Open mike 10/02/2025

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 10th, 2025 - 51 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

51 comments on “Open mike 10/02/2025 ”

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  1. Tiger Mountain 1
    10 February 2025 at 7:15 am

    So, David Seymour wrote to Police on behalf of a constituent…“Polky”…of murder and meth case fame. The hounds of hell would likely have been unleashed if a Labour/Green/TPM member had done similar.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/541331/david-seymour-says-letter-to-police-on-philip-polkinghorne-was-due-to-role-as-mp

    • David 1.1
      10 February 2025 at 11:35 am

      Mr Seymour, as a constituent MP, is also an advocate for residents within his constituency. My local MP assisted me once with a police matter, however I was the one who had been assaulted, she was most helpful, reassuring and supportive during with my dealings with the police and ACC. This is normal practice for any MP, even if they are advocating for someone who may be being investigated by the police.

      • Subliminal 1.1.1
        10 February 2025 at 12:16 pm

        Oh. So your case nothing like the one descibed by TM above.

        Unless you think that victims and perpetrators are the same thing?

        The point is, that Seymour is the tough on crime candidate except when its his moneyed mates or members of his own party.

        Which kind of negates the whole tough on crime stance when you think about it…

        • David 1.1.1.1
          10 February 2025 at 12:31 pm

          No not really, even for someone who may be under investigation, or who has been charged with an offence, they may still contact their local MP, with their concerns. It’s the MP’s job to pass on concerns to the police, or a particular government department. The police will write back assuring the MP, there is an ongoing investigation etc. The person being investigated (Polkie…) may feel that getting their local MP to intervene will put an end to the matter, which of course it won’t, and will probably suggest to the police investigators that the guy is a bit dodgy and has an overly inflated sense of importance

          Mr Seymour and any other MP’s may well be tough on crime, however they would still believe in the correct procedures being followed and that people are innocent until proven guilty

          • Subliminal 1.1.1.1.1
            10 February 2025 at 12:41 pm

            Oh yes! What lovely platitudes! I thought Seymours modus operandi was guilty till proven innocent!

            Please dont bore us with platitudes that ascribe morality or principals to Seymour.

            You are aware of the glee in which he pursued a "shoplifter" before they even left the premises!

            I do understand that for ACT, offences involving property are far more serious than drugs, murder or sexual abuse of children but really, most of us dont tend to look at the world quite the same as him.

            • David 1.1.1.1.1.1
              10 February 2025 at 1:54 pm

              I’m aware of political games played by all politicians on any given issue to suit their own agenda. However some politicians also have a constituency and are required to advocate for their constituents. I’m sure we would all be concerned if an MP told one of their constituents to “bugger off” if they came to them for assistance.

              • Subliminal …
                10 February 2025 at 3:05 pm

                "We" would not be concerned if the MP concerned told the constituent that the matter was before the police and it is not proper, even for self conceited and bigoted MPs, to attempt to influence a police investigation.

                "We" , in fact, would applaud.

                • David …
                  10 February 2025 at 4:34 pm

                  It would be a serious matter if Mr Seymour had attempted to influence the investigation, however he has not done that. Any constituent should be able to go to their local MP with their concerns about a police investigation. It’s part of their job. However it would not be appropriate once the matter is before the court.

          • tWig 1.1.1.1.2
            10 February 2025 at 12:44 pm

            It's the shameless hypocrisy.

            From ACT's website, 2023, hammering Stuart Nash, who admittedly was Police Minister at the time he said that he had once said the Police Commissioner about a possible appeal ‘ surely you’re going to appeal that?’. (Although he may not have been the Minister at the time he did that, and there seemed to be no evidence that an appeal went ahead).

            ' “Then Labour Leader David Cunliffe told Parliament: "Mr Williamson’s resignation and the issues that led to it are very serious matters that question the independence of the New Zealand Police and its ability to conduct investigations without political interference. New Zealanders must have an assurance that Ministers in any Government will not, cannot, and must not use their positions either to favour some members of the community or to apply pressure to independent organisations like the Police. New Zealanders are stunned, New Zealanders are shocked, and New Zealanders are saddened that that could have occurred at all." '

            ACT act up to their non-existent standards.

          • Kay 1.1.1.1.3
            10 February 2025 at 12:47 pm

            "they would still believe in the correct procedures being followed and that people are innocent until proven guilty"

            Unless they were a beneficiary needing their assistance in navigating the nightmare that is WINZ. We're all guilty by default.

