Open mike 21/03/2012

61 comments on “Open mike 21/03/2012 ”

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1. Jenny 1

   21 March 2012 at 6:35 am

   http://peoplespowernz.wordpress.com/have-your-say/

   Calling all supporters of the campaigns to stop state assets sales!

   It will be a huge boost to the People’s Power Ohariu campaign to stop the asset sales by getting numbers along to the oral hearings of the Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee this Thursday.

   Anyone from any electorate is welcome:

   Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee
   Johnsonville Community Centre
   Cnr Moorefield Road and Frankmoore Ave
   7.30pm
   Thursday 22 March

   If you wish to present an oral submission or simply join the audience for this short but important meeting your very presence will be an significant contribution to the continuing action to get Ohariu MP and United Future leader Peter Dunne to withdraw his support for the partial sale of state assets.

   The news statement below sets out the basis of the People’s Power Ohariu’s case to get Peter Dunne to withdraw his support of the partial sale of power companies.

   If you are outside Wellington in other parts of the country please forward this email to anyone you think may want to make the meeting on Thursday.

   Thank you.

   John Maynard
   For
   People’s Power Ohariu
   027 220 7903

   News media statement 19 March 2011

   Ohariu MP Peter Dunne challenged to revoke his confidence and supply agreement

   over secret international investment negotiations

   “The Government’s secret Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations are expected to allow overseas shareholders in state owned power companies to be able to sue the New Zealand Government”, says People’s Power Ohariu spokesperson John Maynard.

   “A state/investor disputes procedure is provided for in the negotiations of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) currently involving New Zealand, the USA and seven other countries.

   “During last year’s election campaign there appeared to be no knowledge at the top level of Peter Dunne’s own United Future Party of the proposed state/investor dispute process of the TPPA. If Peter Dunne himself was also unaware of the state/investor disputes procedure he now has an opportunity to revoke his confidence and supply agreement with the Key Government over the sale of state assets.

   “New Zealanders’ opposition to the state asset sales has remained solidly between 65% and 80%. It’s not the mums and dads who want the state assets put on the block but the merchant bankers, who will collect hundreds of millions of dollars in fees and the stockbrokers, who will clip the ticket on every share trade.

   “Peter Dunne has the deciding vote in the 61 to 60 voting split. Without his vote there can be no sale of state assets.

   “Under the TPPA an overseas investor from one of the TPPA countries could act to protect its own interests in a power company by using what in effect would be a veto power over the Government’s law-making and administrative decision-making authority. It could happen if a future government decided the company was not acting in the public interest and required it to do so, or increased regulation of the sector, or tried to reverse the sale if it failed as privatisations have failed in the past. Legal challenges would not be heard in a New Zealand court but in a secret international tribunal.

   “Last year the Government refused to have a Parliamentary Select Committee hearing on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.

   “An Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee set up at a public meeting in Johnsonville earlier in the month is now collecting submissions on the state asset sales and the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. The Committee will hear oral submissions at the Johnsonville Community Centre at 7.30pm on 22 March”.

   Contact:

   John Maynard
   Spokesperson
   People’s Power Ohariu
   027 220 7903
   • Matthew Whitehead 1.1

     21 March 2012 at 9:04 am

     I’ll be working that time tommorow, but my mother lives in Ohariu so maybe I’ll let her know if she wants to show up, she’d be all about putting pressure on Dunne and stopping asset sales.
2. Jenny 2

   21 March 2012 at 6:48 am

   Are you concerned about global warming?

   Do you want New Zealand to give a global lead?

   Show John Key Your Opposition To Coal Mining On Conservation Land!

   Today, at 5 pm, 1 Willeston Street, Downtown Wellington, John Key will officially open Bathurst Resources’ new New Zealand office. Bathurst Resources plan to develop New Zealand’s largest open-cast coal mine on conservation land and we must oppose it every step of the way.

   Coal Action Network Aotearoa,
   Forest and Bird,
   Greenpeace,
   350,
   Ora Taiao,
   Generation Zero,
   And other concerned groups and individuals from around the country say;

   ‘NO Mining Pure NZ’.

   In May 2010, over 50 000 people marched up Queen Street in Auckland to protest the Government’s proposal to open up National Parks and other protected areas, after which the government executed a remarkable backdown and committed not to mine in National Parks and other significant conservation areas protected under Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act.

