Summer service: open mike 12/01/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 12th, 2012 - 34 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

As usual, it’s reduced service over the summer break, unless anything big happens. We hope you’ll get a good break with those dear to you, and that we’ll have some decent weather to enjoy. And if you still need your politics fix… Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Step right up to the mike…

34 comments on “Summer service: open mike 12/01/2011 ”

  1. Jenny 1

    How’s your recession going?

    Not to bad, thanks Jenny. Well, isn’t the recession supposed to be, all about viciously re-dividing a shrinking pie, for our side?”

  2. millsy 2

    The Right begrudge union members earning more than a subsistence wage and having job security.

    That is why they are so against the union.

    They will not be happy until the POA workers are non-union, earning a subsistence wage and completely expendable.

    That is what it is all about.

    Now I wish they would have the guts to admit that.

    • RedLogix 2.1

      Once upon a time workers used to turn up each morning to a ‘pool’, where some foreman got to pick and choose who got work that day. Workers were treated as nothing more than disposable trash. If they got injured, sick or needed to take time off for any reason… no work, no pay.

      Total casualisation.

      It was appallingly demeaning, prone to abuse and of course made any kind of stable family life almost impossible.

      Abolishing this evil practise was one of the big union victories decades back… and the bosses still resent it.

    •  

      Some Maritime Union members say why they are on strike.  Compelling stuff.

       

      [lprent: link ends in a … You will need to get it again. found and fixed..]

      • Blue 2.2.1

        Thanks for the link Micky. What a fantastic article. If only our MSM had bothered to go and do something like that.

        I’m heartened by the sense of community that these guys display. The casuals support the permanent staff, the ones who are about to retire are looking after the younger guys who will come after them.

        And finally a dose of reality in regards to pay:

        “The company says we earn $91k a year – I’ve never earned that in the 14 years I’ve been here. I get around $64k but I have to work 24 hours overtime and that costs my family.”

      • Jenny 2.2.2

        The first goal of the right wing media is to demonise the watersiders.

        What an enlightening counter, that humanises these workers and gives them a face.

        I would like to propose that this link, kindly supplied by Micky Savage, be made up into a full post.

        Any seconders?

        All those in favour type, Aye.

    • Millys:

      I think its more about, that the majority of the New Zealand public (thanks to TVNZ) thinks these workers are only on $13 dollars and hour and not the $90 thousand a year that they are on.

      Its the media that people should be pissed off it, not the employers or employees.

      • Lanthanide 2.3.1

        Total remuneration is on average $91,000. Actual wages (before tax) are more like $61,000 on average.

  3. The Voice of Reason 3

    Oxford City FC show the formerly socialist Liverpool FC how to deal with bigots. Sack ’em!

  4. Colonial Viper 4

    Brand new 30 story, magnitude 9 resistant hotel, assembled in 15 days.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeV8kaElLo0

    A few lessons for NZ here.

    • Lanthanide 4.1

      “A few lessons for NZ here.”

      Yes, countries like China can use economies of scale to produce things that smaller countries like us can’t hope of. Who’d’ve thunk it?

      • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1

        I’m pretty sure that we could quite easily do the prefabrication that allowed that building to go up in 15 days. We do, after all, already use prefabrication just not to that complexity. About the only reason why we wouldn’t do it would be because the factory would end up with large amounts of idle time and the capitalist system requires that such factories be in use as much as possible (which is another reason why consumerism and growing GDP is pushed).

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.2

        Lanth, my opinion is that the “economies of scale” argument – which is one originally based in the realm of mass production and the offsetting of fixed costs through high volume manufacturing – is not completely valid here.

        For one thing I’m not suggesting that we copy the Chinese example holus bolus, but rather to learn what we can from it, and use our ingenuity to adapt it to a NZ situation – say where we have to rebuild many thousands of buildings in Christchurch over the next 5 years, or where many thousands of new houses have to go up on the Auckland isthmus in the same time frame.

        Is that sufficient ‘economies of scale’ to your mind?

  5. ianmac 5

    Bryan Gould nails it again. “Even the wealthy end up worse off in an unequal and divided society….”
    Fancy criticising the power and justness of the “market forces.’
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10778102

    • Fotran 5.1

      Why take any notice of Gould – he is a failed UK one time MP – and the Herald laps up his crap (for which he is well paid). Good private enterprise though.

      • Colonial Viper 5.1.1

        Gould takes a very reasoned and even handed approach. Further, he is someone who is very well versed in the politics of industrial disputes.

