Open mike 31/10/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:50 am, October 31st, 2014 - 170 comments
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keep-calm-and-stay-left-10Open mike is your post.

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170 comments on “Open mike 31/10/2014 ”

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  1. phillip ure 1
    31 October 2014 at 7:00 am

    “..Punitive drug law enforcement failing – says Home Office study..

    ..UK government study finds no evidence that harsh sentencing curbs illegal use –

    – and documents success of Portugal’s decriminalisation..”

    (cont..)

    http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/30/punitive-drug-laws-are-failing-study

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1
      31 October 2014 at 7:37 am

      I was wondering how it must feel when all your ideas turn out wrong, and every solution you implement makes things worse, and then I remembered that wingnuts have cognitive dissonance and the Dunning-Kruger effect to make everything ok again, and off they go to the next monstrous trainwreck.

      But just once, wouldn’t it be refreshing if they’d acknowledge their incompetence and failure and reflect.

      😆

      • phillip ure 1.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 7:50 am

        @ oan..

        ..”..I was wondering how it must feel when all your ideas turn out wrong, and every solution you implement makes things worse..”

        are you referring to the history of the labour party since that rightwing-revolution back in the 80’s..?

        ..’cos the description fits like a glove..eh..?

        ..the short/brutal history of neo-liberalism in new zealand..

        ..what has led to us having widespread homelessness..

        ..and our over 300,000 children living in poverty..

        ..then there are their parents..also iiving in poverty..

        ..and together making up the missing-million..

        ..the disenfranchised..

        ..then there are the working-poor..

        ..those who our low-wage economy..(thanks again..!..labour and national..!..)

        ..condemns to a live of working-poverty..

        ..this is all seriously fucked-up..

        • phillip ure 1.1.1.1
          31 October 2014 at 8:06 am

          @..oan..

          “..But just once, wouldn’t it be refreshing if they’d acknowledge their incompetence and failure and reflect….”

          indeed..!..a neolib mea culpa from labour..(and promises to never ever do that again..) wd certainly be timely/welcomed..

          ..and a key part of any revival/re-branding..you’d think..?

          ..’cos..y’see..from out here…hearing all those same old neo-lib/arbeit macht frei!-poverty-ending-prescriptions from the candidates for the labour party leadership..

          ..could..at first glance..

          ..just be confirmation that labour has not yet at all learnt from its’ neo-lib mistakes..

          ..and that won’t do at all..will it..?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1.1.1
            31 October 2014 at 9:29 am

            Yeah, all that aside, at least Labour have had some competent policies (in the past). Can you name a single National policy that’s worked as advertised?

            • phillip ure 1.1.1.1.1.1
              31 October 2014 at 10:08 am

              @ oan..

              ..i know they have upped the education/rehab-options for prison-inmates..

              ..(not to where they need to be..but much more than labour did..)

              ..increasing access to free healthcare for the young..

              ..but that’s about it..

              ..good things neo-lib clark/labour did..?

              ..there was the selective/middle-class welfare of working for (some) families..

              ..they stopped charging interest for student loans..

              ..help me here..!..i’m struggling..!

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                31 October 2014 at 10:14 am

                Cherry picking Lab5 suits your sophistry does it?

                The welfare state. Public healthcare. Universal suffrage. Public education. Public utilities. Employment rights and safer workplace conditions etc etc.

                • phillip ure …
                  31 October 2014 at 10:21 am

                  oh..!..yr going way back..!

                  ..apologies..i thought you were talking post-rogernomics..recent-labour doings..

                  ..when so much of that earlier good work was unpicked/dismantled..

                  ..i am unsure what you are arguing with me about..as of course labour must return to its’/those roots..

                  ..like what is being said about the dying/terminal scottish labour party..

                  ..labour now ‘lacks both passion and vision’..

                  ..they have sold-out those origins/roots/beliefs about what they are there to do that you refer to .. for so long..

                  ..i fear that is all they now know how to do..

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    31 October 2014 at 10:22 am

                    I’m not arguing with you. I’m just noting that the list of National Party policies that have worked is blank.

              • Clemgeopin …
                31 October 2014 at 10:32 am

                http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Labour_Government_of_New_Zealand#Significant_policies

                Click on the link in the article under:

                Significant policies

                2.1 Economic
                2.2 Constitutional
                2.3 Treaty of Waitangi
                2.4 Social policy
                2.5 Health
                2.6 Environment
                2.7 National identity
                2.8 Foreign affairs

  2. Paul 2
    31 October 2014 at 7:14 am

    Labour and the Lib Democrats in freefall in Scotland
    That’s what happened when they supported the Tories by saying no to independence.
    Looks like 2015 will be interesting in the UK.
    Our Labour Party should not mimic the National Party here. There’s a lesson to be learnt from this.

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/30/scottish-no-voters-referendum-labour

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/30/scottish-no-voters-referendum-labour

    • phillip ure 2.1
      31 October 2014 at 7:27 am

      the aspiring to be new leader of scottish labour party sez the party ‘lacks passion and vision’..

      ..sounds familiar..eh..?

      • Paul 2.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 7:42 am

        However the Scots people have woken up.
        Unlike the sleepy hobbits here.
        The TPP will be signed and then it’ll be too late.
        Keep taking the blue pill, NZ.
        Stay in the illusion of the matrix.

        • phillip ure 2.1.1.1
          31 October 2014 at 7:56 am

          there’s always the flag-debate..

          ..and a new hobbit-flic out soon..(be warned..!..there will probably be a quite a bit of walking..eh.?..there usually is..)

          ..and it has a 40 min final/epic battle..that won’t get/be at all boring..will it..?..

          (..’urgh..!;..’aagghh!’..slash/bang..who else can hardly wait..?..)

          • Murray Rawshark 2.1.1.1.1
            31 October 2014 at 8:00 pm

            Bill Bryson’s books about walking would make better films than the turgid rubbish Lord Jackson of the Keys turns out these days. This leads me to believe it’s not the topic that’s problematic.

        • greywarshark 2.1.1.2
          31 October 2014 at 10:52 am

          That doesn’t rhyme!

  3. les 3
    31 October 2014 at 8:05 am

    ‘The former Hanover director is continuing to challenge the High Court throwing out his bid to join the trustees into the FMA case.’ Hotchin still hangin in there,what a saga.I was wondering whether the learned Dr Brian Edwards was another,possibly unwitting accessory to the Slater/Odgers campaign to influence sentiment regarding Hotchin.I recall him recieving a letter from Hotchins wife Amanda and the supportive stance he took on his media site.Edwards always seems susceptible to a bit of flannel and flattery.Slater stroked his ego over his stint on Fair Go and Amandas letter was full of glowing praise for the aging commentator,who apparantly was almost single handedly responsible for Helen Clarks election success.

  4. Tiger Mountain 4
    31 October 2014 at 8:32 am

    What is it with all this Key Love?
    (please note–not referring to The Standard.)

    My view is that the reason so many sleepy Hobbits appear to support the flabby toupee’d one is not because they actually like him. Rather, he is the ultimate enabler. The monkey on your shoulder that says “its ok, do it”. The aspirational and ‘dark’ kiwis in this majorly unequal post colonial country seem to feel it is ok to behave like reactionary shitheads if dear leader says so on the back of his virtually real time polling via Curia and Crosby Textor and Whaleboil/Kiwiblog.

    The Nats exploit a changed NZ social landscape. 30 years of privatised public assets and union busting. Workers as contractors, temping, unpaid internships, not enough hours, too many hours, dependent contracting etc.

    There is “us” and the “losers”. Only rugby ranks above bennie and Māori/immigrant bashing as a national sport. The statistics imperfect as they are show well the inequities. The fact is the majority are now in the “loser” category. False consciousness and alienation are significant factors.

    The working class has been partly ‘atomised’ as the saying goes but 360,000 are still proudly union. And that is the way to go. Collective activity is the only way out of this pit.

    • ropata rorschach inkblot 4.1
      31 October 2014 at 10:11 am

      Key-love also transcends policy as TV polls showed: kiwis supported Labour policy, but preferred Key for PM. Weird.

      There are now thousands of voters who have no idea what a decent social democracy looks like. All they know is neolib bullshit Rogernomics.

      • Rosie 4.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 10:54 am

        TM and ropata, you’ve touched on a theme that has been bugging me for over a week now.

        Last week I was listening to the regular Thursday morning Scoop Report with Alistair Thompson, on the radio. He was out of the country during the election and only recently returned.

        The DJ, who is a vocal and enthusiastic Leftie expressed his ongoing despair and shock at the election result and asked AT his thoughts on WHY the election went the way it did. In a nutshell the response was along the lines of the idea that the cultural change that NZ has undergone in the last thirty years has been directed by the neoliberal policy, and that as a result people have turned away from viewing government as having a part in their lives and turned towards a culture of self reliance and the market being a part of their lives, eg consumerism and work opportunities (paraphrasing the bit about the market). He mentioned the last six years under National have entrenched this view.

        He also expressed your sentiments about voters not understanding what a decent social democracy looks like, especially those of Gen Y age.

