Open Mike 02/08/2017

60 comments on “Open Mike 02/08/2017 ”

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1. Tamati Tautuhi 1

   2 August 2017 at 6:36 am

   Personally I think Mike Hoskings is the one with the credibility issue not Jacinda Adern ?
   • Johan 1.1

     2 August 2017 at 9:57 am

     Mike who?
   • Gabby 1.2

     2 August 2017 at 11:23 am

     Horeskin’s credibility isn’t an issue.
2. Carolyn_nth 2

   2 August 2017 at 7:06 am

   This is the NZ that we need to change. The rise in homelessness is very distressing. And still the media spins while our least well off are driven to an early, painful grab=ve by lack of access to affordable health care.

   Sarah Robson on RNZ:

   More and more people are sleeping rough in south Auckland, and the government’s initiatives to try to deal with homelessness aren’t working, community workers say.

   …
   At a meeting in Manurewa last night, organised by Green MP Marama Davidson, there were calls for more to be done to tackle the issue.

   One of them was Debbie Munroe who, for the past four years, has been feeding and clothing the homeless and needy around Manurewa.

   Ms Munroe said when they started, they were feeding four people. Now it’s up to 35 people, three times a week.

   But she said that’s just the tip of the iceberg in the Manurewa area.
3. Tamati Tautuhi 3

   2 August 2017 at 7:26 am

   Homeless people in NZ is a National disgrace and is interlinked with the breakdown of our Mental Health Services over the past 30-40 years along with our current Housing Crisis.
4. Ad 4

   2 August 2017 at 7:50 am

   Good to hear Stephanie Rodgers commentating politics for Radio NZ this morning.

   We need more coherent voices like that.
   • Sans Cle 4.1

     2 August 2017 at 11:03 am

     + 1

     Was just going to post something similar. She’s intelligent, articulate and refreshing. I’m glad she has a voice on the radio. Kia kaha Stephanie.
5. riffer 5

   2 August 2017 at 8:07 am

   Mark Richardson you nasty little man. Your comments are completely unacceptable, all right. Next we’ll be hearing questions about how can we trust anyone who bleeds every month.

   Disgusting.

   Trust Granny to lead with this one.

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11897831
   • Tamati Tautuhi 5.1

     2 August 2017 at 8:44 am

     The guy is a Clown and is more interested in his toiletry habits defecating in the Hauraki Gulf ?
     • greywarshark 5.1.1

       2 August 2017 at 10:19 am

       This comment is very telling – the RW attitude to government as a service industry to business. Therefore the PM is just a CEO-type employee in another business, in a minor role! That is how far government has fallen in NZ, how much of its duty and role has been hacked to make our four-square government fit into a round black hole.

       “If you are the employer of a company you need to know that type of thing from the woman you are employing … the question is, is it okay for a PM to take maternity leave while in office?”
   • Adrian 5.2

     2 August 2017 at 8:56 am

     Yeah but he ran himself out there.
     ” You “, The direct putdown was the best handling of of a TV opinionista in years.
     I think Mark might be in love today.
   • srylands 5.3

     2 August 2017 at 9:59 am

     Yes it is appalling but what do you expect?

     I have no idea if she wants children. However I think it would be a good look for New Zealand if we showed that you could be Prime Minister and have a young child. And of course it could be done. It would be a hell of a lot easier having a baby as PM than having a baby on a minimum wage job.
     • Molly 5.3.1

       2 August 2017 at 10:28 am

       “However I think it would be a good look for New Zealand if we showed that you could be Prime Minister and have a young child.”
       Of course, srylands. Deciding to have a child is all about the looks.
6. john 6

   2 August 2017 at 8:24 am

   So much to say:
   1. New leader….same old failed policies.
   2. The woman that didn’t want the job , seems awfully happy to have it.
   3. Shuffling the the deck chairs on the Titanic?
   4. What are you going to do with all those hoardings with Andy’s face on them, False advertising?
   5. Well Kelvin, maybe criminals will have a voice, spoken to the joint leader of the Greens yet?
   6. Steal back some of the voters from NZ First and the Greens?
   7. Do your voters wrap empty boxes with fancy wrapping at Xmas too?
   Oh sorry will answer that myself…..being a died in the wool communist
   Jacinda doesn’t believe in Xmas.

