Open mike 17/10/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, October 17th, 2019 - 153 comments
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153 comments on “Open mike 17/10/2019 ”

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  1. Formerly Ross 1
    17 October 2019 at 7:24 am

    Judicial reviews take time.

    Meanwhile, Massey University has cancelled a feminist conference due to health and safety. Who would’ve thought that a university could be so craven.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/116640486/massey-university-cancels-controversial-feminism-2020-event-due-to-health-safety-and-wellbeing-concerns

    [this is the third offtopic comment I have had to move. Please read the previous moderations from yesterday. I don’t know if you haven’t seen them or are ignoring them, but count this as an instructional ban. It’s better not to do spray and walk away commenting on TS, but instead revisit one’s previous comments, any mod notes and replies and think about them before commenting again. 1 week off, which I will remove if you reply to this comment acknowledging the moderation and agreeing to not keep posting off topic – weka]

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

    • weka 1.1
      17 October 2019 at 9:57 am

      mod note for you Ross.

      • Formerly Ross 1.1.1
        17 October 2019 at 1:20 pm

        In what way was it off topic? You were suggesting that free speech seemed to be under threat, and I was in agreement.

        As for moderations yesterday I have no idea what you’re referring to which perhaps isn’t surprising given that there’s nothing in the relevant threads about this.

        And those reading this thread might wonder why I said what I said about judicial reviews. Context is everything.

        [Use the Comments list to find replies to your comments. The onus is on you to do this work if you want to keep commenting privileges. I’m happy to explain the off topic issue, but only once you’ve read the moderations and indicated you will abide by them. In the meantime please don’t change your commenting details to skirt the ban. – weka]

  2. Andre 2
    17 October 2019 at 7:32 am

    Nick Hanauer as readable as ever on why the economic story lefties need to be telling is how putting money into the hands of people that actually spend it on actual activity is good for the economy, and how putting money into the hands of those that use to play games of big boy's monopoly as bad for the economy.

    https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/10/15/democrats-economy-narrative-2020-229852

    • greywarshark 2.1
      17 October 2019 at 1:50 pm

      The Hanauer article starts like this:

      The greatest trick that trickle-down economics ever pulled was its simplicity. The rules of trickle down are so easy to explain that even a child can understand them.

      Which is so simple and direct that you want to read it all. Which I will.
      But Groucho Marx's ironic comment came to mind. His request when hearing about childish simplicity was: Send someone to fetch a child of five!

  3. Sanctuary 3
    17 October 2019 at 7:43 am

    I see AOC is endorsing Sanders. More to the point, she just made sure that she will be the Democratic nominee for president in 2024 or 2028 with her radical credentials intact.

    Make no mistake – she is a once in a generation politician with just the right combination of nous, charisma, pragmatism, conviction and thick skin and she will be president.

    • mickysavage 3.1
      17 October 2019 at 8:00 am

      Agreed. I actually wrote a post advocating for her to be the nominee but then realised the constitution has this weird age restriction.

      • Sanctuary 3.1.1
        17 October 2019 at 8:38 am

        Why do i think AOC is the real deal? Because look at what isn’t.

        Here is a chilling warning for all those who think Jacindamania means much beyond keeping the other lot out. Listen to this broadcast and replace Liberal with Labour and Trudean with Jacinda…

        "…Trudeau – only liberal of that kind in what was a very difficult period for liberal around the world he was was able to hack the formula on how you keep the politics of the 1990s, how you keep third way liberalism going in a world where it is under assault from both left and right… he was to do that by basically channeling a version of the elite consensus in Canada while also ceding ground rhetorically at least to what people wanted… so there are lots anxious people, working people, middle class people who want a government the act on climate change, that is interested in the redistribution of wealth, who think inequality has gone to far, who care about the right of indigenous peoples, you know who basically support a social democratic policy agenda and Trudeau was able to embrace that pretty well at least rhetorically. I think a lot of people who vote liberal thought they were voting, you know, for a left of centre government that was going to do those things and after his election that was very much how it was received… …just amplified his false bone fides as a transformative and progressive figure… and he has led a pretty technocraatically minded, not particularly ambitious government that I think you can see the contradictions in rhetorically embracing all these cause I mentioned while persuing a market friendle, centre right agenda that doesn't antagonise… ..wealth or power…"

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkWAuAP5P_Y

        Part 1 of this youtbe cast also contains some very interesting observations on Elizabeth Warren which basically conclude she is just a vulnerable as Hillary Clinton to Trump's anti-elitism.

        • weka 3.1.1.1
          17 October 2019 at 10:43 am

          The problem for NZ is what to do if Labour don't have an up and coming AOC. It's not like such a person can be manufactured. Worse, even the slow process of nurturing incoming candidates is likely to block an AOC in Labour because of the culture within Labour and who they want.

          We got lucky with JA, not because she is an AOC, but because she enabled the change of government. The issue for me isn't that she is never going to be an AOC (that was obvious at the start), but what we on the left do about the overall situation?

          I still think the Greens are our best hope within parliament, and that more Green MPs would see a move left. But that's a window that won't be open forever. If the only way the Greens can effect change is by becoming more mainstream, then that's what we will end up with. I'll be really interested to see what the party list looks like next year.

          • Sacha 3.1.1.1.1
            17 October 2019 at 11:20 am

            Swarbrick is the closest we have to Ocasio-Cortez.

            .. if she can be bothered staying in party politics long enough, given other ways her generation can see to make change happen.

            • weka 3.1.1.1.1.1
              17 October 2019 at 11:28 am

              She is really good. Next election and how many MPs the Greens get is going to be a key point for the party, and for the country. Time we stepped up or wear the consequences.

              • weka …
                17 October 2019 at 11:31 am

                She was 7th on the list last time. That needs 6% of the vote.

                • Ngungukai …
                  18 October 2019 at 5:34 am

                  Greens will definitely out poll NZF at the next Election.

                  • lprent …
                    18 October 2019 at 5:45 am

                    I wouldn’t bet on it. The basic electoral difference between these two parties has always been that the supporters of NZF don’t talk much to pollsters but do get out and vote. Whereas based on past evidence, Green supporters tend to blow the wind but consistently don’t vote.

          • Adrian Thornton 3.1.1.1.2
            17 October 2019 at 11:56 am

            Good comment there weka, I agree that JA is most definitely not AOC, and we unfortunately don't have anyone coming through (once we sadly lost the wonderful and heroic Helen Kelly) that has the proven track record or depth of character that will be needed to lead a transformational political party into the face of what would be overwhelming negativity, personal attacks etc from the Right, the media and probably most damaging of all from the liberal 'Left' of Labour itself…just witness what has been leveled at Corbyn and to a slightly lesser extent Sanders.

