Open mike 14/06/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 14th, 2022 - 67 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:


Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

67 comments on “Open mike 14/06/2022 ”

  1. Jester 1

    With Poto Williams being demoted and Trevor Mallard going, that's National's two best assets gone which should strengthen Labour.

    Cabinet reshuffle: Chris Hipkins new Police Minister as PM says Poto Williams 'lost focus' – NZ Herald

    • Ad 1.1

      In my world Conservation is a promotion.

      • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1.1.1

        Spot on, Ad. Conservation is a very important portfolio!

        • Jimmy 1.1.1.1

          You really should do stand up comedy (or spin for Labour. So in your view Poto has been promoted!)………that's gold!

          Moved to Disabilities and Conservation where Jacinda hopes even Poto cant fuck those up!

          • Ad 1.1.1.1.1

            Conservation is the primary Ministry within which our colonial sins are now washed clean. Sure ain't in Office of Treaty Settlements.

            Check out the depth of partnership through all the national parks that we have with iwi.

            Check out also Minister Williams' depth of background in disability issues.

            Williams was wrong for Police and Ardern has corrected that.

            • Jimmy 1.1.1.1.1.1

              The NZ Herald use the word "Downfall" of Poto. But I guess in your view the NZH is a hard right wing publication.

              It was only a week ago that Jacinda said she had full confidence in Poto but I guess a week is a long time in politics. I agree with your comment "Williams was wrong for Police and Ardern has corrected that." I guess Jacinda has to wear that error of judgement appointing her in the first place, but she took an awful long time to correct that, and has now been forced to act due to public pressure and probably internal polling.

              • Ad

                Over the previous weeks there were plenty of Labour supporters here who defended Williams a whole lot more than Ardern did yesterday. For them, such love is blind.

                I don't particularly like Ardern granted, but TBH Labour is always going to lose a Law and Order debate no matter what they do.

                Ardern has renewed with 18 months to get the game back for a 3rd term.

                • Jimmy

                  "Over the previous weeks there were plenty of Labour supporters here who defended Williams"

                  That is a bit like going to an AA meeting and asking "Do any of you like beer?"

                  People on the Standard will of course defend any Labour or Green MP (and knock any Nats) no matter what they do. Remember when David Clark broke his own party's lockdown rules and went mountain biking, it was all fine according to people on here. Imagine if it had been a National MP that went biking!

              • Corey Humm

                Poto Williams is a fantastic caring and kind person with a huge background with helping the misfortune downtrodden and abused and vulnerable, she was the wrong person for police (and frankly Mahuta is a terrible pic for Mahuta but Mahutas faction is too powerful to reshuffle her)

                Poto will do an incredible job in her new portfolios. Things she is strong and confident in, police was always a bizarre and strange pick for Poto but if you're offered a cabinet position you take it.

                Call it a demotion call it whatever you want but she's still a minister, she's still in an extremely safe seat and will do a very good job with disabilities.

      • I Feel Love 1.1.2

        plus 1 Ad, Conservation is massive, the fact RWs don't get that is rather showing IMO.

    • Ross 1.2

      But weren’t Trevor and Poto doing a great job? And just the other day Kris Faafoi said he loved Parliament and wasn’t going anywhere.

      • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1.2.1

        Trevor, compared to Carter as speaker, did a great job. Carter was probably the worst speaker in my lifetime (quite a long time!)

        Poto did a great job of supporting the police. Not much will change under Hipkins because strong foundations have been laid by Poto and Labour. He just might be able to answer bully boy Mercenary Mitchell's attacks on the police a little better than Williams (though I think she did a good job of that too).

  2. Blade 4

    A few months back I said if I was advising the PM, I would be telling her to move off shore once her tenure in politics was over.

    Fast forward, and Newshub reports threats against the PM have trebled. It's interesting to note for those who still believe our media is rightwing, the reasons given for these increased threats:

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/06/threats-against-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-involving-police-almost-triple-in-three-years.html

    Quote:

    ''The official information shows anti-vaccination sentiment was a driving force. Opposition to the Government's firearms crackdown post-March 15 was another factor.''

