Open mike 18/05/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 18th, 2013 - 100 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step right up to the mike…

100 comments on “Open mike 18/05/2013”

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  1. ianmac 1
    18 May 2013 at 11:58 am

    Just been scared of the implications of a Bill rushed through Parliament yesterday regarding the Payment of Families caring for Severely Handicapped Act. (Paraphrased)
    Andrew Geddis on Pundit explains it well:

    You simply tell the Human Rights Review Tribunal and the courts that they are not allowed to look at the policy and decide whether or not it is unlawfully discriminatory. That’s just what the Government is seeking to get Parliament to do under section 70E(2):

    [When this law kicks in], no complaint based in whole or in part on a specified allegation [that the policy unlawfully discriminates] may be made to the Human Rights Commission, and no proceedings based in whole or in part on a specified allegation [that the policy unlawfully discriminates] may be commenced or continued in any court or tribunal.

    What! No HRC or Court can examine the legality of this!(Same power as given Brownlie?)
    Aren’t you a little bit frightened at this???
    http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/i-think-national-just-broke-our-constitution#comment-35209

    • geoff 1.1
      18 May 2013 at 12:29 pm

      Yeah it’s crazy. It’s the same bullying, cartel-loving psychology, that Torys are so comfortable with,
      which we keep seeing in this 2nd term over and over again. Same with the GCSB law changes. Same with the reaction to NZPower. Same with offshore mining protest laws, etc.

      • tc 1.1.1
        18 May 2013 at 12:57 pm

        You ain’t seen nothing yet, they’ve got their media mates onside and their chosen leader out front of labour so they will go from strength the strength with every move emboldening them for the next one.

        A hitch appears to be how unhinged Shonkey gets all too easily, he wouldn’t know what serious pressure was and buckles under the power puff efforts the nz MSM toss in his direction.

    • prism 1.2
      18 May 2013 at 12:30 pm

      I see this as another foot on the neck of advocacy for better government support of people struggling with getting fair resources. The government wants to silence the ordinary people from asking for more, because it distracts them and diverts money away from ..dah dah ‘the job and wealth creators’.

      This is a piece that David Farrar put up about advocacy groups being put out of the Charities Act. (Recently applied to SST I think, and probably similar to the cases in the USA where the IRS was scrutinising the loony Right too much for gaining unfair tax advantages.)

      Greens support lobby groups being charities
      November 18th, 2012 at 7:00 am by David Farrar
      On the one hand the Greens rail against lobbyists, yet on the other hand they say they should be able to be tax free charities. I guess the difference is whether or not they agree with them.

      Green MP Denise Roche blogs::
      Community organisations already spend much of their time advocating. They shouldn’t be excluded from getting charitable status (and tax exemption) because of this. Organisations of long standing repute including the National Council of Women have been denied charitable status on the basis that advocacy is their primary purpose. Advocacy is not currently deemed a ‘charitable purpose’ under the Act, and therefore they are denied tax exemption for donations.

      And this is how it should be. Lobby groups should not be escaping tax. The National Council of Women is one of the most prolific lobby groups in New Zealand. It puts in a submission on almost every single bill before Parliament. Now good on them for being politically active, but allowing them to be a registered charity would be allowing any organisation to be a charity. Would we accept Business NZ being a registered charity?

      On the back of the government’s announcement I have drafted a simple Private Member’s Bill to write advocacy into the definition of charitable purpose in the Charities Act as an ancillary purpose. I’ve been holding off for ages because I kept hearing that there would be a review and this would be the main focus of it.

      That will make it open slater for every political lobby group in New Zealand to gain charitable tax status.

      So government cannot discriminate for those wanting consideration for the strugglers, but no doubt has it’s door wide open to the robber barons and the fatnecks.

    • mickysavage 1.3
      18 May 2013 at 12:43 pm

      The Act comes into force in October. The use of urgency is an absolute affront. And it is that bad that Finlayson actually certified it breached the NZBOR.

      Where is Farrar and Slater? I thought they were concerned about unconstitutional behaviour. The issues they jumped up and down about were minor in comparison.

  2. lprent 2
    18 May 2013 at 11:59 am

    Base server out at 0745 right while I was moving to a new server (damnit) that doesn’t crap out so often. Back (finally) at 1155.

    Resuming the move. There will be a period later in the afternoon or evening when the server goes off for a short period to effect the change over.

  3. prism 3
    18 May 2013 at 12:07 pm

    Kim Hill had some good interviews today, started with Jeremy Scahill, and a brave Russian journalist who has been living in Boston and was a mine of information.

    Something you can’t get much of in Russia. If the powers that be don’t like your reportage of them they take over your television station or exile you. One such exile went to Britain was found hanged in March this year apparently. The guy who was given radioactive polonium was a failure of that assassination project. He didn’t die quickly enough and lived for a week, which gave the boffins time to check all known possibilities. They found out the cause on his last day. Poor bloke! Society in Russia has been broken down so much over so many years that it is hard for better human standards to come to the fore then prevail.

