Open Mike 26/05/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 26th, 2018 - 102 comments
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102 comments on “Open Mike 26/05/2018 ”

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  1. Sanctuary 1
    26 May 2018 at 8:13 am

    John Key’s New Zealand was full of arrogant, smug Pakeha racists. The last time I heard such unabashed racism was before the 1981 Springbok tour. Their man might be long gone, but white racism (fueled on the North Shore by significant white South African immigration IMHO) has been emboldened.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/104218555/please-speak-in-a-language-99-of-us-understand-racist-remarks-derail-maunga-meeting

    I can’t believe the restraint shown to these racist assholes. They deserved a good hiding with a taiaha. That would have made for a salutary lesson on price to be paid for being an ignorant racist.

    • Stunned Mullet 1.1
      26 May 2018 at 8:48 am

      Nice generalisations, smears and bigotry Sanctuary plus an added bonus for the call to violence.

    • Cinny 1.2
      26 May 2018 at 9:04 am

      So some of them couldn’t understand the mihi, rather than listen, or feel the words spoken while watching body language and wait until they had finished speaking, someone got their knickers in a twist because they couldn’t understand the language.

      It’s ego related, did the person feel stupid due to their lack of te reo knowledge which resulted in them packing a tantrum?
      That’s what it looks like from where this white girl is sitting. Shame, makes him look even more stupid lololz.

      Sanctuary, was listening to an old soldier on talk back the other night, he said te reo should have been taught in NZ schools 100 years ago. His reasoning/angle, from the self-confessed war veteran, both the Germans and Japanese had knowledge of the English language; if all the kiwi soldiers spoke Maori it would have given them a huge advantage, especially in Japanese POW camps.

      So many reasons to learn the language, I thought the old soldiers’ angle was an interesting twist.

      Used to live in Devonport, it’s rather awesome up Mt Vic, well worth the short, steep walk. Would be wicked as if it was developed/preserved, being in the middle of town, it would only enhance their community.

      • JanM 1.2.1
        26 May 2018 at 9:53 am

        He he – the conversations in te reo might not have gone so well around the Japanese soldiers. When Derek Fox ( fluent te reo speaker) went to Japan on a scholarship some years back he was able to go to the fishing villages and have conversations with the locals because there is seemingly enough similarity in the languages to allow for this

        • Cinny 1.2.1.1
          26 May 2018 at 10:28 am

          🙂 Jan 🙂 what a crack up lolololz 🙂

        • OnceWasTim 1.2.1.2
          26 May 2018 at 11:02 am

          I wish I could remember the details @Jan M that my brother related to me before his death – fluent in Te Reo and Christened in a church near Whanganui.
          Once day I’ll search the attic.
          Basically, a challenge between loyalties towards the House of the Rising Sun versus the House of the Rising Moon. Difficulties in determining whether they should remain with the coloniser they were already familiar with, or whether some other colonial power offering treats and trinkets might be better.
          Dilemma dilemma.
          (Then another option came along a lot later – dressed up as an ideology called neo-liberalism). It made more promises than both of the previous options and allowed one to feel good about not having to worry about trivial matters such as greed and avarice, the idea of a society, that various disparities are OK because we’re only committed to the self and our own ambitions, etc. etc.

          • Cinny 1.2.1.2.1
            26 May 2018 at 6:06 pm

            Thanks for sharing Tim, that’s really interesting, what a fascinating narrative. Please do search the attic sometime 🙂

    • OnceWasTim 1.3
      26 May 2018 at 9:10 am

      @ Sanctuary ….. it’s what happens when your immigration policy is designed to be inherently classist/racist/imperialist.
      You either have to have lots of filthy lucre (often ‘black’ in nature ready to be laundered), or come from somewhere your currency is worth substantially more than the $NZ

    • millsy 1.4
      26 May 2018 at 1:49 pm

      Mind you, I don’t think the idea of passing on public land to tribal entities that, as always, restrict access.

  2. James 2
    26 May 2018 at 8:44 am

    “John Key’s New Zealand was full of arrogant, smug Pakeha racists”

    Would you prefer they moved on to people with “Chinese sounding names”?

    But I laugh that you are going about racist then pick out one particular race to blame it on.

    • Daveosaurus 2.1
      26 May 2018 at 10:53 am

      You should address your issues with “Chinese sounding” anything to the (possibly pseudonymous) bigoted racist shitbag “Simon Clark” in the report, who is reported at one point to have wibbled on about “Cantonese, Mandarin…” etc. languages.

      • Sanctuary 2.1.1
        26 May 2018 at 12:50 pm

        :… who is reported at one point to have wibbled on about “Cantonese, Mandarin…” etc. languages…”

        The other language he mentioned was “Eskimo”, a racist term in itself which nicely revealed the depths of his miserably ignorant racism.

