Open mike 25/06/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 25th, 2015 - 109 comments
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109 comments on “Open mike 25/06/2015 ”

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  1. AsleepWhileWalking 1
    25 June 2015 at 6:46 am

    First (?!) Germany, now France. NZ government has probably been spied upon by the US too

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-06-24/angry-and-embarrassed-france-calls-us-spying-unacceptable-demands-us-repair-damage-r

    • Kiwiri 1.1
      25 June 2015 at 10:36 am

      Not just NZ government but also opposition MPs?
      And include spying on their personal and sex lives, social and community interactions, side businesses, etc. Then pass on that info to be used against them.

    • Sabine 1.2
      25 June 2015 at 11:29 am

      nah the US don’t need to spy on us, John Key has given them open access.

      lol

    • Draco T Bastard 1.3
      25 June 2015 at 1:00 pm

      Why would the US need to spy on the NZ government considering that the NZ government is, effectively, a branch office of the US administration?

  2. Puckish Rogue 2
    25 June 2015 at 8:21 am

    http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6300-roy-morgan-new-zealand-voting-intention-june-2015-201506240227

    Oh noes Nationals support drops to 49.5%, its a calamity 🙂

    But seriously it looks like business as usual…is that the sound of G. Robertson sharpening some knives 😉

    • Skinny 2.1
      25 June 2015 at 8:34 am

      I would not be cheerleading to this news as it is not great for National. It shows Jimmy Shaw has hit a high note with the public, up to 13% and expect this to grow, outstanding result for a new co leader.

      I guess National can come out with an endorsement of future partner Colin Craig’s Conservatives. Alas the Nats won’t have the support of the Maori-Mana Party and of course Dunne will retire end of this term.

      Weep and you weep alone, smile 🙂 and the whole world smiles with you coobah!

      • Puckish Rogue 2.1.1
        25 June 2015 at 9:46 am

        I do admire the optimism of the left, in spite of everything that happens the left still believe

        Its cute 🙂

        • Skinny 2.1.1.1
          25 June 2015 at 12:20 pm

          Rogue I’ve excepted Labour will be stuck in the 20’s along as tthey go into elections with the same line up of MP’s, I just wish they would. So its the status quo till Key goes. All bets are off if say he had the misfortune of walking out of a cafe daydreaming of fondlying the waitress’s hair straight into a bus and killed.

          • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.1.1
            25 June 2015 at 12:32 pm

            or gets a US based promotion.

            • Skinny 2.1.1.1.1.1
              25 June 2015 at 12:58 pm

              Yes true there is nothing left for him in New Zealand political terms. Something financially beefy in New York.

          • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1.2
            25 June 2015 at 1:29 pm

            Rogue I’ve excepted Labour will be stuck in the 20’s along as tthey go into elections with the same line up of MP’s, I just wish they would.

            Yep, they need to be more than National Lite and that won’t change while they’ve still got National Lite MPs and candidates.

            • Skinny 2.1.1.1.2.1
              25 June 2015 at 2:27 pm

              Yes in other words Labour needs to be Labour and the front people the MP’s representing the party need to be in on this or out. I can think of 10 at first blush that don’t measure up. The problem is plying them out for the collective good of the party. How is this achieved, its not like Little can swing the axe, one whiff of this and they will start undermining him then try rolling him.

      • Marvellous Bearded Git 2.1.2
        25 June 2015 at 10:11 am

        I don’t think Dunne will retire. He is only 60. There will be no change of leadership by Labour before the next election. End of.

        • Colonial Viper 2.1.2.1
          25 June 2015 at 12:33 pm

          i suspect Winnie has one more gen election in him.

          • Chooky 2.1.2.1.1
            25 June 2015 at 12:35 pm

            hope Winnie stays

            • Colonial Viper 2.1.2.1.1.1
              25 June 2015 at 12:39 pm

              Likewise.

            • b waghorn 2.1.2.1.1.2
              25 June 2015 at 1:04 pm

              Why??

              • Puckish Rogue …
                25 June 2015 at 2:16 pm

                They think (hope) winny will go with Labour and the Greens which he may, of course, however hes not likely to get his knighthood going with the left

                • b waghorn …
                  25 June 2015 at 3:36 pm

                  As long as my Arse! points to the ground there is no way there will be a labour /greens /nzf government.

