Open Mike 30/12/2018

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, December 30th, 2018 - 139 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

139 comments on “Open Mike 30/12/2018 ”

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  1. Dennis Frank 1
    30 December 2018 at 8:34 am

    Around a decade ago, Bill Watson told me the Jap whaling industry was controlled by the Yakuza. He was Sea Shepherd coordinator for Aotearoa at the time. Pete Bethune had just been imprisoned by the Japs. Bill was worried the Yakuza would kill him there.

    I found myself realising, a day or two later, that he was probably right so I needed to be proactive. Not my business, but sometimes the conscience says do it anyway! So I wrote the necessary letter to the new PM, John Key, asking him to get Bethune out & back home. Was pleased when the PM did what I’d asked! Bethune bitched about it, JK told the media he was ungrateful & I agreed, eye-rolling, & commented to Bill that nobody was ever going to award Bethune a medal for diplomacy.

    Sea Shepherd declared victory the other day, after Japan announced they were jumping the IWC ship, would resume whaling next year, but not in Antarctic waters. The crims need the money, they still control the politicians, the media are still clueless – but they’re trying to figure it out: “There is a view that the country’s whaling obsession is less about food, as whale meat is surprisingly unpopular in Japan, especially among younger people, than it is about politics and culture. Defying the world’s rules and resuming commercial whaling is a bold expression of national identity.”

    “Japan is not alone in doing so. Norway and Iceland also claim histories of whaling and have defied the 1986 ban on commercial killing. But it seems that, as in Japan, consumer taste is at odds with national identity. A 2018 report found that while Norway had about 350 whaling ships in 1950, there were only 11 operating in 2017. In that year, Norwegian whalers took less than half their annual quota of 999 whales.”

    “Icelandic whalers have killed more than 500 fin whales since 2006, with the meat exported to the declining whale market in Japan, due to the absence of local demand, according to the charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation.” So the trend is for barbarians to become more of an endangered species than whales. Barbaric practices still have the support of three pseudo-civilised govts though!

    • James 1.1
      30 December 2018 at 8:48 am

      The casual racism using terms like “Jap” is really unnecessary

      • JanM 1.1.1
        30 December 2018 at 8:59 am

        Do you think perhaps it may be perceived that way as a left-over from WW11? After all, we talk about Brits and Aussies without any concerns of this nature

      • Dennis Frank 1.1.2
        30 December 2018 at 9:12 am

        Probably only if the Japs ever declare that they actually are a race rather than Japanese citizens. Obviously the technical nature of reality is usually too hard for pc-drones to grasp, of course.

        • I feel love 1.1.2.1
          30 December 2018 at 9:21 am

          How’d you like that James? Being called PC? Personally I don’t care for the term “Japs” or “PC” but meh, people can say what they like (& as per usual says more about them than they’d really like to share anyway).

          • James 1.1.2.1.1
            30 December 2018 at 9:49 am

            If it’s for calling out people for using racist or derogatory terms – I’m ok with that.

        • James 1.1.2.2
          30 December 2018 at 9:50 am

          Still a derogatory terms pointed to a certain group of people.

          Still not cool.

        • marty mars 1.1.2.3
          30 December 2018 at 10:05 am

          James is PC? Nah James is just a stirrer who doesn’t seem to be having many mates around for barbies lol and thus is bored.

          • James 1.1.2.3.1
            30 December 2018 at 10:54 am

            And Marty is a little slow and can’t tell the difference between a derogatory term and an abbreviation.

            • veutoviper 1.1.2.3.1.1
              30 December 2018 at 10:59 am

              Come on, boys. G’Mum says behave like adults, or tomorrow night to bed early and no celebrating seeing in the new year… You’re welcome.

            • marty mars 1.1.2.3.1.2
              30 December 2018 at 11:22 am

              Lol is “a little slow” a derog a tory term too James?

              • James …
                30 December 2018 at 11:26 am

                More apt than anything.

                Are you cool with calling Japanese people japs? Would you use that term to Japanese people you just met?

                • marty mars …
                  30 December 2018 at 11:35 am

                  I just use their name or mate.

                • One Two …
                  30 December 2018 at 12:45 pm

                  It is about the intent, James…

                  You are not Japanese. You are an exposed serial liar and agitator on a left leaning blog site…your intent is to agitate…and possibly to get your jollies in the process….

                  Jap, is short for Japanese and is not racist at face value, so only Dennis Frank can advise you what his intent is behind use of the abbreviation….

                  Concentrate on improving yourself so you can set a good example to those grand children , eh ….

                  Either way, you can sit back down, put the fake virtue signalling back in the box …

                  • James …
                    30 December 2018 at 1:03 pm

                    No it’s not.

