Open mike 24/12/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:33 am, December 24th, 2013 - 78 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step right up to the mike …

78 comments on “Open mike 24/12/2013 ”

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  1. LynWiper 1
    24 December 2013 at 7:30 am

    Merry Christmas to you and yours. I know for many times are tough and I am thinking of you, hoping joy will reach you. I will be blessed with the presence of our adult children and extended family Xmas day and am very conscious of how fortunate we are. This year we gifted to the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal rather than personal gifts and know this will be distributed to some in need. I believe this will remain a future family commitment at Xmas.

    Most of all I wish for 2014 to be the turnaround year.

    Thank you to all who contribute here. You are very much appreciated.

    • Rosie 1.1
      24 December 2013 at 10:57 am

      And to you LynWiper! Good idea re the Sallies Christmas Appeal too 🙂

      “Most of all I wish for 2014 to be the turnaround year”.

      This is the biggest wish and the biggest hope of all. Imagine, this time next year we could possibly have a shiny new government. Personally, I will be playing my part to make that happen.

  2. phillip ure 2
    24 December 2013 at 7:51 am

    be very careful when listening to the weasel-words of peters vis a vis coalition options after the next election..

    ..peters is now saying that he could ‘never be part of a govt that sold assets’..

    ..nor one that did not ‘support the rebuilding of the nz infrastructure’..

    ..so..i read that as..after the next election..should key promise not to sell any more assets in the ’14’-’17 govt..(easy for him to do..there is ‘no more worth selling’..remember..?..)

    ..and offer (whatever) that peters can point at and shout ‘infrastructure-rebuilding’..

    ..then winston peters will quite happily slide his shiny-suited arse into a key govt ministerial-limo..

    ..eh..?

    ..be in no doubt of that fact/political-reality..

    ..eh..?

    ..phillip ure..

  3. Bearded Git 3
    24 December 2013 at 8:02 am

    The secret deal announced by the government today with the company James Hardie on leaky school buildings smacks of more corporate welfare.

    Hundreds of millions of dollars are involved, yet it appears James Hardie will not be pursued. Another shonKey deal carefully announced on Xmas Eve so that it is brushed under the carpet.

    • Saarbo 3.1
      24 December 2013 at 8:25 am

      Yep, but Leaky Building rehabilitation is providing economic growth…I reckon it is the only National Party initiative (Introducing the Building Act 1991) that is actually providing growth.

    • Bill Drees 3.2
      26 December 2013 at 10:51 pm

      James Hardie are past masters at insulating their shareholders from liabilities like this. They were criminal in how they ring faced their Asbestos liabilities.
      Letting them off on the schools scandal is an act of criminal negligence or corruption. Labour should be all over this.

  4. Te Reo Putake 4
    24 December 2013 at 8:39 am

    Mikhail Kalashnikov, the inventor of the AK47, has died aged 94. He was a remarkably modest guy, who was genuinely saddened by some of the uses the rifle was put to, but he designed a simple, cheap weapon that is still manufactured virtually unchanged from the original plans.

    While the project was not completed till after WW2, the Kalashnikov helped liberate millions from the shackles of colonialism in the decades following.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25497013

    • joe90 4.1
      24 December 2013 at 12:11 pm

      Meanwhile…

      At about 4:30 a.m. on Sept. 1, 2007, pilots wearing night vision goggles unleashed several Enhanced Paveway II smart bombs into his camp in eastern Colombia as officials in both capitals waited. Troops recovered only a leg. It appeared by its dark complexion to belong to Acacio, one of the few black FARC leaders. DNA tests confirmed his death.

      […]

      Six weeks later, smart bombs killed Gustavo Rueda Díaz, alias Martin Caballero, leader of the 37th Front, while he was talking on his cellphone. Acacio’s and Caballero’s deaths caused the 16th and 37th fronts to collapse. They also triggered mass desertions, according to a secret State Department cable dated March 6, 2008, and released by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks in 2010. This was just the beginning of the FARC’s disintegration.

