Open mike 17/06/2015

109 comments on “Open mike 17/06/2015 ”

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1. vto 1

   17 June 2015 at 7:04 am

   I see the Talleywankers continue with their bullyboy c&%t ways… http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/69436108/union-vs-sir-peter-beef-comes-to-court

   Yet another legacy of John Key is this sort of nasty piece of shit – peter talleywanker

   John Key has allowed this sort of nasty bullyboy persona to rise to the surface as some sort of ‘success’ that we should all emulate………. excuse the language, but that is completely fucked in the head…….

   shameful society that we have with these sorts of values
   • te reo putake 1.1

     17 June 2015 at 8:48 am

     The Meat workers Union have a fb page dedicated to their struggle against Talley’s attempt to take away their worker’s employment rights. Well worth liking.

     https://www.facebook.com/jobsthatcount
     • Skinny 1.1.1

       17 June 2015 at 9:28 am

       While I am very supportive of the Affco workers and have donated and raised thousands for them when they were locked out by scumbag Talley’s. I find the meat workers to be a bit one way streeted about unionismi I.e you get fuck all solidarity in return. There has been numerous industrial scraps since their lock out and little return support on the picket line.

       This needs to be said before they come cap in hand again. In unity coobahs!
       • te reo putake 1.1.1.1

         17 June 2015 at 9:35 am

         That’s not been my experience, Skinny. However, the MWU is made up of semi-autonomous branches, who largely run their own affairs. The two branches nearest me have always been visible when other workers have been picketing. Maybe it’s just a problem up your way?
         • Skinny 1.1.1.1.1

           17 June 2015 at 10:11 am

           Yes true i was talking Waikato and Northland. I guess plenty are of the younger generation and there would be an element of fear given how Talley’s treat rebels.
       • jjbloom 1.1.1.2

         17 June 2015 at 10:44 am

         During the lock out at the Wairoa meat works, the whole town rallied and helped the workers and their families with lots of donations and plenty of food and essentials.

         I was told that after the strike ended with the workers getting better conditions of work, many (or some) workers actually left the union for privately negotiated benefits for themselves. Scum.

         Some of them may have done this under threat of losing jobs?

         Comments from people in the know about what happened there would be good to hear.
         • Rosie 1.1.1.2.1

           17 June 2015 at 11:04 am

           “I was told that after the strike ended with the workers getting better conditions of work, many (or some) workers actually left the union for privately negotiated benefits for themselves.”

           Sounds like classic union busting techniques. If this did happen Talleys objective may have been to divide union members and therefore their strength by offering more lucrative pay and conditions to encourage workers to leave the union, with the additional benefit of carrying out a retaliatory act against the union.

           Those people that did leave may think they got a better deal but really they were victims of Talleys anti union shenanigans. Talleys gained power over them. Talleys are to blame, not the workers.
           • jjbloom 1.1.1.2.1.1

             17 June 2015 at 11:42 am

             That is what I thought.

             My information is second hand, but told by one of the workers. He said that a union secretary (or some such) who held a high position in the union was one of the first to leave annoying other faithful members. However, his leaving made it easy as a catalyst for some others to leave.

             It is sad that some workers are too thick or too selfish not to understand the importance of staying united in a workers union for the long term benefit of pay and conditions for everyone in the workplace.

             Talley’s will try all kinds of tricks to benefit themselves, but I think the real blame lies with the scum workers that leave the union.
             • Rosie …

               17 June 2015 at 12:04 pm

               Scum is a harsh word jj!

               Choices people make come down to their level of information or education they have on a matter, and the power and influence of solidarity isn’t at the forefront of people’s minds in this “whats it in for me?” society we have promoted in the last 30 odd years.

               People are hard pushed to make ends meet these days and many may be desperate for a short term solution, ie, taking the bosses offer and leaving the union as a condition of that acceptance, without being able to see the long view. Unfortunate because this disadvantages everyone including themselves in the long term.

               Geez, I’ve talked to union members who vote National. Go figure! Imagine voting for a party whose intention is to strip your work rights.

               There’s your lack of information, right there.
               • jjbloom …

                 17 June 2015 at 12:37 pm

                 Rosie, yes, I agree that information and education is the key.
                 It is so hard to fight for the workers in the prevailing socio-economic work conditions in today’s society which is easily manipulated by the powerful and wealthy employers.
         • Skinny 1.1.1.2.2

           17 June 2015 at 12:07 pm

           Too be fair there is an element of both, divide and rule from Talley’s = short term gains for the worker traitor’s only to have the little gains stripped once enough jump from the union collective agreement to individual agreements.

           Such is the fear of no work in a high unemployment region and or being singled out for special treatment from Talley’s the Northland Affco freezing works doesn’t even have a Meat Workers Union branch. Tragic.
           • Rosie 1.1.1.2.2.1

             17 June 2015 at 2:05 pm

             Quick question. In the absence of a Northland branch of MWU can the affco plant workers join another union, eg, SFWU as it’s the vaguely closest in terms of type of work coverage, or indeed any union?
             • te reo putake …

               17 June 2015 at 2:23 pm

               No need, Rosie. They can (and do) join the MWU. The lack of a branch doesn’t mean there is no on the ground organisation, just that it’s not done under the branch structure, and is administered by the national union instead.

