Open Mike 08/06/2018

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177 comments on “Open Mike 08/06/2018”

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  1. 1

    So 20% (at least) of all Auckland houses were sold to foreigners.

    Not a problem, says that moron Judith “Oravida” Collins, because nationally the rate is just 3%.

    what an idiot. The constant denial of reality by National – both in government and now in opposition – shows how much the left underestimates the influence of the mad and bad American right on the NZ right, and how the dangerous fantasy land of Judith Collins should warn us how close National is to going into a full Trump rogue mode, like the US Republicans have.

    1. 1.1

      In an amazing coincidence, 3% is also her preferred PM score.

      I find her repellent, which I guess she would regard as a victory.

      1. 1.1.1

        What she’s really worried about is that here idol’s vanity project MoBIE will be picked apart from the outside inwards. Housing & Urban Dev a good start.

        1. 1.1.2.1

          You’re right about that. But then when things all go tits up she’ll be bleating and screaming and crying how unfair everything is.

    2. 1.2

      I think that the 20% figure applies only to Auckland Central and perhaps the North Shore and that other property hotspot Queenstown? Auckland wide the figure was nearer 10% and nationwide it’s 3%.

        1. 1.2.1.1

          Just another layer of baffling opaqueness Pat which seems to make it impossible to get a fix on how foreign buyers are affecting the market. Which, of course, suits those who want free rein.

          1. 1.2.1.1.1

            Why they dont (or are unable to) include companies/corporates in their data capture is odd….but as you note there are those who would be happier all round if none of it was measured

      2. 1.2.2

        What happens if you are posted to Auckland for 3 years and if you do not go your job could be terminated?

        There is a high price to pay. And you were paying a mortgage in an affordable area. And you sell your home.

        What is the position you are now in?

        You have been put back 5 years.

        It is not easy being a long distance landlord and raising children is expensive.

    3. 1.3

      And having lived in Queenstown for nearly nine years it’s worth pointing out that there at least, the largest foreign buyer group is most likely Australians and they aren’t going to be impacted by any moves the government makes to curtail foreign buyers. They’re attracted by the advantages of exchange rate differentials and not having to pay Stamp Duty and Capital Gains Tax.

    4. 1.4

      It’s not just the foreign buyers, it is also the amount of new residents who were bought into NZ under the Key government. NZ was one of the highest per capita in the world – the other countries doing the same thing, are countries like Israel who have a political agenda about their immigration policy and it could be considered a replacement one at the very least displacement.

      Whether intentional or not, and you can’t blame the migrants but our government adopted this policy of displacement. For what ever reason they have replaced poor Maori/Pacific/Pakeha with mostly low waged Indians and the Pakeha middle class with Chinese/Koreans and also got a few rich migrants from any country they could manage. If the government bothered to get any real statistics about ethnicity as well as new residents/citizens then it would clearly show this at ground zero, Auckland.

      Whether that is a good or bad thing is up for debate, but increasingly, like Meth, climate change, smoking, there is no debate because lobbyists just keep the debate on the surface arguing about statistics and what they say is true on their flawed models, rather than what can be seen before people’s eyes from any who visits Auckland.

      That is before we get onto why you would do that to the infrastructure and purposely overload hospitals, schools… etc

      It’s the government’s fault and they have abused the system just like the Meth Con scandal for their own ends.

      But what to do from now, continue to displace people – 90,000 came in last year and how to integrate completely different cultures into something socially cohesive and who should pay for it, when there seems to be a new class of people who are new to the country, have a rich lifestyle, but qualify for welfare somehow?

    5. 1.5

      Not a problem, says that moron Judith “Oravida” Collins, because nationally the rate is just 3%.

      And 3% is 100% too much.

      The only reason why foreigners are buying NZ houses is so that they can bludge off of NZers.

      National is all about increasing that bludging of course.

      1. 1.5.1

        I agree @ Draco. Amid a housing ‘crisis’ – an admission that had to be prised out of them with a crowbar – even 3% is fucking high. You’ll note that all they have to ride on at the moment is that claims of figures over and above (say 30%) was outrageous, alongside all that ‘Chinese sounding names’ fiasco.
        They rely on the lack of statistics – which, of course, was by design (by them).

        And at Jude’s straw-clutching best, she comes out with claims such as parents buying housing for their international student sons and daughters in support of billions of dollars of an export industry. I luv her! She’s ekshully the gift that keeps on giving, and if she relocated to the mainland at co-ordinates between 39 and 49 North, I’d be the first to wish her any sort of life longevity. I ‘spose she could always hide behind a Kauri tabletop though.
        (Btw, one day some ‘entrepreneurial’ journalist – Hark! – I mean member of the 4th Estate, might go into a cost benefit analysis of all of that which would include the decline in tertiary rankings).
        There goes a Jude, perfectly happy for parents of international students enrolled in shitty PTE courses to trump people sleeping in doorways and cars, and whose children struggle to even get a decent primary and secondary edjikayshun (going forward).
        Sincerely! I hope she keeps it up. If I were her, I’d seriously be considering keeping my head down but then I guess she’s so fucking clever, she’s relying on the inadequacies and under-resourcing of a public service media, just as under-resourcing a civil service was all by ideological design.
        And then of course, “Dunks and Richo” and the token talked-down bimbo in the third chair who probably still has a reasobaly large mortgage to pay, will be there to prop Jude’s saggy arse up amid Dunk and Rich thickery.

