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Open Mike 12/05/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 12th, 2018 - 197 comments
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197 comments on “Open Mike 12/05/2018 ”

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  1. Ed 1
    12 May 2018 at 7:16 am

    More interesting material from Craig Murray.

    “The Incredible Bias of the BBC

    Why is the BBC permitted, day after day after day, to pump out programming which actively promotes a political programme far to the right of where the British population actually stand? With the continual over-representation of nutty right wing groups like the Taxpayers’ Alliance and the Henry Jackson Society, while left wing groups of much larger membership such as Stop the War are completely ignored. Why low tax campaigners but no invitation ever to groups like Black Triangle who represent claimants interests? Not to mention the routine ignoring of the SNP, parliament’s third largest party.”

    https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/05/the-incredible-bias-of-the-bbc/

    • Gosman 1.1
      12 May 2018 at 7:39 am

      This is why State owned media is a bad idea. Even an organisation set up to attempt to be unbiased like the BBC gets accused of bias by people and then they start discussing his it can become more “unbiased”. This is usually code for ‘agree with my side more.

      • AB 1.1.1
        12 May 2018 at 7:51 am

        No. That’s why state-funded media is essential. Because it’s the only organisation that will ever be under any meaningful obligation to be impartial.
        It’s that fact that makes the debate Ed started even possible. Nobody expects state-funded media to do a perfect job, but at least the obligation is there.

        • Ed 1.1.1.1
          12 May 2018 at 8:18 am

          I agree.
          We just have to deal with the bias of the senior executives at RNZ.
          Why so many Taxpayers’ Union New Zealand Initiative stories?
          Why the acceptance of neoliberal premises on economics?
          Why the framing of stories from a right wing agenda?

          Fortunately we now have alternative news sources to show the lies the mainstream runs.

          • Adrian Thornton 1.1.1.1.1
            12 May 2018 at 10:49 am

            @Ed +1 You can add to your list…
            Why financial updates all through out the day, but no workers news?
            Why is it RNZ have nearly all domestic and international financial/economic analysis done by bank economist?…economists who have a ideology that is based on selling and profiting from debt.

        • Gosman 1.1.1.2
          12 May 2018 at 9:00 am

          It opens itself up for political interference in editorial decisions. That is never a good thing.

          • Incognito 1.1.1.2.1
            12 May 2018 at 11:02 am

            State-funded media doesn’t have to be one single entity that might dominate the media landscape. Nor does it have to mean an entity where the Board & Chairman are appointed by the Government of the day. Nor does it have to mean an entity with strict hierarchical structure with strict managerial and editorial over sight where decisions by others are controlled and overruled by superiors all the way to the top. And it also doesn’t have to mean a Charter that demands financial/operational return AKA profit and dividends (to the Government).

            Rather than having a one-size-fits-all entity or set-up why not reflect our society’s diversity and pluralism and fund that adequately? Media should cater for all citizens and inform the people so that they can make their own judgements if they wish …

            • Gosman 1.1.1.2.1.1
              12 May 2018 at 11:58 am

              What is wrong with the BBC structure then since people think it is biased

          • Stuart Munro 1.1.1.2.2
            12 May 2018 at 11:15 am

            Riiight – and that wretched chip wrapper The Herald never interferes politically at the editorial level? The state model is sound – the only commercial enterprise that even approaches the BBC or Al Jazeera for quality is Reuters.

          • North 1.1.1.2.3
            12 May 2018 at 11:48 am

            Gosman: talking the obvious unaccountability of private news organisations you have guaranteed politically based interference in what the populace receives and no one can say a word.

            Talking the obvious accountability of state news organisations you have at least the formal capacity for the populace to holler like hell if/when there is the appearance or fact of political interference.

            I see you’re still exercising risibly twisted, absolutist zealotry; oligarchs = good while the people = bad.

          • tracey 1.1.1.2.4
            12 May 2018 at 12:34 pm

            So does profit oriented privately owned media organisations…

          • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.2.5
            12 May 2018 at 12:56 pm

            Privately owned and operated media is, by default, a political tool and is open to the political interference of its owners.

            • JohnSelway 1.1.1.2.5.1
              12 May 2018 at 6:05 pm

              The same can be said for state owned media.

              Damned if you do etc

              • Draco T Bastard …
                12 May 2018 at 6:18 pm

                It can be but it can also be more open and honest. Depends upon how it’s set up.

                • JohnSelway …
                  12 May 2018 at 6:49 pm

                  Just as a private media will spin a story to its interest as can, and does, the state.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    12 May 2018 at 8:44 pm

                    It won’t be The State.

                    It will be independent journalism.

                    • JohnSelway …
                      13 May 2018 at 12:01 am

                      Sure but again independent journalists also have their own bias.

                      I try to read everything from a multitude of sources. I read The Standard as much as I read Kiwiblog (though I’d never lower myself to comment there). I read the New Yorker, The Atlantic, Fox News, BBC, NYT, Washington Post, The Listener, AJZ, CNN, NBR , the list goes on and on.

                      It gets fucking tiring but I’m a news junkie. Then there’s the science mags and the books….it’s a wonder I manage to have job and raise a child while maintaining an alcohol habit.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      13 May 2018 at 11:59 am

                      Sure but again independent journalists also have their own bias.

                      And there’s nothing that we can or should do about that – except demand that they provide proof and not just ‘reckons’ as we get from so many talking heads in the private sector.

                • Gosman …
                  13 May 2018 at 2:58 am

                  What is wrong with how the BBC is set up?

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    13 May 2018 at 12:03 pm

                    FWICMO, it’s structured with capitalist, top down, dictatorship control in mind.

              • Incognito …
                12 May 2018 at 9:17 pm

                State-ownership, in my view, ought to mean that it is owned and managed by the state on behalf of all citizens and it has a (social) mandate to deliver (a service or product) for the public good, not for (financial) profit to the owners. This doesn’t make it immune from political meddling but any (political) benefits may be harder to obtain (and hide from public view) as they tend to be more indirect (arm’s length influence and control). State-owned media have a fundamentally different mandate and governance compared to privately-owned media unless they’re run strictly as a business in the common sense in which case it is an easy step for National & ACT to sell/privatise.

        • Babayaga 1.1.1.3
          12 May 2018 at 8:42 pm

          State owned media is no less biased than private media. The difference is our taxes don’t fund private media. State run media is totally surplus to requirements in a modern society.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1.3.1
            12 May 2018 at 8:49 pm

            Good thing the state isn’t running it then, eh. Also, I question your interpretation of the word “modern”.

            Re: quality and quantity of bias, I note the presence of a diverse range of opinions on RNZ.

            • Babayaga 1.1.1.3.1.1
              12 May 2018 at 8:57 pm

              The state IS running state media. With our taxes. Shut the lot down, then maybe Labour can meet some of its broken promises.

              • Stuart Munro …
                12 May 2018 at 9:20 pm

                Don’t be so stupid.

                Sure a state can run a lame media – Pravda or RT – but not all states do.

                What’s wrong with the MSM is not state interference, but commercial interference. Murdoch etc. The useless ZB network. Fox.

