Open mike 28/06/2014

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 28th, 2014 - 202 comments
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openmike Open mike is your post.

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202 comments on “Open mike 28/06/2014 ”

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  1. karol 1
    28 June 2014 at 7:16 am

    LOL. Go for it, John!

    Do the left a favour, for at least 3 out of four of these. I think Ian Lees Galway has been doing a good job, though.

    • Colonial Viper 1.1
      28 June 2014 at 7:23 am

      Yes I like Iain, he is an accessible Labour electorate MP (one of the few “provincial” Labour ones around at the moment), and he has been doing a great job of building the Palmerston North electorate back up as a well organised Labour stronghold.

    • Te Reo Putake 1.2
      28 June 2014 at 9:24 am

      “National’s strategy could disrupt Labour’s efforts to maximise the party vote, given that the survival of those MPs could hinge on them campaigning for the electorate vote instead to keep their political careers afloat. ”

      Um, isn’t the risk that National’s strategy could disrupt their own efforts to maximise their own party vote? See what happens when journalists recycle press releases; their critical faculties wither and die. They become husks of their former selves, mere jonolists.

      • Colonial Viper 1.2.1
        28 June 2014 at 10:19 am

        And that’s assuming that their “former selves” were anything to write about in the first place.

    • ianmac 1.3
      28 June 2014 at 9:33 am

      Vance: “Key will use his speech tomorrow to make the first of a series of policy announcements between now and the election campaign proper getting under way, when National is expected to start rolling out policy at the rate of one a day. ”
      One a day? Dump at that rate and they will all end up in the dump – unread!

      • Colonial Viper 1.3.1
        28 June 2014 at 10:11 am

        I suspect that “unread” is exactly the way National prefer their policies.

      • Draco T Bastard 1.3.2
        28 June 2014 at 1:55 pm

        They’ll just be bullet pointed sheets of A4 that even the dumbest idiots will be able to read. It’s not as if they’ll have facts or logic to back them up – just ideology.

  2. North 2
    28 June 2014 at 7:29 am

    Look at this bullshit spin……
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10208604/Grim-times-at-justice-ministry

    Justice Secretary Andrew Bridgman – ‘‘People see the broader vision and the strategy … but they don’t see how the plan connects them in their day to day activity. That’s why they don’t see the ministry succeeding and they don’t feel valued how they want to be valued.’’

    How about – “people don’t feel valued because all they see is spin……..they DON’T see any broader vision nor any strategy…….” ?

    Remind me…….who’s the minister ?

    • Grumpy 2.1
      28 June 2014 at 9:30 am

      I can confirm that working conditions at the Ministry are terrible. Personally, I can’t see why anyone would work there given the poor pay and patronizing management style.
      The PSA reps really earn their money, it would be much worse without their heroic efforts.

    • greywarbler 2.2
      28 June 2014 at 11:18 am

      @ North Sounds like management speak as taught in some university course.

  3. Pasupial 3
    28 June 2014 at 7:29 am

    Dunedin Green Party Campaign Launch today 3pm at the railway station. Candidates; Metiria Turei (Dn Nth), Shane Gallagher (Dn Sth) & Chris Ford (List) will be speaking, plus musicians, photobooth, and afternoon tea.

    Even if you haven’t RSVPd, it’s a fairly big space so there should be room for anyone who happens to be in town this avo (and isn’t just coming along to disrupt the event).

    https://www.facebook.com/GreenPartyDunedin2014

  4. phillip ure 4
    28 June 2014 at 7:36 am

    (apologies for the double-posting – this from the fag-end of yesterdays’ epic-thread..

    ..but i feel these are questions that need addressing..both by labour..and the greens..)

    so..all those drone-killings targeted from waihopai..

    ..means the blood of all those innocent-of-anything civilians/men/women/children is on keys’ hands..

    ..(i hope he has strong soap/disinfectant/dream-suppressors..he won’t get away with that one..)

    ..and he is doing it all..in our name..as our ‘leader’..

    ..will cunnliffe do any different..?

    ..or will he still allow the americans to use waihopai to help target their drone-strikes..?

    ..and will green-ministers be in cabinet-solidarity with that..?

    ..whoar..!

    ..eh..?

    ..what price that bmw..?

    • bad12 4.1
      28 June 2014 at 7:53 am

      Phillip, you’re slipping, there’s a newspaper poll out that favors dope decriminalization, i would have thought you would have been onto it first thing…

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.1
        28 June 2014 at 7:58 am

        ha! Next time stamp 7:54am

      • phillip ure 4.1.2
        28 June 2014 at 7:59 am

        @ bad..heh..!..snap..!

        ..but believe it or not..i consider our govt aiding in the butchering of entirely innocent of anything men/women/children at the behest of the fucken americans..

        ..to be a more important issue than dope-reform..

        ..and it actually horrifies me that i see the prospect of a lab/green govt continuing to have a hand in those killings/murders..

        ..to my mind..that would be..by any definition..’evil’..

        ..(and would..you’d think..?..

        ..have the likes of keith locke spinning in his retirement..)

        • Clemgeopin 4.1.2.1
          28 June 2014 at 11:52 am

          Labour is definitely opposed to it. I am pretty sure Greens and InternetMANA are too.

          This is what Mr Cunliffe said about it. He is very clear about the issue you have raised. Listen to it from about 04:00 onwards:
          http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/no-evidence-donations-david-cunliffe-video-6009562

          • phillip ure 4.1.2.1.1
            28 June 2014 at 12:28 pm

            thank you for that clem..some of that was reassuring..

            ..but useless journo that she is..woods never asked him about five-eyes spooking all over us..and our (admitted by key) role in those drone-strikes..

            ..and then at 8 mins cunnliffe went on at some length on our ‘good’ relationship with america..

            ..but the fact is merica wd consider it very unfriendly of nz to pull back from giving them the full-support they have enjoyed with (satrap) key..

            ..so the questions are still unanswered..i feel..

            • Clemgeopin 4.1.2.1.1.1
              28 June 2014 at 1:13 pm

              I don’t think it would be too difficult to have good relations with USA but at the same time be more independent and preserving our freedom and sovereignty at the same time. Like so many countries are able to do at present. Whole scale snooping as revealed by Edward Snowden and Julian Assange should definitely be stopped while legitimate warranted security oversight could be allowed as long as they are with legally approved by legislation and judiciary.

    • The Al1en 4.2
      28 June 2014 at 9:06 am

      And Philip’s election smear campaign against Labour and the Greens continues unabated. 🙄

      • phillip ure 4.2.1
        28 June 2014 at 9:11 am

        what you call ‘smear-campaign’..i call valid-questions..

        ..i take it you wd be happy/’relaxed’ with green-ministers getting this blood on their hands..?

        ..in yr name..?

        ..them being ministers is more important..?

        • The Al1en 4.2.1.1
          28 June 2014 at 9:16 am

          If I said you were like a cracked record, you’d probably try to smoke it.

          Just far too one dimensional to be taken seriously.
          If you’re not smearing and really want the answers, write to DC and MT/RN and ask.

          • phillip ure 4.2.1.1.1
            28 June 2014 at 9:34 am

            well..as i haven’t raised this subject before..hardly’ cracked-record’..

            ..and i think these are questions that should be asked/answered in the public domain..

            ..’cos as far as i can see..

            ..internet/mana are the only contender in this election..

            ..with a policy of tearing up that five-eyes spying agreement..

            ..and ending our role in these killings..

            ..and i think that will matter to many new zealanders..

            ..i think many are horrified at what john key has been doing in our name/to the detriment of our international reputation..

            ..and in secret..

            ..and that many labour/green supporters wd be as horrified as me at the idea of ‘their’ parties in government..

            ..just continuing our role in this killing at the behest of america..

            ..(and no..to ‘smoking it’..my crack-days are long gone..long unlamented..)

            • The Al1en 4.2.1.1.1.1
              28 June 2014 at 9:43 am

              Your Labour/green bashing is as laughable and boringly predictable as those on the right. Congratulation if you wanted to be seen as the whaleoil of the lunatic left – You won.

              Write to the party leaders, ask their stances and report back here.
              More of the same vitriol and invective will just confirm the suspected.

              Contact details:

              Email: david.cunliffe@parliament.govt.nz
              Email: metiria.turei@parliament.govt.nz
              Email: russel.norman@parliament.govt.nz

              • phillip ure …
                28 June 2014 at 11:18 am

                i don’t need to write to them to know the answers to those questions..

                ..cunnliffe will continue to support ‘our important relationship with america’..

                ..and has made no mention of ending that five-eyes arrangement..

                ..and the greens will be bound by cabinet-solidarity..

                ..so the killings will continue..

                ..what else do you need to know..

                (and i know how adept you are at ignoring uncomfortable-facts..yr ‘but i only eat them’ response to the facts of flesh-consumption yesterday..

                ..highlighted that..)