      To hide the use of the PGMs from public discovery, and to ensure maximum damage to a FARC’s leaders’ camp, the air force and U.S. advisers developed new strike tactics. In a typical mission, several A-37 Dragonflys flying at 20,000 feet carried smart bombs. As soon as the planes came within a three-mile “basket” of the target, a bomb’s GPS software would automatically turn on.

      The Dragonflys were followed by several A-29 Super Tucanos, flying at a much lower altitude. They would drop a series of dumb bombs in a pattern nearby. Their blast pressure would kill anyone close in and also flatten the dense jungle and obscure the use of the smart bombs.

      Then, low-flying, Vietnam-era AC-47 gunships, nicknamed Puff the Magic Dragon, would strafe the area with mounted machine guns, “shooting the wounded trying to go for cover,” according to one of several military officials who described the same scenario.

      http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/investigative/2013/12/21/covert-action-in-colombia/?hpid=z8

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.1
        24 December 2013 at 12:20 pm

        That really is amazing investigative journalism. You don’t often see that nowadays.

        It is also a none-too subtle message that armed rebellion against a government that is allied to a super-power will leave you fucked.

        • Te Reo Putake 4.1.1.1
          24 December 2013 at 1:31 pm

          Or stay away from peddling drugs while pretending to be a revolutionary movement.

          • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1.1
            24 December 2013 at 1:47 pm

            You believe that cocaine was the deciding factor in this high level of US military involvement?

            And not erosion of US power in central America?

            If you are serious in your belief that drug money and not political revolution was the aim, why didn’t the FARC just sit back and let the money roll in?

          • Watching 4.1.1.1.2
            24 December 2013 at 1:48 pm

            Te Reo Putake

            Your one line comment is direct & on target, and taken out Colonial Viper

            A sentence always beat an essay.

            • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1.2.1
              24 December 2013 at 2:03 pm

              Its a lesson of Bernay’s treatise entitled Propaganda, yes. Another lesson is that the intellectual class is often more than happy to support war for imperial aims. Notice how the US isn’t smart bombing the leadership of Mexican drug cartels?

            • Te Reo Putake 4.1.1.1.2.2
              24 December 2013 at 2:38 pm

              Cheers, watching. An intellectual smart bomb?

              CV, what I’m saying is that FARC turned to the soft option of the drug trade, which, in turn, allowed the US to further attack them as part of the bogus war on drugs. It was a terrible strategic error on FARC’s behalf.

              • Colonial Viper …
                24 December 2013 at 4:23 pm

                So you contend that if the FARC had not been linked to the cocaine trade, the US would not be providing precision munitions and intel to the Columbian Govt?

                Of course, we both know that is a nonsense, given that the US does not smart bomb Mexican drug cartel leaders.

                • McFlock …
                  24 December 2013 at 5:46 pm

                  although I wouldn’t be surprised if the US were giving mexico advisors and tech support, like with pablo escobar.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    24 December 2013 at 5:56 pm

                    Yep that would be standard, regular FDA/ATF activity.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 December 2013 at 6:17 pm

                      The food & drug administration? WTF? Surely you meant DEA?

                      Anyway, I was thinking more the cloak&dagger crowd as well, as they occasionally do.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      24 December 2013 at 6:18 pm

                      lolz thanks, yeah I pulled the wrong alphabet out of the soup 😀

                      Although I should I add that pharmaceuticals are by a very wide margin the most abused drugs in the USA, not illicit narcotics…

                • Te Reo Putake …
                  24 December 2013 at 6:45 pm

                  “So you contend that if the FARC had not been linked to the cocaine trade, the US would not be providing precision munitions and intel to the Columbian Govt?”

                  Nope. I contend that without the drugs, the US would have to make do with ‘unofficial’ support (ie CIA, NSA etc). With drugs in play, the US can come out of the shadows and directly support military action against them as well.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    24 December 2013 at 11:17 pm

                    You appear not to understand how the Washington Post works.