            The one thing I will say about AOC is that, yes she is breath of fresh air in US politics ( The whole Squad are), and I am a fan, but at the same time, we should collectively just cool our jets a bit on holding her up to high just yet. Lets just see how she develops and what she does over the next few years.

            The only reason that Bernie and Corbyn have survived this far is solely because of their consistency and unblemished records..AOC needs to build at least some of that same sort of stable base for herself. It is that (high moral and ethical)base that gives both Corbyn and sanders their power in what is a brutal ideological battle that is raging..and we must win.

            Turn Labour Left!

            • greywarshark 3.1.1.1.2.1
              17 October 2019 at 12:16 pm

              Turn Labour left. It reminds me of Margaret Thorn's book 'she wrote her memoirs, ‘Stick out, keep left’, published posthumously in 1997.

              Here is her bio from Te Ara. A wonderful woman, and truly whole-heartedly always supportive of Labour, along with her equally wonderful husband Jim Thorn. If Chloe Swarbrick is similar then she is to be treasured and supported.

              https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4t16/thorn-margaret

              And also remembering the wonderful Helen Kelly! RIP.

          • Ngungukai 3.1.1.1.3
            17 October 2019 at 4:59 pm

            Next Government will probably be a Labour/Green Coalition, NZF are on it's last legs I feel.

    • marty mars 3.2
      17 October 2019 at 8:05 am

      + 1 yep she is awesome!!!

    • aom 3.3
      17 October 2019 at 9:02 am

      …. and Tulsi Gabbard as her AOC's VP!

      • Sanctuary 3.3.1
        17 October 2019 at 9:05 am

        Gabbard is to centrist. I haven't actually thought about who her running mate would be though.

    • AB 3.4
      17 October 2019 at 9:57 am

      The best sign that she is smart and effective is that one of the most persistent attack lines consists of calling her 'dumb'. It would be nice to hope that even if Sanders doesn't make it himself – he helped create the conditions that made an AOC presidency possible. And to see a 29 year old woman pick up a torch kept going by a 78 year old man tells us something about the failures of those of us who came in between.

  4. A 4
    17 October 2019 at 8:40 am

    Landlords are greedy. That's the only issue here..not lack of housing, but lack of affordable housing.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12276935

    • David Mac 4.1
      17 October 2019 at 8:59 am

      I try to get as much as I can for the things I sell. I think most of us do. We all have the potential and regularly exercise our ability to be greedy. Nobody can open a box of chocolates and have just 2.

      The disconnect is not us and the deadly sins we wrestle with, it is using a fundamental requirement as a vehicle for greed. Thriving to make a better life for our families is as old as humans.

    • Jimmy 4.2
      17 October 2019 at 11:09 am

      Private landlords are increasing their rents as the govt. has increased the compliance costs for them and also using this as an excuse to increase rents even more. I think some have exited the market due to extra compliance becoming too hard.

      • greywarshark 4.2.1
        17 October 2019 at 1:24 pm

        Edit
        I think landlords are getting on the bandwagon of seeing themselves as victims. (I think Landlords is becoming a dirty word. So as lavatories became toilets, or if USA bathrooms, the landlord is now to be called a Rental Provider. I think that will cause a rueful smile amongst housing market watchers.

        I was interested to see this ad in a Nelson paper.

        Rental Providers Meeting
        Nelson Property Investors invite non-members to join us for free at our next meeting on Tuesday 22 October 7.30 pm at Honest Lawyer Monaco.
        (A bar designed in mock Tudor? style. Monaco is on a peninsula due to be overwhelmed by sea level rise. – Just to background the state of things in Nelson.)

        Andrew King Executive officer NZ Property Investors is speaking on why the Government does not seem to love us anymore.
        Ask for newsletter @ NelsonPIA@xtra.co.nz
        The advert is supported by Summit a local real estate firm.

        The property investors of NZ have had lots of help and advice from the sector, while the ordinary citizen looking for an affordable home has every barrier possible raised against them, and little practical interest by governments in helping them to find a home of their own, no matter how humble.

        The glossy monthly magazine NZ Property Investor at $8+ has been publishing for years with encouraging articles such as in April 2009, Tina Chan:$25 million portfolio at age 24 and in June 2008 Laurence Pope: 24 years old, 16 houses, 1 street called the Angel of Harlem in Paeroa.

        In March 2009 – A heading was 'Don't have all your kiwifruit in one basket – try renting by the room.' These are old articles, old but not defunct as the item below from 2019 indicates that the 2009 advice still stands.

        That is what happened recently to aggrieved house owners featured in the Nelson Mail who signed an agreement with a property manager that was not specific enough in its conditions. The Ministry of Biz, Innovation and Emp.-truncated (MOBIE) as I call them, after Moby the unfortunate whale, are looking into this housing company to see whether they have been innovative enough. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/114889533/property-owner-changes-locks-in-middle-of-night-after-subletting-shock

        Meanwhile nearby farmer-oriented Tasman Council are trying to prevent someone from settling in a tiny house because it ought to have wheels and they have not been fitted, because of circumstances after the delivery of the house from Christchurch. So everything is against the wishful house owner.

        Also Labour did a brainfart and cancelled the SHA policy that had been set up with a sharp and decisive guillotine stroke that left a number of schemes which were in train, legless. Isn't that a lot of mixed metaphors or something! But a worthy description of the outcome of Labour's fatuous announcements and actions concerning housing. This is so true that kind hearts cannot give an alternative view between their positive pronouncements about their policies and the outcomes we would see, and the stark reality.

        This is an example of the bad news that people are taking in about Labour and housing. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/115726045/theres-nothing-else-we-can-do-say-young-family-after-subdivision-plan-scuppered

        It may be enough to scupper Labour in 2020. So maybe they need to have another brainfart. Try building State houses enabling people a tenure for a 5-8 year period on a stable rental, and encouraging them to look after it well and then get backing for a reasonably priced house to buy at reasonable interest. It would be a better approach and step up from low rents for life, and also from selling up State houses that are needed for others.

        Also starting people off in Co-housing tiny houses where they belong to a community that looks after the place with pride, and which receives support and encouragement from the State by say being lauded as good models and getting a free barbecue fun day each year. It would be a positive motivation and bring great reward to the government from setting a good standard for others to emulate. Also having some pilot projects where building trade trainees work under the supervision of experienced licensed builder employers, building their own future small homes. What a great idea! Let's do it. Clap and shout everybody, make it so!

