Open mike 27/01/2021

106 comments on “Open mike 27/01/2021 ”

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1. RosieLee 1

   27 January 2021 at 7:40 am

   I think this government is certainly dragging its feet on all aspects of housing, but it's a bit rich for Collins and the Nats to be lecturing and grandstanding.
   • Treetop 1.1

     27 January 2021 at 8:38 am

     The government needed to have put in place a measure for rent not going up more than 10% in a year. Once the Covid rent freeze was lifted rent has become unmanageable for those already struggling. An interim payment needs to be introduced until there is the right balance in home ownership and private rental.

     The government cannot build subsidised housing quick enough. Some people have high health needs and they already have enough daily stress caused by their health. Terminal conditions, bleeding conditions requiring a blood transfusion, mobility conditions….
   • Jimmy 1.2

     27 January 2021 at 8:38 am

     I don't think it makes any difference whether Labour or National are in regarding the increasing house prices. Even back in Helen Clark's days, house prices were rising sharply. NZ and Auckland in particular are a very desirable place to live.
     • Incognito 1.2.1

       27 January 2021 at 9:17 am

       How many State Houses did National add in those 9 years in Government?
       • Jimmy 1.2.1.1

         27 January 2021 at 2:17 pm

         No where near enough. But over the last few years the wait list has virtually quadrupled.
         • Treetop 1.2.1.1.1

           27 January 2021 at 4:57 pm

           I would like to know if there is a change in criteria for a state house under National and under Labour?
         • Incognito 1.2.1.1.2

           27 January 2021 at 10:10 pm

           I wonder why that might be the case.
           • Treetop 1.2.1.1.2.1

             28 January 2021 at 8:30 am

             The criteria under National to get a state home was dreadful, even with several health conditions. In 2016 I got put on the B list low down when I had 3 weeks to find a place as the landlord sold. The A list was numbered with 20 places.

             The rental market is so much worse now. I find it stupid that Work and Income ask if you are looking for other accommodation. As if people can afford private rental.
             • Incognito …

               28 January 2021 at 8:33 am

               Thanks.
   • Sabine 1.3

     27 January 2021 at 10:03 am

     this is a fun read.

     https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-promised-to-fix-the-housing-crisis-and-our-readers-had-a-lot-to-say-about-it/GKMYH2Z2OLONQZ5VTHMKJNW5V4/

     and that is what opposition parties do, they grand stand, and considering that Labour. is in their second term ……….well maybe its time for hte opposition to put fire under the bums of those that want to drag their feet because they ran out of ideas on how to fix it.
   • Herodotus 1.4

     27 January 2021 at 11:10 am

     So who should lecture ? No party in parliament, as even the greens have had to swallow dead rats so their moral credibility could be questioned by some. This sounds to be as a deflection to anyone asking why has nothing tangible been done, and we have had 20% increase in the property values in some markets over the last year🤬

     listen to the phrasing of the government there are no actions or plans , we have to wait for a treasury report to come out. FFS. Where is the Winteck development that was 2 years ago 10 years to complete . There is no action on the site.
     • Incognito 1.4.1

       27 January 2021 at 10:11 pm

       Facts can be so inconvenient depending on one’s narrative.

       https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-zealands-public-housing-crisis-waiting-list-grows-nearly-1000-in-two-months/UFYUW4QAUXIYZARA2ASC2L56VY/
2. Pat 2

   27 January 2021 at 8:07 am

   Conflict of interests?

   https://www.newsroom.co.nz/agency-ambitions-spark-tourism-turf-war

   "Tourism has been of huge importance to the country, pre-Covid, as our biggest export earner and the direct employer of 225,000 people. Before the pandemic took hold, total spend by tourists had reached $42 billion a year, 58 percent of which was from domestic tourism. About $1.8 billion of GST was paid annually by international visitors."
3. Forget now 3

   27 January 2021 at 9:09 am

   Motorcycle couriers driving on the footpath in full ear-covering helmets really irritate me. Especially in suburban streets during the school holidays! I didn't mind the old Posties on bikes, and helmets you could hear through (even the new electric mobility vehicles – though I imagine that I might have a different view if I was still pushing prams, or in a wheelchair), because they retained situational awareness. I have tried ringing the courier company, and the police – but it's just not stopping.

   So today I am going to go through all the fun of heading into the middle of town to make a formal written complaint at the police station today, having noted the license number this morning. Does that seem an over-reaction? And is this an issue in places other than Dunedin?
   • The Al1en 3.1

     27 January 2021 at 9:24 am

     Save yourself the journey – It's probably legal.