   [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
   

   [I don’t have time to check your history here right now, so I will just say this. If you try that trolling here again I will ban you permanently. Read the Policy and have a think about how to engage in actual political debate. – weka]
   • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1

     2 August 2017 at 8:29 am

     If you’ve so much to say how come you decided to parrot a load of unoriginal bile instead?

     Does anyone care what some right wing dimbulb thinks of Jacinda Ardern?
     • srylands 6.1.1

       2 August 2017 at 9:48 am

       I would be very surprised if he was “right wing”. I have yet to meet such a person in New Zealand.

       But he is extremely childish.

       The fact that some in the media focus on Jacinda’s looks and ask her about babies is depressing. However it is to be expected. Most journalists have an inability to critique policy. In turn that affects policy platforms.

       For example it is clear that new policies are required to resolve housing afffordability – meaning reduce the prices of houses by at least 50%. It can be done (the policy prescriptions have been laid out in much detail), and there are ways to compensate some of the worst losers to maintain social cohesion. However I see no such bold policies coming from the Labour party. Because we have very few public commentators or journalists that can cope with the issues.

       Move on from housing – drugs, entrenched poverty, capital taxation, electricity markets, climate change policy. On and on.

       There is much that is admirable about New Zealand policy settings, but there is much more to be done. I just cannot see it.

       Which is why I am supporting and voting for The Opportunities Party, despite being a member of the National Party and having voted for National every year since 2008 (and ACT in 2005, 2002, and 1999). It is the only Party that comes close to laying out a rational policy agenda.
       • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1.1

         2 August 2017 at 4:05 pm

         I would be very surprised if he was “right wing”. I have yet to meet such a person in New Zealand.

         Amazing, you haven’t even met yourself.
   • Tamati Tautuhi 6.2

     2 August 2017 at 8:40 am

     If it sounds like a troll it probably is a troll ?
     • Adrian 6.2.1

       2 August 2017 at 8:50 am

       it sounds like someone shitting his pants.
   • Psych nurse 6.3

     2 August 2017 at 11:15 am

     John,is that you John, the one recently retired before the shit hit the fan, pity you cant trot young Max out now as a distraction.
7. Carolyn_nth 7

   2 August 2017 at 9:49 am

   Very good ODT op in support of Metiria Turei and explaining how coming from a privileged background gives relative advantages to people.

   And this from Tim Murphy on Newsroom:

   “I [Turei] said that for 15 years I’ve been in this job, 15 years we’ve been talking about the poverty our country faces. We’ve been talking about child poverty, kids going to school hungry. We’ve had research paper after research paper, Members’ bills, government bills, proposals, campaigns and rallies.

   “And, nothing has changed. In. All. That. Time.
   “It has got worse since I started, After all this time of trying to make these changes and all the things we’ve tried to do, we’ve not been able to make that change.

   “The only thing I have left to offer is my story about my life and my baby’s life. Maybe by offering my story to the country then maybe we have a chance to make things change.”

   And Mike Williams on Checkpoint last night had the gall to claim Ardern had almost single-handedly put child poverty on the agenda…???!!!
   • Johan 7.1

     2 August 2017 at 10:02 am

     I have often questioned Mike Williams’ contribution to articulate Labour’s situation and policies in the media.
     • Jenny Kirk 7.1.1

       2 August 2017 at 10:54 am

       Yes – I, too, was taken aback when Mike W said that about child poverty. Wondered where he’d been the last few weeks – certainly not somewhere reading the news.
       Good story in ODT carolyn_nth – thanks for the link.
   • Bill 7.2

     2 August 2017 at 10:14 am

     About that privileged background…

     A friend who’s a long term beneficiary (should I still need to state they’re a genuine claimant these days?) phoned and told me how they’d just been into WINZ to see if they would help in getting them to their fathers funeral. Air NZ do ‘compassion’ tickets of some description. Anyway. The cost was around the $500 mark.

     WINZ said no.

     No grant. No advance on entitlements to be paid back. Just no.

