Open Mike 17/10/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 17th, 2018 - 79 comments
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79 comments on “Open Mike 17/10/2018 ”

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  1. Ed 1
    17 October 2018 at 6:10 am

    It seems a fitting day to remind ourselves of this debacle of an interview.

    The fact of the matter is…….

    • WILD KATIPO 1.1
      17 October 2018 at 7:25 am

      Yes, I’ve often posted that one,… it was that interview that told me all I needed to know about Bridges character and confirmed the gut feeling I got that he was , – if he became leader, – only going to be an interim one. You just cannot have such a belligerent , dogmatic and obnoxious person like that as the nations leader. There was none of the wit of Rob Muldoon , or his confidence , … just repetitive phrases, interjections, shooting the messenger instead of answering the questions , ( sure Muldoon did that to Tom Scott and others )…

      I’ve always suspected Bridges was just a placeholder for the Nats,… but I never dreamt it would turn out this way. But just one word of caution : the Nats are up to something, and when Bridges goes,… be prepared for whoever follows or the one after that.

      The stench of a dead eyed globalist like John Key is on the way for sure. One who will carry on the National party baton of selling this country out to foreigners with diplomacy and aplomb should they regain power.

      The Nats must be kept out of power at all costs. They are cancer for this country.

    • Ed 2.1
      17 October 2018 at 7:31 am

      Bomber nails it .

      “National looks less like a political party and more like a front for Chinese business interests”

      https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/10/16/national-looks-less-like-a-political-party-and-more-like-a-front-for-chinese-business-interests/

      • soddenleaf 2.1.1
        17 October 2018 at 1:44 pm

        Still someone has to lead. Paula. Sorry, it all looks like a very badly adaptation of game of thrones without the interest bits, murders, naked people, etc, etc.

    • SaveNZ 2.2
      17 October 2018 at 9:48 am

      Good links Ed.

      All donations lead back to people who have significant property interests, have dinner with MP’s and then donate large amounts that are illegally hidden in smaller donations and also same donor on the Auckland City delegation to China.

      “On the Companies Office Zhang is listed as a director of HLG Holding, Trans Tasman International, Chao Shan Trustee, Chao Hui Holding and KCC Construction, which says it specialises in residential construction in Auckland region.

      In 2017 Zhang was part of an Auckland Council business delegation to Guangzhou.”

      I think we can be assured that corruption and secret donations, is alive and well in NZ and being fostered by our government ministers and councils.

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/107875950/chinese-businessman-embroiled-in-corruption-allegations-had-simon-bridges-over-for-dinner-wife-says

      • SaveNZ 2.2.1
        17 October 2018 at 10:01 am

        ON that note, there are daily pleas from various groups for various schemes to provide more profits for construction interests in Auckland funded by the government with taxes, (today Salvation Army for example thinking the taxpayer should build more houses for people to buy on salaries between social housing and Kiwibuild (who does that help, construction interests!)

        At no time have I ever seen anyone in the media or all these groups with ideas which all seem to be around more construction paid for by the government or ratepayers, rather than better planning or allocation of housing.

        They never suggest the cheapest and most obvious way, aka it goes to the most needy and most valuable to the country (aka the people who live here and do essential work) and that the government needs to limit demand because at present everybody in the world can buy our new houses, farms, land and commercial assets and investors from OZ and Singapore have access to the above and the existing houses too.

        In addition, anyone with permanent residency which is easily bought within 2 years and a fake job and degree, can buy existing residential property and there is an insatiable demand for ‘gold brick’ assets especially from countries like China, that are unable to buy land in their own countries because it is all government owned plus it is a cash economy with high levels of bribes needed to get anything done so there is plenty of cash knocking around, and not many ways to spend it.

        As seen by the UK, any build or sell to buy, needs to rely on a static or decreasing population to work. At present in NZ we have the opposite and that is exactly what happened in the UK… so now they are up shit creek without a paddle trying to pay for all the social and affordable housing and land they now need because they got 5 x more migrants than they expected when some of the Eastern European countries joined the EU, and they now needed those houses that they sold for a song, not that long ago.

        It also created a situation where sell to buy, drove up council rents because social housing went from being cash positive for the country to being negative and they then of course needed to put the rents up… plus the rise of intermediaries on six figure salaries instead of a few council workers on average salaries, doing a piss poor and life threatening job of managing the assets… aka Grenfell.

      • Sans Cle 2.2.2
        17 October 2018 at 5:41 pm

        Trans Tasman International …..interesting….The sea bed prospectors….
        The same company that Jenny Shipley was director for, a few years back?

