Open Mike 01/09/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 1st, 2017 - 117 comments
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117 comments on “Open Mike 01/09/2017 ”

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  1. Tony Veitch (not etc) 1
    1 September 2017 at 6:58 am

    I know I am just echoing the expressions of others on the left here, and I should say again, that I’m working to secure a Labour candidate to parliament . . .

    But the revolution is not upon us! Andrew Little represented neoliberalism with a smiling face – Jacinda Ardern – neoliberalism with a pretty and appealing face.

    Sure, a more compassionate and caring government, but really fundamental change – I think not. In American terms our choice is the lesser of two evils.

    I just hope, but I’m not holding my breath, that JA comes across as a more social democrat than a liberal in the next debate.

    • Ad 1.1
      1 September 2017 at 7:04 am

      You should just thank your lucky stars she isn’t appealing any harder to the left.

      Without really trying she has already sucked most of the Greens’ supporters to Labour. If she tried any harder for those voters the Green Party would not exist in Parliament in three weeks’ time.

      She is beginning to leach support off National, which is where the remaining voter returns are.

      • Tony Veitch (not etc) 1.1.1
        1 September 2017 at 7:09 am

        She’s not getting my vote – I’ll be party voting Green – with more emphasis than ever now! The Greens need to be in parliament, just listen to Metiria to understand why!

      • francesca 1.1.2
        1 September 2017 at 8:24 am

        Hopefuly, if Labour is looking well ahead of Nat in the polls, voters may feel they can safely return their party vote to the Greens.
        Ideally Jacinda now concentrates on winning soft National voters over.

        • Bearded Git 1.1.2.1
          1 September 2017 at 10:10 am

          @francesca

          It is not about Labour being well ahead of National, it is about the Labour/Green bloc being well ahead of National. If the Greens don’t get back Labour will be stuck with NZF.

          Anybody to the Left who is umming and arrring between Labour and the Greens should vote Green.

          • McFlock 1.1.2.1.1
            1 September 2017 at 12:41 pm

            yep.
            If the election were tomorrow, I’d probably vote Green.
            And have a shower afterwards, because I hate hippies.

            • Robert Guyton 1.1.2.1.1.1
              1 September 2017 at 4:41 pm

              Showering won’t get you rid of your hippies, McFlock – they’re firmly attached to your pelvis. Learn to love them; they dictate how you walk; hating them will have you waltzing around like a fop.

              • McFlock …
                1 September 2017 at 5:16 pm

                Nothing wrong with being a fop, I’m a great fan of Oscar Wilde.

                Although I agree with Michael Gambon, it doesn’t half make your eyes water…

          • Draco T Bastard 1.1.2.1.2
            1 September 2017 at 1:35 pm

            People should probably fill this in and then vote for the party which has their greatest support.

            Mine is, of course, Green.

            • Siobhan 1.1.2.1.2.2
              1 September 2017 at 3:09 pm

              Mine was Green…but NZ First was pretty darned close.
              Too close.
              So given I’d rather chew off my arm that vote NZ First, I’m going to go suggest there is something fundamentally flawed about ticking one sentence policy summaries without wrapping each option with your own personal political context and ‘Bullshit’ warning device.. .

              • Draco T Bastard …
                1 September 2017 at 5:22 pm

                There is that but each had a link to the full policy. The problem being that nobody’s got the time to read 315 full policy documents.

                That said, I also think that some of those one line policy descriptions were fundamentally wrong.

  2. eco Maori/kiwi 2
    1 September 2017 at 7:13 am

    Well got my other computer sorted so I don’t have to watch news hub.
    I have to remind Duncan one does not pat ones self on the back especially on TV.
    To be fair Duncan is ok at least he is worried about his image. but Mark Richardson just loves himself an is in his own world a chauvinistic neo liberal I won’t say those last two words. His publicist must have payed a lot of money for him to win that title that he likes to boast about Yes those comps are ridged to. The lady from Gisborne helps make watching news hub bearable but her opinions are drowned out by the other two.

    I liked Morgan and parts of his policy’s I was talking to someone and he said exactly what I was thinking that Morgan policy’s need to be more humane. At least he has us talking about UBI and other tax’s I was going to vote for Tops but have since changed my mind to vote Green

    Jacinda you got this don’t stress . When you go into TV NZ or any bias media out fit make sure to take your support team with you so those people don’t isolate you .

