Open mike 24/07/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 24th, 2022 - 79 comments
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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step up to the mike …

79 comments on “Open mike 24/07/2022 ”

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  1. bwaghorn 1
    24 July 2022 at 7:23 am

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/129364876/if-james-shaw-walks-so-does-the-greens-biggest-political-asset

    25% is all it takes to destabilize the party.!!

    What damn fool thinks that's a good idea.

    (There is a nagging little voice though that thinks Cloe as leader could awaken the slack youth vote, just should have been dolittle Davidson that went)

    • Ad 1.1
      24 July 2022 at 7:30 am

      At least they're not doing it 6 weeks out from an election like last time.

      Maybe most Greens prefer to fuck it up again, and just rely on Chloe's seat.

      Do the Greens really want to change the country through Parliament?

      • Visubversa 1.1.1
        24 July 2022 at 9:53 am

        Yes, just run Auckland Central like a by-election every time with activists from as far away as Invercargill, and pile on the emotional blackmail to Labour voters in that seat that if they don't vote for the Green candidate they won't be in Government, and you don't have to bother with that pesky 5%.

        • Ad 1.1.1.1
          24 July 2022 at 10:45 am

          Well unless Greens get a full 10% we're not going to get Labour back in anyway.

          2023 is looking such a tactical election I may just have to hold my nose on the Party vote.

          • Doogs 1.1.1.1.1
            24 July 2022 at 2:35 pm

            I can see the Greens being back to 6% – 7% by next election. The faction seems to have been quite a self-destructive element for the party. However, I do feel that the bulk of those lost votes will go Labour's way. I can't really see them going anywhere else.

            • Ad 1.1.1.1.1.1
              24 July 2022 at 2:58 pm

              Delahunty, Bradford and the other fools should fuck off and generate a little splinter party. Join up with Bishop Brian Tamaki and do a decent protest for once. Maybe they could scrape 3% between them.

              • Lanthanide …
                24 July 2022 at 3:16 pm

                Agreed. The problem with democracy is it gives the nutters too much of a voice. The Greens have shown this with their 25% vote in no confidence in the leader.

                4% party vote threshold, no lower.

                • Incognito …
                  24 July 2022 at 6:13 pm

                  Dissenter ≠ nutter

                  Sounds like you’d rather cancel nutters people with different opinions and who dare to speak up when and where it is not only their right to do so but also their duty. Have you heard of group-think?

                  No threshold at all; any party that can obtain 1/120th of the total vote has earned the right (aka a seat) to represent that vote in Parliament. Any other (higher) threshold is deliberately manipulative and distortive.

                  • Lanthanide …
                    24 July 2022 at 8:43 pm

                    I'm perfectly happy to say that people who vote for anti-science parties (eg, COVID deniers) are nutters. You might call them dissenters, that's your right, but I disagree.

                    I also don't think it's a good idea to try and form governments with such unstable coalitions. Just look at what happens in Israel. Nor do I think that giving such fringe groups the respectability of the platform afforded by being an MP is the best thing for society as a whole – again just look at the echo chambers on Facebook, general opinion is that these echo chambers are toxic for society at large, and I don’t think giving them more legitimacy is a good thing.

                    • Incognito …
                      24 July 2022 at 9:23 pm

                      Huh? The Greens are now anti-science and/or Covid-deniers?? I thought we were talking about a dissenting faction within the Green Party, but obviously you have much bigger axe to grind.

                      You’ll have to explain with the Green Party NZ and Israel and echo chambers on Facebook because other than you arguing that the Greens are nutters I don’t see the connection, but this could be my lack of imagination.

                      Or are you, in fact, arguing that a lower electoral threshold would result in unstable coalitions and giving fringe groups respectability that they don’t deserve? If so, please provide some real-life examples, thanks, if you can, which I doubt.

    • Lanthanide 1.2
      24 July 2022 at 7:54 am

      Yesterday I linked to an important Twitter thread and said I thought Jacinda was a Teal leader of an Amber party.

      James Shaw is a Teal leader of a Green party.

      This century needs Teal leadership and thinking.

      Maori Party are Green-Teal.

      TOP is Teal but need a rebranding if they are to get into parliament.

      • Ad 1.2.1
        24 July 2022 at 8:48 am

        Less stress just to lower your expectations.

        Outside Norway Sweden and Finland, this is the most left-green democratic country in the world.

        • Lanthanide 1.2.1.1
          24 July 2022 at 9:17 am

          Thank you for your reply. I need people to challenge my thoughts (I'm being sincere, just to be clear).

