Open mike 09/02/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 9th, 2024 - 89 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 Policy).

Step up to the mike …

89 comments on “Open mike 09/02/2024 ”

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  1. Patricia Bremner 1
    9 February 2024 at 7:29 am

    So already the cuts have begun to bite. 100 classrooms on hold, with rising immigration actively worsening things.

    Reports by the Education Minister that she is consulting is interesting. Who with ?you may ask, as Principals say they do not know what the new priorities are, and they have had no formal or face to face contact. Just a list of "On hold" since the election.

    Everyone knows from media statements 3 hours for 3 rs,

    7.5 cuts to budgets, which plus inflation is really huge. (This is capital expenditure which is not included!!) So children miss out again.

    So we are in a freeze.????

    • Muttonbird 1.1
      9 February 2024 at 7:55 am

      It makes sense when you remember the National Party was formed to stop the Labour Party doing anything. They consider 'on hold' to be fulfilling that promise.

    • Ad 1.2
      9 February 2024 at 11:30 am

      It's just the start. And it's serious.

      Mayor Wayne Brown on RNZ this morning recognised how many projects will just be stopped. Even something as big as Eastern Busway, or the new CRL trains. That was one small tax adjustment.

      Brown is forecasting the point for all other mayors: local government should be able to set the priorities for the locals who vote for them. Not Wellington.

      March has more pre-announcements going through every other Department: Health, Education, Welfare, Transport, Kainga Ora, Conservation, SSC, DPMC, Crown Law, DIA, MBIE, MfE, MoT, Maori Affairs, and all the minor quangoes like HRC. Queue groaning.

      Which state entities can defend their forecasts? I'm betting the ones that come out well: Corrections, Police, NZDF, SIS, Treasury.

      March leads to May Budget.

      With those cuts Willis gets to deliver tax cuts. As she and Luxon promised.

      • adam 1.2.1
        9 February 2024 at 4:53 pm

        Tory economic shitfuckary at it's finest.

        • Macro 1.2.1.1
          9 February 2024 at 5:07 pm

          It's TINA time again and I don't mean Tina from Turners.

          Of course there are alternatives, but not in the small minds of Tory s*bs who can't see beyond their wallet.

          • adam 1.2.1.1.1
            9 February 2024 at 5:12 pm

            As always, its the inability of Tory economics to get off it's knees from corporate blowing and jerking which is the real problem.

  2. Muttonbird 2
    9 February 2024 at 7:53 am

    Tova O'Brien makes the point I made yesterday 🙂 that Seymour is undermining Luxon by calling him nervous and a liar. I can't remember this happening before.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350173342/pm-may-want-get-his-elbows-out-over-treaty-principles-bill

    And, is anyone able to tell us what is this paywalled article?

    Luxon really needs to lance the boil that is David Seymour. Very high risk letting the situation continue.

      • Muttonbird 2.1.1
        9 February 2024 at 8:53 am

        Thanks, Hooten is rightly terrified of Seymour having the time and space to spend the huge amounts of shadowy far right wing funding on manipulating public opinion.

    • Kat 2.2
      9 February 2024 at 8:29 am

      Basically its Hooton being his usual Machiavellian self by attacking Seymour's Treaty Bill while making what seem reasonable suggestions. However on closer scrutiny they are anything but. This gem of an article is about Paul Goldsmith apologising and settling outstanding Ngati Hine grievances by putting a wedge between them and Ngapuhi. Just the sort of Maori vs Maori turmoil he would enjoy setting up.

      My view is if National really want to shut Seymour up they need to back Goldsmith in Epson. As we all know Seymour is only where he is due to the National Party's gerrymandering.

      • Rodel 2.2.1
        9 February 2024 at 8:56 am

        Gerrymandering yes but in the words of a famous (ior infamous )ex president, Epsom is always a rgged election .

