Open mike 14/06/2023

82 comments on “Open mike 14/06/2023 ”

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1. bwaghorn 1

   14 June 2023 at 6:33 am

   https://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/132302910/one-lowball-bid-at-an-auction-today-could-cost-the-government-half-a-billion

   There's pitfalls in selling the right to polute it would seem
2. Dennis Frank 2

   14 June 2023 at 6:37 am

   Guerilla warfare in the beehive: public servants vs Labour caucus.

   Parliamentary staff will discuss the extent to which bureaucrats are improperly changing draft laws, after Newsroom reported MPs' stinging rebuke of Internal Affairs officials.

   The finance and expenditure select committee reports the department's officials went behind MPs' backs to make changes to the Three Waters reforms that MPs didn't agree with.

   https://www.newsroom.co.nz/former-pm-unauthorised-three-waters-law-changes-caused-by-strains-in-parlt

   Subversion of democracy is such fun. I totally understand why officials get off on it.
   • Tiger Mountain 2.1

     14 June 2023 at 6:52 am

     The intent in this instance notwithstanding, Parliamentary Services and the Public Service seems loaded to the gunwales with fifth columnists of varying persuasions.

     The ones that irk me are of course Torys and neo libs who spit on a big state–“for the many not the few”–and well funded social services in principle, but are happy to accept large salaries for their leaking and undermining.
     • Dennis Frank 2.1.1

       14 June 2023 at 8:10 am

       There's that, but a second reading of the report gives me a bit of insight into the labyrinthine arcane decision-making process they are using.

       Officials also directed that the bill be changed to remove the requirement to engage with mana whenua, and instead to engage with interested persons – but they didn't define interested persons. MPs compromised by ordering a definition be included, to avoid any ambiguity or dispute over the meaning.

       Ah, but who will write that definition?? If I stick my hand up, jump up & down yelling "Hey, me! I'm interested!", will it get me into the process? Or do I have to register my identity via formal process to become a contributor, rather than interested bystander?

       Newsroom has asked what disciplinary action will now be taken, whether the department’s leadership will be apologising to MPs, and whether the department will be reviewing its actions with regards to other bills.

       That got this official response: "The Department of Internal Affairs has acknowledged the issues raised by the finance and expenditure committee and these matters were addressed through the committee process."

       An extremely elegant evasion of the three Newsroom questions. Promote that official! Lack of specific outcomes is classic adherence to trad Labour praxis.
       • Dennis Frank 2.1.1.1

         14 June 2023 at 8:24 am

         It's understood Internal Affairs has not apologised to the committee, nor to the Speaker of Parliament.

         Why would they? Legal beagle Sir Geoffrey seems to think they are being naughty, but the issue may be moot.

         Leading NZ constitutional law expert, former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer, says the officials' attempts to make unauthorised changes to the bills were serious. He warns New Zealand lacks the checks to prevent constitutional slippage.

         Here I anticipate a committee will have to be formed to produce a definition of constitutional slippage. If the official attempts at subversion were as serious as he claims, it may have to produce a definition of serious as well. Yeah, I know it's in the dictionary, but lawyers always have to customise words for ulterior purposes.
     • Belladonna 2.1.2

       14 June 2023 at 3:44 pm

       In this case, the changes appear to have not been ideologically right wing – but rather officials determination to retain the structure they'd devised.

       The stormwaters change was one of the biggest, but some on the committee feel the officials were unwilling to brook any change to the structure they'd designed. Act MP Simon Court has called them "combative and intransigent", and National's Simon Watts says the law change's impact on councils and ratepayers is important.

       https://www.newsroom.co.nz/former-pm-unauthorised-three-waters-law-changes-caused-by-strains-in-parlt

       The Labour MP, Twyford, who'd been driving this change (principally in response to flooding of streams in Auckland) was adamant that it was not letting landowners 'off the hook' – but rather acknowledging that any one landowner couldn't be effectively held responsible for issues caused upstream from their property.

       "We discussed this long and hard in the committee and got the officials to give us advice. And we went back and discussed it again and where we landed was basically allocating responsibility for the maintenance of the streams that make up a critically important part of stormwater to the new water services entities."

       That was what the committee reported back to the House last week – but only after the MPs and their independent advisor spotted the officials' attempt on May 18 to change it to require water entities to "work collaboratively with the landowner … to implement a solution to ensure the risk is managed".

       "Landowners aren't being let off the hook, they have to behave responsibly," Twyford says. "But the main ongoing responsibility for maintenance will lie squarely with the water entities, and private landowners won't be liable to fix problems caused by omissions by other landowners upstream."

