Open mike 24/08/2022

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 90 comments
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90 comments on “Open mike 24/08/2022”

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  1. 1

    Aug 23, 2022 2:11 PM

    RNZ Live

    The leader of the anti-government protest, Brian Tamaki, says many South Islanders could not attend because ferries have been cancelled.

    The Interislander says urgent mechanical repairs were needed on one of the ship's ventilation systems.

    Tamaki has baselessly accused the Transport Minister Michael Wood of making that decision.

    A spokesperson for Michael Wood said the minister denied any allegations that he interfered with the ferries.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/473355/no-arrests-as-protest-winds-up-peacefully-outside-parliament

    Brian Tamaki has announced a new umbrella political party called "Freedoms NZ".

    In an address at today's anti-Government protest at Parliament in Wellington, Tamaki said three parties had joined the new party – The New Nation Party, Vision NZ and the Outdoors and Freedom Party. One of the parties was based in London and two had signed a memorandum of understanding.

    Sue Grey, a self-employed lawyer from Nelson and co-leader of the NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party, moved to Tauranga for the byelection where she came fourth with 1030 votes.

    It started out as the NZ Outdoors Party, but changed its name in April this year to the NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party after becoming active during the nationwide lockdown.

    Supporters of the party have claimed the September 11 attacks were a false flag operation, promoted flat earth theories and denounced "mind control" and 5G technology.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/brian-tamaki-announces-new-umbrella-political-party

    Bishop Tamaki, the nuts…. Nut . Would be totally laughable..if it weren't for the faith his nutty followers have . Maybe sad? (albeit in a worrying way : (

    2. 1.2

      To isolate the Far Right, It is my opinion to silence the voices of the far right, who make a play of the failings of the Left to take on the wealthy and privileged to protect the wealthy and privileged, our Labour government need to start acting more like the Michael Savage socialist administration than like the David Lange neo-liberal administration.

      One of the best summations of the motives and tactics of the far right that I have ever read was posted on facebook yesterday by Henry G Laws of Antifa Aotearoa

      …..The fascist strategy is to deceive people into thinking that the neoliberal policies that trouble them are leftist policies. They are not. The far right then pretend to be rebels against capitalism, while in fact standing for an even more extreme and brutal form of capitalism. The roots of modern fascism lie with the tyrannies of colonialism, with the horrors of racist, white supremacism, with the brutalities of patriarchy, and with capitalist exploitation….

      1. 1.2.1

        '

        Kids in Cars

        TVNZ breakfast: @1:18:10 minutes

        Matty: How concerned are you about the amount of kids living in cars right now?

        Luxon: Well I am really concerned about that. Essentially just saying kind words, and saying you care isn't actually cutting it and isn't getting results. And the government, now needs to take action…..

        https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/breakfast/live

        Why doesn't the PM call Luxon's bluff and end homelessness? Why won't the government take action by freeing up the 40,000 empty homes locked up by property investors and speculators just in Auckland alone.

        What Auckland’s ‘ghost homes’ could do for the housing crisis

        There are about 40,000 'ghost houses' in Auckland. Cat MacLennan asks if a tax on these empty homes could help house homeless people and low-income workers.

        Tall white rose bushes line both sides of the path leading to the front door of the immaculate-looking villa. There are curtains at the windows and no signs of neglect or decay.

        Yet this expensive, inner-city home is one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s “ghost houses” – properties left empty long-term at a time when the country has a housing crisis. No one has lived there for years and a neighbour is paid to maintain the garden, while the owners wait for capital gains to accumulate to the point at which they plan to sell.

        According to the 2018 Census, there are approximately 40,000 empty private homes in Auckland. That is 7.3 percent of the total, up from 6.6 percent in the previous Census in 2013. And Auckland is not the only place in Aotearoa with vacant homes at a time when accommodation is expensive and in short supply. There are ghost homes in other cities, in towns and in rural areas……

        Cat MacLennan is a barrister, journalist, and media commentator

        https://www.newsroom.co.nz/cat-maclennan-on-ghost-housing

        Let's isolate the Right.

        If the Prime Minister called Luxon's bluff. The Right would be exposed as hypocrites. As the leader of New Zealand's biggest right wing political party, Christopher Luxon would be among the first ranks of right wingers to scream bloody blue murder about the property rights of wealthy privileged owners of multiple houses

        Why won't the PM call Luxon's bluff?

        Is the PM in agreement with Luxon about protecting capital gains profits of fortunate property speculators, than protecting the health and welfare of unfortunate homeless children?

