Morgan tried to get going should fall over due to lack of investment when we keep getting told there are investors screaming out for places to invest?
Guess they wont want to invest in any power companies then.
The current breed of ‘capitalist investors’ are only interested in a sure thing. Actual entrepreneurial risk and creation of real, new physical wealth? No thanks.
The first thing “free marketeers” do with wealth and power is to distort the market in their favour.
Fletchers dropping trade rates in Christchurch, employers demanding immigration to replace the workers they cannot get because they do not pay or train enough, overseas shipping cartels screwing our ports, managers and directors screwing their workforce to increase their own pay, demanding legislation to restrict workers freedom, demanding freedom themselves to form cartels and monopolies, demanding tax payers to turn over their business because they are incapable of starting their own, just to mention a few.
”’Angel investing (capital provided by affluent individuals for business start-ups) accounted for less than 1% of the investable assets of high net worth individuals in North America in 2011. The Mendelsohn Affluent Survey agreed that the very rich spend less than two percent of their money on new business startups.
The Wall Street Journal noted, in way of confirmation, that the extra wealth created by the Bush tax cuts led to the “worst track record for jobs in recorded history.” ”’
I keep thinking I should submit a guest post here about Louisa Wall’s marriage equality bill.
Then I realise that the “post” would largely consist of saying “For fuck’s sake, people, Pete George supports this, so if you don’t, what the fuck are you doing around here?”
I mostly express my own independent opinions. And I’ve been supporting (and promoting) marriage equality significantly longer than Dunne, he didn’t show his support until last week when Louisa’s bill was drawn from the ballot, which was a change of position for him.
Is this the only time PG has supported something of merit?
That’s a bit pathetic. Is ‘of merit’ code for ‘of Labour’? Even if that’s the case it’s a nonsense claim.
I’ve actively supported Monday-ising holidays and promoted that to Dunne.
I’ve actively supported Moroney’s Paid Parental Leave Bill (which coincides with UF policy).
I’ve actively supported and promoted a debate on NZ Super, in part alongside Labour efforts.
I’ve actively supported and promoted Save TVNZ 7 and was asked (by Labour organisers) to participate in the Dunedin debate.
I’ve actively supported and promoted the euthanasia debate and I think I’ve been the only one to post on Maryan Street’s bill here.
I’ve been more supportive of Shearer and Labour leadership here than many with close Labour connections.
I also happen to support some things UF/Dunne. For example the Taxation (Annual Rates, Returns Filing, and Remedial Matters) Bill that had it’s second reading yesterday is ‘of merit’.
Name one benefit it brought us. Thugs on display. I haven’t met one person who enjoyed that silly 7 week spending binge by the government. I suppose Key enjoyed it.
Seconded! It was a huge disruption for no purpose..
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
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There has been an unexpected drop in Japanese industrial production.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10823292
This drop in manufacturing has not been caused by peak, oil or the complete nuclear shutdown, (previously responsible for 30% of Japan’s electricity supply), but by a global drop in demand for manufactured products caused by the global economic recession.
Though undermined by this latest drop in manufacturing demand, Japan had recently been experiencing a recovery due to government spending on earthquake reconstruction and incentives to buy fuel-efficient cars.
This points the way forward for the Japan economy. A switch to the manufacture of WWS and away from private automobiles would see a huge drop in cost per unit of this technology, kick starting demand, and possibly creating a brand new global market for this technology.
At a time when the world needs it most.
With the unused manufacturing capacity caused by the recession Japan has the historical opportunity to harness their industrial might and reputation for innovation to become a global leader in WWS.
An unexpected drop in Japanese manufacturing? Unexpected to whom, the gormless business wizards at the Herald? Global PMI numbers a full month ago showed the truth in manufacturing across the world.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/june-global-pmi-summary-euro-area-slowdown-beginning-impact-rest-world
We can also see that Japan, a country which has been extremely reliant on (and succesful at) massive trade surpluses with the rest of the world is currently going under because, as you say, falls in foreign orders have been dropping signficantly.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443570904577547682790871116.html
And you said
But the global economic recession is driven (in part) by peak oil. BTW Japan only got away with shutting down its nuclear power plants because its economy was slowing down by happenchance.
You are advocating a ‘green growth’ strategy here, in order to “kick start demand”? You do know that if Japan succeeds in greatly increasing WWS manufacturing, it is going to be through firing up fossil fuel power stations?
What the hell does WWS stand for?
I’m wondering that too. Google and wiki don’t bring up anything useful.
In my wildest imagination i’m guessing Wind Wave Solar.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=a-path-to-sustainable-energy-by-2030&page=2
Since CV doesn’t read links, I will have to try the Sysop’s patience by putting in large slabs of text.
If we do not adopt a plan along the lines laid out by Sci Am, see above, then the world is on a track to a 6 degree C increase. According to scientists such a huge increase in global temperatures will destroy agriculture and render large parts of the globe uninhabitable. On top of the environmental disaster, rising sea levels will see large areas of coastal land either covered by sea water directly or severly degraded by salt water inclusion, leading to forced mass migration on a scale unmatched in human history. No part of the globe will be left untouched by the catastrophe.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/25/governments-catastrophic-climate-change-iea
SciAm plan is unachievable. World can’t convert to electric or hybrid vehicles. Would require massive (fossil fuel) energy investment just to refine the rare earth minerals, steel and aluminium required.
Has Weldon ever produced the number for donations to chch earthquake recovery he gathered while taking a leave of absence to collect from his overseas contacts ?
I have asked this question twice and had no response. I have seen nothing anywhere EXCEPT the big splash when he went away. My suspicion is he raise very little, else there would have been
Lotsa news.
Is there any way to find out?
According to this random stuff article he raised nearly $100 million – gives no details though
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/queens-birthday-honours-2012/7038655/Answering-call-to-help-quake-city-boost-stocks
Thankx chris.
Sir Graham Henry risking rugby ridicule
NZ Newswire, 30 July 2012
Former International Rugby Board referee selector Bob Francis fears Sir Graham Henry will be “ridiculed” by the global rugby fraternity following his controversial claims about the All Blacks’ 2007 World Cup quarter-final.
Henry claims he pushed for an IRB investigation following New Zealand’s loss to France in Cardiff.
In his biography, Graham Henry: Final Word, the former All Blacks coach was highly critical of the performance of English referee Wayne Barnes and his assistant referees.
Henry described the match as bizarre, believing at least 40 infringements committed by the French were overlooked.
Francis, on the IRB panel that selected Barnes to control the final, described Henry’s views as extreme. He was also disappointed that Henry’s legacy would take a hit after having guided the All Blacks to World Cup glory last year.
He expected the IRB to shortly pen a critical response to Henry’s comments.
“There will be some support for his views within New Zealand,” Francis told NZ Newswire. “But having some knowledge of the northern hemisphere scene, I think his comments will be ridiculed, without doubt. The saddest part really is that Graham Henry bounced back from 2007 and did so well. He won the (2011) World Cup and was knighted and so he left on a great note. I think this has taken some gloss off that.”
Francis, a former test referee and mayor of Masterton, said he and former IRB referees boss Paddy O’Brien – also a New Zealander – analysed the Cardiff Test for several hours the day after it was played.
“We admitted all along there were some referee mistakes in the game, or omissions,” he said. “But we never at any stage believed it was anywhere near the extent in this book. We reject the assertion totally and would question the method of the analysis.”
O’Brien refused to comment on the Henry revelations on Monday. He was critical of the opprobrium aimed at Barnes in the weeks following the defeat.
The NZRU produced a short statement on Monday distancing itself from Henry’s comments.
“It was well documented at the time and as part of our 2007 campaign review, that there were concerns about the refereeing. We took our concerns to the IRB, they listened, and everyone has moved on since then,” the statement said.
NZN
Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Sir-Graham-Henry-risking-rugby-ridicule—Francis/tabid/415/articleID/263193/Default.aspx#ixzz22E7zvjQa
The actual text of his interview read something like “I briefly considered match-fixing, then dismissed the possibility.” The only person who deserves ridicule is the SST journo who blew it all out of proportion.
