Open mike 14/03/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 14th, 2016 - 103 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmikeOpen 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 …

103 comments on “Open mike 14/03/2016 ”

  1. Paul 1

    We may be opening up our trade with Iran.
    The government should let our farmers sell milk to Russia too.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-ASpZFd7oE

    • Chooky 1.1

      +100

    • ianmac 1.2

      Someone yesterday wrote of an American Lear jet also landing just after the Iranian plane then scuttling into a hanger. What to hide?

        • RedBaronCV 1.2.1.1

          Was the little plane bringing that FBI bloke? The big one looks like the ones that head out to the Antarctic filled with stuff?

          • joe90 1.2.1.1.1

            The Gulfstream could be law enforcement or perhaps forward party for a proposed POTUS visit.

            I think the Antarctic flight window closes mid February so the Globemaster could be equipment heavy lift in and/or cyclone relief to Fiji.

            • RedBaronCV 1.2.1.1.1.1

              I would have thought most law enforcement would fly commercial unless it was a top dog

              I did wonder if some heavy equipment needed lifting somewhere and if so what?
              As far as I know the Fiji cyclone relief has been shipped

              • joe90

                Seems it was a top dog and traveling light isn’t something top dogs do.

                When the hotel my brother managed in Oman hosted US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates they would have needed a Globemaster or two to carry the well over100 personal, vehicles and communication systems that arrived with him.

                Apparently, according to my brother, US military personal enjoying their R&R at the hotel were moved on to other hotels too because of security concerns.

    • Naki man 1.3

      Paul

      “The government should let our farmers sell milk to Russia too.”

      Paul the government are not stopping farmers from selling milk to Russia.
      Russia banned New Zealand milk products after the botulism scare.
      The ban has been lifted on AMF and butter and Fonterra is now selling butter and possibly AMF to Russia.

    • alwyn 1.4

      I imagine that the usual suspects will be along shortly, claiming that we mustn’t trade with Iran because they have the death penalty and use it a lot.
      After all commenters like you, saveNZ and Colonial Viper have all said we shouldn’t trade with Saudi Arabia because they enforce the death penalty.
      Iran of course carries out far more executions each year than Saudi Arabia and at a higher rate per capita.
      Do you really want to trade with these people Paul? Surely you will be consistent?
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_by_country#Numbers_executed_in_2014

  2. The Chairman 2

    This needs to be addressed.

    The country is to broke to be giving away our natural assets.

    http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/free-nz-water-video-6452266

  3. Whateva next? 3

    Excellent opinion piece by Jacinda Ardern on Stuff website, telling Mark Weldon exactly what we all think of his vision for TV3, the urgent need for quality public broadcasting etc.
    Very nice work Jacinda, direct and to the point.

  4. joe90 4

    A montage of Trump inciting his supporters at rallies prior to the Chicago cancellation.

    http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/escalating-aggression-marks-trump-s-rhetoric-642743363967

  5. adam 5

    The internationalist in me.

    Why has the USA still got an embargo on books to Cuba?

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov//petition/end-book-embargo-against-cuba

    Chemical weapons in use by ISIS, this is sick.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3489199/Over-600-people-injured-ISIS-chemical-attack-jihadi-group-s-triple-suicide-bomb-attack-foiled-Kurdish-forces-Iraq.html

    And why the hell are we standing by whilst Turkey attack the Kurds???

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1

      Why has the USA still got an embargo on books to Cuba?

      The US doesn’t like successful societies that don’t kowtow to them.

      And why the hell are we standing by whilst Turkey attack the Kurds???

      Because they’re a member of NATO.

  6. Agora 6

    John Key wrapped in a NZ flag ?
    It looks more like a old man shivering in a thin blanket against the coming winter chill.

    • cogito 6.1

      Loving this….

      Funny how money-man Key failed to pay any attention to these points. Cabinet Club could see a drop in donations from rich Chinese if he isn’t careful….

      “Rival flag design is bad feng shui

      “The alternative to the New Zealand flag is “bad feng shui” and could bring bad luck, instability and even a stock market crash, a New Zealand feng shui consultant says.
      …………..
      “Auckland-based feng shui master Francis Lui said the new flag had a “yin” design, which wasn’t good, and black on top was a bad omen.

