Open mike 06/09/2012

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 60 comments
Categories: open mike

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step right up to the mike…

60 comments on “Open mike 06/09/2012”

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    1. 1.1

      yeah was pretty pathetic, though its often been a nat mouthpiece (printing press releases word for word for eg). today they also ran the uncorrected line that key wont be turning up to the water hui because he will be in russia, which is a lie.

  2. 2

    A report in the Marlborough Express of Joyce, Wilkinson and Carter putting the hard word on Marlborough Mayor Alister Sowman about why the MDC is not rolling over and letting offshore fish farming companies free range in the Marlborough Sounds.
    King Salmon is only partially NZ owned and wants to start up a lot of salmon farms in the Sounds. Joyce denies he was intimidating , I’ve known Alistair for 50 years and fortunately he’s the wrong person to ” heavy”. What don’t these arsehole Nats not get about due democratic and legal processes.

    1. 2.1

      Adrian, the answer is simple…

      It is because they cannot think outside their own little box.

      They still have the colonial extraction mentality. They don’t realise that one day when all the resources have been taken to get “economic growth” they will have to think of some other way of achieving growth. They could apply that thinking now and save the rivers and sounds etc but nope – just keep on taking taking taking.

      Here is an example – the upper North Island used to be covered in gigantic and world-spectacular kauri forests. Now, those forests could have been sustainably harvested and today they would still be around. But nope – just take the lot and worry about the future in the future. The example result is no more kauri forests. So next they move onto taking the rivers. Then the sounds. Then the national parks. No brains.

      It really is dumb thinking.

      dumb

        1. 2.1.1.1

          I have no trouble believing that, but that wiki article would have to be one of the worse ones I’ve seen. The use of English falls well below normal wiki standards, and the referencing is very poor – “Approximately 50% of the original forest cover had been deforested before European contact” needs a credible academic reference, not a link to the front page of a forestry industry website (esp if the inference is that Maori did all the deforesting, which is debatable).

          1. 2.1.1.1.1

            Yeah, I almost didn’t use it because it is that bad. As for the burning of forests I actually recalled that from school as part of history lessons and how the land was cleared for Auckland. Pissed me off even then.

  3. 3

    This is a BIG deal and not many people know about it!

    FYI.

    PRESS RELEASE TAMAKI HOUSING GROUP 5 September 2012

    WE ARE A COMMUNITY – NOT A COMPANY.

    It is an absolute farce that suburbs Glen Innes, Pt England and Panmure have been placed under The Tamaki Redevelopment Company with NO consultation what-so-ever from the residents and rate payers in these areas where there is a one to one ratio of hom e owners / tenants.

    The Tamaki Redevelopment Company is no more than a Trojan horse for a property developer fuelled land grab. It is an undesirable experiment in the form of an imported failed social housing policy from the United Kingdom.

    Optimising land use equates to high rise intensified compounds (zone 8) and charity housing.

    The Tamaki Housing Group wants The Heads of Agreement that was signed behind closed doors (24th July 2012) by The Mayor and Housing Minister to be rescinded immediately. Sue Henry 575.6344

    Protest Saturday 8th September 10.30am Line Road, Glen Innes.
    ________________________________________________________________________________

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’

    http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com

    2. 3.2

      That will be the joint effort between AKL Council and “The Crown”, that came into existence, very quickly, and very quietly!

      Was wondering what the name if it would be. Surprised it has the word company in it, but not at the same time. Got their own offices etc, and a budget to along with the largess of lauding it over the poor….

      Great environment we allow to have made for us eh!

  4. 4

    Yesterday, Annette King had a bit of a go at minister Turia in her press releases, criticising her for not doing enough for Maori and all NZers in poor housing:

    http://www.labour.org.nz/news

    http://www.labour.org.nz/news/minister%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98shock%E2%80%99-shows-she%E2%80%99s-out-of-touch

    “The Maori Party co-leader today vowed to take the issue of empty state houses ‘to Ministers for answers’.

    “The last time I checked Ms Turia was a Minister and one that has been decidedly quiet on our escalating housing crisis,” Annette King said.

    “Tariana Turia is in a position of power. Playing political catch-up while families are homeless is a disgrace.

    http://www.labour.org.nz/news/maraenui-homes-vacant-as-need-grows

    Renovated and newly carpeted and heated homes are among dozens of Housing NZ properties due to be sold or demolished in Napier’s Maraenui, despite a growing need for state rentals, Labour’s Housing spokesperson Annette King says.
    …
    “If Associate Housing Minister Tariana Turia is as concerned as she says she is about the number of empty state houses, she might want to have a word to her colleague, Housing Minister Phil Heatley, about Maraenui because he’s the architect of it.

