Open Mike 06/03/2018

88 comments on “Open Mike 06/03/2018 ”

• Comments are now closed

1. eco maori 1

   6 March 2018 at 6:40 am

   Good morning Duncan you would believe how hard it is to get books on Aotearoa history especially Ngati-porou I would buy them but the books will get lost in the post.
   With Ihimaera has written some good books on the subject but the story changes to much from the older Ngati-porou storys. If any one has got the book East Coast Maori myths and legends by William Porter.Legends of the Maori and personal reminiscences of the East Coast of New Zealand by William Porter.
   The Great New Zealand myths by David Simmons.could I buy them. 2 of these books have been digitizer but A American organisation has them in that format and one can not axis them. One book is at the library but one has to read it there 500 pages.
   Kurt Penny is a great sport person and a great role model for all our mokos Ka pai Ka kite ano
   • eco maori 1.1

     6 March 2018 at 7:04 am

     ECO MAORIs Kiwi Bank ac 389019048573100 Please help me to sort the nz police out

     I decided against trying to use PayPal to receive donations .I decided to copy
     Thestandards safe way of appealing and receiving donations I set up a Kiwi Bank AC
     So he tangata the people of Aoteraoroa New Zealand who support ECO MAORI can use internet banking to make donations and know that there bank accounts are safe after they have made a donation . ECO MAORI will use the donations to SUE the nz police for all the breaches to mine and my Whano Privacy Rights & Human Rights a lot of people can see this has been happening to ECO MAORI when I win my case I will set up a
     Charitable Trust and I will pay the money that I used and any extra donations into this Trust account and appeal to anyone else in Aoteraoroa who need help with finance to SUE the nz police for there in justices I will copy bank statements on this site to let he tangata the people know that ECO MAORI has Honest Honorable and transparent intentions to use your hard earned Putea Money. .
     Kia Kaha Ka kite ano
2. cleangreen 2

   6 March 2018 at 7:10 am

   Memories of how toxic the National party “dirty politics’ still is being felt today no thanks to John Key and Steven Joyce.

   Steven Joyce caught in a trap by Matthew hooten in Radio Live discussion with Mark Sainsbury at 27.50 minutes on discussion audio. in 31st August 2914.

   http://www.thepaepae.com/matthew-hootons-assertions-re-the-prime-ministers-office/35076/

   . . . hosted by Peter Aranyi
   « Sean Plunket comes around on the Watergate comparison (‘Dirty Politics’)
   The escape of exnzpat, Part 24 »
   Matthew Hooton’s assertions re the Prime Minister’s Office
   Posted in 31 August 2014
   Peter Aranyi
   9 Comments »
   ‘Explosive’ is one of those words that gets kicked around in politics and political reporting to the point where it’s almost lost its meaning.
   But it’s not an exaggeration to describe right wing spin doctor and self-declared National Party loyalist Matthew Hooton‘s performance on RadioLIVE this morning as incendiary. He effectively called Prime Minister John Key ‘dishonest’, said the PM’s office and chief of staff Wayne Eagleson is implicated in the Dirty Tricks scandal (viz. the SIS-Goff-OIA affair) and more, described Jason Ede’s black-ops brigade as ‘acting under orders’.
   And in a fiery exchange, he described former National Party President (and present-day apologist) Michelle Boag as ‘a hack’ with ‘no political views’ who is ‘all about is defending a government that has behaved in ways that [are] literally indefensible and you know it’ …
   Listen for yourself.
   • Brigid 2.1

     6 March 2018 at 12:30 pm

     They – hooten, boag, joyce, are a mountain of putrefaction.
   • Cinny 2.2

     6 March 2018 at 12:50 pm

     Thanks for the link CG, much appreciated, I had a listen to it last night when you posted it, super interesting looking back.

     The audio links are a MUST listen, fascinating stuff especially re recent events with hooten/mr dildo
3. Pat 3

   6 March 2018 at 7:20 am

   What is Newsroom’s connection with EQC (and its previous leadership, up to and including the responsible Minister) ?……every article they have written re this organisation has a noticeably supportive tone (in the face of the facts)….very odd.

   https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/03/05/94349/minister-versus-mandarin-big-gun-rolled-out
4. eco maori 4

   6 March 2018 at 7:27 am

   Good morning Amanda to ECO MAORI it looks like there is a direct attack on OUR farmers one organization was contradicting its main role goal and scaring our Farmers
   Beef and Lamb .
   Now you have a organization saying that half of emissions of Papatuanuku will come from farmers once again I say that the stats data is massaged to suit the organization using the stats data .
   That organization is doing a really good job around Papatuanuku nun are perfect
   but they will get water in there face on what they said this morning .
   OUR farmers could easily lower there carbon foot print /emissions the government just has to take the lead thats what leaders are supposed to do .
   BY 2050 New Zealand farmers could easily be totally ORGANIC farmers.
   Most of the energy used to produce our food products could be renewable energy to has that been accounted for in that stat data . Ana to kai ka kite ano
   • eco maori 4.1

     6 March 2018 at 8:03 am

     In the 1980s some big wigs from you know were advised the Lange government and national governments that farming was a industry on the decline invest your money in the stock market .
     They said your model of having boards managing everything /health meat wool dairy many more organizations was wrong sell off state assets. We had low cost management cost at a guess less than 10% we had good state run organizations for Forestry Railways ect employing and training people free education .
     The stock market crashed a lot of people lost money .Our health systems are a shambles education systems is a shambles Railways is nearly non existent Roads been built in the wrong locations we have heaps of home less people . The organizations that run these services have a management cost of 40% now and OUR good farmers kept adapting advancing there farming efficiency production cost they are still the main toko support of the Aoteroa New Zealand economy you good people are doing a good job keeping New Zealand wealthy and healthy ka pai
     All of this happened in 35 years all because of the (good) advice from our friendly
     Ally you know who !!!!!!!!!!!! Ana to kai Ka kite ano .P.S i know about the stats on OUR farmers chin up keep up the good work.
     • eco maori 4.1.1

