Open mike 23-24/07/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 23rd, 2016 - 80 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmikeOpen mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

80 comments on “Open mike 23-24/07/2016 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Muttonbird 1
    23 July 2016 at 6:55 pm

    Thanks for the upgrade work, lprent.

    Following on from Daniel Bindner’s experience in Te Awamutu last month, a person sleeping rough in Auckland appears to have died through homelessness.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/82410786/decomposing-body-found-on-auckland-beach-reserve

    I do know that some in New Zealand have never had it better, but this is the very, very dark end of the brighter future.

    The National Party: setting people against each other since 1936.

  2. lprent 2
    24 July 2016 at 3:02 am

    There were some complications, both with some hardware when I was trying to get the boot loader working after an upgrade failure, and with the software. Plus the usual fun and games

    Not working

    1. The “Leave a comment” if you are logged in for the few people (mainly authors) who have logins. Will fix that in the morning.

    2. The entire cache system is off because it looks like Memcache hasn’t been added into php7.0 yet.

    3. The audio plugin isn’t working because it isn’t compatible with php7. Hardly surprising as its last update was about 2009.

    On the other hand, the speed of the site is pretty good considering that there is no caching. That is because the speed of php7 is pretty good. Better than expected. And the later kernels in linux are very efficient these days.

    Bed…

  3. Xanthe 3
    24 July 2016 at 7:28 am

    Yah hoo ,well done ! Getting the site back online, nothing is simple eh

    • lprent 3.1
      24 July 2016 at 1:20 pm

      Definitely not when you’re getting an upgrade from Php 5.x which was originally released back in the mid-00s, to a massively enhanced Php 7.

      Once I get the php-memcached working again it should fly. It looks like there are several solutions beyond the one I used in my test system (building it manually).

  4. Penny Bright 4
    24 July 2016 at 8:12 am

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/309301/auckland's-left-targets-old-politics-in-campaign-launch

    Phil Goff supports the TPPA, Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs) and road tolls. Does that mean City Vision, Labour and the Greens now all support those policies?

    Since when did the ‘left’ support corporate control, privatisation and ‘user charges’?

    I don’t .

    Penny Bright
    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    PROVEN ‘Anti-privatisation / anti-corruption Public Watchdog’.

    Fiercely INDEPENDENT.

    • srylands 4.1
      24 July 2016 at 8:34 am

      Could you explain why you don’t support road tolls? Specifically why don’t you think that congestion charging on urban road users is a good idea?

      • Penny Bright 4.1.1
        24 July 2016 at 9:46 am

        Road tolls are effectively a pay cut for working people.

        Why is nobody apart from me raising the issue of making privately owned / operated / managed passenger transport in Auckland PUBLIC again?

        • srylands 4.1.1.1
          24 July 2016 at 11:33 am

          But roads have to be paid for. You imply that they are free somehow. Wouldn’t it be sensible to charge motorists a congestion charge to encourage public transport use?

          So what is your plan for dealing with ever more cars wanting to drive on Auckland roads?

        • James 4.1.1.2
          24 July 2016 at 12:21 pm

          Because it’s a stupid idea, poorly thought out.

          • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.2.1
            24 July 2016 at 1:24 pm

            Actually, making it private was the stupid idea. That’s why, over the last few years, most of the bureaucracy of public transport has been brought back inhouse. The private bus companies just do contracted runs for a fixed price. The next step would be to remove the private companies altogether and get rid of the dead-weight loss of profit and use the freed up money to improve public transport.

            • srylands 4.1.1.2.1.1
              24 July 2016 at 5:24 pm

              I suppose you think we should remove the ‘deadweight cost of profit’ in other markets? Like electricity?

              Transdev, a French multinational, just took over the contract for Wellington trains. The staff are friendly and there were free croissants one day 1.

              Public servants running trains equates to surly vile obese train ticket collectors and poor service. No way.

              You are living in the past.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                24 July 2016 at 5:40 pm

                I suppose you think we should remove the ‘deadweight cost of profit’ in other markets? Like electricity?

                Electricity isn’t a market. It’s an essential service and a natural monopoly. What I like to call a Demand Monopoly where the most efficient way to provide the service is for it to be provided by the state.

                Same goes for health, telecommunications, roads, and many others.

                Transdev, a French multinational, just took over the contract for Wellington trains. The staff are friendly and there were free croissants one day 1.

