Open mike 12/08/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 12th, 2015 - 103 comments
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103 comments on “Open mike 12/08/2015 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    12 August 2015 at 6:32 am

    John Key’s puppet and pet newspaper the Herald gives prominence to his pet project the flag.
    Bet they spend more column inches on that than either the TPP or child poverty this week.
    What an excuse for a news organisation.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11495645

    • vto 1.1
      12 August 2015 at 6:49 am

      I have to say that the critics are right when they point out that not having a designer and similarly qualified people on the panel is like choosing a national anthem without a musician and songwriter on board …….

      rather fundamentally flawed

      and a reflection of the true shallowness of Key’s skills (very good at clipping tickets but not at creating anything). Any astute and successful person would recognise this most basic of requirements, but he has not…

      The result being a whole bunch of very similar offerings and no real creativity or new, young, exciting type designs.

      edit: hmmmm, out of the ban now. that was a funny one

    • Realblue 1.2
      12 August 2015 at 12:21 pm

      Yet you read it every day.

  2. Ffloyd 2
    12 August 2015 at 7:44 am

    Just heard our abysmal pm on radio, wish I hadn’t. I get this deep, sinking feeling every time I hear him duck shoving around the questions asked of him. Big high five to Susie F for trying to answer her question on the Saudi scandal, but he was obviously programmed and unable to say anything but ‘this was inherited from Labour’. No proof of course. Feeling bloody angry!!

    • grumpystilskin 2.1
      12 August 2015 at 7:55 am

      Don’t get angry, get even.
      Learn a bit about the facts so you can help educate your friends, point out the bullshit media lines and follow them up with facts. Your friends will soon understand that you actually understand the issues and they can’t try using the spin on you.
      I’m currently visiting family and am using this method, they now understand that I know more about most issues “on the news” then they can ever pick up from a 3 second soundbite.
      As a result, they now ask and value my opinion. Before, when I just raved on I was laughed at as a looney lefty. I still get angry but as they say, you catch more flies with honey then vinegar..

      • Ffloyd 2.1.1
        12 August 2015 at 9:31 am

        Yes. We do that. Pretty much all our families and friends are Nat supporters. Very much fingers in ears and going ‘la,la,la. My husband has been known to put people right (in his eyes) in supermarket queues on overhearing conversations about how wonderful nats are.

    • wyndham 2.2
      12 August 2015 at 8:27 am

      Agree Ffloyd. What a semi-coherent mumble ! I think I heard Labour blamed for the fiasco 4 times.

      Here ’tis: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201766120/pm-says-proper-processes-were-followed-in-the-saudi-deal

      • Tautoko Mangō Mata 2.2.1
        12 August 2015 at 10:18 am

        Verse
        If the Public have uncovered
        A shonky deal we made
        We bring out Teflon John and
        the full snake-oil brigade
        with echo chamber Hoskings
        and the right wing Herald aids
        to sing the Crosby Textor line
        Till all the uproar fades, ohhhhhhhhhhh

        Chorus
        Labour did it too, mate
        Labour did it too
        We inherited it from Labour
        So what else could we do?

        If ever we’re in trouble
        And the news has turned to pooh
        Then it’s time to plug the same old line
        “Labour did it too!”

  3. dv 3
    12 August 2015 at 8:09 am

    Labour the govt that still governs after Nats 6 years in power.

  4. Observer (Tokoroa) 4
    12 August 2015 at 8:15 am

    DV

    Lol – witty

  5. adam 5
    12 August 2015 at 8:41 am

    The deep green in me, loved this song, very much. It was good to hear a young musician express such depth of feeling.

    I heard this song yesterday when listening to the new album from Courtney Barnett. And to quote a YouTube commentator, on the album “It’s all fun and games until Kim’s Caravan kicks your ass.”

