Open Mike 02/05/2018

77 comments on “Open Mike 02/05/2018 ”

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1. Jenny 1

   2 May 2018 at 6:40 am

   How come I keep getting this when I try to post a comment about my time in Syria?

   Request Timeout
   Server timeout waiting for the HTTP request from the client.

   Apache/2.4.33 (Ubuntu) Server at thestandard.org.nz Port 443
   • Ed 1.1

     2 May 2018 at 6:42 am

     I wonder why.
     • Jenny 1.1.1

       2 May 2018 at 7:13 am

       Me too. Still getting it.

       Request Timeout
       Server timeout waiting for the HTTP request from the client.

       Apache/2.4.33 (Ubuntu) Server at thestandard.org.nz Port 443
       • Jenny 1.1.1.1

         2 May 2018 at 7:40 am

         Will try again.
         • Jenny 1.1.1.1.1

           2 May 2018 at 7:42 am

           Nope.

           Request Timeout
           Server timeout waiting for the HTTP request from the client.

           Apache/2.4.33 (Ubuntu) Server at thestandard.org.nz Port 443
           • Gabby 1.1.1.1.1.1

             2 May 2018 at 7:44 am

             Well your BRIEF comments seem to make it through.
     • solkta 1.1.2

       2 May 2018 at 7:19 am

       It’s obviously a conspiracy.
       • Jenny 1.1.2.1

         2 May 2018 at 7:45 am

         Yeah, bit like the Arab spring, was a CIA plot, regime change, conspiracy theory.
         • Jenny 1.1.2.1.1

           2 May 2018 at 7:46 am

           Will try again.
         • Jenny 1.1.2.1.2

           2 May 2018 at 7:47 am

           Will try again
           • Jenny 1.1.2.1.2.1

             2 May 2018 at 7:50 am

             Nope.
             • Jenny …

               2 May 2018 at 7:56 am

               A little help here.

               Anything with the word starting with Sy…. and ending with ….ria seems to be blocked.
               • dv …

                 2 May 2018 at 8:18 am

                 Syria.

                 Nope got thru.
                 • Jenny …

                   2 May 2018 at 8:37 am

                   Still the same.

                   Something with the Server.

                   Lynn is working on it.
                   • Cinny …

                     2 May 2018 at 9:19 am

                     Jen, I very much appreciate all of your posts/comments/insight about Syria, they are informative and as a result, am learning more and more about the situation over. Just wanted to say THANKS 🙂
   • Sacha 1.2

     2 May 2018 at 7:51 am

     Because even the server is bored shitless with that topic?
     • Jenny 1.2.1

       2 May 2018 at 8:06 am

       “Ay Rabs”, “Head Choppers”, “Rag Heads”, Who cares about them.

       Kill them all.

       Just do it quietly.

       Eh, Sacha?
       • Sacha 1.2.1.1

         2 May 2018 at 8:07 am

         Fill your boots – in the nearest phone booth.
   • lprent 1.3

     2 May 2018 at 7:59 am

     Not sure. I have had a couple of queries about the server responses this morning. I’m not having any problems from Singapore. But I will have a look at the server now that I am awake excessively early.
     • Jenny 1.3.1

       2 May 2018 at 8:07 am

       Thanks
     • lprent 1.3.2

       2 May 2018 at 9:03 am

       I can’t see anything wrong. It may just be the usual network glitching between systems in NZ.

       FYI: Two of the reported incidents seem to involve vodafone.
       • Jenny 1.3.2.1

         2 May 2018 at 9:07 am

         Must be a real doozy of a glitch.

         Far Out.

         (Do young people still say that).

         Stick with it Lynn, we are rooting for you.

         Request Timeout
         Server timeout waiting for the HTTP request from the client.

         Apache/2.4.33 (Ubuntu) Server at thestandard.org.nz Port 443
       • veutoviper 1.3.2.2

         2 May 2018 at 9:17 am

         If it is of any help, I have had the same problem intermittently over the last month or so. I use Vodaphone.

         My workaround has been to use the back arrow at top of page to get back to the comment I wrote; select all the comment text and copy it; then open a separate TS in a new tab; go to post and comment I want to reply to or to the comment box for a new comment; paste and quickly submit. Pain in a..e but seems to work most times.

         Re the original TS comment that won’t work and times out, I keep that open and recommend copying your comment rather than cutting it, as a backup to losing what you have written.

