Open Mike 07/11/2018

120 comments on “Open Mike 07/11/2018”

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1. Ed 1

   7 November 2018 at 6:38 am

   Ecuador planning to sell large tracts of its rainforest to China.
   What could possibly go wrong?

   • millsy 1.1

     7 November 2018 at 8:30 am

     A quick Google search reveals that this was reported about 4-5 years ago.

     • SaveNZ 1.1.1

       7 November 2018 at 10:22 am

       Well it’s still relevant if it is going to be cleared.

       I’d like to see an international agreement that protects (and offers an allowance) to the world’s natural areas like rainforests and jungles, to keep them natural and untouched, free of people apart from indigenous people and free of habitat destruction. This would contribute to international biodiversity and helping climate change and help the world retain those areas. I’m pretty sure there is only 4% jungles left for example in the world and they house a significant proportion of biodiversity in the world.

       I’d also like to see another measure for forests and international agreements for retaining them.

       Sad that the antarctic fishing marine reserves have been stopped by some greedy countries.

       Not sure if this is true (from 2005) but I was surprised what countries had the most forests. At that time the world had approx 30% still in forests although that was 13 years ago. (Not sure if this is a measure of the quality of the forests though, aka are they monocultures like pines?)

       Forest-rich and forest-poor countries. The five most forest-rich countries (the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States and China) account for more than half of total forest area (2 097 million hectares or 53 percent). The Russian Federation alone accounts for 20 percent of the world total. Seven countries have more than 100 million hectares of forest each. The ten most forest-rich countries account for 66 percent of total forest area (Figure 2.3). The remaining 34 percent is spread among 212 countries and areas. Seven countries and areas (the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, the Holy See, Monaco, Nauru, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and Tokelau) reported having no areas that qualify as forests using the FRA 2005 definition.
       High and low forest cover countries. Forty-five countries and areas have more than half their total land area covered by forests (Figure 2.4), and 11 of these have more than 75 percent of their total land area covered. Most of these are small island states or territories, but the list also includes three low-lying coastal states in South America and one country in the Congo Basin (Table 2.2).
       Sixty-four countries and areas have less than 10 percent of their total land area covered by forests. These include many SIDS and dependent territories, as well as 17 larger countries with relatively substantial forest areas (more than 1 million hectares each). Three of these (Chad, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Mongolia) have more than 10 million hectares of forest, but still qualify as LFCCs.
       At the regional level, South America is the region with the highest percentage of forest cover, followed by Europe and North and Central America. Asia is the region with the lowest percentage of forest cover (Table 2.3).”

       https://www.greenfacts.org/en/forests/l-3/2-extent-deforestation.htm#1p0

     • SaveNZ 1.1.2

       7 November 2018 at 10:30 am

       Maybe a very good strategic move by China?

       “The Amazon Rainforest has been described as the “Lungs of our Planet” because it provides the essential environmental world service of continuously recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen. More than 20 percent of the world oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest.
       More than half of the world’s estimated 10 million species of plants, animals and insects live in the tropical rainforests. One-fifth of the world’s fresh water is in the Amazon Basin.
       One hectare (2.47 acres) may contain over 750 types of trees and 1500 species of higher plants.
       At least 80% of the developed world’s diet originated in the tropical rainforest. Its bountiful gifts to the world include fruits like avocados, coconuts, figs, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bananas, guavas, pineapples, mangos and tomatoes; vegetables including corn, potatoes, rice, winter squash and yams; spices like black pepper, cayenne, chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, sugar cane, tumeric, coffee and vanilla and nuts including Brazil nuts and cashews.”

       http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm

       • marty mars 1.1.2.1

         7 November 2018 at 12:23 pm

         Yeah they could transport the clean air over to China.

2. Ed 2

   7 November 2018 at 6:40 am

   Extinction rebellion.

   “We refuse to bequeath a dying planet to future generations by failing to act now.”

   https://twitter.com/ExtinctionR?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

3. Jenny 3

   7 November 2018 at 6:45 am

   A movie about a time when the Left condemned fascism, instead of cuddling up to it.

   • Sanctuary 3.1

     7 November 2018 at 7:20 am

     The left cuddles up to Fascism? How did you get to that conclusion?

     • WeTheBleeple 3.1.1

       7 November 2018 at 7:41 am

       Idiot post not worth responding to.

     • Jenny 3.1.2

       8 November 2018 at 6:50 am

       Sanctuary3.1

       7 November 2018 at 7:20 am

       The left cuddles up to Fascism? How did you get to that conclusion?

       Hi Sanctuary,

       Maybe you need to address that question to the biggest, (remaining), Left Assad apologist on this site.

       But since you asked:

       Cuddling up to fascism

       New Zealand’s biggest Centre Left blogsite gives TS author Bill, free reign to censor comment that provides factual evidence of the fascist nature of the Assad regime.

       [For ignoring moderation and lying about authors…continuing with the same old tiresome pattern of bullshit – 1 year ban] – Bill

       In refusing to address the evidence I presented here and earlier, Bill continually and repeatedly made accusations that I am liar. Bill has never tried to refute what I have written. Neither has Bill ever pointed out where I am have supposed to have lied about him or any other author. NOT ONCE! NOT EVER!

       In this way we see the convergence between fascists and some on the Left, not just in ideas but in tactics. Having no moral defence for his position on Syria, Bill and others like him have to resort to these sorts of methods.

       Maybe Bill hopes that by continually repeating the accusation without evidence that I am a liar often enough, people will believe him. ie the big lie tactic,

       Bill uses this blanket accusation of lying (without giving any evidence of it), along with bans, as a way to avoid addressing the Issues I raise.

       Bill is not bothered with lies, but with truth.

       Bill is a conscious genocide ignorer. To suit his argument Bill actively ignores the evidence of the huge crimes against humanity committed by the Assad regime. Bill has repeatedly refused to address the evidence of this genocide that I have put before him. And rather than defend his position with rational debate, or refute this evidence, Bill chooses to deliberately ignore it. Rather than attempting to refute my position, Bill chooses outright censorship, or comment suppression. (ie shunting my refutation of his claims, to the bottom of open mike where he hopes no one will see them), above discussion.

       This behaviour is allowed, or at the least tolerated by the other Standard authors.

       Sanctuary, You may not agree with me that this is the Left cuddling up to fascism, but in my opinion it indicates a certain level of comfort with it.

       Another symptom of this political malaise was the promotion of Colonial Viper to Author status not that long after CV had openly called for the gunning down of, at that time, peaceful protesters in the most bloodthirstiest of terms.

       I remember writing to CV at the time, trying to gently as I could, chide him for his use of extreme calls for bloodshed, saying that I thought it had no place in family friendly website like The Standard.

       However my cautions went unheeded.

       And the elevation of this openly pro-fascist supporter of mass murder to authorship had its inevitable dismal conclusion.

       And this softness towards Syrian fascism continues.

       The Standard may not have an actual editorial line on Syria. But as far as I know The Standard has never allowed one single post defending the Syrian revolution.

       In the light of this glaring omission…..

