Open mike 28/06/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 28th, 2011 - 84 comments
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84 comments on “Open mike 28/06/2011 ”

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  1. lefty 1
    28 June 2011 at 7:01 am

    Labour leader Phil Goff told Native Affairs last night he cannot work with Hone, or anybody else Mana might get elected into Parliament, because they are too extreme.

    Surely this cannot be the the same Phil Goff who sat on a far right cabinet that sold off significant state assets in a fire sale to the rich. The same cabinet threw thousands of people onto the dole and completely destroyed some communities. Many of the original victims of these extreme policies never worked again, and their children have grown surronded by a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness.

    The Clark government continued to ignore these people, although economic boom times, based on the great private borrowing binge, meant some of them got precarious minimum wage jobs subsidised by Working For Families for a while. Now they are back on the scrap heap.

    The people who voted for Mana were discarded by Labour a long time ago and it is an insult to their intelligence and life experience to expect them to believe Labour gives a stuff about them.

    Labour is going to have to come to terms with the incompatibility of its neoliberal economic beliefs with the interests of working class New Zealanders, and its serial failure to defend the interests of those it pretends to represent, if it is survive in the long term.

    Most importantly of all, it must shed itself of the idea that it possible to keep chasing the ‘centre’ indefinitely. Each time they do this they create a new ‘centre ‘ which is even further to the right.

    • higherstandard 1.1
      28 June 2011 at 7:37 am

      Actually anyone who votes for Mana will demonstrate that their intelligence is worthy of insulting if the believe that Hone gives a crap about any more than their vote.

      Goff is doing the right thing, the best way to scare off the centre would be to cuddle up to Hone prior to the election.

    • Bill 1.2
      28 June 2011 at 9:08 am

      What we have is radical. What we have is ‘afford it or buy it’ or suffer.

      And who defends this state of affairs? All our msm and the main parliamentary parties. Just because the idea that the market should dictate our social interactions and our access to basic needs is ‘orthodox’ doesn’t mean that it’s right or desirable or intelligent.

      So, I get kind of sick of hearing that the people who offer a challenge to the status quo are radical. They aren’t. They are challenging current radicalism.

      • Colonial Viper 1.2.1
        28 June 2011 at 10:50 am

        So, I get kind of sick of hearing that the people who offer a challenge to the status quo are radical. They aren’t. They are challenging current radicalism.

        +1

      • Draco T Bastard 1.2.2
        28 June 2011 at 12:20 pm

        Reality has a “radical” left bias, ergo, the “centre” is too far to the right for building a strong and healthy society.

    • Lanthanide 1.3
      28 June 2011 at 9:31 am

      Goff has to talk tough so as not to scare off middle NZ from voting Labour, and indeed to try and grab some of those trending leftwards for either voting Labour or Greens instead of Mana. Like the Maori Party, the left-wing of the house would be best served if Mana got a large overhang, so them getting multiple electorate seats and a low list vote is the best outcome for Labour, whether they end up in a formal or informal coalition or not.

      Ultimately if the numbers present it as a credible way to form a government, Labour will do it.

      • gingercrush 1.3.1
        28 June 2011 at 11:09 am

        You don’t talk tough by saying we won’t work with Mana. You might get away with that if Labour was consistently polling above 33% and they and the Greens were clearly in a position on all polls to govern. Then you would talk tough. But when you’re not polling consistently above 33% and the Greens whose polling has never been reliable and where your in a position that right now you can’t form a government.

        You don’t go talking about who you won’t work with. Goff can still appear tough without scaring centrist voters. You just say what policy you’ll implement in government and what you won’t. If you ignore The Foreshore and seabed issue. Mana and labour would quite happily be able to commit to a $15 minimum wage, no tax on the first $5000, GST off fruit and vegetables. I can see agreement with changing the Reserve bank act and agreement to change employment law.

        Labour, Goff and Mallard in particular along with Shane Jones are just fucking stupid. To think two of those politicians have been in parliament since 1984 outside three years and still acting fucking stupid is beyond me.

        • Draco T Bastard 1.3.1.1
          28 June 2011 at 12:23 pm

          +1

          There’s no doubt about it really. To form a government Labour will be working with Mana and so it’s both stupid and childish to be ruling them out.

          • Colonial Viper 1.3.1.1.1
            28 June 2011 at 11:49 pm

            Even if gc’s comments are true and to the point, the Crosby Textor PR machine would make it impossible for LAB to explain its position.

            It would be 5 continuous months of “Goff still refuses to rule out that extremist, racist, Maori separatist Harawira, you can’t trust Harawira and so you can’t trust Goff” and variations thereof.