       6 March 2018 at 8:35 am

       Good morning Rock Rumble radio station give us a sore face lol Ka kite ano
       • eco maori 4.1.1.1

         6 March 2018 at 9:50 am

         Higgins civil construction company likes working for the sandflys that’s probably why there getting all the work.
         Ana to kai
5. adam 5

   6 March 2018 at 7:39 am

   Glorious,

   The STRIKE keeps spreading.

   https://libcom.org/news/2-strikes-1-struggle-significance-communications-workers-strike-west-virginia-05032018
6. AsleepWhileWalking 6

   6 March 2018 at 7:42 am

   Another day, another drunken/nude law camp. Today is University of Auckland’s turn

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12006892

   “I’m not really used to that whole situation so I kind of just assumed that’s what happens when you go to normal uni parties,” said the student, who wished to remain anonymous.

   She was unfazed by the rampant binge-drinking and sex, but when her group was asked to go skinny-dipping, and then perform “racy” dance shows, she became “super-uncomfortable”.

   “I wasn’t drinking but before we did the skit thing, our leaders said, ‘This whole thing would probably just be easier if you were drunk’,” the law student said.

   “The more dirty the skit, the more clothes you took off, the more points you would get, at least it seemed that way. It was uncomfortable because it encouraged you to strip or be vulgar and that’s very not me.

   “There was a skinny-dipping game where if you went completely in the nude then you got more points, but the entire team had to do it. That was where I felt kind of peer pressured by the sort of thinking that I have to do it because everyone else is doing it.

   “It was very out of my comfort zone. But I am also the kind of person to be open to almost everything, so I was feeling really weird, I never do these kinds of things, ever. I was kind of in the head space thinking, ‘Well, what everyone else does, then maybe I should do it too’.”

   She added: “I’ve always wanted to experience being drunk or doing something crazy. But I didn’t expect it to be at law camp.”
   • Sanctuary 6.1

     6 March 2018 at 8:53 am

     This is just a puritanical witch hunt now. The female student in that story sounds like a right idiot. Call me crazy, but I think law students are adult enough to make their own decisions and if they go to a crazy booze up and they “feel uncomfortable” well tough luck. Put it down to life forming and don’t go next year. None of the behaviour I read in that story appears to be illegal.

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnL9d8PM_VQ
     • Gabby 6.1.1

       6 March 2018 at 9:31 am

       If you sneered and jeered at the waverers viciously enough you could maybe bully them into agreeing with you sanky.
       • Sanctuary 6.1.1.1

         6 March 2018 at 10:03 am

         Oh come on. her story is a steaming pile of horseshit that fails the sniff test.

         “…It was very out of my comfort zone. But I am also the kind of person to be open to almost everything…”

         Says the self-described conservative, teetotaling student.

         She added: “I’ve always wanted to experience being drunk or doing something crazy. But I didn’t expect it to be at law camp.”

         Really? I don’t want to labour the point, but it was an undergraduate party. On an island. HELLO??? ANYONE HOME??? I hope she never does criminal law because her inability to spot the fucking obvious flaw in her own thinking doesn’t fill me with hope she could spot any flaw in the Police case.

         I am tired of the media and the regretful trying to police people’s morality. I am sorry her expectation the camp would consist of flower pressing classes and singing Kumbaya around the campfire proved misplaced and the whole event turned out to be a Bacchanalian celebration by and for youthful sexpots. But University drinking clubs and undergraduates having wild parties have existed since the the first undergraduate at the university of Bologna in 1088 said “Let’s go to the tavern after class!” So she has regrets. Deal with it. Why should her inability to cope with the outcomes of her bad decision making mean everyone else (who by the sound of it had a right royal time boozing and shagging) has to suffer? Who put the spoil sport in charge?

         Get over it already. Bad choices are made. Wisdom and experience derives there from. Life is lived.
         • Bill 6.1.1.1.1

           6 March 2018 at 10:38 am

           If someone was pressured into ‘compliance’ by way of having to partake in flower pressing classes and singing Kumbaya around the campfire, then I’d be saying it was all a bit fucked up. However, if someone was doing their thing while those around freely got into flower pressing classes and singing Kumbaya around the campfire then “whatever”.

           And the same goes for drinking and nudity and sex. People up for that shit? Fine. People applying overt pressure on those not so keen? Not so fine.
           • Ad 6.1.1.1.1.1

             6 March 2018 at 11:29 am

             +100

             Prof Henaghan will be lucky to get the Ak Uni public law tenure he wants after The Otago gig.
           • JanM 6.1.1.1.1.2

             6 March 2018 at 11:33 am

             Exactly!
         • Cinny 6.1.1.1.2

           6 March 2018 at 12:58 pm

           Deal with ? FFS Sanctuary, what if it happened to your daughter, would you just tell them to deal with it?

           Grow a fucken pair, attitudes like that are part of the problem.
     • McFlock 6.1.2

       6 March 2018 at 2:11 pm

       So on the one hand she’s an idiot, on the other hand she’s adult enough to make her own decisions.

       That’s the sweet spot for pressuring women into getting drunk and stripping (or more), is it? Old enough that it’s legal, but still too young to recognise dangerous situations and bail before it all turns pear-shaped.

       A lot of teens at uni are cycling for the first time without training wheels. Yes, many of them are still as thick as pigshit. That doesn’t make it okay to manipulate them into doing shit they’ll regret. If they’re up for it, cool. But manipulating them is just bullshit.
       • Sanctuary 6.1.2.1

         6 March 2018 at 2:36 pm

         “…That’s the sweet spot for pressuring women into getting drunk and stripping (or more), is it?

         Plenty of blokes were getting drunk and stripping as well. So I guess it is an equal opportunity sweet spot. Unless you consider women and their sexual agency to always be somehow compromised by evil males and their wicked coercion. However to my mind that reduces women to the role of permanent victim incapable of knowing their own mind. In fact, from my reading of events it sounds like everyone else was having quite the jolly time.

