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Open mike 31/10/13

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, October 31st, 2013 - 135 comments
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openmike

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step right up to the mike…

135 comments on “Open mike 31/10/13 ”

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  2. amirite 2
    31 October 2013 at 7:15 am

    “The institute’s parent company was founded by Kiwi billionaire Christopher Chandler in 2006.”

    ‘Nuff said.

    • Tat Loo (CV) 2.1
      31 October 2013 at 7:21 am

      It’s like telling Oliver Twist not to worry because the streets of London really are paved with gold.

    • miravox 2.2
      31 October 2013 at 7:27 am

      An example of the perspective of the institute – social capital is all about the trust levels between and entrepreneur and investor.

    • Paul 2.3
      31 October 2013 at 7:28 am

      “Legatum was founded in December 2006 by Christopher Chandler, Chairman of Legatum Global Holdings. Chandler was formerly President of the holding company for the Sovereign Global group of companies (“Sovereign”), which he co-founded with his older brother Richard Chandler (businessman) in 1986. From 1986 to 2006, Sovereign provided capital to companies and governments in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe, and to industries including telecommunications, electric utilities, steel, oil and gas, banking and oil refining.”

      Sounds like a source without any agendas.

      • Tat Loo (CV) 2.3.1
        31 October 2013 at 7:31 am

        Look at all that great background info and context provided with the piece by the NZ Herald. Not.

        • Paul 2.3.1.1
          31 October 2013 at 7:35 am

          Someone should research editors Murphy and Roughan and find out why they write what they do.
          Who pays the bills?

    • Jim Nald 2.4
      31 October 2013 at 5:11 pm

      Legatum, a gift with no agenda.

  3. idlegus 3
    31 October 2013 at 7:32 am

    according to rnz the fonterra trucks were contaminated by waste from oil & gas? sounds a bit feked! & in the next story is the nz oil & gas voting 99% against paying more reparations (as advised by the judge) to the pike river families. but hey, drill it & we will all be rich they say!

  4. ak 4
    31 October 2013 at 7:32 am

    Will the Morgan make the front page?

  5. Tat Loo (CV) 5
    31 October 2013 at 8:12 am

    Stop the Queenstown/Milford Monorail

    Good front foot strategy here by Federated Mountain Clubs, by a mate Peter Wilson.

    http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/outdoors-groups-doubts-monorail-economics-video-5664788

  6. millsy 6
    31 October 2013 at 8:22 am

    This monorail is really all about allowing some rich prick to play with (and not share) his toys in an area of New Zealand that should be enjoyed by all. And trash the place in the process. I doubt it would make much of a profit anyway…

    • Pete 6.1
      31 October 2013 at 9:53 am

      Well, sir, there’s nothing on earth
      Like a genuine, bona fide
      Electrified, six-car monorail
      What’d I say?

      Monorail
      What’s it called?
      Monorail
      That’s right! Monorail

      Monorail
      Monorail
      Monorail

      I hear those things are awfully loud
      It glides as softly as a cloud
      Is there a chance the track could bend?
      Not on your life, my Hindu friend

      What about us brain-dead slobs?
      You’ll be given cushy jobs
      Were you sent here by the Devil?
      No, good sir, I’m on the level

      The ring came off my pudding can
      Take my pen knife, my good man
      I swear it’s Springfield’s only choice
      Throw up your hands and raise your voice

      Monorail
      What’s it called?
      Monorail
      Once again
      Monorail

      But Main Street’s still all cracked and broken
      Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken

      Monorail!
      Monorail!
      Monorail!
      Monorail!

      Mono, d’oh!

      • vto 6.1.1
        31 October 2013 at 10:06 am

        Yep, that’s about it…

        Another view would point out to Fiordland tunnellers, road builders and mono-railers that there is already a train on the other side of Wakatipu (Kingston Flyer) and it is again for sale because it doesn’t attract enough custom to keep it going….

        And there is already a tunnel through mountains (Homer tunnel) and it gets closed every few days due to the heavy environment with avalanche, rockfall etc….

        And there are already roads through the place (Haast Pass, Milford Road, Hollyford Road) and we can’t even keep them opened such is the heavy environment and slips and rockfall and snow and avalanche….

        the folly of man eh

      • greywarbler 6.1.2
        31 October 2013 at 10:07 am

        Pete
        I guess that a quote from Homer’s great adventure with Big Business in The Simpsons?
        It is very good. Unfortunately I can feel my brain patterning setting in place just reading the repetitions of ‘monorail’. The human mind is so plastic!