    I guess that’s the modern way. In Britain Margaret Thatcher was announcing a goal as a present reality when she said that there is no such thing as society.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1
      18 May 2013 at 12:12 pm

      Something you can’t get much of in Russia. If the powers that be don’t like your reportage of them they take over your television station or exile you.

      Indeed, in the USA the Justice Dept simply takes journalists’ phone records and tracks down media informants and sources.

      btw opposition political party views, coverage of protests and criticisms of Putin’s govt is common on Russian media. As long as you don’t go too far 🙂

      • ghostrider888 3.1.1
        18 May 2013 at 12:39 pm

        they are about to ban “gay propaganda”.

        • Populuxe1 3.1.1.1
          18 May 2013 at 1:12 pm

          Already banned in St Petersburg. And Pussy Riot etc etc So it would appear “too far” isn’t very far at all. Nor am I aware of the US making a habit of assassinating exiled dissidents (if they even have such a thing) with Polonium 210.

          • ghostrider888 3.1.1.1.1
            18 May 2013 at 1:22 pm

            interesting review of a biography of Putin on RNZ this morning; “he picks ‘brawls’, withdraws, then starts the fight again at a later time”, was the interesting characterization.

            • Populuxe1 3.1.1.1.1.1
              18 May 2013 at 1:32 pm

              Sort of like the musical chairs he plays with Prime Minister rand President.

          • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.1.2
            18 May 2013 at 1:36 pm

            Already banned in St Petersburg. And Pussy Riot etc etc So it would appear “too far” isn’t very far at all.

            Meh, Pussy Riot tried to garner western media and popular support, and that alone went down very poorly with the Russian public.

          • Murray Olsen 3.1.1.1.3
            18 May 2013 at 10:57 pm

            No, Obama uses drones for individuals he doesn’t like, or military coups for governments that try the wrong sort of democracy. In the case of Bradley Manning, I’m sure he’d love to be exiled.

            • Populuxe1 3.1.1.1.3.1
              21 May 2013 at 3:51 pm

              Well I’m sure he could have defected while he was comitting treason

              • Pascal's bookie …
                21 May 2013 at 4:59 pm

                He hasn’t been charged with treason, let alone convicted of it.

      • Matt 3.1.2
        18 May 2013 at 12:46 pm

        “Indeed, in the USA the Justice Dept simply takes journalists’ phone records and tracks down media informants and sources.”

        And then takes over your TV station or exiles or assassinates you! Oh.

        • prism 3.1.2.1
          18 May 2013 at 1:01 pm

          Matt
          The USA is a different country, but their methods are not too dissimilar to those of Russia, and have been deteriorating I think since Russia threw out its form of communism. Now the USA doesn’t have to have better standards than the communists – the slogan is Let’s go for maxing the money, who cares what we do. Same in Britain.

          • Populuxe1 3.1.2.1.1
            18 May 2013 at 1:19 pm

            When Washington stars taking over TV stations and exiling dissidents, you might have a point, but nah. Certainly the US is nowhere as free as its propaganda would have the world believe, but it’s considerably less violent and oppressive of its citizens than Russia is.

            • Arfamo 3.1.2.1.1.1
              18 May 2013 at 1:29 pm

              US government doesn’t need to use violence to intimidate its citizens. Its citizens are too busy intimidating each other.

            • prism 3.1.2.1.1.2
              18 May 2013 at 4:18 pm

              It’s a moot point that USA is less violent than Russia. It just has a different way of doing things. They thought up extraordinary rendition themselves. Declaring war on others. Driving citizens into criminals with harsh drug laws. Accepting prison rape as regular behaviour, kidnapping girls, shooting too many people. I don’t know how the stats mount up compared to other advanced, civilised countries.

              • Colonial Viper …
                18 May 2013 at 5:19 pm

                It’s a moot point that USA is less violent than Russia towards it’s own citizens

                Yes exactly. Please accept my slight edit. When you count how many foreign persons the USA kills weekly, the picture is quite different.

                Also, I believe that USA prison and prison labour camps contain far more citizens than Russian ones.

                So for all those champions of the U-S-A. Keep chanting, if it makes you feel better.

                • muzza …
                  18 May 2013 at 6:07 pm

                  So for all those champions of the U-S-A. Keep chanting, if it makes you feel better

                  Appeared to work in Boston, while the city was being used to test the reaction of deliberate overkill, via the military complex take-over on the streets!