                • Chooky …
                  25 June 2015 at 4:18 pm

                  @ PR…I dont think the Queen likes jonkey nactional( too much of a social climber and her son is a Greenie)…jonkey may not himself get a knighthood ( if Labour has anything to do with it)…and he may be out next Election…so Winnie is in with a chance

                • Colonial Rawshark …
                  25 June 2015 at 9:40 pm

                  They think (hope) winny will go with Labour and the Greens which he may,

                  Maybe; but mostly because he brings a style and bite to Parliament and to politics hardly anyone else does.

          • Draco T Bastard 2.1.2.1.2
            25 June 2015 at 1:32 pm

            I suspect Winnie will die on the debating floor – in his nineties.

        • Chooky 2.1.2.2
          25 June 2015 at 12:34 pm

          @ absolutely Marvellous

          Dunne will have to be ousted by Greens and Labour working strategically and cooperatively In Ohariu…NEXT TIME….God willing he will be out!

          …and out and out he MUST go!

      • Chooky 2.1.3
        25 June 2015 at 12:11 pm

        @ Skinny …yes good result for the GREENS!

        … and steady- as- she- goes backbone Green lefty Metiria Turei

        ….and JIMMY SHAW…he hasnt put a foot wrong…he was the best choice for Green New Zealand male co-leader!

    • Clean_power 2.2
      25 June 2015 at 9:15 am

      Give Mr Robertson a few more months (of lowly polls) before he makes a move about his leadership bid.

      • Colonial Viper 2.2.1
        25 June 2015 at 9:53 am

        Nope, nothing will happen this side of the 2017 election.

      • Puckish Rogue 2.2.2
        25 June 2015 at 9:56 am

        True true

      • rhinocrates 2.2.3
        25 June 2015 at 12:52 pm

        I don’t know why people are being so mean about Robertson. Look at the wonderful thing he did for Dunedin, my beloved home town – he left!

        Now if he’d do the same for Wellington to search for fresh lattes elsewhere I’d be really grateful to him.

      • Lanthanide 2.2.4
        25 June 2015 at 1:20 pm

        Nothing will happen till 2016, if anything were to happen (which I doubt).

        Little hasn’t appointed a permanent Deputy Leader yet.

    • maui 2.3
      25 June 2015 at 10:53 am

      You’re celebrating National dropping -4.5% since the May poll? 😉

      • Puckish Rogue 2.3.1
        25 June 2015 at 11:09 am

        More like celebrating a poll thats probably quite accurate

        • maui 2.3.1.1
          25 June 2015 at 12:29 pm

          We’ll see, I’m willing to wait for the other companie’s polls and if they show the same thing I’ll wait for the ones after that, and so on and so on, heh.

    • Chooky 2.4
      25 June 2015 at 12:05 pm

      the tide is turning….imperceptible to begin with ….but the seepage is on the way out for jonkey nact

    • Draco T Bastard 2.5
      25 June 2015 at 1:02 pm

      Oh noes Nationals support drops to 49.5%, its a calamity

      You’re right, it is a calamity – NZ is still fucked by selfish, greedy arse-holes.

  3. The Chairman 3
    25 June 2015 at 8:25 am

    Why oh why?

    Labour say the party still has significant concerns, yet they plan to support the legislation?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/69683161/mps-read-mean-tweets

    Thoughts?

    • b waghorn 3.1
      25 June 2015 at 8:33 am

      Would this legislation be away of stopping the attacks on people that come from whale oil?

      • The Chairman 3.1.1
        25 June 2015 at 8:47 am

        If questionable, comments may be removed.

        If deemed to cause harm or distress, commentators will be prosecuted after comments are made.

        • McFlock 3.1.1.1
          25 June 2015 at 11:49 am

          It’s the “reputation” bit that concerns me: yes, it might cover revenge porn, but depending on the nuances of the wording they might just have recriminalised libel with no defense as to whether it’s true.

          e.g. “weird hairtugging liar john key” might pick up a fine…

          • The Chairman 3.1.1.1.1
            25 June 2015 at 8:56 pm

            I share your concern.

            Furthermore, for some, a fine may simply become another cost in financing an attack – i.e. dirty politics.

      • weka 3.1.2
        25 June 2015 at 9:12 pm

        “Would this legislation be away of stopping the attacks on people that come from whale oil?”

