Open Mike 18/10/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 18th, 2017 - 100 comments
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100 comments on “Open Mike 18/10/2017 ”

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  1. Voltaire 1
    18 October 2017 at 6:25 am

    Come on Winston, make a decision ! This is not BreXit ..

  2. Ed 2
    18 October 2017 at 6:26 am

    This three to four week hiatus proves one thing.
    The corporate media has very few investigative journalists left.
    Without the daily spectacle of parliament, there have nothing to show us.
    It appears it is too hard to travel around the country looking fora story on one of the following.
    Drive north to Ruakaka to investigate the truth behind the pipe leak,
    Explore the social issues behind our mental health crisis.
    Measure water quality in Canterbury and complete an expose of industrial farming.
    Investigate the use of migrant workers by our rural industries.
    Investigate labour conditions in the cleaning imdustry.

    But no…..
    They copy and paste from the Daily Fail in the UK

    or find salacious tales for clickbait

    • OncewasTim 2.1
      18 October 2017 at 6:42 am

      +100

      Misuse and abuse of migrant workers

      • Ed 2.1.1
        18 October 2017 at 6:47 am

        I’m sure a long list of issues could be explored.

        Some more.
        Racism in New Zealand
        Foreign land sales.

        But no….
        Going to court and reporting dramatic crimes is much easier.

    • Incognito 2.2
      18 October 2017 at 7:38 am

      When the river stops flowing it becomes clear how shallow the lake really is. All that’s left is inspecting rotting debris and cast-away rubbish that people didn’t want any longer.

    • tc 2.3
      18 October 2017 at 9:24 am

      Tamaki Regenergation
      SCF
      Sheepgate – or pretty much anything Muzza was involved in as he’s not got parliamentary resources to hide behind now.
      Charter Schools performance
      NZ Police – plenty of material here from roast busters to illegal search and siezures over political matters.

      Just shows how owned they are and focused on the status quo, watch Inside Job on Netflix and see how rigged the whole show is.

  3. Ed 3
    18 October 2017 at 6:34 am

    Rachel Stewart pinpoints a key reason for our terrible road toll.

    ‘We are a nation of seething, simmering rage that finds full expression when we get behind the wheel.

    We’re quick to blame tourists for accidents, but ask tourists what they think of us behind the wheel. The feedback is consistent. We are angry, tail-gating, intolerant, ill-mannered monsters who view our vehicles as an extension of our……selves.’

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11933871

    • cleangreen 3.1
      18 October 2017 at 7:15 am

      The corporate companies are keen on importing their own slave labour and nationall are welcoming this.

    • DH 3.2
      18 October 2017 at 9:01 am

      I’ve been thinking on that a bit over the last few years, done a lot more open road driving lately and have needed to reflect on my own driving.

      I drive at the speed limit and very rarely do I encounter these (alleged) angry drivers. That either makes me one of them or the people complaining about angry drivers are driving slower than the speed limit.

      If you choose to drive at say 80-90k on the open road you’re making a deliberate decision to prevent everyone else from driving faster. It’s that perceived pre-meditation which I believe makes most people angry on the road. It’s further reinforced when the slow driver speeds up at the passing lane, which in my experience 99% of them do. To the drivers behind they’re sending a big ‘fuck-you’ to everyone else.

      In reality they’re mostly just poor drivers with low confidence but the people behind them don’t know that so they react to the perceived aggression of the person deliberately holding them up.

      • Sabine 3.2.1
        18 October 2017 at 10:30 am

        just a reminder

        100 km is the Speed Limit
        100 km is not a Target.

        Everyone has the right to drive at a speed less then a hundred km on the open road, however you still don’t have the right to drive more then that.

        As for speeding up on a overtaking lane, i would assume that it comes naturally as finally there is a bit of space to feel comfortable. Many if not most roads in NZ are build for Morris Minors and Bedford Trucks, they are potholed nightmares near logging and dairy f arms, and even the forgotten highway has a speed limit of a 100 km.