                  USA-USA-USA

                • Populuxe1 …
                  21 May 2013 at 3:52 pm

                  That’s kind of ironic coming from someone who claims to be a nationalist

    • Tim 3.2
      18 May 2013 at 1:30 pm

      “Kim Hill had some good interviews today, started with Jeremy Scahill, and a brave Russian journalist who has been living in Boston and was a mine of information”
      She did – then some vacuous silly bitch called Nancy popped up and tried (unsuccessfully) to derail her – asking Kim to provide her with the giblets she wanted to hear (from a nuZull spektiv).
      (Kim persevered with the email – as listener-feedback. I’m afraid it was all about Nancy)
      Nancy only wants to hear things that DIRECTLY affect her from a Nu Zull spektiv). Thankfully Natrad has apparently lost Nancy’s undivided attention – she’ll probably have to slum it on talk-back radio.
      Natrad is Natrad – except between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
      I’m picking Nancy will find solace with the utterly exceptional, EVERY person’s best friend: Jim MORA – and probably, of geatest interest: The Panel, or perhaps that lady with isss yoos – whatshername?…. dear old Keth – ladyskin of the Parliamentary 4th Estate Gallery, who we can trust to represent our best interests.

      Not much left on the MSM aye! (Bee!). Thank Christ for weekends, and nights on Natrad.
      .

      • prism 3.2.1
        18 May 2013 at 4:09 pm

        Tim
        Yeah Kim is a feisty thing. I love her even when there is something I don’t. A lot of people have never heard or thought about what a good interview is, and how they are done so they are all interesting and not just a list of questions with ten second replies – and which is your favourite whatever?

        And it is funny and sad to hear the various moaning minnies and vicious vernons who want to cut her off at the knees. Nancy wasn’t my fancy. Silly woman was talking about wanting information of importance to NZs! Who make our money from selling goods – Overseas, so we can buy just about everything we use from- Overseas. I heard that when you travelled through international airports you had your shoes checked and you couldn’t carry liquids more than 100ml after the terrorist attacks by people from Overseas. Yes, Nancy there are all sorts of reasons to think that Overseas matters from non-fashionable countries are worth noting by us.

        Tim don’t be too hard on 9to Noon, some good stuff there. And don’t forget Checkpoint after work. Just turn on at 10 to five and suffer the last of Jim Mora’s panel of beauts, and there may be a gem if you look hard enough, and then the lemonade goes away and the hard stuff gets served.

  4. chris73 4
    18 May 2013 at 12:15 pm

    Is my ban over yet?

    [lprent: 12th of June according to the ban notes. ]

  5. Jenny Kirk 5
    18 May 2013 at 12:28 pm

    I attended a couple of Govt “consultation” meetings recentlyabout their proposed changes to the RMA – and these changes are BIG, prominent on economic growth and allowing business (, developers, mining ?) a much easier pathway through the resource consent process, and dismissive of environmental or social/community concerns. This is a hugely important issue for everyone who cares about the environment and what this Govt intends to do in the future to our lovely land.

    Please pass on the details of these RMA information meetings being organised by the Green Party, and their Climate Change conference in Wellington, to anyone you know living in these areas.

    Stand up for the Environment: RMA meetings
    The Government’s proposed changes to the Resource Management Act undermine local democracy and environmental sustainability.
    Join Green MP Eugenie Sage and guest speakers for a panel discussion on changes to the RMA and what they mean for local democracy in your community and New Zealand’s environment.
    Hamilton When: Monday, May 20, 2013 – 7:30pm – 9:15pm Where: Richardson Room at Child Matters, 480 Anglesea Street Hamilton
    Nelson When: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 – 7:30pm – 9:30pm Where:Trafalgar Park Pavillion, 30 Trafalgar Street Nelson
    Invercargill When: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 – 7:30pm – 9:30pm Where:Central Library, 50 Dee Street (Northern side entrance) Invercargill
    Palmerston North When: Thursday, May 30, 2013 – 7:30pm – 9:30pm Where: Globe Theatre, 312 Main St. Palmerston North
    Whanganui When: Thursday, June 6, 2013 – 7:30pm – 9:30pm, Email Eugenie Sage at Parliament for address details

    Climate change conference When: Friday, June 7, 2013 – 9:00am – 4.30pm
    Where: Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament
    Kennedy Graham hosts a one-day climate change conference in Parliament on 7th June, with the aim of fostering cross-party and public dialogue on climate change. The conference will feature leading scientists, policy analysts, civil society, and private sector representatives, and will finish with a cross-party political panel. The conference is open to all who wish to attend. Registration is now open via the following link: http://meetingthechallenge.eventbrite.co.nz/#

    • ghostrider888 5.1
      18 May 2013 at 12:51 pm

      from the debate on the Crown Minerals Amendment Act, Amendment Bill, Committee Stage Pt,1;
      Chris Hipkins- “Simon Bridges stuffed up”, then “the Labour Party does support exploration”.
      (Jacinda appeared intoxicated, not, intoxicating).
      Sue Moroney- “an applicant who does not have “expertise” will be granted.
      Little- amendment “splits Health and Safety, Environmental, from the Prospecting application stage, with applicants only needing to demonstrate that they are “likely” to have technical and financial capability, onus on the applicant”;effectively permits foot-in-the-door, rig on the ground.
      Street- 37,000 submissions, 32,000 on provided forms, 5000 unique submissions, ALL NOT CONSIDERED; “Bridges afraid of public opinion”.
      Hughes-“no Select Committee Stage”.
      Robertson- effectively “it is now up to the Minister to determine if Health and Safety, Environmental requirements are met by new (unknown) players.

