Open mike 10/09/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 10th, 2015 - 75 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmikeOpen mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

75 comments on “Open mike 10/09/2015 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  3. Paul 3
    10 September 2015 at 7:17 am

    Rock star economy.
    What a lie NZ were told.

    ‘Commercial banks have been moderating their growth forecasts, based on sharply lower dairy prices and on reports that the Christchurch rebuild is past its peak.’

    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11510305

    • Tracey 3.1
      10 September 2015 at 1:41 pm

      Remember when Hosking said our high dollar was a sign we were doing really well?

      Does that mean the dollar being much lower since then means we aren’t doing well anymore?

      “It is hard to know what I am more excited about this week, our dollar or our houses. Records all over the place. But both signs of just how well we are doing.”

    • Tracey 3.2
      10 September 2015 at 2:09 pm

      remember when Hosking (like fisiani on here at the time) were smug about the meaning of parity, the great golden summer for NZ our coming of age, our sign that we are doing well?

      Yet, the dropping dollar, apparently, doesnt mean the opposite of a rising dollar.

      “This little nation of four and a half million produces a dollar that is at least as appealing as that monstrous land to our left. When the traders can invest in whatever they like … they like us. And they like us for good reason.

      Yes it makes a holiday cheaper, yes it makes imported TVs cheaper, and yes it makes selling our milk harder, but it is more than that, the dollar is our fiscal calling card. It is a huge number of policies, ideas, attitudes, outlooks and actions all encapsulated in a currency.

      A freely floated currency can’t hide, it can’t trick, it can’t be a charade. It is judged on all its frailties and merits. And the call being made this week, the reason the word parity is in the vocab, is because at last we’ve nailed it.

      The dollar is on a roll, housing is on a roll, we’re on a roll. These are golden days.”

  5. Johan 5
    10 September 2015 at 9:08 am

    Good news, Cameron Slatter is being arm-twisted to go back into the ring.
    I think, Irene should give him a good bout.

    • rawshark-yeshe 5.1
      10 September 2015 at 9:22 am

      Thx for the chuckle on this grey morning ! 🙂

    • tc 5.2
      10 September 2015 at 9:50 am

      Better news would be a private prosecution for his admitted use of hacked data as our police can’t be bothered enforcing the law.

      • James 5.2.1
        10 September 2015 at 10:10 am

        I hadnt seen that – got a link?

      • Ben 5.2.2
        10 September 2015 at 2:17 pm

        How about prosecution of Hagar for the same crime?

        • Draco T Bastard 5.2.2.1
          10 September 2015 at 3:26 pm

          Slight difference: Hager used the data in the public interest and thus doing so wasn’t a crime. Apparently Slater used it to defame someone for personal gain thus it was a crime.

          • Tracey 5.2.2.1.1
            10 September 2015 at 3:32 pm

            Funny that people struggle with the legal definition of public interest… as opposed to

            “I’m really interested in anything Slater says and therefore it is in the public interest”

            • Descendant Of Sssmith 5.2.2.1.1.1
              10 September 2015 at 6:51 pm

              “I’m rarely interested in anything Slater says and therefore it is not in the public interest”

              Fixed your typos.

  6. North 6
    10 September 2015 at 10:12 am

    Oracle Hosking……essentially……TINOW……than the JohnKey, the Richie, the Mikey. Whoopee !

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11510463

  7. Penny Bright 7
    10 September 2015 at 10:14 am

    FYI.

    If you live in Auckland, have any friends / relations / contacts in the Hawkes Bay region – you might care to pass on this suggestion?

    ‘Open Letter’ to the people of the Hawkes Bay region –

    “Ask Aucklanders about our ‘Supercity’ (for the 1%!)”

    “For those folk in the Hawkes Bay region, who have yet to cast their vote on the proposed Hawkes Bay amalgamation (‘Supercity’) – may I respectfully suggest that you consider the following?” asks Penny Bright, confirmed 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    “Try contacting ordinary Auckland citizens and ratepayers that you know – who are NOT big business private contractors / consultants, NOT overseas investors, NOT property developers, NOT speculators, NOT representatives of overseas-owned financial institutions – and ask how the (forced) Auckland ‘Supercity’ amalgamation has worked for them, their neighbours, workmates and local communities?”

    (Votes need to be posted TODAY – to make the September 15th 2015 deadline!)