  3. Dennis Frank 3
    17 October 2018 at 6:26 am

    A fun view from the Civilian: “We’re talking about roughly two years of operations being carried out in the space of an hour,” said one confidant. “These things were supposed to be methodically planted, carefully weaved into the fabric of caucus’ consciousness, little bits leaked here and there. But this morning was a disaster. He just went and read every last bit of it out to the media. There hasn’t even been time to plant evidence for some of this stuff.”

    “This isn’t the first time that one of Collins’ host bodies has gone rogue – early prototypes of the programme, Aaron Gilmore and Todd Barclay, also backfired in public – but neither of those incidents were anywhere near as destructive as this one is proving to be, and it may be just the beginning.” http://www.thecivilian.co.nz/judith-collins-loses-all-control-of-host-body/

  4. Ed 4
    17 October 2018 at 6:39 am

    And on the most issue facing us, Rachel Stewart nails it.

    “Rachel Stewart: Climate – Don’t say I didn’t warn you

    If you’re familiar with my writing, you’ll know I’ve been doomin’ and gloomin’ it for eight years now. I’m nothing if not consistent when it comes to the state of the planet.

    The latest IPCC report on the climate crisis just means that the scientists have decided to act more like me. In other words, they know the depth of the problem but have finally chosen to not sugar-coat the truth. Where we (may) differ is in the “hope” department.

    The report says there’s a small window of time to alter our trajectory. Which is, of course, a last-ditch attempt to get politicians and the public to start acting like it’s World War III. Because that’s what it would take to turn this overloaded, burning, sinking mess of a global ship around.”

    The most important article you’ll read today.
    Read the whole thing here.
    This is worth a thread in its own right.
    Every day.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12143210

    • patricia bremner 4.1
      17 October 2018 at 10:18 am

      Rachel has consistently warned us. A very thoughtful eloquent journalist.

    • Grey Area 4.2
      17 October 2018 at 10:23 am

      I rate Rachel Stewart too and after reading this was thinking much the same as I cycled to work today Ed. Politics is just a diversion from the biggest issue facing us. I can’t find the reference again but I saw a reference to a writer recently (but haven’t been able to find again) who says that basically the human brain is just not capable of dealing with the enormity of the crisis facing us. So we just go into denial and continue to live as if it isn’t happening.

  5. Dennis Frank 5
    17 October 2018 at 6:48 am

    From Stuff: ” More than $31 million has been donated to registered political parties in the past six years, most of that to National. Smaller parties like the Greens publicly disclose who provided most of their funding, but the big parties are secretive. 83 per cent ($8.7m over six years) of the money donated to National is from anonymous donors, and 80 per cent ($2.8m) of that donated to Labour.”

    “Labour is revealed to have collected tens of thousands of dollars in anonymous donations through art auctions. The party declared the money to the Electoral Commission in the names of painters like Karl Maughan and Stanley Palmer, even though the artists never saw the money and had no idea they were being named as donors. The worst offender is NZ First: Most years, it allows every single one of its donors to remain secret.”

    “RULES OF DONATION:
    The secretary of each registered political party must file an annual return of party donations and loans with the Electoral Commission by 30 April of the following year for donations and loans received in the last 12 months.

    Party donations and contributions to donations of more than $15,000 (including GST) are required to be declared in the party’s annual return of donations. A series of donations, or contributions of more than $1,500 to donations, made by one person that adds up to more than $15,000 must also be declared.

    Where donations exceed $30,000, or all the donations received from the same donor in the preceding 12 months is more than $30k, a return must be filed with the Electoral Commission within 10 working days of receipt.” https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107885929/inside-the-secretive-world-of-political-donations

    • Chris T 5.1
      17 October 2018 at 6:55 am

      Lol

      Far out

      I don’t actually see why any donations to parties should be allowed to be anonymous.

      It isn’t like donating to a charity and now in the days of computers, it is hardly a major administration problem keeping that much data.

    • SaveNZ 5.2
      17 October 2018 at 8:24 am

      About time that political donations are outlawed and each party just gets a set amount to spend. It’s tiring to have to wade through the spin, most of it inaccurate from the political parties.

      We need to get the rot out of our political system before we turn into USA and you have to be a billionaire or owned by big business to become president and mount a campaign and by that time many people have stopped or been stopped from voting.

      Since having fairness seems like a radical solution, then at the very least all political donations are publicly available and there is a limit on the amount donated aka not more than $100,000 and no donations from overseas interests.

