Open mike 05/07/2014

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, July 5th, 2014 - 83 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmike Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

83 comments on “Open mike 05/07/2014 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. ropata 1
    5 July 2014 at 7:39 am

    NZH (Phil Taylor) has written a fairly substantial bio of David Cunliffe.
    Turns out DC is related to “King Dick” Seddon!

    • marty mars 1.1
      5 July 2014 at 8:09 am

      Yes a very interesting read and perfect timing. This imo is where the turning point occurs – after the courageous apology and the informative backstory to his life. This is where the deliberate denigration of David Cunliffe, by some, ends and the real man and what he has to offer begins in earnest. This is where the left gain momentum and go on to win the election. This is the time and the place, this is our time and place.

      • The Lone Haranguer 1.1.1
        5 July 2014 at 8:18 am

        Its a good read and humanises Cunliffe well. He needed it.

        I understand that the “apology thing” is just him chanelling Helen Clarke who also apologised for stuff in our history that she didnt personally do (the historical mistreatment of Chinese immigrants from memory), and that worked for her, but Im not sure that men should apologise for having a willie and being “potential rapists” and woman beaters.

      • Colonial Viper 1.1.2
        5 July 2014 at 8:32 am

        Yay more softe media please! MOAR!

      • ropata 1.1.3
        5 July 2014 at 9:01 am

        Voted by classmates at Atlantic College (themselves some pretty amazing kids from round the world) as the most likely to become a world leader.

        From an average background, with some difficult circumstances, DC is pretty much the definitive tall poppy. I think he tries to moderate the intellectual stuff when speaking publicly, but you can tell the guy is something special

    • karol 1.2
      5 July 2014 at 9:03 am

      Just started reading it but this?

      After 12 years in parliament he came to reconsider that choice following a bruising failed attempt to unseat Labour leader David Shearer which saw him sent to the Siberia of the back benches with another shot at the leadership not even on the distant horizon.

      How many more times is this non-truth going to be repeated?

      • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1
        5 July 2014 at 1:27 pm

        As long as the NZHerald sees it as a way to put scorn upon Cunliffe I suppose.

    • Chooky 1.3
      5 July 2014 at 9:11 am

      Thanks for that biography…really interesting …David Cunliffe will make great Prime Minister!

    • DH 1.4
      5 July 2014 at 12:20 pm

      I’ve been wondering what the underlying narrative would be and it looks to be ambition. We’re all ambitious to some extent or other but to be labelled ‘ambitious’ is often synomymous with being called untrustworthy; climb over corpses to reach the top etc. Few people in the workplace like openly ambitious people, they’re either after your job or they’ll sack you in a minute to prove themselves.

      Possibly I’m wrong but I do know that ‘ambitious’ is a pejorative term to many people.

    • freedom 1.5
      5 July 2014 at 12:22 pm

      It was a good read and for contrast in the writing style you can see the 2008 bio-piece the NZH did on John Key, which magically re-appeared on the NZH pages today. It has not been updated and still has all those unanswered questions about the time lines not adding up amid other historical grey areas.

      oh dear I forgot to include the link 😉

  2. ropata 2
    5 July 2014 at 7:48 am

    Shaping up to be a nice weekend in Auckland, if a bit windy
    http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/auckland/auckland-central

  3. Clean_power 3
    5 July 2014 at 7:57 am

    The debate over David Cunliffe’s comments continue. His advisors and speechwriters are failing him badly, very badly.

  4. ropata 4
    5 July 2014 at 8:03 am

    If You Want To Be Successful, Learn How To Steal

    Stealing is not bad as long as you steal the right things.

    …

    If you steal things, they will last until they are used up.

    If you steal money, it will last until you spend it all.

    If you steal power, one day you will lose it.

    If you steal fame, one day it will fade.

    If you steal people, they will last until someone else steals their hearts.

    ….

    If you steal knowledge, it will be with you until your last breath.

    • Lance Peterson 4.1
      5 July 2014 at 9:24 am

      Yea Kim Dot Com knows all about this

      • Molly 4.1.1
        5 July 2014 at 11:30 am

        Lance, do you actually have any idea what the charge against him is?

        And explain what was the difference between MegaUpload (which was non-searchable) and YouTube? Both are file storage services.

