Open mike 08/07/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:40 am, July 8th, 2014 - 148 comments
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openmike Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

148 comments on “Open mike 08/07/2014 ”

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  1. Saarbo 1
    8 July 2014 at 7:16 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11289243

    The NZH predictably falls back into its default position and supports Nationals education policy. But is National’s policy workable, how are teachers/principals who are working 12 hour days going to be released, why would a BOT even release them and reduce the capacity in their own school, BOT’s were not voted in to lower the standards in their school.
    Tomorrow Schools has generated a lot of competition between schools, this will make it even harder for schools to accept outside resources into their schools.
    I have discussed this with many staunch National supporters who also reckon that their policy is unworkable.

    • tc 1.1
      8 July 2014 at 7:34 am

      Granny will be an important part of the nact campaign as will TVNZ with rawdon, mikey, suzie etc RNZ not so much as its audience mostly already knows where its voting.

    • Paul 1.2
      8 July 2014 at 7:34 am

      Herald bias watch.
      I noticed their editorial also.
      http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11289243

      “Labour subscribes to the unions’ dogma that every trained teacher is as good as the next and all that pupils need is more of them so that classes can be smaller. ”

      Note the choice of emotive language…’dogma’ to turn the reader against Labour’s ideas. And of course, the link to the Unions. In another section, the anonymous editor writes “Oddly, teacher unions continue to press….”, linking the word oddly to the Unions.
      No mention by contrast of any link of National to big multinational corporations.
      And then of course misinformation. Labour is making more plans to raise quality than the Nat’s executive teacher idea. That, according to the anonymous editor, is “having a bob each way”. I imagine Roughan, who wrote Key’s biography, would have described Labour’s policy differently had his icon been the architect.
      Either Murphy and Roughan haven’t read Labour’s plans or they have wilfully ignored them.
      Either way the Labour Party should sue them for misrepresentation.
      Another smear by this disgraceful rag.
      This is the problem that happens when large foreign corporates own the media.

  2. amirite 2
    8 July 2014 at 7:17 am

    Very disappointed with Labour, their ‘concerns’ about child poverty are just empty words but when it comes to specific actions, they’re nowhere to be seen.
    You’ve just lost another vote, Labour.

    http://bryanbruce.co.nz/feature/election-2014/survey-political-parties-child-well-being-issues-july-8th-2014

    • bad12 2.1
      8 July 2014 at 8:05 am

      An interesting survey, i don’t find Labour’s stance, a NO to food in schools anything other than what i have suspected vis a vis the constant ”use” of 280,000 children living in poverty chant that many of its MP’s have made political capital out of for so long,(even here at the Standard),

      Pretty much pointless at this stage to say anything more on this issue, other than debate the pro’s and con’s of actually having such a food in schools program and how such a basic piece of bread and butter Socialism won’t only ensure food in the stomach’s of the poorer kids, such a program would take the pressure off of some very hard pressed parents further up the income tree,

      Juxtapose this program with the just announced 2000 extra teachers and it becomes the dance of the absurd, how many teachers does it take to get a classroom of hungry kids learning would be the question,

      As i have told other’s out here in the real world, my Party Vote is going to InternetMana, based solely upon the food in schools program…

      • phillip ure 2.1.1
        8 July 2014 at 8:13 am

        this concerted ‘smear-campaign’ you are running against lab/grns must end..

        ..(haven’t you heard..?..

        ..querying = ‘smearing’..)

        ..and whatever you do..

        ..don’t refer to the fact that the greens ‘have no bottom lies’..

        ..and don’t mention that they have ministerial-limo-fever…

        • bad12 2.1.1.1
          8 July 2014 at 9:07 am

          This morning’s cone must have been stronger than normal Phillip, heard of the song ”it aint what you do its the way that you do it”, i think a little tune by the Funboy three if my thought processor is fully functioning this morning,

          Most of what you print is simply ”smears”…

        • The Al1en 2.1.1.2
          8 July 2014 at 9:19 am

          “this concerted ‘smear-campaign’ you are running against lab/grns must end..”

          Like the little glowing blue plasma grenades in Halo, you can wriggle and dance, but you just can’t shake them off when they stick.
          Direct hit….whoar….fucken…eh?… 😆

          • bad12 2.1.1.2.1
            8 July 2014 at 9:31 am

            i doubt if Phillip is self aware to such an extent that He has given an iota of thought to the fact that He is ‘smearing’ a commenter with his little piece of work above who isn’t at this stage commenting,

            Such behavior, or lack of it, could be seen as either a forlorn sob in an effort to attract allies to His aid, or, simply the use of a flame-thrower trying to rake over the ashes of yesterday…

            • phillip ure 2.1.1.2.1.1
              8 July 2014 at 9:32 am

              you really need to get a fucken hobby…eh..?

              ..i mean..what else do you do all day..?

              ..except auto-eroticise all over this place..?

              ..that’s no excuse for a life..

              • bad12 …
                8 July 2014 at 9:44 am

                You need to stick to addressing issues rather than constant attacks on commenters that do not agree with you Phillip,

                Your constant Me Me me me me sprayed into the pages reminds me of another Ure i had the displeasure of meeting in my pub drinking days,

                His babble only differed from yours in that it was verbal, the ‘spray’ physical, and, in his pants, all this accomplished in a public bar accompanied by the laughter of at times 100’s,

                Seems to be a family trait all this babbling and spraying Phillip…

                • phillip ure …
                  8 July 2014 at 9:52 am

                  “..You need to stick to addressing issues rather than constant attacks on commenters that do not agree with you.”

                  from you..that is fucken hilarious..

                  ..that’s all you fucken do..

                  ..whether i respond to you..or ignore you..

                  ..almost every time i post anything..in you launch..

                  ..closely followed by yr gibbering mini-me..(what’s his name..?)

                  ..like i said..you need to get a fucken hobby…

                  ..stalking is not that good a look..eh..?

                  • The Lone Haranguer …
                    8 July 2014 at 10:18 am

                    And you wonder why folk think that while a collection of left leaning parties MAY be able to work together to get rid of the Nats, they would never have a hope in hell of working together to successfully run the country???????

