Open mike 16/01/2014

Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, January 16th, 2014 - 142 comments
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142 comments on “Open mike 16/01/2014 ”

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  1. Morrissey 1
    16 January 2014 at 7:14 am

    S.S. Trust’s “Offender Database” still looking threadbare

    I have yet to receive an acknowledgement from the people at the S.S. Trust, after having informed them yesterday of three major oversights in their “Offender Database”, viz., the absence of three notorious criminals: BRUCE EMERY, DAVID GARRETT and ALAN TITFORD.

    Our good friend and colleague Murray Olsen also took the trouble to alert the S.S. Trust about Alan Titford—did you hear back from them, Murray?

    On its site, the S.S. Trust features the statement: “The Sensible Sentencing Trust believes in an open and transparent Justice System.” I urge other Standardistas to help the S.S. Trust get its Offender Database in order. The form is very easy to fill in and can be found here….
    http://www.sst.org.nz/offenders-database/

    All you have to do is scroll to the bottom of that page and fill in the form “Submit Offender Information”. In the “Message” box, you can simply summarize the crimes of the offender you are naming. They will get back to you for more precise details—or so they told me. You may copy or adopt the following if you like….
    BRUCE EMERY: In late 2008, he chased down a boy on a South Auckland street, then stabbed him repeatedly, killing him.
    DAVID GARRETT: 1.) Convicted of assaulting a doctor in Tonga; 2.) convicted of Passport fraud (he assumed the identity of a dead baby in the commission of that crime); 3.) belongs to an extreme racist hate organization. Acts as “legal counsel” to an extreme racist hate organization.
    ALAN TITFORD: Convicted arsonist, vandal, serial liar. Acts as “legal counsel” to an extreme racist hate organization.

    UPDATE: I’ve just sent them information (at 7:18 a.m.) about David Garrett. I got back this reply: “Thanks for contacting us! We will get in touch with you shortly.”

    [lprent: Be more careful. I have put in the changes from your comment below leaving your original screwup in place. ]

    • Morrissey 1.1
      16 January 2014 at 7:27 am

      ERRATUM
      To my horror, I see that I wrote above that ALAN TITFORD “acts as legal counsel to an extreme racist hate organization.” Titford merely BELONGS to that organization; it is DAVID GARRETT that acts as its legal counsel.

      Here is the correct version of those summaries for the S.S. Trust Offender Database….

      BRUCE EMERY: In late 2008, he chased down a boy on a South Auckland street, then stabbed him repeatedly, killing him.
      DAVID GARRETT: 1.) Convicted of assaulting a doctor in Tonga; 2.) convicted of Passport fraud (he assumed the identity of a dead baby in the commission of that crime); 3.) Acts as “legal counsel” to an extreme racist hate organization.
      ALAN TITFORD: Convicted arsonist, vandal, serial liar, member of an extreme racist hate organization.

      • Colonial Viper 1.1.1
        16 January 2014 at 8:40 am

        Good work!

      • Tracey 1.1.2
        16 January 2014 at 9:14 am

        I see they exclude white collar crimes

      • Tracey 1.1.3
        16 January 2014 at 9:21 am

        i thought titforsd was convicted of

        14 charges of assault with a weapon, seven of assault, four of male assaults female, three of assault on a child, three of sexual violation, two of arson, and single charges of using a document with intention to defraud, threatening to kill, assault using a weapon, perjury, attempting to pervert the course of justice and discharging a firearm.

    • Tracey 1.2
      16 January 2014 at 9:25 am

      you’ve spelled his name wrongly, or they ahve accepted your information

      Name Location Offences
      Titford, Allan Prison Arson, Assault, Child Abuse, Rape, attempted rape, Threatening to Kill, Intimidation, or any Threatening Behaviour, Weapons or firearms charges

    • Murray Olsen 1.3
      17 January 2014 at 12:47 pm

      Haven’t heard back. You’d think they’d want to thank me for helping to keep the country safe.

  2. One Anonymous Knucklehead 2
    16 January 2014 at 7:15 am

    Foreigners are stealing your tax dollars!

    Stuff’s latest dog-whistle to racist authoritarians The National Party base.

    • Naki Man 2.1
      16 January 2014 at 8:21 am

      $100k to keep a shithead for a year is ridiculous, pack these scum in some old railway containers.
      All the sex and drugs they want in motel like accommodation with all their mates. No great surprise that they keep going back for more.

      • Adele 2.1.1
        16 January 2014 at 8:39 am

        Naki Man

        They are not scum. You should be locked up too as your contempt for other human beings is extremist. Our own version of the Taliban can be found in “Nakiban.”

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 2.1.1.1
          16 January 2014 at 9:08 am

          I disagree: Funi Man has the same freedom of speech as you or I. On the other hand I think the police and SIS should take a close interest in far-right racist hate groups, so I hope he’s caught in that net somewhere.

          • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.1.1
            16 January 2014 at 9:19 am

            Intolerant hateful speech should not be given the same voice or space as other speech.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 2.1.1.1.1.1
              16 January 2014 at 9:23 am

              Well exactly, which is why it warrants the close attention of the security services.

          • Naki Man 2.1.1.1.2
            16 January 2014 at 9:52 am

            Fucknuckle
            I am not racist or far right. You might be a apologist for pedo’s murderer’s and thieves. That’s what i don’t like, trust your type to try and play the racist card. My partner is not a kiwi. You fool

            • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.1.2.1
              16 January 2014 at 9:59 am

              Of course you are racist. Of course you are hate filled. Of course you are sadistic. The more you hate the more that is what you become. Even a six year old understands see that.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 2.1.1.1.2.2
              16 January 2014 at 10:01 am

              Oh, sorry, I suppose xenophobic would be a better term. Many right-wingers exhibit these symptoms as a result of your “low levels of contact with out-groups” (Hodson & Busseri 2011).

              It seems that in your case, you channel your hatred against prisoners. I further note that the hate-based policies you struggle to articulate (while supporting wholeheartedly) lead to New Zealand prisons having one of the highest recidivism rates in the world, therefore creating more crime in the process.

              Now, let’s unpack your witless and baseless smear. I promote policies that will reduce recidivism (if we adopt best practice we could get it down to at least 25%) and therefore crime. You do the opposite. Which one of us is pro-crime?

            • Will@Welly 2.1.1.1.2.3
              16 January 2014 at 4:42 pm

              Of course Naki Man, we understand that, a Jersey Friesian, by another name is still a Jersey Friesian. Up there in the back-blocks, I guess a man’s friend is well…………………
              John Key would understand.

            • Murray Olsen 2.1.1.1.2.4
              17 January 2014 at 12:57 pm

              Many racists have mail order brides. You often see it among the aging ACT types, who don’t really see women or foreigners as equal.

      • Colonial Viper 2.1.2
        16 January 2014 at 8:42 am

        That’s what you get when you privatise prisons for corporate profit.

        You liked that idea so I’m afraid you’ll have to shut up and swallow this one whole.