               The organiser for Northland is based in Auckland, as far as I know, but if Darien Fenton happens to read this, I’m sure she can clarify the situation.
               • Rosie …

                 17 June 2015 at 3:35 pm

                 Cool. The Akld based organiser would schedule trips away as required I should imagine.
                 • te reo putake …

                   17 June 2015 at 3:55 pm

                   Yep (assuming Talley’s let them in the door!)
             • Skinny …

               17 June 2015 at 3:19 pm

               I would assume Affco Morewa in Northland had a MWU branch but those executives got singled out and not rehired after a seasonal shutdown. Or they capitulated to Talley’s industrial foot on their throats. As TRP points out it doesn’t mean they are not MWU members, just they have an Auckland based organiser and don’t have a branch structure like most of the other Affco works. My personal opinion is you can not beat a local branch structure, finger on the pulse and a great assist to HQ aswell as dealing with day to day issue s.

               Answering your question yes they probably could since the SFWU are joining forces with the EPMU ‘in their idiotic one Union quest’. It never ceases to amaze me which union covers who as they poach each others members and end up usually weakening a collective agreement.
   • Rosie 1.2

     17 June 2015 at 8:54 am

     More appalling Talleys oppressive tactics and H&S failures come to light. Continuing with the theme of the discussion on Talley’s submission to the Select Committee re the H&S bill, on Stephanie’s post the other day:

     “He and Mr Doran were injured around the time Talley’s was lobbying the Government to soften health and safety reforms.
     Both men have been helped by the Meat Workers Union, but they’re just two of 1284 Talley’s workers injured on the job last year.
     In fact, over the last three years ACC has paid out $8 million to nearly 5000 Talley’s workers.
     Talley’s again refused to be interviewed, but Sir Peter Talley’s son Andrew emailed, dismissing the story as “union propaganda”.

     Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/another-talleys-worker-paid-compensation-2015061618#ixzz3dGAHV24f

     There was a lot in that story but two things really stuck out:

     1) The high number of injuries, 1284 of them just in one year and the massive ACC payout to 5000 workers over 3 years.

     2) The arrogance of son of Talley. To claim that raising the issue of the huge number of injuries was “union propaganda” was deluded and Slateresque in the extreme.

     What always strikes me about employers like Talleys that their greed and stupidity blinds them to the economic advantage of keeping their workers safe, even if that was their only motivation for keeping them safe. All that lost productivity and all that ACC paid out. (As as aside what does ACC do with repeat offenders such as Talleys? Do they increase their premiums?)

     Twice now, ex Talleys workers say the animals they process have more value than the human workers.

     I don’t think any amount of bad language would be too harsh for Talleys vto.
2. Sanctuary 2

   17 June 2015 at 7:14 am

   I’ve always thought the clearest way a new left wing government could send a symbolic message to the elites would be to abolish knighthoods – and make it retroactive to 2008.
   • Rosie 2.1

     17 June 2015 at 8:59 am

     +1. They could start with Peter Talley.
     • Colonial Rawshark 2.1.1

       17 June 2015 at 10:16 am

       nah this is the kind of feel good pettiness which the Left can do without. What aLabour Govt should do is celebrate these people loudly and cheeringly, and quietly announce a 0.25% annual wealth tax, a 0.05% FTT involving all NZD transactions, and a 5% stamp duty on all houses flipped within 3 years.
       • Rosie 2.1.1.1

         17 June 2015 at 10:30 am

         Yes to those suggested new taxes.

         Didn’t you put forward an “abolish GST” idea to your local LEC CR? How did that go down?

         I would love to see the abolition of GST, the most grossly unfair and burdensome tax there is. Only the wealthy are unaffected by it.

         Imagine how your life would change if you didn’t pay GST.
       • The Lone Haranguer 2.1.1.2

         17 June 2015 at 10:31 am

         CR, thats damn good tax policy right there.

         Has the Labour Party ever actually costed it up to see what sort of $$ it would generate? And then used the Nat tactic of saying this money will fund the following stuff – and then list it out.

         Labour wont get to lead the country without fresh ideas and good leadership,
       • rhinocrates 2.1.1.3

         17 June 2015 at 12:12 pm

         How about GST on knighthoods, since they’re a commodity now?
       • Stephanie Rodgers 2.1.1.4

         17 June 2015 at 2:24 pm

         The relative pittance involved in a 0.25% wealth tax reminded me of this classic ad for the UK Robin Hood Tax campaign.
         https://youtu.be/qYtNwmXKIvM
         • Colonial Rawshark 2.1.1.4.1

           17 June 2015 at 4:06 pm

           Yep, remember that a real estate agent will ticket clip 3.5% to 4.0% easy on any house sale, and everyone thinks that’s just normal.
       • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.5