                The citizen has no comeback against their shit short of shutting them down. When you see the crap NZ TV has become it’s looking like a pretty good option.

                • Ed …
                  12 May 2018 at 9:25 pm

                  I agree.
                  Take back the airwaves from the plutocrats.

                  • Baba Yaga …
                    13 May 2018 at 4:39 pm

                    At the expense of taxpayers? And in exchange for state propaganda? No thanks.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      13 May 2018 at 4:42 pm

                      Who said anything about state propaganda? Can you provide an example of “state propaganda” on TVNZ or RNZ. Be specific: quote the actual article in question and explain how it qualifies.

                • Baba Yaga …
                  13 May 2018 at 4:38 pm

                  “What’s wrong with the MSM is not state interference, but commercial interference. ”

                  Commercial interference is paid for by commercial interests. State interference (and it is endemic in state media) is paid for by tax payers. Stop it all.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    13 May 2018 at 4:39 pm

                    Looks like you don’t know what endemic means either.

                  • Ed …
                    13 May 2018 at 4:43 pm

                    The airwaves are the commons.
                    Rich corporate interests should never be allowed anywhere near them.

                    And under your system babaya the world becomes a plutocracy, where the rich own and control the news.

                    We are getting closer to that.

                    Only the state setting up grassroots news and taking the airwaves back can stop the march of the uberrich.

                    Why do you take the side of the robber barons?

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      13 May 2018 at 4:50 pm

                      The airwaves are the commons.

                      State interests and their accompanying propaganda should never be allowed anywhere near them.

                    • Ed …
                      13 May 2018 at 4:58 pm

                      So who do you think should have access to the airwaves?

                      Large corporations?

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      13 May 2018 at 5:10 pm

                      “So who do you think should have access to the airwaves?
                      Large corporations?”

                      Large, small, and in between. Community groups. Special interest groups. Heck anyone but the government.

                    • Ed …
                      13 May 2018 at 5:12 pm

                      Do you think Fox News is better than RNZ as a source of news?
                      Do you think The NewZealand Herald is better than RNZ as a source of news?

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      13 May 2018 at 5:22 pm

                      “Do you think Fox News is better than RNZ as a source of news?”
                      Yes, absolutely. Particularly given that Fox news is balanced by CNN and MSNBC.

                      “Do you think The NewZealand Herald is better than RNZ as a source of news?”
                      Marginal call.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    13 May 2018 at 5:37 pm

                    Ed: Do you think Fox News is better than RNZ as a source of news?
                    Babyaga: Yes, absolutely.

                    True believers untie, you have nothing to lose but your sanity and balance 😆

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      13 May 2018 at 5:53 pm

                      Fox News is unashamedly biased. So is Red Radio.

                      The differences are:
                      1. We fund Red Radio and,
                      2. Read Radio don’t admit they are biased.

                    • Ed …
                      13 May 2018 at 6:42 pm

                      Repeating Farrar’s catchphrases is not a good sign of a well thought out argument.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    13 May 2018 at 6:08 pm

                    ‘Red Radio RNZ is biased’.

                    That isn’t what you claimed. You claimed them as an example of “state propaganda”. So you’ve now abandoned that claim and are claiming bias.

                    But once again, you’ve failed to provide any examples of this bias, although perhaps you mean Matthew Hooton.

                    I expect you’ll cite John Campbell as an example, but then you’d have to show how Checkpoint exhibits a “state” bias, as opposed to John Campbell’s. And if your only objection is that individual hosts bring their own biases to the mix, RNZ is doing no more or less than whoever it is that employs Hoskings et al, and RNZ has the advantage of a wider spectrum of views.

                    Perhaps it’s that advantage that you don’t like. The very idea that the state might provide something more useful (and popular) than the “free” “market”.

                    Unless you can link to a specific example of “state propaganda”, that is. Tumbleweeds?

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      13 May 2018 at 7:09 pm

                      “You claimed them as an example of “state propaganda”.”
                      Where?

                      “So you’ve now abandoned that claim and are claiming bias.”
                      Well when the Minster of Broadcasting has a clandestine meeting with a senior RNZ executive, that both try to hide, I’d say that was a pretty good example of at least an attempt at state influence. Of course you support the Greens, so you are in bed with liars and cheats.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    13 May 2018 at 6:21 pm

                    “not on my dime”

                    Whereas I’m happy to provide it on my “dime”, and since at the last count far more people support my position (even the Trashional Party funds RNZ when in government) than yours, I’m pretty sure we can do without your petty contribution. Tell you what, we’ll fund the things we like and you can contribute to David Seymour’s taxpayer funded trough, eh.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    13 May 2018 at 7:17 pm

                    in bed with liars and cheaters

                    On this issue, I’m also in bed with the NZLP, NZF and National. We’re having a great time while you’re in line to practise necrophilia with Ayn Rand, and Don Brash took your place in the queue 😉

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      13 May 2018 at 7:21 pm

                      On what issue? The welfare cheat? The MP who worked for war criminals while claiming to be bringing them to justice? The MP who has gone on to head an organisation who are bullying people for donations?

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    13 May 2018 at 7:52 pm

                    On what issue?

                    The continued funding of RNZ. Perhaps if you and Don pooled your resources you could afford a couple of clones of Ayn, and they could humiliate and despise you just like the original.

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      15 May 2018 at 2:34 pm

                      In case you missed it, the ‘liars and cheats’ I was referring to were the Greens. Here, you’ll get the idea if you read my comment “Of course you support the Greens, so you are in bed with liars and cheats.”https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-12-05-2018/#comment-1483690

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                13 May 2018 at 5:06 pm

                Still waiting for a specific example of the bogeyman state propaganda.

                Here’s an example to help you recognise it.

                • Baba Yaga …
                  13 May 2018 at 5:09 pm

                  Have you ever heard of Red Radio?

                  PS great article BTW.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    13 May 2018 at 5:14 pm

                    I have already asked you to provide a specific example of an actual article and explain in your own words how it constitutes “state propaganda”.

                    If you can’t manage that very basic thing your argument isn’t worth very much.

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      13 May 2018 at 5:20 pm

                      You provided your own example. Do you seriously want me to post examples of state media propaganda from China, Russia, etc etc? If you don’t think it can happen here, perhaps you missed the meeting between Clare Curran and Carol Hirschfeld?

                  • Ed …
                    13 May 2018 at 5:17 pm

                    I have heard that term used by right wing nut jobs yes.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    13 May 2018 at 5:28 pm

                    You mentioned “Red Radio”, aka RNZ. Provide a specific example of an RNZ article that constitutes “state propaganda”.

                    You freely admit “commercial interference” in commercial radio. You allege that similar interference, specifically “state propaganda” exists in local state owned media, and cite RNZ as an example.

                    Yet you can’t point to a single article to illustrate your argument. Don’t get me wrong, I know you’re full of shit, but you might at least make some flailing attempt to justify your conspiracist delusions.

                    • Ed …
                      13 May 2018 at 5:43 pm

                      Well said.

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      13 May 2018 at 5:59 pm

                      “Provide a specific example of an RNZ article that constitutes “state propaganda”.”
                      All bias on red radio represents state propaganda. Note, not government propaganda. State propaganda. Now John Campbell is biased, and I have no problem with that on private media, but not on my dime.

