Open mike 06/12/2021
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6:00 am, December 6th, 2021 - 331 comments
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- Weekly Roundup 22-November-2024
It’s another Friday and we’re inching closer to the end of the year. Here’s some of the stories that have caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers and ...25 minutes ago - Beyond Question?
Record Numbers: The Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, which began at the tip of the North, and the tail of the South, on 11 November, culminated outside Parliament on Tuesday, 19 November 2024, in one of the largest demonstrations in New Zealand’s political history.ACCORDING TO TE ARA, the Ministry of Culture ...1 hour ago - The Rush To Blame “The Activists”
Activists are such easy scapegoats. The right and center have been conditioned for decades to roll their eyes at all protests. The left are easily aggravated over students leading movements they see as belonging to grownups, who have more important concerns like the economy and whether the trains come on ...1 hour ago - Cutting Through An Inundation of Dipshit Racists
Hi,Watching New Zealand from afar offers a strange perspective. It can be a good thing — distance from Aotearoa helped keep me sane while I reported on abuse at New Zealand’s biggest megachurch over the course of a year. It helps fuel my silly podcast. But it can also be ...2 hours ago - This is bad news
The speech yesterday by Treasury’s Chief Economic Advisor warning that the books are in worse shape than forecasted looks like it’s part of a softening-up process for either more cuts or a longer wait to get back into surplus. The speech was a highly unusual public preview of Treasury’s Half-Yearly ...3 hours ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #47 2024
Open access notables Projected increase in the frequency of extremely active Atlantic hurricane seasons, Lopez et al., Science Advances: Future changes to the year-to-year swings between active and inactive North Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) seasons have received little attention, yet may have great societal implications in areas prone to hurricane ...12 hours ago - Chicken Kiev
Chatting in the supermarket this morning, I found I needed to lunge for the chicken drumsticks.Coping mechanisms: who hasn’t felt a greater need for them lately?When it all gets too much, I turn to demonstrating handy butchery hacks.It wasn’t that she’d said anything wrong, our friend, not at all. We ...16 hours ago - The year is 2024 and it’s 1984
This is written in response to the highly significant open letter from a group of economists that was today addressed to Christopher Luxon. The year is 2024, and it’s 1984. The country is reeling from a record Olympic medal gold haul, while the globe grapples with the choice of the ...16 hours ago - The IPCA has failed
Back in 2022, RNZ took an in-depth look at the "Independent" Police Conduct Authority and its handling of killings by police. These are the most serious test of oversight, and you would expect the police's use of lethal force to receive the most severe scrutiny. But despite the police regularly ...20 hours ago - Thursday 21 November 2024
The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti arrived at Parliament on Tuesday – the size is being debated but estimates range from 42,000 to 100,000. The Prime Minister is defending not attending due to some of the organisers being affiliated with Te Pāti Māori. The national gang patch ban came into force ...21 hours ago - ‘These budget cuts are counter-productive and make no sense’
I spoke to former Productivity Chair Nana this morning about the letter he and a group of other economists sent to PM Christopher Luxon to urge the Government to urgently suspend cuts to spending and investment for the sake of the economy, struggling businesses and the wellbeing of vulnerable ...22 hours ago - ACT’s Astroturfing & A Co-ordinated Attack on Te Pati Māori
Unity on the Streets / Unity at the TableAfter the Hīkoi, all three right wing Coalition leaders came together to push the idea that the 42,000 - 50,000 + strong Hikoi was somehow less potent and brave, and more illegitimate than the energy and crowd displayed.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon 20-November: ...23 hours ago - Durability of carbon dioxide removal is critical for stabilizing temperatures
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Nicola Willis’ budget cuts are under fire from economists for having no clear rationale and worsening the recession. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 21: The news at ...1 day ago
- The end of policing by consent
National has appointed a new police commissioner. And he explicitly rejects policing by consent: Asked if he subscribed to policing by consent, he said he did not. “I don’t talk about policing by consent. I talk about trust and confidence, and it is fundamentally important that the police have ...2 days ago
- The Treaty Principles Bill: A Who’s Who
David Horatio Waterbed SeymourFringe politician and dweeb transformed successfully by ThinkTank money into a well-oiled soundbite robot.Currently programmed to say: Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Was previously programmed to say:I am a proud libertarian andI am a ...2 days ago - Kinleith mill closure shows need for industrial strategy
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to deliver an economic and industrial strategy for regional manufacturing, rather than just expressing sympathy for job losses, following the announced closure of Kinleith mill in Tokoroa. “The closure Kinleith mill in Tokoroa is not just devastating for ...2 days ago
- 27% of kids going hungry, up from 21% in a year
One in four Kiwi children live in households where food runs out often or sometimes. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, November 20: The lead: The official annual Health Survey found sharp ...2 days ago - Transport modelling is an illusion
This guest post by Tim Adriaansen, an advocate for accessibility and sustainable transport, originally published on LinkedIn and cross posted here with permission. People prefer cars, right? Probably not. Here’s why. Granted, most people in English-speaking countries use a car to get around. This simple reality underpins our transport ...2 days ago
- Young Maori take over
Neither Wellington nor Parliament has ever seen anything like it before. The Police said there were more than 40,000 but however many there were, yesterday’s Hikoi to Parliament was a monumental event. It was almost three times the Foreshore and Seabed martch of 2004 and many,many times bigger than ...2 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Aftermath
The euphoria from yesterday’s hikoi may be transitory, but is no less valuable for that. It is pretty rare for the left to feel itself to be in the overwhelming majority, and speaking as the voice of the people. Lest that momentum be lost, the organisers will no doubt be ...2 days ago - Sabin 33 #3 – Solar panels generate too much waste and will overwhelm landfills
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Mr David Seymour crawling up to the ceilingThe sun don't shine the sun don't shine the sun don't shine at allMamma Pappa say you should go to school, I don't know what forNow that I've grown up and seen the world and all its liesSong: Southside of Bombay"Ake, ake, ake" ...3 days ago - Submit to defend te Tiriti!
The Justice Committee has called for submissions on National's racist and constitutionally radical Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. Submissions can be made at the link above or by post, and are due by Tuesday, 7 January 2025. But I'd get in quick, in case National grows a spine ...3 days ago
- We need to talk about Kevin
All happy families are alike; each unhappy family has a Drunk Uncle Kevin in there somewhere. If your Kevin is anything like the ones I know, he was getting along happily enough without having to think too much about the Treaty Principles Bill apart from bloody good job, onya guys ...3 days ago - The hikoi
Like everyone else (everyone who wasn't there, anyway), I've spent the morning watching the hikoi march on Parliament. The pictures are astounding: parliament grounds and the surrounding streets are full, and there are still people backed up along Lambton Quay. The police are estimating 35,000 people, and that's a floor ...3 days ago
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There were urgent moves yesterday at Parliament to try and defuse the tension building up over ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill. The Bill’s author, ACT leader David Seymour, told reporters that he understood the Justice Select Committee met yesterday to discuss how long it should take to consider submissions on the ...3 days ago
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3 days ago - Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Arrival, And Tyler Childers
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In a manner of speakingI just want to sayThat I could never forget the wayYou told me everythingBy saying nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me everythingSongwriter: Winston TongNext Tuesday, the subscription price for Nick’s Kōrero will ...4 days ago - Monday 18 November 2024
The NZNO have announced a nationwide strike for December over its pay dispute with Health NZ, who have put a 1 per cent cap on pay rises. The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti and Treaty Principles Bill remain front and centre in the media, with the impacts of the Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke-led ...4 days ago
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- National’s support base is wobbling
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..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Self-appointed “Bishop” and proto-fascist, Brian Tamaki was at it again on 16 November, blocking Auckland’s southern motorway, SH1.This time, the target of his ire wasn’t the Civil Unions Act; covid lock-downs; mask mandates; or ...5 days ago - Rip up a bill, lead a haka are words to live by
I cannot stop grabbing people by the lapels, or shoulders, or similar, and raving at them about the tiny miracles in my ears.I can hear again! There could not be a more satisfied customer in all the world.In a noisy cafe I am even catching words that Karren cannot, she ...5 days ago - Unintended Consequences
Take the baitYou pay the priceIt's much too lateFor good adviceYou know and I know that our good things' throughBecause there's consequences for what we doConsequences for me and youWriters: Kevin Robert Hayes, David Nagier, Bonnie Adele Hayes.Fallout from the first readingOne News began last night by saying that tens ...6 days ago - Thank you, driver!
Today, Saturday 16th of November, is Auckland Transport’s Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Saturday 16 November marks the third annual Auckland Transport (AT) ‘Bus Driver Appreciation Day’, and this year we are encouraging all of New Zealand to thank their driver or let the bus go first if you are in ...6 days ago
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Hi,If I was to accurately sum up my mental state over the week, I’d just say that I got a huge fright from my own shadow.I’d nipped out for an 11pm neighborhood stroll, just to calm down after a day of stress and screens. The Cure and Fazerdaze’s new record ...6 days ago - We Are Not Listening
The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
7 days ago - More lawlessness from National
On Tuesday, sick of government stonewalling, the Waitangi Tribunal issued a rare court order, ordering the Minister of Health to release unredacted documents within 48 hours showing its reasoning for disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority. The government's response to the lawful order of a court? Yeah, ...7 days ago
- National’s tyrannical “foreign interference” law
Yesterday, under cover the the biggest political fight of the year, National quietly - covertly, even - introduced anti-foreign interference legislation. The bill is the product of a years-long work-program aimed at countering shit like this and this, and there's unquestionably a need to do something to counter foreign states' ...7 days ago
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A few months ago, I was in an audience watching a Haka-Kapa and as I watched children dance and sing and sway and shout and beat, I couldn’t help but think “The Haka represents the best of us.”Yes, yes - there will be a thousand voices that rush forth to ...7 days ago
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St Mary’s Bay housing left hanging: Climate risk is systemically underestimated in the climate scenarios used by central banks, and a new report warns 10,000 houses are set to become uninsurable in Aotearoa. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in ...7 days ago
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One of the major problems the Government has in implementing its ‘going for housing growth’ strategy is that it isn’t giving much funding help to councils. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...7 days ago - Friday 15 November 2024
The Treaty Principles Bill continues to dominate political news, with it passing its first reading in the House. Parliament was briefly suspended and Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke suspended for 24 hours after leading a haka that was joined by opposition MPs and the public in the gallery. Willie ...7 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 15-November-2024
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- Are We The Waiting?
And screamingAre we we are, are we we are the waitingAnd screamingAre we we are, are we we are the waitingForget me nots, second thoughts live in isolationHeads or tails and fairy tales in my mindAre we we are, are we we are the waiting unknownThe rage and love, the ...1 week ago - The Hoon around the week to November 15
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Day One of the Treaty Principles Bill…and everyone got what they wanted, and did what they liked. Heated words were exchanged. Culturally appropriate acts of outrage were performed. David Seymour got to play the victim card. Willie Jackson got kicked out of class. A comically red-faced Mr Speaker bellowed “Order, ...1 week ago
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The government's Treaty Principles Bill is up for its first reading today - bought forward in a rush in a desperate effort to avoid the hikoi which is currently marching on Wellington. But the Prime Minister won’t be there for it – he’s literally running away to Peru! But he ...1 week ago
- 97% of submissions did not want no-cause evictions, Trump chooses a Russian spy for US Intelligence ...