      • Belladonna 2.2.2
        9 February 2024 at 1:11 pm

        Gerrymandering is manipulating electorate boundaries to favour a particular political party.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering

        I don't think that there is any evidence of this going on here, and no evidence of the Representation Commission (the organization which sets the electorate boundaries) being influenced by any political party.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_electorates#Distribution

        If you do have evidence of this occurring, then please share it.

        If you mean that Seymour is using MMP to increase ACT representation in parliament – by gaining a higher individual vote in Epsom than the ACT party vote – and that this is reprehensible; then you would have to condemn virtually every TPM MP for doing the same thing – I think in every Maori electorate the party vote was higher for Labour than it was for TPM.

        • Muttonbird 2.2.2.1
          9 February 2024 at 1:25 pm

          No, the equivalent would be Labour and TPM entering an agreement where Labour deliberately throws Maori seats by encouraging voters to vote for TPM candidate.

          Perhaps you have evidence of this happening in the last election?

          • Belladonna 2.2.2.1.1
            9 February 2024 at 1:40 pm

            Regardless of whether you agree with the practice or not – it is not gerrymandering.

            • Muttonbird 2.2.2.1.1.1
              9 February 2024 at 1:58 pm

              Sure, but your comparison was false. Likely deliberately in an effort to water down the unscrupulous National/ACT arrangement in Epsom.

              • Belladonna …
                9 February 2024 at 2:05 pm

                Is it worse for political parties to openly signal to their (potential) voters? Or for there to just be a nudge and a wink?

                Tactical voting is part and parcel of MMP.

                • Muttonbird …
                  9 February 2024 at 2:34 pm

                  Difference being there's collusion between National and ACT in Epsom, but none in the Maori electorates between Labour and TPM which is what you implied with the comparison.

                  Like I said, a good way to dilute the mischievousness in Epsom is to claim both sides do it, even if that is untrue.

                • bwaghorn …
                  9 February 2024 at 7:06 pm

                  Tactical voting is part and parcel of MMP.

                  To point , but it's only national that have poisoned mmp by keeping act alive ,

                  • Belladonna …
                    10 February 2024 at 9:51 am

                    And I'm quite sure that the same could be said by the Right – over (for example) Jim Anderton.

                    ATM – and for the last couple of elections – ACT have not needed the 'Epsom accommodation' – since their party vote is perfectly sufficient to get them over the 5% threshold.

        • adam 2.2.2.2
          9 February 2024 at 5:08 pm

          Bugger me Belladonna.

          You get Te Pāti Māori are the smartest voters in the country, we be doing polling, we understand overhang. You and others talked about it enough. Oh and Maori know what a deal means, honour, and playing the hand that has been dealt. Te Pāti Māori don't need to beg like some serf.

          We don't need dirty deals, we have an open honest one. Old too, 11 years till hundred years in parlimentary terms with the election of Eruera and Tokouru.

          • Macro 2.2.2.2.1
            9 February 2024 at 5:15 pm

            Yep very clever voting in the Māori electorates and good on them.

          • Belladonna 2.2.2.2.2
            10 February 2024 at 9:56 am

            So tactical voting by Left voters for TPM and Green electorate candidates is fine; but tactical voting by the Right for ACT candidates is morally wrong?

            Tactical voting is the way MMP works. You can't, honestly, decry it on the right, but celebrate it on the left.

            Sooooo not interested in your offer!

            • adam 2.2.2.2.2.1
              11 February 2024 at 6:27 pm

              Straw man – argument on your part.

              No deal was made by Te Pāti Māori for seats. Unlike act and the prime member of the collective of corporate cock suckers. (CCCS)

              The moral question you raise is interesting – should parties gift other parties seats like the prime CCCS has done to act (a minor member of CCCS)?

              Nothing wrong with smart voting, just seat fixing is the moral questionable. Indeed it is a cheapening of democracy, but the right have no problem with that concept, and throw out all sorts of useful idiots to spread it's BS around it.

