Open mike 02/08/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 2nd, 2023 - 71 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

71 comments on “Open mike 02/08/2023 ”

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  1. Dennis Frank 1
    2 August 2023 at 7:03 am

    Spook state Aotearoa:

    MPs of the intelligence and security committee, headed by Hipkins and including National Party leader Christopher Luxon, met on Tuesday evening to question a forecast of New Zealand’s future produced by nine of the Government's national security agencies.

    The national security long-term insights briefing, published in May, warned the risk of New Zealand being harmed by spying, cyberattack, transnational crime, and terrorism is going to worsen in the coming decade.

    Didn't know Aotearoa has nine Government national security agencies? Nor did I. It’s a suitable occasion for kiwi pride – the yanks will be worried out of their complacency. We could be a contender for top national security nation.

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) secretary Chris Seed, who fronted the committee alongside Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) secretary Rebecca Kitteridge to discuss the report, said survey and other engagement showed the New Zealand public did not clearly understand national security issues or the Government’s work.

    Well they'll just have to be forced to study them & it harder, right? Insitute a comprehension test in a state exam, with marks out of 10 for all citizens. Publish the results. Education ought to be serious. Make it work properly.

    Brownlee got a laugh from the other committee members when questioning the “bleak” scenarios. “These are documents going out to the public, apparently, but not as a government document, but from a government agency, I think, what are we trying to tell people?”

    Perhaps he's right to be confused that the govt is telling people stuff unofficially rather than officially. People could easily not take the govt seriously. However, I suspect they already don't – so no need to worry, everything's normal.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/132658217/its-a-bit-bleak-government-officials-warn-of-the-future-new-zealand-faces

    • Scud 1.1
      2 August 2023 at 9:57 pm

      Well Andrew Little is releasing some NZ MoD & NZDF related stuff on Friday and its related to what was released today.

      Unfortunately I'm out bush ie I'm out/ down at Daly Waters NT atm and heading home on Friday so I won't get to read what Andy is releasing until the Weekend before I head back out bush again on Wednesday.

  2. Bearded Git 2
    2 August 2023 at 7:18 am

    George Monbiot nails it:

    "How can you tell when a politician is doing the work of the oil and gas companies? When they start promoting carbon capture and storage (CCS). CCS has been the magic fix for climate breakdown promised by successive UK governments for 20 years – and never delivered. Most of the very few projects brought to fruition around the world have been abject failures.

    The sole purpose of CCS is to justify the granting of more oil and gas licences, on the grounds that one day someone might be able to capture and bury the CO2 they produce. It’s no coincidence that Sunak announced both policies – more licences and CCS – in the same statement. It would be wrong to say the technology doesn’t work. It works precisely as intended, even if it never materialises: it is a highly successful method of buying more time for the fossil fuel industry."

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/01/rishi-sunak-north-sea-planet-climate-crisis-plutocrats

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1
      2 August 2023 at 9:32 am

      CCS is greenwashing…and not even light green. Just an enabler for BAU.

      Some environmental activists and politicians have criticized CCS as a false solution to the climate crisis. They cite the role of the fossil fuel industry in origins of the technology and in lobbying for CCS focused legislation and argue that it would allow the industry to "greenwash" itself by funding and engaging in things such as tree planting campaigns without significantly cutting their carbon emissions

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_capture_and_storage

      Further on the greenwash subject…I am also not a supporter of carbon offset pine plantations in NZ

      Not as bad as CCS..but still an enabler…

  3. Dennis Frank 3
    2 August 2023 at 8:06 am

    During the election campaign RNZ is tracking polls, Facebook ads, campaign financing, data from the debates and advance voting numbers. The latest figures are published right here on this page: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/494809/latest-political-polling-campaign-finances-social-media-targeting-and-more

    There's more interesting graphs lower down their page:

    The Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor tracks what people think are the three most important issues facing the country today.

    So they are using a triadic frame to prioritise issues. The graph for Top 5 issues for New Zealanders – Taken from Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor – rates #1 at 63%, inflation & cost of living, #2 crime @ 40%, #3 equal housing & healthcare 31%, #5 climate change 23%, #6 economy 22%, #7 fuel 11%. So they got a heptad of issues (7 graph lines) in the public mind.

