Open mike 08/04/2015

90 comments on “Open mike 08/04/2015 ”

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1. Tracey 1

   8 April 2015 at 7:19 am

   Won’t watch TV3 Brekkie show cos of Henry.

   Partner wanted to watch news at 6am, so reluctantly went to TV1

   Rawdon being a superior kind of person with two women giggling at his utterings. Is it always like that? Even my partner said let’s go to SKY weather so I don’t have to keep watching this. It is actually really sad seeing women demean themselves to a position of second fiddle and giggles.

   John Key heading off criticism that we are not so rosy with a high dollar by saying, we have diversified so not as reliant on Aussie and China. I am afraid if you look at the stats over the last 6 years we are still heavily reliant on Aussie and China.
   • Gosman 1.1

     8 April 2015 at 7:28 am

     Note he stated not so reliant. There is still a large risk but the nation has been moving towards a more diversified export destination. However short of government dictating who exporters sell to there isn’t much more that could be done.
     • Tracey 1.1.1

       8 April 2015 at 7:40 am

       Note that I stated he said not so reliant.

       Note the impression he was giving was false, namely that we are not substantially reliant on tohse two markets and so their decline is not likely to impact us

       And you can pretend that isn’t the impression he was giving but he was, and it is why he remains so popular. He is past master at making kiwis feel comfortable and inert.

       If there is nothing to be done does that mean a govt cannot take claim or blame from it because the dollar is largely externally driven.
       • Gosman 1.1.1.1

         8 April 2015 at 10:16 am

         Wow! You have discovered politicians present information in a way that is favourable to them. Congrats /sar.

         If ypu have a problem with John Key’s spin there was an interesting interview with Bill English on Morning Report today where he acknowledged both the negative and positive aspects of a higher exchange rate. Perhaps you should select your media options more wisely.
         • Tracey 1.1.1.1.1

           8 April 2015 at 11:43 am

           No, I have known since 2007 that John Key lies and manipulates.

           FOG
   • ScottGN 1.2

     8 April 2015 at 7:40 am

     When I moved south to Queenstown five and a half years ago Tracey I got rid of the telly. You couldn’t get the free to air channels because of topographical interference and I didn’t want to pay for Sky. I found I didn’t miss it at all really, happily managing with National Radio and the Concert Programme and watching whatever I wanted on the computer. When we went digital a couple of years ago I got a Freeview box and duly trundled off to Noel Leeming and bought a snazzy flat screen tv. It sits in the corner of my sitting room beaming out National Radio and the Concert Programme and whatever I want from the computer via apple tv. The only thing I’ve watched on it in months is the Cricket semi final and final. I doubt I’ll ever watch TVNZ and TV3 again.
     • Tracey 1.2.1

       8 April 2015 at 7:42 am

       I hear you Scott. On the occassions I am lucky enough to travel I don’t watch tv at all, and my life is the better fo rit. I am a bit of a sports nut so keep it for that…

       Now I am pleased to have access to al jazeera.
       • Kevin 1.2.1.1

         8 April 2015 at 8:09 am

         Apart from the occasional viewing of Campbell Live, my tv remains as my link to cycle races around the world. And long may that continue 🙂
       • Philip Ferguson 1.2.1.2

         8 April 2015 at 8:19 am

         Al Jazeera certainly points up just how poorly served we are by “news” programmes from TV1 and TV3.

         Phil
         • Rosie 1.2.1.2.1

           8 April 2015 at 9:26 am

           Agree re Al Jazeera Philip
           • Philip Ferguson 1.2.1.2.1.1

             8 April 2015 at 11:57 am

             A couple of years ago I spent a few days staying at a mate’s cabin in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It was a chilly autumn and I spent the days wrapped up watching TV. It was the first time I had systematically watched Al-Jazeera and I also watched Press TV (Russian?). I couldn’t believe how superior they were to the crap served up here. Press TV was great on anything apart from Russian domestic politics but, even there, they weren’t simply slavish about Putin.

             I think TV1 is worse than TV3. One benefit about TV3 being in private and largely overseas hands is that it has less of a vested interested in serving the requirements of the government in power in Wellington, whereas TV1 is much more slavish.