        But then, as we’ve discussed before – the mathematics of it all don’t really stack up and I suspect much of their current outbursts are driven by fear (or maybe just born-to-rule, once was blue-rinse and Tim-nice-but dim Tory arrogance, )

        And if she gets desperate, there’ll always be (what the gay community refer to as) a BoQ from the Eastern Wellington suburbs – the ultimate wannabe snob trying to deflect everyone else’s attitude as snobbery.
        The gNatz and their propper-uppers really are becoming something worthy of a reality TV show.
        The “National” Party ffs.
        Christ! even the likes of Jim Bolger, McKinnon and others know what a completely fucked up gathering of self-indulgent, self-promoting, unimaginative organisms slithering around trying to make connections it’s become.

        But …. she’s not the worst of them Draco. The best thing about Jude is that we can be pretty sure of her agenda, based on her record. Others are far more slippery – often as thick as pigshit but who’ve managed to slip their way into positions of what they think is power by way of ‘elite connections’.
        No doubt there’ll be a ScottGN, or a James, or even a Mullet along shortly.

      2. 1.5.2

        Any hidden costs were not factored in.

        Hidden costs
        Housing.
        Education.
        Health care.
        Unemployment.
        Immigration.
        Traffic congestion.
        Jail muster.

  2. 2

    With housing constantly in the news, I suppose we have to get used to Judith Collins’ trivial sneering. I do wonder however, whether trivial sneering is going to find favour with the electorate.

    1. 2.1

      The only reason she angled for the Housing portfolio was because it would put her in the middle of a near constant news stream.

      2. 2.1.2

        The constant news stream is how bad National managed housing.

        Collins can try and defend the indefensible. Still out of touch and will remain so.

    2. 2.2

      She will never be PM, way too polarising and most women can’t stand her.

      A PM should be akin to a mum or a dad, a person that genuinely cares about all the people whom they govern.

      Not judith, that woman doesn’t appear to have a maternal bone in her body.

        1. 2.2.1.1

          Sounds like you have a warm feeling in your nethers for Judith Collins — always leaping to her defence whenever the nasty Lefties start disparaging her. Keep it up, Lancelot. I’m sure she’ll acknowledge your existence one day.

          1. 2.2.1.1.1

            more likely James is paid to be a pom pom bearing cheer girl for Judith, no one of sane mind would willingly do that for free, PR is the lowest of the low jobs one can succumb to, the lack of ethics and morality, the cheerleading for idiots and big upping complete stupidity not to mention the lying, deceiving and trolling the public for a living = Scum of the earth propagandists.

        2. 2.2.1.2

          Lolz James, if anything I probably gave my mummy and daddy issues.

          My folks are the bee’s knee’s, am very lucky, they taught me to look after people, no matter who they are, as everyone is important and we have no idea of others struggles.

      2. 2.2.2

        Mums and dads are there to look around the corners. Collins has not looked around corners unless they were her own example Orivida and kauri.

  3. 3

    “… I do wonder however, whether trivial sneering is going to find favour with the electorate…”

    In our deeply polarised and uneven society Collins has set herself to be the voice of the solid 33% of us who no longer care about the poor, or care about the housing crisis, or care about our massive incarceration rate, or care about massive underfunding of health and education, since they don’t know anyone poor and benefit from housing speculation and they can afford good security, Southern Cross and to live in a good school zone.

    Collins is the spokesperson for this new neoliberal grasping class, the mid-range Audi drivers in ready to wear Barkers clothing and branded leisure wear who aspire to three rental homes, a fibreglass speedboat and a place place at Omaha.

    What people with empathy see as trivial sneering is the red meat that feeds the psychopathology of her base.

    That is why I hope she becomes leader of National. She will keep the base solid and fanatically loyal, and about 6% short of government forever.

      1. 3.1.1

        Neoliberalism turns people onto The spice Girls, thats probably the most compelling argument you’ve made

  4. 4

    Amazing how we can not get accurate data, I worked in the Real Estate Industry in Auckland 6-7 years ago and looked up the owners on every property over 2 x suburbs through the Property Guru Program/Website. It was very difficult to get any correlation with property owners names to telephone numbers in the phone book, also many properties are held in trusts and lawyers names. Also a very high % of Asian names on the property ownership details. Likewise attending Auctions in Auckland Central on a weekly basis up to 80-90% of the attendees were of Asian ethnicity.