                    Hell you lot cant even hold a decent, semi rational discussion on a left leaning Board so why would you think that it would e any different when decisions had to be made in the Country, and its citizens best interests?

                    [lprent: I suspect it is because you aren’t that good at listening. You’re too busy blowing yourself up. ]

                    • Te Reo Putake …
                      8 July 2014 at 10:24 am

                      Coz, um, history? Labour has already led 3 multi-party governments, and had the economy humming for nine years, and balanced the books. Vote Positive!

                    • vto …
                      8 July 2014 at 10:25 am

                      Why would it be any different?

                      Because, if you hadn’t noticed mr haranguer, mr bad12 and mr ure engage in this manner quite happily on their own. Few or even zero others join in on this ongoing ding-dong.

                      Count up the number of commenters on this site and turn bad and ure into a percentage.

                      Silly egg. The more that time passes the more I come to understand how little thinking and logic actually goes into right wing dogma.

                    • bad12 …
                      8 July 2014 at 10:35 am

                      Considering we both appear to be voting for the same Party Haranguer, ie: InternetMana your question would seem to be pretty much void,

                      Of course there is miles of debate to be had surrounding just ‘who’ you include in the best interests category of citizens,

                      i am though sure that you could politely discuss for hours why the poor should remain so right???…

                    • marty mars …
                      8 July 2014 at 10:39 am

                      remember the days when we used to tit for tat vto – ahh good times. As for the odd couple – seems pretty one-sided to me.

                    • phillip ure …
                      8 July 2014 at 10:41 am

                      i wd like to nominate lone haraunger for this months’ false-equivalence-award…

                    • vto …
                      8 July 2014 at 10:43 am

                      Yes I well recall marty mars. Found it all pretty tough and rough actually and wouldn’t like to go back there….

                    • The Al1en …
                      8 July 2014 at 10:53 am

                      Vto and Marty, sitting in a tree 😆

                      I’m sure when the election campaign gets under way for real, we’ll see more love ins and less look outs, but then given human nature, there are still bound to be disagreements.
                      At the end of the road, we are, wing nuts aside, united against a common foe.

                    • freedom …
                      8 July 2014 at 11:09 am

                      To The Lone Haranguer, your apparent failure to glean the positive character of people is what I find illustrated by your comment. Like many here I tend to give their ongoing discussions a wide berth and think we all have reached a comfortable détente in our individual communications which vary topic to topic, person to person. That does not mean I believe their behaviour can be translated as something endemic of the political left in New Zealand.

                      Look at it this way…I see bad12 and Phillip ure’s ongoing ‘debates’ in the same way I would view two brothers who signed up to fight for Queen & Country in WWI and found themselves stationed within the same Company.

                      Siblings full of character and passion who spend 85% of their time in the trenches beating the living crap out of each other, filling each others boots with cold tea leaves, writing jokes and improper cartoons onto the other’s letters home but when that whistle was blown were the first over the top and the very ones you wanted by your side as you clawed back the territory lost by the incompetent decisions of the Generals safely ensconced at their desks miles behind the decaying bodies strewn along the front lines.

                      [lprent: I don’t tend to moderate much of the usual internecine bickering. Eventually it just drops back to a detente of agreeing to disagree. One of the reasons for this site to exist is to allow those differences of opinion to be aired so that they don’t wind up festering and eventually interfering with campaign and coalition level politics. On the left we all need each other and the differing views to build a adaptable left. ]

                    • The Lone Haranguer …
                      8 July 2014 at 11:13 am

                      TRP, I cant (and have no wish to) argue with history – my concern is about the future.

                      Im just not seeing a unified Left, and I think we need one.

                      VTO, I beg to differ. Its not just these two who apparently can not agree, the other week there was widespread bitching about Trotter – actually thats often a theme around here, and throw in the Cunliffe lovers, and the Cunliffe haters, the policy lovers and the policy haters, and I think it amazing that you can mock the “unthinking right wing dogma” when it seems that “the Left” can not themselves agree on what they believe.

                      And Mr Ure. is there a big cash prize coming with your flash sounding “False equivalence” award? Put up $100 with my award and I will give your $100 and match it with my $100 and we can both give it to the Christchurch City Mission. And get a tax rebate too so theres proof of our donations.

                    • karol …
                      8 July 2014 at 11:26 am

                      Some of us are just not in a highly combative approach to politics. That approach is dominated by treating it as a “game”- pick your team and then try to do as much damage to other teams as possible.

                      I’d rather see a more collaborative approach, especially between left wing parties. There’s a place for respectful criticism, including of the party chosen for the tick in the election: but constantly disparaging other “teams” doesn’t do anything for broader left wing collaboration.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      8 July 2014 at 4:01 pm

                      TLH, I doubt you are raising this in good faith.

                      The strength of democratic decision making is its ability to reduce the influence of ubiquitous bias, not in eradicating said bias.

                      We bicker, then we vote, then we bicker some more. You have a pack of nodding dogs.

                    • KJT …
                      8 July 2014 at 4:46 pm

                      If you want a bunch of “authoritarian followers” singing form the same song sheet, look towards ACT, or National these days.

                      The strength of the left, in New Zealand at least, is our diversity of ideas, opinions and experience.

                      The things I learn from the diversity of opinions and ideas, is why I am here.

                      Some of us have what someone called “huge testosterone fuelled arguments” (Not really the right term as there are women participating at times as well), but we all have the same goals, a better society, even some of the right wingers, and we still respect each other in the morning”.

                      I am convinced that the tension, and battle of ideas, between Labour, Greens, Internet/Mana and maybe New Zealand first is going to result in much more robust and well thought out decisions, when they are in Parliament.

                    • phillip ure …
                      8 July 2014 at 5:06 pm

                      @kjt..

                      ..+ 1..

                    • swordfish …
                      8 July 2014 at 7:00 pm

                      @ The LH

                      (1) The on-going spat between Phillip and Bad has little to do with policy or broad ideological direction.