         Sorry for the bad grammar in the above.
       • McFlock 1.3.2.3

         2 May 2018 at 4:30 pm

         looking at my rather elderly and overloaded “smart” phone, I wonder if it’s a client-end thing just taking a while to run basic tasks?

         Or maybe their cookies need to be cleared and refresh the page?

         in other words their device is concentrating so much on sending stuff and reloading the page that it takes too long to process a request to or from the server?
2. Ed 2

   2 May 2018 at 6:48 am

   Good to see a bit of pressure being put on these dodgy organisations.
   They take 6 billion out of our economy every year.
   And they have been found to cheat their customers and lie to officials.

   Time to get tough with these crooked groups.
   We should nationalise the banks and take money away from the control of private overseas interests

   Banks under scrutiny, told to prove they have clean hands.

   The country’s leading banks have been ordered to prove they are not ripping off their customers like their Australians counterparts have been doing.
   A royal commission into Australia’s financial services sector has found banks have cheated customers and lied to regulators.
   The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and Reserve Bank spoke with the heads of New Zealand banks on Monday seeking concrete evidence the same was not happening here.
   “We’ve asked them to provide reassurances to us that they have scrubbed their business models, and they have a basis for being confident that those issues don’t exist here,” FMA chief executive Rob Everett said.
   Much of New Zealand’s financial sector is run by local offshoots of the same organisations now in the gun across the Tasman.

   http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/356418/banks-under-scrutiny-told-to-prove-they-have-clean-hands

   A starter for anyone interested in learning how banking works.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AC6RSau7r8
   • Cinny 2.1

     2 May 2018 at 9:15 am

     Would love to see our government switch to kiwibank.
3. UncookedSelachimorpha 3

   2 May 2018 at 7:35 am

   Bill English continues to chase his dream of a low-wage economy

   http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/356412/bill-english-joins-board-of-australia-retail-giant
   • KJT 3.1

     3 May 2018 at 8:21 am

     Serving politician on a private company board?
4. Rosemary McDonald 4

   2 May 2018 at 8:14 am

   Couldn’t happen to a more deserving ‘group’.

   https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/356424/cruel-irony-as-ministry-claws-back-pay-advance

   “Disability groups are accusing the Health Ministry of being mean-spirited and tight-fisted in its efforts to claw back money it gave out as a result of the pay equity settlement.

   About 20,000 staff in the disability sector were included in the historic $2 billion deal that came into force in July.

   Since then some employers have been overpaid but argue they should be able to keep the money.

   Under the pay equity deal, care and support workers got a 21 percent wage increase.

   To help make life easier for employers the ministry decided to pay the money in advance for this financial year to ensure disability services had a buffer of cash on hand to pay the new rates.

   But the funding included a 2.2 percent annual inflation adjustment, which some providers have since been paid again in their new 12 monthly government contracts.

   The ministry now wants to recoup the double payments by making a one off funding cut.”

   For a start…and this is a really, really important point…the New Zealand Disability Support Network, of which Bennie is the Big Cheese, is not a ‘disability group’.

   It is an organisation set up to represent the interests of Contracted Providers of government funded disability supports.

   “Representing the interests” = ensuring the terms and conditions of the hotly negotiated contracts favour the Provider, who can neglect (in some cases to death), abuse and in some cases torture disabled clients and almost never be held properly to account.

   The immediate past CEO formerly worked for the Ministry of Health.
   • Rosemary McDonald 4.1

     2 May 2018 at 8:58 am

     FYI

     https://www.nzdsn.org.nz/members-2/

     This is not a happy clappy ‘we love the disabled’ group.

     This is a hard core lobby group….

     “What We Do

     We are a network of organisations and individuals involved in providing disability support services.
     We provide a strong voice to government on matters of policy, service design and legislation.
     We promote innovation, quality services, research and deliver a provider development programme.
     We ensure good communication with members and support for regional networks.
     We contribute to government working parties and reference groups.
     We respond to government requests for advice and input.

     Membership Options

     Level 1
     For organisations with revenue of $10 million or more $6000+GST

     Level 2
     For organisations with revenue of $5 million to $10 million $4000+GST

     Level 3
     For organisations with revenue of $3 million to $5 million $3000+GST

     Level 4
     For organisations with revenue of $1.5 million to $3 million $1500+GST

     Level 5
     For organisations with revenue of $1 million to $1.5 million $1000+GST

     Level 6
     For organisations with revenue of $500,000 to $1 million $500+GST”

     They linked with the PSA back in 2015 to raise concerns about the push to have more disabled people using Individualised Funding rather than being reliant on the often unreliable Contracted Providers.

