Open mike 09/05/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:45 am, May 9th, 2014 - 180 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmike Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

180 comments on “Open mike 09/05/2014 ”

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  1. the right fear me 1
    9 May 2014 at 6:31 am

    once more DC is made to look a fool because of certain donations….mr pressland has made a cluster …. of this and nobody seems to notice…to say u can,t believe msn as an excuse is very very weak…at least change yr name poor old Mickey Savage will be rolling in his grave

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1
      9 May 2014 at 8:00 am

      🙄

      The right demonstrate their fear with applause.

    • NickS 1.2
      9 May 2014 at 8:06 am

      🙄

      Person leaves comment on the internet, yet can’t leave a link that explains just wtf they’re talking about [insert $irony here].

      And you need more caffeine, for incoherent you art.

    • greywarbler 1.3
      9 May 2014 at 9:56 am

      the right fm
      Your message is coming over rather messily… some static, disjointed. Try joined up sentences next time and full spelling, try using predictive function if yu’re calling from your phone. Yr comment comes over half baked.

      [lprent: It was. I nearly ditched it as spam. But there was a teeny bit of logic in there. They’re on probation. ]

  2. Philj 2
    9 May 2014 at 7:12 am

    xox
    Oh dear Our police have brokenthe law. Police bully boy and racers and passengers. Its not the poor folk and children of Operation 7, victimised now. Who is next? Heads within police should roll on this shocking episode of unveiled,unbridled exercise of power. The police minister and commissioner should be fronting the media and interrogated. I have lost a lot of respect for the ‘force’ in recent years. I fear for poor and the rich. But hey… it’s not Queensland yet…is it?

    • greywarbler 2.1
      9 May 2014 at 10:50 am

      6 hours at a police road block for some young drivers in Christchurch who planned, they said, to have a procession to commemorate the earthquake. Kept waiting by riot police under some sort of arrest for so long that one woman had to pee in a bottle. While police went through checking procedures. Harrassment that increases ill will.

      Police are setting up road blocks round the country checking up on citizens who may have done something that police check for on their computers, and to fund this invasive, intrusive hold-up by highway men and women, they also check if citizens have done the dastardly deed of not renewing something by the set time, or have some defect to pounce on. Nothing has happened, nothing bad has been done, but you receive police scrutiny for some minor infraction. And wofs and registration for instance, are just safety routines that are set and should be kept to but can be forgotten or temporarily unaffordable. People shouldn’t be treated like hardened criminals and precious policing money and time shouldn’t be spent on this project of preventing crime by having Dragnet and showing police are ‘on the job’.

      Watch out all, in the USA a mother was taken from her vehicle and two young children and jailed overnight for not wearing seat belts, and worse, additionally she objected to the overbearing manner of the police ‘officiouser’.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atwater_v._Lago_Vista
      Similar could happen in NZ if it hasn’t already – I heard someone, probably on Jim Mora, say in a satisfied tone that it is good that police are being pro-active to prevent crime. That sort of smug attitude goes with a willingness to deny respect and human rights to all except those who have got to a ‘top’ bracket and then sneer at the rest.

      It is quite scary the tightening of the screws by government and its minions on ordinary citizens as if the lords and ladies above are ruling the peasants. It is not collaborative government for a well organised and run happy society, it is a mean-minded hostile punitive approach by people who hold themselves in charge of the country over, not beside, their fellow citizens.

    • Treetop 2.2
      9 May 2014 at 10:56 am

      Agree that the police have learnt nothing about detaining people unlawfully (Urewera raid). The cop who is incharge of the operation/incident needs to make sure that the police are not breaking the law.

      “Police do not up hold the law by breaking it.”

  3. Pete George 3
    9 May 2014 at 7:23 am

    Parliament this week has been a disgrace. Our supposed House of Representatives has been more of a melee of mongrel misfits in a house of reprehensible behaviour.

    If the sort of behaviour we frequently witness in Parliament and in the political arena was practised in councils, boardrooms, committees, bars and school playgrounds they would be seen as dysfunctional and it would be condemned.

    It’s bullying, dirty destructive behaviour that wouldn’t be acceptable in most parts of our society. New Zealand’s leaders should be setting a good example but they are doing the opposite.

    It’s a Parliamentary disgrace.

    • miravox 3.1
      9 May 2014 at 7:28 am

      🙄

    • bad12 3.2
      9 May 2014 at 7:33 am

      🙄 🙄 is Petty talking of our Prime Minister being told to pull His head in or be ejected from the House, what a disgrace…

    • Paul 3.3
      9 May 2014 at 7:39 am

      I agree Carter is a terrible speaker whose partial judgements allow National MPs to get away with appalling behaviour – not least the Prime Minister.
      Compare for just a second Mr George the actions of the Green Party with those of your beloved National Party.

      • Pete George 3.3.1
        9 May 2014 at 7:49 am

        Your comment would have had some credibility if you left out the nonsensical accusation.

        I’ve always supported the usually much better example Greens set in Parliament and in general political behaviour. Maori Party are also excluded from appalling behaviour too, as are some MPs from other parties.

        Most of the responsibility for turning voters off politics and off voting by setting appalling examples are the two big parties, National and Labour. It makes a nonsense of supposedly trying to appeal to the 800,000 non-voters.

        • bad12 3.3.1.1
          9 May 2014 at 7:58 am

          🙄 🙄 ,Yes Petty we note you making a nonsense of yourself every day here at the Standard…

        • phillip ure 3.3.1.2
          9 May 2014 at 8:01 am

          the daily ‘fret’..?

          ..and you still haven’t told us.. ‘

          ..if you have a photocopier in yr office..

        • Pascal's bookie 3.3.1.3
          9 May 2014 at 11:04 am

          ” It makes a nonsense of supposedly trying to appeal to the 800,000 non-voters.”

          Hey Pete, please to be explaining how the two biggest parties have less appeal than the better behaved small parties.

          • Pete George 3.3.1.3.1
            9 May 2014 at 11:42 am

            Silly question, presumably deliberate.

            Hey PB, please explain how the two biggest parties are going to increase their vote when they keep pissing voters off with poor behaviour. Especially getting votes from people who are already pissed off and don’t vote any more or never voted.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 3.3.1.3.1.1
              9 May 2014 at 11:54 am

              PB just neatly exposed your shite “thinking”. Everyone can see you wriggling, unelectable. Sad. 😆

              • Pete George …
                9 May 2014 at 12:49 pm

                I’m not trying to be elected. Stupid suggestion. And as usual an empty diss.

                2002 838,219 41.26%
                2005 935,319 41.10%
                2008 796,880 33.99%
                2011 614,937 27.48%

                That’s Labour’s election results so far this century. The problem isn’t relative to small parties, which should be obvious. It’s relative to previous results. Will the same old negative politics and vague policies suddenly be liked by the increasing number of non-voters?

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  9 May 2014 at 12:58 pm

                  🙄

                  PB’s point stands – you know nothing 😀

                  PS: I’m a Green voter. What have their results been this century, moran?