       “….It came to me as a shock, actually, that most of them have sided with Bashar al-Assad. I don’t expect much out of the international left, but I thought they would understand our situation and see us as a people who were struggling against a very despotic, very corrupt, and very sectarian regime. I thought they would see us and side with us. What I found, unfortunately, is that most people on the left know absolutely nothing about Syria. They know nothing of its history, political economy, or contemporary circumstances, and they don’t see us.

       In America, the leftists are against the establishment in their own country. In a way, they thought that the U.S. establishment was siding with the Syrian revolution — something that is completely false and an utter lie — and for this reason they have stood against us. And this applies to leftists almost everywhere in the world. They are obsessed with the White House and the establishment powers of their own countries. The majority are also still obsessed with the old Cold War-era struggles against imperialism and capitalism.

       Recently, an event in Rome that displayed images of those tortured and killed by Assad was attacked by fascists. Just days before, it had also been attacked in a local communist newspaper for promoting “imperialism.” There is a growing convergence between the views of fascists and the far-left about Syria and other issues….”

       Yassin Al-Haj Saleh* – .The Intercept, October 27,2016

       https://theintercept.com/2016/10/26/syria-yassin-al-haj-saleh-interview/

       The film Nae Pasaran is a timely antidote to this moral malaise and spiritual sickness afflicting the modern Left that allows us to ignore genocide, and support dictatorship. The film Nae Pasaran is a window looking into a past and showing us the Left’s once disgust at dictatorship. This is the sort of  courageous, uncompromising and uplifting message that we sorely need today.

       There was a phrase that jumped out at me from the promo of this film;

       Recounting the solidarity shown to the Chilean people by the Left in Scotland in the ’70s, Is the phrase attributed to a Chilean activist. “We often thought the world had forgotten us”

       So often I have heard almost the exact same quote from those suffering under the Assad fascist style genocide.

       Unfortunately for Syria, it is true.

       *Yassin Al-Haj Saleh Wikipedia:

       Yassin al-Haj Saleh
       From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
       Jump to navigationJump to search

       Yassin al-Haj Saleh
       Born 1961 (age 56–57)
       Raqqa,Syria
       Residence Berlin,Germany
       Alma mater University of Aleppo
       Occupation writer, political dissident
       Spouse(s) Samira Khalil
       Website http://www.yassinhs.com
       Yassin al-Haj Saleh(born inRaqqain 1961)[1]is aSyrianwriter and political dissident. He writes on political, social and cultural subjects relating to Syria and the Arab world.[1]

       From 1980 until 1996 he spent time in prison in Syria for his membership in the left-wing opposition groupSyrian Communist Party (Political Bureau),[2]which he calls a “communist pro-democracy group”.[3][4]However, he has also stated that his time in prison allowed him to break out of the “internal prisons [of] narrow political affiliation [and] rigid ideology”, and has called theSyrian revolutionan “open-ended and multi-leveled struggle”, while remaining supportive of aspects ofMarxism.[2]He was arrested while he was studying medicine inAleppoand spent sixteen years in prison, the last inTadmur Prison. He took his final examination as a general medical practitioner in 2000, but never practiced.[1]

       He has been granted aPrince Claus Awardfor 2012 as “actually a tribute to the Syrian people and theSyrian revolution. He was not able to collect the award as he is living hiding in the underground in Syria.[5]He was awarded Swedish Tucholsky Prize in 2017.[6]He was one of the talkers in a two-day anti-capitalist forum, which was held in Ankara, Turkey, on Nov 23rd-24th, 2013. Additionally, he was speaking at the event ‘Reporting Change – Stories from the Arab region’ in Amsterdam on 15 June 2014, an event jointly organized byHuman Rights WatchandWorld Press Photo.[7]

       Al-Haj Saleh is married toSamira Khalil, a communist dissident, former political detainee and a revolutionary activist abducted in Douma in December 2013.[8]After 21 months of hiding inDamascusand wholeSyria, for being wanted by both the government and radical Islamist militants, he fled toTurkeyand lived inIstanbuluntil 2017. Al-Haj Saleh is now a fellow atBerlin Institute for Advanced Study(Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin).[9]

       Works[edit]
       One of the most influential Arab writers and dissidents as well as a prominent intellectual voice of theSyrian revolution, Yassin Al-Haj Saleh writes on political, social and cultural subjects relating to Syria and the Arab world for several Arab newspapers and journals outside of Syria, and regularly contributes to the London-basedAl-Hayat newspaper, the Egyptian leftist magazine Al-Bosla, and the Syrian online periodical The Republic.

       Among his books (the majority in Arabic):

       Syria in the Shadow: Glimpses Inside the Black Box(2009, Dar Jidar);
       Walking on One Foot(2011, Dar al-Adab, Beirut), a collection of 52 essays about Syrian affairs, written between 2006 and 2010;
       Salvation O Boys: 16 Years in Syrian Prisons(2012, Dar al-Saqi, Beirut);
       The Myths of the Latters: A Critique of Contemporary Islam and a Critique of its Critique(2012, Dar al-Saqi, Beirut);
       Deliverance or Destruction? Syria at a Crossroads(2014, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies);
       The Impossible Revolution: Making Sense of the Syrian Tragedy(2017, Hurst Publishers, London). [In English]

       • Andre 3.1.2.1

         8 November 2018 at 8:09 am

         Self-martyrdom coming up in 3 … 2 … 1 …

         Jenny, I value what you have to add here and I’m sorry to see you go after stoushes like this one looks likely to turn into.

         In the meantime, I’d like to suggest an alternative way of interpreting Bill’s contributions. It seems to me that Bill has a streak of compulsive contrarianism, particularly with respect to msm reporting. This contrarianism leads him to take positions that appear to support some really ugly regimes, but are much more the result of contrarianism rather than holding sympathies towards those regimes. And when defending those contrarian positions in the heat of the moment, things can be said which can easily be misinterpreted to reinforce an impression of regime sympathies.

       • te reo putake 3.1.2.2

         8 November 2018 at 8:30 am

         Kia ora, Jenny. I think you are going way to far in concluding that because some TS authors are less critical of the Assad regime than others, that means that we are cuddling up to fascism. Eddie, Michael Valley, MS and myself posts all wrote posts early in the Syrian civil war that were far from complimentary about the Syrian Government.

         Later on, TS clearly was swamped with trolly pro-Putin, pro Assad posts, but that was mainly from an author who you correctly identify as being from the far right and who is here no more.

         Additionally, the complexity of this war and the ongoing fight against religious fascism in the regime makes it incredibly hard to work out where support should go at any given time. Kinda like the Falklands/Malvinas blue, where two nasty regimes came to blows, I see Syria as two (or more) strains of fascism fighting amongst themselves. And, as always in war, the real losers are the civilians.

         There are a couple of authors at TS who remain deeply cynical about the ‘truth’ in the Syrian conflict, but so what? You, and anybody else, are free to post alternatives. Just don’t personalise your responses and you should be fine.

   • marty mars 3.2

     7 November 2018 at 10:54 am

     Looks awesome. Thanks Jenny.

4. ScottGN 4

   7 November 2018 at 7:51 am

   Kim Hill is casually toying with Seymour on Morning Report. “A listener has suggested that the seat of Epsom might qualify as a taxpayer funded junket.” Great to listen to.

