Daily Review 11/03/2016

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 46 comments
Categories: Daily review

budget cut light at end of tunnel

 

 

Daily review is also your post.

This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

46 comments on “Daily Review 11/03/2016”

Comment numbers have changed to permanent references. Older quoted numbers may no longer identify the same comment.

    1. 1.1

      And nirvana is in our reach if we simply adopt socialist ideology as proven time and time again ( sarc)

    2. 1.2

      there was a glorious kaleidoscope of hope at the end of the tunnel but then rogernomes decided that the light fittings could be sold, the power co’s could go, and so could the steel beams holding up the tunnel. there were no safety inspectors so the tunnel collapsed.

      another triumph of capitalism

  2. 2

    More Canterbury waterways drying up,

    For advocacy group Fish and Game, the depletion of Canterbury’s waterways was becoming more pronounced.

    North Canterbury regional manager Rodd Cullinane had visited Waimairi Stream and found dead eels on the shingle.

    “There’s not a teaspoon of water in it,” he said.

    “We’ve seen dramatic drops in other rivers as well, like we’ve never seen before.”

    He blamed increasing amounts of irrigation, a practice that altered the way waterways were supplied and replenished.

    “We don’t believe [Environment Canterbury] at all. We are absolutely positive that it’s linked to the massive draw-off of irrigation in in-land Canterbury.”

    Environment Canterbury (ECan) surface water science manager Tim Davie said irrigation did lead to lower water levels, but in this case, low rainfall was the primary cause.

    “The lack of rainfall over the past two years, particularly over the winters, is the dominant factor. Waimairi Stream has gone dry in the past after periods of dry weather.”

    He said ECan was monitoring irrigation consents to ensure no-one was exceeding their allotment.

    “We are making sure that nobody is irrigating from ground water or surface water in excess of their consented limits and we continue to monitor flows in Waimairi Stream and other streams in the region.”

    Goodo Mr Davie. Despite there being two underlying causes (low rainfall and increased irrigation) one of which we can’t control, let’s ignore the one we can control and reassure ourselves that it’s all ok because farmer’s are only taking what they’ve been permited for. Because it’s the money that is important.

    I am curious how you monitor water flows in a dried up stream bed.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/77605645/christchurchs-vanishing-streams-worry-residents

    1. 2.1

      “We are making sure that nobody is irrigating from ground water or surface water in excess of their consented limits”

      Is there provision for adjusting consents in dry years? If not, then how is there not a link between irrigation and low river levels in dry years even is people are not exceeding their allotment?

      1. 2.1.1

        ‘Their consented limits’ bear no relationship with what’s required to preserve water tables, especially the ones supplying them city folk who were about to get a majority on ECan before the govt rescued the corporate farmers.

        1. 2.1.1.1

          Those competing water interests were what the elected ECan was struggling with when they were so rudely interrupted, yes?

          I have a sneaking suspicion that they were correct in their concerns.

      2. 2.1.2

        From what I can tell river flow limits are based on trying to balance the needs of commerce with the need to protect the environment, with the environment being the secondary consideration. That balance point appears to be relatively arbitrary.

        I found Davie’s statements alarming for the huge disconnect. He may have been quoted out of context, but if not, he is basically saying that creeks have no value compared to money. Which is astounding coming from a water scientist. Even if he places no value on the creek for its own sake (he’s not alone there), science shows us that waterways don’t exist in vacuums, that they’re important parts of ecosystems. My guess is that if the waterway (and the ecosystem it exists within) has no economic benefit or iconic status he considers its value meaningless.

        1. 2.1.2.1

          ‘Balance’. Another of those strange words that seems ill-defined in any policy communication that uses it.

          I found his comment very alarming also. For the reasons you state, but also because it seems he’s attempting to manage the framing – one of those either/or things – either the irrigation or the lack of rain – not the interaction between both (and other things too, I expect).

          1. 2.1.2.1.1

            Exactly. That he can’t see that irrigation take will make low rainfall problems worse is bizarre. Or he doesn’t care, as you say he’s framing things to suit an agenda.

    1. 3.1

      I am going to post something tomorrow but I think wee Todd may have a wee problem of the career threatening John Banks kind.

        1. 3.1.1.1

          The prime minister and the president of the National Party are comfortable and have already endorsed little Todd so the Police will not take it any further.

          John Key will be texting Judith Collins on this as we speak…

            2. 3.1.1.2.1.2

              Don’t get too excited. You could put a monkey on a bike up for National in that electorate and it would get voted in with a very comfortable majority.

          2. 3.1.1.2.2

            Wonder if this is the exit strategy, let the plods charge him and a by-election that way. The denial strategy is pretty much a copy of Northland and they’d probably pull it off here with a decent candidate.

            Would a charge for sentence not exceeding two years be sufficient to force a resignation?

            Little jonny is in Queenstown for the golf this weekend, and probably a few other things. He was dining at Botswana this evening, a very bored cop standing by the back door one finger texting, thought there’d been a punch-up at the pie cart then went ’round the corner and saw the BMW’s parked up.

        2. 4.1.2.2

          Bully gate and Creepy gate could both be applied to John Key and his ponytail pulling antics. He must be so proud that he is such a role model to his young MPs.

        3. 4.1.2.3

          Ok, well here’s a snappy one:

          Filling Mr English’s Shoes Has been an absolutely Huge Learning Curve and I Have Certainly Made Some Mistakes-Gate

    2. 4.2

      From the link:

      The police involvement is believed to be related to allegations that the first-term MP made a secret recording of a staff member.

    3. 4.3

      It’s interesting that the Police are involved. Usually the ERA would deal with such things so chances are the offending by one or other of the parties (let’s face it, it’s Barclay) is serious enough to warrant a chargeable investigation.

      The National Party elite will dilute, threaten, and brush over this to a point where no charges are laid and the investigation will yield not further information.

      Why is it that members of the current government and RWNJs in general are such aggressively dishonest folk???

      1. 4.3.1

        Or…… Another ex Nat MP, “Prominent New Zealander” with a super injunction name suppression will appear in court. Speaking of which isn’t the other prominent New Zealanders court date coming up soon

        1. 4.3.1.1

          Yes , Trey – but everything will be suppressed, and I think they’ve shifted the Court hearings from Whangarei to one of the Auckland Courts.

      2. 4.3.2

        The Gnats and their financial backers will do whatever it takes to accrue as much power and wealth and privilege as possible, and screw everyone else in the process. It requires an unprecedented PR campaign to keep up the pretense of democracy and working for the people.

      1. 6.1.1

        I read the second one and you are right, it is a very good insight into the workings of a Chinese New Zealander.

        CV admits the wave off new immigrants have no desire to engage with, nor concept of, the democracy we enjoy here in New Zealand.

        They simply know nothing of it.

  7. 7

    But of course somehow should there be any case to answer it will be blotted out of public discussion because it will be a case before the Courts. Then sometime long after 2017 something might happen maybe perhaps.

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