      • bad12 2.1.3
        16 January 2014 at 8:45 am

        Naki Man, once a brainless wanker, always so, we all know this and wonder why you daily keep providing the proof that you were once…

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 2.1.4
        16 January 2014 at 8:55 am

        Right on cue, here comes a typical National Party member to make my point for me.

        Thanks, Funi Man.

    • tinfoilhat 2.2
      16 January 2014 at 8:26 am

      Have you actually read the article and not just formed an opinion based on the headline ?

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 2.2.1
        16 January 2014 at 9:00 am

        Most people don’t get past the headline: roughly 66%.

        Of those that start reading the article, by the third paragraph, ~66% of them have gone too. A tiny minority make it to the end.

        So if you’re dog whistling it makes sense to do so in the headline and the first three paragraphs.

        Oh, and the very nature of a dog whistle is that it isn’t overt, but I note the article makes much of the nationality and ethnicity of its subjects.

        The answers to your questions are yes and no.

      • Naki Man 2.2.2
        16 January 2014 at 9:09 am

        Yes I have read the article. If you don’t like prison then behave. We should get China, Thailand
        and a few others to tender for locking up the worst offenders. They wont pander to these scum

    • KJS 2.3
      16 January 2014 at 12:13 pm

      What I would like to know is why it costs $100,000 in the first place to house a single prisoner. I live on about $28,000 a year and I think my lifestyle is significantly better than a prison inmate. So why the gigantic costs?

      • McFlock 2.3.1
        16 January 2014 at 12:30 pm

        You don’t require 24hr surveillance and a multi-layered containment system.
        Hopefully 🙂

  3. phillip ure 3
    16 January 2014 at 8:05 am

    falloon and bruce springsteen do a number on chris christie..

    ..(and springsteen does a fine parody of himself..)

    http://www.alternet.org/culture/must-watch-fallon-and-springsteens-brilliant-born-run-parody-takes-down-chris-christie

    phillip ure..

  4. phillip ure 4
    16 January 2014 at 8:12 am

    ‘hate’ is a strong word..

    ..but does anyone else hate ‘hulu’ as much as i do..?

    ..they have now put the daily show and the colbert report behind their pissy..

    ..’cos of where you live..you cannot watch this video..’

    ..fuck hulu..!

    phillip ure..

  5. bad12 5
    16 January 2014 at 8:41 am

    Andrew Geddis over at the Pundit site,(link is over on the right of the page),gives a good ‘legal opinion’ on the criminal case presented to the Auckland District Court against Auckland Mayor Len Brown,

    i fully agree with the analysis presented, it can be proved that SkyCity gave Len Brown free hotel accommodation, it can also be proved that Len Brown gave His support to the SkyCity convention center,

    What has to be proved tho, and i like Geddis struggle to see how such ‘proof’ can be provided to the Court, is that one lead to the other, in other words there must be a proven link that clearly shows that Len Brown was given the free hotel accommodation as payment for His support of the convention center,

    Now we all, Penny Bright and Graham Mac included, have the right to ‘think’ that the two actions, free hotel rooms and support for the convention center are glove in hand but the Court requires more than ”i thunk it therefore it is so” as proof in most matters,( i am sure most of us could provide an example to debunk what i have just written),

    As Geddis says to Penny Bright over at Pundit when She insinuates ‘there’s more, lots more, you just wait and see’, Bring It, if there is ‘more’ in the way of FACT to be either put to the Court, or in the likely event the Court refuses to proceed with this prosecution, put into the Public arena, minds just well might be changed,

    As it is tho, ‘i thunk it therefor it is’ and ‘i have attended a number of international conferences therefor I Know’ are in my opinion well below the test of proof that any Court would require as ‘proof’ of the contention that the free hotel rooms were payment for Brown’s support of the convention center…

    • TRACEY 5.1
      16 January 2014 at 9:11 am

      penny and her groiup are sometimes right but their scattergun approah to accusing people leaves some innocent victims in their wake.

      AAm not saying Brown is an innocent victim.

      • Lantahnide 5.1.1
        16 January 2014 at 9:26 am

        Yes. That’s Penny’s problem, she always champions any little thing that comes her way, which makes her look silly and petty most of the time.

        • andy (the other one) 5.1.1.1
          16 January 2014 at 9:30 am

          And her refusal to pay Council Rates, while benefiting from council services, paid for by everyone else, rubs most people the wrong way.

          • vto 5.1.1.1.1
            16 January 2014 at 9:35 am

            Unlike a refusal to listen to the ratepayer while benefitting from the ratepayers payments you mean?

        • bad12 5.1.1.2
          16 January 2014 at 10:33 am

          Lolz i said it a week or so ago as every week a ‘new’ target for a Graham Mac private prosecution was announced,

          Each subsequent announcement triggered in my mind the soundtrack to ‘Fame’…

    • andy (the other one) 5.2
      16 January 2014 at 9:16 am

      Can any one confirm the papers filed are against Len Brown and not his wife Shan Inglis or both. As I just heard McCready on Radio Live saying he was filing against Inglis, not Brown and Inglis.

      Yours
      Confused Auckland Ratepayer

      [Edit]

      Today he announced he also plans to file the same two counts of bribery and corruption against Mr Brown’s wife, Shirley Anne Inglis, saying she was involved in a “laundering exercise” by accepting the upgrades on behalf of her husband.

      Wow, that’s harsh. Not sure the court of public opinion will be behind filing against Len’s poor wife.

      Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Court-action-possible-for-Len-Browns-wife/tabid/1607/articleID/328611/Default.aspx#ixzz2qV5WUbud

      • Colonial Viper 5.2.1
        16 January 2014 at 9:32 am

        Nothing like kicking a woman in the guts when she is down and making her re-live her husbands hotel room proclivities in court.

        Seems a little cruel and unusual.

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 5.2.2
        16 January 2014 at 9:38 am

        Yeah, McCready is drawing a long bow against Brown, never mind Inglis. So are you. incidentally, with your poison words about her. I am loath to explain this because politicians’ families and private lives are out of bounds, motherfucker, but one thing I know for sure is that you have no more knowledge of the internal dynamics of that family than I do.

      • Tracey 5.2.3
        16 January 2014 at 9:43 am

        yes, cos our system of justice is all about public opinion.

        Pretty sure there has to be intent to accept the rooms in return for a vote or knowing that was why they were offered.

      • bad12 5.2.4
        16 January 2014 at 10:10 am

        Yeah, just up on the Herald on lines website is confirmation that McCready and i will make a assumption here and pre-apologize if i have it wrong, Penny Bright are now alleging that Brown’s wife was ‘laundering’ illicit proceeds gained by Brown by Her having booked most of the hotel rooms in question,

        Now that to me is just Fucking Sick, if anyone is a victim in this whole sordid pile of s**t it is the Wife of Len Brown and to attempt to slur Her by alleging that She knew Brown was being paid off with free and upgraded accommodation that she was knowingly booking is to simply re-victimize Her all over again,

        Penny Bright and Graham Mac, enjoy your five minutes of fame, hopefully with these two prosecutions the Courts note that you have become vexatious litigants and toss anything you may bring befor them in the future into the rubbish bin…

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 5.2.4.1
          16 January 2014 at 10:13 am

          Ditto for the assumption that anyone is in a position to assign “victimhood”. Leave the personal family stuff out of it completely. You are playing Palino/Slater/Wewege’s game.