        • bwaghorn 1.1.1.2
          10 February 2025 at 1:28 pm

          You do understand your average go getter rwnj thinks the law is to be used to suit them and only applied to them others

          • Patricia Bremner 1.1.1.2.1
            10 February 2025 at 3:56 pm

            laugh You nailed it with a pithy one liner!! bwaghorn.

          • David 1.1.1.2.2
            10 February 2025 at 5:07 pm

            I’m think you will find that nut jobs of any and all political persuasions think the laws only apply when it suits them.

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2
    10 February 2025 at 8:17 am

    NZ First ? Actually its Shane Jones first. Followed closely by assorted creeps, cronies and climate crims….

    Shane Jones told plans for limiting oil clean-up liability more lenient than Australia, UK

    Minister for Resources Shane Jones was warned by advisers that his plans to limit industry liability for the clean-up costs of oil wells went against international practice.

    Someone else's problem?

    Ministers were warned that not covering shareholder changes exposed the Crown to "significant risk".

    Ah…Ministers cautious ? Shane Jones only worry is getting to drill baby drill...fastracked : (

    Fossil fuel companies also didn't like it, fearing it would make ministers more conservative about approving permit transfers, and more cautious in setting requirements for financial security.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/541386/shane-jones-told-plans-for-limiting-oil-clean-up-liability-more-lenient-than-australia-uk

    And does this tie in with the whole dirty deal?

    Overall, the proposed Bill is contrary to the public interest and will have the effect of undermining environmental protection. It is notable that all environmental regulations are being reviewed right now.

    https://eds.org.nz/resources/documents/media-releases/2025/regulatory-standards-bill-should-be-stopped-in-its-tracks/

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1
      10 February 2025 at 8:24 am

      Oh, there was this…..

      Nearly half a billion taxpayer dollars set aside to decommission Tui Oil Field

      A total of $443 million of taxpayers' money has been set aside for the decommissioning the ill-fated Tui Oil Field – far higher than earlier estimates.

      The Tui field was deserted in 2019 after the financial collapse of Tamarind Taranaki, leaving the Crown with the bill for its safe decommissioning.

      Climate Justice ( I like…should be much more of it ! )

      Climate Justice Taranaki researcher Catherine Cheung was "shocked but not suprised" at the bill taxpayers were facing for decommissioning the Tui field.

      "The government has always been playing down the real costs of the extractive industries environmentally. They make a mess and then they walk away."

      Climate Justice Taranaki was one of a number of groups which campaigned for changes to the Crown Minerals Act to make it more explicit that companies were responsible for decommissioning costs.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/511110/nearly-half-a-billion-taxpayer-dollars-set-aside-to-decommission-tui-oil-field

  3. Jenny 3
    10 February 2025 at 8:21 am

    The dangers of the new employment law changes to workers and the public.

    I have chosen to hi-lite what I think are the two most egregious of the proposed changes to employment law being proposed by this government.

    "If you’re earning more than $180,000 a year, you’re set to lose the right to raise an unjustified dismissal claim under a new policy." Stuff.co.nz

    The removal of the right to take personal grievance for higher paid employees, is a danger to all employees. With consequences for health and safety and the environment.

    These higher paid workers are more often than not in positions of responsibility and leadership overseeing the welfare and care of employees in the workplace and the effects of their business on the wider community and natural environment.

    For such a person to risk their high salary is often a matter of high principle.

    More often than not, these higher paid employees are in positions that allow them to become aware of workplace abuses and or threats to public safety and environmental dangers caused by their industry.

    The dangers of this law change are clear.

    Most higher paid workers are not in unions and the employment laws are their only protection from unjustified dismissal. The time honoured trade union principle of solidarity, that an injury to one is an injury to all, must be extended to these high paid workers and has special meaning in this case.

    This law change must be vigorously opposed by the unions and workers, and by employment experts and lawyers and everyone else concerned with health and safety in the workplace and care for the environment.

    "The Coalition Government also has its sights set on removing or significantly reducing “remedies” (including reinstatement, compensation and payment of costs)" Stuff.co.nz

    The right for reinstatement in the case of unfair dismissal is a hard fought for workplace right.

    The removal of reinstatement as a remedy, strikes at the heart of workers being able to collectively organise in the workplace.

    Workplace delegates are an essential part of union organisaation.

    To cut the tie between their workforce and the union movement, employers are often willing to bear the costs of financial remedies for an unfair dismissal, to rid themselves of an effective on-site union leader.

    On the other side, workplace delegates are more than likely willing to turn down hefty financial compensation rather than abandon those who have chosen them to be their representative.