        So rather then complain about people that might not drive that well – newbie driver, that might get uncomfortable next to big logging trucks, that might drive a new car, that might don’t drive at all that much, how about you complain about the shocking state of the roads, the lack of speed diversity, and the lack of driver training in this country.

        Cause if you mean this ” Quote” In reality they’re mostly just poor drivers with low confidence but the people behind them don’t know that so they react to the perceived aggression of the person deliberately holding them up.” then you are one of these angry tailgaters that feel as if they are prevented from doing the Speed Target and thus are ‘made to come late’ or other some nonsense.

        Someone long time ago once said, IF you have to go running to be on time you are already late.
        You share the road with everyone, it is not your own. Maybe next time leave earlier so that you don’t have to blame someone for driving to their ability rather then your need for speed.

        • DH 3.2.1.1
          18 October 2017 at 11:02 am

          Everyone has the right to drive at a speed less then a hundred km on the open road.

          Not entirely true Sabine. You can be ticketed for impeding the flow of traffic.

          As I said, if you choose to drive below the speed limit you’re deliberately deciding everyone else’s speed as well. It’s that (perception of) arrogance presumption which pisses people off.

          “As for speeding up on a overtaking lane, i would assume that it comes naturally as finally there is a bit of space to feel comfortable.”

          Naturally? If you have traffic built up behind you the ‘natural’ thing to do is slow down further and let them past.

          “then you are one of these angry tailgaters that feel as if they are prevented from doing the Speed Target and thus are ‘made to come late’ or other some nonsense. ”

          I don’t tailgate, you know nothing about my driving style.

          • Sabine 3.2.1.1.1
            18 October 2017 at 4:08 pm

            Yes, you can be ticketed for being below the flow of traffic, never mind one “Will” be ticket by going over the speed ticket. So someone traveling on the open road at 85 + will not get a speed ticket unless you want to ticket every single Truck, Campervan, Traktor, car/trailer thingy, old bike, old car etc – and oh my gosh what to do about bicyclists?

            Yes, people should pull over to let those pass that are faster then them, sadly it seems that the slow bays are a thing of the past. It seems we had more of those in the past, and in many places we have non at all anymore. But maybe they should just drive in a ditch to let someone pass cause faster?

            Yes, it is true i know nothing about your driving style. I based my comment on your comment having never met you.

            This is what you said, this is what stood out to me and this is what i based my comment on.

            Quote” In reality they’re mostly just poor drivers with low confidence but the people behind them don’t know that so they react to the perceived aggression of the person deliberately holding them up.

            • DH 3.2.1.1.1.1
              18 October 2017 at 4:28 pm

              Since it was me who said that Sabine I would assume you’d appreciate I do know that ergo I don’t get that angry at them. I certainly find them a bit frustrating but I don’t vent that on the road.

              Anyway my point was that I don’t believe it’s speed per se that people get angry about. Its the (perceived) attitude of other drivers that I think causes the angst and slow driving is just a manifested symptom of that attitude.

        • Cemetery Jones 3.2.1.2
          18 October 2017 at 3:17 pm

          “100 km is the Speed Limit
          100 km is not a Target.”

          +100 to that, it never fails to astound me how many people will sit on your bumper in wet conditions and poor visibility trying to force you to speed up a couple dozen kph because they’ve just got to get to the mall right now! Like you’re going to make them catch the gay if their mates find out they drove 83 on the motorway in their shiny Hot Wheels car.

      • bwaghorn 3.2.2
        18 October 2017 at 2:42 pm

        its the champions that do 60 kmh in the corners on the highway then rapidly get up 100 + on the straights that fuck my normal zen state up

        • DH 3.2.2.1
          18 October 2017 at 4:01 pm

          It’s the people who don’t drive a consistent speed who ruin my drive. On long trips it’s nice to sit in cruise mode and let the car do the work, today’s drivers make that a bit too infrequent.

