Tat Loo: Viper Pilot

Written By: - Date published: 12:40 pm, October 20th, 2013 - 333 comments
Categories: labour - Tags:

Hi Standardistas. As a proponent of democratic socialism who is influenced by resilient systems thinking, I often find financial sites like marketwatch.com highly informative.

On the evening of October 10, the front page stories on marketwatch.com included how NZ Government debt was a superior investment to US Treasuries; how 41% of the world’s wealth was owned by the top 0.7%; and how the Swiss were about to vote in a referendum to give their citizens an “Unconditional Basic Income” (UBI) set at a remarkable US$34,000 p.a. That’s serious democracy in a nation which has long figured out its economic niche in the world.

In comparison, the John Key Government is covered with a Wall St stench of plutocracy. The favouring of anti-democratic goals, blatant corporate welfare and the boringly predictable transfer of public wealth to the top 5% is a repeat of the same globalised neoliberal recipe of the last 30 years. Regrettably, the lack of evolution in rentier capitalist thinking over the decades cannot be considered any surprise.

Strategically however, a small country like ours needs friends, financing, and a high value economy in order to advance a broad agenda of social justice, community resiliency and economic equality. These are critical ingredients that the first Labour/Greens government must get right if it is to accomplish anything of lasting significance. Bill Sutch knew this well, linking the power of the private sector with government into a nationwide project to build social and economic security for all New Zealanders. That multi-decades project ended sadly in 1984, with the Roger Douglas Labour Government. It’s now time to relaunch New Zealand’s real economic future.

So what should a Labour led Government offer NZ instead? A few suggestions: it should closely partner with specific sectors and enterprises to forward a vision of a diverse and resilient sovereign democracy. Mining and exploration should continue, but only given rigorous conditions and criteria in accordance with international best practice. Relevant ownership structures and regulation must create maximum value and minimum risk for our country. We also need to further develop and advantage our nation’s promising food, manufacturing and high tech export industries, while asking more of them in the nationwide interest. Even so, our remaining runway to a renewables powered future is short, perhaps just 25 years. We therefore have to urgently turn our minds to innovative, job rich, long-term economic projects. For instance, New Zealand is one of a few advanced nations which stands a chance of developing a fully-renewables powered transportation network, one which can keep our economy on the move post-fossil fuels.

Here are eight more ‘big picture’ concepts for the first Labour/Greens government to apply:

  1. Our people, our land and water, our collective know-how, our sovereignty, our community cohesion and our real terms of trade comprise Aotearoa’s true wealth. In comparison, electronically generated currency units and paper assets are easily manipulable, ephemeral and transient.
  2. A people who are rootless, misinformed, and ignorant are ripe for subjugation and distraction. Therefore, a full commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, as well as delivering on a comprehensive programme of civics education and public media, is crucial. Bruce Jesson understood this well, stating that “history is the essence of nationhood”; he knew that in order for the neoliberal project to be successful, New Zealand’s proud progressive history needed to be “cancelled out” through a kind of nationwide amnesia. Therefore in my view, “the sleeper must awaken.”
  3. Kiwis deeply want to feel pride in themselves and in Aotearoa. The ‘Kiwi dream’ is far more nuanced than the “beamer, boat, bach” meme. After decades of small target managerialism, Kiwis are ready for big ideas to swing in behind, especially if it provides them and their children with decent incomes, good career pathways and linkages into the evolving story of these shaky islands.
  4. NZ is a currency sovereign. The Government is not just a user of NZD, it is an issuer of NZD. Therefore, it does not have to rely solely on taxation and borrowing to fund its economic vision (unless it chooses to).
  5. The vital economic questions facing us will gradually transform from whether or not there is ‘enough money’ available to get a job done, to whether or not there are ‘enough physical resources’ (e.g. water, skilled people) available to get it done. This is a fundamental paradigm change that we must ready our economic practice and theory for.
  6. Exponential economic growth based on quantity and volume is utterly (udderly?) unsustainable. Only qualitative growth, e.g. improvements in: value, creativity, design and inclusiveness – will prove physically (and morally) sustainable.
  7. Societal resilience is strengthened by reducing inequality, building not-for-profit community based assets, and encouraging democratisation of the economy and of workplaces. Unions have a central and critical role to play as economic change agents, but this extends further, to the very design and governance of organisations themselves. Ricardo Semler summarised it by stating “If we do not let people do things the way they do, we will never know what they are really capable of and they will just follow our boarding school rules.”
  8. Like most OECD nations, ours is aging fast. One saving grace is the relative youth and strength of our Māori and Pasifika populations, a fact that I believe will prove decisive in the coming decades but which many political leaders have yet to grasp. We can ill-afford the unequal social justice, mental health, and economic outcomes that we are foisting on to our young people today. To that end, a policy of full employment and training for all New Zealanders 25 years and under, with the Government serving as the ultimate social security employer, is a must.

Aotearoa faces several civilisation and sovereignty impacting “mega-trends” (to borrow a David Cunliffe phrase). We must get ahead of these mega-trends, before they overrun us. The good news: a small, smart, socially interconnected nation like New Zealand is well placed to do exactly that. We can no longer justify being stuck in third gear, passively accepting the morale and wealth destroying output gap long justified by neoliberal contrivances and highly paid bank economists. A hard hitting combination of financial sector buy-in, private sector innovation, democratic civic organisation and public sector leadership is what it will take to move Aotearoa ahead. It is long past time to say to voters loud and clear: yes, there are real alternatives.

(I will be at the upcoming Labour Party Conference in Christchurch as part of the Dunedin North delegation. If you are coming along I look forward to seeing you there, sharing a beer or three, and talking through exciting plans for 2014).

By Tat Loo a.k.a. “Colonial Viper”

tat loo billboard

I stood as the Labour candidate for Clutha-Southland against Bill English in 2011. This year I was an unsuccessful first-time candidate in the Dunedin City Council elections (Central Ward), placing 21st out of 35 candidates. I have previously commented under the pseudonym “Colonial Viper” (CV) I am grateful for the political economic and rhetorical education that I have gained while interacting with the full spectrum of Standardistas. I speak for and represent only myself on The Standard.

 

Update: All links now working.

333 comments on “Tat Loo: Viper Pilot ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Jim Nald 1
    20 October 2013 at 12:56 pm

    “mega-trends” – Yes, I would like to hear more discussed about these and the state [pun] of preparedness and preparation for them. Something other than TINA (there is no alternative) and a lot more about TARAs (there are real alternatives).

    Looking forward to reading more pieces from you, Tat!

  2. millsy 2
    20 October 2013 at 12:58 pm

    So CV unmasks himself…

    Pleased to meet you Tat.

    I hope that we see more of you in the future, under the NZLP banner, of course (a senior cabinet post in the centennial 2035 Labour government, that celebrates 21 years in power, in contrast to a beaten and bedgraggled National party, still clinging to the 30 year “experiment” that was ditched after Labour and the Greens came to power in 2014 and began their record 7 terms in power?)..

  3. Peter 3
    20 October 2013 at 12:58 pm

    Excellent stuff. In my time in the New Zealand Labour Party (I rejoined last year, around the time of a possible leadership vote) I’ve often found that members and candidates tend to duck the hard economic questions and thus cede the debating ground to the right, without a fight. With this post above you’ve shown yourself to be one of the few Labour members I know who is prepared to articulate a clear economic vision for NZ.

    Well done.

  4. weka 4
    20 October 2013 at 1:00 pm

    Coming out in style! Well done mate. Don’t hold back 😉 And long live TARA.

    Is this the end of an era with CV? Looking forward to what is coming next.

    Udderly? Lolz.

    • tatloo 4.1
      20 October 2013 at 1:45 pm

      Thanks weka! It is a bit of an end of an era, but CV will still pop up unexpectedly I am sure. Yes goodbye TINA hello TARA!!!

    • Tim 4.2
      20 October 2013 at 2:15 pm

      How good it is to see someone prepared to challenge the mantra. I was thinking about it the other day actually …. TINA (there is no alternative) as neo-liberal ‘buzz’ – when of course there are ALWAYS alternatives. The mantra that got swallowed hook, line and sinker (and still is by quite a few esprayshnuls).
      Then there was TRICKLE DOWN that defied gravity
      Then there was the FREE MARKET that never was and still isn’t
      We’ve had CHANGE AGENTS who never were but who simply sought to implement their agenda
      We had POSITIONINGs (usually used to justify some future nirvana)
      FLEXIBILITY – usually used to justify the removal of some basic human right
      EFFICIENCY and EFFECTIVENESS – more often than not used to justify some corporate takeover or privatisation of things we already own

      …. and let’s not get into PRUDENT ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT, or DEREGULATION.
      Thankfully, I notice ‘LEARNINGS” is off to a bit of a shaky start (probably because its a Bridges/fuckwit favourite)

      Challenge the lingo at every turn!
      These inventions are designed to fool the populace

      • Tim 4.2.1
        20 October 2013 at 2:18 pm

        Btw … everyone/anyone: PLEASE add to the list. Above are just a few that get on my wick but you could probably compile a dictionary

        • Dan1 4.2.1.1
          20 October 2013 at 2:43 pm

          One phrase I particularly dislike is when Capital Gains Tax is mentioned or increasing the retirement age is up for discussion, the put down is “That is the politics of envy!” The Nacts frequently use it.

          Far from the politics of envy, it is the politics of fairness.

          Great post Tat Loo. I have always maintained that Labour should
          front foot policy.

          • Tim 4.2.1.1.1
            20 October 2013 at 3:59 pm

            Oh Christ .. I just thought of another beauty.
            It came about when DOWNSIZING became unfashionable: RIGHTSIZING.

            It’d be so nice if we were actually right-sized. I think RIGHTSIZING was actually LOPSIZING in disguise.

            Anyhow – let’s not hijack this thread.
            Kudos and appreciation to Tat Loo

      • Draco T Bastard 4.2.2
        20 October 2013 at 2:20 pm

        Challenge the lingo at every turn!
        These inventions are designed to fool the populace

        QFT

      • Rogue Trooper 4.2.3
        20 October 2013 at 3:18 pm

        well, wot can I say… 😉 Rationalization : “Marx and Engels associated the emergence of modern society above all with the development of capitalism; for Durkheim it was connected in particular with industrialization and the new social division of labour which this brought about; for Weber it had to do with the emergence of a distinctive way of thinking, the rational calculation which he associated with the Protestant Ethic (more or less what Marx and Engels speak of in terms of those ‘icy waves of egotistical calculation’).
        -John Harris , The Second Great Transformation ? .

      • millsy 4.2.4
        20 October 2013 at 5:57 pm

        “FAILING SCHOOLS”
        “DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES”
        “LONG TAIL OF UNDERACHIVEMENT”
        “CROWDING OUT”
        “GOVERNMENT DEPENDENCY”

  5. Te Reo Putake 5
    20 October 2013 at 1:03 pm

    Blow me down! I always figured you for an inner westie, based somewhere near DC’s nether regions. Now I understand why Clare Curran felt so threatened 😉

    • tatloo 5.2
      20 October 2013 at 1:47 pm

      There is a bit of an inner westie in there somewhere mate! As for your local political analysis: no comment lol.

    • newsense 5.3
      20 October 2013 at 2:07 pm

      yeh- it is interesting the assumptions I had made when reading the Vipers comments and also had for some reason read Colonial as Colonel…

    • Not a PS Staffer 5.4
      21 October 2013 at 8:29 am

      TRP,

      CV is not perfect. Tat has the disadvantage of not being a Westie. Fortunately he compensates in many other ways. I did spy that smiling face in the Black Salt in New Lynn on the night of Cunliffe’s Leadership victory party. I hope he comes to West Auckland from time to time to inhale the essence on that blesses locale and bring the fight to Dunedin North.
      The next Selection Convention there will ve fun!

  6. Tigger 6
    20 October 2013 at 1:34 pm

    Great post, CV. Will be at conference so I will say hello.

  7. Bill 7
    20 October 2013 at 1:57 pm

    Bloody nice post. Don’t usually read the overly long ones, but this one was engaging. Anyway… to the point.

    Universal income and a jobs rich environment. If the former, then no real need for the latter. Rather, available jobs could (should) be allowed and encouraged only if they satisfy given social and environmental yard sticks. So, no more soul destroying crap jobs that exist only because the economy is geared to allow (demand acceptance of) the exploitation of some by others. Socially and environmentally worthwhile or necessary jobs available to supplement a living UI really is the only realistic option available in any future that can happen and persist.

    A second unrelated point is this ‘strengthening of local communities’ that I’ve heard mentioned by D. Cunliffe and that you also mention in your post. See, that could be positive and way overdue if it is the actual people who comprise the community being empowered. But if instead, power is invested in existing formal, or future more informal, bureaucratic structures, then it would constitute a massively damaging mis-step.

    And I suspect the future shape of the Labour Party will hinge on that question of where power in various situations is vested. Old traditionalists (statists and their ilk) will insist, by and large, that bureaucracies will need strengthening. And if they hold sway, then any ‘new dawn’ for Labour is going to turn into one of those endless shitty days nobody can be really bothered with and that everyone wishes would just end.