        These ideas are not new but what struck me was his view on the permanent change within our culture and how voters can’t identify with the Left and how they see the policies and ideals of the Left as being irrelevant to their lives. There was some fatalistic quality about the future of the Left, in his view.

        It got me wondering, with some alarm, is it as good as over for the Left in our country?

        • ropata rorschach inkblot 4.1.1.1
          31 October 2014 at 1:28 pm

          No way it’s over for the Left. The tides of history will turn, perhaps catastrophically.

          We now have the same inequality as the ‘roaring’ 1920’s; are we heading for a repeat of the 20th century…?

          • Rosie 4.1.1.1.1
            31 October 2014 at 1:49 pm

            Whoa! I’m going to have to come back to that article later as I’m out of time now. Thank you for providing it, as something to think about.

            As for tides of history, I’ve been thinking about that too, and some examples provide hope. (EG, a book I read recently about Ireland’s struggles and triumphs from the 1600’s to Independence. They got there, against all odds)

            It just feels in this tiny point in time that we are treading water on the Left, here in little ol’ Aotearoa, and I do wonder what it will take for the tide to go out on greed, small mindedness, selfishness and the drive for “small government” – I’ll look to the archdruid article for inspiration…………

          • phillip ure 4.1.1.1.2
            31 October 2014 at 2:03 pm

            if this isn’t fixed up..if this continues to grow..

            ..we re headed for either totalitarian-dictatorships..

            ..or revolutions..

            http://whoar.co.nz/?s=inequality

    • greywarshark 4.2
      31 October 2014 at 10:54 am

      TM
      Words to live by, hopefully.

      and ropata ri at 10.11 am
      Wise words.

      and Rosie
      I think we need to read what is being said about USA voters and why they will demonstrate against policies that would be good for them as in better public health provisions. How they came to such a pass that they could see government doing good things for all as bad, may be demonstrative to us in understanding our own impasse. We have been affected by the same propaganda and market forces. But it has been noticed that we can be a number of years behind the leaders of whatever is the new style, so perhaps there is time for us to mount a winning defence.

      • Rosie 4.2.1
        31 October 2014 at 11:15 am

        Kia Ora Warbs.

        Yeah, the US public response to plans for funded health care was bizarre, a spooky example of a brainwashed population easily fooled.

        And yes, although I don’t follow the patterns of political cultural change in societies anywhere near as close as other folks do, it seems like we are following in the wave of conservatism that is sweeping through the countries of our 5 eyes partners – and Key is so buddy buddy with Cameron and Obama, his puppetry is completely disturbing. It makes me wonder what he has in store for us when he says “we are on the cusp of something very special”.

        Is there time to resist before before we are completely doomed, and if so, who will stand up?

        • greywarshark 4.2.1.1
          31 October 2014 at 1:41 pm

          @ Rosie
          Yes, I wonder, and know I am not doing enough. Trouble is one can alienate family and others, who can you talk to about the problems when people are determined not to know? At least here there is an interest in learning and gaining information amongst most.

  5. Gruntie 5
    31 October 2014 at 8:34 am

    who instructed the Immigration Service to re-check Kim Dot Com’s application for residency and who knew he had a past driving offence that he didn’t declare and why is the media / NZ Shit Herald not asking these questions?
    just saying

    • ropata rorschach inkblot 5.1
      31 October 2014 at 9:25 am

      The immigration service recommended not to accept his residency application, the minister forced it through because

      a) KDC was loaded b) KDC was John Banks’ pal c) the USA wanted KDC in NZ

      Obviously after riding roughshod over their objections, why should the department bother with trivia like a speeding ticket? DotCom has been convicted of hacking, nowadays a crime akin to terrorism

      • nadis 5.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 10:28 am

        I think A and B are true, but not C. At the time he was trying to push on his residency application Dot Com said in one of his letters to immigration “if you don’t hurry up and approve me, I’ll go and live in Australia or Canada instead.” Both of those countries would be easier than NZ from an extradition point of view. If the conspiracy really existed, the US would have preferred DotCom to go to either Aus or Canada.

        I am no fan of Dot Com but I am pretty sure this non-disclosure won’t result in cancellation of his visa. The test is whether disclosure of the conviction at the time would have resulted in a denial of his original application. Given the desire of politicians to get a high net worth potential donor in the country who then owes them a favour, it is pretty easy to argue that even with this disclosure his residency would have been granted.

        From the docs released it is pretty clear that Immigration and the SIS didn’t want this approved and the Police had no opinion either way.

        It’s also clear (to me at least) that DotCom deliberately didn’t disclose this, assuming that because he had multiple names on legal docs (Shultz versus Dotcom), he’d get away with it.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.1
          31 October 2014 at 11:08 am

          Both of those countries would be easier than NZ from an extradition point of view.

          [citation needed]

          From the docs released it is pretty clear that Immigration and the SIS didn’t want this approved and the Police had no opinion either way.

          But our government did but only after they talked to the US which kinda negates your first point.

          Really, all you’re saying is Nooooo, the government didn’t doooo thaaaat because I don’t believe it.

    • Tracey 5.2
      31 October 2014 at 1:03 pm

      who told the herald which led to the immigration investigation…

  6. fisiani 6
    31 October 2014 at 9:19 am

    Has anyone been told that they cannot have a tea break today? Of course not. Enjoy your tea breaks.

    • KJS0ne 6.1
      31 October 2014 at 9:31 am

      Do you have intimate knowledge of what’s being said in every small, medium and large sized business in the country today Fisi?

      By all means make your point, but at least try to make it in an intelligent manner.

    • ropata rorschach inkblot 6.2
      31 October 2014 at 10:02 am

      Don’t worry fisi, by the end of this term National will have dismantled heaps more employment rights and undermined unions so that NZ can compete for the cheapest workforce in the Pacific. This is guaranteed to help the top 1% (the rest of society can get f*cked eh mate?)

    • BassGuy 6.3
      31 October 2014 at 10:23 am

      Today? No.

      But tomorrow? Tomorrow I’m doing about five hours. I’ll get no breaks, but I will get minimum wage.

      • nadis 6.3.1
        31 October 2014 at 10:30 am

        Are you saying your employer is unilaterally changing your current contractual agreement?

        • felix 6.3.1.1
          31 October 2014 at 10:56 am

          Even if not, what about the next job BassGuy gets? And what about the next person who takes Bassguys old job?

          The screw gets a little twist each time, and the jobs get shittier and shittier.

          • nadis 6.3.1.1.1
            31 October 2014 at 11:09 am

            That’s not as sensational as what Bassguy is claiming.

            Jobs getting shittier and shittier is the best argument I have seen for education and training. Education and training is expensive but life without education and skills is even more expensive.

            Most employers aren’t gonna be arseholes about the new laws as that would be counterproductive for their business. As always there’ll be a minority who act like dicks and they should be named and shamed.

            Unfortunately for the low skilled and low paid there is an increasing commoditisation of labour and I’m not sure what the short term answer is for people in that situation. Buy back NZR and put everyone there like the olden days?

            • BassGuy 6.3.1.1.1.1
              31 October 2014 at 11:27 am

              Oh, I have a degree. There just aren’t any suitable positions in the area, but that’s a long story with a lot more detail than I’m comfortable giving out just now.

              Yeah, my employer is one of those who holds you to your contract but will only really abide by it if it suits them. This is fairly normal for my area, unless you’ve managed to secure a job with a large multinational with a strong union.

              I’ve noted elsewhere (not assuming you’ve read it) that the employer’s position is if we don’t like the conditions, we can always get another job. This is fairly standard for the region, too.

              Felix is right, though: I’m the latest in a long line of people this has happened to, and it’s going to keep happening until something changes, but what? Just one person standing up and saying “This isn’t right!” won’t work. One person can be fired and ignored easily enough.

            • greywarshark 6.3.1.1.1.2
              31 October 2014 at 1:50 pm

              @ nadis
              Most employers….the usual misty-eyed crap presenting the myth as the reality by someone who doesn’t know and doesn’t care that they don’t know.

            • felix 6.3.1.1.1.3
              31 October 2014 at 1:59 pm

              “As always there’ll be a minority who act like dicks and they should be named and shamed.”

              That minority are precisely who workplace rights legislation is supposed to protect workers against.

              That’s. what. it’s. for.

              So what you’re doing here is acknowledging the problem, and simultaneously applauding the govt for removing the solution.

              Fucking genius mate.

            • felix 6.3.1.1.1.4
              31 October 2014 at 2:12 pm

              “Jobs getting shittier and shittier is the best argument I have seen for education and training”

              That’s great for the individual but does nothing to improve the job, which now has to be filled by (fuck me) another individual!

              So you’re still advocating for jobs, and lives, to keep getting shittier and shittier, little by little, year after year and generation after generation.

              What a wonderful vision of the society you want to live in.

            • Draco T Bastard 6.3.1.1.1.5
              31 October 2014 at 5:17 pm

              Most employers aren’t gonna be arseholes about the new laws as that would be counterproductive for their business. As always there’ll be a minority who act like dicks and they should be named and shamed.

              The laws aren’t there to constrain the majority but the minority that will treat their employees like dirt.

