Open mike 19/03/2025

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 19th, 2025 - 53 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

53 comments on “Open mike 19/03/2025 ”

  1. SPC 1

    India – 80% Hindu, 15% Moslem over 2% Christian and under 2% Sikh and 1% Buddhist or Jain.

    90% follow cricket and 95% support India to beat Pakistan when they have test matches.

    The chances of a comprehensive trade deal – negligible (Groser says do not waste time trying).

    The advice is to to go for a modest in scale arrangement.

    India has FTA with

    Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius and UAE

    ASEAN and 3 of its members (Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia)

    EFTA – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland (this took 16 years)

    South Korea

    Japan

    Australia (two years ago)

    India is not part of RCEP TPP+. And has no FTA with the EU, China or USA.

    It is negotiating with NZ, United Kingdom, the European Union and Canada atm.

    A deal would likely cover non controversial areas like pharmaceuticals, minerals and forestry, fish and sheep/goat, and they do import milk powder, whey protein, cheese, butter and yoghurt.

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2

    Maybe this is under the radar, what with a NZ media buy in by centrist Right Wing billionaire, but anyway, I was kinda interested….

    The owner of one of New Zealand's biggest media companies has made a change in her shareholding, according to company records.

    CEO and owner Sinead Boucher has changed her shareholding in Stuff Digital from being the owner of the one and only share to being the sole holder of one million shares.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/545190/stuff-owner-becomes-sole-holder-of-one-million-shares

    Political leaning…

    The paper's owner, Stuff chief executive Sinead Boucher, is among those who have signed up to Vision for Wellington

    Really ? I'm..sure

    Boucher said everyone in the group was firm that it was apolitical.

    Some exposure…a good thing

    The Post's reporting of civic and council issues and the activities of Vision for Wellington are sure to be scrutinised closely now that the group – and Boucher's backing of it – have been made public.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/mediawatch/532686/the-post-s-owner-signs-up-to-new-wellington-pressure-group

  3. PsyclingLeft.Always 3

    Who knew?

    Council quits Local Government New Zealand calling it 'far left'

    Local Councillors "beliefs". I wonder…

    Councillor Margaret Murray-Benge claimed LGNZ had "swung so far left" it was no longer a fair and open environment where decisions represented local councillors' beliefs.

    Councillor Tracey Coxhead on..climate change. (I wonder..what her preferred narrative would be?)

    in her view, presentations at its 2024 conference were "largely, although not entirely, pushing a certain agenda, for example, only one narrative on climate change".

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/545267/council-quits-local-government-new-zealand-calling-it-far-left

    LGNZ.

    https://www.lgnz.co.nz/about-lgnz/who-we-are/

    Specifically Climate Change.

    https://www.lgnz.co.nz/policy-advocacy/key-issues-for-councils/climate-change/

    Far Left? What fucking BS. Reality this just highlights the denier component of some Councils

  4. Tiger Mountain 4

    The world seems to have abandoned Palestinians-yes you EU, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia. The power is off in Gaza, no food allowed in, virtually no infrastructure while the Israeli butchers will continue until the last Gazan is slaughtered.

    The only credit goes to the Houthis, Iran and the international solidarity movements, all of whom have paid the price too to varying degrees

    • SPC 4.1

      The smart move would be for someone to manage a deal whereby the remaining hostages are released as soon as Israel accepts Egypt's Gaza rebuild plan.

    • Subliminal 4.2

      Israeli policy in Syria, and by extension the US, is to nurture chaos:

      The former head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate has voiced his support for the "power struggle" in Syria, adding that the "chaos" benefits Israel.

      The chaos in Syria is beneficial. Let them fight each other. But Israel should remain silent on this matter and not make any public statements. It should act calmly," Tamir Hayman said in an interview with the Israeli Army Radio.

      This chaos is not just some "happy" coincidence. It is planned with it long being known that both Israel and the US pumped huge amounts of arms to the opposition in the full knowledge that most would end up being dominated by Al Quaeda and HTS.

      The same chaos is delivered to Lebanon and Gaza by US/UK made war planes and intelligence.

      Given this, it can only be that any ceasefire is for the benefit of the agressor to fortify, rest, or reposition troops. It is axiomatic that ceasefires will be broken and hostilities restarted with the associated further destruction of the already destroyed civilian infrastructure and the associated loss of life.

      The US is not to be trusted in anything except the relentless destruction of the weak and dispossessed.

    • Psycho Milt 4.3

      "The world" has no more interest in Hamas continuing to rule Gaza than Israel does, so this is unsurprising. The fact that Hamas' allies are Iran and the Houthis tells a casual observer everything they need to know.

  5. Ad 5

    Well, they can tilt the legislation and the politics as far as possible in favour of developers, strip the RMA to a skeleton, accelerate all their mates proposals, write off anything to do with climate change mitigation …

    … and still they can't get a massive wind farm going.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/545218/consent-for-southland-wind-farm-declined-due-to-potential-impact-on-local-environment

    Shoutout to everyone who stood up to support the skinks and birds on Southland's Jedburgh Plateau.

