Open mike 28/01/2013

85 comments on “Open mike 28/01/2013 ”

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1. just saying 1

   28 January 2013 at 7:06 am

   Watch and weep.

   The UK social security “reforms” and their devastating effects on citizens with disabilities.

   http://www.opednews.com/articles/Video-The-Secret-Governme-by-Mick-Meaney-130125-244.html

   Soon to be enacted by a government near you.
   • rosy 1.1

     28 January 2013 at 8:04 am

     And next up… did you see the one about ‘voice risk analysis’ aka lie detectors being used over the phone to work out whether people are lying about their need for council benefits in Cornwall? It’s even too much for a Tory councillor who has resigned over it.

     “It is clearly right that Cornwall council takes a strong line against people who deliberately mis-claim tax benefits but in this case I am more concerned about the impact on the vast majority of honest claimants.”…

     Private outsourcing company Capita says on its website that VRA is “capable of identifying stress and emotion in a caller’s voice pattern”. The contract will cost the taxpayer about £50,000 but is intended to save many times that amount in preventing false claims, according to Cornwall council which states that research carried out in other areas of the country suggests 4%of single person benefit discounts could be false claims.

     Trained assessors, specialist technology for calling 30,000 households? Yeah…right. Sounds like atos spin.

     Research carries out in other parts of the country also show VRA, or lie detectors by phone, is not suitable in a ‘benefits environment’. But Cornwall is not letting that wee point stop it.
     • Colonial Weka 1.1.1

       28 January 2013 at 10:15 am

       A year or two ago the WINZ call centre was trialling a system of voice recognition. I think you had a choice to register and then they recorded your voice and so whenever you phoned in after that they knew it was you. Needless to say, my response to that was fuck off, but it makes sense now why they were trialling it. I haven’t come across it for a while though so I’m guessing they dropped it.
     • McFlock 1.1.2

       28 January 2013 at 12:55 pm

       So they’re looking to see if people calling up about a benefit are stressed?

       That sounds more stupid that usual.
       I wonder – do people who fail the test get audited, or just automatically suspended?
       • rosy 1.1.2.1

         28 January 2013 at 11:55 pm

         It does sound more stupid than usual – especially when you look at the numbers it’s clear the people doing some kind of psychological assessment on the data are call centre operators.

         If it’s anything like atos, it’ll be suspension until appeal rather than the other way around.
         • McFlock 1.1.2.1.1

           28 January 2013 at 11:59 pm

           which would be why even a tory thinks it’s going a bit far…
2. Jenny 2

   28 January 2013 at 7:10 am

   ‘GAZA REPORT’

   UK documentary maker and activist Harry Fear will be speaking in Auckland

   Where: Lecture Room B28, Auckland University Library Alfred Street

   Time: 7pm Thursday 7 February

   Harry Fear and veteran Kiwi activist Roger Fowler were on a fact-finding mission in Gaza when the recent Israeli bombing raids took place. They will speak about their experiences.

   *Legendary reggae band ‘Unity Pacific’ will be playing

   Hosted by; Auckland University Students for Justice in Palestine’

   With: Kia Ora Gaza
3. Matthew Hooton 3

   28 January 2013 at 7:25 am

   Shearer performed better than Key on Morning Report on housing, I thought.
   • Socialist Paddy 3.1

     28 January 2013 at 7:46 am

     So Matthew did Trevor ask you to say this?
     • Jenny 3.1.1

       28 January 2013 at 8:11 am

       The Right’s love affair with Shearer deepens into commitment.
       • blue leopard 3.1.1.1

         28 January 2013 at 12:23 pm

         Its called trying to gain a targets trust…this way the spin can be effective, if people realise its all poppy-cock that he speaks, he becomes less effective as a spin doctor. Sadly, I have witnessed some here starting to think Hooton is making sense, this is not good. He never does.
   • Lanthanide 3.2

     28 January 2013 at 9:13 am

     Yes, good showing by Shearer this morning. IF he can keep it up, Labour might be out of the woods.
     • Dr Terry 3.2.1

       28 January 2013 at 11:14 am

       Lanth. We get this kind of response after his every speech. How much value must people continue to place upon rhetoric? (Look at Obama for example!) And so it goes on every time, with the obligatory IF IF IF . . .
   • muzza 3.3

     28 January 2013 at 9:14 am

     Radiolive Duncan Garner – David Shearer interview

     4.30pm News with Jeff Bryant Tuesday 18 November 2012

     A potential flashpoint is brewing between Labour and the Greens with David Shearer squashing Green plans for quantitative easing if the two go into coalition after the next election.

     The Green’s want to drive down the value of the New Zealand dollar by getting the Reserve Bank to print more money which could be used to buy earthquake bonds and rebuild the EQC.

     Mr Shearer told Radiolive’s Duncan Garner thats not an option;

     “What we want to do is to say the Reserve Bank is in the best position to make those determinations. So what we we would do is give them the tools then let them make the decisions.”

     David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.

     ___________________________________________________________________________

     Perhaps that is what Shearer was referring to when is the speech…..

     Well I am committed to this future.

     There is simply no other option.

     That is why I have asked my colleagues to develop a clear plan to diversify our economy.

     A plan we can put in front of New Zealanders, not airy fairy concepts.

     All of these areas – jobs, education, housing and building a new economy – are critical to rebuilding our second largest city.