      • Cricklewood 2.2.3
        9 February 2024 at 5:17 pm

        Previously yes, but he's actually a very active and effective elecorate mp so I doubt a Nat candidate would get near him even with say Luxon's endorsement.

        • Belladonna 2.2.3.1
          10 February 2024 at 9:59 am

          Also Brooke Van Velden took the Tamaki electorate, in the teeth of fierce National opposition – no cup of tea there. ACT (little though you may like them) are currently pulling a substantial percentage of the vote in NZ.

    • Robert Guyton 2.3
      9 February 2024 at 8:46 am

      Has Seymour ever expressed a liking for playing chess?

      He has a series of moves available to him that threaten Luxon with, or hold him in check.

      He can crash Luxon's Government at any point and can block National from getting back in should they seek to regain their position.

      While his One Big Mission would go on hold, much of the groundwork has already been done; other branches of the Movement can continue with manipulating the public mind over the role of Māori and the hold they have on resources.

      He's backing himself and playing hardball (as well as chess) imo.

      • Muttonbird 2.3.1
        9 February 2024 at 9:00 am

        At one point I had assumed Seymour would not allow himself too be seen as a trouble maker in government, rather wanting to be a serious, dependable player.

        But now I don't think he cares, his ideological mission to dilute and disperse Te ao Māori too important to him and his backers, to the point of obsession.

    • Bearded Git 2.4
      9 February 2024 at 9:49 am

      Hooton makes some good points in his article today (paywalled) here:

      "Seymour’s bill and “information” campaign will cause ill-informed division and unnecessary angst, before being voted down 112-11 by Parliament. It will then be for Goldsmith, in both his major portfolios, to bring common sense and integrity to heal those wounds. As Justice Minister, he could pick up Prebble’s idea and strengthen everyone’s equal rights of citizenship without undermining anyone’s differing exclusive rights, including to property and other treasures. As Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, it turns to Goldsmith to succeed …. in settling the historic claims of the northern tribes of Ngāpuhi. Historic settlements don’t extinguish the Crown’s contemporary Treaty obligations but they help iwi put their fury behind them and focus on the economic and social development of their people, in partnership with or independently of the state. Nothing would do more to restore a harmonious relationship between the Crown and northern iwi, while boosting Northland’s struggling economy."

      It is interesting that Hooton has little time for Seymour.

  3. Tiger Mountain 3
    9 February 2024 at 8:55 am

    Act’s Mr Seymour tries to distance himself from Atlas Network. Check out page 7 of the 2008 Atlas Review, Mr Seymour is pictured with some then Atlas leading lights and prospects during his Canadian stint.

    https://admin.atlasnetwork.org/assets/documents/financials/22209874-Atlas-Year-in-Review-2008_1.pdf

    This should be spread far and wide. The association is provable not conspiracy. Act are attacking Te Tiriti not just for “Māori bashing” purposes, but to assist international capital to exploit NZ resources.

    • Muttonbird 3.1
      9 February 2024 at 9:03 am

      Even Gosman, [deleted] saw the problems of being associated with Atlas. Tried very hard to claim there is no such connection.

      [I’ve never heard that about Gosman before and I have no way of checking. Please don’t try and break pseudonyms. I protect them on principle, that includes RW trolls, and you. – weka]

      • Tiger Mountain 3.1.1
        9 February 2024 at 9:21 am

        From the document I linked to @ #3…

        “Graduates of the 2008 Atlas MBA for Think Tanks

        Kwadwo Afari (Citizens Network for Democracy and Economic Development, Ghana)

        Khalil Ahmad (Alternate Solutions Institute, Pakistan) Judith Auma (Inter Region Economic Network, Uganda) Matt Bufton (Institute for Liberal Studies, Canada) Brad Bergh (Caesar Rodney Institute, U.S.A.) Rosamaria Bitetti (Istituto Bruno Leoni, Italy)

