Open mike 28/01/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 28th, 2016 - 65 comments
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65 comments on “Open mike 28/01/2016 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    28 January 2016 at 8:50 am

    Further evidence that New Zealand is highly vulnerable to the oncoming global economic collapse.

    ‘Fonterra cuts farmer milk payout

    Fonterra has cut its farmgate milk price forecast for the 2015/6 season to $4.15 a kg of milksolids from a previous forecast of $4.60 a kg in response to weak international prices.
    Combined with the earnings per share range of 45-55 cents, the total available for payout of $4.60-$4.70 per kg and would currently equate to a forecast cash payout of $4.50-$4.55 per kg for farmers, it said.
    Chairman John Wilson said global economic conditions continue to be challenging and are impacting demand for a range of commodities, including dairy.
    “Key factors driving dairy demand are declining international oil prices which have weakened the spending power of countries reliant on oil revenues, economic uncertainty in developing economies and a slow recovery of dairy imports into China,” he said in a statement.’

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11580883

  2. esoteric pineapples 2
    28 January 2016 at 8:52 am

    I don’t know about anyone else’s experience but in my personal sphere of life I have yet to come across a man-made climate change denier who isn’t male, white and over 30. I am going to speculate that this is an indirect offshoot of the “white men are right” school of thought (sometimes known as “the white man’s burden) that permeated Anglo-Saxon colonised countries over the past 100-150 years. Today, remnants of this philosophy are expressed in the individual viewpoints of white males, who actually have no more power as individuals in society than women, other cultures etc, but still presume that they possess an innate wisdom thanks to their race and sex that is superior to science and the general facts of the matter.

    Perhaps, the same psychological tendency (the cult of superior knowingness due to one’s sex and race) are expressed in other forms in other parts of the world.

    • Andre 2.1
      28 January 2016 at 9:14 am

      I’ve come across one early 20s white female, educated in an engineering field, that appeared to be a climate change denier. Not a definite sighting of a very rare species, I didn’t get a chance to fully confirm it.

    • weka 2.2
      28 January 2016 at 9:26 am

      Interesting observation. I’d hazard a guess that some of it is the fact that AGW is going to fuck the patriarchy’s stranglehold on things and the older white men who have benefited the most from the patriarchy have the most to lose. Cognitive dissonance. Probably the sociopathic effect too (white men having more socialisation in that direction).

    • Rosie 2.3
      28 January 2016 at 11:01 am

      Interesting and plausible theory pineapple. Certainly I have observed this phenomenon in this category of people many many times.

      For the record however, I do know of at least 3 women who are active climate change deniers, ages between 45- 55. They are all nat voters and think climate change is a con made up by the loony left to make us feel bad and “bad weather” happens. I kid you not.

      • weka 2.3.1
        28 January 2016 at 12:37 pm

        To test for the trend amongst conservative white males, the researchers compared the demographic to “all other adults.” Results showed, for instance, that 29.6 percent of conservative white males believe the effects of global warming will never happen, versus 7.4 percent of other adults. In holding for “confident” conservative white males, the study showed 48.4 percent believe global warming won’t happen, versus 8.6 percent of other adults.

        http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-conservative-white-maes-are-more-likely-climate-skeptics/

        It looks like it’s not a white dude thing so much as a conservative white dude thing.

  4. Bill Drees 4
    28 January 2016 at 9:33 am

    Little has to drop Shearer from any spokesman role and sanction him if Shearer votes for TPP.

      • wyndham 4.1.1
        28 January 2016 at 10:07 am

        Yes, with any luck Goff will be gone but there’s still the group of dissenters, saboteurs and general trouble makers for Labour: Shearer, Nash, Cosgrove , Mallard, King.

        Any more ?

    • Puckish Rogue 4.2
      28 January 2016 at 11:36 am

      Can Labour risk, financially that is, one possibly two by-elections?

      • Northsider 4.2.1
        28 January 2016 at 11:45 am

        There is a small risk that Shearer would use any punishment by Little to resign from Labour and go to his true home, National. There is nothing Mrs & Mr Shearer will not do to become Min for Foreign Affairs or at least an Ambassador.

