Open mike 15/04/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:34 am, April 15th, 2014 - 243 comments
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openmike Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

243 comments on “Open mike 15/04/2014 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    15 April 2014 at 6:43 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238187

    “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported earlier this month that New Zealand was unprepared for between 2C and 4C of warming this century. Climate Change Minister Tim Groser said New Zealand was doing its fair share to reduce emissions and that the onus was on local councils to respond to the effects of climate change such as sea level rise.

    Mr Mills said: “For me that was the end. I thought ‘I’ve got to stand up and be counted now’.”

    Good on Mr Mills.
    Time for more New Zealanders to stand up and be counted on this vital issue.
    Who are you voting for?
    Your own greedy needs of those of your grandchildren?

    • bad12 1.1
      15 April 2014 at 7:51 am

      Certainly putting His money where His mouth is,”tired of National Government inaction on climate change issues” the owner of the Les Mills fitness business donates $64,999 to Labour and 65,000 to the Green Party,

      Suggests exactly what this businessman wants as the next Government…

      • miravox 1.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 8:04 am

        +1.

        The Pure Advantage website that is mentioned in the article is worth checking out. It’s been active for a year or two now – definitely not picking political sides, so this article from Phillip Mills is a bit of a step up in the campaign it seems.

        http://www.pureadvantage.org/

        • Ad 1.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 8:19 am

          Also positive to see Cunliffe making some right (uncosted, not sure of programme) noises about forming a mitigation package against climate change.

          Groser was saying yesterday that there’s really no point doing anything unless the major country emitters agree to do it together. Because I am deeply pessimistic about climate change, I could understand that.

          But when we choose to be New Zealand can lead globally. I want more for and from this country than that.

          • Jenny 1.1.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 9:15 am

            When even party political funding is becoming dependent on where you stand on climate change, you know the worm is turning.

            To properly capitalise on this new political understanding David Cunliffe needs to announce that the law that prevents climate change being raised as an objection in consent hearings for new coal mines will be repealed on the return of a Labour Government.

            It would also be good if Labour could announce that on regaining office they will impose a complete moratorium on new coal mines, in line with their coalition Partner the Green Party policy of No New Coal Mines.

            A moratorium on deep sea oil drilling and fracking and on any other extreme non-traditional fossil fuel extraction methods, would be good too.

            Lets not hear anymore sychophantic pedantic whining about ‘we must respect existing contracts’.

            What’s more sacred, business contracts negotiated unfairly with no mandate, or the environment we all depend on to survive?

            If we want to respect contracts how about this one?

            Maybe instead of honouring deals done with Bathurst Resources we should first honour the contract we signed with our Pacific neighbors to endeavor to cut back our CO2 emissions? A contract to which we are a signatory, but which John Key had no problem tearing up to keep letting Solid Energy cook the climate.

            The Majuro Declaration on Climate Change

            Many of the islands look to New Zealand, their closest large land mass, to give financial and diplomatic leadership.

            “New Zealand can and should do more. They are the fifth highest per capita emitters in the world and Kiwi emissions continue to climb.”
            President Loeak of the Marshall Islands

            Honour the Majuro Declaration. Send Bathurst packing.

            • Wyndham, George 1.1.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 11:12 am

              Jenny, Yesterday you wanted Cunliffe to announce the adoption of Greens policy of no deep see drilling. Today you want him to adopt their policy on mining AND announce the Greens as a Coalition Partner!
              I wait with baited breath to hear what wonderful original thoughts you have tomorrow!

              • bad12 …
                15 April 2014 at 11:44 am

                Lolz, a million different people from one day to the next…

              • Jenny …
                16 April 2014 at 8:01 am

                “Jenny, Yesterday you wanted Cunliffe to announce the adoption of Greens policy of no deep see drilling. Today you want him to adopt their policy on mining”
                Wyndham, George

                So what?

                Labour are demanding that the Greens adopt their policies of supporting deep sea oil drilling, and new coal mines.

                I have argued for some time that it will be electoral suicide for the Greens to concede to Labour’s demands, and if they persist with these demands better to sit on the cross benches giving support only on budget and supply.

                But apart from the Greens calling for Labour to change, physics demand it.

  3. Paul 3
    15 April 2014 at 6:52 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238214

    More diversionary trivia for NZers so they don’t pay attention to the important stuff.

    • ianmac 3.1
      15 April 2014 at 9:21 am

      The coy Mr Key.
      “Mr Key confirmed yesterday it was paid for by the taxpayer and when asked whether that meant it was not such a private dinner after all, he said “well, it kind of is and it isn’t”.

  4. North 4
    15 April 2014 at 7:19 am

    Celebrity Grossed ?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/royal-tour/9940930/Wills-and-Kates-dinner-is-on-us

    “My understanding is they were certainly keen to catch up, they were certainly keen to have something that was relaxed and in a fun environment.”

    Imelda without the heels !

    • ffloyd 4.1
      15 April 2014 at 9:42 am

      @north.
      And the poor blighters ended up spending the evening with ‘thick as batshit’ key. Yawn.

  5. North 5
    15 April 2014 at 7:30 am

    FFS ! It gets worse – From the Herald this morning –

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238214

    “This time round, it was the tight five – the royals, himself, his wife Bronagh and son Max, who met William during the Keys’ stay at Balmoral last year.” – and this –

    “It has become a bit of a tradition for Mr Key and William to cook for each other: after Mr Key hosted the 2010 barbecue, William returned serve by helping out cooking a barbecue for the Key family at Balmoral.”

    The wonderful work of Claire Arse-Licker Trevett !

    • BM 5.1
      15 April 2014 at 7:42 am

      What an uplifting piece of journalism.
      Makes you proud to be a New Zealander.

      • North 5.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 7:50 am

        Who said ShonKey Python and his pet scribblers wouldn’t be working the guts out of it a few months out from a general election, then ?

        • BM 5.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 7:59 am

          Facts are, the majority of the sheeple are enjoying having the royals out here, the cute little baby, the glamorous duke/duchess.

          It’s fun, it’s happy and people especially women want to hear all about it, which is why Cunnliffe came across as such an arse by politising the royal tour.

          After the Campbell debacle last night one really has to wonder if the man has a political bone in his body, he really is doing a shit job.

          • Sanctuary 5.1.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 8:10 am

            The people giddiest about the royal tour are the trivia and celebrity obsessed media. Despite the efforts of the press to whip up a colonial cringeworthy royal hysteria the crowds are modest, at best. If you scratch the surface, most people think that they seem nice but the whole thing is a bit of a circus.

            • BM 5.1.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 8:18 am

              It’s not my cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean other people aren’t allowed to enjoy it.

              Anyway, whats the harm the oldies get to relive the past, the woman get to oooh and ahhh over the cute baby and the young girls get to see a real life princess/duchess.

              Good harmless family fun.

              • bad12 …
                15 April 2014 at 8:42 am

                The Woyal Bludgers must be leaving soon, good riddance, there hasn’t been a scrap of blue sky here in Wellington since these sponges arrived for a break from sponging on the English to take a few big slurps at the trough here…

                • BM …
                  15 April 2014 at 8:51 am

                  Have a look at this, you may learn something.

                  • ianmac …
                    15 April 2014 at 9:28 am

                    That may be a true picture for the UK. But none of that is valid for NZ is it BM?

                    • tinfoilhat …
                      15 April 2014 at 9:37 am

                      Oh I don’t know, I expect the advertising and exposure NZ has got in the commonwealth media (most particularly the UK) is more than worth the cost to the taxpayer of having the royals visit.

                      I must admit I’m a bit bemused as to why anyone gets so worked up one way or the other about the royals visiting.

                  • bad12 …
                    15 April 2014 at 9:35 am

                    BM, a ‘youtube video for simpletons!!!’ who would have thunk that You would use such a child’s view to explain the Woyal Family of Bludgers,

                    Basically a ‘Disneyland tourist attraction way over-paid for the role that lot have sponged off of the people of Britain for centuries, murder, standover, and direct taxation of the peasants was how the ‘Crown Estate’ came into being so it doesn’t matter an iota that a previous head of the Bludge Family gave up ownership in favor of a direct ‘suck’ on the revenue stream now managed by the democratically elected Government,

                    ”The Crown Estate is NOT the private property of the Monarch. It cannot be owned by the Monarch in a private capacity”,

                    http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/finances_of_the_british_royal_family

                    • BM …
                      15 April 2014 at 9:49 am

                      The royals are a tourist attraction they make the UK a truck load of money, far more than what they cost.

