Open mike 11/10/2021

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 11th, 2021 - 50 comments
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50 comments on “Open mike 11/10/2021 ”

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  1. Gezza 1
    11 October 2021 at 6:19 am

    It rained heavily the night before this clip was taken. The stream was still running high & it was quite deep at the Eel Spot when Elvira turned up for a feed. It's fun when it's this deep because she stands up on her tail.

    https://i.imgur.com/zWyKzTo.gif

    She seems to understand that being gently stroked on the side with the feed stick 3 times is how I say goodbye & tell her feed time's over.

  2. Gezza 2
    11 October 2021 at 7:32 am

    It sounds like, from what I just heard Ardern say to Kim Hill on RNZ, the Covid positive Auckland woman who wrongly visited Northland FAKED her exemption document, If that’s true, then the question of why checks weren’t made before the exemption letter was issued doesn’t arise.

    I didn’t catch all the discussion, but Kim Hill is challenging Ardern a lot more than Corin Dann or Suzy Fergusson do.

    Will listen to the full audio clip when it’s available later.

    • Peter 2.1
      11 October 2021 at 8:35 am

      They should get 'agencies' thoroughly checking all applications before they're approved. Face to face of course at each step of the way.

      The media would love that. People would be lining up to be the story de jour, "It took a week to get my exemption."

      • Craig Hall 2.1.1
        11 October 2021 at 11:44 am

        I don't think there's a lot of understanding about how rapidly an application system like that would bog down.

    • AB 2.2
      11 October 2021 at 11:22 am

      Hill is harder on everyone – which is generally a good thing. Like the others though, she does occasionally and unwittingly reveal how little (or zero) experience she has of trying to actually implement anything technically or procedurally complex, or even anything less complex on a very large scale. If you have the notion in your head of an unattainable perfection, then every discussion soon degenerates into petty arguments about 'competence'. Original sin is a harsh and unpleasant doctrine, but it is a salutary corrective for excessively high expectations.

      • Gabby 2.2.1
        11 October 2021 at 11:31 am

        That's good, since she's asking on behalf of the rest of us. If she was in the loop she'd be basically siding with the smug mandarins who resist change on principle.

        • AB 2.2.1.1
          11 October 2021 at 12:30 pm

          Yep. Though a better line of questioning when something hasn't worked, is to ask those responsible what options they see for improving it – rather than outraged shock and horror that it has happened at all.

      • Descendant Of Smith 2.2.2
        11 October 2021 at 6:26 pm

        Not everyone. I'd really like business people to be asked about the pandemic planning that was done 10 years (roughly) ago and about what action they took to prepare for such an eventuality.

        Chamber of Commerce heads would be a good start. My gut feeling is, is that they just ignored the possibility. I'd really, really like to know if there was even one business or CEO that took it seriously.

  3. Robert Guyton 3
    11 October 2021 at 8:17 am

    Rod Oram: The harsh climate truth about methane

    "“We are about to go through the most profound shift in the climate debate in 20 years,” Gilding wrote in an essay he published on his website on August 24. “The result will be the end of the gas industry’s hope of being a transition fuel, a brutal market disruption to the agriculture and livestock industries and the arrival of the climate emergency into public consciousness. This will all be driven by the acceptance of methane as the critical response to the climate emergency.”

    "This reality is fast-shifting the climate debate, Gilding wrote. “The brutal market, political and economic logic suggests the brunt of the impact will be felt by two sectors. It will be the final nail in the coffin for fossil fuels, including gas. Already in terminal decline, the industry will now need to be largely gone – at least in its twilight years – within a decade. Secondly, livestock within agriculture will face transformation and/or disruption through a perfect storm of public and consumer pressure, policy action and new technologies. Beef and dairy in particular will have to radically transform, or shrink to a small fraction of their current size. This is all predictable.””

    "Three years ago, Fonterra established a Sustainability Advisory Panel. One of its founding, and current, members is Paul Gilding, an Australian. He was a former executive director of Greenpeace International and is a long-time fellow at the University of Cambridge's Institute for Sustainability Leadership."

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/the-harsh-climate-truth-on-methane

    • Ad 3.1
      11 October 2021 at 8:33 am

      Rod Oram's article is as bracing as ever.

    • left for dead 3.2
      12 October 2021 at 6:25 am

      If you burn the gas and not allow spill,as the Helen Clark Gov did for instant (Taranaki)as an for exsample It's only then as bad as CO2,as for your animals theirs always been large amount of ruminating creatures on earth after the ice ages give an take.

      just a thought.

      Note for proprietor,Spell check is a common courtesy on the F..ken internet.

  4. Joe90 4
    11 October 2021 at 8:31 am

    Love it.

