Open mike 14/10/2012

97 comments on “Open mike 14/10/2012 ”

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1. starlight 1

   14 October 2012 at 8:53 am

   Brian Edwards now blames john banks for key’s memory loss.lol.
   • Jim Nald 1.1

     14 October 2012 at 9:55 am

     It does catch on, doesn’t it?

     Maybe we all should follow the Johns and try it out on our bosses, partners, friends and family members at the first opportunity. We can all celebrate the Johns’ higher standard of non-accountability.

     The Minister of Health might well have to declare a NZ pandemic of Johnesia.
   • tc 1.2

     14 October 2012 at 9:55 am

     Brian Edwards is yesterday’s political analyst and belongs in the same pasture as Franet, JA, Roughan etc
2. Sanctuary 2

   14 October 2012 at 8:59 am

   I’ve been watching and listening to Owen Glenn in regard to the Warriors. Serious question – is he just a litle bit senile now?
3. Anne 3

   14 October 2012 at 9:14 am

   GSCB boss, Ian Fletcher has an interesting professional background:

   Former high flyer in British Civil Service.

   Former Director General and CEO of Queensland’s Dept. of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.

   He took up his position at the GSCB at the beginning of this year.

   Announcing the appointment Prime Minister John Key said he has ” policy and operational experience particularly in relation to international economic and trade matters.”

   So, under the Prime Minister’s stewardship, the GSCB has been quietly shifting it’s focus away from international political developments (Foreign Affairs)? Does it now concentrate rather more on off-shore economic and trade concerns that are of interest to John Key and the National govt., but not necessarily the rest of us?

   Very interesting to speculate what effect such a scenario might be having on the morale of those who work within the GCSB.

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5589538/New-Zealands-new-top-spy-boss-revealed
   • muzza 3.1

     14 October 2012 at 9:41 am

     Nah, all this is, is the continued over-run of the imperialist officers into NZ. Have a good look around the governmnent departments, central and local, see how many are run or heavily influenced by the UK!

     The head of our spy agency being one, is to be expected!
   • Red Rosa 3.2

     14 October 2012 at 9:49 am

     Mmmm..that would fit.

     The Dotcom case appears to have its roots in US influence on NZ via the various agencies (FBI, NSA, etc), around the whole trade/IP/TPP negotiations mix.

     Throw in the US/China tensions, and you have NZ jammed between the biggies on a serious issue of global power politics.

     Fletcher the ideal man for the job, always assuming the Key/McCully instructions are to work for NZ and not the US. But then again, if those instructions were to mix trade with national security, then the illegal use of the GCSB is not surprising.

     Who ran the GCSB between Mataparae and Fletcher?
     • deuto 3.2.1

       14 October 2012 at 10:00 am

       From Wikipedia, Red Rosa:

       The GCSB is administered by a Director. The directors have been:

       Colin Hanson (1977–1988)
       Ray Parker (1988–1999)
       Dr Warren Tucker (1999–2006)
       Air Marshal Sir Bruce Ferguson (2006–2010)
       Simon Murdoch (acting November 2010 – February 2011)[5]
       Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae (7 February – 30 June 2011)
       Simon Murdoch (acting 1 July – 19 December 2011)
       Ian Fletcher (January 2012–)
       Jerry Mateparae was appointed by Prime Minister John Key on 26 August 2010 taking up the role on 7 February 2011. On 8 March 2011 Mataparae was announced as the next Governor-General. He continued as Director until June 2011.

       Up to and including Mateparae, all the permanent directors had military careers before joining the organisation – Hanson, Parker, and Ferguson were all Air Force officers (the latter serving as Chief of Defence), and Tucker and Mateparae were Army officers.

       So Simon Murdoch was acting Director for four months before Mataparae (over the period the Dotcom came to NZ and was granted residency) AND for the six months after Mataparae.

       EDIT – also from Wikipedia’s entry on Murdoch

       Murdoch joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1972. He had an early posting to Canberra, before joining the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in 1980 as foreign affairs adviser to Prime Minister Robert Muldoon.

       In 1983, Murdoch was assistant head of the Asian division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Later that year, he was posted to Washington DC as political counsellor, and the New Zealand intelligence liaison officer to the United States.

       In 1987, Murdoch returned to New Zealand and became head of the Australia Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

       In 1989, Murdoch was seconded to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to be head of the Policy Advisory Group. In 1991, State Services Commissioner Don Hunn appointed Murdoch to the post of Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

       Murdoch was head of the department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under Prime Ministers Jim Bolger and Jenny Shipley. He left the post in 1998, to become Visiting Professor of Public Policy and Management at Victoria University of Wellington for a year.

