Open Mike 14/07/2018

54 comments on “Open Mike 14/07/2018 ”

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1. Ave Helios 1

   14 July 2018 at 6:36 am

   Sending peace, from the east of Africa, to all. https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/eritrea-ethiopia-peace-good-news-africa-180711081433471.html
2. Ad 2

   14 July 2018 at 7:40 am

   Vive la France!
3. DH 3

   14 July 2018 at 8:37 am

   Situations Vacant

   CEO Roadbuilding division, NZTA

   Must wear a toga, sandals and bring their sword to fight off angry road users. Those under 2000 years old need not apply, we need a person who actually knows how to build roads.
   ___________________

   How did this country fall so far? A modern first world nation and we can no longer even build roads!
   • Sanctuary 3.1

     14 July 2018 at 9:08 am

     Surely the ad must have read:

     Utentur toga, ferro adducam pugnam calceamentorum iratus via users. Quibus sub MM annorum opus non est nobis omnino necessaria est qui scit quid facere viae.
     • DH 3.1.1

       14 July 2018 at 9:18 am

       Hey, my retained latin only goes as far as amo amas amat…

       That would probably weed out the wannabes although for all I know you just insulted me 😉
     • Sabine 3.1.2

       14 July 2018 at 9:28 am

       hahahahahah 🙂
     • dv 3.1.3

       14 July 2018 at 9:33 am

       Sanctury here is the google translation.

       Must wear a gown, iron I will bring the fight of his shoes was angry with the way of the users. To them He is to us absolutely necessary in 2000-year-old is no one who does not know what to do the work of the road.
   • dukeofurl 3.2

     14 July 2018 at 11:44 am

     They can build roads…just that national wanted them finished fast before election year
   • cleangreen 3.3

     14 July 2018 at 2:43 pm

     DH well said,

     I worked for Ministry of Works on the Tongariro Power scheme from 1965 to 1972 ,

     Then i saw the best road builers anywhere that i have travelled as they had real engineers and scores of history of building roads.

     So yes we have lost so much of what we were so good at for sure, now that everything is ‘Privatised’ the quality of roads have gone from bad to worse’ every blooody week we travel the roads today.
     • DH 3.3.1

       14 July 2018 at 6:01 pm

       Yeah, MoW had its flaws but still shows up these private mobs.

       These new road debacles defy belief, how can they get them so wrong?
       • cleangreen 3.3.1.1

         14 July 2018 at 6:57 pm

         DH, thanks for the feedback,

         Government is now learning the hard way that the roads are not built for 60 plus tonne trucks.
         “you cant get blood out of a stone”

         Here is the problem.
         We live in rural Gisborne now 70kms north of Gisborne on the Raukamaras mountian 1650 ft above sea level.behind Murupara on the other side of the Uruwereas, and the roads both rural and sealed state roads have been totally wrecked up here.

         This all begun after labour firstly increased the ‘size and weight dimensions’ of trucks twice between 2004 and 2007 supposedly for more “efficiency”

         Then since 2009 National had increased the size and weight three times again, so now the trucks are so heavy, the three roading companys we discussed road damage with have told our group that the NZ roading stucture is not built for these heavy trucks.

         These engineers all recomended the roads to be built to US/EU standards now, with heavy concrete bases of reinforced concrete slabs under them.

         We saw happpen while i lived in the US and Canada, every time they sealed a major highway they strip the one lane and dig iut the old concrete slabs and replace them because they also crack after twenty years so more.

         This shows that we have no hope in just relying on a layer of crushed rocks then layers of limesand and then chipseal on top agaiin and again with an occassional layer of cement in the holes that appear.

         We are in for a massive roading cost now as the trucks are running 90% of the freight; – so for us and the Government the cheaper way is to move half the freight back to rail.

         No other choice really now since they have got the biggest heaviest trucks at 63 Tonnes, running on poor standard roads here in NZ.
   • Rosemary McDonald 3.4

     14 July 2018 at 6:11 pm

     My Roman history knowledge largely relies on what Graves imparted…but I’m pretty sure said togaed roadbuilders didn’t have today’s juggernauts to factor in.

