Open mike 20/04/2014

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 20th, 2014 - 183 comments
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183 comments on “Open mike 20/04/2014 ”

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  1. Pete George 1
    20 April 2014 at 7:05 am

    What are people’s thoughts here about what part cannabis plays in the synthetic drug issue?

    Is cannabis as risky, riskier or is it safer?
    If cannabis was available the same as synthetics would the problem be better, worse or similar?
    If no synthetics pass the safety test of the new Act and nothing else changes will the problems get better or worse?
    Should the laws related to cannabis use be reviewed?
    Should the laws related to cannabis cultivation be reviewed?
    Should the laws related to cannabis supply be reviewed?
    Should all psychoactive substances be banned (including cannabis)?

    When the Psychoactive Substances Act kicks in we may have no synthetic drugs legally for sale or we may have a reduced number of them for sale. Regardless, we will still have issues with drug use, drug addiction and associated problems – especially health and crime.

    • freedom 1.1
      20 April 2014 at 8:22 am

      tell you what Pete. Why don’t you ask those same questions about alcohol use in NZ, then we can have an honest discussion.

      • Pete George 1.1.1
        20 April 2014 at 8:33 am

        That’s a different issue, or rather issues. Entrenched issues with no easy solutions. Alcohol is interwoven with the social and commercial fabrics of New Zealand, and impossible to unpick. We have to learn to deal with it better.

        • vto 1.1.1.1
          20 April 2014 at 8:38 am

          What on earth makes you think cannabis and other similar things are any different?

          Pete, have you ever smoked cannabis? And I mean, not just once or twice at some pissed party, I mean smoked it enough to learn and understand what happens to the mind ? And Pete, same question with synthetic stuff…

          • Pete George 1.1.1.1.1
            20 April 2014 at 8:52 am

            Cannabis has been illegal for how long? Alcohol has been legal for how long?

            Cannabis is substantially supplied via major criminal interests. Alcohol is supplied via long established commercial interests.

            Self supply of cannabis is illegal, self supply of alcohol is legal.

            Cannabis is associated with underground social practices, alcohol is a major part of open and accepted social practices.

            I’m quite surprised you asked that question.

            I’ve never smoked cannabis or used any synthetic or illegal drugs. I don’t have any interest in drugs personally, but I recognise major social issues and growing discussion and demands about the use of synthetics and natural cannabis.

            • vto 1.1.1.1.1.1
              20 April 2014 at 9:03 am

              Did you know cannabis used to be legal?
              Did you know alcohol used to be illegal?
              Did you know alcohol used to be supplied by major criminal interests?
              Did you know alcohol is associated with NZ’s worst underground social practices?
              Do you know how much trouble people cause due to cannabis, compared to alcohol?

              … oh forget it

            • phillip ure 1.1.1.1.1.2
              20 April 2014 at 9:04 am

              “..I’ve never smoked cannabis or used any synthetic or illegal drugs..”

              gee..!..that comes as no real surprise..eh..?

              ..heh..!

              ..is professional-fretting/auntying/walter-mitty-dreamings of ‘influence’.. yr drugs of choice there..?..petey..?

              ..heh..!

              ..drugs don’t just come in powered/herb-form..eh..?

            • Bill 1.1.1.1.1.3
              20 April 2014 at 9:04 am

              ffs PG, please think a wee bit about what you type and then take this morning’s nonsense away from here.

              “Cannabis is associated with underground social practices,” (socialising, sharing, etc)
              “alcohol is a major part of open and accepted social practices” (violence, vomiting, absenteeism, death, etc).

              • Pete George …
                20 April 2014 at 9:18 am

                FFS Bill, please think a wee bit about what you read before you launch.

                Of course there are positive aspects of underground drug social practices, and of course there many well known negative aspects of open and accepted alcohol social practices.

                • Bill …
                  20 April 2014 at 9:40 am

                  Pete. You wrote about (quote) “underground social practices”. That suggests illegality, unlawfulness, maybe even unacceptable deviance, and as such screams bigotry on your part.

                  You didn’t write about (quote) “underground drug social practices”. That, of course, is something completely different and casts the so-called “underground drugs” rather than the “social practices” in the realms of illegality, unlawfulness etc.

                • freedom …
                  20 April 2014 at 10:07 am

                  “of course there many well known negative aspects of open and accepted alcohol social practices.”

                  Which is why you refuse to ever engage honestly about them because you know they expose the hypocrisy of every bullshit argument ever used against cannabis.

                  Did I mention Yaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwn?
                  and how is that weekly budget for poor people coming along Pete?

            • marty mars 1.1.1.1.1.4
              20 April 2014 at 10:22 am

              “but I recognise major social issues and growing discussion and demands about the use of synthetics and natural cannabis.”

              pete you are just doing again what you have tried to do previously – that is, take an issue and try to use it to increase your personal profile. Is this part of your factchecker role or smply a personal brainfart. To be honest pete you are a lot dimmer than you think you are and your transparent nonsense is, well, transparent and nonsense imo.

              • Pete George …
                20 April 2014 at 10:33 am

                Then you will be surprised who else has committed to doing something about this. There’s a growing network of concern and a recognition this needs to be addressed far more proactively.

                It’s a bit sad to see here amongst a number is the only forum obsessed with diverting with petty personal pissiness.

                • freedom …
                  20 April 2014 at 10:49 am

                  “It’s a bit sad to see here amongst a number is the only forum obsessed with diverting with petty personal pissiness.”

                  wtf is that even trying to say?

                  We know Easter is a 4/20 this year but maybe you should have had a smaller cone?

                • marty mars …
                  20 April 2014 at 10:49 am

                  So I am correct. They need a leader, a visionary, someone who sees the bigger picture, who isn’t influenced by petty politics but wants that arena to be better, kinder, less extreme – and there is a person within the political sphere who fits the bill, who stands like a colossus with legs astride the political landscape, impervious to the arrows of the unimaginative. Your time has come pete – will you stand tall and accept your destiny. This could be your catapult to the national stage.

                • cricklewood …
                  20 April 2014 at 11:07 am

                  Had you considered Pete, that the pissiness is due entirely to your habit of getting up early and spraying an ever so earnest cut n paste over the various blogs as early as possible.
                  If people really wanted to ‘discuss’ these issues with you they would head over to your place.
                  The passive aggressive behavior you display on here is hardly raising the political discourse and generally sucks a thread into a petty nah nah nah followed by a look at what they said at the standard post on kiwiblog.
                  If your true aim is to improve the standard of political discourse perhaps you should consider your posting habits and the effects they have on it….

                • Tracey …
                  20 April 2014 at 12:47 pm

                  do you think alcohol should be made illegal?

            • felix 1.1.1.1.1.5
              20 April 2014 at 11:50 am

              What the fuck is an “underground social practice”, Pete?

            • weka 1.1.1.1.1.6
              20 April 2014 at 12:29 pm

              “Cannabis is substantially supplied via major criminal interests. Alcohol is supplied via long established commercial interests.

              Self supply of cannabis is illegal, self supply of alcohol is legal.

              Cannabis is associated with underground social practices, alcohol is a major part of open and accepted social practices.”

              Pete, you often say that people don’t know you so are wrong to judge, but what you just wrote is breaktaking in its bias and ignorance. Nothing shameful about that ignorance apart from the fact that you seem unwilling to do anything about it.

              You’ve basically just laid out how incredibly disconnected you are from whole swathes of NZ society that use currently illegal drugs.

            • amirite 1.1.1.1.1.7
              20 April 2014 at 12:38 pm

              Pete, are you aware that a huge chunk of cannabis users in NZ comprises of middle class young professional people?

              • phillip ure …
                20 April 2014 at 12:44 pm

                @ amrite..

                ..no they aren’t…they could be extras in trainspotting..

                ..pete has nightmares of hordes of them shuffling towards him..

                ..bongs outstretched…

              • Pete George …
                20 April 2014 at 12:59 pm

                I’m aware of a wide range of people using cannabis. They all either produce it illegally or source it illegally, which means they get it off criminals.

                It’s a lot more complicated than just changing the law (that in itself is complicated enough). If it is de-criminalised or legalised there’s a lot to be worked out about what type of production, distribution and use is allowed.

                It’s not as simple as just passing a bill through Parliament.

        • freedom 1.1.1.2
          20 April 2014 at 9:08 am

          YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWN

          come back with some honest material

          Every syllable you wrote oozes deliberate hypocrisy, or is it just wilful ignorance.

          so i will repeat myself,

          YAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWN

        • David H 1.1.1.3
          20 April 2014 at 9:27 am

          Oh Horseshit you don’t want to talk about Alcohol, because your BOSS says not to. So just stand there in the corner like a good little boy, hold the Comb, and Shut UP.

          • Pete George 1.1.1.3.1
            20 April 2014 at 9:33 am

            Totally false claims, totally unsupportable, but you will probably be allowed to get away making false accusations here.

            Dear Right Wingers. Before you tell the Labour Party what it is doing wrong can you firstly get your facts straight.

            Apparently a double standard applies.

            • bad12 1.1.1.3.1.1
              20 April 2014 at 9:36 am

              🙄 , 🙄 , 🙄 ….

              • Rosie …
                20 April 2014 at 3:23 pm

                Glad to see you’re getting good use out of your new skill there bad12…………my thoughts exactly, the moment I saw this thread kick off.

                7.05am on Easter Sunday, Pete, really?

                Really?

                🙄

            • rhinocrates 1.1.1.3.1.2
              20 April 2014 at 12:55 pm

              Martyrdom was a sign of holiness, indicating overwhelming faith and sacrifice.

              Self-martydom is masturbation for the impotent.

    • phillip ure 1.2
      20 April 2014 at 8:23 am

      what are peoples’ thoughts here about what part (former dunne-party candidate for dunedin nth) petey george plays in anything..?

      ..does he just leave a big ‘why?..lord..!..why..?’..in most minds..?

