Open Mike 20/02/2016

98 comments on “Open Mike 20/02/2016 ”

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1. Sanctuary 1

   20 February 2016 at 6:49 am

   http://bennorton.com/adolph-reed-identity-politics-is-neoliberalism/

   “…[Identity] politics is not an alternative to class politics; it is a class politics, the politics of the left-wing of neoliberalism. It is the expression and active agency of a political order and moral economy in which capitalist market forces are treated as unassailable nature.

   An integral element of that moral economy is displacement of the critique of the invidious outcomes produced by capitalist class power onto equally naturalized categories of ascriptive identity that sort us into groups supposedly defined by what we essentially are rather than what we do. As I have argued, following Walter Michaels and others, within that moral economy a society in which 1% of the population controlled 90% of the resources could be just, provided that roughly 12% of the 1% were black, 12% were Latino, 50% were women, and whatever the appropriate proportions were LGBT people.

   It would be tough to imagine a normative ideal that expresses more unambiguously the social position of people who consider themselves candidates for inclusion in, or at least significant staff positions in service to, the ruling class…”
   • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1

     20 February 2016 at 8:11 am

     What’s the point? That Walter Michaels is incapable of noticing more than one kind of injustice?
     • greywarshark 1.1.1

       20 February 2016 at 9:45 am

       It seems to me that identity politics is a sort of MMP thrust at the usual left wing advance onto right wing policies. When identity politics develop it is to get other people’s needs looked at, included and acted on. Without the theoretical language, that is how I see it in plain terms and without a lobby championing identity politics nothing gets done for the people in the group, they get vague promises but no action. Identity politics forces the hand of government to act.

       The problem is when people in that identity group continue to be fused totally to their own demands, to be carried out to their own prescription, and stop looking at the whole range of problems facing us all, with themselves as part of the whole.

       These days it is climate change and the commodification of people, loss of jobs, loss of job conditions, loss of regulation and control governing employers, the desire to increase poverty by neo liberal wealth screwers, automation, loss of humanity and the progress towards a better world, that loom as the large, inescapable challenges.

       A driver in identity politics is the memory of past wrongs, added to present failures to better conditions for the particular lobby group, and the tendency to ignore the other disastrous memes and practices that threaten us all. That results in a neglect to face and fight the dragon menacing the village but sacrificing all to help the one vulnerable female in its jaws.

       This is how I see it and I haven’t any links or quotes to provide other people’s thinking.

       It is interesting to see Adolph Reed appears to be a black man. I haven’t time at present to read all of his essay and background and I don’t yet understand why he would take the stance he has adopted.
       • weka 1.1.1.1

         20 February 2016 at 11:17 am

         “The problem is when people in that identity group continue to be fused totally to their own demands, to be carried out to their own prescription, and stop looking at the whole range of problems facing us all, with themselves as part of the whole.”

         Except that’s not how it generally works. If you look at feminism for instance, you can easily find a variety of feminists who are actively working on issues far beyond what the mainstream perceive women’s rights to be. Many feminisms are working for equal rights of all people, not equal rights for just women. And feminists working as activists are acutely aware of the bigger picture. Likewise for other things named as identity politics in a derogatory way.

         The problem arises when you have superficial and in fact misleading analysis of the likes that CV gives eg the identity politics has ruined Labour. The reality is that Rogernomics ruined Labour, Labour members and activists and the rest of NZ let it happen. Of course one of the consequences to that is that certain inividuals of identity groups will be privilged and given more of a hearing than others (the ones who support neoliberalism and can work within that framework). Because co-option is a big part of how neoliberalism works.

         But even where some groups are focussed in their needs to the exclusion of other things, it’s usually because they’ve been forced into that situation by the people in power and the general culture marginalising them. You only have so much time and energy and often the political climate means you have to use that shouting until you get heard.
         • andrew murray 1.1.1.1.1

           20 February 2016 at 3:12 pm

           Well my take on the problem of focus within identity politics is that to succeed within the ruling ideology it must first become, to some degree, complicit within the ideology.
           A detailed argument in support of this contention requires more time than I have available however consider the following simile. In much the same way as union officials/spokespeople were feted by employer groups with the sole intention of wooing and personally obligating them to the employers purpose before then sending them back to the worker group with a resolution that was much less than that which was being demanded, so it is with identity groups within neoliberalism. Firstly the must surrender to the supremacy and inequality of the system. They must side with the ideology and walk over the needs of others before they are allowed to gain anything.
           • weka 1.1.1.1.1.1

             20 February 2016 at 4:13 pm

             Interesting point.

             The extent to which one surrenders to, resists, avoids or escapes the system varies across any identity group doing political work, and the dynamic you describe applies to all politics, including those politics based on working class identity, and on economics.

             I think more of an issue is to what extent a group’s politics are co-opted and where the indiviudals have bought into the system the most. Hence we have Margaret Thatcher and Jenny Shipley having been helped by feminism but having coopted feminism for anti-feminist work. The Māori Party could be seen as a group based on identity politics that has chosen to work within the system far more than most of us are comfortable with. But equally there are many feminists and Māori whose work is actively and even primarily working to replace the system.

             Further, if we look at the place that second wave feminism arose from, many women were leaving traditional socialist groups precisely because the men working there were privileged by the patriachal system and not willing to look at that privilege as part of the politics of replacing ‘the system’. It’s pretty easy to argue that those men were affected by the dymnamic you name.
             • andrew murray …

               20 February 2016 at 5:49 pm

               Weka my point is:

               – that within neoliberalism the identity or any clique within the identity that gain success have not “won” that success but have been allowed it within a managed power framework. The extent and the terms of that success are always determined by the powerful. Then as its own strategy the Powerful adopts aspects of the identity, mainstreams it and make use of it for political and economic ends. At the same time it changes but never undermines an ongoing requirement for groupings of identified undeserving others.
               • weka …

                 20 February 2016 at 6:20 pm

                 I largely agree with that except that you are talking in absolutes. And that real change happens despite neoliberalism even where neoliberalism still exists.

                 Do you included class politics in what you are saying? Politics based on economic revolution? Politics based on ending capitalism?

                 Other than that I’m not sure what your point is. Are you saying that identity politics are a problem?
                 • andrew murray …

                   20 February 2016 at 6:31 pm

                   Hi Weka,

                   My point is basically one of solidarity in the pursuit of equality.Negotiated concessions to identity factions within the framework of neoliberalism acts to undermine the position of other disadvantaged in ways that make the concession politically pointless.
     • Olwyn 1.1.2

       20 February 2016 at 10:11 am

       From the same article: This should not by any means be interpreted as a blanket condemnation of anti-racism, feminism, or other movements for social equality. Rather, it should be construed as a condemnation of a politics that is centered on social constructs like race or gender, rather than on material conditions.

       it is not as if the author thinks that these movements are wrong in themselves, just that they cannot replace the more general struggle against entrenched material hardship. Moreover, in their early stages, anti-racist, anti-sexist, etc, movements focused largely on the link between social exclusion and material hardship. Under neoliberalism identity concerns have been slid into place as replacements for, rather than aspects of, the struggle for material justice. That is what the mantra “I am socially liberal but economically conservative” just means.
       • greywarshark 1.1.2.1

         20 February 2016 at 11:04 am

         Thanks for the explanation Olwyn. I understand now, and it was plain to see but it is so confusing trying to sort out what effects and reasons each policy has.
     • Sanctuary 1.1.3

       20 February 2016 at 11:59 am

       The point of posting it was simply to open up a discussion of ideas. I don’t profess to totally agreeing with the link (although I am very sympathetic). More generally posting controversial views in good faith can hopefully stimulate a proper debate, and set readers thinking for themselves. Given the intellectual state of NZ in the current ambient dominant media-cultural environment my personal POV is that a blog like the Standard could productively host a separate (good faith and well moderated) forum for links to left wing intellectual discussions from the web. 🙂
       • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.3.1

         20 February 2016 at 1:51 pm

         I agree.

