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Open Mike 12/10/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 12th, 2018 - 111 comments
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111 comments on “Open Mike 12/10/2018”

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  1. Ed 1
    12 October 2018 at 6:08 am

    Media Lens is spot on.

    “A reminder: from 1939 (and before), the Nazi threat was front-page news in every viewspaper, every day, for years. The threat of near-term climate collapse is an incomparably greater threat. That gives an idea of the awesome bias of corporate media in downplaying this threat.”

    https://mobile.twitter.com/medialens

    • Ed 1.1
      12 October 2018 at 6:17 am

      “UN Says Climate Genocide Is Coming. It’s Actually Worse Than That.

      Just two years ago, amid global fanfare, the Paris climate accords were signed — initiating what seemed, for a brief moment, like the beginning of a planet-saving movement. But almost immediately, the international goal it established of limiting global warming to two degrees Celsius began to seem, to many of the world’s most vulnerable, dramatically inadequate; the Marshall Islands’ representative gave it a blunter name, calling two degrees of warming “genocide.”

      The alarming new report you may have read about this week from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — which examines just how much better 1.5 degrees of warming would be than 2 — echoes the charge. “Amplifies” may be the better term. Hundreds of millions of lives are at stake, the report declares, should the world warm more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, which it will do as soon as 2040, if current trends continue. Nearly all coral reefs would die out, wildfires and heat waves would sweep across the planet annually, and the interplay between drought and flooding and temperature would mean that the world’s food supply would become dramatically less secure. Avoiding that scale of suffering, the report says, requires such a thorough transformation of the world’s economy, agriculture, and culture that “there is no documented historical precedent.” The New York Times declared that the report showed a “strong risk” of climate crisis in the coming decades; in Grist, Eric Holthaus wrote that “civilization is at stake.”

      If you are alarmed by those sentences, you should be — they are horrifying. But it is, actually, worse than that — considerably worse. That is because the new report’s worst-case scenario is, actually, a best case. In fact, it is a beyond-best-case scenario. What has been called a genocidal level of warming is already our inevitable future. The question is how much worse than that it will get.”

      Read the whole article here

      https://t.co/KF98AlJgt9?amp=1

  2. greywarshark 2
    12 October 2018 at 7:55 am

    In NZ – government cut benefits in 1991 but introduced grants which could be applied for of about $300 each year, okay for dentists etc.

    Now the RW have just turned bennies into a profit centre for loans at high interest – which is appropriate for a business approach.

    But people need to have grants available to them from government again. Give the help where it is needed, assist the people that government has impoverished through cutting tariffs so forcing local business to close, and then enforcing a low wage regime and bringing about working poverty.

    • SaveNZ 2.1
      12 October 2018 at 8:30 am

      Aiming too low their Greywarshark, if you wanted millions/billions for a stadium, marina, free or cheap public land and millions of dollars in hand outs to solve some big problem, the government would only be too happy to supply you with the cash.

      Try either getting super rich so you can have lobbyists and be feted by government for being a ‘winner’ or set up your own charitable trust for the moneys to be deposited into.

      Any ‘charity’ with “affordable” housing, kids, poverty, political or big item infrastructure is popular now. Expect to spend a considerable amount of the money you collect on actually lobbying, marketing and advertising to get the money, then pay your costs of administration, lawyers and accountants, ensure their is enough to cover wages costs of the above (millions is generally required) and anything left can be distributed with a lot of publicity, photo shots etc and a desperate cry, we need more money for this desperate need…

    • The Fairy Godmother 2.2
      12 October 2018 at 8:48 am

      What we need to do is up the basic benefit to a liveable level and get rid of most if not all of the supplementary grants. The housing one for instance has turned out to be a grant for landlords. Respect beneficiaries and encourage rather than punish.

      • SaveNZ 2.2.1
        12 October 2018 at 9:10 am

        @TFG – Reinvent beneficiaries into professional sports lobbyists who need infrastructure for international events for the .01%, or developers and you will get more attention for your cause.

        Look how many councils seem more interested in stadiums than council housing… they also seem happy to take away kids, amateurs and semi professional locals sports fields in the process…

        But do agree, it would be easier to have set benefit rather than a complicated smorgasbord of add ons to benefits… but then making it simple and easy would probably make it easier for vulnerable people to get it, and that is not the purpose of welfare these days, it’s to make sure that the least needy get it, and the rest goes to those handy with the paperwork, and government friendly lobby groups to redistribute the rest.

      • greywarshark 2.2.2
        12 October 2018 at 2:33 pm

        Godmother
        +100

    • Siobhan 2.3
      12 October 2018 at 11:57 am

      Did you ever tried to get one of those grants greywarshark.?
      Its not easy, generally they prefer to wait till your mouth is a seething pit of pain and infection before you can get the grant. Even though that means a more expensive potentially less successful trip to the dentist.

      I agree in theory with the idea of government loans, but the application process needs to be handled very carefully, with the cost of NOT giving the loan being taken into account.
      And definitely not done through the staff at work and income.

      There needs to be a professional setup, maybe through kiwibank, where the applicants are treated like customers not scam artists and bludgers. Where staff are encouraged to give loans, not incentivised to turn people away.

  3. SaveNZ 3
    12 October 2018 at 8:42 am

    I don’t have the link but popped into my feed the other day, some rich fucks will build a stadium sunk into the Auckland waterfront (with climate change around the corner, so we know that is the wrong location already, something that the IYI class probably did not bother to explore in their million dollar personal study for Phil Goff) and then Auckland council gives them billions in free land in one of the most expensive suburbs from the ratepayers/taxpayers so they can profit off housing…

    What a winner – it’s free land for the right deals/people around Auckland these days. And sounds like ChCH is similar.

