Open mike 03/05/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 3rd, 2016 - 68 comments
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68 comments on “Open mike 03/05/2016 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    3 May 2016 at 6:18 am

    Key in contortions…

    ‘Prime Minister John Key is sticking with his personal lawyer despite agreeing in an interview that the lawyer misrepresented him while lobbying another minister about a potential crackdown on the foreign trusts industry.’

    ‘A spokesman for the Prime Minister said yesterday Mr Whitney was still Mr Key’s lawyer.’

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11632395

    • Sabine 1.1
      3 May 2016 at 7:19 am

      so is the man still a Lawyer as specified per the Law or is he not?

      that would be interesting to know?

    • Nick 1.2
      3 May 2016 at 7:20 am

      Ah my lawyer who is no longer a lawyer is still my lawyer, which I’m totally comfortable with….. So nothing to see here

      • Jenny Kirk 1.2.1
        3 May 2016 at 9:29 am

        ah ! but does the non-lawyer still want to be Key’s “lawyer” ?

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1
          3 May 2016 at 10:31 am

          I suspect that Key blaming Whitney was agreed before Key through him under the bus.

          • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.1.1
            3 May 2016 at 11:24 am

            That would be the way to do it. All of Whitney’s customers would be impressed with how the man is willing to take a public hit on behalf of a client.

    • Whateva next? 1.3
      3 May 2016 at 7:25 am

      Apparently it’s a common mistake that people make to name drop Key.

      So why would McClay respond so obligingly?

      would believe me if I rocked up at work and said John Key wants us to all join unions, and zero hour contracts are going to be banned?

    • satty 1.4
      3 May 2016 at 8:11 am

      He’s probably a “lawyer” like Tom Hagen in “The Godfather”… better known as “Consiglieri”.

    • weka 2.1
      3 May 2016 at 8:21 am

      Funny how Weldon refuses to talk about the Problems at Mediaworks and wants to focus on reality TV instead and then Stuff intersperse the interview with photos about Hilary Barry.

      • ianmac 2.1.1
        3 May 2016 at 8:39 am

        The Mediaworks Board has confirmed Weldon as CEO. Chanel Four will become a Reality Chanel for your pleasure.

        • weka 2.1.1.1
          3 May 2016 at 9:21 am

          Confirming Weldon is probably a good thing. I’m fine with TV3 becoming a ghetto of reality TV and infotainment. It leaves the space open for other, homegrown media to do actual news and meaningful productions.

          • Puckish Rogue 2.1.1.1.1
            3 May 2016 at 10:38 am

            Probably just clearing the decks of the over priced prima donnas, I mean sure Hilary Barry is probably a very nice lady but (approx.) half a million for reading the news?

            Makes much more sense to clear the old “stars” and bring in new blood bit like what happened in the Monday night wrestling wars of WCW v WWE

            WCW pinched all the established (old) stars with over valued contracts thinking that’s what the people wanted leaving the WWE with new, younger, fresher faces

            and the rest is history

            • ianmac 2.1.1.1.1.1
              3 May 2016 at 10:47 am

              A Mediaworks replacement staffer might need extra pay for the high risk of being disposed of.

              • Puckish Rogue …
                3 May 2016 at 11:22 am

                I’m sure you could find a talking head for $100 000 grand a year and hardly anyone would notice…or care

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  3 May 2016 at 11:34 am

                  Yep, you’re probably right – same goes with CEOs.

                  It’s an interesting point that I’ve noticed lately: Those that we need least of are paid the most while those that we need most of are paid the least.

                  Supply and demand? No. Thousands of unemployed people in NZ could do Weldon’s job.

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    3 May 2016 at 11:42 am

                    Yes thousands of unemployed could do his job but they’d be really bad at it but you are right about the pay packets some receive but if the company thinks its worth it…

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      3 May 2016 at 3:52 pm

                      Considering how badly these highly paid idiots are failing I doubt if the unemployed would be that much worse and many would be a damn site better. It’s not skill that gets these people to the top but brown nosing and knowing the right people.