          • bad12 5.2.4.1.1
            16 January 2014 at 10:28 am

            OAK, can you repeat that in English that can be understood and perhaps add who exactly you are responding too…

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 5.2.4.1.1.1
              16 January 2014 at 12:21 pm

              Bad12, I was responding to you. If we want family to be out of bounds in politics (and I believe we do) that extends to presuming to speak for politician’s family members, who are perfectly capable of speaking for themselves.

              • bad12 …
                16 January 2014 at 3:00 pm

                That is just spurious bullshit OAK, it is not i who have dragged Brown’s wife into the public spotlight with these threatened tawdry charges,

                Now that McCready and Co have made this a public spectacle then the nature of family relationships has changed and i for one won’t be silenced by your puerile call for ‘vow of silence’ which in effect is a silent round of applause from you for what McCready and Co are about to attempt to inflict upon Brown’s Wife,

                If you OAK wanted family to be kept out of politics then you also should be giving McCready and Co the same message i am, which is to proclaim loudly to these people that dragging brown’s Wife through the Courts on what appears to be even bigger spurious bullshit than you are capable of writing is totally fucking unacceptable,

                i have never called for any form of ‘blanket’ leaving of families out of politics, in the ‘Brown affair’ i have simply taken the position that what Brown gets up to in His private life between mature consenting adults is a matter that should be left to him and his family, i am not the moral police,

                Leaving ‘family out of politics’ is definitely a laudable aim, but, that depends entirely upon what is alleged when an attempt to drag family into politics is made by anyone and whether we have any slightest shred of fact to back up any such claims made against a politicians family,

                As far as presuming to speak for Brown’s wife, i don’t, like many others here at the Standard i am of the opinion that Brown’s affair with Ms Chuang was His private life and that the only people Brown had to justify such actions to were his family,

                In my opinion Brown’s wife was and is the major victim of His affair with Ms Chuang the latest actions of McCready and Co will simply lead to Her re-victimization as i have not the slightest belief that McCready has a shred of evidence that what He alleges occurred,

                Lastly this is Open Mike a page specifically set aside for discussion of anything and everything, telling me or anyone else what they can or cannot comment on is likely to gain you the response of go eat s**t…

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  16 January 2014 at 3:10 pm

                  Oh I completely agree about McCready – I hope the courts reject his brief in no uncertain terms, and based on Andrew Geddis’ analysis it seems they will.

                  You can’t simultaneously want family out of politics and then use the alleged feelings of family members in your argument. That is simply another form of revictimising, thus, playing Palino/Slater/Wewege’s game. Or having your cake and eating it.

                  I prefer families be kept out of politics. Do as you will.

              • tracey …
                16 January 2014 at 3:03 pm

                Interestingly Key was happy to have his son filmed playing golf with he and Obama…

          • tracey 5.2.4.1.2
            16 January 2014 at 3:04 pm

            Wee Wegee Winky?

        • Tracey 5.2.4.2
          16 January 2014 at 10:16 am

          plus 1

      • phillip ure 5.2.5
        16 January 2014 at 10:30 am

        (re macready suing sian inglis..my fiv cents worth..)

        (ed:..macready has stepped over the line here..

        ..he is basically further victimising/humiliating a victim in this whole sorry saga..

        ..if there is an innocent in this..

        ..it is shan inglis..

        ..and macready is turning a citizens’ fight for justice..

        ..into a tawdry witch-hunt..

        ..and he should withdraw those charges..

        ..right now..

        ..(n.b..were macready to after..say..the spouse of one of those rip-off scumbag finance company douchebags..

        ..who is still living high on the hog..

        ..on those ill-gotten gains..

        ..i would say..

        ..’good on him..!’

        ..but this is just tawdry..

        ..and creating an injustice all of its’ own..)

        phillip ure..

      • Jackal 5.2.6
        16 January 2014 at 10:46 am

        Wow! That’s some serious assholism going on right there folks. I mean attacking a public figure is all well and good, but attacking their partners or families is another thing entirely.

        Such underhanded tactics make it appear that the whole exercise isn’t about moral outrage or justice and is instead simply about getting rid of Len Brown as Mayor. Considering the right wing Palino would likely become Mayor of Auckland in that case, why on earth are so called left wing activists like Penny Bright on the warpath?

        It would be nice if the right wing could come up with something more original than a simple honey trap (you should have seen that one coming Len) and a few false allegations to try and take out their opposition. Besides, isn’t Brown’s affair a private matter between him and his wife?

        Making a false allegation against Shirley Anne Inglis for simply accepting upgrades to their accommodation arrangements is entirely unacceptable! I’m with bad12 on this one, Graham McCready should be found to be a vexatious litigant and his case thrown out.

        • Lantahnide 5.2.6.1
          16 January 2014 at 1:07 pm

          “Considering the right wing Palino would likely become Mayor of Auckland in that case, why on earth are so called left wing activists like Penny Bright on the warpath?”

          Maybe some people aren’t hopelessly partisan and will go after anyone who is at fault, regardless of their affiliation?

          I believed that is generally called “having principles”.

          • bad12 5.2.6.1.1
            16 January 2014 at 4:05 pm

            Lanth, while i somewhat agree with the point of your argument, the major point of all this is not ‘having principles’ it is ‘having proof’,

            As i point out above, we all are entitled to ‘think’ what we want vis a vis Len Brown accepting free hotel rooms and upgrades measured against the fact that Len Brown supported the SkyCity convention center,

            However, while the two facts above could be directly related any thinking person would, without actual proof, have to consider the possibility that both facts are not linked,

            ‘We thunk it therefor it is’ does not in a Court of Law constitute proof and Penny Bright in particular, seemingly up to Her armpits in these prosecutions is wont to drop grand screeds of text here at the Standard, i have yet to see Her production of such ‘proof’ appear here for some strange reason,

            What the threatened charges against Browns wife look like to me is the two Ronnies after having filed charges against Brown Himself have come to the belated realization that it was Brown’s Wife who booked the majority of rooms which were subsequently upgraded or given for free,

            Such a big OOOP’s moment has in my opinion then lead the two Ronnies into what i would call a recovering drunks hamfisted attempt to criminalize the person who was the actual ‘receiver’ of the upgrades and freebies and i have to wonder in a quiet moment whether at least one of the Two Ronnies has in fact fallen far far off of the hypothetical wagon,(while only hearing the soundtrack to the movie Fame i might add)…

            • andy (the other one) 5.2.6.1.1.1
              16 January 2014 at 5:30 pm

              The Two Ronnies, heh! Except they are two very humourless people in public.

              McCready is a convicted blackmailer, kinda makes his case against Inglis a bit creepier.