          A lot of the claims about angry drivers don’t gel with me. I can tow a trailer from Auck to Whangarei and get bugger-all cars catching up to me. Those that do never have to wait long, there’s plenty of passing lanes and I let them go. Only rarely do I get anyone tailgating me even when I’m doing 90 with a trailer.

      • cleangreen 3.2.3
        18 October 2017 at 7:15 pm

        DH,
        Come to Gisborne on highway 2 from Opotiki and try driving at 80-90 kms and you wont make it mate.

        I never go faster then 80kms on that road as my wife would have kittens and we would have a fatal accident with many trucks using most of the road so please dont suggest that all dricvers must stick to 100kms.

        You are lucky to have a multi laned road but inthe provines we dont have that ‘luxury’ as the big cities take all the roading funds and leave us ‘diddly squat.’

  4. Ad 4
    18 October 2017 at 6:34 am

    Portugal and Argentina already have laws against street harassment and catcalling, and now France is going to pass a law against it as well.

    When asked how to draw a line between street harassment and flirtation, Gender Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa replied: “We know very well at what point we start feeling intimidated, unsafe or harassed in the street,” citing as an example when a man “asks for your number 17 times” or follows a victim for several blocks.

    http://www.dw.com/en/sexual-harassment-france-plans-on-the-spot-fines/a-40976521

    Is there an actual law against it in New Zealand?

    • greywarshark 4.2
      18 October 2017 at 4:15 pm

      Do people have to count to 17 before they call it harrassment, or 10, or 5? Sounds like exaggeration. A sharp negative and a threat to call the police should be enough. Being followed is creepy though.

      If you look someone in the eye, give them a wink, a smile, is that harrassment? Is acknowledging someone going to be a crime? Can’t we cope with living and meeting each other as we move around? Do we have to carry a licence of good intent?

  5. Ed 5
    18 October 2017 at 6:38 am

    ‘I’m not very proud’ – Taika Waititi speaks his mind on the environmental, poverty and housing issues hurting Kiwis

    ‘”I’m not very proud of coming from a place that everyone thinks is this pure green country, whereas in reality all our lakes and waterways are poison,” he said.
    “We’ve got a lot to learn about our depression rates, our suicide rates, teen suicide rates, child poverty numbers and the housing crisis.”
    To watch the full clip with Taika Waititi, go to the Marae’s OnDemand page here
    Waititi also weighed in on foreign ownership saying, “we just make it so readily available to sell land – for foreigners to buy land.”
    He says the first thing New Zealand needs to work on is social issues, not making money.
    “To me they just seem like, ‘Oh, that’s what you should fix’ before you think about things like money,” he said.’

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-im-not-very-proud-taika-waititi-speaks-his-mind-environmental-poverty-and-housing-issues-hurting-kiwis

  6. Andre 6
    18 October 2017 at 8:29 am

    Anyone remember that dodgy business about Hillary single-handedly selling out US uranium to the rooskies? (never mind that a bunch of other agencies independent of the State Dept also had to approve it)

    Here’s a bit more light on the tangled web behind that.

    http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/355749-fbi-uncovered-russian-bribery-plot-before-obama-administration

    • mac1 6.1
      18 October 2017 at 9:05 am

      I looked at the article. I have no intention of debating the issue but I do want to remark on the use of one phrase which recalls for me the tortuous use of English to disguise and justify as used in political debate à la “this statement is no longer operative” or “we had to destroy the city (Hue) in order to save it.”

      The phrase used was “used a confidential US witness working inside the Russian nuclear industry to gather confidential financial records”.

      In other words, a spy.

      If anybody else uses such tactics it’s spying, but the FBI use “confidential US witnessing”!