        • dukeofurl 2.1.1.1
          26 May 2018 at 5:27 pm

          No its not. Yes the various tribes, Iñupiat, Inuit and Yupik have their own names and arent just a single people.

          “Eskimo” derives from phrases that Algonquin tribes used for their northern neighbors”
          “a person who laces a snowshoe” and isnt a derogatory term

  3. Ed 3
    26 May 2018 at 8:53 am

    Want to know what’s really going on in the world.
    Listen to George Galloway’s show.

    George Galloway: “The truth about Syria is finally being told.”

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nBFgANaAQ0M

    • James 3.1
      26 May 2018 at 9:15 am

      I’m starting to think your Galloway. Sending out your daily have you read my post today “I’m brilliant”.

      Have you seen the videos of him crawling around pretending to be a pussy cat? – best thing he’s put out imho.

    • Brigid 3.2
      26 May 2018 at 9:37 am

      “The day will come when we’ll look back on our role in Syria & conclude we’ve never done anything worse than being the Air Force, armourer & treasurer of ISIS/Al Qaeda and alphabet soup that has soaked the beautiful multicultural multi-faith Levantine Mediterranean land of Syria”
      George Galloway

  4. ianmac 4
    26 May 2018 at 9:31 am

    On a lighter note Steve Braunius has a wicked item on our favourite Paula Bennett.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=12058347

  5. Ffloyd 5
    26 May 2018 at 10:07 am

    I read the Braunias one on poor picked on Paula. It was brilliant. I see that apparently Mallard has a vendetta against her. Nothing to do with the fact that as usual she hasn’t read the Parliamentary rules so doesn’t have to abide by them. So it’s poor little her fighting injustice and bullying yada yada etc. Saw Gerry being interviewed in foyer. Paula comes out of lift. Sees cameras. Big toothy smile. Ours her arms out and does a wiggle/Sashay and rushed over to stand by Gerry. Gerry kept talking. Paula elbows him out of the way and takes over interview. Hugely entertaining. And why is she always dressed as if she’s on her way to a cocktail party.? Spanxed to the Max.
    More importantly. How in the hell did she get the position she’s in? It beggars belief.

    • OnceWasTim 5.1
      26 May 2018 at 11:24 am

      “Oim leevung” (set to the descant)
      “How long?” says the bovver boy

      /probably as long as it takes for moi consultant to complete his ‘re-imaging’ of moi (going forward). En!!!!! en!!!! ez long ez Soimon tears me its OK. And now that I got me stomach under control and me truck stop mates realise who’s boss. the Whurl is Moi Oysta

      Maybe a little Little Feet would be appropriate about now

    • One Two 5.2
      26 May 2018 at 2:14 pm

      The list of drivers is short
      ..

      What keeps types such as PB going…it’s not her own energy…

      Dark energy keeps certain types performing the way she does…

      Apply same to [name the politician/business person]

      • McFlock 5.2.1
        26 May 2018 at 4:04 pm

        Only now do you recognise the true power of the Dark Side of the Force!

    • greywarshark 5.3
      26 May 2018 at 7:00 pm

      Paula will have gone through the basic checks – white teeth, looks, good at twisting questions, ability to reply to questions with return questions or diversionary, retaliatory answer speed, prepared to attack or feint whatever needed, agreeable to makeover, botox, stomach stapling, whatever it takes. All the usual tests for National suitability for high office in politics.

      Chris Trotter on Bowalley Road and The Daily Blog says that Trevor Mallard will be enjoying all this argy-bargy.
      Parliament’s Poacher-Turned-Gamekeeper: Mallard positively twinkles in the Speaker’s Chair. His many years in the Chamber have armed him against every trick in the Opposition play-book. Hardly surprising, since Mallard has, at one time or another, played every one of them. Knowing exactly what to expect, this parliamentary poacher-turned-gamekeeper lies in wait for the lumbering Nats and daily spoils their fun by dispensing a judicious measure of galling intellectual acuity and dead-eyed malice.
      https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2018/05/testing-speaker.html

  6. cleangreen 6
    26 May 2018 at 10:21 am

    26th May 2018, The Nation; – Lisa Owens was toxic to labour today on ‘the nation’ overtalking Megan Woods all the time.

    Then in the next interview lisa Owens treated Judge Bancroft (The childrens commisioner) respect in the next interview with full time to answer questiomns without any ‘interjection’.

    So Lisa Owens is pure ‘National biased’ and should be removed from The Nation as when she asked Megan Woods a question she did not give the same grace time to respond to her that she gave judge Bancroft.

    What a sad watch The nation was and someone needs to place complaints about Lisa Owens over-baised unresonable interview of Labour MP for Energy Meagan Woods on 26/5/18 episode of “The Nation”.