                Now, think about this question very carefully: Who paid for the croissants?

                Because I can assure you – it wasn’t Transdev.

                Public servants running trains equates to surly vile obese train ticket collectors and poor service.

                No it doesn’t. That would be another libertarian lie.

                You are living in the past.

                No, just trying to get us to have a realistic economic system rather than the delusional one that we have.

  5. dv 5
    24 July 2016 at 8:22 am

    Well done LPent

  6. Morrissey 6
    24 July 2016 at 8:31 am

    Noam Chomsky: Israel Is A Fascist
    State On The Road To Self Implosion
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqw2yUQdACs

  7. Morrissey 7
    24 July 2016 at 8:35 am

    What’s gone wrong with the “Search” function?

    Dear Lin,

    I’ve just typed the phrase “John Key” into the Search space—and got nothing. Same for everything else I’ve typed in. Will this be fixed some time?

  9. Rodel 9
    24 July 2016 at 9:33 am

    I dislike fatuous name calling by politicians and see a parallel between Trump’s childish repetitions of, ‘crooked Hillary’ and our own PM’s childish repetitions of, ‘angry Andy’.

    Trump has seeded and nurtured the ‘crooked Hillary’ meme and it appears to have been effective even here in New Zealand. (Say it often enough and people will believe it).
    It is good that Andrew Little hasn’t been sucked into name calling so far.
    Respect.

    • Colonial Viper 9.1
      24 July 2016 at 5:26 pm

      The Crooked Hillary meme sticks because it is true. She refuses to release the text of her paid-for speeches to Goldman Sachs, US$220K a pop. One presumes that it is because the text would make it seem like she was a paid for champion of the banking fraternity, and contradict her campaign image.

      During her time as Sec State she took in millions of dollars from foreigners all over the world wanting to use her official influence to make profits.

      And there is more of course from lying about Benghazi to mishandling secret information at home.

      THE CLINTON FOUNDATION RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS TIED TO SAUDI ARABIA WHILE CLINTON SERVED AS SECRETARY OF STATE

      AN EMBATTLED BUSINESSMAN WITH “TIES TO BAHRAIN’S STATE-OWNED ALUMINUM COMPANY” GAVE BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION

      A VENEZUELAN MEDIA MOGUL WHO WAS ACTIVE IN VENEZUELAN POLITICS DONATED TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION DURING CLINTON’S TENURE AS SECRETARY OF STATE

      GERMAN INVESTOR WHO HAS LOBBIED CHANCELLOR MERKEL’S ADMINISTRATION GAVE BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION, SOME OF WHICH WAS DURING MRS. CLINTON’S TENURE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT

      THE CEO OF AN AMSTERDAM BASED ENERGY COMPANY DONATED AT LEAST $1 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION AND LATER ANNOUNCED AT THE 2009 CGI MEETING A $5 BILLION PROJECT TO DEVELOP ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY POWER GENERATION IN INDIA AND CHINA

      INDIAN POLITICIAN AMAR SINGH, WHO HAD DONATED AT LEAST $1 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION, MET WITH HILLARY CLINTON IN SEPTEMBER 2008 TO DISCUSS AN INDIA-U.S. CIVIL NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

      THE CLINTON FOUNDATION RECEIVED ADDITIONAL DONATIONS FROM INDIAN BUSINESS INTERESTS PRIOR TO HER BECOMING SECRETARY OF STATE

      BILLIONAIRE STEEL EXECUTIVE AND MEMBER OF THE FOREIGN INVESTMENT COUNCIL IN KAZAKHSTAN LAKSHMI MITTAL GAVE $1 MILLION TO $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION BEFORE CLINTON BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE

      SOON AFTER SECRETARY CLINTON LEFT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE CLINTON
      FOUNDATION “RECEIVED A LARGE DONATION FROM A CONGLOMERATE RUN BY A
      MEMBER OF CHINA’S NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS”

      …AND THE CLINTON FOUNDATION DEFENDED ITS PARTNERSHIPS WITH BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC CORPORATE INTERESTS

      POWERFUL AND CONTROVERSIAL CORPORATE INTERESTS BASED IN THE U.S. ALSO DONATED TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION

      AMONG THE CLINTON FOUNDATION DONORS REVEALED IN 2009 WERE SEVERAL FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WHO HAD GIVEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

