Open mike 24/04/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, April 24th, 2014 - 239 comments
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openmike 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 …

239 comments on “Open mike 24/04/2014 ”

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  1. Not a PS Staffer 1
    24 April 2014 at 6:52 am

    Collins: she and Key are guilty and they have to be held to account. Keep up the good work Grant Robertson.

    Dunne: allowing him to continue with the legal highs job while his son is making a fortune from the sales of the shit is not tolerable in this society. Key is failing in his role.

    Jones? An oxygen thief not worth any further effort.

  2. karol 2
    24 April 2014 at 7:02 am

    Jones afraid that a Labour-Green government was a real possibility?

    Mr Jones, ask not what your party can do for you: ask what you can do for your party.

    Left politics are not helped by politicians more focused on their own career ambitions than the good of the country.

  3. amirite 3
    24 April 2014 at 7:17 am

    Totally agree there, Karol.
    And so it continues. He just can’t help it, can he. It’s his overinflated ego and the imaginary hurt because the plebs haven’t figured out what a great leader he is.

    Seriously, Shane, can’t you just STFU?

    • karol 3.1
      24 April 2014 at 7:27 am

      I’m waiting for the term “naked ambition” to be applied to Jones – remember when it was used by the MSM regularly about Cunliffe? Compare and contrast.

      • Olwyn 3.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 8:15 am

        Far from it. In fact the sentence “Labour has now got to find a way of appealing to its traditional blue collar workers” and variations on it, has been repeated like a mantra on this morning’s Morning Report, with David Shearer and Damien O’Connor among those quoted.

        Never mind the fact that Jones offered such people nothing concrete – that whatever appeal he had rested on a smoko-room-anecdote way of talking. Never mind either that the whole sentence seems code for “the building contractor who owns several rentals and hires people from overseas, having judged the locals as bloody useless,” and others of similar persuasion.

        The whole business looks more and more like an attempt by the right wing from both inside and outside of the Labour Party to subvert the will of left-voting people while pretending to heed it.

        • Ant 3.1.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 8:36 am

          Shearer has been a bit more of a dick over the past few days.

        • Rogue Trooper 3.1.1.2
          24 April 2014 at 8:39 am

          Well said Olwyn.

        • Karen 3.1.1.3
          24 April 2014 at 8:46 am

          +1

        • phillip ure 3.1.1.4
          24 April 2014 at 9:42 am

          “..“Labour has now got to find a way of appealing to its traditional blue collar workers”..”

          there is a simple three word answer/solution to that:..

          ..policy..policy..policy..

        • phillip ure 3.1.1.5
          24 April 2014 at 9:44 am

          @ olwyn..+ 1…

        • David H 3.1.1.6
          24 April 2014 at 10:21 am

          Well I for one am appalled at what’s been happening in the Labour Party. Jones? a minor distraction, blown out of all proportion by the MSM, and reinforced by dickheads in the Labour Party. Glad it happened now, so I can now look to another party that will WANT my vote (Greens, Mana). and not Labour saying we don’t care if you vote for us. Because that’s the message I am getting. That and ‘We can’t organise Sex in a brothel’.

  4. Ad 4
    24 April 2014 at 7:27 am

    Here in Wanaka people just laugh when I talk about Labour or Greens. Phrases like “a house divided cannot stand” and “country’s doing great” for Labour, and “ewwww!” And “ha hahaaa” for Greens.

    Everyone’s income is addicted to real estate, tourism, and superannuation. Those in agriculture can’t get comprehensive irrigation fast enough.

    Quite bracing. Pour me a Pinot.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1
      24 April 2014 at 9:06 am

      you need to get to know more local Wanaka families, and fewer recent (last 10 years) imports from Auckland, Wellington and overseas.

      • weka 4.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 2:25 pm

        lolz, nice on CV.

        The GP candidate in the Waitaki electorate is a well known Wanaka person and did quite well over there.

        “Everyone’s income is addicted to real estate, tourism, and superannuation. Those in agriculture can’t get comprehensive irrigation fast enough.”

        In other words, Wanaka is being turned into an industrial dairying cesspit like everywhere else. Will be interesting to see how the farmers get on with the tourism lobby and lifestyle block real estate agents in ten years time.

    • left for dead 4.2
      24 April 2014 at 10:11 am

      Is that where they truck in cheap labour,oh thats QTN.your next though.

  5. karol 5
    24 April 2014 at 7:31 am

    John Key in denial as he visits the front line for the war on the poor.

    He’s talking up the better state houses on offer, and fails to mention the cut backs in amount of state housing, while communtiies are destroyed.

    • bad12 5.1
      24 April 2014 at 8:16 am

      Ooops, didn’t see your comment here when i posted one on the same thing below, Slippery and un-Housing Minister Nick Smith must have picked up a sense of disquiet from among the voters in the ‘focus groups’ about the ripping apart of the HousingNZ estate to be using the media in what seems like a week long ‘charm offensive’ where they are spending time ‘highlighting’ what few new build HousingNZ complexes have been completed by this regime…

      • David H 5.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 10:34 am

        Nice to see that they were warmly received, and that the people were so happy with the truth they were being told by the TricKey one. Why they even donated eggs for his dinner. And still he moans.

        • Dan 5.1.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 1:29 pm

          It’s nice to know the poor aren’t so badly off that they can’t afford to waste eggs… our brighter future

    • Molly 5.2
      24 April 2014 at 9:24 am

      Interesting framing for the first article to be posted on this in the Herald yesterday, which manages to insinuate Mana Party for staging it all: PM’s car egged during state housing protests.

      Comments allowed on this article, unsurprisingly, and some live up to the quality of reporting.

      • David H 5.2.1
        24 April 2014 at 10:36 am

        Molly. I notice that a lot of the comments have disappeared, and there are only 13 left. WTF.

  6. phillip ure 6
    24 April 2014 at 7:52 am

    so..jones and mccully have been talking about this ‘job’ for jones since 2009..

    ..key sez that national ‘has had good dialogue with jone..for a long time’..

    ..basically..jones has been nationals’ mole/man within labour..

    ..since at least 2009…

    ..yeah..some ‘loss’ for labour he’s now surfaced/broken cover..and returned to his paymasters…

    ..and walk like a traitor..quack like a traitor..

    ..you probably are nothing more that a traitor..

    ..(jones gone is good news for labour..

    ..the braying/bought-fool will bray no more..

    ..but he still stays ‘bought’..

    ..forever..

    ..what a shabby ending to a political-career..eh..?

    ..by his ongoing treachery jones has guaranteed himself a small historical-footnote..

    ..but we are told..he ‘coulda been a contender!’…

    ..a man sunk by his hubris/ignorances/for sale sign around his neck..

    ..when you look at jones..

    ..he was/is pretty much on ‘the wrong side’ of everything..

    ..his latest move just confirms that long pattern..

    ..jones sells out to the planet-fuckers..

    ..those really on ‘the wrong side’..)

  7. bad12 7
    24 April 2014 at 8:00 am

    ”One, two, three, four, stop the war on the poor, Maraenui under attack, stand up and fight back”, so chanted the kids of Maraenui a Napier suburb with a heavy concentration of State housing as Slippery the Prime Minister arrived to gush over the opening of some new pensioner housing,

    Having all the gastronomic fortitude of your average Rat the PM then tried to do a bunk out the back way to avoid the protest, unfortunately someone forgot to tell the driver of the limo of the change of plan and the local kids again had the pleasure of voicing their displeasure in the face of the PM along with tossing the occasional missile in the direction of the limo which eventually left bearing the scars,

    Slippery later claimed that the kids, mostly 10 to 12 year old’s were ”saying things they didn’t understand” and i suppose to preserve His ego He has to think that, but, can assure the PM that subjecting HousingNZ estates to the forced evictions and demolitions of the current regime and its 20%– $2.5 billion HousingNZ sell off leaves those kids knowing full well what is in store for them,

    While it is hard to oppose such actions in the face of the publicity stunts being organized by the current regime where the tame media are being lead around by the nose by the likes of the PM and un-Housing Minister Nick Smith ‘gushing’ over the few completed ‘new build’ HousingNZ complexes we have to remember that for all their worth, and in the future pensioner housing will be like gold with the growth of the aged population, with the proposed shrinking of the States Housing stock by 20% it will be those 10 and 12 year old’s protesting befor the Prime Minister who will be all the worse off in the future,

    Poverty has not lessened in this country, the reverse is true, it is not 20% less State Houses that are needed now in our society, it is at least 20% more of such housing that is needed with urgency…

  8. Pete George 8
    24 April 2014 at 8:00 am

    David Cunliffe on Shane Jones “When a totara falls in the forest another totara grows to take it’s place”.

    How rooted is the Labour totara?

    • bad12 8.1
      24 April 2014 at 8:03 am

      🙄 , Not near as rooted as the United Future Party which you obviously helped along the way with your ”contribution” George,

      Your comment is obviously designed to inflame ‘Open Mike’ this morning and deserves nothing more then this, 🙄 , this 🙄 ,and this, 🙄 …

    • mickysavage 8.2
      24 April 2014 at 8:09 am

      What a silly comment Pete. I thought you would be coming out with the “Labour is ignoring the working class” line that is being perpetrated right now. By all means do that but how about you do a bit of fact checking beforehand. Read the party’s policy platform and then try and argue the party is not interested in ordinary people.

      • Pete George 8.2.1
        24 April 2014 at 8:54 am

        I think it’s a fair question Greg, it’s something that’s being widely discussed. I understand that it’s the done thing in politics to stoically say everything is fine and a win is imminent, but when the chasm between reality is so wide then it is counter-productive.

        The party’s policy is not the problem. The perception of the party is tending towards pathetic.

        The party might be interested in ordinary people but it doesn’t show much. I’ve seen here and elsewhere since the loss in 2008 that the Labour caucus in particular is out of touch and doesn’t want to hear from ordinary people.

