Open mike 17/06/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 17th, 2019 - 73 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

73 comments on “Open mike 17/06/2019 ”

  • Comments are now closed

    • RedLogix 1.1
      17 June 2019 at 4:42 pm

      The opening discussion on trust is exceedingly on point. Trust is the foundation of all things; the lack of it will kill us faster than climate change.

      I also must confess to a mild crush on Stacey 🙂

  2. Cinny 2
    17 June 2019 at 7:31 am

    Is simon not doing Monday morning interviews anymore and does anyone know why please?

    I'm going to have to look elsewhere for my Monday morning humor crying It’s just not the same.

  3. Robert Guyton 3
    17 June 2019 at 7:32 am

    Presumably, the threat to our wellbeing from climate change is worse today than it was yesterday?

  4. Rapunzel 4
    17 June 2019 at 7:42 am

    It's slightly creepy feeling, what is and if so what exactly is "going on behind your back" this is how this feels to me that China has a stake in what we read and can read what NZers now can;t read unless they pay for. Along with the Herald pushing Hoskings to the front with his opinion makes me queasy.

    How come this "The New Zealand Herald, Stuff and NBR have not been blocked and can still be seen in China."

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/06/17/636037/chinese-nz-herald-retracts-misleading-article

    • James 4.1
      17 June 2019 at 9:24 am

      you understand that they are two different websites right ?

      • Rapunzel 4.1.1
        17 June 2019 at 12:06 pm

        Well I'm guessing one's in Chinese but the Herald, Stuff and NBR won't be and the "Chinese NZ Herald is an NZME joint venture, with Chinese Herald publisher and director Lili Wang owning a 50 percent stake, and NZME Publishing holding the other half.

        For me sharing "news" in such a way and the retraction are an issue – not just for me but those that held them to account and brought about the retraction, right?

  5. Macro 5
    17 June 2019 at 7:44 am

    The symbolism of an illegal settlement in an illegal occupation being named after Donald Trump is hard to deny.

    Netanyahu inaugurates ‘Trump Heights,’ Israel's newest town on the Golan Heights

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/netanyahu-inaugurates-trump-heights-israels-newest-town-on-the-golan-heights/2019/06/16/2207cd24-9041-11e9-956a-88c291ab5c38_story.html?

    • Ad 5.1
      17 June 2019 at 8:01 am

      GReat to see Netanyahu's wife indicted.

      Him next.

      • Macro 5.1.1
        17 June 2019 at 8:28 am

        Yes! But we shall have to wait until September I gather before any further moves on that front. We wait in anticipation.

    • SPC 5.2
      17 June 2019 at 9:08 am

      Let's hope Netanyahu only feels the need for there to be a sense of crisis in the Gulf to get re-elected, rather than a war.

  6. SPC 6
    17 June 2019 at 9:03 am

    Just wondering what might happen in National caucus meetings.

    Kaye, I'm going to go on the media and say why are the declie 8-10 schools not getting money so they do not need to charge fees – claiming its "inequitable" that they do not get the same deal as decile 1-7 schools.

    Novice MP, but are we not questioning the untargeted provision of money – such as the income supplement for power given to all those on super – because not everyone needs it?

    Older MP, breathe through your nose newbie – nothing we say has anything to do with consistency of argument or principle. It's either blatant partisanship for our haves vs the have nots, or just an attempt to put a negative spin on whatever they do. FFS who did your induction into the party, let alone this caucus.

    The deputy leader, well said just look at Soimon, he goes terminator on the person who leaked his expenses and then releases confidential information obtained by unathouraised access as if he is providing a public service. With no shame whatsoever. Truely inspirational. When I was a Minister I was like that.

    • James 6.1
      17 June 2019 at 9:26 am

      It would appear a career in comedy is not for you.

      • SPC 6.1.1
        17 June 2019 at 9:37 am

        It's a comment about the absurd cynical duplicity of those in that caucus.

        • marty mars 6.1.1.1
          17 June 2019 at 2:06 pm

          It's okay – right wingers have very poor senses of humor imo – a good way to tell a fake leftie is check their funny bones – if they don't get it, often they are deep right. As for james well just lol really

      • Gabby 6.1.2
        17 June 2019 at 6:18 pm

        You're right jimbo, it's not at all funny.