Besides, 40 missed penalties? You’d be a fool to not at least briefly consider it.
The actual text of his interview read something like “I briefly considered match-fixing, then dismissed the possibility.” The only person who deserves ridicule is the SST journo who blew it all out of proportion.
The person who rightly deserves ridicule for this foolish claim is Henry, for even raising it. There is nothing at all to support his allegation.
Besides, 40 missed penalties? You’d be a fool to not at least briefly consider it.
You’d be a fool to accept such a baseless and unsupported claim. Henry has no evidence to back up that wild claim. The fact is that France did NOT infringe during the long period in the second half when the All Blacks tried (in vain) to breach their defence.
I hope there’s a chapter on cheating by the All Blacks, the current captain specifically. However, the guts of rugby’s problems lie with its ridiculously complicated nature. Football has 11 ‘laws’ that have stayed essentially constant for a century, rugby has hundreds of rules that regularly change. In football or league, the crowd usually sees the offence that causes the whistle to be blown; in rugby, nobody knows.
That rugby laws are different to football laws is something that differentiates them as quite different games. Diversity is a good thing.
Laws help define the character of the game. Complexity and a range of contests make rugby the unique game that it is. We can enjoy the differences.
🙄
ps. “To choose sports for fashion or you personality. The basic idea is to enjoy yourself. That is important. It’s outdoor sport that has recently started to shine. Outdoor sport is the science to raise spirits”
The famous Japanese philisopher RAV 4.
I now have coffee on my keyboard. Thanks.
Sorry, mate! Pete’s waffle was so similar to that spare tyre cover’s wording, I just couldn’t help myself.
Rugby Union is doing just fine around the world with it’s ‘complicated’ laws. It’s extremely debateable that simplyfied games do better anyway. Rugby League is definately less popular than Rugby Union around the World where it is only in Papua New Guinea and the Eastern states of Australia where it is the more popular form of Rugby.
League is also more popular in the UK in terms of spectator attendence, I understand, though Rugby has the better TV audiences. And the Perth Pirates will be joining the NRL in two seasons, taking that code to both coasts of Oz.
Rugby in NZ is dying, according to a report released this morning. The ITM cup teams are losing millions each year.
I think you will find that your view about the spectator attendance difference between Rugby League and Rugby Union in the UK is based on out of date data. Rugby Union has pretty much caught up and surpassed Rugby League in the Club game and in the International game there is no comparison. Rugby League struggles to fill 40,000 seat stadiums whilst England, Scotland, and Wales regularly fill 70 -80,000 seat stadiums for the big Internationals.
It is also incorreect when to state it is in the UK and not England. Rugby League is pretty much non-existant outside the North of England and (one) London club as a Professional spectator sport.
The NRL expansion is not as settled as you would like to make out. I have seen reports over the past few years which have said expansion to any number of places was imminent, (including to Wellington even). As for ITM provinces losing money, this happens in professional sport all the time. The Warriors had to be bailed out a few years ago. That didn’t mean Rugby League in NZ was dying or even in much trouble.
That link you posted doesn’t state that they are losing millions each year? It says their revenue dropped in 2011 and states the world cup as the likely reason for that.
That report said that 9 of the 14 teams made a profit.
Only 1 NRL franchise makes any money, they tried expansion before to Perth (your an expert TRP you must remember the reds) and it bit them big time.
What is it you dont like about NZ Rugby.
The special treatment and high levels of tax payer subsidies required in order to operate its loss making events and venues, for starters.
I thought you would be all for State picking winners and providing them with preferential treatment.
FFS CV, you really are an embittered little c**k.
Rob
What’s your beef? Be a man and face the facts. CV stated facts which are sour – the facts about rugby’s present situation, with the money and interest sucked up by the business interests and professionals not the keen people in the regions. But the money guys still present rugby as a family and nationwide sport and therefore the venues should be provided by the public.
My beef, is that I volunteer a lot of time to community rugby and two other sports. I think it is good for kids to be involved in it. I dont like arm chair wankers who do nothing but run it down.
So thats my beef.
My beef is that my city council keeps writing off debts accrued by the local rugby union, after building a multihundredmilliondollarfuckingstadium. At the expense of everyone else in the city.
Rob
I said
“with the money and interest sucked up by the business interests and professionals not the keen people in the regions. But the money guys still present rugby as a family and nationwide sport and therefore the venues should be provided”
My beef is that I was stating real problems that affect your good efforts so why not try and read through a full paragraph and form an understanding from the full comment. Then comment on whether I was suggesting something you had experienced, understood or whatever. Otherwise it’s a waste of time you trying to participate in a forum where people enter their thoughts and respond to others thoughts not just repeating some litany of moans. No reason for you to call us armchair wankers, know thyself son.
Fuck providing breakfasts in schools dear tax payers, these professional corporate (and government) sponsored rugby teams need a new half billion dollar stadium to strut their stuff!
“Fuck providing breakfasts in schools dear tax payers, these professional corporate (and government) sponsored rugby teams need a new half billion dollar stadium to strut their stuff!”
Damn straight.
It sez a lot for our skewed sense of priorities that National could oversee spending of $220 million of public money on a rugby tournament, when 220,000 kids live in poverty.
No matter which way you colour it, Rob, that is sickening.
That hacks me off, too! Thugby can pay its own way – if enough people give a toss about it! I assure you, far fewer do than the media think – even Radio NZ assumes we care. I thought they’d know better!
Perhaps, Gosman because unlike you, fairly sensible people prefer public money to be spent on housuing, education and healthcare – rather than wasting $220+ million on a rugby tournament.
When we have 4,276 people on a State Housing waiting list – whilst spending millions on a rugby game – then there is something seriously wrong.
The question is, Gosman, why do you find it so hard to relate to something so basic in our needs?
I’ve already mentioned this to you previously, (which unsurprisingly you seemed to fail to comprehend for some reason), if you had a problem with Government funding for the RUWC you should take it up with the members of the last Labour led Government in this country who were instrumental in winning the hosting rights. In short blame Helen and Trevor.
Oh Gossie, that’s past wasteful expenditure on rugby (a “sunk cost” in the terminology, you know). And so if you agree it was shit, let’s stop doing it from now on eh?
How did Labour fund $220 million on the rugby world cup, Gosman?
How does winning hosting rights mean that taxpayers have to foot the bill?
Where did it say in the contract that we were liable to pay for the WRC, Gosman?
Because a large part of the expenditure was built into the Hosting right’s agreement which Labour signed. The tens of millions of dollars in funding the Government paid to cover the shortfall in the ticket sales was something Labour signed up to. So essentially was the money to provide suitable stadiums and support infrastructure. Yes some funding was driven and controlled by National when they got into power but the vast bulk of it was already committed the moment we won the hosting rights. You seem to fail to grasp this rather simple concept.
Re HNZ, King said on Morning Report that a person has to take three rejection letters to HNZ from landlords as part of being housed. HNZ are doing all they can to not subsidise housing for those who are really struggling.
Frank don’t forget the billion dollars local bodies spent as well.
Now the rugby brain injured National party want to stop local authorities from doing it again after Shonkey has taken all the Kudos
Cat walk
team photo
Kinky handshake
Winners!
Not propping up losing businesses, with artificially low wages, taxpayer subsidies and privatisation, that cannot make a go of it otherwise.
Especially losing businesses and events which are showcases and wallet stuffers for the rich and the corporates. It seems the Right are very fond of that kind of state provided “welfare”.
It makes more sense than backing losers, which is all that the current mob can do. How’s that Holiday Highway working out for you?
Yep, what CV said and, of course, the boredom!
To answer a couple of points:
Chris, you need to read the article again. I didn’t say that each franchise was losing millions each year. I accurately reported that they are losing millions collectively. And that’s over many years. Further to that, clubs are dying in the provinces. Forced amalgamations or just closure are the realities for grassroots rugby. Meanwhile football continues to grow ever more popular (go the Footie Ferns!).
