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Open mike 23/11/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 23rd, 2013 - 197 comments
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openmike

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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step right up to the mike …

197 comments on “Open mike 23/11/2013 ”

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  1. Morrissey 1
    23 November 2013 at 7:25 am

    BBC upholds complaint about settler article

    A BBC Online article about the life of Israeli settlers breached editorial guidelines on accuracy, the BBC has ruled.

    The article focused on two British men who had chosen to go and live in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian West Bank with their families.

    Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) wrote to the BBC to question why it had run a feature on settlers, living on internationally recognised Palestinian land, without interviewing a single Palestinian about the impact of settlements and settlers on their lives.

    http://www.palestinecampaign.org/settlerarticle/

  2. karol 2
    23 November 2013 at 7:29 am

    So, the police telling even more, worser work stories:

    Story on on Stuff: Cop Meyer using his uniform & rank to coerce women sexually.

    Story 2 on NZ Herald: the return of Brad Shipton.

    Detectives reinvestigating the disappearance of Luana Deborah Laverne Williams 27 years ago have interviewed a former prison officer who claims Williams told her she was a police informant and gave sexual favours to disgraced former detective Brad Shipton.

    Shipton and a second detective – who Williams allegedly claimed also had sex with her – later headed the investigation into her disappearance.
    […]
    Bowen claimed Williams had suggested that crimes “such as drug dealing were minimised by certain police in Tauranga in return for sexual favours”.
    […]
    The Herald understands that she gave further details, including that one of five telephone numbers Williams put forward for authorisation was checked by Wellington police and found to be a private police number.

    Bowen claims Williams said the number was Shipton’s.

    Shipton was interviewed by police last year as part of an “expanded” inquiry ordered by Police Commissioner Peter Marshall after complaints to the Independent Police Complaints Authority by Williams’ family and Bruce.

    The other officer Bowen says Williams named was Detective Inspector Phil Seaman. Seaman and Shipton took over the inquiry into Williams’ disappearance. Police initially treated it as a missing persons inquiry, but upgraded it to a murder inquiry in 1994.

    Seaman concluded Williams had committed suicide. He committed suicide in 2009 after becoming ill.
    […]
    Shipton’s lawyer, Bill Nabney, did not respond in time for this article, but in August, Shipton emphatically denied knowing Williams before or during her time in prison and said the first time he became aware of her was when he was asked to investigate her disappearance.

    • LynWiper 2.1
      23 November 2013 at 8:03 am

      Sickening! Feel for the good cops but this has to be addressed.

      • Morrissey 2.1.1
        23 November 2013 at 8:18 am

        This is about the bad ones, Lyn. The focus has to stay on the wrong-doers. The fact is that a significant minority of the police force in this country is out of control. And a lot of the “good cops” have turned a blind eye to their crimes.

        • bad12 2.1.1.1
          23 November 2013 at 9:01 am

          Yes and it is the ‘blind eye’ of those in the force who are NOT the perpetrators of criminal acts which needs be addressed as this ‘blind eye’ is the key to the culture within Police that has figuratively and perhaps literally allowed the criminal element within to get away with murder,

          This ‘blind eye’ which allowed a Wellington constable to break a ‘party-goers’ neck with a baton and escape charge or conviction simply because the ‘blind eye’ allowed all the other police lining the hall of the ‘party house’ to claim they did not see the blow struck,

          My view is the Police Complaints authority must be given the means and control of prosecuting all wrong-doing Police where they are subject to complaint and where the ‘blind eye’, the culture of silence is shown to be operating the Law must be changed so as to facilitate the charging of all the officers in a group, just as criminal gangs are charged, where it is shown that some or all must have seen or known of the offending by a colleague but chose to maintain the code of silence…

    • Paul 2.2
      23 November 2013 at 8:41 am

      Julia Hartley Moore used her time to speak on the Panel to say she knew of a lot of abusive conduct within the police, including policewomen being told to sleep with senior officers if they wanted promotion. Disturbing.

      • Morrissey 2.2.1
        23 November 2013 at 8:51 am

        Even more disturbing was that she used the rest of her time to scold environmental protestors and enthusiastically voice approval of Nevil Breivik Gibson’s foam-flecked denunciations of them.

        • Paul 2.2.1.1
          23 November 2013 at 9:15 am

          Yes, Morrissey, good point.
          Mora’s failure to challenge Gibson when he rolled his eyes as Abel connected the Philippines to change was a shameful moment for a public broadcaster.

          • Morrissey 2.2.1.1.1
            23 November 2013 at 10:06 am

            It was actually Finlay Macdonald. He’s as spineless and craven as Mora, unfortunately. He not only guffawed approvingly as Gibson and Hartley-Moore expressed their contempt for the protestors in Russia and New Zealand, but added his own disparaging comments.

    • BM 2.3
      23 November 2013 at 9:06 am

      You do realize there’s around 8500 police officers.

      When it comes to doing dodgy stuff how do the police stack up against up against other occupations such as teaching?.

      I’d say fairly well, with the amount of scum they have to deal with on a daily basis and the amount of temptation that would waved in their faces I’m really quite impressed with the small amount of bad behavior that goes on within our police force.

      Well done, the people in blue.

      • Morrissey 2.3.1
        23 November 2013 at 9:20 am

        You do realize there’s around 8500 police officers. When it comes to doing dodgy stuff how do the police stack up against up against other occupations such as teaching? I’d say fairly well….

        Your comment is one of the more foolish ones to be posted here in the last year. You obviously have no idea about anything.

        ….with the amount of scum they have to deal with on a daily basis and the amount of temptation that would waved in their faces I’m really quite impressed with the small amount of bad behavior that goes on within our police force.

        You are obviously blind and deaf.

        • BM 2.3.1.1
          23 November 2013 at 9:25 am

          Your comment is one of the more foolish ones to be posted here in the last year. You obviously have no idea about anything.

          Lol,That’s pretty rich coming from you.

          The amount of diarrhea that pours from your key board is quite unbelievable.

          • Paul 2.3.1.1.1
            23 November 2013 at 9:29 am

            Morrissey highlights some of the issues with a corrupt mainstream corporate media.
            You simply shill for the elite.

        • chris73 2.3.1.2
          23 November 2013 at 9:30 am

          Your comment is one of the more foolish ones to be posted here in the last year. You obviously have no idea about anything.

          – ok so why is it foolish?

          You are obviously blind and deaf.

          – Rather then insult why not explain

          • Paul 2.3.1.2.1
            23 November 2013 at 9:32 am

            Good to hear you lecturing others, Chris.
            You always turn up on this site to reason using evidence, don’t you?

            • chris73 2.3.1.2.1.1
              23 November 2013 at 9:42 am

              Why not, you never hear anything on this site about teachers sexually and physically abusing kids yet there are regular postings about how bad the police are even though its a very small percentage

              Turning a blind eye to anything is not good

              • Paul …
                23 November 2013 at 9:54 am

                Interested in all opinions if they are supported by evidence.
                My issue with your contributions here are that they are comments without back up,and when people debate the issue with you , you dodge the actual discussion.
                You’re a proud Tory, so debate using real arguments, not slogans,

                • chris73 …
                  23 November 2013 at 10:15 am

                  Fine

                  I think the left supporting posters on this site see the police as a tool of the right which means their influence needs to be weakened at every opportunity using whatever excuse they can no matter how weak it is

                  whereas

                  the teachers are part of the left which means a blind eye can be turned to whatever abuses the teachers and teacher unions commit while agreeing with and reinforcing whatever notion the teachers unions come up with

                  Abuses by one profession is regularly discussed and its members vilified while abuses by another profession are not mentioned and its members supported

                  Discuss

                  • Paul …
                    23 November 2013 at 10:18 am

                    Could you provide some links to provide evidence that “posters on this site see the police as a tool of the right.”?

                    You need to stop making vacuous, unsubstantiated arguments.

                    • chris73 …
                      23 November 2013 at 10:33 am

                      Of course the good ol’ “links or its not true” argument…it can’t possibly be true unless theres a link to it somewhere

                      You spout off your opinions I spout off mine, yours are no less valid then mine (and vice versa)

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    23 November 2013 at 12:10 pm

                    Can you provide evidence that a similar abuse of the system that the police get away with happens in teaching?

                    • McFlock …
                      23 November 2013 at 2:41 pm

                      ^this
                      The thing about teachers is that usually they are charged at around the time complaints are made.

                      This doesn’t seem to happen so often with the police complaints in the media.

                  • Rogue Trooper …
                    23 November 2013 at 3:38 pm

                    Police – “shoe-shine boys (and girls) for the capitalist classes”; nannies for the Baby Boomers. ok, that’s a little hyperbolic…yet… 😀

                • Paul …
                  23 November 2013 at 10:39 am

                  I try to link to an article when making an affirmative statement, as I did with my comment about Fran O’Sullivan.
                  I don’t see you doing this. Be honest Chris, you’re here to make mischief, not to debate.

              • Rogue Trooper …
                23 November 2013 at 3:30 pm

                you do “hear anything on this site about teachers [priests, coaches and health ‘professionals’] sexually and physically abusing” children, ackshully. ‘chris’

        • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1.3
          23 November 2013 at 12:07 pm

          Morrissey, BM is trying a diversion onto teachers and away from the police.

      • Tiger Mountain 2.3.2
        23 November 2013 at 9:49 am

        @BM 2.3
        Or ‘occupations’ such as company directors and CEOs if you want to talk dodgy behaviour. The difference with the blue bellies is that they are sworn operatives and meant to set higher standards for the community. So even one bent copper should be of some concern and dealt with by the IPCA and sent on for standard court attention as the rest of us would be.

        Police assaulting, harassing, raping, and helping themselves to the odd line of seized coke goes on largely unbothered by sanction due to the three monkeys or “blind eye” culture as bad12 said.
        Cops are part of the state forces and as such are able to use lethal force as well as physical restraint, arrest, incarceration and intimidation against citizens.

