Open Mike 22/09/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 22nd, 2017 - 135 comments
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135 comments on “Open Mike 22/09/2017 ”

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  1. Ed 1
    22 September 2017 at 6:19 am

    National.

    Happy to lie to get power.
    Happy to put their interests above the vulnerable.
    Happy to accept poisoned rivers, increasing poverty and inequality, more mental health issues, worsening health and education services…

    As long as they are alright and get their flash holidays and flash cars……

    • WILD KATIPO 1.1
      22 September 2017 at 6:23 am

      C’mon New Zealand ,… vote Labour / Green and end all the poverty !!!

      One in Ten – UB40 (lyrics) – YouTube
      Video for one in ten you tube▶ 4:34

    • Draco T Bastard 1.2
      22 September 2017 at 8:53 am

      And it is that corruption, there really is no other word for it, that destroys societies and has done throughout history.

      • popexplosion 1.2.1
        22 September 2017 at 12:19 pm

        It’s the media peddled fake economy, the lavish private taxes and levies introduced by govts on us all. National are the party of high hidden taxes. Taxes that take time from parenting, take time from community, take time from participation in society, take time off life from pollution causing ill health. It’s the fake economy the corrupt media manufactures to cover all the external costs unpaid for except by the people.

        • reason 1.2.1.1
          22 September 2017 at 1:00 pm

          Our biased media have shown their Dirty side with their reliable amplification and repeating of Nact lies and smears ….. Its what they do at election times.

          Lies by omission is their usual method of mis-reporting …..

          Which brings me to John Key and the comprehensive con job they pulled on behalf of that disgusting man … although they did lie a hell of a lot for him …

          Keys early currency speculation in NZ was possibly rigged with insider trading, …..if he was in on the Douglas pre-devaluation tip off …

          Currency speculation makes normal trading for businesses which actually produce something more difficult…….. Key left NZ for Merrill Lynch.

          Keys work for Merrill Lynch in Ireland, seems to have consisted of using tax havens and things like the double irish dutch sandwich ….. to entice mainly American companies to creatively become Irish ones, In name ……

          He made large money …. by Gutting UsA tax revenue, and that of other countries….. as corporations opted out of paying tax where they make their sales and profits …..

          Its impossible to estimate the costs and harms John Key has inflicted on poor and middle class citizens everywhere ,,,,, through reduced Governments revenue.

          His work for merrill in Asia is where he gained the reputation for smiling while sacking people ,,,,

          The Asian currency crisis took place in 1997 ……and like most crashes involved speculation …. along eith innocent workers paying the price for the greed of the financial sector ….

          Corruption was also rife in Asia …regularly 25% of funding for projects and sometimes up to 50% was being taken and skimmed by corrupt regimes like a suharto or his Generals.

          …… In many cases institutions like Merrill when raising funding and making the loans … would then help the corrupt leaders move their stolen portion off-shore …. High ranking jobs were given to corrupt Politicians children or other relatives …..

          When or if the corrupt illegitimate leaders were removed from power …..the corrupt banksters debts remained ……….

          These corrupt debts get paid in either privatisation and theft of resources ….or through tax on the poor …

          s
          Sometimes over 50%) of a governments expenditure will be interest on never ending debt …….. while poor children die from lack of sanitation and basics in healthcare and food ….

          Poor people are not worth a dollar missing from bankers profits to the Keys of this world.…

          In our country and other developed nations, corporate and uber rich tax cheating ….. means things like ‘voluntary’ school fees for financially stressed parents,….. large student debts for something that used to be free for Key, English, Joyce,Collins and co …. longer waiting lists in the health sector, underfunded police etc etc

          In poor countries this economic apartheid kills children……

          Ask yourself , would you steal from a baby ? …. people who build and use tax havens do …..

          Key has personally helped steal from Millions of children ……

          Keys investment skills suggest he left the largest portion of his paper wealth in his old firm ….It almost hit $100 per share ….. before it poisoned itself with its on products and dodgy creative accounting … Merrill was the third big firm after Bear-sterns and Lehmans to collapse …

          Bank of America was backing out of a deal to buy merrill …. when Merrills portfolio revealed itself as a pile of toxic crap …. with 21 Billion dollar operating losses revealed in a three month period ……

          Merrill and the financial sector were vaporizing wealth at a rate which is hard to comprehend ….. 46 Billion was the final amount in losses from Merrill …… 46 Billion

          The American government stepped in and the Bank of America was forced to rescue the imploding Merrill and stop a domino collapsing of the american financial system …..

          american taxpayers, pension funds and other victims paid for the bailout in Govt cash to the perpetrators ….. and then they paid again ….. with GFC loss of jobs wealth and security for themselves and other ordinary people.

          Despite Keys statements dissing and distancing himself from Merrill …… when the GFC revealed their sham products, creative dishonesty and reckless gambling behavior …

          His Bank of America shares are testimonty to him staying firmly invested with Merrill …..

          He benefited from the Usa Govt forcing the merger ….. and paying Billions to cover Merrills loses

          Key started his Merrill career by costing ordinary taxpayers money with his base erosion tax dodge work …

          And he finished it with a direct bailout for his worthless Merrill shares ….

          What a hard working creative millionare …… he cant swing a hammer but builds things which blow Billion dollar holes in Government revenue

          How many millions in charity he took from usa citizens …. depends on how many Merrill shares he had hoarded

          He could be summed up as an anti-Robin Hood ….. Stealing from the poor to give to the rich.

          Good at greed driven cheating ……….. But a shit Greed driven investor.

          Its all a bit of a scam how our media never reported his personal multi million bailout at the start of the GFC ….