    • SaveNZ 5.3
      17 October 2018 at 8:26 am

      Scary stuff, should be a police investigation on that practice too.

      “Labour is revealed to have collected tens of thousands of dollars in anonymous donations through art auctions. The party declared the money to the Electoral Commission in the names of painters like Karl Maughan and Stanley Palmer, even though the artists never saw the money and had no idea they were being named as donors. The worst offender is NZ First: Most years, it allows every single one of its donors to remain secret.”

    • Chris T 6.1
      17 October 2018 at 6:58 am

      Bringing up how many donors to National and Labour who get honours would be a long list.

    • tc 6.2
      17 October 2018 at 7:01 am

      Honours seem to get handed out if you ran shonkys fav restaurant so why not for cash because as they say cash is king. They just have to say why…services to dodgy development maybe.

      • SaveNZ 6.2.1
        17 October 2018 at 8:27 am

        Services to leaky building and bad or non existent earthquake repairs…

        • tc 6.2.1.1
          17 October 2018 at 8:40 am

          Services to domestic hardware labelled as commercially acceptable for office/hotel etc perhaps…….hearing that practice is alive and kicking in Akl.

          • SaveNZ 6.2.1.1.1
            17 October 2018 at 9:30 am

            Services to Wellington being the only city in the world to remove sustainable public transport since the Paris climate accord was signed in 2015.

            Sevices to the shortsighted and incompetent leadership of Wellington’s Regional Council, which scrapped the trolley bus network in November without a clear plan to replace them with an equivalent or better carbon-free bus fleet.

            Services to GWRC who has imposed on Wellingtonians a fleet of predominantly diesel buses for the next 10-12 years: the length of the contracts the GWRC has signed with Tranzit and NZ Bus.

            Services to nitrous oxide emissions have increased in Wellington since trolley buses were decommissioned in November

            http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=113048

    • marty mars 6.3
      17 October 2018 at 9:45 am

      Yep – everything for sale. Honours list? I don’t think so.

  7. Morrissey 7
    17 October 2018 at 7:18 am

    Lacky Country considers moving embassy to Jerusalem. — News

    In Canberra last week I met some Australian members of parliament. It gave me hope, because until I heard them speak I had always thought that Israel’s right wing politicians were the worst. —-(LAUGHTER)— I’ve never heard any Israeli politician speak about the Palestinian people the way that those Australian politicians did. But they are Australia’s problem, not mine. (LAUGHTER) I spoke with the Australian foreign minister; she talked and she was very nice but we could not agree on anything.”(LAUGHTER)

    —-Gideon Levy, speaking in Auckland, Dec. 3, 2017

    https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-16-12-2017/#comment-1426789

  8. Sanctuary 8
    17 October 2018 at 7:44 am

    Paula Bennett is now taking her turn to commit ritual seppuku on Natrad…

    • ScottGN 8.1
      17 October 2018 at 7:46 am

      Did she just concede that Bridges has spoken to her about the donation from Zhang?

      • Sanctuary 8.1.1
        17 October 2018 at 8:31 am

        …Then retreated faster than the Italian army.

        • ScottGN 8.1.1.1
          17 October 2018 at 8:50 am

          It’s hard to figure out what the National Party sees in Bennett?

          • SaveNZ 8.1.1.1.1
            17 October 2018 at 9:34 am

            I don’t get the attraction of Bennett either, but maybe they think she appeals most to voters??? I have my reservations especially since they had to remove her from her West Auckland seat and create a new one specially for her, after she cratered her voters and only just scrapped in!

          • Wensleydale 8.1.1.1.2
            17 October 2018 at 12:15 pm

            Another warm body to throw under the bus once she’s outlived her usefulness I suspect. It’s the National way. Everyone’s best mates until you have to push them into oncoming traffic to save your own skin. Have to say… this is a train-wreck of epic proportions for National, and I almost feel bad for them.

            Almost.

  9. Incognito 9
    17 October 2018 at 7:53 am

    Two alpha males, egos, entitlement, power & control, broken promises, money, aggression & destruction.

    It’s the same shit every day …

    Let’s not do this! Any longer.

    • Dennis Frank 9.1
      17 October 2018 at 8:24 am

      That’s what it is, alright. First we gotta see this evidence he’s taking to the cops. Essential to have back-up copies securely hidden! Also, if he’s smart, get a copy to a transcriber, and get that conversation converted into a written record, and get it out into the public domain pronto!