        So damn right there needs to be some of them locked up and very close scrutiny kept on the rest. They still obscure or fudge their ID numbers fer crissakes (e.g. by a group of officers wearing the same number) for the sole purpose of being unaccountable. And something to think about–a lot of their work could be done by unsworn civilians with training. Gruesome car crashes and lost trampers could all be dealt with by your average towie or pig hunter if paid accordingly.

        Why they swear an oath like the defence forces is that they are needed to enforce the ruling class political will and protect private property which as many who have been burgled would realise does not necessarily include your private house or flat. No it means corporate property and strategic government sites.

        • RedLogix 2.3.2.1
          23 November 2013 at 3:11 pm

          Gruesome car crashes and lost trampers could all be dealt with by your average towie or pig hunter if paid accordingly.

          Well if you looked a little closer you would see that both functions are the responsibility of specialist police officers whose primary task is to coordinate outside resources, eg your towies and volunteer searchers.

          However both jobs also entail the high probability of dead bodies; which is always a police matter.

          is that they are needed to enforce the ruling class political will and protect private property which as many who have been burgled would realise does not necessarily include your private house or flat.

          Largely a matter of priorities. Double the number of police and yes the burg of your flat will get more attention.

          In fact while your particular break-in doesn’t get much attention, it is the pattern of similar ones in an area, and the statistical analysis of them, plus the usual plod work with fences, informants and second-hand dealers that invariably catches up with your crim.

          While it seems that a lot of crime goes unsolved, a cop once explained to me that in the long-run they actually finish up convicting close to 100% of career criminals one way or another.

          • Rogue Trooper 2.3.2.1.1
            23 November 2013 at 3:43 pm

            can be a lot of casualties fall by the way-side on that “Long Run” of ‘priorities’ Red, imo.
            See serial abusers, Wairarapa children for examples.

            • RedLogix 2.3.2.1.1.1
              23 November 2013 at 4:14 pm

              And that heap of files in the Masterton Police Station would likely have mouldered a lot less if there had been four or five officers assigned to it rather than one … who kept of being dragged off to other more ‘urgent’ matters.

              Still should we not be careful what we ask for here? Could we double or triple the number of police and thus vacuum clean society free from all it’s ills….

              • Rogue Trooper …
                23 November 2013 at 4:29 pm

                imo, and experience, much offending by The Criminal Kind is less overt, and more sophisticated now than previously in NZ; Omerta has become more established, such a small village, and the ‘net. Otherwise, despite the heralding of ‘this’ drug-bust and ‘that’ sexual offending, would there be so many tinnie houses remaining un-touched, and I’m talking for more than eight years, that I am aware of; managed often by people with very responsible employment or community roles. The analysis by the Left, generally, is that the Offences Stats are being massaged (and that’s not all, lol) while the MSM and pathetic programmes like Police 10-7 fuel the stereo-typing of the ‘typical’ offender. Every time there is a relatively minor drug operation success locally, the freakin’ editor makes it Front Page News (aarrrgh!).

                Just reflecting, I have been privileged, or damned, to engage intimately with people right across the s-e-o spectrum, and it is far from Black, White, or Blue. (hence why I do not trust the po-po).

                • RedLogix …
                  23 November 2013 at 7:00 pm

                  Just reflecting, I have been privileged, or damned, to engage intimately with people right across the s-e-o spectrum, and it is far from Black, White, or Blue.

                  No quibble. I’m just a little wary of reflexive cop-bashing when they are really just a part of us … Good, Bad or Ugly.

      • weka 2.3.3
        23 November 2013 at 11:30 am

        When it comes to doing dodgy stuff how do the police stack up against up against other occupations such as teaching?.

        I’d say fairly well, with the amount of scum they have to deal with on a daily basis and the amount of temptation that would waved in their faces I’m really quite impressed with the small amount of bad behavior that goes on within our police force.

        Why do you say fairly well? Got any basis for a comparison apart from your own experience? Do you think that there are the same numbers of teachers raping or blackmailing/forcing students into having sex with them and we just don’t know about it?

        “the amount of temptation that would waved in their faces”

        What, like some of the NZ citizens they deal with having vaginas and such?

        • BM 2.3.3.1
          23 November 2013 at 12:29 pm

          Yep or penises or both if they’re that way inclined.

          Heaps of hard arse female crims that would offer up the goods if they thought there was a chance they may get off being dragged in front of the courts.

          • Daveosaurus 2.3.3.1.1
            23 November 2013 at 1:07 pm

            That says a bit more about the company you keep than it does about the police.

          • weka 2.3.3.1.2
            23 November 2013 at 1:47 pm

            Right, so when a cop looks at another human being who has a vagina or a penis or both, they can’t help themselves? How on earth do men who aren’t cops cope?

            “Heaps of hard arse female crims that would offer up the goods if they thought there was a chance they may get off being dragged in front of the courts.”

            Not sure what that has to do with this conversation. Are you saying that because some women are ok with trading favours, that all women should be? Or are you saying that because some women are ok with trading favours, that the police are confused and can no longer tell the difference between choice and force? Doesn’t that render them incompetent to do the job they’re employed to do?

          • Murray Olsen 2.3.3.1.3
            23 November 2013 at 7:28 pm

            I’ve come across plenty of cases of cops letting it be known that, if the “goods were offered up” they’d be willing takers. Pretty much falls into the category of coercion. I’ve known one or two cases where female crims had sex willingly with detectives, but they were informants anyway. I can’t speak for the people you know, Bloody Moron.

      • felix 2.3.4
        23 November 2013 at 8:12 pm

        Oh ffs BM and chris73, only a tiny percentage of the population pull armed robberies.

        The vast majority of people just do their banking and shopping without ever pulling a sawn-off, but it’s no surprise that a few of us do when you consider the enormous temptation of all that free money.

        But hey, it’s only a handful of people really so no big deal. Well done all the non armos I say.

    • Rogue Trooper 2.4
      23 November 2013 at 3:27 pm

      there is more than a few filth

  3. Dan1 3
    23 November 2013 at 8:37 am

    Fascinating fight for NACT party nomination in Kaikoura. Incumbent Colin King is a nice enough guy but seen to be ineffectual on local issues. He does what Head office says. Missing in action on issues such as the local hospital worries. Sat with Aaron Gilmore at the back of the back benches.
    At least one challenger: Stuart Smith with a reputation as a mover and shaker in the wine industry. Supported by a group of Marlborough businessmen who want a higher Marlborough profile in Parliament.
    National membership numbers have soared. The traditional Nactoids are getting the blue-rinse brigade out in force.
    Wednesday night is decision time I understand. The role of Head office will be interesting.

    • ianmac 3.1
      23 November 2013 at 9:34 am

      I feel a bit sorry for Colin. His influence seems to be largely confined to his lovely family. He looks a bit startled when faced with the wider Electorate problems. Whenever he puts in a newspaper column usually about what his family is doing I say nice chap, but a pity National are not interested in using resources in a very safe seat.

  4. ScottGN 4
    23 November 2013 at 8:44 am

    Referendum done and in the post.

  5. Colonial Viper 5
    23 November 2013 at 8:45 am

    How the Left is less numerate at MMP than the Right

    Yeah that’s what I’ve been saying. But no, let’s not change a thing and play straight into National’s game plan instead.

    The problem in Epsom was that the Labour Party (and many Labour voters) simply lacked the numeracy-nous to shut-out Act. (The Green Party equally lacked such nous in 2005; hence Keith Locke’s near-naked stroll through Newmarket.)

    Labour’s biggest mistake by far was to select senior MP David Parker as Labour candidate in Epsom. Labour should not have even contested the Epsom election.
    – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/11/22/dont-moan-about-mmp-disqualification-rules/#sthash.jt3d3i1c.dpuf

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/11/22/dont-moan-about-mmp-disqualification-rules/

    • QoT 5.1
      23 November 2013 at 9:43 pm

      Sigh.

      Why would anyone vote for a non-contestant (meaning anyone destined to come third or lower) when they could use their vote to actually influence the result?

      Because some (many) people don’t see this as a zero-sum game. This line of reasoning only works if you treat voters as too dumb to know what’s good for them. Green electorate-seat voters in Ohariu knew damn well that their chances of not having Dunne as their MP would be maximised by voting for Chauvel. Labour electorate-seat voters in Epsom knew damn well their chances of throwing out Act would be maximised by voting Goldsmith.

      There’s an argument to be made, certainly, that running Parker in Epsom was stupid because it seemed to send a signal that Labour view the seat as winnable. But everything else is just political nerds having a whinge that not everyone votes along purely utilitarian lines (and implying that it’s because they’re ignorant).

      • weka 5.1.1
        23 November 2013 at 10:05 pm

        And the GP voters in the Waitakere electorate vote? How would we know how many left voters are voting knowledgeably and how many are voting relatively cluelessly?

    • Draco T Bastard 5.2
      23 November 2013 at 10:03 pm

      The only way to stop the shear stupidity of the present electoral voting system is to make it a preferential vote. Have people vote for the top three choices minimum and we’ll actually get their most preferred candidate.

      We won’t have to screw our democracy up by giving the political parties the power to choose who’s going to win by making deals.

  6. bad12 6
    23 November 2013 at 9:18 am

    ”On another planet with you”, fact usually just as strange as fiction sees both Fran O,Sullivan and John Armstrong voicing their approval for David Cunliffe’s assertion that the Government must pay the Court ordered compensation to the Pike River miners families,

    This follows on from an editorial earlier in the week where the editor of the NZ National Party NZ Herald also gave Cunliffe it’s backing on this issue,

    O’Sullivan goes so far as to tell Slippery the Prime minister that He must change His stance on the payment of the compensation befor the next election,(or suffer???),

    Armstrong i get the distinct feeling was laboring under ‘orders’ from on high when He produced His piece which while supporting Cunliffes stance was full of the snide abuse we have come to expect and disrespect this particular producer of ‘advertorials’ for the National Party to cause to come into print,

    It took David Cunliffe a while to get around to saying the a Government He leads would pay this Court ordered compensation which now proves to have support for those high and low in the great scheme of things,

    i would go further tho and simply tax the share-market $1 for every $100 of shares either bought or sold and create a fund to provide for any such future payments,(preferrably called the Pike River Memorial Fund with transactions recorded as such each time a dollar was paid just to remind the directors and shareholders of their ongoing ‘responsibilities’)…

    • Colonial Viper 6.1
      23 November 2013 at 9:28 am

      The beginnings of a financial transaction tax. Make it 5c on every $100 transacted, and have it apply to every NZD credit card, money transfer, foreign exchange and EFTPOS transactions over a NZD$250 level.

