Open mike 24/10/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 24th, 2015 - 84 comments
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84 comments on “Open mike 24/10/2015 ”

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  1. AsleepWhileWalking 1
    24 October 2015 at 7:23 am

    One side effect of a cashless society is that street beggars will no longer benefit from passing generosity.

  2. Tautoko Mangō Mata 2
    24 October 2015 at 8:10 am

    Latest TPP Headlines
    “Canada Gov’t Change To Delay TPP Text; Dems Push Quick Action”
    “The impending government change in Canada will pose a further delay to efforts by Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries to prepare the text for release to the public on top of the ongoing work to finish drafting, translating and legally scrubbing the deal.

    “Doggett Warns TPP Text Work Could Water Down Deal; Rebuts USTR Sales Pitch”
    “Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) on Friday (Oct. 23) warned that delays in releasing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) text could signal an effort by negotiators to water down the agreement announced on Oct. 5, and he also rebutted key Obama administration selling points regarding the deal’s environmental and tariff-cutting benefits.
    http://insidetrade.com/

    This article shows the effect of ISDS on Canada with examples.
    “These, and other examples show that trade and investment agreements such as NAFTA give transnational corporations incredible new rights to impose their will on governments. But they are probably just the tip of the iceberg because many new laws or changes to laws never come to light because of the “chill effect” of prior restraint. The Canadian government adopted a new policy soon after NAFTA was adopted whereby all new laws and any changes to existing laws have to be vetted by trade experts to ensure they are not challengeable under ISDS rules.”
    http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/10/23/naftas-isds-why-canada-one-most-sued-countries-world

    TPP will not remove our sovereignty- we will just be required to pay out money in order to exert it fully.

    “TTIP: EU negotiators appear to break environmental pledge in leaked draft”
    “As Miami talks wind up, environmental safeguards are ‘virtually non-existent’ in trade deal negotiating text for sustainable development, lawyers say”
    ““The safeguards provided to sustainable development are virtually non-existent compared to those provided to investors and the difference is rather stark,” said Tim Grabiel, a Paris-based environmental attorney. “The sustainable development chapter comprises a series of aspirational statements and loosely worded commitments with an unclear dispute settlement mechanism. It has little if any legal force.”

    The document contains a series of broadly sympathetic statements about the importance of conservation and climate action. But it offers no definitions of what core terms – such as “high levels of protection” for the environment or “effective domestic policies” for implementing them – actually mean.”
    http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/23/ttip-eu-negotiators-appear-to-break-environmental-pledge-in-leaked-draft

  4. Ben 4
    24 October 2015 at 9:21 am

    Little in fine diplomatic form – he is going to recommend a light rail system to the Chinese VP as a solution to Beijing’s traffic congestion.

    Right after he does a deal with India to sell them more beef.

  5. Morrissey 5
    24 October 2015 at 9:23 am

    Who on Earth thought it would be a good wheeze
    to use Willie Apiata as “inspiration” for the All Blacks?
    Friday 23 October 2015

    I’ll bet more than a few of the All Blacks are less than happy about being having to make nice to an unending stream of not only mediocre rugby journalists but also dodgy politicians, has-been pro golfers and, perhaps worst of all, military “heroes”. I tuned into Television One news this evening just long enough to see that waste of time and space Andrew “Sav” Saville noting that “they often use Apiata as a source of inspiration.” Saveloy, an embedded journalist if ever there was one, seemed to be entirely approving of that relationship.

    This prompted me to have a look at the way the Apiata connection was being covered in other outlets. None of them expressed even the slightest misgiving. Maybe they were so preoccupied with the upcoming semifinal that the morality of boosting Apiata wasn’t a concern, at least for the moment. Or, perhaps more likely, they hadn’t given it a moment’s thought and, if pressed, would say that the Afghans deserve everything that the likes of Apiata, Prince Harry and the U.S. military [1] inflict on them. Steeling myself for an avalanche of “Thumbs down” votes, I posted the following in the comments section of a slobbering article on the Stuff website….