    Phil REALLY wants that stadium.

    I’m all for it as long as those involved go to prison for stupidity and fraud for their actions of stealing and misappropriating land from the public.

    • nukefacts 3.1
      12 October 2018 at 8:59 am

      Why does this pathetic stadium idea keep coming up? We already have one on the Shore and Eden Park, multiple other facilities around Auckland, and rampant poverty and homelessness. Perhaps we could spend this money solving those problems before building a vanity trophy building directly in the path of rising sea levels?

      • alwyn 3.1.1
        12 October 2018 at 9:06 am

        Helen wants Eden Park shut down. It disturbs her beauty sleep on the occasional nights she spends there. Look at her moaning about the possibility of having a concert there.
        And, as that song in the musical Damn Yankees says:
        “Whatever Helen wants, Helen gets ……”

        • SaveNZ 3.1.1.1
          12 October 2018 at 9:20 am

          ‘No jerks allowed’: the egalitarianism behind Norway’s winter wonderland
          Norway have powered to the top of the Olympics medal table on a budget a 10th of Britain’s thanks to an inclusive approach based on camaraderie and grassroots participation

          ““Our vision is sport for all,” Tvedt says. “Before you are 12 you should have fun with sport. So we don’t focus on who the winner is before then. Instead we are very focused on getting children into our 11,000 local sports clubs. And we have 93% of children and young people regularly playing sport in these organisations.””

          https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/feb/22/norway-winter-olympics-success

          • SaveNZ 3.1.1.1.1
            12 October 2018 at 9:26 am

            Sound like opposite to NZ neoliberal sports approach then, which is to sell off the schools lands and other public land, make it harder at grass roots level, make families shell out big bucks for uniforms and fees to be on special squads and drive their kids all over the show to play at dwindling sports areas adding to congestion… and winning and being good at sports being a big driver now into sports rather than inclusion (even for the bad kids at sports) and fun…

            Nice to go back to sports actually at the schools during the curiculum, no driving around, uniforms or professionalism until they hit 14 years at least…

            • solkta 3.1.1.1.1.1
              12 October 2018 at 9:32 am

              For a lot of kids sport as part of the school curriculum is a complete waste of time and often counter-productive in that it puts them off exercise, which should actually be fun.

          • ianmac 3.1.1.1.2
            12 October 2018 at 10:33 am

            SaveNZ @ 3.1.1.1:”“Before you are 12 you should have fun with sport. So we don’t focus on who the winner is before then.”
            Hear. Hear.
            Kids who are good at their sport love to rub it in.
            Parents who love to win push their kids to win.
            Parents and coaches who love to win make their team members feel bad.
            Schools use winning as a mark of success.
            Coaches who love to win use the best kids to win.

            Meanwhile the bulk of “others” loose interest in sport and avoid participation.

        • SaveNZ 3.1.1.2
          12 October 2018 at 9:30 am

          @Alwyn – Since Aunty Helen was not that keen on a Macc’ers next to her house, not sure she wants listening high rises with massive price tags (and a few ‘affordable houses’ for the spin doctors to spin) ‘ in a dwindling historic area of Auckland..

          Oh but wait rest of Auckland has to pay for that travel and congestion from those houses too… and the waster water, and the pollution… etc etc

          It’s win win to be a developer these days when you get the poor to subsidise your luxury offerings and profits.

        • greywarshark 3.1.1.3
          12 October 2018 at 2:36 pm

          You lie through your teeth which are false you little worm alwyn.

    • Ad 3.2
      12 October 2018 at 9:31 am

      It would take:

      5 years to get the money together,
      3 to get the land and consents,
      2 to build it, and
      at least a year to demolish Eden Park.
      Then a further 3 to redevelop Eden Park.

      That group would need either Chinese capital or a sovereign wealth fund to go through that kind of long haul.

    • Janet 3.3
      12 October 2018 at 11:27 am

      But Save NZ climate change is NOT around the corner … IT IS HERE !
      Read again from Eds post above :
      https://t.co/KF98AlJgt9?amp=1

  4. Hanswurst 4
    12 October 2018 at 8:48 am

    Looking abroad, Germany’s largest opposition party, the AfD, calls for the denunciation of teachers who express political views, and Germany’s bourgeois left party, the SPD, traditional voting home of centre-left voters since WWII, falls to 15% in one poll, behind both the populist, right-wing AfD and the Greens. The Liberals and the actual (if very broad-based) left-wing party, “Die Linke”, both sit on 10% (too lazy to find a credible link for that one in English).

  5. Ad 5
    12 October 2018 at 9:26 am

    Beto O’Rourke gets a full hour on CNN as Cruz pulls out. There’s got to be some luck for a good Democrat who has forsworn all Superpac money and could just maybe take Texas. One day, LBJ, one day.

    • ScottGN 5.1
      12 October 2018 at 9:54 am

      NYTimes is currently polling that Texas Senate race and in that poll at least, Cruz looks comfortable.

      • Ad 5.1.1
        12 October 2018 at 10:46 am

        Fivethirtyeight tracks a solid 5-8 poll margin.