            • Lanthanide 1.3.1.1.1.1
              28 June 2011 at 11:55 pm

              A case of once bitten, twice shy, I think. Labour have realised now that they can’t have complex reasons for doing anything, it has to be simple and straight forward or it’ll just be lost.

  2. mickysavage 2
    28 June 2011 at 8:00 am

    The Hollow Men’s anti MMP campaign has now been launched and amongst supporters is westie Bob Harvey.

    What was he thinking?  It just goes to show that age does not necessarily improve people. 

    The campaign is already borrowing ideas that were used in the recent UK referendum of their representation system.  Denigrate politicians, make people despise them and try and steer them into supporting the least representative  system.

    The forthcoming referendum will be interesting.

    • higherstandard 2.1
      28 June 2011 at 8:11 am

      Micky yesterday

      “TB

      You are boring. You always seem to argue matters by attacking the person. No wonder why so many people use anonymous handles.

      Care to argue the merits some time?”

      Mickey today

      “What was he thinking? It just goes to show that age does not necessarily improve people.”

      • mickysavage 2.1.1
        28 June 2011 at 8:43 am

        No contradiction HS.
         
        Bob Harvey has chosen to add his public personality to an anti MMP campaign and has invited questions on his reasons for doing so.  Questioning his ability to think clearly is appropriate.  I am suggesting that he could think more clearly in his younger more democratic days.
         
        Very happy to argue the merits.  But the spin that VFC will run will be along the lines of “politician bad, must hurt them”.  I do not expect them to engage in a reasoned debate.
         
         
         
         
         

        • Morrissey 2.1.1.1
          28 June 2011 at 10:09 am

          Questioning his ability to think clearly is appropriate. I am suggesting that he could think more clearly in his younger more democratic days.

          Harvey has never been a penetrating or serious thinker. He was an advertising man, which is always a troubling indicator. He’s written a few books and articles, and can write well, but nothing I’ve seen by him shows that he is either profound or thoughtful.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.2
      28 June 2011 at 3:40 pm

      Rob Salmond has an article over at Pundit analysing the rules of Vote for Change.

      Well, Vote for Change has a Committee that is in charge of absolutely everything between Annual Meetings (more on those shortly). The people on the committee are: (1) Peter Shirtcliffe; (2) Jordan Williams; and (3) nobody else.

      The next Annual Meeting will be held in… wait for it… May 2012. Which is maybe just a little late for any meaningful discussion about the upcoming 2011 referendum.

      In the mean time, Shirtcliffe’s two-person committee can boot out as many members as it does not like, without giving any reason.

      Yeah, about what you’d expect from a couple of dictator wannabes.

    • the pink postman 2.3
      1 July 2011 at 3:51 pm

      Interesting M/S /I have noticed that Bob Harvey has been acting a bit strange lately .Some of the public statements he has made recently leave me wondering if he is having “old age “trouble .I hope Im wrong because Bob has been an interesting man for a long while . He was a very good friend of Norman Kirk . Perhaps he needs some friendly advice from a close friend.

  3. Pascal's bookie 3
    28 June 2011 at 8:17 am

    Lovely people Phill Goff is happy to stand on a stage with.

    http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/forum

    There are no votes for Labour here, unless they are prepared to pander to them in terms of policy. They do not trust Labour, and Labour should welcome their hatred.

    I’m not going to claim that I was ever likely to be voting for Labour in this election, but if Phill doesn’t use his time on this stage to fight against what these pricks stand for, then could someone tell me why any progressive should consider voting for them?

    • higherstandard 3.1
      28 June 2011 at 9:08 am

      Please explain how Ian grant is “a prick “

      • Tigger 3.1.1
        28 June 2011 at 9:30 am

        Why should Goff not attend? I’m gay and I’d go speak here.

        • Pascal's bookie 3.1.1.1
          28 June 2011 at 9:54 am

          I’ll gladly take my hat off to him if he’s going there to confront them and fight the progressive corner Tigger. Seen any evidence of that from Goff lately?

      • ianupnorth 3.1.2
        28 June 2011 at 11:27 am

        He runs an organisation which delivers programmes that are ineefective and unsustainable, using a range of methods which have been proven, by thorough research, to be flawed.
         
        In doing so he targets some of the most vulnerable groups in society and dips into their already near empty pockets to charge for the priviledge.
         
        They are pricks because they preach a model of ‘family’ which is based in the Victorian era; once upon a time families could be relied upon to support one another, but in the global society you cannot rely on this; I have a mother in Spain, a brother in Belgium, a Sister in the UK, my only uncle is in Scotland – many other families are equally split up.
         
        Yes kids need role modeling good behaviour, but they also need food, a quality early childhood education sector and good public health.

        • Draco T Bastard 3.1.2.1
          28 June 2011 at 3:36 pm

          Yes kids need role modeling good behaviour…

          And that role modelling doesn’t have to come from the parents. Maybe it’d be better if it did but it certainly doesn’t have to.

