Open mike 16/01/2013

53 comments on “Open mike 16/01/2013 ”

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1. Skinny 1

   16 January 2013 at 9:48 am

   Listening to National radio this morning & hearing the medium house price in Auckland is $535.000 shows we are in crisis with affordable housing. To hear Housing New Zealand ( a Government entity) is referring renters paying up to 80% of their income to charitable agencies such as the Sallies for financial assistance  is a bloody disgrace! 

   Meanwhile house prices are rising at increasingly alarming rates while the job market continues to stagnate. 

   Government intervention to cool this unacceptable situation and to ‘create employment in the house building sector’ should be a priority one would think.

   It’s a contradiction that National would have people believe that property investors will invest in power shares when the returns on property investment are booming again. This was highlighted to me recently whilst in Whangarei on holiday. I got speaking to an old guy in Whangarei who buys in what you could categorize as the first home buyers market. He buys & sells making on average 20% to 30% profit. Happy to gloat it’s setup so he avoids tax? 

   With a recent survey showing 70% support for Labour’s 100.000 new affordable homes policy, the question remains what is National going to do if anything?  
   • coronial typer 1.1

     16 January 2013 at 10:03 am

     Shearer did a good job this morning on National Radio stating Labour’s proposed solutions. Quick question: when Annette King goes to run at the Mayoralty, who will be Housing Spokesperson? It’s Labour’s best policy so far leading up to 2014. It’s going to need a solid political unit to break the mean cycle of property capitalism (particularly in Auckland).

     At the moment Housing and Building are in MBIE. Shearer acknowledged this morning that working clsoely with Councils particularly Auckland is going to be critical to achieving the housing policy goal. Maybe it’s time to wrap DIA’s Local Government functions into MBIE and start to remake cities holistically, including with housing.
     • xtasy 1.1.1

       16 January 2013 at 9:12 pm

       coronial typer: So what the hell did Shearer propose then?

       You say he was on National Radio, but who did he propose to take over housing, what else did he offer but repeating, they would talk with councils???

       I am sorry, you delivered no real information, which leaves us again with: An empty handed, vaguely talking, nothing offering David Shearer, on housing and much else.
   • millsy 1.2

     16 January 2013 at 10:28 am

     Major Roberts’ crocodile tears disguises the fact that he was on the working group that recommended the changes to the state housing that we are seeing the concequences of.
     • Colonial Viper 1.2.1

       16 January 2013 at 10:30 am

       You assume he had any actual power on the working group.
     • xtasy 1.2.2

       16 January 2013 at 9:17 pm

       The Sallies are a weird bunch.

       I accept that they often make good submissions on proposed laws and so, they are outspoken on social failures, on shortcomings of the government, but then again, they are also “players” in the game, when it comes to getting some government hand-outs to run welfare and in future housing.

       I am afraid, you cannot expect all that much of real change and ideas from an organisation with religious values, which is caring of course, but also depends on the purse strings of donors, sponsors, and also the government.

       The same applies to numerous “advocacy groups”, who, as I found out, actually get money from MSD to “deliver” their “services”.

       So no bloody wonder the advocates are not all that strongly outspoken against welfare and other reforms. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, right?

       What is this country all about, either you have private operators and business run the show, or you have the government have its tentacles all over the place, thus keeping control of things.

       NZ is screwed like this, and no matter how sincere and outspoken critics here are, all this is huff and puff into the air, right?!
2. KhandallaViper 2

   16 January 2013 at 10:01 am

   Albert Einstein said that “Doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result” is a definition of Insanity.

   What is different between the election winning plan employed by the Labour strategy team under Phil from the one under Shearer?
   • xtasy 2.1

     16 January 2013 at 9:18 pm

     KV: Correct diagnosis! No difference!
3. ad 3

   16 January 2013 at 10:07 am

   Gosh it would have been great if Mallard and Robertson, the guys who ran Labour’s campaign last time, actually apologised for performing worse than the New Zealand cricket team. The’ve performed badly for about as long as each other.