        Our Labour government need to start acting more like the Michael Savage socialist administration than like the David Lange neo-liberal administration.

        Fine the owners of empty houses till they either sell them, rent them, or live in them.

  2. 2

    Somehow Christ Trotter makes Labour kicking Dr Sharma out to be about suppression of all ideological difference between National and Labour:

    Bowalley Road: Politics Barren Of Principle.

    "…allowing factions to form within parties, or, worse still, encouraging genuine ideological differences to develop between parties, would only result in such factions being replicated in the general population. And a general population engaged in genuine debate between factions and/or parties capable of making a real difference to the direction of economic and social policy would place the whole, over-arching ideological infrastructure of neoliberalism in the gravest peril."

    Hmm.

    – Re-nationalisation of all NZ health. Not National.

    – Largest-ever NZ expenditure on infrastructure. Not National

    – Nationalisation of all trades and non-university training. Not National

    – Full re-regulation of drinking water and water price. Not National.

    – Comprehensive climate mitigation plan. Not National.

    – Largest increases in welfare and subsidies in several decades.Not National.

    – Deep partnership with Maori over water, stripping it from local government. Not National.

    – Over $20b in wage subsidies enabling year on year 3% headline unemployment. Not National.

    – Buyback of Kiwibank into direct Crown control. Not National.

    – Supported NZSuperFund to get to $58 billion. Not National.

    – New public holiday respecting Maori tikanga. Not National.

    – Massively brought prison numbers down and dumped the 3 Strikes law. Not National.

    Irrespective of actual policy delivery, there's plenty of ideological difference between Labour and National.

    2. 2.2

      How to write a Chris Trotter op-ed:

      <straw man, preferably involving much demonstration of your ability to be to popular history what James Burke was to popular science>

      <tut tut at the general decline of modern NZ>

      <tenuously link the above to>

      <fret about the rise of Maori/condemn something he doesn't like as culture war on the shy Tory majority and express a wish that Annie Crummer was still Queen of the charts>

      <Mention life was better in Dunedin in 1981>

      <Darkly suggest that the reactionary Pakeha Lumpenproletariat is simmering, ready to explode at the touch paper of said Maori/culture war rise at their expense>

      <blame the Greens/Labour/Auckland liberals/deep state>

      <end on a lamentation of despair>

      3. 2.2.3

        Brilliantsmiley

        Can you please amend to work in his obsession with the fall of unions (which to be fair he is absolutely right about) and his inability to come to terms with the rise of the Green movement

        1. 2.2.3.1

          Spot on – but don't forget a little whinge about how they don't invite him to sing "Solidarity Forever" at Labour Party conferences any more!

        2. 2.2.3.2

          his inability to come to terms with the rise of the Green movement

          Yea…I've never got that? Anyone know the sad….(and I mean Chris Trotter SAD : ) reason ?

      4. 2.2.4

        +100

        Forgot:

        Add obscure Greek historical analogy to scold us on the loss of British intellectual perfection heritage

        1. 2.2.5.1

          I used to admire his grasp of the English language and his ability to use words to produce a vibrant picture until it dawned on me that much of what he actually said didn't make a lot of sense.

          1. 2.2.5.1.1

            lol. That might have been a verbal Emperors clothes moment ?

            You can delete that mental image if like : )

            Apart from all that, his renditions of "the Red Flag"…..uurgh

              1. 2.2.5.1.1.1.1

                Yea…I sadly lost my respect for David Lange, and I had a huge amount.. "smell the uranium on your breath" etc…so also a huge loss of same for me.

                He just…surrendered to the actoids Douglas, Prebble etc…

                His once great mind….focused on "other stuff". Sad..but shit for most of NZ !

                1. 2.2.5.1.1.1.1.1

                  The subjects of Stuff’s Fire and Fury are furious

                  https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/22-08-2022/the-subjects-of-stuffs-fire-and-fury-are-furious

                  AUT academic calls Christchurch attack a ‘false flag’, resigns

                  https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/19-11-2021/aut-academic-resigns-after-calling-christchurch-attack-a-false-flag

                  Anne I thought It would be ok I would reply here…to your comment in …

                  https://thestandard.org.nz/who-will-be-wellingtons-next-mayor/#comment-1907477

                  I rate The Spinoff very highly…and there are def some other Journos keen (brave? ) enough to expose the dangerous.

                  Have to say ..I hadnt heard of.. Amy Benjamin ex AUT Law professor ? Hmm. What think you ?