                    The piece was either published with the tacit approval of the US gov in that it supported a desired narrative to be pushed out into the public sphere and hence contained a whole lot of sensitive information but via ‘authorised’ leaks.

                    Or the piece was published without the approval of the US gov and the journalist and editors have put together a huge and awesome piece of investigative journalism.

                    These two scenarios mean that your suggested conditionality around drugs allowing “out of the shadows” US direct military action is mistaken.

                    Again, there plenty of well armed drug cartels operating around Mexico which haven’t been blasted to smithereens by smart munitions, demonstrating that the drugs angle is merely incidental.

          • joe90 4.1.1.1.3
            24 December 2013 at 5:22 pm

            Or stay away from peddling drugs while pretending to be a revolutionary movement.

            Yup, Alvaro Uribe and Juan Manuel Santos really are fighting a war on drugs.
            /

            The infamous joint US-Colombia drug eradication strategy, Plan Colombia, recently resurrected under Plan Patriota, has been embraced by the Uribe administration and referred to in the DS policy. Although most armed groups now finance their operations through the drug economy, Uribe claims to fight the “war on drugs” and the “war on terror” simultaneously. Curiously, the government “negotiates” with those most directly involved in the drug trade, the AUC, while engaging in an all-out offensive with the minor players: left-wing guerrilla groups.

            http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/296/1/

            http://upsidedownworld.org/main/colombia-archives-61

          • Murray Olsen 4.1.1.1.4
            24 December 2013 at 9:19 pm

            The right wing militias that control most of the Colombian cocaine production do not pretend to be a revolutionary movement. They obviously took your advice.

  5. phillip ure 5
    24 December 2013 at 8:45 am

    news story:..new pope to visit old pope to exchange xmas-greetings..

    ..what will they talk about..?

    ed:..possible small-talk conversation/question:..

    ..old pope to new pope:..

    “..so..how did the infallablity-transfer go..?

    ..eveything ok..?

    ..i do miss it..eh..?..”

    ..phillip ure..

  6. Sanctuary 6
    24 December 2013 at 9:08 am

    I see old Bomber has had another brain explosion, he clearly doesn’t like the “PublicAddress gender equal person” if his (now striked out) rant was any guide. Actually as rants go it was quite funny, TBH.

    I suppose that is all you can really salvage from the whole sorry carry on.

    • Rosie 6.1
      24 December 2013 at 10:52 am

      Oh dear. He doesn’t do much to promote unity and solidarity among the left does he. He has some issues to overcome I feel.

      • weka 6.1.1
        24 December 2013 at 2:31 pm

        He’s made an apology now. But I agree, he’s pretty quick with the saying nasty shit about people. Quite a significant personal flaw that one.

      • Murray Olsen 6.1.2
        24 December 2013 at 9:41 pm

        I think Bomber’s main problem is that he’s more of a performer than a militant. If he calmed down a bit, counted to something like Avogadro’s number, and didn’t insist on having the first word, the last word, and most of those in between, he might achieve a lot more. As it stands, his contributions are not trivial and he deserves to be remembered for more than frothing at the mouth.

  7. Philj 7
    24 December 2013 at 9:12 am

    Xox
    Interesting to see how MSM spin poverty as a worthy opportunity for ‘generosity’ from the haves.
    Also how MSM spin rising interest rates as great for savers. And it’s only about 2%. It is really 2 percent on top of approx 5.5 percent, which is really about 36 percent! We don’t want the MSM to scare mortgage payers (or voters) do we?
    Merry Christmas, God save the Queen, heaven help her subjects.

    • idlegus 7.1
      24 December 2013 at 9:27 am

      a wealthy cousin of mine posted on facebook that to show her children the true meaning of xmas so shes going to give poor people their old toys…but anyway, i’m looking forward to a cpl days off work & spending it with my wife & daughter. ram on!

