Open mike 04/08/2019

114 comments on “Open mike 04/08/2019”

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1. Andre 1

   4 August 2019 at 7:51 am

   The Repugs get self-aware with their 2020 convention logo.

   https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-convention-logo-cthulhu_n_5d43ba9ce4b0acb57fca1492

   • Morrissey 1.1

     4 August 2019 at 9:34 am

     Sniggering at a logo will have as much cut-through as the Russia fantasy. Instead of these "witty" social media warriors patting each other on the back over their H.P. Lovecraft allusions—they'll be congratulating themselves that those dumb Trump supporters have never HEARD of H.P. Lovecraft—-do you not think it would be more useful to focus on the actual crimes and outrages perpetrated every day by Trump and his cronies?

     And, no, saying mean things about the New York Times is not a crime.

     • Andre 1.1.1

       4 August 2019 at 10:13 am

       I do apologise for failing to post a mozzie-approved droning whine about the awfulness of the media, Dems in general, Obama, and especially Clinton.

       To make up for it, here's an "awww, that's so sweeeeet" piece just for you.

       https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/donald-trumps-america/114665278/meet-the-guitarstrumming-kiwi-surfer-dude-whos-become-us-presidential-candidate-tulsi-gabbards-secret-weapon

       Feel better now, Comrade Morrisski?

       • Morrissey 1.1.1.1

         4 August 2019 at 11:11 am

         Thanks, Andre. Like anyone who sees a truly decent, as well as pulchritudinous, politician such as the Honorable Tulsi, I do indeed feel better.

         Great work, Comrade.

         https://i.imgflip.com/1cx5fe.jpg

         • Andre 1.1.1.1.1

           4 August 2019 at 1:19 pm

           Another piece you may enjoy about Tulsi and how social media manipulation works and what the objective might be.

           https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/8/2/20751789/kamala-harris-destroyed-tulsi-gabbard-bots-google

           • Morrissey 1.1.1.1.1.1

             4 August 2019 at 2:30 pm

             Hilarious. So it was, as we should all have suspected, those dastardly Russian masterminds that manipulated the "bots" to made Gabbard look good and Harris look nasty and foolish.

             At least ace reporter Emily Stewart got one thing right, when she admitted:

             …. it wasn’t Harris’s best night….

2. Blazer 2

   4 August 2019 at 8:56 am

   Never ending….'Be Good With Money'

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/114664770/bnz-knew-it-was-charging-too-much-for-kiwisaver-but-didnt-cut-fees-for-nearly-a-year

3. The Fairy Godmother 3

   4 August 2019 at 10:00 am

   I am so happy Weka one of my favourite authors is back.  She makes me want to look at the standard more often.

   • Morrissey 3.1

     4 August 2019 at 11:25 am

     weka?

     https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/weka-has-go-at-john-pilger-aug-22-2015.html

     https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/12/standardistas-debate-merits-or.html

     [Is there something you want or have to say about an Author of this site? Spit it out in your own words instead of hiding behind old comments by others archived on your own blog site like John Key’s bottom drawer. To me, it looks like the actions of a prejudiced coward but you may have something of interest to say so here is your opportunity; don’t blow it – Incognito 😉 ]

     • Andre 3.1.1

       4 August 2019 at 11:36 am

       This pathetic "look at moi" need you have to link back to your own site – is that what's known as linkwhoring?

       • greywarshark 3.1.1.1

         4 August 2019 at 1:30 pm

         'Like John Key's bottom drawer' – amusing incognito, and perfectly framed.

         • Morrissey 3.1.1.1.1

           4 August 2019 at 2:35 pm

           Muldoon had a list as well. And Joe McCarthy. And Joe Stalin. 

           I am an inveterate collector of choice insults, esp. those directed at moi….

           https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/12/masters-of-abuse-no1-rick-boyd-jan-27.html

           https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-tribute-to-redbaiter-rip-oct-16-2011.html

     • Incognito 3.1.2

       4 August 2019 at 11:42 am

       See my Moderation note @ 11:25 AM.

       • OnceWasTim 3.1.2.1

         4 August 2019 at 12:04 pm

         Do you know if RNZ's 'The Panel' hold auditions?  and What's the difference between a "prejudiced coward" and an embittered old curmudgeon? 

         Or maybe it's all an act

         • Incognito 3.1.2.1.1

           4 August 2019 at 12:17 pm

           I don’t know. All I care about here is behaviour here; what people do in their own sandpits is up to them.

         • Morrissey 3.1.2.1.2

           4 August 2019 at 3:11 pm

           I believe they do, Tim. I'll recommend you to the producer if you like. You couldn't be worse than I was when I appeared on the program back in 2013…

           CHRISTINE RANKIN: Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

           MORRISSEY BREEN: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Um.

           JIM MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha! It’s time to find out what our Panelists have been thinking about. Christine Rankin, what’s been on YOUR mind lately?

           CHRISTINE RANKIN: Well, Jim, look, I’ve been so busy working for the reintroduction of corporal punishment for the under-fives that I haven’t had TIME to do any thinking at all for several years now. I really can’t think of one thing to talk about.

