Open Mike 05/09/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 5th, 2016 - 90 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmikeOpen 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 …

90 comments on “Open Mike 05/09/2016 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Paul 1
    5 September 2016 at 6:29 am

    Black Eyed Peas
    ‘Where is the love?’
    Updated for 2016.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsRMoWYGLNA

  2. Penny Bright 2
    5 September 2016 at 7:38 am

    Fighting mainstream media effective censorship.

    FYI.
    ______________________________

    FREE!

    Screening of the film of the recent play “Bright – beyond belief” , together with a live interview of Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright.

    WHEN: Thursday 8 September 2016.

    TIME: 7pm

    WHERE: Tiny Theatre, Garnet Station Cafe,
    85 Garnet Rd, Westmere.

    Places will be confirmed for the first 34 people who book
    for this FREE event 🙂

    Here’s where you book:

    http://garnetstation.com/

    “Ballot papers for the local body elections will be in the mail between 16-21st Sept so this is an opportunity to get more informed about who to vote for, and why.

    Bright Beyond Belief, a Tiny Theatre Production written and performed by Lisa Prager & Verity George to a sold out season last month, will be screened prior to Ms. Anne Speir interviewing Mayoral Candidate Penny Bright”

    FYI – here is a review of “Bright – beyond belief”

    http://www.gayexpress.co.nz/2016/08/review-bright-beyond-belief/

    Arts & Culture
    REVIEW: BRIGHT BEYOND BELIEF

    Cheers!

    Penny Bright
    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    ‘Her Warship’ 😉

    ‘Activists – get things done’.

  3. jcuknz 3
    5 September 2016 at 8:46 am

    I heard an American say on Morning Report that he couldn’t understand why 35<40% were for Trump as he knows little or nothing about o'seas matters.
    I guess he forgot that a large proportion of Americans simply do not know there is anything outside the USA.

  4. Colonial Viper 4
    5 September 2016 at 9:33 am

    who’s afraid of Wolf Blitzer?

    The Atlantic tries to explain why Hillary Clinton hasn’t held a press conference in ~272 days and why she prefers comfortable preagreed one one settings, or chats with small town local news reporters.

    http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/whos-afraid-of-wolf-blitzer/498434/

  5. save nz 5
    5 September 2016 at 10:11 am

    Water Is Not A Human Right: Nestlé

    In the 2005 documentary We Feed the World, then CEO of Nestlé Peter Brabeck-Letmathe made an astonishing claim that there is nothing to worry about with GMO foods, that profits matter above all else, that people should work more, and that human beings do not have a right to water.

    http://anonhq.com/water-is-not-a-human-right-nestle/

    • Psycho Milt 5.1
      5 September 2016 at 11:48 am

      …then CEO of Nestlé Peter Brabeck-Letmathe made an astonishing claim that there is nothing to worry about with GMO foods…

      What’s astonishing about that claim?

  6. Colonial Viper 6
    5 September 2016 at 10:29 am

    Merkel’s CDU falls third, behind the anti-immigrant AfD party in her home state elections, according to exit polls.

    More than 20% of voters voted AfD according to the exit poll.

    • Psycho Milt 6.1
      5 September 2016 at 11:54 am

      As with France and the UK, if a large section of the electorate is filing mass immigration under DO NOT WANT and the major parties pretend that actually mass immigration is wonderful and you lot are just racists, large numbers of voters start looking for a party that doesn’t sneer at them.

      • b waghorn 6.1.1
        5 September 2016 at 12:01 pm

        ” large numbers of voters start looking for a party that doesn’t sneer at them.”

        Sneering and accusing people of racism is what the nats are doing to anyone who suggests we tai ho on immigration

        • Psycho Milt 6.1.1.1
          5 September 2016 at 1:09 pm

          And by doing that it will eventually drive a significant proportion of its support to NZ First. Takes quite a while to have an effect, though.

      • McFlock 6.1.2
        5 September 2016 at 12:15 pm

        The old conflict between a government doing what is right as opposed to what is popular.

        • Psycho Milt 6.1.2.1
          5 September 2016 at 1:14 pm

          Whether it’s right for a government to impose mass immigration on its electors is a matter of opinion – hence the change in party support.

          • McFlock 6.1.2.1.1
            5 September 2016 at 1:24 pm

            Whether to provide succour to hundreds of thousands of hungry and defenceless people who are in fear of their lives isn’t a matter of opinion.