     Blame dildo face….https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10636549

     Still recovering am I from an horrendous trip south from Cable Bay to Hamilton on Wednesday.

     SH 1 is utterly appalling. I am sending the bill for my next wheel alignment to Transit…or whoever.

     Absolute crap…until bizarrely the Johnston’s Hill toll road. Then the Road’s surface magically became smooooth and even and wondrously intact.

     Continued thus until descending the Bombay Hill and the Road becomes the Waikato Expressway…then normality resumes the juddering begins, again.

     Now…its all really the same bit of Road.

     And the same types of vehicles in similar proportions are found over the entire distance of said Road.

     So why is the condition of the Road so much better along the Auckland section?
     • DH 3.4.1

       14 July 2018 at 9:29 pm

       I can relate to that Rosemary. SH1 north of Puhoi up to the Brenderwyns is a disgrace, some of it downright dangerous at open road speeds for inexperienced drivers. Big sections are pitted with layers of tarmac missing, potholes, loads of dips & bumps in the road, crumbling verges and poor road marking for night driving.

       They’ve spent a fortune on these big expressways and totally neglected the state highway north. All their funding for that area seems to have gone into the north side Brenderwyns revamp.

       What’s it like north of Whangarei? I don’t get up that way so much.
       • Rosemary McDonald 3.4.1.1

         14 July 2018 at 11:18 pm

         We travel that route regularly and we’re pretty certain there has been significant deterioration since we last did the trip south back in April. The north side of the Brynderwens is good, and SH1 through to Whangarei is not too bad…but the south bound lane is lumpy. The road surface either side of most of the bridges is really unstable and its very easy to hit a pot hole. Interestingly, they have put in soft poles along the centre line south of Whangarei to stop passing. An understandable reaction to the hideous crashes along that section in the past couple of years. Its a hard lesson when a drift to the right puts you in line with one of the thousands of heavy trucks that pound along that route to the port.

         North of Whangarei is not too bad and there has been good work done on areas around Kawakawa and Akerama. We usually turn off onto SH10 at Pakaraka…and this road does need work. The good news is that the replacement to the long single lane bridge at Taipa that Soimon promised all those years ago is finally under construction.

         Most folk heading home to Kaitaia seem to stay on SH1…they claim it is a quicker route over the Mangamukas. Our Bus is oldish with a not too powerful engine and I think having a fully laden logging truck running on jet fuel trying to crawl up my exhaust pipe as I labour up the Big Hill is a vastly overrated activity.

         North of Kaitaia to the Cape…tarsealed all the way now, and full credit to Higgins (if memory serves) who did the work north of Pukenui as the surface has held up remarkably well considering thousands of truck and trailer loads of logs have been hauled south along that route. The one lane bridges are a little rough…

         The real issue in the Far North is the unsealed side roads. We are frequent gravel travelers…but some of these roads are shockers. There has been a wet summer and a wetter winter and a muddy vehicle is de rigueur. The locals laugh it off and claim they don’t mind as it keeps the wussy tourists away, but car repairs are expensive and there’s not a lot of spare cash around.

         I strongly suspect there are good road builders and there are shitty ones. It may well be that quality is dictated by the dollars the Gummint of the day is willing to spend, but how any company could be happy to be associated with a crap job is beyond me. These people have no shame.

         If anyone is interested…google some of the research on the predicted effects of allowing heavier trucks on the road. One could almost weep with frustration that they were well aware that allowing the increase in maximum weight would cause these problems….and they went ahead and did it anyway. Fools.
4. marty mars 4

   14 July 2018 at 10:09 am

   Among the crap some great things are happening – such as these repatriations

   17 Māori and Moriori ancestral remains have been returned to New Zealand from the United States of America and Germany. The toi moko and kōiwi tangata were formally welcomed to Rongomaraeroa Marae at the Museum of New Zealand – Te Papa Tongarewa.

   Head of Repatriation at Te Papa, Te Herekiekie Herewini says, “My soul cries for them as they were overseas for over one hundred years.”

