Open mike 16/04/2025

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 16th, 2025 - 65 comments
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65 comments on “Open mike 16/04/2025 ”

  1. Kay 1
    16 April 2025 at 8:29 am

    Simeon proving once and for all that, like his boss, he is completely incapable of saying anything that isn't a talking point.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018983451/health-minister-on-senior-doctors-strike

    Reply
    • AB 1.1
      16 April 2025 at 9:36 am

      Sounded to me like Simeon was using the number for what's known as the 'total cost of employment', not salary. So, it included employer Kiwisaver contributions, ACC levies and overtime worked because of staff shortages. And probably other things as well which I haven't thought of.

      And it also seemed that he did this deliberately to confuse the public into thinking this number is what they conventionally understand as a 'salary', i.e. a misleading comparison to erode public sympathy for doctors in the public health system.

      'Total cost of employment' is a very useful concept in other contexts – especially commercial ones. But not in this context which is about staff retention in the public sector versus what's on offer overseas or in the private sector. A useful comparison in this context might also have included mentioning what multiple of their base salary these doctors might make in the private sector. Is it 3x, 5x?

      Reply
      • Kay 1.1.1
        16 April 2025 at 9:51 am

        A useful comparison in this context might also have included mentioning what multiple of their base salary these doctors might make in the private sector. Is it 3x, 5x?

        Good point. Another thing not being considered is how the majority of hospital specialists also work in the private sector. I've always wondered if this has been a way to boost their salaries?

        Reply
      • Shanreagh 1.1.2
        16 April 2025 at 10:02 pm

        Other things in what we called 'total cost to company' would be health insurance, payments for subscriptions to often v expensive magazines, payments for membership of professional groups, additional leave often paid out in cash.

        The rate of FBT is around 50%-64%.

        As you say totally misleading in the context of salaries that are paid. Then there is the question what if a Dr wanted the above to be paid out in cash. Some Drs wanted the TTCs to be cashed up and added to the salaries but this was frowned on as it 'inflated', so-called, the Dr's salaries.

        I think most/many Drs in the public health system are used to their job payments being inflated or deflated according to the points a politician wanted to make.

        Reply
    • Macro 1.2
      16 April 2025 at 12:48 pm

      I listened to the Minister of Health this morning and it made me sick. 🤮

      Reply
  2. Patricia Bremner 2
    16 April 2025 at 8:40 am

    Simeon Brown is currently on $288 000* per year after 8* years in Parliament? Yet he is offering clinicians who have trained 13 to 17 years* 1 to 1.5 % and no respect, while some are still awaiting payment from last agreements. He is the reason people leave burnt out, going to Australia's better payments and respect. After 7 months of "bargaining" a Senior Dr could be paid less than a nearly qualified Dr. because of his bungling. He is the wrong type of person to be in charge of Health, as he is a strong advocate for the pro-life faction, and a person who wants to privatise health. This is another poor choice by PM Luxon who knows the price of most things and the value of none.

    Reply
    • Kay 2.1
      16 April 2025 at 8:45 am

      Interesting listening to some of the feedback coming in. I suspect the "public" up in arms about these greedy doctors are loyal party members (are the Young Nats still at it?) also incapable of an individual thought.

      Reply
    • tc 2.2
      16 April 2025 at 8:56 am

      Primary Health already got screwed over with an ACT election pledge not kept, they simply don't care who gets impacted as the loss of frontline services is there for all to see now.

      Not taking on the extra nurses is just the tip of the iceberg they have us headed towards.

      Reply
  3. Jimmy 3
    16 April 2025 at 10:13 am

    Could be an interesting election for mayor of Wellington now Andrew Little has thrown his hat in the ring.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/558306/andrew-little-to-run-for-wellington-mayoralty

    Reply
    • Belladonna 3.1
      16 April 2025 at 10:25 am

      If Tory Whanau stands (she's currently announced she will, but could change her mind) – the biggest risk would be that splitting the Left vote, lets a Right candidate through.

      Although the STV voting process would mitigate against this (I'd expect that someone voting first preference for Whanau, would vote second preference for Little – and vice versa)

      Reply
    • AB 3.2
      16 April 2025 at 10:35 am

      Plentiful opportunities for Curia/TPU to play a role in tilting the table.

