Open Mike 02/09/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 2nd, 2016 - 112 comments
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112 comments on “Open Mike 02/09/2016 ”

  1. Nck 1

    Natz have a slimy lying, 2 faced creep for a leader…. Morning

    • Reddelusion 1.1

      Cheers Nick have a nice day and may Jk be with you….morning

    • James 1.2

      And yet he is preferred to anything the left can offer election after election after election … and probably for at least for one more.

      Enjoy your day. Its easier when you dont wake up bitter.

      • Leftie 1.2.1

        “And yet he is preferred to anything the left can offer election after election after election … and probably for at least for one more.”

        Well… that’s what the spin says, James.

        • James 1.2.1.1

          Actually that’s what the results show. He’s PM and the labour leaders keep falling away.

          • Leftie 1.2.1.1.1

            “Actually that’s what the results show. He’s PM…”

            Being PM is a temporary position James and Key had to use dirty politics to cling to it.

            “the labour leaders keep falling away.”

            As did the Nat leaders when National were in opposition for 9 years.

    • Leftie 1.3

      Morning Nck, that’s very true, lets kick him out next year. It’s what he deserves.

    • Bearded Git 1.4

      That will teach you to listen to Leighton Smith.

  2. Ad 2

    The New Zealand First annual conference is in Dunedin this weekend.

    Should be some good speeches about the decline of rural life and the loss of land to foreigners.

  3. save nz 3

    Just reading this scary article makes you want to demand a banking transaction tax (and why the UK has capital gains taxes, stamp duties, taxes on taxes, but zero financial transaction taxes). This is the world that John Key made his money in. No wonder there is this .01% mentality and inability to change during the GFC from the banks.

    “Top graduates missing out on banking jobs for lacking ‘polish”

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/01/top-graduates-missing-out-on-banking-jobs-for-lacking-polish

    • Draco T Bastard 3.1

      That’s happening more and more across all industries. Getting a job is now more about socialisation than about being able to do the job. And the preferred socialisation is being exactly the same as the person hiring you.

      We’re seeing the rise of conformity and the conformity is to be a psychopath just like your boss.

      • Colonial Viper 3.1.1

        Massive groupthink on the bridge of the Titanic…and on all the lower decks too…

        • save nz 3.1.1.1

          Social mobility for the lower and middle classes has stalled. Upper class has not changed, nor will it, by the looks of things in this article. Not really what you expect in 21st century of supposedly classless society. We are going backwards to Victorian times.

  4. ianmac 4

    Just listening to Key live on Leighten Smith. A first!
    Key plays with figures to explain “not defensively” the housing not being a crisis.
    A shifty tricky chap. Can you stomach him?
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11702996

  5. Leftie 5

    National have announced it’s usual pre election bene bashing policy….

    Beneficiaries will be helped to find work

    A new service will be trialled next year to help beneficiaries with diagnosed mental health conditions become independent and find work.

    The two year trial is expected to cost $3.2 million and will be available in the Auckland, Waikato, Central, Canterbury and Southern regions.

    Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says Work to Wellness will be a contracted service and will help around 1000 people a year.

    She says it will provide coaching and mentoring, job search services and assistance to help people into work.

    Beneficiaries will be able to opt-in through Work and Income, a referral from their GP or self-referring direct to the provider.

    <a href="https://nz.news.yahoo.com/top-stories/a/32498892/beneficiaries-will-be-helped-to-find-work/#page1

    If the comments on yahoo’s linked Facebok page is anything to go by, it doesn’t look like the Nats are going to get the kind of vote winning reaction they thought they will get…

    Azaelia Mackereth There is no low this shitty government will go to, people with mental illness struggle enough just to get out of bed and function with life as it is, forcing them into a dead end job will just make them worse and then that vicious cycle starts all over again! People without mental health problems like this stupid tart never understand
    38 · 23 hrs
    5 Replies · 9 hrs

    Debbie Jane Lomas oh and another point…mental health patients had plenty of support until you idiots wiped out virtually all the mental health agencies around the country…you are a disgrace….
    20 · 16 hrs

