Open mike 28/03/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:45 am, March 28th, 2014 - 104 comments
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openmike Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

104 comments on “Open mike 28/03/2014 ”

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  1. Tony P 1
    28 March 2014 at 7:26 am

    So now according to iwi leaders we teachers are supposed to shut up and say nothing even if we see the continual eroding of our education system.

    http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/nzei-protest-action-tramples-honour-our-nation/5/185968

    • just saying 1.1
      28 March 2014 at 8:26 am

      From the above:

      The tikanga of mana is at stake. We will not stand idly by and allow the mana of the Minister of Education, the Honourable Hekia Parata, her people, our people to be manipulated and trampled on. We, Dr Apirana Mahuika, Sir Toby Curtis, Sir Mark Solomon, Raniera Tau, Willie Te Aho, Awanuiarangi Black, Tiwha Puketapu, Naida Glavish, Sir Tamati Reedy and Pem Bird caution NZEI that they are putting their hard earned excellent reputation earned over a sustained period of time on the line and for what purpose?

      The International Summit is the most prestigious educational event on the world calendar, a huge coup for our Minister of Education, Hekia Parata…

      Un-freaking-believable.

    • Tracey 1.2
      28 March 2014 at 8:34 am

      is the summit not open to everyone?

      “The event brings together education ministers and leaders of national teachers’ federations and teachers’ unions from jurisdictions that, according to the OECD’s 2012 PISA survey results, have high-performing or rapidly-improving school systems”

      I hope National gets the answers to the three questions whic are the focus of the summit

      “The three questions that this Summit will focus on are:

      How can high quality teachers and leaders be attracted into and retained in schools of the greatest need?
      What are the levers for achieving equity in increasingly devolved education systems?
      How are learning environments created that meet the needs of all children and young people?"

    • vto 1.3
      28 March 2014 at 8:47 am

      I can’t work that one out, they haven’t really explained why they are upset, they have only said that they are upset…. and into such a vacuum goes ………

      But whenever the word “honour” appears in the speech of someone uppity or otherwise then one should be very wary. “Honour” is but an empty tub which will hold whatever is tossed into it ..

      • Tracey 1.3.1
        28 March 2014 at 8:52 am

        Agree. It appears to demand respect on the basis of lineage rather than actions, of which I am wary.

      • Draco T Bastard 1.3.2
        28 March 2014 at 9:09 am

        I’m sure that you’ll find that the National Party is quite happy with this sort of arse licking from Maori leaders.

        • amirite 1.3.2.1
          28 March 2014 at 1:34 pm

          Who they represent anyway? Not the ordinary Maori , surely. Aren’t they all Maori aristocracy? You know, those people who have done well for themselves from the settlements that were supposed to benefit many more people than they did in reality.

      • karol 1.3.3
        28 March 2014 at 9:26 am

        The conference is in Wellington today and tomorrow.

        It wasn’t that easy to find info on the NZEI protest – it’s for a living wage, and precedes the TPPA demo tomorrow in Auckland, and is at the same time as the TPPA demo in Wellington.

        From the Daily Blog:

        Gather at Queen Elizabeth Square 11am

        March up Queen Street 11.30am

        Rally in Aotea Square 12-1pm

        Every child deserves a chance in life, but more than one in four Kiwi kids live in poverty. That inequality is the biggest hurdle to educational success.

        The Government is putting millions into highly paid “new roles” for some principals and teachers, but ignoring child poverty. It has rejected a living wage for low paid support staff such as teacher aides, who directly support students with the greatest needs.

        If you agree that tackling inequality must be the #1 priority in New Zealand, and that there must be a Living Wage for Learning for kids and education workers, come and join us to show your support!

        • vto 1.3.3.1
          28 March 2014 at 9:34 am

          So the protest is looking out for the children and the iwi leaders are looking out for their status…….

          I know where the respect goes ..

        • Jim Nald 1.3.3.2
          28 March 2014 at 1:06 pm

          Will be nice if we can have a warm-up piece today on The Standard, alerting peeps to the nationwide TPPA demo tomorrow? Sorry, I haven’t got much time at the moment to draft a piece but I have lotsa suggestions and a big mouth.

          • lprent 1.3.3.2.1
            28 March 2014 at 1:24 pm

            I have kept thinking that this morning. But too much coding and too many comments for moderation for me to do it.

            • Jim Nald 1.3.3.2.1.1
              28 March 2014 at 1:33 pm

              Doesn’t have to be a long, original piece for now but just a general announcement or notice pointing people to the various places around the country tomorrow at 1pm:

              http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz/march-29-nationwide-day-of-action-against-the-tppa/

              “After four years, the corporate deal of the century – aka the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – is still being negotiated in secret.

              “The TPPA puts our sovereignty at risk, violates our democratic right to decide our own future, and wastes taxpayers’ money that should be spent on social, not corporate, welfare.

              “It needs to stop. Now.”

              As I thought I heard or read someone saying: make it big as it may be our last time to do this!

              • karol …
                28 March 2014 at 2:23 pm

                Done, but even something straight forward is not that quick. I think some of the links are not working that well – then I got an urgent personal email that needs attending to.