             However, the general level of both is pretty shocking compared to anything other than Fox News. I’d be embarrassed to be associated with TV1 in particular. So much dross and so little substance.

             The fact that they’ve brought back a buffoon like Paul Henry says it all. (Although he seems to be a little less right-wing these days than he used to be.) As does the presence of Mike Hoskings on that 7pm thing on TV1.

             John Campbell can be an awful ass-kisser – I still recall with embarrassment his fawning over the Pike River head who turned out to be partly responsible for the deaths of 29 mine workers! – but imagine you’re the TV1 bosses – do you seriously imagine the way to compete with ‘Campbell Live’ is to put Mike Hoskings up against Campbell in the 7pm slot. It’s almost like the TV1 bosses are a fifth column, employed secretly by TV3!

             And the way TV1 bosses show complete disregard for the public (especially the older and woring class public) by continually mucking around with the ‘Coronation Street’ time slot in order to destroy its ratings (presumably, so they can then take it off) is a total frigging disgrace.

             Phil
       • Rosie 1.2.1.3

         8 April 2015 at 9:24 am

         Yep.

         Our TV is just used to view Al Jazeera, TV3 news for a laugh, Campbell Live and any BBC Simon Reeves shows on Choice tv on freeview. (Last night he was in Cuba looking at their changing regime but has focused quite a bit on climate change in his other shows) There’s 7 days on Friday night which can swing between absolutely cringey and actually funny. The “Yes Minister” section is always worth a laugh.

         The other thing we do is download shows like Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe and Dara O Briain’s Mock the Week, Borgen and comedy and plug the usb into the telly. Much more comfy watching from the couch than on a computer screen.

         When there’s poor quality brain numbing stuff filling the screen, like competitive cooking, competitive house building, competitive dating and competitive singing you have to rely on the interwebs for information and entertainment.
         • TheContrarian 1.2.1.3.1

           8 April 2015 at 11:26 am

           The only “TV” I watch (by which I mean broadcast NZ TV) is One News at 6 and only because it provides the background ambiance to the “back from work, cooking dinner and playing with my daughter.”

           The actual TV I watch is GoT, House of Cards, Breaking Bad etc etc which is online. My TV is used primarily for movies and PlayStation
         • Paul 1.2.1.3.2

           8 April 2015 at 1:44 pm

           The Trews is good too
     • weka 1.2.2

       8 April 2015 at 9:11 am

       Nice story Scott. I don’t have a tv either. If I did have one I’d probably watch Coro, and events like the election coverage, and some of the Campbell/6 o’clock news coverage when something specific was happening (often to see how the MSM are covering it as much as anything). I rely on twitter and ts now to let me know what is going on and then go further online if I want more detail.
   • halfcrown 1.3

     8 April 2015 at 9:41 am

     There’s been some very good replies to you comments Tracey, and I agree with the majority of them, I also have been made aware of some other sites that need a visit by me.
     One station I do watch is RT. Have to take it with a pinch of salt at times but I find the discussions on Cross Talk are excellent. At least you do get different points of view, Also as I said the other day I get a lot of news from The Standard. There are some brave souls on here that go and look on sites like the Herald, and inform us of the bullshit written by the likes of Armstrong.
2. b waghorn 2

   8 April 2015 at 7:40 am

   @ ipent the edit function was showing on gosmans comment above .
   I did try to edit it just to see if it would and it wouldn’t allow it .
3. Philip Ferguson 3

   8 April 2015 at 8:14 am

   It looks as if, on May 22, the south of Ireland will be the first country on the world in which has voted for gay marriage.

   On that a referendum is to be held on same-sex marriages and all the polls indicate a big victory for gay marriage. In what was once Holy, Catholic Ireland polls indicate 70-80 percent support for gay marriage.

   While I doubt the vote will be as high as 80%, because the Catholic Church will turn out its lay organisations and have its priests sermonising in the pulpits up until May 22, I think a big win is on the agenda.

   All the parliamentary parties, including the most viciously anti-working class ones, favour gay marriage. And southern Irish society has changed dramatically in the past 20-25 years.