    • JanM 6.1
      26 May 2018 at 10:34 am

      Yes, when she’s on a roll to try and destroy a politician from the left she reminds me of a vulture with those beady eyes and pokey fingers -ugh!

      • cleangreen 6.1.1
        26 May 2018 at 1:20 pm

        JanM;

        Yes Lisa Owens was certainly on a rampage ‘roll’ today and we saw her do this overbearing ‘interjecting’ last year before the election when she treated Winston perters in the same overbearing manner, so today for the second time we sent another request to the Newshub ‘Compliaints comittee to request they review the eposode and ‘moderate her interview and to allow the same time to respond to her questions that she gives others as she did following the Megan Woods interview.

        If they fail we will send the complaint on to Broadcasting Standards Authority as they have last year ruled on issues complants against the Newshub before last in 2017.

        Generally Newshub are fine but sometimes are spoilt by self imposed biased views of some.

        We do invite others to send a complaint to the Broadcast committee first as we have if they dont like seeing some MP’s given proper opportunity to explain the questions asked of them.
        standardscommittee@mediaworks.co.nz

        When we make a complaint to a media outlet it is best to go to them first not as Alwyn wrongly suggests, – as you need to allow the media outlet to respond first otherwise you will be sent back from BSA to do just that we were advsed last year when we sent a complaint into BSA.

        • alwyn 6.1.1.1
          26 May 2018 at 2:15 pm

          ” it is best to go to them first not as Alwyn wrongly suggests”
          You are quite correct that most complaints should start by going to the broadcaster first. I am sorry you took my comment confused you. That is all covered in the BSA link I pointed you to.
          https://bsa.govt.nz/complaints/making-a-complaint
          It seemed somewhat unnecessary to repeat all that in a comment when it was all explained in the detailed exposition I referenced.

    • Cinny 6.2
      26 May 2018 at 10:34 am

      Russel Norman was stellar as always on the following panel relating to Megan’s interview, he was excellent.

      The story about MMP was not a good look for the tories.

      Missed the interview with Megan, I quite like Lisa Owen, will check it out later.

    • alwyn 6.3
      26 May 2018 at 10:36 am

      “someone needs to place complaints “.
      Have you considered showing a little bit of initiative and doing it yourself?
      Why, like so many on the left, do you always see things as being
      “someone else’s” responsibility?
      You make complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
      It is all explained here. Go on “Just Do It”.
      https://bsa.govt.nz/complaints/making-a-complaint

      • cleangreen 6.3.1
        26 May 2018 at 10:50 am

        Alwyn;

        What a nasty message you sent there.

        We see you just as a pure biased national stooge it seems.

        Yes we did already send our comoplaint so are you?

        OOpppps of course not; – as you are a national prop, how could i forget that!!!!

        Next you’ll want to see what we sent?

        • alwyn 6.3.1.1
          26 May 2018 at 11:09 am

          “Yes we did already send our comoplaint so are you”.

          Well congratulations. A man with the courage of his convictions.
          Why didn’t you word your comment as calling on people to join you in that activity instead of being as if you were calling on people to do it for you?

          Have I complained?
          Of course not. I didn’t watch the program so complaining about it would be quite dishonest. In fact it would be just as dishonest as lying about someone you don’t know and describing them as “a national prop”.
          But then smears and lying come very easily to you don’t they?

          As for your claim
          “What a nasty message you sent there”.
          You really are easily offended aren’t you? I was merely, in my usual benevolent manner, trying to help you with something that you didn’t appear to know about.

          “Next you’ll want to see what we sent”
          Seems quite a good idea. Best you’ve had in ages. Why don’t you post a copy of the complaint you put in? That would no doubt help people who want to back up your complaint by giving them a model.
          Come on. Post it here.

          • repateet 6.3.1.1.1
            26 May 2018 at 12:38 pm

            Why didn’t they word the comment as calling on people to join them in that activity instead of being as if they were calling on people to do it for them?

            Probably assumed that anyone with an average level of literacy and comprehension would have thought that it was a call for people to join them in that activity. Average nine year old that is.

    • Jilly Bee 6.4
      26 May 2018 at 10:42 am

      Haven’t seen it yet cleangreen – usually watch it on a Sunday. I don’t know what’s in the water at Flower Street these days, if it’s not Lisa Owen on The Nation, it’s Tova O’Brien and Jenny Lynch during the week equally as toxic and seemingly enjoying themselves. Now that I’m retired, not sufficiently wide awake in the mornings to be bothered with the AM Show either, sounds like it would do nothing to help the blood pressure!!

      • cleangreen 6.4.1
        26 May 2018 at 2:00 pm

        Jilly bee,

        Yes we both were sitting there screaming at her (Lisa owens) when she cut-off Megan woods from responding to her questions.