     I am committed to rebuilding Christchurch from the grassroots up, not the Beehive down.

     That’s why I’ll be talking to Cantabrians about how they see their future.

     To ensure their voices are heard.

     That’s what we’ll work on in the coming months.

     These ideas will make a difference.

     These are ideas National simply can’t see.

     Airy Fairy ideas (traitor words) – DS confirms his loyalty to the continuation of the neo liberal agenda, he was, is, and will remain and agent of the establishment, its that simple!
     • Tiresias 3.3.1

       28 January 2013 at 12:12 pm

       “David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”

       That’s odd, considering that a couple of days ago in his State of the Nation speech Shearer said:

       “We’ll make changes to monetary policy so that our job-creating businesses aren’t undermined by our exchange rate.”

       **************************

       “David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”

       That suggests to me that Shearer believes “the economy” is some kind of discrete, independent entity which will somehow run itself perfectly well as long as its left alone – presumably shaped by some “invisible hand”. If he ever gets to be Prime Minister he will, on day one, be faced with “the economy” bequeathed to him by National which, according to him, he won’t ‘interfer with’ by trying any new ideas.

       ******************************
       “David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”

       A couple of days ago in his State of the Nation speech David Shearer said: “We are on the cusp of a new era – when new thinking and leadership is needed to build wealth we can all share in.”

       *****************************

       Jesus wept.
       • McFlock 3.3.1.1

         28 January 2013 at 1:02 pm

         By the sounds of it Labour have caught up with the idea that the RBA should be widened in scope beyond just inflation targets. I.e. you make unemployment and quality of life targets part of the objective, and the RB will do a bit of autonomous QE.

         A few years old as an idea (they probably resisted it while in power), but at least they’re only 5 or 10 years out of date – not the 150 that Nact are 🙂

         Not sure how much of the idea follows on from the monetary policy + noninterference statements – could just be teafleaf reading on my part.
     • Jenny 3.3.2

       28 January 2013 at 1:28 pm

       A potential flashpoint is brewing between Labour and the Greens with David Shearer squashing Green plans for quantitative easing if the two go into coalition after the next election.

       The Green’s want to drive down the value of the New Zealand dollar by getting the Reserve Bank to print more money which could be used to buy earthquake bonds and rebuild the EQC.

       Mr Shearer told Radiolive’s Duncan Garner thats not an option;

       Why are the Greens wasting their political capital on this sort of ephemera, when the future of humanity itself hangs in the balance, threatened by permanent climate change?
     • mikesh 3.3.3

       28 January 2013 at 2:18 pm

       “What we want to do is to say the Reserve Bank is in the best position to make those determinations. So what we we would do is give them the tools then let them make the decisions.”

       Placing decisions which belong properly to government beyond the reach of a government accountable to the people is undemocratic, and in fact represents the very essence of fascism.
   • Pete 3.4

     28 January 2013 at 9:24 am

     I didn’t hear him this morning, but I noticed on Morning Report last week that Shearer is getting better with his communication. I think he must have been working on it over the summer and with some robust policy developed I think it would be easier for him to give firm answers than waffle to fill the air.
     • Socialist Paddy 3.4.1

       28 January 2013 at 9:45 am

       He may be getting better but he has gone from being warmed up Shyte to barely adequate.

       And giving the odd speech is not enough.

       Shearer needs to repair relationships within caucus and the rank and file. Only if he can do that will he show leadership material.

       I bet the Nats cannot wait until the first debate. I hope that Labour in selecting Shearer has not selected our own Sarah Palin.
       • Lanthanide 3.4.1.1

         28 January 2013 at 11:24 am

         Nah, Sarah Palin was a vacuous bimbo pretending she could do the job.

         Shearer most likely can do the job, he just has trouble showing us.
         • CV - Real Labour 3.4.1.1.1

           28 January 2013 at 11:43 am

           But what exactly is the job that he’s been asked to do, that’s what continues to trouble me.
           • muzza 3.4.1.1.1.1

             28 January 2013 at 11:58 am

             “What we want to do is to say the Reserve Bank is in the best position to make those determinations. So what we we would do is give them the tools then let them make the decisions.”

             What David is saying, is that having the RBNZ/OoDM, as private, is the best solution, as thats what his masters are telling him to say. The tools government gets controlled with is Graeme Wheeler, ex World Banker, relaying messages. David will be given no tools to the RBNZ, which is why he has not mentioned them in the speech, he is talking bull shit!

             David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.

             Here David emphasises that market driven ideology will continue, and that he is owned, and speaking on behalf of *the market* controllers!

             David will strickly adhere to the *best practice* frameworks, and there will be no *airy fairy ideas*, (such as what is right/best for NZ), coming from his mouth, or via Labour Party policy!

             David Shearer, like John Key, and so many others pretending to be politicians (hence the continued atrocious performances), are TRAITORS!
           • Treetop 3.4.1.1.1.2

             28 January 2013 at 4:12 pm

             The fogies do not want to be the fall guy. It’s as if the puppet masters (fogies) write the lines and Shearer does not deliver them verbatim.
   • fenderviper 3.5

     28 January 2013 at 11:34 am

     I’d just like to take the opportunity to wish both Matthew Hooton and Mike Williams all the best for their marriage, they are perfect for one another.