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11510151

    Penny Bright

    …………..

    ‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’

    2009 Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference

    2010 Attendee Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference

    2013 Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference

    2014 Attendee G20 Anti-Corruption Conference

    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate (polled 4th with 11,723 votes)

    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate

  8. Draco T Bastard 8
    10 September 2015 at 10:22 am

    US reputation suffers when it stands against human rights & rule of law – Snowden

    Accepting Norway’s freedom of speech prize via a video link from Moscow, due to Washington’s pressure for his extradition, whistleblower Edward Snowden noted that the US’ reputation is crumbling every year it stands against human rights, the rule of law and its own values.

    Snowden said that as he became increasingly exposed to top secret material, he noted that the statements offered on a number of issues by the US establishment were not “simply untrue” but raised questions as to how the US was “interpreting the law.”

    “And this is fundamentally dangerous. It is about more than just surveillance, I think. It is about democracy. It is about the relationship between the governed and the governing,” Snowden said.

    Which, of course, is true. As long as the US stands as an oppressor it looses the any reputation it ever had for standing for freedom. Of course, it never really stood for freedom but for capitalism – the freedom of the rich to oppress and exploit the poor.

  9. travellerev 9
    10 September 2015 at 10:41 am

    ISIS told the world they would infiltrate the West through a refugee crisis. Now we have one and Andrew Little is catering to the people who want to invite refugees to come to New Zealand and is calling for an increase in refugee numbers.

    What he should be calling for is the arrest of the Western war criminals terrorizing these poor people into fleeing their countries when we bomb them back to the stone age of course.

    So what will happen when the first false flag bombs go off in Europe or God forbid in New Zealand somewhere? Will that be the end of whatever we have left of an opposition as National can claim the refugees were here because of Labour and them softie left wing nampiepampies in the first place?

    • Psycho Milt 9.1
      10 September 2015 at 12:58 pm

      Could you identify the “Western war criminals” you imagine are terrorising the people of Syria? (Hint: the Syrian government, Da’esh and the Russian Federation are not “Western.”)

      • aidan 9.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 1:23 pm

        well syrias a tricky one, since the west aren’t seen openly to doin much, but I think you will find that most of the so-called ‘freedom fighters’ are heavillty financed, armed and trained by “the west” ie amerika. Funny to think that many of the groups are being fed with one hand in Syria yet are fought in other territories.

      • aidan 9.1.2
        10 September 2015 at 1:26 pm

        also if we broaden our gaze a little from Syria to other areas of conflict that are contributing to the refugee crisis we can see the heavy hand of the west at work. think Yemen, Libya, etc

      • DoublePlusGood 9.1.3
        10 September 2015 at 1:28 pm

        The execs of every single armaments corporation would be an excellent start.

    • Ad 9.2
      10 September 2015 at 1:39 pm

      Traveller, we’ll need to be more even-handed about determining who might be a terror threat.

      Key will have to send Immigration and other border security profile agencies (the intelligence ones) to determine who would be a risk to the country. I don’t mind if the Cabinet gets manipulated by the public through tv images. If only they reacted with heart more often.

      Ordinarily, New Zealanders who so much as visit Syria (or Somalia, or Yemen) get files made on them. No problem about welcoming them in, but we need to do so with our eyes open.

      Bali was supposed to be safe.

    • marty mars 9.3
      10 September 2015 at 2:05 pm

      “ISIS told the world they would infiltrate the West through a refugee crisis.”

      “So what will happen when the first false flag bombs go off in Europe or God forbid in New Zealand somewhere?”

      How will they be false flags if ISIS have infiltrated the west through refugees? I don’t get it.

    • Tracey 9.4
      10 September 2015 at 3:34 pm

      Refugees is a defined term with associated criteria. Anyone saying “I’m from Syria, let me in” and with nothing else to back a claim for refugee status won’t qualify.

  10. shorts 10
    10 September 2015 at 12:01 pm

    “I’ve been waiting most of my life for the Left to make its glorious return. This is not what I’ve been waiting for. I’ve not changed my principles, and have only changed my views to fit the facts. I’m the one who feels abandoned – everything has moved around me. I lay down in a big tent, and I woke up in the rain.”