  6. Incognito 6

    Rob Campbell could rightfully coin this a trade deal ram-raid.

    https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/03/19/luxon-bristles-when-asked-about-his-deadline-for-india-trade-deal/

    The Coalition has already shown great haste in passing a record level of law changes under urgency. I suppose this stems from their productivity & efficiency mantra and the motto ‘time is money’. The least worse outcome of this is one of ‘false economy’’.

  7. gsays 7

    Baby steps, possibly flawed and may not last.

    Regardless of what you think of the players involved, it's worthy of celebrating if folks are going to stop being killed.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/545244/trump-putin-agree-to-limited-30-day-ceasefire-in-ukraine

  8. dpalenski 8

    Let's hope Australia does pull out of AUKUS. Also everyone who stands up to Trump goes up in the polls anyone who cucks to him goes down

  9. SPC 9

    Oh dear, what will they do – so few of the public want the company tax to be reduced.

    A better move would be a 25% rate for small companies that hired employees. 28% as is for medium sized companies and non qualifying companies (maybe some assistance with investment/deprecation). And a higher rate, 33% for Oz banks/larger more profitable companies to afford this.

    https://www.tickaroo.com/e/FNBEIme8y88iH5kd

    The most popular tax policy

    45% (1,747,000 adults) the government should increase the amount of personal income before it starts getting taxed

    All income is currently taxed. I'd increase the low income earner rebate IETC, from $10 to $20 a week.

    https://www.ird.govt.nz/income-tax/income-tax-for-individuals/tax-codes-and-tax-rates-for-individuals/tax-rates-for-individuals

    Support for other changes is around a third.

    32% (1,237,000 adults) think personal income tax brackets should be adjusted.

    The 30 cents threshold from 76,000 to $100,000. This could be afforded by higher rates above this level – as Oz does.

    31.3% (1,210,000 adults) think the government should introduce a wealth tax.
    31.1% (1,202,000 adults) think Capital Gains tax should be introduced.

    They should look at stamp duties on property over $2m – at 5%.

    And a 1% mortgage surcharge on existing (not new build) rental property mortgages.

    Any wealth tax accepted as a prepayment on future estate tax liability.

    And CGT introduced on investment property and non residential property, gold, bitcoin

    https://www.tickaroo.com/e/FNBHpkdm6NQ6xB2k

    • alwyn 9.1

      I guess we must look at these results and we can say.

      68.7% are opposed to the Government introducing a wealth tax

      68.9% are opposed to the Government introducing a CGT.

      Overwhelming votes aren't they?

      • Barfly 9.1.1

        Jeez Alwyn are there zero undecided /zero no opinion/ zero refused to answer living in your survey world?

        IMO your desire to present a particular point of view is not helping your comprehension here.

        • alwyn 9.1.1.1

          I suggest that you look up the results they publish. The only number they give for those questions are the values of 33.1% and 33.3%.

          In the situation where nothing else is said I am entitled to my opinion.

          Incognito at 9.2 below has linked to the only published material that I could find. Not very useful is it? Given the wording it is reasonable I would suggest to say if they didn’t want the tax they are not in favour of it.

      • Psycho Milt 9.1.2

        A substantial majority always favours both tax cuts and improvements to public services. This is why representative government beats the shit out of referenda.

    • Incognito 9.2

      Always good to link to the source/primary data without input from churnalists – they often contain more detailed information plus relevant background.

      https://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/715/9-support-l

  10. tWig 10

    Wellington Council wants to increase rates to commercial for AirBnB owners.

    Great idea. AirBnB owners are crying they will have to exit the market! And increase the number of either houses or of rentals.

    'Pukehīnau/Lambton ward councillor Geordie Rogers supported the higher rates with the argument that Airbnb was a commercial activity.'

    • alwyn 10.1

      You suggest that "AirBnB owners are crying they will have to exit the market".

      It will be a great deal more dramatic than that. What is likely to happen is that all the people who currently live in the city will have to leave. Thanks to the completely mad expenditure on useless things by the hard-left Council and the even more looney City Council staff, no one will be able to live here.

      I live in Wellington. In the 2017 / 2018 year my rates were $3,870.

      In the current 2024 / 2025 year they are $9310.

      They are predicted to be $13,960 in the 2028 / 2029 year.

      It is still the same house and land.

      That is what we have been thumped by by the left wing local Government idiots with their mad delusion that the ratepayers provide a bottomless purse for them to rifle. Who is going to use the profusion of bike lanes when no can afford to live here? Who is going to use the Town Hall they are throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at? Who is going to go to conferences in their loss making Convention Centre?

      It isn't just the AirBnB owners that are getting squashed. It is every ratepayer in the City. John Key was quite right when he said "The reality is even Wellington is dying and we don't know how to turn it around.". Unfortunately our Council took no notice.

      • tWig 10.1.1

        Well, given that rate is far above the median rates value in the council link below, you must either live in a fancy suburb, have a large section, or a fancy house.

        Have you considered sub-dividing, or you could petition this government to update the amount of its subsidy for low-income rate-payers, which has stayed the same as rates have increased.