   Tamahou Temara from Toi Māori Aotearoa says, “Their spirits can reconnect to the place they were named, the place their umbilical cords were severed, the place where they crumbled into the earth.”

   https://www.maoritelevision.com/news/national/these-ancestor-remains-were-stolen-and-sold-overseas
5. gsays 5

   14 July 2018 at 10:22 am

   Without sounding like a negative ninny, I am having to enter my name and email for ever comment.
   Plus there is no longer a list of replies in the left column.

   Does it help to log-in?
   Is there anything I can do to my device to help?

   Keep up the good work.
   Nil sine labora. (Latin from a lifetime ago.)
   • dV 5.1

     14 July 2018 at 10:37 am

     Mine has autofill, so only 2 letters.
     • gsays 5.1.1

       14 July 2018 at 2:38 pm

       Thanks dv, draco and Bill.
   • Draco T Bastard 5.2

     14 July 2018 at 11:36 am

     If you have an account then my advice is to login.
   • Bill 5.3

     14 July 2018 at 12:13 pm

     Log in.

     I seem to recall Lynn saying he was looking into why name and email had to entered all of the time for some people.

     But I’m pretty sure that logging in sorts it. If I don’t log in, I get blank fields too. And no side bar. Been that way “since forever”.
   • lprent 5.4

     15 July 2018 at 4:47 pm

     Metus massa semper accumsan nunc ut ego puto.
     • gsays 5.4.1

       15 July 2018 at 11:33 pm

       ‘Fears mass layer is always what I think…’
       Couldn’t have said it better myself.
6. Andre 6

   14 July 2018 at 10:31 am

   It seems the “free speech” pot has gone off the boil a bit and I’m reluctant to stir it back up again. But there’s an aspect to it that strikes me as important that hasn’t got attention in the commentary I’ve seen, and it’s taken me this long to put my finger on why it’s important to me.

   Had it been the likes of Don Brash, or Tat Loo or even Kyle Chapman that had their booking cancelled, I’m pretty sure I would have been firmly on the “free speech” side and been outraged that an obstacle had been put in front of them getting their message out. Even though I expect I would strongly disagree with what that message actually is.

   But since everyone involved in the S & M saga is foreign based (including the promoter), my reaction to the cancellation was just slightly on the favourable side of the balance of strong pros and cons.

   It seemed to me S & M were just planning to be seagulls – flap on in squawking loudly, shit all over the place, then flap out again still squawking, leaving others to clean up.

   Whereas a local resident with exactly the same messages (or even much more objectionable ones) could be genuinely trying to influence the future direction of the society they are living in. Which strikes me as something much more valuable to protect than someone just shit-stirring from afar.
   • Pat 6.1

     14 July 2018 at 11:37 am

     That is an understandable position but would suggest that although the pair are not citizens (of here) nor the promoter (i’ll take you as correct) there must have been an invitation (or indication) that there was an audience for them (a financial risk the promoter carries)….that likely being so the freedom to speak by its nature must require the freedom (opportunity) to listen…and that would be by ‘locals’.
     • dukeofurl 6.1.1

       14 July 2018 at 11:51 am

       The ‘locals’ dont care about the venue or do they ?
       • Pat 6.1.1.1

         14 July 2018 at 12:02 pm

         They may or may not….but as locals Id expect they are ratepayers like everyone else and have as much entitlement to use publicly owned facilities as anyone else.

         https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/southern-and-molyneux-hard-questions-and-no-easy-answers
   • Bill 6.2

     14 July 2018 at 12:19 pm

     I just got to reflecting on what a sad state of affairs NZ must be in if a couple of people splabbing whatever they want to splab is regarded as being somehow dangerous.

