Open mike 12/06/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 12th, 2024 - 50 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:


Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

50 comments on “Open mike 12/06/2024 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  2. SPC 2
    12 June 2024 at 7:40 am

    A useful backgrounder on Kainga Ora. Of a weekend reader length.

    National's management of state housing, 2008-2017, was inept.

    The problems with Kainga Ora design 2019-2022 (and then consideration of change)

    Separation, or differentiation of the provider and urban development roles

    The problem of debt cost of works in progress.

    The inadequacy of the English solution to the problem (building less), so things get worse in terms of supply, just to make the books look better.

    The agenda of Bill English – market rents 1990's (and sales to those who afford to buy), sell off of housing in the Wairarapa to gentrify the area. Government funding of non state providers etc.

    If the main problem with Kāinga Ora is interest rates and staff, the fix is fairly simple: reduce Kāinga Ora’s headcount and help the Reserve Bank get inflation under control, and maybe even reduce the number of houses Kāinga Ora is building to lower its borrowing costs.

    But these were not quite fixes proposed by the English report, which argued for a radical change, not just to Kāinga Ora, but to the whole system of social housing.

    He argued Kāinga Ora should have an altered entity form, turning it into a Crown Company, which would likely reinforce a stronger separation between the executive, the board, and the minister.

    English also wanted to see financial responsibility for housing “consolidated” under the Minister for Housing and his ministry which would begin to “actively purchase” housing services from other organisations like Community Housing Providers (CHPs), new Community Housing Associations (CHAs), and Kāinga Ora. Under this model, Kāinga Ora would become one social housing landlord among many.

    The focus for providing new housing would shift from debt-laden Kāinga Ora, to CHPs and CHAs

    English wants them to access more money more cheaply (part of having less state supply to the people – education, health and housing and ultimately faith based provider welfare – social investment and term limits. Boiling the state frog).

    What are CHP's.

    One thing they need is cheaper access to money. The RBG classifying them as investors is a problem. Will the Oz solution work here, a government guarantee or would Treasury "veto" this?

    It looks likely that the Government may attempt to work out some long-term contracts for CHPs to make this security of funding clearer, in the hope of lowering their borrowing costs. But this doesn’t necessarily solve the debt-problem, it simply shifts it from Kāinga Ora to CHPs, which have less capacity to deal with it.

    So, KO would still have a more secure funder and debt model than the CHP.

    For mine give the RBG something for ending the investor classification – which is untrue if they have association with government. A mortgage surcharge set by the RBG raises money for government … .

    English noted that Kāinga Ora’s build costs seemed to be too high, implying CHPs could do better. MHUD agreed.

    In September of last year it sent a report from a quantity surveyor back to ministers saying that Kāinga Ora’s build costs were higher than “a modest market home”, but they didn’t put this down to incompetence on Kāinga Ora’s incompetence.

    Instead, they said this was due to “build features associated with Kāinga Ora’s requirements”. (Kāinga Ora requires houses to be fitted with certain accessibility features, given the large number of tenants with disabilities)

    A broken model.

    KO can have better accounts by doing less – reducing its investment cost and harvest rising market rents (charges tenants income related rent and tops this up to the market rate via government top up) resulting from a shortage. CHP's assisted by government can join such a profitable sector.

    This is one of rising property values and rents (landlord CG), lower home ownership, and either more in the state/social housing queue (aging boomers without homes) or alternatives – easy subdivision for small builds on existing sections/shared house ownership/housing on iwi land/incentivising shared housing by allowing owners to take boarders without tax liability/sole parents allowed to have boarders/support for placement of mobile homes on sections/mobile home parks.

    The article – The billion dollar problems with Kāinga Ora and why plans to fix it might make the problem worse by Thomas Coughlan at

    https://archive.li/f8Vcp#selection-1153.245-1153.274

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1
      12 June 2024 at 8:23 am

      National's management of state housing, 2008-2017, was inept.

      Thats an under understatement. And Inept ? Hmmm, thats without thinking..(or IMO,knowing) that the Nats knew exactly what they were doing with and to NZ's State/Kainga Ora Housing.