         The premise seems to be that identity politics is the wrong lens through which to look at societal problems. As though people must choose one lens and stick to it.
         • greywarshark 1.1.3.1.1

           20 February 2016 at 2:07 pm

           I think using the lens as a point, when looking at what needs to be done it should be with binoculars, not a telescope. I think that sizes up a lot of the misgivings felt about lobby groups sector divisions.
2. Foreign waka 2

   20 February 2016 at 8:32 am

   Is it possible to have a caption competition for the picture in the article from Audrey Young -NZ Herald – “Brave concession a real boost for NZers” from this morning 5am. It took me a long time to wipe the tears of laughter….
   • Anne 2.1

     20 February 2016 at 9:21 am

     Malcolm Turnbull must have farted…
3. dv 3

   20 February 2016 at 8:49 am

   That is the second time that brave has been used by the herald for political issues recently!!

   I note that the costs are high

   The main application charge has been set at A$3600 per applicant, an extra A$1800 for partners and dependent children over 18 and A$900 for children under 18

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/77076257/how-to-get-your-head-around-the-landmark-aussie-citizenship-announcement
   • Aidan 3.1

     20 February 2016 at 9:03 am

     i mean it’s a win-win right?, incidentally, those guys can vote right?
4. Penny Bright 4

   20 February 2016 at 9:12 am

   Can Hillary Clinton be trusted to look after the interests of ‘everyday Americans’ when she won’t tell them what she told the BIG banks in the speeches they paid her to make?

   In my view – no.

   https://theintercept.com/2016/02/19/hillary-clinton-goldman-sachs-transcripts/

   Hillary Clinton Again Declines to Disclose What She Told Big Banks in Her Paid Speeches
   Lee Fang
   Feb. 20 2016, 4:34 a.m.

   The guy in the audience said it was a matter of trust. “Please just release those transcripts so we know exactly where you stand,” he said.

   But Hillary Clinton wasn’t going there. At the MSNBC town hall with the Democratic presidential candidates on Thursday evening in Las Vegas, Clinton once again refused to release transcripts or recordings of the secret speeches she was paid millions of dollarsto make to Wall Street banks.
   ……..
   _________________________________

   Penny Bright
   2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
5. Penny Bright 5

   20 February 2016 at 9:46 am

   Is Larry Williams ‘projecting’ when calling Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright a ‘numpty’?

   http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11592451

   Auckland mayor candidates

   Auckland mayoral candidates had their first hit-up in front of the public but nothing much of substance came out of it.

   Sure there’s a bunch of candidates, but right now Phil Goff will romp in – even if he can’t work up the courage to cut loose from Labour ideology.

   Goff is up against minnows.

   The centre-right candidate I’m told is Victoria Crone, but I have no idea what she stands for beyond politic-speak cliches.

   Then you have the numpties, like rates defaulter Penny Bright – who in my opinion is a sideshow who should be banned from running.
   ______________________________

   http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/numpty

   numpty

   Scottish informal

   A stupid or ineffectual person.

   _________________________

   Really Larry?

   If I’m supposedly so ‘stupid or ineffectual’ – why even bother mentioning my name – let alone stating that you think I should be ‘banned from running’?

   You old silly billy ‘numpty’?

   Kind regards

   Penny Bright
   2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
6. Paul 6

   20 February 2016 at 9:50 am

   Emmerson

   PJ party at the Turnbulls.
   Max, can you play Abba?

   http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/gif/20168/200216WEHcartoonRE.gif
7. Paupial 7

   20 February 2016 at 10:18 am

   Even with every factor tilted to their advantage, Compass’ Meals on Wheels food is pretty unappealing:

   “I hope I don’t ever have to rely on that sort of food when I get really old.”

   That is the verdict of award-winning Dunedin food writer Charmian Smith after taste-testing the reheated frozen meals at a session convened by the Compass Group at Dunedin Hospital this week…

   The ingredient list was an internal document that could not be taken away from the session. A seemingly high level of preservatives was concerning…

   She was concerned that to meet minimum mandatory standards meals needed to provide only a third of a person’s nutrition needs. “They are expected to find two-thirds of the nutrients themselves but may well resort to bread and biscuits and other easy things to eat.”

   A company spokeswoman later responded to Ms Smith’s concerns over sulphites in a statement to the newspaper, saying they were added to food to preserve its appearance and quality.

   http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/373816/frozen-meals-underwhelm-video

   Note that this was a taste test done; under the supervision of Company reps (“Compass national development and innovation manager” shown in pics); at the hospital where the reheating kitchens are located, and; served onto plates with some care for appearance. In practice, with the reheated food; slopped into aluminium trays, then transported around town by community volunteers, the results look more like this:

   http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/371838/44-cancel-meals-wheels

   At the time of that article; 44 of the 250 receiving meals on wheels had cancelled, although only the day before the SDHB had been trying to claim that as; only 11 cancellations, by selectively reporting only those cancellations processed by Compass itself. I imagine this is well over 20% cancellations by now if this comment from the above link is anything to go by:

   These meals are a disgrace. After months of ill health you finally get an appitite and then this tasteless, tough food arrives. You try and try but sorry, make that 45 meals cancelled.
   • greywarshark 7.1

     20 February 2016 at 10:26 am

     Thinking about food. This is a contrast to the meals being criticised above.
     Radionz had a piece on wild food from some vineyard event this morning interesting.
     http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/countrylife
     http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201790033

     THE Forage North Canterbury event was created by five North Canterbury vineyards; Bellbird Spring, Black Estate, Greystone, Pegasus Bay and Tongue in Groove which, as it turns out, make wine in environments rich with seasonal wild food.

     To celebrate the relationship between local grapes and food, the vineyards invited cooks, sommeliers and writers from as far afield as China and England to hunt in the hills, forage in the fields and forests, fish in the ocean and gather from the seashore in and around the Waipara Valley.
   • weka 7.2

     20 February 2016 at 10:32 am

     And let’s not forget that a significant chunk of people have no options other than Meals on Wheels. If they cancel they have to eat out of the cupboard.