Good morning, and I’m sorry I’ve been away for a couple of days.I’ve been focusing on the Hikoi, and also testing out sentiment on the Treaty Principles Bill. It’s complicated, and the Treaty Principles Bill will be debated in the House today. The Government’s own lawyers have told them the ...1 week ago - Government must vote down ACT Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to vote down an ACT Party Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights by making it easier for employers to fire workers. Last week ACT MP Laura Trask’s Employment Relations (Termination of Employment by Agreement) Amendment Bill was ...1 week ago
- Seymour causes thousands of unjustified absences by forcing kids to fight for their rights instead o...
The State would like to remind you that they are in control. They manage your employment prospects, and can destroy the job market you and yours rely on by mass-cancelling construction projects, cutting funding, and firing a good chunk of our public servants. They wield the mechanisms that provide scrutiny ...1 week ago - The Weight of the World
As the weight of the world Hangs on your shoulders The weight of the world Starts to take over again And over again All that you once loved, now you hate So slowly relearn how to meditate To have and to hold And never let go Can you feel it ...1 week ago - Thursday 14 November 2024
The Treaty Principles Bill is set to have its First Reading in the House today, as the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti continues. More than 40 KCs have written to the Prime Minister and Attorney-General outlining their “grave concerns” about the substance of the Treaty Principles Bill, while an academic and ...1 week ago
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- An opportunity for a pro-growth tax switch
As the Hikoi against it swells into the tens of thousands, KCs call on National to kill off ACT’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 14: The ...1 week ago - Dealing to the big Aussie banks
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The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. ...14 hours ago - Failed boot camp experiment must end
As legislation to set up boot camps passed its first reading, the Green Party urged the Government to abandon this failed policy experiment for the good of our rangatahi. ...15 hours ago
- Gender-affirming care must centre evidence and health needs, not political posturing
The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. ...16 hours ago
- Release: National doesn’t care about manufacturing
The National Government is walking away from our manufacturing sector with constant reports of closures and job losses. ...17 hours ago - Release: David Parker speech – Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change
David Parker's speech from the University of Auckland's forum on Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change in September 2024. ...17 hours ago
- Release: Youth mental wellbeing no longer a priority for Child Poverty Minister
Louise Upston has revealed her diminished vision for vulnerable youth against a backdrop of snubbed advice, scrapped priorities, shifted goal posts and thousands more children projected to fall into poverty. ...19 hours ago
- Release: National’s lack of climate action taking NZ backwards
National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...19 hours ago
- Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing
When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...22 hours ago
- Govt’s child wellbeing strategy ‘shallow and shameful’
The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...23 hours ago
- Release: A historic win for Samoan communities
Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...23 hours ago
- Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”
The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...2 days ago
- Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading
Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...2 days ago
- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...2 days ago
- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...2 days ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...5 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...7 days ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
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Luxon’s first rearrangement of the deck chairs today!
Will Maureen Pugh continue her meteoric rise up the rankings?
Will Simeon Brown get a pair of long trousers?
Will Gerry Brownlee be shown the door and told not to barge through it?
Will Judith Collins be given the chance to advocate crushing a few more cars.
Will Jacqui Deans (of H2O fame) be given the Science portfolio?
Will Stuart Smith (well known climate denier) be given the Environment portfolio?
I’m all aquiver with excitement!
Not much for the Tories ( and voters) to look forward to. Still, if National offers good policies like kicking He Puapua to the curb, I think voters may hold their noses and vote blue.
I would save your quivering for when Jacinda realises she can no longer dodge the hard questions like she did with Mike Hosking, and decides to shoot through.
If luxon survives to the election debates will he ask Ardern to wear flats or will he carry a little box to stand on??
Or maybe hell bring back the flare to hide some disco platform shoes under!!!
Maybe Luxon just out debates her and the voters realise the Empress has only been wearing a G-String. The mental fog clears and the fawners lose all hope of a promised land?!
Awh Blade, how cute, you sound like a little boy who secretly has a crush on a girl and pulls her pig tails to get her attention. The PM sure has you triggered.
l love your irony 'Red Blooded One.'
I love you think there is irony there. I admire the PM and the way she has handled the country, to date, with all that has been thrown at her, but I don't idolise her and she is as capable of mistakes as you or I. Those who kneel at the alter of Hoskings however, cannot recognize her successes and only have negative things to say.
Was Blade alluding to "iron", with his "irony" and the role iron plays in making blood red?
Is he/she/they that clever??
No, Robert. I was referring to his/her name. You can work the rest out.
That's a familiar tune.
With each new leader it's been sung again: "Simon/Todd/Judith/Chris will deal to the imposter. Definitely this time, we were only joking those earlier times."
Then the so-called lightweight PM turns up to Question Time … prepared. That's not fair!
You may be right, Observer. I agree with your first sentence. Please ask Jacinda if she could turn up prepared to take on Mike Hosking. It should be a breeze if she's prepared.
Prepared for what? Rational debate, sure. But at some point it's obvious that it's a waste of time.
This is from last year, and it's only got worse since.
Ah, yes. Of course Mike can only form opinions on available information. That assumes the government releases such information and stops having brain fades and spells of telling porkies.
Talking of rational debate, Jacinda won't appear on ZB, but when channel surfing I have come across her on a couple of occasions giggling and talking vacuous nothings with equally vacuous radio hosts.
Maybe the chattering class thinks different to you?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/radio-results-newstalk-zbs-mike-hosking-breaks-new-audience-records/DCU43ZRXY2UO6ZOKVTLZS24FXU/
The Sun is the biggest-selling newspaper in the UK. Other Murdoch media (Herald-Sun) top the charts in Australia. So what?
"Shit sells" is not a new insight. Been around since cavemen drew porn on the walls. (The cavemen now ring Newstalk ZB instead).
"Shit sells" is not a new insight.''
I agree. Seems Robbo and Chris have no problem with Hosking. They can spin shit on their feet like ALL good politicians. But not Jacinda. She has a short song sheet that does not allow much room for going off the reservation. There's also a theory Labour are keeping her fresh for the election by minimising her shortcomings.
Blade… Useless incompetent idiots grunting in unison about vacuous and unreal questions like "why won't you throw the borders open so we can take overseas holidays" as Mike Hosking and his favoured fellow idiots do is just idiotic shit.
It'd probably be better if Mike Hosking had ever bothered to educate himself on basic science. But it appears that how to get to a state fashionable dishevelment is about as far as his intellect was willing to go. As it is, his viewpoints have as much relevance as your inability to deal with risk and uncertainty do.
Like “Robbo and Chris” , Hosking states his ideal world – completely unrelated to reality and whines about why it doesn’t happen with a magic work. Just another useless parasite with no idea about how to work with the real world.
Not worth dealing with because you all appear to be as thick as shit in a pigpen.
Seems by the comments regarding Hosking, we may have a problem.
Let's see, his ratings are skyrocketing, I would presume because people for a variety of reasons are looking for someone who can still ask a question and has a different opinion from the Tova and Jessica show. The more these new recruits listen to Mike, the more his opinions will resonate as they watch another glib performance by Jacinda and subconsciously make a comparison.
As for Iprent's reply to me :
''Not worth dealing with because you all appear to be as thick as shit in a pigpen.''
Well, I'll let retrospective history decide who was right or wrong. Talking of pigs – I see another story is brewing. Cops from all over NZ are being sent to Northland to man road blocks.
Man, that Maori Caucus has some ''grunt', huh!
/
Try facts…Ardern has not said she will not appear on Hoskings rant…just that it would not be a weekly thing.
Hoskings show is for people who can’t think for themselves.
Assume you are an avid..fan.
The other squak back radio shows are constantly being cancelled re booted to be shutdown again .
So hosking is running a monopoly.
Given National disaster in opposition National are rallying around shock jock for the very well off Hosking because Nationals opposition can only cry wolf.
Talk Back radio where the Plymouth Brethren stalk the talk back hosts and Jacinda.
"Mike" doesn't "form opinions on available information": "Mike" interviews "Mike" to learn what "Mike" believes, then declares, with authoritative timbre, Mike's-reckons!
Hipkins, Little, Woods, Nash and Robertson all seem to be able to turn up. Surely Jacinda being the "communications expert" would be the best qualified.
Why bark if you have a dog?
I would say she has her hands full with a young child. Dealing with the big cry baby Hosking who thinks he is more important than everyone which would you do quality time with family or bombastic horrible Hosking.
Like many multi-privileged individuals I've encountered, I suspect hosking would be outraged at being treated like a toddler while actively behaving like one.
There is a reason for that. She has several other jobs.
Running the government at a strategic level in the executive council, acting as the crowns prime minister and being answerable to that, organising legislation, organising regulations, being the leader of the Labour caucus, negotiating with a support partner in parliament, dealing with briefings from the civil servants across a range of portfolios, dealing with a pandemic, as well as being a mother to a small child, organising a wedding, and probably a few other things that I have forgotten.
And yet in your lazy and fatuous wisdom, you seem to think that her most important task want her to deal first with a self-important idiot like Hosking?
Are you really as bloated a fool and puffed up parasite as Hosking is?
All other ministers manage to go but it looks bad that she has 'thrown in the towel' as the questions are too hard for her and her weaknesses are shown up. She still has time for shows such as Jono & Ben for the fun questions.
'Questions too hard', Jimmy? Hosk must be glad for listeners with such low expectations.
You mean that she prefers to avoid a humourless parasite with a notable predilection for arbitrarily inventing precedents that no-one else noticed in the previous hundred years.
Basically Mike Hosking is in my view an misogynist idiot, a poor interviewer, and appears to only be listened to by a demographic that seldom (if ever) votes for Labour. And largely by the stupid end of that demographic.
I have no idea why anyone from Labour would interview with him unless they have a electorate filled with high numbers of that demographic or who are pushing unpalatable to that small portion of the voting public. So that would be ministers telling them what their taxes are doing.
A hardworking mum and PM shouldn't go near that dick. She should deal with someone civilised.
"Basically Mike Hosking is in my view an misogynist idiot, a poor interviewer, and appears to only be listened to by a demographic that seldom (if ever) votes for Labour. And largely by the stupid end of that demographic."
As you say it is your view only, as I believe he has the number 1 rated show and ZB are the number 1 rated station. Obviously not everyones view.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/300414418/newstalk-zb-credits-holding-politicians-to-account-for-continued-audience-growth
What would you say if the Prime Minister would do every single interview?
The Labour Party is a one-trick pony?
They have no depth?
It's a dictatorship?
Like every good organisation, it's about the team, collaboration, sharing the workload, up-skilling, resilience… Looks like Labour is on the right track.
Thanks Observer, for the reminder of how bad it was. I stopped listening and my mood lifted. I hope the PM’s mood has as well.
That is not an interview.
With Hosking's it is just him telling us what he thinks.
Why would any Labour politician bother to sit down to be subjected to his ignorant "reckons" without being allowed to finish a sentence.
