Open Mike 06/12/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 6th, 2017 - 95 comments
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95 comments on “Open Mike 06/12/2017 ”

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  1. Ed 1
    6 December 2017 at 6:34 am

    Peter Lyon.

    ‘The aspect of modern economic thinking I find most depressing is the lack of any emphasis on play or fun or family and friendships.
    An economic worldview has evolved that sucks the meaningful marrow out of life. The big question we should be asking is whether our economic system is serving us or are most of us consigned to serving it?
    We pay homage to the little scrutinised goal of economic growth as progress towards some undefined Nirvana on earth.
    Yet few of us understand what this concept of economic growth actually means. It is a narrow obsession with ensuring that as a nation we make and consume more material stuff. ‘

    More here

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11953817

    • cleangreen 1.1
      6 December 2017 at 6:49 am

      agree 1000% Ed, we have lost the true simple things in life as the media are busy pumping the financial market forces and the stock market figures and hype relentlessly that we are consumed by their love of chasing money.

      Very sad it see; as they just seem to dolise the ‘gold covered figures’ as the romans and spanish did of old eh?

    • tc 1.2
      6 December 2017 at 7:07 am

      Good to see him back…..did he get parked whilst granny’s repeaters were shilling for Nationals election loss or have I just missed his down to earth pieces.

    • tracey 1.3
      6 December 2017 at 10:19 am

      Marilyn Waring did some amazing work for the OECD amongst others on GDP taking account, and placing a value upon, unpaid work. She was sadly way ahead of her time.

      • Rosemary McDonald 1.3.1
        6 December 2017 at 10:35 am

        http://www.marilynwaring.com/

        As is so often the case, she is held in much higher regard overseas than she is at home.

        Why is that?

        Is it because she ‘betrayed’ the National Party over this..

        “Waring precipitated the 1984 general election by threatening to vote for the opposition-sponsored nuclear-free New Zealand legislation, leading Prime Minister Rob Muldoon to call a snap election, stating that Waring’s “feminist anti-nuclear stance” threatened his ability to govern.[3] The nuclear-free New Zealand legislation was subsequently enacted by the new Labour government, and has been a sacrosanct touchstone of New Zealand foreign policy since.”

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

        And are the ‘left’ so ideologically constipated they can’t see the worth of an activist who was a National Party member?

        Sigh. Politics is so complicated.

        • tracey 1.3.1.1
          6 December 2017 at 10:49 am

          She also only stood for National cos Labour rebuffed her. She says her views aligned more with Labour. This was an interview I heard many months ago so I may nit be remembering her words acurately.

          To be honest I think it is partly because she was a highly intelligent economist amongst men. Once men started saying stuff she said, albeit 2 decades later…

          She wrote a letter to the Listener in 1984

          ” I address you too remembering Adrienne Rich writing in Women and Honour: Some Notes on Lying — “We assume that politicians are without honour. We read their statements trying to crack the code. The scandal of their politics is not that men in high places lie, only that they do so with such indifference, so endlessly, still expecting to be believed. We are accustomed to the contempt inherent in the political life.”

          http://www.noted.co.nz/archive/listener-nz-2012/a-letter-to-my-sisters/

    • Draco T Bastard 1.4
      6 December 2017 at 12:38 pm

      Human beings in modern economics are strictly defined by their production and consumption. Many of us have inadvertently been indoctrinated into this world view.

      It wasn’t inadvertent. That indoctrination is how the rich get to control everyone else.

  2. cleangreen 2
    6 December 2017 at 6:39 am

    Did anyone recorded this event last night please for the ‘public interest’

    “BREAKING: The Daily Blog to livestream TPPA meeting 6pm tonight

    By The Daily Blog / December 5, 2017 ”

    I missed it while responing to bloggers whjile this event was sent out live by TBD as the events are being ‘secretly’ set up without notifying the public sady.

    I am bemused about the lack of “openness and transparency” over these country wide meetings on ‘TPP 11’ (or whatever it is called for now)

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/12/05/breaking-the-daily-blog-to-livestream-tppa-meeting-6pm-tonight/#comment-410082

    If someone recorded this event can they give us a portal to hear/review this first meeting on ‘TPP11’ please?