         “… Old enough that it’s legal, but still too young to recognise dangerous situations and bail before it all turns pear-shaped….”

         And tell me, oh wise oracle, how exactly does one develop the life skills and experience to recognise a “dangerous situation” and bail on it if you are packed in cotton wool and protected from the slightest consequences of your decisions at all times by intrusive social busy bodies?

         Also, how exactly was she in a “dangerous situation”? There is no claim she was subject to any sort of unwelcome sexual advances. It sounds like she was more or less ignored. The entire case for the prosecution seems to be she felt “uncomfortable” that she was being peer pressured into skinny dipping naked.

         OMG crime of the century!

         Who HASN’T felt uncomfortable being peer pressured into doing something they didn’t want to when they were young? Isn’t that one of things when you get older you are glad to have the experience to leave behind?

         Learning from experiences like this is how you grow into a mature adult capable of knowing your own mind and resisting pressure to do stuff you don’t like in the future. It isn’t the basis of a full blown moral panic by an unholy alliance of feminist Puritans and right wing moralists.
         • McFlock 6.1.2.1.1

           6 March 2018 at 3:05 pm

           So being pressured to strip naked is the same as being pressured to dive from a higher board than you’re comfortable with? Piss off. People don’t always need to learn the hard way. Harrassing people so that next time they’ll know to tell you to fuck off much earlier on is not a public service, it’s bullshit.
         • Cinny 6.1.2.1.2

           6 March 2018 at 5:39 pm

           Learning from experiences Sanctuary? Is that how you justify certain behaviour?
           • Sanctuary 6.1.2.1.2.1

             6 March 2018 at 6:12 pm

             I am sorry, but I am just not seeing the issue here.

             The Russell McVeagh stuff is clearly a problem, because there is an obvious power imbalance.

             Arguably, the SOULS story is just the media feeding a stereotype of behaviour at Otago – but the presence of the dean of the school again requires an answer.

             But this event was organised by students for students and involved both men and women engaging in consensual behaviour of an entirely legal kind.

             One person didn’t like it and felt uncomfortable, which was bad for her and wouldn’t have made for a particularly fun Saturday night but beyond that, so what?
           • greywarshark 6.1.2.1.2.2

             6 March 2018 at 6:37 pm

             Yes Cinny those young people shouldn’t leave home till they are 25 which seems the age of maturity for men anyway, and perhaps women will learn some by then too.
7. adam 7

   6 March 2018 at 7:44 am

   Warmongers will be warmongers.

   Good to see the Aussies are reminding us that. Another fine example of the right working together to make sure genocide is successful in the 21st Century.

   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/06/australia-to-train-myanmar-military-despite-ethnic-cleansing-accusations
   • Bruce 7.1

     6 March 2018 at 5:04 pm

     Won’t do them any good the tatmadaw, Myanmar army get dealt too by any of the armed ethnic armies even with millions of dollars of arms and training from the british. Their only victories are against unarmed villagers.

     https://www.youtube.com/embed/CI7Gd2EpRGQ

     http://english.panglong.org/2018/01/30/northern-burma-clash-account-december-2017/
     • adam 7.1.1

       6 March 2018 at 5:16 pm

       Unarmed villagers make the best group to cleanse. When your a hard right junta.

       It’s like there is a perpetual civil war in Burma, and we hear virtually nothing about it.

       KIA allies have been fighting also.

       http://www.dvb.no/news/tnla-clashes-tatmadaw-shan-states-kutkai-township/79633
     • joe90 7.1.2

       6 March 2018 at 5:22 pm

       WTF at 4.06?

       https://screenshotscdn.firefoxusercontent.com/images/a929845f-2ef8-4571-9a8f-c253394a2523.png
8. Whispering Kate 8

   6 March 2018 at 8:30 am

   I wonder how Apartment villages, residential complexes are coping with the census. I visit one regularly and there are many people in there who are incapable of filling out a census form. Now these forms are online, even applying for the physical form to fill out, it still won’t help these people. Most of the form could be filled out by the staff, but when it comes to their financial arrangements and what their worth is will not be available to the staff. Not all residents will have family close as many children of these elderly will be overseas or out of town.

   I cannot see this year’s census being very accurate, what about all the homeless street people – don’t they count as well? What about patients who are seriously ill in critical care, intubated etc how on earth are they meant to fill out a census form online or any type of form.

   I remember when the census form seemed to be much more detailed about personal details, this year was a doddle to fill out, are they lowering the bar for details or is it my imagination.
   • veutoviper 8.1

     6 March 2018 at 9:54 am

     Well said, WK.

     I am quite horrified by what I am seeing and hearing on this census, and the number of people who will be missed out through no fault of their own.

     As to the actual forms, I filled these out in no time at all, whereas in the past it has been a ‘major exercise’. Many fewer questions than in the past and all seemed to be a once over lightly. More like an online poll such as the Horizon ones (no disrespect to these intended).
   • greywarshark 8.2

     6 March 2018 at 1:56 pm

     I didn’t find the census a doddle because I noticed how much information they wanted about who was living in the dwelling.

     It wasn’t a problem to me but I thought the extent of it it was invasive – First and last name, age, relationship for up to 8 people, and then if more you phone for a Continuation form (I am doing it on paper) then on No.19 how many usual residents won’t be there and 20 all the details for four absent persons.

     I could understand just numbers and ages and whether people are family or not.
     But thinking of hunts for overstayers, and malicious meddling to peoples disadvantage, it wouldn’t be wise for some to trust the government with every bit of information they want.

     I noticed that they were interested in smoking, but only of cigarettes, not pipes, cigars, or e-cigarettes. No mention of vaping. No mention of legal synthetic cannabis or other over the counter recreationals.

