Open mike 13/11/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:50 am, November 13th, 2013 - 190 comments
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openmike

 

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step right up to the mike …

190 comments on “Open mike 13/11/2013 ”

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  1. amirite 1
    13 November 2013 at 7:17 am

    Second reading of Hone’s Feed the kids bill in Parliament today.
    Let’s see who are the dirty rats voting against it.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9392525/Today-in-politics-Wednesday-November-13

    • Paul 1.1
      13 November 2013 at 7:22 am

      I predict Peter Dunne.

      • aerobubble 1.1.1
        13 November 2013 at 10:12 am

        Doesn’t Dunne have huge political influence now he’s discovered a link between the Greens and the Taliban. Oh, and when a MP does that shouldn’t the Speaker have something to say about bring the house into… …I mean its not like it had anything to do with a foreign security service who are about to manage the Commonwealth conference because after all who listens to a party of one.

      • Rosie 1.1.2
        13 November 2013 at 10:37 am

        I second that Paul. A few weeks ago on a Radio Active interview Deborah Morris (remember her? Used to be be a NZ First MP back in the 90’s) who represents Every Child Counts was scathing about Dunne’s lack of support for the bill and the DJ was encouraging every one send Dunne an email about his stance.

      • Tracey 1.1.3
        13 November 2013 at 10:46 am

        rich families first

    • Paul 1.2
      13 November 2013 at 7:33 am

      And on the same day …
      New Zealand…. playground for the rich.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11155982

      Private jet visits to NZ booming
      “The market had recovered since the global financial crisis five years ago although many of the super wealthy who own $50 million to $60 million jets were barely affected.

      “The people who own a Global Express or Gulfstream 550 may see their fortune is now $6 billion and it hasn’t made much of a dent in their lifestyle. The top end of the market is going strong.”

      Micky Savage’s dream has become a nightmare.

    • bad12 1.3
      13 November 2013 at 7:34 am

      1st, reading that is, the ‘feed the kids bill’ was up for it’s 1st reading a while back but was delayed,(can’t remember the reason),

      Lolz, i see a busload of kids from Poriua’s Natone School are getting a free breakfast at the Parliament today,

      Many long moons ago i wandered in to the Parliaments dining room and helped myself to a good helping of porridge and toast, to my great displeasure they tossed me out befor i could start on the bacon and eggs…

    • millsy 1.4
      13 November 2013 at 7:54 am

      I cannot understand why people are so opposed to food in schools.

      It is no different to free milk in schools between 1934 and 1967 (the biggest opponents having chugged that down in their childhood), the school dental service, school nurses and the like.

      Do any of the older guys and girls on here remember such opposition for the free milk in school programme?

      • JK 1.4.1
        13 November 2013 at 8:30 am

        I think we all took the free milk and dental service for granted, Millsy. I don’t remember anyone opposing it, but I do remember the milk standing outside the school gates – glass bottles – in the sun, getting a bit too creamy for my own taste, but most of the kids chugged it down okay. (It didn’t go rancid – it wasn’t around long enough for that!)

        • bad12 1.4.1.1
          13 November 2013 at 9:18 am

          i always had the job of hauling the trolley round the classrooms, the silver lining to that, the cream if you will, was that i got to double and triple dip, slurp…

      • Puckish Rogue 1.4.2
        13 November 2013 at 8:31 am

        I think its a good idea but I’d take the money from the parents benefit not needed for lunch and breakfast to help subsidise it

        • bad12 1.4.2.1
          13 November 2013 at 9:15 am

          That expresses the divide between left and right quite neatly then doesn’t it, i would far prefer the level of benefit where children are reliant to be far higher, compared to ‘other’ children beneficiary kids are $100 a week worse off through cuts to those benefits and the non-payment of Government programs to those reliant upon benefits,

          The ‘churn’ in beneficiaries means that a larger number of kids than the 250,000 numbered live for a significant period of their developing years where good nutrition is of the utmost importance for their later lives in levels of poverty that are an obscenity in a rich developed nation,

          While supportive of Mana’s ‘food in schools’ bill i do find it demeaning of the parents of benefit dependent children reinforcing the ‘stereotype’ in which the right portray all beneficiaries,

          Having tho said that, it is the kids that must come first over and above the political niceties, and if ‘food in schools’ is the only possible gain for those kids from a system that has badly let them down then so be it…

          • Puckish Rogue 1.4.2.1.1
            13 November 2013 at 9:53 am

            I see the raising of benefits to be a seperate issue to this…I figure that if parents no longer have to provide 10 meals per week per child (breakfast and lunch x 5) then thats money the parents don’t need to receive (because the childs being fed)

            Whether the amount of money they recieve is sufficient is spererate to this though

            • thatguynz 1.4.2.1.1.1
              13 November 2013 at 10:18 am

              Minor problem with your theory there PR. Have you considered that perhaps the kids weren’t getting fed properly at home because they couldn’t afford it? What then for those whose benefits you are reducing further?

              • Puckish Rogue …
                13 November 2013 at 10:44 am

                Well if they don’t have to provide 10 meals a week per child it’ll even itself out then

                • Colonial Viper …
                  13 November 2013 at 10:59 am

                  Hey dick head. We’re not looking to even things up, we’re looking to improve it in favour of poor families. Surely it’s not that difficult to understand?

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    13 November 2013 at 1:41 pm

                    PR doesn’t appear to be looking to make things better for poor families. He seems to be only concerned with making things better for the rich.

                • framu …
                  13 November 2013 at 11:16 am

                  taking money off someone who has none evens nothing out – it put the issue into a negative

                  do you understand the counterargument people are putting to you?

                  because at the moment your just repeating your self

            • framu 1.4.2.1.1.2
              13 November 2013 at 10:25 am

              considering ruth richardson deliberately put benefits 20% (?) below what was considered enough for a single person to exist on (not live, exist) i fail to see how it can be considered separate at all

              the “kids not having enough to eat” problem isnt that all bennie parents are drugged up gambling addicts who watch sky and bash their kids. Its that both beneficiaries and low paid working parents dont earn enough to bloody feed them properly!

              Its a problem that affects the working poor as well as those on a benefit.