        Aye well, one day……

      • Dukeofurl 5.1.2
        12 October 2018 at 12:47 pm

        They call 100,000 phone numbers to get 1000 responses. A lot of people arent registered voters and because its mid terms even less bother to vote than the main election time

  6. Bearded Git 6
    12 October 2018 at 9:31 am

    I’m sure someone will have posted this before, but Chris Trotter nails it here in regard to why we need the “Waka Jumping” Bill.

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-political-amnesia-of-winston-peters.html

    I’m a Green voter and have never understood why the Greens can’t get it that this Bill is needed-at least in the end they voted for it.

    • Dukeofurl 6.1
      12 October 2018 at 12:52 pm

      Thats right . MPs have had to toe the party line …since for ever.
      When was the last conscience vote ? The Marrriage equality one ?

      • alwyn 6.1.1
        12 October 2018 at 3:03 pm

        Wouldn’t it be Seymour’s Assisted Dying Legislation which was referred to a Select Committee in a Conscience vote back in January?
        It might not have reached the third reading but it is certainly underway as a conscience matter.

        • Bearded Git 6.1.1.1
          12 October 2018 at 5:06 pm

          Yeah but that’s not a confidence and supply issue-should be a free vote.

          • alwyn 6.1.1.1.1
            12 October 2018 at 8:53 pm

            A Conscience vote on Confidence and Supply?
            I really don’t think I am going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

  7. cleangreen 7
    12 October 2018 at 9:31 am

    Maybe our own electricity meters are being hacked too?

    Bloody disgusting this is!!!!!!

    Electricity Authority heads should now roll over this!!!!!!

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/107733440/faulty-smart-meter-to-blame-for-1100-power-bill

    Bradley Tuhi had monthly power bills of more than $1000, but there was no obvious reason why.

    Genesis Energy has admitted a faulty power meter is to blame for a Christchurch man receiving exorbitant electricity bills for 12 months.
    Bradley Tuhi’s monthly power bill peaked at $1105 in July, yet at the time Genesis Energy failed to accept it could be at fault.

    Tuhi spent months trying to convince Genesis Energy it was not possible for him, his wife and step son to consume that much electricity at their fully-insulated, double-glazed, 10-year-old Governors Bay home that was heated using gas.

    • Cinny 7.1
      12 October 2018 at 9:38 am

      Always been a bit suss on the smart meter, do most households have them now?

      We ended up writing on the meter box, ‘if you attempt to install a smart meter you will be prosecuted by the home owner’.

      • greywarshark 7.1.1
        12 October 2018 at 9:43 am

        Good on you Cinny. Wise.

      • James 7.1.2
        12 October 2018 at 9:44 am

        That must of had them shivering in their boots.

        • Cinny 7.1.2.1
          12 October 2018 at 9:58 am

          Got a hug from the meter reader, does that count?

        • One Two 7.1.2.2
          12 October 2018 at 11:01 am

          When’s your 49th birthday James ?

          • james 7.1.2.2.1
            12 October 2018 at 1:13 pm

            what that got to do with the subject in hand?

            • One Two 7.1.2.2.1.1
              12 October 2018 at 5:36 pm

              About as much as your comment to Cinny..

              You could be turning 50 this year…

              Are you turning 50?

              • James …
                12 October 2018 at 10:09 pm

                I think you have some mental health issues.

                • McFlock …
                  12 October 2018 at 10:25 pm

                  I dunno – 1-2 seems to have moved on from Baby’s First Cartesian Doubt (man-in-the-sky bless whoever came up with that line) and have now flicked through Cold-Reading for Dummies.

                  I reckon they are just incredibly stupid, but are so stupid they think they’re really smart. The sort of person who gets put forward as an example of Dunning-Kreuger and everybody assumes they’re just an extreme hypothetical rather than an actual case study.

                  I met someone like that in real life – incredibly stupid, but the mouth never stopped. We had about a dozen FB friends in common. There was one memorable party where they said something like “actually, I’m pretty smart”, and the room just stopped dead.

                  I discovered a few weeks back that I was still FB friends with them. We had no friends in common, even though I was still friends with the others in that crowd. A bit sad, really.

      • solkta 7.1.3
        12 October 2018 at 9:45 am

        I think they are great. I can go to the website anytime and check a bar graph of how much power i have used each day and how much my bill will be based on an average of what i am using. Really easy to see the cost when i run an electric heater.

        • greywarshark 7.1.3.1
          12 October 2018 at 9:50 am

          I thnk there are different types of meter. It is hard to get an understanding on what you find solkta and what power companies do when the system isn’t working to the best interests of the user.l

        • Cinny 7.1.3.2
          12 October 2018 at 10:07 am

          Can understand how that would be useful, we don’t use electric heaters, luckily the fire and heat transfer is enough to warm the house and heat the water.

          Clothes drier seems to be the major power sucker at ours in the winter.

          That poor man being stung by $1k monthly bills.

          However it’s encouraging to know that our government is not going to sit on it’s hands while big corp monopolies are ripping off consumers.

          • solkta 7.1.3.2.1
            12 October 2018 at 10:15 am

            I don’t have a huge amount of sympathy for the guy. He says that he had a few power bills of $5-600 but didn’t start complaining till he got one of $750. Surely a prudent consumer would complain a lot earlier and change supplier if not resolved promptly long before they had paid more than $4300 too much!?

        • millsy 7.1.3.3
          12 October 2018 at 10:11 am

          You could do that simply by looking at the little disc in your meter. If it was spinning too fast then you were using too much power

          • solkta 7.1.3.3.1
            12 October 2018 at 10:27 am

            Yes if someone really wanted to they could read their analogue meter every day and make their own graphs and estimates.

