Open mike 16/04/2021

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 16th, 2021 - 77 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

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 …

77 comments on “Open mike 16/04/2021 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. KSaysHi 1
    16 April 2021 at 6:26 am

    Amazon in NZ

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300278243/amazon-may-be-on-the-way-to-new-zealand-as-government-signs-subsidy-deal

    Well I'm not excited. Lots of downside for NZ businesses who have surely been put through enough, and let's keep in mind the horrendous track record Amazon have with shitty employee treatment.

    Why the fuck are we subsidising Amazon of all creatures? Outraged we can afford this, but not proper maternity care.

    And THEN we have this rarely discussed nugget, hard to find on Google which is probably Amazon's doing https://investmentresearchdynamics.com/?s=amazon

    Essentially some years back (2014) Kranzler alleged that Amazon had been using an accounting trick similar to what Enron used hide massive losses. Yes, according to what I've read from Kranzler in the past Amazon made a loss with every sale – the mind boggles at how that could possibly happen. I am aware of how this sounds especially given the size of Amazon, but note that Amazon has yet to lob a C&D order at Kranzler, suggesting there is substance behind his comments.

    While I'm certain most readers will find the statements made by Kranzler laughable since he predicted a crash of AMZN stock, and he also trashes Tesla (fair enough…dog with fleas) , in the end I think a desperate US government or an equally desperate State will find reason to heavily audit the Amazon beast, and the game will finally end.

    What would be really impressive is if NZ conducted it’s own investigation of Amazon before plunging ahead with a dump of taxpayer money into this company.

    • RosieLee 1.1
      16 April 2021 at 7:19 am

      Absolutely 100%. What are they thinking? If indeed they are thinking at all.

    • tc 1.2
      16 April 2021 at 8:06 am

      Disappointed but not surprised. Labour in name only given all amazon's transgressions.

    • Sabine 1.3
      16 April 2021 at 8:10 am

      But Stuart says that Jeff is always welcome.

      Well Jeff is rich enough to buy NZ……welcome Jeff.

      And for the future drivers of the amazon trucks, don't forget your empty plastic bottle to piss in cause we don't do public loos anywhere.

      Surely our Unions and Mr. Little will be on the ball to make sure that the subsidies will be spend wisely, right?

    • Incognito 1.4
      16 April 2021 at 9:08 am

      The company’s film arm is already in the country, filming a TV series based on The Lord of the Rings.

      But, following an agreement with the government to secure the higher-than-usual subsidies attached to the film, Amazon agreed to send a team of senior staff to New Zealand to look for “opportunities”.

      At this stage, it is an MOU.

    • Foreign Waka 1.5
      16 April 2021 at 9:23 am

      Now this should be a wake up call if there ever was one. Labor will not be my choice, full stop. Predatory companies like Amazon should not be allowed to operate here. We have already enough poverty, we certainly do not need more. Any to pay taxpayer money for this is the highest of insult. How about repairing the pipes that carry the sh…, or build affordable houses, maybe more funding for maternity care? I think I am in a parallel universe.

      • Sabine 1.5.1
        16 April 2021 at 9:26 am

        sadly no. This is our reality, where a so called progressive party can't wait to wine and dine some super rich company that causes very little other then hardship to anyone working there (government subsidies for the workers to make ends meet cause pay is to little) and the businesses that it kills.

        Never mind we don't need houses, we don't need upgraded maternity wards, we don't need ICU beds in Startship hospital either.

        We crowd fund for Starship hospital ICU beds. ….Cause poverty for all and riches for a few is NZ. It so is.

        • Foreign Waka 1.5.1.1
          16 April 2021 at 10:52 am

          I wonder how many will move to Australia once the border opens.

        • gsays 1.5.1.2
          16 April 2021 at 1:30 pm

          I hope yr sitting down…

          I heard this a couple of days ago and as far as I am aware it hasn't garnered any response round these parts.

          rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018791406/three-new-buildings-in-multimillion-dollar-parliament-upgrade

          My take homes were: because maybe earthquake, because some people don't like the idea of foreign landlords… we can spend $200 million in two years time.

          Nevermind children actually living with black mould, or in motels or garages.

          As I have said before, it aint a lack of money it is a lack of will

      • Bearded Git 1.5.2
        16 April 2021 at 11:48 am

        …or even “Labour” FWaka….off you go to Oz if that is what you want….who wouldn’t want a PM like Scomo? (sarc).