      • Rogue Trooper 6.1.3
        31 October 2013 at 10:51 am

        :-D. (the vulgar mob broken).

    • McFlock 6.2
      31 October 2013 at 12:14 pm

      It was on the front page of the ODT alongside their April fools article I think this year.

      I honestly had no idea which one was the joke.

  7. AsleepWhileWalking 7
    31 October 2013 at 8:36 am

    http://boingboing.net/2013/10/29/church-resembles-penis.html
    Google Earth shows church is shaped like a giant penis. Their slogan? “Rising Up”.

    Church then quips on FB page in what is obviously a response to the story, “Giant fig leaf coming soon”

  8. Philgwellington Wellington 8
    31 October 2013 at 9:38 am

    Xox
    Looks like business is more of the problem than the solution these days. The haves will have to consume less, play more , and do less damage to mother earth. As Paul Ehlrich (population bomb) said in Wellington last night, as a neocon would, “you can’t negotiate with nature”. To a packed auditorium he gave mankind a 10% chance of avoiding collapse. This was much higher than other estimates! Now is the time to act folks. For the benefit of John Keys offspring, now is the time for informed and practical action. 😉

    • Ennui 8.1
      31 October 2013 at 10:39 am

      Phil, nice comment! I have read too much Orlov, Greer, etc and understand implicitly that “collapse” (maybe irregular decline is a better description) is inevitable. I bet that the people of the packed auditorium either ignored / denied the message OR put all of their faith in the 10% chance….some techno fantasy or similar will save their world.

      It is a depressing subject and it challenges us on all levels: I cannot see a way through BUT I do accept that we are on course to a very changed and potentially lethal future. So what to do? Dont really know BUT stay positive and do the things you have to do to adjust.

  9. veutoviper 9
    31 October 2013 at 10:14 am

    So much for John Banks’ attempts to get an urgent judicial review of the District Court decision to commit the case on his electoral returns for trial.

    The first High Court hearing on the judicial review was supposed to have been today at the Auckland HC (see Penny Bright’s comment at 28 in OM 30/10/13).

    The HC daily list for today make no mention of the case; and both the Herald and TV3 News have reported this morning that the first hearing on a possible judicial review has now been set for November 28

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Banks-judicial-review-date-set/tabid/1607/articleID/319477/Default.aspx

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11148990

    According to the Herald article:

    “The Herald has been granted access to the court file which reveals the details of Mr Banks’ claim for the first time.

    Mr Banks’ lawyer, David Jones QC, has filed a detailed memorandum which says that Mr Banks had been “vilified” in Parliament and the media as a result of Judge Gittos’ ruling, which he described as “fundamentally misstated and misdirected itself both on the evidence and law”.

    He wrote that the “factual findings made, the analysis of the evidence and the resulting process by which the court came to its decision were wrong”.

    While Judge Gittos’ decision appears to include a number of factual inaccuracies (eg implying that Banks went by helicoptor to the meeting with Dotcom at which the splitting of the donation was discussed), I would hope the judicial review would focus on the legal reasons for Gittos’ decision to commit the case to trial, rather than these ancillary matters.

    I also hope that any judicial review also covers the decisions of Judge Mill of the Wellington DC on 7 Nov 2012 and 16 April 2013, where he also considered that there was sufficient evidence to allow the case to proceed.

    Links from Penny Bright’s websites

    http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/McCready-Banks.pdf

    http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Banks-summoned-on-election-
    return-19-4-13.pdf

    • veutoviper 9.1
      31 October 2013 at 10:25 am

      Oops – that last link doen’t work here or on Penny’s site.

      • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1
        31 October 2013 at 10:51 am

        I get both. The second link is Here.

        • veutoviper 9.1.1.1
          31 October 2013 at 11:36 am

          Thanks DTB.

          I read Judge Mill’s April decision at that time and the reason I hope that it will also be taken into consideration in the judicial review is that it includes references to relevant case law etc not covered by Judge Gittos’ decision – and considerable analysis/dissection of the arguments put forward by Banks’ lawyer against the case going to trial.

          The focus recently has been on Gittos’ decision, but in fact two DC judges ruled that the case should proceed, which IMO should give more weight to the prosecution proceeding (although I personally still have qualms about Crown Law taking over).

