Open Mike 06/11/2017

70 comments on “Open Mike 06/11/2017 ”

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1. Gristle 1

   6 November 2017 at 6:11 am

   Have discussions or posts on The Standard influenced political parties?

   Some posts and discussions have had a lot of thought and effort gone into them, but also are flavoured with originality and appear to be worthy of further investigation. (Others not some much.)

   Does anybody have examples where something written here on The Standard has been picked up by a political party? Is it even an objective of the site to be an influencer?
   • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1

     6 November 2017 at 6:39 am

     Clare Curran suggested squatters’ rights as a solution to homelessness 🙂
     • David Mac 1.1.1

       6 November 2017 at 8:34 pm

       Clare has since changed her stance. She came home from holiday to discover 2 families living in her place…..I’m kiddin…..sort of.
   • OnceWasTim 1.2

     6 November 2017 at 6:49 am

     I can’t point to anything specific @Gristle, but there have been several things where policies ‘coincide’ with posts and comments written.
     Ditto TDB.

     And now on a related issue:
     Jacinder Adhern will not approach the PNG Government over Manus Island.
     I wonder how it would be if the PNG government were to approach the NZ government – possibly as (say) a French Government initiative offering limited placements in Noumea, Papeete ?
     • Wayne 1.2.1

       6 November 2017 at 8:15 am

       I am pretty certain that the various governments will not do this. They would all know that this would be hugely disruptive on the various bilateral relationships. Any deal will have the involvement of Australia.

       The PM has already shown she intends to work with Australia on this issue, not go outside them. The bilateral relationship between NZ and Australian is way too important for the situation of the Manus island refugees to dictate how it runs. Not that Standardnistas seem to agree with that.

       I note that there are already three new camps that have been built for the refugees with full support, (accommodation, food etc). Australia has paid, or will pay $150 million for this. The refugees say they will not be safe, but presumably extra security can be arranged.

       I suspect that the refugees are using the current opportunity to get maximum publicity, especially in New Zealand, to get an early removal from Manus. But if that doesn’t succeed, which is not looking likely, then I imagine they will go to the new camps.
       • Chris 1.2.1.1

         6 November 2017 at 3:15 pm

         Yeah, that’s all those refugess want, eh? Publicity. You’re such an idiot.
       • Foreign waka 1.2.1.2

         6 November 2017 at 8:29 pm

         Wayne, are you for real? Refugees getting publicity? Am I in gaga land or what?
   • Stunned mullet 1.3

     6 November 2017 at 7:06 am

     While I have little faith in any political parties or politicians I don’t think any of them are daft enough to take their policy lead from political blogs which represent only a few very politically motivated wonks.
     • OnceWasTim 1.3.1

       6 November 2017 at 7:13 am

       I was waiting for a comment or two from Dishonourable members of the ‘electronic opposition’. We might even expect the gNats to start to see accusations in parliament from those very powerful Honourable opposition members – policy taken from “that far left Laboour blog The Standard, and a bunch of commies from TDB”. All the while when they continue to take advice from Koiwoiblog and the Tax Payers Union
       • Stunned Mullet 1.3.1.1

         6 November 2017 at 7:34 am

         If government ministers take their policy lead from the Daily blog, Whaleoil, The Standard or Kiwiblog we’re all well fucked.
         • OnceWasTim 1.3.1.1.1

           6 November 2017 at 7:54 am

           so you think elected politicians along with their advisors are incapable of weeding out what are effectively submissions with accompanying evidence from a variety of sources, from chaff and bluster? I know there’s little faith in politicians, but its a far better system than most other alternatives.
           I prefer the various processes to be as transparent as possible and available to public scrutiny – and venues such as this, or select committees, or advocacy groups who publish their policies all try to do that.
           Far better than secretive little deals between politicians and individuals with card access to the parliamentary precincts.
     • Descendant Of Sssmith 1.3.2

       6 November 2017 at 7:14 am

       That’s a bit like saying nobody should bother submitting to select committees cause it won’t change anything.

       I did complain about the labour party having state housing for life and the 8 hour working day 40 hour working week on the frontage of their website as if they actually believed in these things.

       I did notice they disappeared shortly after. Likely co-incidence but what a bunch of wankers abusing what the Labour Party used to believe in and deliver vs the right wing policies they believe in now.
       • OnceWasTim 1.3.2.1

         6 November 2017 at 7:33 am

         No it’s not at all. All methods are legitimate. Submissions to select committees, visits to electorate offices, comments on posts/blogs (for that broad spectrum drench – ‘The Left’: TS, TDB and No Right Turn as examples), Worker Advocacy Groups, and you know who for ‘The Right’
     • Gristle 1.3.3

       6 November 2017 at 7:20 am

       Most policy leads come “politically motivated wonks,” it’s just that the wonks are their wonks. Taking a lead from a political blog is quite different from using a political blog to be the major/only source of policy ideas.

