web analytics

Open mike 28/05/2025

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 28th, 2025 - 43 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:


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 …

43 comments on “Open mike 28/05/2025 ”

  2. thinker 2
    28 May 2025 at 7:24 am

    Me smells a rodent…

    Day 1: an instruction to police, giving the thresholds below which crimes are not investigated is obtained by the media.

    Official response: just a bit of confusion. Nothing to see here

    Day 2: an email from no less than the State Services Commissioner to the heads of government bodies, highlighting the importance of managing leaks.

    I’m wondering if the police info leak might have sent a shiver up a few spines, despite the nonchalant treatment in public.

    (Source of both is the RNZ app)

    Methinks someone should find out whether the the police email was, as implied, someone saying something without the authority to say it (or say it in the way it was said), or an email that simply should have been kept inhouse.

    When the original police email came out I thought it seemed more aligned with my experience of reality than the explanation that all crimes are investigated.

    IMHO. What do others think?

    Reply
    • Muttonbird 2.1
      28 May 2025 at 8:28 am

      Day 2: an email from no less than the State Services Commissioner to the heads of government bodies, highlighting the importance of managing leaks.

      Ha. This email about the importance of managing leaks, was leaked.

      A crackdown on public servants leaking information has been revealed in an email leaked to RNZ.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/562338/crackdown-on-public-service-leaks-is-leaked-to-rnz

      The article describes the public service as increasingly Orwellian under Roche.

      And Francisco Hernandez had good things to say on Roche's tenure:

      Green Party public service spokesperson Francisco Hernandez said it was a symptom of a public service that was seeing its advice and evidence ignored "in favour of evidence produced by the private sector and by the tobacco lobby".

      "I don't condone it, but I understand … they're like 'well, if they're going to do this, if they're going to punch down on us, then what recourse do we have other than to actually go to the fourth estate'.

      "When you ignore principles for good decision making, when you kind of rush through urgency, that leaves officials feeling frustrated and sidelined and obviously leaks aren't good but they are a manifestation of a deeper and unhealthy culture and contempt for democracy that this coalition has nurtured."

      Perhaps Roche should back his staff a bit more by telling the government of the not to ignore the advice given to them!

      Reply
      • aj 2.1.1
        28 May 2025 at 8:42 am

        This might have been an extremely stupid attempt to lower crime investigation stats. Hard to believe a policy like that wouldn't come from a high level of management. If not the top layer.

        Reply
        • AB 2.1.1.1
          28 May 2025 at 10:20 am

          The quickest way to reduce crime rates is not to count everything. And if you are stupid or unscrupulous enough to make absurd claims during an election campaign concerning your ability to reduce crime, you will end up in a hole.

          Put these two facts together and you end up with a plausible scenario that can't immediately be dismissed as a conspiracy theory. Though if democracy worked better, absurd claims about one's ability to reduce crime would disqualify the maker from holding public office.

          Reply
        • Psycho Milt 2.1.1.2
          28 May 2025 at 11:24 am

          An inevitable effect of National-led govts applying KPIs to public sector activities. Watch out for it in the health sector too – the effects are more likely to result in fatalities there.

          How it works:

          1. Minister: "Your performance will be judged on this number. Make it lower than it is now."

          Public servant: "We can't affect this number without additional budget."

          Minister: "God loves a trier. Lower the number, or else. Also, here's a reduced budget."

          2. Public servant: "Right, underlings. We're ordered to lower this number, but we can't do anything to achieve that with the budget we have, so we need to game the system to lower it. Suggestions?"

          Underling: "How about if we redefine various items such that they no longer count towards this number? That will lower it."

          Public servant: "Excellent. Make it so, Number One."

          3. Minister: "It gives me great pleasure to be able to report that under this government, the number of X incidents has fallen significantly."

          Reply
      • Psycho Milt 2.1.2
        28 May 2025 at 11:09 am

        "A crackdown on public servants leaking information has been revealed in an email leaked to RNZ."

        Possibly the most perfect one-sentence news story about dealing with public-service leaks ever published.

