Open mike 22/12/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:53 am, December 22nd, 2013 - 53 comments
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53 comments on “Open mike 22/12/2013 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    22 December 2013 at 7:27 am

    The Herald continues to show it is a forum for ignorance and flat earthers by giving Hide a soapbox on climate change. Depressing that it gives his weird noon-scientific views the same weight (or less) than actual scientific experts in the field.
    Koch Brothers and their friends pay well.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11176510

    • Satty 1.1
      22 December 2013 at 9:11 am

      In the meantime in the real world:

      “The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for November 2013 was record highest for the 134-year period of record, at 0.78°C (1.40°F) above the 20th century average of 12.9°C (55.2°F).”

      http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/

    • Grumpy 1.2
      22 December 2013 at 10:43 am

      Allowing Gore to spout bullshit is the problem. When his crap is exposed, it taints everybody and completely discredits the message he was trying to deliver – and rightly so.

      • Tat Loo (CV) 1.2.1
        22 December 2013 at 11:11 am

        Discredit the messenger if you want, Grumpy, but rapid global climate change is well in progress now. And the countries around the Arctic circle know it. Hence a rash of territorial, resource and new sea route claims are being pursued.

    • Tat Loo (CV) 1.3
      22 December 2013 at 11:07 am

      Hide’s an ex North Sea oil rig worker who is generally pretty sincere about his opinions. I’d doubt he was receiving or expecting anything for this.

    • Murray Olsen 1.4
      22 December 2013 at 7:44 pm

      I thought Orcs like Hide came from Middle Earth. The guy has nothing worthwhile to say on anything, and says it very loudly. On climate change, he and his ilk just repeat lies. On the economy, they do the same. Hmm, I think I’m detecting a pattern here.

  2. Paul 2
    22 December 2013 at 7:33 am

    A tale of 2 New Zealanders.
    30 years of neo-liberalism and the country is reduced to this.
    The revolting rich
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=11176532

    And the poor
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9544508/Santas-heart-breaking-Christmas-wishes
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11176410

    And people like grumpy etc say the country is better than the 70s.
    Well I guess it is for a privileged few.

    Shame on New Zealand for letting this happen.

    • karol 2.1
      22 December 2013 at 8:18 am

      Thanks, Paul.

    • Grumpy 2.2
      22 December 2013 at 10:07 am

      Really Paul??? Where did I say that? In the ’70s, I worked for NZ Railways and was a Union Branch secretary and an advocate before the NZ Railways Appeal Board. Don’t assume………..

    • Murray Olsen 2.3
      22 December 2013 at 7:58 pm

      We’re headed for the third world where, if you run someone over in a car worth more than a million dollars, you won’t even be charged. That asshole banker in Auckland in his Audi was just a few years early, a man ahead of his time.

  3. Paul 3
    22 December 2013 at 8:03 am

    And we’re grinches if we dare suggest there’s a problem with the present economic set up, says Maria Slade.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/business/9539858/Christmas-grinch-alive-and-well

    • Saarbo 3.1
      22 December 2013 at 8:18 am

      Yes, you can only conclude that Maria Slade from Unlimited Magazine is as revolting as all of the other RWNJ out there, how does a hopeless magazine like Unlimited survive anyway…real shit mag. This paragraph is interesting Paul

      “Like most developed nations we have a problem with a widening gap between rich and poor. But economic prosperity gives a government far more options, allowing it to invest in things like housing and education to create opportunities for those in the lower socio-economic stratas”

      OK then Maria, why the fuck don’t they do that investment then! That is utter bull shit. The other thing that Maria has forgotten to mention is that next years growth is on the back of 2 things that National had nothing to do with, the Chch Earthquake and NZ dairy faming.

      • Tigger 3.1.1
        22 December 2013 at 11:32 am

        That quote reeks of ‘let them eat cake’. How about creating some jobs or investing in healthy children?