              Considering that the food in schools idea is actually bloody cheap (from a govt spend perspective) and that it creates down stream savings i find your approach of hitting the poor once again rather sad.
              How much of your personal tax payment would go to this scheme? I dont know the figure but i would guess its somewhere in the 0.01% area

            • bad12 1.4.2.1.1.3
              13 November 2013 at 11:25 am

              Having tried for a few minutes to de-cypher the last line of your comment in relation to what you said above it i think i will just ‘go’ with CV and attach to you the epithet ‘Dick-Head’,

              i will tho make the point again, taxation of benefits, the direct cutting of benefits, and the non-allowance of those receiving benefits what is essentially a family benefit dressed up as a ‘tax credit’ has left the income of beneficiaries with children 100 dollars a week worse off compared to those who can find work,

              As a rule you will find that with a budget that just doesn’t add up to 3 meals a day most people will whittle down the ‘need’ for nutrition to one good meal a day, obviously the average child needs far better nutrition that this if physical and psychological ailments are to be avoided later in life,

              To suggest that these children are solely brought up reliant upon a benefit is an untruth as the ‘churn’ in the figures shows that most are reliant upon such for a few years whereupon their parents enter the workforce, the damage done tho in the meantime may for these children last a lifetime…

            • McFlock 1.4.2.1.1.4
              13 November 2013 at 11:59 am

              tories summed up right there: taking money off people is part of the discussion, giving money to people is “a seperate issue”.

              Tory politics is all about give and take – you give, they take.

            • Draco T Bastard 1.4.2.1.1.5
              13 November 2013 at 1:38 pm

              You’re predicating that on the assumption that the parents have enough money in the first place while all indications are that they don’t.

        • millsy 1.4.2.2
          13 November 2013 at 10:48 pm

          You mean like a “Tax” of some sort?

          Oops, I think they already pay that…

    • Tracey 1.5
      13 November 2013 at 10:30 am

      there’s no money for that programme or rape prevention programmes in all high schools BUT the government is talking very hard to eradicate poverty and discourage sexual violence. Kay??

  2. just saying 2
    13 November 2013 at 8:20 am

    http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Open-letter-from-Andrew-Fagan/tabid/878/articleID/38905/Default.aspx#.UoJ9uicWGE1

    I found the above heartening. He’s not there yet, but neither are a lot of people.

    And – Go Karen!

    • Tracey 2.1
      13 November 2013 at 10:41 am

      yes, if not late. It’s part of the problem in a way. Fagan went to work having had a disagreement about this issue and feeling what he felt toward the topic or his wife’s side f the argument he took it out on someone else, This is a lack of self control many suffer from but it’s one end of the same spectrum. It was NEVER about Fagan but he made it about him at the expense of the poor victim who rang in.. No wonder reporting is so low, not only how she would have felt but any women/girls listening would hardly be inspired to come forward. until radio presenters are behaving and controlled like journalists understanding there are consequences and it’s not all about them…

      • just saying 2.1.1
        13 November 2013 at 2:21 pm

        I completely agree Tracey.

        But I was heartened because I think his account is a completely honest expression of how he sees this. Now anyway.

        He’s been caught up in something that has taken him completely by surprise. And sure, he still feels sorry for himself, and still doesn’t get anything like the how serious his verbal assault was the for the young woman. But there is movement in this issue. The young woman stood her ground. John and Willy lost their jobs, and may not get them back. His wife put him out in the rain to walk to work. Fagan is forced to write a public letter of explanation. And these sorts of incidents, conversations seem to be happening all over the place.

        I was just talking to a friend who was telling me that her elderly (male) neighbour came out when she was collecting her mail, anxious to tell her that he felt sorry for “those poor girls” and “it’s just got to stop”. And they’d never talked about anything like that before. It was like he wanted her to know whose side he was on.

        It’s not that I imagine that this particular fight is over by any stretch of the imagination, just that there is movement in an issue that has seemed intractable during my whole lifetime. Who know’s what’s next? Plutocracy, Climate change….?

        • weka 2.1.1.1
          13 November 2013 at 11:22 pm

          Thanks js. I also found Fagan’s letter heartening, simply because he demonstrated how a man can get it wrong and then be honest about that and try and change. Him acknowledging he didn’t know enough about rape culture is important (and something a couple of commenters here could learn from).

          And I agree about the woman Elle – that she was able to say to him “did you not hear what I said?” is awesome.

          It’s not that I imagine that this particular fight is over by any stretch of the imagination, just that there is movement in an issue that has seemed intractable during my whole lifetime. Who know’s what’s next? Plutocracy, Climate change….?

          I feel this way too 🙂

          I’m trying not to get prematurely excited, but you know this year we have now seen 3 significant cultural shifts: the GCSB protests, the change in leadership of the Labour party, and now a tipping point around rape culture in NZ. I have to wonder if the tide is turning.

    • Rogue Trooper 2.2
      13 November 2013 at 6:05 pm

      always a big fan of Karyn, Andrew, not so much.

  3. Lanthanide 3
    13 November 2013 at 8:47 am

    Probably a bit snarky, but it would have been nice if Cunliffe could say re: Tamihere “He’d have a snowflakes chance of standing as a Labour MP again, but perhaps he could consider joining another party like the Conservatives”.

  4. travellerev 4
    13 November 2013 at 9:15 am

    NATO Plays Regime Change Game In Timaru New Zealand And We’re OK With That!

  5. Adrian 5
    13 November 2013 at 9:19 am

    Apparently there was an unexpected bonus from milk in schools. A 2011 NZ ( Dunedin,I think.) study found that those of us who drank the milk have a 30% lower incidence of bowel cancer ( 38% if you drank more ) . Rates have gone up since it was stopped. A bloody good reason to reinstate asap.

  6. miravox 6
    13 November 2013 at 9:45 am

    George Monbiot explains the loss of trust in politicians

    t’s the reason for the collapse of democratic choice. It’s the source of our growing disillusionment with politics. It’s the great unmentionable. Corporate power. The media will scarcely whisper its name. It is howlingly absent from parliamentary debates. Until we name it and confront it, politics is a waste of time.

    The political role of business corporations is generally interpreted as that of lobbyists, seeking to influence government policy. In reality they belong on the inside. They are part of the nexus of power that creates policy. They face no significant resistance, from either government or opposition, as their interests have now been woven into the fabric of all three main political parties in Britain.

    • CnrJoe 7.1
      13 November 2013 at 1:23 pm

      “The Argentinian religious leader’
      why does The Independent use this phrase to describe the Pope?

      • Colonial Viper 7.1.1
        13 November 2013 at 6:13 pm

        Hmmm. Editors probably are not Catholic. The history of the paper and its attitude to the Troubles should explain it.

        The Bishop of Rome would be appropriate…

      • Murray Olsen 7.1.2
        15 November 2013 at 7:56 pm

        I’m guessing that their readers will take him less seriously if they keep reminding them that he’s only a low life Argie. Not as if he knows about real civilisation or religion like Europeans, after all.

    • Rhinocrates 7.2
      13 November 2013 at 1:26 pm

      I continue to be amazed that the cardinals have elected a pope who is a good man. Who put what in the water and where can I get some?