   For a look at the referendum and societal changes see, Irish society and politics and the referendum on gay marriage: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/irish-society-and-politics-and-the-referendum-on-gay-marriage/
4. Jones 4

   8 April 2015 at 8:21 am

   A good Russell Brand rant to start the morning with, on the limits to growth and capitalism at the This Changes Everything gathering in the UK last month…

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjCb_0MOcgI
   • ianmac 4.1

     8 April 2015 at 8:43 am

     “Capitalism and Conservation are diametrically opposed.”
     So true Russell. And in NZ Nick Smith is working hard to make sure Capitalism triumphs over Conservation by changing the RMA. Whoa there Nick!
5. Paul 5

   8 April 2015 at 9:13 am

   Great cartoon by Emmerson today about watching Paul Henry.
   A brain removal necessary.
6. Pasupial 6

   8 April 2015 at 9:33 am

   4 days remaining until the scheduled return of the Rawshark 2.
   • Chooky 6.1

     8 April 2015 at 9:45 am

     +100 Parsupial
   • Tracey 6.2

     8 April 2015 at 11:45 am

     Isn’t CV back posting?
     • Pasupial 6.2.1

       8 April 2015 at 2:23 pm

       He hasn’t written under the Colonial Viper tag since February, and even then it seems to have been a lapse from the; Rawshark variant name, that many adopted at the time of the Hagar raid (including myself now that I think of it; but got distracted by meatworld life, and since I came back I’ve been using the older pseudonym). Colonial Rawshark did indeed make a comment last night:

       http://thestandard.org.nz/dollar-parity/#comment-996788

       When I checked my facebook account there was a message dated a couple of days ago saying he was ok with us ending the vigil (I dislike FB, so hadn’t checked since the weekend). So that just leaves it up to; phillip ure.
       • Tracey 6.2.1.1

         8 April 2015 at 2:28 pm

         So you knew who I meant then?
7. Coffee Connoisseur 7

   8 April 2015 at 9:46 am

   How would you feel about a 21 hour working week.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=580VyI6hFmo#t=90
   • infused 7.1

     8 April 2015 at 10:29 am

     Pretty sure France answers your question.
     • Philip Ferguson 7.1.1

       8 April 2015 at 12:05 pm

       Capitalism and the tyranny of time: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/capitalism-and-the-tyranny-of-time/

       Whatever happened to the leisure society: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/whatever-happened-to-the-leisure-society/

       Whoopee, we’re all gonna die. . . working: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/whooppee-were-all-gonna-die-working/

       Phil
8. infused 8

   8 April 2015 at 10:28 am

   Everyone complains about Paul Henry. Yet I bet everyone’s watching it.

   Saw part of this morning. Not too bad. More suited to radio I think. Good microphones. Need to get one of them.
   • weka 8.1

     8 April 2015 at 10:38 am

     “Everyone complains about Paul Henry. Yet I bet everyone’s watching it.”

     So people keep saying, and yet here we are, many of us, that are not watching him. Capiche?
     • Ffloyd 8.1.1

       8 April 2015 at 12:27 pm

       We made a point of only watching JC last night. Gone off Hilary Barry as well. What on earth was she thinking!?. TV1 news was ok until MHosking appeared at the end. I cannot believe that NZ is inflicted for three hours daily by that idiot that’s been kicked out of every village he’s been in. Insult to all New Zealanders.
       • Tracey 8.1.1.1

         8 April 2015 at 1:23 pm

         and hosking is on radio too… Has anyone ever seen Henry and Hosking in the same roo together? And if they did, was it a circus sized tent, with just them and their egoes in it?
     • Rodel 8.1.2

       8 April 2015 at 7:36 pm

       Weka-No he doesn’t capiche and probably never will. Don’t lose any sleepover it.
       I know about a dozen who would rather eat wetas than watch PH.
   • Rosie 8.2

     8 April 2015 at 10:43 am

     No infused, I’m not watching Paul Henry. Why would I want to watch that racist, sexist gobshite?
     • marty mars 8.2.1

       8 April 2015 at 4:51 pm

       + 1 Exactly!!!
   • Tracey 8.3

     8 April 2015 at 11:46 am

     “I bet everyone’s watching it”

     You lost, lucky you didnt have the courage to actually bet.
   • felix 8.4

     8 April 2015 at 1:14 pm

     Nah, not me either.