            • mac1 7.1.3.3.1.1
              12 October 2018 at 10:42 am

              One of the useful spinoffs of having solar power is that I can read my power consumption, as well as production, in 15 minute increments if necessary. A daily report on a graph shows when the power is being used.

              • Dukeofurl …
                12 October 2018 at 12:40 pm

                It was a digital meter., discs dont spin anymore
                By pushing the button it can scroll through the voltage, the amps and the current kW being drawn
                A hot water cylinder on draws 3 kW. or test with a bar heater that uses 1kW or 2kW depending on switch.

              • Cinny …
                12 October 2018 at 1:45 pm

                So many benefits to solar, hopefully we can afford it one day, that would be awesome.

                • Dukeofurl …
                  12 October 2018 at 5:36 pm

                  Dont do it. The cost will outweigh any ‘free power’ . Most of your power drawdown is evening and night when sun doesnt shine ( or low in sky)

                  • mac1 …
                    12 October 2018 at 7:44 pm

                    Dukeofurl,
                    I still generate over 2000 kw off a 1.4kw array per year. That’s $600 p.a. The array cost $5500.

                    I use 90% in my home and sell 10% back to my supplier. That is 1800kw at 30c kw/h or $540 plus 200 kw/h at 7c is $14. Per annum income of $540.

                    I will recuperate my outlay in ten years.

                    $5500 at 4% is $220 pa. Over ten years $2200 income. That would take another five years to recuperate.

                    I will recuperate my money in 15 years.

                    Ten years free power at least saving $6000.

                    • alwyn …
                      12 October 2018 at 9:02 pm

                      Out of curiosity what is the economic lifetime of a solar generation system?
                      Consumer New Zealand had a look at solar power in Auckland, Wellington and Hawkes Bay a little while ago. They seemed to think it was worth it in Hawkes Bay but not in Auckland or Christchurch.
                      The results will be on consumer.org.nz I don’t know whether they are free to access if you aren’t a subscriber.

                    • mac1 …
                      12 October 2018 at 10:44 pm

                      Alwyn, the 25 years I’m quoting is what I understand to be the estimated useful life, conservatively assessed. The panels degrade over time.

                      A factor I did not mention is the increasing cost as electricity inevitably rises in price which will tilt the payback my way.

                      Funnily enough with the talk of costs, it was not the biggest factor by far. We are making some contribution to conserving power and fossil fuel, as some of the generated power goes into an EV.

                      I hope that all makes sense.

                    • alwyn …
                      13 October 2018 at 12:40 pm

                      @mac1.
                      Thank you. I didn’t realize that the panels lasted that long.

                    • mac1 …
                      13 October 2018 at 5:28 pm

                      “What Is the Lifespan of a Solar Panel? Photovoltaic (PV) modules typically come with 20 year warranties that guarantee that the panels will produce at least 80% of the rated power after 20 years of use. The general rule of thumb is that panels will degrade by about 1% each year.”

                      Googled from search for ‘ roof panels electricity longevity’.

                      Factoring that in, after 25 years I would have paid off the installation, recouped any interest I had forgone if I had made a straight investment at 4%, and made a profit of $4000 since I sell some 10% of my annual 2010 kw/hr (the first year’s total production) back to my provider at only 7c per kw/h.

                      So, it makes a little money, the installation continues to generate after 25 years and hopefully is still worth something at the time of house sale.

        • weston 7.1.3.4
          12 October 2018 at 7:51 pm

          Meanwhile at the other end !! a computer is recording how many times you go to the toilet how many loads of washing you do weather you have three pieces of toast or two what time you get up an what time you go to bed how long you watch tv how many computers are switched on at any given time etc etc etc thats the bonus of having a smart meter all the information you can get for free paid for by the guy you did out of a job …in no time !!!

          • solkta 7.1.3.4.1
            12 October 2018 at 9:24 pm

            What complete and utter bollocks. All it does is measure the amount of power coming in.

    • millsy 7.2
      12 October 2018 at 3:41 pm

      I work for one of the companies that has the contract to install and maintain the smart meters and…

      1) There is a lot of trouble with them. We are forever having to get called out for faults such as part power, no hot water, etc. The technicians are put under pressure to install a certain amount of meters each day, and get minimal training, as such, they tend to incorrectly install them.

      2) It is not cumpolsory to get the meters installed. You can refuse. They will tell you that they need to be installed by law, but there is no such law.

      3) There are many different types of smart meters, some use the Vodafone network, communicating every half hour (they have a regular sim card installed), others have are connected to a mesh network, ie in a valley there may be 5-10 houses in a network and one of then sends the reads to the central server.

      4) The old analogue meters lasted 50-60 years. And a lot of them are in pretty good condition. The smart meters are only designed to last 15-25 years and then are replaced. They are also unpredictable, easy to turn off remotely, but when it comes to reconnecting, it doesn’t always work.

      • greywarshark 7.2.1
        12 October 2018 at 4:10 pm

        Thanks millsy useful to know, good to have facts re the general use.

        • Dukeofurl 7.2.1.1
          12 October 2018 at 5:38 pm

          No hot water isnt a meter fault. Normally its fault with the water heater itself. You know this Millsy

          • millsy 7.2.1.1.1
            12 October 2018 at 8:18 pm

            It can either be an issue with the meter or water heater.

