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6:00 am, May 13th, 2026 - 81 comments
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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 …
Well…yes !
Ol Tama Potaka talking in code. Luckily I understand from literally decades of battling the right wing…and their particular,IMO peculiar, idea of conservation….Its Sell, sell,sell!
I note Labour and Green…on the same page
And this is how a large city and a state work together, get paid childcare, and tax the rich…
The view from the top? We balanced the budget.
The recession thats not a recession. Well thats Westpacs take on it. "merely cause a pause in the economic recovery" ? IMO right wing Govt friendly as always…
There are no green shoots on the horizon of brightness because the earth’s stability is in turmoil. We need better farmers!
Ones who can farm that
conservationuseless scrub and bush covered land….for the economic growth .I jest….but there is real intent by Potaka and cronies.
Not sure they're even that forward-thinking – I think they just want to cash up with the land-sales. They have no long-term objectives around economic return from farming, especially where these sites are marginal for agriculture.
Yep, I was just theming : )… And re "cash up with the land-sales" I did make another comment at #6 re Kiwibank and fire sales.
Its all on the table….(NZ that is : (
I always believed farmers are a hardy resilient lot but with diesel and fertiliser costs going up they’re fucked!? How are they going to fertilise all that groundswell water with rich nitrates to irritate the reclaimed new pastures with? As the infamous TS mystic would say, sheeple are too dumb not to drink nitrated water because the herdsmen are slow-learners.
When our petrol was leaded, we drove with the windows down, for the fresh air!
I did see this RNZ article a while back (but other things…) Anyway there could be some virtue in it? But my spidey sense re : ex FedFarm, now Act Hoggard , and this….
Personally, I would rather see actual Real Value put on, and into, NZ Conservation. IMO the way for that to happen is…change of Govt, November.
Yes, all good.
When I said farmers, I didn’t mean farmers, far from it. Nor did I mean miners, drillers, junkies high on mine gas or from huffing natural gas, choppers & fellers, gold & mineral collectors, and other rapists & plunderers of the environment. It was a metaphor and I meant those NZ Inc managers of the NZ estate on the ninth floor.
Sorry , yes, I did indeed get that intent from your comments. Sometimes the written comment, can be viewed with perspective.
And thanks for your comments anyway…I find them Informative on a wide range.
Blood and bone used to be a very down to earth fertiliser used by growers and pastorals. The way things are going this gummint (with the hole in the middle) will enable the provision of such old-fashioned resource remedy.
Some insight into Starmerism here: https://unherd.com/2026/05/farewell-to-starmerworld/
Is that visceral hatred ubiquitous? I suspect not, but her claim is evidence of widespread disaffection. I'm tempted to read this groundswell of people who find him revolting as rejection of neoliberalism – the rock he's clinging too, so as to not be swept away on the incoming tsunami tide of revulsion. Yet we must keep in mind that sheeple are incapacitated mentally by terms such as neoliberalism. Reminds me of that cartoon of a big fish swimming past a couple of wee fish saying "Hi kids, water's terrific today eh?" and a wee fish looks at the other and asks "What's water?"
This is in the Herald. Matt Nippert is a journalist I respect and I'm keen to read what he has uncovered.
Is it possible to read the article without subscribing? Lawfully, of course.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/far-in-excess-of-what-would-be-considered-reasonable-inside-john-tamiheres-six-figure-bonus-and-his-long-war-with-charities-services/premium/AEVTPP4A2RCUFFIXB37RNUW4BY/
Try this
https://archive.is/zSeq9
Mastery of finagling displayed by JT in this extended saga seems designed as template for a master-class in bureaucratic obfuscation. I presume his next career move will be to establish an institute in Wellington for trainee public servants.
Full marks to Matt Nippert for not dying of tedium during his investigation! Dogged determination to wend his way down the random-walk of the silver-tongued one may not be rewarded by any stunning revelation, unfortunately. Sniffing at old territory-markings is the way of the hound though. God loves a trier.