  6. Dv 6
    18 May 2013 at 12:29 pm

    3 News had an interesting item last where lamb shipments are being held at the chinese boarder.
    Also on dompost, but not on line.

    Apparently it is because the paperwork is not correct after the import certification was changed when the Ministry of Primary Industries was formed.

    The Nats have known about it for a month, but have been very quiet.

    Is there more to this?, or is it just an ‘oversight’?

    • Colonial Viper 6.1
      18 May 2013 at 12:32 pm

      Likely to be a bureaucratic oversight, but be assured that the Chinese are playing this for every advantage. After all, it would be a shame for Chinese authorities to have to order the dumping of $2M worth of NZ red meat outside the harbour due to bad paperwork?

    • prism 6.2
      18 May 2013 at 12:49 pm

      Dv
      I noted one of the fast changing government entities on the Budget Roundup the other night. The truth about this Chinese matter is no doubt the old saw that constant restructuring loses efficiency and effectiveness as senior positions go, and institutional methods disappear.

      Budget roundup

      The entry for beehive.govt.nz of 1/6/2010 set out the situation for Wayne Mapp who was the Minister of the Department through its changing monikers. (He is now in Russia, up to what?)

      The Minister of Science and Innovation on 1/6/2010 has become –
      the Minister of Research, Science and Technology, and from 1 July 2012
      this will be the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

      The government workers can’t provide quality of work and effectiveness when they are being downsized in numbers and re-arranged like pieces in a kaleidoscope.

      The trouble is that the political approach has grown to regard the country as a toy, or a potent cocktail that is to be both shaken and stirred. Unfortunately that is dragging up toxic ingredients from the sludge at the bottom of the hourglass.

      • Dv 6.2.1
        18 May 2013 at 1:28 pm

        Cv and prism

        There was a sugestion one of the reports that the chinese were using the “stuff up” to protect their own markets.
        That idea would seem to have some currency as why are the nacts so quiet, guy has not returned any calls, and if it was a ‘simple stuff up,why would it take month to sort?

        • prism 6.2.1.1
          18 May 2013 at 3:48 pm

          Dv
          Yes that what I thought. The day after they heard about it the gummint trouble shooter for exports to Asia should have had tickets and accommodation for two nights booked and do something to help us sell our things – what we have to do and do and do. F..ks sake thinking she’ll be right and why don’t they read the docs and I’ve explained it over the phone to Mr Li or whoever and he says he understands but then I get another call. It isn’t enough. Some extra effort needed. Go with urgency like the government is using in the House.

          • Dv 6.2.1.1.1
            19 May 2013 at 8:06 am

            The delay may be related to the kiwifruit/zespri scam

            http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/8690353/Suitcases-of-cash-in-kiwifruit-scandal

            Zespri, far from being an innocent party as it has claimed, knew its system for invoicing kiwifruit shipments to China was likely illegal the Star-Times has discovered.

            Documents show the Mt Maunganui-based company was worried New Zealand Customs would discover what it was doing and alert its China counterparts.

            Sources have revealed that staff tried to warn management that the dual invoicing was a big risk, but were ignored.

            Maybe the chinese are now very suspicious ofdocumentation from NZ and that is why the sorting out is slow.

    • veutoviper 6.3
      18 May 2013 at 2:05 pm

      RNZ National has covered this in most news over the last 24 hours. This is their latest

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/rural/135469/farmers-confident-about-stranded-meat

  7. DH 7
    18 May 2013 at 12:41 pm

    I really wish politicians on the left would put paid to this endless bullshit about taxpayers. Brian Gaynor is another repeating the lies about the top taxpayers;

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10884402

    To quote;

    “The top end of the employment market is strong and this benefits the Crown’s tax take as individuals on $80,000 or more account for 49 per cent of total income tax even though they represent only 11 per cent of the total work force by number”

    He likely would have gotten his info from this source;

    http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/2013/taxpayers/b13-taxpayers.pdf‎

    Those ‘taxpayers’ look to be every individual with an IRD number. It clearly includes all welfare beneficiaries; OAPs, DPB, Dole, Invalids etc. Even a quick glance shows a further 260,000 people with zero income and rather obviously not paying any tax yet these people keep including them all in this so-called ‘workforce’ of 3.375 million.