    Here is a link to the video and come comments about the song.

    http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/04/courtney-barnett-takes-a-dark-look-at-the-world-in-kims-caravan-video-watch/

  6. esoteric pineapples 6
    12 August 2015 at 8:53 am

    A TPPA march is being organised for Featherston this Saturday but I was disappointed to learn from the organiser that the Wairarapa branch of the Labour Party has decided not to support it as they believe the the TPPA won’t be signed anyway.

    If anyone in the Wairarapa is reading this (or knows anyone in the Wairarapa who might want to take part), the march is at 11am starting from the south end of town and walking to the cenotaph.

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 6.1
      12 August 2015 at 9:28 am

      The show of opposition by marching is intended to send a message to the Govt that the TPPA should not be revived and that the public don’t want a bar of it.
      Please continue to stand up and be counted. This fight is not yet over. This is simply a lull.

      “Since it began to face opposition from BRICS countries at the World Trade Organisation, US policy has been to push through a triad of international “trade agreements” outside of the WTO framework, aimed at radically restructuring the economies of negotiating countries, and cutting out the rising economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS).

      The three treaties, the “Three Big T’s”, aim to create a new international legal regime that will allow transnational corporations to bypass domestic courts, evade environmental protections, police the internet on behalf of the content industry, limit the availability of affordable generic medicines, and drastically curtail each country’s legislative sovereignty.”

      https://wikileaks.org/WikiLeaks-goes-after-hyper-secret.html

      We need EVERYONE out there .
      No more of the APATHY RULES, SO WHAT!

      • esoteric pineapples 6.1.1
        12 August 2015 at 9:47 am

        I agree completely TMM. That’s why I couldn’t understand their attitude. There’s no way you can right it off yet.

        I find the apathy and inaction by people I know who actually don’t like this government – “there’s nothing we can do about it” -“they are all the same” etc – more depressing than the government itself. Apathy and cynicism are corrosive.

        As the poet Yeats said: “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.”

        • Colonial Viper 6.1.1.1
          12 August 2015 at 10:37 am

          Get on to Kieran McANULTY and ask him to sort out the Wairarapa NZLP branches.

          • esoteric pineapples 6.1.1.1.1
            12 August 2015 at 1:31 pm

            Kieran was the person the organiser was in contact with, as far as I am aware. Earlier the organiser had said she had contacted Kieran about it and it sounded like they were going to support it, and then yesterday she told me they said they had decided not to.

    • Penny Bright 6.2
      12 August 2015 at 2:46 pm

      Good on you!

      All the best!

      Think we’re going to get QUITE a turnout all over New Zealand on the national day of action against the TPPA.

      Cheers!

      Penny Bright

      • esoteric pineapples 6.2.1
        12 August 2015 at 3:38 pm

        Thanks Penny!

        Your undying commitment to protest action is an inspiration. People like John Key treat protestors as if they have nothing better to do, when they actually use up precious time and money that is usually in short supply. Usually those protesting are the ones who can least afford the time and money.

  7. Chooky 7
    12 August 2015 at 9:38 am

    Western media is heading towards the view that MH17 was shot down by a Russian ground to air missile…here is the other view:

    ‘MH17 investigators to RT: No proof east Ukraine fragments from ‘Russian’ Buk missile’

    https://www.rt.com/news/312192-mh17-investigators-buk-missile/

    ‘Was there a 2nd plane?’ New footage shows MH17 crash site minutes after Boeing downing’

    http://www.rt.com/news/310082-mh17-video-another-aircraft/

    (Question: who would stand most to gain by shooting down a civilian passenger plane full of Dutch, Malaysians and Australians…in other words creating trouble in the region…I dont think the Russians!…and why was this plane re-routed off its normal flight path ?)

    • te reo putake 7.1
      12 August 2015 at 9:52 am

      The Russians didn’t shoot it down, Chooky. The separatists they gave the missiles to did. It was a cock up; the separatists thought they were shooting down a military plane. The plane was on a regularly used flight path and it was just bad luck that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ultimately, the responsibility is still Russia’s; it was their missile that killed nearly 300 people.