          If Graeme Edgeler is correct that the HC judicial review and the DC trial will proceed concurrently, then Banks has effectively not gained anything timewise with his arrogant call for HIS case to be settled forthwith (ie thrown out). The next DC hearing is set for Dec 12, while the HC first hearing is now only two weeks earler on Nov 28 and presumably the latter proceedings will not be finished in one hit. So, the overall effect of the HC judicial review will be to keep the case and Banks even more in the public eye …

    • veutoviper 9.2
      31 October 2013 at 1:07 pm

      Latest on the Banks case – and I was wrong on a couple of points.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9347204/ACTs-Banks-gets-hearing-date

      There was a hearing today in the Auckland HC, which has set a full hearing for Nov 27 – and it is to be a one day hearing only.

  10. Papa Tuanuku 10
    31 October 2013 at 10:26 am

    Shane Jones being sexist:

    Labour MP Shane Jones was in attendance, and said, “With the high percentage of women on council perhaps their motherly instinct will come together with the custodial role of local Māori, which could bring prosperity to Whangarei.”

    (source: Māori Television website story on Whangārei Council)

    • Jim Nald 10.1
      31 October 2013 at 10:55 am

      There was a faint glimmer of hope during the Leadership Contest that he would be more of an asset than a liability but it is time to start questioning his senior role in the Labour caucus.

    • greywarbler 10.2
      31 October 2013 at 10:56 am

      Is that a totally bad remark by Shane Jones? There is nothing bad about having motherly instincts. We are all here and healthy because of them on an individual scale.

      That remark seems to imply that the men on council are less likely to do a good job than the women, and that they need to have fatherly instincts equal to the motherly ones to do well for Whangarei.

      And Shane is no doubt right – if they consider their role is to husband resources and provide good policy outcomes and for all the people dependent on them, they could do well with a fatherly bent. These outcomes should benefit all, and not just be tailored for the individual man personally.
      Nor for their mates the property speculators, their mates the water monopolisers, their mates the sports stadium builders. All using Council assets and resources to further their own projects.

      • QoT 10.2.1
        31 October 2013 at 10:52 pm

        There is nothing bad about having motherly instincts.

        Assuming all women having motherly instincts and are guided by them, on the other hand …

    • millsy 10.3
      31 October 2013 at 11:00 am

      Shane Jones is a nasty prick.

      But properly harnessed, his nastiness could be a useful weapon for Labour.

      • Jim Nald 10.3.1
        31 October 2013 at 11:05 am

        ” … properly harnessed, his nastiness could be a useful weapon for Labour ”

        Indeed. Against the other side of the House.

        And not crap on the benches of his own party’s side in the House.

    • Te Reo Putake 10.4
      31 October 2013 at 1:01 pm

      Where’s the sexism? It reads like a very positive affirmation of the role of women and Māori to me. Kaitiaki?

      And, also, Joss Whedon’s on the money as usual:

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/28/joss-whedon-equality-now-acceptance-speech_n_4169800.html

  13. Huginn 13
    31 October 2013 at 10:47 am

    Neoliberalism is slippery. Economic historian Philip Mirowski pulls historical and philosophical perspective in this excerpt from his new book.
    Read this and think about the Reserve Bank Act, the TPPA, etc

    The Thirteen Commandments of Neoliberalism
    By Philip Mirowski.
    Neoliberals are not fundamentalists. But they approach crises with a certain logic—one that is directly relevant to comprehending neoliberalism’s unexpected strength in the current global crisis.

    It is very important to have some familiarity with neoliberal ideas, if only to resist simple-minded characterizations of the neoliberal approach to the financial crisis as some form of evangelical “market fundamentalism.”

    http://www.the-utopian.org/post/53360513384/the-thirteen-commandments-of-neoliberalism

    • Huginn 13.1
      31 October 2013 at 10:57 am

      Don’t know what happened there, but the previous post about Philip Mirowski is from me

    • Huginn 13.2
      31 October 2013 at 10:57 am

      Don’t know what happened there, but the previous post about Philip Mirowski is from me

    • richard 13.3
      31 October 2013 at 11:54 am

      Understatement of the year:

      Neoliberalism is slippery.

      Fascinating article. Tempted to write out Mirowski’s commandments here but they need the context of his discussion.

  14. Ennui 14
    31 October 2013 at 11:04 am

    Just read today’s DominionPost editorial…it was having a go at the upcoming Labour Party conference where there is “ a proposed rule change requiring the party to “fairly represent” gays and lesbians on its candidate list.

    The Dom is wrong: the remit should be debated. It is part of the party becoming representative of its members democratically.