     Come back Josie Pagani, there is a spot for you now M. Williams has joined the National Party.
     • bad12 3.5.1

       28 January 2013 at 11:54 am

       LOLZ, Hooten, on today’s RadioNZ National Nine to Noon seems to have laughably lost the over-sized plum that has Him at times thinking He speaks with the voice of the Lord of the Manor,

       Unfortunately for Hooten the ‘plum’ voice has had Him at times sounding more like a transvestite in training,

       Wonder if Hooties had the offending ‘plum’ surgically removed or did the recent ‘pricking’ of that ones over-blown ego here at the Standard result in it’s shriveling…
     • Polish Pride 3.5.2

       28 January 2013 at 12:46 pm

       I am sure that you have considered that for Labour to get into power they will actually need to appeal to the voters in the centre of the political spectrum (assuming a relatively equal number of voters on either side of the centre). Once having one the election they will be able implement nore left wing policies on the basis that their coalition partners are further to the left than they are and as always there will be some negotiation and collaboration in forming the new govt.
       If they ignore the centre (which I don’t think they are) they will quite simply lose the election and their policies won’t really matter for another three years……..
       • McFlock 3.5.2.1

         28 January 2013 at 1:06 pm

         5%+ from current nonvoters
       • mikesh 3.5.2.2

         28 January 2013 at 1:47 pm

         You seem to be saying they should campaign on policies they don’t believe in in order to gain power, so that once in power they can implement policies they do believe in, even if it means breaking election promises.
   • mike 3.6

     28 January 2013 at 1:07 pm

     Oh look it’s Matthew “No Spin Here” Hooten. Wouldn’t you be more effective with a pseudonym? Ah you already do that. Carry on then.
     • blue leopard 3.6.1

       28 January 2013 at 7:38 pm

       Matthew “No Spin Here” Hooton

       LOL very good Mike!
   • tc 3.7

     28 January 2013 at 7:14 pm

     Yes Matthew, isn’t it great to be paid by both sides to assist towards the same outcome.

     Just spin and repeat, easy money Matty eh.
   • Cactus Kate 3.8

     29 January 2013 at 5:27 am

     Nonsense Matthew.
     Stop confusing the kids here.
4. KhandallaViper 4

   28 January 2013 at 7:49 am

   Trevor hosted a media event in his Electorate football ground for his Leader at which a “Hands on” strategy was the theme.
   Does Shearer have the right team around him to firstly detail such policies and secondly execute them when in power?
   Trevor’s last job was to build a new sports stadium on Auckland’s waterfront. Truly great idea, appealingly executed.
   Who in Shearer’s team jumps out of bed in the morning with a passion to undo and never repeat the mistakes of the past 30 years?
   Who in Shearer’s team jumps out of bed in the morning with a plan that is relevant to those who don’t want to own a house? Don’t relate to third level education? Don’t see a future in NZ?
   • just saying 4.1

     28 January 2013 at 8:36 am

     KV
     Yesterday I found there was so much in Shearer’s speech that offended and appalled me that I was dumbstruck.

     Far from tearing it down and nit-picking to find fault, I felt overwhelmed. I’d have to go through line by line and write a bloody dissertation on all the things that were wrong with that speech.

     But of course it was the picture that was painted of what and who was and wasn’t important. Maybe outside of the context of the speech as a whole, the line about the “success” of a person being the first one in the family to graduate university, wouldn’t have grated like it did.

     I felt like saying that my father has a couple of degrees yet for some reason we’re all pretty proud that my brother was the first member of the generations of my family to be able to build a house, and my sisters, the first to be able to teach young children how to read and write and do sums and feel confident learning to learn, and most of all that our severely disabled sister was able to learn to read against the odds and that for a few years, before all the wonderful Rogernomic reforms, was able to work in the community and earn a wage to pay the mortgage on her own home.

     Pity they don’t have degrees. Their work is and was a kind of anti-success, a generational downward-mobility. It is in the subtext of that speech, – winners – yay, losers unmentionable, strive, aspire, compete, be the best and look after number one, (in the most narrow and conventional terms imaginable that is).
     • CV - Real Labour 4.1.1

       28 January 2013 at 11:41 am

       Beltway Labour, you’re only any good if you have a university education. Ever wonder why the Beltway can’t connect to ordinary people worth a damn? Seen the attitude in Young Labour as well. When they find out some kid is “just” a tradie or school leaver noses get turned up real quick. Pathetic and elitist.
       • Anne 4.1.1.1

         28 January 2013 at 8:18 pm

         Interesting comment CV…

         A few years ago a former Labour candidate (I think the person has now walked from the Party) once approached a (now retired) senior Labour politician asking for advice on… how to go about becoming a candidate. The first question the prospective candidate was asked:

         “ Do you have a university degree?” The candidate replied “yes”.
         “Oh, that’s OK then” said the senior politician. “You really need a degree to become a Labour candidate nowadays“.

         Pathetic and elitist you say. I would add to that… sad and astoundingly stupid!
         • Rhinoviper 4.1.1.1.1

           30 January 2013 at 9:50 am

           That’s even more pathetic than you know, because the people I see starting at university come from all sorts of disadvantaged backgrounds.

           “Do you have a university degree?” is really code for: “Are you an unthreateningly, comfortably middle class professional of the sort that clogs Public Address? You’ve never been a sex worker, a drug user, in prison, chronically ill, an artist, epileptic, suffering from a disorder, a sole parent, too dark a shade of brown… or actually gained a degree, but one that’s in boring science and not sexy law or commerce? Right?”