                • The Al1en …
                  28 June 2014 at 11:26 am

                  You should have highlighted this part of the quote too…

                  “though if I had to, I’d be quite capable of getting my hands bloody, if it were ultimately either me or them, I’d eat fluffy wuffy kittens and puppy tail stew”

                  “i don’t need to write to them to know the answers”

                  That’s why I called bs smear artist, thanks for backing me up.

                • Stephanie Rodgers …
                  28 June 2014 at 2:24 pm

                  So … you have questions that “you feel need addressing” – so much so you post them in two separate Open Mikes – but you also “don’t need to write to them to know the answers to those questions”?

                  It looks like you just want to be constantly associating Labour and the Greens with drone strikes, which pretty much fills the criteria for a smear campaign.

                  • phillip ure …
                    28 June 2014 at 3:45 pm

                    ‘constantly’..?

                    ..get a grip..!

                    ..i mentioned it last nite..and today..

                    ..and you don’t think it is a valid question..?

                    ..you don’t care if the drone killings continue or not..?

                    ..and yes..i will keep asking..until we get the answers…

                • freedom …
                  28 June 2014 at 3:13 pm

                  “i don’t need to write to them to know the answers to those questions..”

                  phil, I have read and wandered on past your prolific and monotonous postings of late, but seriously dude!

                  Are you now claiming a David Carter inspired prescience ?

                  • McFlock …
                    28 June 2014 at 3:25 pm

                    lol
                    didn’t Carter take the skill from phil?

                  • phillip ure …
                    28 June 2014 at 3:27 pm

                    no..just a reading of what has happened up until now..

                    ..do you think i am wrong..?

                    • freedom …
                      28 June 2014 at 3:54 pm

                      Up until NZ banned nuclear warships, we allowed nuclear warships.

                      So Phillip, maybe directing a couple of questions to those you are so willing to admonish, is not really that unreasonable of a suggestion.

                    • phillip ure …
                      28 June 2014 at 4:11 pm

                      sorry..i don’t get/understand the relevance of yr nuke-ships reference..

                      ..and these are not personal/idiosyncratic-questions..

                      ..they are questions with a high public-interest to many on the left..

                      ..i just happen to be asking the questions..

                    • freedom …
                      28 June 2014 at 5:12 pm

                      Sorry Phillip, but if you cannot discern the obvious relevance to your statement I quoted, maybe there are more important questions like why do you feel so qualified to cast judgement on such complex issues?

                      I am not going to enter a prolonged debate on this so don’t expect a reply to your reply, but if you really need the thing laid out for you, here it is.

                      If no-one inside or outside of Government made the effort to change policy, it is fair to assume that policy would not change.

                      to your refusal to ask those who would be making the policies;
                      If when given the means and opportunities to ask those who are in a position to change their policies, you refuse to accept, how do you expect them to be aware that you feel the policy is in need of change?

                    • phillip ure …
                      28 June 2014 at 5:22 pm

                      way to attack the messanger..eh..?

                      ..you another one who doesn’t give a fuck if we are killing for america..?

                      ..and go look at the cunnliffe-thread..

                      ..the questions are asked there..

                      ..and stop being a total fucken wanker..

                      ..while you are at it..eh..?

                      ..and i see you swerve from the question..

                      ‘….do you think i am wrong..?..’

                      ..are these questions that should not be asked of an incoming govt..?

                      ..in yr mind..?

                      ..and what will make these questions even more urgent..

                      ..is that i am picking the upcoming snowden-dump will reflect as poorly on the clark govt..as it will on key..

                      ..and that the stance of any future labour govt. will come sharply into focus..

                      ..after that snowden-spook-dump..

                      ..so no..i won’t shut-up/stop asking publicly..for public answers…

                      (and colour me dumb..

                      “..Up until NZ banned nuclear warships, we allowed nuclear warships..”

                      ..but no..i can’t see the reading you are putting on the above fact’..as per it being at all relevant to what i am asking..)

                      ..and yr chosen moniker is ‘freedom’..eh..?..that’s funny..!..

                      ..quite selective..yr ‘freedom’ advocacy..eh..?

                      ..innocent drone-strike victims don’t quite make the grade..?

                      ..eh..?

      • weka 4.2.2
        28 June 2014 at 10:48 am

        “And Philip’s election smear campaign against Labour and the Greens continues unabated.”

        Not to worry, Jenny is back.

    • greywarbler 4.3
      28 June 2014 at 11:33 am

      @phillip Key’s whole life is a dream. Something to do with being relaxed all the time, he doesn’t have anything to dream about when he actually goes to sleep.

      The words signifying nothing came to mind. I find on google it’s from Macbeth and the quotes from it are all so descriptive and apt for either Key and/or the NACTS!
      Shakespeare was brilliant, very knowing and had writing skills and vocabulary par excellence!
      http://www.william-shakespeare.info/quotes-quotations-play-macbeth.htm

      Here are some. The first applies if his support did aid drone strikes.
      “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red” Macbeth Quote (Act II, Sc. II).
      “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself, and falls on the other.” – ( Quote Act I, Scene VII).

      “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under ‘t.” Macbeth Quote (Act I, Scene V).
      “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”. – ( Quote Act I, Scene I).
      “I bear a charmed life”. Macbeth Quote (Act V, Sc. VIII).
      and
      “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Macbeth Quote (Act V, Scene V).

      • phillip ure 4.3.1
        28 June 2014 at 11:40 am

        warbler..!

        ..yr introducing kultcha into the bar-room brawl that is open-mile..

        ..we’ll all have to pull our socks up now..

        • greywarbler 4.3.1.1
          28 June 2014 at 12:25 pm

          @phillip
          You and I can fight and chew gum at the same time better than those others and while balancing our beers on our heads.
          To the bridge Horatius —
          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatius_Cocles! There is a picture here of a Horatius that I don’t match up to, so hope you do.

          • North 4.3.1.1.1
            28 June 2014 at 2:57 pm

            Savage words traded P.Ure and T.Allen…….well……a bit o’ The Bard kindly tossed in by ‘Warbler……happy ending.

            We are united. Dedicated to throwing off the cloak of falseness and foulness which pervades governance. In ShonKey Python land.

            Our Sydney-based spin doctor William Shakespeare exposes it seminally…….“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under ‘t.” Macbeth Quote (Act I, Scene V).

            Well done ‘Warbler getting all that together. Entertaining on top of soooo true !

            • greywarbler 4.3.1.1.1.1
              28 June 2014 at 4:36 pm

              @North
              You have got me thinking – ‘our Sydney based’ – would Fred Dagg still take an interest in our little farm? We must seem pretty funny from over in OZ. Should we send him a new black singlet, for nostalgic wearing and tell him we love him and would like to hear from him. See what he says? Anyone know his feelings on this?

              • North …
                28 June 2014 at 6:16 pm

                Fred Dagg could do a passable lampooning of ShonKey Python actually. Especially the ‘global statesman’ persona the big wank tries to affect after a week affixed kissing gourami-like to Obama’s arse. Heard him simpering on in the TVOne News about the “inner sanctum” of the “kitchen cabinet”……..which is apparently where the decision re The Colon will be made. What a pretensious ponce !

  5. phillip ure 5
    28 June 2014 at 7:54 am

    there is an interesting poll in the herald on cannabis law reform..showing a seachange of sorts in attitudes to that issue..

    ..and the surprise/takeaway for me was that 45% of national party voters support decriminalisation/legalisation of pot..(!)

    ..well..!..knock me over with a big-bud..eh..?

    • bad12 5.1
      28 June 2014 at 8:15 am

      Closet tokers and dopers all, and, if Jackie Blue the ex-National MP is to be considered ”run of the mill” there’s quite a bit of family ”biffo” occurring in the feral upper-class of the National Parties ranks…

      • phillip ure 5.1.1
        28 June 2014 at 9:15 am

        and that cross-ideological support for law-change..must strengthen the hand of the internet party –

        • to come up with a cohesive colorado-model of legalisation/regulation/taxation for that law-reform..

        ..you’d think..?

        ..as that wd tap into that cross-ideological support..

        ..and win them more votes than a wishy-washy pot-policy will..

        ..and cd well draw support/votes from ‘soft’-nattys..who wd never take that step too far..of voting green…

        • bad12 5.1.1.1
          28 June 2014 at 9:30 am

          i must admit Phillip to not having given the issue much thought at all recently, along with alcohol, dope is off the menu here at the Mansion,

          Obviously i favor a simple blanket decriminalization of Marijuana be that growing for personal use or possession for personal use,

          The codicil to that would have to be some pretty harsh penalties imposed upon anyone who for whatever reason allowed/caused those under 18 to get their hands on the ‘stash’,

          My view is the responsibility for youngsters not getting stoned befor a legal age would have to rest upon the adult who legally possessed the supply, even to the point where it could be shown that the kids had sussed the stash and half inched all or part of it,

          As a non-smoker who possesses quite a body of knowledge surrounding plant growth and also possesses a pile of 600’s along with an array of other stuff that some would describe as a comprehensive kit i am supremely relaxed as to the time-frame a Law change could be conceivably seen in this country…

          • phillip ure 5.1.1.1.1
            28 June 2014 at 9:47 am

            when the law does change..we should go into business..