                      (2) It involves just 2 (occasionally 3 or 4) individuals.

                      (3) You obviously haven’t noticed, but neither of them are among the leadership of the Labour, Green or IMP parties.

                      (4) This relatively minor bickering is absolutely nowt compared to the abuse that regularly goes on among your Kiwiblog chums – Big Bruv vs Dad4Justice being just one, prominent example.

                      But then, of course, you’re being disingenuous anyway, so I’m really wasting my time with this reply.

                  • bad12 …
                    8 July 2014 at 10:29 am

                    Thank you for aquainting me with your much maligned status Phillip, you poor poor little victim you…

                • minarch …
                  8 July 2014 at 1:26 pm

                  you really do have a hard on for Phillip dont you Bad ?

      • Francis 2.1.2
        8 July 2014 at 2:33 pm

        I see that Labour set aside $50 million in their budget for “food in schools”, so I wonder why they replied “no” in the survey?

        • McFlock 2.1.2.1
          8 July 2014 at 2:45 pm

          I’m wondering if they’re planning to target the funding, whereas the food in schools question was across the board?

          Don’t know what their policy is, but the question was pretty clear about starting at lower decile schools and progressively going for all schools.

        • bad12 2.1.2.2
          8 July 2014 at 2:48 pm

          That’s interesting Francis, have you got a link to where this is found online,(perhaps poor old Labour is being much maligned about the program)…

    • Rodel 2.2
      8 July 2014 at 5:44 pm

      Very disappointed with National their ‘concerns’ about child poverty are just empty words but when it comes to specific actions, they’re nowhere to be seen.
      You’ve just lost another vote, National.
      ……ho hum

    • dimebag russell 2.3
      8 July 2014 at 6:27 pm

      bryan bruce is another nitwit journo who thinks he knows everything and if you are going to vote for the evil spirits in the Nazgul party then pick up your crap and take a hike.
      and no you are not rite.
      you cant spell like heka paratai and you cant reed.
      byeeeeeeee.

  3. Paul 3
    8 July 2014 at 7:40 am

    Is this the Herald starting a campaign to block the rail link?http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11289315

    • Paul 3.1
      8 July 2014 at 7:44 am

      Media bias watch #2 for the day…and it isn’t even 8 a.m.!

      Listening to Espiner’s aggressive approach to Penny Webster and his softly softly stance to George Wood. She had to ask him at least twice to stop interrupting her.
      Espiner joins the Herlad in creating panic about Auckland rates. His line of attack would suggest there is a concerted attack on the rail link.
      RNZ slips further towards mediocrity….

      • Tiger Mountain 3.1.1
        8 July 2014 at 8:47 am

        E–spinner remains unlistenable and must be causing some drop off for RNZ figures. As others have speculated is that what the political masters want so public broadcasting gets further downgraded?

        Hope endures that post election he will daily face a bunch of left bloc government MPs and even Winston too that would send the slimy creep packing.

        • Paul 3.1.1.1
          8 July 2014 at 8:55 am

          Good description of Espiner

        • dimebag russell 3.1.1.2
          8 July 2014 at 4:54 pm

          guyon espinner is a little toad and should be sacked forthwith.
          there is no doubt that he will be sacked after the election but that is not soon enough to maintain some semblance of objectivity in the nations debate.

  4. Paul 4
    8 July 2014 at 7:50 am

    Bernard Orsman: Hey big spender, you’re in a deep financial hole
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11289303

    Pity Bernard Osman does not direct his comments to this extremely large hole being created by Mr Key and Mr English.

    http://www.nationaldebtclocks.org/debtclock/newzealand

    Ah, but he works for the NZ Herald.

    • Madge Roberts 4.1
      8 July 2014 at 9:51 am

      Sure, but what spending cuts do you suggest government makes?

      • Jackal 4.1.1
        8 July 2014 at 11:39 am

        There are a number of projects that have terrible benefit–cost ratios that should never have gone ahead. In fact it appears that National has borrowed to fund these projects simply to give their mates an income stream.

        A good place to save money would be to halt any projects that haven’t started yet which show no overall benefit. National’s build it and they will come philosophy clearly isn’t logical or economically sustainable.

        The other problem is that the amount of borrowing doesn’t correspond with the amount of projects being funded. Much of New Zealand’s infrastructure is still dilapidated even though National has borrowed a whopping $60 billion. That’s around six times more borrowing than Muldoon’s think big projects, with nothing to really show for it.

        Tracking down all that money and ensuring it hasn’t been wasted or stolen would be another good area to make some savings. We need tangible and practicable infrastructure in New Zealand, not anymore white elephants that will not provide any real financial return on the investment.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.2
        8 July 2014 at 11:48 am

        Madge, are you aware that there are two sides to the revenue/spending coin?

        Luckily, the left has heard of ‘revenue’, and also consistently produces higher per-capita GDP than the right. Consistently: yes, they do, the evidence is in. So they always have more ‘revenue’ to work with.

        Left wing economic management: nine years of surpluses. Public debt down to practically zero.

      • Paul 4.1.3
        8 July 2014 at 5:37 pm

        No cuts…except for subsidies to polluters
        Just tax the wealthy more – higher income tax rate, Capital Gains tax, Inheritance tax.
        Raise corporate tax, close down loopholes on multinationals.
        Tax unhealthy foods
        You know… make the spongers in society pay their share.,

      • Draco T Bastard 4.1.4
        8 July 2014 at 7:30 pm

        Neither local government nor central government should be making cuts – they should be raising taxes to cover the costs.

  5. phillip ure 5
    8 July 2014 at 8:56 am

    “..The Real Reason Pot Is Still Illegal..

    …Opponents of marijuana-law reform insist that legalisation is dangerous —

    • but the biggest threat is to their own bottom line..”

    (cont..)

    (think the booze-pushers who have had successive lab/nat-govts in their pockets..)

    http://www.thenation.com/article/180493/anti-pot-lobbys-big-bankroll

    • phillip ure 5.1
      8 July 2014 at 9:25 am

      booze-pushers are terrified at the idea of cannabis-legalisation..