          Protecting the image ….. by many lies ….and lots of omission.

          As Bill and National is benefiting from.

          Keys and Englishs economic model ……of speculation and cheating is of course doomed to failure ……

          It can only benefit the few by the losses of the many.

          • popexplosion 1.2.1.1.1
            25 September 2017 at 10:44 am

            Key, Nz’s George Bush junior. Bush started wars, Key destroyed his own nation, shitty rivers, shitty housing, shitty tourism all over the country…

  2. Pacific Princess 2
    22 September 2017 at 6:50 am

    I’ve been out and about in Onehunga and Mangere taking people to enrol and vote early over the last week. The vibe for change is strong and I’m pleased to have seen young people skipping into the booths and coming out with the “I’ve voted” sticker. For me the last two days have been emotional, feeling nervous and butterflies multiplying in the puku…hoping and praying for the best outcome for all our people tomorrow…we can do this…let’s do this!

    • WILD KATIPO 2.1
      22 September 2017 at 7:00 am

      L0l yes !… my son and I both smiled and wore the ‘ I’ve voted ‘ sticker after casting our votes ,… its really a good idea . 🙂

      • Pacific Princess 2.1.1
        22 September 2017 at 7:10 am

        I agree Wild Katipo…the stickers are good…we took our young children along with us to vote this week and they said to me quietly “vote for me” to which a man overheard and replied “I just did”…we all walked out with our stickers! Proud!

    • Carolyn_nth 2.2
      22 September 2017 at 7:08 am

      Excellent work. Pleased to read about the vibe for change – south Auckland needs it; Tāmaki Makaurau needs it; Aotearoa- NZ needs it.

    • Ad 2.3
      22 September 2017 at 8:29 am

      Top Work Pacific Princess. Keep it up.

    • marty mars 2.4
      22 September 2017 at 8:59 am

      Nice one – good mahi – let’s make a diffrence, together

    • greywarshark 2.5
      22 September 2017 at 9:01 am

      Having an I’ve voted’ sticker is a good idea. Me with the butterflies too. Good on you Pacific Princess.

    • The Fairy Godmother 2.6
      22 September 2017 at 9:34 am

      Good on you Pacific Princess. I have been out and about in Papatoetoe. People are desperate for a change and they really want to vote this time. They are getting family out to vote. They are encouraging each other. It could be 2005 all over again -turnout confounding the polls.

  3. Eco maori 3
    22 September 2017 at 7:02 am

    Some MSM must have Australian decency because some of them Keep underarm bowling Jacainda.
    Nice try but I all ready read that someone was under arm bowling me last nite or was it a SPIN bowling on TV 3.
    I agree with Draco T Bastard we will ban all polls a month before election nite.
    What a load of rubbish bill already knows he has lost its written all over his face I will courier a couple of boxes of tissues to TV 3 for Saturday nite
    My pick
    Lab 50
    Grn 18
    Maori party 6
    We want a future for OUR children

  4. patricia bremner 4
    22 September 2017 at 7:05 am

    Youth vote today please. So so important.

  5. KJT 5
    22 September 2017 at 7:09 am

    70 000 immigrants a year. That is 700 000 in ten years, 100 000 new houses required at 7 per house, at least 350 000 new jobs required, 4 new hospitals and another cities worth of services,. Just so National can pretend the economy is growing

    • Matt 5.1
      22 September 2017 at 7:14 am

      Yip and half of the growth has been coming from the earthquake rebuild and increased infrastructure spend. Projections certainly aren’t so impressive going forward.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1
        22 September 2017 at 8:59 am

        All the growth has been coming from increased debt created by the housing boom.

        To have increased GDP requires having more money in the system and the only way money increases is through borrowing from the private banks.

      • greywarshark 5.1.2
        22 September 2017 at 9:31 am

        Yip. Reminds me of Yip Harburg and Jay Gorney and their poignant song.

        The National Herd have passed their suitability test to be an exalted citizen, they have made money and worked at something enough so they feel virtuous. The Virtue Religion it’s the new one, probably a bit like Scientology.

        National! Note – Al they don’t want you in their nation.
        Yip’s song.
        Brother Can You Spare a Dime

        Say don’t you remember you called me Al,
        It was Al all the time,
        Buddy can you spare a dime.

        Al Jolson (Old time famous in USA, interesting historic and Depression shots)
        (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F4yT0KAMyo

        Bing Crosby’s version.
        (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eih67rlGNhU

        Depression history images.
        (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpfY8kh5lUw

        ‘Don’t want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard.’ For Gnashional politicians.
        Paul Simon You can call me Al. Al certainly has difficulties and in NZ he’s the tail end of the nation. Let’s see the tail wagging the dog eh!

  6. KJT 6
    22 September 2017 at 7:14 am

    Nationals standard election procedure.
    1. Pretend to be socialist.
    2. Fudge statistics so they look socialist.
    3. Make things up about the opposition.
    4. Lie. Lie. Lie. Lie………

  7. Eco maori 7
    22 September 2017 at 7:18 am

    Duncan stop trying to justify your polls which are designed to confuse voters what a good under arm bowl the business of OUR country need to pay more to OUR society because they ain’t paying much NOW Ka Pai

  8. Incognito 8
    22 September 2017 at 7:27 am

    In recent days an awful (!) lot has been said about lying.

    I thought this piece was very good: http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/decor/97045612/how-not-to-be-a-good-human-according-to-the-block

    Values learned: Avoid the truth, disrespect, unfairness, profit over people

    Virtues displayed: Deviousness, win at all costs, dishonesty

    Sometimes I wonder whether calling out lies & liars is actually having the intended effect of achieving a more truthful society. It seems that more often (?) it is portrayed & viewed as a shining example of how to get ahead and succeed. Think Gordon Gekko and “greed is good”.