     First hit on google for motorbikes on path nz.

     You must ride on the road – you can't ride on the footpath or a cycle path unless you have permission from the road controlling authority to ride on the footpath to deliver mail, newspapers or other printed matter to letterboxes.
     • The Al1en 3.1.1

       27 January 2021 at 10:33 am

       You're welcome.
     • Forget now 3.1.2

       27 January 2021 at 10:56 am

       Ta for the link TA, I will have a look at it before I head in. But this motorcycle courier was driving on the footpath past driveway entrances in front of houses that they were not stopping at. If they were just looping in and out from the road, that'd be slightly different (though with the reduced hearing, still dodgy)

       When I have rung the police in the past, they have seemed not entirely dismissive, but unwilling to take it any further if I didn't come in to make a written complaint. The courier company made soothing noises, but seemed unlikely do anything. After all they are the ones who set unreasonable workloads for their employees/ contractors in the first place.

       It's one thing making sure my kids know to stay away from the roads because of traffic being dangerous. Having to keep them fenced up off the footpath is another, especially since the older one is starting to get tall enough to open the gate.

       Edit: had a look at your link now, that quote is from a section clearly headed: Information for moped riders. So that’s irrelevant to this instance. Somewhat confusingly,on a different page it says bluntly:
       You cannot ride motorcycles or mopeds on the footpath.

       https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/vehicle-types/motorcycles-and-mopeds/#motorcycles
       • The Al1en 3.1.2.1

         27 January 2021 at 3:49 pm

         I guess if they have the permission to ride on the pavement, they can ride on the pavement, no matter how annoying. If they don't, they're illegal, so dob them in.

         Let us know the response.
         • Forget now 3.1.2.1.1

           27 January 2021 at 6:46 pm

           Basically desk staff said they'd get back to me. I was typing a longer response but that vanished somehow with clumsy fingers. Which is irritating!

           She did briefly seem quite interested, when I told her the area of town; probably assuming gang members. But even they are not that socially irresponsible! So I guess if you want to be a renegade biker, the best patch to keep you safe from the cops is; a company logo.
4. Anker 4

   27 January 2021 at 9:11 am

   • Anyone else feeling very concerned about this Northland covid outbreak? I find it hard to believe that there isn’t community transmission given the strain is highly infectious……..

   I have had tremendous faith in the govts response to date, but I feel pretty uneasy about this. People I know in the cafe one hour after the woman have tested negative, and now have been told they are free to get on with life…..

   btw sick of people moaning about long queues to be tested……it seems people expect ease and comfort, not remembering that we are in a pandemic and they need to suck it up and do the right thing. I am not saying health board shouldn’t try and improve things.
   same with people flying to Oz whose flights were canceled. People need to realise we are not living in pre-covid days…..
   • Incognito 4.1

     27 January 2021 at 9:23 am

     How many close contacts, including her husband, have been tested and were negative, 15, wasn’t it? But let’s lockdown Northland now and close all borders for a few weeks till the dust settles. And start vaccinating everybody tomorrow. It’s not good enough, as Judith says and David wants to wear his white T-shirt without a face mask.
   • weka 4.2

     27 January 2021 at 9:55 am

     The woman with the original infection didn't have respiratory symptoms. I'm guessing that is a big part of why there's been no community transmission.

     Pretty sure that the govt would have acted quickly if there was community transmission (and will when there is). All the contact tracing will be happening. The system works, and even where it fails at the first barrier, or the second, we still have other actions for elimination.
   • Treetop 4.3

     27 January 2021 at 11:07 am

     I am more puzzled by it. I did raise that the woman could have had a false positive test or contamination in the lab. I would retest her to be sure on this.

     I am concerned about the flaws in MIQ. Nurses not wearing visors when testing. People handling luggage not wearing PPE or gloves. Bus drivers transporting MIQ guests not wearing a mask. Guests mingling in exercise and smoking areas.
   • Jimmy 4.4

     27 January 2021 at 1:24 pm

     We do seem to be extremely lucky that all her close contacts have now tested negative, even her husband. As this South African strain is supposed to be far easier to spread around.
     • Forget now 4.4.1

       27 January 2021 at 7:38 pm

       Tested negative so far, Jimmy. More than a week yet before they have their second test even if they remain asympyomatic, and I wouldn't bet on the husband, at least; staying that way. Plus there are the two new Pullman probables.
5. Anker 5

   27 January 2021 at 9:36 am

   • I wasn’t suggesting any of those things incognito, just expressing uneasiness.
   • yes husband tested negative and 15 other contacts negative, but don’t we have to wait another 12 days for his second test?