      ..’cos it will effect their bottom-lines..

      ..as alcohol-consumption will drop..

      ..replaced by the much safer grow-yr-own cannabis..

      ..btw..after six months of legalisation in colorado..

      ..all the signs are good..big tax revenues/income..

      ..and with a (surprising?) drop in violent-crime registered..

      (mellow-high..instead of pissed/drunk..see..!..)

      ..and because of that now proven drop in violent-crime after cannabis legalisation..

      ..i am awaiting/expecting the sensible-sentencing-clowns to swing in behind pot-legalisation..

      ..why wouldn’t they..?

      ..if they were true to their crime-fighting/harm-minimisation reasons-for-being claims..eh..?

      http://whoar.co.nz/?s=colorado

    • Tiger Mountain 5.2
      8 July 2014 at 9:35 am

      one toke over the line sweet jesus dept;

      • vote Internet/Mana if you support furthering cannabis reform

      • this is however a bit of a dead end issue a few weeks out from an election, do not expect ‘stoner Dave’ or Russ and Met to make any promising noises.

      • it will be revisited for sure though if even in the belly of the “war on drugs” beast, the USA, liberalisation is happening,
      note: cannabis use will not become compulsory when eventually decriminalised etc

  6. phillip ure 6
    8 July 2014 at 10:05 am

    (this one is for those that laugh/jeer/crack bacon-jokes about animal-slavery/factory-farming..

    ..those who claim it doesn’t matter..’cos pigs etc..aren’t sentient-creatures..)

    “..Elephant ‘cries’ while being rescued – after 50 years of abuse in India..

    “..When Raju was being rescued – volunteers said they saw tears rolling down his face.

    Pooja Binepal – from Wildlife SOS UK, said: “The team were astounded to see tears roll down his face during the rescue.

    It was so incredibly emotional for all of us.

    “We knew in our hearts he realised he was being freed.

    “Elephants are not only majestic – but they are highly intelligent animals –

    • who have been proven to have feelings of grief –
    • so we can only imagine what torture half a century has been like for him..”

    (cont..)

    (fact-check:..pigs are also ‘highly intelligent animals’..some say smarter than dogs..

    ..and no doubt those laughing/making bacon-jokes..wd no doubt be horrified at the idea of eating dogs..eh..?

    ..their ignorances are as wide as they are deep..)

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/elephant-cries-while-being-rescued-after-50-years-of-abuse-in-india-9589665.html

    • The Al1en 6.1
      8 July 2014 at 10:15 am

      “(fact-check:..pigs are also ‘highly intelligent animals’..some say smarter than dogs..”

      It’s true, I saw it in Babe. That little pig was amazingly smart.

      “.and no doubt those laughing/making bacon-jokes..wd no doubt be horrified at the idea of eating dogs..eh..?”

      A perversion of the old rspca adverts every November in GB, a dog is not just for Christmas – With a bit of luck you’ll have some left over for boxing day.

      “..their ignorances are as wide as they are deep..”

      Tell me the one about the one trick pony.

      • bad12 6.1.1
        8 July 2014 at 10:51 am

        Plants also Alien, although the science proving just how smart plants really are is only in its infancy,

        Some are able to ‘manufacture’ up to 3000 different chemicals in response to differing stimulation, one plant scientist refers to this chemical manufacture as ‘plant language’

        The bean stalk experiment, one anyone can conduct at home, shows Plants can ‘sense/see’ an item introduced into the enviroment which does not physically effect the Plant, but, the Plant none-the-less responds physically to the presence,

        The caterpillar recording is another piece of work that shows that Plants are not only effected by the physical in the enviroment, where Plant scientists played a recording of a caterpillar munching on a different Plant, a known enemy of the particular plant, to the Plant and it reacted, releasing chemicals to deter the caterpillar, a reaction only ever recorded befor in the presence of an actual caterpillar,(strongly suggestive of this particular Plant being able to ‘hear’),

        Some people mutilate and kill these sensitive creations of nature simply for their own pleasure…

    • vto 6.2
      8 July 2014 at 10:38 am

      No surprise there methinks. Mankind has been underestimating animals and their abilities for donkeys. Like the one about sharks mistaking swimmers for seals ….. I mean sheesh, a human can tell the difference between the two yet we presume that sharks, who have been swimming in the briny since before humans even existed, cannot tell the difference? What arrogance is that?

  7. Paul 7
    8 July 2014 at 10:09 am

    The Herald shows the level at which it can discuss serious issues.
    The continued dumbing down of debate in this country.
    Well done Mr Murphy. The 0.01% love you.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11289535

  8. ianmac 8
    8 July 2014 at 10:25 am

    A bit cheeky to put a post here sent from my wife but I was thinking of public transport around NZ cities and the opportunities for development in Christchurch or Auckland or anywhere here:

    “Travelling and transport around Copenhagen and the larger island of Zealand is seamless and very easy. We have purchased a Copenhagen card which allows us unlimited use of all transport networks, discounts in restaurants, cafes, services and full entrance to major attractions. The unlimited use of all the transport networks is the real plus as this has allowed us to travel all around the Zealand Island. Copenhagen is a major cycling city with 40% of the population riding bikes around the city. This resonates out into the provinces. Everyone rides a bike. Every road has a cycle lane, inclusive of traffic lights just for the bikes. To accommodate so many cyclists the trains are equipped to carry bikes. There are special carriages on every train designated for cycles….

  9. Rosie 9
    8 July 2014 at 10:41 am

    All stand for a huge round of applause for John Darroch and the Farmwatch crew. Last week John posted on his work as an animal rights campaigner:

    http://thestandard.org.nz/pig-farming-expose-a-personal-perspective/

    The latest exposure of the cruel and inhumane treatment of darling pigs has attracted some much needed media attention. Last night John was interviewed on 3 News and Labour have announced that they will ban factory farming of pigs by 2017. Reason # 542 to vote out this couldn’t-care-less-about-anything government.