            ..you can grow a high-quality boutique-brand…’bad’ wd be a good name for it..(‘nz-bad’..?..)

            ..and i’ll take care of the branding/marketing/retail end of things..

            ..and we’ll go 50/50..

            ..whaddayareckon..?

            • bad12 5.1.1.1.1.1
              28 June 2014 at 10:24 am

              Lolz Phillip, i reckon you are my friend about half a decade too late, if you search the records back about there you will find tales of a million dollar tinny house being busted in Porirua,

              Despite malicious rumors spread by my many enemies i (laughingly) deny any involvement what-so-ever in having ever been any part of the supply chain all or in part for this particular enterprise,

              My innocence shines not quite as brightly as the winter sun does upon this very fine Winter’s day but shine it does,

              Your offer Phillip of 50/50 as part of such a business relationship is also ludicrous, given Legislation that allowed such legal production i would have to be entirely dull not to have sufficient skills to be able to both grow and retail the product,

              My best offer in a situation where production was legalized would have to be a discount rate of minus fifty dollars on the accepted current price of a bulk buy in terms of O’s…

              • Colonial Viper …
                28 June 2014 at 10:29 am

                Your skills are not in doubt good sir, its always a question of level of motivation and interest 😉

                • bad12 …
                  28 June 2014 at 11:01 am

                  As a good Socialist the question here is usually about Needs,(not necessarily always personal)weighed against Risks…

              • phillip ure …
                28 June 2014 at 11:12 am

                ah well..it’s a roadside-stall for you then..

                ..i was thinking on a somewhat grander scale..

                ..and i think/hope the retail price will drop significantly when those blackmarket-pressures ease..

                .and that control the grower currently has..will end..

                ..and the competition will be fierce..(with ‘quality on its’ own becoming a ‘given’..)

                ..which means branding/marketing etc will come into its’ own importance..

                ..but..a stall it is…

                • The Al1en …
                  28 June 2014 at 11:29 am

                  “which means branding/marketing etc will come into its’ own importance”

                  That’s right, and why The Al1en’s triangular Trichome space cakes are out of this world.

                  “that control the grower currently has..will end”

                  Nope, because unlike your posts, quality always trumps quantity. 😉 😆

                • bad12 …
                  28 June 2014 at 11:47 am

                  Your pricked ego Phillip simply results in you posting of the dull as attempted wit, your marketing skills are questionable to say the least,

                  IF you have a million viewers over there at your ‘attention whore’ web-page without the income to justify the effort i would suggest said marketing skills are zero,

                  Of course as in the dope world ‘quality’ of writing in the case of your website would tend to be the benchmark of the ability to produce revenue from ones efforts but even the Herald manages to generate some revenue from its efforts so i would doubt your possession of satisfactory skills in either area,

                  Given such a failure on your part i hardly need concern myself with your ego-centric notions of being some form of marketing guru and should i wish to indulge myself in the pursuit we have previously been discussing i can assure you that one text invitation to coffee to one individual from among a number of individuals on my phone list,(which for the life of me doesn’t appear to exist in this particular house-hold) would remove from my presence within the hour any amount i would care to produce…

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    28 June 2014 at 1:52 pm

                    gosh bad12 you must learn to address pertinent points without ‘beating around the bush’! 😈

                    • bad12 …
                      28 June 2014 at 2:32 pm

                      Lolz CV, spose i could have just printed a terse bullshit instead, however i do like to drag those i am in conversation with into the byzantine alleyways of my mind in the hope that they too might catch a dose of what ails me,

                      We all would then be said to be conversing from the benefit of a level playing field…

                    • phillip ure …
                      28 June 2014 at 3:48 pm

                      have you always had these radical mood-swings..?

                      ..and were you an ugly-drunk..?

                    • bad12 …
                      28 June 2014 at 4:24 pm

                      i fail to ascertain a mood swing of any sort evident in my writing this day Phillip, perhaps the shit you have been spewing forth has somewhat clouded the crystal ball you seem to be using to divine my mood,

                      Well no must be the answer to your second question, i was always at the time pretty drunk,

                      You could tho test your theory of my ugliness by buying me a 40oz Black Label and then hanging about whilst i imbibed of the whole container…

    • Daveosaurus 5.2
      28 June 2014 at 12:46 pm

      So what are you waiting for?

      People don’t effect change by sitting back and whining; they effect change by getting up and working.

  6. bad12 6
    28 June 2014 at 8:06 am

    BOYCOTT it, the NZHerald that is, if you have a subscription, cancel it, convince your friends and relatives to either cancel their subscriptions or not to buy the vicious piece of rubbish from the gas station or wherever their habit has them doing so,

    Complaining to the press council or sending emails to the Herald itself is a pointless exercise, as one commenter showed us yesterday when the contents of an email were repeated here and ‘the Editor’, obviously taking the piss, spat back at the complaint referring to an ”un-sourced” code of journalistic ethics,

    My opinion says that the whole Liu/Labour non-donations fiasco was deliberate, people who with deliberation spread such lies as propaganda are never going to apologize or retract their lies and we all are simply pissing into the wind if we have any expectation that they will,

    PUNISH them, hit the NZHerald where it will hurt, Boycott the utter garbage gutter rag that it is and convince everyone you know to do the same,

    The up-coming Labour Party Conference should spread that message throughout the membership, the time for complaining is over, give the NZHerald a message it cannot fail to understand, Hit them in the pocket, do not buy the product….

    • phillip ure 6.1
      28 June 2014 at 8:11 am

      re herald:..just go online for it..stop buying it..!

      ..and i always feature anything they may have that is worth reading/of note..anyway..

      ..(or just worthy of a serious slagging..c.f…hewitsons’ dismal interview of harre..today..

      ..i just posted the headline..and then just ripped into it..

      ..really really dire..even for her..and that is saying something..

      ..you walk away from it with the sum total of yr human-knowledge increased not a jot..)

    • BM 6.2
      28 June 2014 at 8:16 am

      Mr Liu may feel like he’s lost quite a bit of face due to the way labour has used him for political point scoring.

      So hardly surprising,he’s after a bit of utu.

      Also, if the herald is going behind a pay well, the majority of its subscribers will be of a blue shade so it would make sense to target their stories at the people who buy/subscribe to their publication.

      • bad12 6.2.1
        28 June 2014 at 8:41 am

        Stupidly, you seem to hold to a belief that the Herald possesses some form of comprehensive statement from Liu that details 100,s of thousands of dollars of donations to Labour,

        Your refusal to entertain the notion that the Herald may have been the one to ”Inflate” a small donation,(to a rowing club), into that claim of 100’s of 1000’s is charming yet childishly lacking in intelligence,

        The latest sum arrived at by the Herald is now $38,000, the claim is that this is a revised figure from further information given by Liu to the Herald,

        i have no belief that Liu has given the Herald any ”further” information as i have little belief that the Herald is in possession of a comprehensive statement from Liu which details such supposed gifts,

        My belief until such time as the Herald provides ”Proof”, as in the printing of these supposed statements from Liu to the Herald, is that a Journalist, or, Journalists have simply concocted this whole sordid mess of lies with deliberation….

        • yeshe 6.2.1.1
          28 June 2014 at 9:52 am

          It keeps on coming … they seem to have a direct line from Liu or someone who speaks English or someone who speaks for him … how else could they possibly know he has hired Paul Davison QC to lead “a team of advisers” to ward off any fight with Labour ? This does threaten death by a thousand cuts … and I hope Blip is reading .. just heard Key on The Nation say all he said in US was that there was a donation of $38,000! oh dear .. ruined my morning and I had to turn him off.

          http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11283405

          • bad12 6.2.1.1.1
            28 June 2014 at 10:11 am

            More slime from Slippery, the quote from the Amerikan sojourn was that the donations from Liu to Labour were six figure sums…

          • ffloyd 6.2.1.1.2
            28 June 2014 at 11:47 am

            Key is a craven coward! Happy to dish as much dirt as he can but scuttles away like a cockroach to hide under the nearest log when he is caught out in his lies and smears against people who he deems to be his enemy, then creeps out with a different persona which he uses until the crap that he created dies down. I don’t remember him quoting a figure of $38,000.00. That figure has only just been come to by the mathematical geniuses at nz herald, from alleged information quoting revised figures. He mentioned $15,000.00 for a book that now never gets mentioned. He also said he knew there was a lot more to come, smirk, smirk. Now he says he doesn’t know any details of Liu’s alleged donations and never has. Mr Liu must realise that all this distraction has been engineered by key and his sycophantic invertebrates to discredit Cunliffe as this is the ONLY way he has any chance of winning the next election. Dirty tricks is all he knows.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.2.2
        28 June 2014 at 2:09 pm

        Mr Liu may feel like he’s lost quite a bit of face due to the way labour has used him for political point scoring.