Gossie, dead right about the UK, I should have said England. I disagree about your assesment of local league, though. The Perth Reds (cheers, Rob) and the Warriors both went broke because of financial mismanagement, not because of the state of the game. The NRL will be expanding to WA and they will make it work. Just look at the turnout at the Warriors game there a week ago; bad result, but a whopping crowd. The next expansion phase will also include a new Brisbane team, likely to be based in the suburbs.
Grassroots rugby is going the way of grassroots yachting. Too much emphasis on those who are competing at the top end internationally, while starving those who play at local level.
Bullshit, you guys know absolutely nothing as usual. Go to rugby grounds early Saturday morning if you could actually get out of bed on time and you will see loads of grass roots volunteers (coaches, refs , administrators) plus loads of kids playing the game. This is what you fundementally do not get and never will. Whatever your hatred of NZRU or the All Blacks , or the wold cup is, you guys have no idea of what it means at a local community level where lots of good families get involved just as they do for many sports.
Take your bigotry and stuff it up your pompous backside .
“Take your bigotry and stuff it up your pompous backside” .
Yes, I’d forgotten Rugby’s obsession with buggery, thanks for reminding me. And do check the sports draw section of today’s newspaper wherever it is you live. Count the number of rugby games. Then count the number of footy games. You’re not going to like the result, Rob.
Rugby doesn’t even make it into the top twenty on this list of the games we play.
settle down rob – several people are actually saying the same thing as you
the general gist of things does seem to be
local/grassroots rugby – sweet as, nothing wrong with it
corporate rugby – not so good, syphons off taxpayer money to subsdise business ventures and deprives grassroots rugby of much needed funds
at least thats the way the discussion appears to me
Rob… Have you taken your meds this morning?!?!
Hey Frank, “have you taken your meds this morning” HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, oh really, how original, wow I have never heard that before, my god you are an original comic genius, please stop my sides are acheing. The originality and the humour, classic…
As to you TRiPe, obviously we should just call off the whole game as you dont like it, Why dont you go out there if your legs can support your enourmous head and explain to the very few people who play the game or are at all interested in Rugby, that its all waste of time as you are an intellectual genius from the Standard and this is how you deem it to be. How about you tell these guys at half time that its boring you and that they engage in buggery, you dork.
Cheers, Rob, but I can’t take credit for the slow painful death of rugby as a player sport. That’s entirely down to the game itself and its professional version fixated leadership who don’t give a toss about grassroots rugby, as long as the AB’s get paid. Funnily enough, in the small rural town where I live, the local rugby club limps on, reduced to a single team, with players mainly drawn from the nearest large town instead of from the locals. The sons of the soil round here either work on Saturdays or, you guessed it, play football.
The games can go on, just not with tax payer handouts to the corporate entities involved.
Go on TRiPe name the rugby club .
” oh really, how original, wow I have never heard that before ”
Heh, while I don’t actually care about this conversation either way I can’t help but wonder how many people are asking about Rob taking his meds and in what capacity.
If they are medical professionals I strongly suggest following their advice.
Why would I want to name the club, Rob? It’s not as if that’s an unusual situation; as I mentioned earlier, clubs are either shutting up shop or going through forced amalgamations right round the country. In the case of my local team, the other clubs have lent them players just so the competition can retain a rural away game every second week. It’s a pretty sad situation, but that’s how the NZRFU seem to want it.
By the way, have I mentioned how pathetic the AB’s and Super 12 salaries actually are? The richest sportsmen in NZ tend to be footballers, golfers, yatchies and the occasional basketballer or baseballer. Rugby incomes reflect the global presence of the game, ie. zilch.
Oh I see now, so a sport is only valid if you get super heated salaries.
@ Rob,
“Hey Frank, “have you taken your meds this morning” HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, oh really, how original, wow I have never heard that before, my god you are an original comic genius, please stop my sides are acheing. The originality and the humour, classic…”
I never claimed to be “original”. I don’t get paid enough to deliver original comic material on blogs.
“Take your bigotry and stuff it up your pompous backside .”
What? Anal sex on our first date? Do I get dinner first?
@ Frank, I know you didn’t claim to be original, and after reading your blog, its probably best you don’t.
” Frank, I know you didn’t claim to be original, and after reading your blog, its probably best you don’t.”
I’m honoured.
*doffs hat*
Mc Flock goose is more likely a mormon like Mitt the gitt gaffe prone
How is football or in our language soccer growing more popular. What happened to the Nix crowd numbers this year, where is your proof. In Auckland Junior club teams are down and have been decreasing for 3 years now.
The Nix had a poor season and they play in a rubbish venue. Both factors kept attendence down. Even so, the atmosphere at a Nix game is still more exciting than listening to drunken twits moooing Ohhhtagohhh or ringing a cow bell. That does not alter the fact that football continues to grow in player numbers, while rugby continues to decline. I’m too polite to ask for a citation for your claim about numbers dropping in Ak, but for the benefit of the others you might want to front up with the evidence.
Westpac Stadium would be one of the better sports grounds in the country. I don’t think you can balme the stadium for any issues with attendances.
Well, just copy an answer from the NZRU playbook: time for a brand new stadium! A fully covered one please, to keep up with the Joneses.
It’s a cricket ground, Gos. It’s an awful venue for watching the football codes because the crowd is so far from the action. Which I why I hope West Ham United don’t move to the London Olympic stadium and why league games in Sydney look so poorly attended, too. 20k spectators in a stadium built for 80k always seems dismal.
It’s a cricket ground, Gos. It’s an awful venue for watching the football codes because the crowd is so far from the action.
I agree with this – I wouldn’t call it ‘awful’ but a cricket ground is certainly inferior to a rectangular ground.
It’s not just watching to the action. The Dunedin stadium has a far better atmosphere per 1,000 of crowd, even smallish crowds of a few thousand can generate a great mood. A RWC pool match in Dunedin had a far better buzz than a semifinal at Eden Park with twice the crowd.
Westpac stadium is awful for everything.
The food is shit, the beer is the worst kind of piss (Tui usually which is undrinkable) and you can’t smoke.
The Cake tin aint a cricket grounds asshole… now the basin thats a cricket ground….
You should have stated English Rugby but as stated you would have been equally wrong about that too. The attendances for the Super League and Premiership are basically on par. However English Rugby Union has a more dynamic international and cross border competition that Rugby League in England cannot compete with. There is no equivalent of the Heineken Cup for example in Rugby League.
How did Labour fund $220 million on the rugby world cup, Gosman?
How does winning hosting rights mean that taxpayers have to foot the bill?
Where did it say in the contract that we were liable to pay for the WRC, Gosman?
Care to answer my questions, Gosman?
You are having a hard time comprehending this aren’t you Frank?
A large amount of the Government funding for the tournament was explicitly (i.e. written down) stated in the Hosting agreement.
Additionally the Labour led Government provided a degree of confidence that the Government of NZ would ensure the tournament venues met the standards required and external factors such as security etc would be taken care of.
In short the last Labour led Government signed up for a programme that led to much of this funding. Why do you think people like Trevour Mallard haven’t really qubbled with the big ticket items like spending on Eden Park?
I comprehend your ACT-style hypocrisy only too well, Gosman.
Source please.
Source please.
And why couldn’t private enterprise take care of funding security? I thought you were big on not subsiding private enterprise?
So you endorse private enterprise enjoying subsidies – when it suits you?
Source please.
Pffft! Deflection. Not a particularly clever one at that.
You’ve run out of answers.
Here you go Frank
http://www.sportnz.org.nz/en-nz/About-SportNZ/Media/2005-Media-Releases/New-Zealand-launches-bid-for-rugby-world-cup-2011/
Please note the proposal for the loss to be split 2/3rd to the Government and 1/3 to the NZRFU as well as this section:
“What else is the government doing to support the bid?