                    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs

                    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/priscilla-ouchida/peter-king-jap-hate-speech_b_9995156.html

                    And you may have missed the general warning yesterday by one of the mods te reo putake:

                    “So, a general warning that reference to any commenters background, known or not, should be clearly relevant to the discussion at hand.”

                    A quick check on the replies tab shows your last three replies to me are about or mention my grandkids. I don’t know what your obsession with young children but you seem to have an inappropriate fixation on them. That – and it has nothing to do with the discussion in hand.

                    • te reo putake …
                      30 December 2018 at 1:20 pm

                      A couple of points. Firstly, Jap is considered offensive by Japanese people, so let’s not use it.

                      Secondly, I re-iterate the point I made yesterday, which was that irrelevant references to a commenter’s personal details or family situations is poor form. If its clearly relevant to the immediate discussion, fine. By that I mean that if a commenter chooses to share some details in a thread and that engenders responses, that’s cool. What’s not cool is bringing up those details later as some form of point scoring exercise.

                    • veutoviper …
                      30 December 2018 at 1:32 pm

                      Great reference links, James. Thanks.

                      The Wiki link also has links to some other good reference tools. Have bookmarked them.

                      To te reo putake

                      Thanks for the good moderation and guidance on these issues over the last day or so. Perhaps the latter could be added to the About and Policy if other moderators etc agree.

                    • One Two …
                      30 December 2018 at 1:44 pm

                      Yes, James, it is about the intent….that is exactly what it is about…

                      The links you’ve posted to, nor your incorrect and faux outrage do nothing to change that… So, ask DF what his intent was….go ahead….even if DF says it was intended as derogatory, would not change the fact JAP is an abbreviation which can be used in a non derogatory manner…

                      Moving along to your fake playing ‘victim’….

                      Per my reply to TRP yesterday, you are not posting on this site in good faith, James. You are an agitator, a deliberate agitator which is to be one of the lowest forms of public tro*l behavior.

                      Part of your agitators ‘shtick’ includes manufacturing stories referencing your age, ethnicity, residential location, family members/dynamic including their age bracket, education, work and off-spring, as well as your dwellings , dining, sporting and nutritional preferences…

                      You have willingly used these details as part of the agitation process, and therefore not in good faith…not a single shred….

                      In recent times you appear to be utilizing a particularly ugly tactic, and having had your comments repeatedly exposed over a number of years as racist and misogynistic etc in the literal sense, not the fake version such as you are blatantly doing once again here with DF….you are now seeking to play the victim, pushing for bans and retribution against other commentators here, who from what I can tell are mostly posting in good faith….

                      Even handles such as naki man appear to be more honest that you…aggressive, angry and ignorant….but seemingly in an honest way, as much as his level will allow him…

                      You are beneath even that level!

                      ================================

                      TRP – Per your repeated comment/position from yesterday. You have played directly into the desired response James was looking for. Per my response yesterday, you are also enabling and empowering this sites most odious agitator, and not in good faith commentator… my opinion….

                      In contrast to VV’s comment regarding your moderation. I do not agree that you have moderated this instance well at all, not at face value…

                      I would say that since you returned, your moderation style is more effective than it had previously been…

                      Have a good weekend, everyone…

                    • te reo putake …
                      30 December 2018 at 1:52 pm

                      Thanks, vv. Adding it to the policy is a good idea. Mind you, it’s really obvious from looking at other blogs that TS commenters are way more thoughtful and considered in their postings, which is nice. it means that issues like this can be discussed rationally and without malice.

                      And now, here’s a song:

                    • Muttonbird …
                      30 December 2018 at 2:01 pm

                      Veutoviper. You could call it, ‘the James rule’. I’m sure he’d like that😂

                  • Dennis Frank …
                    30 December 2018 at 1:48 pm

                    Yeah. Traditional language usage is only a problem for a few isolated individuals. It has been a common abbreviation used in this country my entire life. Never heard anyone use it in a derogatory sense that some pc-drone could spin as racist.

                    The princess who has attained a position of civil rights advocacy that James linked to may have impressed the HuffPost editorial team, but so what? Just because some folks think they can get away with language conformity doesn’t mean others will stop viewing them as sociopaths, right?

                    • veutoviper …
                      30 December 2018 at 2:08 pm

                      As you have noted previously, you and I are of a similar age, Dennis.

                      While I agree it is an abbreviation which has been used in this country, I personally have not heard it used for many years.

                      My recollection of it mainly goes back to my childhood when it seemed to be much more common and in fact used in many cases in a derogatory manner – particularly by a couple of uncles and their friends who had spent time in Japanese POW camps. (Another one of that era was the Yellow Peril.)

                      So in fact it actually jumped out at me when I saw you use it, but I felt that you personally were not necessarily using it in a derogatory manner. Nevertheless as te reo putake says, it is considered offensive by Japanese people, so let’s not use it.

