Open mike 07/03/2024

58 comments on “Open mike 07/03/2024 ”

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1. Peter 1

   7 March 2024 at 7:15 am

   My understanding from the emergency housing announcement yesterday is that it’s a labelling change dressed up being as something meaningful.

   It’s as much garbage as the famous National “Comprehensive Housing Plan.”

   How did that work out? And how did the motel angle work out then?
2. Robert Guyton 2

   7 March 2024 at 7:57 am

   Does the matter raised by joe909 yesterday have any bearing upon this?

   joe909

   6 March 2024 at 10:29 pm

   [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
   
   • Robert Guyton 2.1

     7 March 2024 at 10:58 am

     By which I meant, would Judith's on-line messaging be taken into account by the judge if the open letter was to be taken seriously.
     • Shanreagh 2.1.1

       7 March 2024 at 1:58 pm

       What open letter? (ETA presumably the thread on the letter to Judge Glubb)

       This was from an X account AFTER the sentencing.

       Are you speaking of the victim impact statement that she was not allowed to read in court and which was later released in a redacted form by the Police?

       I think that had this case been carefully and correctly handled then the victim would not have felt that she had to say taihoa on all the SM statements that have been swirling around since the sentencing. Some of these are very anti the defendant, mostly around the implication that having Autism/ADHD has some bearing on whether these conditions prevent the ability to know right from wrong.

       She is asking that things be dialled down and for that I can only commend her. Her quest was for justice not a witch hunt.
       • weka 2.1.1.1

         7 March 2024 at 2:22 pm

         https://thestandard.org.nz/open-letter-to-judge-glubb/
3. Joe90 3

   7 March 2024 at 8:16 am

   Old habits die hard.

   /

   Shaun Walker

   @shaunwalker7

   Population transfers, kidnappings, broken families, deportations and spending on new propaganda outlets. Lots of interviews, as well as info from some leaked Kremlin internal documents, in my story about life in occupied Zaporizhzhia region.

   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/06/deportation-re-population-russia-occupied-ukraine-zaporizhzhia

   https://twitter.com/shaunwalker7/status/1765344370230767786
4. Robert Guyton 4

   7 March 2024 at 8:18 am

   "The Prime Minister spent two nights at Premier House over Christmas last year and hosted his extended family for festive celebrations despite saying the residence is unlivable."

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350203582/premier-house-suitable-big-luxon-family-xmas-bash

   His poor, poor family! What a miserable Christmas it must have been, with all that squalor 'n'all.
   • Drowsy M. Kram 4.1

     7 March 2024 at 8:46 am

     His [Luxon's] poor, poor family! What a miserable Christmas it must have been, with all that squalor 'n'all.

     ‘Top’ 10 percenters cop comparatively little public flak for the way they raise their children. They must simply be 'better' parents – but why?

     UncookedSelachimorpha's comment on free (school) lunches bears repeating here:

     It may seem like some waste – but remember, every one of these needy families and kids are in the poorest 50% of New Zealanders – and that part of the population owns only 3% of the nation's wealth. So they haven't been very effective at bleeding everyone else dry, with only 3%.
     https://thestandard.org.nz/let-them-eat-cake-2/#comment-1991843

     $300 A Week: How Students Are Gaming The Allowance System
     [6 March 2024]
     The Ministry of Social Development said in a statement that it tried to intervene early when concerns were raised about potential fraud.

     It said any change to policies around parental income and student allowance eligibility were decisions for the government.
     • Descendant Of Smith 4.1.1

       7 March 2024 at 9:26 am

       Wonder how many of these wealthy parents have been prosecuted?

       Any decision to use taxable income for targeted assistance rather than the Social Security Act means the well-off can rort it.

       The income definitions are quite different.
   • Patricia Bremner 4.2

     7 March 2024 at 8:50 am

     Yes, Robert, that was my take. Like the limo ride, the subsidy, the house, and now the plane… How hard it is to be NZ's PM.
   • joe90 4.3

     7 March 2024 at 8:55 am

     Must have been quite the party if the residence is now unlivable.
     • Drowsy M. Kram 4.3.1

       7 March 2024 at 9:02 am

       Must have been quite the party if the residence is now unlivable.