       As an aside, what is it you find in political parties or politicians that cause you to have little faith in them?
   • Incognito 1.4

     6 November 2017 at 7:37 am

     Interesting questions but I think it might be more fruitful to ask individual posters & commenters why they do what they’re doing here on TS and with what expectations or goals, if any. There’s the small nitty-gritty stuff and there’s the larger picture …

     No Man Is an Island

     John Donne – 1624
     • Ant 1.4.1

       6 November 2017 at 5:07 pm

       Donne’s majestic poem is exemplified today as we all find ourselves affected,willingly or not in the trials of the world (and a few triumphs) through hyper-efficient news dissemination.

       Unlike a few decades ago we currently stifle in a seething miasma of ideas instantly and widely disseminated via social media . Each thought/observation tossed into the pool finds its home with the like-minded to await endorsement or amplification. Tweeting and re-tweeting, posting and reposting we add to the tangle and it is at once challenging and unnerving.

       Greenwald observes “…..journalists… endorse factually false claims that quickly spread and become viral, entrenched into narratives, and thus can never be adequately corrected. Its space constraints mean that tweeted headlines or tiny summaries of reporting are often assumed to be true with no critical analysis of their accuracy,”

       ehttps://theintercept.com/2017/11/05/four-viral-claims-spread-by-journalists-on-twitter-in-the-last-week-alone-that-are-false/asily spread”

       As someone observed “you cannot un-ring the bell” First impressions last.

       Essential to post our thoughts to enrich the cognitive climate (noosphere) in the belief that good ideas that are seasonally apt will germinate, capture the imagination of the like-minded and spread to outcompete those aligned with degenerative capitalism.

       Action is also required, as has been said ‘more than believing in the change you want to see, or even expounding it, we have to be the change‘
       • Gabby 1.4.1.1

         6 November 2017 at 5:18 pm

         You’re arguing for decisive intervention in the nature of the government of the nations from which these unfortunate young men were forced to flee, I take it.
         • Ant 1.4.1.1.1

           6 November 2017 at 6:17 pm

           No, that’s forcing the change.

           I had more in mind being proactive participating in our new government’s socialistically oriented initiatives.
           Taking practical steps that epitomize optimal climate change life style.
           Participating in forums where negatives such as ‘attack politics’ are replaced by acknowledging good ideas and praising them.
           Being “relentlessly positive” as a mantra that will keep us focused on the best we can become.
       • Incognito 1.4.1.2

         7 November 2017 at 10:50 pm

         Great comment(s)!

         Where do ideas come from, where do they originate? In the collective unconscious perhaps?

         Why do some ideas resonate? For example, neoliberalism felt good, it sounded good, but did it truly resonate with our whole being? I think it did not; it was a fad, a tempting and seductive one, but one nonetheless.

         In this context, I think it is very important that politicians look outside their own ‘zones of comfort & familiarity’. They need to tap into the ‘wisdom of the crowd’. Our 120 MPs or the 63 who are ‘more or less’ in Government won’t have the time or intellectual & spiritual reach of the ‘crowd’ and will thus be exposed to only a limited range of ideas. This is not an intrinsically bad thing but it slows down progress and human evolution. Of course, politicians are under constant pressure to choose between binaries, which locks the mind into certain mind-set. Instead of diverging they need to learn to converge, we all do …
   • Ad 1.5

     6 November 2017 at 8:03 am

     More interesting to ask the reverse:

     Who here largely spins on behalf of this government?
   • DH 1.6

     6 November 2017 at 8:07 am

     “Have discussions or posts on The Standard influenced political parties? ”

     I’d say yes. The David Cunliffe episode was heavily influenced by this publication.

     Generally I’m of the view that if you say something that makes sense others might adopt it, and if it’s babble they’ll reject it. I would think numerous seeds have been sown on this ground.
   • mickysavage 1.7

     6 November 2017 at 8:38 am

     I reckon the Standard has had a major effect on both leadership contests and provides a good insight into what lefties are thinking. It is not so much the posts themselves but the discussion of the posts where often the really interesting ideas come from.
     • greywarshark 1.7.1

       6 November 2017 at 9:44 am

       mickysavage
       First come the posts! And we are eternally grateful to the authors for sticking in there at the top with their thoughtful and sourced writing.