       So – not right-wing ideologues – but rather officials blinded by their own intellectual arrogance.

       If you want to give examples of "Torys and neo libs who spit on a big state" – undermining legislation – then I'll be interested to see them.
   • Hunter Thompson II 2.2

     14 June 2023 at 9:38 am

     It's a great chance to create more jobs of the bureaucratic sort.

     Labour should set up a government department whose task it is to proof-read all legislation before it is passed by Parliament, checking that a select committee's changes are made as required (and that no other alterations have been sneaked in).

     The checking should not be done by the department sponsoring the Bill.

     Shouldn't be necessary in an ideal world. but that is not the sort of world we live in.
     • Craig H 2.2.1

       14 June 2023 at 9:20 pm

       Add it to the remit of the Parliamentary Counsel Office (for Cabinet) or Office of the Clerk of the House (for Parliament) – don't need to make a whole new department for it.
3. Tiger Mountain 3

   14 June 2023 at 6:44 am

   Baldrick strikes again! Tesla critic orders a Tesla on the taxpayer…

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/tesla-recoil-christopher-luxon-ordered-then-cancelled-taxpayer-funded-tesla-while-criticising-tesla-subsidies/D6BMKILVY5DTNBYS6E7YHISKR4/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

   These stories are educative of his lack of suitability for high office and politics generally, but perhaps should slow before the Natzos recall Mr Luxon.
   • Drowsy M. Kram 3.1

     14 June 2023 at 2:31 pm

     https://www.newsroom.co.nz/podcast-the-detail/the-anointed-one

     The annoited, if politically inexperienced one will be waving his flag furiously over the next 4 months – can Luxon/Luxoff be a changemaker, or are NAct between a rock and a hard place?

     Tools
     If you're looking for practical toolkits especially for changemakers, you're in the right place. Based on experiences from changemakers like you, these tips are made for your team to put into practice.
4. bwaghorn 4

   14 June 2023 at 7:19 am

   My kids going to miss 5 days in 3 weeks due to strikes ,2 days a week for the next 2 weeks!!!

   Fucking sort it out
   • Sanctuary 4.1

     14 June 2023 at 7:54 am

     The offer on the table to teachers is a pretty damn good one. The teachers unions are losing the rom with their intransigent stance.
     • Tiger Mountain 4.1.1

       14 June 2023 at 8:34 am

       I usually support all workers actions this does now seem a rather petulant militancy almost, with some good progress made. It is a strategic skill to figure out when a dispute has peaked in support.

       The teachers did well on withstanding National Standards, bulk funding and Charter Schools during the Key/Hekia Parata era but never went full noise for pay increases like they are doing now with a Labour Govt.
     • Mac1 4.1.2

       14 June 2023 at 9:01 am

       https://www.education.govt.nz/news/new-secondary-teacher-offer-puts-top-teachers-on-100000-salary-by-end-of-2024/

       The entry rate for a beginning teacher with degree is now $6000 less than it was in 2010 when I was at the top of the scale. Then it was $69,000. Soon it will be $100,000. A 44% increase.

       But, at an annual increase of 3% the $69,000 I would have earned in 2010 becomes $104,000 in 14 years.

       I am no longer privy to PPTA matters but put out these figures to understand what the numbers might be, along with other parts of the offer regarding release time etc to address workload issues.

       I've been more than a decade away from a full classroom and I am still hearing people say, "Aren't you glad you're not teaching now" referring to workload and discipline issues.
       • Stephen D 4.1.2.1

         14 June 2023 at 1:00 pm

         Under the latest offer , a beginning teachers starting salary is $55358. Still 10k under that of a nurse.

         With the discipline issues in schools being hampered mostly by whiny parents, why would a graduate bother.
         • Mac1 4.1.2.1.1

           14 June 2023 at 1:26 pm

           My starting figure is that of a graduate to keep it in line with my other figures. A nurse starting off at the $55358 plus $10k that you mention has what academic qualifications? Is there a staged entry with different starting points based on their academic attainments and training? In other words are we comparing like with like?
         • Macro 4.1.2.1.2

           14 June 2023 at 1:36 pm

           Exactly. There is no way I would consider teaching again when I look on at the work load of my daughter. 7.30 am start arrives, home around 5pm most days, then works until 9pm and works almost all day weekends marking, prep, report writing, etc. Hardly any time for the family. Then picking up extra periods at school as teachers away sick (relief teachers few and far between these days). She is now looking elsewhere with her MA(Hons) BSc(Hons) and several post grad diplomas. – And this is in Western Australia!
   • Cricklewood 4.2

     14 June 2023 at 8:19 am

     Itd help their cause if they held their strike action during the school holidays.

