Open mike 07/02/2012

52 comments on “Open mike 07/02/2012 ”

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1. Jenny 1

   7 February 2012 at 6:42 am

   AM I a blood sucking vampire squid?

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6373313/Landlord-forced-to-evict-welfare-group

   Isn’t this the same AMI that, after taking people’s premiums for earthquake insurance for decades, got bailed out to the tune of $1 billion by the tax payer, for not coughing up when the earthquake struck?

   AMI need to be publicly shamed into returning this charity group back into their rental accommodation.
2. mickysavage 2

   7 February 2012 at 7:24 am

   So Maori are taking the Government to Court in response to the Government’s proposal to stop the treaty from being applied to the Power Companies.  Fair enough.  Water is clearly a taonga preserved to Maori by the treaty.  Just as gentrified English have retained wealth within their families for centuries why should not Maori retain what was originally theirs?

   The remedy sought causes concern.  One potion is for Maori to be provided shares in the companies.  If this happens it will at least in part legitimise the privatisation of community assets.  And instead of all Maori owning them the shareholding will be concentrated in the hands of an elite who will enjoy disproportionately the benefits of doing so.  The Sealord settlement springs to mind.

   Maori should instead insist that the privatisation not go ahead.  Or if it does insist that the companies pay proper compensation for their water and rivers.  That should prevent the share sales going through and retaining ownership of the companies in NZ as a whole will mean that Maori will benefit.

   One further comment, some have questioned the suggestion that this is deliberate dog whistling by Key.  But you just have to wonder about the timing of the release.  The Treaty clause has obviously been an issue for months but in the week of Waitangi it is released.  Key then gets what he wanted, film of conflict and the chance to say a few Crosby Textor designed red neck appealing slogans.  Utterly appalling.
   • vto 2.1

     7 February 2012 at 9:45 am

     What was more appalling was Mike Hosking’s interview on Close Up last night.

     There was no questioning or interviewing. Hosking simply outlined his own views which conveniently fitted into what Key wanted to portray. Hosking should just stay on talkback – that is all his shallow abilities are worth.

     It was one of the most woeful displays I have ever seen.

     Pathetic.
     • tc 2.1.1

       7 February 2012 at 10:59 am

       I thought TVNZ was talkback with pictures
     • RedBlooded 2.1.2

       7 February 2012 at 12:16 pm

       vto +1. It was a shocker.
       • Salsy 2.1.2.1

         7 February 2012 at 1:08 pm

         He is grotesque – a redneck embarrasment. I felt so ashamed with overseas guests in the house watching that.
       • ianmac 2.1.2.2

         7 February 2012 at 2:57 pm

         +1
3. Pascal's bookie 3

   7 February 2012 at 8:02 am

   Niall Ferguson is someone I’ve been recomended to read, but I’ve never gotten around to doing so.

   This piece http://bit.ly/yBLy84 does not encourage me to do so.

   Leaving aside the conclusions, the arguments he presents there are fucking woeful.

   Does he even know what “realism” is? given his self selected beat, he should be all over that shit, but nah.
   • Herodotus 3.1

     7 February 2012 at 3:44 pm

     PB – His 2 TV series Accent of Money and War of the World, I found interesting and for the time they were on justified the sky subscription, it was worth reviewing the repeats of both series.
     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niall_Ferguson
4. phillip ure.. 4

   7 February 2012 at 9:08 am

   what shearer and key read on their holidays..(cartoon..)

   http://whoar.co.nz/2012/the-first-ever-whoar-political-cartoon-2/

   [email look alike deleted].
   • Lanthanide 4.1

     7 February 2012 at 10:00 am

     I thought this post was more interesting:
     http://whoar.co.nz/2012/nz-tax-on-rich-lowest-in-the-world/
5. johnm 5

   7 February 2012 at 10:21 am

   With a nod to afewknowthetruth and Robert Atack. Here is another article by Goodchild about our future to 2050.