    “There are some very desperate people waiting for homes, yet we’ve got a situation now where even current tenants are being moved on because the Government is unwilling to look beyond today.

    http://www.labour.org.nz/news/houses-sit-wrecked-and-ruined-in-wiri

    “Not only is Mrs Turia a Minister in this Government, she is Associate Housing Minister and her colleague Pita Sharples is an Auckland based MP and Minister of Maori Affairs.

    “The Maori Party has influence and it must use it.

    “I have no doubt that Ministers Turia and Sharples are doing good work around the Cabinet table, especially with regard to Treaty negotiations, but 44 per cent of our social housing tenants are Maori2 and many more are in desperate need of assistance.

    “They need to act on their words not only for their constituents but for all New Zealanders,” Annette King said

  6. 6

    Finding it extraordinarily hard to load up pages from the Standard this morning (and a bit over the last few days). The browser tab goes into endless loading with nothing actually appearing. If I press “ESC” the content seems to finally appear.

    2. 6.2

      New option that is being tested (lazy load images). Worked ok under test, but under load it is making the main server chew excessive CPU.

      Removed it now.

      Problem is that with some of these optimizations the only way to find out is to put them under load. I really need to create a “standard” standard then trap all of the incoming reads and writes to build a test scenario. But it is probably simpler to just subject the changes to a dedicated number of testers *grin*

    3. 6.3

      Oh and check out the Online tab… We’re having quite a lot of traffic by the bots today. Happens whenever we change anything on the site.

      Google also appears to now be looking down all of the links for comments (yikes)

  9. 9

    anyway, very interesting interveiw by Amanpour of Recep Tayyip Erdogan on cnn re Iran and Syria

    Louise (best friend, who is a primary health care nurse, low deciles) discussed
    -imagine the pathogens inbound with migrant workforces meeting the immuno-compromised populations of Christ-church for example (Inter-national-course, was her neologism)

    Rio Tinto and Tiwai-man!

    1. 10.1

      yep – and as I recall seemed to be into the cross-party welfare groups when in parliament. But with limited impact, given she was Maori Party as I recall.

  11. 11

    …..Just a thought? Do you think maybe Jonky (after knighthood of course) is hoping sometime in the not too distant he might be able to mix and mingle, and even stand for a position in the Autralian Labor Party?
    I’ve just watched Bill Shorten talk about “softening of the labor market) [sic] and various other “market” indicators. Not too unlike NZ Labour who still haven’t come to realise that people aren’t the problem, MARKETS are, but given how corporatist {fascist non-democratic) Labor is, one wonders whether Jonky wants to keep that little Hawaiian resort as the holiday home, whilst retiring (and indulging) in Australian society. I’m sure he an Joolya could be best mates.

    1. 11.1

      Hey Tim. Can’t see JK doing anymore poli work once his gig here is up. His interest isn’t in politics, he doesn’t know or understand its history and it doesn’t pay the bucks he’s after. He’s really here as a puppet for National’s goals of reducing governance and to act as a conduit for the authoritarian rule of big business. The role of PM fulfils his ego. However he’s tired of the game. It’s not really his bag and now he’s realises it. He had to deal with hard stuff, like disaster and industrial death, and that isn’t what he signed up for. He’s not even bothering to hide his indifference anymore. The bored and smug expression says it all, the smile and wave doesn’t work its magic quite as well as it used to. He’ll be off like a robbers dog if Nat loses the next election.
      In fact it would be good to see The Standard do a poll at the time of the election “Where will JK go next?” and have say, 5 options. The winners get to dance on his metaphorical grave. Such fun.

      2. 11.1.2

        Key knows “they’re heading for the bottom….and we’re riding them all the way.. yes we’re ridin…yes we’re ridin..them all the way…”
        -Soundgarden, paraphr. ‘Mailman’?