    That said, not pulling them up on lies is not the way either …

    • Draco T Bastard 8.1
      22 September 2017 at 9:44 am

      The problem is that there’s no consequences to lying. Blinglish and many other National Party MPs lied and they’re still eligible to be in parliament. This should not happen.

      • Incognito 8.1.1
        22 September 2017 at 11:12 pm

        It just seems that there are no negative consequences to lying. Indeed, it appears to pay off in the short term. However, in the longer term the lies will catch up with you and you start to distrust others and suspect them from lying to you too. In the end, you cannot trust anyone, not even yourself … A truly Faustian Pact!

        • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1.1
          22 September 2017 at 11:18 pm

          In the end, you cannot trust anyone, not even yourself … A truly Faustian Pact!

          Which is just one of the aspects of the RWNJ Greed is Good paradigm that destroys society. When no one can trust anyone else then relationships break down and society fragments and eventually we see civil war or worse.

    • ianmac 8.2
      22 September 2017 at 10:11 am

      Good link Incognito. Just as well Jacinda, aware of those crook values, said,
      “Let’s NOT do it.” And she hasn’t and nor has James.

  9. Eco maori 9
    22 September 2017 at 7:28 am

    I got told off for trying to tell my sons whom to vote for she was right I had to apologise Please go and vote Labour Green or Maori party If you want a future

    • Molly 9.1
      22 September 2017 at 8:17 am

      We have commentators telling us who to vote for, PR firms and pamphlets and billboards galore.

      Depending on “how” you were telling your sons, I would think that anyone else should stay out of it, (unless it falls under party campaigning at the booth). Especially if they had asked your advice. In the end, you are just another source of information, they get to decide whether to listen to you or not.

      As an aside, meant to act as a casual scrutineer this time at my father-in-law’s rest home this election. We went to take him to the voting booth last time, and found out he had already voted. He thought he had just confirmed his vote, with “helpers” telling him where to tick. He had no idea which party he had voted for. Unfortunately, when the early voting came around I was unable to get there to watch. Back on the to-do list for next time.

      • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1
        22 September 2017 at 9:56 am

        We went to take him to the voting booth last time, and found out he had already voted. He thought he had just confirmed his vote, with “helpers” telling him where to tick. He had no idea which party he had voted for.

        I hope you reported that to the electoral commission so that it could be properly investigated.

        • alwyn 9.1.1.1
          22 September 2017 at 12:12 pm

          I worked as a poll clerk at a polling booth at one election a long time ago. We did it as a fund raising exercise for a charity where we put in the time and they got the money.
          It was in a rest home and a fair number of the people there were showing distinct signs of dementia.
          They were being “helped” by the staff. I think that quite a lot of the people “voting” had no idea what was going on.
          From what you say it appears the practice continues.

        • Molly 9.1.1.2
          27 September 2017 at 9:25 am

          He was not concerned with the outcome, and I was not going to appropriate his experience and perhaps put him in a situation that caused him discomfort.

          (I was instead, going to actively be present at the home for this election process, in order to make any complaints from a personal perspective but unfortunately was occupied with being with him over that two weeks in his last illness. He passed away the day after the vote was taken in the home, a week before the elections.)

  10. Eco maori 10
    22 September 2017 at 7:52 am

    I can already see the effects of my fellow bloggers and I fighting equal rights For OUR female”s you go get that power Ladys I mite be a bit bias because I have granddaughter”s but OUR females need all the help to right this wrong we fight for equal rights For every Human in OUR WORLD
    GET THE TRUTH OF WHATS HAPPENING AROUND OUR WORLD WITH SOCIAL MEDIA KA PAI

  11. Tony Veitch (not etc) 11
    22 September 2017 at 8:28 am

    It seems to be the season for making predictions on the outcome of the election, and who am I to resist the fashion.

    So: Labour on 41%, just ahead of National on 39% (which, God knows is about 15 per cent more than they deserve!) Greens on 9% or even more – the message about climate change/breakdown finally getting through. NZ First, just over 5%, but with Winnie losing his seat in Northland. Act 1 seat (a real travesty of natural justice) The Maori Party 1 seat.

    I don’t know how that would break down into seats, but the progressive bloc half of parliament!

    Whether that means we can begin to roll back the neoliberal cancer that has wracked this country for over 30 years – remains to be seen!

    • Anne 11.1
      22 September 2017 at 10:14 am

      It’s possible TV (not etc) if the rumours that the “youthquake” has finally emerged are true, but don’t count on it. I don’t trust the integrity of the majority of the rest of the punters. They are politically inept and easily led by the duplicitous, unscrupulous Nats.

  12. swordfish 12
    22 September 2017 at 8:41 am

    National Party Internal Poll (Curia) (2 days ago)

    Nat 43%
    Lab 39%
    NZF 6%
    Greens 6%

    Sources told Newsroom that National’s latest internal polling has it at 43 percent and Labour at 39 percent. NZ First and the Greens were both on six percent. But there were suggestions from those close to National that its figures had softened overnight

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/09/20/48879/election-2017-live-an-awkward-jet-fuel-crisis

    Still everything to play for – “softened” = Voters swinging back to the Left ???

    • Pat 12.1
      22 September 2017 at 8:48 am

      you seen anything on Northland?….what chance Winston holds the seat?

