Open mike 21/02/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 21st, 2024 - 46 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step up to the mike …

46 comments on “Open mike 21/02/2024 ”

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  1. bwaghorn 1
    21 February 2024 at 6:45 am

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/350183036/apartment-mogul-joins-mayor-blasting-rapacious-money-grubbing-fringe-developers

    Gotta say I like Mr Browns shoot from the hip style, he makes alot of sense to me most of the time .

    • SPC 1.1
      21 February 2024 at 12:00 pm

      The biggest problem with building out is where it is on useful horticultural land.

      Todd and Brown seem to be ignoring the urban density impact of a 1M people living above infrastructure designed for 500,000.

      • Ghostwhowalks 1.1.1
        22 February 2024 at 9:21 am

        Thats why Watercare is doing major sewage upgrade through the isthmus.

        The other factor is 1 and 2 person households are a very large share of the total households now, so the population impact on some services like schools isnt so great.

        Dont forget those inner suburbs were jam packed with houses up till the 1950s, ugly commercial warehouses/ small manufacturing replaced a lot of that and the inner suburbs rebuild until recently was still fairly low density

  2. Ad 2
    21 February 2024 at 8:29 am

    It's great that Barbara Edmonds is admired for her work as a public sector tax lawyer.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/509692/who-is-new-labour-finance-spokesperson-barbara-edmonds#:~:text=Labour%20leader%20Chris%20Hipkins%20described,with%20her%20in%20this%20role.

    But what does she actually believe in?

    Has anyone dealt with her on specific campaigns?

    What is she prepared to fight for?

  3. SPC 3
    21 February 2024 at 9:40 am

    Grant Robertson MP 2008

    “My desire is to play a part in making my community, city, country, and world a fairer and more equal place, because it is that equality that will drive aspiration, opportunity, and success for all. In my time in this Parliament, it is my commitment that I will work to build an ever better, fairer New Zealand, where we seek to ensure that achieving one’s potential is not just the preserve of the privileged, but possible for all"

    Later

    “I want to help build a modern, inclusive New Zealand where we do not accept children growing up in poverty. I believe we should set goals to eliminate poverty in New Zealand, and work out a programme of redistribution that will see incomes and spirits lifted together.”

    There are two key pieces of legislation that are part of Robertson’s – and Ardern’s – legacy.

    The first – The Child Poverty Reduction Act – tackles what Robertson mentioned in his maiden speech. It requires annual reporting (this year’s is due on Thursday) and for the Government of the day to set targets to reduce child poverty.

    The latest report, covering the year to June 2022, showed that all nine measures of child poverty have reduced, with eight out of nine of the child poverty measures statistically significantly lower than the 2017/18 baseline year.

    The second – The Zero Carbon Act – puts the Paris Agreement’s climate change targets into legislation. This addresses what Robertson said in his maiden speech immediately following his comments about child poverty:

    “A modern, inclusive New Zealand also needs to be one that looks after our environment.”

    Robertson said getting the country through the pandemic was what he was most proud of, noting advice at the start of the pandemic that unemployment was expected to head north of 10 per cent.

    “We saved lives but we also saved livelihoods.”

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/grant-robertsons-value-to-labour-has-been-

    • SPC 3.1
      21 February 2024 at 9:55 am

      The work undone

      Robertson would point to Budget 2021, which reversed the 1990s benefit cuts and lifted rates by $32 and $55 per adult. It was estimated to lift between 19,000 and 33,000 children out of poverty.

      This was also criticised as not going far enough, of being half-hearted responses to the Welfare Expert Advisory Group’s recommendations.

      1.SLP at the same rate as Super

      2.Sickness covered by ACC

      3.The non working partner without children getting the JSB. The non working partner with children getting the JSB for up to one year – then moving to WFF tax credit support. The sole parent allowed non resident partners for up to one year without impact on their eligibility for support.

      4.Government take over the private debt of beneficiaries (accruing interest year by year) and they pay it back once employed.

      His legacy might have included other methods of redistribution, but they were repealed (Fairpay Agreements), shelved (income insurance) by Labour leader Chris Hipkins, or ditched altogether (capital gains tax, and the wealth tax and low-income tax combo) – though the latter may yet be resurrected.

      5. I would add government forming a partnership with landlords and homeowners to provide affordable property insurance – rebuild covered by government in return for ownership of the land (subsequent payment of rent for the land). This and sickness covered by ACC before any government involvement in income insurance (in part superseded by partner access to JSB).

      https://archive.li/Oq3fk#selection-1947.99-1959.90

  4. Anne 4
    21 February 2024 at 10:21 am

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/509745/green-party-mp-efeso-collins-dies-during-charity-run

    Just awful. I only met him the once at a function where he gave a speech. He was impressive and so very kind in every way.

    update: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/509744/live-mp-efeso-collins-dies-during-charity-run

  5. Robert Guyton 5
    21 February 2024 at 10:32 am

    Oh no! Efeso!

  6. Sanctuary 6
    21 February 2024 at 11:21 am

    A mighty Totara has fallen.

