Open mike 08/05/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 8th, 2013 - 179 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

179 comments on “Open mike 08/05/2013 ”

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  1. Ennui 1
    8 May 2013 at 6:40 am

    You really have to ask what kind of semi epsilon morons the National Party list selection committee are when they can select somebody as imbecilic as this prize turkey? http://www.stuff.co.nz/nathestantional/politics/8644577/Aaron-Gilmore-texts-to-lawyer-revealed

    • Paul 1.1
      8 May 2013 at 7:00 am

      He may have apologised yesterday, but he came over as pretty bullish in his attitude at times, considering what he’d done.

      • vto 1.1.1
        8 May 2013 at 8:13 am

        That’s because it is very difficult for a Tory to hide their true nature.

        Gilmore is a caricature of the National Party supporter. We all know them, we have all seen them, we have all cringed at their manner, we have all nodded politely while in the back of our minds relegating them to the white trash bin (in fact the true ‘white trash’ have more standing and mana).

        Gilmore should receive a knighthood for exposing so well the true nature of the nat.

        • muzza 1.1.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 8:27 am

          Forget Gilmore, heck it does not matter what he did, hids actions are no surprise.

          These people are hand chosen for their desire to bend over, and do they bidding, it appeals to them in every sense of their shallow minded existence!

          The behaviour of Gilmore, is little more than the puffed up self importance, which is the front face attempt to hide a coward!

        • King Kong 1.1.1.2
          8 May 2013 at 9:11 am

          VTO
          Your language around “Torys” is getting a bit over the top.

          Replace the word Tory/Nat/National Supporter with Jew in your last few posts and you will see what I mean.

          • framu 1.1.1.2.1
            8 May 2013 at 9:17 am

            go on KK, cry us a river – make a facebook page even

            your not in any posiiton to complain about behaviour and language

          • vto 1.1.1.2.2
            8 May 2013 at 9:27 am

            you talk shit kk

            and nobody has shown how they are wrong, especially you. Just like yesterday http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-07052013/#comment-629001

            open your eyes and independently evaluate the acts and words of the nats.

            • King Kong 1.1.1.2.2.1
              8 May 2013 at 9:35 am

              Whats your solution for these Nats?

              • vto …
                8 May 2013 at 10:12 am

                King Kong, your reference to a religion in this instance is revealing also.

                You see, I have never understood how two sets of otherwise similar people with functioning brains in the their heads can have such widely disparate views. One can believe that in the after-life they will live forever and ever in a warm embrace in the sky, while the other believes that things simply stop.

                While our neighbour might look and act the same (same race, similar lifestyles, work jobs, raise families, go to te beach, etc yadda) they are in fact from an entirely different planet. Their beliefs indicate that their view of the world is bizarre. One is obviously nuts, mad as a hatter, so mad in fact that they become a danger to their neighbour (and this is how things pan out in the religion world you point to). It is beyond comprehension.

                In my opinion a similar situation occurs with politics. The nats have views that are a threat to their neighbours wellbeing. There is little in common between those of the tory outlook and those of other outlook, despite similar appearances and manners. They may as well be a different species, like gorillas…

                • King Kong …
                  8 May 2013 at 10:17 am

                  I’m sorry, but that is just crackers.

                  • vto …
                    8 May 2013 at 10:20 am

                    how so

                    it indicates large scale underlying and fundamental differences

                    • King Kong …
                      8 May 2013 at 10:27 am

                      If you seriously can’t work out why it is nuts to state that someone with a alternative political philosophy is a different species, then there isn’t much point discussing this.

                    • vto …
                      8 May 2013 at 10:32 am

                      the concept goes over your head

                      you are a genune waste of space.

                      short sentences, usually smart arse, with no reasoning or explanation or evidence to back up your mad assertions.

                      troll.

                      out

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      8 May 2013 at 10:38 am

                      Using the different species may be a bit much although there’s some discussion that psychopaths may, in fact, be a different species. Pointing out that people who disregard reality because of their political beliefs are nuts is perfectly valid especially when it’s true. National really do have a PoV that is detrimental to everyone else – this has been proven in fact as the GFC and the increasing poverty shows.

                    • freedom …
                      8 May 2013 at 10:39 am

                      Kong, “They may as well be a different species,” is not the same as saying ‘they are a different species’. getting genuinely concerned for your cognitive stability of late

              • McFlock …
                8 May 2013 at 12:18 pm

                People don’t choose their culture or ethnicity.

                They do choose to be selfish, boorish, stupid, oafs.

                • Populuxe1 …
                  8 May 2013 at 1:14 pm

                  Like people choose to be autistic or sociopathic?

                  • Te Reo Putake …
                    8 May 2013 at 1:25 pm

                    People don’t choose to be autistic or sociapathic. They can choose to be selfish, stupid, boorish oafs. Your comment suggests you’ve already made that choice.

                    • McFlock …
                      8 May 2013 at 1:43 pm

                      However, if they are sociopaths (I’ve seen no apparent correlation between ASD and being a tory), it is also their choice as to whether their political activities are dictated by their condition.

                      As an analogy, in some circumstances I can be a bit of a dick. I know this. It’s how I am. So I try to avoid those situations, and if they are unavoidable I try to avoid being a dick, rather than just blaming the fact I am a dick for being a dick. It is a cause, not an excuse, because I’m smart enough to realise that what might seem fine to me is, in fact, dickish. Tories just carry on regardless.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      8 May 2013 at 2:08 pm

                      Really? Silly man. The number of times I’ve heard Nats and Key in particular being accused of sociopathy on the Standard is beyond counting. You can’t expect moral behaviour from someone who is literally incapable of understanding the concept. They are apex predators of the most cunning prey of all. As for Autism, I think that explains Libertarians perfectly.