      “Black represents mourning, loss and implied loss, and it also resembles evil and sadness,” Mr Lui, 45, said.

      “In feng shui, black also represents water and water makes stock markets go down.”
      ………………………
      “Even the blue is a lighter blue to the current flag, a mark that the country could get weaker.”
      ……………………………..

      “What we have here is a yin flag with a fluttering silver fern that marks instability and no growth.”

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11605003

  7. dv 7

    Who’s the biggest mouth
    Kim Jong-un or Donald Trump

    With those two just across an ocean from each other what could possibly go wrong!!!!

  8. Tautoko Mangō Mata 8

    The TPP Roadshow is a Circus

    “Roll up, roll up to the amazing Todd McClay’s Flying Circus!”

    TPP Action Dunedin welcomed Trade Minister Todd McClay and MFAT officials with a Monty Python theme on the eve of their Dunedin TPP Roadshow.

    “The roadshow is a circus” said spokesperson Liana Kelly. “The government is not interested in hearing what New Zealanders think about the TPP. If they were, they would not be holding a roadshow after the deadline for submissions to the TPP Select Committee.”
    Rather than attending Minister Todd McClay’s Flying Circus Dunedin business people would do better to come to St David lecture theatre this evening at 7:30pm to hear Professor Tim Hazledine give the facts about the TPPA.” Ms Kelly said. “We deserve more than spin.”

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1603/S00209/the-tpp-roadshow-is-a-circus.htm

  9. esoteric pineapples 9

    The government is continuing inject more money in irrigation projects despite the dairy downturn. Last week it announced it was putting another $800,000 into the proposed irrigation dam for the Wairarapa – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11604196

  10. weka 10

    Some cultures do way better on gender than the West.

    In February of 1757, the great Cherokee leader Attakullakulla came to South Carolina to negotiate trade agreements with the governor and was shocked to find that no white women were present. “Since the white man as well as the red was born of woman, did not the white man admit women to their council?” Attakullakulla asked the governor. Carolyn Johnston, professor at Eckerd College and author of Cherokee Women in Crisis; Trail of Tears, Civil War, and Allotment, 1838-1907, says in her book that the governor was so taken aback by the question that he took two or three days to come up with this milquetoast response: “The white men do place confidence in their women and share their councils with them when they know their hearts are good.”

    Europeans were astonished to see that Cherokee women were the equals of men—politically, economically and theologically. “Women had autonomy and sexual freedom, could obtain divorce easily, rarely experienced rape or domestic violence, worked as producers/farmers, owned their own homes and fields, possessed a cosmology that contains female supernatural figures, and had significant political and economic power,” she writes. “Cherokee women’s close association with nature, as mothers and producers, served as a basis of their power within the tribe, not as a basis of oppression. Their position as ‘the other’ led to gender equivalence, not hierarchy.”

    http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/01/10/power-cherokee-women-3767

    • joe90 10.1

      Wouldn’t it be strange if we lived in a world with a history of men taking advantage of and suppressing women. Stranger still, a world where men contort their own faiths for their own social and political advantage.

      When Middle East correspondent Carla Power began studying the Koran with a conservative Islamic scholar, she wasn’t expecting to learn that it nowhere advocates the oppression of women – or that Islam has a rich history of forgotten female leaders

      http://s.telegraph.co.uk/graphics/projects/koran-carla-power/index.html

      (I might have just hurt myself with my own tongue)

      • weka 10.1.1

        Yep. The idea that we have that we are at the pinnacle of women’s rights is ridiculous. And we need to start listening to what women and non-white people have to say because the white men (sorry vto) with the pens and typewriters have been telling porkies.

        We can look far closer to home than the Cherokee and Middle East too 😉

        • Tim 10.1.1.1

          Brown and black and yellow men and women tell porkies too… just look at what that lady is trying to say about Islam tolerating women!

          • weka 10.1.1.1.1

            “Brown and black and yellow men and women tell porkies too”

            yes they do, but you missed the point. It’s the people with the power to write history that I’m talking about. It doesn’t matter if I tell lies. It does matter if someone who tells lies publishes an influential book that gets used as a teaching text in schools (not that I think it’s lies so much as extreme cultural bias that the person is blind to).

            “just look at what that lady is trying to say about Islam tolerating women!”