       In 1999, Murdoch was appointed New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia. At the time, the posting was seen to be grooming Murdoch for the role of Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

       In 2002, Murdoch succeeded Neil Walter as New Zealand’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

       He was appointed to the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009.[2]

       GCSB
       In 2010 he conducted a review of New Zealand intelligence agencies, and for a period before and after the appointment of Lt Gen Sir Jerry Mateparae, he was acting chief executive and director of the GCSB. During his second stint in the position he presided over the illegal surveillance of Kim Dotcom.[3]

       Murdoch has now been appointed to do the Rena review.
       • Red Rosa 3.2.1.1

         14 October 2012 at 11:25 am

         Thanks, should have recalled. But then I’m not paid to do this!

         Murdoch before and after Mataparae…and at the crucial DotCom time. Hardly an amateur – and not someone to ‘overlook’ serious stuff. The DotCom saga will (may, eventually?) go right to the top.

         We should be in for an interesting week or two.

         All this may provoke some interesting discussion around the TPP, its timetable and the secret negotiations involved. We have an FTA with China, crucial to NZ exports. But the chances of similar TPP liberalization of US farm trade, especially in dairy, are those of the proverbial snowball in hell.

         It is not difficult to imagine the sort of political pressure being brought to bear on Key. But that’s the job. The question is whether he will stand up for NZ. So far, looks unlikely.
         • Dr Terry 3.2.1.1.1

           14 October 2012 at 1:06 pm

           How on earth many more weeks are going to be “interesting, but stop right there!
       • Murray Olsen 3.2.1.2

         14 October 2012 at 1:38 pm

         That the GCSB run by ex RNZAF officers works on behalf of the US and A doesn’t surprise me in the least. RNZAF officers seem to put loyalty to Washington ahead of anything else and should probably all be imprisoned for treason. The speeches they used to give at Duntroon when Labour was in power were shocking.
     • Anne 3.2.2

       14 October 2012 at 10:27 am

       … if those instructions were to mix trade with national security, then the illegal use of the GCSB is not surprising.

       Thanks Red Rosa. It is essentially the point I was making.

       Of course there is a role for our intelligence agencies to play in economic espionage. There is also a role for them to play in other areas too such as international drug cartels. However there is always a risk of them being used by a government in a way that is not appropriate. We saw it happen between 1975 and 1984 when Muldoon used the SIS for political purposes.

       And since I don’t trust this govt. – and this PM in particular – then it is, in my view, a pertinent scenario to ponder… at least as far as the GCSB is concerned.
       • deuto 3.2.2.1

         14 October 2012 at 11:04 am

         “However there is always a risk of them being used by a government in a way that is not appropriate. We saw it happen between 1975 and 1984 when Muldoon used the SIS for political purposes”.

         Good point Anne – and that period covers Murdoch’s time as foreign affairs adviser to Muldoon and his appointment in 1983 as political councillor and NZ Intelligence liaison officer to the US in Washington DC. (as per my quote of Wikipedia’s summary of his career at 3.2.1)

         Coincidence?
   • Anne 3.3

     14 October 2012 at 11:07 am

     ooops, I meant to say:

     Does it now concentrate rather more on off-shore economic and trade concerns that are in the interest of John Key and the National govt., but not necessarily the rest of us?

     Males a difference in the meaning of the sentence.

     Edit; just seen your comment deuto. No, I don’t believe it to be coincidence. I’m coming to the view there is not a coincidence with the appointment of Ian Fletcher either. Look at the way he is responding to the whistle blower story. What’s happened to Public Service ethics? You throw a staff member to the wolves because he/she is exercising his/her right to express concern over inexcusable behaviour?
     • Anne 3.3.1

       14 October 2012 at 11:19 am

       addition… on the part of the prime-minister?
     • Draco T Bastard 3.3.2

       14 October 2012 at 12:20 pm

       I’m coming to the view there is not a coincidence with the appointment of Ian Fletcher either.

       There are no coincidences. Not with this government – they know exactly what they’re doing and it’s not good for NZ.
       • Jokerman 3.3.2.1

         14 October 2012 at 7:23 pm

         Furthermore, our vicar spoke today on the Great Importance of focusing on Poverty in this country and I am certain that the same message is being delivered by All Men of Faith; I know that it is being delivered from the evangelical pastor I support also.

         Excellent, that the pastors are defying Tax laws penalising socio-political rhetoric from the pulpit
         in the God-Forsaken U S of A

         (no Uturn, move on, nothing to see here; “you aint gotta hold on me, you aint gotta hold on me…)
     • Dr Terry 3.3.3

       14 October 2012 at 1:08 pm

       Anne – so there was a time they had “ethics”?
       • Anne 3.3.3.1

         14 October 2012 at 2:37 pm

         Once Dr Terry – but it was a long time ago.