        • Puckish Rogue 4.2.1.1
          28 January 2016 at 11:52 am

          So who blinks first? Of course the most likely outcome is that nothing will actually happen…

  5. greywarshark 5
    28 January 2016 at 9:44 am

    AVAAZ have just sent out a request for support for their petition about bee protection to the USA. This is really important, and I need to do more about it so am going to add my name and I give the link here. And this below is what they say:
    https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_global_2016sam/?bRtXRcb&v=71926&cl=9333005379

    Neonicotinoids — the pesticides threatening bees — are a vicious neurotoxin used on 100 million acres of farmland, lawns, and gardens across the US. Bees can’t avoid them because they are everywhere. They spread through soil and water, and cannot be washed off of food. A government study even found them in 29% of baby food!

    The US is considering action after releasing a study showing that one of the most common neonics is “very highly toxic to adult honey bees.” But without pressure the government may only limit the use of these toxins — even though studies show that low doses can disrupt bees’ learning, memory and motor functions. We’ve already begun by funding leading scientists and engaging stakeholders. Now is the time for millions of voices to demand the US environment agency and the White House stop the use of these dangerous chemicals altogether.

    Seventy out of the world’s top 100 food crops are pollinated by bees! We would have food in a world without bees, but the vivid diversity of native plants, fruits and vegetables would be lost. …ps. Bees are just totally amazing. They form matriarchal societies that communicate with each other by dancing … their honeycombs are one of the most efficient structures in nature … and their brains can actually stop aging (possibly giving us signs on how to stop dementia)! Let’s help save these incredible creatures together: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_global_2016sam/?bRtXRcb&v=71926&cl=9333005379

    SOURCES
    Neonicotinoids are the new DDT killing the natural world (The Guardian)
    http://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2013/aug/05/neonicotinoids-ddt-pesticides-nature

    Bees threatened by a common pesticide, EPA finds (LA Times)
    http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pesticide-bees-20160106-story.html

    The public consultation has just opened. Join the call below to protect bees, and the foods and plants we love — and tell everyone.
    https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_global_2016sam/?bRtXRcb&v=71926&cl=9333005379

    The chemical companies would like us to believe that what happens to insects has no impact on people. But in our interconnected ecosystem the death of even tiny creatures like bees ripples through us too. As Rachel Carson, who led the charge against DDT, said: “In nature nothing exists alone.” We all depend on each other. We need the bees and the bees need us.

    With hope,
    Nell, Dalia, Ari, Ben, Emma, Alice, Emily and the entire Avaaz team

    BACKGROUND
    The EPA Finally Admitted That the World’s Most Popular Pesticide Kills Bees—20 Years Too Late (Mother Jones)
    http://m.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2016/01/epa-finds-major-pesticide-toxic-bees

    EPA Study Finds Insecticide Imidacloprid Poses Threat to Bees (Bloomberg)
    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-06/epa-study-finds-insecticide-imidacloprid-poses-threat-to-bees

    What Is Killing America’s Bees and What Does It Mean for Us? (Rolling Stone)
    http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/what-is-killing-americas-bees-and-what-does-it-mean-for-us-20150818#ixzz3x4W3XznX

    • sabine 5.1
      28 January 2016 at 7:20 pm

      i have a nice garden with lots of fruit trees and i don’t use anything ever. Let nature sort it is my motto and so far it worked. However this year i have not seen a single bee, and many people that I know that garden for food are also not seeing them, but are hand pollinating, or contemplating getting someone in with a hive in the future or establishing their own hive. This is not an option for me as I rent in town, but i am contemplating a hive set up once i move permanently to the paddock of paradise.

      we should worry.

      • Liberty4NZ 5.1.1
        8 February 2016 at 10:47 pm

        Grow some lavender in your garden, it attracts bees like moths to a flame, the ones that are left that is!

  6. Mutton bird 6
    28 January 2016 at 11:01 am

    Parata closes Whangaruru, we lose $4.2 million dollars, vulnerable students face further upheaval and discontinuity of education.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/76334545/hekia-parata-closes-whangaruru-charter-school-after-two-years

    Any winners here? The guy who the board bought the farm off, I suppose. Well done him!

  7. Muttonbird 7
    28 January 2016 at 11:07 am

    Parata closes Whangaruru, we lose $4.2 million dollars, vulnerable students face further upheaval and discontinuity of education.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/76334545/hekia-parata-closes-whangaruru-charter-school-after-two-years

    Any winners here? The guy who the Whangaruru board bought the farm off, I suppose. Well done him!

