Open mike 09/04/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 9th, 2015 - 203 comments
Categories: open mike, uncategorized - Tags:

openmikeOpen 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 …

203 comments on “Open mike 09/04/2015 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Saarbo 1
    9 April 2015 at 6:10 am

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/270704/restaurant-brands-calls-time-on-zero-hours

    So given Restaurant Brands has concluded that Zero Hour contracts are not acceptable, are our MSM going to put the pressure on Key/Nats. Campbell Live deserves a lot of credit for this, …great work CL.

  2. Paul 2
    9 April 2015 at 6:17 am

    So we were ripped off.
    ‘Meridian stock performance shows float offer too cheap’
    Thanks John Key.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11429715

    • b waghorn 2.1
      9 April 2015 at 7:07 am

      And yet Mr lister says its all the labour/greens fault they sold cheap and that all that wealth has transfered to the wealthy few.???
      He neglected to say that even with this cheap deal most mum and pop s couldn’t get enough money together to get them ,and all the advise was if you have a mortgage or are not share savvy to stay away.!!!

      • Paul 2.1.1
        9 April 2015 at 7:29 am

        The winners were wealthy speculators.
        Power users and NZ citizens (past and present) lost out.
        Greed is good in John Key’s NZ.
        Everything is for sale.
        We have lost our way as a country.

      • Paul 2.1.2
        9 April 2015 at 7:48 am

        Mark Lister works for the elite.
        What would you expect him to say?

        • b waghorn 2.1.2.1
          9 April 2015 at 12:01 pm

          Can’t say I’d ever noticed the guy before but he certainly spun that story for all it’s worth.

    • Sirenia 2.2
      9 April 2015 at 8:14 am

      I did not know there was a new law which came into force recently whereby electricity companies have to be reimbursed when a large consumer such as the Wellington City Council cuts its power use because of efficiencies. So they have to keep paying the full amount even though they are using less electricity. There was an interview on Radio NZ the other day about this. It seems outrageous and means shareholders will always be guaranteed a return and NZers will pay even when power savings are made.

    • Puckish Rogue 2.3
      9 April 2015 at 11:46 am

      “In hindsight, it seems Labour and the Greens might have almost single-handedly contributed to a significant transfer of wealth from the average New Zealander (as the seller) to a much smaller group of people – those who could afford to buy shares in the IPOs.”

      Marvellous effort that, really super stuff 🙂

      • Paul 2.3.1
        9 April 2015 at 11:50 am

        As. I typed, “Greed is good in John Key’s NZ.”
        And you are symptomatic of this.

        • Puckish Rogue 2.3.1.1
          9 April 2015 at 11:57 am

          Not really the point, the point was National said what they were going to, Labour opposed what National was going to do and we had an election in which National spanked Labour

          So knowing the sales were going to happen the left decided to try to influence the sales and they did…just not the way they anticipated

          Had the left kept quiet then NZ would have recieved more money from the sales and more midde NZers would have bought shares

          So well done left you helped me get more shares then i otherwise would have

          • Paul 2.3.1.1.1
            9 April 2015 at 12:05 pm

            Yes, as I said, there are those in NZ who celebrate their own selfish greed at the expense of others misfortune.
            And you are one of those

            • vto 2.3.1.1.1.1
              9 April 2015 at 12:15 pm

              greed for the self is the right wing’s m.o.

              in spite of the fact that the human is a communal species.

            • Puckish Rogue 2.3.1.1.1.2
              9 April 2015 at 12:42 pm

              So not even going to acknowledge the left royally screwed up? Didn’t think so…

              • McFlock …
                9 April 2015 at 1:01 pm

                Your argument seems to be that if we didn’t fight back the mugger wouldn’t have stolen so much.

                Thing is that criminals take more in the long term from people who don’t take any action to stop it.

                Sooner or later (sooner if the SNP, Iceland and so on are anything to go by) the pendulum will swing to the left again. Not just Lab5 left, either.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  9 April 2015 at 1:06 pm

                  +1

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  9 April 2015 at 1:10 pm

                  No, my arguement is the left screwed up and there was no “mugging” or any such thing

                  All that happened is that NZ got less money out of the sale and the people who bought shares got a much better deal because and only because of the left

                  National said what they were going to do before the election, National got elected and did what they said what they were going to do

                  Labour put out their idea of kiwi power to attempt to sabotage the sale which worked in as much as scaring a whole bunch of middle NZ against buying the shares

                  which in turn drove the price down

                  In short the Left screwed up really, really, badly

                  • McFlock …
                    9 April 2015 at 1:14 pm

                    there was no “mugging” or any such thing

                    You assert that because what Paul said

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      9 April 2015 at 1:54 pm

                      I assert that because there was no mugging, there was nothing illegal, National and Labour gave their viewpoints and the people of NZ went with National

                      If you want to apportion blame (though you really have no need to) then look at Labours woeful performance

                    • Paul …
                      9 April 2015 at 1:59 pm

                      Legal does not mean ethical.
                      Selfish greed motivates pr.
                      Societal responsibilities does not.
                      And thanks to his ilk we have a collapsing planet and a human society ill prepared to deal with it.
                      I only have contempt for folk like pr, Mike Hosking, Paul Henry and all those whose have placed their selfish greed above our communal needs as a planetary whole.
                      They are not worth debating with.

                    • McFlock …
                      9 April 2015 at 2:52 pm

                      I assert that because there was no mugging, there was nothing illegal

                      You assert there was no mugging because you assert there was no mugging. Nice. Oh, and because it’s only mugging if it’s illegal? So people can’t be robbed or mugged in a region with no rule of law, I guess.

                      Basically, people who bought shares in the looted assets aimed to follow in a long line of wealthy capitalists who gained their wealth using techniques that were subsequently made illegal, from insider trading, anti-competitive practises, monopolistic behaviour, cartel behaviour, or hiring private armies against competitors and workers. Fuck ’em all.

              • Paul …
                9 April 2015 at 1:06 pm

                Selling assets was not an error by the government
                It was deliberate theft

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  9 April 2015 at 1:07 pm

                  +111

                  By selling our assets this government has made NZ poorer.

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    9 April 2015 at 1:11 pm

                    No it hasn’t

                    • Paul …
                      9 April 2015 at 2:07 pm

                      Like you know what the hell you’re talking about.
                      Selling assets benefited wealthy speculators.
                      Even the rich’s wealth manager says so.
                      Most NZers would be a lot better off if they had control over the country’s resources and assets.
                      But then, you know more, don’t you?!
                      You tr*** for the 1% which really gives the qualifications to speak for the average citizen.

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    9 April 2015 at 1:11 pm

                    No it hasn’t, the actions of the left made NZ poorer

                    • McFlock …
                      9 April 2015 at 1:15 pm

                      The government sold assets that had a higher rate of return than the interest on the debt the sales were used to pay down.
                      The government made NZ poorer.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      9 April 2015 at 1:20 pm

                      The governement has not sold the assets, NZ still controls the assets.

                    • felix …
                      9 April 2015 at 1:35 pm

                      Pure sophistry from chris73. In his PR world it’s possible to describe anything as anything just by using language in different ways. But he can’t avoid the equation.

                      (x) = previous total value of assets in public ownership.

                      (y) = current total value of assets in public ownership.

                      (x) > (y)

                    • felix …
                      9 April 2015 at 3:03 pm

                      ps I just love this: “The governement has not sold the assets”

                      So you didn’t buy any shares then, and you won’t mind when we take them back.

                    • Paul …
                      9 April 2015 at 3:11 pm

                      pr is in denial.
                      Rather than admitting his selfishness and greed in buying the country’s assets.

                    • felix …
                      9 April 2015 at 5:12 pm

                      But he didn’t buy them, Paul. He can’t have done, as the govt didn’t sell them.

                    • McFlock …
                      9 April 2015 at 5:15 pm

                      “You know I can’t buy your ghost shares, John” 🙂

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      9 April 2015 at 5:49 pm

                      No it hasn’t, the actions of the left made NZ poorer

                      No, it wasn’t the actions of the Left but the actions of the Right in their greed and selfishness.