       "What a dump!" [Two minutes from Fawlty Towers – child abuse warning.]
   • Tiger Mountain 4.4

     7 March 2024 at 10:49 am

     Baldrick is having the country on, PM Jacinda Ardern and family members apparently lived there during peak COVID without major issues.

     Anything the current PM says needs to be fact checked if possible given his track record, from the hired Merc to drive 200m to being in Hawaii and Aotearoa NZ at the same time!
     • alwyn 4.4.1

       7 March 2024 at 3:22 pm

       "lived there during peak COVID"

       That was of course about 4 years ago. Old houses where the maintenance is not carried out deteriorate awfully fast.
       • newsense 4.4.1.1

         8 March 2024 at 1:29 am

         Yeah- imagine rolling out some crap that was old in the 90s and expecting the country to live with it!
   • Matiri 4.5

     7 March 2024 at 11:47 am

     This is the original story from NZ Womans Weekly complete with christmas pyjamas. Classy.

     https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/celeb-news/christmas-with-christopher-luxon-and-family-48048/
     • Tiger Mountain 4.5.1

       7 March 2024 at 12:18 pm

       Jeez, have seen some puff pieces over the years but this one is the puffiest…the PM’s partner looks as mad as a snake.
       • SPC 4.5.1.1

         7 March 2024 at 2:51 pm

         All reputable psychologists/psychiatrists base their diagnosis on something other than appearances. Though the display here is basic suburban "country lifestyle" for those with wealth.

         An early assessment would be class normative, albeit co-dependent (traditional).
         • aj 4.5.1.1.1

           7 March 2024 at 3:17 pm

           It was almost a 2020's version of a Mad Men set
           Luxon = Don Draper
           • SPC 4.5.1.1.1.1

             7 March 2024 at 3:54 pm

             Sure, it is co-dependent normative (1950's-60's).

             Betty Draper is blonde, Veronica lookx brunette.
       • Belladonna 4.5.1.2

         7 March 2024 at 7:02 pm

         Do you somehow think that partners of MPs are now fair game?

         A new low, in TS commentary.
         • Tiger Mountain 4.5.1.2.1

           8 March 2024 at 10:12 am

           A mere observation. Do you recall the critical mass on Kiwiblog and Slateroil that built up against Clarke Gayford on falsely alleged matters?…to the extent where the NZ Police took the rare step of issuing a pre-emptive statement that Mr Gayford “was of no interest to them on any matter”…
           • Belladonna 4.5.1.2.1.1

             8 March 2024 at 10:16 pm

             A mere observation. Do you understand the frankly misogynist language being used here? Nothing about her political behaviour or convictions (which I doubt the OP either knows or has made any attempt to find out) – simply her appearance. Sheer nastiness.

             One can make an argument that politicians place themselves (including their appearance) in the public sphere, and are, to a certain extent, fair game. I don't happen to agree with that attitude – though it appears to be prevalent on TS. However, even that doesn't apply to their family members.

             I don't recall Gayford's physical appearance being the subject of comment. Though, there was apparently unfounded gossip about possible criminal activity (I gather. I didn't actually hear or read any of it – but you seem to be better informed).

             Do I condemn that unfounded gossip? Of course I do.
             Do you equally condemn the misogynist language from the OP commenting on the appearance of the wife of the PM? Well, do you?
   • Mike the Lefty 4.6

     7 March 2024 at 4:10 pm

     I suppose that when you own a stack of houses and are the representative of an affluent blue ribbon seat like Botany then anything less than a mansion is unliveable.

     But I bet it is still infinitely better than the places that many people have to live in, and pay huge rent for doing so.

     A PM who claimed there was a housing crisis when in opposition and now a few months later avoids mentioning it.
5. Reality 5

   7 March 2024 at 9:49 am

   Every day there is more nastiness and arrogance coming from the mouth of one or other of this government's members. Peters, Seymour, Jones. Unbelievable. They are creating a very divided and unsettled nation.