     An interesting hui in Auckland ( http://disabilityconnect.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Invite-to-individualised-funding.pdf) there was much hand wringing from PSA and NZDSN about the pitfalls of increased control by disabled people over their allocated funding.

     Interesting reaction from some of the care workers from the provider organsiations and the PSA when users of IF told of how successful they had found having this control, how satisfying it was to be able to pay their workers up to $20 per hour (remember the providers were largely paying minimum wage at this stage) AND, after meeting all of their employer obligations were still (in some cases) able to return unused portions of their funding to the Ministry of Health at the end of the year.

     No doubt in my mind that the roll out of IF was negatively impacted by poor administration and support by the Contracted Providers hosting the IF $$$…because of course it wouldn’t be proper for there not to be a commercial opportunity in the scheme somewhere, the more snouts in the trough the better…but the folk making best use of IF had managed to largely bypass these troughers.

     The new System Transformation for disability supports has a strong emphasis on IF or Personal Budgets, which the NZDSN and the PSA are not entirely ecstatic about.

     Tough.
5. silvertuatara 5

   2 May 2018 at 9:44 am

   I read Kim Dotcom’s following announcement through Twitter (https://twitter.com/KimDotcom) on the 29/4 which reads;

   “KimDotcom@KimDotcom

   The new Labour govt in New Zealand decided to appeal the Human Rights Tribunal ruling that former Attorney General acted unlawfully by withholding evidence in my case.

   @nzlabour is now officially defending what National did to my family. Increasing cost and prolonging injustice.”

   I am interested in the Human Rights aspect of this case and was wondering if anyone else has come across anything through the media about the Crown’s appeal of the Human Rights Tribunal ruling that former Attorney General acted unlawfully by withholding evidence in Kim Dotcom’s case.

   Having read the Human Rights Tribunal ruling I am interested on what basis the Crown has grounded their appeal.

   Cheers, S.T.
   • savenz 5.1

     2 May 2018 at 10:19 am

     Disgusting, lawyers out of control again, no wonder NZ productivity is down and we can’t pick out own apples or build a house anymore, too many lawyers (we have about 26% more practising lawyers per person that the UK which is supposedly a financial hub, why do we need so many lawyers in NZ, when we seem to be a mostly agricultural and construction economy?).

     Even a Moron should be able to work out that not releasing Dot coms information held about him from government agencies when he was being publicly persecuted in a bizarre inappropriate and ultimately found illegal police/cops/FBI shakedown…. was wrong. Now to waste more taxpayers money on lawyers appealing it… outrageous.

     What’s the legal bill so far for NZ taxpayers – 5 million and counting just on the lawyers… because Hollywood is too cheap to fight it’s own battles and our over represented NZ lawyers are only too keen to be troughers at the government purse and now wasting more money on appeals that show Kiwis citizens that our government love harassment and lack decency to see even the most basic of issues effecting privacy…
   • veutoviper 5.2

     2 May 2018 at 1:34 pm

     Thanks for the update, ST. I am also interested as to what basis the “Crown” is using for it’s appeal.

     Having Googled to see if there is any further information, all I could find was KDC’s tweet and a blog post on TDB by Martyn Bradbury which provides no further information.
     https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/04/30/labour-party-attack-kim-dotcom-major-blunder/

     Whether this is a decision by the new “Labour Government “, as suggested by KDC and Bradbury is questionable, however.

     As you know from reading the Human Rights Review Tribunal ruling, the “Crown” as the original defendant in this case comprised Crown Law as First Defendant and then in order, the Attorney-General, DPMC, Immigration, MBIE, MFAT, MOJ, and NZ Police as the other 2nd to 8th Defendents.

     The Solicitor-General as Chief Executive of the Crown Law Office, and the Attorney-General are the two main Law Officers of the Crown.

     The Attorney-General has two roles in government – one as the senior Law Officer of the Crown requiring the A-G to act independently free of political considerations on some matters; and the other as a Minister of the Crown with ministerial responsibilities with its associated political partisanship.

     The Attorney-General as senior Law Officer has principle responsibility for the Government’s administration of the law which is exercised in conjunction with the Solicitor- General as is the junior Law Officer.