  7. SPC 7
    21 February 2024 at 11:56 am

    The Finance Minister says the Government remains committed to the transport projects in its coalition agreements as a report shows the transport agency has estimated they could cost up to $24 billion more.

    Willis said the extent of the difference between commitments and funding was a new piece of information.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/02/nicola-willis-says-government-committed-to-coalition-transport-projects-despite-report-showing-they-could-cost-double.html

    Are they now of greater benefit than the cancelled Kiwi Rail Cook Strait plan at double the cost?

  8. observer 8
    21 February 2024 at 12:13 pm

    There is still some humanity and decency in Parliament. House will adjourn after 2 pm tributes today, resumes next week. Thanks to all parties for that.

  9. gsays 9
    21 February 2024 at 12:36 pm

    Who are some of the NGOs that would be opposed to this cruel, inhumane, currently outlawed practice?
    Such barbarism only in the name of greed.

    I know S.A.F.E. have had a few things to say but surely there are some other mainstream organisations that can lend their shoulder to the wheel.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350187142/kuwaiti-death-ship-transporting-19000-cows-iraq-stinks-cape-town

  10. roblogic 10
    21 February 2024 at 1:06 pm

    Efeso was always positive and kind – when he was president of the AUSA he took time out to have lunch and pray with a random student (me) who isn’t really part of his community.

    Fare well brother 🙏🏼

  11. SPC 11
    21 February 2024 at 1:08 pm

    Bernard Hickey The Kākā has noted

    S@P Ratings agency puts 15 councils on review for downgrade, blaming uncertainty over new Government's financial support after Three Waters repeal

    immediately increasing borrowing costs and forcing rates increases that will further inflate living costs and keep pressure on the Reserve Bank to keep mortgage rates high.

    https://thekaka.substack.com/p/s-and-p-slams-new-govts-council-finance

  13. Subliminal 13
    21 February 2024 at 1:49 pm

    For the third time, the US vetoes an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. In this iteration, brought by Algeria, the US was the lone vote against, with the UK abstaining.

    The Algerian UN ambassador rightly stated:

    "the United States veto should be understood as "approval of starvation as a means of war against hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. "

    Meanwhile, the World Food Program has withdrawn from the desperate situation in Northern Gaza after being swamped by starving Gazans that then drew rifle and tank fire from the IDF.

    https://consortiumnews.com/2024/02/20/us-again-vetoes-un-cease-fire-resolution/

    "

    • Mikey 13.1
      21 February 2024 at 8:30 pm

      Really, the sooner the hamas 'fighters' turn themselves in, the better for the women and children they hide behind.

    • satty 14.1
      21 February 2024 at 5:02 pm

      What a pleasant surprise…

      • alwyn 14.1.1
        21 February 2024 at 6:04 pm

        As a Wellington Ratepayer I can only add three letters to your comment.

        "What an unpleasant surprise…"

        • Drowsy M. Kram 14.1.1.1
          21 February 2024 at 7:48 pm

          Nice whinge – any luck inventing a better method of calculation? It's been a week.

          Green turnaround: Geordie Rogers wins Wgtn council by-election
          [21 Feb 2024]
          Rogers ran a progressive campaign, based on affordable housing and improving renters' rights. He had previously been the president of the lobby group Renters United.

        • satty 14.1.1.2
          21 February 2024 at 7:50 pm

          Thanks, I knew you would say that…

          Oh, I'm a ratepayer, too… and hoping one day this city sees the light and pushes all the polluting cars out of the CBD and make it finally people-friendly.

          After I saw a picture today with the Wellington CBD water level at 2 degrees global warming (I guess above pre-industrial level), it will definitely be car-free at some point… the businesses might still blame "The Greens" for it when it happens even it was all the polluting cars, which – as far as I can tell – mainly give a shit about the businesses in the CBD, as they just travel through.

  15. adam 15
    21 February 2024 at 4:50 pm

    Only good for me today is knowing Jesus just got one of the Good ones.

    Our Father in heaven,
    Lo matou Tamä e, oi le lagi,

    hallowed be thy name.
    ia paia lou suafa

    Thy kingdom come.
    Ia o’o mai lou malo

    Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
    Ia faia lou finagalo, i le lalolagi e pei ona faia i le lagi

    Give us this day our daily bread
    Ia e foa’i mai ia te’i matou i le aso nei a matou mea’ai e tatau ma le aso

    and forgive us our trespasses,
    Ia e fa’amagalo ia te’i matou ia matou agasala,

    as we forgive
    e pei o i matou foi ona matou fa’amagaloina atu

    those who trespass against us.
    i e ua agaleaga mai ia te i matou.

    and lead us not into temptation,
    aua fo’i e te ta’ita’iina i matou i le fa’aosoosoga,

    but deliver us from evil.
    a ia e lavea’i ia i matou ai le leaga.

    For thine is the Kingdom,
    Auä e ou le malo,

    the power, and the glory
    ma le mana, atoa ma le viiga,

    forever and ever, Amen.
    e faavavau, faavavau lava, Amene.