        Amit Chandra (Centre for Civil Society, India)
        Alphonse Crespo (Medicine & Liberty, Switzerland)
        D. Dhanuraj (Centre for Public Policy Research, India)
        Rand Getlin (Prometheus Institute, U.S.A.)
        Matt Harrison (Prometheus Institute, U.S.A.)
        Tabriz Jabbarov (Free Minds Association, Azerbaijan)
        Biljana Janeva (OHRID Institute, Macedonia)
        Thomas David Maqway (Center for Prosperity and Economic

        Liberty, Tanzania)
        Arpita Nepal Samriddhi (The Prosperity Foundation, Nepal) Mpumelelo (Lelo) Nxumalo (Committee for the Economic

        Development of Zimbabwe)
        Javier Paz (Fundación Nueva Democracia, Bolivia)
        Omar Shaban Ismail (PalThink for Strategic Studies, Palestine) Jim Shaffer (Public Policy Foundation of West Virginia, U.S.A.) Fernando Staffieri (Fundación Libertad, Argentina)
        David Seymour (Frontier Centre for Public Policy, Canada) Corin Taylor (TaxPayers Alliance, U.K.)
        Sugey Tola (Ecuadorian Institute of Political Economy, Ecuador) Marcin Wegierski (Project Lodz Foundation, Poland) Randolph Williams (Centre for Policy Initiatives, Guyana) Batbold Zagdragchaa (New Policy Institute, Mongolia)”

      • weka 3.1.2
        9 February 2024 at 12:08 pm

        mod note.

    • Ad 3.2
      9 February 2024 at 11:33 am

      Stop worrying about ACT. They are already out-manoeuvered.

      Not even the Greens had their core legislation strangled at birth.

      • Muttonbird 3.2.1
        9 February 2024 at 6:26 pm

        Seems naive. The longer it goes on the more difficult it is to shut down.

        If it's true Luxon is sniffing the wind on public opinion and he made the call to now be unequivocal, that decision must have been aided by the mahi done at Waitangi.

        Quite why he'd hand over operations to David Seymour is baffling. Even more difficult now for Luxton to control the narrative.

        Still, making Rimmer associate justice minister only to then strip him of it would be profound. He might have to do that.

      • bwaghorn 3.2.2
        9 February 2024 at 7:11 pm

        Act where point fuck all of a % a few years back, don't take them lightly, especially with a weak as f pm who's only goal is to be pm.

        • Muttonbird 3.2.2.1
          9 February 2024 at 7:21 pm

          Just 6 years ago in 2017 ACT got 0.5% of the party vote.

          There many reasons for the resurgence to 8% in 2023 but the most important was the collapse of the National Party in 2020.

  4. Robert Guyton 4
    9 February 2024 at 10:04 am

    Nick Rockel reckons:

    "That’s the ugly truth. ACT are happy to have this debate even if it goes nowhere. Although I’m sure they still believe that the money, which is no doubt behind this, will speak loudly when the time comes.

    It’s hard not to draw the conclusion from this that Seymour has played Luxon, and that he has won."

    https://nickrockel.substack.com/p/little-by-little

    "

  5. Anne 5
    9 February 2024 at 10:25 am

    This Herald article is somewhat concerning:

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/police-commissioner-andrew-coster-and-police-minister-mark-mitchell-texts-reveal-insight-into-relationship/ZCCH2R5YKNEUNCCBWNHNEOMSHQ/

    Police minister Mitchell and Commissioner Coster seem to have a matey relationship – sufficiently so to be passing text messages about operational matters and warnings of… who might be waiting somewhere to get an impromptu interview with the minister.

    Did Coster have such a relationship with the previous government minsters? I doubt it. It smacks of a form of political nepotism and a potential lack of impartiality when dealing with certain sections of society.

    Bearing in mind Mark Mitchell is known to be a bully boy, this situation does not auger well for fair and impartial policing practices.

    • weka 5.1
      9 February 2024 at 10:45 am

      Nash overstepped the bounds as Police Minister by contacting Coster, and subsequently lost his job after two more similar issues (not to do with Coster).