  5. miravox 5
    11 October 2021 at 8:39 am

    Foodstuffs needs reining in.

    According to a report in Newsroom

    New World and Pak'nSave are to remove most of NZ fishing company Sealord's range from their freezers as the supermarkets flex their muscles in the face of the Commerce Commission.

    Jobs at Sealord's Nelson plant are understood to be on the line, after Foodstuffs North Island's decision to "delete" most of the New Zealand fishing company's frozen products.

    Foodstuffs wouldn't comment last night on the decision; head of corporate affairs Antoinette Laird said her comms teams did not work weekends unless there was a business-critical issue.

    But Food and Grocery Council chief executive Katherine Rich said the decision would shrink Sealord's 80 percent local market share to less than 20 percent, turning it into a market minnow and making more space in the supermarket freezers for less sustainable products like Alaskan pollock instead.

    The range of foodstuffs being removed is based entirely on profit margin – not consumer demand, affordability, sustainability or anything else and will take effect from Nov 15.

    • RosieLee 5.1
      11 October 2021 at 10:15 am

      Unfortunately this is paywalled. But no surprise that Talleys are in the mix.

      • miravox 5.1.1
        11 October 2021 at 11:11 am

        Yeah, I copied out the important bits on this issue, but should have bracketed that it's paywalled.

        It's Sealord (half iwi-owned) that is affected by this decision (one of many decisions on stocking for profit that Foodstuffs have made). The decision comes ahead the Commerce Commission investigations into supermarket pressure on pricing that includes pressure on suppliers.

        Talleys is not involved in this afaik

        • Ad 5.1.1.1
          11 October 2021 at 1:32 pm

          Not much the government can do. Price-controlled cheese slices? Food-inflation-adjusted food stamps? Suppliers of 12-pack of jam-filled donuts awarded Supplementary Minimum Prices?

          • miravox 5.1.1.1.1
            11 October 2021 at 3:29 pm

            That's a bit defeatist don't you think Ad?

            The Food and Grocery council thinks this behaviour from Foodstuffs needs rectifying – from the same article [paywalled]

            Our industry has never experienced such an extreme margin grab. It's quite extraordinary at the time they are in the Commerce Commission spotlight. They're snubbing their nose at the commission and government’s process."

            While in this instance it appears Sealord's product is being ditched for overseas suppliers [from Newsroom again]

            Foodstuffs also owns its own New Zealand fishing company. Two years ago, the supermarket chain purchased Leigh Fisheries and the Lee Fish brand.

            The government could do something about vertical integration.

            Consumer NZ believes the government can do something at the wholesale level. For starters:

            1. Introduce a mandatory code of conduct that has legislative backing, must contain fair conduct obligations, and sets out penalties for non-compliance

            2. Appoint a Supermarket Commissioner

            3. Allow collective bargaining on behalf of suppliers to redress the imbalance of power between suppliers and supermarkets

            4. Require supermarkets to supply other retailers with groceries at competitive wholesale prices

            1. Prevent supermarkets placing restrictive covenants on land use that prevent competitors starting up

            And:

            The option to break up the supermarkets must remain on the table. If there’s no change in the market within two to three years, the next step would be to look at breaking up the big chains – including requiring that supermarkets sell off some stores.

            They also note:

            The commission is recommending a mandatory code to govern dealings between suppliers and supermarkets, and redress the imbalance in power between suppliers and the big chains.

            Similar codes are already in place in Australia and the UK.

            To be effective, a code here would need to have legal backing and include penalties for bad behaviour.

            Consumer's draft submission to the Commerce Commission's investigation into the retail grocery sector also calls for:

            …restrictions on the use of private label brands, preventing their use in a way that is likely to harm suppliers, this could include prohibiting supermarkets from:

            • discriminating in favour of their own-brand products in ranging and space allocation decisions

            • infringing suppliers’ intellectual property through the use of own brands

            The Commerce Commission draft report into the retail grocery sector recognises that the 2 major supermarkets are effectively a duopoly with too much power over suppliers and prices. It states that [from the press release]:

            • “many suppliers have few alternatives but to supply the major retailers. This allows [the major retailers] to exercise their buyer power to push excess risks, costs and uncertainty onto suppliers. Suppliers report agreeing to these terms because they fear that otherwise their products may not be stocked. This conduct can reduce suppliers’ ability and incentives to invest and innovate, ultimately leading to less choice, lower quality, and potentially higher priced goods for consumers.”
            • Options to strengthen suppliers’ bargaining power with retailers include introducing a mandatory industry Code of Conduct and allowing suppliers to bargain collectively.