      ..or is it only me..?

      • Paul 1.2.1
        20 April 2014 at 8:24 am

        Why do you reply to him?

        • phillip ure 1.2.1.1
          20 April 2014 at 8:58 am

          ‘cos if you don’t..he is like a tap..left running..

          ..and i find that laughing at him/his wall-to-wall bullshit..(and hopefully causing/helping others to laugh at him..the former dunne-party-candidate for dunedin nth..see what i mean..?..there’s a giggle or two right there)

          ..works best..

          ..that’s why..

          ..and re the former-candidate in his disciple-stage..

          ..it really was a case of ‘catch a falling star’..for him..

          ..eh..?

          ..(see what i mean..!..the comedic raw-material is there in spades..)

          ..and i haven’t even got to the with bearded-face full-body massages he gives to that edwards-the-younger..

          ..as payment for his weekly mentions in his/edwards’ once-over-lightly roundups in that rightwing-rag..

          ..the man is comedy-gold..!..)

          • phillip ure 1.2.1.1.1
            20 April 2014 at 9:08 am

            and by doing that..you can turn him from a rightwing-tr*ll doing his dissembling-work..

            ..into a foil..

            ..to be used to highlight just what utter rightwing bullshit it is he peddles..

            pete george:..i pretend to fret..therefor i am..

          • freedom 1.2.1.1.2
            20 April 2014 at 9:12 am

            Paul: “Why do you reply to him?”
            Phillip Ure: “‘cos if you don’t..he is like a tap..left running..”

            a perfect metaphor 🙂

            • Paul 1.2.1.1.2.1
              20 April 2014 at 9:23 am

              16 comments (out of 41 in total to date) on Open Mike devoted to responding to a dull diversionary question from PG.

              • bad12 …
                20 April 2014 at 9:32 am

                Exactly Paul, PG likes to lead people round by the nose, that’s where He gets His thrills, only deserving of this, 🙄 ,this 🙄 ,and this 🙄 …

                • freedom …
                  20 April 2014 at 9:44 am

                  Every now and then it is handy to use his blatherings to get readers to face the questions raised by his obvious hypocrisy. And let’s face it, when it comes to Pete crusading on this particular issue, at least the hypocrisy will be consistent 🙂

        • Once was Tim 1.2.1.2
          20 April 2014 at 9:59 am

          because its sometimes like investigating the characteristics of a fossil?
          there’s a chance – a hope even that sometimes something worthwhile might emerge – though usually NOT
          in PG’s case, it’s the most charitable explanation

    • Stephanie Rodgers 1.3
      20 April 2014 at 10:13 am

      These questions are very oddly framed. The issue of risk isn’t a matter of opinion – it’s something which, although complex, can be quantified and measured. Making policy on the basis of ‘I reckon …’ may be flattering to our egos but probably doesn’t result in good policy.

      • weka 1.3.1
        20 April 2014 at 11:33 am

        “The issue of risk isn’t a matter of opinion – it’s something which, although complex, can be quantified and measured.”

        How so?

        • Stephanie Rodgers 1.3.1.1
          20 April 2014 at 3:18 pm

          How many users of X experience significant side effects compared to users of Y? How much does mitigating factor B reduce side effect C?

          The complexity comes from issues like legality, accessibility, ruling out other factors (such as the crossover between drug use and mental illness), but my point is it’s not a pure matter of opinion as Pete George has framed it.

      • RedLogix 1.3.2
        20 April 2014 at 11:58 am

        The other point worth making is that comparing one type of risk/harm against another is usually not valid.

        Personally I believe both cannabis and alcohol have harms associated with them. There is no doubt the risk associated with alcohol is very spectacular and pervasive in our society; but there is good evidence to suggest that there are a less obvious set of risks associated with cannabis of a very different nature.

        For that reason I’m not all that keen on consuming much of either of them. I limit my alcohol to about one or two glasses of red a month, and I’ve not bothered with cannabis since I was a teenager. After a short while I found it boring and I rapidly became suspicious of it’s persistent after-effects.

    • millsy 1.4
      20 April 2014 at 11:31 am

      I am more or less anti-drugs, and I wouldnt encourage people to use pot, or any other substance.

      That said I dont judge those who use it, and I dont think people should be dragged through the courts for having a joint in their bag or having a cone with their mates on a Saturday night. I think allowing people to grow the stuff for personal use and allowing tobacconists to sell seed and equipment would be a suitable course.

      • weka 1.4.1
        20 April 2014 at 11:37 am

        Do you realise that alcohol, coffee, and sugar are all drugs?

        • RedLogix 1.4.1.1
          20 April 2014 at 12:09 pm

          Yes but they are not all the same drug.

          Personally I enjoy a little alcohol, but I never get drunk. (I’ve only had one hangover in my whole life and that was a very long time ago. I do feel considerable sympathy for those people who are wired to become addicted to the stuff. It must be an awful life.)

          Caffeine in modest amounts seems to be fairly neutral, but again I find it best to limit it to once a day at most. Sometimes I go off it for months at a time.

          Sugar is dreadful stuff metabolically. I do my best to avoid added sugar completely.

          My point is – while it’s fair to label all three as ‘drugs’; it’s not fair to them treat them all the same. Different risks, different responses.

          • weka 1.4.1.1.1
            20 April 2014 at 12:20 pm

            Of course, but you can apply that to cannabis and most other drugs too 🙂

            • RedLogix 1.4.1.1.1.1
              20 April 2014 at 12:38 pm

              Like a lot of people I’m not all that keen on using drugs of any kind, and I accept there is not a neat one-size-fits-all definition of them, nor a nice clean set of risks and harms associated with them.

              Equally I’m not all that enamoured with the legal shambles around them. Prohibition/criminalisation is a crude, counter-productive tool to use in response to the very wide diversity of ‘drugs’ we use in our society.

              As a result I’m caught between a reluctance to see the doors opened to an uncontrolled smorgasbord of ‘drugs’ available anytime, anywhere – and the frank acknowledgement that prohibition just makes matters worse.

              Yet I’ve managed to blithely wander through most of my life quite detached from drugs. This doesn’t make me a better person or special in any fashion – but it does prompt me to ask why it is that some people are so very prone to harm from drug use and others appear to be quite removed from them altogether. I want find out more about the root cause of this difference – and if we understood it better would it help us to move on from this ‘decriminalisation’ dilemma?

              • lprent …
                20 April 2014 at 12:49 pm

                Apart from my ex-addition to tobacco and my occasional taste for alcohol, the most addictive drugs I have ever used are the 4 that I now take daily to make sure that I stay healthy and alive. For some reason I’m addicted to living (to code)

                But I had a few acquaintances who died from heroin in the 70s – mostly from bad drugs or determined suicide attempts as far as I could tell. There have been a whole lot of friends, family and acquaintances I have seen who used illegal recreational drugs. Over the decades I can’t see much difference in outcomes from the ones who used legal drugs.

                Incidentally when I was in my late teens I did try a few drugs. However I was already addicted to writing code so they never had a chance after they interfered with that.

                • RedLogix …
                  20 April 2014 at 12:57 pm

                  Heh – the big reason why I drink so little is that any code written the following day – needs a complete re-write the next day after!

                  But I had a few acquaintances who died from heroin in the 70s – mostly from bad drugs or determined suicide attempts as far as I could tell.

                  And yes. I don’t dwell on those memories, but they are haunting nonetheless.

              • weka …
                20 April 2014 at 12:55 pm

                People take drugs for all sorts of reasons, so if we want to look at why some people experience harm from use we need to look past the drug and instead look at the context. Risk from a substance is highly individual, so to my mind it’s a nonsense to look at the risk of say cannabis outside the context of the person using it. Where that gets a bit tricky is the public health aspect, and wether there are untoward effects on society as a whole. But even there, there is no getting around the fact that alcohol is legal for no good reason in terms of risk assessment.

                Some of the contexts connected with risk are poverty, violence, colonisation, oppression, historical child abuse, genetics, family dynamics, biology, mental health, peer pressure, socialisation, self-esteem, the need for self-medication…

                The other thing that’s important to know is that taking drugs is fun! It’s fine that you don’t do this 🙂 but there is nothing wrong per se with getting out of it. And people with the above contexts also take drugs for fun.

                For me this isn’t that hard. Legalise cannabis. We don’t have to even look at legalising other drugs in order to do that. Put in place some good educational resources on use and harm minimisation, some rules around thigns like age or driving etc, and then let people make their own decisions just like we let them make those decisions about everything else. The idea that cannabis is a risk to indviduals or society is a red herring. Yes there is risk, but not in a way that legitimises making criminals out of cannabis users.

                • Pete George …
                  20 April 2014 at 1:11 pm

                  For me this isn’t that hard. Legalise cannabis.

                  Except that so far that’s proven to be not possible. We don’t seem to have come close. So it is hard. And future prospects look hard.

                  Putting politics and arrogance aside can be hard.

                  What’s needed is a concerted campaign to move things in that direction. Otherwise the next person to come along suggesting something be done will probably be ridiculed and nothing will change. That’s what’s not hard, petty bitching and same old.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    20 April 2014 at 1:43 pm

                    It’s only hard because of idiots like you who refuse to see the sense of simply legalising marijuana.

                  • freedom …
                    20 April 2014 at 1:47 pm

                    “Except that so far that’s proven to be not possible.”

                    complete horse shit
                    (we see above you have already called out for the waaambulance )

                    Governments choosing not to even try to do something, is not the same thing as something being possible or not.

                    You could not have supplied a better example of the very central flaw in most of your comments that so many have tried to point out to you so often.

                    Read this slowly…. Just because you say something, does not mean it is true.