                    • McFlock …
                      8 May 2013 at 2:53 pm

                      Yes, you can.
                      In the same way that you can expect someone who is blind to use a cane or a guide dog, and to accept that maybe they’re not the best people to drive a rally car.

                      Even a sociopath can recognise their limitations.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      8 May 2013 at 9:01 pm

                      A human being who acts as an apex predator of others of his own species…is pretty much by definition a fucking sociopath, Pop 1.

                      And no, we don’t expect moral behaviour of sociopaths, that’s kinda the point of sociopathy.

            • vto 1.1.1.2.2.2
              8 May 2013 at 9:36 am

              And here is another one ding dong. http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/8599220/Funding-for-salmon-research

              This National Party government claims no money for new mothers but has granted $600,000 to an overseas business to do ‘research’ into why their intensively raised salmon are deformed.

              They stuff up their business and then THIS government gives them $600,000 to find out why they stuffed up their business. That is fucked.

              It encapsulates all that is wrong with the Tory brain – as is so vehemently pointed out.

              wake up

          • lprent 1.1.1.2.3
            8 May 2013 at 1:50 pm

            Don’t worry about it. He was exactly the same about Helen and Labour prior to the 2008 election…. go figure.

          • felix 1.1.1.2.4
            8 May 2013 at 7:32 pm

            “Replace the word Tory/Nat/National Supporter with Jew in your last few posts and you will see what I mean.”

            KK, that’s bonkers.

            ‘Dogs can’t climb trees for shit’ is a fair statement, but swap the word ‘dog’ for ‘cat’ and it’s teh stupidz.

            Monkey logic. Not what it’s cracked up to be.

        • Rogue Trooper 1.1.1.3
          8 May 2013 at 1:27 pm

          “tears”

    • Draco T Bastard 1.2
      8 May 2013 at 8:00 am

      Your link got broken – here’s the correct one.

  2. Paul 2
    8 May 2013 at 7:05 am

    John Keys says the opposition has ‘conned’ parliament. How?Labour ‘rorted’ the system. it’s a ‘disgrace’…
    Wow…more emotive language after the North Korean accusations. I think many people will start to see through the huff and puff from the Nact party.
    Wonder how the corporate media will cover Banks’ day in court?

    • framu 2.1
      8 May 2013 at 7:31 am

      hes also doing it outside the house – which opens him up to defamation and other proceedings

      (though that might not be the best response from the greens and labour)

      whats disgusts me more is the media blindly reporting this as some sort of truth when anyone with any knowledge (including key) knows that …
      1) a parties budget can be spent on whatever they choose
      2) with a petition spread across the country your always going to get double ups and invalid names
      3) it could have been, and is highly likely, that many of the false names were deliberate actions by national and act activists
      4) it was grey power that initiated it

      unfortunate – yes?, deliberate rort and con? – dont make me bloody laugh

    • Chrissy 2.2
      8 May 2013 at 7:31 am

      Heard that too, several times already this morning on Nat Radio.Yawningly predictable from the little man.Good for a laugh though.

      • mickysavage 2.2.1
        8 May 2013 at 8:09 am

        Diversionary tactic away from Gilmour.

        But clearly defamatory. I for one feel pissed off that the PM should allege that I and all my fellow activists should have been engaged in fraud.

        Mind you I am going to use Key’s statement as a rallying cry to get people out to collect more signatures. Should work a treat …

        • framu 2.2.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 8:14 am

          snap

          he IS accusing not just greens and labour, but every person who put in time and effort of actively engaging in fraud.

          considering that the nats know full well just how unpopular this policy is, its a ballsy move – theres a huge public perception risk to the greens and labour if they get the lawyers in and i reckon hes banking on that

          creative, smart responses are neccessary

          • Draco T Bastard 2.2.1.1.1
            8 May 2013 at 8:21 am

            he IS accusing not just greens and labour, but every person who put in time and effort of actively engaging in fraud.

            Class action suit? I’m in.

          • TheContrarian 2.2.1.1.2
            8 May 2013 at 8:25 am

            Yeah because no one on The Standard has ever accused John Key or the national government of fraud.

            • framu 2.2.1.1.2.1
              8 May 2013 at 8:43 am

              you do know the difference between blog comments and public statements by an elected public servant dont you?

              • King Kong …
                8 May 2013 at 9:17 am

                In the eyes of the law (which is the best yardstick when talking about a defamation case), as long as it outside Parliament there is no difference.

                • framu …
                  8 May 2013 at 9:19 am

                  true enough – but which one do you think would be given more weight?

                  Ive yet to see anon blog comments succesfully tried for defamation

                  • Populuxe1 …
                    8 May 2013 at 2:26 pm

                    It’s not the role of the law to give “weight” to anything – it is impartial

                    • framu …
                      8 May 2013 at 3:53 pm

                      OK – let me put it another way

                      which one do you think is more likely to actually end up in court?

                      i was using weight to mean the steps taken when deciding if theres as srtong enough case

                    • Clockie …
                      8 May 2013 at 6:59 pm

                      “It’s not the role of the law to give “weight” to anything – it is impartial”

                      Which is why so many white collar criminals are prosecuted relative to poor brown street muggers..