         The rot set in during the Rogernomic and Ruthanasia years. I know… I was on the receiving end for blowing a certain whistle. Interesting to note… some months after I resigned (virtually a forced resignation) the govt. unit I complained about was closed down.
         • deuto 3.3.3.1.1

           14 October 2012 at 2:55 pm

           I agree, Anne. Ethics were very much a part of public sector culture prior to then, but changed throughout that period – in some public sector areas more than others. Over the years I saw it eroding away – very much who you knew/’networked’ with rather than your competencies; back stabbing, etc etc. That is not to say that there are not still many public servants with ethics and the right culture, but more and more they are being troden down, disillusioned and give up and/or eventually leave as I did.
           • Anne 3.3.3.1.1.1

             14 October 2012 at 4:56 pm

             Yes, deuto. So sad. They have lost a lot of very good people – competent, loyal and reliable. Whilst lip service may still be paid to such qualities, in many areas of the public sector they seem no longer regarded as being essential requisites. And the bulk of the blame can be sheeted home to the ‘dog eat dog’ culture that epitomises NAct governments.
4. muzza 4

   14 October 2012 at 10:16 am

   Feeding hungry schoolchildren does nothing to boost their learning, a new report shows.

   The only “significant positive effect” was that children felt less hungry, the study into free school breakfasts found.

   Head of the study, Associate Professor Cliona Ni Murchu, said there were indications that attendance at school was also likely to improve but in reading, writing and maths there was no noticeable improvement.

   Researchers at Auckland University’s School of Population Health studied 423 children at decile one to four schools in Auckland, Waikato and Wellington for the 2010 school year

   Dear research unit.

   Thank you for your time and effort in letting my, I mean our governmnet off the hook with this well timed release of information, I know Paula appreciates the fact that someone else is going to run interference today. I would also like to acknowledge stuff.co.nz for running the story as agreed today, especially as those reading it will be enjoying their latte breakfasts, and I can go back to getting on with the job, without having to worry if all that talk about not providing food in schools will cost me votes, let them eat fruit
   Oh, and to John Campbell, eat a dick, you lost, I won!

   Best

   J Key
   • Stephen Doyle 4.1

     14 October 2012 at 10:36 am

     “Ni Murchu said there was a chance her study did not capture the children who most needed the breakfasts.

     “There’s always a risk that the kinds of people who participate are not the higher needs group.” This was because her study participants had to get parental consent and fill in a lengthy questionnaire – a process that may have alienated the high-needs families.”

     Not the most authoritative study by the authors own account then.
     • QoT 4.1.1

       14 October 2012 at 1:45 pm

       Hey now, self-selecting samples are always the BEST samples.
     • David H 4.1.2

       14 October 2012 at 2:13 pm

       And of course the headline on the page NOT biased one little bit is it?

       Food and learning connection shot down

       Yes and then at the bottom of the article is well, oopps maybe it’s not dead BUT Stuff as usual get’s it’s spin working.
     • Colonial Viper 4.1.3

       14 October 2012 at 5:05 pm

       Stephen Doyle said

       Not the most authoritative study by the authors own account then.

       You mean in that the study, if anything, paints a too optimistic picture because the most in need kids may have been left out?

       You really are a brainbox, aren’t you, Stephen.
   • Dv 4.2

     14 October 2012 at 10:38 am

     What measures did they use to see if there were improvements or not?
     There was NO indication in the report of how they ensured kid were hungry to start with.

     “They were given a free daily breakfast – Weet-Bix, bread with honey, jam or Marmite, and Milo – by either the Red Cross or a private sector provider.”

     There was no indication in the report if the kids had had any breakfast, there just seemed to be an assumption that if they were in a low (1-4) decile school they would be hungary.
     • QoT 4.2.1

       14 October 2012 at 1:47 pm

       Nor any indication that they checked if carbo-loading kids at the beginning of the day might, you know, give them a sugar-crash by morning tea which wouldn’t exactly help their concentration.
5. deuto 5

   14 October 2012 at 10:19 am

   ACT are conducting an internal review according to a small article on the Herald site

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10840409

   The Act Party has commissioned an internal review into its “shocking” election outcome and ongoing troubles.

   …An email supplied to the Herald on Sunday reveals election campaigner Brian Nicolle has contacted past and current members asking for their feedback.

   “I am doing a review of the Act Party after the shocking election result and the trouble that afflicted the Party over the last few years,” he wrote.

   …Party president Chris Simmons said the review was part of a programme to continually listen to party members and the public.

   Banks did not return calls yesterday.