      • Bill 7.2.1
        13 November 2013 at 1:31 pm

        Nice to see you commenting again Rhinocrates. Please put any thoughts you might have been having about ‘taking a sabbatical’ out of your mind 😉

        • Rhinocrates 7.2.1.1
          13 November 2013 at 3:08 pm

          Thank you and sorry, but for blah blah reasons I do have to crash or hibernate sometimes.

          I generally comment the most when I have a lot of real work to do… like now. 🙂

  8. Puckish Rogue 8
    13 November 2013 at 10:19 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11156004

    – Is this why Labour were quiet when the nerald was looking into National MPs personal wealth…just shows that most parties are as bad as each other

    • fender 8.1
      13 November 2013 at 10:27 am

      4.9 million looks pretty insignificant in comparison to these fuckers

      • Puckish Rogue 8.1.1
        13 November 2013 at 10:36 am

        Not really the point though is it, a bad looks a bad look and I think people generally suspect that most National MPs are doing quite well anyway whereas most people probably don’t realise Labour does this…

        • karol 8.1.1.1
          13 November 2013 at 10:42 am

          But the weird thing about that article is that it takes aim at the Labour Party with the headline and focus on 5 Labour MPs, but also includes a more muted reference to this:

          The Labour Party owns nearly $5 million worth of property – and taxpayers are footing the bill for five offices rented back to MPs.
          […]
          Five of those properties are rented to the Parliamentary Service as electorate offices for MPs Ross Robertson, Ruth Dyson, Phil Twyford, Andrew Little and Chris Hipkins.

          In a similar arrangement, at least five National MPs, including Prime Minister John Key, own their electorate offices, which are rented to themselves.

          Hardly a “balanced” article. Looks like a politically-motivated attack on Labour.

          • Ant 8.1.1.1.1
            13 November 2013 at 12:05 pm

            Totally, really scraping the bottom of the outrage barrel for that article. Electorate offices seems a pretty reasonable use of money since it is a core part of the job. However, financing personal property investment portfolios is not.

    • Puckish Rogue 8.2
      13 November 2013 at 10:30 am

      NZherald…(fat fingers)

    • Tracey 8.3
      13 November 2013 at 10:45 am

      it’s appalling whoever is doing it and it needs to stop. Double dipping etc etc. These people are public servants, they serve US. PR are you calling for all this to stop, everything in all three articles or are you happy if labour does it then national can?t

      • Puckish Rogue 8.3.1
        13 November 2013 at 11:47 am

        I would love a clear set of rules to be followed plus all expenses to be open to the public via a easy to use web site or sum such and all this is be directed by an independent authority

        I just don’t think its going to happen any time soon

      • Draco T Bastard 8.3.2
        13 November 2013 at 2:20 pm

        There’s two ways that it could stop:
        1.) Parliament owns the electorate office and whichever MP gets to use it
        2.) Parliamentary service doesn’t pay for the electorate office which would actually be a decrease in our democracy

        What’s really happening here is that the party owns an office which they support and use as party central for the electorate. When their candidate becomes an MP that office then becomes the electorate office and the costs of running the office go to Parliamentary Services.

        I’d say that it’s probably quite reasonable but there’d have to be serious demarcation between party activities and electorate activities.

  9. BLiP 9
    13 November 2013 at 10:20 am

    ‘

    Sad day for New Zealand yesterday when the John Key led National government passed the legislation enabling the Sky City convention centre scam. Sad for problem gamblers, sad for their familiets, and sad too for New Zealand that the whole deal has been promoted and pushed through under a cloud of lies coming from the Prime Minister.

    Just a reminder . . .

    the Sky City deal will provide 1000 construction jobs and 800 casino jobs

    all five bidders for the convention centre were treated equally

    my office has had no correspondence, no discussions, no involvement with the Sky City deal

    I did not mislead the House (8)

    I can’t remember what was discussed at my meeting with the SkyCity Chief Executive on 14 May 2009

    I have no record of the 12 November 2009 email from Treasury advising that the SkyCity deal was dodgy and needed to be referred to the Auditor General

    there was nothing improper about the Sky City deal

    SkyCity will only get “a few more” pokie machines at the margins

    any changes to gambling regulations will be subject to a full public submission process

    Sky City has approached TVNZ about the purchase/use of government-owned land

    I did not mislead the House (9)

    this government has been very transparent about all its dealings with SkyCity

    I did not mislead the House (10)

    the Auditor General has fully vindicated National over the Sky City deal

    I did not mislead the House (11)

    the Deputy Auditor General supports the view that there was nothing inappropriate about the Sky City deal

    I did not mislead the House (12)

    I did not breach the confidentiality of the Auditor General’s Report into the Sky City deal

    the Labour Government did exactly the same sort of deal back in 2001

  10. Penny Bright 10
    13 November 2013 at 10:21 am

    What REALLY concerns me about the shonky NZ International Convention Centre (Sky City ‘money-laundering’) Bill, is that it was effectively railroaded through the House before either ‘Trader John’ or Steven Joyce answered my OIA requests, asking why no ‘due diligence’ had been done by OFCANZ (Organised and Financial Crime Agency of NZ) on the increased risk of money-laundering.

    Read the OFCANZ OIA reply for yourselves:

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/SKY-CITY-OFCANZ-OIA-REPLY-NO-DUE-DLIGENCE-RE-MONEY-LAUNDERING-bright-penny-06-c211711-2-sent-reply.pdf

    So – I have ‘blown the whistle’ to the appropriate international ‘anti money-laundering’ bodies:

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/whistle-blower-alert-to-international-anti-money-laundering-bodies/

    I have also requested that the NZ Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) investigate the above-mentioned lack of ‘due diligence’ by OFCANZ.

    Wouldn’t you think that if there was effectively an ‘money-laundering factory’ in the heart of Auckland City, that there would be an increased risk of organised crime?

    Don’t you think it’s somewhat ironic that Sky City are apparently going to have some form of ‘face recognition’ for problem gamblers, but anonymity for money-launderers?

    Don’t you think it rather convenient that Auckland Council made no mention of the increased risk of money-laundering arising from the NZ International Convention Centre Bill in their submission, and Mayor Len Brown, (who accepted a $15,000 Mayoral campaign donation from Sky City in 2010), allegedly used a Sky City hotel room(s) for his illicit affair with Ms Chuang?

    Anyone else not only concerned about these issues, but actually trying to DO something about them?