      • swordfish 12.1.1
        22 September 2017 at 9:39 am

        Northland ? …. None that I know of

        Polls of Whangarei & Te Tai Tokerau …. but no Northland – go figure

        Still – I’d be highly surprised if NZF fell below 5% threshold

        • Pat 12.1.1.1
          22 September 2017 at 9:42 am

          haveseen two conflicting reports (but no numbers) RNZ suggest he has little chance of holding whereas Newsroom suggests he will…as to threshold, i wouldnt be highly surprised….mildly perhaps

    • swordfish 12.2
      22 September 2017 at 9:10 am

      So, latest Polls

      Nat (Curia) … Lab (UMR) … CB ……… RR

      Nat … 43% ………… 43% ……… 46% …… 45.8
      Lab … 39% ………… 38% ……… 37% …… 37.3
      NZF … 6% ………….. 8% ………… 5% …….. 7.1
      Green 6% ………….. 7% ………… 8% …….. 7.1

      • james 12.2.1
        22 September 2017 at 9:14 am

        NZF and Greens wouldn’t want to drop too much off that if they want a job come Monday.

        That will be interesting to watch on the night.

      • Redlion Seratus 12.2.2
        22 September 2017 at 10:15 am

        An average of those puts left block ahead by a mere half a percent… in my electorate I heard from a colleague who’s scrutineering early mostly left in a Conservative seat. Winnie still a lynch pin I think

        • ianmac 12.2.2.1
          22 September 2017 at 10:33 am

          Redlion. I think you said that early voters were voting Left in a Conservative seat?

          • Redlion Seratus 12.2.2.1.1
            22 September 2017 at 11:42 am

            That’s right Ianmac .Tory numbers will come down in my view & Labour
            up…but not enough for Greens/Labour to govern alone unfortunately.Hope
            Jacinda chooses the right single malt

        • alwyn 12.2.2.2
          22 September 2017 at 12:19 pm

          Are scrutineers really allowed to look at the polling papers before election day?
          I thought the boxes remained sealed and early counting wasn’t allowed until the polls opened on polling day.
          I also thought it was illegal to provide anyone not part of the election with information about the vote before the close of the polls.

          • Redlion Seratus 12.2.2.2.1
            22 September 2017 at 1:52 pm

            Don’t be naif mate… yes the votes are sealed and you cant talk but some people can read body language pretty well & wearing a rosette is also allowed. Also only anecdotal

    • ianmac 12.3
      22 September 2017 at 10:18 am

      “But there were suggestions from those close to National that its figures had softened overnight”
      Gee hope so. Maybe early voting is not such a good idea. Remember a couple of elections ago John Key on mounting the victory dais gave his first hearty thanks to David Farrar. So his polling and focus grouping engineered a victory rather than a Party with merit.

  13. The Chairman 13
    22 September 2017 at 9:03 am

    Expert calls for inquiry into Chinese ‘threat’

    Well, well. There seems to be an interesting development following on from my post on the 16th (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-16092017/#comment-1385067).

    A leading academic has called for New Zealand to follow Australia and take the threat of China’s growing influence in its affairs seriously.
    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/09/18/48616/expert-calls-for-inquiry-into-chinese-threat

    Chinese-owned New Zealand dairy farms said to possibly being used to test advanced missile technology
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11924169

    This from ABC: Chinese “soft power” influence becomes election issue in New Zealand
    http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/worldtoday/chinese-soft-power-influence-in-new-zealand/8967852

    And of course, this from Winston: China’s Growing Control in NZ Must Be Investigated
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1709/S00237/chinas-growing-control-in-nz-must-be-investigated.htm

    • KJT 13.2
      22 September 2017 at 3:09 pm

      US power, economic paradigms and influence, in New Zealand is much more frightening at present. That may change as China already “owns” the USA.

      • lprent 13.2.1
        22 September 2017 at 3:48 pm

        Hey KJT – do you have any idea when that pipeline from the wharf to Wiri could have been removed after?

        I can’t find it anywhere

    • Cinny 13.3
      22 September 2017 at 3:12 pm

      Chairman I listened to that link you posted last weekend, it was really interesting, am following what’s going on re subject matter and researching because it’s entirely plausible and logical. Appreciate these links you have posted. Thanks Cinny.

      PS am not racist and i love love refugees, but this isn’t about race, it’s about power

    • Exkiwiforces 13.4
      22 September 2017 at 5:06 pm

      I’m afraid Mr Chairman you are on money with this one, especially when Australia and NZ governments are reducing aid in the South Pacific (incl PNG and East Timor) weather is civilian aid or under the Mutual Aid Pact (MAP) and China fills void with its cheap loans, cheap labour for its aid projects instead of employing and training up the local workforce like Oz and NZ do. Then the Chinese government puts pressure on the South Pacific counties to under report fishing quotas/ catches, threatened to withdraw market access for goods when there is a enquiry into the Chinese dumping of low quality goods aka cheap reo bar used in NZ building projects or worst calls in the so called cheap loans etc and then we have got the Chinese government/ proxies actions in to freedom of speech within the our universities or in the fourth estate.

      The Chinese use of soft power is straight out of the thinking of the great Chinese general of Sun Tuz with a bit Mahan and Clausewitz thrown in for good measure.

      The NZ establishment to busy trying to make as money as they can in the short term than rather look at the long term consequences, which is so typical of NZ governments and corporate NZ.

      • Draco T Bastard 13.4.1
        22 September 2017 at 11:26 pm

        +111

        As Marx pointed out – the capitalists will sell you the rope used to hang them. And that is exactly how our governments have been acting for the last few decades.

  14. marty mars 14
    22 September 2017 at 9:08 am

    I’ll make a prediction – LANDSLIDE FOR LABOUR – NATIONAL MPs LOSE SEATS EVERYWHERE – GREEN VOTE MASSIVE.

