Open mike 24/03/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 24th, 2024 - 16 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:


Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

16 comments on “Open mike 24/03/2024 ”

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  1. Adrian 1
    24 March 2024 at 11:26 am

    I can’t say how I know but the methane reduction program run by MPI and which is an international obligation and a major part of our climate commitments is being gutted and a large portion of scientists and staff to be given the boot. Who the fuck do these people think they are.?

    • Stephen D 1.1
      24 March 2024 at 11:45 am

      The threat of M Bovis making a comeback should make any dairy farmers blood run cold. With MPI gutted who’s going to help control it.

      WTF Is Andrew Hoggard thinking??

      • KJT 1.1.1
        24 March 2024 at 3:14 pm

        Are there any actual farmers left?

        It seems most farm owners are engaged in Capital Gains farming.

        "Queen Street farmers?

        • Janice 1.1.1.1
          24 March 2024 at 5:22 pm

          I wonder how all those farmers, Queen St and real, who vote for anything with a blue ribbon around its neck, will blame when foot and mouth arrives due to the cuts in biosecurity. M bovis will be like a walk in the park.

          • KJT 1.1.1.1.1
            24 March 2024 at 5:55 pm

            They will blame

            "the Greenies"!

          • KJT 1.1.1.1.2
            24 March 2024 at 6:00 pm

            The irony is "anti farmer" Labour has shovelled more funding into farming than any National Government since Muldoons " social welfare for sheep".

            Including bio- security, the laughably called "free trade agreements", flood and draught relief, research, and income support.

            For actual farmers, it may be a case of "be careful what you wish for"

  3. Stephen D 3
    24 March 2024 at 11:41 am

    One of the many things the left can do is talk.

    Until policy is decided we can talk in general terms.

    We need to talk about fairness. Whether it’s decency, equality, a fair go, giving everyone a fair suck of the sav, it doesn’t matter. What must be highlighted is that the left’s aim is to make society a better place for all. We can invoke the ideas of Michael Joseph Savage, Norm Kirk, Helen Clark, Jacinda Ardern, as long as connections are made.

    No need to highlight differences between us and them.

    Where we do this is also irrelevant. Around the water cooler. In the lunchroom. At the quiz night. In the smoko room.

    The more the discussion is reinforcing social equality, but in non threatening non party political terms, the better.

    Once the election starts to loom, we can get more specific.

  4. aj 4
    24 March 2024 at 1:36 pm

    Quick response to the Royal Commission on Covid-19

    https://covidaction.nz/en/quickresponsetotheroyalcommissiononcovid-19

    This section below is also important. The enquiry is going to become a tool to beat the government response up with.

    On twitter the FSU already has a response generator up with loaded questions to frame a critical submission to this enquiry. I refuse to link to it.

    “Terms of reference

    But PLEASE DON’T STOP NOW! The Government has suggested new topics for the Inquiry – and it wants our views. ACA believes this is no time for playing politics. The Inquiry is already looking at these topics and needs to be allowed to get on with its work.”

  5. Kay 5
    24 March 2024 at 2:01 pm

    I make a point of reading the opinion pieces by right-wing columnists, because I want to hear another viewpoint, where they're coming from, and perhaps even alternatives and new ideas- plus, I don't associate with any in real life that I could have these discussions with.

    I'm fully onboard with the MSM giving airtime to both sides (as they should, in most cases), and welcome the opportunity to be challenged. Sometimes I even find myself agreeing with the writer.

    But then we have this guy, the poster boy for why ACT and libertarians are such are danger- and incapable of presenting their case without throwing a paddy and having a sulk. At least, this one rarely can.

    And are climate change deniers that are still being given airtime with that view

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/climate-change/350206075/damien-grant-politicisation-our-response-climate-change-dispiriting

    And today's offering, a continuation of the 'Grant was the worst finance minister ever/reckless/irresponsible/usual talking points. Do these people have absolutely nothing original to say?

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350222404/how-do-we-judge-6-years-grant-robertsons-ascendancy

    • Bearded Git 5.1
      24 March 2024 at 6:35 pm

      I didn't read Damian Grant’s article Kay because I knew that he would say that.

      It is all rubbish of course. Robertson did a fantastic job, keeping NZ's government net liabilities well below the OECD average despite the Covid crisis and the Cost of Living crisis, the supply chain problems of which hit far flung-flung NZ particularly hard.

      The truth is, as he said in his valedictory speech, that Labour needed to raise government spending from 27% to over 30% to pay for the things that the less well off in society needed, such as restoring benefits to the level before the mother of all governments, building more state houses than any government since the 70's (Key sold them off for tax cuts) and building more classrooms than any other government.

      Luxon, Seymour and Damian Grant have portrayed this as reckless-shame on them.

  6. George 6
    24 March 2024 at 5:41 pm

    Working in the community with those labelled vulnerable…the rent decreases promised by this government are turning into rent increases. Clients paying $350 a week for a basic place are now getting hikes up to $500..! Ostensibly so it can be written off against the landlords tax bill. So you what..? Borrow more against your investment so called for improvements and then buy yourself another Maserati and hike the rent? We will see a lot more of this.

    • Michael P 6.1
      25 March 2024 at 8:22 pm

      I'm currently paying $300 per week for what is essentially a one room tin shed out the back of a rental property.

      My place is absolutely nowhere near healthy homes compliant and would fail on many things. It is also not compliant under other residential property laws. The list of fails is a long one but includes no insulation, no heating, no extraction fans, dampness, no oven and so on and so on.

      The thing is I can't make any complaints for fear of losing the rental. It is almost impossible to find a rental in Auckland now as a single person without forking out huge amounts. I have had to move on average once a year over the last decade due to house being sold, relatives needing to move in, etc and the stress associated with trying to find somewhere and then trying to come up with bond, rent in advance, etc is off the scale.

      I can get by like this as I don't have family / kids to worry about but it makes me wonder how many other people are in sub standard accommodation but are too scared to complain.

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