        Labour never used him for political point scoring – they just pointed out that National were taking bribes and he was one of the people who seemingly tried to bribe National.

        Also, if the herald is going behind a pay well, the majority of its subscribers will be of a blue shade so it would make sense to target their stories at the people who buy/subscribe to their publication.

        Yep, it’s going to turn into an echo chamber on a par with WhaleOil. No journalistic integrity and stories made up out of whole cloth.

  7. felix 7
    28 June 2014 at 8:22 am

    There is a man in our parliament whose name sounds exactly like “camcorder” and no-one ever makes fun of it.

    Sometimes I’m embarrassed to be a New Zealander.

  8. miravox 8
    28 June 2014 at 8:26 am

    While all the smearing in the Herald is going on, Dita De Boni has something important to say about how New Zealanders see themselves in the world.

    Because in the 10 years in which New Zealand has been lobbying for this position, the way the country sees itself has changed radically. We were once treated with caution by the US; now we enjoy favoured status. We were champions of neutrality and balance; we’re now reversing that once-cherished aloofness.

    The question is, which New Zealand will be turning up in New York should our [security council] bid be successful? Not just New Zealanders, but citizens of other countries too, have a right to know.

    The first comment on the article is right on the button too, imo.

    • phillip ure 8.1
      28 June 2014 at 8:50 am

      i think that if key in his role of eager-satrap/wingman to obamas’ imperial-adventures..

      ..thinks this has gone un-noticed by those third world countries essential to nz getting a seat on the security council..

      ..i think he is dreaming..

      ..and i will be very surprised/having to admit ‘i wuz wrong!’..

      ..if we do get that placement..

      • miravox 8.1.1
        28 June 2014 at 9:28 am

        I agree with you.

        I’ve noticed how the NActs have lately taken any opportunity to mention Labour began this process. It’s like they’re not keen to take credit for the cost on an allmighty failure themselves.

    • ianmac 8.2
      28 June 2014 at 9:25 am

      As I wrote to Dita, she is lucky to be able to tell what John Key thinks NZ’s Foreign Policy is. His opinion keeps changing according to who his audience is. Shifty?

      • Draco T Bastard 8.2.1
        28 June 2014 at 2:39 pm

        Key’s and National’s foreign policy has always been to kiss US arse.

        • dan1 8.2.1.1
          28 June 2014 at 3:00 pm

          Interesting call from Hilary Clinton today giving Australia a slap for expecting the US to defend it but at the same time giving China considerable preferences. Any simularities to NZ??!! Key has the same feet on separating icebergs. What happens on D-Day?!

    • Draco T Bastard 8.3
      28 June 2014 at 2:36 pm

      That first comment was spot on. I’m kinda hoping that a lot of people are waking up to the fact that we’re losing our way just so that Key and, by association, National can kiss US president arse.

  9. Once was Tim 9
    28 June 2014 at 8:49 am

    FYI
    8:15 Kent Greenfield RNZ NAT
    Kent Greenfield is Professor of Law and Law Fund Research Scholar at Boston College Law School. He is the author of the 2011 book, The Myth of Choice: Personal Responsibility in a World of Limits (Biteback Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-84954-307-1).

    Worth a listen.
    Sorry folks – audio not yet up at the time of this comment

  10. dv 10
    28 June 2014 at 9:04 am

    Does any one know what has happened to slatters court case?

    There has be nothing reported for a while.

  11. Molly 11
    28 June 2014 at 9:44 am

    Jared Savage just doesn’t quit does he? Today’s article Lui hires QC to deal with any action from Labour.

    Which contains the following:
    “Labour Party general secretary Tim Barnett confirmed that a lawyer for the party had contacted Liu’s legal counsel but was yet to receive a substantive reply.

    “The Labour Party has no dispute with Mr Liu because we have seen no evidence that he has published false information about us.””

    And this is the output of the editor of investigative reporting?

    • dv 11.1
      28 June 2014 at 9:49 am

      Would it not be cheaper for Liu just to release his Herald statement to Lab?

      • Molly 11.1.1
        28 June 2014 at 10:11 am

        I don’t really think the Liu is the problem. He doesn’t have his own publishing company – that I know of.

        The error is entirely the result of the Herald journalists and editors that wrote and allowed such unsubstantiated information to be published – time and again – without providing the information necessary to Labour to investigate those claims.

    • veutoviper 11.2
      28 June 2014 at 10:40 am

      I was interested to see that article as what it indicates IMO is that possibly legal action is being contemplated by Labour – by the party management, keeping Cunliffe out of it.

      However, I agree that the Herald (rather than Jared Savage per se) just aren’t quitting, as evidenced by their editorial yesterday (now with over 300 comments, most scathing of the Herald).

      In the Editorial, reference is made to further clarification this weekend on Lui’s statement (cannot remember the exact wording) which appeared to signal that The Herald has not given up.

      This is possibly reinforced by a tweet from Tim Murphy about 6pm last night

      “Donghua Liu – seems like some premature claims of the story ‘unravelling’ have been going on …”

      So, watch this space.

      • ianmac 11.2.1
        28 June 2014 at 11:00 am

        But isn’t the unravelling about what had already been printed last week? The damage to the Labour Party was done with unsubstantiated allegations centred around 2007. The complaint is not with Mr Liu is it? It is with whoever planted the story with the Herald and the Herald for printing it.

        • Colonial Viper 11.2.1.1
          28 June 2014 at 11:11 am

          Correct. Deflections on to Liu are completely misguided. He’s merely another private citizen. It’s the media institution of the NZ Herald which needs to be held to account.

        • veutoviper 11.2.1.2
          28 June 2014 at 11:25 am

          I agree with you, that the real complaint should be with whoever planted the story etc, rather than Liu per se.

          However, imo it could be well impossible (and possibly very disasterous) at this point to try to take a complaint of any sort, including legal action, against the Herald, or the National Party.

          Liu could well be the weak link – in light of the statements he is purported to have made (although we have yet to see the hard copy) that he has donated equally to Labour and National – and that he is not liking being a political pawn in the battle between the two (cannot remember the exact words).

          Pure speculation on my part, but putting pressure on Liu could lead to disclosures as to what (and who) influenced him to make his original early May statement, how this statement apparently found its way to Key shortly thereafter, and finally to the Herald some weeks later. Any such disclosures could then allow action to be taken against these other parties.

      • Blue 11.2.2
        28 June 2014 at 1:04 pm

        Of course they haven’t given up. They’ve lost a lot of cred and they need to get something on Labour now or they are toast.

        But anything they publish from now on needs to have iron-clad proof or they will be laughed off the newstands.

        This could go one of two ways – either the HOS has something tomorrow (that’s where they dump all the legally dodgy stuff) or they will actually attempt to verify whatever rubbish they are being fed and will attack again when they are ready.

    • DH 11.3
      28 June 2014 at 10:50 am

      It’s beginning to get irritating, can’t even read the weekend ‘paper in peace now. The Herald reporters are still persisting with the sly insinuations about David Cunliffe

      Savage added this bit….

      “The Herald last week revealed Mr Cunliffe wrote a letter for Liu’s residency application, despite previous denials.”

      (did he even deny that… don’t recall him being asked that exact question)

      Armstrong just had to add these sly digs when talking about Parker…

      “David Parker’s authority and influence as Labour’s deputy leader and finance spokesman has been on the rise as much as David Cunliffe’s has been on the wane.”

      And…

      “He will be able to blame a combination of factors for that, ranging from the current pick-up in economic growth being of huge electoral benefit to National to Cunliffe’s string of mistakes.”

      Neither story was even about David Cunliffe and they still put the boot in. WTF is wrong with these people?

      • Draco T Bastard 11.3.1
        28 June 2014 at 3:12 pm

        They’re putting the boot in trying to influence the election in National’s favour.

  12. Colonial Viper 12
    28 June 2014 at 9:57 am

    Labour policy pushes back against employers importing cheap labour to undercut Kiwis

    Bloody good move, Red Team.

    “To address that Labour will require employers bringing in overseas workers to pay a living wage (after accommodation deductions) where the job offer forms part of the reason the application is accepted. This does not apply for the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) or Pacific quota migrants.