    • Lanthanide 4.2
      5 July 2014 at 11:07 am

      Obviously this is supposed to be sentimental self-improvement clap-trap etc, but you generally don’t actually steal knowledge, just like you can’t steal digital files. All you generally do is copy it.

      • ropata 4.2.1
        5 July 2014 at 11:19 am

        I was also thinking of banksters who steal elections, but yeah it can be applied to the dodgy german as well

  5. Rodel 5
    5 July 2014 at 8:16 am

    Previously uncommitted voter friends tell me they are starting to think that Cunliffe will be a much better PM than Key. Nicer person and heaps more intelligent. Good to hear.

  6. bad12 6
    5 July 2014 at 8:17 am

    Asset sales cash to be used for new Schools and Hospitals, Riii-ght,

    $7 million of asset sales cash to be used to fix leaking doors, windows, and, the roof of the Parliament,

    $5 million of asset sales cash to be used chasing the 20-30,000 escapees of the US tax system living in New Zealand, not for taxes owed to the NZ Government, for taxes owed to the US Government,

    $23 million for the cost of New Zealand’s membership to the World Bank that because of the tax switch our Government can no longer find in its Budget,

    Its a swindle…

    Source: NZHerald.

  7. bad12 7
    5 July 2014 at 9:03 am

    The secret life of Plants,

    http://www.pri.org/new-research-plant-intelligence-may-forever-change-how-you-think-about-plants

    The Google is, if as usual my link fails to work:
    New research on plant intelligence may forever change the way you think.

    A much longer read, but more informative is this:
    http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/12/23/131223fa_fact_pollan?…all

    The Google for the above:
    Micheal Pollan: How smart are plants: The New Yorker.

    Plants, able to manufacture up to 3000 chemical compounds as a reaction to outside stimulation???,
    Plants, able to respond to introduced circumstances that do not directly effect them???,

    Do Plants have the capacity to ‘think’ even while possessing no identifiable central nervous system or ‘brain’,

    Even the simple beanstalk experiment that anyone can do at home would tend to strongly suggest that Yes, Plants have the capability to recognize and react to situations that do not physically effect them,

    In a bucket grow a beanstalk,
    At six inches of growth,(excuse the old measurements),introduce in another bucket of soil a 2 meter upright bamboo stake and sit it next to the bucket the beanstalk grows in,

    As the video in the link shows, your beanstalk will ”recognize” the introduced bamboo stake and begin a series of growth spurts all the while casting like a fly fisherman, trying to connect with the bamboo stake,

    Next,befor the beanstalk can grasp the bamboo stake, take the experiment another step, Remove the bucket of soil holding the bamboo stake and watch what the beanstalk does,

    Again take the experiment one step further, two days after you removed the bucket with the Bamboo stake, reintroduce it, But, this time place the bucket with the bamboo stake directly opposite to its previous position in relation to the bean stalk,

    Watch what the beanstalk then proceeds to do, after that tell me that Plants have no ability to ”think”…

  8. Awww 8
    5 July 2014 at 9:19 am

    Safe Care who operate the rape crisis lines in ChCh are closing due to a $30K shortfall.

    Listening to the RadioNZ article right at the end the comment is made that the shortfall (in support service for rape victims) will need to be taken up by Victim Support. What it doesn’t say is that Victim Support, however well intended are not trained specifically for sexual violence. I can’t stress how damaging untrained people attempting this will be.

    Is there anyone out there who may be able to help this organisation?

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2602097/christchurch%27s-only-rape-crisis-callout-service-to-close

    • miravox 8.1
      5 July 2014 at 10:37 am

      Maybe the people who say they’re not part of the problem might want to think about being part of the solution? That should pull in enough money if they all put up $10.

      For inspiration, you good guys, Hell’s Pizza donated $10,000 for Wellington Rape Crisis a few years ago after an offensive post (and put staff through sexual violence awareness training). All credit to them. I reckon the with the number of people offended by Cunliffe’s personal statement, putting $10 in should top that.

  9. RTM 9
    5 July 2014 at 9:27 am

    Ngati Koroki sculptor Brett Graham commemorates the 150th anniversary of NZ’s most important war: http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2014/07/ozymandias-on-great-south-road-three.html

    • ORAVIDA CHAIRMAN STONE SHI 9.1
      5 July 2014 at 11:48 am

      There was a great part on The Nation where the live feed didn’t work and we were treated to a prolonged scene of an oblivious Patrick Gower staring into the camera and going DUHHHHHHH.