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Nash#2023_ministerial_indiscretions_and_resignation

      Imo the Police Commissioner should not be texting the Police Minister at all. The message from Coster telling Mitchel about talking to a journalist should have been a formal email not a causal text. We have a degree of separation between police and government for good reasons, and part of that is how the appearance of separation.

      • Anne 5.1.1
        9 February 2024 at 11:10 am

        "We have a degree of separation between police and government for good reasons,…"

        Precisely.

        Not wishing to appear to be defending Coster, but Mitchell is not past placing the relationship on a more 'intimate' level to ensure he has control of everything that is occurring regardless of whether it falls under his jurisdiction or not.

    • Tiger Mountain 5.2
      9 February 2024 at 10:45 am

      Well if nothing else it certainly reveals “Andy” is a bit of a crawler. It should not be assumed any top cop is a liberal–NZ Police culture is still by and large macho, violent, misogynist, racist and holds long lasting grudges. Modern cops sometimes put some trendy spin on their activities but I predict policing will be more heavy duty and targeting the bottom 50% under this Govt.

      A peaceful Palestine solidarity action at Lyttleton was subjected to police violence and elderly people pepper sprayed even after they had moved off a roadway onto the footpath, veteran activist 70 year old John Minto coming in for particular attention and a nasty bashing by gum chewing arrogant coppers.

      The sworn police unspoken but primary task is to maintain capitalist property relations. It is why the plods turn up to a union picket in 10 minutes after an employer phone call, and may…get around to investigating your car break in.

      Coster can not be trusted, was always suspicious why the Groundswell occupation of Parliament was not evicted on day one. Coster’s job is safe if he implements Mitchell’s bully boy agenda.

      • weka 5.2.1
        9 February 2024 at 10:47 am

        Coster can not be trusted, was always suspicious why the climate action occupation of Parliament was not evicted on day one. Coster’s job is safe if he implements Mitchell’s bully boy agenda.

        How does that read?

        or this one,

        Coster can not be trusted, was always suspicious why the tangata whenua occupation of Parliament was not evicted on day one. Coster’s job is safe if he implements Mitchell’s bully boy agenda.

        • Tiger Mountain 5.2.1.1
          9 February 2024 at 11:29 am

          Is that your version of a thought experiment weka?

          It may surprise you to know that I think Parliament grounds and surrounds should be free of long term occupations by any group.

          • weka 5.2.1.1.1
            9 February 2024 at 12:08 pm

            Protest is a legitimate part of democracy. We shouldn't be asking for permission. The freedom protests fucked that up, I don't know if Coster made that worse or less worse.

            • weka 5.2.1.1.1.1
              9 February 2024 at 12:10 pm

              to clarify that a bit, the UK and Australia have both brought in legislation that undermines right to protest and thus democracy. In that sense Coster did right, but the fallout may mean we end up with such reactionary legislation. It would be good if the left didn't buy into that.

              • gsays …
                9 February 2024 at 12:50 pm

                In a related tangent, it is my understanding, after talking to a senior police official, that Coster was called into a meeting with 3 senior politicians. This was the early days of the Wellies parliament occupation.

                Police orders at around 6pm was that the steps of the Beehive were the line no-one was to cross. At around 10pm (after said meeting) the orders were changed and that was when the first, clumsy attempt to clear the grounds was made.

                Political interference, like being influenced by lobbyists, isn't just a National thing.

                • weka …
                  9 February 2024 at 1:16 pm

                  quite agree that political interference isn't just a Nat thing. Reference also Nash, which makes me think it's an authoritarian thing instead (political compass).

                  It's on my list to go back and look at the protest and what happened and write about it. Might talk to you when I get going on that, if that's ok, pick your brains.

      • Anne 5.2.2
        9 February 2024 at 11:39 am

        Interesting about the Palestine action at Lyttleton.

