Open mike 13/05/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 13th, 2011 - 89 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

89 comments on “Open mike 13/05/2011 ”

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  1. PeteG 1
    13 May 2011 at 6:50 am

    Late changes to budget.

    After reading pre-budget advice on Red Alert and The Standard the National party have announced late changes to the budget.

    * No spending cuts, so they can’t be accused of “gutting the public service”.

    * Removing GST on Double Downs as the poor like them more than fruit and veg. This will trickle down into the cheese, poultry and private health industries.

    * To balance right wing bias in media anyone who posts on left wing blogs will get an internet use tax credit and will get priority connections to superfast internet so the truth spreads more quickly.

    * A CV tax will be introduced – anyone earning more than $50k will pay 50% tax. This will encourage people not to earn too much. Rich pricks will move to Australia but we don’t want any of those bastards here anyway.

    * Zero tax for anyone who can arrange their financial affairs so they look poor. Tax handouts for WFF and KiwiSaver will still apply. Leader of the Opposition Phil Goff has agreed to do a “Stop Tax” tour of the country by bus explaining how to invest in property and set up trusts.

    • logie97 1.1
      13 May 2011 at 7:06 am

      … tried to read this, presumably, attempt at humour or sarcasm. It’s garbage and a waste of space. I guess the only positive in “PeteG” commenting is that ups the viewing and posting numbers for the Standard.

    • North 1.2
      13 May 2011 at 7:19 am

      Oh well PeteG – guess you’ve answered ya urges til round 2 o’clock this afternoon.

      Algud !

    • mickysavage 1.3
      13 May 2011 at 9:06 am

      Not even funny PeteG.  You should go out and get yourself a sense of humour.  And while you are at it you should get a book on economics and have a read.  You could use the upskilling.

      • PeteG 1.3.1
        13 May 2011 at 9:24 am

        It’s hard to have a sense of humour when contemplating Labour policies, isn’t it.

        Tax rich people more
        Tax poor people less
        Then grizzle at Key
        when he can’t clean up the mess.

        • Terry 1.3.1.1
          13 May 2011 at 9:33 am

          I think the mess is because national borrowed for Tax cuts!!!
          Not labour policy

        • felix 1.3.1.2
          13 May 2011 at 9:41 am

          Love the way parasites like Pete George try to imply that there’s something wrong with taxing rich people more and poor people less.

          His garden must be a wasteland.

          • PeteG 1.3.1.2.1
            13 May 2011 at 10:02 am

            You’re “guessing” wrong again. I have a 2.5 hectare garden, and have planted 25 fruit and nut trees, numerous berries, 75 firewood trees, 150 rhododendrons and numerous other trees and shrubs. I maintain about half a hectare of regenerating native bush. We enjoy many birds, including kererū, tui, bellbirds, fantails (there’s a black one or something similar hanging around) plus occasional visits by ducks and herons. We grow our own mutton and free range eggs. Our aim is to produce as much as possible ourselves.

            It’s the opposite of a wasteland, especially this year as it’s been quite wet and we have more grass growth than ever.

    • Lanthanide 1.4
      13 May 2011 at 10:16 am

      You know if this was actually clever or insightful, it would be funny. I don’t care that it’s poking fun at the Labour party – if it was done well, it would be laugh-worthy.
       
      But it really is very lame and pedestrian, not clever, and not funny.

      By the same token, there have been multiple attempts at “satire” about the Nats, both as posted articles and in the comments which I haven’t found funny either.

  2. North 2
    13 May 2011 at 7:07 am

    Ha ha ha…….ain’t life poetic sometimes ?

    Young dickhead Tory lout occasions the Law School to can Harawira’s address at Auckland University last evening. The Maori National Party, and the National and Labour parties thrash themselves into “Harawira The Anti-Christ” frenzy.

    People in Tai Tokerau standing back going “What………..?”.

    Support for Harawira muscles up. And it’s more and more visceral because of your bullshit. Quite simply you’re pissing people off. Kia Ora. Keep at it !

    Just in case you’ve missed it you frightened wahanui, this is not “your” election. I know it’s a rum deal that “these Maoris” are in control in this instance but you just gotta man-up and face it !

    Disempowerment ain’t a great feeling is it my bro’ ?

    • weka 2.1
      13 May 2011 at 5:31 pm

      This is bad and I’m surprised it hasn’t been picked up on. Glad to hear it’s backfiring within TTT though 😀

      I’m not on FB, does anyone know what the NACT crowd were planning to do protest wise?

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4996046/Harawira-lecture-axed-because-of-redneck-racism

      The media seem to have taken an unusually sympathetic slant on it.