   • OnceWasTim 4.1

     7 November 2018 at 7:55 am

     Good eh? A delight to listen to. One or two pregnant inhalations as well by Mr Rimmer

   • OnceWasTim 4.2

     7 November 2018 at 8:11 am

     Btw @ ScottGN, how do you think we should measure the success of the jaunt to Japan by the two that Mr Rimmer is trying to ‘hold to account’.
     Should it be statisically on the basis of a weight to benefit ratio?
     or
     Should it be statistically on the basis of a ‘heft’ to benefit ratio? (going forward)

5. OnceWasTim 5

   7 November 2018 at 7:57 am

   And earlier on MR, there was this:
   https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018670092/migrant-workers-union-welcomes-exploitation-inquiry

   As a pompous Woodhouse would say: “Standby”
   More to come

6. marty mars 6

   7 November 2018 at 9:28 am

   A graphic that is both terrible and awesome. So many died – so many of us.

   “More than 18,000 New Zealanders lost their lives in World War One. You can find out more about them in this interactive graphic, which shows every person who died.”

   https://insights.nzherald.co.nz/article/world-war-one-roll-of-honour/

   • marty mars 6.1

     7 November 2018 at 10:51 am

     So true. We are still suffering as a society for this.

     “A lot of people lost their lives. Those that didn’t gave up a significant period of their lives, and those who weren’t killed came home often with severe injuries, physically and certainly mentally, and many struggled to fit back into society.

     “When I have been to Gallipoli and Passchendaele … you look down and pick out a grave and you think, ‘What would have happened? How would history have changed if that person wasn’t killed?’

     https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/last-post-first-light/108380440/lessons-for-today-100-years-on-from-the-armistice

   • greywarshark 6.2

     7 November 2018 at 11:11 am

     I am so over this glorification of WW1 which is a distraction from the real feelings of outrage and grief we might feel about the courageous and/or dogged sacrifices of the dead of other wars since. We are up to our eyes in a wash of sentiment being organised around a significant date, out of all the significant war dates that should be memorialised, and have been excluded from mention. I remember General Eisenhower of the USA* and his reference to the USA industrial-military complex is in this link. More info about him and his Presidential term below.
     

     Now we will remember them, tomorrow we will move on and not think about it. Going through the motions about war, and its continuance and in preparation for more affrays all the time. I have taken the opportunity to buy some books on WW1 and some illustrated ones and these have displayed the reality. When I go to Anzac Day ceremonies they are repetitive memorials about the disastrous event where people were forced to try to kill others and often received the same result. While remembering the past event and the fallen, it shows a resigned, almost inevitable attitude and anti-war and anti-belligerence approach is very slightly mentioned.

     Instead of having a compulsory study of our human history, including wars and national economic forces we have these parades that don’t convey the spectrum of losses caused by war. They finish, leaving an open wound in political and national co-operation and trust between humans and examples of how relatively easy it is for nations to throw out respect and human rights for individuals and groups. Post-war, we lack ‘debriefing’ with the nation and particularly its young, and this just puts a scab over that wound; there is no lasting restoration to a state of higher morality and human respect, and declining and demeaning behaviours lurk in the human herd and heads, always ready to appear from our dark corners.

     This 1982 video is from the USA archives and shows how there is a constant campaign to create unrest so that countries are destabilised from foreign interference.
     (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeFgd6gGTWk

     *https://millercenter.org/president/eisenhower/impact-and-legacy

     • marty mars 6.2.1

       7 November 2018 at 11:17 am

       No glorification just remberance. Not many families here unaffected. In today’s world few want to front up to the hard questions and hard conclusions around war. Too many put their head in the sand and then wonder why it all happens again.

       We will remember them because they are us.

       • greywarshark 6.2.1.1

         7 November 2018 at 12:40 pm

         Pardon me! It is indeed glorification when John Key and the RSA spend $120 million? on the project to provide a new WW1 memorial because a certain date is reached.

         After the actual WW1 people who cared paid for memorials themselves all around the country. There are plenty of memorials already; people since 1915 have not forgotten.
         The memorials were funded by local communities without government assistance. Those who had raised patriotic funds during the war, especially women, often did the hard work.
         https://teara.govt.nz/en/memorials-and-monuments/page-4

         https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/269566/war-memorial-park-blessed
         The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage acquired land on Buckle Street, across from the National War Memorial in 2005, and six years later opened a public space to remember those affected by war.

         The construction of the park and Arras tunnel needed for the project started in October 2012 at the cost of $120-million.

         Curator of the National War Memorial Paul Riley said it was a much-needed addition.
         “A few years ago we had a mobile petrol station, a vehicle testing station, tire shop and hire pool right opposite where we are standing now,” Mr Riley said.

         “We have a complete contrast now. This is far more appropriate opposite a national shrine.”
         The park has a new Australian memorial, featuring fifteen columns of rugged red sandstone blocks.
         It is a reciprocal gesture to the “basket handles” of the New Zealand Memorial in Canberra.

         A sculpture of a Hinerangi figure, symbolising the daughter of the heavens, by Maori sculptor Darcy Nicholas was also unveiled.
         The park will be officially opened on 18 April, a week before Anzac Day.
         We have been remembering WW1 for ever on Anzac Day and in other ways and with more people going to view the early morning gathering of veterans marching to the memorials that are in every city.

         More details about the building and landscaping – no mention of the cost because that gets swallowed up by the sentiment for the dead, and their belief that it was to ensure a good world for the living is by-passed.
         https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/last-post-first-light/67854592/Pukeahu-National-War-Memorial-Park-officially-opens

         https://mch.govt.nz/what-we-do/our-projects/current/first-world-war-centenary-projects

         https://mch.govt.nz/pukeahu/park/redevelopment

         It is hard for me to find information about the total cost of the Wellington memorial, it does not come up in a discussion about it at stats or in the factual detail from other sources, but I believe that the actual memorial cost $16 million, plus the acquisition of the land for Pukeahu Park.

         It was glorification to put up another memorial. That money should have gone to help veterans with treatment needed, to enable peace meetings, to pay for stories about brave forces people, and brave resistance people, and brave civilians, and brave anti-war people on both sides. We should remember these people for sure, and not just at parades and photo-ops for politicians. because they are us and we should be spending on projects preventing more wars arising from clashes between political cultures; a peace museum? That could be used for holding conferences, talks, displays about war and about development to help the people of the world. The subjects discussed would include ending inhumanity in our own country, assisting that in other countries, what is important. Because we are all one entity, one animal, though in many forms different only in our looks.

         • marty mars 6.2.1.1.1

           7 November 2018 at 12:48 pm

           I’m talking about what I put up in my two posts. I don’t know or care about what you’re going on about sorry.

           • greywarshark 6.2.1.1.1.1

             7 November 2018 at 2:28 pm

             Okay you just started me off on a line of thought that has been in mind for a while so it’s good to put that up.
             Sorry if it wasn’t just on your thought.

