Open Mike 11/05/2018

67 comments on “Open Mike 11/05/2018 ”

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1. AsleepWhileWalking 1

   11 May 2018 at 10:17 am

   And we’re back up!

   Phone extortion scam (incl businesses)

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12049362

   
   A Christchurch man who is going through a terrifying extortion ordeal wonders how many others might have been caught up in it.

   Newstalk ZB has seen text messages sent to the man from an 020 number, demanding money or threatening violence against him and his family.

   He believes his phone number was taken from advertising he placed in a local paper.

   The man has gone to police who said they have had multiple complaints about the phone number.

   He received the first phone call earlier this week. The call lasted for five minutes, but the ordeal lasted for an hour with the man constantly calling back and texting.

   “I originally got told this person was a member of a gang and that a debt had been passed on and I now owed him the money.

   “I asked ‘what debt? I don’t owe any money to anyone’ and he said [he knew who I worked for].

   “He said I couldn’t go to police. It was actually terrifying as he started to threaten my kids and family.”

   …..snip….

   One scam reported by Southern District Police uses an automated message in a Kiwi accent.

   The message says, “This is the Police you owe money to Inland Revenue, if you don’t pay you will be arrested. Please call 04 889 0505”.

   When rung a person asks for your name and IRD number.

   Another scam is said to use an automated call in a Chinese accent claiming to be from DHL.

   “The automated call tells the phone user that DHL has goods waiting for them and that they need to press 9 to talk to somebody to discuss, and if they press 9 the call then goes to a person who will ask for personal information,” Senior Sergeant Charles Ip said.
2. ianmac 2

   11 May 2018 at 10:18 am

   Good morning good morning good morning. Well that was a long sleep.
   Welcome back to the Standard.
   • Anne 2.1

     11 May 2018 at 10:23 am

     Such an exciting countdown…..

     Thanks to lprent yet again. Time for a wee donation. 🙂
     • Anne 2.1.1

       11 May 2018 at 10:40 am

       Since TS is embarking on a new beginning, could I ask a favour which will hopefully be backed up by others.

       Psycho Milt and One Anonymous Bloke apparently copped lengthy bans some time ago. I know OAB can be a bit pithy at times but he is ultra smart and his one/two liners are insightful and valuable. Pyscho Milt is also a valuable contributor for similar reasons.

       I don’t know if either are willing to return, but they have been ‘punished ‘ for long enough. Any chance the ban can now be reversed?
       • Bill 2.1.1.1

         11 May 2018 at 11:19 am

         https://thestandard.org.nz/feedback-please/
         • Anne 2.1.1.1.1

           11 May 2018 at 11:41 am

           I missed most of that post. Thanks Bill.

           Redlogix has put it in a nutshell:

           https://thestandard.org.nz/feedback-please/#comment-1480866

           Regardless of which commenters a person may agree with – or not as the case may be – there seems to be an inconsistency in the time spans of some of the more lengthy bans. I hope the authors are still working on introducing a fairer system that is acceptable to everyone.
     • cleangreen 2.1.2

       11 May 2018 at 10:41 am

       Yes it is good to see TS back.

       Great work Iprent thanks.

       We will donate also as Anne suggests.

       We need social blog sites that promote sensible thoughts, so we need all to stick together as the “fake news media are so rampant out there and we need urgent balance to their crap.

       And we do need to put the spotlight on ‘where is the Minister of Broadcasting’?

       She (Clare Curran) was promising us a commercial free ‘investigative Journalism’ type channel seven called RNZ-plus) to be in service by now!!!!! but still as of now we have nothing yet to “add some balance the right wing troll media” and worse we have seen or heard nothing from this Minister who appears to be just a total wasted space and an embarrassment to us all and the Labour lead Government.

       if I was Jacinda I would replace her now and find a real active strong Minister who will give us a voice that we need so desperately now since the rest of the media is trying to destroy the government.

       Long live freedom of speech.
       • Rosemary McDonald 2.1.2.1

         11 May 2018 at 11:38 am

         “And we do need to put the spotlight on ‘where is the Minister of Broadcasting’?”

         ….add to that the Ass. Minister for State Services (Open Government).