            The commission’s final report is due on 23 November 2021 – but by then, many Sealord's employees may already be out of their jobs, with Foodstuffs intending to remove of most of Sealord’s frozen products from New World and Pak'nSave by November 15. The timing of this action by Foodstuffs avoids any consequences that arise from the Commerce Commision's final report. Pretty swish.

            • Ad 5.1.1.1.1.1
              11 October 2021 at 3:47 pm

              If the Commerce Commission really want to have a crack at it they will need the support of a Minister who is ready to go toe to toe with not only the supermarket powers but also their already-aggregated suppliers in the likes of Dole, Fonterra, Zespri, BayWa T&G, CocaColaAmatil, and the rest. Don't be fooled into a romantic David and Goliath frame.

              Also the Commerce Commission would find it hard to argue in the High Court that there are extra reasons to go for cartel behaviour when they've allowed it for decades.

              And the results are too often unintended. After locals got near-controlling stakes in Z Energy following the Shell spinoff, it's now in the hands of Australia's Ampol. Anyone remember any price movement after the last government "review"? Neither restructure nor review gave us better service or prices.

              The haute-bourgeoise at Huckleberry, Nosh and MooreWilson – which is where Crown Law and MPs and PCO staff shop – will feel little need to be moved. Across Cabinet I don't see a Minister with the commercial chops to support the Commerce Commission, even if they wanted to really have a run at it.

              So yes I believe nothing at all will happen.

              • Patricia Bremner …
                11 October 2021 at 4:16 pm

                What remedies are available? These are our NZ businesses not supporting local producers and products? Bringing 'competitive price points" with no sustainability and extra food miles. WOW.!! Countdown, Australian owned stock 24 items from Sealord NZ, and from 14 Nov our NZ supermarkets won’t? Not good at all.

                Surely on the sustainability and foodmiles this swap should be blocked?

                I appear to have two entries .. not sure how that happened.

              • miravox …
                11 October 2021 at 5:08 pm

                “So yes I believe nothing at all will happen.”

                Believing nothing will happen is a bit different from “Not much the government can do”.

                “Don't be fooled into a romantic David and Goliath frame.”

                I’m absolutely not. I do believe people should be informed about the machinations of price and profit of what they consume. As does the Commerce Commission in their report. It’s not lost on me that this is a ‘yeah right’ moment given they gave permission that led to the development of this duopoly. I also believe it’s time for them to fix this earlier mistake. Whether rectify it, is another matter – I agree.

                “After locals got near-controlling stakes in Z Energy following the Shell spinoff, it's now in the hands of Australia's Ampol”

                Not quite in Ampol’s hands yet – and it will be very interesting how the Commerce Commission rules on this. – they may see this sale as the competition the existing grocery retailers need (I don’t see it the same way btw). Fuel & fuel retailers have been merging in other countries we like to compare ourselves with for sometime now and Ampol could do something huge here.

                But at this stage I’m not quite sure which food suppliers Z would be pressuring right now? And pressuring suppliers was the gist of my concerns in the comment I made this morning.

                “… aggregated suppliers in the likes of Dole, Fonterra, Zespri, BayWa T&G, CocaColaAmatil, and the rest”

                A different issue I think, but yes, if a Minister is willing to look at grocery & food retailers, they should be of the mindset to taking major suppliers to task if their practices are based on exploitation and price gouging.

                I imagine if the Commerce Commission was brave enough to legislate to improve food & grocery suppliers’ negotiating position (and foolish enough to approve the sale of Z), then the new (large? – they have the land that hasn’t been banked) Ampol/Z food retail outlets would be subject to the new laws and regulations.

                Disclaimer: I don’t drive to a supermarket so have no personal wish to see fuel sales increasing in supermarket parking lots. Instead, I have a nice walk to my local grocery store – Moore Wilson.

            • Patricia Bremner 5.1.1.1.1.2
              11 October 2021 at 5:47 pm

              yessmiley Good suggestions.

    • garibaldi 5.2
      11 October 2021 at 10:40 am

      I just wish Foodstuffs had banned Talleys products back when their dirty tactics both on and off the water were revealed. Though of course Foodsuffs only worry about money, not morals.

      • miravox 5.2.1
        11 October 2021 at 11:13 am

        "Though of course Foodsuffs only worry about money, not morals"

        This is what seems to be behind the decision. But in this instance Talleys is not the target of the Foodstuffs decision. It's Sealord.

        • Patricia Bremner 5.2.1.1
          11 October 2021 at 5:49 pm

          According to Clarke foodstuffs in NZ have done ok compared to their overseas competition. Hope they did not take any help!!

    • Patricia Bremner 5.3
      11 October 2021 at 3:52 pm

      What remedies are available? These are our NZ businesses not supporting local producers and products? Bringing 'competitive price points" with no sustainability and extra food miles. WOW.!! Countdown, Australian owned stock 24 items from Sealord NZ.