        Well I can see why Labour would vote for the legislation, but am thinking more of a certain left wing blog 😈

    • adam 3.2
      25 June 2015 at 9:10 am

      Because rather than deal with the issues brought up by the Roast Busters issue. It is appears to be nothing more than censorship, at worst. Or legislation to stop criticism of the government, at best.

      You can always expect the Tory scum to manipulate public opinion to suit their agenda.

      Plus, and I think this is the kicker – it just makes criminals of people over bugger all, but does not really deal with the issues Roast Busters raised.

      Again, Tory legislation which is a pigs ear.

      • The Chairman 3.2.1
        25 June 2015 at 9:22 am

        Tory legislation, yes. But why are Labour planning to support it when they have significant concerns?

        • adam 3.2.1.1
          25 June 2015 at 9:25 am

          Maybe because parliamentary labour is full of Tory’s.

          • The Chairman 3.2.1.1.1
            25 June 2015 at 9:31 am

            Labour has a habit of doing this, which IMO is costing the party support.

            • Colonial Viper 3.2.1.1.1.1
              25 June 2015 at 9:36 am

              Like supporting Key’s anti-terrorism spying legislation

              • The Chairman …
                25 June 2015 at 11:51 am

                Indeed.

                It’s difficult to know what the party stands for when they express significant concern, yet go ahead and support the opposition’s bill.

                Furthermore, doing so implies Labour doesn’t plan to overrule the concerning legislation if elected. Leaving voters questioning why vote Labour when they are largely the same?

                • Colonial Viper …
                  25 June 2015 at 12:30 pm

                  most of those people have just decided to stop voting full stop.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  25 June 2015 at 1:43 pm

                  Furthermore, doing so implies Labour doesn’t plan to overrule the concerning legislation if elected.

                  If they think such a bill is a good idea (which I do BTW) then it’s going to be easier to amend afterwards especially with all of the fuckups that’s going to happen under Nationals’ heavy handed, unthought out legislation.

                  So, support it now but highlight, loudly, how it should be changed and then, when in government, change it with consideration to previous concerns and based on what’s actually happened.

                  • The Chairman …
                    25 June 2015 at 7:29 pm

                    It could be several years before Labour are in Government again, which may come back to voters not perceiving a significant difference to bother changing allegiance.

                    • Colonial Rawshark …
                      25 June 2015 at 8:21 pm

                      yep
                      and fuck supporting bad legislation if you don’t believe in it

                      this bizarre positioning by Labour has all the finger prints of typical Thorndon Bubble risk management (risk averse) attitudes

            • Kiwiri 3.2.1.1.1.2
              25 June 2015 at 10:25 am

              Exactly.

      • Colonial Viper 3.2.2
        25 June 2015 at 9:35 am

        Or legislation to stop criticism of the government, at best.

        Anything which can be used to target political dissent must be viewed with suspicion.

    • David H 3.3
      25 June 2015 at 11:35 am

      And the ‘mean’ tweets were not even mean. And here’s me thinking that Politicians had thick skin.

    • McFlock 3.4
      25 June 2015 at 11:45 am

      are the greens supporting it?

    • Charles 3.5
      25 June 2015 at 2:50 pm

      To be fair, some of that “abuse” is just colourful opinion. “Dribbler” and “half-inflated balloon” or “supporting psychopathic climate change deniers”, come on. If that’s the best tweeters can do to politicians that actively try to kill people with policy, we could probably cut the numbers of NZ police because people are just too damn polite to violent maniacs and pose little threat to anyone else.

      The horse teeth comments, that would be something that needs looking into – as she points out, there is a theme. You have to consider the cultural context and the gender of the person. Call Winston a dribbler in real life and he might laugh, but he’d immediately give back five times worse, too. The description of half-inflated balloon bouncing around lamely and unexpectly … that isn’t gender specific, or physically specific enough, so fails the test.

      I’d be more concerned with private citizens recieving those sorts of text/online comments from strangers on a regular basis (that related to something they can’t change in themselves or an act of free-will that isn’t a crime), people who didn’t ask for public attention, weren’t trying to kill other people, and who weren’t engaged in politics. Many people get worse during smoko from employers and “workmates”, and much much worse from their own families and friends while they grow up. There might be a basis for investigating “the crimes of emotional abuse” but to ask anyone around the political traps, now, to do it, I just don’t think anyone’s up to it. They can’t even grasp the basics of writing good laws, and this sort of thing is a bit involved.