    • james 14.1
      22 September 2017 at 9:12 am

      I’ll make a prediction that you are wrong.

      Whatever way it will go it will be close.

      I think National ahead of Labour. Winston goes with National (being the largest vote).

      3 more years of National led government.

      • Rosemary McDonald 14.1.1
        22 September 2017 at 9:22 am

        Hey, James….how about putting your faith in the status quo into action and give your home address to one of the overworked charities trying to find homes for those without.

        I’m sure they can satisfy your probable desire to only help those who are making the effort to help themselves by sending you a couple of working poor families who need a home.

        Sorted, then?

      • Ad 14.1.2
        22 September 2017 at 9:38 am

        If you go over to the National site, you can see particularly in their property section that they are far better at expressing their policies in terms of rational self interest. Both to younger people trying to get in to property, and to those who already own property.

        Most of my work colleagues noticed this.

        They also put up the banner headline on their site about “More of your income for you” or thereabouts.

        I appreciate the precision of that messaging.

        (but I will still be voting for the red team).

      • Trey 14.1.3
        22 September 2017 at 9:44 am

        If you are right James then New Zealand will suffer three more years of this.
        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11924968 because this is the legacy of nine years of National.

        I work for a University with schools in South Auckland and see the effects of this everyday. There is not a school I work with (and I work with primary schools) that doesn’t have kids who are self harming and or have made suicide attempts. FFS 10 year olds so disillusioned by your brigther future that they do not want to live.

        With my brother (a patched gang member who your Deputy thinks has less human rights than her ) I also do volunteer work coaching sports teams and fundraising so kids can pay fees, have boots and have a chance for a better life and the need just keeps getting bigger and bigger under National.

        We both grew up poor and brown in South Auckland but things were never as bad as they are right now.

        Despite my own battles with drug and alcohol addiction (15 years sober) and depression I have been lucky and done well for myself. I earn six figures and my wife who is a Deputy Principal earns just under six figures. We can afford to pay more tax so that others have decent healthcare, access to mental health services and more money in their pockets to provide for themselves and their whanau.

        As a country we need to do better. As a country we need to be fairer. That is why James I hope you are wrong and National do not win on Saturday. That is why I hope this election people vote for what is best for others and not what is best for them.
        Kia Kaha James. I respect your right to hold your beliefs I just do not agree with them

        • ianmac 14.1.3.1
          22 September 2017 at 10:21 am

          An inspiring story Trey. Thanks.

          • Trey 14.1.3.1.1
            22 September 2017 at 10:47 am

            Thanks ianmac. I just want to live in a country where I get to volunteer to help kids just because I want to not because I also “need” to. I am sitting at home today filling out forms and jumping through hoops so that the low decile schools I work with can access money to pay for professional development (PLD) for their teachers. Prior to this Governmentthis money was earmarked for them in a priority learners (Maori, Pasifika, Low SES, special needs) fund. The schools that really need it, now have to compete with high decile schools who can afford to fund the PLD themselves. It is a friggin joke.

            • indiana 14.1.3.1.1.1
              22 September 2017 at 11:03 am

              I’m inclined to think that you may get better support from Charter Schools for your voluntary services – in fact I would think that Charter Schools would be more inclined to pay for your services.

              • Trey …
                22 September 2017 at 11:16 am

                I do my volunteer work in the community not in schools (although I have done some work with schools uncharged when I have had free time).
                I would never work in a charter school as the philosophy behind them is at odds with my own beliefs that were formed by research. You may think they are great and if you do then good for you but for me I would rather see better funding for state schools.

          • JanM 14.1.3.1.2
            22 September 2017 at 11:07 am

            + 100%

        • patricia bremner 14.1.3.2
          22 September 2017 at 10:48 am

          Thank you Trey. So well expressed with no bitterness.

          We all who have worked with struggling and disadvantaged families and individuals know that right wing parties cut services severely when they first get power. (austerity budget)

          Following that they change the playing field to assist their own while berating the rest as lazy or making bad choices. (Ring fencing opportunities).

          After 6/9 years of this, as opposition grows, they say yes we have made provision for improving that, but it is still less than before. (small loaded tax cuts/ contestible funding)

          By now youth who were 9/10 years old when the right got in, at 18 are voting for something they have never had. Fairness and Hope.

          Some are already lost souls hoping against hope for change.

          Youth, you have the power to enroll vote and change this. Please do.

      • marty mars 14.1.4
        22 September 2017 at 9:52 am

        Yes james many fools have believed the polling – if you actually knew what they do, how they do it and then the interpretation of what information they receive – then you would not follow their lines so easily – but as a gnat voter you are easily led.

      • Robert Guyton 14.1.5
        22 September 2017 at 1:13 pm

        James! Saturday night!

        “For the trolls, know-it-alls and daredevils among us, the above options may seem laughably tame. After all this is your time to shine!

        Fear not. Any and all situations can be turned into an opportunity for you to demonstrate your penchant for provocation with aplomb.

        You know you’re the smartest. Elections are the time to make that apparent. Election night is the crescendo of your campaign of intellectual superiority and you cannot let it go to waste. In the mood for company? Wear a controversial t-shirt. Interrupt people loudly. Make your thoughts on controversial issues crystal clear. Staying in? Use the internet as it was intended: taunting, goading and antagonising those you disagree with.