       Then we commenters can build on that, sliding pieces in or out, making additions, questioning strength of argument, likely scenario for each idea posited, looking to the heart of the matter, like a complicated puzzle box.
     • Anne 1.7.2

       6 November 2017 at 10:36 am

       Agreed ms. In the past I have had one or two Labour politicians start conversations based on something they have seen on TS. Some Labour pollies even commented here until they were driven away by hostile responses. I was one of them during the course of the leadership wars a few years ago which is something I now regret. But in the heat of the moment when emotions are running high……
     • OnceWasTim 1.7.3

       6 November 2017 at 12:20 pm

       Agreed.
       I noticed over the years, comments and responses from both Darrien Fenton and Clare Curran.
       Similarly, TDB has contributions from various advocacy groups and people connected with political parties across Labour, Greens and NZ1 – even MP and Mana.
       The ‘Right’ have equivalents, but I’d say they’re generally more secretive and operate with other opaque means of influence over policy.
       I quite like it that The Penguin, The Sloth, and others are running their agendas openly on other public platforms (NZHearald, Stuff, 7 Blunt, Shock Jock Radio, et al), and blogs. It’s a shame we have to wait for the shady deals and cronyism to gradually leak out – drip drip drip. Though the obvious ‘rightie’ commenters on here can be a total piss off at times – almost to the point of seeing who is ‘on or off shift’ at various times – they kind of expose themselves. (Sometimes it’s bloody obvious when you look at linguistic style, or the things that get their knickers in a twist – they emerge almost on queue. Sometimes one can even smell the fear).
       • garibaldi 1.7.3.1

         6 November 2017 at 3:17 pm

         One thing for sure is that TS has had no effect on Wayne. He still comes on TV speaking as if he’s a National cabinet minister.
         • Incognito 1.7.3.1.1

           6 November 2017 at 10:33 pm

           A well-grounded media training and deep-rooted habits perhaps? Wayne should not be our yardstick.
   • Muttonbird 1.8

     6 November 2017 at 7:20 pm

     Just today Fran O said “the commentariat” had been vocal in their criticism of JA not making a firm statement on Manus after meeting with Turnbull. Presumably The Standard is a significant part of “the commentariat”.
   • David Mac 1.9

     6 November 2017 at 8:33 pm

     Hell yeah. Politicians read this site and Farrar’s to stick a finger in the air. They’ll look at Cam’s site to see where the lobby $ is being spent and Martyn’s to see what the fringe are whacking on about.

     I’d say stuff directed at Jacinda and Bill in blogs that I’d never say face to face. In the real world I’m a sycophant.

     Does the vibe in blogs ever get carried over into policy? As much as anybody setting that policy will deny it, of course what they read and see has an influence on their decisions.

     As much as we like to think otherwise, ultimately we make all of our decisions emotionally.

     When I consider why I buy the toilet cleaner I do, I have no better justification than ‘I love that little duck guy.’
     • David Mac 1.9.1

       6 November 2017 at 9:02 pm

       There was a time not so long ago that politicians kept a finger on our nation’s pulse via newspapers. In search of relevance the modern newspaper has become the go to reference if you’re wondering how the Kardashians got such large bottoms.
     • Carolyn_nth 1.9.2

       6 November 2017 at 9:07 pm

       Actually I buy toilet based on the experience I’ve had of how well they did the job in the past… and I buy duck stuff because I can get the top off easily with my hands, rather than having to get out the pliers, hold the bottle between my feet and struggle with it – which is my experience with most other toilet cleaners –

       so it’s a rational decision.
       • David Mac 1.9.2.1

         6 November 2017 at 10:58 pm

         Rubbish, you buy Harpic because your Mother did.

         We all like to think that we’re smart enough to think as you describe but we don’t. We lean towards where our hearts lie.
         • greywarshark 1.9.2.1.1

           8 November 2017 at 7:59 pm

           Too true David Mac. And amusing. If we can’t laugh at ourselves, who is allowed to?
2. Gristle 2

   6 November 2017 at 6:46 am

   Thanks for the lead. I see that you and Weka have pushed this in the past. Are you aware if Claire Curren picked this approach up from here?
3. Ad 3

   6 November 2017 at 7:02 am

   Worth looking at Q&A Ardern v Dann.

   Ardern is clear she will pick one or two industries per year and negotiate big wage increases across a whole industry.

   Bus drivers was an example.

   Harriet Gale at Greater Auckland covers it today.

   All power to this PM. Great job so far.
4. vto 4

   6 November 2017 at 7:12 am

   a correction to an old saying;

   If you’re not a socialist by the age of 20 then you haven’t got a heart..