        Ex Labour minister Michael Bassett may not be a party favourite but what he said on Radio New Zealand half an hour ago about Labour now are common sentiments.

        It’s a difficult hole to get out of, but continuing to dig and deny won’t do it.

        Labour looks out of touch with people and out of touch with reality. If they don’t turn this around very soon it could be terminal.

        The first step is admitting the problems. It’s to far gone for stoic bullshit.

        If the Labour totara uproots and crashes other parties will grow in the gap, but that takes time, and in the meantime Parliament will be significantly weakened.

        • bad12 8.2.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 8:59 am

          🙄 absolute drivel George, 🙄 🙄 🙄 …

        • mickysavage 8.2.1.2
          24 April 2014 at 9:03 am

          No it is not a fair question Pete. It is fact free loaded spin. I thought you were trying to appear balanced.

          Michael Basset reflecting common sentiments? Feck his party is now at less than 1% of the vote.

          There may be a perception problem. It is because of a bunch of nodding heads reinforcing all the right wing spin that is fed to them and you should reflect on your comments in this regard.

          • phillip ure 8.2.1.2.1
            24 April 2014 at 9:13 am

            “..a bunch of nodding heads reinforcing all the right wing spin that is fed to them and you should reflect on your comments in this regard..”

            given he is one of those (albeit less literate examples of) rightwing nodding-heads..

            ..that is a bit of an ask..

            ..and quoting/citing rabid-rightwinger michael ‘just walk on the poor!’ bassett..?

            ..as the voice of ‘the common man’..?

            ..heh..!

            ..that’s funny..!

          • Pete George 8.2.1.2.2
            24 April 2014 at 9:18 am

            I didn’t expect a sudden emergence from denial.

            Blame right wing spin.
            Blame National.
            Blame McCully.
            Blame the media.
            Blame Shane Jones.
            Blame small party support that’s irrelevant.
            Blame anyone pointing out the emperor’s clothes are in tatters here.

            And see how you get on in September.

            It may be that a million non-voters are suddenly attracted to a party fiddling while it’s Rome burns.

            • freedom 8.2.1.2.2.1
              24 April 2014 at 9:24 am

              getting a bit tetchy there Pete!

              hey, don’t you have a Budget for Poor People to be working on?

              or have you decided it is in the too-hard basket and Politicheck won’t be doing any fact-checking articles on poverty in New Zealand?

            • mickysavage 8.2.1.2.2.2
              24 April 2014 at 9:25 am

              Still waiting for the facts Pete. Go on. Have a look at Labour’s policies and tell me which ones will not help ordinary people.

              • Pete George …
                24 April 2014 at 9:37 am

                It’s not about the policies Greg. I can agree with most of most of Labour’s policies, and sure, some of them would help ‘ordinary people’ (although spending too much on policies could have negative effects for ordinary people too).

                Very few voters read policies. Most people vote mostly on personalities and perceptions of competence.

                Policies without power are paltry. If voters think a party doesn’t have the people or competence to win power and run a government then they won’t care what policies promise.

                • mickysavage …
                  24 April 2014 at 9:40 am

                  So reality does not matter and perception is all important? So I guess fact checking is a waste of time.

                  • Pete George …
                    24 April 2014 at 9:48 am

                    Both reality and perception matter, because people can perceive disconnects from reality.

                    People can be fooled to perceive things that aren’t real some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.

                    Fact checking isn’t a waste of time – it can help people perceive more accurately and not get fooled by party propaganda and ignorance.

                    • phillip ure …
                      24 April 2014 at 9:57 am

                      pg..

                      ..you fool none of the people…all the time..

                      (and..)

                      “..Fact checking isn’t a waste of time..”

                      ..when are ya gonna go and do some..?

                      ..how is that poverty-fact-check coming along.?

                      (and..)

                      “..and not get fooled by party propaganda and ignorance..?..”

                      but that is yr oxygen..there..petey..

                      ..’party propaganda and ignorance’..

                      ..eh..?

                      ..that is what you peddle here..

                    • mickysavage …
                      24 April 2014 at 10:53 am

                      Isn’t it important for a fact checker to put aside perception and determine matters on what is actually occurring?

                    • Pete George …
                      24 April 2014 at 11:08 am

                      Ok, can you say what is actually occurring in Labour? Like, actually, and not party spin?

                      I get it that they are gradually releasing policies.

                      What is Cunliffe achieving? and What is Labour achieving? You can set the record straight.

                • phillip ure …
                  24 April 2014 at 9:54 am

                  “..It’s not about the policies Greg…”

                  fucken bullshit..

                  ..national promised tax cuts as their way to office..

                  ..an agreement on working towards a guaranteed minimum income from the progressive parties..

                  ..would get many of that million to the ballot-box..

                  ..and surely by now labour must realise this is their path to power..?

                  ..and labour may well have some good policy..

                  ..maybe now the jones-circus/obstacle has left town..

                  ..they can focus on selling that policy..

                  ..talking directly to those ‘blue-collar-workers’..

                  ..telling ‘blue-collar workers’ how a progressive coalition will improve their day-to-day life..

                • Pascal's bookie …
                  24 April 2014 at 10:01 am

                  Here’s some data Pete, it’s not as good as we might like, but if you know of better, please share.

                  What does this data say about who people think “Is out of touch with ordinary people”?

                  http://www.reidresearch.co.nz/TV3+POLL+RESULTS.html

                  fact check yo’self Pete.

                  • Pete George …
                    24 April 2014 at 2:07 pm

                    “Is out of touch with ordinary people”
                    National leader – 52%
                    Labour leader – 22%

                    Estimated from chart January 2014 (a bit outdated).

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      24 April 2014 at 2:38 pm

                      Cool. There’s more data there too of course that my be relevant to this discussion.

                      As I noted, the data isn” as good as we might like it, but it’s what we have, unless you have better data to share of course.

                      So, bearing in mind that:

                      “Fact checking isn’t a waste of time – it can help people perceive more accurately and not get fooled by party propaganda and ignorance.”

                      have a quick look at the following statements, and see if the facts revealed by that data can help clear up any propaganda or ignorance regarding what people think:

                      1) “Labour looks out of touch with people and out of touch with reality. If they don’t turn this around very soon it could be terminal.”

                      2) ” The perception of the party is tending towards pathetic.”

                      3) “Ex Labour minister Michael Bassett may not be a party favourite but what he said on Radio New Zealand half an hour ago about Labour now are common sentiments”

                • Clemgeopin …
                  24 April 2014 at 10:04 am

                  If an election is held today, which party would get your party vote?

                  • Pete George …
                    24 April 2014 at 10:10 am

                    If this question is for me – none. The election isn’t being held today. The parties and politicians haven’t put all their offerings and abilities on show yet.

                    If I vote I’ll decide who for close to or on election day.

                    But I’ll give you a possibility – if Labour are at 20% in the polls just before the election I’d consider voting for them to help keep them alive, if I thought they deserved it.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      24 April 2014 at 10:18 am

                      Save your pity vote Pete, it’s not needed.

                    • freedom …
                      24 April 2014 at 10:24 am

                      “If an election is held today, which party would get your party vote?”
                      Pete, you know full well it is a hypothetical question.

                      Now if you do not want to share who you vote for that is your choice, just stand up tall and proud and say that you prefer not to share such intimate secret knowledge of your deepest soul. People would respect that. But to hide behind such pitiful reasoning when discussing a hypothetical situation is even more bizarre than you being Editor in Chief of a fact checking site.

                      http://thesaurus.com/browse/hypothetical

                    • wtl …
                      24 April 2014 at 10:36 am

                      But I’ll give you a possibility – if Labour are at 20% in the polls just before the election I’d consider voting for them to help keep them alive, if I thought they deserved it.

                      So basically it seems that you will decide who to vote for near election day based on their polices, but you will not be voting for Labour unless they need you to “save them”.

                      In other words, it seems that you have a rather strong disdain for Labour, as you will not consider voting for them on the merits of their actual policies. This is also evident in many other comments you post: whether or not you will admit to it, many of your comments here are strongly anti-Labour in tone or message.

                      Given this bias against Labour, I fail to see how your position as an independent “fact-checker” is tenable.

            • bad12 8.2.1.2.2.3
              24 April 2014 at 9:36 am

              The has been Petty George trying to tell other parties how they should do their bizz, having helped make His own political vehicle United Future a political irrelevancy has to be the joke of the day,

              A piece of toilet paper while not being as ”transparent’ as Petty George is a 100 times more useful, and this 🙄 …

        • Draco T Bastard 8.2.1.3
          24 April 2014 at 9:30 am

          The perception of the party is tending towards pathetic.

          Only according to the RWNJs and their pets in the MSM.

        • Pete 8.2.1.4
          24 April 2014 at 9:31 am

          So what is the definition of “ordinary people”? Because according to the 2012 New Zealand Social Survey just 21% of New Zealanders reported satisfactory results across all four of the surveyed areas of health, money, relationships and housing.

          Now relationships generally isn’t the domain of government policy (unless it’s to keep abusive behaviour in check), but Labour is putting in the effort to address the other three areas. I know people who have been helped enormously by Working For Famiilies. Kiwisaver helped me buy my home and plan for my future. And interest free student loans has saved me thousands. By contrast over the past 5 years National has done nothing that it can point to that benefits the people of New Zealand, aside from not rolling back those Labour programmes in the first place. Further, Michael Cullen’s stewardship laid the foundations to weather the GFC better than most countries, although I think he could have done more to keep the housing bubble in check.

          Let me ask you a question, Pete. What do you think is the legacy of this government? How do you think history will remember John Key’s administration? Because I’m really struggling to see any area at all where Key has improved New Zealand social wellbeing.