        • greywarshark 1.5.2.1
          16 April 2021 at 1:16 pm

          Or this from Australia. Horrific.

          https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2018791413/mouse-plague-in-nsw
          …“A few years ago I had that experience where they are through your bedroom, through your bed and that is just so awful, and I’ve got this awful job now of following the story.

          “I was filming in a supermarket which has so far lost $30,000 in produce from throwing that out and I was meeting to film them,…

          “What they are worried about is if they keep breeding, by the time you come to spring, which is when you really see them start multiplying their numbers, we’re worried about next year when we’re going to have an even bigger base to start from in terms of mouse population.”

          In the preceding drought many predators such as owls and birds of prey died, she says, and people are now taking matters into their own hands out of desperation.
          “People are at their wits end spending thousands of dollars on baits, poisons and traps whatever they can do to try and kill these mice, like I mentioned people are catching 1000 every single night.”
          But it’s having no impact and the mice are getting bigger and stronger, she says.
          “Mice are eating chicken feet, mice are eating each other we’ve now got rats coming as well.”

          There is no support for people in regional Australia being hit hard by this plague, Thackery says.
          “This is costing people so much money, they are coming back from the drought, they had grain in silos and hay stored and people are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of hay and in a lot of cases grain as well.”

        • Foreign Waka 1.5.2.2
          16 April 2021 at 4:17 pm

          BG – Well, I know a couple of people actually considering this. There was a business article about this very issue a week or so ago. We should be concerned if skilled people leave NZ. I don't think the country can afford to loose staff in those professions where we have a dire need.

          Your reaction is actually exactly that close mindedness that is very unhelpfull and political correctness prevents issues to be voiced.

          BTW. I will vote next time for David Seymour, as shocking as it is as I have always been red/green. This uncoordinated waffling on that is happening right now is at best amateur and no matter where you look only self serving blah blah can be heard.

          You might not like this, but though. I am not the only one saying this. Behind closed doors of cause because one is not allowed to say anything, it could offend someone, anyone. 🙄

          • Bearded Git 1.5.2.2.1
            18 April 2021 at 9:43 am

            I would take a close look at the ACT manifesto before voting for Seymour if I were you. For instance their pro-gun stance, among many other things.

            Under ACT we would have had 6000 deaths from Covid, because all that matters is business and development.

            I attended a meeting where Seymour spoke at the last election where he basically advocated no controls on development at all, thus throwing out District Plan rules agreed to by the community and experts over many years.

            When I asked him a question, saying that the effect of his policy would be to allow carte blanch development all over the precious Queenstown Lakes District landscapes with commensurate adverse effects, he called me a busybody and rudely dismissed the question, showing his blinkered attitude and non-tv face.

    • Muttonbird 1.6
      16 April 2021 at 10:10 am

      As far as I can tell this is not Amazon setting up low paying, union busting distribution lines in NZ.

      This is about the New Zealand screen industry which is respected around the world. We have significant competitive advantages:

      • Unique and spectacular locations
      • Those locations are concentrated and easy to access from main centres
      • Experienced, hard-working crews
      • Low levels of worker representation (Hobbit law, no syndication, and weak guild)
      • English is the main language
      • Favourable exchange rate
      • Reasonably competitive subsidies (Producers want more, of course)

      But we are also up against it:

      • Limited studio infrastructure (although this is increasing)
      • Poor time zone for most international producers
      • We're a long way from anywhere
      • Australia is also a premier film destination
      • Significant crew and accommodation constraints
      • Only reasonably competitive subsidies

      The argument for international productions and screen partnerships is a no brainer as far as I'm concerned. The economic benefits far outweigh the costs which are set globally, not locally. As the PM says, "you either have a screen industry, or you don't".

      If Amazon Prime want to come here following our Covid response and because of our safe place reputation, and look to add to screen infrastructure and formalise screen partnerships then this can only be a good thing for New Zealand.

      It all adds to our premier destination status. Also, and significantly, film production is a very environmentally friendly export industry. Locally anyway.

      The wider issue which most of us here are concerned about is Amazon's retail business model which is rightly viewed as exploitative of workers. I hate it too but the right thing to do is keep the pressure on where it is required.

      Who knows, they might learn something once they get here…

      • greywarshark 1.6.1
        16 April 2021 at 1:10 pm

        Nice to read some apparent facts Muttonbird instead of hot diatribe. I have yet to read them but your comment looks more promising than those earlier ones who seem to have eaten hot chilis.