The government is working with various partners to ensure there is infrastructure in place to support the hosting of the event. This includes security, transport and tourism matters so that New Zealand can deliver a safe, well co-ordinated and vibrant tournament. ”
This was specified in 2005 under the Labour led government of Helen Clark.
There was also the matter of the upgrade to Eden Park which the Government agreed to help finance as a result of getting it up to standard for hosting the Cup matches. Remember that Trevor Mallard would have spent hundreds of millions of dollars more if he had his way with his waterfront stadium idea. Do you remember him pushing for this Frank or have you conveniently fogotten any bad stuff that Labour did?
It appears you’ may not have read that PR properly, Gosman.
Labour offered $20 million in 2005, when our economy was bouyant; nett sovereign debt was low-to-nil; unemployment was low; and the Labour Government was in surplus.
National blew that out to $220 million of public money during a high deficit; high unemployment; and a stagnating economy which the WRC seems not to have helped much.
“Remember that Trevor Mallard would have spent hundreds of millions of dollars more if he had his way with his waterfront stadium idea.”
You left out… at a time of low sovereign debt and government surpluses. Neither of which National has achieved with their unaffordable tax cuts.
But at least you’re focusing on issues and offering backed-up information (even if it doesn’t prove your argument at all). You’re improving, slowly.
Seriously Frank are you expecting people to believe your nonsense about Labour only committed to 20 million dollars of expenditure. You do realise that the large amounts of the 220 million dollars was on the additional costs such as infrastructure and other support services that went into the tournament.don’t you? That spending would have been required even if Labour was still in power in 2011.
I note that you try and avoid the fact that Trevor Mallard wanted to spend even more money on the cup by trying to argue that the Government could have done so. Irrelevant. The point is if he had got his way it would have been well above the 220 millions dollars that it eventually reached.
Are you still trying to argue that Labour didn’t commit us to much of this spending?
Seriously, Gosman, do you not accept the information that you yourself provided?
You provided the figures and now you’re backtracking on it’s veracity?!?!
If you have info that Labour would’ve spent more, put up, or shut up.
Sorry, no, you’ve not provided any evidence of that. You saying so doesn’t make it so. That spending was done by your political party, not mine.
Try taking responsibility for a change. It’ll be a novel experience.
Oh, not the old Labour-would’ve-spend-more line?!?!
*facepalm*
Not very original, Gosman.
Dishonest response. That’s not what I said. Not even close.
Grasping for straws now.
… and back to the old Labour-would’ve-spend-more line.
Face it, Gosman, you shot yourself in the foot.
You presented information. But unfortunately you didn’t read it carefully enough.
Oh well, at least you’re on-topic.
Okay Frank. This is easily resolved. What was that 220 million figure made up of? Do you know and if so do you know what part of that spending was as result of decision that National made in Government that it is unlikely Labour would have made the same decision?
BTW where did you get this 220 million figure from anyway? Do you happen to have a source for it or are you pulling this out of the air like many of your ‘facts’?
“Okay Frank. This is easily resolved. What was that 220 million figure made up of? ”
“BTW where did you get this 220 million figure from anyway? Do you happen to have a source for it or are you pulling this out of the air like many of your ‘facts’?”
No, the NZ Herald ‘made it up’: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10760088
“Do you know and if so do you know what part of that spending was as result of decision that National made in Government that it is unlikely Labour would have made the same decision?”
So what you’re asking here is how much more Labour would have spent had it been in government?!
Tell you what, sunshine, when I get back from a visit to Parallel Earth 2, where National lost the 2008 election, I’ll let you know. (Or I’ll just send you a postcard.)
How about you just focus that libertarian mind of yours on What Is, rather thasn What Might Have Been? Because I tell you what, Gosman, the constant “Labour-would-have-spent-more” excuse wears mightily thin after a while.
I’ll say one thing though; Labour would not have cut taxes in 2009 and 2010. That is a dead cert.
No I’m not asking you how much MORE Labour would have spent. I’m asking you of that budget where would Labour not have spent money.
Remember Labour committed us to this tournament and the costs associated with holding it. Of that Government spend where would Labour likely have saved money?
Would they not have spent any money on a Party central in Auckland on the waterfront? Certainly Trevor Mallard wasn’t against this idea as far as I’m aware.
Would they not have spent money on upgrading stadiums? If so then then it is unlikely the IRB would have been very pleased to be playing in substandard stadiums.
Start to use the analytical part of your brain for once Frank and delve a little deeper into issues beyond the superficial ideological level.
BTW this link suggest the spending by Government was much higher than 220 million dollars.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10642274
Gosman, you’re deflecting from National’s $220 million spend-up, to something theoretical, had Labour been in government.
Do you realise how pathetic that attempt at deflection looks?
National is in power, not Labour.
If you’re going to constantly blame Labour, then they might as well be in power and I expect you to vote for them in 2014 (or earlier).
The Nats wasted $220 million, for little appreciable gain, whilst,
* 200,000+ kids live in poverty
* State houses are damp and mouldy
* a critical housing shortage goes unaddressed
* we have 160,000 jobless, whilst the Christchurch rebuild is crying out for skilled tradespeple.
That is what you should be focused on.
Not what Labour “might” have done had it been in government.
It seems bizarre that when National wastes $220 million on a rugby tournament, you don’t seem to mind. So much for your libertarian views of keeping the State out of commerce.
On the other hand, you’re desperately deflecting onto Labour – who hasn’t been in government for over three years.
When will you take responsibility for the policies of the Party you voted for, without trying to blame others?
“BTW this link suggest the spending by Government was much higher than 220 million dollars.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10642274”
*sighs*
That report you point to was dated 4:00 AM Sunday May 2, 2010.
The report I pointed to is dated 5:30 AM Wednesday Oct 19, 2011, and thus more recent. And this kinda proves that you don’t read the info I present to you.
This was the very first paragraph on the Oct 19 2011 report,
“Budget blowouts have pushed public spending on the Rugby World Cup well above $200 million – without counting $555 million in stadium upgrades and $39 million in direct losses from hosting the tournament.”
You are having a hard time comprehending this aren’t you, Gosman?
Hopeless.
It isn’t theoretical at all Frank. That spending largely became a reality as soon as the IRB awarded NZ the rights to hold the cup in 2005.
It is like the Olympics. You don’t simply hold the current Government in power in the UK responsible for the budget, especially considering the Labour party was in power for much of the time that London has spent preparing for the games.
I’ll ask you again, which part of the spend on the RUWC would a Labour led government have likely not spent the money that eventually was spent?
Would they have cut back on security arrangements?
Would they have cut back on tourism promotion?
Come on Frank it doesn’t take a genius to carry out this intellectual exercise.
Still deflecting attention from National/ACT wasting $220+ million of our tax dollars, Gosman?
Sorry sunshine; ain’t going to work. Bill English writes the budget, not David Parker.
Your Party is going to have to wear responsibility for mismanaging the economy – no one else.
However, after 2014, things will change.
By the way; next time you carp on about people taking responsibility for their economic situation, I’ll be sure to point you back to this page. Your ideas about “taking responsibility” seems to be at variance with your beliefs.
Anyway, you’re starting to get repetitive… You’ve run out of ideas, Gosman. And the sources you present are out of date…
In other words, you’re boring me…
funny as hell – not satisfied with Frank being the only one to oppose him, gos proceeds to provide evidence against own position, then deny its reliability.
saves everyone else the bother of demonstrating for the xxxth time that he’s a moron.
I don’t think he is deflecting.
The cold hard reality is Trevor wanted to build a $1B whitehorse on the waterfront for the stupid fucking thugby world cup.
Thank god someone stopped him.
It was the worse decsion ever made by Helen Clark. To bring that stupid tournamnent to New Zealand.
Name one benefit it brought us. Thugs on display. I haven’t met one person who enjoyed that silly 7 week spending binge by the government. I suppose Key enjoyed it.
Helen was the best PM in history. This decision showed she was at least human after all.