        Reply
    • Ad 2.2
      28 May 2025 at 8:42 am

      What the hell is the Prime Minister doing stepping into NZPolice operational communications?

      I wouldn't care if the PM was Ardern, Clark, or Key. Back off and let the sworn officers do their job away from political interference.

      Reply
      • AB 2.2.1
        28 May 2025 at 10:21 am

        "Getting things done"

        Reply
      • bwaghorn 2.2.2
        28 May 2025 at 11:42 am

        Because luxon is terrified that people will work out that the police are so poorly resourced by the national government that they arnt going to police all crimes.

        Reply
      • tc 2.2.3
        28 May 2025 at 11:53 am

        Chippie should nail him on that.

        Bring some focus to the pulpit bully who can't seem to help himself. Everyday kiwis know the police aren't getting the resources.

        They gagged Health quick smart after initial budgets got leaked, the NDA's were flying I hear. The sackings keep going.

        Reply
        • gsays 2.2.3.1
          28 May 2025 at 12:31 pm

          Yep, they can repeat the factual narrative that 'National are defunding the police.'

          Start with the shadow Police Minister, after a week, the shadow justice and welfare Ministers use the phrase.

          Third week, there is a fine for any spokesperson that doesn't use it.

          Then move on to Health. 'Willis is defunding Health'.

          C'mon Opposition, grab the narrative, put them under pressure.

          Reply
  3. Mac1 3
    28 May 2025 at 10:43 am

    I remember when a candidate for parliament that my hoardings were being trashed so I went to the local police station to report this fact. The constable behind the counter was not at all interested as this was small potatoes for him and said as much. I replied that I was doing my duty in reporting a crime. What he did was up to him. He had to accept that.

    Non-reporting of so-called minor crimes means that crime stats are erroneous, but favourable to police and especially 'law'n'order' politicians. Bad statistics for the amount of crime and its resolution are not good for politicians like Luxon.

    National gave three main areas for their recent Budget that they were targeting. One was law and order.

    We now learn that police are reacting only to reported crime set at a certain level of financial cost. Then the advice is rescinded as the damage to law'n'order politicians becomes evident. But I suspect that conditional response will remain as a working model, just as my policeman in my story above was not going to worry about a few hundred dollars of political signage all those years ago.

    The damage has been done. There is a two tier system of police enforcement. The populist politics of fear, public safety and righteous revenge has backfired.

    We have already found that boot camps have not worked. Retail crime is still happening. Food stores for the needy have been raided, and not by the needy. Homelessness is rising and the gangs have not stopped their unlawful activities as methamphetamine use is increasing in the community.

    The downside to populism is that when it doesn't work people notice.

    Finally, enjoy Joe Bennett's latest on populist politicians, corporates and the response of the people.

    https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360702929/raise-your-drinks-man-street-bulwark-against-tyranny

    Reply
  4. gsays 4
    28 May 2025 at 11:29 am

    So, it has been reported that another nurse has been attacked getting to or from work

    The Christchurch assault comes soon after nurses were attacked here in Palmy hospital and in the car park.

    An immediate action Te Whatu Ora can take us to reappropriate adequate parking for staff. Look at any Police or fire station. Staff there have secure, free parking.

    It makes you wonder if neoliberalism hates female workforces.

    Ideally this is safe, secure parking is under the security that will be permanent employees of the hospital.

    Ie team members looking out for their own. Not a minimum wage sub contractor that gets moved to different profit opportunities every second evening.

    Reply
  5. gsays 5
    28 May 2025 at 12:51 pm

    From the corporate manslaughter file.

    A farmer who worked with Round Up for many hours a day for many days in a row for many years.

    His chronic lymphocytic leukemia was just a coincidence. You'd be a fool or a hippy to make the link.

    In the US, Big business getting laws introduced to shield it from litigation.

    At least we don't have to worry about that here, our politicians don't work in favour of business against the citizens best interests./sarc

    https://www.thegazette.com/agriculture/pesticide-manufacturers-ask-lawmakers-for-immunity-from-lawsuits-by-sick-farmers/

    Reply
    • Phillip ure 5.1
      28 May 2025 at 1:47 pm

      Why are councils in nz still spraying this shit into our environments..?