            Are you are scholar of the Koran? Care to dispute the actual points the reporter makes?

            • Tim 10.1.1.1.1.1

              Haha, what nonsense, ‘womansplaining’ almost. The point is it doesn’t matter if women or brown or yellow people are in power – anyone can be a liar and it’s just sexism and racism under another guise to suggest otherwise

              • weka

                I think I’ll leave you to rant to yourself, you seem good at a one sided conversation.

            • Tim 10.1.1.1.1.2

              I also like how you back off from calling people liars based on race and sex and just focus on cultural bias, nice back down! Plus thinking I have to be a scholar of Islam to critique it! Those are the last people who would want to criticise it. Are you sure your brain is working?

        • vto 10.1.1.2

          Oh weka you funny old thing, yet here you were the other day telling me that white men did not have all the power or control all the institutions.

          Remember?

          In light of your own statements, best you amend the above to include women and people of non-white colour (don’t do it at the end of a hot suntannery summer eh).

          It was not white men responsible for the bad (and the good of course. Eh. Yep)

          It was white, brown, yellow.
          It was male and female

          • weka 10.1.1.2.1

            Oh weka you funny old thing, yet here you were the other day telling me that white men did not have all the power or control all the institutions.

            Remember?

            Vaguely. Put up a link and I’ll respond to your comment.

            • vto 10.1.1.2.1.1

              herewith http://thestandard.org.nz/old-rich-white-man-complains-about-another-group-receiving-privilege/#comment-1138655

              it goes above and below the link. My point was that if white men are responsible for the negatives they are equally responsible for the positives, to which you tacked away and claimed women and non-whites also had power and influence, just to a far limited extent (which I agree with of course – Kate Sheppard and her lot being good example).

              Please don’t respond at length though as I am of limited time and brain this eve

              • weka

                Short answer, you didn’t understand what I was saying in the other conversation.

                White men have historically had far more power than women. That doesn’t mean they had all the power or that women had none. It means that there was an imbalance, and it meant that men as a class were more privileged by that arrangement than women were. Because of that they got to write history from a white male perspective. This is pretty easy to demonstrate.

                • vto

                  So they had only part of the power but wrote all the books?

                  • weka

                    No, they had most of the power and wrote most of the books. Why are we even discussing this? Tally up the number of books written on NZ history by decade and the ethnicity and gender of the writers and then come back and tell me who is right about this.

                    • vto

                      You are right weka, it is a part and part thing. Or a whole and whole thing.

                      same for bad and good

                      If white men were mostly responsible for the ills then they are equally mostly responsible for the goodies (not the tele programme, though they almost certainly were…)

                      In that light maybe some appreciation should be shown to the white man

                    • weka

                      yeah, not interested in talking with someone who is basically talking to themselves. Have at it though and enjoy yourself.

                    • vto

                      Sorry weka, one last point and I think this is why I have trouble with your writings sometimes….

                      You say this “Because of that they got to write history from a white male perspective.”…. now that is a very definitive statement weka. White men wrote the history. That is an “all” statement.

                      But then you say this “No, they …. wrote most of the books”…. and that is a “part” statement.

                      This is the problem. It is your problem.

                    • weka

                      If I’d wanted to say ‘all’, I would have. I didn’t. I’m obviously making a generalisation, because we are talking about generalities. We’re not talking about NZ history in the decade of 1890, or 1990. If you think I mean all when I don’t use that word, then I suggest you’re not actually listening to what I say.

                      So let me rephrase,

                      “Because of that they got to control how history was written, i.e. from a white male perspective. That doesn’t mean they controlled every little thing, it means that the culture in general was hugely influenced by the white male perspective for a long time”.

                      This isn’t in dispute vto, for instance it’s pretty easy to prove that what I learnt about Māori hsitory at school in the 70s and 80s had a huge bias toward Pākehā and against Māori. Likewise, much history about women from native cultures was suppressed and/or obscured because many of the white men writing about those cultures simply didn’t see the women or understand them. The histories that did get written by those women were often distorted.

                      I really wish you would stop taking this personally.

                    • vto

                      ok ok lets leave it for now. . .

                      I’ll just take it that most of the good things in society, not all, have arisen from the same place that most of the ills, not all, have arisen. The white man.