    Understandable, especially watching well looked after semi-autos being destroyed by dint of a liberal governments ultimate political wet dream.

    ''Police said it was not possible to determine the motivation for many of the threats because they were simply "offensive, obscene or threatening words directed at the PM".

    Yeah, it's possible to determine another cause for a solid core of threats against the PM. Of course that would be hard for liberal media to report because it may be considered offensive?

    Flash back over a decade ago. Banskie was at his best. He had just received a threat on air from a Maori bro who told Banksie to keep his opinions about Maori to himself, or he would come up to Auckland and ''do Banksie, himself.'' ( Banks was proud to have his own case manager at the racist Race Relations Office.)

    Banks then spoke about the many threats he had received as a politician. He said he ignored most of them because most people who really wish you harm don't rant and rave – they just get on with the job as one person had tried to do.

    So when it comes to the PM, I doubt there's any conspiracy to ''get her'' once she no longer has diplomatic protection. More likely she will be walking to the dairy one day, when Bob Kiwi who is sitting in his car rolling a smoke happens to glance up and sees the woman responsible for not allowing him to hold the hand of his beloved grandma as passed away with no one by her side. The woman who'd brought Bob up. The person he loved the most. His mind goes blank as he exits the car.

    Here's the problem. There are many Bobs up and down the length of our once great land. These people don't detest the PM. They don't dislike her. They hate her with a vengeance.

    • Sanctuary 4.1

      Are you always an idiot, or do you work on it for this site?

    • bobnaki 4.2

      LOL, I think the PM is a child ,in mind only.She hasnt any depth,she shall be remembered by many for what she has forced on NZ,hers to deal with.

    • Louis 4.3

      That's quite an unhinged, rather threatening rant.

      Why should the PM "move off shore once her tenure in politics was over'? I note John key and Paula Bennett, who were quite despised by many still live in NZ. Why should the PM leave NZ? it's her home.

      Sounds like the Bob you are describing is yourself Blade, you're the one that hates the PM with a vengeance.

      • Blade 4.3.1

        ''That's quite an unhinged, rather threatening rant.''

        No it's not. That's what you want it to be. That is my honest opinion. You didn't need to abuse. Or did you?

        ''Why should the PM "move off shore once her tenure in politics was over'? ''

        Well, believe it of not, the answer to that is in my post.

        ''I note John key and Paula Bennett, who were quite despised by many still live in NZ. Why should the PM leave NZ? it's her home.''

        ''Quite true, and of course, Jacinda does not have to leave NZ. My post said… if I was advising her. John Key and Paula Bennett are not in the same dislike club as Jacinda, simply because Jacinda has had to make decisions that have pissed way more people off – whether rightly or wrongly.''

        ''Sounds like the Bob you are describing is yourself Blade, you're the one that hates the PM with a vengeance.''

        I am neutral regarding the PM – she does nothing for me, or against me. In fact I have praised her on occasions. Not that that would interest you with your cheap point scoring.

        • Louis 4.3.1.1

          "Cheap point scoring" That's what you're doing. Your opinion was abusive and threatening, you don't need to be like that but neither are you neutral either when it comes to the PM and her govt, quite the opposite in fact. Key and Bennett did indeed piss off a hell of a lot of people and the anti Jacinda brigade appear to be a minority, albeit loud and fodder for media clickbait. btw, unlike John key, it's not in Jacinda's DNA to do a runner when times get tough. NZ couldn't have a better leader than Ardern, particularly during these global crises.

        • Stuart Munro 4.3.1.2

          In fact I have praised her on occasions.

          Citation required.

          • Blade 4.3.1.2.1

            No need. I have written time and again there is no one better than Jacinda for fronting a crisis. She is the best of all times. I have written she has bewitched the global community(not all though) with her special brand of Jacinda fairy dust.