     I also reflected on an aspect of “Project Fear” seen often enough – the “habit” of playing up “fascist threat!” to send people running back to, or safely within the confines of the political status quo.
     • Pat 6.2.1

       14 July 2018 at 12:27 pm

       Fear…and black and white thinking, “youre with us or against us”….we have learned nothing from Trump and Brexit…a more sure fire way of creating the climate you seek to avoid is hard to imagine.
       • Bill 6.2.1.1

         14 July 2018 at 2:26 pm

         Couldn’t agree more wholeheartedly there Pat.
     • marty mars 6.2.2

       14 July 2018 at 12:38 pm

       Actually this country is in good nick in opposing hate speech. Every one had their say, no one was stopped. This to me is a sign of a mature country and also a country that had to deal with this sort of talk internally for many, many decades.
   • marty mars 6.3

     14 July 2018 at 12:46 pm

     They want to monetize hate – that’s why the venue was no issue, that’s why here was a tag at the start or end of the aussie tour. They got their bluff called and a spluttering away they did go.
     • Andre 6.3.1

       14 July 2018 at 1:06 pm

       Well … yes. But the idea I’m interested in exploring is whether my gut reaction is reasonable to have different standards for what is objectionable for residents and for visitors. On the grounds that seeking to influence the society one lives in and will continue to live (however wrongheadedly) is a much more valuable activity than briefly visiting to promote ideas then depart without ever dealing with the consequences. I’m still digesting Pat’s counter that free speech also encompasses freedom and opportunity to listen …
       • marty mars 6.3.1.1

         14 July 2018 at 1:57 pm

         This may double up because I was sure I sent a reply in.

         Yep I understand your angle.

         The type of speech they wanted to give is awash over the net. Anyone can watch a video and read an article on their ideas (free ideas) – the only need imo for a visit is to bolster up locals who agree with their ideas and to create money for them.
         • Andre 6.3.1.1.1

           14 July 2018 at 8:21 pm

           Ya reckon it’s all about the money? Nah, shorely not?

           “Tickets for the event are being sold for A$79 (NZ$86) but a half-an-hour “meet and greet” with Southern and Molyneux is priced at A$199, an extra 15 minutes with the pair costs A$499 and tickets to an “intimate” dinner function with the two are being sold for A$749.”

           https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/105491677/its-ok-to-be-white-far-right-speaker-lauren-southern-lands-in-australia
           • marty mars 6.3.1.1.1.1

             15 July 2018 at 9:19 am

             My point was, with an international herd of far right network of videos, books, articles and so on readily available and easily accessible at least for muggle class westerners, the mental borders of who is local and who isnt, is pretty arbitary but hey I’m sure you grokked that.
       • McFlock 6.3.1.2

         14 July 2018 at 4:17 pm

         Nz is well sorted. Didn’t the national front organise a rally a while back? They were allowed to, and people expressed their countering views. But we don’t need to import that shit.
   • Carolyn_Nth 6.4

     14 July 2018 at 4:44 pm

     I do agree the Canadian couple are propagandists and provocateurs. My inclination is not to give them much oxygen unless they do actually stir up violence and inflammatory bigotry in NZ.

     I don’t think the Freeze Peach coalition really cares that much about the Canadian couple getting a platform in NZ. If they did care about that, they would have tried to book them in an alternative venue, and fund raised for that.

     I do think the Canadian couple and the free speech supporters are about trying to shore up white, middle class, masculine privilege in a world where that centuries old status quo is under threat. And that’s why the likes of Trotter are on board with those free speechers.

     I think setting up free speech as the ultimate human right ignores issues of power and inequalities – e.g. unequal access to public discourse and platforms, as well as to other powerful institutions.

     I think the main focus on the Canadian couple will now shift to their appearances in Aussie.

     Meanwhile, I think the free speechers in NZ are out to test the limits of NZ Bill of Rights and Human rights Acts – and the Human Rights Act is due for a review – I think? Many would like to change that to make “free speech” the ultimate right.

     But, many in the more marginalised groups have never had equal access to expressing their views in NZ’s media and other parts of the public sphere. The Freeze Peach Coalition includes mostly people who have long had public platforms through which to spread their views – they are the centuries old status quo.
     • Andre 6.4.1

       14 July 2018 at 5:27 pm

       Thanks for those thoughts Carolyn.

       Seems to me those issues of power and privilege are a different aspect again of the problem. As a member of the empowered and privileged group, I’m inclined to go into the ‘sitdown shutup look and listen’ mode when that topic comes up. But I don’t want to look like I’m ignoring that part of it.
       • Carolyn_Nth 6.4.1.1

         14 July 2018 at 5:43 pm

         I also have benefited from white and middle class privilege in many ways, while also having experienced being on the less privileged side of society s a woman and lesbian.