    War hero Willie Apiata watches All Blacks train for Rugby World Cup semifinal
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73314634/War-hero-Willie-Apiata-watches-All-Blacks-train-for-Rugby-World-Cup-semifinal

    Willie Apiata is a “war hero”? Look at this iconic picture of him stalking out of the smoke and dust in Kabul, the very picture of doom and terror.
    http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1264718680/915/3253915.jpg

    We need to honour our real war heroes—people who challenge and resist the war-mongering politicians and generals who send men like Willie Apiata to wreak havoc in places such as Afghanistan. The term “war heroes” applies not to soldiers who obey orders but to brave people with the courage to protest—people like Moana Cole, who led attacks against U.S. war planes and the Catholic social justice activists (the “Waihopai Three”) who sabotaged that hated spy base in 2008.

    [1] http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/11/amnesty-us-concealed-troops-war-crimes-in-afghanistan-as-recently-as-last-year.html

  6. Whispering Kate 6
    24 October 2015 at 9:46 am

    John Key is chairing a meeting of the International Democrat Union in Marrakesh soon. I have been reading a bit about this union and wonder if this is public knowledge in MSM – in that, have they ever written any editorials about what this union represents and that he is the chairman of it. It is a centre right global type of think tank which exchange ideas for global right wing policies etc. As Key likes to present a loose type of left/right persona to NZ, a she’ll be right sort of attitude, I think this “out of work hours” interest he has should be, in the public interest of New Zealand, be made available on our MSM. Obviously he has a much darker agenda for this country and the suckers of this country who keep voting him in, should have this information available to them, not that I am holding my breath they would even believe it if they knew about this dangerous darker side of Key. This country hasn’t a hope for its future with him as PM.

    • Tracey 6.1
      24 October 2015 at 9:49 am

      i believe it made the news when he was made chair but more as a “look how highly regarded he is” rather tthanany deeper look.

      • Whispering Kate 6.1.1
        24 October 2015 at 10:05 am

        Tracey we need to go back to the underground newspapers so that the citizens of this country have access to information which is kept under wraps and learn what is going on globally, folk who don’t do a bit of delving are just kept in total ignorance.

  7. Morrissey 7
    24 October 2015 at 9:51 am

    Sir Paul will be spinning in his grave at this outrage.
    Friday 23 October 2015

    Twelve years ago Paul Holmes embarked on an obscenity-larded rant against the then U.N. Secretary-General, who had committed the crime of being African….

    One can only imagine his fury at hearing that the Geographical Board is expunging one of his favourite words from all New Zealand place names. For the time being, however, another of his favourites has survived….

    ….Offensive place names staying put for now include the West Coast’s Darkies Creek, Darkies Terrace Track and Darkies Terrace, north of Greymouth. They were apparently named after the African-American prospector Arthur ‘Darkie’ Addison in the 1860s.

    There is also a Darkie Stream in South Auckland, which is also not up for review.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/73318252/south-island-nword-place-names-could-be-wiped-from-the-map

    • tinfoilhat 7.1
      24 October 2015 at 9:58 am

      🙄

      • Morrissey 7.1.1
        24 October 2015 at 7:55 pm

        I’ve just checked that post I put up on Stuff.co.nz yesterday; at the moment it has 13 down votes.

        One “Fluffwit” has garnered 16 up votes for delivering me the following little lecture…

        I’ll try and to explain it to you in simple terms. Willie intentionally got shot at by people who were trying to kill him to save the lives of soliders who’d already been injured, solidiers were being shot at by people who wanted to kill them. i.e He put his life on the line to save other people. An heroic act.

        No, a few acts of petty vandalism don’t count as heroism. Not figuratively, not literally, not in any way shape or form.