   LOL, best of luck to them. From a comment on Audrey’s Young’s column yesterday “Is Banks still alive?”
   • Paul 5.1

     14 October 2012 at 10:46 am

     It’s amazing how many ex-ACT people get on to the media to spout the neo-liberal dogma.
     For a party that commands 1% of the vote, they seem to have a lot more than 1% of the pundits invited to put forward their opinions.
     Deborah Coddington,Rodney Hide and Stephen Franks come to mind immediately.
     • deuto 5.1.1

       14 October 2012 at 11:12 am

       Agree, Paul. Those three are given far too much airtime, for example on RNZ National (Nine to Noon, The Panel etc)

       Could not believe my ears last Monday(?) when on the politcal commentary slot on Nine to Noon, Coddington stated categorically that the Kim Dotcom was only big news in NZ and was not being covered by overseas media! It has been covered extensively by the likes of the NY Times, Washington Post etc. She certainly lives in a small bubble.
       • Paul 5.1.1.1

         14 October 2012 at 1:28 pm

         Who do the left have to represent them regularly on the MSM?
         Matt McCarten and Chris Trotter are the only ones I can think of.
         I’m not including pundits like Josie Pagani, who is really centrist..hardly the polar opposite to ACT anyway.
         Maybe this is how the left should be tackling the issue..by challenging the impartiality of the New Zealand media.
         • OneTrack 5.1.1.1.1

           14 October 2012 at 2:45 pm

           The MSM are already predominantly left-wing ie Campbell, Gower, Smalley, Sainsbury – all good progressives (who like firework displays). We need some of these ACT center-right commentators to even it up a bit and raise a few hard issues that many people dont like being raised.
           • Anne 5.1.1.1.1.1

             14 October 2012 at 2:48 pm

             🙄
           • Paul 5.1.1.1.1.2

             14 October 2012 at 2:54 pm

             Paul Holmes, Mike Hosking, Fran O’Sullivan, John Roughan, John Armstrong, Leighton Smith, Danny Williams, Michael Laws…
             The media is predominately left wing. Yeah right!
             I guess it’s left wing if you’re an ACT supporter or ‘one tracked’.
             • McFlock …

               14 October 2012 at 6:30 pm

               Onetrack is centre-left (of Genghiz Khan) 
               • Paul …

                 14 October 2012 at 6:40 pm

                 A little harsh to Genghis maybe!
             • OneTrack …

               14 October 2012 at 9:23 pm

               The examples I gave are all the mainstream television identities so you have TV sown up. Do a few talkback hosts and weekly newspaper columnists make up for that? Nope.

               John Armstrong – you must be joking – centre left at best (ie right is better of course). Paul Holmes – i dont think so, apart from one politically incorrect reference to the UN Secretary General which was a simple joke that the hard left media couldnt handle. No, he’s on your team. I note you didn’t even try to deny that the examples I gave are lefties though. And who is Danny Williams?
               • felix …

                 14 October 2012 at 9:25 pm

                 You’re insane, but that’s an interesting slip of the tongue re: Holmes.
               • Colonial Viper …

                 14 October 2012 at 9:32 pm

                 LOL get your head checked and a wheel alignment mate, I think you got your lefts and rights whacked out
                 • Jokerman …

                   14 October 2012 at 10:29 pm

                   so whatta ya think of the show so far….?
                   • Colonial Viper …

                     14 October 2012 at 10:39 pm

                     Reruns of Happy Days would be better.
     • Draco T Bastard 5.1.2

       14 October 2012 at 12:28 pm

       The MSM is propaganda for the 1%.
     • Poission 5.1.3

       14 October 2012 at 12:29 pm

       It’s amazing how many ex-ACT people get on to the media to spout the neo-liberal dogma.
       For a party that commands 1% of the vote, they seem to have a lot more than 1% of the pundits invited to put forward their opinions.
       Deborah Coddington,Rodney Hide and Stephen Franks come to mind immediately.

       William Feller was quite succinct in this matter eg.

       It has been suggested that an army of monkeys might be trained to pound typewriters at random in the hope that ultimately great works of literature would be produced. Using a coin for the same purpose may save feeding and training expenses and free the monkeys for other monkey business.

       http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/File:Monkey-typing.jpg

       The most troublesome problem is that political pundits,(and to some extent economic commentators) almost never outperform either monkeys or chance.Eg Tetlock.

       EVERY DAY, countless experts offer innumerable opinions in a dizzying array of forums. Cynics groan that expert communities seem ready at hand for virtually any issue in the political spotlight–communities from which governments or their critics can mobilize platoons of pundits to make prepackaged cases on a moment’s notice.