   Queensland did a sharpe 3 day lockdown when SA variant in the cmty. And boarder worker only had it for a few days.

   I don’t think we should shut our boarders, but as I posted recently tighten the criteria for people coming in. People need a very compelling reason to be travelling during a pandemic, imho.

   I don’t have a huge amount of faith in the vaccine really, not that I am an anti Vaxer and I will definitely have my jab. It’s just that there is no evidence that it will stop transmission or will be effective against the mutating strains. All this “we should have the vaccine sooner” is just politicking.
   • weka 5.1

     27 January 2021 at 9:58 am

     my reading is that there are a lot of people feeling anxious, in part from last year, and who want some simple solutions to alleviate their anxiety and stress. The vaccine is an easy one to latch on to. Like you, I don't believe the vaccines are going to offer any quick fixes, and I think apart from the front line workers (who deserve protection) we should be letting countries with community transmission have first dibs.

     One of the things for NZ about 2021 is to upskill people in how to manage chronic stress. This isn't going to go away any time soon, and I suspect many people still think it will. Was pleased to see Ardern yesterday making it clear that it's not.
     • Sabine 5.1.1

       27 January 2021 at 10:16 am

       Our upskilling to treat chronic anxiety is called anti depressant and anti anxiety meds. And we stay away from the news and the speeches of highly paid suits that really still try to sell us that going back to 'normal' will be a thing.

       Those of us that are trying to keep our business afloat we are pretty much all on it. (these are the people that have businesses with whom i speak, most of them women – who pretty much so far have born the brunt of the pandemic – be it working from home/homeschooling etc during lock downs, having anxiety ridden kids, losing their jobs, losing their businesses, and not being paid any benefits because the partner still makes a coin).

       The vaccine is what is needed to be done, and now we have world wide large scale testing that will tell us if it will work. So seriously we should not be rushing into it.

       But anyone at this stage pretending that this is not an issue and will be over by christmas, gone just like this, like a miracle etc……..is just fooling him/herself.

       And even then, so its over now, the pandemic is gone, half of the world has not properly worked in a long time and is broke as, a lot of people are dead, etc, do we really think we can just go back to March 1 2020 and pretend it did not happen?
       • weka 5.1.1.1

         27 January 2021 at 10:18 am

         another 12 months is a long time. Meds are ambulances at the bottom of the cliff. Useful, but we can put some fences at the top too. Long term stress, esp in a situation like this that has so many unknowns, is a big burden. Best we pay attention to how we adapt sooner rather than later. Chch should have taught us some things about this (but so much we didn't learn there).
         • Treetop 5.1.1.1.1

           27 January 2021 at 11:19 am

           Adapting is the best way forward. Pulling the plug on a business is sometimes necessary. It is the unknown which causes the most fear. All one can do is go a day at a time.
           • weka 5.1.1.1.1.1

             27 January 2021 at 11:28 am

             Still a fair amount of denial about our situation methinks. Which is interesting for those of us involved in climate action. This one is more in our faces, but still taking some time for people to get to grips with the long nature of teh crisis.
         • Sabine 5.1.1.1.2

           27 January 2021 at 5:11 pm

           Meds is pretty much the only thing available to most of us, so meds it is. People like me, and those that i know, we don't have the luxury to dream about stuff that ain't never gonna happen and good mental care is one of these 'nice things to have' that we should have, but all we get is meds.

           We adapt, we work through our grief, and we understood that this Covid thing is going to be a marathon not a sprint. So the best that one can do is go day by day, one step at a time and hopefully stay afloat and make it through the other side, mentally and emotionally not too damaged.

           Chances are this is going to take the better part of another 2 – 3 years until it has run its course – either by humans becoming more adapt at the virus, or the virus running out of bodies thanks to vaccines or a combination of both.

           The best mental health advise that i can give at this current time, is don't expect these things to happen fast, do expect lockdowns in the future – hopefully only short and isolated ones, and a bit more hardship just generally. So no need to rush anything, expectations or wishes, and just go slowly. And if it gets to much, Meds.
           • weka 5.1.1.1.2.1

             27 January 2021 at 5:29 pm

             Meds is pretty much the only thing available to most of us, so meds it is. People like me, and those that i know, we don't have the luxury to dream about stuff that ain't never gonna happen and good mental care is one of these 'nice things to have' that we should have, but all we get is meds.