Why? Mike Hosking is a complete dick. Last time I saw him on tv he wore those pre ripped jeans the kids wear. Narcissist would describe him well. Wouldn't really matter what the PM sai in reply he'd still be a complete dickhead!
"Lose all hope of a promised land". I guess you believe Luxon is offering a "brighter future", just like his bestie did. Dream on Blade.
Luxon can offer no such thing. All I'm hoping for is he stops the damage currently happening to this country. You will get rough indicator about Luxon’s intentions to change the course of this country by watching these two indicators:
1- How he deals with Maori.
2- Does he stop the Winter Energy Payments.
Also, how short the voters memories are will play a part.
Specifically, what do you want him to do in 'dealing with Maori'?
That's a very good question. First get rid of Three Waters. That said councils will have to do something about water supply, no questions about that. Central government may have to meet councils half way regarding upgrading water infrastructure.
Second, rescind councils right to vote on Maori wards without a public referendum from ratepayers.
Third, review all funding of anything Maori. This Labour government has been criminal in its use of taxpayer funds for supporting things Maori because it's the 'cool' thing to do. An example is funding to get Maori vaccinated. Hell, that's the job of the Taiwhenua.
I could cite a whole heap more, but my KFC has arrived.
An example is funding to get Maori vaccinated. Hell, that’s the job of the Taiwhenua.
😳 I can’t make any sense of that. What do you think Taiwhenua means?
https://glosbe.com/mi/en/taiwhenua.
You may add Hauora in some cases.
I'm talking about funding up and above what these generic organisations already receive.
What do you think Taiwhenua means?
The reason Māori should have been given dedicated funding for vax programmes is because the MoH etc weren't able to do the job well enough. What is wrong with Māori doing it?
@ Blade
taiwhenua
1. (modifier) rural
2. (modifier) domestic, internal (i.e. not international).
3. (noun) permanent home, land, district
Hauroa translates as long, or height, length.
Hauora as taught to me was always along health lines.
https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom&phrase&proverb&loan&histLoanWords&keywords=hauora
@ Blade
Apologies. I misread your “hauora” as “hauroa”.
Yes, I think you need to add hauora (be fit, well, healthy, vigorous, in good spirits) to properly convey the meaning DHB.
Luxon "deals with Maori"?
How … colonial of him.
Deals with…not deal to. Maori want a separate political and constitutional agenda. Luxon will then have to ''deal with them.'' By the way, if you have plans to visit the Ureweras in search of native Wine Berries for your food forest, I wouldn't. You will wind up in the pot with the wine berries. Some would say, about time?
Some might say you’re cruising for a bruising from a mod for that low blow. 😠
Yes, that thought assailed me after some reflection. However, I have feasted and will move on before being moved on. I clicked the link to Chris Trotters article. He's a great writer. Like Matthew Hooten, he reigns in his political preferences and sums up the political landscape very well.
I think Robert is more likely to end up sitting down for a kōrero and trading recipes. Perhaps you are projecting.
Weka, things up that way are becoming tense. Expect problems over the holidays.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/456479/lake-waikaremoana-off-limits-as-tuhoe-tries-to-raise-vaccination-rates
@Blade, why would there be trouble? DOC closes tracks for safety reasons at times.
First there are people turning up who know nothing of the closures. Things then get tense.
Some Tuhoe are claiming sole rights of guardianship over Lake Waikaremoana. As usual, there are usually faction within a tribe.
Assaults have been reported. I cannot verify that, but have it from a good sources.
Quote from the article:
''Allan said the iwi cannot make the closure of the area permanent. However, she seemed to be at odds with the board, and was told a different opening date.''
Add to this the fact many Tuhoe want Tamati Kruger and the Tuhoe Authority Board (?) out, and you have a crap show coming to town. It is not outlandish to say the government may lose control of this area. It may become annexed. I think this started on Nationals watch.
An old and very close friend of mine was instrumental some decades ago in setting in motion within DOC the idea of working more closely with Ngati Tuhoe in the Park management. I heard him speak to this several times and I've no doubt the original intentions were good ones, and I fully support them.
A constructive relationship offers so much to both parties, both are sitting on an environmental and cultural treasure.
Instead we've gotten this mess, the direct result of woke tribalism. My friend would be rolling in his grave.
Blade Luxon is another Bill English Boring as batshit .No charisma.Just a windup toy.
If Jacinda is only wearing a thong men will throng to Labour.
To me, Luxon looks like an early AI version of a CEO. Unfortunately so much money was spent on the marketing campaign that the coding was done by the intern. This diligent, but not very literate, intern (inevitably from Auckland Grammar) had only a dog-eared and stained version of "The collected wit and wisdom of John Key" (Hagiography Press, 2016) to work from when designing speech patterns. But hey, I'm biased.
I've just remembered who Luxon reminds me of. Max Headroom.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Headroom#/media/File:MaxheadroomMpegMan.jpg
no, max headroom was an original and had style. luton fails on both counts. headroom is remembered 30 yrs after his heyday, luzom will be forgotten by lunchtime. however if he makes desperate fanbois happy for a while, why not indulge them? as observer nicely observes, simontoddjudith were going to ask the hard questions, but were very flacid when called on to perform. will lexen have taken viagra before the cameras roll , or will he need a fluffer to avoid being a duffer?
Chris Trotter on image management
'But one has only to recall the images of Don Brash attempting (unsuccessfully) to climb in and out of a racing car, or “walking the plank” from a speed-boat to the jetty, to grasp just how much careful thinking and planning needs to go into how a political leader is presented. Even in 2021, one picture is still worth a thousand words.'
Here's 1 picture…
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftokenstalk.info%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F02%2FcnewsfotoFBPNWMRRJYPOHQMFJYDU5HDJRQ.jpg&f=1&nofb=1
He reminds me of my thumb.
Best. Comment. For. Ages!!!
The Herald’s Thomas Coughlan’s reckons:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/national-leadership-what-to-expect-from-chris-luxons-caucus-reshuffle-today-thomas-coughlan/H3M5M7BYO2VFIUQ64S74QCXTPQ/
Anyone know what expected time the announcement is?
Smell you later Judith! She's down to 19th in the rankings.
Watch live: National Party leader Christopher Luxon announces caucus reshuffle | RNZ News
The answer for Stuart Smith is no. The climate change and environment shadow portfolios are with Scott Simpson.
Climate change doesn't get its own stand alone portfolio?
Say no more
Continuing the theme:
Will Barbara Kuriger get animal welfare?
Will Mark Mitchell get the shadow portfolio of
mer. . . defence?Could Penk and Hipango share a secular affairs portfolio?
The only one to make logical sense would be for Share Reti to be given Health, but that'll probably go to Chis Bishop.
Michael Woodlouse for housing (and homelessness)?
Woodhouse knows every (official) homeless person in the country by name.
Nic the NZer … even the homeless invisible man too eh?
Woodhouse minister of the outhouse.Maybe the National whip he will be able to whip a couple of homeless people into the opposition ranks to bolster their numbers no one will see this as they will be invisible.
"Minister of the outhouse" – also, excellent!
There's such a talent pool, right here, on The Standard!
Yes, in fact the only way to get into Woodhouse official list is to be a figment of Woodhouse imagination.
Absolutely. "Minister for homelessness" will be the title.
The competition would be hot for 'Minister of Dumb Ideas'….Luxon might keep that for…himself.
I’m going to be very interested in what Shane Reti gets.
At least when Luxon’s announced his spokesperson porfolios we’ll finally have something a bit meatier to analyse & speculate on than his rather bland & anodyne comments to various media to date.
He’s still got several problems to overcome:
Christopher7's problem with Reti…is he doesn't want him to become too popular.
You would think he was a natural for health,but let's wait and..see.
all “honourable” mentions, but you really got me with sell sword Mitchell and Barbara Kuriger
all 33 shipmates will be given important tasks, even if most of them are only good for swabbing the decks. one thing loxon will have learnt at corporate is that meaningless titles can keep the rabble happy. luzum will need to lean not to stand near railings while vice-captain willis is behind him. if anybody can steer the natanic away from icebergs ,it will be willis.
Chris Bishop for Health…yay, we’ll all be on the compulsory sausage roll diet!
And ciggies for everyone. Woohoo.😉
Yet Luxon cut just about all regional services a environmental win but damaging economic growth.
Did you know that Jacinda Ardern is worth $25 million!
No I didn't…but it is the latest misinformation being peddled around by the desperate.
Google it and you will find at least 2 websites that state this nonsense.
Her real list of assets is on the register. Her main ones being a loving partner and parents, followed by a loyal Labour Party. How that must stick in many craws, so lies are being told again.
This appears to be the source – 21 August – it also claims she is married.
https://www.apumone.com/jacinda-ardern-net-worth/
Saw that one…there is at least one more….don't know whether its just clickbait,trafficking or more…sinister.
Luxon the Greenie?
May well be true, as a CEO. He could lead and make his directives happen.
But now he has a caucus to persuade. One which could barely stomach the Zero Carbon Act. With many MPs not even convinced of climate change or the urgency.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/126083606/is-the-national-party-turning-anti-science
His Deputy Nicola Willis is a major supporter of Climate Change initiatives.
He’s not likely going to be able persuade her to change her mind. She’d be a logical candidate for that spokesperson role under Luxon’s leadership.
Optimistic, I'd suggest. If we've learned nothing else about National MPs in the past couple of years, it's that minds change at the drop of a hat (or poll).
Willis was one of the bedwetters (to quote Simon Bridges' own book). Muller in, then Collins in, and now Luxon in.
Like her colleagues, Willis was so principled that she did not say a single word about the train wreck of Collins' leadership – until it was over.
Whoever is in charge, whatever the policies are, they will stand and nod. It's the Debate Club background of Willis and Bishop: the game is all, there is no moral core.
Optimistic? Maybe. I get your point about the Debate Club; debaters learn how to easily switch arguments on & off at the drop of a hat.
But a complete turnaround makes Willis vulnerable to attack because there’s plenty of past pro-Climate Change activity by her to point to & loudly question her suddenly switching sides.
They’d have to rely on majority NZ voters’ generally pretty poor memories & lack of interest in politics outside of ekection time to get away with this. Can’t see Labour or the Greens not going on the attack accusing National & Willis of hypocrisy &/or double talk.
I don’t see Luxon as any kind of threat to Ardern in the Preferred PM stakes at the moment (she’s still got the female vote, even with some if it’s just becos she’s female), but Labour as a govt are vulnerable in a number of key areas often listed here.
It’s possible Luxon could exploit Kiwis’ curious (probably media-induced) amnesia around election time, but we’ll just have to wait & see.
At the last general election Nicola Willis flyers in her constituency the first one (before Judith Collins leadership) did have one point about environment / climate… at the bottom of her list, with the top point being not enough roads in the Wellington region. After the leadership change the second flyer did not mention anything about environment / climate change at all. So it looks like Judith Collins did change her mind.
Until the National (Pollution) Party announces strong policies around reduction of agricultural methane, river pollution / nitrate reduction, significant reduction of transport emissions… the roles around Environment and Climate Change have the main (and only?) purpose to water down any real progress.