                      The UK has set it’s self up as a Victorian Disney land and the Royals are the centerpiece.

                      The Royal family generate close to £500 million every year for British tourism with The Tower of London, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace the most popular Royal destinations.

                      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/tourism/8587231/UK-Tourism-facts-and-figures.html

                      Try to think out side the square, chap.

                    • bad12 …
                      15 April 2014 at 10:04 am

                      More rubbish BM, the Woyals do not own the Tower of London, Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace and as such are simply overpaid actors sucking at the public teat to the tune of millions of pounds a year,

                      A handful of actors could be hired to ‘play’ the role that these sponges are paid multi-millions of pounds a year to act out for a fraction of the cost,

                      That still doesn’t explain the fact that the Sponge family is over here bludging off of us at the moment…

                • srylands …
                  15 April 2014 at 10:10 am

                  I think you should pop down to Civic Square and see them tomorrow. You don’t need to wave a flag, but seeing them in person might change your mind about them, and you have nothing else to do.

                  Getting all bitter and twisted about Will, Kate and George seems a little sad.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    15 April 2014 at 10:31 am

                    but seeing them in person might change your mind about them

                    And SSLands proves his complete and total shallowness. For him, looks and image are everything.

                  • bad12 …
                    15 April 2014 at 10:48 am

                    Ha Ha SSLands, the last time i seen one of the plastic Lowness’es was years back when Dun Mihaka gave Her an entirely appropriate whakapahone as a greeting,

                    My presence so exercised the DPS prowling the side-show bob spectators that they saw reason to curtail my civil rights by bailing me up against a wall asking the same sort of stupid questions that you are famed for…

                  • framu …
                    15 April 2014 at 12:33 pm

                    “you have nothing else to do.”

                    mind your manners

                  • Tracey …
                    15 April 2014 at 1:56 pm

                    slylands this is one of your more vacuous efforts during worktime. you start work at 10am and at 10:10am here you are posting. the king of productivity preaches not practices.

              • Tracey …
                15 April 2014 at 1:53 pm

                good harmless costly to the taxpayer fun.perhaps the govt should pass buckets through the crowd seeking donations to pay for it all.

          • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.1.2
            15 April 2014 at 8:57 am

            It’s fun, it’s happy and people especially women want to hear all about it, which is why Cunnliffe came across as such an arse by politising the royal tour.

            The entire tour is politicking – exactly as planned. You’re here adding more to it.

          • Tracey 5.1.1.1.3
            15 April 2014 at 1:51 pm

            majority bm, you mean the fewthousand who turn out in the streets. by your logic the majority of kiwis are against the gcsb act, the tpp because a few thousands took to the streets.

      • Paul 5.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 8:28 am

        Makes you ill.

      • Tracey 5.1.3
        15 April 2014 at 1:48 pm

        not a nzer bm, a colonial.

    • karol 5.2
      15 April 2014 at 7:53 am

      I haven’t been looking at Royals visit news. I don’t click on the links on news websites. I switch on mute during the TV News, and attend to something else. Why encourage the media obssession – they measure success by the number of clicks on those links, not whether you are for or against the royals.

      I have been enjoying a relatively royals free space on TS.

    • Paul 5.3
      15 April 2014 at 9:16 am

      Goebbels would be proud of the corporate media.

    • David H 5.4
      15 April 2014 at 9:20 am

      And all this on TV at dinner time, where we all eating ‘cheap’. If eating at all. But nice to see that our tax dollars are being used for something important …

    • millsy 5.5
      15 April 2014 at 9:48 am

      Im over the Royal Family.

      We don’t need a monarchy anymore — anywhere, not just here. We are capable of choosing our own leaders, like religion, it is a hangover from more archaic times.

      The Chinese managed to get rid of their monarchy after 3000 years, as did the Russians, the French, the Indians, and so on. We should be able to do the same.

    • anker 5.6
      16 April 2014 at 12:26 am

      Claire “Key Cracks a Joke” Sycophantic Trevett. Time to start collecting her articles for systematic bias complaint.

      She’s not a journalist’s backside.

  6. captain hook 6
    15 April 2014 at 7:59 am

    Have just turned on and then turned off morning report. Radio New Zealand have employed one of the slimiest national party shills to front their flagship operation. What an awful mouthful of mangement speak but a slimy little toad is a slimy little toad whichever way you paint it.

    • Paul 6.1
      15 April 2014 at 8:30 am

      Espiner?

      • greywarbler 6.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 12:19 pm

        I missed hearing Rod Oram because I forgot to turn the radio back on again after another (gag) news report with heartfelt sound of Piss story wringing out his tears. How long Oh Lord do we have to put up with this `news’ from South Africa? We have a good celebrity story incubating right here in River City, or NZ when we find our bearings.

        It may be that there are some strange radio news agreements with countries such as South Africa also the USA, so that we take whatever because more volume (hah) costs less, and we then sound so linked in and international.

        I haven’t bothered with the Royal visit. I wish them well and hope that they didn’t mind spending time watching children play rugby in Dunedin. How exciting. I can understand that the Dunedinites wanted to show off their wonderful stadium, but it wouldn’t please me as an event if I was on a Magical Mystery Tour.

        Something else I missed on radio was Ellis at 11.45 discussing somebody interviewed by Campbell last night prevaricating. There that’s my big word for the day – hope it’s the right one.
        Apparently whoever said whatever was not sure about whether he would do something or not. Might have been Cunliffe. Doesn’t sound like Winston who is always positive about things – even positive that he is negative on a policy. Same with Hone. Dunne’s been done. Russel is being spoken to tomorrow I think!

        I did think that someone may have had some comment to make about last night’s pollies but you are all of on a royal tour around the beltway or somewhere. Perhaps someone can enlighten me on a) the person who was interviewed, and b) what it was he wasn’t sure about. (I understood it was a him.)

    • jh 6.2
      15 April 2014 at 9:16 am

      I remember Sharon Crosby leaving for (somewhere) and she made a departing statement, (something like) “there you all thought I was right wing didn’t you”

  7. Sanctuary 7
    15 April 2014 at 8:06 am

    There is something positive about the interwebs at the moment… Almost as if a malevolent force has been removed. What might have excised the ugliness? What great change?

    Ah yes, there it is!!!

    DPF is in the Himalayas and can’t update his little National Party propaganda vehicle. Let’s hope he doesn’t stumble into the path of a grumpy Yak. That would be terrible. Yesssireeeee, ait would be absolutely terrible.

    • millsy 7.1
      15 April 2014 at 9:48 am

      They have cyber cafes in Nepal….??

      • freedom 7.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 10:14 am

        “they have McDonald’s in Tibet”

        theological complexities aside – Amused to Death is still a great album and has one of those timeless message thingys to boot

  8. bad12 8
    15 April 2014 at 8:06 am

    Prostituting the Office of the Prime Minister, fresh from being the ‘star’ attraction at the Northern Club said to be the most exclusive ‘Gentlmen’s club’ in Auckland,(funnily enough the Splash Club, a Brothel, advertises itself as an ‘exclusive Gentlemen’s Club here in Wellington),on sale for 5 grand a ‘client’ the ACT Party are now saying they have a far better deal ‘for sale’,

    Is this the benefit of ‘competition’ or just the fact the Prime Minister has been well used by the ‘clients’ at previous 5 grander’s, ACT are selling Him to the ‘clients’ at $100 a time at an upcoming dinner,(pretty much ‘street prices’ for a ‘one on one’ with the PM),

    Meanwhile Oravida having already ‘paid’ handsomely for the Prostitution of the Office of the Prime Minister are wringing as much use out of Him as possible, featured next to an Oravida ad in a magazine a large picture of Slippery the Prime Minister is said by His office not to breach any rules of propriety because He is not quoted as endorsing the Oravida products being advertised next to it,

    What price will this Political prostitute be fetching next year???10 bucks for a quicky…

    • srylands 8.1
      15 April 2014 at 8:56 am

      You are making a big deal out of absolutely nothing. PMs have been involved in fundraising forever.

      NZ PM on menu at auction

      http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/sailing/10/17/tnz.auction.biz/

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 9:05 am

        PMs have been involved in fundraising forever.

        That doesn’t make it right. Specifically, a picture of our PM should not be part of a products promotion.