          • Pete George 8.2.1.4.1
            24 April 2014 at 10:44 am

            Any improvements have been modest and you have to look hard.

            Key’s nearly two terms is best known for minimising things getting worse over the course of a New Zealand recession (started under Labour), a Global financial crisis, and major disasters in Christchurch.

            Many people see that as a creditable achievement, and probably at least as good as any alternative government could have managed.

            It’s been unusual circumstances of economic survival that the country seems to have come through better than expected.

            If the National government survives into another term then we will get to see the Key legacy – if it’s any more than a cautious conservative treading water or not when we are expected to recover and grow.

            • David H 8.2.1.4.1.1
              24 April 2014 at 10:54 am

              Oh FFS Petey can’t you just answer the fucking questions.

              What do you think is the legacy of this government? A: The Blatant Corruption,

              How do you think history will remember John Key’s administration? A:For the Corruption and deals for the Boys.

              See that’s how it’s done Question. Answer. Simple.. And none of your useless bullshit waffling and link whoring!. And no one screaming at you for being a useless T 🙄

    • Not a PS Staffer 8.3
      24 April 2014 at 8:09 am

      🙄

    • phillip ure 8.4
      24 April 2014 at 8:18 am

      @ pg..

      ..are you using ‘rooted’ in its’ conjugal-sense/meaning..?

    • marty mars 8.5
      24 April 2014 at 8:34 am

      Oh pete – labour are the forest not the tree and (even as a non-labour person I can see) that forest is an ecosystem that is complete – until the chainsaws arrive and start cutting – are you a chainsaw pete? Do you want the forest cut down? If a tree is old or diseased a big gust of Mcgully-wind can blow it down – that tree is uprooted. The forest remains, ever changing.

      • phillip ure 8.5.1
        24 April 2014 at 8:56 am

        in this case the ‘mccully-wind’..

        ..has proven for labour the axiom that ‘it’s an ill wind that bows nobody any good’…

        ..the diseased-totara has fallen..

        ..quick may it rot..

      • Chooky 8.5.2
        24 April 2014 at 9:25 am

        marty mars +100.. very good analogy

        .I would like to see what the new tree Kelvin Davis has to offer and what he stands on….get to know him….a guest post/interview ?…. or a statement from him on open mike would be much appreciated

        …particularly on where he stands on Charter Schools and Standards testing…there does seem to be a bit of confusion on where exactly he does stand on these issues

        …the sooner we get to know him the sooner Jones will recede into the past

      • Ad 8.5.3
        24 April 2014 at 1:38 pm

        Labour’s caucus righties still don’t get how strong the base of the party is. We have comprehensively outplayed them. Jones simply figured that the path to leadership is now determined not by caucus factions, but by the whole.

        Goff and King and Mallard will see caucus slowly tilt away from factions, and towards merit alone demonstrated to us all.

    • rhinocrates 8.6
      24 April 2014 at 8:50 am

      Get back under your bridge, the Gruff family is due any minute.

    • phillip ure 8.7
      24 April 2014 at 8:51 am

      united future..not so much a ‘totora’..

      ..as a twig of ti-tree…

    • miravox 8.8
      24 April 2014 at 9:08 am

      Trying to be clever? Beneath even you Pete 🙄

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.9
      24 April 2014 at 9:35 am

      The Petty George Show roll(eye)s on.

      Yesterday he was offering his “support” to The Greens. Today he’s on a ring-barking mission, and he keeps his little bag of poison handy just in case.

      • fender 8.9.1
        24 April 2014 at 10:05 am

        This PG bullshit is getting tedious, I wish he would advise on how the TS site should be run…

        [lprent: ummm… I’m not sure how I feel about people trying to encourage push people into the propeller blades. Perhaps you should desist so I don’t find out how I feel about it. ]

        • Not a PS Staffer 8.9.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 10:10 am

          Don’t argue with an idiot like PG. Onlookers might not be able to tell the difference. Just eye-roll him and he will go away. 🙄

        • fender 8.9.1.2
          24 April 2014 at 1:20 pm

          Sure lprent I’ll “desist” from advising PG, cos he always takes my advice 🙄

    • David H 8.10
      24 April 2014 at 10:41 am

      PG just Fuck Off, you are nothing but a waste of Oxygen.

      [lprent: If you don’t put a point or even some wit to go with the abuse, then don’t make the comment. Otherwise I’ll eventually get irritated and start banning repeat offenders. ]

    • weka 8.11
      24 April 2014 at 2:30 pm

      David Cunliffe on Shane Jones “When a totara falls in the forest another totara grows to take it’s place”

      Is that a quote Pete? Can you please attribute it?

  9. Adrian 9
    24 April 2014 at 8:02 am

    So you see him ( as I do ) as a “Jonesling”, Phillip.

    • phillip ure 9.1
      24 April 2014 at 8:12 am

      without doubt..

      ..and the further we get from these revelations of this ongoing treachery/double-dealing of/by jones…

      ..the stronger the stench will be..

      ..(i wonder if he/jones realises this yet..?..his guaranteed place in the halls of political infamy..?..)

      ..now..imagine were this a national party ‘high-flyer’..

      ..who had been in ‘good dialogue’ with the labour party ‘for a long time’..

      ..and had now left national..at a crucial pre-election moment..(designed to do the most harm to ‘his’ party..)..

      ..to ‘work for labour’..in a plum/created/troughing-‘job’..

      ..i wonder how our corporate/access-media wd handle that scenario..?

      ..differently from how they are handling this breaking from cover of jones..?

      ..i’m betting it wouldn’t be ‘national in disarray’..

      ..it’d likely be all about ‘the treachery/undemocratic-practices of labour’..

      ..eh..?..

  10. tricledrown 10
    24 April 2014 at 8:21 am

    So Jones sells out for a few pieces of silver.
    The Noise Jones made over the Countdown super market chain
    Was obviously designed to up his transfer fees.
    The snide flipant attitude over shower flow rates prior to 2008 election were designed to unseat Labour so Hey could have a tilt at leading labour.
    Now all chances of becoming leader have gone.
    Sabotage is his payback for not getting what He wants .
    For all his intellect.
    Jones is just a self centered highly egotistical dickhead.

    • Puckish Rogue 10.1
      24 April 2014 at 8:42 am

      At least Shane Jones told us who donated to his challenge

      • anker 10.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 11:07 am

        I think what came up about Shane Jones donors supports the arguement for the Trust account DC set up. He didn’t know the donors, so could not be influence by them. That was the intention. Shows integrity.

        Jones knew whos his donors were and what a surprize! not. Anti green, pro mining and secret meetings with National about a job………….Shane “what’s in it for me” Jones.

        I seem to remember him saying about DC after the leadership contest that he lost, “I offer DC my unstinting loyalty”…………..Yeah right.

        Shane Jones……………good for Tui adds.

    • Not a PS Staffer 10.2
      24 April 2014 at 8:42 am

      Countdown’s proxies will be called on by National for donations. Ralph Norris will be very pleased.

  11. Ant 11
    24 April 2014 at 8:27 am

    LOL Trotter and Bassett on RNZ morning report commenting on Labour and Jones, no agendas there…

    • bad12 11.1
      24 April 2014 at 8:46 am

      Dover Samuels, John Tamihere, Bassett, all has been’s, yesterday’s men, all trumpeting the right wing framing of Jones having tossed His toys, class traitors in other words,

      Shane Who, has been a waste of space in both the Labour Government and the Labour Opposition, His quitting is the only positive in a career that has been singularly damaging to the Party,

      Jones touted as the ‘champion’ of the blue collar workers by the media and the ever growing list of political commentators is a joke, and those touting Him as such an even worse joke,

      Good riddance is what the left should be shouting back at the fools touting Jones as any champion of the working class,

      The sooner Labour clean out the old gaurd right wingers from the Caucus the better, Jones wont be missed past the next ‘frenzy item’ seized upon by what is an obviously bored media…

      • BM 11.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 9:04 am

        Yes what labour needs right now is a public purging of people such as Goff,Shearer,Cosgrove,O’Conner.

        If Cunliffe is any leader, he’ll start wielding his sword today.

        Their destabilizing influence is destroying labour and must be removed before labour can win this years election.

        • Te Reo Putake 11.1.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 9:13 am

          Thanks for your concern, T.R.O.L.L.

        • Puckish Rogue 11.1.1.2
          24 April 2014 at 9:15 am

          🙂

        • bad12 11.1.1.3
          24 April 2014 at 9:30 am

          i don’t usually bother addressing your comments BM, that is probably because conversing with the dumb while having its amusing moments is really an exercise in futility,

          Take your current comment for instance, ”Labour winning the election” is the thinking of the Neanderthal,

          Labour has No chance of winning the election, in 2014 though, the Left has every chance of doing just that….

        • Clemgeopin 11.1.1.4
          24 April 2014 at 10:18 am

          As a right wing supporter, why do you post as a Labour party well-wisher?

          • BM 11.1.1.4.1
            24 April 2014 at 10:29 am

            The post to Bad12 was purely a piss-take of his ridiculous ramblings.

            I’m predominantly right wing but would have no issue voting labour, if they had decent people and policies.

            I hope one day labour ditches the unions,their last century thought process and becomes a decent party again.

            • Colonial Viper 11.1.1.4.1.1
              24 April 2014 at 10:33 am

              Employees must once again unionise and organise in order to exercise collective bargaining power over employers, particularly larger and corporate employers.

              Even better, co-ops of workers need to start taking over and democratically running their own work places, instead of taking orders from some faraway Man who doesn’t even understand the business.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                24 April 2014 at 11:13 am

                I think all businesses need to become cooperatives with the present shareholders becoming either bond or loan holders and no say in the running of the company. Only those who work there would have any say in the direction of the company.

                • Pete George …
                  24 April 2014 at 11:21 am

                  Why don’t workers just set up businesses like this? There’s nothing to stop them.