   They also stated that “significant applications to mine on public conservation land should be notified”. In November 2011, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson advised that the application for Australian-owned Bathurst Resources to have access to mine the fragile and unique Denniston Plateau will not be publicly notified.

   Bathurst’s proposal for a resource consent to mine coal on the Denniston Plateau on the West Coast is currently under appeal to the Environment Court. This proposal is the thin edge of Bathurst’s wedge which would see a unique ecosystem destroyed and the volume of coal exported by New Zealand increase by 40% and more in the future if we don’t stop this.

   So bring your placards and help give John Key and Bathurst Resources our simple message: “Keep the coal in the hole”.

   Find out more here
   Or email: coalactionnetwork@gmail.com
   • Jenny 2.1

     21 March 2012 at 10:59 am

     ‘
     Unprecedented, “Eye-Popping” Temperatures Soar, Highs Continue

     And still we do nothing
     • Grumpy 2.1.1

       21 March 2012 at 9:46 pm

       Meanwhile……back in New Zealand…….
3. rosy 3

   21 March 2012 at 7:32 am

   I watched the Queen’s speech at the UK parliament on her 60th jubilee today (I know… I was bored and just happened to see it). Lovely lady it seems, but what struck me was the utter irrelevance to New Zealand now. I will be very happy indeed when New Zealand becomes a republic.
   • Half Crown Millionare 3.1

     21 March 2012 at 9:08 am

     + 1
     • Bored 3.1.1

       21 March 2012 at 9:18 am

       My husband and I find this manner of response from our imperial …ummhhh sorry dominion….commonwealth servants rather disconcerting. It upsets the corgis you know, just as much as the nasty man with the grass skirt and tattos did that horrid dance that scared poor Tiddles last time…put him off his food for a week. To question my relevance what what??? Don’t you colonials realise how we prop up your women’s magazine industry?
       • ianmac 3.1.1.1

         21 March 2012 at 11:04 am

         Funny but true Bored! 🙂
   • Jenny 3.2

     21 March 2012 at 11:05 am

     Kingdom or Republic?

     Would it make as much difference as the average temperature rises to 25C and the sea level is 1m higher?
     • Vicky32 3.2.1

       21 March 2012 at 5:08 pm

       Would it make as much difference as the average temperature rises to 25C and the sea level is 1m higher?

       It is to laugh, honestly! 😀 (As I sit here freezing. Guess how many mosquitoes I’ve seen/heard in  2012? Two of them, both at midday.) Five years ago, the pests were everywhere all night. I find it so hard to believe in global warming, and impossible to care, when every year, right here in Auckland, the temperature goes down…
       • Draco T Bastard 3.2.1.1

         22 March 2012 at 5:31 am

         Interesting, most of my family have been complaining that Auckland is now too damn hot.

         Anecdotes do not a science make.
   • Fortran 3.3

     21 March 2012 at 11:31 am

     I believe it has been said many times in the past that the decison is one for New Zealand to take. I would believe that the Monarchy has no feeling one way or the other.

     How would you handle the Treaty of Waitangi, which would be nullified with no reference to the Crown. Do you invent a new Crown ?

     Australia’s recent referendum on the subject was overwhelming in favour of retention.

     Do you believe that it would be different in New Zealand ?
     • Jenny 3.3.1

       21 March 2012 at 12:16 pm

       Would it matter?
       • Draco T Bastard 3.3.1.1

         22 March 2012 at 5:33 am

         Yes, I think it would. Symbolically more than anything else, the step away from being a child.
     • rosy 3.3.2

       22 March 2012 at 5:55 am

       – Absolutely it is for New Zealand to decide.
       – Part of the reason the Australian monarchy referendum was lost was that there was no agreement on how to select/elect a president.
       – The government already acts for the Crown. There would have to be a way of legitimising this (probably the most difficult task in setting up a republic).
       – It very much depends on the transfer of the Treaty of Waitangi to government, agreement on the form and function of a republican parliament and the referendum questions.
4. muzza 4

   21 March 2012 at 7:35 am

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10793489

   Looks like the predictions were right then…..shakes in NZ and Peru also.

   Next predicted September 20/21
   • Pete George 4.1

     21 March 2012 at 7:50 am

     What predictions? That there might be earthquakes in some places of the world sometimes, especially along the perimeter of tectonic plates?