              Unfortunately for the low skilled and low paid there is an increasing commoditisation of labour and I’m not sure what the short term answer is for people in that situation.

              More progressive policies that encourage and help people to get better training. Exactly the opposite of what National has been doing for the last six years.

              Buy back NZR and put everyone there like the olden days?

              Back when we had a lot more skilled people because the state trained them for free?

          • fisiani 6.3.1.1.2
            31 October 2014 at 1:37 pm

            You really have a twisted view about employers in New Zealand. How come survey after survey shows that the vast majority of workers are happy with their jobs.

            http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/income-and-work/employment_and_unemployment/SurveyofWorkingLife_MRDec12qtr.aspx

            • wekarawshark 6.3.1.1.2.1
              31 October 2014 at 2:32 pm

              In the December 2012 quarter, for all employed people:

              85 percent were either ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ in their main job
              8 percent were ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’ with their work-life balance
              18 percent had ‘always’ or ‘often’ felt stressed at work in the previous 12 months
              10 percent had experienced discrimination, harassment, or bullying at work in the previous 12 months.

              And for all employees:

              36 percent who had started their main job in the previous 12 months had started on a 90-day trial
              10 percent were temporary workers
              27 percent were members of a union
              17 percent of permanent employees thought the chance of losing their job in the next 12 months was ‘medium’, ‘high’, or ‘almost certain’.

              A few things jump out from that. One is that people were questioned about their main job and satisfaction. It’s likely that people having to work multiple jobs are less satisfied with other jobs.

              The numbers of people who felt stressed at work is high. Ditto permanent employees who expect to lose their job.

              I couldn’t find a definition of satisfaction, or what actual questions were asked.

            • Puddleglum 6.3.1.1.2.2
              31 October 2014 at 11:02 pm

              That’s ‘satisfied’ not ‘happy’, fisiani.

              In the Subjective Well-Being (SWB) literature there’s a difference between measures of satisfaction and measures of positive (and negative) affect (‘feelings’).

              As this global study identifies, life satisfaction (which includes job satisfaction) correlates with material prosperity while positive affect (‘feeling happy’) correlates with ‘social psychological prosperity’ (autonomy, learning new skills, the quality of interpersonal relationships, etc.).

              Think about that difference. When people think that they have ‘achieved’ what society says is important in life (e.g., have a job) they express ‘satisfaction’. They have, that is, satisfied the criteria that society sets for a (moderately) successful life.

              However, it is also known from the literature that the workplace has, overall, lower levels of positive affect (‘happiness’) [Edit: than other life domains] for people so that, seemingly paradoxically, employment and more hours worked correlates with greater life satisfaction but lower positive affect (happiness). The more hours people work, the lower the incidence of positive affect they report in their lives. (I can find the references if you want them.)

              The latter might also explain why, in the survey you link to, temporary workers report more ‘work-life balance’ satisfaction than any other group. Working less is perhaps more satisfying overall – even though one can be satisfied with one’s job. Working less allows more ‘happiness’ which then people assess as more satisfying compared to working full-time.

              All interesting stuff but not quite as simple as you make it sound.

            • Puddleglum 6.3.1.1.2.3
              31 October 2014 at 11:02 pm

              That’s ‘satisfied’ not ‘happy’, fisiani.

              In the Subjective Well-Being (SWB) literature there’s a difference between measures of satisfaction and measures of positive (and negative) affect (‘feelings’).

              As this global study identifies, life satisfaction (which includes job satisfaction) correlates with material prosperity while positive affect (‘feeling happy’) correlates with ‘social psychological prosperity’ (autonomy, learning new skills, the quality of interpersonal relationships, etc.).

              Think about that difference. When people think that they have ‘achieved’ what society says is important in life (e.g., have a job) they express ‘satisfaction’. They have, that is, satisfied the criteria that society sets for a (moderately) successful life.

              However, it is also known from the literature that the workplace has, overall, lower levels of positive affect (‘happiness’) for people so that, seemingly paradoxically, employment and more hours worked correlates with greater life satisfaction but lower positive affect (happiness). The more hours people work, the lower the incidence of positive affect they report in their lives. (I can find the references if you want them.)

              The latter might also explain why, in the survey you link to, temporary workers report more ‘work-life balance’ satisfaction than any other group. Working less is perhaps more satisfying overall – even though one can be satisfied with one’s job. Working less allows more ‘happiness’ which then people assess as more satisfying compared to working full-time.

              All interesting stuff but not quite as simple as you make it sound.

        • Tracey 6.3.1.2
          31 October 2014 at 1:07 pm

          are you saying that some people dont “accept” employer suggested changes cos they fear they will lose their job if they dont?

          do you recall telecom deliberately broke the law by offering a thousand bucks to employees who didnt join the union, giving them higher pay than union employees

    • greywarshark 6.4
      31 October 2014 at 11:04 am

      fishyanna
      I am telling you not to have a tea break. Keep up your output to the standard and don’t stop until lunch which is at 12 noon precisely for half an hour and include your toilet break in that stoppage. Or else your pension shrivels up and your investment interest is confiscated, and your furniture will be seized and sold to give cause for alarm to the other malingerers.

    • Foreign waka 6.5
      31 October 2014 at 11:44 am

      You have to give it some time, until the contracts are renewed, the 90 dayer’s being thrown out etc…But you could keep an eye on the remark that the forestry workers are “bottom barrel”. It just shows what you guys think about that “valuable” workforce.

    • Tracey 6.6
      31 October 2014 at 1:04 pm

      what a waste of time and money changing the law then. wasteful, shameful waste of money

    • Rosie 6.7
      31 October 2014 at 1:09 pm

      Fisiani, I thought the legislation becomes effective after 4 months, so unlikely that people will be told they can skip their break for the sake of the company today?

      And it only got passed yesterday so the GG hasn’t signed it off yet kinda thing?

      And what else, oh those pesky Union types, the ones that fought so hard to get our breaks in the first place, might be kinda turning in their graves eh?

      http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/strikes-and-labour-disputes/page-4

      Over 100 years of principle, fairness and tradition dispensed with, just like that. I guess thats just fine and dandy when you live on Planet Key.

    • weka 6.9
      31 October 2014 at 3:07 pm

      “Has anyone been told that they cannot have a tea break today?”

      Text from a friend: “Principal wants to abolish our afternoon break. Just 1 day after the new law has come in!”

      https://twitter.com/thomasbeagle/status/528004791922737153

    • Puddleglum 6.10
      31 October 2014 at 10:41 pm

      It seems that at least one employer tried that one on.

  7. KJS0ne 7
    31 October 2014 at 9:29 am

    Got to meet Andrew Little and Nanaia Mahuta last night at a pre-hustings meetup of the branch. Before then I was unsure who was gonna be 1 and 2 in my voting that night, but afterwards I was absolutely sure – I was putting Nanaia first.

    Nanaia is warm, genuine, and it was clear that when I asked her questions she spoke from the heart. She’d never met my mum before but when my Mum went to shake her hand she pulled her in for a hug.

    I feel she probably won’t win the leadership contest, but my hopes are that this will raise her profile, allow people to see what a great leader she can be and in a few years time, I hope she will run again because I think she’d make a great leader of the Labour party.

    Andrew Little had some good things to say last night too, but he still seemed somewhat distant (maybe his mind was on the Hustings that was an hour away, and that’s completely fair) for instance when the Q&A was finished I asked the MPs if we could grab a few photos for social media and they agreed, but after the first person had grabbed his snap, Andrew was heading for the door, a friend had to point out to him that there were others (such as myself) who still wanted to grab a photo, all the while Nanaia was just standing there with a beaming smile, clearly in no hurry to disappear.

    I still take issue with some of the language he is using, he repeated last night his line about Labour being the only party that really cares about, and is working hard towards social issues. Now perhaps that language will change when he’s not speaking to Labour members, but to me it’s not a good sign. While I didn’t get an opportunity to ask him to clarify whether that meant that the Greens and other such left parties do not care/only pretend to work hard – I did get a chance to confer with Nanaia about that afterwards and she said that she agreed that Labour does not have a monopoly on social policy, and that she is more than open to working with other parties to organise alliances BEFORE an election. I get the feeling she understands MMP and that Labour do not need to win 51% of the vote to govern.

    I asked both candidates what their plan of action was to unite a divided Labour caucus, and both had some really interesting things to say, but again it was Nanaia for me that had some really fresh ideas, one such being that she feels that below the front bench, there should not be a ranking of MPs, because it creates an environment where a bunch of MPs are jockeying for position, instead of working as a team.

    So for me, it’s Nanaia 1, Andrew 2, Grant 3 & Parker 4.

    • Rosie 7.1
      31 October 2014 at 11:04 am

      That’s interesting feedback KJSOne (like KRS One?).

      I’ve decided to give Nanaia my first vote, even though I don’t think she will necessarily win. She comes across as really being on the level, connected to her community and people focused, without the ego.

      Love it that she gave your Mum a hug 😀

      • greywarshark 7.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 11:11 am

        Maori include a demonstrative physicality as a possibility in their greetings from just showing awhi, to a light hug, to the more formal hongi, which seems to be – eyes down, touch noses gently while giving a small handshake.