            It’s a matter of how history judges us.

            • marty mars 6.1.2.1.1.1
              5 September 2016 at 1:37 pm

              +1 Nice comment

            • Psycho Milt 6.1.2.1.1.2
              5 September 2016 at 1:52 pm

              Germany’s already at well over 200 people per sq km and the number of people in the world who could do with a nicer place to live is in the hundreds of millions. Many German voters unsurprisingly fail to see their country as the solution to this problem. History will most likely see it the same way.

              • McFlock …
                5 September 2016 at 2:34 pm

                Reducing the refugee crisis to people looking for a “nicer place to live” is classic minimisation. These people are looking for relative safety from a particularly brutal war zone or internment camps in Turkey which aren’t much better.

                Germany alone has a population of 82 million. Half a million more isn’t the cause of their hardships. Frankly, history will most likely judge Europe, Australia, and even NZ in a similar light to the countries that turned away ships full of Jewish refugees and sent them back to Germany just before the war. Only on a bigger scale.

                • Psycho Milt …
                  5 September 2016 at 4:05 pm

                  People looking for relative safety take it where they can get it. People who must make it to Germany or the UK at any cost are looking for a nice place to live.

                  You personally may feel that it’s fine to bung into an already-crowded country an extra half mil people (and the rest) who in many cases have no idea of how to live in western society and no great interest in learning how, but the citizens of said country are entitled to take a different view.

                  Future historians will probably note that Germany, the UK and various Middle Eastern countries took heaps of refugees from Syria while a lot of other developed countries (NZ included) refused. The fact that Germany experienced a voter backlash over the numbers involved and the long-term social problems that will inevitably result from it won’t either surprise or offend those historians.

                  • McFlock …
                    5 September 2016 at 4:49 pm

                    You personally may feel that it’s fine to bung into an already-crowded country an extra half mil people (and the rest) who in many cases have no idea of how to live in western society and no great interest in learning how, but the citizens of said country are entitled to take a different view.

                    Personally, I feel that if Germany or any country had taken so many refugees that it was causing problems beyond escalating xenophobia in already marginialised communities (whose problems have nothing to do with immigration and much to do with the prevailing socioeconomic structure of the country post-reunification), you wouldn’t have to rely on false-framing in order to make your point.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      5 September 2016 at 6:47 pm

                      Your confidence that mass immigration isn’t causing any problems in Germany and only a few xenophobes are concerned about it is very reassuring. Perhaps you could let the SPD and CDU know? They seem concerned about their falling vote share.

                    • McFlock …
                      5 September 2016 at 7:46 pm

                      Reply button definitely a bit loopy…

                      Your confidence that mass immigration isn’t causing any problems in Germany and only a few xenophobes are concerned about it is very reassuring.

                      Again, that’s not even close to what I said. Never said “only a few”. You’re also welcome to point out how Merkel’s home region has been unduly affected by swarms of refugees being settled there.

                      In the meantime, here’s an interesting wee map. It’s in the northeast of germany, good old GDR territory.

            • b waghorn 6.1.2.1.1.3
              5 September 2016 at 2:46 pm

              History will see that the so called powers failed completely to stop the mess that is the middle east in the first place , attacking every day europeans because they voted for a bit of self preservation is pointless.
              We need to start laying failures at the feet of those who deserve it .

              • McFlock …
                5 September 2016 at 3:17 pm

                meh.

                At the risk of being a fucking hippy, I’m more holistic about the entire blame thing. We each are responsible for our portion, each time we acted rashly or failed to act.

                So yeah, Sykes and Picoult have their share, Bush/Obama/Putin have theirs, Merkel has hers, and we have ours. There’s no reason we couldn’t each do more to, say, lobby Key to half the low skilled immigration and take in 30,000 more refugees this year.

  7. mosa 7
    5 September 2016 at 10:30 am

    Its official there will not be an early election because John Key thinks that we dont want one.
    Nice of him to ask me, i didnot know he had, i must have missed the phone call.
    The election is on schedule for the latter part of next year when we might be ready for one.
    One year to go….at this stage.

    • Colonial Viper 7.1
      5 September 2016 at 10:35 am

      I still think it will be sightly early eg August, not November.

      • Muttonbird 7.1.1
        5 September 2016 at 1:33 pm

        At the tail end of what will be a very hard winter for a lot of Kiwis?

        Don’t think so.