              They are more like Dr Bunsen Honeydew & Beacker (Bright being Beaker, the perpetual victim of others ‘experiments’).

              http://youtu.be/Mggl7cC8iys

        • tracey 5.2.6.2
          16 January 2014 at 2:54 pm

          “Considering the right wing Palino would likely become Mayor of Auckland in that case,”

          What makes you think Palino would win the election??? He certainly wouldnt get in without an election simply by being runner-up?

      • Murray Olsen 5.2.7
        17 January 2014 at 1:10 pm

        McCready is a loose cannon who has so far managed a wounding shot on Banks. It doesn’t seem to matter to him whom he prosecutes. He’s the Tim Shadbolt of the courtrooms; it doesn’t matter, as long as he’s there. Penny Bright has made it her mission in life to be the conscience of the capitalist state. In my view, neither of them does much to advance left wing causes.

    • amirite 5.3
      16 January 2014 at 10:09 am

      I’m sorry I must have missed something, but what happened to Cameron Brewer’s undeclared little junket? Why is he not being sued, if McCready wants to be consistent?

      And for that matter, did John Key and Steven Joyce received and declared any gifts for their very friendly engagement with SkyCity biz?

      • PapaMike 5.3.1
        16 January 2014 at 2:29 pm

        I thought it had been revealed by the Council that Cameron Brewer did report his Australia trip, and that the Council had overlooked the fact, until it was brought to their attention. It was done in an em.from Brewer.

        • idlegus 5.3.1.1
          16 January 2014 at 3:56 pm

          i heard cameron brewer on rnz say his situation was different regarding the freebies, because he was always upfront about acceding to sky cities wishes. in other words his principles were already bought.

          (np dead moon – kicked out, kicked in “who sold out, & whos for sale”)

    • aerobubble 5.4
      16 January 2014 at 3:56 pm

      When I accept an upgrade I’m doing the Hotel or the Airplane a favor. Where there is an empty room and the Hotel has sold all its regular rooms, its good business to reward repeat visitors with upgrades and on sale the freed room.

      So it astonished me when the NR Moro guests kept harping on about them. Its call basic business commonsense. Now if Brown were the only one getting them, and getting an envelope of cash left in the room, then yeah. But this practice is commonplace.

      Can I up-size that burger for free?

  6. Pasupial 6
    16 January 2014 at 9:07 am

    I am against deepsea oil exploration anyway, but even if I wasn’t; this new groups spokeswoman would have given me pause:

    ” Mrs Broughton said Pro Oil and Gas Otago was in ”regular” contact with the oil companies… The businessmen behind the new group did not yet want to be identified, preferring to work behind the scenes, but there was ”nothing sinister” in that, she said.”

    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/288328/new-group-formed-support-drilling

    When you have to come out and say that your group is not sinister in your very first press release, then you may have PR problems.

    • Rosie 6.1
      16 January 2014 at 9:50 am

      Exactly Pasupial. Anonymous pro oil group made up of business people who want to keep their identity hidden? Seems that Robyn Broughton herself perceives it as sinister as she thought to use the word. Verging on a form of Freudian slip.

      I hope these aren’t the same people that parrot “nothing to hide, nothing to fear” when they defend their mates in the National Govt over the GCSB and TICS Act’s.

      • Colonial Viper 6.1.1
        16 January 2014 at 10:05 am

        I’m reasonably willing to hear what these residents and business people of Dunedin have to say in putting forward their case. In particular, I’m very eager to hear about assurances and guarantees regarding the specific economic benefits that Otago will receive as a region, from any gas or oil extraction.

        IF any commercial extraction does go ahead, I personally think that 1% of the value of fossil fuels extracted should go into a Dunedin City economic investment fund, 1% into a wider Otago Region economic investment fund, and 1% held in escrow in a clean up contingency fund.

        That’s fairly reasonable, I think.

      • Pasupial 6.1.2
        16 January 2014 at 10:23 am

        A group of Dunedin businesses is moving to construct castles as debate intensifies over the arrival of oil companies in Otago waters.

        However, with A Dark Co’s drilling ship, the igNoble Doug Roberts, due by the end of the month, protest group Oil Free Otago has also warned the peasants are building barricades.

        The warning came days after a group of four Dunedin businessmen created a new group; Prostituting Otago Oil, to spell out their support for gas exploration off Dunedin’s coast.

        Spokeswoman Robem Blind, of Dunedin, said the group wanted to counter ”scaremongering” by opponents of oil and gas exploration, and said that; “listening to that kind of person” would infect you with a disease akin to syphillis.

        Mrs Blind said Prostituting Otago Oil was in “regular contact with the forces of Satan”. The businessmen behind the new group did not yet want to be identified, preferring to work behind the scenes, but there was ”nothing sinister” in that, she said. “Nor should the issue of blood sacrifice be pertinent” to this discussion, added Mrs Blind as she dabbed her lips; with a torn scrap of children’s clothing printed with bunny rabbits.

        A Dark Co., New Zealand, corporate affairs manager Acraven Shill said the company was ”a long way” from deciding whether to proceed to full extraction, and whether to use Dunedin or Invercargill as a supply base. All oil companies play this Shell Game of pitting local communities against one another for this dubious benefit ;“it’s better than having the drilling but getting nothing for it; so some one usually knuckles under”, he cackled.

        However, it was ”wonderful” to see growing support for the group, which confirmed what the company already knew, he said.

        “Similar groups have been very useful in the past and they should be worth every penny we pay them.”

    • Ad 6.2
      16 January 2014 at 10:02 am

      Shades of Aramoana aluminium smelter 1982 there.

  7. Tracey 7
    16 January 2014 at 9:33 am

    More TPP leaks

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11187155

    “A key chapter allowed foreign companies to sue the government in an overseas tribunal if it raised environmental standards in a way that hurt foreign investor profits.

    The risk of million-dollar lawsuits would discourage governments from addressing environmental problems, with “serious environmental consequences”, he said.

    A spokeswoman for Trade Minister Tim Groser said the TPP environment chapter would “promote high standards of environmental protection, and enhance the capacity of TPP members to address trade-related environment issues”.

    Asked if the section would be beneficial for the New Zealand environment, she said that “trade and environmental policies can be and should be mutually supportive”.”

    The herald doesnt trust us to read it ourselves so no link given. Found it at huffington.

    https://wikileaks.org/tpp2/static/pdf/tpp-treaty-environment-chapter.pdf

    “Further, where private sector entities or non-governmental organizations develop
    voluntary mechanisms for the promotion of products based on their environmental
    qualities, each Party should encourage those entities and organizations to develop such
    mechanisms that among other things:
    (a)
    are truthful, not misleading and take into account scientific and technical
    information;
    (b)
    where applicable and available, are based on relevant international standards,
    recommendations or guidelines, and best practices”

    • vto 7.1
      16 January 2014 at 9:44 am

      You see? As I keep saying, the TPP changes my vote and sovereignty by changing what laws can and can’t be made (by way of financial compensation / litigation). This means the government has no ability to enter into the TPP.

      The TPP will be null and void.