  6. Forget now 6
    11 October 2021 at 8:43 am

    I don't think; freaking out in a major way, is common jargon amongst epidemiologist, though maybe it's become so in the past year? Baker still pushing for South Island borders (coincidentally lives in Te Waipounamu?):

    University of Auckland epidemiologist Prof Rod Jackson said there was no chance of Auckland being allowed loosened restrictions today.

    "I'm freaking out in a major way," he said of the possible spread of Covid-19 into Northland.

    "Those people hardest to reach by the vaccine are going to be easiest for the virus to reach."

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/call-stricter-border-controls

    My thoughts are with the nurses and other staff at the front face of our ramshackle public health system. They're going to do all they can and more, despite the working conditions and ongoing pay disputes (strike action on hold for the duration). But some will eventually breakdown and not be able to carry on as hospitals become swamped by preventable deaths.

    From that perspective, having the staff serving the million Aotearoans in the southwest in reserve may be invaluable. If you think of it in terms of trench warfare, that is more sustainable if you can rotate the shell-shocked into the back lines for light duty while fresh troops take their place. Te Waipounamu staff may not volunteer to head northwards to help DHBs that seem to treat them with contempt, but they might to relieve coworkers who need respite from the impending horrors.

    • gsays 6.1
      11 October 2021 at 8:29 pm

      I have been fairly reliably informed the offer from DHBs will be ratified by the nurses.

      • Forget now 6.1.1
        11 October 2021 at 11:22 pm

        I have been fairly reliably informed that since the election of Daniels to presidency of the NZNO (after her abrupt departure in 2020), that nurses in general no longer regard the union; that supposedly represents their interests, as much the enemy as; the DHBs that supposedly provide a professional environment in which to practice their vocation. More than that I am not willing to say; except that; (it is my impression that) Andrew Little has burned through any good will that may be remaining in the nursing profession with his two faced bullshit back in August.

        Though it is always instructive to have context (from April 2020):

        To NZNO members.

        Yesterday, we, Anne, Katrina and Sela, resigned from the board of directors Toputanga Taphuhi Kaitiaki O Aotearoa New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO). We felt left with no other option as the values we campaigned on, Transparency, Unity, and Action, and our personal and professional values were constantly compromised. To remain would be condoning behaviour we know does not meet the members standards.

        We believe NZNO and the board should be a safe place to be. However right from the start, we were required to sign a confidentiality agreement before our first meeting. We understand now that this was a relatively new requirement for the board.

        Unfortunately, unresolved issues, not of our making, and the continuation of these issues, hampered our ability to focus on the members. With the recent resignation of both the President and the Vice President we urge all members to ask questions and demand answers. This is, after all, our union.

        We will continue to work for nurses and nursing in different ways, as colleagues, delegates and activists.

        Anne, Katrina and Sela.”

        Additional information: This group comprised the three top polling candidates in the last NZNO election.

        https://unionnursegrant.org/2020/04/29/resignation-of-nzno-board-members-anne-daniels-katrina-hopkinson-and-sela-ikavuka/

        • gsays 6.1.1.1
          12 October 2021 at 6:56 am

          That resignation letter raises more questions than it answers.

          I have been critical of NZNO since before the last strike action 2018, when they seemed a LOT closer to DHBs than their membership.

          The union has been very quiet during the pandemic, or if they have been making noises, I haven't heard them.

          I thought a lot more of Little and was bitterly disappointed with his duplicitous utterances a couple of months ago.

  7. Ed 7
    11 October 2021 at 8:47 am

    Radio New Zealand spoke to University of Auckland professor of epidemiology Rod Jackson. They were expecting him to praise the recent decision made by the Singaporean government to open itself up again to the outside world.

    He disappointed them.

    Jackson explained to Kim Hill how Singapore forgot to include people who got immunity by the actual disease in Europe.

    Interestingly, the introductory part of the conversation has not been included in this excerpt. In this section the events in Singapore were praised by Radio New Zealand. Maybe this section will be available later.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018815844

  8. Reality 8
    11 October 2021 at 9:46 am

    The two photos above are brilliant contrasts of how people react to two very different women.

    On my IPad I cannot press the Reply button to comment immediately under the post. I have to come down to the last post. Any techie experts know why? Thanks.

    • gsays 8.1
      11 October 2021 at 12:48 pm

      Not a techie, but you could try changing from mobile to desktop (bottom of the page) or vice versa.

  9. dv 9
    11 October 2021 at 9:53 am

    I have a 'good' neo solution for the MIQ crisis

    Allow the spots to be auctioned. Going to the highest bidder.

    Each successful bid also attracts 1 other spot for free.