      • bad12 8.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 9:44 am

        SSLands, as usual you use what you see as a cunning lie to advance whatever the point is you are attempting to advance,

        Notice who Slippery the Prime Minister is Prostituting the Office of Prime Minister in aid of??? who would have thunk it, the Prime Minister is selling himself for 5 grand a time not in aid of any non-political ”good deed”, simply applying Political Prostitution to raise funds for the National Party, the ACT Party, and, the Maori Party,

        Compare that with the fundraising of an auctioned dinner with ex-Prime Minister Helen Clark???the beneficiary of the Clark dinner, Team NZ,

        If you cannot see the difference then your stupidity level is far greater than i have previously imagined…

      • Naki Man 8.1.3
        15 April 2014 at 7:16 pm

        These clowns are just bitter because no one would pay good money to talk to Clusterfuck Cunliffe

  9. bad12 9
    15 April 2014 at 8:17 am

    Shane Jones drops the hyperbole and makes sense again, describing on Morning report this morning the Maori Party as hypocrites for their 5 grand a time dinner for Auckland’s pakeha elite while they at the same time ‘dissed’ the Mana Party for being in negotiations with the Internet Party,

    Jones then went on to draw a thin line of split flax through the chances of the Maori parties Te Ururoa Flavell in the Waiariki electorate saying Annette Sykes will give Him what He has earned for 5 years spent as a lapdog of the National Government,(that don’t include another 3 years),

    Jones’es prognosis for the future of the Maori Party, the same as mine, Haere ra…

  10. captain hook 10
    15 April 2014 at 8:42 am

    so dpf is up a mountain. well whipty do for him. does he think he is Sir Ed or sumfing. why doesn’t he just look in a mirror and get some tools for looking into his black heart for the causes of his bile and pathology.

  11. Red Rosa 11
    15 April 2014 at 8:45 am

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/9941577/ACC-forms-ruled-to-be-unlawful

    Another appalling example of Judith Collins’ arrogance.

    But what can you expect from an admitted liar(re Oravita), who is also Minister of (choke) Justice?

    This needs vigorous followup. What are the chances of a criminal prosecution of the ACC executives involved? After all, we have the good old standover tactics, coercion, fraudulent threats etc?

  12. Chooky 12
    15 April 2014 at 8:56 am

    INTERNET FREEDOM is crucial to a DEMOCRACY…it is perhaps one of the most important issues of our time….especially on issues such as globalisation, monopoly capitalism, free debate

    ….just think what one can learn from the internet and how much authorities with a totalitarian bent would like to control, censor….. close down an open internet …or make it user pays ( to them) and so restrict full public access

    …the free open internet fills in many of the gaps and omissions of the mainstream media

    as just one example .. ..a free open internet provides people the ability to think critically about the pharmaceutical industry…and take charge of their own health decisions….(just think how much multi national multi billion dollar pharmaceutical companies would like to censor and close down open debate/ critiques and counter research , people sharing adverse effects / experiences etc which cut into their profits)

    …in some ways the issues Dotcom and the Internet Party are promoting are the most important issues for all New Zealanders and their democracy , freedom of thought …regardless of what party they belong to

    ….So go Mana for Internet Freedom and Democracy!

    • karol 12.1
      15 April 2014 at 1:04 pm

      I’m glad Mana is getting on board with what has long been Green Party Policies.

      So Mana and The Greens should be able to work well together.

      • Tracey 12.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 2:04 pm

        agree.

        what did you make of the nine to noon discussion of the way winz is dealing with mental health “clients”. i was a little perturbed than they are expected to get into preparedness to return to work immediately, unless granted an exemption. surely complete rest and freedom from work stresses has merit.

        i also note how quickly ryan changed 40% may remaon on a benefit for a long time to “most” will do do.

        • karol 12.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 2:08 pm

          I didn’t hear it. I don’t listen to RNZ much these days – browse their website and selct an audio or 2.

          Generally, I don’t support an approach that stresses work as a priority over mental health.

          • Tracey 12.1.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 2:27 pm

            it all was said by a woman with such a reasonable tone and yet…

            • freedom 12.1.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 3:53 pm

              Her unwillingness to admit total numbers of people on any of the benefits was a really big tell. Exception being the 400 people she mentioned who had found work on the new trial, work she was quick to qualify by saying it included [mainly?] part time hours.

              The references to the general Jobseeker benefit were particularly funny. Listening to her explain what the Jobseeker seminars are like and how hands on the staff are getting people into work was surreal. Is there a word for laughing out loud whilst internally cringing?

      • marty mars 12.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 4:23 pm

        Mana seem to be making sincere overtures to The Greens

        The comments come after Mana leaders said at the weekend they wanted to meet with like-minded parties including the Greens in order to try and flesh out a cooperative election strategy, including possible electorate deals.

        The comments were Metiria’s comment that

        Turei said she was always open to having such conversations with other parties but was yet to hear from Mana.

        “It’s highly unlikely though that we would do deals in an electorate, we don’t favour that approach. We haven’t done any in the past and we’re highly unlikely to do any in the future.”

        I don’t disagree with

        “Voters want to have a genuine choice about the person who will represent them as well as the party that will and they’re entitled to that choice and that’s why we’ve done our best to stand in every electorate where we can.”

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9943442/Greens-open-to-talks-with-Mana

        but i wonder if that will cut it in today’s political environment. Personally I’ve struggled with deals for the same reasons that Metiria says but times have changed and the way it is is the way it is even though we would wish it different. It is time for The Greens to get into power and enact some of their great policies, we can’t afford another 3 years of the gnats, we need The Greens in there. I don’t believe in any means being justifiable but working together with others is essential and it can be done with integrity and alignment with values imo.

        • karol 12.1.2.1
          15 April 2014 at 4:31 pm

          I’m against deals and coat-tail type arrangements. I have been very critical of the way the right games the system. Ultimately, it undermines democracy.

          I vote Green party, but understand that in my electorate voting for the Green candidate is a waste of a vote. I will vote for the most viable “left” electorate candidate. But the choice should be up to voters.

          I think like-minded parties can have on-going talks on polices, without needing a formal “deal” for elections.

          Generally, voters could be educated more about their choices. The media focuses too much on the horse race and “strategies” and deals. I think that tends to put off a lot of voters. It becomes more of a game between parties and pollies, and doesn’t directly address the needs and interests of the public.

          • marty mars 12.1.2.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 4:54 pm

            “But the choice should be up to voters.”

            but isn’t, in the example you give, that just being covert instead of overt? That those who understand the ramifications of tactical voting make their choice and those that don’t miss the choice or opportunity. So the choices are explained to people and they choose but really the choice explanation is guiding their choices anyway by showing the lie of the land from the choices made.

            sorry about that paragraph but hopefully you’ll get my meaning 🙂

  13. Lanthanide 13
    15 April 2014 at 9:06 am

    Yesterday John Key challenged Cunliffe to a live debate on TV One about housing affordability. It was reported on TV1 news at 6pm that Cunliffe accepted the challenge.

    This is really win-win for Cunliffe. He’s now accepted the challenge, so will get air-time opposite Key, months ahead of the election, showing that he is a contender for the job, in the same way that Key getting up next to Clark for the S59 deal only helped him out.

    If Key backs down on the challenge, Labour can trumpet from the ramparts that Key is a coward and all talk.

    The only downside is if Cunliffe gets smacked around in the debate, but truthfully I don’t think that’s likely.

    Is this perhaps the biggest strategic mis-step from smart-alec Key in this election campaign?

  14. BM 14
    15 April 2014 at 9:15 am

    Cunliffe doesn’t do off the cuff, Key does and he’s very very good at it.

    I’m get the feeling that this is Key going in for the kill.

    • Paul 14.1
      15 April 2014 at 9:21 am

      Disagree.
      Key can’t handle difficult interviews. Stephen Sackur on Hard Talk had him on the ropes.
      Hence Key’s aversion to interviews on RNZ ; instead he has cosy chats with Mike, Rawdon and Marcus in the morning.
      If ( and it’s a big if) a half decent and impartial interviewer is brought to the debate, Key is toast.

      • BM 14.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 9:36 am

        From what I’ve seen of Cunliffe unless the interview follows a set path he’s in trouble.
        If Key asks him a question he hasn’t got a set answer to, he’ll fall apart.

        • Paul 14.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 10:16 am

          And what happens when a good interviewer asks Key a difficult question on say child poverty?

          • The Al1en 14.1.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 10:28 am

            Like how much have you done personally to ease child poverty having $50 mil sitting in the bank of Hawaii?