                    Now, the obsequious little nugget of nothingness that started your final paragraph…
                    “What’s needed is a concerted campaign to move things in that direction. ”

                    When did you last pick up the phone to the ALCP and say, ‘hi guys, Pete George here, what can I do to help bring balance and objectivity to the discussion of cannabis reform in New Zealand?

                    wow cannabis reform… maybe that is a politically and economically important topic that a fact checking site would be interested in covering ……… cue tumbleweeds

                    • Pete George …
                      20 April 2014 at 1:56 pm

                      When did you last pick up the phone to the ALCP and say, ‘hi guys, Pete George here, what can I do to help bring balance and objectivity to the discussion of cannabis reform in New Zealand?

                      Last Thursday, after they called me, after I emailed them.

                    • freedom …
                      20 April 2014 at 6:41 pm

                      Great to hear that Pete, and what did you ask them?
                      Wearing which hat by the way?
                      What was their response?

                      or is it all secret and stuff?

                      Was your bizarre Easter Sunday questions research for a Politicheck article?
                      If so why did you not say so?

                      Should we just assume everything you now post is for Politicheck research?

                  • rhinocrates …
                    20 April 2014 at 1:51 pm

                    Putting politics and arrogance aside can be hard.

                    Indeed.

                    bitching and same old.

                    You da man!
                    Dat’s the bomb!
                    Groovy, man.
                    Like totally cool, dude.
                    Gag me with a spoon!
                    You’re a real hep cat!

                • RedLogix …
                  20 April 2014 at 1:11 pm

                  Yes I’m ok with legalising cannabis for the time being. It seems the most pragmatic thing to do at the moment.

                  Some of the contexts connected with risk are poverty, violence, colonisation, oppression, historical child abuse, genetics, family dynamics, biology, mental health, peer pressure, socialisation, self-esteem, the need for self-medication…

                  Absolutely. Yet the tragedy is that in self-medicating the end result is often a compounding and entrenchment of all these issues.

                  I’m with Lynn on this. I too get my fun from solving coding puzzles. Yesterday I worked around 14 hrs on a project, and along the way I finally managed to build and debug a Scalar Kalman filter algorithm that I’ve been thinking about for years. (All actual experts in digital signal processing feel free to LOL now.) And I got a real kick from it – that opportunity to creatively express myself is central to my reason for living.

                  The opportunity to be creative, to excel at some skill or artform, or to work in a group towards a meaningful goal seem to be the three expansive motivations for humans.

                  • Murray Olsen …
                    20 April 2014 at 4:48 pm

                    I’m not going to LOL, because I don’t know exactly what you did. However, I am curious as to how you managed to spend years thinking about what I would have considered a fairly simple problem. What made it so time consuming?

                    • RedLogix …
                      20 April 2014 at 5:03 pm

                      Well three things; one is that I only looked at it briefly on a handful of occasions over the years – so the total time spent wasn’t all that long. I found the story behind how Rudolf Kalman solved the Apollo lunar landing module radar guidance problem inspiring – and I guess I was always curious to get my head around at least the basics of what he achieved.

                      Secondly most of the references on the web are for the general MIMO case with lots of very abstract matrix maths I’m not at all good at. As a result for a long time I had in my mind a wrong idea about how a Kalman filter actually worked. I had completely misunderstood what the a priori was meant to be in practical terms.

                      Thirdly until recently I didn’t really have a pressing need to make one work, but when faced with the desirability of using one in my current project, I spent a day banging away at the much simpler SISO case and finally the penny dropped.

                      Like a lot of people I can handle maths as long as I can map it onto something concrete in my mind – it’s the pure abstractions that baffle me unfortunately.

                    • RedLogix …
                      20 April 2014 at 5:30 pm

                      I have to add that after spending years looking at time series trend plots with conventional filters that always add a phase delay – the first time I saw the Kalman filter respond to a step input with zero delay was rather spooky.

                      I knew in my head that was how it was supposed to work, but actually seeing it was still a surprise.

                      I know this had drifted OT but it speaks to what Lynn was saying earlier above.

                  • Murray Olsen …
                    21 April 2014 at 9:50 pm

                    I didn’t think you could drift off topic in open mike 🙂
                    Thanks for your answer. I have problems with abstract maths as well, which is a bit of a drawback in my job as a theoretical quantum physicist, but can also be an advantage. I tend to look more at what can be achieved with real systems than developing abstract theorems.

    • weka 1.5
      20 April 2014 at 12:17 pm

      “What are people’s thoughts here about what part cannabis plays in the synthetic drug issue?”

      As a friend pointed out recently, the only reason that legal highs are legal and cannabis isn’t is because the law hasn’t found a way to make legal highs illegal (I think there is probably a commerical incentive in there too to not ban them outright). It’s simply an anomaly that alcohol is legal and cannabis isn’t. So let’s stop pretending that this is an issue of risk and safety. It’s not. It’s about the need of some people to control morality and the need of other people to control money.

      The blindingly obvious solution to the very real problems of legal highs is to legalise cannabis. There are risks to many things that humans do. The line that cannabis has risks is a redherring. We already have models for managing risk including harm minimisation, so risk sin’t a good reason to keep cannabis illegal.

      Pete, you are several decades behind the game here. All the questions you are asking have been answered many many times.

      • Pete George 1.5.1
        20 April 2014 at 12:33 pm

        Pete, you are several decades behind the game here. All the questions you are asking have been answered many many times.

        Blindingly obvious solution or not today, still, nothing has happened about it. Can’t have been obvious enough or made obvious to the right people.

        So should we do nothing now and change nothing?

        • weka 1.5.1.1
          20 April 2014 at 1:04 pm

          Don’t know what you mean by ‘we’ in that sentence. People have been working in this issue already, and progress has been made. That doesn’t include you as far as I can tell.

          As for the ‘right’ people, you still fail to understand what the issue is here. The ‘right’ people are the people with the power, and those people aren’t traditional cannabis users (they drink alcohol). The reasons they don’t work outside their experience are varied (commerce, control, ignorance). Until the GP came along, there was no-one putting the decriminalisation issue on mainstream agenda. It’s people like you who wring your hands that are keeping the issue unresolved. Your astounding ignorance isn’t the problem, it’s your inability to recognise you are ignorant and do something about it. But beyond that, I am pretty sure when it comes down to it, you want the power to remain in the hands of the few, and that you don’t trust people in general to make their own decisions about drug use. For you, the decisions should be made by people who are of your class and ilk, otherwise you would already be talking to expert drug users and learning from them.

          Plus what Tracey said above about making alcohol illegal.

          • Pete George 1.5.1.1.1
            20 April 2014 at 1:28 pm

            But beyond that, I am pretty sure when it comes down to it, you want the power to remain in the hands of the few, and that you don’t trust people in general to make their own decisions about drug use.

            You’re a long way off the mark with that assumption.

            For you, the decisions should be made by people who are of your class and ilk,

            And that one. You seem to have pigeon hole pique.

            otherwise you would already be talking to expert drug users and learning from them.

            I’ve been doing that. And I’ve been working now with three parties with various interests in this.

            • phillip ure 1.5.1.1.1.1
              22 April 2014 at 11:32 am

              “..And I’ve been working now with three parties with various interests in this…”

              wow..!..(all pomposities/self-regard/importance to one side..)

              ..so yr now a multi-party go-to person on drug policy too..eh..?

              ..is there no end to yr (nelson mandela-like) skills..?

              ..and where do you find the time..?..

              ..’wot with all yr politicheking…eh..?..

              (we are all holding our breath for yr first big scoop/expose..eh..?..

              ..(and don’t disappoint me now..!..i’ve got money on it being a left-attacking little number..

              ..my money’s safe..eh..?..)

              ..i mean those taxpayer union trouts had that provincial flight done by that green mp..eh..?

              ..them breaking that important story must have had you green with envy..eh..?..

              ..you must dream of getting anything like that good at this rightwing-pressure-group thing..eh..?..)

    • freedom 1.6
      20 April 2014 at 12:35 pm

      In the name of fairness -Pete did ask some questions and if we want him to honestly answer ours …. (like a 40 year old virgin, we must believe there will be a first time)

      Is cannabis as risky, riskier or is it safer?
      It is less risky, in the same way that driving with a seat belt is generally regarded as being safer than driving without one.

      If cannabis was available the same as synthetics would the problem be better, worse or similar?
      There would not be a problem. Period! The entire market would disappear, largely overnight. The residual problems would be the ongoing addictions relating to those who have already been poisoned by the toxic products created and sold under the blinkered myopia of the current hypocrisy. (have to assume you are referring to ‘synthetic cannabis’ even though no such thing exists. It needs to be said that there are also many other ‘synthetic’ products that this new testing might help make safer for all and less stigmatic. Many of the products that this law wants to ban are actually safer, more natural and less risky than some foods sold in supermarkets. Certainly safer than alcohol)

      If no synthetics pass the safety test of the new Act and nothing else changes will the problems get better or worse?
      The distribution of even more dangerous compounds will make the problem a lot worse. You only have to look at the poison people drink during periods of alcohol prohibition/scarcity.

      Should the laws related to cannabis use be reviewed?
      well d’uh

      Should the laws related to cannabis cultivation be reviewed?
      well d’uh

      Should the laws related to cannabis supply be reviewed?
      well d’uh

      Should all psychoactive substances be banned (including cannabis)?
      You do know, that to be anything but a pandering to predetermination, testing must include alcohol right? We all know alcohol has an exemption so the entire testing to make us safer argument holds about as much water as a fishing net. Some schools of thought would even say sugar falls into the category of a psychoactive substance. So yes, let’s review the whole bag of tricks Pete. You may not like the results though. You would have to watch your smug fall away revealing decades of illusion and propaganda.

      • weka 1.6.1
        20 April 2014 at 12:40 pm

        I think Pete is one of those people who thinks that drugs are the bad chemicals, as if there is some inherent moral underpinning to chemistry.

    • felix 1.7
      20 April 2014 at 1:33 pm

      Taking Pete’s questions at face value, my genuine response is that they are all mostly irrelevant.

