Open Mike 05/03/2026

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 9 comments
Categories: open mike


Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

10 comments on “Open Mike 05/03/2026”

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

  1. 1

    A Green MP differentiates his party from Labour, saying they have no problem undoing every dumb thing the current government has done.

    Designing a policy that criminalises people for being homeless is the height of cruelty. It will do nothing to prevent homelessness and will result in more people being forced into unsafe situations.

    It is shocking that Chris Hipkins has said it’s unlikely that Labour would repeal the new law, saying that he would “rather prioritise fixing the underlying problem”.

    By refusing to repeal legislation that his party ostensibly opposes, he is wanting to appear focused on the big issues, not on simply reversing everything the previous government did.

    But you can’t claim a moral high ground and then not scrap this morally bankrupt policy.

    https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360960608/criminalising-homelessness-not-compassion-its-cruelty

    1. 1.1

      I am fully on the side of this sentiment but more usefully I am on the side of the many churches who for over a century here have been tending to New Zealand’s ultra-poor and drugged and sleeping-rough people who have nowhere to go.

      Why the Actual isn't Hipkins treating total poverty as a central political issue?

      Poverty eradication is so important to me it makes me want to vote Green and I don't say that lightly.

    2. 1.2

      Designing a policy that criminalises people for being homeless is the height of cruelty.

      Doesn’t pass the fact-check.

      1. 1.2.1

        Long form.

        Requiring police officers to shift rough sleepers from one place to another could see other crime work delayed or dropped, the Police Association's boss says.

        The government is giving officers new powers to move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour in town and city centres.

        Breaching an order, which requires someone to leave an area for up to 24 hours, risks a fine of up to $2000 or three month jail term.

        Who will pay the fine?

        Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell said it will be left to police officers to decide what support a person needs, if any.

        But Police Association boss Steve Watt told Midday Report the police have limited resources, and it was unclear how big a job it would be to get people off the street and into a social agency.

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/587659/no-doubt-new-move-on-orders-for-homeless-will-drain-police-resources

  3. 3

    Heard i think todd mclay on radio this mornimg talking about the impact t of the US/israel war on iran will have on NZ trade. Significant mentions include disruptions to supply chains and transport costs with high oil prices. Mclay was quick to point out how his govt was opening up trade "opportunities" for kiwi exporter, he proudly mentioned a free trade deal with the UAE. UAE, ok, slap bang in the middle of the conflict zone, closed shipping lanes and closed skies. Yeah, that will really help kiwi exporters. That comment from a senior government minister said a lot about the lack of preparedness of this regime for the consequences of the conflict, even the inability to convey a clear message to the public. Best they can offer is a free trade deal with a country we cannot reach. Woeful

    1. 3.1

      Yes exactly what I was on about in my recent post.

      The PM and Minister of Finance ken keep supporting the massacre of tens of thousands of people through the demolition of the Iranian government, but doesn't have the intelligence to understand the impact on our own fucking national interests.

      This isn't a government; it's so incoherent as to be just a set of talking heads that appear on mainstream media with no relation to each other.

      Obviously more to come.

      In particular in the transport portfolio where the previous Minister drove us to higher and higher petroleum dependency.

  4. 4

    "I'd like to be principled I really would in a time like this, but …".

    This does seem to be somewhat different from the viewpoint you professed a couple of days ago. Could it be, to use a reference from a good film series rather than a rubbish TV set that in the opinion of the rather anti-USA set you may be accused of having gone over to the dark side?

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

Comments are closed.