            • Tracey 14.1.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 2:54 pm

              you need to know the answers before you ask the questions…

              cunliffe can debate. i have no doubt and he will be uneditted, thats a plus

              • The Al1en …
                15 April 2014 at 3:42 pm

                It’s a valid question you can research if you like, but as I’m not a politician in the house where knowing the answer to a question before you ask it is a pre requisite, or blogger with credibility resting on the outcome, I’ll just quietly wait in the hope of an adequate response.

          • logie97 14.1.1.1.2
            15 April 2014 at 2:47 pm

            When Key was asked on his return from China on the level of discussion and representation re climate change, his eyes took that all too familiar fixed stare position and he fudged that “yeah we talked about it at dinner…” Key does not handle direct, unrehearsed questions well at all.
            watch this … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrPgK3bf9_4

        • Ad 14.1.1.2
          15 April 2014 at 10:54 am

          Cunliffe is rescheduling the interview with Campbell Live.

      • Lanthanide 14.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 9:59 am

        They now have weekly interviews with both Key and Cunliffe on Morning Report.

      • ianmac 14.1.3
        15 April 2014 at 11:33 am

        Many people who have only a passing interest in politics tend to not know who David Cunliffe is. So it will be of value for David to appear on national TV. Exposure is important.

      • Tracey 14.1.4
        15 April 2014 at 2:15 pm

        remember when key stormed off in a huff.

        the one saving grace from such a debate is that if its chaired by hoskings he wont be able to help himseld and his career and might just be even handed as a result.

        • karol 14.1.4.1
          15 April 2014 at 2:20 pm

          David Parker said in the House a few minutes ago that Key had backed down from doing a specific TV debate with Cunliffe on housing.

          • Anne 14.1.4.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 2:40 pm

            http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/pm-won-t-debate-cunliffe-over-housing-5931001

            Now how about Cunliffe and co. do some serious mocking of the coward on TV, radio and the newspapers – and in parliament. I’m sick of Labour letting Key and co. get away with murder without responding in kind.

            If they think the general public are going to give them brownie points for behaving nicely then they are seriously deluded.

            • Tracey 14.1.4.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 2:52 pm

              pretty hard to do that when you just backed out of a tv appearance

              • karol …
                15 April 2014 at 2:55 pm

                Probably Key made that challenge to Cunliffe off the cuff in a moment of bravado, then backed down when Cunliffe accepted it and Key(or his advisors) realised what it would involve.

                • freedom …
                  15 April 2014 at 3:23 pm

                  Lanthanide said it was announced at the PM’s press briefing, so it was surely not an off the cuff idea ?

                  • Tracey …
                    15 April 2014 at 3:27 pm

                    key could just be feeling bullet proof with his second family currently touring… once off the podium he had to deal with the looks of horror in the corridor and the realisation he isnt actually a Windsor.

                  • Lanthanide …
                    15 April 2014 at 6:40 pm

                    Verily it was off the cuff. He was giving a smart-alec reply to a journalist’s question, grinning ear to ear and walked off the stage.

            • Puckish Rogue 14.1.4.1.1.2
              15 April 2014 at 3:08 pm

              Good, starve Cunliffe of oxygen until you have to deal with him then smoke in the debate

              • framu …
                15 April 2014 at 3:23 pm

                yet your saying key can slay him any time, any where, with no prep

                which is it?

                • Tracey …
                  15 April 2014 at 3:25 pm

                  its hard to support someone that just made him look so stupid. why do these folks keep sticking up for key, he just makes fools of them over and over.

              • Tracey …
                15 April 2014 at 3:24 pm

                wow, you need a panadol for that superfast flip flop sir??

              • freedom …
                15 April 2014 at 3:41 pm

                “so its a calculated decision by Key” Puckish rogue only one hour ago folks

                So …. what is the next step in this cunning plan we wonder ?

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  15 April 2014 at 4:06 pm

                  His next step is to continue to have an approval rating at least 5 times the size of Cunliffe

                  Which is going according to plan 🙂

                  • Tracey …
                    15 April 2014 at 4:15 pm

                    his party poll is the relevant one. .. hence hes baking cakes for the maori party fair.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      15 April 2014 at 4:17 pm

                      The more popular he is the better it is for National so expect to see Keys face on more womens magazines in the near future

                    • Tracey …
                      15 April 2014 at 4:21 pm

                      doesnt follow as such. look at his past popularity in polls compared to election day results.

                      all that aside, neither cunliffe nor key look good from this BUT cunliffe is moving to the position key had in 2008. low expectation in the debate and all the pressure on key to deliver up a storm.

                  • framu …
                    15 April 2014 at 4:40 pm

                    i see youve steered away from the issue of you contradicting yourself

    • Ad 14.2
      15 April 2014 at 10:59 am

      Key definitely has a positive story to tell with the Reserve Bank moves cooling the lower end of the housing market effectively.
      His HNZ recent reforms also seem to be going down pretty well as well among the NZ Housing NGOs.
      The cooperation with Auckland Council, and the acceleration of Hobsonville and Tamaki Transformation, are also positive for the government.

      Cunliffe however will be able to point to the Christchurch housing rebuild debacle, and the range of more structural responses that Labour has ready.
      Cunliffe will not be caught short on briefing.
      I would however further arm him with those tasty zingers that Peters is grand master of – because those are the lines that turn ito memes the day after.

      Housing is certainly preferable ground for the Left to argue on than the economy.

      • Molly 14.2.1
        15 April 2014 at 12:07 pm

        Key’s “co-operation” with Auckland Council, involved threatening them if they did not comply with the addition of SHA’s, which effectively undermined the more sustainable compact city outcomes that the Unitary Plan was trying to achieve.

        The debacle of the Hobsonville project, which was intended to provide 20%, or 500 affordable homes under Labour, but after National came in – only “achieved” 17 Gateway home purchases is not actually positive from my perspective. I’m guessing the Tamaki transformation will be similar.

        As for your last sentence – satire?

        • Ad 14.2.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 12:37 pm

          Anyone familiar with my commenting will realist that I don’t approve National’s direction – just stating what the overwhelming majority of MSM say it is. Unfortunately that matters this year.

          Yes Hobsonville is in small part a missed opportuity – but it is also a massive masterplanning, sustainability and commercial success. Started and imagined under Labour. Don’t believe me – go and have a drive through – or take the ferry up there.

          Re last sentence: Labour has pretty much run out of the time to turn the MSM to believing that National aren’t doing a good job at economic growth, and that economic growth their way is a good thing. Fight other fights.

          • Molly 14.2.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 1:22 pm

            My personal approach is never to let the memes pass uncommented, but yes, I can understand where you are coming from.

            To me, Hobsonville looks pretty and is pretty, but also pretty much missed the boat in terms of it’s intention of redevelopment of government owned land.

            The first few pages of Adding it all Up by the Salvation Army in 2012, puts the success of Hobsonville in perspective.

            Tamaki will be the same. And economic growth from where I (and many others) sit, just means our expenses have grown and nothing else!

      • Tracey 14.2.2
        15 April 2014 at 2:18 pm

        cunliffe needs to talk about rising interest rates, likely to rise further, so the only thing national has done is prevent young and lower income getting a house, while landlords pass on interest hikes through increasing the same folks rent. thats not housing affordability its preserving home ownership for the wealthy and investors.

    • framu 14.3
      15 April 2014 at 12:39 pm

      “Key does and he’s very very good at it.”

      yeah – nah.

      i dont know where you get that idea from – the same place as cunliffes faux bro accent perhaps?\

      jesus wept – you seriously think that key does well when hes off script?

      note – off script doesnt mean the appearance of making off the cuff remarks in an environment where you control or know the questions before hand

      • Puckish Rogue 14.3.1
        15 April 2014 at 3:09 pm

        Worked for Winston Churchill and it works for John Key

        • framu 14.3.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 3:18 pm

          no it doesnt

          on what do you base this weird opinion? – when ever key is put on the spot in an unscripted or unprepared environment he makes an ass of himself

          note – major point here – unscripted and unprepared, so dont bring up the campbell live thing because that was a planned prepared appearance

          could you provide some examples?

          • Puckish Rogue 14.3.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 3:59 pm

            I’m agreeing with you, when Keys prepared he makes it look like hes not prepared similar to Churchill saying his best come-backs were thought of ahead of time

            • framu 14.3.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 4:43 pm

              thats not even remotely what im saying or asking you

              you claimed key is good off the cuff

              i disagreed and asked you to further explain your opinion, specifically asking if there was anything you could bring to the discussion that showed how you formed this opinion

              and you came back with churchill

              • Tracey …
                15 April 2014 at 4:47 pm

                if pr can compare key to churchill, we must be able to compare his lying about ian fletcher, his use of the gcsb and his disdain for democracy with hitler.