     There are a lot of things they could usefully and cheaply gather information about on other aspects of health than loss of function, transport to name just two.
     Aspirations – a list to choose from. Concerns the same. It would have been interesting to see those collated and the shift over time if they were always included.

     It does seem once over lightly, and I note in the Guides it says that there will not be a Field Officer ‘delivering paper forms to my house’, to reduce costs and…more efficiently. That’s our modern government, keep costs down and aim for efficiency before efficacy. (Another time to remember Aldous Huxley (1894-1963 taking in the two WW) and his belief that constant striving for more efficiency will be the ruin of human society.)

     Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards. “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” Wikiquote
     and
     “A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude.”
     Brave New World
     and
     The worst enemy of life, freedom and the common decencies is total anarchy;
     their second worst enemy is total efficiency. (Don’t know where its home is.)
     and
     His comments in a letter to George Orwell. Worth reading, and rereading.
     https://boingboing.net/2016/08/22/george-orwells-letter-from-h.html
   • Draco T Bastard 8.3

     6 March 2018 at 11:13 pm

     Now these forms are online, even applying for the physical form to fill out, it still won’t help these people.

     And so easy any body with half a brain could do them and they can also use the phone to apply for the paper forms.

     And, no, I don’t consider age to be that great a disability. If you can read you can do them online.

     Most of the form could be filled out by the staff, but when it comes to their financial arrangements and what their worth is will not be available to the staff.

     And those people probably have someone with power of attorney who can do it.

     Please note: There is no cut-off date for when the forms need to be back.

     I cannot see this year’s census being very accurate, what about all the homeless street people – don’t they count as well?

     A great deal of effort has been made to ensure that they do count with field officers being sent out to known hotspots – but it does require that those people make some effort to be counted. Many are not prepared to do so.

     But then we also have to ask how many homeless were counted in previous census’ to be able to do a comparison.

     What about patients who are seriously ill in critical care, intubated etc how on earth are they meant to fill out a census form online or any type of form.

     Friends, Family, power of attorney – I would assume that someone who’s non-responsive does have someone with power of attorney.

     I remember when the census form seemed to be much more detailed about personal details, this year was a doddle to fill out, are they lowering the bar for details or is it my imagination.

     To me it seems that it’s been very well designed so that it’s a doddle to fill out while still providing all of the information. It’s the age of computers and social algorithms – no need to ask detailed and pointed questions.
9. AsleepWhileWalking 9

   6 March 2018 at 8:40 am

   Was asked politely if I could help. They had run out of petrol in the North City Plaza parking area. Apparently I’m forgettable because same guy asked the next day in a different location (Tawa shopping area) and now carrying a prop in the form of a large red petrol can.

   Need an app for this. Could shut it down more effectively.
   • Puckish Rogue 9.1

     6 March 2018 at 8:58 am

     Did you help the first time?
   • mauī 9.2

     6 March 2018 at 9:40 am

     Had the same trouble in Ōtaki too lol.
   • Molly 9.3

     6 March 2018 at 10:04 am

     Had the same in Ōtara shopping mall. Just smiled and said “Yeah, I gave you some money for petrol last week”. Sheepish smile and a small wave.

     It doesn’t really bother me.

     A lot of households are doing it hard. Sometimes I can help and sometimes I can’t, and the fact that they didn’t recognise you makes it likely that they are not comfortable doing this. They can’t look you directly in the eye.

     I’m just glad not to be in that situation, it must affect your sense of self.
     • Sabine 9.3.1

       6 March 2018 at 10:23 am

       yep, saw two ladies yesterday on Queenstreet with what appeared to be homecooked meals and fresh fruit handing these ‘take away’ meals out to the homeless who happily accepted them and started eating – forks, napkins and all.

       Who cares, you got a penny or three to give, give, and if you can’t afford it financially or are morally upset about people begging don’t give. Fact is there are many people in this country that will sleep rough tonight, that won’t eat to their hunger, and some will beg, steal or prostitute themselves to make ends meet.

       Me too, i am glad i am not in that situation.
   • greywarshark 9.4

     6 March 2018 at 10:35 am

     AWW
     The begging is a survival activity amongst citizens usually. Shows there is life in that person yet. Others drink meths or something, perhaps he wants the petrol to sniff though, a step to death, but that possibility should not pre-empt giving help. It can be resorted to also by tourists who are trying to bum their way round the world. And buskers and music makers are offering the opportunity to share their gifts and skills, and should be encouraged with some emolument!

     We shouldn’t use cold technological controls for live needy human beings who are trying to manage in one of the diverse ways humans have until they are a real threat.

     One of Conan Doyle’s stories is about a gentleman who found that he could make more money as a beggar than at his profession? We can be forced by neediness to tap people for money, but also we feel suspicion about, by cupidity. That is an interesting word, in this case not connected with infants with love arrows, and its derivation has changed over centuries.

     With humans there are always conflicting or changing layers, and who knows what the beggar has progressed through in his or her derivations, what the influences have been. Knowing the state of our country’s dropping standards of living, mores, care for each other, respect for an honest working person, and the rise in hard-faced poisonous antagonistic class attitudes often expressed in rentier behaviour, it isn’t surprising to find growing numbers of needy people who can’t manage to cope without begging whatever they have tried.

     I think we must resort to the twin precepts of kindness and practicality which will be a basecourse for a decent, respectful society if enough of us have the guts to form one from the rubble. And that one will have a view of people as being part of a community in balance, all being participants and recipients in its productivity.
     • Tony Veitch (not etc) 9.4.1

       6 March 2018 at 10:57 am

       @ greywarshark – Re making more money begging than in a profession:

       Watch the wonderfully satirical film Drei Groschenoper, 1931, Kurt Weill and Berchold Brecht – where beggars are organised like any business.

       Also memorable for ‘Mack the Knife’ song.
       • greywarshark 9.4.1.1

         6 March 2018 at 11:52 am

         So that’s where Mack the Knife came in. Thanks for heads up. Tony V.
   • beatie 9.5

     6 March 2018 at 8:31 pm

     @asleepwhilewalking
     How would you cope living on $250 per week on a long term basis?