   If you’re not a capitalist by the age of 30 then you haven’t got a brain..

   If you’re not a socialist again by the age of 40 then you haven’t got a heart or a brain.
   • OnceWasTim 4.1

     6 November 2017 at 3:27 pm

     “If you’re not a socialist by the age of 20 then you haven’t got a heart..
     If you’re not a capitalist by the age of 30 then you haven’t got a brain..
     If you’re not a socialist again by the age of 40 then you haven’t got a heart or a brain.”

     So what the hell do you reckon went wrong with Chris Finlayson? (I think he has both a heart and a brain, but he’s way past his mid-life crisis)
     Bolger and McKinnon are probably busy, still reconsidering their position and their ‘faith’.
     And as that old ‘joke’ goes … English is still wondering what caused all his kids – especially after some treasury official couldn’t give him an answer.
5. eco maori 5

   6 November 2017 at 7:32 am

   Well I no that I said that I would like to see movies on NZ land wars but as I look around our world and see what could happen I change my mind . We could write/make movies about Maori being the first exporters or having some of the first cars many good stories that show OUR mana fuck WAR ,
   You no that I said I was assistant manager of a 5000 cow farm well it was not just me.
   I had 13 of my iwi /people working with me my wife daughters sons and other family members and we smashed it the farm was running better than it ever had . This other out fit took over the sharemilking and decided that the Maori were not good enough to manage the farm . But they need me to run farm during the dry season I should have looked for another farm for us they paid us a flight down south to keep me there showed me some of there farms down south . And because I had so many people on the farm I stayed. The idiot new manager change all the systems on the farm he changed our feed plan for the cows . He burnt through all the cows rations that were budget to last 2 months in 3 weeks he made me effluent man of course we had a couple of Hongi’s by now as I coud see he was fucking things up our hard work he decided it was best to give me my space. I got a nother job and left thats a whole new story .This new manager gave some one whom I would not have give a job as assistant he was not very skilled my job six month later LOL. And because this outfit let its prejudice opinion make there choices for them and decided to hire someone with all the paper knowledge but his practical skills and people skills were lacking/ shit.
   They end up going broke cost them $20. million and more so you see people being raciest cost OUR country Billions open your eyes and hire the right people for the job.
   I expected me and my sons to be managing a farm each by now I no they have the skills to do this. But some people have thrown a spanner in my familys future shitting on OUR good name and put us in hardship .
   Now with Lawn’s Grass is like any other plant you can train IT to grow slow or feed it to grow fast If you want it to grow slow you cut it short and you can stress it ie scalp it and it will slow down so scalp it in spring and lift the cut when it dries up as in my option my clients want a green clean lawn .So if you want to mow 3 to 4 weeks scalp your lawn and mow it again in five days this will stress it and slow the growth. You see the best skills on can have is observation and growing grass is one of the mains skills a farmer needs Yes Jack you are right lawn is not good for our enviroment it is a luxury not many people around OUR world can afford. See I told you Jacinda Is Intelligent. P.S I’v got a move that’s going to make them shit the bed. Kia Kaha
   • Descendant Of Sssmith 5.1

     6 November 2017 at 9:54 pm

     “being racist cost OUR country Billions open your eyes and hire the right people for the job”

     Couldn’t agree more. Racist employers simply suck.
6. Carolyn_nth 6

   6 November 2017 at 8:05 am

   Panama Papers Mk2: AKA the Paradise Papers, is a breaking story from the International Consortium of Journalists, in collaboration with some MSM organisations int he UK, US and Germany. It is a leak of papers relating to offshore trusts related to the corporation Appleby, now called Estera.

   The Guardian has several articles on it today, including “What are the Paradise Papers”.

   The ICoJ has much on it, including this article.

   NZ is not mentioned in anything I have read so far. But Cook islands, Samoa, and Oceana get mentions.

   The ICoJ article linked above says this:

   The leaked cache of documents includes more than half a million files from Asiaciti Trust, a family-run offshore specialist that is headquartered in Singapore and has satellite offices from Samoa in the South Pacific to Nevis in the Caribbean.

   It didn’t take me long to find this document, from the Managing Director – Trust Services for the Asiaciti Trust Group, who claims to be a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

   https://www.parliament.nz/resource/0000059335

   It’s a submission to the proposed changes in 2007, to Trusstee laws.

   NZ Business directory for this trust group.