A RWC pool match in Dunedin had a far better buzz than a semifinal at Eden Park with twice the crowd.
Rubbish. What a ridiculous, plainly st0000-pid claim to make. Are you really Sir Graham Henry?
League is also more popular in the UK in terms of spectator attendence,
No it is not.
I understand,
You do not understand. You do not know much about football, therefore your understanding is very limited.
What are you on about, Bald Head? I was referring to league vs rugby in the UK, not league vs football.
And as pointed out you are wrong in both the UK and English environments.
You may be right, Gossie, but I ain’t seen the numbers yet. I take it you have them at hand?
I do suspect league vs union probably reflects the north/south divide in the UK. League being a primarily working class sport and union being associated with public schools. No money vs loadsamoney, etc
I can get you figures if you like. It might take me a few hours though. Let me get back to you.
Here you go
Aviva Premiership Average 11906 (aprox)
http://www.statbunker.com/rugby/btb/index.php?PL=competition&Code=8217249&statType=home_Att
vs
Super League Average 8958 (aprox)
http://www.redvee.net/viewpage.php?page_id=277
Depends on whether you’re looking at total attendance or match averages. And whether you include RFU championship in Rugby Union match averages, I suspect.
League
Sport
Country
Season
# of Teams
Games
Total attendance
Average attendance
Source(s)
Aviva Premiership
Rugby union
England
2011–12
12
135[42]
1,697,177
12,925
[43]
RFU Championship[D]
Rugby union
England
2009–10
12
132
287,262
2,176
[111]
Super League
Rugby league
England
2011
14
202
2,191,700
10,850
[51]
(1 club in France)
I was referring to league vs rugby in the UK, not league vs football.
Same thing. And your assertions are plain wrong.
You’re very confused, my friend; why not get to bed early tonight and clear your head?
BS goose as per usual no proof clubs including professional are struggling .
The high profile players are doing all right but those lower profile players are finding it tough.
right across the major rugby playing countries.
Something calling itself “Te Reo Putake” started off well, then got itself just a bit confused…
I hope there’s a chapter on cheating by the All Blacks, the current captain specifically.
Footballers will cheat if the referee (or non-referee) lets them get away with it. McCaw, Kaino, Woodcock, and the rest of the All Black pack cheated consistently in the second half of the RWC fiinal because the non-referee refused to penalize them.
However, the guts of rugby’s problems lie with its ridiculously complicated nature.
That’s true. So far, so good. But, unfortunately, it was at this point that poor old “Te Reo Putake” lost his way….
Football has 11 ‘laws’ that have stayed essentially constant for a century, rugby sic has hundreds of rules that regularly change.
Rugby is football too, in case you hadn’t noticed. Do you mean soccer? Then say so.
In football or league sic, the crowd usually sees the offence that causes the whistle to be blown; in rugby, nobody knows.
That’s not true. In last year’s RWC final, everybody could see that the home team was repeatedly fouling, and that non-referee Craig Joubert was refusing to penalize them.
Rugby is football “too”? Uh, no where else in the civilised world actually, and not even in Victoria or NSW.
“Soccer” is a quaint Kiwi/US term.
Cheers, CV. The good Prof’s argument is parochial pedantry and historically weak to boot. The game is football. It’s run here by Football NZ. Only the dimmest or willfully foolish sports fan would be confused by the terms football, rugby and league.
Tell that to the 8 year olds that play soccer for Central United, because that whats they call it, the volunteer coaches call it soccer too.. Maybe you should go and ‘educate’ them all on your way of the world.
As I said, soccer is a quaint NZ/US term, not used in many other places in the world. Can you read?
Bzzzt! Wrong.
Classic – asser – that might have changed the world if it had caught on.
The good Prof’s argument is parochial pedantry and historically weak to boot. The game is football. It’s run here by Football NZ.
Everybody here and in Australia, except for a few zealots like your good self, calls it soccer.
Of course it’s a kind of football, but when you say “football” in this country, it means rugby football.
As you know perfectly well.
Tell that to the 8 year olds that play soccer for Central United, because that whats they call it, the volunteer coaches call it soccer too.. Maybe you should go and ‘educate’ them all on your way of the world.
You’re trying to argue with a zealot, Rob. He hates and resents rugby football for some reason. Maybe one of these days he’ll tell us why…
It is actually Association Football as in the A in both FA and FIFA.
You might be arrogant enough to call it Football but even the governing bodies acknowledge it is just another form of Football.
“You might be arrogant enough to call it Football but even the governing bodies acknowledge it is just another form of Football.”
Laughibly ignorant, Gossie. At the time Association Football was codified, there were no other kinds of football. You do recall that William Webb Ellis ‘invented’ rugby during a game of football, don’t you?
And the word ‘association’ in FIFA and FA means the organisations are associations. D’oh! The association came first and the game, after being codified, became known as association football. Not the other way round.
But thanks for the stats on rugger and league in England (somewhere above in this thread). Must have taken a while to find; I tried and gave up.
At the time Association Football was codified, there were no other kinds of football.
There were, actually. Rugby football was very popular, and in Australia and Ireland variations of Gaelic football were flourishing by the late 1850s. The Football Association was formed in 1863, and the Rugby Football Union—note the name—was formed in 1871.
You do recall that William Webb Ellis ‘invented’ rugby during a game of football, don’t you?
No, that’s a myth invented by the Rugby Football Union to establish an entirely bogus provenance for Rugby football. It’s as factual as the Abner Doubleday myth in baseball—that’s something else I’ll bet you know next to nothing about.
The association came first and the game, after being codified, became known as association football.
It became known as association football to distinguish it from another popular football—rugby football.
Actually countries have for differing reasons, sports which are referred to as football in general conversation. In the US it’s american football, Ireland gaelic football, NZ rugby football and in Aussie you have league and rules as well…
The term Soccer originated in the UK prior to football become the common parlance around 18 tears later. In 1863 rules were written up for association football and the game was refered to as assoccer (short for association) shortened again to Soccer before Football took hold years later.
As a general rule of thumb it seems that each country refers to it’s first prevelant type of football game as football.
Spoonfed and government (picture).
This doesn’t apply to everyone of course, but it’s fair to question the prevalence of ‘Government gimme’ attitudes.
This doesn’t apply to everyone of course
It does apply to everyone, in your smugly insular, ideologically driven view of the world.
🙄
🙄
Remember remember the fifth of
November
Peter Dunne, treason, and plot.
I see no reason why Peter Dunne,
treason,
Should ever be forgot…
Just a little something…
au contraire, I’d take major steps to block him out of the national memory.
Hmm. He at least merits a footnote in the chapter of NZ history entitled “Fifth Columnists”.
🙄
So again the business world proves its inability to function without sucking on the tax and rate payer tit. Unable to do or create business without social welfare and subsidies provided by those on the minimum wage. Proof this week lies in…
1. Government proposal that ratepayers pay for a convention centre for businesses to talk business. Why can’t the business world build and operate its own place to meet and talk?
2. Government proposal that ratepayers pay for a covered stadium for businesses to do business. Why can’t the business worl build and operate its own place to play business?
This lines up with countless others such as…
a. NZX needing taxpayer support to make its flawed business a little better, lest it completely crashes and burns.
b. Farmers and dairy companies needing taxpayer money to build their irrigation in Canterbury.
c. Banks and finance companies needing taxpayer guarantees to stop them completely falling over.
d. Business investors needing taxpayer power companies to invest in because they are incapable of building and investing in their own.
e. … please add ….
The business world is useless. The centre-right model fails. They are shown by the above to be bludging beneficiaries.
I would dearly love someone to explain how this is not the case …. pleeease, please please, someone ….. anyone ….. come on gosman, tsmithfield, david farrar, john key, mark weldon, someone, someone.
the silence is deafening
If i was a chch ratepayer i would be really pOff, being lumbered with the convention center and a covered stadium. ESpecially if i was having problems with rebuilds etc.
I agree VTO, why is it the ratepayer is expected to prop these up buisnesses
I could understand it IF they were good money spinners, BUT they dont appear to be.
