Open Mike 25/10/2018

127 comments on “Open Mike 25/10/2018 ”

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1. Ed 1

   25 October 2018 at 6:25 am

   As usual, the media fail to mention climate change.

   “Dry spring weather sparks water warnings

   Dry spring weather has prompted warnings to conserve water in some parts of the country.
   Many farmers fear they are heading for a second dry year in a row.
   Most of New Zealand has had less rainfall than usual over the past three months, causing soil moisture levels to dry up, said the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
   In Wairarapa, Masterton residents are not allowed to use hand held hoses, because the water supply from the Waingawa River is running low.
   The river’s flow rate has fallen below 1300 litres per second, well below the council’s conservation threshold of 1900 litres.
   Masterton District Council assets and operations manager David Hopman said only 31mm of rain had fallen in the region over the past month, well below the average.”

   All here.
   But no mention of climate change.

   https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/369374/dry-spring-weather-sparks-water-warnings

   Media and climate change: Why we need a total overhaul

   https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2018/10/media-climate-change-total-overhaul-181020072147408.html
2. WeTheBleeple 2

   25 October 2018 at 6:49 am

   Two drought years stacked together is pretty bad for anyone on the land. Note how few of these farms store rain when it comes.

   News reporters wont make Farmers smarter. Hardship might.

   You gotta feel for them, but then, nah.
   • Jimmy 2.1

     25 October 2018 at 9:12 am

     So how much water do they need to store?
     What is the best way for a farm to store water in your opinion Bleeple?
     • Sabine 2.1.1

       25 October 2018 at 9:28 am

       one thing would be good, don’t rip out every shrub, every tree, every single thing with roots n all to grow ‘pasture’ for cows.
       roots are needed to store water in the dirt. The drying out of the soil is the biggest issue we have currently. If we cant’ store moisture we are gonna loose the land to erosion.

       second, water tanks. lots of them. literally.

       maybe less cows, so you would not need all that ‘pasture’. so you don’t need to drain every source of water to water your ‘pasture’.

       maybe maybe there are things to do, but hey, surely the government will help?
     • WeTheBleeple 2.1.2

       25 October 2018 at 11:19 am

       Ponds.

       Drainage systems converted to storage and drainage.

       Swales.

       Sub surface ripping and deep rooted perennials.

       Increasing soil carbon (thus soil water holding capacity).

       The trick is to recharge the aquifers from rain. Hardpan from tilling causes rain to run off to the ocean instead of being slowed by the land. It takes expensive ferts via the rivers with it, causes all manner of PR problems.

       Subsurface ripping and perennials deal with hardpan over a few years. Ponds are holes in the ground. Swales feed ponds but also slow water down to infiltrate land and replenish aquifers. Trees provide shade and shelter from wind to slow down evaporation. Shelter will also increase animal production.

       No rocket science required.
   • SaveNZ 2.2

     25 October 2018 at 9:14 am

     You would think their ‘representatives’ or even government would have some basic check lists for farmers to avoid droughts, aka put in extra tanks, Swales etc… but no, in spite of all the money in that industry they don’t do the basics, that cost little… consumers on the other hand are constantly being advised on what they should be doing to save water/power what have you…

     my point is, they don’t even seem to try to give basic help to farmers and some of them are so old school, they would never think of changing their ways…
   • KJT 2.3

     25 October 2018 at 9:35 am

     I do.
     However when they know tax payers will cover their business risk, whenever there is flooding or droughts, there is no incentive to farm sustainably or store water for the future.

     Farmers are very keen on socialism, when they benefit.

     Not so keen when it comes to paying the taxes for it.
     • SaveNZ 2.3.1

       25 October 2018 at 9:56 am

       @KJT – yep that thought occurred to me too… why bother with small stuff, when you can dish out million dollars cheques… Fonterra make the farmers pay into a fund for innovation though, but one disgruntled ex employee said it has just become a fat cat fund and they are unwilling to use the money for real projects that will deliver real change and future proof..
       • KJT 2.3.1.1

         25 October 2018 at 10:00 am

         I’ve seen concern, from the family type farmers, about the future of farming.

         Unfortunately, with the price of farms, corporate farmers, who have no feeling for the land or the future, predominate.
     • JC 2.3.2

       25 October 2018 at 1:49 pm

       Yes. And/or have a past Govt with a $480 million dollar irrigation fund.
   • bwaghorn 2.4

     25 October 2018 at 10:45 am

     I’ve just farmed through the to best seasons the central north island has seen I years . Regular rain right through the last two summers and mild winters . If it wasn’t for that pesky cc thing I’d be loving every bit
     • Jimmy 2.4.1

       25 October 2018 at 12:06 pm

       Yeah and if it goes wrong you just get a big fat cheque from the tax payers eh Wags.
       Best job ever!
       • In Vino 2.4.1.1

         25 October 2018 at 8:16 pm

         True, bwaghorn. But.. the lack of droughts may not be a good sign. The big El Nino in 1998 gave us what it should: Westerly winds and dry.. Now we don’t get that: the last big El Nino gave us Easterly as much as West, and rain from tropics from either direction. (I am a sailor, and have come to study weather patterns..)
         We have been lucky in not having droughts in our region over the last 2 years, but I fear that big changes are happening, and it will not be long before we will be less lucky and get some nasty stuff we never expected.
3. AsleepWhileWalking 3

   25 October 2018 at 6:50 am

   Deadline for Welfare Working group submissions coming up soon – Nov 9

   Weag.govt.nz
4. AsleepWhileWalking 4

   25 October 2018 at 6:53 am

   Teen loses sight waiting for help. She’s been left with itching red eyes every day…I can’t begin to imagine how bad that would be, one eye totally blind, the other requiring a strong contact.

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12147783

   Total negligence by the DHB.
   • Sabine 4.1

     25 October 2018 at 8:14 am

     child, her eye loss started at 11.

     this should be criminal.
   • SaveNZ 4.2

     25 October 2018 at 9:20 am

     What a shocking story. DHB’s need to stop building conferences or what ever the fuck they were doing with money there, and instead spend the money on seeing and fixing patients.

     That is so sad for that poor woman. Yep they knew from 11, something was wrong and they do nothing for 6 years! Disgusting.
   • Draco T Bastard 4.3

     25 October 2018 at 1:27 pm

     This is what happens when funding is cut and cut and cut so as to give rich people tax cuts.
5. Ed 5

   25 October 2018 at 6:58 am

   The British now know it

   “New Zealanders fear rising influence of Chinese wealth

   For a country whose tourism board sells it to the world as “100 per cent pure”, New Zealand is in danger of looking compromised.