   The New Zealand Herald has a 2016 article on such trusts, and has a brief mention of Asiaciti

   Whitney was one of a handful of small firms and barristers, along with Cone Marshall, John W. Hart, OliverShaw, Anchor Trustees and Asiaciti Trust New Zealand, who subsequently met with the then Revenue Minister Todd McClay on December 18, 2014.

   I’m sure David Fisher and Matt Nippert will be on it.
   • amirite 6.1

     6 November 2017 at 2:21 pm

     New Zealand is donkey deep in it, thanks to John Key
     Paradise Papers: Link to firm that sued murdered Malta journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia http://www.afr.com/news/policy/tax/paradise-papers-link-to-firm-that-sued-murdered-malta-journalist-daphne-caruana-galizia-20171105-gzf1v0#ixzz4xbmZKQyR
     • Carolyn_nth 6.1.1

       6 November 2017 at 3:56 pm

       Thanks. I can’t access that link without subscribing. What does it have to do with John Key?

       I am trying to find when the Paradise Papers were released to the German newspaper. All I can find is that the leaked documents contain material from 1950-2016.

       I was trying to see if there is a link between the leaking of the Paradise Papers, and John key’s surprise resignation at the end of 2016.

       It seems that after the Paradise Papers were leaked, various news organisations and ICoJ started to investigate them, and are now going public.
       • amirite 6.1.1.1

         6 November 2017 at 7:25 pm

         I don’t know why that link is not working, it’s opens up for me and I’m not a subscriber but anyway
         This bit here:
         Leaked documents from the Asiaciti trust group in Singapore show inquiries by Henley & Partners, which runs a business migration program for the government of Malta, about setting up asset protection trusts in the Cook Islands which would thwart attempts by creditors for restitution.

         (…)

         The files raise questions about the loose oversight role that New Zealand’s government holds over the Cook Islands, a year after the Panama Papers forced changes in how New Zealand foreign trusts operate.

         Former Allens Arthur Robinson lawyer James McConvill reported after a 2010 marketing trip for Appleby to Auckland and Wellington that law firms told him that then Prime Minister John Key was leading measures to promote New Zealand as an offshore hub through foreign trusts, which pay no tax on earnings outside New Zealand.

         “Apparently the New Zealand Prime Minister is personally pushing the proposal, and it is expected to come into effect in 2011,” Mr McConvill reported. “In numerous meetings I was told that this proposal, if implemented, could lead to a lot of work for Appleby and other offshore firms.”

         Cooks Island residents also hold New Zealand citizenship, but Rarotonga​ runs its own foreign policy.

         The Cook Islands was the first country to enact an asset protection law in 1989, under which foreign creditors are barred from challenging the assets of a trust after a waiting period of one to two years. “
         • amirite 6.1.1.1.1

           6 November 2017 at 7:25 pm

           Cont’d
           Adrian Taylor of Asiaciti told Mr Kalin that “the maximum time limitation period in respect of creditor ‘fraudulent transfer’ actions is two years from the date of transfer of assets into the trust. In some cases that period may be as little as 12 months.”

           Mr Kalin replied: “I will be in touch or may refer the client directly to you. His name is Mr Karkukly from Chicago.”

           No further details are available. However, the following day Mr Taylor referred to Mr Kalin in an email exchange with a lawyer with Texas law firm Cantey Hanger.

           The US lawyer responded: “I spoke to Chris no more than 30 minutes ago. I know exactly why he is asking about Cook Island entities. I know so because he told me and asked me about it.

           “I think it is a great opportunity for Asiaciti, assuming your business sources in Switzerland do not catch wind of it.”

           US records indicate only one family named Karkukly lived in Chicago at the time, with several family members involved in setting up a remittance business.

           One of these, Ahmad Karkukly, a loans officer with Countrywide Home Loans Inc, was subsequently jailed for his part in a $US17.2 million mortgage fraud which was uncovered in December 2006.

           Henley & Partners declined to comment. Its position is that it has never had any involvement whatsoever in the Cook Islands. Asiaciti did not comment.

           Henley Trust, which changed its name to Athos Group last year, provides corporate and trust services but had no legal connection with Henley & Partners, the firm maintains.

           In December 2012 H&P Trust Company (Switzerland) AG wrote to Asiaciti’s Cook Islands office to introduce Dmitry Fadeev, a Singapore-based Russian who earned $US37 million in a $US1.4 billion sale of Russia’s largest juicing company to Pepsico in 2008.

           The enclosed letter was on Henley & Partners stationery and used a Henleyglobal.com email address.

           Asiaciti set up the Sakama Trust for Fadeev, to hold 7 million shares in Eagle Holdings Ltd of Anguilla and millions of shares in Panama companies Vinson International SA and Byzantium Global SA.