      Anyone who thinks that Harawira is a reactionary jerk should watch that video and listen to his considered, thoughtful responses on racism and what’s required to change it. I really hope the media shows more of this kind of thing.

  3. logie97 3
    13 May 2011 at 8:06 am

    Electricity, Water, Broadcasting, Mining, Tourism, Farms, Education et cetera is already ours.
    “Whatever you sell Joky Hen, you should tell your buyers to beware. Those assets will be taken back at cost less all conveyancing. The message needs to be made very clear. And the Rich MumsandDads masquerading as folksy mums and dads get the message. It includes you.”

    Why are we not hearing this simple message from the left?

    • higherstandard 3.1
      13 May 2011 at 8:09 am

      What like Kiwi rail was taken back at cost less conveyancing ?

      • logie97 3.1.1
        13 May 2011 at 5:59 pm

        … too many years were allowed to pass between sale and renationalising.
        This time should be clear cut – moment government changes, asset comes back.

  4. Terry 4
    13 May 2011 at 8:13 am

    This was a poll from Maori Television for 2008 election

    http://media.maoritelevision.com/default.aspx?tabid=207&pid=477

    “the following four issues were rated as the most pressing for Maori in Te Tai Tokerau:
    access to quality education for their children (92 per cent – very important)
    positive future for their children (89 per cent)
    a sense that people can feel safe in their homes or out on the street (87 per cent)
    access to affordable quality health services (84 per cent).
    Of secondary importance are the issues of:
    good jobs in my area (77 per cent)
    access to affordable quality housing in my area (68 per cent)
    and fair settlement of Treaty of Waitangi claims (64 per cent).”

    I think the secondary issues have risen up for this election.

    A poll had about 70% of voters wanted Maori Party to go with Labour in the electorate.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/670511

    Remember NZ First Maori Seats when he defied the electorate and went with National.

    The Maori Party are yet to be punished for this – Maori in the North are not dumb.

    “…voters interviewed in Te Tai Tokerau were less convinced that the Labour Party would be best placed to deliver on these important issues facing them. While 42 per cent of this electorate’s sample regarded Labour as being best placed to deliver on quality education for their children, only 32 per cent believed that Labour could ensure a positive future for their children.”

     
    Hone      Kelvin
    %         %
    Can be trusted 48.4 20.6
    Will deliver on promises 49.4 21.2
    Knows the needs of the local people 67.8 16.2
    Is experienced in politics 60.0 16.6
    Is a capable leader 59.4 19.2
    Would be good in a crisis 56.6 19.6
    Has lots of personality 71.4 11.2

     

    “Horizon Research poll finding that the Mana Party could 15.1 of party votes cast by Maori voters shows the Maori Party risks losing all its remaining seats”
    “Only 30 percent of people who voted for the Maori Party last election will remain loyal, less than one third. Forty two percent say they will move to Man and the rest will move to Labour. It’s pretty clear what’s going to happen. They Maori Party is going to lose all their seats,” Mr McCarten says.
    http://waatea.blogspot.com/2011/05/poll-shows-maori-party-losing-repeat.html

    These numbers dont seem to support a great victory for Labour or the Maori Party in the by election.

    • PeteG 4.1
      13 May 2011 at 8:35 am

      This is interesting looking back but the Horizon poll is too soon to take much from it – Harawira has had a lot of media exposure, Davis hardly any and we don’t know who the Maori Party candidate is yet. Six weeks could be a long time in the TTT by-election.

      • Terry 4.1.1
        13 May 2011 at 9:05 am

        Maori Party Candidates maybe?

        David Rankin 202 votes in 2008 TTT election

        Mere Mangu 1250 votes in 2005 TTT election

        Naida Glavish is chairwoman of Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua. Not sure if that would sit well in TTT

        Pita Tipene Nagti Hine – not sure if he would up to the national stage – ex teacher

        Harmi Piripi – turned them down

        The Maori Party has lost before even it selects its candidate.

      • North 4.1.2
        13 May 2011 at 10:23 am

        PeteG……….thought you weren’t gonna engage that quick, cheap practice ’til round 2 o’clock this afternoon ? Never mind, if needs be…….

        Anyway, yeah, I agree. Harawira’s had lots of exposure of late. But how sure are you that when the National Maori Party announce their candidate Harawira’s gonna suddenly fall from peoples’ minds ?

        I’ll wager that the “comparison factor” (FYI – a well known Crosby Textor identified political dynamic) will have Harawira looking even more credible to the voters of TTT. Certainly no tipped name doing the rounds up here has anything like Harawira’s punch. In fact several of them are drawing belly laughs. The others get no reaction. Not actually likely to push Harawira out of sight I reckon.