    Being able to choose one of their own as a delegate, to represent them in negotiations with their employer and as a contact person for their union, able to bring their grievances. to the attention of the employer and the union. Worker delegates also act as a union recruiters and organisers in the workplace. Elected worker delegates are an essential organisational element of all trade unions. This legislation removes their protection from unfair dismissal.
    The removal of these union workplace leaders, is a disincentive for other workers to speak up about abuses in the workplace. And breaks the link between workers and unions.

    There are a number of other changes to employee rights under law, that this government of landlords and business, are proposing to implement, but these are two of the worst.

    We mustn't let them get away with it.

    [Jenny, I’m going to give you a break for a while. You know that every quote has to have a link and yet here you’ve quoted without links.

    This is a problem for moderation, and tbh I’m really sick of having to remind regulars who actually know the rules and just ignore them. I would have given you a week or so ban, but I’ve also looked at your moderation history from the past year and it’s a lot. Some of it is abusive to mods, a lot of it is ignoring convention on TS, all of it takes up our time. 6 month ban, simply to reduce moderator load.

    You’ve had long bans before. I strongly encourage you to listen to what the mods are saying, and maybe keep a list of the rules around things like linking and copypasta. – weka]

  4. Jenny 4
    10 February 2025 at 9:06 am

    We should all have realised that not only is ethnic cleansing the destruction of a people in whole or in part, but that when forced ethnic cleansing falters or fails in achieving its aim, the perpetrator turns to direct acts of genocide to achieve their goal.

    Texas Congressman Al Green condemns Trump & Netanyahu's plan to ethnic cleanse Gaza of Palestinians.

    The people of Texas have something to be proud of in choosing this man to be one of their representaibives in Congress.

    • Belladonna 4.1
      10 February 2025 at 9:55 am

      IIRC, Green was one of the 8 congresspeople who opposed the resolution supporting Israel following the Hamas attack.

      He has a very long history of pro-Palestinian views.

      It would be more remarkable to showcase Republicans, or hawkish Democrats condemning Trump's extraordinary Gaza announcement.

  5. Phillip ure 5
    10 February 2025 at 9:40 am

    This is a public service announcement:

    (Good news for the nations' cannabis consumers..)

    Auckland city now has a legal weed dispensary…down on quay st…

    And for the rest of the nation the good it news is that they do phone consultations..and will courier the required to you ..

    'is it expensive?' (I hear you ask..)

    I just got 15 gram for $150..(which compares favourably with black market prices)

    'is it any good?' (I hear you ask..)

    I just got a sativa strain called luminarium (THC content 22.5%}..so yep…!

    All the required information can be found at AccessRelief.co.nz.

    Free the weed …!

    • Tiger Mountain 5.1
      10 February 2025 at 11:19 am

      yes

    • gsays 5.2
      10 February 2025 at 11:54 am

      Great news.

      Too many to arrest.

      • Phillip ure 5.2.1
        10 February 2025 at 12:55 pm

        On that 'arrest' note..a recent anecdotal (from prescribing doctor) was an individual @ a festival toking on a large Doobie..being approached by three policemen..one of whom asked: 'do you have a prescription for that?'..

        Individual nodded in reply…the police kept on walking…

        And I cannot over-emphasise the feeling of liberation from having yr weed totally legal ..

        Given my opiate etc history I always felt I was pretty relaxed about cops/my weed..(y'know..!..'gimme a medal!')

        So I was surprised by that feeling of liberation from the yoke of prohibition ..

        And a ripple-effect hack I thought of is that containers have their legality stated on the outside. .so..if you know people who could face serious career/travel restrictions if busted for pot .. you can just leave an empty container @ theirs…and they can use it to put their unlegal weed in..

        And if a problem presents..they can say you left/forgot it @ theirs ..

        Problem solved…!

    • weka 5.3
      10 February 2025 at 11:56 am

      nice one.

    • David 5.4
      10 February 2025 at 4:53 pm

      Good idea to have a prescription for cannabis, especially if or when roadside drug is to be introduced, not that I would recommend driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug. Cannabis can be detected long after any effect has worn off, as long as you are not impaired, having a cannabis prescription will let you off. Not to sure about drug testing in the workplace, however as long as you are taking it as prescribed and you don’t have to operate machinery there shouldn’t be any issues, I say this very optimistically.