        It was a horrible experience that raised our blood pressue not really worthy of good media balance as it was one sided until Lisa was finished with Megan then she changed like a camelion and sat quietly listening to Judge Bancroft answers, as such a change.

        It was frustrating really.

        • One Two 6.4.1.1
          26 May 2018 at 2:18 pm

          Don’t give in to the emotional drama, cleangreen…

          That is the purpose of scripted and managed media…

          It exists on the energy of those who feed it…

  7. alwyn 7
    26 May 2018 at 10:30 am

    Fearless Phil Twyford will be chortling away happily to himself this morning.
    He can now start talking again about how he is going to save New Zealand from the Yellow Peril.
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12057851

    He’ll also no doubt have the welcome mat out if Australia dumps their pseudo asylum seekers here and Ardern welcomes them with open arms.
    Why are we rejecting people who actually seem to want to contribute to this country?

    Is our Labour-led Government really still as racist as was the New Zealand Labour Party a hundred years ago? Was Clark’s apology merely a smokescreen and has Labour gone back to its roots. As Michael Joseph Savage demonstrated, and Twyford continues to show, bigotry against those with “Chinky” sounding names is very deeply ingrained in New Zealand’s parties of the left.

    “In early 2002 Labour prime minister Helen Clark apologised to New Zealanders of Chinese descent for racist treatment through the immigration poll tax which was in place from 1881 to 1944. What she didn’t do, of course, was apologise for the Labour Party, whose early leaders and MPs were virulently anti-Chinese and who campaigned for expanding the White New Zealand policies and attempted to outdo the Liberal and Reform parties to see who could be most racist against the Chinese in the few years after the First World War leading up to the legislation of 1920 which shut off Chinese immigration to New Zealand.”
    https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/08/24/labours-racist-roots-2/

    • Cinny 7.1
      26 May 2018 at 10:44 am

      alwyn, From that article you posted….

      “Most were temporary migrants who arrived on student and work visas, experts believe. Immigration policy changes introduced last year have made it harder for temporary migrants to gain residency.”

      Flashback to international students being exploited re their visa scandal under the previous government…

      Also from the same article….

      ” Donny Lai, 50, a former university lecturer from Hong Kong, will next week be returning home with his wife and young son after three years of struggling to secure a decent job.

      Lai describes himself as a “highly qualified IT professional” ande (lolz shabby proofreading at the herald) moved here in April 2015 because he believed the education system here was better for his 9-year-old son Justin.”

      Looks like he is doing what’s best for his family by moving back home because he can’t find work here.

      • OnceWasTim 7.1.1
        26 May 2018 at 4:16 pm

        +100 and see above.
        It’s interesting how the right continue to scream xenophobia and racism when the real racist, and classist policies were implemented – primarily around money and the almighty dollar.
        The coalition government might not quite be there yet but at least they’ve recognised there is a problem with exploitation and treating people like shit – including Donny Lai and others (in that article and elsewhere). Ten years of crap policy takes a while to unpick.

        That’s not to say I’m happy with current policy which still allows treating people like shit – unless of course they have loads of filthy (black) lucre or come from countries where the value of their dollars is sometimes worth double NZ’s.
        Check out the intent of that ‘demogrphic profiling’ for example that the system and structure put in place under the past administration, and which thankfully got canned – at least officially – though it still exists by way of organisational culture.

        By the way, if we/they (the government) really wanted to effectively reduce exploitation and immigration numbers ethically:

        – they’d be penalising the exploiters not their victims,
        such as by way of not bonding people to a specific employer; ensuring decent salaries and wages were paid; ensuring adequate oversight of immigration consultants – i.e. those claiming to be lawyers rather than having passed an exam or two; proper resourcing and monitoring of PTEs; rescinding the PR status of exploiters ripping off their victims and heavily fining those with citizenship.

        – taxing the 10s of thousands of vacant properties that have been sold to foreign buyers and those that don’t live here – i.e. those bought simply as an investment by people who show no committment to the country, especially while we have a housing crisis and homelessness

        – applying immigration rules equitably regardless of source country (whether 1st, 2nd or 3rd World)

        – listening to a few advocacy groups, not JUST ‘officials’ who’ve spent the past decade designing and implementing the system and structure

        – etc., et., etc. There’s a helluva lot of unpicking to do

    • Ad 7.2
      26 May 2018 at 2:11 pm

      I am jut impressed that Prime Minister Helen Clark leader of the Labour government could apologize as Prime Minister but not as leader of the Labour Party.
      Such an existential quandary!

      Alwyn, it’s not racist to talk about lowering immigration rates.

      It’s all in how it’s done.

      • alwyn 7.2.1
        26 May 2018 at 6:33 pm

        “Prime Minister but not as leader of the Labour Party.
        Such an existential quandary”.