                    • weka

                      Don’t let me get in the way of that prejudice vto.

                    • vto

                      you got a real problem eh

                    • weka

                      I sure do and now I’m going to stop talking to it.

                • vto

                  Or did the part of power they had match the part of the books they wrote?

                • vto

                  And did the part of their power match all of the good? Or just all of the bad?

                • vto

                  Or some other combination of part and whole? It is another of those maths and logic things weka …

                  • weka

                    Mate, there is absolutely nothing logical about what you are arguing. It’s nonsense. I’m happy to discuss this but not if you are going to ignore what I am saying and just make shit up.

  11. Bearded Git 11

    From Stuff today:

    “In Baden-Wuerttemberg in the southwest, a CDU stronghold for more than 50 years before turning to a Green-led coalition with the SPD in 2011 after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, the Greens came home first with 32.5 per cent.”

    This is some result for the Greens.

    • Sabine 11.1

      while that is nice for the Greens in Baden Wuerttemberg (West Germany), the results for the other Party AFD Alternative for Germany is more worrisome.

      http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/13/germany-state-elections-test-merkel-refugees

      “An exit poll by ARD television showed the AfD winning 12.5% of the vote in Baden-Württemberg, 11% in Rhineland-Palatinate and 23% in Saxony-Anhalt, a relatively poor eastern region.”

      AfD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_for_Germany

      …. as for Sachen Anhalt (Saxony Anhalt) still being a ‘poor’ eastern region, this is chicken coming home to roost for Mrs. Angela Merkel and her Christian Democratic Party of Germany. What the CDU did to east Germany after the wall came down was nothing short of criminal and certainly not christian. But she did as instructed and mentored by Helmut Kohl, leader of the CDU and Chancellor of Germany who left his party and Germany over to Angela, peaceful in the knowledge that she will not allow any growth in East Germany that would impede Western German business interests.
      Germany has only itself to blame for what is happening in East Germany.

  12. Draco T Bastard 12

    UC Berkeley researchers raise corporate misconduct concerns regarding Trans-Pacific Partnership in report

    The report alleged failings of the TPP in three key areas: democratic participation, transparency and public accountability. Co-author of the report Hossein Ayazi, a graduate research assistant for the Haas Institute’s Global Justice Program, alleged in an email that the TPP would harm the livelihoods of millions of individuals internationally.

    “(The TPP is) the latest iteration of a global trend of political power being modeled almost entirely after the market-based economy (and) of national governments selling out the interests of the people they serve in order to instead serve the interest of corporations,” Ayazi said in an email.

    So much for the TPPA being a good deal.

    Well, great for the corporations whom our govts serve.

  13. Tautoko Mangō Mata 13

    More misinformation on TPP by PM
    “10% of dairy farms could fail – Key”

    “Up to 10 percent of dairy farmers could be forced off their land,” Prime Minister John Key says.
    “But the government could help farmers by making the business more viable through the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and irrigation”, he said.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/298869/10-percent-of-dairy-farms-could-fail-key

    This article in NBR followed the notice that TPP negotiators had reached an agreement last year.

    Twelve Pacific Rim nations have reached a deal on the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership in the American city of Atlanta, ending more than five years of negotiations to create the largest trade and investment pact since the Uruguay Round of the GATT trade agreement 20 years ago.

    However, New Zealand has barely prised open the door for dairy exports to the highly-protected markets of the US, Canada, and Japan, with tariffs on some products proving too hard to overturn.

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/tpp-deal-gives-limited-win-nz-dairy-us-gives-way-drug-patents-b-179693
    The PM needs a colonic irrigation!

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 13.1

      I tried to post this above my last comment so that it should read as below:

      “The government currently has around $120million of taxpayers’ money sitting in a fund, called Crown Irrigation Investments, which is earmarked for controversial irrigation schemes designed to expand industrial dairy agriculture. The government hopes to increase the amount of taxpayers’ money spent on these schemes to $400million. ”
      http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/03/14/john-key-should-resign-as-tourism-minister-greenpeace/#sthash.vfq9Pt8d.dpuf

      The PM needs a colonic irrigation!