     I’d also like to know of the people cancelling, how many can prepare food safely? I’ve had elderly relatives rely on Meals on Wheels when they reached the point they couldn’t remember they’d left something cooking on the stove and where burning things. That’s a recipe for disaster.
     • Paupial 7.2.1

       20 February 2016 at 11:20 am

       weka

       There is another locally prepared Meals on Wheels program, but it isn’t subsidised by the health board and is thus more expensive. The potential health risk of keeping prefrozen meals for reheating, means this outsourcing may prove to be a false economy for the SDHB if the recipients of Compass’ food end up needing more hospital treatment. Your point about the safety risk of unsupervised cooking by (some of) the eldery is a good one.

       Aileen Baker (89), of Dunedin, said she was likely to cancel the ‘‘dreadful” meals. Her neighbour received St Barnabas Trust meals on wheels, which were excellent but more expensive than the health board service. Mrs Baker was considering her options.

       ‘‘I’ve never complained in my life about anything.”

       The meals were not supposed to be reheated, but Mrs Baker was doing so anyway, as she was used to eating a portion later in the day. Anne Marie Parsons (74), of Dunedin, said she had no choice but to continue with the meals, as at $5 a day they were cheaper than alternatives. She said the meals had shrunk in size and deteriorated in quality.

       http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/371588/better-meals-under-nazis-87-year-old-says
       • Molly 7.2.1.1

         20 February 2016 at 11:32 am

         … and in France the school children are provided meals like this.
   • integralenz 7.3

     20 February 2016 at 10:43 am

     http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/9203575/Former-NHS-chief-exec-received-150000-pay-off.html
     • Paupial 7.3.1

       20 February 2016 at 11:53 am

       integralenz

       Thanks for the link, I didn’t realise that Heatly had ever been a nurse. She is quite the posterchild for management culture these days. It is telling that she identifies more with bankers than with healers:

       Shortly after starting as the £230,000-a-year chief executive of its Southern District Health Board, she implied in an interview that those concerned by her pay-off were motivated by jealousy.

       She said: “There’s not many bankers in Cumbria, so the focus is on the public sector.”

       [edit: Following that interview link leads to this 2012 ODT piece:]

       As a public servant, she expected to be accountable to the community, which included an “open and honest” approach to media inquiries.

       However, direct media access would no longer be direct in the first instance, as it had been under Mr Rousseau, with reporters advised to send inquiries through communications manager

       http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/200218/new-ceo-ready-listen-and-learn

       Her response to media inquiries is unlikely to be called “open and honest” by anyone who has experiece of it.
   • Paupial 7.4

     20 February 2016 at 1:10 pm

     Re: Cancellation Numbers

     Hadn’t seen this when I made my earlier comment:

     The Southern District Health Board this week confirmed 58 people in Dunedin had cancelled the service since January 18, leaving 152 recipients.

     http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/373815/quarter-recipients-opt-out
8. Penny Bright 8

   20 February 2016 at 10:19 am

   FYI – just posted this (and my previous comment) up on the Facebook page of Larry Williams – so hopefully he can see my response to his post.
   __________________________________________________

   Also Larry – I really do think that you should ‘bone up’ on your Auckland ‘electoral maths’ – as it were?

   How many Aucklanders actually bothered to vote in the 2013 Auckland local body elections Larry?

   36%.

   Which leaves how many Aucklanders – who didn’t bother to vote Larry?

   64%.

   How many candidates standing for the 2016 Auckland Mayoralty effectively, (in my view) support the pro-business, corporate-controlled Auckland ‘Supercity’ (for the 1%)?

   Apart from myself – in my view – ALL of them.

   So – who is the 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate that effectively, in my view, that stands out from the rest, in defending citizens’ LAWFUL rights to ‘open, transparent and democratically accountable’ local government in Auckland?

   Don’t YOU believe in transparency when it comes to the spending of public rates monies Larry?

   I do.

   And I have put my freehold home on the line to defend my (and YOUR) lawful rights to transparency.

   Your fellow ZB host Leighton Smith ‘gets it’.

   But then – maybe he’s not a ‘numpty’?

   Kind regards

   Penny Bright
   2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
9. ianmac 9

   20 February 2016 at 10:57 am

   Just watched The Civillian on where the Media on TV News is heading. Funny satire but with some interesting bits too. Worth a watch.
   http://www.watchme.co.nz/the-civilian/season-1/episode-5/
10. Richardrawshark 10

    20 February 2016 at 11:03 am

    Help sought.

    Guys this is a plea for help.

    I am Bi-polar, rapidly cycling. I have not found a combination of medications that allow me to function normally with Epillim and Fluoxitine the best I get is a smoothing of the worst of it, not a symptom suppression.

    3 years ago I saw a panel of three Dr’s through Winz and was granted invalids benefit, however the seed of doubt were sewn and I went and found full time work in an engineering Co. I make good stuff don’t get me wrong. I’m a good worker, work hard do good quality. That’s not the issue.

    The issue with bi-polar is health and safety, i’m impulsive. I’ve attacked a police officer whilst I had Hep C and tried to kill him because I warned him I was having a mental health turn and to handcuff me till I calmed in the few seconds I knew what was happeneing to my body, I had a 36 hour flight stuffed up my med times and lost the plot, my bad, completely, but I was technically insane at that moment. I spent time in jail when I was supposed to be attending my sisters wedding.

    When I went to work, I had soooo many days off due to being sick half the time, not sleeping from anxiety of work and other pressures, sending me into massive depression episodes, I barely made my mortgage payments as I used up all my holidays and sick days being sick I had no cover for all the other times, that’s not on.

    So at this job eventually a real bad incident occurred straight from left field never got a warning with my body some guys at work were acting complete immature dicks and were trying to kill a bird in the factory rafters and I lost it again, how can I describe it, I had to save that bird it was like my whole meaning in life. I nearly killed a guy over that. I cannot trust myself in the workplace. It’s because I cannot predict what is going to cause a moment of complete irrationality like that. And it happens all the time i’m forever at work having issues with people over my incorrect at that moment rational of others actions. I go into a complete irrationality and I justify things(my actions) at that time, that I would not at others when i’m stable.

    I lost my job over the bird incident, my employer who is a bloody good bloke, once I had calmed down after a week or so explained, I am a good worker, no doubt about that, but he didn’t know what job there was for me with my issues. Bluntly these outbursts and constant time off with no predictability of them, is my issue amongst others, like working for a week with no sleep(well maybe a couple hours if i’m lucky a night)

    I went back to winz. 2.5 years of trying a job. I didn’t give up, but I cannot keep saying it won’t happen again boss, when I damn well know it will. Anyways I got asked for my letter of resignation, he was kind enough not to sack me and he was right. It’s not my work it’s a Health and Safety issue.

    They are making me suicidal seriously. It’s rude as hell. I got interviewed by Sue the Waikato decision maker for winz. Told by Bridget at Tokoroa Winz she makes the decisions on living support / medical certificates, but is not a Dr or anything.

