Open Mike 27/10/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 27th, 2017 - 231 comments
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231 comments on “Open Mike 27/10/2017 ”

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  1. cleangreen 1
    27 October 2017 at 6:55 am

    In this mornings news I detect a change; – it is showing a positive note of the new Government I would note, – and is a wonderful change from the drab negative cloud that national had placed over us all for the last nine years.

    I even had a wonderful warm letter from Jacinda late last night (I removed my name) but I want to share with you all now as it sent a nice warm feeling to a often depressed 73 yr old man who had almost lost all hope of positive change before now, but today I regard as the first day of a new beginning of our return to the NZ we all knew and loved.

    God bless “Aunty Cinda”

    ilove jacinda, “lets do this”

    ———————————————————————–

    Dear ………
    This morning, the new Government was sworn into office and a new era for New Zealand began. It’s official now – and we did this together.
    Our Government will be one that faces up to and addresses the biggest issues facing our country. We will fix the housing crisis, make sure Kiwis get the healthcare they need, clean up our rivers, take serious action on climate change and rebuild our regions.
    We will put people first. We won’t try and gloss over bad bits and turn a blind eye when things aren’t going as well as they could. Instead, we will use our resources and initiative to fix them. Because that’s fundamentally what our Government is about: making New Zealand better. And it’s about making it better for everyone.
    I am incredibly honoured and proud to be leading our country, alongside a fantastic team of Ministers and MPs. I am so very grateful to every single person who helped us get here. This is your day, and your Government.
    Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
    Jacinda Ardern
    Prime Minister of New Zealand

    • Grey Area 1.1
      27 October 2017 at 7:25 am

      I noticed a change on RNZ yesterday, when after several days of them failing to break the habit of talking to National Party figures, we had soon to be ministers of our new government talking about doing stuff. So refreshing after years of the corrupt muppets always saying what they couldn’t or wouldn’t do.

      I’ll still be watching Labour, especially over TPP, but it feels good to have a hand on the tiller other than a dead one. We appear to have a government that understands what governing is rather than selling our country out from underneath us.

    • Ed 2.1
      27 October 2017 at 7:01 am

      Happy talk.

      ‘This Government is going to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2020. ‘

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11936966

    • Ed 2.2
      27 October 2017 at 7:02 am

      Happy talk.

      ‘Mayors outside of Auckland hope the city’s fuel tax will pave the way for new ways of funding their own massive infrastructure costs.
      Local Government NZ head Dave Cull said the announcement, alongside a coalition commitment to review local government cost and revenue, showed the new government was looking at getting away from the “very narrow property-based ratings system”.

      “It’s absolutely imperative that other forms of funding are provided for local government in the near future.
      “There’s a host of infrastructure that’s needed and the lack of it is actually holding our communities’ economic and social development back, but we need other funding mechanisms to achieve that.”
      Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim BoultJim Boult Photo: Supplied
      Jim Boult, the mayor of the rapidly growing Queenstown district, said it was good news for cities like his in the midst of growing pains.
      “I’m really pleased that they’ve come up with this idea for Auckland because it does send a signal that they’re prepared to look at individual communities and their problems.’

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/342447/fuel-tax-what-the-regions-think

    • Ed 2.3
      27 October 2017 at 7:03 am

      Happy Talk

      ‘I want the government…to bring kindness back’

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE-okZlNsL0

      • cleangreen 2.3.1
        27 October 2017 at 7:26 am

        Jacinda said yesterday, “‘I want the government…to bring kindness back’

        This is the best thing a new leader of our wonderful country could say as we all have been crushed under nine years of a draconian regime that held us all in fear and stress for so long almost it broke my spirit.

        Depression was setting in which was not my character as I was formerly a very positive guy as I and my family had been a well travelling unit together also before 1998 when we came home to live again.

        Then nine years ago a big shock came to my famly.

        We were living in Canada from 1988 and only came home in 1998 just before Helen Clark took over.

        So now we have been through the nasty combative abrasive penny pinching John Key era and now we have been blessed with the second coming of another change to a warm, kindness, caring Government, we are elated again.

        Thankyou jacinda very much for this, we feel very proud to be born kiwi’s again.

      • Enough is Enough 2.3.2
        27 October 2017 at 11:14 am

        Does Shane Jones “work for dole’ scheme fit within this.

        Jacinda needs to stamp on Shane early. He is an idiot.

      • mary_a 2.3.3
        27 October 2017 at 2:28 pm

        @ (2.3) Ed … thank you so much for that delightful version of Happy Talk. Goes hand in hand with our great new version of government.

        Hee hee, wonder if there’s any chance of our Parliamentary sessions opening with that song?

        Yep, such a refreshing change of attitude, with our Jacinda wanting to bring some kindness back into government. Happy talk indeed and we are the lucky cuss’s to have had the good sense to vote for what is right for NZ.

        One thing’s for sure. Natz most definitely won’t be talking any Happy Talk anytime soon.

    • Ed 2.4
      27 October 2017 at 7:11 am

      Happy talk.

      ‘Poverty portfolio ‘gives children a voice’

      Children’s advocates are excited to see the new government’s plans to reduce child poverty but question how quickly things can improve.
      Child Poverty Action Group economic spokesperson Susan St John said having a Minister for Child Poverty Reduction was the best news low income families have had for a long time.’

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/342399/poverty-portfolio-gives-children-a-voice

    • Ed 2.5
      27 October 2017 at 7:15 am

      Happy Talk

      ‘Solar panels could cut schools’ power bills by $20m a year’
      ‘New Zealand’s schools could soon sport rooftop solar panels to help tackle climate change – and cut up to $20 million a year off their power bills.
      The Labour and Green Parties have said in their governing agreement this week that “solar panels on schools will be investigated” as part of moving electricity to 100 per cent renewable, non-carbon-burning sources by 2035.
      Panama Rd School in Mt Wellington, is using charitable funding to install 30 solar panels on its roof this weekend, and will use the $2000 a year it will save off its power bill to buy devices and other learning tools to prepare its decile 1 children for their future.
      “We’ll put it back into our students’ learning,” said principal Jane Dold.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11936758

      • ianmac 2.5.1
        27 October 2017 at 8:39 am

        Renwick School near Blenheim placed about 80 solar panels on their roof about 4 years ago with outstanding effect.

      • Zorb6 2.5.2
        27 October 2017 at 9:55 am

        I don’t get it’,regarding solar.NZ has plentiful renewable electricity resources with hydro.Making electricity less costly for schools would be doable ,surely.

        • UncookedSelachimorpha 2.5.2.1
          27 October 2017 at 10:56 am

          NZ hydro power only meets a bit over half of our current energy requirements (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectric_power_in_New_Zealand). And there is a limited supply of rivers you could add to the mix, and that can have large environmental impacts.

          Solar is getting amazingly cheap – most houses in sunny locales could have some. (I have a mix of microhydro and solar – it isn’t free, but I haven’t paid a power bill in over 25 years)

          • ianmac 2.5.2.1.1
            27 October 2017 at 11:32 am

            We have solar panels and our last bill was $79. I put a smaller 2kw water element in and a timer on the he water heater so that it only draws power to heat water during the sunny part of each day. Soon the heat pump will not be used. Can’t afford the storage batteries but…

        • Brigid 2.5.2.2
          27 October 2017 at 10:56 am

          I agree. Either nationalise the power companies or legislate for schools and hospitals to be provided with cheap electricity. If RIo Tinto can get subsidised power so can the the services that benefit us all.
          Although I do like the idea of PV solar panels everywhere because eventually we’ll be able to do without fossil fuel.

      • Antoine 2.5.3
        27 October 2017 at 11:57 am

        > Solar panels could cut schools’ power bills by $20m a year

        At what cost? Like, how many times $20M?

        A.

        • Hanswurst 2.5.3.1
          27 October 2017 at 3:11 pm

          All in the linked article.