   Premier House was not too shabby for Luxon's family Christmas. Perhaps they put decorations over the leaky windows and walls. So the plumbing must have worked. The kitchen was usable and quite adequate for catering for a large group. Spacious dining room with quality tableware. The bedrooms had nice bed linen. Plenty of parking. And housekeeping staff to clear up after. Not exactly "uninhabitable".
   • Peter 5.1

     7 March 2024 at 10:03 am

     I guess it's sitting there. I guess there are people in emergency housing in Wellington who would love to live in it. From today.

     I'll help them move in.
     • Tiger Mountain 5.1.1

       7 March 2024 at 11:04 am

       There is obviously a major housing supply shortage, yet thousands of properties in are empty.
       https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/497269/as-nz-struggles-to-resolve-its-long-running-housing-crisis-investors-should-be-taxed-for-keeping-homes-empty

       Time to enter some of them and occupy on a political well organised basis. Enough squats set up could not be handled by the plods.

       Commercial properties, old car dealers etc. in provincial centres that could be used for small business and traders, homeless etc. but landlords prefer to keep empty.
     • alwyn 5.1.2

       7 March 2024 at 11:17 am

       I guess you will have started by now. How many have you moved in since you said you were going to help them with the move?

       Or are you, as that great US description has it "All hat and no cattle"?
       • Drowsy M. Kram 5.1.2.1

         7 March 2024 at 12:03 pm

         National plans emergency housing changes [7 March 2024]
         Minister of Social Development Louise Upston won’t say whether the National Government’s plan to prioritise families with children and make it harder for people to apply for – and stay in – emergency housing, will force more people into homelessness.

         “What we're focused on is fewer children in motels. Front line staff, they make tricky decisions every day. It is not going to be perfect. What I am saying is we will have fewer children in motels,” Upston said.

         How many have you moved in…

         Great idea though alwyn, don't you think – putting unproductive houses to good use? Like Peter, I'd prioritise the families in emergency accommodation.

         Improving the finances of hard-done-by landLords is a key (emergency?) priority for our self-serving coalition govt – whether they're "all hat and no cattle" when it comes placing less-well-off families in homes, time will tell – Lordy Lordy Hallelujah!

         Govt wants landlords' support to end emergency housing
         [7 March 2024]

         Opportunities Ahead: Key Government Changes Affecting Property Investors and Tenants in 2024 [19 Feb 2024]
         Bright line test reduction
         Return of Mortgage Interest Deductibility
         Reinstating the 90-day ‘no-cause eviction’
         • Tiger Mountain 5.1.2.1.1

           7 March 2024 at 12:27 pm

           The old “Catch 22” meme may make a come back…you must leave stable, if not that great, motel accomodation for a private overpriced dump, from which you can be evicted for no reason…if you refuse you will be homeless…

           Landlords will revel in the tenant churn of no cause 90 day evictions.
   • Bearded Git 5.2

     7 March 2024 at 11:28 am

     Reality ….you forgot Willis, Reti, Brown, Goldsmith, Bishop, Stanford, Upston, Collins, Mitchell….etc etc. Not to forget Baldrick the Terrible of course.
6. joe90 6

   7 March 2024 at 10:28 am

   Baby tRump has a whinge.

   Act Party leader David Seymour has attacked the media industry – and singled out TVNZ political reporter Benedict Collins – implying it is hypocritical to ask for government money while criticising politicians.

   Seymour spoke with Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking following criticism of his proposed public sector cuts.

   But the conversation shifted when Hosking asked Seymour whether the downfall of some media organisations recently was their own fault.

   “That’s not quite true, the media landscape is changing,” Seymour said, detailing how advertisers aren’t spending as much money through media.

   But Seymour implied it was hypocritical for the media to ask the Government for money while at the same time criticising them and celebrating slip-ups.

   “But it’s also true, I saw a report on 1News, Benedict Collins grinning down the camera about Chris Luxon’s apartment costs.