   Refer link: http://www.countercurrents.org/goodchild060212.htm

   “The Psychology Of Systemic Collapse”
   “Again, it’s a misconception of scale. Industrial society is based almost entirely on fossil fuels, and such an enormous population is not possible without these fuels. When the fuel is gone, so is the population. Because the size of the population is so closely correlated to the fuel supply, between now and the year 2050 about 2.5 billion people will die of famine, while lost and averted births will amount to another 2.5 billion. And the proposal for avoiding such an unprecedented catastrophe is to install solar panels? People with these ideas surely cannot be serious.”

   “The truly fundamental problem of understanding systemic collapse, however, is that the human brain cannot assimilate it emotionally. If I were standing in front of a judge, and he told me I was being sentenced to death for murder, I suspect I’d be focusing on the sound of a sparrow outside the window. The brain just goes into neutral. But as academics, as intellectuals, that excuse is not good enough.

   What might be called “the Pollyanna Principle” is the belief that “everything will turn out all right in the end.” It might also be called “the Doll’s House Principle,” with reference to Ibsen’s play. But closing our eyes to the grim reality does not change the facts. A different perspective can be reached by doing some reading about what actually happens during a famine. Cecil Woodham-Smith, in The Great Hunger, describes the Irish potato-famine of the 1840s: “Bodies half-eaten by rats were an ordinary sight.”

   My thoughts are he’s right, but all of us are so caught up in day to day living that this future simply isn’t real to us. And the vast majority don’t know and aren’t interested in the connection between population numbers and fossil fuel energy availability. Fossil fuels are our Irish potato! What happens when our industrialised food source begins its terminal availability? As with Climate Change this issue is the biggest Macro concern of our time.
6. Te Reo Putake 6

   7 February 2012 at 10:27 am

   MUNZ, the CTU and activists have set up a webpage to encourage support and lay out the real facts of the POAL dispute:
    
   http://www.saveourport.com/

   
   There are links to the petition and also the latest one page fact sheet. Please check it out, the answers to most of the right’s lies about the fight are in there.

    
   • Kevin Welsh 6.1

     7 February 2012 at 12:43 pm

     +1

     Signed and Facebooked.
7. marty mars 7

   7 February 2012 at 10:36 am

   Bill English at Te Rau Aroha marae in bluff yesterday

   “If the northern tribes could run a marae properly, New Zealand might have a more positive view of the Treaty.”

   H.T. – http://robertguyton.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/english-insults-maori.html

   My response

   “This meme of southern verses northern Māori is common as muck and often used to try and divide – I’ve heard it a million times and it doesn’t work, it does the opposite – it binds us together.”

   http://mars2earth.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/all-are-insulted-by-dipton-dipstick.html
   • Hateatea 7.1

     7 February 2012 at 5:00 pm

     There are no words in the Englsih language to do justice to the offense I feel in Bill English’s remarks. While the manaakitanga of Te Rau Aroha is legendary, it is equally fantastic, although different, at marae all over the country.

     That there were no protests at Mr English’s presence saddens me, I am sure that he heard plenty during one on one discussion.

     Anyway, although I wasn’t there, it is not impossible that there were things said in Maori that he didn’t understand
8. Penny Bright 8

   7 February 2012 at 1:19 pm

   REALLY IMPORTANT OCCUPY AUCKLAND COURT CASE TOMORROW!

   8 PEACEFUL OCCUPY AUCKLAND PROTESTORS POTENTIALLY FACING JAIL FOR BREACHING A COURT ORDER WHICH (in my considered opinion) TREATED THE FACTS, THE EVIDENCE AND THE LAW WITH CONTEMPT!

   8 peaceful protestors from Occupy Auckland are in the Auckland District Court (Albert St) tomorrow – Wednesday 8 February 2012.

   Solidarity protest outside from 9.00am – then the hearing on the ‘Order of Committal for Contempt of Court’ starting at 10am.

   This is SERIOUS.

