Open mike 02/06/2016

78 comments on “Open mike 02/06/2016 ”

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1. Paul 1

   2 June 2016 at 6:20 am

   Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
   We have become a cruel, ugly and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

   The New Zealand prison population increases to nearly 10 000 citizens.
   The cost of our prisons increases to nearly $1 billion a year.
   Our rate of imprisonment is now the 2nd highest in the world.

   A billion to imprison people.
   Yet not enough to house the citizens of this country.
   What an abject failure this neo-liberal experiment has been since 1984.

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11649023
   • tc 1.1

     2 June 2016 at 6:56 am

     Gotta give their backers at serco some growth to go with the wet bus ticket routine when they get caught out.

     How breakable are these prison management contracts or is that ‘commercially sensitive’ detail the people don’t get to know ?
   • David H 1.2

     2 June 2016 at 8:56 am

     And how many are inside for little offences like Marijuana.
2. Ad 2

   2 June 2016 at 6:23 am

   [Good comment Ad. I will convert to a post – MS]

   Today this government shows terminal symptoms of Strategic Arse Elbow (SAE).

   Going in the one direction, this morning at 10am the Prime Minister launches construction of the City Rail Link. New Zealand’s largest-ever infrastructure project, it’s going to revolutionize rail travel in Auckland, and provide a massive boost to high-density residential and commercial investment and city living.

   Going in precisely the other direction, two hours later the government will release its National Housing Statement, which it has forecast will loosen Auckland’s growth belt so fast its trousers will fall down. This policy directive provides the government with explicit powers to undo the Auckland Plan and Draft Unitary Plan’s clear direction towards rail travel, other public transport, and higher density residential and commercial investment and city living.

   No agency in central government can provide as clear and coherent advice about the future growth of Auckland, and clearly no-one in government is. Indeed forming that coherence is precisely what the Auckland Council is for. This government is today forcing the most massive policy and programme contradiction seen in a lifetime. John Key does not know his policy Arse from his execution Elbow.
   • Paul 2.1

     2 June 2016 at 6:31 am

     Moronic.
     Shamubeel Eaqub sums it up in one word.

     http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/305315/pm's-housing-plan-moronic-economist
3. Paul 3

   2 June 2016 at 6:29 am

   It was 5 degrees in Auckland last night.
   It was 4 degrees in Dunedin last night.
   It was 1 degrees in Christchurch last night.

   Not very warm to be sleeping in a car.
   Not very warm to be sleeping in a container.
   Not very warm to be sleeping in a garage.
   Not very warm to be sleeping on the street.

   Our shameful treatment of the most vulnerable in our society is being publicised in Britain. The world is being introduced to John Key’s cruel, ugly and selfish New Zealand.

   http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3618883/Homeless-parents-living-16-day-old-baby-fear-taken-child-services-New-Zealand.html
   • Eralc 3.1

     2 June 2016 at 11:53 am

     There’s an elephant in this particular room. Has anyone asked the question of the young mum why did she have another baby while living rough? And where is the dad? If she was thinking of wee Mereana she should have told HNZ. The baby’s place is with the mum. It would not be taken from her without good reason. Baby first.
     • greywarshark 3.1.1

       2 June 2016 at 12:29 pm

       Eraic
       “Baby first”. That ignores the parent, has no care for the mother, and refuses to see her as vulnerable just like her child, and a worthy individual, but just as one of a mating human pair. All mothers are more than that, they are worthy people in their own right and have responsibilities that are weighty and should be treated with respect and helped to cope with those tasks and needs.

       No – sex first, then baby. You ask why would a young woman conceive a baby while living rough Eraic? Can you conceive of the circumstances of living rough. There aren’t protections from the rough life, the lack of privacy and safety, being handled rough, being treated rough, from feeling weak and cold and unable to find comfort or happiness, from wanting change from feeling roughness all around and seeking friendship or a type of affection, some warmth for a while.

       And knowing that with living rough there will be no condoms for sex with the other person or persons involved who are also living rough, yet both might have some pleasure for a moment, or perhaps sex could have been forced on her.