  4. Morrissey 4
    28 June 2011 at 9:30 am

    Unimpressive beginning by anti-MMP group Vote For Change
    8.10 a.m. National Radio, Tuesday 28 June, 2011

    Unimpressive performance on National Radio this morning by Vote For Change spokesman Jordan Williams. After spending most of his talk on a wandery rant against coalition government, his opponent, a pro-MMP woman, pointed out that there is a coalition in power in Great Britain right now—under a first-past-the-post system.

    This was the first opportunity for Mr Williams to engage in debate. Listen to how he responded: “Awww, I don’t want to talk about politics. This is not about politics.”

    That was a golden opportunity to argue his case. Instead, he chose to cut and run. I don’t think it’s because he is stupid; I’ll bet this refusal to engage in meaningful and detailed debate will be a strategy these people will use throughout their no doubt highly funded campaign.

    Could there be any clearer illustration of this group’s contempt for democracy?

    • ianmac 4.1
      28 June 2011 at 9:47 am

      A comment emailed into National Radio re anti-MMP was very telling.
      “When considering the issue just look at the people who are anti-MMP.” (paraphrased.)

      • Morrissey 4.1.1
        28 June 2011 at 9:54 am

        Yes, I almost stole that line for my post! Just look who they are—Michael Bassett, who has regularly broadcast his hatred for democracy, Peter Shirtcliffe, and perhaps most contemptible of all of them, that vacuous surfer/machine politician Bob Harvey.

  5. Lanthanide 5
    28 June 2011 at 9:37 am

    The outcome I think everyone was expecting:

    Prince William and his wife Catherine Middleton will definitely not be in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup, a spokeswoman for the prince has confirmed.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/5200003/Wills-Kate-won-t-visit-NZ-spokeswoman

    Why the hell did Key persist in saying they would come? Now he looks out of touch and desperate. Actually, I think that is the answer.

    • Jim Nald 5.1
      28 June 2011 at 9:42 am

      Ah, you got there first. Cheers.

    • ianmac 5.2
      28 June 2011 at 9:51 am

      P’raps William is astute enough to realise that celebrity Key would be using the royal couple for political gain, again.
      Still using our Beamers he can use a variety of dignitaries coming for the RWC for his photo ops.

    • jackal 5.3
      28 June 2011 at 12:50 pm

      John Key’s an idiot!

      • Jim Nald 5.3.1
        28 June 2011 at 3:55 pm

        Is he an idiot or does he think we are idiots?

        “He could have come in a private capacity, that was the advice I had. I personally invited him so I don’t think that would have been a major issue,” he said.

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10735042

        What “private capacity” can a future sovereign have? Huh? Maybe he thinks he can privatise The Windsors and sell them?

        Who provided “advice”?

        And what is this about a personal invitation? How can any invitation in the context be a personal invitation??

        • Lanthanide 5.3.1.1
          28 June 2011 at 11:56 pm

          “And what is this about a personal invitation? How can any invitation in the context be a personal invitation??”

          Pfft, John’s just a good bloke what met Wills down the pub on Friday arvo, obviously.

  6. Jim Nald 6
    28 June 2011 at 9:42 am

    Wills & Kate not visiting on this side of the elections – this is official.

    I feel this should be noted as I have gone on record about the young Royals and respect for protocol.

    Regardless of their reason for not visiting before 26 Nov, they are doing the right thing even when our PM wasn’t intending to.

    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge deserve to be commended.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/5200003/Wills-Kate-won-t-visit-NZ-spokeswoman

  7. Jim Nald 7
    28 June 2011 at 10:04 am

    Can’t use Royal touch for own election chances …

    but piggybacked on Fleming’s magic in India:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5199988/Indians-flock-to-Fleming-during-Key-visit

    Must remember to bring along Tamponson, newly crowned mascot for gender pay equity, when negotiating free trade with Turkey, Slovenia and Romania:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10734918

  8. Morrissey 8
    28 June 2011 at 10:28 am

    Israel drops warning to foreign journalists on Gaza flotilla

    By JOEL GREENBERG, Tuesday, June 28, 6:36 AM

    JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday rescinded a warning by the Israeli Government Press Office that foreign journalists who board a flotilla challenging Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza could be barred from the country for a decade.

    The threat, in a letter sent Sunday to accredited foreign correspondents in Israel from Oren Helman, the director of the press office, strained relations with international media and drew criticism in Israel, including from one of Netanyahu’s deputies.

    Helman wrote that participation in the flotilla, even by journalists, violated Israeli law and was “liable to lead to participants being denied entry into the State of Israel for ten years, to the impoundment of their equipment and to additional sanctions.”