                  How many workers want to take on the responsibility of running the business they work for?

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    24 April 2014 at 11:40 am

                    Why don’t workers just set up businesses like this? There’s nothing to stop them.

                    Yes there is. Several things in fact:
                    1.) Finances (this is systemic – our entire system is against it)
                    2.) Improper education
                    3.) Raised in an abusive and dysfunctional family (admittedly, 2 & 3 tend to go together)
                    and more that I just can’t think of right now.

                    How many workers want to take on the responsibility of running the business they work for?

                    I suspect more than most people realise.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      24 April 2014 at 2:35 pm

                      PG’s comments are those of someone completely ignorant of the power of corporate forces and big banking in our economy.

                      If he was serious about supporting small community owned businesses he would have more to offer us than “get to it then.”

            • Draco T Bastard 11.1.1.4.1.2
              24 April 2014 at 11:11 am

              I’m predominantly right wing but would have no issue voting labour, if they had decent right-wing people and policies.

              FTFY

              You’ll never vote anything other than radical right which means National or Act.

            • Clemgeopin 11.1.1.4.1.3
              24 April 2014 at 2:12 pm

              Are you just thick or a complete idiot? The Labour party was formed for the betterment of the people and the country by the workers who were exploited by the wealthy. In the modern world, workers come from innumerable professions, not just miners etc that helped form the party in its beginning days. It is the Labour party principles, policies and programmes that has made New Zealand a better place for everyone, men and women, children and the elderly, employees and the employers, the unemployed and the poor, and even the rich pricks that now infest the greedy ungrateful right wing parties such as National and ACT that are spitting on the poor and the ordinary people with their unfair, unjust, selfish policies, while happily copying many of the great social policies of the last Labour government.

              But for the Labour’s socialist principles, you would be on pittance wages languishing on 12 hour days, women’s rights would be pretty much non existent like in some middle east countries, homophobia and discrimination would continue unabated etc, etc. Innumerable progress has been made and lots more needs to be done for justice, environment, equity, freedom, true prosperity etc

              Don’t bad mouth the Labour party, you nitwit.

      • miravox 11.1.2
        24 April 2014 at 9:50 am

        “Jones touted as the ‘champion’ of the blue collar workers by the media and the ever growing list of political commentators is a joke, and those touting Him as such an even worse joke,”

        He’d only be a class traitor if he was a blue collar worker. But he never was blue collar. Groomed as a future leader from a very early age, wasn’t he?

        Anyway as far as I’m concerned it’s a clean out out of the Labour right, who contradict L(l)abour ideals anyway.

        • BM 11.1.2.1
          24 April 2014 at 10:04 am

          Class traitor, phfft what a load of shit, you’re not Pomgolia now, we don’t do classes down here.

          This hang up you lefties have on putting people in boxes/classes is the reason why you’re failing.

          • Colonial Viper 11.1.2.1.1
            24 April 2014 at 10:25 am

            It’s a class war BM and you know that because you are one of its participants. An ongoing class war that the 1% who hold the largest share of capital wealth wages every day against the 99% who do not.

            You’re on a site with many who are well versed in political economics, so have some respect and please don’t treat the rest of us as ignorant.

            • BM 11.1.2.1.1.1
              24 April 2014 at 10:36 am

              It is not a class war, there will never be a class war in NZ.

              If you picked out 100 random people in the street and then told them we’re fighting a class war, they’d think you’re a complete lunatic that should be locked in a padded cell.

              • Colonial Viper …
                24 April 2014 at 11:19 am

                “It is not a class war, there will never be a class war in NZ.”

                ROFL why are you still trying it on? When you are one of the participants in this very class war?

                Perhaps you should learn about NZ history, check out the great strike of 1913, also how the Liberal Government broke up all the large land holdings of the richest families in the 1890’s. And of course, the dispossesion of the entire working class in the 1980’s and 1990’s due to Rogernomics and Ruthanasia.

          • Draco T Bastard 11.1.2.1.2
            24 April 2014 at 11:07 am

            Class traitor, phfft what a load of shit, you’re not Pomgolia now, we don’t do classes down here.

            Really, and I could have sworn that we just had a couple of high-class bludgers go through NZ at our expense.

            This hang up you lefties have on putting people in boxes/classes is the reason why you’re failing.

            That has got to be psychological projection. It’s the left that are trying to break down the class barriers while the RWNJs always seem to be trying to build them up.

            • BM 11.1.2.1.2.1
              24 April 2014 at 11:11 am

              There are no classes to break down, do you not understand this?

              • Draco T Bastard …
                24 April 2014 at 11:18 am

                Yes there are. there’s the rich, the middle class, the poor and now the precariat. Just because you want to deny reality and insist these classes don’t exist doesn’t make them any less true.

                • BM …
                  24 April 2014 at 11:20 am

                  But the poor can become middle class and the middle class can become rich.

                  Where are the barriers?

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    24 April 2014 at 11:26 am

                    Where are the barriers?

                    Debt peonage

                    Lack of cheap credit to start/expand your own business

                    Economic rentier behaviour from the 0.1% and corporatocracy

                    An economic and social system which inherently advantages white property owning males

                    • BM …
                      24 April 2014 at 11:36 am

                      Debt peonage

                      Examples?

                      Lack of cheap credit to start/expand your own business

                      last thing we need is under capitalized businesses starting up, fast way to the poor house

                      Economic rentier behaviour from the 0.1% and corporatocracy

                      Examples?

                      An economic and social system which inherently advantages white property owning males

                      it’s all the fault of white males, seriously?

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      24 April 2014 at 11:39 am

                      I’ve already given you the broad categories, look it up for yourself. Not your research service.

                      And I’ll add one more: deliberately reduced and declining income share of labour (i.e. workers) with respect to GDP, with the difference siphoned off to corporations and capitalist owners.

                  • felix …
                    24 April 2014 at 4:59 pm

                    “But the poor can become middle class and the middle class can become rich.

                    Where are the barriers?”

                    Oh BM, I didn’t realise you were quite this lost. How do you think you’ll ever be rich without poor people?

                    • BM …
                      24 April 2014 at 6:50 pm

                      But there’s no barriers if you want to make the effort, you may not succeed but the opportunity is there.

                    • Paul …
                      24 April 2014 at 6:58 pm

                      No barriers at all.
                      Of course not BM

                      In their book on inequality The Spirit Level, British researchers Wilkinson and Pickett devote a whole chapter to showing the different ways that entrenched inequality reduces social mobility.

                      But you have researched this more of course by reading Slater’s opinion and then repeating it.

                      https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/wolfson.institute/events/Wilkinson372010.pdf
                      http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2010/05/inequality-and-social-mobility.html

                    • felix …
                      24 April 2014 at 7:57 pm

                      BM, would you like to address my question please?

                      How will you manage to be rich without poor people?

                    • freedom …
                      24 April 2014 at 8:12 pm

                      “if you want to make the effort …. the opportunity is there.”

                      gee thanks BM,
                      I never knew the only reason I am poor, is I am lazy

                      In your world no rich person has ever actively worked against poor people doing better

                      know what?
                      for a guy who no-doubt imagines his initials stand for Big Man,
                      you sure do have a tiny mind.

                    • BM …
                      24 April 2014 at 8:27 pm

                      There will always be poor people, it’s always been that way and always will.

                      How much money I make is irrelevant.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 April 2014 at 8:32 pm

                      But there’s no barriers if you want to make the effort, you may not succeed but the opportunity is there.

                      [my emphasis]
                      lol
                      So even if you make an effort, you might remain poor? But there are no barriers?
                      Fuck you’re a slippery liar.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      24 April 2014 at 8:35 pm

                      “if you want to make the effort …. the opportunity is there.”

                      Ever play video games BM?

                      I ask coz there’s this thing on many of them in ‘settings’ where you can dial things up and down, and make the game easier.

                      You know?

                      Your dude might have more hit points, or it might make the enemies a bit dumber, or fewer, that sort of thing.

                      Imagine that in a multi-player game, and some folks get their settings set, by society, a bit easier on most of the settings. They will find it easier, and if they don;t get that are playing at an advantage, they are gonna think they are shit hot at this game.

                      Aren’t they?

                    • BM …
                      24 April 2014 at 8:50 pm

                      Absolutely.
                      Many people have busted their nuts and never succeeded, that’s just how the game goes.

                      Maybe their idea was shit, maybe people didn’t want their product, maybe they ran out of money or the timing was wrong.

                      No one is ever guaranteed success.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 April 2014 at 9:08 pm

                      So the poor can become middle class and the middle class can become rich, but even if the poor do everything right they might not succeed, in which case through no fault of their own they can’t become middle class / rich.

                      Are you suffering from severe cognitive dissonance, or are you just a shit liar?

                    • felix …
                      24 April 2014 at 9:44 pm

                      Ooh ooh I know this one, he’s a shit liar McF.

                      He still won’t answer my q either: How can he be rich without poor people?

                      Who does he think is going to do the shit jobs? The other rich people? Good luck getting them to work for peanuts.

                      Fucking idiot liar.

                    • Descendant Of Sssmith …
                      24 April 2014 at 9:51 pm

                      Cool BM will support 100% death duties and the law that makes it illegal to transfer your personal wealth to anyone else.

                      That way we all start with nothing and only the sum of our personal endeavors will get us anywhere.

                    • srylands …
                      24 April 2014 at 10:17 pm

                      “Who does he think is going to do the shit jobs? ”

                      The failures. If we get rich enough the guest workers. You are being stupid.

                    • felix …
                      24 April 2014 at 10:32 pm

                      Nope sryass, BM said the poor will become middle class, and then rich. So no more poor people.