        The current issues around housing affordability, homelessness, HNZ waiting lists, poor housing quality, and high power prices will have deteriorated and winter is when the people affected will be at their most discontent.

        • Enough is Enough 7.1.1.1
          5 September 2016 at 1:54 pm

          Those affected people do not and will not vote National.

          So they don’t come into Key’s calculations

          • Muttonbird 7.1.1.1.1
            5 September 2016 at 2:05 pm

            But if those people could be motivated a winter election is a real risk for the current government.

            As Spring breaks even those most deeply affected by Key’s poverty and class-splitting agenda tend to forget the worst of it.

            I’m just suggesting the disenfranchised are at their most angry during winter and the media is at its most vocal on such topics.

      • mosa 7.1.2
        5 September 2016 at 2:25 pm

        Early August CV ? i wonder what excuse he will use for not going full term through to November ?
        Someone might pull the plug and force his hand..interesting still a lot of water with campylobacter in it to go under the bridge just yet.

  8. save nz 8
    5 September 2016 at 10:38 am

    Real or Manufactured tensions???

    Barack Obama ‘deliberately snubbed’ by Chinese in chaotic arrival at G20
    The US president was denied the usual red carpet welcome and forced to ‘go out of the ass’ of Air Force One, observers say

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/04/barack-obama-deliberately-snubbed-by-chinese-in-chaotic-arrival-at-g20?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+main+NEW+H+categories&utm_term=188879&subid=13842748&CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      5 September 2016 at 11:10 am

      It’s extraordinary not to have VIP air stairs on hand to meet Air Force One.

      Just as extraordinary was Chinese officials yelling at and jostling White House senior staff.

      This is about as blunt and public a diplomatic message as the Chinese have ever sent.

      Especially contrasting with the 5 star red carpet treatment they afforded Putin shortly thereafter.

      The Americans will be pissed.

    • joe90 8.2
      5 September 2016 at 12:16 pm

      The regime leaning South China Morning Post tries to put the fire out.

      Speculation has been flying about whether China was deliberately snubbing Obama since media reports on Saturday showed the US leader exiting the Air Force One through the small stairway.

      But this was not the case, according to the Chinese official involved in the diplomatic arrangements.

      “China provides a rolling staircase for every arriving state leader, but the US side complained that the driver doesn’t speak English and can’t understand security instructions from the United States; so China proposed that we could assign a translator to sit beside the driver, but the US side turned down the proposal and insisted that they didn’t need the staircase provided by the airport,” the official told the South China Morning Post on Sunday.

      http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2014484/staircase-snub-obama-was-united-states-decision-reveals

      • save nz 8.2.1
        5 September 2016 at 1:51 pm

        The good news is Obama went to China. Maybe they don’t get along culturally, but diplomacy is a lot better for everyone than war.

        When it comes to human rights they have more in common that they think.

  9. Olwyn 9
    5 September 2016 at 10:54 am

    This quote from Winston Peters, in reference to Chester Burrows, succinctly captures a couple of points about the neoliberal right, “…common sense people with a bit of experience and an academic background and practical approach to life are not popular in the new age neo-liberal National party.” http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/83870392/winston-peters-targeting-whangarei-and-whanganui-seats-in-2017-election

    While they have to put up with competence in some fields if they are to function, like IT for instance, neo-liberals seem overall to privilege ambitious mediocrity over ability, perhaps because there is a risk that a capable person might start thinking independently, or give rise to the idea that usefulness has value. The “new age” reference in the quote is pertinent as well. If you listen to the words they use, and the way they frame things, many neo-libs seem to subscribe to some sort of positive thinking cult, and a belief that association with negative things (like homelessness) poses a risk to one’s confidence. Take the word “learnings” for instance – a “lesson” is imposed on me, whereas I myself take “learnings”, and thus manage to avoid negative association in the face of my failures. It is amazing that this cocktail of ambition and silliness has gained such a strong hold on public discourse.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 9.1
      5 September 2016 at 3:10 pm

      Interesting comments.

      I’m impressed Winston used the word ‘neoliberal’. Not a word used that much by mainstream politicians – despite describing our whole system of politics and society right now.