            Stu.. you are asleep at the wheel. Stay awake and I will learn you.

            • Stuart Munro 4.3.1.2.1.1

              I'm afraid there is every need, Blade.

              You need to establish that you are not merely a toxic turkey begging for the axe by showing that some tiny proportion of your sad contributions are based in fact.

              You are a dull Blade, but the habit of validating your assertions will (eventually) grind away that superficial dross and scale, until you are no longer a blunt instrument.

      • newsense 4.3.2

        I noticed that too. Rather than stop threats of violence against public figures, that she should move. Thankfully she has other advisors.

        Or we could treat threats of violence in public life with the severity it deserves and act sharply against extremism. Those who deliberately spread untrue statements about government actions and create all kinds of trouble.

        Spin-off report on online mischief at the protests

        On Groundswell I guess we have to wait until a significant number of farms are rendered uneconomic by flooding and so on and even then perhaps we won’t see any kind of teal/green realization like Aussie.

  3. weka 5

    This is the reality of transition surgery for some. It’s also why so many people are against affirmation of gender identity in children, because once they get to puberty the paths to this kind of surgery is often uncritically offered.

    Tullip is a British man in his thirties who was so distressed he couldn’t give informed consent. His doctors certainly didn’t seek it. He had radical transition surgery on the NHS and is left permanently disabled in multiple ways. This is both medical negligence (I would guess much worse than negligence, there’s the sense of experimentation), but also part of a medical scandal that few will talk about but affects many.

    The politics of this are that large chunks of the left had supported No Debate (the political position that no one should be allowed to criticises any trans issues), and cancel culture to the point that people are afraid to speak out for fear of losing the jobs and careers. Hence we don’t know what is happening, good research isn’t being done, and we are passing bad laws.

    https://twitter.com/wekatweets/status/1536454022407655424

    • Molly 5.1

      Tulip did a good interview last week on Transition Radio Show's Youtube channel. They also interviewed Shapeshifter a couple of weeks ago, another MtF transitioner talking openly about their medical interventions.

      The backstory and timeline of Transition Radio show is interesting to look into, as well.

      Detrans subreddit now at 33.6K members.

      https://youtu.be/qtNVFljdo1E

    • Rosemary McDonald 5.2

      Scrolling through the replies leads to this contribution from the outstanding UnHerd platform.

      Is it a result of the 'baby led' trend that has contributed to this crop of tantrum throwing snowflakes that demand their every wish be not only fulfilled, but accepted and embraced without question by all?

      Time for the grown ups to put aside the 'cringe' from their own youthful struggles and step up and be actual parents.

      I was talking to a friend recently about a mutual friend whose daughter has said she is a boy, and so her mum bought her a chest binder, and I said how sad I found that. My friend was shocked by my sadness.

      “But what would you do if your daughter wanted one?” she asked.

      “I’d ask her what she thought she could do as a boy that she can’t do as a girl, and I’d ask if she wanted to be a boy, or did she want to be different person,” I said.

      “But it’s the daughter’s choice,” my friend said.

      “It would be her choice if she wanted to self-harm. But I wouldn’t buy her the razor,” I replied.

  4. Blade 6

    Political blindness 101. This lot should be the last to be pontificating.

    Quote:

    ''But the changes haven't gone over well at the ACT Party, and Seymour said the reshuffle doesn't change the Government's "lack of talent.''

    Oh, boy!

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/06/act-national-decry-cabinet-reshuffle-say-it-won-t-change-government-s-lack-of-delivery.html

    • Nic the NZer 6.1

      I'm a bit worried about David, he appears to be the only ACT rep allowed to talk to the media. They don't care about his mental health and will work him delusional if he can't delegate. Could ACT find a representative to cover him while he takes a break?

      Surely this lack of sharpness says a lot about why hes considered too Socialist in some circles.