      • Akldnut 3.1.2
        22 December 2013 at 12:26 pm

        …………………………..next years growth is on the back of 2 things that National had nothing to do with, the Chch Earthquake and NZ dairy faming.

        Well put! Why oh why can’t someone in the Labour Party get up and say that sentence over & over whenever English, Key and all those National spinners start bragging about it when the house is sitting.

        Say it loud and long enough, the msm will print it and people will start to believe.
        Thats all National does.

  4. Saarbo 4
    22 December 2013 at 8:09 am

    This article by Gordon Brown is scary but clearly articulates why we may be heading towards another crash…the last paragraph sums up nicely:

    “In short, precisely what world leaders sought to avoid — a global financial free-for-all, enabled by ad hoc, unilateral actions — is what has happened. Political expediency, a failure to think and act globally, and a lack of courage to take on vested interests are pushing us inexorably toward the next crash.”

    http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/opinion/gordon-brown-stumbling-toward-the-next-crash.html?_r=2

    and in New Zealand 2013/14 is becoming very similar to 2007/08 in terms of the way the banks are lending money to dairy farmers. Banks lending to farmers to purchase farms for up to $60 per kg ms plus.. The last I heard total NZ farming debt was $51 billion…it will be interesting to see what this figure is now. The banks have gone nuts again…will see some more Crafer deals when the dairy payout heads south.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.1
      22 December 2013 at 12:49 pm

      He misses the most vital bit – that private banks need to be prevented from using the fractional reserve system. As long as the banks create money then the financial crises that we get will continue and they will get worse, poverty for the majority will increase while the top 1% will get richer.

      • Saarbo 4.1.1
        22 December 2013 at 2:57 pm

        True…his comments on the “shadow banking” growth is interesting, particularly in Asia. I get the impression that the next crash will include Asia/China…NZ wont be so lucky to miss the next crisis then.

        • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1
          22 December 2013 at 3:52 pm

          The “shadow banking system” is the massive system of quasibanking entities and transactions that the banks set u to evade regulation.

          By most estimates it is now at least as large and as leveraged as it was when it began to crash in 2007/2008. This time around however, the public purse has no more room left to contain the crash.

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.2
        22 December 2013 at 3:50 pm

        DTB. Western private banks do NOT use the fractional reserve banking system – they haven’t for the better part of a century.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.1.2.1
          22 December 2013 at 4:56 pm

          The concept of ratios still apply and it’s that that needs to be addressed.

          • Colonial Viper 4.1.2.1.1
            22 December 2013 at 6:03 pm

            The concept of loanable funds being constrained by reserves on hand is what I’m saying no longer applies.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.2.1.1.1
              22 December 2013 at 9:59 pm

              I agree bvut the ratios etc are still talked about in the Basel Accords and in legislation governing central banks this gives the impression that it still means something. When, as you say, it really doesn’t.

  5. phillip ure 5
    22 December 2013 at 8:14 am

    this is a public service announcement..

    http://boingboing.net/2013/12/20/howto-delete-your-smartphone.html

    “..If you have an Android or Ios smartphone –

    – it defaults to storing the history of all the places you go – at a very fine resolution –

    – for a very long time –

    – and mirrors that data on remote servers – from which it might be leaked or subpoenaed.

    Lifehacker has a great tutorial on deleting your Location History – and turning off future logging of your location.

    They cover both Ios and Android.

    I just did my devices – and it was very easy..”

    phillip ure..

  6. ianmac 6
    22 December 2013 at 8:31 am

    So there is nothing wrong with what Brewer failed to do and all of those who criticized him were very naughty people:
    Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11176523
    “Meanwhile, Brown critic councillor Cameron Brewer lamented a “ratepayer-funded smear campaign” after he was criticised for failing to make a formal declaration to the council over his MediaWorks junket to Queensland.

    “This is all entirely predictable when you have a mayor fighting for his political survival and spin doctors out there running a strategy of interference and diversion on his behalf.”

    Lambert dismissed the claim.”