             • In Vino …

               7 November 2018 at 8:25 pm

               I am right with you, Greywarshark. I fear that remembrance is constantly being turned into glorification. Celebrating the brilliant feats pulled off by our Kiwi guys in France using their No 8 Fencing Wire mentality, blah blah. WW1 was an utter bloody tragedy that should have been curtailed. Our media are not promoting the true lessons of history, and are thereby propelling us towards a foolish repetition.

               • marty mars …

                 7 November 2018 at 9:17 pm

                 Why not have a look at every person killed in that war and consider the question raised about what the world would have been if those individuals were not slaughtered.

                 https://insights.nzherald.co.nz/article/world-war-one-roll-of-honour/

                 They died in the mud and shit and stink – for what? So that you can say, “Celebrating the brilliant feats pulled off by our Kiwi guys in France using their No 8 Fencing Wire mentality, blah blah.”

                 • greywarshark …

                   7 November 2018 at 10:21 pm

                   Yes what a waste of good people marty mars. Do you think we don’t care about them. If they had cared so much the government wouldn’t be so quick to send troops off to the badlands of WW1.
                   That is why it is a travesty to pretend to care by building an extra monument; tidying up the old one and setting up a fund to help our youth so they have trades and jobs and going to war isn’t the only thing for them. The gummint could have set up WW1 Memorial Apprenticeships to aim for. Getting ‘on their feet’ would be something the dead guys and women would have liked for their grandchildren.

                   • marty mars …

                     7 November 2018 at 11:03 pm

                     No I don’t think you care. But that’s okay. I’m not glorifying war or death – I’m not arguing about the utter waste of people or the callous disregard for them by generals and politicians then or now. I simply acknowledging that they died horribly. That there is a new interactive site where every dead person is named and described. And I put another link up to an article talking about the loss of these people and the loss for us all when the survivors and maimed returned home.

                 • In Vino …

                   8 November 2018 at 6:56 pm

                   Marty – are you one of those who has to have ‘sarc’ signalled after every example that seemed obvious to the writer? Or do you just rush and not think about what you read?

                   • marty mars …

                     8 November 2018 at 7:49 pm

                     I take people as they write and respect that they say what they mean and put the tags they want on anything they write. I spose i do sometimes get surprised by some of the comments i read. For instance the jamileeross stuff filled me with great sadness when i read the stupid comments from people i normally admire comment wise. Sometimes also i agree with something someone says and then really disagree with what they write. Such is life. I’m sure others would have harsher thoughts on me but mostly I try not to give a fuck too much on what others think and stick to my kaupapa.

7. Kat 7

   7 November 2018 at 9:45 am

   Appears the attack line from the Hosk, HDPA et al is to call for immediate sacking of any minister that appears to have a challenge in the carrying out of their job. According to the Hosk today the immigration minister has made a “catastrophic” error and must lose his job. If Hosk, let alone that HDPA twit, were subject to the same view, by all accounts they would have been gone long ago.

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12155789

   • Rapunzel 7.1

     7 November 2018 at 10:16 am

     Just don’t “click” on them it has become bizarre and the Herald had a major announcement this morning that Hosking is going to be made to work a whole ½ longer today – all that means to me is another ½ spent avoiding that radio feed.

     • Kat 7.1.1

       7 November 2018 at 11:02 am

       The trouble is ignoring the Herald won’t make this nonsense disapear. The likes of the Herald hold sway over a fair chunk of the electorate’s opinions and for that reason they must be held to account. My response is to throw the nonsense back at them and make them qualify what they print. This mornings effort is a classic example of pure headline grabbing beat up.

     • Ed 7.1.2

       7 November 2018 at 2:11 pm

       Never read them.

   • OnceWasTim 7.2

     7 November 2018 at 10:28 am

     Just a shame they didn’t see fit to hold the previous Minister to the same standard, who when it comes down to it all, is responsible for the mess I L-G is in today.

   • Draco T Bastard 7.3

     7 November 2018 at 11:06 am

     Typical National Party Dirty Politics MO then. The same was happening during the last Labour led term of government as well.

8. WeTheBleeple 8

   7 November 2018 at 10:26 am

   HDPA should be banned it taints shellfish in the can and cause tremors, palpitations and cricopharyngeal spasms in readers.

   • Psych nurse 8.1

     7 November 2018 at 1:04 pm

     Announce a review of her immigration status and see how she squeels.

     • OnceWasTim 8.1.1

       7 November 2018 at 2:33 pm

       Oh don’t be so bloody mean @Psyche nurse.
       She’s not brown or black or yellow (maybe a bit orange), is reasonably wealthy, married to a bastion of the 4th Estate, has her own ‘show’, has never been surveilled by Thompson and Clark, and would probably figure quite low on a non-racist demographic risk management spreadsheet

       (/sarc)

       • Anne 8.1.1.1

         7 November 2018 at 9:46 pm

         … and you forgot to add is as shallow as they come, which is a prerequisite for a successful career as a populist political commentator where taking money for nothing of substance is the primary motivation.

9. marty mars 9

   7 November 2018 at 10:26 am

   Did the duke and/or solkta get banned?

   • Andre 9.1

     7 November 2018 at 1:06 pm

     I kinda recall something about the duke getting told to take a break until next year, but now I can’t find where that happened. If solkta copped a whack from the ban hammer, I missed it.

     • te reo putake 9.1.1

       7 November 2018 at 1:16 pm

       Dukeofurl is gone till Feb. Solkta is not on the naughty list that I can see.

       • marty mars 9.1.1.1

         7 November 2018 at 1:21 pm

         Fucken sad that. ffs 🙄

         • te reo putake 9.1.1.1.1

           7 November 2018 at 1:28 pm

           Well, Duke was given a reasonable opportunity to respond positively to moderation and chose the opposite tack. We all know how that ends.

           • marty mars 9.1.1.1.1.1

             7 November 2018 at 1:33 pm

             Yep. I could see it happening from a mile away and the instructions were clear – no excuses for him. Quite a skill skating around the bolded text 😉

             • McFlock …

               7 November 2018 at 5:53 pm

               It’s an interesting phenomenon – sometimes folks who care passionately seem to recognise that they’re getting too worked up and picking fights with a moderator (often an author moderating their own post, but also often just a mod who’s doing their community maintenance volunteer work). But maybe they can’t draw themselves away and decide they need to get banned for their own good.

   • veutoviper 9.2

     7 November 2018 at 1:16 pm

     Last sightings of solkta seem to be OM 3 Nov and Labour Conference Notes 3 Nov, but am assuming he/she has other priorities or has decided of their own volition to take a break. Actually comment numbers seem to be down the last few days overall – perhaps the weather, spring, start of build up to the end of year celebrations etc.

     Last sightings of duke on 5 Nov, OM and JLR Tapes – some things to be worked out re postings the previous day.

10. The Chairman 10

    7 November 2018 at 10:30 am

    Should the Clean Slate Act be extended to former prisoners?
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018669928/calls-for-clean-slates-for-former-prisoners

    • Draco T Bastard 10.1

      7 November 2018 at 11:08 am

      Probably. It’s there to give people their second chance.

      • Cinny 10.1.1

        7 November 2018 at 11:10 am

        I agree, unless it’s a pedo wanting to work with children, keep the kids safe.