      Why can’t business simply accept the risk of doing business in another person’s house? Why can’t they accept that the house-dweller is supreme and that the risk of the rules of the house changing is part of business?

      This is simply business pushing people out of the way to get its own way. Business needs to learn its place i.e. subject to the requirements of the house in which it operates. This is all a colossal historic anomaly.

    • Molly 7.2
      16 January 2014 at 9:45 am

      Always think of the situation Mexico found itself in when it refused to accept toxic waste from the US.

      “Mexico refused to deposit toxic waste from the US in her country. However, that was an infringement against the Trade Agreement with the United States and based on this mechanism the waste disposal company was ordered to get 70 million US Dollar in compensation.”

      … Remember reading this somewhere – was difficult to find a link in the MSM, but could have been using the wrong key words.

      • Tracey 7.2.1
        16 January 2014 at 9:50 am

        YUP.

        responsibilities on corporates appear to be voluntary only. Speaks volumes that it has to be written down that if corporates DO engage in voluntary audits or promote themselves s environmentally friendly, the NZ govt should encourage them to do so truthfully…”Encourage”!!!

      • Draco T Bastard 7.2.2
        16 January 2014 at 12:12 pm

        Try this link or this one.

    • bad12 7.3
      16 January 2014 at 10:21 am

      i have had nothing to add to the TPP debate until now, my thinking on this ‘free trade deal’ having been solidified by a couple of articles read from the Herald Onlines site,

      Given what i have read there today it is in fact imperative that David Cunliffe again states clearly that an incoming Labour lead Government reserves the right to withdraw from this TPP as it is now obvious that this agreement will prohibit a sovereign government from making whatever laws and regulations it chooses,

      While Cunliffe is at it and befor the damage Goff is doing to the Labour Party becomes irreversable, He should strip Goff of any ability to talk on trade issues at the least…

      • Tracey 7.3.1
        16 January 2014 at 10:26 am

        I agree. BUT unfortunately he will only say the public should see the drat… but appointed goff and dodged my question on that very apparent contradiction

        From: Tracey
        Sent: Wednesday, 25 September 2013 1:41 p.m.
        To: Hon. David Cunliffe
        Subject: TPPA

        Can you confirm that the appointment of Goff to Trade wont see you water down
        your promise on the TPPA draft to be made public before it would be signed?

        Congrats on your recent election.

        I used to vote labour but moved away in recent times despite being a fan of Clark.

        I want a caring society where we help the vulnerable and dont turn them into punching bags. I will vote Green unless Mr Cunliffe can show me a turn away from cow towing to a few small big businesses

        Tracey

        ———- Forwarded message ———-
        From: Hon. Phil Goff
        Date: Tue, Dec 17, 2013 at 4:31 PM
        Subject: RE: TPPA
        To: “redacted”

        Thank you for your email to Hon David Cunliffe concerning the Trans Pacific Partnership trade negotiations. Apologies for the delay in my reply.

        There is genuine concern about what might be included in the final outcome of the negotiations, which the Government has not adequately addressed by making clear where it stands on important issues in the negotiation.

        Labour demands more openness and transparency from the Government. As Minister of Trade negotiating the China and Asean Free Trade Agreements in 2008, I involved a cross-section of groups in the process including the Council of Trade Unions and Greenpeace as well as businesses and exporters. That helped ensure we got good input and it also won trust and confidence in what we were doing.

        Those trade agreements hugely helped economic growth and jobs in New Zealand with New Zealand exports to China increasing from $2 billion to over $7 billion dollars in five years and closing the trade deficit with that country. It helped save us from suffering as badly as the US and Europe from the Global Financial Crisis.

        Labour has also set bottom lines for support for a TPP agreement. It must result in a clear and significant net benefit to our country. It must be a high quality agreement allowing New Zealand to gain access for our major exports to countries like the US, Japan, Canada and Mexico, removing barriers like the current exorbitant tariff rates on dairy (200-300 per cent), tight quotas and behind the borders barriers. For our services and manufacturing industries we would also want access to government procurement contracts, a market in the US alone worth $334 billion from which we are currently excluded.

        Labour recognises that the TPP is not just a trade agreement but deals with behind the borders issues and could impact on domestic policy settings. New Zealand must not sacrifice Pharmac or give up our sovereign right to regulate and legislate such areas as health, the environment and economic policy or in areas like gambling, tobacco and alcohol. The policy protections must be tight enough to prevent multinational companies from winning law suits against us when we regulate in these areas to their commercial disadvantage. We support intellectual property protection but not where it goes to extremes which would hinder innovation and create excess profits at the expense of the consumer. The Government needs to heed the concerns of smaller companies in New Zealand including those in the IT sector.

        Labour supports trade deals which genuinely benefit our country. We need growth in exports so we can close the gap between the value of what we export and import. A trade deficit which has persisted over 40 years has meant New Zealand having to borrow to pay the difference. Growing debt has resulted in us increasingly losing ownership of our own country.

        We need growth for jobs and higher incomes. We need growth to increase government revenue to pay for higher quality services in areas like health and education.

        The Petri study from Brandeis University shows that a TPP would likely lead to export growth to New Zealand of over $5 billion a year. The Parliamentary Library, based on the Brandeis study, states that could lead to job growth of up to 22,000 jobs.

        Half of our trade goes to the TPP countries. If we did not participate in a successful agreement our exporters would be disadvantaged by facing barriers in the key TPP markets that our competitors do not.

        We continue to insist that the Government better inform parliament and civil society as to its negotiating objectives and its position on issues of concern. Only then can the public be involved in an informed and mature debate. Labour will support a deal only if it is genuinely in the interests of New Zealand.

        Yours sincerely

        Phil Goff

        Hon Phil Goff

        MP for Mt Roskill

        Labour Spokesman on Defence

        Trade, Ethnic Affairs, Veterans’ Affairs

        Associate Foreign Affairs
        Private Bag 18 888, Parliament Buildings
        Wellington 6160, New Zealand
        T: + 64 4 817 6775 | F: + 64 4 817 6461

        • bad12 7.3.1.1
          16 January 2014 at 10:46 am

          Thanks for the reminder Tracey, i remember this from the first time you posted it here, it just begs the question where then is Cunliffe’s RED Labour doesn’t it,

          It’s definitely saddening that to get rid of Slippery’s abysmal shower of you know what we have to have the same old Neo-liberal bullshit rammed down our throats by the leader of this RED Labour Party and the business as usual brigade masquerading in the wings,

          The only real hope of avoiding this disaster would seem to be that the talks collapse completely or the US Congress and Senate refuse to ratify the TPP…

          • tracey 7.3.1.1.1
            16 January 2014 at 2:09 pm

            yup. You know i wonder if the talks are now irrelevant because the 400 corp reps with the us delegation have already got a huge insight into their trading competitors govt policy?

        • Jim Nald 7.3.1.2
          16 January 2014 at 10:51 am

          Thanks for sharing Goff’s reply.
          Btw, Tracey, are you really ok with making your email address publicly available? My gut feeling tells me that should not be quite necessary and can be left out to minimise potential misuses of your email address as well as unsolicited or unwelcome contact with you??