    When you have successive Governments saying they can not get accurate data, that indicates to me we have a problem with regards to who is buying up our housing stocks, especially when we have witnessed rabid house price inflation over the past 20 years and we can not provide affordable housing for our own people ?

    1. 4.1

      Of course they can get accurate data Tamati, you’ve hit the nail on the head. They’ve been snowballing us and IMO Labour are either now complicit or too poor with numbers to see what’s been going on.

      Jesus Christ when did title transfers become property sales?

      Stats report this for the March quarter;

      “There were 40,740 property transfers, including 32,880 home transfers, in the March 2018 quarter.”

      REINZ report the following residential property sales for the March quarter;

      December 5903
      January 4366
      February 6373
      March 7768

      Total 24,410

      Now REINZ don’t say whether their data includes private sales but it’s likely since they have access to QV data and other sources. There could also be a time lag between sales and title transfers but it still indicates a possible 25% margin of error in the stats which is unacceptable. At the very least it needs an explanation.

      You can tell that Stats don’t like what’s going on by the amount of times they use the word ‘transfer’ in their press release;

      https://stats.govt.nz/information-releases/property-transfer-statistics-march-2018-quarter

      Their language is quite different to that which LINZ used in their (earlier) reports. (LINZ blithely referred to every transfer as a sale.)

    2. 4.2

      I just hope that statistics NZ lift the lid on non residents purchasing homes. To an extent residents here under 5 years as well. Some regions are telling.

      1. 4.2.1

        Stats NZ can only do what they’re instructed, what’s needed there is for someone to wise up and give them the right instructions. They’re professional statisticians with no biases, if they’re given the mandate they will produce the true statistics on overseas buyers.

        1. 4.2.1.1

          Are you saying that info on the recent census can be with held?

          Would an official information request reveal the size of the problem of non residents purchasing homes.

          1. 4.2.1.1.1

            I don’t think so.

            Just because you don’t own the house you’re in, it doesn’t mean the owner is an overseas landlord.

            Just because someone was born overseas, it doesn’t mean they’re not a NZer.

            You’d have to look at the LINZ data, and flip that through to the directors/majority shareholdings of landowning firms from the companies register. So your big data system, write it up in a locked room and hope your code compiles when they run it to see if they can tell you the answer…

      2. 4.2.2

        “here under 5 years as well”.
        Why stop there?
        Why not forbid anyone who cannot trace their ancestry back to someone living here in the nineteenth century from buying a home?
        That would certainly catch a few of those nasty people who buy houses wouldn’t it?

        1. 4.2.2.1

          I did not call anyone nasty. Housing in NZ needs to be obtainable, affordable and not profit driven by people who have not contributed.

      3. 4.2.3

        I don’t think the non residents are the biggest problem. The real problem is the new residents who are buying up, putting their assets into Tom/Dick/Harry/Trust/company x names as it suits them and then claiming they have no income or assets and expecting the Kiwis to support their Accomodation supplement, WFF, retirement care, health, education, social welfare…

        The biggest expense of a person’s life is the first 3 years and the last 3 years… so with our baby boom, and stories of people flying into NZ, 7 months pregnant, shopping at Gucci and then spending time in NZ to give birth here, or getting on Tinder and starting a relationship and family to gain residency as we can’t leave the child ‘fatherless’ blah, blah, one recent migrant having multiple children at the same time to different migrant women but not a problem says immigration, the stories keep popping up…

        In a few years (and judging by the retirement villages popping up everywhere in a construction boom of them), which charge $1000 p/w+ plus if you are ‘poor’ as your assets are in trusts etc the taxpayer pay all your care, and of course you get free health care with residency…

        Voting rights of course come with residency so that is wonderful for the Natz if corruption and nepotism is what you are used to in your home country …

        We ain’t seem nothing yet. Time to stop the loopholes of these routs once and for all so we don’t end up like Greece or Fiji!

        Sadly the biggest fixation for many in Auckland poltics is how to get a quicker railway line from the airport, (which of course the local Aucklander’s are paying for) so that we can make the journey and wealth transfer smoother from airport to residency lawyer to real estate agency to trust lawyer to WINZ…

        Then they wonder why we have more lawyers per capita than the UK which is known as a financial hub!

        1. 4.2.3.1

          The real problem is the new residents who are buying up, putting their assets into Tom/Dick/Harry/Trust/company x names as it suits them and then claiming they have no income or assets and expecting the Kiwis to support their Accomodation supplement, WFF, retirement care, health, education, social welfare…

          Yes that’s right, because it is only immigrants who do this sort of thing. What’s more, they’re all doing, them imgrints .