                Let me know if there’s any other errors.

                • Jim Nald …
                  29 March 2014 at 8:51 am

                  It was great. Are you sure you and lprent are not machines? And you both helped sort out their links in the process too.

          • karol 1.3.3.2.2
            28 March 2014 at 1:30 pm

            Yes, I was thinking about it, while trying to get on with some other things in my life that need attending to.

    • Ant 1.4
      28 March 2014 at 10:11 am

      Ugh…how divorced from the people that they purport to represent can that list of iwi ‘leaders’ get?

    • JanM 1.5
      28 March 2014 at 10:25 am

      I’m speechless – very sad and disturbing. There are some excellent people in that group, including one of the authors of Te Whariki, the fabulous ece curriculum. I want to know where their voices have been as they’ve watched the systematic destruction of our education system under this government. No use talking about mana now, we’ve already shamed ourselves

    • James Thrace 1.6
      28 March 2014 at 8:45 pm

      And the eroding of the education system doesn’t stop at 16. Did you know for instance, that if you only give a party vote, but leave the electorate vote blank, that the ballot paper is void?

      Not many people are educated to realise that.

    • Murray Olsen 1.7
      28 March 2014 at 11:52 pm

      Te reo kupapa. They are probably looking at starting iwi charter schools. A few of them must still be going for knighthoods. Thank god that a new generation of leaders is growing, that has nothing in common with this sad lot.

  2. logie97 2
    28 March 2014 at 8:44 am

    The Internet Party already has a burgeoning membership… and Jokyhen and his inner circle will no doubt have access to all the registrations as well.

    Ooops. As Hagrid might say “I should na said that.”

  3. Tracey 3
    28 March 2014 at 8:49 am

    From the NZ Herald this morning

    “Cartel questions

    The Carter Holt Harvey price-fixing case raises a question: what has happened to the proposal to make cartel behaviour a criminal offence? The company was fined $1.85 million by the High Court for price fixing in the Auckland commercial timber market, though its actions were described as being at the lower end of offending. The bill proposing criminal sanctions for serious cartel offending has been stuck in Parliament for almost a year and the Government has shown no interest in passing it. It seems unlikely anything will change before the election.”

    from MBIE website

    “The Minister of Commerce introduced the Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2011 into Parliament on 13 October 2011.

    One of the principle objectives of the amendment Bill is to introduce criminal sanctions for hard-core cartel behaviour.

    Hard-core cartels are formed when rival firms agree to not compete with each other by fixing prices, restricting output, allocating markets or rigging bids. Cartels allow firms to raise their prices above the competitive level without fear of losing customers to rivals. This increases the profits of cartel participants but does not benefit consumers.”

    Introduced by Simon Power… and then he left… and then it languished under… Steven Joyce and Craig Foss

    ” Commerce committee report

    On 13 May 2013, the Commerce Committee tabled its report on the Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. ”

    Sanctions proposed

    “The penalty regime
    The bill introduces criminal sanctions for individuals and companies. For an individual, the maximum sanction would be seven years’ imprisonment. For a body corporate, the sanctions are the same as the current level of sanctions: a fine set at the greater of either $10 million or three times the value of the commercial gain, if it can be ascertained. If the gain cannot be ascertained, the sanction will be 10 per cent of annual turnover.”

    ”
    Craig Foss

    14 May, 2013
    Select Committee reports back on Cartels Bill

    Commerce Minister Craig Foss today welcomed the Commerce Select Committee report on a Bill to encourage pro-competitive collaboration.

    The Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill promotes economic growth by enabling pro-competitive collaboration between firms, while also deterring hard-core cartel conduct.

    “This Bill forms an important part of the Government’s Business Growth Agenda and our ambitious goal to increase the ratio of exports to GDP to 40 per cent by 2025,” says Mr Foss.

    “It will enable collaborative arrangements that can help businesses innovate and tap into overseas markets. This will be a welcome change for New Zealand’s export industries.

    “At the same time the Bill takes a strong stance against hard-core cartel conduct like price fixing and bid rigging and introduces criminal sanctions for egregious behaviour.

    “These activities will not be tolerated and anyone engaging in them will be treated the same way as tax evaders, fraudsters and other white collar criminals,” says Mr Foss.”

    • phillip ure 3.1
      28 March 2014 at 9:18 am

      “..will be treated the same way as tax evaders, fraudsters and other white collar criminals..”

      generally ignored..?..unless un-ignorable..?

      ..and does anyone think we will ever see any words/actions of/on (from any party?) on the (depending who you talk to) $1.5 billion – $5 billion in criminally-evaded taxes..?

      ..each and every year..?

      ..can i offer a possible path to a solution..?

      ..a carrot-stick themed ‘solution’..?

      ..how about offering a three month amnesty..?

      ..wherein the guilty can come forward..and just have to pay the taxes owing..with no penalties..

      ..and after that amnesty-period lapses..

      ..promise task-forces/going gangbusters over all those caught..

      ..(with tandem ramping-up-penalties legislation..?..)

      ..i reckon that’d flush out quite a bit of that ‘criminally-avoided’ tax revenue..

      ..(and we do need the money..eh..?..so we can start to put things right/prepare for the future..)