    Should it become policy? Consider this, it would legislate and mandate something that should not have to be mandated / enforced. In an open grown up accepting society it should not matter what gender / sexuality people are. I consequently think that it reflects badly on all parties when you have to enforce equality. Labour needs to project an image of openly embracing inclusion without having to enforce it. That just sends a message of coercion and entrenchment of “special rights”, Nanny State on steroids.

    • Anne 14.1
      31 October 2013 at 11:55 am

      Agree Ennui.

      Labour is already a party that is widely representative of all citizens in this country. It includes among its membership a solid cross section of ethnic groups, and its caucus is close to becoming evenly gender balanced. There is still a way to go before gender balance is complete and a debate on the issue to send the message home how important it is to achieve that balance is desirable. But to apply ‘enforcement’ by way of a rigid party rule change is NOT the way to do it.

      It irritates me when a group of Labour members become so immersed in an issue that they can’t see the electoral consequences of their ‘selected’ course of action. I have seen it happen time and again over the decades where Labour has adopted rigid policies which allows their opponents to bury them alive and destroy their prospects of electoral success. Have we not learned anything from the successful “Nanny State” campaign of 2007/2008?

      As Ennui implies: you don’t have to apply coercion and entrenchment to achieve a laudable goal. Encouragement and enlightenment is a much better way to go…

    • QoT 14.2
      31 October 2013 at 11:02 pm

      Consider this, it would legislate and mandate something that should not have to be mandated / enforced.

      You know what else shouldn’t have to be mandated? Murder, assault, theft, fraud. And yet they are. Because our society has figured out that some shit doesn’t magically take care of itself.

  15. aerobubble 15
    31 October 2013 at 11:12 am

    A theme park ride, that will cut a privately run monorail
    through a national park, despoiling that park for everyone.
    Now, there won’t be a fence blocking people from crossing,
    so what’s actually to stop people from crossing? Now, let’s
    just think about this, a private consortium will own a
    exclusive path through a National Park, and public can
    cross it for free but not ride it. And the Minister cannot
    see the down stream political outrage, another example
    of Key’s destroying our pristine image.

    Why would any reasonable person think the monorail won’t become
    the poster child for anti-protest? Look, and its worse, why would
    tourists want to travel on a theme park ride that destroys what they
    came to experience. Leave no litter behind, oh, but a monorail
    is okay. What in all of Christidom was the Minister thinking,
    the comedians will have a field day; the world came to see the
    pristine environment, but the mountains and forests slowed
    them down, it was a easy choice, remove forest and tunnel the
    mountains, or safe guard the pristine world heritage.

    Its a joke, a monrail in the wilderness.

  16. amirite 16
    31 October 2013 at 11:28 am

    If I hear anyone mentioning mum and dad investors again, I’ll barf:

    New York bank snaps up Meridian shares
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9346647/New-York-bank-snaps-up-Meridian-shares

  17. amirite 17
    31 October 2013 at 11:35 am

    Also, NZ Oil and Gas shareholders have voted against compensation for Pike Mine families.
    You can only imagine how much they care for the environment, and what would happen in an event of an oil spill here.

    • Draco T Bastard 17.1
      31 October 2013 at 1:12 pm

      Why would shareholders vote to decrease their own dividends?

      Shareholders: Biggest bunch of bludgers in the world.

    • RedBaronCV 17.2
      31 October 2013 at 8:36 pm

      I knew someone at the meeting and only shareholders at the meeting could vote. 99% of the shares were voted against but there is no figure for the number of shareholders (not shares) that voted for it, which might be interesting because these would be the “mom and pop” shareholders. Wonder if someone will ask the coy?

  18. Tat Loo (CV) 18
    31 October 2013 at 12:13 pm

    Why did National Radio just now keep referring to “the central bank” instead of to “the Reserve Bank”?

    Something is pretty fucked up.

  19. captain hook 19
    31 October 2013 at 2:05 pm

    anyway the thing is why is DOC approving the slash and burn in the fiordland national park so the noo noo heads can have their own little private electric train set.
    DOC has become obsessed with fiddling about with birds and they are ready and willing to sell off anything so they can get their names in the paper or on teevee fondling a bundle of fluff.

    • Rogue Trooper 21.1
      31 October 2013 at 3:19 pm

      from the vid
      -offering a Bachelor of General Studies
      -a Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Education introduced the following year.
      -“cost recovery” for assessment.

      from the Press
      -a course in Regional Economics in the Asia and Pacific region.

      very interesting Draco

  22. greywarbler 22
    31 October 2013 at 4:07 pm

    I was just listening to a group of Chinese or Japanese college students going by talking in their language. And I thought how determined and stoic these parents and kids are to advance themselves, learn about the different culture that will be useful to them, and go far away from their own country and food. (A Butanese here had digestion troubles for some time – food and sort of reverse altitude sickness apparently.)