        You might think it would be a quandary but then you are not the Prime Minister. For them it appears to be a necessary talent.
        Clark, Key and Ardern never had the slightest difficulty in the problem you are talking about. They all claimed that they did some things as Prime Minister and others as leader of their parties. They generally did that when they wanted to avoid OIA requests.
        I don’t know about English. I’m not saying he was innocent but off hand I don’t remember a case.

        • Ad 7.2.1.1
          26 May 2018 at 7:06 pm

          You appear to be saying that Prime Minister Helen Clark was not able to deliver an apology as both Prime Minister and political leader of the Labour Party because of the way an OIA request to her was responded to.

          Could you spell out the relationship between Helen Clark’s Prime Ministerial OIA responses and her apology about discrimination against Chinese people throughout New Zealand history?

    • dukeofurl 7.3
      26 May 2018 at 9:20 pm

      Anti chinese ?

      So allowing NZ chinese to be eligible for old age pension in 1936 was ‘virulently anti chinese’ ?

      The poll tax was being waived by 1934 and abolished in 1944.
      After 1939 wives and children of Chinese men in New Zealand were allowed temporary entry as refugees from war-torn China.

      Labour party didnt form government till Nov 35 – the Lib/Reform govern delayed it by a year hoping to gain time.

      So Labour is responsible for the racist laws passed by the Liberals and later Reform parties who united to form…..National

      Some things never change…. labour is always responsible even from the opposition benches. No mention of the actual politicians in charge

  9. Ovid 9
    26 May 2018 at 10:40 am

    The Irish Times exit poll points to a landslide win for Yes in the referendum to legalise abortion in Ireland. 68-32. Which is even bigger than 2015’s marriage equality vote of 62-38.

    • dukeofurl 9.1
      26 May 2018 at 5:22 pm

      Dont get too excited
      The new law will only be equal to NZs current restrictive system, rather than ‘a womens choice’

  10. The Chairman 10
    26 May 2018 at 11:01 am

    Ever increasing council rates are adding to the cost of home ownership and high rents.

    Councils nationwide are facing public furore over rate rises.

    What is the solution?

    Should council rates be abolished and replaced with funding via income tax?

    Should local Mayors, CEOs and councilors be replaced by local Ministers within central Government?

    Should local residents be able to vote on the prioritization of expenditure?

    • Pat 10.1
      26 May 2018 at 11:56 am

      none of the above…..until such time as a comprehensive and long term plan is developed for the needs of society any funding mechanism will simply continue the mistaken belief that the problem is funds and not sustainability…..even then it will ultimately be impossible but it may provide for a considerably longer lived and more equitable arrangement.

      • cleangreen 10.1.1
        26 May 2018 at 12:09 pm

        100% Pat correctly said.

        “the mistaken belief that the problem is funds and not sustainability”

        Councils never lower the rates ever do they?

        • Robert Guyton 10.1.1.1
          26 May 2018 at 1:56 pm

          Do the issues councils face ever get any smaller? Does Central Government regularly increase demands on local body councils? “Councils never lower the rates do they?

      • The Chairman 10.1.2
        26 May 2018 at 12:15 pm

        Unless “sustainability” is going to cost far less, funding will continue to be a problem, Pat.

        • Stuart Munro 10.1.2.1
          26 May 2018 at 12:25 pm

          I notice they never struggle to build new council HQs. Comes down to priorities.

          • The Chairman 10.1.2.1.1
            26 May 2018 at 1:14 pm

            Indeed, Stuart.

          • cleangreen 10.1.2.1.2
            26 May 2018 at 1:30 pm

            True too Stuart;

            I see Gisborne has Napier is doing it too; – so we pay for their office upgrades but when we ask for “sustainable services”they will say, “we dont have money for that” ; – it makes us all sick.

        • Pat 10.1.2.2
          26 May 2018 at 12:51 pm

          still stuck in that ‘funding’ mentality …..do you even know what needs to be funded?…and at what scale?…and for how long?….and are they needs or wants?….and what resources are available?…..are those resources renewable or finite?

          When society has determined that then you can worry about funding…and it applies at the global, national and local level

          • The Chairman 10.1.2.2.1
            26 May 2018 at 1:12 pm

            What needs to be funded, at what scale and for how long etc is largely determined in council’s long term plan.

            And while the public does have input into that, they have little teeth. They have no direct voting power over it nor any veto options. Therefore, this can and should be improved.

            While households and a number of businesses are struggling, we can’t continue to ignore the negative impacts of current funding mechanisms. And soaring council rates, which they themselves are becoming unsustainable for many.