    • Tat Loo 7.1
      20 October 2013 at 2:06 pm

      Yep. No one wants or needs a new breed of Political Commissars appointed from Wellington and parachuted into local communities and bureaucracies telling communities what to do.

      Bill, do you have system access to edit the links in my post? None of them are working properly because there is a random single symbol appended to the end of the links. Would be much obliged.

      [lprent; I see that he is currently editing it, so I won’t bother. Nursing my after the birthday (sisters 50th) head at work. ]

      [Bill : Done, bar the ‘superior investemnt’ link and the pdf from Waikato. Mbe if you refind and submit in long form, then someone can fix them up properly?]

  8. QoT 8
    20 October 2013 at 2:11 pm

    Pleased to meet you, Tat!

  9. Draco T Bastard 9
    20 October 2013 at 2:16 pm

    Regrettably, the lack of evolution in rentier capitalist thinking over the decades millennia cannot be considered any surprise.

    FTFY

    Capitalist rentier thinking goes all the way back to the birthplace of Western civilisation 5000 years ago in Sumer. It didn’t work then either and is the reason why the religions that have their origins the area all proclaim interest to be anathema.

    Strategically however, a small country like ours needs friends, financing, and a high value economy in order to advance a broad agenda of social justice, community resiliency and economic equality.

    Nope, what we need is a diverse economy/society that is not dependent upon foreign “friends” or financing.

    NZ is a currency sovereign. The Government is not just a user of NZD, it is an issuer of NZD. Therefore, it does not have to rely solely on taxation and borrowing to fund its economic vision (unless it chooses to).

    The NZ government should be the sole issuer of NZ currency. The issuance of the currency by the government should be spent directly into the economy. This can be in several areas: Resource extraction, R&D, farming, education, etc. Essentially, the government should be the base of the entire economy. In this version of finances taxes aren’t funding the government but are the destruction of the money created by the government so as to prevent the over abundance of money (Which is what we see now with the private banks being the creator of most of the money in the system).

    Ricardo Semler summarised it by stating “If we do not let people do things the way they do, we will never know what they are really capable of and they will just follow our boarding school rules.”

    Which is one of the many reasons why I support a UBI and free education. Support and encourage people to follow their own paths and our society will become much greater. The present neo-liberal paradigm of only supporting the rich and victim blaming everyone else can only result in the destruction of our society.

    The good news: a small, smart, socially interconnected nation like New Zealand is well placed to do exactly that.

    /agreed

    We can no longer justify being stuck in third gear…

    Still can’t find reverse..

    • Tat Loo 9.1
      20 October 2013 at 2:19 pm

      Nope, what we need is a diverse economy/society that is not dependent upon foreign “friends” or financing.

      Don’t disagree DTB, but for the next few years I think we have to play the game with the cards we hold in hand, not the cards we wished we held.

  10. Philgwellington Wellington 10
    20 October 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Nice Tat! I love it when I read well referenced material with some analysis. Wow. If it were only real. I’ve become jaded,
    disillusioned and cynical. When I
    read of the Labour MP’S in the Sky Corporate box

    • Tat Loo 10.1
      20 October 2013 at 2:26 pm

      Yeah I went through the disillusioned/cynical phase myself, mate. Seems like the sun is coming back up tho!

  11. Curtis 11
    20 October 2013 at 2:18 pm

    I’ll be part of the Dunedin North delegation too. So I’m sure I’ll be seeing you

  12. Chooky 12
    20 October 2013 at 2:23 pm

    well CV….fancy that!…I thought you were a Wellingtonian sitting up in the hills somewhere….with nothing else to do…..but I always thought your political analysis was spot on and you were super smart….will miss CV!….but hello TatLoo ! ( call me gobsmacked)

    • Tat Loo 12.1
      20 October 2013 at 2:25 pm

      Chooky aka gobsmacked. Hi 🙂

      • gobsmacked 12.1.1
        20 October 2013 at 7:25 pm

        Chooky may be gobsmacked, but isn’t “gobsmacked”. That is I. Just to be clear 🙂

        • Tat Loo 12.1.1.1
          20 October 2013 at 7:31 pm

          ha! loud and clear!

        • Chooky 12.1.1.2
          20 October 2013 at 7:51 pm

          …sorry gobsmacked !…but I was for a wee while

          ….should have said to CV “You could have knocked me over with a feather duster!” or “knocked me off the perch!”

          …..all us chookys are bug eyed and very alert!

          ….er ummm….now …… CV /Tat Loo …. this is interesting!

    • Lanthanide 12.2
      20 October 2013 at 2:35 pm

      I assumed a mover-and-shaker in Dunedin or surrounds, thanks to CC’s rabid involvement. Never expected an actual candidate, though.

  13. Zorr 13
    20 October 2013 at 2:26 pm

    Very very nicely written and I applaud you for daring to put a face to the name of Colonial Viper 🙂

    With this Labour party hopefully ascendant to government next year, it’ll be important to have loud voices like yours calling for these kinds of progressive, socially-inclusive policies.

    I actually have very little to fault your post on apart from the fact that potentially New Zealand should become even more “risk averse” and over compensate (a little) for the feet dragging of the rest of the world. We need to go from last in the pack (where National have left us) to leading the field again. Thankfully, as a small nation, this is easier for us than for the behemoths of our globe.

    It’s because of people like you that I’ll be joining Labour to help keep Cunliffe’s feet over the fire and hold him accountable for his promises.

    • Tat Loo 13.1
      20 October 2013 at 2:39 pm

      Hey Zorr, thanks so much, it will be great to have you on the Labour train.

      One reason that I ‘came out’ was that a Cunliffe government will need to listen to and represent a wide range of views. We can all see that the standard orthodoxy is not just failing NZ, but failing peoples all over the world. Having ‘de-cloaked’ CV I can now push these points a little harder from within the party, as myself.

      Regardless, at last count probably over a hundred people knew who CV actually was (hmmm speaking of myself in the third person…), so it was already an open secret in several circles.

  14. just saying 14
    20 October 2013 at 2:27 pm

    Laughed out loud, CV (if I can still call you that).
    The only part of the picture I had in my head of you was your (presumed) gender.
    Now I have to merge two very different people that I have existing impressions of, into one.
    Very pleased to meet you – and great post.

    • Tat Loo 14.1
      20 October 2013 at 2:30 pm

      Thanks js…and yes it’s a bit of a head frak when this kind of mental mismatch happens. All part of the fun 🙂

      • just saying 14.1.1
        20 October 2013 at 2:38 pm

        You realise you’ll have to spill on where and when you people hold your “secret squirrel” meetings now…..

        • just saying 14.1.1.1
          20 October 2013 at 3:54 pm

          The electorate meetings to be specific.

          • Tat Loo 14.1.1.1.1
            20 October 2013 at 4:12 pm

            The different Labour branches in Dunedin North meet at different regularities and venues; I’d say that placing a phone call to David Clark’s electorate office on Albany St is the best bet to find out. Although I fear you may have already tried this…

            • just saying 14.1.1.1.1.1
              20 October 2013 at 6:38 pm

              Yeah, agent 86 in the office maintained the ‘cone of silence’ rather well.

      • Chooky 14.1.2
        21 October 2013 at 8:46 am

        Re Mental Mismatch

        …If there were to be a big ‘Standardista Coming Out Party’….I expect there would be huge shocks all around!

        …that person you thought was an academic might be a a member of a motorbike gang for example ….and vice versa.

        ..personally I find this anonymity intriguing..it is the perfect classless society …(and also raceless and genderless and ageless) ….hence it precludes automatic stereotyping and pecking orders

        ….creating a cauldron of ideas which can be thrashed out on their own merits

        • lprent 14.1.2.1
          21 October 2013 at 9:29 am

          Who you are is determined about how well you can argue and link to supporting material. It has been like that on computer networks since I started playing around on them since 1980.

          What you know about people is what they care to share. What they rely upon requires them to exhibit knowledge in accordance with their claims, and that is done to a skeptical audience with the whole of the net available, usually with the knowledge to locate it.

          The only thing it needs to moderation to stop the YELLERS trying to talk over people. Around here, they have me and the other mods to deal with.

        • Rogue Trooper 14.1.2.2
          21 October 2013 at 11:38 am

          defenses are annealed Chooky

  15. Olwyn 15
    20 October 2013 at 2:30 pm

    What a lovely, encouraging post after all the jaw-droppingly nasty Auckland stuff. I am not sure whether I will be at the conference in Christchurch, but if I am I will look out for you and say hi. Good on you too for staying around when you were put under all that pressure to shut up.

    • Tat Loo 15.1
      20 October 2013 at 2:40 pm

      People like yourself Olwyn and others on the Standard were of a great help to me during that time.

  16. felix 16
    20 October 2013 at 2:32 pm

    Hi Tat! (do we call you Tat or Loo?)

    lol Dunedin North

  17. Rhinocrates 17
    20 October 2013 at 2:37 pm

    Congratulations!

  18. viv k 18
    20 October 2013 at 2:38 pm

    You say mining and exploration should continue. Mining for what? Fossil fuels? ‘International best practice’ are weasel words, they merely describe the best way to do a really bad thing. We know fossil fuels are changing the climate and acidifying the oceans, what we don’t know is whether the Labour party will wise up and stand up and do something about it. When you are all at your conference you need to decide if you are going to facilitate the fossil fuel industry’s destruction of the biosphere by allowing them to drill for oil while you hide behind phrases like ‘rigourous conditions’. Or will you be brave enough to send the oil companies packing and lead the world? Like we did when we became nuclear free.

    • Peter 18.1
      20 October 2013 at 2:45 pm

      Fossil fuel usage and climage change are predicaments, not problems, in that there are no solutions, only adaptations. If there was an easy way, technically, socially, politically, and economically (and when you reply, I’d encourage you to think about these four spheres of possibilities and how they limit our range of options). Add to that time, and the cost of any change.

      To transform NZ’s transport, it will take energy and resources, and that involves burning fossil fuels. It’s either do that, or nothing at all.

    • Tat Loo 18.2
      20 October 2013 at 2:47 pm

      When you are all at your conference you need to decide if you are going to facilitate the fossil fuel industry’s destruction of the biosphere

      Our civilisation’s addiction to fossil fuels is real and it is deep. Getting off fossil fuels in a structured way which doesn’t strain and tear away at society is going to require major planning and investment. Which by the way will create a lot of jobs, develop new expertise and technology, and increase the value of our economic activity.

      Or will you be brave enough to send the oil companies packing and lead the world?

      There will be a lot of angry people around if we were to try and shut down all the petrol stations and diesel pumps around the country in the next 12 or 24 months. It’s really not going to happen.

    • gobsmacked 18.3
      20 October 2013 at 7:45 pm

      Fossil fuels aren’t the only thing that can be mined. Other minerals, other valid uses.

      The problem is getting genuinely independent analysis of the costs/benefits. All these projects are accompanied by a bunch of reports from the industry “consultants”, telling us that the country will benefit (or at least, the consultants will). It’s all predictably Mandy Rice-Davies.

      I don’t think Labour should Just Say No to mining. Just ask hard questions, and not settle for self-serving answers.

  19. Peter Revell 19
    20 October 2013 at 3:08 pm

    Congratulations, Well articulated, look forward to more

  20. Philgwellington Wellington 20
    20 October 2013 at 3:17 pm

    Xox
    So you clearly think that Labour will not be seduced, or prostituted to corporate Interests, again?

    • Tat Loo 20.1
      20 October 2013 at 4:09 pm

      We’ve seen how important it is to Labour to have a vocal, active, and occasionally non-compliant membership base. Going forward, that is going to be as important as ever to make sure that those in Wellington don’t accidentally ‘lose their way’.

      That and continuing to democratise how things are done in the party.

      • Anne 20.1.1
        20 October 2013 at 7:44 pm

        Oooh Tat don’t use that phrase “going forward” ever again. It’s terrible.

        At last you’ve done it. 😀 Now we can start twisting the arms of our branch and LEC members before next year’s list selection. The Labour caucus needs you and your brilliant brain.

  21. The Al1en 21
    20 October 2013 at 3:25 pm

    Good to put a face to the voice and a real person to the words, Tat.
    Do I still call you Mr Snake? Or would you prefer Rocket man?

  22. joe90 22
    20 October 2013 at 3:35 pm

    Pleased to meet you Tat.

    (not quite the CV I’d imagined – but only by decade or two)

    • Tat Loo 22.1
      20 October 2013 at 3:42 pm

      😉 joe90, greetings. It really is fascinating to hear different peoples perceptions of CV.

  23. Rogue Trooper 23
    20 October 2013 at 3:35 pm

    ahhh, Dunedin, have ridden through a number of times, stayed the night, to ride some more.
    Ate, drank, and was very merry.
    Returned a few years ago to pick up the GPz 1000R and rode that back up here.
    Fond memories, firm I was workshop-manager for are also based there.
    You and Flockie could hide-out together.

    well, here’s Riding With Jim 😎

    btw, well-written article.

    • Tat Loo 23.1
      20 October 2013 at 3:45 pm

      Thank you sir…

    • weka 23.2
      20 October 2013 at 4:08 pm

      “You and Flockie could hide-out together.”