           JIM MORA: [long, irritated silence] Mmmmm-kay. Morrissey, have YOU got something on your mind?

           MORRISSEY BREEN: Ummm, ahhhh, I’m going to abandon my, uh, carefully prepared speech about foreign policy, and comment on Christine’s failure to ummm, errr, honour her, ummmm, commitments to your show.

           CHRISTINE RANKIN: [indignant] I’ve been BUSY.

           MORRISSEY BREEN: Ummmm, ahhhh, yeah. Ummm…to paraphrase Dr. Johnson, I will say this about Christine: “This woman’s thinking is like a dog’s walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.”

           JIM MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! That’s very funny! I think he’s talking about you Christine!

           MORRISSEY BREEN: And that’s all I have to say, Jim. Um.

           JIM MORA: Short and sweet. That’s the way we like them on the Panel! Okay, next up, Lanthanide will tell us why he thinks a nuclear reactor in the middle of Christchurch would be a good idea. First, though, what do the Panelists think of this?

           RANKIN: [fervently] That’s a SPLENDID idea. At last, somebody talking some sense….

           https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-victims-rights-advocate-garth.html

           https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2019/01/moras-gone-but-panel-is-still-bedeviled.html

           • OnceWasTim 3.1.2.1.2.1

             4 August 2019 at 4:24 pm

             I was half hoping I might hear you go head to head with someone like Joe Bennett sometime.

             (I like a healthy dose of cynicism with an ounce of ridicule, just as long as one can be equally cynical and questioning of themselves. Otherwise it's so holier-than-thou.  And as you will know, I'm the most perfectist specimen ever to grace the place that I could rival Sir John or Soimun. I just can't seem to find a decent interpreter at the moment).

             • Morrissey …

               4 August 2019 at 4:51 pm

               You're too perfect for The Panel, Tim. You need to go on…. The Huddle.

               https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2019/01/wimp-walloping-williams-and-ralston-vs.html

               • OnceWasTim …

                 4 August 2019 at 5:12 pm

                 Ew! It sounds a bit icky. Besides, it's commercial and if I keep having to boycott places and products based on the advertising that offends my superior intellect, I'll be forced to go back somewhere like the lower regions of the Himalyas to live an honest and natural life.

                 Now I think about it, I suppose that is an option – I could always get someone like Bryce Edwards to be my spiritual guide if he was prepared to grace me with his presence

                 • greywarshark …

                   4 August 2019 at 5:26 pm

                   Lol  OwT

     • Morrissey 3.1.3

       4 August 2019 at 3:01 pm

       Thanks for giving me the opportunity, Incognito. My relationship with our good friend and colleague weka goes back a long way. It reached a bit of a nadir a few times when she banned me, but we usually kissed and made up. 

       I thought she'd gone for good when, during another ban late last year, I penned the following for D.P. Farrar's dodgy site….

       https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-clobbering-machine-strikes-again.html

       I must say that, in spite of our rather chequered history, I'm glad to see weka back with us. 

       [I warned you not to blow it yet you lit the fuse and guess what happened?

       KABOOM!!

       Just a few weeks ago (/open-mike-19-07-2019/) you were in the midst of a pile up and putting the boot into the same Author and (former) Moderator of this site. I left several Moderator warnings, which you would have seen despite they were not directed at you specifically.

       Today, again, you couldn’t help yourself and you linked to a contemptable piece of narcissistic ‘writing’ destined for KiwiBlog attacking not one but several Authors and Moderators of TS. Indeed, that is where it belongs and where it ended up, I see. Good for you.

       Yet today you claim “I’m glad to see weka back with us”!?

       I counted 11 links today from and to your bottom drawer of which you seem to be immensely proud and of the fact that share this questionable habit with infamous historical figures such as Muldoon, Joe McCarthy, and Joe Stalin. If you read this site’s policy /policy/#banning you’ll see that link-spamming is a self-martyrdom offense. But you already knew that, didn’t you?

       I’ll save the moderators here, i.e., moi, a lot of time by sending you back to KiwiBlog, where you belong IMHO.

       Banned for six months – Incognito]

       • Incognito 3.1.3.1

         4 August 2019 at 11:00 pm

         See my Moderation note @ 3:01 PM.

   • Psycho Milt 3.2

     4 August 2019 at 11:52 am

     Also chuffed to see weka writing here again!

     • weka 3.2.1

       4 August 2019 at 12:13 pm

       Good to see you too PM! So sorry you got dragged into that mess.

     • Sabine 3.2.2

       4 August 2019 at 4:30 pm

       +1

   • weka 3.3

     4 August 2019 at 12:11 pm

     Thank-you TFG

   • halfcrown 3.4

     4 August 2019 at 12:11 pm

     +1

   • Puckish Rogue 3.5

     4 August 2019 at 4:27 pm

     Second that 🙂

   • Stuart Munro. 3.6

     4 August 2019 at 5:03 pm

     Yes I'm glad to see her too – she often lifts the standard of conversation.