      • georgecom 5.4.1
        10 February 2025 at 5:58 pm

        a prescription for Fwitness? for someone driving a landrover under the influence of fwitness

        • David 5.4.1.1
          10 February 2025 at 9:48 pm

          I’m not sure a prescription for cannabis would get you off for being a dickhead, or careless/reckless driving

  6. PsyclingLeft.Always 6
    10 February 2025 at 11:00 am

    With NZ turning into a banana republic, here comes the bananas…

    Northland growers getting into the banana game

    When buying bananas at the supermarket – you'll see they come from places like Ecuador or the Philippines.

    And you could be forgiven for thinking we can't grow them in New Zealand.

    But it turns out more and more Kiwis are getting into the banana game, and there are way more varieties than the Cavendish kind we see in stores.

    Talk about Diversity !

    Northland was known for its farming and horticulture, with popular crops like avocados, kumara, kiwi fruit and citrus, but it hard to put into words the diversity of fruit on display at Hughes Farm.

    Rose had a number of plants on his land including mango trees, coffee beans, Himalayan strawberries and pineapples.

    He told First Up, his mantra was "poke and hope".

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/541395/northland-growers-getting-into-the-banana-game

    There used to be a couple of Standard msg posters who grew widely diverse too. Interesting people.

  7. Mac1 7
    10 February 2025 at 12:19 pm

    The American football final. About to start. I asked myself why a player would want to play a ball game where most of the team never get to touch the ball when playing. Maybe get to jump on a loose ball twice in a full career.

    Then get to give the ball to a player who gives the ball to another player who then chooses who to pass to, while the rest pile into the opposition to stop them from getting near the ball carrier.

    American football- a society in microcosm. The workers get money for the 1% who play with it, distributing some to the 10%ers and the rest get to protect the wealthy as military, national guards, police, border and industrial security, judiciary and prison guards. The plebs get to watch the players and celebrate their success in arenas.

    Today, the Emperor is attending the Game.

    Salve, Imperator. Morituri te salutamus…..

    • alwyn 7.1
      10 February 2025 at 2:25 pm

      " I asked myself why a player would want to play a ball game where … "

      I remember reading an interview with a retired player about 10 years ago. He had been a lineman, ie one of the giants on the field.

      After his retirement he had taken off about 50 kg and was now about 90 kg. He said he had hated being that big but he had to be if he wanted to play. Why did he want to play? He had a very simple answer. He knew of no other occupation that would pay him $10 million per year.

      The top offensive linemen today are paid a lot more than that figure today. The highest or them is on a four-year $112 million contract averaging $28 million per year.

      Would you consider taking that as a salary?

      • Mac1 7.1.1
        10 February 2025 at 5:44 pm

        Would you consider taking that as a salary? No. Employer, team and fans would be rather disappointed if I did, especially at 75……

        Mind you, Sir Donald Bradman was asked how he would go batting against the West Indian fast bowlers of the 1980s, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. He said that he'd average about 50.

        The questioner quickly responded that his test average was 99.96 and were these bowlers that better than Larwood and Voce?

        Bradman replied simply, "Well, you've got to remember I'm over 70 years now!"

    • Tony Veitch 7.2
      10 February 2025 at 2:43 pm

      I watched about 45 seconds of play (which took about 10 minutes) before it began to bore me witless!

  8. tWig 8
    10 February 2025 at 1:24 pm

    From the Guardian. Mark Smith, a lead officer on arms sales policy in the UK Foreign Office, resigned in Aug 2024, after a year of internal whistle-blowing. "…my role was to gather information on the conduct of foreign governments involved in military campaigns, particularly regarding civilian casualties and adherence to international humanitarian law. "

    'The Foreign Office’s handling of these issues is nothing short of a scandal. Officials are bullied into silence. Processes are manipulated to produce politically convenient outcomes. Whistleblowers are stonewalled, isolated and ignored. And all the while, the UK government continues to arm regimes that commit atrocities, hiding behind legal loopholes and public relations spin".

  9. SPC 9
    10 February 2025 at 1:25 pm

    Employment law changes proposed.

    Modelled on rules of rentals, of by and for landlords and rules for employment, of by and for employers

    1.easier sacking of high paid employees.

    If you’re earning more than $180,000 a year, you’re set to lose the right to raise an unjustified dismissal claim under a new policy.

    It’s a controversial policy, but not an entirely novel one ‒ Australia has already made a similar change, Employment Hero lawyer Sanam Ahmadzadeh Salmani said.