      Hide tanning more like 😉

    • David H 23.3
      20 October 2013 at 10:19 pm

      Ahhh Dunedin I spent, or rather misspent 6 years of my life down there as an adult student. Went for a Year stayed for 6, Gone now are a lot of the landmarks, Capt Cook The Gardie Bar Street Parties, and burning couches to keep warm at Carisbrook. I remember going to a Scarfi party in the middle of winter lying on our backs in the snow watching the Aurora Australis streaming over they sky in complete silence (There should have been some music) and realising how small we really are on our tiny rock. Anyway Tat, I digress, but like others Picked you for a Capital Person, and you are, welcome out, hope you win.

  24. viv k 24
    20 October 2013 at 3:39 pm

    Should have been clearer, send the off shore drillers packing. I am not naive and stupid enough to think we can just stop using fossil fuels now, but unless we rapidly transition to a renewably powered society our grandkids will be toast. 350.org have done the maths and what fossil fuels we can (possibly safely) burn, should be used to make the transition. Tat, you are spot on about the job opportunities, that’s where we need to go. Peter, you say it’s all too hard for 4 reasons. Yes, we are stuck between a fossil fuel rock that is damaging the biosphere upon which we depend and an unpalatable, unpopular, difficult and extremely hard place. Where will Labour stand? Business as usual or real action?

    • weka 24.1
      20 October 2013 at 3:57 pm

      Those aren’t the only two options. Another one is that Labour and the GP prepare the ground for transition. I don’t think you can get a whole country to shift suddenly into accepting the need for transition, and if NZ were ready for that we would have Green govt already. It’s a process, and from what I can see parts of Labour are ready for that. The questions are really about to what extent, how Labour handle this internally, and timeframes.

      • Peter 24.1.1
        20 October 2013 at 4:15 pm

        Yep, we can provide options, the big picture transport stuff that only the State can build. I’d start with backing rail electrification and speed increases, biorefineries, potentially powered by geothermal, and some sort of mercantile exchange contract with Bolivia to obtain sufficient lithium reserves in return for something tangible that they need. Of course, with batteries I’d be focusing less on energy density than on lifespan.

        • Draco T Bastard 24.1.1.1
          20 October 2013 at 4:27 pm

          Mineral Commodity Report 19 – Beryllium, Gallium, Lithium, Magnesium, Uranium and Zirconium

          New Zealand occurrence
          Lithium is present in dilute brines found in the geothermal fields of the Taupo Volcanic Zone (Fig. 2). Concentrations are typically 10-13 ppm Li, along with higher concentrations of silica, chloride, sodium and potassium. The Wairakei geothermal field alone discharges about 445 t of lithium annually in geothermal waste water, into the Waikato River.

          Just how many tonnes of lithium do we use per year and well can it be recycled?

          • Peter 24.1.1.1.1
            20 October 2013 at 7:57 pm

            I’ve just learnt something new. Most of that lithium will be going back into the reinjection wells now, rather than the Waikato. Makes you wonder about a way to get the lithium out before it goes back down.

            Peter

        • weka 24.1.1.2
          20 October 2013 at 4:30 pm

          What are the speed increases?

          • Draco T Bastard 24.1.1.2.1
            20 October 2013 at 4:40 pm

            Increasing the speed of rail which is, at present in NZ, very slow. It would be expensive and take a long time as I’m sure that the higher speeds that trains achieve elsewhere is only possible because of the wider track used than the narrow gauge used here.

      • Chooky 24.1.2
        20 October 2013 at 6:10 pm

        +1….Weka and Peter

    • Peter 24.2
      20 October 2013 at 4:09 pm

      No, I didn’t say it was too hard, I said it was “hard”, and unfortunately my next sentence got eaten up. What might be technically feasible is rarely socially or economically feasible. Somewhere in those overlapping Venn diagrams is a window of possibility, a window that is highly dependent on location. NZ has a bigger window than most.

      There is no way of replacing our current way of life with renewables, the energy equations don’t add up. However, NZ has the ability to invest in a renewables powered transport backbone, and it very well could build a few strategically located biorefineries to obtain some semblance of liquid fuels to power what we can’t run electrically. Chemical fuels will always be better than batteries for many applications.

      We can’t force people to change, but we can give them real options to leave their cars behind, when they choose, or the price forces them to.

  25. fender 25
    20 October 2013 at 3:42 pm

    Very enlightening! and a great post too…

    As someone who has been impressed by CV I wish you the best of luck for your political ambitions. You are an asset to Labour and we here in the Otaki electorate need someone like you, please consider relocating!!!LOL…

    • Tat Loo 25.1
      20 October 2013 at 3:47 pm

      lolz fender…btw I grew up in Palmy North not so far away 😉

      • thatguynz 25.1.1
        21 October 2013 at 1:07 pm

        I too would like to see you in the Otaki electorate CV – it would almost be enough for me to do something I’ve never done and give my party vote to Labour ;)..

        • Tat Loo 25.1.1.1
          21 October 2013 at 1:23 pm

          Muchly honoured 😎

          edit But would that mean living in Levin 😯

          • thatguynz 25.1.1.1.1
            21 October 2013 at 1:34 pm

            Mate, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.. Keep coming down to the southern end of the electorate 🙂

    • David H 25.2
      20 October 2013 at 10:27 pm

      True… I don’t even know who we have now. only hear of that bloody fool Nathan Guy

    • Varity 25.3
      20 October 2013 at 10:28 pm

      if he considers relocating then invercargill is closer and at least we have an airport … unlike clutha or otaki, lol.

      • fender 25.3.1
        21 October 2013 at 9:48 am

        The Otaki electorate has an airport Varity, although it is technically in the Mana one because Kapiti Rd. is the boundary line, and it’s right on the southern boundary, it’s called Paraparaumu airport.

  26. Ad 26
    20 October 2013 at 4:00 pm

    Pleased to meet you, fellow Sutchean.

    Tonnes to argue with there. But in the meantime, great to see you out in public.

    And see you at Conference.

    • Tat Loo 26.1
      20 October 2013 at 4:05 pm

      Hey! Yes, and it’s going to be great arguing about more substantial issues than “when is the Budget going to be back in surplus.”

      See you in Christchurch.

  27. marty mars 27
    20 October 2013 at 4:08 pm

    Kia ora Tat

    I haven’t always agreed, but I’ve read what you write (well a lot of it anyway) keep it up. Kia kaha.

  28. ghostrider888 28
    20 October 2013 at 4:20 pm

    We know Brilliance when we strip across it. 😎

  29. Ugly Truth 29
    20 October 2013 at 4:29 pm

    Our people, our land and water, our collective know-how, our sovereignty, our community cohesion and our real terms of trade comprise Aotearoa’s true wealth.

    Your persons, your territories, your assumptions, your empire, your socialism, and your commerce all comprise your realm.

    Your system is corrupt, you do not speak for the people of Aotearoa or for the land.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 29.1
      20 October 2013 at 4:38 pm

      🙄

    • weka 29.2
      20 October 2013 at 6:13 pm

      “you do not speak for the people of Aotearoa or for the land.”

      Neither do you, so what?

      • Ugly Truth 29.2.1
        20 October 2013 at 6:18 pm

        So it is inappropriate for an employee of the Crown to speak of “our people”. All the Crown speaks for is its persons.

        • weka 29.2.1.1
          20 October 2013 at 6:25 pm

          But he’s not an employee of the Crown as far as I know. And even if he was, read this sentence from the bottom of his post

          “I speak for and represent only myself on The Standard.”

          • Ugly Truth 29.2.1.1.1
            20 October 2013 at 6:40 pm

            OK, in that case he’s only being presumptuous by speaking of “our people, our land and water”. Also the party that he supports has rejected the law of the land, so there is no honour in that path either.

            But to be fair dishonesty in politics is par for the course, so apart from being a card-carrying socialist he’s probably no worse than any other political wannabe.

            • Hanswurst 29.2.1.1.1.1
              20 October 2013 at 10:11 pm

              One post ago, it was “speaking of”, then in the next sentence “speaking for”; now it’s suddenly “speaking of” again. Anyone can “speak of” our land and our people, and your fantasies about Mr. Loo trying to “speak for” them don’t follow from the quote you reference. When even the content of what you’re saying keeps wobbling around like that, it’s very hard to discern a point in there. So far, you seem to have generated a lot of verbiage just to say “I disagree with Mr. Loo”.

              • McFlock …
                20 October 2013 at 10:40 pm

                In this thread, he had me at his profound distinction between “our people” and “its persons”. 🙄

              • Ugly Truth …
                21 October 2013 at 7:38 am

                Mr Loo said: “our people …. our sovereignty … our community” – he’s speaking for his “people” by implying that they have some kind of sovereignty.

                The point of my fist post (29) was that Mr Loo was implying that there was some kind of honour associated with his political platform, but in fact there isn’t any, it is just the usual socialism and corruption that is so widespread in this country.

                • Hanswurst …
                  21 October 2013 at 9:04 am

                  “Mr Loo said: ‘our people …. our sovereignty … our community’ – he’s speaking for his “people” by implying that they have some kind of sovereignty.”

                  The people of NZ are a sovereign people in that they can make their own laws via elected officials and have their own legal and policing organs to enforce them. You can quibble about the justice of how that is conducted or how you want to define “sovereignty”, but the usage of “our sovereignty” in the post is just common parlance to refer to objective fact. It isn’t an attempt to appropriate or speak for your definition of sovereignty. For someone seemingly so keen on sophistry, you’re awfully clumsy at it.

                  “it is just the usual socialism and corruption that is so widespread in this country.”

                  I think you need to define “socialism” before you can credibly claim that it is “usual” in this country. Also, lumping it in with corruption is very much the sort of grandiose and vague generalisation that you’re pretending to be against in Mr. Loo’s post.

                  • Ugly Truth …
                    21 October 2013 at 4:24 pm

                    The people of NZ are a sovereign people in that they can make their own laws via elected officials

                    Bollocks. The legislation of the current bunch on numptys is nothing more than rules for persons. They cut themselves off from the source of law a very long time ago. Sovereignty is very much connected to the capacity to make law. In NZ the sovereignty of parliament is only assumed, it is not real.

                    To illustrate this, imagine that a collection of criminals conspired to defraud the public of what was rightfully theirs, and in doing so said that they were honourable and sovereign and were making law. How would this situation be any different to what exists within the body politic today? (Please remember that the state’s ongoing injury of the natural rights of people does in fact constitute criminal behaviour)

                    • McFlock …
                      21 October 2013 at 4:35 pm

                      They cut themselves off from the source of law a very long time ago.

                      [citation needed]

                      imagine that a collection of criminals conspired to defraud the public of what was rightfully theirs, and in doing so said that they were honourable and sovereign and were making law. How would this situation be any different to what exists within the body politic today?

                      More importantly, if it’s done with the consent and the votes of the people, how is it not lawful?

                      Please remember that the state’s ongoing injury of the natural rights of people does in fact constitute criminal behaviour

                      [citation needed]

                    • Hanswurst …
                      21 October 2013 at 7:32 pm

                      Well, I said that you could quibble about the justice of how it was conducted. You proceeded to do so and failed to address my point at all. You are effectively taking a mainstream component of political thought in the Western World and claiming that it is the presumptuous creation of a poster on The Standard. Your continual insistence on pushing your own wheelbarrow, and apparent inability to see why it is neither relevant nor even logically connected to the discussion at hand, means that I’m done with this discussion.

                    • Ugly Truth …
                      22 October 2013 at 3:22 pm

                      Followup for McFlock:

                      Re: They cut themselves off from the source of law a very long time ago.

                      They did this when they adopted their perverted version of the common law.
                      The common law in unavoidably theistic, the secular version that the state uses is an expression of the corruption of the state.

                      More importantly, if it’s done with the consent and the votes of the people, how is it not lawful?

                      Because the will of the people alone is not sufficient to make law.
                      If two people vote and consent to a crime then it is a conspiracy.
                      If two hundred people vote and consent to a crime it is still a conspiracy.
                      What is unlawful does not become lawful just because a certain number of people have agreed to it.

                      Re: Please remember that the state’s ongoing injury of the natural rights of people does in fact constitute criminal behaviour

                      Associated with the theistic nature of the common law are natural rights, as described by Blackstone. The right to life and liberty are two of these. The right to liberty in injured when the state restricts ordinary access to public places like roads.

                    • McFlock …
                      22 October 2013 at 8:54 pm

                      Ah.

                      When I asked for a citation, all you needed to say was “I have a magic book, so blah”.

  30. One Anonymous Knucklehead 30
    20 October 2013 at 4:38 pm

    Nice one 🙂

  31. Huginn 31
    20 October 2013 at 4:48 pm

    Pleased to meet you, Tat.

  32. Lloyd 32
    20 October 2013 at 4:56 pm

    Tat loo I think I agree with all your points, but the concepts in them will not get through to Mr & Mrs Centre, those people who vote tory even though they would be better off in almost every way if they voted labour/green. You will have to distil your points into snappy phases with five or less words in them, then they may actually punch through our media which today only reports sound bites.

    • Tat Loo 32.1
      20 October 2013 at 5:34 pm

      You’re quite right Lloyd. Depending on how ‘concrete’ vs ‘conceptual’ someone’s head is at, that’s where an appropriate pitch needs to occur.