         MIA she is, in a foggy cloud…

         TS was missed and agree with the donation thing. We are blessed here not only with a well functioning website with excellent archive access and search facility but the lack of advertising is singularly delightful.
         • savenz 2.1.2.1.1

           11 May 2018 at 12:57 pm

           +1 Rosemary McDonald
         • cleangreen 2.1.2.1.2

           11 May 2018 at 4:09 pm

           Rosemary; 100%

           Yes i do have deep misgivings with the Minister here as in November we asked Clare Curran to help get a new RNZ reporter for HB/Gisborne and Minister Curran refused in her letter to us that she would not get involved then!!!!.

           So she didn’t mind that we were left without a reporter (under two years of national)

           Now we cant even get the reporter now (assigned) “finally” to cover our transport issues as the new reporter said to us she was to busy!!!!!!

           So the Minister has made a mess of everything here now.
     • savenz 2.1.3

       11 May 2018 at 12:05 pm

       +1 Anne
     • mauī 2.1.4

       11 May 2018 at 4:55 pm

       yes, thank you lprent. Your hard work enables this great forum.
3. dv 3

   11 May 2018 at 10:31 am

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12048890

   The project remains unfinished because local authorities are yet to sign-off regulatory permits for a state-of-the-art abattoir, despite repeat efforts by the New Zealand Ambassador to get things moving.

   On December 6 last year the governance group held a teleconference, with the Mfat representative advising, “the Al Khalaf Group had located the legal documents required by the Mayor [redacted] and these documents had been delivered to the Mayor’s office”.

   Apparently they lost the paper work for a couple of years
   Duh
   • Bearded Git 3.1

     11 May 2018 at 12:36 pm

     Bidiot sounds all over the place to me.

     He seems genuine and knowledgeable at the start of the article but by the end of it he seems neither.
   • Frankie and Benjie 3.2

     11 May 2018 at 4:39 pm

     National are still spinning that it was “Labour’s fault …”. I read somewhere that the anger was not so much at the ban of live sheep exporting but a National promise to lift the ban that was reneged on. The FTA has stalled and would have no matter what National did. So throwing the scary “$4.5 Billion dollar problem” phrase around is more spinning (aka lying).
     They must be worried that this huge waste of money makes their claims that “more doctor not diplomats” shows they are useless at running a country and their criticisms of the Coalition are hollow at best.
4. dv 4

   11 May 2018 at 10:35 am

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12049120
   This worth a full read

   I said Northcote school principals have told me they have one standout issue: teachers can’t afford to live in Auckland.

   “Teachers should be valued much more in society,” he said.

   Should they be paid more?

   “I don’t want to comment on pay,” he said.

   I asked what else he was worried about?

   “There are privacy issues.”

   What privacy issues?

   “Well, like parking problems.”

   How are parking problems a privacy issue?

   “Well, okay. But the people of Northcote are unanimously against it.”

   And so on!!!
   • You_Fool 4.1

     11 May 2018 at 10:57 am

     Is it just me or does that conversation make no sense, like rambling and disconnected…
     • dv 4.1.1

       11 May 2018 at 11:04 am

       It does appear to be a transcript.

       Read the stuff about the bus lanes and transport for more weirdness.
       • You_Fool 4.1.1.1

         11 May 2018 at 11:36 am

         Oh i read the article, i meant that dan Bidiot (or what ever) didn’t really give an answer to the question at any stage, or said agreed to both sides of a debate, ignored actual facts, went on tangents.. I mean if I lived in Northcoate I would want a bit more coherence from my elected official than what that transcript suggested
         • dv 4.1.1.1.1

           11 May 2018 at 11:40 am

           YES. YF.
         • tc 4.1.1.1.2

           11 May 2018 at 1:02 pm

           He’s an economist so well schooled in the art of talking without making sense, reaching any conclusions or displaying a grasp of the real issue.
   • savenz 4.2

     11 May 2018 at 12:03 pm

     I’d live to see the government’s Kiwibuild’s like Unitec site have cheap rental accomodation reserved for teachers, firefighters and police workers. Not only is it important to be able to have these important people’s skills kept in NZ cities that are increasingly becoming less affordable with less rental accomodation but it would also serve a valuable function for those who think that there are more ‘social’ issues in social housing.

     I can’t see a policeman letting his neighbour cook P for example or beat their partner up. Likewise having teachers around in a community that should be serving the poorer members of society.