      • bwaghorn 1.2.2
        24 July 2022 at 12:01 pm

        Nice to see one of the leading minds back here , (hers looking at you lanthanide)

        Hadn't heard of teal till yesterday, so correct me if I'm wrong please

        Teal= evidence based consensus leadership.

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2
    24 July 2022 at 7:25 am

    In a statement, police condemned the "reckless behaviour" and said protest organisers refused to tell police they were planning to march on the motorway.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/471477/anti-government-protesters-stroll-onto-auckland-motorway

    "I respect our relationship and your leadership and do appreciate the opportunity to talk through issues together," Haumaha wrote to Tamaki on September 23, in the lead-up to their virtual meeting.

    After the meeting Haumaha wrote to Tamaki: "Kia Ora Bishop thank you that was a great korero and an opportunity for Andy to get to know you and the context behind what you are doing… Awesome anything you need just let me know."

    Tamaki responded: "Yes i will thank you too Wally… i will keep in touch… thank you both…"

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/12/police-texts-to-destiny-church-leader-brian-tamaki-amid-anti-lockdown-covid-19-protest-revealed.html

    The Marching Morons? Fuck Wits….

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1
      24 July 2022 at 7:27 am

      At the conclusion of his speech, members of the crowd performed the Ka Mate haka – despite condemnation last week from Ngāti Toa, who insisted protesters stop using their taonga.

      “We do not support their position and we do not want our tupuna or our iwi associated with their messages,” Pou Tikanga Dr Taku Parai said in a statement.

      https://www.newsroom.co.nz/basically-innocent-tamakis-sermon-on-the-police-station-steps

    • Ad 2.2
      24 July 2022 at 7:32 am

      Well they got a bunch more media coverage and discussion than the Greens did even though it's the Green Party national conference. That is a deliberate and effective spike.

      Not as dumb as they look.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.2.1
        24 July 2022 at 7:55 am

        Well…..its an Alternate World "The Marching Morons" (sadly, our reality right now)…and The Pastor of Muppets and the other (notso) shadowy figures manipulating aforesaid morons…are definitely no dumb fucks. As ever…

        Notwithstanding…I dont think (“most” ? ) Green Party members/Supporters would be TOO sad about the distraction effect !

        • Ad 2.2.1.1
          24 July 2022 at 8:51 am

          Word for word that's how our rightist Twitter talks of the Greens now.

          Peters just needs to find a way to accommodate them inside, and it's all on.

      • Sanctuary 2.2.2
        24 July 2022 at 12:33 pm

        That is a little unfair – the Greens are legitimate political party, which Tamaki's wannabe insurgency is not. Behaving in such a lawless manner that Aucklanders spontaneously subject you to a hail of extemporised missiles isn't how you win power, although Tamaki (who I thought was subject to bail conditions that prevented him reprising his strutting martinet show for the crowd) apparently has some sort of plan to do a "Sri Lanka" next month in Wellington – which I would have thought already has him sailing perilously close to committing treason under sections 73 (e) and 73 (f) of the crimes act:

        Treason and other crimes against the Sovereign and the State

        73 Treason

        Every one owing allegiance to the Sovereign in right of New Zealand commits treason who, within or outside New Zealand,—

        (a) kills or wounds or does grievous bodily harm to the Sovereign, or imprisons or restrains her or him; or

        (b) levies war against New Zealand; or

        (c) assists an enemy at war with New Zealand, or any armed forces against which New Zealand forces are engaged in hostilities, whether or not a state of war exists between New Zealand and any other country; or

        (d) incites or assists any person with force to invade New Zealand; or

        (e) uses force for the purpose of overthrowing the Government of New Zealand; or

        (f) conspires with any person to do anything mentioned in this section.

        I dunno, maybe Tamaki thinks he is a sovereogn citizen who doesn't owe allegiance to the sovereign so that'll save him from a life sentence, but as a certain Mr. G. Fawkes found out when he was torn into four pieces after begun half hung and disembowelled that argument hasn’t worked out so well since the 17th century.

        • Ad 2.2.2.1
          24 July 2022 at 12:49 pm

          No one was injured, no one took anything, no one was abused, no one was kidnapped, no one called for the overthrow of the state.

          We don't have to like what they stand for but they are protesting just like the 1975 Land March, the 1981 anti-apartheid marches, the pro-cylists of 2019, the COVID marchers of 2021, and the many more to come. Plenty on there with criminal records. Except nah Tamaki isn't a liberal so he shouldn't.

          Just imagine if the Green Party had dome something useful this weekend instead of kill each other, and generated a decent protest across the motorway system. Actually done proper serious activism again. Nah.