        This is so different from the untouchable pakehas who shrink from contact, except perhaps a light handshake, or a muscular squeeze that seems more about being recognised as strong and competitive than a greeting.

        • ropata rorschach inkblot 7.1.1.1
          31 October 2014 at 11:48 am

          Collectivism vs Individualism

        • Foreign waka 7.1.1.2
          31 October 2014 at 11:49 am

          Wrong, most mainland Europeans actually hug everybody and some kiss you on the cheek. Yes, it can feel awkward but it is still better than getting the upstairs downstairs treatment.

          • Chooky 7.1.1.2.1
            31 October 2014 at 12:08 pm

            many mainland Pakeha also have Maori ancestry, although it may not be obvious

          • greywarshark 7.1.1.2.2
            31 October 2014 at 12:25 pm

            Wrong again Foreign waka, I was talking about pakeha who are mostly-white NZs.
            We came originally mainly from English stock, or stern Scottish Presbyterian forebears, and weren’t into being warm and friendly, until a requisite amount of intoxicating liquor has been imbibed. Excitable foreigners come from a different place!
            edited

            • Foreign waka 7.1.1.2.2.1
              31 October 2014 at 12:33 pm

              That must be me then, and so many more I know off. But you are right, the stiff upper lip, keep your distance British (coming from an island that mainland Europeans don’t share) are certainly displaying that behavior. Most don’t know any different so it is difficult to change tack but they do appreciate if they are allowed to let their hair down, even if it is only a little bit.

              • ropata rorschach inkblot …
                31 October 2014 at 1:17 pm

                It varies depending on the social setting; if you’re working on a building site you might shake hands once with the boss and that’s it. But at the rugby club you can rub shoulders with everyone.

                Lack of gushing is not a sign of coldness, it’s polite and respectful.

                • greywarshark …
                  31 October 2014 at 1:36 pm

                  Ropata ri
                  Thanks for explanation – what does your psychopathy reveal I wonder?
                  It’s really like telling a shaman your dreams isn’t it?

                  And about gushing. Are you thinking of Patsy and Edwina in Absolutely Fabulous – greeting other women, going mwa mwa to each cheek from about 10 cms – an air kiss!

                  It’s really more about touching. Touching inappropriately to such people is touching anywhere, the hand, the arm, the shoulder. It is not far on to the reaction of the Brahmin caste to the Untouchables of India, who should not allow their shadow to fall on high Brahmins who would then have to go and wash themselves to be cleansed.

                  • ropata rorschach inkblot …
                    31 October 2014 at 2:17 pm

                    The Rorschach isn’t a reliable indicator of anything, but everyone’s got a bit of sociopath/asshole in them, it’s human nature. 😛

                    Some people are just shy of touching, you gotta respect that. It’s the epitome of rudeness to pat someone on the head, for example.

                    • greywarshark …
                      31 October 2014 at 2:28 pm

                      ropata ri 2.17 pm
                      That patting on the head rule applies to Maori only doesn’t it? I don’t think pakeha/European view it as offensive. Do you know of other cultures having feelings about this – Pacific Island say?

                      So the sociopath in me would be looking at an ink blot test and making judgments about whether the sociopath in someone else was up to a required standard. Sounds dodgy to me.

                    • ropata rorschach inkblot …
                      31 October 2014 at 3:21 pm

                      Try it on random strangers … see how long it takes before you get a broken nose! 😯 :mrgreen:

            • Tracey 7.1.1.2.2.2
              31 October 2014 at 1:14 pm

              my lot are from scots stock. two generations ago they didnt hug much… my whole current living family of white folks hug like crazy… including newly met.

        • Tracey 7.1.1.3
          31 October 2014 at 1:11 pm

          this is a pretty broadbrush assertion

        • Murray Rawshark 7.1.1.4
          31 October 2014 at 9:58 pm

          Haha. The old farmers’ handshake as a battle until submission. I really used to hate that, but the dead fish handshake is even worse. That’s what I imagine Key would have had before he got retrained.

      • KJS0ne 7.1.2
        31 October 2014 at 7:29 pm

        Yeah good spotting, its a nod to my love of hip hop through my initials (KJS)

    • Chooky 7.2
      31 October 2014 at 12:05 pm

      KJSone +100…exactly the way i voted…thanks for confirming my choice !

      …Mahuta’s big plus is all that you said… and also that she is willing to work with the other Parties on the Left….Labour can no longer go it alone…and we have MMP now …so a united Left coalition is crucial to win against the corporate serving John Key Nactional which works against New Zealanders

      ( however Little’s cat Buddy endorses him…and anyone who has a cat endorse them has to be a good person…so i hope it is a Mahuta/Little or a Little/ Mahuta leadership coalition)

      • phillip ure 7.2.1
        31 October 2014 at 2:13 pm

        @..chook..

        “..and anyone who has a cat endorse them has to be a good person..”

        i understand hitlers’ cats’ ‘endorsed’ him..

        ..so..?

        • Chooky 7.2.1.1
          31 October 2014 at 2:38 pm

          actually i think he adored dogs

          “Hitler, a vegetarian and hater of hunting, adored dogs and spent some of his final hours in the company of Blondi, whom he would take for walks outside the bunker at some danger to himself. He had a particular enthusiasm for birds and most of all for wolves. […] Goebbels said, famously, ‘The only real friend one has in the end is the dog. . . The more I get to know the human species, the more I care for my Benno.’ Goebbels also agreed with Hitler that ‘meat eating is a perversion in our human nature,’….”

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler_and_vegetarianism

          • phillip ure 7.2.1.1.1
            31 October 2014 at 3:04 pm

            whoar..!

            ..going on that evidence..i am perilously close to hitlerism..

            .and i have noticed a certain jerkiness in my gait..

            ..and i wd like to grow a 70’s pornstar ‘tache..

            ..what does it all mean..?

            • Chooky 7.2.1.1.1.1
              31 October 2014 at 7:22 pm

              have you heard of reincarnation?

              • phillip ure …
                31 October 2014 at 9:33 pm

                that’s what cats are..and why they are so pissed off..

                ..and so often looking at humans in contempt as they do things nowhere near as good as they did when they were (bad) humans..

                ..have you ever had a cat watching you with that absolute contempt/disdain..

                ..as you have sex..?

                ..(it’s quite disconcerting..)

                ..they just know they would/used to do it far better than you are capable of..

                ,.and don’t mind if you know it..

  8. travellerev 8
    31 October 2014 at 10:19 am

    So what really was achieved by National with the labor law changes?
    Here is my take on it: On tea breaks, Wage docking and Job insecurity. John Key’s National unleashed the four horsemen of the apocalypse

    • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 8.1
      31 October 2014 at 11:06 am

      The four horsemen of the Apocalypse? Measured and rational as ever.

      • Dialey 8.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 11:29 am

        Did you follow the link and read the article?

      • ropata rorschach inkblot 8.1.2
        31 October 2014 at 11:50 am

        Employers emboldened to squeeze workers: gormless fool thinks it’s a joke.

        • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 8.1.2.1
          31 October 2014 at 12:10 pm

          We had exactly the same arrangements in relation to tea breaks as the amendment provides before 2008. I don’t recall war, famine, pestilence and death stalking the land as a result.

          • adam 8.1.2.1.1
            31 October 2014 at 12:40 pm

            Wrong as always gormless, we did get pestilence and death. Look at south Auckland and rise of diseases we once had conquered. Oh and those said diseases, lead to death.

            So you could say 2 out of 4 is good. That’s how you spin ah gormless. Newspeak and all that.

            • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 8.1.2.1.1.1
              31 October 2014 at 1:21 pm

              The great tea break pestilence of ’04. Remember it well.

              • ropata rorschach inkblot …
                31 October 2014 at 1:32 pm

                Yep just another boot into the working poor. Hilarious.

                • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                  31 October 2014 at 1:37 pm

                  Regulation around the timing of tea breaks goes back to what it was for all but the last six months of the last Labour government, and this is “another boot into the working poor”?

                  If, as seems to be the case, you are going to push the dial up to 10 on this, where will you go if National does something actually problematic?

                  Part of the reason no-one votes left anymore is because you just sound like a bunch of whiny cry-babies.

  9. Philip Ferguson 9
    31 October 2014 at 10:39 am

    Travellerev wrote:
    “So what really was achieved by National with the labor law changes?
    Here is my take on it: On tea breaks, Wage docking and Job insecurity. John Key’s National unleashed the four horsemen of the apocalypse”

    The real problem, though, is where is the resistance?

    Here’s some ideas of what could be done: http://rdln.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/ways-to-wreck-the-teabreak-busting-bill/

    But will there be anything more than token resistance?

    Phil

  10. rawshark-yeshe 10
    31 October 2014 at 10:41 am

    TVNZ next asset sale on the block ? More attacks on Maori TV ? The secret silencing scheme of this extreme right wing government.

    Media Take last night … our last hope of independent voices being heard.

    Marama Fox is someone Key should learn to be afraid of .. the force is strong in this one !! And listen as she explains the outrage that no-one at all in any official capacity was advised that TVNZ was outsourcing Maori and Pacific TV programmes … the size of the insult is yet to register with the public.