    A fascinating and depressing read on Corbyn and the state of the left in Britian

    http://thequietus.com/articles/18714-jeremy-corbyn-labour-election-rally-policies

    • Ad 10.1
      10 September 2015 at 1:04 pm

      So be careful people, this is a long article.

      But it is one of the best on the state of the Left in Britain and what lies before them if they choose Corbyn in the next couple of weeks.

      I urge you all to read it. A lot of it made me feel that he understood where I am at.

      • Tracey 10.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 1:56 pm

        Does it make a difference to you that Little doesn’t seem to have the kind of “baggage” that Corbyn has? Interm sof how you feel about the NZ LP I mean, as a comparisson to Labour UK?

        I feel the same kind of tension that you express and is expressed in this article. And mostly I come to the same place;;;

        vote for a blairish type and see the rot slowed but harm continuing, or vote for someone I can hope will gain support and will roll back the rot (as it were).

        My biggest problem is that voting for the Blair-type means watching while some of the same old means are perpetuated but by the “good guys”.

        And I feel sad when I consider that when the Right did (in 2007/2008) what Corbyn is criticised for below, it works, but it fails if the Left do it.

        “All he’s done is offer up the very basic outline of a social democratic programme, and then waved his hands in place of explanations as to where he’d get the money – never mind what the holy hell he’d do about capital flight or uncontrolled inflation – but by God, these are filthy and desperate times, and if the things he said tonight were all he had to say, he’d have my vote tomorrow morning”

      • the pigman 10.1.2
        10 September 2015 at 7:40 pm

        My personal experience, Ad, is that I closely-read the colourful first half then found myself resorting to skimming the article. Not because I’m lazy/time-poor (OK, I am both) but because the criticisms suddenly began feeling awfully re-heated, and some of the shots at the activists were hackneyed and cheap (albeit colourful).

        Criticisms of Corbyn based around anti-semitism simply because he represents a departure from the British Oxbridge status quo on Israel and the Middle East are lazy. It will be delightful to see what is pulled from the “top drawer” to skewer him on this issue once leader, but I think it safe to say that they had credible material to portray him as a Jew-hater, they would have made a much better job of it thusfar.

        Then again, with the formidable powers of Mossad et al. at their side, they might at least manage something as incontrovertibly damning as a Donghua Liu letter. /sarc

        • Ad 10.1.2.1
          10 September 2015 at 7:46 pm

          Corbyn or Sanders or Trump: they will be evaluated on what they actually said, all the way back, and be held to account for it.

          There are no excuses, none whatsoever , if you are auditioning for the top job.

      • swordfish 10.1.3
        10 September 2015 at 10:43 pm

        Well, I’m glad it gave you warm, fuzzy feelings, Ad.

        Personally, I thought it was disingenuous beyond belief.

        No surprise to me that the Phil Quin’s and Nick Cohens of this world are enthusiastically linking to it. And, of course, dear old affluent hand-wringing, Liberal Centrist, Russell Brown.

        Essentially a mix of those who believe that Israel’s brutal 48-year Occupation and regular carpet-bombing and massacre of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians is all down to the evil, bearded, bogeyman, Hamas and Hezbollah (you know, the 2 groups that emerged as a response to that brutal Occupation – Hamas initially financed and nurtured by Israel as a means to dissipating Palestinian national sentiment) …….and those smugly comfortable centrists like Brown who, deep down, believe the western, American, Neo-Liberal establishment really is a force for great good.

        • Olwyn 10.1.3.1
          11 September 2015 at 10:38 am

          Personally, I thought it was disingenuous beyond belief.

          I agree. And no amount of mealy mouthed “reasonableness” can alter the fact that when a big chunk of the constituency you take for granted starts looking for a saviour, your lot have failed. Moreover, you are lucky when those people end up placing their hope in someone like Corbyn – desperate people can turn to far more alarming leaders than he appears to be.

  11. Anno1701 11
    10 September 2015 at 12:11 pm

    Congratulations to Queen Elizabeth II for being the Uks longest ever benefits claimant!!

    Going 63 years and 7 months without being sanctioned, falling foul of her Claimant Commitment, missing her Jobcentre Plus appointments,

    not attending a Customer Service training course, missing any compulsory job interviews, or quitting any previous jobs because of her behaviour is a real achievement !