  4. Tautoko Mangō Mata 4
    25 June 2015 at 9:12 am

    John Key, with the support of the Speaker, has reduced our Parliamentary question time to a shameful farce. The Speaker has metaphorically cut the tendons of the opposition to immobilise them before their inhumane slaughter by ensuring that the unredacted cabinet document that proves John Key is lying as usual is not table.
    Shame.

  5. John Shears 5
    25 June 2015 at 10:04 am

    Healthline a very useful and helpful service which we have had occasion to use several times over the last few years is to be replaced by a new service run by two doctors companies for the next 10 years.

    Healthline has been a Health department service but the Nats.
    have decided it needs to be privatised.

    If it ai’nt broke don’t fix it ?????

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11470638

    • DH 5.1
      25 June 2015 at 10:48 am

      I find it depressing that no-one questions these lengthy contracts, IMO any Govt contract longer than 5yrs should immediately trigger a full investigation by the audit office. Labour and other opposition should be absolutely hammering into these rorts, they appear either fraudulent or intended to prevent future Governments from reversing privatisations.

      The main justification for using private sector contractors is the competitive pricing achieved through tendering. By handing out such unacceptably long contracts these people are effectively immediately cancelling the tenders and annulling any alleged advantage gained from privatisation.

      Contracts for services should be really be no longer than about 3-5yrs. The encumbent usually wants to retain the business and re-tendering keeps them honest. 10yr contracts are just gold plated retirement schemes for a favoured few, they’re totally unacceptable.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1
        25 June 2015 at 1:55 pm

        The long tenders are to cut down on the costs, for both government and the private sector, of the tendering. Both parties know that the costs of the tender process make it so that it would have simply been cheaper, easier and better for the government to simply do it themselves.

        As I say – competition increases costs and for all government services doesn’t produce any more value. In fact, it usually reduces the quality of the service as well as making it cost more.

        End result is that we end up with a monopoly private provider that will gouge the taxpayer for everything they can and the government will actually have to protect that monopoly providers’ profits else the whole lot will collapse. Basically, it’s guaranteed income for the private provider with the possibility of gouging even more from the government. Just look to Telecom/Chorus getting the government subsidy to install fibre to the home.

  6. David H 6
    25 June 2015 at 10:34 am

    Labour leaks everything else, so why not just leak it?

    • Lanthanide 6.1
      25 June 2015 at 1:28 pm

      The media have already seen the unredacted version. So it’s only hollow point scoring at this point.

  7. cogito 7
    25 June 2015 at 10:47 am

    New Mosque in Taihape – sanctuary for weary travellers

    “
    Before the centre was established in 2014, Muslims used to pray by the train station or behind the main public toilets. The mosque serves the general population of the South Island as they travel State Highway One – Constable Saifudin Abu, Taihape

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/voices/20150622

    Poor cop. He hasn’t even figured out yet that Taihape is NOT in the South Island.

  8. David H 8
    25 June 2015 at 11:37 am

    Here’s an article I followed from Twitter. very informative, and a little scary at the mind set of a typical Nat.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/opinion/69534585/rachel-stewart-you-think-sheep-are-dumb

  9. Puckish Rogue 9
    25 June 2015 at 11:44 am

    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/346883/greens-want-better-food-inmates

    Sample menu for a male prisoner

    Breakfast – two Weetbix with milk, three slices of toast with spread and a cup of tea.

    Lunch – three sandwiches, a piece of fruit and tea.

    Dinner – sausages with gravy, potatoes and two seasonal vegetables, a piece of fruit and tea.

    (Source: Corrections Department)

    – Sounds like the prisoners get adequate meals to me

    • McFlock 9.1
      25 June 2015 at 11:59 am

      really?
      I was considering committing a mid-range crime so I’d lose weight for six months or so. No self discipline.

    • TheContrarian 9.2
      25 June 2015 at 12:58 pm

      Where’s the coffee?

    • Lanthanide 9.3
      25 June 2015 at 1:29 pm

      Seems perfectly adequate to me.

      Ah, PR failed to include the Green’s salient point:

      The last review of prison food was in 2009. It found that rations were adequate, but would need to increase if Corrections wanted prisoners to do more physical activity.