          In a reasonable world the Minister of Transport would have done something useful and permanently opened up the Harbour Bridge for at least one walking and cycling lane. But nah.

          • JO 2.2.2.1.1
            24 July 2022 at 2:21 pm

            no one called for the overthrow of the state.

            So did I manage to misread: 'GOVERNMENT MUST GO!' flaring forth on last night's news from Wellington's version of impromptu street theatre?
            In the second clip:

            https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/07/23/brian-tamaki-led-protesters-stop-traffic-on-auckland-motorway/

            Around 300 protesters were seen marching through central Wellington chanting for the Government to go.

            "We want freedom because our children are suffering, our youth are suffering because of the decisions this Government has made," one protest leader said via loudspeaker.

            "We're fighting for freedom from mental health stats, we're fighting for freedom from high cost of living, we're fighting for freedom from everything this Government has put in place that is making us struggle."

            Another leader of the Wellington protest compared their movement to that of Indian revolutionary Mahatma Gandhi, whose peaceful protests helped India gain independence from British rule in the 1940s.

            "It's amazing what one man could do, to lead peaceful protests right throughout the country and bring about change and that's what we're doing here today," he said.

            • Ad 2.2.2.1.1.1
              24 July 2022 at 3:22 pm

              You did mange to misread it.

              But that's not surprising.

              • Drowsy M. Kram …
                24 July 2022 at 6:53 pm

                Agreed, our Government isn't God-King Tamaki's chief beef. His main ‘concern’ is that a woman is in charge – doesn't she know her place?

                ‘Basically innocent’: Tamaki’s sermon on the police station steps [23 November 2021]
                But after ‘National Compassion Day’ on Saturday, where Tamaki made a surprise appearance at the Domain alongside his wife, and accused Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of “criminal acts” in front of an enraptured crowd, police have once more issued a summons for the controversial preacher.

                'Lease your vote': Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki's appeal [22 March 2022]
                In the hour-long sermon, Tamaki trumpeted his own success as a preacher and family man and told followers that men of God needed to be "obeyed".

                "Obey. Obey. Obey. Obey," Tamaki said, again referencing the Bible.

  3. Stephen D 3
    24 July 2022 at 8:17 am

    Not even real Tories believe in tax cuts.

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/23/thatcher-ministers-liz-truss-tax-cut-plans-patten-lamont-rifkind?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

    How long before Luxon flip flops again?

    ”Chris Patten, Norman Lamont and Malcolm Rifkind all said that the former Tory leader would not have supported the tax-cutting plans. Patten said: “Margaret Thatcher was a fiscal Conservative who did not cut tax until we had reduced inflation. She was honest and did not believe in nonsense.”

    • Blazer 3.1
      24 July 2022 at 8:56 am

      How Truss has any support amazes me.Seems to lack any real substance and be gaffe prone.

      Although in retrospect they are qualities evident in Bojo,Scomo,Biden….and Luxon.

  4. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 4
    24 July 2022 at 9:07 am

    Good, well reasoned refutation of Luxon's tax cuts to the rich to curb inflation in NZ!

    SSDD from the Natz

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2022/jul/23/nationals-plan-for-new-zealands-inflation-crisis-is-merely-tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

    • Mac1 4.1
      24 July 2022 at 10:26 am

      Thanks, Tony- indeed a clear exposition of the two approaches and the delineation between Labour and National. The article sets out the economic and social aspects in terms available to the economically illiterate to understand.

      There is a difference between National and Labour and that difference would make a hugely adverse change to the lives of many, many New Zealanders should National get into power and go down the path of tax cuts, less government, increased corporate greed and restrictions on wages growth, reliance on foreign capital and imported workers.

      The divide would widen to chasmic proportions.

  5. Ad 5
    24 July 2022 at 9:14 am

    Since Foot and Mouth Disease can come in on everything from skin to clothing, maybe it's time for a ban on importing Indonesian Palm Corn Expeller here?

    Foot and Mouth Disease strikes Indonesia – Dairy Global

    That would be just another supply-chain disruption dairy would need to replace.

    Seaweed additive perhaps?

    • RosieLee 5.1
      24 July 2022 at 9:35 am

      Way past time to ban palm kernel from anywhere. Vile stuff. And if farmers cannot maintain their herds/flocks without it, then they are way overstocked.

    • Lanthanide 5.2
      24 July 2022 at 10:04 am

      Systems thinking.

    • Graeme 5.3
      24 July 2022 at 10:43 am

      A good proportion of salmon feed comes from Indonesia as well. High likelihood the fish base is bulked out with as much land sourced portion as they can get away with.