                • lprent …
                  28 May 2014 at 10:39 am

                  A. You are currently banned. I’d really prefer not to double the ban up again. So I have added you to spam.

                  B. The results for the previous decades for Labour were
                  1978 40.4%
                  1981 39.0%
                  1984 43.0%
                  1987 48.0%
                  1990 35.1%
                  1993 34.7%
                  1996 28.16%
                  1999 38.74%

                  So what are you trying to prove?

                  • That you didn’t take much notice of politics prior to 2002?
                  • That political parties major or otherwise tend to have a cycle?
                  • That if you cherry pick your start and end periods in a statistical trend you can make the results look like anything you want to prove (a fact beloved of the nutter fringe)?
                  • That Labour parties get better votes after they have gone on to the parliamentary benches? And worse after they leave them?
                  • You have problems thinking things through when it falls outside your prejudices?

                  Actually don’t bother answering those. You’d be unlikely to be coherent.

            • Pascal's bookie 3.3.1.3.1.2
              9 May 2014 at 12:07 pm

              ” when they keep pissing voters off with poor behaviour ”

              cite?

              What makes you think it is the ‘poor behaviour’ that is pissing off voters?

              Given there are parties that don’t engage in this behaviour, if that behaviour was really the problem then those parties would be picking up those votes.

              You know nothing Pete.

              • Pete George …
                9 May 2014 at 1:04 pm

                There’s a variety of reasons why different people choose twho to vote for or not to vote.

                Survey reveals why Kiwis didn’t vote

                The 2011 general election had the lowest turnout in 120 years, with a million eligible voters not casting a vote.

                Voter turnout dropped from 79.5 per cent of those on the electoral rolls in 2008 to 73.8 per cent in 2012.

                The biggest influence on New Zealanders who did not vote was a distrust of politicians.

                A third of all non-voters said this was their reason for failing to turn up on election day.

                http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10801848

                “if that behaviour was really the problem then those parties would be picking up those votes”

                Greens are regarded as much better behaved than the major parties.

                2002 142,250 7.00%
                2005 120,521 5.30%
                2008 157,613 6.72%
                2011 247,372 11.06%

                Again, behaviour is far from the only reason, you have to also generally agree with the party’s policy mix, but it’s a significant factor. Many people vote based on personality and trust.

                • Pascal's bookie …
                  9 May 2014 at 1:09 pm

                  Jesus wept man.

                  “There’s a variety of reasons why different people choose twho to vote for or not to vote.

                  ”

                  Correct. So there goes your argument.

                  Now show us UF’s votes. They are all about your whatever the hell it is you keep going on about it.

                  Best fit for whatever it is, is UF. How they doin?

        • framu 3.3.1.4
          9 May 2014 at 12:26 pm

          “the nonsensical accusation.”

          which is what exactly pete?

    • NickS 3.4
      9 May 2014 at 7:58 am

      🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄

      Dontcha know people, robust, vocal debate around a serious issue is a totes bad thing.

    • felix 3.5
      9 May 2014 at 8:18 am

      Yes, Carter yesterday abandoned his usual practice around points of order and sat back and allowed Gerry Fuck Brownlee to have the floor, who under the guise of a point of order, gave a short political attack speech against Labour and the Greens.

      And Carter just let it happen. And when Gerry was finished, Carter woke up and mumbled ‘Order, where was I? Hmm, I’m a bit hungry’

      And when Winston raised a point of order to complain about this disgrace, Carter lied and said he had stood Gerry down as soon as he strayed from making a valid point of order.

      Just blatantly, openly lied. About something that had just happened.

      Now if you don’t usually watch/listen to parliament, it might not seem like a big deal. But anyone familiar with Speaker Carter’s usual practice – of cutting off points of order as soon as he thinks he has the gist of them – will have recognised this for what it was.

      A disgrace.

      • karol 3.5.1
        9 May 2014 at 8:30 am

        Yeah. Pretty much how it went down. Key’s government have made a mockery of parliament in the way they abuse question time: avoiding asking questions, constantly attacking the opposition as a diversion from the questions, Key playing stand-up comedian rather than show some statesmanship…..

        Why doesn’t parliament have a neutral ref?

        • One Anonymous Bloke 3.5.1.1
          9 May 2014 at 8:39 am

          Because the public haven’t forced them to get one yet.

        • felix 3.5.1.2
          9 May 2014 at 8:46 am

          Until then, how about a Green ref?

          Pretty much everyone agrees they’re the only party that takes parliament seriously and doesn’t play games with process.

          “The conscience of Parliament”, they call them.

          So why not let let them run it?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 3.5.1.2.1
            9 May 2014 at 8:58 am

            If the will existed to let the Greens run it, the proposal that a neutral body do the job would get a lot more traction.

          • Pete George 3.5.1.2.2
            9 May 2014 at 9:26 am

            If there’s going top be a change why not make it a change to neutral?

            I don’t know if the Greens would be keen on losing one of their MPs to the role. I don’t see any suitable candidates there either.

        • Pete George 3.5.1.3
          9 May 2014 at 8:51 am

          “Why doesn’t parliament have a neutral ref?”

          I think this should be seriously pushed. Even the best of Speakers (past) have problems with their association with one side of the House.

          • Pascal's bookie 3.5.1.3.1
            9 May 2014 at 1:12 pm

            How would it work?

            How could a non-mp chair parliament?

            Who would be suitable?

            How would they be accountable?

      • phillip ure 3.5.2
        9 May 2014 at 9:04 am

        felix + 1..

        ..i couldn’t believe that brownlee speech..

        ..i’m surprised the speaker didn’t have his hands tucked under his chin..

        ..as he watched on..

      • Tracey 3.5.3
        9 May 2014 at 9:27 am

        when hes not smiling and suppressing a laugh.

        lockwood proved you could rise above party allegiance and do the right thing, like exercise highest ethical standards even

        • karol 3.5.3.1
          9 May 2014 at 9:37 am

          Yes. Carter does smirk at the NAct barbs and jokes at the opposition expense.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 3.5.4
        9 May 2014 at 9:53 am

        Felix, are you referring to:

        Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. We are not going to oppose the leave, but I would point out that yesterday the House gave the opportunity to Mr Robertson to table some documents. Upon inspection, those documents were not as he described. It would only be reasonable that he—

        I can’t find the point of order from Winston…

      • One Anonymous Bloke 3.5.5
        9 May 2014 at 10:20 am

        Ah, found it.

        I think poor Mr. Speaker was too busy thinking very hard indeed to remember to shut Brownlee up, thinking so hard, in fact, that time stood still while Brownlee yammered on and the cogs started turning…

    • ianmac 3.6
      9 May 2014 at 8:55 am

      ??? 😕

    • greywarbler 3.7
      9 May 2014 at 10:04 am

      Moral outrage. Pete George will clean up. Commonsense will prevail with his guidance.
      From Michael Marien’s 1970 Handy Guide Pete I think, would be a Rabid Rightist with view of Domination by pointy-headed pseudo-intellectuals and Proposal – to throw briefcases into [Wellington Harbour], Restore common sense.

    • Rosie 3.8
      9 May 2014 at 10:30 am

      🙄 PG

    • Treetop 3.9
      9 May 2014 at 11:15 am

      There were some official visitors from Australia in the gallery on Wednesday.