    • Andre 7.1
      28 January 2016 at 11:13 am

      Since it’s not clear that assets return to the government that paid for them, there may be trustees or trust beneficiaries that get a windfall.

  8. Lanthanide 8
    28 January 2016 at 12:27 pm

    Good little earthquake in Christchurch just now, 4.2. Haven’t felt one in about a year.

  9. Penny Bright 9
    28 January 2016 at 1:17 pm

    On this matter – I agree with Chris Trotter.

    The 0.004% Mandate: Why opponents of the TPPA should boycott Real Choice’s “blockade” on 4 February

    – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/01/28/the-0-004-mandate-why-opponents-of-the-tppa-should-boycott-real-choices-blockade-on-4-february/#.dpuf

    Please be reminded:

    On Thursday 4 February 2016 – from 12 noon till 1pm a non-violent, family- friendly peaceful protest against the proposed signing of the TPPA is being organised in Auckland – from Aotea Square to Britomart.

    Hopefully THOUSANDS of concerned New Zealanders will fill Queen Street over this one hour lunch break – to show our opposition to the proposed signing of the TPPA.

    This peaceful protest, called by the ‘It’s Our Future’ group – is NOT going to Sky City – it is going up Queen Street, in hopefully a MASSIVE display of ‘people power’.

    Come on folks!

    We need Queen PACKED with New Zealanders who care about our country and OUR future!

    Be there!

    Stand up and be counted for yourself, your family, your children and grandchildren!

    Together – in our THOUSANDS let’s show this John Key led Government and THE WORLD how many genuine, caring Kiwis are opposed to increasing global corporate control over our land, our resources and our sovereignty!

    Because – on 4 February 2016 – the world WILL be watching …

    Please help to pass the word!

    Penny Bright

  10. katipo 10
    28 January 2016 at 1:28 pm

    The UK Government taking our Governments fawning relationship with the Saudi Regime to the next level…
    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/27/un-report-into-saudi-led-strikes-in-yemen-raises-questions-over-uk-role

  11. Xanthe 11
    28 January 2016 at 1:59 pm

    Anyone got any idea why the herald on the eve of wisharts book has suddenly decided to print a flood of sounds murder stuff they have been sitting on?

  12. fisiani 12
    28 January 2016 at 2:29 pm

    As an experiment

    Does anyone here agree with ignoring a referendum where 99.8% voted for the status quo? Are is it just Jeremy Corbyn who is anti-democratic?

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/argentina/12117755/Jeremy-Corbyn-wants-a-Northern-Ireland-style-power-sharing-deal-for-the-Falklands.html

    • Muttonbird 12.1
      28 January 2016 at 3:31 pm

      Ignoring referenda is de rigueur for the John Key government.

      • alwyn 12.1.1
        28 January 2016 at 4:09 pm

        You could have saved yourself the trouble of typing John Key.
        “Ignoring referenda is de rigueur for the Government”
        There have been, if my memory is correct, five referenda that got through to a vote. Everyone of them passed and was then ignored by Parliament.
        One went to the Bolger Government, two to the Clark Government and two to the Key Government.
        Ignoring the results of referenda is common to the lot of them, isn’t it?

    • b waghorn 12.2
      28 January 2016 at 3:45 pm

      Hard to say without a full background on how the Falklands ended up in British hands.

      • Puckish Rogue 12.2.1
        28 January 2016 at 3:56 pm

        So the people living on the island and have lived there for generations don’t have a say in the matter?

        • McFlock 12.2.1.1
          28 January 2016 at 4:08 pm

          If the occupation was fine, then they probably should. But if they’ve been living on stolen land for a couple of hundred years, then it’s still stolen land.

          • alwyn 12.2.1.1.1
            28 January 2016 at 4:14 pm

            If that is the case we are going to have to hand it back to France then, although I doubt that Hollande would be keen on the idea.

            According to Wiki
            “The islands were uninhabited when discovered by Europeans. France established a colony on the islands in 1764. In 1765, a British captain claimed the islands for Britain. In early 1770 a Spanish commander arrived from Argentina with five ships and 1400 soldiers forcing the British to leave Port Egmont. Britain and Spain almost went to war over the islands, but the British government decided that it should withdraw its presence from many overseas settlements in 1774. Spain, which had a garrison at Puerto Soledad on East Falklands, ruled the islands from Buenos Aires until 1811 when it was forced to withdraw. In 1833, the British returned to the Falkland Islands. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that forced the Argentines to surrender.”