    • bad12 6.1
      22 December 2013 at 8:53 am

      Yes Cameron Brewer playing the ‘victim’ takes the whole affair deeply into the realm of the farce, from word one of this whole sordid little tale the ‘right’ have simply painted themselves in glorious landscapes of hypocritical yellow as expose has surely as night followed day lead immediately to an expose of the same or worse from those so desperate to re-litigate the Mayoral election,

      If Brewer had an ounce of decency He would do as He has tried to force Brown into, resign and have His seat on the Auckland City Council voted upon again as it is obvious that Brewer’s voters put Him in that office without knowledge of His undeclared ‘freebies’,

      In the final analysis, the people of Auckland vote for these clowns in suits as their representatives and if shamed by their collective choices may well have to ‘think’ a little deeper next time they come to cast a vote…

    • RedBaronCV 6.2
      22 December 2013 at 10:37 am

      And what about EY’s role in this report. Unbiased, impartial? Maybe not. Firstly, They look like they are being grossly overpaid. The report less covers, disclaimers etc is only 14 pages long. That’s about $7000 per page. One feels their main concern is ensuring that nobody sues them and pandering to the purient. Parts are distinctly shoddy.

      They strayed outside the terms of reference in that they went looking for the security guard. Why? Unless the guard interupted one or other party with their hand in the office petty cash at the same time, then what he saw in terms of use of council resources had no more relevance than someone eating lunch in the office and should have been excluded.

      The hotel rooms – the report does not distingush between rooms paid for personally and those paid for by the council. Most of the upgrades appear to be at the hotel used personally. The upgrade policy of the Stamford (if it has one) has not been considered. Anyone spending 50 nights a year in a hotel has to be a valued customer (whether or not they are the mayor) and is likely to be treated accordingly. Attaching a $ figure to this reeks of bias.

      The other complimentary rooms and upgrades where not considered against the relevant hotel policies.Really shoddy NY.

      No evidence was produced that the Mayor actually knew of the complimentary rooms or upgrades.

      Stripping out all the commentary what are we left with:
      – mobile use – some reimbursement was made and an argument could be made for asking for another $200 so that percentage of private use was fully reimbursed despite this not actually being the policy.
      – ticket to NRL grand final (the ipad was actioned for charity)
      – one possible ride in a mayoral limo
      -a shoddy job over the hotels and no evidence that any money was involved.

      In terms of expense audits that is nothing, absolutely nothing . I doubt whether many audits would turn up so little and Len is to be congratulated on his corruption free holding of the office.
      So, now he can go for it and do his best for Auckland.
      Why the bias EY – what other council dealings do you have??

    • Draco T Bastard 6.3
      22 December 2013 at 4:53 pm

      In a surprise turn, Mr Thomas advised Mr Brewer in an email today that “You did however declare the Port Douglas trip and this was included in the gift register. A copy of the gift register was given to the Ernst Young Inquiry.”

      In an email to Mr Thomas from Mr Brewer on 8 September 2011, Mr Brewer wrote

      “Bruce, please declare… 1 trip to Port Douglas courtesy of Mediaworks, Four nights in august. Value approximately 2k. Secondly, my partner and I are in SkyCity box for opening night and game tomorrow. Cost unknown. Please let me know what further information you require. Thanks Cameron”

      Does an email actually count though? I’d expect the need for a signature.

  7. Belladonna 7
    22 December 2013 at 8:48 am

    David Cunliffe is on Radio Live with Wallace Chapman from 9am – 10am this morning.

  8. Rodel 8
    22 December 2013 at 12:30 pm

    Like to see an itemized breakdown of the $100,000 cost of the Ernst & Young report on Len Brown’s affair. Is there any way to find this?
    Seems a lot of money to me to make a few phone calls and check hotel bills.

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      22 December 2013 at 7:16 pm

      It’s only 150 hours of chargeable time for say a firm partner, a senior manager, and a couple of analysts.

  9. rich the other 9
    22 December 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Green poison and labour stupidity,
    The Anglican church is in a turmoil over pokie money because they have been manipulated by these political party’s and are paying the price.
    No money for the church and that’s been approved by internal affairs.