    • Peter 6.2
      17 June 2019 at 12:47 pm

      Kaye is not a novice MP. She is a cynical opportunist.

  7. Adrian Thornton 7
    17 June 2019 at 9:52 am

    Here is the blood thirsty manic Mike Pompeo in his own words, who is now out in the open doing everything in his power to start a war in Iran (and Venezuela) , and who all our news sources give free air time to, for him to spout his sick unhinged bullshit, and all without the slightest hint of critique…what the fuck is wrong with our media?

  9. greywarshark 9
    17 June 2019 at 10:56 am

    The Simpsons looking round outside the USA and giving an example of why USA is so well liked and respected all over.

    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvyrMN4rnoM

  10. greywarshark 10
    17 June 2019 at 11:03 am

    Spartan system. Should we think about changing the way we do things. We might become prosperous and attend to what needs to be done. Young males can satisfy their desires for adventure, action and violence by practising active defence (or minor warfare).

    Is this what Israel might do as they have settled in a place which they feel the have invaded and therefore must stay in a state of armed readiness and defend themselves by showing readiness to attack with regular demonstrations?

    • RedLogix 10.1
      17 June 2019 at 2:36 pm

      This is really important, children of both sexes need to be accustomed to hardship and difficulty. For young males especially it's important to be able to handle physical risk and develop the mental resilience to handle mistakes and setbacks. Learning that almost everything you fear is nothing more than a creation of your imagination, and therefore can be confronted, is the basis of courage and moral strength.

      There is increasing evidence that over-protective parenting sets up adolescents for anxiety and depression. Young men in particular absolutely need to be successful at something. It almost doesn't matter what, but competency, performance and being useful is going to be central to their adult lives. And those first handful of years in their late teens, early twenties will set the pattern.

      • AB 10.1.1
        17 June 2019 at 4:59 pm

        "children of both sexes need to be accustomed to hardship and difficulty."

        Hardship and difficulty are going to happen anyway – there's no need to go out of our way to specially set kids up for it. And in the wrong hands, this slogan will be used as justification for doing nothing about grotesque economic equality. I think we should choose our language carefully so as not to give succour to the sociopaths.

        • RedLogix 10.1.1.1
          17 June 2019 at 5:09 pm

          I see what you're getting at, fair enough I can see how my language could be hijacked.

          You are right, life as the Buddhists say is suffering, and parents can and should gradually accustom children to being able to confront it. I recall commenting on this years back but Jonathon Haidt puts a modern take on it:



          • AB 10.1.1.1.1
            17 June 2019 at 7:57 pm

            Apologies for jumping on your comment so hard. Sensitive topic for a parent of a kid with a disability.

            • RedLogix 10.1.1.1.1.1
              17 June 2019 at 8:04 pm

              Same here, not one but two. One of the best bit's of advice we ever got was never to let them use their disability as an excuse. No need to apologise, I really don't mind people challenging my assumptions wink

  11. greywarshark 11
    17 June 2019 at 11:30 am

    Search results gone.

  12. Ad 12
    17 June 2019 at 11:49 am

    Anyone going to the big rail conference in Auckland this week?

    I'm in for a total nerdathon.

  13. greywarshark 13
    17 June 2019 at 12:02 pm

    I received with my newspaper a leaflet advertising a memorial clock with small model of Lancaster bomber on it for $150. I was thinking about it but checked a number of review sites. These made me think! It confirms to me that we should be mostly shopping locally, face to face and trying to put money into our own community businesses, not the large mass sellers who don't give a fancy f.. for us as people.

    I have recently had the unfortunate experience of coming into contact with this company while acting on behalf of an elderly relative who is no longer able to do so themselves.
    I made 8 phone calls to their number and EVERY time their recording advises that they are experiencing high call volume and are unable to take my call then they hang up.
    The only emails that they have responded to are those concerning an account issue.
    After several requests that my elderly relative be removed from their mailing list they continue to send offers to her. …

    and

    I fell for the gold Anzac coins i paid for the first one as it was discounted, but then they started flooding me with more offers that i didn't ask for ,then another coin turned up and then another ,initially i had forgotten how i paid for the first one and thought they must be taking the payments of my credit card ,until i started getting debt collection agencies sending threatening emails so i sent two back straight away but they continued to ask for more money, so i sent everything back including the ones i paid for and yey again they continue to want more money i am a disabled pensioners and had a perfect credit rating i think they are parasites.