                      You can’t have it both ways, dicks.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  24 April 2014 at 11:21 am

                  It’s in the interest of the Tories to pretend that they are not waging war against the under class and working class – stealth is the only way they can get away with it.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    24 April 2014 at 11:44 am

                    I know.

                  • srylands …
                    24 April 2014 at 10:15 pm

                    That is ridiculous. The Government (I assume the “Tories” is some unheard of label you have for the New Zealand Government. Funny I thought it was some ancient English political faction) presides over a $27 billion welfare safety net. You are seriously deluded.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      24 April 2014 at 10:29 pm

                      Hey Shitlands. All you’ve pointed out is that the Tories have some remnant electoral self preservation instinct. They know that they cannot dismantle the NZ welfare state expeditiously and have to instead dismantle it bit by bit, while demonising the vulnerable and the poor on the way. And your point is?

                      You are seriously deluded.

                      What’s a servant of the power elite like you who has never voted in NZ care anyway?

                    • McFlock …
                      24 April 2014 at 10:34 pm

                      SSpylands, I have serious concerns about your memory. Your confusion about the word “tory” sounded familiar, and less that 30sec using the search box says you were taught about that word last September, and again in October. Try reading those comment branches again before (once again) removing all doubt as to your stupidity.

                      I’m especially concerned that such a stupid fucking idiot, as you obviously must be, claims to be/have been involved in formulation of government policy.

                      Perhaps that would explain why you are obviously unaware that the nats are destroying the $27bil welfare safety net loop by “application declined” loop.

                      Or maybe you think it’s a sophisticated distraction to plead ignorance about a two-syllable word and then argue that the fact the government hasn’t completely destroyed something means that the government must be actively preserving it. Well, an idiot feels compelled to double down on his own idiocy, I guess.

                    • felix …
                      24 April 2014 at 10:47 pm

                      Oh god so stupid.

  12. polish 12
    24 April 2014 at 8:46 am

    could be useful here

  13. phillip ure 13
    24 April 2014 at 8:46 am

    a suggested sign-language-for-deaf ‘sign’ for ‘shane jones’:

    ..a rhythmic half-closed-fist hand-motion should do it/the trick..

  14. Not a PS Staffer 14
    24 April 2014 at 8:51 am

    Politics is hard mistress. I just watched the David Cunliffe interview on the Paul Henry Show from Tuesday night. Respect! Respect! David was very calm despite the best efforts of that psychotic arse. I’ll bathe in Dettol!

  15. tricledrown 15
    24 April 2014 at 8:52 am

    Education
    The US middle class income falling faster than any OECD country WHy.
    Education has been identified as the cause of decline.
    Decline in Pisa scores directly related to decline in income.
    And we are adopting the same policies that have lead to this decline.

    • Chooky 15.1
      24 April 2014 at 9:32 am

      Yes as Kelvin Davis is a teacher …i would like to see/hear his views on Charter Schools and Standards Testing enunciated here for all to see/hear…just so we can have confidence in him.

      On the surface he looks like a very fortunate replacement for Shane

      btw….why is Morning Report bringing out Bassett….of ACT to criticise the Labour Party and Cunliffe….Bassett is an old ‘has been’ Rogernom….he is the last person who should be critiquing Labour and Cunliffe….he was part of the cabal that just about destroyed Labour

      ….what is Morning Report doing?…is it now a mouthpiece for ACT?

      ….that said I thought John Tamihere was very good ….cant he be brought back into the Labour Party fold?…he has done his time for his ‘crime’ insensitivity to women ( a crime many others have committed on the Left) ….and he was very popular on radio …he could be a big draw card for Neathandral Man …Labour working men.

      • David H 15.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 4:00 pm

        What did you really expect when they put Espiner in there the other week. I have listened only once to Morning Report since he took over, it took me about 40 mins of Espiner to change the channel to something reasonable, like Radio Live.

    • Colonial Viper 15.2
      24 April 2014 at 11:35 am

      The US middle class income falling faster than any OECD country WHy.
      Education has been identified as the cause of decline.
      Decline in Pisa scores directly related to decline in income.

      Uh, you’re incorrect on this count, unfortunately. You’ve mistaken cause and effect.

      What getting a higher education means today in the USA is being highly qualifiedand stacking shelves or flipping burgers on the minimum wage, with a massive and unrepayable student loan.

      The true cause of the collapse of the US middle class is far more complex – and has to do with the power elite exporting all solid working class jobs out of the nation and then systematically destroying the value of peoples property and pension funds.

  16. Rogue Trooper 16
    24 April 2014 at 8:54 am

    ONE News headline ” Labour in damage control “:National a safe pair of hands “.
    “Labour party has definately been hurt”- Corinn Dann.
    yet “Jones often acted as a wedge between Labour and the Greens” , refused to work with Norman – Michael Parkin with a side order of Pagani spin, “it’s a warning sign”
    Gower- “…risks being punished in the polls.”

    Plenty of balance there was, Not!

    Further to the harms of fructose, The WHO new recommendations for daily sugar intake, 5% of total daily food intake. Equals about 6 teaspoons.
    If cut back, takes about four days of unsettling withdrawals.

    • bad12 16.1
      24 April 2014 at 9:23 am

      That doesn’t quite make sense, the WHO 5% of daily food intake that is, i would have to weigh my total food intake for a day,(which is probably a good idea to do for a week), but, am pretty sure that if liquids are included then the daily intake is over ‘ a kilo’,

      Me thinks i will do that starting next Monday, weighing both solid food and liquid intake to see what my normal diet weighs,(weekends are now the ‘fasting diet’ to keep the kilo’s falling off),

      Dieting is interesting, i have found that even the vege and fruit diet can add body weight, which suggests weight loss is more a matter of ‘how much’ of ‘anything’ is the key,

      Still think unless a ‘scientific case’ can be made for adding sugar to food can be made then Legislation is needed to have it removed from food items that are not classed specifically as sweets,or at the least, a large label being a requirement to show the number of spoons of sugar a serving of the product contains per serving,

      Last nights Third Degree was a shallow look at the other side of the health issue ‘fats’, i wasn’t impressed at all,

      Obviously the body ‘needs’ some fat/oil so as to be able to transport vital nutrients around the body which otherwise would simply be discharged via the liver down the toilet, i am though sticking with the view of good fats/bad fats…

      • Draco T Bastard 16.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 9:50 am

        Dieting is interesting, i have found that even the vege and fruit diet can add body weight, which suggests weight loss is more a matter of ‘how much’ of ‘anything’ is the key,

        Weight loss is more a question of getting some exercise.

        • Colonial Viper 16.1.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 10:50 am

          Exercise is important of course but it is just one factor. For instance, Dr Lustig’s presentation on how large quantities of sugar in the modern diet screws up energy-behaviour metabolism at the brain level is instructive.

        • bad12 16.1.1.2
          24 April 2014 at 12:53 pm

          Agree and disagree Draco, for those able to ‘up’ the amount of physical activity to burn off the calories its not bad advice,

          However, if like me a person has bone or muscle issues which prohibit the ‘upping’ of physical exercise then it has to be diet alone which can be used as the weight loss mechanism…

      • Chooky 16.1.2
        24 April 2014 at 10:41 am

        @ bad 12

        molasses can be a good substitute for sugar cravings…this is all the minerals /vits etc left over from sugar refining…it is very strong but it can be put in gravies and cakes or on porridge..or just a tsp as a tonic…Red Seal Black Strap Molasses has for a few dollars… manganese( lots), magnesium(lots), iron, calcium( lots), sodium

        …a good book to get is : ‘Stay Healthy by Supplying Whats lacking in Your Diet’ by David Coorey….for $25..(NZ publishing House .Private Bag 12029, Tauranga…(Tel: 0800 140 141)

        ( it gives an index of health symptoms/deficiencies /foods that supply essential vits/minerals for these deficiences eg …advice for weight loss, diabetes, alcohol cravings ,eye sight , dementia, gout, migraines , chloresterol, osteoporosis, gum disease, chronic fatigue, tinnitus….etc.etc.).. you can be your own doctor before your symptoms get out of control…it is very budget friendly …i hardly ever see a doctor!..nor does my family)

        • bad12 16.1.2.1
          24 April 2014 at 1:14 pm

          Lolz thanks Chooky, but, spending 25 bucks on a book here isn’t an option, i have tho Google as a friend and can find it all out from the basic to the uni studies online,

          Molasses sounds quite interesting and i will check out the cost on my next food forage in the supermarket, still sugar tho,(even tho it contains a good amount of those essential minerals), and, i have to watch total intake,

          That sugar craving at a certain point as you cut down is quite an acute one, psychological more than physical,(for me anyway), i have cut down from 2 teaspoons in my tea mug all the time to 1 teaspoon and then onto 1 teaspoon every fourth cuppa,

          My fruit intake has tho tripled from what has been the lifelong (bad) habit and there are plenty of sugars in fruit, weight has dropped to 95 kilo from 110 kilo at Christmas, i am tho doing mini crash diets on weekends to make up for my bad habit of making big yummy veg and fish meals and then scoffing the lot…

    • Draco T Bastard 16.2
      24 April 2014 at 9:46 am

      If cut back, takes about four days of unsettling withdrawals.

      And here’s me thinking that was just the lack of coffee.

  17. fisiani 17
    24 April 2014 at 9:05 am

    Political junkie question of the day.
    What do Dunedin North, Mangere Maungakiekie, Mt Albert, Rongotai, and the 7 Maori electorates have in common and why is this grim news for Labour?

    • fisiani 17.1
      24 April 2014 at 11:09 am

      2 hours and no one got it.
      These are the only constituencies where National lost the Party Vote.
      New Zealand is blue and will get even bluer.

      • Draco T Bastard 17.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 11:48 am

        Nope, you don’t get it – it’s no longer a two horse race an no party will be the sole inhabitant of government ever again.