      WHEN HILLARY CLINTON BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE IN 2009, BILL CLINTON AGREED TO STOP ACCEPTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION FROM MOST FOREIGN COUNTRIES

      IN THE PAST, SOME OBSERVERS HAD LINKED FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DONATIONS TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION AND SECRETARY CLINTON’S WORK AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT

      THE CLINTON FOUNDATION CAME UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY IN FEBRUARY 2015 WHEN IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE FOUNDATION HAD ACCEPTED DONATIONS FROM FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AFTER SECRETARY CLINTON LEFT THE STATE DEPARTMENT

      THE WALL STREET JOURNAL TIED FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DONORS TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION’S ENDOWMENT FUNDRAISING UNDER SECRETARY CLINTON

      http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-06-21/clinton-foundation-vulnerabilities-document-leaked-after-foundation-says-it-was-hack

      • Rodel 9.1.1
        25 July 2016 at 8:05 pm

        ..and sometimes they feel the need to shout the meme message to convince us that it’s true what Donald says. I rest my case.

        • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.1
          25 July 2016 at 8:09 pm

          This detailed information about the millions that Hillary took while she was Sec State is from an internal Democratic Party document.

          It is not from Donald Trump.

          Open your eyes to the truth about Hillary Clinton.

    • Rodel 9.2
      26 July 2016 at 10:51 am

      Oh and I forgot Trump’s “Pocahontas'” and “Fresh Mouth” referring to Elizabeth Warren.

      • Colonial Viper 9.2.1
        26 July 2016 at 10:56 am

        Do you think American voters care more about Trump’s media showmanship, or about Sec State Hillary taking multi-million dollar bribes from foreign business interests wanting to buy out American companies and resources?

  10. Penny Bright 10
    24 July 2016 at 9:47 am

    Missed this?

    Larry Williams interviewing me after my recent loss in the Auckland High Court regarding my (disputed) rates. 

    (Which I shall be appealing to the Court of Appeal).

    http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/penny-bright-loses-fight-against-paying-rates/

    Do you know your lawful rights  as a citizen to know where public rates monies are being spent on private sector consultants and contractors?

    s.17 of the Public Records Act 2005.

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2005/0040/latest/DLM345729.html

    Part 2
    Recordkeeping requirements
    Subpart 1—Key duties

    17 Requirement to create and maintain records

    (1) Every public office and local authority must create and maintain full and accurate records of its affairs, in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, including the records of any matter that is contracted out to an independent contractor.
    ______________________________

    I’m not budging from my one person NINE year ‘rates revolt’ for transparency until the following information on spending by Auckland Council and Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) is available and accessible for public scrutiny on their websites, front page, under ‘Procurement – Awarded Contracts’:

    * The unique contract number.

    * The name of the consultant / contractor.

    * A brief description of the scope of the contract.

    * The contract start and finish dates.

    * The exact dollar value of every contract – including those sub-contracted.

    * How the contract was awarded – by direct appointment or public tender.

    Penny Bright
    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    CITIZEN not SLAVE!

    • Rob 10.1
      24 July 2016 at 10:28 am

      That’s ok Penny , keep explaining away . The rest of us aucklanders will continue to pick up your share .

      • One Two 10.1.1
        24 July 2016 at 3:28 pm

        Perhaps you should try listening to the message, Rob

        Certainly don’t poke sticks at someone who is seeking to get improvements in transparency

    • Ad 10.2
      24 July 2016 at 10:47 am

      If you don’t pay your rates then you have no right to be Mayor.
      You can’t require a million people and businesses to pay rates if you won’t yourself.

    • Nck 10.3
      24 July 2016 at 3:24 pm

      I heard your good interview Penny. Keep going. Others here just say pay, but you fight for what you believe in.

    • Visubversa 10.4
      24 July 2016 at 5:30 pm

      Every contract? Any idea how many of them there are? Why is it everybody’s buisiness how much my friend is paid to process overflow resource consent applications, when the cost is actually paid by the person who makes the application, and the charge out hourly amount is in the Council accounts? How much extra would this cost?