      Was talking to the farm manager the other day about monkey dust, (it's called that because the response to bits of monkey turning up in it was to just grind it really fine), and there's some doubt around National's, especially Luxon's, willingness to take any firm action to prevent FMD arriving here. Banning PKE, or in the case of an outbreak in Australia, closing / restricting the border, not really seen as likely with National, but possible with Labour. Any restrictions would be seen as a kick in the balls to farmers though, and very loudly.

      There's serious investment in PKE right now, at $9.75 dairy farmers want every kg they can get this season and those extra kgs come out the back of the palm kernel truck. PKE has become integral to NZ dairy farming, and deer as it has high copper content to promote velvet growth, so a sudden restriction would be very disruptive to stocking rates and cashflow. Big money involved in the trade too, with undoubtedly considerable donations to National Party.

      Farming’s likely response is going to be to try and manage the risk with testing and surveillance. But everything would change if FMD got into Australia. If it got into NZ first then we can just sit down and watch the NZ economy implode as Australia closes it's border to us.

      • Robert Guyton 5.3.1
        24 July 2022 at 11:03 am

        "Monkey", or orangutan?

        Yours is a very interesting take on the situation, Graeme – thanks for making that. I've shared it with my fellow ES councillors, many of whom are users (I suspect 🙂

  6. Rosemary McDonald 6
    24 July 2022 at 9:33 am

    One of those 'here and disappeared' headlines in the Herald that I missed yesterday, and had to go searching for this morning after I couldn't access it on my tablet. Login to Herald account only on the laptop.

    [Unlinked copy & pasta deleted]

    Two issues here that need highlighting.

    1. Her husband refusing to be her carer because they are "entitled" to funded care through ACC.

    I was speaking with a chap yesterday whose 20 year old moko has a significant disability and is covered by ACC. As hard as I tried, he simply could not get his head around the fact that Peter is not under ACC and has no entitlement to care. At all.

    I just want to draw attention to the fact that there are two very distinct classes of disabled people in New Zealand. Still. After nearly fifty years of empty promises by successive governments to address the disparity.

    Labour…pretending to be the Party for the Common Folk…has had ample opportunity over the past five fucking decades to fix this. They haven't. Why?

    1. Kathryn Harland has lost three…three…"highly qualified" carers due to the vaccine mandates who would "come back tomorrow if they could."

      She does not say…and I'm damned sure the Herald would have quoted her if she had… "If only these carers would get the shot and come back to work all would be fine…"

    Just drop the mandates.

    The system cannot afford to be short three highly qualified carers (and believe me those with high spinal injuries need carers who know which end is up) . Just like the system cannot afford to be short of nurses and midwives and other trained health professionals that chose not to take the Pfizer product.

    Most of us have had Covid in the past six months…Pfizered or not. And unless we were already knocking on the Door…the vast majority of us have survived. And only a small number have ongoing issues.

    A significant percentage of two shot 'fully vaccinated' are choosing not to get the first booster and an increasing number of eligible people are not getting the second booster. https://www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-vaccine-data#total-vaccinations

    Because the shots are not preventing infection or symptoms. https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/07/23/white-house-gives-joe-biden-covid-update/

    It's way past time. Drop all mandates.

    • Incognito 6.1
      24 July 2022 at 11:34 am

      I’ve deleted the unlinked copy & pasta and I may restore it if you provide a link with an indication whether it is behind the f-ing pay-wall or not.

      • Rosemary McDonald 6.1.1
        24 July 2022 at 12:50 pm

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/tauranga-paraplegic-left-without-care-due-to-severe-support-worker-shortage/KW35J6AXB7R6WXTNICPAIR7OEU/ [behind pay-wall]

        [now we have a link, here’s the restored copy & pasta – Incognito]

        Tauranga paraplegic left without care due to ‘severe’ support worker shortage

        A healthcare provider has apologised after a 71-year-old paraplegic was left alone “in a wet bed with blood in it” because her support worker did not show up.

        Tauranga woman Kathryn Harland is paralysed from the sternum and requires 24/7 care.

        But a HealthCare New Zealand support worker has failed to turn up “multiple” times because, in Harland’s view, there is a “severe” staffing shortage.

        Harland lives with her husband, but says, however, “I need to have someone that is trained to look after me 24 hours”.

        She was also concerned for her support workers – one of whom she believed worked 130 hours in one week.

        “She came to work here … absolutely shattered and in tears because she was so exhausted.”

        Harland became a paraplegic in 2017 after surgery.

        “In the prime of our retirement years, looking forward to doing things, and now there’s nothing except bed and a wheelchair,” she told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend.