    Penny Bright

    ‘Anti-corruption /anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’

    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

    • Chooky 10.1
      13 November 2013 at 4:34 pm

      …sounds good Penny….sounds like you are on the case…imo it is a very important issue!…keep us posted on developments and any answers/results from your inquiries

  11. karol 11
    13 November 2013 at 10:31 am

    Whoa! Brian Rudman doesn’t hold back in slamming “kracklite”:

    Take care, mate. I understand the need to protect your privacy & that you probably won’t be using any of your old pseudonyms any time soon (and I won’t be using any other than the username that has been used by some MSM journos.)

    And as for Rudman – he doesn’t let using his birth name getting in the way of unleashing a load of emotive venom:

    The oh-so-brave troll freaked, slamming the phone down and squealing, “Mummy, Mummy, the nasty policeman’s coming to get me”.

    said blog commenter is far from being a tr0ll. Though he may be “tr0ll feaked” ie freaked by some tr0lls on and offline.

    • Puckish Rogue 11.1
      13 November 2013 at 10:41 am

      Well hopefully Kracklite (or whatever his name is) has a learnt a valuble lesson about the perils of running ones mouth off

      • karol 11.1.1
        13 November 2013 at 10:43 am

        Yes, PR. I can understand why you would see this incident as providing you with a valuable lesson.

        • Puckish Rogue 11.1.1.1
          13 November 2013 at 11:43 am

          I post as if I might actually meet the people I’m posting to in real life which means I do censor some of the things I want to say (out of politeness mostly)

          • lprent 11.1.1.1.1
            13 November 2013 at 12:39 pm

            Most people who know me in real life are perfectly aware that I’m almost as likely to say similar things in almost any circumstances – if I think someone is acting like a fool. I take great delight in undercutting pompous gits in any circumstances and I really don’t bother sparing their feelings because otherwise they will remain pompous gits (usually repeating talkback radio without engaging their brains). I really can’t be bothered with faux politeness in any voluntary situation (I make exceptions for situations where urgency is a major factor).

            However most of the people who are friends, family, and work colleagues are usually pretty damn good at arguing their own side. I guess it is a darwinian winnowing.

            • Rhinocrates 11.1.1.1.1.1
              13 November 2013 at 1:38 pm

              Agree lprent. BTW, I’m Kracklite – it’s something I don’t conceal, since I use the same avatar for both handles.

              has a learnt a valuble lesson about the perils of running ones mouth off

              No, I’ve never learned any lesson about the perils of running my mouth of. I gather the lesson is supposed to be “keep quiet and allow injustice to occur” and I could never get my head around that.

              • Chooky …
                13 November 2013 at 1:46 pm

                hi Rhino…pleased to see you back…unrepentant!…. and firing on all cylinders!

              • karol …
                13 November 2013 at 1:50 pm

                Good to see you back commenting here Rhino. I didn’t want to assume you were comfortable to have the pseudonym you use here associated with KL & Rudman’s comments.

                However, it means PG’s attempt to out you is a lame piece of …. hmmm.

                Just reminded me that some tr0lls comment under the name by which they are known offline.

                • Rhinocrates …
                  13 November 2013 at 1:54 pm

                  Rudman isn’t even on my radar, just another Dead White Man who embodies privilege under Granny’s skirts… and there are a lot of them.

                  (Actually, I’m white myself, but being Scottish, that’s the result of tanning – we’re all naturally pale blue.)

                • Rhinocrates …
                  13 November 2013 at 2:04 pm

                  Ah, Pete George, bless him. His signature is always a punchline.

              • Puckish Rogue …
                13 November 2013 at 2:16 pm

                “keep quiet and allow injustice to occur”

                – Nope its meaning was don’t post anything unless you’re prepared for the consequences

                • Rhinocrates …
                  13 November 2013 at 2:26 pm

                  It’s amazing that the most reactionary present themselves as rebels, with adjectives serving as nouns.

                  Nope its meaning was don’t post anything unless you’re prepared for the consequences

                  Ah yes, too true! That is exactly the point, which can be paraphrased as “or else…”

                  Thanks for the implicit threat. Who else would you like your big brother to beat up?

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    13 November 2013 at 2:38 pm

                    No once again its not: “keep quiet and allow injustice to occur” its when you post something and include your contact details you have to be prepared to to face up to your actions which in this case meant speaking to the person you had been saying things about

                    Since you didn’t want to speak to him I’m assuming you wern’t prepared to have to answer for you words ie not facing up to the consequences

                    • Rhinocrates …
                      13 November 2013 at 2:50 pm

                      PR, you really are naive, aren’t you, or trying not to think too much. I’m of an age and I have friends and family members who aren’t so sanguine about calls from police. Sometimes those police raped them, sometimes they took their family away, not to be seen again. Don’t think that that slippery slope can’t be built here.

                      I do know that when you say “consequences” you mean “deserved punishment”.

                      However, thank you for your explicit acknowledgement that it is not a good idea to reveal any personal details to the police and that one should fear them.

                      I’m assuming

                      Assume away. Assume that fairies exist if you like.

              • Olwyn …
                13 November 2013 at 2:17 pm

                Hi Rhinocrates. I’m glad you haven’t let yourself be silenced by this rather odd bout of public attention – I always enjoy your contributions.

                • Rhinocrates …
                  13 November 2013 at 2:30 pm

                  Hi Olwyn, believe me, I’d love to live in a bathysphere or on the cliffs of Valles Marineris or a Trappist Monastery (actually there is a monastery of Tourette, which sounds cool, and it was designed by Le Corbusier…)… but while I desire silence and obscurity, well, it seems that I have this compulsion…

                  • just saying …
                    13 November 2013 at 2:41 pm

                    Welcome back Rhinocrates 🙂

                  • NZ Femme …
                    13 November 2013 at 3:00 pm

                    I’m glad you have this compulsion. Many of your comments have put a smile on my face for the day. The more bombastic ones have had me keeling over in stitches. I like your style.

                    Re: Monastery life. I sometimes daydream about convent life, Hildegarde Von Bingen style. But the God thing puts me off.

            • King Kong 11.1.1.1.1.2
              13 November 2013 at 2:28 pm

              lprent, you are a very special man.

              The only reason I have trouble believing that you actually behave like this in public is that if you were (hypothetically) this obnoxious to me or a large majority of the people I interact with, you would spend an awfully long time eating through a straw.

              As you haven’t mentioned multiple hidings, I call bullshit fantasy.

              • Tracey …
                13 November 2013 at 2:34 pm

                so you behave differently online to your “real” life KKK and your solution to those you don’t like is to beat them up?