           Henley & Partners also appears in the Appleby files, which show the firm was forced to repay $US468,150 in a legal action by Russian Otkritie Securities over a $US150 million fraud by its London traders.

           Ruslan Pinaev, one of the Otkritie traders involved with the fraud had paid Henley $US492,118. Mr Kalin declined to answer if the payment was for a citizenship application.

           The Asiaciti files show numerous clients – property developers, doctors, dentists, fund managers – who noted that all income was reported to tax offices.

           Kenneth Whitney, the lawyer for former NZ PM John Key, in 2007 set up Catamount Holdings Trust for New York investment banker Neil Winward, formerly of Dresdner Kleinwort.

           In other cases, Asiaciti offered a mortgage scheme where clients could in effect lend money to themselves from offshore accounts, and claim interest payments as deductions.

           Other Asiaciti trust clients in the Cook Islands include:

           Gary A Denkberg, who set up two trusts, and is facing charges of defrauding elderly people in the US of $US30 million.

           The family of Kazakhstan senior official Serik Burkitbayev, one-time adviser to President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who was convicted of corruption in 2009.

           Kevin Trudeau, imprisoned for fraud in the US in January over a long-running series of marketing frauds.

           Arturo Rafael Frieri Gallo, whose lawyer explained why his name in Italian documents was different from Colombian documents. Italian authorities opened an investigation on him in 2014 in relation to suspected tax evasion of €331 million.

           A $US25 million trust for Eduardo Langoria, whose family would later be embroiled in a bitter dispute over the estate of Mexican businessman Eduardo Langoria Senior.

           And Kevin W Wessel, who the California District Court ruled “intentionally misrepresented and concealed important facts as part of a fraudulent asset protection scheme” in which clients deposited more than $US6.3 million in what they believed was a Swedish bank called The Alps.

           New York lawyer Marie Kaiser-Napoli set up a Cook Island trust in November 2015 called the MEKN 2008 Family Trust, listing its purpose as “to provide a degree of protection from long-term inflation”.

           Her husband Paul Napoli and law partner Marc Bern had won hundreds of millions of dollars from class actions for 9/11 responders and others, before their partnership dissolved in a bitterly acrimonious series of lawsuits in 2014 against Bern and Paul’s former mistress.

           In 2014, while Israeli real estate developer Moti Zisser was battling attempts by banks to force him into bankruptcy over debt of $US700 million, his son David set up the Cottian trust in the Cook Islands.

           At the time David Zisser’s lawyer, Ram Jeanne, said his business “has never had any connection to Motti Zisser, and any attempt to link David Zisser’s business to Motti Zisser has no connection with reality”.

           Read more: http://www.afr.com/news/policy/tax/paradise-papers-link-to-firm-that-sued-murdered-malta-journalist-daphne-caruana-galizia-20171105-gzf1v0#ixzz4xd8XZaTD
           Follow us: @FinancialReview on Twitter | financialreview on Facebook
           • Carolyn_nth 6.1.1.1.1.1

             6 November 2017 at 7:43 pm

             What’s the connection between Asiaciti and Key’s lawyer Whitney? -The above quote looks like they’re connected, but I don’t understand how.
         • Carolyn_nth 6.1.1.1.2

           6 November 2017 at 7:38 pm

           OK. Thanks. I see most mainstream media in NZ are also mentioning the Asiaciti Trust Group. Probably too soon to find a direct link to tax evasion in NZ.

           However, there were various concerns expressed in NZ MSM about the Asiaciti Trust connection in relation to the Panama Papers.

           eg: the RNZ Panama Papers investigation group reported in May 2016:

           A controversial and disgraced prominent Brazilian politician accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes used a New Zealand company as part of a complex arrangement to hide his wealth in secret bank accounts.
           …
           The New Zealand link is PVCI New Zealand Trust, set up in July 2008 by a Panamanian company of the same name.

           Its registered address was New Zealand-based offshore services firm Asiaciti Trust New Zealand, with three directors – Uruguayan lawyer, Luis Maria Pineyrua Pittaluga, and Argentine, Jorge Haiek Reggiardo, and Auckland based Sam Ruha of Asiaciti.
           …
           After PVCI NZ’s early role in setting up the Singapore companies used to hide Cunha’s alleged gains from graft, it seems to have been largely dormant. Its only New Zealand based link – director Sam Ruha, resigned in 2011.

           Asiaciti did not respond to emails asking for comment.