      What’s relevant is creating a society where where young people have faith that their lives are meaningful and worth living, and where adults find enough stimulation and satisfaction in their activities that they don’t feel like wiping themselves out at the end of every week.

      The legality or otherwise of different substances then becomes a non-issue.

      • Pete George 1.7.1
        20 April 2014 at 1:53 pm

        I think that’s idealistic and unrealistic.

        There’s no sign of anything anywhere close to this being achieved and it’s very unlikely to be achieved.

        Humans have liked using drugs for thousands of years. It’s been suggested that agriculture became established through the desire to produce beer. Whether that’s accurate or not alcohol and other drugs go back a long way.

        Many people want to experience drug effects and that’s not likely to change.

        • felix 1.7.1.1
          20 April 2014 at 2:12 pm

          Yes Pete but I’m not really concerned with people using drugs per se because the drugs are not really the problem.

          Harmful behaviour is the problem (well actually a symptom of a problem).

          Why are people engaging in such soul-destroying, abusive, hurtful behaviour with such monotonous regularity?

          Why does our society and culture seem to encourage and even reward some of this behaviour?

          Weekly wreckings are an accepted and glorified norm. Why? Who gains?

          Why do we think there is anything natural about a lifestyle with these destructive, regressive activities so ingrained within it?

          • RedLogix 1.7.1.1.1
            20 April 2014 at 6:19 pm

            Oh yes felix. I shouldn’t say this out loud – but reading these few sentences above brought tears.

            There’s a large pragmatic part of me that just wants to try and muddle on with the ‘realities’ of modern life. Pay the mortgage, hold down that job, dress right and behave right and maybe I’ll get to a decent retirement.

            And the idealist in me weeps.

        • felix 1.7.1.2
          20 April 2014 at 2:22 pm

          Also Pete, I can’t let this slip by: “a society where young people have faith that their lives are meaningful and worth living, and where adults find enough stimulation and satisfaction in their activities that they don’t feel like wiping themselves out at the end of every week.”

          If you really, genuinely believe that’s an “unrealistic” goal, then what’s the point of all your efforts?

          Seriously. What’s the point? What do you want to see in the world if not that?

          • karol 1.7.1.2.1
            20 April 2014 at 6:13 pm

            I’m still waiting to see the answer to that question by felix. That’s the guts of it. It’s not just a question of getting facts correct and then miraculously arriving at a (non-political?) solution. We all have underlying values that guide the facts and issues we focus on, and the analysis of such. And it is the difference in underlying values that generally differentiates various poltiical positions: left or right; liberal or conservative….etc.

            That’s why it’s important to make our basic values and perspectives explicit.

          • Pete George 1.7.1.2.2
            22 April 2014 at 10:57 am

            You let slip a part of that quote. Here it is with an important final paragraph.

            What’s relevant is creating a society where where young people have faith that their lives are meaningful and worth living, and where adults find enough stimulation and satisfaction in their activities that they don’t feel like wiping themselves out at the end of every week.

            The legality or otherwise of different substances then becomes a non-issue.

            I responded “I think that’s idealistic and unrealistic”. That was in reference to the whole statement.

            I think “creating a society where where young people have faith that their lives are meaningful and worth living” is a great ideal and worth working towards.

            I think “where adults find enough stimulation and satisfaction in their activities that they don’t feel like wiping themselves out at the end of every week” is a fine aim but idealistic and I doubt we can ever get close to to that. For example being a parent wipes you out daily, it’s the nature of the job. It’s not uncommon for parents to want a drink or a smoke at the end of another busy day.

            “The legality or otherwise of different substances then becomes a non-issue.” I took that as meaning that people wouldn’t use drugs any more. That’s naive and unrealistic. Many poor people don’t have the time or money to do drugs much if at all, and most have more sense than to waste their money and minds.

            Drug use and abuse happens across the income spectrum. A wealthy person can be stressed about their money like a poor person stressed about their lack of money.

            And no matter how ideal we can make our society I think there will always be a significant number of people who keep using drugs, so the legalities will remain issues. It’s idealistic to think that it could become a non-issue.

            • felix 1.7.1.2.2.1
              22 April 2014 at 11:17 am

              If you’re going to say nothing at all Pete, could you use fewer words? You’re just wasting everyone’s time and it’s becoming clear why.

    • Not a PS Staffer 1.8
      20 April 2014 at 2:17 pm

      To smoke or not to smoke is not the question.

      Dunne has deeply damaged the credibility of the office of a minister.

      All around the country kids are hearing that the Toxic Shot is legal and that it will not be banned by the minister, whose son is making a living out of selling the Toxic shit.

      No wonder so many do not vote when they see such self serving bullshit.

      Dear Standardistas. Do not engage with Peter George on the decriminalization of Cannabis. etc. It is a smoke screen for his hero Peter Dunne and his drug industry son, James.
      The issue is the moral void that is the Dunnes, Pere et Fils

  2. Paul 2
    20 April 2014 at 7:14 am

    Top story in the Herald
    ‘Bubble about to burst’

    If the Herald reports it, the right wing must be worried….

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/personal-finance/news/article.cfm?c_id=12&objectid=11241125

    The actual report.
    12 reasons why we aren’t a rock star economy!

    1) Interest rates have been at all-time lows for almost a half-decade
    2) Property prices have doubled since 2004
    3) New Zealand has the world’s third most overvalued property market
    4) New Zealand’s mortgage bubble grew by 165% since 2002
    5) Nearly half of mortgages have floating interest rates
    6) Mortgages account for 60% of banks’ loan portfolios
    7) Finance, not agriculture, is New Zealand’s largest industry
    8) New Zealand’s banks are exposed to Australia’s bubble
    9) Australian and Chinese buyers are inflating the property bubble
    10) New Zealand has a household debt problem
    11) Government overseas debt has nearly tripled since 2008
    12) The New Zealand dollar is overvalued

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/jessecolombo/2014/04/17/12-reasons-why-new-zealands-economic-bubble-will-end-in-disaster/
    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/04/19/12-things-forbes-has-to-say-about-nzs-about-to-burst-economic-bubble/

    Now if the opposition cannot get some traction on Numbers 3, 9 and 11, then they may as well give up!
    This is dynamite.

    • karol 2.1
      20 April 2014 at 7:24 am

      Well, Steven Joyce has the perfect response – well that’s if you’re a right winger keen to keep on fiddling until the bubble bursts. He says it’s being “alarmist” and that Colombo is a “bubble-ologist”.

      • Pete George 2.1.1
        20 April 2014 at 7:33 am

        That’s very a very selective representation of that article. It wasn’t just Joyce questioning the claims.

        Infometrics managing director Gareth Kiernan…

        …said Colombo had picked out all the high-risk metrics he could find to build an “end of the world scenario”.

        If his predictions ever came to pass then the economy would be in trouble, but no one was really forecasting that to happen, he said.

        Interest.co.nz contributing editor Bernard Hickey…

        …said many of the risks identified by Colombo were real but they were old news to those who ran the economy.

        “For him to come out and say we’ve got a bubble, therefore it’s going to burst, which will lead to a crisis is a little bit simplistic,” he said.

        Kiwis had already seen the Reserve Bank step in to curb the risk of rising house prices by introducing a new loan-to-value ratio, he said.

        “Should we all be running for the hills with our hands in the air screaming the end is nigh? Probably not.”

        Hickey added that it appeared Colombo’s article had not been published in Forbes magazine proper, which was important when judging its credibility. Instead it was published on the Forbes website with a disclaimer saying Colombo’s opinions were his own.

        I’m not sure if Hickey would be generally regarded as a keen right winger.

        • Awww 2.1.1.1
          20 April 2014 at 7:39 am

          No control over foreign buyers has influenced:

          Increasing residential house prices
          Over leveraged residential property
          NZ government paying massive supplements to overseas investors via the Accommodation Supplement each year.

          http://www.greenenergyinvestors.com/index.php?showtopic=10738&hl=%2Bzealand+%2Bresidential+%2Bproperty

        • phillip ure 2.1.1.2
          20 April 2014 at 7:44 am

          nothing to see there..eh pg..?

          ..now..where can we put more dairy farms..?

          ..she’ll be right..!

          what’s that..?..national have tripled our foreign debt since they came to power..?

          ..no worries..!

          ..eh pete..?

          ..but didn’t they say they had sell off all the assets…

          ..so they didn’t have ‘to run to the foreign bankers..like labour wants to do..’..?

          ..wasn’t that the story/spin..?

          ..so..perhaps you cd apply yr politichek-editor skills to explain that one..?

          ..’cos they not only flogged off the assets..

          ..they have tripled our foreign debt..(!)

          ..w.t.f..!..eh pg..?..

          ..who is telling all the lies there..eh..?

          ..but..really..nothing to see there..eh..?..

          ..you good little rightwing tr*ll you..eh..?..

        • karol 2.1.1.3
          20 April 2014 at 7:51 am

          Yes, you’re right. I was selective. I was just laughing so hard at Joyce’s clumsy neologism.

          I think Hickey is a right winger, but one who has become increasingly skeptical about the neoliberal version of capitalism.

          I don’t think there’ll be a sudden catastrophic crisis. But, there will be a down turn as the bubble starts to deflate. And the article does have that quote about the bubble being widely acknowledged.

          • phillip ure 2.1.1.3.1
            20 April 2014 at 8:01 am

            @ karol..

            ..i don’t share yr optimism..

            ..we are bubbling like crazy..

            ..we are exposed to the australian bubbles..

            ..we are exposed to the chinese bubbles…

            ..and when any one of those pops..

            ..we go with it..

            ..so it isn’t really a matter of ‘if’…but ‘when?’.

            ..yeah..!..this govt knows what it is doing…

            ..more dairying..!

            ..sell more land..!

            ..dig more coal..!

            ..drill..!..baby..!..drill..!..

            ..more low-wage economy..!

            ..fuck the poor..!

            ..and how about some more tax cuts for the richest..?..eh..?

            ..it’s been a while..