         17 June 2015 at 5:00 pm

         a 0.05% FTT involving all NZD transactions

         You do realise that that would require that NZ go to a cashless payments system and that all NZ$ be kept on a single server so that all transactions in NZ$ can actually be recorded don’t you?
         • Colonial Rawshark 2.1.1.5.1

           17 June 2015 at 5:04 pm

           Why would you bother with that when 98%+ of the volume of monies transacted every day is already electronic. And you simply count the transactions which go through the payment networks and clearance systems which already exist today.
   • Ron 2.2

     17 June 2015 at 10:34 am

     That would really upset those ‘staunch’ Labour people that could not wait to sign up to change to a Knight or Dame.
     In fact we even hired one to help with the recent Labour Election Review. Bet a new Labour Government would not scrap them a second time.
3. Skinny 3

   17 June 2015 at 7:15 am

   Nathan Guy covers his phone mouth piece and chuckles his head off along with Stephen Joyce….regathers himself to answer media questions.

   ” Well Paddy actually the sale of swamp kauri carvings plays a significant role in promoting New Zealand as a tourist destination…excuse me a moment.”

   Guy leans forward and plucks another slab of kauri out of his arse!

   The Nat’s are on a roll.
   • wyndham 3.1

     17 June 2015 at 8:40 am

     This issue has received a lot of comment this am. and looks to become a major issue. Winston Peters and Dover Samuels both making comment whilst Guy continues to show total ignorance of the real facts and to defend what is an obvious rort.
     By the way, aren’t our Oravida friends donkey deep in this one ? There’s much more to come out I suspect.
     • Skinny 3.1.1

       17 June 2015 at 8:50 am

       A healthy return on investment in Team Key for Nationals # 1 milk company.
       http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/top/276363/minister-defends-trade-in-kauri-swamp-logs
       • wyndham 3.1.1.1

         17 June 2015 at 8:53 am

         . . . . and in the Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11466032
       • jeff 3.1.1.2

         17 June 2015 at 9:45 am

         also this http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/3d/nz-kauri-sent-to-china-in-black-gold-rush-2014043016#axzz3dGISLn3h
4. Charles 4

   17 June 2015 at 7:21 am

   Don’t panic! Living in a car is choice not a necessity, so says The Herald’s “social issues” repeater, oops i mean parroter, no wait, reporter,

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11466257

   oh phew, so because some people choose to live how they want, the kids living in poverty, and anyone else who’d rather live in a house are just moaners. Great, thanks City Mission! You’re the best. Your timing is the best! Praise Jesus and St. John Key! Everyone stop asking questions, it’s all ok.

   But then detractors of the Mission have often commented that “ignoring and removing” is part of the M.O. Maybe they’re right.

   Next week… Herald “social issues” parrot tracks down cancer patients who refuse treatment and choose to die painfully at home to “lighten the load on our struggling health budget”.
   • AsleepWhileWalking 4.1

     17 June 2015 at 8:36 am

     Good grief.
   • maui 4.2

     17 June 2015 at 11:37 am

     Scratch that one off the list then – no need to worry about people living in cars in nz. What I can take from this is that it’s a lifestyle choice for those people wanting to be mobile and also the super thrifty! We should be looking at opening up more of these trailer parks or 24hr car parks on our city waterfronts for this new breed of lifestylers.
5. Tracey 5

   17 June 2015 at 8:22 am

   In October 2014

   “English said he expected the Government to be in position to begin selling houses in the first quarter of 2015, although in many areas consultation with Iwi groups would have to be completed before any sales could be made given the land was subject to Treaty of Waitangi clauses granting Iwi Right of First Refusal (RFR) when Crown land is sold.'”

   Curiouser and curiouser Alice.

   http://www.hivenews.co.nz/articles/721-english-pushing-ahead-with-housing-nz-reforms
6. Tracey 6

   17 June 2015 at 8:24 am

   And now, for the REAL housing crisis…

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/69450493/secondhand-house-riles-travis-country-residents
   • Rosie 6.1

     17 June 2015 at 10:22 am

     Wow! First world problems overload.

     The reaction of the residents reminds me of the exclusivity mentality, sense of privilege and smugness that exists on The Development north of my street.
     Mind you that won’t happen around here. The King (the developer) and his Queen (his sister, the partner developer) only allow their own designs to go on their lots, no ex state houses for them in their kingdom.

     Nothing wrong that house either. it looks like it has retro fitted double glazing, a new roof and a nice paint job. It’ll look smart.

     Send those residents down to the local soup kitchen to feed the poor and then maybe they can reflect on what a real crisis in society looks like.
     • Tracey 6.1.1

       17 June 2015 at 10:34 am

       It reminded me of Hooton’s frothing when the school zone was going to be changed… now THAT was a housing crisis, right Matt?

       http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/10291461/Proposed-school-zones-cause-upset
       • Rosie 6.1.1.1

         17 June 2015 at 10:55 am

         Thats cringe worthy.

         Both stories demonstrate the elite group residents’ sense of entitlement.

         “Because I’m worth it baby”
         • Colonial Rawshark 6.1.1.1.1

           17 June 2015 at 3:24 pm

           Seems like the California 1% don’t believe that emergency drought measures should apply to them either. ‘People shouldn’t have to play golf on brown courses.’