        You may not make friends but you will MAKE YOURSELF HEARD. And after all – isn’t that what democracy is all about? “

      • greywarshark 14.1.6
        22 September 2017 at 2:01 pm

        James
        Everyone is so nice and polite to you. Bugger that. You have said that it is going to be a National led government I don’t know how many times. You are
        just a stupid troll who doesn’t know that elections are a competition for ideas and methods of government. It’s not a sporting match, it’s not my side against yours and getting the ball over the line is the big deal.

        This is about life and you waste our time, but not yours because you don’t know how to value time and effort. So you come here for amusement and interrupt the grown-ups. As time goes by, you and we may not be so polite when we are fighting for our lives and resources and have reached the end of our tether.

    • greywarshark 14.2
      22 September 2017 at 9:34 am

      Hooray marty mars – roll out the red carpet, we know what colour is the best for
      a flying carpet.

    • One Two 14.3
      22 September 2017 at 12:24 pm

      Only a landslide can defeat ‘counting fraud’…

      It’s who counts the votes…

      No doubt there is a shift and ground swell rising MM…

      If it doesn’t sweep this time, the nats will be gone forever should they have another 3 years…

      Kia Kaha Aotearoa

    • Cinny 14.4
      22 September 2017 at 3:15 pm

      Marty… Maureen Pugh doesnt get back in? I’m so down with that, that leader ad happened again, lololol 7 weeks in a row, super funny. She’s already removed her hoardings from the main street here, Hooray.
      May I add to that prediction please, Greens gain at least one more seat 2 weeks later after the special are counted.

  15. greywarshark 15
    22 September 2017 at 9:37 am

    Here’s some exciting music and images to carry the fight and spirit on.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3cXcS49D64
    O Fortuna we cry.

  16. Carolyn_nth 16
    22 September 2017 at 9:37 am

    Toby Manhire tweeted a quote from Clarke Gayford:

    “aiming for Michelle Obama, probably going to be closer to Prince Phillip” – @NZClarke on his role if Ardern become PM, on @TheAMShowNZ

  17. Eco maori 17
    22 September 2017 at 9:52 am

    Looks like I found my Mark we will see who wins !!!!!!!! I already no

  18. Kay 18
    22 September 2017 at 10:08 am

    Election time in NZ should never be source of severe angst and anxiety to any segment of the population. We should all be able to be confident that, whatever the outcome we will be able to accept it. But in what I thought I’d never see happen in NZ, the outcome of a general election is now literally a matter of life or death for some- make that a lot more than some, it’s multiplying every 3 years. So that anxiety is more than justified.

    Those who are yet to vote, please also consider the literal lives of your fellow human beings/citizens.

    • WILD KATIPO 18.1
      22 September 2017 at 10:27 am

      Indeed , Kay ,… it is PROFOUNDLY crazy that this country , … has gotten to the point that there is anxiety about who wins this election. And its not just the sort of anxiety of team pride ,… it is something completely different ,… it is the same sort of anxiety experienced by many in third world country’s that are war torn,…

      Whereby for many , – it is a matter of urgency of life or death.

      That is ridiculous in a country full of natural resources like this. And it is even more ridiculous that it is present in a country that was once the 6th wealthiest ( per head of population ) in the late 1960s.

      And , it is a direct result of 33 years of neo liberalism.

    • Robert Guyton 18.2
      22 September 2017 at 11:17 am

      That’s beautifully put, Kay and so true. There is a great deal of unnecessary anxiousness out in the community that benefits no one. I hope that tomorrow night, there’ll be a great deal less. In the towns and cities anyway 🙂

    • Incognito 18.3
      22 September 2017 at 11:44 pm

      I hear you, Kay, and please remember that voting is personal but it’s not personal, if you know what I mean. Some people care, some don’t. I don’t know you but I still care for you and for my fellow humans. Is my vote going to make a difference? A vote is just a vote, once every three years. It is pretty meaningless in the greater scheme of things unless you let it define your life. I know this may sounds very patronizing – it is to some extent – but those who have a one or two-seat majority in Parliament do not own me, they are not telling me what to think, say or do. They have as much power over me as I’m willing to give to them. Stay strong, find other strong people and join forces and help and love each other. Kia kaha, Kay! [I’m as pakeha as they come]

  19. Pete 19
    22 September 2017 at 10:16 am

    After tomorrow I look forward to driving all the way down a six lane highway to our holiday house on the Coromandel in our new Bentayga. The future is bright. Abigail and Felicity are doing well at school and looking forward to their trip to Italy with their school chums.

    The MSM should not be printing rubbish like I saw this morning. It brings the country down when we are so buoyant and everything is great. We truly are in ‘Godzone.’

    Publishing this sort of stuff before an election is unethical. What happened to integrity? Thank goodness we have a man like Mr English at the top. Hopefully such an ethical man, of such strong religious views and moral perspective, will see that nonsense like this will never be allowed to be printed.

    The publishers of the Herald and the midwife should be the first into his new bootcamps.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11924968

    • Psych nurse 19.1
      22 September 2017 at 10:29 am

      God forbid that this Midwife should work in Remuera where the effects of long term inbreeding are also too obvious.

    • ianmac 19.2
      22 September 2017 at 10:31 am

      Great slant Pete. Touch of irony?

      • Pete 19.2.1
        22 September 2017 at 10:38 am

        A touch of irony would be not being able to top up the 13l+/100km transport because some Northern scum had buggered up delivery of the supplies!

        Great confidence that Bull will have St Judith on that case though. Might stop in to see her on the way through actually. Just in for a cup of tea like. Now, how many kms from the airport? In what direction? ….