            ..and we spent all the last ones..

            ..buying our share of those power-companies..

            ..eh..?

          • Paul 2.1.1.3.2
            20 April 2014 at 8:32 am

            This graph shows an interesting parallel. are we on the brink of a massive world economic crash?
            http://www.marketwatch.com/story/scary-1929-market-chart-gains-traction-2014-02-11

            • BM 2.1.1.3.2.1
              20 April 2014 at 8:42 am

              No. What a ridiculous comparison.

            • vto 2.1.1.3.2.2
              20 April 2014 at 8:47 am

              Yes we are Paul, it should have happened post-GFC. Governments got taxpayers to bail the corporates out, but it wont last. The world’s banking system is a Ponzi scheme nearing its end.

        • Bill 2.1.1.4
          20 April 2014 at 9:09 am

          “That’s very a very selective representation of that article.”

          No it fucking well wasn’t Pete. It was a fair representation of quotes from Joyce including a link to the source. Like I said above, think about what you type and then take your nonsense away from here.

          • Pete George 2.1.1.4.1
            20 April 2014 at 9:22 am

            Why so tetchy Bill? Has Easter Bunny not delivered for you yet?

            karol has accepted “Yes, you’re right. I was selective. I was just laughing so hard at Joyce’s clumsy neologism.”

            If I quoted such a small part of an article I suspect you would be lining up to grump at me for that.

            • karol 2.1.1.4.1.1
              20 April 2014 at 9:48 am

              Actually, I agree with Bill as well. My comment wasn’t intended to represent the whole article. It was a brief comment focused on Joyce’s clumsy neologism – which I found very funny while I was eating breakfast. The arguments for and against the Colombo argument are being looked at in more detail re-micky’s post.

              • freedom …
                20 April 2014 at 10:16 am

                that’s why Pete basically copy pastes whole paragraphs/articles, so he has lots of wriggle room when people try to pin down whatever it is he is referring to or is commenting on. He could save himself a lot of hassle (and free up his fact-checking time) if he just posted links to the NZH front page and simply said …

                ‘In the future, we need to discuss what would lead to a real dialogue, allowing us to frame the conversation we desperately need to have”

                … would anyone notice the difference ?

            • Bill 2.1.1.4.1.2
              20 April 2014 at 10:31 am

              “Why so tetchy Bill?”

              It’s like this Pete. I’ve no problem with people saying stupid things or jumping on their own wee hobby horses from time to time.

              But for the past wee while most of your comments have been a mix of stuff that’s annoyingly off beam and/or concern troll nonsense. And I don’t like it. ‘N fact, I’m getting really fucked off by it.

              Also, just so you know, I don’t like that even your very occasional sensible comment gets mobbed and even those threads trashed as a result. But then people, I think, are simply and understandably reacting to your comments on the basis of expectation rather than actual content on those occasions.

              Now, go away and think about what I’ve said in light of the fact that I disagree with many of the comments and opinions here. I’m telling (not asking) you do that so that you don’t start whining in some narcissistic or self important way about how your picked on by some kind of evil Labour Party/leftsist hive mind that you sometimes appear to imagine ‘the standard’ as.

              • Pete George …
                20 April 2014 at 10:44 am

                Now, go away and think about what I’ve said in light of the fact that I disagree with many of the comments and opinions here. I’m telling (not asking) you do that…

                Is it just you doing the whining? Or is it a round about moderator instruction to me to go away and not to comment here?

                • Bill …
                  20 April 2014 at 11:10 am

                  Sheesh, that comment from the guy who accused Karol of misrepresentation up the thread!

                  I’m giving you information based on observation, providing my own opinion and suggesting a course of action. (The telling is to do with a lens you keep at hand for the sake of any reflection)

                  If you can’t see what I’ve been observing, then you haven’t been paying attention to the responses you generate. I mean, it’s all rather fucking blatantly obvious, though…from your latest response it would seem reasonable to assume that you simply can’t understand what people say, or see where they’re coming from, even when it’s fairly straight forward. I don’t expect you to have any insight as to why that might be. I have my own thoughts on the matter. I’ll be keeping them to myself.

                  • Pete George …
                    20 April 2014 at 12:25 pm

                    Funny thing Bill is it seems to be something peculiar to here, and it doesn’t just happen with me.

                    KIA’s essay is a good example. Most of the initial response was attacking KIA for irrelevant things from the past and attacking me for quoting and linking etc, and denying and diverting.

                    But sometimes worthwhile discussions eventuate. When micky and KIA started actually addressing and debating things it has resulted in some interesting stuff. Neither is right or wrong (generally), they both make some good points from different views.

                    Robust discussion or bitching sessions where no alternative views are tolerated?

      • phillip ure 2.1.2
        20 April 2014 at 7:53 am

        joyce calls this guy a ‘bubbleologist’..

        ..can we call joyce what he is..?

        ..’a lying prick’..

      • Paul 2.1.3
        20 April 2014 at 8:23 am

        I think Jesse Colombo may know more than Joyce about the matter.
        http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120516005606/en/Analyst-Warned-Millions-Crash-%E2%80%9808-Age-22

        Wonder how the government will defend their ramping up of New Zealand’s overseas debt( point 11) and not dealing with factors causing the property bubble (point 9)?

        Their management of the economy, so praised by the NZ corporate media, has been wretched (as many of us have been saying for a while)

    • BM 2.2
      20 April 2014 at 7:40 am

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Colombo

      He makes is money off predicting when bubbles are about to burst as Joyce said he’s a “bubble-ologist”.No doubt all his investments are heavily weighted toward ones that do very well when markets crash.

      From experience it’s very hard to find financial opinion that doesn’t have a massive slant that favors the author especially when the author’s American.

      • phillip ure 2.2.1
        20 April 2014 at 8:10 am

        @ bm..

        “..From experience it’s very hard to find financial opinion that doesn’t have a massive slant that favors the author especially when the author’s American..”

        so best just stuff yr fists in yr ears and go ‘nah!..nah..!..nah..!’..eh..?

        ..especially when it is something you don’t want to hear..eh..?

        ..something that ideologically-grates..?..

        ..how about nouriel roubini..?

        ..y’know..!..that guy who was one of the first to predict reasons/timeline of the great financial clusterfuck..?..and one who i relied on for the early predictions/warnings@whoar..)

        ..(and ..oh..!..how you all laughed at him..eh..?..’dr doom!’..and all that..?..eh..?..)

        ..well guess what..!..roubini is now saying it is all about to go pop again…

        ..and soon…

        http://whoar.co.nz/?s=roubini

        (oh..!..roubini has also noted that we have the housing market in most peril..

        ..100% mortgage (french def:..’death-grip’)..anyone..?..

        ..and like peter sellars in the final scene of dr strangelove..

        ..you’ll ride that sucker ’till it explodes..eh?…)

        • BM 2.2.1.1
          20 April 2014 at 8:24 am

          From what I’ve noticed, in America everyone’s an “expert”, this young guy’s a “bubble expert”.
          All his investment advice/opinion is bubble related.

          The way it seems to work is you’re either a Bull or a Bear, this chap is definitely in the Bear camp so he specifically targets to people who have a negative outlook.
          That’s how he makes his money.

          • phillip ure 2.2.1.1.1
            20 April 2014 at 8:47 am

            and yr casual dismissal of roubint..?..is..?

            • BM 2.2.1.1.1.1
              20 April 2014 at 9:01 am

              Roubini’s critical and consistently bearish economic views have earned him the nicknames “Dr. Doom” and “permabear” in the media

              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouriel_Roubini#cite_note-NYT-2

              There’s only two ways a market can go, up or down.

              If you pick a position and stick with it eventually you’re going to be right, it’s getting the timing correct which is the hard thing and that’s when you make your money.

              • phillip ure …
                20 April 2014 at 9:24 am

                yr obviously a deep-thinker there..bm..

                ..i’ll just leave you to get on with it..

              • Paul …
                20 April 2014 at 9:30 am

                From the article you quote….I just copied a bit more as your quote was very selective.

                “Roubini’s critical and consistently bearish economic views have earned him the nicknames “Dr. Doom” and “permabear” in the media.[2] In 2008, Fortune magazine wrote, “In 2005 Roubini said home prices were riding a speculative wave that would soon sink the economy. Back then the professor was called a Cassandra. Now he’s a sage”.[3] The New York Times notes that he foresaw “homeowners defaulting on mortgages, trillions of dollars of mortgage-backed securities unraveling worldwide and the global financial system shuddering to a halt”.[2] In September 2006, he warned a skeptical IMF that “the United States was likely to face a once-in-a-lifetime housing bust, an oil shock, sharply declining consumer confidence, and, ultimately, a deep recession”. Nobel laureate Paul Krugman adds that his once “seemingly outlandish” predictions have been matched “or even exceeded by reality.”[4]”

                So they may have given him those nicknames …but he was accurate in his predictions.
                If this is an example of how you extract quotes to make your points, you are clearly an unreliable source of information.

              • newsense …
                21 April 2014 at 4:13 am

                I don’t see any response to his critique of issues with NZ’s economy

                • Paul …
                  21 April 2014 at 4:21 am

                  Same…attempts to bluster and divert and a concerted effort to attack the messenger.
                  But no argument explaining why the issues he mentions ( 12 of them!) aren’t a concern.
                  Self interest trumps an ability to look critically at an issue.

          • North 2.2.1.1.2
            20 April 2014 at 8:49 am

            What a foolish foolish person you are BM ! – “from experience. it’s very hard to find financial opinion that doesn’t…….etc” – what experience BM ? Establish what you say, please.

            “From what I’ve noticed …….” Well that’s so powerful (not). Say what you’ve noticed BM. And establish how it proves your point, if you actually have a point other than cheerleading for John Key’s omnipresence as claimed by you and various other trolls.

            In fact if you’re going to go into the mythology of US arch-capitalism then it’s extraordinarily dishonest of you not to acknowledge and analyse the place in that of John Key and myriad other banksters.