    • CnrJoe 11.1
      10 September 2015 at 12:25 pm

      ouch Anno.
      I think her destiny/jobs a bit shit really. Her Majesty seems to have made a good fist of it. I mean ..really? Her Majesty? you gotta laff 🙂

      • Anno1701 11.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 12:50 pm

        you know what the worst thing is

        they keep on spitting out babies they cant afford !

        Bludgers….

    • Bearded Git 11.2
      10 September 2015 at 4:35 pm

      @Anno LOL

      • Anno1701 11.2.1
        10 September 2015 at 5:01 pm

        The royals are spreading like boils, it does your head in
        We have no choice, we’re invoiced for the weddings
        It’s like a soap, a Dallas or a Dynasty
        We live in hope so put them out their misery

        Fire the freaky family, we’re tired of the cheek
        As you holiday your life away our futures look bleak
        As your castle’s burning down you want the people to pay for it
        Ask us to defend you, we’ve got nothing to say for it

        Kicking at the gates like we think we’re on the guest list
        We’re told to wait, too late, we’re getting restless
        The crowd is swelling as they’re smelling the thrill
        There’s dancing in the rubble and there’s trouble at the mill

        There’s warning of the storming, news of the resistance
        The peasants are revolting, advancing from the distance
        There’s panic and there’s anarchy and breaking the rules
        They’re making fake money and they’ve taken the jewels

        All without a fuss, the coup has been victorious
        The banners wave, proclaiming annus glorious !

  12. Majic Mike 12
    10 September 2015 at 1:17 pm

    1701 also largest beneficiery claiment
    UK taxpayers fork out about a billion $ a year so she can maintain her platinum plated diamond encrusted lifestyle .
    Her estimated wealth $20 billion+ its alright for some.

    • greywarshark 12.1
      10 September 2015 at 4:08 pm

      The Queen has given something a permanent dignified presence as leader to Britain as a reliable interested principled head of state unlike the motley collection of politicians. She had to put up with Margaret Thatcher queening about though and dominating the stage for some time. Eclipsed the Queen some thought. The Queen has outlasted her though.

      • Anno1701 12.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 4:28 pm

        you should really look a little further into the history of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha/windsors before you call them dignified or principled.

        The original Familus horribilis……

        • greywarshark 12.1.1.1
          14 September 2015 at 1:04 pm

          Anno1701
          In 1701 the Royal Family may have been this, In 1901 they may have been that. This Royal Family today, this Queen, has done very well. Don’t lay every royal wrongdoing on her shoulders.

          Here are some interesting stories on royalty’s actual history. First, I noted the other day that the vicious Belgian monarch of the Congo sadistic regime was Queen Victorias uncle. Then also Germans have a big input into the British family..

          The abdication of Edward VIII to marry Wallis was a fortunate avenue for the British in stepping down from the throne when he had unreliable attitudes to Germany, feeling that they should be left to fight communism. Fascism was acceptable.

          It was apparently unwise to have had the susceptible British future king Edward VIII roaming around unmarried. After affairs with other women he met and became fascinated by Wallis who was a bit of a femme fatale and a very attractive, intelligent woman. Wikipedia –

          In 1935, the head of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch told the Metropolitan Police Commissioner that Wallis was also having an affair with Guy Marcus Trundle, who was “said to be employed by the Ford Motor Company”.[50] Claims of an affair were doubted, however, by Captain Val Bailey, who knew Trundle well and whose mother had an affair with Trundle for nearly two decades,[51] and by historian Susan Williams.[52]

          Like Princess Diana, Wallis before they married had to flee the British press, eager for a good royal story. Wikipedia –
          ” In November [1936] the King consulted with the British Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, on a way to marry Wallis and keep the throne. The King suggested a morganatic marriage, where he would remain king but Wallis would not be queen, but this was rejected by Baldwin and the Prime Ministers of Australia and South Africa.[59] If the King were to marry Wallis against Baldwin’s advice, the Government would be required to resign, causing a constitutional crisis.[63]
          Wallis’s relationship with the King had become public knowledge in the United Kingdom by early December. She decided to flee the country as the scandal broke, and was driven to the south of France in a dramatic race to outrun the press.”