4. Muttonbird 4

   4 August 2019 at 10:23 am

   The extreme right wing are at it again. White supremacists get a pretty easy ride on forums like Kiwiblog, with various commenters suggesting they are just 'standing up for their culture'.

   But there is an inherent violence and hatred festering inside them, and the right wing in general, and it is this violence against ordinary innocents which manifests itself with increasing regularity…

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/114736833/us-police-warn-of-an-active-shooter-at-mall-in-el-paso-texas

5. ianmac 5

   4 August 2019 at 10:24 am

   I agree with this defence of Oranga Tamariki 

   Sadly, it seems we have forgotten who those social workers really are, what they do and, most importantly, why they must do it. 

   Darroch Ball says Oranga Tamariki social workers are hard-working, dedicated and right-minded people.

   While the protesters were chanting "not one more child to be taken", I am incredulous that even though a child is admitted to hospital with non-accidental injuries every two days, we don't hear any protesters chanting "not one more child to be beaten".

   It seems incredible that people somehow truly believe social workers can just decide one day to knock on a door and uplift a child. There are many steps social workers must take before the process of uplifting a child takes place, including the fact that a court must make that decision – not the social worker.

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/114678991/stop-blaming-oranga-tamariki-for-child-uplifts

   • Prickles 5.1

     4 August 2019 at 11:39 am

     indeed. In my line of work I frequently deal with social workers – DHB as well as Oranga Tamariki. I have yet to meet one who does not care passionately about their work and the people they work with. Without exception, the situations in which they find themselves cause much soul searching, stress and distress. Most are heartbroken that they can only do so much for the children and families they work with.

     • greywarshark 5.1.1

       4 August 2019 at 1:39 pm

       The problem is that too little is being done to help the people who are struggling at the bottom and resorting to drugs and showing the distress caused by an uncaring nation.   And some of those social workers are Maori.   Things don't improve because a constipated government system that can't eliminate austerity and prejudicial thinking and get on to creating work schemes and bring young people back into school to get training for work, and advice on how to cope with the demands of a very young child on the immature parent.

       We know about the children taken from their aborigine parents in Australia.   And the cases here of the state swooping in like vultures rather than on angelic wings.   It is a bad business that Oranga Tamirki has been set up to carry out, and the workers trying to cope in a humane way have a hard job.  

       But it is the system that has failed the parents, all their sorrows have not been forgotten and they have grown up unready to find their own secure and happy maturity and just cannot plan for the future they would choose, it given the support and training that they need.

   • gsays 5.2

     4 August 2019 at 12:11 pm

     My significant other comes into contact daily with situations of   children living with neglect, deprivation and poverty.

     Some of the stories are heartbreaking.

     In trying to  understand where the nay-sayers are coming from, I think it has to do more with the system. Perhaps making it a little less Pakeha.

     • ianmac 5.2.1

       4 August 2019 at 12:45 pm

       My suspicious mind wonders if there is a bit of stirring out of sight from a political party?

       • gsays 5.2.1.1

         4 August 2019 at 4:03 pm

         Which party are you referring to Ian?

         I am scratching my head to think which one benefits.

         • ianmac 5.2.1.1.1

           4 August 2019 at 4:11 pm

           It is just that the turbulence suggests unrest, and unrest must mean that the Government is somehow responsible. Look at Government failure to solve land use problems or failure to Kiwibuild. Shout it through the media and those who don't look at the detail can be swayed and therefore Opposition benefits.

           How's that for Convoluted Gsays?

           • marty mars 5.2.1.1.1.1

             4 August 2019 at 10:23 pm

             there are real problems that real people have identified and are trying to change – it would be very sad if the heartfelt feelings of those affected were not respected.

             A call for "not one baby more, not one acre more, not one whānau more" led speeches as about 400 rallied on Parliament's lawn on Tuesday to hand an open letter signed by 17,000 thousand people to Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

             Organising group Hands off our Tamariki Network is calling for a halt to children being removed from their families and iwi by Oranga Tamariki, in a debate spurred by a Newsroom video showing the trauma of an attempted uplift in Hastings this year.

             "It's time for us to take control, as whānau, of our own wellbeing. It's time for us to take control as hapu, as iwi, as Māori for the wellbeing of our Tamariki and mokopuna," organiser Leonie Pihama told the crowd to cheers.

             https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12254170

   • Incognito 5.3

     4 August 2019 at 12:41 pm

     Yes, good piece. We need to get past the blame games and get to the core of the problem:

     The reality is we have a huge problem in New Zealand with child abuse and child deaths.

     I see Oranga Tamariki as the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

   • joe90 5.4

     4 August 2019 at 12:58 pm

     As my SO says, not a sausage about the three children who've died since the uplift story aired.

   • Shadrach 5.5

     4 August 2019 at 1:31 pm

     Thanks for linking to this Ian.

6. joe90 6

   4 August 2019 at 11:47 am

   In 2012 Boris Johnson wrote about the dreadful fate awaiting Greece.

   Every day we read of fresh horrors: of once proud bourgeois families queuing for bread, of people in agony because the government has run out of money to pay for cancer drugs. Pensions are being cut, living standards are falling, unemployment is rising, and the suicide rate is now the highest in the EU – having been one of the lowest.