             Yes, this is why I am suggesting that NZ doesn't leave the stress to our usual poor attention to mental health. We've got some breathing space that many others in the world don't have, we could actually attend to this now.

             I agree about expectations.
             • Sabine …

               27 January 2021 at 5:43 pm

               The government could do so much, not only for the reasons mentioned by you, but also by the fact that they were elected in majority and could right now simply govern, boldly and with the future in mind.

               I don't see it happening, i don't hear it happening and i have confined the ideas that government (well a Labour led government) could and will do something to the dust bin of history.

               Running on not bettering the life of our most vulnerable has ruled sensible things such as better mental healthcare out full stop. Why you may say? Because our most vulnerable have lived in uncertainty – financially, physically for the longest time and they would know something about depression and anxiety, and they only have meds if they are lucky to have a doctor to go too.

               Right now would be a good time to do many things.
               • weka …

                 27 January 2021 at 5:52 pm

                 yep. The kind of chronic stress I am talking about isn't new to me and many of my peers.

                 What's different this time is the middle and political classes are experiencing it too and it might sharpen their minds 😈 We will see.
           • gsays 5.1.1.1.2.2

             27 January 2021 at 9:28 pm

             Hi Sabine, you are right about day by day, one step at a time.

             May I be so bold as to suggest the importance of now. Anxiety is a product of the past or future.

             Meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, time in nature all aid in access to 'nowness'.
     • Anker 5.1.2

       27 January 2021 at 12:18 pm

       Sometimes anxiety is an appropriate reaction to a very stressful event, like potential exposure to covid or anxiety about ones business failing due to covid. If you are wired to experience anxiety more intensely then meds are a good idea, unless is it a temporary stressor such as waiting for a covid test to return.

       Just for the record, I didn't say I was anxious, just very concerned about the situation in Northland. Registering concern or even anxiety can be a very helpful thing as it can lead to behaviours like scanning, social distancing or even getting tested if it is warranted. The people I worry about are the over confident people who think we are still living pre covid and that we have can still have that life (and that they expect and feel entitled to that life). These are the people who will let the side down because they will not take the pandemic seriously and realize they have a crucial role in stopping the spread of the virus. We all do. They are the people who are still partying as the Titanic sinks. Unfortunately there are a few of these in my life and they cause some frustration and concern. This is not a time to be wildly optimistic.
       • Treetop 5.1.2.1

         27 January 2021 at 1:38 pm

         It is not for me to say how anyone should feel. When stress goes up it needs to come down. People need access to services when required. I am not immune to stress.

         Being over confident about Covid can be the cause of a person being infected or worse.

         I think I got the reply wrong. You raise some good points.
       • McFlock 5.1.2.2

         27 January 2021 at 2:03 pm

         All in all, NZ is in a pretty good place at the moment: good border controls, and testing capacity for when those controls leak. So I don't think a widespread outbreak from this case is likely to have been missed.

         We still need to scan/log contacts better, and there will be a review on how the person was released from isolation with the virus (just as a matter of business as usual). Maybe there are things that need addressing there.

         If community cases are detected, then the next step is a regional lockdown like Auckland had.

         But while it's possible, this particular Sword of Damocles is the new normal. Maybe a vaccine will stop transmission, maybe not.

         Personally, I stopped closely following the covid news sometime in lockdown. Not to "bury my head in the sand", but I realised that 90% of the news regarding it won't actually affect my behaviour, so why reinforce the stress?

         Either I get to go to work and potter around stores and cafes, or I'm back in some level of lockdown. I can deal with either. I'll miss hugs, though.
         • weka 5.1.2.2.1

           27 January 2021 at 5:54 pm

           same re following the news closely. Can't remember the last time I listened to a live press conference on covid. I figure I'll hear what I need hear on TS or twitter or look it up on RNZ. I do like talking through the issues though, which I'm not sure is that great stress wise.
       • weka 5.1.2.3

         27 January 2021 at 5:31 pm

         Anker, my comment about stress was in response to "All this “we should have the vaccine sooner” is just politicking." I was pointing to the possibility that people's politics are in part being driven by the chronic stress and anxiety.

         Completely agree that anxiety is a reasonable response to the situation we are in. Chronic stress wears away at people, lowers immunity, affects cognition, makes it harder to handle painful emotions and experiences. I really think we should be looking at this, mostly because I think this is how it is going to be from now on. People used to living under chronic stress understand this, and there are a lot of people for whom this is a new thing.
     • Incognito 5.1.3

       27 January 2021 at 10:13 pm

       The problem has been growing and is another one that won’t be easily or quickly fixed.

       https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/122695066/new-zealands-psychological-crisis-putting-lives-at-risk

       However, experts do offer some good and useful advice that everybody can adopt.

       https://www.newsroom.co.nz/keeping-calm-in-a-world-gone-viral [by Dr Sarb Johal]
   • Incognito 5.2

     27 January 2021 at 10:12 pm

     • I wasn’t suggesting any of those things incognito, just expressing uneasiness.