                      However, as a woman, what I do find offensive is your:

                      “The princess who has attained a position of civil rights advocacy that James linked to may have impressed the HuffPost editorial team, but so what? Just because some folks think they can get away with language conformity doesn’t mean others will stop viewing them as sociopaths, right?

                      So you disagree with her opinion; but do you really need to be so derogatory in doing so?

                      Language more common to Kiwiblog – and very reminiscent of similar put down comments there and elsewhere about Jacinda Ardern, our PM …

                    • One Two …
                      30 December 2018 at 2:13 pm

                      No need to even read the links. They are simply the efforts of an agitator seeking to identify endorsement, for a position taken which is incorrect and disingenuous…

                      I have no idea what your intention was when using the abbreviation…that is only for you to know…

                      TRP states use of the abbreviation is ‘considered offensive’ to Japanese, which is potentially true in some instances…such is the generic wholesale statement he made…

                      What I can state, as I know this directly first hand, that there are Japanese who use the abbreviation to each other, and towards other Japanese, and in no way is it meant to be, nor is it taken as ‘offensive’…

                      Which makes attempts of language conformity little more than the subjective preference of someone(s ) who are highly unlikely to be ethnic Japanese, of any percentage…one who is openly acting in bad faith…

                      So, there is James and TRP , both non Japanese, seeking to advise/enforce which language that another non Japanese person (yourself Dennis , assumption) should/should not use when writing and commentating…

                    • Dennis Frank …
                      30 December 2018 at 2:23 pm

                      Understandable that those who fought them would feel that way, especially those who ended up in their prison camps with the torture & brutality endemic.

                      Just because TRP says Japanese have that view doesn’t mean he’s right. If he can produce evidence, I’ll consider it. I’ve seen none as yet. A statement of foreign policy by the Japanese govt would be authoritative. Even an official statement by one of their leaders, perhaps. Otherwise it’s all just a few people trying to get away with imposing their personal morality on others. Offensive behaviour!

                      And when a narcissist use a position of ngo advocacy to do it, why ought we to be impressed? She didn’t cite any agreed policy position by that group, did she? Her sense of entitlement apparently drove her to misrepresent them. Such disrespect for others is not appropriate political behaviour. Dunno why leftists think justifying such behaviour from leftists while condemning it from rightists is okay. Hypocrites, I reckon.

              • greywarshark …
                30 December 2018 at 11:46 am

                There we go again James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George Dupree.
                A reading:
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHCxmhLJ3DM

                The comments he/she (James) stir are about as long and repetitious as the pome. Next year – can we have a resolution to allow one person to have a go back at him and leave it at that? That would be enough for him to know we really love him.

          • veutoviper 1.1.2.3.2
            30 December 2018 at 11:00 am

            Come on, boys. G’Mum says behave like adults, or tomorrow night to bed early and no celebrating seeing in the new year… You’re welcome.

    • Sacha 1.2
      30 December 2018 at 9:00 am

      Please provide a link when you quote from somewhere.

    • Robert Guyton 1.3
      30 December 2018 at 10:06 am

      Dennis Frank’s post at 8:34 am is a fascinating one, full of detail, insider knowledge and revelation on a subject that is topical. He made considerable effort to present his ideas well and even praised John Key in the process! Despite all that value, James found a single word with which he could derail the topic and was unable to resist the temptation to be petty.

      • Sacha 1.3.1
        30 December 2018 at 10:10 am

        Unfortunately half of Dennis’ post is a quote from an author he has not properly linked to or named.

      • bwaghorn 1.3.2
        30 December 2018 at 10:46 am

        Doesn’t mean James isnt right on this rare occasion though does it . Maybe DF should have agreed quickly then the post could have moved on .

        • James 1.3.2.1
          30 December 2018 at 10:56 am

          Indeed. People would rather double down using derogatory terms than agree that they may be out of line.

          Others will support the casual racism as they would rather support that than agree with me.

          Says a lot about people.

      • James 1.3.3
        30 December 2018 at 10:58 am

        So casual racism is ok if it’s in a post you like ?

        And it’s not a single word _ it shows an attitude (a poor one) towards the Japanese people.

    • joe90 1.4
      30 December 2018 at 11:17 am

      The whole damn business is about budgets and pork barreling , rather than food or culture.

      Still, there is some merit to the government’s argument.

      A number of coastal communities in Japan have indeed hunted whales for centuries, and continue to do so. Taiji in Wakayama prefecture is well known, many would say infamous, for its annual dolphin hunts. There are other places, in Chiba Prefecture and in Ishinomaki in northern Japan, that also do coastal whaling.

      […]

      Nothing about these Antarctic whaling expeditions is historic. Japan’s first whaling voyage to the Antarctic took place in the mid-1930s but the really huge hunts didn’t get going until after World War Two.