     Basically the kids worst affected by covid lockowns are getting badly let down by both the govt and teachers.
5. RosieLee 5

   14 June 2023 at 7:46 am

   It would be good to have some detail on the exploitation of immigrant workers from China and other countries. Who's doing the exploitation, both here and in the country of origin? Are the exploiters Kiwis or are they the workers' own nationality?

   We need more diligence and transparency on the processes. And – how about making it compulsory for all of these workers to have to report to the relevant ministry/department on arrival so that their circumstances can be checked and they can be informed about their rights in the job and in NZ – in their own language.
   • Craig H 5.1

     14 June 2023 at 9:25 pm

     Immigration NZ and MBIE do a lot of work in this area – I used to work there, and public servants despise this exploitation as much as the general public if not more.

     https://www.mbie.govt.nz/immigration-and-tourism/immigration/temporary-migrant-worker-exploitation-review/

     https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/25198-temporary-migrant-worker-exploitation-research-programme-quantitative-findings
     • Descendant Of Smith 5.1.1

       14 June 2023 at 10:35 pm

       public servants despise this exploitation as much as the general public if not more.

       MBIE has been part of this problem for years and years. There's articles going back ever since RSE started and so, so many say MBIE had been previously told about the concerns / checked things off as OK.

       One worker decided to tape record the meeting after the group made a complaint to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment's Labour Inspectorate.

       The watchdog is a port of call for RSE workers to report exploitation, but MBIE initially used an investigator who had a personal relationship to Rarere to investigate their claims.

       That investigator, Rick Brown, revealed the identities of the complaining workers to Rarere – allegedly against their consent.

       Jason alleged Brown had worked with Rarere's father when both were at MBIE (Rarere's father is now retired according to Jason). He pointed to this as one possible reason why Brown might have identified them.

       https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/300058117/hungry-and-scared-in-hawkes-bay

       Or their judgement is so poor that things only get considered bad when a Commissioner goes undercover.

       Sumeo said she witnessed multiple human rights violations, including the lack of freedom of movement (the workers had curfews), freedom of association (the workers were threatened against joining unions) and the right to culture (the workers aren’t allowed to drink kava, and are sometimes expected to work instead of going to church).

       “The right to health in particular is of great concern … workers can find themselves very unwell but directed to be at work; living in substandard, overpriced bedrooms for months on end.”

       Sumeo said one house she visited, provided by Laconic Ltd, had ripped carpet and leaks in the ceilings, with a bucket to catch the water. It was “like being in a cooler”, she said, but the heaters had been confiscated. It was a five-bedroom house with two to three men in each room, and was collecting $2380 rent each week.

       She said she was writing to the minister after both her team and the union representing the workers had previously raised concerns with the Ministry of Business, Immigration and Employment (MBIE), with no success.

       “In each instance, the labour inspectors who visited the sites found no issue with the pay and living conditions, contrary to my views,” she said.

       https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/129496019/blatant-exploitation-migrant-workers-packed-in-freezing-damp-rooms-for-150-a-week
6. Anker 6

   14 June 2023 at 9:10 am

   • https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/posie-parker-protest-young-man-accused-of-punching-elderly-woman-granted-diversion/UK6SUZYJVJDMJJMJRP5ZCJNODQ/
   • so the 20 year old thug who repeatedly punched a 70 year old women who was attending a peaceful rally, fracturing her skull, leading to a black eye, concussion. and a emotional trauma gets diversion.
   • So men can assault elderly women whose views they don’t agree with, with impunity.
   • I will write to our Minister of Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention, Marama Davison and I know she will condemn this unprovoked attack against an elderly woman(sarc)
   • Molly 6.1

     14 June 2023 at 10:47 am

     Good Twitter thread here which provides a couple of salient details missing from the article, and video of the incident:

     https://twitter.com/nz_media_watch/status/1668555558541197313?s=20

     On May 22nd the victim was advised by

     @nzpolice

     : I am emailing to let you know that diversion has NOT been approved by the diversion officer due to the serious nature of the offence.

     Yesterday -June 12th- the accused was scheduled to appear in Auckland District Court. At the last possible moment police advised the victim:

     The defendant has been granted diversion and the hearing has been adjourned to allow him to complete his diversion. I have been advised as part of his diversion he will be asked to pay [the victim] $1,000, do counselling, complete community work, and to write an apology letter.

     The victim has opposed diversion throughout the process and feels thoroughly let down by NZ Police, the Ministry of Justice, and Victim Support. She considers diversion to be an outright miscarriage of justice, that a conviction and the naming of her assailant ought to be the absolute minimum outcome.
     • Muttonbird 6.1.1

       14 June 2023 at 11:14 am

       He will be asked to pay [the victim] $1,000, do counselling, complete community work, and to write an apology letter.