     Yes, I know, but others did and I was just expressing my sarcasm about that but I forgot to include the \sarc tag; it is important to keep a sense of perspective. My apologies for the confusion.

     It appears that current vaccines are effective against current strains although a booster shot might be desired/required, which is quite similar to flu vaccinations.

     You’re correct that, as far as I know, it is not yet known if current vaccines will stop transmission. My guess is they won’t.
6. Sanctuary 6

   27 January 2021 at 11:19 am

   The Europeans are going to stiff us all over vaccine deliveries, you just know it. Our only role is to go up there and save them from fascism, then they can get back to shitting on everyone else.
   • Treetop 6.1

     27 January 2021 at 11:23 am

     It was predictable that there would be disparity in vaccine roll outs due to the demand and the shortage.
     • McFlock 6.1.1

       27 January 2021 at 10:42 pm

       It seems to me to be doing quite well, as far as global rollouts of in-demand products go.

       If it were a cellphone, we'd have loads of reports of breaking screens or exploding batteries by now, as well as the shortages…
7. Anker 7

   27 January 2021 at 12:11 pm

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-if-border-rules-tighten-what-rights-do-returning-new-zealanders-have/3FFAVDEJNDDXMC3DDY5

   Found this interesting.
   • Jimmy 7.1

     27 January 2021 at 1:28 pm

     That link didn't work for me.

     Is this it?
     https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-if-border-rules-tighten-what-rights-do-returning-new-zealanders-have/3FFAVDEJNDDXMC3DDY5NUPD444/
     • Treetop 7.1.1

       27 January 2021 at 2:00 pm

       The ethics of a pandemic.
8. Anker 8

   27 January 2021 at 1:44 pm

   Yeah that's the link.
9. Anker 9

   27 January 2021 at 2:04 pm

   a request of people who visit this site and I hope it is o.k. to make this request. A small survey.

   If you were invited to a rather large indoor party with someone who left MIQ a week before would you attend the party? Very interested to hear peoples view including any qualifiers.
   • dv 9.1

     27 January 2021 at 2:09 pm

     Unlikely- probably not.
   • Andre 9.2

     27 January 2021 at 2:18 pm

     Well, before Christmas I picked up my brother and sister-in-law from their two weeks in managed isolation and drove them for an hour to their place. Then spent the rest of the afternoon with them. So I'm not that bothered about spending time with people straight out of MI.

     On the other hand, she had covid way back in March last year, along with their son, and he was in the house the whole time while they were ill, so there's a pretty good chance they currently have immunity.
   • McFlock 9.3

     27 January 2021 at 2:22 pm

     yeah, probably. Depends on the party lol
   • Peter chch 9.4

     27 January 2021 at 2:25 pm

     Yes of course. Despite the failures at the border, these are the exceptions, not the rule. And let's face it, the MOH and other government agencies have knowledge and expertise now that dwarfs what they had 10 months ago, and will competently deal with any rare breaches 8n a fast and effective way.

     And ffs, life goes on. Let's get real here. We are a lucky country and should embrace our good fortune rather than become hostage to fear.
   • Forget now 9.5

     27 January 2021 at 2:29 pm

     No.

     But then I probably wouldn't go to a; rather large indoor party, anyway; even if it wasn't with someone who left MIQ a week before. Not so keen on subjecting myself to compromise music, and drunken blather; aside from the infection risk. I might do a smaller more focused event (say; a 6 person meal, or board-game) if they were definitely asymptomatic when I arrived though.
   • Sabine 9.6

     27 January 2021 at 5:16 pm

     nope.
     • anker 9.6.1

       27 January 2021 at 5:58 pm

       Breaking news two likely new cases in the community from the Pullman.

       Wondering if people want to repeat my survey. Would you go to a largish indoor party with someone who had left MIQ in the last week?
       • Sabine 9.6.1.1

         27 January 2021 at 6:27 pm

         nope.
       • Forget now 9.6.1.2

         27 January 2021 at 7:02 pm

         Anyone else starting to wonder if the test being used at the Pullman was ineffective with the South African variant? Maybe improperly stored or transported, because the later tests were successful in detecting it.