      • Colonial Viper 7.1.1
        12 August 2015 at 10:03 am

        You’ve presented a lot of statements of opinion as fact there TRP.

        Please point to any official International Civil Aviation Organisation air crash investigation report, US Government Federal or military air crash investigation report, European Union official air crash investigation report which bears out your statements.

        And in particular, any report which answers the question why MH17 had been diverted to a flight path a couple of hundred kilometres north of its usual route which would normally avoid the conflict zone.

        Ultimately, the responsibility is still Russia’s; it was their missile that killed nearly 300 people.

        Many of the munitions which killed over a thousand Palestinian civilians including children in the latest Israeli attacks on Gaza were supplied to Israel by the USA.

        Do you count those civilian killings as being ultimately the USA’s responsibility?

        The Russians didn’t shoot it down, Chooky. The separatists they gave the missiles to did.

        The leader of the OSCE recently confirmed that they have never seen the movement of heavy weapons from Russia into the Ukraine.

        Please provide proof that the Russians gave a BUK missile system to the separatists, as opposed to the separatists obtaining such a system from defeated Ukranian forces.

        • te reo putake 7.1.1.1
          12 August 2015 at 10:13 am

          I know I’m wasting my time, but it and hundreds of other flights used that route because it was north of Crimea, where there was a known risk because of the Russian invasion.

          The facts are the facts. If you have anything substantial that points to an alternative to what we know now, please post it. Even better, send it to the people investigating the crime. Hilarious that you can get so smugly pompous about those killed by the yanks and Israelis, but you don’t give a shit about the dead of MH17.

          As I said, it’s a cock up. But that’s what happens when you give deadly weapons to people who don’t much care how they use them.

          • Colonial Viper 7.1.1.1.1
            12 August 2015 at 10:18 am

            Sorry, do you have references to any official investigation reports with those facts?

            If not, please don’t state your opinions as facts unless you can back them up. Let’s make sure that every one is clear that they are merely your opinions and that no official investigation reports have reached those same conclusions.

          • Blue Horseshoe 7.1.1.1.2
            12 August 2015 at 10:24 am

            As I said, it’s a cock up. .

            So you know those who carried it out , personally.And they debriefed you on actual events

            No, didn’t think so

            Argh, opinions prancing around as ‘facts’ are easy meat

            • te reo putake 7.1.1.1.2.1
              12 August 2015 at 10:35 am

              I already pointed out who did it. There is no plausible alternative explanation. Sorry if that’s inconvenient, but there you have it.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                12 August 2015 at 1:46 pm

                No you didn’t. You pointed out who you believed did it. Personally, I’m more in favour of the Ukraine government shooting it down as they stood more to gain from it being shot down.

                Cui bono, follow the money and other clichés apply here.

          • mikesh 7.1.1.1.3
            12 August 2015 at 1:49 pm

            There was no Russian “invasion” of Crimea.

        • infused 7.1.1.2
          12 August 2015 at 1:26 pm

          It’s fucking obvious CV if you have been following it.

          • Blue Horseshoe 7.1.1.2.1
            12 August 2015 at 2:18 pm

            Its fucken obvious that your idol John Key is a crooked prick, yet he has your support here

            Reckon your observation and advice is pretty fucken worthless

        • DoublePlusGood 7.1.1.3
          12 August 2015 at 4:24 pm

          “Many of the munitions which killed over a thousand Palestinian civilians including children in the latest Israeli attacks on Gaza were supplied to Israel by the USA.
          Do you count those civilian killings as being ultimately the USA’s responsibility?”

          I would have thought that was obviously the USA’s responsibility as well as Israel’s.