            • alwyn 7.2.1.1.1.1
              12 October 2018 at 9:12 pm

              We had a problem with our hot water after they installed a smart meter.
              It was entirely a fault with the installation.
              They were meant to connect it so that we had hot water available 24 hours/day. In fact they connected it through a meter that was intended only for a night store heater and that only heated the water for a limited number of hours/day. We still got charged through the main meter though.

              We didn’t realise we had a major problem until we went away on holiday for a couple of weeks. When we got back the water didn’t heat up. It was only doing so in the middle of the night. We had our electrician in because we thought we had a problem with the hot water cylinder.
              He told us it was wired wrongly. We had a terrible job getting the lines company to come back and fix it. They claimed that what was happening was impossible. They also said we would have to pay for them to come and look at it.
              Finally they came, blushed, fixed it and paid the electricians bill.

      • beatie 7.2.2
        12 October 2018 at 6:51 pm

        Hi Millsy, I recently had a notice from Genesis that they would be installing a smart metre. I don’t want one, but when I read the fine print of the contract, it was specified that I must, under the terms of the contract, have one. Is that legal?

        • millsy 7.2.2.1
          12 October 2018 at 8:20 pm

          Sorry, there is no government mandate for smart meters as in other countries. You are still bound to have one as per the contract with your retailer. But you can have one without the modem so it is still manually read.

    • ScottGN 8.1
      12 October 2018 at 12:16 pm

      I think it’s high time some scrutiny was applied to the gang of old geezers who make up PTUA and Transport 2050. And why the hell Mike Lee (whom I’ve always respected as a great voice for Auckland) is having anything to do with them.

    • Molly 8.2
      12 October 2018 at 12:35 pm

      There is a studied benefit for the people of Onehunga, and along Dominion Road, and they quite rightly state that it is more than a benefit than for airport travellers.

      However, those PT travellers already have existing PT, and we should also be looking those who live in parts of Auckland who have abysmal PT, and see whether the social value of investing in that instead of improving existing services would be better served by delivering the HR option in this case.

      Greater Auckland collates information that leads to certain outcomes, and does not consider the wider demographics (despite the name) of all Auckland residents.
      The high cost of the delivery of LR, when so many of the less financially robust Aucklanders are being hit with higher transport costs because there is no reliable affordable public transport in their areas is a discussion point that is often missed at GA.

      • Tuppence Shrewsbury 8.2.1
        12 October 2018 at 3:54 pm

        fine. but don’t roll a turd in glitter, polish it, then present some sort of botched add on a-la-EA & ubisoft as a PT solution from the CBD to the airport.

        Either get trucks off the road round the aiport, get more people PT in more deprived areas so they don’t have to drive to the airport or do a proper job of fast PT from the airport to CBD.

        Light rail to the airport. lol.

      • Sacha 8.2.2
        12 October 2018 at 5:03 pm

        “those PT travellers already have existing PT”

        Boosting capacity along Dominion Rd is for the many thousands of extra people who will move there over the next couple of decades. There is no more room in the city centre for buses to go to, let alone cars.

  9. ScottGN 9
    12 October 2018 at 12:10 pm

    15 storey apartment buildings. This will send the nimbyists into a frenzy
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/107775894/auckland-park-and-rides-the-1-billion-deal

    • Dukeofurl 9.1
      12 October 2018 at 12:35 pm

      property porn. The best size for suburban apartments is up to 6 stories max not 15 . That would be repeating the failed ‘towers’ for low income residents.

      • Stuart Munro 9.1.1
        12 October 2018 at 1:14 pm

        I had this discussion with a Korean friend back in the day. It’s a function of land price. The more expensive the ground, the more sense it makes to build upward.
        That said, smaller apartment buildings tended to be four stories over there – achievable on the private means of a family that built to provide retirement income.

      • ScottGN 9.1.2
        12 October 2018 at 2:09 pm

        In principle I agree with you Dof. Even further the great Jane Jacobs argued persuasively in Death and Life of Great American Cities that 2 storey terrace housing could easily house the same number of people as the post war tower blocks with the added advantage of giving everyone a front door onto their street and the resulting sense of ownership of their neighbourhood.
        However some locations in a city suit high rise housing models, the CBD for example and I would argue that the transit park and ride areas mentioned in the article would be suitable areas for that sort of development too.

      • greywarshark 9.1.3
        12 October 2018 at 4:11 pm

        dukeofurl
        +1000

  10. Morrissey 10
    12 October 2018 at 12:38 pm

    Major storm brewing up on Kiwiblog

    It started when Mr. Farrar (praise Him!) made the bizarrely untruthful claim that the “Sensible Sentencing” Trust provides “a network of support to families of victims.”

    Let the fireworks begin….

    https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/10/lovely_libby.html/comment-page-1#comment-2331165

    • Cinny 10.1
      12 October 2018 at 1:42 pm

      Crikey!

      Speaking of fireworks, William Shatner and Jacinda are about to open Rocket Labs new factory.

      Any Trekkies on the kb?

      Link for livestream, which starts soon apparently.
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12141427

    • Chuck 10.2
      12 October 2018 at 3:08 pm

      The only storm brewing up is the one between your ears Morrissey.

      You do know the difference between the SST and SSGT?

      • Dukeofurl 10.2.1
        12 October 2018 at 4:09 pm

        SST – PO Box 701 Napier

        SSTG – PO Box 701 Napier both at 32 Hastings St Napier, a small office bloc.

        Who knew that they are using ‘catfishing’ techniques

    • Jimmy 10.3
      12 October 2018 at 3:26 pm

      What storm?