  8. North 8
    24 December 2013 at 10:15 am

    Oh how easily the right wing slithers into hypocrisy:

    “Gold Coaster” Cameron Brewer
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11177254

    Then there’s “Prime Mournister” ShonKey Python. “I can’t recall but watch out for the Hone Monster……..”

    And yet another……..Rodney “Love Perks” Hide.

    The ease is patent but what’s really appalling is that they just don’t see it. “Who me ? No way !”

    That’s exceptionalism, hubris, entitlement all wrapped up in one.

    We’re supposed to respect these arseholes ???

    • Rodel 8.1
      24 December 2013 at 9:13 pm

      North
      ” The ease is patent but what’s really appalling is that they just don’t see it. “Who me ? No way !”

      True but the trouble is the NZ averages can’t/don’t see it either. The ‘Keys’ know and exploit that inability. Dunno what we can do about the average kiwi’s poor visual acuity.

  10. Tim 10
    24 December 2013 at 10:50 am

    Jesu H Christos – now I understand why I can’t listen to Nine-toNoon for any length of time.
    The music talking-head critic sage commenting on how we CONSUME music FFS!
    OFF!

  11. captain hook 11
    24 December 2013 at 11:01 am

    Yes Radio New Zealand featured a psychologist this a.m. telling people that they wouldnt go mad if it rained on Xmas day.
    ???????

    • Rosie 11.1
      24 December 2013 at 11:59 am

      I was listening to RNZ Concert FM news who quoted Sara Chatwin, “celebrity” psychologist. I’m guessing this is the same one. If so, she always seems to comment on the most on the most inane non issues facing the population.

      It is true, just in my observations, that folks do seem to freak and obsess about Christmas day weather, especially the newspapers and TV news, but really, to tell us not to worry about it is another thing altogether. There are far greater issues facing the national psyche than the weather.

    • Treetop 11.2
      24 December 2013 at 6:47 pm

      I reckon some people would go mad without caffeine, even for a day. As for the weather it is not mid winter.

      • McFlock 11.2.1
        24 December 2013 at 7:17 pm

        I’d be one of those people, but funnily enough only on work days. Can go without any caffeine all weekend, but have a grossly unnatural relationship with that first cup of coffee mon-fri…

  12. captain hook 12
    24 December 2013 at 11:03 am

    as for the music on 9-no-one.
    its all whining gamines, processed pap and noo noo heads who cant sing.
    but the awful thing is that “THEY” think its wunnerful.
    yetchhhhhhhh.

  13. phillip ure 13
    24 December 2013 at 11:50 am

    @ hook..

    aww..!..c’mon..!..that elvis costello + roots song kicked arse/grooved along..

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lfhafgiONU

    phillip ure..

  14. Draco T Bastard 14
    24 December 2013 at 1:02 pm

    Where’d your computer come from? Government
    Where’d the drugs you use come from? Most likely government.

    And this applies to a hell of a lot of innovation over the last few centuries. The lesson we need to learn is that the private sector doesn’t do the innovation as we’ve been told over the last 30 to 40 years. More often than not, the private sector holds innovation back through the use of patents.

    http://www.ted.com/talks/mariana_mazzucato_government_investor_risk_taker_innovator.html

    • Colonial Viper 14.1
      24 December 2013 at 1:44 pm

      And the TPP is a tool of corporates designed to stifle innovation even more. Its a push by rentier corporates back to pre-enlightenment times.

      • Draco T Bastard 14.1.1
        24 December 2013 at 2:48 pm

        Yep, from what I’ve seen out of the TPP innovation is going to become even more difficult and the patent trolls are going to be even more of a problem.