                      “You allege that similar interference, specifically “state propaganda” exists in local state owned media…”
                      No, never said ‘local’.

                      “and cite RNZ as an example.”
                      I asked you a question about Red Radio and provided evidence of at the very least interference – Curran’s meeting with Hirschfeld.

                      But wait, there’s more:

                      “When Metiria Turei announced she was stepping down from Parliament, Radio NZ’s Checkpoint host John Campbell was a paragon of empathy and compassion, writes Liam Hehir.”
                      “Like many news agencies, Radio NZ has a mild centre-left bias. If you don’t believe it, my guess would be that you probably have a centre-left disposition yourself.”
                      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/99720488/radio-new-zealand-should-appoint-its-own-ombudsman

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                13 May 2018 at 6:13 pm

                All bias on red radio RNZ represents state propaganda

                Matthew Hooton broadcasts state propaganda. Good to know 😆

                Don’t forget they’re out to get you.

                • Baba Yaga …
                  13 May 2018 at 7:14 pm

                  “Matthew Hooton broadcasts state propaganda. Good to know ”

                  No, he doesn’t broadcast it, but he participates in it. You see, Blokey, with private broadcasters we can discern the bias and we’re not paying for it. With public broadcasting we’re getting propaganda and paying for it. No thanks.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    13 May 2018 at 8:01 pm

                    “Propaganda”

                    For which you are yet to provide a single specific example. Is it during the leader of the opposition’s regular slots?

                  • Incognito …
                    13 May 2018 at 8:03 pm

                    You’ve piqued my curiosity; who is paying (for) private broadcasters? Do they work gratis or pro bono?

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    15 May 2018 at 2:24 pm

                    Curran. Hirschfeld. Explain it.

                    Explain it yourself, you rude prick. You don’t get to make demands: you get to provide some supporting evidence for your assertions of “propaganda”. Put up or shut up.

                  • Incognito …
                    15 May 2018 at 10:26 pm

                    Advertisers? Oh, that’s o.k. then as that would make private broadcasters immune from political meddling because political parties and their lobbyists never take out ads in MSM, never ever. And private broadcasters only broadcast direct messages on behalf of their advertisers, like shampoo manufacturers. That’s why all talkback shows, for example, are about shampoo and other commodities and never about politics. I mean, I can tell when an ad is about shampoo although sometimes it is hard to discern at first because it could also be a lipstick ad …

                    Talking of lipstick, do you know whether Mike Hosking and Simon Bridges use the same brand of hair gel, by any chance?

                    One last question, who’s paying the advertisers?

                    And one very last question, I promise, are advertising and marketing expenses tax deductible in NZ?

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      16 May 2018 at 7:58 pm

                      “…because political parties and their lobbyists never take out ads in MSM, never ever.”
                      Of course they do. That’s the point…they are the ones paying, not the taxpayer.

                      “And private broadcasters only broadcast direct messages on behalf of their advertisers, like shampoo manufacturers.”
                      Of course not. They broadcast their opinion. How many awards did Newstalk ZB receive at the recent Radio Awards?

                      You seem to believe private commercial interests having opinions and broadcasting them is bad. It isn’t. What is bad is the government owning the medium for broadcasting ideas.

                      “One last question, who’s paying the advertisers?”
                      People who voluntarily buy their products.

                      “And one very last question, I promise, are advertising and marketing expenses tax deductible in NZ?”
                      Of course. They are a cost of deriving assessable income.

                  • Incognito …
                    16 May 2018 at 10:39 pm

                    What a tangled web we weave.

                    So, private broadcasts are full of political and other direct and indirect advertising but that’s o.k. because the consumers pay for it; the consumers who are also the Taxpayers.

                    The only accountability and transparency, if any, is to the private owners of the station; the consumers/Taxpayers will have no idea who’s influencing them.

                    As long as the funding does not come directly from the Taxpayers any opinion or influence that the private broadcaster wants to send out for whatever reason and on whomever’s behalf without either the listeners or consumers/Taxpayers fully in the know is perfectly fine.

                    All this is perfectly acceptable because consumers voluntarily buy (or not) the products of the advertisers in a free-market exchange. The commercial guys are so much more credit-worthy than politicians, aren’t they? [pun intended]

                    You do know the saying that if you don’t know what the product is … ?

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      17 May 2018 at 3:18 pm

                      You are confused.

                      All media carries bias. I’m fine with that as long as it is declared and I’m not paying for it. The government has no business in media, none. It is a risky and expensive business for little or no benefit. And I don’t trust government’s of any stripe to declare their bias and keep far away from propaganda.

      • Morrissey 1.1.2
        12 May 2018 at 8:02 am

        This is why State owned media is a bad idea.

        As opposed to rigorously professional outfits like Fox News and MSNBC? You don’t have a clue.

        Gosman, your comments are often ignorant and ill judged, but whatever you say this morning, no matter how ignorant and ill judged, will not be worse than what you inflicted on us a few days ago….

        Open Mike 08/05/2018

    • Morrissey 1.2
      12 May 2018 at 8:06 am

      Similarly, Ed, I note that David Farrar and Jordan Williams’s ludicrous Taxpayers’ Union and the right wing New Zealand Initiative often set the agenda for “news” on both main TV channels, and on Radio New Zealand. The researchers and analysts of the universities and the unions, by contrast, are rarely given much consideration.

      • Ed 1.2.1
        12 May 2018 at 8:10 am

        Agreed. And look at the number of ACT members who get on Mora’s Panel.

        • Grantoc 1.2.1.1
          12 May 2018 at 10:33 am

          Who for example?

          • mauī 1.2.1.1.1
            12 May 2018 at 10:57 am

            Stephen Franks. But I’m sure there’s many more..

            • dukeofurl 1.2.1.1.1.1
              12 May 2018 at 11:54 am

              Interesting point
              heres a summary of this show
              https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/library

              names are ( couldnt click and paste ,grrr)
              Lisa Scott and Ian Telfer
              Jo Mccarrol and Scott Campbell
              max Ritchie and Niki Bezzant
              Rosemary Macleod and Peter Fa’afui
              garry Moore and Miriama Aoake
              cas carter and Steve Mccabe
              Jock Anderson and Mai Chen
              Verity Johnson and Simon Pound
              Peter Vial and Paula Penfold
              Clare de Lore and Alan Blackman
              Ella Henry and John Barnett
              Micheal Moynahan and Penny Ashton
              Minhingarangi Forbes Sam Johnson
              Lynda Hallinan and Chris Clarke
              Alexia Russel and Mike Rehu
              Mike Williams and Michelle Boag
              Bernard Hickey and jenny Moreton
              neil Miller Alison Mau
              Chris Waikira and Janet Wilson
              Lisa Scott and Andrew Hoggard
              Gary McCormick and Lizzie Marvelly
              Michelle A’ court Peter Fa’aifu
              Catherine Robertson and Peter Milne
              Nadine Higgins and Matt Nippert

              Thats over a months worth and quite a variety. Sometimes certain names are more memorable while a lot of the above arent too well known ( arent yet famous for being famous)

