Open mike 16/06/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 16th, 2016 - 106 comments
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106 comments on “Open mike 16/06/2016”

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  1. Paul 1
    16 June 2016 at 6:24 am

    Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
    We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

    It was 6 degrees in Auckland last night.
    It was 6 degrees in Dunedin last night.
    It was 1 degrees in Christchurch last night.

    Not very warm to be sleeping in a car.
    Not very warm to be sleeping in a container.
    Not very warm to be sleeping in a garage.
    Not very warm to be sleeping on the street.

    The media may think Game of Thrones, the McCanns, Julian Savea , Cricket’s DRS system and a drunk being punched three times at Eden Park, but they are not.

    The majority of the media is doing everything they can to support Paula Bannett and move homelessness off the headlines.

    “Try walking in my shoes, it’s not actually that easy.”

    This was the challenge TA set to Prime Minister John Key. But really it’s a challenge for us all.

    • tc 1.1
      16 June 2016 at 6:44 am

      Homelessness also seems to have bumped the following from view;
      Tax havens
      mcCullys dodgy dealings, pick one.
      Asset sale proceeds, a full analysis of ins and outs stacked up against the BS about what they were going to do with it.
      Tanking dairy sector.
      That prominent NZer, why all the fuss Johnny.
      TPPA
      Where’s the promised surplus again Bill ? Where that tax cut John ?
      State housing sales, a broken election promise in a housing crises.
      More WINZ stuff ups
      Charter schools plundering the taxpayer and not performing
      Slaters diversion, another WTF moment courtesy of nationals police.
      Sacked DHB’s, a creaking at the seams health system
      ChCh still not rebuilt
      Etc

      • Paul 1.1.1
        16 June 2016 at 6:49 am

        But there’s far more important issues to report…….

        Man films mystery objects in night sky
        http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/81042630/man-films-mystery-objects-in-night-sky

        • tc 1.1.1.1
          16 June 2016 at 6:56 am

          Of course and positioning their cyber bullying meme for more distraction value.

          • Paul 1.1.1.1.1
            16 June 2016 at 7:00 am

            Wasn’t Paula Bennett one of their ‘celebrities’ talking about cyber bullying.
            Isn’t releasing the information about Hurimoana Dennis bullying?
            Isn’t revealing information about beneficiaries cyber bullying?

            • NZJester 1.1.1.1.1.1
              16 June 2016 at 7:16 am

              She is not just a cyber bully, she is a real life one also.
              The National Party ministers are all bullies when it comes to the poor or those that show them up for what they truly are.
              John Key for instance, had a field day bulling that poor waitress and then had his pet MSM bully her even more for bringing the matter to the attention of the public.

        • mary_a 1.1.1.2
          16 June 2016 at 4:33 pm

          @ Paul (1.1.1) … thanks again for your thought provoking posts. Always a good read, even though disturbing.

          And in NZH today, a news item is about number one son’s release of his new song! Can you believe it?

          And so on it goes yet again … more sickening subterfuge and diversion by msm, to protect the corrupt high and mighty!

          Give me strength!

    • save nz 1.2
      16 June 2016 at 7:48 am

      I’m sure the luxury guests are snug and warm in Nuie as they structure their tax affairs to avoid tax with our 7.5 million development grant.

      Maybe Paula can offer a $5000 ticket to Nuie for our homeless?

    • Draco T Bastard 3.1
      16 June 2016 at 5:39 pm

      The overall index is at its best level of the year but prices remain well below the break-even range for farmers, who need about $3000 a tonne.

      Fonterra and market commentators expected only a gradual improvement in prices this year because of an oversupply on world markets.

      I bought a kilo of whole milk powder not that long ago and it cost me $12. One tonne at that price would have cost $12,000. Perhaps Fonterra, and farmers in general, need to be looking at adding more value to their product and selling it retail rather than selling it wholesale and letting others grab all the profit.

      • Colonial Viper 3.1.1
        16 June 2016 at 6:22 pm

        One tonne of whole milk powder on Fonterra’s wholesale trading site is just under NZ$3000/MT i.e. 3 bucks a kg

  4. Paul 4
    16 June 2016 at 7:13 am

    ‘Building a brighter future.’

    Given the housing crisis, does anyone find this slogan just a little ironic?