   By any standards we are seeing a whole nation undergo a protracted economic and political humiliation; and whatever the result of yesterday’s election, we seem determined to make matters worse. There is no plan for Greece to leave the euro, or none that I can discover. No European leader dares suggest that this might be possible, since that would be to profane the religion of Ever Closer Union. Instead we are all meant to be conniving in a plan to create a fiscal union which (if it were to mean anything) would mean undermining the fundamentals of Western democracy.

   https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/9337911/Dithering-Europe-is-heading-for-the-democratic-dark-ages.html

   Schools may have to close, exams could be disrupted and fresh food for pupils’ meals could run short because of panic buying with prices soaring by up to 20%, according to a secret Department for Education analysis of the risks of a no-deal Brexit obtained by the Observer.

   The five-page document – marked “Official Sensitive” and with the instruction “Do Not Circulate” – also raises the possibility of teacher absences caused by travel disruption, citing schools in Kent as particularly at risk.

   On the dangers of food shortages to schools, it suggests that informing the public of the risks could make matters even worse.

   In a section entitled School Food, it talks of the “risk that communications in this area could spark undue alarm or panic food buying among the general public”.

   https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/03/secret-education-report-no-deal-brexit-school-chaos

   • greywarshark 6.1

     4 August 2019 at 1:52 pm

     Pollies set us up to be pigeons encouraged to push buttons to get stories of how bad things are elsewhere and not notice that our own walls are shrinking inwards.

     I would suggest don't listen to Boorish echoing being a comedian, watch the real ones.    You will get the same feeling of happy confusion, but from professionals on Black Books.

7. The Al1en 7

   4 August 2019 at 1:33 pm

   What happened toTRP? Is he still about here?

   I miss his insight and take on things.

   • Morrissey 7.1

     4 August 2019 at 2:51 pm

     TRP?

     I miss the guy, big time. We had our run-ins over the years, re the Greens….

     https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2019/01/breen-vs-te-reo-putake-round-94-dec-9.html

     re Iain Lees-Galloway and his cronies bullying a couple of women at Waitangi….

     https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/11/labour-puts-up-cordon-of-black-suited.html

     …. and over many, many other issues. Te Reo's actually a really nice bloke, deep down, even forgiving me after I cast him, back in 2013, as one of the nastier characters from Animal Farm….

     https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-clobbering-machine-aug-4-2013.html

     • James 7.1.1

       4 August 2019 at 3:51 pm

       6 link whore linking to that second rate blog in this thread alone. 

       I appreciate you may be trying to brighten our days by giving us something to laugh at (and it IS funny). But if we wanted to look at shit like that we would. 

       • Morrissey 7.1.1.1

         4 August 2019 at 4:08 pm

         Thanks for the advice, James. I'll try to keep the linkwhoring to a minimum, in future.

         • James 7.1.1.1.1

           4 August 2019 at 4:37 pm

           and for that we thank you. 

8. James 8

   4 August 2019 at 3:53 pm

   Green MP thinking they won’t make 5% next election. 

   https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/395936/high-ranking-greens-member-pulls-pin-before-election

   • Drowsy M. Kram 8.1

     4 August 2019 at 4:02 pm

     James, please clarify, is there any evidence (in that RNZ news link) for a "Green MP thinking they won’t make 5% next election.", or is that wishful speculation on your part?

     • James 8.1.1

       4 August 2019 at 4:13 pm

       no evidence – just a reasonable guess given that they are on 6%. 

       [Making up shit is very naughty, James, even when you think it is reasonable shit. Naughty commenters have to sit on the naughty step so give me a good reason why you should escape this treatment. After all, you were quite rude to Robert when he challenged you. Perhaps you didn’t know that the person you had in mind is not a Green MP? – Incognito]

       • Drowsy M. Kram 8.1.1.1

         4 August 2019 at 4:15 pm

         Thanks for clarifying; just an evidence-free guess, and reasonable in your opinion.

         • Dennis Frank 8.1.1.1.1

           4 August 2019 at 4:57 pm

           Yeah, he jumped to the wrong conclusion.  I've had several conversations with Jack (at our conferences) and I'm really impressed – enough to rate him as #2 after James for the party list last time.

           However, I suspect he is misreading the situation.  Intelligence isn't the problem:  he's right up there.  Impatience due to youth.  I had that too, still often gets me.

           I believe the more consensus-building he engages in, the more he will learn that impatient radicals don't achieve much.  For some reason, he's not acquiring the gnosis from James as role model.  I have faith he'll suss it out eventually.

           • Carolyn_Nth 8.1.1.1.1.1

             4 August 2019 at 6:22 pm

             Or Jack is sounding out whether there's the will for a change of male co-leader – given he's not  leaving the party.

             • Dennis Frank …

               4 August 2019 at 7:19 pm

               Did you see the reports from One News & 3News?  The former was better.  Had a clip of a bearded Gareth Hughes notably refraining from either endorsing Jack or criticising James.  https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/green-party-candidate-resigns-over-dissatisfaction-co-leader-james-shaw?auto=6067823611001

               Given that Gareth is the only self-declared leftist in the leadership group (to the media/public, I mean, and with the caveat that as far as I've seen), and he was the one who did stand against James & didn't leave when defeated, I'm taking it as not a leftist plot!