    Then we get this: [What topics the parties are spending money on this year.] Facebook ad spending by party on issues in the Ipsos top five as a percentage of the party's overall upper spend – the graph is selectable by the viewer pushing buttons on-screen. There's a button for each of five parties and one for them all combined – NZF is being discriminated against by the RNZ computer geek team for some reason…

    Biggest combined spend is on the economy, 46%. #2 is transport, 21%. #3 is health, 8%. #4 is crime @ 6%, #5 is housing @ 1%, #6 is climate change, 0%.

    So the good news is that the political parties have total consensus that Facebooks users are unworthy of spending money on to persuade them to vote for climate change policy.

    • Mike the Lefty 3.1
      2 August 2023 at 8:20 am

      If you believed the Facebook community, you would think the three most important issues were (in no particular order): potholes, road speed limits and the price of lattes.

      • Corey 3.1.1
        2 August 2023 at 11:49 am

        I feel like it should be " the cost of living and housing" I feel like the media and politicians seperate housing from cost of living so it looks like housing costs aren't a great concern.

        They are the same thing.

        Rents mortgages and rates are living costs.

        Power is a living cost

        Groceries are a living cost.

        I have great despair when I think about how unaffordable NZ is ATM and how unaffordable it will become if we don't start trying to do things differently.

        I think a lot of people whose greatest concerns are housing and bill costs are so scared they've tuned right out of politics to distract themselves and protect their mental health from constant worrying

  4. Ad 4
    2 August 2023 at 8:32 am

    Good to hear Jan Tinetti doing fine with Mike Hosking on ZB this morning on tertiary education. Admitted the areas for improvement particularly in Maori high school credentialising levels, and promised to work hard on them.

    Do more of that Jan.

    • Phillip ure 4.1
      2 August 2023 at 8:58 am

      Do you listen to hosking for pleasure..or is it a chore/research you must endure..?

      If the latter…goodonya for taking one for the team..

      If the former..?..(I'll just leave that there.. hanging…)

      • Ad 4.1.1
        2 August 2023 at 10:49 am

        On the commute into Queenstown I start with a podcast, then cover BBC World, ZB, RNZ, Wanaka Radio, and More FM Queenstown.

        • Phillip ure 4.1.1.1
          2 August 2023 at 11:34 am

          (whew..!..)

          I'm lazy…i find that rnz + the guardian pretty much keeps you/me up to speed…

          • Adrian Thornton 4.1.1.1.1
            2 August 2023 at 5:40 pm

            @ Phillip ure… "I'm lazy…i find that rnz + the guardian pretty much keeps you/me up to speed"….that explaines a lot, thanks for the insight…but then I guess you did say that you were lazy.

            The Guardian has proved that it is nothing more than a trojan horse in the Left…it has shown itself quite openly and plainly for all to see, a seething, rabid Guardian of the status quo on so many occasions that I am amazed to see how many 'lefties' can still can say with a straight face that they hold it in any regard…and the BBC…seriously Ad?

            "How The Guardian Betrayed Not Only Corbyn But The Last Vestiges Of British Democracy"

            The BBC admits it spent decades conspiring with MI5 to stop a left-wing UK government

            No wonder so many ‘lefties’ are so enthusiastic about every single war and intervention the West get involved with these days…if this is were they are sourcing their ‘news’ from…holy shit, no wonder the Left is dead in the water in the West.

            • Phillip ure 4.1.1.1.1.1
              2 August 2023 at 6:42 pm

              I would also note the wmd debacle…and their eager pimping for the atrocities done to libya..

              So I read the politics in it with those filters firmly in place..

              I go there mainly for the cultural/environmental stuff…they are good on both of them..

              So adrian…where should 'lefties' go for their general news/information..?

              Or should they just live frozen in a news vacuum..?

              • Phillip ure …
                2 August 2023 at 7:45 pm

                This is the second time I have asked you this question..

                Will you answer it this time..?

              • SPC …
                3 August 2023 at 3:18 am

                Left wing approved media? Which left wing approved it? Is there a left wing? Whose left wing?

        • Adrian Thornton 4.1.1.2
          2 August 2023 at 5:21 pm

          " BBC World, ZB, RNZ,"…that explaines a lot, thanks for the insight.