      • Colonial Viper 7.1.2
        12 August 2015 at 10:11 am

        TRP you say

        The plane was on a regularly used flight path and it was just bad luck that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

        I am assuming here that you are simply badly informed. Please see below from the Telegraph which said that MH17 was on a course up to 300 hundred miles north of where it typically flew (why and how MH17 came to take a course to fly through a war zone has not yet been clarified):

        ” Robert Mark, a commercial pilot who edits Aviation International News Safety magazine, said that most Malaysia Airlines flights from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur normally travelled along a route significantly further south than the plane which crashed.

        Malaysia Airlines has insisted its plane travelled on an “approved route” used by many other carriers.

        But Mr Mark said: “I can only tell you as a commercial pilot myself that if we had been routed that way, with what’s been going on in the Ukraine and the Russian border over the last few weeks and months, I would never have accepted that route. And the flight today tracked very, very much further north into the Ukraine than the other previous flights did … there were MH17 versions that were 300 miles south of where this one was….

        Records of recent MH17 flights on the FlightAware appear to bear out Mr Mark’s claim, with earlier flights significantly further south than the flight that crashed.

        http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10975524/Crashed-MH17-flight-was-300-miles-off-typical-course.html

        • te reo putake 7.1.2.1
          12 August 2015 at 10:14 am

          See my comment above, my misinformed friend. The Telegraph, ha!

          • Colonial Viper 7.1.2.1.1
            12 August 2015 at 10:24 am

            We have the editor of Aviation International News Safety on record in the above article. I’ll take his opinion on this issue over yours.

            Unless you have a link or a reference which bears out your claim that MH17 was on its normal route of course, which doesn’t appear to be the case.

            Also re: Crimea – do you have a link showing that commercial aircraft routes were moved north from Crimea because of Russian actions there? Or do you simply imagine that was the case?

        • joe90 7.1.2.2
          12 August 2015 at 11:42 am

          Please see below from the Telegraph which said that MH17 was on a course up to 300 hundred miles north of where it typically flew

          MH17 wasn’t 300 hundred miles north of where it typically flew.

          http://i.imgur.com/Dg07ODA.jpg

          http://imgur.com/a/QIZ9O

            • joe90 7.1.2.2.1.1
              12 August 2015 at 2:00 pm

              Damn weather.

              According to CNN, there was a significant storm situated right over MH17’s planned path through southern Ukraine. In response, the pilots may have requested a route through the northeast to provide a safer and smoother ride for the passengers. Unfortunately, the course change took them right over the disputed region in the east where Ukrainian forces have been battling pro-Russian separtists.

              The airspace over eastern Ukraine has been and still is a no fly zone. The FAA issued a ban on operations over the area, however that ban only applies to planes flying between the altitudes of 26,000 and 32,000 ft. At the same time, the Ukranian Government reportedly shut down all civilian flights in the region under 7,900 meters or 26,000 ft. Ukrainian air traffic control assigned MH17 an altitude of 33,000ft, which complied with both no fly orders.

              http://www.businessinsider.com.au/a-fateful-thunderstorm-may-have-doomed-flight-mh17-2014-7

              • Thom Pietersen …
                12 August 2015 at 8:59 pm

                Planes at high altitude often deviate significantly to avoid storms etc. for the comfort of passengers – Singapore Airlines who I’ve travelled with quite a bit do. 300 miles isn’t much at 560 mph cruise speed

                This whole thing came down to numbnuts on the ground – Russian Federation or Ukrainian, doesn’t matter – doughebags in charge of missiles that can pass the ceiling of third world armaments and poor international aviation policy.

                The media both sides played to their overlords – ergo the conspiracy theories.

                Remember fuel burn costs trump “ground” war zones.

                The most convincing conspiracy theory (if you want to play that card) is the similarity between MA colours and that of the Russian Federation State plane. Oh and a earlier MA disappearance, that does smell somewhat – the wash up in French Indian Ocean Territories may give some answers.

                Conspiracy or no – we are being played.

      • Stuart Munro 7.1.3
        12 August 2015 at 5:18 pm

        The BUK launcher is not like a Stinger – it takes constant training of the professional crew or it won’t hit anything.

