Open mike 28/03/2021
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...17 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
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AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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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. ...2 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
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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There are only two places I've seen Kokako; one is on Titiritiri Matangi Island and the other is on an obscure track up from the Fairy Falls in Auckland's Waitakere Ranges.
But after near-extinction and monumental volunteer and iwi and DOC efforts, there are now 2,000 of them.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2103/S00208/milestone-for-kokako-as-population-soars.htm
This is what they sound like:
Simply, congratulations to all who worked to ensure that species doesn't die.
One day I will get to the Pureora. It was a mighty fight to save that forest. So congratulations also to those who fought successfully to preserveit.
On 2nd June 2019, 4 were released into the Hunuas.
Such a lovely bird in flight
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/115879149/kkako-singing-after-1080-court-case
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/399013/kokako-tours-let-the-public-get-up-close-with-threatened-birds
Interesting analysis that cites Sinead Boucher's decision to pull Stuff's advertising from Facebook a couple of years ago (scroll to the end):
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/27/is-online-advertising-about-to-crash-just-like-the-property-market-did-in-2008
The same can be said for all forms of advertising, it's a giant leap of faith that you will get some return on your spend. Often you don't.
Measuring the effectiveness of advertising isn't scientific, and most of those doing the measurement want to demonstrate ROI for their client.
Yeah, especially when it's very obvious to the client that the campaign hasn't worked and may have even been negative.
We got this jem in the inbox from Destination Queenstown last week explaining the summer marketing flop. We turned over 1/10 of our rent through December and January, gather that was typical for retail around town, Wanaka and Stewart Island had record months…
The thing I dont understand is why would you buy something a sports person advertises.
Walking through residential areas I see a lot of signs on letter boxes. Posted letters only, no junk mail, no circulars…
Chris Bishop is always busy barking at cars
National wants answers over vaccination system coding error (msn.com)
Perhaps he has a little team of hackers trying to penetrate Govt systems, as with the leaked details of the 2019 budget? One can imagine the type – young fogey script kiddies with the words of Ayn Rand still coursing hot through their veins. If they find anything at all, Chris then gets to shout “scandal” from the rooftops.
Unfortunately the Budget 2019 was not a hack it was simply bad / no security.
The irony – it burns!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/439078/andrew-little-defends-sis-criticises-media-coverage
The irony is lost on many, I’d imagine. Little’s comments apply to much of what passes as ‘public discourse’, including on this site, IMHO.
For example, it would help if people quote in full rather than selectively to suit their narrative, as that is conducive to mature and intelligent debate on complex issues.
Good luck with that, Mr Little, you can take a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.
Listening to Queen and the Bohemian Rhapsody I realised that it could be the anthem for present day NZ. Was Freddie Mercury divine and we didn't recognise him as such? He drew crowds, put out great messages, died early.
Bracken's God Defend New Zealand reflects our past centuries, like the Christchurch cathedral. Have we the strength of mind to look at the B.Rhapsody and turn to change our tune, so to speak. Not so much 'my' end but it will be 'our' end if we don't start acting positively, rationally, and away from the leitmotif of growth, profit, and louche theories that play with our minds.
When I left teaching, my farewell speech to the staff was based on the premise that the lyrics of "Bohemian Rhapsody", a song that I taught in a semester class on song lyrics, was not about a young man about to be executed for murder but the last thoughts before retirement of a secondary teacher as he reviewed his teaching career.
A little bit of levity on a Sunday morning: I reckon this should become NZs National Anthem (apart from the unfortunate appearance of Richard Prebble who did his best to make this country a carbon copy of the US!)
edit
Tony V – Snap as we used to say when thinking the same thing. I thought about NZ anthem separately – great coincidence. John Clarke moved from NZ because we loved him too much and Australia offered more opportunities of revving up the government. He will always have a good message for us, to cheer us along the right path. Looked at objectively was he a greater asset to NZ and the world than Rutherford? Heresy!
Agreed, Greywarshark. Just listened to the dirge being played before the NZ vs Bangladesh T20 match.
The English words written by the arch misogynist Thomas Bracken. Hardly inspiring!
Bracken, was a man of his time I think. We need to ensure we don't drive the Tardis to another 19th century scenario.
I agree about the dirge – I was always embarrassed singing it. This would be a good one I reckon – fit for a country of stoic people that build things.
Shame the movie was rubbish.
I’d start with changing the flag and go from there.
I'd start with building some cheap rentals and leave adjusting the bunting til later.
― Otto von Bismarck
How ironic that you of all people missed the irony, but it seems that you might not be the only one. I guess I’ll have to start including little emoticons and tags again <sigh>.
Yes by all means give us a guide to what you mean Incognito. I rely on measured comment when I read you to feed my need to see reasoned comment, or humour, whichever is appropriate for the subject. There is little enough around so yours is appreciated – too ironic and we lose the thread.
So you're casting or revealing yourself as a cynic?