          • DoublePlusGood 2.3.1.1.2
            9 April 2015 at 12:15 pm

            It’s ok, we’re going to confiscate that stolen property right back off you, with no compensation. Thank you at least for giving us some money when you stole them.

          • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1.1.3
            9 April 2015 at 1:05 pm

            Not really the point, the point was National said what they were going to, Labour opposed what National was going to do and we had an election in which National spanked Labour got voted in with less than 50% voter support and 70% of voters against selling assets.

            FTFY

            We do not have a democracy, we have a dictatorship that we get to change every now and then.

            So well done left you helped me get more shares then i otherwise would have become an even bigger bludger

            FTFY as well. And, yes, that’s what shareholders are – bludgers. They get income from other peoples work.

            • Puckish Rogue 2.3.1.1.3.1
              9 April 2015 at 1:18 pm

              in which National spanked Labour got voted in with less than 50% voter support and 70% of voters against selling assets.

              Got voted in, nothing else matters (although in terms of MMP Labour got an absolute spanking from National)

              We do not have a democracy, we have a dictatorship that we get to change every now and then.

              I pretty much agree with this

              They get income from other peoples work.

              Without shareholders most business’s wouldn’t be able to grow and employ more people

              • vto …
                9 April 2015 at 1:21 pm

                “Without shareholders most business’s wouldn’t be able to grow and employ more people”

                so wrong
                so misunderstood
                so ignorant

              • vto …
                9 April 2015 at 1:26 pm

                “Without shareholders most business’s wouldn’t be able to grow and employ more people”

                So you are a socialist then, with your positive views on communal ownership… and also blind like pretty much all business owners who fail to recognise their own deeply socialist and cooperative activities

              • Draco T Bastard …
                9 April 2015 at 4:55 pm

                Without shareholders most business’s wouldn’t be able to grow and employ more people

                Not if we change the system. Zero interest and zero fees on loans. How much in demand do you think shareholders would be then?

              • adam …
                9 April 2015 at 7:00 pm

                Desperate stuff from you Puckish Rogue. No evidence, all supposition and a lot of ideological rhetoric.

                The fact is – national are a government with very little popular support. I think most will agree the labour party is a party with even less popular support. So what, they are both pathetic.

                But you keep dreaming your ideological wet dreams Puckish Rouge, it will keep you warm when you have no ideas left…

  3. veutoviper 3
    9 April 2015 at 6:49 am

    Apologies if someone has already posted this, but the official final results of the Northland by-election were released yesterday morning. These final results include 1122 special votes.

    Of the total 29,590 votes cast:

    Winston Peters – 16,089 (54.4%) up by 730 from the provisional result of 15,359 (53.95%)

    Mark Osborne – 11,648 (39.4%) up by 301 from the provisional result of 11,347 (39.86%)

    Willow Jean Prime 1,380 (4,7%) up by 65 from the prov result of 1,315 (4.6%).

    The remaining 26 special votes went to other candidates, or were invalid etc.

    http://www.elections.org.nz/news-media/northland-election-official-results

    [Hope i got my %s and other calculations above right!]

    Now we wait to see whether/when Winston Peters resigns as a list MP, and who the additional NZF list MP will be …..

    EDIT – lost in the depths of the Herald’s online site, this from Audrey Young
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11429470

  4. marty mars 4
    9 April 2015 at 7:18 am

    key sprays,

    “Asked yesterday whether MPs should fly economy class, Prime Minister John Key said that when his ministers got off a plane, they were expected to go to work straight away.

    “I expect people to spend the minimum amount of time they realistically can in a foreign location, and to be working hard when they’re there.

    “It’s easy to value an economy ticket at a lower rate, but if your MP or minister is so exhausted they are not concentrating on what they’re doing, then they are actually not providing value for the country.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11429686

    expect this, expect that – yeah nah key – poor exhausted mp’s unable to concentrate on their holiday – so sad 🙁

    • Lanthanide 4.1
      9 April 2015 at 9:21 am

      Whether it is a holiday or not is beside the point.

      The question is whether MPs should be flying economy or not. On long-haul flights where they do have engagements within hours of landing, flying business class is appropriate.

      If however they don’t have engagements until the next day, business class would not seem to be warranted.

      • marty mars 4.1.1
        9 April 2015 at 9:45 am

        nah it actually IS the point

        politicians don’t need business class – that is elite bullshit – and they especially don’t need it when they go on holiday – if you want to believe key when he says they have engagements on their holiday go for it but it is just another lie to me.

        • logie97 4.1.1.1
          9 April 2015 at 9:56 am

          And we can look forward to Seymour questioning the perk his mentor Douglas gets each year – First Class travel to any destination for the Knight and his Lady every year. But then, they have done so much for the country, we shouldn’t question it should we …

        • Lanthanide 4.1.1.2
          9 April 2015 at 10:09 am

          “politicians don’t need business class – that is elite bullshit”

          How much international travel have you done? How much of it has been business class? How many important meetings have you had to go to shortly after arriving at your destination?

          Business class exists for a reason – bussinesses demand it because they see value in it. If they didn’t see value in it, they wouldn’t pay for it. I don’t see why the government should operate to a lower standard than a private enterprise.

          • marty mars 4.1.1.2.1
            9 April 2015 at 11:07 am

            if they or their staff, cannot schedule the meetings or holiday activities to accommodate their limited time then that is where the remedy should be imo

            as for me – you’re right – if and when I travel overseas I don’t travel business class – oh want a loser I must be lol

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.2.1.1
              9 April 2015 at 1:23 pm

              You’re really showing your ignorance here as well as your closed mind.

              if they or their staff, cannot schedule the meetings or holiday activities to accommodate their limited time

              Getting off a plane and into a meeting is excellent scheduling. Getting off a plane and having go to the hotel to have a rest and catch up with work that you should have done on the plane is incredibly poor scheduling.

              The point of business class is that it is quieter, more restful and has enough room for the person to work. In other words, so that the person can get off a plane, go to a meeting and then get back on the plane.

              • marty mars …
                9 April 2015 at 1:28 pm

                your trust in politicians is quaint

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  9 April 2015 at 4:53 pm

                  It’s not a question of trust but a question of giving them the conditions necessary to do their jobs well while maintaining their health. If a private employer was pushing to dangerously decrease working conditions the way that you’re demanding that the working conditions of MPs be decreased you’d be screaming blue murder.

                  • marty mars …
                    9 April 2015 at 5:06 pm

                    ‘working’ you think they’ll be working, lol that’ll be the day – but now with laptops and phones I suppose we are all working all the time and yes I’ll do the blue murder thingy for that one. No one let alone me is suggesting that MP’s should have dangerous working conditions – that is ludicrous in the extreme.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      9 April 2015 at 5:47 pm

                      ‘working’ you think they’ll be working, lol that’ll be the day

                      Contrary to what the majority of RWNJs and some Left wingers as well think our politicians do work and they work hard. 90+ hour weeks in fact with a lot of that work done on the move. It’s one of the major reasons why we supply them with chauffeured limousines.

                      No one let alone me is suggesting that MP’s should have dangerous working conditions

                      And yet that is actually what you’re demanding.

                    • marty mars …
                      9 April 2015 at 6:19 pm

                      “And yet that is actually what you’re demanding.”

                      really? you’re losing it mate

                    • TheContrarian …
                      9 April 2015 at 6:25 pm

                      Actually getting someone to fly 12 or more hours in a cramped position in dehydrating conditions then having them work 8 hours, suffering jet leg, is actually fairly bad for ones health.

                      You are exhausted, usually underfed and dehydrated, uncomfortable and not thinking clearly. Having done my fair share of long haul economy I would never expect anyone to go straight to work from a long haul in economy.