    3. 4.3

      Remember this ?
      https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/twyford-s-racist-cynical-chinese-property-buyer-statistics-de-bunked-q00964
      Barfoot & Thompson boss Peter Thompson agreed the data was unreliable.
      “We know there’s been a large portion of Asians buying property but there’s no way to tell if they’re one of three categories: NZ born, foreign-born NZ citizens or foreign-born foreign citizens. If you asked me about Asian non-residents, I’d probably say between 5 and 8 per cent.”
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11519706
      Peter Thompson, of Barfoot & Thompson, blames financial instability in China for the dip in those bidding – partly fuelling the market slowdown. “There are a lot less Chinese in the auction room at the moment and at the open homes,” he said.
      So they don’t have information as to their client base but then a few months later can point that the slow down is caused by the same clients that they have no info. on. Funny that…. Keep high sales volumes and the realestate coys just keep on clipping the ticket

    2. 5.2

      At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist I think that that beat up of an article on Kelvin Davis speaks more to the attitudes of some in the media to the current government than it does to Davis’ abilities as a minister.
      In the 9 years National was in government you would have lost count of the number of times National ministers treated select committee with disdain or disrespect and yet how often did that ever really make it onto the news cycle?

    3. 5.3

      Its was just a stuff story generated by the nats who lined up the quotes and the sub leads.
      of course its unlikely Davis could match the detail and enlightenment of Dear leader when he was Minister of Tourism and appearing before select committee ( where
      his Mps would have the majority and be there to fluff his pillows)

    4. 5.4

      Silly people! They complain because Kelvin says they will have to wait for detail as it has yet to be decided. So what is wrong with that?
      Silly buggers. Facile and transparent are Nat MPs!.

    1. 6.1

      Its almost like Labour MPs are trying to have a race to see who can be the most embarrassing, first it Hipkins and his “math”, then Twyford, then Curran, then Twyford again and now Davis

      Curran most be happy though as she now doesn’t look that bad, mind you this probably give Jacinda some good experience at raising kids 🙂

        1. 6.1.2.1

          Is trivial sneering your meme for the day Ed – you have used it a couple of times today and it’s just 9:30.

          How about going outside – getting some sun and coming back when you are less rude to people.

          Or at least try to comment on the comment.

          Or perhaps a Galloway YouTube clip ?

          1. 6.1.2.1.1

            James @ 2.2.1 you replied to Cinny
            “It sounds like you have mummy or daddy issues.”

            Your reply to Ed was equally childish.

            Please stop wasting The Standard’s data download allocation.

      3. 6.1.3

        Hi Chris

        How is that most creeps are called Chris? Are You Christine, Christopher, Christ, ? or what?

        I mean you are rubbishing some top guys and girls but you don’t seem to know your own name.

        Typical little national brat – i guess.

        You could book into a kindergarten – and get a bit of tuition.

      1. 7.1.1

        Advance voting daily numbers dropped back a bit this week, likely the rainy weather. But totals are still ahead of general election numbers for the same period.
        Could be 10,000 advance votes. Hoping it shows a strong turnout on Sat. Big turnouts always help labour as their supporters may be working weekends or have transport difficulties

      2. 7.1.2

        I wish I could share your optimism. National will hold the seat. I just hope people don’t prattle about “moral victories”. No such thing.

    2. 7.2

      The Labour canvassers I have spoken to seem quite jaunty. But plenty of approving toots from late model cars to the Nat placard wavers at major intersections.
      Early voting has been going on steadily with more booths for early voting than the General. The booth near the Warehouse in Birkenhead Mall has had somebody voting most times I have been past. Unlike most of the North Shore, Northcote has some pockets of hardship and you see some sign of it at the Warehouse. I have had 2 Labour door knockers but no Nats (though I’m probably on their blacklist so they avoid me). Transport congestion is the thing that most people talk about, though I suspect that there are deeper concerns they won’t talk about. Onewa Rd is a worsening mess.
      So really hard to tell. My pick is Nats by 1200 to 1500.

  8. 8

    Hey Ad have you had any word on the baby yet, boy or girl ?

    Also have you got any names in mind ?

        1. 8.1.1.1

          You two-timer.
          A couple of days ago you were proclaiming you undying devotion to Judith.
          Now you are trying to move in on my turf and are professing devotion for Sophia.
          You will break Judith’s heart.

    1. 9.1

      A very good article thanks Ad. It does raise some interesting questions and high light some area’s for concern that would need to be considered should NZ decide to go down the legalisation route.

      As an ex smoker (haven’t had weed since before I joined the NZDF 20 years ago) I don’t have a huge issue with normalisation. The people I knew and know who enjoy a smoke came from all walks of life. Weed is already normalised just not legal.

  10. 10

    A Windfall from a Windbag

    There should be no anxiety over the chubby little Windbag Judith Collins.

    The same girl that did all sorts of favours for a chinese chap (on tax payers) that turned out to be her bread and butter. All very very naughty and unsavoury stuff. Even the twisted Key had to find a big shelf to put her on. For some years.

    But the Collins Windbag, along with some silly Simon, is carrying on the cultivated Genocide of the Poor, the Middle Class, the Homeless and the Illiterate as they have done now for over ten years .