      If he does this, and the record proves he’s telling the truth, he goes into the by-election from a position of optimal strength. Bridges will have caucus turning against him as soon as they read the transcript, so the next Nat leader will be looking askance at the selection of contenders trying to beat a guy who looks increasingly a winner.

      A hypothetical scenario at present. All hinges on the mental illness. Is the evidence real or a delusion? Can JLR transform himself into a successful politician despite that vulnerability? Mentally-ill folk are supposed to be part of our community nowadays. Many oscillate between illness and health. They have civil rights. Can’t discriminate against them on the basis of their mental health. Can’t claim they are unfit for parliament!

    • Stuart Munro 9.2
      17 October 2018 at 10:59 am

      Simon is distinctly beta. Like the Dipton Dipper, he’ll never have swooning audiences.

  10. mac1 10
    17 October 2018 at 8:26 am

    I never envisaged that the Brighter Future promised by John Key’s National party would be lit by the pyres of their politicians’ futures and the burning behind the scenes of dodgy money, evidence and tapes!

    • SaveNZ 10.1
      17 October 2018 at 8:31 am

      Surely it was obvious the Natz were on the payroll for big business interests from the outset, and the 0% tax havens, free gifting, investigation from the EU for money laundering policy here, Panama papers and other helps were put through to hide the pathways of the cash.

  11. esoteric pineapples 11
    17 October 2018 at 8:56 am

    Excellent interview with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about the green new deal, the future of the Justice Democrats, and her plans for her time in Congress. One of the ideas she proposes is that the US government provide jobs as part of the Green New Deal at US$15 an hour as an alternative to working for corporates at $7.50 and to help raise wages across the board. She also argues that the progressive democrats are making huge strides:

  12. Treetop 12
    17 October 2018 at 9:28 am

    Zhang has been dragged into the disclosure process of donations to a political party.

    Where does his privacy on this matter lie?

    Does Zhang need to cooperate with any police investigation?

    Were I Zhang, I would be left feeling being embarrassed by the National party. I applaud Zang’s wife for confirming that Bridges had a meal with the Zhangs.

    Bridges can chose to keep digging as long as he wants to and evade the truth or give an honest account of whether or not a check for 100k or separate checks adding to 100k was written to the National party.

    How often can a separate donor write a check under $15,000 so the donor does not need to be identified?

    It is about the delivery of the check.

    I can just see Bridges using the history of what occurred between Bank’s and his accountant, Peter’s and Glenn’s electoral donations and the history of audio taping Ambrose and Key and Barclay and the electorate worker.

    The words knowingly, the party manager, being a party to the conversation, the audio is missing, no police charges ….

    How the Bridges audio and discussion of a donation check is going to conclude will probably be career ending/ damaging for all those who were involved.

    Were I Bridges, Zhang is who I would be careful of. Zang has the power over Bridges career as leader.

    • Rosemary McDonald 12.1
      17 October 2018 at 10:01 am

      “Were I Bridges, Zhang is who I would be careful of. Zang has the power over Bridges career as leader.”

      Bridges’ career is over.

      Unless, of course, he is still of some use to his paymasters.

      Then he’ll be revived and reincarnated.

      Repurposed.

      Isn’t this how it works?

      Gotta love politics.

      • Treetop 12.1.1
        17 October 2018 at 10:37 am

        A death by a thousand cuts, or I could say a death by a, one hundred thousand dollar check.

        Zhang is the star witness.

    • SaveNZ 12.2
      17 October 2018 at 10:13 am

      Zhang also popped up on the Auckland council envoy…

      No doubt a few cheques and deals…

      Auckland council has also have sold off $400 million of assets last year, would be good to see what assets they were and whose names were involved in the purchases or beneficiaries of those sales…

      • SaveNZ 12.2.1
        17 October 2018 at 10:29 am

        Auckland Council – some financial information that tells a lot…

        “The number earning more than $200,000 is up by one to 195 across all council organisations.

        A record $1.8 billion of capital expenditure had been partly funded from asset sales of $400m, $250m in additional borrowing, and the rest from council revenue.”

        The council previously announced an $83m rise in the provision it’s making for building weathertightness claims, now at $320m.”

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/107443915/Auckland-Council-shrinks-wage-bill-again-but-number-of-staff-on-100k-rising

      • Jack Ramaka 12.2.2
        17 October 2018 at 10:58 am

        Wonder if any of those Assets were sold to people with Asian sounding names ?