         As for the survey; still a provisional yes for a smaller (brie) gathering, rather than a shindig (or hootenany).
         • Treetop 9.6.1.2.1

           27 January 2021 at 8:53 pm

           Maybe a longer incubation period for a new strain or a connection with the positive case at MIQ, the Northland case and now the 2 think from Orewa.

           A no for me attending a gathering as to great a risk. I will not even travel on Intercity. I still leave the house most days.
       • gsays 9.6.1.3

         27 January 2021 at 10:11 pm

         If it helps, I am in a camper and headed north.

         Currently @ the Raglan campground and headed to Matauri Bay, via Whangarei/Ngunguru.

         We are signing in everywhere.
         • Treetop 9.6.1.3.1

           28 January 2021 at 9:54 am

           I could be swayed with a camper trip to Matauri Bay.
           • gsays 9.6.1.3.1.1

             28 January 2021 at 6:04 pm

             If you can be @ Raglan motor camp before 10 am Friday, yr welcome to join us.

             [Removed spurious word from user name]
       • McFlock 9.6.1.4

         27 January 2021 at 10:56 pm

         still a yeah, probably.

         If they're emphasising pushing numbers through community screening and previous MIQ residents, they might have shifted to a more rapid, more sensitive, but less specific test. So more false positives and detection of historic cases.

         There's a fair chance at this stage that the shepherd equivalent is to be looking for a lost sheep and finding a couple of others that died ages ago. Maybe the live sheep is still out there, maybe not.
   • Janet 9.7

     28 January 2021 at 12:01 am

     No, after two weeks maybe.
10. Peter chch 10

    27 January 2021 at 2:21 pm

    I just cannot believe the sense of entitlement of some of these people. How about showing some gratitude that we, the 5m, are even allowing you back into NZ and the risk we, the 5m, are taking as a result.

    Well before the 2020 border closures, both our Prime Minister and her Deputy repeatedly warned come home now, or maybe it will not be possible.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/covid-19-coronavirus-managed-isolation-guest-complains-about-breakfast-would-you-complain/L2ZZECBGK4NXIIVQUGME4TVGPM/
    • McFlock 10.1

      27 January 2021 at 2:28 pm

      … aren't croutons supposed to be hard, or am I just a savage?

      that photo of the caesar salad made me hungry.
      • Peter chch 10.1.1

        27 January 2021 at 2:30 pm

        I don't even know what a crouton is. Maybe I am just ignorant! Actually, maybe not 'maybe'.
        • McFlock 10.1.1.1

          27 January 2021 at 2:36 pm

          they're little bits of stale toast for soup and caesar salad. Good use for old bread.
        • Andre 10.1.1.2

          27 January 2021 at 2:36 pm

          My dad's special recipe: get an old baguette and put it out in the sun for a day or two to harden up. Use a table saw or bandsaw to cut it up into cubes. Fry the cubes up in butter and seasonings or garlic to make sure any residual soft bits go jawbreaker hard.
          • McFlock 10.1.1.2.1

            27 January 2021 at 2:41 pm

            My god, how could anyone eat such slop?!
            • Andre 10.1.1.2.1.1

              27 January 2021 at 2:47 pm

              Well, it seemed pretty good after getting home from school. Walking for miles barefoot in the snow, uphill and with a headwind both there and back.
              • Robert Guyton …

                27 January 2021 at 3:27 pm

                You lived on top of a hill?

                Privileged…
                • Ad …

                  27 January 2021 at 4:07 pm

                  Anyone who lives in Riverton is privileged.
                  • Incognito …

                    27 January 2021 at 10:15 pm

                    Anyone who comments here is privileged.
              • shanreagh …

                27 January 2021 at 7:04 pm

                And was your home in a paper bag like mine? In middle of road?
          • Bearded Git 10.1.1.2.2

            27 January 2021 at 3:43 pm

            Sounds like an angle-grinder might be useful here too…I like croutons.
            • Forget now 10.1.1.2.2.1

              27 January 2021 at 6:29 pm

              No – that's for breadcrumbing the rat cutlets. You have to use the right implement for the right dish BG!