     There could be times they are slightly more likely to hit than others – even tidal movements could be an influence, but general guesses are not predictions.
5. logie97 5

   21 March 2012 at 7:37 am

   At last Labour has found a straight talker in Andrew Little.
   Listen to his interview on Morning Report this morning at 7:25
   http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport
   • Te Reo Putake 5.1

     21 March 2012 at 7:57 am

     Yep, he totally nailed both Smith and Key. Smith for his totally inappropriate interference in Pullar’s case, Key for not sacking Smith for that misbehaviour. It’s pretty easy to tell how bad this is for National; they are refusing to talk about it!
      
     One interesting sidebar. Little commented about how Winston has ‘sources of information’ (a reference to Winnie’s veiled claim that there is a sexual relationship between Pullar and Smith). I’m starting to get the feeling that there is a high level of cooperation between NZF and Labour in a bad cop, good cop style.
      
     Tracey Watkins is scathing, too.
     • Bored 5.1.1

       21 March 2012 at 8:34 am

       Shonkey is clearly no Helen: he promised to raise the bar on ministerial accountability….ask Dalziel, Dyson, etc etc what happened when you were not squeaky clean under her regime. Clearly Key is a powder puff.
   • Jenny 5.2

     21 March 2012 at 8:01 am

     What is the exact heading for this link?
     • Te Reo Putake 5.2.1

       21 March 2012 at 8:40 am

       Here ya go, Jenny:
        
       http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2513316/opposition-mps-say-smith-should-be-sacked-over-letter.asx
       • Te Reo Putake 5.2.1.1

         21 March 2012 at 9:25 am

         I think this may be the full interview with Little:
          
         http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2513321/labour-puts-pressure-on-nick-smith-over-acc-letter.asx
   • just saying 5.3

     21 March 2012 at 8:56 am

     That isn’t the link for Little. Am interested so will go hunting.
     • Carol 5.3.1

       21 March 2012 at 9:18 am

       Little is interviewed in the later part of the audio for the link provided.
       • just saying 5.3.1.1

         21 March 2012 at 9:46 am

         Ta Carol,
         I flicked ahead when Bennett was declaring her wonderfulness and obviously went too far.
         • prism 5.3.1.1.1

           21 March 2012 at 10:03 am

           Be careful about going too far with Bennett.
   • Fortran 5.4

     21 March 2012 at 1:25 pm

     Logic

     Having listened to Little interview this morning it is sad that he lost his rag as I could not hear what he was saying over Laws.
     He kept shouting Laws down, and it would appear he went right off subject.
     Very poor interview, Andrew should learn to breath through his nose first. He is a first term list MP and obviously has not found his position in the affairs of the Parliamentary Labour Party. He is no longer a Union Leader, but a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party.
     • logie97 5.4.1

       21 March 2012 at 5:23 pm

       … couldn’t comment on other interviews. I was referring to RNZ interview. I Don’t bother with sewer radio, bit like the blogs so will have to defer to your judgement. I thought Little handled the interview with aplomb and sounds like a person who is not afraid of his own shadow. Refreshing.
6. Te Reo Putake 6

   21 March 2012 at 8:18 am

   And in a late breaking conspiracy theory madness update, here’s the skinny on the CIA’s funding of Greenpeace.
   • Matthew Whitehead 6.1

     21 March 2012 at 9:07 am

     LOL, the CIA thinks green movements are dangerous extremists, (which is ironic given that the CIA is operating illegally in their own country) that’s the stupidest conspiracy theory in a long time, and I’m including lizard people in that list. 😛
     • Te Reo Putake 6.1.1

       21 March 2012 at 9:34 am

       The worrying aspect of this lunacy is that Clive Palmer is a massive donor to the Liberal Party at both State and Federal level.
        
       Big mining state Queensland goes to the polls shortly, with the Libs likely to win easily, and federally, the Liberals are lead by a belligerently sceptical climate change denier, Tony Abbott. Palmer will be expecting a quick payoff from his donations locally and nationally, which is bad news for environmentalists and the indigenous peoples of Australia, whose land he likes digging up.
7. ianmac 7

   21 March 2012 at 9:06 am

   One of the women accused in the Urewera case used $35,000 of Legal aid to get ready to defend herself.
   The case against her was dropped (along with many others.)
   She has a good job.
   Now she has to repay the $35,000.
   That doesn’t seem right. I suppose it happens elsewhere but to defend against a case that never happened seems wrong?
   • just saying 7.1

     21 March 2012 at 9:51 am

     Yeah it’s a real travesty. Legal aid has the discretion to lower, or wipe-out such a debt (and I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that they do), but sadly, they won’t.