   Not sure when or if Shearer will do a reshuffle of responsibility, but I would have thought a basic Key Peformance indicator for the lot of whoever backs him would be: win the election.
   • Another Viper 3.1

     16 January 2013 at 11:31 am

     B*ll*x to an Apology, AD!
     We just want to see a sign from Shearer that he realised he had been conned by Trevir n Robertson and used by Phil and Annette.
     When we see that sign then we will believe that there is a real change afoot.
     Otherswise it is worse than it was under Phil.
     Change David, please change your team.
4. bad12 4

   16 January 2013 at 10:34 am

   You highlight 3 major issues there, if as a country we made the avoidance of tax just as criminal as the evasion of it and had the staff in the States revenue collection agency to actually force the collection of the estimated 7 billion dollars annually either avoided or evaded there would be more than enough revenue for the Government to fix what is becoming an increasingly ugly societal problem,

   When tenants are forced to pay 50%+ of their income to put a roof over their heads an economic drag is created in the local economy, such money simply being a tax upon that persons production passing through the hands of the landlord class to the banks which hold the mortgage over the property and so denying the local economy the use of such money in what would be best described as the normal course of economic activity,

   While i understand Labour’s proposed ‘fix’ to such a crisis of affordability where ‘most’ of what is presently being constructed, (especially in Auckland), are far larger than ‘needed’ icons of over-consumption which pushes the price of buying a home into the realm of fantasy for the lower bands of income earners, Labour propose to build far more modest housing (2 bedrooms plus garage can be built for $120,000 +land), i still feel Labour fail to grasp the fundamental problem in the rental market,

   Landlords locked into a mortgage are not going to suddenly drop the price of their rental stock because a Government builds houses for sale at a lesser cost to the purchaser, those unable to access such Government largesse will still be trapped in the market for private rentals paying 50%+ of their income in rent,

   Having said that, i will not be overly critical of Labour’s plan to build 100,000 of these low cost houses for sale while Labour still wrestles with it’s policy on the numbers of State owned rental houses it intends to build,

   Needless to say,even the present Labour Party policy is a damn sight more than what National have signaled as it’s intention which is to as usual do nothing except provide empty rhetoric…
   • bad12 4.1

     16 January 2013 at 10:38 am

     Ooops, forgot to hit the reply tab, the above relates to comment (1) above…
   • just saying 4.2

     16 January 2013 at 11:16 am

     Two years ago, I looked into building a 70sq metre, two bedroom house minus the section, (without a garage). The lowest quote was about $150,000.
     That was with the cheapest cladding, and without floorings, curtains, wall coverings etc.

     I would hope Labour’s policy would involve the use of reasonably lasting materials, rather than making the cheapest buildings it is possible to create under the current regs.
     • bad12 4.2.1

       16 January 2013 at 11:47 am

       They have built a number of re-locatable houses in Christchurch without garages for $100,000,(from memory they are sitting in a corner of Hagley Park),

       The savings are to be found in the number of houses any organization is contracted to construct, for example, contract X company to build 2000 houses across Auckland using 4 or 5 different plans and the cost per house drops considerably,

       Come to an agreement with the likes of the Auckland City Council,(as the Government), over such issues as having a single resource consent to build the 2000 houses and another considerable saving is made,

       Standardize such things as the bathroom units in all the houses built and contract 1 plumbing agency to supply and install all the bathroom units in all the houses built and more savings on cost occur….
       • just saying 4.2.1.1

         16 January 2013 at 12:21 pm

         Yes, those sorts of savings (maybe $80k per house all up?) are not to be sniffed-at. I hope the many people who will take advantage of them, who would have been able to afford a house at the going rates, are suitably appreciative. (Equivalent to a gift of about five years of beneficiary income without having to go near a WINZ office!) However, I suspect they will still be advocating cutting back the meagre benefits and services to those who are genuinely in need, and feeling self righteous and superior.