     Never found that blowhard entertaining, regardless of his political barrow.

     What are the mics though infused? Ribbons?
   • Paul 8.5

     8 April 2015 at 1:41 pm

     No I don’t watch or listen to him.
     This Emmerson cartoon is perfect.

     http://www.nzherald.co.nz/news-cartoons/news/article.cfm?c_id=500814&objectid=11429096
     • Rodel 8.5.1

       8 April 2015 at 7:41 pm

       Paul- Priceless Emerson- Thanls
   • tc 8.6

     8 April 2015 at 3:16 pm

     not watched it but from a shot in the newspaper the mic’s looks like neumann’s so prepare to part with a few $k each but you’ll not be dissapointed.

     Or could be mocked up neumanns with shure’s or something else inside doing the actual work….overkill at it’s just Talking heads TV not a concerto performance etc.
   • Rawsharkosaurus 8.7

     8 April 2015 at 6:00 pm

     “Yet I bet everyone’s watching it.”

     Go see Fizzy then, s/he might still be spruiking his/her favourite Internet gambling site.
9. Puckish Rogue 9

   8 April 2015 at 10:48 am

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503451&objectid=11428814

   Once again Bob Jones (votes Labour more then he votes National) has come up with the solution

   National seem a bit stupid about this so heres an opportunity for Little but will he take it…
   • b waghorn 9.1

     8 April 2015 at 11:02 am

     It’s a good idea especially if every time the government sold a house they built a new one.
     • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1

       8 April 2015 at 11:18 am

       Heres a bombshell, if Little announced this (or something basically the same) I’d probably end up voting Labour

       This is probably the cheapest, easiest to understand, simplest to implement idea that would lift more kiwis out of renting into home ownership and is something that would have broad support over the entire political spectrum
       • b waghorn 9.1.1.1

         8 April 2015 at 11:40 am

         The only problem is how to make it affordable to the average hnz tenant and how to stop some of them selling up at a future date and ending up back on a waiting list.
         • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.1.1

           8 April 2015 at 11:53 am

           Thats the big question isn’t it, Littles full of hot air over small businesses but heres a good chance to show what Labour can do
       • Skinny 9.1.1.2

         8 April 2015 at 12:05 pm

         Expect Little/ Labour to announce something along these lines tomorrow at their Housing forum in Auckland. Of course National will be cursing having to consider such an idea, their property speculator mates want the thick end of the wedge not the skinny end.

         Given Jones is good mates with Mallard why the fuck hasn’t Trev pushed this through to the policy team.
         • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.2.1

           8 April 2015 at 1:09 pm

           The only party more dysfunctional than National would be Labour or is it more likely that Labour (like National) is out of touch with what NZ wants?
   • Tracey 9.2

     8 April 2015 at 11:47 am

     what does that mean “votes Labour more than National”?
     • Puckish Rogue 9.2.1

       8 April 2015 at 11:50 am

       He votes Labour more often then he votes National which is interesting dont you think
       • Skinny 9.2.1.1

         8 April 2015 at 12:16 pm

         That’s because property tycoons like Jones do far better under a Labour Government than a Tory outfit. A lot of blue ribbon Aucklanders are very annoyed the foreign invasion of rich are picking the cream out of Auckland and beach property.

         I actually heard a Key cheerleader, a bigger cheerleader than Fissy ( actually not quite) speaking fondly of Peters in this regards, when I asked but would you vote for him? Answer absolutely if Key doesn’t cut foreign ownership. So there ya go the love affair is over.
         • Puckish Rogue 9.2.1.1.1

           8 April 2015 at 1:06 pm

           I will never vote Winston (I just can’t) and thats the only major party I can confidently say that about however if some other party was to take on board some of his policies then who knows…
           • Tracey 9.2.1.1.1.1

             8 April 2015 at 1:27 pm

             Interestingly, when Herald (I think it was them) did that voting thing pre election where you looked at policy questions and it decided which party fit your needs), I know many who fit NZF but still voted for National. Also Nats and Labs were closer in percentages for many of them but NZF was best fit.
             • Puckish Rogue …

               8 April 2015 at 1:36 pm

               Its not the policies, its the man. I just can’t vote for him, when he leaves and someone else takes over (Shane Jones, Ron Mark maybe) maybe I can have a look at NZFirst.
               • Tracey …

                 8 April 2015 at 1:44 pm

                 I understand that.