        • marty mars 10.1.1.1

          7 November 2018 at 12:19 pm

          Agreed

          If people can prove to whoever that they are rehabilitated then they should get the chance to live their lives. I wouldn’t extend that to sex offenders on registered sex offender lists.

          Being vindictive to those that have made mistakes, learned from it, and want to move on is childish and ineffective.

    • WeTheBleeple 10.2

      7 November 2018 at 11:51 am

      Totally depends. Anonymity is not useful when repeat offender violent and predatory types exist, and there’s a fair few of them.

      ‘Victim-less’ crime might be wiped after a pattern of good living for x years. The sociopaths and evil dirt bags should be monitored for life. Gang members zero reprieve till they leave their gang, and then a pattern of good living for x years.

      Not everyone is a misunderstood youth in need of a hug, some are complete assholes. That counts especially for white collar crims.

      Why let a fraudster back in business. They can be employees but not bosses imo. Likewise embezzlement etc. These crims have myriad victims, a lot worse than a poor kid who pinches stuff. No record wiping for these premeditating deliberately callous self obsessed criminals.

      People make mistakes and learn. But some plot for themselves 24/7. Screw those people make the penalties harsher.

      • greywarshark 10.2.1

        7 November 2018 at 12:52 pm

        You raise a valid point.
        Why let a fraudster back in business. They can be employees but not bosses imo. Likewise embezzlement etc. These crims have myriad victims, a lot worse than a poor kid who pinches stuff. No record wiping for these premeditating deliberately callous self obsessed criminals.

        About criminals. The word sounds really bad but mothers trying to bring up kids, trying to run a household and have a life on an inadequate income get put in jail because they coudn’t manage with what they had. Just give them more money, more training, more child care, less oppressive claw-back as soon as they earn something. The hatred and meanness of the government ‘welfare’ system is a bloody disgrace. And succeeding governments seem powerless to adopt reasonable approaches and ensure that reason and kindness are ingrained into the system, and all that work within it.

        Yet private people prey on others and manage to weave their way round the legal system leaving ordinary people who try to be good citizens impoverished in their wake.
        Of course NZ is second in the world for being easy to get into business, can’t put limits on the crooks or we might spoil our well-known record, which brings investment money into NZ for some purpose and gives the effect of having a booming economy. Yeah right.

        Part of the problem is the way that Ministries contract out their work and take no responsibility for the way it is carried out. ‘Oh’ says the National Minister ‘I can’t do anything about (whatever disgraceful matter). That’s an operational matter’. It was shown up this morning on Radionz when a Transport agency man was being questioned about faulty checks on imported cars. They get away with sloppiness that wouldn’t be acceptable by a part-time low paid casual worker. Yet they can ponce around on high salaries. They aren’t doing their work lawfully, as in being suitable for their purpose, or in not meeting the standards of service that they hold themselves out to deliver.

        We are run by she’ll-be-rights who pay themselves too much, deliver too little, fudge too much, pull the wool over our eyes too much, and punish the little people struggling with difficulties overwhelming them too much.

        • OnceWasTim 10.2.1.1

          7 November 2018 at 2:17 pm

          Yep, that whole “I can’t comment because it’s ‘an operational’ matter” croc is used all too often. And the definition of what is ‘operational’ and what is not seems pretty flexible.
          I’m not sure why elected representatives can’t comment on ‘operational matters’ – especially when the operatives are not living up to what is expected of them.

          I might be wrong, but it seems to have become a convenience since the last round of public service/corporatisation reforms.

          Roll it on Chippie!
          This is a good start:
          https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018670092/migrant-workers-union-welcomes-exploitation-inquiry

          (it’d never have happened had there not been some serious ‘operational’ fuckups over the past decade)

        • OnceWasTim 10.2.1.2

          7 November 2018 at 2:57 pm

          Oh, and btw, that NZTA thing was a shocker, even if you’re forgiving yourself for thinking Kim Hill is driving a second hand Japanese import and is worrying about the integrity of its airbags whilst rolling down a Brooklyn hill on her way to an RNZ studio.

          https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018670120/vehicle-importer-tester-conflict-a-serious-issue-nzta-boss

          (Don’t mention the trucking industry towbars! Shhhhhh! Wet Wellington bus tickets at the ready – and ‘moreover’ this is a ‘technical issue’ that you just wouldn’t understand – because WE are the professionals and we’re ‘officials’ not to be challenged, not never!)

          • greywarshark 10.2.1.2.1

            7 November 2018 at 7:10 pm

            Yes it was good to hear that NZTA boss explain it all to Kim Hill who couldn’t seem to see why she shouldn’t keep asking some direct questions and get a direct answer of explanation. Sweet fudging.

11. SaveNZ 11

    7 November 2018 at 11:15 am

    Rising levels of ‘black carbon’ in Queen St heighten health risk for Aucklanders

    “Pedestrians and workers in Auckland’s Queen St are being exposed to high levels of “black carbon”, or ultra-fine carbon particles associated with a number of health problems.

    Black carbon emissions are more than three times higher than Canadian cities and twice as high for concentrations in major European, UK and American cities, according to an article published by Auckland Council’s research and evaluation unit.”

    “The article said high buildings in Queen St reduce airflow and allow air pollutant concentrations to increase close to ground level. High numbers of diesel buses in the central city and emissions from the port and ferry terminal contributed to air pollution levels.”

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12155503

    • SaveNZ 11.1

      7 November 2018 at 11:23 am

      Time to put the stadium and all the other polluting enterprises like Cruise ships and actually concentrate on safety of all the people and develop the wharf area and the city into open spaces free of pollution that workers and residents living in central Auckland can escape to! Not be polluted further by!

      NZ is not going to have people living in Auckland city (and other cities) in those apartments or working there if the air quality they breathe is harming them!

      As for the diesel fuelling public transport and trucks, again, NZ councils and government have clearly got their head’s up their arses on this one as they continually introduce more and more polluting elements into our city and our RMA laws and interpretation of them is dysfunctional.

      http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1806/S00111/public-health-fears-over-wellington-bus-plan.htm

      ‘Each day a cruise ship emits as much particulate matter as a million cars’
      https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/pollution-cruise-ships-po-oceana-higher-piccadilly-circus-channel-4-dispatches-a7821911.html

12. Stuart Munro 12

    7 November 2018 at 11:34 am

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/108358338/English-language-tests-for-foreign-teachers-likely-to-be-scrapped

    There’s reason to be cautious about some testing regimes, notably TOEFL, in which the relatively high variation serves the business model (by encouraging multiple resits).

    IELTS is more robust, and the convention that working at an academic level requires a basic standard less arbitrary.

    I’d be interested to know where the story came from: government seeking to lower the bar to ease recruitment, non-state employers looking for cheap labour, or extant teachers trying to prevent creeping erosion of standards.

13. greywarshark 13

    7 November 2018 at 11:40 am

    I think that some of our laws need to be more tightly focussed. I am thinking it is too general to have a law forbidding ‘sexual harassment’ which doesn’t convey well the extent of the fault.