    Brian McFarland $3.2 million to find jobs for 1,000 people. So the government is going to pay a contractor $3,200 per person to find them a job? Sounds like they have budgeted inefficiencies nicely into the program. Better to just give $3,200 grants to those thousand people to improve their standard of living for a little while.
    2 · 10 hrs

    Arthur C. Charlton HOW. I may ask. Imported trash is draining the country’s overseas funds and ruining manufacturing jobs. Good luck with that. Please note a real job is not part time. 40 hours please.
    13 · Yesterday at 13:50

    Atra Dash Bunch of cunts. Bad enough people with mental health problems have issues and these fuckers want them to go back to work. This government needs to go and it needs to go quick smart.
    3 · 15 hrs
    3 Replies · 3 hrs

    Carolyne Moran Once again National a going to Strip Kiwis from help and force them into jobs that have no guaranteed hours which is just what someone with mental health issues need.
    5 · 22 hrs
    1 Reply

    Raumahoe Rose Williams aparently this stupid women has never worked with those with mental health..you cannot expect someone with this unwellness who is drugged to the eyeballs to be able to hold a decent job let alone a mundane one..they can only focus for a few minute at a time…so go tell that to yourself ..selfish twit…
    7 · 22 hrs
    2 Replies · 9 hrs

    Deb Hartigan surely there must be some people that can be helped into work……….not saying everyone with the illness, but there would be some that with some help would love to get back into some type of work………..as a person said earlier in this thread it took him 3 years to find a job……..this may help shorten that time……….if one person out of 100 can be helped out then thats great isn’t it………….
    2 · 22 hrs · Edited
    9 Replies · 11 hrs

    Estella Kingi So sick of the government right now. Tired of words being spoken by Aotearoa but never heard by ignorance. Hand enough, roll on elections, can’t come any faster or can it? Wishful thinking or is it?…..
    14 hrs · Edited

    Robin Aldridge Actually it’s hard to convince employers to take on people if they have been unwell. I know I have been an employment consultant looking for jobs for people with mental health issues. There is so much discrimination out there. And that adds more stress…See more
    3 · 21 hrs

    Lorraine Sami silly cow anne tolley try getting unemployed into work but noooooooooooo you want to bring in migrants who rort the immigration system, dumb down our society, allow employers to lower wage rates disingenuous cow
    3 · 20 hrs
    1 Reply

    Danielle Pike Yes. Sounds bloody perfect. Instead of reinstating the help these people have lost because of the government over the years, they’re going to force them all to work whether they’re ready or not. Sounds like a plan. A really stupid fucked up plan.
    1 · 10 hrs

    Greg Giles It took me three years to find work, and I had to move from Hamilton to Auckland, any absence from work after an illness, or accident takes a lot to fit back in. Work is a necessary evil, and even more so with coping with unrealistic expectations. Being self employed should be considered and funded.
    4 · Yesterday at 14:04
    1 Reply

    Charlie Boy Batt What a total load of crap. Have had ongoing vacancys listed with Winz work brokers for the last two years. Be lucky if they have referred two people. Both only lasted a week and were never seen again.
    21 hrs

    Jeanne Hill The problem is there needs to be jobs for them this is the government being oh so choosy.
    17 hrs

    Madonna Meikle if those without m-h probs cant find work how will those with m-h probs find work
    9 · Yesterday at 14:03
    1 Reply

    Leonie Jones How the hell can they do that when most normal people themselves cannot find work. Pull the other one please 😛
    7 · 23 hrs

    Invoker’s Better Half Some are just unemployable and needs to be left alone just like permanent injury via acc need to be left alone !!
    7 · Yesterday at 14:27
    Rae Adams I got a degree and experience and still cant find a job. Maybe they should help us older workers as well.
    2 · 9 hrs

    Derek-Kim Hickling In small towns especially, jobs are limited. Makes it hard for everyone…thats why many jump the ditch to OZ.
    3 · 23 hrs

    Ramari Te Rupe Wiringi Stupid politicians…too much money not enough brain matter.
    2 · 19 hrs

    Graeme Trask Employers looking for cheap labour no doubt. Another wave of exploitation.
    1 · 14 hrs