    • eco Maori/kiwi 2.1
      1 September 2017 at 8:04 am

      Wow Breakfast must think all the viewers are idiots .
      Especially when those young peoples opinions on last nights Debate broadcasted at 750 am are clearly scripted .
      No Its national that thinks were idiots to .
      Bring back Hilary

  3. Morrissey 3
    1 September 2017 at 8:46 am

    Paula Penfold made an impressive appearance on the A.M. show
    —but the sports guy looked REALLY unhappy!

    Watch Mark Richardson’s display of dumb hostility as Paula Penfold talks….

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/08/kiwi-soldiers-tied-dead-enemies-to-trucks-report.html

    • Muttonbird 3.1
      1 September 2017 at 4:42 pm

      Agree. Quite apart from the TV3 line (and I quote), ‘he’s paid to have an opinion even if we don’t like it’, his body language in that piece is terrible and I imagine the TV3 people will be speaking to him about being more positive and engaged rather than looking like surly drunk at closing time.

  5. Cinny 5
    1 September 2017 at 9:39 am

    In our local paper national list mp maureen pugh has an election ad, at the bottom is the “N” national logo, next to it is a circle with a tick in it.

    The funny thing is the placement of the “N” and the circle next to each looks like the word “NO” with a tick in the O.

    Crack up, wish I could show you all, so funny

  6. weka 6
    1 September 2017 at 9:42 am

    Fucksake, Rachel Smalley twitter headline,

    Rachel Smalley: I was wrong: Ardern is the front-runner to be our next PM, via @nzherald

    Comment: Rachel Smalley admits she should never have written off Labour

    https://twitter.com/denistegg/status/903370900241694720

    Here’s an idea. How about you keep your opinions to yourself and cover the election without trying to influence the outcome?

  7. Carolyn_nth 7
    1 September 2017 at 9:52 am

    For 3 years, Winston Peters has been referred to by mainstream journos as “the king maker” in the 2017 election.

    Now Colin James at RNS is floating the idea of a Labour-Green-Māori Party Government:

    Poll of Polls – A Colmar Brunton poll for TV1 taken through the five days to Wednesday has sharply lifted Labour’s RNZ poll of polls’ average and put Labour and the Greens combined ahead of National.
    …
    If the trend continues through the next three weeks Labour could possibly govern with just the Greens and the Māori Party.

    On the latest figures, National would need New Zealand First to govern. If the downtrend continues that would take it out of contention for government.

    New Zealand First continued its downtrend in the latest average, to 9.1% rounded, enough for 11 seats.

    He argues that the GP downward slide looks to be bottoming-out.

  8. NewsFlash 8
    1 September 2017 at 10:01 am

    Audrey Young has Jacinda ahead in the debate last night, the tide must be turning for her to admit that.

    Hosking punched Bill on the nose with his question, “why are you losing” and then reiterated it, Hosking started out reasonably fair, but finished on Bills side.

    Goood story in the Guardian this morning.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/31/jacinda-ardern-lifts-labour-into-poll-lead-in-new-zealand-election

  9. Carolyn_nth 9
    1 September 2017 at 10:32 am

    Metiria Turei is campaigning strongly to stay in parliament as an electorate MP, without any leadership or ministerial responsibilities.

    RNZ reports:

    Mrs Turei is campaigning for election in Te Tai Tonga, held by Labour’s Rino Tirikatene at the last election with a comfortable 3500-vote majority.

    “I want to be back… and I want to be back with a mandate,” she told the meeting.
    …
    She said she would take her name off the party list but would continue to stand in the Te Tai Tonga electorate.

    Ms Turei told the meeting she still did not regret announcing she had committed benefit fraud.

    “It’s still worth it … I don’t think we would have had as strong a movement for change if I hadn’t raised this issue and the only way I could raise it was to tell my story,” she said.
    …
    Ms Turei reiterated she would not seek a position as co-leader or any ministerial responsibilities if she was elected.

    “My time as co-leader is done … It’s a question if my time as an MP is done or not – that’s up to Te Tai Tonga voters.”