    How many NZ families are sending their kids away from the cows, and over to Chinese Universities, after learning Cantonese or Mandarin of course? The Chinese and Japanese have ancient cultures that have been through the processes of the modernising machine, a process like a long. scary ghost tunnel ride with real blood. They have come out the other side, let’s not see them fight over a group of islands in their waters, as that will cause a silly blip in the preparation for the new Millenium which has only just started.

    We need to relate to the Chinese now we have signed up, and be prepared to flip the TPPP down the toilet despite nasty teeth-baring from the New World (that is just the old one, with new hot chilly sauce) and the Mother of All of whom it was said ‘Perfidious Albion.’

    • Rogue Trooper 22.1
      31 October 2013 at 4:22 pm

      The Angels Weep Still.

    • Populuxe1 22.2
      31 October 2013 at 10:56 pm

      Strangely I have a great deal of difficulty relating to harvesting organs from prisoners, enforced abortions and sterilisations, widespread bureaucratic corruption, sweatshops, and god knows what else.

    • Not Another Sheep 22.3
      1 November 2013 at 3:09 am

      Gerygone-

      Are you sure these students weren’t from Moldova , Brazil, Comoros , Germany, Ukraine, Australia, Tajikistan, Peru, Burkina Faso, Benin, Fiji , Canada..?
      How did you pick their nationality?

      Did you actually go outside and ask these students face to face where they were from in order to “relate” to them ? ( it has been over 5 years since “We need to relate to the Chinese now we have signed up” and about 40 years since there has been a ‘relationship’ with China.)

      Do “Butanese” come from Lithospere(ania)?

      What’s wrong with cows? Is it all right if my kids speak Portuguese and attend UNICERP ( there was real blood there too) to learn culture?

      If I fly into Lijiang, head to Yulong will Naxi be ok ?

      What does “that is just the old one, with new hot chilly[sic] sauce” infer ? The “New World” was ‘discovered’ (colonists world view) as early as the 11th century so do you think indigenous cultures already in the New World feel grateful and did they get a fair trade price for their hot chili?

      The “Old World” was China so where does NEW hot chili sauce come from?

      What does “the modernising machine” do? Was it like the tunnel one in “The Sneetches” where your stars are better than theirs?

      What does this mean “let’s not see them fight over a group of islands in their waters, as that will cause a silly blip in the preparation for the new Millenium [sic] which has only just started.” ?And which “new “Millenium” ” are we preparing for?

      What is “gerfuffle” (your spelling) ?

      , 無厘頭尻, 死鬼佬

  23. Puckish Rogue 23
    31 October 2013 at 4:22 pm

    An opportunity to meet 1:1 in a short meeting with your choice (subject to availability) of Members of Parliament and senior Party officials (further information regarding this will be sent to you on payment).

    – At $1500 I think thats pricing themselves out of the market 🙂

  24. Crunchtime 24
    31 October 2013 at 4:29 pm

    DimPost hack Vernon Small (Venally Small Minded) went on vacuously today about Cunliffe “verging on self-parody” and “talking tough instead of just being tough” whatever the hell that means… Most of his collumn was a waste of paper and ink but he did mention interestingly that Cunliffe hasn’t yet appointed a Chief Press Secretary, and that his staff was “light on political advisors”.

    A bit concerned about this, and it does tee up with a lack of press and announcements from our man Cunliffe over the last couple of weeks. He’s not staying on the radar as much as I expected him to. Perhaps I shouldn’t have, he wasn’t frequently in the public eye before becoming Labour leader.

    Still, what’s going on? It seems some momentum has been lost.

    • chris73 24.1
      31 October 2013 at 5:14 pm

      “verging on self-parody” and “talking tough instead of just being tough” whatever the hell that means

      – I think he means Cunliffe is all fire and brimstone when talking to the unions and then changes the message when talking to thew media or business and whenever he says what hes going to do he always adds a get out clause

      But I could of course be wrong

      • QoT 24.1.1
        31 October 2013 at 11:04 pm

        You absolutely are.

        • Crunchtime 24.1.1.1
          1 November 2013 at 2:44 pm

          Well, he could be right, in that this is what Vernon Small is pointing to.