         But sometimes I also tend to listen when some others from powerless groups get to talk. Our media and other establishment voices are very good at demonising some groups when they do express their views: eg there’s a lot of mainstream smearing of Maori, Pacific, Muslim, beneficiaries, etc. When they do speak, they don’t get the same amount of mainstream traction as when the likes of Brash and Trotter have their say.
7. AsleepWhileWalking 7

   14 July 2018 at 10:44 am

   WHAT is wrong with MSD’s legal team?

   https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/105347867/msd-appeals-ruling-not-to-hand-over-court-claims-about-historic-abuse

   I smell a rat. Does MSD hope to discredit claimants? Foist their responsibility off upon someone else? Why insist on betraying victims further and go so far as the Court of Appeal??
8. joe90 8

   14 July 2018 at 11:48 am

   Scotland, you beauty.

   https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dh8SHN0W4AUoU1T.jpg
9. Kay 9

   14 July 2018 at 12:42 pm

   Final day of what was the best functioning bus system in New Zealand and they’ve finally acknowledged they’ve stuffed up.
   https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/105463120/future-changes-to-wellingtons-new-bus-network-inevitable-despite-seven-years-of-planning

   Plus, transfer hubs not ready despite tomorrows deadline being known for some years now. Sounds about right. I’m off shortly to check out the state of my local hub, being one of the many now having to transfer when once there where multiple one-journey options from all directions to the regional hospital.
   http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=110716

   Congratulations on your legacy before it’s even begun Cr Chris Laidlaw and Co, from all those who have no choice but to continue taking buses, and those who would like to but will end up in their cars more often.
   • AsleepWhileWalking 9.1

     14 July 2018 at 5:15 pm

     I’m actually afraid to go into town. Extreme you think?

     Well the section known as “the bowling alley”, so called because of the abnormally high pedestrian vs bus hit rate combined with 14hr days for drivers…just…no, thanks. I’m staying away.

     And double deckers + high winds/narrow streets. I dunno.
10. Adrian Thornton 10

    14 July 2018 at 1:23 pm

    Noelle McCarthy conducts a real piece of shit interview with the Guardian’s deputy political editor Anne Perkins , reminding us all in no uncertain terms why MSM is the last place you go to get real news…

    Take this one example…Anne Perkins makes the statement during the interview regarding Corbyn, that Theresa May is a formidable opponent one on one…now we all know that, controversially, May would not debate Corbyn one on one during the last election…any push back…no.

    In regards to May/Corbyn she could have asked Guardian’s deputy political editor why they ran a negative campaign against Corbyn leading up to the last UK election….of course not

    75% press negative towards Corbyn….
    https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/jeremy-corbyn-media-bias-labour-mainstream-press-lse-study-misrepresentation-we-cant-ignore-bias-a7144381.html

    The Guardians response…
    https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/jul/19/yes-jeremy-corbyn-has-suffered-a-bad-press-but-wheres-the-harm

    It is exactly because of people like Noelle McCarthy and Perkins that most critical thinking citizens are fast losing/lost their trust in MSM, and unfortunately it is with very good reason.

    I will leave you with a quote from Perkins..
    “Please, new associate members who will shape the party for the next five years, maybe forever: do a little research. Think what kind of country you want for you and your children and, even more importantly, think how you might get there. Now think, is Jeremy Corbyn in the middle of that picture? I don’t think so.”
    • Bill 10.1

      14 July 2018 at 5:30 pm

      I noticed that the linked Guardian article is from “back in the day” when the comments section was usually available. Started reading them. The Guardian line (or that of the columnist) was getting hammered (1500 comments). Can’t quite remember when they pulled down the shutters on comment sections across the site. Not that I see it doing them any good mind – idiotic warbling of shite in the absence of any countervailing opinion on the same platform, is still just idiotic warbling of shite.