      It should help tamp down market speculation on the NZD as well.

      • bad12 6.1.1
        23 November 2013 at 9:50 am

        Don’t find i have any disagreement with that proposal, there would need be a mechanism to detect multiple payments under the thresh-hold by the one entity in any given period attempting to rort the system is my only codicil…

      • Murray Olsen 6.1.2
        23 November 2013 at 8:07 pm

        Brazil had a transaction tax on everything. It was originally imposed to help pay for the health system, although it’s debatable how it was actually spent. I never noticed that I was paying it, unlike income tax and student loan interest.

    • chris73 6.2
      23 November 2013 at 9:38 am

      Gee theres a surprise, more taxes

      • Colonial Viper 6.2.1
        23 November 2013 at 9:57 am

        Taxes are a critical mechanism to drive the correct behaviours in society and to focus the private sector on specific sectors and activities.

        • BM 6.2.1.1
          23 November 2013 at 10:03 am

          Being the director of at least 3 companies, do you use tax minimization?

          Are you paying your fair share, Mr CV?

          After you outed yourself, I jumped onto the companies register and had a look, you’re certainly involved in a diverse range of businesses.

          The thing I don’t understand is why you’re wasting your time with Labour, National seems like a much better fit?

          They’d love to have a candidate with all your skills and experience also you’d help add a bit of diversity to the National line up, you’d be a shoe in for selection.

          • felix 6.2.1.1.1
            23 November 2013 at 10:10 am

            “Outed” himself?

            No BM, it’s you who has just outed yourself as a creepy panty-sniffer like the Slater child.

            As if we didn’t know.

            • BM 6.2.1.1.1.1
              23 November 2013 at 10:14 am

              Panty sniffer?

              I actually was really impressed with the mans skills and what he’s involved in, I was actually under the impression that he spent his day bludging off his rich in laws.

              CV would have to be one of the most business savy guys within the labour party,.

              PS: I should have put a smiley face at the end of the second line, to demonstrate that I was joking.

              • Rogue Trooper …
                23 November 2013 at 12:35 pm

                Have you checked out my skid-marks BM? (better get in that garden before it rains btw).

                • BM …
                  23 November 2013 at 12:47 pm

                  Have you checked out my skid-marks BM?

                  Why, are they like a modern art masterpiece?, I’m not really that big on contemporary art so I’ll pass this time.

                  Probably more felixs thing, though.

                  • ghostrider888 …
                    23 November 2013 at 1:17 pm

                    Impressionism, or a Cubist then…although, likely a Classicist 😀 (definitely not Renaissance).

              • felix …
                23 November 2013 at 7:55 pm

                Just shows, BM, that you know fuck all about the Labour Party, or the National Party, or business of any sort.

                Hardly surprising when all your info comes direct from the fetid worm Slater.

          • Colonial Viper 6.2.1.1.2
            23 November 2013 at 10:11 am

            The critical thing for an economy IMO is for money to circulate through communities and SMEs (which is the business sector I am involved with). The velocity of money concept. And for SMEs to see reasonable profits in order to encourage grass roots investment in local businesses.

            I see Labour as the party which understands this. National on the other hand, despite its reputation as the party for business, is really the party for big (corporate) business. We’re in a situation now (both in NZ and globally) where corporate businesses and their profits are protected by governments to the detriment of not just ordinary workers and citizens (who in theory governments are supposed to be serving), but SME’s and SME owners.

            For instance – as an SME owner, higher broadband costs (due to subsidising Chorus) and higher power prices (due to electricity market privatisation and lack of a buying scheme like NZ Power) are highly damaging to the bottom line. Not to mention things like bank fees and small business loan costs from banks.

            In summary – corporates don’t just thieve from communities and ordinary consumers but charging more and delivering less – they are thieving from SMEs as well.

            Having said that, there are major problems with how Labour is perceived in the SME sector, and National is still the preferred party of many business owners for good reason.

            edit – hi felix

            • BM 6.2.1.1.2.1
              23 November 2013 at 10:37 am

              Interesting.

              Not the I’m involved in the National party, but I do agree they’re more geared up for big business.

              The reason being is probably because most of the mps careers have being involved in big business, it’s what they know, not a lot of National mps come from SME sector.

              Someone with your skills and experience would do well in the National party and could really make a difference for small business owners.

              Something to think about?

              I’m just heading outside to weed the garden(fun times) so if you reply It may be a while before you get a response.

              • Colonial Viper …
                23 November 2013 at 11:07 am

                I have been previously approached about standing for National, which I found a fascinating occurrence. Sadly I had to politely decline further discussions 😈

                • Ad …
                  23 November 2013 at 12:12 pm

                  Still, could be a way to get Dunedin North 😉

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    23 November 2013 at 12:27 pm

                    Is sedition still a charge on the books?! 😀

                  • Ake ake ake …
                    23 November 2013 at 12:30 pm

                    Btw, as many of you would know, Dunedin North may not necessarily continue to be a safe Labour seat that it once was.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 November 2013 at 12:40 pm

                      The boundary expansion is a challenge but I’ve got a high level of confidence in David Clark vis a vis the North electorate of Dunedin. He’s already been active and visible up that way.

                • BM …
                  23 November 2013 at 12:36 pm

                  Problem for you though CV is that you’re not a teacher,social worker or unionist. That fairly much rules you out.

                  Also you’ve a Man, so you’re really up against it, honestly I’d say the chances of you getting picked are up there with Trevor Mallard being made deputy leader.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    23 November 2013 at 12:46 pm

                    Hmmm. Quick jot on the calculator, I figure a maximum of 24-25 males in the Labour caucus next year even if it’s a strong result for Labour.

                • kenny …
                  23 November 2013 at 12:46 pm

                  Why sadly?

              • vto …
                23 November 2013 at 12:21 pm

                BM it’s interesting how you think that National helps SME’s. National’s overall approach results in a dividing society with very disparate situations (it’s ok, you lot probably don’t fully appreciate that this is the outcome of you MO atm. It will come.).

                Most all business does better when everyone is closer together in terms of economic situation, not further apart.

                As such, left wing policies result in better outcomes for sme’s.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                23 November 2013 at 12:29 pm

                Someone with your skills and experience would do well in the National party and could really make a difference for small business owners.

                No he wouldn’t as all those people from the big corporate world would expect him to kiss their arse (authoritarian mindset) and CV doesn’t seem like the arse kissing type.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  23 November 2013 at 1:20 pm

                  Indeed. Having said that, I’ve also done my share of work for a number of big corporates, both NZ ones and trans-national corporates.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    23 November 2013 at 1:29 pm

                    Yeah, so have I which is why I know that privatisation and big corporates aren’t any better and are often worse than a government department.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 November 2013 at 1:30 pm

                      Yep.

                    • RedLogix …
                      23 November 2013 at 4:27 pm

                      Same here… worked extensively in both sectors.

                      Ultimately the only difference I ever observed was in their internal quality of leadership.

                      Plus the public sector organisation effectively passed it’s productivity gains back onto all it’s customers (ie tax and rate payers) while the private corporate gains were pretty much all captured by it’s shareholders.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      23 November 2013 at 7:56 pm

                      I found the complete opposite. Split my working career between govt. and private and found govt frustratingly festooned with petty rules, paucity of innovation and bureaucratic nightmares.

      • Te Reo Putake 6.2.2
        23 November 2013 at 10:01 am

        Yeah, thank god we have a Government who won’t raise GST. Oh, wait …

      • Paul 6.2.3
        23 November 2013 at 10:10 am

        See what I mean, Chris.
        You just pop up with little barbs and insults.
        Make an actual argument for less taxes, with evidence.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.2.4
        23 November 2013 at 12:23 pm

        Gee, there’s a surprise, a RWNJ complaining about having to pay the full cost of things.

      • phillip ure 6.2.5
        23 November 2013 at 3:26 pm

        gee there’s a surprise..

        ..chris 73 proffering yet another simplistic one-liner…

        ..(it must be a day ending in a ‘y’..)

        ..do you have rolling amnesia..?

        ..who was it who raised gst after promising not to..?

        ..remind us again..

        ..so..taxes on poorest ..good..

        ..taxes on share-traders..bad…

        ..eh..?

        ..and i wd like to propose another user-pays tax..

        ..it’s the rightwingers-oxygen-users tax..

        ..i call it the ‘rot’ tax..or if you prefer..the ‘rout’-tax..

        ..you like..?

        ..you pay at the start of each day..

        ..eh..?

        ..it’s a kind of a sin-tax..

        ..for being greedy/uncaring rightwing/randite-arseholes..

        ..eh..?

        ..should we call it the rand-tax..?

        ..or the ayn-tax..?

        ..phillip ure..

      • Murray Olsen 6.2.6
        23 November 2013 at 8:13 pm

        It could mean less taxes, but a shift on how they’re paid. A well designed one would be unavoidable, unlike income or capital gains taxes, or even GST, which can be evaded by spending overseas. I don’t expect Tories to like the idea. You guys prefer taxing paper boys and girls, or beneficiaries who make an extra $20 a week. You actually love more taxes, as long as you don’t pay them.

  7. Paul 7
    23 November 2013 at 9:22 am

    Fran O’Sullivan is starting to criticise this appalling government.
    Here are some key quotes from her article in the Herald today.