                    • marty mars …
                      9 April 2015 at 6:34 pm

                      so are you saying I am demanding dangerous working conditions for MP’s like d here too

                      there you go draco you got a new buddy 🙂

                    • TheContrarian …
                      9 April 2015 at 6:39 pm

                      No I’m telling you after a long haul economy flight it is ludicrous to expect anyone to be able to perform in a competent and safe manner

                    • marty mars …
                      10 April 2015 at 4:34 pm

                      here’s the work

                      MPs on a taxpayer-funded tour of Europe will largely have the coming weekend to themselves to enjoy the sights of Dublin… after a short flight from Paris to Dublin tomorrow the group have the weekend off except for a dinner hosted by New Zealand High Commissioner and former Speaker Sir Lockwood Smith… Mr Tabuteau’s Paris photographs were taken earlier this week and the day before the Speaker’s Tour began… On Monday the tour will move on to Belfast, where they will receive a guided tour of the city and its Parliament buildings, meet politicians and attend a hosted lunch. Later next week they move on to Poland and Germany.

                      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11430749

            • TheContrarian 4.1.1.2.1.2
              9 April 2015 at 5:42 pm

              You done much travelling? Flying long haul, 13, 14, 20 hours even in economy is extremely draining.

          • KJT 4.1.1.2.2
            9 April 2015 at 5:33 pm

            Funny how only managers need business class. Must be a very difficult occupation?
            Technicians, oil rig workers, ships crews etc, etc, fly cattle class and go straight to work for several weeks solid, 12 hour or more hour days, as soon as they get there.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.2.2.1
              9 April 2015 at 5:40 pm

              Funny how only managers need business class. Must be a very difficult occupation?

              No, it means that they can work en-route whereas ‘Technicians, oil rig workers, ships crews etc, etc’ can’t.

              Please note: I’m not really in favour of the management class but if we’re going to have people flying from A to B and we expect them to work on that flight then we need to give them the conditions to support that work.

          • Colonial Rawshark 4.1.1.2.3
            9 April 2015 at 5:51 pm

            Business class exists for a reason – bussinesses demand it because they see value in it. If they didn’t see value in it, they wouldn’t pay for it.

            Let’s cut to the chase here. Senior executives and directors demand it for themselves and are more than happy to pay for it from the company’s funds. Surprise surprise.

            And let’s not forget what the ultimate logical extension of this vital corporate “need” is: the private Gulfstream jet, which is ultimately paid for by gouging tax payers and the bottom 95% of people more and more.

            See how very easy it is to justify self serving entitlement: I have no better quote than from the beautiful marketed women of L’Oreal – it’s because “I’m worth it.”

  5. Dan1 5
    9 April 2015 at 7:19 am

    Why is it the country celebrates our exchange rate getting stronger such as parity parties for goodness sake!
    As much as I like the occasional overseas adventure and cheaper imports, I have often felt higher returns for our exporters means more jobs; the lower dollar would mean less travel overseas and fewer imports; and maybe our interest rates would drop.
    What would happen if we got back to Aus 90 cents, and similar falls elsewhere?

    • Paul 5.1
      9 April 2015 at 7:32 am

      Because the people celebrating now have cheaper shopping trips to Melbourne.
      And their 48 inch flats screen TVs will be cheaper so they can watch XFactor and live happily ever after on Planet Key.

      Greed is good in John Key’s New Zealand.

  6. AsleepWhileWalking 6
    9 April 2015 at 7:46 am

    FYI. This weeks Stephen F Cohen / John Batchelor Show update of the Ukraine crisis.

    http://www.tfmetalsreport.com/podcast/6748/jb-and-sfc-update

    “While the active military fighting is mostly paused under the Minsk Agreements, that does not mean that the diplomatic fighting has lessened. In fact, the diplomatic war threatens the fragile peace and, last night, John and Steve explained some of the consequences.

    During last night’s program, many issues were discussed. A few of the bullet points to listen for:

    Why is there such a “War Party” campaign against the Minsk Agreements?
    What is behind Russia’s efforts to befriend Greece?
    Details of the recent statements by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov that the U.S. “wants Minsk to fail” and the Sec. of State Kerry is “detached from reality”.

    As usual, I urge you to give this a thorough listen and to remain up-to-date on this evolving situation.

    TF”

  7. felix 7
    9 April 2015 at 8:22 am

    Poor old Greg O’Connor.

    The Police have been let down by the roastbusters inquiry.
    It’s not fair everyone’s picking on them.
    They didn’t even rape anyone, this time.
    They already investigated their own actions and it turns out they’re golden.
    Except for a whole bunch of fuck-ups.
    But if you look at every tiny little aspect of every fuck-up on its own, and pretend it’s the only one, it doesn’t seem that bad.
    The real villains are those naughty boys in west ak.
    And those girls who didn’t want to go to court, it’s their fault too.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20174045/roast-busters-police-officer-speaks-out-against-treatment

    Greg you fucking muppet, if you know who the real villains are you should have arrested them. Why are journalists afraid of this clown?

    • Paul 7.1
      9 April 2015 at 8:27 am

      Susie Ferguson handled him pathetically this morning.
      If that is his attitude, he should resign

      • felix 7.1.1
        9 April 2015 at 8:31 am

        So should she.

        Time and time again this guy gets in front of the media and talks absolute bullshit, much of it offensive, most of it self-contradictory, and journalists just sit there and let him run his nasty thin-lipped mouth.

        There has long been a tacit (sometimes explicit) understanding between the Police and the media that if they want the juicy details they’d better not be too critical of the police.

        O’Connor is taking the piss out of this unholy convention and our journalists are letting him get away with it.

        • Paul 7.1.1.1
          9 April 2015 at 8:33 am

          Sue is chooses who play tough with.
          She obeys the orders her masters give her.

        • mickysavage 7.1.1.2
          9 April 2015 at 8:46 am

          The bit where he said we should focus on the evil roastbusters and they were the ones in the wrong was a bit rich. I though the police were responsible for dealing with these sorts of situations …

          • felix 7.1.1.2.1
            9 April 2015 at 2:06 pm

            Yes that would seem to be their frickin job, that they didn’t fricking do, which is precisely why we’re talking about it ritually humiliating the police.

        • Tracey 7.1.1.3
          9 April 2015 at 8:53 am

          They treat him unlike any other UNION leade rin the country. Except for Jordan Williams, of course.

          did greg mention that if the police had been armed they could have dealt with the girls and this would never have been an issue?

      • weka 7.1.2
        9 April 2015 at 11:38 am

        “If that is his attitude, he should resign”

        Pretty good summary of his career.

    • vto 7.2
      9 April 2015 at 8:32 am

      Greg O’Connor represents the coppers
      Greg O’Connor says what the coppers think

      The coppers are a lowly lot in these situations from what Greg O’Connor has said

      Greg O’Connor should stay because he offers an honest, and unintentional I suspect, insight to copper thinking. It aint good thinking but at least we know and can take steps to protect ourselves from the coppers when necessary

      • felix 7.2.1
        9 April 2015 at 8:37 am

        Good point v. O’Connor is elected by the coppers.

        If he wasn’t saying what they think, they’d vote him out.

        • Tracey 7.2.1.1
          9 April 2015 at 8:55 am

          Yup cos he is their UNION leader. Compare that interview with say, an interview with Helen Kelly… She gets attacked more and she shows more integrity.

        • weka 7.2.1.2
          9 April 2015 at 11:40 am

          “If he wasn’t saying what they think, they’d vote him out.”

          Maybe, but it’s also possible this is like the Federated Farmers situation, where politics keep certain people in power and many don’t bother being involved because of that ie they don’t represent farmers, they represen the farmers who agree with them.

          • felix 7.2.1.2.1
            9 April 2015 at 1:37 pm

            Yes that’s true. Is it compulsory for police to belong to the association?

            • felix 7.2.1.2.1.1
              9 April 2015 at 2:10 pm

              Ok so it’s a volutary membership, but according to the numbers they claim to represent (8600 constables and 2300 unsworn staff) it’s damn near 100% membership.

              • McFlock …
                9 April 2015 at 2:36 pm

                gotta be part of the team.