      Japan lay in ruins, its population starving. With the encouragement of General Douglas MacArthur, Japan converted two huge US Navy tankers into factory ships and set sail for the Southern Ocean.

      From the late 1940s to the mid-1960s whale meat was the single biggest source of meat in Japan. At its peak in 1964 Japan killed more than 24,000 whales in one year, most of them enormous fin whales and sperm whales.

      […]

      But Junko Sakuma thinks the answer lies in the fact that Japan’s whaling is government-run, a large bureaucracy with research budgets, annual plans, promotions and pensions.

      “If the number of staff in a bureaucrat’s office decreases while they are in charge, they feel tremendous shame,” she says.

      “Which means most of the bureaucrats will fight to keep the whaling section in their ministry at all costs. And that is true with the politicians as well. If the issue is closely related to their constituency, they will promise to bring back commercial whaling. It is a way of keeping their seats.”

      It may seem incredibly banal. But Japan’s determination to continue whaling may come down to a handful of MPs from whaling constituencies and a few hundred bureaucrats who don’t want to see their budgets cut.

      https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35397749

  3. marty mars 3
    30 December 2018 at 10:44 am

    “Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday, Giles York, the Chief Constable of Sussex Police said he could not rule out the possibility that some sightings of drones reported during the incident were of drones that Sussex Police had flown over the airport for surveillance purposes.

    “We will have launched our own Sussex police drones at the time, with a view to investigate, engage and survey the area. So there could be some level of confusion there as well,” York said after being questioned about a previous report that there may have been no drone at all.”

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/109661602/police-drones-may-have-added-to-gatwick-airport-shutdown-police-admit

    • marty mars 3.1
      30 December 2018 at 10:46 am

      Bugger, no edit function.

      I wonder how many police forces use drones to ‘investigate, engage and survey’?

      • bwaghorn 3.1.1
        30 December 2018 at 10:48 am

        Cheaper than a chopper

        • marty mars 3.1.1.1
          30 December 2018 at 10:53 am

          Pity they couldn’t use them to kill possums mustilids and rats – imagine teams running drones going for records hunting in the bush with cameras – from anywhere. Battle Royale for pest control.

          • Graeme 3.1.1.1.1
            30 December 2018 at 11:22 am

            Drones have rather limited range and endurance, so are really just an addition to people on foot for direct control. We’re doing some experiments with mustering deer in rough blocks with a drone, very early days yet but some success but some huge limitations. They don’t have the presence of a helicopter which combined with most deer’s fear of helicopters from meathunting days generally means deer will go away and down easily from a helicopter. The cunning ones will try and hide in thick scrub. With the drone most deer will hide in the scrub (and wait for the battery to go flat) if they can and have to be flushed out on foot. But the drone is awesome for observation and moving them in the clear.

          • bwaghorn 3.1.1.1.2
            30 December 2018 at 11:37 am

            Be a good job for the thumb gifted couch dwellers

          • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.1.3
            30 December 2018 at 4:14 pm

            Satellites could do it, Marty; there’re enough of them flitting about overhead; some heat-detecting software, a lethal laser of some sort, what could go wrong?…hang on!!!

            • marty mars 3.1.1.1.3.1
              30 December 2018 at 4:19 pm

              It’s going wrong now.

            • marty mars 3.1.1.1.3.2
              30 December 2018 at 4:20 pm

              We need to align with human nature not fight it and then wonder why nothing changes.

              • Robert Guyton …
                30 December 2018 at 4:23 pm

                Hey, Marty – could you please describe “human nature” pithily (or exhaustively, I don’t mind 🙂 so that we can know what you mean?
                (Genuine request, cheers)
                Robert

                • marty mars …
                  30 December 2018 at 4:31 pm

                  “imagine teams running drones going for records hunting in the bush with cameras – from anywhere. Battle Royale for pest control.”

                  From anywhere is all around the world.

                  Human nature by marty
                  collaborative, competitive, compassionate

      • greywarshark 3.1.2
        30 December 2018 at 11:52 am

        Lprent
        No edit function. (Just for noting for when you finish latest iteration?)

  4. KJT 4
    30 December 2018 at 11:03 am

    “Tenure review*” down South continues.

    A broken promise by Labour.

    Apparently refusing the giving away of large swathes of public land to leaseholders, for fractions of it’s real value, is “unfair” to those who haven’t managed to get their share, of the giveaway, yet!

    No regard to fairness to the rest of us. Of course.

    Where is the tax dodgers union when you need them?

    *https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/91935035/ann-brower-for-the-sake-of-our-high-country-stop-tenure-review

  5. te reo putake 5
    30 December 2018 at 11:39 am

    The edit function is a wordpress plugin. It appears to have dropped of during the upgrade but no doubt LPrent will restore it when he gets a chance.