          • Antoine 2.5.3.1.1
            28 October 2017 at 2:27 am

            The linked article shows a 7.5 year payback ignoring inflation. If thats correct I guess it is worthwhile. Although the cost benefit comes from a solar proponent, so I am reluctant to accept it as gospel without seeing the workings…

        • Draco T Bastard 2.5.3.2
          27 October 2017 at 3:11 pm

          Did you note the per year bit? The important bit that tells us that it will pay for itself and save us money over time.

        • ianmac 2.5.3.3
          27 October 2017 at 3:16 pm

          I think the outlay for Renwick school paid for itself in less than two years. And of course the use time is the school day. Still should be giving for 20 years.

          • Antoine 2.5.3.3.1
            28 October 2017 at 2:28 am

            I dont believe it. No one can get a two year payback out of solar. Unless you’re not counting the donated funds on the cost side.

            A.

        • Andre 2.5.3.4
          27 October 2017 at 3:26 pm

          Most payback calculators suggest a payback time of around 6 years for a complete residential system. But I would expect schools to do better than most, since 9 to 3 is daylight pretty much year round everywhere in NZ. So they use the power when it’s generated, don’t have much concern about storage or the buyback rate from the supplier.

          Lets be pessimistic and say the payback is 5 years, so that would be a $100M investment to save $20M per year. And after that the $20M worth of electricity is free every year for the next fifteen to twenty five years while the panels last.

          • Antoine 2.5.3.4.1
            28 October 2017 at 2:29 am

            Not pessimistic enough, the article says the payback is more than 7 years even ignoring discounting.

            A.

            • Andre 2.5.3.4.1.1
              28 October 2017 at 5:33 am

              Maybe the suppliers figure that since they’d be dealing with the government they can milk a bit of extra profit.

              • Antoine …
                28 October 2017 at 5:40 am

                Maybe they figure they can get the scheme started by promising a good ROI on the basis of an overestimate of likely performance

                A.

                • Andre …
                  28 October 2017 at 6:14 am

                  Ok, let’s assume suppliers are trying to milk the government for extra profit and are over-optimistic about the performance, and the payback time is actually ten years.

                  A homeowner or business might balk at that since they might need to move somewhere else before getting a net benefit, but schools can expect to be there for a lot longer. So it’s still pretty much a no-brainer. There aren’t many other things a government can put money into that give that much direct financial payback, guaranteed.

                  • Antoine …
                    28 October 2017 at 7:11 am

                    It could be quite a bit more than 10. The original 7.5 ignores discounting and maintenance costs. Then underperformance or cost blowouts could worsen the situation by an arbitrary amount. Meanwhile, the electricity pricing structure could shift to higher fixed, lower per unit cost which would further worsen the return.

                    I’d rather (a) wait until solar prices had come down a bit more, or (b) just put the money into e.g. hip replacements.

                    A.

                    • gsays …
                      28 October 2017 at 8:11 am

                      Antoine, waiting gets more waiting.
                      This is a no brainer, I have helped do a few solar installations over the last decade.
                      The maths stack up.
                      When I went off grid 12years ago, the cost (installed) was around 10-12$ a watt, now it is closer to $1.50 a watt.
                      The sooner they are up the sooner the benefits start to flow.

                      Even a home owner should be looking at this.
                      Nowadays the panels and inverter etc. can be taken with you if you leave. Although, it would make the house more attractive to purchase.

                    • Antoine …
                      28 October 2017 at 10:33 am

                      If the maths stack up then go for it. I’m not sure they stack up in this case. It may work out best if only schools in areas with high solar input are done.

                      A.

              • Antoine …
                28 October 2017 at 5:52 am

                Best to get a contract that puts the performance risk on the supplier

    • JanM 2.6
      27 October 2017 at 8:59 am

      Happy Talk.
      My lovely grandchildren will not have to put up with National Standards any more – especially the 5 year old whose teacher will be ecstatic 🙂

    • Ed 3.1
      27 October 2017 at 7:06 am

      It’s not a strong list, is it?
      As Patrick Gower has said, this is not an impressive opposition.

      “I also want to come up with a different analysis to many people, regarding the National Party. All this talk about it being this great big strong Opposition because it’s got such big numbers is actually a bit of nonsense.
      “The key word in all of that is ‘Opposition’. National has no power – it has no friends.
      “It’s on 44 percent and it has absolutely maxxed that out, due to a sublime performance by Bill English on the campaign trail and a scare campaign that was actually based on a couple of really big lies.”

      Gower said there was no clear path back into power for National, due to its lack of coalition partners.

      “National has got nowhere to go, in my view, above 44 percent,” he said.

      http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/10/national-in-very-very-dark-place-patrick-gower.html

      • Carolyn_nth 3.1.1
        27 October 2017 at 7:11 am

        Interesting from Gower. He always seemed to have the inside running with Labour centrists/careerists when they leaked stuff against the more strongly left wing leaders like Cunliffe.

        So, now Gower is going with Team Ardern. Not sure that’s a good recommendation, as I think Gower wll support a centrist Labour-led government, but not anyone strongly left like Turei (who he went after with a vengeance).

      • Kevin 3.1.2
        27 October 2017 at 11:59 am

        “As Patrick Gower has said, this is not an impressive opposition.”

        Then what has changed in the last couple of weeks then Gower?

        If they are not an impressive opposition, then they were also not an impressive government. But I don’t recall ever hearing you say that…

      • BM 3.1.3
        27 October 2017 at 12:19 pm

        Why do you bother giving air to this fuckwit?

        His view is whatever he thinks he can create headlines from, that’s it.

        Next week it will be the opposite.

    • Grey Area 3.2
      27 October 2017 at 7:17 am

      I read the Wireless piece and had to think “is that the best you’ve got?” And the answer is yes.

      I’ve always been pleased to have English and Bennett at the head of the National Party. They highlight National’s lack of talent, ability and integrity. And there’s very little of substance lining up behind them.

    • Cinny 3.3
      27 October 2017 at 7:28 am

      I see a group of people with baggage and skeletons. I wonder who the national voters would prefer as leader? I think english is over it/not into it anymore.

      Just watching paula and Mr Twyford on tv3, she’s very excited about having some more time to spend on herself.

    • cleangreen 3.4
      27 October 2017 at 7:40 am

      Yes Nikki Kaye is the only choice National could have made, – as she has a softer side as they desperately need to counter our warm jacinda they must know.

      Also all the other ladies in contention in Nationals lineup are combative nasty charaters.

      Nikki Kaye is somewhat a warmer character than any of the other choice they had available to them.

      The time for hard politics is now over well and truly.

      So look for Bill to now step aside as Andrew did nicely for labour to get us all the new queen of our hearts, Jacinda.

      • BM 3.4.1
        27 October 2017 at 12:37 pm

        Disagree there’s going to be a lot of fucked off people in the near future, you want someone with a bit of fire who can channel that anger.

        The person who ticks that box is Judith Collins, airy-fairy Jacinda will have her arse handed to her on a plate.

        • JanM 3.4.1.1
          27 October 2017 at 12:59 pm

          ‘there’s going to be a lot of fucked off people in the near future’. I’m sure there are a lot of nasties plotting behind closed doors right now, waiting for their moment to hatch their devious little plots – bring it on! (such fun!)

        • AB 3.4.1.2
          27 October 2017 at 2:45 pm

          “there’s going to be a lot of fucked off people in the near future, you want someone with a bit of fire who can channel that anger …[t]he person who ticks that box is Judith Collins”
          Or a small number of very, very f*cked off people who have suffered some erosion of their unearned wealth and privilege and then turn to Judith Collins for salvation, but instead experience derision and failure.

        • Patricia Bremner 3.4.1.3
          27 October 2017 at 3:54 pm

          Please list Collins’ achievements over the last 9 years, also her perfidy.

          In a similar number of weeks Jacinda Ardern got her party into contention, and then through good negotiation skill into parliament with a workable plan.

          What is airy-fairy about that?

          Judith Collins is too close to Dirty politics Whale oil and schemes to get like minded horrors into the National Party.