        • fisiani 17.1.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 12:21 pm

          No party has been the sole inhabitant of government for more than 20 years – National may have the numbers to be sole inhabitant in September but John Key will share government with willing support parties as he plans to win in 2017 and 2021 assuming we have a 4 year term by then.

          • Draco T Bastard 17.1.1.1.1
            24 April 2014 at 12:30 pm

            National don’t like sharing power – that was why they took over Act. Sure, they still had to get UF and the mP on board but they knew that they’d be able to buy them up quite easily and that, once bought, they’d stay bought as the mP just proved.

  18. marty mars 18
    24 April 2014 at 9:16 am

    Sure, I think davis is better than jones by a country mile but…

    “It gives me a platform and the resources of an MP to campaign. Otherwise, I would have just been an unemployed bum trying to be a candidate. So it helps my profile and there are more opportunities to get in the media.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11243097

    yeah don’t want to be an ‘unemployed bum’ do we – not for the ‘headhunted by jones’ davis who wants to be the electorate mp by beating Hone.

    Sure, I think davis is better than jones by a country mile but…

    • Chooky 18.1
      24 April 2014 at 9:41 am

      …yes Davis needs to be open about what he stands for ..we need to get statements from him so he is on record

      Shane chose him…this is a worry!…also that he worked for the Ministry of Education, which has been hopelessly compromised by its Minister and ACT private company lobbyists for Charter Schools

      We dont want another new Trojan Horse in the Labour Party

      Cunliffe’s job is hard enough as it is….. with all the old Rogernomes guard still unretired

      • bad12 18.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 9:44 am

        My view, Davis stands for the Labour Party that represents the New Zealand middle class, full stop…

  19. Jim47 19
    24 April 2014 at 9:18 am

    Has labour got so desperate that they have to have children protest.
    Can they no longer find any adults to do their protesting.
    Perhaps they are getting ready with twelve year olds to try and win the 2022 election.
    Just saying.
    I am a pensioner and this time my vote is with national.

    [lprent: Looking at your email address, I’d have been surprised if you’d ever voted for anyone apart from National and/or Act.

    In my experience, Labour and the left usually manages to turn out thousands for their larger protests when the right and National can usually turn out mere handfuls. So I’d suspect that the reason that children were turning out would probably have something to do with how whatever it is affects them.

    However, putting a link or even a reference into the story you’re talking about would probably help people with understanding what you are indignant about. I currently have no idea and your comment gives no hint. Please try to do better next time.

    Could someone help this guy out. ]

    • Molly 19.1
      24 April 2014 at 10:35 am

      I don’t know whether anyone could help Jim47, given that he has obviously had 65 years to sort himself out, and this is the best he can do.

      However, I think he is referring to the story mentioned above by both karol and bad12, regarding the egging of the PM’s car in Maraenui.

      Jim47 seems to believe from this article that it was a Labour Party – day out holiday activity for the kiddies. Reading comprehension levels shown by his comment indicate that it is probably fairly unlikely that any written comment “helping him out” will do much to change his mind.

      After all, his vote is with National.

      • bad12 19.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 10:53 am

        Well put Molly, Jim47 is obviously an idiot by design or genetic irresponsibility on the part of other’s,

        The kids involved in giving Slippery the Prime Minister ‘the message’ were all locals who fully understand what is happening as the PM and un-Housing Minister Smith re-arrange the deck chairs of the HousingNZ estate using the publicity of the mass media to mask the 20%–42.5 billion dollar asset sale they are attempting by flogging off the housing of the poorest in our communities,

        The State Houses bowled over to make way for the ‘pensioner housing’ would have previously housed their cousins and friends so on whatever level they understand what is occurring understand it they do,

        The only visible political presence at this protest,was that of the Mana Party…

  20. Paul 20
    24 April 2014 at 9:32 am

    Real important news as opposed to the Jones beat up.
    Wonder what people think of Key and his crew as their mortgages rise.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11243323

    • bad12 20.1
      24 April 2014 at 9:42 am

      Lolz the Bank Robbery of the century, with inflation at a miserly 1.5% the Reserve Bank Governor in an act of ”kill it befor it grows” kneecaps the economy and acts to profit the Trading Banks with windfall profits of billions of dollars in added interest payments…

    • Puckish Rogue 20.2
      24 April 2014 at 9:49 am

      Meh, mortgage rates rise and mortgage rates fall

      • Draco T Bastard 20.2.1
        24 April 2014 at 10:06 am

        When there’s no reason for them to have interest rates on at all. No loans should have interest on them.

        • Colonial Viper 20.2.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 10:14 am

          +1

          • Paul 20.2.1.1.1
            24 April 2014 at 10:25 am

            Even if some people aren’t concerned by the rise in interest rates, Stuff’s website shows one of its notorious polls, just putting its foot in the water for the elite, as it knows damn well that people struggling to pay their mortgages is electoral poison.
            http://www.stuff.co.nz/

            BTW The wording of these polls is appalling.

            Will higher interest rates hurt you?
            Yes, I’m not happy
            No, I planned for them
            Bring them on, I’m a saver

        • freedom 20.2.1.2
          24 April 2014 at 1:22 pm

          I disagree there Draco, assuming you are talking about NZ printing our own cash not continuing to borrow from the Central Banks.

          If a 1% interest rate was levied on all loans from the Government to home owners, new business ventures etc, then that is another stable resource for making contributions to the UBI fund. Of course this is in addition to the % taken by the Robin hood Tax when the loan is made operational.

          • Draco T Bastard 20.2.1.2.1
            24 April 2014 at 1:52 pm

            You’re still working with the false assumption that the government needs a source of income. It doesn’t. The repayment of a loan is nothing more than the removal of money that has been injected into the economy so as to maintain the apparent value of money.

            • freedom 20.2.1.2.1.1
              24 April 2014 at 2:14 pm

              Not sure I am completely clear on your endgame there Draco.

              No taxes of any sort?
              How does Government function without an income? Do Governments just print money with no controls at all? That is what the central Banks do now and look where that has gotten us.

              How do roads get built?
              How does Healthcare function?
              Education?
              Civil Defence?
              Police and the Military ?? (if we still have to have them 🙂 )

              I must be missing something obvious …
              (no-job stress has me missing sleep, I know that much )

              Yes money is a lie and interest compounds that lie.
              Yes together they are a powerful force but it does not have to be a destructive force.

              As I said, maybe I have misunderstood what you mean.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                24 April 2014 at 3:26 pm

                No taxes of any sort?

                No, there’d still be taxes.

                How does Government function without an income? Do Governments just print money with no controls at all?

                It’s not a question of functioning without an income but realising that taxes are solely the destruction of money already created and spent into the economy by government. And, yes, there would be rules.

                How do roads get built?
                How does Healthcare function?
                Education?
                Civil Defence?
                Police and the Military ?

                The same way that they do now – by paying the people doing them.

                • freedom …
                  24 April 2014 at 7:33 pm

                  (excuse the delay in responding Draco, I had stuff to do)

                  Originally you were talking about interest not being needed.
                  “When there’s no reason for them to have interest rates on at all. No loans should have interest on them.”
                  “The repayment of a loan is nothing more than the removal of money that has been injected into the economy so as to maintain the apparent value of money.”

                  You then seemed to shift the same idea onto taxes.
                  “realising that taxes are solely the destruction of money already created and spent into the economy by government”

                  In any economy, taxes and interest are not really the same thing.

                  “You’re still working with the false assumption that the government needs a source of income.” Taxes are Government income. As much as created or borrowed funds are.

                  The not repaying loans idea is pretty out there, I just do not see how an economy functions that way. Governments supply new money, check. It gets distributed into the economy via bank loans, mortgages etc, check. . . .and then what?
                  It just doesn’t get repaid ?

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    25 April 2014 at 10:54 am

                    In any economy, taxes and interest are not really the same thing.

                    Good job I didn’t treat them as being the same then. Repayment of the loan does not include interest – that’s added on top in the present system and I’ve specifically said that loans won’t have interest.

                    The not repaying loans idea is pretty out there, I just do not see how an economy functions that way. Governments supply new money, check. It gets distributed into the economy via bank loans, mortgages etc, check. . . .and then what?
                    It just doesn’t get repaid ?

                    Well, you certainly didn’t get that from me either. Nowhere did I say that the money wouldn’t be removed from the system afterwards. All, I’ve said is that there was no need of interest and that there shouldn’t be any interest charged. In fact, you even quoted the bit where I said it would be returned/removed/destroyed.

      • ianmac 20.2.2
        24 April 2014 at 10:21 am

        When Interest Rates are low, Key/English trumpet their clever stewardship.
        When Interest Rates rise it is the independent Reserve Bank’s work.
        Funny that?

        • Puckish Rogue 20.2.2.1
          24 April 2014 at 10:46 am

          You mean like Clark and Cullen when the global market was booming? Its what politicians do on both sides

          • Draco T Bastard 20.2.2.1.1
            24 April 2014 at 11:00 am

            Can’t recall Labour ever boasting about low interest rates but I can remember them saying that the interest rates weren’t up to them due to the RBNZ being independent and the rates were the result of the market. I don’t think many people bought it though as most were already starting to realise that the market was code for the rich getting richer at everyone else’s expense.

    • Jackal 20.3
      24 April 2014 at 11:19 am

      The OCR increasing 3% won’t just hurt those who already have mortgages, it will lock many middle income home buyers out of the market. Also, the amount of mortgagee auctions will likely continue to increase under this regime.

      People having less money to spend will assuredly slow the economy, which is only showing signs of recovery because commodity prices have increased. Increased spending is a result of things costing more, not because people are buying more. A lack of competition in the retail sector will also effect the housing bubble in a bad way because people won’t be able to save for a deposit on their first home.

      Along with the 20% lending criteria, an already slowing market and unprecedented overinflation, now is clearly not the right time to be locked into a mortgage. Such assets will not be liquid because many thousands of Kiwis will be trapped renting forever.