  5. Patricia Bremner 5
    2 August 2023 at 9:00 am

    Heard Luxon being supported in the "Coalition of Chaos" dig at Labour Greens Ti Parti Maori and…. wait for it… Gangs. Yes Christopher Luxon included Gangs in the coalition grouping. (in the last minute of their talk on RNZ.)am today.

    Perhaps someone could link for me?

    This is outright fishing by Guyon, and egging on the Head Egg to respond with this laughing nastiness, indicates their thinking. If tackled he will probably say the classic response "I was just joking"

  6. Karl Sinclair 6
    2 August 2023 at 9:11 am

    Interesting developments, if true, I wonder if we’ll see this on RNZ or TVNZ?

    “Shocking video shows South Africa’s black party singing “kill the Boer (Whites), kill the White farmer”

    This is all downstream from the rotten secular religion of wokeness and CRT plaguing America today.

    You have been warned.”

    WATCH.

    https://twitter.com/thelaurenchen/status/1686370915494375424?s=46&t=Mb3vWtlQ9iVITzFN3xvWAQ

    • Descendant Of Smith 6.1
      2 August 2023 at 10:03 am

      The song has been around since the pre-post-apartheid days and it's use in current times discouraged. Presenting this without context is disingenuous and just part of the NZ is turning into an apartheid country nonsense being pushed currently. Most posts about this song I have seen are pushing that suggestion e.g. coming soon to a country near you.

      The video isn't shocking in any way. It is well known he does this as as you can see he has been previously censured by the courts.

      Cop Killer by Body Count and ICE T in the US would be another example of similar anger against power.

      Your lack of even simple research and your willingness to fall into the conspiracy / wokeness rabbit hole is astounding – seeing something particularly South African as linked to CRT in the US even more so.

      Facts are this song existed way before any of what you refer to as did Cop Killer which was written in 1990 (influenced heavily by Talking Heads – Pyscho Killer written in 1977).

      "You have been warned" presumably refers to being sucked in by stupid bullshit.

      Dubul' ibhunu, translated as shoot the Boer or kill the Boer, is a controversial South African song. It is sung in Xhosa and Zulu.

      Boers are the descendants of the Dutch-speaking Free Burghers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Depending on the interpretation, the song might alternatively refer to institutional structures such as the National Party (NP); or to specific groups of people such as members of the South African Police (colloquially known as "Boers") and armed forces during apartheid.

      Supporters of the song, particularly Black South Africans, see it as a liberation song that articulates an important part of South Africa's history

      The court ruled that Julius Malema, who was brought before the court for previously singing the song at rallies, was forbidden from singing it in the future

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubul%27_ibhunu

      • weka 6.1.1
        2 August 2023 at 10:34 am

        that's a great comment. Can I quote that on twitter?

      • Karl Sinclair 6.1.2
        2 August 2023 at 10:56 am

        I think you provided a good example of convincing yourself racism is ok

        Top marks A+++

        “The video isn't shocking in any way. It is well known he does this as as you can see he has been previously censured by the courts”

        • Descendant Of Smith 6.1.2.1
          2 August 2023 at 11:25 am

          Unsure why you have "think" in your sentence.

        • Phillip ure 6.1.2.2
          2 August 2023 at 11:54 am

          No…racism isn't ok…

          But songs of rebellion written by an enlslaved people.. against those doing that enslaving are..

          And this is what this is…

        • weka 6.1.2.3
          2 August 2023 at 1:53 pm

          mod note: Karl, you know where you are commenting. If you want to have a conversation about racism, then have one. Explain your thinking, make your argument. But please don't troll.

      • observer 6.1.3
        2 August 2023 at 11:31 am

        DoS +1

        Importing far-right garbage from the USA … no thanks.

    • Phillip ure 6.2
      2 August 2023 at 10:09 am

      Well..k sinclair…

      D.o.s has well and truly'owned' you…eh..?

      heh…!

      • weka 6.2.1
        2 August 2023 at 10:31 am

        telling someone they've been owned tends to start flame wars, please don't.