   Chinese money, courted by the government in Wellington, has certainly turbo-charged the New Zealand economy, but it comes at a price and is raising questions about the country’s reliability as a western intelligence-sharing ally…..”

   http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/42116012-d6ce-11e8-926d-96790161a92a
   • Gabby 5.1

     25 October 2018 at 9:06 am

     Hey, we just share it a bit more widely eddy.
6. Dennis Frank 6

   25 October 2018 at 6:58 am

   Excellent work from Toby Manhire: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/24-10-2018/senior-national-mp-sets-ultimatum-for-simon-bridges/

   A senior National MP issued an ultimatum yesterday, and repeated it across three media – clearly they have a pre-determined agenda. Guess who!
7. Dennis Frank 7

   25 October 2018 at 7:04 am

   Hosking: “here’s the good news, one year in and this current arrangement surely has the right to a glass of something celebratory. It is, as they’ve reminded us many times, our first truly MMP government, and with it came the inherent risks of carnage, none of which has happened. The three-headed monster the previous government warned us of, has been nowhere to be seen.” https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12147863

   ” This has been a coalition that has set the standard. The gaps in philosophy especially among Labour and New Zealand First are wide in places, but they have not allowed it to be an issue.”

   “It might have helped that the Greens are a minor, almost outside sort of group within the deal, but if you were looking to mark this lot on their performance in terms of cohesiveness and professionalism, and staying on message, and out of coalition-type trouble, you’d be being churlish to mark them any less than an eight or maybe even a nine out of 10.”
   • AsleepWhileWalking 7.1

     25 October 2018 at 7:21 am

     Hosking?! Wow.
     • bwaghorn 7.1.1

       25 October 2018 at 10:51 am

       There must be a tear in the fabric of space and the hoskings from an alternate universe has slipped in . Although it could be the hosk has realised it’s time to change troughs to sup from .
       • WeTheBleeple 7.1.1.1

         25 October 2018 at 11:25 am

         Nah he left heaps of ‘qualifiers’ first in the article. how the inexperienced hapless lot who are hapless and inexperienced surprised him by not imploding yet.

         Truly an awe inspiring admission.
   • tc 7.2

     25 October 2018 at 7:25 am

     A broken clock is correct twice in a day. It’s a good time for ‘balance’ when the focus is on national, better that than critique his mates in blue.

     Normal shill service will resume shortly from the hosk.
     • greywarshark 7.2.1

       25 October 2018 at 10:19 am

       tc
       Lol
   • Adrian 7.3

     25 October 2018 at 7:38 am

     Isn’t there a proverb “A wise man feels the wind and sets his sails accordingly ‘”, although the one about rats and sinking ships is probably more appropriate.
     But Hoskings, bugger me !.
   • NZJester 7.4

     25 October 2018 at 10:25 am

     You know National is in big trouble when one of National’s biggest fanboy’s in the MSM starts to heap praise on a coalition he has previously tried to say was bad news for New Zealand. He tried to find something bad to write about them but failed.
     Meanwhile, Simon has tripped and stumbled and pulled down part of the curtain of illusion that National is one united party. We got a peek through the gap at some of the disharmony and willingness to try and go around the law when it suits them.
     A man who National hid deep behind that curtain and tried to claim they had no more contact with has again stepped into the limelight through that hole in the curtain of illusion as a power player in the Bridges vs JLR saga in the media. He will fight tooth and nail not to be shoved back behind that curtain again.
8. Ffloyd 8

   25 October 2018 at 7:29 am

   So Simon has come through the FIRESTORM stronger than ever. Wasnt it him/ he that lit the match? Could have avoided everything if he had just stfu.
   • Incognito 8.1

     25 October 2018 at 7:45 am

     A Captain’s call you mean? Nah, if Simon hadn’t gone like a bull through a China Shop [pun intentional] with his witch hunt to find the Narking Nat this wouldn’t have happened.

     The sole reason, IMO, was that the myth of party discipline and unity was threatened, in a very minor way, and Simon’s leadership was questioned. Simon felt so sure about the support of his Caucus and so cock-sure of his own abilities to steer National to a brighter future that he felt compelled to run this investigation. The rest is History as they say …
9. Incognito 9

   25 October 2018 at 7:32 am

   I posted a comment on “Daily Review 04/09/2018” https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-04-09-2018/#comment-1520872 but it is worth repeating again verbatim:

   Could it be that this crisis is mental health care, or the apparent failure of democratic politics to mount an effective policy response is actually related to a far deeper and entrenched element of how we actually ‘do’ politics?

   And does the following remind you of a recent debacle in NZ politics?

   Occupational psychology research suggests that working within aggressive, low-trust, high-blame, secretive and highly partisan political cultures is unlikely to be good for anyone’s mental health.

   An excellent and though-provoking article, which is a must-read for Standardistas IMO.

   https://sciblogs.co.nz/psychology-report/2018/09/03/mental-health-in-public-life-is-the-experience-of-politicians-and-how-we-make-policy-intertwined/

   Written by Dr Sarb Johal who was a General Election List Candidate (ranked @ no. 49) for the NZ Labour Party in 2017.
   • Dennis Frank 9.1

     25 October 2018 at 7:44 am

     Yes, in feedback to that mental health essay of Matthew’s, I earlier posted a link to Stuff’s piece on this: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/108053245/how-parliament-can-put-pressure-on-mps-mental-health

     Here’s the section from yours that identifies why it is flawed thinking to treat JLR’s incarceration as similar to that of a private citizen (a handful of respondents on this site have been staunchly denying that their thinking is flawed):

     “Recently, an 18-month project exploring the politics of mental health through a focus on the mental health of politicians in four countries (New Zealand, the UK, Canada and Australia) has revealed how the nature of modern politics – where the dominant mode is competitive representative politics with an increasingly aggressive 24/7 media environment, augmented by a social media backdrop with covert actors seeking to influence agendas – ensures not only that the psychological stressors and strains on politicians are intense, but that the stigma associated with such mental health concerns prevent politicians from acknowledging the existence of these stressors and asking for support. Occupational psychology research suggests that working within aggressive, low-trust, high-blame, secretive and highly partisan political cultures is unlikely to be good for anyone’s mental health.”
     • Incognito 9.1.1

       25 October 2018 at 7:58 am

       The only flaw I could see was that a bunch of commenters here were arguing from a PoV and another lot from theirs and somehow they were completely missing each other’s point and largely talking past each other. That, and a whole lot of irksome ignorance, wild speculation, paranoia, and just simply not giving an inch made for a sorry ‘discussion’ of one of the most important problems of our society, which is mental health.

       Here’s a link to the Act – Section 11 is pertinent to some of the questions you posed here on TS: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1992/0046/43.0/DLM262176.html
       • OnceWasTim 9.1.1.1

         25 October 2018 at 9:53 am

         Well put!
         It’s a touchy subject especially for those who’ve had to avail themselves of various services. Some have had good experiences, others bad. It’s an area (like so many others after the past ten years of the junta) that’s been under-resourced and full of workers who are burnt out and with case loads that are unrealistic.
         Not surprising then that you get some concerned with how things are supposed to work – the theoretical and the speculative, with others who’ve had their own experiences acting as though the were the only gay in the village because their situation is deeply personal and often overwhelming.
         I’ve not yet met a worker in mental health who isn’t dedicated and committed, (maybe I’ve led a sheltered life -[not]), but I have experienced the emotional drain on people working in the area and seen/experienced the extent to which it can affect their own families.
         You’re correct @incognito: “……..the most important problems of our society, which is mental health.”
   • Dennis Frank 9.2

     25 October 2018 at 7:56 am

     And this: “the complexity of public problems usually gets lost in dramatic micro-facts and disconnected commentaries resulting in the public’s impression that there are in fact simple solutions to complex problems in modern society, and that politicians are ‘failing’ to implement these.”