     I’m so sick of smug middle-class attitudes towards the less fortunate. I often run out of petrol before my benefit (supported living) arrives, so I stay at home. No public transport here.
     (I wonder why I feel I need to point out I’m disabled, ie a ‘deserving’ beneficiary ?)

     This is supposed to be a left-wing political blog, , how about showing a bit of empathy and compassion!
10. soddenleaf 10

    6 March 2018 at 10:16 am

    Was it always hot everyway, new records set globally, year on year hottest year ever.

    In order for the ice age to leave glaciers touch the Mediterranean, water need to be heated, evaporate, and fall as snow. I.e a hot art ic. The latest weather pattern is typical for dumping snow over Europe while globally we get yet a new hottest ever year.
    • greywarshark 10.1

      6 March 2018 at 12:21 pm

      Sodden leaf – I think we will all be fighting over that description soon. Either wanting it desperately, or not wanting it, desperately. Watching what the world might have done anyway over thousands of years now happen in our lifetimes is painful and scary even before personally feeling the brunt of it.
11. patricia bremner 11

    6 March 2018 at 10:18 am

    If you read the Herald today, there is an article called “The longest fight”. Our contributor Rosemary features, telling the story of the fight for spouses and family carers to get paid for the work they do.

    I am personally writing to Andrew Little. This is intolerable. The stories are heart wrenching.

    They could pay for sheep for Saudi farms, and a flag referendum…. but not this.
    Until things like this are fixed I feel our society is very sick.
    Fix the tax so we can afford these payments. They don’t want very much, just justice and some independence.

    Rosemary you have my admiration and you and your husband should have the security of your love, and both of you should not have to beggar yourselves. Arohanui Kia kaha.
    • Bill 11.1

      6 March 2018 at 10:26 am

      The link.
      • patricia bremner 11.1.1

        6 March 2018 at 10:36 am

        Thanks Bill.
    • veutoviper 11.2

      6 March 2018 at 11:02 am

      Hi Patricia

      Here is the link to the Herald article you refer to. It is written by the great young Kirsty Johnston* who has a remarkable list of other excellent indepth investigative reporting achievements under her belt on social issues such as education including special needs education, and mental health to name just a couple.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12005044

      Kirsty’s article is further supported by today’s editorial in the Herald

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=12006800

      Patricia, could I suggest that you direct any letters etc to Dr David Clark, as Health Minister rather than Andrew Little as these issues are not in AL’s areas of responsibility. So Dr Clark and/or Julie Anne Genter as Associate Minister of Health are much more appropriate.

      —————————————————————————————————

      * Here is an indepth Spinoff article last year by Steve Braunias on Kirsty which is well worth reading – and covers some of the other people she has made a difference for through her writing eg Ashley Peacock:
      https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/10-08-2017/kirsty-johnston-and-the-kindness-and-decency-of-investigative-journalism/

      Another ‘youngie’ journalist to also keep an eye out for on mental health, patient rights issues and similar is Jessica McAllen – a very close friend of Henry C’s, Patricia. Here is one of her pieces on her own journey through the mental health maze – https://t.co/UQGcHCzZ6x

      SNAP – now see Bill already obliged with the link to the article itself (the first of my links above).
      • patricia bremner 11.2.1

        6 March 2018 at 11:25 am

        Thank you both.
    • Cinny 11.3

      6 March 2018 at 5:41 pm

      Much love Rosemary to you and your man, proud of you both.
12. SPC 12

    6 March 2018 at 11:07 am

    “Prime Minister Theresa May today vowed to make it harder for developers who “sit on land and watch its value rise” to get planning permission.

    The Prime Minister stressed she “cannot bring about the kind of society I want to see, unless we tackle one of the biggest barriers to social mobility we face today” – the lack of affordable housing.

    And she signalled a new approach to planning permission on green belt land”

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/theresa-mays-housing-speech-full-12130186

    Meanwhile locally the American hedge fund boys landbank via their golf courses (taking the land out of use drives up the areas land values) – which will later be on-sold and turned into gated community development.

    Given we have no CGT … a nice little earner

    And what are we doing about it?
    • greywarshark 12.1

      6 March 2018 at 11:55 am

      Thats an interesting method SPC. I must gather up my pennies and try for leverage, and get started on my upward social mobility.
    • james 12.2

      6 March 2018 at 1:31 pm

      If you think Tara Iti is about land banking – then you obviously have no idea of what he has created there.

      Perhaps you would like do dis his business partners as well – Te Uri o Hau and Ngati Manuhiri?

      and btw – the guy is a NZ resident.
    • SPC 12.3

      6 March 2018 at 3:12 pm

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/101918474/mark-reason-new-zealand-golf-is-turning-into-little-america

      https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/299764/beach-locals-upset-at-development-plans

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11625354
13. Venezia 13

    6 March 2018 at 11:07 am

    Thanks for posting that link Bill. That is a shocking account of the way we treat the families caring for disabled citizens. And National’s act in changing the law to restrict and block challenges to the policy is outrageous. When you consider how National “governed” in favour of the wealthy, the foreign buyers, the corporates, their electoral funders, and the vanity projects, this record of denying human rights to those most vulnerable has to be among the most heinous. Good luck to the families taking on the challenge.
14. Siobhan 14

    6 March 2018 at 11:21 am

    One month in Prison as a “cure” for homelessness, addiction and mental health issues.

    “Judge Philip Crayton said he had read the letter and said it was obvious that at Sayers’ age he needed to find a job and somewhere to live.

    Judge Crayton said he was concerned he would leave the court, still with nowhere to live and repeat the offences.”