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  13 November 2013 at 2:41 pm

                  Just putting it out but most people on here would probably think I’m a decent guy if they met me in real life (and didn’t ask me what I thought of Russell Norman ;))

                  And I’m guessing that’d be the reaction most people on here would have of each other…we (all of us) probably have more in common with each other then we think

                  • Rhinocrates …
                    13 November 2013 at 2:43 pm

                    I congratulate you on your long, loyal and loving relationship that so many aspire to. You and the mirror must be so deeply happy.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      13 November 2013 at 2:54 pm

                      Well thank you, you too can achieve it as well if you believe in yourself

                      “I do know that when you say “consequences” you mean “deserved punishment”.”

                      – No, thats what you would call an assumption and I think theres something witty at the bottom of this post about assumptions

                      “However, thank you for your explicit acknowledgement that it is not a good idea to reveal any personal details to the police and that one should fear them.”

                      – I’m starting to wonder if you live in a fantasy world…

                      “Assume away. Assume that fairies exist if you like.”

                      – When is a fairy not a fairy? when its got its head up an elves skirt and then it becomes a goblin…

                    • Rhinocrates …
                      13 November 2013 at 3:46 pm

                      No, thats what you would call an assumption

                      It’s making what is disingenuously implicit explicit.

                      – I’m starting to wonder if you live in a fantasy world…

                      On the other hand, I am already sure that you are. History is not fantasy.

                      As for the final line. Oh dear, please back away from the keyboard, read a book, get some experience.

                      I like cats. I even act like them. Do you know that you resemble a mouse?

                    • Rogue Trooper …
                      13 November 2013 at 6:40 pm

                      I have determined my cat is the witch.

                • King Kong …
                  13 November 2013 at 2:47 pm

                  To be fair I probably do dial down the charm online as it serves very little purpose. In the real world you would have to be retarded to do that.

                  • Tracey …
                    13 November 2013 at 2:52 pm

                    People with down syndrome are very charming. Oh, and the violence to those in real life you don’t like?

                  • Rhinocrates …
                    13 November 2013 at 2:54 pm

                    Oh God, another one saying, “I’m really a nice guy in real life”

                    What next “Some of my best friends are…”?

                    OK here I am: I really am sarcastic, misanthropic, pessimistic and opinionated in real life. I shun company. If I’m polite, it’s because I’m trying to find a way to excuse my departure. Got that?

                    • King Kong …
                      13 November 2013 at 3:05 pm

                      I think you have just justified my comment above.

                      Anyway, no need to overdo the excuses. You got a touch of the vapours…own it.

                  • Tracey …
                    13 November 2013 at 2:58 pm

                    you do “get” that by spending time online it is part of your “real world”.

                  • Rhinocrates …
                    13 November 2013 at 2:58 pm

                    This following an overt threat of GBH if you were to meet lprent in real life?

                    • King Kong …
                      13 November 2013 at 3:14 pm

                      No, I think you might be jumping to conclusions…again.

                      I said that I didn’t think that lprent behaved the way he says he does in public because if he did there are alot of people (myself included in a hypothetical meeting where he behaved like an obnoxious clown) who would just deck him.

                    • Rhinocrates …
                      13 November 2013 at 3:51 pm

                      “I wouldn’t inflict GBH, but my friends would.”

                      OK, got that.

                      You’re repeatedly making implied threats of physical violence towards a site admin through secondary agencies connected to you. When are you going to start making them under your own name?

                      “My friends would…” is an evasion of “I would…” When will you say “I will…”?

                • McFlock …
                  13 November 2013 at 2:58 pm

                  goddamn interwebz, forcing him to use his words

                  • Rob …
                    13 November 2013 at 4:27 pm

                    What, as opposed to actually conversing with someone on the telephone, who would have thunk it

                    • McFlock …
                      13 November 2013 at 5:19 pm

                      Ah, so kk has a diagnosed neurological condition that compels him to violence rather than rational discussion?

                      I didn’t know that “being right wing” was listed in DSM–IV, although I agree that it probably should be.

                    • Rogue Trooper …
                      13 November 2013 at 6:42 pm

                      R.

                • David H …
                  14 November 2013 at 8:12 am

                  What do you expect Tracey. If he can’t win the argument, and it gets a little heated, he will resort to his fists. It’s just typical thug practice, if he cant win the argument, then he hits his opponent.
                  You see heaps of this type of ‘person’ in Wellington/Auckland on a Friday/Saturday nights. They are the reason sane people don’t visit these places anymore.

      • QoT 11.1.2
        13 November 2013 at 8:09 pm

        a valuble lesson about the perils of running ones mouth off

        How delightfully authoritarian. And I’m sure you’d be just as enthusiastic if it were you getting the same treatment from a regime you disagreed with.

    • Bill 11.2
      13 November 2013 at 10:49 am

      And the whole anonymous versus pseudonymous bullshit is raised again. And a paid opinionator/commissar once again displays how to twist and turn an event via omission, selective quoting and a smattering of fiction.

      In my world, his attempted character assassination of a person he doesn’t even know – and by extension and clear implication a whole online world of people who use pseudonyms – is beneath contempt.

      Meanwhile, calling out an organisation is legitimate. And should be encouraged in any society. Surely. Just not in Brian commissar Rudman’s world, peopled as it is by benevolent figures of authority and where all is good and all is right and the aforementioned grown up’s ought to be left to order things and act as they see fit

      • karol 11.2.1
        13 November 2013 at 10:53 am

        Well said, Bill.

      • weka 11.2.2
        13 November 2013 at 11:44 am

        Yes, so many things wrong with what Rudman wrote. I posted a couple of comments, will see if they turn up.

        Kracklite doesn’t post anonymously, they post pseudonymously. This means they use a consistent name on the internet and regulars know who the person is. Using an apparent real life name like John Wilson means no more than using a name like Kracklite, because there is no way to know who that John Wilson is. What you are suggesting isn’t an issue of names, it’s an issue of sharing personal details online. Many of us have valid and very good reasons for not doing so. You don’t have to live in China to fear for your job or wellbeing. That you have a level of security and privilege in your life that means you can be published using your RL name doesn’t mean everyone does.

        btw anonymous commenters are people where there is no way to know which particular person is posting at any given time. Most serious political blogs don’t allow anonymous commenting because it’s too hard to follow debate when you don’t know who made any specific comment. A good example of anonymous posting is newspapers that publish editorials without saying who wrote the piece.

        I know Kracklite’s commenting style, and while their comments can be harsh and sometimes inflammatory, they don’t fit ordinary definitions of trolling. Someone in your position of power mis-using the term ‘troll’ against someone whose opinions you don’t like IS an attempt at suppression of free speech.