      ANOTHER MONSTER GAFFE FROM GOWER

      CAN HE BE TRUSTED?

      IS IT TIME TO RESIGN???????

    • ropata 9.2
      5 July 2014 at 12:21 pm

      Great blog, thanks for sharing. Subscribed.
      I’m a Papakura kid by way of Te Awamutu, Otorahanga and Puhoi … appreciate all the bits of history you have unearthed

  10. David H 10
    5 July 2014 at 9:37 am

    Gower the wanna be. On the The Nation. Trying to make himself the story yet again.

    • karol 10.1
      5 July 2014 at 9:55 am

      Gower, wannabe player. He’s not an interviewer, but aims to be a participant in a sparring match.

      Cunlliffe stood strong and stated his political positions and policies well.

  11. David H 11
    5 July 2014 at 10:06 am

    Unauthorised biography of David Cunliffe: The man who would be PM
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11285307

    And not a hatchet in sight. And a bloody good read to ‘boot’. Maybe the bad ‘press’ the Granny has been getting has given them pause for thought..

    • Karen 11.1
      5 July 2014 at 10:35 am

      I wish that was true but next week Key cheerleader Claire Trevett will be writing the political years, and I am sure she is being supplied with all the hatchets she needs to make David look untrustworthy. Had it been written by Audrey Young there would be a chance of a balanced portrayal, but not with Trevett.

      • Hami Shearlie 11.1.1
        5 July 2014 at 11:28 am

        I thought the same thing – it will be a load of vicious shallow tripe served up by Chef Claire next week, you can bet on that! I think the subscriptions to the Herald will be taking a dive from now on, it has become a joke – I won’t be renewing mine when it expires very soon!

    • Jilly Bee 11.2
      5 July 2014 at 1:35 pm

      Yes, it was a good and interesting read. I gave a long sigh when I read at the end of the piece that Whale Oil had published Karen Price’s client list, I was initially angered by that, but sadly not surprised.

      • karol 11.2.1
        5 July 2014 at 1:38 pm

        I didn’t see a reference to WO publishing that list? has anyone ever published Slater’s client list?

        • Jilly Bee 11.2.1.1
          5 July 2014 at 2:10 pm

          Hi Karol – I’ve been searching (unsuccessfully) the on-line Herald for the extra piece on page A27, entitled ‘The son of a preacher is still on a mission – his wife is the rock’. The piece is about Karen Price’s role, which ‘is to provide the oasis from the political storm’. ‘He has a thick skin, but politics bruises families too. One son came home from school in tears because a kid called his father “a loser”; she lost clients when Cunliffe became leader. Blogger Whaleoil published her client list and “some clients don’t want to have to live with that sort of thing”.’

  12. phillip ure 12
    5 July 2014 at 10:16 am

    bryce edwards is talking absolute shite…

    ..gobsmacking shite..

    ..willie jackson then calls him out for being incomprehensible..

    ..heh..!

    • phillip ure 12.1
      5 July 2014 at 10:28 am

      heh..!,,

      ..he then piles on more..telling edwards he ‘doesn’t know what he is talking about!’..

      ..good to see that bullshit-artist being called out..

      • The Al1en 12.1.1
        5 July 2014 at 10:45 am

        If you’re talking gob smacking sh!te, little willie leads the pack.

        Do you forget his part in the roastbusters case?
        The bit where he questions the victim about her own sexual habits and dress sense and asked why she was out late at night drinking and at what age she lost her virginity.

        On a day when the lead post here is men need to own domestic and sexual violence 🙄
        Just like vietch, willie and john are pariahs to me.

    • Bearded Git 12.2
      5 July 2014 at 5:20 pm

      Bryce Edwards is starting to get up my nose-slagging off Labour ALL the time.

  13. phillip ure 13
    5 July 2014 at 10:41 am

    “..Colorado has proved that legalising cannabis works..

    In just six months the state has raised millions in tax revenue –

    • and seen a fall in crime..”