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/304608/big-govt-house-build-'needed'-for-auckland

    • Greg 4.1
      16 June 2016 at 7:17 am

      It wasnt meant for us, it was for the National MPs, and future job prospects on Chinese company boards, or others, and getting very wealthy from corrupt deals like giving our water away for nothing.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.2
      16 June 2016 at 5:48 pm

      While the government is spending billions of dollars to free up traffic, the managing director of Mainfreight, Don Braid, said more could be done to move people and freight using rail.

      Even the trucking companies are starting to realise that rail is the better option.

      • b waghorn 4.2.1
        16 June 2016 at 5:52 pm

        Let the likes mainfreigt own the rolling stock and the government looks after the rail infrastructure. Its a no brainer,

        • Draco T Bastard 4.2.1.1
          16 June 2016 at 6:23 pm

          They tried that before. The company (Toll) wasn’t paying the bill to use the rail and the government seemed powerless to force them to. It’s one of the reasons why the 5th Labour led government renationalised it.

          • b waghorn 4.2.1.1.1
            16 June 2016 at 6:41 pm

            Yes that was one company with no competition, run by mongrels governed by idiots.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.2.1.1.1.1
              16 June 2016 at 7:03 pm

              It’s very difficult to get competition on rails when you only have one track. Not that I think competition is the answer that we need as it increases costs for no added benefit.

  5. Ad 5
    16 June 2016 at 7:27 am

    The government’s skills haven’t yet deserted them; launching the Pora compensation yesterday has given Bennett breathing space and recovery.

    Still, it’s one media cycle. And it’s a long winter.

  6. Bearded Git 6
    16 June 2016 at 7:40 am

    A tweet just on RNZ…”what a razor-edged heartless sounding woman Amy Adams is”.

    Well said indeed. Why on earth did the Gnats not inflation adjust the payment to Pora as advised? They had a chance here to do the right thing and win some political points, but their nasty penny-pinching won the day as usual.

    Nothing this government does seems to make sense any more. An out-of-touch third term government well past its sell-by date.

    • vto 6.1
      16 June 2016 at 8:06 am

      Yep, Adams reasons for not inflation adjusting were pathetic,…

      … though wrapped in that cold blooded crisp firm voice to try sounding correct

      …..

      I might adjust my tax payment back to inflation-reversed 1979 too

      …..

      fuck the Crown (the british crown that is, dont forget). They fuck over everyone they deal with – that is the british crowns history

    • Puckish Rogue 6.2
      16 June 2016 at 8:45 am

      Political points with whom exactly?

      • McFlock 6.2.1
        16 June 2016 at 1:10 pm

        anybody who would like to see some semblance of a fair deal for a demonstrably innocent person.

        OK, I can understand someone coming up with sophisticated arguments as to why the government shouldn’t spend another sum of cash that’s trivial compared to the government accounts. It’s dickish, but valid if one takes minimisation of expenditure as a categorical imperative.

        But are you seriously claiming that you don’t understand why this largely symbolic gesture could be seen as a fair go by people across the political spectrum? Just in a general sense? As a generally positive and principled act?

        I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: your moral compass is broken.

        • Puckish Rogue 6.2.1.1
          16 June 2016 at 2:44 pm

          The issue here is money, you think 2.5 million is not enough, I think it’ll mean he never has to work for the rest of his life and that’ll be easily double the time he spent locked up, for some its about right and for others its too much

          You yourself said no amount of money will make up for what happened so should he get 2.5 million, 10 million, 100 million, a billion or because no amount makes up for it, nothing?

          No matter what the government did it wouldn’t be enough for some and too much for others, I think they got it about right

          • Robert Guyton 6.2.1.1.1
            16 June 2016 at 2:47 pm

            Busy today, Puck!
            Of course you think the Government got it about right, you’re a supporter.

          • McFlock 6.2.1.1.2
            16 June 2016 at 5:06 pm

            See, here’s the thing, it’s not what they choose to offer him that’s the problem.

            It’s that they chose to skimp on it by using an unadjusted thirty year old benchmark.

            They took a late 70s benchmark and actively decided to not adjust for CPI. That’s the difference between “We’re very sorry, what’s a reasonable level of compensation established historically in NZ?” and “We’re very sorry, what’s the minimum we can pay to make you go away after a nice photo-op?”

            And then shrugging and saying take it or leave it just fucks all over your previous “we’re very sorry”.

          • Paul 6.2.1.1.3
            16 June 2016 at 5:49 pm

            Echo chamber.