    • DSpare 9.1
      1 September 2017 at 11:31 am

      Carolyn_nth
      Turei is; Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, whereas Tirakatene is; Kai Tahu, which counts for a lot. Te Tai Tonga only includes Wellington in the north along with Te Wai Pounamu (and Rakiura) to make up the electorate numbers, but not the Wairarapa. Plus the Tirakatene’s are a dynasty of parliamentarians; starting back in 1932 when Eruera was elected as the first Ratana MP, and succeeded by his daughter Whetu on his death in 1967. Even Katene, who Tirikatene beat in the electorate to become an MP came from the same hapū.

      I’m not saying that it would be a bad thing, just that I’m not expecting it. Turei has do it all on her own mana (which is considerable), whereas Tirikatene has decades of mana inherited through whanau, as well as his own achievements (eg chief executive officer for the Federation of Maori Authorities).

      https://www.odt.co.nz/politics-family-affair-tirikatene

      And both Turei and Tirakatene are off their parties lists, so there is no possibility of a; two for one bonus MP, as there is with Davis & Harawira in Te Tai Tokerau.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/90672228/labours-maori-mps-opt-to-go-electorate-only-and-not-seek-list-places

    • tracey 9.2
      1 September 2017 at 5:36 pm

      If it is the meeting I was at, the unreported bit is that when two different people asked how to support her? She told them to party Vote Green and gave a huge endorsement to all her colleagues. She send in the end it is not about her, a Party vote Green will see all she is arguing for represented and advocated.

    • ianmac 10.1
      1 September 2017 at 10:51 am

      Doubt it. No such system in USA. Could impeach him for serious misdemeanor but that takes a long time. Can’t see a military coup of some sort. Can you?

      • AsleepWhileWalking 10.1.1
        1 September 2017 at 4:38 pm

        I think he is surrounded by people who will betray him and expect his impeachment within a year.

        • CoroDale 10.1.1.1
          2 September 2017 at 3:07 am

          Hey, there are some positive signs, but it’s not against Trump, its going the other way. The prime Gangsters like McCain are being give a strong message. Seems that in 2017, there are brain tumors and there are e-brain tumers.

          Link here as in indirect example. These alternative media like zero-hedge are mostly true, but many also corrupted into the fear-porn style of propaganda. Sure there are big problems, but there are also active solutions, which zero-hedge is intentionally not mentioning.

          http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-08-25/mystery-deepens-after-us-confirms-16-diplomats-suffered-traumatic-brain-injury-cuban

          As the Greens say,
          Positive, Principled and Practical.
          With more politicians taking this path,
          things will work-them-selves-out.
          All will be well.

      • CoroDale 10.1.2
        1 September 2017 at 9:37 pm

        Naah, that link was just spyware, and Cabal propaganda. There was a small military coup a year or two ago, which replaced the friends-of-Bush. The new military dictator is UN appointed. But the main coup was decades ago. JKF dead as a door-nail. Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq… over real-estate deals. And Obama gets a Peace Prize for his continued support of the industrial military complex. Democracy? – In Hobbiton maybe, but not it the USA, sorry.

        Super-dodgy black-net are still talking about man-made storms and potential of vaccine holocausts. No hint of a fresh coup to replace the last coup.

        AsleepWhileWaking – your link could have cost me my credit-card#, if I hadn’t all already cancelled it.

  13. D Meatwhistle 13
    1 September 2017 at 11:23 am

    So my take on the debate was that firstly it wasn’t a debate, it was a, mostly, amicable discussion

    Jacinda was light on details and big on emotion and Bill just isn’t a salesperson (ie boring) so no real surprise there

    I may now have to vote NZFirst to make sure the worst excesses of Labour to come to pass as Labour are now in the box seat for winning the election because I can’t se Bill English coming out and attacking Jacinda (because if he did he’d be judged sexist, of course)

    Best option from here is Labour/NZFirst, will probably make Sir Bob Jones happy I guess

    • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1
      1 September 2017 at 12:15 pm

      It’s going to be a Green/Labour government. I hope they invite NZ1st into the tent too, for various reasons, but they won’t need them.

      That’s the best option for New Zealand. You will weep and wail and deny as it lifts your boat too.

      • D Meatwhistle 13.1.1
        1 September 2017 at 12:45 pm

        I don’t think Labour/Greens will be enough as Labour (and fair play to them) seem to be taking votes off everyone, Greens included

        I think Lab/NZFirst will be enough for them

    • McFlock 13.2
      1 September 2017 at 12:46 pm

      I know I might seem to be a Labour cheerleader at times, but I still giggle when tories talk about the “worst excesses of Labour” as if it’s proposing mass confiscation of assets and land.