          • Anno1701 12.1.1.1.1
            14 September 2015 at 2:06 pm

            “Here are some interesting stories on royalty’s actual history. First, I noted the other day that the vicious Belgian monarch of the Congo sadistic regime was Queen Victorias uncle. Then also Germans have a big input into the British family.. ”

            If you dig a little deeper you will find the majority of European Monarchs are related to each other somehow, these ties even cross the Atlantic with blood ties to various American “royal family’s” as well

            https://www.royal.gov.uk/pdf/European_monarchs_family_tree.pdf

            As for Queen Elizardbreth 2nd, I personally cant stand the old “Hun”…

  13. weka 13
    10 September 2015 at 2:18 pm

    gods, please tell me this is misreporting and they wouldn’t be as stupid as to remove the civil defence air sirens?

    Not enough people have signed on to a new emergency text alert system and Civil Defence heads fear it will take an emergency for people to recognise its importance.

    The new alert system was established at the end of May to replace emergency sirens around the region.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/69792808/Few-Southlanders-sign-up-for-disaster-alert-system

    The bits down the bottom about centralising nationally doesn’t seem too bright either.

    • McFlock 13.1
      10 September 2015 at 2:35 pm

      Wow. That text thing seems to be a system that was obsolete before it started.

      I suspect the nationwide system will send broadcast messages to cellphones that handshake with towers in the affected areas.

      • greywarshark 13.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 3:35 pm

        What morons. People might not use the important texting system until they learn about it after an emergency. So Civil Defence are adopting the tried-and-true old NZ way of blaming people for lax behaviour instead of ensuring that safe reliable systems are in place. They are taking out the sirens that would have ensured the message did reach all. Technoaddicts at Civil Defence. I can feel a really uncivil response coming on. NZs are such a lot of preachy smarties, always ready to blame others for any holes the systems have in them. It’s always the hapless one’s fault, the ritual phrase is “They should have”.

        • weka 13.1.1.1
          10 September 2015 at 3:49 pm

          I thought that part of it astounding. Also, how about explaining properly what is going on? I’m still assuming that if there is a civil emergency I’ll hear a siren. Has that been turned off, where? etc

        • Draco T Bastard 13.1.1.2
          10 September 2015 at 4:54 pm

          They are taking out the sirens that would have ensured the message did reach all.

          High probability that the sirens don’t actually everyone. In fact, I’d be surprised if they reached 10% of the population. On the other hand, better than 75% of people have cell-phones and they’re usually in range of a cell site thus making them the most reliable system.

          Personally, I’d pass a law requiring that a cellphone responds to emergency messaging rather than asking people to sign up for a notification.

          • greywarshark 13.1.1.2.1
            10 September 2015 at 5:04 pm

            If it was my cellphone it probably would have been left at home or elsewhere or not have a recharged battery. Why couldn’t they leave the sirens and for those who haven’t a cellphone the 10% who hear the siren would account for a warning for that group. All this relying on having technology about you all the time is denying the possibility and the right to not have a cellphone, yet still be regarded as a citizen and a person of worth.

            • Draco T Bastard 13.1.1.2.1.1
              10 September 2015 at 5:14 pm

              Why couldn’t they leave the sirens and for those who haven’t a cellphone the 10% who hear the siren would account for a warning for that group.

              Chances are there will be someone within the group that will have a cell phone and be able to tell you what the problem is. Hell of a lot better than just hearing a siren that you probably don’t recognise and don’t know what the problem is.

              All this relying on having technology

              You do understand that sirens are technology don’t you?

              about you all the time is denying the possibility and the right to not have a cellphone, yet still be regarded as a citizen and a person of worth.

              Society has moved on and it’s now pretty much essential to have a cellphone to operate effectively in it. That’s just the way things are.

      • weka 13.1.2
        10 September 2015 at 3:48 pm

        what are broadcast messages?

        • Tracey 13.1.2.1
          10 September 2015 at 4:00 pm

          Isn’t it whereby civil defence can send a message through all radios, or cellphones regardless of what station you are tuned to?

        • McFlock 13.1.2.2
          10 September 2015 at 4:26 pm

          Rather than sending messages to phones individually (e.g. “tower to 021 12345, there’s a flood”, “tower to 021 12346, there’s a flood”, “tower to 021 12347, there’s a flood”), it is a separate type of message sent to everyone who can hear (“tower to everyone, there’s a flood”).

          Individual sms messages involve lots of back and forth of confirming whether the phone got the message. That uses up traffic if you’re sending the same message to 5000 phones. So the tower just screams at the top of its lungs, and everyone in the area can hear it.

