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6:00 am, November 12th, 2025 - 43 comments
Categories: open mike -
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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 …
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/578546/new-zealand-s-population-growth-dips-by-tens-of-thousands
Everyone's leaving and no one's coming, maybe it's time to learn to live in steady state rather than growth state.
Yep!
The Greens are the proxy for the two expelled Maori Party MPs. That would not be a bad future coalition arrangement.
Most deteriorated
1.Low growth
2.reducing compliance with GW goals
3.environment and conservation regulatory protections
No, the world has noted our policies on tobacco tar consumption and nicotine addiction.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/578576/most-deteriorated-nz-plummets-in-global-tobacco-control-ranking
The vaping risk.
https://theconversation.com/vaping-might-seem-safer-than-smoking-but-your-heart-could-tell-a-different-story-268612
Bad news for the government, one of their favoured sponsors is selling a dangerous product.
What will be the future health cost of vaping?
We should call it what it is;
When one individual inflicts bodily injury upon another such that death results, we call the deed manslaughter; when the assailant knew in advance that the injury would be fatal, we call his deed murder. But when society places hundreds of proletarians in such a position that they inevitably meet a too early and an unnatural death, […] knows that these thousands of victims must perish, and yet permits these conditions to remain, its deed is murder just as surely as the deed of the single individual; disguised, malicious murder, murder against which none can defend himself, which does not seem what it is, because no man sees the murderer, because the death of the victim seems a natural one, since the offence is more one of omission than of commission. But murder it remains.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_murder
Re your first sentence, they won't care as long the dosh keeps rolling in. As for your question, one shudders to think.
https://www.national.org.nz/news/20251109-hon-paul-goldsmith-action-plan-to-combat-methamphetamine-harm
Let us hope they do not end up shuttering Kainga Ora houses because someone smoked meth in them like last time – and a nice little earner for one of their mates cleaning them up (only houses where meth was made were unsafe).
However, we also don't want to normalize meth smoking. It's dangerous to the user, and to any kids around (almost inevitably there will be in a family home).
This is not cannabis (which can be described as a harmless, or even beneficial drug). Meth is bad stuff.
KO should absolutely be telling their tenants that meth may not be smoked inside.
Amidst all the current hyperfocus on NZ Police Management (in particular vile scum bag Jevons) which has also segued into attacks on Coster's association with same …and the Independent Police Conduct Authority boots on involvement.
Maybe its time..for a top to bottom deep clean of NZ Police? And for the IPCA to not be a wet bus ticket?
IMO There are good Police…there are also very bad Police. NZ needs an honest reputable Police force….
I was utterly appalled by the report this morning. Cover-ups at the most senior level – Coster should hang his head in shame. And, quite frankly, should have his current contract reviewed – is he a fit and proper person to be leading a government department?
Not to mention a criminal prosecution launched against the whistle-blower for making false complaints – with zero investigation of the issues raised. Words fail in describing how damaging this is in deterring anyone from making complaints against the police.
I had hoped that the police had changed after the disgusting level of enabling of outright criminal behaviour uncovered by the Louis Nicholas case. But, a generation on, we're still seeing sexual offending being accepted as routine and normal within the police – and not something that should be allowed to thwart the promotion prospects of a senior officer.
Who will guard the guardians. The IPCA has at least done their job now in exposing the extensive failure of the police in multiple areas in this case.
How can this be done better in the future? Mandatory reporting of any interference with an IPCA investigation to the Minister? Reporting to be done by the IPCA, not the police commissioner.
With the benefit of hindsight, even the most astute CEOs can display poor judgement.
Indeed. In the light of the information to hand today, Luxon was wrong about Coster.
Should Coster continue his current role – as head of the Social Investment Agency? Or should he be fired for cause: failure to declare his role in covering up a significant criminal offence in his previous job.
He’s currently been placed on leave – I think he should go (without any golden parachute redundancy options)
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/578556/former-police-commissioner-andrew-coster-placed-on-leave-from-ceo-role-after-release-of-damning-report
Will cuddles Coster go without gold? If he doesn’t, then that could be interesting.
I don't see why it would be interesting in a political sense.
It's basic public service administration, at this point. Brian Roche is in charge.
I guess that politicians could look at strengthening the ability of the Commissioner to fire …. problematical…. senior public servants.
Brian Roche himself being considered for investigation by the Auditor-General.
Should he be allow to make such decisions while this particular cloud hangs over him?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360881677/auditor-general-considering-investigation-over-pscs-anti-mega-strike-facebook-ads
My understanding is that, once a complaint is received the OAG is obliged to consider it. Of course, that consideration may result in no further action being taken.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360881677/auditor-general-considering-investigation-over-pscs-anti-mega-strike-facebook-ads
I don't see that the receipt of a complaint against Roche, from Labour's spokesperson, should shut down the operations of the head of the public service. Or it would be happening every week, as politicians weaponize the complaints process to de-rail the government. (I invite you to think about how Peters would gleefully do so, from Opposition)
Of course, if there is an active investigation by the OAG, then things may change.
You make it sound like the AG is in a state of constantly considering about whether to investigate the Public Service Commissioner, that they fall foul of the rules so often.
Is this the case or are you scaremongering to make a politically partisan point?
No idea on the volume of politically motivated complaints received by the AOG – suggest you do your own research.
You have no idea on the volume of politically motivated complaints received by the AG but that didn't stop you from supposing they would happen every week in order to de-rail the government.