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.n_jGCqWvj_Wgbywgs25ztAHaEc%26pid%3DApi&f=1
He sure lightened the flights out of Kaitaia, dumping them altogether, and maybe it's his environmental credentials that mean we have no AirNZ presence in and out of the UK anymore, and here I was thinking he just did it because all he cares about is the "financial bottom line"
Sounds a bit like a frantic effort to avoid the obvious conclusion – that we will need to find a way of gracefully ending mass tourism and mass air travel in a way that does not financially and mentally destroy the people who work in it. Luxon sounding like a bit of a techno-fantasist when it comes to climate change – that we can leave the whole mad and depressing superstructure of 'business', profit-seeking and consumption exactly as it is, and just swap out a few technologies underneath.
It's a good idea – but a number of high end exports like live crayfish depend on air freight to reach their markets. Unless and until government can stimulate the development of other options, maybe something like this, they will continue to shovel money at sunset industries like Air New Zealand – and invest in fictitious forestry in Brazil to cover the carbon debt.
All of those environmental initiatives were started on Fyfes watch.With the rising price of fuel in would be stupid not to improve fuel efficiency like every other airline is doing.
Correct. It would be interesting to see how Air NZ fuel consumption (per passenger kilometre or whatever KPI exists) changed compared to other airlines… more likely it was linked to stay competitive (main driver) and, as a byproduct, appear more environmental friendly.
No surprise here: Luxon and National are out of step with the public. Housing should be an area where the government is vulnerable – but not to the Right.
Poll results: investors unloved by public
National opposed the (limited) offshore buyer ban, and have stood with the portfolio investors against tenants and the modest reforms. That has to change, or they will lose again.
Maybe that poll will encourage this timid Govt to grow a pair and really get to work…and yes Jacinda …200,000 empty homes do need addressing.
I agree, if vaccine mandates can be rolled out licketty split, then housing could be tackled with a fraction of that resolve.
Sinking cap on pollies (and trusts they are linked to) property portfolios. After all, they are setting an example.
Squatters rights.
Remove the
property investor grantaccommodation supplement.Further tax jiggery pokery, dis-incentivising making money from another's shelter and home.
Blazer where is the 200,000 homes empty figure from?
40,000 in Aucks…
200k empty 'ghost' houses: Why and what would get them into the market? | Stuff.co.nz
The Vancouver initiative should be adopted, wit the money raised being required to be used for renting to low income New Zealanders.
Damn right Ed.When Vancouver introduced a 1% levy of RV, on houses empty for 6 months or more ,the count dropped by 25% quicksmart.
I believe they were increasing the levy to 2 or 3%.That would really fix it.
How many are holiday homes?
There are a % that are empty for good reason
They can be tracked by water/power use if necessary.
Even if 25% or even 50% were legit…there is still a huge inventory that could help solve this housing crisis.
yes. It would help to know the reasons.
I suspect the main reason is landbanking.
When houses earn more every week sitting empty, than poor Joe Lunchbox with a wife and 2 kids to support can earn …..there is something screaming to be…fixed.
Poor old Joe pays more in rent, than it would cost to service a mortgage on alot of houses,but he's not working hard enough…apparantly.
Yes, but I don't think the debate is going to advance until we know the actual numbers rather than guessing.
Here in Auckland,empty homes are numerous and easily spotted in many suburbs.
Definately not ,holiday….homes.
Yes I guess 'we don't have the exact data'….very handy excuse to do nothing.
And Vancouver data is …Vancouver…all good.
Aside from the fraction of houses that will be empty for routine reasons – the ones we are concerned about are empty because the risk free capital gain is more attractive than the decidedly more risky, and much lower cash flow from tenanting the property.
It really doesn't matter who is in power – they can crank on the tax and fiscal rules all they want, unless we address the fundamental supply and demand imbalance the outcome will remain the same.
And most of this can be summarised in two phrases – dysfunctional building industry and dysfunctional council rules.
How about disincentives to own more than say 2 properties.
The things you mention are factors,but not the main ones imo.
Isn’t the biggest problem getting such policies put into effect that too many MPs on both sides of the House own multiple properties ?
It would make very little difference. The main reason why people do not own their own home is that they do not qualify for finance.
This obsession with hating on landlords from the left is one of the main reasons why nothing ever gets done.
So as prices rocket up ,investor/landlords leverage their increasing equity to dominate the market .
Thats the reality.
As for-
'This obsession with hating on landlords from the left is one of the main reasons why nothing ever gets done.'
You just cannot be serious!
Yes I am serious. If every landlord put their property on the market tomorrow, very little would change. Same number of people chasing the same number of houses.
leverage their increasing equity to dominate the market .
The banks also look at cash flow and risk. Most landlords only have one or two units for a reason, it's not 'easy money' and the bank is unlikely to fund them into more. Only relatively small number have the risk appetite and the skills to leverage in the manner you suggest.
Again – the main reason why most people rent is that the banks will not lend to them.
Most landlords have alot more according to Valocity figures produced here a number of times.
'If every landlord put their property on the market tomorrow, very little would change.'
Are you on drugs!!!-prices would plummet!
Most landlords have alot more according to Valocity figures produced here a number of times.
Yes I looked at that and was unimpressed by the hype – the data still shows the large majority still own less than 5. As I said there's a more to it than just 'leveraging equity' as you seem to think. There is a whole complex of issues involved on all sides that most people never properly take into account.
I've been over this ground before – the left wing visceral hatred of landlords will never change. And it prevents any clear discussion.
@RL…so you're sticking with this!
'if every landlord put their property on the market tomorrow, very little would change.'
The left supposedly hating landlords theory hardly holds water either…if that was the case left leaning Govts would make it onerous to have multiple properties.
The accomodation subsidy shows its a rigged market regardless.
I would say at least half of those homes unoccupied are second homes for holidays away from any employment opportunities.
England has a room tax unoccupied houses are taxed for being empty that's why not many unoccupied.
I have learnt a lot of things since I discovered The Standard. This is largely due to the range of views and life experiences. From carbon issues and radical ideas to deal with it (thanks Bill), permaculture, soil health, and food forests (Robert), feminism and the challenges involved with inclusion (weka and crew), dealing with the Health Misery (
Rosemary), the dangers of ideology and the whole Covid thing.
I have stopped using the word hysteria, (because of it's etymology) even though it often seems appropriate. As a consequence I have to try a little harder with wording.
One of the key lessons is, what is OK to have a go at someone over and what is 'below the belt'. That largely boils down to what someone can control vs what is beyond their control. Choices, like belief systems, politics etc are fair game. Body shape and apperances, family links, age, sexuality (I mean that in the '80's sense of the word, it could have changed by now…) are cheap, easy and say more about the flinger than the flingee.
This sermon was issued in the hope we can lift our game a little and not go for the 'low hanging fruit' regardless of how we may feel about the other.
Good on you Gsays
You have always come across as fair minded, the least likely to use abusive language
I appreciate your comments
Cheers, francesca.
I find it real interesting, the vectors where there is often agreement with someone and yet with other issues, you wonder where the hell they are coming from.
Shaving your head so you present with a 'shiny pate' is fair game by your criteria…correct?
I couldn't possibly comment on another's motivation for shaving their head.
I don't know why and it's none of my business, plus there are far more legitimate reasons for getting stuck into Luxon. His inconsistency with wanting a more productive economy and his lanlordiness for example.
Nicely done there, and above. 👍🏼
This is a genuine question and relates to all men with shaved heads. How do they keep them so smooth and shiny? Granted, it doesn't grow back as quickly as facial hair, but surely they don't shave their heads every few days etc. 😮
The shaved head thing among business class types seems rather creepy for some reason–do they rub and bump heads behind closed doors over a Steinlager Pure or something…
Trades people and others doing physical work have a reason I guess–sweaty comb overs not a great look. But these days surely any hair style goes, I know people with a full head of hair that shave or have #2 length for a change.
I was looking for a grooming kit in store yesterday for a younger family member and spotted that yes, there are indeed dedicated head shavers available, and a range of bonce lotions and bronzers!
There is absolutely nothing creepy about it. Once a man starts to thin, it's simply better looking to go full shaven.
It's not ever going to be an issue for me personally, but if it was that would absolutely be my choice.
I pretty much run with a number 2 head and beard shave.
It never goes shorter because I really don't want to waste time shaving the pate or face every few days – too much effort. And I used to prefer having some hair to reduce sunburn issuses. Not so relevant these days as I’ve been balding out for the last decade.
I use the Wahl on the beard every 2-3 weeks so I don't chew the moustache too much. Get a No 2 haircut every few months so that I don't have to have to aggravate the rotator cuff injuries trying to shave the back of my neck.
The only time my hair gets much longer than a no 3 is when I'm really deeply into a project and I spend a year or two doing very long hours. Then I start heading through a mad Einstein look towards a retired biker.
My first day back at the office after lockdown…
https://twitter.com/inkblotio/status/1466144452028899332?s=20
The chimp looks ok about it, how do you feel about being back at the office?
Air conditioning will be nice… Auckland humidity makes WFH a sticky experience
.
A man who wants to make a splash always shaves his tongue:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1466844721129656325
Given the smoothness, Luxon likely uses a razor. He shaves his face every day so why not his head every few days? By now he is probably very proficient at it and can do it quickly, or just pays someone to do it.
And everyone is shiny under studio lights without makeup. A head just has more area to shine and reflects ceiling lights better.
Shaving the thinner head of hair stops the long wisps of hair on the thin part from catching the light and looking like a halo. And it looks tidier, too.
Two broad types of shaved heads:
The first brings up a 5 o'clock shadow quickly.
The second looks shiny because the hair is thin and the skin has little between it and smooth bone. It can be quite difficult to light on stage because of the contrast and reflectivity of the top of the head compared to the face under overhead lights. "Stage" makeup isn't usually needed in a lot of theatres these days (theatres are small and the lights are awesome and of infinitely variable colour, rather than monotone gas or lime), but even so one or two actors still put a bit of foundation on the top of their head, just to cut down the contrast.
As long as they don't apply too much and bounce around the stage, then the powder can fly off like little puffs from a steam engine – but that also happens with the quick "powder the hair to make it look grey" trick, too.
Gosh. I know so much about men's bald heads or near bald heads now.
I'm trying to imagine lprent during a "mad Einstein" phase. Not a pretty exercise.
Gsays 100%. I couldn't agree more. So well said.
These petty comments about peoples appearance are childish.
And actually I think Labour have a lot to fear from Luxon. I really do.
A lot to fear from Luxon? 😳
Why – and in what areas, Anker?
I don’t think Luxon’s a major problem for Labour yet. What do you think I’m missing?
A return to Dirty Politics style campaigning perhaps?
Well Geeza, I think Luxon has made a pretty good start.
He is likely to unite National because I suspect he hasn't been part of the factions.
I really somewhere today (and have been searching for the link) that Anne Salmond has come out and said she worked with Luxon at Air NZ on reducing carbon emissions and he was serious about doing so. Sorry I will keep looking for the link. Apologies if I hallucinated that one. I also think pulling the plug on three waters and possibly the housing agreement with Labour about being able to build up without council approval are absolute vote winners. Lots of voters are against both. I am not saying anything about either policy, but there are votes in cancelling them both. There are many votes to be captured in doing something about law and order and the gangs etc.