      • D Meatwhistle 13.2.1
        1 September 2017 at 1:08 pm

        To be fair I could have worded that better but when Labours tax policy seems to be “wait until after the election and we’ll tell you” it doesn’t fill me with a whole lot of confidence

        [pick a consistent handle and stick to it. Also, commenting under completely different names looks dodgy, and I’m sure you don’t want moderators looking too closely – weka]

        • McFlock 13.2.1.1
          1 September 2017 at 1:32 pm

          Yes, you’d prefer to be lied to by st johnkey rather than have an honest comment

          • DSpare 13.2.1.1.1
            1 September 2017 at 2:00 pm

            McFlock
            Labour do have form when it comes to; “mass confiscation of assets and land”, the Seabed and Foreshore act was exactly that to many Māori. Not that I recall the tories have much problem with this, and the concessions in the Marine and Coastal Area act were largely consmetic.

            • McFlock 13.2.1.1.1.1
              1 September 2017 at 2:39 pm

              True that, to be fair.

              I was thinking more the mass collectivisation by the Soviets in the 1920s, that sort of thing.

              I suppose the thing that terrifies tories is mass confiscation of assets and land from white people 👿

            • tracey 13.2.1.1.1.2
              1 September 2017 at 5:39 pm

              The Tories didn’t think the SEabed and Foreshore Act went far enough

          • Dirk Meatwhistle 13.2.1.1.2
            1 September 2017 at 3:52 pm

            Well I think its human nature that you prefer to be lied to by someone you like instead of someone you don’t

            I mean do you believe that Jacinda and Grant don’t really know what they’re going to with tax and that they’re just waiting for the working group to tell them?

            • McFlock 13.2.1.1.2.1
              1 September 2017 at 4:00 pm

              Pretty much.

              I think they have a fair idea that the current system will be fundamentally changed, but any actual specifics of FTT vs CGT vs wealth vs PAYE vs inheritance vs gift vs rebates vs loopholes vs loss-making businesses vs benefits vs UBI… I don’t think anyone knows, or indeed has looked at a complete systemic revamp in 60 years.

              That’s basically the issue – a massive change will need the sign-on of the populace but especially all parliament, and if they can entrench it all the better. So the first year or two, yes, they will work within conventional fiscal restraints. But late this term or even for election 2020 there could well be a systemic change on the table with specific proposals.

              But I think that dunnokeyo always intended to boost GDP, but lied about it.

        • weka 13.2.1.2
          1 September 2017 at 1:46 pm

          please read the moderator note above and acknowledge that you’ve understood.

        • NewsFlash 13.2.1.3
          1 September 2017 at 1:50 pm

          D Meatwhistle

          What, not like Bill’s lolly scramble, didn’t Jacinda repeat what she has already stated, that she would take any tax changes to the next election, unlike Bill who just forced it on the country unannounced and now NZ has the highest and worst example of GST in the entire world.

          John Howard lost his election trying to bribe the constituents with tax cuts, the people aren’t that DUMB, they can see the hospitals and schools are’nt doing so good, and homelessness is rampant and in the face of all society.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 13.2.1.4
          1 September 2017 at 1:50 pm

          😆

          Sockpuppet fail.

  14. Morrissey 14
    1 September 2017 at 11:57 am

    Lynn Freeman failed to do her job this morning.
    RNZ National, Friday 1 September 2017, 9:50 p.m.

    She’s far superior to, much more thoughtful than, the regular host Kathryn “OH-kay!” Ryan, but this morning Lynn Freeman allowed RNZ National’s “Asia correspondent” Anna Fifield to deliver a one-sided and misleading “report” on the North Korean missile launch. By failing to mention the dangerous “war games” on the North Korean border carried out by the United States and its minions (including a small number of hapless Australian soldiers) Anna Fifield acted as little more than a propagandist. And Lynn Freeman by her silence endorsed this travesty.

    Appalled, I flicked the following email to the host of the show….