      I actually watched question time on Wednesday and noticed a change in Key when the Collins topic was not part of a question; Key behaved closer to his chronological age. Key saw the over stepping with Collins, he needs to take a good hard look at himself.

      Would sending the PM a dummy/infant pacifier to use during question time help?

  4. One Anonymous Bloke 4
    9 May 2014 at 7:56 am

    Fairfax report a stoush between Damien O’Connor and Nick Smith over irrigation.

    Labour policy would replace the Crown Irrigation Fund with a yet-to-be-calculated resource rental on fresh water to contribute to water management, science and investment in water schemes…

    Labour still had to work through the details, but he [O’Connor] felt there was growing acceptance that a levy for research, monitoring, management and investment in water storage was a fair approach to a public resource being made available to the private sector.

    South Island irrigation: a festering offal heap of National Party croneyism and corruption due to be flushed away in September.

    Still, if only we could all just learn to get along, eh?

    • vto 4.1
      9 May 2014 at 8:07 am

      except it aint flushing away is it… it is seeping, rotting and steadily compromising most all drinking water supplies.

      this entire issue just confounds me in the way in which …

      one, the farmers simply continue to drop the rubbish from their business in the public estate and think it is somehow ok, if not laudable.

      two, the farmers simply continue to drop cow shit into other people’s water supplies and think it is somehow ok, if not laudable.

      three, the farmers simply continue to take everything they can (it is like a greedy gold rush) from the public, and even when other people are already using those resources, to add to their wallets and think it is somehow ok, if not laudable.

      the farmers need to wake up to reality and stop exhibiting the ugly greedy side of human beings.

      may sound like farmer-bashing but it is deserved imo. someone prove me wrong – please.

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.1
        9 May 2014 at 8:33 am

        The simple policy would be – to restart the Rural Bank.

        Refinance your farm’s debt at much lower interest rates and costs than the Aussie banks BUT you have to sign up to far stricter environmental and operational standards.

        IMO 10%-20% of dairy farms are causing almost the majority of the problems, along with Regional Council enforcement that’s who you target and how.

        • Jackal 4.1.1.1
          9 May 2014 at 9:04 am

          ASB has rural banking with a floating base rate of 4.50%. You can only borrow $200,000 though and it’s meant to be used to fund environmental compliance initiatives.

          However I digress…why give the farmers cheaper loans just because they’re doing nothing about reducing their pollution? The solution would be to limit the number of cows allowed per hectare, control the amount of irrigation, ensure there is riparian planting through various farmer funded initiatives, implement proper independent testing of waterways, enforce a strict penalty system with larger fines for non-compliance and require all farms to have a waste reducing facility in place before they’re allowed to operate.

          Giving farmers even more handouts won’t fix the problem Colonial Viper.

          • vto 4.1.1.1.1
            9 May 2014 at 9:10 am

            I agree.

            The entire approach is arse-about. It should be such that the onus is on the farmer to prove that they will not be dumping the rubbish from their business n the public estate (I cannot dump the rubbish from my business in the public estate), and that they will not be affecting certain absolute base-lines around the environment.

            Why do they resist this and try doing the opposite?

          • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1.2
            9 May 2014 at 10:44 am

            Giving farmers even more handouts won’t fix the problem Colonial Viper.

            I proposed a politically viable solution, you proposed one which is already being done and but is no where enough.

            So be it.

            • Jackal 4.1.1.1.2.1
              9 May 2014 at 11:23 am

              If all those things I mentioned were “already being done” Colonial Viper there wouldn’t be an issue with most of our waterways being polluted.

              Your so-called solution would just give farmers more money, which might help slightly in some instances for farmers who are cash strapped and environmentally aware. Being that these types of farmers are few and far between, it isn’t really a workable solution is it? All you’re really saying is; “here’s some more money for polluting our water”.

              You might not be aware that farmers keep their incomes low for tax purposes. If the compliance costs for stricter environmental and operational standards are more than the savings from lower interest rates, then farmers simply won’t bother. Because of the amount of pollution and the size of the problem, compliance costs will in most cases be higher than any savings from lower interest rates.

              So I’m afraid you’re wrong Colonial Viper. Giving the farmers even more of a handout without proper oversight is not the answer. Instead, farmers should fund their own businesses so they comply with bona fide environmental standards. That’s how most businesses operate and I see no reason why farming should be different.

          • greywarbler 4.1.1.1.3
            9 May 2014 at 2:35 pm

            The farmers have made themselves the dominant business in NZ at the expense of all NZs except those supplying them, their peripheral businesses.

            Therefore we have to work on making them do what they should, and offer them cheap science innovations that will help solve their other problems so carrot and stick, ie better fodder, grass types. Measurements of nutrients in different strains, and suitable soils for them. Advice on measures used by farmers in dry-prone areas of the world that have to be incorporated into our farming methods. Allowance for growing trees on or suitable vegetation on slip prone land. Just really active work getting alongside farmers both dairy, restricting, and other encouraging suitable crops animals in appropriate sites.

            Controls on stocking are needed, making sure that water is not tradeable also. Making sure they pay more for water when there is plenty naturally, so building a fund to assist during droughts, and this will help balance the overstocking. Some ideas.

            And Jackal is making good points. Income – that business of minimising it. The way to go smart to keep tax low, but not a good measure if one wants to understand monetary benefit to the farmers for their hard work. Some of them say their whole family lives on the same as a townie on a benefit, when more is being asked for. They don’t tell their whole story of tax advantages and side benefits from personal use of land and farm machinery and vehicles.

        • Ad 4.1.1.2
          9 May 2014 at 1:19 pm

          Nationalise fresh water?

      • miravox 4.1.2
        9 May 2014 at 8:40 am

        Did you see the one about the government choosing which subjects to report on in the new environmental reporting legislation?

        We need this legislation because – oh noes – NZ is one of the few developed countries that doesn’t have mandatory reporting on the state of the environment. We haven’t reported since, like… 2008.

        • vto 4.1.2.1
          9 May 2014 at 8:54 am

          Yes miravox I did. This governments approach to the environment when it comes to irrigation is simply colonial.

          It is bad for our children and their children and thereafter.

          That is kind of what I was referring to above re being confounded over these attitudes and approaches to their neighbours, the environment, and our children. It is simply baffling. What is it? What brings them to act in these ways?

      • Draco T Bastard 4.1.3
        9 May 2014 at 11:59 am

        +1111

  5. wyndham 5
    9 May 2014 at 7:57 am

    Over on The Daily Blog: the horror photograph of the year!

    ( WARNING : obscene content. )

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/05/09/the-first-rule-of-cabinet-club-is-trolls-and-bottom-feeders-get-in-free/

    • Not Petey 5.1
      9 May 2014 at 8:54 am

      Oh noes an old photo of the PM and the two most popular political bloggers in NZ

      • ianmac 5.1.1
        9 May 2014 at 8:57 am

        Oh no. All three bottom feeders in one place!