                Mind you, it is nice to see a unionised industry…

                • felix …
                  9 April 2015 at 2:43 pm

                  Yep and their union gets them some pretty good benefits from what I hear.

                  • weka …
                    9 April 2015 at 3:36 pm

                    Bet there are internal politics that make standing against O’Connor difficult. The mind boggles at what someone would campaign on and the consequences of that.

                    • felix …
                      9 April 2015 at 5:05 pm

                      Yes I suspect you’re right, but I also don’t believe the internal politics are all that complex 😉

    • Tracey 7.3
      9 April 2015 at 8:51 am

      THIS ^^^^^

      And let’s not forget it was only 2008 (?) that Mags ran her eyes over the police and they promised a culture change…

  8. Anne 8
    9 April 2015 at 8:24 am

    John Key has gone to ground. His nightly appearances on TV 6pm news have temporarily vanished. He’s done this before when he and/or his government has messed up big time then he bursts into life again when he considers enough water has flowed under the bridge for the voters to forget. I predict he’ll reappear in about 2 weeks time – shortly before parliament sits again.

    • Tracey 8.1
      9 April 2015 at 8:56 am

      And that loss in the Cricket Final… He is pondering making McCullum a Sir in the Queens birthday list…

    • McFlock 8.2
      9 April 2015 at 10:54 am

      or enough water has flowed under ten bridges in Northland: yeah, right 😉

  9. saveNZ 9
    9 April 2015 at 8:28 am

    Speaking of more assets sales, and state assets being sold into private hands….

    Housing NZ sells off ‘social’ land

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11429699

    Hey the Nats are leading the charge to control supply by sitting on large housing NZ sites, not building affordable houses in 11 years they owned it, and then stealing from the public by selling them off at ‘market’ value while blaming all and sundry for the lack of affordable houses.

    Words can’t describe the disgust. Especially controlling the message that the RMA is the problem, private landlords are the problem, affordable land not being available…

    The National government ideology is the problem!

    Hello transfer our wealth to the top 1% and then blame the people of NZ and reduce standards via RMA to make the 1% even richer and not accountable !

    Can’t wait for our entire country to be sold via the TPPA agreement over a game of golf. NOT!

    • vto 9.1
      9 April 2015 at 9:13 am

      I agree.

      Bill English and Nick Smith are outright liars.

    • Bearded Git 9.2
      9 April 2015 at 9:23 am

      +1 save NZ. Scandalous. The article should be wading in criticising government housing policy; instead it gives details of the Homestart package.

      At least Northland has given us some hope down here in Wanaka that the gutting of the RMA may not happen. The shores of our lakes may yet be saved from a string of mansions desecrating them, which is what will happen if Key and not-so-slick Nick get their way.

  10. marty mars 10
    9 April 2015 at 9:37 am

    RIP Walter Scott

    Patrolman Michael Slager, 33, opened fire on father-of-four Walter Scott, 50, in North Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday morning after reportedly stopping him over a broken tail light…Slager was charged with murder on Tuesday and could face the death penalty after the incendiary footage emerged. The officer had previously defended his actions, saying he feared for his life after Scott wrestled his Taser gun from him during a scuffle…However, cellphone footage from the scene showed Scott getting around 15-20 feet away before Slager opened fire with seven shots in quick succession followed by an eighth. The 50-year-old U.S. Coast Guard veteran was hit five times.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11429860

    What can one say about this race killing. They lie, they pretend and then they shoot men of colour dead. No one deserves to be murdered let alone because of their skin colour. The USA has descended into a hell for many – those charged with protecting – instead kill, then lie, ffs, I say again FFS!!!

  11. Molly 11
    9 April 2015 at 9:41 am

    My brother-in-law suffered a stroke at the age of thirty, and a nursing acquaintance lost her son to a stroke at 19 – both were linked to the use of strong epoxies at work as they were cabinetmakers. This happened many years ago, with my brother in law passing away in his sixties.

    I saw this headline in the Herald today: Stroke hits young father of 27 and wondered about his occupation.

    In the article I read that he works in the Sleepyhead factory in Otahuhu as a bedmaker. Coincidentally, I have just been talking to someone who used to make mattresses and he told me how they used to throw the mattresses out in the yard to air out because of the severity of the fumes. When he left, and a later trainee was given more responsibility this practice was stopped and a few months later the factory burned down – the mattresses caught fire, when a spark from the springs lit the gases.

    The article goes on to say: “The Stroke Foundation says strokes in the young tend to be caused by non-preventable factors, such as a weakness in the wall of a blood vessel that has been present since birth.” which dismisses the notion of environmental factors playing a part.

    Does anyone know more about the use of chemicals causing strokes? And if this is a possibility, surely OSH should get involved.

    • vto 11.1
      9 April 2015 at 11:00 am

      Anecdote often points to the truth. I have heard many similar stories about men working as diesel mechanics… they always die early …..

      There were of course similar anecdote about all sorts of chemicals and products that we were assured by the authorities were safe but later turned out to be deadly….. 245t, DDT, asbestos, formaldehyde, the list goes on ……

      and what this shows us is that the authorities cannot be trusted to have it right

      trust your instincts is by far the better way to go. The authorities have shot their credibility on these matters. 1080 will be the next one.

      ………….

      speaking of which – Auckland is about to be bombed with 1080 to get rid of the rats. Will be watching for the reaction from people now it is the country’s largest city getting shat on by 1080 instead of just remote regional areas like the west coast. Enjoy.

    • BassGuy 11.2
      9 April 2015 at 11:01 am

      Not directly related, but I once met an ex-pilot (private, I think) who told me he lost his pilot’s licence because he’d had a heart attack, resulting from years of exposure to diesel fumes from the forklifts in the warehouse he worked at.

      My grandfather was a vehicle painter for the Post Office, and he had a series of stroke beginning about 20 years ago (he died 5 years ago this month from complications relating to the strokes), but he was also a woodworker at home (quite a craftsman, at that). He would have been exposed to epoxies, although not at the same level.

      You might well be onto something there.

      Perhaps you could look up research fields at medical schools, and see if you can find someone who specialises in the field. They might be able to point you in a useful direction.

      You could also contact a few guitar makers, I’d guess Ernie Ball Music Man would be a good place to begin, and see if they know of anything they’re willing to share.

    • Colonial Rawshark 11.3
      9 April 2015 at 11:01 am

      This Australian website on deliberate inhalant abuse states multiple times that there is “no safe level” of inhalant use. It’s sobering to reflect on what that might mean to workers who are exposed to chemical/solvent inhalation on a daily basis. Solvent inhalation is known to cause damage to red blood cells and also alterations to blood pressure. It is also related to a sudden death syndrome.

      http://www.inhalantsinfo.org.au/about_inhalants.php

    • McFlock 11.4
      9 April 2015 at 11:31 am

      Well, it doesn’t really dismiss environmental factors, it’s just that in younger people there’s usually not the time for hypertension, pollution, etc to play a part, so the big factor is a congenital problem.

      Fumes are definitely a possibility, as a number of studies have identified environmental causes as being associated with strokes, but the other option is undiagnosed hypertension (high blood pressure). Tradesmen, if not smokers then more likely to be around smokers, living in possibly more polluted areas, possibly with fumes but also diesel trucks and forklifts etc in their workplace, and with more stress – they could all be a package of factors which result in more strokes for people working as furniture makers.

      In my case I was never a furniture maker but I was under 30, working all hours of the day and night (almost literally – it was a seasonal rush, and I was working one job description from 9-5 and another from 7pm to 3am or similar). I was watching telly when I had a couple of hours of down-time, and just had a spontaneous nose bleed while resting. Turned out my blood pressure was so high they almost hospitalised me immediately when I went to the doctor (the normal is 120/80, I was 180/120). I looked at it as basically a vein in my head was popping and I was lucky it was on the outside of my skull.

      After several years my bp is now decidedly normal, but it has degraded my system in a number of exciting ways. So it goes. I was still damned lucky.