    In the meantime, just re-read your comments before posting and self edit where needed. If there’s something really, really needs editing after you’ve posted a comment, leave a new comment asking for the moderators to tidy up the original.

  6. joe90 6
    30 December 2018 at 11:43 am

    Let’s call “pretty legal” for what it is – the baked in Tory sense of entitlement redolent with dishonesty.

    National is in “pretty legal” territory after Otaki MP Nathan Guy used Facebook’s “thumb” icon in a Labour attack-ad billboard.

    Despite Facebook not giving permission for the logo’s use – an icon it strictly enforces copyright of – Guy said the social media outfit “haven’t raised any issues with us”.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/109618534/thumbs-down-experts-warn-national-for-use-of-facebooks-most-famous-blue-symbol

    • veutoviper 6.1
      30 December 2018 at 11:48 am

      I roared with laughter when I read that in the earlier hours of the morning – then forgot to post it!

      So thanks for bringing it to notice. Not a Facebook fan but the ‘b.t.h’ in me really hopes that they do respond …

  7. greywarshark 7
    30 December 2018 at 11:58 am

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=12182956

    These recyclers have been going since 1993 and still have to request people to wash out milk bottles, rinse and flatten cans (stand on them at least).

  8. millsy 8
    30 December 2018 at 12:01 pm

    Not too sure when I will be posting again (more out of whether I can be bothered than anything else) so where are my 2019 predictions:

    1) Labour and National to stay more or less neck and neck in the polls with either party from month to month leading by less than 3 points.

    2) Simon Bridges remains as National leader, though he makes Judith Collins his spokesperson for finance. Paula Bennett announces she plans to step down at the 2020 election.

    3) The government quietly sets up an SOE to deliver the Kiwibuild houses, as well as to build and maintain state and social houses. It also goes in partnership with the NZ Superfund to build more houses.

    4) RNZ+ is dropped, but TVNZ brings back TVNZ 7 as a 24 hour news and current affairs channel jointly run with RNZ and Maori TV.

    5) The Tomorrow’s Schools reforms are implemented, but the larger schools are given the freedom to opt out of being run by the Hubs.

    6) Helen Clark is given a top state sector post by the current administration, but it will be something we least expect.

    7) Phil Goff, Justin Lester and Lianne Dalzeil all win a second term as mayor in their respective cities.

    8) Brexit is postponed a year.

    9) Trump supporters start lynching people, with the current administration refusing to condemn them.

    10) none of these things ever actually happen, and I may as well just say anything.

  9. Morrissey 9
    30 December 2018 at 12:08 pm

    Crude and racist politicking did not start with Trump

    • millsy 9.1
      30 December 2018 at 12:33 pm

      Clinton is a polished version of Trump.

    • DJ Ward 9.2
      30 December 2018 at 5:51 pm

      I didn’t get your point. Where was the crude and racist stuff in his comment.

      He was responding to a crude and racist comments, if that’s your point.

      • millsy 9.2.1
        30 December 2018 at 5:55 pm

        Clinton’s rhetoric was/is similar to Trump. Just he is a bit more softer in his wording.

      • Morrissey 9.2.2
        30 December 2018 at 7:50 pm

        I didn’t get your point.
        ?????

        Where was the crude and racist stuff in his comment?
        Jesus Christ, you’re ignorant.

        He was responding to a crude and racist comments, if that’s your point.
        He was lying and distorting her words, as you’d know if you bothered to do any further investigation of the matter.

  10. mary_a 10
    30 December 2018 at 12:12 pm

    Natz still in pain about losing the election it seems.

    Now Nathan Guy is sticking up billboards on the roadside, creating visual pollution and unsafe distraction. And in typical Natz mode, breaching copyright (Facebook?), breaking the law, while pointing the dirty blue finger at Labour, using it’s ID logo!

    Natz really needs to get over itself. Now!

    edit: Oops, I see this has already been commented on. My bad.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/109618534/thumbs-down-experts-warn-national-for-use-of-facebooks-most-famous-blue-symbol

    • Bewildered 10.1
      30 December 2018 at 1:42 pm

      No they are doing what oppositions do, how that’s been upset, suggest you spend some time understanding meaning of parliamentary opposition I suggest as Nats in government and in opposition are doing a far better job than Labour, Labour yesrs in opposition where hilarious but not good for our democracy, sadly we now have such incompetency in government

      • Dennis Frank 10.1.1
        30 December 2018 at 2:02 pm

        You don’t have to keep reminding people why you call yourself Bewildered. We already concede that the name is accurate, okay? Try explaining why the Nats continue to be so keen to breach copyright law. The penny may then drop, and you’ll end up less bewildered. Keep on with that positive stance, you’ll end up bewildered no longer. Maybe even end up then calling yourself Savvy…

      • mary_a 10.1.2
        30 December 2018 at 3:06 pm

        Bewildered ((10.1) … and National was always competent in government was it?