     OTOH:
     “Subject only to the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General is the government’s chief legal adviser and advocate in the courts. In practice, the Solicitor-General provides advice directly to Ministers, departments and agencies of government and will appear as Senior Counsel for government interests in litigation and in particular appellate court matters. A key responsibility is to advise the government on constitutional questions.

     The Solicitor-General also exercises a number of specific functions within the Crown’s prosecution process. These include responsibility for the prosecution of criminal jury trials and Crown representation in appeals against conviction and sentences.

     By statute the Solicitor-General can exercise almost all of the statutory functions conferred on the Attorney-General. As the non-political Law Officer, the Solicitor-General has traditionally assumed responsibility for the exercise of those functions that should be undertaken independently of the political process, most notably the prosecution functions.

     However, it has long been recognised that the nature and value of the office within government lies in part on the Solicitor-General’s duty to give independent advice and, in relation to certain functions, to act independently. That independence is of considerable constitutional importance. Such impartial advice can be seen to be given without political direction, even on politically contentious issues.”

     http://www.crownlaw.govt.nz/about-us/law-officers/

     In terms of the role of the Solicitor-General as the chief adviser and advocate in relation to the courts and the specific functions of this role in respect of the prosecution process, it could be that this decision to appeal the KDC HRRT ruling has been made by the Solicitor-General acting independently.

     Please note that this is conjecture on my part, but I would be really interested to know whether this has been the case. If so, it cannot be sheeted to the “Government” per se – of whatever political persuasion or composition.

     I will be following this appeal with interest, both from this aspect and the one you raised – the grounds that the appeal is being based on.

     “The Crown” certainly did not make a great impression on the HRRT in terms of their original actions and the presentation of their defence to the Tribunal.
     Sections (8) to (13) summarise the Tribunal’s impressions re KDC versus the Crown as witnesses rather succinctly.

     https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Decisions/2018-nzhrrt-7-dotcom-v-crown-law-others.pdf
     • silvertuatara 5.2.1

       2 May 2018 at 8:23 pm

       Thanks veutoviper…..will wait and see what appears next then…..good points raised and noted which I appreciate your response.
6. ianmac 6

   2 May 2018 at 10:16 am

   “False Clarke Gayford rumours: Police and PM Jacinda Ardern respond to widely circulated fake slurs” by David Fisher.

   Jacinda via Clarke is the victim of false news and Dirty Tricks are alive and well. Yuck!

   Jacinda Ardern’s partner Clarke Gayford has been under an unprecedented assault of baseless rumour and false innuendo with the apparent intent of dragging down the Prime Minister.

   For the past seven months, Gayford has been the subject – on social media and via word of mouth – of untrue allegations and accusations.

   The sheer scale and nature of the claims have led to Police Commissioner Mike Bush taking the extraordinary step of signing off a media release that rejects the speculation.

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12043351
7. savenz 7

   2 May 2018 at 1:26 pm

   Ugh scary stuff

   One News last night had a disturbing story about allegations that Corrections officers had sexually assaulted prisoners – and that Corrections was for some reason not bothering to track these allegations:

   http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2018/05/how-can-they-not-track-this.html
8. Philip Ferguson 8

   2 May 2018 at 1:52 pm

   Excellent to see that the school workers’ strikes are spreading across more states in the USA: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2018/05/01/us-teachers-strikes-spread-across-five-states/
9. The Chairman 9

   2 May 2018 at 1:53 pm

   How do Labour and Green supporters here feel about it being years before the welfare overhaul comes about?

   Anecdotally, I know most weren’t expecting changes over night, but now that Labour have indicated it may not come about until after the next election, how do you feel about the delay?

   Personally, considering some of the horror stories coming out of WINZ one would have thought Labour would have made the overhaul a priority.

   The Green Party seem rather silent on the matter. Especially so now they have Marama as co-leader.
   • savenz 9.1

     2 May 2018 at 2:46 pm

     Maybe the poor would get more welfare if they banded together and formed a religion…. see Gloriavale below, but I don’t think they are the only ones who can gather substantial government benefits in this way… funny how the tinder date women got her benefit cut, but this sort of practise is ok, (maybe because they are rich and a harder target?).
     • The Chairman 9.1.1

       2 May 2018 at 3:29 pm

       I see from your link the Government is going to look into it.
   • The Chairman 9.2

     2 May 2018 at 4:12 pm

     “The problem is that poor families really can’t wait until the deliberations of a welfare working group, they’ve already had to wait far too long and we’re picking up the social cost of that every day, we’re hearing from the sector about how … things have got worse.” – Susan St John. 

