Open mike 14/03/2021

76 comments on “Open mike 14/03/2021 ”

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1. Foreign waka 1

   14 March 2021 at 10:10 am

   The idea of a level playing field is certainly not new. It just does not mention that in the 3 dimensional it is slanted towards poverty lane for many.

   There are 3 articles today in Staff that catches the eye:

   1/ A whole generation has been failed in Mathematic. And English lets just add this too.

   This has been pointed out more than 20 years ago by University Lecturers, the estimated that some 30% of entry students are functionally illiterate. Why? Any answers?

   2/ Where did the wage subsidy really go?

   Well we know that the rich just made a grab for money that is now missing to remedy poverty, infrastructure etc. I am still in utter disbelieve that a finance minister can approve so much money without thinking through foreseeable consequences. In my view, something does not make sense. But what does make sense is that the blackmailing money class has NZ by the short and curlies.

   3/New Zealand is a ridiculous name.

   No its not. It reflects the history of this country over the last 380 odd years.

   Maori would translate NZ: Nu Tereni. Aotearoa traditionally was used as a name for the North Island. (Land of the long white cloud). It is a beautiful name but it neither of them are inclusive. NZ has a long tradition of immigrants from all over the world. If this is to be seen as a partnership, any new name should reflect this and put to a referendum. Just not the laser kiwi please.
   • Craig H 1.1

     14 March 2021 at 9:57 pm

     One reason for the increase in the estimates of functional illiteracy might be the increase in volumes of students following the introduction of student loans and opening up of universities to all.
2. joe90 2

   14 March 2021 at 10:35 am

   Inclusion matters.

   @skanassa

   #nativetiktoks #nativeamerican #natives #lawyersoftiktok #indigenous #anishinaabe

   ♬ original sound – Syngen Kanassatega
3. Peter 3

   14 March 2021 at 10:44 am

   "A whole generation has been failed in Mathematic. And English lets just add this too."(Sic.)

   The answer is simple. We need to revolutionise the way things are done in primary schools. Tell you what, we'll have a system to improve standards. It'll be nationwide, schools must use the system.

   Since it's about standards and it's nationwide we'll call it 'National Standards.' That has a lovely ring to it. Yes, 'National,' sounds good. It will be brilliant, it will work wonders and it'll keep tabs on teachers, make them accountable. Results will be on the rise.

   The results of international testing from about 2015 on should show the results of this great innovative move as the cohorts advantaged by the wisdom move through the schooling system.

   Ah…..
   • Janice 3.1

     14 March 2021 at 10:48 am

     Yes Hekia Parata did really well as the Minister of Ed with her 'Learnings'.
   • Foreign waka 3.2

     14 March 2021 at 11:11 am

     I think we should look at teachers and their standard. Weather they understand the subject to start with. True story: a teacher told a 15 year old student that they will learn a mathematical solution by research and do it themselves! ???? true response. No wonder the kids need to grow additional fingers, (sarc) Reading? Yep… easy, "recognize the word" that will be extremely helpful when reading a manual of all things with some mathematic tables. This method of teaching is just lazy. And to top it all off the number of school breaks is just ridiculous. Unless your child is in a private school, it will be disadvantaged from the start.

     "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn". Benjamin Franklin
     • Barfly 3.2.1

       14 March 2021 at 11:40 am

       "Weather they understand the subject to start with."

       Ironic in a post about declining English surely the word is whether.
       • Foreign waka 3.2.1.1

         14 March 2021 at 12:17 pm

         Yes it is, my apologies. Was a bit in the hurry to get the dog reigned in. Weather certainly played a role . And may I add, here is a word that can be easily misspelled, misread and added to the infamous “recognize the word” vocabulary. 🙂
         • Andre 3.2.1.1.1

           14 March 2021 at 12:31 pm

           "Reigned" is the appropriate word if you're describing how a cat interacts with its hooman.