        What Nathan Guy is doing is demonstrating that National has become a pathetic sorry mess since losing the last election. It really does need to pull its finger out and act as a responsible Opposition, working for all NZers, offering up some constructive, workable policies, instead of petulant sniping all the time. Guy’s actions here are not making NZ a better, safer place by any means.

        BTW why is a National MP bringing this issue up now in the way he has done, when it had nine years as government to focus on and address transport infrastructure?

        • Bewildered 10.1.2.1
          30 December 2018 at 4:19 pm

          Hmmm that’s what opposition do Mary, they are not thier to support the government constructively Labor 9 years in opposition was hardly constructive, point been there where not even a competent opposition tearing each other apart, no policy formulation barring voter signalling bs, hence the 100s of work committes we now have Unfortunatly we now have this incompetence in government Oy 3 more years though and labour are simply Ardern resignation away from destroying themselves from the inside National I turn a lot more stable as some of the miss steps and mps fling rogue has indicated, party support and unity holds up and party does not go full feral and our left mates do

        • Bewildered 10.1.2.2
          30 December 2018 at 4:22 pm

          Hmmm that’s what opposition do Mary, they are not there to support the government constructively Labor 9 years in opposition was hardly a constructive opposition point been there where not even a competent opposition tearing each other apart, no policy formulation barring virtue signalling bs, hence the 100s of work committes we now have Unfortunatly we now have this incompetence in government Only 2 more years though and similarly labour are simply Ardern resignation away from destroying themselves from the inside again National in turn is a lot more stable as some of the miss steps and mps going rogue has indicated, party support and unity still holds up and party does not go full retard as labour has a propensity to do

          • mary_a 10.1.2.2.1
            30 December 2018 at 5:22 pm

            National stable? You jest of course Bewildered (10.1.2.2)!

            At present I consider National is far from stable, given the doubt about its present leadership. Then there are the continuing leaks, the likelihood of Jami Lee Ross returning to Parliament next year as an Independent MP, ready to pass on some more damaging information relating to Simon Bridges and National, bringing about even more uncertainty within the Opposition.

            Finally, I know I might not be the brightest star in the sky, but I’m sorry you have lost me re the rest of your post, so I can’t comment, because I haven’t a clue on what I’d be commenting on!

      • Bearded Git 10.1.3
        30 December 2018 at 3:50 pm

        Nathan Guy was responsible for fauling to implement the stock identification system (because it cost his farmer mates a bit of money) that has resulted in the micro bovis $850m disaster.

        • DJ Ward 10.1.3.1
          30 December 2018 at 5:05 pm

          The stock identification system is a scam. Like a tax that you get nothing in return for. It proved incompetent in tracking cattle in any reasonable time frame. The real reason this was introduced was to create animal registration, and in turn taxation of stock. Plus, nod, nod, wink, wink, some tidy fees to disappear into some fat salaries.

          The old system of keeping the transport dockets is just as effective. Plus when you get a disease like Foot & Mouth you really have no choice but to put a compass on the map, draw a circle, then kill everything. Then look at the transport Dockets. The new system fails because the cows may be registered but the system doesn’t know where the animals actually are, or where they have been.

          It was never fit for purpose, but a good scam.

          • Draco T Bastard 10.1.3.1.1
            30 December 2018 at 5:51 pm

            The old system of keeping the transport dockets is just as effective.

            Highly doubtful, costs more to run and a digitised system is always faster.

            The only problem with the new system is that the farmers gamed the system resulting in a major disease outbreak.

            • DJ Ward 10.1.3.1.1.1
              30 December 2018 at 6:09 pm

              Nobody gamed the system. The disease had nothing to do with the system. It spread because nobody knew they had the disease, and once discovered the didn’t know what animals had gone where, or what animals may have got the infected sperm.

              The system allowed Foreign sperm, just as all the disease outbreaks have occurred with something coming across the boarder. It is unusual practice to get high value sperm from overseas for normal farmers, but not the specialist breaders or those buying enough to undercut LICs prices.

              The truck driver creates a docket, end of story.
              Now you create the docket with the truck driver, plus the old owner must log in what’s happening, as well as the new owner. As shown the system didn’t know what was happening. The old system just had owner ID tags. Nothing’s really changed or improved. But it costs thousands more for each farmer.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                30 December 2018 at 11:41 pm

                It spread because nobody knew they had the disease, and once discovered the didn’t know what animals had gone where, or what animals may have got the infected sperm.

                All of which would have been known if they had used the system as designed. Not using as designed is gaming the system.

                The fault here falls fully upon the farmers.

                The truck driver creates a docket, end of story.

                /facepalm

                Chances are the old system wasn’t used whenever some farmers felt it wasn’t in their interest to let the government know what they were doing.