    “We will also ensure RSE workers are paid at the rate of at least the minimum wage plus $1.25 an hour, with accommodation provided in addition to wages. Employers in industries with skills shortages and low pay will be required to be involved in implementing training plans before they are given the right to bring in workers from overseas.

    https://www.labour.org.nz/media/policy-focuses-high-skills-high

    • blue leopard 12.1
      28 June 2014 at 12:26 pm

      Ah that is very good to hear, thanks CV

      I was doing seasonal work around 1999-2000 and was pretty shocked how much rent was being charged by orchard owners to workers coming in from other districts – it had gone from free rent years earlier, to charging fairly standard amount (from memory, around $80 per room at that time) however this was for a shared room with at least one other person this seemed like a real rort being conducted by orchard owners. it severely undercut the affordability of doing the job and quality of life while doing it – which for shed-work was at the very minimum wage. It was with a great deal of frustration that I heard about the schemes introduced a few years later (or perhaps it was around that same time) of importing cheap labour. Glad to hear that Labour are addressing an erroneous and damaging approach that I suspect they introduced. As the press release conveys importing cheap labour obviated the need to address the wage levels and rorts being conducted by the owners of orchards and fairly well pushed job opportunities away from New Zealanders.

      • Draco T Bastard 12.1.1
        28 June 2014 at 3:21 pm

        Glad to hear that Labour are addressing an erroneous and damaging approach that I suspect they introduced.

        They did introduce them and it is good to see them now realising that they were badly implemented and need fixing. This is possibly the first thing that they’ve actually got right so far.

  13. phillip ure 13
    28 June 2014 at 9:59 am

    the nation has done a worthwhile piece on the missing-million voters…

    • Skinny 13.1
      28 June 2014 at 10:16 am

      Yes and there will be tens of thousands just like the lady non voter interviewed that are going to vote this time because she wants a new PM/Government.

      Key being interviewed by Gower ended on John Key saying 2015 is about changing the New Zealand flag. It wouldn’t surprise if he decides on a new star spangled banner design. How can people take this guy serious when the changing of the flag is important to him. If he was a real leader he would first drop the British monarchy and call for our independence and change the flag as part of the deal..

      • Colonial Viper 13.1.1
        28 June 2014 at 11:00 am

        Only need 75,000 of those missing voters to turn up and vote LAB/GR/IMP, while 75,000 NAT voters decide to stay home. That would be a decisive win for the Left.

  14. ianmac 14
    28 June 2014 at 10:29 am

    The vindictive Principal of St John’s College? Can you punish a lad for winning the right to his hair style?
    “But the school put its foot down and told Lucan he wouldn’t be attending the school ball, and when he showed up with his boots for first XV rugby practice earlier this week, he was told he couldn’t train. ”
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/10209394/Lucans-hair-battle-hits-ball-plans

    • bad12 14.1
      28 June 2014 at 10:54 am

      It is obvious that the Ministry of Education must step in to this affray, first drawing up a specific code surrounding hair that all schools must adhere to,(exclusion from any school activity being outlawed),and second, having provision to remove Principals for breaching any kids basic human rights,

      Disgust is the best descriptive i can muster here without leaving a trail of abuse where the Principal in question has in effect shown His or Her contempt for the Court by devising what can only be seen as further punishments for the kid in question for the parents decision to dare to question the power this particular Principal wields in His/Her particular little Potentate,

      There is NO evidence that the length or style of a students hair has any negative effect on their ability or their class’s ability to learn…

      • Colonial Viper 14.1.1
        28 June 2014 at 11:05 am

        I heard that there are class photos from the school from the 1970’s – with boys who have even longer hair. Basically, the school administration needs to get on with doing its job of providing education, not punishment.

        • ianmac 14.1.1.1
          28 June 2014 at 11:20 am

          My guess is that the new Principal wanted to set a standard of no nonsense boss-ship and boxed himself into a corner and is now trying to regain the lost face. And probably support the teacher who sent the lad to the Principal in the first place.

        • phillip ure 14.1.1.2
          28 June 2014 at 11:24 am

          it cd be worthwhile tracking down teenage photos of that now principal..

          ..to see just how long his hair was in the 70’s…

          ..but first..he should be fired..

          • North 14.1.1.2.1
            28 June 2014 at 12:33 pm

            Wonder how much it cost the school to lawyer-up to defend its master-of-the-universe bullshit ? Who’s the shitty little punk here ?

            I’ll put my money on it being the solipsistic “School (me) WILL be obeyed !” principal. Not the kid. The more I see the more I applaud him and his family. Piss off immature and spiteful principal man/boy. And the self important social climbing wannabes on your board.

            “No you can’t go to the ball…….no you’re not welcome at training……so there !”

            Soooo Ugly-Step-Sister ! Reminds me of the idiot big-fish-little-pond bully, the headmaster at my own school ……..50 years ago.

            There’s been a bit of this lately. The git state school principal in Whangarei who thought it unremarkable to stigmatise pupils whose parents hadn’t met school charges by excluding them from their classes. “Sit in the hall like on detention boys…..this is for your own good….”

    • ianmac 14.2
      28 June 2014 at 12:50 pm

      Caption under photo: “HAIRLINE FRACTURE: An old photograph showing St John’s College board of trustees member, Byron Fergus (back row, middle), with long hair while he was a student at the school in 1988.
      Oops. So the rules have changed have they? Possibly.
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11283669

      • phillip ure 14.2.1
        28 June 2014 at 3:56 pm

        thanks 4 that..i am laughing like a drain here..

        ..and have thrown it up on whoar..

        ..what a wanker…!

        ..(he ‘won’t comment’ on the photo..understandable really..eh..?

        ..what cd he fucken say..?.

        ..heh..!..)

    • Ant 14.3
      28 June 2014 at 1:26 pm

      It’s high school… such a meaningless thing to get up in arms about but probably seems really important when you are there and trying to assert your individuality within those constraints like uniforms and all that, it becomes such a silly concern when you leave.

      Better parents would have advised the kid to balance a meaningless assertion of individuality with the reality that it would disrupt a huge part of his school year.

      Also could have been better handled by the school, ball and 1st XIV should have been used off the bat instead of suspension (as the judge suggested).

      • Draco T Bastard 14.3.1
        28 June 2014 at 3:56 pm

        Actually, this oppressive rule shouldn’t even be there.

        • Colonial Viper 14.3.1.1
          28 June 2014 at 8:46 pm

          And the hypocritical dick who used to have long hair at the same school, but who is now on the Board of Trustees and who chaired the disciplinary committee, he definitely shouldn’t be there. Lameass.

  15. Skinny 15
    28 June 2014 at 10:40 am

    Hooton on The Nation could be edited and played as a political advert for National. Hooton watch the replay and read the minds of what the rest of the panel are thinking in your final lines of spin.

    Backing up Joyce’s snake oil about many of the non voters in National seats last time were actually National voters is total crap. If you were a left voter in one of these safe seats your hardly inspired to turn up to vote as ya not going to roll the electorate candidate are you? Labour done themselves no favours by not running a ‘strongly focused party vote strategy.’ Don’t worry our mate McCarten will see to the party vote messaging this time. Now go down a triple shot java to wake your delusional head up on how to come across credible.

    • mickysavage 15.1
      28 June 2014 at 11:00 am

      Yep. The labour get out the vote effort tends to happen in strong labour seats or marginal seats. For instance in Tamaki there is a rich vein of labour support in Glen Innes but the local party struggles to get them out. Those people must be really put off voting by the apparent overwhelming sign of National’s strength in the area and I am not surprised that they did not vote last time.

      • swordfish 15.1.1
        28 June 2014 at 2:54 pm

        Yeah, Glen Innes / Point England / Panmure seem to comprise a little blob of Red in a vast sea of East Auckland Blue. Also perhaps (to a somewhat lesser extent) nearby Edgewater in the far west of Williamson’s Pakuranga seat – orange in 2005, light blue in 08 and 11, but that’s in a deeply dark blue seat.

        I’ve noticed in my research a few Labour enclaves (surrounded by suburbs as blue as a new tattoo) where turnout seems to have declined markedly. Among the deeply Tory northern suburbs of Whangarei, for instance, is a little oasis of Red – the (presumably state house and strongly maori) little suburb of Otangarei (almost cut off from its inherently Tory neighbours by a bend in the river that surrounds the suburb on three sides). In 2005 Labour won 150 votes out of a total of 213. In 2011 it received 60 out of 114. The Nat vote, meanwhile, barely changed – a grand total of 11 votes in 2005 and 10 votes 2011.

  16. fisiani 16
    28 June 2014 at 10:57 am

    at a packed National conference with smiling faces everywhere. National is working for a better New Zealand.

    • Colonial Viper 16.1
      28 June 2014 at 11:09 am

      Wait – a “better New Zealand”? Did the “Brighter” one already turn up? For whom?

    • bad12 16.2
      28 June 2014 at 11:22 am

      A pack of jackals at a National Party conference two facedly smiling everywhere working for squeezing themselves the better part of the wealth of New Zealand from the pockets of the working class…

    • Skinny 16.3
      28 June 2014 at 12:02 pm

      Full of shadowy, shady representatives of the cabinet club there to lean on their puppets in power. Making sure their ‘so called donations’ are repaid ten fold with lucrative political favours.