         But if Labour is prepared to build or buy the same numbers of state houses, I will bite my tongue about the whole middle-class welfare thing.
         • bad12 4.2.1.1.1

           16 January 2013 at 12:51 pm

           Yeah same, after the little discussion had here on the Standard with Labour’s Annette King last week i am holding off on my major criticism of Labour’s housing policy,(of by and for the middle class), until such time as Labour’s policy on the number of HousingNZ properties it intends to build is released,

           It’s a work in progress according to Annette, but come election year if satisfactory numbers are not forthcoming i for one will be hollering as loudly as i can,

           What worries me vis a vis the Labour housing policy and where the ‘land’ to build all these ‘for sale’ properties is to come from is that it will simply be a continuation of Nationals policy of bowling over State Houses and building upon the land for the children of the middle class who created the problem in the first place by piling into ‘rental investments’ …
5. xtasy 5

   16 January 2013 at 10:56 am

   Paula Bennett –

   and the National led government appear to have committed themselves to bring in “work capacity testing”, which according to the new major welfare reforms presently before Parliament are increasingly going to be outsourced, that have been designed by highly questionable “experts” previously on the payroll of controversial giant private insurer Unum Insurance .

   A professor and “Sir” Mansel Aylward, as former ‘Chief Medical Officer’ for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in the UK, played a key role in the development of the UK’s medical assessment for incapacity (the All Work Test), the Personal Capability Assessment and the Pathways to Work initiative for vocational rehabilitation.

   Application of these “tests” by equally controversial private assessors ‘ATOS Healthcare’ led to many seriously disabled, injured and sick being declared “fit for work”, and over much of 2011 alone, up to about 1100 deaths (incl. suicides) by affected people not able to cope with unreasonable, unacceptable expectations and pressures, have been the shocking result.

   Persons are thrown off benefits in the UK, or shifted onto lower paid benefits, as a consequence of the “reforms” there, being considered “fit for work”, while many are not and thus appeal decisions.

   See the following links for details, what is involved:

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8165236/Work-tests-concern-disability-organisation

   http://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/687-proposed-work-tests-are-concerning

   http://includingallpeople.org.nz/?p=385

   http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2012/10/31/government-use-might-of-american-insurance-giant-to-destroy-uk-safety-net-by-mo-stewart-update/
   (TRULY A MUST READ ARTICLE!!!)

   http://atosvictimsgroup.co.uk/tag/mansel-aylward/

   http://koawatea.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Ko-Awatea-white-paper-02-Independent-Commentator-Panel.pdf

   http://koawatea.co.nz/ko-awatea-visitors-sir-mansel-aylward/

   Ko Awatea has been set up as the ‘Health System Innovation Centre’ for the Counties Manukau DHB, which is again proving to be instrumental in the increasing outsourcing and “privatisation” of healthcare in NZ. Professor Aylward was involved in appointing key personnel working for a panel they set up to work out health reforms here. He also appears to be advising Counties Manukau DHB in other areas.

   ACC has already used a version of the above mentioned “All Work Test”, which assisted the “exit strategy” used by them to get rid of high-cost, complex claimants, who have in their thousands been shifted onto WINZ benefits, accounting for some increase in numbers on invalid’s and sickness beneficiary numbers.

   Now WINZ clients with incapacities are facing an on-slaught of a similar kind as in the UK, so that under the new system, most sickness beneficiaries will end up as “job seekers” and previous invalid’s beneficiaries (long term and permanent sick and disabled) will be moved onto the “living support payment” benefit (facing harsher criterias overall).

   So, many readers may not feel affected, think they may “never” fall seriously ill and lose ability to work, and may thus pay little attention. But hey, accidents happen, sickness and injury can hit us all any time, and many disabled have no choice due to their conditions.

   Be alert, aware and take action, to stop this bloody madness.

   Xtasy
   • just saying 5.1

     16 January 2013 at 11:32 am

     I have grave concerns about the changes pushing many disabled people beyond their ability to cope, to suicide, as has happened in Britain. For those whose lives are already so difficult, and financial circumstances so precarious, this kind of assault is particularly damaging.