            You work it out. If I read it correctly then Spain abandoned the place in 1811 and Britain has been there continuously from when they came back in 1833.

            • Puckish Rogue 12.2.1.1.1.1
              28 January 2016 at 4:18 pm

              That’s about as cut and dried as you’re likely to get in international relations I’d have thought

            • McFlock 12.2.1.1.1.2
              28 January 2016 at 4:28 pm

              lol
              what’s this “we”?

              Anyhoo, not really my problem to work out. That’s what diplomatic processes and international conventions are for. Of course, if bilateral talks manage to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of both parties, for example maybe Britain negotiating compensation to Argentina to keep the territory, and agreeing some sort of sharing thing on mineral rights and fisheries, then none of those processes need to be worked through.

              No reason not to talk about it – sticking to some sort of neoThatcherite jingoism might well cost a shedload more than acting like a reasonable human being.

              It’s not like Corbyn demanded the islands be turned over to the Argentines as soon as possible, but curse him for daring to mention having a conversation to resolve a longstanding international dispute…

              • alwyn …
                28 January 2016 at 4:46 pm

                You actually sounded interested in the subject and were presenting an either/or scenario when you said
                “If the occupation was fine, then they probably should. But if they’ve been living on stolen land for a couple of hundred years, then it’s still stolen land”
                Being a good hearted chap I decided to try and get you something that might help resolve the confusion you were in.
                I see you are one of those who do not wish to have that confusion caused by your ignorance alleviated. I shall try and abstain from taking part in your education in future. I reserve the right to point out any excessively silly comments you make though.

                Technically of course it seems to me that they were never part of Argentina. They were ruled by Spain until they abandoned them in 1811. Argentina didn’t exist until 1816, I think.

                • McFlock …
                  28 January 2016 at 5:13 pm

                  The question was regarding how much weight should be given to the wishes of 1600 voting-eligible residents.

                  The answer is pretty simple: if the land is stolen, then very little.

                  The issue of ownership is a legal question that can be avoided via diplomatic negotiations.

                  Our opinions of the legality of the British occupation are irrelevant: I know you like thinking that you know better than multiple judicial systems, but the fact is that you probably don’t. Neither do I. And the legal opinions of commenters on a NZ blogsite will almost certainly not affect the policies of either Britain or Argentina.

                  Spain abandoned them to fight the Argentine war of independence. Territorial legitimacy went from Spain to the newly independent Argentina, according to their point of view. The British left them well before the Spanish did. Even the yanks had a tilt.

                  But that’s all irrelevant to what was asked: the easiest way to provide long term security for the residents is for Britain to negotiate with Argentina and come to some sort of settlement.

                  I do like the fact the Islanders were asked, though – that’s something the Chagos islanders never got from Britain.

                  • alwyn …
                    28 January 2016 at 5:41 pm

                    Well there is one thing we agree on. Neither of us is a lawyer.
                    As far as “The British left them well before the Spanish did.” goes though it looks as if the British were forced out by the Spanish, if my Wiki extract is accurate.

                    That was being mean talking about the “Chagos islanders”. I had to google it. If you had said Diego Garcia I wouldn’t have needed to.

                    Lots of bad things have happened to people living in offshore places of course.
                    I don’t think the people of Goa had any say in their annexation by India.
                    The people of Hong Kong didn’t get a choice did they?
                    Neither did all the countries dominated by the USSR after WW2. At least not until the USSR collapsed.
                    Russia sold Alaska to the USA. Did anyone ask the residents.
                    Where do you want to stop. Can we send all the Scots back to Ireland?

                    • McFlock …
                      28 January 2016 at 5:55 pm

                      I merely mentioned DG/Chagos because I found it humourous that a mere 40 years later the British government/media is pretending to care about what 1600 residents think.

                      Basically, yeah, it goes back as long as the effects go back. That’s why Canada’s working to redress wrongs against First Nations folk by creating a new province. That’s why Mt McKinly is back to being called Denali. The resolution isn’t “sending people back where they came from”, the resolution is accepting that parties feel wrongs happened and providing some manner of individual, national or systemic reparation to resolve the wrongs that occurred. It’s not being a pushover, it’s just having a conversation to see the other party’s point of view and see if the issue can be addressed, rather than letting it fester so three jerks with a license plate don’t cause a riot.