      • Draco T Bastard 10.1.4
        30 December 2018 at 5:43 pm

        So, what you saying is that National fucked up the country on purpose?

    • Muttonbird 10.2
      30 December 2018 at 2:35 pm

      It’s interesting. We drove through Levin heading south on Sunday 23 December and half the shops were closed! You would imagine retailers would be gagging for local business but no.

      We continued south and hit some traffic at Otaki of course which is the core of the problem because there’s a roundabout where SH1 traffic gives way to local traffic. Now, google maps shows us what the new Peka Peka Otaki expressway will look like and this delivers 4 lanes from Wellington CBD to Otaki once transmission fully and the rest of the Kapiti expressways are complete. That’s 72.7km and Nathan Guy want a further 20km to a one street town of 21,000, with several sets if traffic lights, which is closed on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. No doubt Mr Guy will then want a Levin bypass.

      Google maps also shows us the still to be completed Waikato expressway will deliver 4 lanes from Auckland to Hamilton a distance of 124.9km. Auckland is an international city of 1.7 million people and Hamilton about 170,000. These two still don’t have a four lane connection and don’t even have a rail commuter service.

      To me the end of the expressway at Otaki is right because that’s where the problems occur. I can’t help thinking Nathan Guy and the National party have got their priorities all wrong. But I’m not surprised, they do tend to concentrate on the small stuff while the rest of us see the bigger picture.

      • DJ Ward 10.2.1
        30 December 2018 at 5:22 pm

        The Wiakato Expressway has nothing to do with connecting Auckland to Hamilton. It actually bipasses it, compared to the past nightmare of having to drive through it, and the Huntly traffic jam will be gone as well.

        The project is about modernising SH1 from Auckland to Wellington. Some parts of the Wiakato expressway were desperately in need of upgrading with one area being our deadliest road. The same need applies to the Auckland Southern Moterway upgrade to 6 lanes.

        Your argument saying it services just 21000 people is wrong as most people using SH1 won’t just be from Levin but everybody from the rest of the North Island, and everybody traveling North from Wellington, or on the return trip. Maybe it should carry on until Foxton.

        • Draco T Bastard 10.2.1.1
          30 December 2018 at 5:55 pm

          The Wiakato Expressway has nothing to do with connecting Auckland to Hamilton. It actually bipasses it, compared to the past nightmare of having to drive through it, and the Huntly traffic jam will be gone as well.

          And you missed the bit that actually causes all the problems – drive.

          Really, if you want to go from Auckland to Wellington – take the bloody train or a plane or even a boat.

          • DJ Ward 10.2.1.1.1
            30 December 2018 at 6:22 pm

            The roads couldn’t cope with the people using it.
            That’s people using there freedom to travel. Plus buisinesses trying to pay wages, and break even.
            I drove to Wellinton for a visit a few years ago. I drove and slept in my car 2 nights. Couldn’t do that if I took the train, plus it was an unplanned visit. Bit hard if you wish to use your car during the stay. Must use far less fuel than a plane. Trains are painfully slow in NZ.

            What a good look for our Tourists traveling in Buses. Stuck in traffic on the nations main highway for hours.

            • Draco T Bastard 10.2.1.1.1.1
              30 December 2018 at 11:15 pm

              The roads couldn’t cope with the people using it.

              People shouldn’t be using the roads. In fact, there’s probably a fairly good case for removing roads between cities.

              That’s people using there freedom to travel.

              Nobody’s suggesting taking their freedom to travel away.

              I drove to Wellinton for a visit a few years ago. I drove and slept in my car 2 nights. Couldn’t do that if I took the train, plus it was an unplanned visit. Bit hard if you wish to use your car during the stay. Must use far less fuel than a plane. Trains are painfully slow in NZ.

              Plan better.

              If you’re really concerned about businesses paying wages then you should be using them.

              But if members of the eco–jet set were to fly commercial—and join a few hundred other people sardined into coach—it might be a different story. It may seem counterintuitive, but a provocative study released earlier this year argues that in the U.S., flying from place to place actually consumes significantly less energy – and hence produces significantly fewer emissions—than driving does.

              Public transport really is more efficient than cars.

              And, yes, the trains need to be upgraded. Have you noticed that this didn’t happen due to the private owners followed by National running the trains down and building highly expensive, inefficient roads?

              What a good look for our Tourists traveling in Buses. Stuck in traffic on the nations main highway for hours.

              The only reason why buses are stuck in traffic is because of the morons driving cars.

        • Muttonbird 10.2.1.2
          30 December 2018 at 6:29 pm

          Why does Mr Bovis’ sign say, “Our community deserves a 4 lane highway”, if it’s all about people north of Levin?

        • Muttonbird 10.2.1.3
          30 December 2018 at 10:49 pm

          The Wiakato Expressway has nothing to do with connecting Auckland to Hamilton

          And this is possibly the stupidest thing I’ve read on this forum today.