        Details are here https://www.bellingcat.com/tag/mh17/ – but there is a lot to wade through – Der Spiegal has a summary.

        MH17 was shot down by detached Russian military advisors. The number of the BUK is known, and the names of the crew. Like the polonium poisoning of Litivenko however, Russia is not cooperating.

        • Bill 7.1.3.1
          12 August 2015 at 8:02 pm

          I seem to remember being of the opinion that it was probably the Ukrainian armed forces that shot it down. Any wavering opinion around the rights and wrongs of the shit with Russia….well, gone right there. And back to the head of the news agenda with a full head of steam billowing outrage.

          See, I could never make any sense of Russia shooting it down. And if as you say it takes a lot of training to operate, then it wasn’t militia.

      • aidan 7.1.4
        12 August 2015 at 7:24 pm

        hey tpr. the thing is that nothing has been proved, nothing. all we have to go by is suppositions and guess work, and yes propaganda. all the theories are conspiracy theories, and the one that you are repeating here is probably one of the more believable, but only because the media have been repeating it ad-nauseam almost constantly since the moment fragments from the plane hit the ground. the fact that this is the story supported and repeated since before anyone could have known anything at all gives me cause for doubt. there is also the question of partisanship of media. maybe I’m getting to cynical? but really, do you think media are really impartial reporters of facts?

    • Blue Horseshoe 7.2
      12 August 2015 at 2:55 pm

      Chooky we will never know the truth or the facts, despite the claims of anyone who says they ‘know’ what happened

      I’m interested in why more attention was not focused on the wreckage, which was highly suspect IMO

    • Stuart Munro 7.3
      12 August 2015 at 5:23 pm

      Just be aware of what you are using here – RT is a Russian state broadcasting organ – not exactly a neutral source.

      • Thom Pietersen 7.3.1
        12 August 2015 at 9:04 pm

        And they very cleverly play to the conspiracy leaning folk. I know quite a few people who take them as gospel – as if the other side wouldn’t be into lying as well.

  8. half crown 8
    12 August 2015 at 10:31 am

    Unfortunately a few years ago a friend of mine was very sick. Every year this friend has to go for a check up with a specialist nurse.

    Every year the time span between each visit gets extended. This year the visit is long overdue for the yearly examination. On inquiring what was the delay, the hospital was very apologetic but stated that they have had their staff numbers cut and that is the reason for the delay.

    I told my friend to get the priorities right. You can’t have your important examination on time as there are more important things like The Fucking Spivs not needed $26 million flag referendum. Consultants (insultants) who have their arses on boards demanding “extra” to their inflated “fee'” as sitting on a board may damage their so called professional reputation. Board mangers earning over inflated salaries etc etc etc.

      • half crown 8.1.1
        12 August 2015 at 10:50 am

        What a constructive, scintillating, intelligent reply one would expect from a typical right wing fuckwit

      • Blue Horseshoe 8.1.2
        12 August 2015 at 11:07 am

        Clearly you come to this site for some sort of rocks off jollies

        Better to fiddle with yourself in private geezer

        That link you out up to what was a saddening post, well, you’ve gone full frontal haven’t you

        As I said, you like to fiddle with yourself in public

        I’d find someone to speak with if I was you, before it eats you up inside

        • BM 8.1.2.1
          12 August 2015 at 11:19 am

          Actually, I thought was was quite an informative article which may be of interest to the many older chaps who post here.

          Seriously I don’t think old guys quite realize how grumpy and hostile they are, I see it here and on kiwiblog.

          Constant negativity will kill you, if you want to live to a decent age, recognize the systems and get it under control.

          • Blue Horseshoe 8.1.2.1.1
            12 August 2015 at 11:21 am

            Except that the link was out of context to the original comment

            You mate, are a dickhead

            • BM 8.1.2.1.1.1
              12 August 2015 at 11:27 am

              I thought he was been a bit over the top which is why I posted the link.
              Fuckin spivs, fucking flag, fucking board managers etc etc ……

              • half crown …
                12 August 2015 at 11:44 am

                “I thought he was been a bit over the top which is why I posted the link.
                Fuckin spivs, fucking flag, fucking board managers etc etc ……”

                I think you should take Blue’s advice, as it is sending you blind I only used that word once.