    This morning on the latest to come to the news:
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018670126/geoffrey-rush-s-defamation-case-a-roll-call-of-actors

    Geoffrey Rush’s defamation case a ‘roll-call’ of actors
    From Morning Report, 8:56 am today
    Listen duration 4′ :26″
    A defamation case brought by the Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush against the Daily Telegraph newspaper in Sydney is nearing a close.

    Rush is suing the newspaper over articles it published last year, which claimed he behaved inappropriately with a co-star during a King Lear production in 2015.
    Eryn-Jean Norvill, who played Cordelia in the Shakespeare play, has given evidence in the federal court in Sydney that Rush sexually harassed her.
    He denies the allegations.

    It may come that men will start suing women about the way they dress, showing body parts that have strong sexual connotations and attraction to men such as breasts, and saying that they are deliberately displaying themselves which introduces thoughts of sexuality which otherwise would not have arisen, and that is a form of sexual harassment!

    So I think more definition is needed about what constitutes sexual harassment. Also I would like murder to be cited in degrees as some of the States in USA do.
    https://criminal-law.freeadvice.com/criminal-law/violent_crimes/degrees.murder.htm

14. greywarshark 14

    7 November 2018 at 11:45 am

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018670114/water-bottling-expansion-could-threaten-chch-drinking-supplies-councillor
    A Christchurch City Councillor is strongly opposing the application by a Chinese owned bottling company to take 1.5 billion litres of water from a deep aquifer – saying it could threaten the city’s drinking supply.

    Ocean Cloud Water owns an existing 33-metre deep bore in the northern suburb of Belfast, from which it is extracting and bottling 4.3 million litres of water a day.

    It has now applied to the Environment Canterbury for permission to extract water from a 186-metre deep bore at the plant so it can sell it abroad.

    Vicki Buck the former mayor of Christchurch and chair of the Council’s Innovation and Sustainability Committee, says this could compromise Christchurch’s water supply.
    Kathryn also talks with Steve Lowndes, Chair of Environment Canterbury.

    Kathryn Ryan and Vicki Buck Christchurch Councillor, had a very interesting conversation in this interview about water bottling demands being made on Christchurch city pure water aquifer.

15. Cinny 15

    7 November 2018 at 12:07 pm

    Hey, hey….

    More good news for our Coalition Government 🙂

    “Unemployment has dropped to 3.9 per cent, the lowest level since the global financial crisis, causing the New Zealand dollar to surge.

    On Tuesday Statistics New Zealand revealed that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.9 per cent in the three months to September 30, down from 4.4 per cent at the end of June.

    It is the lowest unemployment rate since June 2008, when unemployment was 3.8 per cent.”

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/108414604/unemployment-drops-sharply-hitting-lowest-level-since-2008

    • Puckish Rogue 15.1

      7 November 2018 at 12:12 pm

      Yes indeed, well done National for gifting the incoming government such a strong base 🙂

      • Cinny 15.1.1

        7 November 2018 at 12:18 pm

        Lmao cheeky as ! Yeah, nah.

        We’ve had a new government for a year, and would you look at that, with those figures it’s obvious business confidence is also up.

        • Puckish Rogue 15.1.1.1

          7 November 2018 at 12:27 pm

          Well now partner the ways I sees it is I reckon that if’n Nationals going to be blamed for all the negative stuff then it seems only fair to my ways of thinking that they need to be praised for all of the good stuff to

          I’ll be moseying off now

          • bwaghorn 15.1.1.1.1

            7 November 2018 at 12:53 pm

            The problem in our thinking is that national is all the negative stuff .

            • bwaghorn 15.1.1.1.1.1

              7 November 2018 at 12:54 pm

              Aaargh fucking your thinking that’s meant to be . And the edit function is mia on that post ? But not this one

              • Cinny …

                7 November 2018 at 1:00 pm

                Pretty sure the best thing about national for Pucky, would be….drum roll please….

                judith collins.

                • Puckish Rogue …

                  7 November 2018 at 1:12 pm

                  You’re not wrong 🙂

            • Puckish Rogue 15.1.1.1.1.2

              7 November 2018 at 1:01 pm

              Well howdy there partner I do believe you got it right

      • mac1 15.1.2

        7 November 2018 at 1:58 pm

        Puckish Rogue, I don’t think I got an impression of ‘gifting’ amongst the cries of “We wuz robbed”.

    • Sabine 15.2

      7 November 2018 at 12:50 pm

      not to rain on any parade but

      no numbers of new jobs created
      how many people of benefit into studies
      how many people of unemployment benefit to other benefits
      how many unemployed people retiring
      how many unemployed people going still unemployed but not listed as unemployed

      this article is actually really lazy and leaves more questions then answers. as to business confidence, who was asked? Bankers?

      • Cinny 15.2.1

        7 November 2018 at 12:58 pm

        Maybe we will find out more after question time today?

        • Sabine 15.2.1.1

          7 November 2018 at 1:19 pm

          it would be good to know what caused the drop.
          If its more jobs, awesome. If its just people dropping out of the system, then no its not good at all.

          More info would be very much appreciated, and should have been provided in the article to be honest.

          • greywarshark 15.2.1.1.1

            7 November 2018 at 7:18 pm

            Yes that dropping out of the system could be the answer. Going along to register and getting treated like a dropout, and being forced to apply for useless jobs where the hours are shit and the transport is not available to suit the hours, or the cost uses all your wages up. And you try and have a life but can’t carry out your duties to family and wor at all odd hours when the fingers get snapped. And you have to notify the Dept each week probably about your earnings so you get a cut in your benefit immediately but they probably take a while to bring it up to a normal level when the hours are cut. It could make you feel like suicide.

            • In Vino 15.2.1.1.1.1

              7 November 2018 at 8:35 pm

              And don’t forget how they keep changing the way unemployment is measured – to make Govt. look good by not counting people who used to be counted. I don’t trust this rubbish at all. It is not lowest…

              • greywarshark …

                7 November 2018 at 10:28 pm

                I’m going to make enquiries as to how they get the employment figures. Looking up google all the detail is about measuring the unemployed HxLxW. Stats advise who constitutes an unemployed person but I would like it spelled out as to who is employed – it must be paid work for a start, and how many hours, and it will probably say a minimum of one but I want to know for sure. I guess it will be phrased like ‘Did you do any paid work in the last week and how many hours? The last month and how many hours?

                Do they count travelling time? If you have to travel an hour there and another back to work two hours, then that should be counted in a separate column which would also be interesting to see.

                • McFlock …

                  7 November 2018 at 11:06 pm

                  Is this of any use to you?

                  StatsNZ are pretty good at putting everything online, but the volume of what they publish means that getting the vibe of what search terms to use (or avoid) can take a while.

16. Puckish Rogue 16

    7 November 2018 at 12:16 pm

    Well if we’re reading between the lines as (Jacinda) likes to say then I’m guessing ILG is not going to be feeling too comfortable for the next wee while (nor should he)

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/108416607/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-found-out-about-karel-sroubek-decision-through-the-media

    “What is unusual is some of the basis of the minister’s decision has been contradicted by other information in the public domain.”