    • Tracey 14.4
      15 April 2014 at 2:12 pm

      id say its the opposite. key needs time to prepare and be prepared.

      • framu 14.5.1
        15 April 2014 at 3:21 pm

        “Yeah, we’ll call it the first debate, I’m looking forward to it.”

        He says the Prime Minister does not start debating with the Leader of the Opposition prior to the debates.”

        thats almost pythonesque

  15. captain hook 15
    15 April 2014 at 9:42 am

    what a lot of shit bm. wait a moment. thats what a bm is. a load of crap.

  16. prosper 16
    15 April 2014 at 11:08 am

    Why did Cunnliffe cancel. Labour needs an effective leader. Shane Jones would be far more effective. Labour is no longer the opposition party. It is the Labour Greens and the greens don’t even have an elected representative. Come on the Unions get your party back up the polls. NZ needs a decent opposition and one that has the potential to govern NZ effectively.

    • weka 16.1
      15 April 2014 at 11:56 am

      The GP has 14 elected representatives. You may have noticed that change to our electoral system in the 1990s, whereby we moved to a more representative and fairer system.

      Jones may or may not be more effective for Labour than DC, but he would be a disaster for the left and any hope of NZ shifting away from neoliberalism, relieving poverty, addressing AGW/PO/GFC etc, ie doing the things we desperately need to do. Jones = BAU.

    • Draco T Bastard 16.2
      15 April 2014 at 12:22 pm

      Shane Jones should probably shift to National. Not a great endorsement for a Labour Party leader.

  18. joe90 18
    15 April 2014 at 11:22 am

    The Taranaki regional council assurance does seem rather convenient.

    http://www.trc.govt.nz/seismologists-find-nothing-to-fear/

    .

    State geologists in Ohio have for the first time linked earthquakes in a geologic formation deep under the Appalachians to gas drilling, leading the state to issue new permit conditions in certain areas that are among the nation’s strictest.

    A state investigation of five small tremors in the Youngstown area, in the Appalachian foothills, last month has found the high-pressure injection of sand and water that accompanies hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Utica Shale may have increased pressure on a small, unknown fault, said State Oil & Gas Chief Rick Simmers. He called the link “probable.”

    […]

    Under the new permit conditions, all new drilling sites in Ohio within 3 miles of a known fault or seismic activity of 2.0 magnitude or higher will be conditioned on the installation of sensitive seismic-monitoring equipment. Results will be directly available to regulators, Simmers said, so the state isn’t reliant on drilling operators providing the data voluntarily.

    If seismic activity of 1.0 magnitude or greater is felt, drilling will be paused for evaluation. If a link is found, the operation will be halted

    http://www.cnbc.com/id/101576489

  19. Chooky 19
    15 April 2014 at 11:49 am

    On ‘Martin Bradbury’s New Zealand’ ( cf Alistair Cooke’s America):

    Maori National Party vs Mana Socialist Party…and BIG Money connections

    Q: who is the biggest hypocrite?…

    A:.Maori National Party

    ‘Comparing Maori Party $5000 per ticket John Key Fundraiser at sexist Northern Club to MANA’s Internet Party alliance’ –

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/04/15/comparing-maori-party-5000-per-ticket-john-key-fundraiser-at-sexist-northern-club-to-manas-internet-party-alliance/

    • Tracey 19.1
      15 April 2014 at 2:24 pm

      In 1991 the Club voted to admit women and today has a thriving membership of men and women. Membership of the Northern Club attracted many leaders of the Auckland community, and the Club has played an active and sometimes pivotal role in the history of New Zealand’s largest city.

      In 2010, the Auckland Club[5] was absorbed by The Northern club, adding over $3,000,000 in assets to the club, and 250 members. Exclusively male in its membership for over 120 years, facilities for women were introduced only gradually. The first female member was admitted in 1990, shortly after the earliest woman after-dinner speaker, the Minister of Finance Ruth Richardson, who addressed the club in 1989.

      The Northern Club Building is significant as the oldest surviving gentlemen’s club in Auckland, and one of the city’s oldest hotels. It has strong links to early colonial institutions, such as the provincial government and British army, as well as prominent individuals in New Zealand history.

      It is representative of important aspects of colonial society, such as all-male associations and business networks. It demonstrates the implanting and nurturing of traditions introduced from Britain, particularly among the social elite. The building’s well-preserved interiors yield information about nineteenth- and twentieth-century life in New Zealand, from the use of decor to attitudes about gender and class. The building is particularly significant for its association with other early colonial structures in the area, such as the Albert Barracks Wall and former Government House.

  20. weka 20
    15 April 2014 at 12:03 pm

    Very interesting interview on RNZ, with Dr Michael Stevens on the historical importance of Bluff. Lots of good stuff on Kāi Tahu culture, southern Māori and a bit of myth busting too.

    Dr. Michael Stevens, history lecturer at Otago University and a proud “Bluffie”, has received a Marsden Fund Fast-Start grant to research the history of Bluff between the years 1800 and 2000. He believes his historical case study of the port will re-shape thinking about New Zealand’s economic development and race relations. Of Kai Tahu descent, Dr. Stevens is descended from some of Bluff’s oldest Maori and Pakeha families and grew up in the port town.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2592674/dr-michael-stevens-traces-the-history-of-bluff

    • marty mars 20.1
      15 April 2014 at 12:21 pm

      Thanks weka – will listen to that later on. The deep south has much to teach us all about how to get on.

    • Pete George 20.2
      16 April 2014 at 5:36 am

      Thanks, I missed that, it was good to listen to the interview. I’ve got multiple family connections with Bluff.

      Dr Stevens’ research will be interesting. He advises:

      I am in the process of developing a “blog” to help spread the word about this project and progressively disseminate some of its findings in advance of the book that will come out of it.

  21. marty mars 21
    15 April 2014 at 12:39 pm

    I really like Dame Anne Salmond and this article is awesome imo

    Echoing the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Sir David argues that in choosing between intensive farming and dirty and degraded waterways, the country faces “a classic economy versus the environment dilemma”.

    This kind of framing, which speaks as though the interests of the economy and the environment are at odds, is based on a logic that splits mind from matter, subject from object, and people from the world around them.

    The difficulty with this logic is that it has been rendered obsolete by the findings of contemporary science – brain science, quantum physics and the social and environmental sciences, for example.

    Economics, too, has moved on. To quote Herman Daly, a senior economist at the World Bank, “the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment”.

    As Daly points out, it is an oxymoron to separate people from the ecosystems that sustain us. This is certainly true in New Zealand, a country that derives so much of its wealth from the land, waterways and the sea.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11238114

    Yep we really need to see with fresh eyes and be open to other options than the duopoly often presented as ‘the only options’ – there are infinite options if we allow our minds to consider and be open.

    • Chooky 21.1
      15 April 2014 at 1:11 pm

      On polluted Seas and Land in Taranaki due to oil drilling and dairying …Film maker Eruera Ted Nia, a child of Parihaka and Taranaki, has produced documentaries.

      In 1986 Eruera formed Rangiatea Films and Produced/Directed the 48 minute documentary ‘Te Atiawa o Runga te Rangi’ that was commissioned for TVNZ. A portrait of the remaining kuia and koro from Taranaki, they discuss in 100% Taranaki mita, their families, education and way of life.

      On Tuesday 24 July 2013 Eruera traveled to Wellington thanks to NZ Film Archives and screened his films ‘Te Atiawa o Runga Te Rangi’ (1986) ‘ Huakina (1987) a look at the polluted seas and land in Taranaki due to oil drilling, ‘Nga Tai o Makiri’ (1987) a study of four Taranaki rivers, with three being almost destroyed due to dairy farming and oil drilling, ‘Te Ara Puoro o Aotearoa’ (1996) a portrait of long time colleague and fellow artist Hirini Melbourne to a largely Taranaki audience.

      http://falamedia.com/category/polynesian-screen-production/pasefika-filmmakers/

    • karol 21.2
      15 April 2014 at 1:11 pm

      Excellent.

    • Molly 21.3
      15 April 2014 at 1:25 pm

      The connectedness of all things….