          That you admire her tells us a great deal about your values.

        • tracey 3.4.1.4
          27 October 2017 at 4:40 pm

          Even Peters gets that it is time for a new guard… hence the 37 yr old PM instead of the English Lit graduate who jas been sucking at the public teat for over 30 years.

        • Skinny 3.4.1.5
          27 October 2017 at 11:59 pm

          I think your right, however Bill English gained the highest party vote so please show respect Bill will get up again. You know third time lucky and all.

        • Nick 3.4.1.6
          28 October 2017 at 12:36 am

          Let’s do this BM

      • mary_a 3.4.2
        27 October 2017 at 5:02 pm

        @ Cleangreen (3.4) … I’d love Bingles to step aside. For his deputy, the ghastly Bennett woman to take over National. That move would guarantee Natz completely unelectable.

        I wonder if Paula is still paying her lawyers to make sure her shady past is kept in the distant past? Not a good look, having a leader with a bit of dodgy history.

        As for Nikki Kaye. I doubt she comes anywhere near our Jacinda for genuine warmth, humanity and character. She’s a Natz politician, remember!

  4. One Anonymous Bloke 4
    27 October 2017 at 7:30 am

    Brutal evisceration of some talentless wannabe on Shub.

    The National Party’s week keeps getting worse…

    The 22-year-old former boyfriend of beauty pageant runner-up Amelia Finlayson is an aspiring DJ and producer…

  5. joe90 5
    27 October 2017 at 8:11 am

    Mr Ambassador has form.

    Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros claims in a new lawsuit that former senator Scott Brown made sexually inappropriate comments to her while on set and put his hands on her lower waist.

    […]

    Tantaros asserts halfway through the 37-page suit that Brown, while appearing on her show “Outnumbered” in August 2015, “made a number of sexually inappropriate comments to Tantaros on set.”

    She claims that he told her, “in a suggestive manner,” that she “would be fun to go to a nightclub with.”

    “After the show was over, Brown snuck up behind Tantaros while she was purchasing lunch and put his hands on her lower waist,” the lawsuit says. “She immediately pulled back, telling Brown to ‘stop.’ ”

    https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2016/08/23/scott-brown-named-fox-sexual-harassment-lawsuit/boWnrCcWqz6v3RYyuCkQHI/story.html

    • Zorb6 5.1
      27 October 2017 at 9:59 am

      If her case relies on those very mild attempts at flirtation,she has no show.’that she “would be fun to go to a nightclub with.”Laughable.

      • marty mars 5.1.1
        27 October 2017 at 10:42 am

        It’s a euphamism and got zero to do with a nightclub.

        I also note bush senior from his wheelchair is a bit that way inclined from recent reports – good this is all coming out and shows just how widespread this shit is.

        • Zorb6 5.1.1.1
          27 October 2017 at 10:49 am

          Some unscrupulous individuals target high profile people .I note these euphemistic advances were made in 2015.Since then Fox have made many deserved payouts to disgruntled employees subjected to unwanted attention by various media figures.

          • marty mars 5.1.1.1.1
            27 October 2017 at 12:22 pm

            I did a reply but the ether ate it. So again

            Some unscrupulous individuals ARE high profile people. That is just a fact.

            • Zorb6 5.1.1.1.1.1
              27 October 2017 at 12:28 pm

              Sometimes things can go too far.The procreation of the human race would be in danger if social intercourse is outlawed as a pre cursor to sexual intercourse.No male could make an approach for fear of being categorised as engaging in inappropriate conduct.’Good morning,you’re looking lovely today’!How dare you,you chauvinistic,sexist ,potential nuisance.

              • marty mars …
                27 October 2017 at 1:36 pm

                There are many and varied ways both sexes can indicate they want or are seeking sex or a potential lovers. Unasked for or unwanted or unexpected lines are designed for the perp not the person being addressed. The power is uneven and abused in the later scenario imo.

                • Zorb6 …
                  27 October 2017 at 3:41 pm

                  I’m a bit naive,can you list a few you recommend.I don’t want to dress up and strut and signal like a Peacock or Bird of Paradise.

                  • marty mars …
                    27 October 2017 at 4:21 pm

                    Well these are things you learn as you grow up and as I have thankfully no idea of your sexual preferences, attitudes or even what gender you may identify with it would be inappropriate for me to offer ideas to you. If you have friends perhaps ask them or even Google it.

              • McFlock …
                27 October 2017 at 1:53 pm

                Finding a willing sexual partner requires a certain amount of social competence. This includes recognising various power relationships and whether the other person is just trying to do their job.

                If you can’t handle it, better go for celibacy rather than risking sexually assaulting someone. When I’m drunk, I try to avoid “flirting”, because when I’m drunk I don’t have the social competence to recognise when it might be inappropriate.

              • tracey …
                27 October 2017 at 4:42 pm

                Are you saying if men cannot be the definers of what is “flirtation” the race dies? I sure as hell hope you meant something that paints men as having more self control and dignity than that.

      • Psycho Milt 5.1.2
        27 October 2017 at 4:00 pm

        If her case relies on those very mild attempts at flirtation…

        If you’re under the impression that sneaking up behind women and putting your hands on them is a “mild attempt at flirtation,” review your definitions before you end up getting arrested.

  6. Herodotus 6
    27 October 2017 at 8:20 am

    Mike Hosking: Petrol tax is just the beginning” HZHerald headline
    Well after many years of 50-70k net migration, and the dramatic increase of tourist numbers. How is the underfunding of infrastructure suppose to happen?
    There are a few cases within coys I have worked in, where to “make the books” look good maintenance is halted and expenditure that has a future benefit is delayed, staff numbers downsized. So you have a year or 2 of great profits then a slide those that implemented the policy leave (with banked incentives) and the new regime is brought in to attend to this new problem !! Sounds familiar ???
    Some are quick to decry this but what other solutions are there ?

    • Ed 6.1
      27 October 2017 at 8:35 am

      His whining is quite pathetic

    • Draco T Bastard 6.2
      27 October 2017 at 9:53 am

      There are a few cases within coys I have worked in, where to “make the books” look good maintenance is halted and expenditure that has a future benefit is delayed, staff numbers downsized.

      Yep, been in a few companies like that myself. It seems endemic to the neo-liberal capitalists. They don’t seem to realise that to have a viable business/society stuff has to be built, that it’s impossible to continue on what was done before. But that’s what our business people and National do.

      • Kevin 6.2.1
        27 October 2017 at 12:01 pm

        And this shit is why NZ lags on productivity.

      • Richard Christie 6.2.2
        27 October 2017 at 2:38 pm

        They don’t seem to realise that to have a viable business/society stuff has to be built

        Yep, Neolibtards don’t build wealth, they extract it.

  7. Psycho Milt 7
    27 October 2017 at 8:32 am

    When Andrew Little stepped down in favour of Jacinda Ardern, I saw it as a last, desperate move by a party heading for crushing defeat. The fact I was wrong showed up pretty quickly, but I didn’t realise just how badly wrong I was until Ardern’s arrival back at Parliament yesterday, particularly when I saw the ending of this video: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-these-my-nieces-and-today-nephew-born-double-delight-jacinda-ardern-in-touching-family-moment-parliaments-steps.

    If Andrew Little had been sworn in as PM yesterday, the imagery of a 50-something guy in a suit replacing a 50-something guy in a suit would have been “meh.” But the symbolism of the new PM as a young woman walking up Parliament’s steps hand-in-hand with two small children? No amount of National-party donor funding could buy that, because it was real. Allow yourself to feel good about this, because that shit is going to be hard for National to beat.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1
      27 October 2017 at 8:34 am

      Leave her hair alone Clark! 🙂

    • ianmac 7.2
      27 October 2017 at 8:49 am

      The video puts me in mind of the Royal family. A warm response.