      • McFlock 6.1.1
        18 October 2017 at 1:32 pm

        “His illegal conduct was captured with the help of a confidential witness, an American businessman, who began making kickback payments at Mikerin’s direction and with the permission of the FBI. ”

        So more like a cooperating conspirator, rather than a “spy”.

        • mac1 6.1.1.1
          18 October 2017 at 1:50 pm

          “A ‘stoolie’ or a ‘squealer,’ then, da doity rat fink!” all said in a Noo Joisey accent.

          • McFlock 6.1.1.1.1
            18 October 2017 at 1:53 pm

            Or a brave whistleblower exposing a corrupt conspiracy they stumbled upon.

            But could still be a spy – wno knows…

    • Cemetery Jones 6.2
      18 October 2017 at 3:20 pm

      The fish rorts from the head.

      Speaking of Hillary, it would seem she and Huma really do have the worst luck.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/BaSztRNBthF/?taken-by=martinamarkota

      Well, that, or all the rhetoric about Trump’s moral failure seems somewhat self serving.

  7. adam 7
    18 October 2017 at 8:59 am

    The good thing about Professor Mark Blyth is that he can explain complex ideas simply.

    Here is the economic history of the world post WW2, in 8 minutes.

  8. eco maori 8
    18 October 2017 at 9:01 am

    Wow must have pissed someone off with my post yesterday but they can go and get_________ .This is what i was writing last week Big Upps to Prince Charles for fighting for mother earth for 40 years. He is one of the people that swayed my thoughts to our environment and I think he should have more than just soft power to kick those neo liberal idiots asses to touch for there ideological worship of money and power over our grandchildren safe future a healthy mother earth.
    I said yesterday that part of the reason we have high rates of suicide is broken familys.
    Well this is the other fact If a culture is suppressed and discriminated to the point that some people denies there blood lines to that culture there you go they are ashamed to be Maori. Some people will say hes pissing in the wind yea right.
    I have had many incidences were this has happened when applying for a job all good on the phone than in person They look me up and down and I can see there thoughts you are a dum Maori who will cheat and lie and steal from me We will get back to you ECO and they never get back to me.
    Now we no that most employment is gained by word of mouth and this is an hindrance to us Maori as we no the all the good jobs have European bosses who only no people of the same ethnicity so all the good jobs stay with that group of people . A lot of Maori organizations would rather employ an non Maori .
    And this is bullshit because we have good honest hard working Maori out there that just need a good person to give them a chance.
    So I’m challenging these Maori Organizations to look after your own and higher the right Maori for the jobs you have you don’t have to higher some idiot who can’t do the job as there are test out there that one can use to find the right person for the job. And we have to look after our own as no one else will . And this discrimination
    is always with us the intelligent people can see this an it weighs us down I have Been battling for my piece of paradise for 35 years and what have I’v got jack and I don’t waste my resources . We can the same thing happening to USA Indians many other colonized cultures around our world Kia Kaha

    • Stuart Munro 8.1
      18 October 2017 at 9:11 am

      Glad to find someone else likes Charles – he used his privilege to educate himself until he became a responsible voice. Our institutions don’t produce these as often as they used to, and by golly we need a few more of them.

      • Robert Guyton 8.1.1
        18 October 2017 at 1:00 pm

        Charles is vilified. He’s one of us 🙂

      • greywarshark 8.1.2
        18 October 2017 at 3:22 pm

        ecoMaori
        I think that a good thing for Maori and NonMaori too, who are looking for jobs, is to establish an agency that can give a working person a reliable reference. At present the possible employer wouldn’t know who that person/business giving he reference is and how reliable it is.

        The way I see it, it would take a dedicated, organised, reliable person to advertise and start off small with a process and system and grow as they get more people, and get better known and be interested in maintaining good relationships with both workers and employers. A job-seeker would register by putting down their name and giving info on past jobs, type, length of time employed and their own estimate of themselves, and if put off jobs, think and honestly say why they think that happened and not just that ‘someone didn’t like me’. They would start off with one star, and work their way up toward the highest of five stars. The agency would have a list of attributes that each star would offer and use halves as well so they could grade the person who would monitor their own progress and work towards getting 4 or over.