      Ironic that Ol' double dipper Bill English toxic thumbs are all over this from start..to finish. I sincerely hope that NActfirst are not the death of it.

      • tc 2.1.1
        12 June 2024 at 8:46 am

        Totally ! Blinglish had done very well out of this if one follows him from treasurer to today and his 'business' dealings post parliament.

  3. SPC 3
    12 June 2024 at 8:29 am

    On Tuesday, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri, who is based outside Gaza, said it accepted the ceasefire resolution and was ready to negotiate over the specifics.

    This required a formula stipulating the total withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a swap of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinians jailed in Israel, he told Reuters.

    "The US administration is facing a real test to carry out its commitments in compelling the occupation to immediately end the war in an implementation of the UN Security Council resolution," Abu Zuhri said.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2024/06/hamas-says-it-accepts-un-backed-gaza-truce-plan-with-israel-us-cites-hopeful-sign.html

    Presumably the intent is to require IDF withdrawal from Gaza Palestine before the hostage exchange begins.

    The Israelis will negotiate for the hostage exchange without intent to leave until that is completed.

    It is the game of alpha male posturing – leave before we release hostages, or release hostages before we leave. They must be branches of the same Semite family. Cain and Abel in our time. Pre Islam and the covenant nation, Semites would arrive at a place and exchange females and become brothers. Arabs would do this at an oasis (formalised it as the cult of two female shaped idols in a red tent shrine on the back of a camel). Not in this generation. All that Jewish nationalist and other Semite testosterone boosted by concepts of religious destiny.

  4. PsyclingLeft.Always 4
    12 June 2024 at 8:33 am

    Renewable energy advocates say New Zealand could learn from the experience of Australia, where solar panels are so popular they sometimes produce more electricity than people can use.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/519303/lots-of-solar-but-nowhere-to-store-it-what-nz-could-learn-from-australia

    Well I have posted about this before….why is there a lag on New Solar and esp on new builds?

    And of course Govt gets money from electricity sales. Sadly, now that rio tinto looks to be embedded in NZ (should have been gone years back ! )….IMO we need to look at less household reliance on the Big Power companies.

    • Stephen D 4.1
      12 June 2024 at 9:47 am

      Friends of mine, admittedly well off, recently built a new home. Solar panels on the roof. Family of 3, 1 is a teenager. Two teslas.

      During last winter, their power bill was $6.00 a month.

    • Descendant Of Smith 4.2
      12 June 2024 at 9:57 am

      A lot of housing developments were built with cheap solar hot water units where the roof connections have perished quite quickly in some cases and so people have turned them off cause landlords etc don't want to replace them. There are some lessons to be learned as well.

    • gsays 4.3
      12 June 2024 at 12:17 pm

      Key's privatisation of the power companies is one of the biggest impediments to the uptake of solar.

      Power shortages are a good thing for shareholders.

      Renationalise the power companies and encourage grid tied solar systems. We are at a point now where EVs can supply electricity to a house.

  5. aj 5
    12 June 2024 at 8:41 am

    War does not determine who is right, only who is left – Bertrand Russell

  6. SPC 6
    12 June 2024 at 9:29 am

    April 2024

    Parliament's environment watchdog says the science of methane is already settled – and the only remaining questions are political.

    Its chief economist says the government could save money by using "comprehensive" research that has already been done – twice.

    The government's 36-point plan for the next three months includes reviewing targets for cutting the potent but short-lived greenhouse gas, which is burped by the country's cattle and sheep. On Saturday, the government announced an independent panel would review the science on agricultural methane and report back by the end of the year.

    The independent Climate Change Commission was already in line to report back on methane, so the announcement adds a second layer of expert review. Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment chief economist Geoff Simmons said the research on methane was already done.

    So the why is political. To delay action for now. And try and change the course for future governments.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/513695/methane-science-already-settled-watchdog-says

    June 2024

    The CoC, reconsiders – effectively ends inclusion of farming in the ETS – and speculates that the right will take over the world and there will be no obligations to fulfill. Or they can do it by subsidising farmers …

    The coalition will also invest $400 million over the next four years to "accelerate the commercialisation" of tools and technology to reduce on-farm emissions.