    • Reddelusion 7.2
      24 October 2015 at 2:52 pm

      The saying sticks and stones probably has relevance here, likewise context. Only you can make yourself outraged Morrissy, you seem to do this on a daily basis over the most trivial matters

      • Morrissey 7.2.1
        24 October 2015 at 7:47 pm

        1.) The saying sticks and stones probably has relevance here,

        Your tolerance for extreme racist language is remarkable. Presumably your laid-back attitude stems from the fact you are not African or Maori or Polynesian.

        2.) …likewise context.

        What “context” could possibly justify that extended racist rant, or his similar rants belittling and scorning Maori, or his hateful articles in the Herald, also targeting Maori? Could you do us the favour of putting Holmes’s racism into “context” for us please?

        3.) Only you can make yourself outraged Morrissy,

        I enraged myself, did I? So I was the one yelling for seven minutes like a Ku Klux Klansman? It’s all down to me, is it?

        4.) you seem to do this on a daily basis over the most trivial matters

        Racist outbursts by the likes of Holmes and his colleagues at NewstalkZB are not trivial.

  8. Chooky 8
    24 October 2015 at 10:15 am

    Corporate Monsanto strikes again:( or watch what you put in your body)

    ‘Tampons, sterile cotton, sanitary pads contaminated with glyphosate – study’

    https://www.rt.com/usa/319524-tampons-cotton-glyphosate-monsanto/

    ‘The Real Reason Wheat is Toxic ( it’s not the gluten)’

    http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/real-reason-for-toxic-wheat-its-not-gluten/

    Too ‘dramatic’: Monsanto shuns WHO verdict that Roundup ‘probably’ causes cancer

    https://www.rt.com/news/242801-glyphosate-cancer-risk-monstano/

  9. les 9
    24 October 2015 at 10:51 am

    ACT leader on the Nation again today discussing sugar/obesity…is he naieve,plain stupid…or both!

    • Tracey 9.1
      24 October 2015 at 10:57 am

      he’s definitely over exposed

    • Chooky 9.2
      24 October 2015 at 1:02 pm

      doesn’t ACT support /advocate for corporate Monsanto?

      ….and what will be the status of NZer’s opposition to Monsanto once TPP comes into being ? (if the USA and other countries ratify it)

  10. xanthe 10
    24 October 2015 at 11:36 am

    So the pillar of our rock star economy, dairying depends on low paid workers on temporary work visas. Who woulda thunk it?

    • tracey 10.1
      24 October 2015 at 11:47 am

      and now marlborough farmers are demanding increased inrrigration (depletion of rivers and dependent life)

    • Reddelusion 10.2
      24 October 2015 at 2:54 pm

      No we are just part of global economy that has a marginal cost for low skilled jobs Unfortunatly we can’t opt out

      • AmaKiwi 10.2.1
        24 October 2015 at 5:36 pm

        No, we are part of a global EMPIRE.

        The Imperial Powers (mega-corporations) make the rules to protect their monopolies.

  11. Rosemary McDonald 11
    24 October 2015 at 1:13 pm

    Another family cast into the pit….

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11534283

    Doctors failed to properly investigate, now this young mother of three is dying of cancer.

    Her husband has had to give up work to care for her and their young children.

    They are now on a benefit.

    How long before WINZ demands one or both of them seek work?

    They have been forced to turn to Givealittle to raise money for supportive therapy, and to make ends meet.

    We can surely do better than this as a nation.

  12. Michael 12
    24 October 2015 at 1:31 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11534245

    The Herald is criticising Key in a new editorial… Editorial: Too much information robs office of dignity

  13. Michael 13
    24 October 2015 at 1:34 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11534162

    Also, a good piece from Audrey Young about Ardern/King.

    • Grindlebottom 13.1
      24 October 2015 at 2:34 pm

      Good article, thoughtful analysis. Beats those shallow, rambling attack pieces by Jo Moir in Stuff.