           "Reined" is the appropriate word for a human attempting to control their dog.
           • Incognito 3.2.1.1.1.1

             14 March 2021 at 12:35 pm

             “Rained” is the appropriate word when it rains cats and dogs.
       • mikesh 3.2.1.2

         14 March 2021 at 12:39 pm

         Surely the word "surely" commences a new sentence.
         • Incognito 3.2.1.2.1

           14 March 2021 at 12:43 pm

           Indeed, and sentence adverbs are followed by a comma.
           • Foreign waka 3.2.1.2.1.1

             14 March 2021 at 6:23 pm

             Did I make my point yet? Or has none cottoned on to what this was about? Were you able to "recognize" words?
       • DukeEll 3.2.1.3

         14 March 2021 at 12:57 pm

         Pretty funny you choose to shoot the messenger, over what could be a result of poor education, rather than engage. Because you know, teachers feelings are far more important than kids achieving
         • Drowsy M. Kram 3.2.1.3.1

           14 March 2021 at 2:28 pm

           Teachers are part of the equation, and I doubt there are many NZ teachers who want their students to fail. If the profession had higher status then we might make progress, but in NZ the single biggest metric for ranking occupations is not work-life balance, satisfaction and/or contribution to society, but rather how much money you can make. And so it goes.

           Teachers in Finland – trusted and respected professionals
           As there are so few of us, we can’t afford to leave anyone behind. That’s why world-class education is available for all.

           Finland’s high level of education and expertise is based on high-quality teacher education. Teachers in Finland are highly educated and respected professionals. Teaching is a popular profession and universities can select the most motivated and talented applicants. The profession has high status and teachers are autonomous in their work, as the system is based on trust rather than control.
           • KJT 3.2.1.3.1.1

             14 March 2021 at 2:46 pm

             And. Only 3% private schools, and no “for profit schools”..

             So the wealthy have an incentive to support a good State system.
         • KJT 3.2.1.3.2

           14 March 2021 at 2:42 pm

           As successive Governments refuse to listen to Teachers, or evidence, you can hardly put the blame on Teachers.
     • mpledger 3.2.2

       14 March 2021 at 3:38 pm

       There is learning mathematics and there is learning how to learn. Both can be taught at the same time – and it's easier to do in maths because a student can see if they are right and wrong. For a 15 year old, researching how to do something should be well within their abilities.
       • KJT 3.2.2.1

         14 March 2021 at 3:46 pm

         Yep. It is common to think that Teaching is the transfer of knowledge from the Teacher to the student.

         If that is all we, as a Teacher are doing, then we have failed.

         No one person “knows” enough for a start.

         The aim is to Teach students to learn and go beyond our knowledge.

         When a student takes off and begins to research for themselves, question, argue and analyse what I've taught them, and delves deeper into the subject. I know I'm winning. I want the student to end up more "educated' than me. Not less!
       • Foreign waka 3.2.2.2

         14 March 2021 at 6:38 pm

         Yes, this is true but mathematical formula are better not learned by browsing through the internet. Or maybe we can all forget about Pythagoras, Galileo Galilei, Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī, Paul Erdős, Newton, Albert Einstein etc. We don't need them, we can research this all by ourselves. (sarc) By extension, maybe we don't need teachers at all?
         • KJT 3.2.2.2.1

           14 March 2021 at 8:12 pm

           See above.
   • millsy 3.3

     14 March 2021 at 1:07 pm

     This is just yet another effort to step up privatisation of education in this country.
4. Peter 4

   14 March 2021 at 11:24 am

   "True story: a teacher told a 15 year old student that they will learn a mathematical solution by research and do it themselves! ???? true response."

   What was the context? What was the teacher trying to get the pupil to achieve with that kid at that time? Did the teacher use that strategy only and with all lessons?

   Using that as an example of why our kids don't score well in international tests?