        A few weeks ago, Harland’s husband was out, and she was home alone from 3pm to 6pm because her support worker called in sick and there was no one to cover them.

        “This particular time … I was left in a wet bed with blood in it.”

        On morning shifts, Harland has two support workers due to it being the “heaviest time” with “transferring, toileting, bathing, showering,” but sometimes only has one.

        “It’s making me very irritable and angry and frustrated, and sad for my carers whom I love dearly – they’re pushed to the limit and they can only do so much.”

        Harland said her husband was the “unpaid helper” but did not want to be a caregiver.

        “He refuses because we’re entitled to care through ACC, and it’s very hard in your marriage, somebody having to do their care.”

        Harland had lost three “highly qualified” support workers due to the vaccine mandate who would “come back tomorrow if they could”.

        Originally, HealthCare New Zealand was “very good”. Harland’s family has laid a complaint with HealthCare New Zealand, the country’s largest healthcare provider.

        • Doogs 6.1.1.1
          24 July 2022 at 4:08 pm

          These highly skilled workers can come back – tomorrow if they really want to.

          All they have to do is get the jab!

          This is not the fault of mandates. It is entirely on the workers themselves. Unless of course they have exemptions, and I bow to that possibility. Many more times these people are simply over cautious or just bloody-mindedly anti.

          • Rosemary McDonald 6.1.1.1.1
            24 July 2022 at 4:19 pm

            Are you claiming that the Pfizer product prevents infection and transmission of Te Virus?

            • Anne 6.1.1.1.1.1
              24 July 2022 at 4:24 pm

              NO!

              But it reduces severity and saves lives. But you know that. You just don’t have the guts to concede it.

                • Rosemary McDonald …
                  24 July 2022 at 6:21 pm

                  And vaccines provide a level of protection against long Covid.

                  But sweet f/a against nasty outcomes from repeated reinfections.

                  https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/300637799/heres-why-you-dont-want-to-get-covid-again

                  • Incognito …
                    24 July 2022 at 9:09 pm

                    LOL! The irony of you linking to something written by Dr Siouxsie Wiles to support your comment.

                    I trust you to find any non-peer reviewed article to suit your narrative and confirmation bias that the Covid-19 vaccine is ineffective (and unsafe). A number of concerns have already been raised with the study (see the comments), but even if the paper had been accepted your conclusion is incorrect and an over-reach; one cannot draw such far-reaching categorical conclusions from just one limited study and extrapolate these to each and all and state that vaccines do “sweet f/a”. Your thinking is way too B&W.

                    If you had read the article I linked to you’d have seen the same study being mentioned:

                    Another (very controversial) US study looked at a much older group, with a median age of 60, a lot of whom were quite unhealthy. Now this study did not seek to determine if the second infection was worse, but only if those who suffered a second infection had worse health outcomes than those who did not.

                    It found, in that particular group, that getting reinfected was worse than not being reinfected.

                    So, in this case at least, re-infections were not ‘mild,” Australian based professor Michael Fuhrer tells me​, “but again, this was a group in which initial infections were also not ‘mild’; 20% were hospitalised.”

                    • Rosemary McDonald …
                      24 July 2022 at 9:27 pm

                      When I saw your link to one of Master Lynch's efforts I too guffawed with unrestrained derision. I dubbed him 'Lynch the Self Linker' some time ago now as pretty much all the references in his writings (if that's not too kind a description) had links to either his other writings or other Stuff Whole Truth writings.

                      I wrote to him and had him on about it…haven't taken much notice of what he has written since. If he has started to link to actual research papers…well done him.

                      Why wouldn't I link to something that Wiles wrote?

                      one cannot draw such far-reaching categorical conclusions from just one limited study and extrapolate these to each and all and state that vaccines do “sweet f/a”.

                      That was said in relation to the study into sequelae of reinfections.

                      They also found that the more infections a veteran had, the more the risk increased. In other words, the risks are cumulative. Having two infections was riskier than one, and three were riskier than two. Interestingly, the risks were the same regardless of whether the veterans had been vaccinated or not.

                      In other words…being vaccinated made sweet f/a difference.

              • Rosemary McDonald …
                24 July 2022 at 6:15 pm

                But the mandates were not about the severity of illness Anne…and I understand you don't want to admit this.

                No one is saying you have to have your personal cares done by an unvaccinated carer. Surely it should be the choice of the person needing the care?

                Or do you not think disabled people have the right to choose?

                I bet Kathryn would love her three carers back../vaxxed or unvaxxed. Especially since she has already had to have obviously ill carers come to her home to do the necessary.