      • Ergo Robertina 13.1.1
        24 October 2015 at 2:53 pm

        The standard of political reporting is utterly dire in this country, including the Herald’s.
        I cannot stand simpletons like you who hold up an article with which they happen to agree as an artificial standard to attack another, rather junior, reporter.
        I suggest you listen to Hager’s comments about media, fragmentation, and young journalists towards the end of this recent live-stream event hosted at the Daily Blog:
        http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/10/06/1-yr-on-from-dirty-politics-hosted-by-john-campbell-with-nicky-hager-fran-osullivan-dita-de-boni/

        • McFlock 13.1.1.1
          24 October 2015 at 3:57 pm

          But wouldn’t a piece by an experienced reporter like Audrey Young be expected to be better than a report by a “junior” reporter, even in an environment of dire political reporting?

          You can make all the excuses you want for why individual reports might be biased, but the reality is that the nats routinely get lighter treatment than any of the left parties. That’s a systemic issue.

          • Ergo Robertina 13.1.1.1.1
            24 October 2015 at 4:14 pm

            I know the Nats get light treatment – please don’t misrepresent my comment.
            Are you saying that over time Young’s been ”better”, or just in this one piece?
            You need to keep in mind Young’s is an opinion piece. Big name writers like her and Armstrong talk politicians up and down. It’s part of the system of access and scoops.

            • McFlock 13.1.1.1.1.1
              24 October 2015 at 4:32 pm

              🙄

              re: Grindlebottom’s comment. Do you disagree with any part of it, or do you merely wish to defend NZ reporters because Grindlebottom is in your opinion a “simpleton”?

              In the past few days you’ve said political reporting is dire, made excuses for stories because the reporters are junior, agreed the nats get light treatment, and yet you still leap to the defense of the media because… grammar and “simpletons”

              • Ergo Robertina …
                24 October 2015 at 4:38 pm

                Why didn’t you answer my question about Young’s work over time?

                You and Grindlebottom think this problem can be boiled down to the fact Young is a ”better” reporter than Jo Moir. Yes, I do think that’s overly simplistic.

                • McFlock …
                  24 October 2015 at 4:49 pm

                  Because given the context of the discussion it was a stupid bloody question.

                  And no, that’s not what I think. I think that shit reports about NZ politics are a dime a dozen, whereas balanced reports are few and far between. And that it’s almost always slanted in one direction. And I also think that anyone making this observation seems to compel you to come up with backhanded excuses and diversions (like individual reporters’ experience) for this state of affairs, while at the same time you seem to agree with the general proposition.

                  • Ergo Robertina …
                    24 October 2015 at 5:05 pm

                    No, it’s not a stupid question, unless you think Grindlebottom’s opening gambit was also stupid.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 October 2015 at 5:22 pm

                      Because a snapshot of stories at about the same time on broadly the same issue is a different topic to comparing the entire oeuvre of two journalists.

                      Do you think young’s piece was more balanced than the stuff coverage?

                    • Ergo Robertina …
                      24 October 2015 at 5:29 pm

                      You did understand the bit about how commentators talk up and knock down various politicians right?
                      I’ve already said that whether Young’s was better than Moir’s piece was not at issue.
                      Like you said, it’s systemic. I take a different view of what’s important, and I think it best to leave it there, as this is not going to go anywhere.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 October 2015 at 5:44 pm

                      yes, once again

                    • Ergo Robertina …
                      24 October 2015 at 7:12 pm

                      I dunno, I reckon it was more constructive than some of our previous efforts.
                      At least Hager’s comments broadened the conversation from comparing a relative unknown reporter’s stories with a leading commentator for an organisation that’s about to follow Fairfax’s digital-centric model.
                      And then there’s the access/game playing element of which the public is largely unaware.
                      I don’t have a one dimensional opinion because I know it’s complex. Political reporting has a compromised murky dynamic, and that’s not new.
                      Check out the stuff coming out this month about Bernard Ingham’s role in the media leak during Thatcher’s Westland affair.
                      Plus of course it’s problematic in this instance because female journalists attract the sharply divergent pedestal/praise or bullied/pilloried treatment from contacts and the public.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 October 2015 at 9:27 pm

                      Your opinions about media might or might not be one-dimensional, but your opinions about what other people think are way off the mark.