    Govt must pay for Pike tragedy

    “A failure to do so invites the observation that the Key Government was prepared to take the limelight during the harrowing and symbolic mass mourning that has taken place on the coast and that Key and his Cabinet, having politically elevated the disaster to a national tragedy, prefer to stay absent from the fray and refuse to take a moral stance when political leadership is required.

    “Their failure to do so has of course given Cunliffe an opening and enabled him to paint Key’s Government as a heartless lot. ”

    “Rod Emmerson’s brilliant cartoon (Key Lorde-ing it up) in yesterday’s Herald underscored that in contrast to Pike River, the Government has given a $30 million subsidy to the Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter.”

    “Not surprisingly, the Labour leader’s tactics are raising eyebrows in corporate circles, particularly among directors who are starting to feel they will have to factor in an element of political risk (on top of the blindingly complex commercial risks that now exist) if there is a change of government after next year’s election.”

    But the real issue for Key and his Government is how its stance plays out in the political arena.

    “But the Pike River disaster shocked New Zealanders to their core. It exposed unbelievable negligence by the Labour Department and the Pike River company. It was especially shocking as this negligence was on a scale that might be expected in a Third World country, not New Zealand.
    Cunliffe is right: The Government should fill the breach and pay the $3.41 million to the families.”

    When Tories like O’Sullivan speak, do Key and his crony government listen?

    • ianmac 7.1
      23 November 2013 at 9:41 am

      The Key government is rather caught out. They are adamant that the Government should not pay out to the families. If they changed that position then it is because David Cunliffe forced him to. (Can’t have that!) If Key does not change his stance he will be constantly reminded about the contrast of $30million for Rio Tinto but nothing for the families. (Miserable buggers!)
      Well played that man Cunliffe.

  8. vto 8
    23 November 2013 at 9:42 am

    Kennedy, shot from behind in the head yet his head shunts backwards.

    Trust the government? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

    Trust the mainstream media like the Herald? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

    Trust the official version? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

    Trust Key when it comes to his ties to the US government? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

    Trust Key when it comes to spying? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

    Trust any of them?

    not on your nellie, and anyone who does is an outright fool worthy of only ridicule.

      • Paul 8.1.1
        23 November 2013 at 10:02 am

        Yes, BM, Lee Harvey Oswald killed on his own.
        You’ve got to be crazy to believe that.
        Do you ever question the government’s story?

        • felix 8.1.1.1
          23 November 2013 at 10:05 am

          From November 2014, every word.

          • vto 8.1.1.1.1
            23 November 2013 at 11:06 am

            classic.

            best to question every government.

            can’t wait until November 2014 – can practice on a noo set ….. been a few years now.

        • BM 8.1.1.2
          23 November 2013 at 11:28 am

          I know Oswald didn’t kill Kennedy.

          I’d go with the theory has was topped by the Israelis because he was trying to stop Israels Nuclear program.

          • phillip ure 8.1.1.2.1
            23 November 2013 at 3:41 pm

            i like the mob-hit theory..

            ..pappy kennedy promised the mob that if they got out the vote for his boy in the closely-fought/tight election..

            ..that a kennedy presidency would go easy on the mafia.mob..would leave them to get on with their business..

            ..the mob duly delivered on the day..kennedy just scraped in..

            ..and then ongoing war was declared on the mafia..

            ..with robert kennedy setting up/heading a special task-force targeting all aspects of the mob business model..

            ..my understanding of the world is that you don’t do that to people like that..

            ..they tend to kill you…if you do that sort of thing to them..

            ..eh..?

            ..those political facts/realities of that election are what lend me to the mob-hit theory..

            ..but oswald acting alone..?..

            ..yeah right..!

            ..phillip ure..

          • kenny 8.1.1.2.2
            23 November 2013 at 6:55 pm

            It is suggested in The Grip of Death (a book about monetary reform) that both Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln were both assassinated on behalf of the bankers, who were concerned that both presidents were trying to control the money supply.

  9. James Thrace 9
    23 November 2013 at 9:49 am

    This week referendum papers start arriving in voters mailboxes.

    While many think the outcome is foregone conclusion and some, such as our inept Prime Minister believe that the outcome is well known it is vitally important to still tick “NO” on the referendum.

    Ticking NO sends a message to not just the government, but to the people and the media that despite not campaigning on Asset Sales, contrary to popular opinion, making a hash of the offerings and spending more than expected on selling even just 49% of our assets to the 1%, New Zealanders are against asset sales.

    With over 70% in recent polls voicing their opposition to asset sales, a subsequent corresponding turnout in the postal vote will have serious ramifications.

    Unfortunately, if local body turnout is any indicator, it is highly probable that fewer than 30% will return their ballots.

    Should the NO vote be around 20% of that, the media will trumpet it as indicative of an overwhelming indicator of support for the assets being sold off.

    So what can we do?

    1) Talk to your colleagues and encourage them to vote to “send a message”
    2) Get your neighbours to vote to “send a message”
    3) Your local networks in sport, community or volunteer groups – vote to “send a message”

    What is the message we want to send?

    That our assets were built by our grandparents and parents for all New Zealanders.
    Selling off these assets will mean a higher cost of living for everyone.
    The Government has lost $249million in income each year.

    In perspective, the first year of loss income earnings could have covered the costs (in a single year) of;
    – Pike River Compensation (3.4M)
    – Adult Education Classes (23M)
    – Feed the Kids Bill (100M)
    – Paying Parliamentary Cleaners a living wage (25M)
    – Paying out 100% land value for Red Zoned residents – up from the 50% offered (around 15M)

    That’s a total of $166.4M, with $82.6M remaining.

    Remember, nearly 20M of those figures are one off costs.

    For the sake of ideology and feathering the nests of the few, dividends of $249M each year would have covered key issues that this government refuses to acknowledge as issues in getting New Zealand back on the road to becoming a society of participation, and creating a fair society.

    Voting NO in this referendum sends a clear message to the government that they are treading dangerous ground.

    If even a 50% turnout can be achieved with a 45% response rate of NO – with 50% of voter turnout sending a message that asset sales are not to be ignored, will leave the media playing a dangerous game if they try to frame it as an “us against them” viewpoint, which really when you think about it, is the entire point.

    But let them try because if you try to turn “us” against “them” WE will win everytime.

  10. Ad 10
    23 November 2013 at 10:09 am

    Since it’s the day after the anniversary of President Kennedy’s death, make sure you take 2 hours out and view Oliver Stone’s “JFK”.

    Not for the conspiracy theories, but for the kind of leadership that we should expect and aspire to.

  11. PHILG 11
    23 November 2013 at 10:13 am

    Xox
    Good post James. Puts things into a different frame. How many mates has John Key got to vote in this referendum? Re. Police accountability. I have had my eyes open to police abuse etc and now see them as in Need of serious independent oversight if we are not to find ourselves in a grim police state. I was pulled over the other day, for no reason but to check my warrant and seat belt. If you own an old car, are a young male, or brown, you will be pulled over all the time. Oh and if your female….! This is bullying harassment and intimidation, and must cease, after a public apology from the chief of police. Haha

  12. Rogue Trooper 12
    23 November 2013 at 10:22 am

    A Brighter Future? Plastic ‘Houses’ to Alleviate Housing Shortage
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11161508

    • Colonial Viper 12.1
      23 November 2013 at 11:00 am

      fossil fuel melt down

      • Rogue Trooper 12.1.1
        23 November 2013 at 11:15 am

        Fake Plastic Trees ; How was the second ‘games’? – No pulling the Lego now. 🙂

        • Colonial Viper 12.1.1.1
          23 November 2013 at 11:43 am

          Passable. Interesting study in political economy for the tweeny set. Looking forward to Ender’s now, although I think it won’t beat the writing by Orson Scott Card.

          • Rogue Trooper 12.1.1.1.1
            23 November 2013 at 11:50 am

            recommended reading for the USMC: Card, however, a Mormon opposes ‘Buggers’ (homosexuality) and same-sex marriage.

            • Naturesong 12.1.1.1.1.1
              23 November 2013 at 12:50 pm

              Aye, Card is a fantastic writer.
              Read every single book of his a while ago (just before my Stephen R. Donaldson phase I think).

              Some of his personal views though, particularly around homosexuality, are pretty abhorrent.
              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Scott_Card

              • Draco T Bastard …
                23 November 2013 at 1:32 pm

                Last time I described Card it was: Fantastic stories, boring style.

                • Naturesong …
                  23 November 2013 at 1:47 pm

                  Thats fair.

                • Zorr …
                  23 November 2013 at 1:59 pm

                  I’ve read a large portion of his collected writings and would have to say that most of it is terrible writing that doesn’t benefit from the rosy-tinted glasses that Ender’s Game engenders.

                  The moment I realized that all his writing is from the libertarian Mormon fantasy mindset (didn’t investigate his beliefs prior to my initial foray in to his work), it spoils every story because you have a good idea of what any developments will be. Give me a good Heinlein any day.

                  • Naturesong …
                    23 November 2013 at 3:14 pm

                    Asimov will always be top of the list for me.
                    He was the one that challenged me to think about ethics and technology.

                    Reading the Foundation series as a teenager changed the way I think about society.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    23 November 2013 at 4:11 pm

                    Ender’s Game is probably his best and, yeah, his libertarian/religion psyche comes through really strong. In fact, when you get down to it, that can be said of a lot of fantasy/fiction. You really do see a lot of authoritarian societies with free-markets with the rich as the good guys.

                    • Rogue Trooper …
                      23 November 2013 at 4:15 pm

                      I’m still choosing not to read SF, although Bank’s culture novels are calling…”they keep calling me” and Fantasy, got an eye-full of that looking for James Tiptree Jr. at the library this week. *sigh*

                    • Zorr …
                      23 November 2013 at 5:01 pm

                      I’ve basically come up with a “know the author, know the story” philosophy regarding my sci-fi/fantasy reading. I will make myself knowledgeable about the author before starting on the first book and then if it hasn’t surprised me in the least by the end of it I will proceed to not read the rest of their works because if they aren’t able to step outside of their own bounds, how can I expect them to transport me out of mine?