  7. North 7
    16 June 2016 at 7:47 am

    Raybon’s gonna get Kan-ned if he’s not careful. You’re just not allowed to explain Bully Bennett’s totality by reference to junk food.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11657226

    • Nick 7.1
      16 June 2016 at 8:16 am

      Raybon… Brilliant and accurate

    • Rodel 7.2
      16 June 2016 at 9:26 am

      North – “Raybon’s gonna get Kan-ned if he’s not careful. ”
      I prefer ‘Campbellized”.

    • ianmac 7.3
      16 June 2016 at 10:51 am

      Oh Raybon. Your column will be axed and your typing fingers will be mashed for daring to challenge the words and action of such a nice girl who is our Paula. You are a naughty boy Raybon, (and North for highlighting it.)

    • marty mars 7.4
      16 June 2016 at 5:00 pm

      So good that article – thanks

  8. Observer Toke 8
    16 June 2016 at 8:58 am

    . The Trio Performers
    . Otherwise known as NZ’s Grand Duchesses Of INCOMPETENCY

    I give you the Minister of Injustice Amy Adams. Her system has allowed the Police to frame a bewildered young man for evil crimes and incarcerate him unjustly for over 21 yrs. She paid the poor fellow out at currency rates deliberately based on 1998 earning capacity.

    VERDICT: The Minister of Justice is a well fed, well paid Incompetent BASTARD.

    I give you the Minister of Housing, Paula Bennett. Her bullying methods of revealing highly confidential material to humiliate and deem lifelong smut on her chosen victims, makes her a well fed, well paid incompentent BASTARD,

    She claims she has more Bastardry up her sleazy sleeves. But a more incoherent Minister dragging her Folio (Housing) through failure after failure, through muckups and secrecy – is callous, and dishonest and unspeakable.

    VERDICT: The Minster of Housing is a well fed, well paid incompentent BASTARD.

    I give you The Minister of Police, Judith Collins. Her tricky little tentacles are sad. She seems to get out of control on a regular basis. She is not Competent. (telling the police to NOT enforce the Road Code recently being a total stupidity) but she is fun.

    VERDICT: A well fed, well paid person fit for Pantomine Duties. But not for Ministries. A funny BASTARD.

    Hekia makes the fourth person – but she is a special case to be dealt with later.

    What I want to know, is how the diggins with so many fine honest and just women in this country, can the Tories choose nitwit bastard women for the important Ministries? Does anybody know?

  9. Rosie 9
    16 June 2016 at 9:17 am

    In case you missed “The New New Zealand” by Tourettes. Sums it ALLLL up.

  10. Chooky 10
    16 June 2016 at 9:19 am

    Where is Palestine these days? :

    ‘Tens of thousands of Palestinians left without water as Israeli firm cuts supplies – report’

    https://www.rt.com/news/346811-israel-water-west-bank/

    ‘Non-Jews should not be allowed to live in Israel – Israel’s Chief Rabbi’

    https://www.rt.com/news/337676-israel-for-jews-rabbi/

    • Colonial Viper 10.1
      16 June 2016 at 6:29 pm

      Israel should not be recreating a Warsaw Ghetto for Palestinians in its own neighbourhood.

  11. Lanthanide 11
    16 June 2016 at 10:03 am

    I feel like the wheels are finally falling off this government.

    They’ve made a series of mis-steps in the last few weeks that the public are finally starting to respond to:
    1. On-going shambles with housing and homelessness; John Key appearing to be very out of touch / lying
    2. Increasing the refugee quota by only 250 from 2018 onwards
    3. Underpaying Teina Pora for 21 years in jail

    There’s also the backdrop of cuts (in real terms) to health and education budgets that are being widely felt through the public.

    • weka 11.1
      16 June 2016 at 10:08 am

      Me too. And things like Bennett leaking personal information, when she did that to beneficiaries a few years ago it felt like she won. This time she seriously misjudged the situation and people will be looking at her for what she really is, and it’s normal to call for her resignation.

      • Lanthanide 11.1.1
        16 June 2016 at 10:23 am

        I’m a little more ambivalent on the leaking thing.

        It seems her excuse has largely been repeated by the media, rather than challenged in any way. But also it’s just a “so what” moment.

        The incident over which the marae head was put under investigation for doesn’t seem all that scandalous, and isn’t really related to the housing situation at all.