       And she knows too that she will not likely receive compassion from prating people who have no love of the agape sort (Greek for general love of humanity.This type of love was further explained by Thomas Aquinas as “to will the good of another.”)[5]

       Did you know that the ancient Greeks had four words for different forms of love? Have a look at the Wikipedia entry and see if you have experienced any of them.
       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_words_for_love
       • Gangnam Style 3.1.1.1

         2 June 2016 at 3:28 pm

         Very good comment greywarshark, whenever I see this kind of comment from our less emphatic compatriots (“why do they have babies if they are poor/homeless/not me?”) I am reminded of this little clip from 30 Rock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCYPqrmLwqs
   • Lanthanide 3.2

     2 June 2016 at 12:43 pm

     Initially thought this was going to be about global warming.

     We still haven’t had a frost this year in Christchurch. Usually the first one is in April. Next few nights have forecast minimums of 0C, so we might get a frost.
   • Bill 3.3

     2 June 2016 at 2:59 pm

     From the linked article…It is estimated there are about 35,000 ‘moving between temporary and insecure accommodation’ in New Zealand.

     I’m picking that’s a massive under estimate. Many, many rental situations (most) are anything but secure and a million light years away from anything that might be considered even semi-permanent.
4. miravox 4

   2 June 2016 at 6:53 am

   You just know Judith Collins is spinning when she compares NZ imprisonment rates with New South Wales instead of Australia… or Scotland… or Finland… even England or whatever European country except the US.
   • Paul 4.1

     2 June 2016 at 7:13 am

     Or Norway

     http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/feb/25/norwegian-prison-inmates-treated-like-people

     http://www.businessinsider.com/why-norways-prison-system-is-so-successful-2014-12
     • b waghorn 4.1.1

       2 June 2016 at 7:40 am

       You would think any government would always be looking at how successful countries deal with its issues, but no, in good old in zid we just copy the fucking U S of A
       • Andre 4.1.1.1

         2 June 2016 at 9:48 am

         Aw c’mon b, be fair. We just copy the dumb American ideas that make things worse, not the good ideas that make things better. Yes, they do have a few.
         • b waghorn 4.1.1.1.1

           2 June 2016 at 4:01 pm

           Like?
           • Andre 4.1.1.1.1.1

             2 June 2016 at 5:41 pm

             Legalising cannabis. A government that is serious about promoting R&D and science. A few cities have good urban design with multiple transport options.
5. amirite 5

   2 June 2016 at 7:27 am

   Look, at the end of the day. it’s the free market and frankly, who cares about the safety of infrastructure being built and the people’s lives if it collapses. As long as we can do it on the cheap and for profit!

   ‘The contractors who imported 1600 tonnes of substandard steel for new highway bridges were warned the deal was too good to be true.’ http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/305400/contractors-told-weak-steel-price-'too-low‘
   • whispering kate 5.1

     2 June 2016 at 8:16 am

     I heard that woman from the Transport Agency on RNZ this morning too, she was half-witted and sounded doped up and was a disgrace to the Agency. So we now “have to let the free market prevail and no, we are not interested in who the providers of the steel were, its up to the suppliers to sort that out”. What is it going to take, a massive bridge collapse or a high-rise to collapse before this Government will take ownership of any responsibility for our safety. I have never heard such a disgraceful interview from a Government Agency quite like it – so its going to be the same old same old, who will want to drive through to Hamilton from now on wards, god knows what sort of construction strength these bridges will be and heaven help people who buy into these new apartment buildings in the city. How low can this Government go, they are bloody useless.
     • M. Gray 5.1.1

       2 June 2016 at 10:25 am

       agree why didn’t she reveal the supplier maybe this is sensitive information good job that what happens when you go cheap
6. Penny Bright 6

   2 June 2016 at 7:52 am

   PM John Key still saying New Zealand is not a tax haven?

   “How Mossack Fonseca used NZ – in its own words | Radio New Zealand News

   http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/305300/how-mossack-fonseca-used-nz-in-its-own-words

   Panama Papers NZ – A 2014 email sent by Mossack Fonseca’s New Zealand representative lays out exactly how the company uses foreign trusts in this country.