        • Not Petey 5.1.1.1
          9 May 2014 at 9:02 am

          How are DPF and the PM bottom feeders ?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.1.1.1
            9 May 2014 at 9:09 am

            The PM isn’t a bottom feeder. He’s a tr*ll.

            Whale and Penguin feed off the stuff even the tr*ll is ashamed to say in public.

          • bad12 5.1.1.1.2
            9 May 2014 at 9:12 am

            🙄 🙄 please oh please send us a better class of ”wing-nut”…

            • felix 5.1.1.1.2.1
              9 May 2014 at 9:20 am

              Yeah. The tr0ll above is the lowest of the low. As I recall he was banned for some really really creepy disgusting shit last time.

              • not Petey …
                9 May 2014 at 9:39 am

                Ha ha I’ve never been banned luv – now you with you’re bizarre paedo fixation have been canned by the mods although knowing you canning is probably one of your less foul peccadilloes

                • McFlock …
                  9 May 2014 at 4:42 pm

                  how is it that you can spell “paedo” but “caning” is beyond you?

                  Now I have Watties in my brain…

          • felix 5.1.1.1.3
            9 May 2014 at 9:13 am

            You’ll never know, doc.

            You’ll never know.

  6. tricledrown 6
    9 May 2014 at 8:10 am

    Politically Gelded
    Healthy Democracy where light is shone on ShonKey dealings is far better than any other system.
    Ie Dunnys pathetic sythetic cannibis corruption his son taking taxpayer funds to make a career out of destroying young ones lives!

  7. Molly 7
    9 May 2014 at 8:11 am

    Simon Buckingham over at TDB has an interesting addition to the Nit-bashing stunt by Paula Bennett shown on TV last night.

    Apparently a disabled toilet was removed and a hairdressers sink plumbed in so that the PR event could take place. (Of course, it can be justified that the sink is now available for nit-removal of students – but one sink is scarcely going to deliver for hundreds of students. And it is the continual combing rather than the washing that is effective)

    Cynic in me saw this as unspoken “poor bashing” again.

    Implication: They need the unspent $1 million (WTF?) from the Food for Schools programme because they are unwilling or unable to effectively address nits in their children. Our local decile 10 school has regular outbreaks – all those parents who spend hundreds on products at the local chemist may be easily aggrieved that “no-one” is helping them out. (And adding in that reference to the Food for Schools programme (unnecessarily) just reinforces that reminder that they can’t even feed their own children.)

    I always think of the phrase with malice aforethought when I see pictures of Paula Bennett and read accompanying articles.

    • bad12 7.1
      9 May 2014 at 8:25 am

      National: when in trouble Distract’, the deeper the hole around Collins/Williamson is dug the more outlandish the ”announcements” from Paula Benefit have become,

      Last week it was ”crumbs off the table” in the form of added spending on budget advice for beneficiaries, along with ”a plan” to involve the BNZ in the provision of no interest loans to beneficiaries,

      This week its kutu treatment in one of the poorest schools in the country, Paula has taken ”on-board” the criticism that She has been wheeled out continually every time National are in trouble with yet another piece of ”Bash a Bene” knee-jerking and has changed tack in an attempt to portray the face of National as ”Pash a Bene”,

      The underlying message probably missed by most is that Benefit rates are so low that even the basic health issues of kids reliant upon benefits cannot be met…

    • ffloyd 7.2
      9 May 2014 at 8:37 am

      Pretty sure she said that the million dollars to be used was “LEFT OVER” from Food for Schools! Leftovers? Have the children all stopped eating?

      • Rosie 7.2.1
        9 May 2014 at 10:42 am

        Yeah, ffloyd and Molly. I was also rather frowny brow when TV3 mentioned the nit programme was being funded via the unspent one mil left over from the food in schools programme. Um, pretty sure we still have lots of very hungry kids whose circumstances haven’t changed.

        So hungry that now days we need sponsors for children in our own “first world” country:

        http://www.kidscan.org.nz/how-to-help/support-a-new-zealand-child

        Shameful.

        • Molly 7.2.1.1
          9 May 2014 at 4:36 pm

          Always inwardly cringe when I see KidsCan involved with something.

          I remember looking them up on the Charities register when they first started to see how the money was spent. A lot of the charity spending seemed to be on a private KidsCan Promotional company, which took away transparency, and seemed to deliver very little considering the income. But I must admit, I haven’t checked back since.

          I’m also a bit wary of charities that decide a specific “fix” for all to solve endemic problems. Raincoats and shoes. Don’t know if it is a generational thing, but most students seem to get wet rather than use raincoats nowadays – be they decile one or ten. But what if you already have a raincoat and shoes – do you get another and then have an embarassment of riches – or do you not qualify as worth assistance?

          Was watching the Rusty Radiator awards yesterday, and this musing about external agencies finding a simple fix reminds me of one of their links Blending Out Poverty

          (Also, worthwhile to have a look at the Golden Radiator award winners too)

    • NickS 7.3
      9 May 2014 at 8:44 am

      Missed that angle :/

      And yeah, a single sink isn’t going to do squat, dealing with nits requires a lot of stuff at home as well, better off having schools provide a nit kit for families with top ups on nit cream when it’s needed. But why go with a solution that actually works when you can go with a half-arsed PR friendly one?

      • ianmac 7.3.1
        9 May 2014 at 9:04 am

        At our local decile 9 school the mothers of some charming 8year old girls complained bitterly about their little dears getting re-infected with nits. They went to the paper. Caused a storm when they blamed the Maori kids in the school. The answer on careful investigation? All the little girls in question went to the same ballet class at which their lessons required them getting close and personal. They were reinfecting each other. Hard luck Mums.

        • Anne 7.3.1.1
          9 May 2014 at 9:30 am

          I do hope the outcome was discussed with said Mums and a recommendation they apologise for blaming “the Maori kids” was forthcoming. I boil up with anger every time I hear of this type of behaviour from racist pakeha parents.

          • vto 7.3.1.1.1
            9 May 2014 at 9:34 am

            Anne. Really. Your assumption that it was pakeha reflects a similar attitude to the one you boil to anger over.

            • Anne 7.3.1.1.1.1
              9 May 2014 at 9:39 am

              The wording of ianmac’s comment makes it a fair bet they were pakeha vto. You’re being a nit-picker.

              • vto …
                9 May 2014 at 9:46 am

                Perhaps. But knee-jerk reactionaries mouthing at certain other ethnicities, genders and ages similarly get my blood to boil point.

                • karol …
                  9 May 2014 at 9:49 am

                  Yes, because gods forbid anyone point out power imbalances and how some of the least powerful groups are systematically stigmatised and marginalised, while others benefit from resulting privilege.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    9 May 2014 at 12:29 pm

                    Which was the disadvantaged group in this case, and how was the disadvantaged group stigmatised and marginalised by the system? Because officials clearly ignored the prejudiced noise from some pakeha parents and went on to track down the real source of cross-infection (the ballet class).