      ..(and of course..those in this govt who we look to do this are foss-the-hapless..

      ..and the pompadoured-one..dunne…

      ..so..we’ll get s.f.a. action on this from these two clowns..

      ..that you can take to the bank..)

      ..(and just practising my psychic-abilities here..

      ..i’m gonna make the call that a majority..(and by quite a margin..)..

      ..wd be from the rich/elites..

      ..most of who vote in their wallet-interests..

      ..and tick national/act in the ballot-box..

      ..so for only this reason..foss-the-hapless/dunne will not offend their support-base..

      ..that is far more important..than trying to claw back all that nicked money..)

  5. fambo 5
    28 March 2014 at 10:16 am

    For some reason I haven’t been able to access the home page of The Standard for a few days, although I can go to subsidiary pages like this one. Is this happening to others and if so, does anyone know why?

  6. Ergo Robertina 6
    28 March 2014 at 10:41 am

    Interesting John Drinnan piece in the Herald today on what Labour’s up against in the media:

    ‘National has developed a media network incorporating the Whale Oil website, Kiwiblog and commentators Matthew Hooton and Michelle Boag.
    They have been feeding the media appetite for short, sharp crises to fill online news space.
    It is Labour’s job to counter National’s influence over the news agenda. But it does not have many of its own partisans in the media; the left-leaning website The Daily Blog does not have an audience to compare with Whale Oil.’

    His round-up also mentions the planned pay-wall at the herald, which I haven’t seen confirmed as definite (although I probably have just missed it) previously. It starts later this year.

    • lprent 6.1
      28 March 2014 at 10:50 am

      Amusing. For some strange reason we never get mentioned in any of the mainstream media unless they absolutely have to. I guess it is because we don’t act like news media because of our focus on being a internet forum – ie comments.

      BTW: does anyone else have problems getting any comments on the NZ Herald articles? As far as I can tell, none of mine since about 2012 have made it through. I guess they don’t like our ocassional posts on them 😈

      • Pete George 6.1.1
        28 March 2014 at 11:02 am

        Not mentioning The Standard was a major omission from Drinnan. The Daily Blog seems to have scant connections with Labour so was an odd inclusion in that context.

        • Ergo Robertina 6.1.1.1
          28 March 2014 at 11:27 am

          ”The Daily Blog seems to have scant connections with Labour so was an odd inclusion in that context.”

          While I agree the Standard should have been mentioned, it’s not just about Labour.
          Unlike the largely homogeneous right, the left has developed a healthy pluralism of parties.
          The issue is a lack of decent left-wing pundits in the media cycle.

        • lprent 6.1.1.2
          28 March 2014 at 12:10 pm

          Good point. But there are a number of authors over there who have Labour membership. Me for instance.

          It could have been a simple editing mistake. After all both of the sites start with the word “The”. 😈

          But I suspect that it is pretty deliberate. There are sites that the news media never likes to mention. For instance the Transport blog and this one. We’re somewhat harder to spin as being the clowns of the internet.

          Bryce Edwards does like linking to your site a bit eh?

          • Pete George 6.1.1.2.1
            28 March 2014 at 12:27 pm

            I asked John about it.

            @Zagzigger

            The Daily Blog attempts a popular appeal – Standard talks to itself IMO.

            The Daily Blog comments are less nutty.

            He was challenged on it by other journalists too. Odd and superficial. Some traditional journalists don’t give much weight to people using pseudonyms, I don’t know if that’s why he thinks TDB is more significant.

            I don’t know how Bryce chooses his links but he seems to be including more and more sources for his links, he used to be more selective. I look for different angles on things. Writing blog posts is quite different to commenting on blogs – mickysavage is a good example of that here, his approach is quite different to what it used to be. He’s now someone I look out for.

            • phillip ure 6.1.1.2.1.1
              28 March 2014 at 1:34 pm

              gee..pg..imagine if you did something like commentaries on q-time..or something..

              ..edwards-the-younger would link to ya so much more than even he does now..eh..?

              ..he’d be all over you like a rsh..

              ..and with yr observational-powers/quick wit..

              ..i’m sure such a commentary from you wd b a treat..

              (and cd u discount the persistant/ongoing rumours that the heavy/serial-linking to yer exercises in the fatuous/irrelevant/boring/bleeding-obvious..by edwards-the-younger..

              ..are down to full-body-massages..followed by a beard rubdown..?

              ..administered by yr (fill-blank) self..?

              ..and while we are at it..

              ..have you ever owned/touched/read a copy of mein kamp…?

              ..wot with yr own ‘struggle’..eh..?

              ..he too..was misunderstood/laughed at..in the early days..

              ..but he showed them..!

              ..eh pete..?..

              ..and do you currently have any plans/desires/aspirations..

              … to annex invercargill..?

              ..(nb..the above is all ‘rumours’..unfounded-suppositions..

              ..not likely to be a ‘fact’ amongst it..eh..?..

              ..a total multi-orifice pluck..

              ..much like wot u always ‘pen’..eh..?

              ..wot edwards-the-younger serially links to..

              ..by you..

              ..eh..?..)