     The problem individuals onsite here are driven by a redundant philosophy that was prevalent in science until the seventies: reductionism. Holism is the only way to make sense of complex systems and situations. Their congenital denial of crucial factors in the situations they comment on reduces their contribution to nonsense.

     It’s actually the downside of using Occam’s razor as the only tool in your mental kit. Reality nowadays is usually so complicated that over-simplification causes users to lose the plot.
     • In Vino 9.2.1

       25 October 2018 at 8:30 pm

       I am 72. In my experience people waddle (or wade?) into complexity according to their emotional involvement and ability. Reductionism and holism are largely irrelevant. The talented are good at it. Occam’s razor works on few occasions, a bit of a diversion on others.
       But I am interested to know more about ‘congenital denial’.
       I would hate to think that I have been in congenital denial without being aware of what it is..
10. amirite 10

    25 October 2018 at 7:44 am

    Dirty Politics 2018 – Nicky Hager assesses the Jami Lee Ross saga https://thespinoff.co.nz/unsponsored/25-10-2018/dirty-politics-2018-nicky-hager-assesses-the-jami-lee-ross-saga/
    • Cinny 10.1

      25 October 2018 at 8:00 am

      Thanks for the link Amirite, have been wondering what Nickys thoughts are on the whole situation.
11. KJT 11

    25 October 2018 at 8:07 am

    Cheating. In sport, business, and politics has become acceptable in New Zealand.
    A mind set where lying, stealing and destroying others, is fine, so long as you win.

    Ross is both a perpetrator and a victim.

    Why these people even get votes is a puzzle. Too many who don’t care that our politics has descended into lies, bribery and personal attacks.

    The most pernicious part is that dirty politics tars all politicians with the same brush. Turning people off politics.

    Allowing the cheaters free rein.
    • BM 11.1

      25 October 2018 at 8:45 am

      Why these people even get votes is a puzzle

      Because you’re voting for the party, not the person.

      I have little interest in who my local MP is.
      • Johnr 11.1.1

        25 October 2018 at 8:59 am

        The problem with that attitude BM is that you ignore the fact that all our local MPs are the party
        • BM 11.1.1.1

          25 October 2018 at 9:11 am

          What about the Greens?
          • KJT 11.1.1.1.1

            25 October 2018 at 9:18 am

            The Greens have been an exampler of how politics should be.

            Open, Democratic and honest.

            Maybe we have been a bit naive in believing the essential goodness of people will win out. The sheer bad faith, hypocrisy and misogyny over Metiria, was an eye opener for us.

            However we do not intend to win by becoming, the enemy!

            There would be no point in winning on their terms.
            • BM 11.1.1.1.1.1

              25 October 2018 at 9:40 am

              The Greens have been an example of how politics should be

              In what way?, Greens have gagged on so many rats it’s not funny.
              They’re no better than anyone else.

              Btw Ardern will throw the Greens under the bus in a heartbeat if it looks like any of their policy ideas might cost Labour the next election.
              • KJT …

                25 October 2018 at 9:41 am

                I take the disapproval as a compliment.

                You have already made it obvious what standards you accept.
              • Draco T Bastard …

                25 October 2018 at 9:50 am

                Greens have gagged on so many rats it’s not funny.

                That is actually a lie.
              • Ad …

                25 October 2018 at 10:18 am

                The Greens have done solid, small work, biding their time for James’ carbon bill which is where they cash all their chips.

                They’ve figured their coalition role well and easily set up a Labour-Green coalition 2020 as not scary.

                Greens are to the NZ electorate what black people are to US electorate:
                Stay calmer than Obama
                And you make it.
              • Incognito …

                25 October 2018 at 9:46 pm

                Btw Ardern will throw the Greens under the bus in a heartbeat if it looks like any of their policy ideas might cost Labour the next election.

                There’s so much misunderstanding in that sentence that I don’t know how to unpack it.
            • greywarshark 11.1.1.1.1.2

              25 October 2018 at 10:33 am

              @ KJT
              The important thing for Greens to think on, as they try to improve NZ action on issues in NZ, is to have concern and kindly respect for people as well as the environment. There is a possibility that some within the movement will abandon transparency and community respect if they put their own culture, concerns and issues as paramount. This can happen when certain cults start or established ones try to integrate into the progressive movement to gain some advantage for themselves. Like a parallel with the French insinuating themselves into Greenpeace to get information and intelligence for their purposes, on the anti-earth, anti-destruction movement.
          • Sabine 11.1.1.1.2

            25 October 2018 at 9:34 am

            ditto.

            unless you vote a third party that has no chance of winning anything but is a single issue party like Legalize Aotearoa i suggest that next time you might read up on your Party candidate and the other party candidates and then vote for the one that is best for the little bit of NZ where you live. Who knows, maybe then we have better politicians.

            but at least your attitude explains why Nick Smith, Paula Bennett and Judith Collins, John Key, Simon Bridges and the rest of hte posse got to play monopoly with the country.
          • KJT 11.1.1.1.3

            25 October 2018 at 9:39 am

            I will also add. The second, the Greens become just another party run by self appointing careerists, like Labour and National, will be the time I resign my membership.
      • KJT 11.1.2

        25 October 2018 at 9:20 am

        The party is the people in it.

        You have already shown that the honesty and verity, of the people in your party, do not matter to you.
        • WeTheBleeple 11.1.2.1

          25 October 2018 at 11:40 am

          I personally love having the Greens in government to keep the others honest. And to push environment. The economy will disappear without it the business class are fools to think they can continue to defer costs…

          I will critique you folk harshly because I know you can do better.

          There’s so many reasons we want Green representation. There are not so many we want you in charge. I don’t want any party in charge. Yay MMP.

          The #1; the biggest contributor to the environment suffering so much: Engineers and chemists run our biological systems (agriculture). And they’re rubbish at it.

          Concentrating there might produce results for the planet, but removing these charlatans will not be easy. They are besties with big oil.
      • Sabine 11.1.3

        25 October 2018 at 9:31 am

        and that is why you end up with a party full of people whom you don’t know doing what they want without ever giving a thought about those that put them into office.

        Thats just lazy BM, you should show interest into whom your local MP is, lest you end up with someone who does not care…..oh i forgot you don’t care.
      • Cinny 11.1.4

        25 October 2018 at 10:06 am

        For real BM; you don’t have much interest in who your local MP is?

        Out of interest who is your local MP?
      • Incognito 11.1.5

        25 October 2018 at 9:52 pm

        Out of curiosity, do you place one or two ticks on your ballot form when you vote?
    • Pete 11.2

      25 October 2018 at 8:50 am

      The most pernicious part is that those who have encouraged lying and cheating by political leaders are parents.

      I can remember several events over a couple of years, leaders in our living rooms via tv bullshitting beyond belief. The cheerleaders for them surely could not, would not, expect their offspring to ‘tell the truth.’ You say and do what is best for you at the time.