        • The Pink Postman 2.2.1.2
          8 May 2013 at 3:45 pm

          Mickysavage

          Don’t forget that Grey Power also were active in collecting signatures. A lot of Nat’s in Grey Power.I wonder how they feel at Key’s insulting comments .perhaps Key thinks GP is a covert communist organization.

    • freedom 2.3
      8 May 2013 at 9:01 am

      Joyce on Cambell live, talking about Novapay was bascically holding up placards saying “but it is all about Labour ” every time he responded to a question. it was pathetic.

    • Rogue Trooper 2.4
      8 May 2013 at 1:32 pm

      only another “16, 500” required for the tories to ride roughshod over.

  3. framu 3
    8 May 2013 at 8:18 am

    well well well the gilmour story just keeps getting up and walking about

  4. Salad 4
    8 May 2013 at 8:22 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10882038

    David Parker: The rights and wrongs of regulation

    “Competitive markets don’t need regulation. Needlessly over-regulated markets harm the economy and can constrain growth.”

    • Draco T Bastard 4.1
      8 May 2013 at 9:10 am

      And that just proves that, after thirty years of the failure of the free-markets, Labour haven’t learned a damned thing. Please, please, do the country a favour and stop voting for them.

      • Salad 4.1.1
        8 May 2013 at 9:22 am

        I stopped voting for them years ago…

        • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 9:58 am

          That wasn’t specifically to you but to all the people who still do.

          • Populuxe1 4.1.1.1.1
            8 May 2013 at 1:30 pm

            Hence two terms of NACT and Drippy Key? Well that theory worked out then.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.1.1.1
              8 May 2013 at 7:18 pm

              I didn’t ask people to stop voting now, did I?

              There are other parties to vote for that happen to be on the left.

      • prism 4.1.2
        8 May 2013 at 10:12 am

        Amazing and awful stuff. I looked up David Parker’s bio. He is a well rounded and well fed lawyer, business innovator (Blis Technology) and “His main area of interest is how to grow the New Zealand economy through innovation-led exporting.”

        When elected in 2002 in Otago he had a 684 majority, was replaced by Jackie Blue. Since then he has been a list member. Doesn’t sound like a goer for New Improved Fired-up Labour – (Come in, Only tuppence and also see The Two-headed Donkey.)

        He has held lots of portfolios in Labour and if he hasn’t learned about markets and loose regulation by now he is a lost cause. He moans about the demands for information for prospecti?

        Prospectus requirements are increasingly expensive to comply with. Onerous directors’ duties for issuers make it harder to attract experienced directors to help grow smaller companies. Audit certificates and expert statements become ever more costly. Ongoing costs include more onerous and expensive issuer audits post public offering. These are regulatory problems holding back growth in the economy; examples of needless regulation.

        He belongs to the Handover Finance cult I think. Wot about the working class that’s wot I say? And it’s a valid question.

        • muzza 4.1.2.1
          8 May 2013 at 10:27 am

          Parker is also *famous* for *stepping down*, as AG for *something he *didn’t do*, then after being, *allegedly cleared*, was replaced by Cullen!

          Good luck anyone who wants to believe Parker has NZ’s interests anywhere in his thoughts, he is just another agent!

          • Colonial Viper 4.1.2.1.1
            8 May 2013 at 11:00 am

            Wrong. Parker is a good guy, it’s just that he’s part of a leadership generation who cannot see the economy as anything but a financial market driven macro-economic process, and if there is a problem in the economy, then tinkering with that process is the way to fix things.

            Very 2000’s, with very little learning from the lessons of 2007 onwards, particularly that orthodox macro-economics is completely BS.

            • Tim 4.1.2.1.1.1
              8 May 2013 at 12:55 pm

              so he’s led a bit of a sheltered life then huh CV?

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.2.1.1.2
              8 May 2013 at 1:01 pm

              Very 2000′s,

              I’d say Very 1984 with no learning from what’s happened after that.

              particularly that orthodox macro-economics is completely BS.

              QFT.

          • mickysavage 4.1.2.1.2
            8 May 2013 at 12:49 pm

            Parker actually thought he had done something wrong but when a Companies Office file was reviewed he had actually done nothing of the sort.

            He must be the only politician to *ever* resign for doing something that he did not do. he must also be a catholic …

            • Tim 4.1.2.1.2.1
              8 May 2013 at 12:58 pm

              ah well, there ya go then – repenting (just in case)

            • prism 4.1.2.1.2.2
              8 May 2013 at 1:47 pm

              But is Parker catholic in those things that he finds that he is sorry about, or rather focussed on specialised sins. One of which isn’t that he has been drawn to the devilish doctrine of the free market and less regulation.

    • Murray Olsen 4.2
      8 May 2013 at 8:49 pm

      The spirit of Roger Douglas is alive and well in Shearer’s Labour Party.
      I really can’t see any good reason to vote for them except to provide coalition partners for Mana and the Greens.

  5. muzza 5
    8 May 2013 at 8:35 am

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/05/e-cigarettes-tobacco-harmless-enjoyable

    The EU situation is more unsettling still. The pharmaceutical industry profits from popular but far less effective methods for quitting tobacco such as patches and gums, and spends more than €40m a year lobbying the EU. In the UK in 2011, nicotine replacement therapies were worth £117m in turnover, largely due to NHS freebies. It’s in Big Pharma’s interest to quash the e-cig, now that 7% of Europeans have tried one and in 2013 they are expected to attract more than a million Britons

  6. muzza 6
    8 May 2013 at 8:40 am

    Let’s take a look at what the EU is getting up to, while taking no reasonable measure to remedy the economically failing continent!