      • b waghorn 12.2.2
        28 January 2016 at 5:13 pm

        Ad the referendum results to alwns link below and I would go with leave it with the brits.

  13. aerobubble 13
    28 January 2016 at 2:45 pm

    News flash Fox news becomes Trumps punching bag, how distracting, how boring, how predictable, how did this become headline TV news? Spin cycle USA has no place here

  14. Rosemary McDonald 14
    28 January 2016 at 3:43 pm

    And speaking about TPPA protests, John Mitford from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce says…

    ‘It’s time to stand up and be counted on the TPPA’

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/76349813/john-milford-time-to-stand-up-and-be-counted-on-tppa

    with a nice inspiring pic of anti TPP protesters….wtf???

    Don’t panic! All is well, stuff’s attempt at humour….or…are the only pics they have on file associated with John Mitford protest oriented?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/73778014/Wellington-City-Council-will-have-to-defend-its-living-wage-policy-in-court

    • Rosie 14.1
      28 January 2016 at 4:54 pm

      John Milford is pants. I don’t know how or why he gets so much media space. He has been growing his right wing lobbying power for over a decade now, mainly at a local level here in Wellington but alarmingly he seems to be given column space for national political issue which he knows nothing of, eg, the TPPA.

      I’m not sure why fairfax look to him as such an oracle of economic wisdom when he was CE of Kirkcaldies and Staines all this time and for so long yet managed to run a successful iconic business that had been standing for over 150 years, into the ground, only to bought out by the aussies.

      What an oaf. He’s really got it in for the workers too. It’s just sheer mean spiritedness to take WCC to court over their extension of the payment of the living wage from council staff to their contractors too.

      • Rosemary McDonald 14.1.1
        28 January 2016 at 6:03 pm

        Respect for the WCC.
        How many other councils have had the guts to try and install a Living Wage culture?

        Mean, miserable and short -sighted Mr Mitford.

        • Rosie 14.1.1.1
          28 January 2016 at 7:51 pm

          To be honest Rosemary, I’ve discovered how dysfunctional and ineffective our council is, during my constant dealings with them over the last year. I could write an essay about the hypocrisy, undeclared conflicts of interest and arrogance from council managers, council officials and councillors themselves. Quite shocking as I naively thought I’d been voting in the right people over the last two terms.

          I think the only thing they have managed to get right in that time is the move to the living wage for council employee’s and the recent extension of that living wage to their contractors – only for Milford to come and stick his oar in……..

      • alwyn 14.1.2
        28 January 2016 at 6:59 pm

        That version of what happened to Kirks is a bit distorted Rosie.
        It went the way of every small department store. It was to small to have the buying power of the large companies like David Jones or Myer in Australia.
        Lots of them died. I remember Daimaru and Georges in Melbourne went the same way. Georges was a wonderful shop but their customers, so the firm said, stopped buying goods from Italy and France from them because they could go to Europe themselves 2 or 3 times a year.
        I think Kirks did amazingly well to last as long as they did. You cannot blame the CEO for something that was inevitable.

        • Rosie 14.1.2.1
          28 January 2016 at 7:58 pm

          True, the CE was only part of it, but he could have done more. I met the guy some time ago and was surprised at how out of touch he was with the reality of day to day retailing, for someone in his position.

          There were changes in the retail sector and Kirks were faced with a valid challenge but a smart cookie could have done more. He could have started by listening to the floor managers.

          PS. As one of our frequent WCC bashers you may be interested to read my response to Rosemary, from the other side of the ideological fence 🙂

          • alwyn 14.1.2.1.1
            28 January 2016 at 8:24 pm

            Para one I agree with you.
            However Para two.
            I don’t think very much of the “Living Wage”.
            It is calculated on the basis of a hypothetical married couple with two kids if I remember rightly. Then it is supposed to be paid to everyone.
            I am a believer that you pay, with a limited minimum, the wage to get people to do the job. Then the state makes up, by things like working for families, the income for those who have dependents and who can’t live on the pay they receive.
            Why does a 20 year old single person living with his parents need the hypothetical “living wage”.
            When a Council do it it is also being paid by a lot of pensioners whose only income is National Super and whose only asset is their house, to people who are getting a higher income than they are.

        • Petertoo 14.1.2.2
          28 January 2016 at 10:48 pm

          alwyn, perhaps you might like to invent an explanation as to why the failed K. & S. CEO has also managed to lose half the members of the Chamber of Commerce since taking over there. It is about time he was relegated to the persona non grata status that his incompetence deserves.