                • McFlock …
                  12 August 2015 at 12:32 pm

                  nononononono.

                  BM raises a very important point.

                  The most important thing about your comment was not that your friend is not receiving necessary medical treatment from a health system that’s being subjected to death by a thousand cuts.

                  The most important thing about your comment was that YOU USED NAUGHTY WORDS. Naughty words mean you are angry, anger is an emotion, emotions are by definition irrational, therefore your irrational comment should be ignored.

                  Let us all thank BM for reminding us that the Vulcan philosophy is the only logical path (except for all that communistic “needs of the many outweight the needs of the few” stuff).

                  Or BM is just an unregenerate dog turd that has been abandoned on the footpath of life.

    • weka 8.2
      12 August 2015 at 10:50 am

      Are they by any chance in the Southern DHB area?

    • Colonial Viper 9.1
      12 August 2015 at 11:12 am

      Hmmm seems like ACT and National are really running out of ideas to run the country if they are down to keeping pubs open for foreign rugby matches.

  10. half crown 10
    12 August 2015 at 11:04 am

    “Are they by any chance in the Southern DHB area?”

    No

    • Blue Horseshoe 10.1
      12 August 2015 at 11:10 am

      I am quite certain that most are not aware of the extent to which the debt issue will be used against humanity

      As long as the curtain is not allowed to fall, the crush onto the planet an humanity will be exerted in ways far beyond what sane people could ever believe possible

      Take a look at what is going on in California to see where NZ is heading

  11. Mike the Savage One 11
    12 August 2015 at 11:18 am

    While the MSM are busy discussing, whether pubs and clubs should be given extra opening times in early mornings to allow Rugby World Cup game watchers get pissed, and while they love to compare designs of flags for New Zealand, much else seems to go totally unnoticed, and is NOT reported on.

    Yes, it may include “sheep-gate” and so also, that is swept under the carpet by our PM and the government as a whole, but who here has known about the plans by MSD (Ministry of Social Development) and their “expert” Principal Health Advisor, Dr David Bratt, making plans to widen the scope for “health professionals” to sign their ‘Work Capacity Medical Certificates’?

    While such moves may make sense to some, it gives reason to worry. They have in the past already used their “designated doctors”, and are also now using “work ability assessment” providers, to re-assess and basically re-classify persons with health conditions, impairments and disability as “fit” for work. With the drive to get people into whatever jobs, that may not even exist, the new plans, they seem to indicate a further attempt to blur the lines, to soften up the existing regime, and have MSD enabled to use various additional health professionals as “assessors” that may be more “useful” for their agenda, than be concerned about the client and patient.

    Anyway, this is perhaps worth a study:
    ‘MSD ARE PLANNING TO WIDEN THE SCOPE FOR WHO CAN SIGN WORK CAPACITY MEDICAL CERTIFICATES’
    https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2015/08/10/msd-are-planning-to-widen-the-scope-for-who-can-sign-work-capacity-medical-certificates/

    Also of interest may be:
    http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/work-ability-assessments-done-for-work-and-income-a-revealing-fact-study-part-a/
    (there are more parts to that post)

    http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/designated-doctors-used-by-work-and-income-some-also-used-by-acc-the-truth-about-them/

    http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/medical-and-work-capability-assessments-based-on-the-controversial-bio-psycho-social-model/

  12. half crown 12
    12 August 2015 at 11:33 am

    Answer to Blue Horseshoe @ 11.10am

    Good comment there Blue. We can also see what is happening in the UK the way Camoron is privatising the NHS by stealth. The fucking spiv is doing that over here Southern DHB is a good example. Very subtle changes are creeping into our health system like the other month I had some dental work done, when I went to get the prescription for a simple item supposedly on the approved list it cost me $15, the same prescription from a doctor $5. Mind you in this I could be wrong as it is not very often I have a prescription from a dentist.