      Our list of values, discussed recently, would not reflect reality if it did not reflect that. Mores change and the easy story telling of, say Judith Collins, and the way it was accepted had me seeing the tide go out and realising that the speed of evolution can be quick. But then that tide was just part of the GCSB John moon.
12. ScottGN 12

    25 October 2018 at 8:08 am

    It was good to read the Transport Minister’s Herald piece this morning arguing the benefits of the Southwestern LRT and rebutting some of the rubbish that’s been shopped around by lobby groups like PTUA and Transport 2050. It was about time either local or central government or the Transport Agencies involved fronted up on the project.
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12147767

    On the other hand it wasn’t so good having to listen to the same minister on Morning Report trying to rationalise the PM’s off-the-cuff decision to rule out any more regional fuel taxes yesterday. Clearly the government has been caught out by the backlash to Auckland’s fuel tax.
    • KJT 12.1

      25 October 2018 at 8:18 am

      Not surprised about the fuel tax. It remains a rather ham fisted,and regressive way of funding Auckland’s public transport needs. It was never going to be popular with the poorer households, who have the longest commutes.

      And still avoids charging the, housing developers, employers of cheap immigrants and the trucking industry, for their share of the extra roading costs.

      The oil companies raising prices at the same time was unfortunate. May have been a calculated political move on their part. Don’t think Labour has many friends in the oil industry, after accelerating their inevitable, and necessary, demise.
      • ScottGN 12.1.1

        25 October 2018 at 8:39 am

        I agree. The Regional Fuel Tax in Auckland is directly penalising the same people that Labour said they were elected to office to help. That’s the people who live in the outer ring of post war suburbs that were expressly designed around the private motor vehicle.
        Of course if the incoming government hadn’t saddled themselves with their fiscal responsibility rules they might not have had to impose any additional fuel taxes. Or at least they could have borrowed first to invest in the public transport network across the Isthmus and then applied any extra taxes to pay for that investment once there was real transport choice available.
        • KJT 12.1.1.1

          25 October 2018 at 9:29 am

          The fiscal responsibility rules, were, to my mind, a capitulation to a demographic, that were not going to vote Labour/Greens anyway.

          Given that successful economies all have a State share of the economy over 40%. Including ours in the past. Limiting the size of the State to 30% is fiscally “irresponsible”!

          We have all paid the price in decaying infrastructure, housing and health. Along with steep bills, to pay for private sector inefficiencies in power supplies, ports and other areas.
          • Draco T Bastard 12.1.1.1.1

            25 October 2018 at 9:43 am

            We have all paid the price in decaying infrastructure, housing and health. Along with steep bills, to pay for private sector inefficiencies in power supplies, ports and other areas.

            QFT

            Private sector provision of natural monopolies is highly inefficient providing less for more and has only one thing going for it – it increases the bludging of the rich.
13. Adrian Thornton 13

    25 October 2018 at 8:17 am

    Well at least the foul murder of Jamal Khashoggi has proved one thing beyond reasonable doubt, that the outrage and reaction, leading to sanctions over the skripal poisoning by western leaders was purely and utterly political and had absolutely nothing to do with the supposed moral outrage.

    This case is proving right out in the open ( it is of course already apparent to anyone with eyes and ears) to all, that trade, profit, growth are the only words that have any real meaning with our leaders, morality and ethics are only used when convenient and do not obstruct in any way whatsoever the previous three golden commandments of liberal ideology.

    Yes you can be sure that we will all continue trading with Saudi Arabia as normal going forward, but then why wouldn’t we, I have yet to hear anyone propose limiting trade with the brutal totalitarian regime in China.
    A brutal and repressive regime that we have all been fully aware of since our Helen opened those flood gates….so why not trade with the Saudi’s?, what’s the difference morally?
    • KJT 13.1

      25 October 2018 at 9:45 am

      No one gave a bugger about thousands of Yemeni’s. Why start now?
      • Cinny 13.1.1

        25 October 2018 at 10:17 am

        All the posturing and meanwhile the states and I think the UK, continue to sell weapons to the saudi’s so they can carry on the genocide in Yemen.

        It’s freakin vile.

        Would like to see our government do zero trade with the saudis, add israel to that list.

        I remember a feeling of pride when we choose not to trade with SA due to apartheid.

        Why can’t we be like that again, when it comes to these sorts of regimes.

        Morals over money please, some things aren’t for sale.
    • Draco T Bastard 13.2

      25 October 2018 at 9:46 am

      /agreed

      Our governments are more about ensuring rich people get richer than anything else.
    • weston 13.3

      25 October 2018 at 11:26 pm

      Looks like you me an cinny adrian are about the only ones who give a fuck in this place its jamie lee ross jlr jlr jlr jlr a hundred years after the fucking proverbial cows have come home .And just saying over and over what about iraq what about all the other injustices etc etc etc is meaningless unless youve never heard of them .This is a particular case and it demands a particular response which isnt wallowing in cynisism like you invented it but rather showing some solidarity and at the very least condemning the killers of jamal khashoggi which is THE HOUSE OF SAUD and not merely the hit team they are just pawns .
14. cleangreen 14

    25 October 2018 at 8:23 am

    How, and Why, You Should Celebrate St. Crispin’s Day Today
    Get pumped up to invade France!

    https://electricliterature.com/how-and-why-you-should-celebrate-st-crispins-day-today-77d1d7ffe984

    What is St. Crispin’s Day, you ask? Technically speaking, the Feast Day of St. Crispin, October 25, venerates the martyrdom of Christian saints Crispinus and Crispianus, who were twins (rude, Mom). But let’s be real, no one cares about that. Instead, today we honor the most prolific playwright of all time, William Shakespeare, and the greatest speech from one of his greatest plays, Henry V. If you haven’t read Henry V, well, you’ve been done wrong. For some reason public schools rarely teach the histories, but the Henriad and the War of the Roses cycle should be required reading. Fuck Romeo and Juliet. You heard me. [Ed. note: This is an official editorial position.]

    Greatly outnumbered by the French on St. Crispin’s Eve, King Henry V rallies his demoralized army with a rousing soliloquy promising brotherhood, greatness and legacy:

    We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
    For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
    Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
    This day shall gentle his condition:
    And gentlemen in England now a-bed
    Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
    And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
    That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

    SNIFFFFFFF. Anyway, his soldiers, aroused with visions of glory, win a staggering victory at the Battle of Agincourt on St. Crispin’s Day. In summary, this kick-ass soliloquy will make you feel like you can do ANYTHING! Conquer that biochemistry exam! Vanquish that evil pigeon that pooped on your head! Win over your prospective mother-in-law who hates your guts because you’re a freelance writer with no steady income! Okay, maybe not that last bit.