      • JanM 7.2.1
        27 October 2017 at 9:05 am

        Exactly how I saw it – the response was more like that expected for a princess – loved it – keep having tearful moments.
        It’s strange, isn’t it, how you get so used to pain and then it stops – wow!!

        • cleangreen 7.2.1.1
          27 October 2017 at 9:15 am

          JanM,

          Truly very well said there JanM,

          I feel so relieved and a bg weight has now been lifted off my shoulders after nine years of very stressful worry is suddenly beginning to leave me.

          My focus now is getting our rail to Gisborne restored now after five long apprehensive years without any rail and truck gridlock while everyone else got their rail fixed only northland and HB/Gisborne got left out.

        • Frida 7.2.1.2
          27 October 2017 at 10:45 am

          @JanM – being there, it certainly did feel like that! I was tearful too. It was such a nice atmosphere – there was a sense of butterflies seeking the light after nine years of darkness! I was making friends with strangers all around me, and I managed to give the lovely Tamati Coffey a hug 🙂

          • Patricia Bremner 7.2.1.2.1
            27 October 2017 at 4:23 pm

            Brilliant Frida, If i was there i hug him too!!

            I’m in Australia at the moment, so the nearest I got to Jacinda’s meet and greet from parliament steps, was through Tamati’s video of the event.

            He lives in Rotorua, my home town, and is as genuine as Jacinda is. I had the great pleasure of being in the same room as Tamati Andrew and Jacinda.

            They are the most natural wonderful people. Andrew is more formal, but absolutely honest and true. I too shed a few relieved happy tears.

        • Kevin 7.2.1.3
          27 October 2017 at 12:05 pm

          I have never felt this excited about a new government. Ever.

          Aunty Cinda is going to be great and that feeling of change in the air after 9 years of stagnation is a welcome change.

      • Psych nurse 7.2.2
        27 October 2017 at 1:14 pm

        The Royal family as in The Royal family or as in the Royale family the comedy ?.

        • Patricia Bremner 7.2.2.1
          27 October 2017 at 4:25 pm

          If you are really in mental health you would consider her special, and definitely not a joke.

    • weka 7.3
      27 October 2017 at 9:34 am

      Thanks PM, that’s brilliant!

    • marty mars 7.4
      27 October 2017 at 9:53 am

      + 1 yep puts the awe in awesome and the zing in amazing.

      Hard to believe those very challenging times before Andrew stepped down were real because the world has changed so much. But they were real and we held the line and have been rewarded with a change that seems to be an actual change. I suspect under this new government non voters will fall as people especially the young see this change. Part of our role is to keep encouaging people to enrol and get involved. Still many issues to deal with in our society and now we have the ability to improve and even eliminate those issues.

      • Anne 7.4.1
        27 October 2017 at 10:15 am

        Talking of Andrew Little… he’s looking on top of the world. He’s got the portfolios he wanted and he’ll be a top-notch minister. So pleased for him because he deserves it.

        • Antoine 7.4.1.1
          27 October 2017 at 11:40 am

          Time will tell

          A.

        • veutoviper 7.4.1.2
          27 October 2017 at 11:51 am

          I see AL quite frequently Anne as we live in the same suburb, go to the same supermarket etc and he looked dreadful the day after he handed over to Jacinda. Since then he has lost years in the way he looks and is bouncing around the place with a spring in his step. In talking to him the week after the election, he had all faith that Labour would win through in the end. I – and I know others – have thanked him to his face for what he did in bringing the factions within the Labour parliamentary arm together before handing over to Jacinda. If this had not happened, then IMO Labour would have stood no chance despite Jacinda’s skills

          I have no doubt that he will do well with the portfolios he has got; and he will probably get a little ‘background’ and ‘advice’ from myself and others around here that have worked in some the particular Ministries and Departments involved. Some could sorely do with his management/leadership skills. LOL

          • marty mars 7.4.1.2.1
            27 October 2017 at 12:07 pm

            His intregity will be important as Treaty minister. I wish him the best on that part of his journey.

          • Anne 7.4.1.2.2
            27 October 2017 at 5:44 pm

            Interestingly, Chris Finlayson was interviewed the day the portfolios were announced and he spoke of… being delighted that Little had been given the
            Justice, Treaty and Intelligence portfolios because he knows he has the skills to do the job well and will be a safe pair of hands             . (words to the effect anyway.)

            • OnceWasTim 7.4.1.2.2.1
              27 October 2017 at 10:09 pm

              I think Finlayson might finally have been let free now that they’re in opposition.

        • Psycho Milt 7.4.1.3
          27 October 2017 at 12:00 pm

          My wife commented that he looked much happier when she saw him on the news the other night. It must suck on a personal level to have everyone saying you did the right thing by stepping down as leader, but being the leader sure looked like it was shortening his lifespan. I wish him all the best as a cabinet minister.

          • tracey 7.4.1.3.1
            27 October 2017 at 4:46 pm

            It spoke volumes to me that he stayed on. Many in his position bugger off as though if they cant be the big cheese they aint interested. I am glad he stayed and glad he telinquished the leadership. There are lots of ways to be a leader

        • Patricia Bremner 7.4.1.4
          27 October 2017 at 4:27 pm

          Yes, absolutely brilliant. He will have Jacinda’s back with the spy portfolios also.

  8. Reality 8
    27 October 2017 at 9:01 am

    Jacinda is so real and warm and speaks to people as if they matter. The Nats so often just wanted to slap people down and have them shut up and go away. She also knows it won’t be easy, there will be mistakes and bad days, but I think she is smart enough to be up-front with the public when that happens. The grey clouds have lifted from NZ today and those not on the top rungs of the ladder have a government for them.

    The size of the crowd at Parliament said it all. A wonderful atmosphere, even Paddy Gower was affected!

    • ianmac 8.1
      27 October 2017 at 9:16 am

      What strikes me is that the gathered crowd is made up of a huge diversity. Racially, gender, age ranges are all there. (My impression of National gatherings was of grey heads and mostly white older folk. Look at National Party pics.)
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11937114

    • cleangreen 8.2
      27 October 2017 at 9:20 am

      Reality,

      Again so well sighted correctly here Reality,

      We all feel the jacinda magic here, and we wondered what jacinda’s mum meant when in August the press interviewed her in the islands she said jacinda was a “very special person”.

      Now we have truly seen this in reality.

    • whateva next? 8.3
      27 October 2017 at 4:14 pm

      Aye, it is Paula Bennet who now has to “zip it sweetie” (thank goodness)

  9. Ffloyd 9
    27 October 2017 at 9:30 am

    Does mark Richardson practise being a total dick or does it come naturally? He comes across as mentally and intellectually underdeveloped. Garner should kick him off his show. He’s a bluddy liability with a Trump tan.

    • gsays 9.1
      27 October 2017 at 10:14 am

      well ffloyd, it is working as clearly you are watching/listening to him, stay tuned and see how you might be outrged tomorrow.

      • Ffloyd 9.1.1
        27 October 2017 at 5:57 pm

        Not really. Purely accidental. It was on st my daughters house. I just don’t see why he is able to use his position on the am show to make detrimental comments about the Labour Party.

    • tc 9.2
      27 October 2017 at 11:26 am

      it’s what he’s paid to do. Garners hardly an intellectual giant.

    • Muttonbird 9.3
      27 October 2017 at 11:43 am

      Having met him in person, it comes naturally, I can assure you.

  10. Ant 10
    27 October 2017 at 10:16 am

    “I want the government to bring kindness back.”

    People have lauded her warmth , speaking naturally fro a level of consciousness that’s not busy filtering verbal output through a screen of caution and conditioning which fits the dialogue to the long established habit of maintaining the spin-generated paradigm.

    Kindness? Its something as a nation we could/should embrace more fully to give substance and follow-through to the new government’s commitment.

    Lets do it.

  11. Ad 11
    27 October 2017 at 10:28 am

    A nice dark article on China’s economic ambitions and possible negative consequences:

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-26/china-s-global-ambition-could-split-the-world-economy

    • Draco T Bastard 11.1
      27 October 2017 at 10:41 am

      Confucius Institutes: cultural asset or campus threat?