           Drought or no drought, Steve Yuhas resents the idea that it is somehow shameful to be a water hog. If you can pay for it, he argues, you should get your water.

           People “should not be forced to live on property with brown lawns, golf on brown courses or apologize for wanting their gardens to be beautiful,” Yuhas fumed recently on social media. “We pay significant property taxes based on where we live,” he added in an interview. “And, no, we’re not all equal when it comes to water.”

           Yuhas lives in the ultra-wealthy enclave of Rancho Santa Fe, a bucolic Southern California hamlet of ranches, gated communities and country clubs that guzzles five times more water per capita than the statewide average

           http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-06-16/were-not-all-equal-when-it-comes-water-rich-californians-blast-conservation-efforts

           Apparently magicking up more electronic money will magick up more rain for California?
           • Rosie 6.1.1.1.1.1

             17 June 2015 at 3:42 pm

             The dude would probably get tankers in from another state, and then refuse to pay his property taxes as the local authorities try as they might, couldn’t squeeze any water of the non existent clouds.

             Green lawns are a basic human right aren’t they?

             Guy sounds like a resident of Planet Key. Key would blanch at the idea of a brown golf course too, for sure.
             • Colonial Rawshark …

               17 June 2015 at 4:02 pm

               Green lawns are a basic human right aren’t they?

               Especially in land which is most naturally a desert…not unlike Palm Springs…
     • weka 6.1.2

       17 June 2015 at 12:56 pm

       It’s unbelievable that Chch residents of all people are doing this shit.

       Some of the comments are classic.

       Jandtheno 5 hours ago
       OMG! What if this house becomes a rental and poor people move in? They clearly won’t be able to mow their lawn in the approved right to left pattern and will probably drive a car that’s like 5 years old. Could you think of anything worse? Look at that horrible house that is being put their – no faux columns!!!! The owners clearly have no taste.

       Mully 4 hours ago
       Brace yourself – they might even drive a JAPANESE car!! Oh the humanity…
       Reply

       KiwiLW 4 hours ago
       What if they also have poor kids!? They might talk to my kids!! Then what?! There is no hope for my children’s future.

       hector 2 hours ago
       but then travis County kids dont go to Windsor or Burwood Primary Schools

       Wes McGuinness 3 hours ago
       I think there are covenants that stipulate age of car, no dogs of a certain breed and no barbecues except in designated areas.

       At Northwood (close to Belfast in Chch) I think they were trying to ban the bus driving or stopping around the ‘estate’, sorry subdivision.

       Not sure if the ban happened, but I think the rationale was it was dirty and smelly and attracted poor people…

       JustSaying 2 hours ago
       It probably won‘t be painted terracotta or be called Casa de la something either! Won‘t someone think of the children?

       Except Wes seems to be serious 🙁
       • Puddleglum 6.1.2.1

         17 June 2015 at 1:24 pm

         “It’s unbelievable that Chch residents of all people are doing this shit.”

         It’s important to remember that there have been many ‘winners’ as well as losers in the aftermath of the earthquakes. Sadly, the ‘winners’ are doing what most winners do – protecting recently ‘won’ gains (e.g., in house prices).

         With perhaps the exception of the first few days or weeks post-Feb 2011, people in Christchurch have never been ‘all in it together’ simply because the consequences (good and bad) have fallen unequally on individuals, families, businesses, workplaces and neighbourhoods.

         There are very, very different stories people have to tell about the longer term consequences the earthquakes have had for them.

         And of course one of the points of exclusive subdivisions with their numerous covenants is the protection of ‘value’.

         They may not be literally ‘gated’ but the intent is to erect a barrier to people of lesser means – in some ways that ‘promise’ is even more important (for some people) in times of broader hardship in their community than in times of general prosperity.

         Those in the lifeboats don’t want extra passengers pulled on board who may cause the boat to take on water …
         • Rosie 6.1.2.1.1

           17 June 2015 at 3:43 pm

           Nice observation
       • The Lone Haranguer 6.1.2.2

         17 June 2015 at 2:36 pm

         Travis is a swamp – well a sort of half drained swamp really, which is why its land took a big hit in the earthquakes.

         Its not “upmarket dirt” at all. Its a swamp with a covenant and a bunch of McMansions with fake pillars and fake people.

         I would be embarrassed to have to live there with neighbours like that.

         And even more fun, the houses coming in are new and made at the local polytech so nothing to do with dopey covenants on second hand houses.

