Open Mike 07/11/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 7th, 2016 - 204 comments
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204 comments on “Open Mike 07/11/2016 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    7 November 2016 at 6:25 am

    Mae Heron performs patsy interview of Stephen Joyce on RNZ this morning.
    None of his outrageous statements are challenged.
    For example…..
    No questions are asked about the persistent high levels of unemployment.
    No questions are asked about the use of migrant labour to drive down wages.
    No questions are asked about the how our ‘economic growth’ is not being shared.
    etc etc

    “Speaking truth to power”?
    Not RNZ, which has,on the whole, been reduced to an echo chamber for this corrupt government.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201822741/govt-says-labour-misses-the-mark-with-new-job-policy

    This its explains its bias.
    Sinecures.

    Richard Griffin
    Chair of the Radio New Zealand Board of Governors

    Richard Griffin was appointed to the board as a governor in May 2010. He has an extensive career in print media, radio, television and public relations. A past Radio New Zealand Political Editor and a life member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, he served as Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to Prime Minister, Jim Bolger from 1993 until 1998. He was Manager of Policy Development, Government Relations and Communications for TVNZ from 2000 to 2007. Mr Griffin is a director of the public relations consultancy, Fraser, Griffin, Wood.

    • Adrian 1.1
      7 November 2016 at 8:36 am

      @Paul, yes unfortunately RNZ really does suck at present.
      Notice how RNZ news nearly always preface any new Labour/Green policies, with what National or Key think about them first, old school, but effective misinformation tactic there.
      Here is a copy of an email I sent Nine to Noon this morning…

      Good morning Kathryn,

      I am disappointed to see your show still using Mike Williams as one of your political commentator from the Left, unfortunately for political debate this just isn’t working, and often makes for infuriatingly frustrating radio listening.

      On the voice from the right you have Hooton, ideologically committed to his politics, still actively involved in that project, great choice…

      On the Left, Mike Williams, ideologically entrenched in post ’84 New Left centrism.
      Williams (and his form of ‘Left’ centrism) have moved so far to the Right over the past 25 years, that he is fundamentally on the same page as Hooton, hence his seemingly constant tacit agreement with Hooton on most subjects of substance on your show, so sorry to say, but not great listening.

      This show should be an important and informative weekly discourse.

      Maybe this could be a possible solution…

      …why not find a commentator that is as committed ideologically to the progressive Left, as Hooton is to the Free Market, neo liberal Right….this would make for a lively show, and we might occasionally learn something at depth about both positions?…two things I am sure you would like your show to achieve, but with Williams,it never will.

      • Rosemary McDonald 1.1.1
        7 November 2016 at 12:26 pm

        Methinks that KR got your message Adrian as this morning’s Matt and Mike Show had me gasping with awe.

        Mike “I agree with Matthew” Williams actually stepped up and delivered on the Saudi Sheep Scandal in a most uncharacteristically staunch fashion. I found myself cheering him on….(rather than me yelling at the radio, “Oh, for goodness sake’s grow some Mike!”).

        Uncharacteristically, KR actually allowed Mike to speak without the usual interjections from Matt.

        Matt failed to back his backers on the Saudi Thing…though he did imply that Murray McCully does tend to do his own thing…

        Interesting that Matt tried to paint Gareth Morgan as a rich despot surrounded by yes people who will ultimately founder/flounder in the political arena like all the other rich despots who have gone down the same path.

        KR did, to her credit, remind Matt that far from having been totally oblivious to the socio- political environment, GM has in fact written a couple of books on some of the country’s most pressing issues.

        All in all…I found this to be one of the better Mike and Matt shows….http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201822799/political-commentators-mike-williams-and-matthew-hooton

        • Morrissey 1.1.1.1
          8 November 2016 at 7:16 am

          Fantastic news, Rosemary! I knew I was too hasty in writing Mike Williams’ obituary the other day.

          Things are looking up!

          • Rosemary McDonald 1.1.1.1.1
            8 November 2016 at 9:21 am

            Thanks, Morrissey! What a lovely way to start the day! All those positive, inspirational images….what a wonderful life is possible once rid of the pain and the tears!

    • Olwyn 1.2
      7 November 2016 at 9:22 am

      There is also an irritating tendency to frame Labour Party news in terms of what the government thinks of it. To paraphrase a line from today’s 7am news: “The government dismisses Labour’s jobs plan for unemployed youth…” This type of framing dilutes the force and authority of Labour’s announcements by prioritising the government’s judgement right at the point where a plan is first heard .

      • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1
        7 November 2016 at 2:55 pm

        IIRC, didn’t the MSM do that when Labour was government and National were the opposition?

        Just phrasing it as National dismisses the governments…blah blah blah

    • Bearded Git 1.3
      7 November 2016 at 10:10 am

      @paul….agreed….when they (RNZ) does an interview like that they need to bring on a Labour spokesman immediately afterwards to counter Joyce’s propaganda. Journalism 101.

  2. Andre 2
    7 November 2016 at 6:32 am

    Greenhouse gas emissions from hydro power higher than previously thought.

    https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/nov/06/hydropower-hydroelectricity-methane-clean-climate-change-study

    I’ll take a guess New Zealand’s hydropower is likely to be highish in emissions because there’s a fair bit of nutrients in the water going into the lakes and the land that was drowned was generally fairly fertile.

    • weka 2.1
      7 November 2016 at 2:10 pm

      Doesn’t surprise me, and I hope we can soon start thinking more seriously about powering down.

      The Clyde Dam was supposed to provide power to Muldoon’s Think Big projects including the Aramoana aluminium smelter. We should think about that. That was the last large scale hyrdo in NZ I think, it took decades to get done, was completed in the early 90s, and within a few decades we are already running out of power again and the smelter didn’t even get built. At some point we need to consider that all power generation has limits and that ‘renewable’ is actually finite too. We can live well within our limits and eventually we will be forced to so may as well do it now while we got the advantage.

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1
        7 November 2016 at 3:15 pm

        Power use does tend to go up with an increasing population.

        Yes, in some ways we’re also using more because we have more devices but we’re also using less because old, inefficient devices are being replaced by new.

        And just think of how short of power we would be now if the Aramoana smelter had been built as was also in use. I wonder if we’d be hearing about how great competition in electricity generation is from the RWNJs while we were still getting brown-outs as we were in the 1970s.

        But, yes, even renewable energy has limits. Don’t know about solar power but it’s been estimated that too many wind turbines will slow the winds globally and thus adding to anthropogenic climate change.

      • pat 2.1.2
        8 November 2016 at 7:31 am

        I am reminded of the huge opposition to the Clyde Dam project at the time (and Aramoana) but it is worth considering where we would be now without the likes of our hydro generation schemes…..we may yet come to consider some previously disparaged actions as prescient.

        Fart tax anyone?

  3. Tautoko Mangō Mata 3
    7 November 2016 at 7:18 am

    This interesting article gives an insight into the world of the global super-rich and their attitudes towards other lesser mortals.

    What is more relevant to our times, though, is that the rich of today are also different from the rich of yesterday. Our light-speed, globally connected economy has led to the rise of a new super-elite that consists, to a notable degree, of first- and second-generation wealth. Its members are hardworking, highly educated, jet-setting meritocrats who feel they are the deserving winners of a tough, worldwide economic competition—and many of them, as a result, have an ambivalent attitude toward those of us who didn’t succeed so spectacularly. Perhaps most noteworthy, they are becoming a transglobal community of peers who have more in common with one another than with their countrymen back home. Whether they maintain primary residences in New York or Hong Kong, Moscow or Mumbai, today’s super-rich are increasingly a nation unto themselves.

    http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/01/the-rise-of-the-new-global-elite/308343/

    • Paul 3.1
      7 November 2016 at 7:20 am

      Members of the cult of Ayn Rand.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.2
      7 November 2016 at 10:54 am

      Yes, it’s one of the reasons why the rich always end up destroying the society that they arise in. They think that they’re the only ones who are important and so ignore and even penalise the rest of society. Of course, it’s the rest of society that’s both supporting society itself and paying for the rich to be rich.

      We cannot afford the rich.

      They cost us too much and will destroy our society.

  4. Cinny 4
    7 November 2016 at 7:22 am

    The outgoing PM interviewed this morning on both news networks basically said that Morgans policy was rubbish. Strange thing is, Morgan hasn’t released any policies.

    His screwed up face, sharp intake of breath and squeaky voice tells me that the outgoing PM is worried about Morgans new party.