            • Pat 10.1.2.2.1.1
              26 May 2018 at 2:35 pm

              Id suggest that all that demonstrates the problem…..nobody is able to articulate what is needed, resulting in an assertion that what we currently have is insufficient, poorly targeted and unaffordable with no answer except to say ‘more money’ll fix it”….no it wont…..comprende?

              • The Chairman …
                26 May 2018 at 3:03 pm

                You’re right there, Pat. Merely throwing more money at it via excessive rate increases isn’t the solution, it’s one of the problems I’m highlighting.

                Moreover, in many cases I don’t believe nobody is able to articulate what is needed. Sometimes, there will be a contest of ideas. Nevertheless, we do require a more democratic process of consensus.

        • Robert Guyton 10.1.2.3
          26 May 2018 at 1:57 pm

          How could a Regional Council reduce its investment (financial) in science around water quality?

          • The Chairman 10.1.2.3.1
            26 May 2018 at 2:42 pm

            Why do you believe council’s investment in water quality requires reducing, Robert?

            They could look at attaining better efficiency. They could look at increasing fines for polluters, offsetting the cost of investment.

            • Robert Guyton 10.1.2.3.1.1
              26 May 2018 at 2:54 pm

              I don’t believe that, Chair. The increasing pressure on councils (regional esp) to manage the increasing degradation of the environment costs money; increased and increasing fines for polluters is one approach and I’m a supporter of such action, providing it is fair.

              • The Chairman …
                26 May 2018 at 3:18 pm

                What do you believe is driving this increasing degradation and increasing pressure on councils, Robert?

                • Robert Guyton …
                  26 May 2018 at 3:37 pm

                  People and their activities. Sh*t creates a lot of work for councils, for starters, then there’s getting water to places it doesn’t naturally go; it’s all very expensive and increasing. We are doing it wrong. I blame civilisation 🙂

    • Graeme 10.2
      26 May 2018 at 12:35 pm

      The leader of the opposition was in Queenstown last week, while his deputy was throwing her toys in the house, talking about regional funding.

      https://crux.org.nz/community/simon-bridges-pushes-more-local-autonomy-for-southern-lakes/

      “Speaking to a Queenstown Chamber of Commerce business breakfast, Mr Bridges said he was interested in economic models that would give the region the ability to make more decisions on how the local economy is managed.

      “That way you would be looking at both sides of the equation, living with the consequences of income and expenditure.” Mr Bridges likened the idea to the cantons of Switzerland where local authorities have much more say over how many aspects of the economy are managed. He said he liked to call the concept “localism.””

      Interesting concept, but. I think soimon should just step back a bit, and run the “what could go wrong here” test on his ideas.

      The reason Municipalities are struggling to fund core services is two sided, Central Government has “devolved” functions to a local level and not kept up the funding along with finding much more for councils to do. The other is a bureaucratic machine that devotes it’s energy to NOT fund things, especially under a National or National Lite government. We get smacked in Queenstown with this because a service will reach breaking point at the peak of a cycle, and by the time a project to resolve the issue gets to funding stage the cycle has eased, demand subsided and the bureaucrats say “what’s the problem, don’t need to fund this” So the Kawarau Bridge replacement kicked around for 30 years.

      PS For 6 min of defensive politicking, and making promises he’s got no chance of keeping, check the video at the bottom of the link.

      • The Chairman 10.2.1
        26 May 2018 at 1:00 pm

        While I agree central Government are adding to council costs, we can’t overlook the impact that reckless and extravagant expenditure is adding. Nor the expense of the bureaucratic machine itself.

        Therefore, reducing costs and expenditure while also looking at more progressive means of funding is what is required.

      • pat 10.2.2
        26 May 2018 at 4:56 pm

        Bridges will be gone as leader inside 12 months….as must have been the plan

        • McFlock 10.2.2.1
          26 May 2018 at 5:15 pm

          Dunno about plans, but he’s one of their weakest performing members.

          I reckon the next tilt for leadership will be between Bennett and Collins.

          • pat 10.2.2.1.1
            26 May 2018 at 5:39 pm

            mustve been a plan….surely they realised how s**t he would be…after all theyve worked with him for years.

            • McFlock 10.2.2.1.1.1
              26 May 2018 at 6:09 pm

              Depends entirely on whether the different caucus factions were voting for him rather than against the other factions. Voting for the least-worst in their eyes might not mean voting for the most competent.

              And if he doesn’t grow into the role, they can have another tilt later with a thinner herd to compete against.

              So not so much a single plan, as him lucking out on the expedient independent decisions of others. It could just as easily have been mercenary mark, who couldn’t even handle 7Days without pity points.

              • Pat …
                26 May 2018 at 6:32 pm

                lol…yes saw Mr Mitchell’s ‘effort’ last night…maybe Bridges is the best of a very bad lot

          • Baba Yaga 10.2.2.1.2
            26 May 2018 at 8:05 pm

            I’ll bet that in the next 9 years the nats will have fewer leaders than labour had over the next 9 years!!