Also Labour are massively vulnerable right now
Dennis has posted the link here today.Look no further.
Also Labour are massively vulnerable right now
Yes, they are, but they own the Treasury Benches. Plenty of time for them to focus group & monitor the polls, & steal & Labour-tweak any policies that Luxon comes out with that look likely to pull significant numbers of voters National’s way.
Luxon’s still got to get the female vote off Ardern; not an easy job in my estimation because for some women that’s more based on feelz than logic, and that’s not meant to be a criticism. Many people faced with tuff choices ultimately make their decision on who feels likely to be the best of a bad choice.
But you’re right that I suspect the ructions in National’s caucus will likely now end becos they must now all realise that to undermine their 4th leader since losing the Treasury Benches will likely be the end of National as a credible leading opposition party for the next election.
Dunno about Collins though. Dirty Politics showed she can sink damned low & get miffed with her boss’s decisions.
On the housing agreement …
Here is Nicola Willis (in her own words, not mis-reported or "out of context" or any other excuse).
Willis on the housing accord with Labour
There are plenty of other similar comments by her, all recent and on the record. If she pulls the plug on something she supported so proudly, the repercussions would be terrible for her. Her words would lose all meaning, henceforth. She literally stood at the podium in the Beehive, next to Megan Woods, and promoted the policy.
I honestly can't think of any leader or deputy who has done such a thing, in decades. The issue would not be housing, it would be trust. Gone for good.
Perhaps Chris Luxon hopes that would keep Nicola Willi's "challenge" aborted?
Were Luxon to knock Luxon out what would Reti do?
I do not mean check if Luxon is concussed but stand for leader?
For the cricket tragics, this is a lovely, light read about Ajaz Patel, our current sporting hero.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/457246/ajaz-patel-the-boy-from-mumbai
This come from a site afterthewhistle.co.nz/
As for the rest of the team, if you can't say something nice…
Gary Stead is beyond criticism because of the last two seasons, but..
Latham looks a little like captaincy is impacting his batting, both Southee and Jamieson bowling aroind the wicket when there is a tireless left armer spectating, Ross Ross Ross…, the toss, we miss Boult.
I figure it has been a LONG, challenging season, and this visit to India was a bridge too far.
A little early perhaps, two days yet to play, but well done Kohli, Ashwin and co for a real testing series.
A test like no other. A 10 wicket bag in a single innings.
Do you know which countries the other two players who got a 10 wicket bag represented and who they played?
A very bright future for Ajaz Patel.
Only 'coz I looked it up.
Jim Laker for England vs Aussie, 2nd innings to secure victory, Anil Kumble for India vs Pakistan, also 2nd innings and to secure victory. Kumble's in 27overs, Ajaz Patel in 48.
Both Laker and Kumble were at home, therefore making Patel’s effort the superior one.
For a Blackcap to do it against India in Mumbai when the player was from Mumbai. Even though a loss to us a win for us.
Talk about a personal best he put on such a show, shame I did not see it. But a player to follow.
Yes Patel's effort the superior one.
Silly me the bowling is over but not the batting. I apologise for not checking.
Crazy where I have been staying for 3 weeks as the house goes quiet at 10.30 pm and starts up again at 6 – 6.30 am. A puppy is also full on. Home tomorrow.
You sound like you need a rest Treetop.
Yes I do. I spent 30 mins with the GP last week. Had a lot of lab tests.
The Standard has been buzzing the last 6 months and limited time to read comments. I do not do Facebook or any other social media. Constant Covid news as well.
Laughter is the best medicine and I have the ability to laugh at myself.
I asked a rather similar question yesterday. It was asking who got the other wicket when Laker got 19 in a single test.
Mac1 knew the answer, I was really impressed. He must be as much of a Cricket tragic as I usually am.
Incidentally the answers to your question are Laker, for England vs Australia in 1956 and Kumble for India vs Pakistan in 1999.
I admit I have spent a bit of time as a lad on the bank at Lancaster Park. I've even visited cricket grounds in the off season. Mind you, that was to stand on the turf where my cousin defied Australia's bowlers for eleven hours to draw a test. What was the ground?
We need a bit (a lot) of Greatbatch today…and tomorrow (hopefully)
Well played, sir! One of the great things about cricket are nicknames. Greatbatch's was 'Scones'. Hadlee was 'Paddles" but the best I ever heard was an English wicketkeeper whose nickname was the "Ancient Mariner".
Rudder ,Praying Mantis etc
The Richard Hadley, Lance Cairns, the two John's days (slowest batting openers ever) I could not leave the room unless it was between overs.
I agree that that it must have been a long challenging season for the Black Caps. How many stints in managed isolation.
Yes missing Boult, Conway and Williamson in this game.
They are still the very best cricket team to me though.
Its fair to say this game probably hasn't quite gone to plan…but it doesn't take away from the achievements of this team of the last couple of years
I'm still heartened by the strength of this team and, more importantly, the depth
There is a surfeit of riches in the middle order.
Will Young looks a decent replacement for 'The Boss'
Conway unfortunately looks like he might make a decent fist of opening and I only say unfortunate because he should be the replacement for 'The Boss' but he has to open
Mitchells made a great start to his career but it looks like he'll be in a battle with Ravindra for the important number 6 position
Ravindra does open for Wellington but, remembering what happened to Ken Rutherford, I'd sooner see Ravindra stay at 6 and work on his spinning
Hell Tom Bruce and Dane Clever both average over 40 in FC cricket and can't get a look in so that says something to me
So our batting stocks are looking good, our wicket keeping/batter stocks are also high (selection prediction in the future for Max Chu) but for some reason we just can't seem to produce two good openers at the same time
Our fast and fast/medium bowler supplies are good (keep Ferguson away from tests from now on)
But again our spinners (Patel aside) just aren't up to international quality and its not their fault
We need the Cricket board to designate at least one province to focus on spinners, prepare spinning pitches, conduct more spinning camps etc etc
However to end on a positive note, easily the best team NZ cricket has produced of any period!
I'm afraid that their performance in this test was in the mold of Crusher at the end of her time at the top. What is the third disaster that is going to hit you PR?
I think we can all agree there's been enough disasters for anyone
I'm looking forward to period of being bored
Great analysis, I agree the best team we have produced.
As we have seen in the past, success like this, gets the youngsters wanting to play.
C'mon parents, your local cricket club could do with your time.
Love to see another Polynesian player come along and smack sixes or take wickets
More likely to see PI playing the shorter versions of the game.
The cost and time required of the longer version 4 and 5 days is to much for large poor families.
But krickitee players could be encouraged to play 20/20 ,40 or 50 overs and indoor cricket.
I feel NZ cricket is missing out on some untapped potential
“Here comes the conman
Coming with his con plan.
We won't take no bribe;
We've got (to) stay alive.
We gonna chase those crazy –
Chase those crazy baldheads –
Chase those crazy baldheads out of the yown.”
–Bob Marley
Should be noted that Rastafarians do not necessarily mean a bald headed person with the term bald head, it denotes some one without dreadlocks, and from what I can gather sometimes a generic reference to exploiters and oppressors, but certainly a non Rasta.
The original Rastafarians were a bunch of race supremacists.
You are incorrect.
Black Nationalism =/= Black Supremacism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafari
Gosman making up stuff again but using an goebels trick of insinuating those you oppose are what you are.
Not lying at all. It was at the heart of the original religion although it has been underplayed in modern times.
"The White person is inferior to the Black person
…In the near future Blacks shall rule the world
Many Rastafarians believe that following their repatriation to Africa black people will become rulers of the world, resulting in the suppression of whites. Early Rastafarians may even have claimed that whites would eventually be destroyed."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/beliefs/black.shtml
"Early Rastafarians may even have claimed that whites would eventually be destroyed."
That's a weird claim in the article that Gosman cited. "May have".
Now in historical terms, a fact is a fact. There's not much room for "may have". Just that statement. No context or citation.
To me that's a rubbish statement, and could easily be seen as weasel words to claim anything about the subject.
I'm surprised frankly to see such a claim allowed and not edited.
The article is from the BBC. They are being INCREDIBLE careful about not upsetting black people with this.
Maybe you're right in their intention. But my critique stands, 'May have' is an allegation, not backed up with any evidence. As an aIlegation, it's worse than factual evidence, because it's not proven. As far as I am concerned, it's not true until the evidence is presented otherwise, since I don't know anything about the expertise of the alleger etc. to even trust the messenger as one usually reliable. It hasn't even got that, BBC or not.
Even in your bbc article their is no mention of black supremacy.
But rather the overthrow of a corrupt suppression by whites over black people.
Then reading Wikipedia rastafarianism started out of the resentment of the white slave trader's treatment of black people .The religion grew in Jamaica where black slaves had no right so songs of freedom etc
No mention of black supremacy another cynical attempt to create division where there are none. Goebels would be proud of you Alwyn.
What the hell does your remark have to do with me?
LOL silly season appears to have been replaced with the full on psychosis season.
Ummm… what do you think "The White person is inferior to the Black person" means if not black supremacy?
The beauty of music and art.
I always took the bald heads to mean racists, ala skinhead bovver-boys. Thinking about it now, that was a young, naive Kiwi teenagers viewpoint. After all the bovver boys were getting round the U.K. towns and cities and Bob had a bunch of other oppressors to worry about in Jamaica.
I had a boot boy (a skin head wannabe) work for me back in the 1980's after the 2nd day on the job he was spouting endless fascist white supremacist bs. My wife turned up with pies and help to finish the job they were all Maori and PI. After lunch I never heard another word about his race theories he became a good friend and hung out with the Maori and PI guys.Sold all his parefenailia and has never looked back.
Great story. So often these blokes have only known rejection and abuse.
I had a similar experience with a mate who was one of the older males in a rural valley community. Another chap was known to cause family harm. My friend refused to shun him with the observation that it would only give him further motivation to lash out. The bully actually joined our building crew for a year or so.
He did seem to mellow a little at during that time. His significant other moved on, which he took with surprising equanimity.
Great account Tricledrown. Often, if you spend time with people and gain some understanding of their cultures you are better placed to regard them as part of “us” rather than “others” to be suspicious of.
The Auckland Boot Boys from some accounts of a punk rock friend at the time were peppered with psychos who adopted UK cultural trappings to justify their violence and racism. One of my Māori mates never recovered fully from a 4×2 attack outside the Victoria Tavern.
Ah the "Rumba Bar" days. I used to work at the Civic Tavern on Wellesley Street one night I had a bloke come with an eight inch long razor slash to his abdomen (bloody deep one to) I duct taped a clean tea towel to it to contain the bleeding while he waited for the ambulance – The Victoria Tavern was a damn dangerous place, The bloke was white fyi.