  15. newsense 15
    24 December 2013 at 1:34 pm

    loved this:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11177254

    Brewer denies journalist prompt
    The councillor caught out on a junket to the Gold Coast declared the trip to officials – but concedes he may have done so after a call from a journalist.

    kind of sums up the whole odd business

  16. Philj 16
    24 December 2013 at 2:55 pm

    Xox
    Pity about the falling standards @ RNZ. Lead by Jim, and Kathryn. Hopefully Wallace will do some serious reading and thinking over the Summer break, ready to provide an informed and intelligent program. A worthy successor to Chris.

    • Tim 16.1
      24 December 2013 at 3:52 pm

      Indeed!
      Just like this morning, the nicest man on Earth is about to get the OFF button. Currently playing – the most self-indulgent load of kaka you could ever hope to imagine. And if anyone ever accuses RNZ of left-wing bias, they only need check out his afternoon’s guests. The occasional leftie (for fairness and balance of course – likw Peter Elliot, maybe even Bernard Hickey) – other than that – what a pack of out-of-touch ‘experts’ ffs/
      Mai: what’s the diff between living in wgtn and commuting to auckland, and living in auck and commuting to wgtn?
      – Oh (to paraphrase) it’s so difficult getting the kids to school.
      – It makes you realise that to win an election, you have to win Auckland.
      All very twee.
      There goes half RNZ’s budget on cheap Chardonnay – down the gullets of those ‘movers and shakers’ including some Squeaky Fromme TVNZ hasbeen.

      Reasons given being just as valid in proposing Auckland be carved off as a separate country, and for all those Auckland expats moving to Queenstown (or Martinborough) to get away from it all (whereupon they attempt to develop, develop, develop and re-create the new wonderland).

      • Rodel 16.1.1
        24 December 2013 at 9:31 pm

        I like Jim and Kathryn and I’m leftish thinking. They seem to be reasonably impartial to me. Middle road reasonably intelligent content except for the concessional bigotted comments of Boag or Farrar and I guess we have to put up with the silly empty rhetoric of Hooton as part of being a democracy. Often disappointed with, “i have to agree with Michelle” from Mike Williams who I guess is changing with the need to supplement his corporate retirement.
        Generally I think Jim and Kathryn do a good job.

        Am I missing something?

        • Paul 16.1.1.1
          24 December 2013 at 9:38 pm

          The Panel

        • Anne 16.1.1.2
          24 December 2013 at 10:47 pm

          I enjoy Kathryn Ryan too Rodel and agree she’s fairly impartial. She has regularly pulled up Hooton on his more outrageous claims and on one occasion she shouted him down and almost threatened to pull the plug on him. She also has a good sense of humour and conducts her interviews in a very professional manner. You can’t really expect any more than that…

          Indeed she and Mary Wilson on Check Point keep us well served with all the information of the day.

  17. alwyn 17
    24 December 2013 at 2:55 pm

    There was an interesting opinion piece in the Dom/Post this morning by Geoffrey Palmer.
    I can’t find it online so I can’t give a link to it unfortunately.
    It will, I suspect attract completely opposite views from thos on the right of politics to those on the left.
    Those on the right will say, about the first part the GP has finally come to his senses and that in the second part that he has reverted to senility. To the left the first part will be anathema and the second that he is finally back to his sensible self.
    The first part argues that referenda endanger our democratic system. He also says that democracies where they are used extensively the results have been disastrous and that the act that allows for CIR should be repealed. Governments are elected to govern. They should decide what to do and to get on with it.
    Very sensible of the man say all right thinking people.
    The second part, where he relapses into drooling idiocy, calls for extending the OIA, bringing in a written, entrenched constitution, better protection for Maori values and aspirations and more safeguards against government’s abuse of power. “Bah humbug” as Ebenezer Scrooge would say, and as all right thinking people would believe..
    I wonder how many people here would agree with everything, or disagree with everything, the Geoffrey says?

    • Pascal's bookie 17.1
      24 December 2013 at 5:12 pm

      The first part argues that referenda endanger our democratic system. He also says that democracies where they are used extensively the results have been disastrous and that the act that allows for CIR should be repealed. Governments are elected to govern. They should decide what to do and to get on with it.
      Very sensible of the man say all right thinking people.