      • Barfly 11.4.1
        9 April 2015 at 12:49 pm

        my record bp is 200/140 as they put me in the ambulance….kidney stone

        • McFlock 11.4.1.1
          9 April 2015 at 1:05 pm

          zouch.
          ISTR hitting 200 in an ED with a dodgy ankle on top of the resting hypertension. I recall thinking at the time that if they tried to put a line in my arm the needle might turn into a projectile.
          But the lower one never hit 140. Although I was only in mild agony, not kidney stone agony 🙂

    • Rosie 11.5
      9 April 2015 at 11:53 am

      Hi Molly, I don’t have any knowledge about the correlation between occupational chemicals and strokes but I do know NZ has a history of being less than proactive around workplace safety in regard to handling hazardous materials.

      Sorry thats not very helpful!

      There’s the case of workers at the Ivan Watkins Dow plant at Paritutu, New Plymouth and their battle for ACC as a result of exposure to dioxins. Residents close to the plant eventually got access to health checks. There was a very good doco on the issue called Let us Spray, which there is a link to in this 2006 Green Party blog:

      https://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/10/24/dioxin-disaster/

      There was the story of PCP poisoning at the timber mill in Whakatane. It was basically a health and environmental disaster which Joe Harawira and other affected workers worked hard for 20 years to get any recognition for their occupational illnesses. My Da worked at this same mill in the 50’s and 60’s when it was known as the Whakatane Board Mills. He suffered from respiratory illness his whole life, after going to work there. The article below discusses other unsafe workplaces in NZ too:

      http://werewolf.co.nz/2013/03/people-profits-and-poison/

      Here in Wellington there has been some talk of wharf workers who developed neurological illness which their families believe was a result of exposure to methyl bromide.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/8102584/Did-methyl-bromide-kill-Rick-Graham

      (thats just one example)

      I could go on. I think you are right to feel suspicious about the link between exposure to epoxies and strokes. Good luck with your research.

  12. Rodel 12
    9 April 2015 at 9:50 am

    It will be interesting to watch the battle between the minister of education and the Redcliffs school community in Christchurch.

    Redcliffs is a fairly affluent community unlike the less wealthy people of Philipstown who were recently forced by Ms Parata to close their school and transport children out of the local district.
    Parata wants to close Redcliffs school in spite of a number of geotech reports that say it is safe from future earthquakes.

    I suspect that the educated and assertive people of Redcliffs won’t be so easily bullied and downtrodden as the people of Philipstown and Woolston.

    These schools are in the Port Hills electorate, ably and tirelessly represented by Labour’s Ruth Dyson, whose support for retaining the school in Redcliffs will be appreciated by her constituents.

    Nuk Korako, the National wannabe member for the Port Hills electorate was challenged to give his views. I guess if you are like him, an MP who has flukily scraped in at the bottom of a list, you have a dilemma. Do you support the people in the electorate you want to vote for you or do you support your minister who is determined to close a highly prized local facility.

    So far has been strangely silent.

    Will it be..’Minister backs down under pressure from lowly list MP’?

  13. les 13
    9 April 2015 at 10:13 am

    spare a thought for Rio Tinto…'”Rio Tinto reported last week that net earnings from its Australasian aluminium smelters rose by 131 per cent to US$291 million ($220 million)”

    they only would have made about $190 million without yanKey ‘s intervention!

    • saveNZ 13.1
      9 April 2015 at 11:09 am

      @Les
      My heart is bleeding for this poor corporate.

      Please help by giving them more corporate welfare, only 131% profit no wonder National had to donate 30 million of taxpayers dollars to them.

      Funny if you went to IRD and asked for a tax cut they are not so obliging…..
      Or if you went to WINZ no can do….
      Can’t afford any rail infrastructure either…
      No bridges in Northland (apart from as a bribe)
      Or any investment in our own state owned assets…. (apart from the chosen few)

      And poor Sky city didn’t get the taxpayers to subsidise their privately owned hotel next to the casino, they ONLY got the cheap real estate, the non complying gambling concessions and the tax payers got, what, actually what did we get….. Oh nothing again, just money to the National party elite under the table….

    • Bearded Git 13.2
      9 April 2015 at 11:28 am

      @les US$291m is about NZ$380m.

      Assuming this is correct they would have only made NZ$350m without the NZ$30m corporate welfare from Key/Joyce/English.

      Meanwhile a block of land that Labour bought for state housing in 2004 has today been listed for sale and is likely to fetch something close to NZ$30m…..

  14. Pasupial 14
    9 April 2015 at 10:18 am

    3 days remaining until the scheduled return of; the last of the Rawsharkans.

  15. Paul 15
    9 April 2015 at 10:32 am

    This is what happens when narcissism and hubris come together in one shallow and vacuous human being.
    Mike Hosking surely epitomises everything that has been wrong with New Zealand since the 1980s.

    Me, me, me.
    Greed is good in John Key’s New Zealand.

    The article is also total twaddle and shows an utter ignorance total ignorance of the real economic factors underlying the rising dollar and house prices.

    Hosking doesn’t let the facts get in the way of his self-centred view of the world and propagates an opinion that supports the world view of the elite he is paid to represent.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11429673

    • vto 15.1
      9 April 2015 at 10:53 am

      That is astounding, truly astounding…. as many of the comments at the bottom of the story attest to….

      failure on so many levels….
      …the biggest of which is our own society’s failure. Our society’s failure at recognising true success. Mike Hosking certainly reflects a large part of our society. Such a shame. So shallow. So wrong. So shameful.

      Pride before the fall comes to mind….. because after all, house prices are not at record levels, it is the debt that pays for the houses that is at record levels. Remove the debt from all of these houses and what is left?
      what is left?
      what is left?

      .. nothing but smoke, mirrors and fools

      ………………………………..

      and one more thing that I have seen through too many booms and busts – comments like Hoskings. When comments like Hoskings appear it always always always indicates the bust is imminent i.e. the boom is at its peak

      • Paul 15.1.1
        9 April 2015 at 11:06 am

        From the article, some insight into the workings of Hosking’s selfish mind.

        “People want what you’ve got…”
        “Yes it makes a holiday cheaper, yes it makes imported TVs cheaper…”

        Vapid.
        Self obsessed
        A popinjay.

    • The Murphey 15.3
      9 April 2015 at 12:14 pm

      Q. Has the NZH published an article about house prices and NZD parity authored by someone from a financial background ?

      I query as it appears this commentary is being left to those who have no idea what they are talking about and I sense it is because even the talking head ‘financial economic and business reporters’ do not want their names near the discussion so it is handed over to the ignorants

      • Paul 15.3.1
        9 April 2015 at 12:16 pm

        Don’t know.
        Doubt the Herald would look at the story objectively though.

        • The Murphey 15.3.1.1
          9 April 2015 at 12:35 pm

          The two links I have looked at were authored by the ‘police reporter’ and the ‘talkback host’

          At least the comments section indicates the propaganda has been spotted

          NZ is a psychological operation of the most cynical variety

          • Paul 15.3.1.1.1
            9 April 2015 at 1:30 pm

            The comments are 98% scathing of Hosking’s selfish perspective.

            Favourites include:

            “I guess I’m one of the lucky ones – I’m not a property investor but I’ve owned a house since the 90s and am not burdened by a large mortgage – but reading the self-indulged elitist tripe you’ve just written makes me really crave for a nice Irish-type housing bubble correction just so I can see you and your boring money-obsessed clan down at the city mission night shelter. Among the people you pretend to feel sorry for.
            Believe me – it’s coming and I will remind you by posting this article to you…..”

            “Why do people even listen to this right wing cheerleader that simply parrots National Party slogans? I’ve heard more intelligent debate from 5 year olds.”

            ‘Mike, “Better to be remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt”….Abraham Lincoln’

            “I’d never have believed that even this ultra-right wing apologist for the National Party could ever come up with such unadulterated claptrap.”