The original skinheads were specifically non-racist and highly interested the music of Jamaica:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinhead
There still exist those who feel connected to this culture and refer to themselves as Sharps: SkinHeads Against Racial Prejudice.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinheads_Against_Racial_Prejudice
Now Mr Luxon has visited Auckland's pretentious elite at the Viaduct Basin during his first days as National leader, will he now find time to also visit the good working people in South and West Auckland, to give him the feel of reality?
Has the PM found the time to visit her electorate at any time in the last 100 of so days?
I believe she had a quick visit to Auckland on Air Force 1 a couple of weeks ago but never bothered to stop in the electorate she is meant to represent. Has she made it back since then?
She flew to Auckland with the US President?
Alwyn,I say Alwyn you are your own worst enemy .
Can this be deleted please
One of the nice things about competent people is that they tend to have very competent staff. Jacinda certainly does in her electorate, both the parliamentary staff and the volunteers.
Because my electorate of Mt Albert has been having damn near wall-to-wall Labour leaders, deputy leaders and PMs over the last 3 decades, it also has a very well-established system of representing the electorate without having a desperate need for the local MP being present for everything.
But of course there are those (apparently like you) in less well run electorates who get have a more desperate need to be attached to the apron strings. Can I suggest that it is time they and you learnt to grow up?
Very good question, mary.
Every good populist should give it a go & see how they get on.
One suspects he’ll try & focus on the upper middle, the business community, & the top end of town.
Also, will be interesting to see how he tries to connect with the farmers.
I'd imagine that'll be Willis taking care of the farmers
So he's visited Auckland more than the PM has?
No
So how many times has Ardern visited Auckland recently?
We kind of needed the adults to be in Wellington during the pandemic and lockdowns.
Of course there were a few less useful MPs who hunkered down in Auckland regardless of the costs to the parliamentary processes. Judith Collins did. I think that Chris Luxon did as well.
Remind me again where the then Minister of Health David Clark hunkered down?
When, as you say, he really should have been in Wellington during the pandemic and lockdowns.
what, the whole pandemic? Of course, then righties would have been able to have a go at him for not being in his electorate.
Pretty sure Clark would have done something else a bit more bone-headed to get the righties all in a tizz
Are you trying to lie about what I said? I didn’t say that. Dangerous thing to start trying to put words in my mouth. I’d suggest you desist.
The Health Ministry is a bit like the Police Ministry these days. It is a resourcing ministry rather than a hands on one. The Director General of Health legally has almost all of the primary control during a pandemic and most of the operational control is at the DHB level. Just as the Commissioner of Police has always held the operational control of the police (not the Police Minister) and the armed forces are run by the Chief of the Defence Force rather than Minster or Defence.
While clearly Health is more prestigious, but David Clark’s associate Finance Minister role was larger in effect on the resourcing the pandemic response than his role at Health Minister. Robertson was already there and Clark is much more of the backroom treasury wonk in that role.
There was no particular reason to have David Clark in Wellington during that first lockdown, a number of reason for the government to be role spread based on the unknowns back in Feb/March 2020.
There were compelling reason for Bloomfield to be in Wellington.
After all Parliament wasn’t running in the first lockdown like it has been in the recent one. But offhand I don’t think that there were any Ministers locked down in Auckland during this last lockdown. Everyone was a bit more prepared and had a better idea on what was happening.
Incidentally Hipkins is based in the Wellington region, and is leader of the House – had to be in Wellington to organise teh legislative activity that was still ongoing.. I think that Little is Wellington based as well. They don’t have kids in Dunedin. Probably part of the reason why both have wound up in Health despite their already hefty workloads. It means they they can front at press conference when needed and the task can be split.
'Are you trying to lie about what I said? I didn’t say that. Dangerous thing to start trying to put words in my mouth. I’d suggest you desist.'
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/7051a0ba-d320-4ebd-b73e-627184e210d3
You can say what you like but David Clark was one of the adults that should have been in Wellington
Why exactly. I stated my reasons for not thinking that he didn’t need to be there.
You reply with a cowards debating technique – a simple assertion without even explaining that it is merely your foolish opinion?
Ar you merely a parrot for someone stupid with their ‘reckons’ -> like Mike Hosking
Tony Veitch (not…) – enjoyed your National spokespeople humour! Well done.
Chris Luxon's Mercedes' journey was the ultimate in a pretentious "I am very important, I am about to be appointed to National Party royalty". Cringeworthy. Will he hire a Mercedes if he visits Porirua, Otara? That he didn't choose to stroll over to Parliament like 99% would do, spoke volumes for how he sees himself.
Have held off forming an opinion of him so far, but the glimpses of him seen in the last few days has led me to see a very self-satisfied man, very reliant on PR direction behind the scenes, with John Key on speed dial.
I have nothing to do with Luxon
Public Relations!
But very quick-witted 😀 💪🏼 👍🏼
I wonder when Chris Luxon will visit South Auckland and see for himself the devastation wreaked by Covid 19.
I wonder when he will deliver a speech of encouragement to those most adversely affected and promise his party will support the government in their bid to assist them through the pandemic.
I wonder if he will thank the many hundreds of good people who have slogged night and day to vaccinate the people of South Auckland and to help feed the thousands who have lost the ability to feed their families through no fault of their own.
Oh well, we can expect lip service at some point, but I suspect that will be as far as it goes.
I wonder who will visit first, Luxon or Ardern
Ardern has been there lots of times. But not since the last lockdown began because she was in Wellington – where she should be – running the whole country during a raging pandemic and all the other problems associated with it.
As far as I'm aware Luxon has never been to a South Auckland vaccination centre or food distribution outlet. He just whips to and from the Airport in his local black mercedes benz not looking left or right in the process. 🙂
So, again, who will visit first, Luxon or Ardern?
We wait with bated breath…
Well you might be waiting but travelling to Auckland is not something that would make or break a politician or party in my eyes.
The business spokespeople in Auckland have largely been unsupportive of NZ's Covid direction in my view, and as well as being the epicentre of the virus they are also a centre for the Moaning Minnie virus that came in at the same time as Covid.
Looking at those out and about in Auckland over the weekend, large numbers of whom were maskless, does not give me a good vibe.
Its not a big deal either but to some it apparantly is:
'I wonder when Chris Luxon will visit South Auckland and see for himself the devastation wreaked by Covid 19.'
Just thought I'd ask a couple of questions about it, specifically that Ardern has visited once to Luxons none
Well, you're a master at that.
Luxon isn't visiting places to provide reassurance or assistance, he's visiting places so people there might have actually heard of him.
Ardern was there a couple of weeks ago. She and the Government have poured money into wage subsidies food banks marae and programmes. They have lifted the ceiling on earnings before limits kick in. They have acknowledged that this pandemic has hit some communities harder than others. To even compare a person in politics for 1 year with Ardern is naff. When he gets his team working together without complaint I will give him Brownie points. He has to earn them. Dame Anne Salmond seems to rate him. Waiting.
So she visited South Auckland?
Auckland was then in lock down, she did meet with the South Auckland Pacific Island vaccinating team .
I'm just trying to get my facts right.
So when Luxon visits South Auckland he'll have visited as many times as Ardern?
Now, now play fair.
Prior to the lockdowns Ms Ardern visited South Auckland many times. She passed through half a dozen times a week in the back of a Limo going to and from the Airport. Don't worry though. She didn't take any chances of spreading disease. I'm sure she always kept the windows in the BMW up in the same way she does on the 200 metre trip from her luxury state house to the Beehive.
Thousands and thousands of New Zealanders marched every week against vaccination and employment mandates,
but 0 people marched in the streets against our deepening crisis in poverty and class entrenchment.
I don't see anyone laughing.
For all those who think the Black Caps disappointed with their performance I'll point out on a neutral ground the Black Caps beat India for the world title
The last time India toured NZ the Black Caps won 2-0
So there
"Neutral ground" is pushing it where England is notoriously favourable to the type of seamers/quicks NZ has….having said that the Indian seamers/quicks have performed a lot better in Mumbai than NZ's….bring back Waggie.
Would it have been fairer to play in NZ or India?
Think of it as 5 match test series. NZ has 3 wins, India has 1 win, 1 draw and a match still to complete
So likely a 3-1-1 result to NZ, not too shabby
Agree that NZ has consistently played superbly and the results have been excellent under Williamson. Now they have a decent spinner too. Hope Kane’s troublesome elbow responds to treatment.
Seems like lots going on in Dunedin at the moment. Who ever said Dunedin was a boring town.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/127195254/dunedin-police-roundup-naked-man-jumps-on-grandmothers-car-and-injures-himself
Staff writer had fun this morning,
Shame she had no cactus plants or eggs to throw at him.
I rather liked the bit further down on someone running into a lamppost
"The 65-year-old driver told officers he was on his way to pick up his drunk father, but he was also drunk.".
Yes that amused me to but in reality is bloody serious…he could have killed someone.
Unique opportunity to buy a native forest in the city:
Maybe NZ's richest man will snap it up.
Hart has been in buying mode recently.
He must give thanks to Roger Douglas every day of his life.
Buying Govt Print for 2/6 was better than winning ..lotto.
If we are all almost vaccinated how come there are so many stories about how badly treated such a tiny minority of self-centered dickheads keep filling up the headlines as if we are supposed to feel sympathy for where their stupidity has landed them. Are the Herald and Stuff only left to appealing to the unvaxxed market. God, how far they have fallen.
I was thinking the same thing over the weekend. So much noise for such a small minority. And then this opinion piece (paywall, so I only read the headline):
Bill Ralston: National is failing to harness the country's anger
How many people are actually that "angered" (after Auckland is out of lockdown)?
How much support does a political party loose when they try to include / support (extreme) minorities?
Lewis Hamilton won in Saudi Arabia to draw level with Max Verstappen in F1 drivers championship .
Sets up a great finale in Abu Dhabi next Sunday.
Hoping Hamilton can win and overtake Schumacer, tied on 7 championships.
New Nat rankings are out now: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/457306/watch-live-national-party-leader-christopher-luxon-announces-caucus-reshuffle
Collins down to #19. Goldsmith 12, Mitchell 14.
He told the media reps that his ranking reflects on-the-job performance that he has observed since entering parliament. He stressed that it's performance-based not hierarchy (seniority). Does Collins have sufficient intellect to deduce that her drop from #1 to #19 reflects her performance? Or will she decide that `he just doesn't like me enough' and leave parliament in a huff?
Collins will leave. We can write her resignation letter now, bookmark it …
"After 20 years in Parliament … achieved so much … leader, Minister, queen … time for fresh challenges … excited about my future … grateful for the wonderful support from my wonderful caucus … my decision … "
And Luxon's response:
"So sorry to lose Judith … valued member of team (etc, etc)"
It's all BS, everyone knows it but those are the games they play. As long as she leaves, Luxon wins.
(if I'm wrong and she stays … popcorn).
Hey, what's your take on this?
I thought he was meant to be a player. Didn't play well enough, huh?
Collins will require a hefty incentive from a friend of her party to prise her loose. Cushy private sector job, that sort of thing.
First tick from me…
He does have a SOH!-'I have deliberately selected a Shadow Cabinet of 20 members to match the government's Cabinet. I'm confident that when you put any of National's Shadow Ministers against their Labour counterparts, you'll see that National's MPs have the deep experience, the political skills, the work ethic and the intellectual grunt to come out on top every time," Luxon said.'