        It’s not really the same as beneficiaries who were asking for more money, and their private details showing that they had already received a pretty good level of support from the government.

        Rather than coming off as some sort of clever calculated attack on the marae, it sort of just comes off as “a really weird thing that happened”.

        • ScottGN 11.1.1.1
          16 June 2016 at 1:24 pm

          And it’s got weirder today with the news that the staffer leaked to Rebecca Wright a journalist who’s been at odds with Paula Bennett before.

          • Puckish Rogue 11.1.1.1.1
            16 June 2016 at 1:30 pm

            Why would Bennett do that or does the staffer have a grudge against Bennett…like maybe Bennett told her to leak to a journalist and the staffer deliberately chose her…

            • ScottGN 11.1.1.1.1.1
              16 June 2016 at 1:43 pm

              Maybe they just leaked to the first journo who came along? Who knows?
              I still can’t work out if the staffer was present when the information was given to the Minister or if Bennett subsequently relayed the info to her staff?

              • Anne …
                16 June 2016 at 4:24 pm

                As far as I can ascertain the staffer (press secretary) was present at the meeting with Hurimoana Dennis last Friday. Bear in mind this press secretary, Lucy Bennett (not related to Paula Bennett) only took up the position earlier this year so she probably didn’t know of the past bad blood between Paula Bennett and Rebecca Wright.

                Anyone with any clues knows how ‘dirty politics’ works. Staff are aware what is expected of them, but they proceed to act without providing the minister with any of the details. It’s called “plausible deniability”. So, when the shit hits the fan the minister can act all innocent-like and deny it had anything to do with them.

              • North …
                16 June 2016 at 5:23 pm

                It’s never been said that the staffer was present at the meeting between Bennett and Dennis, only that it was a private meeting. As I recall Bennett said that after the meeting she briefed her staff. As reported in the Herald today by Trev’ – “John Gillespie, TVNZ’s Head of News and Current Affairs, said TVNZ had already confirmed a One News journalist was approached with information.”

                “……..was approached…….”. Meaning presumably that it wasn’t just chit chat in a chance meeting in Lambton Quay. The journalist was “approached”

                Why possibly would a senior staffer play such a dangerous game without the express approval of her principal ? It’d be job-losing serious misconduct if it turned bad. Which it has. Nah, Bully Bennett’s in it up to her ample jowls. If only by nudge nudge wink wink hooped eyebrows. She’s a rum thing that one, with form.

                • Anne …
                  16 June 2016 at 5:36 pm

                  Hi North. There was a staffer present at the ‘private’ meeting with Hurimoana Dennis last Friday. It was one of the first questions asked of Bennett (Mon. or Tues.) and she volunteered the information. She wouldn’t reveal who it was but the consensus of opinion seemed to be it was press secretary, Lucy Bennett. The meeting with other staff members was an office debriefing which occurred later.

                  What I find so disgusting about this whole affair is the fact Dennis is not being investigated by his police peers for any criminal wrong doing. The question seems to be whether he handled the case involving a 16 year old boy, and (the boy’s) relationship with a 15 yr old girl, correctly or not. No wonder Madam refused to talk about it because she and her staff enabler were effectively inferring he was being investigated for suspected criminal behaviour.

    • mauī 11.2
      16 June 2016 at 10:44 am

      Let’s hope so, but how many times have people said this will be the end of this government…

      If damage is being done, I think the housing crisis is doing most of it. National supporters are possibly too self absorbed to think about refugees.

    • Puckish Rogue 11.3
      16 June 2016 at 10:45 am

      I disagree, to a certain degree, the housing issue is something the government is very weak on but as for increasing the quota by only 250 and “underpaying” Teina Pora, that won’t hurt the government at all in fact it might even see a wee bump

      • Lanthanide 11.3.1
        16 June 2016 at 11:51 am

        Feedback on Morning Report this morning was almost entirely against the government’s position on Teina Pora.

        You might say that RNZ is lefty radio, but very seldom has feedback been one-sided to that extent.

        • Puckish Rogue 11.3.1.1
          16 June 2016 at 12:03 pm

          I think that if you can get a new house, a new car and have over 52 grand a year to play with for the rest of your life (and that’s being conservative) then that’s not a bad pay out at all and I’d suggest there’ll be more then a few people that agree with me

          Its the housing that will hurt National, its not looking good and Bennett is fast becoming a liability

          • Lanthanide 11.3.1.1.1
            16 June 2016 at 12:07 pm

            Yes, the housing is undeniably the bedrock of the whole thing.