              • Morrissey …
                12 May 2018 at 4:59 pm

                I’ve annotated that list of “talent” accordingly…

                [1] vacuous; [2] supporter of Israeli government; [3] close links to National Party; [4] spouse of ex-National Party MP; [5] regularly expresses strident right wing views; [6];

                Lisa Scott [1] and Ian Telfer
                Jo Mccarrol and Scott Campbell [3]
                max Ritchie [5] and Niki Bezzant
                Rosemary Macleod [5] and Peter Fa’afui
                garry Moore and Miriama Aoake
                cas carter [1] and Steve Mccabe
                Jock Anderson [5] and Mai Chen
                Verity Johnson and Simon Pound
                Peter Vial and Paula Penfold
                Clare de Lore[4] and Alan Blackman [1]
                Ella Henry [1] and John Barnett [2]
                Micheal Moynahan and Penny Ashton
                Minhingarangi Forbes and Sam Johnson [3]
                Lynda Hallinan and Chris Clarke [1]
                Alexia Russel and Mike Rehu
                Mike Williams and Michelle Boag [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]
                Bernard Hickey and jenny Moreton
                Neil Miller [5] and Alison Mau
                Chris Wikaira [2], [3] and Janet Wilson [5]
                Lisa Scott [1] and Andrew Hoggard [1], [3], [5]
                Gary McCormick and Lizzie Marvelly
                Michelle A’ court Peter Fa’aifu
                Catherine Robertson and Peter Milne
                Nadine Higgins and Matt Nippert

            • alwyn 1.2.1.1.1.2
              12 May 2018 at 2:45 pm

              Really? An ACT party member today?
              Stephen was certainly an ACT MP from 1999 until 2005.
              However he then joined the National Party and was on the National List in 2008. He has taken no active part in politics since then as far as I can see so, although he may still be a member of the National Party I have seen no evidence at all that he went back to ACT.
              Do you have any?

              • mauī …
                12 May 2018 at 4:46 pm

                Who said we were talking about current ACT members??

                • alwyn …
                  12 May 2018 at 5:17 pm

                  When the comment made is in the present tense
                  “And look at the number of ACT members who get on Mora’s Panel”
                  one is certainly entitled to expect that you will find current members to nominate. If the best you can discover is someone who was a member a decade ago you are failing.
                  On your basis I am entitled to state that the Labour party is the arch-proponent of Rogernomics. You will have to agree if you think your own comment is accurate.

                  • In Vino …
                    12 May 2018 at 5:42 pm

                    Oh dear, Alwyn… more punctilious crap. Franks remains ACT in thought and word whether he is a current member or not. Get your mummy to put you to bed instead of allowing you to post such rubbish. (I am returning a foolish insult you posted against me, just in case it escaped your university-qualified vigilance.)

                    • alwyn …
                      12 May 2018 at 8:33 pm

                      That’s nice dear.

                    • Grantoc …
                      12 May 2018 at 10:33 pm

                      In Vino

                      So what. I presume you believe in free speech; in which case Franks is entitled to his point of view, even if you disagree with it.

                    • Incognito …
                      13 May 2018 at 12:42 pm

                      Grantoc

                      You’re missing or ignoring the point raised @ 1.2 and 1.2.1.

                      Hint: it is not about free speech as such.

      • Adrian Thornton 1.2.2
        12 May 2018 at 10:53 am

        Exactly right, I have been emailing the producers of RNZ (nicely) about this exact point for the past 12 months…no reply of course.

    • Tracey 1.3
      12 May 2018 at 8:55 am

      Taxpayers Alliance? Taxpayers Union and they all try to behave as if they are not part of a strategy

    • soddenleaf 1.4
      12 May 2018 at 9:48 am

      To go along to get along. The whole Thatcherite revolution was essentially a dumbing down and raising fears, all started with Murdoch lowering the bar and mulching any conflict against wealth. Press bias merely reflects the current elites unwillingness to pull its finger out, having been deluded into believing that the market will save their sorry arises if only they distrust the market of ideas that will save their sorry arises from being burnt to a cinder.

    • savenz 1.5
      12 May 2018 at 9:55 am

      Shocking especially because they used to (and probably still do I expect) make everybody in Britain pay a yearly TV licence for the content which clearly should not be biased!!!

  2. Morrissey 2
    12 May 2018 at 8:16 am

    Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.
    And not just because he looks like Simon Bridges.

    https://www.nationalreview.com/news/marco-rubio-condemns-fellow-lawmakers-opposing-gina-haspels-confirmation/

    • Ed 2.1
      12 May 2018 at 8:21 am

      The media have really let Bridges off the hook for his liking of Slater’s tweet.

      • Morrissey 2.1.1
        12 May 2018 at 8:24 am

        The media routinely take their lead from Slater and Farrar. Jim Mora references Farrar every second day, and has him on as a guest regularly. No doubt he’d do the same with Whalefat if he ever relaxed his ideological ban on appearing on “state media.”

        • Ed 2.1.1.1
          12 May 2018 at 8:29 am

          I actually find Mora in many ways more contemptible than Hosking.
          At least Hosking doesn’t pretend.

          • tc 2.1.1.1.1
            12 May 2018 at 9:11 am

            You have to admit they’ve got the bases covered with gentle Jim playing a subtle nuanced role with a stacked panel.

          • soddenleaf 2.1.1.1.2
            12 May 2018 at 9:54 am

            Though remembering that it’s helpful to listen to which fear they are playing up. Of course if it’s all right-wing sledging then do what I do, avoid Hooten, Boag, Frank’s, and just pick one right-wing hack, it’s not like there is any depth to their messaging. Farrier is best of the boring fools.

          • Adrian Thornton 2.1.1.1.3
            12 May 2018 at 10:58 am

            Yeh, I have noticed that Mora has only just contained himself of the Asia peril at our doorstep re; China, lately…I am pretty sure he is going to slip on this one pretty soon.

        • Grantoc 2.1.1.2
          12 May 2018 at 10:35 am

          Morrisey – If this is true, its totally offset by RNZ giving John Campbell 2 hrs every night to push a left wing agenda.

          • Adrian Thornton 2.1.1.2.1
            12 May 2018 at 11:02 am

            Are you saying that giving a voice to the disenfranchised and holding power to account is inherently Left Wing?, because I can’t remember Campbell pushing any political ideology…maybe you can refresh me.

            • Tracey 2.1.1.2.1.1
              12 May 2018 at 11:18 am

              He will have forgotten that Campbell caused a labour PM to flunce out of an interview

        • Wayne 2.1.1.3
          12 May 2018 at 11:44 am

          Given that David Farrar runs the most widely read blog in New Zealand, it is hardly surprising that media commentators refer to him.

          And although Standardnistas won’t like this, David Farrar comes across as reasonably balanced, even if he is a well known supporter of National. It is some of his commenters that are extreme.

          He regularly gives credit to the government when he thinks it is due. He is not so one-eyed that he condemns every single action of the government. Likewise he is critical of the opposition from time to time

          • Rosemary McDonald 2.1.1.3.1
            12 May 2018 at 11:58 am

            ” David Farrar comes across as reasonably balanced, even if he is a well known supporter of National. It is some of his commenters that are extreme. ”

            If one were so inclined and had the ability and the facility, one could invent a persona, append a twitty pseudonym and spew vile hate speech unfettered on a totally un moderated website. It’d be like allowing one’s evil alter to have a ‘real life’ or in some cases ‘lives’.