      Reply
      • Belladonna 3.2.1
        16 April 2025 at 11:29 am

        Only if there is a credible Right candidate.
        I'm not really up with the local government play in Wellington – but AFAIK, there isn't a prominent Right candidate to promote.

        Unless you are meaning that they might find Little to be more palatable than Whanau, and get in behind to push him?

        Reply
        • alwyn 3.2.1.1
          16 April 2025 at 11:42 am

          Have a look at Ray Chung. Just don't bother looking on the RNZ or Stuff websites. They treat him like the invisible man, even though he appears to be the most popular.

          Reply
        • AB 3.2.1.2
          16 April 2025 at 12:47 pm

          Their polls still seem to have credibility with mainstream media sources – so they have some ability to seed narratives that will get aired publicly. Not sure how they will use that influence in Wellington – they probably aren't sure themselves at this stage.

          Reply
    • Tiger Mountain 3.3
      16 April 2025 at 10:51 am

      Tory has made a dick of herself too many times to be serious contender, so Little would the best of the field.

      Reply
      • weka 3.3.1
        16 April 2025 at 11:15 am

        have to admit, I think I would vote Little.

        Reply
      • feijoa 3.3.2
        16 April 2025 at 12:50 pm

        I am a bit sick of the criticism of Tory. What exactly has she done wrong? Did she personally break the pipes, which are now mostly fixed? A lot of young people supported and voted for her.

        The council here has some hard righties on it – Nicola Young is Nicola Willis' godmother. I think being Mayor has been like herding cats.

        Methinks it's the whitewashing of a young brown woman.

        Reply
        • Jimmy 3.3.2.1
          16 April 2025 at 2:21 pm

          I don't think she's blamed for the broken pipes (possibly on slowness of getting more fixed and for some of the roading issues), but more for her actions and comments. The drunken antics in public (once or twice?) and the non attendance of meetings not really a good look. And comments like selling her car to pay bills when her salary is well known publicly.

          As for the "whitewashing of a young brown woman" that seems like playing the racist card as an excuse. Rotorua has a mayor who also happens to be a young brown woman, and although it is a smaller city, seems to run it better and stay out of the news for wrong reasons.

          [You don’t learn and here you’re again (cf. https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-17-09-2024/#comment-2011313) making slurs about Tory Whanau’s finances and financial competence.

          And comments like selling her car to pay bills when her salary is well known publicly.

          The irony is that you claim not to be fixed on brown women (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11-12-2024/#comment-2019319), yet here you’re again attacking a brown woman, i.e., the same brown woman as previously.

          Your argument is pathetic that the [RW] Mayor of Rotorua stays “out of the news for wrong reasons” suggests that there has to be something wrong with the [LW] Mayor of Wellington. You ignore that much if not all of the dirt-digging comes from the Right. You ignore that they are very different cities. You ignore that an exception doesn’t prove the rule.

          I’ve reviewed your few comments since your last ban and it’s obvious that you don’t add anything of value to this site and lean strongly towards dirty political trolling. So, you won’t be missed; see you in 3 months – Incognito]

          Reply
  4. Stephen D 4
    16 April 2025 at 11:43 am

    With all this tariff palaver, is there any room for a government to introduce subsides on things like dairy and meat?

    Reply
    • Belladonna 4.1
      16 April 2025 at 12:44 pm

      Subsidies for whom?
      AFAICS, the agricultural sector don't need subsidies for dairy and meat. They're already making a profit.
      There might be a greater argument for subsidies on the sheep (especially coarse wool) industries. But, TBH, that's more about growing the market (against the stiff competition from artificial fibres), rather than price. The selling point has to be sustainability, not cost.

      Or do you mean subsidies for consumers? (i.e. making it cost-effective for international suppliers to sell in NZ, as opposed to overseas). If the new international tariff regime tanks price/market for our commodities – then the price will drop locally, in any case.

      Reply
      • weka 4.1.1
        16 April 2025 at 1:16 pm

        Industrial dairy is subsidised by being allowed to pollute land, water and atmosphere.

        Reply
        • Belladonna 4.1.1.1
          16 April 2025 at 1:24 pm

          I don't think that's the kind of subsidies the OP was referring to.