Nope, I have my moments, but this wasn’t one of them. Just pointing out that irony is often lost on many, as was evident here on TS yesterday.
Agree that $25 mill would have given us about a 100 units. Key was an idiot wasn't he.
Flag – bit of coloured cloth, representation of a national entity.
Song for NZ – sung individually to affirm our belief in NZ and our humanity – comes from the brain, heart and soul, it is spoken, is an action.
RIP to those in Myanmar now dead, and how can we bring a cessation to this action in Myanmar now? Concentrating on this and not looking at other horrors in the world.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/439314/114-killed-in-myanmar-s-deadliest-day-of-coup
Interesting comments by Bernardi on Biden
Who is Bernardi?
Why is it interesting?
Why should we click and watch a YT clip?
Where is your own opinion and political analysis contribution besides calling it “interesting”?
Is Bernardi’s ‘analysis‘ entirely disinterested? These pejoratives suggest not: "crazy Nancy Pelosi"; "hapless Chuck Schumer"; "cackling Kamala Harris" – it’s sour grapes imo.
What a pathetic waste of time.
Biden is generating a masterclass on how to get elected as a centrist then go hard on policy as soon as you get into power.
Hopefully this guy is on a plane out of NZ in July then.
Karel Sroubek given date for deportation hearing | Stuff.co.nz
While he is a piece of work I fail to see why he is any different from the 501s we continue to take in.
10.1 We don't have a choice with the 501s expelled from Australia. But we must have some rules about foreigners in NZ being of good behaviour – though I don't understand just how it works. For instance the Joanne Wotsername who was imprisoned for defrauding the country, and seems a seasoned liar and finagler; she was jailed but just a tap on the hand and has been sent back to UK. We can't allow foreigners of bad repute to accumulate here and rip us off, better if we act early. We have enough woes to deal with.
There are stirrers, particularly females at present, protesting in our streets about hurts to their sisters in the USA, and adding to that NZ information that seems exaggerated from what I read.
Mar.27/21 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/439300/rally-protests-against-anti-asian-violence-abuse-in-us-and-nz
More than a thousand people have turned out for a rally in central Auckland calling for discrimination against Asians to stop.…
Organiser Steph Tan is calling on the government to do more to prevent hate crime, especially toward Asian communities.
During an interview with Afternoons this week, she said the march was a chance to express solidarity with Asian-Americans as they grieved over the loss of six Asian women among the eight people killed by a gunman in Atlanta…
She said during 2020 hate crimes committed towards Asian-Americans had risen by 1900 percent during the Covid-19 pandemic as they were blamed for the origin of the virus.
I think that the USA needs to deal with their problems. Why are we dragged in to blame for their shonky culture? Is NZ evidence being talked up, with individual instances becoming inflated? I was annoyed at the church which refused to co-operate with the government which then led to a lockdown in Auckland? If I criticise and express annoyance does this go down as showing intolerance, and if the people were Asian is that racism for the purposes of the Race Relations Commissioner? I think there is a possibility that each occurrence is regarded as evidence of widespread attitudes, wrongly.
I too have wondered if we are importing grievances that are not really our own. We surely have enough of our own issues to be going on with. Plus the framing of them seems to usually be "the locals treat us badly". I have certainly seen instances, particularly in employment, where the locals have been hit by racist, sexist or other poor or non legal attitudes that have external cultural bias. Of course the behaviour and the framing is not acceptable from either group.
He is different. He was only in NZ for 7 years before his conviction. But then again he came in on a false passport so that my be enough.
Unlike Australia if you were here 10 years or longer we accept we may have some responsibility.
Looks like he has cost the country a compliance fortune.Not the first person who appears to have made it in here under a false name.
Important announcement from business on housing resource – https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/439342/concerns-cost-of-timber-will-rise-as-major-supplier-halts-local-sales
Carter Holt Harvey has stopped supplying structural timber to Bunnings, ITM and Mitre 10.
Master Builders president Kerry Archer said the move came as a surprise, and was probably because the export market was more lucrative.
Archer said while Carter Holt Harvey was not the only timber supplier, it could mean construction projects cost more as builders try to source supplies elsewhere.
"You can't blame people if they're getting better prices for their logs overseas. It makes it hard to compete I guess, and it's just going to ramp up prices once again.
Who do we blame then? This is the most recent example of a bloody poor business and economic system that NZ citizens have been prevailed on to work under for decades, when it could be seen it was taking us on a hiding to nowhere!! And how can we make change to having to compete with the rest of the world for our own resources needed here???????
We can't put up with this any more. We are being ruined by these shits running the country whoever they are, and their little lapdogs the polly poodles.
oh well, surely we can pivot to some other buildings material. Right? We should have planned for that type of greed to not fall into a monopoly trap? Right?
Never mind building is literally the only sector other then politicians and their consultants that still make money.
But we are lucky, we have a majority government that will come to the aid of the distressed builders and home fixer upper doers, right?