    • Stunned Mullet 10.4
      12 October 2018 at 3:30 pm

      What a pathetic trolling little creep you are Moz.

      • Morrissey 10.4.1
        12 October 2018 at 5:45 pm

        My friend, could you please expand on that interesting observation?

        • Stunned mullet 10.4.1.1
          12 October 2018 at 7:46 pm

          Sadly your dear old mother dropped me a note Moz – what you’ve put her through is quite unacceptable….and I quote.

          ‘I do apologise for our Morrissey’s behaviour. He really is an utter cunt. Takes after his father unfortunately.
          Morrissey’s never been the sharpest tool in the shed. He’s always been what you would call a “problem child” very rude and disobedient from a very young age with a very strange obsession with disabled toilets. He’s never sparkled in the love department either having only one boyfriend as far as I can remember. That was a disaster as well. I remember the first time he brought Benjamin Longhair home and they went straight to Morrissey’s room. I could over hear their love talk quite clearly. Benjamin said “ooh Moz, I want you to show me something 8″ long, rock hard and full of spunk !

          So Morrissey pulled a sock out from under his bed. It had been there for fucking months, I should know, its me what has to change his soiled sheets every week.’

          • Morrissey 10.4.1.1.1
            12 October 2018 at 7:55 pm

            Oooooohhh, Mullet, you are AWFUL.

            But I like you!

            • Stunned Mullet 10.4.1.1.1.1
              12 October 2018 at 7:59 pm

              Let’s be frank Moz, you have an EQ/IQ which would worry a moron.

              Sad, pathetic and forever alone, poor Moz is doomed and destined to forever inhabit the disabled toilet of his tortured and diseased mind. Arse.

              • Morrissey …
                12 October 2018 at 8:10 pm

                Let’s be frank Moz, you have an EQ/IQ which would worry a moron.

                Do morons worry about such things? Maybe they have a dim apprehension there’s something wrong, but…. Anyway, it’s an interesting point you make.

                Sad, pathetic and forever alone, poor Moz is doomed and destined to forever inhabit the disabled toilet of his tortured and diseased mind.

                Yes, I guess I’m kind of an Aaron Smith in some ways.

                Arse.

                Indeed.

  11. Kay 11
    12 October 2018 at 1:17 pm

    Still delusional.
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1810/S00105/kiwis-better-off-under-the-national-government.htm

    I particularly like the part where Louise still thinks National increased benefits for the first time in 40 years. I’ve just fired her off an email (first time in my life I’ve ever knowingly engaged with the enemy) to politely enquire where mine is because I’m still waiting for it. I don’t anticipate a reply but had fun writing and sending it 🙂 Do Nats understand sarcasm?

    • millsy 11.1
      12 October 2018 at 3:44 pm

      The survey shows that more than 50% of households that get the Accommodation Supplement pay more than 5O% of their income in housing costs. I don’t see how people are better off?

      • Herodotus 11.1.1
        12 October 2018 at 4:59 pm

        The accomodation supplement has fast become a means to increase rents, with a hefty subsidy by the tax payer. The calculation is like watching a cat chase it’s tail.
        The supplement is increased to cover past rent increases only to fuel current and future increases.
        https://www.interest.co.nz/property/57062/accommodation-supplement-landlord-subsidy-punching-big-hole-govt-books-due
        Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei attacked the Accommodation Supplement in Parliament last year, saying it was merely a subsidy for landlords
        https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/331777/govt-pulled-u-turn-on-accommodation-supplement
        Millsy, landlords are ok 👌

        • Chuck 11.1.1.1
          12 October 2018 at 5:23 pm

          The accommodation supplement does not increase rents. You could successfully argue it is a Govt funded top-up for employers (paying their employees) but you also need to take into account it is paid out to people on benefits who are not in a state provided house.

          Rents are directly linked to supply and demand.

          If (and it will not happen due to the political fallout) the accommodation supplement was stopped, then employers would need to step in and make-up at least some if not all of the difference.

          The demand for housing will still be there, I see little room for rent reductions with or without the accommodation supplement.

          • Herodotus 11.1.1.1.1
            12 October 2018 at 5:43 pm

            If there were no AC in the 1st place, there would not be the mountain of money available $1.2b+ to fuel increases for rent. As those seeking private accomodation would not have the same ability to pay current prices, tempering rents and reducing the ability to fuel house price increases, as ROI’s wouldn’t be what they currently are.
            Once implemented we are now faced with the continuation of AC as it would be impossible to remove this
            I may be wrong BUT was not the AC implemented by Nats in the 90’s to allow for tenants to be no worse off should they rent a state house or private rental ?

            • Chuck 11.1.1.1.1.1
              12 October 2018 at 6:08 pm

              “The Accommodation Supplement was introduced in July 1993 as a part of radical change in welfare policies announced by then Finance Minister Ruth Richardson in 1991 in her so-called ‘mother of all budgets’.”

              “In 2001 the Labour Government reintroduced income related rent subsidies”

              “It is sometimes argued that the Accommodation Supplement is a landlords’ subsidy and that as such any increase in the value of the Supplement will simply leak out to landlords in the form of higher rents. Remarkably there has been little analysis undertaken of either the income or price effects of the Accommodation Supplement and the two published studies appear to have been written to order to suit the argument that the payment is not a landlord subsidy17.”