  13. Tautoko Mangō Mata 13
    12 August 2015 at 11:52 am

    Sorry to repeat- just added verse 2. If we can’t beat the dirty tactics head on, then let’s mock them so that we expose the tactics and diminish their influence, cf John Stewart, John Oliver.)

    Verse 1
    If the Public have uncovered
    A shonky deal we made
    We bring out Teflon John and
    the full snake-oil brigade
    with echo chamber Hoskings
    and the right wing Herald aids
    to sing the Crosby Textor line
    Till all the uproar fades, ohhhhhhhhhhh

    Chorus
    Labour did it too, mate
    Labour did it too
    We inherited it from Labour
    So what else could we do?

    If ever we’re in trouble
    And the news has turned to pooh
    Then it’s time to plug the same old line
    “Labour did it too!”

    Verse 2
    McCully bribed a Saudi
    So we’d get an FTA.
    It cost eleven million plus
    with flying sheep away.
    When sheep pellets hit the fan
    and documents exposed
    a shonky deal, then out comes John
    with Crosby Textor prose. Oh…….

    Chorus

    • ianmac 13.1
      12 August 2015 at 12:00 pm

      Right on the button Tautoko.

    • mickysavage 13.2
      12 August 2015 at 12:17 pm

      Mind if I use this for a guest post?

      • Tautoko Mangō Mata 13.2.1
        12 August 2015 at 12:40 pm

        no, happy to see discussion on different tactics,

        • mickysavage 13.2.1.1
          12 August 2015 at 12:50 pm

          Sung to the tune of? Or is it an original?

          • Ron 13.2.1.1.1
            12 August 2015 at 6:28 pm

            If you are still looking for a tune the best I can find that mostly matches the metre is the old hymn tune Bringing in the Sheaves. Some of the lines may need adjustment as the metre wanders a bit between lines but is easily fixed.

    • Ffloyd 13.3
      12 August 2015 at 1:11 pm

      And again! Brilliant.

    • Clemgeopin 13.4
      12 August 2015 at 4:52 pm

      +1

      Good one! Correctly defines Key and his government as a corrupt group of shallow spinners and disgraceful liars. How the bloody hell did the good people of this country manage to re-elect them!

    • Penny Bright 14.1
      12 August 2015 at 2:55 pm

      So – you don’t think that the RULE of LAW equally applies to Auckland Council Puckish Rogue?

      Are you an Aucklander?

      Have you bothered to do your own ‘due diligence’ and check the information provided by Auckland Council in their Rates Assessment Notices and Rates Invoices against s.44, s.45 and s.46 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 20012?

      I take it you’re not coming on the Auckland Rate$ Ripoff Rally, to be held on Sunday 16 August 2015, assembling at 1pm at Aotea Square – protesting against Auckland Council rates increases?

      All good – you just keep tugging your … forelock, and doing as you’re told, irrespective as to whether or not what you’re being told to do is actually LAWFUL?

      Penny Bright

      CITIZEN – not SLAVE!

      • Puckish Rogue 14.1.1
        12 August 2015 at 3:07 pm

        I’m not stupid enough to live Auckland Penny but you keep pretending to people that its all good to take advantage of all the services the council provides without having to pay for them

        • McFlock 14.1.1.1
          12 August 2015 at 4:18 pm

          Actually, it seems to me that this case is different to Penny’s.

          If I understand Penny’s position, it’s that the council is not acting within the law currently, and she is happy to pay the rates owing when it finally does act within the law. Please correct me if this is not broadly correct, Penny (although briefly, and with minimal capitalisation and exclamation).

          Looking at the case in the paper, it seems to simply be a refusal to pay rates because she “tithes” to someone else (without any political statement as such). So it’s not so much a protest as a dodge or con by someone.