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/10041817/Federal-Europe-will-be-a-reality-in-a-few-years-says-Jose-Manuel-Barroso.html

    “The commission will, therefore, set out its views and explicit ideas for treaty change in order for them to be debated before the European elections.”

    “We want to put all the elements on the table, in a clear and consistent way, even if some of them may sound like political science fiction today. They will be reality in a few years’ time.”

    Mr Barroso’s announcement that he will set out plans for a European federation next spring, before elections to the European Parliament in May 2014, will further deepen Conservative divisions over the EU.

    The Commission!

  7. yeshe 7
    8 May 2013 at 8:48 am

    seems Winnie has a plan after all … loved this turning down Key’s non-existent invitation …

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10882200

  8. Ennui 8
    8 May 2013 at 8:49 am

    Abused cows! Have a look at this link, it relates to what to me seems to be standard practice from our dairy industry. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/dairy/8639376/Starving-cows-had-to-be-put-down

    Those who think of our farmers as being universally “nice” to their stock might be a little shocked by this. As one who spends a lot of time in rural areas I can assure you that this type of treatment of stock (and the environment) is far from uncommon. Rather than fining protesters huge amounts for protesting against environmental issues (recent legislation allows for this) how about National actively pursuing and punishing animal abuse by farmers?

    • Populuxe1 8.1
      8 May 2013 at 2:28 pm

      What, like spying on NZ citizens you mean? Hoo boy! May I respectfully suggest it is the role of the NZ public to be vigilant in these matters and reporting them to the SPCA for investigation and prosecution.

    • Belladonna 8.2
      8 May 2013 at 6:28 pm

      Where are the prosecutions? A puppy was deliberately starved to death recently, the owner was prosecuted but the punishment was weak. Farmers can be responsible for torture of farm animals but very rarely face consequences. Cruelty is cruelty whoever is the perpetrator.

  9. freedom 9
    8 May 2013 at 9:25 am

    Spy laws and bailouts are pretty annoying, and selling our Assets is a real bummer, but when talking authoritarian control of your life, this is about as real as real gets.
    http://www.naturalnews.com/040214_seeds_european_commission_registration.html

    This is a version of the Monsanto law that is crippling America. When exactly this absurdity hits NZ is anyone’s guess, but it is in the playbook of the TPPA and it is going to happen here. If the opposition really want to challenge the Nats, they should get a policy direction declaration about the future of seeds in NZ. They also need to make a clear statement themselves. By election time 2014 this will be a very real issue for many voters.

    “When the Last Tree Is Cut Down, the Last Fish Eaten, and the Last Stream Poisoned, You Will Realize That You Cannot Eat Money”

    • vto 9.1
      8 May 2013 at 9:45 am

      Holy fuck

      Totalitarian facsists

      Is there any other description?

      • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1
        8 May 2013 at 10:01 am

        Psychopaths, sociopaths, dictators…

        There’s probably a few more but you get the general drift. It’s the natural result of a socio-economic system that accumulates more and more wealth into fewer and fewer hands.

      • Ugly Truth 9.1.2
        8 May 2013 at 10:29 am

        Evil empire, same as it ever was.

    • muzza 9.2
      8 May 2013 at 10:31 am

      Indeed Freedom, one can’t help but notice the absence of the MSM in covering some aspect of this.

      NZ will have these abominations, with, or without the TPPA!

      The people’s apathy, will ensure it!

      • King Kong 9.2.1
        8 May 2013 at 10:34 am

        Surely you colossus’ of enlightenment can wake the people from their ignorance and lead them on that shining path.

        • Ugly Truth 9.2.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 10:42 am

          The remedy is knowledge of the law of the land. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

          • McFlock 9.2.1.1.1
            8 May 2013 at 12:34 pm

            lol

            fuck all you can do about it if you’re the only one who can see “the law of the land”. You can’t eat moral righteousness.

        • freedom 9.2.1.2
          8 May 2013 at 10:47 am

          so you don’t need to eat KK? or just happy to eat whatever is put at the door of your cell?

    • freedom 9.3
      8 May 2013 at 11:55 am

      The clue to the disaster awaiting us all is found in bees, or rather the lack thereof. Monsanto poisons have been shown to be largely responsible for the decimation of bee populations and this creates serious complications for the future of food production if the decline continues.

      to say ‘ but why are they not found guilty in a court of law/ ‘ shows nothing but ignorance of the level of influence Monsanto has. I am consistently unimpressed by the number of people who have not got a fucking clue as to what and who Monsanto is, and just how long they have been in the game.

      without bees, we die,
      without Monsanto ?
      well we can only dream

      • yeshe 9.3.1
        8 May 2013 at 1:35 pm

        Freedom, Kiwis might better remember them as Ivon Watkins Dow and the havoc they caused for people and the environment in New Plymouth with 2 4 T and 2 4 D. Worth noting now that due to the failure of glyphosate as weeds have naturally evolved protection against it, US farmers now have laws allowing them to spread the deadly 2 4 D instead of glyphosate which has failed all Dow’s commercial promises. So now vast sections of the USA food supply is not only GM but also drenched in dioxin ! Please be careful what you buy at the supermarket. Be very mindful about corn syrup in all its forms and US soybeans, often a hidden ingredient. Oh, that’s right, it’s always a hidden ingredient because we have no GM-content labelling laws. Thanks Katherine Rich.

        History:

        http://bhopal.net/petition/application/views/new_zealand_more.html

    • yeshe 9.4
      8 May 2013 at 1:00 pm

      I am convinced TPPA will be used to overthrow our laws to encourage GM crops to be grown here.