              Click to access A%20Policy%20of%20Cynical%20Neglect%20-%20%28Final%29.pdf

              I guess the jury is out Herodotus…I concede there may be some correlation but not to any significant degree.

  12. ianmac 12
    12 October 2018 at 2:35 pm

    Way to go Simon. Populist action?
    “”National has launched a petition to repeal the Government’s new fuel taxes to “relieve some of the financial pressure” on Kiwis, the party’s leader Simon Bridges has said.”

  13. alwyn 13
    12 October 2018 at 3:12 pm

    Well I see Russell McVeagh are doing the right thing.
    http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=113094
    When are the Labour Party going to insist on a resignation by Meka Whaitiri?
    Or is it OK to bash your staff if you are a Labour Party member?

    • Dukeofurl 13.1
      12 October 2018 at 3:44 pm

      Liar ! You get booted off for such falsehoods you know.

      She grabbed her by the arm as she came from behind her.
      By your standard grabbing a ponytail from behind is ‘bashing’

    • Gabby 13.2
      12 October 2018 at 6:10 pm

      When’s wally going to let that teat go?

  14. greywarshark 14
    12 October 2018 at 4:16 pm

    New Zealand
    12:46 pm today
    NZ activists fined nearly $19k by Israeli court over Lorde’s concert cancellation
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/349388/nz-activists-sued-over-lorde-concert-cancellations

  15. greywarshark 15
    12 October 2018 at 4:33 pm

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/in-depth/368436/universities-face-a-crisis-of-the-humanities
    …when the university senate [University of Otago] met on 26 September and decided to axe Otago’s art history programme from 2020.
    There wasn’t much of a programme left to cut. Through a process of attrition, the department had been whittled down, since 2014, to 19 full-time students, three undergraduate papers and a single full-time lecturer….

    Across 25 BA majors that RNZ classified as unambiguously part of the humanities, the number of degree and post-graduate level students actually rose during the global financial crisis, mirroring university enrolment patterns in other countries. From 2010, however, the numbers began to drop away again. There were 1000 fewer humanities students enrolled in 2017 than in 2008, despite an increase of almost 40,000 students across all degrees and subjects….

    The current Tertiary Education Strategy, released in 2014, states this in bald terms: “This strategy focuses in particular on the economic benefits that result from tertiary education, and therefore on employment, higher incomes and better access to skilled employees for business as critical outcomes of tertiary education.”

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/in-depth/365540/why-being-made-redundant-in-nz-is-so-tough

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/in-depth/366084/the-reality-of-life-on-the-minimum-wage-in-nz

  16. greywarshark 16
    12 October 2018 at 4:49 pm

    NZ might be thinking of limiting organic growing methods in Sri Lanka, when we should be copying them, and instead demonstrating better systems for handling the vegetables.

    There is talk about the need to grow more food for the world, but we don’t want to regard that as concern, it is talking about markets and money making. When business steps into a people-run economy, it is likely that traditional dealers will be swept aside in the shadow of mechanisation and export of crops for greater return that would normally have been bought by locals paying the local affordable prices.

    I am concerned by this upbeat item from Radio nz. We don’t want to export our bizarre culture of destruction of ordinary people’s livelihoods and ability to manage their basic needs, in favour of higher education that produces nothing, with the obvious disconnect in access to a standard of living that is adequate for people living simply.

    Most of what was grown in Sri Lanka was largely organic, with apparently minimal use of fertiliser.
    “We did ask those questions around sprays, and didn’t see any evidence of it, at all.

    “We understand fertiliser is used in rice production, and that’s one of the major crops for the 21 million people, but when the rice is harvested those paddocks are used to grow vegetables.”
    Mr Chapman said portions of the fields were hand-tilled for vegetable growing.

    He said there were similarities in that a lot of New Zealand growers were also inter-generational, so they’ve been very focused on sustainability of the land.
    “As with New Zealand there is also a reducing number of people willing to work in the fields especially, where the work is largely done by hand.”

    Mr Chapman said while Sri Lanka could be classed as Third World, it had made incredible advances in education, which was free through to university level, and the literacy rate was now second to Japan among Asian countries.

    “We asked for food but you gave us a stone with a certificate of higher learning on it” – that might be the way the land lies in future.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/country/368530/sri-lanka-an-example-for-plant-based-diet-horticulture-nz

  17. McFlock 17
    12 October 2018 at 6:00 pm

    Protected birds left at parliament by anti-1080 protestors were completely unrelated to 1080.

    So the protestors broke the law to lie about 1080. If 1080 really killed so gazillions of birds, why couldn’t the protestors at least present actual 1080 victims? Seems legit lol.

  18. Morrissey 18
    12 October 2018 at 7:33 pm

    A powerful symbolic protest:
    Red hands wave behind blood-stained U.S. Secretary of State

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-redhands/red-stained-hands-wave-in-protest-at-u-s-hearing-on-syria-idUSBRE98319L20130904

    You can see the red hands behind that evil spectre John Kerry early in this clip (from the 0:50 mark). There should also have been a whole lot of blood-red hands waving behind the awful BBC woman at about the 8:30 mark…

  19. David Mac 19
    13 October 2018 at 6:25 pm

    Poor people are naturally sexy.

    Can’t buy sex, hang out in bars or afford flowers.
    Teeth not the best, clothes from The Warehouse or knock-offs.
    No outlook of comfortable security, jewelry or sports cars.

    Poor people are the most naturally charming, seductive and sexually satisfying people in the world because we have to be.