     I just hope these government land from the tax payer does not just end up as speculative purchases onsold in a few years… which clearly will happen if the government does not get it’s act together in ensuring they have non repealable conditions as long term state housing.
     • DB Brown 4.2.1

       12 May 2018 at 6:28 am

       That may not be so simple as it seems on the surface but… it’s also completely brilliant. What I and a lot of my peers lacked as young folk was decent role models. Absentee/abusive parents were very common.

       A community where key community players were present, and actually part of the community (not visiting with big sticks), could go a long way towards restoring some sense of stability and safety for people who’ve known neither. It does put a lot of onus on the people of service however.

       Stability is key to turning lives around. Most street people are PTSD via what they’ve endured at the hands of their caregivers, often the state. Just putting National in power is enough to see many slink back into addiction and despair. A mob that not only doesn’t care, but actively victimises you.

       Last time Labor was in power many fringe types were empowered to try their hand at life. I personally saw several long term performing artists off the dole. Some are now in the international spotlight.

       Try that with Nats in power. Fines, benefits cut off, fraud accusations – “we were just trying to start a business”… Great talents kicked till they stay down.

       I remember getting hauled over the coals age 18 for not being on WINZ books – it’s true! “But how did you live, you must be lying to us” – I lived in the bush. I was 16 going on 17, and I’d already had a gutsful.
   • Draco T Bastard 4.3

     11 May 2018 at 1:51 pm

     I asked him, do you have a bottom line? Is there a principle or policy you know now you won’t betray in politics?

     “I tell the truth.”

     HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

     He’s in National that, as John Banks hinted at, must lie so as to get elected at all.
     • dv 4.3.1

       11 May 2018 at 2:14 pm

       Yes I thought that that was particularly ironic after the comments during the conversation.
5. Ffloyd 5

   11 May 2018 at 10:47 am

   Is that a script for Yes Minister?
   • dv 5.1

     11 May 2018 at 10:57 am

     Could be, but sadly not.
6. Rosemary McDonald 6

   11 May 2018 at 11:16 am

   Good work from Natrad.

   https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/357100/middlemore-board-was-pressured-to-settle-for-3m

   Be buggered if I can fathom why there are still “Hawkins” signs all over the show at Waikato Hospital still.

   The bullying bastards should have been run out of the country….
   • Gabby 6.1

     11 May 2018 at 12:20 pm

     Got to wonder if there’s any relationship between managements. Sounds as if someone was pretty determined to shovel more money in the builders’ direction.
     • savenz 6.1.1

       11 May 2018 at 12:43 pm

       Construction, banking and cow corporate welfare is what this country has become. All the laws and red carpet to keep the often poorly run businesses, getting benefits at every turn and employing cheerleaders to keep the pressure on government for them to get more benefits with less regulation, chugging along.
   • Bearded Git 6.2

     11 May 2018 at 12:41 pm

     Did they get financial advice? This is a shambles.
     • Rosemary McDonald 6.2.1

       11 May 2018 at 1:12 pm

       “Did they get financial advice? This is a shambles.”

       The minutes of the CMDHB meetings provided at the bottom of that page says it all.

       “A shambles” is an understatement. One day someone…Hager, are you free?…will properly investigate shit like this. We’re talking billions of tax dollars being poured down the throats of vultures like these.
       And no sanctions for gross fuckups….just more contracts.

       Shakes head in despair.
       • Bearded Git 6.2.1.1

         11 May 2018 at 2:38 pm

         +23,000,000 (dollars of course)
       • Rosemary McDonald 6.2.1.2

         11 May 2018 at 6:06 pm

         The plot sickens….https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/357152/firm-behind-leaky-buildings-goes-into-receivership

         “Hawkins built the Botany Downs Secondary College in Auckland.

         A related company, H Construction North Island – formerly called Hawkins Construction North Island – was last week ordered by the High Court to pay $13.4 million for a raft of construction errors at the leaky, damp, and rotting college.

         Orange H Group – H Construction’s shareholder – has now been put in receivership.

         It will now be up to receiver McGrath Nicol to decide what happens to the millions of dollars the Ministry of Education is owed.

         Hawkins also built the four worst leaking buildings at Middlemore Hospital less than 20 years ago.

         H Construction has gone into receivership owing a total of $30m.

         Orange H director David McConnell said they decided some time ago to exit the construction industry “principally because of the dramatic rise in the risk profile” borne by contractors.

         This same rise in risks was cited by Fletcher when its building unit announced it was closing up gradually after suffering $1 billion of losses.