          • BM 7.3.1.2.1
            16 January 2014 at 11:40 am

            You may want to get lprent to remove your email address.
            If you stick it into google it goes straight to your work website.

            That’s only if you don’t want people to know who you are though.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 7.3.1.2.1.1
              16 January 2014 at 12:32 pm

              It will be a test of wingnut ethics, and if Tracey does get harassed by typical National Party members, won’t that be a good look in an election year?

              • BM …
                16 January 2014 at 12:43 pm

                Well, she’s safe from me.
                I was actually doing a public service by letting her know, google’s the ultimate stalking tool and it’s very easy to find out lots of information very quickly especially if you have a web presence.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  16 January 2014 at 12:46 pm

                  “I would never release this information, but I have given copies of it to all my lawyers”.

                • tracey …
                  16 January 2014 at 2:07 pm

                  you mean after you copied and pasted it into your google BM?

                  • BM …
                    16 January 2014 at 2:38 pm

                    Everyone has the same google, Tracey.

                    • tracey …
                      16 January 2014 at 2:58 pm

                      why did you google my email BM?

                    • BM …
                      16 January 2014 at 3:06 pm

                      Ummm, because it was there?.

                      Tracey, I was actually doing you a favor by letting you know.

                      I wouldn’t have even noticed it, if Jim hadn’t have pointed it out, therefore it’s Jims fault.

                    • tracey …
                      16 January 2014 at 3:09 pm

                      But how do you think you did me a favour by warning me about having my email online and then searching it? If you can’t see that contradiction I pity you more than ever for your reasoning deficiencies….

                      In simple language BM

                      YOU didn’t warn me, Jim did, you know this because you replied to his warning post not to mine.

                      you could have warned me and NOT searched my email. My question was why you searched it. Because it was there is a ridiculous answer, think a bit deeper, tell the truth, it won’t hurt you.

                      Interestingly you searched it before warning me.

                      You really are a sad little man/woman BM.

          • tracey 7.3.1.2.2
            16 January 2014 at 2:06 pm

            i thought I had editted it out…

            I imagine by now any damage would be done?

            [Bill: just read the comments and have removed your email]

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 7.3.1.2.2.1
              16 January 2014 at 2:11 pm

              Pretty sure Lprent (or any other editor) would do something for you; perhaps damage has been done, so why run the risk of it magnifying?

              • tracey …
                16 January 2014 at 3:00 pm

                I was making an observation. Such an observation and emailing lprent are not mutually exclusive.

                Interesting I have received two emails so far. Nothing wierd, or evil, just people making contact who don’t usually post here but do read. Bm, of course beat the guiness world record for copying and pasting an email address and googling it.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  16 January 2014 at 3:22 pm

                  I guess that means BM failed the ethics test.

                  Have to say it would creep me out a bit, I think.

                  • tracey …
                    16 January 2014 at 3:27 pm

                    I will feel creeped out when I receive emails from places I have never before and so forth. For now I remain just saddened at how national, pull the wool so easily over the eyes of the unthinking, such as BM… no critical thinking ability, at all.

            • tracey 7.3.1.2.2.2
              16 January 2014 at 3:12 pm

              Thanks Bill

        • QoT 7.3.1.3
          16 January 2014 at 2:03 pm

          God that’s such a fucking shambles. Nothing screams “really want to connect with supporters” like responding to a simple yes/no question with 11 paragraphs of boilerplate.

          I know it wouldn’t be satisfactory in terms of answering-the-fucking-question, but how much better would this have been:

          “Hi Tracey,

          Thanks for your email to Hon David Cunliffe. It’s been forwarded to me as the Labour spokesperson on the TPPA.

          Unfortunately David and I haven’t discussed an official position on releasing a draft since he’s become leader.

          I can assure you that Labour will only support a deal if it is genuinely in the interests of New Zealand and New Zealanders.

          Yours sincerely etc”

          Yes, still a bunch of waffle, but at least you’d know someone in his office read the damn thing and didn’t just scan for the words “TPPA” then copypaste in the generic response.

          • tracey 7.3.1.3.1
            16 January 2014 at 2:10 pm

            or better still, an answer from the leader to whom I addressed it.

          • Bill 7.3.1.3.2
            16 January 2014 at 3:11 pm

            So, apart from Goff praising previous FTAs (which, given that he’s a neo-lib can’t be any surprise), it would appear that Labour has put the kibosh on the TPPA, given this passage…

            New Zealand must not sacrifice Pharmac or give up our sovereign right to regulate and legislate such areas as health, the environment and economic policy or in areas like gambling, tobacco and alcohol. The policy protections must be tight enough to prevent multinational companies from winning law suits against us when we regulate in these areas to their commercial disadvantage.

            Correct me I’m wrong, but ceding the right to regulate and legislate is normally central to FTAs.

            • tracey 7.3.1.3.2.1
              16 January 2014 at 3:20 pm

              Bill, it depends on whether the subjective nature of the following statement early in his reply takes precedence

              ” It must result in a clear and significant net benefit to our country.”

              my emphasis

        • thechangeling 7.3.1.4
          16 January 2014 at 4:14 pm

          Goff has contradicted himself here:

          “We need growth for jobs and higher incomes. We need growth to increase government revenue to pay for higher quality services in areas like health and education”.

          “The Petri study from Brandeis University shows that a TPP would likely lead to export growth to New Zealand of over $5 billion a year. The Parliamentary Library, based on the Brandeis study, states that could lead to job growth of up to 22,000 jobs”.

          22,000 jobs “could” be created still leaves 130,000 to 230,000 people unemployed so where are they all meant to go? And are those potential 22,000 jobs part time, full time, casual, temporary??? How much will those jobs actually pay? Minimum wage perhaps? It’s all guesswork cos Goff really has no real information. It sounds like only Dairy farmers get more money and everyone else has to accept this as the new global neo-liberal norm (orthodoxy).

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 7.3.1.4.1
            16 January 2014 at 4:17 pm

            It’s a double-edged sword.

            On the one hand globalisation favours the strong. On the other hand it connects the weak. The exchange of ideas that comes with it is a genuine force for global improvement (naive as that sounds).

            • tracey 7.3.1.4.1.1
              16 January 2014 at 4:21 pm

              yup. it means Bangladesh get to build a ferry for NZ while National pretends to be creating an environment for jobs

              • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                16 January 2014 at 4:31 pm

                The National Party’s ability to pretend things depends on when the MSM decides it’s “time for a change”.

                This ferry contract could have gone to an NZ firm, and I’m sure its owners have taken notice of the fact that the National Party is happy to help roading contractors and casinos, but boat builders, not so much.

                What to do? Find out the bank account number of the Waitemata Trust? Encourage the workforce to register to vote? Decisions, decisions 🙂

          • Draco T Bastard 7.3.1.4.2
            16 January 2014 at 4:23 pm

            “We need growth for jobs and higher incomes. We need growth to increase government revenue to pay for higher quality services in areas like health and education”.