            It’s just the refugees and Teina Pora have come at a bad time, and appear to be “more of the same”.

            If the refugees and Teina Pora stuff had come up 4 months ago, then I think they’d just be a minor blip. But coming up when they have, it’s more fuel for the fire.

            • Puckish Rogue 11.3.1.1.1.1
              16 June 2016 at 12:11 pm

              Well yes that’s a good point as well

              • Colonial Viper …
                16 June 2016 at 12:26 pm

                National missed out on a silly and cheap way to own the moral high ground in the media with the Teina Pora payout.

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  16 June 2016 at 12:57 pm

                  Or they set a precedent for future cases as well as getting off side with a large group of their voters who think 2.5 million is a decent payout

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    16 June 2016 at 1:07 pm

                    How many of those voters would agree to give up 21 years of their life for $2.5M

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      16 June 2016 at 1:26 pm

                      How many people think that a new house, a new car and over 52 grand a year (conservatively) for the rest of your life is fair recompense

                      Hes 38 so could easily live another 40 years without ever having to work again, nothing can give his years back but now he can do anything he likes without having to worry about housing or work

                      That’s not bad

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      16 June 2016 at 1:31 pm

                      How many of those people would give up 21 years of their life for $2.5M, given its such a ‘good deal’?

                      I know what you are saying, but I am saying that none of those people would swap places, what the government did to this guy was so shite.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      16 June 2016 at 1:38 pm

                      How many superannuitants would accept their NZ super not being inflation adjusted for 21 years?

                      “You’re getting it for free, don’t complain or we will take it away from you.”

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      16 June 2016 at 1:40 pm

                      To CV

                      Agreed, he got screwed over but would half a million, a million or whatever amount make it right?

                      Does there need to be a set formula, laid down by law, that should be used in cases of compensation?

                      Beats me

                    • McFlock …
                      16 June 2016 at 1:59 pm

                      No amount will make it right.

                      That doesn’t mean that any random amount should be paid.

                      “Priceless” does not mean “without value”.

                      Basically, the money is a token amount based on previous cases. Only the government has penny-pinched on the token amount so the actualy “token” is as much a token of small-mindedness as it is indicative of an apology and desire to lessen as much as possible the impact of what was done to him.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      16 June 2016 at 2:07 pm

                      McFlock: yep. As I mentioned the NATs lost a cheap and easy chance to take the moral high ground on a news story this week. Silly, bad political management from them.

                    • b waghorn …
                      16 June 2016 at 5:26 pm

                      $2.5 is a shit load of money , and as someone pointed out he originally ended up their because he confessed .
                      And CV the nats core voter will think its to much so it won’t harm them.

                  • Lanthanide …
                    16 June 2016 at 1:13 pm

                    Page 9 of the report by the judge states that “consideration should be given to adjusting compensation payable to Mr Pora for loss of liberty to reflect the decline in the value of money”.

                    It also states “The rate at which claimants in Mr Port’s position will be compensated, will decline the longer they remain in prison. That appears to be anomalous an unjust”.

                    So for anyone upset by the payment, the government could simply say “we took up the recommendations of the judge in this case, in that it would be unjust to not adjust for inflation”.

                    • Gangnam Style …
                      16 June 2016 at 2:36 pm

                      “we took up the recommendations of the judge in this case” – which Amy Adams has said she has done. But of course she’s just telling a half truth.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    16 June 2016 at 2:51 pm

                    Why would “a large group of their voters” think 2.5 million is a decent payout?
                    What might their reasoning be? What measure might they apply in order to come to their conclusion, do you think, Puck?

                • marty mars …
                  16 June 2016 at 1:21 pm

                  ” a silly and cheap way to own the moral high ground in the media with the Teina Pora payout”

                  What does that mean?

  12. Ffloyd 12
    16 June 2016 at 10:20 am

    Saw our Minor Key being interviewed a morning or so ago, I forget by who/whom to do with the super large drug haul found in the North. Found by a local, who in the process of trying to help drug smugglers with their boat ,unaware of what they were, became concerned enough to get himself out of there and report them to local police. All purely accidental. BUT Mr key said that this large drug haul, tripped over by a local, shows that National’s injection of increased resources and improved policies to the police force are working. This whole scenario had nothing at all to do with policing from what I could see. If it hadn’t been for that local man this haul would never have been found.