      The snappy sound bites (Josh Lyman from the West Wing described them as ten word answers) and the even briefer political slogans (e.g. “no more taxes”, “brighter future”, etc) are crucial…but they must also do a double duty and describe a new narrative, not kowtow to the old neolib narrative.

      • karol 32.1.1
        20 October 2013 at 5:38 pm

        Agree. They should index a new narrative that is developed via all kinds of platforms. And not be empty slogans like “brighter future”.

        • Tat Loo 32.1.1.1
          20 October 2013 at 5:55 pm

          Yep, a real ‘360 degree’ approach to elucidating a new narrative. To use (ugh) corporate jargon.

  33. karol 33
    20 October 2013 at 5:31 pm

    Welcome aboard, Tat. Excellent post. So you’ve decided to leave the Battlestar!

    Well, well, well, CV, looking at your CV (or rather election campaign bio) – who’da thought?

    Chiropractor – Masters in Pain Medicine. hmmm – I may need to book up a consultation some time in the future!

    I guess I bought you own mythology of a kept man of relative leisure.

    I agree with most of your post, especially:

    (UBI) [tick]

    a full commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, as well as delivering on a comprehensive programme of civics education and public media, is crucial.
    [tick]

    whether or not there are ‘enough physical resources’ (e.g. water, skilled people) available to get it done.
    [tick]

    Only qualitative growth, e.g. improvements in: value, creativity, design and inclusiveness – will prove physically (and morally) sustainable.
    [tick – I think, although will need to see some elaboration on “morally”]

    building not-for-profit community based assets, and encouraging democratisation of the economy and of workplaces. Unions have a central and critical role to play as economic change agents, but this extends further, to the very design and governance of organisations themselves.

    This last one sounds good, though I would like to see more detail. Ditto, for the point below, especially wanting more detail on “social security employer”

    We can ill-afford the unequal social justice, mental health, and economic outcomes that we are foisting on to our young people today. To that end, a policy of full employment and training for all New Zealanders 25 years and under, with the Government serving as the ultimate social security employer, is a must.

    And I’m with Bill on what ‘strengthening of local communities’ means – ie from above or below.

    • Tat Loo 33.1
      20 October 2013 at 5:45 pm

      karol hi. It really is a pleasure to ‘come out’ and make myself known on The Standard. Although a reasonable number of people around the place already knew my identity, I felt this was a necessary step and one that I knew many Standardistas would be supportive of. So thank you.

      Ahhh, yes, I’m not really married into a family with gazillions of dollars, might be nice tho 🙂

      Interesting ideas about the governance of work places can be gleaned from how Germany – a successful, advanced, industrial economy, has used ‘worker councils’ as an integral part of company boards of directors.

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

      Re: ‘social security employer’ this is a nicer name for ’employer of last resort’ which may have somewhat negative connotations, even though there should not be any. The aim of a social security employer might be to ensure that anyone who wants a half time or full time job has one, preferably in an appropriate field. Maybe starting at the youth end of the workforce.

      It also helps to make the minimum wage a real minimum wage. At the moment the minimum wage is only a minimum – if and when you can find work.

      And I’m with Bill on what ‘strengthening of local communities’ means – ie from above or below.

      This is worth a good discussion, yes. My mind set favours increased decentralisation and increased localised direction. IMO local communities tend to know what their issues are (and what the potential solutions may be) far better than an ‘expert’ a thousand kms away.

      • karol 33.1.1
        20 October 2013 at 6:10 pm

        Thanks for the full reply. I guess if the UBI is in place, social security employer has less pressure on it. For instance, participating in community work or other valued activities.

        Decentralisation – the opposite of what’s been happening with Hide’s Auckland supercity.

      • Lanthanide 33.1.2
        20 October 2013 at 6:39 pm

        I have to say, I’m very dubious of a “social security employer”, ie one that just “magics up” whatever jobs are necessary for anyone who wants a job.

        Sounds like a recipe for an awful lot of “make-work” non-productive jobs, or necessary jobs that are given to people who simply can’t or won’t make a proper go of it, thus wasting everyone’s time.

        I am, perhaps perversely, extremely in favour of a UBI however. In such a scenario, volunteer work becomes much more viable, and although the government could still actively work to extend jobs to as many as possible, there isn’t as much pressure to ensure every last person available has a job.

        • Tat Loo 33.1.2.1
          20 October 2013 at 6:45 pm

          Fair points. And I certainly don’t want to hire people to ‘dig up holes and fill them in again’.

          However I suspect that there is a stack of necessary and useful work in our society which currently needs to be done, but is currently not being done.

          During the Great Depression, US gov programmes like the WPA: built national parks, built schools and hospitals, cleared farmland, built roads and railways as well as added to the nation’s arts and culture eg. funded professional theatre, artists, orchestras, bands, writers, poets, journalism and documentaries.

          • Draco T Bastard 33.1.2.1.1
            20 October 2013 at 7:08 pm

            Yep, there’s a hell of a lot that can be done and should be done but isn’t being done due to the commercial imperative of capitalism.

        • Peter 33.1.2.2
          20 October 2013 at 8:50 pm

          I start from the premise of the social and financial cost of unemployment. An unemployed person, or an unemployed family is likely to have incurred direct costs against the taxpayer at all of the following agencies:

          MSD, ACC, MoH/DHBs,Education, Police, Corrections, and quite possibly more. Add that cost up (and no one does, because it’s siloed), and it’ll wind up being cheaper to make some valuable work for those people.

          • Tat Loo 33.1.2.2.1
            20 October 2013 at 8:55 pm

            Not to mention massive other costs to society and persons including increased risks over time of: reduction in self esteem, deterioration of work ethic and personal care, increasing unemployability after 6 or 12 months, depression or anxiety, worsened stress and strains on family and relationships (including increased chances of divorce), poverty (which has many intergenerational impacts), and even heightened probability of death.

  34. Pete 34
    20 October 2013 at 5:51 pm

    As a fellow Dunedin North person, I’m pleased you’re serving my community in this way. All the best for conference.

  35. Tat Loo 35
    20 October 2013 at 5:58 pm

    Cheers Pete – you are a consistent voice of considered moderation. Well, usually 🙂

  36. Craig Glen Eden 36
    20 October 2013 at 6:43 pm

    All those philosophical talks were not waisted and you rose to my chalenge, I always knew you had it in ya. Given you are down South these days I shall have to say good on ya mate!

    Nice work Tatman.

  37. King Kong 37
    20 October 2013 at 8:08 pm

    Interesting that you were standing in elections but were still keeping an anonymous (or whatever the acceptable terminology is on the Standard, Psuedononymous? can’t remember am a bit pissed) user profile on here. Surely it is only fair for those voting to have a chance to see what a candidate really stands for. Espeically consider this is the most public of the left leaning online forums.

    It is hard not to think that this was hidden from people because it would make them less likely to vote for you.

    Or it could be shame. Perhaps it wasn’t such a great idea to repeatedly state that you wanted to line half of them (though some would argue only 1%) up against a wall and shoot them.

    • Tat Loo 37.1
      20 October 2013 at 8:15 pm

      Hey KK. Great to see you 🙂

    • Rogue Trooper 37.2
      20 October 2013 at 8:17 pm

      “Pseudononymous?” – a very squeaky dinosaur?

    • felix 37.3
      20 October 2013 at 8:32 pm

      Or, and this might be a stretch for your monkey brain, maybe it’s none of your fucking business how and when people choose to present themselves online.

    • ScottGN 37.4
      20 October 2013 at 8:36 pm

      Would have made me more likely to vote for him, though as it turns out I did anyway since I gave 2 ticks for Labour in Clutha/Southland at the last election.

    • QoT 37.5
      20 October 2013 at 9:06 pm

      This argument amuses me, same as it does for the anti-Brown types who demand voters have the right to know every detail of his penis’ history.

      The fact is, you only know that there’s something to know because it’s come out. If you want to argue that Tat had a moral duty to tell people every detail of his online interactions, you should demand the same of his opponent, Bill English (or in Brown’s case, John Palino) – but you don’t, because you don’t know that there’s anything to know.

      There’s probably plenty in every political candidate’s past which might influence voters. Do they do the dishes after dinner when they visit their mum? How do they decide which buskers to give spare change to? Can they tie their own shoes?

      It is simply impossible for us to ever have every single detail which might be relevant to our decision-making. That’s why we already have things like pecuniary registers and conflict-of-interest declarations to make sure the details which are actually relevant to their governing of us are covered.

      • King Kong 37.5.1
        20 October 2013 at 9:52 pm

        Nice try sweat heart. I never mentioned who he is fucking or anything to do with his private life.

        This is pure and simple about “representing” your politics. Knowing what CV wrote on here and reading his bio on votedunedin, it is almost fucking fraudulent.

        Gave me a good laugh though and I bet there are a few red faces from those who comment on the Standard that bought first class tickets on Labour’s “yellow peril” train earlier in the year. Who knew their mate CV was one of them.

        • Tat Loo 37.5.1.1
          20 October 2013 at 9:57 pm

          Knowing what CV wrote on here and reading his bio on votedunedin, it is almost fucking fraudulent.

          “Almost fucking fraudulent”? Shit that’s a lucky miss then, ain’t it?

          If you have a problem with a statement that I’ve made as CV, try and find some crumbs from within the relevant 3 month campaign period eh?

          • King Kong 37.5.1.1.1
            20 October 2013 at 10:05 pm

            I am sure Phillip Field didn’t have any slaves working on his house during the electoral period as well.

            • fender 37.5.1.1.1.1
              20 October 2013 at 10:24 pm

              “almost fucking fraudulent”

              lol, jungle law is it monkey boy? You’re a fraud sneaking in with the humans..

              • King Kong …
                20 October 2013 at 10:30 pm

                Lets be fair, Any statement that didn’t include “I support the dismantling of the current capitalist system and replacing it with it with a socialist utopia that me, and my internet buddies, have thoroughly, beaten off to” is pretty dishonest.

        • felix 37.5.1.2
          20 October 2013 at 10:33 pm

          “I bet there are a few red faces from those who comment on the Standard that bought first class tickets on Labour’s “yellow peril” train earlier in the year.”

          Labour’s yellow peril train? You mean the radical idea that we shouldn’t sell our country to people who don’t live here?

          Yeah there were a few people here who took that as an excuse to let their racist flags fly. That would be you King Kong, along with chris73, big bruv, Gosman and a couple of other morans.

          I didn’t see any lefties on your racist train. Of course if I’m wrong you could always post a link to prove it.

          But I’m not, and you can’t, so you won’t.

          • King Kong 37.5.1.2.1
            20 October 2013 at 10:43 pm

            Fuck you’re a nob. Luckily I have seen you pull this nonsense too many times.

            It goes like this. I shame you in public by showing you a black and white example of what I am talking about and then you use some childish semantic argument that goes on for a ridiculous period that only a middle aged man who lives with their Mum has the time and interest in pursuing.

            No thanks.

            • felix 37.5.1.2.1.1
              20 October 2013 at 10:52 pm

              That’s quite a fantasy life you’ve got going on there monkey. The truth is you’ve never backed up your bullshit and you won’t do it this time because you can’t.

              Find me one – ONE – single example of anyone from the left on this site supporting any policy of excluding Chinese people from NZ and I’ll not only apologise, I’ll ban myself from this site for a month.

              • King Kong …
                20 October 2013 at 11:12 pm

                So “yellow peril” has already magically become “excluding Chinese people from NZ”.

                Sadly, I am pretty sure that you don’t actually realise you are doing it.

              • The Al1en …
                20 October 2013 at 11:16 pm

                What about telling English people to fu*k off back to their own contry?
                Does that count, even if they’re not Chinese?

                • King Kong …
                  20 October 2013 at 11:19 pm

                  I Think you will find that it all comes under the banner of xenophobia

                • The Al1en …
                  20 October 2013 at 11:25 pm

                  Nah, don’t worry cat man, I wouldn’t want you to go without posting for a month, not on my behalf. You don’t even have to say sorry.
                  You carry on sticking it to the monkey boy. 😉

                • felix …
                  20 October 2013 at 11:31 pm

                  “What about telling English people to fu*k off back to their own contry?”

                  What about it?

                  • The Al1en …
                    20 October 2013 at 11:33 pm

                    Just asking for clarification, ’cause we both know this isn’t strictly true. So before I shoot off to bed, should I do the search for the link or will you? 😆

                    “I didn’t see any lefties on your racist train..”

                    Ps. I’m not going to get the link, just as long as we both know I could.
                    Besides, it’s about ‘yellow peril’ and not ‘any old iron’, right?

                    • felix …
                      20 October 2013 at 11:53 pm

                      Did someone tell English people to fuck off because they’re English?

                      Or did someone tell you to fuck off because you’re a tool?

                    • The Al1en …
                      20 October 2013 at 11:58 pm

                      “Did someone tell English people to fuck off because they’re English?

                      Or did someone tell you to fuck off because you’re a tool?”

                      Kin ‘el mate, don’t make kong look good or nothing, will you?

                      “It goes like this. I shame you in public by showing you a black and white example of what I am talking about and then you use some childish semantic argument that goes on for a ridiculous period that only a middle aged man who lives with their Mum has the time and interest in pursuing.”