        • SaveNZ 12.2.2.1
          17 October 2018 at 11:15 am

          I think we are beyond that in most cases to ‘respectable’ sounding companies.. there were some pearlers in the Panama papers such as ..

          “Hinojosa Cantu, who had built his fortune from billions of dollars in government contracts, was under investigation for influence-peddling. In Mexico they called him the Duke of Privilege.

          On February 3, 2015 Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, had called an inquiry after media revelations that Hinojosa Cantu built a US$7 million home for Nieto’s wife, and sold another house to the Finance Minister, Luis Videgaray Caso, just before they won government in 2012.

          By March last year Hinojosa Cantu had begun restructuring his finances. The key would be New Zealand.

          KEN WHITNEY’S LETTER

          Hinojosa Cantu wasn’t the only Mossack Fonseca client heading for Auckland.

          The ICIJ on Monday will release the names and shareholders of 240,000 corporate entities (and their shareholders) administered by Mossack Fonseca in more than 20 low-tax jurisdictions around the world.

          The data includes 368 shareholders with New Zealand addresses, but 189 of the shareholders are trusts and another 12 companies have bearer shares, which will prove hard to track.”

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/79714914/the-panama-papers-new-zealand-link-revealed

  13. rod 13
    17 October 2018 at 10:23 am

    Wow, the Nats in complete meltdown. It could never of happened to a nicer bunch of chinless wonders.

  14. Exkiwiforces 14
    17 October 2018 at 11:25 am

    For those who have been following my take on the Wentworth mud race (The by-election).

    This article from news.com, short’ve sums up the last 24hrs for ScoMo and the Liberal Party atm as they will in truly in the shit house. Internal polling has them trailing the independent Phelps and thence SocMo wanting to move the Embassy and wanting to review the Iran Nuclear deal. These two decisions have been shamed by an number people since yesterday’s release in Wentworth alongside the Lib candidate who is Jewish and Jewish vote in the Wentworth electorate makes up 12-13% of the vote.

    https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/shock-internal-polling-shows-government-losing-wentworth-byelection/news-story/a76bb601b42a8f1b358809ff8c189ffc

    Wentworth electorate is one of Australia’s most diverse electorates, big the end of town and the all way down to Redfern with its housing commission tower blocks, to Kings Cross/ Oxford st to middle class hipsters and what’s left of the work class suburbs.

    • JC 14.1
      17 October 2018 at 5:41 pm

      And what had brought about Scott Morrison saying he is considering allowing asylum seekers and refugees detained on Nauru into New Zealand.!

      https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/368802/australia-pm-said-to-be-considering-nz-s-nauru-resettlement-offer

      Couldn’t find anything on the ABC …. whats happening over the ditch?

      • Exkiwiforces 14.1.1
        17 October 2018 at 9:40 pm

        Yes the Nauru refugees issue, appears to be an attempt at vote buying aim at the middle class hipsters and the Liberal voter with a consensus for the Wentworth races. Inwhich ScoMo has managed to make himself look like Barry McKenzie , Sir Les Patterson and a member of the crack suicide squad for the People’s Front of Judaea as a he has piss off awful of people or left them very confused at what has just happened.

        The Nauru refugees going NZ is almost dead cert and the only sticking point is that he is demanding that these refugees would bared from Australia via NZ, but how SocMo is he going to enforce that?

        The laugh of the day (well according to my mate a Leb Christian) goes to the Jewish community of the Wentworth electorate. As straw poll was taken by the highly acclaimed Oz paper asking a number of Jewish voters about moving the Australian Embassy in Israel? All of them reply, “yes moving the Embassy and reviewing the Iran Nuclear deal would be nice, but there are more important things to worry about here in Australia than what’s happening in Israel atm.” As my mate said to me this morning over a cuppa “ Trust a Jew to worry about his or her’s hip pocket here in Oz than what’s happening back in back in Israel and I don’t know what worse a tight ass Jew or a teetotaling Scottish Methodist or Scottish Presbyterian”? Well ourfamily did alright out of old Uncle Jock as we got an awful lot of free tickets to games and events to Lancaster Park in CHCH.

        So it appears his day of offering to solve the a number of issues yesterday to the the voters of Wentworth has fallen on deaf ears. So the Libs are in panic mode as we use say at work when of our Ground Defence Officers goes into a panic “ah the bog rat is ass shitting again” and SocMo is like a fat kid who has miss out on the lollie scramble as the fastest kid got there first.

        • JC 14.1.1.1
          17 October 2018 at 11:00 pm

          Thanks ExKiwiForces!