      An investigation this year by the National Association of Scholars, an independent body of academics in the US, recommended the immediate severing of universities’ ties with the institutes, which often grant students credits towards their degrees. Campuses made too many concessions to accept Institute funding, the report found, resulting in entanglement between the Institutes and host universities’ operations.

      It appears things like educational freedom are now for sale by cash strapped facilities.

  12. Peter 12
    27 October 2017 at 10:59 am

    Mike Hosking “You can’t bump the minimum wage telling us that 16 bucks is not enough to live on and then hit us with a car tax. There is no point in making life cheaper one day and more expensive the next.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11937277

    Can’t? Who says? Why not? For most $4 more in hourly wages and 10 cents extra for a litre of petrol would leave them ahead of the game financially. For those out of AKL petrol will not increase in price but they will get a real wage increase. The vast majority will be better off, and Aucklanders will stand a chance of having a cheaper, convenient, and quicker way of getting to the airport.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 12.1
      27 October 2017 at 11:23 am

      And it is not like the petrol tax is simply evaporating into thin air – it is building infrastructure, so you aren’t “poorer” – it is simply swapping one asset (cash) for another (better shared transport infrastructure).

      Hosking is a numbskull with as much insight as a road cone.

      • Puckish Rogue 12.1.1
        27 October 2017 at 11:45 am

        So how many more taxes need to be applied for this to be an issue?

        • Kevin 12.1.1.1
          27 October 2017 at 12:08 pm

          Take a guess.

        • UncookedSelachimorpha 12.1.1.2
          27 October 2017 at 2:16 pm

          If a tax (or its rate – or any other policy for that matter) gives poor social or community outcomes, then it should be looked at.

          People who have a general gut hatred of tax are often short of any evidence that tax is generally and inherently harmful. Often tax leads to a lot of good.

        • KJT 12.1.1.3
          27 October 2017 at 3:50 pm

          As successful countries have a State share of the economy between 40 and 65%, there is a lot of room to move. (Ours is 30% and you can see the effects in our run down towns and infrastructure).

      • dv 12.1.2
        27 October 2017 at 11:53 am

        Nope road cones have a use.

      • AB 12.1.3
        27 October 2017 at 11:57 am

        Yeah. But Hosking wants private luxury and if the price of that is public squalor he really doesn’t care.

  13. UncookedSelachimorpha 13
    27 October 2017 at 11:06 am

    The first post-election poll will be interesting. Now that Labour / Green / NZ1 policies and people are in the public spotlight, I think the worm may have really turned (plus the “back a winner” effect).

    Won’t mean much in the long term, but will be interesting.

  14. John Shears 14
    27 October 2017 at 11:46 am

    Read yesterday’s comments about Joyce this morning and thought , I wonder what the TS regulars are saying about him today? Nothing , really come on don’t let him of the hook so easily .
    How about we start a fund to buy Joyce a new shovel, or even better , a digger, so that he can keep digging bigger holes for his nasty anti-Labour ideas to drop into and maybe he will also.
    Just thinking.

  15. marty mars 15
    27 October 2017 at 12:17 pm

    I oppose work for dole schemes – please labour and greens do not let this happen. As Sue Bradford on fbook says

    “It would be an utter betrayal of employed & unemployed workers alike if the new govt supports this. I hope Labour & Greens will knock any prospect of workfare on the head immediately. ‘Yes’ to full waged, useful job creation – ‘no’ to forced, ununionised work.”

    Let’s address the real problem and not sticky plaster an outdated and demeaning pretend solution please.

    • BM 15.1
      27 October 2017 at 12:27 pm

      I think it’s great, get all those left-wing slackers out there panting pines in the middle of nowhere, good character building stuff.

      As they’re toiling away in the hot sun or cold winters, they can all sing songs about doing their bit for the collective and how great this left-wing government is for giving them an opportunity to contribute.

      • marty mars 15.1.1
        27 October 2017 at 12:41 pm

        Yep you would say that wouldn’t you. You don’t care about anyone except yourself – not the young, not the old, not the disadvantaged and sure as hell not Māori – bet you hogg the remote too eh cuz. Sad.

      • DoublePlusGood 15.1.2
        27 October 2017 at 2:05 pm

        Fuck off, troll.

      • mac1 15.1.3
        27 October 2017 at 2:41 pm

        That’s what my father-in-law did after returning from WW2 having contracted TB from service in the Arctic convoys and also being torpedoed in Tarranto harbour.

        He planted trees.

        For a living.

        To feed his family.

        For the NZFS.

        • left_forward 15.1.3.1
          27 October 2017 at 2:58 pm

          Acknowledgements to your father-in-law mac1 who along with many other New Zealanders toiled to plant and manage our state forests that were eventually sold by Roger Douglas and the New Right neoliberals to foreign buyers for a song.

          BM is ignorant of the fact that the forests are no longer owned by us, and thinks that its morally OK for corporate foreign interests to extract personal gain by means of our Government making people work in similar circumstances as your father, but without a real wage or the satisfaction that they are doing something for the benefit of their country.

          BM is a nasty troll, but his idea might work if the forests were nationalised and offered work to people again – and in doing so recognised not just the value of the timber but the intrinsic value in the workers and the social communities that would build around such a revitalised industry.

          • mac1 15.1.3.1.1
            27 October 2017 at 3:43 pm

            I never met him, left_forward, and he never saw what happened in the Eighties.

            I really wanted to point out to BM in his smarty pants point-scoring that he also dishonoured honourable and heroic men with his scoffing.

            My father-in-law did not need to have his character built. It already had been. And proved.

      • KJT 15.1.4
        27 October 2017 at 3:53 pm

        Sort of agree. It would be good to make the overprivileged, and idle, children of the rich do some useful work. But I doubt that will happen.

        Funny how we have “low unemployment” but we have all these “slackers” out there?

      • Patricia Bremner 15.1.5
        27 October 2017 at 4:51 pm

        BM, is BM short for bloody minded?

    • Sabine 15.2
      27 October 2017 at 1:21 pm

      Why have workers for regular wage that the company will have to pay when the same company can hire workers at the local WINZ offce for the cost of the dole – cost of the dole comes courtesy of the tax payer.

      This is my issue that i have with ‘working for the dole’.

      If people had jobs they would not be on the dole.

      • Antoine 15.2.1
        27 October 2017 at 1:23 pm

        > Why have workers for regular wage that the company will have to pay when the same company can hire workers at the local WINZ offce for the cost of the dole

        That might not be how it would work. They might only be working in areas that didn’t compete with paid jobs.

        (I don’t support the idea BTW)

        A.

        • McFlock 15.2.1.1
          27 October 2017 at 2:03 pm

          well I call bollocks on that, given that people will do damned near anything for money.

          If the govt has work for people to do, it should pay fair rates for them to do it. If there’s no work, invest in the regions so that there is work.

          • UncookedSelachimorpha 15.2.1.1.1
            27 October 2017 at 2:24 pm

            Yes, improve pay and conditions at workplaces, and offer abundant free education and training. If there remains a shortage of jobs, the taxpayer should fund other useful employment (there is loads that can be usefully done – infrastructure work, conservation work, expand hospital services etc).

            After doing the above, I doubt there would be any problem remaining that required boot camps / workhouses.

          • Sabine 15.2.1.1.2
            27 October 2017 at 4:26 pm

            i don’t think we have a shortage of jobs its just that we don’t want to pay for these jobs.

            We are going to force people to work for what 250$ benefit per week all the while we raise the min wage to $ 20? And i thought that the right to the dole is essentially a service that is prepaid by the taxes the government collect. I.e. one pays taxes that fund these programmes to have access to them in case of unemployment, sickness etc. So we fund them in the first place and then we ‘work for them’? IS that even legal? And would government then be found to undercut wages with its ‘dole for work’ scheme if businesses found it more lucrative to let go of its $20 a min wage staff and then hire the newly unemployed on the ‘work for dole’ scheme? Does anyone else see the bullshittery?

