Why is Mark Richardson such a Nimby and …?

Written By: - Date published: 11:58 am, May 25th, 2018 - 46 comments
Categories: capitalism, class war, housing, uncategorized - Tags: , , ,

Mark Richardson is a self-confessed NIMBY, so it is little wonder that he has spoken out about a social housing development in Epsom. He does not want any social housing developments in his little piece of suburbia and he’s not shy about declaring his ‘me me me’ stance on the issue.

 I’ve worked hard all my life and I’ve put my nuts on the line. I’ve tried to optimise every opportunity, I screwed myself to the wall to get into the eastern suburbs of Auckland.

I don’t then want [Phil] Twyford coming in and going ‘we’ll put that, that, that, that, that, that’ without at least consulting me. I have a right to have my house and have my moat and protect that.

He later states, after subscribing to the ‘not in my back yard’ mentality that these houses should be built in “appropriate areas, and he is “happy to pay as much tax as it takes to…ensure that those areas are built”.

Mark Richardson’s claim that he is willing to pay more tax is preposterous given he believes he’s going to ‘suffer’ from Labour tax changes. This resulted in another of his ‘I’m so hard done by’ rants just days earlier after Labour announced it will ‘ring fence’  rental losses.  During the rant Mark didn’t sound like he’s too keen about losing kick backs from his rental property losses, but don’t worry it looks like he won’t be out of pocket after telling his tenants on national TV  about his intention to raise their rent (who even does that)?

One has to worry when someone in his position says that “[t]here is going to be some creative accounting on the revenue gathering side of it so that we, at home, can’t do our own creative accounting to save ourselves money”.  Richardson’s comment is a worry because ‘creative accounting’  implies resorting to misleading tax practices for personal gain.

Mark Richardson can be accused of being a lot of things: misogynist (and he actually thinks being one is funny), cheat (then implies other’s are criminals for ball tampering, whilst down playing his behaviour whilst doing exactly the same thing) and racist so I wonder if him being a nimby is the least of his problems?

Regardless, when nimby’s, cheats, racists or big mouthed idiots get to spout their brand of hate and stupidity to a large portion of society (and get paid for it) then we need to call them out for what it is.

Aside from Mark Richardson’s claim that there are more ‘appropriate areas’ than Epsom for social housing, he implies that the tenants will be less than desirable when he says “there is the onus to respect that roof and to respect those who helped you get into that roof, as in the tax payers you have around you”. This smacks of the same type of stigmatising discourse aimed at social housing tenants that David Seymour participated in recently. Richardson’s comments indicate that he does not believe that social housing tenants are respectful toward either the housing provided or the tax payers who provide it.

These wild assumptions and stereotypes are complicit in the most insidious form of systemic violence that people ‘not like them’ or ‘not like us’ have to deal with on a regular basis. These are the type of comments and stereotypes that not only hurt victims but also may prevent others from asking for help. So Richardson’s comments make him much more than just the ‘nimby’ he claims to be. It would be fair to say that his ability to influence others and broadcast his stigmatising views make him dangerous to anyone he cares to label, no matter how insidiously he choose to do it.

46 comments on “Why is Mark Richardson such a Nimby and …? ”

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  1. AB 1
    25 May 2018 at 12:30 pm

    Reducing Mark Richardson’s net worth seems like a worthy goal of any Government’s policy…

    • paul andersen 1.1
      25 May 2018 at 1:01 pm

      how can you reduce the net worth of someone with no redeeming features. in the great scheme of things , he is a total waste of oxygen, who probably has photos of himself on his walls……

      • Et Tu Brute 1.1.1
        25 May 2018 at 4:54 pm

        Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

        In the outrage economy he’s pure gold. First you hire someone offensive. Then you make them offend people at opportune times. Social media lights up. Clips play over and over. Advertisers get clicks. And people on all sides follow the social media pages for more of the same. And best of all: it’s cheap. It can be done in studio with little to no research. There’s no one out in the field. No fact checkers. No expensive marketing to get eye balls on the screen. Just pure outrage and engagement. And everyone feeds into it.