    • Siobhan 1.7
      16 April 2021 at 11:09 am

      Putting aside Labours free-market neo liberal agenda for the moment…its probably time we start looking into lobbyists in NZ a heck of alot more..

      The article below makes an interesting read…though I note alot of the factual information is via Australian public records…..

      "Neither Raeburn or Jones will say who they work for. Everyone's entitled to a bit of privacy. But neither would object to a law requiring disclosure in New Zealand — their firms operate just fine in Australia where there is a mandatory register of lobbyists and their clients.

      (During the previous government's second term, the Green Party attempted to establish a register. The bill didn't make it past the Select Committee which recommended it not be passed, and the submissions show the government relations industry was nearly uniformly opposed.)"

      Interesting that neither lobbyists "neither would object to a law requiring disclosure in New Zealand"..yet it never made it past the select committee…hilarious…you have to wonder who exactly is protecting whos interests…

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/selling-influence-meet-the-lobbyists-shaping-new-zealand-politics-for-a-fee/PSIA6Q2OKYTQ5ZCTPCDQVBCA2U/

  2. Sanctuary 2
    16 April 2021 at 7:17 am

    So what are the consequences of banning live cattle exports? Free mince for all? Paddocks of neglected cows being shot live on the 6pm news by bitter cockies blaming Jacinda whilst pumping round after round into a horrific mass of bellowing Friesans?

    • RosieLee 2.1
      16 April 2021 at 7:22 am

      It's two years away. Plenty of time to downsize herd numbers over 2 breeding seasons. Maybe there'll be a corresponding decrease in the devastation mass dairying is wreaking on our land use. Oh – and maybe we can stop importing the evil palm kernel shit right away.

    • AB 2.2
      16 April 2021 at 9:34 am

      Free mince would never happen, but the cow shooting has potential as a game show. It just needs to be thought through – call it "Pretty Communist" and have Mike Hosking as compere – there's money to be made somewhere in there.

      • Gabby 2.2.1
        16 April 2021 at 9:56 am

        Trigger happy American dentists like the cut of your jib.

        • AB 2.2.1.1
          16 April 2021 at 1:13 pm

          Ah yes – those gun-toting dentists on the steps of that elegant but somewhat faded 19th century mansion in the Central West End of St Louis, MO. Not far it looked like, from the bust of TS Eliot on the corner of Euclid and McPherson Avenues – an incongruity so total, it can be put down only to "the distress of nations and perplexity."

    • Sabine 3.1
      16 April 2021 at 8:12 am

      Violence is everywhere now. To many people not housed properly, not eating properly, not having anything to do, kids growing up in this shit and nary a social worker, police man/women/other in sight and hey, its all good. We just don't have the money to care for people, we only have money for nice to have projects taht serve no one really, Americas cup, Spas for the Rotorua Lakefront for the future tourism wave, subsidies for the richest company on the planet (or else they won't hire min wage slaves) and so on and so forth.

      Get used to it.

  4. Incognito 4
    16 April 2021 at 7:47 am

    Is Bishop still gunning for Mallard?

    • Jimmy 4.1
      16 April 2021 at 7:57 am

      On Newtalk ZB this morning Hosking was actually praising Mallard (no that's not a typo!) for allowing Bishop 4 extra questions. He was however bagging Dr Liz Craig for the way she ran the meeting.

      • Incognito 4.1.1
        16 April 2021 at 8:15 am

        Good on Mike Hosking; it was shambolic!

        Perhaps Mr Hosking will be praising Peter Hughes soon too on another shambles.

        • Enough is Enough 4.1.1.1
          16 April 2021 at 12:02 pm

          It was an absolute disgrace. I have no idea what Liz Craig was hoping to achieve with the way she ran that committee.

          Well done to Mallard

          • Muttonbird 4.1.1.1.1
            16 April 2021 at 12:08 pm

            Liz Craig said what she was hoping to achieve. To provide information from health officials about our Covid-9 response measure to a wide range of MPs and therefore who they represent.

            It is typical that the National Party and their slavish followers believe select committees are all about them.

            Perhaps if the National Party, and its spokesperson for storms-in-a-teacup, Chris Bishop, wanted more time for questions they and he should have done better at the last election.

            Just saying.