    Action will be taken against The Herald which is supporting this Genocide. As will action against RNZ and TV3 and Heads of all National appointed Departments.

    The Corporates will also have action taken against them. The Banks too.

    Watch our little chubby Windbag Collins squirm . Watch Key and English too.

    1. 10.1

      Wow – how to the women on here feel knowing people like observer tokoroa feel that’s it’s ok to insult them regarding their weight to others ?

      So you thinks it’s all ok to attach “chubby” to their name ?

      Or do you find this insulting ?

      There are several on here of late I have noted (since weka disappeared) who are happy calling women chubby or a trout etc and it’s disgusting.

      I hope you are all ok with others doing that to your wives and daughters.

      1. 10.1.1

        I’d imagine the women on here are more forgiving of the rage and desperation of the disadvantaged bubbling out in an OTT fashion and including unacceptable insults like ‘chubby’, than they are of the cynical and selective adoption of feminist rhetoric by people like you.

        1. 10.1.1.1

          Enablers like you who are willing to overlook it simply because it suits your own prejudices are just as bad.

          No wonder so many women have commented that The Standard becomes a place they are not comfortable.

                1. 10.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                  “I’d imagine the women on here are more forgiving of the rage and desperation of the disadvantaged bubbling out in an OTT fashion and including unacceptable insults like ‘chubby’, than they are of the cynical and selective adoption of feminist rhetoric by people like you.”

                  You’ve missed the point entirely (I suspect deliberately) that David Morrison was making, by not saying anything to Observer Tokoroa you’ve condoned his comments

                  1. 10.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                    Nope – I think “unacceptable insult” is a well-balanced comment showing that I thought OT was being a bit of a dick.
                    And on top of that, the other thing I won’t ‘walk past’, is 3rd-rate Tory boys smirking behind their hands while pretending to be feminists.

                    1. 10.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                      “Nope – I think “unacceptable insult” is a well-balanced comment showing that I thought OT was being a bit of a dick.”

                      It wasn’t to Observer Tokoroa though was it, it was part of a comment to james so Observer Tokoroa might not even read it

                      “And on top of that, the other thing I won’t ‘walk past’, is 3rd-rate Tory boys smirking behind their hands while pretending to be feminists.”

                      But you will walk past lefties body shaming

          2. 10.1.1.1.2

            That’s why most women are more comfortable with Cameron Slater at Whale Oil and David Farrar at Kiwiblog.

      2. 10.1.2

        Shes a beautiful women and an example of a pre-raphalite stunner. However her attractiveness does not and should not detract from her considerable intelligence, her calmness and poise under pressure and obvious leadership credentials.

        So please stop trying to discredit her simply because shes attractive

        #allwomenarebeautiful

        1. 10.1.2.1

          ‘Shes (sic) a beautiful women’… Why the plural?
          Are you implying bi-polarity? Schizophrenia? The Jeckyll – Hyde thing? Or just recognising that she is two-faced, as her lies about the Oravida thing made clear?

      3. 10.1.3

        ” happy calling women chubby or a trout etc ”
        But James every post you’ve made today has been an a intended insult to someone.
        You really are having a bad day.

        Should we offer you sympathy?
        Because none of us know what bad times you’re going through right now.

      4. 10.1.4

        I note that you didn’t address any of his other points. That Collins is fronting for the oppression of the poor.

    2. 10.2

      Why engage in bodyshaming Observer Tokoroa?

      Do you think people should be harassed for the way they look?

      1. 10.2.1

        Should have guessed you’d hitch your troll wagon to James’ horse. Ever the opportunist eh, Gossie?

  11. 11

    Questions arise after Housing NZ boss Andrew McKenzie flurry of interviews with the press

    If tenants safety concerns are first and foremost, why, from the end of last year, did the agency stop evicting tenants from supposedly meth contaminated homes?

    In December 2017, the minister said if methamphetamine traces were found, support, not eviction, would be the first approach.

    Furthermore, he didn’t explain how the standard used was misused. Instead of its intended use as a target to clean a lab to, it was used as a trigger to start clean ups, even if meth had only been used and not manufactured at a property.

  12. 12

    The Face Of Collins

    You would think that Judith Collins would have had more more than enough guts (to put it politely ) to get the Chinese Military Spy out of our Parliament. She knows what a mandarin looks like for god’s sake.

    But no. She did not have the guts or the spine. So National will go down in History as the Government who breached Security. And How. They are all Tarred with same Black Chow Brush – National is. The Stinkpot Nationals.

    How high China Collins – is their mascot. phew !

    Also, You would think she could write (can she write? ) a little letter in Mandarin to her beloved Maoists saying Fuck you Mr Pigtail, for putting dangerous low standard steal in our most important overhead Bridges. Where it still remains.

    I mean where does this little woman stand ! She is a creep. A hapless, woeful waste of time. Even Bill English is a bit better than her.

    1. 12.1

      She knows what a mandarin looks like ?