     Seeing as the welfare overhaul was part of Labour’s confidence and supply deal with the Greens, it’s surprising the Greens have nothing to say on the delay.

     So much for the notion of the Greens keeping Labour in check. I’m starting to think my vote for the Greens was a waste of time.
     • savenz 9.2.1

       2 May 2018 at 4:22 pm

       Sue Bradford? She understood that time is something you don’t have when you are hungry and homeless….

       Welfare has been allowed to get into a mess and a lot of people who don’t need benefits get them, while working people increasingly need them because the wages are so low, while those who need benefits them don’t get them, so that the costs overrun and more and more ‘reforms’ can be justified, at the same time this means less left people vote left (because their lives have got worse) and more right people vote right (because welfare feels like a bottomless pit)…
       • The Chairman 9.2.1.1

         3 May 2018 at 12:06 pm

         Yes, savenz, Sue Bradford understands that time is something you don’t have when you are hungry and homeless.

         A lot of people I know that voted left have given up on so-called left wing parties and no longer partake in elections. In fact, I’ve yet to meet a right-winger that doesn’t vote.
     • Sacha 9.2.2

       3 May 2018 at 6:48 am

       From the confidence and supply agreement:
       https://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/NZLP%20%26%20GP%20C%26S%20Agreement%20FINAL.PDF

       10. Overhaul the welfare system, ensure access to entitlements, remove excessive sanctions and review Working For Families so that everyone has a standard of living and income that enables them to live in dignity and participate in their communities, and lifts children and their families out of poverty.
       a. Safe sleeping environment devices will be made available for vulnerable families.

       Nothing about timing but if there is nothing immediate in the Budget in a couple of weeks, then yes the left have cause to be concerned.
       • The Chairman 9.2.2.1

         3 May 2018 at 7:47 am

         The drawn-out timing (up to 3 years from now) was announced by Labour’s Social Development Minister on the last episode of the Nation.

         What blew me away was there was nothing from the Greens on this drawn-out timing, yet when it came to the less well off subsidising those that can afford a new EV, the Greens were quick to publicly announce they are considering it. Despite it going against their social justice stance.

         So instead of speaking up on the drawn-out timing to help the less well off, they decided to speak up on a policy proposal that will benefit the well to do at the expense of the less well off.

         What the hell are they up too?
     • solkta 9.2.3

       3 May 2018 at 7:05 am

       “I’m starting to think”

       Gosh, starting to? You really are a feeble little troll.
       • The Chairman 9.2.3.1

         3 May 2018 at 7:24 am

         No. I’m a disappointed Green voter.
         • solkta 9.2.3.1.1

           3 May 2018 at 7:35 am

           feeble.
           • The Chairman 9.2.3.1.1.1

             3 May 2018 at 8:22 am

             When it comes to social justice,”feeble” and largely good for nothing is how the Greens are currently coming across.
             • solkta …

               3 May 2018 at 8:36 am

               You are such a try-hard.
               • The Chairman …

                 3 May 2018 at 9:36 am

                 It’s a pity and a real let down the Greens aren’t trying harder.
             • tracey …

               3 May 2018 at 8:42 am

               Can you explain how you thought a party polling around 5% last September was going to be able to enforce all the changes you wanted in 6 months?
               • The Chairman …

                 3 May 2018 at 9:28 am

                 Due to their lack of the vote, I don’t expect the Greens to enforce all the changes they campaigned on. However, I do expect them to speak up and show us how they are working on trying to secure more.

                 What we’ve got is them gifting questions to the opposition and telling us they are considering getting the less well off to subsidise the well to do.

                 Do you not share my disappointment, Tracey?
                 • tracey …

                   3 May 2018 at 10:45 am

                   I dont actually. I know enough about them to understand they do not indulge in the tail wagging the dog and will abide by the letter and intent of agreements they sign.
                   • The Chairman …

                     3 May 2018 at 10:55 am

                     “I know enough about them…”

                     Do you?

                     So you are happy and have no problem with them gifting questions away and considering getting the less well off to subsidise the well to do?
                   • The Chairman …

                     3 May 2018 at 11:07 am

                     “They do not indulge in the tail wagging the dog and will abide by the letter and intent of agreements they sign.”