    • weka 2.1
      6 December 2017 at 9:06 am

      There’s something on TDB right now about them putting up the once they’ve loaded it online. I’d post a link but can’t navigate the dog’s breakfast that is their front page.

      If you see the replay, please let me know and I’ll put up a post.

      • cleangreen 2.1.1
        6 December 2017 at 1:35 pm

        Thanks weka I just came in from getting the one foot high front lawn mowed so caught this meesage, wow it’s hot out there, I’m up in the Raukumara ranges 1650 ft above sea level.

        It is normally cooler here bthan Gisborne or Opotiki but not this time.

        Temp guage says 28 degrees C right now at 1.30pm so that is unheard of up here.

        Thanks for that about the TPP11 is being loaded so we can view/listen to the last nights meeting, as we need to beam thiis set of meetings this week out to as many who may be inclined to send a note to their MP that they dont want ‘TPP11’ (or whatever it is called for now). Cheers.

  3. Ed 3
    6 December 2017 at 6:53 am

    George Monbiot is an informed, fearless and independent journalist.
    This is what he as written recently about climate change.
    http://www.monbiot.com/2017/10/23/insectageddon/

    David Attenborough is a highly respected and renowned broadcaster on the natural world.
    This is what his most recent show Blue Panet 2 says about climate change.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11953732

    Barry Soper is a compromised corporate puppet who earns his money by writing sycophantic articles to please the financial industries who own the media in New Zealand.
    This is what he wrote about climate change.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11953808

  4. cleangreen 4
    6 December 2017 at 7:16 am

    Barry Soper said this sadly; “And to all the naysayers in this country who say climate change is cool, well warm, and it should be encouraged”

    Ed, am I reading this right?

    If so; – does this indicate Barry Soper is encouraging climate change deniers/naysayers?

    Just want to confirm if I ‘comprehend’ Sopers views correctly?

    • Ed 4.1
      6 December 2017 at 11:24 am

      Only Soper knows.
      He is an utter disgrace.

      • OnceWasTim 4.1.1
        6 December 2017 at 1:32 pm

        Sometimes I think that the likes of Soper, Hoskings and many of those ZB egg rolls are desperate to remain relevant, and they think the best way to do it is by way of that Okker-style ‘shock jock’ shit. Leighton Smith and Lackwit Larry are the other ones I was trying to think of. In a way you can sort of excuse Duncan ‘Dunks’ Garner and that OnceWas-a-Cricketer guy because they’re obviously getting into their mid-life crisis and wanting to remain down with the kuds.
        It’s a shame the ageing process these days doesn’t seem to be as graceful as it once was. No bloody way would I want to be 20 or 30 something again

        • David Mac 4.1.1.1
          6 December 2017 at 4:09 pm

          Journalists used to be measured and paid depending on the esteem they were held in by editors, the board, advertisers and readers.

          Now it’s come down to ‘So how many clicks did the Soper story get?’

          • David Mac 4.1.1.1.1
            6 December 2017 at 4:20 pm

            To be successful in journalism today requires chasing down the ‘African Woman turns Boeing 747 into engagement ring shop for the wealthy Jews of Antarctica.’ stories.

            • David Mac 4.1.1.1.1.1
              6 December 2017 at 4:53 pm

              Our culture moves in cycles but it’s always a bit different when we revisit. The new Camaro is only a little bit like the one of the 60’s. The fresh faded look Hawaiian print shirts out for this Summer are a bit different this time round, the yoke, pocket, collar.

              Media is not immune to this. The Time Warner, Hearst, Murdoch empires of the past have morphed into Facebook and Twitter.

              When the media giants started to rise 100 years ago their well-being prompted those with foresight to explore avenues like ‘I wonder if people would like an indepth view into what’s happening in their town?’ Local papers were born. As the decades passed they gained traction and profitability and ultimately were gobbled up by the media behemoths.

              The cycle will repeat but the Facebook Giants won’t be buying The Western Leader, they’ll be buying the new versions. The Standard, Honda Gossip or Breastfeeding Mums interactive readerships.

              I’d advertise my cattle prods on the Whale and graffiti paint on The Standard.

  5. cleangreen 5
    6 December 2017 at 7:58 am

    Winston Peter’s case against National breach of privacy goes to court tomorrow firstly as “discovery” on 7/12/17.