                    • karol …
                      9 May 2014 at 12:41 pm

                      The system in this case was the wider social system – the discourse by and for the better off that stigmastise (low income, or assumed low income) Maori. The legal system is a more discrete system that connects with the wider social discourse. In this case, following the rule of law, contradicted the cultural assumptions of the ballet club parents.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      9 May 2014 at 12:50 pm

                      Point out cultural problems in the discourse of wider society by all means, but IMO the only way to effect change in a lasting and meaningful way is through the goal of economic liberation of the oppressed classes.

                      And to me it seems like the part of the system related to officialdom performed perfectly equitably in this case.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      9 May 2014 at 3:10 pm

                      but IMO the only way to effect change in a lasting and meaningful way is through the goal of economic liberation of the oppressed classes.

                      I’m all for that as it will destroy capitalism.

                      Of course its also impossible to do because we need community to live and prosper.

                  • vto …
                    9 May 2014 at 2:09 pm

                    karol “Yes, because gods forbid anyone point out power imbalances and how some of the least powerful groups are systematically stigmatised and marginalised, while others benefit from resulting privilege.”

                    Is that what Anne was doing in said assumption ?

                    Prior to ianmac kindly providing further details below (together with attendant blondphobia, which I personally resent), there was no way of knowing whether the ballet classes included her assumptees, or possibly other balleters such as these people …. http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/10026723/North-Korea-sinks-to-a-new-low

                    What was Anne doing and on what basis Karol?

                    • Anne …
                      9 May 2014 at 3:03 pm

                      Oh dear…

                      I was just gently being a bit of a tease with my nit-picker comment vto. Nothing more. Should’ve added a 🙂 or 😛 face?

                    • vto …
                      9 May 2014 at 3:50 pm

                      I understand your particular point there Anne, but it is beside the point is it not..

                      I would be interested in a genuine answer given the genuine point made re pakeha.

            • ianmac 7.3.1.1.1.2
              9 May 2014 at 10:49 am

              The mothers were very pakeha with very blond daughters from well off homes.

              • vto …
                9 May 2014 at 2:03 pm

                sheesh, blond bigotry as well.

                the way it goes
                the way it goes

                • Anne …
                  9 May 2014 at 3:10 pm

                  vto, you know perfectly well there is a section of out society – mainly pakeha – who are deeply prejudiced against Maori. That’s all ianmac and I were pointing out with our comments.

                  I don’t like it and nor do a very large section of NZ society.

                  • vto …
                    9 May 2014 at 3:48 pm

                    Anne, do you know that there are pakeha who are not blond?

                    What does blond have to do with it?

                  • vto …
                    9 May 2014 at 3:56 pm

                    Anne, just a bit further if you don’t mind. This mini-thread may be a very picky-nits point but it actually highlights human’s actions and reactions in this area. People do not like being pigeon-holed due to their physical make-up such as race, gender, hair colour or car they drive (I like red fords). It goes to simple bigotry. This is what has happened here though isn’t it? Haven’t you jumped the gun and exposed the very human condition that most all of us exhibit form time to time?

                    • Murray Olsen …
                      9 May 2014 at 11:56 pm

                      I don’t think she did. The original post only made sense if the parents were pakeha. I’m not sure what you’re exhibiting, vto.

  8. bad12 8
    9 May 2014 at 8:11 am

    Bill Jeffries, despite being convicted by 3 Courts?, will not apologize to investors who got taken for 100’s of millions of dollars ”because He doesn’t believe He did anything wrong”,

    Source: RadioNZ National News,

    These people are the exemplar of what is wrong with our society, the ”thieving rich” get the kid glove treatment form the Courts while the ”unwashed poor” occupy the jail cells for crimes 1% of the monetary value of the privileged,

    Mandatory minimum jail time needs be the sentence option for financial criminals of Jeffries stature…

    • greywarbler 8.1
      9 May 2014 at 9:48 am

      Bill Jeffries and his ilk would be probably speaking the truth when they say “I didn’t do anything wrong” either because they don’t know the difference between right and wrong, or they are constitutionally incapable of seeing anything clearly in reality and not with some self-advantaging gloss on it. Or they were incompetent and truly didn’t know, or they were lazy and thought it was a sweet deal using their names and faces to give the finance firm some gravitas and took the money but not the time to check if everything was right, because that would have shown lack of belief in their compatriots in the business, or because none of the other directors did and they didn’t want to be party poppers.

      A good number of reasons to look at the bloodlines of directors, check their teeth and their fetlocks, their trainers and their connections before betting on them.

    • Treetop 8.2
      10 May 2014 at 8:31 am

      Happy to take the fee for being a director, but not sure what the job entailed and not willing to take responsibility for the part they played in ruining a person’s investment.

      Jeffries raised there being a risk with finance companies, a good directror would have managed the company to minimise the risk and have acted when the company was in financial trouble.

  9. vto 9
    9 May 2014 at 8:24 am

    Proof perfect that money buys justice.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/10025785/Mums-credit-card-rescues-cannabis-grower

    If this man could not access money then he would have received a harsher sentence, jail. Poor people get treated differently than rich people. Disgusting.

    Money buys justice in NZ

    Money buys justice in NZ

    Money buys justice in NZ

    Money buys justice in NZ

    Money buys justice in NZ

    Money buys justice in NZ

    • Molly 9.1
      9 May 2014 at 8:33 am

      ” Macdonald admitted his cannabis growing had been “rather successful”. “

      You would think that success would have enabled him to avoid needing his Mum to bail him out to pay the $5,000 fine.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1.1
        9 May 2014 at 8:38 am

        Almost as though the crown had seized his assets and frozen his bank account or something. At least he has a job.

        • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.1
          9 May 2014 at 8:49 am

          Yeah, because cannabis growers use EFTPOS for payment and have a regular habit of stashing their earnings in traceable, IRD visible bank accounts instead of multiple hidden cash stashes. Pfffft.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1.1.1.1
            9 May 2014 at 9:18 am

            I stand corrected 😳

          • Jackal 9.1.1.1.2
            9 May 2014 at 10:03 am

            Most successful drug dealers would use a legitimate business to wash some of their money. Police estimate that Macdonald made $98,000 from the operation, but they’re notorious at overestimating to justify their funding. With electricity of approximately $629 per cycle, Macdonald was a pretty small time grower.

            • Murray Olsen 9.1.1.1.2.1
              10 May 2014 at 12:05 am

              In my experience from the distance past, police figures would be anything from 3 to 10 times the real ones. They love to take the retail price for a gram of something and multiply it by 1000 to get the wholesale price per kilo. I remember several cases where lawyers advised against disputing the amount at sentencing, on the basis that “You don’t want to make it look like you’re heavily involved in the business”.

    • Ennui 9.2
      9 May 2014 at 9:08 am

      VTO, lets correct that slightly
      Money buys a legal result.
      You are not dealing with a Justice system. You are dealing with the Law system.
      Justice is an absent concept.

    • Tracey 9.3
      9 May 2014 at 9:29 am

      just ice

  10. karol 10
    9 May 2014 at 8:39 am

    Will this privatisation of public space never end? And by selling prime Auckland land to Rinehart or an Aussie Rinehart wannabe?

    • Ant 10.1
      9 May 2014 at 8:51 am

      Yeah it’s bizarre that they are even considering it.