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/david-seymour-blasts-tv-reporter-attacks-media-industry/PGVY4WQLYVFN5LDVMZR3QTG5YE/
   • AB 6.1

     7 March 2024 at 11:21 am

     Seymour seems to want only privately-owned media to exist. Because given who has the money (and who hasn't) to fund such enterprises, that means wall to wall media that is favourable to the Nat-ACT agenda. It would throw any media that attempts to be merely balanced (let-alone left-aligned) back onto financially fragile foundations such as crowd-sourcing. This is typical of the self-proclaimed champions of free speech that we have had to endure in recent years. For speech to be free it must be relatively equally distributed and heard – being simply not prohibited is insufficient to qualify as ‘free’.
     • joe90 6.1.1

       7 March 2024 at 11:37 am

       Because he's a vindictive, authoritarian prick, I reckon.

       Sam Sachdeva

       @SamSachdevaNZ

       Perhaps worth noting that the TVNZ journo targeted by David Seymour broke the story of an ACT Party candidate comparing vaccine mandates to Nazi concentration camps during the election campaign – maybe not a coincidence Seymour is singling him out by name?

       https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/08/23/act-candidate-who-compared-vaccine-mandates-to-concentration-camps-quits/

       https://twitter.com/SamSachdevaNZ/status/1765487070305534022
   • Mike the Lefty 6.2

     7 March 2024 at 4:14 pm

     When I read Seymour's comments my first thought was:

     Revenge of the Nerds.

     Peters' and Seymour's payback to the media who have said and done rotten things to them over their long parliamentary careers.

     Now you lot will get your comeuppance.
     • Robert Guyton 6.2.1

       7 March 2024 at 8:40 pm

       "Revenge of the Nerds"

       QFT
       • KJT 6.2.1.1

         7 March 2024 at 8:56 pm

         I doubt if Seymour was a "nerd".

         Nerds have brains.

         Not unthinking repeaters of others memes.
7. Poldark 7

   7 March 2024 at 12:24 pm

   About that Christmas party at Premier House. Luxative must be taking lessons from our friend Trump. " The more outrageous the hypocrisy the more likely he thinks he will get away with it"
8. Patricia Bremner 8

   7 March 2024 at 12:32 pm

   First they came for the scientists and public servants, and now the press.
   • Heather Grimwood 8.1

     7 March 2024 at 12:56 pm

     To Patricia Bremner at 8 : the proposed demise of 'Fair Go' suggests an accommodating motive to those who would cheat customers!
     • Patricia Bremner 8.1.1

       7 March 2024 at 8:51 pm

       We should complain loudly. Ministerial Q
9. Sanctuary 9

   7 March 2024 at 12:36 pm

   Old Luxon is something else, isn't he? He has managed to combine complete political obscurity, ineffective messaging and an utter inability to control his coalition partners to the point you'd be forgiven for thinking David Seymour was the PM with an unerring instinct for much reported politically damaging attempts at nickel and diming the taxpayer.

   One would imagine that once the poll slide starts (you know, because 94% of the population didn't want David Seymour as PM) the National party grandees will start the process of finding a replacement sooner rather than later.
   • thinker 9.1

     7 March 2024 at 5:13 pm

     My money's on Melissa Lee. 😉

     Shows empathy, excellent debater in the house, intuitively understands the political landscape (knows who the real leader of the coalition is and goes into bat to defend him).

     Also, not willing to make use of urgency with legislation, which makes her stand out amongst her peers.(Shame that, for once, it might have done some good)
     • randal mcmurphy 9.1.1

       7 March 2024 at 5:57 pm

       hahahahahahahahahahaha. wise up.
     • Obtrectator 9.1.2

       8 March 2024 at 12:04 am

       Actua-Lee?? Gotta be joking. She is improving, though. Checkpoint finally got her to front up for an on-air interview the other day, and we were treated to only 36 occurrences of her most characteristic verbal tic in that 9-10 minutes.
10. randal mcmurphy 10

    7 March 2024 at 5:56 pm

    25 years ago there was rugby league on four nights a week and usually a good clint eastwood or arnold schwarzenegger movie on once a week. now the whole broadcast media has become fractured with pay per view and the free to air channels overloaded with banal trite programming that nobody really wants to watch!
    • Belladonna 10.1

      7 March 2024 at 8:24 pm

      25 years ago there was rugby league on four nights a week and usually a good clint eastwood or arnold schwarzenegger movie on once a week.

