Open mike 28/02/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 28th, 2024 - 53 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

53 comments on “Open mike 28/02/2024 ”

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  1. Sanctuary 1
    28 February 2024 at 7:52 am

    Who thinks the reason Nikki Haley is still in the GOP primaries is because she plans to run as an independent against Trump and Biden with a view on winning in 2028?

    • Belladonna 1.1
      28 February 2024 at 10:11 am

      If she is, then she should prepare to be comprehensively defeated.
      The political machine in the US effectively makes it impossible to run for President, except through the Republican and Democrat parties. Which is why Trump is running through the Republican Party – even though he shares little of their actual political identity.

      Also – one of the two (Biden/Trump) will be ineligible to run – you're only allowed 2 terms – and both are at one term, now.

      • Obtrectator 1.1.1
        28 February 2024 at 7:23 pm

        I wouldn't bank on the two-term rule remaining in force (or even being enforced) if Trump gets back with a compliant Congress.

        • Belladonna 1.1.1.1
          29 February 2024 at 10:05 am

          And the signs of there being a compliant Congress are? Republicans (at the Congressional level) are not exactly doing well in the polls; and the projected mid-term Red wave (mid-term elections typically favour the party opposed to the President) – was barely a ripple.

          Even if Trump is elected, he is much more likely to be a lame duck President, with an opposed Congress.

    • Phillip ure 1.2
      28 February 2024 at 11:01 am

      I think haley is still there for two reasons..

      One is she was hoping opposition to trump would coalesce around her. .which hasn't happened..

      The other is being the only one still standing .. should trump fall..(for whatever reason..)

    • mpledger 1.3
      28 February 2024 at 1:52 pm

      She is there to get name recognition. If she fails spectacularly it won't matter because in four years time it will be her name that is remembered not the outcome.

  2. Bearded Git 2
    28 February 2024 at 8:46 am

    Somebody just texted in to RNZ Morning Report "I didn't realise Mr. Luxon supported blokes with fags in their mouths shooting semi-automatics from their Ford Ranger"…(paraphrased a bit)

    I’m not a huge Hipkins fan but he sounded pretty damn good this morning on RNZ after listening to the drivel coming from the C of C ministers.

  3. Ffloyd 3
    28 February 2024 at 9:05 am

    Luxon keeps banging on about New Zealand being in crisis mode. Do you think that somewhere in that tiny little brain of his that his Coalition IS THE CRISIS. They are running rampant. Straight out of John keys book of dirty politics. How do we stop this everything under emergency crap? Vote of no confidence? I also see that our this Dickson? Real estate lady is being supported by Hobsons Choice (Atlas?) who are trying to raise funds for her Court Case to fight her suspension for not taking (Forgot the name) in Māori protocols and History. Is she another plant?

    • tc 3.1
      28 February 2024 at 11:12 am

      All part of the right wing play book.

      Manufacturing consent with phoney culture wars and spin that there's a crises they had nothing to do and only they can solve it.

      Show's how owned the media is as we all saw this coming, imagine proper journalism and hold that thought because that's as far as it'll go.

    • E.Burke 3.2
      28 February 2024 at 12:16 pm

      How do we stop this everything under emergency crap?

      Ahem, check the last Governments form for passing legislation under urgency

      [Address the comment to which you’re replying instead of trollish whataboutery – Incognito]

    • Michael P 3.3
      28 February 2024 at 2:20 pm

      Straight out of the standard political playbook. If you can convince the population there's a crisis (better still if you can create a climate of fear) then you can much more easily make excuses for breaking promises and / or not delivering in certain areas or even doubling down.

      You can justify more extreme negative treatment of those whose are at fault for all of the economic woes (beneficiaries of course) and if you're good you can even stretch it to justifying things like more austerity for those other financial and economic destroyers (people on low incomes)

      You can get away with blaming the previous government for a longer time period and for more things you are struggling with or about to stuff up as well as the crisis being a nice little soft landing for some bad news or unwelcome data you know is about to be released.