  11. Anne 11
    5 September 2016 at 11:51 am

    Given the similarities between the property boom in Vancouver and Auckland, this is an interesting story:

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/312550/vancouver's-property-market-slumps-after-new-foreign-buyers-tax

  12. Muttonbird 12
    5 September 2016 at 12:04 pm

    Key has another crack at beneficiaries and vulnerable Kiwis.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/312562/immigrants-needed-due-to-nzers'-work-ethic,-drug-use-pm

    I’m left wondering if even lazy and stoned locals could do a worse job at fibre installation than Chorus’ van loads of cheap imported Indians you see driving around Auckland bewildered.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 12.1
      5 September 2016 at 12:39 pm

      An utterly despicable statement from Key.

      Vulnerable people are struggling – so the solution from Key is to blame them and also to make it even worse, by flooding the labour / housing market with more struggling people. How about allowing the market to act to increase wages instead?? Or better still – intervene and increase wages?

      • Bearded Git 12.1.1
        5 September 2016 at 12:55 pm

        @ uncooked Agreed-I didn’t think Key could reach new depths..but he has.

        There was a text on Morning Report in response to the Key interview saying roughly “surely it is easier to get unemployed people in NZ to move to where there is work in NZ rather than bringing people in from the other side of the world.”

        • Graeme 12.1.1.1
          5 September 2016 at 1:49 pm

          I wonder what’s going to happen when the penny drops with a lot of the lower income immigrants when they discover that they’re actually going backwards working for minimum wage in New Zealand. And they’ve done what savings they had buying their way here.

          • Psycho Milt 12.1.1.1.1
            5 September 2016 at 2:01 pm

            You underestimate the forces that have driven them here. I worked in the Middle East with Indian colleagues who were being paid US $100 per month. Accommodation, meals and transport to and from work were provided, but as you can imagine none of those approached a level we’d be willing to put up with. The Bangladeshi cleaners were paid a fraction of that, and the provided “meal” was a bag of rice they had to spread over the week. We westerners used to go over to the mess hall to get take-out meals even though we’d brought our own food, so we could feed the cleaners. Despite all of that, every one of these workers lived in fear of being sent back where they came from – that really did my head in.

      • Ad 12.1.2
        5 September 2016 at 1:39 pm

        “But go and ask the employers, and they will say some [New Zealand workers] won’t pass a drug test, some of these people won’t turn up for work, some of these people will claim they have health issues later on. So it’s not to say there aren’t great people who transition from Work and Income to work, they do, but it’s equally true that they’re also living in the wrong place, or they just can’t muster what is required to actually work.” – John Key

        If you go ask the employers, that’s often the answer that you will get – and there is some truth to it. Only takes one failed drug or alcohol test these days to get you kicked off site, and very difficult to hire again once word gets around about you.

        A good government would work really, really hard to bring those people out of drug and welfare dependency and into work, with the hard, hard social work that entails.

        Instead, he uses a punitive social welfare system to suppress many of the poor back into the black economy, and use mass immigration as a tool to essentially dilute the negative drag of existing underclass.

        • BM 12.1.2.1
          5 September 2016 at 2:16 pm

          Nothing to do with drug dependency,certain people especially younger guys rate smoking weed more important than having a job.

          If they can’t smoke dope they’d rather pass on work, dole life can’t be that bad if you can take that option.

          • b waghorn 12.1.2.1.1
            5 September 2016 at 2:41 pm

            Of course it’s dependency , if those same kids had never run into weed or what ever it is that’s holding them back their life would have been entirely different,
            What is it with kiwis who can’t make the link between a society and parents that fail to protect the young ones ,resulting in lost kids.
            Then to make it worse they turn around and pin that failure onto the kids who have been let down.

            think a little deeper ffs

            • BM 12.1.2.1.1.1
              5 September 2016 at 3:02 pm

              In not a dependency you fucking idiot, it’s a life style choice.

              Christ, do you think they’d be legalizing marijuana all over the US if that was the case.

              If people can’t stop smoking weed once they’ve started, there’s no why in hell it should become legal and main stream.

              • b waghorn …
                5 September 2016 at 8:27 pm

                You’re either full of it or have lived in a bubble , weed is at least as addictive as drink , i’ve seen people grovel in ash trays for slobberstained roachs and smoke the grotty tar they have removed from the stem of their pipes. some fucking lifestyle choice ah.
                Legalization for me is about getting the crooks out of the game , but it would be stupid to have it as widely available as booze.

        • UncookedSelachimorpha 12.1.2.2
          5 September 2016 at 2:43 pm

          “A good government would work really, really hard to bring those people out of drug and welfare dependency and into work, with the hard, hard social work that entails.”