    2.a reduction in personal grievance payouts

    The Coalition Government also has its sights set on removing or significantly reducing “remedies” (including reinstatement, compensation and payment of costs) for employees

    Under the change, employees whose behaviour amounts to serious misconduct will have no right to remedies, and there will be no eligibility for reinstatement or compensation for hurt and humiliation for employees found to be at fault

    3.contractor or employee determination

    Last September, the Government announced it would introduce a “gateway test” for businesses to distinguish the difference between an employee and a contractor.

    The change aims to provide greater clarity for business owners when choosing to bring in contractors to complete work, and reduce disputes over classifications.

    4.Pay deductions for strikes reintroduced

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/360569121/employment-law-shake-coalition-rings-changes

    5.an end to pay secrecy.

    It will mean employers can’t include any clauses prohibiting employees from discussing their pay with others.

    Not sure why this in it, employers did not ask for this.

    SME [small and medium-sized enterprises] employers continue to express concerns around the pressure to match wages within the workplace or increase salaries to match their competitors.”

    Why the C of C government squashed the brilliant Fair Pay Agreement.

    • georgecom 9.1
      10 February 2025 at 5:54 pm

      remedies can be and are already reduced if there was contribution by an employee, have been for years as far back as the Employment Contracts Act in 1990s

  10. tWig 10
    10 February 2025 at 1:49 pm

    Proposed changes to NZ KiwiSaver funds include the capacity to invest in private assets, decrease fund transferability, and to make fee structures less transparent. Reposted from Conversation by RNZ.

    We certainly don’t want funds exposed to the frightful pension fund loses in the UK, something no one in NZ seems to think of.

    For example, Liz Truss’s budget caused UK pension funds to lose 25% of their value, after UK bonds plummeted. Private pension funds have been plundered by employers overseas.

    And just how much did that Canadian (teachers’?) pension fund lose after they bought NZ’s Yellow Pages?

  11. satty 11
    10 February 2025 at 2:47 pm

    Wellington car commuters will be in for a big disappointment:

    Former Transport Minister Simeon Brown pushed on with a gridlock-busting traffic plan pre-warned it would further choke two central Wellington arterial roads during peak times, a newly released government document shows.

    The Post – Wellington transport changes predicted to slow peak city travel times

    If too many cars are the problem, even more cars is not going to be the solution.

    • David 11.1
      10 February 2025 at 5:04 pm

      I’m sure the original plan for the inner city bypass from The Terrace tunnel to the Basin Reserve was to be a cut and cover, similar to the road under the Pukehau National war memorial park. Unfortunately traffic solutions in Wellington have been a political football ever since the 70’s, and those of us who live here have had to suffer the consequences.

  12. Dennis Frank 12
    10 February 2025 at 4:13 pm

    Bomber replaces the govt with the left bloc: https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2025/02/10/shock-new-taxpayers-union-poll-labour-greens-mp-are-government/

    All it took was a poll and his declaration, and reality switched accordingly! This tactic may work for other leftists too. New-agers call the technique manifesting and affirmations serve many practitioners as a method for altering reality.

  13. SPC 13
    10 February 2025 at 5:00 pm

    Political contributions by foreign donors are allowed as long as they do not exceed $50. Larger foreign donations, however, are possible if money is funneled through New Zealand businesses trusts or foundations.

    How transparent is the TU as per funding from such as those coming in on the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa category ….

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

  14. Drowsy M. Kram 14
    10 February 2025 at 5:23 pm

    From The Standard feeds – Brian Easton on the bind flight captain Luxon and 'his' co-pilots (1st officer Seymour; 2nd officer Peters) are in. Can stewardess Willis keep enough passengers calm while they plot to sell out Aotearoa NZ – Straighten up and fly Right?

    The Yes Prime Minister [7 Feb 2025]

    We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?

    Yes, Prime Minister.
    …
    I hear all your economics, but I am running a political airline. We need a story that will resonate with the public and the commentariat even if it does not make sense to experts. So we will keep to our ‘yes to growth’ strategy. Got that?

    Yes, Prime Minister.

    • Mike the Lefty 15.1
      10 February 2025 at 7:13 pm

      Already there is dissent in the triumvirate, Luxon getting irritated with the poll results and they are turning on each other as the CoC goes pear shaped.

      Rich foreign land speculators will not save them.

  16. gsays 16
    10 February 2025 at 9:48 pm

    I heard Minister Stanford positively gushing over rich people she met in the weekend.

    In an interview on RNZ this morning.

    I was itching to hear Corrin Dan ask "What has Peter Thiel contributed to our economy?"

    Being he was the poster boy for rich folk last time the Nats were in power.