      This government is just the current crop doing it, all sides are guilty of it to varying degrees when they're in power.. (sorry I meant in office … of course.)

      Yep, nothing like a good crisis to bring out the pitchforks of some… and distract the rest.

      Man I hate that I've become this cynical !

      • Patricia Bremner 3.3.1
        28 February 2024 at 9:58 pm

        Labour and the Greens did not manufacture a crisis to frighten people. Covid did that.

        Huge numbers dying each day, hospitals overwhelmed, then the cool store containers of bodies, people trapped on cruise liners, that was real.

        Now National screamed about ram raids, and our current PM posed outside a dairy. That was a sad case, but the truth of reducing ram raids was ignored and the faithful like JMM reported how bad it was along with Mitchell posing and exaggerating to create fear and a "crisis" So no apples and pears mate.

  4. Gosman 4
    28 February 2024 at 10:20 am

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/510362/productivity-commission-head-hits-out-at-cruel-and-thoughtless-way-it-has-been-axed

    Ganesh Nana moaning to RNZ National about something that should have been entirely predictable to him. He completely subverted the original purpose of the Productivity comminssion. Of course it was for the chop.

    If he couldn’t work this out without being advised in person then it is more evidence why he was not up to his job.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 4.1
      28 February 2024 at 11:27 am

      Was "the original purpose of the Productivity comminssion" much different to this?

      Our purpose
      As embodied in the New Zealand Productivity Commission Act, 2010 the principal purpose of the Commission is to provide advice to the Government on improving productivity in a way that is directed to supporting the overall wellbeing of New Zealanders, having regard to a wide range of communities of interest and population groups in New Zealand society.

      https://www.productivity.govt.nz/publications/annual-report-fy-202122/read-online/who-we-are/

      Following our closure on Thursday, 29 February 2024, our website will become the responsibility of the Treasury.
      You will still be able to access our research, reports and information about productivity and wellbeing through our URL http://www.productivity.govt.nz.

      Yet another 'last chance to see' – under our coalition of chaos and crisis 'government', self-interest rules, and our productive landLords are set to do very well – funny that.

      Opportunities Ahead: Key Government Changes Affecting Property Investors and Tenants in 2024 [19 Feb 2024]
      Bright line test reduction
      Return of Mortgage Interest Deductibility
      Reinstating the 90-day ‘no-cause eviction’

      Coalition Government lifts minimum wage to $23.15 which the Council of Trade Unions says is a cut in real terms [1 Feb 2024]
      "The rental market doesn't actually need coddling of landlords and speculators to exist, as it predated such welfarism."

      • Gosman 4.1.1
        28 February 2024 at 2:34 pm

        Yes. The original purpose of the Productivity Commission was purely focused on looking at how the value add componment of the economy could be enhanced rather than maximising non economic activities such as the environment and social well being. The last government added these other goals which essentially destroyed the original purpose of the commission and by appointing such a person as Ganesh Nana further removed it from that purpose.

        • Mikey 4.1.1.1
          28 February 2024 at 6:46 pm

          Social wellbeing is an economic activity / state.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 4.1.1.2
          28 February 2024 at 8:39 pm

          Yes. The original purpose of the Productivity Commission was purely focused on looking at how the value add componment of the economy could be enhanced rather than maximising non economic activities such as the environment and social well being.

          Are you sure Gos? You seem pretty sure, even absolutely sure, but I have doubts.

          Part 2 – Substantive Provisions
          7 Purpose of Commission
          The principal purpose of the Commission is to provide advice to the Government on improving productivity in a way that is directed to supporting the overall well-being of New Zealanders, having regard to a wide range of communities of interest and population groups in New Zealand society.