          Also, presumably, it will be attracting the same kind of 'subsidies' whichever country it's located in.

          Reply
          • weka 4.1.1.1.1
            16 April 2025 at 1:30 pm

            I'm guessing he meant subsidies for citizens buying produce.

            Reply
          • AB 4.1.1.1.2
            16 April 2025 at 3:59 pm

            Perhaps they could be more accurately described as externalising some of the costs of production onto future generations. However, that fact that they are allowed to do so by governments is a form of state support.

            Reply
  5. Drowsy M. Kram 5
    16 April 2025 at 11:59 am

    Simeon Brown has attacked doctors striking for more than a 1.5% pay rise as already “well remunerated,” even though the $353,500 average salary he cites includes overtime, and hospitals can’t recruit enough doctors, who are being offered more elsewhere. Health NZ is also sacking a fifth of its HR staff.

    Mountain Tui has an excellent article on recent developments, all part of our CoC govt’s agenda to make (formerly public) health services generate profit for private capital.

    Simeon Brown Gaslights Doctors [16 April 2025]

    Less red tape, more surgical tape – although surgical tape can turn blood red, over time.

    Reply
    • weka 5.1
      16 April 2025 at 1:32 pm

      same shit, different decade. We really need to build a better political culture than swapping back to this lot every few terms. What a collossal waste of everything.

      Reply
      • tc 5.1.1
        16 April 2025 at 4:45 pm

        This time it will likely be terminal as the resources are better paid with better living conditions elsewhere now.

        Ruthenasia was just an appetizer, key/English were too busy selling out our power network so reti/levy/brown are going to finish the job ruth n bill started in the 90's.

        Reply
  6. dpalenski 6
    16 April 2025 at 1:04 pm

    404 Media interviewed Purism's Todd Weaver on making a smartphone in the US. This is still behind non-US smartphones even at US$2000

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/7zbBs67J0pYAYwWuYEaYT5?si=4b053e45e1cd4d48

    Reply
    • weka 6.1
      16 April 2025 at 1:22 pm

      domestically made smart phones would make sense if there was right to repair and international cooperation on design (hardware and software)

      Reply
      • joe90 6.1.1
        16 April 2025 at 1:48 pm

        Pie in the sky…

        .

        These articles are good exercises but they are also total fantasy. There is no universe in which Apple snaps its fingers and begins making the iPhone in the United States overnight. It could theoretically begin assembling them here, but even that is a years-long process made infinitely harder by the fact that, in Trump’s ideal world, every company would be reshoring American manufacturing at the same time, leading to supply chain issues, factory building issues, and exacerbating the already lacking American talent pool for high-tech manufacturing. In the long term, we could and probably will see more tech manufacturing get reshored to the United States for strategic and national security reasons, but in the interim with massive tariffs, there will likely be unfathomable pain that is likely to last years, not weeks or months.

        https://www.404media.co/a-us-made-iphone-is-pure-fantasy/

        https://archive.li/WdbNF

        Reply
        • weka 6.1.1.1
          16 April 2025 at 4:22 pm

          I didn't say anything about Apple.

          Reply
          • joe90 6.1.1.1.1
            16 April 2025 at 7:16 pm

            And Apple was the exemplar of issues standing in the way of any near-term manufacturing of affordable mobile phones outside of a few places in Asia.

            //

            Reply
            • weka 6.1.1.1.1.1
              16 April 2025 at 8:28 pm

              Apple are the antithesis of right to repair.

              If the US goes full fascist, then the neoliberal model that Apple operate within is dead. What interests me more than analyses of the death throes, is whether the left can see a way to use this to transition to a post-consumer, post-carbon world. But no, afaict, most people want BAU, even though BAU is killing the planet. I get it, neoliberal slow hell is better than fascist fast hell, but those aren't the only choices.

              Reply
    • joe90 6.2
      16 April 2025 at 1:47 pm

      Transcript.

      Earlier this week I wrote an article called “A US-Made iPhone Is Pure Fantasy." The long and short of it is that Trump’s dream of moving all high tech manufacturing to the US is extremely difficult because global supply chains are so intricate, manufacturing expertise exists primarily in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and other countries, and the components that go into a phone are often made in other countries as well.