            Also, costs of transport, lunches, work clothes etc are also covered by the ‘government’ or is the ‘worker for the dole’ to be responsible for these costs and is to take them out of their 250$ per week living allowance? Also will a permit needed to live under a bridge and how much will it cost to apply for such a permit? Same for dumpster diving?

        • Sabine 15.2.1.2
          27 October 2017 at 7:43 pm

          not wearing any rosy colored glasses i can see this scheme only to the benefit of employers.

      • Patricia Bremner 15.2.2
        27 October 2017 at 5:02 pm

        I understood that employers would have the dole as a subsidy on wages, but the worker would be paid at least the minimum?

        • Sabine 15.2.2.1
          27 October 2017 at 7:40 pm

          that then would not be ‘working for the dole’?
          Yeah, i would like to see some more feedback on this. I personally believe that this ‘working for dole/subsidizing a boss for his staff’ should only apply to people that would have a really hard time getting employed.

          It should not be used say for a cafe that wants a ‘less then minimum wage cost’ baristas and kitchen staff and thus only hires people on the subsidy and then will fire said staff once the subsidy has run its course. – this is what i have heard coming is happening in the UK.

  16. rhinocrates 16
    27 October 2017 at 12:36 pm

    Conspiracy theorists aren’t all amusing cranks. Some are truly sick and sadistic people:

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/26/las-vegas-shooting-conspiracy-theories-social-media

    • mauī 16.1
      27 October 2017 at 1:31 pm

      Fantastic surfy hair for someone whose had a bullet travel inside their head for 7 centimetres a couple of days ago. Can’t see much restriction of head movement either, you would think it would be quite sore still.

      • rhinocrates 16.1.1
        27 October 2017 at 1:47 pm

        Oh FFS. Are you a doctor?

      • marty mars 16.1.2
        27 October 2017 at 2:32 pm

        Wow unbelievable comment m (deleted)

      • Draco T Bastard 16.1.3
        27 October 2017 at 3:37 pm

        Where does it say that he had a bullet inside his head?

        • Andre 16.1.3.1
          27 October 2017 at 4:02 pm

          In the video, he talks about the bullet going into the back of his head and exiting 3 inches away. I’ll guess that’s in the fleshy bit of the back of the neck below the base of the skull. Where you wouldn’t see it from the front even if the doctors had shaved quite a lot around the wounds. So it’s a crowded field, but those comments from maui really are in the front-running for most fuckwitted comments on The Standard ever.

          • McFlock 16.1.3.1.1
            27 October 2017 at 4:18 pm

            Bloody lucky (for a given value of “luck”).

            Might have skipped around the outside of the skull a wee bit – ballistics get complicated when spinning objects meet hard spheres, even if it’s not a ricochet.

            • rhinocrates 16.1.3.1.1.1
              27 October 2017 at 5:14 pm

              In the first few seconds of the clip he said that it grazed his skull under the skin. Relatively clean. Reminds me of George Orwell’s comment about being shot in the throat by a sniper in the Spanish Civil War – he was a tall man, so if he’d been normal height, he would have been killed.

            • Draco T Bastard 16.1.3.1.1.2
              27 October 2017 at 6:26 pm

              Might have skipped around the outside of the skull a wee bit…

              Punctured the skin but didn’t go through the skull. The skin and flesh then keeping the bullet close for a short time.

              And, yeah, there’d be a hell of a lot of blood even though it’d a somewhat minor wound in itself – head wounds bleed profusely – ask anyone who’s cut themselves shaving. Big one would be the concussion and bruising that follows.

              • McFlock …
                27 October 2017 at 7:40 pm

                oh yeah, defs on the blood. I’ve been first responder to a couple of head cuts – nothing serious but they still bled disproportionately. Much more than a finger cut to the bone (lol that one was mine, unfortunately)

          • mauī 16.1.3.1.2
            27 October 2017 at 6:32 pm

            Ok, so we’re resorting to guesses on where he got shot, I guess we have to do that when we’ve got great views of the front, left and right side of his head and there is no sign of… anything. If he was wounded in the fleshy part of the neck (even though we can see that part from a side on view) it would be painful to turn his head like he does to his girlfriend in the clip – and he does it unflinchingly and quickly.

            Anyway the clincher is the interview of the second survivor at the bottom of the story. The interview is so ridiculous, if you believe that you’ll believe anything I spose.

            • Draco T Bastard 16.1.3.1.2.1
              27 October 2017 at 6:40 pm

              Ok, so we’re resorting to guesses on where he got shot,

              No. He was hit in the back of the head by a grazing shot. One that punctured the skin but not the bone.

              You’re at the point now where you’re simply reaching for anything that will confirm your conspiracy theory.

              • mauī …
                27 October 2017 at 7:00 pm

                You’re using the term “grazing” to explain why we don’t see more of an injury. He clearly says in the video that the bullet entered, “grazed his skull” and then exited 3 inches later. He also says there was shitloads of blood. To a non-expert that doesn’t appear to me to be a grazing shot.

            • marty mars 16.1.3.1.2.2
              27 October 2017 at 6:45 pm

              So you think it’s a big conspiracy – that he is an actor and whatnot. Why did they do it? Shoot all those people or do you think they weren’t shot?

            • Andre 16.1.3.1.2.3
              27 October 2017 at 7:10 pm

              Ok, my guess was wrong about where the bullet hit. There’s a photo of the wounds at 0:55 in the video that’s part of the “escaped” AP link in the third paragraph of the Guardian article.

  17. swordfish 17
    27 October 2017 at 12:38 pm

    Iceland’s Jacinda Ardern

    https://jacobinmag.com/2017/10/iceland-election-left-greens-katrin-jakobsdottir

    (albeit a little further Left)

  18. Pete 18
    27 October 2017 at 1:20 pm

    A couple of people on here have said what Mike Hosking wants. I’ve read some of his recent articles including his “Petrol tax is just the beginning.”

    I know he doesn’t want public transport. I think he wants attention. Maybe he would get a lot of attention if he said what he thought the answers were to the growth and infrastructural problems of the city and region.

    He is the sniper taking shots at the ideas of anyone who has ideas and solutions. He attacks those who have the heavy responsibility of coming up with solutions in an environment which seemingly is impossible.

    Mike Hosking, step forward with your plans for developing Auckland, coping with the growth and infrastructural problems and how you would have those funded.

    Or do you only care enough to rant and rave and bleat about how things affect you? You, only one of about 1.6 million.

  19. eco maori 19
    27 October 2017 at 1:31 pm

    Yes Roger me and you have something in common we have both got strong voices and you are a leader at the Rock 25 year’s Good work just because we back different Gov party’s don’t mean we can’t have a laugh together ka pai. I heard you guys talk about dangerous encounters one has had I’v had a few but here’s a funny one with me and my step dad we were fishing it was about 9 am and I spotted a large Bull killer whale I was watching him for about 15 minutes the step dad was in the bunk asleep as far as I new well i went on deck to watch the Killer whale with his huge dorsal fin bent over that’s how I new he was a bull as well as being huge .well I heard this yelp from my step dad what I did not see was he had shot out the back of the boat to go toilet and in those days one just sat on the bulwarks and did your business . Well my step dad did not no the whale was around and while he was doing his business the Bull killer whale had popped up about 5 mtr away from were my step dad was doing his business he got a hell of a fright and nearly fell in the drink fuck I laugh my ass off he was pale and shaken he was a humorous man so he handled my fit of laughter .Before I started fishing I had sleep problems the mind going 100 mile a hour well working 20 hour’s straight when one is 14 soon eliminates the sleeping problem .So I had no problems sleeping till I was 21 when I was told something that turn my world up side down we had one child at the time so I tried the natural sleep remedy I had tryed it once before and it did not impress me but this time it was not just sleep I was stressed out .
    Well It worked this time and stress levels dropped and hay It is something Mother Earth gave us so I thought no big deal well that not how the system see it this is how most Maori see the subject I have stopped many times when life is good. But when external factors out of my control are stressing me out well I go buy my medicine .
    Now let’s look at It from a different angle which I say can kill 2 bird’s with one stone is that OUR agricultural exports are at a guest 20 Billon and this is our main income earner . So we can end up the creak with out a paddle if our bio security is breached by many millions of these threats ot our agricultural exports so I say this is a national
    security risk and should be taken very very seriously as this is our main weakness as some farmers have pointed out .And we need to pour a lot of resources in to minimizing this risk as it will be a lot cheaper than the disaster that will happen if we don’t in vest in minimizing this risk now. How are we going to pay for this extra vigilant boarder security we need . Well I say we are pissing billions of dollar’s on controlling an medical product and spending billion’s locking up people whom with a bit of guidance and help will be good productive citizens . So I say lets take all the resources we waste on this dum ass fight and use them to protect our National security this is a cheap and innovative why to Insure we have a Healthy happy wealthy FUTURE enough said Kia Kaha lets do this