    I’m slightly bemused as to what Judge Crayton thinks will change after one month in prison, other than the poor guy will be (possibly quite literally) dying for a drink.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12003688
15. Exkiwiforces 15

    6 March 2018 at 11:24 am

    This was on ABC’s 4 Corners lastnight. It is worth watching as it looks at Climate Change from MPI producers,1st Responder’s and from the Big end of town POV. There is not a Pollie in sight.

    http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/weather-alert/9511070
    • greywarshark 15.1

      6 March 2018 at 12:15 pm

      Thanks Exkiwiforces for the link. Your input is always good.

      This item from 4 Corners starts with a welcome, and then spells out how it is, literally on the ground. Can we make a similar statement for NZ?

      The political arguments over climate change have gone on for years frustrating progress on every level. Faced with the intransigence of the political system, a growing number of Australians are taking matters into their own hands. For them change is no longer theoretical, it’s here now.
      • Exkiwiforces 15.1.1

        6 March 2018 at 5:16 pm

        What I found interesting was the long term long trend of the Southern MPI producers was very similar to a couple of Top End Cattle Stations where I use to hunt and chatting to some of the old cattlemen at pub saying the climate is slowly changing ever so slowly now.

        The comments from the big end of town really hit the nail on the head. For me the last wet season, the second wettest season on record with hardly any cyclones in our area, but the flip side to this was hell of a dry season and the fires in our fire area was very intense which didn’t help with a fire bug lightning fires in some weird places.

        This years wet season has been weird to say the least with most areas from far nth Queensland through to nth Western Australia getting a years worth a rain in one mth instead of it being evenly spread throughout the wet season and the wet season doesn’t end until April. The old hands already saying the tail end of wet might bite us in the ass and the dry is going to be worst than last year. Because if you get a really big wet you can’t do any back burning and what back burning can be done is not that effective as there is to much soil moisture in the ground or in some it’s still too bloody wet for people to do their fire break as wasthe case with me last year as my last fire break got done half way through the Fire season and even then I almost the mower bogged.
16. Morrissey 16

    6 March 2018 at 12:20 pm

    Gavin “Mogadon” Ellis now pretends to be an advocate of free speech
    RNZ National, Tuesday 6 March 2018, 11:45 a.m.

    To round off today’s program, host Kathryn Ryan had her weekly fifteen minute talk about the media with the ex-Herald editor Gavin “Mogadon” Ellis. The first item was intriguing….

    “Gavin joins Kathryn and asks should the politically-connected be banned from media commentary?”
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon

    After rightly pouring cold water on National Party lightweight Melissa Lee’s expression of bogus concern about Tracey Bridges appearing on Jim Mora’s light chat show on RNZ National, Ellis then called Matthew Hooton “an excellent commentator on politics.” Clearly in the grip of an expansive spirit of liberal generosity, Ellis next averred: “I’m quite happy to hear the likes of Tracy Bridges and Sir Bob Jones.”

    Mogadon’s newfound commitment to the principle of free speech would have surprised anyone who witnessed his cowardice in 2002….
    https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-16102015/#comment-1083147
17. AsleepWhileWalking 17

    6 March 2018 at 12:31 pm

    MBIE was responsible for targeting me in their advertising as I was watching a YT.

    I sat transfixed and unable to bring myself to stop watching by clicking “skip ad” as I wondered what kind of money had been spent to produce the video and target a 40+ yr old watching a video on economics.

    Yes thanks to MBIE I have been reminded that a tenant is responsible for paying rent (!) and for a couple of minutes those gems of information just kept coming in the form of two cartoon houses (I assume MBIE wanted to use something I felt comfortable with). I was targeted more than once to reinforce the messages ensuring government money was well spent.
18. joe90 18

    6 March 2018 at 1:13 pm

    Jack does incandescent.

    Tonight, scrolling through Twitter, I came across a frankly audacious message sent from the ‘Bath Conservatives’ account, that had tagged me in. Unfortunately this is not an account dedicated to the frugal recycling of your dirty wash water, more’s the pity, but the haphazard and misfiring musings from the anonymous social media person for the Bath branch of the Conservative Party. You might have heard of them. They’re the ones in Government right now, and have been for around eight years now.

    These Conservatives decided, in their wisdom, to uphold me as an example of someone who could cook well on a meagre budget. Put like that, you may wonder why I exploded in cold fury.

    They said: “Indolent or disfunctional parents… simply don’t know how to feed their children well. If…Jack Monroe could feed herself and her child for £10 a week…most people can.”

    I exploded.

    […]

    The premise of the tweet from the Conservative Association was that parents who do not cook beautiful, bountiful meals from scratch are lazy, uneducated, unskilled and dysfunctional. Allow me to piss all over that particularly poisonous bonfire once and for all.

    https://cookingonabootstrap.com/2018/02/17/my-ready-meal-is-none-of-your-fucking-business/

    https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/jack-monroe-says-run-bath-1236674
19. savenz 19

    6 March 2018 at 1:28 pm

    Lovely, (sarcasm) Auckland council are really trying to reduce congestion by removing 6 local service centres and giving themselves the savings by upgrading their own digs 3.2 million fit out.

    “You will get an increased reach of customer service opportunity in communities. Our goal is to ultimately provide better opportunity to service our customers,” Aitken said.”

    How???????????????????? By spending 17 million plus of rate payers money on upgrading various premises (see below) while they close down the local services centres so customers have to travel further?

    “The plan comes not long after Auckland Transport spent about $11 million refurbishing a corporate office building in the CBD and a decision last week by councillors to approve an unbudgeted $3.2 million for a fit-out by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (Ateed) for new offices in the city.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12006827
    • greywarshark 19.1

      6 March 2018 at 2:10 pm

      I was curious about Wal-Mart and bought a book detailing their story. At the start they ran their office out of a few rooms above the shop. Now they are the biggest in the USA or something. A mighty power that makes America feel great. One day they’ll wake up, and have to go cold turkey.