            • Dv 10.2.2.1.2.1
              26 May 2018 at 8:30 pm

              Nat got a head start with 2 to 1 already.

            • Gabby 10.2.2.1.2.2
              26 May 2018 at 10:50 pm

              Statistically, what’re the odds on you being around to pay/collect in 9 years babby?

            • McFlock 10.2.2.1.2.3
              26 May 2018 at 11:34 pm

              I suspect that depends on how many leaders Judith needs to knife in the back until she gets what she wants.

    • Robert Guyton 10.3
      26 May 2018 at 2:57 pm

      “Councils nationwide are facing public furore over rate rises.”
      A bit hyperbolic there, Chair – all councils? “Furore”?

      • The Chairman 10.3.1
        29 May 2018 at 10:22 am

        One would be hard-pressed to name a region where there isn’t ratepayer discontent over excessive council rate increases, Robert.

  11. bwaghorn 11
    26 May 2018 at 12:29 pm

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12058818
    Reds under the bed or in the back pockets of nz labour

    • Graeme 11.1
      26 May 2018 at 12:43 pm

      Donald will have to out bid them. That’s the trouble with isolationism, when you step away, someone else steps in to fill the gap.

      And National flew on the wings of blue dragons…..

      • cleangreen 11.1.1
        26 May 2018 at 1:37 pm

        “As a result, US lawmakers needed to consider whether New Zealand should be kicked out of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance because of problems at its “political core”

        Yes please!!! Throw us out of the “Five eyes spy game network” please do; – as I dont want our country being a spy for any other counrty as we were under “Planet key”

    • Ad 11.2
      26 May 2018 at 2:14 pm

      One would need to detect an independent foreign policy from this government.
      No sign yet, but there’s time.

    • James 11.3
      26 May 2018 at 2:33 pm

      “However, he said New Zealand “have denied that there’s a problem at all” and failed to follow Australia’s lead in setting up an inquiry into China’s activities.”

      Lol the one thing this Labour Party won’t hold an inquiry into.

    • McFlock 11.4
      26 May 2018 at 4:26 pm

      Ignoring the geoploitical aspects of hawkish claims misleading US congress, and also ignoring the civil liberties aspects of global intelligence surveillance, I’d like to see us kicked out of Five Eyes if only to watch paranoiacs and serious commenters alike express concerns about “Four Eyes”.

      You can’t maintain an air of mystery if you share the nickname bestowed by school-yard bullies.

  12. UpandComer 12
    26 May 2018 at 6:17 pm

    I’m sorry for a comment that isn’t related to the thread.

    Hi standardistas. I know you have differences with people in New Zealand. But today a man in England was sentenced to death by the Tory government run by the Israeli interests in England for standing up for the working class girls of England.

    This is bipartisan issue. If a Tory government can arrest people and sentence and imprison them within the hour for speech in the United Kingtom for standing up for British working class girls who were raped under Labour we are in dire straights.

    Please stand up for free speech. Stand up for Tommy Robinson, defending the working class girls who were sacrificed to diversity.

    The working class in England should be marching in the streets. This is bipartisan, genuine fascism. You want to see real fascism? Here it is.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irhQtamQ6Mo

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRt-iFANWKg

    If Tommy Robinson dies in prison because he’s murdered by muslims, it’s time for bad things to start happening to the British ruling classes.

    The man was imprisoned over nothing, and then sentenced and imprisoned within the hour. No jury. No trial.

    https://www.menofthewest.net/the-murder-of-tommy-robinson-how-britain-became-the-kebab-archipelago/

    I’m going to be doing daily posts on Tommy Robinson.

    The British government and the overall British ruling class have no mandate by the British people. They have suspended their relations with the British people. They should be regarded as an illegitimate government ruling by force and their supposed authority should be suspended and they should be regarded as adversaries of the British people.

    The people of England need to start arming themselves with anything they can find. This is real. This is terrifying. And justice needs to be served.

    The rape of 1 million girls by the English ruling class deserves justice.

    I hope that justice comes for the English ruling class, whatever form it takes. The English ruling class are aliens to England. I won’t state why, but they are not English. They are of another group of people who have a different agenda to the English.

    Every day, I’m going to start writing about the English government and what it is doing.

    New Zealand needs to put pressure on this regime and start divesting ourselves of the relationship until they restore the rule of law and the freedoms of western institutions to England.

    God bless the English.

    Everyone on the left in New Zealand needs to start looking at Tory fascism in England and the suspension of the rights and rule of law and persecution of brave men speaking out on behalf of the British working class.

    1 million of these girls were raped. I’d gladly march with any one of you to free Great Britain from it’s ruling classes.