    (PR, the PM’s name is Jacinda. There’s more than a hint of misogynist belittling with the alternative you used, which is not OK here. TRP)

    • marty mars 16.1

      7 November 2018 at 12:21 pm

      Should be good to note the contrast with bridges who has dropped shit grenade after shit grenade into his team’s hooch.

      • Puckish Rogue 16.1.1

        7 November 2018 at 12:28 pm

        Hes only keeping the seat warm until Saint Jude the Savior chooses to take over

        • veutoviper 16.1.1.1

          7 November 2018 at 12:33 pm

          LOL. See my 17 below.

          But, but – what gives with the job situation?

          • Puckish Rogue 16.1.1.1.1

            7 November 2018 at 12:45 pm

            Well much like National wanted Little to stay I’m guessing Labour want Bridges to stay and since I’m advising Jude I’ll let you in on what I’ve advised her

            Let Bridges stay on untill after the next election and then take over in a very seamless, orderly transition a couple of months after

            Of course whether she takes my advice is another story…

            • veutoviper 16.1.1.1.1.1

              7 November 2018 at 1:04 pm

              LOL – I meant your job situation … Everything sorted?

              • Puckish Rogue …

                7 November 2018 at 2:23 pm

                Coming along nicely but very slowly, who’d thought a government role would take so damn long.

                We have a site visit and testing on Friday and then the last thing should be a reference check and, hopefully, a job offer

                If it wasn’t for the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 I’d be sooooo bored waiting 🙂

        • marty mars 16.1.1.2

          7 November 2018 at 1:05 pm

          Saint Jude the Saviour lol certainly a lot needs saved that’s for sure but based on her track record she may as well be called St Jude the Saveloy cos she ain’t got it – never had it and never will imo.

          • Stuart Munro 16.1.1.2.1

            7 November 2018 at 1:25 pm

            I thought St. Jude’s moniker was ‘the obscure’. She certainly squawks like a skua.

            • Puckish Rogue 16.1.1.2.1.1

              7 November 2018 at 2:25 pm

              Yeah Kate Winslet does look a bit like Jude

        • Sabine 16.1.1.3

          7 November 2018 at 1:20 pm

          hahahahahahahahah

          thanks for that, i needed a good belly laugh.

        • gsays 16.1.1.4

          7 November 2018 at 1:38 pm

          ” Hes only keeping the seat warm until Saint Jude the Savior chooses to take over”

          I thought her kind sunned themselves on rocks to warm the bloodstream.

          • Puckish Rogue 16.1.1.4.1

            7 November 2018 at 2:01 pm

    • Puckish Rogue 16.2

      7 November 2018 at 1:14 pm

      No worries

      • te reo putake 16.2.1

        7 November 2018 at 1:20 pm

        Cheers, PR. George Costanza says it best:

        • Fireblade 16.2.1.1

          7 November 2018 at 1:46 pm

          Have a look at BM’s comments yesterday. Disgusting.

          • greywarshark 16.2.1.1.1

            7 November 2018 at 7:20 pm

            Every time you mention thee trolls it gives them a thrill. They thrill and trill when they troll, so roll on past why don’t you. You are feeding them.

17. veutoviper 17

    7 November 2018 at 12:30 pm

    For those of us who watch Question Time in Parliament, we won’t see either the PM or Simon Bridges there today. Seems they are in Ratana to celebrate the centenary “since prophet Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana is said to have received a divine revelation from which the Ratana Church was born.”

    Marama Davidson is also there as is Shane Jones, according to the Herald.

    Considering the discussions here in the last few days or so re Kiwibuild etc, people may be interested in this little snippet in the last paragraph of the Herald article, which is easy to miss lost due to its stupid placement between “Related Articles” and “Herald Recommends”:

    “The Government is expected to make an announcement on housing at Ratana. Previous governments have also used Ratana celebrations to make similar announcements.”

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12154927

    Meanwhile, it looks like Winston Peters and Paula Bennett have been left to mind the shop. Winston is not at Ratana according to the above article, and Bennett has Question 2 this afternoon to the PM -“the usual “Does she stand by all of her Government’s statements and actions?”

    https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/list-of-oral-questions/oral-questions-7-november-2018/

    Presumably Peters and Bennett will still be minding the shop tomorrow, Thursday, as the PM and Leader of the Opposition do not attend Question Time on Thursdays.

    So the next time we can hope to see the “Clash of the Titans” between Ardern and Bridges* is not until 27 November for the final three weeks of the House sitting for 2018, as the House is in recess for the next two weeks. The final sitting session will only be three weeks as opposed to the usual four weeks as the House is due to rise for the Summer Recess on Thursday, 13 December.

    * Assuming Bridges is still Leader of the National Party …

    • WeTheBleeple 17.1

      7 November 2018 at 3:30 pm

      “Does she stand by all of her Government’s statements and actions?”

      This question and others of its ilk should be banned. It is a complete waste of time. Both sides – Just state your damn case.

      • veutoviper 17.1.1

        7 November 2018 at 4:19 pm

        I don’t disagree that such questions are a problem and have become too much a case of game playing, rather than the Govt being properly being held to account, etc in Question Time.

        Their purpose is so that the Govt Minister answering the primary question (or rather, their advisers, Ministry etc) cannot prepare detailed answers as they do for more specific primary questions on specific topics – thus leaving the Minister in the firing line unsure what is going to follow in the supplementary questions.

        Thus, behind the scenes it becomes a guessing game as to what is going to follow and advisers etc end up rushing around trying to cover all possibilities in terms of providing briefing notes to the Minister.

18. Ad 18

    7 November 2018 at 1:17 pm

    New Zealand now has 3.9% headline unemployment.

    Underutilization is at 11.3%.

    Best since 2008.

    Yes, we’re still one of the most unequal countries in the oecd.

    But this is one very good stat.

19. mauī 19

    7 November 2018 at 2:39 pm

    More from Mother Agnes on Syria. No doubt the lefty fascists will scream, but, but.. Assad!

20. Ed 20

    7 November 2018 at 3:46 pm

    From Robin Westenra.
    This needs to be a thread.
    The second most important story in New Zealand.

    This is quite simply the best item mainstream media has come out on this story.

    It illustrates why John Campbell had to leave Radio NZ – it is far too politically-correct to have given him to follow this robust line of enquiry.

    Campbell makes the essential point that trying to gain influence is natural for any superpower and that, while the US, through the 5 Eyes can simply come through the front door with their spy equipment the Chinese are forced to come through the back door.

21. Cinny 21

    7 November 2018 at 3:50 pm

    Winston is going to take jlr’s proxy vote.

    Wonder if simon wants to talk about it?

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12156119

    • veutoviper 21.1

      7 November 2018 at 4:07 pm

      Winnie will be loving it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      I know it won’t happen but I would love it if the media DID NOT ASK Bridges about it!

      ROFL.

    • veutoviper 21.2

      7 November 2018 at 4:23 pm

      And here is Stuff’s article.