                    • Ergo Robertina …
                      24 October 2015 at 10:05 pm

                      I made the comment about my own opinion only because of your apparent confusion over how I could object to a boofhead view like that expressed by Grindlebottom ”while at the same time you seem to agree with the general proposition”.
                      As for your view – you think it’s systemic, but you support GB’s boofhead analysis, and then you appear to not even understand the meaning of ‘systemic issue’ (although I suspect you’re being deliberately obtuse on that one) – so I’m certainly not claiming to have a handle on your opinion.
                      I regretted having a crack about your grammar on the other thread. I daresay many of us have written something here and thought we shouldn’t have.

                    • Grindlebottom …
                      24 October 2015 at 10:26 pm

                      I think my “boofhead” view was able to be clarified far more quickly and concisely than whatever point your abusive, antagonistic blithering is attempting to get across.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 October 2015 at 10:54 pm

                      The thought occurs that the “boofhead” view describes what is.

                      Why it is might be interesting to some, but we’re not in a position to change the hand we’ve been dealt.

                      It can be useful to be reminded occasionally, however, that the deck is stacked against us and the House has rigged the percentages.

                    • Ergo Robertina …
                      24 October 2015 at 11:15 pm

                      @McFlock – Fair enough, I do get what you’re saying, but I think it problematic to hold up a couple of articles and say ”aha – this journo good, that journo bad”.
                      The deputy leader issue was a non-story.
                      Why change something that’s working really well after the upheaval in Labour in recent years? It shouldn’t take acres of analysis to work that one out.
                      Young and Moir are both part of the gallery’s pack behaviour in which the same stories and narratives are repeated across media outlets. There are so many issues that could be mulled over and analysed – why do they all pursue the same few stories and ignore others?
                      On a more positive, and slightly off-topic note, Kelvin Davis has shown how to set the media agenda by breaking out of the press release cycle and actually doing stuff (it’s way easier said than done, though).

                • Grindlebottom …
                  24 October 2015 at 4:49 pm

                  You and Grindlebottom think this problem can be boiled down to the fact Young is a ”better” reporter than Jo Moir. Yes, I do think that’s overly simplistic.

                  Incorrect. I compared the two articles written by Moir, dealing with Little’s appointment of King to the deputy position (and mentioning Ardern) in negative terms with no cited evidence to justify her viewpoint, to one article written by Young which is a far more neutral and thoughtful analysis and which has no such obvious and petty attempt to smear Little. I’m not wasting further time or energy debating your allegation with you.

        • Grindlebottom 13.1.1.2
          24 October 2015 at 4:10 pm

          Jo Moir wrote two articles about Andrew Little’s reappointment of King as deputy.

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/73234877/labour-leader-sticking-with-annette-king-for-deputy
          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/73319715/Jacinda-Ardern-responds-to-being-called-pretty-bloody-stupid

          The first one started with:

          Labour leader Andrew Little has snubbed rising star Jacinda Ardern for the deputy leadership after confirming veteran MP Annette King will stay in the role.

          If you go and look at that article now, that line has been deleted.

          The second article, about Ardern’s Metro article responding to being called a pretty little thing then says:

          In recent months she has been at the centre of a deputy leadership contest with veteran Labour MP Annette King.

          On Wednesday Labour leader Andrew Little snubbed the rising star in favour of keeping King, who he said brought stability and experience to the party.

          I don’t care how junior she is. That’s crap. Young’s piece by comparison is a far more thoughtful and careful piece. If you don’t like my saying so, tough.

          • Ergo Robertina 13.1.1.2.1
            24 October 2015 at 4:20 pm

            Have you listened to Hager on that link?
            You don’t get it – that Young’s piece was better in comparison was not at issue.