        As for rules of debate and defamation, most political blogs have very clear moderation of things that are potentially defammatory, because it is the blog owners that are legally liable for what they publish. Calling the police ‘pigs’ would not be considered a legally risky statement. Rules of debate vary from blog to blog, sometimes hugely, and I doubt that most academic institutions have any better idea of what those are than most newspaper journalists.

        Your ridiculing and marginalising of someone with Aspergers tells me more about you than the issues of the blog commentariat.

        Overall I find your piece to be full of inaccuracies and prejudices about the blogosphere. Blogs are here to stay, might be better if the MSM educated themselves on how they actually work.

        • thatguynz 11.2.2.1
          13 November 2013 at 12:23 pm

          And what a surprise to see Pete George get his grubby little mitts in there too (the Herald comments). What a vile cretin he is.

        • lprent 11.2.2.2
          13 November 2013 at 12:34 pm

          Nice comment – and more polite than I’d have done.

        • Rhinocrates 11.2.2.3
          13 November 2013 at 2:22 pm

          Wow, Weka,

          that is just amazing. I’m probably blushing (meaning a whiter shade of pale, no doubt – I’ll have to go check in the mirror and listen to Procul Harum). As for everyone else below – too many to name – thank you very much also. Of course you’re sticking up for principles, which I admire.

          As for inflammatory, well, I’ve read far too much of Harlan Ellison not to love his style. Please check out the documentary Dreams With Sharp Teeth .

          • emergency mike 11.2.2.3.1
            13 November 2013 at 3:15 pm

            And welcome back Rhino, I also seek out and value your comments. As much as I was appalled by Rudman’s offensive lowbrow article, I must say I got a good laugh from his repeated labeling of you as a tr0ll.

            Also laugh worthy was his parting “At least the Roast Busters didn’t hide behind anonymity,” shot. O fer sure, you could learn a thing or two from the RBers Rhino. Where’s my Tui? I hope you’re laughing too.

            • Rhinocrates 11.2.2.3.1.1
              13 November 2013 at 4:29 pm

              I indulged in a mild chuckle. I’ve been called worse by better people, as… er, someone said. Pierre Trudeau, I think.

          • Tim 11.2.2.3.2
            13 November 2013 at 10:24 pm

            Damn! There’s something I haven’t heard in a while – that album with the purple and grey cover!
            I’ve been away and hadn’t noticed your absence – but welcome back.

        • emergency mike 11.2.2.4
          13 November 2013 at 3:05 pm

          Well said weka. What a pathetic article from Rudman.

        • Rogue Trooper 11.2.2.5
          13 November 2013 at 6:46 pm

          I noted a significant number of comments supportive of Rhinocrates when I read the article this morning. “A toxic tr0l” was a bit inflammatory. ouch!

        • David H 11.2.2.6
          14 November 2013 at 9:02 am

          Yep Weka they made it in. Unlike mine for calling PG out for his Secret Squirrel name among his others

    • Tracey 11.3
      13 November 2013 at 10:50 am

      why was this newsworthy by rudman??? Do journos just read TS, KB and whale slick all day?

    • veutoviper 11.4
      13 November 2013 at 10:54 am

      I am disgusted at Rudman’s column. I had some respect for Rudman as a columnist prior to this one, although I did not necessarily always agree with his views.

      But this one is just over the top – particularly his attempts to ‘out’ the blogger. Thankfully, the majority of the comments to date do not support Rudman’s rave – or rather his emotive venom, as you so rightly called it, Karol.

      To the blogger, you have my support and I have always sought out your comments here when I see them pop up as I always found them well worth reading in terms of their content and your writing style – and for the most part, on the same wavelength as my thinking. Kia kaha.

      Edit – you said it much better than me, Bill.

      • Molly 11.4.1
        13 November 2013 at 12:19 pm

        +100 Also a fan of the comments, and find them worth the time taken to read and ponder.
        Will be looking out for more of the same – hope they will be forthcoming.

        • veutoviper 11.4.1.1
          13 November 2013 at 12:32 pm

          I agree re reading the comments, Molly – they often give a better indication than the column itself. And over the last few months, imo there has bee quite a sea change in the comments on the Herald.

          Re the comments on Rudman’s column, Weka’s excellent comment at 11.2.2. has not come up yet; but Emma Hart has a comment up now along the same vein.

          Edit – Pete George again shows the weasel he is in his comment.

        • Anne 11.4.1.2
          13 November 2013 at 4:47 pm

          I still have a chuckle now and then over Rhino’s Shearer speech. Must have been six months ago now. He was sorting his supermarket list at the same time he was making a speech and of course he got the two muddled up. Hilarious it was. 🙂

    • fender 11.5
      13 November 2013 at 11:00 am

      Rudderless Rudman obviously doesn’t know what an internet tr0ll is, strange he didn’t mention how being called a jellyfish seemingly prompted the police commissioner to make a phone call, maybe it was a “I’m not a jellyfish, I’m a blind eel” call.

  12. Draco T Bastard 12
    13 November 2013 at 11:37 am

    It’s business that really rules us now

    Most of the scandals that leave people in despair about politics arise from this source. On Monday, for instance, the Guardian revealed that the government’s subsidy system for gas-burning power stations is being designed by an executive from the Dublin-based company ESB International, who has been seconded into the Department of Energy. What does ESB do? Oh, it builds gas-burning power stations.

    And how much of this jumping to do what the corporations want do we see in NZ? There’s the Warner Brothers legislation, the SkyCity sell out and the removal of democracy in Canterbury so that the farmers could get their hands on our precious water.

    • BLiP 12.1
      13 November 2013 at 1:41 pm

      ‘

      When you say “Warner Brothers’ Legislation:” were you referring to both the local labour and human rights legislation or were you referring to the wider, less explicit US spying legislation? Both, I guess.

      • Draco T Bastard 12.1.1
        13 November 2013 at 2:52 pm

        I was specifically thinking of the change to our labour laws to please WB but I think you’re right in that the US spying legislation also applies.

  13. Tiger Mountain 13
    13 November 2013 at 11:46 am

    Brian Rudman often writes reasonable columns about local government and Auckland issues. He is an old fashioned ex Auckland Star journalist that talks to people and digs away for a story. But he is also old fashioned to the extent that he clearly does not understand internet anonymity.

    Regular posters with a handle build up an identity over time that others can relate to or sometimes not. It is what people are saying or linking to that matters not who they are. You can become quite loyal to some fellow bloggers and posters.

    Rudman should look over his shoulder because some of the worst anonymous contributors known to humankind are the NZ Herald editorial writers.

    • Colonial Viper 13.1
      13 November 2013 at 6:53 pm

      But he is also old fashioned to the extent that he clearly does not understand internet anonymity.