    The true workforce is only around 2million which would make those on $80,000+ around 18% of the workforce by number.

    The inclusion of beneficiaries in tax statistics is seriously skewing the numbers because they’ll nearly all appear in the lower income groups and distort the real facts about who pays tax.

  8. ghostrider888 8
    18 May 2013 at 1:19 pm

    Fat Cop
    all these Fast-Food workers coming forward confirming how Police accept free fast-food “backhanders” for free security, while the Policeman arrested on P work for the Head Hunters delivered drugs in uniform, in his police-car; his wife a DHB clinician, knowingly spending the proceeds.
    Bad Boys!

    Schools employ Hollywood movies to assist kids to (passively) read.
    Imagine Dragons ; Radioactive

    for example, avoiding paying your student loan can lead to your grades going from 40K to over 100K
    (where the bloody hell are ya)
    got them High Hopes?

    Research finds residential sales, 8% to foreign buyers but “it will grow”.

    In Auckland, to address housing, 1/2 of suburbs permitted to be in-filled with buildings of Three Stories (Mixed-Housing Zone) and buildings can exceed 4, 5 and 6 stories in Terraced and Apartment Zones; non-notified, restricted discretionary (regulatory) activity.

    Liked this from David Shearer, (National), “full of big-noters, show-boaters and no-hopers”
    From Russell Norman- (The Budget) “is a debt train-wreck”!!!

    Jack , free from 21 😀

    • muzza 8.1
      18 May 2013 at 6:19 pm

      Institutions, not only the police, are heavily involved in NZ narcotics *market*, along with some very high profile *professionals*!

  9. Tim 9
    18 May 2013 at 1:40 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/8689407/Police-officer-accused-of-working-with-gang

    an award winning one at that!

    Is anyone else on here NOT surprised?

    • muzza 9.1
      18 May 2013 at 6:20 pm

      Tip of the iceberg!

      Another low level operator, takes the wrap, as if operating in silo, without any *support*!

      Muldoon, was *friendly* with the gangs, this goes back a very long way, and it goes to the top!

  10. ghostrider888 10
    18 May 2013 at 2:05 pm

    for The Al1en /s (“Cumberbitches”, now there is a generous man) Interestingly, ST, Into Darkness portrays a Shadowplay between the two main protagonists…

    Swings and roundabouts; Key knows we’re heading for the bottom, and he’s riding us, yes he’s riding us; The Camptown ladies sing this song Do dah, Do dah. Screaming Trees, “calling me back to my skin”. Isn’t it funny how we dance along the edge of the Pro-lab Dune like Matchstick Men. Thanks for the Trim. Silence is Golden listening to the current On The Radio; Pictures of Lilly, lilly eli Lilly. the Cider House rules, for now Paint the whole world with a Rainbow, Satellite Above. Grease is the word is the word that you heard, it’s got meaning I was walking in the park just the other night Baby (it’s You) , whatta ya think I saw (I’ll leave the light on, easier to feel the fine tolerances), Here, have a banana.

    (1)11 is a joke, ring the po-leece and get burgled, double-up, while they come to buy, flavouring the flow, there’s not a minute to spare. Don’t Worry, Be Happy, Swedish House Mafia will “Save The World”, “it’s time that you stop being so important”, We are Scientists, after all, Stylo, is this love electronic? No Problem /s to report on any of the major interchanges, a million miles away you signal in the distance to whom it may concern, learning to walk again, learning to talk again. Those Flaming Lips sing it, yeah, yeah, yeah, Check yo’self ‘fore you wreck yourself, cos shotgun bullets are bad for your health.

    -just a little Logo nTherapy, now, Lets Talk About trevor. without Warning, The Wizard walks by, casting his shadow, weaving his spell, funny clothes, tinkling bell. Sleep Comes Down (the Devilskin, never see the light). These are the tells, of love, and loss, and love; love based on a true story, all I do is keep the beat and the Bad Company. Chelsea Princess, Repetition.

    -“the world is not a miserable prison; a playground for a non-stop tournament between stupidity and imagination”.
    -James Broughton
    Show (them) How to Live.

    • The Al1en 10.1
      18 May 2013 at 8:17 pm

      “for The Al1en /s”

      Moby said “we are all made of stars”, and I agree.

      ST – The way socialists should want the world to turn out like… After we finish saving it, that is.
      Social justice and equality that bypasses nations for the common good.
      Why does the future have to taste of dystopia?