    There was a reason every Elvis movie started with our hero sporting a skinny wallet. Check them out, even with his awful thesping, Broken arse Elvis is much sexier at the start of his movies than the rich Makegood at the end. If Elvis movies were true to life the final scene would end with the Starlet saying “Frankly, you’ve become a bit boring.”

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  • New Principal Environment Judge
    Environment Judge David Kirkpatrick of Auckland has been appointed as the Principal Environment Judge, Attorney-General David Parker announced today.  Judge Kirkpatrick was appointed an Environment Judge in February 2014. From December 2013 to July 2016 he was Chair of the Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel. Prior to appointment he ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Digital connectivity boost for urban marae
    A programme to connect marae around the country to the internet has received $1.4 million to expand to include urban marae in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister Kris Faafoi and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. The funding for the Marae Connectivity Programme ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Govt increases assistance to drought-stricken Hawke’s Bay farmers
    The Government will provide $500,000 to the Hawke’s Bay Mayoral Drought Relief Fund to help farmers facing one of the worst droughts in living memory, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Yesterday afternoon I received a letter from Hawke's Bay's five local Government leaders asking me to contribute to the Fund. ...
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    1 week ago

  • Investment in New Zealand’s history
    Budget 2020 provides a major investment in New Zealand’s documentary heritage sector, with a commitment to leasing a new Archives Wellington facility and an increase in funding for Archives and National Library work. “Last year I released plans for a new Archives Wellington building – a purpose-built facility physically connected ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Driving prompt payments to small businesses
    Government Ministers are asking significant private enterprises to adopt prompt payment practices in line with the state sector, as a way to improve cashflow for small businesses. The Ministers of Finance, Small Business, Commerce and Consumer Affairs have written to more than 40 significant enterprises and banking industry representatives to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Rotorua tourist icon to be safeguarded
    Maori Arts and Crafts will continue to underpin the heart of the tourism sector says Minister for Maori Development Nanaia Mahuta.  “That’s why we are making a core investment of $7.6 million to Te Puia New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, over two years, as part of the Government’s ...
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    1 week ago

  • $14.7m for jobs training and education
    The Government is funding more pathways to jobs through training and education programmes in regional New Zealand to support the provinces’ recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Employment Minister Willie Jackson have announced. “New Zealand’s economic recovery will be largely driven by ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Is it time to further recognise those who serve in our military?
     Minister for Veterans Ron Mark has announced the launch of a national conversation that aims to find out whether New Zealanders think there should be a formal agreement between service people, the Government, and the people of New Zealand. “This year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Paving the way for a fully qualified early learning workforce
    The Government’s drive to improve the quality of early childhood education (ECE) is taking another step forward with the reintroduction of a higher funding rate for services that employ fully qualified and registered teachers, Education Minister Chris Hipkins has announced. “Research shows that high-quality ECE can improve young people’s learning ...
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    1 week ago

  • Sport Recovery Package announced
    The Sport and Recreation sector will receive a multi-million dollar boost as part of the COVID-19 response funded at Budget 2020.  Grant Robertson says the Sport and Recreation Sector contributes about $5 billion a year to New Zealand’s GDP and employs more than 53,000 people. “Sport plays a significant role ...
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    1 week ago

  • Major boost in support for caregivers and children
    A major increase in funding and availability of support will improve the incomes and reduce the pressure on 14,000 caregivers looking after more than 22,000 children. Children’s Minister Tracey Martin says that caregivers – all those looking after someone else’s children both in and outside the state care system – ...
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    1 week ago

  • Great Walks recovery on track for summer
    Vital conservation and visitor infrastructure destroyed by a severe flood event in Fiordland earlier this year is being rebuilt through a $13.7 million Budget 2020 investment, announced Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage.   “This investment will mean iconic Great Walks such as the Routeburn track and the full length of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Māori – Government partnership gives whānau a new housing deal
    The Government is investing  $40 million in a partnership with Māori to get more whānau into warm, dry and secure accommodation, Associate Minister for Housing (Māori Housing) Hon Nanaia Mahuta says.. “We are partnering with Māori and iwi to respond to the growing housing crisis in the wake of COVID-19. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Keeping New Zealanders Safe In The Water
    Keeping New Zealanders safe in the water Our lifeguards and coastguards who keep New Zealanders safe in the water have been given a funding boost thanks to the 2020 Budget, Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Poto Williams has announced. The water safety sector will receive $63 million over ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Legal framework for COVID-19 Alert Level referred to select committee
    The COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020, which set a sound legal framework ahead of the move to Alert level 2, has been referred to a parliamentary select committee for review.  Attorney-General David Parker said the review of the operation of the COVID-19 specific law would be reported back to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand condemns shocking attacks on hospital and funeral in Afghanistan
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand condemns the targeting of civilians in two terrorist attacks in Afghanistan earlier this week. “The terrorist attacks on a hospital in Kabul and a funeral in Nangarhar province are deeply shocking. The attacks were deliberate and heinous acts of extreme violence targeting ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government to close tobacco tax loophole
    The Government will close a loophole that allowed some people to import cigarettes and loose leaf tobacco for manufacturing cigarettes and ‘roll your owns’ for sale on the black market without excise tax being paid, says Minister of Customs Jenny Salesa. The legislation, which doesn’t affect duty free allowances for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • $62 million package to support families through the Family Court
    The Coalition Government has made a significant $62 million investment from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to start the reform of the Family Court and enable it to respond effectively to the increased backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today Justice Minister Andrew Little introduced the Family Court (Supporting ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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