                      William Gibson is right up there for me 😛

                    • Rogue Trooper …
                      23 November 2013 at 5:03 pm

                      ae, Gibson.seminal

                    • weka …
                      23 November 2013 at 10:00 pm

                      Out of curiosity, how many of the above mentioned authors’ novels pass the Bechdel Test?

                      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      23 November 2013 at 10:10 pm

                      Probably none.

                      Thinking about it, I’d say even a lot of the books I’ve read that have been written by women don’t.

                    • Rogue Trooper …
                      23 November 2013 at 10:23 pm

                      Try Jane Austen, George Eliot, Margaret Atwood… 😀

                    • Zorr …
                      24 November 2013 at 1:19 am

                      @weka – I get the importance of what the Bechdel Test is there to point out but, for myself, a lot of the sci-fi I tend to read is of the short story variety because I am there for the interesting ideas, not for geek/nerd writers to prove how poorly they sometimes understand simple social interaction

                      And, in all honesty, I cannot think of many novels that I have read that would pass the Bechdel Test because the closest I have come to standard literature tends to have been the Kurt Vonnegut’s and Joseph Heller’s of the world (Slaughterhouse 5 and Catch-22 being all-time faves).

                      And when I think of literature *in general*, I can’t easily think of any that would.

                    • rhinocrates …
                      24 November 2013 at 1:53 am

                      I don’t think that the Bechdel Test is in itself a measure of quality or even of ideological worth – Dr Strangelove could easily be appropriated as a feminist text precisely because of its depiction of hypermasculinity leading to disaster.

                      However, I do think that the test is something that every creative artist should keep in mind now. If you are going to exclude women, as women with their own subjectivity and intersubjectivity, one must ask why, because that’s not how the real world works. Even satire has to keep up with the times – especially satire, actually.

                      As for Orson Scott Card, while one might try to separate his weirdly extreme homophobia “outside” of his fiction (and more than a few have speculated about self-loathing and repression…), um, well, fuck it, that’s just trying too hard. SF is meant to be speculative, but speculation along the lines of “lets suppose that, you know, just as an incidental detail that no-one ever mentions but is implicitly ever-present that there were no people were ever, you know… in the shower… um… well, lets’ not…”

                      Well, that sort of undermines the real ethos of SF, which I always thought was to honestly confront real issues or real possibilities, not reel out silly fantasies about midichloridians and colourful space battles.

                      What I absolutely hate about a lot of SF is that it presents a universe of indulgence without permanent and complex consequences – even the later Ender sequels avoid that.

                      OK, rant over until the next cup of coffee.

              • Daveosaurus …
                23 November 2013 at 4:56 pm

                Card’s a thoroughly disgusting individual, but at least a competent writer. Those of his books I’ve read, I’ve borrowed, or bought second hand, in order that he sees no actual money from them. Donaldson, on the other hand, was the first writer I recall having read whose work invoked the Eight Deadly Words, it was so utterly boring.

      • Draco T Bastard 12.1.2
        23 November 2013 at 12:44 pm

        Yep, that’s another piece of modern society that will have to have reduced use and strict recycling.

      • weka 12.1.3
        23 November 2013 at 2:12 pm

        “fossil fuel melt down”

        + Darwin Award. PVC is a pretty high toxicity plastic and iirc is an endocrine disruptor with serious implications for human fertility.

        The stupidity, on so many levels, of importing plastic housing from China make my brain hurt. Technically we don’t have a shortage of houses in NZ (pretty sure the number of unoccupied houses is in excess of people needing a home). What we have is an economy being run for profit rather than the good of the people.

        • Draco T Bastard 12.1.3.1
          23 November 2013 at 4:13 pm

          What we have is an economy being run for profit rather than the good of the people.

          And that is why we have poverty. With greed and selfishness as the guiding principles it’s all we can get and it needs to change.

        • Daveosaurus 12.1.3.2
          23 November 2013 at 4:51 pm

          You say ‘serious implications for human fertility’ like they’re bad things. Considering that this planet is already grossly overpopulated, and that sea level rise has been locked in for at least the next couple of generations (with consequent loss of coastal land), I’d consider infertility one of today’s least pressing problems.

          • weka 12.1.3.2.1
            23 November 2013 at 9:33 pm

            I completely agree (although I doubt the effect on fertility will be large enough, soon enough to be of any benefit). It was more a passing comment that humans should be given the Darwin Award as a species.

            Unfortunately endocrine disruptors don’t just affect homo sapiens 🙁

  13. Rogue Trooper 13
    23 November 2013 at 10:48 am

    “It acts without action, does without doing, finds
    flavour in what is flavourless,
    Can make the small great and the few many,
    Requites injuries with good deeds,
    Deals with the hard while it is still easy,
    With the great while it is still small.
    In the governance of [nation] everything difficult
    must be dealt with while it is still easy,
    Everything great must be dealt with while it is still small.”

    As DoC have their flag-pole cut, Possums rise on the ‘mast’.

  14. Rogue Trooper 14
    23 November 2013 at 11:14 am

    Cosmic Toaster :

    note bene : Warsaw UN Climate talks unpact.

  15. Sanctuary 15
    23 November 2013 at 12:15 pm

    I listened to Geoffrey Palmer’s interview on Kim Hill this morning with growing astonishment. The pompous git spent his whole time bemoaning the state of our democracy without once seeming to realise the reforms he championed are more than anything else responsible for it. He seems to completely lack empathy or connection, he analyses the past as if he had nothing to do with it. He is one seriously off the planet guy, so crazy he is almost sane.

    And to top it off, when David Lange – the only one in the entire asylum that was the fourth Labour government to retain his moral compass or sanity – stood up to the crazies like Douglas, Prebble and Palmer and canned even more radical reforms like the flat tax, Palmer criticises Lange for not following correct procedure:

    “…Prime Minister David Lange was the main culprit. He canned the newly elected government’s notorious economic package of December 1987, a dramatic lurch to the Right based on a flat income tax and sweeping privatisation.

    Lange’s unilateral decision was something “that you can’t do”, Sir Geoffrey says. “And that’s why it all fell apart…”

    What the fuck? Geoffrey Palmer is the guy at Isandlawana who wouldn’t hand out the ammo unless the soldier had the right requistion order. What is wrong with him?

    Palmer is a fucking wierdo.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9433705/The-Reluctant-Prime-Minister

    • Murray Olsen 15.1
      23 November 2013 at 8:29 pm

      Palmer has a very ordered legal mind. He is a detail person who wants all the forms signed in the right place. He certainly would have been the stores clerk denying munitions, or the officer commanding Ghurka enlisted men to leave their defensive line in the Officer’s Club in Singapore. It always seemed to me that he was incapable of seeing the big picture. He always reminded me of Frasier in Cheers, running around with a pair of scissors to prove he was a dangerous rebel. A fucking weirdo is as good as any description I’ve ever seen of him.

    • Tim 15.2
      23 November 2013 at 9:29 pm

      I’m glad you had the fortitude to keep listening. I had to give up. I’d always thought of Palmer as quite a reasonable sort of fella – things like expiration on legislation etc.
      Today he showed me just what an out of touch pompous git he actually is.
      Decrying Lange for example for calling for a cup of tea on the basis that people were really beginning to hurt. Palmer thought Lange should have carried on.
      You’e correct Sanctuary – one pompous git

  16. captain hook 16
    23 November 2013 at 12:18 pm

    its all just a dream babe a vacuum a scheme babe that sucks you into feeling like this.

    • fender 16.1
      23 November 2013 at 1:31 pm

      “…I can see that your head has been twisted and fed with worthless foam from the mouth…”

      “…I used to care but – things have changed ….”

      • Rogue Trooper 16.1.1
        23 November 2013 at 1:50 pm

        “It’s not dark yet, but it’s gettin’ There ” ; …[ Try ] to get to ‘heaven’ before they close the door…

        • fender 16.1.1.1
          23 November 2013 at 1:59 pm

          +1 love it
          ….don’t even hear the murmur of a prayer..

          “I’m 20 miles outa town in cold irons bound “

          • Rogue Trooper 16.1.1.1.1
            23 November 2013 at 2:10 pm

            He was in this ‘phase’ when I saw him at the Westpac Stadium in Christchurch with Patti Smith. Only international artists I have seen of note, yet sufficient for me: Too many people at concerts like Sabbath and AC/DC. I’d love to meet Johnette Napolitano though! .

            • fender 16.1.1.1.1.1
              23 November 2013 at 2:32 pm

              Have you seen this , he’s been making ‘gates’ recently.

              Johnette Napolitano….even her name is wonderful.

              • Rogue Trooper …
                23 November 2013 at 4:07 pm

                No I hadn’t, ‘swinging gate’ comes from the tao. Amazing serendipity (or not 😉 ) though. Wotta day, and ‘straight’ as dray too. Wonders never cease 😀 Thanx fender, ‘request’ me some time.

            • Naturesong 16.1.1.1.1.2
              23 November 2013 at 3:16 pm

              Meh, I saw him with Tom Petty.

              Petty was awesome, Dylan, not so much.

              I’d give my eye teeth to see Patti Smith though.

              • Rogue Trooper …
                23 November 2013 at 4:01 pm

                yes, the Dylan set was muddled by the acoustics of the venue. Tom Petty, say no more!
                or,
                “It didn’t feel like Sunday
                Didn’t feel like June
                When he met his silent partner in that lonely corner room
                That overlooked the marquee (Moon) 😉
                Of the Plaza all-adult
                And he was not lookin’ for romance – just someone he could trust.