          Which to an extent is right – but doesn’t logically reach the conclusion that Small Minded inarticulately jumps for: Cunliffe says different things to different crowds. But his message is never conflicting, he never contradicts himself, and it’s perfectly natural to say the part of the message that is relevant to the crowd you are talking to.

          Easily misinterpreted as inconsistency when EVERYTHING you say happens to be broadcast to the media.

    • Anne 24.2
      31 October 2013 at 5:32 pm

      Still, what’s going on? It seems some momentum has been lost.

      Cunliffe has spent the last 2 to 3 weeks touring the regional provinces. Labour lost all but two of their provincial seats and they need to get them back again. I think that’s an important piece of strategy because the regional towns house many potential Labour voters who have been turned off in recent elections. These country-side forays don’t get national coverage but that makes them no less important. He’s back on the job this coming weekend at the ChCh conference, so expect to see him burst back on to our TV screens with a vengeance.

      his staff was “light on political advisors”.

      I doubt he needs many advisers.

    • Tat Loo 24.3
      31 October 2013 at 6:21 pm

      Perhaps Vernon Small would have preferred another winner to the leadership battle.

  25. chris73 25
    31 October 2013 at 5:23 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9347781/Warm-welcome-for-Prime-Minister

    NZ rated highly in places to live

    Cunliffes honeymoon well and truly over

    Get the feeling this next election is going to be hotlly contested… (and don’t worry about that nagging deja vu feeling you’re getting I’m sure its nothing :))

    • the pigman 25.1
      31 October 2013 at 5:34 pm

      I opened that story, spurred on by the talk of a “rock-star-like welcome”.

      Then I read the whole article.

      And I thought… is this really what news journalism has come to?

      And I paused for a moment of reflection.

      • Tat Loo 25.1.1
        31 October 2013 at 6:22 pm

        chris73 seems to be under the impression that people shopping in a mall on a week day are somehow representative of the working people of Christchurch.

    • karol 25.2
      31 October 2013 at 6:35 pm

      I can see from the photo with that article that Key is lucky to still have the clothes on his back. Clearly the shoppers can hardly contain themselves wit their rock star-like mobbing of him. Many just can’t keep their eyes or hand off him.

      • Anne 25.2.1
        31 October 2013 at 6:50 pm

        Yes karol, and that well built jeaned young woman in the empty centre of the photo looks like she thinks its hilarious that she’s been caught on camera close to John Key.

    • gobsmacked 25.3
      31 October 2013 at 6:48 pm

      don’t worry about that nagging deja vu feeling you’re getting I’m sure its nothing

      Yes, you’ll soon be hearing the old classic …

      “We won, you lost, eat that.” Can’t wait.

      Funny thing is, whenever the Righties pop up and say “we’re gonna win in 2014”, they never stick around to say how it’s going to happen. I’d really love to know.

      C’mon Chris, show your working. Is your faith based on Winston, Colin or drugs?

      • chris73 25.3.1
        31 October 2013 at 9:46 pm

        Well the economy is going well

        theres finally more balanced reporting from the media and not just faithfully repeating labour/green press releases

        The honeymoon is over for Cunliffe

        National is still well over 40% (no I don’t think they’re at 50%)

        Labours stagnating

        All in all not a bad places for National to be in the run up to the election (and don’t forget the bribes to come)

    • Adele 25.4
      31 October 2013 at 8:07 pm

      Chris73

      “Shoppers in central Christchurch gave Prime Minister John Key a rock-star-like welcome when he visited the Palms Shopping Centre this morning.”

      Looking at the photo, I am thinking that John Key is about as popular a rock star as Gary Glitter.

      Of all the photos they could choose to illustrate his popularity you’d think they would choose one where there is an actual mob of supporters doing stuff like throwing underpants his way or trying to hump his leg. But no, we have a mum and a toddler – who is most likely thinking “this old dude isn’t a wiggle, mum lied.”

      Every other person in the photo is looking away from him. A big hit, I don’t think so.

  26. joe90 26
    31 October 2013 at 5:58 pm

    This’ll be why RWNJ’s think school vouchers are such a great idea.

    Nearly three-fourths of Wisconsin students attending private schools using new taxpayer-funded vouchers were already attending them, according to enrollment figures released Tuesday by the Department of Public Instruction.