    Meet Sue she goes on for the whole meeting about how she’s a nurse and knows these things, raving on how much she new.. (lady ur a Nurse FFS and i’m a psychologist since I know a little about the subject). Well i’m fit for work, straight away. She’s going to prop me up on sleeping tablets and medications that will basically mong me out i’m therefore fit for some partime job I can attend whenever i’m feeling ok, that therefore means i’m fit for work as that’s possible if I don’t like it I have to go see a Winz Dr again she’ll give me a list of bought and paid for Dr’s that will follow her recommendation as we know it works she will also get winz to pay for a psychologist to treat me cure me and eventually i’ll be fit for work but at the moment I have an exemption for work, but i’m fit for work no supported living

    I got a mortgage ya cheapskate winz bastards 271 comes in my account from winz, when auto payments go out I for 19 fkn dollars to feed myself on. IS that my lot for the rest of my life o

    Failing to hear me at any point just talking over me, a nurse(or is she?) from Australia? WTF

    I cannot take this much longer, that was the 9th, of feb, it’s 20th today never heard or received a letter as to outcome of meeting regards my medical cert and assessment for supported living payments application. Don’t I at least have the right to be informed? what the fuck is going on.

    Seriously someone with clout, I need help bad, they are killing people. This constant questioning of integrity, knows better than me attitudes of what my issues are, belittling shit has to stop. How many of us are going to die from despair and suicide before it does?
    • weka 10.1

      20 February 2016 at 12:35 pm

      Hi Richard, thanks for coming and sharing your story. I hope that some help can be offered here.

      I’ve had a lot of personal experience with WINZ as an ill person. My main thought is that you need support to deal with WINZ, both in general but also in getting put back on Supported Living.

      In the immediate term I would suggest finding a good benefit advocate. Try the bigger cities if you have to, they can work by phone (and email if you have access). They can phone you back so the call doesn’t cost you. If you aren’t able to phone them yourself initially, find a local agency who can pick up the cost of the call. Look at finding someone who you get on with and who gets your situation.

      Benefit advocates can do things like chase up why WINZ haven’t contacted you and having them involved makes WINZ sit up and take more notice because ultimately the decisions they are making can end up before a judge.

      If you can find someone locally who can also assist you as a support person, all the better. You’ve probably had all sorts of experiences with people in various parts of the system, so again, try and find someone you feel comfortable with.

      Do you have a supportive GP? Are they on board with supporting you re WINZ (rather than supporting WINZ)?

      Re WINZ, their staff are never qualified to be experts on medical issues, no matter what their background. Their job is to establish entitlements to payments based on external advice, and if you are looking for work, to help with that. They should never be involved in giving medical advice or making decisions based on their own interpretations of your medical needs. The only information they should be basing decisions on are what you and your medical people tell them.

      If you can, always take someone with you to WINZ appointments. Refuse to talk with them on the phone, use email instead. Having a witness and a papertrail that you have at your end changes what happens.

      IMO, what should be happening is that you should be on Supported Living and be allowed to work as an when you are well enough. That should be long term, without pressure to become independent. The system is capable of working with people with permanent disability, that’s what SLA is for.

      Beyond all that, I think you have clear grounds for a complaint. I’m not suggesting that you do this, because you might be better off using your time to do things you enjoy or find other support for your health. But it can help to know that they are wrong in what they are doing.
      • weka 10.1.1

        20 February 2016 at 12:45 pm

        Beneficiary Advocacy Groups,

        Auckland http://www.bais.org.nz/

        Wellington http://yellow.co.nz/y/wellington-benefit-rights-service

        You could also try your local Citizens Advice Bureau (for who the local advocacy services are) or Community Law Centre.
    • maui 10.2

      20 February 2016 at 2:35 pm

      Hey Richard, I have had trouble with anxiety in the past. I was also prescribed Fluoxetine, and it was good for improving my mood generally, although I did feel side affects like feeling really tired sometimes and I still had some depressive episodes.

      To me it sounds like you know that work for you is not a goer right now, you could see a doctor that you trust and knows your history. I wouldnt think it would be much trouble for them to write you something saying that you are not fit for work and possibly won’t be long term.

      I’m not a doctor or a professional, but I can suggest things that I think have helped me. What I think might have helped balancing out my mood was intensive exercise, like going out for for a 30 minute bike ride – riding almost as hard you can, or digging over the garden vigorously, going for a run where you do intermittent sprinting – the idea being to get yourself really puffed. Even better if you’ve got a type of exercise that you enjoy doing already, then you don’t mind going out and doing it even when you might be feeling down and not wanting to go out and do anything.

      There’s also the concept of mindfulness (http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/home/our-work/category/21/mindfulness), which could be useful, it’s one of those things that is easy to recommend and extremely hard to implement when you are actually in the moment though, and would take a lot of practice too.

      I’m not sure if there are any mental health support groups in your area, it would probably help if you could meet with some others with bi-polar to share ideas, tips, and get support etc. But you can probably find an online group/forum which would be the next best thing.

      It sounds like you have a good understanding of how your condition is effecting you and your life, and that is really good in my opinion. It means you’re more able to recognise and react and treat yourself as you notice yourself getting into an unhealthy frame of mind. So keep up the observations of how you feel and that should make life easier I reckon.
    • kenny 10.3

      20 February 2016 at 8:59 pm

      Hi Richard, I have a close family member who has mental problems so I can understand where you are coming from.

      If I were you I think I would contact my local Member of Parliament immediately and DEMAND some help with your situation. If the MP won’t help then contact someone else (anyone) in the political sphere to see what they can do.

      Hope this helps.

      Good luck to you.
11. weka 11

    20 February 2016 at 11:05 am

    Can anyone help me find some graphs on long term party voting intention? I’ve tried google and it’s giving me flag referendum hits and some obscuring stuff.

    I want something like the 4th chart in this link, only for preceding decades.

    http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6678-roy-morgan-new-zealand-voting-intention-february-2016-201602190455
12. travellerev 12

    20 February 2016 at 11:10 am

    With Christchurch’s inhabitants finally waking up to the fact that John Key and his trolls don’t give a shit about them I thought I’d repost this to show how much they are being shafted by this ugly lot!

    Here is how John Key fattens his mates
    • tc 12.1

      20 February 2016 at 1:01 pm

      Sadly way too much damage done or un repaired by the time they get a chance to dump them and real change takes hold about a year after the next GE.

      NATS know how to cripple areas, tying the hands of the next govt into at least 2 election cycles of rectifying their wilful destruction. It’s been their MO from the get go.
      • greywarshark 12.1.1

        20 February 2016 at 2:00 pm

        Someone mentioned recently what we already know happens but don’t stress enough – that progressive policies introduced by NZ governments are likely to be dumped on a change of government.

        And if one govt ties the hands of another to do anything about it within their term, then there can be no change at all. Labour gets in, then tends to upset enough people to get thrown out, or the Opposition sets up some strawman arguments that the people get obssessed about and then Labour’s out and what is left as a memorial by the time the National vandals tear down their, usually, good works?
13. greywarshark 13

    20 February 2016 at 12:38 pm

    Probably most of us have been wondering how Kiribati people are getting on since our government decided not to accept a request to be a climate refugee from one man who has been deported.
    Radio nz did a piece on Kiribati recently.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201789691

    Kiribati people getting ready for “migration with dignity”
    People in Kiribati are upskilling and preparing for the time when they might have to move because of the effects of climate change.

    From Dateline Pacific on 17 Feb 2016
14. greywarshark 14

    20 February 2016 at 12:41 pm

    This is something that a progressive NZ has been able to do in a country that wanted help and welcomed it. (Now he might have a chance to help here.)
    He was in the Values Party by the way, not the National Party.