                 It shows how important personality has become for voters, over policy. My post above suggests some vote against their own interests cos its Winston.
                 • Puckish Rogue …

                   8 April 2015 at 1:53 pm

                   I agree with you.

                   At the moment Winston is the darling of the left because hes sticking it John Key yet hes now the defacto leader of the opposition and no one on the left seem to realise it but once he starts dictating to Key and Little…

                   Or does anyone here think Winston will be dictated to by someone that can’t win an electorate seat?
                   • Tracey …

                     8 April 2015 at 2:15 pm

                     I vote based on policy and what I know about integrity of candidates likely to get in.
                   • Puckish Rogue …

                     8 April 2015 at 2:39 pm

                     Exactly its about the integrity and on that Winston fails, I simply cannot trust the man as everything he does is to ultimately benefit himself and any benefits to NZ are simply a happy coincidence
                   • Tracey …

                     8 April 2015 at 3:28 pm

                     Wow… when did you begin to dislike him?
                   • Puckish Rogue …

                     8 April 2015 at 3:34 pm

                     It just really bugs me that Winston can say anything he likes and no one in the media will try to call him on it, he hints about certain things and could use parliamentary priviledge to do so but won’t…but just enough insinuation to get the point across

                     Seriously people on here think John Key is teflon, Keys teflon is nothing compared to Winston

                     He got the winebox right and hes dined out on it ever since but racing interests, fishing interests…oh no we won’t mention that

                     No means No except when its yes of course

                     Grrr rant over

                     (I do admire his political skill though)
                   • TheContrarian …

                     8 April 2015 at 7:53 pm

                     “Seriously people on here think John Key is teflon, Keys teflon is nothing compared to Winston”

                     Interesting. I wonder how long a Blip list would be on Winston.
               • felix …

                 8 April 2015 at 8:22 pm

                 So you won’t vote for Winston because integrity and fishing interests, but Shane Jones might be your guy.

                 It’s because of shite like this, PR Hack, that no-one should ever take anything you write here seriously at all.
             • ianmac …

               8 April 2015 at 3:16 pm

               A couple of elections ago there was an online “quiz” the result of which would indicate which party suited.
               I answered every question with the very opposite of what I believed in. The result was that apparently NZF would be best for me. Aha!
               • Tracey …

                 8 April 2015 at 3:28 pm

                 hehehehehe
               • Puckish Rogue …

                 8 April 2015 at 3:37 pm

                 I did one of those…got United Future
                 • felix …

                   8 April 2015 at 8:17 pm

                   Seems accurate. You’re vacuous, petty, transparently selfish and generally lacking character.
               • b waghorn …

                 8 April 2015 at 3:41 pm

                 The wife who is a died in the wool green voter gets act on vote compass it gives me hours of entertainment
           • Skinny 9.2.1.1.1.2

             8 April 2015 at 1:29 pm

             NZF are in a good head space after the forgotten regional/rural win in Northland. Expect Peters NZF to mop up plenty more votes there.

             For National it is a now a problematic issue trying to win back rural support. The increasing slide in milk powder prices won’t be helping. Add the wary eyes of the public and other political party’s to pork barrel politics and winning back the vote look a tough ask.

             The big city’s will probably keep them in the game especially Auckland, however as explained the traditional Auckland blue ribbon voters are feeling aggrieved by foreigners buying our cream land pickings is the worry. I will add the big block land owners who don’t like the Nat’s considering forced freeing up of their golden egg.
       • Tracey 9.2.1.2

         8 April 2015 at 1:24 pm

         Based on what? His word and that he voted for Labour when? Which period of time (cos that is important if you are claiming some kind of ideological curiosity)?
         • Puckish Rogue 9.2.1.2.1

           8 April 2015 at 1:34 pm

           Why would he lie?

           http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11317510

           “When I wrote recently that this election was done and dusted, a storm of protest erupted on the New Zealand Herald’s website from Labour’s deeply unattractive, rabid tribalists.