       Although there is nothing odd about experts playing prominent roles in debates, it is odd to keep score, to track expert performance against explicit benchmarks of accuracy and rigor. And that is what I have struggled to do in twenty years of research of soliciting and scoring experts’ judgments on a wide range of issues. The key term is “struggled.” For, if it were easy to set standards for judging judgment that would be honored across the opinion spectrum and not glibly dismissed as another sneaky effort to seize the high ground for a favorite cause, someone would have patented the process long ago.

       http://press.princeton.edu/chapters/s7959.html
     • Tiger Mountain 5.1.4

       14 October 2012 at 12:35 pm

       And Don Brash and even Muriel Newman, not too much heard from “Brothel signage eyes” Hilary Clavert though.
   • starlight 5.2

     14 October 2012 at 10:58 am

     If the act louts are missing in action,they are most likey down the nearest toilet,getting
     closer to the sewage waste going out to sea.
   • chris73 5.3

     14 October 2012 at 11:11 am

     Heres some advice for them

     Ditch Banks
     Bring up some of the younger talent
     Ditch the SST
     Go back to focusing on economic matters
     • PlanetOrphan 5.3.1

       14 October 2012 at 11:16 am

       Classic Gnat policy ….
       Destroy any thought and analysis that currently exists, and put a teenager in charge

       Then start thinking about what everyone else has been talking about for 4 years.

       “Welcome too PlanetChris73 M8!”
       • chris73 5.3.1.1

         14 October 2012 at 11:28 am

         Classic lefty response: be a dipshit

         Banks is not nor has he ever been Act. National yes or maybe even Conservative but not Act.
         • PlanetOrphan 5.3.1.1.1

           14 October 2012 at 11:32 am

           What?, R U trying too reason out here Chris73?

           Restructure ACT so you can vote for them again?

           Kinda head up ur arse stuff that one buddy!
           • chris73 5.3.1.1.1.1

             14 October 2012 at 11:41 am

             I would vote for Act if Act got back to the principles it was founded on just like I’d imagine quite a few people would vote Labour if it did likewise
             • PlanetOrphan …

               14 October 2012 at 11:51 am

               They only have one principle …. “Free Market”, i.e “Open Slather”

               This country is dying because of that blinkered approach to Aoteoroa.
               • chris73 …

                 14 October 2012 at 12:11 pm

                 No and heres why. Act, like the Greens will never be the majority party in Govt. which is actually a good thing because it means the center govt of the day can take out the more radical parts while keeping the general idea

                 I mean does anybody take the Greens idea of QE seriously? I don’t think Cunliffe would go for that.
                 • PlanetOrphan …

                   14 October 2012 at 12:14 pm

                   I take the Greens idea seriously as do many others.
                   In my opinion Labour asked the Greens to do this, they’re attacking the Government on other fronts.
                   (i.e Assets/Law)
                   And voting for a party that you don’t want in power is delusional bud.
                 • Draco T Bastard …

                   14 October 2012 at 12:34 pm

                   I don’t think Cunliffe would go for that.

                   If Cunliffe doesn’t then he’s a fool.
             • Draco T Bastard …

               14 October 2012 at 12:32 pm

               The principles that just had the global economy collapse.
             • Pascal's bookie …

               14 October 2012 at 12:51 pm

               I would vote for Act if Act got back to the principles it was founded on

               you and a few thousand others, and that’s the problem. their ideas are just not at all popular. ACT doesn’t divert into law and order, and conservative knee jerkery, and climate change denialism for laughs. They do it because the need funders and votes.
               • chris73 …

                 14 October 2012 at 12:59 pm

                 I can’t disagree with that.

                 What I’d suggest is bring up the younger talent, stick with economic policies and rebuild around Epsom. It can be done but it’ll take time.

                 NZ politics need smaller parties to give voice to as many people so it’d be a shame if Act went under.
                 • felix …

                   14 October 2012 at 7:22 pm

                   “I can’t disagree with that. “

                   Then I guess you didn’t understand it. It’s the economic stuff that’s so deeply disliked and distrusted.

                   Have you been in a coma or something? Everything you want has already happened. The populist Mr Hide was replaced with the serious economics focused Dr Brash, because the only thing holding the party back from its rightfully deserved popularity was all that populism.

                   Remember? He was to take the party back to its core economic principles and win 15% of the vote. Actually wasn’t he scoffing at that figure and saying he expected a lot more? You know, because of the serious economic focus and return to core principles.

                   How’d that work out again?

                   And “rebuild around Epsom”, are you serial? You want a party that’s deliberately structured to be 100% reliant on National gifting a seat every three years?

                   Doesn’t matter anyway, ACT is already over.
         • starlight 5.3.1.1.2

           14 October 2012 at 11:47 am

           Did you have breakfast this morning,you seem to be a bit sugar deprived ?
           reply to chris73 about his ‘lefty’ remark.
     • starlight 5.3.2

       14 October 2012 at 11:23 am

       Is SST the name of the toilet they are in ?
   • Dr Terry 5.4

     14 October 2012 at 1:11 pm

     Whatever is left of Act can gather together and stare down into their pit.
     • PlanetOrphan 5.4.1

       14 October 2012 at 1:16 pm

       Betting on who they’ll throw in next, great bloodsportsmanship!
   • David H 5.5

     14 October 2012 at 2:14 pm

     An internal review??? Have they got anyone left to do it?
   • McFlock 5.6

     14 October 2012 at 4:59 pm

     An ACT internal review: two people wondering why their chequebooks failed them.
        