            Farrar allows those “extreme” commenters free reign…he is a despicable person.

            Most people here know this….why would you even think it appropriate to try and defend the indefensible?

          • Stuart Munro 2.1.1.3.2
            12 May 2018 at 12:23 pm

            Yeah nah – he was hip deep in the dirty politics scam. Nothing unusual for a Gnat of course, but contemptible by the standards of normal people.

          • One Two 2.1.1.3.3
            12 May 2018 at 4:25 pm

            Comes across as reasonably balanced…to the likes of yourself perhaps, Wayne…and those who appreciate and support ‘hate’ blog sites such as KB…

            But that is no rational benchmark for , balance…

            What drives you to keep commentating on this blog, Wayne…you’ve not tendered a response…

            Kiwi blog seems a more natural habitat given your documented publicly available history…

          • Incognito 2.1.1.3.4
            12 May 2018 at 4:47 pm

            The scary thing is that I think you really believe this! Or do I hear a dog-whistle?

            The fact that those “extreme” commenters are being ‘invited’ by the posts on KB written by DPF and other authors (…) seems to have escaped your thought. All propaganda has and starts with instigators too.

            Further, DPF not only provides an inviting and welcoming forum with ample ‘food for thought’ for those “extreme” commenters but also cries that it is too hard to manage, which is just unbelievably pathetic and has a very disingenuous ring to it.

            DPF may give token credit to the Government and express token criticism of the Opposition “from time to time” but that’s just pulling the wool over our eyes, isn’t it? Just like Simon Bridges strongly condemned the DP campaign against Clarke Gayford. Yeah, right!

      • Tracey 2.1.2
        12 May 2018 at 8:57 am

        No resignation calls for his disreslect to oyr falken? We would still be hearing about it if Shearer, Cullliffe, Little or Ardern had taken a taxpayer funded flight to Hawaii on hols instead

      • Incognito 2.1.3
        12 May 2018 at 10:50 am

        Odd story:

        I”m [sic] not on Twitter very often and I think this shows why. Effectively, I was scrolling down and I saw a tweet that you’re referring to, I noticed it, I accidentally liked it, I got rid of that within literally a second and kept on moving.

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/103764952/bridges-mea-culpa-for-titter-faux-pas-too-much-tweeting-maketh-a-twat

        Anyway, we now know Mr Bridges reads scrolls through tweets by WO. We also know that Mr Bridges easily lets his guard down when (or better: in spite of) reading tweets by WO – WO is a well-known and respected comedian in National circles and his tweets are often considered ‘funny’. Maybe Mr Bridges was not wearing his hat as Leader of the Opposition but tweeting in ’private capacity’.

        • tracey 2.1.3.1
          12 May 2018 at 12:37 pm

          “Literally a second” would not have given time for a 3rd party to do a screenshot. Literally

          • Incognito 2.1.3.1.1
            12 May 2018 at 4:28 pm

            He was just scrolling down tweets from WO, as you do, and literally liked it but that doesn’t mean he literally liked it as it is just one of those things you do when scrolling down through tweets from WO, literally.

            In National nothing should be taken literally, only aspirationally. A brighter future for all literally means a slightly less dim future for the dimwits (AKA poor, workers, un- and underemployed, beneficiaries, most people) and a much brighter future for the few (AKA rich) but you cannot literally say that. Being on the cusp of something special literally means that you’ve got gas and have to do a fart but just like weeing in the shower you cannot literally say that in a public medium so you make it sound expirationally.

            Anything that this Government says or does is literally bad, of course. It goes without saying that the Opposition and particularly the Leader of the Opposition without question and without reading literally poopoos everything from Government. Coincidentally, this comes naturally to National because they literally have no original ideas, which is why they scroll through WO tweets and KB and literally like posts and comments alike; in National they like what they like ad nauseam, literally.

        • Gabby 2.1.3.2
          12 May 2018 at 2:09 pm

          Effectively, Slick Britches is full of bullshit.

  3. Ed 3
    12 May 2018 at 8:25 am

    My second share of the day are the words of a great New Zealander, Robin Westenra.

    “Ecological and economic collapse in New Zealand

    It will be only apparent to those paying attention but New Zealand is collapsing environmentally, socially, financially and politically, not to mention socially.

    Every day we read headlines like this. The detail with which these questions are dealt with are usually in inverse proportion to the importance of the crisis in question.

    People who react emotionally to things,mostly on social media, but are incapable (or unwilling) to analyse why this might be the case just blame the government.

    It is really only the symptoms of social collapse that get any public attention.

    While the previous government with its socially-destructive policies of austerity took this breakdown to new, unseen levels. But there is nothing unique in this and the result probably end up being the same.

    We cannot look solely to economic policies.

    What we are seeing is a neo-liberal response to a very real problem to ongoing and progressive collapse as a result of economic crisis arising out of energy decline along with ecological degradation and accelerating climate change.”

    http://robinwestenra.blogspot.co.nz/2018/05/ecological-and-economic-collapse-in-new.html?m=1

    • mauī 3.1
      12 May 2018 at 8:57 am

      Superb piece of writing there once again by Westenra. If only the world had more men like him.

  4. Ad 4
    12 May 2018 at 8:35 am

    This looks like a good one.

    The book is called “The War On Peace: The decline of American diplomacy”

    Trevor Noah interviews the author Ronan Farrow, who also broke major stories as a reporter such as the #MeToo movement, among others.

  5. Ed 5
    12 May 2018 at 8:44 am

    This is what happens when:
    You let farmers take water to intensify dairy farming on the Canterbury Plains
    You let farmers pump fertiliser into the land
    You allow foreign corporations to take our water.

    “Chlorine levels in some Christchurch water might be enough for swimming pool.”

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/103631494/chlorine-levels-in-some-christchurch-water-might-be-enough-for-swimming-pool

    Neoliberal New Zealand.
    A poster boy for plutocrats.
    A basket case for its citizens.

  6. Ed 6
    12 May 2018 at 8:47 am

    Auckland.
    35000 empty homes.
    Houses too expensive to rent or buy.
    People living on the streets.

    Neoliberal New Zealand.
    A poster boy for plutocrats.
    A basket case for its citizens.

  7. Pat 7
    12 May 2018 at 8:59 am

    https://www.strongtowns.org/the-growth-ponzi-scheme/

    Ponzi schemes everywhere you look…..think there may be a message in that.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.1
      12 May 2018 at 5:31 pm

      Capitalism itself is a Ponzi Scheme. A few end up rich, everyone else ends up poor.

      • Pat 7.1.1
        12 May 2018 at 9:43 pm

        Capitalism (and/or politics) may accelerate the process but physics dictate it….