    • greywarshark 19.1
      27 October 2017 at 7:38 pm

      eco maori
      Please put double spacing between paragraphs and have paragraphs where it’s all about the same thought. Then a couple of enters and the next one. Otherwise it’s too hard to read. And it is surprising how long it takes to put all those words and thoughts down as in No.19.

      • Eco maori 19.1.1
        28 October 2017 at 9:17 am

        K just in a rush but I’m sure everyone get,S it

        • Andre 19.1.1.1
          28 October 2017 at 9:22 am

          Nope, not everyone gets it. If it looks like it’s going to be hard work reading it I’ll just skim straight past. Pretty sure I’m not the only one.

        • greywarshark 19.1.1.2
          28 October 2017 at 9:54 am

          Eco maori
          I’m interested and want to both write and read here and that takes time from things I have promised to do for others and things I should be doing for me. So time is short for me and for you, and if you are going to be moved to write please cut it into bits so others mind can sort it and take it in. Otherwise as Andre says I’ll just skip it.

          Reminds me I am often writing about something and explaining my point of view. CV used to tell me TLDR (too long didn’t read). He used to throw
          remarks like that around. Very hurtful but true! He didn’t have time for fools.

  20. Penny Bright 20
    27 October 2017 at 3:36 pm

    NZ WHISTLE-BLOWER ALERT!
    27 October 2017

    Make Ak Transport PUBLIC again!

    Along with many others – I worked very hard to #ChangeTheGovernment.

    How I choose to work is on an ‘issue by issue’ basis, supporting issues where there is ‘common cause’ – but agreeing to disagree where there is not 🙂

    Make Ak Transport PUBLIC again!

    It’s PUBLICLY subsidised PRIVATELY owned, operated & managed passenger transport.

    NO Ak Regional Fuel Tax.
    ___________________

    Persistently and consistently, I have opposed an Auckland ‘user pays’ regional fuel tax.

    Here’s what I said over 4 years ago, which explains why:

    Press Release from Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright:

    “The ‘Conned Senseless’ Building Group report on Auckland transport funding options is fundamentally and fatally flawed”.

    16 July 2013

    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/newseventsculture/OurAuckland/News/Pages/keepaucklandmoving.aspx

    “Over the next 30 years, the number of people living in Auckland is expected to increase by up to one million – mostly due to natural population growth. Along with this comes the need to expand and improve Auckland’s transport system.”

    “MYTH ONE: Here we go again, this ‘million more people’ myth and urban legend is now being regurgitated as a primary underpinning reason to expand Auckland transport infrastructure,” says Auckland Mayoral candidate, Penny Bright.

    “No disrespect, but are / were all the members of this ‘Conned Senseless’ Building Group, aware that the use of the Department of Statistics ‘high’ population growth projections, ( the one million more people coming to Auckland in the next 30 years), instead of their recommended ‘medium’ population growth projections, is now being investigated by the Social Services Select Committee?”

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Presented/Petitions/5/0/5/50DBHOH_PET3157_1-Petition-of-Penelope-Mary-Bright-requesting-that.htm

    Petition of Penelope Mary Bright

    Requesting that Parliament declines to proceed with the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill until the lawfulness of the reliance of Auckland Council on the New Zealand Department of Statistics’ “high”population growth projections, instead of their “medium” population growth projections for the Auckland Spatial Plan, has been properly and independently investigated, taking into consideration that both Auckland Transport and Watercare Services Ltd, have relied upon “medium” population growth projections for their infrastructural asset management plans.

    Petition number: 2011/64
    Presented by: Holly Walker
    Date presented: 30 May 2013
    Referred to: Social Services Committee
    __________________________

    ‘Supplementary Evidence’:

    http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Housing-Accord-and-Special-Housing-Areas-Bil-Supplementary-Evidence-13-Juna-2013.pdf

    __________________________

    “MYTH TWO: The only sources of monies available for ‘improving Auckland’s transport system’ are: road tolls, or higher rates and fuel taxes’,”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10898450

    ” How about checking with a ‘fine-tooth comb’ EXACTLY where Auckland Council (and Auckland Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) rates monies are currently being SPENT, and cutting back rates SPENDING?”

    “No disrespect intended, but are / were all the members of this ‘Conned Senseless’ Building Group, aware that Auckland Council ‘books’ are still not open, and citizens and ratepayers do not know exactly how much public rates monies are being spent on private ‘piggy-in-the-middle’ consultants and contractors?”

    “No disrespect intended, but are / were all the members of this ‘Conned Senseless’ Building Group, aware that in an an Auckland Council Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) reply dated 21 November 2011:

    (QUESTION)

    “1) Is the Auckland Council, in a truly ‘open, transparent and democratically-accountable’ way, going to ensure that citizens and ratepayers of the Auckland region are going to be given the
    ‘devilish’ detail, so we can see exactly where our rates monies are being spent on private sector consultants and contractors?

    2) a) .Are the names of the consultants/contractors; the scope, term and value of these contracts going to be published in the Auckland Council Annual Report so that they are available for public scrutiny?

    b) if not- why not?

    (ANSWER)

    Not at this stage. There are 5,000, contracts related to 12,500 suppliers. To collate and pub!ish these would be a major exercise logistically and cost~wise. ….. ”

    [See Item 6 ]

    http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/OCCUPY-AUCKLAND-APPEAL-APPLICATION-BY-APPELLANT-BRIGHT-TO-ADDUCE-NEW-EVIDENCE-pdf.pdf

    “I checked today on the Auckland Council website, and can still find no such publicly available details of ‘contracts issued’”

    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/HowCouncilWorks/Pages/working_with_council.aspx

    “Did the ‘Conned Senseless’ Building Group investigate how much public money could be freed up to serve the interests of the public majority, (including Auckland transport funding), by CUTTING OUT THE CONSULTANTS and PRIVATE CONTRACTORS, and returning core Council services ‘in-house’?

    “If there is no ‘cost-benefit’ analysis which proves that private provision of Council services is more cost-effective for the public majority, then as an Auckland Mayoral candidate, I believe that this long-term corporate welfare must cease forthwith.”

    ” My recommendation is that citizens and ratepayers in the Auckland region do your own ‘cost-benefit’ analysis. Since this so-called Auckland ‘$upercity’ was forced upon the Auckland region, have YOUR rates gone up or down?”

    “See? The public majority of the Auckland region have been ‘CONNED’ by the CONsultants, and the CONtractors, and those who serve their interests – arguably the NZ Property Council and the Committee for Auckland,”

    “As an Auckland Mayoral candidate – this is where I stand:

    NO road tolls/ fuel taxes or rates increases to fund Auckland transport infrastructure.

    Open the books.

    Cut out all the consultants and contractors who are effectively on ‘corporate welfare’.

    Get rid of these ‘corporate-controlled’ CCOs, with their appointed Boards of arguably self-serving business people.