        • Prickles 4.2.1.1
          17 October 2019 at 2:21 pm

          Hi Greywarshark, have you seen the housing they are putting on the new subdivision on the corner of Lower Queen and McShane's here in Richmond? Uninviting is about as positive as I could get. Someone I was speaking to this morning asked me if they had windows along the front or chicken wire – and I knew exactly what he meant. They really do look like rows of chicken houses. No doubt they will still sell at $500K+ Gotta love TDC.

          • greywarshark 4.2.1.1.1
            17 October 2019 at 3:59 pm

            Hi Prickles I think you mean this. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/109165819/buyers-snap-up-properties-at-richmond-west-development

            The row of uniform housing – like old style British housing except 'detached'. (Looking at the view of the Poutama Stream townhouses.) Depressing.

            Compare it to the suburb I lived in in the 1970's which gives an option of style of housing, fencing off the front and planting trees and having a place where you can be back and front going about your life without being on show.

            https://www.qv.co.nz/search/hamilton-city/queenwood/pulham-crescent/64422

            • Prickles 4.2.1.1.1.1
              18 October 2019 at 10:21 am

              That's definitely the subdivision but the reality does not match the pictures in the article. What they are actually building are two storey square boxes, each one slightly offset from their neighbour. As my friend said yesterday, far more like chook houses than homes. Not at all appealing.

              And don't get me started on the new commercial subdivision off Queen St with it's first building starting construction this week. A solid concrete (fire) wall on each of the east and north boundaries. No windows, no redeeming features – and consequently will be no natural light from those aspects and no morning sun. Instead all the windows will face directly west and cop the harsh afternoon sun – air conditioning all summer and heating all winter and no doubt lights on all day. Not even a tip of the hat to eco-friendly design. The first of many down that new road I guess.

              • greywarshark …
                18 October 2019 at 10:39 am

                That bit about design and sun and shade and light – as you say not even a tip of the hat at important considerations. Picture of four solid citizens with $ for eyeballs. They are samples of many who have not had a new idea since the millenium, and before.

                I lived in Australia in the 1970s and note the style of housing being built here is often off the same plans they used then. Or it has gone to 'brutalist' modern square boxes, or ones with soaring porticos for two-storey graceless mansions squatting right up to the boundaries. (If two families are side by side, the kids could set up the old fashioned communication system – stretching a string or wire between houses with tin cans on the ends as speakers and receivers. Fun to try out.)

                And what is noticeable, having space to plant trees for amenity and shade is limited and may be forbidden by liens? imposed over whole subdivisions which I detest. Also having space, sunlight and air movement down the side of houses with room for a ladder even, so repairs can be carried out, is not often seen.

        • gsays 4.2.1.2
          17 October 2019 at 2:44 pm

          You ask/say that landlording is becoming a dirty word.

          Since becoming an adult, I have found it to be repugnant to profit from someone's home and shelter.

          The idea that you can leverage, write off losses against yr tax, be non-compliant consequence-free and exploit power and market imbalance is wrong.

          Just my opinion, but one that is not shared by a sty full of politicians, Wellington and local ones.

          • greywarshark 4.2.1.2.1
            17 October 2019 at 5:55 pm

            The thing is houses are expensive. Someone has to pay for them and if someone else uses them then it is reasonable there is a charge.

            But, what I think has happened in the inflationary housing market (but not counted in our inflation index), is that rented properties cost to tenants is based on the property value frequently reassessed. So someone who is paying a fairly high rental in 2015 costs, and is still in that house in 2019, will have likely had their rent hoisted even if the landlord has incurred no extra costs such as maintenance. So the tenant ends up paying the equivalent of a 30% return on investment say, while it was only 8% return in 2015.

            (These calcs are examples, but it helps to get the understanding of the complaint of greed. And the more return the landlord gets, the more he/she can borrow to put down on another property where the whole thing will be repeated. Each property has to be done up a little to attract the tenant, then can be ignored largely till they leave and even then they can be blamed for what used to be called fair wear and tear.)

          • Bazza64 4.2.1.2.2
            17 October 2019 at 6:40 pm

            Gsays

            are you saying that landlords should not make any profit on rental property ownership ? Not sure how you could make this work in the real economy unless you had state control to enforce it

            • gsays 4.2.1.2.2.1
              17 October 2019 at 7:32 pm

              I feel there are some things that should not be profitted from e.g. water, electricity, police force, health care. Now perhaps internet access.

              The idea that we can rent houses to each other as a driver of our economy is, well… fucked.

              The tax advantages that come from landlording don't feel just or equitable.

              I understand that this ^ ^ may be offensive to some, but hey, it's just my reckons.

              BTW, 'real economy' gave me a snigger. The economy is a fiction.

              • Bazza64 …
                17 October 2019 at 8:08 pm

                You could also add to that list, housing & food. The other side of that transaction in that someone has to provide these goods at no profit to themselves, which in theory sounds great, but in the real world (read "real economy") every man & his dog isn't interested in investing/working for no profit.

                In Venezuela the price of chicken was regulated by government to keep it down to a price that everyone could afford as it was deemed a "life essential". Guess what happened – eventually you couldn't buy chicken at the government price as there was no money in chicken farming, so the chicken farmers went broke or deserted the industry before they did.

            • Descendant Of Smith 4.2.1.2.2.2
              17 October 2019 at 11:19 pm

              Bit like they do in that bastion of free enterprise New York then.