              Of course, the trick is getting those rodents to run fast enough on the treadmill to turn the grinder wheel. No solar panels back in them old days. Not being the one on the hubcap frypan is wonderful incentive there.
      • weka 10.1.2

        27 January 2021 at 5:27 pm

        I'm remembering what those Dunedin hospital meals looks liked in the media a few years back. That MIQ menu looks positively gourmet.
        • McFlock 10.1.2.1

          27 January 2021 at 5:55 pm

          god yes
        • RosieLee 10.1.2.2

          27 January 2021 at 7:33 pm

          and it's a whole lot better than what many families get right now – and they are getting these meals three times a day. Wanker.
    • Jimmy 10.2

      27 January 2021 at 2:37 pm

      You cannot please everyone! Over the last six or seven years or so, I have never had a bad Air NZ meal………haven't had one for over a year mind you, but people always complained about airline food. I always thought Air NZ food was pretty good.
    • Anker 10.3

      27 January 2021 at 2:58 pm

      Oh dear! What a shame! Never mind………

      WTF! If he doesn't like it get on the next plane from where he's come from. I know I shouldn't say things like that, but FFS
    • Treetop 10.4

      27 January 2021 at 4:05 pm

      Returning to NZ is a bit like the hospital waiting list for surgery. You need to wait, the surgery can be postponed, rescheduled and then postponed again. Once you have your procedure you usually feel better. You can pick up an infection while in hospital and need to remain longer.

      I nearly forgot, some people complain about the hospital food.
    • Incognito 10.5

      27 January 2021 at 10:14 pm

      Clickbait
11. McFlock 11

    27 January 2021 at 2:38 pm

    lol travelling to a first nations region in a private jet and claiming to be motel workers to scam yourself ahead of the vaccine queue is a ruse so low that it even gets you kicked from a casino company.

    But this scam reminds me of the adage "if the only punishment is a fine, then it's legal for rich people".
    • Peter chch 11.1

      27 January 2021 at 2:58 pm

      Agree McFlock, fines are never 'justice', as they treat all as equal, when plainy we are not.

      I always have believed community service for anyone who appears in court is a far superior penalty than a meaningless (for some) financial penalty.

      And as someone who has had both, the CS taught me a lesson (reinforced for many weeks) and yet fines just bred hardship and resentment.
12. Stuart Munro 12

    27 January 2021 at 3:11 pm

    Sam Sykes, a kiwisaver fund manager, reckons the cure to the housing crisis is more investors.

    Nothing could be further from the truth – it was investors that screwed it up, and continue to do so. Let investors find or create productive avenues for obtaining ongoing income – instead of parasiting off peoples' need for housing.
13. joe90 13

    27 January 2021 at 5:32 pm

    Shot. Chaser.

    https://twitter.com/Te_Taipo/status/1354197599138373633

    John Banks has reportedly been removed from his radio show after a “blatantly racist” incident yesterday where a caller said Māori were “genetically predisposed to crime, alcohol and underperformance educationally”.

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/john-banks-removed-his-radio-show-after-blatantly-racist-caller-said-m-ori-were-stone-age-people-reports
    • Forget now 13.1

      27 January 2021 at 7:51 pm

      It seems the loss of advertising is behind Bank's removal, rather than any moral integrity from Cursed Talk. The duplicity in his statements would be astounding from anyone else, they're not really unexpected from him:

      "I didn't pick it up at the time, here when you're broadcasting, you're talking to producers, you're talking to bosses," Banks said.

      "I spoke to people later in the show who disagreed with the man and I picked it up then, however this wasn't enough to demonstrate that his comments were wrong and racist."…

      Banks interrupted the caller, saying “just a minute, your children need to get used to their stone-age culture because if their stone-age culture doesn’t change, these people will come through your bathroom window”.
    • Gabby 13.2

      28 January 2021 at 1:56 am

      'Hone' Carsehole at it again?
14. Jester 14

    27 January 2021 at 5:51 pm

    Hone Hawera reckons there are two new cases we are not being told about on ZB!
    • weka 14.1

      27 January 2021 at 6:05 pm

      Govt is saying the two people have been in isolation since Sunday and are being retested. Results and a press conference tonight. Two other people with positive tests turned out to be an historic case (no longer infectious) and a false positive.
      • Treetop 14.1.1

        27 January 2021 at 6:51 pm

        So other Pullman hotel cases. Now 2 more people released with negative tests and potential to be community cases.

        This has to be sorted out fast what the cause/s are.
        • Forget now 14.1.1.1

          27 January 2021 at 6:55 pm

          the pair completed their managed isolation in the same facility and at the same time as the Northland community case and are now under investigation.

          "The two former returnees both returned a positive test for Covid-19, however it is yet to be confirmed if they are recent or historic infections. Further urgent testing is being carried out this evening," the ministry said in a statement.

          "The two people are asymptomatic and have already completed their managed isolation and previously returned two negative tests.