           I’ve had a parade of students who tick several of those boxes pass before me and gain degrees, and they’re exactly the sort Labour needs (I can think of one in particular… and another… and another… and more) but I can imagine them saying “Yes” to that MP’s question and then seeing him squirm in his seat and vacillate “Weeeeeellll…. that’s good, that’s a good life story… you’re a battler for sure, but, well, your story’s a bit complicated and for all your… well, virtues… there are some people who won’t be able to understand… Well, for example, I wish you’d overcome… given up something less likely to make the wrong sort of headlines… people won’t understand… perhaps if you’d just quit smoking perhaps? Cigarettes! Cigarettes, I mean! Yes, yes, I know what you do – did – is legal now, and you did it to have money to raise your child… but that takes a long time to explain and you can’t do that in a soundbite and some people – not me of course – some people are going to be, um moralistic about it… they’ll call you a… well, I won’t say that word, but can you imagine it? It would be so hard for you to hear it every day. Oh you did? On talk radio, I mean… on TV, or Kiwiblog… And you have a degree too? Hmmm, yes, I have to say, we’ve many high quality candidates, so don’t feel that we think the less of you when we select this recent marketing graduate who’s been working on my staff for… weeks… now. They’re good, they’re really good and put the hard yards into the party…. um, yes… and they look good on television (yes, I know, I’m not so very slim now either – too many Bellamy’s meals, ha ha!)… and that counts when they’re being interviewed in front of a Ponsonby cafe where we think we can turn the vote around… though mind you, they’re serving an apprenticeship still, so we’ll put them in a nice safe seat or a high list position… Anyway, good luck and keep up the good work! You’re an inspiration!”
           • Anne 4.1.1.1.1.1

             30 January 2013 at 10:30 pm

             😀
           • rosy 4.1.1.1.1.2

             30 January 2013 at 11:17 pm

             More ‘know your place’ moments.

             I’ve had a few professional-type job interviews with middle-class, university-educated academics that have gone pretty much along those lines and ended up with ‘so where would you fit?’ or ‘because you’re a solo-parent I can’t risk that you’ll take time off when the children are sick’.

             Funnily enough for more manual jobs don’t care who I am, just whether I could do the job and stay… those employers think with a couple of degrees I’m over-qualified.
5. millsy 5

   28 January 2013 at 7:53 am

   Im probably the only one in the world who finds the practise of celebrating the anniversary of geo-political entities (the Provinces) that were abolished in the mid-19th Century completely absurd. I cannot think of any other non-federallised country that has holidays in different parts of the country on different days.

   Though the actual abolishment of the provincial anniversary and their replacement with a more relevant national holidays would be unlikely, due the the events that take place on these days. So carry on inhabitants of the former Auckland Province, enjoy your holiday. You might want to take the time to read up on the old Provinces.

   +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

   I dont think the changes to the WOF system is going to lead to the downfall of civilisation as the testing and mechanical barons say they will, but they will turn out to be a false economy. The inspections will end up being much more tougher, resulting in bigger financial hits for car owners (rather than costs being spread through the year).

   ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

   Captain mumblefuck is already backtracking on KiwiBuild, and the rednecks are pouring vitirol on the greens, forgetting about their generous familiy benefit capitalisation and State Advances loans. Labour should just focus on increasing the state house build, and give assistance to those who wish to buy their state houses (and chop the renewable tenancies — also perhaps extend the IRR to community provider?). This should in itself dampen the housing market.
   • Lanthanide 5.1

     28 January 2013 at 9:16 am

     “but they will turn out to be a false economy. The inspections will end up being much more tougher, resulting in bigger financial hits for car owners (rather than costs being spread through the year).”

     A guy made the point this morning that arguable the 6 monthly WOF system had been acting as a crutch, because people only worried about the state of their car on those 2 days each year, instead of paying more attention to it throughout the year. I think this is likely to be true, but we probably won’t see any move back to owner-responsibility for a good 5-7 years I’d guess.
     • rosy 5.1.1

       29 January 2013 at 12:25 am

       I’m concerned about lack of inspections of cars – how many people know nothing about what they’re meant to check. But what I’m really worried about is the self-regulated inspections of trucks. Reducing regulation in safety critical elements hasn’t worked in other industries and it won’t work in the transport industry either.
6. CV - Real Labour 6

   28 January 2013 at 9:49 am

   Shearer conceedes KiwiBuild $300K house price is only a national average, does not apply to Auckland

   Standalone Auckland houses under KiwiBuild to be $550K. Smaller apartments or terraced accomodation may be $300K in some outlying areas of Auckland.

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10861855
   • karol 6.1

     28 January 2013 at 9:56 am

     Indeed. That was clear in last night’s 3 News report. See my comment on the Good Coverage for Shearer thread.
   • the Al1en 6.2

     28 January 2013 at 12:49 pm

     Perfect example of a poor policy launch, and dare I suggest typical of current inept back room management.
     The big roll out policy, the press, the media attention, good voter vibes, then whoops, what I meant to say was…

     Really, who would do that?
7. sally 7

   28 January 2013 at 9:53 am

   I wish Shearer would spend as much time in Auckland as he does in the Hutt Valley. Funny how the three power-brokers in caucus are the MP for Wellington Central and the two MPs for the Hutt Valley – little wonder Shearer is hardly ever in Auckland.
8. NoseViper (The Nose knows) 8

   28 January 2013 at 11:19 am

   NACTs degrading our society again. Cutting the wof system down. At present new vehicles only need a once a year, then go to six monthly after the first six years. There is talk about cars being built to be safer these days. Well air bags are for when there is an accident, and the whole purpose of wofs is to keep vital parts in good working order lessening accident possibility. That’s what I like for me, and to know that the other vehicles on the road have been vetted and in reasonable condition.