                And it wasn’t no way to carry on
                It wasn’t no way to live
                But he could put up with it for a little while
                He was workin’ on Something Big

              • fender …
                23 November 2013 at 4:50 pm

                Sympathise with the Petty experience Naturesong, but as he states in Chronicles volume 1

                “I’d been on an eighteen month tour with Tom Petty. It would be my last. I had no connection to any kind of inspiration. Whatever was there to begin with had all vanished and shrunk. Tom was at the top of his game and I was at the bottom of mine. I couldn’t overcome the odds. Everything was smashed. My own songs had become strangers to me, I didn’t have the skill to touch their raw nerves, couldn’t penetrate the surfaces. It wasn’t my moment of history anymore. There was a hollow singing in my heart and I couldn’t wait to retire and fold the tent. One more big payday with Petty and that would be it for me. I was what they called over the hill. If I wasn’t careful I could end up ranting and raving in shouting matches with the wall. The mirror had swung around and I could see the future- an old actor fumbling in garbage cans outside the theatre of past triumphs.
                I had written and recorded so many songs, but it wasn’t like I was playing many of them. I think I was only up to the task of about twenty or so. The rest were too cryptic, too darkly driven, and I was no longer capable of doing anything radically creative with them. It was like carrying a package of heavy rotting meat. I couldn’t understand where they came from. The glow was gone and the match had burned right to the end. I was going through the motions. Try as I might, the engines wouldn’t start.”

                But beginning with his 1997 album Time Out of Mind he has released 5 great albums that prove an “over the hill” artist can certainly experience a renaissance when the creative juices start flowing again.

  17. ghostrider888 17
    23 November 2013 at 1:02 pm

    “Love is the ghost haunting your head
    Love is the killer you thought was your friend
    Love is the leech, sucking you up
    Love is a vampire, drunk on your blood
    Love is the beast that will tear out your heart
    Hungrily lick it and
    Painfully pick it apart

    Former believers, they beg for release
    As Love looking down on them
    Smiles and picks his teeth

    (She knows all the secrets you don’t want to tell)
    😎

  18. North 18
    23 November 2013 at 2:00 pm

    Hearteningly, in my ongoing daily dealings with cops what I hear is unbridled contempt for cops who abuse their role for personal advanatge of whatever description. In my not limited experience the broad cop mindset, which is unsurprisingly distinct in numerous aspects, does not extend to tolerance or rationalisation of corrupt acts.

    I well recall a sergeant rightly identified as a hardarse with whom I’ve had long term dealings, vocally disgusted when a senior cop on trial in the High Court turned up at trial in police uniform. In this sergeant’s view the guy on trial was smearing his personal shit all over the uniform and the police generally by turning up uniformed. His view didn’t change when the guy was acquitted of rape. In other words he didn’t accept the acquittal as the end of it. There are many cops like that.

    • North 18.1
      23 November 2013 at 2:26 pm

      Sorry folks. Just realised that my comment above should be placed with those at 2 above. Got interrupted by the water tank running dry. $275 for 13,000 litres just delivered by tanker. Lucky I had the readies.

      If I hadn’t, and going by their usual rants, I guess I’d be a ready target for Piss73 and Bowel Motion and SS-lands denouncing me as hopeless feral underclass who deserved it all for his bad choices.

      Ah……….such Masters Of The Looniverse those hatefilled carping old pricks !

      • Northshoreguynz 18.1.1
        23 November 2013 at 2:37 pm

        Shit, that’s expensive water, we usually pay $150 for 11000 litres.

      • chris73 18.1.2
        23 November 2013 at 4:15 pm

        Well I’m glad to see you’re up, hows the hang-over going?

        • North 18.1.2.1
          23 November 2013 at 9:43 pm

          Piss-Up73 kind of you to ask.

          • chris73 18.1.2.1.1
            23 November 2013 at 9:52 pm

            Well I assumed you must have been drunk to post this:

            North 31.1.1
            22 November 2013 at 11:01 pm
            You’re a nutter Piss73. Give the missus a serious seeing to when she got home late with the Maccers dinner and no dipping sauce didya ? You being too bone idle or unartful to peel some spuds while ya waited, as you related yesterday or the day before ? Walked home for that matter while you drove to and from work in the Grandly asprayshinul Vitara angling at the stylish Maori Land Bruiser VX, as you also related yesterday or the day before ?

            Ake ake ake……obviously don’t know or care to know about the zoo of Judge Judy’s current colleagues but certainly there are many former colleagues in Auckland who always saw her as a self promoting baggage and a not too gifted one at that.

            • rhinocrates 18.1.2.1.1.1
              24 November 2013 at 1:04 am

              Well X73, you’re eager to hand it out, but you get all huffy and indignant when you get a taste of your own medicine and you still haven’t got the point of that. Keep showing how thick you are… but beware that that’s all you’re doing.

              Another word of advice: if you’re going to cling to your dignity, then first you must show some, but don’t confuse it with pomposity.

    • Rogue Trooper 18.2
      23 November 2013 at 2:31 pm

      encouraging North

  19. Penny Bright 19
    23 November 2013 at 2:01 pm

    FYI – this comment was ‘awaiting moderation’ on Kiwiblog – so it must be HOT? 😉

    “She never will, big bruv. Miss Dim is a corrupt individual, always ready to rip people off.
    A blight, a parasite, a leech on society’s back.”

    yawn…….

    Any other Kiwibloggers registered and attending the Australian Public sector Anti-Corruption Conference?

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    APSACC ID Number: 1094
    …….

    Dear Penny,

    We look forward to welcoming you to the Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference, being held at The Hilton Sydney, from Tuesday 26 – Thursday 28 November 2013.

    Below are the details of your registration; please check the information carefully, including your name and address details. If any of your details require changes, please notify ICE Australia via email at [email protected] as soon as possible. Alternatively you can amend your details online by entering your access key TIJCZXVYH into the Attendee Login on the Conference Registration page. This facility will be available until Tuesday, 29 October 2013, at which time all changes must be sent to the Registration Manager at [email protected]

    Please find your tax invoice attached as a PDF file to this email. If you are part of a bulk registration your invoice will be sent to the first person registered.

    Name: Ms Penny Bright
    Position: ‘Anti-Corruption /anti-Privatisation Whistle-Blower’
    Organisation: Public Watchdog
    Country: NEW ZEALAND

    Please find important conference information, in addition to a summary of your registration, below.

    Venue
    The Hilton Sydney
    488 George Street, Sydney
    NSW, 2000
    ____________________________________________________________________________

    As the 4th highest polling Auckland Mayoral candidate, with 11,723 votes
    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/HowCouncilWorks/Elections/Documents/mayorfinalresults2013.pdf

    who campaigned against ‘corrupt corporate control’ of the Auckland region, I look forward to discussing with international anti-corruption EXPERTS, the following ACTION PLAN against ‘white collar’ crime, corruption and corporate welfare

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ANTI-CORRUPTION-WHITE-COLLAR-CRIME-CORPORATE-WELFARE-ACTION-PLAN-Ak-Mayoral-campaign-19-July-2013-2.pdf

    I’m sure there will be a lot of interest in the recent complaint made by Lisa Prager and myself to the NZ Serious Fraud Office (SFO), against Auckland Mayor Len Brown and Sky City (Auckland) for alleged bribery and corruption:

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/open-letter-request-for-nz-serious-fraud-office-to-conduct-an-urgent-inquiry-into-alleged-bribery-and-corruption-involving-auckland-mayor-len-brown-and-sky-city-auckland/

    It is my intention to raise the question of how New Zealand can continually maintain the status of being the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ (together with Denmark and Finland, according to Transparency International’s 2012 ‘Corruption Perception Index’

    http://www.transparency.org/cpi2012/results ) when we haven’t even ratified the UN Convention Against Corruption?

    UNCAC in a nutshell – U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre
    http://www.u4.no/…/uncac…united-nations-convention-against-corruption…/3…‎
    Countries that have signed, but not yet ratified UNCAC: Barbados, Bhutan, Czech Republic, Germany, Guinea, Japan, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and….

    I’m sure a number of anti-corruption experts, and hopefully significant Australian media, will be interested in the fact that the NZ International Convention Centre Act 2013, was effectively railroaded through the NZ Parliament, without ‘due diligence’ against the increased risk of money-laundering being carried out by the supposedly ‘lead agency’ – OFCANZ (organised and Financial Crime Agency of NZ), the NZ Prime Minister John Key, Minister of Economic Development Steven Joyce, Auckland Council, or Auckland Central Police.

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/SKY-CITY-OFCANZ-OIA-REPLY-NO-DUE-DLIGENCE-RE-MONEY-LAUNDERING-bright-penny-06-c211711-2-sent-reply.pdf

    So – there may be some interest in the fact that the NZ Auditor-General, Lyn Provost, has confirmed that she will consider my request for an investigation into the failure of OFCANZ to carry out ‘due diligence’ on the increased risk of money-laundering arising from the NZ International Convention Centre Act 2013 ( or as prefer to call it – the ‘Sky City money-laundering’) Act:

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/nz-auditor-general-lyn-provost-will-consider-my-request-to-conduct-an-urgent-investigation-into-ofcanz/

    As during the Auckland Mayoral campaign, I will explain why I am making a stand in defence of the public’s right to ‘open, transparent and democratically-accountable local government, which cannot be ignored – ie my refusal to pay rates, until ‘the books’ are open and the public are given the ‘devilish detail’, which shows EXACTLY where rates monies are being spent on consultants and private contractors.

    You see, gutless anonymous ‘Manolo’ and ‘Big Bruv’, unlike your bleating sheepish selves, I’m an active and effective ‘anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’, who actually ‘gets things done’?

    (Meant of course in a caring way 🙂

    You have a GREAT day!

    Kind regards,

    ‘Her Warship’
    ________________________________________________________________________

    PS: For those who kindly made donations to help get me over the ditch and registered at this 2013 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference – THANKS!

    In the end, my sister loaned me $1500 in order to make sure I could get there.

    I’d REALLY appreciate not being left in the financial poo here folks – so if you haven’t yet made a donation to help out, you still can:

    KIWIBANK PM Bright 38 9010 0725719 00

    That’s 150 people donating $10
    75 people donating $20

    Not a big ask?

    Have a GREAT day!

    Cheers

    Penny Bright

    • Ad 19.1
      23 November 2013 at 2:12 pm

      Why should people give you cash? You don’t support public transport, urban density, the Auckland Plan, or indeed anything at all.