   An investigation into the Panama Papers – an unprecedented leak of 11.5 million files from the database of the world’s fourth largest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca – by RNZ,One News and investigative journalist Nicky Hager has lifted the lid on how New Zealand is part of a tangled web of secretive shelf companies and obscure trusts. It has also raised questions over the country’s foreign tax rules, including its disclosure requirements.

   Now, an email sent by Mossack Fonseca New Zealand’s Daniel Leon has revealed – in his own words – the measures clients can take if they do not want their names to appear on the public paperwork.

   The email was in response to an enquiry on behalf of Juan Fernandez Methol from Studio Damiani, a Uruguayan firm offering legal and accountancy services to provide inheritance and tax “financial solutions”.

   …..”

   Penny Bright
   2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
7. miravox 7

   2 June 2016 at 8:39 am

   If this guy was a bene or a greenie it would be all over the news about how he’s bringing the country into disrepute with twisted values, taxpayers $$$ etc. etc.

   But he’s just a dude – salesman – trying to make a buck and had a few problems that led him astray. He cost the country $37m. Probably will get home detention. He doesn’t even rate the front page.

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/crime/news/article.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=11648954
8. Andre 8

   2 June 2016 at 8:47 am

   Who’da thunk it? Turns out it’s cheaper in the long run to look after the homeless than just turf them out onto the streets.

   http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2016/06/01/3783768/san-francisco-homeless-housing/
   • Paul 8.1

     2 June 2016 at 9:16 am

     At $1300 per week that should be obvious to anyone.
     But we are dealing with ideologues.
     • save nz 8.1.1

       2 June 2016 at 11:13 am

       Yep, giving them housing will save money in the long term, but that is not the point- it should not be about saving money – but decency of a society to say we do not tolerate homelessness!
       • Andre 8.1.1.1

         2 June 2016 at 11:24 am

         Sadly we have reached the point where the decency of society argument falls on deaf ears. It’s only the dollars argument that might filter through. Sometimes.
     • Bearded Git 8.1.2

       2 June 2016 at 11:19 am

       I think it was John Campbell’s marvelous work on the destitute people forced to pay $1300 a week THAT HAD TO BE PAID BACK that has finally caused the housing issue to blow up in the face of the government.

       Issues that are easy to understand and that are manifestly unjust are the ones that resonate with the public.
       • greywarshark 8.1.2.1

         2 June 2016 at 11:54 am

         Bearded Git
         I think this part of your comment is one that should be borne in mind all the time by politicians and activists, and particularly in the run up to 2017 elections.

         Issues that are easy to understand and that are manifestly unjust are the ones that resonate with the public.
         • greywarshark 8.1.2.1.1

           2 June 2016 at 11:59 am

           lprent
           I had an unusual message come up while I was trying to place the above comment – something about this web site is not encrypted …something.
           My Firefox has not been updated for a while and that might be the reason.

           (It illustrates how this new boon to mankind of the internet is constantly being challenged by various factors so that it is not as wonderful as could have been.)
       • Chooky 8.1.2.2

         2 June 2016 at 10:18 pm

         +100 Bearded Git…John Campbell did a terrific job
9. mauī 9

   2 June 2016 at 9:36 am

   The PM would go 12 rounds with Harumbe the gorilla until he found out that the little boys mum was actually on a benefit paying back a motel debt for the next few decades, then he be like yeah..naaa.
   http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/80655729/Prime-Minister-John-Key-would-not-have-killed-Harambe-the-gorilla
   • weka 9.1

     2 June 2016 at 11:01 am

     Leaving aside that that is a truly weird article, I think this is another example of the Hoskin Approach. We don’t need experts. The people that shot the gorilla were wrong because. Despite them being an actual dangerous animals response team ie experts.
     • mauī 9.1.1

       2 June 2016 at 11:24 am

       Definitely a really weird one, I see no author put a name to it either.. It seems to be one of those lets keep the PM in the media, any publicity is good publicity stories.