         Mr McConnell said Orange H took the decision reluctantly to go into receivership.

         “The process to secure final payments from the various customers has been complex and has taken a lot longer than anticipated and created a cash flow timing issue,” he said.

         “We were also concerned that a number of parties were commencing legal action and we were mindful of our responsibility to exercise our fiduciary duties.”

         There was “significant value” in Orange H with all but two of the legacy projects now completed and only minor work still outstanding on one of these, Mr McConnell said.

         “The board’s focus is now to leave the company in the best possible position for the receivers to achieve substantial recoveries.”

         The board of trustees at Botany Downs Secondary College said it had not yet heard about the company going into liquidiation.

         The school was disappointed, but not entirely surprised to hear the news, chair Murray Goodman said.

         The board would wait for more instructions from the Ministry of Education on the matter.

         In March 2017, Downer purchased the Hawkins brand, some projects, assets and employees, and called it Hawkins 2017 Limited.

         Previous projects and a number of ongoing projects done by Hawkins or related companies – such as the Botany Downs school and Middlemore Hospital buildings – were retained by Orange H Group, part of McConnell Limited. Orange H is distinct from Hawkins.”

         Slimy, wriggly arsed, bottom-feeding scumsuckers are everywhere….
7. veutoviper 7

   11 May 2018 at 11:44 am

   Test as two previous comments submitted without problems have not appeared.

   OK – this one worked without problems. But two previous comments to the “Toby Manhire Owns Ms Bennett” post did not (the second a repeat of the first), Not important or presumably contentious comments and no loss. From Vodaphone ISP.

   And a big thanks lprent for all your hard work.
8. savenz 8

   11 May 2018 at 12:48 pm

   Just the tip of the ice berg. I’d like to see government audits every year to make sure all these “IT errors” on the banks and financial industry are found and not permanently ripping off people who have nobody anymore to check up on the big business in any real terms. Would also help the banks and the government, if they screw up over years that’s a large hole in their accounts for the future and they go bankrupt.

   While they are about it, would help people feel better if their cash was actually insured like other normal countries so that people don’t lose all their savings if they stuff up aka all the financial crashes not so long ago. Had a family member lose all their savings in Hanover finance for a deposit on their first home. They had to start out again with nothing. The banks should pay for the insurance and bail outs not the government or tax payers.

   ANZ credits customers $10m after loan payment mix-up

   http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2018/05/anz-credits-customers-10m-after-loan-payment-mix-up.html
9. Rosemary McDonald 9

   11 May 2018 at 1:23 pm

   And more even more (if that is possible) dodgy shit emerged from Middlemore while we were sleeping.

   https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/357004/non-medical-facility-built-at-middlemore-without-approval

   Flash new non medical buildings funded by…

   “…. selling about $11 million of medical equipment, mostly sterilisers, to a finance company, then leasing them back.

   This was an “unusual” method to get around the fact that usual sources of capital spending would not have been available for such a non-priority building, she said.

   “It’s a very bad deal….””

   Accompanying photo has an unfortunately inanely grinning acting CEO…
   • Gabby 9.1

     11 May 2018 at 5:19 pm

     Was it the same ceo who urged getting hawkins to fix their mess at a blow out price?
10. Puckish Rogue 10

    11 May 2018 at 1:31 pm

    Simon Bridges needs to do the right thing and resign and let this outstanding women lead National back to the promised land because she is on fire

    https://www.facebook.com/judithcollinsmp/videos/1675789842498762/

    Thats real Girl Power

    Go Jude, cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!
    • veutoviper 10.1

      11 May 2018 at 2:18 pm

      But Puckish Rogue, only a week ago you were proclaiming that Nicola Willis would be the next PM of NZ!

      https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-04-05-2018/#comment-1481118

      Now you are suggesting that Willis’ older clone*, Judith Collins, should be the one to lead National back to the promised land. Make up your mind, man. LOL

      I really laughed when I watched Jude’s performance the other day. The person in the House I would least call ‘petulant’ is Jacinda Ardern – and the one I would most call ‘petulant’ is none other than Judith Collins herself.

      * As I said in one of my comments under your ‘Willis for PM’ post last week, Willis seems like a younger Collins; and she seems to already be forming a fan club around herself amongst the younger, newer Nat MPs.