    [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.]

    [I’ve no idea why a comment supporting ex English Defense League joker got through on a thread about homelessness. I can’t be bothered to read the entire comment – suspect it should be trashed – but will leave sitting around here for now] – Bill

    • Cinny 12.1
      26 May 2018 at 8:46 pm

      upandcomer…….are you talking about tommy robinson aka stephen yaxley, aka stephen lennon, aka andrew mcmaster, aka paul harris the far-right wing activist?

      He’s done MANY lags before, mostly for violence, and a bit of fraud.

      Lolz while doing time at Winchester Prison….. Robinson made friends with several Muslim prisoners. “Great lads … I cannot speak highly enough of the Muslim inmates I’m now living with”, he added at the time.

      He’ll be fine in the big house, doubt he’s losing any sleep over it.

      Far out dude…. where are you getting your shite info?

      Listening Post is on, tune in to that instead.

    • Daveosaurus 12.2
      26 May 2018 at 8:58 pm

      Good on the Poms for locking up the spiteful little Nazi. It would be good if he was left to rot in prison… but he’s probably only going down for three months because that’s the suspended sentence that was already on the books. More info. here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-arrested-leeds-court-child-grooming-trial-edl-founder-latest-a8368821.html

      • UpandComer 12.2.1
        27 May 2018 at 2:38 pm

        Amazing.

        Just amazing.

        Go and read the Rotherham Royal Commission report.

        What an incredible response.

        Duly observed.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 12.2.1.1
          27 May 2018 at 3:40 pm

          Some vile little nazi exploits rape to parrot his sick nazi gobshite, you approve of him, and your point is?

        • Daveosaurus 12.2.1.2
          27 May 2018 at 7:46 pm

          Here’s an even better idea: take your vile, fake, Islamophobic bullshit and ram it up your arse sideways. Then go and apologise to the family of Makram Ali, who was murdered by one of Robinson’s followers.

    • UpandComer 12.3
      27 May 2018 at 2:37 pm

      Okay noted.

  13. eco maori 13
    27 May 2018 at 9:51 am

    Good Morning The hui I say that there should be a majority of Iwi tangata whenua should have a say on there Waitangi Treaty settlement . There is still a lot of whenua that is not in the right Tupna ownership /caretakers hands .So I say Iwi should have the backing of hapu before Treaty Settlements are settled . P.S Ka Pai Wahine Maori those old men will change there minds on the Equal rights of Wahine
    Ka kite ano

  14. eco maori 14
    27 May 2018 at 10:14 am

    Eco Maori is starting this conversation I want a law that Maori Whenua can not be sold only leased to Preserve te Whenua for te mokopunas after all we are only caretakers of Whenua its te Mokopunas future that counts in my book. Ka kite ano music link

    https://youtu.be/u9Dg-g7t2l4

    • eco maori 14.1
      27 May 2018 at 2:32 pm

      The Moko Kauae I was to busy to comment wisely on this topic its a Maori cultured Wahine birth right to have a moko kauae before one gets the moko kauae its was traditionally the kaumatua to whom one ask for there blessing on one getting a moko .
      The men its was birth right or if one achieved some great task for te tangata to have the blessing of the kaumatua to get a ta moko .
      I believe that I have achieved some great achievements as Eco Maori one man has told me this who I trust but untill most kaumatua tell me this I will not get my ta moko ie the blessing of te tangata. Ka kite ano link is below .

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/104128733/T-moko-is-not-a-fashion-statement-or-scribble-its-about-birthright

      • eco maori 14.1.1
        27 May 2018 at 6:45 pm

        Good evening Newshub Tova those people that were ask how they think Winston Peters will do as temporary Prime Minister were all clearly national voters enough said. Does know one want to talk about the fines the sandflys let there European m8 off and hammer the brown tangata discrimination at its best .Theirs a couple of phenomenons that’s happening because the sandflys are so intent on harnessing Eco Maori ???????????
        Ka pai to the Leaders Kim jong-u and Moon for there actions.
        Its a good weekend of sports I quite like coach Hansen comments
        With the League the Warriors will get there game on out when it counts .
        Its a bit warmer this year than last year no.
        Ka kite ano

    • Exkiwiforces 15.1
      31 May 2018 at 4:13 pm

      About bloody time that 4th estate are starting dig around about this sorry state of affairs and I hope they start asking some very hard questions at Carter, Guy and Fed Farmers also I’ll like to see Jandals have a Royal Commission on what, where, when, why and how we the nation got to this point as someone or people should get a ****ing Ass kicking.

      The so-called custodians of the Land probably need to take a very long look at themselves for the bloody mess they have caused to this once great country of ours and talk about shitting on ones nest.

      No bloody wonder that Bridges is MIA on this one atm.