      • greywarshark 10.2.2
        30 December 2018 at 10:22 pm

        Wikipedia provides the goods fast – [Nathan] Guy is a farmer from near Levin.

        If farmers had a quota for seats, and lawyers also, I wonder who would get elected and give us the experience of a real diverse government.

    • Muttonbird 10.3
      30 December 2018 at 2:50 pm

      It would also be interesting to know which side of the road this sign is on. If it’s heading south at Manakau then the soon to be completed Wellington to Otaki expressway will render this concern obsolete. A bit like Nathan Guy and the National Party really. 😆

      • The Chairman 10.3.1
        30 December 2018 at 5:53 pm

        How do you see the soon to be completed Wellington to Otaki expressway rendering the concern obsolete? Otaki to Levin is a completely different stretch of highway.

        Having a 4 lane expressway going into a 2 lane highway will exacerbate congestion on that stretch of road.

        • Muttonbird 10.3.1.1
          30 December 2018 at 6:21 pm

          If the sign is southbound then it’s two lanes going to four just north of Otaki. Not an issue.

          And four lanes to two is not an issue either. It’s the conramination of SH1 traffic with local traffic which is the problem. How do you think four lanes stopping at a Levin traffic light is going to work?

          • The Chairman 10.3.1.1.1
            30 December 2018 at 6:39 pm

            Currently, there is a two lane highway and there are problems. While 4 lanes from Otaki to Wellington will help alleviate some of the build up from that point, it doesn’t address all the concerns back from that point.

            4 lanes going into 2 is always an issue. Moreover, the new Otaki to Levin highway does bypass Levin’s CBD due to the congestion it currently causes, which will now be replaced with congestion from the 4 going into 2.

            • Muttonbird 10.3.1.1.1.1
              30 December 2018 at 6:57 pm

              It’s eventually going to go from 4 to 2 unless you want dual carriageways the length of the North island. Why is Otaki to Levin so special?

              • The Chairman …
                31 December 2018 at 4:16 am

                A decent freeway covering the whole of the country is long overdue.

                This section of highway was to be a part (albeit small) of achieving that long held aspiration.

                The stretch of road has a number of black spots and has been dubbed a “killing field” (marked like a battlefield with white crosses) by a former coroner.

                Hence, as with a number of other areas around the country, a decent expressway has been long awaited.

                While we are committed to only doing sections of highway at a time, new expressways will result in bottlenecks as traffic merges from 4 to 2. To help mitigate the resulting congestion, merging points should be placed in areas of low traffic volumes. With adjoining SH57 (which leads to Palmerston North) Levin to Otaki is a high volume traffic area.

                Levin’s population is growing faster than expected and with housing costs rising in Palmerston North coupled with the high cost of housing in Wellington, more are expected to move there seeking a cheaper home. Add to that our aging population as it is a bit of a retirement location for Wellingtonians.

                Nevertheless, it’s a part of state highway one, thus services far more than just Levin and adjoining SH57.

                With our growing population and growing number of tourists, delaying vastly improving our roading will be costly.

                Improving the public rail service in the area seems to have been also overlooked.

            • Muttonbird 10.3.1.1.1.2
              30 December 2018 at 10:06 pm

              For instance, an extension to Auckland’s North West motorway is crucial. Earth is being turned up there big time and the population is expected to increase from Kumeu to Waimauku by several times the entire population of Levin.

  11. Grafton Gully 11
    30 December 2018 at 1:24 pm

    Alcohol, obesity, flame retardants and pesticides are known to affect sperm and now cannabis.

    “We know that there are effects of cannabis use on the regulatory mechanisms in sperm DNA, but we don’t know whether they can be transmitted to the next generation,” Murphy said.

    “In the absence of a larger, definitive study, the best advice would be to assume these changes are going to be there,” Murphy said. “We don’t know whether they are going to be permanent. I would say, as a precaution, stop using cannabis for at least six months before trying to conceive.”

    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181219075846.htm

    • WeTheBleeple 11.1
      30 December 2018 at 9:46 pm

      That’s an awful lot of don’t know’s to write an article about.

      Funded by the John Templeton Foundation. Champion of free markets. Previous hit’s include Intelligent design and constantly trying to define the ‘science/religion boundary’.

      Very deep pockets. Dodgy AF. Big business boys so big pharma called for this particular study for sure.

  13. mauī 13
    30 December 2018 at 9:26 pm

    GG nails it yet again. Wonderful… and New Zealand even gets a mention.

  14. OnceWasTim 14
    30 December 2018 at 11:02 pm

    @ James, and a few others
    Did I ever tell you how utterly (near), perfect I am.
    Admittedly I’m not quite the specimen you are (yet) but I live in hope and I do all the right things.
    Thanks to you, I’ve seen the light