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6:00 am, March 24th, 2026 - 30 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 …
How are the Federated Farmers navigating this anti-environment Government and their granting rites-of-destruction to the agricultural industry?
Walt's out.
"I’M OUT.
I have resigned as a matter of principle.
Federated Farmers has lost its way on the Gene Technology Bill and on lower animal welfare imports. The position is weak and lacking in Principles.
Kiwi farmers are held to some of the highest standards in the world. Yet we’re expected to compete with imports that don’t meet them.
That’s not trade.
That’s surrender.
I won’t back it.
I won’t excuse it.
And I won’t be part of it.
— Walt"
https://farmingwithwalt.com/
Deputy PM David 'Wormtongue' Seymour told RNZ's ‘First Up’ this morning that the [fuel relief] package must be targetted, timely and temporary – "There's not going to be a massive splash of the cash – we, we simply are not in a position to do that – err – it's the wrong thing to do and it's impossible given that it was done last time." [@44:50]
Quite right – Kiwis know that the CoC's splashes, and anti-splashes are targetted.
The CoC is 'government' by and for the sorted – sorted Kiwis will be OK.
@ Mercurio above.
Walt needs to look at The Greens bill regards animal protein imports. They want imports only from countries with minimum standards the same as ours. That will help level the playing field.
While I'm at it, a bouquet to The Greens for their offer to support the Nats with some good ideas around transport cost relief during this
inevitable rise of fuel pricestemporary hiccup.Good practical thinking, the payment to all rural folk especially.😈
Brooke van Velden resigning will be a big loss for Act.
ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden stands down | Stuff
"Asked if there were other reasons for her departure, she said you “have to take a woman for her word”."
Fuck No!
Basically, she's only 33 and she came to parliament before she could make shit loads of money – so she wants to do that now she has name recognition with money people.
RNZ article quoting BvW:
And since when has she ever provided public service? – she's basically driven by pandering to the wants of the wealthy.
Yes agree she will shoot upwards in corporate life if she decides to stay in New Zealand. Tracey Martin did all right post NZF in governance roles. Other stellar female politicians like Paula Bennet and Catherine Rich have done exceptionally well for themselves.
I'm glad she's getting out and not turning into a Parliamentary lifer.
The success of Luxon and Willis in the NZ corporate sector proves that it’s a cosy incestuous club that rewards sociopaths, and punishes competence. BVV will fit in well
Quote from Smirkmore in that Stuff piece:
"Humanely"? Don't think so, Arnie.
David must have been thinking of euthanasia because his buddy Brooke did euthanise the pay equity claims and aspirations of thousands of underpaid workers, mostly women, and they’re still suffering, so it wasn’t done humanely at all but cowardly and cruelly.
A very sophisticated bit of disinformation from the Herald is doing the rounds on social media. Blaming Chippy for the mess that National has caused and expecting him to do their homework? FFS
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/labour-leader-chris-hipkins-not-offering-policy-ideas-to-help-kiwis-amid-fuel-price-rises/HPH5UEKFD5DXJPKCFZ4WJ2E62I/
It's not sophisticated….its a blatant attack-ad masquerading as journalism. Look at the picture of Hipkins they are using.
Granny Herald hits new depths, and its only March…..8 months to go.
Ha Jimmy, ding done the witch is dead, (metaphorically of course)
The one woman wrecking ball of everything the workers and unions gave fort for is gone , and hopefully her damage can be repaired
Sinking ships and rats come to mind as ACT's polling plunges.
I think you mean "Ding Dong the witch is dead".
Plenty of other 'witches' still in parliament.
Still hate Thatcher.
I'd laugh like a drain if Van Velden leaving politics signal ACT dropping below the threshold and if Seymour lost his seat. The meltdown of pro-ACT dittoheads in the right wing brute force MSM pundit class would be epic.
So, $50.00 a week if your on WFF. The equivalent of about 14 litres of petrol. That won't go far either at the gas station or supermarket.