                  • Reddelusion …
                    3 May 2016 at 3:30 pm

                    And a further interesting point you mention as such every couple of days

          • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1.2
            3 May 2016 at 11:30 am

            +1

            Yep, I have no problems with TV3 losing viewers. It may not be good for them but it’s definitely going to be good for the rest of us.

            • Sabine 2.1.1.1.2.1
              3 May 2016 at 11:40 am

              true that.
              have not watched since Campbell live got shut down. And why would I.
              Seriously they should pay us to watch that crap they are dishing up night after night.

              • lprent …
                3 May 2016 at 12:10 pm

                I already had my TV aerial off because of a fault since 2012. But I never used to watch talking heads before that. It involved my head turning when I was trying to do something else.

                But I have to say that I am appreciating John Campbell in the evenings as I head home or work late. Radio – so much better than TV. And John Campbell seems to do better and/or more relevant stories than I remember from TV

  3. Paul 3
    3 May 2016 at 6:30 am

    Another article about the warm weather without mentioning climate change.
    No mention of the consequences of climate change.
    Except there might not be skiing this year.
    An article written for sleepy Hobbits.
    The media is too scared to upset them.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/79503291/do-forecasts-of-an-extremely-warm-may-ahead-mean-2016-might-be-winterless

    So here is the real climate situation.
    http://robinwestenra.blogspot.co.nz/2016/05/continuing-abrupt-ciimate-change-in.html
    http://robinwestenra.blogspot.co.nz/2016/05/more-heating-round-globe-update-05012016.html

    • Paul 3.1
      3 May 2016 at 6:58 am

      Business section of RNZ only comments about the warm weather because it is affecting retail sales.

      The market…….
      The market…….
      The market…….
      The market…….

      Neo-liberalism. A failed religiion,

      • Bill 3.1.1
        3 May 2016 at 9:26 am

        Paul. Anyone who was going to view that presentation probably already has. I get that you’re enthusiastic about Monbiot, but reposting the same material over and over….well, let’s just say it isn’t a wise thing to be doing, yes?

  4. vto 4
    3 May 2016 at 6:39 am

    “tis quite amazing how much detritus, muck, rot and dung can be swept under the carpet of a rising house price….

    fantasyland anyone?

    • tc 4.1
      3 May 2016 at 7:18 am

      Rising house prices engineered by this govt so they could go about the business of flogging sovereignty, assets, rogering the health, education, environment and the general public sector so the ability to recover is diminished.

      • Sabine 4.1.1
        3 May 2016 at 7:22 am

        and still the people that own the ‘rising’ housing prices are still too poor to buy a new house with the money they would potentially get. Provided they would only want to move a suburb or down/up grade and not give up their lives, their jobs, their families and social net that come with living in a community.

        so in fact the peeps with the rising house prices are poorer then they were a few years ago. And personally, from speaking with customers and neighbors i think the penny has dropped.

        • vto 4.1.1.1
          3 May 2016 at 8:17 am

          Exactly.

          High house prices help nobody.

          Especially not an entire society of four million people.

          Think for a bit – how good would it be if house prices were next to nix …. warning, it does take some considerably thinking…

        • tinfoilhat 4.1.1.2
          3 May 2016 at 8:39 am

          Not sure I quite agree with that in its entirety. There are a reasonable number of retired/semi retired who are cashing up and moving south or north from Auckland.

          • Sabine 4.1.1.2.1
            3 May 2016 at 8:54 am

            i am not talking about the retired / semi retired that can move.

            i am talking about the ones that still need to stay put due to work requirements, kids in schools and the likes. They are now poorer, much poorer, as they can sell but wont find anything to buy without going into a new mortgage.

            Auckland is a City of workers mainly, not retirees. And even with the retirees that would like to stay put in AKL because the kids/grandkids are there, they can sell their three bedder, but won’t find an affordable smaller place as we are not building smaller affordable places.
            So again, the wast majority of home owners in Akl are only better of if they sell and move out, all others are shit outta luck .

