Open mike 29/05/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 29th, 2024 - 37 comments
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37 comments on “Open mike 29/05/2024 ”

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  1. SPC 1
    29 May 2024 at 8:27 am

    40 years ago there was an authoritarian PM who was also Minister of Finance.

    He regulated the banking sector and wanted low unemployment – and people like Bob Jones wanted him gone – they wanted the "socialist" gone and a classic free market economy.

    And Roger Douglas delivered. Others gave us the nuclear policy, and the Treaty in legislation. The succeeding government kept all three and thus came the iwi settlements (and they added benefit cuts, a low wage economy and market rents for state houses – all while removing the estate tax – thus increasing rather than reducing inequality was the goal)

    In the 1970s, Māori protest about unresolved Treaty grievances was increasing and sometimes taking place outside the law. By establishing the Waitangi Tribunal, Parliament provided a legal process by which Māori Treaty claims could be investigated.

    The Waitangi Tribunal was formed in 1975.

    https://www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz/about/past-present-future-of-waitangi-tribunal/

    National brought in Kohanga Reo, Mana Enterprises and Tu Tangata programmes and Muldoon gave PEP jobs to urban Maori "gangs".

    The Waitangi Tribunal Act `1985

    From 1985 the Waitangi Tribunal was empowered to investigate Treaty claims dating back to 1840. The tribunal also gained the ability to commission research and appoint legal counsel for claimants. Māori have since lodged many new claims against the Crown, and a number of major reports have been released.

    Back in 1984 Maori were more employed more hours than others, this was how they afforded home ownership.

    In those times older folk were landlords – either converting bank account savings into a property ownership or using super payout to buy. They owned the house and paid tax on the rent income. There was no speculation with borrowed money.

    2024.

    Banking and a landlord class.

    https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/the-life/looking-back-the-nz-housing-boom-when-and-how-it-all-began

    Lack of secure tenancy. Struggling to afford rent and remain in a home. a risible 25 cents an hour MW increase. A one off tax cut for workers of $10 a week.

    The legacy of Rogergnomics, Ruthinasia, Birch and Jimville English.

    40 years ago they closed down a business in Willis Street. Where pigs could not sweat while on duty.

    Animal Farm and a Brave New World.

    • mikesh 1.1
      29 May 2024 at 8:47 am

      In those times older folk were landlords – either converting bank account savings into a property ownership or using super payout to buy. They owned the house and paid tax on the rent income. There was no speculation with borrowed money.

      Without borrowing is how investment should be done in the housing market – paying interest just tends to push up rental prices. I think TOP, at the last election, had a policy something along those lines.

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2
    29 May 2024 at 8:43 am

    Luxury Luxon and his cronies apparently care about the squeezed middle . ( I have grave doubts about that and IMO their attentions will make no difference.! )

    "Why is that commitment to tax relief so important?" said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon earlier this month.

    "Because those Kiwis struggling with the cost of living – what I call the squeezed middle – deserve support."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/518082/how-much-can-tax-cuts-do-to-ease-the-cost-of-living

    On the other hand the very squeezed are going to be wrung out…

    More people 'drowning in debt' as cost of living crisis bites

    One Wellington-based financial mentor quoted in the report said it was not a cost of living crisis, but a "drowning in debt crisis".

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/517033/more-people-drowning-in-debt-as-cost-of-living-crisis-bites

    Its going down hill fast…

    • Rodel 2.1
      29 May 2024 at 11:23 am

      The only squeezed middle is Gerry Brownlees.

    • Kay 2.2
      29 May 2024 at 11:34 am

      "Because those Kiwis struggling with the cost of living – what I call the squeezed middle – deserve support."

      Clearly, in his warped mind, only the "right" sort of Kiwi struggling with the cost of living deserves support. (Read: if you don't work then you're obviously not affected by the cost of living, right?)

      • Mike the Lefty 2.2.1
        29 May 2024 at 7:46 pm

        Oh yeah the "squeezed middle class".

        What we used to call "yuppies" back in the 80s.

        The only squeezing that affects them is bodily functions.

  3. Bearded Git 3
    29 May 2024 at 8:44 am

    The latest Roy Morgan is interesting:

    Nat 33.5

    ACT 9.5

    NZF 5.5

    Lab 30.0

    Gr 14.0

    TMP 3.0

    Government 48.5 against opposition 47.0 With the TMP overhang, assuming they win 6 Maori seats, this is neck and neck.
    Labour is closing on the Nats. The Greens continue to poll well despite all the (mostly unjustified) crap that is being thrown at them.

    https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/nz-national-voting-intention-may-2024

    • ianmac 3.1
      29 May 2024 at 9:54 am

      Thanks BG. In spite of criticism even from own ranks, it may be that Hipkin's softly softly might be the way to go. Let the COC die from self inflicted wounds.