      Bridges in his reshuffle following his rise to the Nat leadership has already moved a number of the older Nats further to the retirement back benches (eg Maggie Barry) and younger ones (eg Sarah Dowie) well up the list and into spokesperson positions. Others, eg Collins, I suspect he is keeping on the front bench from the perspective of keep your friends close but your enemies even closer. Time will tell …
      • Puckish Rogue 10.1.1

        11 May 2018 at 2:31 pm

        “But Puckish Rogue, only a week ago you were proclaiming that Nicola Willis would be the next PM of NZ!”

        I hope she can forgive my momentary lapse of reason (she will of course because shes just so awesome like that)

        “As I said in one of my comments under your ‘Willis for PM’ post last week, Willis seems like a younger Collins; and she seems to already be forming a fan club around herself amongst the younger, newer Nat MPs.”

        The future is looking bright for NZ

        “Bridges in his reshuffle following his rise to the Nat leadership has already moved a number of the older Nats further to the retirement back benches (eg Maggie Barry) and younger ones (eg Sarah Dowie) well up the list and into spokesperson positions. Others, eg Collins, I suspect he is keeping on the front bench from the perspective of keep your friends close but your enemies even closer. Time will tell …”

        The sooner he moves Paula Bennett closer to retirement the better
        • cleangreen 10.1.1.1

          11 May 2018 at 3:41 pm

          Yes PR another strange thing occurred today see here;

          The Greens have decided on a candidate to run in North cote against National and Labour, now we know why we decided to leave the Green Party 15 yrs ago, and now feel vindicated as the greens are handing National another pass card after giving the question time to national already so they are showing us some inside the greens want to go with National as a Blue/green combo i believe now.

          The story appears over on TDB.today.

          Northcote by-election: Greens select Rebekah Jaung as candidate – is it worth it?
          By Martyn Bradbury / May 11, 2018 /
          The Greens are sick of being seen as a puppet for Labour and are desperate to show some independence, but was this by-election the best way to do that?
          • Puckish Rogue 10.1.1.1.1

            11 May 2018 at 3:48 pm

            Actually i agree with it, the Greens will have looked at the Maori Party and Act and would know the danger of being seen to be lap dogs plus they also get to campaign for more party votes
          • mary_a 10.1.1.1.2

            11 May 2018 at 4:59 pm

            @ cleangreen (10.1.1.1) … Not a good move at all from the Greens.

            Seems to me Greens are putting up a challenge to the very coalition government they are part of, through selecting a candidate to contest the Northcote byelection! Strange!

            I too have a feeling they are edging closer to going over to the Natz dark side eventually.

            If they continue with these anti coalition tactics, then Greens can kiss my vote goodbye for good at the next election.

            BTW where is Marama Davidson? I supported her being co leader. But she seems not to be making any impact at all so far!
    • ankerawshark 10.2

      11 May 2018 at 2:52 pm

      Hi PR,

      Just watched the first minute and yes Ms Collins socking it…………She would have been a better choice for Nats. Do you see blood on the floor before 2020?

      Also what are your thoughts about Ms Collins detour to have dinner with officials of Oravida and a Chinese boarder official when her husbands company were having difficulty getting their product into China after the baby infant formula isssue. She was paid to go there on Govt business. Just interested to hear your take on that.
      • Gosman 10.2.1

        11 May 2018 at 3:49 pm

        It was investigated I believe and no wrong doing found. If you think there was wrong doing then perhaps you should lobby the current government to re-open the investigation.
        • Rosemary McDonald 10.2.1.1

          11 May 2018 at 3:52 pm

          Gosman, Gosman. “Wrong” is a very relative term to the right.
          • Baba Yaga 10.2.1.1.1

            11 May 2018 at 3:58 pm

            And the word ‘build’, as opposed to ‘facilitate’, is a very relative term to the left.
          • Gosman 10.2.1.1.2

            11 May 2018 at 4:03 pm

            Then get the current Government (no friend of Judith Collins) to reopen the investigation. Do you think they will?
            • Ankerrawshark 10.2.1.1.2.1

              11 May 2018 at 5:03 pm

              No I don’t think the current govt will or should re-open that enquiry. To much other stuff to fix that impacts on kiwis lives…..although a fuller enquiry into dirty politics would be worthy. Have you read the book?
        • Ankerrawshark 10.2.1.2

          11 May 2018 at 4:46 pm

          Gosman it was a massive conflict of interest. And some would say corrupt. Would you disagree with that? I didn’t read the report but my understanding was the terms of reference were kept very narrow.

