Open mike 23/01/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 23rd, 2013 - 52 comments
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52 comments on “Open mike 23/01/2013 ”

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  1. karol 1
    23 January 2013 at 7:07 am

    A very good article on affordable housing by Gordon Campbell yesterday. He begins by referring to Bill English’s admission that the major lack of sufficient affordable housing is a “market failure”. But Campbell also questions the government’s priorities:

    Of course, the government was ready to set those democratic niceties aside when it came to the “mandate” and “knowledge” of Environmental Canterbury – but that was about something really important like the water demands of dairy farmers, rather than putting a well-insulated roof over the heads of the country’s children. The current strategy puts the focus solely on the supply side of the problem, while leaving the demand side all but untouched – which means that the role of the banks in fostering housing price bubbles will continue to be ignored.

    In the meantime, local government can be blamed for the delays, since red tape and bureaucracy is always a handy scapegoat for the centre right. Given the government’s wilful impotence on this issue. Labour and the Greens can make inroads on this issue (especially in Auckland) right up until election 2014. Haggling by government over the feasibility of Labour’s house-building plans will only expose the paucity of its own response.

    Campbell also has a couple of paragraphs on Mali, referring to a long Werewolf piece he did on Mali last year. In the middle of the turmoil in Mali, is its positioning amidst various sought after minerals, natural resources and oil.

    • Bill 1.1
      23 January 2013 at 10:15 am

      China. All over Africa and in the ME too, the common denominator is Chinese investment and the ‘threat’ of allegiences (eg Egypt) and resources (eg pipelineistan) straying east.

      The Escobar piece Campbell links to gives an excellent rundown of the ‘finer details’ at play in Mali. But at the end of the day, it’s the new cold war that is different to the old cold war only insofar as the enemy is never named directly and the enemy doesn’t involve itself in military conflict.

      http://muslimvillage.com/2013/01/21/34413/burn-burn-africas-afghanistan/

      As summarised in the Escobar piece

      In practice, it’s Western militarization (with Washington “leading from behind”) versus the ongoing Chinese seduction/investment drive in Africa.

      Simple game plan – lay waste to a country – make it ‘ungovernable’ and the advantage then lies with whoever has the military wherewithall (drones and troops or mercenaries on the ground) to safeguard ‘their’ resources. The Chinese ploy of investment, soft loans and helping a country to build infrastructure and develop at least some form of industrial base? Not happening in a war zone.

      So, expect a lot more war zones.

  2. The Al1en 2
    23 January 2013 at 7:20 am

    Conservative Party leader Colin Craig
    “There are grounds to discriminate on certain things. If you said to me, ‘do I think there should be separate toilet facilities when it comes to men and women’, ‘yes I do’.”

    So because he can’t piss in the same place women do, he has the right to discriminate.
    Who’s next after the gays, the immigrants or the mentally ill?

    • karol 2.1
      23 January 2013 at 7:25 am

      Or maybe some specific provisions to decrease the income gap between men & women? Or to extend paid parental leave?

    • vivaciousviper 2.2
      23 January 2013 at 8:31 am

      Craig may require La Beneficiary to walk on the other side of the street and hang their head in shame, shop in certain shops and take away several rights bestowed on other sections
      of the community.
      Craig is a wannabe,with a bit of luck and a fair breeze he wont get anywhere near
      the tiller.

    • rosy 2.3
      23 January 2013 at 8:43 am

      do I think there should be separate toilet facilities when it comes to men and women’, ‘yes I do’.”

      Lucky he doesn’t live in some parts of Europe then. *shrug*

    • PlanetOrphan 2.4
      23 January 2013 at 11:11 am

      How about if someone said to him …

      What’s your opinion about a LAW in NZ that forces good law abiding citizens to live a dysfunctional life, even break the Law because is robs them of their right to chose what they do with their own body in their own homes ?

      Colin Craig = Fuckwit moron

      Go spout your emotional gibberish somewhere else Colin.

      The Taleban/Al-qaeda are hiring at the moment, you’d fit right in their M8!
      You could sit down around the campfire and deny your fundamental delusions all day !!!

    • McFlock 2.5
      23 January 2013 at 1:02 pm

      Is he afraid he’d sexually assault a woman in unisex toilets?

      edit: just pointing out the absurdity.

      • Kevin Welsh 2.5.1
        23 January 2013 at 4:01 pm

        Depends how she was dressed…

        • PlanetOrphan 2.5.1.1
          23 January 2013 at 4:25 pm

          Colin Craig wouldn’t wear anything above the Knee, let alone those pushup Bras M8!