          Given the R.F.U! happening here! Difficult keeping up, (let alone across the ditch!)

          I put up a comment earlier on DR tonight here about what ScoMo’s has purported to have said …. i.e. Narau, and REf’s Transferring to NZ?/Vote Buying!

          But Any! other politics/issues here is GB for a while! At least until this current SF is over… Don’t hold yer breath…….

          • Exkiwiforces 14.1.1.1.1
            17 October 2018 at 11:27 pm

            Well I’ve got a cracker of story tomorrow on the Wentworth Mud race, as this mud race has well in truely got very dirty and ugly. From I’ve heard so far awful a lot off people are piss and this could very back fire on the Lib’s big time.

            I’ve been trying to follow today’s events in NZ and I’m well in truly lost for words.

            • JC 14.1.1.1.1.1
              18 October 2018 at 12:15 am

              Be good to hear it e hou!

              Wish I could elaborate more here, or at least put you onto some good subjective media….. Shit happening way too! quick ….

              https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12143913

              Wash my mouth out quick with Carbol! quoting Granny!

              This may be more balanced? …

              https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/368883/troubled-national-leader-facing-big-questions

              and/or view RNZ dot whatever…. ( range of opinions there et al)

              Shit happening way out of ordinary for anyone! Nat party GB!

              Gotta get some SE for TMs shenanigans!

              • Exkiwiforces …
                18 October 2018 at 1:09 am

                Knowing a few coasters, I doubt they would even vote for a Chinese or Indian candidate let alone one from the “No Mates Party” and the last time it went blue in the 90’s they got some old wind bag who was about as useless as a Airforce Elephant Tracker chasing a defaulter in the snow while doing the dance of the flaming asshole at the same time.

                Anyway I better hit the frog and toad as it going be another big day politics either side of the ditch tomorrow

        • RedLogix 14.1.1.2
          18 October 2018 at 1:19 am

          demanding that these refugees would bared from Australia via NZ, but how SocMo is he going to enforce that?

          Quite easily; every kiwi that enters Australia has an SCV444 (Special Category Visa) automatically created as you pass through Immigration. Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen:

          https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa-1/444-

          All the govt has to do is put these people on an exclusion list and they don’t get a visa. Simple and quite legal.

  15. Jack Ramaka 15
    17 October 2018 at 11:44 am

    Winston to stand in the Pakuranga By-Election ?

  16. AB 16
    17 October 2018 at 11:45 am

    Wonder if National Party grandees are having a quiet word with their contacts in the senior ranks of the Police today?

  17. SaveNZ 17
    17 October 2018 at 12:34 pm

    Good day to bury bad news…

    Must be Jacinda’s ” kindness” to oil day again… from Greenpeace

    “We’ve just learned, the Government has granted Austrian oil giant OMV a two year extension on their permit to search and drill for oil in the Great South Basin, just off Dunedin. That’s despite issuing a ban on new oil and gas exploration permits in April.

    This is a massive backtrack. The Government is breathing new life into this permit, and the extra two years could be the difference between finding and drilling for new oil and gas reserves, or not.

    It’s madness to be allowing an extension on this permit to look for more oil and gas reserves – right when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released a new report that shows in no uncertain terms we’ve got a decade to save the world from climate catastrophe.

    In fact the science is clearer than ever. If we want to keep climate change to below 1.5C, then the majority of fossil fuel reserves cannot be touched.

    This we know to be true, and yet OMV – one of the 100 companies who have caused 70% of global emissions since the eighties – continue undeterred by the millions of lives, precious ecosystems and communities they put at risk.

    After the IPCC call to action – that we need unparalleled courage, ambition and resolve to turn this tide – why would anyone grant an oil company more time to pillage the Earth?

    Let Megan Woods know that you do not support this decision. That instead of extending oil permits, the government should be investing in the clean energies of the future.”

  18. Mat Simpson 18
    17 October 2018 at 1:20 pm

    “inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.” – I’m sorry what?
    By Martyn Bradbury / October 17, 2018 / 3 Comments

    TDB recommends Voyager – Unlimited internet @home as fast as you can get
    If National are going to stand by that new ethical line in the sand, then should we start applying it to other National Party MPs?

    Print Email

    Jami-Lee Ross accused of inappropriate behaviour for a married MP: Paula Bennett
    National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett says the issues raised with Jami-Lee Ross had nothing to do with harassment, but were about inappropriate behaviour from Ross as a “married Member of Parliament”.