  13. Observer Toke 13
    16 June 2016 at 10:35 am

    .

    > I am not sure how you can be ambivalent about confidential information relating to Police charges.

    Could you explain it for me?

    Releasing information can cause a lot of hassle and even mistrial.

    Thanks Lanthanide

  14. Tautoko Mangō Mata 14
    16 June 2016 at 10:58 am

    http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-morello-to-headline-tour-protesting-trans-pacific-partnership-20160615

    “Working people everywhere have had enough,” Morello said in a statement. “The TPP is nothing short of a corporate takeover of our democracy. That’s why people are rising up to stop it. Corporate lobbyists want to sneak the TPP through Congress quietly; that means it’s time for us to get loud.”

    “This fight against the TPP is not about right and left, it’s about right and wrong,” Lilly said. “Whatever you’re passionate about, whether it’s human rights, internet freedom, climate change or food safety, the TPP is a bad deal for humanity, and a threat to the future of democracy. The more people learn about the TPP, the less they like it. It’s our responsibility to sound the alarm, before it’s too late.”

    • Editractor 15.1
      16 June 2016 at 1:45 pm

      I find it weird that, in a story about smears, a journalist appears to be smearing a fellow journalist by seemingly implying that what she did was simply for payback. Why do you find it weird?

      • Gangnam Style 15.1.1
        16 June 2016 at 1:52 pm

        Very weird, dirty politics journalism style, swipe at RNZ too, how about Claire Trevett reveal HER sources.

      • Puckish Rogue 15.1.2
        16 June 2016 at 1:55 pm

        Why would Bennett leak to a journalist she doesn’t get on with? Wouldn’t it make more sense to leak to someone you know and trust (at least as much as you can)

        • Editractor 15.1.2.1
          16 June 2016 at 2:00 pm

          Incompetence?

          • Gangnam Style 15.1.2.1.1
            16 June 2016 at 2:17 pm

            So basically TVNZ would not confirm who the journalist was, RNZ refuse to give up their source, presumably the journalist didn’t out herself, so that leaves Bennetts office as Trevetts source? Maybe Bennett just shot herself in the foot.

            • dukeofurl 15.1.2.1.1.1
              16 June 2016 at 3:43 pm

              The journalist is described as a ‘non gallery’ Wellington journalist. So thats not Trevett

              • Gangnam Style …
                16 June 2016 at 4:14 pm

                No, the ‘non gallery journalist’ is the person Trevett & Kiwiblog have named (because TVNZ & RNZ didn’t name her), some are saying the name was out already but I can’t find it other than in Trevetts piece & someone just pointed me to Kiwiblog too. So I was wondering how her name was released if not by RNZ/TVNZ.

  16. AsleepWhileWalking 16
    16 June 2016 at 1:49 pm

    Ooooh, burn!

    Nice political info from an insider going back to Johnson/Kennedy era.

    Remembers the Clintons fondly 😀

    http://financialsurvivalnetwork.com/2016/06/exclusive-interview-with-roger-stone-telling-it-like-it-is-elite-deviance/

  18. Ad 18
    16 June 2016 at 2:45 pm

    What Happens to a Small Country Without Direction

    From the Reserve Bank, February 2016:

    “In addition to the powerful structural forces that are reducing global inflation, our economy has been hit by several important supply-side shocks. These include falling oil and dairy prices, strong net migration flows and rising labour force participation. Some, such as the changes in oil prices, net migration and participation, are positive for growth, but all of the supply shocks are exerting downward pressure on inflation in New Zealand.”

    From Brian Easton, economist, March 2016:

    The effect of low interest rates should encourage investment in productive activities. … That is not happening. It is possible that there is insufficient demand. But over recent years many measures have been taken to increase investment-inducing demand and they have had little effect. Six years is a long time – longer than from the beginning to the bottom of the Great Depression; you have to go back to the 1880s for a longer period of international stagnation.

    From Kerry McDonald, June 2016:

    “Auckland and the Regions
    The regions are critical in the economy, and for our living standards. They produce a high proportion of exports and are the main tourist destinations. But, they are struggling because the NZD is too strong, they are less valued politically and their competitiveness and quality of life is being undermined, mainly by poor policy which doesn’t recognise their paramount role in the economy.