        • Clemgeopin 14.1.1.2
          12 August 2015 at 4:55 pm

          I don’t think you understood what Penny wrote.

  15. infused 15
    12 August 2015 at 1:57 pm

    I thought that was going to be penny…

  16. freedom 16
    12 August 2015 at 2:28 pm

    The initial testing of work on 14 properties had 13 properties return a negative result. If you are testing for signs of asbestos that is a great result! However, when testing the repairs of earthquake damaged foundations ?????

    The subsequent 100 properties that MBIE “randomly” inspected had [unspecified rate of failure] yet the authorities’ subsequent actions reflect it was concerned enough by the numbers to instigate a wider probe of the situation. It is the most likely reason for the report that was due back in June being delayed.

    “More than 65,000 homes had received earthquake repairs in Canterbury since 2010, but the four organisations were able to pre-select only 200 of those for the survey. “

    EQC
    MBIE
    Fletchers
    Insurance companies
    delayed reports
    leaked information

    “the very diluted tip of a very big iceberg” sums it up nicely

  17. Penny Bright 17
    12 August 2015 at 2:55 pm

    ‘Show us ya text’ – anti-TPPA protest in Auckland today at the MFAT office:

    http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/protesters-demand-release-full-text-tppa-deal

    Penny Bright

  18. greywarshark 18
    12 August 2015 at 3:46 pm

    I’ve started taking notice of sink holes opening up around the world. Perhaps that is telling us something, usually involves drainage, heavy rain, old mines, underground waterways affected. (Christchurch south Canterbury?)
    This is from PNgG, the latest one I have read about from Radionz.
    Sinkhole swallows homes in PNG
    Updated at 5:06 pm on 21 July 2015
    A sinkhole has opened up in one of Papua New Guinea’s northern provinces, sucking in
    16 homes and injuring at least two people.

    In NZ – http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/factsheets/rare-ecosystems/subterranean-or-semi-subterranean/sinkholes

    Youtube selection
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/9908055/In-pictures-sinkholes-craters-and-collapsed-roads-around-the-world.html?frame=2316943

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODgEQ3epOtQ
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnJWMItLcNk (Turn the sound down – annoying)
    Long doco.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK_SS38LswM

  19. Ad 19
    12 August 2015 at 7:11 pm

    Jane kelsey at Auckland Fabian was lucid and on fire tonight.

    A grand rage against nz consultocracies, shadow elites, and embedded ideologies within our core financial legislation.

  20. Michael Nolan 20
    12 August 2015 at 8:09 pm

    Sanders surges ahead of Clinton in New Hampshire #FeelTheBern

    http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/250908-poll-sanders-surges-ahead-of-clinton-in-nh

  21. North 21
    12 August 2015 at 8:36 pm

    SkyCity profit up 30.7%…..

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11495885

    Oh churlish, disrespectful me……heartache, sadness, dysfunction, criminality, drain on the public purse…..up…..up to 30.7% up……happy happy joy joy……this is Planet Key where in time an effete “rugby-loving” ponce of a man (?) will contrive to give SkyCity CEO Morrison a knighthood. For services to……ummmh ?……an effete “rugby-loving” ponce of a man (?) ?

    This is fucking Rome mate !

  22. North 22
    12 August 2015 at 10:03 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11496164

    Ummmh……there’s informed sentiment up these ways that says the judge found irresistible the colonising of this sentencing as a weapon in a long running and very personal war with defence counsel. Even the local police raise their eyebrows at this ‘no home detention’ outcome. A result generally conceded as something of an ‘outlier’. Mmmmh.

    I have no view of course. Merely reporting (informed) sentiment.

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  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

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  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

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  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

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  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

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  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

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  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

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  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

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  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

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  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

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  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

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  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

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  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

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  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

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  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

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  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

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    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

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  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

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  • Update on global IT outage

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  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
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  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
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    1 week ago

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