        And don’t forget that even while you and yours insist on Harawira as a dolt/demon/dog/dastardly, Harawira’s still telling it straight-up and actually, looking quite the leader in the broader sense. Did you see his response when little Tory vandal boy from Auckland University had his 22 seconds of telly fame as “the wrecker” re the university address. You see him on Te Karere few days ago, or were you vomiting ?

        Couldn’t call them Churchillian performances (Praise The Lord for that) but definitely striking in the terms employed by you wise-“acher” fullas.

        Seems like you’re burdened with pakeha perspective wishful thinking re TTT. Pompous, know-it-all tone in delivery don’t mask that. Come to think of it this fantasy stuff is not actually unrelated to “that practice” mentioned above. You’re getting into it much more than is good for you my bro’.

        Get a hold of yourself man !…….oh nah bro’……..wait……that’s not what I meant………

        • PeteG 4.1.2.1
          13 May 2011 at 10:43 am

          But how sure are you that when the National Maori Party announce their candidate Harawira’s gonna suddenly fall from peoples’ minds ?

          He won’t, but the other candidates will become known and will be able to compete.

          while you and yours insist on Harawira as a dolt/demon/dog/dastardly

          I don’t say anything like that. I do think he will be even more ineffective in parliament than he was in the Maori Party (if he gets back in). He probably won’t have as much time to spend looking after his electorate if he is trying to lead a new party and is seeking the party vote in November.

          Seems like you’re burdened with pakeha perspective wishful thinking re TTT.

          Why do you think that? I don’t really care what the result of the by-election is, I’m interested in it, that’s all. I agree that whoever ends up standing for the Maori Party will struggle to impress, but I think Kelvin Davis will at least help the electorate examine Harawira’s suitability and give him a good nudge.

          You’re getting into it much more than is good for you my bro’.

          Do you think the rest of the country should butt out and ignore the by-election and the development of a new party?

          If Harawira is returned and the Mana Party gets established and seeks party votes that will involve the interests of the whole country. Won’t it?

          • Terry 4.1.2.1.1
            13 May 2011 at 11:15 am

            Kelvin Davis will have to toe the general seat labour party line in the by election.

            Kelvin will be hurt each time his leaders commitment to not working with Hone or Mana are brought up.

            Dont forget 70% of maori in TTT wanted the maori party work with labour, Phil is saying to at least 60% of electorate Fu..K You.

            It may end up Phil may have to go as leader to from a minority left labour government after the general elections when Mana is elected and is a King Maker.

            Phils message of not working with Hone or Mana is for the mainstream white voters that caused helen to introduce the F&S Legislation, gee wis i think thats how the maori party started.

            • Lanthanide 4.1.2.1.1.1
              13 May 2011 at 12:24 pm

              Sorry, but Mana will never be King Maker because Hone has said he will never ever work with Act, and somewhat less vehemently that he cannot work with National.
               
              That puts him firmly on the left, therefore not a swing party that either side needs to court – Labour can just take him for granted and not pay any attention to anything he does, because if he starts voting alongside National he’ll piss off his supporters. All Labour needs is for Mana to abstain from bringing the government down – and I don’t think Hone would be stupid enough to attempting forcing a general election because he didn’t win enough seats to have a big influence on policy direction.
               
              Similarly NZF is unlikely to be a true king-maker because it seems unlikely Winston could ever work with Brash or John Key. He could possibly end up sitting on the cross benches, as he’s indicated could be an outcome.
               
              Peter Dunne, if he gets back in, isn’t likely to be kingmaker because he won’t bring in any other votes. He’s also burned his bridges with Labour recently.
               
              The Maori Party could be kingmaker, but again they might only end up with 2-3 seats after this election, therefore much weaker.

              • Terry …
                13 May 2011 at 1:08 pm

                My view was national was going to be a two term government, however the way things are panning out there is a slim chance National may not be able to form a government come the general election.

                I thought people wouldnt be hurting to much yet, but they are starting too.

                The right never wins, elections are decided by the left voting or not voting.

                If the economy doesnt improve and we lose the World Cup can be blame KEY?

          • North 4.1.2.1.2
            13 May 2011 at 12:18 pm

            Get real PeteG………you constantly engage the pejorative re Hone Harawira. And then when checked you hide in the faux reasonable pose of the right-wing political analyst caught out. You’re not kidding anyone. It’s crystal clear where you’re at. And ‘onya of course, that’s your right, but less disingenuousness…….please.

            Moreover, when apposite comment is made about your worrying proclivity to engage “that practise” in relation to TTT you come over all like the parson who didn’t hear the thunderous fart in the middle of his righteous sermon.

            Fact is you lot anticipate that Hone Harawira WILL put an end to the dependable impotence of “our good maori folk” which the Maori Party contributes to the National Maori Party and the aspirational, non-existent, “One Nation”.