          • alwyn 14.1.2.2.1
            29 January 2016 at 9:16 am

            I have no intention of attempting any such thing.
            I don’t know the man. I have no way of knowing whether what you say about the CoC is correct and I wasn’t really talking about him at all.
            I was talking about what happened to Kirks. Exactly the same thing that happened to the DIC, Radfords and James Smiths in Wellington.
            It died in exactly the same way as all singleton department stores died. It was simply too small to compete with the chains and couldn’t match the range of goods in the various specialist shops. It was a business model which had passed its use by date.
            Milford happened to be the CEO at the time. However it wouldn’t have mattered who it was. It didn’t fold BECAUSE of him. RIP.

  15. Penny Bright 15
    28 January 2016 at 4:31 pm

    TPPA: chances of support from US politicians ‘extremely remote’

    http://i.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/76317668/TPPA-chances-of-support-from-US-politicians-extremely-remote

    So folks – where’s the fire?’

    What’s the rush for New Zealand to sign the TPPA when the USA may never pass the TPPA through Congress?

    If YOU are opposed to NZ signing the TPPA – there will be a one hour, peaceful protest in Auckland on Thursday 4 February 2016.

    Starting at Aotea Square and going up Queen Street to Britomart.

    This ‘family-friendly’ peaceful protest will NOT be going to Sky City.

    Looking forward to THOUSANDS of New Zealanders ‘standing up to be counted’ for that one hour in Queen St, against more corporate control of our country, our assets and resources, our democracy and national sovereignty.

    Penny Bright
    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    Who opposes New Zealand signing the TPPA.

  16. Pasupial 16
    28 January 2016 at 4:45 pm

    This was interesting to see so far from Skycity and this far out from the 4th of February. Does anyone know of any other police intimidation tactics re the TPPA (other than announcing riot training)?

    a Dunedin transgender activist who goes by the gender-neutral pronoun ‘they’, said an officer knocked on their door at about 10 this morning.

    The officer wanted to know what the plans were for anti-TPP action in Dunedin… The Dunedin-based TPP action group – of which Scout is not a member – has planned a talk on the TPP tomorrow, and an “action event” is planned to take place in the Octagon from 12-2:30 on Saturday.

    Police could not immediately be reached with a request for comment.

    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/371216/cops-visit-activist-over-tpp-protest-plans

    The talk is at 7pm tomorrow (friday 29th) at Burns Hall; 415 Lower Moray Place, Dunedin (Burlington St side of first church).

    • Rosie 16.1
      28 January 2016 at 5:14 pm

      Thats a real worry Pasupial and very intimidating for someone that doesn’t even have anything to do with the anti TPP group. I wonder if Scout can find out if the police have been surveilling them – they must have been to turn up at their doorstep?

      On top of that is the fact that police now carry tasers at protests:

      http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/08/16/citizens-face-police-armed-with-tasers-at-wellington-tppa-protest-march/

      but then withdraw the presence of their weapons at a later event:

      https://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2015/11/22/citizens-march-against-tppa-in-wellington-what-were-the-police-up-to/

      Personally, I find this very intimidating and believe it demonstrates an unhealthy aggressive attitude from the police towards people peacefully exercising their democratic right to protest.

      Something has changed. During the 2011 (2011? Lost track of time) Occupy movement, police were low key and generally fairly relaxed with people occupying civic square in Wellington. Now though, the level of police preparedness and sense of mild paranoia seems to have increased. Why?

      Ha! It’s not like we’re fighting back, so whats changed?

      • Pasupial 16.1.1
        28 January 2016 at 6:11 pm

        Rosie

        What’s changed? Well, in Dunedin this may provide some link:

        Superintendent Mike Pannett, who took over from acting district commander Jason Guthrie this week… Supt Pannett has just returned from four years in Washington DC, where he was chairperson of the Washington DC Liaison Office Association, which covered North, Central and South America.

        Supt Pannett is a member of the International Chiefs of Police Committee on Terrorism

        http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/371217/south-could-be-safest-place-world

        Detective Superintendent Mike Pannett, the New Zealand Police Liaison Officer in the United States, monitored “termination activities” against Dotcom’s Megaupload operations in nine countries from the FBI’s Multi-Agency Command Centre. Created by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Online (LEO) network in 2002, the Virtual Command Centre (VCC) enables enforcement agencies to post, track and spread information in a quick, secure environment.