      Mr Clendon said servings should increase now that all prisons were being converted into working prisons.

      I agree. If that’s what the review said, then it should be abided by.

    • Charles 9.4
      25 June 2015 at 2:22 pm

      Ah yes, Otago Daily Times of the Waitaki electorate… that hotbed of Greens support: running at about a 5th of what was given to National last election. Co-incidence?
      Don’t read the link if you’re a National supporter or crim-buster. Don’t want cognitive dissonance spooging all over the place… don’t you do it! …I warned you!

      http://brookingblog.com/2012/06/24/prison-protesters-all-they-need-is-a-decent-meal/

      ”The Ombudsman reported recently that “Prisoners continue to complain that the national menus implemented by the Department do not consider the specific health needs of prisoners, especially diabetics.”

      Former Corrections Minister Judith Collins responded to these concerns with this churlish comment: “Stay out of jail if you don’t like the food.” The police seem equally uninterested in providing a healthy diet for prisoners. The Wairarapa Times recently reported that a young man who spent a weekend in the police cells was given nothing but noodles and cold water.

      So in addition to the prospects of various physical assaults, seems National also is happy to condemn diabetic criminals to near-death situations. Nice.

      From the inside, prison food ain’t so great it seems, and isn’t even close to the ambiguously satisfying “sample menu” offered by ODT. Last food review was in 2009, and the news says no new review due any time soon, so this 2012 posting is still theoretically current. As for ODT and their Green-snarking… Go back to your parsnips.

      • Puckish Rogue 9.4.1
        25 June 2015 at 2:37 pm

        The problem is most of the population won’t give two flying figs for this

      • Colonial Rawshark 9.4.2
        25 June 2015 at 8:20 pm

        we will continue to push until Banquet Time Collins sees the light of day

    • Clean_power 9.5
      25 June 2015 at 2:33 pm

      The Green imbeciles should direct their efforts to a worthier cause.

    • The Chairman 9.6
      25 June 2015 at 7:53 pm

      Speaking of adequate meals, the Defence Force has announced it will restrict sugary fizzy drinks and deep fried food as it emerges more than a quarter of its personnel are ‘obese’.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/69218840/defence-force-staff-carrying-extra-pounds

  10. Philip Ferguson 10
    25 June 2015 at 12:23 pm

    Hillary Clinton is trying to masquerade as “the people’s candidate”. The $US2.5 billion “people’s candidate”, says Glen Ford of Black Agenda Report, who notes that the Democrats and Republicans are essentially the same.

    https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/06/25/hillary-clinton-the-us2-5-billion-peoples-candidate/

  11. Chooky 11
    25 June 2015 at 12:27 pm

    This from Kathryn Ryan on Ninetonoon radio nz is very good on teenage depression. She is invariably a brilliant and compassionate interviewer.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201759853/parenting-teen-depression

    “Young Australian author Adam Schwartz with practical advice for parents of children with depression based on his own experience.
    Adam Schwartz was just 10 when he first became depressed. He refused to go to school, he was prone to bouts of destruction and contemplated suicide. For the next seven years, he and his parents tried an endless round of therapies and treatments in New South Wales, where they live. Adam is now 24, back in study in healthy and has written a book about what it is like to be a child and teenager suffering from depression. It’s called mum, I wish I was dead and he wants it to give hope to both sufferers and their parents.”

  12. Chooky 12
    25 June 2015 at 12:42 pm

    SHAME : Fascism returns to puppet Europe …at the behest of USA..

    .(.Why are they so scared of open discussion and the TRUTH…and why are they lying?…pathetic! …surely they have learned from the past!?) –

    ‘EU drafts plan to counter Russian media ‘disinformation’, targeting RT’

    http://rt.com/news/269509-eu-plan-counter-russia/

    “The EU has drafted a plan to counter what it sees as “Russian disinformation activities” calling for the promotion of EU policies in the post-Soviet space and the implementation of measures against Russian media, including RT.

    The nine-page paper drafted by the EU Foreign Service and obtained by EUobserver was prepared ahead of the June 25-26 summit and is set to be voted on by EU leaders on Thursday.

    The plan is aimed at tackling Russia’s “use and misuse of communication tools” and the “promotion of EU policies” in former Soviet states as well as support for “independent media” and “increased public awareness of disinformation activities by external actors,” the report says.