    Bring core Council services back ‘in-house’, and employ Council Officers who have a ‘public service’ background and ethos, not private sector functionaries who are now running Auckland Council as if it were their own private company.

    Take back public ownership, operation and control of Auckland passenger transport.

    Why should the public subsidise what we no longer own?

    Change the uniforms and the business cards, and Auckland Council take back operation and management of Auckland Rail, from French multinational Transdev, (formerly known as Veolia Transport Auckland)

    Use public monies for the benefit of the public majority, not the private sector, particularly multi-national corporations.”

    Penny Bright

    ‘Anti-corruption, anti-privatisation’ campaigner

    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate
    ______________________________

    #MakeAucklandTransportPublicAgain
    #StopPublicSubsidiesOfPrivatePassengerTransportOperators
    #NoAucklandRegionalFuelTax

    • Stunned Mullet 20.1
      27 October 2017 at 3:43 pm

      #Meow

    • Ad 20.2
      27 October 2017 at 4:08 pm

      – Nope, we really are going into the accelerated population growth phase here. Well documented . So you are wrong there.

      – Nope, Auckland Transport’s books are fully open already. Some stuff during commercial negotiations is confidential and always will be. You will already have noticed too that the Minister has taken immediate steps to ensure more efficient use of taxpayer money by preparing to cancel the East-West expressway and redeploy it to light rail. So you are wrong there.

      – Road tolls are not the only source of funding – in fact most of the funding will be debt financed through bonds, which are in turn serviced by the property owners from the new developments that the finding is used for. That is what the Minister has already indicated. So you are wrong there.

      Wrong on all counts so far.

      You have never got elected or even close, never been appointed to anything, and your one useful task has been the application of the Public Records Act, other than that you have had no influence on society at all.

      But that is the record you always fail to disclose.

      • greywarshark 20.2.1
        27 October 2017 at 7:44 pm

        Harsh Ad
        I hope that no-one will have cause to say similar to you. Penny does try to draw people’s attention to matters of concern. But according to you her points are not correct. It is good that you indicated which ones. But you didn’t need the sting at the end.

        Your background apparently makes you very wise and invulnerable to criticism.

    • left_forward 20.3
      27 October 2017 at 4:39 pm

      Hi Penny, I found this very difficult to follow – but I think I can support and like the core of your message. Perhaps a more minimal style may help communicate your message more effectively 🙂

  21. Ad 21
    27 October 2017 at 3:55 pm

    The Russian Revolution centenary was this month, and we almost went without marking it:

    http://www.dw.com/en/the-real-october-artists-and-revolution/av-41093675

    So here it is, through the eyes of the artists who went through it.

  22. Zorb6 22
    27 October 2017 at 4:11 pm

    From the link-‘Brown is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit’so its mischievious ,unsubstantiated ,hearsay.
    Her statement about our limited on-air, green-room interactions are false,” Brown said. “There were never any circumstances of any kind whatsoever in which I had any interaction with her or any other employee at Fox, outside the studio.”-The bits Joe90,left out.

    • greywarshark 22.1
      27 October 2017 at 7:46 pm

      Zorb6
      Could you give some foundation for your comment about Joe90, the number, date etc. so that your comment has some connection to something that others can check out.

  25. tracey 25
    27 October 2017 at 4:48 pm

    Aussie govt on a knifes edge after court rules Deputy PM has to go.

  26. Patricia Bremner 26
    27 October 2017 at 5:11 pm

    So Labour back in in Aus??

  27. Craig H 27
    27 October 2017 at 6:39 pm

    I know there’s some consternation about a potential work for the dole scheme, but Labour has a policy to employ young NEETs for 6 months at minimum wage on various community projects (DOC was mentioned at the time), so hopefully any work schemes will be along those lines. Planting trees is an excellent opportunity there.

    • greywarshark 27.1
      27 October 2017 at 7:28 pm

      It should be work for the dole plus. After starting in a scheme and working at something that shows results, there would be monthly talks with immediate bosses with work reviewed and with a reasonable record, they start receiving wage rises, small but steady. A feeling of being valued and recognition of effort and higher skills acquired would buck up quite a few. Also a willingness by government to pay for vocational training at that stage, with firms willing to give them jobs. The more people working and earning a better wage, the more money circulating, the more employment. We could start being a good place to live for the strugglers.

      • Craig H 27.1.1
        27 October 2017 at 7:43 pm

        The Labour policy to pay the dole to employers who take on apprentices seems like a good fit with that ☺️.

  28. Draco T Bastard 28
    27 October 2017 at 6:56 pm

    Hobbit law to be scrapped in first 100 days

    What we want to do is restore the right that all workers should have in New Zealand to be able to bargain collectively if they choose to,” Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said.

    Restoring peoples rights to them. This is a Good Thing.

    Employment lawyer Megan Richards advises the industry and says there are real reservations about repealing the law.
    “It would change how the industry’s been operating for the last seven odd years and I think there’s acknowledgment that it would put our film industry in threat,” she told 1 NEWS.

    The well paid people in the industry don’t like it and don’t seem to realise that it’s actually just making the law apply equally to everyone.

    • Carolyn_Nth 28.1
      27 October 2017 at 7:02 pm

      And Labour wouldn’t want to be agreeing to TPP ISDS restrictions before they repeal the law, surely?

    • greywarshark 28.2
      27 October 2017 at 7:21 pm

      I want repeals of laws affecting the film and creative industries, to help NZs get jobs that pay fairly but not ones that lessen the amount of work we can get here, and create here, and the money that we receive here we want to stay here in NZ.

      Unions have to box clever, not just demand wages now because they have better somewhere else, and they have to work with the firms, and if not with, find a way to work the firms and the system to turn out the product and get a share of the profits, a bonus, a payment into a company that will make pilot features, something that always leads into something else.

  29. greywarshark 29
    27 October 2017 at 10:08 pm

    I have been looking up the story of the 9 year old autistic boy who was held down while others fired a BB gun at him. The parents weren’t told about it and didn’t know until some crappy message was put on Facebook with a picture of it. The Principal advised the boy apparently to avoid theo ther boys and go to the library or whatever, an d the perpetrators were allowed b ack to school on a strict contract.

    In Nelson some one with a snitcher on the Principal has been graffiting something about him on the school. The Deputy Principal in trying to prevent some little shit from pulling his trousers down, apparently the latest craze of the dilettantes at Nelson College, knocked the boys face and swore at him (What are you bloody doing etc. might be a phrase I’d be likely to use). It seems that this is regarded as very terrible for a teacher to do, but I don’t know if the boy/s is being charged with assault. No doubt this boy has parents that vote for the National Party, which follows a practice of not having respect for anybody. People like that are likely to send their kids to a good (boarding?) school as they can’t be spending their time with their children teaching them to be good people. Where is the money in that?

    While looking at Tauranga Boys College and other Tauranga schools I notice a new private one, with a purpose built campus, and promoting itself as being the bees knees. The advert is dated 2017, and it is part of a group with others.* I can’t really identify it as it has adopted that crap practice used too often these days, just giving itself letters for a legal definition followed by Ltd. There is no meaning to letters, not unless they are used as a logo for a full name that is provided!

    The facilities sound superior to state schools:
    Purpose-built campus
    Our campus features a brand new sports complex equipped for multiple sports including badminton, basketball, netball and futsal. Alongside this we have traditional outdoor rugby and soccer fields. The campus also boasts state-of-the-art learning facilities including science labs, multi-purpose areas, music and art rooms.

    *Schools listed are: ACG Tauranga, ACG Parnell College, ACG Senior College,
    ACG Strathallan, ACG Schools Jakarta, ACG Sunderland, AIS Vietnam.

  30. UncookedSelachimorpha 30
    27 October 2017 at 10:54 pm

    I see Roy Morgan gone done a poll – but quite out of date because was conducted before Winston made his announcement and the government formed. I suspect things are changing rapidly right now.

    http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/7379-roy-morgan-new-zealand-voting-intention-october-2017-201710270443

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