   Instead we get deregulation, the Reno style of political decision making. Go fast towards your goal, don’t worry about possible obstacles – sounds like this new idea is just a rerun of the Roger Douglas thinking.

   Novopay – Education is apparently the second ‘successful’ service manufactured by clever clogs in Australia for us, the first being for NZ Post which I heard is not a go’er either.

   Charter Schools – discussion on radionz this morning with someone from academic circles called John, and principal from a middle school in Wanganui, the fortunate area to receive government monetary assistance to keep a private school viable, didn’t impress me with the need for the current legislation. Academic John pointed out that there is provision for alternative schools in a 1989 act, and that there has been changes made to the current legislation which seems to make it more radical. Alternative schools, under the state system, are needed for some students and there are some presently. Surely just changes to the enabling 1989 act were all that is necessary.

   The government is into makework it seems to me. They don’t wish to support building a better future for us but need to appear to do something so they fiddle with things we already have and that broadly are successful. Result conditions further downgraded. What a shower.
9. logie97 9

   28 January 2013 at 11:30 am

   So Key is now an expert on road safety and vehicle maintenance.
   (Wonder if he has acshully ever looked under the bonnet of a car, let alone changed a wheel).

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/8230081/PM-defends-WOF-changes

   Surely vehicle testing is self financing.
   So this is all about saving costs for the fleet owners.

   For the average punter, this great saving over a ten year cycle will be about $40.00 dollars per year (on today’s testing rates).

   As for me, my car is fairly new but I shall be continuing with a six monthly check-up thank you Johnny Boy and it will continue to be done independently of my regular service.
   • logie97 9.1

     28 January 2013 at 12:04 pm

     …and apparently the AA have said that their membership is unanimously in support of the new system. Not this member and would love to know when they commissioned that survey.
     • Rosie 9.1.1

       28 January 2013 at 2:00 pm

       Hi logie97.

       1)”So key is now an expert on road safety and vehicle maintenance”……exactly,.lol, he would have never had to ride in an unroadworthy car in his life. What would he know.

       2)I was also baffled at the results of that AA survey, and no, they never asked this member either.

       3)It’s beyond me that we would purposely reduce safety checking in cars. Our car is 20 years old so will still be getting a 6 monthly check under the changes to WOF requirements. Even if it fell into the post 2000 age we woulds still be getting it checked every 6 months, certainly not once a year. To leave it up to faith that your not brand new car is road safe in another year is just plain fool hardy. One thought I’m having is around the number of sales reps that are on our roads every day driving huge distances. Unless you work for a large company or a multi national you will be driving an older model car, one that fits into that post 2000 rego cut off point. Your car could be as old as 14 years and will now only require checking once a year. I know of companies who have laid off staff and reorganised their reps territories since the recession. The reps now have to cover much larger areas than previously. This is dangerous for two reasons: they are more fatigued when they are on the road and the wear and tear on the car is increasing. A deteriorating part that could have been picked up in at a 6 month check will now be left a year. Will that part make it the car unsafe for the driver and other road users.?Quite possibly!

       4 and finally)betcha Peter Dunne had something do with voting for change. Don’t know if you saw Keith Webb, one of the directors of the MTA on 3 news last night, discussing the flaws of this change. As he’s my mechanic, we’ve had chats about these changes. Last year he took a bald tyre over to Peter Dunne’s office to demonstrate to him the difference between checking a tyre at 6 months and 12 months. The wear would have been picked up at 6 months, but depending on mileage could be at a point where its almost shredding in a further 6 months. Did PD care? No he did not. The only good outcome was that there will be one less person voting for PD in the Ohariu electorate vote next year. – the mechanic told me that he won’t be voting PD again. (Thats great but I hope the rest of the electorate wakes up before then)

       So, now there will be more potentially unsound cars in our roads. Thanks National Govt for putting safety first. Not.
     • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 9.1.2

       28 January 2013 at 4:50 pm

       logie97
       I thought that the AA guy sounded like a free market density. When he said stuff about individual responsibility the hairs on my neck prickled. I thought AA was supposed to be conservative in favour of safety and providing services for motorists and travellers.

       He seemed to think that it was an unneeded expense to have these regular checks and it would save AA members money. If anyone didn’t get a service and repair done, well they ought to and make regular checks, or they were irresponsible. It can be easy to overlook stuff, that’s what we have the WOF for and everyone has been expected to have one when appropriate for the age of their car. So we all benefit from the universality with properly serviced cars.

       I think the next reorganisation should happen in parliament. The MPs seats should be taken out and sold in the interests of ergonomics etc. It is supposed to be healthier to be standing instead of sitting for long periods. So just leaning shelves in front of each MP would be sufficient and some of the fat cats might start losing weight by just standing and therefore proving they are alive.
   • fenderviper 9.2

     28 January 2013 at 12:13 pm

     “So this is all about saving costs for the fleet owners”

     Yes, more corporate welfare.

     “For the average punter, this great saving over a ten year cycle will be about $40.00 dollars per year (on today’s testing rates).”