          Exactly. Making things better for the poorer end of society will reduce these problems. Instead Key seems to think that making it worse will somehow fix the problem?

      • mauÄ« 12.1.3
        5 September 2016 at 1:45 pm

        Its not surprising that kiwis don’t want to take orchard work that isn’t on an hourly rate and where there’s the chance you won’t earn the min wage.

        • Muttonbird 12.1.3.1
          5 September 2016 at 2:14 pm

          Agree. Seasonal work is suited to travellers, students, young people, and temporary immigrants. It’s not an industry for resident communities to be based upon because the employers just don’t want you for 9 months of the year.

          But here Key is using this industry to attack HB Maori and as a defence for providing cheap offshore labour to employers in a bid to keep costs down. He his also then projecting this onto the wider labour market.

          It’s disgraceful.

          • Blackcap 12.1.3.1.1
            5 September 2016 at 2:47 pm

            We could have the same system as in Holland where if you are a seasonal worker ie work 9 months of the year full time, you can then get the dole for the 3 months that you do not have work. So you work for the orchadist for x months and are entitled to welfare for the remaining 12-x months in the year.
            That would be better than the current system I think.

            • b waghorn 12.1.3.1.1.1
              5 September 2016 at 3:00 pm

              If the made it so jumping on and off the benefit was just a phone call to winz. i bet more people would take casual work when its available.

        • b waghorn 12.1.3.2
          5 September 2016 at 2:31 pm

          The fact pickers kids are not allowed on orchards any more makes it hard for some kiwis to go picking to,

    • rhinocrates 12.2
      5 September 2016 at 12:58 pm

      Labour could run a mini-campaign along the lines of “This is what he thinks of you” (and station someone with a taser next to Mumblefuck in case he feels the compulsion to renew his attacks on the poor and vulnerable).

      • b waghorn 12.2.1
        5 September 2016 at 2:33 pm

        ooh now your talking , i’ll do it we’ve got a cattle prodder and i’ll work for free.

  13. Draco T Bastard 13
    5 September 2016 at 12:15 pm

    I’m having some really weird issues.

    The ‘Reply’ button has been playing up and breaking the page so that the Comments, Replies, Opinions tabs disappear and the Reply window doesn’t show. Working ATM though.

    The Gravatar image up in the top right hand corner isn’t my one. In fact, it keeps changing.

    I’d say some sort of caching issue but I couldn’t say where. Either my machine (deleted cache and cookies though), my ISP (2 Degrees) or the site itself.

    • Siobhan 13.1
      5 September 2016 at 12:36 pm

      To whomever ‘controls’ these things….All day I’ve had issues with the Standard taking an extraordinary length of time to load. Everything else is fine, and other sites are loading as per usual….and being a Luddite i have no idea what the issue is.

      • Muttonbird 13.1.1
        5 September 2016 at 12:43 pm

        Perhaps you should ask for your money back.

      • Bearded Git 13.1.2
        5 September 2016 at 1:03 pm

        @Siobhan same here-The Standard very very slow to load today. Not a criticism, just for info. I would miss my Standard fix terribly if it wasn’t around.

      • Anne 13.1.3
        5 September 2016 at 1:07 pm

        There’s a problem Siobhan. I’m the same. lprent is ‘away seeing his parents’ but he said the other day he will work on it when he retrurns.

    • Puckish Rogue 13.2
      5 September 2016 at 2:37 pm

      I don’t know if its related but todays open mike only became available for me about 10 minutes ago

  14. save nz 14
    5 September 2016 at 1:28 pm

    Good article from Mike Lee, bit late in the debate really… or maybe the right wing coup was persuading the lefties that somehow the unitary plan was going to deliver something to them…. even though all those human rights, environmental and social standard bits were removed by the government appointed process…

    GUEST BLOG: Mike Lee – The Unitary Plan – it’s about profits for the big developers not decent housing for all Aucklanders

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/09/05/guest-blog-mike-lee-the-unitary-plan-its-about-profits-for-the-big-developers-not-decent-housing-for-all-aucklanders/

  15. joe90 15
    5 September 2016 at 2:01 pm

    Barking…..
    /

    In case anyone is unsure as to who will be our next #POTUS, the Lord has chosen the people's messenger. pic.twitter.com/wopcDc7IVM— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) September 4, 2016

  16. Scott 16
    5 September 2016 at 2:07 pm

    Sad to hear about Nikki Kaye’s breast cancer diagnosis. Hope she has a fast and full recovery.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11703857

    • Ovid 16.1
      5 September 2016 at 4:01 pm

      A family member under 40 just went through breast cancer treatment over the past year. She’s fine now and awaiting reconstructive surgery, but it takes a hell of a toll.