          Note that this quote is cut and pasted from the original version of the Act, "as enacted" in 2010, and sans additions – at least as far as I can tell.

          https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2010/0136/17.0/096be8ed8067a3eb.pdf
          Funny what tricks ideology can play on one's mind and memory, eh Gossie smiley

    • AB 4.2
      28 February 2024 at 1:30 pm

      The virulence with which the Right tries to silence any prominent voices they dislike, sits oddly with their supposed championing of free speech.

      • Gosman 4.2.1
        28 February 2024 at 2:55 pm

        Ummm… The Productivity Commission was subverted by the previous government and moved away from it's original remit. Much of the original purpose of the Commission is now going to be handled by the Ministry for Regulation. There is therefore no need to keep the Commission going.

        • AB 4.2.1.1
          28 February 2024 at 3:35 pm

          By "subverted" you merely mean "changed" it’s just a difference of opinon not a subterfuge misdemeanor or crime.

        • AB 4.2.1.2
          28 February 2024 at 3:45 pm

          By subverted you just mean changed. It's a difference of opinion, not a subterfuge, misdemeanor or crime. The right do not like the change, or the person leading it, so have ended it.

          • Gosman 4.2.1.2.1
            28 February 2024 at 3:50 pm

            There would be no Productivity commission without the ACT party requesting it as part of their agreement with National post the 2008 election. The reason ACT set it up was to identify areas of the economy that had barriers to improving productivity. It was not meant to focus on Social or Environmental areas. The last government changed the focus and therefore essentially killed it as soon as the current government looked like they were going to take power. If the last government wanted it to last they should have left it how it was.

            • KJT 4.2.1.2.1.1
              28 February 2024 at 7:03 pm

              Social and environmental concerns are some of our largest barriers to productivity. Except in the fevered fantasy world of Seymour and co. The blighted lives, and lost production, after the ACTIOD' s in 84 Labours and Richardson's National swath of destruction still affect productivity even now.
              ACT don’t want to remove “barriers to productivity” they want to remove barriers to their bribers/sorry, funders, making money. A not so subtle difference.

            • Descendant Of Smith 4.2.1.2.1.2
              28 February 2024 at 11:04 pm

              Nonsense one of the first areas they looked at when set up was the privitisation of welfare. They found essentially it didn't work and was highly problematic eg in Australian rural areas it failed quickly as there isn't any profit to be made in areas with few jobs (pretty much the same market failure that leads to rail lines closing, power costs being higher for country communities, etc).

              They also found that when the profit motive was introduced unsurprisingly the focus was on the clients that paid the most so they left people alone until they hit twelve months and that it where the biggest payment was. Rational market behaviour for sure.

              I thought the work they did in areas like this was really useful.

              I'm sad to see them go I thought they did lots of good stuff which oft was taken no notice of. They produced some of the most interesting work to read in the last 10 years – them and the Treaty Settlement documents have been really refreshing bits of public discourse.

        • Patricia Bremner 4.2.1.3
          28 February 2024 at 10:03 pm

          The "Ministry of Regulation" you mean our inhouse twerp? The Monty Python Act removing Regulations. That one? All puns intended.

        • Phillip ure 4.2.1.4
          29 February 2024 at 8:28 am

          Oh..!…so that act guy is taking over..?

          Nothing to worry about then…eh..?

  5. Phillip ure 5
    28 February 2024 at 11:27 am

    Shit..!..newshub is closing..in June..

  6. SPC 6
    28 February 2024 at 12:42 pm

    The government has a plan.

    To build up (intensification on transport routes and mixed zoning – residential in town centres), cities must plan to build out.

    Landbankers will be able to sell land to foreign investors building to rent. They pay no CGT on their landbanking profits to government.

    The GST on the property development goes to local councils – less money to government.

    Smaller government revenue, growing wealth to landbankers (especially those in the know pre election) and locals paying rent to offshore property owners.

    This also means foreign competition to Kiwi Saver Funds and the NZSF for land, if they intended to invest in rental accommodation – that is higher cost.