    The Foreign Press Association in Israel said the letter sent a “chilling message” to international media and raised “serious questions about Israel’s commitment to freedom of the press.”

    A statement from Netanyahu’s office said that after the matter had been brought to his attention, he had directed that “the regular policy against infiltrators and those who enter Israel illegally not be implemented,” and that “a special procedure” be drawn up for journalists covering the flotilla who might arrive in Israel in violation of its entry laws.

    The Israeli military has warned that it will stop the flotilla, expected to consist of about 10 ships carrying activists from several countries, and if necessary seize and divert the vessels to Israel’s port of Ashdod. The ships are expected to converge at sea later this week and attempt to sail to Gaza.

    Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon told Israel Radio that both he and Netanyahu had been “surprised” by Helman’s move, which he called “problematic.”

    The statement from Netanyahu’s office said it had been agreed that Israeli and foreign reporters would be embedded with Israeli naval vessels “to create transparency and credible coverage of the events.”

    An Israeli naval commando raid on a Turkish ship in a similar flotilla 13 months ago met resistance from activists on board, and nine were killed. The incident drew international condemnation and led Israel to ease its land blockade of the Gaza Strip.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/israel-drops-warning-to-foreign-journalists-on-gaza-flotilla/2011/06/27/AGGp2mnH_story.html

    • D-D-D-Damn ! 8.1
      28 June 2011 at 4:35 pm

      Actually, knowing the way Mossad works, foreign journalists on the flotilla will be lucky not to be lured into a honey-trap, kidnapped, blindfolded and illegally transported back to Israel, before being sentenced to 20 years hard labour and solitary confinement by a secretly-convened Israeli Military Court.

      • Colonial Viper 8.1.1
        28 June 2011 at 4:42 pm

        Nothin’ if not efficient those guys 🙂

        Do you reckon it’s worth the honey trap? 🙂

      • Morrissey 8.1.2
        28 June 2011 at 4:58 pm

        …foreign journalists on the flotilla will be lucky not to be lured into a honey-trap

        There’s a degree of rabid rabbinical support for honeytraps. As in Soviet Russia, any action, no matter how depraved, is acceptable if it’s committed in the service of the Holy State.

        As you read this article and watch the accompanying video, you need to bear in mind that “terrorist” is a technical term for anybody that dares to criticise or even report on Israel…

        http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/israeli-rabbi-blesses-honeytrap-sex-female-spies/story?id=11834845

      • Vicky32 8.1.3
        28 June 2011 at 6:24 pm

        will be lucky not to be lured into a honey-trap, kidnapped, blindfolded and illegally transported back to Israel, before being sentenced to 20 years hard labour and solitary confinement by a secretly-convened Israeli Military Court

        As happened to Mordechai Vanunu in the 1980s… 🙁

  9. ianmac 9
    28 June 2011 at 10:42 am

    What a hoot! How Key the Celebrity must be fuming. From Stuff:
    “What was billed as a state visit to India by Prime Minister John Key is fast becoming the Stephen Fleming show.
    The former Black Caps captain nigh-on over-shadowed Key in New Delhi yesterday. ”
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5199988/Indians-flock-to-Fleming-during-Key-visit

    • Jim Nald 9.1
      28 June 2011 at 11:10 am

      You know times have changed when eloquent diplomacy degrades into visual entertainment with John Key reducing the statesman to showman.

      His political handlers, knowing the man can neither speak clearly nor intelligently, has designed events to suit eyes, and not ears or minds.

    • Deadly_NZ 9.2
      28 June 2011 at 10:51 pm

      And now NO Wils and Kate to enhance his re election chances either, he must be crying that no one is taken in by his vacuous presence. All smile n wave, No substance.

  10. ianupnorth 10
    28 June 2011 at 11:34 am

    Three things
    1) We need this level of civil unrest to change this country http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jun/27/public-sector-strikes-pensions-teachers-thursday
     
    2) We could all be dead on Tuesday morning next week! http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/jun/27/asteroid-poses-no-threat-earth
     
    3) And if you want a smile….http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/jun/27/pass-notes-wimbledogs

  11. jackal 11
    28 June 2011 at 12:37 pm

    More Bad News From Fukushima

    On the 26th June, yet another incident happened at the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power plant. It appears from the video below that Unit 3 and 4 released a large amount of smoke or steam into the atmosphere.

  12. wtl 12
    28 June 2011 at 12:44 pm

    I was meaning to put this on an asset sales post but there haven’t been any for awhile, so here goes…

    So far I haven’t seen much comment on the obviously (to me) detrimental effects that selling $5bn worth of assets will have on NZ capital markets. Surely this is going to suck up a huge amount of capital that will no longer be available to other businesses? How is any business going to attract investors when there is are nice juicy and safe SOEs out there for people to sink their cash into?