    Watch these three classic interpretations and cry God for Harry, England, and St. George:

    Now that you feel the burning fire of patriotism in your veins, we suggest invading France. Or at the very least, plant a miniature American flag in front of the Eiffel Tower.
    • Stephen 14.1

      25 October 2018 at 12:07 pm

      https://youtu.be/A-yZNMWFqvM
    • halfcrown 14.2

      25 October 2018 at 12:50 pm

      Nice one clean. If you have not already read them I can highly recommend Conn Iggulden’s series of historical novels (4) on the War of the Roses, I don’t normally recommend books as we all have our different tastes, But I thought these were excellent and on par with his series on Genghis Khan’s Dynasty
      A bit of useless pointless info and I love snippets of useless pointless info, Genghis Khan’s grandson Kublai Khan started the Yuan Dynasty. The name of Yaun is used today as a unit of Chinese currency.
    • McFlock 14.3

      25 October 2018 at 3:04 pm

      Ha. Bit like Waterloo day, every year I forget St Crispin’s Day. To put it theatrically, several years ago my Pistol was well received (giggle).

      It’s a fascinating play and can be done to support polar opposite attitudes, a bit like the Merchant of Venice. Olivier did a rah rah noble heritage of victory version during WW2. Others have dwelt more on the cost of war for ordinary people (especially if you consider the fact that Henry V kills off the comic characters from the Henry IVs, which would have been like killing Dobby for the original audiences).
    • Doogs 14.4

      25 October 2018 at 6:08 pm

      Just read you comment now cleangreen. I agree, King Hal’s speech is a spine tingler. But is it any better than –
      ‘The quality of mercy is not strained . . .’ or
      ‘To be or not to be . . .’ or
      ‘Is this a dagger which I see before me . . .’

      Just goes to show the absolutely glorious talent of William Shakespeare.
15. dV 15

    25 October 2018 at 10:00 am

    Interesting item sorta hidden away, ironic considering the 2nd para
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/108075481/giving-oxygen-to-hydrogen

    Hydrogen is emerging as a serious contender to fuel the heavy transport fleet of the future – especially trucks and shipping and perhaps, some day, even aviation.

    Among the blizzard of press statement that emanate from any government covering every little thing, it would be easy to overlook Energy Minister Megan Woods’ announcement this week of a memorandum of cooperation with Japan on hydrogen fuel development.

    Early days, but a good initiative.
    • BM 15.1

      25 October 2018 at 10:14 am

      What a load of bollocks.

      So as well converting our cars and trucks to electric, we’re also going to produce Hydrogen from electricity?

      Where’s all this extra electrical generation going to come from? the distribution network? or the fact there’s not even a market for Hydrogen? utterly ridiculous but unfortunately typical of this stupid government.
      • dV 15.1.1

        25 October 2018 at 10:18 am

        Heard of sunlight?
        Yep had same problem when cars were introduced.

        Some what is your solution to the fuel issues.

        AND did you note that they are cooperating with Japan?
      • KJT 15.1.2

        25 October 2018 at 10:22 am

        Obviously you havn’t been following the science.

        Shipping companies, in particular, have been very aware of hydrogens potential

        Or have a clue about New Zealands sustainable power generation capacity.

        The problem with electric power for transport has always been the practical limitations of batteries. Even if they become hugely more efficient they will not approach the energy density of a tank of petrol. A tankful of hydrogen, when we learn how to store it, however!
    • KJT 15.2

      25 October 2018 at 10:17 am

      Best potential transport fuel of them all.

      Just have to solve the problem of pesky little atoms wriggling their way out of storage.

      And the highly dangerous by product. dihydrogen monoxide.
      • Stuart Munro 15.2.1

        25 October 2018 at 10:45 am

        Not too sure about that – the containment issue may require heavy tanks – and weight is a major transport efficiency issue.

        But the point BM is partly trying to make in his negative way, is that the greater part of our energy budget is presently provided by petrochemicals. Hydrogen is not a solution to that and hydrogen + solar requires two sets of infrastructure we don’t have and aren’t yet adopting at anything like credible speed.

        I wouldn’t bet the farm on hydrogen tech having a meaningful impact on either our petroleum demand or our carbon footprint in my lifetime. Not to say the research shouldn’t be done, just that we need to be doing rather more than that.
      • Andre 15.2.2

        25 October 2018 at 11:12 am

        Pesky little atoms wriggling their way out of storage? I once got landed with scoping out making composite tanks for hydrogen. Containing the hydrogen is a problem quite different to other material storage problems.

        I’m going a bit outside my expertise here, but I’ll speculate that it’s due to the way that a hydrogen atom becomes a naked proton when it’s electron wanders off for a while. That naked proton is extremely small, and very reactive. Whereas any other atom will always haven at least two electrons orbiting the nucleus in the extremely tightly bound filled K shell. This makes the atom physically much larger and less able to move between other atoms in a solid.

        Then there’s the hydrogen embrittlement caused when those pesky little atoms choose to fuck with the chemistry and microstructure of the material they’re passing through.

        With a potential hydrogen economy, there’s also the problem of the round-trip efficiency of the energy going in to separate out the hydrogen, compared to how much you get back out when you use the hydrogen. The best numbers I’ve seen are still well below 50%, compared to over 90% for some batteries. So unless and until someone comes up with a viable photocatalytic process, where the energy to split off the hydrogen comes directly from sunlight, it looks to me like generating the hydrogen will be just too wasteful of the input electrical energy.
16. marty mars 16

    25 October 2018 at 10:02 am

    Good article

    “America, that old problem of yours? Racism? I have a cure for it: Get cancer. Come into these waiting rooms and clinics, the cold radiology units and the ICU cubicles. Take a walk down Leukemia Lane with a strange pain in your lower back and an uneasy sense of foreboding. Make an appointment for your CAT scan. Wonder what you are doing here among all these sick people: the retired telephone lineman, the grandmother, the junior-high-school soccer coach, the mother of three.”

    … “In the country of cancer everyone is simultaneously a have and a have-not. In this land no citizens are protected by property, job description, prestige, and pretensions; they are not even protected by their prejudices. Neither money nor education, greed nor ambition, can alter the facts. You are all simply cancer citizens, bargaining for more life.”

    https://www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/513/the-cure-for-racism-is-cancer
    • joe90 16.1

      25 October 2018 at 10:15 am

      This –

      Installed by history and maintained by privilege, it is too robust, too entrenched to be undone by anything less than disaster.

      Tragically, the author passed away yesterday.

      https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/10/24/tony-hoagland-poet-dies
17. marty mars 17

    25 October 2018 at 10:13 am

    Trumping terror!

    “Pipe bombs have been sent to prominent critics of Donald Trump, authorities said on Wednesday, spreading terror in the US less than two weeks before the midterm elections.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/24/clinton-bomb-reports-delivery-home-new-york-hillary-bill-latest
    • joe90 17.1

      25 October 2018 at 10:19 am

      Oh, don’t worry, by 8.35 this morning Leighton Smith had announced that it was actually a lefty liberal false flag plot to discredit El Presidente and his loyal base.
      • marty mars 17.1.1

        25 October 2018 at 10:25 am

        Come on mate better add something about child poverty in there lol
        • Muttonbird 17.1.1.1

          25 October 2018 at 10:34 am

          joe90 is doing better, thank you very much.
          • marty mars 17.1.1.1.1

            25 October 2018 at 10:37 am

            I’m impressed you picked it up mate. Nice.
    • Sabine 17.2

      25 October 2018 at 10:24 am

      pipe bombs being send to

      Obama, Clinton, Harris, Wasserman-Schultz, Waters, Soros and CNN.

      maybe they are a bit more then just prominent ciritcs of Donald Trump. But then is not everyone who does not kiss the fat orange arse a prominent critic?