    “Inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.” – I’m sorry what?

    Is that the game we are playing now?

    Does National REALLY want to go down that path?

    REALLY?

    R-E-A-L-L-Y?

    This is becoming so nasty and bitter. The National Party are the Marriage Police now?

    If National are going to stand by that new ethical line in the sand, then should we start applying it to other National Party MPs?

    Paula Bennett’s interview on Breakfast this morning was a train wreck.

    We’ve seen Paula use personal information to damage enemies in the past when she published personal details of beneficiaries who complained about her. This is getting to a level where people are going to be seriously damaged from this.

    Who does this all benefit ultimately? Why Judith Collins of course, who is watching her puppets dance and the implosion of chaos play out.

    If Simon Bridges has to stand down due to the audio evidence Jami-Lee Ross has, the Party will turn in desperation to Judith.

    And then we will have real cause to be frightened.

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    Published: 46 mins ago on October 17, 2018
    By: Martyn Bradbury
    Last Modified: October 17, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
    Filed Under: Deconstructing Headlines, Martyn Bradbury, Most Recent Blogs
    Tagged With: New Zealand Politics
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    Dr Liz Gordon – Ructions in the national caucus

  19. soddenleaf 19
    17 October 2018 at 1:46 pm

    Still don’t see what Labour haven’t move to have all heat treated foods labelled as such. So their base isnt scammed by retailers.

  20. Chuck 20
    17 October 2018 at 2:50 pm

    Jacinda Arderns “Captain Call” on banning oil and gas exploration was always going to be a disaster…

    “The country has just seven years’ firm supply, and production is forecast to start falling away from 2021, according to Patrick Teagle, a New Zealand-based executive for Austrian oil and gas company OMV. Teagle was talking to Parliament’s environment select committee.”

    “The clash of viewpoints among the 12 submitters was stark. Government MPs didn’t appreciate being told the ban would increase emissions rather than reduce them, that the ban had already halted some investment, and that reduced domestic gas supplies would increase electricity costs for all consumers and sacrifice opportunities to reduce coal use and replace higher-emitting imports – like fertiliser – with lower-emission local production.”

    “New Zealand Shipping Federation executive director Annabel Young silenced the committee with a detailed explanation of the challenge ship owners will face if they can’t access locally-made methanol – made from gas – to meet new international fuel pollution standards.”

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12143888

    • SaveNZ 20.1
      17 October 2018 at 4:24 pm

      If it’s so important to the country why are they giving the rights away to foreign companies? One of the companies that is named in one of the 100 companies producing 70% of the world’s emissions.

      30 years ago they should have invested in green tech for shipping. Now they are better to get off their arses and find green solutions than pay lobbyists to keep the ‘peak’ oil debacle going until they have nothing.

      But after tobacco who actually believes big business anymore?

      They are as reliable as the unitary plan producing all those affordable houses…

      Or John Key’s resignation if there is mass surveillance.

      Essentially all the ‘experts’ are a paid for viewpoint that is hardly reliable and that approach has wasted 30 years of climate change over the question of its it real or not with plenty of paid for climate change deniers helping screw over the planet.

  21. Exkiwiforces 21
    17 October 2018 at 9:46 pm

    For those interesting in the Wentworth mud race, here is today’s updates. But the since “No Mates Party” has now turn themselves into the crack suicide squad of People’s Front of Judaea or was that the People’s Liberation Front of Judaea anyway who bloody cares, as is probably more interesting than the Wentworth mud race.

    https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-17-10-2018/#comment-1537138

    https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-17-10-2018/#comment-1537555

  22. eco maori 22
    18 October 2018 at 8:31 am

    Kia ora The Am Show I waited a hour before I turned the TV on I new it will be all about the circus national party one point I want to make is who trained these lads shonky and bill I have not had one drink of alcohol what a line .They started dredging up mud at the start of the expense leak of bridges .
    I think responsible drinking is a good topic I was thinking the drink driving ads could be about the bad effects of drinking alcohol that would be 2 issues that the youth learn about we should have advertising all around the place about the Ills of alcohol.
    jerry no thanks a bully we know who was responceable for the little girl comments he’s A chauvinistic person we seen how he stuffed up the Earth quake insurance claims in Christchurch . Ka kite ano P.S I did not wake up yesterday