    • Draco T Bastard 12.1
      28 June 2011 at 4:26 pm

      How is any business going to attract investors when there is are nice juicy and safe SOEs out there for people to sink their cash into?

      They won’t but the whole point of putting such essential services onto the “market” is so that the “investors” have a nice safe place to put their money and get a high return on it without actually doing anything.

    • KJT 12.2
      28 June 2011 at 4:42 pm

      Yeah, but the middlemen are going to make a lot of money selling them back and forth.

      • Colonial Viper 12.2.1
        28 June 2011 at 4:44 pm

        Then there’s the transfers of foreign currency and forex hedges for such large transactions. Where is John Key when you need him to explain this stuff.

    • Adele 12.3
      28 June 2011 at 7:43 pm

      The reality is that there always has been a lack of equity capital available to SMEs. Most investment is located in the property market. A capital gains tax would have addressed this imbalance – levelling the playing field between investment in business or investment in property.

      But definitely SOEs coming onto the NZ market will be attractive to ‘mum and dad’ investors now highly risk adverse because of recent business failures. Within a capitalist system you have to compete by offering a better investment opportunity – while wearing something tight and slinky.

  14. Pascal's bookie 14
    28 June 2011 at 2:59 pm

    Here’s a farcebook page that’s racking up the comments:

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-the-Macsyna-King-Book/140832719326817

    • ianupnorth 14.1
      28 June 2011 at 4:02 pm

      Is that the Kahui mother? She can write let alone read?

      • Pascal's bookie 14.1.1
        28 June 2011 at 4:12 pm

        It’s a Wishart book. Unless he’s got some rock solid shit he’s now gonna be “that guy who wrote that book defending the Kahui mother” to 90% of kiwis.

        • Vicky32 14.1.1.1
          28 June 2011 at 6:38 pm

          It’s a Wishart book. Unless he’s got some rock solid shit he’s now gonna be “that guy who wrote that book defending the Kahui mother” to 90% of kiwis.

          From what I have heard,he believes he has. Time will tell. However I am “Disgusted of Pt Chev” that some idiot has already set up a Facebook group to campaign against the book, simply because they hate her.

        • millsy 14.1.1.2
          28 June 2011 at 7:04 pm

          I would have thought that Wishart would be one of the ones up there calling for Ms King to be strung up.

          • Penny Bright 14.1.1.2.1
            28 June 2011 at 7:22 pm

            Ian Wishart is the one some of them want to ‘string up’.

            It’s a bloody disgrace this ‘witch hunt / book burning’ bullshit.

            How do the ‘book boycotters’ even know what has been said in the book if they haven’t read it????

            Duh?

            http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-the-Macsyna-King-Book/140832719326817

            http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/5202308/Group-opposes-book-by-Kahui-twins-mother

            Group opposes book by Kahui twins’ mother

            IAN STEWARD AND JONATHAN MARSHALL
            Last updated 12:50 28/06/2011

            The Kahui twins.

            A Facebook group has been set up urging people not to buy a book written in collaboration with the mother of the Kahui twins.

            As the inquest into the deaths of three-month-olds Chris and Cru Kahui inches forward at the Auckland District Court, a Facebook site called “Boycott the Macsyna King Book” has been set up in response to the news that the twins’ mother, Macsyna King, is about to release a “tell-all book”, written by journalist Ian Wishart.

            Chris Kahui Snr was charged and later acquitted of the boys’ murder in 2008 and King’s involvement has been questioned, including by Kahui’s defence team at the trial.

            “Somebody like this should not be allowed to profit from preaching her perverted view of the horrific events which led to the deaths of the only two children who hadn’t already been taken from her by CYF’s,” the Facebook site says.

            It is not known who set up the site.

            Author and publisher Ian Wishart this afternoon compared the book, due to hit bookshelves at the end of July, to the 1994 Once Were Warriors movie.

            Wishart said King will not receive any money for the book, which he expects will sell in the thousands.

            Wishart said the book, being published by his Howling at the Moon company, will contain new leads.

            “There will be new revelations, it is a powerful book. Everybody who has read it has wept virtually on every page. It puts the whole life and death of the twins in the context,” Wishart said.

            The book was raw, he said. “Once Were Warriors was a great book, but this is Once Were Warriors real.”

            Wishart said he did not believe King was responsible for the death of her sons.

            “I went into this with an open mind… I’ve come away feeling Macsyna has had a hard run, through a lot of fault of her own.

            “Certainly she was not the killer of the twins.”

            Wishart said it was “hard to say” whether the book would cause police to re-open their case.

            “I’ve asked questions that nobody thought to ask Macsyna before so there are new answers.”