      3. 11.1.3

        Yep……I know that. I attended a certain ceremony yesterday at which most people were trying to avoid the guy, rather than embrace him (and his poor attached minder that I think I”ve come across in another life).. Various people were receiving awards and medals. Jonky’s ears pricked up when there were awards services to the arts featured.
        Nzild artwork he thought….mmmmmmmm…. now there’s a go! “Vestmint tunety”
        The guy is really SO out of touch it’s almost funny.
        FFS someone – ANYONE!!! give him a Knighthood and soon. Doesn;t matter if its for the People’s Republik of Zimbabwe or Mars – it really doesn’t! I was thinking though that it could have be for services to Joolya Gillard (pesky boat people problem and all – you know the type – the “illegals” and the “queue jumpers” and all those people he’s had NZ’s capability rehearsinf scenarios for)

        1. 11.1.3.1

          mmmmm funny as fuck! now I remember where the minder and I crossed paths.
          It’s a bit like a former Public Service “Garage” employee that now conducts our polies about the place. Most of his net present value would be down to bits and pieces that fell off the back of a Wellington Hospital Board truck.
          Same shit with the minder. Different stink though these days obviously

        2. 11.1.3.2

          Lol. “Vestmint tunety”…………

          You poor thing having to share your presence with the Great Derp. Interesting you mentioned most people were trying to avoid him. I wonder if people’s behaviour around him vary depending on the nature of the event. Someone known to me had a seat next to him at a dinner recently. Sadly this person was bedazzled by the shallow smooze and on the Monday sent an email round their workplace saying what a nice guy he was, and why does he get a hard time? Groan.

          1. 11.1.3.2.1

            They must be esprayshinly cheellinged I spos. Anyway, I’ve outsayed my welcome in here. I’m not usually a soshul netwerker. The tories (specifically the Nats) just amuse me – most places one looks. Watch them squeel like pigs when the pendulum swings the other way though as inevitably it will.
            There’s even a Nat up in Kapiti – a former aquaintance of mine claims used to try and score (and smoke) dak with. Hark at Pulla Bent aye! Full of shit or what!

      1. 12.1.1

        If wiser counsel is finally prevailing, then my hopes for the Labour Party may not go down the gurgler.

        I have never been able to reconcile the David Shearer I met and spoke with at the time of the Mt. Albert byelection, and the David Shearer who made the awful blunder a few weeks back. They seemed to me to be two different people. The only answer I have is he’s been getting god-awful strategic advice.

        1. 12.1.1.1

          I understand Pagani was “strategist” last election: that makes him a loser in my book. Hiring losers usually results in a repetition of loss. Who in Labour was so stupid as to rehire?

        2. 12.1.1.2

          have never been able to reconcile the David Shearer I met and spoke with at the time of the Mt. Albert byelection, and the David Shearer who made the awful blunder a few weeks back

          Me neither!

    2. 12.2

      I too hope this is true: lets hope he takes Josie with him, she needs to join ACT, maybe stand as the next village idiot for the Epsom seat.

    3. 12.3

      That’s good because I was beginning to think the only way to make Labour powers that be see the nonsense of their approach was to vote National. This on the basis that they are dog whistling for the ex-Nat floating vote, which means +1 Labour and -1 National votes.

      Whereas expecting disaffected Labourites really only have further left to go, meaning -1 Labour is +1 Greens or other left so remains neutral for the left.

      If disaffected Labourites vote National it is -1 Labour and +1 Nact is, countering the original strategy. Seriously thinking about that, I am.

    4. 12.4

      Bags my fingers are crossed before yours.
      I’m just astounded no-one (ESPECIALLY current Labour strategists) haven’t woken up before now – maybe its the Chardonnay. Should have a fucking big label on the bottle that says “THIS IS A SOCIALIST’S CHARDONNAY”
      …….still
      …………next
      …………………..also as I watched people awarded for various services, and as various (all msm) were present, I looked at the curtains. [msm only showed the awards for bravery – quel surprise though a couple would rather they hadn’t]
      I thought…… mmmmmmmmmmm, they’d make that lovely Jane Clifton a gorgeous business suit – colourful enough to get her over a McCully hump, and JUST good enough to attracct a Labour Party bully boy – mmmmmmmmthumper.
      Oh no! Take it back – he’s married.
      As a former Labour voter, I CANNOT BELIEVE – given the opportunites that exist – they cannot get their shit together!
      Not that me – or any of my family will ever vote for them again – despite some being Helen Kluks oidols and all – will EVER vote for them again till they get real (probably also half the NZDF after yesterday).