      • srylands 10.4.1
        24 July 2016 at 5:44 pm

        You are wasting your time. I have asked her the same thing many times. She simply repeats the same slogan like a broken record. If in some mythical land she got her wish, what would, or could, she do with such information? Troll through it looking for people she didn’t like I suppose. There is nothing you could do with such information. Penny does not understand the concept or transparency or accountability. Or, charitably, if she does have a vague idea, she has no idea how to operationalise accountability.

      • One Two 10.4.2
        24 July 2016 at 7:05 pm

        It would cost millions less than the losses made in the 12000+ contract agreements each year

        Many for which no work is performed and the contracts expired, yet are still being paid

        Companies and individuals swanning around delivering nothing

        When is New Core due to deliver, again?

        Council are refusing to open the electronic systems up because it is a complete and utter sink hole of ‘lost money’

  11. Chooky 11
    24 July 2016 at 10:16 am

    This balanced discussion shows that far from being a trivial matter the coup in Turkey seems to be a very important geopolitical shift in the region.

    ‘Erdogan’s Turkey’

    https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/352637-turkey-post-coup-policy/

    “Post-coup attempt realities: With Turkish President Erdogan firmly in control, he has demanded a cleansing of the military and many social institutions. What kind of Turkey does he intend to create? And will Turkey’s foreign policy change?

    CrossTalking with Martin Jay, Yunus Soner, and Daniel Faraci.”

  12. joe90 12
    24 July 2016 at 10:25 am

    Indeed.

    Imagine what Republicans would have said if Barack Obama featured his 5 kids from 3 different women at his convention in 2008…— Allen Clifton (@Allen_Clifton) July 23, 2016

  13. Gangnam Style 13
    24 July 2016 at 10:40 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11679627

    “What happened in New Zealand many years ago was the decision was made to think of citizens as consumers. Consumers only. There’s this conflict between consumer sovereignty, consumer rights and citizenship rights. Consumers can only gain their rights by purchasing something, purchasing culture in this case, and they have to have the means to do so and not everybody does. That is why I support the anti-siphoning laws.”

    I grew up watching things like the Olympics on TV & it got me interested in it, now my children won’t grow up watching it & as adults are very unlikely to be interested in it. Much like how rugby is becoming an elitist sport, keep it up & more people will become disinterested.

    • Muttonbird 13.1
      24 July 2016 at 12:24 pm

      Australia has it all over NZ in this area. Only the privileged few will be able to watch the Olympics here in direct contradiction to the Olympic charter.

      • alwyn 13.1.1
        24 July 2016 at 5:03 pm

        ” direct contradiction to the Olympic charter”.
        Really? The Charter says we are all entitled to see it free on TV.
        Actually they say in the Charter some lovely flowery words about
        “The IOC takes all necessary steps in order to ensure the fullest coverage by the
        different media and the widest possible audience in the world for the Olympic Games.”
        Then they ignore them.
        They only accredit media from the organisations from each country that will pay them the most money. They also set up the timing of the events to fit the desire of the biggest organisation. Major events will always take place at a time that fits prime time US TV.

        • Muttonbird 13.1.1.1
          24 July 2016 at 8:18 pm

          As far as I’m aware the Olympic movement is not for profit in the sense of a dividend paying corporate entity. The Olympic movement seeks to promote the Olympic movement which is a bringing together of people for common good through sport.

          I guess when the IOC asks for the fullest coverage to the widest possible audience they expect various governments to be part of that ideal in the same way various governments fund Olympic athletes.

          The Australian government does this. The New Zealand Government does not.

          As it stands in New Zealand, only the children of the wealthy are able to be inspired by the deeds of Kiwi Olympians.

          • alwyn 13.1.1.1.1
            24 July 2016 at 10:45 pm

            “As far as I’m aware the Olympic movement is not for profit”
            I would love to think it was true but the reality appears to be the contrary. The IOC seems to remain just as corrupt now as it was for the last 30 years.
            Have a look at this as an introduction or just Google “IOC corruption”
            https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/may/11/tokyo-olympic-games-2020-ioc-international-olympic-committee-corruption-bid-scandal

            Australia did do better on laying down what must be shown on free to air TV than we do. On that you are correct. I don’t really see why we didn’t set some rules, although deciding what should, and should not, be included wold have been interesting. I shall be interested to see how much is provided on Prime, even if on a delayed basis. I would note that when TVNZ used to show the Olympics they tended to do it by simply relaying the US coverage. Events in which New Zealand was represented weren’t shown unless the US had an interest in the event. We didn’t actually send anyone there to cover the events directly.