        The client would report in with each job taken, and then when finished and why, and their own assessment and who to speak to at that workplace to get the employer’s feedback on the client. The agency would work with the client to improve their skills and attitudes and find ways to move them up the star chain.

        It would be a give-take arrangement, as when starting off money wouldn’t be a big barrier, maybe as low as $20 to register and get started. But once working there would be a direct debit of $20 monthly to keep the money flowing to help the agency’s costs and wages, probably one trained person at first. That would help others get started and gradually grow, and help the agency to supply the skill advice and training opportunities which would lift the star rating. That would result eventually with improvement in jobs and wages that the agency-worker partnership would be going for.

        It would take a while but the prospective worker would give the employment manager the agency’s number and get them to phone to find out the star rating and a mention of the skills that the person had acquired with training and then they would know something good about them. This would be helpful in this 90 day trial regime. It would not be government funded. Government should not have anything to do with it, no funds allocated etc. It would be good if a couple of iwi could give it a kickstart, and some regular funding for wages and rent, especially when it was building up.

        This government is mainly interested in big business, and individuals are like ants in their eyes. If the TW get in again, this will get worse, and humans tend to crush ants. So setting up a personal value system like this would be helpful to survive and advance.

    • BM 8.2
      18 October 2017 at 9:35 am

      Have you ever thought it has nothing to do with skin colour and that you weren’t the best candidate for the job?

      Are there skills you’re missing? maybe the way you come across in the interviews is bad, like demonstrating lack of confidence or dislike for the person doing the interviewing.

      Before you go down the racism path step back and analyse what you’re doing and make improvements first.

      • Stuart Munro 8.2.1
        18 October 2017 at 9:58 am

        Employers insisting they need tens of thousands of unskilled migrants – but won’t employ an experienced local man? That ain’t meritocracy it’s prejudice.

        Might not be race based – doesn’t make it any better.

      • AB 8.2.2
        18 October 2017 at 11:10 am

        Yeah Eco – do as BM says, just surrender to the power of your superiors and do whatever they require, there’s a good dog. That’s how you get ahead!
        Alternatively as JIm Baxter famously said, “to shovel sh*t and eat it are different in the end” (Ballad of Stonegut Sugar Works)

        • BM 8.2.2.1
          18 October 2017 at 11:14 am

          What a stupid comment.

          • Stuart Munro 8.2.2.1.1
            18 October 2017 at 12:49 pm

            What a stupid comment.

          • JC 8.2.2.1.2
            18 October 2017 at 4:08 pm

            “Oh, in the Stonegut Sugar Works
            The floors are black with grime
            I think they must have built it
            In Queen Victoria’s time.

            And all the sugar in the land
            Flows through that dismal dump
            And all the drains run through the works
            Into a filthy sump.
            And then they boil it up again
            For the money in each lump.”

            (Poet James K. Baxter briefly worked as a cleaner at the Birkenhead sugar refinery in 1969. He later recorded his impressions in a poem)

            • JC 8.2.2.1.2.1
              18 October 2017 at 11:31 pm

              What a Stupid Comment!

              • greywarshark …
                19 October 2017 at 3:32 pm

                Can I join in, What a stupid comment. That’s a catch-all for all the niggly smart arse ones of people filling in time. But it keeps emptying out again so repeat. Belch. What a stupid comment.

  9. ianmac 9
    18 October 2017 at 9:07 am

    National/English sold the election as a two horse race. It failed but left NZF in the “Kingmaker” position. Therefore English is responsible for the current position that they whine so much about.
    If we still 7 or 8 parties there would be more diversity of power.
    Drop the threshold to 2%.
    Remove the coat tail.
    Balance out Party funding.