      If some better policies aren’t implemented soon, homeowners and investors will start to lose equity and our housing stock will be further degraded. In the long run that won’t benefit anybody, not even the speculators.

  21. Paul 21
    24 April 2014 at 9:36 am

    If you prefer discussing the continuing evidence of climate change and our governments failure to amend our policies to avoid this, read this
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/9973720/Taupo-sized-iceberg-B-31-on-the-move

    Or you could talk to Pete about totaras..,..

    • Colonial Viper 21.1
      24 April 2014 at 10:17 am

      “policies” have a very limited role in halting climate change when a centuries worth of built economic and logistical infrastructure of your entire country is predicated on fossil fuels.

  22. Puckish Rogue 22
    24 April 2014 at 9:54 am

    I wonder what the rest of the Labour MPs are thinking about Jones leaving, I mean it must be pretty gutting knowing that National think that Jones is such a big threat that they create a job for him but for every other Labour MP theres nothing 🙂

    • Draco T Bastard 22.1
      24 April 2014 at 10:10 am

      Apparently, They didn’t think Jones was a big threat – they thought, and still think, of him as a good friend.

      • Puckish Rogue 22.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 10:13 am

        Of course he was a threat, waitakere man and all that. He was smart, spoke well and appealed to a cross-section of people and National took out one of Labours weapons

        Well played National

        • lprent 22.1.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 11:11 am

          Of course he was a threat…

          Mostly to Labour as far as I could tell from his screwups.

          • Puckish Rogue 22.1.1.1.1
            24 April 2014 at 12:25 pm

            Yeah of course because Jones was responsible for:

            The baby bonus debacle
            The power generation announcement dogs breakfast
            Keys leafy suburb botch up
            Cunliffes secret trusts
            Nigella Lawson

            Just as an example

    • phillip ure 22.2
      24 April 2014 at 10:11 am

      at this stage..p.r..

      ..it wd seem jones was the only(?) labour mp..in their pocket..

      ..’their’ man/mole in labour….

      ..and i am sure many labour mp’s are glad this embarassment has sprayed his way off the stage..

      • BM 22.2.1
        24 April 2014 at 10:15 am

        Wouldn’t be surprised if Shearer exits stage right.

        Maybe sometime in June?

        • Draco T Bastard 22.2.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 10:53 am

          That’d be another plus for labour but I doubt if he will. He actually seems to want to do something about poverty unfortunately he still thinks capitalism can.

      • Puckish Rogue 22.2.2
        24 April 2014 at 10:16 am

        The only Labour MP deemed a threat, he probably could have gone toe to toe with Key in the debates but we’ll never know now

        • phillip ure 22.2.2.1
          24 April 2014 at 10:34 am

          jones wouldn’t have gone ‘toe to toe’ with key..

          ..it’d be more lips (attached firmly) to arse…

          ..with key as the receiver..

        • bad12 22.2.2.2
          24 April 2014 at 10:39 am

          Drivel, 5 and a half years of Opposition and all Jones has come out with is a rave about supermarkets which the Commerce Commission is likely to have the final say of ”nothing to see here folks”, on,

          Jones is gone, good riddance, a waste of space in every sense of the word…

        • felix 22.2.2.3
          24 April 2014 at 5:11 pm

          “The only Labour MP deemed a threat”

          Yeah, but weirdly the govt and the PM’s office spend all their time attacking Cunliffe and the Greens.

          🙄

  23. Molly 23
    24 April 2014 at 10:20 am

    Revisiting the Fossil Fuel company contributions to global warming printed by the Guardian some months ago (noted by a Standardista), and thought to have a look at what other graphics may have been produced.

    They were working on an Open Corporates map, one that shows the complex web of company ownership and control on a global scale. One problem is that small countries often were the best locations for companies to operate from, and so would have too much overlap when plotting companies. Their solution: to upscale the country in a honeycomb fashion to indicate the company’s presence there.

    I had a look at Goldman Sachs – on their live version which was produced in UK summer of 2013, and was surprised to the relative size of NZ.

    (To see the chain of ownership, just hover over one of the companies (circles) on the map)

  24. aerobubble 24
    24 April 2014 at 10:39 am

    We discover now that ACC, Collins, thinks people having accidents is a choice. We’ve understood for sometime now that Bennett believes people choose unemployment and under-employment. How
    long is it before Key believes, like ACT, that proportionality is wrong in sentencing, and retrospective laws are all okay.

    It beggars belief that any liberty loving citizen could vote for this far right government and not vomit in shame.

  25. Clemgeopin 25
    24 April 2014 at 11:50 am

    Referring to Jones, Mr Cunliffe stated that when a totara falls, other totara will grow in its place. Mr Parekura Horamia was a true totara. To me, Jones is no totara. In my opinion he has instead just shown himself to be a farterer creating bad stink.

  26. Morrissey 26
    24 April 2014 at 12:22 pm

    Why you should NOT wear a red poppy
    Far from apologizing, the RSA ran poems in its magazine praising this….

    In late 1918, after the war had ended, New Zealand and Australian soldiers rounded up more than one hundred boys and men in the Palestinian village of Surafend, then methodically clubbed them to death…..
    http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog?topic_id=1115959

    • Blue 26.1
      24 April 2014 at 2:25 pm

      This is one of many reasons people should wear a red poppy.
      http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/le-quesnoy/the-liberation-of-le-quesnoy.

      Courage takes many forms , being a keyboard warrior isn’t one of them.

      • JAK 26.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 6:26 pm

        I asked my uncle about the first world war and he talked about the horses.
        I don’t remember exactly what he said, but it was along the lines that they shot horses who were stuck or could no longer pull the guns and he thought it was wrong that animals who had nothing to do with the war were made to suffer and die, while men who could choose did the goading and the killing.
        I don’t remember him going to Anzac Day Parades or wearing the red poppy, and he never showed me his medals.

        • Colonial Viper 26.1.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 10:13 pm

          Yep. Let us remember…the sheer brutality and utter inhumanity of outright warfare, where it is virtually always the civilians and the children who suffer the most egregious crimes.

      • Morrissey 26.1.2
        3 May 2014 at 10:34 am

        Something calling itself “Blue” seemed just a tad bewildered the day before Anzac Day.

        This is one of many reasons people should wear a red poppy.
        http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/le-quesnoy/the-liberation-of-le-quesnoy.

        My post was not about Le Quesnoy, it was about something altogether different: the rounding up and murder of more than one hundred unarmed men and boys in the village of Surafend. And the fact that the RSA’s magazine ran poems PRAISING the massacre.

        Courage takes many forms , being a keyboard warrior isn’t one of them.

        And rounding up civilians and battering them to death certainly is not courageous.

        Or perhaps “Blue” thinks those Anzac murderers and the others who said nothing were courageous?

  27. Morrissey 27
    24 April 2014 at 12:32 pm

    Blair’s anti-democratic tirade
    by SEUMAS MILNE, The Guardian
    Wednesday 23 April 2014

    The neocons are back. That toxic blend of messianic warmongering abroad and McCarthyite witch-hunting at home – which gave us Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantánamo and the London bombings – is coursing through our public life again. Yesterday the liberal interventionists’ hero, Tony Blair, was once more demanding military action against the “threat of radical Islam”.

    Reprising the theme that guided him and George Bush through the deceit and carnage of the “war on terror”, the former prime minister took his crusade against “Islamism” on to a new plane. The west should, he demanded, make common cause with Russia and China to support those with a “modern” view against the tide of political Islam.

    But he also demanded military intervention against Syria – backed by Russia – along with more “active measures” to help the armed opposition, which is dominated by Islamists and jihadists. It’s a crazy combination with an openly anti-democratic core: the Middle East peace envoy also warmly endorsed the Egyptian dictatorship, along with the repressive autocracies of the Gulf.

    Quite why the views of a man whose military interventions in the Muslim world have been so widely discredited, who has been funded by the Kazakhstan dictator and is regarded by up to a third of the British public as a war criminal, should be treated with such attention by the media isn’t immediately obvious. But one reason is that they chime with those of a powerful section of the political and security establishment.

    In Britain, the campaign against Islamist “extremism” is once again in full flow. In fact, it is open season on the Muslim community. For the past few weeks reports have multiplied about an alleged “Islamic plot”, code-named Operation Trojan Horse, to take control of 25 state schools in Birmingham and run them on strict religious principles.

    The education secretary, Michael Gove, a long-time neoconservative supporter of Blair’s wars and Islamist witchfinder general, responded by sending in an army of inspectors to hunt down extremists and appointing….

    Read more….
    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/23/war-islamism-hatred-violence-blair-cameron-toxic

  28. logie97 28
    24 April 2014 at 12:41 pm

    So Jones is off to help the Pacific Islands exploit the fish that swim in “their” waters.
    When is this organism – homo sapiens – going to understand that it does not have domain over
    and automatic right to gather the creatures of the sea?

    • Draco T Bastard 28.1
      24 April 2014 at 1:01 pm

      When are we going to realise that we can’t extract wealth from the environment without consequences?

    • Blue 28.2
      24 April 2014 at 1:22 pm

      The Treaty of Waitangi begs to differ

    • Roflcopter 28.3
      24 April 2014 at 2:41 pm

      So you’ll be wanting to ban dolphins then?

      • logie97 28.3.1
        24 April 2014 at 4:05 pm

        No problem with people catching fish off the rocks but once they put to sea in boats …
        I look forward to viewing your link showing where any cetacean comes ashore to pillage the land!
        🙄

      • felix 28.3.2
        24 April 2014 at 5:20 pm

        Roflcopter, what makes you think dolphins don’t have domain over
        and automatic right to gather the creatures of the sea?

        What a bizarre thing to suggest.