  14. Smilin 14
    10 September 2015 at 3:09 pm

    Just caught up with the right biased media report on NZF and its position on the refugee situation
    The point Tracey Martin made completely subverted by these Key fascists putting a spin on it that was nothing like she intended
    This is the crap like the stupid flag debate that gets people all fucked up and Key slips another one under the radar
    Be very aware of the propaganda machine its finding new fuel

    • Draco T Bastard 14.1
      10 September 2015 at 5:01 pm

      NZ First MP: NZ has ‘unconscious bias’ to male refugees

      Martin defended NZ First’s policy as being about doing more for refugees, which should involve bringing women and children first, and said Peters had “added on” his comment about Syrian men defending their country.

      Asked if the men would get military training under that idea, Martin said, “I don’t really know”.

      “The comment was actually about a policy of women and children first.”

      Seems like it may have been Winston misrepresenting the policy although the MSM would then have taken it for a ride.

  15. greywarshark 15
    10 September 2015 at 3:44 pm

    How to invest in housing in australia and possibly here.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/71895339/This-man-owns-170-properties-and-hes-only-30

    At 30, the property entrepreneur from western Sydney has a staggering portfolio of more than 170 properties, earning rental income of $500,000 a year after expenses.
    Birch caught the property investment bug at a tender age when he watched his older brothers buy houses…

    Hailing from a blue collar background, Birch bought his first property at 18 for $248,000 in western Sydney. He pushed himself to buy 10 properties.
    “By the time I was 24, I was able to exit the workforce. I had a passive income stream coming in at around $30,000 a year at that point.”..

    Birch says he has made property investment his life’s work, sacrificing his youth, relationships, holidays and partying.

    “One of the benefits of this business is you can start with a single property investment,” says Kelman, who trained to be a veterinary surgeon.
    Some of the money you make on your deals can be put into your next property ventures, he says…

    “I think if negative gearing was scrapped, rents will rise anyway, so investors will push up rents,” he says. “I think there will be a benefit to me if it got scrapped. I highly doubt that will happen because then the government would have to support public housing more.”

    If only we could get people like him to go on with his vet training and not buy houses for his main job. The market would open up for those who wanted a house as a place to make their life in, not as a place to make your living out of.

    • Tracey 15.1
      10 September 2015 at 4:08 pm

      Out of interest I couldn’t see how he financed his first property at 18 years of age? I wonder why they left that out, cos it’s quite important.

      • GregJ 15.1.1
        10 September 2015 at 7:19 pm

        Yes – it made a point of saying he was from a “blue collar background” but I did notice they seem to have very carefully left out the “how” of his first property “investment”.

    • arkie 15.2
      10 September 2015 at 4:21 pm

      From the radionz article on the OCR changes I found this nugget:

      “Investors accounted for 33 percent of transactions in Auckland two years ago but that had risen to 41 percent, Mr Wheeler said.

      So anyone know where this information came from, and why opposition parties have not used this to beat the government over the head for their lack of action?

  16. arkie 16
    10 September 2015 at 4:15 pm

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/283849/'no-evidence'-of-illegal-swamp-kauri-exports

    “Conservation groups had asked for a formal inquiry, alleging MPI was allowing exporters to send raw timber and unfinished objects out of the country – contrary to the Forests Act.
    Ms Provost released the findings of her investigation today, saying she had seen no evidence the ministry allowed the export of illegal timber products.

    “But she said interpreting the law – in terms of what was and was not a finished product – was a matter for the courts.
    Ms Provost said she had suggested the ministry and local councils carry out an estimate of the total amount of swamp kauri, and work more closely to make sure the kauri is not coming from indigenous wetlands.

    Oh, okay then. Where are the non-indigenous wetlands?

    • Tracey 16.1
      10 September 2015 at 4:33 pm

      ah, so the devil is in the legal interpretation… even if the intention of the law is clear. i see she has basically told forest and bird to sue if they want to get clarity. So, as long as you have money, you can test the behaviour

    • Tracey 16.2
      10 September 2015 at 4:34 pm

      from the report

      “We have suggested to the Ministry some changes that are intended to:

      promote better oversight of swamp kauri;
      increase transparency and public access to information; and
      increase the Ministry’s understanding of the cultural, heritage, and scientific value of swamp kauri.
      SUGGESTION ONE: The Ministry should, in co-operation with relevant councils, consider compiling, and making publicly available, information about estimates of the quantity/scarcity of the total swamp kauri resource. This could include the extent of current and potential mining areas.