      • bwaghorn 3.1.1
        29 May 2024 at 10:28 am

        I can't imagine gleefully sacking people , pulling the rug out from under first home buyers feet and starving poor kids sits well with your average decent citizen.

        • Maurice 3.1.1.1
          29 May 2024 at 11:11 am

          You 'misunderestimate' the nett tax payer's loathing of bureaucrats – especially the vast number 'given' positons by the previous majority Labour government.

          That is the audience the present ruling coalition is playing to … and the need for reduction in government spending precipitated by $100 BILLIONS of recent borrowing (much of it channeled to the private individual during covid lockdowns). Eventually the uncontrolled flow has to be restricted.

          They believe that there is still 20,000 plus extras to be dealt with.

          (p.s. Have been made redundant three times in my working life – each due to a government economic failure.)

          • Belladonna 3.1.1.1.1
            29 May 2024 at 11:28 am

            Not only the nett taxpayer, most of the working class (the much-derided Waitakere Man and small town NZ, rather than the urban liberal unionists) regard Wellington-based bureaucrats as freeloaders. Bureaucrats in Wellington losing their (very well paid) jobs, aren't going to gain much sympathy outside their support circle.

            • newsense 3.1.1.1.1.1
              29 May 2024 at 12:34 pm

              Ahhh bureaucrats. Love the smell of bureaucrats roasting on an open fire!

              Oh wait it’s the passport office.
              Oh wait it’s the teacher aid who works with my neighbor’s kid.
              Oh wait, it’s the post office and RD has been cut back again.
              Oh wait it’s our local surgery waiting lists and the cancellation of surgeries.
              Oh wait it’s the disability support person who checks accessibility.

              Oh f- me it’s all the construction projects that have been stopped and subs laid off because there’s no government certainty.
              Oh f- me it’s an industry that had ratcheted up just drop off a cliff.
              Oh f- me it’s the team that monitors and stops noxious weeds.

              Oh f- me immigration have closed all their offices near us and their phone wait times are crazy and one of our workers wants to go home because his mother’s sick. Real good no shit guy.

              Oh f- me it’s the wife’s contract to supply fresh veges to get friends who make lunches for the local school.
              Oh f- me I just want to finish work eat my dinner and watch the news- where’s Paddy gone?

              It doesn’t feel a lot better having got rid of all the woke lot- just a lot more money gone to their big business mates and even less for us.

              • Belladonna …
                29 May 2024 at 1:06 pm

                And all those services are markedly better since the numbers of public servants increased vastly under the last government /sarc/

                • newsense …
                  30 May 2024 at 1:21 am

                  Always appreciate your input. Especially now you’ve moved from concern trolling to simply RW positions. Much more honest of you.

                  Yes the construction industry was geared up on a lot of projects because the government prioritised building houses. This had at least plateaued prices. Now the uncertainty has seen the industry creak to a halt because of the lack of certainty around projects.

                  https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/04/29/construction-workers-leaving-nz-in-droves-amid-big-project-delays/

                  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/518174/construction-industry-leaders-plead-for-acceleration-of-infrastructure-projects

                  And even your and Chris Trotter’s best friends can see that cutting jobs gleefully does nothing for the long term sustainability of the economy or the cost of living crisis, it simply goes to their mates’ back pockets as they avoid paying for the things we collectively need.

                  "Among others, local authorities are conveying to us their challenging financial predicaments, citing either a lack of funds or a need to await direction or decisions from central government before proceeding with planned works."

                  And we’ll find we’re paying more to borrow as the government isn’t guaranteeing water infrastructure.
                  /angrywithTINAandherpoisonousmates

                  • Belladonna …
                    30 May 2024 at 10:19 am

                    Attempting to smear people with troll or RW labels – does no favours for your actual arguments.

                    From a fact-checked article:

                    There’s been an increase between 2017 and 2022 in both the size of the core public service, and the proportion of the workforce who are public servants.

                    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/the-whole-truth/131057183/the-whole-truth-has-the-proportion-of-public-servants-grown

                    If that resulted in such a spectacular improvement in public services – which according to you are of such benefit – then the left (which really means Labour, since the other left parties increased their representation) – wouldn't have lost the election. They did.

                    The coalition went into government having campaigned on, and therefore with a mandate to, trim the public sector.

                    I fail to see why this is such a surprise. This is something that National does every time they are in government, just as Labour bumps up the public sector employment, every time they are in government.