                      Night, cat man. 😉

                    • fender …
                      21 October 2013 at 12:09 am

                      All that and still no link.

                      Is it an English tool we’re looking for….

                    • Rogue Trooper …
                      21 October 2013 at 12:13 am

                      not a Stan Lee?

                    • felix …
                      21 October 2013 at 12:17 am

                      Well fender, the unusual rotational pattern of Planet Fuckjob causes some strange and confusing temporal distortions.

                      For example, people there have all day and night to whine about being too busy to find a link.

                    • fender …
                      21 October 2013 at 12:20 am

                      BSW or BSF imperial King Dick not Stanley here

                    • fender …
                      21 October 2013 at 12:35 am

                      KK tried to link but discovered the branch was rotten and he fell to the ground.

                    • Rogue Trooper …
                      21 October 2013 at 10:29 am

                      ahhh fender, Very Whitworthy

                    • Rogue Trooper …
                      21 October 2013 at 10:35 am

                      ahhh fender, Very worthy to Whit and open-ended 😀

        • travellerev 37.5.1.3
          21 October 2013 at 12:53 pm

          Sweat heart? Ummm

        • QoT 37.5.1.4
          21 October 2013 at 7:18 pm

          Given that in the earlier replies to this comment it’s been amply demonstrated that you’re talking absolute shit and can’t back up your statements, I shall merely add: don’t call me “sweetheart” (or any misspelled variation thereof) you condescending jackass.

    • Draco T Bastard 37.6
      20 October 2013 at 9:18 pm

      Perhaps it wasn’t such a great idea to repeatedly state that you wanted to line half of them (though some would argue only 1%) up against a wall and shoot them.

      [citation needed]

      • TheContrarian 37.6.1
        20 October 2013 at 9:49 pm

        Lynn did talk about shooting climate change deniers. Not sure about CV though

        http://thestandard.org.nz/maori-party-to-help-nats-kill-carbon-emissions-cap/#comment-159318

        • lprent 37.6.1.1
          21 October 2013 at 8:17 am

          It is something that I am pretty sure is going to happen.Especially the outright liars like Wishart who have attempted to study the field enough. The basic science is simple enough.

          I always wonder what motivates such people to try to condeem future generations to the type of world that he and others are helping to create. But I hope he lives long enough to see the consequences.

      • King Kong 37.6.2
        20 October 2013 at 10:02 pm

        The man has written about three million comments on here so I can’t be fucked looking however I am sure Tat will put his hand up to it.

        • Draco T Bastard 37.6.2.1
          20 October 2013 at 10:34 pm

          Not good enough. You made an accusation now back it up or apologise.

        • felix 37.6.2.2
          20 October 2013 at 10:35 pm

          That’d make it easier to find examples, not harder. Silly monkey.

          It’s a serious accusation. Back it up.

          • King Kong 37.6.2.2.1
            20 October 2013 at 10:52 pm

            Look, Tat is all over this vanity post so why can’t he put you straight.

            Here is the first one that came up

            http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-23082013/#comment-683950

            • felix 37.6.2.2.1.1
              20 October 2013 at 10:57 pm

              Rather that look at that link, perhaps I should just take your word for it that it says something about wanting to shoot half the voters in NZ.

              That is what we’re talking about, right?

              • King Kong …
                20 October 2013 at 11:05 pm

                And so it, as I refer to above,begins.

                I would like to tell you that you could do better than that, but you have proven time and time again that you can’t.

                You have made the second highest amount of comments in history on the Standard (I am lead to believe) but have said the least.

                • felix …
                  20 October 2013 at 11:59 pm

                  Well either you’re accusing CV of saying he wants to shoot half the voters of NZ or you’re not.

                  Doesn’t bother me either way, but when you change your mind about making that sort of accusation it’s customary to apologise.

                • travellerev …
                  21 October 2013 at 12:57 pm

                  KK, How about you keep to these 10 very simple rules of rational debate:

                  1. Thou shall not attack a person’s character but the argument itself. (“Ad hominem”)

                  2. Thou shall not misrepresent or exaggerate a person’s argument in order to make it easier to attack. (“Straw Man Fallacy)

                  3. Thou shall not use small numbers to represent the whole. (“Hasty Generalization”)

                  4. Thou shall not argue thy position by assuming one of its premises is true. (“Begging the Question”)

                  5. Thou shall not claim that because something occurred before, it must be the cause. (“Post Hoc/False Claim”)

                  6. Thou shall not reduce the argument down to two possibilities. (“Fake Dichotomy”)

                  7. Thou shall not argue that because of our ignorance that the claim must be true or false. (“Ad Ignorantiam”)

                  8. Thou shall not lay the burden of proof onto him who is questioning the claim. (“Burden of Proof Reversal”)

                  9. Thou shall not assume “this” follows “that” when “it” has no logical connection. (“Non Sequitor”)

                  10. Thou shall not claim that because a premises is popular, therefore, it must be true. (“Bandwagon Fallacy”)

                  I reckon you broke half of those already in just this one thread.

                  [lprent: You missed the important one. 0. Don’t piss off the sysop. (“Really just common sense”) ]

                  😆

              • karol …
                21 October 2013 at 9:16 am

                Actually, it warns that the future security state, taken to its logical conclusion, are likely to put journalists up against the wall:

                The fucking journalists are going to be the ones first up against the wall when all this spying security state stuff comes to pass…you would think that some of them would have enough self preservation instincts left to push for more democracy, not less.

                ie warning journalists that this may be their fate under a total (digitised) surveillance state, if they fail to support democracy within the MSM.

                KK comprehension fail.

                Edit: sorry, should have read on. McFlock already said that.

            • McFlock 37.6.2.2.1.2
              20 October 2013 at 10:59 pm

              Compare:

              The fucking journalists are going to be the ones first up against the wall when all this spying security state stuff comes to pass…you would think that some of them would have enough self preservation instincts left to push for more democracy, not less.

              with the allegation:

              Perhaps it wasn’t such a great idea to repeatedly state that you wanted to line half of them (though some would argue only 1%) up against a wall and shoot them.

              Reading comprehension fail: truly, it was literacy that killed the beast….

              • felix …
                20 October 2013 at 11:06 pm

                And that, McFlock – comparing two statements with different meanings – is what King Kong calls “some childish semantic argument”.

                The supreme irony being that he doesn’t seem to know what “semantic” means. 😉

                • fender …
                  20 October 2013 at 11:13 pm

                  Did KK think CV was going to do the journalists in…..what a banana brain…

                • McFlock …
                  20 October 2013 at 11:15 pm

                  well, the word sometimes makes me giggle, too.

                  So when he claims that one statement with a precise meaning is an example of another statement with a very different meaning, we’re not allowed to use the fundamental contradiction to demonstrate that he’s full of crap?

                  Well played, monkey boy, well played.

              • fender …
                21 October 2013 at 9:04 am

                Look here’s The Wall……enjoy!

              • McFlock …
                21 October 2013 at 2:04 pm

                Lol – of those, one lacks “should”, one refers to an “outfit”[organisation], and one he was called on (by me) and he gave an explanation that the expression as he used it referred to a time-out punishment for kids that play silly buggers. Plausible, given the silly bugger he was arguing with at the time.

                Still no evidence for “you wanted to line half of them (though some would argue only 1%) up against a wall and shoot them.” But at least slightly less absurd than your previous “example”, monkeyboy.

        • miravox 37.6.2.3
          20 October 2013 at 10:42 pm

          <a href="http://thestandard.org.nz/?s=Colonial+Viper+%2B+shoot&isopen=none&search_posts=true&search_comments=true&search_sortby=date"At your service

          Hi Tat – nice to meet you like this. I’m sure I’ll enjoy reading learning, agreeing and sometimes disagreeing with you as much as I did with CV. Oh and I and my previous alter-ego here in Europe are happy you’ve picked up on the idea of worker’s councils.

          I also reckon point 8 is pretty much in train if point 2 is sorted out, especially in relation to civics education. Pollies do what their voters want and there is a huge electorate of young people out there who are not letting them know at the ballot box, or like many aspirational people, are voting against their own interests but don’t know it.

  38. r0b 38
    20 October 2013 at 8:31 pm

    Well – I’m late to this party (big day in the garden) – but not too late to add my congratulations! Bravo on coming out, and glad to have you (a fellow Dunedin Norther) aboard. Must say – I thought this day would come…

  39. Ennui 39
    20 October 2013 at 8:55 pm

    Sort of dozy. Tired from house painting and gardening I read the column…hmm sounds like a CV formula methinks, not having to bothered reading the Viper bit…dumb arse Ennui strikes again. Hello Tat, yes the direction you sketch out is on the same page as me. The Dunedin bit…putting two and two together does that account for the Curran battle?

  40. Saarbo 40
    20 October 2013 at 8:56 pm

    Pleased to meet you Tat.

    I enjoyed your vision, one particular area that I am a big supporter of is “building not-for-profit community based assets”, I think this is an area that is critical in returning our nation back to the egalitarian little country it used to be. We recently moved to a small town that has amazing not-for-profit community assets and fantastic clubs that people from all incomes and races mix. I dont think it is any coincidence that this town also has zero unemployment.

    I presume that you will continue to contribute comments to the standard, I hope so.

    Saarbo.

    • Tat Loo 40.1
      20 October 2013 at 9:05 pm

      And I’m pleased to meet you, Saarbo.

      Yes will definitely keep commenting on The Standard. Might have to watch my language a tiny bit more from now on tho, having to be respectable and all that 🙂

      • Varity 40.1.1
        20 October 2013 at 10:42 pm

        that’s what i don’t like about this. CV could shoot from the hip yet you have to be (and are being) “respectable and all that”. it’s like you’re two different people and it’s difficult to reconcile you as one.

        this isn’t a bitch at you personally … it’s just … is CV gone now? cuz i’ll miss him.

        • Tat Loo 40.1.1.1
          20 October 2013 at 10:49 pm

          Cheers, Varity. Not being able to do the same classic CV sharpshooting is a wee bit annoying, admittedly. But it’s sort of a sacrifice which is required: strident activists make bad politicians, and politicians are typically crappy at being effective activists.

          Anyways, I just have to learn to make the same required points with a tad more diplomacy. Not that much more, mind you 🙂

          • Varity 40.1.1.1.1
            20 October 2013 at 10:58 pm

            yea it would suck to have to moderate yourself all the time but it’s cool to have a candidate among us.

            are there any others here? left or right? i wonder if your confession and the lovely welcome you’ve received will bring others out?

  41. Tautoko Viper 41
    20 October 2013 at 9:22 pm

    Thanks for all your thought and effort into helping to make NZ a better place for all.
    The Labour Conference should be rather different this year!

  42. Descendant Of Sssmith 42
    20 October 2013 at 10:04 pm

    Hmmm I’ve got quite used to the sibilant sounds of Sssssmith.

    I’ll leave it there for both the recognition of your past alter-ego and for history + posterity.

    I’d still like to see a reversion to an eight hour working day and a forty hour working week + time and a half in order to both give more leisure time and create more employment by sharing the work around more.

    Shutting up shop on Sunday to create more community leisure time would be good as well and would have good health benefits as more people engaged in sport etc.

    I have no doubt that your good reputation on here will hold you in good stead – thanks for all your previous posts and comments. I for one have enjoyed and respected them.

  43. Doug Mackie 43
    20 October 2013 at 10:18 pm

    I live in Dunedin, come here often but comment seldom. I vote (if I must use a binary classification) ‘left’. (Labour is usually insufficiently so for me but better than some alternatives). However, I ranked you 29/35; I did this because I am a scientist. I don’t want to start a flame war (or I’d use a pseudonym), but two words: Simon Singh.

    For me (and many, if not most, scientists) chiropractic is woo. This matters because I want my putative representatives to be beholding to evidenced based decisions; If someone pitches woo in one arena then I infer their ability to make decisions in another arena is compromised. (Not to worry though, I ranked you above a climate change denier and above Hilary).
    d

    • Tat Loo 43.1
      20 October 2013 at 10:35 pm

      Hi Doug. I’m glad you put me in up above Ms Calvert, thank you 🙂

      For me (and many, if not most, scientists) chiropractic is woo. This matters because I want my putative representatives to be beholding to evidenced based decisions; If someone pitches woo in one arena then I infer their ability to make decisions in another arena is compromised.

      You can be certain that the orthodox view is not the one that I will always be a proponent of (no problem there as by definition there are already many proponents backing the orthodox view and do we really need another saying the same thing).

      Having said that, I am not a scientist by primary training, I am a manufacturing systems engineer. The approach to problem solving that a scientist takes, and a systems engineer takes is necessarily different due to many professional factors. My chiropractic background adds a twist which some proponents of science still refuse to recognise: that we are surrounded by intelligent, complex adaptive systems which are not mechanistically reducible.

      This matters because I want my putative representatives to be beholding to evidenced based decisions; If someone pitches woo in one arena then I infer their ability to make decisions in another arena is compromised.

      For most real world decisions which are required, the evidence available is usually somewhat incomplete, circumstantial or inferential. From my perspective, you want elected representatives who can deal with such evidence deficient or information deficient scenarios effectively.

      • weka 43.1.1
        20 October 2013 at 11:38 pm

        Nice.