          Except for Thursdays, that’s “Walk the Beet Night” of course.

  3. Coronial Typer 3
    23 January 2013 at 7:28 am

    Pretty stark seeing Key take to his dead wood like a psychotic woodchipper.
    Pity Shearer has to be propped up by King and Mallard and all the other old Lange-Douglas leftovers.

    Shearer is now challenged hard from both the left of the Labour party and the right of government itself: can you finally kill off the residue of Helen Clark’s timid political management? Housing policy was bold. Dealing to Cunliffe was bold.

    Can Shearer clear out his own dead wood?

    • Jane 3.1
      23 January 2013 at 8:05 am

      Mallard is not going anywhere sadly. He will cling on by his finger nails until Labour are back on the Goverment benches so he can score himself some nice quango’s, with nowhere to go he’s going nowhere.

  4. TautokoViper 4
    23 January 2013 at 7:54 am

    Steven Joyce is in charge of fixing Novopay. The National Party are in favour of Bulk Funding. Join the dots….

    • ianmac 4.1
      23 January 2013 at 8:29 am

      Aha. Good (sad) point there Tautoko. Sorry folks that the Novapay is fully dysfunctional so we have decided to fix it by putting the full sum of money due to each school and each school will run their own pay system. For your own good of course. Aren’t we clever?

      • Logie97 4.1.1
        23 January 2013 at 7:45 pm

        Anyone else catch Key, on the issue of Novopay, stating at the press conference that “Teachers do a brilliant job and they deserve better”?

        Now that’s the way to start the year Johnny, (or did I just have a recent restaurant-type-moment when I heard the voices in my head …?)

  5. Dv 5
    23 January 2013 at 9:06 am

    Just found this from dec last year.
    http://drrobertdavis.wordpress.com/2012/12/22/novopay-history-of-incompetence-repeats/

    “I have been paid by the Ministry of Education a “salary” of a significant value, deposited directly into my bank account. Thats nice, except I am not now, nor have I ever been employed by the Ministry of Education.”

    That is really weird. But then again it is Novopay.

    Good luck Mr Joyce

  6. Dv 6
    23 January 2013 at 9:48 am

    Tobin Tax in EU
    HT Interest.co.nz

    http://www.interest.co.nz/news/62814/90-seconds-9-am-eurozone-get-tobin-tax-german-confidence-surge-carbon-price-collapse-japa

    news that EU finance ministers give the green light overnight for 11 eurozone members, including France and Germany, to ready a new tax on financial transactions.

    Six eurozone members won’t impose the tax, and neither will another ten in the wider EU. It is aimed at banks and there are fears it could drive business out of Europe, or at least away from those countries adopting it. The tax – also known as a Tobin tax after the economist who originally came up with it 40 years ago – is expected to be charged at a rate of 0.1% of the value of any trade in shares or bonds, and 0.01% of any financial derivative contract.

  7. Bill 7
    23 January 2013 at 9:57 am

    No comment, just…

    The prince, who was in charge of firing the Apache’s Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, rockets and 30mm gun, called his job a “joy” in interviews released on Monday.

    “It’s a joy for me because I’m one of those people who loves playing PlayStation and Xbox, so with my thumbs I like to think I’m probably quite useful,” he said.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/22/afghanistan-taliban-response-prince-harry

  8. Pete 8
    23 January 2013 at 10:05 am

    EU approves a financial transactions tax

    Eleven countries won the EU’s backing for a financial transaction tax (FTT), with Germany, France, Italy and Spain adding their names to eurozone neighbours Austria, Portugal, Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Slovakia and Slovenia.

    The UK, which already imposes a tax on share trades, could benefit from a shift in banking business if Germany and France tax foreign exchange or derivatives trading in Frankfurt and Paris.

    I’m not sure if that would be the best move in New Zealand just yet if we want to move investment away from housing and into the financial markets, but this seems right for economies with a less uniform approach to investing than our own.

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      23 January 2013 at 10:09 am

      if we want to move investment away from housing and into the financial markets

      NOOOOOOOOOOO!

      We need to be investing in the productive real, main street and manufacturing economy. Not giving more financial capital to the Wall St types to skim off and play their casino games with.

      An FTT centred on trading in the NZD will help this by reducing financial speculation and the buying/selling of the NZD not associated with imports/exports. It should drop the value of the NZD, helping our exporters, who are currently being crushed by the currency wars being played by the US, Japan, China and EU.

