Open mike 30/08/2010

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 30th, 2010 - 32 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

Comment on whatever takes your fancy.

The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

32 comments on “Open mike 30/08/2010 ”

  1. Pascal's bookie 1

    Sarah Palin at the Glen Beck rally:

    I must assume that you too, knowing that no, we must not fundamentally transform America as some would want, we must restore America and restore her honor!

    Right. Restore America. There’s a word for that sort of approach, and funnily enough, it’s got her name in it.

  2. Jenny 2

    Media release
    30 August 2010

    kia Ora Gaza responds to Israelie propaganda

    Last night, TVOne’s ‘Sunday’ programme screened the BBC Panorama story ‘Death in the Med’.

    As ‘Sunday’ presenter Cameron Bennett noted, this story gives the Israeli version of what happened on the humanitarian vessel Mavi Marmara when it was stormed by Israeli commandos on 31 May, leaving nine civilian aid volunteers shot dead and dozens more wounded by gunfire.

    Kia Ora Gaza’s response to this Israeli propaganda has been posted on the Kia Ora Gaza website here.

    Reprinted below is a quote from this post by Kia Ora Co-organiser, Grant Morgan:

    Cameron Bennett asked the question: Will this Israeli version of history sway people? My answer: probably not many.

    The murderous and terroristic Israeli military attack on a humanitarian aid ship on the open sea in the dead of night was so indecent that the world’s majority are lining up against the illegal and immoral siege of Gaza’s 1.5 million people.

    Today on kiaoragaza.net we have posted seven articles which, in different ways, expose the Israeli propaganda attack.

    If you do come across someone who is swayed by this Israeli propaganda, simply point them to Kia Ora Gaza’s website.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.1

      Good for them. It’s about time we started paying our teachers well.

      • KJT 3.1.1

        Good on them. The Government is offering a pay cut.

      • Bored 3.1.2

        We do pay them well, they have been very good at getting good pay and conditions for years as a result of their strong union. What the government wants is to break this so that they can pay less (which I dont want). I would however wish that teachers were more active in support of other employees in their sector.

  3. The Chairman 4

    Disaster looms in south
    http://tinyurl.com/29s6p5b

    • freedom 4.1

      i am confused, why would the govt do a bail out when they have all the international investors ready to buy up the farms. Was that not Jenny Shipley escorting all those investors on tours of South Island rural properties earlier this year?

    • Draco T Bastard 4.2

      “It would put quite a dent in Canterbury farming,” said Federated Farmers’ Mid Canterbury Dairy chairman Frank Peters.

      Seems to have a silver lining. In fact, that may be a gold lining. All we’d need is for the government to ban the sale of land to overseas “investors”. Unfortunately, that’s unlikely to happen unless Labour get in next term and even then it’s still not likely.

    • vto 5.1

      I recall previous SCF ceo Lachie McLeod, and in fact Allan Hubbard, as recently as 2009 smugly commenting on fast and loose money being lent on poorly structured deals and projects elsewhere in the country, implying that only SCF had the required prudence etc. Sniggering they were, at others.

      While I detest the pain that will come for many shortly, the old old saying about he who laughs last laughs best comes to mind.

      As with near every other recent collapsed company there has been a heavy element of smug arrogance at SCF for some time. Always an indicator of trouble ahead ….

    • vto 5.2

      This meltdown has the potential to be a big big BIG problems for this National govt.

      Picture this … all those SCF assets (big farms, small farms, rural industry business, etc) being dumped onto the market for sale. Add in the rapidly rising tide against foreign buyers buying up NZ and what do you get?

      Only the money in NZ to buy those assets, which aint much, leading to massive asset value collapse. Which leads directly to a change in govt ….

      • grumpy 5.2.1

        Mostly right vto, the asset value will be hammered but the earnings will be unaffected. I pity the young sharemilkers more than the corporate farm owners that SCF seemed to lend to. It seems that SCF, through subsidiaries, lent huge amounts to these young couples who may lose their herds.

        Someone will get a bargain when the farms are sold, maybe Landcorp to put with the Crafar ones?

    • Draco T Bastard 5.3

      “It may need a bit of assistance from the Government to get it over the line.”

      That’s uber efficient private business lining up for the taxpayers money – again. They’ll probably get it as well so even more of our wealth will be going to the profits of individuals. If the government did “rescue” SCF then it should, just like AirNZ, take ownership of it and the farms that they’ll be foreclosing on (Reading between the lines – SFC is collapsing because the farms can no longer pay the bills).