      And how is it not poisoning both us..and the workers they force to use it .?

      Reply
      • gsays 5.1.1
        28 May 2025 at 4:35 pm

        Running the risk of being rude by answering a question with a question.

        Well, how do you know it isn't making us and the workers sick? It is certainly intimately tied to the death of bees.

        Monsanto have already lied about it not being able to cross the placental barrier. It (glyphosates) have been found in breast milk.

        My father-in-law, a horticulturalist, back in the day, swore that he could drink the stuff neat and suffer no ill effects. While this isn't strictly Monsanto's fault but it speaks to the attitudes they fostered.

        As to why is it still being used, it's like 1080. Cost and convenience is why Councils still sub contract to outfits that apply it.

        Reply
  6. Muttonbird 6
    28 May 2025 at 1:51 pm

    Two major clangers from Luxton today:

    1. Blames the poor kid who died on Sunday for not taking personal responsibility. His family must be horrified on top of all their grief.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/run-it-straight-luxon-says-people-need-to-take-personal-responsibility-following-teens-death/5WABRRXL5RF7TLLQOD6SIWYMBY/#google_vignette

    2. Blames businesses for the state of the economy claiming the government can't do it on its own (clearly) and businesses need to do better.

    Heard it on a news bulletin this morning at 11am but it was obviously is bad no outlet has bothered reporting it.

    Reply
    • feijoa 6.1
      28 May 2025 at 2:45 pm

      We are going to get more of this personal responsibility shit as the RSB comes to the fore. These libertarians just froth at the idea of red tape.

      And they won't listen to expert advice- The organisers of this craze were TOLD by experts in head injuries, that someone would get seriously hurt or killed. But hey, no-one takes any notice of experts these days. Property rights and freedom of choice is all that counts to our arsehole leaders.

      Reply
      • weka 6.1.1
        28 May 2025 at 4:30 pm

        tbf, Luxon also said,

        “But I’d also say to adults and sports influencers and celebrity influencers, or whatever it is driving this sort of craze, they should be thinking and reflecting very strongly right now.

        It's a community responsibility I think. Can't stop young men from doing dangerous shit, but we could be providing better ways for them to do it.

        My guess is the organisers are making enough dosh to want this to run for as long as possible

        Reply
        • Muttonbird 6.1.1.1
          28 May 2025 at 7:08 pm

          That's very naive of Luxon. He doesn't understand the landscape or young men if he thinks tut-tutting fight club entrepreneurs is going to make them think about anything other than profit.

          And that's where Luxon is conflicted, eh, because enterprise and profit is King to him and any harm is down to the user. He literally said this two days after a young man died copying this violence venture.

          He also said you can't ban it at a government level. What utter bullshit, you can ban anything at a government level overnight in NZ, like pay parity.

          Reply
          • weka 6.1.1.1.1
            28 May 2025 at 7:52 pm

            how would government ban it? If they ban it should they ban boxing? Rugby? Mountaineering? Motorsport? Where's the line?

            Reply
            • Muttonbird 6.1.1.1.1.1
              28 May 2025 at 7:54 pm

              The line is where a 19 year old boy died on Sunday.

              He copied a toxic male invented game with zero protections monetised and promoted with large amount of cash.

              The other sports you mention require a lot of effort and training and layers of regulation and safety overseen by sporting bodies.

              The government can instantly ban commercial entities promoting dangerous activities. Nothing simpler.

              Reply
            • Muttonbird 6.1.1.1.1.2
              28 May 2025 at 8:10 pm

              We've had two RUNIT events with a handful of competitors and several injuries, and now one dead young person. Not a great return, is it?

              Actual sporting bodies now scrambling to condemn it.

              https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/562435/warriors-distance-themselves-from-run-it-straight

              A lot of sporting organisations want this gone, but not Chris Luxton…his hands are tied.

              Reply
              • weka …
                28 May 2025 at 10:55 pm

                anyone seeing it for what it is wants it gone. Ban it sure (you didn't say how, and legislation requires the how). But we still need to deal with the RIS outside of the competition, which is where the young man died.