     Maybe anyone reading your link above and reflecting on whether they have privilege or not, might find that story useful in coming to a decision about their own standing.
     • Brigid 7.2.1

       2 August 2017 at 1:29 pm

       Your friend needs to return to WINZ and get a written refusal of their request. And then ask for a review of decision form.
       I am absolutely positive the winz person is wrong in refusing a grant to attend one’s fathers funeral.
       • Brigid 7.2.1.1

         2 August 2017 at 1:38 pm

         In fact
         “Travel to a funeral or tangi
         We may be able to help you if you can’t afford to travel to a funeral or tangi.
         You don’t have to be on a benefit to qualify for help and you may have to pay the money back depending on your situation. ”

         https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/urgent-costs/bereavement.html
   • Ad 7.3

     2 August 2017 at 1:22 pm

     Mike Williams is not the enemy.

     He is not from the “hard right” either.

     What he did was successfully fundraise for the Labour Party for over twenty years, providing the fuel for the electoral machine that got and kept the Helen Clark government in power.

     Need it be said, Helen Clark is the only left wing government New Zealand has had for 40 years. May not pass everyone’s left-purity test, but Helen Clark’s government is the existing benchmark for political change towards the left for anyone younger than 50.

     In no small part she won because of people like Mike Williams.
     • greywarshark 7.3.1

       2 August 2017 at 1:28 pm

       Right good ole Mike back then. Was a Labour stalwart and hero helping Helen to power. But now? Can he change his thinking, change his approach/ Can a leopard change his spots; leopards shouldn’t but pollies have to look at their culture and think whether it needs changing FTTT. And now is a time for re-examination.
       • Ad 7.3.1.1

         2 August 2017 at 3:40 pm

         He’s not a Leopard; you’re being pretty obtuse.

         If Labour had half the funding or membership that they had under Mike’s Presidency, Labour would have regained power two terms ago.

         Don’t be fooled by the media sugar-rush over Ardern. At the moment she is smiling over an abyss.
         • greywarshark 7.3.1.1.1

           3 August 2017 at 12:08 pm

           Okay then. Mike was going along with that media rush when he announced before Andrew that he was going to step down. Sort of previous and lacking respect isn’t it?

           The behaviour of those in the background smacks of the little cabal of blokes who get into positions where they decide who in what sport are going to the Olympics etc. They have a lot of power and are pretty happy with themselves.

           We will notice a change in media towards Ardern how soon do you think?
           Has she got the liegemen behind her to give her solid support or still the egoistic masonic-style bonding of makers and breakers with restless appetites for new game plans guaranteeing success, or sack the player and the coach!
           Or am I obtuse again.
   • Draco T Bastard 7.4

     2 August 2017 at 4:14 pm

     The problem with welfare today is not that people on it break the law but that the law itself is broken forcing people to lie to get what they need.
8. The Lone Haranguer 8

   2 August 2017 at 11:07 am

   Great to see that $100,000 has come into the NZLP coffers in the past 24 hours.

   Perhaps now I wont get any more of that snotty email which says “Hey we notice you havent given us any money yet”.

   And Anne may not need to give her $500 cheque either 🙂

   I am looking forward to a decent contest now. Labour certainly has a more engaging leader that the Nats and I reckon that matters way more than policy.

   And for those who disagree with me on that one – please explain how it was that Key (with minimal policy but genuinely the most wanted at a BBQ politician) shat all over Cunliffe in the last election.
   • Anne 8.1

     2 August 2017 at 3:12 pm

     Perhaps now I wont get any more of that snotty email which says “Hey we notice you havent given us any money yet”.

     Hey TLH that’s not true. Sure, the emails have been coming thick and fast requesting money but they’re going to everybody on the membership list and they’re certainly not making statements such as… we’ve noticed you haven’t given us any money yet.

     Yes, I am donating but dialed it back a bit because it looks like the financial situation is no longer dire. Couldn’t really afford $500 and I really need some more curtains. And no, BM I’m not going to the Warehouse. 😉
     • The Lone Haranguer 8.1.1

       2 August 2017 at 4:46 pm

       Maybe only I got it then? I feel like Im being spied upon. All the best for your new curtains 🙂

       This is what I got from Andrew Kirton

       There are only 29 hours to make up the shortfall and with 55 days until the election, I don’t want to have to make the call to scale back our online advertising.