        • Karl Sinclair 6.2.1.1
          2 August 2023 at 11:47 pm

          Hi Weka, didn’t really think my response was trolling but anyways you wanted my thoughts

          1. Original post only had reference to the post about the song, nothing was mentioned about what position I was taking. The response to the post and defensive nature of DoS and PU I found very informative and shines a light on their “souls”… they assume to quickly (must have struck a raw nerve… we here there is smoke there fire!)

          2. Due to point 1 above, my thoughts are that people are being trained as attack dogs for the MSM, CNNs of this world (woke). They will happily defend a song that talks about killing “white” people because of cultural context and would suffer an existential crisis if they didn’t go along with approving the song being sung because of cultural woke agenda being foisted upon their cerebellum.

          3. It’s never “ok” to sing songs about killing people…. I mean WTF DoS/PU/Weka

          Aside Glenn Greenwalds recent post highlighting the dangers of how even wiki pedia is being subjugated to parroting woke talking points is a warning to us all. Maybe some of our “The Standard” commentators are failing into this intellectual trap… (woke = existential mind trap = propaganda parrots)

          https://rumble.com/v33wemb-wikipedia-co-founder-condemns-it-most-biased-encyclopedia-in-history-system.html

          • SPC 6.2.1.1.1
            3 August 2023 at 2:41 am

            We get it.

            You got schooled in the historical (time of rebellion against an apartheid government) and current context (court sanction) of a topic you raised.

            And thus now resort to the shocking revelation of your world view, as if where you go on X was not exposition enough (and also indicative of what X is becoming) to explain why you made the post.

            Explaining is not exculpatory. It's called digging a hole.

            John Howard did the same when asking native peoples to be grateful and silent.

            Here National allow whana ora and sign New Zealand up to UNDRIP, then say Labour establishing Maori Health is racist, any co-governance under either the Tiriti, or in compliance with UNDRIP, would also be racist.

            So much of this is just right wing messaging to cater to a certain white race identity groups nationalism .

            All in an era where a GOP controlled SCOTUS is enabling a return to white gerrymandering in the South.

            And as in the Cold War a demonising those of humanity better than that, as woke (as they once said "fellow travellers" of a foreign left to suppress domestic social democracy/equity/egalitarianism).

            The real one thought singularity is a social conservative white race nation identity tribalism – fear of loss of dominance in government, media, and education they imagine/see threats everywhere to the "heritage, religion and cultural civilisation" built in places they settled.

            Some of it is manufactured by those of privilege to manage the working class by such identity politics – all those high school graduates with red MAGA caps, proudly voting their race (as the MW in their state falls to half that in other states).

            PS What do you think of the flags of the Southern Confederacy? Something to ban, or remember as part of their history?

            • Karl Sinclair 6.2.1.1.1.1
              3 August 2023 at 7:57 am

              Hi SPC,

              You gave a long explanation to justify a song that contains racism and incitement to carry out murder.

              I wonder what the new proposed hate speech laws would do you with you.

              Who exactly is digging the whole here?

              Enjoy your day

              • SPC …
                3 August 2023 at 8:56 am

                You gave a long explanation to justify a song that contains racism and incitement to carry out murder.

                No, you could read it again, next time while thinking and work out why.

                I wonder what the new proposed hate speech laws would do you with you.Who exactly is digging the whole here?

                And hate speech would only apply to those disseminating the video – as you did, not discussion about it. Your range is a little limited, look at this and say it is bad, or otherwise …

                I’ve looked up Harry in the Urban Dictionary …

  7. Ad 7
    2 August 2023 at 10:24 am

    And finally Trump has his next charge: a four-count indictment, charging:

    – conspiracy to defraud the United States

    – conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding

    – obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and

    – conspiracy against rights.

    May he roast in hell.

    • weka 7.1
      2 August 2023 at 10:32 am

      is he going to jail?

      • Ad 7.1.1
        2 August 2023 at 10:52 am

        Trump'll be doing appeals right through the nomination and then through the Presidential contest itself. It's still his best fundraising trick.

        The Georgia State election interference one will be next I expect.

        • tc 7.1.1.1
          2 August 2023 at 12:24 pm

          Yes he's well funded on that aspect as I read somewhere his backers have spent $50m in the last year on lawyers via those PACs.