NZ for sale….by the NACT1 Govt. IMO, In the run up to November there will be more, possibly even fire sales : (
This despite….(and why aren't we supporting our last major NZ Bank?)
https://www.comcom.govt.nz/news-and-media/news-and-events/2026/commission-publishes-baseline-research-report-on-the-state-of-competition-in-new-zealand/
No wonder our bills keep going up and up and up. Is this the ‘growth’ that Luxon has been crowing about?
That's nearly Sir Luxon, sonny, and what I would say to you is I don't eat crow.
Notwithstanding the general rightwing and RW MSM visceral hate on for Jacinda…..
I'm hoping for the main prize award too…but even if not, IMO she had already won the main prize. Saving NZ.
Onya Jacinda : )
From your link with my emphasis.
500 entries is hardly an overwhelming level of interest.
It may indeed be a great autobiography (I haven't actually read it – since that's not a genre I typically enjoy). But that level of response doesn't actually reflect anything much about the book; nor is a literary award for a biography any kind of endorsement of the popularity or otherwise of the subject.
Were you triggered? Would I expect anything other? Meh.
How many responses, Belladonna, are ordinarily received for favourite NZ book, do you know?
Oh dear, within 3 hours of being back on this site you’re already twisting words; do you need reading glasses?
"And so to the main event, tonight’s Ockham awards"
Someone might need to take a valium.
The film bothered me a lot more than the book, though they are quite similar.
The film was filmed by her husband/fiance, and they had total control from start to finish, and control of worldwide marketing.
It was self-propaganda in its purest form.
If New Zealand had been left in a better place than we were in 2023, I would be more forgiving. But the longer the passage of time, the worse her self-aggrandisement looks.
I don't have an issue with the book. I don't generally enjoy autobiography as a genre (I find it self-serving, at best – regardless of the author/subject) – but those who do enjoy it, should be free to do so (and it may indeed be a stellar example of the genre)
I just have an issue with people who seem to be unable to separate a literary award from the subject.
If Ardern's book is excellent on it's own merits – then it should win – regardless of how beloved or excoriated the subject.
And to inflate an award which garnered 500 votes in total, to reflect some kind of general popular approval is drawing the long bow.
I dunno; if 500 people even read a full New Zealand adult book these days I'm impressed. It's like Lacrosse as a minority sport.
a full New Zealand adult book
The dodgiest words there are NZ. A culture only resonates so long as the crowd keeps it in mind. Many of us live in Aotearoa & tolerance of the antique NZ thingy seems increasingly dodgy. At least Winston keeps tilting at this windmill, being somewhat icon-obsessed. Doesn't seem as healthy & staunch as Trump though, eh? From the Guardian review:
I see no need to carp about that: time heals all wounds and a timely retrospective view down the road may eventuate. Also, cultural analysts adept at reading the public mood seem thin on the ground, so she's with them. Me too. Sometimes I read the sheeple mood clearly from the margin, but not currently. Jacinda seems to be going well as author/speaker/whatever & I bet she's a role model for her generation (but we still need system change).
The problem with a self-approved hagiography is that you are never going to find out why it all went so wrong so fast.
How was it even possible that the political, emotional, and psychological virtues of Ardern's version of national leadership could go from a 50%+ electoral result high to a complete freefall for the next leader to take Labour to a truly awful result within a year?
Ardern's own political skill are her own writer of history should surely have stooped to analysing "the public mood". From Shipley onwards, all previous post-Prime Ministerial careers have gone on to major leadership positions, except Ardern. Why is that?
What Ardern needs is not another camera, or another keyboard interview with herself with an apparently endless cycle of acclaim from a sightly diminishing circle,, but a mirror.
Take your own advice Ad.
It failed as it was undermined by the same power to play populism that is operating now to sway voters in the next election.
It was not Jacinda who changed, it was us.
Our frustrations fears and anger fed readily by vested interests.
All that means is that Ardern failed to adjust to us. That was pretty clear in the polls and the electoral results. That tragedy from her commanding heights is for her to finally recognise. They rest of us figured it out.
And we stayed to keep figuring it out.
"What Ardern needs is … a mirror."
Really, Ad?
It was her fault?
When the electorate speaks that clearly, it really is.
And obviously she sees that, because she just up and left without explanation.
Jilted much?
"A mirror" – oh, the irony.