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_control_in_New_York

              In June 2019, the New York State Legislature in Albany enacted the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019.[22]

              • Makes the rent regulation system permanent, so they will not sunset at any time in the future without an act of the Legislature to repeal or terminate them.
              • Repeals the provisions that allow the removal of units from rent stabilization when the rent crosses a statutory high-rent threshold and the unit becomes vacant or the tenant's income is $200,000 or higher in the preceding two years.
              • Limits the use of the "owner use" provision to a single unit, requires that the owner or their immediate family use the unit as their primary residence, and protects long-term tenants from eviction under this exception by reducing the current length of tenancy required to be protected from eviction to 15 years.
              • Limits the temporary non-profit exception to rent stabilization by requiring units to remain rent-stabilized if they are provided to individuals who are or were homeless or are at risk of homelessness. Provides individuals permanently or temporarily housed by nonprofits status as tenants while ensuring that units used for these purposes remain rent stabilized.
              • Repeals the "vacancy bonus" provision that allows a property owner to raise rents as much as 20 percent each time a unit becomes vacant. Repeals the "longevity bonus" provision that allows rents to be raised by additional amounts based on the duration of the previous tenancy. Prohibits local Rent Guidelines Boards from reinstating vacancy bonus on their own.
              • Prohibits Rent Guidelines Boards from setting additional increases based on the current rental cost of a unit or the amount of time since the owner was authorized to take additional rent increases, such as a vacancy bonus.
              • Prohibits owners who have offered tenants a "preferential rent" below the legal regulated rent from raising the rent to the full legal rent upon renewal. Once the tenant vacates, the owner can charge any rent up to the full legal regulated rent, so long as the tenant did not vacate due to the owner's failure to maintain the unit in habitable condition. Owners with rent-setting regulatory agreements with federal or state agencies will still be permitted to use preferential rents based on their particular agreements.[23][24]
              • Sets Maximum Collectible Rent increases for rent controlled tenants at the average of the five most recent Rent Guidelines Board annual rent increases for one-year renewals. This bill also prohibits fuel pass-along charges.
              • Extends the four-year look-back period to six or more years as reasonably necessary to determine a reliable base rent, extends the period for which an owner can be liable for rent overcharge claims from two to six years, and would no longer allow owners to avoid treble damages if they voluntarily return the amount of the rent overcharge prior to a decision being made by a court or Housing and Community Renewal (HCR). Allows tenants to assert their overcharge claims in court or at HCR and states that while an owner may discard records after six years, they do so at their own risk.
              • Lowers the rent increase cap for Major Capital Improvements (MCIs) from six percent to two percent in New York City and from 15 percent to two percent in other counties. Provides the same protections of the two percent cap going forward on MCI rent increases attributable to MCIs that became effective within the prior seven years. Lowers increases further by lengthening the MCI formula's amortization period. Eliminates MCI increases after 30 years instead of allowing them to remain in effect permanently. Significantly tightens the rules governing what spending may qualify for MCI increases and tightens enforcement of those rules by requiring that 25 percent of MCIs be inspected and audited.
              • Caps the amount of IAI spending at $15,000 over a 15-year period and allows owners to make up to three IAIs during that time. Makes IAI increases temporary for 30 years rather than permanent and requires owners to clear any hazardous violations in the apartment before collecting an increase.
              • Requires HCR to submit an annual report on the programs and activities undertaken by the Office of Rent Administration and the Tenant Protection Unit regarding implementation, administration and enforcement of the rent regulation system. The report will also include data points regarding the number of rent stabilized units within each county, application and approvals for major capital improvements, units with preferential rents, rents charged, and overcharge complaints.
              • Strengthens and makes permanent the system that protects tenants in buildings that owners seek to convert into co-ops or condos. Eliminates the option of "eviction plans" and institutes reforms for non-eviction plans. Requires 51 percent of tenants in residence to agree to purchase apartments before the conversion can be effective. (Currently 15 percent of apartments must be sold and the purchasers may be outside investors.) For market-rate senior citizens and disabled tenants during conversion, evictions are permitted only for good cause, where an unconscionable rent increase does not constitute good cause.
              • Removes the geographical restrictions on the applicability of the rent stabilization laws, allowing any municipality that otherwise meets the statutory requirements (e.g., less than five percent vacancy in the housing stock to be regulated) to opt into rent stabilization.
              • greywarshark …
                18 October 2019 at 10:52 am

                Edit
                Oh wow. Thanks for that DoS. How they have acted to prevent the egregious behaviours that landlording has led to for centuries involves a lot of thinking and rules. If housing was free, people would not value it as the expensive work of skilled people. If having a place costs, then it must not become an exploited necessity.

                It's not even idealistic to say that things should be free, it is wrong. Everyone has to put something into the system somewhere to keep it going for the people wanting it. On a simple basis, people have to turn out for the community when it is planting season for food crops and help get them in, then they have to be weeded, and watered, and debugged, perhaps they need light pruning to ensure the fruit is a decent size. Then there is the crop available. The story of the Little Red Hen which none of the other animals would help with the work, and were then refused any of the crop, comes to mind as being very relevant.

                Water seems free, but some humans want it and will take it all for themselves if they can get away with it. Maori have the principle of kaitiaki over it, and people like Milan Ruka have drawn attention to the need to watch over it. He wasn't being paid to begin with, but there is a group effort now.

                https://nz.linkedin.com/in/millan-ruka-541a3142

                https://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_story_id/MTYwMDA= Witness exposes farming shame 2017

  5. Reality 5
    17 October 2019 at 9:17 am

    Was good to see Andrew Little slap Simon Bridges down over the new anti terrorism legislation on tv last night. He was brief but blunt. Time for a bit more of that from the Government.

    • Naki man 5.1
      17 October 2019 at 4:34 pm

      Angry Andy hasn't got the numbers so he will have to learn how to negotiate if he wants to get that legislation passed.

      • greywarshark 5.1.1
        18 October 2019 at 10:59 am

        Naki Man You are so wise. Which Party do you advise on points of practice to enable successful negotiation? And have you been able to get things going in your own rohe? Negotiation seems to be really important these days when authorities seem to come down hard, rigidly and punitively on people looking for solutions that are different from whatever has been BAU for years.

  6. Pat 6
    17 October 2019 at 9:41 am

    "Harold Wanless, emeritus professor of the geology department at the University of Miami and an expert on ice melt and sea-level rise, warns that the historical record suggests that ice melting and sea-level rise will not proceed linearly but in pulses. The earth is entering such a pulse now, Wanless believes, so it may not be decades before Norfolk and its naval installations experience larger, more frequent, and more debilitating flooding. Those impacts could occur much sooner, Wanless cautions, perhaps as soon as the 2020s. Under such a scenario, protecting low-lying regions such as Norfolk could become practically and financially impossible; managed retreat may be the only real option. “Places like Norfolk need to recognise this fact,” says Wanless, “or we’ll just have local, state, and federal governments pouring money into the ocean”.

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/10/17/863204/the-us-navy-has-a-water-problem

    The greatest threat to the US military is at home

    • gsays 6.1
      17 October 2019 at 2:47 pm

      I had a dark chuckle upon hearing there will be a Formula One Grand Prix awarded to Miami shortly.

      The irony was brilliant, Miami being a very low lying city.

      • greywarshark 6.1.1
        17 October 2019 at 4:09 pm

        More info about Norfolk, USA and the USA Navy.