      […]

      404 Media: What you're doing is super interesting and I know you've been doing it for a while. I know that there's been tons of discussion over the last few weeks about bringing manufacturing back to the United States, the difficulty of doing that with different supply chains and components and things like that. And I know to the best of your ability, you've brought the Liberty Phone to the U.S. Can you tell me a little bit about what the Liberty Phone is and how long you've been doing it for?

      Todd Weaver: So the first thing is I started the company, Purism, in 2014. The original business plan is actually what we were able to execute on over the course of the last 10 years, and looking at doing a fair number of things different than is currently done.

      […]

      It's obviously far more complex, but to try and just level set a little bit about that, where you're at now is you say ‘Let's take what we have in China and try to replicate that in the U.S.’ Well, the challenge is that all high tech jobs were put into China. You have a brain transfer where the ODMs, the original design manufacturers, are in China. If you scoured the United States, you would be able to probably actually still count the number of skilled electronics engineers. If you go to Shenzhen, there's floor after floor after floor after floor of skilled EE's.

      https://www.404media.co/how-a-2-000-made-in-the-usa-liberty-phone-phone-is-manufactured/

      https://archive.li/EAj4x

      Reply
  7. joe90 7
    16 April 2025 at 2:16 pm

    How the most moral army in the world rolls.

    /

    The paramedics and rescue workers killed in an Israeli shooting in Gaza last month died mainly from gunshots to the head or chest, while others had shrapnel injuries or other wounds, according to autopsy reports obtained by The New York Times.

    Israeli troops had fired on ambulances and a fire truck sent by the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Civil Defense, according to witness accounts, video and audio of the March 23 attack.

    Israel acknowledged carrying out the attack, which killed 15 men: 14 rescue workers and a United Nations employee who drove by after the others were shot. Israeli soldiers buried most of the bodies in a mass grave, crushed the ambulances, fire truck and a U.N. vehicle, and buried those as well.

    https://archive.li/x0DRP (nyt)

    Reply
  8. alwyn 8
    16 April 2025 at 3:18 pm

    I see TPM are advocating that Maori should get Superannuation between 7 and 10 years ahead of anyone else. The basis of the claim seems to be that they die at an earlier age.

    Is there anyone here who supports this idea? If there is can they say whether they approve of men getting their Super four years before women? Woman live for four more years than men do, after all.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/personal-finance/labour-tight-lipped-as-te-pati-maori-wants-maori-to-receive-nz-super-seven-to-10-years-before-everyone-else/D334KRBMLVFSLCOZCC7W3BOKXI/

    https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/life-expectancy/

    Reply
    • AB 8.1
      16 April 2025 at 4:16 pm

      No – because any departure from the practice of universality in social services creates injustices at the margins, bickering, grievance, opportunities for the manipulative bad faith of propagandists, cover for niggardly and ideologically motivated governments to continually shift the goalposts, and wasteful, inefficient administrative costs.

      Therefore, every adult should receive a living wage as a minimum standard at all stages of their life. This can be done through one means or another such as wages, business ownership, UBI's, benefits, income supplements, job guarantees etc. Any mixture of these is fine if it does the job. As it is the opposite of austerity, it would be terrific for economic growth – though would still leave the problem of making that growth carbon net-zero (or net-negative).

      Reply
    • SPC 8.2
      16 April 2025 at 4:57 pm

      My first reaction is to say – get a more accurate statistic and then debate it.

      It is about 7 years on average over the life time.

      Given that this is in part based on more Maori dying under age 65, this is not the same as saying those Maori that reach age 65, then live 7 years less.

      Universality and exceptions based on need.

      Women are less likely to have home ownership at age 65 and also have less savings.

      They will get more support as to access to income related social housing than men.

      More Maori will have health problems under the age of 65 and struggle to remain in work. This is a consideration, if we were to raise the age of super to age 70.

      As per need

      There is a need for social housing in (home) iwi areas for older Maori in their retirement.

      Also for those unable to work (or find work) over age 60, they should receive a super rate benefit.

      As should those with disability under age 60 and be able to receive support even with a working partner.

      As should all non working partners after losing a job (to allow re-training/internship and sustain ability to meet payment obligations).