        “…A society in which depletion is advanced and M(p)
        rapidly increasing relative to C(p), though, may not be able to escape catabolic
        collapse even if such steps are taken. Cultural and political factors may also make
        efforts to avoid catabolic collapse difficult to accomplish, or indeed to contemplate.”

        https://www.ecoshock.org/transcripts/greer_on_collapse.pdf

  8. savenz 8
    12 May 2018 at 9:58 am

    Scary stuff about new terrorism laws and how they seem to be operating…

    Black activist jailed for his Facebook posts speaks out about secret FBI surveillance

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/11/rakem-balogun-interview-black-identity-extremists-fbi-surveillance

    • Anne 8.1
      12 May 2018 at 10:14 am

      That is shocking. Didn’t take long for the FBI to enter into the spirit of the new regime.

      First – the Kaiser
      Second – Hitler and Mussolini
      Third – Trump.

      Remember how Hitler was lauded for his so-called peace initiatives in the 1930s? Now we have some calling for Trump to be given the Nobel Peace prize. Beyond belief!

      • Rosemary McDonald 8.1.1
        12 May 2018 at 11:03 am

        “Beyond belief!”

        We are living in Wonderland now Anne….under Rabbit Hole rules.

        • Anne 8.1.1.1
          12 May 2018 at 6:49 pm

          😀
          That film was a brilliant rendition of A in Wonderland. And so appropriate to today’s disordered world courtesy of Donald Trump.

      • dukeofurl 8.1.2
        12 May 2018 at 11:32 am

        Hitlers peace initiatives ?

        Only if you are a Hilter revisionist ( which Im sure you arent)!

        http://ihr.org/other/what-the-world-rejected.html

        Trump isnt really offering peace either. as we well know his claims one month are abandoned 6 months later.
        see his campaign claim to reduce US prescription drug prices is now an attempt to force foreign nations with ‘socialised medicine’ to pay more for their drugs ( ref our Pharmac)

  9. Rosemary McDonald 9
    12 May 2018 at 10:01 am

    From the “It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy…” files,

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12048706

    The company of which Eric Watson holds all of the ordinary shares is being chased down for 60 million Big Ones in avoided tax.

    What a tragedy…givealittle page on its way?

    • savenz 9.1
      12 May 2018 at 10:26 am

      Interesting case. Time to tighten up laws so that these transactions, offshore accounts and ‘loans’ which result in avoided tax, are not even possible in this country.

      A well written Tobin tax would have collected the tax prior to the money leaving and avoided the lengthy court case.

      • Rosemary McDonald 9.1.1
        12 May 2018 at 10:59 am

        Makes me wonder if this Current Lot are on a mission. Winston especially has history of going after those who are less than transparent in their business dealings.

        Agree mostly with a financial transaction tax/levy….in these time of e-commerce it should be easy to implement.

        But the Rich Pricks will find a way around it 🙁

        • savenz 9.1.1.1
          12 May 2018 at 11:12 am

          @Rosemary – that is why they should look at putting a micro financial tax on everything and reduce other taxes that benefit those on smaller incomes more aka GST. If something like that was done correctly then if you live on peanuts you pay peanut taxes, if you have a million dollar lifestyle while earning zero profits you pay your share of tax at the point of transacting it… At the moment tax is so easy to avoid, too many variations and loopholes and so costly to fight cases…

          • Rosemary McDonald 9.1.1.1.1
            12 May 2018 at 11:16 am

            Hah savenz! I have a close family member who has been banging on about such a tax for years. Pleased for him it is rising to the mainstream.

            • savenz 9.1.1.1.1.1
              12 May 2018 at 12:02 pm

              yep, I think now with so much global capital whistling around the world it’s time to make it happen. Tax money and transactions so people like John Key, Eric Watson, Peter Thiel, Facebook, Google, etc whether resident in or out of NZ will be taxed a micro amount on their money made or going through NZ, where ever it goes afterwards will be someone else’s problem.

        • dv 9.1.1.2
          12 May 2018 at 11:16 am

          But the Rich Pricks will find a way around it

          If the money is taxed as it moves thru the banking system that is much harder to avoid.

  10. savenz 10
    12 May 2018 at 11:05 am

    Another case of the SFA tax… this video will brighten up a rainy day for many.. it’s very well done.

    Honest Government Ad | Trickledown Economics

  11. Rosemary McDonald 11
    12 May 2018 at 11:14 am

    This up date on the Pike River Recovery.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/103725677/the-promise-to-pike-river-miners-we-will-not-rest-and-we-will-never-give-up-we-will-return

    “Dinghy Pattinson is aiming to fulfil a promise he made as part of a mines rescue team that sealed up the Pike River mine in 2011.

    The team left a note on the seal 170m up the mine access tunnel, or drift, promising the men they would return to get them out.

    Pattinson was also part of the mines rescue team who were ready and waiting for two weeks to go into Pike River after the explosion that killed 29 men on November, 19, 2010.

    ‘We will not rest and we will never give up. We will return’ “

    • Cinny 11.1
      12 May 2018 at 11:30 am

      Good article, thanks for sharing Rosemary.

      Was talking to an ex-coast, long time miner the other day about Pike, was very insightful, once he opened up a bit.

      He explained that all along mine tunnels were little rooms with breathing apparatus etc, all one needed to do was get to one of these rooms and they would be able to stay alive for around 36hrs or more, giving rescue crews a chance to come and get them.

      The rescue that never happened at Pike.

      He believes that many of the men down there died from being abandoned, rather than the explosion. Also said Pike was well known for their shoddy safety, everyone on the coast knows it and that when they finally get in to Pike and get the men out it’s going to open a massive can of worms, and that’s why the prior government avoided rescue at all costs.

      So proud of our new government for doing something. I can’t imagine the heartache and suffering of all involved.

      • savenz 11.1.1
        12 May 2018 at 11:57 am

        The botched rescue including just getting the local police who knew nothing about mine safety is truely horrendous. Even countries with so called much worse human rights and employment safety bother to rescue their workers.

        Pike River highlights that something is seriously wrong with how many companies with government assistance are operating in NZ – while pretending it’s all in the interests of health and safety but really to save dollars, avoid responsibility, not bother doing anything and delay tactics being the norm.

        I’d like to see a memorial in Wellington for the men, by the beehive, to highlight the sad state of company greed and negligence and the government inaction supporting it and why a u-turn is needed.

      • alwyn 11.1.2
        12 May 2018 at 3:05 pm

        You say
        ” Also said Pike was well known for their shoddy safety, everyone on the coast knows it”
        What a shame that Andrew Little, yes, that Andrew Little, didn’t see anything wrong at all when he was supposed to be representing the men who worked there.
        At the time Andrew said.
        “EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said he was not aware of any safety concerns at the site.”
        https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/experts-raise-safety-concerns

        He repeated that a number of times
        “It was Andrew Little who, after the first explosion, claimed to the NZ Herald (November 22 2010) that there was “nothing unusual about Pike River or this mine that we’ve been particularly concerned about”.
        It was a view he repeated to RNZ National’s Morning Report, also on November 22:
        “Every mine on the West Coast takes great care when it goes into production and I don’t think Pike River is any different from that. They’ve had a good health and safety committee that’s been very active. So there’s nothing before now that’s alerted us to any greater risk of this sort of incident happening than at any other time.”
        http://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.co.nz/2017/10/andrew-little-and-pike-river-fatally.html

        If there is anyone who wants to run a cover-up it looks like Andrew. Who wants to bet on the proposition that he will decide it is unsafe to try for a re-entry next year? He is in the perfect position to shut down any real investigation, isn’t he?