      It sounds as if Auckland City Council are proceeding in the opposite direction.
      Their service to your pathetic needs and interests in the field will decrease till you will be lucky to be heard in some dim, understaffed little office. But they don’t want to follow Sam Walton’s methods before he reached the heights, ie get the show on the road, going well and effectively performing, and working from simple premises that are adequate and not flashy.
20. savenz 20

    6 March 2018 at 1:32 pm

    How about Auckland Council save money by taking ATEED to the airport for example with cheaper rents and Auckland Transport to South Auckland and their own Auckland Council head office so they can create some jobs in poorer areas and save money for rate payers on commercial premises.

    (Then all the managers living in Herne Bay, Wellington and Remmer’s for example can be among some of their constituents who they never meet and commuters. Might get some practical decisions for a change).
21. savenz 21

    6 March 2018 at 1:37 pm

    Don’t know what’s going on with Granny but they even had a few good articles today!

    John Gascoigne: NZ needs new economic compass

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12006897
22. greywarshark 22

    6 March 2018 at 2:01 pm

    Stephen Joyce retiring from Parliament. On Radionz news.
    • McFlock 22.1

      6 March 2018 at 2:22 pm

      I guess four votes in caucus was an overcount then 🙂
23. veutoviper 23

    6 March 2018 at 2:54 pm

    Calling muttonbird and maui – and Puckish Rogue aka the Stirrer

    Sometimes pictures help people ‘get the picture’,

    Further to our discussion on Open Mike 4 March at 7, here are some pictures of Jacinda Ardern’s family who are returning to NZ very soon after many years overseas – hence JA and CG buying a bigger house (and possibly retaining their current one in the meantime) to accommodate them and the new baby.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102007922/jacinda-arderns-homecoming-visit-to-niue

    So, we have Dad in picture 1; Mum and sister (Louise) in picture 2, and niece (Isabella?) in picture 3 (as well as Winston Peters!). Missing from the photos are Louise’s husband and their 4 month old son who was born in London on the same day (Oct 26) as JA and the new government were sworn in by the Governor-General.
    • Puckish Rogue 23.1

      6 March 2018 at 3:19 pm

      See thats nice, we don’t have to worry about silly old details like whats actually in (or isn’t in) the CPTTP do we

      Jacinda Ardern is sort of the political equivalent of The Breeze radio station

      Everythings nice and lovely and don’t worry about anything
      • veutoviper 23.1.1

        6 March 2018 at 3:57 pm

        Bullshit – that is the equivalent of saying you can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. And you know it.

        If you want to discuss the detail etc of CP-TPP, then do so. But you didn’t. You just tried to divert the conversation onto a red herring, which had already been discussed ad nauseum (partly because I was not about to let the stupid suggestions go unchallenged). Then when I pointed that out, you offered up another diversion.

        Or do you do it just to rile people up, leading to a flame war or similar and then bans getting handed out?

        Jacinda Ardern is far from the equivalent of the Breeze etc – if you think so, then you are one of the ones being diverted by the softer stuff. Actually listen to her speeches, watch what is actually happening.

        * By the way, my views on the CP-TPP are not popular here. Having a high sense of self-preservation I tend to avoid doing so and let the others rant. Besides what would I know about such things as NZ’s participation in and negotiation of bilateral and multi lateral international agreements, and membership etc of related international organisations etc? LOL.
        • Puckish Rogue 23.1.1.1

          6 March 2018 at 4:21 pm

          “Bullshit – that is the equivalent of saying you can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. And you know it.”

          Absolutely not, I will not let you get away with that, I’ve had people decide that what I said meant something else and I’ll nip it in the bud right here

          It means taking peoples minds of whats happening and making them feel safe and everything’s nice and rosy so you don’t have to worry about the decisions being made on your behalf

          It is absolutely not suggesting Jacinda can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.

          She is a very smart politicial operator and knows exactly what she is doing, like The Breeze does.

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/94466508/kiwis-like-the-breeze-for-music-newstalk-zb-for-news

          ‘The Breeze has overtaken The Edge as the country’s favourite music station’
          • McFlock 23.1.1.1.1

            6 March 2018 at 5:19 pm

            It means taking peoples minds of whats happening and making them feel safe and everything’s nice and rosy so you don’t have to worry about the decisions being made on your behalf

            Via the curious method of setting clear goals and expectations, measuring her government’s performance up against them, and having members of Cabinet do the same.

            Even the CPTPP announcement matches the form, where the minister tabling the text itemised the copy against their five lines in their manifesto. Now some of that wasn’t overly impressive, but they’re still pretty much on target. I disagree with Kelsey that side letters and suspended articles are meaningless, so I don’t think it’s a catastrophic miss. Labour have been openly free trade and for ISDS for years, within the constraints of the extent of ISDS. The people angry at Labour now either didn’t vote Labour last year or (stupidly) they did and are now angry Labour seems to have pretty much followed through on its platform.

            You don’t need to distract people from policies you announced and achieved. Quite the reverse.
            • weka 23.1.1.1.1.1

              6 March 2018 at 6:24 pm

              Why don’t you think the side letters and suspension of the US articles are meaningless?

              I hadn’t picked Labour as pro-ISDS. In fact, getting rid of the ISDS was one of their five bottoms lines.

              Because of what the TPPA is, it’s not an issue of Labour voters. The govt should be working for all NZ, irrespective of who voted for them.

              Ardern is adept at PR there is no doubt about that. I think PR is overstating his case though (when he gets round to actually stating it). JA is also very good at just being a people person.
              • Psycho Milt …

                6 March 2018 at 6:42 pm

                JA is also very good at just being a people person.

                I think that’s a concept right-wingers struggle with. For the right, a proper politician fakes being a people person for votes, a la John Key. Why would someone make a show of putting up with all those schmucks and losers if there was no personal gain in it? On the plus side, their inability to understand Ardern is good news for Labour.
                • BM …

                  6 March 2018 at 6:49 pm

                  Arden has demonstrated how superfluous a PM actually is.

                  Fascinating really, you could put Richie McCaw up as PM and it would have absolutely no impact on how NZ ran and operated.