      • miravox 10.1.1
        9 May 2014 at 8:56 am

        I guess the council are pretty cool about private security guards making the call on who to kick out of the private – oops- public space.

    • Draco T Bastard 10.2
      9 May 2014 at 12:31 pm

      Where do I get to tell the council not to sell our land?

  11. weizguy 11
    9 May 2014 at 8:56 am

    I’m not sure whether anyone else reads the once-august political newsletter “transtasman”. I seem to remember it being quite good around 2002, but it appears to have descended to base partisanship (and beyond).

    They’ve outdone themselves today. In an article entitled Tweets, Trolls And Partisanship, they complain that political players have too much of a role in influencing Ministers. I agree in principle, but would have chosen a different target. From the column:

    “Voices of unreason are now more prominent in politics. Not for the first or last time, the online world has much to do with this. “Trolls and bottom feeders” is how John Key described Twitter this week, presumably not long before having another chat with Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater.

    Over on the Left, the Standard blog is mostly written – pseudonymously – by Labour and Green Party staffers. This is also one of the blogs Key looks at, he revealed, and it must be a comfort to know the folk who spew out the kind of ignorance and bitter bile found there are advising his political opponents.”

    Perhaps the editor should visit Mr Slater’s blog if he/she (I suspect he) is interested in ignorance and bitter bile…

    But they aren’t finished there. They also weigh in on Maurice Williamson and Judith Collins, but not in the way you’d expect:

    “What has surprised the Govt has been not so much the intensity of the Opposition parties’ attacks but how feral the mainstream media turned in pillorying the errant Ministers.”

    I’d agree that the mainstream media has taken umbrage at being attacked and has chosen to retaliate (perhaps with too much glee), but if you’re seeing feral in the actions of the media, but not elsewhere, you might want to check your myopia.

    Perhaps I shouldn’t read these things on a Monday morning… if nothing else, it gets the juices flowing.

    • weka 11.1
      9 May 2014 at 8:16 pm

      “Over on the Left, the Standard blog is mostly written – pseudonymously – by Labour and Green Party staffers”

      In order for the whole article to be taken seriously, that needs some backing up. Going by the people that have written here lately, there is micky savage (who is up front about his Labour involvement) and karol (who has no party affiliations at all). Lynn is a Labour party member, but as far as I can tell has no current official involvement. Stephanie Rogers likewise appears to have no official involvement with either party. Nor does Bill. Mike Smith’s involvement with Labour is upfront. I don’t know about Bunji or Geoff. Ben Clark is a Labour man, but doesn’t write here enough to be considered “most”.

      That leaves the Notices and Features login, which are predominantly reprints of posts from offsite. If there are GP staffers with access to that I’d like to know why more GP focussed posts aren’t being published 😉

      So to say that the standard is written mostly “by Labour and Green Party staffers” strikes me as odd. Looks like the person writing that doesn’t actually read here that much. Or is relying on beltway perspectives that don’t match the rest of the world.

      Beyond that, I have no idea what ‘transtasman’ is, or who writes it, so am missing the context of your points sorry.

  12. hoom 12
    9 May 2014 at 9:00 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11251996

    It just seems weird that a broadcaster got the boot because of what he asked an anonymous caller, while the soft-porn bus ad is there for all to see.

    WTF??!!
    John Drinnan @NZHerald can’t tell the difference between grossly inappropriate questions to a victim of an orchestrated rape group and a gratuitous TV show ad featuring a paid member of the cast.

  13. ianmac 13
    9 May 2014 at 9:23 am

    Jerry Brownlie is calling for no more about Cabinet Clubs (National Radio) because it is getting out of hand. Really? The whole question of party funding should be in the arena and Cabinet Club should be exposed.
    There is a perception that the National CC is a means of buying access and the potential for corruption. Trevor did not accuse Woodhouse of receiving money. He asked if money was paid (to the Nat Party) for the 1 on 1 meeting. Well. Was there?

  14. ianmac 14
    9 May 2014 at 9:31 am

    “Former Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson lobbied Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse about rule changes for wealthy foreign investors sought by businessman and National Party donor Donghua Liu, Mr Woodhouse has confirmed……..
    Mr Key has denied offering support for the the new investor category, and, when asked about the letters in March, said: “Interest groups can interpret the Prime Minister’s interest in a conversation as having shown support for an idea, but that is a matter of interpretation.”
    And Mr Liu is not in Williamson’s Electorate. Funny that.

    No wonder Jerry is calling time out.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11252031

    • Draco T Bastard 14.1
      9 May 2014 at 12:58 pm

      Interest groups can interpret the Prime Minister’s interest in a conversation as having shown support for an idea, but that is a matter of interpretation.”

      Only if you want to seem to be giving support while being able to claim the opposite.

      • ianmac 14.1.1
        9 May 2014 at 2:05 pm

        Yes DTB. Remember how Mr Key says what his audience want to hear?
        Interest groups can interpret the Prime Minister’s interest in a conversation as having shown support for an idea, but that is a matter of interpretation.”
        He may have a problem when cosmetic testing on animals come up for discussion. To animal lovers he says only tests on animals can used for people/medical research. Oops. To the women who use makeup he will say…?

  15. amirite 15
    9 May 2014 at 10:13 am

    Just heard this on Radio Live but I can’t find a link for it anywhere on the net – NZ deficit has risen and the net debt now is $67B – and the tax intake is again lower than expected.
    Sheesh, these tax cuts for the rich have really worked, eh?

  16. jh 16
    9 May 2014 at 10:15 am

    The next Canada? Rich mainland Chinese push New Zealand migration to 11-year high

    The top draw for Chinese families was the “beautiful environment, good weather and living standard”, he said.
    New Zealand has been wooing wealthy Chinese after Canada, a top destination, restricted its immigrant visa scheme after it was overloaded by mainlanders seeking citizenship. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key recently said he wanted mainland and Hong Kong investors to spend money not on land, but on fixed assets, manufacturing or real estate projects like hotels.

    New Zealand’s “Investor Plus” policy allows those who invest NZ$10 million (HK$53.1 million) over a three-year period to gain residency. Applicants are not required to have English- language skills or business experience.

    A less expensive option, the “Investor” category, allows residency for those who invest NZ$1.5 million over four years, but who must also speak English.

    Lobbyists for a relaxation in policy say New Zealand is missing out on a large pool of investors: those who have between NZ$1.5 million and NZ$10 million, but who have no English skills. “New Zealand’s investor immigration programme is relatively difficult as it sets a high bar,” said Victor Lum, vice-president of the Beijing-based immigration consultancy Well Trend United Consulting.

    One of the biggest obstacles for Chinese investors was how to get money out of the mainland given strict rules on capital outflows, Lum said. “Previously, applicants would contact friends and relatives to help,” he said.

    Lum cited a new Bank of China service that allowed citizens to transfer more than the annual limit of 50,000 yuan (HK$62,700). Under one option, clients can transfer between 2 million yuan and 10 million yuan, Lum said. Under another, the amounts are from HK$2.4 million to HK$50 million. The bank does some vetting to ensure the money was legally earned.

    http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1495757/next-canada-rich-mainland-chinese-push-new-zealand-migration-11-year-high

    • Draco T Bastard 16.1
      9 May 2014 at 1:06 pm

      Ah, yes, opening up our borders to even more corrupt rich people will do us wonders

      /sarc.