            I grant you’re not the worst reflection of it but that’s what all the Hone hatred is really about.

            Kia Ora.

        • g_man 4.1.2.2
          13 May 2011 at 8:39 pm

          North to PeteG, “Seems like you’re burdened with pakeha perspective wishful thinking re TTT.”

          Well I freely admit that as a British descendant I wouldn’t have a clue what the voters in TTT are thinking, so when I have some free time in the car I’ve been switching onto Radio Waatea now and again.

          And I have to say, it’s interesting listening (to the bits I can understand, not speaking Maori …:))

          Let’s just say, it’s not only us non-Maori that consider what you call “telling it straight-up” to be nothing more than arrogant rudeness on the part of Hone.

  5. joe90 5
    13 May 2011 at 8:44 am

    Ashcroft and co are at it again with UK workers rights and unions under attack..

    • marsman 5.1
      13 May 2011 at 9:16 am

      Ashcroft, John Key’s chum. Wonder whether he’ll fly into NZ in his private jet before the election to have a secret meeting with Key, like last time. Ashcroft is the UK’s equivalent of Douglas Myers, lives out of the country, pays no income tax but wants to have major political influence. Scum!

  6. Genere 6
    13 May 2011 at 8:51 am

    I like my tax cut, $70/wk. However, I think interest free student loans should be hauled in and WFF reduced as this is giving hard working tax payers like myself extra burden to pay. At least my tax cut is my own money I have grafted for unlike the un affordable WFF & IFSL.

    [lprent: This would all have somewhat more validity if the comment actually came from a IP that pings inside of NZ and isn’t a external proxy server. I’ll let this through, but I will be watching this handle for possibly being a astro-turfer or troll (just as I do with a few others). Your choice of method to access the site along with the spinner logic makes me rather suspicious. ]

    • Lanthanide 6.1
      13 May 2011 at 11:54 am

      I’ve really never understood this constant bitching about interest free student loans by the right-wing. If you’re so concerned about migration to Australia (Key used to be when it was Labour who was in power – now, not so much) and the ‘brain drain’, then putting interest back on student loans is one of the last things you’d want to do.
       
      Also it’s not just students and the young who are in favour of interest free student loans – many in the older generations who got free education think that it’s only fair that we accommodate the current generation as best as we possibly can when it comes to education. They also don’t want to see their children and grandchildren move overseas and never return.
       
      Tightening up on eligibility on interest free student loans, I am all for. I think giving out full-funding for all sorts of useless certificates and qualifications that are not actually useful in the real world would be a good place to start (I’m not talking accredited universities here – but private training institutes offering courses that are realistically on-par with secondary education). Generally raising university entry requirements and putting conditions on 2nd and 3rd year student loans requiring passing grades for the 1st year is another thing that we desperately need. It’s damaging to the country, and to individuals, if they go to university and drop out after 1 or 2 years and achieve nothing and removing things that enable this behaviour is a good and easy place to start.

      • Vicky32 6.1.1
        13 May 2011 at 6:27 pm

        Also it’s not just students and the young who are in favour of interest free student loans – many in the older generations who got free education think that it’s only fair that we accommodate the current generation as best as we possibly can when it comes to education. They also don’t want to see their children and grandchildren move overseas and never return.

        It’s not only the young with student loans. In hopes of getting a job, I did the Cert. TESOL in 2009, having ammost paid of the student loan I incurred in 1999 through doing the special needs qually. The Cert TESOL has got me a few months of casual work over the last 2 years (next to useless in other words) and at 50-mumble (over 55, is all I’ll say) I have a new student loan, plus the fag-end of the old one. Whether I will ever pay it off in my lifetime, I don’t know, and if I can’t get work, well can’t pay it, interest free or not (though obviously if it’s interest free then there is a hope!)

        • prism 6.1.1.1
          13 May 2011 at 6:55 pm

          Vicky32 I feel cynical when I remember the way that we were told that life was going to be interesting and challenging with new directions and careers within a lifetime for each individual. All you had to do was keep retraining and update your education. Then the state made this necessity a charge on future earnings, which were supposed to be plentiful. Rhetoric is what our pollies are good at, and that word is just around the corner from ‘lies’.

          • rosy 6.1.1.1.1
            13 May 2011 at 7:20 pm

            My daughter is down to her last 2 payments after 14 years. She’s worked full-time for all but one of those 14 years but couldn’t keep up with the interest payments until the interest was dropped. Thank goodness, or else she’d would have been paying all her working life.

    • Jeff 6.2
      13 May 2011 at 9:16 pm

      Hi LPrent, I am a fairly new reader (and very occasional comment-provider) of the Standard, and of blogs in general. Wonder if you could please define the terms “troll” and “astro-turfer”. I see these terms come up from time to time. Other new readers may also appreciate some definition.