    Dear Lynn,

    In your talk with Asia correspondent Anna Fifield, much was made of the North Korean missile launch, but neither of you uttered a single word about the ceaseless provocation of U.S. and South Korean military exercises on its border. These North Korean missile launches are responses to this intimidation, but when they are routinely ignored, it distorts the truth. Your listeners deserve better.

    Yours sincerely,

    Morrissey Breen
    Northcote Point

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201856936/asia-correspondent-anna-fifield

    • Bearded Git 14.1
      1 September 2017 at 8:45 pm

      Agree re Freeman being far better than Ryan..+100

    • Pat 14.2
      1 September 2017 at 9:52 pm

      you would appear to be a difficult candidate to satisfy…..you would be hard pressed to find a more professional, impartial journalist than Lynn Freeman….I suspect that incessant attitude of complaint will render those occasions it is warranted ignored….as it should.

    • CoroDale 14.3
      1 September 2017 at 10:02 pm

      Solid comment, and look at the neo-Bolsheviks below fall away into a hen fight over worm length.

      Wasn’t the S Korean Govt overthrown last year by the general public, because it was being run by a Cabal? Google have probably removed that from the news already, not a good precedent for Western Democracies.

      Shameless geo-politics (love the way spell check rejects that word) from RNZ, and The Standard isn’t much better. But ya can’t fight battles on every front.

      Press-vigilance, of the up-most importance, thanks Morrissey.

  15. Robert Guyton 15
    1 September 2017 at 12:05 pm

    D Meatwhistle – is the “D” for dead? And is “whistle” a typo for gristle? And are you linked to Chuck “steak”, Blade “steak” and other such meats? If you disappear, will someone named “Rump” take your place? You’d like to see Bill “attack” Jacinda? I bet you adored John Key’s salesman skills – used cars, encyclopedia, vacumn cleaners, assets, he could sell them all!

    • D Meatwhistle 15.1
      1 September 2017 at 12:53 pm

      It stands for Dirk (my work keyboards getting a bit iffy, probably because my work out put is exceptional)

      No I personally don’t want to see Bill attack Jacinda however, from Bills pov, attacking Jacinda is Bills only option because Jacinda is running on feel good emotion (a bit like John Key) and Bill runs on facts but lacks charisma

      Yes Sir John Key has been our best PM since *insert whichever leader you feel appropriate here* so good in fact that Jacinda has basically copied him which isn’t a bad thing because Sir John copied a lot from Helen Clark

      Be that as it may I still contend that what we got last night wasn’t a debate at all

      • McFlock 15.1.1
        1 September 2017 at 12:58 pm

        The meatwhistle loves a john key. Who would have thunk it…

      • Robert Guyton 15.1.2
        1 September 2017 at 1:05 pm

        So, Dirk, why have you chosen an offensive word as your handle? It’s not just your keyboard that’s “a bit iffy”. And John Key? You are easily deceived, Dirk.

      • NewsFlash 15.1.3
        1 September 2017 at 1:55 pm

        D Meatwhistle

        ” Bill runs on facts but lacks charisma”

        Part of that statement is correct, I bet you don’t know which bit!!

        Bill is a LIAR, here’s an example: housing affordability is better now than in 2008.

      • Draco T Bastard 15.1.4
        1 September 2017 at 2:15 pm

        Bill runs on facts

        HahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahaha

        Oh, wait, you were actually serious…

        HahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahahaHahaha

        • Robert Guyton 15.1.4.1
          1 September 2017 at 2:27 pm

          Perhaps it’s another Dirky-typo; facts for farts and Dirk is remembering this quote from JasonJohns at Kiwiblog:

          “Bottom line: Bill needed to be hot shit on toast tonight. Instead, he was cold fart on bread.”
          Bill runs on facts farts.

  16. Eco maori 16
    1 September 2017 at 12:09 pm

    I’m happy the Muppets are leaving my elderly clients alone I enjoy talking to them.
    They all want me to carry on mowing some of them have given me a barbecue one gave me a mower and some guy on Dickson road gave me a electric leaf blower I did Not even want as I have no use for it I like recycling so I took it home I will give it to someone who will use it.
    They just want to go to war so be it.
    They are still following me around Muppets

    • eco Maori/kiwi 16.1
      1 September 2017 at 5:32 pm

      It mite seem like my post on my problem are random they are not it is all strategic

      • greywarshark 16.1.1
        2 September 2017 at 3:05 pm

        Hey eco Maori/s
        It’s a bit confusing but I get you are different people, are you starting an eco maori group getting together but with your own pseudos added on to get some more Maori news on the blog? But what will we do if you take on the recent challenge to only use Maori for a day, week etc? Don’t do it please all the time as we won’t be able to get up speed to learn what your thoughts are.