      Nationals 2014 election campaign slogan should be;

      “Who pays the piper calls the tune”

    • blue leopard 16.4
      28 June 2014 at 12:34 pm

      Hang about – does that ‘better New Zealand’ refer to one of improving conditions or rather is it poor English for referring to a New Zealand that is good for people who bet – speculators?

      Considering National’s political approach that would have to be option b – a New Zealand that advantages speculators.

      That might be o.k for those who already have capital (hence the smiles – high on making money on money) – but it is disastrous for the functioning of a healthy society or of any hope of social mobility -i.e. getting out of ruts. The rich get richer the poor get poorer and the middle go backwards under National. Vote left to stop this rort.

    • North 16.5
      28 June 2014 at 1:01 pm

      FizzyAnus you really should have a day off from The Standard and apply yourself where you’re most needed. At the Crooks’ Convention flogging off FizzyAnus Kits to the insufficiently fizzy anused. Most of whom can be identified by that compulsive tick, that helpless flashing of cocktail party grimaces you call smiles.

  17. North 17
    28 June 2014 at 11:04 am

    Without checking that sounds very much like (a) the denial of the society of the school to a member of that society on the grounds that he has challenged (and won). That MUST be wrong if not actually unlawful, and (2) a public gesture of contempt for Justice Collins’ ruling.

  18. greywarbler 18
    28 June 2014 at 12:02 pm

    I heard again the song Money Money from Cabaret this morning on Radionz with Liza Minelli and Joel Grey and it is such a sharply satirical clever tuneful song that it would be excellent to have a recording of it that someone should start playing at every NACT gathering before they can throw you out. (Health warning – watch out for Gerry Brownlee, Chief Bouncer but all NACTs would be able at attack positions and feints whether male or female.)

    Here is youtube – very good performance by both of them and funny. Money Money

    Lyrics
    http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/l/lizaminnelli20267/moneymoney538511.html
    Money…Money

    Money makes the world go around
    …the world go around
    …the world go around.
    Money makes the world go around
    It makes the world go ’round.

    A mark, a yen, a buck or a pound
    …a buck or a pound
    …a buck or a pound.
    Is all that makes the world go around
    That clinking, clanking sound…
    Can make the world go ’round

    If you happen to rich
    And you feel like a night’s entertainment
    You can pay for a gay escapade.
    If you happen to be rich and alone
    And you need a companion
    You can ring (ting-a-ling) for the maid.
    If you happen to be rich
    And you find you are left by your lover,
    And you moan and you groan quite a lot
    You can take it on the chin,
    Call a cab and begin to recover
    On your 14-karat yacht! WHAT!?

    Money makes the world go around….
    Of that we both are sure…
    rasberry sound on being poor!

    Money money money money…
    When you haven’t any coal in the stove
    And you freeze in the winter
    And you curse to the wind at your fate.
    When you haven’t any shoes on your feet,
    Your coat’s thin as paper,
    And you look 30 pounds underweight

    When you go to get a word of advice
    From the fat little pastor,
    He will tell you to love evermore.
    But when hunger comes to rap,
    rat-a-tat rat-a-tat at the window

    knock knock (at the window)
    Who’s there? (hunger) oh, hunger!!
    See how love flies out the door…

    For, money makes the world go around….
    The clinking, clanking sound of…
    Get a little, get a little
    Money money money money…
    Mark, a yen, a buck or a pound,
    That clinking, clanking, clunking sound,
    Is all that makes the world go ’round,
    It makes the world go ’round!

    • North 18.1
      28 June 2014 at 1:15 pm

      That wouldn’t be the bully-thug Gerry Brownlee who bashed up on some really old protestor fulla at some National Party do some years ago ?

    • blue leopard 18.2
      28 June 2014 at 1:40 pm

      I like these songs coming out, thanks – we could fill a whole album 🙂

  19. lprent 19
    28 June 2014 at 12:32 pm

    force a front page rewrite

  20. ffloyd 20
    28 June 2014 at 12:45 pm

    Key is a craven coward! Happy to dish as much dirt as he can but scuttles away like a cockroach to hide under the nearest log when he is caught out in his lies and smears against people who he deems to be his enemy, then creeps out with a different persona which he uses until the crap that he created dies down. I don’t remember him quoting a figure of $38,000.00. That figure has only just been come to by the mathematical geniuses at nz herald, from alleged information quoting revised figures. He mentioned $15,000.00 for a book that now never gets mentioned. He also said he knew there was a lot more to come, smirk, smirk. Now he says he doesn’t know any details of Liu’s alleged donations and never has. Mr Liu must realise that all this distraction has been engineered by key and his sycophantic invertebrates to discredit Cunliffe as this is the ONLY way he has any chance of winning the next election. Dirty tricks is all he knows.

    • Clemgeopin 20.1
      28 June 2014 at 1:38 pm

      Key himself proudly announced a little while ago, that he keeps a chunk of dirty tricks material in his top drawer to be unleashed at a later time. An admission like that, coming from a prime minister, is so very shameful. He has tried to make our democracy, politics, way of life pretty mean and dirty.

    • emergency mike 20.2
      28 June 2014 at 3:43 pm

      Plus Matthew Hooton last week spraying a figure of $300,000 that would soon ‘come to light’ around teh internet. Not so much these days.

  21. freedom 21
    28 June 2014 at 1:29 pm

    Fleetstreet Hacks present their new hit-piece single

    Tell Them Lies,

    take it away guys ……

    Each time you turn the page
    you swear that we’ve rearranged just a line or two
    Close them, close them, close those eyes

    But when we find a way
    to twist the truth then sure we deceive you too
    Tell them, tell them, tell those lies

    Tell them lies
    Tell them sweet little lies
    (Tell them lies, tell them, tell them lies)
    Read it all it’s between the lines
    (we can hide, we can really hide)
    Tell them lies
    Tell them sweet little lies

    Although it’s in the plans
    I hope that you understand
    there’s a reason why
    Close them, close them, close those eyes

    So much to report on
    But we get off making it up
    as we go along
    Tell them, tell them, tell them lies

    Tell them lies
    Tell them sweet little lies
    (Tell them lies, tell them, tell them lies)
    Read it all it’s between the lines
    (we can hide, we can really hide)
    Tell them lies
    Tell them sweet little lies

    -apologies to Fleetwood Mac-

    • blue leopard 21.1
      28 June 2014 at 1:41 pm

      +1 Cool!

    • Colonial Viper 21.2
      28 June 2014 at 1:43 pm

      Great! Did you come up with this? OK for all and sundry to use as satire?

      • freedom 21.2.1
        28 June 2014 at 2:06 pm

        yup

        there was more but some of it was a bit personal
        (note: any song satire i put up is my own work unless stated otherwise)

        • freedom 21.2.1.1
          29 June 2014 at 10:06 am

          just realised that answer might not be entirely clear…

          yes, it is my work, use it however you wish.
          I will clearly state when it is not my work

  22. Hami Shearlie 22
    28 June 2014 at 1:35 pm

    Were my eyes deceiving me today while watching “The Nation”? Tony Ryall was interviewed and was shown to have a decidedly elongated and “pointed” noggin! Was a trick camera being used, maybe stolen from a travelling carnival? I’ve never seen his head look like that before. It was really really strange, we were laughing so much we didn’t hear one word he said – no worries, I’m sure we didn’t miss much! Anyone else see it?

    • phillip ure 22.1
      28 June 2014 at 4:05 pm

      i saw that…!

      ..i couldn’t stop looking at it…

      ..he looked like an extra from that cone-head movie…

      ..and i had an urge to get some little hoops..and see if i could throw them..

      ..to land on the cone..

      ..and if he was in a scrum..he cd inflict some serious injuries..

      ‘my eye..! he poked out my eye with his cone..!’..

  23. fisiani 23
    28 June 2014 at 3:10 pm

    wow what a day at National Party conference. good news after good news and plans for even better news if we get three more years.

    • McFlock 23.1
      28 June 2014 at 3:17 pm

      Well, you’re a demonstrated liar, so you would say that. Repeatedly. Obviously trying to convince yourself of something…
      🙄

    • Morrissey 23.2
      28 June 2014 at 3:43 pm

      wow what a day at National Party conference. good news after good news—

      Look out fellas—there’s a moron loose on the board.

    • bad12 23.3
      28 June 2014 at 3:44 pm

      Right Fis, you should get ten more years, in a maximum security institution for promoting economic and social vandalism…

    • dimebag russell 23.4
      28 June 2014 at 3:58 pm

      @fishyanis
      you wont get three more years,
      two months and then you are goneburger.
      byeeeeeee…

    • Skinny 23.5
      28 June 2014 at 4:33 pm

      You need to add ‘only’ like in;

      “If only we get three more years” which after Sept you will be saying;

      If only we had gotten three more years.

      Chin up chap Christmas is over!