  29. RedBaronCV 29
    24 April 2014 at 2:05 pm

    Just looking at ministerial expenses. Thanks No right turn. Why on earth doesn’t the NZ government have a blanket no alcohol policy. If you want to drink, you pay for it yourself. I’m sure other governments would be delighted to get their people back alcohol free.
    For example Tim Grosser went to the Atlantic on the 9th Oct 13 for a “working dinner” food was $678 and drinks $433 the bulk of which was alcohol.How much much work was likely to be done when drinking.
    And in New York he appears to be spending about $300 for three bottles of wine. And in July his P/S ( private secretary ) had lunch at the Circa Foggy Bottom. Near headquarters perhaps?

    • Tigger 29.1
      24 April 2014 at 10:43 pm

      +1. MPs should lead then spread it right through government. They’re always looking to save money. Here’s an idea.

  30. Rosie 30
    24 April 2014 at 2:25 pm

    Apologies if it’s has already been noted (I haven’t been around for the last two days since the news of Jone’s departure has hit) but aren’t the right getting all frothy about it?

    The RWNJ’s have come out from under their damp logs en masse to comment here, the media are spinning so hard that they could collectively, if connected to a generator power a large city (Just one example among many, from yesterday: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9968055/Jones-job-offer-not-shot-at-Labour-PM ) and the real life righties are agog.

    The real life examples:

    Discussion with visitor, a former ACT Party member and National voter on the topic of Shane Jone’s decision to leave, their view: ” I’m really disappointed, Shane Jones was the only decent down to earth one among the lot of them”…………Fine if you like misogynist corporate lobbyists, oh, right, you do………

    And this little gem seen one an outdoor cafe blackboard in the Ohariu electorate: “Shane Jones: A loss to us all”. This guys’ not taking the piss. Its the same business owner that had “The jury is always right” written on his blackboard the day after Clint Rickards was not found guilty of rape in 2006 and once had a sign saying “if you don’t want to pay the surcharge on public holidays turn around and leave now”. (Touching that Jone’s inspired such sorrow in such a RWNJ’s heart)

    What’s got them so ruffled? The prospect of a Labour Green led government advancing forward after 20th September, unencumbered by Jones, no longer there to “keep the Greenies in check”? I guess they are scared………….

    • Puckish Rogue 30.1
      24 April 2014 at 3:08 pm

      “I guess they are scared………….”

      I am very scared at the thought of the Greens anywhere near finance books. Labour near the books is not so bad but the Greens will wreck this country quicker then you can say green economy

      • Rosie 30.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 3:29 pm

        Lol you PR. If you’re scared (of your imagination telling you “the Greens will wreck this country…) does that mean you have reason to expect that there will be a win for the Left and the Natz will be out?

        • Puckish Rogue 30.1.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 3:37 pm

          “does that mean you have reason to expect that there will be a win for the Left and the Natz will be out?”

          I expect National regain power (in fact I’d bet on it but most of the people on here are gutless so no one would take it) however a Labour/greens win is of course always a possibility

      • phillip ure 30.1.2
        24 April 2014 at 4:44 pm

        “..I am very scared..”

        i hope you make sure to check under yr bed before retiring of an evening..

        ..just to be sure..!

      • Paul 30.1.3
        25 April 2014 at 7:09 am

        I’d be more worried by these jokers remaining in power.
        Gradually indebting the country to foreign interests.
        And yet you slavishly support them pr.
        Pathetic, really.

        “Government debt has reached $60 billion, having climbed $27 million a day since John Key became prime minister – and forecasts show it will rise for years to come.
        Despite tax revenue being higher than expected and expenses lower in recent months, Treasury figures show net Crown debt reached the highest yet at $60,015,000,000 at the end of September.
        It already equates to 28 per cent of New Zealand’s economic output, is more than $13,000 for every person in New Zealand and is forecast to climb by another $10b by 2017.
        When National took control of the Beehive in 2008, debt was just over $10b.”

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9380846/Public-debt-climbs-by-27m-a-day

    • Draco T Bastard 30.2
      24 April 2014 at 3:30 pm

      What’s got them so ruffled?

      I think it’s because they know that Labour is more electable without Jones in it.

      • Puckish Rogue 30.2.1
        24 April 2014 at 3:39 pm

        Its not ruffled, its the right trying to spread dissent so that less people will vote for Labour with the end effect being National regaining power.

        • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 30.2.1.1
          24 April 2014 at 4:01 pm

          …because an approach of winning on merit just wouldn’t work for crap-policies-and-no-friends-National
          ….and spreading dissent is the only way they can get votes -that is by creating disharmony amongst us is it not?

          ‘Vote for National and have an increasingly divided country.’

          Sounds about Right.

          Great stuff National.

          • Puckish Rogue 30.2.1.1.1
            24 April 2014 at 4:05 pm

            National in power is whats best for NZ so National will do what it needs to do to win, Labour will attempt to do what it needs to do to win (it will fail though)

            Thats politics

        • Rosie 30.2.1.2
          24 April 2014 at 4:16 pm

          “its the right trying to spread dissent so that less people will vote for Labour”

          Aha! Which comes back to being scared. Or at least a bit anxious and uncomfortable about the possibility of a Left win, which you do admit above, could happen.

          I expect it could happen too, especially if UF, ACT and Maori fail to prop up the Natz.

      • Rosie 30.2.2
        24 April 2014 at 3:47 pm

        Yep Drax, they know and we know it. The brakes are off.

      • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 30.2.3
        24 April 2014 at 4:03 pm

        +100 DTB

  31. fisiani 31
    24 April 2014 at 4:10 pm

    Why does the side banner record the amount of sunshine? Seems banal.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 31.1
      24 April 2014 at 4:16 pm

      Monkey clicky linky?

      The earth has warmed rapidly over the past century due mainly to human activity, and especially over the past few decades. The increased greenhouse effect has warmed the land and air and melted ice, but most of it (about 90%) has gone into heating the oceans. Several Skeptical Science contributors worked together to publish a scientific paper1 which combined the land, air, ice, and ocean warming data. It found that for recent decades the earth has been heating at a rate of 250 trillion Joules per second.

      “Joules per second” is a difficult unit of measure to appreciate, and is especially foreign to people who are unfamiliar with science. This widget attempts to put that heating into terms that are easier to visualize. 250 trillion Joules per second is equivalent to:

      Detonating four Hiroshima atomic bombs per second
      Experiencing two Hurricane Sandys per second
      Enduring four 6.0 Richter scale earthquakes per second
      Being struck by 500,000 lightning bolts per second
      Exploding more than eight Big Ben towers, with every inch packed full of dynamite, per second

      Is “joules per second” too hard for you, Fisiani? That why they make picture books and widgets. Now remember to use your manners and say thank you.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 31.2
      24 April 2014 at 4:19 pm

      Odd – comment disappeared: wordpress says “looks like you’ve already said that” but still no sign of it.

      In any case, click through the link in the banner for the explanation Fisi.

      Or, the short explanation: that “joules/second” is too hard for some monkeys to grasp so we made this widget to help them.

  32. idlegus 32
    24 April 2014 at 4:22 pm

    sorry, couldnt reply to BM above. not all of us want to be rich, some of us like working for a wage, i enjoy my job. but that doesn’t mean i should get shit wages &/or job insecurity. there’s got to be a better way of structuring wealth & work, so people can earn decent wages & the bosses still get to buy their convertables for their latest barbie girl etc…

    • logie97 32.1
      24 April 2014 at 7:43 pm

      Yeah and it’s a curious one that the establishment applies to the teaching profession, particularly primary level. Apparently the meme is that individuals enter teaching for the love of it and not for the money. This has been twisted to, “We don’t have to pay them much because they do it for love.”

      • idlegus 32.1.1
        24 April 2014 at 10:01 pm

        same with the aged care workers, & nurses i imagine, where a lot of work gets done not because they get paid for it but because they care, they will go the extra mile & help each other out. must run into the millions this unpaid work ppl do.

        • Draco T Bastard 32.1.1.1
          25 April 2014 at 11:09 am

          It’s pretty much across every sector. If you love you’re work you’ll get paid less and no employer will hire anybody who doesn’t love the work and they won’t hire you if you show no enthusiasm for working for the company either.

          The ways and means of control are numerous.

  33. Princess 33
    24 April 2014 at 10:51 pm

    I sent an email to David Cunliffe and am interested in his reply. I wanted to know what his motives are for repairing the Gisborne/Napier rail if elected. There are concerns among the locals in Gisborne that Labour are using this to get Napier votes. Many locals here feel he wants to take a piece of Gisborne’s booming forestry to create opportunities for Napier. Unfortunately for us, this means making Napier Port busy, creating large volumes of logs for them. It seems a cynical move by Labour, compounded by the fact Mr Cunliffe and Ms Mackey are silent on the issue, declaring they want to open up the Gisborne to Napier rail line without properly explaining how it will benefit Gisborne. I am a Labour voter but personally I agree with National (which I have never done before) that it is not viable enough and will cost millions to repair the damaged line. It also hits home as we are employees in the forestry industry here, the good wages help us enjoy a reasonable quality of life and we can give our kids opportunities. I hope Mr Cunliffe can assure us that our jobs and our Eastland Port are not at threat and will not be impacted by diverting logs directly to Napier, affecting employees whom service those logs here.

    • Ad 33.1
      25 April 2014 at 6:56 am

      Napier port has far superior log handling and storage facilities than Gisborne. Major shipping lines actually stop in Napier. The rail line is no threat to the jobs from the forests.

      The alternative of no rail line is all those logging trucks going onto the highway on High Volume trailer trucks – which is dangerous and expensive. That highway maintenance and safety cost falls on us taxpayers. By rail that cost falls where it should onto the logging companies.

      Remember when there was a rail station and jobs in Gisborne? Time to bring those jobs back.

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    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

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