          I am just so happy we have this coalition govt who are fixing up years of neglect….yah
      • cleangreen 10.2.2

        11 May 2018 at 3:50 pm

        ankerawshark; 100%

        Good question that is; How can Collins justify her political position over her business interests here???

        She may prove more “loose”than John key was with the “truth”

        Is that the way to run the country?
      • Puckish Rogue 10.2.3

        11 May 2018 at 3:53 pm

        “Just watched the first minute and yes Ms Collins socking it…………She would have been a better choice for Nats. Do you see blood on the floor before 2020?”

        I can’t answer because I’m biased so any answer i give would be less my head and more my heart but i will say I would like to see Jude take the leadership before the 2020 election

        “Also what are your thoughts about Ms Collins detour to have dinner with officials of Oravida and a Chinese boarder official when her husbands company were having difficulty getting their product into China after the baby infant formula isssue. She was paid to go there on Govt business. Just interested to hear your take on that.”

        My thoughts is that situation was wonderfully muddied (and well done to Labour)
        • Ankerrawshark 10.2.3.1

          11 May 2018 at 5:00 pm

          Ok that’s cool puckish. I hope Jude doesn’t get the leadership as she is a bigger threat to us I think. I thought Simon would do better, and I thought David cunliffe and Andrew little would swing things for the left. I completely under estimated jacinda, who I think is outstanding…….so I wouldn’t trust my own judgement about leadership. I am pleased with the coalition. Extremely pleased. I want Middlemore fixed, I want child poverty reduced. I want a significantly improved mental health service (it deteriorated badly under national, trust me it’s my field)…..I want someone to at least attempt to fix the housing crisis and Auckland’s transport woes”……….theses things inspire me. On and throw climate change into that.

          Tell me what is it about National that inspires you? Aside from Jude that is
    • Baba Yaga 10.3

      11 May 2018 at 4:01 pm

      And she’s been nailing Twyford day after day. Let her loose!
      • AB 10.3.1

        11 May 2018 at 5:27 pm

        Please make her leader – her vicious sociopathy and questionable past (smirkingly condoning prison rape for example) will turn normal people off in droves.
        • Baba Yaga 10.3.1.1

          11 May 2018 at 5:41 pm

          You must be smoking something really good to think Collins is a sociopath…
          • SpaceMonkey 10.3.1.1.1

            11 May 2018 at 5:59 pm

            Actually I was thinking you must be smoking something to NOT be able to see Collins is a sociopath.
            • Babayaga 10.3.1.1.1.1

              12 May 2018 at 8:56 pm

              Put up your argument. The label comes with very specific diagnosis.
11. Mark 2 Zephyr versus Mark 3 Zephyr 11

    11 May 2018 at 3:37 pm

    Let’s start by taking GST off essential items, starting with food.
12. Rosemary McDonald 12

    11 May 2018 at 3:49 pm

    From the sidebar, Idiot Savant demonstrates his excellent hammer hand skills…

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2018/05/an-impoverished-idea-of-public.html

    “So, the Ombudsman, who is meant to be the defender of transparency and the public participation it enables, thinks the public shouldn’t be able to have a say on policy until the government has already decided what’s going to happen. To put things back into his metaphor, in his view we don’t get to decide where we’re going to go, how we’re going to get there, or even if we’re going to go on a trip at all. But we might get to choose the music we listen to or which cafe we stop at along the way, if the government hasn’t already made up its mind about these things.

    No matter which way you look at it, this is a deeply impoverished view of public participation. Pretty obviously, it reflects central government’s view of this – where they make the decisions, and public “consultation” is simply a rubberstamp designed to build legitimacy rather than give us a real say. But public participation is supposed to serve the interests of the people, not the government, and the Ombudsman is supposed to protect it. How the fuck is this supposed to be guarding the mana of the people?”

    That’s exactly the impression I got from a quick skim of the paper.

    I will give the paper better scrutiny later…always wise to better learn the ways of the enemy.