                Reply
        • Belladonna 6.1.1.2
          29 May 2025 at 9:44 am

          AFAICS, this death wasn't as the result of an officially organized event. It was a group of young men following a social media craze.

          We've seen deaths from other similar types of online-inspired challenges (e.g. ice bucket). Not to mention the regular death toll from people (overwhelmingly young men) engaging in inherently risky behaviour (speeding cars, swimming in jeans at surf beaches; going out for a tramp or mountain hike with minimal equipment and inadequate clothing).

          It's difficult to legislate for common sense.

          Reply
          • weka 6.1.1.2.1
            29 May 2025 at 10:21 am

            It was a private thing not the organised competition, but it’s the existence of the organised competition that is the problem. I agree about not being able to legislate for common sense but we can legislate around commerce and official organising. From the state’s point of view, it has an obligation to limit the damage that people can do to each other, but also to think about the impacts on the health budget for instance as well as working and income and disability support. Head injuries are terrible conditions that affect people life long. I’m guessing there are risks of spinal injury as well. These are not insignificant costs to the state for no good reason. However probably what would need to happen as an assessment of the rate of risk, compared to say rugby or mountain climbing or any other number of sporting things where relatively small numbers of people end up damaging their bodies.

            Reply
            • Karolyn_IS 6.1.1.2.1.1
              29 May 2025 at 12:31 pm

              In rugby there are strict protocols for head knocks. Players are immediately taken off the field for head injury assessments and not allowed to return to play if they fail. There also is a stand-down period where they are not allowed to play in subsequent games.

              It's regarded as dangerous play if a player contacts another player's head and penalised. It can include getting a yellow or red card depending on how reckless the contact was.

              Reply
              • Belladonna …
                30 May 2025 at 8:56 am

                None of which applies in a scratch game among friends.

                Reply
                • weka …
                  30 May 2025 at 11:21 am

                  I had said that the runnit game injuries would need to be compared to other dangerous sports like rugby, I think Karolyn was pointing out that rugby has rules in place to limit serious damage as much as possible.

                  Reply
  7. Muttonbird 7
    28 May 2025 at 3:34 pm

    Ram this home to everybody, everybody:

    What this means is that the increased employer contribution is assumed to be almost entirely absorbed by workers, implying the government achieves its savings directly at the expense of its employees’ future earning potential.

    The same goes in the private sector.

    Also:

    If “going for growth” depends on suppressed wages and scant public services, then “growth” here can only refer to increased profits and economic rents.

    In the international literature, the impact of higher contributions on take-home wages is lesser in countries where collective agreements and other bargaining processes have a greater role in wage setting. In New Zealand, recent cuts to the real minimum wage, the contentious changes to pay equity initiatives, the repeal of Fair Pay Agreements and the extension of “fire-at-will” provisions all contribute to an environment where the bargaining power of workers is systematically weakened.

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/28-05-2025/is-the-kiwisaver-fiscal-hole-a-glitch-or-the-whole-point

    Say after me, "The employer contribution comes out of your pocket, not their profit!"

    Reply
    • Incognito 7.1
      28 May 2025 at 4:10 pm

      Regarding the higher Government contribution to KiwiSaver as NZ’s largest employer:

      Opposition MPs are right to highlight this. But to suggest that this represents a ‘hole’ implies that it is unclear how these costs are going to be met.

      In fact, it appears quite clear from the Budget documents that the costs are intended to fall on workers, both within the public sector and across the economy as a whole, who will be asked to accept lower wage increases in the coming years.

      https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/05/27/the-maths-lesson-the-finance-minister-wont-take-from-chloe-swarbrick/ [no subscription wall anymore]

      Reply
  8. Stephen D 8
    28 May 2025 at 4:31 pm

    One of the things we need to do is start attacking Willis and the CoC relentlessly using social media memes Not my long suit I’m afraid.

    Nicola Willis, worst finance minister since Muldoon/Ruth Richardson

    Chris Luxon weakest PM since ages ago.

    CoC government debt largest ever, with graph.

    Etc etc

    Reply

Leave a Comment