        One of those places is Naval Station Norfolk, a vast complex in southeastern Virginia whose 80,000 active-duty personnel make it the largest naval base on earth by population. The ships and aircraft stationed at Naval Station Norfolk have historically patrolled the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea.

        But in May of 2018, as part of the Trump administration’s new National Defense Strategy “to deter Russia and China,” the Navy announced that it would be expanding operations in the Arctic Ocean. Rising global temperatures were melting polar ice and opening sea lanes in the Arctic, enabling access to sizeable deposits of natural resources, including oil.

        To counter anticipated Russian and Chinese claims on those resources, the Navy has reactivated its Second Fleet, which had been deactivated eight years ago by the Obama administration; it’s based at Naval Station Norfolk.

        (Notice that it in its sights are natural resources, including oil and concerned about Russia and China claiming them. The USA prepared to fight tooth and nail to be in control of the planet and its resources.)

      • Pat 6.1.2
        17 October 2019 at 6:07 pm

        indeed…one that already has clear day floods…although I imagine the course is well clear of that threat…or maybe not

  7. Pat 7
    17 October 2019 at 9:53 am

    Bridges bonkers!….or is he?

    "These boundaries corralled not only ordinary citizens, but their leaders as well. Step outside them and the retribution could be swift and savage. People who look back wistfully to the days when “consensus” reigned, tend to forget the level of exclusion required to give it effect."

    Mr Trotter does a good job of expressing the self evident

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/10/17/ever-so-slightly-bonkers-simon-bridges-plays-to-his-base/

    • ianmac 7.1
      17 October 2019 at 10:07 am

      Maybe Pat, that is why Bridges and Bennett look smug in the House even when delivering the idiotic. During QT Opposition questions often have key phrases repeated again and again even when they have been answered. We hear the words but Bennett/Bridges are sending an entirely different message to their supporters.

  8. ianmac 8
    17 October 2019 at 9:57 am

    New household water regulation? Any one else aware of this?

    Last week I was at a meeting where the new regulations were outlined. Every household in NZ must be able to prove that the water going into all buildings is pure. Baches sharing a water source must upgrade and have a monitored ongoing testing process. Filters, ultraviolet light, or pure sources will be needed. Towns and cities must also show purity. Waste water and rain water disposing will also come into scrutiny.

    A new Ministry is being set up with regulations to be promulgated by the end of the year with 5 years for systems to be in place.

    • Janet 8.1
      17 October 2019 at 10:08 am

      Is tanked roof water counted in this too ?

    • Dukeofurl 8.2
      17 October 2019 at 10:27 am

      The new Water Regulator and treatment requirements

      "Extending regulatory coverage to all water suppliers, except individual household self-suppliers"

      • David Mac 8.2.1
        17 October 2019 at 10:28 am

        Ahhhh "Except individual households." Gotcha.

      • ianmac 8.2.2
        17 October 2019 at 12:24 pm

        Hang on. I think that the statement is just stating the current position.

        In addition, private water networks and self-supply households were exempted from meeting any drinking water standards, he said.

        "Almost a million New Zealanders were drinking water from water sources with little or no regulatory oversight."

        A dedicated drinking water regulator would close the many loopholes, he said.

        A bit ambiguous but more detail to come. Our source was an agent of the District Council who was giving us a verbal heads up. Therfore detail to come.
        Edit oops: “Extending regulatory coverage to all water suppliers, except individual household self-suppliers” – Herald

    • David Mac 8.3
      17 October 2019 at 10:27 am

      These announcements every few months about the ongoing improvements raising the mandatory standards of our housing all come with a disclaimer: 'Up go rents.'

      A few years ago it was decided that tenants should no longer be held responsible for maintaining the batteries in their smoke alarms. It is now the landlord's responsibility.

      Tenants can now not be held responsible for costs for damage beyond the owner's insurance excess or 4 weeks rent, which ever is less. The owners insurance excess amount and details must now be included in all tenancy agreements.

      So water filters are next…. Muggins tenants will need to do the council's job for them. Quality household water filters are a bit like computer printers. It's not the purchase price so much as the ongoing filter element replacement. It's unlikely tenants will be held responsible for paying for the supply and installation of a new filter element every few months. Landlords will be held liable, tenants will pay the bill.

      I've lived on unfiltered tank water for most of my life. I got a tummy ache once that I traced back to the tank. I had been lazy with the regular maint. Those on tanks aren't those being hospitialised, why target them?

      Despite sufficient rainfall we didn't capture rain off roofs in Sweden, had to drill for it and let soil filter it first. When the wind blows the right way clouds of muck float over from the Russian, Latvia, Lituania etc side of the Baltic Sea and acid rain falls on Sweden. The Chenobyl cloud was on it's way to Sweden on those same winds. We don't know how lucky we are. I miss John Clarke.

  9. Andre 9
    17 October 2019 at 11:03 am

    Holy flaming shitballs. This is diplomacy as conducted by greatest stable genius dealmaker the world has ever been blessed with.

    https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/10/donald-trump-sends-a-letter-to-turkey/

    Just … wow.

    • Dukeofurl 10.1
      17 October 2019 at 12:28 pm

      I thought Peters was suing them for breaching Work and Income laws regarding privacy.

      So Discovery now means the person sued has to prove their iinocence

      Wonder what the questions Bennett hasnt asked are ? …oh thats right its from Newsroom so they got the inside info from her

  11. Siobhan 11
    17 October 2019 at 12:41 pm

    Even the Guardian are having to acknowledge Bernies power and the Medias desire to drown him out……

    "If the question looming over Tuesday’s Democratic debate was “has Bernie still got it?” the answer was yes. He still had it – for the 10 minutes or so that he was allowed to speak. Even though Bernie Sanders has far more donors than Elizabeth Warren, and has consistently been among the top three candidates in the polls, he was given less speaking time than Amy Klobuchar and Beto O’Rourke, candidates who have been registering as low as 1% in polls recently."

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/16/elizabeth-warren-bernie-sanders-democratic-debate

  12. logie97 12
    17 October 2019 at 1:38 pm

    Air New Zealand

    So the ex chief executive, John-Key-endorsed-Luxon, is moving to politics with great fanfare.

    His replacement at Air New Zealand – another golden boy – apparently faces challenges.

    Quote from Stuff "Making New Zealand exciting again…

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/116581690/incoming-air-new-zealand-ceo-greg-foran-faces-tough-environment

    So remind me, what made Luxon so brilliant that Foran has to improve on?