    It specifically mentions RT, which according to the report broadcasts “fabrications and hate speech from their bureaus in EU cities.”…

    And from RT on the propaganda war :-

    ‘Dangerous propaganda’

    http://rt.com/shows/crosstalk/267628-dangerous-propaganda-western-media/

    “Winning the battlefield called public opinion has never been so important nor so divisive. The western media’s assault on Russia approaches sensory overload, but is it effective? There is a vast ongoing propaganda war being played out – whose propaganda should we be worried about?

  13. adam 13
    25 June 2015 at 1:00 pm

    To all the narrow minded bigots who are anti-papist, and are happy to blame all their woes on the church. Please don’t read this. Or respond – because your disgraceful display the other day, was bloody demoralising.

    If you don’t mind, stretching one’s mind – I think Chris raises some good points.

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2015/06/praise-be-for-pope-francis.html

    • Chooky 13.1
      25 June 2015 at 3:00 pm

      @ Adam….whose bigotry?

      ‘Catholic church writes to companies that support same-sex marriage’

      http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/24/catholic-church-writes-to-companies-who-support-same-sex-marriage

      “The Catholic church in Sydney has sent letters to at least two companies that publicly support same-sex marriage, to express its “grave concern” and accuse them of “overstepping their purpose”.

      The companies said the letter did not change their stance on same-sex marriage.

      Guardian Australia has seen the letter addressed to Steve Walsh, the chairman of law firm Maurice Blackburn, sent by the business manager of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, Michael Digges.

      In the letter, Digges writes the church is a “significant user of goods and services from many corporations, both local and international” and reminds the firm that many of its “employees, customers, partners, suppliers” would belong to the Catholic faith….

      (another attempt by the Catholic Church to run rough shod their brand of morality over people in secular society….weird hypocrisy because everyone knows that the Catholic Church and its clergy are full of wooly woofters…and we could say more …about Catholic Church priest sexual abuse, cover ups and “disgraceful” behaviour)

      • marty mars 13.1.1
        25 June 2015 at 9:22 pm

        I do agree with adam on one point – that it is not really fair for the catholics to be singled out from amongst the many deviations contained within Christendom.

      • Ergo Robertina 13.1.2
        25 June 2015 at 9:48 pm

        After everything that’s happened it sort of amazes me the catholic church has the gall to lecture another organisation about ”overstepping their purpose”, when it has been demonstrably neglectful of its own responsibilities as an organisation.

        “I wonder whether you have questioned whether it is the role of a corporation such as yours to be participating in such an ­important matter that impacts all of Australian society now and into the future.”

        • Colonial Rawshark 13.1.2.1
          25 June 2015 at 9:51 pm

          After everything that’s happened it sort of amazes me the catholic church has the gall to lecture another organisation about ”overstepping their purpose”

          Not ‘lecturing to another organisation’; more like preaching. It’s the Catholic Church after all.

        • Chooky 13.1.2.2
          25 June 2015 at 9:59 pm

          ER +100…gall and hypocrisy…and power and control ( descriptors)…this church of deviant weirdos and oppression has been responsible for an awful lot of bigotry and suffering

          ….and they have the gall to try and interfere and impose themselves into the private lives of those outside their church …and in secular democratic states

        • adam 13.1.2.3
          25 June 2015 at 10:10 pm

          Did you read my link?

    • Chooky 13.2
      25 June 2015 at 3:17 pm

      disgraceful bigotry?…and meddling in the rights of gays in a secular society

      http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-24/catholic-church-attacks-businesses-over-gay-marriage-support/6570082

    • weka 13.3
      25 June 2015 at 9:20 pm

      Thanks adam. I’ve been appreciating yours and Macro’s informed comments on this recently.

      • adam 13.3.1
        25 June 2015 at 10:06 pm

        Thanks weka. I try, sheesh I know the church is far, far, far from perfect. I find it’s power structures really not to my liking. Plus I disagree on its stance on sexuality and the role of women. That said, I agree on a lot of issues too.

        And quite frankly, I’m not seeing secular society doing much to help the poor and suffering. Under this government, secular society seems smug, and willing to put the boot in. So I’d rather deal with people, whose morals I disagree with on a couple of points. Than deal with people who have no morals at all.