    • WILD KATIPO 19.3
      22 September 2017 at 10:32 am

      … ” The publishers of the Herald and the midwife should be the first into his new bootcamps ” …

      Yep , – I can just see it now , Herr English and Herr Joyce in their riding boots , peaked caps and bullwhips. The image suits them well. A sign with the words ‘Arbeit macht frei’ would be a suitable backdrop to ram the message home as well….

    • Redlion Seratus 19.4
      22 September 2017 at 11:46 am

      That’s right Ianmac .Tory numbers will come down in my view & Labour
      up…but not enough for Labour /Greens to govern alone unfortunately.Hope
      Jacinda chooses the right single malt

  20. millsy 20
    22 September 2017 at 11:37 am

    If I don’t post on here again, just want to wish everyone good luck. Hopefully we will see a change of government.

    If National does get back in, Ill probably won’t post for a little bit, at least until the trolls lose interest. But we shall see.

    On the bright side, it’s going to be a warm weekend forecast, and daylight saving kicks off this weekend.

    • marty mars 20.1
      22 September 2017 at 12:19 pm

      mate I like your posts (mainly) – whatever happens we will need your shoulder – go well, refresh and come back fire breathing and flying. Kia kaha.

    • greywarshark 20.2
      22 September 2017 at 4:49 pm

      Know how you feel Millsy. Let’s keep popping in with some interesting tidbit. And we may yet make it through the night.

    • patricia bremner 20.3
      22 September 2017 at 4:52 pm

      Millsy the youth are turning out. Lines of them at most polling booths. Yesterday, 178785 people voted. It was reported many were young and enrolling as well.

      Today on facebook the lines are 20 deep at all unis, so they are responding. Chin up.

  21. BM 21
    22 September 2017 at 12:17 pm

    The future is arriving pretty god damn fast

    A breakthrough in soft robotics means scientists are now one step closer to creating lifelike machines. Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a 3D printed synthetic tissue that can act as active muscle

    https://www.engadget.com/2017/09/21/synthetic-muscle-soft-robot-breakthrough/

  22. Jon Jones 22
    22 September 2017 at 12:36 pm

    So I just hope that whatever way the result goes we can all accept it with good grace and that we call get in behind whatever government is formed

    Even if the government formed is not the one we’re hoping for its still the government of NZ so we should all get in behind and support it however we can

    We don’t want to be (at least I hope we don’t) like the USA and have protests, start a petition etc etc

    NZ is the overall best country in the world and we have one of the most stable political systems in the world as well and we should proud of that

    Go democracy!

    [I’ve done a couple of moderation requests on top of previous moderations. Given it’s the election and I don’t want to have to think about this for a while, I’m banning you for 4 weeks. When you come back you still need to answer the questions that have been asked. See https://thestandard.org.nz/is-nz-doomed-to-lying-politics-now/#comment-1388685 – weka]

  23. The Chairman 23
    22 September 2017 at 12:56 pm

    The Maori Party is investigating allegations its first Chinese candidate threatened violence against a journalist.

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/ill-beat-him-up-maori-party-investigating-allegations-candidate-threatened-nz-herald-reporter

  24. Glenn 24
    22 September 2017 at 1:13 pm

    The Scream..Jacinda Ardern.
    https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1422629158

    And sorry if someone has already posted it.

  25. The decrypter 25
    22 September 2017 at 1:33 pm

    Does the ban on talking bout politics from midnight tonight apply to the Standard?-can I still come here to be depressed?

  26. Pat 26
    22 September 2017 at 1:44 pm

    Does anyone know whether there is any requirement for an MP or more importantly a Minister to have full control of his/her mental faculties?

    • McFlock 26.1
      22 September 2017 at 1:56 pm

      Available evidence suggests not.

      Section 80 of the Electoral Act 1993 prohibits someone from being a candidate if they’re being detained for treatment under order or if they’re unfit to stand trial, but that’s a pretty massive threshold.

      If you can breath and write your name, you can be a candidate and therefore a minister (with a few other exceptions, like prinoners or defence force personnel).

    • The decrypter 26.2
      22 September 2017 at 1:56 pm

      Not in Nationals MP’s requirements.-nick smith sets the mental target,a goal they all strive to achieve.

    • Pat 26.3
      22 September 2017 at 2:04 pm

      Im not joking…..having dealt with a parent with dementia for the past 5 years I was seriously concerned to read this a short time ago….
      “Richard Prosser responds:

      Morning Tim

      Just for clarity, my statement concerning the re-nationalisation of power company shares was not wrong as your otherwise splendid article proclaims.

      Perhaps the Member for Northland had simply changed his mind and not bothered to tell anyone else. Or perhaps he had forgotten our established and agreed position. Or perhaps he simply forgot that he’d changed his mind.

      Recent behavioural trends lead me to suspect that any of the above are possibilities.

      Best regards

      Richard Prosser”

      https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/09/21/49216/winstons-last-stand

      • Andre 26.3.1
        22 September 2017 at 3:19 pm

        On the other hand, given NZ1st’s slide in the polls and Mr Prosser’s change in list position from 3rd to 15th, he may … erm…not perhaps be the most reliable witness.

        • Pat 26.3.1.1
          22 September 2017 at 3:21 pm

          perhaps…but on top of his bizarre performance on RNZ the other day (was it last week?) the questions mount

  27. marty mars 27
    22 September 2017 at 2:03 pm

    nice article from a farmers son

    My message to my father and the rest of rural New Zealand is this: a National victory may add to growing resentment, in which case expect the opposition to demand harsher policy. This narrative of town versus country is propagated by one party alone. By accepting it you are laying down a gauntlet against an enemy that you are creating. An enemy you cannot beat.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/97062007/on-the-eve-of-the-election-a-farmers-sons-letter-to-his-father

    • greywarshark 27.1
      22 September 2017 at 4:51 pm

      What a dag. It’s all Labour no Greens fault and the farmers just need to handle it right and get out of jail free./sarc

  29. joe90 29
    22 September 2017 at 2:56 pm

    Turns out the young Syrian man bagged by the usual suspects in their efforts to vilify refugees, had nothing to do with Parson’s Green attack.