And then there is the really smart idea to sell the profitable parts of the council busineses to fund them.
DUH
I agree with the convention centre being ridiculous but Jade Stadium used to be a good money spinner for Christchurch and there is a bit of evidence that a covered stadium would increase the numbers through the gates.
Evidence that you need a microscope to find.
VTO… you’ve touched upon a blogpost I’m currently working on…
😉
(Gosman will be a happy chappy!)
Ummmm… you assume the National led Government is so ideologically driven it doesn’t see any role for Government. That is plainly not the case as witnessed by numerous policies of the National Party where it makes clear it wants Government to be involved directly in infrastructure development. Whether this is a good or bad thing is a different matter entirely.
That’s got nothing to do with what VTO said.
“Ummmm… you assume the National led Government is so ideologically driven it doesn’t see any role for Government.”
Ummmm, no, Gosman. That’s not VTO’s p.o.v. That is the neo-liberal dogma of the free market and it’s adherents. VTO was simply pointing out the sheer hypocrisy that on the one hand, Business doesn’t want state interference in it’s activities – but on the other, is only too happy to accept billions in corporate welfare.
Can you say, “hy-po-cri-sy”?
“That is plainly not the case as witnessed by numerous policies of the National Party where it makes clear it wants Government to be involved directly in infrastructure development.”
Oh…. so, private enterprise by itself can’t deliver infra-structural development and the role of the State is paramount?
Hmmm, well colour me gobsmacked, I think you may be realising the realities of a modern State, and why your neo-liberal Nirvana doesn’t exist anywhere except in the kinky masterbatory fantasies of Ayn Randists.
Congratulations, Gosman. You have just crossed over from the Twilight Zone of the “free” market, into Realityland.
Frank, how many people do you think there are in New Zealand who believe in a ‘free’ market?
@ Pete,
With 100% certainty; 25,484 (ACT & Libertarian voters)
With certainty ranging from 1% – 99%: 1,117,873 (National & Conservative Party voters)
Source: http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/resultsdata/2011-general-election-official-results.html
That’s a very weak claim.
Even the 25,484 ACT (not so much Libertarian) voters will have varying views on how free the market should be. From their policy on SOEs:
That’s hardly free market ideology. From what I see of their website thay are only mildly promoting a partial free market.
Conservatives (or Colin Craig) didn’t support part asset sales so can’t be called ‘free’ market fans.
A number of National voters were against or lukewarm on the partial sales. National is a very moderate centre-left party so I’d be surprised if many of them are anywhere near pure free market fans.
It’s not a “weak” claim at all. Despite their website, ACT has stated that they intend to “sell the lot” when it comes to asset sales.
And you missed this statement freom thweir website, Pete;
“Sell state assets such as power generation companies; the overwhelming evidence is that such valuable assets produce more wealth when managed privately;”
– http://www.act.org.nz/policies/economy
“As a step towards better productivity in the New Zealand economy, partial privatisation is a worthwhile policy.”
– http://www.act.org.nz/policies/state-owned-assets
No, but they do believe in a free market in other areas.
That’s why I wrote “With certainty ranging from 1% – 99%: 1,117,873 (National & Conservative Party voters)”
Goose thats to do with who donates the most to the National party.
Roading contractors
Trucking industry(Nationals retirement policy for over the hill mp,s)
Global oil companies cartel
banking Cartel
+1
Very well said. Contrary to the beliefs of the RWNJs and mainstream economists (and many heterodox) wealth does not come from the private sector. Wealth comes from the community.
Presuming that this is correct, public/private partnerships are often used to initiate a better business environment. It’s true that some businesses benefit from public money but the public benefit from employment and economic activity.
Mighod, Pete! You’ve just advocated a mixed economy and a role for the State in said economy!
If you actually knew anything about me instead of blindly jumping on the bashwagon you wouldn’t have been be surprised.
I’ve advocated seeking the best balance between public and private for a long time.
In which case, one wonders why PUBLIC assets have to be PRIVATISED? Why isn’t private enterprise capable of building it’s own pwer generation; transmission; retailing; etc?
Why the parasitic semi-privatisation of assets that were built up by the PUBLIC, for the PUBLIC?
Bless you VTO for talking about something other than sport! I thought it would never end.. 🙂
I’m listening to Radionz and a business person Peter Townsend Chch Chamber of Commerce and Chch Councillor Yani Johanson who is talking about repairs in suburbs being in the shadows and large expensive projects in the CBD dominating the spending. And that those may not provide a return and so being supported by the taxpayer. Who may be struggling as his and her own life remains on hold and needing help and repair.
The business person is all ready to sell off part of Chch council’s substantital assets to fund essential investment to prevent ‘Chch underperforming as an iconic city going forward’. The money raised – would it then be spent on what residents really need and which would promote job-creating business.
I wonder can Christchurch have a good playing area for sports purposes and holding rock concerts etc with a stadium built to a low budget but with a second stage incorporated into the design when and if there is sufficient customer demand and finance available?
prism, Townsend and others take the moral high ground on these things and claim, due to their great business acumen and knowledge about all things money, that without this big spend then the city will fail.
What Townsend and others fail to answer is the question I outline above.
Their model doesn’t work, and the evidence for that is plentiful (see above). They refuse to answer it. There is no answer to it.
But there is an answer to why they don’t answer. (H/T: Unlearning Economics)
“an iconic city going forward”
I’d love to hear someone asking him to explain that phrase. And then explain ‘iconic’ in terms of the CBD plan.
Could be I con (ic).
Mr Townsend has been a shill for selling Christchurch assets for a long, long time. He’s a fan of Shock Doctrine.
You have that about right, upon a politician,(or anyone else for that matter), using the words ”going forward” in a phrase it is best to start looking for the Con involved,
”Going forward” replaces ”At the end of the day” as the current favorite in the lexicon of the Conman…
‘going forward’ I think it forms one in a series of accepted code words for business and to use it shows that you are ‘one of us’ and understand our language, which often is convoluted so it can’t come back and bite the speaker in the bum.
That or you don’t say anything and blame that on the need for protecting information because of ‘commercial sensitivity’. And we are getting this more and more from government itself when we want information and answers, and this can only increase as private enterprise is used to carry out government services. No option of Information Act to call on there.
Agreed, prism. Also, “going forward” gives the superficial impression of being dynamic and on top of the issues. But it’s an irritating piece of jargon and over-used.
Well, from what I saw of the Chch CBD plan, I think iconic mean concrete. Lots of concrete.
DTB
You reckon there’ll be no castles in the air then. No doubt they will be reasonably close to the ground in height.
If in a country where the commentary on tv Olympics is totally in another language (Spanish) it is great to watch coverage, turn the sound down and make your own commentary. Reckon it still makes just as much sense, if not more.
True. I tend to leave the sound to get used to the way the language is spoken (spoken too fast to catch a word, but. Especially Spanish!), although I know I’m sort of fooling myself.
For those interested in the business side of left/right politics this article here is worth a read;
“No money for creditors ”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/7376165/No-money-for-creditors
It might seem like a small bunch of crooks getting away with ripping off creditors but it goes a lot deeper than that. The wrong people are prospering at the expense of the right people. An extreme example of this is Feltex who raised huge sums from shareholders only for the bank to take it all and the shareholders losing everything
IMO one of the best ways to get our economy moving again is to clean out all the crooks in business & leave the market to the people who do contribute something to society. Labour have never done anything there, I think because so few of them know anything about business they have no idea what goes on in that world.
So you would support Labour in directly and centrally intervening to clear out the crooks, ticket clippers and parasites from the economy and from the business community?
You do realise that most of the people who will be cleared out will be National supporters?
Sure would, and yes I realise that.
Something few people really understand is that there’s been a quiet undeclared war waging in the business sector for a very long time. The crooks who exploit the lack of law enforcement gain a commercial advantage over those people who play by the rules. Most people in business in NZ are actually pretty honest but it’s the crooks who tend to prosper because they have that extra edge which gives them a better profit margin, lower costs etc and prevents the real achievers from competing on a level playing field. Those crooks go on to form networks that protect each other & we end up with the mess we have now.