     The policy’s accompanying rhetoric villifying the disabled, has seen numbers of hate crimes against them in Britain skyrocket also.
     • bad12 5.1.1

       16 January 2013 at 11:57 am

       Who-ever wrote Shearers bene-bashing roof-painter speech must just luuuurve the proposed changes,

       The fact is that such changes not only ‘screw’ the individuals targeted but also tighten the screws on the local economy as the real intention is to shift beneficiaries from higher rates of benefit payments to lower ones,

       Incidently, the model was mooted by the last Labour Government, although the punitive nature of what National now intend to accomplish may not have been…
       • Olwyn 5.1.1.1

         16 January 2013 at 12:57 pm

         I am going to re-post the Monbiot article that I posted yesterday, because I think it offers a very good conceptualisation of what is actually going on, behind the endless squeezing of beneficiaries, the inflated house prices and the increasing precariousness of paid work. His thesis, in a nut shell, is that neoliberalism is not a failed economic policy (in which case it would be abandoned) but a successful mode of conquest.

         http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/14/neoliberal-theory-economic-failure

         The unfortunate thing is that under the conditions of conquest, the elites tend to side with the conquerors, while the middle class side with the elites, and the powerless get mercilessly screwed. For local elites it means a career trajectory in the upper echelons, and for the middle class a chance to clip the ticket as the wealth travels upward and outward. For the poor it means disaster, especially since the poor of the Western world lost their historical province during their post-war period when they were elevated to faux middle class.

         There is always some leeway, however, between total acquiescence and punishable disobedience, and I would like to see Labour making much more daring use of that leeway, toward the protection of local citizens. Australia has done a better job of it than us because Bob Hawke was more cautious in its implementation, and did not naively cry, “Yippee! Now we are going to be the Switzerland of the South Pacific.”
         • bad12 5.1.1.1.1

           16 January 2013 at 1:07 pm

           Yeah of course which is why they have the likes of Shearer slagging off a sickness beneficiary, (whom i presume was actually fictional),

           For those on the lower end of the economy the prospects are to be used as a tool to enrich the 1% via low wages and employment insecurity,

           Meanwhile the middle class becomes as you say a ‘ticket clipper’ taxing the wages of the poor via the demand for rental accommodation which a compliant series of Governments has refused to address thus securing their retirement savings while also being directly subsidized by such things as the ‘accommodation supplement’ which they gladly pass on to the 1% via the mortgage…
6. xtasy 6

   16 January 2013 at 12:16 pm

   Lest we forget – Dr David Bratt –

   The Principal Health Advisor for the Ministry of Social Development and Work and Income, who has an incredible bias and compares benefit dependence to drug dependence, he has already been preparing AND implementing the new, more rigorous, relentless “hatchet” approach in medical assessments for sickness and invalid’s beneficiaries since he took up his role in 2007.

   He (with others) was TRAINING the WINZ designated doctors in sessions all over NZ since 2008, to ensure they make the decisions in the way MSD and WINZ “expect”!

   He appears to have felt intensely encouraged to get bolder with his personally biased views being integrated into “presentations” and speeches he presented at major GP conferences, meetings of health professionals in general, health profession trainers and the likes, especially since National has been leading the government, and since ‘Future Focus’ was brought in under Paula Bennett and her adored “master” PM, John Key.

   Just have a look at some of these “presentations” full of pseudo medical scientific claims and findings, and his personal bias:

   http://www.gpcme.co.nz/pdf/GP%20CME/Friday/C1%201515%20Bratt-Hawker.pdf
   (‘Ready, Steady, Crook, Are we killing our patients with kindness?’ is that one called, from 2010)

   http://igps.victoria.ac.nz/WelfareWorkingGroup/Downloads/Forum/David-Bratt-Benefit-Sunshine.pdf
   (‘Benefit Sunshine’, the one from also about 2010, which was also presented at the Welfare Working Group Forum)

   http://www.gpcme.co.nz/pdf/2012/Fri_DaVinci_1400_Bratt_Medical%20Certificates%20are%20Clinical%20Instruments%20too%20-%20June%202012.pdf
   (‘Medical Certificates are Clinical Instruments too’, which appears to be his most recent PDF style presentation from 2012)

   In another PowerPoint one called “Pressure, No Pressure”, which he prepared for GPs, so they can “deal with” “pushy patients” is also still available via online search, and can be downloaded easily.