    (cont..)

    http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/colorado-has-proved-that-legalising-cannabis-works-so-its-about-time-we-let-the-uk-get-high-9582714.html

    • bad12 13.1
      5 July 2014 at 11:08 am

      Alert Alert, Vegan Doper supports mutilation and murder of Plants solely for His own pleasure…

    • greywarbler 13.2
      5 July 2014 at 12:28 pm

      I liked this bit phillip
      The state’s governor, John Hickenlooper, predicts that sales of the drug will reach $1bn in the next fiscal year, raising almost $134m in tax revenue. Arrests for drug-related crimes and the murder rate have also halved, and tens of thousands of people have found work in the state’s burgeoning cannabis market.
      and
      When laws are widely flouted they cease to be laws and instead become instruments to punish certain members of society. When the government sacks its chief drug adviser for stating scientific facts it exposes itself as arrogant and unheeding. When billions are pumped into prohibition without producing any significant reduction in drug use – during a period of austerity no less – it makes a mockery of our system of governance.
       (In the UK. Also in NZ BTW I believe Hickenlooper is the Governor’s real name.)

  14. Jrobin 14
    5 July 2014 at 12:12 pm

    Latest Roy Morgan interesting. National down to 48%. Seems Roy Morgan lost their Crosby Textor interpreter too ( the one who identified Greens climate policy as leading to drop when it had not been released during the polling period) RM Noted the Shiu incident hadn’t affected Labours polling. Though at 28 that is still concerning. Wait till the Education policy is absorbed hopefully this will turn the tide.

    • freedom 14.1
      5 July 2014 at 12:36 pm

      Do you mean the Liu incident?
      Shi is Key’s golfing buddy from Oravida who gave money to that nice charity.

  15. Draco T Bastard 15
    5 July 2014 at 12:22 pm

    The Cost of Continuously Checking Email

    Multitasking, as many studies have shown, is a myth. A more accurate account of what happens when we tell ourselves we’re multitasking is that we’re rapidly switching between activities, degrading our clarity and depleting our mental energy. And the consequences can be surprisingly serious . An experiment conducted at the University of London found that we lose as many as 10 IQ points when we allow our work to be interrupted by seemingly benign distractions like emails and text messages.

    And yet more and more employers are demanding that people be able to multi-task.

    • ropata 15.1
      5 July 2014 at 1:27 pm

      You can’t multi-task but there are ways of breaking down complex jobs and moving tasks around in a coherent way.. I use a kanban (scrum) board at work, it does help you focus.

      Whenever you are required to switch tasks, move the new task into the “work in progress” area, and move your current task(s) back to the “backlog” area. This makes it plainly obvious to your manager that adding a new task to your list slows progress on other things .

  16. Draco T Bastard 16
    5 July 2014 at 12:33 pm

    Key pushed a “steady as she goes” approach: the Reserve Bank had been reviewed three times and its direction judged generally correct; the economy needed to grow at 3 per cent a year for 10 years to be in a strong position.”

    hahahahahaha

    We’ve been growing the economy for ten years and we’re still not in a strong position and we never will be unless we change our economy and society from the disaster that the neo-liberal reforms have made of it. This bullshit from John Key stinks of the definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

  17. greywarbler 17
    5 July 2014 at 12:50 pm

    Interesting bit of news that feeds my belief that the unlimited council budgets draw in wide boys who want to use public money, tax and ratepayers money, to fund pet projects that are not of great use to the public, often imposing large future costs. Or they might want to change laws that have been good for the public in the long run to ones that are good for he or she or they in the money-makers group in the short run.

    A former lawyer and Central Hawke’s Bay mayor who helped executives of a failed finance company steal $12.5 million has been sentenced to four years and nine months in jail.
    Hugh Hamilton was found guilty in May of 14 charges of theft by a person in a special relationship for his role in the collapse of Belgrave Finance in 2008.
    The collapse of the finance company left more than 1200 investors $22 million out of pocket.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/248936/former-mayor-jailed-on-theft-charges

  18. greywarbler 18
    5 July 2014 at 1:13 pm

    On Morning Report RNZ Friday 4 July.
    Despite a faster growing economy, the Treasury is demanding the Government keeps a tight grip on the purse strings.

    Yet Treasury also said that if the economy kept improving small tax cuts would be possible a day or so earlier. This was right after the usual information of not enough money for needed services, hospitals, a rape-crisis phone line FGS!

    • greywarbler 18.1
      5 July 2014 at 2:55 pm

      Another financial piece. From RNZ

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/248723/banking-ombudsman-warns-investors
      Deborah Battell…The Banking Ombudsman is cautioning investors in the wake of the global financial crisis.