       Diversion and the above seems fair and I imagine in line with similar incidents.
       • weka 6.1.1.1

         14 June 2023 at 11:23 am

         what's the diversion involve apart from that?
       • Molly 6.1.1.2

         14 June 2023 at 11:53 am

         The victim – the one with the fractured eye socket – was misinformed by the police that diversion was not appropriate for the charge.

         That changed without the victim being made aware before the hearing on Monday.

         I am surprised that those who view the video of the incident think this is appropriate, but actually, resigned to that response might be more accurate.
         • Shanreagh 6.1.1.2.1

           14 June 2023 at 12:06 pm

           Good grief why am I not surprised? Probably the heir to a rich family, university student doing law, or medicine intermediate or commerce and a charge might afftect his future or ability to travel.

           I must say my heart bleeds, not.

           Actually I am stupendously mad and hopefully this can be appealed in some way.

           No matter who you are it is not actually right to assault people.

           They seem to be able to apply this rule without a single thought that it might blight the future of a person in South Auckland. How come it is so clear there but a few kilometres up the road it becomes murky. /sarc
         • Muttonbird 6.1.1.2.2

           14 June 2023 at 12:55 pm

           According to the tweet, the Police said diversion wasn't approved. But then it was. I'm sure this happens all the time in the court system as new info and applications are presented. It's not some special case despite the victim being not being alerted until the day of the hearing. That too is probably not unusual.

           There's some good info about diversion here.

           The police will always consult with any victim of your offending about whether you should be given diversion. The police will seriously consider the victim’s views, but the final decision on whether to offer diversion will always be made by the police, not the victim.

           Also, not sure I'd trust NZ Media Watch as a news source.
       • Sabine 6.1.1.3

         14 June 2023 at 3:46 pm

         I wonder what the medical bill came too for the fracture, concussion etc, paid for courtesy of the tax payer, and if ACC might be paying in the future should other issues arise?
     • LibertyBelle 6.1.2

       14 June 2023 at 12:22 pm

       Thanks Molly. This was a truly disgusting and cowardly attack, but as with all clouds, there is a silver lining. The video (and other evidence) makes it crystal clear the level of hatred and violence that inhabits sections of the trans activist community.
   • Belladonna 6.2

     14 June 2023 at 3:50 pm

     Well, it's not surprising – violent attacks on women regularly receive derisory sentences. Diversion if this is early in the assailants criminal career, insignificant sentences for hardened criminals.

     Like this one, for example.

     https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/crime/black-power-member-nykell-t-hegotule-sentenced-for-threatening-women-in-auckland-and-northland/RE7T4NKQMRD2LLYB2LQYUEQBGU/

     Violence against women (and children) is just not important in our legal system.
     • hetzer 6.2.1

       14 June 2023 at 5:35 pm

       Well, lets be fair, maybe he is one of the new women, you know, a woman but with a cock and balls? Or just a simple thug. Who am I to judge?
7. Bearded Git 7

   14 June 2023 at 9:38 am

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/132308266/why-christopher-luxon-may-ride-the-whinging-wave-all-the-way-to-the-beehive

   Luke Malpass here doing his best to elect Luxon by saying that only the Nats care about international competitiveness and growth, while Labour only cares about the domestic economy.

   He is making this up. Labour has done nothing to prevent local entrepreneurs from getting out their and doing it, both locally and internationally. See my post yesterday where under this Labour government NZ is the easiest place to do business in the world. Labour needs to get this message out there.
   • bwaghorn 7.1

     14 June 2023 at 12:11 pm

     Aren't most free trade deals achieved by labour??

     When I think of chippie or luxon representing use over seas Chippie is miles ahead.
     • Bearded Git 7.1.1

       14 June 2023 at 1:47 pm

       Good point Waggie….not only has Labour not discouraged business and trade, but it has also rescued/maintained a huge number of businesses during Covid by dispersing billions and has negotiated impressive trade deals and and and (insert more positive things)
     • Craig H 7.1.2

       15 June 2023 at 2:20 pm

       Particularly the EU FTA that Jacinda Ardern got over the line.
8. Anne 8

   14 June 2023 at 10:01 am

   Interesting update on the RNZ scandal:

   It seems the misinformation goes beyond Russia to include China and Israel but no confirmation they were the work of the same person stood down. That person has been named in the article but won't repeat here in case it goes beyond TS policy:

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300903836/inappropriate-rnz-edits-review-expands-to-china-israel-stories
   • Dennis Frank 8.1

     14 June 2023 at 11:29 am

     When the name of an offender is in the public domain, it can be cited. I doubt TS policy is in discord with such common sense. Here's another report:

     RNZ’s board chair Jim Mather has revealed who will investigate how a journalist was able to insert pro-Russian sentiment to the public broadcaster’s international articles for the past five years. The RNZ board met on Tuesday night to determine who would run the independent investigation, as well as the terms of reference.