            He expected some booksellers would refuse to stock the title.
            _________________________________________________________________________

            If you don’t want to read, and/or boycott Ian Wishart’s book – that’s YOUR choice.

            However – please do NOT attempt to interfere with others LAWFUL right to ‘freedom of expression’ – to read and think about this matter for ourselves, and form our own opinions.

            Surely – if Ian Wishart’s book results in the Police reopening the case and getting a conviction – that would be a GREAT outcome?

            Where are all the ACT and Liberterian supporters on this issue?

            Time to ‘walk the talk’ in support of ‘freedom of expression’?

            Come on!

            WHERE ARE YOU?

            (Or are you going to just leave this to the ‘Public Watchdogs’?)

            Penny Bright
            http://waterpressure.wordpress.com

            • millsy 14.1.1.2.1.1
              28 June 2011 at 7:36 pm

              Personally I think that whole boycott thing is an excuse by people who see themselves is ‘decent middle New Zealanders” to beat up on a brown single mother on welfare.

              Which is what I belive the whole Kahui saga has become. Just another lynch mob whipped up against uemployed brown people. Which could be why the jury was so quick to acquit the father.

              • Deadly_NZ …
                28 June 2011 at 11:11 pm

                No it’s more like a conspiricy of silence by the whole extended Kahui family. And when the cops murder charge against the father fell over, they were I am sorry to say, their usual clueless selves ( No cars involved). Now if they arrested and charged every one in the silence conspiracy and charged them as accomplices to the murder, then I bet you would have had someone break the silence. But as usual the police are bloody useless as well, too wrapped up in traffic revenue gathering to go and catch real criminals.

                • M …
                  29 June 2011 at 1:30 am

                  Absolutely Deadly – they should have all faced a murder charge until one of them fessed up.

            • Pascal's bookie 14.1.1.2.1.2
              28 June 2011 at 7:56 pm

              Who is trying to interfere with his freedom of speech? IW runs a magazine and a website. he can publish whatever he wants. If he has information, he can also hand it over to the police.

              • Ianupnorth …
                28 June 2011 at 8:52 pm

                Profiteering from a tragedy like this is immoral; the family do not deserve any publicity whatsoever – they appall me.

                • Penny Bright …
                  28 June 2011 at 10:07 pm

                  If Ian Wishart’s book helps the police to reopen the Kahui case and results in a conviction for the deaths of the Kahui baby boys – how would this not be a positive outcome?

                  I am REALLY keen to read what Ian Wishart has to say, and take the strongest exception to any attempt to deny me my lawful right to ‘freedom of expression’, by preventing the distribution of this book.

                  For those who support ‘freedom of expression’ – here is your opportunity to step up to the plate, and make a stand on principle:

                  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Break-the-Kahui-code-of-silence-support-the-new-book/184638478257810

                  Break the Kahui code of silence: support the new book – Breaking Silence by Ian Wishart is based on research and the first extensive interviews.

                  Penny Bright
                  http://waterpressure.wordpress.com

                  • lprent …
                    28 June 2011 at 11:31 pm

                    I’m afraid that any research ability from Wishart appears to have completely dissipated over recent decades. Based on his recent books, he has dropped the practice as getting in the way of a good (ie saleable) story.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    28 June 2011 at 11:43 pm

                    I’m all for “freedom of expression” as long as it’s based in fact. Ian Wishart’s books tend not to be.

                • Pascal's bookie …
                  29 June 2011 at 7:05 pm

                  If Ian Wishart’s book helps the police to reopen the Kahui case and results in a conviction for the deaths of the Kahui baby boys – how would this not be a positive outcome?

                  It’d be grand. But did you read my comment?

                  I’ll gladly apologise if anything good comes out of this. But I’m pretty bloody confident I won’t be needing to.

                  And no one is stepping on your freedom of expression, or his. He is free to sell his book from his website, just like any other crank.

            • Vicky32 14.1.1.2.1.3
              29 June 2011 at 6:23 pm

              Agreed Penny. I just heard on 3News that Paper Plus and the Warehouse are “banning” the book. That’s disgusting.
               

              • Pascal's bookie …
                29 June 2011 at 7:06 pm

                There are whole sections of books in Unity bookshop that paper plus and the warehouse also refuse to stock. Disgusting.

              • Vicky32 …
                29 June 2011 at 7:15 pm

                Also, I just ‘liked’ the page so I could comment, and copped a shedload of abuse from these oh-so-nice people… 🙁

              • The Voice of Reason …
                29 June 2011 at 7:23 pm

                What is disgusting is the lazy journalism. The two shops haven’t banned the books. They can’t, because the aren’t the censor’s office. They are declining to stock this travesty of an apologia and good on them for having the courage to take a moral stance.
                 