            “Buddy, the only thing more staggering than your ignorance, is your arrogance in spite of it. Please do us all a favour, and stop commenting on topics you simply don’t understand.”

    • vto 15.4
      9 April 2015 at 12:24 pm

      What on earth is “successful” about high house prices?

      Does anybody know?

      Low house prices would be infinitely better.

      • Paul 15.4.1
        9 April 2015 at 12:30 pm

        If, like Hosking, you bought a house cheap and sold it for a lot, he would see that as successful, as he now has more money.
        It’s a very shallow selfish outlook but that’s his thinking.

        • The Murphey 15.4.1.1
          9 April 2015 at 12:36 pm

          Hosking is married to Kate Hawksby whose brother is married to the daughter of Graham Hart

          Hosking is very much an inside man

        • vto 15.4.1.2
          9 April 2015 at 12:39 pm

          Sure, that is a one-person “win” against and equal and opposing one-person “loss”, so net is nil benefit to society. And even then it is not a “win” for that person as they will have to buy again at the same price.

          I was more talking about how high house prices are a success for society. They are not.

          Low house prices would be a success. If thinking is applied to the situation that is.

          • The Murphey 15.4.1.2.1
            9 April 2015 at 2:04 pm

            There was a time when discussion was somewhat informed and serious on financially related subject matter

            Since 1990 the chatter has been relegated to point scoring and winner v loser sports casting shouty ignorant diatribe

            Since the internet became mainstream and people gained access to varied and informed opinion the MSM discussion was shifted to outright lies and propaganda

        • stigie 15.4.1.3
          9 April 2015 at 4:45 pm

          Seems like you dont like people with money Paul. A lot of these people are very generous as well Paul.

          • McFlock 15.4.1.3.1
            9 April 2015 at 4:52 pm

            “People with money” (is that the PC-gone-mad term?) shouldn’t need to be “very generous”, because a reasonably-tiered tax structure would ensure that both the generous ones and the selfish ones pay a little back to the society which enabled them to have the money in the first place.

            It’s not the possession of money that irks the plebs. It’s the Randian Superheroes who kick the ladder away afterwards that piss people off.

          • Draco T Bastard 15.4.1.3.2
            9 April 2015 at 5:01 pm

            Studies have always shown that the poor are way more generous than the rich and that includes those rich who are more generous than average.

            Heres the thing: The only reason why we have poverty is because we have the rich.

      • Draco T Bastard 15.4.2
        9 April 2015 at 3:29 pm

        What on earth is “successful” about high house prices?

        People getting richer without doing anything productive or useful is considered successful on Planet Key.

    • McFlock 15.5
      9 April 2015 at 12:36 pm

      The silly fellow (I used another expression in the draft that used language that made even me think twice before posting) thinks that a high dollar is a good thing in an economy established on exports, from dairy to tourism.

      What he doesn’t get is that the value of a free-floated currency bears no relation, none at all, to the quality of life for citizens in the country that issues that currency. It’s the most meaningless measure of “success” one can imagine, outside of a media industry pay packet.

      What a … a … a gosh darn imbecile. Sigh.

      • Paul 15.5.1
        9 April 2015 at 1:12 pm

        Hosking doesn’t think about society.
        He thinks about one person. Himself.
        High house prices are therefore good because he now has more money to spend on buying more things for himself .
        A high dollar means he can buy expensive imported cars for less and spend less on holidays.
        He does not care how NZ does.
        He cares how he does.
        Simple.
        Selfish.
        Sociopathic.

  16. Philip Ferguson 16
    9 April 2015 at 11:11 am

    Excellent piece by Terry Eagleton on how universities are being killed. Fairly relevant to New Zealand:
    https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/09/terry-eagleton-on-the-death-agony-of-universities/

  17. Old Mickey 17
    9 April 2015 at 11:59 am

    Pure Gold on the Paul Henry show this morning
    “NZ herald run by a bunch of twats” and the journalism is “shite”…….somethings he does get right !

  18. vto 18
    9 April 2015 at 1:34 pm

    A think game for all and sundry…….

    how would our world be if our house prices were an average of say $200,000 instead of $500,000?

    what would change?

  20. te reo putake 20
    9 April 2015 at 2:15 pm

    Reports of a fire at SkyCity. Not sure if it started in the PM’s pants, probably a little too early to tell.

    • Anne 20.1
      9 April 2015 at 2:24 pm

      A couple of fire engines have raced into Devonport in the past 10 minutes. P’raps they plan to take the ferry across.

      Edit: oops… they’re on their way back – sirens blaring. The ferry must have been full.

    • Paul 20.2
      9 April 2015 at 2:24 pm

      ‘Between 200 and 300 people have been evacuated from a fire at Federal House in central Auckland.

      SkyCity spokesman Colin Espiner said all staff at Federal House had been evacuated and smoke could be seen from the top of the Federal House building.’

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11430118

    • Armchair Critic 20.3
      9 April 2015 at 2:56 pm

      More likely to be Mike Hoskings’ pants that caused the fire; all that uninformed commentary in the herald has caught up with him. Is he still on of skycity’s shills or did they get a brighter one?

  21. Penny Bright 21
    9 April 2015 at 4:15 pm

    FYI
    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    9 April 2015

    Auckland Council Mayor
    Len Brown

    ‘Open Letter’ / OIA request to Auckland Mayor Len Brown – why was there a secret meeting in the Mayoral Office with Minister for Trade Tim Groser on 7 April 2015 ?:

    Dear Len,

    I understand that on 7 April 2015, there was a meeting held in the Auckland Mayoral Office at 135 Albert Street, with the Minister of Trade, Tim Groser.

    My understanding is that this meeting concerned the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), and local government.

    I requested to attend this meeting on 7 April 2015.

    (The copy of my request is included as BACKGROUND information at the end of this post).

    Under the Official Information Act, please provide the information which confirms the following:

    1) Who organised this meeting, presumably, (as it was apparently held in your Mayoral Office), between yourself as Auckland Mayor, and the Minister of Trade Tim Groser?

    2) What was the purpose of this meeting between yourself as Auckland Mayor, and the Minister of Trade Tim Groser?

    3) Who attended this meeting?

    4) Why were the public, the media, and, as I understand it, elected Auckland Councillors not advised of, or invited to this meeting?

    5) Please provide ALL/ANY minutes / reports / briefing papers or the like arising from, or preceding this meeting.

    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    BACKGROUND information – my request to attend this above-mentioned meeting:
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    7 April 2015

    Len Brown
    Auckland Council Mayor

    Dear Len,

    As someone who has attended TPPA meetings in Auckland, as a registered ‘Stakeholder’ both in 2010 and 2012, I request to attend the meeting to be held today, at 2.45pm in the Auckland Mayoral Office (Auckland Town Hall), with the NZ Minister of Trade, Tim Groser.

    Please be reminded that as an ‘anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’, and 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate, I am totally opposed to any steps that would increase corporate control over New Zealand.

    Signing the TPPA, in my considered opinion, would do just that.

    I am concerned that attempts may be made to undermine the following resolution of Auckland Council, made on 6 December 2012:

    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/aboutcouncil/committees/regionaldevelopmentoperationscommittee/meetings/regionaldevelopmentandoperationscommin20121206.pdf000000000

  22. Paul 22
    9 April 2015 at 4:22 pm

    The end of the last thinking mainstream news TV

    ‘Just a fortnight after its tenth anniversary, Campbell Live is facing the axe.
    Following a meeting this afternoon, Mediaworks confirmed the primetime show is under review. Ratings for the 7pm current affairs stalwart have been in steady decline.’

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/67670289/campbell-live-to-be-reviewed

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11430174

    • b waghorn 22.1
      9 April 2015 at 4:27 pm

      Trying not be paranoid but Campbell is the only balance to the scum bags hosking and henry .
      Do we really believe seven sharps ratings vs Campbell lives.????

      • Paul 22.1.1
        9 April 2015 at 4:28 pm

        If Campbell Live goes, then there really is nothing left.