  17. Chooky 17
    9 May 2014 at 10:16 am

    On corruption and the National Party NACT….Louisa Wall in support of Penny Bright’s dogged anti- corruption campaign :

    “In December last year we rated in the top ten of the least corrupt countries according to Transparency International, in its Global Corruption Barometer. At the time the lead researcher, Finn Heinrich stated “Corruption hurts the poor most”.

    What a difference a year makes! During this year the extent of the practices of this Government have come to light in a way that raises serious questions about the level of corruption our Government has reached.”

    ‘When Does Corruption Start Damaging National?’

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/05/08/when-does-corruption-start-damaging-national/

  18. ianmac 18
    9 May 2014 at 10:47 am

    Hope that doesn’t mean that programs like Morning Report gets shunted into a commercial radio type approach. After all it is Election Year and Mr Thompson was appointed by National man Chairman Richard Griffin.
    John Drinnan wrote:
    More changes are likely at Radio New Zealand this month, with chief executive Paul Thompson expected to target the news operation……
    Thompson’s revamp is expected to include a shake-up of the Auckland newsroom and studios. Staff have been told management wants the news operation to be more proactive and break more stories. It is understood the board of governors blames a tired culture at the broadcaster.”
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11251996

    • tc 18.1
      9 May 2014 at 2:12 pm

      Too late, that’s all spin and BS for cleaning out any further obstacles for compliant govt friendly poodles like Gluon and mates.

      easy if you move op’s to akl and disestablish the welly roles.

  19. captain hook 19
    9 May 2014 at 10:47 am

    If I see john keys greasy dial drooling all over the TVNZ news tonight I think I will upchuck!

  20. Paul 20
    9 May 2014 at 10:49 am

    Herald heading spinning as ever for the government.
    “Budget surplus on track as tax-take improves”

    Hidden details

    We are more in debt as a country.
    Personal tax is not raising enough because the government reduced tax ion the wealthy.

    “Core tax revenue was 1.8 percent below forecast at $44.49 billion,
    Personal income tax was 1.8 percent below forecast at $20.93 billion
    That led to more net debt than forecast at $61.18 billion, or 27.6 percent of gross domestic product,”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11252278

    • Bearded Git 20.1
      9 May 2014 at 1:36 pm

      Yep Paul reporting so slanted.

      The Granny also has right now as top headline “LVR rules may be scrapped” when in fact they are to be kept in place till later in the year and and economist on RNZ just said “clearly they [Reserve Bank] are happy with how things are going.”

    • greywarbler 20.2
      9 May 2014 at 4:36 pm

      The Radionz news said that the tax take was less than expected by the Gummint. Again.

      What’s the Herald like for loo paper for the long drop? Does the ink run so they can’t be held to account for their fabrications. Perhaps they should cut out the middleman and print it directly on to the unbleached stuff and sell it as environmentally sound seeing as none of their news is.

  21. Molly 21
    9 May 2014 at 10:52 am

    Not one who personally indulges in criminal activity – but it doesn’t take a criminal mind to work out that the Herald publishing this story about the return of $90,000 unclaimed cash to the cleaner that discovered it – has very helpfully provided the full name and photo of said cleaner.

    Now if that was “my money” which for some reason (perhaps criminal?) – I did not want to retrieve from the police, – I now know who to go to for a delayed retrieval AND what he looks like. They already know where he works – Channel Nine building in Sydney.

    • Weepu's beard 21.1
      9 May 2014 at 11:06 am

      Oh dear. Said cleaner might have to spend the money on changing his identity.

  22. captain hook 22
    9 May 2014 at 10:57 am

    I see there is a plague of nits at the moment in NZ. I saw paula beenit on the teevee last night and I thought it was a plague of nitwits!

  23. Puckish Rogue 23
    9 May 2014 at 11:14 am

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10025744/Kids-hand-out-playground-punishment-to-Cunliffe

    The first beehive crumbled and Cunliffe made a dig about it being a National-led government.

    The second beehive was more successful – almost perfect – and Cunliffe said it was a Labour-led government but one 4-year-old quickly crushed that dream, jumping all over it.

    Even the kids know Labour in power are a bad idea 🙂

    • JanM 23.1
      9 May 2014 at 2:30 pm

      Take it from an ece teacher – kids are only likely to do that to someone they like and trust

      • Puckish Rogue 23.1.1
        9 May 2014 at 4:11 pm

        I will absolutely take the word of an ece teacher when it comes to spinning something positive for Cunliffe 🙂

        Don’t worry I wasn’t seriously suggesting the kids really cared about Cunliffe and what he was saying

  24. Puckish Rogue 24
    9 May 2014 at 11:55 am

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10025703/Long-time-tenant-fears-a-forced-move

    Time to move on so some young family can make similar memories of their own

  25. captain hook 25
    9 May 2014 at 12:06 pm

    why doesnt puckish roog speak for himself instead of adding links all the time? It shows a very weak intellect using other peoples words all the time and not being able to frame a cogent comment in person.

    • Puckish Rogue 25.1
      9 May 2014 at 12:12 pm

      I guess because when I read this particular gem:

      “I saw paula beenit on the teevee last night and I thought it was a plague of nitwits!”

      I realised I’d never be able match the cutting wit and humour so I won’t even bother to try

      • framu 25.1.1
        9 May 2014 at 12:31 pm

        the fact that you cant even be arsed these days is obvious – whats more disturbing is the fact that you seem to have a bromance going with whale oil

        cmon PR – its sad – even pete george manages to say more of substance than you

        • One Anonymous Bloke 25.1.1.1
          9 May 2014 at 12:37 pm

          That’s pretty harsh: you don’t have to wade through acres of bland nothing to find a stunted notion with PR, he wears his Judith fetish with pride.

          • Puckish Rogue 25.1.1.1.1
            9 May 2014 at 12:58 pm

            Its not a fetish, its completely normal

          • greywarbler 25.1.1.1.2
            9 May 2014 at 4:30 pm

            Where does he wear his Judith fetish and what form does that take? The mind boggles. Is it a lock of blonde hair tied ceremoniously with a loveknot? onto a neck collar with golden studs or perhaps on a long choke chain so that it hangs near his heart?

        • Puckish Rogue 25.1.1.2
          9 May 2014 at 12:57 pm

          Can’t spend as much time as I’d like on here, you know work and all so I got to post when I can

  27. greywarbler 27
    9 May 2014 at 2:52 pm

    Are we going to have a Friday slot for the weekend doings? Like Judith Collins I feel the need for some gardening time, a change of scene and subject. (Ooh that change of subject isn’t going well.)

  28. North 28
    9 May 2014 at 3:02 pm

    Te Notional Party takes some hits and Petty Georgeous comes over all sanctimonious and pearl clutching about ‘standards’. Like he gives a fuck. Disingenuous prattler !