      • Rogue Trooper 19.1.1
        23 November 2013 at 2:25 pm

        I support a few ’causes’, being interviewed for board-membership of a disability trust next week, and can always do with some cash! 😀 (All donations Gr8fully invested). 😎

      • Penny Bright 19.1.2
        23 November 2013 at 2:51 pm

        Not a UN Agenda 21 supporter by any chance are you ‘Ad’?

        I’m not.

        So ‘Ad’ – you’re not opposed to corruption, ‘white collar’ crime or ‘corporate welfare’?

        I am.

        You’ll be disappointed to know that a number of people DO support the (voluntary, self-funded) work I do and what I stand for – otherwise I wouldn’t have got nearly 12,000 votes and polled 4th in the Auckland Mayoral election, and wouldn’t be flying out to Sydney tomorrow morning?

        Never mind.

        You have a lovely day.

        (I am 🙂

        Cheers!

        Penny Bright

        • Ad 19.1.2.1
          23 November 2013 at 5:22 pm

          12,000 wasted votes from yet another futile and wasted campaign. You are in fact harder right than Rodney Hide; you rebel against nothing of note, stand for nothing, and seek to destroy everything you touch.

          Apart from your little foray into the forgotten Aotea Square Occupy movement. Here’s what you need to do Penny: go occupy a job.

          • Rogue Trooper 19.1.2.1.1
            23 November 2013 at 5:24 pm

            I’m ‘friends’ with Penny, yet, that is funny! 😀 (unless you are implying I get a beard-cut too…)

          • Penny Bright 19.1.2.1.2
            23 November 2013 at 11:28 pm

            “12,000 wasted votes from yet another futile and wasted campaign. You are in fact harder right than Rodney Hide; you rebel against nothing of note, stand for nothing, and seek to destroy everything you touch.

            Apart from your little foray into the forgotten Aotea Square Occupy movement. Here’s what you need to do Penny: go occupy a job.”
            ______________________________________________________________________

            Gosh ‘Ad’ – can you show me some EVIDENCE where Rodney Hide has campaigned against the ‘corrupt corporate control’ of the Auckland region?

            I did.

            http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz

            Can you show me some EVIDENCE ‘Ad’ – where Rodney Hide has exposed who is really running Auckland – http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz membership – as I did in my 150 word Auckland Mayoral candidate statement which went out to 1.4 million Auckland voters?

            (Maybe you’re just a little bit inexperienced politically ‘Ad’ , and simply don’t know what the terms ‘left’ and ‘right’ are supposed to stand for?

            Although since the neo-liberal ‘Rogernomic$’ reforms were introduced by the 1984 – 1987 ‘Labour Government’, ‘left’ vs ‘right’ is arguably no longer really very politically meaningful ?

            Personally, I prefer to look at the fundamental political divide as ‘corporate minority’ vs ‘public majority’? (1% vs the 99% – sort of thing 🙂

            My ‘little foray into the forgotten Aotea Square Occupy movement’, as a Named Respondent and an Appellant in my own name, working together with pro-bono lawyer for Occupy Auckland Ron Mansfield, resulted in a significant win against corporate-controlled Auckland Council.

            http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/?p=113

            The following High Court documents, help expose how corporate-controlled Auckland Council is a ‘Supercity’ for the 1%.

            http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/OCCUPY-AUCKLAND-APPEAL-APPLICATION-BY-APPELLANT-BRIGHT-TO-ADDUCE-NEW-EVIDENCE-pdf.pdf

            Actually ‘Ad’ – I’m REALLY busy as a full-time, self-funded ‘anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’.

            This is what I stand for:

            http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ANTI-CORRUPTION-WHITE-COLLAR-CRIME-CORPORATE-WELFARE-ACTION-PLAN-Ak-Mayoral-campaign-19-July-2013-2.pdf

            That this obviously upsets people such as yourself, gives me considerable satisfaction.

            (Meant of course, in a caring way 😉

            FYI – Occupy Auckland, to date, has been the only organisation to ever endorse the ‘principle’ of such an ‘ACTION PLAN’.

            I look forward to as many people/ organisations / political parties / as possible, endorsing, advocating for such an ACTION PLAN, or as many parts of it as possible.

            ‘Where the people lead – the politicians will follow’ ?

            PS: ‘Ad’ – do you support UN Agenda 21?

            Given your rather semi-hysterical response, it seems to me that you probably do?

            I don’t.

            Kind regards,

            Penny Bright

            http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz

    • TheContrarian 19.2
      23 November 2013 at 8:00 pm

      Really Penny, really?

      Stumping for donations on The Standard for your own ends?

      Jesus…

  20. Treetop 20
    23 November 2013 at 2:36 pm

    In about a year another general election will be held.

    The next election is winnable for Labour and the Greens.

    My top five issues to be addressed are:

    Affordable housing.
    Money for research and development.
    Job creation.
    Food in schools.
    A Hikoi to show the importance of voting.

    • Penny Bright 20.1
      23 November 2013 at 2:56 pm

      Anything on here you support ‘Tree top’ ?

      To help ‘clip the wings’ of the corporate 1%?

      http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ANTI-CORRUPTION-WHITE-COLLAR-CRIME-CORPORATE-WELFARE-ACTION-PLAN-Ak-Mayoral-campaign-19-July-2013-2.pdf

      Help yourself – that goes for anybody /everybody …

      It’s a framework for GENUINE ‘transparency’ – a word that you’re seeing a lot of now.

      (Like the “f” and “c” words – “FRAUD” and “CORRUPTION” ?)

      Cheers!

      Penny Bright

      • Treetop 20.1.1
        23 November 2013 at 3:05 pm

        I support you Penny. I have just redone my budget for next week to donate $10.

        • Penny Bright 20.1.1.1
          23 November 2013 at 3:11 pm

          Thank you ‘Treetop’.

          Getting an income of just $320 per week myself (freehold house + flatmates) – I know how money is tight for a lot of us.

          That’s why I’m asking folks to help ‘spread the load’ (as it were 🙂

          Just need another 149 folks to do what you’re going to – and all will be well!

          MUCH appreciated.

          Cheers!

          ‘Her Warship 😉

          • Treetop 20.1.1.1.1
            23 November 2013 at 3:18 pm

            Don’t stop the good fight. Someone has to do it and that someone is you and you need to be, and feel supported.

          • Lanthanide 20.1.1.1.2
            23 November 2013 at 3:43 pm

            Certainly easier to make that $320 stretch when you refuse to pay rates.

          • bad12 20.1.1.1.3
            23 November 2013 at 7:17 pm

            So sorry my budget for ‘intervention’ is currently being used to try and leverage the ‘Hairdo’ outta that electorate,

            Plus i coughed a decent wad of used 20’s into G, Mac’s efforts at giving Banks a spanking, $320 a week with flatmates and a freehold house,(tell us more), sounds like you should have been able to save up to fund your own holiday, oops i mean conference across the ditch…

          • TheContrarian 20.1.1.1.4
            23 November 2013 at 8:02 pm

            “Just need another 149 folks to do what you’re going to – and all will be well!”

            And what will the donations bring? What outcomes will be achieved? Will you be open and honest with your donations? What will the donations be spent on?

            • Treetop 20.1.1.1.4.1
              23 November 2013 at 8:18 pm

              So you would rather sit on your hands and do nothing.

            • Penny Bright 20.1.1.1.4.2
              23 November 2013 at 10:32 pm

              errr…. did you miss this bit ‘The Contrarian’?

              PS: For those who kindly made donations to help get me over the ditch and registered at this 2013 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference – THANKS!

              In the end, my sister loaned me $1500 in order to make sure I could get there.

              I’d REALLY appreciate not being left in the financial poo here folks – so if you haven’t yet made a donation to help out, you still can:

              KIWIBANK PM Bright 38 9010 0725719 00

              That’s 150 people donating $10
              75 people donating $20

              Not a big ask?

              Have a GREAT day!

              Cheers

              Penny Bright

              PS: I would not have been able to draw up this ACTION PLAN against ‘white collar’ crime, corruption and ‘corporate welfare’, had I not attended the 2009 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference, and 2010 Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference – listened to and questioned the speakers, collected and read the material, then applied what I learned to New Zealand.

              http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ANTI-CORRUPTION-WHITE-COLLAR-CRIME-CORPORATE-WELFARE-ACTION-PLAN-Ak-Mayoral-campaign-19-July-2013-2.pdf

              Got a considered opinion on how better to help ‘clip the wings’ of the corporate 1%
              ‘The Contrarian’ or ‘Ad’?

              When you’re ready ……

              Kind regards,

              Penny Bright

              http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz

  21. ropata 21
    23 November 2013 at 3:42 pm

    Zerohedge: The Dark Heart of Centralised Power

    It’s little wonder so many sociopaths end up in positions of power: power attracts the ruthless unencumbered by empathy. No wonder the phrase ‘pathology of power’ resonates: The Federal Reserve and the Pathology of Power (November 18, 2010).

    There is an ontological darkness in centralized power, and it flows from the disconnect between authority, responsibility and consequence. A leader with vast centralized powers–a president, an emperor, a dictator–has the authority to send young citizens into combat in distant lands, but he does not carry an equal responsibility to ensure their lives are not lost in the vain glories of Empire. The consequences of his decisions do not fall on him; he is far from the combat and the loosed dogs of war. His concern is the domestic political squabbles of the Elites who support his centralized power.

    All centralized power carries the same pathology: those with the authority are never exposed to the consequences of their authority, nor do they have any responsibility for the consequences. The president who launches an unwinnable war that chews up the nation’s youth and treasure leaves office to fund-raise for his self-glorification, i.e. a presidential library.

    The CEO whose strategies fail to revive the corporation and indeed send it to the brink of insolvency leaves with a “golden parachute” worth tens of millions of dollars.

  22. Rogue Trooper 22
    23 November 2013 at 7:32 pm

    Southern glaciers retreating at 160m per year, some 5m a day!
    In the Philippines, 4M people remain homeless following typhoon.