            • lprent 6.1.1.2.1.2
              28 March 2014 at 1:46 pm

              The Daily Blog attempts a popular appeal – Standard talks to itself IMO.

              Not really. We talk between activists on the left and to the people interested in activists on the left – it is in the about. Obviously something John isn’t into. I guess his view of media is more about entertainment than effectiveness (at least that is what I see when I read many of his stories).

              The Daily Blog comments are less nutty.

              That is because they are extremely and silently censored (which is why they are so few). It conforms to the same ethos that NZ Herald follows in their comment policy so I can see why he’d feel more comfortable with it.

              But he is right, we primarily exist to allow the left to talk amongst each other whereas The Daily Blog is designed to allow some people on the left to present a ethos to a wider public. Of course you’d have to ask yourself which is more effective at a political level.

              • Pete George …
                28 March 2014 at 2:01 pm

                That’s a good point on censorship at The Daily Blog. Discussion is obviously not a priority there.

                We’ve had a few wee skirmishes here about moderation but I’ve said elsewhere a number of times at least it’s all out in the open, I’ve never been secretly censored here . It seems to be common practice at TDB and it’s happened to me. Martyn seems to be trying to be an alternative to MSM but he mimics their strict opinion and message control. Like anywhere that’s his call.

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  28 March 2014 at 2:07 pm

                  “Skirmishes”. 😆

                  When the outcome is that one party is publicly humiliated and earns a reputation for banality that follows him to this day, that’s not a “skirmish”. It’s a rout.

            • Tracey 6.1.1.2.1.3
              28 March 2014 at 2:50 pm

              standard talks to itself…

              and WO doesnt?

              i guess mr drinnan can just relate more to the commenters at wo, which speaks volumes.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.1.2
        28 March 2014 at 11:15 am

        All of my comments to the NZHerald have been published.

        • lprent 6.1.2.1
          28 March 2014 at 12:05 pm

          I guess it must be personal then. My charming personality isn’t working? 🙂

        • Molly 6.1.2.2
          28 March 2014 at 12:44 pm

          Mine get published about 60% of the time, but take a couple of days to get through moderation even if I am posting within the hour after an article is published.

        • phillip ure 6.1.2.3
          28 March 2014 at 1:51 pm

          i don’t always check back..but none published to date..that i’ve seen..

          ..i think i’ll open a ‘comments not published by the herald’ category…@ whoar..

          ..cd b some humour to be milked from it..

          ..my latest was to trevett..having a long haw-haw..!..at her holding the death-rites over any mana/dotcom alliance-lite deal..

          ..i checked..that clearly failed whatever tests/guidelines are used..

          (rule 3..comments must not mock columnists..(no matter how deserved such mocking may be..)

      • Lanthanide 6.1.3
        28 March 2014 at 12:47 pm

        The reason The Standard is not mentioned is not “strange” at all. It is however quite stupid.

        It’s purely because the authors here are pseudonymous. The MSM like to be hypocritical in having their own (completely) anonymous editorials, but won’t deign to mention TS because apparently you have to have a publicly identifiable name otherwise your opinion somehow doesn’t mean anything.

        • lprent 6.1.3.1
          28 March 2014 at 1:35 pm

          Ah that could be correct. That is silly.

          Makes no difference for legal liabilities but the journo’s are so in love with their late 20th century fetish for individual fame (spurred by TV) that they have forgotten the whole of the 19th/20th century journalistic ethos and why it was there. The only residual is the editorials.

    • veutoviper 6.2
      28 March 2014 at 11:09 am

      Drinnan should have also included Rachel Glucina, the Herald’s gossip columnist – and friend of Slater’s who is also deep in with the smear campaign against KDC. But probably she is too close to home, being a fellow Herald columnist.

      • mickysavage 6.2.1
        28 March 2014 at 11:32 am

        Yep. It seems to me that they must have sat down with the powers that be. Slater was told to stop being such a dick and tone things down and Glucina was told that she was going to get out of the socialite pap news and start breaking stories. She has further .com news in her latest column at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/personalities/news/article.cfm?c_id=72&objectid=11227811

        • bad12 6.2.1.1
          28 March 2014 at 11:53 am

          Lolz more snide innuendo from the Herald(National Party disinformation service),shows just how much the Beehives 9th floor lives in fear of the bloke,(i have the sneaking suspicion that the 9th floor have a private investigator/SIS on the road sniffing out DotComs ‘back-story’,

          Laughable is the pic of DotCom in the ‘Kraut lid’, who would have thunk it, a German lampooning a German,(i have been hanging out for DotCom to do a full on Sergeant Shultz while live on the TV news),

          The pic down the bottom of Rachel Glaucoma’s column of the Kohanga Kids having fun with Trev is a total cutey…

          • Tracey 6.2.1.1.1
            28 March 2014 at 2:53 pm

            is hogans heroes ok cos we know its mocking germans????

            • phillip ure 6.2.1.1.1.1
              28 March 2014 at 4:07 pm

              well..that disempowering of a past demon by mocking..

              …was part and parcel of that show..?..surely..?

              ..(the war was recent enough for most watchers..at most only one generation removed from the actual conflict..)