      So timewise, National refused to exercise Ross’ proxy votes on Friday, 2 Nov and NZF received a letter from Ross on Sat, 3 Nov …

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/108429642/jamilee-ross-switches-his-proxy-vote-to-new-zealand-first

      And Ross has tweeted about it here

      While I remain on leave on medical advice, it is important my constituents in the Botany Electorate continue to have a vote cast on their behalf in Parliament. I appreciate NZ First supporting Botany by accepting my request to cast a proxy vote. pic.twitter.com/712dZQjMTY

      — Jami-Lee Ross (@jamileeross) November 7, 2018

      • veutoviper 21.2.1

        7 November 2018 at 4:47 pm

        And more –

        Andrew Geddis’ considered legal opinion – “Oh, this is totally messed up … !

        Oh, this is just totally messed up … ! https://t.co/BFQ0CslpeA

        — Andrew Geddis (@acgeddis) November 7, 2018

        Toby Manhire – “What”

        https://twitter.com/toby_etc/status/1059999008918138880

        And love this one –
        @LewSOS
        55m55 minutes ago
        More
        Winston Peters Troll Level: is there a level higher than Grand Master

        Winston Peters Troll Level: is there a level higher than Grand Master

        — Lew (@LewSOS) November 7, 2018

        Some great reactions in all of the above full threads! ROFL

22. patricia bremner 22

    7 November 2018 at 7:49 pm

    Wonder what tune Winston will put to this? Suggest “These Boots were made for Walking” Any other suggestions.

    • Fireblade 22.1

      7 November 2018 at 8:14 pm

      Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Are Made for Walkin

    • Incognito 22.2

      7 November 2018 at 10:59 pm

      I reckon this one: Queen – If You Can’t Beat Them

23. eco maori 23

    8 November 2018 at 7:40 am

    Kia ora The Am Show The American midterm election has thrown a spanner in trump’s ——– this is a win for the Wahine and minority cultures with the House won by the Democrats that give’s America a humane voice with gerrymandering what has happened there they change the electoral lines that give the go oil party a huge advantage in the House election’s because of gerrymandering so in many of those seats the Democrats won the mojority but republicans still get the seat shonky would have pulled tactics like that if national won .
    .https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/04/america-minority-rule-voter-suppression-gerrymandering-supreme-court
    Fuel tax is all good seenothing at least that revenue serves the Majority unlike big business were there profits only serve your rich m8’s % 00.1 no .
    Of coarse one of the % 00.1 the ceo of walmart is going to say that about trump .
    Its the middle and poor classes and minority groups that are getting ripped off buy the go oil party .
    Its cool that the ban smoking in cars is getting big support as it should.
    Kaiapo school being burnt is a stupid act who burns down a school for te mokopuna’s is a fool.
    I agree with Amada we need those corporate fight’s need more laws to protect the fighters . Ka kite ano .

24. eco maori 24

    8 November 2018 at 7:47 am

    To all the good people who got up and voted for the left Ladies and Minority cultures .
    Eco Maori THANKS YOU ALL KIA KAHA this is a big win for the LEFT.
    

25. eco maori 25

    8 November 2018 at 10:06 am

    This is just a distraction taxing red meat they say the big picture is we need a world carbon TAX lets stay focused on the real threat to OUR future it is not cow farts it is the petrol we put in our car trucks buses boat’s .
    Get a good working world tax on carbon and use the money to pay for renewable energy a oil baron’s investment on the propagandize machine link below ka kite ano.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/06/taxing-red-meat-would-save-many-lives-research-shows

    https://globalnews.ca/news/4291256/carbon-tax-do-they-work/ I say they work one just has to look at the drop in NZ carbon this year 2018

26. eco maori 26

    8 November 2018 at 10:16 am

    The Democrats’ advances were essential, and will check Donald Trump’s power as well as boosting their morale. link below ka kite ano.

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/07/the-guardian-view-on-the-us-midterms-a-welcome-start one has to keep the momentum going to have Equality for all and a clean environment for our decedents.

27. eco maori 27

    8 November 2018 at 10:43 am

    I agree with George on this story I read it on another site we need OUR voices heard on protecting the innocent wild life and our children Ka pai.David Attenborough has betrayed the living world he loves
    Ka kite ano link below.

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/07/david-attenborough-world-environment-bbc-films

28. eco maori 28

    8 November 2018 at 10:47 am

    Eco Maori Music wake up.
    

29. eco maori 29

    8 November 2018 at 12:04 pm

    Geothermal renewable base load energy is a technology the oil barons have suppresed
    we have a couple running in Aotearoa NZ
    A trailblazing energy project has started drilling the UK’s deepest ever borehole in Cornwall in a bid to use heat from hot rocks as a zero-carbon source of electricity.

    The team behind the £18m scheme hopes to create the UK’s first deep geothermal power station and ignite a renewed interest in the technology’s wider potential.

    The project near Redruth involves two deep holes being drilled over a course of around six months. Drilling began on Tuesday, with one hole expected to be 1.6 miles (2.5km) deep and the other as far as 2.8 miles (4.5km) down, which would be a UK record for a borehole.

    Water will then be pumped into the shallower well, where it should be heated by naturally fractured hot rocks deep underground, hitting temperatures of up to 195C.
    Ka kite ano link below P.S let hope this project is successful.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/06/drilling-starts-to-tap-geothermal-power-from-cornwalls-hot-rocks

30. eco maori 30

    8 November 2018 at 4:36 pm

    The Man accused of blackmailing DOC over 1080 programme named you will see what type of person is making these foolish threats to state employees ka kite ano link below

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/375460/man-accused-of-blackmailing-doc-over-1080-programme-named

31. eco maori 31

    8 November 2018 at 5:47 pm

    Kia ora Tekaea I say its cool that NZFirst is doing to helping Ross and his el
    30.000 Ratana people in Australia that’s heaps its a shame that they have to go there to get a better life there was no reason but suppression why te tangata whenua moved from te whenua .
    The Ngapuhi settlements should settle and use the money to lift te tangata wairua.
    The sport training Awhata is a good thing its cool to teach the tamariki about fitness and control.
    Ka kite ano

32. eco maori 32

    8 November 2018 at 6:43 pm

    Kia ora Newshub I still say Galloway was set up when I take on new management roles I have most time’s clean out the rat’s the one time I did not do this it bit me on the——-.
    IPCA washing there image typical tactic the car chase 200 klm 3 dead.
    Jeff Sessions is a honorable person Kia Kaha Jeff.
    Is that global warming the West coats of Aotearoa getting hammered by tawhirimatea well that will fill some of the hydro power lakes .
    Yes I say all the taps and pluming parts that are used in out water supply should be looked at and tested for lead content .
    Our power prices are one of the highest in the OECD and what they use hydro to provide most of our power supplies.???? A lot of lies have been told about why our power prices are so high.
    The new phones are advancing fast and with them battery technology I say battery power storage is going to revolutionize the renewable energy sector .
    Ka kite ano .

33. eco maori 33

    8 November 2018 at 7:18 pm

    Kia ora James & Strrom from The Crowd Goes Wild That’s awesome Trent bolt got a hatrick in the Pakistan first one day over test game and won that;s the way Ross Taylor let em know that you can see what they are up to good game.
    That reff let the player know who’s boss by yellow card both front rows in Rugby .
    Good on Sulu the netball player for getting a tattoos to show her culture and she is having a good run Mana Wahine .
    Ka kite ano P.S good luck to the Black Ferns game in France

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