    • Richard Rawshark 4.1
      7 November 2016 at 9:14 am

      This will be keys biggest election yet, he is a goal setter, he wants that fourth term, expect a full on best effort from Him and his party, we do not underestimate the National Political machine.

      They pulled out the Boag..it’s getting serious!

      • greywarshark 4.1.1
        7 November 2016 at 1:20 pm

        Cinny
        I like the ‘outgoing PM’ too. Snappy term, with a determined sound. And he sounds slightly more slurred each morning, not snappy, but rolling with the punches, I’ve got it all under control folks from my super-experience. I’ll lull you all to sleep again, move on nothing to worry about. There is a psychological message to all of his individual constituents in his voice, words and delivery.

    • Richard Rawshark 4.2
      7 November 2016 at 9:16 am

      did you say, outgoing PM…

      mm that’s a delicious sound isn’t it, rolls off the tongue like, treacle , outgoing PM

      ahh my god, I feel strangely , wonderful, this should be bottled and sold Cinny you may be onto a cure all here.

      • Cinny 4.2.1
        7 November 2016 at 9:49 am

        Indeed, that’s what i refer to the pony tail puller as… the outgoing PM.

        Lmfao ‘they pulled out the Boag” I’m still laughing about that.

        • Richard Rawshark 4.2.1.1
          7 November 2016 at 10:03 am

          Any other PM in history would have been sacked in NZ for that,,, pony tail pulling, it irks me key is never held to account.. it reeks of privilege and rules are only for serfs.. his Son! omg there’s a classic example of dad’s behaviour rubbing off as acceptable by the son, the norm, it’s fine, dad does it.,

          see how do people not see what’s in front of their very eyes.

          • Cinny 4.2.1.1.1
            7 November 2016 at 10:28 am

            Weak males are what the outgoing PM and his son are.

            Signs that you are not an alpha male…

            Even when you are wrong you are right

            You are a bootlicker

            You always look for a scapegoat

            You are a pathological liar

            You are a complainer

            You abuse women (verbally, mentally or physically)

            You are a bully

            You panic and gossip

            Yup the outgoing PM is mos def NOT AN ALPHA MALE

            • Richard Rawshark 4.2.1.1.1.1
              7 November 2016 at 10:33 am

              Yes if I was to look at his psyche i’d definitely say he has issues, he had a strong mother and his insecurities are exposed by his over compensating.

              He had no male role model, and this is the result. A skewed perception of appropriate behaviour..

            • Puckish Rogue 4.2.1.1.1.2
              7 November 2016 at 11:29 am

              Is it a pre-requisite for the PM to be an alpha male?

              • Richard Rawshark …
                7 November 2016 at 11:48 am

                no, just to respect everyone’s differences, especially when they are women with pony tails or a pony tail, or hair, or anything women at all, just some respect mate.

                Even to labour, he shows none, to nobody. Except the rich.

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  7 November 2016 at 12:24 pm

                  And yet hes won three elections and is in the box seat for a fourth win(since Robert doesn’t like it when I say National will win) so maybe your, and others on here, perception on John Key isn’t one that’s shared by a large enough majority of the voting public

                  • Richard Rawshark …
                    7 November 2016 at 12:45 pm

                    you say potatoe I say po tat toe. 😛

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    7 November 2016 at 3:17 pm

                    Pucky – have you commented on the latest “sheepgate” revelations? My apologies if you’ve already had a go, but I’d love to hear your spin views, given that you’ve already stated that you’re relaxed about the Saudi situation.

              • Cinny …
                7 November 2016 at 2:44 pm

                I’d prefer an “alpha” for a leader than a ‘beta’, or at the very least one that behaves in such a manner. Gender is unimportant.

                https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/66/9b/d2/669bd2eafbee8c14f1cd4a5a611c561e.jpg

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  7 November 2016 at 3:10 pm

                  Doesn’t say much for Labout then does it, if john Keys a beta what have Little, Shearer and Goff been?

      • Puckish Rogue 4.2.2
        7 November 2016 at 10:32 am

        There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11743211

        Seriously? How long will it take Labour to realise that if they put something out involving money someone else will come along with a calculator and point out that Labour have got the figures wrong.

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11742918

        “An hour later, Grant Robertson was indeed in a form of hell as he tortuously tried to explain how a policy which looked, smelt and quacked like an attempt to penalise companies for hiring migrant workers was not that at all.”

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11742912

        Robertson denied the proposal was business unfriendly, saying measures would be taken to support small businesses and it was likely ‘micro’ businesses would be exempt.

        Robertson said companies which did not train new staff themselves were “freeloading” off other businesses.

        “Most the business organisations we talk to already commit to training and, actually, they are quite pissed off with those other businesses who coat-tail off them.”

        Is Grant Robertson a National plant or is he trying to sabotage Andrew Little?

        • Richard Rawshark 4.2.2.1
          7 November 2016 at 10:35 am

          LOl, try reading through a few posts on the site before you make yourself a complete dick by making the same stupid mistake as everyone else.

          and the real slap is, the figures are spot on and you show your own ineptness at working out the costs.. it fkn hilarious..

          and you spent so much time with links etc, you will now start frothing and making loads of posts showing how we are wrong.. Key stone accountants, National couldn’t count change from a 10 cent coin.

        • Cinny 4.2.2.2
          7 November 2016 at 10:49 am

          Gosh only articles from the Herald PR?

          Andrew and Grant are tight, try sowing a different seed, because this one of yours is a FAIL.

          Meanwhile…

          Outgoing government have been bragging about low interest rates, trying to encourage people to buy up over priced homes due to the housing crisis that they have perpetuated. So many first home buyers have huge mortgages, but outgoing PM believes with low interest rates to counter balance low wages, everything will be alright.

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/86163923/higher-fixed-home-loan-rates-on-the-horizon-despite-predicted-rb-rate-cut

          That is until interest rates rise for loans, then we will see many unable to afford their mortgage, stand by for the massive financial implications of such an event. Wait didn’t something similar happen in the States which lead to the GFC?

          The bursting of the U.S. housing bubble, which had peaked in 2004, caused the values of securities tied to U.S. real estate pricing to plummet, damaging financial institutions globally.

          The financial crisis was triggered by a complex interplay of policies that encouraged home ownership, providing easier access to loans for subprime borrowers, overvaluation of bundled subprime mortgages based on the theory that housing prices would continue to escalate, questionable trading practices on behalf of both buyers and sellers, compensation structures that prioritize short-term deal flow over long-term value creation, and a lack of adequate capital holdings from banks and insurance companies to back the financial commitments they were making.

          • Puckish Rogue 4.2.2.2.1
            7 November 2016 at 11:25 am

            Do you think this will happen before the next election because that’s the only way that National won’t get re-elected

            Right now the headlines favour National, employment, exports, quality of life etc etc its all favouring National.

            Dunne will probably win again (wouldn’t actually mind him getting the boot), Act will come in from Epsom and the Maori Party might even gain another seat:

            http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/85886984/howie-tamati-named-as-maori-party-candidate-for-te-tai-hauauru-seat

            At the very least it’ll be a good battle

            Morgan, at the very least will probably take more votes of Lab/Green then National

            All those reasons are why I think National will win the next election

            • Richard Rawshark 4.2.2.2.1.1
              7 November 2016 at 11:56 am

              National are going to win the next election PR, does that ease your insecurities..

              come on mate, i’m an adult lets talk however we both think our teams will succeed I think we could move on to stuff that’s more.., interesting

              have you heard the latest on the Saudi sheep deal, do you think that will damage your chances? Do you think Key and McCully will survive?

              • Puckish Rogue …
                7 November 2016 at 12:32 pm

                “Do you think that will damage your chances?”

                – I don’t think it’ll do much damage to National, its more a beltway issue in my opinion

                “Do you think Key and McCully will survive?”

                – Key absolutely will, hes very good at insulating himself from bad news. McCully I’m suspecting will probably announce either a retirement or a move to the list

                • Richard Rawshark …
                  7 November 2016 at 12:42 pm

                  I think it’s just one lie to many and a massive one, I understand the need to protect the brand..of course.

                  To be caught..ouch.

                  McCullys already done that, retired, unless key wants him on the list..

                  He may be sacrificed now, is what I meant as in I thought key definitely would have pulled him back via the list.

                  But this, tossing up whether career ending as a certainty..

                  Usually in this country the Herald swings it, and I think it’ll depend on Fran and whether she pursues criticism like Armstrong used to in similar circumstances.

                  Touch and go For MC, I think the next few days will decide his fate.

                  This will cause issues now, you guys like us have a year too go and plenty of time for this to be forgotten.