So he has spurned Collins. That could come back to bite him.
Do I think she will leave? No. Do I think his 20 are great? No
Has he achieved anything yet? Yes. He has the endorsement of Dame Anne Salmond.
Interested to know why you think that's a big deal..Patricia.
Probably endorsed by Dame Jenny…as…well.
Dame Anne Salmond has intellectual heft in the environmental field.
Looks like the full list:
Jacqui Dean: Assistant Speaker, Conservation
Todd McClay: Trade and Export Growth, Tourism
Simon O’Connor: Corrections, Customs, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Associate Foreign Affairs
Ian McKelvie: Seniors, Forestry, Racing
Todd Muller: Oceans and Fisheries, Internal Affairs
Maureen Pugh: Community and Voluntary Sector
Harete Hipango: Māori Development, Whānau Ora, Children/Oranga Tamariki
Chris Penk: Shadow Attorney-General, Courts, Associate Justice
Tim van de Molen: Defence, Veterans, Horticulture, Associate Agriculture
Nicola Grigg: Rural Communities, Land Information, Animal Welfare, Women, Associate Agriculture
Joseph Mooney: Treaty negotiations, Water, Space, Associate Tourism, Associate Agriculture
Penny Simmonds: Tertiary Education, Early Childhood Education, Disability Issues, Associate Education, Associate Social Development and Employment
Simon Watts: Local Govenment, Associate Finance, Associate Infrastructure
More to come…
Well, I'll give him some credit for this: he's basically told Collins it's over.
Now I'd rather he said that directly instead of doing the old sacking sugar (you know, when your boss says "thank you for your efforts and good luck in all your future endeavours", meaning bugger off).
But that's gonna be his style I guess. Pretend everyone's awesome while making it clear they aren't. (I've worked for those kind of bosses and didn't like it, but never mind.)
Papakura by-election next year. No way back for Judith.
Oh dear, I'm agreeing with him on something.
From Herald:
New National Party leader Chris Luxon has decided to part with the tradition of giving the entire caucus – except new and departing MPs – a numbered ranking.
Instead, he's given rankings to the first 20 MPs, and left the rest unranked.
Good. It's a really stupid convention. They're backbench MPs, no need to pretend the numbers mean anything once you're below the shadow Cabinet.
Yes, agreed
Luxon has a little more sense than I credited him with simply by demoting the pitiful David Bennett .
Yes, I thought the same thing. Why waste time & energy on the small fry. If they do well they’ll stand out & maybe get a slot in the top 20 later, with retirements & demotions of non-performers or embarassing misbehavers.
Do they have to rank them all – or at least a bit lower down – before the election, for the Party Lists?
And Mark Mitchell.
Might be time for a career switch. Bet they won’t cause by elections though.
Or, a really messy de-selection meeting.
Order popcorn now.
Clearly National has no-one technical available. Just as obviously a very low priority to them as well. Melissa Lee? Judith Collins – neither have been notably useful in any of their portfolios. A journalist will have virtually no background in understanding a digital economy. About as much as a technophobe profession like law provides in science and technology.
Wasn’t science and technology Luxon’s last gig as well? Payback is all well and good – but couldn’t he have picked something that wasn’t as vital to emphasise the dominance posturing behaviour in?
Maybe it’s a dekiberate provocation? She was easily the worst performing leader of the lot before his elevation. And she’s always got the potential to cause disaster for them. Look at the crap she dragged them into back in the day with Dirty Politics. No indication she’s got any smarter or any nicer since. They’re better off without her.
Who are the Labour equivalents, assuming they have any?
It looks to be David Clark or Megan Woods but what on earth would they know about the topic? They both have PhDs but their thesis topics don't really seem very relevant. Clark's was "the work of German/New Zealand refugee and existentialist thinker Helmut Rex." and Woods expounded on "Integrating the nation: Gendering Maori urbanisation and integration".
What is their background, if any, in the field?
Sigh…. Perhaps you should go and read some time. Personally I’d suggest wikipedia….
David Clark initially studied science and medicine before heading off to theology. That is public info.
I knew his brother because we worked opposite each other as programmers at one job. His comment was that David was as much of a geek as he was. Met him once and he certainly was. My partner knew him as one of the proctors (?) at her halls of residence in Otago (ie this is NZ) and considered him to be one of the smarter people she’d run across.
Megan Wood’s was on the business end of the science. Ummm… “Crop & Food Research (2005–08) and its successor organisation Plant and Food Research (2008), based at Lincoln” according to wikipedia. You don’t get that kind of role unless you have a clear appreciation of the basic science. That is why she keeps getting put into those science and technology roles.
Met her once when I went down to Wigram for a Labour party conference. We actually had a small conversation on tech and water – something that is rare for me amongst the overwhelmingly technophobe political community. She was actually interesting on the both the topics. And I have high standards on both the high-tech that I work in, and the earth sciences that I originally trained in.
This being NZ, I’ve also run across Melissa Lee during repeated campaigns in Mt Albert. My opinion is that she seldom seems to know much about anything. Even something as simple as how to campaign at an electoral level – something that just requires a public personality, an ability to engender trust in people working for you especially volunteers, and a facility with numbers. All of which she seemed to lack – at least according to the Nat volunteers in the electorate.
I know of Judith Collins via law friends from when she was around the Auckland Law Society. I used to annoy lawyers in the 1990s and 00s by describing their industry as the last bastion of the technophobes. After having to deal with their inability to search on platforms that are now part of LexisNexus (it was a awkward platform – but pretty damn accessible compared anything else pre-google).
Her inability with tech is a bit of legend even amongst commercial lawyers. I can’t testify to that, but she was did come up quite a lot when looking at the more useless technophobes. Her apparent inability to look at cause and effect in her political career makes me suspect that she is just as useless at understanding the basis of science.
But the point is that Labour has currently people who have enough background (and ability) to talk with science and tech. National seems to have lost their final one when Nick Smith got drop-kicked out of parliament.
And this is where Luxon's super-upbeat style really grates …
“Judith has a real passion for the portfolio that she’s been offered there in terms of research, science, innovation and technology. She cares very deeply about it, and she’s going to be absolutely brilliant,” Luxon said.
No she isn't. She's going to be kept out of the spotlight until she gets the hint and leaves, either before or at the next election.
Chris, stop treating us like idiots. We know you don't want her to stick around. Who would? You know – we ALL know – that National's better off without her lurking in the shadows. So why pretend?
I'd almost bet that she sticks around. There are many things I could say about about Ms Collins, but a lack of stubbornness is not one of them .
As CEO of Air NZ, Luxon got on-side with the IT workers quite early by continuing the forward thinking investments of Rob Fyfe. Unfortunately (for me) they "rationalised" a bunch of expensive contractor gigs to save money
The only time I ever looked at a job at AirNZ, when I finally got the recruiter to give an indication of the salary range, it was ludicrously low for a full-time job with the skills they were asking for. It felt like they hadn't raised their salary range for at least a decade.
I generally prefer full-time rather than contracts. While I'm perfectly willing to take jobs with lower salaries if I find something interesting and new to work on (like startups), this had nothing to recommend it.
I enjoyed working with the tech stack at AirNZ. Lots of complex systems: booking, baggage, check-in, aircraft loading, loyalty schemes, codeshare logic. And at the centre of it sits the ancient "Carina" system on an IBM AS400 mainframe.
There won’t be one Labour Front Bencher worried about their opposition.
Robertson will certainly most likely run rings around Bridges at Question Time.
''There won’t be one Labour Front Bencher worried about their opposition.''
That has yet to be seen. Especially Bridges v Robertson. But even if Robbo runs rings around Simon, that's not where the battle lies.
The battle field is the leaders media presence. At the moment Luxon is laying deep inroads into the media and courting them very nicely.
Conversely, Jacinda, for all her empathy and media support, is losing ground in that arena. You will know Labour has got the message when she turns up on Hosking's show. She said she would if she had something of importance to say. Staying relevant in the media's eyes, I believe, could be considered ''important.''
Well, this makes a nice change from "oh why is she always in the media … those 1 pm shows … photo-ops … sick of the sight of her … biased MSM … blah blah"
As always, it's the coin toss. Heads – too much. Tails – not enough. But the main thing is, complain about it either way.
Blade but not a razor.
Razors blunt and wear out too fast. A blade holds a nice edge. Just ask Andrew Little. You need to open that D lock around your intellect.
Kindness. She's being kind enough to allow Luxie his honeymoon. Come the next poll, if it shows anything like parity between left & right, she'll take the initiative. If the current differential persists, she'll go into holiday mode.
The honeymoon factor is likely to become ephemeral. Hosking can't be taken seriously so long as he's too scared to run for parliament, right? So just another empty talking head. Sad. Back when he started with RNZ he did seem a breath of fresh air. Not much advantage in being glib when he can't ever seem to come up with any original angle, eh?
Interesting comments.
''Back when he started with RNZ.''
He wouldn't make it past the front entrance now.
''Come the next poll, if it shows anything like parity between left & right, she'll take the initiative.''
This is what we want – some excitement. And ego busting. Some on this link are going to be more deflated than a teacher being forced to take performance pay by an incoming National government. I hope it's not my ego.
I do think there are signs that:
Yes, that about sums it up.
Agree.
You mean that Adern prefers to answer questions from those, mostly female, who actually shut up long enough to let her answer.
Instead of the males, and a few women, who arrogantly talk over her with their ignorant and blatantly partisan reckons.
Or. Who ask the same question over and over, after Adern has patiently explained it several times, in language you would think is simple enough even for a Hosking or O Brian.
Not surprisingly.
Don’t know how she does it. That situation would severely challenge my non – violent principles.
Watched those same twits, over the last few days,, treat Luxon with fawning respect, even though he was obviously out of his depth.
No. I meant what I actually said.
Ardern’s never really had a problem getting even constant interrupters like Hosking to shut up & let her finish. And I personally get pissed off with journos or tv or radio presenters who continually interject & don’t let their guests or interviewees finish. I want to hear their guests anwers. not their rude interruptions.
Some of them even introduce a new damn topic before even hearing what the last answer actually was. And Soper didn’t do himself any favours recently, moaning about not being given priority. But he may have had a point.
I used to regularly watch the standups live but I only infrequently bother now. The Covid measures are now comparatively complex; I find it easier to read about them.
As for Luxon, I’ve already explained why I personally think they’re giving him time & space & not interrupting. I’d hardly call it fawning, they’re just not interrupting much.
I think on Covid he’s well out of his depth. Likely on many other matters too. But compared to his 3 predecessors he’s glib & has ready, relatively brief answers. They’re bored enuf with the status quo to let him say what he likes. Tova O’Brien strikes me as more or less a supporter of Ardern; certainly no fan of National leaders.
What point would that be? That he is more deserving than all his colleagues?
Well I can’t see what’s happening becos the cameras are focussed on the podiums, but it sometimes “sounds” like certain journos are getting allowed more questions than others. That may be an unfair perception, because we just can’t see who’s in the audience. But I’m talking about the “optics”, how it looks.