I’m hearing ya. Some of those crooks even end up on local councils…in fact quite a number of them…
Interestingly, ZeroHedge just posted this recently
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2012-07-30/main-driver-gdp-growth-strong-rule-law
Yeah they do, they infiltrate every sector that involves other people’s money.
The really, really, depressing part is that we have all the laws we need to put an end to these crooks. They just don’t get enforced. People complain regularly to the various regulatory & enforcement bodies and they do nothing. Liquidators & receivers have been complaining about their side of it for a very long time, they got so frustrated about the lack of enforcement action they stopped making complaints… was no point.
All Labour needs to do is vote enough money to that side of law enforcement to ensure that every single complaint is followed up. Would cost a bomb to start with but once the cleanup started it would only take a few years to get the costs back down. They only do it because they know they can get away with it. It really is that simple.
That stuff article quotes a “Damien Grant” from “Waterstone Insolvency”.
Yeah that’s the guy you’re thinking of. Odd fellow.
If anyone sees that as anything other than outright corruption then they’re deluding themselves. And it’s now routine in NZ.
Has been for years. White collar crims are good at working out the loopholes in our laws, it’s their modus operandi really. The biggest loophole by far is non-enforcement, the crims know that the chances of getting caught are virtually nil. Commerce Commission alone get over 10,000 complaints a year and they bin them all…. except for the odd one that suits their own agendas.
There’s a perverse irony in it really. Labour could have put paid to a lot of their most ardent ideological enemies if they’d simply ensured that our laws were properly enforced. And the country & economy would have been a lot better off from it.
So, yesterday I had a go at Labour for their poor performance at question time.
But it’s easy to be wise after the event, so this time I’m going to predict what can – or should – happen. Posting this in advance of the questions (2 pm).
An unusual and interesting question today:
Hon TARIANA TURIA to the Minister of Finance: “Did the Minister of Māori Affairs discuss with him how the Crown would meet its Treaty obligation with respect to the Mixed Ownership Model?”
So I’m guessing that’s an attempt to bail out Pita Sharples, after yesterday’s embarrassment. Turia and English will want to say they’ve been consulting, it’s all good, nothing to see here. (I am assuming it’s a patsy question – but if it’s a real question, an opposition-type question, then all bets are off, the coalition is falling apart).
Then supplementaries – a chance for the Opposition to score a hit.
Previously Chris Finlayson answered on behalf of Sharples on a related matter (the recent late night meeting between Key and Turia/Sharples, the one where they kissed and made up after Key had dissed the Waitangi tribunal).
But Finlayson dodged the questions. He claimed that there was no ministerial responsibility, because Turia/Sharples and Key had only been meeting in their capacity as party leaders. Not as Ministers.
Now Turia is specifically asking the Minister (Bill English) about “the Minister of Māori Affairs” meeting the “Minister of Finance”. On the same subject.
That’s a clear contradiction. Labour should stop shouting, LISTEN carefully to the answer, and seize on it …
“Was the meeting [from English’s answer] between Ministers?” etc.
And more follow-ups, depending on the anwers.
The basic point is … the National/Maori Party coalition only holds together because Turia/Sharples pretend to be two different things – the party leaders who stand up for their people, and the government Ministers in the limos. It’s a fiction, and it’s the Opposition’s job to expose it. They have a chance to do this today.
(note – this is only one suggestion, there are many other lines of attack for Labour and other parties. Any hits will do. But faffing around and achieving nothing is NOT good enough).
(BTW, Key won’t be there today – he’s in Samoa).
Good stuff g – I have been harping on about that sham meeting for a while.
Here’s Finlayson (on behalf of the Minister of Maori Affairs), denying ministerial responsibility:
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QOA/9/2/9/50HansQ_20120719_00000011-11-Water-Rights-M-ori-Interests.htm
I wonder where they are going with this because that is a real squirmer. My take is key never said what turia said he said. He will use any and every trick, in and out of the book, to get these sales through. There is real murk in that meeting and it should be getting significant questioning – the more questions – the more murk will be revealed.
So, Labour didn’t push on this today.
Before question time Pita Sharples made a “personal explanation”, about his answers yesterday. Maybe Labour thought he’d suffered enough …
There’s a “No Surprises” agreement between the Maori Party and National. Judging by Bill English’s answers today, Tariana Turia may have broken it.
Earlier, Norman and Robertson both did a good job on the Banks story. Only undermined by Trevor Mallard being a self-indulgent fool, as usual. “Yeah, that’s a good tactic, Trev, just remind everyone that you were fighting in the lobby, that’s the headline we want”. Idiot.
maybe Hone needs to get onto it.
I’ve wondered if mallard was a double agent the number of times he offers them distractions – but then I remember indigenous trev and I realise he’s just a fool.
Hi Marty
Did you hear Tariana’s questions? She sounded more “staunch” than she usually is in the House. Sending the message – “We’re fighting for the Treaty”.
Just talking the talk or a prelude to something more?
gobsmacked
But lots of people lerve TMallard – such a feisty contender in the House, a handy jester in the right place, but unfortunately takes it too far and has become resident buffoon.
gs, I think it played out according to your first guess: an attempt at face saving by Turia, and to show all is still well with the partnership between the government and Maori Party:
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QOA/2/d/4/50HansQ_20120801_00000005-5-State-owned-Assets-Sales-Discussions-with.htm
But, you need also to see a video of it – Turia and Sharples looked quite grim; as though they had been backed into a corner.
Horomia’s supplementary was weak.
Just think about the CTV building. Which held up through the first Earthquake ?7.2? only then to collapse. One comment was that the engineers who certified the building said they had problems seeing important parts of the structure because of television cabling etc. When we have rules about getting access to water for fire crews, exit signs that can be seen in a fire, etc. Why don’t buildings have rules, by designers, about how to access buildings weak points after an Earthquake? Especially since after shocks are so much a factor in Earthquake events? Surely the designers were at fault and the building owners, for not collaborating not only after the first quake on weak points, but by not having done so well before any quakes hit. We do after all live in a country of quakes like the Gisborne quake not so long ago.
The reports of the enquiry about the design and structure of the building and its certification don’t impress.
New Zealand business should not define our future, but support it. We should be able to rely on our Government to provide direction of our economic development, not market forces.
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/economic-leadership-lacking.html
national are supposed to be the party of business so where is the new business?
most businessmen in NZ are inheritors and never started anything.
all they know is how to cut workers wages to the bone.
thats not really business.
thats just running a private horror show for the psychological satisfaction of the owners.
“…thats just running a private horror show for the psychological satisfaction of the owners.”
And for the satisfaction of their mis-guided neo-liberal cheerleaders, Captain Hook. I can think of one fixated Ayn Randian who hasn’t a clue…
From the NYT: Prison People.
An RSA spokesman calls the conviction and punishment of an RSA official ‘laughable.’ What a bunch of twisted people RSA can be. They disdained servicemen from the Vietnam war for some years. Now this RSA official wore a Vietnam medal and they don’t like that. It’s fair enough that they don’t like people wearing medals they don’t deserve to, as this man did but have some balance can’t you.
He also wrote a cheque for $60 with a flimsy reason. He has been ordered to pay back $500. Considering people who have been actually hurt by war these are just misdemeanours. And a time to be magnanimous. And the fact that some offence he committed back in the 1950s is another indication of what a mean carping society we have. Such minor misdemeanours should be dropped from the ledgers after 20 years.
What a pity about the Pacific cable which would have been a great opportunity for NZ investors. It would be a solid investment and all those Mum and Dads who are desperate to put their money in blue chip investments in NZ had their chance. But no, I guess they frittered it all away on an extra one per cent on the risky investments of finance houses fronted by pretty boys with smooth smiles, and well cultured voices.