        • bwaghorn 1.1.1.1
          25 May 2018 at 5:05 pm

          Probably why the dick made it onto the standard

        • paul andersen 1.1.1.2
          25 May 2018 at 5:49 pm

          good point. fingernails on a blackboard always gets more attention than someone talking sense

  2. KJT 2
    25 May 2018 at 1:04 pm

    Richardson is safe. No self respecting State house tenant, wants to live next door to white collar crims.

  3. Muttonbird 3
    25 May 2018 at 1:06 pm

    Further comment here on why the fearful and misguided dog-whistling from Richardson and Seymour is just totally wrong.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/opinion/2018/05/opinion-why-epsom-needs-more-public-housing.html

  4. repateet 4
    25 May 2018 at 2:49 pm

    We can rational, sensible, considered and presented by reasonable people. Or we can hear Mark Richardson.

  5. dukeofurl 5
    25 May 2018 at 2:50 pm

    The mad thing is that Mark Hunter Richardson doesnt even live in Epsom, but the St Heliers part of Tamaki electorate.
    hes quite close to the state housing of Glen Innes area ( about 1 km)
    hahahaha

  6. mac1 6
    25 May 2018 at 2:52 pm

    In a small SI town a facility has been opened by the Methodist Mission for people needing transitional housing. It’s comfortable, warm and modern. The funding came from government, starting with the previous one.

    There was, and still is, some local disgruntlement. As one of the organisers said, “There is great misunderstanding as to who the needy are.” However, some local residents sent flowers on opening day.

    I could have been one of those needing transitional housing forty years ago, after our rental house burnt down. All sorts need emergency housing at times.

    It’s a pity that Mr Seymour did not attend. The Mayor in opening the housing said that now there would be 39 places locally for such housing, as well as ten HNZ houses being built, and more promised, to join the 400 that HNZ have, since their sale was halted by this government.

    Mr Richardson needs to understand in one sense that his backyard finishes at his fence-line, and then again it also extends out into his community.

    The Maori proverb was quoted at the opening, ” With your food basket, and with mine, the people shall thrive.” Let’s feast together, Mr Richardson.

    • koreropono 6.1
      25 May 2018 at 3:38 pm

      Interesting, I understood that the issue with the transitional youth facility in Dunedin was around an initial claim that the neighbours had been consulted, they hadn’t been, which is why it became an issue.

      I believe the concern was around the type of issues the youth would present with, and rightly so given potential risk to the community (which is a far cry from people simply setting up homes in social housing).

      It is interesting that the Government sunk 700k into the project over a two year period, I wonder how many youth, if any, have thus far benefited from the facility, especially as I understand that the criteria for entry is rigid, or at least that’s what I heard through the housing grapevine. Some have claimed that youth are being turned away despite empty beds, of course proof will be in the pudding and I do hope these organisations are accountable.

      • mac1 6.1.1
        25 May 2018 at 4:48 pm

        koreropono, our SI town is a wee bit smaller than Dunedin. How they address the issue of risk etc is that there is a responsible person living on site, and there is all sorts of support being offered by government and NGO agencies as well.

        Here the locals were consulted, Council too were involved. The locals wanted the pool filled in, so it was, as a condition. It’s a lovely site, a former motel complex, warm , double-insulated, cared for grounds, close to a shopping centre. I looked it over today, thinking this is flasher accommodation than my house. But that is as it should be.

        • koreropono 6.1.1.1
          26 May 2018 at 7:22 am

          Fantastic, I was unaware of other transitional housing for youth, I thought the Dunedin home was a pilot and the first and only one of its kind but I see your example is in Blenheim. It will be interesting to see how these ventures will evidence outcomes and what those outcomes are.

          • mac1 6.1.1.1.1
            26 May 2018 at 8:07 am

            Indeed, fantastic. Not a youth facility though. Well, as far as I know, no age limits.The whole deal is a credit to the woman who drove it. She was described by the Mayor as ‘relentless’. I think she met a Methodist counterpart and between them forged a partnership between NGO, local government and central government. Blenheim had its first frost of the winter this morning. The Mayor mentioned the cold, and in a single memorable phrase summed up why this facility was built, and why more like it are needed.

            “a warm place where you can put the kids to bed at night.”