    • Peter Christchurch NZ 13.1
      17 June 2019 at 12:08 pm

      AVOID. This seller employs underhand tactics to elicit more and more money out of you. They will never leave you alone. Worse thing is, if you pay by direct debit, you may well find additional or higher payments being deducted and the chances of correcting the 'errors' will be almost nil.

      There are some pretty good items like this available from reputable companies advertised (I think) Military History magazine. There are two magazines very similar, one US and one UK. It is the US one. In library in ChCh but maybe not elsewhere.

    • Exkiwiforces 13.2
      17 June 2019 at 3:50 pm

      If you are after such a model? May I suggest you have a look at Corgi Diecast Aircraft in 1/144 Scale as they have a number limited edition Lac's over the yrs and even some second hand one that still have the box in good condition at reasonable prices.

      Since Corgi has moved back its design office and production line back to UK the workmanship and quality has improved.

      I mainly collect in 1/72 Scale and V Bombers in 1/144 focusing on Brit/ Commonwealth Airforces and FAA from WW2 to the present and WW2 Luftwaffe.

      HobbyMaster has a good collection of RAAF and RNZAF Aircraft in 1/72 and 1/48 Scale. The latest RNZAF aircraft from HobbyMaster is the P51 ZK-TAF in old Ray Archibald's markings when he was CO of 3TAF Sqn in the 50's based out the old Wigram AFB and a P40 Gloria in Sth Pacific markings.

      For Military vehicles its very small market? With only two from Oxford Diecast in 1/76 with a Sherman in 4Armd Brigade colours and a White Scout Wagon in NZ 4Fld Rgt colours when they were in Desert. There maybe a Dingo Scout Car out as well from Oxford, but i'm sure atm?

  14. Incognito 14
    17 June 2019 at 12:30 pm

    However, a review by ANZ found that one of the risk models, to calculate operational risk, had been decommissioned in 2014 without its knowledge.

    …

    Key added that the issue was created by a "junior staffer". It would have been inappropriate for him to resign as the board had been told in writing that the model was compliant. [my bold]

    These ‘junior staffers’ carry a lot of responsibility nowadays, especially when they’re working for a Nat or ex-Nat.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/113534617/anz-chief-executive-leaving-following-review-of-personal-expenses

  15. greywarshark 15
    17 June 2019 at 2:08 pm

    I am concerned that conservative Christians are baying at the door, if they haven't already entered the childcare arena. The conservative Catholic side has already been revealed in discussions and suggestions concerning social matters by Bill English and his wife Mary English. I note that there is an emphasis on the importance of family life by the Maxim Institute.

    But concern from this side of the socially moral may quickly lead to a moral outrage that leads to preventative measures that control in a punitive way those who don't measure up to the rigid and strict codes they wish to impose on young women particularly. Parenting classes and support and help with health and contraception would lift the parents and to be there for them would be excellent with the emphasis on self-help and mentoring. Sometimes to provide accommodation in a shared facility with new female-head families having 2-3 rooms and assistance and controlled surroundings would be good and I don't know if that has been done for young mothers.

    But government often takes this disparaging view that leads the public to follow. Government could take a lead in changing this damaging stereotype to one of admiring the efforts and achievements gained. Then there wouldn't be the pile-on that we saw on Metiria Turei for doing all she could to continue with her study and succeed, and also make ends meet by giving up much of her home and privacy for extra rental income.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10819669 Big families mean big welfare dollars.

    Taxpayers are forking out $2000-plus a week to a select group of benefit-dependent parents with more than 10 children. Official figures show that twelve families on welfare have 10 or more kids, receiving a range of top-up payments on top of their average of nearly $1000 a week.