    Which suits farmers.

    Farmers are going to meet their emissions targets without the need for pricing," Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford.

    He told Morning Report He Waka Eke Noa focused too much on pricing, and the issue was about finding ways to reduce emissions.

    "We're already on good track [to meet targets]," Langford said.

    "We're actually doing it because that's what our markets are asking for, not because we need regulation to push us there and that's probably exactly where we want to be."

    "We're paying our fair share with all the products and services that come on to farm and then with everything that leaves our farm as well. We're paying our fair share of the ETS," Langford said.

    He said farmers deserved tax relief considering how much the agriculture sector contributed to the economy

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/519313/government-setting-up-smokescreen-to-look-away-from-climate-change-chloe-swarbrick

    • Obtrectator 6.1
      12 June 2024 at 10:55 am

      Not that NZ shouldn't try to do its bit, but it could all be moot anyway if the Arctic were to generate a tera-belch:

      https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/arctic/sea-of-methane-sealed-beneath-arctic-permafrost-could-trigger-climate-feedback-loop-if-it-escapes

    • newsense 6.2
      12 June 2024 at 11:22 am

      Teenagers representative Wayne Langford said that they had done all their homework and understood all the subjects so they didn’t need to do any tests or assignments. They also said because of this new app that was making study so easy that the government should totally buy all farmers beers to go to the party this weekend because they were going to get a job no worries because they were ahead on everything.

      Students doing extra cram courses could be heard to mutter ‘Whiny ass-kiss b€+*%’ as they had their 4th cup of coffee.

    • newsense 6.3
      12 June 2024 at 11:33 am

      Wtf is this c&&7 talking about?

      We pay our fair share of the ETS, we just don’t want to pay.
      And if they had made any progress whatsoever, not just that bullshit they keep saying without any proof about being the most efficient (no reference, no proof) in the world, they’d want the ETS because the market would reward their progress.

      At some point very soon internationally consumers are going to look at the NZ prices increased by inflation and backed by farmers who don’t give a f and think I’ll get local fruit rather than this $5 red Kiwi and I’ll get this cheaper Australian manuka honey and this cheaper Australian beef and the New Zealanders overseas won’t go into bat for them because they’re an industry predicated on lying and getting special treatment. Time for beneficiary bashing at the farm gate.

  7. newsense 7
    12 June 2024 at 12:04 pm

    Bet Corin Dann was all over this, like that tenacious bull dog worthy of Morning Report that he is. Bet he didn’t let this guy run his mouth without any meaningful challenge!

    From Bernard Hickey:

    1. The Government exempts farm emissions from the ETS, but announces $400 million of subsidies for farmers to reduce emissions by an indeterminate amount over no particular time period. No analysis was released of the impact on Aotearoa-NZ’s climate emissions, our Paris liability or the impact on trade deals requiring us to meet our Paris goals, which we’re currently on track to miss badly.

    Or as he later headlined ‘Farmers get free pass AND get subsidy’ and perhaps even a BJ from Muldoon’s ghost! Almost like neoliberal bullshit is entirely for other people.

    https://thekaka.substack.com/

    Incredulous scientists react:

    “I have heard the referral to New Zealand farms being the most carbon emission efficient in the world many times. First question one should ask to understand this is, where do those numbers come from? Who funded the research? And if you look at the limitations of the research would we draw the same conclusions? Even if we are ‘some of the most carbon-efficient’ we are still emitting huge amounts of greenhouse gases as a country.

    ​​​​​…

    He Waka Eke Noa proposals were inadequate and far from ambitious, so disestablishing that makes sense, but not if agricultural emissions are to not be priced at all.

    “Starting fresh after so many years of delay is preposterous.

    https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2024/06/11/farming-to-remain-outside-nzs-emissions-trading-scheme-expert-reaction/

    Why would you ever trust an NZ farmer about a damn thing?

    And just to remind you:

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/519197/flood-damaged-homes-still-in-limbo-no-reason-to-believe-they-will-get-things-done

    1500 homes still haven’t had assessments made a year after the floods. Which were made much worse by climate change.