    Auckland is increasingly a millstone around New Zealand’s neck: “its economy is inwardly focussed, driven by consumption, real estate and domestic services”; “measured internationally it’s performance is poor – ranked 69 of 85 OECD metros”; and “ it must shift from import to export-led, but is not a centre of export excellence or innovation” (source: The Auckland Council Plan).

    The tax free wealth gains on Auckland property is a major opportunity lost in terms of national benefit. In a rational world the gains would be taxed to fund important national programs, such as: a rejuvenated regional development program; or a major blitz on the adverse environment consequences of agriculture; or a major program to reduce the vulnerability and decline of the conservation estate; or a major program to develop future jobs and a more effective transition to a more innovative economy. The tax would also partly compensate the Regions for their export based subsidy to Auckland!

    From Bill Rosenberg, CTU, June 2016

    “Sustainable increases in our incomes depends on more being produced for every person in New Zealand and from every hour worked, but increases are weak according to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) statistics out today,” says Bill Rosenberg, CTU Economist.

    “Per person, production (GDP) increases were only 0.1 percent in the three months to March and 0.5 percent over the year. Per hour worked, production went backwards – over the three months to March it fell 0.2 percent, and rose only 0.5 percent over the same period last year. These are a poor basis for wage improvements,” says Rosenberg.

    “We are also seeing weak exports, production from manufacturing shrinking in three of the last four sectors and increasing only weakly over the year (1.4 percent), and overall increases dependent on construction and care for our aging population. Household spending is increasing more slowly than the rest of the economy.
    “We need a more balanced economy if we want sustainable and increased incomes,” Rosenberg says.

    From Minister of Finance Bill English, May 2016, Budget Speech:

    “Mr Speaker, New Zealand’s economic outlook is positive. Treasury is forecasting real GDP growth of around 2.9 per cent over the coming year, and 2.8 per cent on average over the five years to June 2020. Over 200,000 more people are in work now than three years ago, and another 170,000 new jobs are expected by 2020.
    Over that period, the unemployment rate is expected to drop to 4.6 per cent and the average wage is forecast to rise to $63,000 a year.”

  19. Rosie 19
    16 June 2016 at 3:24 pm

    Wow, Blinglish has confirmed his veto of Sue Moroney’s 26 weeks for babies bill. She had the numbers for the bill to pass at the next reading but Uncle Scrooge says NO. This is unbelievably mean spirited and tells parents that their baby’s well being doesn’t matter. We simply don’t care about the health and future of your family. We don’t care about our society is shaped.

    Sue Moroney’s bill would have given parents another 8 weeks paid leave at home with bubba, on top of the current 18. If I were a parent or planning being on one I’d be gutted.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/306549/govt-vetoes-paid-parental-leave-bill

    • Lanthanide 19.1
      16 June 2016 at 3:43 pm

      Thanks for not saying it was undemocratic.

      • r0b 19.1.1
        16 June 2016 at 3:56 pm

        But it was undemocratic. New post…

      • Rosie 19.1.2
        16 June 2016 at 4:22 pm

        Technically, yes of course the govt can proceed with a financial veto but are you really ok with your govt blocking a majority vote for ideologically driven purposes, dressed up with the handy excuse of “we haven’t budgeted for it”?

        It’s smells shittier than nappy contents.

        • Lanthanide 19.1.2.1
          16 June 2016 at 5:46 pm

          No, I’m not really ok with it.

          But it’s their right to do it, hence why I am not calling it undemocratic.

          • Colonial Viper 19.1.2.1.1
            16 June 2016 at 6:16 pm

            If we had a law which allowed us to vote in an Emperor, does that mean that the decrees issued by that Emperor going forwards can be considered to be both democratic and democratically enabled?

            I say no, but you may say yes.

            • Lanthanide 19.1.2.1.1.1
              16 June 2016 at 6:58 pm

              Depends on the constitutional arrangements for this emperor, and what other bodies of power existed in this alternative universe.

  20. John shears 20
    16 June 2016 at 5:38 pm

    I have just sent the following to Andrew Little.

    “Dear Andrew,
    I have just read that the Paid Parental Leave Bill has been cancelled by VETO enacted by the National Government.

    I understand that there is probably little that can be done to reverse this veto but could I ask that you seriously consider taking steps to ensure that this draconian piece of law is removed from the statutes of New Zealand as soon as is possible. Not modified , removed for ever.
    Thank you
    John Shears.