     Here’s a thought: the “one of us” you parachuted into the seat is a fucking lying moron, and your ability to fool people into thinking that your policies are a good idea is inversely proportional to the level of hardship that your prospective voters face.  
        
     ACT is a party for people who think their problems revolve around GDP and labour market flexibility (the solutions to which handily include tax cuts anf enabling developers to bulldoze unique environments), not around feeding the kids tonight.
6. marty mars 6

   14 October 2012 at 11:21 am

   Just listened to “Down the list”. Jeepers the satire was top-notch and cutting, even Chris said “ouch” when it finished – key gets chucked on the barbie – good fun.

   Today, two Hollywood film moguls preparing for a quick meeting with Jeff Key (John Key) discuss making a film in New Zealand based on Richie McCaw’s sore foot. They struggle to make it sound exciting enough to invest in, but finally they are swayed by the concessions and subsidies being offered to overseas film productions.

   Link not there yet but well worth a listen

   http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/20121014
   • Vicky32 6.1

     14 October 2012 at 7:33 pm

     Just listened to “Down the list”. Jeepers the satire was top-notch and cutting, even Chris said “ouch” when it finished – key gets chucked on the barbie – good fun.

     I heard that, it was brilliant! 🙂
7. Jenny 7

   14 October 2012 at 11:23 am

   Will our ill fated military intervention in Afghanistan end in one more final act of ignominy and disgrace to be covered over by lies and secrecy?

   Who is lying? – Who is telling the truth? Former translator 19 year old Diamond Kazimi? or, Anonymous senior Defence Force spokespeople, backed by secretive, ‘no comment’ Prime Minister?

   You decide.

   Afghan interpreters ‘scared and confused’

   According to Diamond Kazimi, 6 of our Aghan translators, have been told not to talk to the press about their fears that they are being abandoned by our troops in Baniyan.

   Last week, the Sunday Star-Times reported 26 Afghan interpreters working with Kiwi troops were pleading with the Government not to abandon them to “certain death”

   And this week? According to Kazimi, 6 Afghan translators have been released by the army in Afghanistan and told not to go to the media.

   In reply to Kazimi’s claim of lay offs, an anonymous unattributed statement was published in the Star Times on behalf of the army brass, it reads; “There are still 26 interpreters on staff and there is no change we are aware of.“, NZDF

   Along with this official denial by the Defence Force – Prime Minister Key who had previously told media that, ‘the interpreters concern had been acknowledged and were being considered.’ On Friday, announced he would not be commenting any further on the issue.

   19 year old Diamond Kazimi, in the face of official military denials and top government secrecy and apparent cover up, is defying military and the government officials in continuing to openly speak up, demanding that the rights of our troop’s translators and their families to safety be taken seriously by the army and the government.

   Why will our government and military leaders not heed Diamond Kazimi and the other translators and give them and their families some assurance or certainty as to their fate?

   Why have the 6 laid off last week, been ordered to shut up?

   Is a shabby and cowardly abandonment by our troops of their interpreters being ordered?

   Will our final withdrawal from Afghanistan be in dignity or shame?
   • Draco T Bastard 7.1

     14 October 2012 at 12:38 pm

     Will our final withdrawal from Afghanistan be in dignity or shame?

     Probably shame – it’s all we get out of this government.
   • Dr Terry 7.2

     14 October 2012 at 1:15 pm

     Jenny – there is not a choice here. Any final withdrawal can only be “in shame”!
     • Jenny 7.2.1

       14 October 2012 at 4:03 pm

       Maybe I should have said less shame.

       Doc you haven’t addressed the question of why our military deny that it laid off 6 interpreters last week amid fears that they will abandoned when our troops finally pull out. Or why the Prime Minister has gone silent on the issue.

       Maybe possibly, to admit we need to do something to protect our Afghan interpreters from Taliban retribution after our departure, is also an admission that our declared reason for being there: To pacify the country and turn back the Taliban has been a complete and dismal failure and pointless waste of the lives of the ten Kiwis who have died there.

       Rather than admit the defeat of our mission in Afghanistan, Defence Force and Government personel are in effect claiming there is no problem, that Baniyan has been made safe by our efforts, and the interpreters claims that they face “certain death” on our withdrawal from the province are wrong.
       • ianmac 7.2.1.1

         14 October 2012 at 4:21 pm

         May be a security thing. The less publicity the greater chance of a quiet withdrawl to safety below the Taliban radar?
         • Jenny 7.2.1.1.1

           14 October 2012 at 4:31 pm

           Safety for who, ianmac?

           Are they that worried about what the Taliban will do to our interpreters that our troops have to quietly sneak out of the country?

           Do you really think that if they sneak out of the country silently the Taliban won’t notice they are gone and so will leave the translators alone?
8. deuto 8

   14 October 2012 at 11:31 am

   The “over the top” raids phenomenum is catching!