   The comment about children being disadvantaged from the start by not being in a private school is nonsense.
   • Foreign waka 4.1

     14 March 2021 at 12:26 pm

     No, the teacher was actually calling for a parent evening and in that context it was mentioned that this is what is expected. Now, if a teacher does not want to teach then maybe he/she should do something else? It is for many parents very frustrating to deal with this kind let down. I am not the only one saying this. But naturally, there will be a lot of defensiveness. I also do know that many parents who are able to afford this, send their children to private schools to make sure that they succeed in an every increasing competitive world.

     All I am saying is that, if we don't equip the teacher we cant expect the kids to succeed.
     • KJT 4.1.1

       14 March 2021 at 2:44 pm

       Noting that if you control for socio economic background, private schools do not do as well as State schools.

       The contacts made and the access to the "old boy network" is, of course, invaluable.
5. Muttonbird 5

   14 March 2021 at 12:51 pm

   Question:

   Are the Uyghur muslims the first muslims the right wing of New Zealand have paid any attention to?

   It would seem the right wing of New Zealand are using the Uyghur muslims for political purposes.

   These people might very well be persecuted. But I find it interesting The West has happily trades with, and profited from that trade with China for some decades now despite clear human rights abuses, and now suddenly it's all a big problem.

   I think some people have deliberately not been paying attention until it is politically expedient to do so.

   According to the right wing Uyghur muslims are suddenly the most important muslims, for some strange reason.

   For instance, you wouldn’t find the same right wing of New Zealand advocating for Palestinian muslims, would you?
   • DukeEll 5.1

     14 March 2021 at 12:59 pm

     Can you please point to millions Pakistani Muslim’s suffering genocide by a communist government?
     • Muttonbird 5.1.1

       14 March 2021 at 1:11 pm

       Suddenly China's human rights abuses are a big problem but in reality we've turned a blind eye for decades. We've worn their cheap goods and happily heated our meals in their cheap microwave ovens for years without a thought to justice.

       We've even got rich off their cheap money by allowing their citizens to buy up vast swathes of NZ residential property!

       It's all too convenient to be crying foul now.
       • Incognito 5.1.1.1

         14 March 2021 at 1:24 pm

         We’ve even got rich off their cheap money by allowing their citizens to buy up vast swathes of NZ residential property!

         Given that you asserted that as a statement of fact, please back it up with a link.
         • Muttonbird 5.1.1.1.1

           14 March 2021 at 2:02 pm

           New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Amendment Bill came into force in October 2018, officially banning foreigners not intending to live in New Zealand from buying existing homes. The aim was to make residential properties more affordable to locals as the government blamed foreign buyers for driving up home prices beyond the reach of locals.

           This spooked Chinese buyers and home transfers to people who didn’t hold New Zealand citizenship, or a resident visa fell by 81 per cent in the March 2019 quarter compared with the same quarter a year ago, according to Statistics New Zealand. The number of sales to Chinese buyers also plunged by 80 per cent.1

           In the past before the ban, New Zealand was a hotspot for Chinese home buyers.

           https://list.juwai.com/news/2020/01/chinese-show-interest-new-zealand-properties-despite-ban
           • Incognito 5.1.1.1.1.1

             14 March 2021 at 3:21 pm

             Thanks, but that doesn’t state what you think it states. For example, what was the proportion of all sales? The text in (your) bold was simply marketing clickbait.
         • Muttonbird 5.1.1.1.2

           14 March 2021 at 2:04 pm

           Aucklanders like to brag that Chinese buyers will pay more for their property. For the first time leaked sales figures suggest they may be right.

           It seems everyone in Auckland has a story to tell about Chinese buyers wanting their house.

           One elderly Takapuna man was startled to hear a Chinese syndicate was interested in buying his well-established family home.

           His place wasn't even on the market when a real estate agent door-knocked the 82-year-old last month, said a relative.