    • Colonial Viper 20.1
      16 June 2016 at 6:13 pm

      Good thinking. However Labour won’t do that because Labour will want the power of VETO when it is in government itself.

      • John shears 20.1.1
        16 June 2016 at 9:44 pm

        CV can you actually support your statement about what Labour will want as far as the VETO is concerned or is just your opinion?

        • Colonial Viper 20.1.1.1
          16 June 2016 at 9:52 pm

          it’s the only logical choice for Labour. Decentralising control is not their thing. My opinion.

    • McFlock 20.2
      16 June 2016 at 6:25 pm

      Well, this is an argument that goes back in part to the English Civil War.

      But the thing is there’s not much point planning a budget if parliament decides to fuck it a month later, and then you end up with the appropriations debacle that the US has.

      But my suspicion is that in this instance the financial veto is more a cloak for ideological opposition. Like the Cabinet Manual, leaving shit up to this government’s discretion just gives them carte blanche to abuse it in fringe cases the original legislators probably never thought any government would be corrupt enough to exploit.

      My preference would be to enable the option of a veto if the projected cost was a specific percentage of the immediately preceding budget’s total expenditure, say 1%. Or kick back the veto to a single conscience vote in the House.

  21. Ad 21
    16 June 2016 at 6:21 pm

    This is the report our Minister of Agriculture trumpeted at the National Field Days today:

    http://www.mpi.govt.nz/news-and-resources/media-releases/strong-growth-across-most-primary-sectors

    But watch this:
    2013 2020 Forecast
    Dairy $13.1b $17.7b
    Meat and Wool $ 7.8b $ 8.8b
    Forestry $ 4.5b $ 6.3b
    Horticulture $ 3.5b $ 5.7b
    Other $ 1.6b $ 2.9b
    (eg honey)
    Seafood $ 1.5b $ 2.1b
    TOTAL $32.4 $43.8

    The Ministers’ spin was that agriculture is still up because the rest of agriculture is going fine.

    But look at that weighting of dairy on New Zealand’s exports. We can all see Fonterra’s reliance on low value-add whole milk powder has been our economy’s biggest-ever exporting trap. And it’s continuing to go south. With the weighting towards dairy so big and forecast to be even greater, our regional towns and cities are going to get hit harder and harder by its sustained downturn.

    The agricultural sector broadly is doing its best to diversify, and doing us all good. But the dairy industry’s pursuit of high production is making us more and more vulnerable, and we are paying for that hard.

    • Colonial Viper 21.1
      16 June 2016 at 6:26 pm

      There used to be money in doing more and bigger dairy conversions. So that’s where the market went. And neither National nor Labour felt liked intervention was required.

      • Ad 21.1.1
        16 June 2016 at 7:04 pm

        I’m not knocking dairy entirely, or even it’s dominance really – only it’s reliance on low-value commodities and their impact on us all. We’re well overdue for a review of Fonterra and it’s legislation.

        I support the Greens’ call for a suspension of dairy conversions – it’s what responsible regional councils would have done years ago. Only a few of them get it.

        • Colonial Viper 21.1.1.1
          16 June 2016 at 7:09 pm

          So Labour and Greens are going to get in and re: dairy they are going to spend their first 12 months conducting a review? What’s the point?

          • Ad 21.1.1.1.1
            16 June 2016 at 7:13 pm

            The point would be to review the governing legislation to require value-added production on one side, and limit mass production via RMA and water price changes on the other.

            • Colonial Viper 21.1.1.1.1.1
              16 June 2016 at 7:20 pm

              Geeezus. Replace the Fonterra board, and force the sell up of the bottom 30% of uneconomic dairy farms in the country to Landcorp. Done in 12 months.

              Your way will take 10 years before any effect is visible anywhere. Pressuring corporate boards to adopt different business strategies by statute is uselessly unenforceable.

              • Ad …
                16 June 2016 at 8:43 pm

                Nationalising won’t do anything except rise the entire industry up against you unnecessarily.

                My way aims for the higher value side of the business without needlessly wrecking it. We have never had enough capital locally to do that – it’s going to take time and both local and foreign capital to do. Allies, not enemies.

  22. Gangnam Style 22
    17 June 2016 at 5:08 am

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/81162282/british-lawmaker-jo-cox-shot-in-attack-at-advice-surgery–reports

    The attacker shouts ‘Britain First’ yet not reported as terrorism.

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