     As Clashman suggested yesterday the cost will most likely double for checking of older cars.
     • TiggerViper 9.2.1

       28 January 2013 at 1:15 pm

       Only fleet owners? I asked myself who benefits from these changes and wonder who else.
       • fenderviper 9.2.1.1

         28 January 2013 at 2:10 pm

         With the “more roadside checks” by police being touted I’d suggest the Govt. coffers will benefit i.e. more tickets issued.
         • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 9.2.1.1.1

           28 January 2013 at 5:09 pm

           It would be wise for us to have a separate transport police force again. I’m going to lose all my respect for police if I have to put up with them doing more petty surveillance on cars and drivers for misdemeanours.

           The people police used to be the government body who helped the non law breakers and citizens dealt with them occasionally and relatively happily. The government has turned them into a bunch who are in everybody’s face all the time, sirens and lights flashing multiple times a day and booze road blocks where they have a catch rate of about 5% so 95% stopped are being unnecessarily harrassed. And then they can pick you up for out-dated certificates and fine you. It’s not good to have these tax gatherers at you all the time. In the bible Jesus was the only friendly face to a tax gatherer. They might find that the people divide against them – the rich on one side and the majority on the other.

           And then the government is so bloody careless about trying to improve any situation that impacts on ordinary people, they don’t even put the drunken bums through retraining programs. It seems they just like catching people out and punishing, fining them etc. Like in the Simpsons when annoyed by Homer Mr Burns answer is ‘I’ll loose the dogs”. I see that with such a laissez faire government that is likely to become a reality as people become angry and desperate.
           • McFlock 9.2.1.1.1.1

             28 January 2013 at 5:44 pm

             I have no problem with the drink driving checks, but the issue I have is the use of traffic duties to boost the individual officers’ activity quotas.

             The classic example I saw a few years ago was when a 2-cop car (how many of those are left) pulled someone over for a pretty blatant red light issue. Fair enough.

             While one officer was dealing with the other car, his partner pulled over all the cars on a busy street and asked to see D/Ls – just “papers, please”, no fitness checks or anything.

             Of course, each of those counted as traffic duty, so their stats were up – but really there was only one actual case of “traffic duty”, the rest were just pointless ID checks.
10. Elizabeth Bourchier Real Labour 10

    28 January 2013 at 11:41 am

    What problem did Shearer fix yesterday ?
    The 1 million non voters were connected to labour?
    Those who are moving to greens coming back?
    The Caucus re-united?
    Talent inspired to transform the country?
    No, no.
    The Wellington gaggle feel reassured??
    Yes, yes
    • fenderviper 10.1

      28 January 2013 at 12:01 pm

      “I’m in – for the future” is the future Elizabeth.
11. red rattler 11

    28 January 2013 at 12:06 pm

    This is what the revolutionary Marxists in Aotearoa this will happen to the Labour Party.

    The global capitalist crisis and NZs perilous economic situation has activated a class war inside the Labour Party such as not seen since the late 1980s over Rogernomics. The onset of crisis in 2007 and Labour’s defeat by a right-moving National -ACT-Maori Party Coalition in 2008 and 2011 has thrown the party into an internal crisis. The ‘old guard’ continue to ‘oppose’ the NACTs by competing for the same middle ground, while a ‘new guard’ has emerged dedicated to return Labour to its traditional parliamentary socialism. The scene is set for Labour to split between the ‘right’ and the ‘left’. We examine the significance of this impending split for the development of class struggle in Aotearoa/NZ…

    http://redrave.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/nz-labour-party-changing-guard.html
12. John 12

    28 January 2013 at 12:56 pm

    Affordable housing $300,000 or less for everyone under kiwibuild…..as long as you want your house to be an apartment with only two bedrooms…otherwise it will be up to $550,000….was Bill English right when he said Labour were being dishonest with their $300,000 figure…i guess he was…

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10861855
13. Bill 13

    28 January 2013 at 1:19 pm

    I can’t remember the ‘mechanical’ ins and outs of it, but the Northern Hemisphere can apparently expect to experience weather systems that ‘sit’ for far longer due to AGW. So heatwaves and droughts and rains last much longer than was previously considered normal.

    And anyway, for some reason the weather forecast the other day ( I don’t usually listen in) struck me as odd insofar as it was very short because the same weather was expected over the entire country whereas there is usually quite a variation. And in todays ‘stuff’

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8231629/End-predicted-to-capital-weather

    Which has got me wondering whether the Southern Hemisphere can expect similar to the Northern Hemisphere and have periods of long ‘sameness’ as weather systems basically slow and stall due to the effects of AGW.
    • kiwi_prometheus 13.1

      28 January 2013 at 4:18 pm

      Don’t think so, because there is no massive continent ie euroasia in the South. Plus Antarctica is a continent so not warming nearly as fast as the Arcrtic.

      The jet streams are the result of heat energy moving from the torrid equator to the freezing poles. Because the Arctic is warming ( faster than anywhere as predicted by modelling ) there is less differentiation between it and the equator = less heat energy transfer = slower jet stream.

      A slower jet stream means slower weather patterns dragged along at lower levels. Plus like a slow moving river the northern jet stream is meandering more, channeling cold air from further north to further south ie snow in North Africa for the first time in decades or more , and vice versa sucking hot air up from further south to the north ie Russian drought worst in hundreds of years.
14. marty mars 14

    28 January 2013 at 1:48 pm

    Is it possible to not like or believe in the leader of a political party but still support the objectives and ethos of a party – its kaupapa – and still vote for them.