                     And in saying that, are you implying speaking up and showing us how they are working on trying to secure more doesn’t abide by the letter and intent of agreements they’ve signed? Because that would be incorrect, despite what you claim to know.

                     If not, what was your point?
     • tracey 9.2.4

       3 May 2018 at 8:44 am

       ” I’m starting to think my vote for the Greens was a waste of time. ” where do you think your vote would have been used better?
       • The Chairman 9.2.4.1

         3 May 2018 at 9:31 am

         Nowhere, at this stage. Hence, my desire to see the Greens up their game.
       • The Chairman 9.2.4.2

         3 May 2018 at 11:28 am

         Addionally, Tracey, your question reminds me of the stance some centrist take. We don’t have to worry and cater to the left as they have nowhere else to turn too.
10. savenz 10

    2 May 2018 at 2:25 pm

    One of the issues of welfare seems to be some unusual arrangements allowed, such as the Gloriavale community who seem to have copious amounts of children who apparently need government welfare support, giving their WFF’s (estimated over 3 million a year in WFF welfare payments to the families who then put it in the wealthy community leaders bank accounts)… God provides in mysterious ways… someone was also complaining how they got such a good ero report when they are segregated and girls taught women’s work. I believe Gloriavale also qualify for some education funding for their own schools from the tax payer to the tune of $200,000… to teach that sort of stuff… God via the tax payers provides again, it seems.

    Government to investigate Gloriavale’s use of Working for Families payments
    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/05/government-to-investigate-gloriavale-s-use-of-working-for-families-payments.html

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/04/22/dr-liz-gordon-bees-guns-and-cults-recent-happenings-in-education/
    • Daveosaurus 10.1

      2 May 2018 at 8:08 pm

      Q: what’s the difference between Centrepoint and Gloriavale?

      A: one’s a commune run by a convicted sexual predator, and the other was run by Bert Potter.
      • tracey 10.1.1

        3 May 2018 at 8:45 am

        Actually the answer is no difference. Both are run by sexual predators. Your attempt at humour is weak and illplaced imo
11. Herodotus 11

    2 May 2018 at 2:39 pm

    With the budget fast approaching- I hope those senior members of the govt will be reminded repeatedly of what was said at election time.
    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/10/what-labour-promised.html
    https://www.labour.org.nz/10_reasons
    Unlike in 99 (when the reverse was the case) last year is appearing to be over promised and under delivered
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/103480388/cheaper-gp-visits-delayed-as-govt-admits-it-cant-afford-this-year
    So we are now prioritising what will be spent.
    How can we trust any Politician?? National – Labour what really is the difference? Promise then renege, BUT we didn’t know…. Really
    • tracey 11.1

      3 May 2018 at 8:46 am

      You thought Labour was significantly different to National in terms of behaviour? Why?
12. veutoviper 12

    2 May 2018 at 3:12 pm

    I think we all need a bit of a laugh today – so here we are.

    The NZ is being left off of maps conspiracy – Jacinda Ardern and Rhys Darby

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2018/05/jacinda-ardern-rhys-darby-campaign-to-get-nz-on-world-maps-in-hilarious-video.html
13. DB Brown 13

    2 May 2018 at 4:14 pm

    Just a wee heads up on the ‘news’ that hemp is good food, and being permitted as food, and kiwi farmers might move into it as an alternate income to milking.

    This is all true. BUT, and it’s a biggie…

    Hemp is an accumulator of heavy metals. Cadmium, that comes with many Phosphate fertilisers, is a widespread problem on Dairy (and other) land, with levels threatening to shut certain land from production, or out of specific markets (EU). Our Councils are already fully aware of this issue.

    So, here’s what actually needs to happen.

    We identify the (so much) polluted land, and grow Hemp for FIBRE, until the land is cleared for food. The Hemp will detoxify the land while making a profit for Farmers. Talk about a gift horse. Now let’s see if anyone’s listening.

    It’s an elegant solution to an enormous potential screw up.

    Let’s get this right.
    • McFlock 13.1

      2 May 2018 at 4:35 pm

      I think there’s a project in Australia looking to use a salt bush for a similar use, specifically for heavy metails and radioactive stuff. The idea being that the salt bush absorbs the pollutants, and it’s then taken and burned and the metals collected (radioactive rope might be an issue).