            Because BM from what I’ve noticed…….Merrill Lynch, Goldmann Sachs etc etc etc.

            Dishonest Dunce BM.

          • Tracey 2.2.1.1.3
            20 April 2014 at 12:31 pm

            I wonder what keys statements looked like when he was a currency trader and expert for j p morgan? probably self serving like your description of this guy. yet you cannot see his self serving statements as pm for what they are.

          • amirite 2.2.1.1.4
            20 April 2014 at 12:57 pm

            BM I would put my bets on Jesse Colombo’s forecast over a BSc in Zoology Steven Joyce’s any day.

      • Stephanie Rodgers 2.2.2
        20 April 2014 at 10:16 am

        ‘He makes is money off predicting when bubbles are about to burst’

        So, by rightwing logic, wouldn’t that mean he’s very good at it?

        • blue leopard 2.2.2.1
          20 April 2014 at 12:28 pm

          Exactly

          • BM 2.2.2.1.1
            20 April 2014 at 1:26 pm

            Yep he makes money telling others what they should do.
            I get the feeling he doesn’t invest too much himself.

            According to Wikipedia

            Jesse took a hiatus from blogging and anti-economic bubble activism after the U.S. housing bubble popped in 2008, and focused on a career as a private investor and consultant.

            In June 2011, Jesse launched his second anti-economic bubble activism campaign to warn of post-2009 economic bubbles.

            Obviously his personal investment results weren’t quite as stellar as he hoped.

            • blue leopard 2.2.2.1.1.1
              20 April 2014 at 2:56 pm

              I think you’ll find that when an entire economic global system gets a lot of its profits from bubbles it also gets a lot of losses when the bubbles burst ergo there will be a high incidence of losses when the sytem ‘rebalances’; when the exaggerated prices adjust back to realistic ones.

              It appears this is the type of information Jesse is attempting to warn people about. That he has been one of the victims of such an irrational system, doesn’t make his warnings any less realistic – in fact if anything it indicates he is too conservative in his views.

  3. phillip ure 3
    20 April 2014 at 7:17 am

    (a re-worked workers’ anthem:..for the use of/by shane jones..and his ilk..)

    (cloth-caps doffed..and placed across hearts:..all together now..!..after me..!..)

    “..the workers flag..is deepest red..

    ..neither poofters nor feminists..share our bed..

    ..we’re kiwi-guys..thru and thru..

    ..and we’ll have none of that funny business..

    ..no thank you..!..

    ..oh why can’t it be – like it used to be..?

    ..when blokes like me – were all you could see..”

  4. Paul 4
    20 April 2014 at 7:27 am

    The results of 30 years of neo-liberalism and the cult of corporate and individual greed.
    An ideology afflicting the UK and New Zealand .

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11241149

  5. karol 5
    20 April 2014 at 7:32 am

    The Craig manipulators – it’s a family affair.

    And now it looks like a bit of a struggle between McCully and Crafty Craig for the East Coast Bays seat.

  6. North 6
    20 April 2014 at 8:53 am

    Hypocrite Hide – butter wouldn’t melt in his Epsom mouth what ?

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11241035

    “Oh God…….Hone’s being tricky !”

    • bad12 6.1
      20 April 2014 at 9:45 am

      Wasn’t that a laugh, i particularly enjoyed Hides rewriting of history where all along it was an evil plot by DotCom to give money to Banks,

      ”Tried to shower Banks with gifts, but, Banks rebuffed Him”, i just cannot fathom how any of us could have missed this important side to the story,

      A laugh out loud column from a washed up politician that deserves as many if not more of these 🙄 than PG does…

      • marty mars 6.1.1
        20 April 2014 at 10:04 am

        Yep what a spew article but good for a sunday lol – I thought this was terrible “Dotcom is not even a New Zealand European but a European European.” Is this an actual distinction? Do some people think like that?

        “Harawira believes “white motherf****** have been raping our lands and ripping us off for centuries”. Dotcom is as white as white.”

        Gutter politics from the gutterdog-Hide. First Dotcom isn’t a ‘proper kiwi’ according to snide-hide and then he’s been ripping us off for centuries – which is it. Hide is a fail as a politician and a person imo and this article is even more evidence of that.

      • Tracey 6.1.2
        20 April 2014 at 12:35 pm

        thats like saying owen glenn only gave money to peters so he could later bring he and helen down. dont think even the right suggested that?

  7. Red Rosa 7
    20 April 2014 at 8:55 am

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9960334/NZ-dodged-bullet-on-Brash-ex-MP

    Still rankles with Brash that he was sacked when he came within a whisker of success.

    But lying over the Brethren was too much, even for the Nats.

    To win next time, they needed a smoother, slicker version of the Extreme Right to lull the electorate.

    And under MMP they needed to double cross Maori, not take them on directly.

    Key fitted the bill perfectly.

    Same policies, though. What has Key done that Brash has disapproved of? The Maori Party have left their people in a worse situation than before, and in total disarray.

    Key’s great success has been to sneak in Extreme Right policies, in several policy areas, under the bland unctuous mumbling of ‘Centre-Right’.

    • Paul 7.1
      20 April 2014 at 9:01 am

      Yes, the myth of Key being moderate is exactly that. A myth.
      A story repeated by the corporate media so their owners could loot New Zealand.

    • Awww 7.2
      20 April 2014 at 9:54 am

      Brash has always come off as vaguely reptilian, even without the insider details:

      Asked by Hill about Orewa 2005, the welfare dependency speech, Brash said he didn’t even think welfare spokesperson Katherine Rich wrote the welfare white paper.

      This is an outrageous accusation from the former leader. Rich had been given the portfolio by Bill English just after her second baby was born and spent hours writing it.

      The leader’s office edited it two years before Brash was leader, but he seems to think it was beyond a women’s capabilities.

      He may remember Rich’s corrections to Brash’s first draft of Orewa 05, when she took issue with his repeated references to “bludgers”, “satan”, “free lunches”, “ripping off the system taken for granted” and “an army of dependants on the march”.

      Rich said she didn’t think using military language was helpful.

      She vehemently objected to Brash’s intention to bring back adoption, compulsory immunisation and forcing beneficiaries to exhaust other means of income so welfare was the last resort.

      “I’m not comfortable about making those with Downs syndrome, cerebral palsy or cancer prove they are not able to contribute to their own support before accessing welfare,” she wrote to Brash.

      Mothers having second babies would be forced back to fulltime work even when breastfeeding, and Brash was okay with this.

      Rich resigned the portfolio.

      Georgina te Heu Heu had already lost Maori Affairs, and Hekia Parata left the party.

      Other caucus women were unhappy.

      I was flatting with Rich and remember her dismay when Michael Bassett’s Post column slated her for criticising her leader in public, saying she deserved to go.

      I suggested Rich ask Brash to get this mistake corrected (she’d never criticised him), a simple matter, surely. Brash couldn’t, he told her, because he’d read the column pre-publication and okayed it.

      Now Brash is miffed that John Key won’t take his calls, because they once shared a motel room where Brash said he’d hand over prime ministership to Key.

      Big problem with that, Don, you need the numbers and caucus support. You were not a king passing the crown to an heir. Key probably muttered something like: “Yeah, now shuddup and get some sleep.”

      And some wise National insiders probably leaked those emails, printed out and clamped in a big bulldog clip, so Brash would never become prime minister. We’re incredibly lucky they did.

  8. Tautoko Viper 8
    20 April 2014 at 9:14 am

    I found an interesting line in Deborah Coddington’s article concerning Katherine Rich who resigned her portfolio due to Brash’s views.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9960334/NZ-dodged-bullet-on-Brash-ex-MP

    “I’m not comfortable about making those with Downs syndrome, cerebral palsy or cancer prove they are not able to contribute to their own support before accessing welfare,” she wrote to Brash.

    Now compare this with the article titled
    “Bureaucratic hurdles mean few parents get paid to care for disabled children”
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11240668

    “But many families have been put off by the system, which requires the disabled people to become their parents’ employers, responsible for paying tax, ACC levies, KiwiSaver, annual leave and sick leave.”
    The disabled people are required to set up bank accounts, which some banks do not allow for people who are not intellectually competent.”
    The parallels are obvious. Dodged what bullet?
    Edit Red Rosa is on to it.

    • millsy 8.1
      20 April 2014 at 10:35 am

      Most of these disabled clients would have no concept of what an employer is, and the government expect them to be one. Am I alone in thinking that this policy is whacko?

  9. bad12 9
    20 April 2014 at 10:26 am

    Just had a watch of ‘The Nation’ on TV3, this weeks program seems to have got at least one commenter hot under the cranial covering,

    Seems to me that the main message from Green Party leader Metiria Turei was that if Labour/NZFirst need the Green Party to guarantee ”confidence and supply” then Labour/NZFirst will need the Green Party ”in Government”,

    Questioned on the ‘meaning’ of this Metiria chose to simply repeat the statement, and a snigger developed when the ”end game” move that i would imagine Labour/NZFirst will put to the Greens after the election was put to Mets,

    ”So you will refuse confidence and supply to Labour/NZFirst if you are not given Cabinet seats and enable a National Government then”,???

    That’s laughable, BUT, i can see this as being the main plank of negotiation with the Green Party after the 2014 election,

    My suggestion to the Green Party is that the correct answer to this little piece of blame gaming which i fully expect to be the negotiating position is the answer that Metiria gave on ‘The Nation’ interview,

    ”The Green Party is either ”in” the next Government or they are not”…full stop.

    • Pascal's bookie 9.1
      20 April 2014 at 11:32 am

      “If there’s a minority govt then we’ll have to decide about C&S whenever such votes come up, and such a government would need to talk to us about the shape of any legislation it wants to pass.”

  10. phillip ure 10
    20 April 2014 at 10:59 am

    “..If You Support Legal Marijuana, Memorize These 13 Stats..