              ..(disclaimer:..i have ‘loved’ a german..and my son is half-german..

              ..and ..as an aside..i think he was speaking for his savvy-generation..when he instantly called ‘bullshit!’ on the false equivalence of the dotcom/mein kamp story/beat-up..)

              ..and surely..of far more prurient-interest wd be the off-stage lifestyle of the lead actor in hogans’ heroes..bob crane..?

              ..whoar..!

    • Tracey 6.3
      28 March 2014 at 11:27 am

      V interesting… doesnt mention herald editorial choice to put labours economic policy announcement on p21 does he?

    • floyd 6.4
      28 March 2014 at 11:35 am

      He forgot to mention the herald!

    • bad12 6.5
      28 March 2014 at 11:36 am

      Yes i have had the odd look on the Doktor’s(Edwards),daily roundup of politics via the Herald online and on most occasions, even when there are multiple posts running on a topic at the Standard Bryce chooses to not mention this instead directing readers to the branches of the sewer,

      People are ‘lead’, often easily, the Doktor, dare i say with deliberation???, doesn’t mention the Standard too often, in my opinion, simply as a means of keeping people from reading the Standard, if His links consistently direct people to ‘wail-oil’ and ‘kiwi-smog’ then if they have no knowledge of the Standard they are likely to keep going to those sites if they are seeking further knowledge of ‘political happenings’ than that which is provided by the mainstream media,

      To a certain extent, in a cutting off the nose to spite the face exercise, the political parties of the left spend no amount of energy mentioning the Standard, ala Slippery the Prime Ministers major ‘Slurp’ directed in Blubber boy and ‘wail oil’s’ direction recently choosing instead to promote their own web-sites which have far less debate and thus tend to be pretty party-centric and, again in my opinion,are a bit of a bore,

      In an ideal world, in the interests of growing ‘the left’ we would see Labour/Green/Mana websites prominently displaying links to both the Standard and the Daily Blog,(having not looked for a while i do not know if any of them do this now)…

      • Ergo Robertina 6.5.1
        28 March 2014 at 12:11 pm

        The Bryce Edwards round-up started as a chronicle of topical political stories and columns, including issues simmering away in the regions, and off-beat bloggers. It covered many different stories and issues in one edition. However, now Edwards is trying to capture/create the narrative, and each one is overly long, and too focused on beltway media/topics.
        As Karol pointed out recently, Edwards even took to Twitter to commission pieces from bloggers on a set topic! This is media as echo chamber, rather than reflecting the actual confusion and complexity of life.

        • karol 6.5.1.1
          28 March 2014 at 12:16 pm

          And Edwards focus is very much about politics as a game – party strategies, headline grabbers, polling issues, etc. – little about close examination of policies.

          • phillip ure 6.5.1.1.1
            28 March 2014 at 1:17 pm

            there is a bit of that about..eh..?

            ..the (seemingly) deliberate ignoring of some relevant publications – by some publications..

            ..funny that..

            ..eh..?

            ..sometimes ya really wonder ‘why?’..

  7. bad12 7
    28 March 2014 at 10:46 am

    Amusing in the Herald’s online version this morning is the befor and after of Colon Craig said to have been dieting in preparation for the 2014 election,

    The befor version,(much to my surprise), looks remarkably like a run of the mill picture of a normal human being,

    The ‘after’ one tho gives me a picture that could be used as an example of Colon having been kidnapped by aliens at some point in time and whisked off for a quick ‘probing’, seems ‘the probe’ must have been set to ‘suction samples’ when the aliens ‘must watch’ favorite TV show came on inter-galactic TV and they left Colon on the ‘table’ for too long while they watched it,

    The mad staring eyes remind me of ‘speed’ addicts strung out on what the medical profession used to prescribe to tired overweight Mums back in the 60’s,(but that’s another story)…

  8. Ad 8
    28 March 2014 at 10:47 am

    Is it just me or has Labour made absolutely no impact this week?

    I was kinda waiting for some electrifying education policy given most of the worlds education leadership are in town.

    Why are we leaving the field to Dotcom for a whole week? Come on Cunliffe the field is open.

    • Hayden 8.1
      28 March 2014 at 10:52 am

      Yes, but on the other hand, no major cock-ups from Labour this week, which is nice.

    • bad12 8.2
      28 March 2014 at 11:09 am

      The Parliament is in recess until April 8th,(i think), so unless Labour are planning to release major policy there isn’t much happening to get them into the news,

      David Cunliffe was in the far North on Monday or Tuesday and i should imagine that any number of MP’s will be out there in the electorate holding meetings with ‘interest groups’ something Helen Clark did with zeal befor becoming Prime Minister,

      i should imagine that Labour release a flurry of ‘press releases’ on everything of interest, or not, on a regular basis, media apathy or bias would then account for such not seeing the light of day,

      Hopefully either David Cunliffe and/or Grant Robertson are preparing a series of questions that skewer Slippery the Prime Minister, at question time to keep the PM’s ‘gifts’ to charity, the National Party, firmly in the headlines once the Parliament resumes…

      • floyd 8.2.1
        28 March 2014 at 11:41 am

        I hope they don’t let collins and parata, oh and adams off the hook. What’s happened to bennett, is she keeping her powder dry? Just saw in comments in herald that ‘frannie’s columns were like love letters to shay key’. So sad, but so true. She needs to get out more.