    This road was damaged by TWO storms and has been out of action for over two years.
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/518516/northland-s-mangamuka-gorge-to-reopen-by-christmas-after-two-year-closure

    This is the main route between Auckland and the Coromandel, parts completely washed away. Not hypothetical climate change damage, something that profoundly impacts the local economy. Lucky for those roads that can get fast tracked eh.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/499154/waka-kotahi-fast-tracks-repair-of-major-state-highway

    State Highway 1 through the Brynderwyns another 2 years.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/516774/re-opening-of-state-highway-1-over-brynderwyns-pushed-back-to-end-of-june

    And also related our connection between north and south and key to linking SH1 and our rail freight. Still on the lookout for that Toyota.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/131092724/broken-cook-strait-ferry-drifted-a-nautical-mile-towards-rocks

    Wonder how this is effecting tourism…

    • Maurice 7.1
      12 June 2024 at 11:07 pm

      Why would you ever trust an NZ farmer about a damn thing?

      … and we wonder why farmers have a near genocidal distrust of the left?

      Eat the food they produce; live off the imports bought with the foreign exchange they bring in and tax the shit out of them while driving down their income at the farm gate; all while trying to tell them how to farm!

      • Ad 7.1.1
        12 June 2024 at 11:26 pm

        Ka-ching!

      • SPC 7.1.2
        13 June 2024 at 12:24 am

        tax the shit out of them

        No we do not. The return on farming is often the CG made on the farm sale – on which there is no tax.

        And as the current FF leader puts it, it is not locals telling them how to farm

        "We're actually doing it because that's what our markets are asking for, not because we need regulation to push us there

        That said

        1.the record of waterway pollution is a then it was … and now it is …. story. From NI lakes to nitrates in Canterbury and then the impact of dairy farming in Southland (livestock in the deep south mud).

        2.the growth of the world market mitigates moves away from meat and dairy consumption by those concerned about the industry impact on global warming.

        The major problem for farmers is their relationship with banks – as it is for many in business (not financed by loans against a residential property). The issue is borrowing/debt cost.

      • newsense 7.1.3
        13 June 2024 at 2:50 am

        Hope the love of your life treats you the way farmers have treated NZ over climate change. Just let me keep f- n ya, we’ll marry ya next year! Also, can I borrow 20k? Going to the races with the boys tomorrow…

        That genocidal crack is in particularly poor taste considering people have died in these sudden and sometimes unpredictable storms fueled by climate change. And others as I pointed out above have waited over a year just to find out what is happening with their houses. God knows what they’ve been doing in the meantime.

        And finally we’ve got to the point passed petulant whining where commercial contracts have been signed requiring climate action and they have penalties for non-action. No? Lalalalalala?

        Watch the contortion as the market can decide on all kinds of matters, but bless the farmers who’ve been stuck in the mud since the seventies. Close your eyes and call your MP and when you open them another tax break or subsidy and it all goes away.

        These aren’t the days of Lovelock or Peter Snell and the black singlet in the paddock. Called on again and again to meet the challenge of the modern era with a combined front you’ve shirked every time, with many engaging in garbage science and denialism to justify going AWOL.

  8. Ad 8
    12 June 2024 at 12:56 pm

    A little foretaste of how climate change will be accelerated under a hard right European Union and hard right US White House under Trump.

    https://www.politico.com/newsletters/power-switch/2024/06/11/did-gasoline-win-the-european-election-00162741

    Great to see our numbers at the march on the weekend, but very hard not to be pessimistic if the EU really does reverse its combustion engine ban as a result of this hard right electoral reversal.

    • SPC 8.1
      12 June 2024 at 1:04 pm

      I do not foresee a hard right EU resulting from the election.

      https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11-06-2024/#comment-2002184

      The writer is not expecting a reversal. The Identity and Democracy group of Le Pen is outlier still. And one voice in the Peoples Party does not indicate much. The real issue is how they choose to tax Chinese EV and the lobbying of car manufacturers (some want to export to China) as to protectionism and or free trade.