            • Grindlebottom 13.1.1.2.1.1
              24 October 2015 at 4:27 pm

              I’m still listening. If I don’t “get” it, it may be either that your supercilious remark was correct and I am indeed a simpleton, or perhaps despite your apparent assumed intellectual and moral superiority you’re just not very good at explaining your point.

            • McFlock 13.1.1.2.1.2
              24 October 2015 at 4:33 pm

              if it’s the bit at roughly 1hr 6/7min, it was an anticlimax

              • Ergo Robertina …
                24 October 2015 at 4:40 pm

                Why? What’s your point?

              • Ergo Robertina …
                24 October 2015 at 4:54 pm

                A bit earlier than that, he spoke about fragmentation, and why he doesn’t share the glee of others about the death of ‘dinosaurs’ like old media, because it means we end up exposed to a narrow band of information.
                It’s not a new view, but I thought he expressed it really well.
                We end up in what I call digital ghettos.
                I think this culture war issue is a big risk in NZ, because we have a thinner democracy.
                Re the comments about young people in the media, and ones on previous occasions he’s made about workaday journalists, they could be seen as surprising given the shoddy treatment he’s had from certain quarters of the media.
                But that’s the thing about Hager, his generosity, expansiveness, and perceptiveness sets him apart, and makes him very special.

    • Reddelusion 13.2
      24 October 2015 at 2:56 pm

      So, since when did you lot take any notice of the herald

    • Reddelusion 13.3
      24 October 2015 at 3:01 pm

      Who are the so called Elite Auckland business community beyond a lazy construct and why if they exist beyond a journalist imagination would they rate any one who at 35,never has had a real job and has the most useless degree known to man kind, political science

  14. Gangnam Style 14
    24 October 2015 at 4:04 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11534171 Key talking about how much money his hotel in London is going to cost “Brace yourselves” is his quote to taxpayers. I am pretty sure I have read he has a house in London, he had a niece house sitting or something.

  15. greywarshark 15
    24 October 2015 at 5:27 pm

    https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/4175-establishing-the-scoop-foundation-for-public-interest-journalism
    Here is the link that scoop has on Pledge me as they try to gain some working capital so they can become a reliable media source of news which I am sure everybody on the left wants to see happen.

  16. Tautoko Mangō Mata 16
    24 October 2015 at 6:03 pm

    This is an interesting analysis of the leaked IP chapter in which a TPP Commission is referenced.
    “So, apparently, the TPP Commission is to watch over the pharmaceutical industry and direct countries (AKA “parties”) as to when to meet to discuss regulations as it pertains to the markets should a discussion need to take place outside of the 10 year. This paragraph suggests that the TPP Commission is also an international body that oversees many countries and how the government regulates themselves. What else would the TPP Commission be tasked to do? We don’t know. This is the only mention of it in the entire chapter. It does raise a number of troubling thoughts, however. Who would run the TPP Commission? Who would be appointed or elected to the TPP Commission? Is this part of the international tribunal system that has been previously mentioned from past leaks? Will the TPP Commission enforce compliance for the laws mentioned in the TPP?”
    http://www.freezenet.ca/an-analysis-of-the-final-intellectual-property-tpp-chapter-leak/

    Perhaps Tim Groser could provide us with some answers to these questions.

  17. Grindlebottom 17
    24 October 2015 at 6:57 pm

    Kelvin Davis reports on Christmas Island detainees:
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11534344

  18. Robert Glennie 18
    25 October 2015 at 11:35 am

    Has anyone noticed how John Key just loves to be at the centre of anything involving the All Blacks, but if it is netball or another sport, he would not dream of it?

    http://www.radiolive.co.nz/PHOTOS-New-Zealand-rejoices-as-All-Blacks-head-to-final/tabid/131/articleID/106353/Default.aspx

    Would he even go to a Netball World Cup Final?