      • ghostrider888 10.1.1
        18 May 2013 at 9:12 pm

        cos’ it’s in the ‘scriptures’ and that is what is ingrained in the cultural-historically derived psyches of the collective; “be a good (capitalist, follower of the authorities, individualist, make the Right choices, work hard, gain the credentials, solve the angst of the childless couple with IVF, eat your weeties, fence off those ‘others’ etc) and you will, literally, go to heaven, or damn the lot of you. Nietzsche, the most influential Western philosopher read it before it all unfolded, Confucius and Lao Tzu prescribed what would be necessary, Ellul (amongst others, like Huxley) prophecied what would unfold, Philip K. Dick wrote the story, J.J Abrams directed the film, Jesus Christ offered to set us free (The Kingdom of heaven is within you) and John (alongside others, Greer et al;) watched.

        • The Al1en 10.1.1.1
          18 May 2013 at 9:20 pm

          There’s no point in having two ends to a candle if you’re not going to burn them, we just got to work harder and smarter to make sure we win.

          Old red green eyes is back in town.

          • ghostrider888 10.1.1.1.1
            18 May 2013 at 9:30 pm

            well, the only MPs who appear to have the integrity to stand up to “big corporate” globalization are Green and on the back-burners of Labour; the Right are certainly putting the screws on though, unprecedented High Stakes; wait until the next “Act of God”, environmental disaster “act of man” occurs, then there will be some panic.
            Hold all the balls in your mind at once and you can see the Dark Art at work.

  11. veutoviper 11
    18 May 2013 at 2:14 pm

    Just found this on the RNZ website

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/135436/casino-in-queenstown-bought-by-sky-city

    I recall hearing a few snippets on the news a few weeks ago re Key suggesting that the government may be willing to finance or part finance a new conference centre in Queenstown. At the time, it seemed weird as there was also indications that the money to build the centre was already sorted. Sorry, don’t have time to find a link right now.

    From this latest news item, it seems that “Sky City already owns another casino in Queenstown and is in a consortium which is the preferred group to build a convention centre there.”

    So, is the Queenstown situation tied in with the Government’s deal for Auckland?

    • tc 11.1
      18 May 2013 at 3:50 pm

      So with this, hamilton, the eyesore in akl and chch do they now have a monopoly or is chch owned by another.

      • karol 11.1.1
        18 May 2013 at 3:56 pm

        Also Adelaide and Darwin.

        And they boast about having a bit of a casino monopoly

        Entertainment is our core business. SKYCITY has a strong and enviable collection of assets, including some of the most significant urban monopoly casino licences in New Zealand and Australia.

        It’s all a board game really!

        • Colonial Viper 11.1.1.1
          18 May 2013 at 4:01 pm

          Government granted licence to print money at the expense of the poor and struggling.

      • prism 11.1.2
        18 May 2013 at 5:14 pm

        tc
        You are right about the eyesore in Christchurch. To get an attractive building in Auckland the citizens up there will have to be in control of the design or it might look like a prison, the one in Christchurch was sterile on the outside.

  12. prism 12
    18 May 2013 at 5:11 pm

    Nice one Russel Norman. Just referred to Gerry as ‘The Colossus of Roads”. It’s interesting about that petrol tax to be raised. The infrastructure that it should be spent on is public rail and Gisborne line. It’s important that good transport is available to all the regions.

  13. Morrissey 13
    18 May 2013 at 5:43 pm

    The magical world of New Zealand’s Neo-Liberal right wing
    by KJT
    http://kjt-kt.blogspot.co.nz/

    It has been obvious that some people live in a different world than the rest of us.

    One where Chicago school economics work! One where you save the village by blowing it up! One where global warming can be stopped, Canute-like, by legislation. One where dropping wages and giving everything to bloated financiers, makes us better off! One where removing money from an economy makes it work better. One where every country is going to get rich by out exporting every other country. One where enabling greater inequality than the dark ages, works!

    The one with the trickle down fairy. “Give us the money and we will pee on you”.

    The market fairy. “Leave it to the market and we will cut your wages,impoverish your children, and tell you it is a brighter future”.

    The Austerity fairy. “We will become better off by becoming poorer”.

    The catching-up-with-Australia fairy. “We will catch up with Australia by doing almost the opposite of everything they have done”.

    The Democracy fairy. “We will let you vote, to change the names in Government, or on a few social issues which do not affect our making money off you, but not to make any meaningful changes to the way the country is run”.

    The privatisation fairy. “We will ensure that the NZ current account is forever in deficit, by selling all the income earning assets”

    The debt fairy. “We will cut debt by borrowing $300mill a week, to pay for unaffordable tax cuts, to pay for our Hawaii holidays”.

    The Job fairy. ” We will increase the number of jobs by putting thousands out of work, and cutting the unemployment benefit”.

    The “We support business” fairy. While ensuring New Zealanders have no money to buy from local businesses, and increasing small businesses costs.

    The better future fairy. “We will give you a better future by paying you less, charging you more and cutting services”.