    8:12 Ron Layton
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/201790116/ron-layton-intellectual-property-in-africa
    Ron Layton is an expatriate New Zealander who is the founder and CEO of LightYears IP, a board member of the African IP Trust, and a fellow of Ashoka, the largest worldwide network of social entrepreneurs. He is creating global mechanisms that provide poor producer businesses in developing countries with a full range of intellectual property tools that allow them to re-position for higher and more stable incomes. 
15. Draco T Bastard 15

    20 February 2016 at 12:51 pm

    MPs’ property loophole ‘stings taxpayers’

    By owning the property in a private superannuation scheme, the politicians can also use their taxpayer-funded superannuation subsidies to pay off the mortgage.

    For every $1 placed in the private schemes by the MP, the taxpayer contributes $2.50 to a maximum of $28,920 – an annual superannuation total of up to $40,488.

    Combined with the taxpayer-funded accommodation allowances, a minister like Mrs Tolley could pay off up to $77,988 of the mortgage each year while also making a capital gain as the property’s value increases.

    That’s significantly more than the average wage every years in subsidies.

    Really, it’s time to end these rorts that the MPS keep giving themselves.
    • One Anonymous Bloke 15.1

      20 February 2016 at 6:35 pm

      The politicians have themselves to blame: allowing the value of wages to decrease naturally builds resentment.

      Personally I think they deserve fair wages and conditions like everyone else.

      It’s tempting to suggest that their salary should be means-tested, to level the playing field, and why not just give them a percentage (250%?) of the median wage divided by the population percentage of children in poverty (plus one percent so that it can never become infinite) 😉
      • Draco T Bastard 15.1.1

        21 February 2016 at 12:17 am

        Personally I think they deserve fair wages and conditions like everyone else.

        So do I. I don’t think that giving them near $80k per year to buy their own houses and rental properties is fair and it’s bloody expensive for the rest of us.

        It would be a damn site cheaper and easier if the government simply owned a 100 room hotel in the capital that the MPs from outside of the capital could use when there. Empty rooms could be used by foreign dignitaries and government guests.

        All that would cost us is rates of a few thousand and a couple of million per year for maintenance and personnel. Far less than what it’s costing us in paying these people to become rich while they add to both the housing shortage and rising house prices.
16. weka 16

    20 February 2016 at 12:57 pm

    “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection”

    Interesting video on why physiological addiction theories are wrong, and why environment is critical. I think some of it is a bit simplistic, but it’s a good graphic wway to get across that we’ve been looking in the wrong direction.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg (5 mins)

    http://www.addiction.mobydigg.de/
17. Reddelusion 17

    20 February 2016 at 1:50 pm

    I found this an interesting read in latest scientific America on how political symmetry corrupts science I suggest also answers some questions re constant attacks on Neo liberalism by the far left and academia, especially those in social sciences Well worth reading full article

    2015 study by psychologist José Duarte, then at Arizona State University, and his colleagues in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, entitled “Political Diversity Will Improve Social Psychological Science,” found that 58 to 66 percent of social scientists are liberal and only 5 to 8 percent conservative and that there are eight Democrats for every Republican. The problem is most relevant to the study of areas “related to the political concerns of the Left—areas such as race, gender, stereotyping, environmentalism, power, and inequality.” The very things these students are protesting.
    How does this political asymmetry corrupt social science? It begins with what subjects are studied and the descriptive language employed. Consider a 2003 paper by social psychologist John Jost, now at New York University, and his colleagues, entitled “Political Conservatism as Motivated Social Cognition.” Conservatives are described as having “uncertainty avoidance,” “needs for order, structure, and closure,” as well as “dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity,” as if these constitute a mental disease that leads to “resistance to change” and “endorsement of inequality.” Yet one could just as easily characterize liberals as suffering from a host of equally malfunctioning cognitive states: a lack of moral compass that leads to an inability to make clear ethical choices, a pathological fear of clarity that leads to indecisiveness, a naive belief that all people are equally talented, and a blind adherence in the teeth of contradictory evidence from behavior genetics that culture and environment exclusively determine one’s lot in life.
    • One Anonymous Bloke 17.1

      20 February 2016 at 2:08 pm

      97% of peer-reviewed psychology papers confirm their hypotheses. 1% of psychology papers are attempts at replication.

      Basically, treat all psychology with a bucket of salt. Or take Hodson & Busseri’s findings as read. Your call.

      Kanai et al 2012 might interest you too.

      Nah, you won’t like those results. Better set up a “think” tank to employ some academics who are just like lawyers.
      • Reddelusion 17.1.1

        20 February 2016 at 2:28 pm

        Cheers OAB I think you are further evidence on the findings of this study, as are many standards contributors Note the study is even handed and indicates the bias can go the other way re conservative bias but surely even just on statistic and group think their is something to it if only 5 to 8pc of social scientist are considered conservative.
        • weka 17.1.1.1

          20 February 2016 at 2:34 pm

          Breaking news! Lefties think lefty thoughts!

          You are assuming that the majority of social scientists who are liberal do research from their bias. What evidence to you have for that?
          • One Anonymous Bloke 17.1.1.1.1

            20 February 2016 at 4:59 pm

            Psychology is full to the brim with Lefties. Economics is full to the brim with Wingnuts.

            Perhaps what’s really going on here is that strongly political people are attracted to fields that tolerate magical thinking.
        • One Anonymous Bloke 17.1.1.2

          20 February 2016 at 2:38 pm

          Not being a social scientist, I can’t be further evidence.

          Your cite is a Psychology paper – has anyone attempted to replicate its findings? You do understand my first paragraph above, eh.

          If we’re going to treat your Psychology cite as accurate, then Hodson & Busseri deserves equal treatment.

          Kanai et al, on the other hand, is a Biology paper, not Psychology, and hence carries far more weight.
          • Reddelusion 17.1.1.2.1

            20 February 2016 at 2:50 pm

            I understood your first point albeit you write in riddles and not clear English, I am not sure why, I put it down to showing off. I just raised the article out of interest and not to go into indepth peer review and replication. The article has obviously pricked your reality bubble and got you thinking which is good 😊
            • One Anonymous Bloke 17.1.1.2.1.1

              20 February 2016 at 3:05 pm

              You really aren’t getting it: a Psychology paper, attempting to
              find a bias that Psychologists had been talking about for years, finds said bias and is instantly seized upon as evidence.

              A dwindling and increasingly irrelevant field? Some say…

              The funny thing is, if we listen to the drivel right wingers believe, NASA, the Otago School of Medicine, the Salvation Army, The Lancet, Nature, Marine Biology and the Problem Gambling Foundation are also hotbeds of Left-wing activism, and you’re whining about Psychology? Pfft.
    • weka 17.2

      20 February 2016 at 2:27 pm

      All science has bias from what is chosen to study. It’s not necessarily a problem except where it is unacknowleged and where power structures prevent imbalance from being changed eg the amount of medicial research that is funded by big pharma and how this has led to a culture of lying about results. It’s hard to change because the power structure (neoliberalism) literally prevent other people from doing research (it’s more complicated than that).