      But it’s an interesting idea.
      • DB Brown 13.1.1

        2 May 2018 at 5:29 pm

        Nice heads up on the saltbush thank you.

        These types of plants are called hyperaccumulators, and were initially discovered as inhabitants of serpentine soils and mine tailings. Unfortunately most grew too small or too slow to be of use but science continues the search. Did you know some clever folks have found a strain of Brassica juncea to harvest gold from tailings?

        GOLD! (that always gets attention).
        • McFlock 13.1.1.1

          2 May 2018 at 9:39 pm

          Mustard?

          Lol that’ll end up in a posey michelin star restaurant
14. Jenny 14

    3 May 2018 at 4:09 am

    ‘

    Spider 16.

    A love story

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/103579347/the-extraordinary-life-and-death-of-the-worlds-oldest-known-spider
15. eco maori 15

    3 May 2018 at 7:22 am

    The Am Show Mark I would not have liked to be in your shoes when that bomb went off
    on the Black Caps tour of Pakistan in 2002 that would have been unexpected and made me ——-my pants.
    We should be great full that OUR Tipunas had the forsight to use diplomacy and intelligence to work together to leave us all this beautiful country Aoteraroa .
    One phenomenon about this school PEE description is that it confirms my concerns that there is heaps of PEE out there and there is good reason to call out people using the word CRACK in any way in public is not acceptable.Duncan there need to be a advertising campaign showing what PEE does to you as soon as I heard about PEE we talked to our children about the bad side affects of PEE it is easy to see PEE users some people just don’t know how easy it is to see all addicts.
    Gossip is a human trait everyone does it I take all information with a grain of salt untill I get it confirmed from other sources some people take gossip as a fact and use it to harm other people Good name like the sandflies are doing to me but are thats OK Eco Maori is just a broke brown person with no rights. Ka kite ano P.S its good that my———– know that I am innocent
16. eco maori 16

    3 May 2018 at 8:11 am

    I say that what happen in that NZ School is unacceptable and who ever dreamt that up should be canned full stop P.S we should never let it be accepted that PEE becomes a common thing in New Zealand as this type of behavior will do make it the norm. I wonder what that principal career was before he started teaching I think I know what it was

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/103580992/quakes-rattle-the-northeast-of-the-south-island
    • eco maori 16.1

      3 May 2018 at 8:49 am

      The Am Show Negative gearing is not just used by house owners business use it to structure there business to avoid paying tax that’s a fact we need to even the playing feild for all If they middle class are worried about there retirement they should join that great Labour invention Kiwi saver Ka kite ano
      • eco maori 16.1.1

        3 May 2018 at 6:30 pm

        Good evening Newshub tangata I agree with that drug councler its insane to expose te Mokopunas to that information on PEEEEE.
        ITS obvious that the fuel companies are running campaign to maximise their profits. The Queen horses
        Phil and Tyrone are magnificently beautiful animals I will be getting me A horse or 2 soon as I build my Pa back home.
        Nice tie Mike many thanks to the good Tangata Sea cleaner for there great work Ka pai
        There is a lot of different foods we eat that can cause harm to animals like chocolate is never to be fed to dogs as it hypes them up and could cause more damage to the dog good on the Australian for putting there foot down on this issue. Ka kite ano
        • eco maori 16.1.1.1

          3 May 2018 at 6:57 pm

          Newshub you would think the sandflys would spend there time chasing the PEEEEE dealers instead of wasting there time and resources harrsing ECO MAORI knowing how much is on the street and that the Mokopunas are using the poison Ana to kai Ka kite ano P.S I think they have there priorities worng
          • eco maori 16.1.1.1.1

            3 May 2018 at 7:16 pm

            The Crowd goes Wild Mulls and Melissa you will be a good team I have a hard time with the sandflys always harresmeing me on the roads to keep my self control I just tell myself that they are trying to minupulate my behaviour and calm down I’m not letting them change my behaviour muppets.
            Monty Betham is a excellent ambassador for Rugby League and the Warriors many thanks from ECO MAORI Monty for your good work Ka kite ano Wairangi is going to be brused after that Monty
            • eco maori 16.1.1.1.1.1

              3 May 2018 at 7:24 pm

              The Crowd goes Wild To admit one needs glass is to admit one is getting long in the tooth Melissa it took me a couple of years to admit I needed glasses lol Ka kite ano

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