           "A Chinese syndicate was wanting to buy a series of sections to build a block of apartments. The hard-sell was on apparently, but thankfully he resisted the temptation."

           https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/weve-got-chinese-buyers/RQR6KUAUKMNJ5VPBAYKCMNIZLI/
           • Incognito 5.1.1.1.2.1

             14 March 2021 at 3:31 pm

             Thanks again, but not compelling. Mostly urban legend stuff, and Phil Twyford’s infamous surname ‘analysis’, based on a small sample from “one unidentified real estate company from February to April”. You’re just continuing the propaganda BS and flawed factoids from the past 🙁
             • Muttonbird …

               14 March 2021 at 3:35 pm

               That was Twyford at his zenith. It brought about real change when the government of the time sought to ignore the issue. The last decent thing he did. It's all been downhill from there.

               You asked for links to mainland Chinese buying lots of New Zealand property. I have provided that. A simple thank you would suffice.
               • Incognito …

                 14 March 2021 at 4:25 pm

                 You asked for links to mainland Chinese buying lots of New Zealand property. I have provided that.

                 You’re sadly misguided and misinformed. I can now understand better your assertion, which is based on your misconception and ignorance. However, not everybody likes to spread BS and some even push back on it. Maybe it was too much to ask you for a proper analysis with facts, e.g. from Stat NZ, but you took the piece of rope and showed yourself to be a spreader of populist memes instead of a critical independent thinker and commenter.

                 For your perusal and edification:

                 https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/drop-in-home-transfers-to-overseas-buyers
                 • Muttonbird …

                   14 March 2021 at 7:59 pm

                   This comment shows you didn't read the link I posted at 5.1.1.1.1 because the information in the StatsNZ link is the same.

                   But on top of that your criticism tries to say that a drop in offshore ownership means that there was not a problem in the first place???

                   I can't work this one out.

                   Back to the original point at 5 which was to draw attention to the hypocrisy of the West engaging with China the way we have for 3 decades now despite obvious and ongoing human rights and worker rights breaches.

                   I watched Tiananmen Square as a 19 year old and was shocked like everyone else. What censure or punishment for China? Nothing. There was no punishment, only reward. The reward was a huge increase in trade, and a proliferation of sweatshops and dodgy manufacturers with which a few players in the West got rich and we all got nice shoes.

                   I find it gross that some people cry about Uyghur muslims now while for years they conveniently ignored years of China's abuses, because they benefitted from those same abuses.

                   That money funnelled into the New Zealand residential property market by mainland Chinese and new resident property purchases was tainted with corruption, poor justice, and the abused rights of manual workers.

                   Over 30 years of civil rights abuse was ignored by us because it was convenient. So for some on the political right to suddenly have newfound sympathy for a group of muslims sticks in the craw.
                   • Incognito …

                     14 March 2021 at 10:11 pm

                     I did read the link and it did not answer my question and thus it did not support your assertion that Chinese citizens “buy up vast swathes of NZ residential property”.

                     If you had actually bother to delve into the NZ Stats link I provided you would have known that the percentage of overseas buyers is actually very low. For example, in the March-2019 Quarter, only 0.6% (i.e. 204 from a total of 31,728) so-called Home transfers involved buyers who were not NZ citizens or NZ resident visa holders. Only 90 buyers in that period had the PRC as Country of tax residence (which is not the same as nationality!).

                     If you had said that there is no NZ register of property owned by overseas people, you’d be 100% correct, which is also mentioned in the NZ Stats link.

                     I understand your views on PRC but these should not cloud your views on the few Chinese buyers in the NZ housing market, IMO, which you used to support your anti-China narrative and sentiments.

                     As to whether the Overseas Investment Amendment Act 2018 addressed a problem, which may have been overblown for a number of reasons, remains to be seen. The worsening situation since its introduction and even more so since Covid, when overseas buyers cannot even enter into NZ, suggests that it was a red herring and possibly more of a political stunt.
                   • Muttonbird …

                     15 March 2021 at 7:47 am

                     You've picked numbers post Overseas Investment Amendment Act 2018. It did what it was designed to do.