    • weka 13.1
      17 October 2019 at 2:19 pm

      not only that, but drafting women happens in some places and can easily happen in Canada. Men can never give birth.

        • weka 13.1.1.1
          17 October 2019 at 2:59 pm

          Men in my sentence above was referring to sex not gender. But sure, I'm totally good with transmen being in the conversation about abortion and other men not.

      • Grant 13.1.2
        17 October 2019 at 6:45 pm

        My understanding is that Canada has a volunteer military and doesn't use conscription so no-one is 'drafted' in peace time and certainly not women. Women CAN serve in all branches of the military if they want to but that's a different matter. Canada passed special legislation for conscription of men in both World Wars but didn't rely on it heavily as most Canadian service personnel were volunteers. The legislation lapsed in peace time. My guess is that even if the Canadians were fighting a hot war they would be most reluctant to conscript women into front line roles but who knows what the future holds?

  14. Robert Guyton 14
    17 October 2019 at 1:53 pm

    Language is important; the labels and phrases we us in discussing climate change/ global heating are hugely influential and have to be updated at this point. The Guardian has done it. We must do it also.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/16/guardian-language-changes-climate-environment?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Gmail

    • greywarshark 14.1
      17 October 2019 at 2:05 pm

      The Guardian people are leading the way in good journalism I think. And honestly going out asking for people to front up with donations while making their information open and free to the public. Others also need funding but are blocking off the major part of items till you pay. So The Guardian is wearing their heart on their sleeve and we must love them for that in these trying times when knowing now might make all the difference for making important changes with vital outcomes years hence. So even little bits keep the wheels turning. We can all help to crank up the engine.

    • weka 14.2
      17 October 2019 at 2:25 pm

      Very good. I'd noticed global heating. I'd prefer them to use biodiversity and wildlife interchangeably but I understand the rationale.

    • Macro 14.3
      17 October 2019 at 2:54 pm

      That is why I have tried where ever possible over the past 20 odd years to refrain from the use of "Climate Change" – which has always been a euphemism – preferring to use the term Anthropogenic Global Warming – because that it is what it is. AGW is causing our Climates to change right now. And we need to address the human activities that are causing the rapid heating of the troposphere.

  16. A 16
    17 October 2019 at 1:59 pm

    I don't agree with the idea that a man, possibly wanting to access a women's only area (such as a refuge, toilet, women's prison, rape recovery group, dressing room at the local pool…) should be able to just sign a declaration stating that he now identifies as a women and, and suddenly he is granted access. Creepy, and dangerous.

    Now obviously it's different if you've gone through the extensive process that a reasonable person would expect, and you identify as a female.

    Who are the twits who disagree? Massey University that believes discussing this should be banned.

    • greywarshark 16.1
      17 October 2019 at 2:15 pm

      Who would think that being fair to people who are different from the norm would lead to such swingeing problems. Where does it stop – the demands and extensions to suit the minority of individuals? And taking from the rights of women who generally are more vulnerable than men, more in need of a place where they can feel safe? The demands are aggressive, and in general women are not. It has taken big efforts, sometimes aggressive, for women to be able to move amongst male society and be treated with the same respect as any person should expect; this demand to intrude on women's space is like an invasion.

    • McFlock 16.2
      17 October 2019 at 2:35 pm

      I think that any productive discussion on this issue in the way you have framed it would first require all participants having the same idea of what "a reasonable person would expect". Starting with a guarantee that all "reasonable" trans-exclusionary people have a shared idea of what that threshold is.

      Because for some, there seems to be no "process" that can be completed for them to accept that a trans woman is a woman, or a trans man is a man..

      • Dukeofurl 16.2.1
        17 October 2019 at 2:47 pm

        You mean like a process for a person to identify as black or maori or jewish even.

        is it really even an issue , but instead a stick to beat those who arent binary?

        Is the internet safe , is crossing the road safe.

        The code words like safe or 'process to identify' are really about telling trans people especially – NIMBY

        • McFlock 16.2.1.1
          17 October 2019 at 3:01 pm

          Pretty much, especially when you compare the actual threats e.g. trans women face from men compared to the threat trans women present to other women.

          • weka 16.2.1.1.1
            17 October 2019 at 3:12 pm

            what about the threat to women from men?

            • McFlock 16.2.1.1.1.1
              17 October 2019 at 3:20 pm

              Shared by trans women.

              • weka …
                17 October 2019 at 3:30 pm

                Obviously, although I think that transwomen get specific harm from men. Some overlaps for both groups, but both TW and women have their own issues with men that the other doesn't.

                That doesn't answer my question though. If the issue for women isn't threats from transwomen, but from men, why should women not have a say in how society enables men into women's spaces?

                • McFlock …
                  17 October 2019 at 3:52 pm

                  Except it seems that everyone has their own definitions of "men", "women" and "transwomen".

                  Definitions that often serve as excuses to exclude.

                  • weka …
                    17 October 2019 at 5:14 pm

                    I definitely have a definition of male and female that is exclusionary. Exclusionary isn't inherently bad. Are you suggesting that women should accept a very loose definition of woman or female and the attendant problems with that in regards to men, because trans people also have needs?

                    • McFlock …
                      17 October 2019 at 5:28 pm

                      I think it's a bit like comedy, where "punching up" (joking about the powerful in society) is often funny but "punching down" (joking about the weak and marginalised in society) is frequently lazy and bullying. If the comic is in a more powerful demographic, a lot of their "punching down" material would be "punching up" and funny if delivered by someone else.

                      That line is a big part of the exclusionary discussion, I think. E.g. men dealing with the fact that there's a "womens' room" on campus was a case of them getting over themselves and making an accommodation for someone less powerful. But somewhere along the transition a man becomes a trans woman, and in a more invidious social position than most other women.

          • Psycho Milt 16.2.1.1.2
            17 October 2019 at 3:29 pm

            …compared to the threat trans women present to other women.

            I haven't noticed any feminists saying that trans women present a threat to women. I have noticed them saying that allowing men access to women-only spaces is a threat to women, and that that is in effect what is being demanded by trans activists.

            • weka 16.2.1.1.2.1
              17 October 2019 at 3:35 pm

              there are GCFs who believe that TW are threat to women in female only spaces. This is a problem for feminism and GCF specifically (some of it's fear based, some of it is transphobia, some of it is caution).

              I also don't think it's that cut and dried. There's a difference between a rape crisis centre and toilets at a theatre. There may be safety issues in some sports too. The problem I have is that the discussions around this are so polarised and often nasty that it's almost impossible to work through the issues.