    • vto 13.2

      If 10% of dairy farmers go under that will mean absolute carnage…

      Key is likely being conservative too – in other words 10% would at the low end of the spectrum. Combined with Bill English’s rhetoric over recent days, we can take it this shit is really going to hit the flat-out fan.

      tough times, tough times

      • Reddelusion 13.2.1

        No it won’t, it will simply be a reallocation of resources to a more productive use, Or allowing farms to continue without such high capital cost burden

        • McFlock 13.2.1.1

          🙄

          And that perspective would also refer to the concomitant suicide rates amongst farmers and farm workers as simply the voluntary self-decommissioning of unproductive and obsolete economic units.

        • vto 13.2.1.2

          Well it will reddelusion… 10% is a very large number. It will take carnage and massive upheaval to get to the point f reallocation. I agree it will get to that point of reallocation, but at very significant cost to people’s lives (remember them?) and the nations resources and business infrastructure and operations.

          • Reddelusion 13.2.1.2.1

            No problem looking after mental well being of farmers or helping with transition to new employment etc, I just don’t think the solution is bailing out the farm if it’s not sustainable and it can be used more efficiently for other purposes or at a sustainable cost of capital position To do otherwise is a very dangerous precedent unless there is Financial system wide risk here to the whole economy of which there is not, ie SCF during GFC

            • McFlock 13.2.1.2.1.1

              Well, apart from the banks that lent to anybody who owned a cow.

              But even if the banks were ok, one of the main cash injections into the regions has taken a massive hit.

              “Transition to new employment” is a nice buzzphrase, but if say 10% of people with similar backgrounds and experience are all looking to transition at once, their chances of successful transions reduce markedly.

              It’s not even the size of the “reallocation”, it’s the speed. That’s what’ll have flow-on effects beyond the farming sector. Milk farming at this level was always unsustainable in every sense of the word, but when bubbles pop (as this one seems to have) then a lot of people’s livelihoods get taken out as collateral damage. Much better to slow the deflation, but of course many ways of slowing the pop are lost to us because of various “free trade” deals. Can’t have government intervention, no sirree.

              Much better to just watch the fallout in the regions and do what we can for the banks /sarc

            • vto 13.2.1.2.1.2

              I think we talking two different things. I agree with you about the transition away and all of that, my point was a particular one, namely that a 10% default and failure rate is very high. It is very high for any sector, but given the scale of this sector relative to the entire economy that very high 10% then doubles down to have an effect far greater than even that very high 10%. Hence why I think there is carnage around the next corner…

              wish there wasn’t
              it will affect us and our business
              quite dramatically
              in process of mitigation now…. not easy
              and don’t think we are going to avoid…

              • Reddelusion

                I don’t think banks will want carnage as value of farms overall will fall pushing other farms into balance sheet insolvency as liabilities exceed value of asset thus undermining quality and value of loans or assets on banks balance sheets. An norderly recalibration is in the banks and Fonterras best interests here. I agree gov oversite to ensure this happens is appropriate as is social assistance but bailing out long term unsustainable farms is not the way to go.

                • vto

                  It is a curious one, this prediction of 10% failure, which is why it has piqued some interest….

                  It is a very unusual thing for politicians to do, especially the two like PM and Deputy dog. That is no small thing for them to come out and say. It is this which is the thing – this making of such statements.

                  As for the banks not wanting carnage, sure, but remember that the debt is owned by much larger aussie banks (and them by even larger fish). I don’t think the fact of carnage in widdle nz will worry them one iota. Heck, I’m sure some of the owners alone are worth more than all the dairy debt combined.

                  At least the price of milk at the dairy is dropping …. ? ?

  14. weka 14

    Anyone know what businesses are doing with Otago Anniversary Day this year?

  15. Tautoko Mangō Mata 15

    United against the TPP
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxDmtSySCVo

  16. weka 16

    The Commies are coming!!!

    (Hooton accuses Kathryn Ryan of asking a socialist question).

    • The Chairman 16.1

      Where, when?

      What was the question?

      • weka 16.1.1

        Nine to Noon about 20 mins ago. They were talking about the looming financial crisis around farming and whether the govt should take some action. I came in near the end, was listening to the meta conversation more than the content. Hooton yet again getting to say “the left are CRazy” and Ryan letting him get away with it (she just gives up because he’s intractable, which means they either need a new presenter or a new right wing commentator).