By a long, long stretch, eh? But not to worry Ad, Ardern will never top real Kiwi favourites like Richie.
The simple real measure of her leadership which she epouses as the core of her virtue isn't in the book sales.
The simple measure of leadership is when you turn around and see who follows you.
And the answer upon Ardern of that simple measure of leadership is: the only people following her are her husband and daughter.
There's that mirror again, answering your questions
Ardern has joined the NActF-induced wave of Kiwis migrating to Aussie in record numbers. Imho, targetting Ardern while the CoC runs wild is perverse and pointless – kindly adjust your crosshairs.
"…when you turn around and see who follows you."
Your followers…right?
According to the linked Newsroom piece, Ardern's book has sold over 50,000.
That's the most relevant number, and in NZ that is a very high number indeed.
"If Ardern's book is excellent on it's (sic) own merits – then it should win – regardless of how beloved or excoriated the subject."
Of course, 'though the others may be excellent on their own merits as well 🙂
I'm certain then, that if Jacinda's book does win the award, you'll be the first to acknowledge its and her excellence 🙂
I'll be fascinated to see the outcome at the Ockhams tonight. There are some serious literary heavyweights up for contention. With the big (for NZ) prize being the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction.
Looking forward to celebrating NZ literature.
Indeed, it would be a silly extrapolation to think that a People’s Choice book award says anything of the kind about that book’s popularity among ReadingRoom readers. Who on earth would attempt such a silly thing?
What an honour!
What a bella donna!
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/jacinda-ardern-donates-ockham-new-zealand-book-awards-prize-money-to-literacy-charity/MGQHEVMMCFD7LAQDVANXDELDQI/
molto bene!
And very nice too. Absolutely support literacy charities.
I'm sure that Read New Zealand Te Pou Muramura will be able to put the $3,000 to good use.
Very magnanimous. I guess those "popular votes" did, in some difficult to quantify way, reflect the quality of Jacinda's book, given it did so well in the end.
She'll be delighted, as are we 🙂
Absolutely, given that 'Creative New Zealand' is their primary supporter.
C'mon Daniel, cuts and tax breaks are for getting 'our' country back on track.
Was the voice of a female PM who gave birth to her first child whilst in office not feminine enough?
The useful measures of "femininity" in NZ national leadership are pretty simple as you would for "masculine" NZ national leadership:
– Are we safer? Crime and drug and gang stats for Ardern say no.
– Are we better off? Inequality, mental illness, GINI coefficient, wealth growth and distribution, productivity – they all say no during her rule as well.
– Do we know where we are going? Other than for 2 years under Ardern, net migration continued outwards, none of her policies endured, and we remain in the same economic decline as when she left.
That's the problem with Ardern's own trap of essentialist feminism in leadership: it has no bearing on actual measured effect.
Verity Vincit
No-one does well in the polycrisis Ad. It's like you expect miracles. The comparison isn't between Ardern's legacy and where you want us to be, it's between what she did and where NZ would be if Labour hadn't won n 2017 (because of Ardern).
What's your evidence for Prime Minister being self-made and being controlled by Ardern? The main money source for the film seems to be US billionaire Gigi Pritzeger. NZ fim production company Black Doris developed the film and scripted and edited it independently. Ardern and Gayford have clearly stated that they had no input into the way Gayford's footage was used, although they saw the final cut. Pretty standard for biographic films.
Black Doris, part of an international production company consortium, marketed the film and sold international distribution rights overseas.
Press release
"Dark Doris Entertainment and Madison Wells hold full editorial discretion over the film and no New Zealand Film Commission or NZ taxpayer funding has been sought or granted in relation to the production."
Please show any evidence you have to the contrary. Perhaps Ardern has shares?
I read Ardern’s book and liked it, more revealing about personal values than the usual politico memoir. Like AOC, Ardern was not driven to be PM as ambition, rather she got there by way of her moral beliefs.
As this list proves what I said would happen going down the Luxon Willis road of austerity, when you told me to have " a cup of tea and a lie down" Belladonna"
I think your bias is on display.