     Mather told RNZ’s Morning Report on Wednesday the investigation panel will be made up of media law expert Willy Akel, who will chair the panel, public law expert and former journalist Linda Clark, and former director of editorial standards at the ABC, Alan Sunderland.

     The review will look at why the behaviour of journalist Michael Hall was not identified earlier. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300904817/expert-panel-in-charge-of-rnz-prorussian-edit-investigation-revealed

     So the focus will be on process design & operational decisions on that design basis – did they conform or not? I worked with Linda Clark often in the TVNZ newsroom long ago & am confident she has a good professional grasp of correct process. There's a hierarchy of duties & responsibilities traditionally – but newsroom reconfigurations may have blurred lines of accountability. Supervisory checking may have fallen thro a gap. The other two panel selections seem sensible also.
     • Anne 8.1.1

       14 June 2023 at 1:10 pm

       As a former "AKTV2" audio operator an 'eon' ago, I also take an interest in broadcasting matters.

       My best guess is, that the gradual erosion of sub-editors in particular in all the media outlets is responsible for these types of incidents occurring. Its like everything else… remove an important safeguard from the process and accidents – deliberate or otherwise – are going to happen.

       It would not surprise me if further 'misguided editing' is discovered by other media outlets whom I am sure are frantically perusing all their historical records as we speak.
     • Nic the NZer 8.1.2

       14 June 2023 at 7:25 pm

       Five whole years they have been doing it. Maybe the reporter needs to visit the Devonport Gun emplacements commissioned to protect against official enemies since the Crimean war.
       • adam 8.1.2.1

         15 June 2023 at 1:45 am

         Whole new low for Russophobia, what next, make all Russians in NZ wear a lada star?
9. Siobhan 9

   14 June 2023 at 10:31 am

   "Hit in the head by a bullet"..could someone here, preferably a Guardian fan..explain how one gets "hit in the head with a bullet" as opposed to "shot in the head"…thankfully this unfortunate incident was merely the result of one of those "rare Israeli raid(s)"..pheew, thank goodness for that..

   https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/08/palestinian-journalist-hit-in-the-head-by-bullet-during-raid-on-terror-suspects-home?fbclid=IwAR02J1r0RV7hpMeSFWPlkyq04gEXHuir1lYq0rc7acpmjI38alVZnT7tY9g
   • roy cartland 9.1

     14 June 2023 at 12:58 pm

     This is the real propaganda. "Hit" in the head, indeed. I have some reservations about the actions against the journalist at RNZ who has been stood down, as it seems he was rebalancing some of this slanted writing.
   • Sabine 9.2

     14 June 2023 at 3:53 pm

     well i don't read the guardian but i might give this a try.

     Passive dying vs active murdering.
     • Phillip ure 9.2.1

       15 June 2023 at 6:06 pm

       While not agreeing with all their stances..their gung ho/war-mongering support for Obama trashing libya jumps to mind..

       But if I was restricted to just one mainstream media journal..I would choose the guardian… for the generally high standard of the writing..

       Maybe you could give it a go there sabine..

       You might find you like it..

       And given that only one restriction…what mainstream rag would you plump for..?
10. Muttonbird 10

    14 June 2023 at 11:45 am

    David Seymour calling the (brown) people of Ōpōtiki, "subhuman".

    https://twitter.com/dbseymour/status/1668758897170206721

    Charming.
    • roy cartland 10.1

      14 June 2023 at 1:00 pm

      He was presumably referring to the gangs as subhuman, not the Ōpōtiki people. Still a pretty awful way to describe people; do they actually cause more misery than billionaires?
      • Muttonbird 10.1.1

        14 June 2023 at 1:52 pm

        He'd didn't specify who he was talking about which is either deliberate or careless. He knows gangs are symptomatic of the "problems" faced by Maori households in the region. Therefore he includes those households when calls them, "weak individuals unable to solve (those) problems like civilised members of society."

        Seymour is not subhuman, but remarkably close to it…
      • Sabine 10.1.2

        14 June 2023 at 3:56 pm

        He was described as 'useless' by a Labour MP?

        and below 10.1.1 me is a comment describing him as 'subhuman'?