      The Reserve Bank estimates the cost to investors of the almost 50 finance collapses up until 2011 at $5.9 billion, based on outstanding liabilities at the time of collapse.
      More than 170,000 investors are thought to have suffered losses.

      How many people in NZ have enough large sums of money saved who can invest like this. Perhaps half of those with discretionary money in NZ were affected, add to that the leaky homes debacle and others, and the NZ investment putea has been tapped and the goodies piped out to various other users. Really good example of a well-run country after the 1984 Extreme Improvement Team got started and was finessed by the 1990 National Improvement Team Services.

      • Colonial Viper 18.1.1
        5 July 2014 at 4:43 pm

        NZers have $90B in managed funds and a further $130B or so in household bank deposits. One single Auckland real estate company can sell $750M in AKL houses in a month.

        This is what makes me sick to the stomach when one Government or another says, there isn’t enough money for Super. There isn’t enough money to make benefits livable. There isn’t enough money for Rape Crisis. There isn’t enough money to give every young Kiwi a job.

        There fucking is so.

        TL:DR we’re being lied to by a power elite who benefit way too much from BAU.

        • Draco T Bastard 18.1.1.1
          5 July 2014 at 6:20 pm

          TL:DR we’re being lied to by a power elite who benefit way too much from BAU.

          QFT

    • Paul 19.1
      5 July 2014 at 2:02 pm

      Cunliffe may need them

      • Colonial Viper 19.1.1
        5 July 2014 at 2:06 pm

        Working with Winston is a preference to working with Laila Harre and Hone….? Not sure who this message is directed to in the electorate, or why.

        • Lanthanide 19.1.1.1
          5 July 2014 at 6:42 pm

          “Not sure who this message is directed to in the electorate, or why.”

          All the people who absolutely hate Hone and think he’s a racist, and hate Dotcom and think he’s a thief. Which is a sizeable chunk of mainstream NZ.

          • Colonial Viper 19.1.1.1.1
            5 July 2014 at 6:48 pm

            +1

          • millsy 19.1.1.1.2
            5 July 2014 at 8:00 pm

            Plus with NZ1 and the Greens, it is a case of “going with what you know”.

            A Green/NZF/Labour government with MIP on the cross benches, finding their way around parliament wouldnt be a bad thing though….Harre should know from her experience in the Alliance that going into Coalition can mean getting hugged to death. IMO The MP and ACT got more from National in their arrangements than the Alliance got from Labour.

            Look at Charter Schools.

      • The Al1en 19.1.2
        5 July 2014 at 2:24 pm

        I did ask DC in the q and a session why mip is the last cab of the rank, but my question didn’t get answered.
        I suspect it’s because to mum and dad voters, Hone, dotcom or both, are tainted and to be avoided.
        Could also be that Winston will work with the Greens, but not mip.
        I guess it will all come out in the wash.

        • Pasupial 19.1.2.1
          5 July 2014 at 3:37 pm

          T Allen

          Your “question” on the Q&A was (at 3:46, comment 20 – I’ve gotta learn how to link):

          I agree with mana/internet being last cab off the rank, is the reason Hone, his association with dotcom or is it something else?

          Which was both leading, and late in the day; either might have been reason for Cunliffe to have ignored it. In response to my own query (at comment 6), he said:

          After the election I’ll talk with anyone committed to changing the Government. It’s fair to say that won’t include National, Act or Colin Craig’s group.

          I further note that the stuff article you link to above does not perclude IMP MPs as ministers outside of cabinet, and even on the crossbenches, they would have a chance to introduce legislation to the ballot.

          The question I find myself asking more and more these days is; where will the IMP get its votes from? If nonvoters and disillusioned right voters, then they are surely worth supporting as agents of governmental change. If their votes are merely gained at the expense of other left parties, then not so much.

          • The Al1en 19.1.2.1.1
            5 July 2014 at 4:31 pm

            I’m not convinced it was posted too late, but can’t deny leading.
            I don’t mind he didn’t answer either, and didn’t really expect him to given the subject, but he must have an answer.

          • Colonial Viper 19.1.2.1.2
            5 July 2014 at 6:34 pm

            Your “question” on the Q&A was (at 3:46, comment 20 – I’ve gotta learn how to link):

            The little blue font time stamp on each comment. Click on it. It centres your browser on that comment and makes the appropriate hyperlink appear in the browser address bar. Cut and paste that hyperlink wherever you need to link directly to the comment.