               As always, I could be wrong, but reading Gareth's demeanour & body language as much as what he actually said makes me confident I'm not.  Other than Jack, I've seen no sign that the group has lost confidence in James's leadership.  If the left was clearly polling well, there would be. 

               The left isn't polling very well in other western countries either.  I believe the perception that they need to build common ground with centrists has been spreading. Only residual leftist ideology is preventing consensus from firming up decisively throughout the west, and marginalising the right.

               • Dennis Frank …

                 4 August 2019 at 7:28 pm

                 "Mr Shaw does not seem phased" looks cool, but I suspect she meant fazed.  Google's meaning:  disturb or disconcert (someone).

                 Illiteracy in the media is inevitable in the digital age, when online emoting displaces language.  Roll with them changes.

               • marty mars …

                 4 August 2019 at 10:06 pm

                 "… is the only self-declared leftist in the leadership group"

                 wake up dennis

                 https://twitter.com/isaac_davison/status/1154531117573132288

                 • Dennis Frank …

                   5 August 2019 at 5:59 am

                   So what?  No evidence of anyone in the Greens leadership group declaring themselves leftist.  Plenty of centrists support Maoris.

       • Robert Guyton 8.1.1.2

         4 August 2019 at 4:16 pm

         "No-Evidence James"

         Fits like a glove!

         • James 8.1.1.2.1

           4 August 2019 at 4:24 pm

           The fact that you have not held others here to the same level when they make comments on national members leaving – just shows your hypocrisy. 

           • Robert Guyton 8.1.1.2.1.1

             4 August 2019 at 4:32 pm

             "However, Mr McDonald said he would be staying on as a party member, as he believed the Green Party were still the best hope for radical change in Parliament."

             James, you wrote: "Green MP thinking they won’t make 5% next election."

             What "Green MP" are you meaning?

             I can't follow your thinking at all! 

             • James …

               4 August 2019 at 4:36 pm

               if you can’t work it out – have someone read it to you. 

               • Robert Guyton …

                 4 August 2019 at 4:38 pm

                 Would you be so kind, James? As I am, invariably, for you?

                 • Drowsy M. Kram …

                   4 August 2019 at 6:06 pm

                   James sometimes falls back on this feeble type of response when his 'rush of blood' position is untenable (far more often than not!)

                   "If you can't work it out – you are just proving my point." /latest-roy-morgan-poll-labour-and-greens-surge-as-national-flounders/#comment-1418340

                   “how thick are you if you can’t work it out.” /open-mike-09-06-2019/#comment-1626359

               • weka …

                 4 August 2019 at 4:50 pm

                 Jack's not an MP.

                 • Robert Guyton …

                   4 August 2019 at 5:06 pm

                   Yes, weka; we know, but did James know?

                   That's what I was seeking to learn.

       • Incognito 8.1.1.3

         4 August 2019 at 9:47 pm

         See my Moderation note @ 4:13 PM.

   • Robert Guyton 8.2

     4 August 2019 at 4:13 pm

     Wot twaddle from Troll-James @ 3:53!

     You should fire your Headline Editor, James; he's hopeless.

   • mauī 8.3

     4 August 2019 at 5:45 pm

     I feel for Jack, the centrist drift is a concern… This is not the party for the radical left.

     • Psycho Milt 8.3.1

       4 August 2019 at 5:46 pm

       Feel free to start one.  

       • mauī 8.3.1.1

         4 August 2019 at 6:06 pm

         Ed and I have discussed it before…

9. Sacha 9

   4 August 2019 at 4:41 pm

   Paywalled so I can't read much, but it looks like scumbag Nottingham is denied an appeal against his limp sentence: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12235806

10. Sacha 10

    4 August 2019 at 5:15 pm

    Not much pickup yet, but Marama Davidson's speech to the Greens conference includes a rent-to-own housing policy proposal.

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1908/S00043/speech-marama-davidson-green-party-agm.htm

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1908/S00042/greens-to-focus-on-supporting-new-zealanders-who-rent.htm

    This phrase is hardly reassuring:

    We are ready to negotiate our Rent-to-own policy as part of the Kiwibuild reset

    Guess that means Labour and Winston First get to veto or dilute it..

    • James 10.1

      4 August 2019 at 5:29 pm

      ”We are ready to negotiate our Rent-to-own policy as part of the Kiwibuild reset”

      Lol  hard to believe kiwibuild could be more of a mess  – but now the greens are negotiating policy in there. It’s the gift that keeps delivering. 

      • Incognito 10.1.1

        4 August 2019 at 6:00 pm

        Laugh all you like, James, but it is about addressing an unmet need. A bumbling toddler learning to walk can be funny to watch and they have to learn to crawl before they can learn to walk, but one day they’ll walk …

        • James 10.1.1.1

          4 August 2019 at 6:13 pm

          sadly however incognito- to use your analogy kiwibuild was born with legs that don’t work. 