   8 named parties (including myself) are potentially facing imprisonment for allegedly breaching the Court Order made on 21 December 2011 by Judge Wilson by continuing to peacefully protest /camp at Aotea Square.

   Judge Wilson, in my considered opinion, treated the FACTS, the EVIDENCE and the LAW with contempt.

   I for one, treat his ‘Court Order’ with contempt.

   Decisions which are not based upon the RULE OF LAW – deserve to be treated with contempt.

   “WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES LAW _ RESISTANCE BECOMES DUTY!”

   Council By Laws cannot ‘trump’ our lawful rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression – end of story.

   (s.155(3) Local Government Act 2002)

   I will NOT be silenced or bow down to municipal and judicial bullying and intimidation.

   I for one, am prepared to go to jail in order to defend these fundamental human rights.

   This should help to cast a national and international spotlight on how our corporate-controlled Auckland Council is a $UPERCITY for the 1%, and how NZ status – ‘perceived’ to be the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ (according to Transparency International’s 2011 ‘Corruption Perception Index’) – is not worth the paper upon which it is written.

   Tomorrow, in my opinion, will be a milestone case, for those representing the interests of the wealthy, corporate 1% vs the public majority 99%.

   Corporate rights (wrongs) – vs human rights?

   If you can make it – please be there!

   Cheers! Penny Bright
   (Named Respondent)
   • james111 8.1

     7 February 2012 at 3:25 pm

     Penny Who Cares hope theyall get fined and have to pay to put the park back to where it was prior to the occupation
     • Te Reo Putake 8.1.1

       7 February 2012 at 3:38 pm

       Back home from school early, James? You probably should have stayed on for the English class at least.
        
       “… pay to put the park back to where it was prior to the occupation”
        
       The park hasn’t moved, doofus.
       • james111 8.1.1.1

         7 February 2012 at 3:50 pm

         Glad to see you using mother english, and not Te Reo
         • thatguynz 8.1.1.1.1

           7 February 2012 at 4:24 pm

           Ignorant pillock…  Not that I should really be surprised..
         • Hateatea 8.1.1.1.2

           7 February 2012 at 5:04 pm

           Kia ira Hemi tokotoru

           Kei kora tonu te papa takaro. Ehara tera he whenua nekeneke 
         • McFlock 8.1.1.1.3

           7 February 2012 at 5:45 pm

           A horrid little troll like yourself is lucky people aren’t speaking norse at you.
         • mickysavage 8.1.1.1.4

           7 February 2012 at 7:01 pm

           Much as I believe that freedom of speech and expression is important, when I think of the venal degrading nature of James 3’s comments I wonder if to make the world a better place James 3 should be stopped from wasting my bandwidth.
           • Vicky32 8.1.1.1.4.1

             8 February 2012 at 2:40 pm

             Much as I believe that freedom of speech and expression is important

             Do you? Really?
             (You might, most others here don’t think freedom of speech matters at all, unless they agree with what’s being expressed. Otherwise…)
             • McFlock …

               8 February 2012 at 4:40 pm

               … they also speak. And use words like “bigot”.
9. fisiani 9

   7 February 2012 at 2:50 pm

   Question Time 7/2/12
   12 nil.
   Was that the best the Opposition can do?
   • james111 9.1

     7 February 2012 at 3:41 pm

     Fisani
     Have to agree did you see Parker get assinated on the Crafer Farm Sales. When he was in charge of Land sales in a Labour Government he let go 410,000 hectares. Why would they even bring it up talk about shooting yourself in the Foot. Clayton Cosgrove said in the house in 2005 quote (its impossible to sto land sales to overseas people if that was to happen would lthe last person out in New Zealand please turn out the lights)
     Does that mean that Labour says and does one thing in Government, and does the exact opposite in opposistion. Very hypocritical ,and not really a party that would engender any trust
     • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1