   “Plant Naz1s hunt for outlawed trees.”

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10840408

   Biosecurity officers have raided the Auckland Botanic Gardens, apparently looking for an exotic relation to the kauri tree that may have been illegally introduced to the country.

   The homes of the gardens’ curator, Jack Hobbs, and veteran Albany ecologist Graeme Platt were also targeted by Ministry of Primary Industries staff in simultaneous raids just after dawn on Thursday.

   ….”I was sitting at my computer in my undies and the next thing a police car came roaring down the driveway, followed by five more cars.

   I thought something very tragic must’ve happened. The policewoman was lovely, the others were maggots.”

   ….Officers removed computers and plants and ordered him not to not sell or remove plants from the property that were part of the kauri or Norfolk pine family.

   Platt said after the raids Hobbs told him computers were also taken from his home and the botanic gardens, and plant samples were taken from the gardens.

   “He’s extremely upset and staff at the botanic gardens are outraged.”

   The ministry refused to comment before the Herald on Sunday deadline.

   LOL – who signed off on this one?

   PS – thanks to Dotcom’s twitter for the link….
   • ianmac 8.1

     14 October 2012 at 4:25 pm

     Can’t a tree or two grow in peace? And how come the Dotcom-like raid was enacted on hapless misnamed trees. Did the police think that trees might have a safe room or have an escape plan? Escaped trees last seen scampering down Kaihangahape Road. Do not approach. Jeez!
   • Vicky32 8.2

     14 October 2012 at 7:39 pm

     in simultaneous raids just after dawn on Thursday.

     Dawn raids? Oh unbelievable!
9. captain hook 9

   14 October 2012 at 12:47 pm

   hey leAVE ‘EM ALONE.
   THEY HAVE JUST AS MUCH RIGHT AS ANYONE ELSE TO GET THEIR GOBS PLASTERED ALL OVER THE TEEVEE FOR FIVE MINUTES!
10. AsleepWhileWalking 10

    14 October 2012 at 12:59 pm

    Today’s most insulting quote from the Minister of Hypocrisy, ” “an extra 50 bucks a week” into the homes of child abusers wouldn’t save lives and more than the extra $20 million budgeted to fight child abuse would not get abuse rates down”

    Of course the child abusers the Minister refers to are beneficiaries – all of them. Bennett reverts to the tried and true B-bashing technique only this time making use of presuppositions.

    The Minister confuses cause and effect by using statistics to wrongly imply beneficiaries are synonymous with abuse. Of course this suits her key purpose which is to vilify anyone who has legally sort government assistance under the Social Securities Act as they are entitled to do.

    Another sad chapter of NZ politics. No word as yet from the Minister on how she thinks the continued attacks by her on the character of parents of the children on welfare affect the children’s self esteem and development.

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1210/S00207/qa-greg-boyed-interviews-paula-bennett.htm
    • muzza 10.1

      14 October 2012 at 9:17 pm

      Indeed the deflector shields are always up, because the biggest abusers on the planet are the elite, and in the case of the UN, and CPA in the USA, many openly busted instances of habitual abuse, and then of course there is the “entertainment” business known as Hollywood!

      Kids of rich parents dont get abused!
11. joe90 11

    14 October 2012 at 3:57 pm

    Game-changer: LiLo endorses Mittens.
    • ianmac 11.1

      14 October 2012 at 4:19 pm

      And what a ringing endorsement she is Joe. 🙂
12. starlight 12

    14 October 2012 at 6:58 pm

    Just thought i would give you these polls from roy morgan taken 24/9/2012 – 7/10/2012
    it was taken nz wide and there were 827 electors.

    National 41.5% ( down 2% )

    Labour 33.5% ( up 0.5% )

    Greens 13.5% ( up 2 % )

    NZ First 6.5% ( up 1.5 % )

    United F 0.5%

    Act 0%
13. Jokerman 13

    14 October 2012 at 7:01 pm

    What a freakin lying-arsed, in-denial, freakin drench trough we live in, and the lice are only multiplying;
    Military Assaults each other; apparently, weak discipline, they see a fox-hole, and they gotta fill it,
    and the CDF blatently lies, does he think we are stupid? He can Bat his eyelids all he wants, but his aperture will not shut.

    Bnnt- failing abysmally to acknowledge the Primary link (she would be a primary link if we ever saw one) between Poverty and Child Abuse. (if I was not a believer and follower of My Lord, I would be speaking much Harsher; however, I prophecy that all will not end well for her; her spirit is on show for All to see)

    The freakin sheep still bleating after the very weak master of Deception, baaa, baaaa, as they slip down all the OECD slopes..