    With Colorado and Washington starting to tax and regulate recreational weed sales –

    and medical marijuana legal in 18 other states –
    we can finally start to put some hard numbers on the industry’s value..”

    (cont..)

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/19/benefits-legalizing-weed-by-the-numbers_n_5173785.html?ref=topbar

  11. captain hook 11
    20 April 2014 at 11:26 am

    remember kiddies to keep a smile in your hearts when ya smashing the state. abbie hoofman.

    • phillip ure 11.1
      20 April 2014 at 11:39 am

      it’s a great quote/line..

      “..remember kiddies..!

      ..when smashing the state..

      ..always keep a smile on yr lips..

      ..and a song in yr heart..!”

      and wasn’t it robert crumb/furry freak bros..?

  12. captain hook 12
    20 April 2014 at 11:28 am

    I wuz kinda hoping that pete geroge wuz gonna choke on his Easter eggg.
    bit no he’s back.heading the readers list.
    hmmmm.

  13. Penny Bright 13
    20 April 2014 at 11:58 am

    Seen this folks?

    Is New Zealand in need of an ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption)?

    I think so.

    http://laudafinem.com/2014/04/19/why-cant-new-zealand-have-honest-and-capable-politicians-is-nz-in-need-of-an-icac/

    NSW Premier Barry O’Farrelly had to resign over his $3000 bottle of wine ‘brainfade’.

    The difference between NZ and NSW is that NSW has an INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (ICAC).

    High time for an NZ INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (ICAC)?

    Some of us have been advocating this for some time:

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ANTI-CORRUPTION-WHITE-COLLAR-CRIME-CORPORATE-WELFARE-ACTION-PLAN-Ak-Mayoral-campaign-19-July-2013-2.pdf

    Which political parties are now going to pick up the ball, and make support for a New Zealand ICAC, a core election policy?

    In my considered opinion, there would be significant public support for such a policy, especially in light of the latest on-going corruption scandals at New Zealand central and local government level.

    (Remember – in the 2013 Auckland mayoralty, I polled 4th with nearly 12,000 votes, campaigning against corrupt corporate control of the Auckland region, which, in my opinion, shows growing public understanding and concern about this HUGE issue.)

    Seen this?

    http://www.transparency.net.nz/

    Penny Bright

  14. Anne 14
    20 April 2014 at 12:44 pm

    Oh dear, Tariana Turia is still very bitter and twisted with Labour.

    Labour doesn’t deserve our vote.

    Imo, all she has achieved in confirming is: the creation of the Maori Party was really all about herself.

    • amirite 14.1
      20 April 2014 at 5:07 pm

      Also, she should have asked – do Maori feel and live better after 6 years of National /Maori Party government?
      I think not.

      • Paul 14.1.1
        20 April 2014 at 5:09 pm

        Of course, given the Herald’s editorial bias, this was elevated to their top online story.

    • millsy 14.2
      20 April 2014 at 5:27 pm

      Sir Apriana Ngata, a prominent advocate of Maori economic development and self-determination would be disgusted at some of the stances held by the woman who wants to follow in his footsteps. For a start, he would balk at the continued use of floating sweatshops to fish Maori quota, which Turia and her Maori Party cronies continue to try and justify, instead of encourging iwi to invest in their own boats and crews, creating real jobs.

  15. rhinocrates 15
    20 April 2014 at 1:30 pm

    This, I need not remind you, is Easter, the time in which we must observe the martyrdom of Pete George the most Holy.

    It is He who has instructed us in the utmost selective pedantry of our sins of lack of reverence for Himself. Let us not forget that. It is we who have crucified Him on the Cross of Snark.

    Let us all retreat to the Hallowed Ground of our Lifestyle Blocks, don the sacred vestments of the Beige Cardigans of Repentance, climb upon our Horses Most High and make the Holy Gestures of the Wagging Finger and the Wrung Hands.

    Then let us Check Our Facts and observe the proper period of Calling For More Study.

    Amen.

    • phillip ure 15.1
      20 April 2014 at 4:13 pm

      don’t forget the other ‘holy gestures’..

      ..the slow stroking of the beard..

      ..and the shaking of the head..’no!’..

      ..the looking ‘sad’/disappointed..

      ..and the pursed-lips..

      ..and that ‘beige-cardigan’ had better be a twin-set…

      ..and those grey shoes had better have velcro-‘laces’…!

      ..and those pants had better be permanent-press..!

      ..and that strange ritual that has built up over time..

      ..of ‘followers’ gathering to remember him by smoking joints..

      ..(they say it is because thru is sacrifices for us all..he had none..oh..!..the humanity of the man..!..)

      ..and to chant rounds of:..’more study’..and ‘but what about?’..

      ..and of course how they all affect the pompadour of st petes’ former hero/god-figure..

      ..st peter the dunne…the great- equivocater..

      ..he who pete came to call ‘the fallen-one’..

      ..after the great schism of 2013..

      ..and so it was written..

      ..and so it did come to pass..

      • mac1 15.1.1
        20 April 2014 at 4:53 pm

        And let it be that the beige cardigan be appointed with leather patches to reduce wear in the penitent’s elbows as he holds his head in his hands whilst at prayer or in conference with his acolytes; as do we poor listeners and readers whilst receiving the Word from Our Pete (aka PG tips!).

        • phillip ure 15.1.1.1
          20 April 2014 at 5:09 pm

          then of course there is the serious hair-loss..

          ..all from excessive forelock-tugging..

          ..(at/to the pompadoured-one/he-whose-name-must-never-now-be-mentioned..

          ..as i understand it..)

          ..and of course there is also his brave-banner /spitting back into the teeth of ridicule..

          ..of carrying on that now much-sneered-at/reviled facial-hair-affectation..

          ..the roger douglas mo’..

    • greywarbler 15.2
      20 April 2014 at 5:44 pm

      Rhino
      The satire is….very funny.

  16. fisiani 16
    20 April 2014 at 2:52 pm

    Imagine a political spectrum as a 0-100 line. 0 = Far left and 100 =Far Right I cannot draw a graph on this posting so bear with me.
    In the 1990’s Labour was probably 20-65 and National was 35-80
    in 2014 Labour is 10-55 and National is 35-80. Each still a 45 point spread. Just a 10 point drift but a significant one.
    Then draw a mean distribution curve graph and you will see that the numbers under the curve are heavily in favour of National
    The 55-65 group of Labour voters have shifted over to National.
    If Labour go further Left eg 5-50 the maths gets substantially worse for Labour
    This assumes that political opinion follows a mean distribution curve graph. It does.
    The vast majority are in the mid zone and these are the voters that National as a mildly Left to moderate Right Party has increasingly gained in 2005,2008 2011 and 2014 as Labour has drifted Left.

    • felix 16.1
      20 April 2014 at 2:57 pm

      Those numbers are fascinating. How did you make them up?

      • phillip ure 16.1.1
        20 April 2014 at 4:17 pm

        it’s called a lowest-orifice-pluck..

        • fisiani 16.1.1.1
          20 April 2014 at 6:01 pm

          Just look at the election returns and remember that in the 1980’s Labour was home to the likes of Roger Douglas and Richard Prebble. Such people in 2014 would never join or vote Labour. Helen Clark kept in power by keeping in the 20-60 range. Labour have changed their rules and have a leader supported by 30% of caucus. The Labour activists have taken over the party and will shape it in their own image. They are delighted. So am I, I can do the arithmetic.

  17. Penny Bright 17
    20 April 2014 at 3:05 pm

    FYI – seen this?

    Minister for Corruption (sorry – Minister for Justice) Judith Collins promised an ‘Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Legislation Bill’.

    Hardly surprising that this ‘Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Legislation Bill’. has yet to surface in the Parliamentary legislative ‘sausage machine’?

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1310/S00301/bill-supports-zero-tolerance-for-organised-crime.htm

    Minister of Justice

    18 October 2013 Media Statement

    Bill supports zero-tolerance for organised crime

    Justice Minister Judith Collins says the Government’s comprehensive approach to fighting all forms of organised crime will help safeguard New Zealand’s economy, international reputation and public safety.

    This month a number of international bodies are evaluating New Zealand’s compliance with international standards related to financial crimes – including the OECD, which will report on New Zealand’s compliance with an international convention to combat bribery of foreign public officials.

    “I welcome the release of these reports.

    This Government takes all forms of organised crime and corruption very seriously,” Ms Collins says.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/New-laws-to-fight-organised-crime/tabid/1607/articleID/317781/Default.aspx
    New laws to fight organised crime
    Friday 18 Oct 2013 10:33a.m.

    The Government will bring in a bill before the end of the year to strengthen laws against money laundering, identity theft, human trafficking and corruption.

    Justice Minister Judith Collins says she intends to have a comprehensive set of laws in place to fight all forms of organised crime.

    “It’s important to consider bribery and corruption within the big picture of organised crime, which undermines public safety, national security, economic development and good governance,” she said today.

    “This bill will help ensure New Zealand maintains its reputation as a responsible international citizen and that our domestic law enforcement agencies have the tolls they need to fight all forms of organised crime.”

    So WHERE’S Minister for Corruption (sorry – Minister for Justice) Judith Collin’s Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Legislation Bill?

    I checked today on the NZ Parliamentary website:

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/legislation/bills/?Criteria.Keyword=Organised+Crime+and+Anti-Corruption+Legislation+Bill%2C&Criteria.Timeframe=&Criteria.Parliament=-1&Criteria.DocumentType=&Criteria.Status=&Search=Go

    Legislation
    Bills
    This section lists bills before the House and its committees, and provides access to more detailed information about each one. You will also find the schedule of divided bills and progress of legislationhere. To find out more about bills before select committees, see the committee business summary.

    Close Bills search
    Keyword

    Date

    Parliament

    Document type

    Status

    No documents were found

    Oh dear – Minister for Corruption (oops! Justice – yeah right) Judith Collins’ Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Legislation Bill is NOWHERE to be found.