      Labour and Greens and NZ First MUST come out with a wise and prudent opposition .. and urgently. Otherwise will be the end of us all, literally.

      The horrors of GM cropping and consumption are well-hidden from mainstream view … search Morgellons Disease if you want to see what errant protein strands can do in a human body when consumed as food ! Tens of thousands of cases in USA — even their NIH has accepted it is epidemic with no known cause or solution/cure. But every alternative source worth their salt ( as in not MSM) knows it is GM food, and the results of consuming the proteins used to attach to the DNA of various plants to make them glyphosate resistant.

      Please, URGENTLY get this out of TPPA — in fact, get rid of TPPA and its secret fascist plans to overthrow all sovereignties. Maybe Te Tiriti can be used to keep it out ??? Ideas anyone ??

      As has been said — if you don’t think the enviroment is important and it affects you, try holding your breath while you count your money !!

      • yeshe 9.4.1
        8 May 2013 at 1:15 pm

        http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-april-3-2013/you-stuck-what-where-now—-the-monsanto-protection-act

        The absurdity and horror of how the Monsanto Act came in to being in April — and these are the crazies we are supposed to trust with our Aotearoa environment ? Heaven help us all.

        • yeshe 9.4.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 1:17 pm

          and a Morgellons link with images and stories .. please, not for the weak of heart or anyone lunching at their desk … and some refs to GMOs

          https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=morgellons+pictures+images&aq=2&oq=morgellons+ima&aqs=chrome.3.57j0l3.6201j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

          • Populuxe1 9.4.1.1.1
            8 May 2013 at 2:15 pm

            You mean Delusional Parasitosis?
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusional_parasitosis
            Morgellons is right up there with chemtrails and HAARP causes earthquakes. Verily the interenet is the most powerful tool in the world for amplifying stupidity and spreading delusion.

            • yeshe 9.4.1.1.1.1
              8 May 2013 at 2:32 pm

              Rubbish, Populuxe. Remember Wikipedia is subject to pharmas writing their own histories. I suggest you search further and engage in a discussion with someone who suffers from it. Wow .. one would have to be seriously delusional to imagine those fibres emerging from the skin are in fact non-existent! So do you support TPPA and all its ramifications ?

            • Rogue Trooper 9.4.1.1.1.2
              8 May 2013 at 2:32 pm

              conflicts of interest aside Populuxe 1, I had been thinking, how your own contributions have grown and the value to be extracted from the meeting of minds.
              Kind Regards

          • joe90 9.4.1.1.2
            8 May 2013 at 2:55 pm

            Monsters required…

            • yeshe 9.4.1.1.2.1
              8 May 2013 at 3:29 pm

              Perfunctory and supercilious disparagement much ?? Did you believe tobacco was safe and harmless when we were told ? Are you prepared for TPPA to subvert our sovereignty to allow Monsanto and their GMOs to control crops in this precious country ?

              To conflate the dangers of GMO foods and crops with all the internet crap in the ways you and Populuxe have done here — not even worth my writing time. Shame on you.

              • freedom …
                8 May 2013 at 4:38 pm

                if you want a really disappointing time yeshe, try talking to them about the massive damage done to all flora fauna persons and property in the South Pacific, including NZ, after the scores of open air nuclear tests done during the 50’s & 60’s.

                the spikes in cancer rates and various other ailments that follow us to this very day are just co-incidence apparently

      • muzza 9.4.2
        8 May 2013 at 2:33 pm

        yeshe, you’re right with what you say.

        Most are not even cognizant that Monsanto exists, let alone that their offspring’s survival rates are plummeting by the very existence of Monsanto, and their paid off political puppets, like Katherine Rich et al to represent them!

        Came across the below link…

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5044733/Probe-into-claim-245T-under-lake

        • yeshe 9.4.2.1
          8 May 2013 at 2:50 pm

          thx Muzza .. what a story.

          • muzza 9.4.2.1.1
            8 May 2013 at 2:59 pm

            No worries. Could not find much of a follow up to this, but the remaining product which was not unloaded all over NZ land/people etc, will have had to end up somewhere.

            NZ has a *world class* record when it comes to allowing poisons to be sprayed around the place, not to mention, supplied along with 2 4 D, and used as mass chemical weapons against humanity, in the form of agent orange!

            Those who are aware, and who allow this to happen in the name of our country, are a disgrace!

            Edit – Notice we allow air dropping of 1080 liberally around the country, WTF!

            The only company now producing 1080 is the Tull Chemical Company in Alabama USA, who export the material to Mexico & Israel (as a rodenticide), Australia (where its used to kill dingoes, wild dogs and foxes) and New Zealand (for possum control). 1080 use in the USA itself is tightly controlled, and it may only be used in chemical collars on domestic herbivores, to kill coyotes

  10. Winston Smith 10
    8 May 2013 at 10:14 am

    So in summary, the Nats have the mandate for asset sales whereas Labour/Greens do not have a mandate for a referendum.

    What interesting times we live in.

    • lprent 12.1
      8 May 2013 at 1:41 pm

      It should. Cold water absorbs more CO2 than warm water. Absorption into the oceans seems to happen mostly through wave and spray action. The arctic ocean has a wave surface more often than an ice surface these days after the existing warming. And of course the iceless Arctic oceans are well known for their storms with the resulting waves.

      CO2 + H2O = H2CO3 as it heads to a chemical equilibrium.