    • BM 9.1
      18 October 2017 at 9:37 am

      The media sold the election as a two-horse race, not English why do you think Peters has been laying into the media?

      You Lefties and your alternative facts.

      • arkie 9.1.1
        18 October 2017 at 9:44 am

        ‘I’m suggesting to voters they cut out the middle man’ – English issues blunt message on Peters

        Two of National’s current support partners say Bill English is ignoring the realities of governing under MMP by telling people not to vote for the minor parties.

        Two examples, found easily. What was that about alternative facts?

        • BM 9.1.1.1
          18 October 2017 at 9:49 am

          After the media made it all about Jacinda and ignored everyone else, English had no choice but to push National ahead of any potential coalition partner.

          It all started with the media and how they framed the election.

          • Sabine 9.1.1.1.1
            18 October 2017 at 10:47 am

            Your guy had nine years to make himself electable, instead he and his party killed of all his ‘partners’ in during that time and yet even without competition at the right side of the aisle they still can’t win.

            The National Party failed. Simply all by themselves without help from everyone they failed. They did not convince a majority (over 50%) to vote for them, they have no other coalition partner left then NZF and they have no one to blame but themselves.

            The question is why did not enough people vote for them. Why did so many people abandon the N wagon, if the economy is so good, the lakes so swimable, the water so drinkable, the food so cheap, the housing so plenty and the jobs so well paid.
            So BM, why do you think NZ’lers did not vote for the National Party and what can the National Party do to get the voters that it shed in this years Election –
            either N- leaning but voting for the left or not voting at all).

            • marty mars 9.1.1.1.1.1
              18 October 2017 at 10:52 am

              + 1 yep correct in every way. Nice comment to shine the light on the very valid points you make.

            • BM 9.1.1.1.1.2
              18 October 2017 at 11:08 am

              To achieve a fourth term in NZ politics is rare, I actually though National did quite well this election, what let them down was Labour sticking a knife into the Greens.

              If the Greens vote had held up Peters would have already signed a coalition deal with National, there’s no way he could have dealt with the Greens if they were still around 12% and had Turei running the Green party.

              Because they’re so weak and insignificant now there’s a high chance Peters can work around them and basically form a two-party coalition with the same sort of power-sharing structure as a National/NZ First coalition.

              As for coalition partners, Act and United Future have been one man bands since 2008, their failure to grow their party vote has nothing to do with National, both were on life support from the get-go.

              I feel sorry for the Maori party though, Maori roll voters seem to have no idea how MMP works, they also seem to blinded by racism and only interested in the what party can provide the biggest handouts.

              No wonder Te Ururoa Flavell was so distraught, that result must have shattered his faith in Maoridom.

              • mac1 …
                18 October 2017 at 12:34 pm

                BM wrote “they also seem to blinded by racism and only interested in the what party can provide the biggest handouts.”

                Do you understand, BM, with that generalisation that you commit that which you condemn?

              • Brigid …
                18 October 2017 at 12:34 pm

                “No wonder Te Ururoa Flavell was so distraught, that result must have shattered his faith in Maoridom.”
                Oh please!!
                Maoridom’s faith in Te Ururoa Flavell and the Maori party was shattered.

              • Sabine …
                18 October 2017 at 4:29 pm

                Poor BM,

                still trying to find someone to pin the blame for Nationals fuckuppery.

                So you are saying that National short changed the Maori Party for its unwavering support during the last nine years?

                Quote: I feel sorry for the Maori party though, Maori roll voters seem to have no idea how MMP works, they also seem to blinded by racism and only interested in the what party can provide the biggest handouts.

                Again, if National would not have failed as badly as they did, if the country would have high employment, high wages, low house prices, low homelessness, affordable access to healthcare inclusive mental healthcare, good funded schools that don’t depend on ‘donations’ to make the end meet, children with shoes on their feet and food in their tummies, if our drinkwater were safe and affordable, if electricity were affordable, if our food were affordable, if our rivers were swimable then maybe People would not have abandoned them and their support Parties as they did.