    For instance, Hone has alienated some with his remarks and some don’t like him personally or they spin it is the Hone Party – yet when Mana’s policies and objectives are looked at, even though Hone is a turn-off for an individual – the plans and policies may be a turn-on. And the other way around – I love the leader but not sure about the policies. I’m interested because of my discussions with mcflock on another thread. And because I want to increase the votes for Mana and the left whether people like Hone or not.
    • karol 14.1

      28 January 2013 at 2:27 pm

      I’d possibly vote to get Annette Sykes into the House, and Sue Bradford.
    • Rosie 14.2

      28 January 2013 at 4:21 pm

      Hi marty mars. I wrote an epic length response to your question. When I clicked on submit comment I lost the site and my reply to you. I’m not going to repeat it all again but instead just abreviate what I said and refer to your example of the Mana Party and its leader Hone Harawira.

      Brief reply to your question: It would depend on the individuals liklihood to be influenced by the persona of a party’s leader over the substance of their policy. What is more important to them?
      Its not a perfect example but consider how Epsom voters strategically voted JB for their electorate to in order for National to still hold the sway of power. JB wasn’t well regarded as a whole by the voters but they saw him as a vehicle for upholding their own kaupapa. They got what they wanted despite not having much in the way of respect for their elected representative.

      My two cents worth: Personally and historically my view of a leader has taken a back seat to the policy, objectives and ethos of the party. The next election will be my 10th as a voter. It will be my first, NOT party voting Labour. This is mainly because their direction isn’t enough to sustain me as a voter. However, this time I can’t deny that the persona of the leader was the triggering factor for my choice – for the many and varied reasons already discussed on The Standard.

      I like Hone Harawira. I like the kaupapa and policies of Mana. It is the party that most closely aligns with my social and political view. Despite that my party vote is going to that rising star, The Greens, who in the past I’ve always given my electorate vote. I wish you luck with your efforts to increase their votes. It would be great if they picked up a few extra seats. Heres to a good left win in 2014 – even if it does seem like a distant future.
    • McFlock 14.3

      28 January 2013 at 4:34 pm

      I don’t see much policy difference between the Greens, Mana, or the Alliance, and Labour aren’t too far behind.

      So basically it comes down to nitpicking personalities, policy order, and what their actions say as well as their words.

      For me, it’s not so much “not supporting” party A, as much as simply deciding at the toss that Party B of the bunch is better suited to my perspective.
15. beatie 15

    28 January 2013 at 2:31 pm

    Well said!
    http://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/plenty-of-nothing.html
16. joe90 16

    28 January 2013 at 3:04 pm

    Yes, she can win.

    Kathleen Wynne has won the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party and is set to become the province’s first female premier, after a closely fought race with Sandra Pupatello.

    Wynne, the 59-year-old MPP for Don Valley West, is a long-time party member who has had several cabinet roles, including minister of transportation and minister of education.

    She has vowed to bring back the legislature on Feb. 19, saying Ontarians are not looking for another election.

    Wynne, who is openly gay, had earlier asked delegates in an opening speech: “Can a gay woman win?”
17. Rogue Trooper 17

    28 January 2013 at 3:40 pm

    read an article in the Dom recently quoting “Race Against The Machine” and that works’ relevance to the rapidly increasing loss globally of “middle class” employment roles due to technological advances (bring it on you Far.side right wing capitalist commentary clowns)
    • CV - Real Labour 17.1

      28 January 2013 at 3:45 pm

      Here’s another one: very skilled and very cheap Chinese and Indian labour taking over software development, routine legal/accounting/accounts work, administration roles, IT technicians etc

      Corporations and shareholders which outsource local jobs get to make bigger and bigger profits even as local communities fail.

      http://www.smh.com.au/data-point/get-used-to-it-sending-jobs-overseas-is-the-way-of-the-future-20121009-27bfh.html
      • kiwi_prometheus 17.1.1

        28 January 2013 at 3:58 pm

        A relative was on the phone to Telstra/Vodafone needing help. Turns out the call was being taken in Manila! She was pissed off, told them that as a New Zealander she was disappointed about it and would be looking for a company that employed NZers. The Filipino girl on the other end was like “I help you! I help you!”

        lol
        • David H 17.1.1.1

          28 January 2013 at 11:35 pm

          Yep they helped/drove me to a kiwi company.
      • tc 17.1.2

        28 January 2013 at 3:59 pm

        Yup, a lot of major big systems upgrades and customisations have been done in Indian code shops by oracle, SAP etc for years as its the only way they can take the work from local crowds.

        Major utilities and others happily take advantage of this, it’s not like they care about quality anyway, being a monopoly does that.
      • Rogue Trooper 17.1.3

        28 January 2013 at 4:00 pm

        interesting, i’m sans all two-way communication devices in my whare now (just sneaking on at PL, so can’t link) however, RNZ is very informative if one ignores most of what passes for opinion and concentrates on seasoned,comparitively objective,commentary on local and global issues; also there is “Press Display” at the PL and the dailys’; still not looking like a brighter future, unless one is an investor in the right commodities, and we shall see those see-saw as well this year.
        btw :), a friend of mine relayed her experience of watching cs political commentary on the boob-tube and said she could not understand why the broadcasters give the likes of him and Farr-up-his-own the Time of day.(influential? like cholera is influential)
        as an aside, just keep dumping chemical toxins on our pastures (and in our children) and everything will just be tickety-boo.