      So yeah, I’d expect an even faster rate of CO2 absorption and ocean acidification in the Arctic than had previously been killing off carbonate shell bearing animals.

      • Rogue Trooper 12.1.1
        8 May 2013 at 2:34 pm

        Hi Lynn, I sent an e-mail re operational matters and directions. Ta.

  13. yeshe 13
    8 May 2013 at 1:24 pm

    In case you missed it, the Live Chat with Kim Dotcom on Herald site at noon … wish he could be Minister for Innovation with someone !!!

    His comment towards the end about Banks is illuminating …

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10882223

    • veutoviper 13.1
      8 May 2013 at 1:57 pm

      Yes, it was an interesting Live Chat – and I also found his comments re the reasons he made the donations to Banks illuminating. I put the link to the Live Chat up on the CSSB post while it was on. The whole thing is worth reading.

  14. Rogue Trooper 14
    8 May 2013 at 1:48 pm

    I better make the most of the lovely weather today in the bay, yet may I leave you with these;
    from This Way of Life
    “There is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse”
    “What do I do for a living? I live for a living”
    “I don’t know how people can say there is not a God”
    -Peter Karena.

    From CL article on the Talleys gate-locking the east bank of the Gowan (not just gated communities, now gated outdoors); “expectations for public access (to the NZ outdoors) have diminished over time”.

    • prism 14.1
      8 May 2013 at 2:02 pm

      Words to live by – Outside of a dog a book is a great companion (inside of a dog it’s too dark).
      Groucho Marx

      • Rogue Trooper 14.1.1
        8 May 2013 at 2:41 pm

        working up the courage towards a T.K dog-owner at this time…

  15. Rogue Trooper 15
    8 May 2013 at 1:52 pm

    An exploration of The Pai Marire Movement may be seen on Maori Television next Wednesday.

  16. prism 16
    8 May 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Some things I heard on Radionz this morning caused me to ponder.One was Chris Finlayson talking about the meeting of the Attorney Generals of the English speaking nations to be held here.

    Our Attorney General thinks the others wouldn’t be interested in hearing about our problems with the USA over Dotcom and how we allowed our unique set of rules to be subverted by the USA. I think discussion on this may be uncomfortable for us and the USA but extremely pertinent to the other countries as to what is appropriate behaviour in such circumstances. I think he wishes he could say that it’s nothing to do with him, just ‘It’s an operational matter’.

    The other was a spokesperson for employers commenting on the nil or below inflation wage rises that are common in this ‘lucky country’. On the one hand low inflation keeps prices down so that’s good for workers and consumers, on the other hand he didn’t refer to the fact that nil or low rises amount to a drop in wages and the purchasing power of $s received. Talk about the two headed god Janus. Wages rising too fast, you get inflation, wages slow and low, deflation – and many of us are pretty flat at present.

    • Rogue Trooper 16.1
      8 May 2013 at 2:39 pm

      your memory reflects my own prism; there will be a summary of the A-G’s meeting released apropos of nothing.

  17. karol 17
    8 May 2013 at 2:12 pm

    Breaking on Stuff – Key looks set to dump Gilmore.

  18. ghostrider888 18
    8 May 2013 at 3:04 pm

    17:1 Better a crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.

    16:9 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

    17:7 Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool- how much worse lying lips to a ruler.

    5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness (the being and doing right) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    righteousness, the purity of heart and rectitude of life;
    rectitude, straightness, uprightness, integrity (sui generis)

    Haerts
    Diamonds
    Clubs
    Spades

    …for the K_P birds

    (check out Valve, “Everything we Know”, if one can find the right lever).

    • Colonial Viper 18.1
      8 May 2013 at 3:41 pm

      Hmmmm can one be both high in spirits and be alongside the oppressed…I think so 😉

      • ghostrider888 18.1.1
        8 May 2013 at 4:19 pm

        Yep, ups and downs. 😀 (wotta ya think of the quill? inns and outies?)

  19. Te Reo Putake 19
    8 May 2013 at 3:06 pm

    Great photo of Banks in the dock; like father, like son.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8646686/I-haven-t-committed-any-offence-ACT-leader

  20. joe90 20
    8 May 2013 at 3:55 pm

    Speaking of a born to rule attitude…

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22354245

    • prism 20.1
      8 May 2013 at 4:42 pm

      Wow joe90 – that’s illuminating.

      The waiter at the end of Arrogant’s bad temper was lucky he wasn’t in Mexico, the land of bandits and drugs, which we are cosying up to by the way. There was a court case but it didn’t inconvenience the aggressor too much.

      In another high-end part of the capital, the owner of a fashion company was filmed thrashing a parking attendant for saying he could not help him change his flat tyre because he wasn’t allowed to abandon his post.
      The man broke the parking attendant’s teeth in the beating, and repeatedly called him a “damn Indian”.

  21. Penny Bright 21
    8 May 2013 at 4:12 pm

    FYI – this has been a LONG time coming……………………. 🙂
    ______________________________________________________________________________

    MEDIA COVERAGE OF ‘DODGY’ JOHN BANKS APPEARANCE IN THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT COURT WEDNESDAY 8 MAY 2013:

    (Next Court appearance 30 May 2013. John Banks must appear.)
    ______________________________________________________________________________

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10882313

    http://nz.news.yahoo.com/election/a/-/17062962/protestors-greet-john-banks/

    http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=166416&fm=newsmain%2Cnrhl

    http://www.3news.co.nz/John-Banks-in-court-in-private-prosecution/tabid/370/articleID/296968/Default.aspx

    http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/banks-set-enter-not-guilty-plea-lawyer-5431259

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/134574/banks-fighting-electoral-fraud-allegations

    http://news.msn.co.nz/nationalnews/8655083/banks-in-dock-over-dotcom-donation

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    There will no doubt be a LOT more to come…………….