      SUGGESTION TWO: While we acknowledge the Ministry’s July 2015 release of new regulatory measures, the Ministry should work more closely with councils to ensure that extraction takes place from an “approved source” before issuing milling statements.

      SUGGESTION THREE: The Ministry should, in co-operation with relevant councils, raise public awareness of improved site inspection and the consequences for milling of illegally sourced and illegally extracted swamp kauri to encourage future industry-wide compliance. Appropriate statistics on the results of those inspections and information on monitoring could be made publicly available by either the council or the Ministry.

      SUGGESTION FOUR: In consultation with the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and other relevant parties, and well before the resource is exhausted, the Ministry for Primary Industries should use information it has on the industry to initiate and inform discussions with relevant parties about the cultural, heritage, and scientific value some of the swamp kauri might have. This process should provide ways for that value to be retained for future New Zealanders. This information should be publicly released.”

  17. Penny Bright 17
    10 September 2015 at 4:45 pm

    How about just properly implementing and enforcing the Public Records Act 2005?

    Oh – and establishing a genuinely Independent Commission Against Corruption?

    Penny Bright

  18. Penny Bright 18
    10 September 2015 at 4:48 pm

    Where do other 2016 Auckland (yet to confirm) Mayoral candidates stand on the current (forced) Auckland ‘Supercity’ amalgamation, and the proposed Hawke’s Bay ‘Supercity’ amalgamation?

    I for one, have opposed the Auckland ‘Supercity’ (forced) amalgamation, since the day of the ‘failed Mayoral coup’ – 5 September 2006, and actively opposed the proposed Wellington and Northland ‘Supercity’ amalgamations.

    Where is the ‘cost-benefit’ analysis of the Auckland ‘Supercity’ for the majority of citizens and ratepayers, particularly the CCO model, which has been the mechanism by which the Auckland region is now run – ‘like a business – by business – FOR business’?

    Hawke’s Bay folks – if you’re still undecided about which way to vote on this amalgamation proposal – remember that in Auckland, 7 democratically elected Councils (warts and all) were replaced, through railroaded legislation, with 7 undemocratically selected Council (Corporate) Controlled Organisations (CCOs), with unelected Boards, and ‘governed’ through a ‘Statement of Intent’ in which the public have no say.

    Check it out for yourselves – talk to ordinary Auckland citizens and ratepayers that YOU know, and ask how ‘super’ – this Auckland ‘Supercity’ has been for them?

    At least you Hawke’s Bay folks are getting a vote .

    Aucklanders didn’t.

    In my considered opinion, if YOU don’t want a ‘super-sized’ DISASTER – regarding rates increases / ‘ cost-effectiveness’ / democracy / transparency and accountability – vote NO to the Hawke’s Bay amalgamation.

    Penny Bright

    2016 confirmed Auckland Mayoral candidate.

  20. Bill 20
    10 September 2015 at 5:27 pm

    From your link. Kevin Hague –

    If National was serious about protecting the critically endangered Maui’s dolphins…

    And that’s the thing. Government ministers are of the opinion that NZ Dolphins are beyond saving. I guess it’s a bit like that colonial tear that was shed over the imminent and unavoidable ‘fading’ of ‘the lesser races’.

    By the way. If you eat elephant fish (common in fish and chips) , you might want to consider asking for something else. The dolphins are attracted to the nets that are used to catch them – I mean, it being one of their staples and all….

  21. Herodotus 21
    10 September 2015 at 6:10 pm

    OCR has dropped, great for those in debt, they are now “less” poor, or can increase their indebtedness by paying even more for the 1/4 acre paradise in jafaland!! unfortunately many retirees are also now under greater financial stress. 6 years ago they were receiving over 8% interest less RWT now they are receiving 3% less RWT. And not a mention of this group and the impact the OCR has on this group in the news 😢

  22. KeepLeft 22
    11 September 2015 at 8:08 am

    Can somebody please tell me why we aren’t putting climate change deniers in prison? We put holocaust deniers in prison and climate change deniers are more of a threat cos climate change deniers threaten our planet! All holocaust deniers threaten is the fascist state of Israel!!