    • AB 7.2
      2 August 2023 at 10:54 am

      It will likely just confirm to his base that there's a conspiracy against him, not by him. There are enough of them to still give him the Republican nomination, but maybe not to become President. Unless the voter suppression by Republican state officials can still win it for him. Expect that effort to go into overdrive. And if that's not enough and he still loses, it's ghoulish horror time as his supporters react.

      • Peter 7.2.1
        2 August 2023 at 12:11 pm

        A tsunami of insanity will hit as Trump indictments happen. From his supporters. One paradox is that the more indictments are laid, the more suits come up, the less shock, horror and opprobrium there is.

        Events are seen as normal, there’s nothing unusual going on. The astounding, the once extraordinary events are part of the wallpaper. That likely means the ordinary punters won’t be moved to express disgust and condemn and reject the individual.

        • Phillip ure 7.2.1.1
          2 August 2023 at 6:51 pm

          Can I point out again that 'tho trump leads the republican race..it is the independent voters who decide american elections…and it was awhile ago but the polling I saw showed Independents not buying the trump message any more…

          So those fretting about a possible trump re-run as president…should maybe relax about that…and just watch the movie..

          He has more chance of doing jail-time..than to again move into the white house…

    • joe90 7.3
      2 August 2023 at 8:43 pm

      May he roast in hell.

      They've wheeled one of the big guns out.

      Greg

      @waltisfrozen

      Summoning this legal discourse into existence : Does the 18 USC Section 241 (conspiracy against rights) charge mean Donald Trump could be facing the death penalty??

      https://twitter.com/waltisfrozen/status/1686599480089686016

  8. adam 8
    2 August 2023 at 12:37 pm

    A reminder to the labour party people – even when the other team is truly bloody awful – if you have offer nothing people need, want, or desire you are going to lose.

    The orange one is the perfect example of that…

    • The Chairman 8.1
      2 August 2023 at 12:48 pm

      Money in the hand (due to the cost of living) is what I'd say people want most right now.

      And due to the fears of further stoking up inflation, The best way to do that is to cut GST across the board. Neutralizing the effect.

      • SPC 8.1.1
        3 August 2023 at 2:56 am

        The best policy in 2022 was a two year rent freeze. Rent is now $50 a week extra.

        Other options include raising $2.5B and taking GST off all food (it's the most regressive part of GST and why countries with an estate tax/CGT system did not place it on food in the first place).

    • Phillip ure 8.2
      2 August 2023 at 6:54 pm

      I am dreading the possibility that gst off fruit/veg is their big-bang policy..

      'cos it ain't..

  9. Adrian 9
    2 August 2023 at 2:40 pm

    I’ve been lucky enough to be nice andwarm in Europe for the last 6 weeks but back to the cold now and we don’t know how lucky we are, the UK is fucked, it s despondent, discouraged and hugely expensive. CHain stores like W H Smiths, ( books etc) have had huge stuff cuts to “ save money” according to the staff I talked to. A big WHS, bigger than a Whitcoulls in Auckland or Chch, in Bath which is wealthy, had only 2 staff, the others having been laid off. A family I know, who had a tough Covid with a vulnerable son are going to have to sell their house because all assistance dried up early on and is now non existent and yet the father has a good IT job but cumulative inflation ver the last 3 years or so is almost 40% according to them, and wages and benefits are years behind.A 73 year old mate has barely 10 quid left over after rent is paid for a single room in a flat. he survives on waiting tables on a call up basis, pretty precarious. Note.. don’t get divorced, it’s generally unsurvivable for either sex.
    Like I said we don’t know how lucky we are, so stop bloody complaining and take a look around the world, sure things could be better here but we are still right at the top for ease of living. So long a we can keep the right out of power.

    • Sabine 9.1
      2 August 2023 at 2:54 pm

      Been to Auckland two days ago. NZ is fucked. More for lease signs then open businesses. No transport woes as no one was driving to anywhere. It was eerie.

      People can't afford to rent even with accommodation benefits thus end up in Motels – granted in the UK they actually throw homeless natives out of motels to fill them up with the deserving migrants who cross the channel from France. At great cost to the country and tax payers. But who cares. Right the working stiff will pay for the excesses of government one way or another.

      Shops on Ponsonby road had their doors locked and only opened when people actually looked like buyers. Aggressive pan handlers demanding money. Open toileting on the street. Rubbish everywhere. In fact the words that comes to mind is 'disshevelled' 'neglected' 'filthy' 'unsanitary'.