                If the only way for National to form a government is to eat shit, crow and humble pie while bending the knee before Winston Peters swearing allegiance, then all i can say is that it could not have happened to a nicer set of people.

          • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.1.2
            18 October 2017 at 1:38 pm

            After the media made it all about Jacinda and ignored everyone else, English had no choice but to push National ahead of any potential coalition partner.

            RWNJ invents new reality to excuse the poor performance of his owners.

        • Trey 9.1.1.2
          18 October 2017 at 9:55 am

          Bazinga Arkie, BOOM…. sound of arkie dropping the mic

      • Nick 9.1.2
        18 October 2017 at 11:53 am

        @BM……Aug 21, 2017 … Prime Minister Bill English describes the election as a “drag-race” between National and Labour …..

      • ianmac 9.1.3
        18 October 2017 at 11:54 am

        The media helped the English line but BM, lets not kid ourselves as to owns the line. Listen to the tedious line from Hosking compounding the “get rid of the Middle men.”
        Be interesting to hear the new line though, should National win a new term.

      • cleangreen 9.1.4
        18 October 2017 at 10:33 pm

        BM = Biggest Muckup.

  10. Stuart Munro 10
    18 October 2017 at 10:09 am

    We could really use a political commentator with this level of irreverence:

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/17/tory-power-sustained-cruel-confidence-tricks

  11. Phil 11
    18 October 2017 at 11:05 am

    John Key is going to be the next chairman of the board for ANZ Bank (NZ) Ltd.
    See the 18/10/17 media release here:

    http://www.media.anz.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=248677&p=irol-news&nyo=0

    • Barfly 11.1
      18 October 2017 at 11:18 am

      Glad I don’t with them then.

    • Cinny 11.2
      18 October 2017 at 2:25 pm

      Wonder which bank the government uses? Is it ANZ? It should be Kiwibank.

    • Penny Bright 11.3
      18 October 2017 at 5:34 pm

      When are NZ media going to cover Chair of Transparency International, Jose Ugaz’s call for former NZ PM John Key to be investigated over Panama Papers?

      Where and when did the Chair of Transparency International Jose Ugaz state that John Key should be investigated over the Panama Papers?

      1 August 2017, at Rutherford House, Victoria University.

      How do I know?

      Because I was at this meeting, and heard Jose Ugaz say this myself.

      Penny Bright

      ‘Anti-corruption whistle-blower’.

      • Eco maori 11.3.1
        18 October 2017 at 7:26 pm

        ESome people are trying to brand me as a evil genius I say the public should make there own choice .
        1 I mow laws ?
        2 do I have 50 od million ?
        3 can I hide my emotions or have a blank poker face no
        4 have I got a 10 million house I think that title should go to the right person shonky who well he just got a job as head of a bank. Have I abandoned my duty as a husband father grandfather I respect everyone I meet I won’t throw anyone under a bus
        Genius well no intelligent may be but genius is just a ploy for these people they will say that I shit gold nuggets if this could undermine my credibility with you. And they are using this for a excuse because all there bull shit lines won’t stick to me and they are incompetent they created this so don’t blame me for what is happening now because I no what is happening an these people needed to no the truth
        Ka Pai

      • cleangreen 11.3.2
        18 October 2017 at 10:38 pm

        Winston would have Key investigation carried out as first policy.

        Now we know why Key wanted a knighthood!!!! – to avoid any investigation?

    • William 11.4
      18 October 2017 at 6:50 pm

      Wow.
      All the Harvey Weinstein stories coming out, and they appoint the guy with the history of ponytail pulling! Some may think the equivalence is absurd, but they’re just different points on a spectrum.

  12. Pete 12
    18 October 2017 at 11:19 am

    I realise Mike Hosking is vacuous but it is good to have him consistently reinforce that.