    The second suspect detained was named as Yahyah Farroukh, a 21-year-old Syrian refugee who was arrested outside a chicken shop in Hounslow on Saturday night.

    He was released with no further action by the Metropolitan Police on Thursday.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/parsons-green-attack-latest-teenager-17-sixth-person-arrested-london-underground-bomb-a7958486.html

  30. Cinny 30
    22 September 2017 at 3:02 pm

    Voted at 2:22 on the 22nd (Spring Equinox) 😀 Crikey it was busy at the polling booth in Motueka, am on the unpublished roll so have do a a special vote, and by crikey the specials ballot box was bursting at the seams with special votes, that’s a good sign 😀

  31. Rosemary McDonald 31
    22 September 2017 at 4:53 pm

    Ye gods and little fishes….

    Michelle Boag adroitly manages to shift a conversation about the poor sod who immolated himself yesterday to one about Nikki Kaye wanting to encourage ‘resilience’ in our youth. My bad for having ‘Giggles With Jim’ on in the background.

    (I’m not going to link to the show, mods…masochists can find it for themselves. 😉

    Great, now she and Mike Williams are having a pretend fight…great for ratings…

    However, not why I’m here.

    Went to a busy Pak n Save today and observed that a very high proportion of shoppers were using the small trolleys, rather than the large family sized ones.

    Commented on such to the understandably bored looking Checkout Operator, with the tongue in cheek explanation that perhaps folk were preparing for when National get back in tomorrow and austerity bites even harder.

    Eyeroll from CO…”they’re all the same so I don’t bother…”

    I think, using the little amount of subtle diplomacy I am capable of, I managed to persuade her that a vote for Labour, and one for the Greens (to keep Labour honest) would be beneficial for for those workers struggling to make ends meet. I told her that National supporters are crapping themselves at the thought of any revision of labour regulations and raising the minimum wage. I explained to her that there was more to the Greens than pollution and legalising dope.

    Also had a similar conversation with a young person on a casual contract working in a bank….

    Never too late. 🙂

    • rhinocrates 31.1
      22 September 2017 at 5:25 pm

      Great, now she and Mike Williams are having a pretend fight…great for ratings…

      How did that end? With Williams declaring that he agreed with her, Napoleon and then the ashtray?

      • Rosemary McDonald 31.1.1
        22 September 2017 at 5:33 pm

        Williams declared at the start of the show that he’d promised a friend not to ‘agree with Michele.’

        If I remember rightly he had a reputation for agreeing with Hooten too often so, maybe, that was the ‘friend’ he was referring to?

    • Drowsy M. Kram 31.2
      22 September 2017 at 8:37 pm

      Boag was dreadful (so at least consistent) on RNZ’s The Panel this afternoon, referring (at ~7:45 minutes) to “The children who are going to be the problems of tomorrow.” In Boag’s value system, these children don’t have problems, they are the problem. Odious.

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/201859613/the-panel-with-michelle-boag-and-mike-williams-part-2

      • Rosemary McDonald 31.2.1
        22 September 2017 at 8:48 pm

        Her finest hour….http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10369999

        “When the former National Party president Michelle Boag left her passport at home before an international flight yesterday, she did the obvious thing – called the Westpac rescue helicopter to fetch it for her.

        Ms Boag, who is chairwoman of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Foundation, made the 5.30am call on her way to Auckland Airport after she realised her passport was still at home on Waiheke Island.

        The chopper, with the mandatory crew of three including a paramedic, flew from Mechanics Bay to Waiheke and then out to the helipad near the international terminal. It then returned to Mechanics Bay. ”

        If there ever was a good reason to distrust and despise anyone and everyone aligned with the National Party….this is it.

  32. Ad 32
    22 September 2017 at 4:59 pm

    Facebook finally admits that it is now a major determinant in the outcome of elections and starts regulating itself for political advertising:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/facebook-fec-election-ads_us_59c4251be4b0cdc773300bf8?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

    • eco maori 32.1
      22 September 2017 at 6:41 pm

      Good link Ad the double edged sword of the internet we need to sort that shit out cannot have another like that person off the Simpson fuck that.

      Those idiots in Tauranga think that because they zip around in there flash cars I won’t notice them. Just like one lot that thought that wearing a black beanie would make them invisible WTF they are costing me thousands in lost good will and lost income
      but they have given me some big targets I will keep you up to date with my process
      I no they have jack shit on me and the police are still trying to damage my credibility and undermine my social media credibility So don’t believe there bullshit they are barking up the wrong tree.Like there masters national

  33. Ffloyd 33
    22 September 2017 at 6:26 pm

    Ffs. Just seen PARTAY GIRL Bennett on The Bus leading the sing along while strap hanging Billy Liar was very excited about the amount of POSITIVE TOOTS they have been getting.
    Can’t unsee it now. Question. How can you tell if a toot is positive?.

    • ianmac 33.1
      22 September 2017 at 8:04 pm

      Bennett was also screaming a hysterical sounding song from the steps of the bus to a crowd of ummm- 3 journalists.

  34. eco maori 34
    22 September 2017 at 7:18 pm

    I no what’s going to happen landslide win for Labour Green’s and Maori Party . That reporter for bill doesn’t have enough fingers