     I hope someone sets up some kind of an official whip-round for her.
   • Grumpy 7.2

     21 March 2012 at 9:50 pm

     She could have bought some really nice guns for that money…….
8. Jackal 8

   21 March 2012 at 11:14 am

   The real nasty bloggers

   The rightwing bloggers who’ve been foaming at the mouth about somebody who does not deserve their various unfounded accusations and bullying can now STFU.
   • felix 8.1

     21 March 2012 at 5:17 pm

     How come you distorted the pictures of Farrar and the old drunk lady but not Slater?
     • Carol 8.1.1

       21 March 2012 at 5:27 pm

       Look again… the Slater pic is distorted….
       • Reality Bytes 8.1.1.1

         21 March 2012 at 9:16 pm

         Sorry I’m not seeing it.
         • felix 8.1.1.1.1

           21 March 2012 at 9:34 pm

           Me neither. That’s just his face, isn’t it?
           • Jackal 8.1.1.1.1.1

             23 March 2012 at 10:50 pm

             I gave him a mono.
9. Ianupnorth 9

   21 March 2012 at 1:14 pm

   key’s brighter future clearly is in Australia
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10793539
   Another record exodus to their shores!! Can the last out please switch off the lights…
10. KeepOurAssetsDon'tSell. 10

    21 March 2012 at 1:18 pm

    Time for a short break! Let’s have some humour no matter how pathetic!

    Shonkey is missing something in his life? Bromance (Romance between bros)

    Camoron and Obamageddon are cosying up in true Bromance style check this out and John eat your heart out bro!

    “A very special relationship: Cameron claims he was tucked up in the President’s bed by Obama on Air Force One”

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2117730/David-Cameron-tucked-Presidents-bed-Obama-Air-Force-One.html#ixzz1phpMuSuv
    • KeepOurAssetsDon'tSell. 10.1

      21 March 2012 at 5:25 pm

      In the policy area Shonkey shows the same slavish adherence to the NeoLiberal Washington Consensus. It’s painful but New Zealand must stand on its own feet. The first thing to do is to listen to all the people. The U$$$ no longer leads in anyplace except it’s massive destructive military capability, without that it’s just the Banana republic of America.

      This is so embarrassing – Cameron was acting like a little toy boy trying to please his Dad when he was there, beaming with red faced pleasure every time he got a pat on the head and Obama seems to be continuing to take the rise out of him. The whole visit made Britain look weak and silly. Not exactly like Churchill and Roosevelt’s meeting, was it?

      Gee, kinda reminds us of Michael Jackson and his affinity for naive little boys!
11. the pink postman 11

    21 March 2012 at 3:34 pm

    Well who would have thought the Herald would headline that the National Govern is one of shame. Bloody hell perhaps pigs can fly.
12. logie97 12

    21 March 2012 at 5:32 pm

    Anyone else think it laudable of Smith to resign his Ministerial positions?
    He is personally taking cuts in line with the local government realignments he hoped to put in place.

    Well done Nick. Leading by example. Unfortunately, of course, someone else in your party will step up to take your old salary perks.

    Now who have NACT got in their ranks with experience in local politics? Ah yes, Rodney’s replacement in Epsom. (No doubt Key is making a decision as I write this …)
13. vto 13

    21 March 2012 at 5:45 pm

    This is completely and utterly appropriate and expected. Nick Smith gave us complete and utter bullshit and lies over the sacking of Ecan and I have zero sympathy for him and his type. None. Nada. Zip. He can go evaporate for all I care.

    And I agree that this government is starting to teeter. Key is not up to being a PM. He is a money-changer and he should go back to that fine and upstanding trade…
14. Pascal's bookie 14

    21 March 2012 at 7:29 pm

    What with the mfat breakdown, the POAL backdown, the Nick Smith get down, and the PM getting a throw down from hundreds of protesters at Denniston; reckon a certaim smiley waver might be about ready for an early beddy-bies.

    Sorry about the lack of links, but it’s all out there, easy to find.
    • Grumpy 14.1

      21 March 2012 at 9:53 pm

      Hundreds of protestors at Denniston? Nobody lives there!!!
      • Pascal's bookie 14.1.1

        21 March 2012 at 9:57 pm

        I know!

        The dead be rising from their graves to give ‘im a piece o’ their minds.