                  It’ll be the end when the remember this lists get played you need to watch for.

                  Regards

                  hekia and seclusion rooms
                  and the sheep deal

                  oh and boag rapping,

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  7 November 2016 at 3:21 pm

                  I don’t think it’ll do much damage to National, its more a beltway issue in my opinion

                  Proof that a National minister lied is not a beltway issue. In fact it’s a serious concern for everyone.

                  But I’m not surprised to find you minimising it away. You simply cannot accept that National is corrupt.

                  Key absolutely will, hes very good at insulating himself from bad news.

                  Through more lies.

                  • Richard Rawshark …
                    7 November 2016 at 3:32 pm

                    state actors, defending lies and spin.. seriously DTB who has a better life, can you imagine having to defend stuff you knows is lies.. fucking hell no wonder these guys are so fucked up..

                    the turmoil of their conscious if they have one must make them sick, sweaty and lacking essential sleep.

                    Not to mention the nightmares when they do.

                    They will laugh at this but you know.., we all know..

            • Cinny 4.2.2.2.1.2
              7 November 2016 at 2:50 pm

              The outgoing PM will try to put up a fight, mhmm of course.

          • Richard Rawshark 4.2.2.2.2
            7 November 2016 at 11:53 am

            I said the same awhile back, why are thye pushing and making a fear environment out of buying a home, if you don’t buy now you’ll never be able to.

            We have one massive bubble…

            a government that knows it, created it, and will not be around to clean it up.

  5. ianmac 5
    7 November 2016 at 9:02 am

    Wow! I for one did not know this as a real cause of the Saudi free trade deal breakdown in April 2010.
    It was because of an insult by John Key!
    Fran O’Sullivan:
    “This whole saga has been a convenient figleaf for a major point of contention between the Saudis and New Zealand: Prime Minister John Key’s decision to abandon his leadership of a business mission to the Gulf States in April 2010 and return home. Saudi anger over what was seen as an insult to the Kingdom was conveyed to business members of the mission which continued under the substitute leadership of then Trade Minister Tim Groser…..”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11743370

    • Richard Rawshark 5.1
      7 November 2016 at 9:11 am

      Yes I was transfixed by that last night. was the last thing I read yesterday.

      For many reasons, Fran saying that, is about the worst comment National..McCully could receive. Her media weight and comment..is a damning condemnation on MCCully, and he should resign.

      As for Key, his snub was the helicopter crash. how he handled that with the Saudi’s warrants an investigation.

      • ianmac 5.1.1
        7 November 2016 at 10:13 am

        Key’s insult was responsible for the Saudis getting in a huff. Nothing to do with the Labour Party nor the block on live sheep exports. The were meeting to sign the Trade Deal.
        Key on Morning Report today was at his very best at selling lies. The gall of the man but isn’t he good at it! The whole saga was to cover a gaff by Key! An $11million taxpayers money to pay for the gaff!

        • Richard Rawshark 5.1.1.1
          7 November 2016 at 10:17 am

          YES Ian, I have been busy this morning laying this where I can in reply to Keys cover stories..

          He should resign and now would be a good time to start a petition asking him to do exactly that.

          Armstrongs headlines to Helen RE same stuff would have been hysterical in there.., calls for his immediate resignation.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.2
          7 November 2016 at 11:04 am

          Key’s insult was responsible for the Saudis getting in a huff. Nothing to do with the Labour Party nor the block on live sheep exports.

          Yep, National lying to cover their own arse – again.

          So much for taking personal responsibility.

          Of course, this may actually work out well. We don’t have a FTA with such a despicable regime and Key/National are shown for the liars that they are.

          • Richard Rawshark 5.1.1.2.1
            7 November 2016 at 2:55 pm

            Can a political party sue another political party for slander?

            • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.2.1.1
              7 November 2016 at 3:17 pm

              Probably not but Labour should be shouting this one loud and clear.

              • Richard Rawshark …
                7 November 2016 at 3:27 pm

                Then we need to introduce the truthometer to all his statements.

                1-10 from probably bullshit to pants on fire.

  6. fisiani 6
    7 November 2016 at 9:41 am

    Which is the most prosperous country in the world?
    Last year it was Norway.
    This year……….New Zealand
    https://lif.blob.core.windows.net/lif/docs/default-source/publications/2016-legatum-prosperity-index-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=2&utm_source=AOL&utm_medium=readMore&utm_campaign=partner

    Makes it hard for an opposition to seriously bag the government

    • Barfly 6.1
      7 November 2016 at 9:47 am

      Right wing think tank lauds Right wing government jeez fisiani is that all you got?

      • fisiani 6.1.1
        7 November 2016 at 10:08 am

        Calling the NZ government Right Wing is so ridiculous it is laughable.
        If you actually read the report you will see that they measure prosperity differently from GDP per person but include a host of factors.
        Effectively they are saying that this is the best country in the world to live in. I hope you can agree with that.

        • Bearded Git 6.1.1.1
          7 November 2016 at 10:16 am

          @fisi But a Labour/Green bloc government will share the wealth more evenly and fairly, both in society and generationally, with less spin (lies) and with more imagination than this do-nothing government.

        • Richard Rawshark 6.1.1.2
          7 November 2016 at 10:55 am

          what would you call brash? or Findlayson

        • Barfly 6.1.1.3
          7 November 2016 at 10:56 am

          “Calling the NZ government Right Wing is so ridiculous it is laughable.”

          Record inequality

          Record Growth in foodbanks

          Ongoing privatization of education, prisons attempted privatization of social housing.

          Record underemployment

          Legislation for sale to corporations

          Record number of children in poverty

          Record unaffordable housing

          Record homelessness

          Enormous tax cuts for the rich

          Regressive taxes increased

          You lie, dissemble and distract working as a fan boy for this right wing government.

      • Bob 6.1.2
        7 November 2016 at 10:12 am

        Yes, because New Zealand has the only Right Wing government in the world…
        Also, it doesn’t explain why the predominantly left wing Nordic countries, fill up the majority of the top 5, maybe try again…

        • Barfly 6.1.2.1
          7 November 2016 at 11:00 am

          The Legatum Foundation is the development arm of the Legatum Group

          Legatum Limited, also known as Legatum, is a private investment firm headquartered in Dubai

          Is National getting something for 11.5million worth of sheep? Nudge nudge

          • Bob 6.1.2.1.1
            7 November 2016 at 11:08 am

            Yeah, they are so easily swayed they put their own country at 41st and their largest trading partner China at 90th…
            Keep trying Barfly, you might find a conspiracy theory worthy of that tinfoil hat eventually.

            • Barfly 6.1.2.1.1.1
              7 November 2016 at 11:39 am

              Legatum based in Dubai….doubtless owned by 1%ers you know that global elite who just love complicit cretins like the “key” government. “Their own country” tut tut

      • adam 6.1.3
        7 November 2016 at 12:31 pm

        He is desperate, pony tail pulling creepy dude in charge. Weird minister handing out tax payers money to Saudis. Then all this and a freaky ex-president, https://thestandard.org.nz/john-keys-paradise/

        The national party is in free fall, it has a rag tag collection of failed ministers, and a pm who is looking continually shaky.

    • Richard Rawshark 6.2
      7 November 2016 at 9:57 am

      FISIANI
      prosperous for who..

      benefits depend on where your sitting, in your car or in your Mt Roskill mansion.

      your making me angry, please leave for a bit take some time off, your ranting hysterically, the fact labour had an agm and announced some policy has had you acting well out of character.

      Politely

      FUCK OFF.

      • james 6.2.1
        7 November 2016 at 10:37 am

        Richard,

        They use facts / figures / measurements and is a holistic view – not down to specific people.

        They use the same measurements for all countries – thats how they rank.

        Truth of the matter – In general NZ and NZ’ers are on the whole doing very well. Not all are in the depths of horrible personal situations.

        This is why Nats are polling at 48% and Labour on 26% – If you open your eyes and look – really look – you can see a lot of good things happening here.

        • Richard Rawshark 6.2.1.1
          7 November 2016 at 10:48 am

          whatever..ffs

          dreaming mate

        • Richard Rawshark 6.2.1.2
          7 November 2016 at 10:53 am

          How many times do you have to be told the same thing over and over and overt and over.., x infinity

          the rich are getting richer the poor are getting poorer, anmd child poverty and homelessness are not something to ignore, food banks are not coping, unemployment has risen..in real terms.

          who the fucking hell do you think your dreams are going to sway..

          I bet you have great discussions with your mates and they all agree with you, hence you cannot fathom why the same does not apply here, perhaps you win arguments in real life due to forcing people with your personality IDNK, but it ain’t working here son.