        Maybe the tradeoff for losing CV’s posting style is that you get to comment in context now. I like this.

        • Tat Loo 43.1.1.1
          20 October 2013 at 11:48 pm

          yep, I have to step up to a more serious level of political response and real world problem solving now. While staying down to earth and in touch with the basics. It’s gonna be both exciting and challenging.

        • karol 43.1.1.2
          21 October 2013 at 9:30 am

          Yep. And I am taken a little (pleasantly) by surprise by the chiropractic, and other naturalistic/wholistic health interests of Tat. I always saw CV’s economic and business approaches. Adds another and interesting context to his perspectives.

  44. greywarbler 44
    20 October 2013 at 10:25 pm

    Tat
    You have done much via the keyboard and the words were good to read. Sort of like a fresh Dunedin gale has blown through and swept away the dust and old newspapers. A magnum opus. We should be opening a magnum of bubbly in about a year’s time if we keep the pace up.

    Don’t know if you read A Tradesman’s comment late yesterday. But the attitude in it that Labour Party workers should come and talk to the wage workers and low income people to ask them what they want, is one of the barriers to Labour getting in. It expresses a sort of welfare attitude to politics and democracy. The workers have it done for them, they don’t ‘own’ it and state what they want and get enthused about joining the fighting team. Break though this peculiar bubble separating them from supporting democracy and their own vision of it, and there will be hundreds of thousands more voting Labour from that group alone.

  45. Steve 45
    20 October 2013 at 10:48 pm

    Great post Tat. Always enjoyed your incisive and sometimes wickedly ascerbic posts as CV.

    Other than gender, I have a huge disconnect between the real and my “imagined” CV. Guess that’s all part of the fun of the blogosphere.

    • Tat Loo 45.1
      20 October 2013 at 10:52 pm

      Thanks a lot Steve. Yes sometimes reading the novel is much better because the film so often ruins what you were sure it was like!

    • miravox 45.2
      21 October 2013 at 8:47 am

      “wickedly ascerbic posts as CV”

      Yeah, I’m still struggling to reconcile that gentle-looking expression in Tat’s pic with those pull no punches comments of Colonial Viper.

  46. chris73 46
    20 October 2013 at 10:49 pm

    I won’t say I’ve agreed with all your posts but I did find the arguments you put up (mostly) a cut above the rest but I’m just curious as to why you’re revealing yourself now?

    • Tat Loo 46.1
      20 October 2013 at 10:55 pm

      Hey c73, mainly because Labour Conference is just around the corner and I wanted to stake some clear and different policy ideas out there and hence stir the pot a little.

      • chris73 46.1.1
        20 October 2013 at 11:25 pm

        So you’ll be looking at Dunedin South? I hear they have a bit of a loose cannon down there…

    • Varity 46.2
      20 October 2013 at 11:14 pm

      funny – for a righty i find the way you express and handle yourself a cut (or three) above your mates too. you sure you aren’t really a suppressed lefty?

      and since we’re all in confession mode here – we know each other chris. we’ve even met once and got on fine. unlike tat though i can’t say my name cuz that dodo-head brent/prent banned me. 🙁

      notice though you plagiarized one of my quips from WO yesterday. <<<< (that's a hint, not a dig)

      [lprent: and you hadn’t drawn my attention until now. I haven’t recognized your behavior, and can’t be bothered tracking down who you are likely to be. Be interesting to see if you can maintain a behavior pattern that doesn’t draw my eye. Most of the time people cannot reform themselves. Mind you, this comment radiates stupidity. ]

      • chris73 46.2.1
        20 October 2013 at 11:27 pm

        Its a small world all right…and I take the view of Oscar Wilde when it comes to using other peoples work 🙂

  47. Not a PS Staffer 47
    20 October 2013 at 11:10 pm

    Lovely to have you here under any name Oh Viperous one.

    You win the the Claire Curran Memorial Trophy for Debuts!

  48. geoff 48
    20 October 2013 at 11:30 pm

    Hey Hey Hey! This is classic! Go Tat Loo/CV, congrats mate!

    • Tat Loo 48.1
      21 October 2013 at 12:13 am

      Hey dude, I know, I had so much fun writing this and getting it posted up. Just being an irrelevant blogger type with no effect in the real world 🙂

  49. BLiP 49
    21 October 2013 at 7:47 am

    ‘

    Hi Tat

    I see various comrades have already addressed the glaring holes in your “manifesto” so I shall save my squabbles with you over them for another day. In the meantime, thank you for entering the political arena. Unlike some, I don’t see it as filled with “dirty, disgusting, and despicable people at all levels” but, because there are “dirty disgusting and despicable people” working its fringes, it takes a sturdy soul to bear its machinations. ‘Onya, mate. All the best.

  50. vto 50
    21 October 2013 at 8:36 am

    Good for you Tat Loo.

    Good sound ideas. Good strength to punch them out there. Good facts and arguments to back them up. Good kiwi minds ready to soak them up as you say.

    And always good to put a face to the name.

    Was listening to the wireless last week and there was a child expert being interviewed. This person reckoned that the best thing you can give / teach your child to ensure success was self-control. I have always thought one could achieve most anything with discipline. Discipline and self-control are pretty similar. You seem to have that self-control and discipline – you will go far. Good luck fulla.

  51. travellerev 51
    21 October 2013 at 11:24 am

    Excuse me but are you the Colonial viper of yore? (Blond me you have to spell it out)

    • Tat Loo 51.1
      21 October 2013 at 11:40 am

      Yep sure am! No cylon impersonator here…

      • travellerev 51.1.1
        21 October 2013 at 11:50 am

        Pleased to meet you Tat. That’s one for the books! :o:

      • travellerev 51.1.2
        21 October 2013 at 12:23 pm

        By the way I take issue with point four on your list. Contrary to popular belief the Reserve bank is not beholden to the NZ government or the people of New Zealand.

        The current Reserve Bank governor is Graeme Wheeler who was the number two under Wolfowitz world bank and a financial manager in Washington.

        He refuses to give press conferences and only gives information via editorials and newspaper articles unlike Bollard which hardly gives me faith in the transparency of “our” reserve bank. Not only that but the Reserve Bank of NZ is one of the few Reserve banks who will not give any information about how much money they have created and with every reserve bank printing money like there is no tomorrow this seems quaint to say the least and my suspicion is that they to are forced to partake in the fiat currency race to the bottom making their claim of being beholden to New Zealand unbelievable to say the least! But then the Federal Reserve bank of New York also claimed to be “Federal”until a judge based on evidence said that this was utter bullshit!

        According to their site they are beholden to the “Crown” which can mean any of the following: The queen of England or the Banking capital the crown of London. Even the NZ government is beholden to the crown and when it comes down to it has to bow to the legal adviser to the Crown being the Attorney General.

        Although they don’t really want you to see it that way but if I were to apply for NZ citizen ship I would have to swear allegiance to the Queen of England. Hardly the state of post colonial independence the average Kiwi, still officially the subjects of the queen of England, seems to think they have.

        • Tat Loo 51.1.2.1
          21 October 2013 at 5:09 pm

          Ahhh I didn’t know that about Wheeler’s background. All I know is that his monetary outlook seems far drier and more orthodox than I would have hoped for.

          Also just because he worked at the senior levels of the world bank it doesn’t have to mean that he is knowledgeable about the process of money creation and open market operations. Although he may well be.

  52. Olwyn 52
    21 October 2013 at 11:58 am

    Tat Loo, under the CV name, you said this in response to The Black Rod’s post: “In this environment of real economy contraction, the middle classes have been staying afloat by pushing down opportunities available to the working classes and the under classes. Just as the 1% is determined to stay afloat by pushing down the middle classes.”

    This encapsulates the cycle that Labour must first and foremost set out to break. It is like a short term crisis measure that has become a long term default, which can only end in tears all round if we cannot find ways of bringing abut a change of social and economic focus.

    • Tat Loo 52.1
      21 October 2013 at 12:23 pm

      Correct. What central banks and governments have done all around the world is “kick the can down the road” with austerity and money creation, in anticipation that economic growth was going to come back in a couple of years and save everyone. Unfortunately, they have missed what has become a secular (i.e. not a cyclical) long term downturn.

      And now we are all running out of road for the can to be kicked further down.

  53. tricledrown 53
    21 October 2013 at 12:18 pm

    CV very surprised and impressed .

  54. vto 54
    21 October 2013 at 1:21 pm

    All this talk up and down above about how the utterances of CV equal the real life person of Mr Tat Loo is just hogwash. Isn’t it? I mean, the utterances that fall out of the vto pen do not mirror the real life actualities of the writer. Is this not one of the reasons we have pseudothingys? So that we may post things which are designed for purposes other than reflecting the life and exact thoughts of the writer? Is this not what many writers do?

    • Tat Loo 54.1
      21 October 2013 at 1:33 pm

      Ahhhhh, questions of existentialism 🙂

    • Rogue Trooper 54.2
      21 October 2013 at 1:51 pm

      couldn’t possibly say on the grounds of self-incrimination 😀

    • Draco T Bastard 54.3
      21 October 2013 at 4:58 pm

    • QoT 54.4
      21 October 2013 at 7:27 pm

      Tricky question, vto. Some people who’ve met me in meatspace think I’m far nicer than QoT, others think QoT is me turned up to 11.

      My theory is that unless a handle is a sockpuppet deliberately created to carry out some kind of social experiment, it probably reflects an aspect of the writer’s personality. But since none of us are exactly the same person to our family, friends, lovers, coworkers, bosses, taxi drivers or checkout operators anyway, it doesn’t bother me.

      • vto 54.4.1
        21 October 2013 at 8:45 pm

        Yes you’re right in that there is an aspect of the writer in posts. I find though that points tend to get exaggerated in either direction online and also it seem my manner of writing comes out horribly harder than the thoughts – sometimes I later read back on what has been written and shrink in horror, always way past the edit deadline…

        Never mind. Hence the pseudo thingy is good because it allows a freedom in posting and in views that a communication in person would never achieve. The limits in online blog communication highlight aspects of discussion in beneficial ways by deleting all the personal paraphernalia and allowing a clear point to be made.

        That is why I write notes to my other two halfs…

  55. higherstandard 55
    21 October 2013 at 2:58 pm

    Ha… just goes to show how often the internal voice and visual imagination gets things wrong and why face to face communication beats blogs hands down, good on you Tat.

  56. Polish Pride 56
    21 October 2013 at 3:12 pm

    Hi Tat bit of a late comer to the thread and probably the last thing I expected to come across.
    I really like what you stand for. Its not a Resource Based Economy but its definitely a number of steps in the right direction.
    I wish you all the best and know that from having dealt with you on here that you’ll be a force to be reckoned with. My view from what I’ve seen on here and the politicians I have dealt with is that you will be someone to watch going forward. You’re sharper than the lot of them. I wish you all the best.

    • Tat Loo 56.1
      21 October 2013 at 5:04 pm

      Polish Pride – I’m hoping to be part of a really strong team next year. Thanks for your good wishes mate. The resources crunch is coming and the question is, will we be ready in time.

  57. veutoviper 57
    21 October 2013 at 3:27 pm

    Tat – or CV – I read your post last night and went WOW! My jaw dropped – and then lit up with a great smile which remains on my face many hours later.

    Both the content of the post itself – and your finally outing yourself – just reinforced the feelings of hope etc that I have had since Cunliffe finally became Leader of Labour. With people like you and him, there is light at the end of the tunnel, but still a lot of work to do. I joined the LP late last year but had been reconsidering that decision, but now I am contemplating actually getting involved at ground level.

    Good on you, Mr Loo! It is only months ago since the CC actions that led to the Viper movement; but the fact that you now feel able to reveal your true identity speaks volumes for the shift that has been occurring in recent weeks. From time to time I have contemplated reverting to my previous pseudonym, but had – and have – decided to retain my present one as a reminder of the circumstances that led to the change. Lest we forget….

    While you did not get in in the Dunedin local elections, I note that you got more votes that PG. But I would rather see you running in the general election and using your skills and thinking at a national level anyway. Sorry, as a Wellingtonian, I don’t get to vote for you, but do know a few people in Dunedin who will be recipients of “my guidance”.

    Finally, your reference to Bill Sutch and his vision in your post brought back many memories for me as Sutch was a wonderful man who I had a lot of contact with in my childhood and teens – and still admire to this day for his vision and true dedication to a NZ for all NZers.

    • Tat Loo 57.1
      21 October 2013 at 5:17 pm

      Thank you for putting your thoughts down, they mean a lot. Yep i am still grinning crazily too! TBH I wouldn’t be excited about sticking my head over the parapets like this if it wasn’t for the ambitious agenda that Labour now has in front of it, and with Cunliffe leading. Being part of a light blue/pale pink Labour Party, for instance, would be pointless. And, yes, things have certainly shifted on from then, LAB/GR at 49.5% not the least of them.

    • Tiger Mountain 57.2
      21 October 2013 at 6:46 pm

      Yes if you don’t know about Bill Sutch you don’t know much about NZ political history. There were public intellectuals in our past that assisted significant societal progress, which is why the neo liberals always shrink the states role apart from that of the state forces. They grab the ‘loot’ for themselves not to share.