Doesn't go any where near far enough. Nowt for beneficiaries, or the senior sector.
If the average price per liter rise in Auckland over the last 3 weeks is say $1 per liter (so from $2.50 to $3.50 per liter) for example that's the equivalent of 50 liters at the pre-war price. 50 liters is a full tank for most modern cars so a full tank a week at the old price should be a decent amount of relief.
Too bad if you don't have kids (Willis said the families getting the handout had to drive to work each day when asked why beneficiaries weren't getting relief) Not having kids means you don't need to drive to work I guess according to Willis.
To be fair, most beneficiaries probably don't need this help anywhere near as much as they need help with being able to buy food and pay for power, water and internet after paying their rent IMO.
They may increase the winter fuel payment for them.
I am surprised there is no assistance for those receiving the IETC.
If Hoggard gets the No.2 position he'll be Deputy Dawg.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0204767/mediaviewer/rm828209920/?ref_=tt_ph_3
Atlas will have plucked van Velden for installation into a key position that furthers their programme aims. I'll bet Seymour is incensed, but will comply with directives, as agreed upon when he was handed his magic underpants or whatever.
The Coalition loves the concept of ‘targeted’. However, in their hands this can be a euphemism for ‘selective’ as in ‘exclusive’.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/03/23/fact-checking-potakas-claim-that-rents-are-more-affordable/
The article gives a lesson in how acting-Housing Minister Tama Potaka selectively mis-reads and distorts stats to paint quite a different picture and to weave quite a different narrative. It’s good that there are still people bold enough to pierce through the smoke & mirrors to unveil a little more truth.
McCains down and our access to food further restricted and made more vulnerable to global events.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/590484/mccain-to-close-hastings-vegetable-processing-plant-by-january-2027
This is not good news for McCains employees, suppliers and customers. In fact, bad news all round.
Of course they canceled.
/
Idiot/Savant
@norightturnnz.bsky.social
National cancelled plans for a bigger strategic diesel reserve in 2024. Whoops #nzqt
https://bsky.app/profile/norightturnnz.bsky.social/post/3mhrfgfnq6k2j
The intention at the time of developing the 'Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Act' was to increase our diesel reserves to 28 days. Last year, the government began the process of investigating Crown procurement and storage of 70 million litres of diesel – roughly equivalent to 7 days’ cover and bringing New Zealand’s diesel reserves to 28 days. However, because of the high capital costs involved, Government decided to stop work on Crown procurement so that it could have a thorough understanding of the benefits and costs of other options.
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/energy-consultations-and-reviews/improving-our-diesel-resilience/executive-summary
Luxon fumbled this one in the House today. The National Party Leader in Waiting, you know, the tobacco guy, had to step in and save his bacon.
They also failed to do work on identifying the amount of diesel use that is essential to manage any shortage of supply.
I don’t know how NZ fits compares to this, using Datagrid’s AI factory as example or test case. Apparently, this is a big shift in and for Australia, so I’d imagine that NZ lags behind and it’s by no means a given that we in NZ will follow the same path that looks good to me.
https://theconversation.com/australia-has-set-new-expectations-for-ai-data-centres-they-should-serve-the-public-278988
Interesting opinion by the judge here with respect to the claim that only the incident at hand should be tested and not the history of the commenter. Judge David Clark on rejecting white supremacist Julian Batchelor and his funder, NZME owner, Jim Grenon's defamation suit:
I say interesting because many regular commenters wish to reference other commenters' past history here (mods always have this privilege when issuing punishments) but are discouraged/prevented from doing so.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360955381/julian-batchelor-wholly-unsuccessful-defamation-claim-against-tvnz
Peters' lame attempt at humour using a falsified letter from The Greens that he or someone in his office had scribbled on the back of with crayon, could be countered by Marama & Chlöe with one they "received" from New Zealand First, rendered unreadable with dribble they believe came from a decrepit old man – though they can't be certain it was from his mouth.