        Maybe its a fair go for all when it comes to dehumanising people that one does not like or approve of it?
        • Visubversa 10.1.2.1

          14 June 2023 at 4:56 pm

          Just ordinarily useless? Not Maureen Pugh style "useless"?
    • Mike the Lefty 10.2

      14 June 2023 at 1:39 pm

      When the gangs are in town they don't actually have to DO anything, the media hype does what the gangs love – making people afraid of them.

      Interesting though, that the police have stepped up their presence in Opotiki to 24-hours a day.

      I would have thought that policing should by default be a 24-hour activity all the time, not just when the gangs are in town. So policing is now officially a 9-5 job perhaps?

      Does anybody seriously believe that tougher prison sentences will make one iota of difference to gang activity?

      You have to catch them before you can sentence them and our police force have over the last few decades been under staffed and under resourced to the point where they are little more than an emergency response unit.

      National are very vague about police resourcing, probably because it costs money and to them it is probably "wasteful spending, although tax cuts for the rich clearly aren't.
      • Tony Veitch 10.2.1

        14 June 2023 at 8:11 pm

        Who needs the police when you live in a gated community patrolled by private security?
11. Ad 11

    14 June 2023 at 1:59 pm

    Despite being announced in the budget, the massive increase in subsidy for public transport for those under 25 and free for most young people and children isn't possible to be implemented.

    That's because councils don't have the systems to implement it.

    And yet they have been able to do it for Gold Card holders for over a decade.

    Public transport discount for under-25s hits snag (1news.co.nz)

    Wouldn't it be great if NZTA had generated a national ticketing system that would have enabled this to occur as a single system?

    Unfortunately NZTA have been working on this for nearly a decade, and no sign of it.

    Failure by both local and central government agencies. Also why didn't Wood test this as an operational reality with MoT and NZTA well before it got into a budget proposal, that was then approved and announced?

    This should have been a major election vote-winner.

    Chop chop McNulty.

    RNZ contacted every regional body responsible for implementing the scheme and found Wellington was not alone in having a bigger ticketing system that is harder to change.

    Many small areas — including Northland, Otago, Manawatū/Whanganui and Christchurch — reported back that they will be ready to go on July 1. Others, like the Auckland supercity, still do not know if they will meet the deadline.

    Auckland Transport metro optimisation manager Richard Harrison said the new concessions required "technical changes" to its existing system, that it was still working through.

    "Although we are aiming to make these changes from 1 July we don't yet know whether this will be possible given the complexity of changes needed behind the scenes to our AT HOP systems."
    • Mike the Lefty 11.1

      14 June 2023 at 3:49 pm

      The biggest mistake was to let each regional authority make their own type of electronic system without reference to anyone else. Wellington has Snapper, Auckland has Hop card, many of the metropolitan centres have Beecard, etc and none of them are compatible.

      If a "three waters" approach had been done a couple of decades ago then we could have had by now a working system whereby you have one card that you can use on pretty much any public transport, and possibly some extras like Intercity, anywhere in the country. The benefits for promoting public transport would be enormous and being rolled out nation wide would have made it cheaper in the long run.

      But of course we can’t have the government taking over public transport can we?
    • Sabine 11.2

      14 June 2023 at 3:59 pm

      well the card was initiated in 2006 – so 17 years ago, and was revamped App and all in 2019.

      https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/supergold-card-seniors-unveiled

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/deputy-prime-minister-winston-peters-launches-a-new-supergold-card-app-and-website/KFRQVKW3AP25DRQ2P4SJVY2TCI/

      Maybe it does take a little longer then just a few weeks.
      • Visubversa 11.2.1

        14 June 2023 at 4:58 pm

        You have to have a HOP card in Auckland if you want the free transit for seniors. This is because we do not have the 3pm stand down period.
    • Belladonna 11.3

      14 June 2023 at 4:04 pm

      Auckland Transport metro optimisation manager Richard Harrison said the new concessions required "technical changes" to its existing system, that it was still working through.

      "Although we are aiming to make these changes from 1 July we don't yet know whether this will be possible given the complexity of changes needed behind the scenes to our AT HOP systems."

      Quite frankly, I don't see how this can be true.
      AT systems already allow half-price fares for children (defined on the basis of birth date up to 16). So the data coding for age-based fares, is already in place.

      ['Children' over 16 – currently have to turn up to a hub with their school or uni ID in hand – in order to have the 'child' coding applied to their AT Hop card account, as their ID is validated to prevent 'fraud']

      It does require the Hop card to be registered against an account. Those who are determined that 'the gummint' aren't getting their data, have to pay full adult fare.

      It would be a trivial coding exercise to extend the 'child' age from 16 to 25; and to set the cost at zero dollars.