  7. Olwyn 7
    13 May 2011 at 9:12 am

    logie97 said this on yesterday’s open mike: “Kerr and his mates in the Round Table…have said that it is not the responsibility of business to be involved in socially responsible issues. It is their business to be as efficient and as profitable as possible.”

    This being the case, you would suppose that they should be regulated and controlled from the outside, as is the case with other gangs who do not count social responsibility among their concerns. But no, we can’t have that either since it would bring a “distortion” to bear on the market, though bailouts etc, do not seem to be met with the same complaint. What a load of nonsense: if you are going to insist that business functions more or less like weather, you must surely allow that people take steps to guard against weather – umbrellas “distort” the fall of raindrops, but they do help to save people from getting soaked. The above is not a philosophy – it is a rationalisation that one might expect from a schoolyard bully!

    • logie97 7.1
      13 May 2011 at 6:14 pm

      Sorry, can you check the punctuation in that…?

      • Olwyn 7.1.1
        13 May 2011 at 7:15 pm

        I take it you are talking to me, so I have copied out the quote from which the two sentences were taken. I have not altered the punctuation but have removed a “however” – my interest was in how ludicrous the BR line of thought is when looked at unadorned, and thought that you expressed it well.

        “Employers and employees are going to have to shoulder more of the burden.”
        and Phil O’Reilly agrees.

        Kerr and his mates in the Round Table, however, have said that it is not
        the responsibility of business to be involved in socially responsible issues.
        It is their business to be as efficient and as profitable as possible.
        Seems they would assert that the employee should be providing for himself, work harder, get more money and find his/her own retirement scheme.

  8. marty mars 8
    13 May 2011 at 10:07 am

    if you are like me you will have noticed a large number of puns (or whatever the correct term is) on John Key’s name – shonkey being a good example – I wonder if a list may be helpful so that rather than spray multiples all over the place, we could concentrate on the really good ones and get a bit of cut-through – like smile and wave. My contribution is Kingkey, which may have limited uses 🙂

  9. Terry 9
    13 May 2011 at 10:33 am

    Here is Joke that I found on the net.. or is it the real future

    John Key goes to a science exhibition and is shown a time machine which can see a 100 years into the future. The man in charge invites him to ask any question he likes.

    John Key asks “How will Australia be in a 100 years?”. The machine wh…irrs and pops out a printout, which the man reads.
    “The country is in good hands under the new P.M, crime is non existent, there is no conflict, the economy is healthy, there are no worries”.

    He has another go “How will China be in a 100 years?”.
    Another printout, “The country will be the worlds leading economy, and everyone there will enjoy the highest standards of living in the world”.

    John Key then asks, “What will N.Z be like in a 100years?”
    The machine whirrs and beeps and goes into action. The man gets a printout, but just stares at it.
    “Come on” says John Key “What does it say?”

    The man replies, “I don’t know! It’s all in Maori!”

    • Zorr 9.1
      13 May 2011 at 11:21 am

      ugh… can’t help but feel that joke is in poor taste…

    • Draco T Bastard 9.2
      13 May 2011 at 11:36 am

      Sounds like the typical racist BS from some ignorant RWNJ.

      • Terry 9.2.1
        13 May 2011 at 11:48 am

        Draco T Bastard 9.2

        13 May 2011 at 11:36 am

        Sounds like the typical racist BS from some ignorant RWNJ.
         
        What would be wrong if in 100 years the Language was Maori and not English here?
         

        • PeteG 9.2.1.1
          13 May 2011 at 12:05 pm

          It would make it difficult for everyone who moves to Australia.

          The Maori language may be used more by then, but I don’t see English being dropped as a language, even by people who identify as Maori.

          • Terry 9.2.1.1.1
            13 May 2011 at 12:12 pm

            How many english will be in NZ in 100 years time?

            I think they will be a very small minority.

            • PeteG 9.2.1.1.1.1
              13 May 2011 at 12:31 pm

              “English” is quite different to English speakers. Those who don’t speak English are likely to be in a very small minority.

              How many “Maori” will be in New Zealand in 100 years?

              • weka …
                13 May 2011 at 12:49 pm

                We’ll be mostly a Polynesian country in a 100 years. I don’t get the joke though, is being most Polynesian or Maori meant to be a bad thing?

                • Terry …
                  13 May 2011 at 12:58 pm

                  No being Maori is to be celebrated not brought down, like any other culture.

                  It was a joke pulled form MANAs facebook

                  I had a good chuckle, then thought what will NZ be like in 100 years, with the population growth stats Maori shall become the backbone of any future economy.

                  Lets work together for a better future than maori bashing which this country does all the time.