       On the gorilla, I find it interesting the story is that the gorilla was throwing the child against the wall. This goes against what an Ape expert said the other day that it would be in more a protective mode. Also, if you just shot a gorilla, wouldnt it be a great cover to say the gorilla was being extremely violent so it had to be done.
       • weka 9.1.1.1

         2 June 2016 at 11:51 am

         True, although I think it’s almost impossible to assess the story from this distance. It will be interesting to see if better video footage shows up.
       • b waghorn 9.1.1.2

         2 June 2016 at 4:05 pm

         The first footage they had on TV made it look like the ape was being protective, the more extended footage made me think they had no choice but to shoot.
     • Chooky 9.1.2

       2 June 2016 at 10:20 pm

       I can never see Hoskin as more than the fruit and vege man…he was marvellous at this
   • joe90 9.2

     2 June 2016 at 12:07 pm

     That’s a relief….
     /

     This one tweet sums it up perfectly:

     bri ••• ‎@BriSteirer

     but also yo if you are tweaking about this gorilla being shot i’ve got a story about this kid named tamir rice that will BLOW YOUR MIND
     1:02 PM – 31 May 2016

     As another Facebook post — this one by Emily Bingham — put it:

     All my fellow Ohio people enraged about the senseless killing of a gorilla. Boy do I have a WILD story for you about a little boy named Tamir Rice.

     https://www.romper.com/p/this-one-tweet-about-harambe-the-gorilla-makes-the-outrage-more-disturbing-11535
10. save nz 10

    2 June 2016 at 11:09 am

    And the good news in the US is…. (sarc).. thanks failed neoliberalism

    “The winners have taken all: Middle class incomes are plummeting — with no relief in sight
    The staggering reality is that half of America is in financial distress and at risk of falling deeper into debt”

    http://www.salon.com/2016/06/01/the_winners_have_taken_all_income_among_the_middle_class_is_plummeting_partner/

    P.s I put the US articles in, because similar things are happening in NZ, but we don’t have a MSM that will report them or a government that keeps politically neutral statistics to measure the change …
    • Red delusion 10.1

      2 June 2016 at 11:28 am

      Meanwhile things are going swimmingly in socialist Venezula, Cuba, North Korea, Europe.,………….. As they did in Eastern Europe pre breakup of Soviet Union , 1970s Uk etc
      • save nz 10.1.1

        2 June 2016 at 11:56 am

        Yep, I know Cuba has very high literacy and health care…

        Yep, the war in the middle east by the US has really helped Europe with it’s refugee’s….

        Many of us name John Key as our ‘dear leader’ like Kim Jong in his popular totalitarian state.
    • Chooky 10.2

      2 June 2016 at 10:26 pm

      +100 save nz….and this is really a very sobering view from the USA…

      https://www.rt.com/shows/keiser-report/344891-episode-max-keiser-921/

      …a change is gonna come
11. Red delusion 11

    2 June 2016 at 11:18 am

    I see trotter has put the boot into the clumsy so called labour green MOU, arguing it’s nothing like the successful alliance and labour tie up, more the dance of the desperate. Give trotter his dues, he is one astute bloke
    • Bearded Git 11.1

      2 June 2016 at 11:21 am

      Trotter hasn’t got a green bone in his body.
      • save nz 11.1.1

        2 June 2016 at 11:49 am

        Socialist’s can hate the environment as much as hard Righties.
    • weka 11.2

      2 June 2016 at 12:02 pm

      Yeah, nah. He appears to be saying that he thinks they went about it the wrong way.

      But whatever else I may be, I am not a cheerleader. If I believe the Labour and Green parties have announced their new “Understanding” far too soon; without preparing the electorate or priming the news media; without securing real and valuable gains for both partners; without carefully gauging the reaction of both their members and their voters; and without having straightforward answers to journalists’ straightforward (and entirely predictable) questions; then I reserve the right to speak bluntly and critically about these deficiencies.

      Pretty easy to refute all those points anyway.

      http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/06/01/unconvinced-why-chris-trotter-is-so-sceptical-about-the-labour-green-understanding/
      • Red delusion 11.2.1

        2 June 2016 at 12:17 pm

        It will end in tears, has not been thought through, I guess time will tell
        • weka 11.2.1.1

          2 June 2016 at 10:30 pm

          Or it has been thought through and you and Trotter don’t understand the strategy.
        • Bearded Git 11.2.1.2

          3 June 2016 at 12:56 pm

          Red d-read Toby Manhire in the Herald today. he gets it right, as did Keith Locke on Morning Report.
    • Wensleydale 11.3

      2 June 2016 at 5:13 pm

      And yet if he’d articulated an opinion that didn’t so conveniently align with your own, you’d no doubt be calling him a pretentious socialist arsehole who doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.
12. Jenny Kirk 12

    2 June 2016 at 1:02 pm

    ” without preparing the electorate or priming the news media;” sounds to me like Chris Trotter is more than a bit miffed that he wasn’t tipped off the news beforehand, Weka.
    • adam 12.1

      2 June 2016 at 2:32 pm

      I found the financial and membership claims to be the most important part of the piece.