            That is something only a person who has NFI WTF the economy is would say.

            Growth doesn’t provide those things, increased productivity and diversity within the economy does. The exact opposite of what you get from free-trade.

  8. Tracey 8
    16 January 2014 at 10:06 am

    ““I hear from sole parents every week who say they’re really grateful for the support from Work and Income case managers; who are often the first to ask them what they want to do with their lives and then help them find work,” Bennett said. ”

    Shame it’s not in writing then I could do an OIA.

    • Bill 8.1
      16 January 2014 at 1:26 pm

      hmm – she wouldn’t be extrapolating from the results of WINZ phone surveys by any chance? After my last visit I got the ‘just to check our services are up to speed’ bullshit phone call. Of course, the questions were weighted, far too general and open to massive interpretation.

      So if I said I was happy enough with the service i received on that particular occasion…does that equate in someones mind with ‘grateful’? And since WINZ staff are now meant to quiz about work stuff on every contact…does that equate to ‘helping find work’ in someones mind? And so it goes…

      • tracey 8.1.1
        16 January 2014 at 3:29 pm

        I just wonder whether “hear” can possibly mean verbal. Does she even expose herself to the possibility of meeting sole parents thrust back into the workplace on low wages because the training subsidy has been cut?

    • Draco T Bastard 8.2
      16 January 2014 at 4:26 pm

      And for everyone that she hears from there’s 10,000+ just wishing that WINZ would get out of the fucking way.

  9. Enough is Enough 9
    16 January 2014 at 10:11 am

    Rock Star Economy pfftttt.

    The Main Stream Media has come out in election year with the full artillerary in a desperate assault on the minds of the electorate with the aim of restoring this incompetent government to power.

    International Dairy prices are high which means farmers are able to pay loans back to foreign bankers.

    Other than that the real economny is in further retreat with unemploment more than triple what a ‘rock star economy’ should be.

    While our kids starve, the bankers buy another bach at Pauanui.

    And we are told the country is doing well.

    Fuck off MSM. Stand up and tell the real story.

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 9.1
      16 January 2014 at 11:12 am

      +1 Enough is Enough

    • Naki Man 9.2
      16 January 2014 at 11:58 am

      No kids are starving in NZ, lots of them are obese, you fool

      Pull your head out of your arse

      .Our economy is growing faster than most.

      Farmer’s paying their loans down is not a bad thing.

      Leftards cant stand good news.

      Finally real news from the MSM

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 9.2.1
        16 January 2014 at 12:27 pm

        Funi Man, you’re a liar as well as a racist, eh.

        That comes with the territory, though.

      • Enough is Enough 9.2.2
        16 January 2014 at 12:28 pm

        No kids are starving in NZ….Yeah Right

        That is why every political party has a policy of feeding the starving kids at school.

        Yes that’s right, even Key has acknowledged it. He caused it and his tory charity policy is goood for fuck all. But it shows your statement to be full of shit.

        We love good news. You watch the mood of the nation rise on election night when Key and English are kicked out of office.

        The only thing which would make us smile more is if the next government had the balls to put them both on trial for corruption and selling our country to their rich mates.

      • Arfamo 9.2.3
        16 January 2014 at 12:31 pm

        Fuck me sideways. If there was any other proof needed what a dork you are, funni man, it’d have to be your comment “Finally, real news from the MSM”.

      • Draco T Bastard 9.2.4
        16 January 2014 at 4:34 pm

        Finally real news from the MSM telling me what I believe to be true

        FTFY

        It’s called Confirmation bias

        • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 9.2.4.1
          16 January 2014 at 6:29 pm

          Yes, or: “Finally MSM telling me what I want to believe is true“

  10. Ron 10
    16 January 2014 at 11:35 am

    Just heard a news flash that yet another Forestry worker has been killed on the job in the Wairau Valley Marlborough
    When will the National Far Right Government concede that we do need something to be done about the number of accidents occurring in the workplace especially in Forestry.
    We do need Health & Safety laws to be beefed up and their vindictive cancelling of payments to CTU for H&S training needs urgent revisiting

    • Draco T Bastard 10.1
      16 January 2014 at 12:23 pm

      When will the National Far Right Government concede that we do need something to be done about the number of accidents occurring in the workplace especially in Forestry.

      They won’t. People being killed in service to their masters is fine with National.

    • tracey 10.2
      16 January 2014 at 3:33 pm

      by cancelling, people think they will use the money a different way to make workplaces safe, but notice there was no announcement of what will replace it?

      national are at war… maybe some folks are just starting to wake up to that?

      with less than 25% of the workforce in unions (not including the non members who join when they are dismissed to get free representation) why the almost pathological dislike of uinions?

  11. captain hook 11
    16 January 2014 at 12:39 pm

    funni man is just another shill for the tories repeating their lies and expecting people to believe them.
    he should stay on tr*deme opinions with all the other creeps where he belongs.

  12. vto 12
    16 January 2014 at 12:52 pm

    …. don’t mind the repeat from Helen Kelly’s thread ….

    Another man has just been killed this morning while at work in the forests.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9616939/Forestry-worker-killed-in-Marlborough

    It is the fortnightly headline.

    Collins, Farrar, Williams – hang your heads in shame.

    Disgusting.

    • tracey 12.1
      16 January 2014 at 3:58 pm

      appalling

      A man has been killed in a forestry accident in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley and another worker has been seriously injured near Whakatane.

      Last year forestry-related accidents claimed 10 lives.

      WorkSafe NZ said it had sent expert forestry health and safety inspectors to investigate both of today’s incidents.

      Ambulance officers pronounced the Marlborough forestry worker dead about 10.30am. The incident was reported to emergency services about 10am.

      WorkSafe NZ general manager health and safety operations Ona de Rooy said that to have a death just 16 days into the new year, following an appalling safety record in 2013, showed how much the forestry sector needed to change its behaviour.

      “We have identified an alarming rate of safety non-compliance amongst cable logging operators – nearly half of the 162 we’ve visited weren’t operating in compliance with the industry code and we had to take 203 enforcement actions to force those operators to comply. We had to shut 15 of them down they were so dangerous.

      “We are so concerned at this level of unsafe practice that we have sought meetings with individual forest owners to make very clear to them that they have significant responsibilities,” de Rooy said.

      “We will want to see their safety plans for the contractor crews demonstrate active management of safety standards. If they are deficient, we will be holding them to account.

      Council of Trade Unions (CTU) president Helen Kelly has made many calls for immediate interim regulation for the industry.

    • Arfamo 14.1
      16 January 2014 at 2:37 pm

      Lol. Oh dear, never mind. People can still have a party and pay for their own drinks on the day. Bomber might want to shout – although possibly he’s already got an unexpected headache. Wouldn’t this be better posted in the Internet Party thread?

    • BM 14.2
      16 January 2014 at 2:40 pm

      Lol, what a numpty.

      Shades of Weedle.