                     That house prices have increased this year is not proof that offshore investors, including those from China, did not have a significant effect on our housing market.

                     Back to my original point, that we've so long been happy for cheap and tainted foreign cash to prop up our economy, so getting upset for persecuted peoples in China now is more than a little ironic.
                   • Incognito []

                     15 March 2021 at 8:39 pm

                     You didn’t click on the NZ Stats link because it contains a nice wee bar graph with before and after Overseas Investment Amendment Act 2018 came into place. Overseas buyers came from a high (!) of 3.3%, a whopping 3.3% and that includes more than just Chinese buyers.

                     Getting back to my original point, your assertion is piss-poor and you have no evidence to support it other than your belief. Such a shame that you don’t want to face the facts 🙁
                   • Muttonbird …

                     15 March 2021 at 9:39 pm

                     That bar graphs shows under 80% of NZ houses were sold to Kiwis before the Overseas Investment Act amendment 2018.

                     Not good enough.
                   • Muttonbird …

                     15 March 2021 at 9:58 pm

                     And even that is not the true story because trusts are included as NZ citizens if just one trustee is a NZ citizen.

                     As always with housing data in this country, this is not a complete picture.

                     It also shows in March 2018, 7.8% of Auckland homes were sold to people with no NZ citizenship or residency. Not even including the above points, that is significant.

                     Imagine how much worse the situation would be right now if we hadn't put a stop to it.
         • Muttonbird 5.1.1.1.3

           14 March 2021 at 2:05 pm

           Inquiries from Chinese buyers looking at New Zealand real estate have increased 32 per cent since the outbreak of coronavirus, property website Juwai's executive chairman says.

           The website offers international property listings to Chinese purchasers.

           Executive chairman Georg Chmiel said only Vietnam had seen a bigger increase in activity, up 43 per cent.

           But he said in-person activity was likely to remain subdued because Chinese consumers were restricting their travel.

           https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/residential/119643341/chinese-buyers-seek-boltholes-in-new-zealand-property-market
           • Incognito 5.1.1.1.3.1

             14 March 2021 at 3:41 pm

             More variations on the same theme 🙁

             The piece is based on increased interest, i.e. literally just clicks on a website. As such, it does not support your assertion at all.

             I do question whether you actually read it before you copied & pasted it here!?

             New Zealand's foreign buyer restrictions mean people who are not ordinarily resident can only buy new build properties in large developments.

             "Most so-called 'Chinese' buyers in New Zealand today actually are either legal residents or have even become citizens. We don't have the data, but we do believe that most of these inquiries are from Chinese speakers with legal residence in New Zealand who intend to buy for their own use."

             In other words, just speculation about speculation.
             • Stuart Munro …

               14 March 2021 at 7:01 pm

               NZ is not the only property market to have been affected by Chinese buyers. Being a relatively small market, such groups can have disproportionate influence. This from Vancouver:

               Why Vancouver's Housing Market Hinges on China's Economy | Smart Cities Dive
               • Incognito …

                 14 March 2021 at 7:52 pm

                 Sure, but do you have some solid numbers (AKA stats) for the NZ situation?
                 • Stuart Munro …

                   14 March 2021 at 8:23 pm

                   Not being a demographer, no. Do you have figures that show the contrary?
                   • Incognito …

                     14 March 2021 at 8:48 pm

                     You joined this discussion thread and I assumed because you have information to share on NZ.

                     The contrary of what?? Your Q makes no sense.
                   • Stuart Munro …

                     14 March 2021 at 9:51 pm

                     @Incognito – you are, without contrary facts, trying to dismiss Muttonbird's thesis, that Chinese property accumulation has become a problem.

                     We know the Key government declined to collect such statistics, most probably because it would embarrass the group concerned, who were major funders.