      And it is long past time for sickness to be covered as ACC does accidents.

      Reply
    • Drowsy M. Kram 8.3
      16 April 2025 at 4:58 pm

      Never right, yes I know
      Get wisdom, knowledge and understanding
      These three, were given free by the maker
      Go to school, learn the rules, don't be no faker
      It's not wise for you to be a foot stool

      Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think
      Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink
      The years go by, as quickly as you wink
      Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enjoy_Yourself_(It%27s_Later_than_You_Think)

      Is there anyone here who supports this idea?

      Would TPM die in a ditch over this? Sounds like a Fair[er] Go to me, unless there are countervailing demographic stats. Maybe start small – how much could one year hurt?

      Maxine Ronald: Why do we have to keep explaining the ethnicity gap?
      It’s so frustrating and it’s tiring. There’s an actual physical tiredness of having to deal with it, especially when it’s been landed on us as a surprise, as a headline out of the blue, which creates the conditions for racist reactions and interpretations.

      Reply
    • weka 8.4
      16 April 2025 at 5:22 pm

      Is there anyone here who supports this idea? If there is can they say whether they approve of men getting their Super four years before women? Woman live for four more years than men do, after all.

      you know how insurance companies assess car insurance based on sex and age, right?

      Reply
    • Incognito 8.5
      16 April 2025 at 5:31 pm

      Why don’t you give us your own views before you ask for ours? Then we can have an honest debate about it.

      Reply
      • SPC 8.5.1
        16 April 2025 at 5:45 pm

        My dear Watson, this is not really a mystery.

        The leading question, does anyone?

        And if there is, would they expect men to receive super 4 years before women.

        This to give women who retire now, less well off than men on average, reason to wonder if support for the TPM claim might have consequences for them.

        He does not do this to praise the TPM, but to rally opposition to it and embarrass any potential coalition partners – such as the Labour Party.

        In this, our NZH acolyte has indicated an ability to absorb and parrot right wing media messaging.

        It is alive and it works for the three hydra headed body.

        Of one mind, as to no favour to Maori and to undermine the Waitangi Tribunal. To foment a one nation movement based around opposition to DEI and affirmative action. Because nothing says conservative reaction, like adoration for the assimilation era's cultural hegemony.

        Reply
      • alwyn 8.6.1
        17 April 2025 at 11:10 am

        What does how much anybody may, or may not, have earned during their lifetime got to do with National Superannuation?

        The Superannuation scheme we have is intended to ensure that no elderly person shall have to live in penury during their old age. That is all. It isn't based on whether you paid taxes or not during your life. It isn't dependent on what race, or sex, you are. It is meant to see that no-one lives a life of utter despair when they are old.

        Hence the amount you earn during your life is irrelevant. The question as to whether you paid taxes at all is irrelevant. The fact that some people end up getting more than others is irrelevant. The fact that if someone dies at 64 means they don't get it at all is irrelevant. If you are dead you don't need, or get, it.

        Hence I haven't considered the question you ask because it is totally irrelevant to the subject of the New Zealand Superannuation schemes purpose.

        Reply
        • Muttonbird 8.6.1.1
          17 April 2025 at 3:53 pm

          It's the equating of two different groups of people for political point scoring which is the issue.

          Maori die younger because of poor health outcomes likely related to life experience of which income is probably a large part.

          Same can't be said for men as a group.

          Waititi's point was about the fairness of benefits from the system to which Maori have contributed.

          Reply
          • alwyn 8.6.1.1.1
            17 April 2025 at 8:16 pm

            The Superannuation is available to anyone who is living in New Zealand. there is really only 2 requirements. You have to have lived here for 10 years with 5 of them after the age of 50. You must be a citizen, permanent resident or have a residence class visa.

            There is no obligation to "have contributed" as you put it. It is meant to be something to provide you with something to live on in your old age. It doesn't matter if you have never worked or paid tax in your life.

            By the way, if the "two groups of people" as you put it are men and women then it is quite fair to claim that women live, on average, about 4 years longer Have a look at the link I provided. They do. It doesn't mean that they get the super for, on average, about 4 years more unfairly. They need it because they live for longer and on average have living costs for 4 years longer.

            Reply

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