            The IOC itself is however totally determined to look after the interests of the members of the IOC. Their interest in the greater good of the world’s population is way, way down the track.

  14. Galeandra 14
    24 July 2016 at 11:03 am

    In case there’s any doubt, yes print media can be politically biased against the left. No doubt a study of radio and TV political reportage might produce a similar conclusion as well.Look at this study of Corbyn coverage in the UK: http://www.lse.ac.uk/media@lse/research/pdf/JeremyCorbyn/Cobyn-Report-FINAL.pdf

  15. Andre 15
    24 July 2016 at 12:33 pm

    The Trump-Putin connection gets ever more worrying.

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/trump-putin-yes-it-s-really-a-thing

  16. The Chairman 16
    24 July 2016 at 1:15 pm

    Worth a look.

    https://youtu.be/CuwQlsTXYw8

    This film (Shadow World) is screening at the 2016 New Zealand International Film Festival.

  17. Garibaldi 17
    24 July 2016 at 1:43 pm

    The aggressive American activities on Russian borders is far more worrying than any
    ‘trumped up'(sic) connection between Trump and Putin. The USA is paranoid about Russia and always has been. Just bear in mind that it is not Russia that has the planet covered with military bases, it is not Russia that is demanding hegemony to its failed model of corporate capitalism.

  19. joe90 19
    24 July 2016 at 2:09 pm

    He does care.
    /

    Donald Trump thought he could use his usual tactic of “I’ve paid you enough already” to get out of a painting bill for his golf course, but the mom-and-pop paint store took him to court and won.

    From The Miami Herald:

    Circuit Court Judge Jorge Cueto, presiding over a lawsuit related to unpaid bills brought by a local paint store against the Trump National Doral Miami golf resort, ordered the billionaire politician’s company to pay the Doral-based mom-and-pop shop nearly $300,000 in attorney’s fees.

    All because, according to the lawsuit, Trump allegedly tried to stiff The Paint Spot on its last payment of $34,863 on a $200,000 contract for paint used in the renovation of the home of golf’s famed Blue Monster two years ago.

    If you want to see how our potential president ripped off another hard-working person, watch this.

    http://boingboing.net/2016/07/22/for-cheating-a-mom-and-pop-pai.html

  20. Pasupial 20
    24 July 2016 at 2:13 pm

    Does anyone know who Coleman’s “spokeswoman” is? And is she the same as last year was issuing statements on his behalf? This feels too much like the same (im)plausible deniability being fabricated once more:

    The redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital is “highly unlikely” to adversely affect neurosurgery, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says.

    The qualified assurance, conveyed by a spokeswoman, follows the release of a Dunedin Hospital rebuild plan that says the new hospital should be physically configured to focus on generalist rather than highly specialised care…

    Dr Coleman’s statement says the hospital rebuild plan was in its early stage. “We look forward to being able to discuss the details of the redevelopment once they’ve been confirmed.

    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/391310/loath-repeat-wrangle

    But only last year:

    In February Dr Coleman confirmed he was replacing Joe Butterfield, but more than two months later, no replacement has been named.

    A spokeswoman for Dr Coleman said he intended to appoint a new chairman, rather than install a commissioner.

    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/339385/sdhb-serious-freefall

    Yet just two months later:

    Dunedin legal consultant Kathy Grant has been appointed the Commissioner of the troubled Southern District Health Board which has been sacked today.

    Her deputies will be board member Richard Thomson, who was sacked as Otago District Health Board chairman in 2009, and Dunedin City Holdings chairman Graham Crombie.

    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/346133/southern-health-board-sacked

    Coleman and his spokeswoman no longer have any credibility in my eyes.

    • Gangnam Style 20.1
      24 July 2016 at 3:40 pm

      Scary shadowy shenanigans going on there, hopefully ODT stays the true course & lays it bare, GOVT desperate to rid Dunedin of its big hospital.

    • weka 20.2
      24 July 2016 at 7:44 pm

      Translation: National will let DPH keep neurology because they can’t afford 10,000 people marching down George St again, esp in an election year. But they’ll gut the rest of it to the extent they can get away with it, doing it on the sly as much as possible.

    • Gabby 20.3
      24 July 2016 at 7:55 pm

      Thommo’s gunna find that 17 mill.