          • Incognito 10.1.1.1.1

            4 August 2019 at 8:05 pm

            Such limited defeatist thinking, James. Heard of the Paralympics? Seen what amazing things some people can do with just their arms? Ever seen the famous documentary Child of Our Time and the disabled solo mother Alison Lapper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Lapper? You may want to adjust your thinking about people and their appearances; they can be deceiving …

        • Sacha 10.1.1.2

          4 August 2019 at 6:13 pm

          Greens are the only party to have consistently promoted policies for renters rather than owners or speculators. Fingers crossed something useful gets past the resisters.

    • weka 10.2

      4 August 2019 at 7:57 pm

      "We are ready to negotiate our Rent-to-own policy as part of the Kiwibuild reset"

      Is this the Greens putting it out there so it's more obvious what will get removed by Labour or NZF? (I haven't listened to the speech yet).

      • Sacha 10.2.1

        4 August 2019 at 8:06 pm

        True, good for differentiation in 2020 and may drag Winston's bunch and Labour's righties further to the left – but not much consolation for renters in the meantime.

11. joe90 11

    4 August 2019 at 5:47 pm

    No free markets on a dead planet.

    A Republican polling firm found that for younger Republicans, “climate change is their most important issue” and called the numbers “concerning” for the party’s future. @lffriedman https://t.co/UMHeYVjcoH

    — John Schwartz (@jswatz) August 2, 2019

     http://archive.li/naaEl

    • Muttonbird 11.1

      4 August 2019 at 7:38 pm

      This is exactly why the Nat's are furious with Shaw's speech and appearance on The Nation.

      They realise Shaw has drawn a line and the Nats are on the wrong side of it.

12. Ad 12

    4 August 2019 at 5:54 pm

    I'm all in favour of new radiation machines, but what we were promised by Labour at the last election was a comprehensive cancer-fighting strategy, and Clarke himself was in favour of a standalone cancer-fighting agency. 

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12255486

    This announcement just looks like ordinary plant asset management. 

    No connection to a broader anything, and otherwise looks like a little tv news capture on a slow Sunday news cycle.

    • chris T 12.1

      4 August 2019 at 6:11 pm

      Labour promised a lot of things.

      I look forward to others bringing more up.

      • greywarshark 12.1.1

        4 August 2019 at 8:09 pm

        What a technicolour yawn.   Don't be gross.

        • chris T 12.1.1.1

          4 August 2019 at 9:48 pm

          Don't get me wrong.

          They had no choice and it worked.

          This doesn't absolve them of not keeping hardly any.

    • Sacha 12.2

      4 August 2019 at 6:18 pm

      The commitment to spreading machines around regions rather than further centralising specialist services is significant. Something the last govt could easily have done.

      Clark has said his views on the value of a separate cancer agency have shifted now that he has access to internal information as a Minister. Also clear in recent interviews that an overall cancer strategy is coming in a few weeks.

    • Incognito 12.3

      4 August 2019 at 8:42 pm

      "A cancer plan that works has to be comprehensive and must include radiation treatment as well as pharmaceuticals and preventative measures," Ardern told media in a press conference at Wellington Regional Hospital.

      "Radiation is an effective form of cancer treatment, and one-in-two people with cancer would benefit from its use. But in New Zealand only one-in-three are currently accessing these services.

      "That's why we are making the single largest Government capital investment in it."

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/114741570/government-announces-package-to-aid-cancer-treatment-in-the-regions

      I also like to note that the PM was working on Sunday 😉

      • Ad 12.3.1

        4 August 2019 at 10:28 pm

        Any time she wants to show us all that plan would be great. 

        Meantime, it's a set of machines. MMM shiny.

        • marty mars 12.3.1.1

          4 August 2019 at 10:35 pm

          wow so insulting from you – seems like you really hate the PM – lol sad wee fella

          • Incognito 12.3.1.1.1

            4 August 2019 at 11:19 pm

            

            • marty mars 12.3.1.1.1.1

              4 August 2019 at 11:39 pm

              lol 

    • Incognito 12.4

      4 August 2019 at 9:19 pm

      I hope they will have an effective strategy to ensure sufficient staffing levels and a resilient workforce otherwise these expensive machines could be sitting idle for much of the time. I think that is a much harder issue to deal with than buying expensive kit.

      • Ad 12.4.1

        4 August 2019 at 10:29 pm

        +100

        A billion or so into mental health, no one trained to do the extra work.

        No improvement to people.

        • Incognito 12.4.1.1

          4 August 2019 at 11:13 pm

          This Government is promising the Earth but no spades and no extra pairs of hands to do the digging. The billion trees to be planted, KiwiBuild, mental health, et cetera. In education, they at least made an effort to increase the much-needed capacity but it did not go down well with the people that already existed on the ground. If they keep this up, they’ll erode (political) goodwill and credit and even JA won’t be able to save them.

13. Muttonbird 13

    4 August 2019 at 7:03 pm

    NZ Māori Council calls for Simon Bridges to apologise for Tokelau comments

    “What this man said about a whole section of New Zealand citizens is an absolute disgrace, but also highlights his performance on all issues related to Iwi Māori," he said in a statement.