       XXXXX you haven’t chipped in yet and I wanted to let you know that every contribution counts – no matter how large or small.
9. Ad 9

   2 August 2017 at 12:02 pm

   Stop looking for an argument.

   [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
   
   • weka 9.1

     2 August 2017 at 12:15 pm

     I wasn’t looking for an argument, I genuinely thought that’s what you were saying.
10. Ad 10

    2 August 2017 at 12:10 pm

    From the news:
    Barfoot and Thompson want first home buyers to be exempt from saving 20% deposit.

    Clearly they are feeling a lack of business, so want a way to pump the market again.

    So they have had talks with Treasury about that.
    As if Treasury can do much now about the lending practices of the Australian banks that run 90% of our house mortgage lending. Those Aussie banks are pulling back fast.

    Barfoot and Thompson are consistently one of the largest National Party donors.
11. Ad 11

    2 August 2017 at 12:37 pm

    4.8% headline unemployment for the June quarter.
    Lowest since 2008.

    Ardern is going to have to win hearts and minds with more than policies on poverty and housing.
    • Sabine 11.1

      2 August 2017 at 1:49 pm

      misleading number as only those that are signed up for unemployemnt are counted.

      i am not employed currently, my partner earns to much money thus i am not listed.

      so the number should be

      a. unemployed registered for benefits
      b. unemployed but not registered
      c. employed but on 0 hour contract
      d. employed but only part time wanting more hours
      e. unemployed but has given up on finding job

      and then the number would props go up to about 10% and yeah, unemployment brings poverty.
      • Ad 11.1.1

        2 August 2017 at 3:37 pm

        Only the business commentary on RNZ will delve that deep.

        The unemployment headline for tonight’s tv simply records that National are doing a really good job of running the economy.
        • Sabine 11.1.1.1

          2 August 2017 at 7:35 pm

          no they are not doing a good job when you take out those that i listed.
          simple as that.

          what they are doing a good job of is pretending that a problem has been solved while it has not.

          but then thats National!
      • weka 11.1.2

        2 August 2017 at 3:50 pm

        I’d also like to know how they’re separating out the ex-Sickness benefit people from those on the dole.
    • Cinny 11.2

      2 August 2017 at 2:39 pm

      i think if someone works as little as 1 hour a week they are counted as employed
      • Gabby 11.2.1

        2 August 2017 at 5:31 pm

        as little as 1 hour a week how recently I wonder.
12. Poission 12

    2 August 2017 at 12:42 pm

    us disaster forecast.

    Port-a-potty shortages. Cellular blackout zones. Ambulances stuck in gridlock. These are the conditions emergency managers across the nation are expecting the week of August 21.

    http://www.newsweek.com/solar-eclipse-space-national-disaster-solar-eclipse-prep-643766
    • Cinny 12.1

      2 August 2017 at 3:05 pm

      Cool link, Poission, gosh USA cracks me up they are such an excitable flock.

      USA are going to go nuts at the end of september with planets lining up. Unless Aug 21 is ‘judgement day’ lmao.
      The date it’s happening is hard case for us kiwi political followers.

      Am fascinated in the relationships between earth and energy/events/frequency etc etc in space. The technology available now to follow such topics just blows my mind.
13. Poission 13

    2 August 2017 at 12:43 pm

    Geonet shows extent of Kaikoura Tsunami event.

    https://www.geonet.org.nz/news/3nk7bm5dS8eo0yCu8AYyKK
14. Penny Bright 14

    2 August 2017 at 12:57 pm

    Just tweeted this to Matthew Hooton 🙂

    ‪https://www.prinz.org.nz/Person?Action=List&DataFilter_id=137&DataFilter_SortBy=NameLastFirst&Person_Page=12#‬

    ‪”PRINZ Members are alphabetical by last name”‬
    ‪
    STILL not a member of PRINZ Matthew Hooton?