      • Clemgeopin 22.1.2
        9 April 2015 at 4:35 pm

        “Do we really believe seven sharps ratings vs Campbell lives.????”

        Yes, because most people, I think, do not watch quality TV programmes. To them, the idea of ‘quality’ is quite different to mine.

      • weka 22.1.3
        9 April 2015 at 4:43 pm

        “Do we really believe seven sharps ratings vs Campbell lives.????”

        I’d want to see the broadcast ratings for both shows and how they stack up against online access for both shows. Plus twitter, FB etc.

        Then an analysis of the post-tv generation and who still watches and how get their content elsewhere. etc.

    • Clemgeopin 22.2
      9 April 2015 at 4:31 pm

      I won’t be surprised if Key, Joyce and this government have influenced this move as John Campbell has been a powerful painful thorn to them.

      • Paul 22.2.1
        9 April 2015 at 4:34 pm

        After the changes at Radio NZ with the miserable Espiner and Ferguson running Morning Report and Mora now on Checkpoint, Key’s cronies can get away with grand larceny without any questions being asked.

        This film ( from the US) seems pertinent.
        The Last Shadow of Liberty

    • Olwyn 22.3
      9 April 2015 at 4:34 pm

      Awful! From the Herald:

      Insiders said that Campbell has been visibly stressed in recent weeks.

      While staff said the initiative came out of the blue, the show has been under intense pressure since the arrival of Weldon, who is a big fan of Paul Henry.

      Christie has indicated that she is not a big fan of Campbell, though the show has survived thanks to strong advertiser support.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11430174

      Jono & Ben are the suggested replacement. And so another oasis of decency and sanity looks to be going down the gurgler.

      • Paul 22.3.1
        9 April 2015 at 4:35 pm

        Friom the NZ Herald.

        ‘A TV3 source said Campbell Live staff turned up at the regular editorial meeting and were met by the head of news and current affairs, Mark Jennings, and a human resources legal representative.’

        A human resources legal representative.
        Sounds like an axe job.

        We need a petition

        • Olwyn 22.3.1.1
          9 April 2015 at 4:37 pm

          Agreed. I don’t know how to set one up – I will look if someone has set one up on facebook.

          • Jilly Bee 22.3.1.1.1
            9 April 2015 at 5:03 pm

            @Olwyn – Martyn Bradbury has set up a Facebook Page – I’ve just been accepted as a member. I’m pretty sure it’s entitled Save Campbell Live, or similar. What is happening to broadcasting in N Z. 🙁

            • Olwyn 22.3.1.1.1.1
              9 April 2015 at 5:07 pm

              Thanks Jilly. Maria Sherwood is also setting one up, at John Key has Let Down New Zealand.

        • saveNZ 22.3.1.2
          9 April 2015 at 4:38 pm

          Bastards.

      • Paul 22.3.2
        9 April 2015 at 4:41 pm

        Jono and Ben above Campbell Live.

        “If you have selfish ignorant citizens, then you’re going to get selfish ignorant leaders.”
        George Carlin is a genius.


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41jCCyT5wuA

    • Bearded Git 22.4
      9 April 2015 at 4:54 pm

      @ Paul

      Mark Weldon (ex NZ stockmarket CEO and fan of Paul Henry) and Julie Christie, reality TV queen and well known for her ultra-right views, are the two who are gunning for Campbell. Nobody at The Standard should be surprised, but what a pity Campbell is one bright light in our awful MSM.

  23. Paul 23
    9 April 2015 at 4:27 pm

    Jim Mora references the Taxpayers’ Union when taking about 10 year passports.
    Why does Radio New Zealand provide succour and support for Jordan Williams, clearly implicated in Dirty Politics?

    • The Murphey 23.1
      9 April 2015 at 8:14 pm

      I think the questions you should be seeking answers for are….

      Who or what is writing the scripts ?

      How are the messages passed such that references identities and personalities appear in coordinated manner across the sphere ?

  24. saveNZ 24
    9 April 2015 at 4:37 pm

    Just noticed this http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11430174

    John Campbell is hot property and very popular, the problem with these right wing idiot media owners is that they just love to crap on their staff and what is successful.

    Has anyone noticed the secret sabotage from the inside on Campbell Live with the turtle/puppy low brow stories, not exactly gripping viewing, serious, or current affairs and little investigative journalism.

    Can Julie Christie, Weldon et al, cope with serious current affairs – nope – replacement slap stick comedy duo Jono and Ben is advocated. They don’t want real journalism and as usual sabotaging it with their ‘ideas’.

    Love the way these brainiacs don’t seem to realise the public and advertisers till love John Campbell and they are pretty much the only prime time current affairs still going.

    The good thing is that John Campbell will just go on to better things and hopefully a ‘real’ current affairs show.

    The media landscape is changing even if it is a Internet format I have not doubt the talent that is on Campbell Live can be better utilised with more appropriate employers and content.

    If TV3 are too stupid to utilise them someone else will be snapping them up!

    Go John Campbell and those ‘real’ Kiwi commentators who actually give a damn about this country and are not these hideous personalities like Hosking and Henry.

    Obviously TV3 execs haven’t heard the ‘message’ sent from Northland… about National and Act on their way out.

    • Anne 24.1
      9 April 2015 at 4:47 pm

      Right, to save me the time, can someone supply a direct email or postal address for f****g Julie Christie and Mark Weldon? I’m not waiting around for a petition… I’m going to tell them personally what I think of them.

      Do you mind if I use a couple of excepts from your your comment SaveNZ? There’s some good descriptive stuff which I should enjoy passing on to them!

      This is a political decision. Dirty Politics? You bet.

      • Paul 24.1.1
        9 April 2015 at 4:54 pm

        Last August

        ‘Former New Zealand stock exchange boss Mark Weldon is taking over as group chief executive of Mediaworks, the company which owns TV3, Four and controls half of the country’s commercial radio market.
        Weldon replaces Sussan Turner who resigned unexpectedly on July 2 amid expectation of significant change at the company after it was rescued from receivership in November last year.’

        Did you notice the old job?
        Former New Zealand stock exchange boss.

        One of key’s friends.

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11304197

        • Olwyn 24.1.1.1
          9 April 2015 at 5:02 pm

          Also, someone who works at mediaworks and is a fan of Paul Henry is very likely to be friend of Stephen Joyce. Why did we lose Northland? Because there are still a few fragments of the media not entirely under our control. I know, lets get rid of Campbell and replace him with buffoons.

          • Anne 24.1.1.1.1
            9 April 2015 at 5:42 pm

            Oh don’t worry Olwyn. I fully intend to bring up the Joyce/Key Dirty Political angle. I may threaten an OIA for the dates and contents of their most recent communications with the said Mr Joyce! And thank-you for the word “buffoon”.
            I like it.

            • Olwyn 24.1.1.1.1.1
              9 April 2015 at 6:53 pm

              Thanks Anne – I have emailed and signed a petition. I have been thinking that if they go through with it, Andrew should offer Campbell a job as press secretary – he would have the inside running on the links between mediaworks and the current government. 🙂

              • Anne …
                9 April 2015 at 7:04 pm

                Fabulous idea. I could imagine John Campbell and Andrew Little getting along very well. Two highly principled people. He could still rejoin a news network at a later stage because press secretaries are inter-changeable. I knew a former journo who was a Labour supporter but years ago he went and worked for Murray McCully.

                • saveNZ …
                  9 April 2015 at 8:32 pm

                  @Anne

                  That’s not a bad idea.

                  Lets face it John Campbell is one of the most popular people in NZ and totally wasted by TV3.

                  There is a rumour his employer is so jealous of him that he is only allowed to speak for 2 minutes on Campbell live per segment.