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/11/07/58644/winston-goes-fishing

    Peters filed against Nats before election

    Winston Peters’ lawyers signed papers seeking legal action against National leader Bill English and three of his ministers the day before the election was even held.

    His action – which also seeks journalists’ phone and email records over the disclosure he was overpaid superannuation for seven years – was set before Peters received his seven percent of the vote and then entered supposedly good faith negotiations with both the National and Labour parties. He chose Labour, ousted National and now serves members of its negotiating team with legal action.

    His papers even note that these National ministers were not acting in a ministerial capacity, in the matters that he is seeking documents over, and now have no access to state funds to defend themselves.

    The case, if it becomes a case, appears to be over a breach of privacy.

    His lawyer Brian Henry signed on September 22 the application to force English, Steven Joyce, Paula Bennett and Anne Tolley, plus English’s former chief of staff Wayne Eagleson to provide documents as did one of Peters’ solicitors Clifton Killip Lyon on a separate affidavit.

    His lawyers told the High Court they could not formulate their legal action without access to whatever documents the nine listed defendants – including this writer – might possess. And they say some of the defendants might have no “tortious liability” in any case.

    • BM 5.1
      6 December 2017 at 8:03 am

      Peters is a fucking idiot and one of the main reasons why this government has had no honeymoon at all.

      Backtracking and weaselling out on multiple election promises hasn’t helped either.

      • marty mars 5.1.1
        6 December 2017 at 8:16 am

        Peter’s has the power and the gnat ex ministers will be worried. Hardly an idiot bm just accept it – whoever tried to sanction Winnie by releasing very private information are going to be held to account. Seems pretty solid to me.

      • Incognito 5.1.2
        6 December 2017 at 8:20 am

        Attempt to derail again??

      • Johan 5.1.3
        6 December 2017 at 8:22 am

        By the sounds of it you are the only idiot on this channel BM.
        Why you got your knickers in a twist, I do not understand or perhaps you condone the release of private gov’t information to smear people?

      • cleangreen 5.1.4
        6 December 2017 at 8:47 am

        geez BM you are really showing a sign of mental breakdown here, hence I am genuinely worried about you.

        I am a man that has deep compassion for all our people; – and that includes you.

        I can vividly see you are a National Party supporter as I was, – when I returned from Canada to my home in Napier in 1976.

        Robert Muldoon was what we saw as a true “Natonalist” PM out to protect what he oddly called “the ordinary kiwi bloke” (meaning family/whanau) at the time.

        I was captured by Muldoon’s will to save NZ then and still feel that way even though some run him down as the media did also, as they semed to be again over Winston for a time.

        So back to you, – so you are a national supporter and have now suffered a humiliating defeat of National loosing control of running the country.

        I do understand your frustration here.

        We on the other side; – Labour/NZF/Greens coalition are making solid headway in reversing the last nine years of austerity, and we are happy for this to occur.

        We lived for nine years with our hearts lierally in our hands, daily frustrated and fearful of what National would do to us and our country next byselling all our assets and SOE’s set up for sale.

        The new government is truly now gaining in confidence in parliament talking the blocking tactics National are trying to put up against the new government.

        Changes are now coming BM and as we accept this under nine years of national you do need to make peace with your soul and accept the changes as holding that anger inside will cause you great health harm..

      • Tricledrown 5.1.5
        6 December 2017 at 9:18 am

        Big Moaner still crying in your Beersies Much,if Winston had gone with National you would be defending him.
        Better Move on Begrudging Minion.

      • Bearded Git 5.1.6
        6 December 2017 at 9:50 am

        @ BM Peters played National for the fools they are. He had to give the impression they were in the game to get as much out of the coalition talks as possible, but he knew all along he was going with Labour and the Greens if they picked up one or two seats from the specials.

        Anybody (including Jacinda) watching the exchanges and body language in parliament over the last 6 years would have known Winston was going with Labour.

        Remember his comment “Labour lost the unloseable election” after Cunliffe lost in 2014 It was clear from this he was ready to support Labour then too.

      • tracey 5.1.7
        6 December 2017 at 10:21 am

        You can take the man out of National but not the National out of the man ey BM?