    It is pretty obvious which side of the political spectrum is on another planet. Planet Key!

    http://kjt-kt.blogspot.co.nz/

    • ghostrider888 13.1
      18 May 2013 at 5:51 pm

      Excellent.

    • RedLogix 13.2
      18 May 2013 at 6:01 pm

      “The DoC will run better fairy, by cutting it’s budgets and sacking all it’s experienced and specialist staff'”

    • johnm 13.3
      18 May 2013 at 6:10 pm

      Hi Morrissey
      100% bang on right mate. If our current leaders had another brain and heart both would be lonely the soulless ideological scumbags!

      • Morrissey 13.3.1
        18 May 2013 at 6:51 pm

        Thank you john, but all the credit goes to KJT. I simply reprinted that from his excellent blog.

  14. felix 14
    18 May 2013 at 6:07 pm

    Pretty good filibuster in the house this avo. Anyone else been following?

    Starting up again at 7.

    • karol 14.1
      18 May 2013 at 6:14 pm

      What’s the bill?

    • Morrissey 14.2
      18 May 2013 at 7:34 pm

      I watched last night, as the government forced through its outrageous anti-protest legislation, formally and preposterously entitled The Crown Minerals Act Amendment Bill 2013 Amendment Bill. Labour and the Greens put up a string of serious, well prepared speakers: Gareth Hughes, Andrew Little, Grant Robertson, Moana Mackey, Chris Hipkins and Maryan Street. After insultingly brief and inadequate speeches by two of its lesser lights, Sam Lotu-Liga and Mark Mitchell, National just sat it out; as well as having no arguments, they had nobody capable of mounting any coherent defence of this assault on our democracy.

      The man responsible for this disastrous legislation, Simon Bridges, was in the house, and was asked by every speaker to get up and answer for himself; he was obviously just not up to it. A couple of times the cameras cut to him, furtively shuffling (but not reading) papers, with a perplexed and pained expression.

      • Alanz 14.2.1
        18 May 2013 at 7:39 pm

        This bill is proceeding under the cover of post-budget urgency???!!!

      • muzza 14.2.2
        18 May 2013 at 7:55 pm

        Mozza, I very much doubt Simon Bridges is responsible for anything, other than bending over on request, being a sock-puppet, a traitor and a coward, who is the servant to the masters…

        The masters are not likely to be onshore in NZ, and I would doubt that the core protagonists in the house, see themselves as NZ’ers!

        • North 14.2.2.1
          18 May 2013 at 8:08 pm

          Yeah…….wee Simon’s a puppy who yaps and drools on demand. Not an ounce of balls in him. Former Crown prosecutor you see……it’s all about “winning” and putting people behind bars, deservedly or not, as a reflex. No broad morality. He just follows orders.

          Heaps of regard to the perks and the travel and the handsome stipend and the pension however. Prick. Not a gram of principle in him. Lacking balls and principle. Interested only in being a “darling”.

        • Morrissey 14.2.2.2
          18 May 2013 at 8:15 pm

          I agree that Bridges is the stooge rather than the instigator; however he is the minister responsible for this, even if it is really Steven Joyce and Peter Goodfellow pulling his strings. If Bridges had an ounce of integrity, he would have resigned by now, but he has stayed on to front this terrible legislation. He will bear the full blame for it eventually, and he doesn’t deserve any sympathy.

          • muzza 14.2.2.2.1
            18 May 2013 at 8:28 pm

            Agree with that Moz – Was not looking to relieve the coward of responsibility, in any way.

            No sympathy, here, for any of them!

            • The Al1en 14.2.2.2.1.1
              18 May 2013 at 8:34 pm

              There you go, some thing that unites us all.
              Who’d have thought it would be simon bridges, minister for himself.

              Keep fighting M and M 😉

      • North 14.2.3
        18 May 2013 at 8:18 pm

        Lotu-Liga…….another up-himself shithead little lawyer. Helping Shonkey Python to shit on his own people. Great guy……

  15. Rhinocrates 15
    18 May 2013 at 6:45 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10884359

    Ew. That’s just disgusting.

    And some comments, like “all I can see now are a pair of rubber tits”.

    Words fail me. Looking at Roughan’s column, I asked myself, “What kind of animal writes this shit?” and then I read the comments to get the answer: the sort who… never mind, I don’t want to articulate my answer fully.

    • North 15.1
      18 May 2013 at 7:59 pm

      Roughan…….big fish little pond fuckwit. Intrusiveness is his right…….because he’s big fish little pond fuckwit Roughan with a platform alongside equally egocentric fools. New Zealand is so sick in that regard.

      Get your nose out of others’ business, dog !

  16. jaymam 16
    18 May 2013 at 8:47 pm

    Can someone explain why Andrew Little made a stupid complaint about clothing in Parliament?