      Despite many raises of the min wage working people needs lots of benefits to make ends meet, in fact one of the biggest Pay day lenders in NZ – unregulated too btw – is Winz.
      And Winz will use the same debt collectors then any other business should people not be able to refund the money they got for the dentist or the wash machine or any of the other stuff that gets financed by a refundable emergency grant err loan.

      And did you know that our homeless people are taxed 25% of their benefit to pay for substandard hovels, run by gang bangers who bring their own gang security and hey who cares……if the right does it its bad if the left does it its ok. Whoopdeedoo.

      Fact is – having followed the politics in Europe for a while now, the only difference between the UK and NZ is that the ones are run by people who pretend to be conservative and here we pretend that the current lot is liberal.

      In both cases the working stiff is shit outta luck, on its way to losing their home to mortgages that they can no longer finance, obese and malnourished at the same time because healthy food is something that the worker can no longer afford, ditto for heating, communications etc. IF you have money you are fine, if not fuck off and be silent.

      Both countries have a cost of living that no one who works for a standard wage can afford. Both countries have an issue with the kids not learning. Both countries have an issue with theft, crime through the roof, homelessness and hunger. Both countries have a healthservice that is no longer providing much of a service, but is held together with the heroic and valiant efforts of its workforce. I guess the suits in parliament will get healthcare, even if some working stiff has to be pushed of their surgery date to make space for some highly paid suit that forgot to go for regular checks cause…its unpleasant.

      So really if the right is so bad in England, how come that all that shit here came via a Labour government?

      Maybe because there is actually no longer any difference between the right and the left?

      • observer 9.1.1
        2 August 2023 at 3:07 pm

        If you really believe that last sentence then only a National/ACT government will show how wrong you are. The assumption that we can simply "bank" the hard-won gains forever is a delusion too many voters fall for.

        Elections are always a contest between those who can see what will happen, and those who refuse to. The Right are hiding in plain sight, and so we have no excuse not to know.

        And yes, Adrian is correct about the UK.

        • Sabine 9.1.1.1
          2 August 2023 at 3:48 pm

          I don't say that Adrian is incorrect about the UK. I say that we have the same problems here in NZ and that our government is left. Currently left with a full majority.

          Please tell me where the difference is in the UK with the NHS failing – for the same reasons as here and NZ where this happens.

          https://www.thepress.co.nz/a/nz-news/350045927/hospital-ed-shuts-doors-illness-and-staff-shortages-push-doctors-and-nurses

          Hospitals across the South Island are under immense pressure as they grapple with winter illnesses and staff shortages, with one hospital forced to shut its emergency department because of a lack of doctors.

          Many have wards that are at almost 100% capacity – which health bosses claim is normal for this time of year – as they struggle to balance emergency and urgent care with waiting lists and carrying out surgery.

          In some instances staff shortages are so bad that desperate employers are texting already exhausted and overwhelmed workers to ask them to come in on their days off.

          Nursing bosses warned the situation was “horrific” and a risk to health, the pressure posing a “major risk” to doctors and nurses who have been pushed to the brink.

          and i would like to point out that Labour together with National, ACT, TPM and the Greens sold the hard won rights of women – human females down the drain.

          Again, tell me where the difference is. Not of the past, but NOW.

          • observer 9.1.1.1.1
            2 August 2023 at 5:22 pm

            Now? Sure.

            Why is abortion no longer a crime in NZ?

            • Visubversa 9.1.1.1.1.1
              2 August 2023 at 10:02 pm

              Because it is a medical procedure. Between a woman and her medical practitioner.

              • weka …
                2 August 2023 at 10:25 pm

                Because that is a the progressive position and Labour and the Greens made it happen. Would it have happened under Nact?

          • Phillip ure 9.1.1.1.2
            2 August 2023 at 7:02 pm

            The reason for the similar outcomes is because the labour and tory parties in both countries have been in thrall to neoliberal-incrementalism…for far too long..

            It's way past time to tear up that playbook..

            We won't get change until we do…

      • Patricia Bremner 9.1.2
        2 August 2023 at 5:03 pm

        Thanks Adrian.

        Sabine is there anything you like about here?

