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notices and features - Date published:
6:00 am, December 19th, 2025 - 13 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 …
Its time for the big issues:
Just how hard it is to open for NZ in test cricket.
Basically NZ has had only one opening partnership (minimum of ten innings together) that has averaged over 50, can you guess?
The top 25 opening partnerships (minimum 10 innings together) in order of average opening stand, highest to lowest:
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=fow_average;partnership_wicketmax1=1;partnership_wicketval1=partnership_wicket;qualmin1=10;qualval1=fow_innings;size=25;team=5;template=results;type=fow
Heres the full list:https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=fow_innings;orderbyad=reverse;partnership_wicketmax1=1;partnership_wicketval1=partnership_wicket;size=25;team=5;template=results;type=fow
Which brings up oddities like the time Martin Sneddon and Danny Morrison not only opened an innings but also lead the team to victory: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-new-zealand-1989-90-62322/new-zealand-vs-india-1st-test-63523/full-scorecard
The government is diminishing Maori media, TV and Radio, so that its audience lose their connection to it.
A test run for TVNZ and RNZ next term?.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360908147/incoming-25-funding-cut-maori-media-will-be-catastrophic-even-national-mp-agrees
The Daily Blog is up and running again. So we can again advance in reasonable solidarity considering Sun Tzus principles and thinking amongst others. Mountain Tui has come up with a really good post about our nation slipping away and I'm going to put up an excerpt so it gets seen and thought about over Christmas. We must reach out and talk to those open to listening. I haven't done it yet but later.
For now I hope you have a good break at Christmas. The Indian courier driver is going to have Christ's day and New Year off. As are the Indian and pakeha chaps manning the mobile comm store in town. Nice for them to have a holiday, and hope they are paid so. I see some new lower-case rainbow warrior is damning our summer holidays; doesn't believe in even looking for a pot of something at the end of the rainbow. Talibans pop up in every society don't-you-know.
A bit of Kiwi music magic that continues in NZAO but this person died in 2017 – Phil Garland. Wind in the Tussock with lyrics – lovely presentation : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laxPS0Uz3yc
also (bonus) Herbs EPapa : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xBWO1JOiuY
and Te Tarakihi (the locust) Christchurch City Chorus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFWh8RWMF7c
Kiwi to the core!
Plan B for the Euros .Even changing the EU voting requirements of consensus to qualified majority has not managed to get using the frozen Russian assets for Ukraine over the line.
They will now raise the money from the financial markets , backed by the collective EU budget .Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic will not take on any of the debt, in return for not vetoing
Ukraine doesn’t have to repay the loan until Russia coughs up reparations. Meanwhile, Russian assets remain frozen indefinitely.
//
That's right
Us wants to have them as part of a potential peace deal
And possibly part of joint investments
Generally the loser of a war pays reparations …I'm not seeing Ukraine winning anytime soon so it'll be the Europeans on the hook
The nation starting it gets the blame.
Thus ‘can” be liable.
Freezing assets is a form of war-time sanction.
It could continue because of occupation of Ukraine territory.
Depends very much on the peace negotiations an
who is in the best position at the table
This is a play for time.
A tough winter for Ukraine, but the Urals oil price is now below $40 because of sanctions and that will bite Russia next year.
Leaving vacancies unfilled*, being slow to sort out expected Holidays Act remediation, and to settle collective contract disputes with senior doctors or nurses has resulted in an underspend.
Poor working conditions lead to staff departure (replacing them by exploiting a crafted pay differential in the health sector), thus a near permanent and deliberate 80% staffing rate to manufacture an underspend*.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/582339/hospitals-asked-to-save-510-millions-despite-538-million-going-unspent