                    • Descendant Of Smith …
                      30 May 2024 at 10:30 am

                      According to the Wellington cafes not enough public servants were frequenting their cafes making it hard to make money charging stupid prices for a muffin.

                      Clearly we needed more………..

          • bwaghorn 3.1.1.1.2
            29 May 2024 at 5:30 pm

            I did day decent people, only needs to be 5% shift

            • Maurice 3.1.1.1.2.1
              29 May 2024 at 6:19 pm

              The World is not run and controlled by 'decent' people – all that matters is which tribe are they from – Ours …. or the Others. We get to pillage or they do.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 3.1.1.2
          29 May 2024 at 12:06 pm

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Politics#Jason_Ede

          https://propertyinstitute.nz/Category?Action=View&Category_id=1669

          You can't really expect luxury Luxon to have much sympathy, or empathy, for "freeloading" "Wellington-based bureaucrats" and "urban liberal unionists". As for empathy-free Seymour and his merry band of MPs, decency “don’t enter into it.”

          Nicola 'ruthless' Willis can do ‘faux empathy’, but not well.

          And kids, that means instead of movie night meaning DVDs and Tip Top at home, we might go out to the movies.

          https://experteditor.com.au/blog/subtle-signs-someone-is-faking-their-empathy-and-kindness/

    • Matiri 3.2
      29 May 2024 at 10:05 am

      Similar thing happening in the UK with the tories throwing unjustified crap at Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner.

      https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/28/angela-rayner-cleared-of-criminal-wrongdoing-over-sale-of-home

    • SPC 3.3
      29 May 2024 at 6:28 pm

      The key thing is Labour-Green 44% – National-ACT 43%.

      NZF has never had a second term in a coalition government and probably will not be back in parliament (2008 and 2020).

      Greens now have support agreement experience (2017-2020). And 2026 could be their time to step up into a coalition government role.

      Presumably such a coalition would have TPM as support partners.

  4. joe90 4
    29 May 2024 at 12:05 pm

    Nope, nothing to see here..

    /

    @StrayDogNZ

    @NewshubNZ

    have revealed Bill English was signed on to head the $500k review of Kāinga Ora weeks before Chris Bishop got official sign-off on the review. The arrangement was made via text messages with Bishop promising no involvement from Kāinga Ora in the review of Kāinga Ora.

    https://x.com/StrayDogNZ/status/1795341814440046638

    Newshub can reveal Sir Bill English was signed on to head a half-million-dollar review of Kāinga Ora through a couple of simple text messages with the Minister – weeks before he even got Cabinet signoff for the review.

    Kāinga Ora's response to the scathing report said they were hardly consulted and Newshub's obtained text messages showing it was the Minister's preference they had no involvement.

    […]

    "Kāinga Ora is underperforming and not financially viable," Bishop said.

    Newshub can reveal how the former Prime Minister came to head the half-million-dollar probe.

    Here is the text exchange:

    Sir Bill: Chris will there be a review of KO.

    Bishop: We are going to do an independent review into finances, performance, cost, etc. Commence it asap, hopefully get terms of reference and reviewers sorted before Christmas.

    Sir Bill: I could help with that.

    Bishop: Excellent lets do that.

    Bishop told Newshub he "absolutely" followed proper processes in appointing Sir Bill.

    The message saying "excellent let's do that" to the review was sent on November 29 but the review was only taken to the Cabinet 100-day plan committee to sign off two weeks later on December 13.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/05/revealed-the-simple-texts-between-sir-bill-english-and-chris-bishop-that-led-to-k-inga-ora-review.html

  5. Ad 5
    29 May 2024 at 12:35 pm

    Smith and Caugheys closing.

    Could someone put a fire under the Auckland mayor?

    Our largest city has poured over $6 billion into the CBD and downtown.

    It's a crime hole. Sky City+Britomart+Commercial Bay are the winners out of this.

    • Bearded Git 5.1
      29 May 2024 at 12:54 pm

      Revenue down 40% in 5 years I just heard on RNZ.

      • Belladonna 5.1.1
        29 May 2024 at 6:55 pm

        Some of that is the post-Covid shift in retail patterns (fewer people working in the CBD). Some is the longer term shift away from CBD shopping to local malls. Both economic trends that it's difficult to fight against.

        But a huge amount is the ongoing misery that is the (seemingly endless) disruption caused by the CRL; the frankly dangerous vibe of Queen St and surrounding areas – not only after dark, but during the daytime; and the war against the car that AT have engaged in with their bus-only streets (with poor signage combined with high fines).
        The City Council needs to put their hand up and take ownership of all of these.