    In the meantime Nathan Guy lurks around nonchalantly as if it’s business as usual and he’s got the votes of the farming sector to think about out there in the Otaki electorate. Don’t forget this is the guy that admitted to smashing a calves skull with a hammer so wouldn’t bat an eyelid at cruelty against pigs.

    Well done John, all your hard and difficult work and sacrifice has paid off.

    • vto 9.1
      8 July 2014 at 10:47 am

      Nathan Guy is an obsessive. To him it is all about primary production at all costs. Hence why we lost all our Kauri forests.

      Nathan Guy is from the 1800’s.

  10. phillip ure 10
    8 July 2014 at 11:14 am

    why is it that the most obvious outcome/’sore’ from this 30 yr rand-ite/neo-lib/fuck-the-poor! experiment..

    ..the 15,000 men/women/children sleeping-rough in auckland every nite..

    ..why is this onerous/odious fact not front and centre in the political-dialogue currently underway..?

  11. karol 11
    8 July 2014 at 11:46 am

    Vernon Small reports that the government surplus is in doubt:

    The Budget deficit was tracking $332 million worse than forecast for the 11 months to the end of May, throwing doubt on the forecast 2014/15 Budget surplus.

    Treasury said the budget deficit excluding gains and losses (Obegal) was $1.1 billion against $770m forecast in the May 15 Budget update, due to softer than expected GST and corporate tax returns.

    So much for the rockstar economy – rockstars, rise and fall and there’s no certainty of remaining a “star”.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 11.1
      8 July 2014 at 12:01 pm

      snap

    • Rosie 11.2
      8 July 2014 at 12:14 pm

      And Bill English on the radio just before, completely in la la land, saying that consumers are keeping the money from their pay rises in their pockets, and being cautious as an explanation for the less than expected GST take.

      A) What pay increases?
      B)Being cautious? More like being broke and can’t afford even the basics, let alone a treat.

      • vto 11.2.1
        8 July 2014 at 12:16 pm

        The economy went past its peak a couple month ago. See it in our biz and indicators in other sectors suggest similar.

      • David H 11.2.2
        9 July 2014 at 8:16 am

        +100 Rosie
        It’s hard enough just keeping the basics on the table.

  12. One Anonymous Bloke 12
    8 July 2014 at 12:00 pm

    Treasury tea party leaves fail again. Again.

    They’re shit at their job, and yet they feel entitled to dictate education policy. Time for a major clean-out. Maklouf first.

    • fender 12.1
      8 July 2014 at 1:02 pm

      +1
      AGAIN…

      Just as well they don’t attempt to predict the weather, thousands would perish every day after leaving home in togs…

  13. phillip ure 13
    8 July 2014 at 1:04 pm

    3,000 rugby neck/spine injuries resulting in acc claims..each fucken year..?

    ..time to switch from rugby to soccer..

    ..that is crazy..

    ..3,000 per year..

    ..600 every fucken wk..?…!!!

    • NZ Femme 13.1
      8 July 2014 at 1:18 pm

      Do you have a link Phil?

    • KJT 13.2
      8 July 2014 at 1:37 pm

      With the mayhem from some of our soccer matches, I am not sure about that one.

      All sports have risks.

      But so does doing nothing.

      • phillip ure 13.2.1
        8 July 2014 at 2:07 pm

        600 per wk..?

        ..are you fucken kidding..?

        ..you can just wave that away..?

      • swordfish 13.2.2
        8 July 2014 at 7:22 pm

        From my footballing days – conventional/competitive Saturday football was where you got the major injuries, but the inter-team violence was always much more likely to happen in the Indoor variety. Something to do with all that effort in a confined space.

    • bad12 13.3
      8 July 2014 at 2:58 pm

      When you attend kindergarten for all that much needed remedial English Phillip you might want to have your ability at math started again from the bottom rung,

      They could start you off with a little set of colored wooden blocks, ”now Phillip you have 3 red blocks and one blue block, what have you got”,(600x the weeks in a year is???)…

      • minarch 13.3.1
        8 July 2014 at 3:03 pm

        yep

        big raging hard-on

        • bad12 13.3.1.1
          8 July 2014 at 3:37 pm

          Ah look, i has attracted a stalker with a fixation about hard ons, there’s plenty of porn sites for you to explore these little fixations in, or is that just where you have sprung from…

          • minarch 13.3.1.1.1
            8 July 2014 at 5:19 pm

            your the one who spent all that time locked up with all those big burly bad men

            reminds me certain of a tool song ………….

            • phillip ure 13.3.1.1.1.1
              8 July 2014 at 5:20 pm

              heh..!..

            • bad12 13.3.1.1.1.2
              8 July 2014 at 5:35 pm

              Your comment history is strongly suggestive of you being as deranged as your mate, i did tho really really like in the vein of, Ha H Ha what a fucking fruit loop, the one about you all being so tough out in your burb that the plods were too fearful to come there,

              Fanatasyland much miniarch…

            • bad12 13.3.1.1.1.3
              8 July 2014 at 6:29 pm

              And your drivel minarch looks akin to something penned by someone with an anus fantasy, i am not sure which is the funnier, your anal fixation or your ”we are so tough in my burb the cops wont even come there”,

              ”we are so hard that we sort it all without the cops”, i thought your mate sprayed it, but, in a few comments you put poor old Loose Head Len to utter shame…

  14. The Al1en 14
    8 July 2014 at 1:38 pm

    Hamilton couple donate $500k to Colin Craig’s Conservatives
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11289619

    “Apart from Craig, the biggest donor to the party is Laurence Day, of Hamilton, who handed over $100,000. I asked him about his stand on the smacking law. He said, “A step too far.” Same with gay marriage? “Yes.” His wife, Katrina, is the party’s electorate chair in Hamilton East. The Days belong to the Church of Latter Day Saints.”
    http://metromag.co.nz/current-affairs/uncle-colin/

    So that’s $600k. Rich pricks can’t get into their heaven with all that loot, so rather than donate to rid the nation of poverty, they support another rich prick with odd religious leanings.
    Good stuff Hamilton couple. 🙄

    • fender 14.1
      8 July 2014 at 1:58 pm

      From the Herald article: “……….taking their total payments to the party to $675,000.”