      Oh please do inform us – what does one look like ?

      As for your other comments (and your prev post) you seem very aggressive towards women.

      You should seek help.

    2. 12.2

      What is a “Black Chow Brush”?

      Are you using “Chow” in the derogatory anti-Chinese sense of the word or in another way?

      If you are using the racist meaning of the word, why are you doing so?

  13. 13

    Keep up the momentum Chris Hipkins.

    “Finnish children start school when they are seven, only spend four hours a day in class and don’t get homework until they are teenagers, yet outstrip New Zealand in international test results.

    What’s more, these high results don’t come from just a handful of elite schools, they come from all schools regardless of socioeconomic factors…..

    ..University of New South Wales professor of education policy, and Finnish education expert, Pasi Sahlberg, is a worldwide authority on education reform currently visiting New Zealand as a guest of the University of Auckland….

    ..”I think lack of equity or inequity is one of the biggest issues in your school system.”

    Rather than focusing on achievement he thinks wellbeing should be the first focus. It’s a concept gaining traction in New Zealand…”

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/06/07/114822/four-hours-a-day-in-class-and-success?preview=1

    1. 13.1

      Excellent analysis – cut straight through all the National Party’s lies about education and focus on the real issue: children bring their circumstances to school.

      1. 13.1.1

        Hekia Parata reckoned that the circumstances children brought to school could be mitigated by having excellent teachers. Excellent teachers who would do what she and her Ministry told them to do, and would do what parents told them to do.

        Seven hours with an excellent teacher to undo all the undesirable stuff which happened in the other 17 hours in the day for a child? How did he magic plan go? Did it include majicking up masses of magic teachers to do her special trick?

  14. 14

    Here is a interesting article from the Australian ABC about Climate Change related HADR missions on the rise for the ADF and no doubt it is very similar to what is happening with the NZDF.

    There is a graph within the article showing an upward trend for HADR and for Warlike operations which is little bit disturbing, but in saying that I have 3-4 books in my library along with some Staff College papers that I have found online that have predicted the rise in HADR and Warlike operations associated with Climate Change.

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-08/adf-sees-climate-change-related-disaster-relief-demands-rise/9842458

    1. 14.1

      Very much EKF. Canterbury is now considered one of the most vital operational assets the NZDF have. Not just because of her listed capabilities but because she has already proven a number of times that she can deploy and provide HADR relief in real circumstances. Most exercises and training these days in some way references disaster relief.

      1. 14.1.1

        Yes the Canterbury is good ship with all it’s limitations due to the bloody insane budget that the Navy was given and the political ideology of certain members of that government that nobble Project Protector in-particular to the Canterbury ie the lack of a docking well. Just imagine the Canterbury having a docking well and to do ship to shore transfers up to sea state 6, then I would’ve been a bloody great ship just need a few more NH-90’s as well.

    2. 14.2

      Defence said climate change could magnify regional instabilities, causing security problems for Australia.

      “Climate change can act as a ‘threat multiplier’.”

      “Climate change may also eventually contribute to greater irregular migration pressure in vulnerable countries to Australia’s north, potentially becoming a substantial security threat for Australia.”

      The Senate report concluded that “the consensus from the evidence (is) that climate change is exacerbating threats and risks to Australia’s national security”.

      That’s not a ‘could’ but a will. When people can no longer stand the heat, when the local area doesn’t produce enough food and there isn’t enough water due to that heat then people will act. Some will emigrate while other will attack neighbours to decrease demand upon local resources. This latter will, inevitably, force yet more to try and emigrate.

      And it won’t be just Australia that will have concerns because of them.

      1. 14.2.1

        Yes DTB I fully agree with your comments and when you throw in some of the possible side effects of Globalisation it could get really untidy. The Katapo Ex’s on the West Coast is good foundation for the NZDF and again to due people’s political ideology they missing the point to those Ex’s because the next skill set above HADR missions is Peace Support/ Peacekeeping and Peace Stabilisation Missions. Those two Mission skill sets are going to be to quite more common in the future and only needs to look at some of the case studies involving the West Coast after Alpine Fault ruptures.

        Couple of other books in my library and papers I’ve seen have mentioned/ talked about the possibility of Civil War or total collapse of Law and Order during/ after Natural Disaster or during HARD Mission in other words a Low Level Warlike Operation then it will get real messy for everyone concerned and may take years for a full recovery.

    2. 15.2

      I’m quite enjoying the lefts self-inflicted wounds 🙂

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12066247

      She rejects his claim that it has announced 122 reviews and says the number is 38 reviews or working groups that involve external agencies and work beyond the normal business of Government.