                     You have dismissed the Chinese names data – but I am, among other things, in linguistics. It is quite possible, and perfectly proper to obtain meaningful data from names in that fashion.
                   • Incognito []

                     14 March 2021 at 10:22 pm

                     Nice of you to join the convo again but please have a coffee first before you start talking nonsense.

                     Muttonbird asserted a fact.

                     I asked them to back it up.

                     I’m still waiting but it looks like I’ll be waiting till the cows come up because they’re not playing ball.

                     Waiting =//= dismissing.

                     Feel free to apply your linguistics skills and tools to the question. What/which database(s) are you going to use? The same crap one as Phil Twyford?

                     Further, see my comment @ 10:11 pm (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-14-03-2021/#comment-1783274).
                 • Muttonbird …

                   14 March 2021 at 9:03 pm

                   This is the New Zealand residential property market, there are no stats.

                   Have you been in a coma the last 10 years?
                   • Incognito …

                     14 March 2021 at 9:39 pm

                     Huh?

                     Stuart talked about Vancouver and I asked about NZ, just as I’ve asked you about NZ. But nothing useful so far. Meanwhile, “mainland Chinese buying lots of New Zealand property” according to you @ 3:35 pm and seemingly also according to Stuart!? But you now claim there are no data to back this up!? So, did you pluck that assertion out of your orifice just as Phil Twyford did?
                 • Stuart Munro …

                   14 March 2021 at 11:02 pm

                   The same crap one as Phil Twyford?

                   It wasn't dismissed because it was crap, but because the usual media suspects weren't up to understanding how it worked. The failure was political, not factual.

                   In a field where data is scarce, imperfect data is better than none. It may well be corrected by subsequent full data, if it were collected. But what can be learned from partial data doesn't go away just because the Chinese speculators howled 'racism!' Just as the Indian prospective husbands, denied the end-run allowed under the Key administration, made similar claims of oppression, but went silent as the trope surfaced.

                   Our property register has (irresponsibly) not been collecting the data. Comparative data sets like behaviours of the same expatriate community in other countries form a reasonable estimate of their activity here, in the absence of the figures any responsible administration would collect as a matter of course. As do name frequency analyses, which revealed a disproportionate activity level among Chinese purchasers.
                   • Incognito …

                     14 March 2021 at 11:22 pm

                     Phil Twyford’s ‘data analysis’ was crap. Crap data in, crap ‘conclusions’ out. Pretty much what happened 🙁

                     Blablablah, irrelevant diversion.

                     As do name frequency analyses, which revealed a disproportionate activity level among Chinese purchasers.

                     Did they now? So, a “name frequency” analysis equals a “linguistic” analysis? Shame that they, which or whatever they (any links besides to Twyford’s crap one?), seem to be inconsistent with Stats NZ data. You didn’t read my comment @ 10:11 pm, did you? Or you didn’t understand it, or wilfully ignored it.
                 • Stuart Munro …

                   15 March 2021 at 9:55 am

                   The data it generated is consistent with market behaviour, which is not even discernable from Stats' failure to measure.

                   “name frequency” analysis equals a “linguistic” analysis?

                   Yes, in fact. Ethnicity is reasonably correlated with names, which are linguistic data. We can predict Irish ancestry from names with an O patronymic, or Georgian from a -shvili, or Chinese from a surname like Zhou. Though the match is not perfect, as people change their names, emigrate, or intermarry, the correlation is strong enough to use for some purposes, such as determining whether the NZ property market has enjoyed an inexplicable immunity from the problems created by an inflow of Chinese real estate investment in comparable communities like Vancouver.
         • Muttonbird 5.1.1.1.4

           14 March 2021 at 2:07 pm

           Mainland Chinese purchased $1.5 billion of residential real estate in New Zealand last year, according to a real estate website for Chinese investors.

           Juwai.com said that was an increase of US$130 million (NZ$197.2m) on the year before, although there was a lack of reliable data in 2016.