        • Rosemary McDonald 11.1.2.1
          12 May 2018 at 3:14 pm

          Don’t you think it is appropriate, given that he perhaps erred back in the day, that Andrew Little heads this project?

          Even cynical old moi sees the slight aura of integrity around the man. Rare enough for any politician.

          Do you honestly think someone like Dinghy Pattinson would let crap like that go unchallenged?

          Why not put it on hold for a while alwyn and let them get on with it.

          • alwyn 11.1.2.1.1
            12 May 2018 at 3:19 pm

            They will never get on with it.
            There is no chance at all that there will be any re-entry to the mine that goes right in to the place where they were working. No politician would ever risk it.

        • Cinny 11.1.2.2
          12 May 2018 at 7:24 pm

          Lolz alwyn, would you like to place a wager? I’m keen, 3 month self imposed ban?

          alwyn you are familiar with the West Coat yes? It’s a different world there.

          I also said… “Was talking to an ex-coast, long time miner the other day about Pike, was very insightful, once he opened up a bit.”….. once he opened up a bit….

          • alwyn 11.1.2.2.1
            12 May 2018 at 8:25 pm

            I wasn’t aware that Andrew Little came from the West Coast. I was always under the impression that he came from Taranaki. Am I wrong?
            What does what the West Coasters think really matter? It is Andrew who is going to make the call, and I believe it is pre-determined. Who can say what might, or might not, have been done at the time. Now it would just be sending people into danger. Let those who died, like people drowned in ships sunk in the war, rest in peace.

            I remember visiting the Coast in the mid-1960s. Yes it was quite different, However I can remember talking to a railways driver. There were still steam trains going across to the Coast. He said that the people there threatened to riot if they put Diesel Loco’s instead of coal powered ones on the route. He also said it was just talk and no-one living there had kept a coal range when they could get an electric one. They might talk about keeping coal but they weren’t actually going to use it themselves.

            • Cinny 11.1.2.2.1.1
              13 May 2018 at 8:54 am

              alwyn, I said nothing about Andrew Little, you are the one spinning yarns here.

              I said that I was talking to an ex miner, nothing about Andrew.

              alwyn, you did say… “Who wants to bet on the proposition that he (Andrew Little) will decide it is unsafe to try for a re-entry next year?”

              I’ll take up your bet, I say they will go into the mine, I will wager you a 3 month self imposed ban.

              What do you say?

              • alwyn …
                13 May 2018 at 2:14 pm

                What exactly did you have in mind for this wager. All you seem to be willing to say here is “I say they will go into the mine”.
                I suppose you could argue that they have done this. Remember the brave face that Little put on when he, and a couple of the members of some of the deceased miners’ families put on as he went 30 metres into the portal to the point where it was sealed the other day?
                What are you proposing? I’ll give you a good example to follow. John Kennedy said
                “First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth”.
                Quite explicit isn’t it? What to do. When to do it. How to judge success or failure.

                How would you word the wager? Do you propose, for example, that people in the mission will travel right to the area where the men were working and, as far as I know, the explosion occurred, before 31 March. 2019? That is all the way into the mine.
                If not, what would you suggest?

                You are quite right about the first words of this comment. It was Rosemary who was talking about Little, Andrew. I do apologise for seeming to think that you were the one proposing him as an exemplar of integrity.

                • tracey …
                  13 May 2018 at 3:01 pm

                  Nice dancing on the head of a pin alwyn. Cinny made a simple wager suggestion. And yes it was simple. The stakes arent even high but you had to go pseudo intellectual and self righteous rather than just acceptung or declining. Would that you were quite as analytical of Brownlee et al and the profit motive on these deaths as you are on Anrew Little.

                  Ironic that someone who has voted for those who have neutered unions now criticises a union for letting its members down

                  • alwyn …
                    13 May 2018 at 3:44 pm

                    I’m sure that Cinny is capable of answering for herself.
                    Why do you feel the need to “interpret” what she has said?

                    • alwyn …
                      13 May 2018 at 8:53 pm

                      I rather hoped that Cinny would have responded by now as to what she did have in mind for the wager. It obviously has to have a date. After all it could otherwise turn into something like Winston’s threats to sue the National Party and its MPs.
                      “I’m still going to do it” Winston says while all is otherwise silent.
                      I suppose Little supporters could claim in 2050, when no attempt at a proper re-entry has taken place,that it will still happen, sometime.
                      Why does Little persist in messing with the victim’s families with the false hopes he keeps proclaiming?

                      For Tracey’s benefit I would note that I am not criticising the Union. I am criticising Andrew Little.

        • reason 11.1.2.3
          13 May 2018 at 2:49 pm

          What a ugly man you are Alwyn …

          Utilising your long lack of empathy …. out of cameron slater and john key which one do you think was more likely to call bereaved mother of a pike river mine worker a bitch ?? … ,…..

          the dead boys mother was a “bitch” who had heckled Key …according to Slater and published in Nicky Hagars “Dirty polictics”

          I presume she did so over the hollowness and insincerity of his political stunt …his false promises to the dead pike river miners familys ….

          The media nearly always gave key a pass for lieing ….. but not so from a young dead mans mother.

          Totally missing from Alwyns mean eyed spit at this woman and other Pike river mine workers mothers: …is the Key and previous Nat Govts part in the criminal negligence that lead to these working mens deaths …….

          cutting the number of mine inspectors … not enforcing regulations… Non-Compliant is virtually Nationals Trade Mark.

          But what really shows up Key as a nasty arse-hole…. when his Governmnet received a multi-million insurance payout over Pike river…… the suggestion was put that some of that money be given to miners familys as compensation ……

          Key “ they can sue “….Alwyn may well agree

          We all know …At the end of the day 😉 😉 it was key who ran off from NZ politics

          johnny made-off .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRqFBmiVMQU

          • alwyn 11.1.2.3.1
            13 May 2018 at 3:42 pm

            You may, or may not, realise that I am not John Key.
            Neither am I Cameron Slater.
            That obviously doesn’t matter to you. You really are a nasty piece of work aren’t you? What gives you the right to abuse me for things I have never done?
            What gives you the right to accuse me of things like, in your own disgusting dribble ” Alwyns mean eyed spit at this woman “? I have never done such a thing and I despise anyone who would do so.
            I also despise people like you who propagate such lies.
            Get back in your hole you miserable little excuse for a human being. If you are unable to tell the truth about me why don’t you just shut up?

            • reason 11.1.2.3.1.1
              13 May 2018 at 8:06 pm

              Its not about you Alwyn ….. your smeary diversionary blame Little dribble needed putting straight….. its part of the ‘blame the union’ shit your sort cynically use.

              Your skewered, one-sided, political statement on pike river was offensive to the victims … a written slap in the face for the mothers on mothers day.

              your coming across as ugly as Key … using the victims for political gain ….” let them sue”…..

              I don’t place much stock on a cynical ugly repeat liar and hypocrite calling me a liar….