           New Zealand Companies Office records show PVCI moved its registered office to Auckland based law firm Cone Marshall in July 2014, and Geoffrey Cone became a director in November 2015 – a few months after Cunha had been indicted.
           Cone and Marshall partner Geoffrey Cone

           Cone and Marshall partner Geoffrey Cone Photo: Supplied: PCC + Co.

           Both Asiaciti Trust and Cone Marshall were among several firms who lobbied the government in 2014 over fears the trust industry would be shut down by Inland Revenue (IRD).

           And Matt Nippert at NZ Herald was looking at Asiaciti, in relation to the Panama Papers, and a response from an OIA query made by Nippert. In June 2017, Nippert reported:

           An official report has highlighted concerns New Zealand’s charitable sector may be misused to evade tax or launder money after three local charities holding $140 million run by Swiss lawyers refused to disclose to investigators who they acted for.

           An Internal Affairs Charities Service investigation dubbed “Operation Timepiece” into the New Zealand-registered Mulligan, Shepherd and Birdy Charitable Trusts found while some donations were made locally to Starship and Plunket, the vast majority of its distributions – almost $5m since 2012 – were directed offshore to a related Swiss entity called Fondation Eagle.
           …
           The New Zealand connection is the Queen St-based Asiaciti Trust, which provided an office address and directors – Lauren Willis, Megan Wu and Kevin Taylor – for the three trustee companies governing the charities.

           Willis, the managing director of Asiaciti Trust New Zealand, said repeatedly in response to questions this week: “I can’t really comment, because this is bound by client confidentiality.”

           There’s a lot more detail about this at the Nippert link.

           But, I am pretty sure, Nippert and other NZ journos, will be looking very closely at leaks from Asiaciti in the Paradise Papers – look forward to Nippert’s article on this.
       • joe90 6.1.1.2

         6 November 2017 at 7:38 pm

         https://web.archive.org/web/20171105215023/http://www.afr.com/news/policy/tax/paradise-papers-link-to-firm-that-sued-murdered-malta-journalist-daphne-caruana-galizia-20171105-gzf1v0
         • Carolyn_nth 6.1.1.2.1

           6 November 2017 at 7:45 pm

           Ah. thanks – the good old wayback machine.
7. eco maori 7

   6 November 2017 at 8:06 am

   Yes there are better moves to improve our environmental foot print .
   $ 5000 subsidy on secondhand electric car’s and no rego fees . This will also slow the demand of fule and should make OUR fuel companys more honest and we don’t need to buy new as there are plenty of secondhand cars coming to nz now. get these cars to go through a signture range check and they must only have 30.000 klm on the clock.
   Many thing that we can change one Idea I had was to use Mother Nature I.E gravity desgin all cars to shut down and still be safe and automatically free wheel down hill heaps of fuel efficiency to be gained there in my opinion I’M still Loyal to Gull fuel staitions for supporting OUR new coalition government buy dropping there prices on the day they got the reins of POWER. Ka pai
   • James 7.1

     6 November 2017 at 6:13 pm

     “Gravity design” is already here. Eco mode in a BMW disengages the driveshaft down hill.
8. Morrissey 8

   6 November 2017 at 9:32 am

   Ten Reasons We Got Rid of National
   No. 2: The likes of Dr. Jonathan Coleman

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10413574

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/96135652/coleman-skips-election-health-forum

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11922070
   • Venezia 8.1

     6 November 2017 at 11:49 am

     I was not in NZ in the pre-election period so missed these news items. They reflect a Minister of health who just did not have the welfare of the population in his sights. Like other Cabinet Ministers in the last nine years, he did not do his job and not only that, dealt in spinning the facts convenient to their ideology. In effect, they were exercising their power for their own career advancement and that of their lobbyists and political funders. Coleman’s continuing arrogance about the facts of the state of the health care system as they developed in NZ is a sad inditement of National’s record in office.
9. marty mars 9

   6 November 2017 at 9:36 am

   For those that like action – climate love – a monhly newspaper for Nelson Tasman first one out now – around sustainability and low carbon futures. Bought to you by Charlotte Squire who created happyzine.co nz. Check out the Facebook page for submitting stories or for advertising.
   • garibaldi 9.1

     6 November 2017 at 3:23 pm

     Good one mm. She was on RNZ with Jesse this arfo.
   • Robert Guyton 9.2

     6 November 2017 at 4:53 pm

     Good one Marty; I listened to Charlotte’s interview and liked what I heard. How do I get a copy of Climate Love? Nelson’s a way off 🙂
     • marty mars 9.2.1

       6 November 2017 at 6:55 pm

       Email.me again and I’ll send some down. Yep it was a great interview – Charlotte’s happy.
10. Pete 10

    6 November 2017 at 9:37 am

    Simon bridges in the news today:

    “National MP and shadow leader of the house Simon Bridges said it was normal for places on select committees to be roughly equivalent to the size of Parliament, or around 120 MPs.”