          • james 6.2.1.2.1
            7 November 2016 at 11:21 am

            Well – it seems to be working in the polls. Hell Labour were 35% this time in the last election cycle – now they couldn’t wish for that.

            Seems more people believe what I say than you think.

            And yep – most (not all) of my mates agree – things are going well. But there is always that one negative nelly.

            • Richard Rawshark 6.2.1.2.1.1
              7 November 2016 at 11:26 am

              Is your daddy a National MP, and you spend your days of luxury here, masterbating? 🙂

              I can’t resist.., i have issues..

              The polls,,,,,,,,,,zzzzZZZZzZZZZXzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

              snort…. SAUDI SHEEP DEAL DEMOCRACY..deal with it..

              ZZZzzzzZZ

              snort cough SO MUCh cough bad..,must…breathe…

              • james …
                7 November 2016 at 11:41 am

                You ask lots of questions about me – yesterday it was where I was educated….

                No – Dad is not an MP or involved with National at all.

                And nope – Im in my office – so masturbating would be frowned upon – especially by the people across from me.

                I love that you keep ignoring the polls – it head in the sand material.

                • Richard Rawshark …
                  7 November 2016 at 11:46 am

                  I do, you ask a lot of me, specially why I don’t fall into some heap at this poll result..

                  My wife and I..

                  I was off track but it struck me posh it was a sincere question, and today I ask if your a nat mp’s son..ok sorry bit nosey. point taken pardon the pun, it was more for effect for my attempted Burn.

                  Those poll results id bet a good hundy are rogue.. so that’s why I really am not interested in falling apart over them.

                  hope you understand.

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    7 November 2016 at 12:47 pm

                    for me its not so much the figures, National 48% seems a little high to me, 44% seems a bit more realistic and Labours polling seems a bit high as well

                    I look at more the trends and the gap difference, as long as theres a gap between National and Lab/Green, Nationals favour of course, then all is right with the world and that gap has been there for a very long time…

                    • Stuart Munro …
                      7 November 2016 at 1:55 pm

                      “National 48% seems a little high to … and Labours polling seems a bit high”

                      But then your lack of judgment is so manifest that you became a troll for the extreme right. We’d get more sense out of Donald Trump.

        • Draco T Bastard 6.2.1.3
          7 November 2016 at 11:22 am

          They use facts / figures / measurements and is a holistic view – not down to specific people.

          They must be leaving out huge amounts of facts or putting a minimal weighting on them.

          ~1% of our population living in cars
          Massive increase in inequality
          Selling off of state assets making us poorer
          Selling off of our resources (oil, coal, iron sands, etcetera) making us poorer
          Massive attacks on beneficiaries
          Subsidising large multinational corporations
          Laws for sale to multinational corporations
          Turning us into a tax haven to rich people steal from other countries

          And the list goes on, and on and on.

      • Wayne 6.2.2
        7 November 2016 at 10:54 am

        “Mt Roskill mansion”

        I presume meant to be ironic, in that all houses in Auckland are so highly priced as to be the equivalent of mansions.

        That the wealth difference now in NZ is whether you own a home or not, well at least if the home is in Auckland. Certainly that was a theme in the Herald this weekend.

    • Cinny 6.3
      7 November 2016 at 10:13 am

      You did read the table on page 4 of the document yes?

      We are down the list for education 15, health 12, safety and security 19 and environment 13.

      Education, health, safety/security and environment are so much more important to many than ‘prosperity’. It’s hard to prosper without excellent education, a safe/secure environment, good health care and a healthy eco system.

      Another interesting figure that makes us so high for prosperity is that we have family and friends we can count of (government has NOTHING to do with those feelings).

      So when boasting about the prosperity of our country, make sure you get all the facts clear.

      We have much to improve on

      • fisiani 6.3.1
        7 November 2016 at 10:34 am

        Would you agree however that this is the best country in the world or do you just want to be relentlessly negative?

        • One Anonymous Bloke 6.3.1.1
          7 November 2016 at 10:37 am

          The last refuge of a scoundrel is intrinsically negative, you fool.

          • Richard Rawshark 6.3.1.1.1
            7 November 2016 at 10:46 am

            Like when national always throw shade on Labour? blaming them for everything including Key fucking up the Saudi deal.

            I like to call keys term in power a social experiment, “how bad can things get before a population will rise and blood will be shed.”? experiment

            it’s damn interesting for a social experiment and i’m sure it will reach it’s conclusion within the next three years. If national retain power.

            and when it happens you can hold up those, but it says NZ is the most prosperous nation in the world” articles to the baying mob about to storm the gates of your mansion.

            • james 6.3.1.1.1.1
              7 November 2016 at 11:23 am

              “I like to call keys term in power a social experiment, “how bad can things get before a population will rise and blood will be shed.”? experiment

              it’s damn interesting for a social experiment and i’m sure it will reach it’s conclusion within the next three years. If national retain power.”

              A government that polls so highly, with most of the population agreeing that the country is heading in the right direction – its hardly material for an uprising is it.

              • Richard Rawshark …
                7 November 2016 at 12:36 pm

                No Nationals low polling would suggest otherwise.

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  7 November 2016 at 12:51 pm

                  Nationals low polling?!?!?!

                  • Richard Rawshark …
                    7 November 2016 at 12:57 pm

                    Yeah you know from 100% cult like adoration of the masses, to what less than half the population.., what’s your miserable polling these days again..? you in double digits yet?

                    you poor thing.

                    keeps sliding like that, you’ll be all at the soup kitchen.

                  • Richard Rawshark …
                    7 November 2016 at 12:59 pm

                    I was just reading a poll saying Nationals at 31% you must have really taken a hit lately, perhaps the last poll was taken before the fiasco’s of the last two weeks

                    That is a shocker 48% to 31% wow

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      7 November 2016 at 1:07 pm

                      I don’t normally do this but can you please link to this poll please

                    • Richard Rawshark …
                      7 November 2016 at 1:25 pm

                      Andrew Little

                      “We’ve taken the information we know about these programmes from here and overseas based on evidence.
                      “We’ve looked at the cost now and we’ve taken into account all costs, the extra tax that would come from it as well. The figure of $60 million per year is accurate, I stand by it, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

                      Key and the right trying to insinuate labour did the sums wrong,

                      Myself and someone else here quickly rounded out the sums in seconds and that fell pretty much bang on labours costing.

                      John key is the biggest fucking liar I have ever heard.
                      without exception. He play’s on negativity, bad mouthing and is a complete disgrace.

                      Give him a microphone and the lies never stop.

                      The public who back this fuck are without doubt disgusting too.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      7 November 2016 at 1:34 pm

                      Do you have a link to the poll?

                    • Richard Rawshark …
                      7 November 2016 at 1:59 pm

                      I made it up.. I wanted to see how you would react..,

                      somethings strange about you PR, you seem rather transfixed on polls.., over and above a normal outlook, in that, you keep referencing them.

                      This is more out of concern for you and my worry on how you would take a real drop if it occurred.

                      Do not rely on something that much, to prove something you wish too, how do I say this, it can lead to really bad feelings of disappointment and depression I know this because I am bi-polar and it happens to me.

                      I am concerned about the way your behaving and fixating at present on a poll result..

                      Are you ok.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      7 November 2016 at 2:15 pm

                      I do reference polls, normally Kiwiblogs poll of polls because otherwise we have to rely on people saying theres going to be a change of government because:

                      someone at work that normally votes for the party I don’t support is now going to vote for the party I do support

                      everyone I speak to says they’re voting for the party I support

                      a change is in the air

                      But as for how accurate the polls are:

                      http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2015/03/how_the_polls_did_last_year.html

                      also

                      http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/09/how_the_pollsters_did-2.html

                      So that’s why I reference polls

        • Richard Rawshark 6.3.1.2
          7 November 2016 at 10:40 am

          It’s a shit hole for me.., best in world not even close, in many, many aspects..

          Some of the places that are the best in the world don’t even have a phone. Fisi, your perceptions are wealth perceptions, I get the feeling your very well off.

          I suppose 100% pure will be your next gloat.

          • james 6.3.1.2.1
            7 November 2016 at 11:24 am

            “It’s a shit hole for me” – well you did say you live in Tokoroa – (joke!!!!).

            Honestly – get out and see some more of the country. Whilst it may have some problems (everywhere does) – it really is a fantastic country – and we are blessed to live here.