           Abuse aside, the common theme was that I’m a die-hard National supporter. That gave great amusement given that I last voted National in 1981. Excepting the New Zealand Party in 1984 and later Act twice, I’ve voted Labour ever since.”
           • Tracey 9.2.1.2.1.1

             8 April 2015 at 1:41 pm

             I didn’t say he would lie. I was asking. I don’t hang on his every word so just wanted more information.

             Cool, so the Last 10 elections he has voted ACT twice and LP 8 times.

             I liked his party’s demob the military… get rid entirely policy.
             • Puckish Rogue …

               8 April 2015 at 1:47 pm

               Getting rid of the military would have to be one of the dumbest ideas ever, it proves that someone smart in one area doesn’t mean they’re smart in others
               • Tracey …

                 8 April 2015 at 2:13 pm

                 Maybe, but re-read the thinking behind it…

                 BTW way John Key proves that (the smart in one thing (currency trading) but stupid in others)
           • Skinny 9.2.1.2.1.2

             8 April 2015 at 1:46 pm

             I am sure he said prior to the 2014 election he was giving Trevor his candidate vote and National his party vote.

             Edit yes it says in the NZH link.
             • Tracey …

               8 April 2015 at 2:14 pm

               ok. so out of the elections from 1987 on, he has voted ACT twice, National once and LP
               • felix …

                 8 April 2015 at 6:10 pm

                 I reckon it’s like this:

                 NZParty 84 (himself),
                 Labour 87, 90, and 93 (in the depths of their neolib bullshit),
                 ACT 96 and 99 (more neolib bullshit),
                 National and Trevor Mallard (his mate) ever since.

                 And ‘cos he’s old school he counts his electorate vote for Trev as “Voting Labour”
                 • Tracey …

                   8 April 2015 at 6:18 pm

                   my sense too felix… he has glossed over the intricacies of MMP. being wellington central he would have voted prebble?
                   • felix …

                     8 April 2015 at 8:12 pm

                     If he voted for Mallard he can’t be in Wellington Central.
             • veutoviper …

               8 April 2015 at 3:01 pm

               Jones also donated $6000 of the $11,000 Mallard received as donations to his 2014 election campaign.

               http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/candidate_returns/2014cr-mallpdfardt.

               Jones, for all his wealth and temperament etc, has never forgotten his roots and upbringing in a poor working class family in Naenae, Lower Hutt (state house IIRC) – unlike a certain Mr Key.

               Some bits about his family in this 2007 Stuff article about his relationship with his much younger brother, Lloyd Jones.

               http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/…/Bob-and-Lloyd-Jones

               A bit more family background in this 2013 article about Lloyd Jones’ family memoir book “A History of Silence”.

               http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/…/Lloyd-Jones-talks-about-family-memoir
               • Tracey …

                 8 April 2015 at 3:19 pm

                 Thanks veutoviper. Much appreciated.

                 I assume one of his votes for Labour would have been 1987, he would have loved Roger Douglas implementing the New Zealand Party’s policies from 1984.
   • millsy 9.3

     8 April 2015 at 5:09 pm

     Even a broken watch is right twice a day.

     Home ownership is the best way out of poverty when you look at.
10. BassGuy 10

    8 April 2015 at 2:07 pm

    Think Sydney’s expensive? Try Auckland.

    Don’t think there’s too much to say about that.
11. ScottGN 11

    8 April 2015 at 2:28 pm

    Time to gird our loins (again) to save yet more of our trees from petty officialdom.
    http://jury.co.nz/2015/04/07/taonga-the-yellow-pohutukawa-on-the-waitara-river-bank/
12. Herodotus 12