        I genuinely do not understand why Nat supporters are upset at someone behaving as their National Ministers and PMs have.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.1.8
        6 December 2017 at 12:40 pm

        You’re still really upset that Winston and NZ1st went with Labour rather than National aren’t you? Despite National offering more baubles.

    • savenz 5.2
      6 December 2017 at 10:28 am

      +1 CleanGreen. Good luck Winston. NZ Citizens information should be kept private, let alone leaked to influence elections.

    • mpledger 5.3
      6 December 2017 at 11:17 am

      And apparently National also entered into “good faith” negotiations with Peters while having breached his privacy and releasing the information to the public.

      • OnceWasTim 5.3.1
        6 December 2017 at 2:06 pm

        Yep. And as Winnie entered into what he thought were deep and meaningful discussions with National with their “boy, have I got a deal for you!”, he soon came to realise he was dealing with what we once referred to as the ‘used-car salesman’ of the dog and lemon.
        Those used-car salesmen are still dealing with their grief. Never mind fellas, it’ll be over soon

  6. eco maori 6
    6 December 2017 at 8:13 am

    When my children were younger I notice that there teeth were looking bad I did some research and because there was no fluoride in the water I went to the chemist and started them on fluoride tablets. And 3 out of 4 children teeth are fine the one I spent $4000 on braces later in life got addicted to Coca-Cola and that ruined her teeth I still give her shit about that the others are perfect. Science is all about asking questions and finding the true answer Ka pai

  7. eco maori 7
    6 December 2017 at 8:17 am

    The people on the Rock radio rumble are funny buggers lol Roger those buggers set you up so funny but you are good at handling there stick lol Kia kaha

    • eco maori 7.1
      6 December 2017 at 10:06 pm

      Heaps of the idiots following me around today marked cars to they don’t like there secrets out that they are humans and are not perfect.
      They are a gang of intimidating bullies. They don’t like me painting there reality which is they break all the laws they want and they will use anyone to set up there Mark. They don’t care if you are dieing old young a bum they will use you
      And not give a shit if there presence cause stress it goes way over there head. One of my clients that they have been using had a heart attack it won’t even register that they caused it these people are shitting on our society and casting a image that they care for you YEA RIGHT. ANA TO KAI
      .

  8. Whispering Kate 8
    6 December 2017 at 8:44 am

    One thing which came to me while listening to Morning Report this morning is, this Government and Auckland Super City Council are either too afraid of their own shadow or too money mad to consider the consequences of their actions. The Australian Government is making new laws to curb foreign influence within their Government structures and haven’t found it difficult to do so The Super City is saying that to close the walking tracks to protect our Kauri trees etc will be too expensive to police and difficult to monitor tourists treking through the reserves and parks.

    What is so difficult that Andrew Little cannot bring about changes to protect our sovereignity – how can he say he is comfortable that all safe guards are in place over political donations and covert long term strategies that some countries will go to, to blend in with our political systems for their own subversive ends.

    Penny Hulse comes across as either too money mad or poorly informed if she thinks this Kauri problem is just too difficult to get her head around – it’s plain to see she isn’t concerned about the demise of this mighty species of tree – all because it is too difficult to tackle.

    What a country of useless heaps we have become – what has happened to our courage and doing the right thing when it has to be done.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018624347/kauri-dieback-forces-13-waitakere-tracks-to-close

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018624346/nz-urged-to-crack-down-on-foreign-political-influence

    • The Chairman 8.1
      6 December 2017 at 10:15 am

      “What is so difficult that Andrew Little cannot bring about changes to protect our sovereignity – how can he say he is comfortable that all safe guards are in place over political donations and covert long term strategies that some countries will go to, to blend in with our political systems for their own subversive ends.”

      Perhaps Little’s position is a consequence of this influence taking hold?

    • tracey 8.2
      6 December 2017 at 10:26 am

      I found her appearance on tv last night endorsing the new prohibition odd given a few days ago she said it was nice but not something she thought coubcil coukd back.

  9. garibaldi 9
    6 December 2017 at 8:44 am

    The recognition of Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel instead of Tel Aviv is another nail in the coffin on the fate of the Middle East. Jerusalem is a muslim city and this move will NOT be accepted by Islam. The Zionist/USA bloc is making an overly confident move here and is heading for huge trouble. Who will win and at what cost we don’t know but we are in for more American lead mayhem.