         In the comments section, the piss-take is strong. Some of the comments are magic.
       • North 6.1.2.3

         17 June 2015 at 8:51 pm

         God Weka you make me belly laugh…..and cry unfortunately……because there REALLY are walking, breathing, outrageous fucks of people exactly as you depict. People who don’t go to bed at night without fretting that they’re NOT perfect reflections of the caricatures you paint. Jeezuz ! What can be done ? This nation is near lost I fear…….our existence as vaguely civilized folk demands we get rid of The Gauche Key, Grand Dame Michelle Roag, and the Grey Machiavellian Man Steven. And put Monty Python back where it belongs. In the realms of crack-up, surreal like you’re tripping, fantasy !
   • Brigid 6.2

     17 June 2015 at 12:04 pm

     But this is odd “An enforcement officer would visit the site on Wednesday to see if the houses required building consent for their foundations, Higgins said.”
     A removal house always needs building consent for foundations.
     • weka 6.2.1

       17 June 2015 at 1:08 pm

       It looks like an article cobbled together, it’s unclear if the buildings breach the covenant too.
       • Molly 6.2.1.1

         17 June 2015 at 3:21 pm

         AFAIK, a relocatable requires a “building consent” just like a new build. If it meets all the building standards and zoning requirements, then a resource consent is not needed.

         IMO, in a place that has very little available tradesmen available, they have come across a smart solution. Less time and effort to get a habitable home, and it is put onto pile foundations, which can be lengthened if they are in a flood zone.

         The cries of the neighbours are the piteous sounds of the self involved.
7. AsleepWhileWalking 7

   17 June 2015 at 8:37 am

   The quiet unassuming Trump added, “I will be the greatest jobs president God ever created.” – Zerohedge.
   • Colonial Rawshark 7.1

     17 June 2015 at 10:10 am

     the US is becoming insane. This, and the NATO aka US decision to store heavy armaments near Russia’s border.
     • Anne 7.1.1

       17 June 2015 at 10:19 am

       Its crazy stuff. The 60s and 70s all over again only perhaps worse. Now Russia has responded by announcing the expansion of their missile fleet aimed directly at Europe.
       • Tracey 7.1.1.1

         17 June 2015 at 10:23 am

         Imagine how the consolidated money required by all candidates to run could be spent for the real public good.
       • Colonial Rawshark 7.1.1.2

         17 June 2015 at 11:56 am

         I saw a quote from a German banker yesterday saying that there was one difference to the 1960s and 1970s – that today’s western diplomats and politicians are “intellectual dwarves” with no subtlety or foresight as compared to their cold war predecessors.
         • rhinocrates 7.1.1.2.1

           17 June 2015 at 12:14 pm

           Tyrion Lannister is an intellectual dwarf; he should be offended by the simile.
           • Colonial Rawshark 7.1.1.2.1.1

             17 June 2015 at 1:52 pm

             very true
   • b waghorn 7.2

     17 June 2015 at 12:22 pm

     He added that he was going to fence out the drug dealing rapist Mexicans and go hard on Isis I think I’d rather have another bush then that horrible old prick.
8. esoteric pineapples 8

   17 June 2015 at 9:00 am

   Bill English blaming the Greens for Auckland’s housing crisis in Parliament yesterday. Jeez, who knew a small political party that’s never been in government could have more power than the Government of the day …….
   • tracey 8.1

     17 June 2015 at 9:06 am

     did he use the word “crisis”? Cos I expect the government to start using synonyms for it to try, belatedly, to to bolster their view that selling land to fletchers is a social purpose.
9. Sirenia 9

   17 June 2015 at 10:03 am

   Isn’t it time to admit that we have hit peak dairy and it is all downhill from here. The recovery for milk prices is not just around the corner. The world has enough for its needs now and people are turning away from it. Time to be innovative about new protein sources.
   • Colonial Rawshark 9.1

     17 June 2015 at 10:07 am

     peak dairy was 18 months ago.
     • Tracey 9.1.1

       17 June 2015 at 10:10 am

       these things are historically cyclic, yes? Or is there something to make us think it won’t cycle back up at some point?
       • vto 9.1.1.1

         17 June 2015 at 10:51 am

         when things are up they apparently never go down, and when they are down they apparently never go up.

         see cross-eyed Auckland property lovers
       • b waghorn 9.1.1.2

         17 June 2015 at 12:15 pm

         In one of the farm mags yesterday they talked about the US having a couple of bumper grain growing years and that the buy product of there ethanol production is cattle feed . cheep feed = more milk in the US system.
       • Colonial Rawshark 9.1.1.3

         17 June 2015 at 1:57 pm

         these things are historically cyclic, yes? Or is there something to make us think it won’t cycle back up at some point?

         a so-called ‘secular’ or ‘structural’ change will alter the normal expected cycle into a brand new pattern. It’s like the NZ car assembly industry – no one is expecting a “normal cycle” to pick that back up.