    • ropata 23.6
      28 June 2014 at 7:32 pm

      Fisi you need to stop reading that tabloid rag “nz herald” it’s going to end in tears.

      “house of cards” kevin spacey reminds me of teflon John

  24. Morrissey 24
    28 June 2014 at 3:33 pm

    WANT BLAIR GONE AS “PEACE ENVOY”?
    HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

    Friday 27th June 2014 will mark the seventh year that Tony Blair has served as the Quartet Representative to the Middle East. This is an urgent call to end this insult to the region’s people by having him sacked as the so-called “Peace Envoy.”

    SEVEN REASONS FOR SEVEN YEARS

    To mark the occasion, here are seven reasons to #SackBlair for the seven years he has been in the role.

    1) War = Peace?! Tony Blair and George W Bush’s illegal invasion of Iraq destroyed an entire Middle Eastern society.

    2) Pro-Israeli bias Both as Prime Minister and Envoy, Blair has shown a consistent and blatant bias towards Israel.

    3) 7 years bad luck for Palestine The last seven years have shown Blair either incapable or unwilling to achieve anything meaningful for the Palestinian people.

    4) Conflict of interest? The way Blair works, it is often unclear where his envoy role ends and his business interests begin.

    5) Peace Envoy = Warmonger?! Since his appointment Blair has repeatedly called for yet more Middle Eastern wars – in Iran, Syria and now Iraq again.

    6) Living like a V.I.P. – on our V.A.T. As Envoy Blair has luxuriated in Jerusalem’s poshest hotel at the taxpayer’s expense, while families in the Occupied Territories struggle to feed their children.

    7) Advising autocrats Alongside his envoy role, Blair has been hiring himself out to tyrants with histories of human rights abuses.

    THIS IS OUR TIME

    With Tony Blair’s outrageous comments and Iraq in flames across the news, there’s no better time than now to launch this campaign.

    Professor Chomsky, British MPs from both major parties and three former UK ambassadors to the Middle East already support our campaign. Now it’s your turn….

    http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/ban-ki-moon-sack-tony-blair-as-the-middle-east-peace-envoy

  25. Draco T Bastard 25
    28 June 2014 at 4:12 pm

    Clean storage: These scientists are making an organic, water-based battery for the power grid

    Narayan’s battery uses water and organic compounds called quinones (oxidized organic compounds) for its electroactive part. Quinones are naturally occurring, energy-storing compounds found in plants, animals and bacteria and are used in photosynthesis and cellular respiration. The battery specifically uses an adapted version of benzoquinone that can be dissolved in water.

    Sounds good. This is the type of innovation we need.

    But the secret of their success?

    The battery is still in the lab phase, and USC is funding its research in part with a grant, awarded last year, from the Department of Energy’s early-stage high-risk ARPA-E. program.

    Yep, government funding.

  26. ianmac 26
    28 June 2014 at 4:51 pm

    From Mother Jones a hint that Catholic church rules about birth control and gay marriage etc may be revisited by the Vatican. Probably little would change in Western societies but….

    “On Pope Francis’ orders, the Vatican will convene an urgent meeting of senior clerics this fall to reexamine church teachings that touch the most intimate aspects of people’s lives….The run-up to the synod has been extraordinary in itself, a departure from usual practice that some say is a mark of the pope’s radical new leadership style, and a canny tactic to defuse dissent over potential reforms.

    ….Within a few months of his election last year, Francis directed every diocese in the world to survey local attitudes on family and relationships and report back to the Vatican, a canvassing of a sort that few of the faithful can recall previously..

    ….Taking the public temperature also brings tactical advantages. Nobody at the Vatican will be surprised to learn that vast numbers of Catholics disobey its ban on premarital sex and birth control, or that some are in gay partnerships. Setting down those realities irrefutably on paper, however, could strengthen a bid by Francis to soften the church’s official line and put pressure on bishops inclined to resist, including some in the United States and many in Asia and Africa, conservative areas where the church has been growing….”
    http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/04/pope-francis-convenes-vatican-synod-family-and-sex

  27. fisiani 27
    28 June 2014 at 5:07 pm

    Really good mood at National Party today

    • McFlock 27.1
      28 June 2014 at 5:13 pm

      lol
      So everyone obviously failed to read the memo about overconfidence, then. Not suprising, given that tories are more likely to be morons.

      By the way, did you think to ask your colleagues in the research unit for help finding evidence to back up your lie?

    • dimebag russell 27.2
      28 June 2014 at 5:38 pm

      who fronted with the mogadons then?

    • Weepu's beard 27.3
      28 June 2014 at 6:04 pm

      Not surprising. They’re creaming at the expense of the young and the working poor, and getting away with it.

    • ffloyd 27.4
      28 June 2014 at 6:48 pm

      Must be blimming riveting, you seem to be spending an inordinate amount of time reporting on how happy you are. Bet you’re actually bored rigid.

    • phillip ure 27.5
      28 June 2014 at 7:21 pm

      @ fis…

      ..good quality cocaine..?

      ..the right just looove cocaine…

      ..it feeds directly into their omniscience/superiority-fantasies..

  29. Draco T Bastard 29
    28 June 2014 at 6:00 pm

    This is a few years old now but still relevant – especially the bit about how selling state assets has left us worse off.

    Those foreign asset sales and the foreign borrowing through the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s are now expressing themselves in a continual leeching of dividends and interest payments that have essentially stalled per capita growth in income domestically.

    Essentially, any GDP growth since 2003 has been gobbled up by interest payments and dividends. We are essentially now borrowing to pay the interest on previous debt and the rent on foreign-owned assets. We have passed the point of no return.

    If we want to make our society better then we need to return our economy to full NZ ownership.

    • Herodotus 29.1
      28 June 2014 at 7:26 pm

      “If we want to make our society better then we need to return our economy to full NZ ownership.”
      First nz economy has never been in full NZ ownership, so we cannot return to such a place given that we were never there.
      Perhaps you could then request say to David Cunliffe tomorrow that as a suggested policy all the funds from nz super, EQC, ACC and other govt investment funds to be solely invested in nz as a start – good luck there.

      • Draco T Bastard 29.1.1
        28 June 2014 at 8:44 pm

        Did you have anything intelligent to say?

        • Herodotus 29.1.1.1
          29 June 2014 at 10:18 am

          Instead which is increasing in frequently here, when challenged attack those who challenge instead why not put up and justify your position. You made a statement back it up.

  31. joe90 31
    28 June 2014 at 7:18 pm

    Plutocracy to Idiocracy.

    .

    A quick refresher: In 1995, after winning a majority in the House for the first time in forty years, one of the first things the new Republican House leadership did was gut Congress’s workforce. They cut the “professional staff” (the lawyers, economists, and investigators who work for committees rather than individual members) by a third. They reduced the “legislative support staff” (the auditors, analysts, and subject-matter experts at the Government Accountability Office [GAO], the Congressional Research Service [CRS], and so on) by a third, too, and killed off the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) entirely. And they fundamentally dismantled the old committee structure, centralizing power in the House speaker’s office and discouraging members and their staff from performing their own policy research. (The Republicans who took over the Senate in 1995 were less draconian, cutting committee staff by about 16 percent and leaving the committee system largely in place.) Today, the GAO and the CRS, which serve both House and Senate, are each operating at about 80 percent of their 1979 capacity. While Senate committee staffs have rebounded somewhat under Democratic control, every single House standing committee had fewer staffers in 2009 than in 1994. Since 2011, with a Tea Party-radicalized GOP back in control of the House, Congress has cut its budget by a whopping 20 percent, a far higher ratio than any other federal agency, leading, predictably, to staff layoffs, hiring and salary freezes, and drooping morale.

    http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/junejulyaugust_2014/features/the_big_lobotomy050642.php?page=all

  32. phillip ure 32
    28 June 2014 at 7:18 pm

    there is a cool movie on maori tv @ 7.30..’mt zion’..

    ..and reggae fans should take note..

    • ropata 32.1
      28 June 2014 at 7:52 pm

      Counties boy here, from way back. Saw it when it came out. Captured the people and lifestyle beautifully… and a side of Pukekohe rarely seen. The reggae was cool as too bro

    • bad12 32.2
      28 June 2014 at 9:37 pm

      Just under the surface running through the whole fillim, countless stereotypes of a negative nature, the only thing absent a KFC or Macca’s, along with a whole violin concert of touchy feelies to signify nobility,

      Good to see the brown brothers in fillim tho, despite my criticism, the next one on is more topical,but, the thugby is going to interrupt,

      Did Bob even visit the Marae out at Puke, i know of one He had a great time at down here, even playing His favorite game wif the kids out on the road well into the night…

  33. Ron 33
    28 June 2014 at 10:22 pm

    Dam! Just heard that Peter Fry finishes next Saturday night. What a shame. We have now lost so many announcers that could speak in voices that everyone could understand with a measured pace and without the frenetic pace that announcers are now required to speak. I would be surprised if Peter was wanting top leave more likely the station is determined to remove every trace of intelligent great sounding people.
    Only one left as far as I know.