      • JO 8.2.2
        28 March 2014 at 1:42 pm

        Well, at least some MPs will be out here in the electorate. From today’s item:

        ‘The entire Labour Party caucus will descend on Wairarapa on March 31. All 34 Labour MPs will visit Wairarapa to meet with locals at afternoon venues to discuss development, jobs, health and housing.

        Labour leader David Cunliffe describes the event as an “away caucus”, to hear the voice of the people first-hand.

        “I believe government must act with the people, not for the people. That can only be achieved by getting out and about, not sitting behind a desk at Parliament.” ‘

        Link: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11227278

        • alwyn 8.2.2.1
          28 March 2014 at 6:08 pm

          I hope they are smarter than the Green Party were a few years ago. They held a conference in the Wairarapa. It was over the weekend and they went up from Wellington on Friday night.
          Being publically enthusiastic about public transport they all went up on the evening train. They got there early and took most of the available seats. Thus when the people who travel on it every day after working in Wellington got there no seats were left and the regular passengers had to stand for the trip. The Green Party never thought to tell the Railways ahead of time so that more carriages might have been added.

          I know two people who were on the trip, both of whom were, until that time, Green Party members. They resigned and as far as I know they never re-joined.
          I can’t imagine that the Labour MPs will be travelling on the train of course. I hope they don’t take a taxi each and at least will share some.

    • Tracey 8.3
      28 March 2014 at 11:28 am

      Possibly cos all they wld be asked about is mein kampf

  9. Tracey 9
    28 March 2014 at 11:31 am

    Glen Innes had the highest capital gain on three-bedroom houses with an annualised 18.9 per cent, and Mount Wellington had the best gain on apartments at 16.2 per cent…

    Is that the impact of the new mini fletchers town for the first home buyer with 650k? Or the sell off of state houses?

  10. joe90 10
    28 March 2014 at 12:23 pm

    Same as the old boss….

    .

    “An old, old Soviet story repeating itself,” Boris Akunin, a novelist who signed the opposition petition, wrote in an email when asked about the war of words.

    “It’s just that under Stalin, if a prominent cultural figure dared to protest he’d be shot; under Brezhnev he’d be imprisoned; now he just risks losing state donations and having to travel economy class — but this often proves enough,” Mr. Akunin wrote. “It’s a fascinating sight to watch people make this moral choice.”

    http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/28/world/europe/soviet-echoes-in-call-for-artists-to-back-crimea-policy.html

  11. Penny Bright 11
    28 March 2014 at 12:23 pm

    You won’t read this on the Daily Blog – or Whaleoil!

    (I’m banned from commenting on both – seems neither Cameron Slater nor Martyn Bradbury can ‘handle the truth’? 🙂

    Kind regards,

    Penny Bright

    FYI

    27 March 2014

    http://www.investigatemagazine.co.nz/Investigate/4922/len-brown-faces-conflict-of-interest-allegation/

    Len Brown faces conflict of interest allegation

    Auckland Mayor Len Brown has been accused of acting with a conflict of interest at a council committee meeting today.

    Veteran anti-corruption campaigner Penny Bright was attempting to read out letters from the police in regard to a complaint against Mayor Brown, but he refused to let her speak and ordered security staff to remove Bright from the venue.

    Speaking later from Auckland police station, Bright told InvestigateDaily that the mayor had taken direct action on a matter he was directly implicated in, and she believed he had a clear conflict of interest in trying to prevent members of the public from speaking about him.

    Bright being removed. PHOTO: Cr Dick Quax

    (Photo: Dick Quax)

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM PENNY BRIGHT

    (“The letter from Police that conflicted Auckland Mayor Len Brown tried to stop me reading at the Auckland Council Governing Body meeting Thursday 27 March 2014 “)

    https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/nzppsltd%40gmail.com/144e2c8f108b7d12?projector=1

    “I have discussed this matter with Graham McCready, and am considering taking a private prosecution for assault against the security guards, and Mayor Len Brown as a party to the assault,” says Penny Bright.

    “If you think that I am going to put up with being censored and assaulted – now twice within 5 weeks – for attempting to expose corrupt conflicts of interest at Auckland Council – THINK AGAIN!”

    “In my considered opinion, Auckland Council is rotten to the core with corrupt conflicts of interest, but I will NOT be silenced as an anti-corruption ‘whistle-blower’. ”

    Still want to defend Auckland Mayor Len Brown ????????

    • McFlock 11.1
      28 March 2014 at 1:21 pm

      If wishart giving you coverage doesn’t give you food for thought, I reckon nothing will.

      Seriously, you are probably going to lose your house. And you’ll moan about it, but it’ll be your own damned fault.

      • Penny Bright 11.1.1
        28 March 2014 at 1:48 pm

        So you don’t support citizens LAWFUL rights to ‘open, transparent and democratically-accountable local government’ McFlock?