    This is more slime from Key. More preparation to keep them in office in perpetuity.

    Shocking and appalling story .. but watch out with the very articulate Marama Fox as new co-leader of Maori Party. Kia Kaha !

    http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/media-take/S01E018/media-take-series-1-episode-18

    • rawshark-yeshe 10.1
      31 October 2014 at 11:26 am

      and more … if this had been known prior to election negotiations, I bet Maori Party would have sat on cross benches, the choice preferred by Marama Fox.

      duplicitous betrayal. no surprises then ?

  11. Philip Ferguson 11
    31 October 2014 at 10:43 am

    Another excellent book by Arundhati Roy, ‘Capitalism: a ghost story”: http://rdln.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/capitalism-a-ghost-story-by-arundhati-roy/

    Owen Jones, author of ‘Chavs’, has a new book out, this time on the british establishment: http://rdln.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/books-in-review-from-establishment-to-anti-establishment/

    Phil

  12. Draco T Bastard 12
    31 October 2014 at 10:45 am

    Excellent interview with Mariana Mazzucato:

    In her work and in this interview, Prof. Mariana Mazzucato of the University of Sussex in the U.K. debunks the pervasive myth of a lumbering, bureaucratic state versus a dynamic, innovative private sector. In fact, as Mazzucato shows in her latest book, The Entrepreneurial State, the opposite is true.

    • marty mars 13.1
      31 October 2014 at 11:08 am

      There is some of this going on

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/rural/240355/new-guidelines-for-fracking-waste

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/rural/256367/vet-warns-of-oil-waste-farm-threat

      and this

      However, Mr MacLeod said while there are isolated occasions when livestock have been exposed to oil industry waste on landfarms – before bioremediation is complete – this is not routine and the council has been transparent about this.
      Mr MacLeod said it has clearly signalled that it does not condone the grazing of livestock on landfarms, but has no lawful powers to control movements of stock.
      While there are no rules stopping livestock grazing on active landfarms, Mr MacLeod said the council is not reckless by allowing petrochemical waste to be spread on them, as it is complying with its responsibilities under the Resource Management Act.

      …Mr MacLeod is chairman of the Taranaki Regional Council, which consents the disposal of oil industry waste onto about a dozen dairy and drystock farms, known as landfarms, in the region.

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/rural/256444/council-chair-rejects-oil-waste-claim

      No not reckless at all, reckless is not the term I would use – culpable maybe

      • rawshark-yeshe 13.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 11:27 am

        culpable and criminal to poison food.

      • Chooky 13.1.2
        31 October 2014 at 11:54 am

        @ Adam re “Fracking and it’s waste. Does anyone know what happening with the fracking waste here. I remember some protests by individuals, but not a lot.”

        I have heard that oil companies bribe farmers with holidays etc to ignore the waste on their farmland

        imo this needs to be investigated ie the oil companies’ under the table financial dealings with the farmers that allow fracking /drilling on their land

        ….and there needs to be an independent body that monitors the land pollution from fracking ( cant be left up to the farmers and oil companies)

        …also there needs to be an independent body that delivers penalties to farmers who allow cows and other livestock on to frack waste polluted farmland ….and pass on surreptitiously polluted milk /livestock for public consumption

        • adam 13.1.2.1
          31 October 2014 at 12:44 pm

          Silly question, but if it is destroying/altering the food chain. Why are not people jumping up and down about this.?

          At the very least – “think of the children” argument should be in play.

          Ah liberalism – you haggard beast – less of everything, except the stupidity of men in power, you seem to encourage that.

          • Chooky 13.1.2.1.1
            31 October 2014 at 1:45 pm

            …well maybe most people dont know…because there are no State safeguards and monitoring put in place…it is left up to the corporates to regulate for safety and farmers who are in their pay

            …Questions need to be asked about State safeguards in Parliament

          • Chooky 13.1.2.1.2
            31 October 2014 at 2:44 pm

            actually Adam…I think there have been Maori demonstrations in Taranaki about drilling/fracking …and it is known for people who want to know what is going on…and there have been media reports

            ….but as was shown in the causes of the Pike River Coal Mine Disaster …..leaks, anecdotal evidence and dire warnings often amount to nought

            ….unless the State steps in and finances stringent outside safety checks and takes legal responsibility for the environment and public health and safety

    • Murray Rawshark 13.2
      31 October 2014 at 10:43 pm

      If you use Facebook, Adam, this group has some good information:
      http://www.facebook.com/groups/186342878145351/?fref=ts

  14. Clemgeopin 14
    31 October 2014 at 11:12 am

    ‘Just Like a girl’…

  15. marty mars 15
    31 October 2014 at 11:46 am

    Does it get worse than this?

    Most shockingly of all, the Review Panel found a widespread industry view that a lax safety culture was acceptable due to the calibre of the workforce.

    “Too often the Independent Forestry Safety Review Panel has been told about the challenges of dealing with a ‘bottom of the barrel’ workforce,” the report said.

    “A significant portion of the industry continues to view its workers from this perspective and consequently absolves itself of its responsibility to do better. We do not share this view. It is damaging and demeaning.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/10684350/Forestry-staff-seen-as-bottom-of-the-barrel

    Yep don’t worry about safety because the ‘bottom of the barrel’ workers are expendable especially when there are profits to be made. Sickening in so many ways.

    • Tracey 15.1
      31 October 2014 at 1:18 pm

      forestry owners angling for tax payers to foot the bill rather than they?

      • swordfish 15.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 2:24 pm

        Well, of course they’re expendable. None of them went to Preparatory School, not one of them attended Christ College or Wanganui Collegiate, so what did you expect ?

    • McFlock 15.2
      31 October 2014 at 2:45 pm

      yeah, I was gobsmacked to read that, too.

      It’s one thing to know that some employers regard employees as disposable commodities, it’s another thing entirely to have them admit it.

    • ropata rorschach inkblot 15.3
      31 October 2014 at 3:05 pm

      WTF. It’s time for these unsafe companies to be dissolved and their management charged with manslaughter.

    • b waghorn 15.4
      31 October 2014 at 4:23 pm

      I would have worked with over 50 different people in the time I was in the forestry and I can only think of a couple that weren’t good men that worked hard and took the job seriously. I would imagine the bottom of the barrel comments would come from the forest supervisors as they allways came across as shifty self serving shiny arsed morons.

  16. greywarshark 16
    31 October 2014 at 12:18 pm

    i have just heard in the run up to radionz news – Pressure mounts for union to sell its port shares. I hope this does not refer to Radionz itself from its morning Report interview by Suzie Fergusson with a union official!

    She was pursuing this line that they could not hold shares and get a good return on them while they did not agree with the Port of Tauranga as to their employment conditions. And the official had no answer I thought, nothing definite to say. He personally did not agree with it and thought they should be sold.
    I don’t know who started this line so it may not just be Radionz making its own news.

    The official could have said that it would be a good thing if all employees had a share in the companies they worked for. And that they were wise to share in the profit that other investors were making from the hard slog they put in. And particularly when they were risking injury and their lives to get it. Even more reason to get a money return while they continued trying to get conditions suitable for humans.
    But he didn’t counter with anything much. (Just have to watch out for the moral hazard there of going softly on safety if better measures cut profit a little.)

    Can’t the left ever think their arguments through and express them positively? I think that the best thing they can do is to develop their reasoning and speaking ability so they can counter propaganda with their own better stuff. They should have a strong honest straightforward clear message that can be heard in a soundbite through the curtain of misinformation and trivia that is around,
    i.e. LEARN TO PRESENT A SHORT, COGENT ARGUMENT IN EVERYDAY LANGUAGE THAT EMPHASISES THE ADVANTAGE AND REFERS TO THE DISADVANTAGE AVOIDED WHEN DISCUSSING A PRACTICE OR POLICY.

  17. adam 17
    31 October 2014 at 12:35 pm

    Just a song – written in 2004 for the then War in the middle east – Orwell was right, liberalism is a corrupt and throughly villainous ideology.

    Hot Gossip – the Blues Explosion and Chuck D

  19. wekarawshark 19
    31 October 2014 at 12:50 pm

    Key/flag/NACT’s response to poverty cartoon, plus promo of Press article tomorrow.

    https://twitter.com/domesticanimal/status/527967289199435776

    • Tracey 19.1
      31 October 2014 at 1:24 pm

      says it all.

      where are the opposition mps hammering this EXACT premise

      • wekarawshark 19.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 2:33 pm

        I’ve been thinking there is an opportunity here for lobbying to use the flag money on rape prevention.

  20. Aerobubble 20
    31 October 2014 at 1:40 pm

    Key found not to be PM when having relations with that man bitch in the connecting corridor between his office and his chief of staff. Impeach him.

  21. Penny Bright 21
    31 October 2014 at 2:37 pm

    Ok folks!

    Who else in Auckland is focusing on RATES SPENDING?

    How can you do ‘line-by-line’ accounting, in a proper, accountable way, if the Council ‘books’ aren’t open for public scrutiny, and citizens and ratepayers don’t know EXACTLY where rates monies are being spent (PLUS invested and borrowed)?