      If social science is biased towards liberalism because of more liberals doing the research, that’s a different thing than individual researchers having bias. You seem to be conflating the two and suggesting that the individual cited was biased and unscientific in their approach. Do you have any evidence of that?
      • Reddelusion 17.2.1

        20 February 2016 at 2:39 pm

        No article was not picking on an individual, simply raised that specific research to contrast social cognitition as a scene setter re left and right I believe crux of article was as is the sum of the parts equal the whole, the whole equals the sum of the parts. The study simply opines due to to the lefts massive over representation in social science this results in social cognitive bias ( including in peer review) . Of course there will be individuals who may not be bias but on average the research is indicating the potential of such
        • One Anonymous Bloke 17.2.1.1

          20 February 2016 at 2:51 pm

          Yawn. You’re at liberty to attack anyone’s findings any time you like, if you can pass peer review.

          You may have difficulty with that in at least one respect: your list of the things Lefties believe (17) is pure projection.

          You may also be asked to improve your spelling and grammar; perhaps you can find a sympathetic editor.

          I note that the Right despises the social sciences, and academics in general. Couldn’t pass the exams, I guess.
          • Reddelusion 17.2.1.1.1

            20 February 2016 at 2:59 pm

            more spin and revert to type, so boringly predictable
        • weka 17.2.1.2

          20 February 2016 at 4:17 pm

          “No article was not picking on an individual”

          I was saying that YOU are trying to make out that the numbers of social scientists being liberal means that individual scientists who are liberal are also biased in their work. Putting aside that there is bias in all science, I think your claim is meaningless unless you can demonstrate that indiviudal scientists are in capable of doing research that isn’t contaminated by their politics.

          If your point is that more liberal social scientists means that more topics that are of interest to liberals is being done, that wouldn’t surprise me. But that’s a different thing than the research being corrupted by the individual
          • One Anonymous Bloke 17.2.1.2.1

            20 February 2016 at 4:52 pm

            Duartes has a point that Reddullish has fixated on:

            The lack of diversity causes problems for the scientific process primarily in areas related to the political concerns of the Left – areas such as race, gender, stereotyping, environmentalism, power, and inequality – as well as in areas where conservatives themselves are studied, such as in moral and political psychology.

            However, the link gives the game away:

            In the last few years, social psychology has faced a series of challenges to the validity of its research, including a few high-profile replication failures, a handful of fraud cases, and several articles on questionable research practices and inflated effect sizes… In this article, we suggest that one largely overlooked cause of failure is a lack of political diversity.

            So yeah, fraud, lack of replication, questionable practices…oh but the real problem is the exams are too hard for Reddullish et al a lack of political diversity. Uh huh.
            • weka 17.2.1.2.1.1

              20 February 2016 at 4:57 pm

              Not sure what the term ‘social psychology’ refers to but it’s not equivalent to ‘social science’ right?

              edit, your first draft without the ad hominem was better.
              • One Anonymous Bloke …

                20 February 2016 at 5:06 pm

                I think the entrance exam may well be an issue: not everyone is academically skilled, or capable of constructing a reasoned argument.

                Social Science encompasses a range of fields:

                2.1 Anthropology
                2.2 Communication studies
                2.3 Economics
                2.4 Education
                2.5 Geography
                2.6 History
                2.7 Law
                2.8 Linguistics
                2.9 Political science
                2.10 Psychology
                2.11 Sociology

                Wikipedia.
      • One Anonymous Bloke 17.2.2

        20 February 2016 at 2:40 pm

        All science has bias from what is chosen to study.

        Generally, research is concentrated around areas of ignorance. Sometimes it results in the areas of ignorance shrinking.
        • Reddelusion 17.2.2.1

          20 February 2016 at 2:55 pm

          Spinning now OAB, agree with your first point but surely bias is amplified if one pursuit of science is massively over represented by one dominant political school of thought
          • ropata 17.2.2.1.1

            20 February 2016 at 3:16 pm

            Reality has a Left wing bias.
          • One Anonymous Bloke 17.2.2.1.2

            20 February 2016 at 3:19 pm

            You need to stop projecting and read my comments again. I’m not saying what you think I am. I’m saying that Psychology is almost completely munted: the majority of its findings are unreliable at best.

            That includes this one.

            Why do you care anyway: as I said, the right makes a virtue of despising science and academia. If wingnuts don’t want to study you only have yourselves to blame.
            • Reddelusion 17.2.2.1.2.1

              20 February 2016 at 4:36 pm

              I choose to ignore the findings or rantings
              of the church of Scientology as evidence

              By the way OAB I suggest I may hold more degrees than you, albeit i have not majored in English re your bag of cut and paste put downs
              • One Anonymous Bloke …

                20 February 2016 at 4:41 pm

                We can all agree on that. What I don’t get is how you can’t understand that the Right’s relentless negative rhetoric about academia might deter right wingers from taking up research.

                Well, if you could pass the entrance exams, that is.

                PS: just because scientologists say Psychology is munted doesn’t mean it isn’t: your cite supports the view.
              • One Anonymous Bloke …

                20 February 2016 at 5:15 pm

                …cut and paste put downs.

                Generally, research is concentrated around areas of ignorance. Sometimes it results in the areas of ignorance shrinking.

                Where’s the put-down there? I said “sometimes” because quite often, in the hard sciences, further study debunks previous findings, thus increasing the unknowns.

                I’m no more putting Psychology down than the research team you’re citing do in their own words, quoted at 17.2.1.2.1 above: fraud etc.

                Lastly, I author my own put-downs, bud. Do you deny the vitriol aimed at academia from the Right? Do you challenge my assertion that it might put people off choosing study as a career?

                PS: Someone with a handle like yours might think twice before calling the kettle black.
    • Gabby 17.3

      20 February 2016 at 3:45 pm

      The abstract noun count is strong in this one.
18. greywarshark 18

    20 February 2016 at 1:52 pm

    Probably someone has already talked about this book looking at austerity.
    This talk on Radionz this morning.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201790117

    David Stuckler: health and austerity
    10:10 AM. Professor of Political Economy and Sociology at Oxford University, where he researches how social policy and economic changes influence health across the globe, and co-author of –
    The Body Economic: Why Austerity Kills.
    He is visiting New Zealand for the February lecture series
    at the 20th Public Health Summer School,
    run by the University of Otago, Wellington.
19. Draco T Bastard 19

    20 February 2016 at 1:53 pm

    ‘Unreasonable risk of fire’: Feds rule hoverboards unsafe

    The federal regulator issued the hoverboard notice following a months-long investigation involving “reports, from consumers in 24 states, of 52 self-balancing scooter fires resulting in over $2 million in property damage, including the destruction of two homes and an automobile.”