    What’s remarkable is a green mp complained when funds were denied ,it seems the greens want it both ways, dreamers .

  10. swordfish 10
    22 December 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Employing the election seat calculator, I’ve just found a not implausible scenario whereby the Right win the Party-Vote by 2 points (say 48% to the Left’s 46%), but where the Left hold a majority of 2 seats in Parliament. Requires both the Cons and NZFirst to take 3-4% of vote but win no Electorate, therefore no representation. Not that it would be the ideal situation, you understand. Better to at least match the Right and concentrate on mobilising erstwhile Labour non-voters. But it’s fair to say that tactical voting for Winnie may well end up the wrong strategy next year (as Rob Salmond implies). Possibly focus instead on winning back the Labour-friendly end of the NZF support-base (perhaps 2% of all voters ?).

  11. chris73 11
    22 December 2013 at 5:01 pm

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/12/brewers-trip-declared-smear-backfires-brown/

    I know you lot are shrinking violets and all get attack of the vapours when it comes to whaleoil so I’ll post the main point here”

    Auckland Council Electoral Officer and Public Information Officer Bruce Thomas has confirmed with Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer today that while he did not file a full “Register of Members’ Interests” annual statement by 30 June 2012, Brewer’s much criticised four-day sponsored trip to Australia was in fact declared by the Councillor for Orakei at the time and was subsequently in the Council gift register all along.

    In a surprise turn, Mr Thomas advised Mr Brewer in an email today that “You did however declare the Port Douglas trip and this was included in the gift register. A copy of the gift register was given to the Ernst Young Inquiry.”

    I know you’ll all be pleased to know he did declare his trip unlike Len

    • tinfoilhat 11.1
      22 December 2013 at 5:05 pm

      Oh well fair do’s, guess he’s owed an apology.

      It’s all a bit of distraction anyway from the main culprit which is the current mayor.

      • dv 11.1.1
        22 December 2013 at 5:31 pm

        Two points
        He still didn’t file the register of members interest.
        AND
        He didn’t appear to know what he has filed.

    • Colonial Viper 11.2
      22 December 2013 at 5:22 pm

      Cameron Brewer’s the next Key style amnesiac.

      • gobsmacked 11.2.1
        22 December 2013 at 6:41 pm

        And for the umpteenth time I ask … is this really about corruption, or copulation?

        I say the former, but the Oil sniffers get far more excited about the latter.

        The issue should be the unhealthy relationship between Brown and Sky City. It is/was too close.

        Here’s the problem for the Righties (who take their lead from Slater, we all know they can’t think for themselves). The same in-the-pocket allegations apply to the likes of Cameron Brewer.

        Brewer was in the Sky City corporate box for the rugby (yes, so were Labour MPs and they were rightly condemned for that, on this very blog). Brewer got free tickets from Sky City AND voted for the Sky City deal. It comes out now – but why not before?

        And who will call him on it? The Herald?

    • Pascal's bookie 11.3
      22 December 2013 at 5:27 pm

      Fair enough. Did whale note that ‘explaining is losing’ though?

    • Anne 11.4
      22 December 2013 at 6:41 pm

      Who told Blubber boy? What’s this “Mr Thomas” doing sending emails on the Sunday before Xmas? Doesn’t have anything better to do but swop emails with Cameron Brewer? . Fishy to me. Is Mr Thomas a secret member of the National Party or something?

      The plot thickens. 🙂

      • Murray Olsen 11.4.1
        22 December 2013 at 8:17 pm

        My thoughts exactly, Anne. There is also the small detail that Brewer’s trip was mentioned as a “four day junket to the Gold Coast”. Port Douglas is at the opposite end of Queensland. Are they trying to be a bit clever?

  12. Colonial Viper 12
    22 December 2013 at 6:38 pm

    Welcome back to NZ, Helen Clark. Good to know you are back in the country. You have been missed.

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