    Is Auckland just a ‘Supercity for the corporate 1%’?

    I think so.

    But I for one, am fighting back – because I’m a citizen – not a sheepish slave!
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    31 October 2014

    ‘Open Letter to Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town, from ‘anti-corruption whistle-blower’ Penny Bright in response to your ‘rates postponement offer’ of 23 October 2014.

    Auckland Council CEO
    Stephen Town

    Dear Stephen,

    This is to confirm, in writing, (and with more detail), the response I made yesterday, Thursday 30 October 2014, to the Auckland Governing Body meeting, held at the Orakei Marae.
    __________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Auckland Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) Auckland Transport provides the ‘devilish detail’ on awarded contracts, for which I have been fighting for the last seven years, by disputing and refusing to pay rates, because of the lack of transparency in public rates spending:

    https://at.govt.nz/about-us/procurement/awarded-contracts/

    “Auckland Transport is committed to ensuring its procurement activities are undertaken in an ethical and transparent manner.

    The attached lists detail all of the contracts awarded in the previous six months that are valued over $50,000.00.

    Details include:

    the contract number,
    the contract name,
    the supplier, and the
    award value.

    View the latest awarded contracts list (PDF 64KB)

    ( https://at.govt.nz/media/618879/NZTA-Awarded-Contracts.pdf )

    Disclaimer: we endeavour to list all contracts awarded above the value of $50,000.00 in the previous six months. Whilst all possible care and effort has been taken to ensure accuracy in this list, we accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. Accordingly, this list should be used for reference only. ”
    ___________________________________________________

    Once the same ‘devilish detail’ about awarded contracts is equally available for public scrutiny on the following Auckland Council and Auckland Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) websites, including ‘legacy CCOs’, (with the added proviso that this applies to ALL contracts awarded, not just those less than $50,000), THEN I will consider the ‘rates postponement’ offer, made in your letter to me dated 23 October 2014:

    Auckland Council
    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/Pages/Home.aspx

    Auckland Council Investments Ltd
    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/representativesbodies/CCO/Pages/council_investments.aspx

    Auckland Council Property Ltd
    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/representativesbodies/CCO/Pages/council_property.aspx

    Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board
    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/ABOUTCOUNCIL/REPRESENTATIVESBODIES/CCO/Pages/aucklandregionalamenitiesfundingboard.aspx

    Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development Ltd
    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/ABOUTCOUNCIL/REPRESENTATIVESBODIES/CCO/Pages/tourism_events_economic_development.aspx

    Auckland Waterfront Development Agency Ltd
    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/ABOUTCOUNCIL/REPRESENTATIVESBODIES/CCO/Pages/waterfront_development_agency.aspx
    Regional Facilities Auckland

    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/representativesbodies/CCO/Pages/regional_facilities.aspx

    Watercare Services Ltd
    http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/ABOUTCOUNCIL/REPRESENTATIVESBODIES/CCO/Pages/watercare_services.aspx
    ___________________________________________________
    Legacy CCOs

    COMET Auckland focuses on connecting families, business and community to learning opportunities. COMET’s mission is “transforming the social and economic landscape of Auckland through education”.

    The Contemporary Art Foundation (formerly PACT) is responsible for promoting, encouraging and supporting the arts for the benefit and enjoyment of the Auckland community and the public at large by providing the Te Tuhi centre of Arts.

    Te Puru Community Charitable Trust is responsible for managing the community centre at Te Puru Park supporting sports, leisure, community and cultural groups in the Beachlands, Maraetai and Whitford communities.

    Exempt CCOs are exempt from governance and monitoring activities such as annual reports and SOIs.

    Arts Regional Trust
    Highbrook Park Trust
    Mangere Mountain Education Trust
    Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust
    Mt Albert Grammar School – Community Swimming Pool Trust
    Safer Papakura Trust
    ___________________________________________________________________________________

    BACKGROUND:

    THE LETTER FROM AUCKLAND COUNCIL CEO STEPHEN TOWN, DATED 23 OCTOBER 2014:

    “……………

    Dear Penny,

    I am writing with regards to your continual non-payment of your rates, which dates from 2008.

    The Council has a responsibility to ensure there is fairness and equity in the payment of rates for all ratepayers.

    Over the last seven years, Council has made extensive attempts to encourage you to address your long-term overdue rates arrears. Unfortunately, this has now resulted in the recent legal proceedings to recover the $33,288.25 of outstanding arrears through a ratings sale of your property.

    the ratings sale process is considered by Council to be an absolute last resort. It is only undertaken when all other options available to resolve the historical non-payment of large overdue rates have not been successful.

    It is something we do very reluctantly; it is not our preferred course of action.

    It is for that reason that Council works hard to ensure we do everything possible to assist ratepayers who contact us to advise of difficulties in meeting their rates payments.

    We offer repayment schemes to those with genuine financial hardship and we continue to remain open to discussing with ratepayers options to repaying their overdue rates. To date, 20,050 Auckland ratepayers have qualified for a rates rebate and Council has agreed to a rates postponement for 337 households.

    In your case, as in all other cases, Council would certainly prefer to resolve the payment of your overdue rates without having to resort to further legal action.

    You have today, in Court, publically indicated your interest in a rates postponement option. Council has provisionally assessed your rates arrears situation against the criteria for a postponement of rates and deem that this option would be available.

    This would be on the basis that you apply, are willing to meet, and adhere to the requirements of the repayment scheme.

    Should you feel that you would like to discuss the opportunity for taking this up, or any of our payment options, please contact Kevin Ramsay, Acting Chief Financial Officer ………..

    Yours sincerely,

    Stephen town
    Chief Executive
    ________________________________________________________

    THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR PROVIDING CITIZENS AND RATEPAYERS WITH ‘OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND DEMOCRATICALLY ACCOUNTABLE’ LOCAL GOVERNMENT:

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0006/latest/DLM132001.html

    Local Government (Rating) Act 2002

    3. Purpose

    The purpose of this Act is to promote the purpose of local government set out in the Local Government Act 2002 by

    (b) ensuring that rates are set in accordance with decisions that are made in a transparent and consultative manner:

    (c) providing for processes and information to enable ratepayers to identify and understand their liability for rates.
    _________________________________________________________

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0084/latest/DLM170879.html

    Local Government Act 2002

    3 Purpose

    The purpose of this Act is to provide for democratic and effective local government that recognises the diversity of New Zealand communities; and, to that end, this Act—

    (c) promotes the accountability of local authorities to their communities; and

    (d) provides for local authorities to play a broad role in meeting the current and future needs of their communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions.
    _________________________________________________________

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0084/latest/DLM171803.html

    10 Purpose of local government

    (1)The purpose of local government is—

    (a) to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and

    (b) to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.

    (2) In this Act, good-quality, in relation to local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions, means infrastructure, services, and performance that are—

    (a) efficient; and
    (b) effective; and
    (c) appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.
    _______________________________________________________

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0084/latest/DLM171810.html

    14 Principles relating to local authorities

    (1) In performing its role, a local authority must act in accordance with the following principles:

    (a) a local authority should—

    (i) conduct its business in an open, transparent, and democratically accountable manner; and

    (ii) give effect to its identified priorities and desired outcomes in an efficient and effective manner:

    (f) a local authority should undertake any commercial transactions in accordance with sound business practices; and

    (fa) a local authority should periodically—

    (i) assess the expected returns to the authority from investing in, or undertaking, a commercial activity; and

    (ii) satisfy itself that the expected returns are likely to outweigh the risks inherent in the investment or activity; and

    (g) a local authority should ensure prudent stewardship and the efficient and effective use of its resources in the interests of its district or region, including by planning effectively for the future management of its assets; and

    (2) If any of these principles conflict in any particular case, the local authority should resolve the conflict in accordance with the principle in subsection (1)(a)(i).
    ___________________________________________________

    Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1987/0174/latest/DLM122283.html

    Purposes
    The purposes of this Act are—

    (a) to provide for the availability to the public of official information held by local authorities, and to promote the open and public transaction of business at meetings of local authorities, in order—

    (i) to enable more effective participation by the public in the actions and decisions of local authorities; and

    (ii) to promote the accountability of local authority members and officials,—
    and thereby to enhance respect for the law and to promote good local government in New Zealand:
    _________________________________________________________

    The Public Records Act 2005

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2005/0040/latest/DLM345729.html

    17 Requirement to create and maintain records

    (1) Every public office and local authority must create and maintain full and accurate records of its affairs, in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, including the records of any matter that is contracted out to an independent contractor.

    (2) Every public office must maintain in an accessible form, so as to be able to be used for subsequent reference, all public records that are in its control, until their disposal is authorised by or under this Act or required by or under another Act.