      This smacks of 'not a priority' rather than technical challenge.

      Perhaps a financial penalty for every week past the 1st of July when this is not in place, would concentrate their attention.
12. joe90 12

    14 June 2023 at 2:15 pm

    ffs

    @phdwahine

    We’ve had signs like this for ages. What are we supposed to tell our tamariki about why someone would do this? All those stoking hatred for votes are a fucking disgrace

    @TristanRS

    The @NZNationalParty enable this

    .

    

    https://twitter.com/phdwahine/status/1668541998389936129
    • Mike the Lefty 12.1

      14 June 2023 at 8:51 pm

      I'm waiting for the Tui bird to be reclassified as its virtually unknown English name The Parson Bird.
13. tWiggle 13

    14 June 2023 at 2:59 pm

    Purely for fun. Afficionados of UK politics will enjoy Politics Joe's mashup of Goodfellows with Tory personalities
    • Phillip ure 13.1

      15 June 2023 at 6:17 pm

      That is funny…!

      Good to be reminded again of cameron..his penis…and the dead pigs mouth..(allegedly..)
14. LibertyBelle 14

    14 June 2023 at 3:08 pm

    Food prices up 12.1% in the past year.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/cost-of-living-annual-food-prices-rise-121-per-cent/TVSBX6NVVRHGRFHEN2BFGUFHPY/

    An education minister who can’t work out their own base salary.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/06/education-minister-jan-tinetti-admits-she-doesn-t-know-how-much-she-s-paid-amid-teachers-pay-negotiations.html

    A NZ town brought to a ‘standstill’ by gang violence.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/opotiki-mongrel-mob-barbarians-death-gang-members-line-street-near-home-where-president-steven-taiatini-lies/F7J7N7MJVBHELPF5DWGOWWX4XQ/

    NZ’s principle social housing provider once gain exposed as the country’s worst landlord.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/06/hamilton-mother-begs-for-help-claiming-k-inga-ora-neighbours-are-abusive-threaten-to-kill-pets.html

    Retail crime up 40% in one year. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/reports-of-retail-crime-up-nearly-40-per-cent-in-2022/MTIGTUFOPRHDBOJTUV4AP5IOEY/. And we’re discussing Tesla’s.

    [True to form, you dump another cherry-picked selection of five negative headlines here without any commentary for political discussion. Your snide remarks underscore your intention to mislead.

    For example, a Minister can’t tell off the top of her head what her salary is or how much she’s paid. That’s not the same as not the same as not being able to work out her own base salary, as you wrote it. You implied that she was stupid and you assumed that TS readers are stupid and would fall for your misleading snarky comment.

    Ōpōtiki’s Mayor said that “people in the town were carrying on as normal”. There was tension and an “eerie feeling”, but no reports of any violence in the town in the article that you linked to suggesting or having caused the town to come to a ‘standstill’, as you falsely claimed. Your intention was to mislead.

    In that other linked article, there’s nothing to support your false claim that Kāinga Ora was “once gain exposed as the country’s worst landlord” [sic]. A false claim clearly aimed to mislead.

    Your last linked article stated that reported retail crime was up and gave some explanations for the increased reporting. You twisted this into something different in order to mislead. It was dated 12 March, so it must have come from your ‘top drawer’.

    I’m actually surprised that you left it at only five links.

    And we’re discussing Tesla’s.

    No, we were not discussing cars as such. We were discussing Luxon’s shambolic performance & hypocrisy and the fact that he has no political antenna or instinct. He’s clearly totally unfit to be PM. You knew this, as you’d been extensively trolling Micky’s Post, which only shows ‘gain that you’re a disingenuous troll.

    This site and the Mods don’t need disingenuous trolls like you, least of all in Election Year.

    Take the rest of the year off – Incognito]
    • Jack 14.1

      14 June 2023 at 3:50 pm

      Yep! Not only that, we’re talking about a Tesla that no one actually purchased 😂 Strange times.
      • Sabine 14.1.1

        14 June 2023 at 4:00 pm

        yes, why are we giving free cars to people that make 6 figures a year? Like the fuck why?
        • bwaghorn 14.1.1.1

          14 June 2023 at 5:16 pm

          Would you be a senior politician?
        • Craig H 14.1.1.2

          14 June 2023 at 9:28 pm

          Cabinet ministers get an official car for official travel for security reasons (among others) and the Speaker and Leader of the Opposition get the same treatment as cabinet ministers since they usually have similar levels of security risks and need.
    • tWiggle 14.2

      14 June 2023 at 5:14 pm

      Perhaps some granular detail on main contributors to food price increases would enlighten us:

      'In the year to May, fruit and vegetable prices alone increased by 18.4 percent. "The increase was driven by avocados, kūmara, potatoes and tomatoes," Stats NZ said.