              Instead lets be reminded of a New Zealander with morals and Justice challenging the rot and corruption of the last national Government ….

              Someone who did care about workers and people …. https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/344562/pike-families-justice-should-not-be-bought

              https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11939650 … sorry for the Herald link … but it is a rare fair story from them.

              “Mum always held that Pike was a crime scene; hopefully it will be treated as such by the new government.” …. a quote from Helen Kellys son

              /

              • alwyn …
                13 May 2018 at 8:45 pm

                Frankly you are a complete nutter.
                You have zero interest in the truth, or facts, or simple common-sense.
                Crawl back into the cesspit of your fevered imagination.
                You are completely beneath contempt.
                You start a sentence with “I don’t place much stock ….”.
                Well I don’t place much stock in the ravings of an idiot like you.

                • reason …
                  14 May 2018 at 7:14 am

                  Stop running from the topic

                  Pike River,,, and your bat-shit politically motivated appropriation of Blame …

                  Managers, directors, design and mining safety specs … have all dissapeared behind a little union rep … according to angry Alwyn

                  By Not engaging with facts , shouty abuse,, and a dose of the shut-ups.. Alwyns providing a good example of an ongoing context … where the ugly and dishonest .. attack lie and deny ,,, those who expose them.

                  Dirty Politics …its in their blood.

                  John Key : ” …Nicky Hager is a screaming left-wing conspiracy theorist,”

                  Key and waynes gutsy Afghanistan attacks: “,,,,, “Stephenson’s integrity and credibility has been questioned by Prime Minister John Key, he’s been accused of fabricating testimony, of being an anti-war activist, of being part of a plot to undermine the New Zealand Defence Force.”

                  Pike river NAct PR :… John Key: ..”The first thing is I’m here to give you absolute reassurance, we’re committed to getting the boys out, and nothing’s going to change that. So – when people try and tell you we’re not, they’re playing, I hate to say it, but they’re playing with your emotions.”

                  “Following from the first explosion at Pike Rive Mine, there seemed much positive comment heaped upon the likes of Peter Whittall and John Key.”

                  versus the ugly actions and real attitudes,,,

                  John Key ” they can sue”

                  “Furthermore, – Pike River management barred union access to the site if a delegate attempted to come on site – which was their perfect legal right to do so due to legislation passed by this National government.” https://thestandard.org.nz/qc-describes-pike-river-mine-as-a-homicide-scene/

                  Peter Talley on health and safety law: unions are evil, workers’ lives cheap

                  http://www.unite.org.nz/workers_union_slams_talley_s_work_culture_after_crewman_s_death

                  *PK … post key

      • patricia bremner 11.1.3
        12 May 2018 at 8:00 pm

        The Mine Rescue guys would have been gutted. My Dad was in Mine Rescue, and he said leaving anyone down a mine was their worst nightmare. So proud of Andrew Little and such respect for the families.

  12. Sacha 12
    12 May 2018 at 11:26 am

    A New Zealand nurse’s diary of one ordinary shift: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12048860

    • tracey 12.1
      12 May 2018 at 12:42 pm

      But but but GDP…. growth… when we have that we can treat our nurses and health services properly… oh wait

      • Bewildered 12.1.1
        12 May 2018 at 5:15 pm

        Not sure of your point here, are you saying less gdp growth would be good for nurses or more, or simply you have confused what ever the correlation is between GDP growth and nurses well being with causation

        • tracey 12.1.1.1
          13 May 2018 at 3:03 pm

          No wonder you are bewildered. We have been told for decades that growth in GDP is crucial and in some instances THE most important factor in

          Wages being raised
          Health and Education services being well funded
          And so on.

          But after 40 decades of constant GDP increases we have largely stagnant wages and nurses workng in untenable conditions.

          I hope that clarifies it for you

  13. patricia bremner 13
    12 May 2018 at 11:53 am

    These characters do that tax rort, and some go the “charity road”, as they can claim any donated money against the “public purse” @ 33% back again.

    • savenz 13.1
      12 May 2018 at 12:06 pm

      ‘Charities’ are the new rout avenue. Clinton Foundation and so forth are really vehicles to channel money with tax advantages so it doesn’t look quite so much like a bribe or buying influence.

      Personally not a fan of modern charities like KidsCan either that have millions in the bank, spend a lot of administration and make many think that government agencies and more austere type charities should be abandoned for the more glitzy marketing type of charity.

    • Rosemary McDonald 13.2
      12 May 2018 at 12:49 pm

      And I’ll only mention in passing, because with the rain today there’s gloom aplenty already, the many charities and trusts who have got their snouts firmly in the trough of government funded contracts to provide services in the ‘social’ sector.

      They don’t make profits…they have surpluses…and pay no tax.

      They can cause the deaths of people in their ‘care’ through under staffing and and are never properly held to account. By “held to account” i mean lose their fat contracts forever.

  14. scott 14
    12 May 2018 at 12:43 pm

    Hi. Am seeking the best books on recent (post-1984) NZ Political History – am aiming to guide a millenial. Here’s what I have so far:-

    Simon Collins. 1987. Rogernomics: Is There A Better Way?;
    Nicky Hagar. 2006. The Hollow Men;
    Bruce Jesson. 1987. Behind The Mirror Glass;
    Bruce Jesson. 1990. Fragments of Labour;
    Harvey McQueen. 1991. The Ninth Floor: Inside the Prime Minister’s Office –
    A Political Experience.

    It’s a bit spartan so far. Anyone have any recommendations?

    Also: Are these recommended?:-

    Simon Sheppard. 1999. Broken Circle: The Decline And Fall Of The Fourth Labour Government;
    Jon Johansson. 2009. The Politics of Possibility: Leadership in Changing
    Times.

  15. adam 15
    12 May 2018 at 2:00 pm

    Stunning representation

  16. eco maori 16
    13 May 2018 at 11:51 am

    This is a problem for the Papatuanuku society Sea level rise we are to short sighted we have the technology to exanine Papatuanuku history but we don’t no how to live for the future we live for the NOW for what we can get out of life now and not what we can give to OUR mokopunas lives this mind set has to change the old way was to try and give back better than what we received. We need to change building codes to mitigate SEA level rise now or it will be a 1000x worst than the problem we have that our farmers have at the minute .We can not just ignore the problem because the longer we have OUR heads in the sand the bigger the mess we will have to clean up. A few bold moves now will save lives and billions of$$$$$ for OUR mokopunas THIS IS FACT here.s the link.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/103404456/a-profound-crisis-sealevel-rise-and-the-remaking-of-the-world Ka kite ano P.S I know that we have a housing shortage but ignoring Sea level rise is just pushing a bigger problem to OUR mokos .

  17. eco maori 17
    13 May 2018 at 6:43 pm

    Good Evening NewsHub the better we care for the vulnerable mokopunas at the earliest we can the higher they will climb up there ladders of life.
    That is reality for the working class poor the hardest hit from inequality in income and the brown poor people get hit the hardest the income disparities are shocking go to the high end of town and you see boats flash cars one million dollar house own by two people the other end and one see nothing but poverty people going with out basic needs.
    I can rember 10 years ago life was a lot easier and the cost of living was a lot cheaper .
    Ka kite ano

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