       7 February 2012 at 4:03 pm

       No, fuckwit, it means that Labour has finally caught on to the fact the majority of NZers don’t like our land being sold to foreigners. If that 410,000 had been as well published as the Crafar farm sale had been then the opposition would have started a lot sooner. I’m pretty sure that NAct understand that which is why they’re trying to stop any information flow from the government to the people. NAct really can’t have the people being informed and educated because then they will try to stop what NAct are doing to the country.
       • Herodotus 9.1.1.1

         7 February 2012 at 4:53 pm

         More like 650k ha were sold under the 5th Lab govt.
         http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10681304
         Still I have not read how after signing a FTA with China how we now can put a halt on this and still be compliant within the FTA. We already have Sold our NZ soul.
         There are simple means to overcome the barrier- Just do a JV with an iwi, just like how we sold away our fishing rights overseas. This issue has ben addressed many time here before.
         http://thestandard.org.nz/labour-moves-on-slave-fishing/#comment-400462
         http://www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/home/template/news_item.jsp?cid=414934
         • Lanthanide 9.1.1.1.1

           7 February 2012 at 10:47 pm

           The FTA just says we have to do with China on no-worse grounds than any other country.

           So that just means we put the same limits on sales to all foreign countries, as Labour is proposing, and then China isn’t being treated any worse than any other country.
           • Herodotus 9.1.1.1.1.1

             8 February 2012 at 10:28 am

             Lanthanide – I suppose then by default the stipulation will be that of what we allow Australian investors to do. As we would have to also bar Aussies from being able to acquire land. And I have yet to hear or read any comments limiting Aussie investment !!
             • Colonial Viper …

               8 February 2012 at 4:53 pm

               The selling off of pre-existing assets and capabilities for no new added value or additional processing technology or capabilties is the absolute lowest quality “investment”.
10. the pink postman 10

    7 February 2012 at 3:27 pm

    Clare Trevett’s article in todays Herald is a sure sign that the Right are going to try and pull the same trick on Shearer as they did with the unforunate Phil Goff. Labour members must make sure that any plan to denigrate David Shearer is niped in the bud now!
    • Bill 10.1

      7 February 2012 at 4:32 pm

      Regardless of what the article says (haven’t read it), the fact remains that Labour opted for personality over political substance. So I’m afraid Mr Dithering Bleeding Heart Sh-eh-ahr-er deserves all that flies in his direction.
11. Dave Kennedy 11

    7 February 2012 at 4:02 pm

    The debate around the need for a constitution is a worthy one:
    http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/waitangi-day-constitution-and-waituna.html
12. Bill 12

    7 February 2012 at 4:26 pm

    ffs! Where are we going when people are jailed for possessing magazine articles/pamphlets? From the UK.

    Baum, also of Solingen, admitted (…) having an article entitled “39 Ways Of Participating or Serving in Jihad”. He was jailed for 12 months after the prosecution said the document was at the lower end of the extremist literature spectrum.

    (emph. added)

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/06/germans-al-qaida-terror-dover
    • Colonial Viper 12.1

      7 February 2012 at 5:04 pm

      book burning as a “terrorism prevention measure” on the way next.
13. coolas 13

    7 February 2012 at 6:15 pm

    Winston all but accused Tariana Turia of corruption in question time today.

    Claimed Whanau Ora had paid for the birthday bash of a well healed Maori business family.

    Could he be forcing a resignation?
    • Carol 13.1

      7 February 2012 at 6:21 pm

      as covered here.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6378062/Whanau-Ora-a-waste-of-money

      New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said this afternoon that about $6 million of tax-payer cash had been “squandered” on a Whanau Ora programme that funded “family reunions”.

      “Whanau Ora is a waste of tax-payer’s money. It’s going to be a disaster for Maoridom. It’s a pet idea of the Maori Party and John Key is selling out on separatist policies,” Peters said.

      He said an official Whanau Ora report showed more than 200 applications for the scheme – known as “Whanau Integration, Innovation and Engagement funding” – had been accepted.