        There was a recent Sunday gathering of around 200 protesters who marched to the Devonport Naval Base. I happened to drive past the local reserve where they were assembling. There were police officers everywhere – including van loads of them tucked around corners. Not knowing what was going on, I slowed down to have a good look at the protesters' banners. Next minute a posse of police officers appeared close by watching me intently as if they suspected I was about to commit a violent act. We're talking about an elderly woman here. I sped off in astonishment.

        • Tiger Mountain 5.2.2.1
          9 February 2024 at 12:06 pm

          It seems like “orders from the top” re policing the Palestinian solidarity actions.

          I guess ports are regarded as strategic assets not to be interfered with by the likes of ordinary people trying to stop the Israeli butchers.

          • Belladonna 5.2.2.1.1
            9 February 2024 at 1:52 pm

            Don't know about ports in general – but a naval base is another matter. Unsurprising that there was elevated security with a protest specifically directed towards them.

        • Michael P 5.2.2.2
          9 February 2024 at 2:41 pm

          "…police officers appeared close by watching me intently as if they suspected I was about to commit a violent act. "

          What did you expect them to do ignore you completely?

          If a van slows down close to a group of protesters especially when the issue at hand is so highly emotional and violent then of course the police (if they are doing their job) are going to scrutinize it closely.

          • Anne 5.2.2.2.1
            9 February 2024 at 5:46 pm

            Oh dear:

            1) The march hadn't started so there was no "highly emotional" activity.

            2) There was no violence before, during or after the event according to media reports.

            3) There were plenty of passing motorists although not as I passed the scene.

            4) There was no van in sight – apart from police vans around the corner.

            5) It was a small Toyota Yaris.

            6) The driver was a harmless, short-sighted elderly lady [with special medium vision glasses] peering at the scene and wondering what it was about.

            7) Methinks the cops in question were going about their business with just a tad too much enthusiasm.

            8) Finally, I saw it as an amusing moment, but it would seem your soh needs a seriously good polish old chap.

            Edit: And the venue was one 1 km away from the Naval Base.

            • Michael P 5.2.2.2.1.1
              9 February 2024 at 11:00 pm

              Sorry not sure why I said van must have been stuck in my head from the police vans you mentioned.

              In regards to 1) and 2) I meant the Israel / Palestine issue as a whole, not the particular event involved here. Police have been told to be extra vigilant in regard to any activities associated with current events in the Middle East and for good reason,

              3) Yes but were they slowing down to have a good look as you were?

              6) The police didn't know that.

              8) You may have had an amusing moment but for the police, never amusing and always incredibly stressful.

              But at the end of the day, they could have just been glaring at you for rubber necking.

              • Anne …
                10 February 2024 at 10:38 am

                The police were under no stress whatsoever at that point. All was peaceful and there was no shouting. If it wasn't for the flags etc. one would have thought it was a social function around the band-stand – a popular place for festivities.

                I'm sure some of the cars did slow down for the same reason and would have got similar treatment.

                A different story once they started marching and chanting of course, and when they came close to the Naval Base entrance, one would expect the police to be very much on the alert to any possible infringements. As far as I know there were none.

                Accept it was nothing more than a slightly amusing interlude in response to TM’s comment re- another protest march. You were not there. I was.

      • Ad 5.2.3
        9 February 2024 at 12:19 pm

        You're not going to get in control of gang crime with a Beta.

    • Ad 5.3
      9 February 2024 at 12:17 pm

      Coster's term finishes in April 2025. That’s his maximum.

      To survive even to April Coster has to get gun crime and gang crime trending down fast.

      Unfortunately Coster is on record saying gun crime will stay high for years.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/494168/escalated-gun-crime-expected-to-remain-a-problem-for-years-police

      Put a fork in him – he's done.

      • alwyn 5.3.1
        9 February 2024 at 2:46 pm

        "That’s his maximum."