      Maybe they imagine there’s anyone left who might exclaim “Ooooh, the Guardian says…” as though the mere mention of the publication would lend an air of gravitas to tosh? And/or that they have a reputable brand image to protect? 🙂
    • ianmac 10.2

      14 July 2018 at 5:48 pm

      The Guardian was once a credible Liberal outlet. Taken over now by whom?
      Thanks Adrian.
11. AsleepWhileWalking 11

    14 July 2018 at 5:26 pm

    Check out this lady

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/meet-young-auckland-woman-taking-fight-protect-her-ancestral-land-un

    “Having the UN recognise our campaign and making that concluding statement that the Government need to evaluate the designation of the housing area here was a relief,” Pania said.

    Despite this support, her fight to protect and preserve isn’t over yet.

    “This land was promised to be included on the Ōtuataua Stonefields historic reserve, to be a public open space.

    “But to change the law overnight and to designate it without considering the whānau or the community here is in many ways ongoing colonisation because we are not being considered.”
    • mauī 11.1

      14 July 2018 at 7:41 pm

      Awesome wahine toa!
    • Molly 11.2

      15 July 2018 at 8:04 am

      I have friends who are part of that community and protest. A lot of broken promises, starting with Manukau District Council who failed to deliver the promised reserve in the first place, and who delivered a legacy package to Auckland Council that did not contain it.

      Auckland Council for not having the nerve to stand up to National when posturing about SHA’s, and thereby, completely disregarding any claim to considered planning for Auckland.

      There has been further promises made and broken by more recent politicians and bureaucrats. The issue will be ongoing. I am hoping that the Mangere build proposed by Twyford, is nowhere near this until it is sorted.
12. joe90 12

    14 July 2018 at 7:57 pm

    noice

    .@NicolaSturgeon is not expected to meet @RealDonaldTrump on his visit to Scotland this weekend, and will instead lead the @PrideGlasgow march through the city on Saturday #pridehttps://t.co/THOHXcjdoD— The Scotsman (@TheScotsman) July 13, 2018
13. eco maori 13

    15 July 2018 at 9:53 am

    Good morning Q&A What the neo libreal Lockwood smith had to say is hog wash he is been payed for his opinion 1 trump is deliberately going hard at the start of a topic ie anything he talks about and tactfully simmers his attitude down is full of it trump goes on a rant when he is upset and backs down when he is told to tone it down there is no tacktick there .Just throwing the toys out of the cot .
    2 And Lockwood smiths statement that Britain would be able to wind back the clock 150 years and lead world trade is not logical are they going to consume more start manufacturing more well yea but only 2% not the 10 % that would be needed for Britain to become the top world trade market .
    The west coast mines once you calve up the land with a bulldozer it never returns to the pristeen state it was in before it has been calved up by bulldozers that’s a fact.
    We take a lot from Papatuanuku and give back very little.
    Free speech is a farce why let these people come to Aotearoa and stir up the cultural divide when we all ready have big cultural differences now we need to work together
    for the bright happy future for te mokopunas . Ka kite ano
14. eco maori 14

    15 July 2018 at 11:53 am

    Here we go lets treat the waste recycling problem as a opportunity to create more jobs use the waste to create a closed lop systems for most products we could work with the Australians on this as we trade the most with Australia link is below .
    Ka kite ano .

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/15/rethinking-recycling-could-a-circular-economy-solve-the-problem P.S We should change all shopping bags to brown paper bags like we use to have
15. eco maori 15

    15 July 2018 at 6:49 pm

    Good evening Newshub many thanks for you storys on the destructive weather caused by human influenced global warming is hitting Aotearoa at the minute It makes me happy that so many Kiwis can see that climate is here and now once one admits there is a problem then we can start to fix that problem green energy and a change of life styles close luped systems for all goods .
    Thats good new electric Double Decker buses for Wellington it will be good when most transport is electric we will be in utopia .
    I’v said enough about trump already to day but one note I just thought of .trump is displaying the traits that most neo liberals have the difference is every other neo liberal hid this bad behavour trump is letting all the common tangata know how bad neo liberals are all over Papatuanuku .
    Ka kite ano
16. eco maori 16

    15 July 2018 at 8:47 pm

    Some music from Eco Maori

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKopy74weus&index=1&list=RDfKopy74weus

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