        Rates for 2024/2025 – Rates – Wellington City Council

        • alwyn 10.1.1.1

          I do have a section that is larger than average. It is still the same land that I owned in 2017 though and it is not in a "fancy" suburb.

      • Ad 10.1.2

        I am just guessing that hour property value has risen from 2017 to 2025.

        This property tax is one of the most proportional taxes New Zealand has – whether you use the library or the dog pound or not.

        • alwyn 10.1.2.1

          The CV has risen in the period. However the rate of increase has been the average for every bit of land in Wellington and certainly doesn't resemble in any way the amount I could get were I to try and sell. I wonder if we could introduce a system where a ratepayer should be able to require the officials of the rating authority to have to buy any property at the current CV?

          • Incognito 10.1.2.1.1

            You seem to be misinformed, so let me enlighten you.

            Our tip
            You need to pay a registered valuer to assess the current market value of your property, if you are applying for a mortgage.

            We revalue your property every three years. The capital value (CV) is the value of a property for rating purposes, not the current market value of your home.

            Never use the capital value for insurance purposes.

            https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/buying-property/Pages/find-property-valuation.aspx

            • alwyn 10.1.2.1.1.1

              The reason I mentioned CV is because that is what the rates are based on. I am well aware that it has little to do with the real value of a property and it is, in Wellington at the moment about, 20-25% above what you could sell a property for.

              It just seems fair to me that the Council should, if it bases its rates on a fairytale figure be required to buy the property at that figure.

              However they have in the new rating year dropped the CV values by around 20%. It doesn't mean that our rate bills will drop. They will go up by 15-20% this year as is generally the case since we got the crazy Councillors we have at the moment. I think they must have fallen of their bikes and landed on their heads at some point.

              • Incognito

                You obviously resist being enlightened and you clearly have no understanding of the connection and mechanism of rating valuations and rates. Of course, you couldn’t help having a dig at bicycles which are the equivalent of windmills for you – were you mugged in Amsterdam?

                I wonder why the house prices have dropped in Wellington.

              • Barfly

                Such a pity for you Alwyn the CoCs (pronounced with hard C's) sunk Three Waters. With Wellingtons munted water infrastructure –

                Google AI view

                Wellington faces a significant water infrastructure deficit, estimated to cost $15-17 billion over 20 years,

                Looks like you Wellington ratepayers are going to cop it unless of course they sell off the water infrastructure in which case you won't cop it then instead you will be totally wrecked. Truly a "Leopards ate my face" moment

          • bwaghorn 10.1.2.1.2

            It's a shame that while you where enjoying your low rates they went doing timely forward planned replacement of aging water infrastructure!

        • Ad 10.1.2.2

          "your" not "hour"

  11. mikesh 11

    If council expenditures remain the same the rates should remain the same. The rate you pay has little to do with your actual CV, but, rather, more to do with your CV relative to other CVs in the city. However since relativities probably don’t change much your rates would increase only if council’s costs increase.

    • alwyn 11.1

      Our councils have, since the mid-1980s spent the rates income on things that can best be described as bling. The last Mayor who seemed to accept that the Council funds came from tax-payers and that it was real money and should be spent carefully was Ian Lawrence. He was Mayor from 1983 until 1986.

      Of the eight who have followed him only Wilde and Prendergast have had some merit and the ones for the last fifteen years in particular have been very bad to absolutely appalling in a steadily deteriorating line.

      None of them have ever pushed for the Council to focus on what they need to do. Instead the put all the money into flummery. Cycle lanes? Unlimited funds for them. Drainage and sewage provision? Nah, not sexy enough.

      Expenditure on things we don't really need has therefore risen rapidly while the infrastructure underpinnings have been ignored.

      • Barfly 11.1.1

        Google AI view

        Wellington faces a significant water infrastructure deficit, estimated to cost $15-17 billion over 20 years,

        Cycle lanes unlimited funds rofl Alwyn

        Muppet ratepayers have always rewarded RW idiots who promise lower than needed increases in rates. RW local body politicians have been kicking this can down the road since forever the can is now rooted and won't be kicked anymore.

        Now if it was a Labour led government Three Waters would be alive and you wouldn't need to be crying about ruinous rate increases.

        • alwyn 11.1.1.1

          You really can't get away with blaming RW local body politicians for Wellington's woes.

          We have had a left wing dominated Council for about 40 years now. There may have been some RW individuals but the dominant majority has been left wing since seemingly forever.

          Three Waters was never going to save us. It would have been an iwi dominated group who would have borrowed money, spent it without having any elected representative control, and when it all blew up it would still have been the ratepayers of Wellington who would have been stuck paying off the debts.

          Three Waters as a means of paying for water infrastructure was just a fairy story.

          • roblogic 11.1.1.1.1

            Nice collection of conspiracy theories and slander, but now we will never know because Kiwis voted for racist and second rate water supplies

        • Obtrectator 11.1.1.2

          A RW government trod on the can and flattened it, so it won't be possible to kick it at all.

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