            • Jimmy 4.1.1.1.1.1
              16 April 2021 at 1:37 pm

              You need to take off your red tinted glasses and your "I love Labour no matter what they fuck up" T-shirt and cap every now and then, and see what is really happening. Yes, Chris Bishop is like a small annoying yappy dog that barks at everything, but I think even many left leaning people on this site would think that the time wasting by Liz Craig in that meeting was over the top and deserves to be called out. Obviously Mallard thought so.

    • Sabine 4.2
      16 April 2021 at 8:12 am

      does it matter ?

  5. Anker 5
    16 April 2021 at 8:03 am
    • Hosting is nothing if not consistent
  6. Stuart Munro 6
    16 April 2021 at 10:16 am

    Well, I'm going to buck the trend – film is a good industry for NZ – producing value from our environment and local talent without the downsides of dairy.

    Amazon is indeed something to be cautious of, however, and local film interests like PJ present threats not only their labour force, but also to the reputation and long term health of the industry.

    Nash's outcome won't be immediately measurable, and the crude GDP that will be all that Treasury looks at won't even get close to the real story. Let's just hope we don't see a repeat of the Hobbit debacle – explored at length here: The Hobbit: A Long-Expected Autopsy (Part 1/2) – YouTube at 39 minutes only if you're interested, and the sequels The Hobbit: Battle of Five Studios (Part 2/2) – YouTube and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Warners (Part 3/2) – YouTube each of similar length.

  7. WeTheBleeple 7
    16 April 2021 at 10:43 am

    This is a company of dirtbag tax dodgers of the first order. They'll fuck over NZ businesses in their thousands and the general public will have to pay. The rich get richer dontchaknow, and all your fantasy PR will not make them humane.

    But film, cos celebrities are so, you know, wholesome.

    'Premier destination status' – for suckups? For smokescreen greens? For a bolthole for pedo rich pricks?

    Real artists turn in their graves watching this fucking circus of monkeys pumping out tedious mediocre content to a public who, more and more, know no better.

  8. Chris 8
    16 April 2021 at 1:15 pm

    An interesting read. Add welfare and ACC to his list. Ardern's refusal to do little to nothing in these areas – in the face of compelling evidence of the dire need to – is staggering:

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2021/04/why-havent-they-how-to-explain-this.html

  9. Byd0nz 9
    16 April 2021 at 2:42 pm

    Job done?. America the Great (grate) says they've, won their war of payback for the twin towers demolition and are pulling out of Afghanistan telling Pakistan, Turkey, China and Russia it's their problem now to contain the Taliban.

    Leaving Afghanistan a ruined land, a land that once produced Academics in every field, both men and woman when it was a socialist state (PDPA), that was undermined by the CIA's covert actions with suitcases of money for Bin Laden and the Mujahideen to destroy the Government, of course after the Soviets pulled out, the Yanks done the dirty on Bin Laden and paid the price blaming him for the demolition of the Twin Towers and other buildings.

    So, what will the Grate America do now with all their weapons of shit and personal? Yes that's right set up new and existing bases in our part of the world to counter their paranoia of China. They've fucked up most parts of the world, so now it's our turn to reap their shit.

    For all you right-wing- lefties out there screaming for links, go research yourself, though your bias wont allow you to do a proper job. Cheers.

  10. Ad 10
    16 April 2021 at 3:17 pm

    This is CNN calling out both Australia and New Zealand for squandering their Covid advantage with really weak vaccine rollouts.

    https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/15/asia/new-zealand-australia-covid-vaccine-intl-dst-hnk/index.html

    Not even Ardern and Hipkins will be able to rotate their way out of this kind of coverage.

    • Muttonbird 10.1
      16 April 2021 at 3:28 pm

      Even Fauci recognises it's the rest of the world which has to catch up to NZ and AUS, not the other way around.

      New Zealand and Australia were Covid success stories. Why are they behind on vaccine rollouts?

      Still are.

      I notice they quote the opposition spokesperson for blind panic, Chris Bishop.

    • McFlock 10.2
      16 April 2021 at 3:35 pm

      meh.

      We only need the vaccine if we let folk in from the plague-lands.

      The folks who want us to do that as soon as possible likely largely overlap with the folks who wanted us to do that when vaccines didn't exist.

      • Sabine 10.2.1
        16 April 2021 at 7:06 pm

        We are letting in people from plague lands and then we hope to the gods that it don't creep out from the plague hotels into the larger community.

        • McFlock 10.2.1.1
          16 April 2021 at 8:10 pm

          no, not plague lands, really. Just one plague-ish land, and if it doesn't work out then the bubble will shrink again.