        • ianmac 4.1.1.3
          3 May 2016 at 10:51 am

          The Market Rules. So believe Key and his mates. Therefore there is no way he could have any Government action to correct housing inflation because that would be to deny that the Market Rules is real. And upset those who are pleased with house inflation and Capital Gains.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.4
          3 May 2016 at 11:40 am

          so in fact the peeps with the rising house prices are poorer then they were a few years ago.

          QFT

    • Sabine 5.1
      3 May 2016 at 7:54 am

      yes.
      but wormfarms are very dangerous.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Court_(Germany)

    • AsleepWhileWalking 5.2
      3 May 2016 at 8:51 am

      Disturbing.

    • McFlock 5.3
      3 May 2016 at 11:05 am

      Already here.

      Schedule 4 of last year’s Health & Safety Act. I’d love to know whether something similar was in place with Cave Creek or the Berrymans bridge thing, and whether Conservation or NZDF tried to use it.

      The thing is that the court sees the classified evidence, but the classification is in the opinion of the head of department – even if the judge thinks it’s bullshit, they have to stick to the rules.

  6. Te Reo Putake 6
    3 May 2016 at 8:08 am

    Manchester United Manager Louis van Gaal weighs in about John Key’s ponytail fetish:

    “Every human being who is grabbed by the hair, only with sex masochism, then it is allowed but not in other situations. They did it. They did it several times I think.”

    (OK, he wasn’t really talking about John Key, but still …)

  7. weka 7
    3 May 2016 at 9:16 am

    Nice example of what can be done with native plantings and land restoration in just five years (sorry, not sure if that’s visible without a FB account),

    This planting story started in Leigh in 2011, the last photo taken in April 2016. It’s really rewarding to see how those tiny seedlings originally nurtured and planted out by Ponsonby Primary School have grown.

    https://www.facebook.com/treesforsurvival/posts/1265039320190444

    • Jenny Kirk 7.1
      3 May 2016 at 9:36 am

      What a great achievement – within five years. Wish this could happen all over our country and then we might start to see an improvement in the quality of our waterways.

    • ianmac 7.2
      3 May 2016 at 10:57 am

      Weka. I am unfamiliar with Facebook but by chance I double clicked on the main picture which brought up an arrow on that picture, which when clicked through to see the mighty effort of planting. Some NZers care.

    • joe90 7.3
      3 May 2016 at 11:28 am

      Good stuff.

      (for those without a facebook account – before >>>> after)

    • maui 7.4
      3 May 2016 at 12:12 pm

      Nice, I’m sure the kids will feel proud of that for years to come, There aren’t too many jobs out there that involve improving the status quo (environment, social conditions). We need to be doing this on a national scale with the benefits of cleaning up some pollutants entering waterways, creating forests that benefit climate, restoring biodiversity, creating habitat for native fish, stopping stream bank erosion that fills the water with muck.

      Another benefit is that it makes us feel more proud of the land or more connected to it. As in we’ve helped plant this stream that will help this river that everybody knows. And that now we care and we can see the value in what was an unused wasteland of grass, that is now a sanctuary of sorts.

      A couple of pointers for this example, I’m not sure if spraying the planting area (see where it turns brown) was necessary. The natives they’ve used will all be able to grow through grass (can’t see any nasty weeds there, just pasture) just fine with an occasional weeding session, just make sure the plants are staked. Also they’ve used a high number of cabbage trees which probably won’t shade the stream in those places. I think the grass will remain in those spots, but they may not have been going for a fully forested canopy. Great job all the same!

      • weka 7.4.1
        3 May 2016 at 1:01 pm

        Good point about the spraying. It’s been done in some photos but not others. Probably someone who just thinks it should be done. Not great around school kids. So is there no real root competition for those natives from the grass? What about other natives? Is grass competition the big bogey everyone makes it out to be?

        Would love to know what species they chose.

        • maui 7.4.1.1
          3 May 2016 at 1:35 pm

          I think generally grasses are fairly shallow rooted, so once you’ve dug your hole for your native you’ve opened up a space for it to send roots down below the root system of the grasses. That’s my theory anyway.

          Species planted from what I can see are predominantly: Cabbage tree, swamp flax, manuka and karamu.