  14. tinfoilhat 14
    25 June 2015 at 2:37 pm

    Can anyone enlighten me whether the proposed average 10% rate hike in Auckland over the next ten years is year on year or over the whole period.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11470889

    • Colonial Rawshark 14.1
      25 June 2015 at 3:00 pm

      No way it would be 10% over the whole period, that would be far less than inflation

      • tinfoilhat 14.1.1
        25 June 2015 at 3:48 pm

        That was what I thought – it’ll put huge pressure on less well off households and on those who rent who will no doubt have the landlords pass costs on.

        if this is what a Labour mayor and his supporters in council deliver can we please have the option of a good Green mayor or anyone else, rather than the continuing parade of jesters, capitalists and cronies that have little to offer to anyone apart from themselves and their mates.

  15. Chooky 15
    25 June 2015 at 3:55 pm

    For those bored with television and who were engaged with Aussie recent political history …this could be interesting

    ‘The Killing Season’

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/killing-season/

    THE KILLING SEASON is Sarah Ferguson’s gripping three-part examination of the forces that shaped Labor during the Kevin Rudd / Julia Gillard leadership years. It is a documentary series like no other. Visually striking, scripted like the best political dramas, The Killing Season is an enthralling account of one of the most turbulent periods of Australian political history.

    A comprehensive cast of the main players – including many of those still in parliament – speak frankly, providing a dramatic portrait of a party at war with itself.

    You can watch all three episodes of The Killing Season on ABC iview and for international viewers abc.net.au/killingseason. Available for a limited period only.

    Episode 1 – The Prime Minister and his Loyal Deputy (2006-2009)
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/killing-season/episode-1/

    Episode 2 – Great Moral Challenge (2009 – 2010)
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/killing-season/episode-2/

    Episode 3 – The Long Shadow (2010-2013)
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/killing-season/episode-3/

  16. Morrissey 16
    25 June 2015 at 5:08 pm

    “You just ring your hands in despair, don’t you.”
    Jim Mora sighs deeply to show how troubled he is.
    The Panel, Radio NZ National, Wednesday 24 June 2015
    Jim Mora, Liz Bowen-Clewley, Finlay Macdonald, Zara Potts

    In today’s preshow segment, after a few anodyne comments about the death of James Horner, the Panelists engage in some extended banter about the latest Global Peace Index ratings. Out of 162 countries in the survey, apparently the five safest places are Iceland, Denmark, Austria, New Zealand and Switzerland; the United States is only the 94th safest country. The most unsafe: Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan.

    ZARA POTTS: Syria is so dangerous, of course, in large part due to IS. And they are now blowing up the ancient shrines near Palmyra.
    JIM MORA: [gravely, in a tone of deep concern] They’ve got going on that, have they? …. Well what can you say? …. [heartfelt sigh] …. You just ring your hands in despair, don’t you.

    et cetera, ad nauseam….

    Masochists may like to see further instances of Jim Mora sighing deeply and empathetically….

    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-25102014/#comment-916568
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-05082014/#comment-861110
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09122013/#comment-741884
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-22102013-2/#comment-714772
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-21102013/#comment-714200

  17. Smilin 17
    25 June 2015 at 10:48 pm

    Aint it just great Keyjerks reactionary media army dragging the protest on parliament buildings into a fear mongering security risk trying to make the activist look like terrorists
    I suppose there will be a new bill jerked into parliament under urgency thats if Gerry aint to worn out finding the energy to get of his backside to complete the process of alarming the country as defence minister
    Maybe these fascists will declare their full intention cause i would put anything past this Keyjerk reactionary with the TPPA NEW SYSTEM of world govt about to be enacted Protest for breakfast anyone

    • maui 17.1
      25 June 2015 at 11:49 pm

      Katie Bradford even signed off by saying that the Government will be most worried about “copy cat attacks”. I could not see anyone attacking anyone… Both One and 3 News did as little as they could to cover what the protestors were actually protesting about. 3 was a little bit better in that sense, but Tova O’Brien chimed in with her opinion that it was all about the security. Distract, dstract, distract…

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  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

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

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

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  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
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  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
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  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
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    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
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    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
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  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
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    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
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    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
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  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
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    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
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    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
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    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
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    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
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    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
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    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
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    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
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    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
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    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
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    4 days ago
  • 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • 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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    5 days ago
  • 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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    5 days ago
  • 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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    5 days ago
  • 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
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 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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    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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