    Social Development minister Paula Bennett said she was keeping a close eye on them. "There's two words we don't use often enough in this country and that's self-responsibility," Bennett told the Herald on Sunday. "The size of someone's family is their business, so long as they don't expect someone else to pay for it."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/392199/oranga-tamariki-inquiry-won-t-be-released-to-the-public-in-full

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/392172/family-justice-review-urges-integrated-approach-to-services

    • RedLogix 15.1
      17 June 2019 at 2:21 pm

      I am concerned that conservative Christians are baying at the door,

      Lay off the Christophobic hate speech comparing them to dogs or wolves. devil

      • greywarshark 15.1.1
        17 June 2019 at 2:27 pm

        RL That's what you thought of. I didn't say that. And I think it is an appropriate adjective for the situation.

        • RedLogix 15.1.1.1
          17 June 2019 at 3:07 pm

          Can you see how a serious Christian might not think it ‘appropriate’? Of course I'm just confirming the point you made earlier; that hate speech laws could have all manner of unintended effects.

          Incidentally I once at an authentic Soviet era cafeteria. To this day I cannot think how they managed to make everything on the plate look and taste some shade of grey. Even the cabbage.surprise

          • mac1 15.1.1.1.1
            17 June 2019 at 3:46 pm

            I had a meal in Kobe in Japan where everything was boiled/simmered and was grey. Tasty enough. I asked at this little working class restaurant whether this was Kobe beef. The diners there laughed and laughed. Little did I know, Kobe beef was about $200 a kilo.

        • In Vino 15.1.1.2
          17 June 2019 at 6:24 pm

          True – wolves howl; dogs bark.. I think baying is generally used for the funny yowl that hunting hounds make. Still dodgy: did you mean something different again GWS?

    • Shadrach 15.2
      17 June 2019 at 5:12 pm

      "I am concerned that conservative Christians are baying at the door, if they haven't already entered the childcare arena."

      You are well out of date. Christian ECE centres have been operating successfully for decades.

      "Then there wouldn't be the pile-on that we saw on Metiria Turei for doing all she could to continue with her study and succeed, and also make ends meet by giving up much of her home and privacy for extra rental income."

      Most people study and succeed without having to rort the taxpayer.

    • Ad 15.3
      17 June 2019 at 7:51 pm

      Conservative Christians have made up the social welfare system before the idea of a state social welfare system was even invented.

      It's the current government that needs to be held to account for misuse of state powers.

  16. greywarshark 16
    17 June 2019 at 2:25 pm

    Bikes and pedestrians, mobile runarounds and all, bides and e-bikes. The authorities have allowed all manner of off-road vehicles onto footpaths and brought in no new laws although it is obvious that there is a problem of putting metallic vehicles where there are soft-fleshed slower people trying to walk which is an ordinary, normal activity that we've done since Adam was a cow-boy. Here is one where a cyclist was hit by someone on an e-bike who appears to be fairly unconcerned.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12240906 Injured cyclist begs Auckland Transport to crack down on e-bike cycleway users

    But [Tony] Hickey is worried that the cycleway has become "awash with a***holes" who are endangering legitimate users, including children.

    The cycleway had become a de facto road where self-powered cyclists were treated as a nuisance, Hickey said. "In fact, it is worse than a road because it is lawless and unregulated."

    Visibility issues needed fixing, but those would not be a problem "if people do not overtake when they cannot see, and learn that ringing a bell, like tooting a horn in a car does not give you right of way, and the right to endanger others".

    (He is saying what I am thinking – and a lot of others too.)

    Our government and Local Government NZ should be sued for not doing a proper job as they should have set up a legal framework. I think bikes should be licensed and have number plates and if they run into anything they should have to pay compensation – no Knock-for-knock thank you.

    All this hoo-ha about bikes and mountain bikes has arisen because it has become a fashion, and a sport, and those who ride bikes see themselves as very green, and have become very deserving and above censure. Sanctimonious types. There will be a backlash soon, water pistols with dye in them perhaps, a whippy willow stick to give the lash.

    Walkers are not going to put up with being menaced when they want to go out for a soothing walk in the open air, which incidentally is part of the Green Prescriptions that GPs give out to their patients.

    What a mixed up country we are, totally unco-ordinated, and haring off after the latest craze and money-maker. Like immature children – encouraged by crazed desires from politicians to be a powerful and rich country.