                I'm not sure if you're aware, but the health and disability sector are under enormous strain with high levels of staff absenteeism due to illness. Despite the entire workforce being 'fully' vaxxed.

              • Nic the NZer …
                24 July 2022 at 8:22 pm

                Actually Rosemary conceded this point the other day. She was explaining how symptoms were reduced by the vaccine and (incorrectly) inferring that this had exacerbated the pandemic.

                https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-19-07-2022/#comment-1901067

              • weka …
                24 July 2022 at 9:23 pm

                If the vaccine doesn't reduce transmission or prevent infection, why is the mandate necessary?

  7. pat 7
    24 July 2022 at 10:21 am

    "People who are active on social media about politics are already wedded to their views, he says."

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129306045/values-vs-policy-how-a-new-luxury-belief-class-is-changing-politics

  8. Robert Guyton 8
    24 July 2022 at 11:09 am

    The Teals (from Andrea Vance's article on Values vs policy: How a new 'luxury belief class' is changing politics

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129306045/values-vs-policy-how-a-new-luxury-belief-class-is-changing-politics

    "There, the ‘teal candidates’ were independents who ran on a strong climate platform in formerly safe Liberal seats. They represented a voting base with conservative fiscal politics combined with green views on climate. (Teal comes from the blend of Liberal blue and green.)"

    "

    “But the ones that made the difference were in these new Teal Seats. You have to be in particular social strata – you can't necessarily be feeling the pinch of groceries going three times the original price – for integrity in Canberra to be your number one issue.

    “A lot of these people don't necessarily care if they're taxed a little bit more to pay for the things they are concerned about. They are happy to pay for more welfare or healthcare because they believe it's a good thing for society.”

    This is the ‘luxury belief class’. Once physical needs are met people become more preoccupied with social status. We used to display our social status with luxury goods. Today, there is an emerging trend towards flaunting ‘luxury beliefs’."

    "Affluent and well-educated, this class can prioritise issues like the environment, equality or a decline in faith and trust in democracy over their wallets.

    Currently, voters must enter a big political tent with other clans in order to achieve some form of representation. But that leads to tensions over competing priorities. The research suggests political parties must work harder to identify and accommodate these clans, to build better coalitions within their support."

    • Nic the NZer 8.1
      24 July 2022 at 11:30 am

      Funny that the only way Vance has to describe altruistic political beliefs is to rationalise them as ultimately self serving social ladder climbing.

      Was there ever a time, to which Vance is harking back to when the only really important thing was how politics effected ones wallet? Was this a high point in politics?

      • Ad 8.1.1
        24 July 2022 at 11:53 am

        It's a categorisation that helps explain the strength of support for the Greens in the richest city seats like Auckland Central and Wellington Central.

        • Belladonna 8.1.1.1
          24 July 2022 at 12:46 pm

          And so poorly in electorates like Mangere – where National get double the vote of the Greens.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ngere_(New_Zealand_electorate)#2020_election

          Not expecting anything but a Labour result in such a stronghold seat (usually around an 18K majority). But, if there was significant appeal from the Green policy platform, I'd expect to see a higher Green Party vote total (it's usually lower than the individual vote for the Green candidate).

          I think that many people living a hand-to-mouth existence, simply feel that the GP policies are not affordable.

          And, 'it's the economy, stupid' is a pretty safe mantra to predict electoral outcomes most of the time (2020 was an outlier of an exception). Many, many people do vote for policies and/or parties which they feel will make them and/or their families better off.

          • weka 8.1.1.1.1
            24 July 2022 at 1:09 pm

            Also a factor is that the Green policies are complex and interlocking. Even some people interested enough in politics, like TS commenters, often don't read the GP policies or understand them before writing them off. People not following that closely are left with the MSM interpretation.

            • Belladonna 8.1.1.1.1.1
              24 July 2022 at 1:15 pm

              Not disagreeing with you. But a real challenge for the GP to effectively communicate the policy impacts.

              How will you (voter on minimum wage in Mangere) benefit? What does it mean in increased taxes? What does it mean in terms of increased prices or charges? Will you be better or worse off?

              I think that many of the GP voters in the wealthy suburbs don't necessarily understand the GP policies either – but are voting with their hearts (and can afford to do so).

              • weka …
                24 July 2022 at 1:18 pm

                agree with that.

                The Greens have limited people/hours in the day, so prioritise accordingly and my guess is they have their own sense of where best to put energy.

                Marama Davidson was doing a lot of that kind of work in Auckland, don't know which electorates or if she is still doing that.

          • Belladonna 8.1.1.1.2
            24 July 2022 at 1:10 pm

            Sorry for the typo. An 18K majority (not 80!)