                  The jokes punchline may become reality?

        • Draco T Bastard 9.2.1.2
          13 May 2011 at 3:22 pm

          I didn’t say anything would be wrong – the attempt at humour you posted did.

    • Carol 9.3
      13 May 2011 at 8:07 pm

      So why isn’t the Chinese printout in Mandarin?

  10. Pascal's bookie 10
    13 May 2011 at 11:12 am

    Newshoggers links to a couple of good log form posts from inside Egypt:

    http://www.newshoggers.com/blog/2011/05/egypt-two-imbaba-retrospectives.html

    well worth reading.

    • joe90 10.1
      13 May 2011 at 12:36 pm

      Thanks for that PB. And it reminds me again that behind any half decent sectarian conflict there’s blokes in frocks inciting dirty deeds.

  11. joe90 11
    13 May 2011 at 11:30 am

    An opinion piece from Canada.

    Why the poor cast votes for Conservatives.

    • prism 11.1
      13 May 2011 at 12:43 pm

      joe90 – Read Canadian piece. Makes good points which might explain a shift to right-wing pollies. But it does sound right-wing biased.
      It angers low-income voters to see secure middle-class bureaucrats getting pay hikes. Those trapped in entry-level service jobs seethe when public employees who earn far more than they ever will are rewarded simply for showing up. Those living on public assistance — employment insurance, welfare, old age security — dislike being treated with contempt by government officials. In both cases, cutting the public payroll has a lot of appeal.

      Having a go at bureaucrats is always easy targeting – but when needed, being able to see one quickly without lingering waiting for appointments is appreciated. This comment seems to be quoting the particularly red-necked with a permanent slant of being hard-done-by.

      But it can’t be ignored- there is a shift from the left here as Jim Anderton found when he spoke about his new party years ago to meetings of older guys in ‘cardigans’.

      • joe90 11.1.1
        13 May 2011 at 1:13 pm

        All part of Nactional and the right’s strategy Prism, blame the haves for the plight of the have nots.

        Robert Reich: The Republican Strategy

        The Republican strategy is to split the vast middle and working class — pitting unionized workers against non-unionized, public-sector workers against non-public, older workers within sight of Medicare and Social Security against younger workers who don’t believe these programs will be there for them, and the poor against the working middle class.

        By splitting working America along these lines, Republicans want Americans to believe that we can no longer afford to do what we need to do as a nation. They hope to deflect attention from the increasing share of total income and wealth going to the richest 1 percent while the jobs and wages of everyone else languish.

  12. prism 12
    13 May 2011 at 11:33 am

    Interesting to see the predictable thinking of some bloggers here. Pete G starts them off like a rabbit at a racetrack and all the whippets and greyhounds bound after him with but a single ‘thought’ in their head. Pete G has fun, never gets caught, and ends up knowing he is superior in his ability to manipulate most reciprocators. No good arguments will persuade him, he is not only firmly rightist, but enjoys being contrary. Do good points arise in the detailing of the arguments though? Merely gainsaying Pete G would seem a waste of time.

    • ianmac 12.1
      13 May 2011 at 11:47 am

      Hear hear prism. The only value of Pete’s suspiciously well-informed commentary is that it gives an insight about how the “enemy” thinks. A bit like planting a microphone into Steven Joyce’s office.

    • Colonial Viper 12.2
      13 May 2011 at 4:04 pm

      Yeah so i generally just take the piss out of him nowadays, for amusement you know.

    • MrSmith 12.3
      13 May 2011 at 5:30 pm

      Stop it prism, I thought he was working for the Labour party.

      • prism 12.3.1
        13 May 2011 at 6:11 pm

        Mr Smith – Yes I will stop it. There has to be room for some amusement amongst the daily political chaff. It really doesn’t adulterate the fare, and he enjoys it and so do others, so I shall say no more and as I wondered before perhaps his remarks force clarity in opposing views. He’s a bit like a cocnout shy at a fair and everyone chucks things at him, but he bounces up each time. I guarantee we’ll never win that coconut.

  13. ianmac 13
    13 May 2011 at 11:38 am

    “RSA Animate – Changing Education Paradigms.” A very watchable analysis of the changes that are failing to cope with the changing needs of society. The view that Academics are the best and those who are not academic are failures. But what about Lateral Divergent thinking? The intriguing graphics make this rather fun to watch. If you care about education for your kids or your grandkids watch it.
    This is an English chap, Ken Robinson, talking about USA trends but surprise surprise, it sounds like current NZ National Standards. Where did Key get his “ideas” from?

    Hat tip Millhouse.

  14. prism 14
    13 May 2011 at 12:29 pm

    News – PM savaged by own aged demented dog, muses regretfully “It’s hard to predict what animals may do, even one from within the family. The killer instinct is always lurking”.