      I don’t see anything particularly right wing about this view, and nor, frankly, do I see his point. In NZ CIRs are not binding on the government. They are designed to be a means whereby people can determine the view of the electorate. The way politics works, that means they will usually be about expressing a view the government of the day doesn’t like. It is form of, very civil indeed, disobedience.

      calls for extending the OIA, bringing in a written, entrenched constitution, better protection for Maori values and aspirations and more safeguards against government’s abuse of power.

      I notice mostly that your response only amounts to a ‘humbug’. Understandably I suppose, it’s hard to argue against any of that without looking like a fuckwit.

      • alwyn 17.1.1
        25 December 2013 at 8:26 am

        It worked!
        As I expected someone who doesn’t agree with part one, but is thoroughly in favour of part two shows up.
        Referenda. “nor do I see his point”, “people can determine the view of the electorate”
        Constitution “Hard to argue against any of it”.
        Now is there anyone who agrees with BOTH parts of his opinion piece or, alternatively, disagrees with BOTH parts.

    • Tim 17.2
      24 December 2013 at 5:35 pm

      About the only sensible thing I can remember about Geoffrey was a proposal to put an expiration date on legislation.
      Now that might be a little impractical, but at the very least (as someone else on this site suggested), it should be mandatory for anything passed under urgency.
      (Besides – it’d give the delightful Mai Chen a reason to commute to Wellington and pass on her apologies to the all important “The Panel” appearances – she could probably even claim on a taxi to get the kids to and from school).
      Geoffrey has a knack of romanticising everything and being a thoroughly ‘well rounded fellow’ amongst those who aspire to be his peers.
      Now a far cry from the Mt Vic-living Geo of old who was far more practical and in touch with reality.

      • North 17.2.1
        24 December 2013 at 9:01 pm

        Geoffrey former Mt Vic what ? Hope he never engaged the face-first molestation of the steep Hawker Street pavement as has apparently the fulsomely reasonable closet totalitarian Stephen Franks. As mirthfully reported by someone on TS recently.

        Akshully I seem to recall that hilarious story was related by you Tim. It was real LOL stuff to a former resident in that very street. Poor Geoffrey. Poor Stephen. Poor Nation.

        Further hilarity – Alwyn above talks “bah humbug” as though his know-it-all right wing twittiness doesn’t define it.

  18. rhinocrates 18
    24 December 2013 at 5:00 pm

    Considering the shenanigans with the GCSB in NZ, think about this allegedly “benign” filter instituted by Cameron in the UK that was only supposed to filter porn and in fact, not accidentally, filters a lot more and think what could be planned here in NZ:

    http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/12/camerons-internet-filter-goes-far-beyond-porn-and-was-always-plan

    Cameron’s problem, methinks, is that he’s thinking like an old-school (literally) authoritarian whereas todays digital natives might not have heard the cyberpunk slogan “Information wants to be free” because its thoroughly ingrained in them. A lot of young people at least are going to get and damned well play on the old man’s lawn whether he likes it or not. Especially if not.

  19. joe90 19
    24 December 2013 at 8:33 pm

    The Harper fix.

    EDMONTON – More than 75 environment officers who watched over oil industry activities left the provincial environment department this fall, to take higher paying jobs with the new industry-funded Alberta Energy Regulator. Another 75-plus are expected to leave in the spring.

    In mid-November, the department also began handing over to the regulator thousands of files on oil industry activity pertaining to the Public Lands Act, according to documents obtained by the Journal.

    This shift in staffing and the moving of years of files out of a government department to the new arm’s length regulator are key steps in the government’s plan, announced last spring, to create a more streamlined approval process for oil companies that wanted “one window” to get permits for new projects.

    Previously, companies had to apply to the environment department for some permits and to the old regulator, the now defunct Energy Resources Conservation Board.