    Joyce Marina OMG WTF what’s this stupid government thinking of.Next they’ll be wanting the elderly to find work
    1 · 9 hrs

    Jay Belmont Whatever. What about the non-mentally impaired that are unemployed, homeless??? Yeah….right!!!
    1 · 12 hrs

    Taruke Mafi Oh come on WTH THIS GOVERNMENT sux our Mental Health now but that doesnt surprise me the government will try anything
    1 · 18 hrs

    Deborah Smitheram I am so surprized no ones shot one of these fukwits already if anyone deserves a bullet they do
    3 · 22 hrs

    Jill Riggs This is already happening sad to see all the negative comments lots of people with mental health issues hold down jobs
    1 · 15 hrs
    1 Reply

    Roberta Tau Get them into work, bossess will take advantage of them, they’ll be fired then can’t get back in assistance 🙁
    15 hrs

    David Simmonds Looks like that face above has been attacked by a pit bull,ug ug ug bloody ugly to say the least.Looks like it had just kissed G Brownlee
    10 hrs

    Glenys Epiha Toa Of all the dumbest things you’ve done..this takes it.
    14 hrs

    Cat Lamb And I hope they are serious about “helping ” and not just BULLYING
    16 hrs

    Horomona Kingi and what does she think they can do? most jobs now are taken up by immigrants
    10 hrs

    Debbie Jane Lomas just a way to kick the disabled off their benefits..
    7 · 23 hrs

    Lui Ikenasio What bloody jobs??
    6 · Yesterday at 14:11

    Garry Craig She should watch out. More competition for her job.
    5 · Yesterday at 13:42

    Brian Stowe more money wasted .
    4 · Yesterday at 14:04

    Nell Smith-Hughes More sheltered workshops!

    Why were so many closed??
    1 · 17 hrs
    1 Reply

    Karenza Mcleod Able bodied people need to get a job
    2 · 19 hrs

    Sharon Solomon What work? and where is it?
    2 · 16 hrs

    Christine Williams Arent that the truth Atra Dash.
    3 hrs

    Christine Williams You are right Azaelia Mackereth. When i saw this article i suddenly felt anxious and thought what the hell are they playing at now. You are right, people who don’t suffer from mental illness will never understand and us that suffer from the illness have to suffer more because of their stupidity .
    3 hrs

    Ray Harrison I have a feeling not many will be “opting in”
    19 hrs

    Damos Reddington Fkn idiot. It seems reality has leftthe building
    2 hrs

    Kath Garrity Another stupid intiative..
    12 hrs

    Louise Gordon You lot are a joke
    17 hrs

    Carl Zijlstra That’s an old old line
    13 hrs

    Jill Riggs What do they think we’re doing now…
    15 hrs

    Lee Anne Wikaira there definition of help is forced
    11 hrs

    Stanley G Foster What a joke
    17 hrs

    Dave Moke Fck bullshyt policies
    5 hrs

    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YahooNewZealand/

  6. Chooky 6

    Israel and Facebook lose a satellite:

    ‘Facebook satellite lost in SpaceX explosion at Cape Canaveral (VIDEO)’

    https://www.rt.com/usa/357893-spacex-explosion-platform-launch/

    “A Falcon 9 booster rocket exploded on the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, as tropical storm Hermine bore down on the area.

    An Israeli satellite that was to provide Facebook broadband to Africa was lost in the explosion, SpaceX confirmed…

  7. Lanthanide 7

    @Lynn, when you’re on the main landing page, all the default geometric gravatars show up, but when you visit an article page, they don’t.

    I expect it’s some caching thing.

    • swordfish 7.1

      Strangely enough, on the current (Open Mike) page, I’m seeing your usual gravatar / identicon, as well as CV’s, Draco’s, and ianmac’s, but everyone else (including my good self) are rendered as anonymous white figures against a grey background. What makes you 4 so special ??? – Bloody Teacher’s Pets !!!

      • lprent 7.1.1

        The gravatars and identicons are effectively generated remotely at gravatar, stored locally on my system after generation because gravatar were slowing down the page load too much, and then cached on a CDN (content distribution system) in Sydney.

        Because I just shifted this site to https and especially http2, if something doesn’t arrive in time you get the default.