  6. The Jarawa tribe, who live in the Andaman Islands (owned by India) had first contact with the world in 1998 – since then all of the usual devestating aspects of contact have occured – disease especially, and now a new form of disgusting exploitation has been identified – human safaris!

    From the Guardian link
    ” “Dance,” the policeman instructed. The girls in front of him, naked from the waist up, obeyed. A tourist’s camera panned round to another young woman, also naked and awkwardly holding a bag of grain in front of her. “Dance for me,” the policeman commanded… The role of the police is to protect tribespeople from unwelcome and intrusive outsiders. But on this occasion the officer had accepted a £200 bribe to get the girls to perform. “I gave you food,” he reminded them at the start of the video.”

    What hope for these people?

    Go to Survival International to see how you can help them.

    http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/8001
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/07/andaman-islands-tribe-tourism-threat
    http://mars2earth.blogspot.com/2012/01/jarawa-tribe-used-for-trophy-photos-in.html

  7. Jackal 7

    Was Rena pushed?

    But what really raised the alarm bells is that in the webcam video below, it’s not the Go Canopus tugboat working around the shipwreck as the stern starts to sink…

  8. Anyone read Stephen King’s new book, 11.22.63?? Its a fiction story about a guy who goes back in time to stop the Kennedy’s assassination.

    At the end of the book, King has done a non fiction piece which virtually states that Oswald was alone and did it. He makes some pretty good points.

    BTW I was a huge fan of Stone’s JFK and until recently was with the grassy knoll people.

  9. McFlock 9

    Nice. The Hobbit is so secret even emergency services staff responding to a fire sign confidentiality agreements. Move along, nothing to see here, everything is fine. Fire? What fire? Injury? Only minor, not even worth investigating.

    • RedLogix 9.1

      That’s flat-out criminal under the H&S Act.

      Interesting to see that the Dom had to use the OIA to get the information; clearly someone is very unhappy with what’s going on here.

      As for gagging the Fire Service? What the hell is going on here?

      I can understand needing confidentiality around what the Fire crews might see in terms of movie work in progress; but using that to shutdown reporting and investigating an actual incident is a complete abuse.

      Now while this may have been a relatively minor incident in terms of harm; it had every potential to be much worse. And in that case … we can only assume WETA would have sought to cover that up too.

      This comes from the top. Jackson seems to think he’s so big he’s above the law, and the attitude has clearly permeated his organisation.

      • Colonial Viper 9.1.1

        Jackson has his own little fiefdom now, complete with its own National-sanctioned reality.

        Some weak kneed management at Fire Service HQ let him get away with this.

  10. Do we need to reinstate an upper house?

     
    Lords inflict triple welfare bill defeat on government – Link

    • Draco T Bastard 10.1

      No. I’m sure that, if you checked history, for every time that the House of Lords did something right they did several things wrong.

  11. ropata 11

    House prices in Auckland are even further out of reach for new buyers.
    Families are suffering in cold, damp rentals.

    Thanks to NACT voters for rejecting CGT and dumping on your fellow Kiwis 🙁

  12. Jackal 12

    Web of corruption

    New Zealand winning the top spot in the Transparency International’s Corruptions Perception Index last year would make you think that the authorities have got a good handle on any corruption being undertaken here.

    But this doesn’t appear to be the case. A few years ago, a New Zealand company called GT Group was implicated in a complex financial scheme that embezzled and laundered funds on an international scale…

    • ropata 12.1

      Does Transparency Int only count public institutions?
      The private sector in NZ seems to be where the problems reside. For example the Aussie banks $ 4 billion tax evasion. (Another argument against privatisation)

  13. An 8% increase in luxury car sales over the past year, banana republic here we come:
    http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-zealand-becoming-banana-republic.html

  14. ak 14

    Wonder why there’s nothing in our media about those notorious lefties Merkel and Sarkozy proposing an FTT? Not important enough I guess, when there’s defenceless beneficiaries to kick in the teeth.

    http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-10/sarkozy-wins-merkel-backing-for-financial-transaction-tax.html

  15. Colonial Viper 15

    http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2012/01/blood-of-earth-or-pulp-nonfiction.html

    The Archdruid Report – excellent stuff from John Michael Greer.

    THE BLACK GOLD IS THE BLOOD OF THE EARTH
    THE FORCE IN THE BLOOD IS THE FLAME OF THE SUN
    TO DRINK OF THE BLOOD IS TO MASTER THE WORLD
    BUT THE FATE OF THE EARTH AND ITS BLOOD ARE ONE

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T09:02:06+00:00