          • Incognito 8.1.1.1.3
            24 July 2022 at 1:13 pm

            I think that many people living a hand-to-mouth existence, simply feel that the GP policies are not affordable.

            Which is ironic given that arguably, the Green Party is the strongest most genuine advocate for those people, who have nothing to lose and much (everything?) to gain from more progressive policies such as from the Green Party.

            • Belladonna 8.1.1.1.3.1
              24 July 2022 at 1:28 pm

              But it's an irony that's been around for a long time. And doesn't seem to be diminishing.

              Practically, the hypothetical Mangere voter sees the GP electric vehicle subsidy as assistance for the rich (or at least the upper middle class) – who can afford an EV. And zero benefit to them – who are likely to be driving a clunker – 20 years old, and in poor repair, with relatively low fuel economy.

              The half-price PT subsidy has very effectively been marketed as a Labour policy rather than a GP one. [Yes, the GP were calling for 100% subsidy, but Labour delivered on a 50% one. Bird in the hand…. And, I know it isn't 'fair' – the government are in a position to enact policy, while the GP are not – but perception….]

              Policy announcements tend to be heavy on the benefits, and light on the funding mechanisms. TANSTAAFL – 'free' means 'paid for by another method'. The assumption by the public is that taxes go up to fund 'free' services.

              https://action.greens.org.nz/free_public_transport

              It's a big marketing challenge for the GP.

              • weka …
                24 July 2022 at 1:51 pm

                GP policies are paid for by taking the wealthy and the big polluters. They tend to also give money back to lower income people in that process.

              • Incognito …
                24 July 2022 at 5:58 pm

                I’m sorry but your comments are full of contradictions and misunderstandings.

                If voters, particularly lower class voters, don’t understand GP policies why would they conclude that these policies are not affordable? Based on what they read in the MSM, SM, or hear on talk-back?

                If an EV policy, for example, has no direct benefit to a particular group of voters why would they conclude that the policy is not affordable?

                I’d think that people living a hand-to-mouth existence would be rather agnostic if not ignorant of many if not most GP policies or of any other party for that matter.

                Not reaching the hypothetical Mangere voter doesn’t mean this voter would be against GP policies per se; I think you’re projecting.

                The Government PT subsidy was a temporary measure, which has now been extended. It was and is not Labour policy AFAIK from this: https://www.labour.org.nz/transport. By implementing this subsidy they have given the GP policy a lot more weight & traction.

                The Green Party has proposed many different novel ways of funding their policies by a progressive and redistributive tax system: https://www.greens.org.nz/progressive_tax_reform.

                • Belladonna …
                  24 July 2022 at 8:10 pm

                  The Government PT subsidy was a temporary measure, which has now been extended. It was and is not Labour policy AFAIK from this: https://www.labour.org.nz/transport. By implementing this subsidy they have given the GP policy a lot more weight & traction.

                  All of the conversations I've had around this policy – and all of the media commentary I've read has been in the context of a Govt roll out (regardless of whether it's in the Labour manifesto or no – which most people TBH would have no idea over). It's not been in the context of a GP policy. And the GP haven't explicitly made this point (which ACT are really good at – regardless of your opinion of their policies, they're pretty effective media operators).

                  Something along the lines of: "The GP welcomes Labour's belated move towards implementing the GP policy on free PT, and encourages them to continue towards the GP policy 100% free PT. This gives an immediate cash-in-hand benefit to lower income and marginalized groups – as well as being an environmental win – especially in the current cost of living crisis. Check out how to make it work, here…."

                  Instead of :

                  The Prime Minister's cost of living announcement this week showed us just how easy it is to make public transport more affordable.

                  https://www.greens.org.nz/greens_launch_petition_free_public_transport

                  Which gave away all of the credit!

                  I'm no PR expert (clearly), but the emphasis needs to be on differentiating themselves from Labour – otherwise why would people vote for them? And part of that has to be attacking Labour for tardy implementation of GP policy – not giving them the kudos for stealing GP policy.

                • Belladonna …
                  24 July 2022 at 8:15 pm

                  If voters, particularly lower class voters, don’t understand GP policies why would they conclude that these policies are not affordable? Based on what they read in the MSM, SM, or hear on talk-back?

                  Yep. More talk-back than newspapers – but even more the smoko conversations.

                  Most people don't read policy. Most people don't understand policy (even if they've read it). It needs to be interpreted – and part of doing that is provocative press-releases – outlining exactly what the voter-in-Mangere (or any other suburb) will gain from voting Green (and how those policies will be paid for). Getting the discussion on talk-back and through the unions into the workplace. Getting people talking about what's in it for them.