  10. Cinny 10
    6 December 2017 at 8:52 am

    Here is some proof that national standards haven’t been working for our kids. So happy we now have a government that listens to the teachers and cares about the kids, now we can have progress.

    The legacy of the losing national party has damaged so many facets of our society. But no more!!!

    International report shows children’s literacy suffered under National Standards

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/99534189/international-report-shows-childrens-literacy-suffered-under-national-standards

    • savenz 10.1
      6 December 2017 at 10:24 am

      Thanks for that great link, Cinny. Having got young children the national standards are a complete mess as is the rest of the primary education system.

      With the literacy, it seems that if a child misses getting to the right level in year 1, it’s all over and they are then labeled as ‘something wrong’ with the child. These days everyone seems to be an amateur psychologist musing on various conditions that they read up about on the Internet, which itself is completely alarming and it seems to have become a way to excuse the teacher and school from bothering to continue or change strategies to get the child over the line in year 2 and onwards.

      Education has become a process of denial and blame on the child and denial of precious resources, rather than actual learning or bothering to make real effort to get 100% literacy within the school.

      At the same time the testing and programmic nature of the literacy standards turn the children off the subjects making it worse, the chaotic methods that confuse some children more than help, as well as the new open plan style of classrooms which again are problematic for many children to concentrate in.

      The other big problem in primary schools is the new reliance on the private sector in public schools. Gone are the swimming pools in many schools, now kids are routinely bused into private centres for an underwhelming overcrowded lesson that parents pay for in their activity fees and is basically pointless. It is not surprising our high drowning statistics if that is what parents have to rely on.

      Music has gone, in real terms visual art has gone, drama privatised and school play gone in many schools which of course combined art/music/drama for kids, PE very minimal (at the very same time as due to traffic many kids now don’t walk to school and actually need the exercise first thing in the morning).

      No wonder kids are committing suicide and getting depressed, the arty ones, musical ones, drama ones, sporty ones are in some sort of hierarchy of education that whatever they might be good at does not matter and only those who excel initially are raised up. (normally those that can already read and write before entering the school). People who change the world are actually not high flyers in primary or secondary, they often show little talent or are dreamers, so it’s all a complete waste of talent in NZ to write many kids off and let them lose confidence.

      Education has become a process that is designed for the top 40% just like the statistics show and everything in schools seem to be helping those kids succeed and this is leading to others becoming disengaged for many reasons at an early age, (and then blamed for it).

      • tracey 10.1.1
        6 December 2017 at 10:29 am

        Designed to create little cogs for the low wage industry?

        ““The whole educational and professional training system is a very elaborate filter, which just weeds out people who are too independent, and who think for themselves, and who don’t know how to be submissive, and so on — because they’re dysfunctional to the institutions.” Noam Chomsky

        • savenz 10.1.1.1
          6 December 2017 at 10:38 am

          Also to push kids into charter schools and private sector learning.

          The failures become little cogs for low wages industry.

          The successes one dimensional non creatives who excel in processes and reporting back what they have heard.

          • savenz 10.1.1.1.1
            6 December 2017 at 11:35 am

            Even worse with the increasing automation both low wage and processing and reporting skills will be made more redundant in youth and it’s the new generation of creative adults that IT can’t replace, that will actually be in demand.

            Typical Natz screw up.

            • JanM 10.1.1.1.1.1
              6 December 2017 at 12:33 pm

              I don’t think it was a “Natz screw up” I think it was done deliberately in the full knowledge that it was a dud

              • savenz …
                6 December 2017 at 12:50 pm

                On the whole education topic I also think that the onerous health and safety and responsibility to schools/teachers need to be looked at and reduced by the new government.

                It has created too much focus on ridiculous safety measures for teachers and not enough time spent on the actual coursework and teaching. Kids not becoming resilient as every cut/scratch/bruise is monitored and the kids can’t be kids anymore in case they fall down/cut themselves etc. It’s backfiring as well as kids then are anxious (getting a safety messages constantly makes them feeling there may be danger lurking) and can then lead onwards to mental health issues.

                I find it hard to understand under the National government how 29 people died at Pike River and not held to account under law, yet every teacher spends way too much time on safety talks and has copious reporting for every injury. You just can’t wrap up kids in cotton wool. Then the poor sods graduate and work for companies like Talleys and cut their hand off. Common sense needs to be introduced.