        Penny Bright

        • One Anonymous Bloke 11.1.1.1
          28 March 2014 at 1:55 pm

          Well you certainly don’t: in fact your determination to waste Council time and money impedes, not enhances, citizens’ lawful rights.

        • McFlock 11.1.1.2
          28 March 2014 at 1:57 pm

          I have no idea whether you have a point or not.

          I was merely pointing out the likely result of the battle you are choosing to fight.

          I suspect that the len brown “conflict of interest” is a pile of bunk, and that your removal by security staff was done with proper legal authority and without striking or doing you bodily harm (crimes act s56 if I recall correctly from my security days). But most of all, I suspect that the rates reporting requirements you are choosing to lose your home over will not substantially change the practise or effectiveness of democracy (or lack thereof) in Auckland.

          Not that I care too much, being at the other end of the country.

  12. Clemgeopin 12
    28 March 2014 at 1:46 pm

    Death-row-inmate-freed-after-nearly-50-years-in-prison.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Death-row-inmate-freed-after-nearly-50-years-in-prison/tabid/417/articleID/337737/Default.aspx#comment-1307208415

    This example alone shows a very good reason why death penalty should be banned in the world.

  13. captain hook 13
    28 March 2014 at 1:49 pm

    Okay kiddies.
    Homework for the weekend is getting out your pens and papers and writing to your MP’s and asking why charter schools are getting taxpayer money.
    If they dont reply then write letters to your local newspaper telling on them.
    Its time to make the wonks start earning their money!

  14. Penny Bright 14
    28 March 2014 at 1:53 pm

    It seems that the upcoming rallies against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) that will be happening all over NZ tomorrow are effectively being ignored by mainstream media?

    FYI!

    SAT 29 MARCH: JOIN THE NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION TO STOP THE TPPA

    http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=a606f10a8e&e=400b29f860
    ) .

    https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5/images/Facebook_banner_12.03.2014.jpg

    JOIN THE NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION TO STOP THE TPPA

    Saturday 29 March, 1pm

    Contact the organisers of your local event if you can help or
    chris.zack if you want to start something where there is a gap.

    Posters and leaflets, templates for placards, and other resources are
    all on the website
    (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=58907499cc&e=400b29f860
    ) or will be soon.

    It would be great to have lots of colour and creativity – there will
    be ideas from other international actions on the TPPA on the website
    too.

    Join the banner- and placard-making day in Auckland on Saturday 22nd.
    Contact chris.zack

    Protest Locations (from North to South)

    Hokianga

    Kohukohu at 1:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/498005333646108/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=06b29a80ec&e=400b29f860
    )

    karo.hohaia

    Whangarei
    Clock Museum, Town Basin at 1:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/685644708146440/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=ae01508d77&e=400b29f860
    )
    banjamin

    Auckland

    1:00 pm Aotea Square
    https://www.facebook.com/events/454683364631627/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=6f17e07f12&e=400b29f860
    )
    ben.bungy

    Hamilton
    Garden Place at 1:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/181743182030503/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=682a61fc10&e=400b29f860
    )
    kellyk79

    Taranaki

    Puke Ariki Landing at 1:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/181486005379363/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=7bddaeb73c&e=400b29f860
    )

    Tauranga
    Red Square at 1:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/680840758623364/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=229dc90ffb&e=400b29f860
    )
    martins.3000

    Whanganui

    Silver Ball Sculpture on the Riverfront 1pm walk up to Majestic Square
    https://www.facebook.com/events/230952810411676/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=7313e76b50&e=400b29f860
    )

    Palmerston North
    The Square at 1:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/552515774835798/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=3daf970b48&e=400b29f860
    )
    sue

    Wellington
    Cuba Street, bucket fountain at 1:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/228635500656767/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=8b5ab38717&e=400b29f860
    )
    koruconsulting

    Nelson

    venue TBD at 1:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/643470822377621/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=80efa1f085&e=400b29f860
    )
    gregfullmoon013
    tomandgray

    Christchurch
    114 Cashel St at 1:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/605044852899708/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=d9c3d49539&e=400b29f860
    )
    suthy2

    Geraldine
    South Canterbury on the T junction of Cox and Talbot Street at 1:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/181743182030503/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=69558ad4b8&e=400b29f860
    )

    Invercargill
    Wachner Place @ 1:00
    https://www.facebook.com/events/595704600522097 (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=179ea550a9&e=400b29f860
    )

    More places in process of being organised. Email us if you’d like to
    be involved: chris zack

    Queenstown
    https://www.facebook.com/events/697921693558864/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=e7aa47758f&e=400b29f860
    )

    Napier
    https://www.facebook.com/events/1445017849060653/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=e25885e24f&e=400b29f860
    )

    Timaru
    https://www.facebook.com/events/240790472759548/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=2007806702&e=400b29f860
    )

    Dunedin
    https://www.facebook.com/events/221229231399538/ (
    http://itsourfuture.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=4a8bceaf86&e=400b29f860
    )

    Thanks to our sponsors (more to come!)

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    • bad12 15.1
      28 March 2014 at 4:49 pm

      Are you one Puckish Rogue…

      • Tracey 15.1.1
        28 March 2014 at 5:00 pm

        i wonder if the low end wages in tourism have gone up as a result… or in film in nz…

    • Puddleglum 15.2
      28 March 2014 at 9:49 pm

      Well, here’s the TNZ report on the jan-March, 2013 effect of the campaign associated with the Hobbit trilogy.

