Open mike 16/11/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 16th, 2023 - 19 comments
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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 …

19 comments on “Open mike 16/11/2023 ”

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  1. gsays 1
    16 November 2023 at 6:32 am

    And the rot continues, it's all in the headline really.

    https://www.thepost.co.nz/a/politics/350110554/high-profile-lobbyist-helps-choose-beehive-staff?

    Working 'for free', poacher turned gamekeeper turned poacher sometimes on the same day.

    Rest assured, conflicts of interest will be managed as they occur according to a spokesperson for Luxon.

    • Belladonna 1.1
      16 November 2023 at 10:04 am

      Archive copy here:

      https://archive.ph/OQm4K

      I think this is as absolutely reprehensible in the National-led government (should it come to pass) as it was for Ardern.

      NZ needs *much* greater controls on lobbyists.

      Lobbyists should never be involved in setting up prime-ministerial offices – especially not interviewing staff. Regardless of whether there is any risk of undue influence benefitting the lobbyist (and colour me a profound sceptic on this one) – the perception is that they have greater access to the PM, than other lobby firms (which is a direct commercial benefit to them).

      Political staffers should have to choose which side of the fence they operate on (politics or influence) – and should have a mandatory 3-year stand down, before transiting from one to the other. The revolving door, needs to be changed to a waiting room.

      • tc 1.1.1
        16 November 2023 at 11:51 am

        Consistency brings rewards for their backers. They don't give a shit how it's perceived.

        Wayne's likely the public face for a lot of interests to ensure they get what they paid for given the inexperience in the eventual cabinet etc.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 1.2
      16 November 2023 at 11:57 am

      Earlier this year, officials were tasked with working on a voluntary code for lobbyists and other options for for regulating the industry. It’s not yet clear whether that work will continue under the incoming Government.

      Imho, "that work" will be a prime cost cutting target. Hope I'm wrong – time will tell.

      • Belladonna 1.2.1
        16 November 2023 at 12:14 pm

        "Voluntary code" – well, that would be worth a great deal…. not!

        When the politicians (from at least the two major parties) – are heavily invested in peddling influence – what incentive would the lobbyists have to comply?

        It sounds like a way for the cozy relationships of the status quo to be maintained, while new players – without the entree to the old boys network, get frozen out.

        If any government was serious about fixing the issue (rather than just squawking 'unfair' while in Opposition), they would legislate – and it would have bipartisan support across the House.

        Yes, I'm not holding my breath, either….

  2. Ad 2
    16 November 2023 at 11:45 am

    Presumably DPMC has manuals on transitions of government and of office that includes Ministerial Services appointment processes.

    Be weird if there wasn't.

  3. Adrian 3
    16 November 2023 at 12:37 pm

    Christ on a bike, is this what it has come to:"? The Coalition of Chaos starring the Marx Brothers and any other dipstick that wanders into shot. According to Stuff this morning, and this surprises the hell out of me because you couldn't really write this stuff.. Chris Bishop was late because : 1, He couldn't find a taxi.

    2, he couldnt find an Uber ?

    3, He fell off a Lime scooter?

    4, he couldnt find the Hotel? note, one of the biggest in

    Auckland.

    5, Spilt coffee all over himself and the briefing papers while crashing the Lime scooter, then went on to flatten the battery of another Lime scooter.

    True on all five counts. But wait there's more, Seymour turns up looking like a 16 year old after having his first shave with what passes for a face, all covered in blood, because, you guessed it, he cut himself shaving. You would think he would have stopped after the first incision, but oh no, Freddies Here.

    Then Luxon turns up in a limousine of course, looking like he had been crying all night or maybe just a session with a dominatrix, no surprises there, I hear they are big with the Fundy-Christian crowd.

    I don't know if the last bit is true but it wouldn't surprise me if it was.

  4. newsense 4
    16 November 2023 at 2:27 pm

    (Missed the boat yesterday, so I’ll repost this today. Ta)

    Everyone immediately spots the problem:

    Checkpoint also spoke to several Aucklanders for their views on the charge.

    Emily said it was "outrageous" because not everyone could choose when they started and finished work.

    "Firstly, we need more access to public transport and probably more affordability for that as well."

    Simon said he thought congestion charges only worked in cities with viable alternative transport options.

    "It seems pretty steep. I don't know what it is overseas but … if you're doing that everyday, with no other way to do it, then ($5) would be quite expensive."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/502518/auckland-councillor-residents-industry-groups-against-congestion-charge

  5. ianmac 5
    16 November 2023 at 2:48 pm

    Here we go again. Are all Science teachers stupid?

    The draft contained no mention of physics, chemistry or biology and set out that science would be taught through four contexts – the Earth system; biodiversity; food, energy and water; and infectious diseases.

    Those four contexts give meaning and relevance to the learning of science. If you are using Earth Science then the movement of energy, water and chemistry is the reason for studying it all. It destroys the student complaint of, " Why are we learning this stuff?" Learning stuff in isolation is second rate, but now the incoming Government will ignore the importance of learning in Context and, surprise, revert to the status quo.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/science-curriculum-teachers-delighted-and-frustrated-as-controversial-refresh-put-on-hold-again/D55SXTTGHZFSDJ7H45YMROYJCQ/

    When my son was in College he asked his math teachers if the stats that they were collecting for Science in their grass area, (Earth Science) could be used for Maths Statistics. "Certainly not!. We only use the stats in the Text book."

    Missed opportunity anyone?

  6. joe90 6
    16 November 2023 at 2:52 pm

    Apparently The Guardian has deleted Osama Bin Laden's Letter to America, published 21 years ago, because a new generation of young middle class western leftists have taken it's argument to heart.

    @thisisshelbyy

    For all of you who can’t view it cause the guardian took it down.

    https://twitter.com/thisisshelbyy/status/1724906202793230751

    As a word document.

    https://t.co/GXTbmhYUby

    “I need everyone to stop what they’re doing right now and go read — it’s literally two pages — go read ‘A Letter to America,'” said TikTok user Lynette Adkins in a video posted to the platform on Tuesday, referring to the title often given to the text by bin Laden. “Come back here and let me know what you think. Because I feel like I’m going through like an existential crisis right now, and a lot of people are. So I just need someone else to be feeling this too.”

    https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/osama-bin-laden-letter-to-america-goes-viral-21-years-later-tiktok-1234879711/

    https://archive.li/mOFLC

  7. observer 7
    16 November 2023 at 4:19 pm

    Gotta love how these guys keep contradicting each other and they haven't even had to make a single decision in government.

    Peters, today's Herald:

    "Regarding suggestions he had missed a meeting with Luxon and Seymour in Wellington on Tuesday, Peters claimed he was “never going to Wellington” and both Luxon and Seymour knew that."

    (italics added)

    Coalition talks: NZ First leader Winston Peters arrives for coalition talks, denies snubbing National and Act, Christopher Luxon says negotiations in ‘final stages’ – NZ Herald

    Seymour, previously in Wellington, expecting to meet Peters:

    "Not everyone showed up but hey what can you do?"

    Jenna Lynch Election 2023 analysis: Coalition talks become a circus as Christopher Luxon, David Seymour cave to Winston Peters' whims | Newshub