    -Te Newz

  23. greywarbler 23
    23 November 2013 at 7:38 pm

    I have just been listening to Stephen Sackur BBC Hard Talk. What an interrupting, opinionated yob. He interrupts, states something as a question then interrupts the explanation. He’s been with the BBC since 1986 apparently. Your time is up Sackur, sacking time. Time to move on to… the USA perhaps. They have quite a thing for clipped British accents.

    • gobsmacked 23.1
      23 November 2013 at 10:48 pm

      Watch Sackur’s interview with John Key to get another perspective.

      I think he’s a good interviewer, generally.

  24. gobsmacked 24
    23 November 2013 at 8:19 pm

    John Ansell has now added his comment to the Allan Titford story:

    http://www.elocal.co.nz

    “I also know Allan Titford. I’ve met him twice for long chats in the company of his new partner and small son. They struck me as a loving couple and there was certainly nothing in his partner’s behaviour to suggest that she was a victim of abuse.

    In view of the fraud being perpetrated by the state over the Treaty, and in view of the numerous instances of police corruption that litter recent New Zealand history, I’m going to give Allan the benefit of the doubt until I’ve seen the evidence presented against him.

    If he is guilty of these crimes, then he deserves everything that’s coming to him.

    But I’m not going to see an innocent man rot in prison and a lovely little boy grow up without his dad if that evidence is as flimsy as I suspect it is.

    I am certainly not going to accept that he is guilty of decades of sexual slavedriving based on the televised tearjerking of an ex-wife with a vested interest in his conviction.

    Let us see the evidence. Already the 24 year sentence is evidence of a judge who rates Allan as deserving of a longer sentence than all but a few murderers.

    Why?”

    That’s John Ansell, architect of National’s 2005 election campaign, under Don “Iwi/Kiwi” Brash. They must be proud.

    • karol 24.1
      23 November 2013 at 8:21 pm

      “If he is guilty….”

      WTF!?

    • Rogue Trooper 24.2
      23 November 2013 at 8:23 pm

      it’s a tragedy he lives in the same hemisphere as us!

      • gobsmacked 24.2.1
        23 November 2013 at 8:28 pm

        I don’t think it’s worth engaging with these people, they are utterly immune to reason.

        But it is important to know that they are out there, and not just on the wild fringe.

        • Rogue Trooper 24.2.1.1
          23 November 2013 at 9:04 pm

          some of these attitudes are quite mainstream. Wonder what went wrong with their socialization to limit their brain development. Not much better than ill-bred animals trapped in a cage.

    • weka 24.3
      23 November 2013 at 9:40 pm

      That elocal link doesn’t go to the text quoted, nor is the text turning up in a site search. Have they taken it down? Can’t find it on google either.

      • gobsmacked 24.3.1
        23 November 2013 at 10:44 pm

        The blog comments are on the left of the page link.

        Ansell’s is (currently) the 4th one down. But all the comments are worth reading, to see what these people are like – and bearing in mind that their group includes the likes of Muriel Newman (ex-ACT MP) and others who pop up as pundits in the mainstream media.

        • Rogue Trooper 24.3.1.1
          23 November 2013 at 10:54 pm

          does it leave ya’ gobsmacked? 😀

        • karol 24.3.1.2
          24 November 2013 at 7:23 am

          I see my reply didn’t make it through. So clear to see where the site managers are coming from.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 24.3.1.3
          24 November 2013 at 8:20 am

          I expect Ansell doesn’t believe the arson evidence either. Or the using a document with intent to defraud evidence, or the perjury evidence.

          Delusional person has delusions?

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 24.3.2
        24 November 2013 at 8:25 am

        It’s a comment attached to one of the ongoing series of “Gangsta’s Stole My Land” inflammatory drivel articles.

        What a narrow scary world these people project.

  25. lprent 25
    24 November 2013 at 12:12 am

    Improved the search results fixing that damn date problem and putting in a few minor appearance enhancements.

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  • Unleashing business potential across NZ
    A new Business Growth Fund to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow Fully funding the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund to unleash regional economic development opportunities Tourism Innovation Programme to promote sustainable recovery Eight Industry Transformation Plans progressed to work with industries, workers and iwi to transition ...
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  • Securing the wellbeing of Pacific communities
    Budget 2022 further strengthens the economic foundations and wellbeing outcomes for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa, as the recovery from COVID-19 continues. “The priorities we set for Budget 2022 will support the continued delivery of our commitments for Pacific peoples through the Pacific Wellbeing Strategy, a 2020 manifesto commitment for Pacific ...
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  • Government delivers timely support for whānau
    Boost for Māori economic and employment initiatives. More funding for Māori health and wellbeing initiatives Further support towards growing language, culture and identity initiatives to deliver on our commitment to Te Reo Māori in Education  Funding for natural environment and climate change initiatives to help farmers, growers and whenua ...
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  • Government delivers critical infrastructure
    New hospital funding for Whangārei, Nelson and Hillmorton 280 more classrooms over 40 schools, and money for new kura $349 million for more rolling stock and rail network investment The completion of feasibility studies for a Northland dry dock and a new port in the Manukau Harbour Increased infrastructure ...
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  • A health system that takes care of Māori
    $168 million to the Māori Health Authority for direct commissioning of services $20.1 million to support Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards $30 million to support Māori primary and community care providers $39 million for Māori health workforce development Budget 2022 invests in resetting our health system and gives economic security in ...
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  • Investing in better health services
    Biggest-ever increase to Pharmac’s medicines budget Provision for 61 new emergency vehicles including 48 ambulances, along with 248 more paramedics and other frontline staff New emergency helicopter and crew, and replacement of some older choppers $100 million investment in specialist mental health and addiction services 195,000 primary and intermediate aged ...
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  • A Secure Future for New Zealanders’ health
    Landmark reform: new multi-year budgets for better planning and more consistent health services Record ongoing annual funding boost for Health NZ to meet cost pressures and start with a clean slate as it replaces fragmented DHB system ($1.8 billion year one, as well as additional $1.3 billion in year ...
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  • Cost of living package eases impact on households – 2.1 million Kiwis to get new targeted payment
    Fuel Excise Duty and Road User Charges cut to be extended for two months Half price public transport extended for a further two months New temporary cost of living payment for people earning up to $70,000 who are not eligible to receive the Winter Energy Payment Estimated 2.1 million New ...
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  • Budget highlights underlying strength of economy in face of global headwinds
    A return to surplus in 2024/2025 Unemployment rate projected to remain at record lows Net debt forecast to peak at 19.9 percent of GDP in 2024, lower than Australia, US, UK and Canada Economic growth to hit 4.2 percent in 2023 and average 2.1 percent over the forecast period A ...
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  • Budget 2022: A secure future in difficult times
    Cost of living payment to cushion impact of inflation for 2.1 million Kiwis Record health investment including biggest ever increase to Pharmac’s medicines budget First allocations from Climate Emergency Response Fund contribute to achieving the goals in the first Emissions Reduction Plan Government actions deliver one of the strongest ...
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  • Budget 2022: A secure future
    Budget 2022 will help build a high wage, low emissions economy that provides greater economic security, while providing support to households affected by cost of living pressures. Our economy has come through the COVID-19 shock better than almost anywhere else in the world, but other challenges, both long-term and more ...
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  • Health Minister to attend World Health Assembly in Geneva
    Health Minister Andrew Little will represent New Zealand at the first in-person World Health Assembly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from Sunday 22 – Wednesday 25 May (New Zealand time). “COVID-19 has affected people all around the world, and health continues to ...
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    3 days ago

  • New efforts to counter illegal timber trade
    New Zealand is committing to trade only in legally harvested timber with the Forests (Legal Harvest Assurance) Amendment Bill introduced to Parliament today. Under the Bill, timber harvested in New Zealand and overseas, and used in products made here or imported, will have to be verified as being legally harvested. ...
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  • Deaths in New Zealand lower than expected so far during the pandemic
    The Government has welcomed the release today of StatsNZ data showing the rate at which New Zealanders died from all causes during the COVID-19 pandemic has been lower than expected. The new StatsNZ figures provide a measure of the overall rate of deaths in New Zealand during the pandemic compared ...
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    4 days ago

  • New law helps secure New Zealand’s maritime domain
    Legislation that will help prevent serious criminal offending at sea, including trafficking of humans, drugs, wildlife and arms, has passed its third reading in Parliament today, Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta announced. “Today is a milestone in allowing us to respond to the increasingly dynamic and complex maritime security environment facing ...
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  • Trade and Export Growth Minister to travel to Bangkok for APEC
    Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor is set to travel to Thailand this week to represent New Zealand at the annual APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) meeting in Bangkok. “I’m very much looking forward to meeting my trade counterparts at APEC 2022 and building on the achievements we ...
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  • Government welcomes historic pay-equity deal
    Settlement of the first pay-equity agreement in the health sector is hugely significant, delivering pay rises of thousands of dollars for many hospital administration and clerical workers, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “There is no place in 21st century Aotearoa New Zealand for 1950s attitudes to work predominantly carried out ...
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  • Government delivers new ICU space at Christchurch Hospital
    Health Minister Andrew Little opened a new intensive care space for up to 12 ICU-capable beds at Christchurch Hospital today, funded from the Government’s Rapid Hospital Improvement Programme. “I’m pleased to help mark this milestone. This new space will provide additional critical care support for the people of Canterbury and ...
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    5 days ago

  • Next steps for specialist mental health and addiction services
    Budget 2022 will continue to deliver on Labour’s commitment to better services and support for mental wellbeing. The upcoming Budget will include a $100-million investment over four years for a specialist mental health and addiction package, including: $27m for community-based crisis services that will deliver a variety of intensive supports ...
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  • 195,000 children set to benefit from more mental health support
    Budget 2022 will continue to deliver on Labour’s commitment to better mental wellbeing services and support, with 195,000 primary and intermediate aged children set to benefit from the continuation and expansion of Mana Ake services. “In Budget 2022 Labour will deliver on its manifesto commitment to expand Mana Ake, with ...
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