      • grumpy 5.3.1

        Never thought I would see the day Draco – but you are entirely correct.

      • Bored 5.3.2

        Yeah, its a boom mentality, just like housing, take on the debt on the basis that returns will always go up….now we will have to bail these ******rs out.

      • vto 5.3.3

        Yes it all makes an interesting tale, just one of which is …..

        All these years and decades farmers have been bemoaning the quick and fast money in centres like Auckland speculating on property and ramping things up with seemingly no base, when in actual fact the biggest property speculators in New Zealand have been the farmers. It is a well known fact that for the vast majority of them the model is … speculate that their property’s value will increase. The income is merely a means to get there.

        SCF’s meltdown is highlighting this to the generally uninformed public.

        • vto 5.3.3.1

          One last post before the whitebait season begins….

          It may seem as if my posts display some quite hefty antipathy towards farmers. This is not actually the case. Farmers are a group of people in our country like the rest of us. They have their issues like the rest of us.

          Where they fall down imo is in still failing to acknowledge the massive detrimental effect their industry has had and continues to have on the environment (whch cannot take it much longer I suspect), and also in having some huge and misplaced arrogance over their place and activity in NZ.

          Both foibles are being exposed with the bright sunlight of today. Lets hope they can sort their shit out. We all need each other.

          out

        • Herodotus 5.3.3.2

          Is this speculate on the property not a business model for most industries in NZ?
          Unless you get into financial trouble e.g. Fletcher Challenge in the 80’s where they diversted out of land and leased back with long term leases, this was to keep overseas investors happy with a debt ration approaching 45:55.
          How about the Warehouse, Foodstuffs and their seperate property coys. Many small enterprises have their most profitable day the day they sell up (Retire), or keep the land as part of their pension fund if they can relet commercial land. As long as with any business model the debt assigned to the propety does not warrent its real value, and when adverse economic times (Like today) and the property is vacant or tennant has gone bankrupt with arrears of rent there is a paper wealth but cash poor and no market for he said property.
          Also VTO re dairy, have we not experienced the 2 greatest years (Milk Fat payouts) within the last 4 of all time. If the model fails now when was it going to succeed?
          I remember Marac and SCF being touted as the 2 strenghts of the finance industry. So with these events why would anyone invest in this market. It is doomed to die a messy death, along with the lack of venture capital NZ will be the long term loser as we stumble along with only what the main trading banks determine what are winners, or more importantly safe money that they can lend out and bleed NZ dry with the interest rates and fees. Just try and get continual credit lines for a successful major coy in NZ let alone a start up.

      • The Chairman 5.3.4

        I think it is more a case of SCF borrowing short and lending long. Nevertheless, totally agree. If the taxpayer is going to bail them out, then we should be taking a controlling stake.

    • BLiP 5.4

      Remind me – for I am a slow learner – what was wrong with the gold standard?

      • Draco T Bastard 5.4.1

        There wasn’t enough gold in the world to represent all the money.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.4.1.1

          Actually, there isn’t enough productivity or assets to represent all the money either.

          • Luxated 5.4.1.1.1

            The next logical step in this argument is to conclude that price has little to no relation value or costs ipso facto money (as it is currently at least) is fundamentally flawed as a medium of exchange.

  4. The Chairman 6

    Labour Party MP Lianne Dalziel will hold the government accountable over a $250 million taxpayer funded bailout for South Canterbury Finance

    http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=119106&fm=psp,nwl

    • grumpy 6.1

      Dalziel is talking crap here. Given the Statutory Manager’s latest statements, the Government’s steps were completely justified. Just a pity they didn’t act the same with previous finance company collapses.

  5. Logie97 7

    Did Tolley mislead Parliament in her answer to Parliamentary questions on the National Standards last week?

    The Press reports
    … She said she had been to the annual conference of the STA and found president Lorraine Kerr and her executive were “extremely supportive” of national standards. Kerr had won a standing ovation from the 600 delegates at the conference, Tolley said.
    “I think that’s a very good sign that that conference of 600 representatives were supportive of their stance.”
    But Kerr yesterday said she had “never said” that boards were supportive of the policy. Tolley’s claims about the standing ovation were “an awkward one to answer”, she said.
    The standing ovation had been in recognition of her 21 years of service as a school trustee. …

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/4066017/Claim-of-support-rejected

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-19T06:44:22+00:00