    Yet more proof that things need to be properly tested and regulated before being allowed on the market.
    • weka 19.1

      20 February 2016 at 2:19 pm

      Is that a toy?
      • Draco T Bastard 19.1.1

        20 February 2016 at 3:12 pm

        Yeah, pretty much.
      • Grindlebottom 19.1.2

        20 February 2016 at 3:26 pm

        Yes. They’re one of the latest fads. Dunno why they call them hoverboards, they have wheels as well as this unfortunate tendency for some of them to spontaneously combust. Russell Crowe famously spat the dummy at Virgin Airlines when they refused to let him and his two sons take their Christmas prezzie hoverboards on an aircraft because sensible airlines were banning them as a potential fire risk.
        http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/russell-crowe-launches-twitter-rant-at-virgin-australia-airline-after-being-stopped-boarding-flight-a6789391.html

        The problem really seems to be the flood of cheap knock-offs on the market though.
        • weka 19.1.2.1

          20 February 2016 at 4:18 pm

          more fodder for the landfill then.
20. RTM 20

    20 February 2016 at 2:49 pm

    Exploring Point Chevalier’s forgotten working class and left-wing history, with a busload of brilliant pensioners: http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/cruising-point.html
21. Draco T Bastard 21

    20 February 2016 at 4:59 pm

    Open Government Partnership report

    The report is not flattering for the government. For a start, our action plan cannot sensibly be described as a “co-creation” with civil society. The government decided very early on what it wanted to put in it, and then conducted a very limited consultation exercise. For instance, it never even put out a press release about consultation. It even breached its obligation to publish, in advance, a list of its consultation activities. (In comments on the report, the government said I’d got this wrong. It pointed to a list it had posted on the State Services Commission website. That list was posted after all the consultation had taken place.)

    More lies and disinformation from this government about what it’s doing.
22. lprent 22

    20 February 2016 at 6:49 pm

    Anyone know who the protest group is at the end of the pride parade on Ponsonby road? All I can see or hear is Fuck you…
    • lprent 22.1

      20 February 2016 at 6:52 pm

      The hairy iridescent bikers are more interesting…
    • lprent 22.2

      20 February 2016 at 6:58 pm

      Ok dug it out…
      No Pride in Prisons to Protest Auckland Pride Parade

      Queer and transgender prison abolitionist group No Pride in Prisons is holding a rally today at 5:30pm on the Karangahape Road Overbridge, in protest of the Auckland Pride Parade.

      The rally follows the Auckland Pride Board’s decision to allow members of the police and the Department of Corrections to march in uniform in the parade.

      “We are holding a counter-rally to take a public stand against the Auckland Pride Board’s decision to include violent, racist and transmisogynist institutions in its parade for the second year in a row,” says No Pride in Prisons spokesperson, Emilie Rākete.

      “Given recent reports of racist police brutality and Corrections’ announcement to extend its ‘double-bunking’ policy, it is disgraceful that the Auckland Pride Board decided to include Corrections and police in the Pride Parade.”

      “Corrections’ policies directly contribute to physical and sexual violence against trans and queer prisoners.”

      Earlier this month, the Pride Board came out with its decision to allow Corrections officers to march in uniform as they did in 2015. This decision was made on the agreement that the Department of Corrections would take steps over the coming year to improve the policies affecting trans prisoners.

      “To this date, the Department of Corrections has shown a blatant disregard for the treatment of all incarcerated people, especially queer and trans prisoners. The board should not have made this decision based on the Department’s vague promises for improvement.”

      No Pride in Prisons believes that the effects of Corrections’ placement and double-bunking policies on queer and trans prisoners are perfectly clear.

      “This year alone, No Pride in Prisons has heard from multiple transgender prisoners who have been either raped or brutally attacked while in Corrections’ custody.”

      The group points to an incident late last year where a trans woman was raped after being placed in a cell overnight with a man. The group argues that this incident would not have taken place if not for the double-bunking policy.

      “Corrections has introduced and massively expanded double-bunking policies despite advice that doing so would put prisoners at greater risk of physical and sexual assault. These policies have directly led to the rape of trans women and others,” says Rākete.

      “Corrections has proven, time and time again, that it has no regard for the safety or bodily autonomy of inmates.”

      According to No Pride in Prisons, the police have no better a track record. “A report released by the New Zealand Police in 2015 found that police officers use force against Māori at eight times the rate they do Pākehā,”[1] says Rākete.

      “Last year, the New Zealand Police admitted to having an ‘unconscious bias’ against Māori.[2] While the police may call it a mere ‘bias’, these biases can be more accurately described as racism.”

      “Māori currently make up about 51% of New Zealand’s prison population, despite being only 15% of the general population. This is because of the police decisions to apprehend and then charge Māori at a far higher rate than Pākehā for the same crimes.[3] What this proves is the police’s active role in perpetuating structural racism.”

      “The participation of police and Corrections in the Pride Parade is a form of pinkwashing, using LGBTQI issues to mask their everyday violence and brutality, especially towards tangata whenua.”

      “We encourage everyone who has been disappointed and angered by the Auckland Pride Board’s decisions to join us for the counter-rally.”

      “The fact of the matter is that prisons and police are violent, racist institutions that have no place in any pride parade.”
      • One Anonymous Bloke 22.2.1

        20 February 2016 at 7:03 pm

        +1

        Human rights abusers belong at The Hague.
      • andrew murray 22.2.2

        20 February 2016 at 9:11 pm

        @Weka

        This issue appers to be an example of our discussion 1.1.1.1.1. above
    • lprent 22.3

      20 February 2016 at 7:01 pm

      They need better signs to communicate the message..

      Lyn asked, I researched
      • lprent 22.3.1

        20 February 2016 at 7:59 pm

        Amnesty, Pacifica…

        This parade is Damnup big
23. lprent 23

    20 February 2016 at 7:22 pm

    Good to see Fran Wilde pop up for a few words. She pushed through the homosexual law reform in the late 80s.
    • lprent 23.1

      20 February 2016 at 7:28 pm

      The parade is finally up towards the end of the road.
    • lprent 23.2

      20 February 2016 at 7:57 pm

      Armed forces, universities, Westpac, coca cola, air nz, and of course a few corraled protesters after the police go through..
    • lprent 23.3

      20 February 2016 at 8:08 pm

      Churches, political parties including the Nats (passing in silence), Labour ( Andrew Little does a few words)…. ummm..
    • lprent 23.4

      20 February 2016 at 8:13 pm

      ANZ have amazing balloons. Greens. BNZ. Vegans. ASB. Sports – proud to play. St John’s ambulance. Fletcher building and Winstones
    • lprent 23.5

      20 February 2016 at 8:25 pm

      I am ambivalent about seeing Auckland towing at the end. Cleanup squad?
24. b waghorn 24

    20 February 2016 at 7:34 pm

    http://i.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/77096084/Fiji-warned-of-grievous-ordeal-as-category-five-Cyclone-Winston-bears-down

    Spare thought for our neighbours tonight.
    • pat 24.1

      20 February 2016 at 10:21 pm

      325 kph gusts.. poor buggers…what could survive that?
25. sabine 25

    20 February 2016 at 7:37 pm

    Cyclone Winston
    Category 5 to hit Fiji
    good grief.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htYqwXQBV9o&feature=youtu.be
26. joe90 26

    20 February 2016 at 8:17 pm

    Umberto Eco has died.

    http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/feb/20/italian-author-umberto-eco-dies-aged-84
27. greywarshark 27

    20 February 2016 at 10:41 pm

    stuff story 19/2/2016
    Apartment owner blocked out of her unit in dispute with body corporate

    MARIA SLADE
    Last updated 14:22, February 19 2016

    The Landings complex in Parnell, where owner Christine Rogerson says the body corporate is stopping her from entering her apartment.
    Christine Rogerson was amazed to find a new wall and door blocking her out of her own apartment.