    To achieve the “one window,” the provincial government handed over to the privately funded regulator responsibility for administering the Water Act, Public Lands Act, and the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (dealing with spills) as they pertain to energy companies.

    http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/energy-resources/More+than+Alberta+environmental+regulators/9318036/story.html?__lsa=d2c2-8c00

  20. Olwyn 20
    24 December 2013 at 9:05 pm

    Christmas would hardly be Christmas without this song:

  21. xtasy 21
    24 December 2013 at 9:11 pm

    To ALL Standardistas, friends and foes, have a happy holiday season, a Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it, and the best of wishes for the new year 2014, which will be highly important “DECISION YEAR” for all of us.

    It was an at times stressful and difficult year that comes to an end, and the fight for social justice, and for common sense, sustainable, smart, constructive, fair and inclusive policies, will continue in 2014.

    For those that suffer illness and disabilities, bear in mind, that WINZ will start a new regime in February 2014, which will include medical and work capability assessments – similar to the ones done by ATOS in the UK, for those sick and disabled on benefits. They will be using OUTSOURCED CONTRACTORS!

    Remember this:
    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/278489/tests-disabled-flawed-model

    And this:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9356043/Contractors-to-assess-sick-and-disabled-for-work

    Extract from that last story at ‘stuff’:

    “Private contractors will be paid $650 an assessment to get thousands of New Zealand’s sick and disabled ready to return to work.”

    “From February, Work and Income will pay private “medical assessors” to scrutinise sickness and disability beneficiaries who it believes can work.”

    “The medical assessors will be paid $650 per assessment, which are expected to take about three hours, and are prompted to recommend lifestyle changes to help the beneficiary get a job, such as a “positive approach to life” and more time at the gym.”

    “It is expected eventually 3000 disabled people a year will have to visit an assessor, who will judge their fitness for work and report back to Work and Income.

    The scheme, revealed in a tender proposal, is part of the biggest welfare shake-up in decades, with the Government aiming to have 28,000 to 44,000 people off benefits by 2017, saving up to $1.6 billion.”

    Also remember this, from the NZ Herald, 18 Nov. 2013:

    “Winz apologises to sick woman placed on wrong benefit”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11158863

    So if some had horrific experiences with WINZ’s “designated doctors” (some are true “hatchet doctors”), get ready for the next level of harassment!

    Study up the ample information offered in the following publications, to get informed what is going on, and what it is all about. Do NOT forget, the new year will bring more challenges, and the enemy NEVER sleeps (Bennett and her nasty WINZ and MSD underlings):

    http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/15463-designated-doctors-%e2%80%93-used-by-work-and-income-some-also-used-by-acc/

    http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/15264-welfare-reform-the-health-and-disability-panel-msd-the-truth-behind-the-agenda/

    http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/15188-medical-and-work-capability-assessments-based-on-the-bps-model-aimed-at-disentiteling-affected-from-welfare-benefits-and-acc-compo/

    http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/13301-what-to-do-if-you-are-required-to-see-a-winz-designated-doctor/

    Feel free to copy and paste, and use the links at convenient times. Enjoy your holidays or breaks for time being, and get ready for the firestorm on the welfare and national policy front in the coming years. Every voice and body will be needed, it all leading up to the most important election in recent New Zealand history!

  22. xtasy 22
    25 December 2013 at 1:26 am

    HISTORIC:

    The Scorpions, so thoughtful:

  23. xtasy 23
    25 December 2013 at 2:28 am

    Illapu – alleged Marxists, coming home after exile, who relates to that here?

  24. xtasy 24
    25 December 2013 at 2:39 am

    Also: Tnagata Whenua do not forget your brothers and sisters in Chile, they are called Mapuche, they have lived there for centuries, but have had their lands and rights taken away, like your people. Some take a stand at least:

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    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 ...
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  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

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  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

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  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

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  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
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    7 days ago
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    1 week ago
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  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

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  • 'Pacific Futures'

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