      Just watched “How Wolves Change Rivers” narrated by George Monbiot. I had read of this effect, but 4 mins on Youtube provides a pretty effective summary.

      • Chooky 21.3.1
        15 April 2014 at 1:44 pm

        thanks for that ‘How Wolves Change Rivers’ …it is lovely

        • srylands 21.3.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 4:19 pm

          You need to keep dairying in context. NZ has about 2% of the world’s dairy cows. If we reduce dairying the slack will just get taken up elsewhere. Brazil has FOUR TIMES our dairy cow numbers with poorer environmental standards. Do you want to see more pollution in Brazil? No of course you don’t.

          Better have dairying in clean green New Zealand where we can keep an eye on it rather than send it off to Brazil and destroy more rainforest. PLUS Brazil is NEVER going to bring its agriculture sector into any future agreement on GHG reductions. Do you want to increase global greenhouse emissions? No of course you don’t.

          So I encourage you to think globally. Get out on your next vacation and go and check out dairying in Brazil. It will allow you to keep perspective.

          So unless you want to stuff our economy and stuff Brazil’s environment there is no alternative.

          Dairy in New Zealand is a win win for the economy and the environment.

          • marty mars 21.3.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 4:39 pm

            LOL that was awesome comedy slylands.

            • Populuxe1 21.3.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 4:50 pm

              Actually, in an own goal sort of way, he has a point.
              It’s the same with the big Greens push for solar – great for NZ, but ignores the strip mining of rare earths, inhuman working conditions, and coal-powered production in China which makes the pannels in the first place.

          • Draco T Bastard 21.3.1.1.2
            15 April 2014 at 6:37 pm

            You need to keep dairying in context. NZ has about 2% of the world’s dairy cows. If we reduce dairying the slack will just get taken up elsewhere. Brazil has FOUR TIMES our dairy cow numbers with poorer environmental standards. Do you want to see more pollution in Brazil? No of course you don’t.

            You know, there’s actually a better solution and it’s one that will probably work because, no matter what we do, chances are Brazil will end up having more cows than us anyway meaning that we will lose the income from all those dirty, filthy cows that are polluting our waterways. That better solution is tariffs specifically linked to environmental policy and enforcement. Basically, no country gets to export unless it meets minimum environmental standards. There, looking after the environment in a way that might actually work.

            Of course, I don’t think international trade works so I’ll take that with a grain of salt.

          • Murray Olsen 21.3.1.1.3
            16 April 2014 at 12:28 am

            Where should we go to check out dairying in Brazil, SSLands? How far is it from the rainforest that is being destroyed? Which states are involved? I’d love to hear your version. Who runs the largest grass fed dairy farm in Brazil?

    • Tracey 21.4
      15 April 2014 at 2:29 pm

      slylands says its the only way to grow and make everyone better off…

    • Tracey 21.5
      15 April 2014 at 3:57 pm

      egosystem versus ecosystem

  22. prosper 22
    15 April 2014 at 12:50 pm

    Is Cunnliffe working for National.His transport policy has just been announced and ridiculed by MSM. IF Shane Jones is unpalatable try Robinson or Parker please.

    [lprent: If you just want to be a fuckwit and just write trite trollisms, then just go elsewhere please.
    Next time I see you utter one under any handle, you will get a permanent ban for basic stupidity.

    To make sure you see this, I’m adding you to auto-moderation. ]

    • One Anonymous Bloke 22.1
      15 April 2014 at 1:08 pm

      Today, on Irrelevant Trivia, we will explore why the Labour Party doesn’t take advice from pseudonymous right wing wankers.

    • Tracey 22.2
      15 April 2014 at 2:31 pm

      common sense to get trucks out of the fast lane.. but seriously prosper did you read the policy or just the headline?

      • srylands 22.2.1
        15 April 2014 at 2:55 pm

        All slow moving vehicles are already required to keep left. So why not police the current rule?

        As for the changes, they are stupid. They simply introduce cross subsidies.

        Whatever.. both issues are so trivial why would they go there for an announcement? It is like someone was bored.

        • freedom 22.2.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 3:19 pm

          Trucks should not be in the fast lane in the first place.
          All heavy traffic is meant to stick to 90km/hr or under when on the open road.
          It is not just a rule it is actually a law.

          ” So why not police the current rule?”
          please srylands, you want the rules enforced, an honest answer from you on this topic would be very interesting.

          Why do the powers that be not actively police this consistently ignored law ?

      • Draco T Bastard 22.2.2
        15 April 2014 at 10:42 pm

        Can someone please show me where in the road code and in legislation that it says that our highways have a fast lane.

  23. prosper 23
    15 April 2014 at 1:13 pm

    A little bit presumptuous don’t you think? Is Cunnliffe taking advice from anybody?

  24. Draco T Bastard 24
    15 April 2014 at 1:32 pm

    NRT is wrong on this one:

    Seriously? With the country facing unemployment, inequality, a housing crisis and climate change, and Labour is relentlessly talking about regulatory subsidies for the caravan-rental industry.

    So much for “talking about the real issues”.

    When we’ve got thousands of people without houses to live in to the point that people are buying caravans to park up on friends and neighbours lawns to live in then those people will probably find the extra few hundred a year to be a serious drain on their finances.

    • just saying 24.1
      15 April 2014 at 2:11 pm

      I think NRT is dead right. If Labour was concerned about the thousands of people living in caravans it would say so. This is what they did say to explain the policy:

      “There’s nothing Kiwis like more than getting on the road and going on holiday. But on public holidays like Easter and Anzac Weekend fun can quickly turn to frustration when the family realises the rego for the caravan has expired or there’s a big truck hogging the fast lane,” he said.

      Last week it was Kauri trees.

      It’s just the same old crap from Labour. There is now a leader who is able to string a sentence together, but still the same refusal to stand up for anything substantial for fear of upsetting the well-to-do. It is beyond pathetic. Labour doesn’t desrve to continue to exist it has no reason to exist, National looks after the top 20 percent just fine.

      • Draco T Bastard 24.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 2:20 pm

        Ok, then, Labour are still barking up the wrong tree.

      • weka 24.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 2:27 pm

        More on the whole policy here http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238595

        There is some good stuff in there (including reversing the idiotic charges on motorhomes as if they were freight vehicles). But I tend to agree js. Labour should be fronting up with the big, important policies. That someone has spent time on that graphic so Cunliffee can tweet it makes me despair, as does the ignorance about the two kinds of people in NZ that have caravans – those that go on holidays, and those that don’t have anywhere else to live.

      • Pete George 24.1.3
        15 April 2014 at 3:27 pm

        Weekend fun can quickly turn to frustration when the family realises the rego for the caravan has expired or there’s a big truck hogging the fast lane,” he said.

        So they are going to ban trucks that have a speed limit of 90 kph from the fast lane so cars and caravans can go on holiday faster – with a speed limit of 90 kph.

        • framu 24.1.3.1
          15 April 2014 at 4:46 pm

          theres an “or” in their pete – nearly gave you a “well spotted” myself there – but the “or” in cunliffes statement changes the meaning from what you (and i) first read it to mean

          situation (A) can turn to frustration if (B) OR (C)

  25. prosper 25
    15 April 2014 at 1:48 pm

    One anonymous bloke. Sorry about the mistake my P.A.is away. Also where is the reply button? Anyway you understood.What’s wrong with Robertson or Parker?

  26. captain hook 26
    15 April 2014 at 1:58 pm

    all the tory kiss arses are out in full strength today.
    I guess they are taking their lead from guyon epsiner.
    he wont last long though.
    his arrogance and contempt for average kiwis is already showing through but I guess as long as he is there to help swing the election for national then he has a job.
    this country gets creepier and crepier by the day.

  27. prosper 27
    15 April 2014 at 2:03 pm

    Draco.That could be it. I am using a Kindle that runs on android.The auto correct drives me nuts. It keeps spelling your name as Drake.

    • weka 27.1
      15 April 2014 at 2:17 pm

      turn it off then.

      • freedom 27.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 3:02 pm

        Do you get that defensive yet quizzical look from people when you say that to them?
        Like you have just offered to brush their hair with a fetid dingo tail 🙂

        • Chooky 27.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 7:10 pm

          yes i know that look( fetid dingo tail)…so i never say it.( “turn it off”)…but i think to myself …”you dont know you are alive”…”you are already half an automated moron”….my daughters friend lost her cell phone in a pub for an hour and she just about had a nervous or mental breakdown..it was like she had lost a vital part of her Self…she was all at sea….she had lost her pilot and her pivot…WEIRD

    • McFlock 27.2
      15 April 2014 at 2:24 pm

      Now I’m imagining Game of Thrones with giant fire-breathing ducks…

  28. karol 28
    15 April 2014 at 2:15 pm

    It seems, according to exchanges in the House, that John Key has backed down on his challenge to have a specific debate with Cunliffe on TV on housing policy.