  5. Poission 7

    Stats just released food index inflation came in at 6.8% annual increase,rental index cam in at 3.8% for existing tenancy ,and 5.3% for new tenancy.

    https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-food-price-increase-remains-high-at-6-8-percent/

    https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/rental-price-indexes-may-2022/

    prices will not affect next months ocr review as housing costs are still substantive,and property prices need a good wack.

    • Ad 7.1

      Yep my fixed term tenancies ending at the end of this year will have prices going up. Got to pay that higher mortgage.

      • Poission 7.1.1

        Especially with your increased risk of substantive capital loss,on investment watch the capital gains of the last 2 years contract to their real price of around 5 median incomes to median price.

        US mortgage rates just crashed through to 6.13%,and the bloody monday event on wall street saw a 4% wack on your super fund.

        • Ad 7.1.1.1

          My gearing is tiny and the cashflow just needs to stay balanced.

          I'm reasonably sanguine on Growth … so far.

          • Poission 7.1.1.1.1

            The substantive rates increases coming for AK will be a problem going forward with the debt blowout heading to 20b by 2027.(excluding the cost blowouts and uncosted changes to infrastructure for the light rail lemon.

            • Ad 7.1.1.1.1.1

              Light rail is on central government's books not local government.

              But Auckland Council is on the hook for the cost increases within City Rail Link which are already substantial.

              • Poission

                Treasury stated in the budget update that ownership had yet to be determined for light rail.The cost of land and infrastructure realignment has not been determined or costed into the project,and is expected to double the cost.

                Look at the cost of the blowouts on cycleways alone,all funded on increased debt.

                https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/469068/cycleway-building-programme-faces-delays-deferrals-over-potential-670m-overspend

                • Ad

                  Yes that's Treasury keeping the back door open for a PPP + 'targeted rates'. Whether they went through with a targeted rate, it's not determined if Ak Council would collect it, but I very much doubt they will.

                  Minister Robertson was clearer, saying: "the Government will fund the "lion's share" of the $15b project and look at other options, including "value uplift" – a charge on businesses and developments that benefit from the project – and some kind of targeted rate."

                  Auckland $15b light rail project will largely be paid for by Government and built by 2033, say ministers – NZ Herald

                  In the major projects industry we are generally viewing light rail is dead, unless Labour get back for a third term.

                  My general view of cycleway cost blowouts is simply: every single major transport project is about to blow out. Nothing we can do except kill projects if we want to stay in budget.

                  The QS and Estimating teams are going nuts.

                  • Poission

                    the full cost is 25B as neither land or moving of infrastructure and services has been costed in,treasury warning also stated interest costs and forex costs not fully included.

                    • Ad

                      It's not a project we need to worry about.

                      The $$ for ones on the starting line like PenLink, AMETI to Botany, Riverlink, 2nd Harbour Crossing, Downtown Wellington, and the next tranche of Ak trains … I would watch them closely as they are going to blow sky high.

                  • Poission

                    The QS and Estimating teams are going nuts.

                    In the US and Europe construction materials such as rebar and lumber have fallen off peaks,the latter in the US coming back 55% in 3 months as new inventory stalls in the housing market.

                    The RBNZ review into housing determined the NZ housing and construction sectors were operating at 133% of capacity and it needed to contract to sustainable levels to constrain build inflation.

                    The OECD suggested pausing large infrastructure,to constrain both deflation and forward debt risk.

                    House prices will fall,thats a given as the central banks QT and ratchet interest mechanisms start to rotate both buyers and sellers to the new reality.

  6. Blade 9

    Bloody hell. Compton, here comes Aotearoa. It's been reasonably quiet in my neck of the woods recently. Just a couple of bashings and two ram raids.

    https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/taupiri-shooting-man-dropping-his-child-off-at-school-injured-when-gunman-opened-fire/

    • In Vino 9.1

      Blade – you remind me of Marilyn Monroe luxuriating in a bubble-bath. Except for your appearance, of course.

  7. Eco Maori 10

    Kia Ora whano

    Well the sandflys are still breaking into my whare at will trying to set me up to crashs everyday i go to work next minute national are waving the flag