         In the case of dairy, India and China bringing online massive dairy farms and long term weak demand from western consumers, and our high cost of dairy debt, means that the structure of the industry has changed long term.
10. travellerev 10

    17 June 2015 at 10:44 am

    John Key was Patient Zero catching Infectious Greed with Andrew Krieger in the first attack on a currency in 1987. The NZ Dollar!
11. Anne 11

    17 June 2015 at 11:38 am

    Watch out at QT in the House today for some John Key initiated nasty, possibly personal attacks on Little – or some other Labour MP – in response to Little’s ‘gotcha’ moment yesterday.
    • Tracey 11.1

      17 June 2015 at 11:49 am

      I am convinced that Armstrong’s opinion piece this morning has been changed. When I read it this morning the last sentence is what now shows as the second to last paragraph. It ended with a positive comment about Little… now it ends with a swipe at him.
      • b waghorn 11.1.1

        17 June 2015 at 12:18 pm

        Henry and gower did a piece about the nats botch up in Auckland housing this morn but ended it buy blaming the last labour govt . SNAFU
        • Tracey 11.1.1.1

          17 June 2015 at 12:20 pm

          The reason I am so convinced is cos I was surprised he ended with a compliment of Little…
          • b waghorn 11.1.1.1.1

            17 June 2015 at 12:27 pm

            I don’t get the print copy but it might be worth a look to see if the article in there and is it different to web version. I did read it early and don’t recall it having ago at little
          • Anne 11.1.1.1.2

            17 June 2015 at 2:20 pm

            Maybe he read his piece over breakfast this morning and thought “Good God I’ve ended up praising Little”, so he raced over to his computer and added the last be- little -ing paragraph to the online version. 🙂
      • b waghorn 11.1.2

        17 June 2015 at 12:45 pm

        I just reread the Armstrong article and the last bit was the same as it was at 7.30 ish when I saw it this morn
        • Tracey 11.1.2.1

          17 June 2015 at 12:51 pm

          i read before then but am probably wrong about the last part and just dont remember it but it was there.
          • Marvellous Bearded Git 11.1.2.1.1

            17 June 2015 at 4:17 pm

            @Tracey I read it around 8am and it was the same as now.

            Little was in fantastic form yesterday-couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He was in total control and looked like a leader in waiting.

            Superb to see Labour getting some really cutting questions in. Too often they have been wasted in the past.
12. ianmac 12

    17 June 2015 at 11:48 am

    Anyone notice the reported claims that the Snowden files had been cracked by China? The dangers of journalists just printinting what the Government tells them to have echoes here.
    “Sunday Times faithfully reported the British government’s position saying they had been cracked, but later said it doesn’t have any evidence of that or anything else in the story for that matter.”
    Totally untrue it seems
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11466033.
    • Tracey 12.1

      17 June 2015 at 11:57 am

      I heard it late last week. Snowden always said he wouldn’t release such papers. It probably pisses off those screeching that he is a traitor that he might have some ethics 😉
    • weka 12.2

      17 June 2015 at 12:51 pm

      It gets even better, one of the jonos admits he just wrote what the govt told him to,

      Either way, one of the journalists who wrote the story, Tom Harper, gave an interview to CNN which is quite incredible to watch. Harper just keeps repeating that he doesn’t know what’s actually true, and that he was just saying what the government told him — more or less admitting that his role here was not as a reporter, but as a propagandist or a stenographer. Here’s the key snippet: [see link]

      If you can’t see or hear that, it’s Harper saying “we just publish what we believe to be the position of the British government.” This is a claim that he repeats throughout the interview, pleading ignorance to anything factual about the story. In short, his argument is that he heard these allegations through a “well placed source” within the UK government and he sought to corroborate the claim… by asking another source in the UK government who said “that’s true!” and Harper ran with it.

      Full video is linked in article.

      https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150615/11565531344/reporter-who-wrote-sunday-times-snowden-propaganda-admits-that-hes-just-writing-what-uk-govt-told-him.shtml
    • Colonial Rawshark 12.3

      17 June 2015 at 2:09 pm

      Yes, the MSM repeaters went for gold. Glen Greenwald, who attested to the fact that Snowden destroyed all copies his own copies of the information before he left for Russia called it “stenography journalism.”

      So, in summary: How were the files breached? “I don’t know.” Were the files hacked or did Snowden hand them over? “We don’t know.” Were MI6 agents directly under threat? “We don’tknow.” How did the government know what was in the files: “that’s not something we’re clear on.” Can you substantiate the claims? “No.”

      And now the Sunday Times has levelled copyright charges against Greenwald for his critique of their story:

      http://rt.com/news/267541-greenwald-sunday-times-copyright/
    • Colonial Rawshark 12.4

      17 June 2015 at 2:17 pm

      How the CIA influences and controls many major media personalities:

      http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-10-09/german-journalist-blows-whistle-how-cia-controls-media

      Udo Ulfkotte, a former editor of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (which is one of Germany’s largest newspapers), has decided to go public about the corruption of himself and the rest of the Western ‘news’ media, because he finds that this corruption is bringing Europe too close to a nuclear war against Russia, which he concludes the U.S. aristocracy that controls the CIA wants to bring about, or else to bring closer to the brink.

      http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/10/leading-german-journalist-admits-cia-bribed-leaders-western-press.html

      And in his interview with RT Ulfkotte says:

      the majority of Germany do not want to have nukes in our country, but we still have American nukes; so, we are still a kind of an American colony, and, being a colony, it is very easy to approach young journalists through (and what is very important here is) transatlantic organizations. All journalists from respected and big German newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, they are all members or guests of those big transatlantic organizations, and in these transatlantic organizations you are approached to be pro-American, and … they invite you for seeing the United States, they pay for that, they pay all your expenses and everything. So, you are bribed, you get more and more corrupt, because they make you good contacts. … So, you make friends, you think they are your friends and cooperate with them. They ask you, ‘will you do me this favor,’ ‘will you do me that favor,’
      • Chooky 12.4.1

        17 June 2015 at 6:11 pm

        +100 …interesting
      • Anne 12.4.2

        17 June 2015 at 6:48 pm

        … you are approached to be pro-American, and … they invite you for seeing the United States, they pay for that, they pay all your expenses and everything.