      The social democrats could have gone even further in New Zealand imo if not for the common strategic fault of the quite influential (until the mid 80s) Marxist groups and parties who viewed social democracy solely as a class enemy rather than “work with and struggle against”. If younger readers doubt this do your research. Prime Minister Muldoon was moved to publicly name via NZSIS information 32 alleged SUP (Socialist Unity Party) members along with NZCP and WCL members in relation to trade union activity and ’81 tour activists.

      Good on you Viper it is definitely time for people to come out as the nats go down in a shower of their own shit and Labour members are taking back control of their party. Many kiwis know the impact of 90 day fire at will, wage drops when a new boss takes over, dependent contracting etc. Leadership is required.

  58. pollywog 58
    21 October 2013 at 4:04 pm

    Mad props Tat.

    Been toying with the idea of coming out myself and probably will as soon as I get around to joining the Labour party.

    Though the pseudonymous freedom to spew random bile on nutjobs still appeals.

    • Tat Loo 58.1
      21 October 2013 at 5:20 pm

      Pollywog in Labour?! Awesomesauce!!!

      “Though the pseudonymous freedom to spew random bile on nutjobs still appeals.”

      Yep know exactly what you mean but there’s always time later on for getting back into it 🙂

    • Rogue Trooper 58.2
      21 October 2013 at 5:21 pm

      pull those strings

    • lprent 58.3
      21 October 2013 at 6:13 pm

      Though the pseudonymous freedom to spew random bile on nutjobs still appeals.

      I do it all the time myself. The trick is to never be in a position where they can do effective to you in the “real world” with jobs or whatever. Fortunately I am, and I really don’t mind tearing into people in the “real world” as well if I think that is required.

      • McFlock 58.3.1
        21 October 2013 at 6:52 pm

        Yep.

        My job’s a wee bit sensitive to PR, so really I’d probably have to jump or be pushed if some of my more picturesque opinions were distributed, for fear of losing a catastrophic number of clients (although one or two might approve, too). Although I am free with much the same opinions and language at the pub.

        Funnily enough, I don’t get into as many barroom confrontations as one might expect. 🙂

  59. Tracey 59
    21 October 2013 at 4:15 pm

    Tat

    now I understand one of the reasons you want a lower moral bar on local and central reps behaviour… you are obviously a man to party with. 😉

    Thanks in advance for taking up alot of rwnj time crawling back over every cv post ever made.

    best of luck.

    • Tat Loo 59.1
      21 October 2013 at 5:27 pm

      Hi Tracey! Ahhh the rumour mill lol. Nb did you hear Michelle Boag’s advice for the future Len Browns of politics: find a married woman with a rich husband, and who therefore cannot afford to let the secret out. On no account choose a much younger woman with nothing to lose!!!!!

      The things you find in the National Party candidate manual eh.

  60. MrSmith 60
    21 October 2013 at 7:03 pm

    Welcome to the real world Tat Loo and good luck.

  61. Ad 61
    22 October 2013 at 6:42 pm

    If there are any other politicians or politician-aspirants still using pseudonyms, check out the 320+ comments on this site.

    Time to come out and really make this site work to your full political advantage.

  62. Ad 62
    22 October 2013 at 9:14 pm

    Rogue I am not a politician

  63. commercial Energy 63
    7 November 2013 at 3:26 am

    Have you ever considered writing an ebook or guest authoring on other blogs?
    I have a blog based upon on the same subjects you discuss and would
    really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would appreciate your work.
    If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.

CommentsOpinions

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

FeedsPartyGovtMedia

  • Looking For Labour’s Vital Signs.

    Flatlining: With no evidence of a genuine policy disruptor at work in Labour’s ranks, New Zealand’s wealthiest citizens can sleep easy.PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN has walked a picket-line. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has threatened “price-gauging” grocery retailers with price control. The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform situates it well to the left of Sir ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 hour ago
  • Forty Years Of Remembering To Forget.

    The Beginning of the End: Rogernomics became the short-hand descriptor for all the radical changes that swept away New Zealand’s social-democratic economy and society between 1984 and 1990. In the bitterest of ironies, those changes were introduced by the very same party which had entrenched New Zealand social-democracy 50 years earlier. ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 hours ago
  • Kōrero Mai – Speak to Me.

    Good morning all you lovely people. 🙂I woke up this morning, and it felt a bit like the last day of school. You might recall from earlier in the week that I’m heading home to Rotorua to see an old friend who doesn’t have much time. A sad journey, but ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 hours ago
  • Winning ways

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Street architecture adjustment, KolkataShare Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    9 hours ago
  • 48 seconds on a plan that would reverberate for a million years

    Despite fears that Trump presidency would be disastrous for progress on climate change, the topic barely rated a mention in the Presidential debate. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • Using blunt instruments and magical thinking to ignore evidence of harm

    The abrupt cancellations and suspensions of Government spending also caused private sector hiring, spending, and investment to freeze up for the first six months of the year. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāThis week we learned:The new National/ACT/NZ First Coalition Government ignored advice from Treasury that it didn’t have to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power Episode 5 (Seaso...

    Another week of The Rings of Power, season two, and another confirmation that things are definitely coming together for the show. The fifth Episode of season one represented the nadir of the series. Now? Amid the firmer footing of 2024, Episode Five represents further a further step towards excellent Tolkien ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    18 hours ago
  • In Open Seas; A Book

    The background to In Open Seas: How the New Zealand Labour Government Went Wrong:2017-2023Not in Narrow Seas: The Economic History of Aotearoa New Zealand, published in 2020, proved more successful than either I or the publisher (VUP, now Te Herenga Waka University Press) expected. I had expected that it would ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    22 hours ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 13

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the climate implications of the US Presidential elections; and special guests Janet ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • Do or do not. There is no try

    1. Upon receiving evidence that school lunches were doing a marvellous job of improving outcomes for students, David Seymour did what?a. Declared we need much more of this sort of good news and poured extra resources and funding into them b. Emailed Atlas network to ask what to do next c. Cut ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Dangerous ground

    The Waitangi Tribunal has reported back on National's proposed changes to gut the Marine and Coastal Area Act and steal the foreshore and seabed for its greedy fishing-industry donors, and declared it to be another huge violation of ti Tiriti: The Waitangi Tribunal has found government changes to the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris

    In 2016, the then-National government signed the Paris Agreement, committing Aotearoa to a 30 (later 50) percent reduction in emissions by 2030. When questioned about how they intended to meet that target with their complete absence of effective climate policy, they made a lot of noise about how it was ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Treasury warned Govt lower debt limits meant less ‘productivity-enhancing investment’

    Treasury’s advice to Cabinet was that the new Government could actually prudently carry net core Crown debt of up to 50% of GDP. But Luxon and Willis instead chose to portray the Government’s finances as in such a mess they had no choice but to carve 6.5% to 7.5% off ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Is the Media Complicit?

    This is a long read. Open to all.SYNOPSIS: Traditional media is at a cross roads. There is a need for those in the media landscape, as it stands, to earn enough to stay afloat, but also come across as balanced and neutral to keep its audiences.In America, NYT’s liberal leaning ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Black Friday

    It's Black Friday, the end of the weekYou take my hand and hold it gently up against your cheekIt's all in my head, it's all in my mindI see the darkness where you see the lightSong by Tom OdellFriday the 13th, don’t be afraid.No, really, don’t. Everything has felt a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 13-September-2024

    Ooh, Friday the thirteenth. Spooky! Is that why certain zombie ideas have been stalking the landscape this week, like the Mayor’s brainwave for a motorway bridge from Kauri Point to Point Chev? Read on and find out. This roundup, like all our coverage, is brought to you by the Greater ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #37 2024

    Open access notables Early knowledge but delays in climate actions: An ecocide case against both transnational oil corporations and national governments, Hauser et al., Environmental Science & Policy: Cast within the wide context of investigating the collusion at play between powerful political-economic actors and decision-makers as monopolists and debates about ‘the modern ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • What it is

    I liked what Kieran McAnulty had to say about the Treaty Principles bill this morning so much I've written it down and copied it out for you. He was saying that rather than let this piece of ordure spend six months in Select Committee, the Prime Minister could stop making such ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • A government-funded hate campaign

    Cabinet discussed National's constitutionally and historically illiterate "Treaty Principles Bill" this week, and decided to push on with it. The bill will apparently receive a full six month select committee process - unlike practically every other policy this government has pushed, and despite the fact that if the government is ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • How Substack works to take (some) craziness out of America’s elections

    I spoke with Substack co-founder yesterday, just before the Trump-Harris debate, about how Substack is doing its thing during the US elections. He talks in particular about how Substack’s focus on paid subscriptions rather than ads has made political debate on the platform calmer, simpler, deeper and more satisfying ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • David Seymour is such a loser

    For paid subscribersNot content with siphoning off $230,000,000 of taxpayers money for his hobby projects - and telling everyone his passion is education and early childcare - an intersection painfully coincidental to the interests of wealthy private families like Sean Plunkett’s1 backers, the Wright Family, Seymour is back in the ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Cross-party consensus: there’s no pipeline without good faith

    There’s been a lot of talk recently about a cross-party agreement to develop a pipeline for infrastructure, including transport. Last month, outgoing CRL boss Sean Sweeney talked about the importance of securing an enduring infrastructure programme. He outlined the high costs of the relentless political flip-flopping of priorities, which drives ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    2 days ago
  • Voters love this climate policy they’ve never heard of

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The Inflation Reduction Act is the Biden administration’s signature climate law and the largest U.S. government investment in reducing climate pollution to date. Among climate advocates, the policy is well-known and celebrated, but beyond that, only a minority of Americans ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • ACC wants to administer inflation at more than double the RBNZ’s target rate

    ACC levies are set to rise at more than double the inflation rate targeted by the RBNZ. Photo: Lynn GrievesonKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 12:The state-owned monopoly for accident insurance wants ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Harris vs Trump

    We’ve been selected to rock your asses 'til midnightThis is my term, I've shaved off my perm, but it's alrightI solemnly swear to uphold the ConstitutionGot a rock 'n' roll problem? Well we got a solutionLet us be who we am, and let us kick out the jams, yeahKick out ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Treaty Bill “a political stunt”

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appears to have given ACT Leader David Seymour more than he has been admitting in the proposals to go forward with a Treaty Principles Bill.All along, Luxon has maintained that the Government is proceeding with the Bill to honour the coalition agreement.But that is quite specific.It ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • An average 219 NZers migrated each day in July

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 11:Annual migration of New Zealanders rose to a record-high 80,963 in the year to the end of July, which is more than double its pre-Covid levels.Two ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • What you’re wanting to win more than anything is The Narrative

    Hubris is sitting down on election day 2016 to watch that pig Trump get his ass handed to him, and watching the New York Times needle hover for a while over Hillary and then move across to Trump where it remains all night to your gathering horror and dismay. You're ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • National’s automated lie machine

    The government has a problem: lots of people want information from it all the time. Information about benefits, about superannuation, ACC coverage and healthcare, taxes, jury service, immigration - and that's just the routine stuff. Responding to all of those queries takes a lot of time and costs a lot ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Christopher Luxon: A Man of “Faith” and “Compassion” Speaks on the Treaty Pr...

    Synopsis: Today - we explore two different realities. One where National lost. And another - which is the one we are living with here. Note: the footnote on increased fees/taxes may be of interest to some readers.Article open.Subscribe nowIt’s an alternate timeline.Yesterday as news broke that the central North Island ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Member’s Day

    Today is a Member's Day. First up is the third reading of Dan Bidois' Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the committee stage of Deborah Russell's Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill. This will be followed by the second readings of Katie ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Northern Expressway Boondoggle

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has been soaring high with his hubris of getting on and building motorways but some uncomfortable realities are starting to creep in. Back in July he announced that the government was pushing on with a Northland Expressway using an “accelerated delivery strategy” The Coalition Government is ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago
  • Never Enough

    However much I'm falling downNever enoughHowever much I'm falling outNever, never enough!Whatever smile I smile the mostNever enoughHowever I smile I smile the mostSongwriters: Robert James Smith / Simon Gallup / Boris Williams / Porl ThompsonToday in Nick’s Kōrero:A death in the Emergency Department at Rotorua Hospital.A sad homecoming and ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Question Two of The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50)

    Kia ora.Last month I proposed restarting The Kākā Project work done before the 2023 election as The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50), aiming to be up and running before the 2025 Local Government elections, and then in a finalised form by the 2026 General Elections.A couple of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Why is God Obsessed with Spanking?

    Hi,If you’ve read Webworm for a while, you’ll be aware that I’ve spent a lot of time writing about horrific, corrupt megachurches and the shitty men who lead them.And in all of this writing, I think some people have this idea that I hate Christians or Christianity. As I explain ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago
  • Inside the public service

    In 2023, there were 63,117 full-time public servants earning, on average, $97,200 a year each. All up, that is a cost to the Government of $6.1 billion a year. It’s little wonder, then, that the public service has become a political whipping boy castigated by the Prime Minister and members ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • New Models Show Stronger Atlantic Hurricanes, and More of Them

    This is a re-post from This is Not Cool Here’s an example of some of the best kind of climate reporting, especially in that it relates to impacts that will directly affect the audience. WFLA in Tampa conducted a study in collaboration with the Department of Energy, analyzing trends in ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • Where ever do they find these people?