            • Siobhan 6.3.1.2.1.1
              7 November 2016 at 1:41 pm

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheumatic_fever#/media/File:Rheumatic_heart_disease_world_map-Deaths_per_million_persons-WHO2012.svg

              Fantastic. It’s just one ‘little’ thing (unless your one of the 200 people who die prematurely each year from heart complications.) but it is like the canary in the mine shaft.
              And, incidentally, not a problem you find in other developed countries, because it is, in fact, an easily treatable/preventable disease of poverty.

              There’s a thought…maybe they should include general Health Statistics of previous residents in rental properties ‘Warrants of Fitness’. Just a record of diseases caused by poor quality houses, mold, cold and what-not.

            • Stuart Munro 6.3.1.2.1.2
              7 November 2016 at 1:52 pm

              RR won’t see much country on his travel budget.

              The Gnats – curse their worthless hides – are not responsible for our climate. In fact its about the only thing they haven’t completely fucked up – and it’s not for want of trying either.

            • Richard Rawshark 6.3.1.2.1.3
              7 November 2016 at 3:01 pm

              WHere I live, has something to do with my outlook on the way NZ is being governed and therefore my perception of how good the nation is doing.., down to Tokoroa.

              I can see how easy it is now for National to have such a fan base.

              There supporters are actually dumb as fuckery.
              They believe everything there party tells them without question
              They believe those with differing opinions must be oppressed.

              grrrr

          • Red 6.3.1.2.2
            7 November 2016 at 12:15 pm

            suggest a little more positivity, and looking for the good things albeit how small and not winding yourself up on this site daily may help

            • Richard Rawshark 6.3.1.2.2.1
              7 November 2016 at 12:35 pm

              I’ll be positive the day I see Key inc & Co departing the beehive.

              and very positive if it’s in a paddy wagon heading for jail.

              Till then I shall play exposing the national party’s lies.

              thanks for your suggestion but no thanks, i’m trying to pack in listening to RW trolls.

        • Cinny 6.3.1.3
          7 November 2016 at 11:06 am

          Fisi, i’m not being negative I’m being realistic about the information you decided to post.

          What makes my life incredible is my children and the environment I’ve created for them. But when education, health, safety/security and our natural environment are put at risk, then I do worry about what the future holds for all of us.

          Lucky for them they have me for a mum, all the kids come to our place, it’s safe here. That’s because of how I am and has NOTHING to do with the government. I’m the one that creates the safe environment. However my taxes pay for education, health, environmental care and safety/security (police etc). Unfortunately the outgoing government appear to be rather useless at managing what they do with our tax dollars.

          Meanwhile the education system continues to fail so many, the health system as well. There are so many many elderly people suffering after working hard and paying taxes all their lives. They can’t even find a place to live.
          http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/86104329/nelson-rental-shortage-a-huge-issue-for-evicted-retirement-village-residents

          Perception depends on how one looks at a situation, I am looking for improvement, and to do that one needs to discover what is wrong and change it.

          What would you do to improve our rankings for education, health, environment, safety/security?

          • Bob 6.3.1.3.1
            7 November 2016 at 11:19 am

            “Meanwhile the education system continues to fail so many, the health system as well”
            True, but you do realise we are ranked 15th and 12th in these aspects out of 149 countries measured don’t you?
            I agree that we should be, and have been better, but why can’t people just stop and be thankful for the country we live in for 5 minutes before lifting their blood pressure about only just scraping into the top 10% in the world for education and health, ignoring the fact we are rated best in the world overall.

            (yes, I am aware we missed the top 10% for education by 0.07%, but you get my point)

            • Draco T Bastard 6.3.1.3.1.1
              7 November 2016 at 11:31 am

              Why do you RWNJs always try to hide the grief that your policies bring about by saying how great it is for the rich and then get upset when it’s pointed out that it’s not so great for everyone else?

              • Puckish Rogue …
                7 November 2016 at 11:45 am

                I think (and its only my opinion, I don’t speak for the National party…or do I) that part of it is because NZ is going mostly well, not well for everyone and there are some issues to be sorted of course but for the most part NZ is going well

                *Warning* Generalisations ahead

                So those on the right spectrum go “this is going well for the majority so its great” and, of course, those on the right want National to be re-elected

                Those on the left see it a bit differently, to them the majority aren’t doing so well so until everyone is doing well then the government is failing and, of course, the left want Labour/Green in power

                So the right see the Left as overly negative and the Left see the Right as failing everybody

                • Richard Rawshark …
                  7 November 2016 at 12:08 pm

                  I agree with that PR, it is part of it, perceptions .. optimists, pessimists.

                  A good government is fair to ALL it’s citizens, it doesn’t follow a now failed social welfare experiment from the UK, that currently is in deep deep doodah.

                  It’s these things you judge a good government on. Last labour GV was fair.

                  Under National, inequality has skyrocketed, when you have skyrocketing inequality, to you and those it’s rocketing for, things will look so much more advantageous, to those, suffering at the other end of widening inequality, things get soooo bad, you can’t perceive there suffering.

                  The gap, now, is that wide. In that your ability to admit and recognize that proves it.

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    7 November 2016 at 1:02 pm

                    I would suggest to the left its not as bad as they think it is and that the Right need to understand not everyones doing ok

                    • Cinny …
                      7 November 2016 at 2:26 pm

                      It’s the difference between the ‘me, me, me’ mentality and the ‘us’ way of thinking.

                      I v’s WE? That’s the difference between ‘I’llness and ‘WE’llness

                      Me is just one mind, We is many. The possibilities of many minds are far more infinite than the possibilities of just one mind/way of thinking.

                      Often those with less give more, because they see the “we” happiness is found more through ‘we’ than through ‘me’.

                      Many kiwi’s said they felt they could rely on family and friends in times of need, because a families needs is about ‘we’ and not just ‘me’.

                      Wisdom would be to expand that way of thinking, a community is ‘we’ take all the ‘me’s’ away and humanity vanishes.

                      Right wing is very ‘me, me, me’ because they tend to place such a priority on monetary wealth, they have to learn that not everyone else thirsts for money, many have evolved beyond their own personal greed.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      7 November 2016 at 2:42 pm

                      Keep believing that if it makes you happy

                    • Cinny …
                      7 November 2016 at 2:53 pm

                      Nah PR, it’s not about what makes me happy, it’s about what makes everyone happy. Maybe that’s why you are missing the point.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      7 November 2016 at 3:38 pm

                      People mostly are happy though and that’s what you and the rest of the left fail to see

                    • Richard Rawshark …
                      7 November 2016 at 3:42 pm

                      What the left do see, is your constant national will win comments. I tire of this.., it’s childish.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      7 November 2016 at 3:59 pm

                      I’m sorry you feel that way

              • Bob …
                7 November 2016 at 5:11 pm

                “Why do you RWNJs always try to hide the grief that your policies bring about by saying how great it is for the rich”
                I have never drafted any policy, so how could my policy cause grief?
                Also, when have I ever said any policy is “great for the rich”?

                “then get upset when it’s pointed out that it’s not so great for everyone else?”
                Um, did you read this report? It is pointing out that things are great for most people in this country.
                The only thing you hate about this report is the fact National is running the country when it came out. If you weren’t so blinded by hatred of John Key you might actually reflect on the fact that we do in fact live in one of the best countries in the world, but we still need to work harder in a few areas. Instead, you go off in tangents ranting about RWNJ’s and “the rich”. I am just glad I can walk away from this site and enjoy the country I live in, and not be a pent up ball of rage constantly like you seem to be.

                Have a great week, and try to stop and smell the roses once in a while.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  7 November 2016 at 5:46 pm

                  I have never drafted any policy, so how could my policy cause grief?

                  The policies that you support. Ones that have failed since the beginning of time.

                  The ones that National put in place.

                  Also, when have I ever said any policy is “great for the rich”?

                  Of course you haven’t. You just parrot the National spin that the economy’s doing well but when we dig down into those figures it’s only the rich doing well.

                  Um, did you read this report? It is pointing out that things are great for most people in this country.

                  Which is rather strange considering that most people are going backwards. Yes, having massively increased house value is going backwards because most people wouldn’t be able to sell and then buy it again. They’d have to downgrade.

                  If you weren’t so blinded by hatred of John Key

                  I don’t have any hatred for Key or, in fact, anybody. What I do is recognise the fact that he’s a psychopath and so’s the National Party and the policies that they put in place will destroy our country.

            • Stuart Munro 6.3.1.3.1.2
              7 November 2016 at 1:48 pm

              PISA rankings are no substitute for a jobs – and never were.