      In other notable increases, grocery prices surged 12.7 percent year-on-year. Stats NZ said that increase was driven by the rising cost of eggs, potato chips and lollies.'

      Egg increase is due in part to supermarket chains not accepting legal colony cages, because animal rights activists caused big fusses in supermarkets.

      Kūmara and avocados will be up due to Northland flood damage. Potato price increase definitely due to poor weather this season.

      And at a global level, according to the World Bank, 'Domestic food price inflation remains high around the world…inflation higher than 5% in in 70.6% of low-income countries, 81.4% of lower-middle-income countries, and 84% of upper-middle-income countries, with many experiencing double-digit inflation. Australia rose by 8%, UK rose by 19%, and US by 7%.

      Implying that the government is directly responsible for food price increases doesn't stack up, and that it can do much about it, except squeeze supermarket profit, is not realistic.

      Inferring that a change of government will make these price increases magically go away is fantasy.
      • LibertyBelle 14.2.1

        14 June 2023 at 6:11 pm

        “Implying that the government is directly responsible for food price increases doesn't stack up,”

        Of course. But the government has to take at least some responsibility. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2023/06/global-drivers-of-food-prices-may-have-peaked-but-new-zealand-factors-still-fuelling-costs-foodstuffs.html
        • tWiggle 14.2.1.1

          14 June 2023 at 7:24 pm

          'Minimum wage and weather'. This is the only quote in your article, liberty belle, in which the food retailer spokesperson identified local factors contributing to food price increases over the past year.

          Oops, the spokesperson left off retailer profit margins.

          This Stuff article examines the same 12% price rise from the Greens' perspective.

          'A Commerce Commission study published last year found the supermarkets bank $430 million in excess profits a year, double what the commission considered they should be making – though the supermarkets dispute that.'
          • tWiggle 14.2.1.1.1

            14 June 2023 at 7:31 pm

            You and the Greens are right: food retailers should have excessive profits taxed, or have their profit margins controlled by government. I stand corrected. NACT won't touch profits or increase regulatory controls though, you know, so if concerned, you’re best to vote Greens.
            • LibertyBelle 14.2.1.1.1.1

              14 June 2023 at 8:39 pm

              Supermarkets pay tax on SLL their profits.
            • Mike the Lefty 14.2.1.1.1.2

              14 June 2023 at 9:02 pm

              Retailers should have excessive profits taxed?

              Sounds good in principle, but inevitably the supermarkets will increase prices to make up for the extra tax paid, so consumers will not win either way.
          • LibertyBelle 14.2.1.1.2

            14 June 2023 at 8:38 pm

            You do know who sets the minimum wage, right?
            • tWiggle 14.2.1.1.2.1

              14 June 2023 at 10:16 pm

              You know who sets the profit margin, right?
              • LibertyBelle …

                14 June 2023 at 10:53 pm

                The market.
                • tWiggle …

                  14 June 2023 at 11:14 pm

                  IRL, outside Ayn Rand world, the NZ supermarket duopoly sets the profit margin. Have you not heard of CARTELS? The free hand of the MARKET is a fantasy of Chicago school economists. If you want an example of what happens when free-market ideology meets the real world, look no further than Liz Truss's loss over one week of £30bi from the value of the UK economy .
                  • LibertyBelle …

                    15 June 2023 at 9:52 am

                    Meanwhile, back to the topic…

                    margins are a function of price. Prices are set by the market. There are plenty of sources of supermarket based products outside the ‘duopoly’. Shop around, it’s fun.
                • Phillip ure …

                  15 June 2023 at 6:21 pm

                  'the market's..a.k.a..greedy bastard profiteers…(I believe that is an academic definition..)
    • Incognito 14.3

      19 June 2023 at 9:45 pm

      Mod note
15. Cricklewood 15

    14 June 2023 at 3:22 pm

    Don't know whether I should laugh or cry

    https://twitter.com/ArielleScarcell/status/1668282365284691969/photo/1
16. Johnr 16

    14 June 2023 at 4:08 pm

    1600 hrs news on nat radio. Quoting Chippie at at the waikato field days.

    " I've not come across anybody who is negative, inward looking, wet or down trodden. But then I haven't seen Christopher Luxon either.

    Classic.
17. Joe90 17

    14 June 2023 at 5:57 pm

    Morale is high.

    //

    Artoir

    @ItsArtoir

    What is reported to be russian barrier troops executing fleeing soldiers. The video appeared on one of Zolkin’s channels this morning

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