        • aerobubble 16.1.1.1

          Hooten starts with a unfound conclusion, he then works backward justifying his stance with appeals to myth, and adhom and any debating technique that would lose ordinarily, and funally should be be floored too obviously by reality he will defiantantly shug off and be back next week as he has won. Where does the anger come from support Trump, but from nuttters like Hooten in the US, who seize the benefits of the social collective and turn around to pull up the ladder, draw the bridge up, place flags they do not deserve to way on the parapets, and call us to arms though we sit seething outside want him to metaphorically linch him. If only we moved on, his castle is in a dark irrelevant forest of tired old fakery. Past generationsn would call him a boring drama prince.

          • ianmac 16.1.1.1.1

            Hooten said repeatedly today that Labour wanted a “bailout for Dairy Farmers.” That was a flat lie. But it is what he does. Choose meme for the show and just repeats it ad nauseum. All the rest is fluff just as long as gets his repetitions in.

            • aerobubble 16.1.1.1.1.1

              Key does not understand the global economy, incentivizing milk production would inevitably drawn in new or raised existing milk overseas production. Add to the cultural habit of Chineses to have their ine baby in the year of the dragon…

              Now Key says its good for NZ that Trump and Clinton are against TPPA. Free trade lifts all boats, thats why Labour are for them, Greens seem against them but nly beause they undermine environments, if they did not it’ll be think global act local.

              So why is Key, and his mouth piece Hooten, so disingenious, so arrogant, so willing ti attack the messenger, same reason all third term gvts are, out of ideas, wanting to move on, and just having fun at the nations expense.

    • Gabby 16.2

      Is she a FAY BEE YUN?

    • TC 16.3

      It is Newstalk ZB without the ads whenever any of the DP crew do a shift.

      If Ryan challenged his BS she would be moved on….well played griffin.

  17. Bearded Git 17

    What’s wrong with this Stephen Mills guy on the Nine to Noon Monday politics spot. Hasn’t he learnt to say “I think Mathew is right”?

    • Gabby 17.1

      He is an unmannerly lout who hasn’t realised that neither Ryan nor Hootie Blowfish will ever, if left to their own devices, finish a sentence.

  18. Sabine 18

    car bombs in Ankara.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ankara-turkey-explosion_us_56e59cdce4b065e2e3d6427b

    ANKARA, March 13 (Reuters) – A car bomb killed 27 people in the heart of the Turkish capital Ankara on Sunday and wounded 75 more, the governor’s office said, less than a month after a similar attack killed 29 people just blocks away.

  19. Macro 19

    I commented on this yesterday
    Big flat nothing zero…. 🙁
    But hey people this is something about which people should be sitting up and taking notice!
    Far more important than Trump, Key’s buffoonery, Dairy prices, and even dare I say The Middle East and ISIL.
    This is a wow! moment in human history, and we did it.
    Dr Jeff Masters at Wunderblog tells the story

  20. ianmac 20

    Gordon Campbell (via Scoop) writes about how the EEC has trashed the proposed ISDS and instead put forward ” a new, judicially balanced and transparent system for resolving trade disputes.”….”The redrafted Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) creates a permanent tribunal, with members appointed by the two sides, as well as an appeal process to reverse potential legal errors. There is also tougher language enshrining the right of governments to regulate.”

    Sounds better to me for TPPA. No doubt Key would change the ISDS for our peace of mind, I hope!
    (2nd section) http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2016/03/14/gordon-campbell-on-the-aussie-banks/

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 20.1

      The German Magistrates disagree, Ianmac. While the ICS is some improvement in the ISDS, the court still sits outside of the justice systems of states. There is criticism of the appointment process as well in this statement released.
      blockquote><The German Magistrates Association rejects the proposal of the European Commission to establish an investment court within the framework of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The DRB sees neither a legal basis nor a need for such a court.
      The German Magistrates Association sees no need for the establishment of a special court for investors. The Member States are all constitutional states, which provide and guarantee access to justice in all areas where the state has jurisdiction to all law-seeking parties. It is for the Member States to ensure access to justice for all and to ensure feasible access for foreign investors, by providing the courts with the relevant resources. Hence, the establishment of an ICS is the wrong way to guarantee legal certainty.
      In addition, the German Magistrates Association calls on the German and European legislators to significantly curb recourse to arbitration within the framework of the protection of international investors.
      link
      Investors should have to work within the judiciary systems of the states in which they are investing. If they don’t trust the judicial system, then they should not invest in that country. The ISDS has been used as a bullyboy system and the ICS, while having some better features, is still unnecessary.