      More money than sense, as the saying goes.

      There’s something very weird about the way Craig poses for photographs; like showing his palms to prove there’s no hair on them and staring out to sea wearing a suit waiting for someone to arrive. He looks certifiable to me…

      • minarch 14.1.1
        8 July 2014 at 5:27 pm

        i think hes trying to show you his stigmata

        well HE knows its there any way …

        • phillip ure 14.1.1.1
          8 July 2014 at 5:33 pm

          this might freak some people out..

          ..but i have stigmata..crosses in the centre of both palms..

          ..should i go and flash them @ col..?..and freak him out..?

          ..and my name in celtish means ‘the holy one’…

          ..whoar..!..eh..?

          • bad12 14.1.1.1.1
            8 July 2014 at 6:43 pm

            Pfft, i couldn’t possibly comment,snigger, (except to ask which dialect of the 6 Celtic languages are you quoting, one i looked up described it as an orifice pluck)….

    • vto 14.2
      8 July 2014 at 8:08 pm

      There is something completely and utterly wrong about being able to give such colossal amounts to political parties….

      and the reason is simple

      it completely and utterly discriminates against people with less or no means. It creates two types of citizen within the democratic system. Those with money get more influence and those without money get significantly less. The political parties that pander to the rich will fair better than political parties that pander to the poor. And that stinks. And leads eventually to a terrible and unsustainable society dominated by the rich people – French revolution anyone?

      The situation is abhorrent and ugly. It is demeaning to any idea of equality of man. It is a disgusting pus-filled sore that must be lanced quickly and decisively.

      The system is pig-ugly. It debases our principles of equality and egalitarianism – there is neither while this system lives.

      It must be killed dead.

      • The Al1en 14.2.1
        8 July 2014 at 8:38 pm

        I quite agree, take the money out of politics completely.
        I’d be happy for the state to fund electioneering, ad campaigns and so on. At least we’d know who was paying what, without buying influence or setting agendas.

        I noticed when googling the couple, they made a submission to keep a nearby sub development section size at over 5000 sqm. Obviously not ones for living in the real world with the rest of us.
        Hope Colin’s accountant does a runner to a non extradition country with all their hard earned.
        Fu*k ’em 😆

        • vto 14.2.1.1
          8 July 2014 at 9:07 pm

          Yep it needs to be something neutral but most importantly, equal.

          It must be that the man on the digger has the same political voice as the man at the bank.

          Perhaps, if it was to be state funding, then it should be relatively modest in amount. This would force those standing for election out into the electorates. Physical presence rather than electronic presence – after all the electorates are smaller in size today than prior to days of tv and the like, plus transport is easier and cheaper, so it should be easier to pound the pavements than it was when they actually did pound the pavements. They could each be given a soapbox to speak from.

          Whatever the solution is, it needs to come fast and hard. The political system must be equal to all – the current system is rotten to the core.

          edit – and do we take aim personally at donors such as this Hamilton couple? I think yes – if they step into the political arena to such an extent then they become open to scrutiny and criticism. Absolutely they do.

      • Draco T Bastard 14.2.2
        8 July 2014 at 9:23 pm

        it completely and utterly discriminates against people with less or no means. It creates two types of citizen within the democratic system. Those with money get more influence and those without money get significantly less. The political parties that pander to the rich will fair better than political parties that pander to the poor. And that stinks. And leads eventually to a terrible and unsustainable society dominated by the rich people – French revolution anyone?

        The rich have always been the main cause of the collapse of societies and our politicians have been catering to these sociopaths for the last thirty years. The economists for even longer.

      • Puddleglum 14.2.3
        8 July 2014 at 10:14 pm

        Agreed vto.

        I remember Rodney Hide echoing the US right in saying that limiting election donations was limiting free speech.

        The logical follow through of that thinking is that richer people must have more free speech than poorer people.

        The implications are not only for democratic processes, then, but for our whole view of equal civil rights.

  15. One Anonymous Bloke 15
    8 July 2014 at 3:19 pm

    Smoke and mirrors…

    According to the report, the top 1 per cent of New Zealand received 8 per cent of all taxable income in 2010 and 2011, down from 9 per cent in the 1990s.

    Meanwhile luxury car sales are up.

    So what’s the deal? Are they poorer or is the clue right there in the very last sentence of the article trumpeting no extra inequality? Taxable, eh. Funny that.

    • McFlock 15.1
      8 July 2014 at 3:50 pm

      what irks me is that the stuff headline was “Rich:poor gap not growing”.
      It might more accurately be “no longer growing until treasury issue their ‘correction’ after the election.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 15.1.1
        8 July 2014 at 3:55 pm

        Yes, the take-home message has been delivered, despite the proof of reality contained in the very last sentence.

        In other news, only one third of those who read the headline will read the article, and of those, only one ninth will make it to the end.

        • Bill 15.1.1.1
          8 July 2014 at 10:04 pm

          I believe OxfamNZ recently reported that 10% of the population controls 90% of the country’s wealth.

  16. dimebag russell 16
    8 July 2014 at 3:41 pm

    if its a tory with a hard on you can guarantee they need viagra for performance!

  17. freedom 17
    8 July 2014 at 5:45 pm

    AN “OVERSIGHT” ?!?
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10244853/CTV-journalists-barred-from-wreath-laying

    Why were CTV not at the very top of the media list?

    • greywarbler 17.1
      8 July 2014 at 10:40 pm

      Looking at the stuff item on Christchurch memorial visit by the Prime Minister and his wife from Japan. It seems that the media is a moving feast. And can be moved on a whim.
      We are frustrated and disappointed [CTV] to not have been invited and were embarrassed in front of Christchurch media to have been sent away.”
      CTV is apopletic, the police are apologetic. If it’s Christchurch and problems, it’s magnetic.
      Mr Brownlee is finding it hard to incline his head a little, and his bulk does not allow him to match the deep bow of respect of the Japanese Prime couple.