      Likely true, but I also suspect that he has never been personally persecuted by some of the rather vengeful police tactics and attitudes that other people here have experienced.

      If he had, he might realise why pseudonymity is very valuable to some people in a serious democracy.

  14. phillip ure 14
    13 November 2013 at 11:58 am

    this is an interview of russell brand..(in front of a live-audience..)

    ..recorded about 48 hrs ago..

    ..and it is a recommended-watch..

    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36816.htm

    phillip ure..

  15. veutoviper 15
    13 November 2013 at 12:44 pm

    I decided to take a look at how Might Rive Power and Meridian shares were doing.

    Oh dear.

    MRP currently at $2.170 and Meridian at $1.025.

  16. greywarbler 16
    13 November 2013 at 12:55 pm

    The Central Bank says that over- borrowing for farming especially dairying is putting the country’s economy at risk. Perhaps we can have some safeguards against the agricultural bubble, aka as a fart, by the government cutting down on overseas buyers and ensuring that all buyers don’t use leverage but have a decent deposit.

    And the meat industry is trying to rationalise the meat operators. There are about 20, most competing overseas, something long criticised because it results in unhealthy competition where we want best price not cheapest. Southland where meat production has been strong is converting to dairy at an alarming rate. Soon they won’t have enough supply to keep their local buyers and dealers viable. For heaven’s sake, before I die can NZ get its bloody meat economy in order. Before it gets to the stage where its an invalid, limping along and spreading sickness throughout the country.

    • Colonial Viper 16.1
      13 November 2013 at 2:18 pm

      Annoying that people are starting to call the Reserve Bank, the Central Bank. I mean, wtf…it is the Reserve Bank…

    • Rogue Trooper 16.2
      13 November 2013 at 3:25 pm

      Central Bank says “rising household indebtedness poses a risk if the financial sector comes under pressure” and “…will look at LVR exemptions…” despite Warwick Quinn advising that the new lending requirements are “choking off new building”- (30% drop-off).
      -Midday Report

    • Roflcopter 16.3
      13 November 2013 at 4:17 pm

      Time for KiwiFarm, amiright?

      • Colonial Viper 16.3.1
        13 November 2013 at 4:23 pm

        We already have KiwiFarm, and it looks after billions of dollars of very productive farm land, thank you very much.

  17. Penny Bright 17
    13 November 2013 at 1:08 pm

    How would this Ernst and Young ‘inquiry’ have the power to find out if Sky City hotel room(s) were used in the Mayor Len Brown / Bevan Chaung affair, if Len Brown had no financial record/ Council documentation which proved it?

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    Auckland Council CEO
    Doug McKay

    Dear Doug,

    ‘Open Letter’ re: Inquiry into Conduct of Mayor Len Brown

    http://www.interest.co.nz/sites/default/files/Independent%20Review%20Scope.pdf

    Please confirm that the terms of reference of this ‘inquiry’ include an investigation into the alleged use of Sky City premises (namely hotel room(s) in the affair between Mayor Len Brown and Bevan Chuang.

    As an ‘anti-corruption’ Public Watchdog, I am primarily interested in knowing whether Sky City premises (namely hotel room(s), were used in the affair between Mayor Len Brown and Bevan Chuang.

    The issue of payment (who paid, how they were paid for, or if they were used without payment), although significant, is secondary (in my considered opinion).

    Please confirm that the alleged use Sky City premises (namely hotel room(s), will be covered by this ‘inquiry’, given that there may not be any evidence available from either Auckland Council documents or financial records.

    Can you please acknowledge receipt of this correspondence at your earliest available opportunity.

    Yours sincerely,

    Penny Bright

  18. karol 18
    13 November 2013 at 1:22 pm

    NZ Herald’s live (and relatively uninformative, apart from evidence of obsessions with weather and the police desk) newsdesk blog to commemorate it’s anniversary, shows Armstrong to be a one-finger typist.

  19. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 19
    13 November 2013 at 2:54 pm

    Finlayson pwning Adern.

    • karol 19.1
      13 November 2013 at 2:59 pm

      Finlayson just being abusive -how many times to he say something about “your thug union mates”?

  20. Tracey 20
    13 November 2013 at 2:55 pm

    “Police are investigating seven sex attacks around a leisure complex in Manukau over the last two months.

    The assaults took place in and around the Manukau Sports Bowl and the Gardens/Totara Park area.

    One of the victims was aged 13.

    “We are concerned about these types of incidents due to the nature and frequency of offending in these areas,” said Detective Senior Sergeant Darrell Harpur.

    “The latest occurrence was in broad daylight at a public playground. We urge people in the area to be vigilant and accompany their children to local playgrounds.”

    When is it too soon to send out the warning? After the first assault/rape? The second, or 2 months after the first and after number 7?

  21. gobsmacked 21
    13 November 2013 at 3:46 pm

    Opposition MPs – lift your game!

    When Key tells lies in Parliament, is there not one single MP who is smart enough and quick-witted enough to challenge him?

    Three – yes, 3 – times in a couple of minutes of Question Time Key mocked the asset sales referendum by claiming that Labour and the Greens had “arrogantly” ignored the smacking referendum when they were in power.

    Not one MP asked “Who was in power at the time of the referendum?” “Did you support or oppose the law?” “Did you change the law or keep it?” etc, etc.

    No challenge at all, just lots of brain-dead shouting. He rewrites history in the most brazen, mendacious way, and you sit there like fools.

    (sure, plenty of people immediately tweeted the obvious rejoinders, but what use is that? Any of us can do that, you are the ones there, being PAID to do a job. THINK on your feet. Wake up!).

    This has been going on for years. Cunliffe is doing better than Shearer (a low bar, admittedly), but overall the opposition are still failing. Key was acting like a drunken madman today, and you let him. Yet again.

    • karol 21.1
      13 November 2013 at 3:52 pm

      Yes, I was amazed at Key’s bald faced lies on the smacking referendum.

      Cunliffe got onto it in the General Debate – but slow off the mark.

      • gobsmacked 21.1.1
        13 November 2013 at 3:57 pm

        Yes, they often catch up in the general debate. When Key is no longer there, and the media are no longer watching.

        It’s like trying to “win” an election debate in the spin room, after you’ve lost on live TV. It does very little good.

    • Draco T Bastard 21.2
      13 November 2013 at 6:40 pm

      Question 1

      Quite a bit of the opposition trying to pull Key up on his re-writing of history. The Speaker didn’t seem to impressed.

      • karol 21.2.1
        13 November 2013 at 6:52 pm

        I think gs’s point is that the opposition to Key’s lies need to be expressed in very pointed supplementary questions, not just via heckling.

