Open mike 28/02/2023
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6:00 am, February 28th, 2023 - 26 comments
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- Thank You
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All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...3 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...4 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...6 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...6 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...7 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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Absolutely lets abandon Karekare totally and parts of Piha. Anyway the former Waitakere city council was the easiest touch as far as site stability for house building on steeper slopes. North Shore was far more rigourous and would never allow what was known in the business as 'walk over' geotech assesments.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Did you even read the post? Because your comment makes it look like you didn’t. If you want to comment there again, please stay on topic.
' This was their retirement, their dream, and it’s just been shattered. Another whole road has slumped and the whole street is cut off, as is the road at the top of the hill that provides access to the school that most of our primary school aged kids go to'
Im just responding to their problems caused by poor resilience- Ive worked on stability/creek flooding assesments for Karekare, Piha Muriwai . Its not saveable as the causes will get worse.
Sorry if the media elites in Piha , Karekare dont like the outcome or want it framed in a very narrow view
Im over hearing about the upper middle classes like this writer and their disaster problems over and above the poor and lower income areas
Esk valley or Puketapu instead of Wairoa or Waiohiki.
Piha instead of Mangere or Swanson
Fellow dorklanders. We have some serious climate issues up here. Sure nothing like east cape or far north.
However be comforted that some people voted an "engineering mayor who fixes things". Surely this is the ultimate opportunity to demonstrate his brilliance ??
What ?? Is there any evidence of this happening. Have we heard from him in the past fortnight ?? Do we know what the brains trust are contemplating??.
No plans, no direction, no help. Can I say with no obvious evidence of problem solutions it didn't happen.
I do wish he would stop calling himself an engineer. It brings my profession into disrepute. During his election he mentioned some projects he worked on, according to him, with great success. However, has anybody ever heard someone else involved in these projects stand up and say "yes he's the man".
I'm a great believer in the statistical bell curve. I suspect that he resides on the far left of this curve.
Isn't it time he did a Todd Muller.
The mayor doesnt 'design a thing'.
The NZ local government doesnt work under the US system of executive mayors ours ( with councillors ) are what they call governance, which really means leave operational work to the CEO and his executives. Anyway Brown said his biggest task is the financial situation the council is in, although my view is these things are often overblown
Why query Browns engineering background , the consultant firm he founded is still running with new owners. he was a registered engineer under the old system. But its clear you are a dork though
Jonathon Milne writes a clever response to Luxon's 3 waters plan. Jonathon publishes the position of councils plans and history. And surprise surprise, Luxon just repeats it as though they have a new plan.
A useful clarification of the issues too.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/et-voila-heres-something-someone-prepared-a-little-earlier?utm_source=Newsroom&utm_campaign=4286f8ee1d-Daily_Briefing+28.02.2023&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_71de5c4b35-4286f8ee1d-95522477
I know which option I prefer!
So true Tony. And the second paragraph largely describes the status quo which though there were regs Councils were unable to fulfil.
I guess the Nats are hoping that all the voters would read now is "no Maori" and "we own our assets."
Still having the “one day behind” thing happening with The Standard.
–running desktop Mac OS 12.0.1 (Monterey), same on phone and pad–iOS 16.3.1
Te Pāti Māori, good to see simple clear policy.
https://twitter.com/Maori_Party/status/1630086159178268674?s=20
Great! Another good initiative would be to confiscate all "profits" from banks, supermarkets, essential services, simply saying "the money's needed". They did well off the good times, now they can share in the cost of the bad.
The Greens also:
https://www.greens.org.nz/govt_must_urgently_wipe_msd_debt
It is clear who the left wing parties are in parliament
On being understated and modest and a dangerous fielder (when younger).
11.09 David Gower Ex-England captain on BT Sport
The last thing England need is an ill-judged run out.
Later an English batsmen with an average of 90 in test cricket is run out without facing a ball for 0.
11:22 David Gower Ex-England captain on BT Sport
This game is impossible to predict.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/cricket/62866144
While one might have been suspecting Williamson to have plotted the revenge, it was Root what done him in – Brook run out by Bracewell and Blundell.
Officially yes. But those who imagined that Jimmy Anderson has no ability to hit a ball down leg side thought the second to last ball was a wide (thus the test should have been a tie).
He proved them wrong, the last ball of the test match.
Anderson c Blundell b Wagner 4
PS Stuart Broad (the nighthawk) had changed the definition of normal cricket shot earlier in the innings.
Smile, at least were not the Aussies in India.
It would have been a brave umpire to wide that!!
But that has to be one of the best cricket matches I have ever seen.
Two very rare occurances: A win after following on, and a win by one run.
You're lucky to have seen it; I have only got grrrr gnash wail SKY and heard it through my radio headphones whilst mowing lawns. The limits of the game just got extended with the win, the style, the guts and grim determination, the self belief and the pure theatre, drama and music from the trumpeter, players and the pitch it was all staged on.
Complaint against Heather Duplicity-Allan upheld
Wet bus ticket time for Duplicity-Allan
Totally. She will probably have a rant about the judgement being unfair etc.
Maybe her and Baz can go on a couples counseling weekend with Kate n Mikey. ZB can get a bulk discount.
tc teehee!!
breaking news……
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Interesting to see an anti-Lukashenko partisan movement in Belarus which is disrupting RusFed war support.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/300817928/putins-military-spy-plane-blown-up-by-belarusian-partisans
Given what happened 12mths ago in Belarus with the Natives against Russia when they invaded 🇺🇦, this is warning shot across bows for Poot's & his Lukashenko. Lukashenko hold in Belarus isn't actually a sure beat either.
So I'm expecting this ground attack is a step up & a fore taste to what's to come compared what's been currently happening in Belarus which has been Non Violent Protest so far. But all indications the Belarusian Underground has penetrated most parts of Belarusian Security Forces & Public Services so watch this if Russia does invade Ukrane again for Round 2.
The big concern is that the Russian FSB has free reign in Belarus, so it's going to get nasty either way.
Test comment – please ignore