"Tova O Brian a "supporter of Adern".
Could have fooled me.
The repeated fatuous and inane gotcha questioning at every press conference, trying to elicite something to confirm O Brian's framing.
I don’t know her voice. I don’t personally like Tova O’Brien (pretty sure my spelling of her surname is the correct one) at all. For the very reason you state. She seems to regard herself as an oracle & always has an angle already in mind. Her questions are so biased towards confirming her opinion they’re embarassing.
more of the public are now beginning to have a problem with the bad optics of Ardern’s apparent “grace & favour” approach to allocating questions to mostly friendly female journos
It's really sad to see you buying into conspiracy theories like this.
Do you really not know what happens at those press conferences? Exactly the same thing that happened at the press conferences with previous PMs. (And it's easy to check. You can watch Key's post-cabs online if you want, e.g YouTube).
The only change is that now … most of the political editors or chief reporters for TV1, TV3, NZ Herald, RNZ etc are women. So instead of Patrick Gower or Mark Sainsbury or John Armstrong, the Qs are from Mutch, O'Brien, Sherman. Lynch, Trevett, Patterson etc. (Plenty of men ask Qs too, but it used to be 90-10, now it's more 50-50).
Basically you're saying that there are too many women in the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Now I'm sure you don't intend to be saying that, of course not. But that is the "favourite female journos" myth.
The news organisations employ the reporters. Not the PM.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/information-for-the-press/press-gallery/
Do you really not know what happens at those press conferences? Exactly the same thing that happened at the press conferences with previous PMs. (And it’s easy to check. You can watch Key’s post-cabs online if you want, e.g YouTube).
Thanks. I might look at a couple.
The only change is that now … most of the political editors or chief reporters for TV1, TV3, NZ Herald, RNZ etc are women. So instead of Patrick Gower or Mark Sainsbury or John Armstrong, the Qs are from Mutch, O’Brien, Sherman. Lynch, Trevett, Patterson etc. (Plenty of men ask Qs too, but it used to be 90-10, now it’s more 50-50).
Are you sure of those numbers? Seems to be mostly female voices asking questions?
Basically you’re saying that there are too many women in the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Now I’m sure you don’t intend to be saying that, of course not. But that is the “favourite female journos” myth.
No. If I meant that, that’s what I would have said. If the make up of the PPG has changed so that it’s now 50/50 or even 70/30 women to men, so what? is my attitude. Makes no diff (to me) what sex/gender the reporters & political editors are.
The news organisations employ the reporters. Not the PM.
Pretty sure everyone knows that.
Makes no diff (to me) what sex/gender the reporters & political editors are.
Yes, I'm sure that is your genuine answer, of course. But the point is that the fact of more reporters now being female has been turned into a political issue by Ardern's opponents. It's a troll's meme of "Jessica, Tova", not "TV1, TV3" which is the only reason they ask the questions and Ardern answers. But – as usual – it's only noticed because women are now doing the job.
Key joshing with Guyon Espiner (TV1) and Duncan Garner (TV3) – and even going drinking with them – got no attention at all when it happened every week. Because … blokes.
Oh, just clicked on your Press Gallery link & I see that it lists all members & whether they’re associate or full members.
It’s obvious that all those journos & editors etc who’re members of the PPG aren’t all there at the press conferences tho. Several of the tv reporters listed routinely come on the evening news reporting from out in the regions, for example.
So I dunno what usual core number is of those usually present at the average press conference?
God, look at the time. Gotta hit the sack.
I get your point about Key & “the boys”, but from my perspective Key got a too easy ride from the PPG journos at many press conferences too. He had a different way of handling tricky questions; he was a less voluble than Ardern. From memory he’d often just say something brief then say more and end the session.
Bugger.
Signs?
You mean the 18% fall in popularity for Jacinda Ardern in 1 year?
Or the 12% fall in popularity for Labour in 1 year?
It's not the 'journos' Labour need to worry about.
It's how much they can scrape back.
Ah, wee Eddie Munster, up to 9th in the rankings – My how you've grown, not in height, obviously, but you must be one of the few child stars to have made it from the silver screen to the 'haves' lickspittle servant. Well done, Lily and Herman must be so proud.
It's obviously a group laden with talent in the finance area. Not so long back Amy Adams was their guru. I appreciate she had so much to offer she shot through.
Was it Paul Goldsmith next? Then Andrew Bayley and now Simon Bridges? If ACT overtake them at the election it could be that a majority of their Caucus would have had a turn as spokesperson. The way history has evolved though Goldsmith as a list MP won't even be there.
Wouldn't that be a lovely irony.
Grant Robertson has seen off even more opposite numbers than the PM. They have left the building (Joyce, Adams) or been cast aside (Goldsmith, Woodhouse, Bayly).
For a party whose brand is supposed to be economic management, National fire more managers than a Premier League football club.
(comparison: Michael Cullen was oppo finance spokesman for longer than all these Nats combined).
"Michael Cullen was oppo finance spokesman for longer"
That was probably because he was the only one who could spell the word finance.
He didn't know what it meant but at least he could spell it.
Do you do children's parties? Under-5's only, I'd suggest.
I'm afraid you'll have to approach the PM for your entertainment of that age group. She has that market ring-fenced. She seemed to do several per week until the lockdown but I'm sure she will be back on the circuit shortly.
https://www.aka.org.nz/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-makes-a-special-visit-to-morningside-kindergarten/
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/election-2017/ardent-support-ardern-visit
https://hail.to/westmere-school-te-rehu/publication/9v8vpqY/article/mgglkyj
Now this was interesting
A graph showing the price drop of gas in the USA, looks pretty good:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/AJMEBK4GIJHSTBEI22IQZ6ONJI.png&w=916
However if you expend it out over, say, 18 months it looks…well a little different:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FFocn7XXIAsElz9?format=png&name=900×900
last bit at the end is because US is dipping into the petroleum reserves.
OPEC are pissed people didn't use as much oil over the pandemic, cartels gotta get paid.
Or the US could increase its own production
Or they could ban crude oil exports.
But the SPR release has had a small effect, anyway.
OPEC are shooting themselves in the foot. The higher the price goes, the more alternatives look attractive.
Yeah
https://nypost.com/2021/11/29/buttigieg-slammed-for-urging-electric-car-buying-to-counter-gas-prices/
If you can afford one
not just cars – heating oil.
Not sure what Bidens playing at but then hes probably not sure what day it is
yeah and HRC was at death's door in 2016. /sarc
Trump insert whatever rumour as well
Rumour? The facts about that fool were utterly bonkers. And that was before the insurrection.
Doubt it. Bound to know it's today. Normally is.
Morning or afternoon?
If it's a cloudy day, or he can't see a window, good point. However there's usually a staffer one can yell at…
He could say it's whatever day he thinks it should be. If his supporters are anything like those of his predecessor they'll attack anyone who says it's anything different, such as what it really is, and the expression "fake news" will be used. Often.
Trump or Biden?
Well Big Oils also pissed
https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/13/business/gas-prices-biden-opec/index.html
My heart bleeds at their pain.
So Big Oils pissed, OPECs pissed and voters are pissed, thats a helluva trifecta to pull off
Not really. "Big oil" and "OPEC" have similar interests, so it's a bit of a redundancy.
Sure, the polls aren't good for Biden, but these are interesting times.
They really are so predictable, you'd love to play cards with these guys, easy money …
Previously Muller announced his retirement. Everyone else "you mean, as long as Judith is leader?". Muller: "nah, definitely leaving".
Judith out. Muller back. And now he says he'll stand again in 2023 … as predicted, and denied.
https://twitter.com/jo_moir/status/1467660039968071689
6 months ago:
“This has been a difficult decision because being a member of Parliament is a huge privilege, but it does come at a cost,” Muller said.
“I have decided that I need to prioritise my health and family, and move on to the next chapter of my life.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300339973/todd-muller-resignation-followed-admission-about-anonymous-article
People are allowed to change their mind you know.
"On Tuesday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern went a step further, saying not only will there be no forced vaccinations, but those who choose to opt-out won't face any penalties at all. "
Of course Muller can change his mind. But he didn't.
The reason he wanted to quit was Collins. Understandable, of course – she treated him badly. It's a shame he pretended it was something else.
It’s politics; that’s what you do – you never:
Best to have the same policy when you’re leaving a job for a new one. Saw one guy at my work really tear into his old boss at his farewell speech, once. New job in private sector didn’t work out; he was soon dismissed. Came back looking to be rehired. Didn’t happen.
"But he didn't."
A mind reader now are we?
No. A news reader.
It was covered extensively at the time.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/445557/the-week-in-politics-the-demolition-of-todd-muller
"National's Todd Muller called it quits this week, announcing he wasn't going to stand for re-election. … Muller cited his health and wanting to spend more time with his family, familiar reasons that MPs give for deciding to go.
There was a lot more to it than that. … Collins told him to resign or she would move to have him suspended from caucus. Muller refused, and Collins called a 10pm caucus meeting.
Collins delivered the ultimatum – Muller had to resign or caucus would vote to suspend him. One MP described what went on as "brutal".
"Muller tried to hold his ground and stare down Collins – only to be taken down as the pack turned on him," …
The MPs persuaded Muller to "leave with dignity", rather than be forced out, which would be bad for the party. Muller announced the following day he was not going to stand for re-election."
That seems to confirm he changed his mind. Not sure why you posted it.
They still don't.
The consequences of your "choices" are not "penalties".
The PM specifically referred to the consequences of not getting vaccinated. Not being able to work for that decision is absolutely a penalty.
That is a consequence of "your choice".
Akin to starving if you decide not to eat, because some people die of food allergies.
Only young children and fools, expect choices without consequences.
When the PM made that promise, she knew that the vaccine would be a matter of choice. She either lied, or she changed her mind.
A bit like Amy Adams, first she was going, then staying then going. I think she finally went.
If the only punishment is a fine, then it's legal for rich people.
Level-breacher has to pay $1130 for endangering the South Island.
$7.00 flat whites to keep the number of cafes we have? Meh. Maybe the new-normal is fewer cafes. Might solve the "employee shortage", too.
But $7.50 flat whites for a living wage for hospo staff? So be it. My coffee shouldn't be flavoured with blood and sweat.
My local cafe does a great brunch deal – a coffee and a panini for only $13. I blame them for my lockdown belly!
I was totally pissed when my favourite place for "big brekkies" turned out to be an abysmal employer – $X00,000 in reparations-to-employees-scale abysmal.
But yeah – good for my bathroom scales. They used to creak under the strain lol
Glad I don't drink coffee,wouldn't pay that with a gun to my…head.
Personally I often prefer that cona stuff – 5sec to pour, no banging or steaming or any of that. Never drink coffee at home.
Don’t know what happened at 5.53, editing didn’t work, I’m even more tech illiterate than Collins but I suspect she’s at 19 to reflect her deep knowledge of the Covid Pandemic, because as she is reported to have said along the lines of it can’t be much to worry about as there have been 18 before it!
That was Boag.
Collins just actively undermined every pandemic response measure she could find, or seemed to anyway. The scary thought is that she thought she was helping keep NZers safe.