  22. Puckish Rogue 22
    13 November 2013 at 3:52 pm

    Clare Curran said that every man and his dog knew the price Chorus could charge for use of its copper network would be slashed substantially by the Commerce Commission.

    But as the NBR points out (paywall), Curran is now trying to reinvent history. Despite her now claiming she always knew the copper price would drop, back in 2011 she actually said the copper price would increase:

    “The people of New Zealand who are receiving broadband services will find their existing copper services go up in price while they are waiting for fibre.”

    Cunliffe said in 2011:

    “The objective analysis we have seen…is that the average New Zealander will pay at least $5 more a month for the same service they are currently getting on their copper phone line.”

    Parker also chipped in with similar comments.

    Nice work Clare Curran…

    • framu 22.1
      13 November 2013 at 5:06 pm

      while im no fan of clare curran – the copper pricing thing wasnt really a surprise to anyone, especially chorus and the govt

      the fact that copper prices were high, and expected to come down by force or free will has been on the cards for years

      so stick it to CC all you want – but please dont let govt and industry players who did know about this off the hook at the same time

      • McFlock 22.1.1
        13 November 2013 at 5:27 pm

        Um – the only site that has that CC ‘quote’ is the greasy cetacean.

        At best that’s almost certainly not exactly what she said. At worst it’s up there with the edited Jim Anderton – earthquake vid.

        But then, the PR is probably paid by the quantity of cross-postings from tory propaganda sites, not the quality.

  23. Rogue Trooper 23
    13 November 2013 at 3:53 pm

    Ships of the desert ; MERS updates.

    INFECTION CONTROL Today

  24. greywarbler 24
    13 November 2013 at 6:41 pm

    From The Local Europe. Sound familiar. The free market at work eh?

    Top 10: bargain properties in Italy
    Property prices in Italy fell by almost 12 percent in 2012, triggering a rise in foreign investment as buyers take advantage of a market where locals are struggling to get on the property ladder. With the help of estate agents, The Local has drawn up a list of where the bargain properties are to be found.

  25. greywarbler 25
    13 November 2013 at 6:56 pm

    Sweden feels the lack of father’s moral care too. From the Local – Swededn.

    Sweden ‘failed to protect’ shower girl: court
    The Swedish legal system failed to protect a 14-year-old girl whose stepfather, who was acquitted in Sweden, covertly filmed her naked in the shower according to a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights

  26. Anne 26
    13 November 2013 at 7:24 pm

    Oh dear, it looks like a Cold War type paranoia maybe rearing its ugly head again.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/NZ-could-breed-extremists—Kibblewhite/tabid/1607/articleID/321213/Default.aspx#.UoMTLSehsiI

    My father was subjected to surveillance and other unpleasant covert type activities in the 1970s after some bureaucratic idiots jumped to some wrong conclusions about his retirement activities. Rather long story, and it’s still debatable whether the idiots were local or attached to an off-shore agency. They were all running around each others’ territory in those days because they didn’t have the electronic technology that is available today.

  27. jcuknz 27
    13 November 2013 at 7:59 pm

    If you wonder why I have voted National for the past couple of elections this may give you a clue despite having been converted from nothing in particular to socialism by Bill Sutch’s ‘The Responsible Society’, and then later by Roger Douglas’s ‘Common Sense’ ….. First published at KB but here it might do more good?

    OH DEAR BOO HOO Poor first home buyers cannot be expected to find $80T deposit for their $400T new home. What a load of left wing c..p.
    Admittedly there is been inflation in the past fifty years but my first home was 60 years old maybe more and after building a new house in the backyard with the valuable assistance of my wife [ while I still worked a 40 hour week and wife kept house and raised our son ] it was demolished. A junior football team did it Saturday morning to raise money for a trip out of town.
    Cost $2000 to buy it … total mortgage $5000 plus income to build it after we started showing we were serious to first my lawyer and then a bank. Then for fittings we had a TV and a small fridge which I had brought to the marraige from the mobile caravan I had been living in, no car until after house was completed.

    Really I am crying hard for the poor stupid sods and the political leaders trying to make hay out of the first home people wanting to waltz into a brand new house along with all the fittings to keep up with the jonses …. not to consider the impact of forecast interest increases on such large loans. No doubt that will be the next bleeding heart story of a couple of years time.
    I remember the smug feeling back in the 70′s when interest rates were in double figures and I only had to pay on perhaps $4000 thanks to the hard work of my wife and I.

    thankyou for the space …..

    • Colonial Viper 27.1
      13 November 2013 at 8:06 pm

      >40 year old well capitalised buyers are blocking out or price gouging <40 year old first home buyers.

      Your comment is a beautiful demonstration of how out of touch your demographic is in its role here.

      • jcuknz 27.1.1
        14 November 2013 at 8:10 am

        I wrote in the hope that it might invoke some common sense here and in the market place rather than sppeal to the mentally locked … oh well another time.
        One can hope it saves some from mortaging their lives to the banks.

    • karol 27.2
      13 November 2013 at 8:46 pm

      Don’t ask me? i’m a renter and have never had any desire to own property…. and I’m a leftie.

      What is this obsession with property ownership?

      • jcuknz 27.2.1
        14 November 2013 at 8:18 am

        The problem is the obsession with the second and third house as investment though understandable when one considers the unreliability of the share market … the first house is just the first step to becoming a capitalist apart from those such as myself who are happy with just a roof over my head.

    • millsy 27.3
      13 November 2013 at 10:55 pm

      Didnt they have things like Housing Corp mortagages, and family benefit capitalisations, and so on?

      And I bet you voted for the government that got rid of them. Typical ladder puller.

  28. Huginn 28
    13 November 2013 at 8:16 pm

    From the Financial Times
    This is one of the outcomes of the Libor scandal. They are looking at the Australian dollar, but this has to affect he Kiwi is one of he most actively traded currencies in the world

    Biggest banks face forex probe questions
    By Daniel Schäfer and Caroline Binham

    The global probe into foreign exchange manipulation has widened to include 15 of the world’s biggest banks and some of the most actively traded currencies, as lenders scramble to help authorities in exchange for leniency.

    http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/3c06d74c-4bbe-11e3-8203-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2kVVdSqS5

    • Huginn 28.1
      13 November 2013 at 8:27 pm

      “Before Libor, people thought benchmarks could be trusted. Now there’s a presumption that there’s a risk of manipulation. Perhaps manipulation is not the exception but the rule.”

      • Colonial Viper 28.1.1
        13 November 2013 at 8:33 pm

        Yes, it is the rule. Countries and pension funds have been going broke because of this and other banking scams.

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    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

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

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
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    1 day ago
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