                It’s spread to A&E now too , as one New Years day, some person came in and presented a child at Starship who had minorly cut toe that a plaster could have sorted out, and then emergencies can’t get through. People need to get a grip!

              • savenz …
                6 December 2017 at 12:54 pm

                Yep I guess then there is more work for dole type schemes where the taxpayers are footing the wages. Free Labour for employers beats minimum wages or even $2 p/h.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                6 December 2017 at 12:54 pm

                Certainly has that look to it in many ways.

                • Tricledrown …
                  6 December 2017 at 1:40 pm

                  DTB The Oil industry gets $700 million a year in subsidies.
                  Comalco millions more.
                  Irrigation $350 million.
                  Many other examples.
                  Working for families.

    • Tricledrown 10.2
      6 December 2017 at 10:49 am

      In 2009 the UK govt found National Standards we’re causing a decline in literacy as well as being expensive.
      A Toy govt cancelled National Standards while National carried on with this failed costly experiment.

      • savenz 10.2.1
        6 December 2017 at 11:37 am

        Our National government is even worse than the Tories, sounds hard to believe but probably true! I mean they did take away healthy lunches in schools under urgency. What a priority! Sickening.

  11. Morrissey 11
    6 December 2017 at 9:10 am

    Deadbeat Dads
    No. 6: KINGSLEY AMIS

    This old fool was once a passable minor novelist. He wrote the very good Lucky Jim in 1957, and then coasted for the rest of his cantankerous, “contrarian” life. Unlike normal people, this anti-Semitic, women-hating old goat did not mellow with age, but grew crankier and more extreme in his views. But his worst—by far his worst—legacy to the world is his disgusting son, the novelist and fifth-rate essayist Martin Amis…..

    In a highly critical article for his own Daisycutter Sports Digest, reprinted in Media Lens, Breen, author of BERNADINE, or “Hell Hath No Fury” said Amis was the “fluky beneficiary of a famous name”, and that his carefully cultivated Oxbridge stammer and air of studied insouciance fails to cover up the “painfully obvious” fact that he “reads little, and knows virtually nothing about anything.”

    Breen’s intervention comes as Amis faces continued reaction from people disgusted with his crude race-baiting, which has proved to be a disturbing re-run of the notorious outbursts against “coons”, “wops”, “darkies” and Jews by his father, the late author Kingsley Amis.

    Breen, who said he has spent “much too much” of his time struggling through really third-rate British fiction, also called Mr Amis “humorless”, “talentless”, and a “pathetic creep”, who had traded on his father’s fame and assiduously “sucked up” to the likes of the late Christopher Hitchens, who always poured scorn on Amis’s academic pretensions and treated his attempts to foot it with him intellectually with amused disdain. Breen noted how the notoriously lazy and ill-read Amis had boasted often about his “Congratulatory” Oxford First in English — “the sort where you are called in for a viva and the examiners tell you how much they enjoyed reading your papers.”

    Mr Amis was a man “without the slightest semblance of character, leave alone discernible talent”, he added, and cited the academic Terry Eagleton’s opinion of some newspaper opinion pieces Amis had written as akin to the “ramblings of a British National Party thug.”

    https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-29102015/#comment-1088122

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1565696/Family-defends-racist-Sir-Kingsley-Amis.html

    Keep up with ALL the Deadbat Dads…
    1 Sir John Key, 2 Bill “Double Dipper” English; 3 Sir Douglas Graham; 4 John Banks; 5 David Cameron

    • Bearded Git 11.1
      6 December 2017 at 10:01 am

      @Morrissey

      “Lucky Jim” is wonderful but “The Old Devils” which Amis wrote in 1986, that is 32 years after Lucky Jim, is a great book. This doesn’t fit your “coasting” theory in terms of his literary efforts.

    • Psycho Milt 11.2
      6 December 2017 at 10:06 am

      The author of Money, London Fields and Time’s Arrow is “talentless?” You may be confusing your personal likes and dislikes with critical evaluation. They’re not the same thing.