'Jacinda thank you" and those who are triggered"have a cuppa and a wee lie down"
Ardern is the Prince Harry of New Zealand: Left you and us and the country, and now uses her performance to constantly recycle her imagined virtue into the speaker-circuit. Even Shipley found a reason to stay and work.
Shipley, like so many ex National party politicians, was rewarded for screwing the country with a well paid sinecere , which was really above her skill level to do properly.
Typical right wing "Chumocracy" "Post turtle".
At least we have honest politicians. They don't collect their bribes , sorry, Directorships, before they leave Parliament.
Ah yes, once again you've made a claim that you've failed to back up.
Please link to the comment where I told you to have a cup of tea and lie down.
I fail to see that it's bias to point out that the 'people's award' consisted of 500 votes.
I’ve checked and I cannot find any comment where Belladonna tells you to have a cup of tea and lie down. So, unless you provide evidence it might be better if you don’t bring this up again.
Entries, Belladona. Entries. Not votes. The number of votes, which is what you seem to be mistakenly referring to, is not published, as far as I can tell.
Ah no, I see. Sorry, should have read a little further myself.
A Mirror
Save us from contrarians, centrists ..churls.
Aroha, Jacinda : )
The Oz government is to tax 100% of the CG of the sale of investment properties (rather than half) and it has moved on negative gearing.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7p88j84j3o
Interesting SPC sounds a good move. They still have puff to blow up their water-wings and float in these murky financial waters. Have we puff or are we stuffed?
Peters is not moving on super.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/05/13/peters-on-superannuation-its-not-a-bottom-line-its-a-top-line/
Latest Roy Morgan has the Left ahead….just:
Lab 34.0 Gre 11.0 TPM 3.0=48.0
Nat 25.5 NZF 11.5 ACT 10.5=47.5
National on 25.5 is a disaster, but do go easy on Luxon,we need him to be there on Nov 7.
https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/10211-nz-national-voting-intention-april-2026
BG I had commented my thoughts on Daily Review
And I particularly like that….
Lets build on this !
November Rain…..is going to come down hard on NACT1 and supporters
: )
Missed Daily Review yesterday sorry….but you are right with knobs on where you say getting young men onside 49-43 is wonderful. This is election winning data.
Women already hate the COC of course. Why are men so stupid?
Voters do seem to have an uncanny knack of keeping left & right in parity within the margin of error! Yet my takeaway from this poll is NZF nowhere near 15% – so Winston may get grumpier. Maybe Hosking will man up to save the Nats…
Dennis-It was the last Talbot Mills poll that had NZF on 15 and the Greens on 7 that got me. Has to be rogue-I don't believe either.
At Graham at 5.1.
Thanks Graham for the link. An intriguing and sad read.
As Dennis says well done to Matt Nippert for his tenacity.
Chaos can be created from nothing 🙂
Luxury Marmite Sandwich
From the mouths of babes…and Luxo ? Who knew?Finally…it dawns on him. Self Insight by, and for, the sorted. He is talking about the NACT1 coalition : )
"The reality is that when faced with energy shock after energy shock, it's very hard to justify backing the skink over the solar farm." – heh, wut?
IFL…there is the reality of Luxo….and reality. The 2 have not been introduced : )
I dont know if you have read any Bushisms (the unintentionally hilarious offerings of Dubya…but there might be a future Luxonisms : )
Bushisms oh yes, he's a very funny man. Like Yogi Berra who said "it was like deja vu all over again".
Just for laughs – or is it?
I'm ok with strange robes but prefer those adorned with magical symbols. Otoh, if they were wearing pointy hats I'd probably slide out the door when nobody was looking at hit the fire escape fast…
Golly NZrs are really good at throwing rotten tomatoes or eggs for sport. Fancy someone who might win a book award, everyone's a critic.
Soon all the people who read and think will have left this country and we will see the NZ core starkly without any claptrap; get right to the basis of hoi polloi culture extended from our colonisation period till now. Mostly interested in social class climbing.
If you read try Catherine Cookson's stories about the mindset of the miner and general working class in 1800s England. The culture was harsh on their morality and behaviour rules.
Also The Lottery by USA Shirley Jackson. She got hate mail about it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lottery