                  I don’t think this is a good thing, to be honest.
                  • Psycho Milt …

                    6 March 2018 at 8:49 pm

                    To the extent there’s any truth in that, it was of course equally as true under John Key. Was it a good thing then?
                    • BM …

                      6 March 2018 at 9:14 pm

                      It’s not really comparable, Key was fronting everything, both domestically and internationally, compare that to Ardern who’s only good for staged environments and who runs from any difficult situation her handlers can’t control.

                      She’s a pathetic joke of a PM who’s making a mockery of what the PM is all about.
                • weka …

                  6 March 2018 at 7:20 pm

                  Good for Labour. I think that dynamic is a danger for the left though. We’re so used to an enemy, what do we do with a friend when they fuck up, especially if they are such a great person?
              • McFlock …

                6 March 2018 at 9:24 pm

                Because they’re additions to the formal agreement.

                Yes, one side letter with one nation means a multinational can simply use another nation as a vehicle for ISDS. So it depends on the extent of the side-letter wall, if you will. Not all the letters have been released yet, so it’s a bit early to say it doesn’t exist.

                Secondly, “getting rid of ISDS” was never one of their bottom lines, if you read it. We’ve been through this before. Labour wanted an ISDS more like the one they negotiated for the Sth Korean FTA under lab5, but felt the ones under the TPP were too open-ended.

                From 2015:

                * Drug buying agency Pharmac must be protected.

                * Corporations cannot successfully sue the Government for regulating in the public interest.

                * New Zealand maintains the right to restrict sales of farm land and housing to non-resident foreigner buyers.

                * The Treaty of Waitangi must be upheld.

                * Meaningful gains are made for farmers in tariff reductions and market access.

                They were never anti-ISDS, and they never promised to get rid of it. Just make public interest a defence for regulations. If they manage that via a side-letter wall, fair enough. If not (and we don’t know the full extent of side letters yet), then we’ll see what the damage is.

                Suspensions are just that. Until the US comes in, the suspended things are off the table and haven’t been agreed to. For the US to come in, they’ll have get agreement. So no, not meaningless.

                Labour are good at marketing, Ardern included. But she’s not running a distraction from govt policy (PR’s angle), she’s plugging it. And govt policy reflects the policies of the relative strengths of coalitions. Labour think this deal is working for NZ. The Greens do not.
          • Psycho Milt 23.1.1.1.2

            6 March 2018 at 5:26 pm

            ‘The Breeze has overtaken The Edge as the country’s favourite music station’

            Farkinell. That’s like reading “Syphilis has overtaken AIDS as the country’s favourite sex disease.”
24. eco maori 24

    6 March 2018 at 4:47 pm

    Lol the sandflys sent some actors to spin some lies about ECO MAORI at the sports and they all got water on there head.
    Ana to kai
    • eco maori 24.1

      6 March 2018 at 6:33 pm

      3 News Hub its the hottest year on record that’s global warming poking us inthee eyes. I hope The new coalition government start implementing some new technologies and policies to combat climate change. I Back the changes to Quantas air line change to increase Lady’s equality Ka pai Ka kite ano
25. eco maori 25

    6 March 2018 at 5:06 pm

    You see people Spark thinks there should be one law for the wealthy and one for the common poor he tangata the people we don,t need billionaires all flocking to Aoteraroa New Zealand if that happens we won,t be able to afford to feed our mokos .
    The wealthy can buy real-estate in other country’s to grow there fortune tuff if they can,t buy in New Zealand I new Spark was a neo liberal run company they are all about there rich m8 thats why ECO MAORI did not trust there give alittle website its just another money making skeem for spark here is a link to sparks reasons for lifting the foreign house buying ban.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12007127
    • eco maori 25.1

      6 March 2018 at 5:22 pm

      shonky and joyce think if you make a mistake you are not human you have know human rights our Supreme Court thinks differently ka pai they give me faith that I will win this test of my Mana. Ka kite ano

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12007449
      • eco maori 25.1.1

        6 March 2018 at 7:20 pm

        The project on 3 When we got married I left the planning up to my wife we tried to keep it quiet so not to many Whano turned up but know it got out and there was a few tangata there it turned out excellent.
        After the honeymoon I had to change a clutch plate in a XB Ford Falcon for my cousin lucky my m8 had the parts it was a Sunday and the parts shops weren’t open in those days it was a good WEEKEND.PS tell Mike McRoberts it my youngest son birthday today to Ka pai. Ka kite ano I’m not into joyces m8
        Many thanks for mentioning climate change Kanao Ka pai
26. greywarshark 26

    6 March 2018 at 6:41 pm

    Talk about Fletchers and EQC suing them. The past CEO says that the EQC guaranteed Fletchers against being sued. He seems to know what he is doing, and has gone on to head another large entity.

    CEO Mark Binns to leave Meridian | Stuff.co.nz
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/…/CEO-Mark-Binns-to-leave-Meridian
    Jun 22, 2017 – Mark Binns, the chief executive of Meridian Energy, has announced he is retiring at the end of the year. Binns, who has been at the helm of the company since 2011, said it had been a hard decision to leave. “This role has provided some awesome challenges and there are many interesting opportunities …

    Mark Binns: ‘Read my lips. I’m not going to Fletcher’ | The National …
    https://www.nbr.co.nz/…/mark-binns-read-my-lips-im-not-going-fletcher-b-206896

    Aug 24, 2017 – Retiring Meridian Energy chief executive Mark Binns definitively ruled himself out of interest in either taking over the leadership of Fletcher Building or of becoming a director of the troubled construction company. … “If I was going to own a smelter, I would rather own a smelter in New Zealand than Australia.

    He has now apparently gone to Metlifecare.
    • Antoine 26.1

      8 March 2018 at 4:57 am

      Would be awesome if he went into politics

• Comments are now closed

• Log in
• Donate
• Contribute post

• Articles RSS