        -Back In Black
    • kiwi_prometheus 17.2

      28 January 2013 at 4:04 pm

      Yeah robotics are advancing rapidly and on the cheap – fully automated factories.

      Remember that was the utopia promised by the technocrats and rationalists. Freed from the burden and drudgery of labour we would have time and energy to pursue our interest.

      So will we all get to share in the wealth of this technological revolution or will it pan out more like Blade Runner?
      • Rogue Trooper 17.2.1

        28 January 2013 at 4:21 pm

        Blade Runner (Do androids dream of electric sheep?) was fairly visionary imo.
        as an aside, I was aware very early on that those who could ‘insert” into the MSM and it’s variants were baiting me, and muzza, what was with the “betrayal”? finding laudanum?
        Whatever, it is encouraging to see examples of articles more challenging to the status quo appearing occasionally in our dailys’, and even some of the rw eunuchs getting a little more interested in their loss of genitalia (but thats’ those rational types for ya, it’s all about self and Interest) although a cynic Idealist might perceive the blonde bombshell, i meant, eggshell, as a political foil to J-A G…
      • millsy 17.2.2

        28 January 2013 at 11:30 pm

        I am thinking more along the lines of Running Man and the Robocop movies.

        Far from being mindless action flicks, Robocop 1 and 2 are interesting commentaries on urban decay, privatisation, the malevolent use of technology and human experimentation by corporations, underfunding of police, outsourcing, and so on and so forth.

        The Running Man, focuses on the use of reality TV to distract the masses….
      • Draco T Bastard 17.2.3

        29 January 2013 at 2:20 pm

        Under the present socio-economic paradigm it will be more like Blade Runner (and/or what millsy said). Of course, we don’t have to keep the present socio-economic system.
        • Rogue Trooper 17.2.3.1

          29 January 2013 at 2:36 pm

          and / that 😉
18. bad12 18

    28 January 2013 at 7:34 pm

    The reasoning behind what some would see as the surprise sacking from the Slippery lead National Government’s Cabinet of Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson and un-HousingNZ Minister Phill ‘the mouse’ Heatley was escaping me until i listened to a RadioNZ National interview of Slippery the Prime Minister the other day,

    Insisting that Heatley and Wilkinson were not given the bums rush out of the Cabinet,(Heatley with barely two hours notice), was not provoked by bad behavior the Prime Minister even gushingly described their contribution as great work which served to further bamboozle me until that is our Prime Minister uttered the words fresh young faces as part of the reasoning behind his demotion of Wilkinson and Heatley and the promotion of Nikki Kaye and Simon Bridges,

    Immediately into my mind ‘flashed two simultaneous pictures, one of a group of balding old men gathered round a Cabinet table most having stapled to their various cranium the fur of one or other dead animal, mostly in numerous states of comatose rigidity and only stirring weekly at the sound of Social Development Minister Paula Benefits weekly enumeration of the numbers She has managed to drive off benefits and off-shore via the intensely effective use of Her minions creative use of the ‘new’ rules to deny people their rightful income support, heard amongst this awakening of the gathered Ministers the clashing of false teeth, the snorts as if emanating from a piggery and the odd shouted exhortation to kick the poor,

    The other, pictures that flashed into my mind that is, a picture of both the Blond Nikki Kaye and Pretty Boy Simon Bridges being lead into the Cabinet room with signs round their necks which contained in bold blue lettering the words ”eye candy”, at which point transmission was lost as the sound of the sirens from a mass malfunction in at least 20 pace-makers broke my reverie,

    We can well imagine Slippery the Prime Minister spending His summer holidays mulling over the problem of trying to energize a bunch of geriatric old codgers, the flotsam left over from National Governments from so long ago that no-one is sure what position they occupied or even if the aging coterie in the Cabinet room isn’t in fact a remnant left behind as the previous Labour Government decamped after their election defeat,

    ”Eye candy” was the chosen solution for the Prime Minister, some ”candy” for all tastes around the Cabinet table…
    • blue leopard 18.1

      28 January 2013 at 7:43 pm

      lol
      • bad12 18.1.1

        28 January 2013 at 8:38 pm

        Lol, i know, gardening does it to me, first i am pulling weeds,then i am babbling at the plants ”no, no way” and soon after i am on my knees laughing like a loon,

        Friggin dangerous places those gardens, the narrative did go on for quite some time about the bits of various dead animals that most of them have taken to stapling onto their various cranial caps, Maurice Williamson (Raccoon), Peter Dunne (Skunk), and, Slippery the Prime Minister( the soft hairs gently plucked from the anal crack of a blind donkey called Brucie),

        I abridged it a bit to give my stubby little fingers a rest,(and my laptop which i have a habit of bashing instead of softly pashing), i might have to explore the issue of cranial covering further later on…
    • rosy 18.2

      28 January 2013 at 9:32 pm

      Good call. I’ve yet to see what Kate Wilkinson did wrong. She follows the neo-liberal (so hating that word right now) to the letter, and that’s not a compliment btw. If it was Pike River he would have sacked her long ago.

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1. The problem | Ideologically Impure: posted on 29 January 2013 at 6:35 pm

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