      • weka 16.2.2
        17 October 2019 at 2:54 pm

        that's the nub of it. How does society decide what is reasonable? Especially when there are huge pressures on either not talking about this, or only talking in certain ways.

        At one end there are outright bigots who think trans people shouldn't exist, at the other there are people who think that there is no such thing as female (or that female is outdated and inherently oppressive) or that anyone can be a woman. It's a mess.

        I'm not sure people need to have a shared idea of what the threshold is (nor that GC people specifically should). We don't have that expectation in other social/political areas.

        • McFlock 16.2.2.1
          17 October 2019 at 4:04 pm

          The threshold problem is that some folks portray "trans" as signing a sheet of paper that says "I'm a woman", running into the ladies' toilets for whatever reason, then signing another sheet of paper to go back to being a man. Whereas others won;t accept a trans woman as a woman even if there were some miraculous gene-editing procedure in addition to all the surgical and hormonal procedures.

          It's not my monkey or my circus. It's not my decision to make. But that doesn't mean I can't see that a massively victimised minority is being further victimised by another victimised group, often because of a simple sign on a door.

          • greywarshark 16.2.2.1.1
            17 October 2019 at 4:31 pm

            They won't be prevented from going to a toilet like some sort of untouchable, but they just won't have free access to wherever they like on whim.

            • McFlock 16.2.2.1.1.1
              17 October 2019 at 4:53 pm

              Except they already are. And women who don't look "womanly" enough are also abused and victimised on the assumption they are trans.

              • weka …
                17 October 2019 at 5:31 pm

                I agree, it's bizarre that some people think that trans ppl aren't at risk. There are also now reports of girls not feeling ok to use mixed-sex toilets at schools. We're not that good at sorting this out yet.

                • Dukeofurl …
                  17 October 2019 at 6:22 pm

                  Reports ? I hope they arent US right wing 'reports'

                  • weka …
                    18 October 2019 at 12:53 am

                    Nope, from the UK where a lot is changing fast and without much public consultation (or with bad consultation). But it doesn't take much thinking to get to teenage girls not wanting to share bathrooms, manage periods, do girly stuff around boys. Also younger girls and what they feel comfortable with. We have single sex spaces for good reasons.

          • Dukeofurl 16.2.2.1.2
            17 October 2019 at 4:41 pm

            Yes . Theres this false idea that segregated but public spaces must be 'safe'. All public spaces should be safe for women or non binary. Women or children arent safe in their homes either, that applies to same sex relationships.

            When I lived in Australian large city decades back , a friend lived next to a small pub in the inner city that identified as a 'lesbians only' bar. He said there were fights outside when it came to closing time, I didnt believe him until I did see it happen.

            Safety is an issue even when men were excluded , as they were then.

            Thats why I think safety has become a code word for lesser rights for non binary people and the whole idea of people who dont identify with gender norms.

            • weka 16.2.2.1.2.1
              17 October 2019 at 5:28 pm

              Meanwhile, feminists have decades of work now demonstrating how women are at risk from men and what to do about it.

              That there is violence in lesbian relationships doesn't change that most women and trans people are at risk from men, not from women. No-one is arguing for absolute safety, people are talking about making spaces safer. Safety for lesbians in their own communities and relationships is an issue for lesbians.

              Men thinking that they get to have a say on what is safe for women isn't new, it's tedious.

              • Dukeofurl …
                17 October 2019 at 5:43 pm

                Men arent saying what is safe for women.

                Excluding men or excluding non binary doesnt make a space 'safe for women' as a 'political argument', which is what we are doing.

                We are just repeating whats happened with all signature womens rights issues from getting the vote, equal pay, womens control of their bodies and so on .

                Women have opposed all of those things happening at the time and still do.

                An example is the group opposed to the current decriminalisation of abortion laws in NZ , headed by women.

                • Dukeofurl …
                  17 October 2019 at 6:17 pm

                  In the broadest sense SAFE is a risk assessment as absolute safety is chimera.

                  There is no evidence that excluding non binary people makes a 'space' safer.

                  Plenty of evidence women only spaces are safer not totally safe. Not sure where the evidence for allowing for trans women for example ,make somewhere less safe , instead prejudice is being used.

        • Sacha 16.2.2.2
          17 October 2019 at 4:43 pm

          We don't have that expectation in other social/political areas.

          Really? If there were 'race-critical' whites concerned about 'threats' to their traditional spaces like country clubs and ivy league universities if coffee-skinned people are allowed in them, we would not wring our hands about what degree of racism is OK, surely?

          • Psycho Milt 16.2.2.2.1
            17 October 2019 at 4:59 pm

            Maybe it would help if men on the thread didn't equate feminism with racism.

            • weka 16.2.2.2.1.1
              17 October 2019 at 5:15 pm

              that would definitely help.

            • Sacha 16.2.2.2.1.2
              17 October 2019 at 7:51 pm

              Unless your feminism is essentialist discrimination, there's no equation. Racism and sexism have obvious parallels, without even going into their intersections.

          • weka 16.2.2.2.2
            17 October 2019 at 5:17 pm

            Not sure how that is relevant to what McFlock was referring to (and my reply to him), but maybe I misunderstood what he meant?

            • Sacha 16.2.2.2.2.1
              17 October 2019 at 7:48 pm

              Not at all. McFlock wrote:

              I think that any productive discussion on this issue in the way you have framed it would first require all participants having the same idea of what "a reasonable person would expect". Starting with a guarantee that all "reasonable" trans-exclusionary people have a shared idea of what that threshold is.

              You replied:

              that's the nub of it. How does society decide what is reasonable? Especially when there are huge pressures on either not talking about this, or only talking in certain ways.

              At one end there are outright bigots who think trans people shouldn't exist, at the other there are people who think that there is no such thing as female (or that female is outdated and inherently oppressive) or that anyone can be a woman. It's a mess.

              I'm not sure people need to have a shared idea of what the threshold is (nor that GC people specifically should). We don't have that expectation in other social/political areas.

              I imagined a parallel in race identity, and in US terms as that seems to be a place we are importing these ideas from. One counter to the final sentence is all it was.

    • gsays 16.3
      17 October 2019 at 2:54 pm

      The twits that disagree are akin to our feminist sisters in the 60s and 70s pioneering and making the radical mainstream.

      A'la Germaine Greer. Only she's now on the oppressors side.