    • weka 8.2
      12 June 2024 at 2:30 pm

      biggest thing that the left could do right now is build bridges with the large numbers of people who are not politically aligned. If we don't make them welcome, the right will. They already are very active on this.

      • That_guy 8.2.1
        12 June 2024 at 2:52 pm

        On the right, Orban has made rejection of gender identity theory a central plank of his platform, and has done rather well.

        On the left, Wagenknecht has made rejection of gender identity theory a central plank of her platform, and has done rather well, going from a nonexistent party to 6% of the German vote in the EU elections.

        Hmm. Allowing entitled men to barge into women's spaces and telling LGB kids they are broken and need to be fixed… seems like an electoral liability across the board.

        • SPC 8.2.1.1
          12 June 2024 at 3:19 pm

          The Peoples Party increased its number of MP's, despite the departure of Orban's party (which had a reduced vote).

          https://www.institutmontaigne.org/en/expressions/fideszs-exit-european-peoples-party-will-diminish-hungarys-influence-eu

          A new breakaway group took 30% of the vote.

          It may be Orban’s last term, albeit a new centre-right party is set up to be replacement (and not the left).

          https://apnews.com/article/hungarians-vote-orban-war-peace-european-parliament-8b54d0e99166127a4356d3a2d75f0a27

        • Kay 8.2.1.2
          12 June 2024 at 3:45 pm

          Allowing entitled men to barge into women's spaces

          Only an electoral liability thanks to this sort of emotive language being thrown around in soundbites often enough that it triggers sensitive and ignorant people who end up seeing anything to do with transgender people as the biggest crisis facing humanity.

          Don't worry, the burning planet will get those awful trans people as well.

          • That_guy 8.2.1.2.1
            12 June 2024 at 4:02 pm

            Ah, yes, this old line. It’s not about trans people, many of whom agree with me.

            It’s about women and their rights.

            It’s about children and their rights.

            It’s about parents and their rights.

            That’s most of the people on the planet.

            It’s also an issue that’s highly emotive, with children, sex, and medical malpractice, and people vote on emotion.

            I remain of the opinion that it’s a bigger issue than is generally assumed, so unfortunately your detailed and nuanced analysis has not convinced me of your point of view. Onya for trying though!

          • weka 8.2.1.2.2
            12 June 2024 at 6:48 pm

            Only an electoral liability thanks to this sort of emotive language being thrown around in soundbites often enough that it triggers sensitive and ignorant people who end up seeing anything to do with transgender people as the biggest crisis facing humanity.

            I will place the responsibility for that firmly with the liberal left who ran No Debate. They're why the current narrative is dominated by social conservatives. Fortunately in the UK, GCFs and other progressive, left, or centrist women and some men, have been doing the actual work of protecting women's and children's rights and many of them know how to do that while protecting the humans rights of trans people.

            The big risk at the moment is that those people will get overwhelmed by the reactionaries. None of that was necessary. GC was originally feminist and left wing. The liberal left fucked them over and the current situaiton is what we have been left with.

        • satty 8.2.1.3
          12 June 2024 at 4:29 pm

          Are there really that many voters that put "gender identity theory" anywhere near their voting considerations? I talk with lots of people about politics, the topic doesn't come up at all. It's more about socio-economic (work, income, cost-of-living…), health, eduction, environmental, climate and sometimes migration issues. You have to convince voters in those areas to make it to parliament.

          I had a quick look at BSW (Bündnis Sarah Wagenknecht) website trying to confirm that "gender identity theory" is a "central plank of her platform" and couldn't find anything. So probably nowhere near their top 5 priorities.

          It's debatable how much BSW is a new party. On paper yes, but it's mainly a split from the party "Die Linke" and Sarah Wagenknecht herself is a household name in German left-wing politics for many decades with a significant number of followers.

          • That_guy 8.2.1.3.1
            12 June 2024 at 4:45 pm

            I just think it’s been underestimated as an issue because people don’t really want to talk about it or honestly state their views because they’ve seen what happened to people who did. Pileons, career / social consequences , physical attacks. Can’t stop people expressing that view at the ballot box though.