Gore Vidal
1925-2012
R.I.P
RIP Margaret Mahy (1936–2012 ) is the most acclaimed of New Zealand’s children’s writers. The author of more than 120 titles, and translated into 15 languages, …
I heard something about the Minister for Earthquake relief being forced to concede.. and he’s gone off feeling unwell, sick or tired or all the above and couldn’t. Concede? What’s that word.
Yes, I just posted the quote from RNZ on the 3 billion thread. And I also wryly noted the comment about how he’d gone home sick.
The Greens pick at poor old Gerry incessantly don’t they, it’s hilarious to watch at times,
For a while there it was all oh so easy for one of Slippery’s bookends Brownlee to bat away such questioning barely deigning to give an answer,
Having tho learned the intricate nature of ‘points of order’ poor old Gerry has been finding it becoming increasingly impossible to do what He does best, be a condescending arse-hole, today the Greens hit pay-dirt getting Him not only a spanking from the Speaker but giving Him an obvious case of the s**ts as well,
10 points for good skills go to the Greens who have been doggedly grinding Gerry into the dust of His own bulls**t for quite some time,
I see no reason to be shy of Gerry’s sudden bout of dyp-something-or-other, (dip-s**ttery), there’s quite a bit more of the large edifice yet to be demolished and hopefully the Greens continue to apply the grindstone…
I have just seen the future, and it looked like a massive electricity failure in India:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2012-08/01/131751981_11n.jpg
http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/31/power-goes-out-in-india-affecting-600-million/
That’s no surprise Carol, wonder is it doesn’t happen there more often. Their power grid gets massively overloaded by all the hi-jacked power feeds, pinching power is a sport over there.
In some areas you see a crazy birds nest of wires running from the overhead transformers, people climb the poles at night & wire up their homes for free power. I had a transformer explode right above me when walking the street there once, huge shower of sparks with molten aluminium spraying everywhere, and not one local on the street batted an eyelid… happens all the time.
Can’t see it happening here…
In NZ, privatisation is more likely to put supply at risk than direct theft and vandalism.
The Auckland Power Crisis,1998:
Is Jenny ready to turn Syria over to the bomb makers and islamic fighters of Al-Qaida Iraq?
Guess you better ask her, since for some naieve reason she thinks that the Syrian conflict is of the Syrian people, by the Syrian people, for the Syrian people.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/30/al-qaida-rebels-battle-syria
http://www.rand.org/blog/2012/07/al-qaedas-war-for-syria.html
“The United States and its allies should consider opening a second front in the Syrian war. In addition to helping end Bashar Assad’s rule, there is a growing need to conduct a covert campaign against al Qaeda and other extremist groups gaining a presence in the country.”
–But, hold on, nah that can’t be right…they must be making this shit up. Real people dying though!
Seems like the goal is to transform Syria into an uncontrollable, disrupted mess.
Jenny probably thinks that’ll be good for the people of Syria, and nothing to do with giving Israel and the USA a freer hand against Iran.
Hey Jenny, you pro-war activist, you now backing the Al-Qaida Iraq bomb masters operating in Syria?
That will learn that pesky Assad bloke to buy his big bangs from the Russians instead of from the Yanks right,
The American,(Hilary Clinton) geo-political plan for the Middle East would seem to be to simply ‘produce’ in those country’s that don’t strictly toe the American party line ‘popular revolutions’,
The CIA simply had to get out the old plans for South America and blow off the years of gathered dust,
Protecting it’s, (Americas), interests in whats left of the oil reserves under the desert sands of the Middle East has jelled quite nicely for the Yanks in that they get to add another layer of (closer) protection to the state of Israel which can only gain O’bummer some much needed political support back home,
Dove-tailing nicely into this is the ability to help prop up the House of Saud and the smaller dictatorial gulf states who religiously adhere to the American dream while they still can,(until the oil runs out),
The House of Saud grateful for the protection of 30,000 US troops busily partying up in the smaller Gulf States are more than happy to play bagman and paymasters for the latest US adventure in the Middle-East,
The bombers having learned their craft in Iraq via the US military while in the employ of the CIA,now to all extents and purposes assassins in the direct employ of the House of Saud doing the bidding of God knows who, but most likely the CIA or some obscure ‘think tank’ or ‘foundation’ back home in the States tasked with spreading such mayhem while giving the US administration deniability thus allowing Barak to wash the blood of martyrs off of His hands every night befor he puts His kids to bed…
How is it the Pacific Fibre venture Sam Morgan tried to get going should fall over due to lack of investment when we keep getting told there are investors screaming out for places to invest?
Guess they wont want to invest in any power companies then.
The current breed of ‘capitalist investors’ are only interested in a sure thing. Actual entrepreneurial risk and creation of real, new physical wealth? No thanks.
Power companies are a government guaranteed return. The new Pacific fibre crossing actually contained risk and competition.
Yep thanks CV and Draco, I thought that must be why.
The “free-market” name needs modernising really.
How about “fleece-market” or “mark-up”. Or maybe just “parasite-city”.
They go on about the free-market and about entrpreneurial capitalism, but those are all sales slogans.
Underneath that, most of the elite class are actually interested in rentier/ticket clipping/crony capitalism.
Yes.
The first thing “free marketeers” do with wealth and power is to distort the market in their favour.
Fletchers dropping trade rates in Christchurch, employers demanding immigration to replace the workers they cannot get because they do not pay or train enough, overseas shipping cartels screwing our ports, managers and directors screwing their workforce to increase their own pay, demanding legislation to restrict workers freedom, demanding freedom themselves to form cartels and monopolies, demanding tax payers to turn over their business because they are incapable of starting their own, just to mention a few.
http://www.alternet.org/economy/3-big-lies-perpetuated-rich.
<>
http://www.alternet.org/economy/3-big-lies-perpetuated-rich
”’Angel investing (capital provided by affluent individuals for business start-ups) accounted for less than 1% of the investable assets of high net worth individuals in North America in 2011. The Mendelsohn Affluent Survey agreed that the very rich spend less than two percent of their money on new business startups.
The Wall Street Journal noted, in way of confirmation, that the extra wealth created by the Bush tax cuts led to the “worst track record for jobs in recorded history.” ”’
US government stymied(home of the free market) any chance of this taking off by putting ridiculous tariffs on any new fibre coming in to the US.
link?
I keep thinking I should submit a guest post here about Louisa Wall’s marriage equality bill.
Then I realise that the “post” would largely consist of saying “For fuck’s sake, people, Pete George supports this, so if you don’t, what the fuck are you doing around here?”
/randomthought
😆
Yes he’s very strong in his support, he really does love Dunne.
Is this the only time PG has supported something of merit?
I mostly express my own independent opinions. And I’ve been supporting (and promoting) marriage equality significantly longer than Dunne, he didn’t show his support until last week when Louisa’s bill was drawn from the ballot, which was a change of position for him.
Is this the only time PG has supported something of merit?
That’s a bit pathetic. Is ‘of merit’ code for ‘of Labour’? Even if that’s the case it’s a nonsense claim.
I’ve actively supported Monday-ising holidays and promoted that to Dunne.
I’ve actively supported Moroney’s Paid Parental Leave Bill (which coincides with UF policy).
I’ve actively supported and promoted a debate on NZ Super, in part alongside Labour efforts.
I’ve actively supported and promoted Save TVNZ 7 and was asked (by Labour organisers) to participate in the Dunedin debate.
I’ve actively supported and promoted the euthanasia debate and I think I’ve been the only one to post on Maryan Street’s bill here.
I’ve been more supportive of Shearer and Labour leadership here than many with close Labour connections.
I also happen to support some things UF/Dunne. For example the Taxation (Annual Rates, Returns Filing, and Remedial Matters) Bill that had it’s second reading yesterday is ‘of merit’.
🙄
Seconded! It was a huge disruption for no purpose..
Will John Judge sue Judith Collins for defamation? If he can prove what he says in today’s NZ Herald, he should sue her.
That would be an interesting twist.