            • Cinny 6.3.1.3.1.3
              7 November 2016 at 2:39 pm

              Hiya’s Bob, my blood pressure has always been very low, so no worries there for me.

              Education 2015 = ‘6’ and in 2016 = ’15’ We’ve fallen by nine places in a year, that’s nothing to be proud of.

        • NZJester 6.3.1.4
          7 November 2016 at 11:27 am

          At one point this was a very nice country until the greedy right wing started sucking all the money out of our economy moving the tax burden off of the rich and onto the poor. There are better countries to live in that have better education and employment opportunities for their citizens. Slowly though the greedy rich will eventually get their hands on those countries also and suck up all the money from their economy causing education to no longer be free and unemployment to rise just like they did in New Zealand.

        • Draco T Bastard 6.3.1.5
          7 November 2016 at 11:27 am

          No, I wouldn’t agree that this is the best country to be in especially with this psychopathic government in power. And even if I did there’d still be aspects to improve such as homelessness, increasing poverty, declining education and health services.

          I do like the way you try to trip people into agreeing with you by using leading questions though. Another example of your deceitfulness.

        • Stuart Munro 6.3.1.6
          7 November 2016 at 1:44 pm

          NZ is a lovely country – but it is among the world’s worst governed – hence declining productivity, record suicide, poverty and homelessness rates. We have a government so inferior it thinks screwing the stats is an acceptable substitute for performance.

    • Adrian Thornton 6.4
      7 November 2016 at 10:30 am

      @fisiani, I like it that your source for this pointless stat is Legatum, based in Dubai.
      I mean these guys are so deluded that they fund a anti slavery project from their base
      in United Arab Emirates
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates

      Just like nearly all free market ideologues, completely devoid of any sense of real human reality except their own class.

      BTW it is pretty easy to bag this or any government that allows it’s citizens to go blind waiting for hospital appointments, allows it’s most vulnerable citizens to live on the street or in cars through a lack of social safety nets/unaffordable housing., underfunded mental heath, police, social welfare..etc etc…yet somehow this same government presents us with a budget surplus,do you really believe that is good governance? To me it is an insult.

      • Richard Rawshark 6.4.1
        7 November 2016 at 10:42 am

        nice.. AT very well put indeed.

        I concur.

      • Puckish Rogue 6.4.2
        7 November 2016 at 11:37 am

        Ok so you dimiss the findings because its Legatum and that’s fair enough but enough of these of the good, positive messages come through the media (and theres plenty to choose from) and that message is going to be reinforced into peoples minds

        • fisiani 6.4.2.1
          7 November 2016 at 1:18 pm

          All the great news and opinion about New Zealand is dismissed by the zealots above as they seek to find the few pimples on the otherwise unblemished face. They have no pride in this country. They are not proud to be a Kiwi. No wonder their opinion is in the minority.

          • Stuart Munro 6.4.2.1.1
            7 November 2016 at 1:47 pm

            Proud of my country – ashamed of my government – and the vile trolls who shill for it.

        • Stuart Munro 6.4.2.2
          7 November 2016 at 1:46 pm

          And you are unconcerned by the truth value of these positive statements because, like all paid far-right trolls, you’re happy with non-performing governments.

          • Puckish Rogue 6.4.2.2.1
            7 November 2016 at 2:27 pm

            Not really, from my pov my experience with life in NZ mirrors that of all the good things that’s happening

            I’m sorry that my life isn’t bad enough for you

            • Stuart Munro 6.4.2.2.1.1
              7 November 2016 at 11:23 pm

              We don’t want you to be unhappy PR – we want you to be elsewhere.

              Sacrifice New Zealanders to the dark gods of the markets on kiwiblog if you want applause – here your behaviour will always be considered in bad taste.

          • mauī 6.4.2.2.2
            7 November 2016 at 2:29 pm

            profitatrole.

          • fisiani 6.4.2.2.3
            7 November 2016 at 2:45 pm

            We have clearly the best performing government in NZ history. We have near full employment (just 4.9%) and real wages are outstripping inflation easily. Kiwis are no longer leaving in droves but are returning in droves.
            10 houses were completed today. Another 10 will tomorrow and the next day. (cue bleating on about affordable houses forgetting that the new occupants of these new houses have freed up cheaper houses all down a selling chain so that EVERY house that is built ultimately and obviously frees up an affordable one)
            There is no point in my listing the vast range of positive changes over the last 8 years because the blind will not accept the truth of our great progress.

            • Cinny 6.4.2.2.3.1
              7 November 2016 at 2:57 pm

              But we’ve slipped 9 points in education, so where is the progress there Fisi?

              Education after all is rather important, don’t you agree? Why do you think we have slipped 9 points in a year? How do we go about improving our education ranking in the LP stat’s?

              • fisiani …
                7 November 2016 at 3:01 pm

                Best way to improve education is obviously to give power to parents and less to the teacher unions. The unions clearly do not have the best interest of parents and children at heart. The role of teacher unions is just to protect teachers.

                • Cinny …
                  7 November 2016 at 4:57 pm

                  Looking after teachers would be a good start, out going government don’t appear to be doing so, lucky for the teachers they have a union that helps them. The role of the teachers union is to protect teachers, and the role of a teacher is to protect and teach children

                  Parents aren’t qualified to teach, so we need to look after our qualified teachers, we need to make sure they have a fantastic environment for teaching in. What makes a great school environment… smaller class sizes and school pools in an island nation, being paid on time, just for a start. Gosh Hekia can’t be too proud of her accomplishments if she has been given a push to leave.

                  I thought the outgoing government blamed parents for bad children, Fisi I’m confused, if parents are to blame for bad children then why would you endorse giving the power to the parents rather than the teachers?

        • One Two 6.4.2.3
          7 November 2016 at 7:19 pm

          The lying, misdirecting corporate media messages..

          The positivity ‘meme’ going around is a transparent attempt to deflect away from the disaster NZ is being turned into

          It’s a nonsense, and so are your comments…being a stooge is a very low rent vibe position indeed

  7. Richard Rawshark 7
    7 November 2016 at 9:46 am

    From my seat that was the most pathetic excuse of a comment I ever read, it reeked of desperation..like your so desperate for us to realize we are idiots, your spitting dribble..

    give it a rest son..

  8. NZJester 8
    7 November 2016 at 11:14 am

    Nice little video called “Is Goldman Sachs EVIL? ” on the TYT network.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWNqTVfrh6Q
    We need to get the money out of politics here in New Zealand as well. The National party has such a big anonymous donations fund that they have amassed by gaming the system so that some companies do not have to declare their donations funneled through things like cabinet club. Those big companies have a lot of influence here also as it is not illegal for them to donate in New Zealand. Most counties have laws against foreign donations to protect their systems from outside influence, but not here.
    I doubt the NZ$1500 limit on foreign donations has ever stopped those outside NZ donating larger sums through many of the easy ways to keep a donation anonymous to the public but let he people in the party know with a wink who it came from while claiming they don’t know.

    • Richard Rawshark 9.1
      7 November 2016 at 12:00 pm

      The very last line of that cracked me right up..

      They told Channel Ten’s The Project that their performance was so dismal a caddy said they’d brought shame on their families.

  10. adam 10
    7 November 2016 at 12:13 pm

    Angry yet?

  11. adam 11
    7 November 2016 at 12:21 pm

    What about yet?

  12. adam 12
    7 November 2016 at 12:25 pm

    How about now, when the police shot a journalist?

    • Richard Rawshark 12.1
      7 November 2016 at 12:50 pm

      My anger isn’t going to help them. So I refuse to on this, I cannot help them at all.

      I wish I could i’d be there, but I can’t and I have to focus on what I can change not what I can’t.

      Doesn’t mean my heart does not support them.

    • Siobhan 12.2
      7 November 2016 at 1:50 pm

      Mrs C. could probably earn herself a few more of “Bernie’ supporters by sounding even vaguely engaged with this issue, thereby ensuring she gets her 4 years in the White House.
      But she won’t.
      Because she is who she is, and no amount of wishful thinking is going to change that.

  13. Morrissey 13
    7 November 2016 at 12:35 pm

    “Here at Radio Sport we strive to uphold the HIGHEST standards of broadcasting.”
    These fools are full of crap, and they know it as well as the rest of us know it.
    Radio Sport, Monday 7 November 2016

    At 11:40 this morning I strayed briefly onto the world’s worst sports chat station, just in time to hear some guy who sounded like a teenager reading out their obligatory BSA notice….