      And the fact the vaulted labour war chest is now mythology, the left should go after electorate seats, especially off neo-con laborites.
      • Colonial Viper 12.1.1

        2 June 2016 at 3:59 pm

        I thought that Trotter’s comments about the poor political lead up and PR planning around this announcement was particularly telling.

        If Trotter is correct, there will be fuck all political follow up from this partnership over the next month or two.
    • Colonial Viper 12.2

      2 June 2016 at 4:20 pm

      ” without preparing the electorate or priming the news media;” sounds to me like Chris Trotter is more than a bit miffed that he wasn’t tipped off the news beforehand, Weka.

      That’s a rather uncharitable interpretation.

      A more professional one is that Labour didn’t do the ground work needed to get the most PR and media mileage from this announcement.
      • McFlock 12.2.1

        2 June 2016 at 4:47 pm

        actually, “uncharitable” is to single out Labour for perceived failings in a joint presentation.

        What “groundwork” did the Greens do to “get the most PR and media mileage from this announcement” (and other safely vague and unsubstantive accusations)?
      • weka 12.2.2

        2 June 2016 at 10:39 pm

        “… the Labour and Green parties have announced their new “Understanding” far too soon;”

        How so? It’s just as easy to argue that this is a good amount of time, it allows the electorate to see the relationship in action well before the pressures of an election year. By the time the election campaign proper starts, lots will have been ironed out and people will have gotten used to the idea. It also means they are prepared if Key calls the election early.

        “without preparing the electorate or priming the news media;”

        I liked this. I’m especially impressed that there were no leaks from Labour. That’s a good sign. What prepation of the electorate should have happened? What priming of the media?

        “without securing real and valuable gains for both partners”

        The gains are very obvious to me. What is Trotter referring to?

        “without carefully gauging the reaction of both their members and their voters”

        I can see this both ways. I don’t have a problem as a GP member with this having been done in secret, because I’m pretty sure that most GP members have been wanting this to happen for a long time. If it had been done publicly we would have had months of MSM beat ups. I think how they did it was preferable.

        “and without having straightforward answers to journalists’ straightforward (and entirely predictable) questions”

        What? Paddy rabid terrier Gower’s questions about NZF? The question was asked and answered. L/G are going to change the govt, and both are very open to working with NZF or any party that shares their aim.

        I didn’t see Trotter’s original bit on tv, so maybe he made a better argument there, but his piece on TDB is all puff.
    • Bearded Git 12.3

      3 June 2016 at 1:14 pm

      I thought the MOU release worked well as a an ‘out of the blue” coup. It certainly got plenty of media coverage and debate going.
13. McFlock 13

    2 June 2016 at 1:14 pm

    National’s War on Dunedin (or is that “War on the Regions” in general?) continues: Agresearch Invermay facility confirmed to lose 56 jobs in a bloody stupid decision.
    • Gangnam Style 13.1

      2 June 2016 at 3:32 pm

      Still smarting over Hillside, I see its still empty, what a freakin’ waste!
14. whispering kate 14

    2 June 2016 at 1:49 pm

    What I can’t understand about this Government is – why it doesn’t want to govern this country, it is doing nothing. These large metropolitan cities do not promote unfettered immigrants to come to this country, nor do they ask them to live in these cities. The Gov. is not prepared to help out with the infrastructure needed to implement these new outer-city subdivisions and is putting the burden on the councils. It also will not allow these councils to raise funds from its citizens to get on with the infrastructure and public transport, with tools like road tolling to help pay for the roads.