                I just wish BP or TEPCO put the public good first in their business decisions, too.
                 
                 

          • the pink postman 14.1.1.2.2
            30 June 2011 at 4:24 pm

            Wishart is a two faced religious nut. Everything he does and says is what God has told him,thats according to him. He’s also a Right-Wing fanatic who seems to hate anyone Left of Franco. The guy gives me the creeps .As for this book he has written ,just who would want to read anything by him let alone a horrific essay about one of the most disgracefull black sad incidents in recent NZ. Personally I think everyone who is involved in that horror story should ((?) be incarcerated until somebody speaks out.As for Wishart he’s like Sensible Sentencing boss McCorsky (?) .They choose who to defend and who to attack and who not too. .
            Im sorry Penny I realise you are a good democratic person and I usually agree mostly with what you say but im afraid this dreadfull murder leaves me cold and angry.

  15. Penny Bright 15
    28 June 2011 at 4:02 pm

    28 June 2011

    BIG (bullying) TOBACCO are desperately fighting to help stop the NZ Government from looking after the health of NZ citizens whose health is affected by their product…………….

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/tobacco-giant-suing-australian-govt-warning-nz-ck-96034

    “NZPA | Tuesday June 28, 2011
    Tobacco giant suing Australian govt ‘a warning’ for NZ

    Tobacco giant Philip Morris suing the Australian government for introducing plain packaging laws for tobacco should send shockwaves through this country as it seeks a free trade deal involving the US, says an academic critic of the deal.”
    ________________________________________________________________________________

    WHY?

    Because of the recommendations arising from the Final Government Response’ to the Maori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry Report:

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Presented/Papers/8/6/0/49DBHOH_PAP21175_1-Government-Final-Response-to-Report-of-the-M-ori.htm

    (See pg 7

    “Plain packaging

    Recommendation 7

    That the tobacco industry be required to provide tobacco products exclusively in plain packaging, harmonising with the proposed requirement in Australia from 2012.

    Response

    The Government is monitoring Australia’s progress on its proposal to legislate for plain packaging of tobacco products in 2012, and will consider the possibility on NZ aligning with Australia. ”
    ________________________________________________________________________________

    Whatever you think about Hone Harawira – he deserves full credit for the leading role he has played in helping to achieve significant movement in this fight against ‘BIG TOBACCO’.

    He has proven to have been extremely effective on this issue, which has such significant health impacts on Maori, through helping to achieve the Maori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry into the Tobacco Industry.

    http://www.maoriparty.org/index.php?pag=cms&id=173&p=toa—january-2011.html

    “Our very own Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira also stepped up the campaign by initiating a inquiry into Māori related tobacco death by Parliament’s Māori Affairs Select Committee.

    We are making significant progress and the momentum must be continued.

    The past 12 months have been the most rapid in the history of making policy around tobacco control.

    Just over a year ago, the select committee announced it would carry out an inquiry into the tobacco industry and in particular the consequences of tobacco use for Māori.

    In March, our co-leader, and Associate Minister of Health, Tariana Turia initiated a public consultation on a proposal to ban tobacco displays in retail outlets. In April results from the 2009 tobacco use survey showed that the current smoking rates for 15-64 year olds had dropped to 21.8%.

    In real numbers that’s about 60,000 fewer smokers, in real numbers that is estimated to be more than 10,000 Māori. These are fantastic results which demonstrate that people are starting to recognise the serious harms that come from smoking and saying that it’s just not worth it.

    Of course the most critical fact that motivates all of us to be here today is that 45% of Māori aged 15 to 64 years are smokers.

    One in two long term smokers will die of smoking related diseases. Those, about 5000 every year, who die lose on average 15 years of life.

    None of these statements are new but we offer no apologies in repeating them.
    We are still losing generations of our people, dying in middle age.

    Even more tragic is the fact that almost half the sudden unexplained deaths of Māori infants are attributed to smoking.
    The biggest issue of all, bigger even than the fact that people are smoking, is the root causes for why people smoke.”

    ________________________________________________________________________________

    Shouldn’t the New Zealand Government – not tobacco multinational companies decide what’s best for the health of New Zealanders?

    If ‘Free Trade’ agreements mean the loss of NZ Government sovereignty to decide such issues – why on earth would we want a bar of them?

    Just WHO is benefiting?

    Penny Bright
    http://waterpressure.wordpress.com

    • Jim Nald 15.1
      28 June 2011 at 4:12 pm

      Given John Key’s track record of negotiating with the overseas powerful white boys, things may look good for his cronies and himself, but not for New Zealand.

      Perhaps John Key can roll out the red carpet for Philip Morris to visit, providing about $6000 of VIP limousine transport, including the short ride between the Auckland international/domestic terminals?

      Hope that has not been done before.