        In this case it looks like you are seeing a bug. I’ll remove a layer and see what happens.

        Edit: Ok, setting it to “monster”, clearing the cache, then reverting to identicons, and clearing the cache appear to have fixed it. I’ll have a look to see if I get widespread reversion to default icons.

      • lprent 7.1.2

        Nope. Ummm removed the local cache.

      • Lanthanide 7.1.3

        CV, Draco, ian and myself have all configured non-default gravatars.

        If you are using the default one, then it generates an icon based on your email address (and also username?). It was the default geometric thing that wasn’t working properly.

        • swordfish 7.1.3.1

          “CV, Draco, ian and myself have all configured non-default gravatars”

          Ahhh, of course !

          When you think about it, that was ridiculously stupid of me.

    • lprent 7.2

      Wow!

      The Http/2 is really dealing with the gravatars well without the local cache. I had to shift to that a few years ago as they were slowing the page loads so much after getting a few hundred people on a comments page.

      I’ve just been looking at pages with 300 comments from way back and getting no page load lag. I also see a massive amount of parallelism off to gravatar.

      I really like HTTP2. It beats the hell out of SPDY and I don’t have to compromise the site setup.

  8. joe90 8

    He’s not one to miss an opportunity to tell a lie.
    /

    Mexico will pay for the wall!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2016

    Repito lo que le dije personalmente, Sr. Trump: México jamás pagaría por un muro. https://t.co/IJNVe0XepY— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) September 1, 2016

    Translation: “I repeat what I said personally, Mr. Trump: Mexico would never pay for a wall.”

    • save nz 8.1

      Maybe Trump will nuke em, if they don’t pay for the wall.

      Of course more “civilised” US policy does this behind closed doors, and uses torture and rendition by friendly intermediaries towards people they don’t like and wars to countries they don’t like.

      In this context maybe a wall to try to keep the outside world out, is better than trying to infiltrate and control the outside world under current US foreign policy.

      Our planet is not looking in good shape and nor is equality or democracy under US control.

      If only Klein or Sanders had a chance.

    • alwyn 8.2

      The Donald is probably like most people contributing on this site.
      Not being able to speak Spanish he might have tried to interpret it as if what the words sounded like in English was the translation.
      The last sentence therefore came out as “Mexico jamas (hm. jumps at?) pagaria(paying) for a wall.
      Not that speaking Spanish seems to make much difference of course. Both George W and brother Jeb were fluent in the language.

      • lprent 8.2.1

        Yes, they were. It was a pity about their inability to express themselves clearly in English.

        Mind you the Donald seems to spend his time repeatably saying “I am a pretentious loudmouth narcissistic dickhead” in whatever language he is trying to grunt at the time. Has anyone ever seen him talk about anything apart directly or indirectly referring to himself and what he is gonna do?

        FFS: even Yankees don’t deserve this cretin.

      • North 8.2.2

        It’s extraordinary isn’t it…….I know what Alwyn would say if Trump dropped his trou’ and defecated on the stage at a huge rally…….

        While almost drowned out by the cheers of a very ugly thousands – Alwyn (maybe CV too) – “Ummh…….Err Err Err……you know……you must consider that The Donald was never potty trained……..you know…….to be fair.”

        Love Friday nights. Such fun. Good feed. Coro’ Street. Loving family of 6. Warm. In the people-mover in the park. Alwyn.

        We really do live in the 8th happiest country in the world aye Alwyn ? …….respectful nod to the National Party Cabinet (Club). 10th without you and me though aye Alwyn…….?

    • joe90 8.3

      Trumper has an idea…..

      @realDonaldTrump The wall just got 10 feet taller! pic.twitter.com/H51d415EO4— Neil Turner (@NeilTurner_) September 1, 2016

    • Tom 8.4

      Maybe he will pay for it with aid that used to go to Mexico US dollars 209,432,920, build a nice wall for that!

  9. Anne 9

    This site is being inundated by less than savoury attacks on various commenters by one commenter in particular. His (can’t imagine a ‘she’ stooping to such puerile language) level of debate is often personal and comes across as deliberate stalking of selected individuals. Likely to be putting off readers from coming here.