        Fair play to them I say. The man’s a dick
        • Grumpy 14.1.1.1

          22 March 2012 at 7:54 am

          No graveyard there either, that I know of…..
15. Pascal's bookie 15

    21 March 2012 at 7:31 pm

    All right then:

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/101462/prime-minister-greeted-by-anti-mining-protesters

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/101463/ports-of-auckland-re-enters-collective-bargaining

    And yes, POAL management ‘denies a U-turn’, but they are entering the bargaining they said was done and dusted and over finis.

    So U-turn it is.
16. Reality Bytes 16

    21 March 2012 at 9:22 pm

    Auckland to get double decker buses
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10793562

    Not the answer to our pub transport woes, but still cool imo. It all helps (assuming it goes ahead) towards a more efficient/effective bus service. And it reminds me of London 🙂
    • millsy 16.1

      22 March 2012 at 7:58 am

      All we need is for Auckland Transport to run the buses themselves…
17. Morrissey 17

    21 March 2012 at 10:41 pm

    DEAKER-WATCH No. 4

    New Zealand’s top brains spring into action following Super 15 disaster
    Radio Sport, Sunday 10 July 2011 3.30 p.m.

    The Canterbury Crusaders lost the Super 15 final on Saturday night. That means New Zealand’s best intellects will be working hard to work out the reason for the calamity….

    MURRAY DEAKER: Plenty of spare lines, you’ll get straight through if you ring now. Phil, your thoughts?
    CALLER PHIL: I want to talk about the All Black squad. Murray, I am very, very concerned. I think we will have a lack of intelligence, once the ball goes past Daniel Carter.
    DEAKER: [long, thoughtful pause] Conrad Smith?
    PHIL: Yes, but what if he’s injured, Murray?
    DEAKER: [long, thoughtful pause] I know what you’re getting at, Phil.
    PHIL: Yes, well, it needs to be said, Murray.
    DEAKER: [with utmost gravitas] A lot of people talk about this in private, but are not prepared to talk about it in public. But I don’t give a TOSS about that! The problem is that in this country we have a lot of boys that are EARLY MATURERS.
    PHIL: Yes, oh yes.
    DEAKER: These guys haven’t got the slender build of, say, a Dan Carter, or a Jeff Wilson, or an Andrew Mehrtens.
    PHIL: That’s right, Murray.
    DEAKER: So they’ve never had to jink, or sidestep, or run around any opponents. They are so HUGE that all they have ever had to do is barge past them. They’ve never had to THINK! Because they’re early maturers!
    PHIL: It’s a worry. Because these overseas teams, they’re THINKERS, Murray! They’re private school boys, and they’re thinkers.! The Australians, Murray, they’re just so EDUCATED! I remember once when the lowest-qualified player in the team was a chartered accountant, Murray!
    DEAKER: Yes, but we’ll not see the likes of Nick Farr-Jones, David Kirk, Sir John Graham and Sir Wilson Whineray again. They were very bright guys!
    PHIL: I’m so worried, Murray….

    …ad absurdum, ad nauseam, ad infinitum….

    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
    DEAKER-WATCH is a series dedicated to highlighting the contributions of Murray Deaker to New Zealand public life.

    DEAKER-WATCH No.1…
    
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-13032012/#comment-446445

    DEAKER-WATCH No. 2…
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-14032012/#comment-447110

    DEAKER-WATCH No. 3…
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-15032012/#comment-447518
    • D-D-D-Damn ! 17.1

      23 March 2012 at 12:09 am

      Love the “(With utmost gravitas)” !!!
      • Morrissey 17.1.1

        23 March 2012 at 8:48 pm

        I love the “Plenty of spare lines” refrain, which is, encouragingly, the most common thing Deaker says on his show.
    • millsy 17.2

      24 March 2012 at 11:27 am

      Deaker’s an idiot, why I wasted my teen years listening to him I will never know.
      • Morrissey 17.2.1

        24 March 2012 at 2:09 pm

        Don’t just listen, Millsy, fight back! Like these guys are doing…
        
18. Beyond Help 18

    22 March 2012 at 12:30 am

    A few new labels for a few politicians

    Mr Slash and Burn-the PM

    Mr Power Hungry- No3

    Ballooning Debt -No2

    Small Man Syndrome No1-Power of Attorney
    Small Man Syndrome No 2 – the other lawyer
    Cruising on the Share-market -The ultimate corrections minister

    Black Knight Dame-The Police

    Latest manifesto blue print for the national party

    How to wreck a country in 2 terms without trying

    Can it get any worse ?

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