      And what the media reports can be wrong.
      … Among those victims were employees of the station and 28 Japanese students*. …
      * An earlier version of this story said 12 Japanese students died in the CTV building. This was incorrect.
      (Only 16 dead students out.)

      • Colonial Viper 17.1.1
        8 July 2014 at 10:53 pm

        there are way too many people in the middle and upper middle management/administrative tiers of this country who are either shite, or shite and asleep at the wheel.

  18. Rodel 18
    8 July 2014 at 5:52 pm

    The latest strategy of Tories on blogs and letters to the editors seems to be,

    “I was a Labour supporter but because of XYZ they just lost my vote.”

    I’ve seen quite a bit of it lately but it is such obvious nonsense.
    They should try something less transparent.

    • Rodel 18.1
      8 July 2014 at 6:22 pm

      TV3 “news” tonight.
      They found two Pacific Islanders in South Auckland to spout the “I was Labour but now I’m not’ mantra..& .John Key feels the love- Oh please!

      • freedom 18.1.1
        8 July 2014 at 6:34 pm

        The reason given was because of same sex marriage. What is National telling people in South Auckland to get their vote? Does National plan to repeal the law if they win a third term ?
        Or did they simply forget to mention the fact 27 National MP’s voted for the law?

        • Anne 18.1.1.1
          8 July 2014 at 6:50 pm

          Well it obvious they’re push polling freedom.

          Commenting starts here:

          http://thestandard.org.nz/a-quick-note-to-john-key/#comment-846006

          Also Whatevernext at 18 on same thread.

          • freedom 18.1.1.1.1
            8 July 2014 at 7:05 pm

            There was certainly nothing convincing in the stage managed delivery of the message. The woman they spoke to seemed very unsure what to say and the guy appeared devoid of any personal relationship to the pro-nat information he was sharing.

            Seems it is not just the Obama 2012 images that TeamKey are stealing
            they must be replaying the whole Obama 2012 campaign

            • Rodel 18.1.1.1.1.1
              8 July 2014 at 9:48 pm

              freedom ….Yes-‘not convincing’ and ‘stage managed’ were the words.

      • swordfish 18.1.2
        8 July 2014 at 7:45 pm

        I’ll just link to my comment from a month ago – where I provide a brief overview of the long history of the MSM proclaiming the end of Pasifika support for Labour. It’s been going on for a fair few years now, the story always seeded by the National Party and uncritically taken up by the media …http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-12062014/#comment-829668 Meanwhile, the Pasifika community just keep on voting Labour regardless.

  19. Clean_power 19
    8 July 2014 at 6:35 pm

    The Auckland budget debacle will signal the end of the line for Major Len Brown, who will go down in history as a philanderer and incompetent.

    • Te Reo Putake 19.1
      8 July 2014 at 7:05 pm

      The same righty form comment from time of the affair, with the addition of the word ‘incompetent’. Same result though, Len Brown keeps winning the mayoral election until he doesn’t want to be mayor any more. Sucks being an Auckland Tory, eh?

      • phillip ure 19.1.1
        8 July 2014 at 7:27 pm

        why brown grinds my gears..

        ..is because he..and the ‘green’ wellington mayor..wade-brown..

        ..both when first campaigning for the job of mayor..

        ..promised to ‘help the homeless’..

        ..and since being elected..

        ..both have done diddly-squat..

        ..wade-brown tho’ has campaigned for/secured funding for a new/flashed up war memorial..

        ..which is what the homeless of wellington really need..

        ..and brown hasn’t mentioned the homeless..

        ..since being first elected..

        ..and there are now 15,000 men/women/children sleeping-rough in ak..2nite..

        ..way to go..!..len..!

        ..there for the people..!..eh..?

        ..you lying fucken toad..

        ..you are no fucken better than key and those other uncaring/fuck-the-poor! tory-shites..

        ..in fact you are worse..

        ..’cos you fucken pretend to care…

        ..at least they are upfront with their shit-headedness..

        ..you pretend to be better.

        ..but you ain’t…

        • Te Reo Putake 19.1.1.1
          8 July 2014 at 7:32 pm

          Sorry, Phil, couldn’t read that. Do you have a problem with Brown? As well as English?

          • bad12 19.1.1.1.1
            8 July 2014 at 7:43 pm

            It could have read TRP that Brown’s council is running round our West in Ranui issuing eviction notices to those trapped in the ‘holiday park’ out there who have nowhere else to go because the ‘holiday park’ in question isn’t supposed to house these people for long periods,

            An unkind person might come to the conclusion that Brown’s council is working hand in glove with Paula Bennett who had earlier held meetings out there trying to stir up trouble with the tenants(who incidently told Paula to F off),

            i don’t think Phillip was trying to say that, just something similar…

          • phillip ure 19.1.1.1.2
            8 July 2014 at 7:54 pm

            no capital letters to direct you..and yr lost..eh..?

            ..and yes..i do have ‘a problem’ with brown..

            ..and wade-brown..

        • bad12 19.1.1.2
          8 July 2014 at 7:55 pm

          Phillip, a citation is needed for both your little squirts in the direction of Celia, last time i took the tour, every night for a number of months, the homeless in Wellington were not much more numerous than usual, the citation here is needed to put the proof of Wade-Brown making promises vis a vis ‘the homeless’,(another plucked out of the bottemless hole you have stuffed full of them perhaps),

          The war memorial Phillip???,National Government project given the green light by the Clark Government, no Council monies involved, actually a bit of a bonus for the hard core rough sleepers as well,

          It brings more of the old Museum bush down into the city, just up the road from the soup kitchen, you could say seamless living, from kitchen to bedroom with a number of old tunnels in the side of the Museum hill being utilized as the doss…

    • Draco T Bastard 19.2
      8 July 2014 at 7:46 pm

      And still better than the corrupt Banks or, well, pretty much any independent RWNJ that National would back.

      • phillip ure 19.2.1
        8 July 2014 at 8:01 pm

        how exactly is he ‘better’..?

        i must have missed that..

        ..remind me again..!