      Best wishes to Nikki Kaye for the journey ahead.

  17. Puckish Rogue 17
    5 September 2016 at 2:34 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/83895815/british-mp-reportedly-paid-for-male-escorts–while-head-of-prostitution-investigation

    Its refreshing to see an MP get to grips with a problem in such a forthright manner, like he wanted to get a hands on feel for the problem 🙂

  18. whispering kate 18
    5 September 2016 at 3:53 pm

    I also have slow pick up but that’s okay I realise the site is under going work on it. My problem is the search engine tool has disappeared from the leader page and hasn’t been there for well over two weeks. Does anybody else have this problem, when I want to search for different replies to different posts I am no longer able to do it. Would appreciate comments from others if they have experienced this.

  19. Brutus Iscariot 19
    5 September 2016 at 4:11 pm

    Why are these daily threads called “Open Mike”?

    Last time i checked, you use a Microphone, not a Mike-rophone.

  20. Takere 20
    5 September 2016 at 4:51 pm

    Will Nicky Kaye go … State or Private Health Care?

  21. Cinny 21
    5 September 2016 at 5:23 pm

    Gower believes he has something on Winny… the leader of the new NZ Peoples Party, Rohan Nauhria gave a donation to NZ First… oh it’s scandalous lolz …. is that it Gower? Sharpen up your act son, find a real story, that little tid bit won’t change a thing, we all know there are other closets that you should be digging around in.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/revealed-winston-peters-in-3k-indian-donation-controversy-2016090516

    • Rodel 21.1
      5 September 2016 at 8:32 pm

      Gower’s glee thinking he’d caught out Peters on 3 News was a sight to behold. The stupid eruption of his long standing hatred of Peters is journalism at it’s most childish level.

  22. Cinny 22
    5 September 2016 at 5:27 pm

    All the best Mr Kevin Hague, what a great new role you are taking on. Fantastic

    Dear Greens no need to put up a candidate for West Coast/Tasman, and please use the MOU to decide on a spectacular candidate for Nelson, that seat has been the wrong colour for way to long.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/312597/green-mp-kevin-hague-resigns-from-parliament

  23. McFlock 23
    5 September 2016 at 7:41 pm

    Reply button might be a bit loopy…

    Your confidence that mass immigration isn’t causing any problems in Germany and only a few xenophobes are concerned about it is very reassuring.

    Again, that’s not even close to what I said. Never said “only a few”. You’re also welcome to point out how Merkel’s home region has been unduly affected by swarms of refugees being settled there.

    In the meantime, here’s an interesting wee map. It’s in the northeast of germany, good old GDR territory.

  24. The Chairman 24
    5 September 2016 at 8:06 pm

    “We have about 70,000 members nationwide to mobilise to protect that democratic right if we need to,” Grey Power president Tom O’Connor said.

    Grey Power is the latest organisation to add its voice to the chorus of complaint about the Government’s proposed changes to local government laws.

    See more here: http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/grey-power-joins-bid-to-defeat-councils-bill-2016090515

  25. Stunned mullet 25
    5 September 2016 at 8:52 pm

    Why do you want to know ?

  26. Iron Sky 26
    5 September 2016 at 9:39 pm

    “The right for Spy’s to break the law, bill.”

    Noticed the post, you can’t even access it?

    Is that just me or……

    http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-37232329

    In pictures: The Prisoner at 50

    He said that the “the village” was both an external and interior concept, reflecting the individual’s lack of freedom on many levels. He told author Alain Carraze: “We are all prisoners of this or that, many things, each in his own ‘Village'”.

    F them

  27. Iron Sky 27
    5 September 2016 at 10:06 pm

    http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/scotland-wind-energy-renewable-power-electricity-wwf-scotland-a7183006.html

    For the first time on record, wind turbines have generated more electricity than was used in the whole of Scotland on a single day.,,,,,,

    Oil…… it’s time to leave

    Slavery through energy……….

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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
    1 week 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 - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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
    1 week 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-25T08:46:10+00:00