    “Here at Radio Sport we strive to uphold the HIGHEST standards of broadcasting. However, if YOU feel we …..[blather continues for a little longer]“

    What made this little performance so extraordinarily funny was that it came during a show hosted by Martin “Moron” Devlin, who many think is the least informed, least expert sports commentator in the history of sports broadcasting. Just before the mandated announcement, Devlin had been talking to someone possibly even more egregious than him: Jamie McKay, who became infamous a generation ago by regularly unloading vicious tirades against Jonah Lomu (“lazy”, “lacking in intelligence”, “over-rated”) in the Southland Times.

    In mitigation of the young guy reading out the notice, he did seem to have his tongue firmly in his cheek as he intoned the canard; the absurdity of the message was underlined by his deliberately adenoidal delivery.

  14. Morrissey 14
    7 November 2016 at 12:43 pm

    They’re putting cowshit in our streams, and forcing
    us to drink like animals: Dirty Dairying will be our ruination.

    1.) Effluent from the cowshed of the Southland Federated Farmers boss has polluted a local stream….
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86114383/significant-effluent-spill-from-farm-owned-by-southland-fed-farmers-boss

    2.) Dairy farmers in Canterbury are poisoning the water supply in Mid-Canterbury….
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/86142049/mid-canterbury-town-to-use-treated-stock-water-as-drinking-water

  15. greywarshark 15
    7 November 2016 at 1:22 pm

    lprent
    Is there something obvious as to why my comments get held up in moderation for say an hour or more? By that time they may be as out of time as cold porridge?
    I haven’t been logging in is that it? I’m on a not updated Firefox broser.

    • weka 15.1
      7 November 2016 at 2:03 pm

      It happens periodically to people randomly, but yours does seem very consistent and it’s been going on for a long time. Your comments go straight to the pending tab and then have to be released manually (so the time will vary depending on who is around).

      If you have a login, try that. Updating your browser, using a different browser, dumping cookies, using a different internet access, or using a different device are all options to try while waiting for Lynn (I think he is aware of the problem, but is not around much at the moment).

      I’ve put a note in the back end.

      • greywarshark 15.1.1
        7 November 2016 at 2:50 pm

        Ta weka. I’ll bear all that in mind and try to work out something.

        • Richard Rawshark 15.1.1.1
          7 November 2016 at 3:05 pm

          weren’t you greyRAWshark.. did you by chance swap those letter accidentally, I had same prob but I had taken out the space between Richard and rawshark it stuffed up the standards log in?

          [lprent: It doesn’t stuff it up. The system just thinks that you are a different person. It then proceeds to treat you as if you are a brand-new commenter – ie a possible troll or spambot.

          The thing to remember is that computers aren’t intelligent. They don’t have recognition patterns that say “oh this is just richard stuffing up”. Instead they say “this is different” and then shift to a different set of rules. Which is why the default handling is to pass it to moderation for a

          The other thing to remember is that computers are far far better than handling repetitive tasks than humans are. If I had to read every damn comment to decide to accept it or otherwise, then this site would have been dumped long ago.

          The real problem is that humans aren’t consistent. So they manage to mistype things. Just don’t expect the machines (or me) to be sympathetic. Suck it up and learn to be more consistent – preferably by get a machine to do it for you. ]

          • greywarshark 15.1.1.1.1
            7 November 2016 at 6:41 pm

            Richard rawshark
            No I was greywarbler, then at the spying debacle by the police and govt against
            Nicky Hager and Rawshark there was a brief change of name by some commenters to incorporate rawshark in their name. I just changed my name to greywar-shark.

            And that is how I have kept it here – appropriate for the battles we face in NZ with our government and their sly undemocratic ways. I think my problem is a not updated browser.

            And don’t mind lprent he gets weary of the many stuff-ups we can cause and the calls on him because of the blog. It’s nearly all his creation and maintenance that keeps it going. Probably he wouldn’t mind a few more donations as he runs it on a lean budget.

            • Richard Rawshark 15.1.1.1.1.1
              7 November 2016 at 8:11 pm

              I’ll do what I can soon but my circumstances are dire, I had to say no to 3 dollars to labour the other day.. it’s hurting me unable to financially contribute more, but I do promise i’ll do something to support this site this year. Respect.

              • greywarshark …
                7 November 2016 at 9:52 pm

                Richard Rawshark
                Don’t get uptight about it. You will be well regarded fwhether you pay something or not if you are bringing new ideas and good arguments to the fore.

  16. The PInk Postman 16
    7 November 2016 at 2:26 pm

    I recommend “I Daniel Blake to all our Standard readers ,It should be compulsory viewing for all Work and Income staff and all the red-neck Tories should b compelled to watch it .\
    But to all our good caring Labour members its justifies our concerns.
    Go see!!

    • Morrissey 16.1
      7 November 2016 at 4:34 pm

      I recommend “I Daniel Blake to all our Standard readers ,It should be compulsory viewing for all Work and Income staff…

      I agree, Postman! I saw it last week and was extremely impressed.

      ….and all the red-neck Tories should b compelled to watch it .\

      Please don’t use the word “red-neck” when you mean “bigoted”. Daniel Blake in the movie is a redneck, as are most of the other good guys in it. “Redneck” is an American term for manual worker, and it should never be used as a term of abuse—especially when the most bigoted Tories are actually white collar types like John Banks and Don Brash, and “academics” like David Round.

      But to all our good caring Labour members its justifies our concerns.

      Sadly, our “good caring Labour members” oversaw a regime at Work and Income which was as deliberately, cruelly byzantine and discouraging as the system shown in the movie. Steve Maharey was an especially hardline and unsympathetic Minister of “Social Developing and Employment”, but he was by no means a one-off; Labour has had a shameful record, the very opposite of “good caring”, ever since the Lange-Douglas government set about systematically dismantling workers’ rights.

      Go see!!

      Indeed! In fact, I think I’ll go AGAIN.

      Meantime, here’s the director, Ken Loach, having a go at a Steve Maharey type…

  17. The PInk Postman 17
    7 November 2016 at 2:34 pm

    I certainly recommend the film “I Daniel Blake “to all our Standard readers.
    It should be compulsory viewing for all Work and Income workers and all redneck Tories should be compelled to watch it all the way through .
    However all decent caring Labour members i urge you to go and see,

  18. Richard Rawshark 18
    7 November 2016 at 3:41 pm

    I see they are going to have another go at the government for retrieval attempt at pike river.

    Brings me to an important question.. Will labour/Greens do it if National don’t?

  19. james 19
    7 November 2016 at 4:20 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11743758

    $300m to boost emergency housing.

    Nice work National.

    Now – Ill sit here and no doubt read what a bad thing this is because National are doing it.

    • Barfly 19.1
      7 November 2016 at 4:52 pm

      Create a fucking problem …then expect kudos for pretending to deal with said problem…..” so fucking National Party ” you really are a piece of shit James

      • Red 19.1.1
        7 November 2016 at 4:55 pm

        The genus of this problem started well before national barfly, think before you key board rant

      • james 19.1.2
        7 November 2016 at 6:38 pm

        Gee Barfly – such personal abuse, all for being happy for 300 million for emergency housing.

        Hope you have a nice evening.

    • Molly 19.2
      7 November 2016 at 5:00 pm

      No, not because they are doing it.

      But you understand it may be a bad thing because – as always – National will mismanage it (Christchurch rebuild anyone?), and they will also avoid doing any really effective policies because they are relying on inflated house prices to make the economy seem buoyant.

      NB: It must be strange to see the world through your eyes. Or should it be singular?

    • Cinny 19.3
      7 November 2016 at 5:04 pm

      Dude, $71 million will be in accommodation supplements, all this does is feed landlords with over priced rentals. Thanks outgoing PM for giving more tax dollars to the property investors. Dang.

      Okies so where are the new emergency houses? They are needed right now, they say the first beds will be available at the end of November, lets hope that happens, they sure are needed.

      Outgoing government are looking at buying motels and leasing motels. Sounds like a housing crisis to me. Buying and leasing motels does not create a building boom.

      I’m sorry James, but they say so much and do so little, it’s hard to believe anything from the outgoing government.

    • dv 19.4
      7 November 2016 at 5:17 pm

      That is $214,286 per place.

    • Richard Rawshark 19.5
      7 November 2016 at 6:37 pm

      ahh figures , been my day for figures.

      300,000,000 / 14000 = 21,428.57c per house..

      well james not sure I got that right seems a bit cheap can you explain that, and break nats policy down for me?

      • james 19.5.1
        7 November 2016 at 6:46 pm

        I wouldn’t back yourself on the figures Richie.

        So let me help break it down a bit for you as you requested.