    "Let me be really clear here: Bridges was a member of a nine-year-old Government whereby our people resembled more of a third-world population. It was under his Government's watch that gave rise [to] record numbers of Māori committing suicide.

    "It was under his Government's watch that homeless numbers rose, the health system began to falter under the weight of financial mismanagement, that Pharmac became a laughing joke, that more of our children than ever were taken by the state.”

    – Matthew Tutaki

    Matthew Tutaki another unimpressed with Simon Bridges.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/08/nz-m-ori-council-calls-for-simon-bridges-to-apologise-for-tokelau-comments.html

    Do you think Bridges will apologise?

    • Rapunzel 13.1

      4 August 2019 at 7:32 pm

      No he won't – there is another shooting in the US, people must be becoming mindful of the part heavy handed, reckless, dirty politicking is having on people's lives. NZers need to recognise what is leadership and how and why it must be made to work for the country and put their full support behind that and be active in engaging with each other.

14. Muttonbird 14

    4 August 2019 at 7:47 pm

    Make America Safe Again.

    😢

15. greywarshark 15

    4 August 2019 at 8:08 pm

    You've got a nice feature about your area.   I want to start a business using it and it will mean that you have to share it with us, we will need the major part say 80/20, but there are a few jobs in it, and investment in luxury homes so there will be growth for you.

    But these Waiheke Islanders aren't your ordinary sheeple.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/395950/sheep-heading-to-parliament-for-waiheke-petition

16. weston 16

    4 August 2019 at 9:10 pm

    About the same time i guess as Peter Ellis was being granted leave to appeal to the supreme court the crown was busy opposing it .The several reasons they gave to oppose it were fairly threadbare i thought but one really stands out !!they said that they doubted that the science of the time had changed very much in the interim wtf !!!i had to laugh albeit darkly according to Lynley Hood who has done exhaustive work on ellis's case and of the professional therapists of the time it was common to measure a little girls hymen and finding it to be more than four mil provided conclusive proof of sexual abuse .Well unsurprisingly [since the experts of the time were not very expert ]the science went on to find eventually that hymens come in all shapes an sizes quite naturally.The chief witness for the prosecution at ellis's trial was one of these above mentioned practitioners she practiced this sort of what can only be described imo as quackery for a living yet was held up by the crown as the last word in the study of sexual abuse .Seems the only thing that REALLY hasnt changed in the last twenty years is Crown Bias 

    • greywarshark 16.1

      5 August 2019 at 12:08 pm

      'Crown bias' and general ignorance continues probably because of an unwillingness of 'experts' to examine their learnings to see if they are up to date, and then accept they have been at fault in the part.  

      Because of a lack of willingness by authorities to accept that mistakes may happen in medical proceedings, those involved are understandably reluctant to admit that their methods might be faulty.  This is a problem for medical people believing they are following best practice, or who have made a rare error.   Medical people should be able to report themselves or also if others do so, and be investigated and cautioned and would probably be placed under supervision of the general medical authorities from designated peers, rather than have to go through the usual rigid judgments that the public face.

      An example is Semmelweiss and the extra and preventable deaths of mothers who were denied the hygienic care that he trialled and proved was effective.   It appears that his mistreatment by the medical establishment is still not fully owned by history.    One report says he was placed in an asylum due to possible alzheimers disease and there was beaten by staff, and died of a diseased wound.    Another was that he was enticed into an asylum and then imprisoned on the basis he 'had lost his mind.' 

      The poor man had so many detractors who refused to accept the facts, and preferred to 'denigrate the man' that he became depressed, and lost his way in life I think.   However, to some extent, he was the author of his own misfortune in that he delayed publishing his treatment and providing the information needed to prevent false stories and opinions to circulate.

      His successor – János Diescher was appointed Semmelweis's successor at the Pest University maternity clinic. Immediately, mortality rates jumped sixfold to 6%, but the physicians of Budapest said nothing; there were no inquiries and no protests. Almost no one — either in Vienna or in Budapest — seems to have been willing to acknowledge Semmelweis's life and work.

      His remains were transferred to Budapest in 1891. On 11 October 1964, they were transferred once more to the house in which he was born. The house is now a historical museum and library, honoring Ignaz Semmelweis.

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

17. Muttonbird 17

    4 August 2019 at 9:18 pm

    Campaign spokesperson Pania Newton said they “should be chasing white supremacists, not Māori protectors”.

    Oooh! Shot of the day by Pania Newton.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/395944/police-remove-guns-from-ihumatao-protesters-worried

    • marty mars 17.1

      4 August 2019 at 9:20 pm

      yep fucken true that – the lines are hardening – bad stupid police move – ffs how about put the guitar AND the weapons down police.

18. marty mars 18

    4 August 2019 at 9:36 pm

    ffs

    The US has now had 250 mass shootings so far in 2019.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/114745928/shooting-in-dayton-ohio-multiple-people-reported-shot

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mass_shootings_in_the_United_States_in_2019

    • joe90 18.1

      4 August 2019 at 9:47 pm

      As usual, old men light the fuse.