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption / anti=privatisation’ campaigner

    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

    http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com

  23. Morrissey 23
    8 May 2013 at 4:36 pm

    WIMP WALLOPING
    Wimp: BRIAN EDWARDS
    Walloper: MICHELLE BOAG
    Radio New Zealand National, Wednesday 8 May 2013

    Over the last few years, we Standardistas have delighted in handing out a good old tonyveitching to Jim Mora’s radio chat show The Panel. In most cases, I believe, Jim and his guests have deserved this Rankin/McCoskrie treatment. Over the years, anyone mildly interesting—Bomber Bradbury, Gordon Campbell—has been drummed off the programme, until it has been whittled down to (mostly) an uninspiring roster of retired columnists who call themselves “curmudgeons”, third-rate journalists and some exceptionally horrible, disgusting ex-politicians.

    Recently, however, the programme seemed to have improved. I must admit that I missed most of last week because I was overseas, so I possibly missed someone dull and/or unpleasant and/or outrageous, like Karl du Fresne, or Stephen Franks, or Nevil Breivik Gibson. In fact it’s been quite a long time since I heard anyone really dreadful on the Panel, such as those three gentleman, or Dr. Michael Bassett, or John Bishop, or John Barnett, or Garth “Gaga” George, or Jordan Williams.

    So I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that the programme had been getting better; it had been a long time since I had heard the cringe-inducing Jeremy Elwood bending over backwards to agree with every word uttered by the bullying old ex-cop Graham Bell, and the godawful Christchurch knife-enthusiast Barry Corbett had been thankfully absent—and silent—for a good few weeks.

    With these recent developments in mind, therefore, I was feeling mildly hopeful about what might be coming up on the Panel today. Sadly, however, at 3:45 p.m., I heard this….

    JIM MORA: Coming up after this song, we have The Panel, with Michelle and Brian.

    MORRISSEY BREEN, i.e. MOI: Arrrrrrrrggghhhhh! NO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O!!!!

    ….A pleasant song plays for three minutes, during which Breen calms down somewhat….

    JIM MORA: Michelle Boag, how ARE you?

    MICHELLE BOAG: [chirpy and bright] Very WELL, thank you!

    JIM MORA: Michelle joins us on the programme today, along with Susan Baldacci and what the WOOORLD’s talking about….

    SUSAN BALDACCI: Now the story that everyone’s talking about around the whole world: these three women that were kidnapped in Ohio… ….[Extended insincere blathering follows]…. These women just need to be allowed to heal.

    MICHELLE BOAG: Do you remember that Austrian case like this?

    BRIAN EDWARDS: Oh yes, yes, that Austrian case was a terrible one!

    MORRISSEY BREEN: [shouting insanely] Say something about the hundreds of kidnappings that are perpetrated by the U.S. government every year, Dr. Edwards!

    MORA: And Madeleine McCann’s parents must be interested in this too!

    BRIAN EDWARDS: Oh yes, yes.

    MICHELLE BOAG: No doubt these people developed a relationship with their captors. The Stockholm syndrome…

    BRIAN EDWARDS: Oh yes, yes, the Stockholm syndrome. It’s very real.

    MORRISSEY BREEN: Shut the F*CK up, Edwards! You f&cking waste of publicly funded air time!!! [extended muttering and shouting at radio]

    MORA: Abba were never really cool, were they, but they certainly are now!

    EDWARDS: I think they’re GREAT!

    MORRISSEY BREEN: What’s on the Concert Programme?

    • prism 23.1
      9 May 2013 at 11:02 am

      Morrissey You’ve caught the style of Jim Mora and his compatriots – give yourself a break and give them a miss. Don’t raise your blood pressure over this afternoon dross – ‘the best of everything’ . If you want to report summaries, there are a lot of great overseas commenters that
      I never get to read or hear. We would learn something from them not get yesterday’s cold potatoes rehashed.

  25. felix 25
    8 May 2013 at 7:07 pm

    Bit confused. Yesterday the righties were crying that the Greens’ budget for collecting signatures was $91,000.

    But today in parliament Simon Bridges said they spent $400,000. And then a few minutes later Tau Henare said it was $500,000.

    Fuck knows how much it’ll be by the end of the week.

    • Colonial Viper 25.1
      8 May 2013 at 7:14 pm

      Probably 5% of the marketing budget for the MRP sharefloat alone.

    • freedom 25.2
      8 May 2013 at 7:57 pm

      each day, just before question time, they utilize a complex equation that factors in the weight of Gerry’s lunch and the number of times the PM can say ‘but labour did x’ then wrap it all up by pushing the values around a highly fluid algorhythm based on the stimulus response readout as they poke Bill to see if he is still awake.

  27. Colonial Viper 27
    8 May 2013 at 7:54 pm

    Jeremy Grantham interview with Charlie Rose

    WATCH THIS.

    Jeremy Grantham is chief investment strategist for his US$100B hedge fund. He understands exactly where our civilisation is at – at least better than every politican out there.

    http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/12812

  28. Te Reo Putake 28
    8 May 2013 at 8:02 pm

    Just heard on RNZ that the MRP share price will be $2.50 (at the lower end of the proposed range) and only 100,000 or so kiwis have decided to fence the stolen shares. About 15% of our asset has been immediately taken offshore. Bit of a flop, it appears.