      Good shit if Labour have given Pagani “ISM” a push.
      (Josie and hub) – I know a simply DARLING little restaurant near Hunterville you might cry your fucking crocs in. I’ll even babysit for you

  13. 13

    Watching the DNC and Bill Clinton just delivered a kick-ass speech. Beautifully crafted, eloquently delivered and full of the substance and details that the Paul Ryan’s speech lacked.

    We can’t give the election to someone who will double down on trickle down

    2. 14.2

      Sorry to hear that too Fatty. It’s interesting that all the access that our current lot of ministers had to health and education that did them well in life, can’t for the life of them have anyone else having the same access. It’s like they don’t want individuals and society to thrive.
      I got half way through my tertiary education. I wanted to carry on and finish my degree and then go on to study a specific field of psych but I had to pay rent, eat and all that and still have debt from that study 4 years ago. Education benefits all, not just the individual. Profit orientated user pays education is unreasonable, unfair and elitist. I hope you find a way.

      1. 14.2.1

        It’s also not good for people from less well-off families wanting to study. I imagine the Double-Dipping One will make sure that his family provides enough money for higher education for the younger family members.

        And, yes Rosie, education is an investment for the country. Sorry to hear about your financial problems re-studying, too Rosie.

        1. 14.2.1.1

          thanks for the pity rosie and carol…
          Rosie – half finished degrees are the worst, there are many reasons for it to happen. I know I wouldn’t have finished 2012 if I didn’t have a strong support network around me – family and uni support staff. Anyone with a half completed degree should get all the support they need to finish, that’s just logical for everyone.
          Cuts to postgrad students is a policy which I really struggle to understand. And the cuts and stigma against Arts subjects is also depressing.

  16. 16

    What a surprise, property investing landlords don’t agree with property WOFs. Renting residential property shouldn’t be used to get rich at the expense of people needing safe and healthy accommodation:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/7627592/Warrant-of-fitness-not-the-answer

    A national landlords’ group has rebuffed calls for a “warrant of fitness” on rental properties.

    New Zealand Property Investors Federation president Andrew King said his group strongly supported the insulation of rental properties, but imposing property standards was not the answer.

    1. 16.1

      Apologies Carol, was sitting ready to go for half an hour whilst I cooked then I pressed the button….agree with you though.

  17. 17

    Landlords oppose WOF on rental properties….now there is a surprise!

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/7627592/Warrant-of-fitness-not-the-answer

    Actually I would oppose it as well: all they will do is haggle about standards and letting the market speak (which is what has happened to cause the call for a WOF).

    A better solution is to build quality state housing at reasonable rents plus buy properties of good standard to be state rentals. That would depress the prices of private rentals plus make them raise standards if they want them rented.

    1. 17.1

      No problem, Bored. I agree that the place to start is with this:

      build quality state housing at reasonable rents plus buy properties of good standard to be state rentals

      Plus all new housing, including that for sale or renting privately, should be to an acceptable standard.

    2. 17.2

      all they will do is haggle about standards

      Set new build house standards to Passive House and then grade existing houses relative to that. To get a WOF to be rented out a house would have to meet a high (75% or so) relative grading to that standard.

  18. 18

    I just watched Bill Clinton’s address to the Democratic National Convention (here’s the transcript if you have limited bandwidth) and it was a master class in political rhetoric. It showed how a keen intellect, combined with articulate eloquence and charisma can be a powerful political tool.

    I particularly liked these passages:

    We Democrats think the country works better with a strong middle class, real opportunities for poor people to work their way into it and a relentless focus on the future, with business and government working together to promote growth and broadly shared prosperity. We think “we’re all in this together” is a better philosophy than “you’re on your own.”

    It turns out that advancing equal opportunity and economic empowerment is both morally right and good economics, because discrimination, poverty and ignorance restrict growth, while investments in education, infrastructure and scientific and technological research increase it, creating more good jobs and new wealth for all of us.

    We simply can’t afford to double-down on trickle-down.

    Clinton has three gifts: he’s charismatic, he’s intelligent and he’s articulate. If only we on the left in NZ were blessed with such a politician.

    1. 18.1

      Sounds very good, and undoubtedly Clinton;s a great speaker…. but”growth” and a focus on the wonderfulness of being middleclass….? Nah.

  20. 20

    hey la
    hey hey hey hey la
    hey la
    ha ha ha hey la
    I don know why you say goodbye
    I say hello
    so how does it feel to be one of the beautiful people?
    PeteRedStar
    *****
    thanks for Clintons speech.
    He represents the people.

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