      • Pete 8.1.1
        23 January 2013 at 10:21 am

        A FTT would be difficult when it comes to the NZD as most of the transactions take place abroad, where we can’t apply our taxes. And as for the share market, how can businesses get the capital to expand manufacturing operations without some kind of financial transaction? Be it a share issue, a debenture or borrowing from a bank? Saving for 20 years to start a new operation is not a desirable way of fostering job growth.

        • Colonial Viper 8.1.1.1
          23 January 2013 at 10:35 am

          Accepted. Currently it is very difficult for new or small businesses to get capital for expansion. NZ, along with many other countries, used to offer cheap, easy capital to developing businesses via publicly owned financial institutions.

          A FTT would be difficult when it comes to the NZD as most of the transactions take place abroad

          Indeed. We would probably have to require that all foreign owned NZD sums were held and transacted through KiwiBank or Reserve Bank accounts or risk not being considered legal tender for any NZ trade purpose.

          • Pete 8.1.1.1.1
            23 January 2013 at 10:52 am

            I think a small enterprise loan system would be a good way to start. Administer it in the same fashion as student loans (except apply interest at the OCR) and maybe a yearly admin fee to cover costs. There’d have to be quite a heavy due-dilligence process to prevent rorts, though.

        • Poission 8.1.1.2
          23 January 2013 at 10:45 am

          Actually the transfer of transaction to other jurisdictions is a fallacy.The cash aand carry market(arbitrage) part of the forex is attracted to NZ interest rates close to 0 in europe and around 2.5 here at call.

          The increase in overnight parking is seen in the RB stats where we see an increase of around 7 billion in call since 2007,and a decrease in the fixed short end -90 days.

          A tailored investment regime for NZ could reward long term investment at the long end by decreasing withholding tax at the long end and increasing at the short end,reducing short term risk.

          • Colonial Viper 8.1.1.2.1
            23 January 2013 at 10:49 am

            A tailored investment regime for NZ could reward long term investment at the long end by decreasing withholding tax at the long end and increasing at the short end,reducing short term risk.

            Nice, with tax levels reaching punitive levels for those holding NZD for 48 hours or less i.e. forex speculators.

            • Poission 8.1.1.2.1.1
              23 January 2013 at 11:04 am

              It substantially reduces the risk of capital flight,and increases the availability of long term finance.

              With the economy it is more a problem of where investment is going, a redistribution that is required say from the non productive to the productive and signals need to be increased and expanded.

              We also need to examine OS investment in nz Say for example what use to the NZ economy is OS investment in the NZ residential property market,such as purchasing rentals by non residents

  9. PolishPride 9
    23 January 2013 at 12:36 pm

    Having returned to work after the break has served to reinforce how completely ridiculous the current system is and how much it needs to change.
    Am I happy to be back – no
    Are my colleagues happy to be back – not really
    Am I greatful to have a job – under the circumstances (i.e. the current system) – yes (although it does not stop me seeing the stupidity of it in the greater context of everything… and how I will waste a third of my life doing this because I have to in order to survive in the current system).
    Are more and more people waking up – Yes
    Either change will continue to come or the system will continue as it is and the unemployed will continue to rise until a tipping point is reached, new ideas (not so new for some) will come to the fore and change will come.
    Either way change for the better is coming.

  10. pollywog 10
    23 January 2013 at 1:14 pm

    Whinging pom calls it how he sees it…

    I’m an English migrant with New Zealand citizenship and have lived here for over ten years.

    During my time here many of the myths which New Zealand perpetuates for its citizenry, and the world by its media, around the water-cooler at work, and at the pub, have slowly been eroded – much like its rivers, waterways and workers’ rights…

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/8208827/NZ-a-great-place-to-live-Yeah-right

    har de har har…

    • Ennui in Requiem 10.1
      23 January 2013 at 1:41 pm

      Ouch Polly, the truth hurts.

    • The Al1en 10.2
      23 January 2013 at 2:20 pm

      I find the word pom as offensive as nigger, paki and wog.
      No you know, I’d ask you to refrain.
      Thanks.

      Can’t really comment on the whinging bit, save to say, pavements are for walking over, not Englishmen.

      • marty mars 10.2.1
        23 January 2013 at 2:35 pm

        in the oppression olympics pom doesn’t even get to the starting line TA, but I think it is fair enough for you to express your views regarding what offends you. I’m pretty sure polly won’t agree with me though on that one 🙂

        • The Al1en 10.2.1.1
          23 January 2013 at 2:52 pm

          Yeah, not really the biggest issue in my life, being it’s a word I’ve heard said to my face a few times with clearly a lot less affection and camaraderie as a word than just playful colonial banter.
          When a word comes with spittle and little pulsing forehead veins, and it’s directed at me for being nothing more than a English man, starting line or not, it’s the thought that counts.