    A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, is how Winston Churchill described the Soviet Union in 1939.  How might the great man have described the 2024 government of New Zealand, do we think? I can't imagine he would have thought them all that mysterious or enigmatic. I think ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Motorway madness

    How mad is National's obsession with roads? One of their pet projects - a truck highway to Whangārei - is going to eat 10% of our total infrastructure budget for the next 25 years: Official advice from the Infrastructure Commission shows the government could be set to spend 10 ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Our transport planning system is fundamentally broken

    Ever since Wayne Brown became mayor (nearly two years ago now) he’s been wanting to progress an “integrated transport plan” with the government – which sounded a lot like the previous Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) with just a different name. It seems like a fair bit of work progressed ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago
  • Thou Shalt Not Steal

    And they taught usWhoa-oh, black woman, thou shalt not stealI said, hey, yeah, black man, thou shalt not stealWe're gonna civilise your black barbaric livesAnd we teach you how to kneelBut your history couldn't hide the genocideThe hypocrisy to us was realFor your Jesus said you're supposed to giveThe oppressed ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • How mismanagement, not wind and solar energy, causes blackouts

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections In February 2021, several severe storms swept across the United States, culminating with one that the Weather Channel unofficially named Winter Storm Uri. In Texas, Uri knocked out power to over 4.5 million homes and 10 million people. Hundreds of Texans died as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The ‘Infra Boys’ Highway to Budget Hell

    Chris Bishop has enthusiastically dubbed himself and Simeon Brown “the Infra Boys”, but they need to take note of the sums around their roading dreams. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Media Link: “AVFA” on the politics of desperation.

    In this podcast Selwyn Manning and I talk about what appears to be a particular type of end-game in the long transition to systemic realignment in international affairs, in which the move to a new multipolar order with different characteristics … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • The cost of flying blind

    Just over two years ago, when worries about immediate mass-death from covid had waned, and people started to talk about covid becoming "endemic", I asked various government agencies what work they'd done on the costs of that - and particularly, on the cost of Long Covid. The answer was that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Seymour vs The Clergy

    For paid subscribers“Aotearoa is not as malleable as they think,” Lynette wrote last week on Homage to Simeon Brown:In my heart/mind, that phrase ricocheted over the next days, translating out to “We are not so malleable.”It gave me comfort. I always felt that we were given an advantage in New ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Unstoppable Minister McKee

    All smiles, I know what it takes to fool this townI'll do it 'til the sun goes downAnd all through the nighttimeOh, yeahOh, yeah, I'll tell you what you wanna hearLeave my sunglasses on while I shed a tearIt's never the right timeYeah, yeahSong by SiaLast night there was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Could outdoor dining revitalise Queen Street?

    This is a guest post by Ben van Bruggen of The Urban Room,.An earlier version of this post appeared on LinkedIn. All images are by Ben. Have you noticed that there’s almost nowhere on Queen Street that invites you to stop, sit outside and enjoy a coffee, let alone ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • Hipkins challenges long-held Labour view Government must stay below 30% of GDP

    Hipkins says when considering tax settings and the size of government, the big question mark is over what happens with the balance between the size of the working-age population and the growing number of Kiwis over the age of 65. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Your invite to Webworm Chat (a bit like Reddit)

    Hi,One of the things I love the most about Webworm is, well, you. The community that’s gathered around this lil’ newsletter isn’t something I ever expected when I started writing it four years ago — now the comments section is one of my favourite places on the internet. The comments ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Seymour’s Treaty bill making Nats nervous

    A delay in reappointing a top civil servant may indicate a growing nervousness within the National Party about the potential consequences of David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill. Dave Samuels is waiting for reappointment as the Chief Executive of Te Puni Kokiri, but POLITIK understands that what should have been a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #36

    A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 1, 2024 thru Sat, September 7, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is about how peopele are not born stupid but can be fooled ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • Time for a Change

    You act as thoughYou are a blind manWho's crying, crying 'boutAll the virgins that are dyingIn your habitual dreams, you knowSeems you need more sleepBut like a parrot in a flaming treeI know it's pretty hard to seeI'm beginning to wonderIf it's time for a changeSong: Phil JuddThe next line ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Six.

    The “double shocks” in post Cold War international affairs. The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the global geostrategic context. In particular, the end of the nuclear “balance of terror” between the USA and USSR, coupled with the relaxation … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • Buried deep

    Here's a bike on Manchester St, Feilding. I took this photo on Friday night after a very nice dinner at the very nice Vietnamese restaurant, Saigon, on Manchester Street.I thought to myself, Manchester Street? Bicycle? This could be the very spot.To recap from an earlier edition: on a February night ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.

    Military politics as a distinct “partial regime.” Notwithstanding their peripheral status, national defense offers the raison d’être of the combat function, which their relative vulnerability makes apparent, so military forces in small peripheral democracies must be very conscious of events … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Leadership for Dummies

    If you’re going somewhere, do you maybe take a bit of an interest in the place? Read up a bit on the history, current events, places to see - that sort of thing? Presumably, if you’re taking a trip somewhere, it’s for a reason. But what if you’re going somewhere ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Home again

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Dead even tie for hottest August ever

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 7

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the debate about how to responde to climate disinformation; and special guest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Have We an Infrastructure Deficit?

    An Infrastructure New Zealand report says we are keeping up with infrastructure better than we might have thought from the grumbling. But the challenge of providing for the future remains.I was astonished to learn that the quantity of our infrastructure has been keeping up with economic growth. Your paper almost ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • Councils reject racism

    Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

    Open to all - happy weekend ahead, friends.Today I just want to be petty. It’s the way I imagine this chap is -Not only as a political persona. But his real-deal inner personality, in all its glory - appears to be pure pettiness & populist driven.Sometimes I wonder if Simeon ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Government of deceit

    When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

    Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

    Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

    As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

    Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live at 5pm

    Photo by Jenny Bess on UnsplashCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with special guests:5.00 pm - 5.10 pm - Bernard and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Reo Māori the ‘beating heart’ of Aotearoa New Zealand

    From private business to the Paris Olympics, reo Māori is growing with the success of New Zealanders, says Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka. “I’m joining New Zealanders across the country in celebrating this year’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week, which has a big range ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Need and value at forefront of public service delivery

    New Cabinet policy directives will ensure public agencies prioritise public services on the basis of need and award Government contracts on the basis of public value, Minister for the Public Service Nicola Willis says. “Cabinet Office has today issued a circular to central government organisations setting out the Government’s expectations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Minister to attend Police Ministers Council Meeting

    Police Minister Mark Mitchell will join with Australian Police Ministers and Commissioners at the Police Ministers Council meeting (PMC) today in Melbourne. “The council is an opportunity to come together to discuss a range of issues, gain valuable insights on areas of common interest, and different approaches towards law enforcement ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New Bill to crack down on youth vaping

    The coalition Government has introduced legislation to tackle youth vaping, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) is aimed at preventing youth vaping.  “While vaping has contributed to a significant fall in our smoking rates, the rise in youth vaping ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Interest in agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review welcomed

    Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have welcomed interest in the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. The review by the Ministry for Regulation is looking at how to speed up the process to get farmers and growers access to the safe, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes first reading

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government is moving at pace to ensure lotteries for charitable purposes are allowed to operate online permanently. Charities fundraising online, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and local hospices will continue to do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tax exempt threshold changes to benefit startups

    Technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds of exempt employee share schemes, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Revenue Minister Simon Watts say. Tax exempt thresholds for the schemes are increasing as part of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Getting the healthcare you need, when you need it

    The path to faster cancer treatment, an increase in immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments and quick assessment and treatments when you are sick has been laid out today. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has revealed details of how the ambitious health targets the Government has set will be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Targeted supports to accelerate reading

    The coalition Government is delivering targeted and structured literacy supports to accelerate learning for struggling readers. From Term 1 2025, $33 million of funding for Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Support will be reprioritised to interventions which align with structured approaches to teaching. “Structured literacy will change the way children ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Survivors invited to Abuse in Care national apology

    With two months until the national apology to survivors of abuse in care, expressions of interest have opened for survivors wanting to attend. “The Prime Minister will deliver a national apology on Tuesday 12 November in Parliament. It will be a very significant day for survivors, their families, whānau and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Rangatahi inspire at Ngā Manu Kōrero final

    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini kē - My success is not mine alone but is the from the strength of the many. Aotearoa New Zealand’s top young speakers are an inspiration for all New Zealanders to learn more about the depth and beauty conveyed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Driving structured literacy in schools

    The coalition Government is driving confidence in reading and writing in the first years of schooling. “From the first time children step into the classroom, we’re equipping them and teachers with the tools they need to be brilliant in literacy. “From 1 October, schools and kura with Years 0-3 will receive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Labour’s misleading information is disappointing

    Labour’s misinformation about firearms law is dangerous and disappointing, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.   “Labour and Ginny Andersen have repeatedly said over the past few days that the previous Labour Government completely banned semi-automatic firearms in 2019 and that the Coalition Government is planning to ‘reintroduce’ them.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine

    The Government is taking immediate action on a number of steps around New Zealand’s response to mpox, including improving access to vaccine availability so people who need it can do so more easily, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. “Mpox is obviously a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Next steps agreed for Treaty Principles Bill

    Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says Cabinet has agreed to the next steps for the Treaty Principles Bill. “The Treaty Principles Bill provides an opportunity for Parliament, rather than the courts, to define the principles of the Treaty, including establishing that every person is equal before the law,” says Mr Seymour. “Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government unlocking potential of AI

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced a programme to drive Artificial Intelligence (AI) uptake among New Zealand businesses. “The AI Activator will unlock the potential of AI for New Zealand businesses through a range of support, including access to AI research experts, technical assistance, AI tools and resources, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government releases Wairoa flood review findings

    The independent rapid review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has been released, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “We welcome the review’s findings and recommendations to strengthen Wairoa's resilience against future events,” Ms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Promoting faster payment times for government

    The Government is sending a clear message to central government agencies that they must prioritise paying invoices in a timely manner, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. Data released today promotes transparency by publishing the payment times of each central government agency. This data will be published quarterly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Acknowledgement to Kīngi Tuheitia speech

    E te māngai o te Whare Pāremata, kua riro māku te whakaputa i te waka ki waho moana. E te Pirimia tēnā koe.Mr Speaker, it is my privilege to take this adjournment kōrero forward.  Prime Minister – thank you for your leadership. Taupiri te maunga Waikato te awa Te Wherowhero ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Interim fix to GST adjustment rules to support businesses

    Inland Revenue can begin processing GST returns for businesses affected by a historic legislative drafting error, Revenue Minister Simon Watts says. “Inland Revenue has become aware of a legislative drafting error in the GST adjustment rules after changes were made in 2023 which were meant to simplify the process. This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Strong uptake for cervical screening self-test

    More than 80 per cent of New Zealand women being tested have opted for a world-leading self-test for cervical screening since it became available a year ago. Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti and Associate Minister Casey Costello, in her responsibility for Women’s Health, say it’s fantastic to have such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document sets ambitious direction

    Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document, which sets out how the Ministry will carry out its work and deliver on its purpose. “I have set up the Ministry for Regulation with three tasks. One, to cut existing red tape with sector reviews. Two, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Māori Education Advisory Group established

    The Education Minister has established a Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group made up of experienced practitioners to help improve outcomes for Māori learners. “This group will provide independent advice on all matters related to Māori education in both English medium and Māori medium settings. It will focus on the most impactful ways we can lift ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government welcomes findings of NZ Superannuation Fund review

    The Government has welcomed the findings of the recent statutory review into the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis says. The 5-yearly review, conducted on behalf of Treasury and tabled in Parliament today, found the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • First of five new Hercules aircraft takes flight

    Defence Minister Judith Collins today welcomed the first of five new C-130J-30 Hercules to arrive in New Zealand at a ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base Auckland, Whenuapai. “This is an historic day for our New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and our nation. The new Hercules fleet ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Have your say on suicide prevention

    Today, September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, a time to reflect on New Zealand’s confronting suicide statistics, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “Every death by suicide is a tragedy – a tragedy that affects far too many of our families and communities in New Zealand. We must do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Action to grow the rural health workforce

    Scholarships awarded to 27 health care students is another positive step forward to boost the future rural health workforce, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly for the one in five ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost

    Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians

    Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand's Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris.  “The NZ Paralympic Team's success in Paris included fantastic performances, personal best times, New Zealand records and Oceania records all being smashed - and of course, many Kiwis on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

    5 September 2024  The Government is progressing further reforms to financial services to make it easier for Kiwis to access finance when they need it, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.  “Financial services are foundational for economic success and are woven throughout our lives. Without access to finance our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

    As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

    Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced proposals to reform the resource management system that will provide greater certainty for the forestry sector and help them meet environmental obligations.   “The Government has committed to restoring confidence and certainty across the sector by removing unworkable regulatory burden created by the previous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • More choice and competition in building products

    A major shake-up of building products which will make it easier and more affordable to build is on the way, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Today we have introduced legislation that will improve access to a wider variety of quality building products from overseas, giving Kiwis more choice and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-09-14T03:46:15+00:00