        I'll be sad to see the grand old lady of Queen St go – but I think that she's past saving in the current economic climate. I only fear what horror will be imposed on the Queen St facade when the building is vacated – we still have the gaping eyesore of the St James theatre, rotting across the road, as a dreadful warning. I guess the best we can hope for is conversion into luxury apartments – $2 million for a single bedroom – because the cost of conversion, heritage protection and rates won't allow for anything less expensive.

  6. newsense 6
    29 May 2024 at 12:45 pm

    Spot the difference in focus?

    Be honest Luxon is the worst kind of partisan hack, here trying to criminalise basic protest. ‘You can’t leave work, we own you!’

    Here’s him in the fire starters and the focus? It’s all so frustrating!

    https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/02/15/parliament-protest-symptomatic-of-immense-frustration-luxon/

    Same shit, different day. Hysterical reaction about protests being illegal because you’re not allowed to strike against racism and corruption, you don’t have those entitlements in your contracts! This is me at AIRNZ hitting them with their employment agreements. I was a king! And a better one than Joffrey, though perhaps not Robert…

    https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/28/luxon-warns-going-on-strike-to-join-budget-hui-would-be-illegal/

    Oh and Hipkins is speaking…but his microphone isn’t working well. Great people on all sides apparently?

    • ianmac 6.1
      29 May 2024 at 1:16 pm

      There is a strong chance that Luxon has motivated more people to get out and protest. Thanks Luxon for the free publicity.

      • Patricia Bremner 6.1.1
        29 May 2024 at 4:02 pm

        yes Or to donate at least, and if you are frail, watch on Maori Tv.

        I have been wondering what Luxon lacks as he listens to the other two.

        Mana. The man has no Mana.

  7. Bearded Git 7
    29 May 2024 at 1:04 pm

    Top civil servant Dick Schoof has just agreed to become PM of the Netherlands. This is good news because it means the fascist Geert Wilders will not have the job, despite being leader of the largest party.

    https://apnews.com/article/wilders-coalition-netherlands-government-schoof-f43f6ad97e38a837851a439d9cd3d6b5

  8. joe90 8
    29 May 2024 at 1:06 pm

    Liberal, pro-Israel, Biden supporting non-profit J Street has had enough.

    .

    Mr. President, enough is enough.

    Jeremy Ben-Ami

    on May 28, 2024

    For eight months, we have watched in abject horror the catastrophic war that has followed Hamas’ barbaric October 7 attack.

    […]

    Hamas and the terrorists who attacked Israel on October 7 can and must be defeated. But that will only happen through a political resolution of the underlying Israeli-Palestinian conflict – one that rallies international support to deprive Hamas of financial, political and popular support and charts a clear, alternate, peaceful path toward Palestinian liberation. The path which President Biden is being led down by Prime Minister Netanyahu will bring only more death and destruction, a more radicalized and angry Palestinian population, and greater enemies for not just Israel but the United States as well.

    And – let’s be clear – the political damage the President is suffering by going down this path is so deep that it could cost him the November election and all of us our democracy.

    So we say to President Biden: Demand an end to this war now and lay out the choice clearly for Prime Minister Netanyahu. Either resolve this war and the underlying conflict the right way – in a manner that brings lasting peace, security and freedom to both peoples – or go it alone on the path of never-ending violence and bloodshed.

    Mr. President, enough is enough.

    Jeremy Ben-Ami
    President, J Street

    https://act.jstreet.org/mailings/view/352452

    https://jstreet.org/

    • Mike the Lefty 8.1
      29 May 2024 at 1:16 pm

      Israel's capacity to keep the war going would quickly diminish if the US stopped sending them weapons and money.

      Biden is too scared to act decisively because of the coming election and fears that the not inconsiderable Jewish vote will go to Trump.

    • SPC 8.2
      29 May 2024 at 1:29 pm

      It's a no win problem for Biden.

      Some registered Democrats may not vote. And some Independents may vote for Israel whatever GOP.

      And with housing a rising cost in the US – 7% 30 year loans – he has it tough anyhow.

  9. joe90 9
    29 May 2024 at 1:42 pm

    Orca just wanna have fun.

    .

    For four years now, orcas have been ramming and sinking luxury yachts in European waters, and scientists have struggled to work out just why these smart, social animals had learnt this destructive new trick. But, sadly, it's not their anticapitalist 'eat the rich' agenda, nor is it to do with territory and aggression. The truth is, well, it's child's play.

    https://newatlas.com/biology/orcas-killer-whales-boats/