      In the meantime the Dow Jones dropped like a stone, shaved off another 600 points and is now the lowest it has been since January 2nd 2018. But they the economy is doing great, 500.000 jobs created with that 110 billion dollar sales of weapons to Saudi Arabia and now watch this drive.

      https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/10/us-markets-bond-yields-and-data-in-focus.html
      • joe90 17.2.1

        25 October 2018 at 10:33 am

        The boot fits.

        stochastic terrorism
        [stuh-kas-tik ter-uh-riz-uh m]

        noun

        1 the public demonization of a person or group resulting in the incitement of a violent act, which is statistically probable but whose specifics cannot be predicted: The lone-wolf attack was apparently influenced by the rhetoric of stochastic terrorism.

        https://www.dictionary.com/browse/stochastic-terrorism
        • Sabine 17.2.1.1

          25 October 2018 at 11:12 am

          https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/intimidating-and-terrorizing-and-bombing-is-what-they-d-1829968917

          what this guy says, bombing its what they do.
      • marty mars 17.2.2

        25 October 2018 at 10:44 am

        T.trump toiletroll

        “Acts or threats of political violence have no place in the United States,” Trump said. “This egregious conduct is abhorrent. “That’s a very bipartisan statement,” he said.”

        https://i.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/108092437/pipe-bombs-sent-to-barack-obama-hillary-clinton-cnn
18. tc 18

    25 October 2018 at 10:28 am

    The architect of Oz superanuation, Paul Keating, is making a case that post 80 should be covered by a federal insurance scheme as super was designed to only last till 80.

    PK’s an icon IMO always up front and fearless. Him and Hawke were quite the duo.
    • joe90 18.1

      25 October 2018 at 12:35 pm

      And master of the parliamentary put-down.
19. greywarshark 19

    25 October 2018 at 11:00 am

    THE WTO being played around by the USA usurping other countries’ powe and rights, and wanting to skew the world body like its skewed its own Supreme Court.

    Who cares about agreements? The USA were prepared to deal with Hitler until they realised his agreement and commitments couldn’t be relied on. So is this fascism in play with the leading nation’s graffiti being ‘Atavistic Commercial Fetish Rules Okay!’

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018668255/david-parker-warns-over-us-world-trade-organisation-dispute

    David Parker warns over US, World Trade Organisation dispute
    From Morning Report, 8:11 am today
    Listen duration 5′ :24″
    The World Trade Organisation is in danger of falling apart, leaving New Zealand with no remedy in the event of a major trade dispute. That is the stark warning from Trade Minister David Parker who has just finished top level trade meetings in the US, which is the country making direct challenges to the world trade referee. He speaks to Guyon Espiner about his meetings with US govt officials.

    Thanks joe90 at 16.1 – read the quote there. True? I think hesitantly, yes.
    I hadn’t heard of this USA’r but good to remember there are 325 million there and many are outside the Trump maelstrom!

    “Tony Hoagland gave us a fierce, sometimes ugly, but ultimately redeemable portrait of America in his poetry and essays,” Shotts reflected. “I believe he wanted to give us many voices as a way into social and political critique, and he pointed his acerbic wit most directly at himself as a blunt instrument of self-scrutiny and satire.

    Too often the good die relatively young – he was 64.
20. marty mars 20

    25 October 2018 at 11:04 am

    “The Saudi crown prince has vowed to punish all the “culprits” responsible for the murder of writer Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey.”

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-45968185

    Lol punish yourself? Such a lying bastard.
    • OnceWasTim 20.1

      25 October 2018 at 12:19 pm

      No wonder Jared and ‘the Don’ love him. So full of hubris, arrogance and narcissism he wouldn’t give a flying fuck if the 15 or 18 become expendable in order to save his ugly mug
21. patricia bremner 21

    25 October 2018 at 11:18 am

    Cyclone Yutu, the strongest in living memory. Winds 290 kms 185 kms in the eye!!
22. Ad 22

    25 October 2018 at 11:24 am

    Rachel McGregor was sexually harassed by Colin Craig.

    And although Cameron Slater did defame Colin Craig with untrue statements, no damages were awarded.

    That’s the judgement of the High Court just now.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12148439

    Colin Craig was a workplace bully of a woman, who stuck up for herself. And Craig had the gall to represent himself to her face.

    Really good news and a gutsy follow-through from Rachel.

    I hope this is as big a lesson to political workplaces as all the other workplace sexual harassment cases we have seen recently.
    • marty mars 22.1

      25 October 2018 at 11:49 am

      Craig has been shown for what he is. I hope McGregor can get on with her life now.
    • OnceWasTim 22.2

      25 October 2018 at 12:26 pm

      “Colin Craig was a workplace bully of a woman, who stuck up for herself.”
      ?
      I know Slater (and others, not looking at you Jordan) seeks out anyone he thinks he can make ‘his bitch’ but when did Colin have the op? I must have missed something.
      • Ad 22.2.1

        25 October 2018 at 1:12 pm

        No the grammar is fine.
        • OnceWasTim 22.2.1.1

          25 October 2018 at 2:35 pm

          Ambiguity aside, then yes.
          Btw @ Ad, I’m with a bunch of people at the mo who have English as their second language (at the time I made the post).
          They were worrying about having to up themselves from IELTS 5 or 6 to 6.5 or 7.
          Worse still, they’re not as valuable as their Chinese counterparts
23. Cynical Jester 23

    25 October 2018 at 11:52 am

    For awhile I thought the reason Labour had been so quiet on the National implosion was cos Jacindas a class act, and while she may be let’s be honest the real reason Labour can’t comment on National selling list seats to foreign powers is because the Labour party is also under the influence of China as well and to criticize China means both parties would lose election campaign money.

    I used to say that national and labour would join up into a purple party due to their shared neoliberalism but now I think they will combine to create the National Communist Labour party of China in New Zealand.

    I have no problem with Chinese people but their govts influence on NZ politics needs to end immediately. Both Labour and National are selling our democracy to the highest bidder.

    Our allies are questioning our loyalty and in future will be hesitant to share information with us because we are becoming a puppet state of a genocidal,workers rights abusing authoritarian.