  21. Just a bit of a brag. Made it to the top 15 blogs on Open Parachute blog in the Month of February. Considering No right turn is number 37 that should tell you something! Not bad in a field of some 300 Kiwi blogs! And not bad for a Tulip talking 9/11 and John Key 😆

  22. Anne 23

    Breaking News.

    General James Clapper, head of the NSA has just landed in Wellington on his way to a Five Eyes meeting in Australia – Canberra I presume. Thought he’d pop in and say hello to John Key. Coincidence that it comes only days after a GCSB/SIS review is released?

    Someone correct me if I have the wrong person, but was Clapper the senior US security fellow who attended a top secret international meeting where SIS Minister, Chris Finlayson was also present? You know… the one that took place shortly before the Kim Dotcom mansion raid?

    • Chooky 23.1

      watch out for drones and funny whistling noises in your telephone and Men in Black hiding behind trees…

      …the GCSB is now being taken over by those USA crooks to spy directly on New Zealanders

      …thanks Michael Cullen !

      • Kiwiri 23.1.1

        Why is that I’m left with a peculiar feeling?

        The review of spy laws was to look into some of the seemingly dubious and questionable things that were done, which also included some aspects of the PM’s involvement, but …….. voila! ………. John Key gets Sir Michael Cullen on the job and the recommendations are now aimed to make spying easier and (?) broader.

        Talk about disaster opportunism. John Key pulls it off well.

        Btw, I hope that the National Government-knighted Sir Michael, who is far from living on the poverty line and indeed should be enjoying the pre-1999 post-Parliamentary perks, has generously donated his time to the review out of his genuine sense of public service and the kindness of his good heart.

  23. Morrissey 24

    Nancy Reagan dead at 94

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ngZFRisurU

    “I don’t see why we should cancel the dinner party just because John Kennedy got himself shot.”—Nancy Reagan, telephone call to friend, Friday 22 November 1963

    • Chooky 24.1

      …that really is a helluva quote !…will never forget it…this should be quoted at Nancy Reagan’s funeral…it is almost on a par with “Let them eat cake”

  24. weka 25

    Twitter rumour that the ODT is going behind a paywall next month. That will be a real shame. The ODT is a reasonable paper by modern standards, and their coverage of local news, including issues that also have national significance like what is happening with the SDHB, needs to be freely available.

    • Slippery 25.1

      Nothing a good paywall blocker browser plug in / ad on won’t fix, or if you’re tech savy just appear as a Google bot ‘just browsing’ for an all access path, even better copy the page/post once your in & display it elsewhere for others that can’t (dont know how) on say pastebin.org or similar & share the link (paywalls don’t work)

      • weka 25.1.1

        Ok, I’ll check that out. Doesn’t really resolve the lack of community access though. Most people won’t be able to do what you suggest.

        • Slippery 25.1.1.1

          That’s true, which is why I suggested for those able to add a simple plugin on their browser should cut & paste it, however I’d copy & paste it to my Google plus (G+) posts publicly as I have built up a large circle of like minded friends from NZ + beyond who share interesting posts as opposed to Facebook where you’ll be reading what people ate for breakfast ect, G+ is a great community for intellectuals.

        • Slippery 25.1.1.2

          That’s true, which is why I suggested for those able to add a simple plugin on their browser should cut & paste it, however I’d copy & paste it to my Google plus (G+) posts publicly as I have built up a large circle of like minded friends from NZ + beyond who share interesting posts as opposed to Facebook where you’ll be reading what people ate for breakfast ect, G+ is a great community for intellectuals.

  25. Israelis torturing non-Jewish children. Australian documentary film. Viewer discretion.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqL048x4msM

  26. Mike C 27

    Is it true … that regardless of whether Clinton or Trump becomes President of the United States of America … that neither Hillary nor Donald support the TPPA ???

    If that is the case … then I am going with “The Donald” … because he is at least capable of negotiation … without having to check with his Campaign Donors first. LOL.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago
  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-26T22:43:53+00:00