    And, New Zealand is likely to be the “Weakest Link” in the Five Eyes Network (only one eye open) well, that suits me just fine. (bring it on you Crosby-Textor sycophantic Fasci; losers)

    Personally, I WELCOME THE CHINESE (and they have known that for nearly a year), and then the sooner the local merchants can get on with business (all cards ON the table, instead of Denial about their graft and Inbred Kleptocracy)

    Now I do not choose to Know much about Falun Gong, but I Do Know a lot about Monotheism (I believe) and the sooner THE CHINESE get here, The Better.

    WELCOME THE CHINESE WELCOME THE CHINESE WELCOME THE CHINESE (and Foo Yung to any nation that gets in their way, fools)
14. starlight 14

    14 October 2012 at 7:16 pm

    As a contrast to the above poll Labour are on 30.8% the nats are on 50.6%
    Labour down 2.4% Nats up 4.8%
    Who on earth would believe these polls,garnered by garner.
    TV3 news reid research polls are usually
    way out of wack anyway.
    • Anne 14.1

      14 October 2012 at 7:36 pm

      starlight are you referring to the latest TV3 poll reported this evening?

      The numbers are actually:
      National 48.8%
      Labour 33.0%
      Greens 10.6%
      NZ 1st 3.2%

      Not a bad result given their landline based and are therefore always skewed towards National.
      Same with TV1 too of course.
      • starlight 14.1.1

        14 October 2012 at 7:45 pm

        The first polls are from roy morgan,the middle one is one i went looking for,tv3
        reid research,the third is national and opposition parties also from roy morgan
        for the dates 24/9 -7/10
    • ianmac 14.2

      14 October 2012 at 7:39 pm

      TV 3 Poll tonight:
      National 48.8%
      Labour 33.2%
      Greens 10.6 %
      NZF 3.2

      For PM:
      Key 41%
      Shearer 8.5%
      Norman 5%
      Winston 2.4 %

      According to Garner National could govern alone with 62 seats??
      Snap Anne.
      • Te Reo Putake 14.2.1

        14 October 2012 at 7:49 pm

        Always worth remembering that the 3 news/Reid poll allways overestimates National support by 2-3 pts, at least. And always underestimates NZF’s support. Anyway, further comfirmation of the downward trend for Key and Co., so good news there.
      • McFlock 14.2.2

        14 October 2012 at 7:59 pm

        He wishes.
               
        I’m not sure about the reid research polls – too irregular to get a trend off, and the seem to have pumped national at getting over 50% in the election just a week or so out, and labour proportionately less than their election tally.
           
        Oh, and take care looking at the RR graphs – they don’t have null spaces in their charts in the months they fail to publish a poll, e.g. the jump from april to june, and the last record is july.
           
        The penguin probably does closer coverage, but I try not to go to sites that might lso-cookie me. Safe browsing, peeps!
           
         
15. starlight 15

    14 October 2012 at 7:37 pm

    The roy morgan tracker has the national led govt that includes support party’s
    on 44%, the opposition party’s which includes all support party’s is 53.5%
    I was shocked by the tv3 poll,so i went looking for some answers.
    The tracker was taken 24/9/12 – 7/10/12
    • Anne 15.1

      14 October 2012 at 7:55 pm

      Oh, I get it now starlight. Am easily confused. 🙂
16. starlight 16

    14 October 2012 at 8:41 pm

    shonkey will be slapping his chest about how great they are doing and people
    just dont care about the dotcom fiasco,he will say nz’ers have moved on,look at
    the polls,the roy morgan polls need to be shown in the media as well,that will
    stop him chest beating, but it will be difficult with the msm.
    • McFlock 16.1

      14 October 2012 at 8:54 pm

      I reckon that the more he beats his chest when more and more people think he’s a lying braggart, then the more it alienates him from the electorate.
          
17. Dave Kennedy (bsprout) 17

    14 October 2012 at 9:21 pm

    Bill English should be worried.
    http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/the-greens-go-well-in-gore.html
18. Draco T Bastard 18

    14 October 2012 at 11:39 pm

    Getting a little late but this needs to be out:

    Last week, I got tipped-off that the parts of the MSD network were completely exposed to the public. You could go into any WINZ office and use their self-service kiosks to access their corporate network.

    These locked-down kiosks are provided so you could look for jobs online, send off CVs etc. They’ve had some basic features disabled, which supposedly meant that you couldn’t just open up File Manager and poke around the machine. However, by just using the Open File dialogue in Microsoft Office, you could map any unsecured computer on the network, and then open up any accessible file.

    Apparently you can’t access everything – just nearly everything – in MSDs servers.
    • Colonial Viper 18.1

      15 October 2012 at 1:08 am

      FFS. Cost cutting and private sector/corporate providers hurrah.
    • Vicky32 18.2

      15 October 2012 at 5:15 pm

      Apparently you can’t access everything – just nearly everything – in MSDs servers

      And today of course, it’s been all over the MSM!

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