        Fascinating CR.

        Now what about NZ and Australia? I have this vague recollection reading about a NZ journalist/ reporter being invited to the USA a few years back. Can anyone remember the details or who it was? Or am I muddling it up with something else.

        If they’re doing it in Germany then they’re doing it elsewhere including NZ. They need to know exactly what is going on in all the western countries so they can easily manipulate them to their advantage.
        • Ergo Robertina 12.4.2.1

          18 June 2015 at 12:57 am

          Do you mean this?
          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4450280/Local-media-identities-tracked
          http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10693860
          • Anne 12.4.2.1.1

            18 June 2015 at 4:41 pm

            Bullseye. Thanks so much Ergo Robertina. My subconscious was attempting to drag it up from the depths of my brain. The name Guyon Espiner kept re-occurring…

            I will file those items for future reference.
      • emergency mike 12.4.3

        18 June 2015 at 12:33 am

        Thanks CR.

        The CIA writing articles as ‘journalism’ and getting well known jonolist assets in foreign countries to publish as if it’s their work.

        I note he mentioned NZ in the list of countries where this happens.

        How very WO.
13. Penny Bright 13

    17 June 2015 at 1:05 pm

    GREAT news!

    Further delay on the pro-corporate TPPA……
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    US lawmakers extend deadline for TPP-related trade bill
    NEVIL GIBSON
    WEDNESDAY JUNE 17, 2015

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/us-lawmakers-extend-deadline-tpp-related-trade-bill-ng-174253?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NBR%2520Heads%2520Up

    In the latest twist to the TPP saga in Washington DC, the House of Representatives has voted to extend the window for the crucial trade bill.

    Legislators voted 236-189 to extend through to July 30 its time-frame for reconsidering the component of trade legislation that would extend a programme of assistance to workers who are determined to have lost their jobs because of production shifts overseas or import competition.

    Previously, lawmakers had only until midnight to reconsider the legislation.

    Democrats defeated the trade assistance programme last week to bring down connected legislation to provide President Obama with fast-track trade negotiating authority.

    Fast-track authority allows the president to submit trade deals to Congress for an up-or-down vote, without amendments.

    The authority is seen as key to securing the Trans Pacific Partnership pact between the US and 11 other countries around the Pacific Ocean.

    The extended deadline will give the bill’s Republican supporters more flexibility as they try to clear a path forward for the trade legislation.

    But there’s no guarantee this will occur before the Congress goes into its summer recess trade in August.

    “Getting the trade bill finished is a large priority of mine,” Republican House Speaker John Boehner says.

    “The president and I had a conversation yesterday. As a matter of fact we had several conversations yesterday, trying to find a way to move ahead.”

    But Mr Boehner says no decisions have been made yet on a path forward for the trade legislation.

    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    Penny Bright

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz
    • Chooky 13.1

      17 June 2015 at 6:15 pm

      +100 Penny….playing for time for Obama to drum up support from Democrats?

      http://rt.com/usa/267652-fast-track-slow-lane/
14. Philip Ferguson 14

    17 June 2015 at 1:48 pm

    The elusive search for a new world order.

    https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/06/17/from-the-vaults-in-search-of-a-new-world-order-1998/

    About two decades old but still a very interesting analysis of the problems confronting the West in trying to find a sense of purpose after the Cold War by finding new demons.
    • Colonial Rawshark 14.1

      17 June 2015 at 4:04 pm

      More like the Military-Industrial-Surveillance-Congressional complex trying to find new demons (and especially justifications for new funding).
15. ianmac 15

    17 June 2015 at 2:15 pm

    Oops!
    “Cabinet papers related to the controversial Saudi farm deal have failed to deliver the punch the Prime Minister promised to Labour.

    Labour’s David Parker released the 2007 documents today after the Government twice blocked his attempts to do so in the last fortnight…..”
    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/labour-releases-saudi-farm-deal-cabinet-papers-6340194
    • Anne 15.1

      17 June 2015 at 4:51 pm

      Some might say better late than never..

      I say two plus weeks later is too late!