   He has been reported on in NZ Doctor magazine, once on 01 August 2012, comparing benefit dependence with drug dependence, and searching his name and the name of that publication in association via Google, Yahoo or any other engine will bring about that article to read.

   Strangely that man “gets away” with this blatant, blunt approach, which tells us a lot about the philosophy, “mission” and “spirit” that his employer, the MSD leadership, follow and adhere to.

   So we are already there, using practically “NAZI” style labeling, stigmatizing, blaming and so forth, what will the next round of reforms and new “work capacity assessments” under the ‘Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill’ bring for sick and disabled on benefits?

   I predict it will be a life of constant fear, worry, despair and hopelessness, for those powerless and not able to defend themselves. Action is therefore needed to stop all this attack on sick and disabled in NZ right now.

   See also this for additional info:

   http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/briefing-papers/POST-PN-413
   http://www.parliament.uk/Templates/BriefingPapers/Pages/BPPdfDownload.aspx?bp-id=POST-PN-413
   • beatie 6.1

     16 January 2013 at 8:12 pm

     Dr David Bratt was appointed under Labour. Winz Regional Health Advisors are another Labour initiative. Their main function appears to be removing as many ‘clients’ as possible from Invalid to Sickness benefit. They may, or may not be health professionals. I have rheumatoid arthritis, am on IB and work part-time, however a Bratt trained GP told me ‘if I can drive, I can work’ and ‘I should be repaying the cost (to society) of a recent joint replacement.’ My condition is incurable and getting worse, I dread the coming ‘reforms’, particularly as they are likely to be accompanied by demonising the disabled as has happened in Britain.
     • just saying 6.1.1

       16 January 2013 at 8:44 pm

       Hi Beattie.
       What you describe is a disgrace. I’m aware that it was Labour that began this nasty mode of taking resources from those those who need them most, to give them to the wealthy “reforms”. I will talk to my local MP about this and will take along information about their lethal effects in Britain. I wish I could do more. Any ideas anyone?
       Kia kaha. You are not alone.
     • rosy 6.1.2

       16 January 2013 at 9:12 pm

       beatie – I know how you feel.

       My question to the GP would be “when is Pharmac going to start adding including improved work opportunity in the benefit side of the cost-benefit analysis of the heavily restricted RA drugs that every other developed country has been handing out for over decade to patients who are not improving on standard meds?” AFAIK Pharmac only includes direct health system related costs and benefits, which means NZers have really poor access to the new standard treatments that will probably improve quality of life and work ability.

       Also, you, or someone close to you, paid tax in advance for that joint replacement. Tell the of GP to F* right off. S/he has no understanding at all of of the impact of RA that is not effectively controlled (which yours isn’t, if it’s getting worse).
     • xtasy 6.1.3

       16 January 2013 at 10:21 pm

       Hi beatie

       I am sorry to hear about your struggles. Yes, you are right, the system with Principal Health Advisor Dr Bratt, more quiet and less “prominent” Principal Disability Advisor Anne Hawker, was designed and introduced under the last Labour led government.

       Bear in mind though, with most policy and measures that governments introduce, it is usually upon the “suggestion” of policy developers in such government departments and ministries, like MSD and Work and Income. Hence governments ask for ideas and get presented what “internal” “specialists” have usually already worked on and thought out.

       Then governments pick what fits into their agenda.

       Indeed, most RHAs and RDAs are not necessarily appropriately qualified. Some are nurses (not necessarily registered), some rehab and other professionals. Few, if any, are proper, all-round, high calibre “experts”.

       They are there to look at what they usually get presented in the way of reports and certificates from client’s own doctors, specialists or else, or from the “designated doctors” (who now are largely quite biased, as the conditions WINZ expects them to work under, necessitate this).

       One good example of a RDA that is qualified and experienced in some “health” and “rehab” field is the one for the Southern Region, a Tanya Rissman. She is accidentally also “acting” RHA, as they appear to have had difficulty hiring one.