    And just when we should be looking at something different. Can anyone think how to make thinking forward and considering risks and future scenarios sexy? Someone who has worked in advertising and PR perhaps.

  17. Marcus Morris 17
    17 June 2019 at 5:06 pm

    Is Sir John Key's teflon coating starting to wear a little thin – wearing through even??

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12241106

  18. Marcus Morris 18
    17 June 2019 at 6:14 pm

    I see the issue is now on Daily Review. Blaming a junior staffer – now where have we heard that before.

  19. greywarshark 19
    17 June 2019 at 6:18 pm

    I saw in post about Mr Makhlouf that Wild Katipo at 11.1 pointed the finger at Mr Harold Titter for something to do with health. I thought I would find out a little more about this person. It is interesting to know what people involved with our NeoLib dive in the 1980's ended up.

    I was interested in this person Harold Titter that WK referred to. So have looked him up and his roles have been many-splendoured things.

    https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2017/04/nicholas-kerr-other-passion-of-sir.html   (About the wealthy POV as to the intro of New Lib Ec.)

    About 1985 – Doug Walker MD of NZ Forest Products Limited was the initial Chairman of the NZ Business Roundtable. He was succeeded by Harold Titter who was MD of Feltex New Zealand Limited. I became the Secretary (I was Company Secretary/General Counsel of Feltex). In February 1985 Ron Trotter became Chair. It was during his Chairmanship that it was decided to have a fulltime executive director of the Round Table and Roger was appointed
    Noel Vautier

    Feltex in which Harold Titter was MD for a time in the 1980s. It went into receivership in 2006. (Interesting view on how small and inbred NZ business is.) https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10394633

    The twist to this: the McKendrick family sold Kensington Carpets to Feltex in the 1970s and the late George McKendrick continued as managing director under the new owners. He was dismissed, went to Australia, set up Godfrey Hirst and retained a dislike for his former employer. His family, which still controls Godfrey Hirst, are now in a strong position to avenge their father's dismissal.

    2007 Sue Bradford mourns Feltex' loss. http://www.converge.org.nz/watchdog/13/03.htm

    2007 – http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00076/the-feltex-debacle-new-zealands-enron.htm

    2007 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10430514  – Harold Titter appointed as Commissioner to Auckland District Health Board.

    2012- Harold Titter – The award is named for foundation trustee Harold Titter, a former Managing Director of Feltex New Zealand, Commissioner of the Auckland Area Health Board and Pro Vice Chancellor at The University of Auckland. https://mhsfaculty.auckland.ac.nz/faculty/newsandevents/deans-diary/issue245-11may2012.aspx

    Social Bonds for Mental Health are SCARY. Here's what you can do -…https://thedailyblog.co.nz/…/social-bonds-for-mental-health-are-scary-heres-what-you…
    Jun 10, 2015 – Do any of you remember the name ' Harold Titter ' ?…. he was the … an angle for private concerns to make a buck out of the public of NZ ?

    https://investmentnews.co.nz/investment-news/former-money-managers-linked-trustee-firm-restructures-gets-licence-hires-up/
    2018 – Heritage earned its licence from the Financial Markets Authority last December joining a market dominated by just three firms Trustees Executors, Public Trust and Guardian Trust. The FMA also licenses two smaller supervisors: Covenant Trustee Services (owned by Guardian); and, Anchorage Trustee Services, which operates exclusively in the retirement village domain….

    Last month Viking offloaded its share to Wellington-based Vaughan Stanley while Cargill retains a 51 per cent stake in Heritage. In February Heritage also appointed, Harold Titter, to the board to join Richard Hanna and Edward Russell. Hanna was named Heritage director last December when Colin McCloy and Christopher Darlow retired as board members. Russell, who was with Calibre Asset Services when it served as trustee of the failed Money Managers First Steps funds, joined the Heritage board in 2014.

    It is interesting how many lives these directors have, rising like phoenixs after dropping out of sight, into some new position.

    • Gabby 19.1
      17 June 2019 at 6:31 pm

      It's amazing what a trail of wrecked, trashed, gutted, tanked companies some leave behind them too. The bigger the failure the bigger the payout.