    • weka 16.4
      17 October 2019 at 2:55 pm

      "Massey University that believes discussing this should be banned"

      I doubt this very much. They've said a non-university group can't use their premises for a meeting. That's a very long way from banning the discussion.

      • Psycho Milt 16.4.1
        17 October 2019 at 3:34 pm

        True, but they've also declared their support for freedom of speech in a press release announcing they're using H&S as an excuse to prevent speakers from expressing unpopular opinions on their campus. Actions speak louder than words, and their actions are those of an opponent of freedom of speech.

        • weka 16.4.1.1
          17 October 2019 at 3:37 pm

          Unless they want to prioritise safer culture for trans and NB people so their voices can be amplified. Freedom of speech looks different to the people whose voices are least heard.

          I don't agree with the decision, but I don't know if it's political, lobbying, or they just got so many threats of violence they decided to bail.

          • Psycho Milt 16.4.1.1.1
            17 October 2019 at 5:10 pm

            Massey's action suggests gender-critical feminists may be the people whose voices are least heard on this issue. Not that I'm trying to argue with you – neither of us agrees with the decision, after all – just feeling grumpy at Massey dipping itself in shit again, because I work there and it's getting embarrassing to tell people that.

            • weka 16.4.1.1.1.1
              17 October 2019 at 5:21 pm

              Lol, I'm sure it is.

              My personal position is there are differing needs (trans/NB people and women) and the current discourse pits them against each other. GCFs and trans activists/allies both make this a war, and bystanders, and bigots, add to the fray. Lots of people getting damaged in the process and rippling out effects.

              So while I don't agree that SUFW should be shunned, I also think that the needs of trans people are valid and should be part of the process. At the moment it's almost impossible to have that conversation.

        • McFlock 16.4.1.2
          17 October 2019 at 5:13 pm

          I would be happy to see a court look at it.

          It would dovetail the council judgement quite nicely to draw a line, especially if the finding is against the university.

          • weka 16.4.1.2.1
            17 October 2019 at 5:22 pm

            I'd be interested for a court to look at just so that Massey have to be honest about their reasons. I doubt that a court process is the way to solve the conflict for society though.

            • McFlock 16.4.1.2.1.1
              17 October 2019 at 5:34 pm

              I'm not certain they're being dishonest, to be frank. I'm pretty sure their legal opinion would be a summary of the case law around health and safety requirements and might be based around bullying-caused stress, or a public order hazard. Lawyers can think up all sorts of stuff.

              I just suspect that their threshold for risk elimination is more absolute than a basic "reasonableness" assessment of the hazards of this event.

              • weka …
                18 October 2019 at 12:50 am

                I also think it's most likely about the cultural safety of trans people, but I think there is a public interest in knowing if threats of violence were made.

                I wasn't thinking they were being dishonest so much as unclear. Their statement was very brief and didn't explain their reasoning. I assume that was deliberate. There's probably a useful public conversation to be had about what H/S legislation covers (and doesn't cover). I haven't seen that convo yet re Massey.

                • McFlock …
                  18 October 2019 at 4:42 pm

                  Yeah the brevity was almost certainly calculated. Even going back to my ROAR ("right of admission is reserved" – we might decline you entry) days on the pub door, only a fool gave precise reasons, and you never got into a debate if you were busy (sometimes it was a fun way to pass the time if things were quiet, though).

                  Specific reasons can be refuted, or compared with other punters. Vague reasons firmly applied leave no wriggle room. And if the specific reason is illegal, you get in trouble (never worked a bar with a maximum age of entry, but they did exist around town and probably still do).

      • Dukeofurl 16.4.2
        17 October 2019 at 5:31 pm

        Non university group can use their rooms/lecture theatres according to their "rooms" handbook

        The specific site

        https://hospitalityservices.ac.nz/

        "With over 500 bookable spaces across three cities, our team will find the perfect venue for your event. Whether you need a meeting room, lecture theatre or ballroom we have the venue to suit. We understand the importance of matching the most suitable venue to your group type, size and budget."

        An application is involved , so presume there is some procedural steps.

        • weka 16.4.2.1
          17 October 2019 at 5:33 pm

          Non-uni groups can request to use the rooms. I don't think the university is under an absolute onus to say yes to every group.

    • arkie 16.5
      17 October 2019 at 4:44 pm

      You Might Be a TERF if…

      19.) Claim that when you work to halt the propagation of anti-feminist stereotypes it’s empowerment, but when trans people work to halt the propagation of anti-trans stereotypes it’s censorship.

      This is site and page includes many handy definitions and examples of trans-exclusionary behaviour and attitudes. It also has a good history of the issues. I would recommend a read for those who want to know more.

      • gsays 16.5.1
        17 October 2019 at 7:09 pm

        Thanks for the link arkie.

        I realise I have lived a privileged, sheltered and uncomplicated life.

        This issue is interesting to observe evolve, watching norms move.

        It is akin to environmentalists and the issue of damming rivers versus renewable energy. There are compelling arguements either way.

  17. David Mac 17
    17 October 2019 at 5:35 pm

    It appears China have just taken steps to lease an entire South Pacific Island. The residents of Tulagi in the Solomons with it's natural deep water harbour are not sure what's going on.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12277301

    • David Mac 17.1
      17 October 2019 at 9:56 pm

      If I was China I'd be establishing a holiday resort at Tulagi. Bulldozing out an international airport capable of handling big passenger jets (and bombers). Dredging the harbour so it can accommodate the largest ships in the Chinese Family Fun Cruise fleet (aircraft carriers). Guests will need 1000's of rooms (barracks) and several golf courses. (They're just golf courses, the Chinese brass have developed a taste for the stupid game).

      Those citizens that accumulate 2000 citizen points in a single month will be entered into the draw for 3 fun-filled days at Tulagi. Winners just need to record the conversations they have at the border.

      I still miss Clarke.

    • Ngungukai 17.2
      18 October 2019 at 5:43 am

      Evidently China are also building a fishing port on Penrhyn in the Cook Islands 500km north of Rarotonga. You have to take your hats off the the Chinese they are not stupid ?

      • David Mac 17.2.1
        18 October 2019 at 8:10 am

        Yes, we work with a 5 year plan, they work with 100 years. Step 1. Become richest country in the world. Step 2. Take over world. (Not through invasion, through buying it.) Beat the West at their own game.

  18. Ian 18
    17 October 2019 at 9:08 pm

    I wake up every morning and thank the lord I Bypassed Massey and studied at Lincoln. I a have allways preferred Corriedales and Coopworths to those flighty Perendales.

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