          "Both individuals are currently self-isolating at home.

          https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/435296/two-more-possible-cases-of-covid-19-linked-to-pullman-hotel-being-investigated

          If they completed their Pullman stay at the same time as the initial case, that means they have been in the community since the 15th. I sure hope that were as thorough as she was about tracking their movements. Also, likely to have been in Auckland rather than Northland, though that is unconfirmed speculation on my part.
          • Treetop 14.1.1.1.1

            27 January 2021 at 7:11 pm

            When it comes to recent or historical infections and the 2 negative tests.

            Were a case historical would it test negative?

            But they have both tested positive.

            There could be a community case out there not linked to the Pullman Hotel.

            Genome sequencing will tell me more. Pullman Hotel senario seems the most likely.
            • Forget now 14.1.1.1.1.1

              27 January 2021 at 7:21 pm

              It didn't say what tests they were using. The PCR involves scouring the sample for virus fragments then duplicating the genetic material until it becomes detectable. It sounds weird, but the science is solid. Though it does also copy inert viral remnants as well as active infection.
              • Treetop …

                27 January 2021 at 9:05 pm

                I see the PCR test is the test which matters and the genome sequencing.
              • Incognito …

                27 January 2021 at 10:16 pm

                Though it does also copy inert viral remnants as well as active infection.

                Huh??
                • Forget now …

                  28 January 2021 at 12:13 am

                  The testing laboratories do 45 "cycles" of PCR on a Covid-19 test sample, which takes a little over half an hour. After this time, a single SARS-CoV-2 RNA molecule will have become 17 million million identical DNA molecules. These are so small that you STILL can't see them with your eyes.

                  To see how much DNA there is, and to find out if the test is positive, the PCR reaction mix includes a special tag that glows when it is cut up.

                  https://www.otago.ac.nz/biochemistry/research/otago736925.html

                  But if the virus cell envelope has ruptured (ie virus is dead, inasmuch as it was ever alive in the first place – say; inactive) and there are fragments left over in the swab sample, then these viral remnants may be replicated by the envelop protein primer template. Despite their being no active SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in the subject.

                  Hope that makes more sense, Incog. Don't know if I'd started drinking when I typed the above description, but certainly have been now. I'm probably missing something important out, but that's basically it.

                  Think of making a clay mold from a sculture (analogizing the DNA template for the RNA viral envelope protein), then making a bunch of wax casts with that mold, then stacking them up in a gigantic mountain of candles so that they can be seen burning from another mountain top many kilometers away. This is getting a bit farfetched of a methaphor really…

                  Anyway, I was mainly here to read, not write, and now I just want to go watch more old music on Youtube. Enjoy your night, morning now!
      • Jester 14.1.2

        27 January 2021 at 10:40 pm

        According to the 10:35pm "breaking" news, they are positive unfortunately, and now being taken into MIQ.

        The thing I don't like is that I first heard about them via Hone Harawera on One ZB, and not from the ministry via Ashley or Hipkins.
        • Forget now 14.1.2.1

          28 January 2021 at 12:57 am

          The two positive cases completed quarantine on the 15 January and had been residing in North Auckland since. Urgent re-testing this evening confirmed the pair's Covid status.

          https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/435296/two-more-people-linked-with-pullman-hotel-treated-as-confirmed-covid-cases

          Best to know now I guess. I'd like to be smug and say I called it for them residing in Auckland since the 15th (upthread somewhere), but over the entire country that's a one in three chance they'd live in the City, and Christchurch has an international airport (still open?); so unlikely to be the South Island. Certainly feel more sober now after that news Jester.

          Their contact list is a lot patchier than the Northland case; maybe just going from EFTPOS records and receipts? They are referred to as a pair, so hopefully they live together in North Auckland – Albany, Orewa, and Silverdale are fairly close.

          https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/contact-tracing-covid-19/covid-19-contact-tracing-locations-interest

          Back to the doomscrolling…

          Edit: O Fuck! those two 5-9pm (plus two shorter) slots at BBQ King. They weren’t working in a food shop were they?
          • Forget now 14.1.2.1.1

            28 January 2021 at 1:11 am

            Restaurant is another word for "food shop". May not be as sober as I thought:

            https://www.thebbqking-online.co.nz/
15. Ad 15

    27 January 2021 at 5:54 pm

    Good to see Biden signing orders requiring that Federal private prisons be stopped.

    I know its a fraction of the total, but its a good move.

    How many do we have here?
    • arkie 15.1

      27 January 2021 at 6:20 pm

      Serco have a contract to run the Auckland South Correction Facility until 2040.

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