       Her experience and qualifications are in teaching and counselling, and she worked “with” psychologists, social workers and other “health experts”, for instance when running “Antics Ltd”, a kind of consultation and social service delivery agency, that appears to have run out of business long ago (probably due to funding issues).

       She is considered to have skills in teaching kids with learning difficulties, in social work and working with others, but is hardly a GP, a surgeon, a psychologist let alone psychiatrist. Yet WINZ and MSD have kept her for years, to make recommendations (usually signed at the dotted line by case managers) about sickness and invalid’s beneficiaries, or applicants.

       To get an impression of where she comes from, look at page 39 of this interesting publication:

       http://alumnionline.massey.ac.nz/documents/MASSEY-Nov-2002.pdf

       You can also google her name, and a bit more will show, but with most RHAs and RDAs, they are very “secretive” characters, of whom not much can be found at all, last of all the register of the Medical Council or Nurses Council!
7. Jackal 7

   16 January 2013 at 1:08 pm

   I know its the time of year when political debate dies down, but surely we can have a bit more in-depth reporting than the current yawn inducing articles that are passing for journalism in the MSM these days. I mean endless stories about Paul Holmes are one thing, but the totally uncritical analysis in our main newspaper about what National has been up to is another thing entirely. A quad bike accident is simply not front-page news people, and unless the media start to hold John Key’s government to account for their woeful performance, New Zealand will continue to go backwards under the neoliberal agenda.
   • tc 7.1

     16 January 2013 at 2:26 pm

     ‘unless the media start to hold John Key’s government to account for their woeful performance, New Zealand will continue to go backwards under the neoliberal agenda..’

     don’t hold your breath, the MSM are part of the game positioned cleverly to look like ‘independants’ when they are actually assisting in in the swindle of public assets, the illusion of choice as Goerge Carlin would have said (RIP George), youtube george it’s worth it.

     Holmes, Woodham, Hyde, pretty much all TVNZ and the similarly vacuous TV3, campbell has his moments but he’s easily isolated. Then there’s that whole land of red neck radio rantville.

     Love live TS.
     • Descendant Of Sssmith 7.1.1

       16 January 2013 at 7:09 pm

       Speaking of quiet time of year I notice this survey went up on MSD website on the 7th Jan.

       http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/welfare-reform/july-2013/ill-health-disability-feedback.html

       Doesn’t say how long it’s up for.

       I was looking for SB stats for another post and remembered this one when I saw this.
       • just saying 7.1.1.1

         16 January 2013 at 9:13 pm

         Done.
         Many thanks DoS.
         If anyone has five minutes to spare, please consider filling out the survey.

         Does anyone know which opposition members are on the select committee?
         • beatie 7.1.1.1.1

           16 January 2013 at 9:36 pm

           Yes, I did that survey. Very therapeutic, despite the loaded questions. BTW thanks for your kind response.
         • xtasy 7.1.1.1.2

           16 January 2013 at 10:40 pm

           Opposition members are:

           Jacinda Ardern, Rajen Prasad, Su’a William Sio (all Labour), Jan Logie (Greens) and Asenati Lole Taylor (NZ First).

           See also:
           http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/Default.htm?pf=CommitteeShortName&sf=Social+Services&lgc=0

           Given recent media comments by the one for NZ First, I am wondering, whether she really can be counted to belong to “the opposition”!?

           The others I have mixed feelings about, but Jan Logie I have had some positive experiences with, she is just busy with many other spokesperson responsibilities also, so that limits her focus on welfare a bit.
       • xtasy 7.1.1.2

         16 January 2013 at 9:43 pm

         DoS:

         I did it TWICE by the way, as the system is so set up, that they seem to allow numerous participants make repeated contributions from the same computer!?

         So much for “representativeness” of any survey. I did not do this out of malice, but rather just to try it, and the messages sent were more or less the same.

         Yes, I most strongly recommend everybody does participate, and give MSD the answers they would least expect, that is, to tell them, hey, this will not work without involving and fairly asking the affected about how to “assist” sick and disabled into some possibly suitable work (where it may be possible).