    No ‘Code of Conduct’?‬
15. Carolyn_nth 15

    2 August 2017 at 3:41 pm

    Marama Davidson showing real passion in the General Debate in the House – speaking for this suffering from the housing crisis, low incomes, etc.
16. ianmac 16

    2 August 2017 at 4:24 pm

    Jerry Brownlee makes a gift to his great supporter and National advocate Paddy Gower after Paddy waxed enthusiastic about Jacinda. Maybe a gentle reminder that Paddy is National’s man so watch your back Paddy

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_cid=1&gallery_id=179787
17. Draco T Bastard 17

    2 August 2017 at 4:24 pm

    Auckland gridlock costing up to $1.9b a year

    Auckland’s traffic congestion is costing the local economy up to twice as much as previously estimated, according to a new research by the NZ Institute of Economic Research.

    The report – Benefits from Auckland road decongestion – found benefits of decongestion to the current network capacity in Auckland at $0.9 billion to $1.3 billion (1 per cent to 1.4 per cent of Auckland’s GDP).

    But if the average speed across the Auckland network was close or equal to the speed limit, which is also known as free-flow, then the estimated benefits of decongestion during weekdays was between $1.4 and $1.9 billion (between 1.5 per cent and 2 per cent of Auckland’s GDP).

    Well, that’s an unsurprising finding.

    EMA chief executive Kim Campbell said the report should be wake-up call to government and council to get on with and speed up investment in transport solutions.

    Something tells me he’s not talking about more trains and buses. In other words, he’s still part of the problem and so are many others in positions of power.
    • Ad 17.1

      2 August 2017 at 4:42 pm

      Kim’s been very supportive of the City Rail Link – now underway.
      He’s also a big promoter of the East-West Expressway.
      Those two are the highest priority in the Auckland Plan, and right up there in ATAP.

      He’s also very skeptical about the third harbor crossing – which is good because it is futile trying to CAPEX your way out of a problem that OPEX in the form of public transport subsidy could solve better.
      • Draco T Bastard 17.1.1

        2 August 2017 at 4:59 pm

        Kim’s been very supportive of the City Rail Link – now underway.

        A quick google of the EMA website didn’t provide anything on that.

        He’s also a big promoter of the East-West Expressway.

        Which doesn’t fill me with confidence considering this, this and this.
        • Ad 17.1.1.1

          2 August 2017 at 5:11 pm

          Your first link had it all there.

          I ain’t no fan of East-West. They could have simply gutted Neilson Street for similar time benefit yields.

          Kim believe it or not is the most balanced and fair minded of the EMA leaders we have had in living memory. He will also do fine with a Labour-led government.
          Back in the dim dark ages of Clark’s first term you may recall how bad it gets when the business leadership turns feel on you.

          Kim will be fine.
18. JC 18

    2 August 2017 at 6:29 pm

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1708/S00030/greenpeace-activists-lock-themselves-inside-irrigation-pipes.htm

    “Central Plains Water is the biggest irrigation scheme to be built under the Government’s 480 million dollar irrigation fund. There are another eight more irrigation schemes proposed.

    “This is an enormous publicly funded irrigation scheme which will increase the dairy herd and pollute Canterbury’s rivers. What’s worse is that there are eight more irrigation schemes just like it in the pipeline” she says.”

    “Half a billion dollars set aside for think-big irrigation schemes in the middle of a national freshwater crisis is a bad idea for our rivers and we need them to end those irrigation subsidies immediately”

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/201853334/greenpeace-activists-chain-themselves-to-digger

    https://secure.greenpeace.org.nz/standing-up-for-rivers/
19. JC 19

    2 August 2017 at 8:52 pm

    Some lite reading for ya … ( and an opportunity to be involved…)

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1707/S00042/opening-the-election-hivemind-freshwater-quality.htm

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1707/S00044/freshwater-as-a-public-good-healthy-and-sustainable-water.htm
20. JC 20

    2 August 2017 at 8:52 pm

    Some lite reading for ya … ( and an opportunity to be involved…)

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1707/S00042/opening-the-election-hivemind-freshwater-quality.htm

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1707/S00044/freshwater-as-a-public-good-healthy-and-sustainable-water.htm
21. In Vino 21

    2 August 2017 at 9:34 pm

    Fool! Helmut Schmidt was twice the man…
    • Sabine 21.1

      2 August 2017 at 9:46 pm

      Indeed he was.
22. Sabine 22

    2 August 2017 at 9:46 pm

    who ever the fuck you are, you are a coward.

    full stop.

    this is not my comment.

    fuck off you little pissant.

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