      I along with others pleaded with Labour to release them while the iron was red hot.
    • Macro 15.2

      17 June 2015 at 5:16 pm

      Here is the Herald trying to bat for Key:
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11466668

      As Anne says – too late! The sheeple have gone to sleep on this one.
16. Smilin 16

    17 June 2015 at 3:11 pm

    A invention thats been around for a number of years widely used
    Yes is the Crosby Lie Detector its so efficient it will allow your PM to tell as many lies as possible without consequences because the voter can do nothing even when its right in their face. Its a real stunner and is not available to opponents of right wing politics.
    So if you want to lie to the nation as a PM get the Crosby all it costs is the sovereignty of your nation and complete control of your media organisations and very little cost as it pays for itself in 2 elections giving you a legend in your own life time and a history of a tenure that will live on in infamy amongst the opposition in parliament and of course there is no money back guarantee because it takes all the country’s money to use it
17. McFlock 17

    17 June 2015 at 5:04 pm

    Glucina leaves the Herald.

    Parachuting to mediaworks, “headhunted” apparently.

    “People are spitting tacks about [Ms] Glucina,” says one MediaWorks staff member. “That appointment was a Mark Weldon special.”

    Mr Weldon says:

    “Our goal is to be the go-to website for local and international entertainment content, and Rachel is the leading local player in this space, uniquely placed to create and manage this exciting new project.”

    Well, she knows how to try to get the PM out of a jam, anyway.
    I’m intrigued she’s taking this risk fulltime – either Weldon is playing fast and loose with the money of a struggling company, or her little “PR consultant” shennanigan was the straw that strongly encouraged the camel’s back to seek employment elsewhere.
    • Charles 17.1

      17 June 2015 at 6:09 pm

      “Digital entertainment brands featuring snackable, shareable content [especially video] are the fastest growing part of the media landscape, and there is a gap in the New Zealand market in this area,” Mr Weldon says.”

      Why would a moron watch a full meal of bullshit in prime time, when they can snack on it throughout the day? This was the type of Big Question being asked at Mediaworks.
    • Draco T Bastard 17.2

      17 June 2015 at 7:22 pm

      Let me get this straight. TV3 have

      1. Dropped Campbell Live and the ratings that go with it
      2. Brought back failed present Paul Henry and have the lessening ratings to go with that and now
      3. They’ve got Glucina on board for some strange reason

      Yeah, It looks like they’re setting themselves up as the National Party Cheer-leading Team.
      • emergency mike 17.2.1

        17 June 2015 at 10:06 pm

        Weldon is cozy with John Key. He’s CEO of Mediaworks.
        Henry is cozy with John Key. He’s in at Mediaworks.
        Glucina is cozy with John Key. She’s in at Mediaworks.
        Campbell is not cozy with John Key. He’s out at Mediaworks.

        I feel like there’s a pattern here but I just can’t put my finger on it…
        • ianmac 17.2.1.1

          17 June 2015 at 11:26 pm

          Ha EM!
    • RedBaronCV 17.3

      17 June 2015 at 8:09 pm

      Lets hope new media works journalists don’t do anything to bring a lawsuit down on the company – precarious financially that it is
18. Chooky 18

    17 June 2015 at 6:22 pm

    ‘Moscow will respond to NATO approaching Russian borders ‘accordingly’ – Putin’

    http://rt.com/news/267661-russia-nato-border-weapons/

    ‘NATO vs. RUSSIA’

    http://rt.com/shows/crosstalk/267112-russia-nato-policy-sanctions/

    “Escalating rhetoric and the doubling down on failed policies: this is one way of viewing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s opinion of the world, particularly Russia. Western sanctions and promises of more sanctions have achieved nothing. Is this why NATO deems Russia a military threat?,,,
    • te reo putake 18.1

      17 June 2015 at 6:27 pm

      “Is this why NATO deems Russia a military threat?”

      Far more likely that Russia’s recent military invasion of a neighbouring country might be why NATO sees them as a military threat.
      • McFlock 18.1.1

        17 June 2015 at 9:47 pm

        several neighbouring countries.
        • Colonial Rawshark 18.1.1.1

          17 June 2015 at 10:40 pm

          They were defensive moves. And note how Russia drove tanks to Tblisi – and left again. Just to make a point.
          • te reo putake 18.1.1.1.1

            18 June 2015 at 7:39 am

            LOL, nearly spat my cornflakes on the keyboard! Nice one, CV!
      • Chooky 18.1.2

        17 June 2015 at 10:36 pm

        ‘Oliver Stone: Ukrainians are suffering from US ‘ideological crusade’ against Russia’

        http://rt.com/news/219211-stone-ukraine-us-policy/

        ‘Why the Ukraine Crisis Is the West’s Fault – The Liberal Delusions That Provoked Putin’
        By John J. Mearsheimer

        https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2014-08-18/why-ukraine-crisis-west-s-fault
      • Colonial Rawshark 18.1.3

        17 June 2015 at 10:41 pm

        Far more likely that Russia’s recent military invasion of a neighbouring country might be why NATO sees them as a military threat.

        Hmmm?

        Was Ukraine or Crimea a NATO country?

        Was Ukraine or Crimea applying to be a NATO country?

        You are aware that NATO is a collective security arrangement, yes? Then why is NATO acting in a way to make its members less and less secure?

        Let’s be clear – Russia is not going to tolerate the continuing eastward appearance of NATO military bases right on to its doorstep. Just as the USA would not tolerate Russia building another military base on Cuban soil. Very reasonable.

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