    On this very important issue I am not in any way optimistic that this government has any greater interest in transparency and accountability than the Last Lot.
    • cleangreen 12.1

      11 May 2018 at 3:58 pm

      Yes Rosemary;
      The trouble with new governments is that they rely to much on their In-house ‘advisers’ and stray off course so this appears to be just another example of the same result being contrary to what they promised us all at the election.
13. indiana 13

    11 May 2018 at 4:01 pm

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12049605

    I’m sure one day, one of the pre-election promises will be met. Perhaps someone can raise an OIA on their modelling from 2 years ago…but best expect a redacted blank page to be returned.
    • Puckish Rogue 13.1

      11 May 2018 at 4:07 pm

      You can say whatever prices you like when you know you won’t be building them
    • Ankerrawshark 13.2

      11 May 2018 at 5:35 pm

      Indiana visit labour’s website or go back through Gordon Campbell’s articles. There is a list of everything the coalition has done to date and it’s an impressive list. They will honour their election promises on for exampl e free drs, it will just be a little delayed. In my o wn life I would find that acceptable and it happens frequently every people saying they will deliver things by a certain date and then usually for 7nderstandable reasons the date is pushed back. Most of us are flexible enough to accept this
14. OnceWasTim 14

    11 May 2018 at 6:32 pm

    The ‘Capital Charge’……..probably one of the early initiatives in neo-lib thinking that is now coming into question. It was a feature of the new corporatised public service (during that era when greed became good, and John Travolta and an Olivia neutron bomb were wobbling their arses as though they were more special than the next person)…… that fishint n fektiv n de-pliticoised civil service that was designed to do us all proud.
    While they’re busy reviewing the fishinsy n fektivness and worth of that ‘Capital Charge, they might consider applying the same criteria to a good many of the complete fucking Muppetry heading our ‘officlaldom’.

    Sometimes I’ve had cause to reference the early pages of the telephone directory.
    I find it difficult to find many of the bits that are listed in the government section one could genuinely describe as fully functioning (fishint n fektiv n apolitical) entities.

    And let’s be clear, it’s NOT generally down to the plebs at the front line of these entities …. it IS the leadership (the senior and muddle management) – and the culture they instill in their plebs (often ambitious little units anxious to climb the ladder and end up as the next generation of muppetry if only in pursuit of a higher salary and prestigious job title going forward)

    First up in the directory is ….. ACC. Then we have Ray Smith’s Corrections.
    Next,, nothing too Earth shattering, but a bit of a fuckup if you’re an artist …. Creative NuZull….then Keating’s Defence Force…..then EQC (just check out tonight’s news and all its implications)…then Education Ministry Of.
    I’m too scared to travel further, because we’re getting close to Health, and Transport/ Infrastructure, and WINZ , and Primary Industries and perhaps the biggest bugger’s muddle of all which is Mr Smol’s Joyce/Coleman Ministry of Everything.
    Whilst I’l hold the ladder steady for Shane Shane – because sure as shit I’m not coming down into his arms, he does have a point in that some serious review is necessary in the muddle and senior management, and that is probbly long overdue.
15. greywarshark 15

    11 May 2018 at 7:42 pm

    I heard on Radionz about a good action of The Warehouse helping a woman who needed to escape an obssessed and violent partner, she was given time off and was relocated. One small step for womankind, one great step for one woman and her family.

    Now if women can choose to not involve a partner from the first if there is likely to be violence or very erratic behaviour, it would be better. It is only the contempt of the politicians who consider sex moral corruption and illegitimacy the road to hell, that has forced women to be glued to the father often to the detriment of the child and the mother. If she refuses to be involved, she has benefit withheld as a sanction.

    Look at all the synonyms relating to the adjective ‘immoral’. It is obviously
    something that highly angers people, more than other bad activities that are not connected to simply being loving but when humanness and fertility unfortunately combine.
    What a mouthful of dislike:
    not conforming to accepted standards of morality.
    “unseemly and immoral behaviour”
    synonyms: unethical, bad, morally wrong, wrongful, wicked, evil, unprincipled, unscrupulous, dishonourable, dishonest, unconscionable, iniquitous, disreputable, fraudulent, corrupt, depraved, vile, villainous, nefarious, base, unfair, underhand, devious; sinful, impure, unchaste, unvirtuous, shameless, degenerate, debauched, abandoned, dissolute, reprobate, perverted, indecent, lewd, licentious, wanton, bawdy, lustful, promiscuous, whorish;
    informal shady, low-down;
    informal dodgy, crooked, not cricket;
    archaic miscreant
    “they deplored immoral behaviour among the upper classes”

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