    “It’s a really alarming erosion of the Opposition’s democratic rights in our Parliament like we have never seen before. It is an unprecedented situation.” [Bridges said]

    Maybe he should build 10 bridges and get over himself.
    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 10.1

      6 November 2017 at 10:43 am

      Philip Lyth @philiplyth

      Simon Bridges crying foul over changes to select cites? In Aug, he was Minister moving the motion for the change.”
    • tracey 10.2

      6 November 2017 at 12:03 pm

      Hilarious to hear he and his party suddenly care about democratic rights, govt transparency, fairness. Wait til one of them rails about breaches of Privacy!

      ” Maybe he should build 10 bridges and get over himself.” LOL
      • greywarshark 10.2.1

        6 November 2017 at 7:11 pm

        tracey 12.03
        +1
    • Foreign waka 10.3

      6 November 2017 at 8:46 pm

      It was an elegant move to block any undemocratic and some might even say treasonous moves by the National Party. That a former prime minister is sinking so low with the comments he made, I am certain that, if he continues with his undignified and shameful display, he will be ousted within 6 months.
11. Puckish Rogue 11

    6 November 2017 at 2:12 pm

    Gotta love the USA

    https://www.facebook.com/events/505748039803791/
    http://www.newsweek.com/americans-scream-helplessly-sky-donald-trump-election-anniversary-690889
12. savenz 12

    6 November 2017 at 2:51 pm

    Copywrite infringement was not even a crime in NZ which was the supposed reason for this Hollywood raid with armed defenders, Helicopters and FBI.

    Dotcoms Announce Settlement of Lawsuit Against NZ Police

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/11/04/dotcoms-announce-settlement-of-lawsuit-against-nz-police/?utm_content=bufferad378&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
13. Chris 13

    6 November 2017 at 2:59 pm

    NZ PM gives finger to Turnbull. Fanstastic.

    https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/m/o/t/j/4/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620×349.1mox34.png/1509866724565.jpg
14. james 14

    6 November 2017 at 4:41 pm

    So Jacinda has delivered on her promise of extending paid parental leave.

    Whilst originally was against it – This is something that I agree that Labour got right and National’s arguments didnt make as much ‘real life’ logic as Labours

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/11/jacinda-ardern-commits-to-extending-paid-parental-leave-by-a-month.html
    • Descendant Of Sssmith 14.1

      6 November 2017 at 6:39 pm

      Now if only they could pay decent non-judgemental non-obligational amounts to raise their children to those predominantly Maori mothers, many of whom don’t have another partners income to fall back on, as they do to those predominantly European mothers who either have a good paying job prior to having their baby or a husbands income.

      Plus all the others on benefits as well.

      Just bring back completely non-judgemental universal family benefit for fucks sake and stop playing one set of parents off against the other.
      • greywarshark 14.1.1

        6 November 2017 at 7:12 pm

        DoSS
        +100
15. Descendant Of Sssmith 15

    6 November 2017 at 6:33 pm

    More revelations about where the rich and powerful hide their money.

    http://digg.com/2017/paradise-papers-explainer

    A good long history as well which I think adds much more value.

    “The papers cover the period from 1950 to 2016.”

    Pity they don’t have the details of those who were tossing money into SCF in those last few weeks before bailout + interest.
16. North 16

    6 November 2017 at 10:56 pm

    A rather strained fit by Paul Thomas. ‘Winston the Muldoonist’.
    http://www.noted.co.nz/currently/politics/the-last-muldoonist-has-his-final-stand-in-government/

    The entire National Party of the day were Muldoonists……were he reincarnated with his excesses thrown behind the trickle-down lie the present lot would be again. ‘Born-To-Rule’ pricks.
17. WILD KATIPO 17

    7 November 2017 at 2:44 am

    I once played this over the phone to my octogenarian mother ,… as I wanted to get her opinion on what she thought ,… she thought it was ‘ energetic ‘ … quite a good song ,… then I told her who it was that both wrote it and also the group that sang it…

    She was quite composed and conciliatory ,… considering the outcry and the stigma attached,… I guess she is quite the social thinker,… anyways ,… I think this is a good study in human sociology… to really get into the nitty gritty…

    “Get On Home” sung by members of the Manson Family – YouTube
    Video for charles manson get on home you tube▶ 3:31
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4bSgeYaAaw

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