         Also, express staunchly your reservations, reject the outsourcing of work capacity assessments, the privatisation of welfare, the involvement of hatchet doctors, i.e. criticise the the assessments as they are done already by internal WiNZ advisors. Insist that the client’s own doctor, support persons, advocates and the clients themselves must be included and listened to before “helping” people (those who may be able) back into work.

         Also challenge the role of employers, who are generally very biased and discriminatory, not seriously giving disabled and incapacitated sick any fair chance for dignified, paid employment. Incentives should be given to willing clients and employers to trial work, without sanctions if it does not work out for acceptable health or other reasons.

         Expectation should be brought across, that whatever they do will totally comply with natural justice, the Human Rights Act, the Bill of Rights Act, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled, and so forth. I also stated they should primarily involve the affected clients AND their support organisations, leave assessments on work capacity to primarily the client’s own doctors, and to otherwise only seek further recommendations on truly independent medical experts or rehab professionals.

         They should get rid of the totally biased and unreasonable Dr DAvid Bratt, they should refrain from training “designated doctors” and actually pro-creatively assist those back into work, who are genuinely able to do some work.

         I strongly suggest that ALL that are concerned do the same. State the objections, justified concerns, that sickness beneficiaries should not be automatically grouped together with “job seekers” and the likes.

         Rather than leave the survey over to ones that will have a bias against beneficiaries, that support the draconian measures planned, and that may thus “serve” the interests of MSD (who will largely have advised the government on what changes can and should be made!) and naturally this present government, it is a MUST to offer more truthful, objective, experience based and legally backed up information, views and suggestions.

         That way more of us will be heard. Whether they will listen to us is another story of course. At least, you will have done your best and raised your voices.
         • Mary 7.1.1.2.1

           16 January 2013 at 10:35 pm

           Talk about loaded questions! “There is considerable evidence that work is good for wellbeing and unemployment is not. What do you think is the best way to assist disabled people or people with a health condition or mental health condition get into and stay in work?” Every question is pretty much the same.

           I wonder what the big disability groups like CCS and IHC have to say about it? They should be all over this.
           • rosy 7.1.1.2.1.1

             16 January 2013 at 10:54 pm

             My loaded answer was ‘flexible employment conditions withing a proper employment contract’ Every answer pretty much the same.
           • xtasy 7.1.1.2.1.2

             16 January 2013 at 10:54 pm

             They are obviously NOT, as they are likely to also depend (at least partly) on “public funds” from, guess whom? THE MINISTRY!
       • Colonial Weka 7.1.1.3

         16 January 2013 at 11:43 pm

         Is there a way to hide the fact that we are all linking from The Standard when we go to that survey? Is cutting and pasting the URL enough?
         • xtasy 7.1.1.3.1

           17 January 2013 at 12:01 am

           Just go straight to the MSD website, put in survey or welfare in the search box, and bingo, you have it, without any cross linkeage!
8. vivaciousviper 8

   16 January 2013 at 1:24 pm

   There is a scathing report for our ex PM Helen Clark from the UN, this is on TV3 website,
   sorry can’t link.
   • Enough is Enough 8.1

     16 January 2013 at 1:47 pm

     Ignore that MSM bias report.

     Helen is doing a fantastic job. She has been praised for the efforts she has made and the initives she has implemented by every international leader she has come into contact with.

     She turned this county into the greatest place on earth. It is a wee bit more difficult to do that to the billions of starving people in this world. But she is getting there.
     • Chris 8.1.1

       16 January 2013 at 3:03 pm

       When did the board of UNDP become MSM? It’s essentially a report from her employers that the department she runs is doing nothing for poverty.
       • Enough is Enough 8.1.1.1

         16 January 2013 at 3:37 pm

         Are you saying that Helen Clark is doing a poor job? What an idiot
         • Chris 8.1.1.1.1

           16 January 2013 at 4:04 pm

           No I’m saying the report which has come from the board of UNDP says the department she runs is not doing anything for poverty (I’m just going to repeat myself since you can’t read apparently) I have no idea whether she has been doing a good job or not.

