Open mike 28/08/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 28th, 2024 - 29 comments
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29 comments on “Open mike 28/08/2024 ”

  1. ianmac 1

    James Willis, father of Nicola Willis, is heavily involved in exploration of Oil and Gas.

    And that is a surprise given the abolition of the ban on Oil and Gas exploration in NZ???

    Yet another example of the cosy relationship between CoC and lobby groups.
    nzbar.org.nz/node/12790

    • ianmac 1.1

      James Willis page online:

      1. Acting as a consultant and adviser to participants in the oil and gas exploration industry; and

      2. Acting as one of several Chief Crown Negotiators for the Office of Treaty Settlements

      nzbar.org.nz/node/12790

  2. Anne 2

    It is 40 years since the election of the Lange Labour Govt. Recently I discovered this article from Newsweek published 4th Nov.2023:

    https://newsroom.co.nz/2023/11/04/a-secret-history-of-the-battle-over-nzs-nuclear-free-policy/

    The secret Hager reveals is indeed startling and testament to the level of dirty game playing by the country's top bureaucrats of the day. It is also testament to the bravery of the Defence Minister, the late Frank O'Flynn who played them at their own game.

    The fallout from that era had some very unpleasant consequences for some people and it continued for years afterwards. I was one of them. But it requires a safe environment before I can tell my story and even after all this time, I'm not sure of that safety.

  3. gsays 3

    This is a great interview on electrifying homes, the benefits, the challenges and where the current system (boom boom!) isn't serving us well.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018953071/electrification-could-save-nz-95-billion-by-2040-report

  4. joe90 4

    oh dear…

    https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1828160428154966286

    Donald J. Trump plans to name his former rival, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard, a one-time Democrat, as honorary co-chairs of a presidential transition team that will help him select the policies and personnel of any second Trump administration, according to a campaign senior adviser.

    https://archive.li/tRENs#selection-6435.0-6435.295 (nyt)

    • ianmac 4.1

      One of the USA States has enacting a law banning aircraft from leaving vapour trails as they are believed to be spreading poison on the people below. Remember a group in Nelson who were believing the same thing. Weird?

  5. SPC 5

    The GOP pose the Harris threat

    The Harris tax plan would:

    * Raise the corporate tax from 21% to 28%
    * Quadruple the tax on stock buybacks from 1% to 4%
    * Double the global minimum tax from 10% to 20%
    * Raise the top Income tax rate from 37% to 39.6%
    * Raise the corporate alternative minimum tax from 15% to 21%
    * Raise the capital gains tax from 24% to 43.5%
    * Impose the first-ever tax on unrealized capital gains at 25%
    * Double the number of Americans subject to the death tax

    The March plan of Biden shows a much broader scope (depends on victory in the House and Senate).

    https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/03/07/fact-sheet-president-biden-is-fighting-to-reduce-the-deficit-cut-taxes-for-working-families-and-invest-in-america-by-making-big-corporations-and-the-wealthy-pay-their-fair-share/

  6. Georgecom 6

    News today Lester Levy and Shane Reti are offering staff voluntary reduction in Te Whatu Ora. Just what we need during a staffing crisis when we dont have enough doctors, nurses and other health professionals and hospitals are closing and rationing health.

  7. gsays 7

    In the latest episode of the Tana Saga, The Greens leadership and party have had a judicial review filed against them.

    I understand this means a senior lawyer/legal figure will review the process and actions of The Greens. I wouldn't imagine this would be an inexpensive process and it reeks of a touch of desperation on Tana's part.

    Anyone have any inkling as to how this could help Tana? Just a stalling tactic?

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350394870/darleen-tana-files-legal-proceedings-against-green-party

    • Anne 7.1

      A stalling tactic plus an attempt to cast doubt on the integrity of the Greens? In other words an action designed to bring them into disrepute.

      • gsays 7.1.1

        Quite possibly.

        It would be an arrogant stance, thinking an unwanted exploiter of workers could cast shame on The Greens.

    • ianmac 7.2

      Yes hard to see how Tana could stop it given that the Greens are considering enacting a legal act. Thursday morning for the Hearing.

      • Cricklewood 7.2.1

        Think it will come down to an arguement around the proportionality of parliament aspect of the waka jumping law. A judge may decide to grant an injunction so it can be tested.

      • weka 7.2.2

        she's trying to get the GP SGM this weekend stopped, which is where the members will decide whether to invoke the party hopping legislation or not.