  23. eco maori 23
    18 October 2018 at 11:26 am

    To the Human Caused Climate Change Deniers how can you keep a straight neck and face when denying HCCC in the process denying your OUR Decedents a healthy future .
    All for the love of power and money we have the Technology to mitigate climate change
    We just need all voters to think about there Decedents future and vote these idiots out .
    I see one bull——story about beer/ hops production being affected by climate change who give a —– if beer goes up in price at the minute we don’t need beer to survive like we did when water was polluted back 200 years ago .
    We do need clean air and climate conditions that do not fluctuate wildly from extreme droughts to extremely cold conditions floods hurricanes earthquakes tsunami to survive .
    IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER WE CAN LEAVE A BETTER EARTH FOR ALL.
    I say solar installed on building is one of the best ways to mitigate HCCC no need to build huge inefficient transmission lines that lose % 8 to % 15 of power or to take land from people or the wild life the cost of transmission will be billions of wasted money.
    Subsides for poor solar installation and pay % 95 of the power unit price for net metering I.E when one has a grid tied solar system during the day the power company give you credit for your excess power and at nite you buy it back paying % 100 % 5 should be enough for eclectic company’s to provide there services .
    The drawback is big company’s lose control of your hip pocket and they don’t like that they will chuck out all sorts of lies to say that huge solar farms are the best to keep control of the consumer and there hip pocket like the lies about HCCC that are being fabricated at the minute. Ka kite ano link is below.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/05/why-the-next-four-months-are-crucial-for-future-of-planet-climate-change P.S just the savings in lost power transmission would be more than enough to pay for poor peoples solar systems

  24. eco maori 24
    18 October 2018 at 1:13 pm

    A link for my post above.ka kite ano

  26. eco maori 26
    18 October 2018 at 3:22 pm

    We can learn a lot off Papatuanuku and her creatures it pays to work with her Its not rocket science Ka kite ano link below.

    https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/five-things-ants-can-teach-us-about-management/p06p040r

  27. eco maori 27
    18 October 2018 at 3:57 pm

    We have had this in all professions men stealing Wahine work treating them like play toys .
    There are many storys about this behavior and some men still try and discredit the metoo movement they don’t have the noodles to self examine then selves and how men have behaved for years . I say we need to treat everyone equally links below ka kite ano

    https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/oct/16/the-scandal-of-architecture-invisible-women-denise-scott-brown

    https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/17/asia/mj-akbar-resignation-metoo-india-intl/index.html

  28. eco maori 28
    18 October 2018 at 4:49 pm

    This is why Eco Maori says that Aotearoa /New Zealand is a World leader and changes are coming that will be good for all half scientists /researchers awards have been given to Wahine / Ladies Kia kaha ka kite ano link below.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/2018667058/nz-s-top-researchers-honoured

  29. eco maori 29
    18 October 2018 at 5:49 pm

    Kia ora Tekaea Yes I agree with we need more transparency on political donations.
    Kingi Tawhiao showing his old maori art and artifacts is cool we need more of our great maori artifacts on show to build the children knowledge on maori and there wairua .
    Smoke free for the East Coast /Gisborne will be a cool goal what about Pee free.
    Tongans are real patriots of there League team Ka pai
    Ka kite ano

  30. eco maori 30
    18 October 2018 at 6:39 pm

    Kia ora Newshub Thats a tragedy the dock staff dying in that helicopter crash condolences to there whano . I give a person a bit of leeway but its not looking good for Ross Now that looks like the Botany seat is up for grabs.
    Is Maureen Pugh a Dairy farmer .
    Justen Trudea is a good left leader I have researched the facts on what happens to A society when it legalizes personal use of weed and its mostly positive for all .
    All trump talks about is money money money. ?????.
    Malissa its cool the happy Royal couple in Australia are showing support for our environment.
    It would be hard for people to look after there disabled children I say they should be payed the same as a private person caring for there disabled offspring .
    Yes there are reason other than money that people come to Aotearoa life style we are more equal than some countrys .
    Big Bird is retiring one of the most famous bird in the world ka pai
    Ka kite ano P.S I won’t say it lol

  31. eco maori 31
    18 October 2018 at 7:22 pm

    Kia ora The Crowd Goes Wild James & Mulls Ana Eco makes a point not to back sports teams out right one can see the problem’s the ASB tennis is having now.
    I seen a story about Kurtley Beale calling for Australian aboriginal designed jersey it mite be old but Kia kaha
    Yes Wahine Sports is going strong in Aotearoa and around the Papatuanuku ka pai.
    I am a loyal person some people are not to Eco maori not The Crowd Goes Wild people are cool tho.
    I see our most famous choreographer Star is shining brightly she cool
    Ka kite ano

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