    • Ergo Robertina 33.1
      29 June 2014 at 3:06 pm

      This is a real loss. Peter Fry is a wonderful presenter. Surely he wasn’t forced to leave? If so something is very wrong at RNZ.
      Peter Fry’s tone is one of kindness and he takes a genuine interest in the requests, dedications, and messages, often to elderly and sick listeners. A real public service.

  34. xtasy 34
    28 June 2014 at 11:27 pm

    Don’t know what happened to “weekend social”, but this is stuff worth noting, Selena, bombastic singer and talent, sadly killed too early by bullets from some acquaintance, or so, years ago:

    This was her LAST concert, a friend recommended it, and I find it good, but it is not “revolutionary”, to be honest. But culture and passion deserve recognition, whether revolutionary or less so, enjoy!

  35. xtasy 35
    29 June 2014 at 12:09 am

    Reflections and thoughts from a friendly nation:

    Salvador Allende, murdered by his own soldiers or security services, paid for by the CIA, the murder of a nation, you can say.

    Disgusting, it is, what happened in many countries in Latin America, like in Chile, and the people were denied a voice, there with a military raid, we have not got there yet, we are “just manipulated”. But the threat and danger is the SAME, we are seized, corrupted and “bought” by forces of global scale “multinationals”, and their servant power player, one John Key.

    It is time for Kiwis to bloody wake up, I mean the wider public, to the corruption, the manipulation and selling out of what this country supposedly stands for. It is a corrupt society here, I have ample information, that reaches even into the levels of supposed “Offices of Parliament”, like the Office of Ombudsmen, the Privacy Commissioner, the Health and Disability Commissioner, they are ALL compromised and CORRUPTED by the system in place.

    YOU WILL HAVE NO RIGHTS HEARD AND MET under this corrupt system that abounds and rules in this rotten country. You are misled and dumbed down, to believe this is a “democracy” and that this place follows the “rule of law”. NO, learn another thing, this is a lying system, with old boys and girls networks, it is no less corrupt than many countries in Latin America. I know!

    I have taken issues to said offices, for myself and others, and they all “strangely” do not even follow natural justice, they use “discretion” to degrees, it is a FARCE, the law applied here. To really get “justice”, you are forced to go to the High Court and swear you pay thousands of dollars if you lose your claim and proceedings. You are “fucked” in this rotten country, and if you believe this is a just” and “honest” society, you are brainwashed and an IDIOT!

    Sorry to be so damned blunt, that is NZ Aotearoa RAW, and even Labour will NOT change the truth, that is why I will NOT vote them.

    It is time for a damned waking up and a revolution in this docile place, if only some would have the bloody courage, it is a total disgrace, how manipulated and bought this country and society has become under one John Key, a TRAITOR of principles and human values.

    Make a damned difference, dear readers, wake the hell up, and vote this bastard OUT, and his gang of corrupt and manipulative self serving business players. Thank you, RIP.

  36. Draco T Bastard 36
    29 June 2014 at 12:15 am

    Zombies on the Walls: Why Does So Much New Abstraction Look the Same?

    The artists themselves are only part of the problem here. Many of them are acting in good faith, making what they want to make and then selling it. But at least some of them are complicit, catering to a new breed of hungry, high-yield risk-averse buyers, eager to be part of a rapidly widening niche industry. The ersatz art in which they deal fundamentally looks the way other art looks. It’s colloquially been called Modest Abstraction, Neo-Modernism, M.F.A. Abstraction, and Crapstraction. (The gendered variants are Chickstraction and Dickstraction.) Rhonda Lieberman gets to the point with “Art of the One Percent” and “aestheticized loot.” I like Dropcloth Abstraction, and especially the term coined by the artist-critic Walter Robinson: Zombie Formalism.

    Neo-liberalism and the 1% strike again.

  37. xtasy 37
    29 June 2014 at 12:54 am

    WE are SCREAMING for justice, where is it in NZ Aoteaora???

  38. xtasy 38
    29 June 2014 at 1:07 am

    Why is the Left in NZ so damned shy to not shout it out, we want JUSTICE, EQUALITY and WORKERS’ RIGHTS, what is so damned “embarrassing” about all this???

    Is there a “left” remaining in this country???


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfy18_J15rE

    Or is this all about the “last fire sale” of what is “left” nailed here???

  39. xtasy 39
    29 June 2014 at 1:21 am

    PASSION, is not found easily, not in NZ, I am afraid:

    Revolution requires ready minds and souls and bodies, we have NONE of it here, they are mostly easily “bought” for favours, forget it, forget election 2014, it is a LOST game, with lost souls and lost players.

    Bah, bah, bah, is the message, commercial advertising is sending the messages, no doubt here, hand over your brain at the counter, you may get a discount for picking it up in a “pickled” state. Best of luck, you do NOT deserve it, lazy brains.

  40. xtasy 40
    29 June 2014 at 2:00 am

    Repeto, repeto:

    WHEN DO PEOPLE HERE DAMNED GET IT????

  41. fisiani 41
    30 June 2014 at 8:13 pm

    It must be frustrating to see National ride so high in the polls. It must mean people are thick. Wrong.• National values are as follows
    Loyalty to our country, its democratic principles and our Sovereign as
    Head of State
    • National and personal security
    • Equal citizenship and equal opportunity
    • Individual freedom and choice
    • Personal responsibility
    • Competitive enterprise and rewards for achievement
    • Limited government
    • Strong families and caring communities
    • Sustainable development of our environment

    Now that deserves over 50%.
    I took a taxi after the Nat conference and convinced the Somalian taxi driver to change his vote from Labour to National in just ten minutes. Someone has lied to him that national hated the poor.

    • McFlock 41.1
      30 June 2014 at 8:36 pm

      National do hate the poor. National claiming to have those values is as big a lie as when you said Cunliffe had promised labour would be on more than 40% by the election

    • Armchair Critic 41.2
      30 June 2014 at 8:56 pm

      Hilarious. The only thing on the list that National are doing is the “limited government” bit, though not the sense of “limited” that you thought of when you typed it. The rest they are either ignoring, or doing the opposite.

    • Clemgeopin 41.3
      30 June 2014 at 9:09 pm

      @ fisiani

      LABOUR’S PRINCIPLES SET OUT MORE CLEARLY than Nat’s abstract sound bite BS:

      The Labour Party accepts the following democratic socialist principles:

      • All political authority comes from the people by democratic means including universal suffrage, regular and free elections with a secret ballot.
        • The natural resources of New Zealand belong to all the people and these resources, and in particular non-renewable resources, should be managed for the benefit of all, including future generations.
        • All people should have equal access to all social, economic, cultural, political and legal spheres, regardless of wealth or social position, and continuing participation in the democratic process.
        • Co-operation, rather than competition, should be the main governing factor in economic relations, in order that a greater amount and a just distribution of wealth can be ensured.
        • All people are entitled to dignity, self-respect and the opportunity to work.
        • All people, either individually or in groups, may own wealth or property for their own use, but in any conflict of interest people are always more important than property and the state must ensure a just distribution of wealth.
      • The Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of New Zealand and that the Treaty should be honoured in government, society and the family.
        • Peace and social justice should be promoted throughout the world by international co-operation and mutual respect.
      • The same basic human rights, protected by the State, apply to all people, regardless of race, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religious faith, political belief or disability.

      Now that deserves 100%!
      I would like to meet that Somalian taxi driver of yours to see what propaganda, spin, lies and BS you peddled to him in your sound bites in just 10 minutes of the highway ride.

      • fisiani 41.3.1
        30 June 2014 at 10:09 pm

        He told me that he would convince his entire extended family to change to the party that is giving him free doctors visits for under 13’s, literacy classes, insulated homes, pensions at 65 and wages rising twice faster than inflation. That’s actually 6 Labour votes now voting National. He pledged his word and we shook on the deal.

        • blue leopard 41.3.1.1
          30 June 2014 at 10:14 pm

          Some people will say anything to get a pushy ‘salesman’ type away from their front doorstep. I trust you have just been ‘had’ Fisiani.

        • Clemgeopin 41.3.1.2
          30 June 2014 at 10:53 pm

          You do realise most of those are actually Labour ‘s socialist policies stolen by your RWN job National crooks to fool the gullible, while continuing with their agenda to be the party that really works for the benefit of the wealthy, right?

    • Weepu's beard 41.4
      30 June 2014 at 9:13 pm

      The usual generalised sound-bites there. I don’t think this government has been for strong families and caring communities at all. This government policy has been to fragment low income families and keep wages low. They’ve said as much in public. It’s “good” for the economy.

      You can keep your other statements but don’t try to say low income communities have been supported by this government’s policies.

      It’s insulting.