    The statewide voucher program, in its first year, is at capacity, with about 500 students receiving vouchers statewide, according to the department. Of those, 79 percent did not attend a Wisconsin public school last year.

    http://host.madison.com/news/local/education/local_schools/dpi-percent-of-statewide-voucher-students-already-enrolled-in-private/article_fc6e1559-46c7-5875-8ba6-280d58f10b49.html

  27. Tracey 27
    31 October 2013 at 6:00 pm

    In other words john nothing to hide nothing to fear banks is kind of back door appealing instead of letting his glowing innocence shine at a substantive hearing.

    solicitor general substituting

  28. vto 28
    31 October 2013 at 6:25 pm

    More drug testing being called for … http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9346751/Balloon-tragedy-report-sparks-drug-testing-call

    Wouldn’t have a problem with all of this if the testing actually tested impairment. But it doesn’t. It tests whether the person has smoked cannabis pretty much anytime over the previous 3 weeks, which has nothing at all to do with being impaired.

    Would drivers be happy if they were tested for alcohol being consumed at any time in the previous 3 weeks and losing their licence over it? No, they would not.

    It is bloody hogwash.

  29. karol 29
    31 October 2013 at 7:05 pm

    RNZ’s new online radio, wireless.

    Press release on it.

    Radio New Zealand Launches THEWIRELESS

    Up front, in-depth and in tune, Radio New Zealand’s new online network, THEWIRELESS, delivers multi-platform public service media to a generation of New Zealanders who have grown up in a digital age.

    THEWIRELESS marks a significant break from the past for public broadcasting in this country with Radio New Zealand using video, text, and audio content to take its informative, insightful and entertaining storytelling to a new generation.

    The innovative online approach developed from an original concept for a youth radio network which has been kicked around in New Zealand for the past 20 years. But the time for a traditional radio network has passed says project leader, Marcus Stickley: “We live in an age where you can tell a story any way you want on one platform – the internet. THEWIRELESS is online only and has been designed with mobile phones in mind, as well as tablets, laptops and desktops with stories told in video, photos, audio and text. Some will be told in two types of media, some will be told in all four, or maybe more depending on where technology takes us.”

    Asks people to share their stories or tips.

    Hmmm… looks interesting, but I’m not sure of the visual presentation.

    • Naturesong 29.1
      31 October 2013 at 8:11 pm

      The “hip” and “funky” font (yeah! we’re young and cutting edge – barf) they are using gets tedious to read after about … 5 seconds

      • karol 29.1.1
        31 October 2013 at 8:25 pm

        Yes.

        And I’m not sure about the selection of topics/sections, presumably based on the assumptrion that young people will like them.

        However, I have been enjoying couple of the Lou Reed vids linked to by the music woman.

    • millsy 29.2
      1 November 2013 at 1:06 am

      Basically a website with content aimed at young people. When I first heard about it, I thought it would be a YRN which was streamed online.

      If RNZ were really smart, they would also hand over station time in RNZ National (or Concert) to The Wireless.

      Anyway, lets see how it goes. Hopefully Labour will actually get round to introducing a YRN, and The Wireless would be in place and ready to take that task on.

  30. cyclone bola 30
    31 October 2013 at 7:14 pm

    So the Aussie Government has been outed spying on it’s hosts from embassies around the world as part of Echelon-Five Eyes.
    Not hard to guess who else is doing that and the Key response: No comment on intelligence matters.
    Which leaves an alert opposition with some interesting options.
    If I had David Cunliffe’s ear I’d suggest the party develop a policy of no progress on trade talks (TPP) until the negotiators had an even playing field. Why neogtiate with governments that are listening to every word out negotiators are saying privately?

  32. weka 32
    31 October 2013 at 9:35 pm

    Naomi Klein on Climate Change science and the need for active resistance to the dominant economic paradigm. I don’t agree with everything she is saying, and it’s light on specific solutions. It’s also not news. But the reframing looks useful to me. Would undermining capitalism quickly enough give us a chance at avoiding complete catastrophe?

    but what Werner is doing with his modelling is different. He isn’t saying that his research drove him to take action to stop a particular policy; he is saying that his research shows that our entire economic paradigm is a threat to ecological stability. And indeed that challenging this economic paradigm – through mass-movement counter-pressure – is humanity’s best shot at avoiding catastrophe.

    That’s heavy stuff. But he’s not alone. Werner is part of a small but increasingly influential group of scientists whose research into the destabilisation of natural systems – particularly the climate system – is leading them to similarly transformative, even revolutionary, conclusions. And for any closet revolutionary who has ever dreamed of overthrowing the present economic order in favour of one a little less likely to cause Italian pensioners to hang themselves in their homes, this work should be of particular interest. Because it makes the ditching of that cruel system in favour of something new (and perhaps, with lots of work, better) no longer a matter of mere ideological preference but rather one of species-wide existential necessity.