  7. David Mac 7
    25 May 2018 at 3:16 pm

    NZ is full of people like Richardson, I don’t despise them, just disagree with them. I watch his show on occasion, I think he’s entertaining. I see that as his job, to entertain. Because like most in here I think his thoughts on social architecture are wonky.

    I’m a nimby, I think we all are to a degree. I like the convenience of a flush toilet but I’d be unhappy about a sewerage treatment plant being established next door. My bag of rubbish is out for collection every 2nd week, I wouldn’t be happy about a landfill tip going in over my back fence. I’d turn a bit nimby if a chapter of the Mongel Mob was moving in next door.

    • Muttonbird 7.1
      25 May 2018 at 3:39 pm

      It sounds like you are analogising NZ’s low income earners with a sewage treatment plant, a rubbish tip, and a gang headquarters.

      I’ll let you retract or rephrase.

      • David Mac 7.1.1
        25 May 2018 at 3:50 pm

        My point is that nearly all of us are capable of saying…”Gee I don’t really want one of those next door.”

        No I don’t think poor people are akin to ponds of shit….give yourself an uppercut sport.

        • Muttonbird 7.1.1.1
          25 May 2018 at 4:22 pm

          So why did you say it? Clumsy from you, and that is being generous.

          • David Mac 7.1.1.1.1
            25 May 2018 at 7:21 pm

            I’m not an evil person muttonbird.

            • Muttonbird 7.1.1.1.1.1
              25 May 2018 at 7:29 pm

              I read over some of your other posts and I’m sure you are not evil. Just clumsy on this occasion. It would be good if you might recognise why.

              • David Mac …
                25 May 2018 at 7:56 pm

                Would you like me to withdraw and apologise Trevor?

                I’m keen to appease you but I still stand by what I said. I think your point is that there are degrees of Nimbyism. Yep, of course but they all induce the same reaction: ‘Not in my back yard’

      • koreropono 7.1.2
        25 May 2018 at 3:50 pm

        +100 @ Muttonbird

    • koreropono 7.2
      25 May 2018 at 3:49 pm

      Mark Richardson’s brand of entertainment is dangerous if it promotes a particular stereotype about vulnerable groups. While his job may be to entertain, that entertainment should not be at the expense of others, not should it contribute to the structural violence already inflicted on those groups.

      Having a sewerage treatment plant, landfill or even a chapter of the Mongrel Mob or even released sex offenders moving in next door is a far cry from having a tanty because social housing is going to be built in the suburb.

      • David Mac 7.2.1
        25 May 2018 at 3:58 pm

        Yes, my point is that we are all capable of utilising the benefits our society offers but don’t want one next door. The Mongrel Mob chapter may well turn nimby as a cop moves in next door.

        I have no desire to stop anyone from saying what they want to say. If TV3 have a audience for what comes out of Richardson’s mouth, so be it.

        • koreropono 7.2.1.1
          25 May 2018 at 4:04 pm

          Are you suggesting it is okay to create dialogue that creates disadvantage for certain populations? Because that is what Mark Richardson’s mouth is doing, it is perpetuating the stereotypes that lead to considerable shame and stigma for those populations and others who may become part of those populations. You think that is okay, do you?

          • David Mac 7.2.1.1.1
            25 May 2018 at 4:23 pm

            We don’t need to agree with him, I’m sure plenty don’t. Some of his audience will watch him so they can disagree with him….I’m sort of on that ticket…. All that money for clobbering a cork ball with a lump of willow…. Listening to what someone has to say is not joining their fan club, it’s part of forming a panoramic view of the landscape.

      • Baba Yaga 7.2.2
        25 May 2018 at 6:51 pm

        “While his job may be to entertain, that entertainment should not be at the expense of others,”
        Korero you are not the arbiter of free speech, and yet is what you are seeking.

        Humour, as entertainment, is frequently directed at the expense of others.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYXenjpefNU

        The media print news that is frequently at the expense of others.
        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12058081

        I could go on. Part of life is learning to deal with things we find unpleasant, even things that question our deepest feelings or beliefs. It builds character, and we should toughen up.

        • koreropono 7.2.2.1
          26 May 2018 at 7:16 am

          Baba Yaga are you attempting your own brand of silencing? You are not my advisor, and yet it is what you are attempting. If I want your advice I will ask for it.