          In the background there’s a gully with mature native trees I think with what looks like kahikatea and some totara. Once a canopy has formed in the new planting area (give it another 5 years), and the pasture grass starts to disappear from underneath then kahikatea/totara seedlings should start appearing on the ground there.

  8. Puckish Rogue 8
    3 May 2016 at 11:27 am

    Ok so for me if (and lets face it, its a pretty big if) if this idea even partially works then this will be the one thing National and John Key can be most proud of

    http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/features/cyf-is-gone/

    Unfortunately I can’t help thinking that this will just end up another failed policy, not because of the model proposed but just because the scope of the issue is so wide, and its more kids that will suffer because of it

    and before anyone jumps on their little soapbox the current child abuse stats are not John Keys fault

    • joe90 8.1
      3 May 2016 at 11:37 am

      One telling statistic is that only 25% of CYF staff work directly with children in need of care and protection. What do the rest do? Good question.

      Beaver away in Wellington covering their minister’s arse and dreaming up ways to cover their own.

      • Puckish Rogue 8.1.1
        3 May 2016 at 11:46 am

        Just so everyone is aware I don’t think this is a National problem or a Labour problem

  9. Once Was Tim 9
    3 May 2016 at 12:23 pm

    Just a thought and a question (Am I alone in thinking which came first?)
    I’ve just been listening to Rinny Ryan (who apparently uses expensive moisteuriser because she’s a”woman of a certain age” – as if I care), and Gavin Ellis (if that’s how you spell his name) discussing Hilary Barry’s departure…. and the sage, the supposedly exceptional businessman, and legend in his own mind – Mark Weldon’s plans for TV3 and 4.
    People won’t be ‘consuming’ news and current affairs in the way they do now ….”END OF STORY” apparently.
    But which came first?
    Is the reason people can’t be fucked watching news bulletins on ‘television’ – free-to-air and otherwise BECAUSE it’s dumbed down, sound bite, celebrity-driven …. OR …. because of technology changes – i.e. the divergence/convergence paradigm.
    Personally, I suspect it’s a bit of both but it’s clear the shit that we’ve been dished up in recent times (the former) is the reason many have been driven away.
    I see broadcast television as but one option. It’d continue to be a valid option for many IF those ‘news consumers’ weren’t being treated as complete and utter fools, the news providers seem to assume are interested in celebrity over journalism; crassness over integrity; consumer culture over sovereignty, self-determination, nationhood, etc; and being treated as economic units over the idea of citizenship.
    At what point did the MEDIUM of television, or indeed any other ‘medium’ become solely dedicated to economic and business imperatives as opposed to a vehicle for the public good and benefit? (Well that’s bloody obvious – neoliberalism).

    I’d suggest that if any future government decides on a commitment to Public Service Broadcasting that includes something akin to the Reithian Trinity for all (kids, minorities, citizens of all kinds), it’ll build up a better audience quicker than the slow death of Mediaworks (and TVNZ for that matter) – with all its corporate welfare, spin and bullshit needed to prop it up

  10. greywarshark 10
    3 May 2016 at 12:33 pm

    I was reading Reginald Hill Good Morning, Midnight (a great writer, now dead RIP) and came across this bible quote. It is great language, and powerful says something for today.

    Ephesians 6:12
    10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
    11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles
    of the devil.
    12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
    13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand
    in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. — 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

    Have a good, good day. 😀

  11. Once Was Tim 11
    3 May 2016 at 12:37 pm

    Oh….. and in another amusing moment …..
    John Key accuses his lawyer (is he still a lawyer or not?) of using “sloppy language”!

    That surely has to be a CT attempt at spin, or he’s never heard of the expression ‘the pot calling the kettle black’

    Jesus! Way back when (when the ‘smiling assassin’ label caught on) … most of Key’s colleagues could hardly understand the guy without a translator! Not only was the language ‘sloppy’, it was also slurred, mumbled, buzz-worded – and basically full of sloppy shit (much as it is today)

    • McFlock 11.1
      3 May 2016 at 1:05 pm

      stuff headline is calling him key’s “adviser” now lol. Still calls him a “lawyer” in the article.