    • tsmithfield 28.1
      8 May 2013 at 8:11 pm

      Na. A bit of a flop would have been under $2.35 which was seen as the low end of the scale.

      The government is justifiably pleased with the result, despite the pathetic attempt by Grabour to derail it.

      • Te Reo Putake 28.1.1
        8 May 2013 at 8:13 pm

        If only! This is an embarrassment to Key et al, particularly the failure to get kiwis to buy into it. 400,000 enquires, only a quarter prepared to shell out. It’s a flop.

        • tsmithfield 28.1.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 8:18 pm

          On what basis do you say that? I think 25% of those expressing an interest actually buying is an incredibly good uptake. I think you will find it stacks up incredibly well with other previous public share offers. There is a big difference between kicking the tyres and actually coming up with the readies.

          I expect most of those expressing an interest didn’t do it multiples of times, or get their address details wrong though.

  29. Ugly Truth 29
    8 May 2013 at 8:03 pm

    Special Report on the Boston Marathon: The Curious Case of the Man Who Could Only Sit Down

    http://davesweb.cnchost.com/nwsltr114.html

  31. tsmithfield 31
    8 May 2013 at 8:13 pm

    See my reply to you above. No they didn’t. The price fell smack within the middle of the expected range, and the uptake was strong. So, it was only a flop in your wet dreams.

    • Colonial Viper 31.1
      8 May 2013 at 8:18 pm

      So NZ Power wasn’t the return of communist Soviet Union?

      • tsmithfield 31.1.1
        8 May 2013 at 8:19 pm

        I just don’t think anyone seriously believes that Grabour will ever be in a position to impliment their nutty plan.

        • felix 31.1.1.1
          8 May 2013 at 8:22 pm

          So you’re ok with that risk. Cool then, guess there’ll be no complaints.

          • tsmithfield 31.1.1.1.1
            8 May 2013 at 8:27 pm

            Analysis I have read suggests it could take up to 5 years to impliment the plan, and that they would probably find it too hard so never actually go through with it.

            I suspect as investors digested how unlikely it is that the scenario would ever actually unfold, they probably just parked it alongside other unlikely risks such as a meteor strike or the like. They would probably see much greater risk in factors such as economic slowdown etc.

            • felix 31.1.1.1.1.1
              8 May 2013 at 8:31 pm

              Like I said, you’re cool with the risk. So no complaints.

              • tsmithfield …
                8 May 2013 at 8:35 pm

                The investment isn’t for me, so no risk so far as I’m concerned. The yield on utilities isn’t really high enough to justify my interest. Good for people who want to park their money somewhere probably safer than a bank though.

                • felix …
                  8 May 2013 at 8:39 pm

                  So you’ll be complaining on behalf of other people. Glad we cleared that up.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  8 May 2013 at 8:43 pm

                  That still doesn’t sound like the return of Kim Jong-Il

            • Murray Olsen 31.1.1.1.1.2
              8 May 2013 at 9:16 pm

              The rubbish written on WhaleSpew isn’t generally called analysis.

        • Morrissey 31.1.1.2
          8 May 2013 at 8:26 pm

          I just don’t think anyone seriously believes that Grabour will ever be in a position to impliment their nutty plan.

          Fool, Labour will eventually be the government—probably next year, even with its less than mediocre leadership.

          And what do you mean by calling it a “nutty plan”? Something tells me you don’t have much of a clue about anything, leave alone the politics and economics of power pricing.

          • tsmithfield 31.1.1.2.1
            8 May 2013 at 8:33 pm

            What is nutty about it is that the plan is that the purchasing organisation is not only a monopoly purchaser but also a monopoly seller. So, any of the reasons advanced for claiming cost reductions on one side of the equation can be used to argue for cost increases on the other side of the equation.

            Therefore, the security of the mediocre “savings” promised is dependent entirely the goodwill of future governments who have already demonstrated a tendency to milk SOE’s as a form of indirect tax.

            • Colonial Viper 31.1.1.2.1.1
              8 May 2013 at 8:37 pm

              As opposed to the good will of private sector shareholders? You’re dreaming mate. The current system is broken and getting the current players off the board is the way ahead.

  33. Te Reo Putake 33
    8 May 2013 at 8:33 pm

    Bugger Gilmore, MRP etc. The real news of the night is that the still proudly socialist manager of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, has just announced his retirement.

    Ok, not my brand of united, but what a tribute to the collective work ethic he bought to the club that he lasted so long and so succesfully.

    • rosy 33.1
      8 May 2013 at 8:58 pm

      Aside from news priorities – is that another of those socialist twerps that can never do a decent job as is envious as hell of rich people?

  34. ianmac 34
    8 May 2013 at 8:53 pm

    Taking out intstitutions and so on, I think there will have been approx 50,000 Mums and dads who bought shares. That’s not many if correct, out of the heralded 400,000 +.
    Correct me if I am way out??

  35. The Al1en 35
    8 May 2013 at 9:11 pm

    What’s $2.50 worth in pieces of silver?

  36. joe90 36
    8 May 2013 at 10:16 pm

    Adiós Sir Alex and thanks for the memories.- a marvellous ride it’s been.

    “I believe Labour has always been the party of the working man and always will be. I believe the Tories have always been about looking after their own rich types and always will be.”

  37. vto 37
    8 May 2013 at 11:13 pm

    to think we think we are the leading edge. how many generations before us have thought the same?

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  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

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