    The Government also will not bring in policies to slow the housing market, like a CGT or making immigrants build new homes, reducing the number of homes a person or trust can own in Auckland, a penalty for leaving homes empty for any length of time. They are absolutely sitting on their backsides and leaving these councils hamstrung and making the rate payers bankrupt themselves – don’t they pay enough taxes as it is. If they are not prepared to spend tax payer’s money, then they could at least enact legislation which miserly Double Dipper won’t have an excuse to hug the purse strings over. For the love of God, does this Government actually do anything at all?

    How can these neo-liberals who love this Government see anything worthwhile in their governing, it just isn’t logical at all.
    • emergency mike 14.1

      2 June 2016 at 2:54 pm

      Every time I see someone complain that the opposition offers no credible alternative, I find myself wondering how the current govt offers anything credible whatsoever.
      • Colonial Viper 14.1.1

        2 June 2016 at 4:26 pm

        Voters want to see a clear alternative to National’s laissez faire hands of the wheel style of management.

        Is Labour going to stop foreigners buying houses? Is Labour going to exit NZ out of the TPP? Is Labour going to bring back the CGT? Is Labour going to end land banking? Is Labour going to end property investors who own a dozen or more houses?

        Can you say yes to any of the above?

        If not, that’s probably why people don’t see Labour offering a clear alternative, merely a watered down one.
        • emergency mike 14.1.1.1

          2 June 2016 at 6:41 pm

          CV, the subject of my comment was the credibility of the current govt. I neither made nor invited any comment on that of the opposition. So while you are of course free to rant/vent about whatever you like, I’ll pass on your questions.
        • Chooky 14.1.1.2

          2 June 2016 at 10:33 pm

          +100 CV
15. greywarshark 15

    2 June 2016 at 2:09 pm

    BUSINESS
    In caps because it needs our scrutiny more.
    Fonterra
    Ag Research
    Steel

    $133m AgResearch restructure gets go-ahead
    The government has given AgResearch the go-ahead for a controversial major restructure that will cost $33 million more than first proposed.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/305405/$133m-agresearch-restructure-gets-go-ahead
    (NZ has a conservative government that doesn’t follow it’s own basic precepts ‘that if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it.’ This is a useful taonga but only Maori have the nous to defend and protect taonga, the rest of us have been hypnotised by a $50 note waved in front of our eyes, with TINA and tax cuts repeated monotonously.
    his disruption to Agresearch shows the desire to invest less in things of importance to the country’s future, and bleed most of its resources to cash up the nation while it’s still apparently alive.)

    Steel –
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/305386/importer-of-weak-highway-steel-revealed
    NZ Steel and Tube, long term business here, but being undermined by the cheap efficiency thing of free markets.

    (Youtube has numbers of vids of roads where huge holes have appeared. No doubt they’re traceable to bad design, construction and implementation. We’ll end up with the same if corrupt practices become regularised here. But government isn’t exercised and won’t investigate. Who cares? Well we do.)
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/305427/govt-won%27t-investigate-weak-steel
    and
    Transport Agency unsure where bad steel came from
    6:38 AM.The Transport Agency doesn’t know where 16-hundred tonnes of bad Chinese steel for new highway bridges came from, and says it won’t be asking.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201802984 2+m.
    and
    Contractors who imported steel warned (Fulton & Hogan? Listen and find out.)
    8:19 AM.The contractors who imported 16-hundred tonnes of substandard steel for new highway bridges were warned the deal was too good to be true.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201803012

    NZ economy performs well
    (However – this from the bureau that facilitates the spread of economic fashion styles for the season – the winter of our discontent and other three seasons as well.)
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201802990 ..49s
    6:58 AM.New Zealand is expected to be one of the stronger growing economies in the world in the coming year according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development..
16. greywarshark 16

    2 June 2016 at 2:26 pm

    And Fonterra
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201802998
    The interviewee stated that Fonterra is right to be moving to value added product and away from the dried milk staple. And that marketers will be accenting NZ grass fed quality and good animal practices etc. All the things that have been put into jeopardy by profit oriented, milk rush overstocking and imported palm kernel feed with extra insects or pests of some sort or other.