            • Poission 8.1.1.1.3.2
              24 July 2022 at 2:00 pm

              i hardly think regressive policies from the Greens,are the foremost issue on most minds at present,where the economy,inflation,and poor government leadership seem to be at the front of polling.

              https://news.gallup.com/poll/1675/most-important-problem.aspx

              • Incognito …
                24 July 2022 at 5:35 pm

                I see what you did there.

                Please use relevant data when discussing national politics such as the Green Party of NZ, e.g. https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/07-06-2022/why-national-is-winning.

                All the issues you mention are primarily economic issues that exhibit ups & downs all the time. Not all policies have reflexive aims & objectives. Your poor government leadership is a secondary outcome of and correlate with the aforementioned short-term issues; it’s no better or worse than in other times except in the public perception and media representation (which is neither able to look through short-term events nor impartial). This misconception of what Government can and does control is at the basis of much misinformed media commentary.

                Progressive and transformative vision and policies take necessarily a longer-term view than most people and media are willing to consider and contemplate. That’s the Green Party problem in a nutshell, at least one of them.

                • Poission …
                  24 July 2022 at 6:10 pm

                  Here let me put it another way.(remember Robs mob)

                  https://twitter.com/crampell/status/1511711122784768008?cxt=HHwWkMC-ybfQ1vopAAAA

                  Progressive and transformative vision and policies take necessarily a longer-term view than most people and media are willing to consider and contemplate.

                  In 2000 Schroder done a deal with the The Greens to remove baseline nuclear power for Gas and intermittent energy such as solar and wind to remove coal generation,and here we are 22 years later.

                  At no point in the cumulative statements from progressives,have we seen alternative economic initiatives that will over time substitute for our present export mix.

                  We cannot pay our way now (512b$ gross debt) and the interest bill is rising,the alternative in the opposition benches is very ugly,but a very real risk ( sell everything to the receivers)

    • Bearded Git 8.2
      24 July 2022 at 1:30 pm

      Importantly the Teal candidates also ran on an anti-corruption ticket as well as CC, and given that they were all women, they also ran on the gender issue.

      These two factors may well have gained them as many votes as CC

  9. weka 9
    24 July 2022 at 1:49 pm

    anyone else keeping an eye on this?

    Someone the other day was tweeting about MPx being worse than covid but over a longer period of time. It was too much at the time to take in and follow up.

    I'm now wanting to remember what the scale is that the WHO uses for increasing seriousness of transmittable disease.

    https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1550955160230236160

  10. Poission 10
    24 July 2022 at 1:50 pm

    Lots of spin in the Great turbine debate,which if unresolved will see Germany cold,hungry and in the dark,or with a little excess rhetoric (quickly pulled back) the German (green) FM said.

    “And we said, ‘we can understand that, but if we don’t get the gas turbine, then we won’t get any more gas, and then we won’t be able to provide any support for Ukraine at all, because we’ll be busy with popular uprisings,’” Baerbock said, before immediately backtracking to say this version of events was "perhaps a bit exaggerated."

    https://www.politico.eu/article/great-gas-turbine-blame-game/

    • Sabine 10.1
      24 July 2022 at 9:01 pm

      his version of events is perhaps a bit understated, but i can understand him not wanting to upset the colonisers of germany, the us.

  11. joe90 11
    24 July 2022 at 9:15 pm

    Arseholes.

    https://twitter.com/MeanwhileinCana/status/1550993113321275392

    Stay away, you are not welcome.

    That’s the message leaders from Maskwacis have for members of the Freedom Convoy who may plan to protest during Pope Francis’ apology at the central Alberta First Nation community next week.

    Pope Francis is set to travel to Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut from July 24 to 29. The papal visit is to include public and private events with an emphasis on Indigenous participation.

    https://globalnews.ca/news/9010631/pope-francis-maskwacis-freedom-convoy/

  12. Joe90 12
    25 July 2022 at 1:04 am

    So the virus makes it's way along microscopic pathways to infect brain cells. But hey, let's continue allowing ourselves and our kids to be infected time and time again.

    /

    https://twitter.com/edsuom/status/1550542953914855425

    https://twitter.com/edsuom/status/1550550508183506944

    • Drowsy M. Kram 12.1
      25 July 2022 at 4:49 am

      Thanks Joe90, the medical response will be interesting – time to up our vaccine game.

      SARS-CoV-2: A Master of Immune Evasion [June 2022]
      SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen that is causing the current COVID-19 pandemic, has shown a remarkable ability to escape antibody neutralization, putting vaccine efficacy at risk.