  15. Pascal's bookie 15
    16 January 2014 at 3:32 pm

    here’s a funny old yarn from the old days, while the big important story of the day is media outlets with owners who do politics and stuff

    http://publicaddress.net/onpoint/gotcha/

  16. tracey 16
    16 January 2014 at 4:01 pm

    ” A senior Italian IOC member criticised the United States for including openly gay athletes in its official delegation for next month’s Sochi Olympics.

    “It’s absurd that a country like that sends four lesbians to Russia just to demonstrate that in their country gay rights have (been established),” Mario Pescante said at an Italian Olympic Committee meeting in Milan, in comments widely reported by Italian media.

    “The games should not be an occasion and a stage to promote rights that sports supports daily.”

    The Italian Olympic Committee would not confirm or deny Pescante’s comments, but his speech was reported by the Gazzetta dello Sport and the ANSA news agency.

    Asked for clarification later, Pescante said he is not anti-gay.

    “Of course not,” the 75-year-old Pescante he said. “I just wanted to make the point not to let politics interfere with the Olympics.” “

  17. chris73 17
    16 January 2014 at 5:11 pm

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/01/a_newspaper_that_pays_no_tax_complains_about_tax_avoidance.html

    – and the msm wonder why people are turning away from newspapers…

    • Paul 17.1
      16 January 2014 at 5:18 pm

      David Farrar gets told to criticise the Dom Post when it forgets to act as a mouthpiece for the government.
      “Good boy, David,” said his Tory masters. ” You’ll get your overseas holidays if you keep this .”

      I have nothing contempt for that paid Tory propagandist.
      Yet you use him as a source!

    • Anne 18.1
      16 January 2014 at 7:27 pm

      Joe 90 has beaten me to it.
      TV1’s take on it

      http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/john-boscawen-makes-bid-act-leadership-5801517?autoStart=true

      As someone who once knew Boscawen, I baulk at the “safe pair of hands and a positive outcome for ACT” meme pushed by the politically ignorant blonde reporter who fronts the item.

      He was regarded by those who knew him (including me) as an old woman. He’s obsessive and completely lacking in even a modicum of vision. He’s an ideologically based Climate Change denier who has close links to the NZ Climate Science Education Trust – that’s the outfit that took NIWA to court and lost. They were ordered to pay costs to the tune of around $80,000 plus (if I remember correctly) but have never paid them. He’s an accountant by profession. Need I say more.

      In short, a one eyed pratt who thinks because he has a few bob in the bank that makes him an important person.

      • bad12 18.1.1
        16 January 2014 at 8:18 pm

        Lolz, i have trouble in what to refer to Boscowan as, the prez of ACT or the ‘new owner’…

  19. Ian 19
    16 January 2014 at 8:32 pm

    gareth Morgan is a trick. Gareth became rich through capital gains.Untaxed capital gains. He is a hihpocritical fraud, Got to go and feed the cats.

    [lprent: Back again? Lift your game up a bit. I looked at this comment, decide that it was by someone mindless repeating crap that they hadn’t bothered to think about, and started the “stupid troll parrot” scan. It won’t take too many of those before I decide to boot you again as wasting too much of my time moderating a stupid simpleton.

    BTW: While I have very limited respect for him. As I remember it, Gareth Morgan made most of his money in ventures that were and are taxable. This includes such things as the sale of trademe shares. Perhaps you should read the wikipedia entry and point to untaxed capital gains in OpenMike. Because at this point I rather consider that you are a really idiotic and foolish liar.

    Adding you to moderation so that you don’t divert on this post. And moving this comment to OpenMike. ]

  20. joe90 20
    16 January 2014 at 9:08 pm

    I could get used to servicing like this.

    Tesla and GM have both issued fire-related recalls, but Tesla’s fix doesn’t require owners to bring their cars in.

    Tesla Motors is using over-the-air software updates to quickly fix the sort of problems that often arise when bringing a new car to market. This forward-looking approach is an important part of the company’s success.

    http://www.technologyreview.com/view/523621/tesla-motors-over-the-air-repairs-are-the-way-forward/

  21. Penny Bright 21
    16 January 2014 at 9:54 pm

    SEEKING TRUTH – FROM FACTS?

    I respectfully suggest that those who have yet to do so have a very good read of the following Auckland Council ‘Code of Conduct’ – particularly :

    APPENDIX 1: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY FOR THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL and

    APPENDIX 2: LEGISLATION BEARING ON THE ROLE AND CONDUCT OF ELECTED
    MEMBERS

    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/aboutcouncil/governingbody/codeofconductelectedmembers.pdf

    Then, you might care to have a good, hard look at section 8 – which deals with ‘Compliance’, particularly:
    ____________________________________________________________________________

    8.5. Conduct Review Independent Panel

    The governing body shall constitute a Conduct Review Independent Panel.

    The members of the Panel will be selected from a list of persons with appropriate skills and knowledge, to be recommended by the Chief Executive.

    The Independent Panel is not a Committee of the governing body and its sole function is to investigate those matters referred to it and to make recommendations on those matters to the governing body/local board.

    Up to three members on the list will be deemed to be ‘convenors’ who will be the Council’s primary contact in relation to convening a panel when required. ‘Convening’ a panel includes
    chairing that panel. A convenor may appoint other convenors to a panel.

    8.6. Procedures of the Conduct Review Independent Panel

    The Independent Panel will establish and notify standard procedures, fair to both
    complainants and respondents, which it will apply to the investigation and consideration of
    all complaints referred to it. ”
    __________________________________________________________________________

    Why was this process not followed with this ‘inquiry’ into Mayor Len Brown?

    Upon what lawful basis did (former) CEO Doug McKay, apparently chose a ‘process’ which he just made up – then appointed his own people (Ernst and Young) to carry out this ‘inquiry’?

    In my considered opinion, the purpose of so doing was to attempt to protect Mayor Len Brown from prosecution for arguable statutory breaches of the LAWS which cover the role and conduct of elected representatives, as outlined in the above-mentioned APPENDIX 2.

    Other ‘conflicts of interest’?

    Anybody else noticed how (former) Auckland Council CEO Doug McKay, Ernst and Young and Sky City are all members of the unelected private sector lobby group Committee for Auckland?

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

    How many of you know that Mayor Len Brown has been reporting to ‘members only’ meetings of the Committee for Auckland on a regular quarterly basis, behind closed doors, with no media allowed?
    http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/events/127-regular-bi-monthly-quarterly-events

    Oh yes – who did Auckland Mayor Len Brown commission to write a (favourable) report on Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs) – none other than – Ernst and Young:

    http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/document/pdf/201348/PPPStudyForAttachmen1.pdf

    (First CCOs – then PPPs?)

    There is a LOT more to come…………….

    Penny Bright

  22. Draco T Bastard 22
    16 January 2014 at 11:00 pm

    Steve Keen explains the Laws of Thermodynamics to economists and politicians.

    • Colonial Viper 22.1
      16 January 2014 at 11:39 pm

      +1 i.e. the physical reality of the economy, not the financialised paper account of the economy.

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    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
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  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
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  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

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  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

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  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

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  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

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  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
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  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

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  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

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  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

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  • Update on global IT outage

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    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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