    NZ – tops in cupidity and stupidity in a wide range of fields and paddocks – 100%!
    • Colonial Viper 16.1

      2 June 2016 at 2:31 pm

      Only 10 plus years late but what the hey.
      • greywarshark 16.1.1

        2 June 2016 at 2:58 pm

        Yeah what the hay, hey. I too thought about that long time lead.. I remember before the last or the one before last appointment, of the top Udder, commenters were saying that he was mostly experienced in commodities and didn’t have the background that would take us into value added.

        So now we are forced to accept a ‘new’ idea, after half destroying the countryside and the country’s variety of exports, and dairy farmers being given the greatest subsidy of all, preferential access to natural rivers and aquifers. The loss of the Canterbury Plains grain growth in favour of watering it for bigger profits from dairy exports of mainly one product furthers the loss to the country’s food stability and reserves.

        Then the wiping out of our protective duties against imports, enabling our domestic economy to live and not be undermined by the vast industry of the rest of the world and its slave employees has led to the extreme impoverishment in the towns.

        All this for dairy farmers, who have often leveraged themselves into multiple farms which they didn’t want to work themselves, and so installed either IT so they didn’t have to get cowpats on their shiny shoes, or overworked, underpaid employees. Or they sold the productive land to foreigners for a bit fat once-off profit to them, and a drain on our export returns for ever probably. And the government has planned all this. And they have the gall to sneer at Chinese five year plans, and how planned economies pick winners and don’t let the market developments show which way to go. What’s happened here under National is just the same, except they have too much guile to admit it.

        As I said before NZ tops in the developed world for cupidity and stupidity, 100% pure.
        • Chooky 16.1.1.1

          2 June 2016 at 10:35 pm

          +100 greywarshark and CV
17. adam 17

    2 June 2016 at 2:33 pm

    I like reading most anything from Wayne Hope.

    This piece is great and he aces it.

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/06/01/one-party-media/
    • Bill 17.1

      2 June 2016 at 3:43 pm

      His take on media seems fair enough from a quick perusal. But a one party state requires that there be no choice of political parties to vote for. And that’s most definitely not the case in NZ. Even when and if one party dominates the political landscape, that’s still not a ‘one party state’. Shame he uses such rhetoric and even seeks to defend it.
      • adam 17.1.1

        2 June 2016 at 6:34 pm

        Wayne, does write with tongue in cheek a bit Bill.
18. Draco T Bastard 18

    2 June 2016 at 2:53 pm

    Airbus showcases 3D-printed drone at Aerospace expo in Berlin

    Among Thor’s main advantages is its low price tag and high reusability. Unlike conventional UAVs, which can cost hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars, the total cost of the printed parts that make up Airbus’ newest creation is around €25,000.

    As I’ve said before – 3D Manufacturing is the future and it removes all the false economies of scale that gets large factories in China working. With this type of manufacturing capability international trade in products disappears. The only thing left to trade will be information and information trade really only works when it freely shared without the artificial barriers of copyright and patents to get in the way.
19. emergency mike 19

    2 June 2016 at 3:08 pm

    http://thespinoff.co.nz/politics-media/02-06-2016/john-key-suggested-we-google-trademe-for-homes-under-500000-so-we-did-and-here-they-are/

    Cute fact check piece.
    • adam 19.1

      2 June 2016 at 3:30 pm

      That was brilliant. Thanks emergency mike
    • Chooky 19.2

      2 June 2016 at 10:40 pm

      yes I wondered about that claim of jonkey…maybe he should become a real estate agent….i am sure there will be a BIG run on these houses now, especially as there are so few of them and there are so many needing affordable houses in Auckland ( not that just under $500,000 for these little out of the way places is reasonable price)

      and of course the homeless won’t be able to afford them!

      ( so thanks, but no thanks jonkey)
20. Bill 20

    2 June 2016 at 3:25 pm

    This is worth a watch if you’ve a spare half an hour. Vice TV did a kind of ‘fly on the wall’ short docu on Jeremy Corbyn covering two months prior to the recent local elections in England and Wales.
    • Kiwiri 20.1

      2 June 2016 at 4:26 pm

      Thanks for pointing that out, Bill.

      Reminds me of the relentless attack against another party leader in another country.
    • ianmac 20.2

      2 June 2016 at 8:33 pm

      Thanks Bill. He/We have an uphill battle.

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