        Fed from multiple inputs in the field, the VCC exists on a secure system for any designated audience members online… “Feedback on the New Zealand operation has been extremely positive from our international law enforcement partners including the FBI and the US Department of Justice,” Mr Pannett reported in the February Police online magazine, TenOne.

        http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1210/S00006/key-dotcom-and-hollywood.htm

        Detective Superintendent Mike Pannett, New Zealand police liaison officer in Washington, has been ordered to swear an affidavit, setting out full details of the monitoring he was a party to from the FBI’s Multi Agency Command Centre.

        Mr Pannett was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009 before he was appointed manager of intelligence operations at the National Intelligence Centre based at Police National Headquarters in Wellington

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11084360

        It does seem strange that when the ODT asked the Dunedin police for comment on their allegedly having harassed an activist, they; “could not immediately be reached with a request for comment”. Yet the very next story to this in the online ODT Dunedin section was a puff piece about how an establishment minion was all set to bring to peace to the region in some unspecified manner.

        • Pasupial 16.1.1.1
          28 January 2016 at 6:31 pm

          More on this at:

          http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/01/28/police-noose-tightens-around-activists-before-tppa/

          Which is largely based on this (if you don’t want to expose yourself to Bradbury’s words):

          Prominent anti-TPP protestor Professor Jane Kelsey said such monitoring of critics to the controversial agreement was “entirely predictable” behaviour from the Government, and shows the “disrespect the Government has had throughout to people’s right to voice their dissent about this negotiation and this agreement”
          “This is perfectly consistent with their attempts to shut down democratic engagement with, almost anything, but certainly with the TPPA.”

          The Government was attempting to make a law and order issue out of the opposition to the agreement, she said, by painting those in opposition to it as radicals who posed a national security risk…

          “If the Government could “whip up some law and order frenzy” in advance of the signing, she said, it believed it could “claw back some support … for what is largely an unpopular deal”…

          Civil liberties lawyer Michael Bott said the police action would have a “chilling” effect on freedom of expression and the right to protest.

          “These people haven’t committed any crime and yet the police are going to conduct a search or an interview, and there are legal concerns with that.”

          http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11581217

          • Rosie 16.1.1.1.1
            28 January 2016 at 8:02 pm

            Thanks Pasupial. Very interesting! I’m out of time now but want to return to this tomorrow. Saw the article on 3news about Scout, their dealings with police and Michael Bott’s response.

  17. Chooky 17
    28 January 2016 at 5:38 pm

    Who destabilised the Middle East and are they taking their share of the refugee crisis and chaos they have created?

    ‘US destabilized Europe’: Austrian record-holding athlete lashes out at ‘idiotic’ refugee policies

    https://www.rt.com/news/330256-baumgartner-blasts-refugee-crisis-america/

    “Austrian athlete and daredevil, Felix Baumgartner, known for his super-sonic leap from the stratosphere, has bashed EU politicians for their “idiotic” refugee policies in a lengthy post. He added that Washington is destabilizing Europe “on purpose.” “

  18. Anne 18
    28 January 2016 at 5:43 pm

    It is sad to learn of the passing of the very colourful former Labour minister, Bob Tizard this afternoon. I knew Bob and his close friend the late Warren Freer very well in the 1970s and 80s, and they were two of the most likeable rogues that ever graced the treasury benches. Their various escapades over the years are legendary.

    RIP Bob Tizard.

  19. BLiP 19
    28 January 2016 at 5:49 pm

    ‘

    RIP – Bob Tizard.

  20. Gangnam Style 20
    28 January 2016 at 5:54 pm

    A good argument for keeping most of our names hidden for having an opposing view to the Govt http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11581217 Police knocking on doors of (so called) activists to give them a heads up they are keeping an eye on them with regard to TPPA protests.

  21. Paul 21
    28 January 2016 at 6:06 pm

    Further evidence
    A China bank contagion could blow up global markets

    http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/26/chinese-bank-outlook-in-2016.html

  22. Reddelusion 22
    28 January 2016 at 10:21 pm

    Paul give it a rest it’s becoming dull. Do you surf the Internet all day looking for doomsday articles, where do you find the time, do something a bit more cheerful some time it will be good for your spirit