    (3) Every local authority must maintain in an accessible form, so as to be able to be used for subsequent reference, all protected records that are in its control, until their disposal is authorised by or under this Act.
    _________________________________________________________

    Please also be reminded of your statutory duties as the CEO of Auckland Council, as outlined in s.42 of the Local Government Act 2002:

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0084/latest/DLM171859.html

    42 Chief executive

    (1)A local authority must, in accordance with clauses 33 and 34 of Schedule 7, appoint a chief executive.
    (2)A chief executive appointed under subsection (1) is responsible to his or her local authority for—
    (a)implementing the decisions of the local authority; and

    (b)providing advice to members of the local authority and to its community boards, if any; and

    (c)ensuring that all responsibilities, duties, and powers delegated to him or her or to any person employed by the local authority, or imposed or conferred by an Act, regulation, or bylaw, are properly performed or exercised; and

    (d)ensuring the effective and efficient management of the activities of the local authority; and

    (e)maintaining systems to enable effective planning and accurate reporting of the financial and service performance of the local authority; and

    (f)providing leadership for the staff of the local authority; and

    (g)employing, on behalf of the local authority, the staff of the local authority (in accordance with any remuneration and employment policy); and

    (h)negotiating the terms of employment of the staff of the local authority (in accordance with any remuneration and employment policy).

    (2A)In the case of a unitary authority for a district that includes 1 or more local board areas, a chief executive appointed under subsection (1) is also responsible to the unitary authority for—

    (a)implementing the decisions of each local board within the district of the unitary authority; and
    (b)implementing each local board agreement; and
    (c)providing advice to each local board and its members; and
    (d)providing the administrative and other facilities for each local board that are necessary for the board to carry out its functions and perform its duties.

    (3)A chief executive appointed under subsection (1) is responsible to his or her local authority for ensuring, so far as is practicable, that the management structure of the local authority—

    (a)reflects and reinforces the separation of regulatory responsibilities and decision-making processes from other responsibilities and decision-making processes; and

    (b)is capable of delivering adequate advice to the local authority to facilitate the explicit resolution of conflicting objectives.

    (4)For the purposes of any other Act, a chief executive appointed under this section is the principal administrative officer of the local authority.

    Compare: 1974 No 66 ss 119C, 119D
    Section 42(2)(g): amended, on 5 December 2012, by section 22(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
    Section 42(2)(h): amended, on 5 December 2012, by section 22(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
    Section 42(2A): inserted, on 8 August 2014, by section 16 of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 55).

    I look forward to the very belated compliance by Auckland Council and the above-mentioned Auckland Council Controlled Organisations, with their lawful statutory duties for ‘open, transparent and democratically accountable’ local government, to which citizens and ratepayers are lawfully entitled.

    The questions I ask, as an ‘anti-corruption whistleblower’, who has effectively put my freehold home on the line in defence of my lawful rights as a citizen – is why has it taken SO long, and why have the Auckland Council Mayor, and elected representatives, and statutory ‘third party Public Watchdogs’ (such as the Office of the Auditor-General, and National Office of the Archives), not held Auckland Council accountable and enforced the above-mentioned law?

    I am just an ordinary person, who has ended up choosing to make an extraordinary stand for transparency in public rates spending.

    Why on earth should I have had to do this, in New Zealand, ‘perceived’ to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’?
    http://www.transparency.org/cpi2013/results

    If New Zealand is ‘perceived’ to be the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ – then shouldn’t we arguably be the most ‘transparent’?

    So – how come, in the biggest city in the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ – citizens and ratepayers do NOT know exactly where billions of dollars of public rates monies are being spent on thousands of private sector consultants and contractors?

    Looking forward to this being corrected, as soon as possible, particularly in light of projected Auckland Council rates increases.

    I remain an Auckland Council citizen – not a ‘sheepish’ slave.

    Yours sincerely,

    Penny Bright

    ………………………………..
    ………………………………..

    Attendee: Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 2009

    Attendee: Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference 2010

    Attendee: Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 2013

    Attendee: G20 Anti-Corruption Conference 2014

    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate (polling 4th with 11,723 votes)

    • Chooky 21.1
      31 October 2014 at 7:18 pm

      +100 GO PENNY.!..you activist for anti corruption who puts her house on the line!

      Why cant Auckland City Council be transparent in it financial transactions and contracts?!

      …unless it is hiding cronyism and corruption!

  22. adam 22
    31 October 2014 at 2:52 pm

    Best Breaking the set in a long time – really good show well worth watching if you have a spear 30 min.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uXPMj8Ww7o&list=PLI46g-I12_9qbu_gktKeyqINIpGH8X8OJ

    And the project which is talked about

    http://www.projectcensored.org/

    • Chooky 22.1
      31 October 2014 at 4:31 pm

      +100 thanks for that …especially worth a listen is the section on Corporate Media and Censored News.

      discussion on book ‘Project censored’…eg.1.) .TPP….( Hollywood and Pharmaceutical copyright profit monopoly drivers…and parties to the agreement… while whole populations and democracies left out of the discussions 2.) climate change/global warming; 3.) ocean acidification worse than scientists predicted

      rt is certainly filling a gap in the media these days…for unflinching investigative journalism and discussion/ analysis

    • Colonial Rawshark 22.2
      31 October 2014 at 10:43 pm

      Abby Martin – a great journalist who has real empathy and also great understanding of the subject matter.

  23. AsleepWhileWalking 23
    31 October 2014 at 2:53 pm

    This man has been jailed for six weeks for stealing around $20 of food after having his benefit sanctioned for nine weeks. Something to watch as our welfare system is closely modeled on the UK system.

    http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/11552200.Sanctioned_man_who_stole_to_eat_is_jailed/

    • Colonial Rawshark 23.1
      31 October 2014 at 10:46 pm

      So after being criminalised, the man is finally considered worthy enough to receive food and lodging from the government.

      I wonder if the prisoner is now making tax payers money for Serco.

  24. wekarawshark 24
    31 October 2014 at 3:00 pm

    Due process is a concept I wish I could believe in. By definition due process is “the legal requirement that the state must respect all of the legal rights that are owed to a person.” For Jian Ghomeshi’s story I think it’s safe to say due process has to do with his right to be “presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.”

    So we should assume Jiam Ghomeshi is innocent until he has had his day in court. Not only that, at least going by the reaction to this story, we should all just shut up and wait until someone goes to the police because, as we all know, if there’s no charges the women are all lying. All eight of them. Until then, let support for Jian echo down from the hallowed halls of Parliament right after a terrorist attack along with demands we wait until charges are laid, due process takes its course, and wonder aloud whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty.

    You see this is Canada, and in Canada trial by the media is hardly due process.

    Due process. The very saying leaves us thinking about courts, lawyers, police officers, and forensic CSI-type people walking around with little flashlights picking up hairs and getting to the bottom of what happened. Holding criminals responsible and giving victims a sense of justice.

    I wonder if the people who believe that bullshit are paying attention at all.

    You see, when it comes to sexual violence due process means something else all together. It means something ugly, broken, and so horrifically dysfunctional nine out of ten victims don’t even bother calling the police and nine out of ten who do are left wishing they hadn’t. Due process for victims of sex crimes means doubting detectives, hostile lawyers, and a court process that leaves nearly every victim who comes forward feeling like they’ve been assaulted all over again — even if the case is won.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/glen-canning/due-process-jian-ghomeshi_b_6073326.html

    My emphasis. There’s the dilemma to be solved.

    See also people tweeting about having been raped and never reporting it,

    https://twitter.com/hashtag/beenrapedneverreported?src=hash

    Amy Adams suggesting court system in NZ be changed,

    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/roastbusters-verdict-could-change-court-system-minister-6120001

    • weka 24.1
      31 October 2014 at 5:40 pm

      After Wednesday’s announcement and the concerns raised by police about education, the ministry confirmed it was updating existing sexuality education guidelines for schools.

      “Issues of consent, coercion and safety in intimate relationships will be included in the new guidelines, which should be released soon,” said deputy secretary for student achievement Graham Stoop.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11350870

      It’s a start, but I want to see what the curriculum says and what is being taught. Educate kids about alchohol, but for god’s sake don’t teach them that not drinking keeps one safe from rape (or that one is culpable for one’s rape if you drink/drug).

      Too much emphasis on alcohol in the article, and ffs NZH, it’s not a sex scandal.

  25. greywarshark 25
    31 October 2014 at 4:38 pm

    Remember Michael Bassett one of the Labour terminators from neolib introduction days. He is an historian, served on the Waitangi Tribunal, and has written many books of which one may be relevant particularly in the present: Bassett, The State in New Zealand 1840-1984: Socialism Without Doctrines? (1998)

    He has written a recent column for the NZ Herald which can get reprinted in their regional papers, with his views on the election. Which are noticeably, we won (that’s the right, his natural home), you lost, suckers. What a snotty quisling to Labour and Lange he turned out to be. (And he was Lange’s third cousin, unfortunately Lange the bright, and erratic star is dead but this one is alive – a black hole for Labour’s hopes.)

    It’s worth reminding these people; an election occurred on September 20, and they lost. The people have spoken. Voters told them that they had weighed up Nicky Hager’s ‘Dirty Politics’, amongst other things, and decided his book was either irrelevant to the current state of things or was a pile of crap. Dirty Politics is a corpse, and there’s little sense now trying to resurrect it….