        • Draco T Bastard 19.2.1.1
          8 July 2014 at 8:40 pm

          Well, one way is that he’s not going round promising lower rates while massively increasing borrowing without telling anyone. I’m sure that a lot of Auckland’s present financial difficulty can be slated back to Banks incompetence and lying.

          • phillip ure 19.2.1.1.1
            8 July 2014 at 8:54 pm

            yes..banks increased debt from a low level to a seeming (at the time) whopping $750 million..

            ..but he was a bumbling amateur in the debt-building business..

            ..compared to brown..

            ..so..yes..he was ‘better’ at that..

            ..got anything else..?

            .that whole top-heavy/bloated place needs an efficiency-audit..

            ..do you know how many fucken spin-doctor trouts they have working there..?

            ..the first thing you’d do..is fire all of them..

            ..w.t.f. do they do all day..?

            ..how the fuck do they justify their existance..?

            ..how the fuck does brown get to cry ‘poor’…

            ..yet he is happy for the ratepayers to fund all of these fucken leeches..?

            • Draco T Bastard 19.2.1.1.1.1
              8 July 2014 at 9:18 pm

              but he was a bumbling amateur in the debt-building business..

              ..compared to brown..

              Oh, BS.

              Compare Manukau’s books while Brown was mayor compared to Auckland’s when Banks was mayor. Then, of course, we’re stuck with the balls up that Hide and National through at us. If Super-city had been implemented they way that the royal commission had advised we wouldn’t be having the debts and rates issues.

              Is Brown a good mayor? Yeah, he seems pretty good although he leans too far to the right for my liking.

              how the fuck does brown get to cry ‘poor’…

              He gets to cry poor because National set it up so that he’d have to. If Banks had got in I’m sure that National would have been there with an open cheque book and then the rest of the country really would have had something to complain about re subsidising Auckland.

              • phillip ure …
                8 July 2014 at 9:20 pm

                and what is council debt now..?

                ..compared to that $750 million banks racked up..?

                ..how many billion is it..?

                ..how many multiples of banks’ total..?

                ..and you don’t think council is a bloated/middle-management sodden/inefficient behemoth..?

                ..with how many spin-doctors..?

  20. dimebag russell 20
    8 July 2014 at 7:40 pm

    I would like to know just what National is going to do about the epidemic of cars going about at night with their rear number plate obscured.
    would it trouble the minister of police (whoever it is this week) to get off their bums and make the roads safer by directing the police to take action?

  21. Anne 21
    8 July 2014 at 9:22 pm

    How are Northland’s standardistas coping with the storm? I live on the North Shore and its getting scary. My house is shuddering and the worst is still apparently to come. More power cuts and no hot water I suppose. Damage is going to be serious and widespread!

    And still these fruit-loop ideologically driven Global Warming deniers will insist “its all part of a normal cycle”.

    • karol 21.1
      8 July 2014 at 9:26 pm

      Yep. It’s looking like it’s been getting up steam/ I’ve been out and about. The wind blowing through New Lynn town centre made it seem quite desolate – those new buildings make great wind tunnels.

      Hope Northland and the Shore stay safe.

  22. phillip ure 22
    8 July 2014 at 9:37 pm

    there is a kick-arse doco on maori tv..about shackelton..

    ..fuck maori tv is a good tv channel..!

    ..brainfood..

    ..this is the sort of stuff tvone used to do..

    ..before they went on their (still ongoing) crime-bender..

  23. Colonial Viper 23
    8 July 2014 at 9:49 pm

    No politician is allowed to oppose the banking industry for long

    Because on January 22, 2012, as Socialist presidential candidate, in a speech in Bourget that instantly went viral on a global scale, he’d pointed out, had dared to point out, the true nature of finance, not of the bank branch down the street, but that part of finance that had brought down the financial system and had triggered the great recession, a part of finance that is aided and abetted by central banks to this day:

    “I’ll tell you who my opponent is, my true opponent,” he said at the time. “He has no name, no face, no party. He will never run for office. He will not be elected. And yet he governs. My opponent is the world of finance.”

    He promised he’d rein in that world. He’d impose a tax on all its financial transactions, “a real tax,” and he’d eliminate stock options, and he’d curtail bonuses, and he’d do a million other things. And the huddled masses began to dream.

    But soon after he was anointed President of France, nuances began to appear. In September 2013, his Industrial Renewal Minister, now re-baptized Economy Minister, Arnaud Montebourg explained it this way: “Finance is like cholesterol, there is the good and the bad.”

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-07-07/no-politician-allowed-oppose-banks-long-not-even-french-president

    • vto 23.1
      8 July 2014 at 10:03 pm

      Yes but you know what colonial viper? The cat is well and truly out of the bag about the world of finance now. The game is up and they know it …..

      …. but unfortunately it will be all of us that get hurt in the implosion…

      unless ……………….

      • Colonial Viper 23.1.1
        8 July 2014 at 10:15 pm

        Yes the game is up. Not sure we can do much for the rest of the world, but we can damn well do something for NZ.

        • dave brown 23.1.1.1
          8 July 2014 at 11:29 pm

          Yes the game is up when the IMF is calling on state aid for crippled capitalism, and the OECD projections for capitalism over next 50 years is a long decline exacerbated by climate change. This comes as no surprise according to Michael Roberts
          http://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/slowing-global-growth-and-the-capitalist-future/
          and Paul Mason questions the OECDs rosy assumptions. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/07/capitalism-rich-poor-2060-populations-technology-human-rights-inequality
          All of this should be enough to prove that capitalism is doomed, posing the question whether we as a species are doomed with it.
          But never mind young people with their smart phones will rescue us.
          “The OECD’s prescription – more globalisation, more privatisation, more austerity, more migration and a wealth tax if you can pull it off – will carry weight. But not with everybody. The ultimate lesson from the report is that, sooner or later, an alternative programme to “more of the same” will emerge. Because populations armed with smartphones, and an increased sense of their human rights, will not accept a future of high inequality and low growth.”
          Maybe Internet-Mana is an early sign of this in Aotearoa.

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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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