      Beyond the embarrassment for Key, this is a perfect example of why we need lobbyist and lobbying registers – if Key’s correct (lolz) then his long-time family “adviser” misrepresented their chat in order to leverage discussions with a responsible minister.

      A simple log of contacts would have let ministry folks (and the public) check that what Whitney said in hiw letter to the minister was what actually happened. And the content of the meeting with the other industry lobbyists would also have been interesting.

    • Once Was Tim 11.2
      3 May 2016 at 1:16 pm

      oh fuck! I forgot…. did I foget to tell you Max Key (is that Max-a-million Key? or something else) is apparently a DEEEEEJAY!!!
      I’m thinking … do you mean that poc-faced, knock-kneed little ‘kud’ from the right side of the trex that’s invested so heavily in abs and father hero-worship status?
      Why yes – it is HE!
      Except apparently we’re not allowed to comment, in any way that might suggest a targeting – even if they put their glorious selves out there for public ‘consumption’ (as consumers).
      so Max … I’ll defer to that greater good.
      I’ll also refrain from the obvious (like playi ….. no no no STOP!)
      Good time to grow the fuck up though isn’t it?

  13. Expat 13
    3 May 2016 at 1:05 pm

    I see the govt has found a way to “fix” the deflation problem, I have just received notice that Power price and network charges are going up, power 3% and network charges 10%, and rising, just in time for winter, power in NZ, costs me for one month, the same that I’d pay in Sydney for two months, billing in Au is done on 90 day cycles, a low bill for 90 days is about $145 and the high end is about $320 for a couple (prices include line charges), it will now cost $45 a month (in NZ) just in line charges before I use any power, this has become a joke, especially when electricity only costs around 5 cents per Kilowatt Hour to produce.

    • Draco T Bastard 13.1
      3 May 2016 at 3:47 pm

      You’ll note that businesses, who use far more power individually, par far less for power. Collectively all businesses use about the same amount as all houses. This means that retail customers are heavily subsidising business customers.

      The correct amount to charge is the same per kilowatt hour. In fact, if we wanted full market implementation then the price should go up as a household/business used more so as to keep to the supply and demand hypothesis.

      This would actually get the power going to where it’s most efficient.

  14. travellerev 14
    3 May 2016 at 2:13 pm

    Gerry Brownlee Secretly Visits Israel To Meet With A War Criminal Indicted Under International Law!

  15. whispering kate 15
    3 May 2016 at 2:30 pm

    Have just listened to the PM in question time – all I can say is, he is good, very good. Its going to take somebody really good to prize the weasel out of his seat, its no wonder he has been at the centre of dozens of dodgy situations and still sits in the house and can get away with it. Have to take my hat off to him. I don’t know who said he could kill kittens on screen and get away with it – they were dead right. He would have made a fantastic mob boss, no conscience and no scruples either. Fun times ahead methinks.

    • Sabine 15.1
      3 May 2016 at 2:47 pm

      and it will be one of his own that will deliver the final cut.
      it usually always is.

      • Puckish Rogue 15.1.1
        3 May 2016 at 3:35 pm

        That legit made me smile, here’s how John Key is really going to go…

        He’s going to win the next election, he’ll go for maybe another year or two after that and then he’s going to retire undefeated with four terms under his belt

        Labour will probably win the 2020 election by default by that point but that’s another issue

    • rod 15.2
      3 May 2016 at 5:06 pm

      Kate, he is a mob boss, it’s called the National Party.

    • Hanswurst 15.3
      3 May 2016 at 7:09 pm

      Looked pretty rattled to me.

  16. Draco T Bastard 16
    3 May 2016 at 3:40 pm

    Canada for first time says it actively wants to help Bombardier

    Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains until now has said merely that the Liberal government would closely examine Bombardier’s request for $1 billion in aid and outlined some of the concessions he wants in return.

    But on Monday he went notably further, detailing how much help Ottawa had given the company over the last 40 years and stressing the number of aerospace jobs across Canada that depended on Bombardier continuing to operate.

    When a government is giving that much support to a private company they should bloody well own it and run it as a government service. Probably be cheaper and get better quality products.