    Talk about the corrupt fox in charge of the chook house?

    Again – file under ‘You Couldn’t Make This Sh*t Up’?

    Penny Bright

    • Naki Man 17.1
      20 April 2014 at 4:45 pm

      That reminds me have you paid your rates yet Penny?

      • Penny Bright 17.1.1
        20 April 2014 at 5:31 pm

        Absolutely not.

        Auckland citizens and ratepayers are not being told EXACTLY where our public monies are being spent (which is a statutory requirement under the Public Records Act 2005).

        So – if I’m not being told EXACTLY where my rates monies are being spent, I’m not paying any.

        Not many folks have the guts to do what I’m doing, but, ‘faint heart never won fair go’.

        I take full personal responsibility for my actions.

        Penny Bright

        http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz

        • Blue 17.1.1.1
          20 April 2014 at 7:20 pm

          If you take full responsibility stop bitching about it and face the consequences. It doesn’t take guts to not pay your way in life, it’s laziness and spectacular stupidity. When they order your house sold from under you. will you still be taking responsibility or blaming the Council ?

          • Draco T Bastard 17.1.1.1.1
            20 April 2014 at 7:39 pm

            She’s got a point – we really should be told exactly where every penny of our money is being spent.

  18. the Pink Postman 18
    20 April 2014 at 4:05 pm

    Has Deborah Coddington finally seen the light.
    She is certainly making some interesting comments lately.In fact she is begining to sound like a real Leftie. Perhaps her local Labour Party branch should ask her for a donation .If she lived in Cambridge I certainly would.

  19. Penny Bright 19
    20 April 2014 at 4:12 pm

    Seen this folks?

    Shining a light on New Zealand CORRUPTION …….

    http://beehive.govt.nz/release/collins-welcomes-transparency-assessment

    Judith Collins 19 NOVEMBER, 2013
    Collins welcomes transparency assessment

    Justice Minister Judith Collins today welcomed Transparency International New Zealand’s evaluation of our nation’s governance and anti-corruption efforts.

    Ms Collins launched key findings from the National Integrity Study (NIS) Assessment tonight, at the annual general meeting of Transparency International’s New Zealand arm.

    “New Zealand consistently ranks as the least corrupt country on Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index,” Ms Collins says.

    “It’s important we maintain our strong international reputation, for being free from – and intolerant of – corruption, to further enhance our nation’s trade, business and economic prosperity.”

    The report evaluates key pillars of New Zealand’s governance system, such as the legislature, executive, judiciary, public sector, law enforcement and business sectors.

    Ms Collins says there are still improvements to be made to counter corruption and bribery and the Government is actively working to implement change.

    “Our efforts include the development of a national anti-corruption strategy, the upcoming Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Legislation Bill, and efforts to raise public trust and confidence in the Courts.”

    Ms Collins says the Government values its close working relationship with Transparency International New Zealand and she looks forward to working through the report’s recommendations.

    “In many ways we share a common purpose – promoting clean government, increasing transparency and reducing corruption. Together, our efforts help ensure New Zealand maintains its reputation as one of the least corrupt countries in the world.”

    Pity about the lack of transparency with Transparency International NZ?

    http://kiwisfirst.com/

    RAMPANT CORRUPTION STINGS TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL

    2 March 2014

    ‘Corruption destroys lives and communities’ is its motto and its publicly advertised mission is to promote transparency which lays bare the conflicts and bribes which suck the soul out of all countries to varying degrees. But Berlin-based non-profit Transparency International is better known for telling the world which countries are doing a good job at combating corruption and which ones are not through its annual ‘perception index’ which rates 177 countries from 1 to 177.

    Media organisations such as Forbes rely on Transparency International’s findings in promoting its own world perspective.

    In its own ‘perception’, Transparency International ranked New Zealand lowest (along with Finland) in corruption – and its local chapter is the non-profit’s golden child and keeper of the faith. In contrast, New Zealanders question a charter which received almost all of its funding from the New Zealand government, routinely turned away new members – individual memberships have been relatively constant at 50 – and declared its “over-arching principle” is it “will not be involved in investigating or exposing individual cases (of corruption)”.

    Finally, a dose of reality has set in, with revelations of rampant corruption within the New Zealand chapter oozing from its opaque façade. Berlin has known since early December that NZ chapter director Suzanne Snively was running a fraudulent company trading on the Transparency International name to sell her consulting services to unsuspecting foreign companies seeking trade with New Zealand. They have done nothing but cover it up. Triple dipping Ms Snively is also a contractor to the New Zealand government and her TINZ salary is funded by the government.

    This week it was revealed that another Transparency International New Zealand director Michael Vukcevic falsely claimed in his CV that he had a law degree and other qualifications in order to get an appointment in 2012 to promote New Zealand’s bid for a free trade agreement in the Middle East.

    Yet another TINZ director Claire Johnstone was a government official running a private consultancy business which promoted her ability to “access grant funding from government for many of our clients”. Her husband Ash Johnstone, a serving NZ police officer, was profiled on the company website as in charge of conducting security background checks for private clients.

    It came to light last year that at least two directors of TINZ made repeated visits to the Ministry of Justice in Cambodia seeking personal fortune on the door-opening coattails of Dame Sylvia Cartwright who was one of two international judges appointed to the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia, filling a vacuum in the war ravaged country.

    Fraud examiner and former police prosecutor Grace Haden, who was denied membership in TINZ and consequently launched her own “Transparency New Zealand” is not surprised by the corruption or cover up by Transparency International. “They don’t want to know the reality because it differs from the myth they promote.” Late yesterday, Ms Haden sent out an open letter offering Transparency International her services to verify degrees and credentials of its directors.
    ……”

    Seen for yourselves who ‘sponsors’ Transparency International NZ?

    http://www.transparency.org.nz/Partners-and-Sponsors

    Partners and Sponsors

    Cornerstone Platinum

    The Office of the Auditor General

    NIS Gold

    School of Government, VUW
    Ministry for Justice
    Statistics New Zealand
    The Human Rights Commission
    Ministry of Social Development
    The Treasury
    Inland Revenue
    Department of Internal Affairs
    Corrections
    Department of Conservation
    Ministry of Transport
    Civil Aviation Authority
    New Zealand Transport Authority
    Maritime New Zealand
    Te Puni Kokiri
    The State Services Commission
    The Ombudsman
    Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs
    The New Zealand Defence Force

    NIS Silver

    Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
    The Serious Fraud Office
    Crown Law

    NIS Bronze

    NZ Public Service Association
    Sponsors
    The Gama Foundation
    In Kind Donations
    Bell Gully
    VUW School of Government
    PwC
    Deloitte
    KPMG
    Human Rights Commission Launch Day
    School of Government Institute for Governance and Policy Studies Wellington
    Wellington Girls College
    Thorndon New World
    NZTE
    Institute of Directors
    BDO Spicers
    Russell McVeigh
    Chapman Tripp
    Gibson Sheat
    Susan Gluck-Hornsby
    Chen Palmer
    Juliet McKee
    Claudia Orange
    Te Papa

    So – how INDEPENDENT is Transparency International NZ, when so much of their funding comes from NZ Government Departments, which all arguably have a vested interest in maintaining this RORT and FRAUD – that New Zealand is ‘perceived’ to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’?

    Remember?

    Under NZ Minister of Corruption (oops! sorry – Justice) Judith Collins’ watch – NZ STILL has not yet ratified the UN Convention Against Corruption, and her Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Legislation Bill has STILL not yet surfaced in Parliament.

    Funny that.

    Penny Bright

    SELF-FUNDED full-time ‘anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’.

    PS: What does NZ need for a genuine platform for transparency?

    Try this :

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ANTI-CORRUPTION-WHITE-COLLAR-CRIME-CORPORATE-WELFARE-ACTION-PLAN-Ak-Mayoral-campaign-

  20. Paul 20
    20 April 2014 at 5:14 pm

    Australia heading down the savage neoliberal route and copying NZ.
    The consequences of them voting in Tony Abbott now becoming clear.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9961464/Australia-looks-to-NZ-for-disability-reform-ideas

  22. Penny Bright 22
    20 April 2014 at 5:37 pm

    Good call Green Party:

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1404/S00340/time-for-greater-ministerial-accountability.htm

    Time for greater ministerial accountability

    Saturday, 19 April 2014, 12:09 pm
    Press Release: Green Party
    Time for greater ministerial accountability

    The Green Party has today released a proposal to introduce a ministerial disclosure regime in New Zealand to improve the transparency and accountability of government.

    The proposal, based on the system used in the United Kingdom since 2010, would require all Ministers to publically release records of their meetings with external organisations, overseas travel, gifts given and received, and hospitality received.
    The records would be released on a quarterly basis and published online.

    “A ministerial disclosure regime will bring a much-needed boost to the transparency and accountability of government in New Zealand,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

    “The public will be able to see, on a regular basis, who Ministers are meeting with, who they’re receiving gifts and hospitality from, and details of their overseas travel.

    “Some of this information is already made public through the Registrar of Pecuniary Interests, but that doesn’t tell us the whole story and it only happens once a year.

    “Regular, proactive disclosure of this information, particularly records of who Ministers are meeting with, will bring a greater measure of transparency to decision-making and will improve ministerial accountability.

    ……………………

    https://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/ministerial_disclosure_fact_sheet.pdf

    I support this proposal.

    “Nothing to hide – nothing to fear?”

    Who is meeting the Ministers?

    Who in this John Key led National/ACT Government is NOT going to support this initiative?

    hmmmm………… let me guess ……

    Penny Bright

  23. Sacha 23
    20 April 2014 at 6:13 pm

    Penny, this the internet not a gestetner. It has these things called links. Please do not waste our attention by pasting screeds of material we can go and read ourselves.

  25. DunneDeals 25
    26 April 2014 at 11:49 pm

    Fantastic discussion!

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  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
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    1 day ago
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