    Go NZ! Human rights are so 20th century
    • OnceWasTim 23.1

      25 October 2018 at 12:32 pm

      I’m in a cynical mood at the mo’ @ CJ. So it’s just as well we don’t yet have a one-child policy or Neve would be left to her own devices on the Great Wall of Auckland somewhere around the Bombay Hills.
    • Gabby 23.2

      25 October 2018 at 12:35 pm

      They gather more votes separately cynny.
24. greywarshark 24

    25 October 2018 at 1:14 pm

    [What the hell has the out of office Harper government got to do with studies on insect numbers greywarshark? Did you even read the damned post, or did you think you’d just jump straight in with a spin on “knowledge and power”? Bumping this off down the bottom of the thread because its connection to the post is, at best, incredibly tenuous. Actually. Second thoughts. There’s bugger all connection to the substance of the post. Open mike. And in future, read posts and don’t just go off on long irrelevant rants] – B

    How good they have records in Puerto Rico. And probably accessible easily because they are likely to be on paper. And that is important so you know which ones to grab and hide when some populist buffoon gets elected by unthinking, careless, irresponsible voters, making some point or other about not getting, too much of, something.
    The trick is to help people get their something and hold onto what is valuable to the nation, despite poverty and bad weather.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e2igZexpMs
    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnD3ZEw9sos
    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qENyT6y0WmA

    Example I’m talking about is Canada :
    2013 News
    What’s Driving Chaotic Dismantling of Canada’s Science Libraries?
    Scientists reject Harper gov’t claims vital material is being saved digitally.
    https://thetyee.ca/News/2013/12/23/Canadian-Science-Libraries/
    Scientists say the closure of some of the world’s finest fishery, ocean and environmental libraries by the Harper government has been so chaotic that irreplaceable collections of intellectual capital built by Canadian taxpayers for future generations has been lost forever.

    The Harper Government Has Trashed and Destroyed Environmental …
    https://www.vice.com/…/the-harper-government-has-trashed-and-burned-environment…
    Jan 15, 2014 – … polar research, with some documents reportedly dumped in landfills or burned, … The government denies political objectives have anything to do with the … “The government of Canada—led by Stephen Harper—has made it harder … minutes and other records to hide politically unpalatable science and …

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/opinion/when-canadian-scientists-were-muzzled-by-their-government.html

    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/canadian-scientists-open-about-how-their-government-silenced-science-180961942/

    Mike Harris – Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Harris

    Michael Deane “Mike” Harris (born January 23, 1945) is a Canadian politician who served as ….. Provincial water testing had been privatized in October 1996 by Harris’s first government. …. politicians suggested that the attack may have been ordered by the Premier’s office, and called for an independent judicial inquiry.

    Power and Knowledge. What is the difference between a mad King or Queen and a mad Premier or leader who has extreme authority of rendition of the nationh’s precious statistics and information. It’s just a modern version of the sacking of the library of Alexandria.
    Destruction of the Library of Alexandria
    The ancient accounts by Plutarch, Aulus Gellius, Ammianus Marcellinus, and Orosius indicate that troops of Julius Caesar accidentally burned the library during or after the Siege of Alexandria in 48 BC. … A part of the library was burned under Aurelian, in 272, and the destruction seems to have been completed in 391.”

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Alexandria

    We need to have better informed citizens who are paid to go and study stuff, and have constant talks and debates to keep citizens informed. Much of this should be on television which is still widely followed. So let’s get public television back again and run it so that there is learning and lots of quiz games about important stuff with good prizes, and regions competing for accolades as well as good infrastructure. So it is fun, informative and gets advantages for the local area, with a celebratory dinner for the contestants and organisers. Give it some cred so that people aspire to be involved. Perhaps some overseas visits, maybe to our friends in the Pacific.

    Let’s be innovative and keep the barbarian populist pollies with their destructive ways and hordes, at bay.

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
    
    • greywarshark 24.1

      25 October 2018 at 1:51 pm

      Okay Bill
      I thought it added something important to what you were writing about and also something about Puerto Rico but you have your rant in your own post. Be happy.
      • Bill 24.1.1

        25 October 2018 at 3:43 pm

        There are no politicians or administrations suppressing the research or the research findings linked to in the post.

        The basic problem is that both scientists and those writing on population crashes seem to be unaware of the work done by Ziska and his colleagues. You read most articles and there is a lot of wild guessing going on about why populations are crashing (“It’s insecticides!” “It’s habitat loss!”).

        Meanwhile, the solid research is sitting there, and as far as I’m aware, no-one has found fault with the methodology or the conclusions.

        Insecticides and habitat loss absolutely contribute to decline, but they aren’t the principle reason and ‘rectifying’ those things will not halt species collapse.

        You also did the same huge link filled distraction the other day by the way. In a post that pointed out that the scale of necessary CO2 removal was way beyond all production or harvesting processes we engage in, you just kept banging up irrelevant stuff about tree planting.

        At least those screeds of smash weren’t sitting at the very top of a comment thread – thanks for small mercies.
        • greywarshark 24.1.1.1

          25 October 2018 at 5:29 pm

          I am actually interested in talking to people who are interested in seeing what we can do to alleviate our problems Bill. I like the good information I see here and then think about what can be done, or even started. I don’t want to be eternally at a wailing wall, just finding fault with what is being done or presenting horrific scenarios. I am looking for ways that we can do small things to try and help save our world and alleviate suffering.

          I don’t like the mechanical attitudes that a good number of you are displaying. You don’t seem to care about people, it is almost a military efficiency response. This isn’t a place I want to be any longer and I don’t like that furious response from you. I think you are OTT and losing your humanity.
25. Puckish Rogue 25

    25 October 2018 at 1:44 pm

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/108098946/former-mps-partners-travel-cost-11m-in-past-year

    Well heres an idea that any party could pick up and champion for no downside
    • veutoviper 25.1

      25 October 2018 at 1:56 pm

      Forget it at present unfortunately – and it is an old perennial that pops up from time to time. Not saying forget it altogether, but perhaps next year – or an election bribe?

      But, but, but – how did the interview go? Can I uncross my fingers, arms, hands, legs, ankles, toes yet? Its getting damn hard to do anything including eat …
      • Puckish Rogue 25.1.1

        25 October 2018 at 2:02 pm

        It’ll be either:
        Passed the interview stage and continue with the process (police checks, drug tests, medical checks etc),
        Not at this time but apply again in the future and this is what you need to work on
        or (my translation) hell no you freak and don’t even think of applying in this or any other timeline

        I’ll find out tomorrow or Monday 🙂
        • veutoviper 25.1.1.1

          25 October 2018 at 2:08 pm

          I will keep some things still crossed then! Good Luck!
26. marty mars 26

    25 October 2018 at 1:47 pm

    You don’t mess with the mana. Not good by the winery or council

    “A segment of the stalled Te Mata Peak track could kill someone using it, a report has found.

    Hastings District Council said an independent report had prompted it to take “urgent action” to remove the dangerous section of the track, located on the top 500 metres.

    The report said that in its current state, the track, which Craggy Range Winery carved last year, could result in serious injury, or loss of life as a result of retaining wall collapse, falling rocks and slips…

    … The winery built the track after resource consent was granted by the council last year, without informing local iwi…

    … The Environmental Defence Society has since announced it would take the council and the winery to the High Court over the decision-making process which led to the track being cut.”