    PS More land for building out does not mean it is all available for that purpose if there is no policy to counter land bankers – drip feeding supply if there is no land and or CG tax on such land if there is no building on it.

  7. joe90 7
    28 February 2024 at 1:42 pm

    Hardly surprising when studies have found microplastics and nanoplastics in fruit and vegetables, buried in Antarctic sea ice, within the guts of marine animals inhabiting the deepest ocean trenches, and in drinking water around the world.

    .

    Microplastics have been found in every human placenta tested in a study, leaving the researchers worried about the potential health impacts on developing foetuses.

    The scientists analysed 62 placental tissue samples and found the most common plastic detected was polyethylene, which is used to make plastic bags and bottles. A second study revealed microplastics in all 17 human arteries tested and suggested the particles may be linked to clogging of the blood vessels.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/27/microplastics-found-every-human-placenta-tested-study-health-impact

    • Phillip ure 7.1
      28 February 2024 at 2:14 pm

      And let's not forget that among the most efficient delivery systems to humans of the forever plastics…

      ..are butter and red meat.. especially pig..

      How is that bacon butty looking..?

    • SPC 7.2
      28 February 2024 at 2:25 pm

      There will be money in supplying water, food and air without plastics …

      Will our descendants be looking to the stars for a new habitable planet earth within the range of a human lifetime's journey … so their children have a better future.

      Has human civilisation finally understood the consequence of allowing an imperial cult of mammon to guide the social, economic and political order environment?

      Will knowledge of this result in the late stage capitalism oligarchy fascism …where the haves try and maintain their privilege/lifestyle as long as they can?

  8. SPC 8
    28 February 2024 at 2:05 pm

    The logic of Richard Prebble – a master class in conflation.

    Even after adjusting for inflation and higher rents, the average beneficiary’s income grew by 43 per cent”.

    He said the base benefit increased from 215 to 340 (its 337.60) – the rent increased in that period from $400 to $600. So he is lying. The increase in income was marginally above the increase in rent.

    https://figure.nz/chart/azFwYTVvUcrcxT3m-Cn6TyuSQBZ8Kacee

    And by 2025, rent increases will have matched or gone up faster than benefits.

    The result is more children in material hardship.

    The number of children in hardship is a function of the numbers on benefits with children (higher) and the impact of the rising cost of rent on those in work (the MW increases were also above inflation but below that of rent increases). Not the amount paid in benefit.

    He then goes onto conflate levels of income support with numbers who are without work, if somehow placing those on benefits into greater poverty reduces dependence – when he really means reduced tax burden on others results in their higher after tax spending creating jobs – which those on benefits.will be desperate to get in a competition with migrant labour (thus keeping wages low and profits high).

    The best way to reduce poverty is to have a strong economy. A rising tide lifts all boats. We will never eliminate poverty by making increasing numbers dependent on the state.

    Helping people into work reduces dependence, well-paid work and affordable rent ends poverty but sufficient support when between jobs is what first world nations do.

    ACT and its advocates have got Randian ideology, they believe in a society order based around profit to capital and user pays – so there is no concept of society or community apart from an authority maintaining government over the have nots on behalf of the haves. Returning the democratic nation state citizen to the status of subject. Authority maintaining government over the people refers to the unaccountable nature of it and its lack of transparency.

    Atlas Network – holding up a regime above the landless people without capital.

    https://archive.li/6g4k1

    • Kay 8.1
      28 February 2024 at 4:08 pm

      It's almost hilarious watching the mental gymnastics going on in their constant efforts to justify pure cruelty. Do you think they genuinely believe what they're saying, or is it a show for the base and the media?

      I've been around long enough to remember when a 1-bedroom private rental in Auck/Wgtn was (much) less than the core Invalids/SLP benefit. Now it's more than the core benefit (and with no options of finding somewhere cheaper) and the maximum of every supplement going is necessary in order to pay the rest of the bills. I have absolutely no idea how anyone with kids does it.