  29. Penny Bright 29
    15 April 2014 at 2:25 pm

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/ask-don-brash

    My question to Don Brash (not yet published).

    Do you think it was ‘incredible luck’, or it was your political connections that helped to ensure that ‘one law for all’ did not apply to yourself or John Banks as former fellow Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ ) Ltd, and you were never charged or prosecuted for signing Registered Prospectuses which contained misleading information?

    https://docs.google.com/file/d/1OfbKNxoyZgDs1gZtA1zJLTYAl7sqjYDZgKrIXdUU21S2WRG2D7quY_VyXOKA/edit?pli=1

    Penny Bright

  30. Puckish Rogue 30
    15 April 2014 at 3:13 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238656

    Does anyone really believe he had a sitting MP?

  31. Penny Bright 31
    15 April 2014 at 4:00 pm

    FYI folks – this is rather politically significant given that the Committee for Auckland is like a HERD of mammoth elephants in the room, that apparently hardly anyone dare mention??

    THE COMMITTEE FOR AUCKLAND HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED MY PRIVACY ACT REQUEST. THIS SHOULD NOW GET VERY INTERESTING ………..

    9 April 2014

    To whomever is responsible for handling PRIVACY ACT requests for the Committee for Auckland

    On 20 February 2014, I made a copy of the membership list of the Committee for Auckland, which included Auckland Council CEO, Stephen Town.

    The next day, the name of Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town, was removed from the Committee for Auckland membership list, which now still lists Auckland Council, and their website, but the name column is now blank:

    http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/membership/member-organisations

    Auckland Council www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

    Please provide all copies of information (including, but not limited to: emails, reports, letters, memos, diary notes, meeting minutes, text messages, telephone messages which contain my name, Penny Bright (Penelope Mary Bright), or make referral to me, in relation to the removal of Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town’s name from the Committee for Auckland membership list.

    Please be reminded that the Committee for Auckland is covered by the Privacy Act.

    I look forward to your prompt reply.

    Kind regards,

    Penny Bright

    Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 2009
    Attendee Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference 2010
    Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 2013

    Auckland Mayoral candidate 2013 (polling 4th with 11,723 vote, campaigning against corrupt corporate control of the Auckland region)

    11 April 2014

    ‘Admin’
    Committee for Auckland

    To whom it may concern

    Please be reminded that it it is ‘good business practice’ to acknowledge correspondence?

    I look forward to your prompt acknowledgement of this correspondence.

    Kind regards,

    Penny Bright

    from: Committee for Auckland Administration admin@committeeforauckland.co.nz
    to: Penny Bright
    date: Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 2:13 PM

    subject: RE: ‘Open Letter / Privacy Act request’
    – When and why was Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town removed from the Committee for Auckland membership list?

    Dear Penny,

    Thank you for your email. Receipt of your correspondence is acknowledged.

    Regards,

    Committee for Auckland
    T: + 64 9 300 1234 | E: admin@committeeforauckland.co.nz
    Level 21, SAP Tower, 151 Queen Street, Auckland
    PO Box 3403, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140
    http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz

  32. Puckish Rogue 32
    15 April 2014 at 4:02 pm

    For all the nut bars who think Cameron Slater had anything to do with the assult on Blomfield:

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/04/press-release-regarding-certain-rumours-circulating-around-recent-assault/

    • fender 32.1
      15 April 2014 at 4:37 pm

      Only a nut-bar would instantly conclude that a creep like Slater couldn’t possibly be involved.

  33. karol 33
    15 April 2014 at 4:20 pm

    Conservative Party’s 5 things:

    Craig’s speech theme – “five things we shouldn’t be afraid to say” – acted as a launching pad for his concerns about becoming a nanny state and his push to remove bureaucracy and legislation, such as the anti-smacking law.
    […]
    The five things were:

    1. Say no to drugs, special interest groups, and don’t give added significance to Maori spirituality.

    2. Say yes to business opportunities, freeing up land particularly.

    3. Take responsibility – make people work for the dole, make prisoners work.

    4. Let people decide – more consultation with the public.

    5. Don’t be afraid to be politically active.

    Isn’t #1 actually 3 things? That makes 7 things.

    And they are very spirashional – aiming for up to 10% of the vote. Reminds me of Don Brash’s ACT, aiming for 15% of the vote.

    • Tracey 33.1
      15 April 2014 at 4:39 pm

      will he be mauled like the internet party for masquerading fluff as policy?

      • karol 33.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 4:49 pm

        Well, the report was hidden in a local newspaper, so I don’t think it’s getting much traction – not worthy of a full post – just a passing reference on open mike to his punitive approach to the less well off – and as for lumping “drugs, special interest groups and Maori spirituality” into one “thing”… not a lot to recommend his 7 things and an empty aspiration.

    • marty mars 33.2
      15 April 2014 at 4:48 pm

      “1. Say no to drugs, special interest groups, and don’t give added significance to Maori spirituality.”

      Oh dear – the heathens are at the gate.

    • framu 33.3
      15 April 2014 at 4:49 pm

      “1. Say no to drugs, special interest groups, and don’t give added significance to Maori spirituality.”

      like most religious tub thumpers he hasnt spotted the massive slippery slope hes just made with that comment – in fact hes made two

    • Populuxe1 33.4
      15 April 2014 at 4:54 pm

      If we’re saying no to special interest groups, can we start with rich white fundementalist bigots?

  34. prosper 34
    15 April 2014 at 4:54 pm

    Given that perception is almost everything in politics Cunnliffe has made so many mistakes that even if he comes up with decent policy it won’t be heard by the MSM let alone the swing voter that will decide the outcome of the election. Please fix him up.I am not a Labour supporter nor am I happy with National but the Greens and their Australian leader scare the hell out of me.

    • karol 34.1
      15 April 2014 at 4:57 pm

      Goodness – just as well you aren’t living in the 1930s – the Savage government would be one long horror show for you.

    • framu 34.2
      15 April 2014 at 4:59 pm

      well for a start hes a co-leader

      maybe you would be less afraid if you took the time to get to know them and their policies?

      the greens are widely recognised across parliament for both their professional behaviour and the detail level of their policies

    • Tracey 34.3
      15 April 2014 at 5:03 pm

      what does that make you, an ACT voter??? the greens are also led by a maori woman, i bet that bunches up your undies bigtime.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 34.4
      15 April 2014 at 5:21 pm

      Prosper, you can’t even prosper as a concern tr*ll. If your PA ever realises what a failure you are, expect to be drinking a lot more sputum in your coffee.

  35. prosper 35
    15 April 2014 at 6:04 pm

    Just heard Cunliffe on Radio live. He sounded good, quite natural and a reasonable explanation as to why he failed to front on TV. Keep it up. Much better.

  37. Penny Bright 37
    15 April 2014 at 6:58 pm

    In my considered opinion, as an ‘anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’, Minister for Justice Judith Collins is CORRUPT and should be sacked FORTHWITH.

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/business/qoa/50HansQ_20140415_00000007/7-justice-minister%E2%80%94compliance-withcabinet-manual

    Justice, Minister—Compliance withCabinet Manual

    [Sitting date: 15 April 2014. Volume:698;Page:7. Text is subject to correction.]

    Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) to the Minister of Justice: Does she maintain that it is not in the public interest to answer all questions regarding Oravida?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Justice) :I have never made that statement.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: How can she give that answer, when it is crystal clear that her pre-arranged meeting with a senior Chinese customs official at the height of the botulism scare was not just dinner with close personal friends but a serious conflict of interest that she and the Prime Minister are trying to cover up?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I can make that statement because it is the truth.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: Well, if that is the case, why will she not give the name and position of the customs official, when she arranged to meet the customs official at the very time that her husband’s company was having huge issues getting its product through customs and had enlisted her willing intervention?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The member is quite wrong in his question. If he goes back and looks at previous questions he has asked of that nature, he will see that I have corrected him.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is it not the case that, when she was told that joining her and her close personal friends at the dinner was a senior customs official, it did not raise alarm bells, because meeting this customs official was the whole reason for the dinner in the first place?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The member is quite wrong. I have never said that there was any senior customs official, and he knows it.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why is the Minister now claiming that there is no connection with the senior customs official, and does she not understand that her arranged meeting with that official was a serious conflict of interest and a corrupt abuse of her Cabinet position?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: No. The member is quite wrong again. He continues to state in his question matters that are incorrect. I would say to that member that if he is worrying about corruption, I think he should consider a member of Parliament who asks questions in this House and written questions to help his girlfriend in her position with a major global company.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: Does the Minister not understand that throwing out those sorts of allegations will not save her when she was moonlighting for her husband’s company, that her DNA is all over this issue, and that if she answers questions fully, she would no longer get the Prime Minister’s defence and would be sacked for corruption?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The only member of this House who should be sacked for corruption is that member who has asked the question.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. [Interruption]

    Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is a point of order. It will be heard in silence.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: That Minister is not within the Standing Orders attempting to answer that question that way. She has been asked a serious question on a very serious matter—as serious as this House has ever seen—and she is seeking now to deflect it by attacking the questioner.

    Mr SPEAKER: In my opinion, the Minister addressed the question.

    Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

    Mr SPEAKER: Before I hear any more, I just want to clarify the member is not in any way questioning the decision I have just made.

    Grant Robertson: No, it is a different point of order. I am under the impression that in this House a member cannot accuse another member directly of being corrupt, and that is what the Minister just did.

    Mr SPEAKER: No, I have already ruled that the answer was addressing the question and I think on this occasion, in light of the tone of the question, it adequately addressed it.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

    Mr SPEAKER: Again, before I hear the member, is he raising a fresh point of order?

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: I am raising a fresh point of order. The Minister made an allegation for which she has no evidence whatsoever, and I want an apology.

    Mr SPEAKER: If the member is now saying that he took offence, well, on that basis, if the member, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, was offended by that answer, I ask the honourable Minister to stand and withdraw.

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well, I withdraw—is it? I withdraw. But I am happy—

    Mr SPEAKER: Order! It is not helpful to do that. The withdrawal does help the order of the House.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

    Mr SPEAKER: If the member is attempting to trifle with the Chair, I will take a very dim view of that.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: I am not trifling with the Chair, Mr Speaker. That Minister did not apologise as required under the Standing Orders—

    Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. [Interruption] The member will resume his seat. I did not ask the Minister to apologise; I asked her to withdraw the remark, and she did so.

    Penny Bright

  38. captain hook 38
    15 April 2014 at 7:14 pm

    just tried to read this through but all the tory twerps are basically illiterate and functionally imbecilic.
    I really cant understand what they are trying to say except that they are all shifty key arse kissers and desperate to please their masters. all in all a thundering herd of lobotomised warthogs.

  39. Not a PS Staffer 39
    15 April 2014 at 7:18 pm

    Ohariu is Labours.

    Peter Dunne is killed off politically by TV One 7oc show tonight.

    The Legal High industry’s key advocate and government liaison person is none other that his son James Dunne!

    http://www.chenpalmer.com/people/james-dunne/
    http://tvnz.co.nz/seven-sharp

    • karol 39.1
      15 April 2014 at 7:43 pm

      I can’t find anything that says James Dunne is “the Legal High Industry’s key advocate” or that shows Peter Dunne in a bad light? James Dunne deals with legal issues around such recreational drugs. Article that includes comments from James Dunne on legal highs.

      • Not a PS Staffer 39.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 7:49 pm

        The Seven Sharp site has a teaser on their site and on their Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/sevensharp?ref=stream&hc_location=stream

        ”
        Tonight … a Seven Sharp exclusive! … Revelations that a lawyer is acting on behalf of the legal high companies is none other than the son of Minister Peter Dunne.
        What do you think about this? ”

        ps correction on my post. “Labour’s”. I missed the apostrophe key in my excitement

        • karol 39.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 8:05 pm

          Hmmmm… I still need to see more information to show that this is a problem for Peter Dunne.

          • Draco T Bastard 39.1.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 8:51 pm

            Perception is everything. No one is going to believe that father and son don’t talk and that daddy doesn’t listen to his son.

            • Not a PS Staffer 39.1.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 10:24 pm

              +1 DTB

              Add to that Dunne’s very recent “economy of truth” about leaking some report and Dunne’s poor judgement in his behaviour towards some young journalist of the opposite gender.

              The Legal Highs story is being pumped by the RadioLive/TV3 stable, under the Duncan Garner brand, on a daily basis. The problems arising from Dunne’s legislative approach is very hot in call-back land. TV3 will be pissed that TV One has trumped them with this explosive story. Each will now try to out-do the other on milking this story. Alfa-laval don’t make milking machines as effective as a miffed media outlet!

              On top of that Ohariu is middle-class to the core. Even beggars in Ohariu are middle class! They will not like this narrative: Your local “independent” MP and serial government minister is failing to crack down on scummy legal-high peddlers. Co-incidentally that scummy industry is paying that Minister’s son a big wad of cash on a regular basis to negotiate with the Ministers civil servants….

              Dunne’s other problem is that he is sanctimonious. Very very sanctimonious. Many many people love love seeing sanctimonious people fall.

              • McFlock …
                15 April 2014 at 10:40 pm

                that’s an optimistic scenario, i reckon

                Even if the family relationship doubles as a backchannel, it’s not gonna go anywhere.
                Oravida has more leg-power.

  40. Draco T Bastard 40
    15 April 2014 at 10:03 pm

    Oh dear, it appears that the Beehive hasn’t been reading the cabinet manual.

    • srylands 40.1
      15 April 2014 at 10:49 pm

      No of course not. You will know much more about the Cabinet Manual.

      • Draco T Bastard 40.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 10:57 pm

        Cabinet Manual 2,89

        2.89 When accepting an invitation, a Minister should inform the organisation that it may not:

        use any photos taken of the Minister at the event; or
        publicise the event,
        in a way that could be perceived as an endorsement by the Minister of the organisation, or its products or services.

        Seems fairly clear to me that our PMs pic is being used as an endorsement and so is a few other ministers.

      • McFlock 40.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 10:58 pm

        So what do you think 2.89 actually says, SSpylands?

        Gonna try to tell us that ministers appearing in advertisements is cool?

      • the pigman 40.1.3
        15 April 2014 at 11:29 pm

        [distantly, you can hear the screams of a troll being burned to the ground]

        Gonna say sry now?

  41. Jrobin 41
    15 April 2014 at 10:20 pm

    The accusations that Judith Collins made about girlfriends and corruption, anyone have any idea what she was on about? Had a distinctly whaleoilish smell about it. What a dreadful old gossip she is. Parliament gets more like absurdist theatre and pantomime every day.

    • Not a PS Staffer 41.1
      15 April 2014 at 10:30 pm

      Jrobin, it was very specifically directed at her accuser, Winston. It has been reported elsewhere that Winston’s lady was a senior exec of a pharmaceuticals related business.

      Perhaps Collins is suggesting that Winston asked loaded questions in Parliament?

  42. Not a PS Staffer 42
    15 April 2014 at 10:34 pm

    James Dunne
    SENIOR ASSOCIATE – LEADER PARLIAMENT TEAM

    James has valuable inside knowledge of how Parliament works in New Zealand, and is New Zealand’s leading specialist in the regulation of new psychoactives under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013. He has an LLB and a BA (History) from Victoria University, and has worked at Chen Palmer since his admission to the bar in 2008. At Chen Palmer he specialises in policy and law reform, and has developed a wide range of expertise in a number of areas:

    Policy and law reform: James has advised on a range of law reforms including liquor law reform, psychoactives law reform, real estate agents law reform, taxation law reform, and child support law reform;
    Parliament: James advises on how Parliament works and on interacting with Parliamentary processes including the passage of legislation, Select Committees, financial reviews and issues of Parliamentary privilege; and
    Regulatory affairs: James advises on the interface with a range of regulators including the Overseas Investment Off

  43. redfred 43
    16 April 2014 at 7:08 am

    Bill English want us to live in cupboards

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238867

    Wanker!

    • weka 43.1
      16 April 2014 at 10:33 am

      hmmm, that’s tricky. Minimum house sizes set too high prevent people from building small, more energy efficient and cheaper houses for themselves. The problem with NACT setting policy is that it’s bound to be to the advantage of developers, not the community. Also smacks of squashing as many low paid workers into one block as possible. At the other end, people of means are building houses that are too big in terms of ecological footprinting. Lots of problems here, not too many easy solutions.

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