           I agree with Olwyn below it is likely that she has been following what the board has instructed but they have now decided that it has not been effective.

           What is far more ridiculous is to determine that the board of the UNDP is MSM and decide she is making a huge difference to poverty when the department she works for has just announced that they are not making any real difference.
       • Olwyn 8.1.1.2

         16 January 2013 at 3:49 pm

         There is a lack of context to the report, which seems to come from the UNDP board itself. Helen Clark is not someone who is known for doing things by halves, so I am guessing that they may be in the process of changing their priorities, and that whoever wrote the article has drawn a long bow to suggest that this amounts to criticism of Helen Clark. After all, many of her decisions would surely accord with the board’s priorities.
   • vivaciousviper 8.2

     16 January 2013 at 1:49 pm

     Also on TV3 site another headline “Civil servants beware of NZ’ – British paper.
     after two brits head home after short stints in top jobs for the nact key led govt
     Sorry can’t link.
     • xtasy 8.2.1

       16 January 2013 at 9:56 pm

       Yes, this is it:

       http://www.3news.co.nz/Civil-servants-beware-of-NZ–UK-paper/tabid/423/articleID/283284/Default.aspx

       Well, I cannot blame them to caution Brits coming here to take jobs, as I have been experiencing a fair bit of “bizarre” conduct in NZ government departments and private companies, when it comes to working with migrants.

       The “tall poppy syndrome” is still extremely strong, it is often a network environment, where “old mates” stick together, and new ones have to cross the walk of fire, before they may be accepted.

       If accepting a senior position, I am sure, there will be an immense challenge for any migrant CEO, manager or whatever, to convince and be accepted. In some cases it happens, in others it goes very wrong.

       But I do not miss Grossman, for sure. Yet I am totally convinced, there is more to her swift resignation, than what Bennett tells the public. Cultural differences exist, but are just part of the whole mixture of challenges to deal with.
   • Anne 8.3

     16 January 2013 at 5:56 pm

     There is a scathing report for our ex PM Helen Clark from the UN…

     It transpires it covered the period prior to Helen Clark taking charge.
     • bad12 8.3.1

       16 January 2013 at 6:02 pm

       Don’t ever let the truth get in the way of one’s political bias…
       • McFlock 8.3.1.1

         17 January 2013 at 3:28 pm

         Yep. Clark’s not even mentioned. It’s not even all that “scathing”.
         This seems to be it.
9. uke 9

   16 January 2013 at 4:47 pm

   The article “Exposure of sex-for-fees web site underscores UK student poverty” discusses the growth of prositution among UK students struggling to meet rising fees and living costs:

   http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/01/15/stud-j15.html

   ‘The Independent reported recently on a web site offering students up to £15,000 a year to have sex with its clients. A reporter used a concealed camera to record a meeting with an “assessor” from SponsorAScholar.co.uk, Mark Lancaster. He explained that the level of remuneration students received depended on the sexual acts they agreed to engage in with their “sponsor.” The student was told they would have to undergo a “practical assessment” in order to qualify…. New research shows that the number of students engaged in sex work, including lap dancing, pole dancing, escorting and prostitution, has doubled over the last year, reaching 6 percent of the total.’

   I wonder if any similar sites operate in NZ – where tertiary students are also loaded with huge debts – and if any similar research into student prositution has been undertaken.
10. vto 10

    16 January 2013 at 6:48 pm

    New Zealand is a wealthy country by any measure. It can certainly grow enough food for everyone and enough resources to build a good roof over each head, before even starting on other matters such as a doctor for every so many souls.

    So why can’t we do that?

    Why can’t we New Zealanders adequately provide for all of us? What is stopping it? What has caused this bizarre and obscenely rude situation?

    Does anyone know?
11. millsy 11

    16 January 2013 at 7:08 pm

    Neo-liberalism, red-neckism with a dash of god-bothering.
    • The Pink Postman 11.1

      17 January 2013 at 2:35 pm

      Well said millsy . I would also add too much booze that slows down the brain.

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