        Glad EM that you are having a better time with your mowing clients. Could be good if you keep a note of dates, times and where the Muppets are following you that you know for sure. Special notebook that you just quietly note in out of sight, and do each day. It might be handy for you if you have trouble with them some time in future and say they are waiting to jump you. Why aren’t they out doing some positive things like working with unemployed kids etc? You could offer to go in each day and report on what you’ve been up to. Sometimes when you are so open and honest it annoys them and they might tell you to get the hell out of it, they never want to see you again. Which would suit you fine I guess.

  17. Morrissey 17
    1 September 2017 at 12:37 pm

    Fomenting happy mischief over on Kiwiblog….

    “Hidden due to low comment rating.”—the ultimate accolade.

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2017/09/general_debate_1_september_2017.html/comment-page-1#comment-2008951

  18. Peroxide Blonde 18
    1 September 2017 at 12:48 pm

    Another Election in the UK soon.

    1. May now says she wants to lead the Tories into the next General Election. 1922 Committee members say she is delusional. This is the starting gun for those who want to be the next leader: Johnson, Ree-Mogg, Rudd, Davis and Hammond are runners and Javid is an long shot if there is a generational change. Brexiteers will not have Hammond. SNP can’t wait for Johnson or Rees-Mogg!!

    2. The EU negotiations are (understatement) a train wreck. There is not enough paper or ink to describe the incompetence and ignorance of the Davis leadership. They are heading to an exit over the cliff. The public unease is growing and calls for change are getting louder.

    3. Corbyn is finally developing a position on Brexit: an un-achievable and immature one but at least he is developing some sense of responsibility in the matter. There is now a perceived difference between Labour and the Tories.

    4. Another election might be enough to push Scotland and Northern Ireland to take the real steps to staying in the EU. The resulting break-up of the Union may be enough of a shock to England for them to change politics ala 1945 and reverse Brexit. Corbyn and May et al will be history in a couple of years.

  19. Cinny 19
    1 September 2017 at 1:22 pm

    Thank you LABOUR and Chris Hipkins, thank you from our community, the families, the girls at Salisbury, the staff and potential students and their families. THANK YOU.

    Once you are in government, I look forward to more people being made aware of and more enrollments for this standout facility, the only one of it’s kind in NZ. Salisbury School has and does save lives and relieves suffering. Am all emotional at this news, to see it in print in the paper just before an election, THANK YOU Chris, Rachel and Labour

    Hipkins said a Labour-led government would “take the brakes off the admission process, which is the thing that’s strangled them” and keep Salisbury open as a single-sex residential school

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/96349216/salisbury-school-to-stay-open-under-labour-says-chris-hipkins

    • Robert Guyton 19.1
      1 September 2017 at 1:30 pm

      Hey, Cinny. My mum used to teach at Salisbury and I spent a fair bit of time there at the weekends, fyi.

      • greywarshark 19.1.1
        1 September 2017 at 3:04 pm

        Yes I know Salisbury School and remember it in Mrs Robinson’s time. They did and still do a good job, just that the bar has been set so high that few people can get away from the government’s smothering wrap-around embrace to gain entry to this fine, useful facility.

      • Cinny 19.1.2
        1 September 2017 at 4:08 pm

        Respect 😀

  20. Draco T Bastard 20
    1 September 2017 at 2:11 pm

    ‘The Daily’: A Conversation With a Former White Nationalist

    Derek Black grew up in West Palm Beach, Fla., across the water from the president’s Mar-a-Lago mansion, which he drove past almost every day in a red pickup truck with a Confederate flag sticker on the back window.

    His father is Don Black, a former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, and his godfather is David Duke. Derek was poised to help lead the white nationalist movement. And then he left, betraying his family and friends in the process.

    On today’s episode:

    We talk with Derek Black about the movement he left behind, and its role in America over the past year.

    It’s a podcast (which means that I haven’t actually listened to it) but there’s also links to previous articles on the page which make for interesting reading.