      Sounds like my definition of 'banal trite programming that nobody really wants to watch!'

      Part of the issue with their business model is that TV comes a very long way down the list of preferred news or entertainment sources for anyone under 80 (Yes, yes, exaggerating for effect. But broadly true) Can't remember the last time my teen voluntarily watched TV (apart from streaming a movie through the big screen).
      Broadcast TV is a dying medium.
      • SPC 10.1.1

        7 March 2024 at 8:34 pm

        Not for those over 65, or those with big screen TV's. Home theatre, films and sports.
        • Belladonna 10.1.1.1

          7 March 2024 at 8:53 pm

          Well, you say over 65 – I say over 80. But the point is the same.
          Broadcast TV is virtually irrelevant to anyone under that age.

          Yes, the younger group may still have large TVs – but they are, as you say, streaming films (whether Netflix, or the ‘free’ versions from the library), watching sports (pay channels) and (for a certain demographic) gaming. They are not watching broadcast TV.

          I do have friends in roughly the same age demographic as me who are wedded to watching 'Shortie' – but they are becoming fewer and fewer over the years (not, I hasten to say, dying off – but losing their loyalty to the 5.30 pm (or whenever it is!) timeslot).
      • randal mcmurphy 10.1.2

        7 March 2024 at 8:45 pm

        True they might be trite and banal but jolly good rollicking entertainment for the masses who soaked it up. have you looked at the teevee pages in the press lately and considered how much of it you would really want to watch? Oh and I forgot to mention the endless re-runs of very poor movies and other mindless drivel foisted upon the public not to mention the lawless progs about moonshiners and the boofheads doing illegal street racing.
        • Belladonna 10.1.2.1

          7 March 2024 at 8:48 pm

          I watch none of it. Broadcast media is entirely irrelevant to me.

          Your definition of ‘good rollicking entertainment’ is my definition of mind-numbing boredom – and, as you said, ‘mindless drivel’
      • newsense 10.1.3

        8 March 2024 at 1:34 am

        Yes, but your handle suggests you live in a foreign language festival offering. Perhaps looking for the title I once bestowed upon a magnificent acquaintance as Minister for Unpopular Culture’.

        BTW can NZ watch Last Week Tonight on YouTube? Because the story on Boeing and its parallels with the current administration are spooky. Or mundane and very very depressing.
        • Belladonna 10.1.3.1

          8 March 2024 at 8:31 am

          Whereas your handle suggests you're a sad news junkie – also unreflective of the mass culture of NZ.

          All ad hominems aside. The statistics show, unequivocally, that the vast majority of young (and middle-aged, for that matter) Kiwis do not watch broadcast media. And there is nothing that you can offer them (in the way of content) which will change this.

          If you want to know about YouTube content – I suggest you research it yourself.
11. Robert Guyton 11

    7 March 2024 at 8:46 pm

    I'm waiting for the dedicated TS post on the issue of the assault on Marama… "Open Letter to Judge Whomever"… crickets …

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
    
    • Robert Guyton 11.1

      7 March 2024 at 9:11 pm

      Well, that's weird!

      Darien Fenton wrote:

      "I am still waiting for the prosecution of the Destiny mob motorcyclist who hit Marama Davidson.

      7 March 2024 at 11:28 am

      My response seems to be closely aligned and appropriate to her comment, yet got shunted – why, I'm wondering?
12. Robert Guyton 12

    7 March 2024 at 8:47 pm

    That's been well covered here!

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
    
13. Robert Guyton 13

    7 March 2024 at 8:52 pm

    "Cross posted from Te Whare Whero"

    Te Whare Whero has received no comments in response to this post.

    The Standard has received but 12.

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
    
    • Robert Guyton 13.1

      7 March 2024 at 9:13 pm

      Again, weird! The post is crossposted, yet referring to the original results in ejection to another thread! Can't understand why.

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