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018636926

      Govt announces 39 reviews, groups, investigations in 5 months

      That was 20 March

        1. 15.2.1.1

          I’d love to say you’re wrong but…

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/104484898/pm-jacinda-ardern-has-false-alarm-as-babys-due-date-approaches

          https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/06/newshub-investigates-what-will-jacinda-ardern-s-baby-look-like.html

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/104552656/jacinda-ardern-reveals-best-and-worst-motherhood-advice-shes-received

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/104533715/pm-says-she-is-chugging-along-one-week-before-her-baby-is-due

          https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/jacinda-ardern-releases-additional-details-surrounding-upcoming-birth-child

          https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/destination-jacinda-arderns-babys-first-outing-world-stage-revealed

          https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/06/revealed-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-s-big-plans-after-giving-birth.html

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/baby/104422486/jacinda-this-is-what-a-typical-hospital-birth-is-like

          https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/most-read-jacinda-ardern-travel-hospital-birth-any-other-new-zealander-would-arrive-clarke-gayford-likely-drive

        2. 15.2.1.2

          Might just be right on that

          https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/most-read-jacinda-ardern-travel-hospital-birth-any-other-new-zealander-would-arrive-clarke-gayford-likely-drive

          https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/06/revealed-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-s-big-plans-after-giving-birth.html

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/104467973/jacinda-ardern-to-remain-in-charge-of-nz-until-she-gets-to-hospital

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/baby/104422486/jacinda-this-is-what-a-typical-hospital-birth-is-like

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/104486487/am-show-im-not-the-first-woman-to-give-birth–prime-minister-jacinda-ardern

          http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/details-of-jacinda-arderns-birth-plans-revealed/

          1. 15.2.1.2.1

            To be fair I almost forgot she was having a baby

            https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/104484898/pm-jacinda-ardern-has-false-alarm-as-babys-due-date-approaches

            https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/06/newshub-investigates-what-will-jacinda-ardern-s-baby-look-like.html

            https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/104552656/jacinda-ardern-reveals-best-and-worst-motherhood-advice-shes-received

            https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/104533715/pm-says-she-is-chugging-along-one-week-before-her-baby-is-due

            https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/jacinda-ardern-releases-additional-details-surrounding-upcoming-birth-child

            https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/destination-jacinda-arderns-babys-first-outing-world-stage-revealed

    3. 15.3

      still 4400$ less then you would have to fork out to get your hair pulled by Key.

      so, nah.

      your concern is noted and considered invalid.

        1. 15.3.1.1

          To paraphrase Rick the bar owner, “I don’t have much against a trougher, but I despise a cut-rate one”…

          It’s a thinner part of the wedge from near-private meetings for $5k, but it’s still the same wedge.

          But then, fundraising is an essential part of political action, unless we remove that part of the equation from politics. So this is one reason I’m not completely dismissive of things like publicly financed election campaigns – it would largely eliminate the temptation to blur the lines between party and public office.

          1. 15.3.1.1.1

            I think/hope its a salutary lesson to politicians, from both sides, that you don’t have to comment on every little thing that happens or what goes around comes around

            I don’t want publicly funded campaigns because, apart from the potential for shenanigans, paying for a political party to get into power just doesn’t sit right with me but I see your point

            1. 15.3.1.1.1.1

              Thing is, if someone’s paying $5k for a near-private meeting with the cabinet member in their field and it’s advertised as an opportunity for facetime with a minister, that’s not a little thing. It’s a pretty fucking corrupt thing.

              A dinner is less private, but it’s still basically buying access that all relevant stakeholders should get free of charge. Is the text of the speech he gave even available?

                1. 15.3.1.1.1.1.1.1

                  Should be covered by a press release.

                  Either way, not too many fans of clubs or dinners hereabouts. But some tory will try to keep it going in OM tomorrow, too.

                  Whereas the nats will probably have done something else bloody stupid or despicable…

      1. 15.4.1

        No it is unacceptable. See you can think both were wrong. Strange concept for you I know Bubba Gump.

        1. 15.4.1.1

          There is nothing wrong with either. If people want to part with their hard earned cash to listen to politicians, that’s their business. The hypocrisy is the howls of condemnation when the nats did it.

          1. 15.4.1.1.1

            The righties need the freedom to use money corruptly – they cannot make a rational public interest argument for anything they want.

              1. 15.4.1.1.1.1.1

                Gosh – take a look in the mirror, sleazeball.

                You’re advocating open slather on using money in politics in a democratic society and you want to talk about hypocrisy!

                Consistent I suppose with your essentially corrupt and regressive values. Your leaders have to be able to use money because their policies are manifestly contrary to the public interest.

                Crooks can’t win a straight game.

  16. 16

    You see her as skinny. Other see hear as chubby. Still others see her as a politician who ripped Kiwis off. For which she got shelved.
    As for you Gosman, you should have complained about the Spy in Parliament.

    But then why should you ever do anything ? You are National . Helpless and Hopeless.

    You are involved in the destruction of the people who do the work – you hopeless Man.