    So it stands to reason that, “if we’re thinking about the future of the earth, and the future of our coupling to the environment, we have to include resistance as part of that dynamics”.

    http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/10/science-says-revolt

  33. xtasy 33
    31 October 2013 at 11:29 pm

    Agree or disagree, at least very interesting:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGxFJ5nL9gg

    Russel speaks out, and where are others, who should speak out also!?

    Enough is enough, of all the BS that goes on in this screwed up world!

    • Not Another Sheep 33.1
      1 November 2013 at 3:46 am

      You might like the link then xtasy , to the context of that Paxman interview. Brand as guest editor “New Statesman” It was posted the other day on TS.

      http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/10/russell-brand-on-revolution
      ‘Russell Brand on revolution: “We no longer have the luxury of tradition”

      And then he has replied
      “Russell Brand’s replies to contributors: From Russell with love ”
      http://www.newstatesman.com/media/2013/10/russell-brands-replies-contributors-russell-love

      What do you visualise as a “revolution”, xtasy in NZ?

      • xtasy 33.1.1
        1 November 2013 at 8:50 pm

        Just for a start, perhaps abolish “private” schools, “private” medical insurance, stop “private” charter schools and so much else “private” (apart from “privacy” on the web, mobile phone and other phone use), as such “private” style of “division” is undermining collective social cohesion.

        Of course much more would need to be done, like bringing back true public broadcasting, so we get more balanced reporting and more quality programs on television and radio again (it also being offered via the web).

        New Zealand is “corrupted” by too much “private interest”, and it is disgusting what goes on, sadly people do not realise this, that is too many do not.

  34. xtasy 34
    1 November 2013 at 1:17 am

    On 07 Oct. 1980 “marxist” musicians from Chile went into exile. now they are back. Celebrate, I say, but many are not, and in NZ few do not even comprehend, this is nothing really but a fascist society, as few if any get what matters. But just for the sake of music, I load this here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV9rBs_4Ifg

  35. xtasy 35
    1 November 2013 at 1:39 am

    bad12″ – I still am in a bit of a dispute, I like your staunch views on certain issues, but at times you lash out, as you accused me of doing. Maybe reflect and get back, we may be fighting the same enemy, but with different approaches and so, but good luck, mate, I wish you well.

    As for the rest, NZers must bloody wake up, as you are taken for a bloody ride, 24/7, and I can tell you more, we need to deal to lies and shit from the US, but ALSO to lies and crap happeing here. I have heaps of the latter, it is all documented, so I will refrain from feeding it here, but some pollies and especially admin nazis, you will get dealt to very soon, good luck!

  36. xtasy 36
    1 November 2013 at 2:10 am

    Apart from all this, VUELVO is the message, and we have revolutionary spirit in other quarters, I only wish, even in moderate level, NZers would endeavour to do the same. We will wait and see: VUELVO!

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

  37. xtasy 37
    1 November 2013 at 2:44 am

    Speaking to heaps of people today in Central Auckland, all good people, I ask, what is going on in NZ, to ridicule and dismiss what we know. Take care and take a bloody stand, against all this spy and surveillance crap we get told and sold, I will be back, as I have heaps of info none of you know, but stand up and fight it, fight it, all along:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W24WHbzQYE

  38. xtasy 38
    1 November 2013 at 2:57 am

    This is PUBLIC TV in Chile!!!

    Why can NZ not deliver the same? Are we primitive or backward? But Martyn Bradbury raised it just recently, So do I here, it is time to get real and inform, educate, and to report fairly on things in the media, we are waiting.!

    Why can this not be done here?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W24WHbzQYE

  39. aerobubble 39
    13 November 2013 at 10:17 am

    Yeah, no, what about the olds who don’t like forests, and so won’t use the monorail.

    Where’s the chair lift to the top of Mt.Cook!

    How are we to get older kiwis to protect and revere the environment if they can’t travel to the top of MT.Cook in a warm cozy air conditioned chair lift.

    I mean think about the old people, they used to be hard core environmentalists some of them, now they want to scare a pristine forest so they can travel in private luxury.

    How are is the environment to be protected if Moro makes the case that in order to protect the environment we have to destroy it, the power lines alone, the fire risk, the cost of placing all that concrete (and funding its eventual removal), and lets not even start on the mining companies who will use the opportunity to…

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