            • satty 8.2.1.3.1.1
              12 June 2024 at 7:34 pm

              I don't spend any more time on the perceived "gender identity" crises. It's one reason to avoid The Standard lately. So much wasted energy.

              Coming back to Orban and Wagenknecht. The areas they clearly overlap and where they probably earned most support on are:

              • Anti-immigration
              • Pro-russia
          • weka 8.2.1.3.2
            12 June 2024 at 6:55 pm

            no-one knows, because no-one is asking the question in polling.

            But, what we do know is that in the UK, GC positions in both the Tories and Labour was forced to shift because of GC activists, and that is largely because most Brits want trans people to have rights but draw the line at where it impacts on women's rights and children.

            The other thing is I follow a shit tonne of GC accounts on twitter, and it is very very common for women in particular to say they no longer know who to vote for. Some have already crossed into voting conservative. Others will spoil the ballot. That's NZ, UK and the US.

            This is very concerning. It's clear to me that many women will abandon their lifelong voting habits over this issue and I can tell you categorically that the left loses out on that. Worse, as those women and some men get welcomed by the conservatives, they learn that there are other reasons to stay. That is happening in the context of rising fascism.

            The left's blindness on this is a huge problem and as I said to Kay above, I place the blame for that firmly on the liberal left who ran No Debate. It actually scares me how much this is a problem and who much we aren't talking about it.

            I've been listening to UK GCs in recent weeks and many are talking about voting conservative now for a range of reasons. I doubt this will cost Labour the election, but there are women ready to tear Labour to pieces if they try and remove women's sex based rights further. They don't care if they get called bigots and transphobes, they know what their priorities are, and the liberal left has completely fucked this up.

            • satty 8.2.1.3.2.1
              12 June 2024 at 7:35 pm

              no-one is asking the question in polling

              No need to ask question / wasting more time about something the majority people are not even remotely impacted by or interested in.

              • That_guy …
                13 June 2024 at 8:47 am

                Consider that the way you're dismissing women's genuinely held concern about their rights is basically the same way women's rights have been trivialised throughout history.

                It's not important.

                Nobody cares (despite evidence to the contrary)

                It's a waste of time

                "gender identity" in scare quotes, as if it's not a real concept with real societal consequences.

                Kay tags in with "it's just emotive, sensitive people, triggered"

                All we needed is the word “hysterical” and we’ve got a BINGO.

                Basically the standard dismissal of genuinely held concerns that women have been dealing with for literally thousands of years.

                Welcome to the new misogyny. Same as the old misogyny, but with glitter.

              • weka …
                13 June 2024 at 10:06 am

                No need to ask question / wasting more time about something the majority people are not even remotely impacted by or interested in.

                Every poll that I've seen (UK, NZ, US) shows these things:

                1. most people support trans rights

                2. most people draw the line when those rights start impacting on women's rights

                3. increasingly people are withdrawing support for trans rights because of women's and children's rights being overridden.

                Even if you don't care about women's and children's rights, there is a backlash happening against trans people.

                You can ignore all that and decide it's a waste of time, but you cannot now say you weren't warned.

                I've told you categorically that there is a backlash against trans rights, and it's because most people know that material sex matters. The right are making hay from that, and the liberal left are sticking their fingers in their ears going lalala and blaming feminists.

                Just don't come complaining to us when shit goes sideways.

        • weka 8.2.1.4
          12 June 2024 at 6:57 pm

          It makes sense, because most people don't support self ID when they know what it means. And we're getting closer to many people knowing what it means.

          • Visubversa 8.2.1.4.1
            12 June 2024 at 10:39 pm

            They got closer to knowing in Scotland when Nicola Sturgeon tried to convince voters that a convicted double rapist claiming identity as a woman should be incarcerated in a woman's prison.

            He husband playing fast and loose with Party finances hastened her political demise

            • weka 8.2.1.4.1.1
              13 June 2024 at 10:08 am

              I think the game is up tbh, and most people are just going to say nope. NZ is further behind that process. The issue now is whether the reactionary/conservative narrative will dominate, or whether we will get something grounded in comment sense and progressive values.