      It’s not likely to have been much more than a minor factor in the year to February 2014 visitor arrival numbers, despite the speculative analysis in the article.

      Also, the problem with these kinds of campaigns is that it’s difficult to establish if they create new arrivals or simply shift timing or, much less tangibly, just add yet another minor reason for visiting with a correspondingly limited marginal effect.

  16. Pete George 16
    28 March 2014 at 7:32 pm

    Chris Trotter:

    Let us not forget that the reason New Zealanders know so much about Dotcom is because he is the target of a major investigation by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Few other organisations on the planet possess the investigative capabilities of the FBI and even fewer are as sensitive when it comes to institutional failure and humiliation. But, failure and humiliation are precisely what lies in store for the FBI should Dotcom succeed in delaying the extradition procedures initiated against him by the US Attorney-General long enough to allow an electorally successful Internet Party to negotiate favourable political interventions on his behalf.

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/03/28/the-orchestration-of-hate-why-are-the-elites-so-afraid-of-kim-dotcom/

    I would have thought that promoting this as a deliberate aim of the Internet Party will not help their current efforts to distance the party from Dotcom.

    And Chris promoting deliberate political intervention in an extradition as a condition of supposed coalition support is quite astounding.

    [Fixed your block quote – MS]

    • karol 16.1
      28 March 2014 at 7:42 pm

      I’m confused. Which party do you think Trotter is speaking on behalf of? I thought Trotter saw himself more as a fairly independent leftie commentator and analyst – one that often provides critical views that often upset other lefties.

      • Pete George 16.1.1
        28 March 2014 at 7:58 pm

        It looks to me like he is talking on behalf of a general left, but I don’t think promoting a party’s electoral aim as to politically intervene in an extradition will help the Internet Party nor the left.

        The Internet Party are trying to establish a perception of independence from Dotcom, that is hard enough already without political/legal deals being promoted as a deliberate aim.

        If I was Labour or Greens or Mana I’d be wanting to have nothing to do with any suggestion like this. Russel Norman is one of the more astute politicians on the left, and he saw the dangers Dotcom and his party posed to the chances of the left.

        • veutoviper 16.1.1.1
          28 March 2014 at 8:06 pm

          “Russel Norman is one of the more astute politicians on the left, and he saw the dangers Dotcom and his party posed to the chances of the left

          My bold – is this a fact, PG – or is this your opinion? If a fact, please provide a link to verify this.

        • McFlock 16.1.1.2
          28 March 2014 at 8:07 pm

          🙄
          He’s speaking for himself.
          He’s not “promoting” anyone.

          And nobody cares what you’d do.
          You have even less credibility than trotter.

          • bad12 16.1.1.2.1
            28 March 2014 at 8:21 pm

            PG has less credibility than a Coca Cola ad, hang on better add an ”in my opinion” or He will be demanding a link…

        • felix 16.1.1.3
          28 March 2014 at 8:41 pm

          So writing about it = promoting it?

          Best you stop now then Pete. That’s two comments from you in this thread in which you – by your own standard – promote the IP’s electoral aim as to politically intervene in an extradition.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 16.2
      28 March 2014 at 8:04 pm

      “Chris promoting…”

      🙄

      Are there any depths to which this weasel asshole will not sink?

      • bad12 16.2.1
        28 March 2014 at 8:25 pm

        The fungal algae called ‘Rock Snot’ is known to attach itself to many things as a means of travel and is thus able to move from place to place and pop up in places gaining a toehold only later to infect the whole area…

  17. Once was Tim 17
    28 March 2014 at 10:48 pm

    …. and in other matters ……
    Does anyone else think (given NZ’s search and rescue capability, 6 x P3K2’s et al) that its contribution to MH370 is actually rather fuckin pathetic?
    I’m of the belief that the NZ Defence Force’s future lays in peaceful contributions – such as search and rescue, responding to natural disasters, etc.
    We seem to have given JUST enough to earn this miserly gubbamint some Browlee points (covered in shit as they inevitably are), and JUST enough to earn the Philistine itchim smetchim smoozim ideologically, parrot fashioned ‘learnings’, kaholic, commoditised principles-for-sale, red-dirt brown-eyed Jonkahism a few points on the ‘ta-neshnool- stage?’.

    It is rather pathetic though …. I mean these fukwits run the gauntlet (due to PS cutbacks) with bio-diversity (think PSA, etc., etc., etc.) daily – and they do so with ‘Defense’ (which should actually JUST be devoted to CIVIL defense).

    But this single Orion – with crews that appear to need close to 24hrs to change over is fucking pathetic.
    It’s especially so, since of all the world’s capability ….. NZ (along with OZ – to actually a LESSER extent) are accustomed to the 40’s latitude that till now has been on the agenda.

    But yeah, but nah, but yeah but nah – not worth it aye. wod ear va …. snot gunna make goldin boiii look sgoood es scccchhhhmoooxin in a fifrint hemsphere.

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