        For starters – if you read it (you can read right) – where does it say 14,000 houses will be built?

        Hint – it dosnt – it says 1400 extra places. So you were out by a multiple of 10, and then you assumed that every place (being a place for a person), was indeed a house.

        So thats a reading and a mathematical fail from you. And to think thats what you call “your day for figures” – I cannot imagine on a day you are having trouble with them.

        • Richard Rawshark 19.5.1.1
          7 November 2016 at 6:55 pm

          ahh so you can count.. I was just checking, as you have been so dismal at it, then. duh duh duh da daaaa

          The money will fund 1400 places around the country, 600 in Auckland and the remaining 800 in high demand areas around the country.

          price me up those at that price. ain’t working.. JAMES.

          and what I was really fucked off with Bennett about, she turns in that, isn’t it all hilarious way of hers and blurts out it’s aspirational I know.. he he he

          fks sake, people living in cars having serious issues need to hear that fucking BS.

          think your wind up BS is done James find someone else to talk your state actor shit with.. fkn tools

          • james 19.5.1.1.1
            7 November 2016 at 7:04 pm

            “ahh so you can count.. I was just checking”

            Yeah – right !!!. You look like an idiot (yet again) – but going with the “I was just tricking” line is just pitiful.

            You asked me to break it down for you – and you got showed up like a idiot who cannot read or do math, but thought he was clever as fuck.

            Own it.

        • dv 19.5.1.2
          7 November 2016 at 6:55 pm

          Your right James, and that is That is $214,286 per place. for 1400 places.

  20. ropata 20
    7 November 2016 at 5:01 pm

    Phil Twyford calls out Andrea Vance’s latest hatchet job on Labour. I think the MSM do this deliberately to cause a ruckus

    .@avancenz Appalled by your biased story on @1NewsNZ last night. You were fully briefed on numbers but you chose to run Nat attack line.— Phil Twyford (@PhilTwyford) November 6, 2016

    If you wanted detail on cost assumptions you only needed to ask. Andrea's piece a lapse of professnl stds.@CTrevettNZH @avancenz @1NewsNZ— Phil Twyford (@PhilTwyford) November 6, 2016

    Public deserves better than bias and hatchet jobs as we enter election year. Sound assumptions on costs were explained to you. @avancenz— Phil Twyford (@PhilTwyford) November 6, 2016

    • Richard Rawshark 20.1
      7 November 2016 at 5:14 pm

      TY guys, I sent newshub the same..not this time guys..NOT this election.

      • ropata 20.1.1
        7 November 2016 at 6:04 pm

        Good. Vance’s replies were caustic, methinks she was feeling defensive when Twyford told her to jack up her ideas. The critic can’t handle a bit of criticism. Now trying to blame Labour for her own lack of research

        • BM 20.1.1.1
          7 November 2016 at 6:30 pm

          You can probably scrap any positive labour reporting from Andrea Vance from this point forwards

          Good political skills shown by Twyford 🙄

          • Richard Rawshark 20.1.1.1.1
            7 November 2016 at 6:31 pm

            Well no harm done then BM. Nothing changed.

            As for Vance.. we’ll see pal.

            • BM 20.1.1.1.1.1
              7 November 2016 at 6:43 pm

              Funny thing is, not that long ago she was rated very highly around here.
              Considered a top notch reporter not afraid to put the Nats feet to the fire etc, etc.

              Ok, Labour may feel a bit hard done by, but you’ve got to just take on the chin and try and be positive, really need to take a leaf from John Key book and try and laugh it off.

              Twyford getting all butt hurt,having a sulk and throwing around accusations of bias and hatchet jobs is not going to win you any friends in the media.

              What a dumb arse.

              • Richard Rawshark …
                7 November 2016 at 6:48 pm

                Negative, you would say that..

                PS dude it’s on brother, I told you the other day.., did you think I was joking..?

                1 year to go, elections started..

                you should polish your figures up.. hint

                300m for 14000 homes, do you know where 14,000 homes at 22k each are?

                that’s actually 21,426 dollars each

                • james …
                  7 November 2016 at 7:17 pm

                  ahh – you tricking us again……or just repeating shit?

                  Ooohh – I know this one. Your still wrong. See above for a simply explanation of why you should keep away from maths.

          • mauī 20.1.1.1.2
            7 November 2016 at 6:47 pm

            They’re not going to get much positive reporting anyway, not with the Husk, the Tamed, Chris “Raw” Christie, Coral Dammnn!, Max Bradford, P Willy, etc laying the blue foundation.

            • BM 20.1.1.1.2.1
              7 November 2016 at 6:55 pm

              I disagree you see a heap of negative stuff about National, it’s just your left wing bias shielding you from it.

    • Chuck 20.2
      7 November 2016 at 6:04 pm

      Phil Twyford admits Labour fucked up…

      “Probably the lesson is to make sure, if the focus is going to come down to how calculations are made we need to make sure we release that material at the same time.”

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11743712

      No kidding…Labour not expecting any focus on the calculations??

      And then goes further and contradicts Andrew Little assurance the number was correct.

      “What I would say is, whether the cost was $85m or $60m, we think this is a worthwhile investment…these people are not being looked after and supported.”

      • ropata 20.2.1
        7 November 2016 at 6:06 pm

        So the Gnats can blow billions without being pulled up.
        But when the MSM is too fucken thick to understand Labour’s (fully costed) policies then somehow its Labours fault. #FFS

        • Richard Rawshark 20.2.1.1
          7 November 2016 at 6:25 pm

          No the nats can’t count, the last laugh is on tv3 and key, and all the state actors who are FUBAR.

          when one just one of them can show there costing.., we can all stand back and laugh at them.. in fact the costing was so easy to verify, one wonders. Really wonders just why they survive government. It must be the amazing feet to change pens from red to a black one!

      • Richard Rawshark 20.2.2
        7 November 2016 at 6:21 pm

        YAWN, aty about 6.25 this morning we all found out, the costing was perfect. PERFECT.

        There’s even another post about it, Being PERFECT.

        tonight, over twelve hours later, Chucky post old news in some deranged glee episode.

        end of.

        Chucky stay here moaning about costing please.. it’ll keep you out of my way..

        • Chuck 20.2.2.1
          7 November 2016 at 7:59 pm

          Richard read Phil Twyford’s quote contained in the Herald link I posted above.

          He admits Labour did not think anyone would question the math. Which in this case was very important, as what Andy Little said did not compute with his price tag.

          Little said it was a 6 month program for each person…when in fact Labour did the numbers on only 4 months per person. Why he did not make that point clear is anyone’s guess…

          Basic stuff really. The damage has been done…

          • ropata 20.2.2.1.1
            7 November 2016 at 9:14 pm

            This is the MSM obsessing over a few $$$ for needy people when they never fucking question billions on motorways with negative ROC

            Double standards and dirty politics. Disgusting. Always a negative spin, instead of looking at the purpose of the policy — it’s to give young kiwis a leg up, in John Key’s NZ they are being screwed over. Why didn’t they report that angle?

            Is it because the MSM reporters are middle class wankers who
            a) don’t want to see poorer/young/brown people get ahead, or
            b) don’t want to pay a single cent more tax, or
            c) are a pack of irresponsible ambulance chasers, or
            d) are insecure because they are incompetent, so they toady to TPTB instead of DOING THEIR DAMN JOB
            ?

    • Cinny 21.1
      7 November 2016 at 5:16 pm

      NO WAYS… YES WAYS… DANG THAT SHOULD ALWAYS HAPPEN.. and just did. Lovely day isn’t it? I wonder if he will try standing for parliament again, oh that’s right he’s already tried it and lost.

      • Richard Rawshark 21.1.1
        7 November 2016 at 5:21 pm

        It’s only a lovely day because you invented “Outgoing PM” and bottled it this morning.

        Now it’s got me absolutely glowing..

        can we also hint he tries Aussie again..

        • Cinny 21.1.1.1
          7 November 2016 at 6:32 pm

          Give him to the USA, I ear he likes it there, far far away in never never land where Agent Orange is about to be King. Lololololz. Nah that’s too harsh even for the USA.

          • Richard Rawshark 21.1.1.1.1
            7 November 2016 at 6:42 pm

            you can see Henry doing an interview with trump, Henry going on about titties, trump explaining the art of the pussy grab..

            gawd, what a thought… Henry and Trump together, sexist elite’s

  22. weka 22
    7 November 2016 at 11:19 pm

    [In order to keep Open Mike and Daily Review free for other conversations, please put all comments, link postings etc about the US election under the dedicated US Election Discussion Post here.- weka]