        Are you sure about that? The maximum term a Commissioner can be appointed for is five years but, unless they have changed the laws in the last few years there is nothing to stop them being appointed for a second term.

        Coster's predecessor, Mike Bush was first appointed to a term that ran for 3 years from April 2014 until 2017. He was then reappointed for a second term of three years that finished in April 2020. He served for 6 years.

        As far as I know there is no reason to prevent Coster being offered another, or even several more, term(s).

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Bush

  6. Kat 6
    9 February 2024 at 11:05 am

    "Mitchell has reset the relationship with Coster but there are still a Cabinet minister or two who refer to him as "Cuddles Coster" – an insinuation he's soft on crime………."

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/12/police-minister-mark-mitchell-thinks-commissioner-andrew-coster-has-potential-to-be-good-leader.html

  7. bwaghorn 7
    9 February 2024 at 4:36 pm

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/508763/minister-of-education-erica-stanford-promises-plan-to-build-more-cost-effective-classrooms

    Canceled class rooms now and more bullshit from the nats,

    Roofs falling on kids and rain getting in, only in poor people areas I expect.

    • Muttonbird 7.1
      9 February 2024 at 6:19 pm

      Incredible. Two months in and we are already at the stage of, 'your children's classrooms are too luxurious'.

      • bwaghorn 7.1.1
        9 February 2024 at 7:12 pm

        Not their children's though I bet,

        Want to change aotearoa for good?

        Ban private schools and health insurance!

        • Belladonna 7.1.1.1
          10 February 2024 at 11:09 am

          Ha! All that will happen is an increased influx into the 'desirable' areas with 'good' schools – pushing house prices even higher. 'Double Grammar zone' will be even more unaffordable.

          And a substantial increase in health tourism.

          • Drowsy M. Kram 7.1.1.1.1
            10 February 2024 at 1:00 pm

            "Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed." – Einstein

            'Double Grammar zone' will be even more unaffordable.

            Not unaffordable to all Kiwis, clearly, given your projected "increased influx".

            Despite divisive distractions, even the most one-eyed will be hard-pressed to ignore rhe corrosive effects of wealth inequality on societal resilience over the next few years, although adopting a 'head in the sand' strategy might just do it.

            Sad really, because when the overshoot chickens come home to roost, money will mean bugger all – still, make hay while the sun shines.

            Human ‘behavioural crisis’ at root of climate breakdown, say scientists [13 Jan 2024]

            “Is it ethical to exploit our psychology to benefit an economic system destroying the planet?” asks Barnard. “Creativity and innovation are driving overconsumption. The system is driving us to suicide. It’s conquest, entitlement, misogyny, arrogance and it comes in a fetid package driving us to the abyss.”

            The team is adamant that solutions that do not tackle the underlying drivers of our growth-based economies will only exacerbate the overshoot crisis.

            “Everything we know and love is at stake,” says Barnard. “A habitable planet and a peaceful civilisation both have value, and we need to be conscious about using tools in ethical and justice-based ways. This is not just about humanity. This is about every other species on this planet. This is about the future generations.”

            “I do get frustrated that people sit in paralysis thinking, what do I do? Or what must we do? There are moral hazards everywhere. We have to choose how to intervene to keep us working on a path forward as humanity, because everything right now is set up to strip us of our humanity.”

            World scientists’ warning: The behavioural crisis driving ecological overshoot>/strong>

            ‘The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of’.
            – Edward Bernays, Propaganda, 1928

  8. gsays 8
    9 February 2024 at 5:05 pm

    You gotta love the naivety of some people.

    After a years long investigation, a pimp gets 10 months home d. for exploiting 15 Brazillian women migrants.

    The "national manager of immigration investigations, ” hoped the sentence would be a deterrent.

    This chap, Michael Sloan, can carry on his parasite ways while still wearing his ankle bracelet.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350174437/kiwi-man-sentenced-role-illegal-international-sex-worker-operation

    Edit: I thought, originally, home d. was for crimes that didn’t occur in the home.