              I also think there are still going to hard battles for feminists. Looking at the UK election and fucking Labour still dithering on what a woman is.

  9. PsyclingLeft.Always 9
    12 June 2024 at 1:02 pm

    SkyCity 'and the like' provided National with data for gambling tax, Nicola Willis says

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/08/skycity-and-the-like-provided-national-with-data-for-gambling-tax-nicola-willis-says.html

    Hey Nicola..you following the news?

    SkyCity faces possible temporary suspension of NZ casino licence

    The company was recently ordered to pay $4m after admitting breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws in New Zealand.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/519331/skycity-faces-possible-temporary-suspension-of-nz-casino-licence

    And yeah, back in the day, I was part of the fightback against the Nats colluding with Skycity.

    I def remember ol' sir Key and his fantasy claims..

    Puzzle of Key's extra casino jobs

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/puzzle-of-keys-extra-casino-jobs/6G7DQRD4FTAVANKBDRFHJKUQ7A/

    Something NZ needed..or needs? IMO NO !

  10. SPC 10
    12 June 2024 at 1:57 pm

    New records of both citizens leaving and net loss of citizens within 12 months

    Record migrant labour inflow – equivalent to 3 average years in one year (after the dry years April 2020-2022 … ).

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2024/06/migration-new-record-set-for-kiwis-leaving-new-zealand-as-exodus-deepens.html

    Some extra detail about trends

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/519339/migrant-arrivals-up-25-percent-departures-up-nearly-a-third-in-last-year-stats-nz-figures-show

    • georgecom 10.1
      12 June 2024 at 7:34 pm

      imagine driving in Palmerston North or into Hastings and seeing no one on the streets, all the shops are empty, every home and workplace, empty. That's what Luxon/Seymour & Peters have managed to do – send the population of Palmy of Hastings overseas in the past year. National – Wave goodbye to your future and your loved ones

  11. That_guy 11
    12 June 2024 at 2:31 pm

    I agree with Simon Bridges's assessment of Maureen Pugh's competence, but this is absolutely unacceptable.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350307804/mp-maureen-pugh-allegedly-assaulted-gold-mine-protest

    Starts with a can of soup, progressing to blocking, intimidation, and physical aggression with a sign. Where does it end?

    All parties need to make a statement that physical violence against elected officials is unacceptable under any circumstances, or we're heading for a Jo Cox situation.

    • SPC 11.1
      12 June 2024 at 2:45 pm

      Tomato juice – recently milkshake at Farange.

      • That_guy 11.1.1
        12 June 2024 at 3:11 pm

        Yeah it's all a bit shit. If you stop people from speaking, some people will assume they had something important to say that's being suppressed even if they are idiots. Just let people speak and let the idiots become obvious. Particularly applies to Pugh.

        I mean, which would you rather watch, Pugh getting bonked by a sign, or Pugh attempting to answer questions about how much arsenic is used in gold mines, where the tailings end up, and how this relates to te waikoropupu springs?

        In one situation she can be painted as a hero, in the other, she’s, well, Maureen Pugh.

    • Maurice 11.2
      12 June 2024 at 11:19 pm

      or we're heading for a Jo Cox situation

      More likely to a situation where right wing protectors begin to deal to the attackers – with "extreme prejudice" – perhaps?

      • Belladonna 11.2.1
        13 June 2024 at 10:51 am

        I doubt this. And, the most likely outcome is an escalation of violence ending in riots. No one wants the violence of the Springbok Tour protests repeated.

        However, we may well be heading towards a situation where protestors will be physically separated – by a security fence – from the venue at which they are protesting.

        And possibly charged for the required security arrangements (after all, the local Santa Parade has to pay a large chunk of money for road-closure management – why not protestors?)

        And arrested for any infringement (blocking cars, intimidating behaviour, etc.)

        I don't think that's a good outcome for NZ.

  12. Hunter Thompson II 12
    12 June 2024 at 9:57 pm

    The number of submissions made by citizens on the Fast-track Approvals Bill is more than 25,000.

    Is that a record?