           Carrie Law, chief executive and director of Juwai.com said the $1.5b estimate was based on official data which showed mainland Chinese buyers made nearly 1600 purchases in New Zealand last year, not including corporations.

           https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/106836362/chinese-pour-15-billion-into-nz-housing-market-last-year
           • Incognito 5.1.1.1.4.1

             14 March 2021 at 3:52 pm

             This is getting tedious. The only ‘hard’ number is “nearly 1600” but it does not state where that figure came from and what fraction of the total number it represents. The piece also suggests that the number was what it was because “a desire to beat New Zealand's new partial foreign buyers ban buoyed the local market”.
         • Muttonbird 5.1.1.1.5

           14 March 2021 at 2:10 pm

           Data released by Labour suggests impact of Chinese buyers on Auckland property market much bigger than expected, the party's housing spokeman says.

           While ethnic Chinese make up 9% of Auckland's population, 39.5% of Auckland houses sold from February to April this year were to buyers with Chinese surnames, according to figures from one large real estate firm that represent a significant minority of all Auckland sales, Phil Twyford says.

           https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/leaked-data-shows-chinese-offshore-buyers-fuelling-rampant-auckland-property-speculation
           • KJT 5.1.1.1.5.1

             14 March 2021 at 2:16 pm

             What percentage were sold to wealthy offshore buyers, from places other than China?
             • Muttonbird …

               14 March 2021 at 2:20 pm

               No idea. But for the purposes of this argument, were those other offshore buyers from countries with such appalling human rights records as China???
               • KJT …

                 14 March 2021 at 2:40 pm

                 I know several from the country that is currently bombing Syria, and supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia.

                 As well as starving Venezuala and Iran into submission.

                 But. They are our "friends".

                 I know Chinese immigrants, and Chinese Kiwi’s, that are not at all happy with the CCP, BTW.
           • Incognito 5.1.1.1.5.2

             14 March 2021 at 3:52 pm

             FFS!

             
   • millsy 5.2

     14 March 2021 at 1:05 pm

     To be honest, the crocodile tears shed by the right about what is happening in Xinjiang province seem to happen when the Chinese government is starting to:

     1) slow its privatisation and market reform programs

     2) jail corrupt billionaires

     3) have SOE's invest in 3rd World nations.
     • In Vino 5.2.1

       14 March 2021 at 8:56 pm

       Thanks Millsy – my fave comment so far.
6. Muttonbird 6

   14 March 2021 at 1:00 pm

   Mediaworks are in trouble again. They have failed to recognise an abuser in their ranks, probably one which delivers some sort of profit to them.

   Staff have gone to directly to social media to out this predator such is their power and now the bigwigs are scrambling to cover their tracks.

   I'm reminded of the popularity of such 'boys will be boys' behaviour at radio stations such as this which were so very popular with the serial pony-tail puller, Sir John Key.

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/radios-prison-rape-joke-with-pm-falls-flat/YZJQMY3CSUKDUSVG4K4UQUC6YY/

   Seems The Rock and Mediaworks still haven't cleaned up their act.

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/investigation-into-sexual-harassment-allegations-at-the-rock-mediaworks-radio-station/YV5UT4VMNU6DTKS2IW5OVUIRGA/
7. Treetop 7

   14 March 2021 at 1:51 pm

   What the Key government did when it came to not fully acknowledging though ACC the damage (not addressing the full impact) which a schedule 3 event can cause showed me how out of touch Key was when it came to a sexual offence causing a mental injury.

   I am going to call out the Ardern government for not addressing the damage and impact which a person who has PTSD is not covered unless they have a physical injury.

   Little should not have been given the job to implement changes due to 15 March 2019. How can Little be impartial when he is the Minister of the SIS and GCSB?
8. Adrian 8

   14 March 2021 at 2:03 pm

   Fair go,Treetop, how the fuck was Little supposed to know what the arsehole was up to when his own mother and other people he lived with didn’t have a clue?
   You are just sniping for snipings sake.
9. Anker 9

   14 March 2021 at 2:04 pm

   • My understanding is if you have suffered a sexual assault and have PTSD, acc will cover you for treatment.
   • but not for other assaults
   • Treetop 9.1

     14 March 2021 at 4:15 pm

     Anker you or I could go into the city highly intoxicated and fall over and smash our face in and ACC will cover you.