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/108095040/part-of-controversial-te-mata-peak-track-to-be-removed-urgently-as-trespassers-at-risk-of-death
27. greywarshark 27

    25 October 2018 at 1:49 pm

    The Queen at 92 still speaks firmly and said diplomatic things to the Dutch royals when they recently visited expressing concern over disruption of relationships because of Brexit which this report says could result in a hard crash without agreements next March.
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz//lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12148297&ref=clavis
    • marty mars 27.1

      25 October 2018 at 2:25 pm

      It amazes me how well she does at 92. I saw a woman who was 128 and they asked her about her long life – she said it was a punishment from God.

      https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/my-long-life-a-punishment-from-god-says-128-year-old-woman/amp/
      • greywarshark 27.1.1

        25 October 2018 at 3:34 pm

        0/part-of-controversial-te-mata-peak-track-to-be-removed-urgently-as-trespassers-at-risk-of-death
        Reply
        greywarshark 27
        25 October 2018 at 1:49 pm

        The Queen at 92 still speaks firmly and said diplomatic things to the Dutch royals when they recently visited expressing concern over disruption of relationships because of Brexit which this report says could result in a hard crash without agreements next March.
        https://www.nzherald.co.nz//lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12148297&ref=clavis
        Reply

        marty mars 27.1
        25 October 2018 at 2:25 pm

        It amazes me how well she does at 92. I saw a woman who was 128 and they asked her about her long life – she said it was a punishment from God.

        https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/my-long-life-a-punishment-from-god-says-128-year-old-woman/amp/
        Reply

        greywarshark 28
        25 October 2018 at 3:33 pm

        I am just about to renew my prescription for hypertension control. And she probably has had very little medical care. She would like that saying about dying young – while you are a good-looking corpse. Also that living long when you’re wealthy, at least you can be miserable in comfort. I sure as hell don’t want to live long as she has. She is marvellous and I wonder how many children she had, she is one of the salt-of-the-earth people who plod along hard working and dutiful. It would be good if she could have a few of her favourite things before she goes.

        The Nepalese woman who has lived to her 90’s and had five sons, her dream is the last one I heard of like this one.

        Five Sons and a 100 Muri of Rice: The story of a five year old bride in …
        https://www.amazon.com.au/Five-Sons-100-Muri-Rice-ebook/dp/B00MKIOU0G
        Rating: 4.7 – ‎81 reviews
        A five year old bride in rural Nepal struggles with poverty, male domination and illiteracy to become a successful landowner, micro lender and great grandmother. Based on the true story of Kharika Devkota, this book provides a rare insight into the inspiring and determining life …
28. Andre 28

    25 October 2018 at 4:37 pm

    But her emails!

    Apparently Dolt45 is still using an unsecured iPhone for calls. With China and Russia probably listening in.

    https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/24/politics/trump-phone-china-russia/index.html
29. Dennis Frank 29

    25 October 2018 at 6:09 pm

    Whaleoil comment: “The leaker asked the police to call off the investigation because they DID have mental health issues but assuming the person is not JLR, others can have mental health issues.”

    Response from Slater: “That isn’t correct, there was no police investigation to call off. It was the inquiry. And it wasn’t JLR who sent that text because it arrived when he was in a meeting with PB and SB so it wasn’t him.”
    • Incognito 29.1

      25 October 2018 at 10:06 pm

      I see people texting at meetings all the time 😉
30. eco maori 30

    26 October 2018 at 8:36 am

    Kia ora The Am Show the pipe is a stunt.The no more tax on fuel takes away something
    that simon uses to attack the government.
    Thats correct judy you starved the state department’s and had private eye clark and there m8 harassing them from shonky orders most people are scared sheep .
    The French have some better system for there children than we do one is teaching mokopunans how to eat healthy at school I say we need to copy them.
    I look for positive things in every situation and Eco know’s the big picture that’s a better future for the grandchildren that keep my fire burning.
    Chelsea opening there doors A are there sales declining sugar in all prosessed food should be legislated to %15 percent of what we currently have in the food now .
    Mark you will already know my view on your poll today we have more police than other country’s have in there Army’s so why do we still have PEE and other man made drugs problem.
    I agree with Michell the French man and his child needed help now the child will be in state care while the dad is in jail the child could be better off but not if one looks at the children in our state child care system.
    Amanda I seen half a dozen hinds on the side of the road at 2pm in Matawai a couple of times.
    Ka kite ano
31. eco maori 31

    26 October 2018 at 10:37 am

    We have to Preserve Papatuanuku and all her beautiful creations for the benefit of all human kind . Work with Mother Earth not against her quite a logical way of thinking Eco says.
    This moss like plant has the same properties as weed there has been huge amounts of knowledge from ancient times we have lost on many subjects the health benefits of plants is one big phenomenon that has been suppressed big big Pharma company’s
    It may already have been relevant to the people who live where these species of Radula occur naturally, which are as far afield as Japan, New Zealand and Costa Rica. There are hints that the Maori people of New Zealand use it as an herbal medicine, although not necessarily for its THC-like properties. Gertsch adds, however, that no serious ethnobotanical or ethnopharmacological research confirms such uses.
    Ka kite ano link is below

    https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lowly-moss-like-plant-seems-to-copy-cannabis/
32. eco maori 32

    26 October 2018 at 11:06 am

    Some Eco Maori music
33. eco maori 33

    26 October 2018 at 1:47 pm

    This is one reason I back our farmers they work harder then most and have a lot of challenges on the farming communitys they are the back bone of Aotearoa .
    The other is I can smell a lie a mile away to and I don’t like these lies affecting people in negative ways .link is below ka kite ano.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/108111654/hawkes-bay-farmer-worked-18hour-days-in-leadup-to-suicide-coroner-finds
34. eco maori 34

    26 October 2018 at 5:06 pm

    Here you go 10 reasons why sugar is bad for your health this is the one food one needs to be excluded from your diet .
    The big company’s don’t want you to know the truth about sugar . Sugar is in just about every processed food bread yogurt alcohol fizzy drinks .They put to much sugar in food to get you hooked on there food & Drinks to boost there profits who cares who get there lives drastically shortened and all the bad health side effects that sugar does to peoples bodys. Ka kite ano link is below

    https://www.atkins.com/how-it-works/library/articles/10-ways-sugar-harms-your-health
35. eco maori 35

    26 October 2018 at 6:43 pm

    Kia ora Newshub I stick to my words earlier on the strikes Alex .
    If someone was serious about blowing something up they would not send it in the post. Sending a it in the post is just a publicity stunt.
    Thats the way Google make a stand against sexual harassment support Equality .
    Skin cancer need to be advertised more and the sunblock products need to be verified to see if they do block the sun cancer effects.
    Voda Phone Kiri is a cool way to use AI that is the future ka pai
    Jackes a cool bloke 50 years working in that factory for the disabled Ka pai. P.S Niki Eco say the Japan Rugby World Cup will be a great event
    Ka kite ano
36. eco maori 36

    26 October 2018 at 7:19 pm

    Kia ora The Crowd Goes Wild Wairangi & Storm
    Wai I will have a my finger’s crossed for the Kiwis in there next test.
    E game is a cool new sport storm is Panasonic one of the main sponsor’s I have a distraction .
    Shawn Long looks like a awesome import player for the Breakers Anna.
    Kia Kaha to Steven Adams and the Oakland City Thunder Basket ball team.
    Ka kite ano

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