          Your attempt to minimise the seriousness of structural violence is not surprising but don’t confuse a silly story about Twyford’s social housing with structural violence. The following will improve your understanding – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPhq2yBFh1c

          Maybe with a better understanding of what structural violence is, you may realise how silly the rest of your comments are.

          • Baba Yaga 7.2.2.1.1
            26 May 2018 at 8:14 pm

            “Baba Yaga are you attempting your own brand of silencing? ”
            No. I’m calling you out for trying to suppress speech other than that which you are comfortable with.

            “Your attempt to minimise the seriousness of structural violence…”
            I didn’t even mention it. My beef is with people who try to impose their narrow mindedness by suppressing free speech. Your comment that “entertainment should not be at the expense of others,” is so silly it, thankfully, doesn’t rise to the level of dangerous. But it is on the way.

  8. Ad 8
    25 May 2018 at 3:22 pm

    Mark is a NIMBY because he represents the fear of the rapidly declining middle class of New Zealand. Middle class is now defined as “owns at least one property and is leveraged”.

    Any threat to that is a threat to their place and standing in society.

  9. Cinny 9
    25 May 2018 at 3:34 pm

    His problem can be summarised in one word… EGO.

  10. Stunned mullet 10
    25 May 2018 at 4:36 pm

    Richardson does some blatant trolling to try and get a rise from the usual suspects and succeeds.

    • Muttonbird 10.1
      25 May 2018 at 4:37 pm

      What is admirable about it?

      I spoke to a TV3 person about Mark Richardson and with obligatory eye-roll she said he is paid to have an opinion regardless of its decency.

      But Koreropono makes the very good point at 7.2.1.1 that his opinion broadcasts and legitimises intolerance and social segregation. These are things widely accepted as damaging to healthy society.

      It’s all very well to say ‘it’s only an opinion and people can make up their own minds’, but the platform he is on does legitimise what he says in many people’s eyes. It’s important for socially responsible people to push back as hard as possible.

      • Stunned Mullet 10.1.1
        25 May 2018 at 4:39 pm

        Happy now ?

        • Muttonbird 10.1.1.1
          25 May 2018 at 5:00 pm

          That I’ve put you in your place?

          Yes.

          • Stunned Mullet 10.1.1.1.1
            25 May 2018 at 5:06 pm

            😆 so easily pleased, I’m sure you’ll find something else to be outraged about in no time flat.

      • Draco T Bastard 10.1.2
        25 May 2018 at 5:05 pm

        +111

      • repateet 10.1.3
        26 May 2018 at 8:42 am

        ” … his opinion broadcasts and legitimises intolerance and social segregation. These are things widely accepted as damaging to healthy society.”

        As does David Seymour’s.

        Seymour seeks to legitimise his fucked attitudes by saying he is representing his electorate.

  11. R.P Mcmurphy 11
    25 May 2018 at 5:25 pm

    i done this, i done that, blah blah. me me me. richardson is a slimy article and he has a warped viewpoint if he thinks that only his needs shoud be catered to by society. nobody likes him. even the black caps didn’t like him and his pathetic childish prancing and whingeing on teevee doesn’t alter a thing.

    • David Mac 11.1
      25 May 2018 at 7:35 pm

      Hahahahha, you win McMurphy. If this was a Roast Richardson Night, you’d go home with the trophy.

      He’s better looking than me, got more money than me, more famous than me…my alarm clock ain’t going off at freakin 4am. I’m living instead.

      • dukeofurl 11.1.1
        26 May 2018 at 9:16 am

        hes a kiwi ‘Roseanne’- without the humour ( not that she has any )

  12. Matthew Whitehead 12
    26 May 2018 at 12:52 pm

    IMO we should nationalize the entire electorate and turn it all into social housing and student flats- EVERY single residential property- just to set an example.

    NIMBYs should get in the sea, except they’d all be like “but what about the sharks in my backyard?” Please, like sharks would eat meat as gamey as that lot.

  13. Observer Tokoroa 13
    27 May 2018 at 2:36 pm

    Free Speech

    Is not given to persons who are abusive; who are callous; who bully others; who are violent; who are wasteful layabouts.

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