  21. Muttonbird 21
    1 September 2017 at 3:31 pm

    Just how does a PPP work with respect to schools, in this case Whangarei Boy’s High School?

    Assuming it costs around $10K per annum to educate a secondary student will National just be paying private investors a proportion of that continually year on year on year if said investors enter a PPP for the bricks and mortar?

    No details from National on this which is of great concern.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96400791/national-to-set-up-new-commission-to-handle-publicprivate-partnerships

    • AsleepWhileWalking 21.1
      1 September 2017 at 4:47 pm

      I dunno but if you home school (which sounds like a PPP to me) the State used to contribute around $700/year/child. Not sure what it is at present but won’t be much higher – in a PPP the State appears to be a tight fisted partner who will expect someone else to pick up the slack.

      • Muttonbird 21.1.1
        1 September 2017 at 5:05 pm

        I’m going off my child’s special character school. They receive about $6.5m from the government as a decile 8 and about $3m in contributions from parents. The roll is about 950 students.

        I’m also going to suggest One Tree Hill College gets approx $9.5m from the government as a decile 3 school and $200k from parents. The roll is approx 1000 students. I’ve tried to look this up with no success so I could be wrong on this.

        Interested in what you said about home schooling being a PPP. It is.

  22. Cinny 22
    1 September 2017 at 4:05 pm

    THANKS LABOUR for removing secondary tax ROCK ON !!!

    Just dropped in to the office and found out 😀 Looking for a link to back it up

    http://www.labour.org.nz/secondarytax

    • Exkiwiforces 22.1
      1 September 2017 at 4:11 pm

      If this is correct Cinny, its about bloody time and been should’ve have removed years ago.

    • Dirk Meatwhistle 22.2
      1 September 2017 at 4:11 pm

      Removing secondary tax or aligning it with current tax? Either way that’s actually a very good announcement.

      • Cinny 22.2.1
        1 September 2017 at 4:18 pm

        taking it away and replacing it with current tax, sorry was so excited lolz, it’s such good news

        This is a major for me, just like many kiwis I work more than one job.

        Have heard that many on the benefit who have a small part time job get taxed so harshly with secondary, that often it’s not worth it, example is working 5 hours a week and being only $10 better off, hardly motivating for anyone to find parttime work

        • Dirk Meatwhistle 22.2.1.1
          1 September 2017 at 4:23 pm

          So the secondary tax is going to be the same as the main tax the person is already paying? I’m all good with that, its fair and will probably encourage more people to work and get ahead so good job Labour

          • Cinny 22.2.1.1.1
            1 September 2017 at 4:45 pm

            Correct Dirk. makes it a much fairer system for all.

            • AsleepWhileWalking 22.2.1.1.1.1
              1 September 2017 at 4:49 pm

              And it will help so many who work 3 pt jobs to get by. And those wanting to get off benefits.

              So glad L are not continuing the penalty of the past.

        • Draco T Bastard 22.2.1.2
          1 September 2017 at 5:27 pm

          Have heard that many on the benefit who have a small part time job get taxed so harshly with secondary, that often it’s not worth it, example is working 5 hours a week and being only $10 better off, hardly motivating for anyone to find parttime work

          That’s because of the ~70% marginal tax rate that applies when a beneficiary works. Any income over a set amount the benefit is reduced by the same amount.

    • Draco T Bastard 22.3
      1 September 2017 at 5:33 pm

      You do realise that if you filled in a tax return every year you’d get any excess tax paid back don’t you?

      In fact, there’s a major industry going on about it as tax accountants charge you for it when you could do it yourself for free just by simply talking to IRD.

      Getting rid of the secondary tax is going to do nothing for you if you don’t fill in your tax return.

      And, yes, I know that IRD has been encouraging people not to fill them in. That should have been illegal but I suppose it’s one way to reduce the number of people needed at IRD.

      • Cinny 22.3.1
        1 September 2017 at 7:21 pm

        Weekly fair tax rather than annual lump sum on completion of forms etc, Awesome, the worker can gather $ from interest of money they’ve earned rather than the IRD.

        For sure about the major industry of tax accountants, bunch of cowboys taking advantage of those uneducated on certain topics via media advertising. Financial literacy in schools? Yes please and thank you 😀

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  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
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  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
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  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
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  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
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