      • Deadly_NZ 15.1.1
        28 June 2011 at 11:13 pm

        And he will kiss arse and change laws so as not to annoy them.

        Actually thats not a public scene, so all you will see is JohnKY licking his lips at the press conference.

    • millsy 15.2
      28 June 2011 at 8:02 pm

      I dont think it is right that corporations can have effective veto power over governments.

      • Colonial Viper 15.2.1
        28 June 2011 at 8:06 pm

        The interesting questions are

        1) How did corporations achieve that level of power.
        and
        2) Who inside governments helped them in that process.

  16. Vicky32 16
    28 June 2011 at 4:53 pm

    I have just read this story on Stuff
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/5202195/Mother-accused-of-50-000-DPB-fraud
    about a woman accused of fraud because she was ‘in a relationship in the nature of marriage’ whilst receiving the DPB’. When I worked for Social Welfare in the 80s, we had a questionnaire designed to ascertain whether or not a couple was ‘in a relationship in the nature of marriage’ and we laughed ourselves sick when we saw it. One question that sticks in my mind was “Does she wash his socks and underwear?”
    This line seriously freaks me out: “The jury should also put their personal views on beneficiaries to one side for the duration of the trial, he said.”
    What views are the jury expected to have? If a lawyer substituted any other word, “Maori, women, Muslims, Christians, atheists, homeopaths, or fishermen” for instance, what would that say about our system? This was said by the defence lawyer, and shows that he expects to come up against a mountain of prejudice.

  17. Morrissey 17
    28 June 2011 at 9:48 pm

    http://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/522726-gaza-activists-ship-sabotaged-greece.html#.1272-stage-teaser1-2

    Gaza activists say ship sabotaged in Greece
    Tuesday, June 28, 2011 9:18:00 AM CEST

    STOCKHOLM (AP) — One of the 10 ships in the Gaza-bound flotilla has been sabotaged but will be repaired in time for the planned voyage to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, activists said Tuesday.

    The propeller shaft of the Juliano, a ship shared by Swedish, Norwegian and Greek activists, was cut off while the vessel was docked in the Greek port of Piraeus, according to the Scandinavian organizers.

    “Based on a first on-site inspection the damage can be repaired before the planned departure toward the end of this week,” said a statement by the Swedish activists, who blamed “hostile divers” for the damage.

    In a separate statement, Norwegian delegation leader Torstein Dahle said the incident shows “someone is willing to go to great lengths to stop the flotilla from sailing.”

    The ship is part of a ten-ship flotilla due to set sail shortly in a bid to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Israel has warned it will thwart any attempt to breach the sea blockade of the Palestinian territory.

    Israeli military spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovich told reporters Monday that, according to intelligence reports, extremists in the flotilla have supplies of what she called “dangerous incendiary chemicals” to use against Israeli forces.

    Dror Feiler, one of the organizers, dismissed those claims, saying the hundreds of people who plan to join the flotilla have signed a declaration of nonviolence.

    Feiler told Army Radio on Tuesday that if Israel has information about specific suspects, it should pass it along to flotilla’s organizers.

    http://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/522726-gaza-activists-ship-sabotaged-greece.html#.1272-stage-teaser1-2

  18. Descendant Of Smith 18
    28 June 2011 at 11:19 pm

    I know this is oldish news but see it has popped up again.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/5203397/Surgeons-tax-case-in-Supreme-Court

    I never quite get or understand the need someone has earning $650,000 (or even the smaller amount of $300,000) to manipulate things to pay less tax – particularly when much of their income is likely to have come from the taxpayer anyway whether through working in public hospitals, or via subsidised operations in the private system.

    I mean they are earning more than 10 other people for goodness sake.

    I know I’m not driven by money and that’s partly why I don’t get it but if these people just paid their friggin’ tax we wouldn’t be in half the shit we are in.

    • Colonial Viper 18.1
      28 June 2011 at 11:45 pm

      It becomes a game and they show off at dinner parties and over cocktails how daring and brave their personal tax accountants are.

      In fact it becomes quite a conversation piece, and instead of all these smart people and their accountants using their time and highly trained effort to do other good things in life, they spend more and more of it on dreaming up clever schemes to avoid more and more tax.

      • Lanthanide 18.1.1
        28 June 2011 at 11:59 pm

        Speaking from personal experience?

      • rosy 18.1.2
        29 June 2011 at 1:52 am

        In fact it becomes quite a conversation piece, and instead of all these smart people and their accountants using their time and highly trained effort to do other good things in life, they spend more and more of it on dreaming up clever schemes to avoid more and more tax.

        And that is why however low the tax rates go they’ll still manage their affairs to not pay. It’s not the tax – it’s the game. (And yeah, I’ve heard them at dinner parties)

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