      Rents are the biggest cause of poverty in NZ right now.

      • SPC 8.1.1
        28 February 2024 at 4:40 pm

        ACT is the class war front of National.

        It's a legacy of the surrender to the market of the lite-weight division of 1980's Labour absorbed into neo-liberalism, an ideological conversion cult within the Randian Atlas Network.

        As for housing, I'm hoping to see a lot of small build "granny" flats (factory en-mass) being consented on sections – 2 in place one sub-divide. And village communities of them, good use of half of golf course land – rest park. And also for older folk (owned or income related rent) as per Kiwibuild/state mixed housing.

        And in the provinces iwi using them to house their aged on any spare land.

  10. SPC 10
    28 February 2024 at 3:04 pm

    The RB forecasts the OCR at 5.5% till late 2025.

    For mine, it will go down in 2025 and be 5% by the end of the year.

    Inflation – well rents, rates, and insurance are at 10% pa still. So despite the 0.5% quarter late 2023 – it could well be 3% end of 2024.

    The external (upward) risk would be cost of carbon/petrol/fertiliser from war/shipping cost.

    The internal risk continuing rise in construction costs (because of government build pent up demand) and water investment demand from councils throughout the term. Thus inflation staying at 3% and the OCR at c5% to late 2026.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2024/02/reserve-bank-holds-official-cash-rate-at-5-5-percent.html

  11. SPC 11
    28 February 2024 at 3:47 pm

    Well well well Treasury informed National they could not meet their target without a CGT and the mastermind of Fonterra has concluded something

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/national-slides-back-into-the-red-that-surplus-position-is-challenged-nicola-willis-warns-surplus-promise-may-not-be-met/ACH2CI5JGJAMPO4TDEGLWXX6XY/

  12. SPC 12
    28 February 2024 at 4:02 pm

    The retired ANZ Board Chairman picks a doubling of house prices in 10 years.

    That would be going up at over twice the increase in wage each year.

    He cites rising population through migration – so he indicates the only way to stop it.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/02/sir-john-key-reveals-his-prediction-for-the-housing-market.html

    A higher cost of rent to wage and longer time to pay off a mortgage is a decline in return to labour – this indicates a growing population makes the worker poorer.

    But allows the land banking property speculator/investor to become wealthier and wealthier.

    It also means a growing proportion of the economy is clipped by the bank for profit. He makes a strong case for a windfall profits tax on banks.

    • SPC 12.1
      28 February 2024 at 4:26 pm

      Of course the pertinent issue is productivity.

      Requiring a growing population to maintain growth is a sign of low productivity – and this indicates low quality of investment (just to extract CG from the economy – its people/workers).

      Michael Reddell "First, it isn't obvious political parties really care about productivity anyway – beyond an occasional talking point in opposition or in the first few weeks of government"

      Nana said he hoped some part of government would pick up the commission's work and regard productivity as the measure of making the best use of the economic, natural and social resources in the country in a sustainable way, and not just as a means of cutting costs and lifting profitability.

      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/02/productivity-commission-head-hits-out-at-cruel-and-thoughtless-way-it-has-been-axed.html

  13. Joe90 13
    28 February 2024 at 5:00 pm

    So Dimitry Rogozin isn't the only racist POS.

    /

    Sri Lanka has told hundreds of thousands of Russians and some Ukrainians staying in the country to escape the war that they must leave in the next two weeks, immigration officers said.

    The immigration controller issued a notice to the tourism ministry asking Russian and Ukrainian people staying on extended tourist visas to leave Sri Lanka within two weeks from 23 February.

    […]

    It comes amid a furious social media backlash over Russian-run businesses with a “whites only” policy that strictly bars locals. These businesses include bars, restaurants, water sports and vehicle hiring services.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka-russia-tourist-visa-ukraine-war-b2502986.html