    His latest example:

    Ooh! Another Labour-can-do-no-wronger! Thought you might’ve been, you little piece of poo… It’s fuckwits like you who’re responsible for fucking this country. No analysis, no critical faculty. Just blind support for a neo-liberal opposition that fucks our democracy. I suggest it’s you who should fuck off to the sewer where you belong. Hey, you might even meet Leftie there. You two could snuggle up, keep warm, hope you’re not eaten.

    https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-01092016/#comment-1226860

    [lprent: I have been noticing his (feels like a dickhead) comments. To date, he seems to have been reacting to others blowing their volcanoes. I tend to not moderate against reactions unless they get too consistently inflammatory and look like someone trying to ignite a flamewar.

    I’m always ready to give people time to learn to hang themselves – it is better for the training of all observers. 😈 ]

    • Bearded Git 9.1

      @Anne You know Chris and Alwyn have lost the argument when they attack you. Simply ignore the attacks and answer with facts and logic. That confuses them!

      Incidentally I regard your post as sexist.

      • Leftie 9.1.1

        “@Anne You know Chris and Alwyn have lost the argument when they attack you. Simply ignore the attacks and answer with facts and logic. That confuses them!”

        Agree with you there Bearded Git, and I know it’s wrong to feed the trolls, but they make themselves very hard to ignore. Hitting back with logic and facts seem to fuel them into a tizz and then they get even more abusive.

      • Leftie 9.1.2

        “@Anne You know Chris and Alwyn have lost the argument when they attack you. Simply ignore the attacks and answer with facts and logic. That confuses them!”

        Agree with you there Bearded Git, and I know it’s wrong to feed the trolls, but they make themselves very hard to ignore. Hitting back with logic and facts seem to fuel them into a tizz and then they get even more abusive.

        I do not however, believe that Anne’s post was sexist in any way. We all know who she is talking about after all.

    • Anne 9.2

      @lprent
      To date, he seems to have been reacting to others blowing their volcanoes.

      In this and some other instances yes, but not always…

      • Leftie 9.2.1

        For sure Anne, there is no doubt about it, he stalks/trolls to abuse. Some comments don’t even necessitate such abuse either, which can and do come out of the blue as well.

    • Leftie 9.3

      +1 Anne, very pleased you have raised this issue.

    • North 9.4

      It was difficult to tell given the early/late comments, to whom that comment was directed. It did seem to be in lock with mine responding to a “deluded Helen” comment catatonically issued by someone else. It just occurred to me that unlike Key Helen never got on global television and giggled about a murderer/child rapist being on the run from justice…….

      Chris ain’t no prob’. I love his/her waste of energy.

  10. Anne 10

    It was an attack on someone else BG.

    If you regard my tongue in cheek comment as ‘sexist’ then you are being overly sensitive. It’s normal in my world for the genders to joust with one another. No sexism involved.

  11. swordfish 11

    From recent (mid-late August) YouGov Polling:

    Favourable to Clinton, unfavourable to Trump: 37%

    Favourable to Trump, unfavourable to Clinton: 35%

    Unfavourable to Both: 21%

    Favourable to Both: 4%

    Unsure: 2%

    >
    >

    Presidential vote intention among registered voters who have an Unfavourable opinion of BOTH Clinton and Trump:

    Will Vote

    Trump 20%

    Johnson 19%

    Clinton 17%

    Stein 12%

    Other / Unsure 26%

  12. Interesting perspective

    “When I refuse to eat animals, I refuse to indulge in a system that profits off objectification. When I associate with my diet only ethical standards, and not guidelines on how to be the most ‘feminine’ according to patriarchal benchmarks on the slenderness of a woman’s physique; I reclaim my body. I nourish it for reasons beyond weight loss and dieting. I cater not for the gaze of toxic masculinity, but for the well-being of women and animals alike. Rather than eating for the eyes of my oppressor – he who too oppresses animals – a vegan lifestyle provides me revenge in solidarity. In my nourishment, I quietly protest.

    Whilst the system’s prime concern is in ensuring masculinity is content and pleased, neither gender equality or animal equality will ever exist.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life/83820068/i-dont-eat-meat-because-im-a-feminist

    disclaimer : I am vegetarian for 36 years, never been vegan.