    • Clockie 16.1
      18 May 2013 at 8:50 pm

      If one ever had any doubts about whether Little is a dick, they were laid to rest today.

    • Anne 16.2
      18 May 2013 at 9:02 pm

      I took it to be largely tongue in cheek. You might remember Clare Curran was thrown out because she wore a football jersey (or some such garment) about a year ago. I thought there might have been a bit of tit for tat going on. Agree though… it was rather stupid.

      • Russel 16.2.1
        20 May 2013 at 4:58 pm

        Andrew Little’s point of order appeared to be quite serious. And for that, ridiculous. The guy needs to get a life. If he wanted to comment on dress, he should have congratulated Gareth Hughes from the Greens who looked particularly fetching (seriously) in his grey suit and black tie, and his speech was impressive too 🙂

    • The Al1en 16.3
      18 May 2013 at 9:03 pm

      More interested why TV3 made such a fuss about it… Like we didn’t know.

    • JK 16.4
      18 May 2013 at 10:02 pm

      More likely, Andrew Little is looking for any way to get himself some publicity. Looks like he succeeded.

  17. Chrissy 17
    18 May 2013 at 9:08 pm

    Re Little.I was interested that TV3 (I think) picked up on that and costed out the amount that the time taken to deal with the jersey issue would have cost the taxpayer.Can’t remember what it came to, but I don’t understand why the same attention is never given to key when he nuts off on one of his kindy tantrums.Must be costing us a lot more money for the time he wastes.

    • North 17.1
      19 May 2013 at 5:58 am

      I wonder why, if Little was gonna raise a point of order about dress at all, he didn’t have a go at Tony-Ryall-Neighbour-Of-Susan.

      Note I’m not saying Tones wears a dress. I’m saying that recidivistly he daily commits fashion crime, what with his pinstripes up against checked tablecloth shirts. You gotta go for the real criminals Little.

      Not Auchinvole or Sockinhole or whatever his name is. He seemed to love the attention anyway. Compared to Tones he was sartorial inoffensiveness defined.

      Re why TV3 made a point of it ? Maybe Mr Bean’s Cuzzy Power (Trip) Gower is personally, darkly, “really angry” about the carry-on in the House and will next cost out the time consumed by ShonKey Python’s rhubarbs, can’t recalls, throat slitting gestures and risible expressions and non-expressions of confidence in Botox Banks.

      Oh, Poor Paddy, it’s such a burden being part of the story with the weight of the nation upon him, Gilmore “lying to ME”, Steven Joyce calling HIM aside – “Look PADDY, it’s like this……..”, having to LICK ShonKey’s arse.

  18. rosy 18
    18 May 2013 at 10:23 pm

    A bit of a freako-demographics moment?

    Why are birthrates falling around the world? Blame television

    Lewis examines a number of hypotheses, from rising incomes to growing female literacy. Those are all moderately correlated with the decline in birthrates and could help explain the shift. But, curiously enough, nothing seems to match up with the trends as neatly as the growth in TV ownership and media exposure.

    Television in developing countries is also correlated with:
    – reduced acceptability of domestic violence
    – reduced son preference
    – increased female autonomy

    The study thinks it might be more than rising incomes, but television is actually changing cultural norms. (Now there’s a debate that’s been a first world problem for awhile). I wonder if these developing countries have Snookie and ‘The Only Way is Essex’ 😉

  19. The Al1en 19
    18 May 2013 at 11:32 pm

    I call those Waterloo sunset moments

    I am in paradise 🙂

    • ghostrider888 19.1
      18 May 2013 at 11:58 pm

      Eruption; “I’m ya Ice-cream man, stop me when I’m passing by”. 😉

      • The Al1en 19.1.1
        19 May 2013 at 5:46 pm

        Unlike Dave Dobbin, who doesn’t listen to other peoples songs when he’s writing, I will if it’s asked of me 😉

        That’s a very spinal tap looking vid. Cut and blow dries for all 😆

        The tv series the history of rock (was on prime ages ago at least twice) has an interview with one of the kinks, saying how he used to cut up his speaker cones to get them to distort.
        I’d hate to guess what I’d have to slit to get a decent vocal sound.
        Thank goodness for software.

    • rosy 19.2
      19 May 2013 at 12:02 am

      +1 nice 🙂

    • Jokerman 19.3
      19 May 2013 at 1:05 am

      “I’m not a number; Ooh, that’s why I’m easy, I’m easy like a Sunday morning.
      I’ve paid my dues to make it
      I’m not happy when I try to fake it, no
      I wanna be free to know
      The things I do are right”.

      (been some investment)

      “Haven’t changed, haven’t much to ‘say’
      Plenty of unused thoughts to give away,
      Hardly ever Blue, is a greeting from a friend.”

  20. Clockie 20
    18 May 2013 at 11:47 pm

    Ah ! A Kinks fan 🙂

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