    • mickysavage 14.1
      13 May 2011 at 12:49 pm

      Interestingly Farrar blogged about it at 10:54 am but ACT did not release it on their site until 11:13 am.
       
      Do I sense the dark hand of Crosby Textor here or am I being too cynical?
       
      The language is somewhat extreme and suggests an attempt to try and blur the very clear fact that a National takeover of ACT has occurred.
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      • PeteG 14.1.1
        13 May 2011 at 12:58 pm

        Gosh MS – the NBR article on it has comments starting from 10:53, the article will have been posted before that. TVNZ have theirs timed at 10:28am. CT are everywhere.

        By the way, it looks like you are spaced out again.

        • mickysavage 14.1.1.1
          13 May 2011 at 2:01 pm

          No need to be like that PeteG.  I did leave open the possibility that I was being overly cynical.
           
          Interestingly the author of the document was someone called “John” and the document was produced at 9:49 this morning.

  15. Penny Bright 15
    13 May 2011 at 1:08 pm

    WHISTLE-BLOWER ALERT!!

    HOUSING NZ ADVERTISES FOR ‘PROPERTY DIVESTMENT MANAGER’

    ” This crown owned entity owns a vast amount of property assets and they currently require the services of an experienced Divestment Officer to join their Assets team.

    …..role’s key purpose includes developing plans and strategies in relation to the disposal of assets, including engagement with other social housing partners, Iwi organisations and commercial residential property developers as well as with internal stakeholders.”

    _______________________________________________________________________________

    http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=374822613
    Property Divestment Expert

    Listing #: 374822613
    Location: Auckland City, Auckland
    Type: Full time, Permanent
    Listed: Sun, 08 May
    Your reference #: WG18046

    This crown owned entity owns a vast amount of property assets and they currently require the services of an experienced Divestment Officer to join their Assets team.

    Reporting into the Redevelopment and Upgrade Manager this role’s key purpose includes developing plans and strategies in relation to the disposal of assets, including engagement with other social housing partners, Iwi organisations and commercial residential property developers as well as with internal stakeholders.

    The successful candidate will need to have a good balance of both public and private sector property disposals experience. The ability to relate to a wide variety of people and stakeholders will allow you to flourish in this specialised role.

    Your property skills will include a mixture of valuations, rental agreements, disposals, financial analysis and general property negotiations.

    Your ideal background would include a mixture of property expertise gained from a local or regional council, government department, power/utility company or property consultancy.

    A relevant tertiary qualification in business, property or legal combined with an understanding of the social housing sector will give you the grounding to work across multiple projects.

    For further information please contact Mike Westbury on 04 4941523 or apply through the link below.
    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

    (I rang Mike Westbury, who confirmed that this ‘crown owned entity’ was Housing New Zealand.)

    This is setting up for massive privatisation of publicly-owned State housing assets.

    Whether housing is devolved to unaccountable NGOs, corporate charities, or corporate iwi – this is STILL privatisation.

    Privatisation of public assets/services starts by ‘devolution’ to these supposedly ‘not-for-profit’ private sector ‘trojan horses’ – then they get flicked off to the ‘for-profit’ private sector.

    Wonder how many big, slobbering snouts are lining up behind the scenes for THIS development – at a time of housing crisis?

    Wonder what Mr Popular smiley, wavy ‘shonky’ John Key has to say about THIS sneaky development – happening on HIS watch?

    Penny Bright
    http://waterpressure.wordpress.com

    • g_man 15.1
      13 May 2011 at 1:51 pm

      I heard somebody talking about this on Radio Waatea last night – was that you Penny?

      Didn’t HNZ go through a program of buying a bunch of housing some years back? Can’t remember.

      • Penny Bright 15.1.1
        13 May 2011 at 2:01 pm

        I talked about this issue on Radio Waatea last night, and Sue Henry (advocate for years for State Housing tenants from the Housing Lobby) talked about it the night before on Titewhai Harawira’s Radio Waatea show.

        This is a VERY big deal – especially when you combine it with the unelected Auckland ($upercity) Council’s Property CCO selling property assets behind the public’s back.

        (Have blogged a press release on this matter, co-signed by Lisa Prager – fellow Community Activist and ‘Public Watchdog’.