      The report says the fund is “available to support whanau, who, among other things, want to strengthen whanau ties”.

      It details the case of Johni Rutene who ”wants to reconnect his 180-strong family with each other and their Wairarapa turangawaewae, strengthen their bonds and improve their overall whanau ora”.

      Maori “seperatism” is just one of the drums Peters beats, and will continue to do so.
      • ianmac 13.1.1

        7 February 2012 at 7:51 pm

        It was the money paid to a wealthy family wasn’t it?
14. ianmac 14

    7 February 2012 at 7:50 pm

    A must watch!
    Campbell Live covered the Mr Dotcom “invasion” tonight. First an escort through the house (mansion?) by the bodyguard through the premises decribing the timing and actions of the police.
    Then Assistant Commissioner who authorised the program.
    One of the questions from Campbell,”Has there ever been a precedent where such force was used against a white collar alleged criminal?” Mmmm.
    Fascinating viewing.
    http://www.3news.co.nz/Campbell-Live-enters-Kim-Dotcoms-Coatesville-mansion/tabid/367/articleID/242116/Default.aspx
    • Vicky32 14.1

      8 February 2012 at 2:49 pm

      A must watch!
      Campbell Live covered the Mr Dotcom “invasion” tonight. First an escort through the house (mansion?) by the bodyguard through the premises decribing the timing and actions of the police.

      It was scary stuff indeed!
15. Te Reo Putake 15

    7 February 2012 at 7:58 pm

    Wow! How cool is Clint Eastwood? I watched this yesterday and was quietly amazed, but thought it was odd coming from a bloke I always thought was an arch Republican. Not so much anymore, apparently.
16. Bored 16

    7 February 2012 at 8:08 pm

    Hone pulls Nacts teeth, masterly work.

    Cant help thinking what a master hand Hone Harawira played at Waitangi. The man (who I have branded a racist etc with good reason) certainly won my respect for his deft handling of the asset sales issue.

    Hone knew the Maori Party had to be detached from the Nats, and he knews this has to be made a constitutional matter because the Nats still had a majority of one. Most importantly he needed to keep the media from branding him a “Maori radical” at Waitangi thereby providing Key with a smokescreen.

    Master stroke one: shame the Maori Party amongst Maori hapu / iwi and council with the prospect of a retreat on Treaty Principles. Turn up the heat in the kitchen.

    Master stroke two: make it evident that their is no clear majority in parliament supporting asset sales and raise the issue of constitutional matters before the Govenor General and the representatives of the legal hierachy: Keys weak point is a disdain for constitutional law. Voila, a legal challenge appears and the Courts are primed.

    Master stroke three : know that the radicals would be outside making a noise that the media would use to support Keys case. Then have his mother sit with Key and himself challenge the radicals thereby disarming Keys most potent weapon: a media so friendly they fall for his photo op imagery and faux populism. No Harawiras to take the blame, no popular bad guy radical to focus the smokescreen on.

    Genius, my hats off to you Hone.
17. grumpy 17

    7 February 2012 at 10:38 pm

    In Berlin today, last night was the coldest on record for 25 years (just saying).

    By coincidence I am attending a conference on Green technologies, they are predicting global cooling now (which on past performance willl brobably lead to things getting warmer).
    • Lanthanide 17.1

      7 February 2012 at 10:51 pm

      Yip, that weather system they got over there at the moment sure isn’t something, ain’t it?
      • grumpy 17.1.1

        8 February 2012 at 1:31 am

        went out for dinner last night, walked about half an hour from the hotel, absolutely froze through, these germans are tough!
        • rosy 17.1.1.1

          8 February 2012 at 1:53 am

          Never bad weather, just wrong clothes I invested in a heavy duty coat after last winter in Vienna. Finally I can use it (still haven’t matched last year’s minimum though). The first snowfall of the season last night, it usually snows in December – so it’s worth going out in the cold now.
          • lprent 17.1.1.1.1

            8 February 2012 at 2:04 am

            Continental climates are somewhat extreme. Give me ocean encircled islands anytime, provided they have hills.
18. Penny Bright 18

    8 February 2012 at 2:40 am

    OCCUPY AUCKLAND FIGHTBACK!!