    1. 16.1

      You don’t like her or her policies or past behaviour or whatever thats fine, talk about that but please stop with the commenting on her body or otherwise as it has nothing to do with what you dislike about her you’re merely diminishing her (and all other women) to the sum of her body parts

    2. 16.2

      These things are always relative to the observer – no doubt compared to Pucky’s generous otaku endomorphism she’s practically anorexic.

  17. 17

    Now Gosman !

    Were you angry at me because i said your close friends were cheating us over steel specifications. The Steel we in good faith put into our overhead Bridges.

    It’s one thing not being able to trust your nonsense Gosman. But our chinese trading partners should not falsify their specifications.

    Even if they have thousands of houses here.

    Please do not lose you rag again Gosman. You waste my time.

      1. 17.1.1

        Gossie chows is slang for Chinese, just like horis are maoris, pinkies or pakehas (white fleas) are europeans, coconuts are islanders and ragheads are indians, you need to get out and socialise a bit more and get up with the play.

          1. 17.1.1.1.1

            Tamati Tautuhi gets called “racist” because he used slang.
            James also used that slang, therefore…

  18. 18

    Puckish Rogue says; ” please stop with the commenting on her body” while earlier saying; “Shes a beautiful women and an example of a pre-raphalite stunner”
    Confused, much? Blinded by love and a burning desire?
    Poor Puck!

    1. 18.1

      In all seriousness body shaming needs to be frowned on. I don’t think banning people for it is the answer but if everyone on here (left and right) let people know its unacceptable maybe those continuing it will learn why its wrong

      I’ve noticed some female contributors haven’t posted for awhile (Weka especially) and i don’t know if its anything to do with body shaming but if it is thats not good as the more posters the merrier

      Yes (before anyone points it out) it was especially prevalent during the last Labour government and it was wrong then as its wrong now

      And now back to the irreverent Puck..

      Judes an angel blessed with the patience of a saint and I now she will forgive my transgressions as I’m only human and, even worse, merely a man

      1. 18.1.1

        “merely a man” – we accept your apology, Pucky.
        Obersver Tokora (Observer Tokoroa)? makes the observation that there’s a Spy in the House; surely “Pre-Raphaelite” Judy has had harsh words to share on that matter? Pucky?

        1. 18.1.1.1

          Observer Tokora appears to have worked himself into such a state thats hes saying whatever pops into his head

      2. 18.1.2

        In all seriousness, you do have a rather disturbing obsession with Judith Collins and Jacinda Adern’s baby.

  20. 20

    I give kelvin a little bit of a serve on here because lets face it hes a bit useless however good on him for this

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12066932

    Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis has apologised to an MP for calling her “hysterical” after she asked him a question about his portfolio at a parliamentary committee.

    “I apologise for making that remark and for any offence caused,” Davis said in a statement today.

    As the estimable paragon of greatness put it:

    “That sort of patronising, sexist comment is something we National women get a lot from, particularly, the Labour party,” Collins said.

    “This is the deputy leader of the Labour Party speaking to a senior MP who has been around for quite some time and a former minister as though she was a naughty little girl who should sit back in her little box and take her turn.”

    1. 20.1

      I think Kelvin forgot he was at a Parliamentary Select Committee and not on a marae.
      In Parliament he can’t just tell an uppity woman to sit at the back and keep quiet with impunity.
      Bloody disgrace that anyone should be allowed to question him about his portfolio of course. Who do those people think they are?

  21. 21

    The spectacle of a lying cow trying to make out she’s a caring lamb is quite funny.

    She’s on about Kelvin Davis being patronising to Jacqui Dean as if she was ‘a naughty little girl who should sit back in her little box and take her turn.’

    To make her point Judith treats Davis like he was a naughty little boy who should sit back in his little box and take her turn.

    If disingenuity was money Collins would be a zillionaire a million times over and if pandering to moronic National followers was an art the Louvre and La Scala would be dedicated solely to her work.

  22. 22

    For the record, Pucky, I don’t believe you admire Collins anywhere near as much as you profess. I’m certain you’re primarily taunting, or believe you are taunting readers here.

    1. 23.1

      She’d have been a helluva hoot to sit next to at a dinner party, I bet she’d have some stories to tell

      1. 23.1.1

        There were those long nights on Alpha Centauri A with Chewbacca…
        She certainly has ample … buns!

  24. 24

    Have you ever had a scenario when you go to buy something from a shop a car parts shop and you know the attending is lying to you we it happen today.
    You see I had already rang the call centre and they told me that the product was at this shop I went to the shop and he lied and said that the good product was sold out and the whole franchise had none left only the smaller product was available. I new he was lieing so I rang the call center again found another shop that said they had the product I booked it and got his name and told him I would make a complaint if the product was sold.
    And this is why I say the sandflys are all the same as the Rotorua sandflys do this to ECO MAORI all the time they have nothing better to do than to harass me. Here some music to the sandflys

    https://youtu.be/ktvTqknDobU

    Ka kite ano

  25. 25

    The sandflys tried to throw me a curve ball while I was going through Huntly but I foiled it Ka kite ano

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