      • David Mac 11.2.1
        6 December 2017 at 10:47 am

        Artists that leave a mark are often fairly outrageous characters in real life. Your head needs to be in a special place to lob your own ear off, build a Disneyland in the backyard, it’s hard not to wonder how much of Hunter S Thompson’s stuff is fiction.

      • Bearded Git 11.2.2
        6 December 2017 at 11:54 am

        @Psycho…..all three of those were written by Martin Amis

        • Andre 11.2.2.1
          6 December 2017 at 12:18 pm

          If I’m correctly keeping track of the multiple layers of Morrissey quoting himself, then it appears Martin is indeed the Amis that Morrissey described as “talentless”.

        • Psycho Milt 11.2.2.2
          6 December 2017 at 12:31 pm

          Yes – it was Martin Amis Morrissey was quoting himself referring to as “talentless.” Kingsley is the “anti-Semitic, women-hating old goat” in the story.

    • Cemetery Jones 11.3
      6 December 2017 at 11:04 am

      Damn, this post just reminds me how much the left is missing the Christopher Hitchens factor these days. Sure, he fucked up on Iraq, wrong conclusion for the right ideas but I’m certain that had he lived to see the ISIS years, he’d have surely accepted that whatever justification there was for being rid of Hussein, his heirs, their clan, and their horrible regime, there had to have been something better than what happened.

  12. Tricledrown 12
    6 December 2017 at 9:23 am

    “National” Standards a failure
    Literacy goes down under National Standards.
    A right wing failure they still defend.

  13. savenz 13
    6 December 2017 at 9:28 am

    Cruise ships took Napier’s water before crisis

    It’s been revealed that two cruise ships filled up with water in Napier just before the city’s water crisis.

    Nearly one percent of Napier’s water was split between the vessels that left on Sunday afternoon, one at around 3pm and the other at around 4pm….

    …The Mayor of Napier blamed the water shortage on excessive use by residents.

    “What happens is the reservoirs recharge overnight. Normally we have water usage up until around 8pm and then overnight the reservoirs recharge,” Bill Dalton told The AM Show on Tuesday morning.

    “On Sunday night they didn’t. The reason for that is people put their sprinklers on and left them on all night.”

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/12/cruise-ships-took-1pct-of-napier-s-water-before-crisis.html

    • savenz 13.1
      6 December 2017 at 11:39 am

      What is not been reported is how much each cruise ship paid for the water. Was is charged? Free? Who knows with this type of reporting.

      • Grey Area 13.1.1
        6 December 2017 at 1:01 pm

        Our local rag this morning had a bit more detail.

        Port says cruise ships not the cause

        It appears the cruise ships were charged by the port company. So where does that money go? According to their website The Port of Napier Ltd operates as a fully autonomous subsidiary of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company (HBRIC) which is the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s investment company.

        • savenz 13.1.1.1
          6 December 2017 at 3:48 pm

          The Port of Napier Ltd sounds like Ports of Auckland, totally unaccountable to the ratepayers but still getting everything on the cheap from ratepayers (like water) but pretending it’s all profit.

          Interesting to know what the council charged the ports for the water.

          P.S. cruise ships are one of the most polluting ways to travel and often use close to slave labour while being domiciled in tax havens and paying little to zero taxes. Not sure if this was the case with these cruise ships.

          Anyway usual shocking neoliberal be warned tale, of the ordinary folks being blamed and told to tighten up and it’s all their fault, and behind the scenes some quasi corp is taking the water during a shortage for another corp which is probably not taxed in NZ or not even using NZ staff.

  14. Ffloyd 14
    6 December 2017 at 10:24 am

    Breaking news! Bill English is DESPARATE for simple Christmas cake recipes as Mary has said he has to make one. Why can’t he just use an Edmonds Cookery Book instead of going to the media… No where near cute and folksy.. TWAT!!

    • Tricledrown 14.1
      6 December 2017 at 10:39 am

      Pineapple and mixed fruit pizza Bill.
      With Don Brashes corned beef and mushy peas for the main course.
      Let them eat cake.

    • Bearded Git 14.2
      6 December 2017 at 1:54 pm

      Is this going to go on for three years or are they going to Christmas Roll him soon….