        Penny Bright
        http://waterpressure.wordpress.com

  16. randal 16
    13 May 2011 at 1:46 pm

    STEPEHN JOYCE STEPHYEN JOYCE STEPHEN JOYCE.
    are you deaf. I watched you go on and on on teevee last night about speed cameras and boy racers and a whole lot of fiddle faddle ad hoc garbage about speed cameras and at the end of the item a boy racer car sped off with the exhaust going flat out. I’m beginning to think you are simple minded. the way to get rid of these vermin is to concentrate on their noise emissions and take demerits off of that instead of the other tortuous rigmaroles the nitwits at the minsitry are dreaming up. these kids have got you buffaloed and you cant even work them out. the police are are styimied too because they have beocme infantilised by too much teevee, motorbikes, speedboats and leaf blowers so they cant hear noise any more. get to the root of the problem and get the top cops to sharpen up the attitudes of the guys on the beat and stop them being impressed by hunks of metal and weird hairdos. there has been a car parked on the footpath in high street masterton for the last week but no one has done anything about that either. every body just does what they like nowadays and nobody does anything till there is a fatality and then they start wringing their hands and blaming when the solution is quite easy..
    it seems like nobody can do anything properly anymore. unfotunately there is no rewind button on reality.

    • Adele 16.1
      13 May 2011 at 4:20 pm

      Teenaa koe, randal

      …it seems like nobody can do anything properly anymore. unfotunately there is no rewind button on reality.

      You are assuming that you have an adequate grasp of reality.

      So much vitriol and so little punctuation. Perhaps there is an age gap of huge proportions between you and ‘boy racers’ but why call them vermin. They belong to parents and too many of them are dying on our roads. That is the reality.

      The authorities, in fact, should try alternatives to waving a big stick and imposing more fines, more demerits, and criminalisisng their behaviours. Perhaps they should be made to knit ear muffs for the noise challenged.

      • prism 16.1.1
        13 May 2011 at 6:01 pm

        Kia ora Adele. Vitriol is dangerous acid, Randal’s having a rant and rather a despairing one it seems. He is entitled to some sympathy as not only boy racers have parents, and perhaps some parents dislike their children who are boy racers too.

        What is needed in NZ is parent education from the time before children are born and definitely before they start to walk A plan designed by informed parents to bring up their kids would mean happy parents enjoying and guiding their kids right through to driving age with less problems all around.

  17. NickC 17
    13 May 2011 at 6:56 pm

    I notice that the BMW smear hasnt gone anywhere. Probably because Mallard and Hipkins are filthy liars and even the one eyed authors at the standard can see it.

    • r0b 17.1
      13 May 2011 at 7:16 pm

      Gosh, that gives me an idea for a post tomorrow.

    • PeteG 17.2
      13 May 2011 at 7:21 pm

      There will be something new early next week to try and find a way of scoring some points over the budget.

    • Anne 17.3
      13 May 2011 at 7:54 pm

      So the difference between Mallard/Hipkins and John Key is that Key showers regularly and the other two (supposedly) don’t?

  18. Jim Nald 18
    13 May 2011 at 7:32 pm

    The wankey photo-ops are back. Now with chopper.
    Nausea just developed.
    Shouldn’t have checked the news while dinner is cooking.

    • rosy 18.1
      13 May 2011 at 7:54 pm

      It’s all right… just imagine that everyone looking at that is now associating new helicopters with free rides to photo-ops and totting up the $$ in their heads….. feel better??

    • Carol 18.2
      13 May 2011 at 8:14 pm

      Yes, I saw that big Chopper Key pic & decided not to stay on the Stuff site. Headed to google NZ news instead.

  19. burt 19
    13 May 2011 at 7:54 pm

    There is a great piece on weatherwatch.co.nz about global warming. I guess some people will just say ‘it’s from friends of science so it’s trash’ and some will say ‘it’s from friends of science so it’s totally accurate’.

    Either way it’s a concise road map for the debate.

    • Draco T Bastard 19.1
      13 May 2011 at 8:42 pm

      Oh, look at that, burt is linking to BS again.

      This one is much more fun and actually references to climatologists.

  20. Tony Parker 20
    13 May 2011 at 8:09 pm

    Anne Tolley shows her complete lack of competence once again.

    Most telling comment when commenting on increased ECE costs.
    “it’s not valued unless there’s a cost to it.”

  21. ianmac 21
    13 May 2011 at 8:41 pm

    “The Land and Water Forum’s recommendations on the management of New Zealand’s most precious natural resource – water – are a model for dealing with contentious issues.

    Regrettably, the Government has snapped the model over its knee. ”

    Had to check.Yes It is a Dom Editorial. What? Yes!
    The Govt brought together 58 Organisations who agreed that a set of National Standards on water quality was the role of Government. ……
    But it ends:” Speculation among forum members is that Dr Smith, a minister with a history of championing the environment, has been rolled by Cabinet colleagues philosophically opposed to any restrictions being placed on the ability of farmers or industrialists to maximise their profits.”
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/4997589/Editorial-Water-water-everywhere-but

    Am I surprised? ECan demolition was a warning.