        • tWig 7.2.2.1

          Tana is a list MP. She has not been elected by an electorate. Therefore she should get kicked out and the next on the list takes over. If she had an electorate I would be fair for her to remain as an independent MP.

          • weka 7.2.2.1.1

            nevertheless, the Greens had good reason to oppose the legislation. MPs need to be able to act according to their conscience and the party kaupapa if the party is not doing that. Now they are dealing with the nuance of that position.

            Tana trying to subvert the internal democracy in the party is a step way too far. If she had put up solid reasoning with evidence it would be different.

            • Karolyn_IS 7.2.2.1.1.1

              I don't think Tana is doing this on her own. She says she has support for her position. When she resigned there were complaints and some resignations from Green Pasifika members.

              From the NZ Herald, 29 July.

              "Green’s Pasifika leadership says the treatment of Darleen Tana was last straw in list of disgraceful decisions around Māori and Pasifika MPs"

              They point to lack of support following Efeso Collins' death, and to the treatment of Elizabeth Kerekere.

              The NZ Herald claims its about a factional rift in the GP. I suspect those who say the EK and Tana issues have to do with GP candidate selection policies may be closer to the mark.ie: giving too much weight to 'lived experience' over other criteria. Lived experience can be very important but it shouldn't outweigh other criteria.

              It would be interesting to see if Tana does provide some evidence of unfair treatment when it comes to court on 12th or 13th September.

            • Karolyn_IS 7.2.2.1.1.2

              Her reasoning today, as reported by Stuff, is:

              it was “unlawful; unauthorised by the Party's rules and that it was unreasonable for the respondents to commission it, or to adopt the findings made from it”.

              Moore said Tana alleged “unfairness and says she was induced to resign her membership of the Party”. Those issues will be canvassed at the September 12 hearing.

              The GP says agreeing to postponing this weekend's SGM will avoid protracted proceedings and that they stand by their processes.

              • weka

                thanks, only just seen this. Some clarity on the processes and rules would probably be a good idea.

  8. TeWhareWhero 8

    https://inspectorate.corrections.govt.nz/reports/prison_inspection_reports/inspection_report_for_prisoners_of_extreme_risk_unit_released

    This is appalling. A clear breach of international law and principles of natural justice.

    13 men in total held in solitary confinement – alone for 22 hours a day in a cell without meaningful human contact – in the "prison within the prison".

    5 men have been in almost complete isolation for more than 900 days; 2 for over 800 days.

    International law prohibits SC for more than 15 days.

    There is no clear path out of the unit; and there have been other beaches of protocol such as failure to ensure daily medical checks

    Evidence of harm to inmates' mental health has not been not acted on by Corrections.

    What is most appalling is that not all of these men have been convicted of serious offending and some of them are on remand.

    It’s about as damning an indictment of our prison system as the skewed ratio of Māori and Pasifika and working class people. NZ CJS – striving to be second only to the US in the OECD in more than just the % of citizens we incarcerate.

    But hey, it's only crims, who cares?

    • weka 8.1

      that's shocking. Is this from understaffing? Or philosophy?

      • Cricklewood 8.1.1

        More likely they're in the to hard basket, if theyve got a track record of severe violence against staff or other inmates the options are pretty limited.

        • weka 8.1.1.1

          so it's too hard to work within international law and human rights? Why?

          • Cricklewood 8.1.1.1.1

            How do you keep the guards or other inmates safe from assault if the truly dangerous arent kept in solitary? Surely their human rights not to mentio Health and Safety law need to be balanced as well. I suspect we dont have facilities within the prisons to solve that.

            • weka 8.1.1.1.1.1

              It's not an either/or. All humans have the same rights, prisoners and staff both deserve to be protected and not subjected to inhumane treatment. You adequately staff the prison, and you don't toss human rights out because you think it's too hard.

              There is no clear path out of the unit; and there have been other beaches of protocol such as failure to ensure daily medical checks

              In the summary of the report, it says that some inmates didn't know how to get out their situation. If you brutalise men in this way are they more likely or less likely to be violent?

              Complete isolation for hundreds of days. There is no reasonable excuse for that. As Karolyn points out, understaffing is an issue.

      • Karolyn_IS 8.1.2

        Looking at the full report, it looks like understaffing was a big factor.

        P77: (420):

        As previously mentioned, at the time of or inspection, the PERU was operating around 60% of its custodial staffing. While staff morale was generally good, several staff told us they were working a lot of overtime or double shifts and that was causing fatigue.

        Link to the full report PDF is at TWW's link above.