      • Paul 24.1.2
        9 April 2015 at 4:55 pm

        MediaWorks Corporate

        3 Flower St
        Eden Terrace
        Auckland

        Private Bag 92624
        Symonds Street
        Auckland 1150

        ph: +64 9 928 9000

        For MediaWorks Corporate enquiries
        Email: replies@mediaworks.co.nz

        Can’t find a direct email to Mr Weldon

      • Paul 24.1.3
        9 April 2015 at 4:56 pm

        From thier website

        MEDIAWORKS MANAGEMENT

        MediaWorks is New Zealand’s largest independent broadcaster, and reaches 3.8 million Kiwis through its TV, Radio and Digital platforms. The company is owned by MediaWorks Holdings Limited, and governed by a Board of Directors; Rod McGeoch (chair), Julie Christie, Martin Dalgleish and Paul Lockey. MediaWorks is led by Group Chief Executive Officer Mark Weldon.

        Mark Weldon – Group Chief Executive Officer, MediaWorks

        Mark Weldon joined MediaWorks in August 2014 as Chief Executive Officer of the Group, managing the company’s Radio, Television and Interactive operations.

        Mark Jennings – Group Head of News

        Mark Jennings has had a long and distinguished career in television news and current affairs. He joined MediaWorks TV in 1989, and was appointed Director of News & Current Affairs for MediaWorks TV in 1994. In December 2014, Mark was appointed to lead the integration of MediaWorks’ TV, Radio and Digital news operations into an unified news team.

      • saveNZ 24.1.4
        9 April 2015 at 4:58 pm

        @Anne go for it.
        Probably get onto the advertisers to lobby. These execs have no decency or loyalty but they love money.

  25. mac1 25
    9 April 2015 at 4:53 pm

    260 staff lose their jobs in three New Zealand prisons as Corrections relocate to new 960 bed Auckland prison.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11430134

    Any body want to buy three nice, tidy, gated, social housing communities?

    • saveNZ 25.1
      9 April 2015 at 5:24 pm

      The Department of Corrections said the closure of the prison units will coincide with the opening of the new 960-bed Auckland South Corrections Facility.

      The new prison at Wiri, South Auckland will be run by private company Serco.

      The master plan of privatisation continues….

  26. Paul 26
    9 April 2015 at 5:01 pm

    Mark Weldon on wikipedia

    Weldon has served as the CEO of NZX Limited (NZX). NZX runs the national stock exchange located in Wellington, New Zealand. NZX also runs the national energy markets, derivative markets, and has a growing commodities focus in both the markets (grain, dairy) and information areas. NZX also runs New Zealand’s only clearing and settlement infrastructure – clearing, settling and managing risk in exchange-traded products. When Weldon took over NZX, it was a mutual organization that had nearly been sold to the ASX for a peppercorn. He led the exchange through a demutualization and a listing. In the 8 years following its listing in 2003, shareholders in NZX received average annual returns of 24%. Since 2002, new business lines in clearing, settlement, information, commodities, and derivatives have been established in New Zealand and Australia.

    Weldon previously worked at Skadden, Arps in New York, and also at McKinsey & Company, also in New York.

    Weldon has given a significant amount of time to public policy and to “NZ Inc”. Some of the things in this area he has done include:
    leading the Prime Minister’s Appeal for Christchurch, after the devastating 22 February 2011 earthquake
    chairing the Prime Minister’s Job Summit in 2009
    participating on the Capital Markets Development Taskforce in 2009/10; the Tax Working Group in 2009; and the Climate Change Leadership Forum in 2007

    Note the New York banking connection, like Key.

  27. Paul 27
    9 April 2015 at 5:06 pm

    This was in the Herald’s gossip pages a couple of days ago.
    Sounds like it’s Henry’s show that may have cost Campbell’s team and their fine journalism.
    Also note the link to Stephen Joyce…Rachel Morton off to work for him. All too convenient?

    ‘A swag of TV3’s female reporters are deserting the network amid insider talk of unhappiness about Paul Henry’s new show stealing all the attention – and money.
    Rebecca Wright, Jane Luscombe, Rachel Morton and Kim Grade (formerly Chisnall) all left recently or are leaving the network soon.
    And although all have other roles to go to, Spy has learned their exits come as MediaWorks’ bosses put Henry’s multi-platform breakfast show, with co-hosts Jim Kayes, Hilary Barry and Perlina Lau, in the limelight – some claim at the expense of other established shows.’
    ‘Few people leave a job when prospects are bright and opportunities plentiful.
    TV One and Prime have had Sunday and 60 Minutes pumping out the stories since February.
    But TV3’s Third Degree has no return date set. Nor has the new-format Nightline, to be hosted by David Farrier and Samantha Hayes.
    Instead, insiders have moaned to Spy that MediaWorks CEO Mark Weldon has all the resources focused on the Henry project and other news departments are peeved.
    A spokeswoman for TV3 wouldn’t comment but Spy understands the newsroom is resigned to the emphasis on Henry heading up an entire radio brand – as well as fronting the flagship for MediaWorks as a while.’
    ‘Wellington-based Morton has been tempted to the dark side and is heading to the Beehive to join Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce’s team.
    Luscombe is also heading in to political job of sorts as she goes to work for the Retirement Commissioner Diane Maxwell.
    Wright, who was a darling of TV3, starts at opposition TVNZ today after being tempted away by her former mentor, head of newsgathering Phil O’Sullivan, who recently returned from the United Arab Emirates where he worked as CNN Abu Dhabi bureau chief.
    Grade and her cameraman husband Daniel have left to pursue opportunities in the UK.’

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11425304

    • saveNZ 27.1
      9 April 2015 at 5:28 pm

      Henry needs the money for his show, can’t make it as an MP, can’t make it on breakfast, can’t make it in OZ, now all resources from TV3 taken to try to make him popular.

      The man’s a dog!

      Face it, all the money in the world can’t make him saleable.

      • Paul 27.1.1
        9 April 2015 at 5:32 pm

        Campbell Live has done so much for the people of Christchurch.
        The only show to advocate for the unheard victims there.
        Those insurance companies will be delighted his show is being axed.

  28. saveNZ 28
    9 April 2015 at 5:20 pm

    John Campbell for Mayor of Auckland!

    Or

    John Campbell in parliament!

    He would be absolutely fantastic!!!

    Lets face it, he is wasted in Television anyway.

    • b waghorn 28.1
      9 April 2015 at 5:37 pm

      Hypothetical question. ?What party would he go to he’s always kept his personal politics close to his chest.

      • weka 28.1.1
        9 April 2015 at 5:49 pm

        Greens

        • saveNZ 28.1.1.1
          9 April 2015 at 6:12 pm

          I agree but don’t tell anyone:) he might be fired, oh, he is already facing the axe.

          I’m pretty sure the execs will cave on this one, there will be massive fall out for the show going and very obvious to the dirty politics reasons why…

          Maybe John Campbell is so sick of the fuckers in TV, he will take sweet revenge and change the world parliamentary style:)

          Imagine world peace and John Campbell as co leader of the Greens. Strange things are happening, look at Northland. They said Winston was impossible to win.

          Journalists need to start fighting back!!! If they have come for the most popular guy on TV, it means journalism is nothing but a zero hour contract in this country.

          • weka 28.1.1.1.1
            9 April 2015 at 8:56 pm

            He’s too nice to be a politician 😉 Besides, we need him to stay in journalism.

            • saveNZ 28.1.1.1.1.1
              9 April 2015 at 9:35 pm

              But maybe we actually need some nice politicians:)

              And ultimately they can do more to change what is wrong.

              Anyway I’m not sure the execs at TV3 are stupid enough to axe him with all the uproar. But if they did, he would be completely sought after in whatever he wanted to do.

              • weka …
                9 April 2015 at 9:39 pm

                We definitely need more nice politicians. I just don’t think they last that long. They either get out, or they change 🙁

                Quotas would change that 😈

                Tend to agree that Campbell would land on his feet. It’s the country’s loss not his depending on what he would go on to. You may be right that it’s unlikely to happen.

  29. Paul 29
    9 April 2015 at 5:34 pm

    Breakfast TV’s ratings way above Paul Henry’s.
    ‘Paul Henry loses breakfast ratings battle,’
    Get rid of Henry please.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11429509

The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.