            • Lanthanide 19.1.2.1.2.1
              5 July 2014 at 6:44 pm

              Or right click on the timestamp and select “copy link address” (or similar, depending on your browser).

  20. karol 20
    5 July 2014 at 2:46 pm

    At the Nats conference recently, didn’t Key claim the Nats would be rolling out one policy a day up til the election? What happened with that?

    • blue leopard 20.1
      5 July 2014 at 2:50 pm

      Perhaps, along with their other inadequacies, they can’t count?

    • ianmac 20.2
      5 July 2014 at 3:53 pm

      Yes that was reported but probably in error. 90+ policies before the Election? Doubt it.
      Probably play cat and mouse. See you Labour and up you one.

    • Colonial Viper 20.3
      5 July 2014 at 6:31 pm

      didn’t Key claim the Nats would be rolling out one policy a day up til the election? What happened with that?

      What happened is that neither you or I get invitations to the Boardroom meetings where such policy is “rolled out”.

  21. Richard 21
    5 July 2014 at 8:26 pm

    The Conservative Party has made another gift to the gods of political comedy:
    http://stevetaylorfornewlynnresources.wordpress.com/

  22. greywarbler 22
    5 July 2014 at 8:58 pm

    RadioNZ listeners might hear something important tomorrow – Sunday – after the 9am news when Mediawatch details some changes.
    9:06 Mediawatch
    Mediawatch talks to RNZ’s boss about changes on the air and behind the scenes.
    (Note: Jim Mora is joining Mary Wilson on Checkpoint.)

    Bill’s brother Conor on the bum rap that farmers are getting. I heard a woman who is organising muck spreading on pastures and waterside planting instead of it going direct into the rivers, saying that the fuss about water is ‘political’!

    8:40 Conor English – On the Farm
    Conor English steps down from his role of Federated Farmers CEO later this month. He talks to Wallace about his background in rural Southland, how farming has changed – and discusses the bad rap farmers are getting over environmental issues.
    http://www.fedfarm.org.nz/

    And as many changes on Radionz as in National’s line up.
    Much loved broadcaster Peter Fry is retiring this week. Here is his farewell message:http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturdaynight
    AND
    Respected broadcaster Wayne Mowat retires this week. He recalls some highlights from his career:http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/waynesmusic

  23. fisiani 23
    5 July 2014 at 9:37 pm

    Graeme Edgeler ‏@GraemeEdgeler 8h
    @AndrewRiddell1 @dpfdpf it was clearly stated that the statement in the media release was Labour Policy: a rape defendant must prove consent

    Taken from Twitter.

    Changing from innocent till proved guilty to guilty till proved innocent is yet another reason not to vote Labour.

    • McFlock 23.1
      5 July 2014 at 9:50 pm

      lol
      google reckons kiwibog posted that 12 hours ago.
      You’re slipping.

      And I broke my rule and read the kb bs. The comment list had this gem:

      Graeme Edgeler (3,257 comments) says:
      July 5th, 2014 at 10:07 am

      then the accused must prove beyond reasonable doubt they had consent.

      I doubt it would go that far. For the few other matters in criminal law that have a reverse onus (e.g. insanity, possession of drugs with intent to supply), you only have to prove your innocence on the balance of probabilities.

      [DPF: I take reverse the burden to be literal. Either way it is pretty insane]

      So balance of probabilities seems fair. Especially with this comment in mind:

      Harriet (4,424 comments) says:
      July 5th, 2014 at 10:28 am

      Would you ever pay your lawyer $20k to defend your privilage of ‘inviting home a 6 drink girl from your mates BBQ’?

      Well you soon will be.

      Sigh. I then stopped reading.

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    1 day ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
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    2 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
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    2 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
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    2 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
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    2 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
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    2 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
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    2 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
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    3 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
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    3 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
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    3 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
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    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
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    5 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
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    5 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
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    5 days ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
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    5 days ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
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    5 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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    5 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
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    5 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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    5 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
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    6 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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    6 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
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    6 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
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    6 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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    6 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
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    6 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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    7 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
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    7 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
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    7 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
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    1 week ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
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    1 week ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
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    1 week ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
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    1 week ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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