  15. veutoviper 15
    6 December 2017 at 10:44 am

    Sorry if this has already been put up, but if you missed the live streaming of Jacinda Ardern discussing climate change with Al Gore last evening on the “Climate Reality Project 24 Hours Of Reality”, here is a link to TVNZ which still have a video of the full interview on its website

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/full-interview-jacinda-ardern-chats-al-gore-new-zealands-role-in-fight-against-climate-change

    A well worthwhile use of c 13 minutes, IMO.

  16. joe90 16
    6 December 2017 at 1:06 pm

    Well Putin gets away with it…..

    Former speechwriter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and current ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Aydın Ünal on Monday threatened Turkish journalists in exile with extrajudicial killings, in his column published in the pro-Erdoğan Yeni Şafak daily.

    Strongly criticizing journalists in exile for covering the case of Reza Zarrab, a Turkish-Iranian gold trader who was arrested in Miami in March 2016 on charges of evading US sanctions on Iran, Ünal said: “Better to get ready for intra-organization extrajudicial killings instead of carrying out operations over judicial theater [the Zarrab case].”

    https://www.turkishminute.com/2017/12/04/erdogans-deputy-threatens-journalists-with-extrajudicial-killings/

  17. Rosemary McDonald 17
    6 December 2017 at 1:16 pm

    It’s here!!!

    http://www.ssc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/pif-review-health-dec2017.pdf

    The much awaited Performance Improvement Framework Review for Ministry of Health which probably cost the career of Chai Chuah.

    Chai Chuah, who just the other day said…

    “… it was not an easy decision to make.

    “As I am immensely proud of the progress that we have made as a ministry over the last four years.

    “I recognise there is a lot more work yet to do, however, I believe the foundations are now in place for the Ministry of Health to take the next step. I am optimistic that the important shift our health system needs to make is already in motion,” he said. ”

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/99525479/directorgeneral-of-health-steps-down–hunt-for-new-health-boss-starts

    Bugger me…”proud”?

    Not a lot to be proud of in this…

  18. The Fairy Godmother 18
    6 December 2017 at 4:25 pm

    I wonder if anyone on here knows anything about results based accountability. When I Google it it seems to be a great tool however I am aware of a small ngo using it to prove their worth but the language is confusing and putting off the community they claim to serve. They are putting lots of effort into consulting and refining goals but not appearing to do much.

  19. Penny Bright 19
    6 December 2017 at 4:39 pm

    Auckland Transport’s secret further 150 km, $635 million Auckland cycleway plan was EXPOSED at Auckland Council Audit and Risk Ctte meeting 6/12/2017

    Subject matter included:

    1) The risk to Auckland Council following the alleged failure of Auckland Transport as a Council Controlled Organisation, to comply with its statutory duties arising from the Local Government Act 2002 (s.59), and the Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Act 2010, sections 38,39 and 40, regarding the effective imposition of ‘cycleways’ upon local communtities, without full and proper consultation; the cost of these ‘cycleway’ projects, and the cost of remediation of these ‘cycleway’ projects, such as West Lynn.

    2) The ‘risk’ regarding the complete lack of public consultation regarding an effectively ‘secret’ AT plan for a further 150 kms of Auckland cycleways, costing $635 million.

    https://at.govt.nz/media/1974191/item114-auckland-cycling-programme-for-investmentfinal.pdf

    “CONFIDENTIAL Cycling Programme Business Case Recommendation

    That the Board: i. Endorse the recommended strategic direction for future investment in cycling in Auckland, the funding of which will be subject to prioritisation through the Integrated Transport Programme (ITP).

    Executive summary

    1 There is a significant opportunity for cycling to play a more substantial role in contributing to a more effective transport system for Auckland.

    During the programme period, transport demands will continue to grow strongly alongside population and employment across the region, placing increasing pressure on congested networks and, in particular, on access to the city centre.

    2 We analysed a range of options to identify which package would most effectively deliver the benefits and objectives of the programme, carried out economic modelling and conducted extensive engagement to arrive at a preferred programme of investment.

    3 This programme business case recommends an investment of $635m in cycling over the period 2018-2028 to most effectively meet the objectives of the programme.

    This would provide benefits of $1.9 to $4.6 for every $1 invested, and would deliver 150km of new cycleways linking to key activity centres and maximising access to public transport.

    The investment would see an increase in modal share of trips to work for cycling from 1 per cent to 4 per cent across the Auckland region. ..”

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner
    …..