    The owner of a seventh floor unit in The Landings complex in Auckland’s Parnell had been told she could have supervised access as the building underwent major weathertightness and other repairs.

    But when she asked to retrieve personal belongings stored in a locked room, she was informed she would have to wait till the work was completed.
    Then she discovered a temporary barricade had been built in the corridor outside her unit blocking her way.
    “Because I’ve asked for access, they’ve denied it and I’ve said why. This is what they do.”

    READ MORE:
    * Deregulation non-compliance turns home into house of horrors
    * Apartment owners face maintenance timebomb

    “They” are the complex’s body corporate, an administration that owners say is non-communicative, inconsistent, and aggressive.
    A door has been built in the corridor leading to Rogerson’s apartment blocking her access.
    A door has been built in the corridor leading to Rogerson’s apartment blocking her access.

    Rogerson said she was originally told the work would take a month. That has stretched to three months with no end in sight.

    Owners of the 220 apartments paid an original repair levy of $8 million, then a second of $4m, she said.
    “I reckon there’s going to be another $4m, but you won’t know that until the AGM. It’s likely that we’ll be hit with another $4m and they’ll give you 30 days to come up with (it).

    The Home Owners and Buyers Association chair has big concerns about the law surrounding bodies corporate, chair John Gray says
    The Home Owners and Buyers Association chair has big concerns about the law surrounding bodies corporate, chair John Gray says

    “It’s a group of 10 people maximum controlling a group of 200 people,” Rogerson said.
    Fellow owner Roberta Budvietas said she was told her apartment had to be empty by March to make way for the workmen. When her tenants unexpectedly left in October she let her grandson stay temporarily for a peppercorn rent.

    “Now they’re telling me it’s November. So every week I have lost $200 in potential rent on that apartment, and I can’t actually kick the kids out now.”
    The Landings owner Roberta Budvietas says information doesn’t flow from the body corporate.
    Dysfunctional administration had added to the already considerable stress of the repairs, Budvietas said.

    “We’re paying for all kinds of costs… and then the fact the information doesn’t flow well and questions aren’t answered.
    “When you have a body corporate secretariat who tells you one set of things and you don’t know because you’re just ordinary people trying to do your best… there’s no real resource to go to.”

    The Landings body corporate said the temporary wall had been put in place to comply with health and safety requirements, and a visit to the apartment could be arranged with the head contractor.

    Delays in getting council consents and the discovery of additional repair work required had pushed back the finish date in some cases, and owners had been kept informed, it said.
    The dispute comes as Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye conducts a campaign to assess whether rules around bodies corporate need to be changed.
    She is holding a public meeting on Friday afternoon.
    “I think if Auckland is going to have intensification, which we are and we need to… then we’ve got to have absolute confidence in the ownership and management structure of those dwellings.”

    Some clear themes had emerged from the response to her campaign, she said:
    – issues over long term maintenance plans, which every unit title complex must have, and transparency around them;
    – body corporate managers versus property managers and their role, and whether it needs to be better regulated;
    – whether the rules around bodies corporate and their committees likewise need to be tightened;
    – access to up to date information and transparency.

    Kaye says the Unit Titles Act was improved in 2010, but may need further enhancements.
    However there was a balance between adequate regulation and not adding costs, she said.
    “For example, if you did decide that there needs to be greater regulation around body corporate managers, then one, you might discourage people from taking that role, and two, you might add costs to that.”

    But chairman of the Home Owners and Buyers Association, John Gray, is sceptical about Kaye’s efforts.
    Hobanz has a host of concerns about the Unit Titles Act.
    It was devoid of basic governance guidelines that other laws such as the Charities Act and the Companies Act contained, he said.
    The only criteria for sitting on a body corporate committee was being an owner in the complex.

    “You can have people who have been convicted of criminal conduct, bankrupted, and the sort, actually put themselves forward for election.” Gray said.
    The organisation was also particularly concerned about long term maintenance plans, which were usually either inadequate or not in place at all.
    On top of that bodies corporate could and did opt out of fully funding them, meaning future owners could be hit with massive repair bills, he said.
    – Stuff.co.nz

    Landlords lose thousands
    Farmers face waterways fines video
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28. pat 28

    21 February 2016 at 1:07 am

    “Nick Dearden, the director of Global Justice Now, said: “Despite the enormous public outcry over companies like Google and Amazon paying ridiculously small amounts of tax in the UK, the government is trying to sign us up to a trade deal that could effectively prevent us from bringing about laws that could address tax injustice.

    “The ability to enact effective and fair tax systems to finance vital public services is one of the defining features of sovereignty. The fact that multinational companies would be able to challenge and undermine that under TTIP is testament to the terrifying extent of the corporate grab embedded in this toxic trade deal.”

    http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/18/mps-can-view-ttip-files-but-take-only-pencil-and-paper-with-them
29. greywarshark 29

    21 February 2016 at 5:39 pm

    What a pigs muddle the government move to deregulation of builders has led us to. In some other countries, the government MPs concerned would be taken to Court and with luck, imprisoned or worse. Perhaps they should be stripped of their nationality and left stateless to go from place to place spreading their stealing and criminal activities around the world instead of finessing them here on we unlucky people.

    I put up a case earlier in Open Mike where a woman owner was shut out of her apartment so it could be doctored, for increasing months with an end not shortly in sight. This article is much the same, and goes into compliance, refers to legislation and gives warnings for future home buyers, especially apartments, built between 1995 and 2005.

    This from stuff.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/business/76513562/Deregulation-non-compliance-turns-home-into-house-of-horrors
    He said he personally believes only about 15 per cent of the nation’s leaky buildings have been remediated.
    Burrell said most non-compliance faults in leaky buildings come out of the blue for owners as they are hidden internally.

    Burrell said better legislation, to allow for a higher level of due-diligence, would be one way to minimise and assess costs in leaky buildings.
    “Under current legislation we cannot even remove one piece of cladding before the remedial work starts.
    “If we had legislation that allowed us to look at what is lying internally then it would be a lot easier to determine any non-compliance issues,” Burrell said.

    Levie said HOBANZ believes the the lack of financial assistance to cover the faults is going to become a significant financial burden on apartment owners in the coming years.
    “It is significant as it is going to become difficult for owners to borrow against weather tight projects because of the risks that lie internally,” Levie said.
    He said it will also become more common for weather tight remediation to only be carried out on apartments where the work justifies a gain in property value.

    “The concern is that with areas further out of the city, where the work costs the same yet the values of the apartments are not there.
    “Then there will be hesitation to have external work carried out because there could be internal non-compliance issues the will add to the cost,” Levie said.

    Burrell believes the only other way the non-compliance costs could be funded is if the Government went back to its original plan of covering two-thirds of the leaky building remediation costs.
    PETER MEECHAM / FAIRFAX NZ.

    (Andi Burrell Remedial Specialist from Anoroc Remediation )
    (Home Owners and Buyers Association (Hobanz) chief executive Roger Levie)
    edited

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