      "These guys, these rootless white males, had monster power […] You can activate that army.” -Steve Bannon on who he targeted to build a white nationalist movement in the UShttps://t.co/sW8Ke8tLn6

      — Liz Plank (@feministabulous) August 3, 2019

      Bannon knows it. Trump knows it. Fox News knows it. Isolated men on the internet are their prime target and it’s working.

      The only question is: why aren’t we doing anything about it?

      — Liz Plank (@feministabulous) August 3, 2019

      • joe90 18.1.1

        4 August 2019 at 10:17 pm

        Of course Bernie runs with the NRA line.

        Sen. Bernie Sanders: "I think all over the world people are looking at the United States and wondering what is going on, what is the mental health situation in America where time after time after time we're seeing indescribable horrors." pic.twitter.com/QI25Mw9kWY

        — The Hill (@thehill) August 4, 2019

      • joe90 18.1.2

        4 August 2019 at 10:49 pm

         A white man drove 700 kilometres to murder and maim brown people.

        The next race war will come not from racist whites, but from racist blacks and Hispanics who feel empowered to act on their racism by an administration that excuses all minority misbehavior.

        https://www.creators.com/read/ben-shapiro/07/10/obamas-race-war

19. Eco maori 19

    6 August 2019 at 7:43 am

    Kia Ora The Am Show. 

    I agree Sam dept can be a trap tangata lending money on credit card just to survive .I see people using money stupidly all the time one should live like they are broke all the time to save money. 

     

    I think that the government should build minny  housing smart small whare add that to the lower house perches prices for first house buyers prices. Im quite lucky I can build a whare in Hawksbay and Te Waiapu Valley to I will build them from recycled materials and make them carbon neutral to.

    Keep those POLICE UNDER control Jacinda the Ihumatao issue is a international story now. 

    The Coalition Government has invested more in Aotearoa Healthcare systems in 2 years than national did in 9 so point your criticism to them. 

    Duncan you are being rude talking over the top of Jacinda that tells me a story. 

    Artificial intelligence will take JOBS off the common people don't bullshit  its is going to hand more power to the 00.1% unless good laws are made to counteract that phenomenon Artificial Intelligence and robotics automation Will Be A Major Game Changer so a universal WAGE is needed to counteract that phenomenon The major effects of Artificial intelligence won't happen overnight but it will happen in the near future Ma te wa.

    That business man with the bruising on his head is actually a national puppet whanau don't listen to his and duncans rhetoric about Our business economy its is going great the government has increased investment in the economy through higher wages and  investment in Infrastructure this will flow through the economy and back to the government in tax take  they increase investment in the MANY the 99.0% who pay most of the tax take .Not like national who invested heavily in the Wealth 00.1% who have accountants who hide their new money they got from national tax cuts ECT under their pillow .Consequence less tax take for the government LESS money to spend on the Tangata. 

    Ka kite ano 

     

20. Eco maori 20

    6 August 2019 at 11:54 am

    Some Eco Maori Music For The Minute. 

21. Eco maori 21

    6 August 2019 at 11:55 am

    People across the lower North Island have reported feeling an early morning 4.1-magnitude earthquake, centred 20 kilometres south of Wellington. 

    The quake struck at 3.38am on Tuesday and was centred at a depth of 38km, GeoNet said. Ka kite ano link below. 

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/114775129/41magnitude-quake-felt-across-lower-north-island

22. Eco maori 22

    6 August 2019 at 2:30 pm

    Some Eco Maori music for the minute. 

23. Eco maori 23

    6 August 2019 at 6:31 pm

    Kia Ora Newshub. 

    Have the Police got any video footage to back up there allegations of bad behavior by the protesters at Ihumatao did you see that they put a Wahine up to make their statement.????????.

    That would be good for the Wahine who are getting treatment for breast cancer a trial of a new drug that will stop the side effects of hot flushes ka pai. 

    Eco Maori has no power bill now cost me $1800  to build quite easy to so long as the sandflys stop stuffing with it I went to cut wood again and my system had been turned on the battery were run down lucky I got a second battery from the Stihl shop in Naiper he has got a great product and a great price.  My new battery was in the system 

    That's funny the drug lord trying to break out of jail impersonating his daughter

    Sir Ngata was treated very badly by the crown if he was White he would have not even been charged. 

     

     

     

    Ka kite ano 

24. Eco maori 24

    6 August 2019 at 6:48 pm

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News. 

    I,,,,Whanau the police love using there intimidation practices and propaganda to try and upset people Whanau be cool like ME. They have heaps of police following Me around they use the public to try and intimidate me to but the fools are just giving Eco Maori more MANA thanks.

    I think sitting on your hands and not changing the way trade training whanaga is stupid especially if some are failing in their business plans and failing to give te tangata the correct skills that are lacking in Aotearoa. I think it's stupid having to import people with the skills when we just have to train our OWN. 

    Ka kite ano 

25. Eco maori 25

    6 August 2019 at 7:21 pm

    Kia Ora The Crowd Goes Wild. 

    Ka pai Annan for running that Waka Ama story ka kite ano 

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