     ACC give cover using the 1961 Crimes Act, which they refer to as a schedule 3 injury for mental injury cover. Some physical accidents also have a mental injury component such as pain and they are assessed for this. A lot of interpretation goes on. Is this what parliament intended when they deny cover for a no fault accident?

     In 1992 the then National government took cover away for a mental injury which did not have a physical cause.

     Most people are not aware of what PTSD can do to the body. The physical effects need to be acknowledged such as autoimmune conditions and the effects that the trauma has on the central nervous system. This is what exposure to a high magnitude event will do.
10. joe90 10

    14 March 2021 at 3:22 pm

    Surprise surprise, border closures are winning strategy.

    https://www.9news.com.au/national/wa-election-bloodbath-as-labor-triumph-historic-landslide-victory/f9575b08-8eb3-447c-8b41-316f334cd896
    • Graeme 10.1

      14 March 2021 at 9:47 pm

      This is WA, the opportunity to tell the eastern states, and especially Federal Government / Canberra to go forth and multiply is electoral gold for any incumbent politician. A complete separation / secession would be just fine with most of the State's residents.
11. joe90 11

    14 March 2021 at 3:36 pm

    Poor dear's doing it tough.

    /

    "Herald columnist seen taking the pulse of the nation yesterday" pic.twitter.com/TuaufCKgNk

    — Striving for perfection will be the death of us! (@mrJeffHowell) March 13, 2021
12. Treetop 12

    14 March 2021 at 3:46 pm

    Reply to Adrian @8

    That is a big stretch for you to think that I hold Little responsible for the actions of a deranged gunman. Little is the face of the government on the direction of the matter.

    The President of the Islamic Council of NZ on The Nation yesterday everything she said I agree with.

    Little cannot drag his heels when it comes to not looking into the future of those who have PTSD but are not covered because they do not have a so called physical injury. It needs to be fully acknowledged that the PTSD was caused by a high magnitude event which government agencies were unprepared for.
    • Treetop 12.1

      14 March 2021 at 4:27 pm

      Correction Islamic Women's Council of NZ
      • Foreign Waka 12.1.1

        16 March 2021 at 7:37 am

        Hi Treetop, just remember that right now there are voices asking for extended cover for those who are contributing to the system. ACC is funded by taxpayers under a model of user pay, i.e. payroll deduction, employer contribution, car rego. etc. Do not confuse any welfare provision that is being paid by setting aside a fund from general taxation with this self funding mechanism.

        Also remember, in NZ medical services and not even the Ambulance service is being fully funded by the tax allocations. ACC is NOT part of that at all.
13. Adrian Thornton 13

    14 March 2021 at 7:07 pm

    Interesting interview with an old school diplomate re; China/USA (ie the rest of the western world)..

    Biden’s China Policy: A More Polite Trump – Amb. Chas Freeman

    "Retired Ambassador Chas Freeman, Nixon's translator during his 1972 trip to China, says U.S. policy to China remains a desire to hold on to primacy globally and regionally. Biden's approach so far is not much different than the aggressive posture of Trump."
14. Obtrectator 14

    14 March 2021 at 10:16 pm

    UK police trying to shut down publicity for a crime committed by one of their own:

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/13/sarah-everard-pressure-for-new-laws-to-curb-violence-against-women

    Their chosen instrument: the Covid restrictions (which weren't actually being violated till the flatfoots themselves invaded the bandstand where the organisers were). I suppose it’s at least different from the usual "fire regulations" catch-all.

    Worth noting because the same sort of crap might be tried on by our own boys in blue at some point when they see something going down that offends their ideas of order.

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