    Personally I have always thought the relationship and correlation between meat eating and violence in society was a bit of a no brainer. The objectification argument makes sense to me.

    • weka 13.1

      “When I refuse to eat animals, I refuse to indulge in a system that profits off objectification.”

      Sorry, but she obviously is ignorant about the realities of industrial grain and soy growing. Monsantoed monocrops are objectification too.

      • marty mars 13.1.1

        Can she be correct about what she says and not bring the other argument (you bought in) in?

        • weka 13.1.1.1

          Not if instead of eating meat she is eating industrial grain, soy etc (which she almost certainly is).

          Edit, tbh I didn’t find her general argument about oppression of women and animals that compelling (the way she did it).

          • marty mars 13.1.1.1.1

            It is true that you don’t like vegans who push their philosophy though isn’t it? My reading of your comments on vegans is that you don’t really think much of them, their choices, or philosophy. Perhaps I’m wrong though.

            Objectification of animals and womens bodies seems on a continuum to me and profiting off either is not something I’d endorse.

            • weka 13.1.1.1.1.1

              “My reading of your comments on vegans is that you don’t really think much of them, their choices, or philosophy.”

              I like people that make thoughtful ethical choices about what they eat (vegans, vegetarians, locavores, slow foodies etc). I don’t like fundamentalists. Much of my arguments about veganism on ts centre around arguing with fundamentalists.

              I also don’t like people misuing facts in one area to push underlying agendas eg Cowspiracy trying to say that it’s saving the planet while the underlying message is that everyone should be vegan. Animal rights ethics and environmental ethics are not a neat overlap and it does piss me off when they get conflated.

              That’s me and vegans in general. I don’t know anything about the woman who wrote the article.

              Perhaps I could have framed my response differently. Something like, there are similarities between objectificaiton of women, animals, the land and ecosystems, she appears to be focussing on two of them, and because some fundamentalist vegans pick and choose their ethics around objectification I wonder if she does too.

              In terms of the article overall, I didn’t like the stuff about women’s tactics to not be seen as ‘appetising’ or prey. I don’t think most women frame themselves as meat, so her argument seemed off there to me. There are really obvious parallels in terms of oppression of women and animals, and how the dominant culture enforces and sanctions that, but she seemed to be falling into the thing she was objecting to by the way she framed her argument.

    • Puckish Rogue 13.2

      I thought it was one of the best trolling efforts I’d ever read

      • marty mars 13.2.1

        in what way was it trolling?

        • Leftie 13.2.1.1

          It’s not trolling.

        • Puckish Rogue 13.2.1.2

          If you don’t want to eat for whatever reason that’s fine but to say “I don’t eat meat because I’m a feminist” is drawing one helluva line in the sand don’t you think (does that mean if you do eat meat then you’re not what she considers a “real” feminist?)

          How about the gross generalisations contained within, for example I work in a male dominated, very macho industry yet I haven’t had any conversations at all long the lines of being a leg or breast man or anything remotely similar

          “Men (particularly white men) have historically felt entitled to the land and bodies of “others”;

          Really, particularly white men? So the mongol hordes were white, how about the (but not limited to) tribes of Zulu, how about the Barbary slave trade, Japan invading China, China invading Korea etc etc etc

          This and her other ideas are what has led me to think shes trolling, no one could possibly take her seriously and if they do then well done to her

          • marty mars 13.2.1.2.1

            being provocative isn’t trolling

            her argument on objectification (whether you agree or not) are an argument that supports that particular headline (quite possibly chosen by subeditor for its provocative nature).

            your ignorance and ununderstanding show when you try to be high brow and discuss historical entitlements to land and bodies – do you know what the word ‘particularly ‘ means because I’m not sure it interpreted correctly by you there – hint – it doesn’t exclude.

            • Puckish Rogue 13.2.1.2.1.1

              I was using the that as an example of her trolling, she could have just left it at men but nope she threw in white men because she knew it would provoke a reaction

              Anyone can eat what they like but when you start throwing massive generalisations around like she has it just shows shes trolling

    • Leftie 13.3

      +1 Marty Mars.