    Why would these journalists and lefties, too many of whom are one and the same, want to revive Hager? A few, I guess, want something to keep bashing National with. They are angry at the election outcome….
    Others possibly believe in St Nicky, and admire his chutzpah in using stolen emails for pecuniary gain. That, they seem to think, is “investigative journalism” at its finest.

    There will be others again, many of them young or nave in the extreme, who actually believe Hager’s story. They have so little understanding of political processes in New Zealand, or anywhere else, that they think there was something new and especially sordid about Jason Ede acting as a conduit to bloggers, passing information and discussing tactics designed to put National in a good light….

    It’s time these people calmed down. The voters have spoken. Yes, Nicky Hager still has some explaining to do, not because it is relevant to politics today, but because he admits to breaking the law and needs to be called to account. A desirable by-product of his shaming might be that we are spared more of his crude electioneering that has besmirched four or five of our most recent election campaigns, Labour’s as well as National’s. .

    • blue leopard 25.1
      31 October 2014 at 4:47 pm

      Sounds like it is Mr Bassett who needs to calm down.

      I suggest he take a few deep breaths prior to writing his next column.

      • greywarshark 25.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 7:35 pm

        Don’t you just love this tired old oldie that must be obvious to anyone of the meanest intellect that it is absolute crap, to use Bassett’s own lexicon. He like Prebble has been thinking, but is very selective on his subject.
        Why would these journalists and lefties, too many of whom are one and the same, want to revive Hager?

    • chris73 25.2
      31 October 2014 at 4:59 pm

      Its true though the amount of lefties that don’t seem to realize the people of NZ made their decision and it wasn’t for the left

      As an example the nutters who started a petition because:

      Something doesn’t seem right with recent the New Zealand election. Evidence of fraudulent voting and it makes no sense that people would local vote left and party vote right. Is this another case of Electoral Fraud?

    • marty mars 25.3
      31 October 2014 at 6:33 pm

      bassett is a hound (weak I know but I really find this dude as dislikable as steve franks – he scares me – he’d turn the dial up to 10 alright)

      I miss David Lange – fuck he would have turned dirt-key into toast – I know Lange had faults and was human – don’t care, still miss him, still admire him.

    • Anne 25.4
      31 October 2014 at 9:46 pm

      First Bassett fell out with Jim Anderton in a big way when Anderton was party president in the early 80s. Soon after, he fell out with Helen Clark in a big way. In the mid to late 80s he fell out with David Lange again in a big way. All of them had been close friends prior to the fall-outs. He has a history of holding grudges against friends and colleagues for perceived misdemeanours. He’s now an elderly man and they all have come together to create permanent figments of his grudge-laden imagination not usually based on fact or reality. Part of the problem might be he has been a Parkinson’s Disease sufferer for the past 20 years.

      He was a member of the Fish and Chip Brigade.

    • Murray Rawshark 25.5
      31 October 2014 at 11:02 pm

      ” Yes, Nicky Hager still has some explaining to do, not because it is relevant to politics today, but because he admits to breaking the law and needs to be called to account.”

      That’s just Bassett’s bullshit, isn’t it? I wasn’t aware that Hager had admitted to breaking any laws. I am aware that Bassett, like Douglas and Prebble, is a traitorous dog. I wish he’d take the Rogernomes still in caucus with him and bugger of to Hawaii with Key.

  26. Logie97 26
    31 October 2014 at 5:04 pm

    If news got out that Jokey Hen was caught short (like the mayor of North Shore was…) and relieved himself behind a tree, how would the world press get to report it …?
    a) uncouth resident urinates in a public place
    b) former international banker urinates in a public place
    c) politician urinates in a public place
    d) leader of political party urinates in a public place
    e) prime minister urinates in a public place

    Apparently any or all of the above – yeah right

    • greywarshark 26.1
      31 October 2014 at 7:30 pm

      Can’t have important personages being caught importunately. The next limousines will be high roofed enough to have a small loo in the back no doubt. I have been bemused by the various urinary arrangements that gentleman have used in the past before Crapper got busy.

    • Murray Rawshark 26.2
      31 October 2014 at 11:13 pm

      None of the above, L97.
      Heroic Prime Minister risks life and limb to extinguish potentially dangerous forest fire. Just as the Australian bushfire season begins for the year and the mercury in Western Queensland breaks all personal records, Prime Minister John Key, ignoring the threat to civilisation that is ISIL, takes a dramatic personal action to damp down a potential ignition hot spot before the lives of children and the threatened Maui dolphin are put at risk.
      Modestly, the self-effacing but courageous leader told journalists he was not prepared to put the lives of firemen at risk when he was in a position to solve the problem himself. A passing journalist with a remarkable resemble to an unwashed Jabba the Hutt said he was keen to get a full sex change so he could have Mr Key’s babies.

      • ropata:rorschach 26.2.1
        31 October 2014 at 11:53 pm

        Unidentified guest with drinking problem kills the Queen’s prize petunias.
        “Don’t you know who I am, bitchez?” he said as the Palace guard hauled him off to the Tower

    • Clemgeopin 27.1
      31 October 2014 at 5:41 pm

      While that is very good, why did she not come out with it earlier and make a big noise before the law was passed? It is a little late now, isn’t it?

      • Colonial Rawshark 27.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 6:06 pm

        She didn’t make a noise about it earlier because it would have fucked her career transition out of Parliament.

      • Skinny 27.1.2
        31 October 2014 at 7:13 pm

        Well NO it allows us to condem National and who better to come out anti than one of the former MP’s. Of course she could have sat on the fence, but she hasn’t. Milk it for all it’s worth I say.

    • Murray Rawshark 27.2
      31 October 2014 at 11:31 pm

      What was she doing in NAct? She’s more interested in workers’ rights than half the Labour caucus.

  28. ropata:rorschach 28
    31 October 2014 at 7:06 pm

    Megan Woods: Dirty Politics Goes Too Far

    There was much to be offended by in Nicky Hager’s book Dirty Politics, but, as a Cantabrian, being called “scum” by John Key’s friend and Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater made me angry.

    No one in the Red Zone asked for their home to be destroyed and wanting a fair resolution shouldn’t make them the target of John Key’s black ops machine. […] In fact no-one in National has yet expressed any regrets.
    […]
    National tried to dismiss the book as a left-wing smear during the election, but I believe many Kiwis are horrified to know their Government is behind an orchestrated campaign to personally denigrate and destroy people who offer a different view.

    A spotlight has been shone on a nasty and malicious new way politics is being practised in this country. While some people may have shrugged their shoulders and said “all parties do this”, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Dirty Politics goes further than politicians. Our scientists, teachers, community advocates, and academics are also victims. If this practice continues the question becomes who is next?

    New Zealand must be a country where people can stand up and talk about what they believe in. It must be a country where people aren’t afraid their reputations will be destroyed if they disagree with the Government. Labour makes no apologies and will not resile from holding the Government to account on this.

    New Zealand is heading down a very dangerous path. It is crucial that the practice of Dirty Politics is stopped now.

    • RedBaronCV 28.1
      31 October 2014 at 10:13 pm

      Yet in the last few days the MSM have been attacking the green MP who signed the homeopathic petition. While clearly a lot of people are not going to agree with the subject I can’t see any huge downside to it either – it’s not like it’s compulsory.

      Who fed them that so they could try a smear? Oddly enough it seems to have gone from the on line editions. So yes the MSM needs to stop right now.

      • Colonial Rawshark 28.1.1
        31 October 2014 at 10:41 pm

        Homeopathy…that stuff is totally fringe 😈

        • RedBaronCV 28.1.1.1
          31 October 2014 at 10:58 pm

          Maybe but is it so serious as to rate a derogatory article against an MP in the MSM. There are plenty of odd beliefs out there “lucky red socks for yacht races” that don’t get the smear treatment – isn’t this smear mode the dirty politics meme.

        • phillip ure 28.1.1.2
          31 October 2014 at 11:02 pm

          there is one aspect of homeopathy that i find interesting..

          ..that is that homeopathy often works on animals..

          ..and as far as i know..animals are unaware of the placebo-effect..

        • ropata:rorschach 28.1.1.3
          31 October 2014 at 11:45 pm

          hassling the Greens about homeopathy – another useful distraction from National’s shameless abuse of power that continues to this day

  29. phillip ure 29
    31 October 2014 at 9:35 pm

    boy..!..do u2 both suck and blow..(on norton..)

    ..irrelevancies on a stick..

  30. felix 30
    31 October 2014 at 9:52 pm

    Heard the maiden speech from Jono Naylor the other day (it’s here: http://www.inthehouse.co.nz/video/34639 )

    He talks about being raised to be “others-focused”, about his achievements being reached “on the shoulders of others”, about years as a social worker, about how “we all do better when we ALL do better”.

    Is he in the wrong party?

    Could Labour swap him out?

    • Anne 30.1
      31 October 2014 at 10:44 pm

      OMG. I was sipping (slurping?) my bedtime milo when I read this. It’s all over the keyboard now. Where do they get em from?

  31. travellerev 31
    1 November 2014 at 7:07 am

    Hi lprent,

    There seems to be something wrong with the site. There is no reply option at the moment.

The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.