  21. Jenny 21
    24 July 2016 at 2:17 pm

    He may not be on the ticket, He may not even get the right to address the Democratic Convention, but he used what leverage he had to get the best deal he could, for more action on the most pressing issue in human history.

    https://www.newscientist.com/article/2098342-sanders-turns-the-heat-up-to-make-clinton-a-real-climate-champ/

  22. Colonial Viper 22
    24 July 2016 at 3:18 pm

    Conventional medicine as we know it will become largely inaccessible in the next 40 years as complex systems of technology and logistics break down in the post fossil fuels age.

    While we will all be much worse off when that happens, it is also time to understand that the source of health and well being is not a pill bottle, injection or a scalpel.

    You just don’t like it being put to you that you are actually part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

    Tell me what the problem is, and tell me what the solution you have in mind is supposed to achieve, and I’ll tell you if your criticism means anything to me.

    [Moved to open mike. I thought I’d caught Tim’s stupid bait in time. Obviously not]

    • Colonial Viper 22.1
      24 July 2016 at 3:23 pm

      Thanks Bill. I was going to delete my comment as it was clearly off topic too.

    • Tim 22.2
      24 July 2016 at 7:55 pm

      The problem is suffering and vaccinations can prevent a great deal of it but you Jim and Jemaine seem to be determined to throw that away

  23. CynicalJester 23
    24 July 2016 at 3:38 pm

    Hard not to come to the conclusion that nz isnt conservative by default after the latest polls especially after all they drama in the last month….

    Left wing parties need urgent renewal the left is more or less the whitest, least diverse and older side of Parliament and sadly nothing will change at the next election as all the same faces seem to be running, we need to flush out the mallards, the dysons any many of the remains of clarks government should have retired at the last ge.

    National is a much more multicultural party. Labour looks like the nz of the past not the present the Greens to a lesser extent are also guilty too….

    Hopefully by 2020 we’ll have fresher, multicultural left wing parties and not just middleclass careerist nerds

  24. marty mars 24
    24 July 2016 at 3:46 pm

    Fucken sick of the protrump bullshit

    • McFlock 24.1
      24 July 2016 at 4:20 pm

      Well, at least it’s a distraction from the “labour did it too” bile 🙂

    • North 24.2
      24 July 2016 at 4:57 pm

      This Trump cheerleading is kite flying in service of some completely unrelated personal and domestic agenda. To the point of weirdness actually. Elements of “Burn the village to save it…….”.

  25. Gangnam Style 25
    24 July 2016 at 4:06 pm

    “Environment Minister Nick Smith accidentally gargled paint stripper instead of mouthwash, after a tradesman left the poison in his bathroom.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/82424993/nick-smith-reveals-he-gargled-paint-stripper-as-mouthwash

    • mary_a 25.1
      24 July 2016 at 4:39 pm

      @ Gangnam Style (25) …. “accidently?”

    • Muttonbird 25.2
      24 July 2016 at 7:51 pm

      That explains so much about Nick Smith. The gargling of paint stripper must have damaged the part of the brain where you give a shit about people.

  26. Anne 26
    24 July 2016 at 6:42 pm

    Enjoyed watching Q&A’s panel discussion this morning. You may not agree with everything that was said but it was an intelligent, mature discussion by intelligent and mature people.

    Wouldn’t it be nice if all such TV discussion panels managed the same level of rational debate.

    http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/housing-economy-panel-video-6483419

  27. Chooky 27
    24 July 2016 at 7:41 pm

    ‘Capitalism in crisis with Richard Wolff’

    https://www.rt.com/shows/on-contact/352948-capitalism-brexit-labor-protests/

    “Chris Hedges explores capitalism in crisis with Richard Wolff, professor of economics emeritus at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. From Brexit, to labor protests in France, to Italy’s financial woes, they discuss the effects of austerity on the working class.

    RT’s Anya Parampil looks at the fallout of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.

  28. amirite 28
    24 July 2016 at 8:41 pm

    We’re supposed to buy the lie that PM hasn’t been briefed by his own department about China’s threats to NZ exports in the light of the dodgy Chinese steel scandal
    #YeahRight

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11680537

    • srylands 28.1
      24 July 2016 at 8:45 pm

      So submit a request under the Official Information Act for all briefing notes. They are hardly going to lie are they?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-24T19:16:02+00:00