    • te reo putake 13.4

      Good on ya, marty. I’ve been a vegetarian since my late teens. I didn’t get into it for ethical reasons, but that’s been the driver for quite a few years now. I wrote a post here a few years back suggesting you couldn’t be socialist and a meat eater. Annoyed a few people, as I recall, but it was worth challenging some ingrained beliefs.

      • marty mars 13.4.1

        thanks to you both – I might look that one up for a laugh trp

        • te reo putake 13.4.1.1

          Here ya go: https://thestandard.org.nz/world-vegetarian-day-october-1st/

          It was one of one of my first efforts. Looking back at it, I was a bit pompous and overbearing. Glad I’m not like that now 😉

          • marty mars 13.4.1.1.1

            Good fun reading that. I havent changed much either and i miss some of those commenters.

            • Leftie 13.4.1.1.1.1

              I enjoyed reading that too. I liked your post and I thought Rocky’s and Philip Ure’s responses were very good. In fact, the following quote from Philip Ure was excellent!!

              ” i’ve been vegan for ten years..vegetarian for twenty before that..

              i know people who have been vegan for 40+ years..

              and lots of other vegans..

              one thing they have in common..

              is glowing good health..

              i also have three vegan dogs..

              one 10 yrs old..her six yr old daughter..

              and another 2 yr old..

              the mother was vegan during the pregnancy..

              these dogs could do centrefolds for ‘dog monthly’..

              their coats are so shiny..you need to wear shades.. ”

              Lol I thought that was hilarious!!!

          • Leftie 13.4.1.1.2

            Thanks for the link Te Reo Putake, enjoyed that.

      • Leftie 13.4.2

        Been a vegetarian since my teens too, and I wouldn’t want to live any other way.

    • Interesting perspective

      Well, it was interesting in the sense that it’s rare to see such a level of pompous, smug self-indulgence compressed into such a small piece of text, but apart from that – not really.

  13. mauī 14

    A powerful climate change doco shown on Al Jazeera (47 mins):

    Refusing to fall victim to the weather, Kisilu, a Kenyan smallholder farmer, uses a camera to capture the human impact of climate change.

    Filmed over four years, he documents floods, droughts and storms that menace his and his community’s farms, forcing some to stop tending the fields and seek work in towns and cities.

    https://youtu.be/Ccgsh-YafRk

  14. Hey waggy – this is a bit funny doncha reckon

    500 cows – how many trucks to move them? How long would that take?

    “Police investigating the disappearance of 500 dairy cows from an Ashburton farm will be following a milk trail worth $900,000 as they keep an open mind on a popular theory that the in-calf cattle went to the meat blackmarket.

    All-up, the cows represent a loss of around $2 million to their owners.

    The missing friesian-cross mixed-age cows – which number more than the average New Zealand dairy herd – went from a winter grazing property adjacent to their owners’ Norvo Farm in mid-Canterbury.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/83805047/police-follow-milk-or-meat-theories-in-2m-cow-theft

  15. North 16

    Ain’t it beautiful how $43 million can fix any ‘little’ (huh!) irregularity in one’s status and tenure in New Zealand. These Indian students are palpably victims on an horrific scale. The ruination of them and very probably their families back in India as well.

    “Oh so what ?” Having no capacity to make anonymous ‘donations’ to some anonymous ‘party’ (I use the word pointedly) is an insufferable culpability, the penalty for which must be sheeted home at once !

    Remember folks……”On Planet Putea we must, simply must, protect the vaunted but illusory integrity of our systems……oh, in the absence of substantial expressions of ‘goodwill’ the way of those who ‘matter’ that is.”

    It would be karmic were this to come back in a big way on that excuse for a man Key (represented on Checkpoint tonight by the dark creature Joyce).

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    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
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  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
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  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
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    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
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  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
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    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
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    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
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  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
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  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
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  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
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  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
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  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
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    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
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  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

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  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
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  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
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    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
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  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

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  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
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  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

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    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
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  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
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  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
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    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
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    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
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  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
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    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
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    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
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  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
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  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
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    1 week ago

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