Ok, then.
Depends what politicians & their appointees knew, and know – time may tell.
Given how angry all of the politicians concerned are – from both Labour and National – it seems unlikely there are any issues of prior knowledge on the political side to be uncovered. Or, to be fair, any real likelihood that any of them would have been motivated to protect Coster, and by extension McSkimming.
Of course, many members of the police senior leadership team will have known and been either active or complicit participants in the cover up. I understand that there have been a number of senior police resignations/retirements this year …
Interesting – an unusually large number? Any off to Aussie?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/560009/former-police-commissioner-mike-bush-set-to-be-named-as-new-victoria-police-chief-commissioner
Yes true, the benefit of hindsight is a wonderful thing. I expect the people that appointed Coster will be thinking that too.
Maybe these "bad apples" should be sent to a special boot camp 🙂
I also find it deeply concerning over the way that the Police weaponized the Harmful Digital Communications Act- against the complainant.
How can this be adjusted to prevent this happening?
I share your concern Belladonna.
It has brought back memories of my own experience 30 years ago. The abuse was of a different nature bur equally as traumatising. It partially involved another Public Service agency and I eventually went to the Police. I was treated in a similar fashion to the complainant in this case. There was no interview with me, and no investigation. I suspect the Police chose to assume I was making up the complaints out of revenge.
The detail has left me appalled and indeed upset that the culture of indifference to the abuse of women in particular is still a thing. The problem is not confined to the Police Force. It will be occurring in other sections of the Public Service as well.
+100 it's a sick feeling watching this unfold.
It's certainly got Herald readers excited.
Anyone got a tip for replying off an Oppo mobile.
I can post a new comment but not reply.
While I'm here @ Belledonna about our hornet korero. The involvement of youth was to make traps, not bunging them in the front line.
There are a few educational opportunities in this.
Biology and feeding habits of hornets, importance of pollination, consequences of loss of bees.
Not to mention the pitfalls of gutted public services, from the diminished ability to inspect and treat at the border through to the loss of frontline workers. All because of a coalition that worships the $ and only Acts on it's donor's wishes.
Great. An opportunity for the unemployed to get involved in the community – and learn about biology and ecology – they probably missed out on it in school.
Repeating, again. The reaction from MPI and Biosecurity NZ to the hornet infestation is pretty much identical to that for the Queesnland fruit fly infestation – which occurred under the last government.
Whatever impact the 'gutted public services' has had – it's not evident here. Unless you can point to specific actions that the Biosecurity NZ could take 3 years ago, that they can't take today.
The CoC (govt by and for the sorted) would prefer Kiwis to believe that public service staff cuts are pitfall-free, but that's a rose-tinted view, imho. Still, CEO Luxon wouldn't want to regret that "we didn't go fast enough and we weren't bold enough".
Dealing with the cost of living, eh. Some Kiwis know how – see bwaghorn @1.
Well – what has the impact of any job cuts on MPI and Biosecurity NZ in delivering this response to the discovery of hornets? On the ground, from a neighbouring suburb – it appears there has been none.
Well – appearences can be deceptive. Who would have thunk there’d be cause to put Coster on leave – certainly not CEO Luxon. Anyhoo, when evaluating the success / failure of biosecurity initiatives, perhaps 'wait and see' would be prudent.
I do wish a slimmed-down Biosecurity NZ service every success with their responses to current and future exotic invaders.
By all means, let's play gotcha poker. I see your Luxon, and raise you Hipkins and Ardern.
Just a thought, focusing on actual issues may pay benefits in convincing people to support your party.
Right back atcha B – "laser focused" 🙂 Which is "my party" again?
https://yeehawtheboys.substack.com/archive
Looks like a small thumbs up for Labour: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/labour-gains-support-after-capital-gains-tax-announcement-but-not-enough-to-form-government/DFHASWAHHJGW5E2QZ6PPDNU43U/
I reckon Labour deserves more credit than that: releasing their policy a year ahead of the campaign is sensible and shows genuine public-spiritedness.
Should also reduce the noise about it by the time we reach the election period.
Good to see that I may eat my words on that policy launch for their narrow CGT, which I support.
The speed with which NZFirst have got to level pegging with the Greens is startling. Peters is preparing to glide past the Greens shortly. Normally his peak is later into the election cycle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_New_Zealand_general_election#/media/File:Graph_of_opinion_polls_by_party..svg
"The speed with which NZFirst have got to level pegging with the Greens is startling. Peters is preparing to glide past the Greens shortly."
Two mistakes with this analysis:
1. NZF does not takes votes from the Greens-it takes votes from the Nats, ACT and Labour. So there is no valid or worthwhile party vote comparison between NZF and the Greens.
2.The dubious Curia is the ONLY polling company to predict a Green vote less than 10%, and it has done this on numerous occasions.. ALL of the other polling companies always have the Greens above 10%. (See my post a few months ago on this). Farrar hates the Greens.
The big picture is that the Greens, with their strong and topical brand, will poll 12% next year. If Labour can get 35% or more and TPM can win 6 or 7 Maori seats, then it is GAME ON.
Really bad news from the doctor?
@atrupar.com
Trump: "If we die, we must die and we as men we die without complaining."
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/post/3m5emu4pmds2d?
Had another call from Curia yesterday to take part in a poll.
ON THE LANDLINE.