        • pollywog 10.2.1.2
          23 January 2013 at 7:19 pm

          haha…damn straight nigga !!!

      • The Al1en 10.2.2
        23 January 2013 at 2:40 pm

        Having said that, I read the article and he’s not really wrong, is he?
        Fair play to him for being so bothered by our 100% pure secret shame that he’s prepared to do something about it, even if just a piece on the web. Certainly not a whinge in my book.
        If I’d wrote it, I would have made a point about the obvious apathy of naturally born kiwis to let it become so bad in the first place, and then I’d challenge you to prove I was wrong.

        A few more kiwis like him and we might get somewhere a bit quicker.
        But of course, feel free to disagree.

    • Colonic Wiper 10.3
      23 January 2013 at 3:16 pm

      Ok Poly , well we will do our best and try to improve it for you, keep up the good work.

      • vto 10.3.1
        23 January 2013 at 4:27 pm

        Yeah, kind of a funny approach. Not sure what he is laughing at. His own misfortune to be living here perhaps?

        • The Al1en 10.3.1.1
          23 January 2013 at 6:03 pm

          Having re-read the article, I applaud him for having a go and saying it how he see it, but I don’t agree with his tone which, to be fair, does sound like a stereotype in action. I certainly don’t agree with him about kiwis being unfriendly,
          I’ve met some lovely people since I moved here, and divs like colin craig and his ilk aside, find you all mostly welcoming and tolerant.
          I still get a pleasant start when strangers out walking say hello. From memory, not London like at all.

          So certainly not ungrateful to be here by association.

  11. marty mars 11
    23 January 2013 at 2:04 pm

    Good stuff Hone

    Mana Party leader Hone Harawira issued a statement this morning saying he would be open to the idea of working with the (Maori) party to reinvigorate its leadership, which he said was “old and tired”.

    “Maoridom deserves the strong and vibrant leadership that Mana can provide.”

    He said he would work with the party on the condition it cut ties with the National Party.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10860939

    That is political nous and shows how good Hone is – maybe he could help labour out too.

    • fatty 11.1
      23 January 2013 at 2:55 pm

      That is political nous and shows how good Hone is – maybe he could help labour out too.

      Yip….its laughable when people say that Hone is too idealistic and not pragmatic enough. He knows when to be which, without questioning his principles.
      Hone already helps Labour. Mana and the Greens have been drafting Labour’s best policies for years now. It’s not as if Labour would have thought to feed the children if the ethical parties didn’t say it first

    • bad12 11.2
      23 January 2013 at 8:02 pm

      Te Pati Maori on that long slow march to political oblivion, it’s voter base wailing the tangi in the long wait till 2014 when the Maori Party MP’s will get their just deserts and the final marking of the socre-cards which wont be pretty,

      Marked with a larger than life ‘F’ for the failure of what was the most promising political initiative of by and for Maori in a 150 years to clearly represent ‘their people’ as the Party cozied up to a National Government hell bent upon attacking the very existence many of the voters of the Party have on the margins of society,

      Sharples is hanging on like grim death to a Party Leadership that after November 2014 will be relevant to no-one, lap-dogs Pita are not given knighthoods by their masters they are simply tossed the occasional bone to keep them panting in anticipation of a bigger reward that will never come…

  12. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 12
    23 January 2013 at 6:51 pm

    I consider Came a Hot Friday to be the best New Zealand novel ever.

  13. North 13
    23 January 2013 at 8:19 pm

    What a disgusting cheek !

    Dunnokeyo suddenly knows heaps about stuff……to wit the necessity to obtain a “professional” analysis of the whole Bain bizo.

    Um, what’s not “professional” about the opinion commissioned from Justice Binnie, 35 years in the upper echelons of Canada’s judiciary ? Hardly the scribblings of a pimply wee law student.

    Oh, I’m sorry…….Baroness Thatcher Judge Judy Girl Collins doesn’t like the $400,000 opinion stodgy Old Simon ordered.

    Righteo…….pay however much to Fisher, the fellow whose two week “report” Binnie described as remarkably “result oriented”. And now, listening to Dunnokeyo, seems like there’s more gonna be paid to yet another, if not Fisher, “result oriented” hired legal gun. Not Judy’s putea, the taxpayers’ putea for God’s Sake. So Judy can go opinion-shopping until she gets the answer she wants.

    That is awesomely corrupt !