    At 7.55pm, Tuesday 7 February 2012, at the Auckland Central Police Station, I filed a formal complaint, alleging perjury against the Auckland Council Manager for Risk and Assurance, Natalie Verdouw.

    _____________________________________________________

    Under the NZ Crimes Act 1961, 108 Perjury defined

    “(1) Perjury is an assertion as to a matter of fact, belief, or knowledge made by a witness in a judicial proceeding as part of his evidence on oath, whether the evidence is given in open court or by affidavit or otherwise, that assertion being known to the witness to be false and being intended by him to mislead the tribunal holding the proceeding.”

    EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS COMPLAINT:

    A) Supplementary affidavit of Natalie Verdouw in support of application for injunction to prevent breach of bylaw, CIV-2011-404-002497, between Auckland Council (Applicant) and The Occupiers of Aotea Square (Respondents) sworn 2 December 2011:

    Paragraph 9

    ” On Monday 28 November 2011 Conor Roberts (the Mayor’s chief political advisor) telephoned me to arrange a further meeting to be held that day to hear the responses from Occupy Auckland to the Mayor’s requests. I called Andrew Hendrie to determine whether resolutions had been made by the group during the course of the two General Assembly meetings held over the weekend.
    He told me that no resolutions had been made. ……..”

    B) Email from Andrew Hendrie to Penny Bright, dated 6 December 2011:

    “Penny,
    To answer your question from Sunday, council called on Monday to find out the outcome from the GA and I advised them of my understanding of the situation, which is what I have done for the last 6 weeks with them, that was that the GA had agreed to invite the mayor and council to the GA. that was the only resolution communicated to me from Chris…………………

    I know about this one resolution because I saw the letter from Sunday’s GA and I signed it. ”

    (Also – pages 4 – 32 of the Notes of Evidence taken before Judge DM Wilson QC, Hearing Date 8 December 2011, CIV-2011-004-002497 )

    SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS COMPLAINT:

    It was from this one allegedly untrue telephone conversation between the Auckland Council Manager for Risk and Assurance, Natalie Verdouw and ONE member of the Occupy Auckland Council Liaison Team, Andrew Hendrie, that triggered the ongoing Court proceedings between Auckland Council and Occupy Auckland peaceful protestors.

    On Wednesday 8 February 2012, as a ‘Named Respondent’ I am facing an Order of Committal for contempt of Court, and in so doing, am facing imprisonment. I have broken no law. Council Bylaws cannot ‘trump’ our lawful rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and Judge Wilson’s decision is under appeal.

    Had Court proceedings arguably not been precipitiously triggered by Ms Verdouw’s perjurious statement(s), myself and other peaceful Occupy Auckland protestors would not now be facing jail.

    Please be reminded of your Police Oath, and, without ‘favour or affection, malice or illwill’ uphold the law of New Zealand in a proper way help ensure that ‘ justice is done and is seen to be done’.

    Yours sincerely,

    COMPLAINANT: Penelope Mary Bright (aka Penny Bright)
    __________________________________________________________
19. phillip ure.. 19

    8 February 2012 at 12:15 pm

    this may amuse some..

    http://whoar.co.nz/2012/5-ridiculous-sex-myths-everyone-believes/

    excerpt:..

    “…In truth, sperm are hardier than the fragile balls that birthed them.

    They can stay alive and viable for days after ejaculation – watching and waiting for their opportunity to make a happy accident.

    Just how long can a sperm survive in the wild and terrible world?

    BabyMed says five days – WebMD concurs.

    The Mayo Clinic allows that they can survive “perhaps even longer.”..”

    (cont..)

    [email look alike deleted].

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