  29. Public Films 29
    9 May 2014 at 3:17 pm

    Public Films will be distributing free money tomorrow in Papakura, right under the nose of Judith Collins, symbol of the corruption of NZ capitalism:
    http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2014/05/stashing-cash.html
    http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2014/05/looking-for-targets.html

  30. bad12 30
    9 May 2014 at 4:16 pm

    Things are still quietly moving toward a Mana/Internet Party alliance, with Mana Party Prez, Annette Sykes hosting Kim Dotcom at the Te Arawa Kapa Haka festival on the weekend,

    Hone has also given a ‘heads up’ that Annette will be making an announcement of some import on the weekend,

    Source: Online Herald,

    i am sure both Hone and Dotcom will be well pleased with the results of the last two Roy Morgan polls which have the Mana Party polling 1% and Internet 1.5%, so talk of an alliance between the two seems to have upset a few ‘activists’ while lifting electoral support for both Parties,

    Labour and the Green Parties will also be pleased that at the same time as Mana/Internet gained more traction their respective share of the vote also rose in the Roy Morgan,

    Internet have also released their initial enviroment policy, the most notable part of this being a 100% renewable’s supply of the countries electricity by 2025,

    Up my tree and out on a limb could i see a Mana/Internet alliance pulling 5% of the Party vote off of the fence in September, yep!!!, with the ensuing media speculation and some savvy advertising,(the kapa haka at Rotorua this weekend might give both a great idea in the vein of both leaders appearing through a parting haka to say their piece), i think a Mana/Internet alliance will go really close to crossing 5% which would provide the iwituararo to a left leaning Labour/Green Government…

    • Chooky 30.1
      9 May 2014 at 7:23 pm

      very interesting bad12….and I hope it happens!

      …not by taking votes from committed Greens or Labour or Winnie …but by attracting the non voters and the undecided voters as well as young waivering Nacts

  31. vto 31
    9 May 2014 at 4:43 pm

    You knows what? Human beings are so incredibly prejudicial. And consistent. Posted some stuff up-thread re that. But today I experienced it again and in a common and strong manner. It goes like this…. I have some height. My height I have used to further various causes from time to time. Today at an important interaction it was used again. People like height in people. They react to it positively. Which is to the detriment to those of lesser height. It is a very solid and dependable factor used in daily business and personal interactions.

    People prejudices. What is to be done about it?

    • One Anonymous Bloke 31.1
      9 May 2014 at 4:48 pm

      Evidence-based policy.

      We can’t stop your height/wealth/skin/hair/clothing making an impression on the impressionable, but we can strangle its effect on policy development.

    • Molly 31.2
      9 May 2014 at 4:56 pm

      I can follow your dogmatic statements, but also apparent is your inability to listen – hell – even consider what is being said. You seem to have a knee-jerk reaction to any suggestion of privilege.

      A few months ago I watched A Class Divided, the documentary from years ago in the US where the 3rd grade teacher divided the class strictly by eye colour. And prejudice – as you say – developed over something intrinsically unimportant.

      But it did exist – because of associated privilege. And failure to recognise privilege means that spoken or not, it tends to continue. Follow up reading included Peggy McIntoshes <a href=”http://www.isr.umich.edu/home/diversity/resources/white-privilege.pdf>White Privilege:
      Unpacking the Invisible Backpack.

      Only five pages and worth a read – particular the checklist.

    • Bill 31.3
      9 May 2014 at 5:02 pm

      Aw c’mon VTO. You know damned fine that ‘height’ isn’t the problem, it’s the fact that ‘height’ becomes the measure of normality to the extent that wee short fuckers then get socially, systemically and personally harangued, stygmatised and discriminated against. And then, sometimes, along comes some blithely and blissfully ignorant person of ‘height’ compounding it by complaining that nasty wee fuckers are biting his ankles and how he’s a victim, yes?

    • JAK 31.4
      9 May 2014 at 6:27 pm

      Micky Savage, Sid Holland, “Kiwi Keith”, Lange, “Rob” – all shorter than most of the people around them.

  32. Draco T Bastard 32
    9 May 2014 at 5:36 pm

    Govt accused of swapping Chch rebuild for surplus

    The Government doubts the accuracy of some of the data used by KordaMentha and has ordered an independent review of the independent review.

    Translation: The government is concerned that the facts will get out and so has ordered a totally biased review of the independent review.

  33. phillip ure 33
    9 May 2014 at 6:47 pm

    it looks like a mana/internet party deal will be announced tomorrow…

  34. Hayden 34
    9 May 2014 at 8:28 pm

    I wonder if the Minister for Tourism has any opinion on this:

    NZ’s glacier tourism industry potentially under threat

    University of Canterbury Geographer Dr Heather Purdie said she has been monitoring Fox Glacier since 2005 and was increasingly concerned about the impact that climate-driven glacier retreat would have on glacier tourism and regions reliant on glacier-related products.

    …

    “The termini of the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers are drawing increasingly close to their previous minimum which, coupled with thinning, indicates that retreat will continue for the near future.”

    • McFlock 34.1
      9 May 2014 at 8:47 pm

      he’s not minister for theenvironment, so it’s not his problem. Glaciers are just muddy ice cubes, anyway… /sarc

      • miravox 34.1.1
        9 May 2014 at 8:54 pm

        “Glaciers are just muddy ice cubes, anyway”

        And even if Dr Purdie argued that glaciers were more than muddy ice cubes Key could get a lawyer to argue differently…

    • vto 34.2
      9 May 2014 at 8:57 pm

      it means it will not be as cold when walking to the terminuses

  35. greywarbler 35
    9 May 2014 at 8:40 pm

    I suppose that you techies out there will be up with the latest moves in the USA on this net neutrality but this woman Vi Hart is passionate about it and explains it well – here’s a choice –

    http://vihart.com/net-neutrality-in-the-us-now-what/

    http://boingboing.net/2014/05/07/vi-hart-explains-net-neutralit.html

    http://www.tubefilter.com/2014/05/07/vi-hart-net-neutrality-video/

    • Style N Tips 35.1
      17 May 2014 at 9:36 pm

      I think about whether the Minister for Tourism has any sentiment on this:

      NZ’s glacial mass tourism industry possibly under danger

      College of Canterbury Geographer Dr Heather Purdie said she has been observing Fox Glacier since 2005 and was progressively worried about the effect that atmosphere driven ice sheet retreat might have on icy mass tourism and districts dependent on ice sheet related items.

      …

      “The ends of the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers are attracting progressively near their past least which, coupled with diminishing, demonstrates that withdraw will proceed for the not so distant future

      • Colonial Viper 35.1.1
        17 May 2014 at 10:28 pm

        College of Canterbury Geographer Dr Heather Purdie said she has been observing Fox Glacier since 2005 and was progressively worried about the effect that atmosphere driven ice sheet retreat might have on icy mass tourism and districts dependent on ice sheet related items.

        Assessing the systemic destruction of our environment in terms of detriment to the profitability of capitalist industries is a sad and narrow way of looking at things.

  36. Grumpy 36
    9 May 2014 at 9:06 pm

    Great news! Whale oil wins best blog at Canon media awards. Well deserved.

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