        Seriously, there has been a worldwide pandemic, and around 20 a week are still dying,

        We now have a war causing food shortages, and fallout from floods and cyclones which indicate climate change tipping points are here, with Earth boiling, impacting our food costs.

        But tell yourself those social costs are caused by this Governmentsurprise by using one experience to back up your bleak view.

        By the way Mayor Brown is as right wing as you can get, and is currently looking at Council retirement units, as he mentioned a Real estate Agent instead of a Consultant. He wants free advice rather than paying for advice.

        The hyperbole of stream of conscious writing you do is like one long scream.

        If you think the Right would be better… angry how could we convince you otherwise.?

        Many late comers will fall for the blue gang and find to their detriment "trickle down" is a cruel joke. I hope you don't Sabine. We remember 2008 to 2017.

        Believe it or not, last time they were in, there was a 13 week stand down before you would get an interview at Winz where you would be asked do you have anything to sell? Could you work 15 hours a week? (there was no work)…. let alone "get a Winz loan" at no interest.

        It could get worse. Most unemployed were steered in Key's time to Govt courses run by private contractors who gave out useless diplomas for student debt.

        I just hope people remember how after the GFC we were promised the Moon "A Rock Star Economy" (rock not star) and did not even get the man, we got a sleezy money bod instead, who ran the place down while playing housing monopoly.

        Look up the history of each of Nationals MPs It is sad.

    • Ad 9.2
      2 August 2023 at 3:04 pm

      Timely perspective thankyou Adrian.

  10. The Chairman 10
    2 August 2023 at 3:04 pm

    Anybody else planning on checking out Heavyweight with Dave Letele on TVNZ2 tomorrow night (8.30pm)?

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/dave-letele-opens-up-on-his-battle-with-booze-gang-life-and-the-choices-faced-by-brown-parents/33M27ALAYJCITJOHD6AYORMTW4/

  11. Eco Maori 11
    3 August 2023 at 8:16 am

    Kia Ora

    Whanau.

    Just a few wise words.

    Most People have short memory's.

    Most can't even think about what we have been through in the last few years.

    For one some other political party had the rains for 9 years ago

    And what was the result of their rain.

    They starved the public sectors that didn't serve there political agenda.???.

    And koha a million dollars each to 400 farmers mates down the South Island. HUGE IRRITATING SCEEM

    Hence all the hassle that a lot government agencies are going through because there basic matainance was not maintained.

    Next if these people did have the rains in the last 8 years well there would have been thousands hakari going down.

    This short term memory is what gets us in the shit all the time. Ie carbon and other gas warming our environment ie belleaving the lies that the alt right push.

    Ps I would ban polls for six months before a election.

    I can see all the work these righty people served up in my neck of the woods in their 8 years a new hinaki new roads heaps of whano on the streets no house plenty of extremely expensive house for their wealth mates. Ps wake up the rightys only serve the wealthiest people the rest of us are here just to be milked on a regular basis.

    Eco Maori Backs labour green this combination is what will have most of people's best interests at heart and not just the Wealthiest.

    Ps I know you sandflys have been baiting me to do this so don't go blowing your horn.

    Kia kite Ano

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 11.1
      3 August 2023 at 8:31 am

      Eco Maori .. There are more than a few anti-Lab/Green doomers and white-anters, even on here.

      We can, and must prevent the NAct jackboot on our NZ future.

      Kia Kaha.

  12. Eco Maori 12
    3 August 2023 at 8:31 am

    Kia Ora whano

    Im aloud to have a political opinion ON MY OWN WHENUA the spies are framing this as a crime. Ps my World political opinion

    Ka kite Ano

  13. Eco Maori 13
    3 August 2023 at 9:00 am

    Old Nagti Porou Rangtira served the people first and took care of the whenua environment and in turn they will look after Te Rangtira zealously.

    Ka kite Ano whanau

  15. Eco Maori 15
    3 August 2023 at 2:54 pm

    Kia Ora whano.

    Guess what just had those angels the nz police over O same excuse we didn't have his ph number.

    You see whanau it's so easy for these SPIES to cast there shit om to unsespecting people send cops over just like spiking a DRINK or convincing someone to jump waka because. They live in that hinaki together

    Ka kite Ano whanau

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