    8 April 2015 at 3:03 pm

    With the concerted comments regarding allowing the freeing up of Easter Trading laws I ask Has not the protection of the work force been eroded enough ?
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11429095
    we also have Larry Williams (Wine) & Mike Hoskin (Eating Out) being caught out and having THEIR lifestyles inconvenienced. So it is ok for everyone to have their work places closed to observe the holiday but Not Retail.
    How long have these and other commentators lived in NZ ? And leading the discussion from an informed position ?? and yet are caught out by having the shops close down for 3&1/2 days per year.
    Should there be a change in the law to allow retail to operate, why halt at easter why not remove the protection from all of the 3 &1/2 days that the shops are compelled to be closed?
    Perhaps we should expect the proponents of change to also work their normal hours on these days and for the MP’s to open their electorate offices?
    I for one appreciated have the family all together, and the shops were open the following day and no one in my family suffered from this.
13. adam 13

    8 April 2015 at 4:25 pm

    Question

    Are AT (Auckland transport) designed to kill off public transport?

    When they took over in 2012 fairs were $1.80 for one zone for an adult. As of now they are $2.50 per adult. That is just under a 40% price hike in just 3 years. Let me repeat that – a almost 40% hike in fare prices in just 3 years. How can they justify that. When we are the people funding the system in the first place?

    AT = Auckland Traitors?

    AT = Auckland Twits?

    AT = Auckland truning people of public transport since 2012.

    No wonder the figure are not climbing and the kids are jumping on the trains and not paying fares. This is a joke.

    When the average pay packet barely went up 3%, how the hell can a AT justify a 40% price increase.

    AT needs to be disbanded, and everyone who works for them needs to be fired. This is unacceptable. Private companies bleeding the public for profit.
    • Molly 13.1

      8 April 2015 at 5:23 pm

      Hi Adam,

      Went to a Generation Zero workshop a couple of years ago. Matt from Transport Blog was there along with a councillor talking about public transport during one of the sessions.

      In the discussion, someone brought up the cost of public transport putting people off from using it. To my surprise both Matt and the councillor, along with an AT rep all said that studies have proven that reducing the cost does not make a difference to usage.

      An intrepid member of the audience disagreed, but they dismissed any notion that this could be the case. In our case, the cost for my family to travel into town by train/bus is prohibitive – around $60 one way. Compared to the cost of taking our hybrid in, and parking in Aotea Centre for $11 we have to be running flush on our budget to use public transport option. We do use it when one of us is travelling alone, but I don’t think it is a consideration that is being made by AT.

      Also, given that automatic ticketing is something that has happened for decades overseas they seem to have made a hash of the AT Hop service. Student fares are not included on the display (you are supposed to know to choose child) and Hop cards are only available from a couple of stations. A debacle.
      • adam 13.1.1

        8 April 2015 at 9:19 pm

        Hi Molly,

        I wonder how they would feel about what has happened in Adelaide – with most fares being a gold coin. My guess is they were selective in their studies, and the studies are asking the wrong questions, or looking for specific monetarist based results.

        My favourite is – it costs more, to catch public transport into Auckland City – than it costs to catch a bus to Whangarei – Or Taupo – Or Rotorua. That is a sick joke being played on Auckland rate payers. The whole charging kids fares – when the over 65’s pay nothing – I find a very cruel joke as well.

        The automatic ticket is a massive disaster – I was on a train when a women’s card was not reading properly – and the ticket inspectors called her all names under the sun. They accused her of manipulating with the card. Then they called her a thief. I intervened, and ask them for there names whilst pulling out a pen and paper – they ran for the next coach.

        I’ve also seen them throw teenagers off the train for not tagging on – when they should just provide the service on the train. Like a ticket machine – or better yet a ticket seller. I’ve also witness a women being threatened with physical violence, because she was one stop over her ticket. (still within zone mind) I reported that one.

        AT is a disaster – Pathetic, incompetent and danger to public transport.
    • tinfoilhat 13.2

      8 April 2015 at 9:38 pm

      Private (and public) companies bleeding the public for profit. Pack of crooks the lot of them.

      https://at.govt.nz/media/1043070/nzta-internet-contract-award.pdf
14. logie97 14

    8 April 2015 at 5:46 pm

    Is there a watchdog in place to monitor currency trading?
    With the fluctuations over the past few weeks, presumably the trading
    floors have been busy.
    Do we know which institutions / private individuals who might be making “killings” as a result?
    Are there money traders who make lots of money these days?
    Is there a registry?
    Are MPs required to declare interests in this area?

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