    Petulance personified.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11934143

    • ianmac 12.1
      18 October 2017 at 11:50 am

      Actually Pete, I think it is Hosking who looks tired and depressed. Tedious and repetitive.
      No good purpose would be served by the four big platers talking about their negotiations. But wait for the squeals from English and his voice Hoskings should it go against them. And again look at the effort English made to eliminate smaller parties. He caused the “problem.”

  13. Ed 13
    18 October 2017 at 12:40 pm

    Threat of the gig economy needs urgent answers

    Waiting another five years to address the problems the gig economy is bringing to New Zealand is not an option, writes Thomas Coughlan

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/10/17/53916/threat-of-the-gig-economy-needs-urgent-answers

  14. swordfish 14
    18 October 2017 at 1:07 pm

    West German federal election, 1980

    CDU/CSU (Centre Right) 44.5%
    SPD (Centre Left) 42.9%
    FDP (Liberal Right) 10.6%

    Govt formed subsequently = SPD + FDP

    .

    Meanwhile …

    New Zealand General Election 2017

    National (Centre Right) 44.4%
    Lab/Green (Centre Left) 43.2%
    NZF (Socially Con Centre Left) 7.2%

    Govt formed subsequently = ???

  15. Andrea 15
    18 October 2017 at 2:44 pm

    If Mr Peters could make his announcement any Friday afternoon so we miss the engaging Mr Espiner’s take on it all. At least until the following Monday…

    This Friday would be great: long weekend. 😛

  16. Ad 16
    18 October 2017 at 3:28 pm

    Anyone remember when we parsed major political speeches for meaning?
    Hear’s one from Xi at the plenary, 30 minutes ago:

    “Only with socialism can we save China.”

    LiveBlog at Bloomberg here:

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/live-blog/2017-10-13/china-president-xi-jinping-s-speech-at-the-19th-communist-party-congress

  17. greywarshark 17
    18 October 2017 at 4:26 pm

    This morning on radionz. A different viewpoint for a change – from Social Anthropologist.

    politics

    Audit Culture: the creeping problem of our age

    From Nine To Noon, 9:27 am today
    Listen duration 18′ :26″ Add to playlist

    Professor Cris Shore has looked at the rise of ‘audit culture’ and isn’t a big fan. In fact, he calls the use of accountancy techniques and metrics to manage our universities, health services, and funding institutions, ‘the creeping problem of our age’.

    He highlights this in a just published book called ‘The death of the public university – uncertain futures for higher education in the knowledge economy’.

    Another example he points to is China’s social credit rating system, where by 2020, everyone will be enrolled in a vast national database with a single number ranking for each citizen.

    The University of Auckland Professor of Social Anthropology, has just been awarded the Royal Society’s Mason Durie Medal for his contributions to political anthropology and the study of organisations, governance and power.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018618291/audit-culture-the-creeping-problem-of-our-age

  18. adam 18
    18 October 2017 at 4:33 pm

    OK, sort of. At least the door has not been closed, and the process looks rather inclusive.

    http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-17/afls-transgender-call-on-aflw-hopeful

  19. JC 19
    18 October 2017 at 5:07 pm

    “New Zealand’s technology sector has become the country’s third biggest export sector…”

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/341841/nz-tech-sector-now-third-biggest-exporter

  20. repateet 20
    18 October 2017 at 5:18 pm

    You have to say that whatever way things go there are going to be some funny aspects.
    Like the Speaker if it’s Labour. Like the Education portfolio if it’s National. And Paula Bennett.

  21. ianmac 21
    18 October 2017 at 7:51 pm

    If with National no doubt Bennett would lose her place and her mana. How sad.
    If with Labour Hitchen would new broom Education.
    Trevor has been fill-in Speaker and it is probably the only reason he has stayed on. No Speaker and he would step down and next on the List will be…

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