      6. 2.2.6

        <tenuously link the above two>

        Yes – that's it. The yoking together of two unrelated things to support some pre-existing disposition or thought.

        But personally, I'm more upset when he publishes his own bad verse. It's a temptation that has to be resisted, and most likely a sign of decline when you don't.

      3. 2.3.3

        I love how Jimmy provides a Wikipedia link! Thanks, we could never have remembered a guy who's been doing political commentary non-stop since Seddon was PM.

      4. 2.3.4

        Unlike Luxon who is, Jimmy.

        Very interesting and scary that Luxon is willing to govern with the help of Tamaki's new Freedoms Party. (see Observer below)

      5. 2.3.5

        Well, have you read the comments sections on the TDB lately? it is pretty clear what sort of audience that site attracts these days. Mostly toxic people attracted onto the last train to Loserville. Bradbury and Trotter certainly imagine themselves as left wing – they constantly appropriate the rhetoric of the left and instantly and repetitively parade their credentials to anyone unfortunate enough to sit next to them on the bus – but ideologically they long ago set sail with the populist right. They spend their whole time obsessed with culture wars whilst clothing their repetitive, self righteous, and pompous dirges in the language of class. I find it particularly irksome and very wearisome that Bradbury's in particular is a one trick pony whose main shtick is to associate anyone who has achieved anything with a Trumpian monolithic "elite" and rail against them. They deserve all the mocking they get.

        1. 2.3.5.1

          Hear hear.

          Their output is drivel. Transparent to me. Unfortunately people still send me their opinions as if they have any weight at all.

    4. 2.4

      "Nationalisation" refers to bringing privately-owned assets into public ownership. The DHBs and polytechnics weren't private, so what Labour was doing there was Centralisation, not Nationalisation. It is quite an important distinction (the last genuine Nationalisation being Kiwirail at the end of the Clark Government. This lot wouldn't know Nationalisation if the ghost of Clement Attlee wafted into the Beehive and started whacking them with a stick).

    5. 2.5

      Do you really want to promote the first item as something to be applauded?

      When you say "Re-nationalisation of all NZ health. Not National." do you mean that that is a good thing? If so are you seriously proposing that having the waiting lists for surgery in the BOP double in a year is a good thing and that the Government is to be applauded?

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/bay-of-plenty-surgery-waiting-list-doubles-in-a-year-at-tauranga-and-whakatane-hospitals/KIVCH32WLVCHN34S2SD6NUXYTQ/

      What would you regard as being a "bad thing"?

  3. 3

    On Morning Report, Luxon is asked repeatedly if he will rule out any kind of National deal with the Brian Tamaki blackshirts.

    He doesn't.

    This from a man who in his maiden speech defended his faith by citing William Wilberforce, Kate Sheppard and Martin Luther King. He's not being asked to take a courageous stand and change history, he's being asked to do the most obvious, simple, decent thing, at no political cost – and it's too much for him.

    1. 3.1

      This from a man who in his maiden speech defended his faith by citing William Wilberforce, Kate Sheppard and Martin Luther King.

      Well…certainly an Interesting mix ! It was probably a Google Recommend… or maybe a Readers Digest recommend for ex CEO's entering Politics..who want to "appear" to be honourable.

      Oh, and like the Brian Tamaki blackshirts. Apt !

      1. 3.2.1

        Sure, but this doesn't gain him any votes. I doubt the big donors want to hear that waffle either.

        It makes no political sense whatsoever. Key and Bridges made a calculation on Peters, and it was at least debatable whether it was the right one. NZF were in the mix. Whereas Tamaki has zero chance, and if Luxon doesn't grasp that then his political judgement is woeful.

        1. 3.2.1.1

          Big donors to National, you mean? Why would they care? They support National.

          National wants votes from Tamaki disciples and affiliates, that’s not vote-sharing let alone making a political deal to form a government.

    3. 3.3

      Tamaki has been clever here. I have been saying to friends for months that if someone sets up a party with "freedom" in the title it will pull votes in.

      The Tamaki “Freedoms Party” could well get close to 5%.

      I predict Luxon will never rule out working with them-which may mean they get even more votes.

      1. 3.3.1

        No offence, but you're dreaming.

        Last night, only hours after Tamaki made his announcement, Sue Grey was attacking him on social media. A "freedoms/populist/right wing" party could indeed get up towards 5%, but a Tamaki party is a dead brand. They are two totally different things.

          1. 3.3.1.1.1

            Two other parties were in talks, he said, before challenging others, including the New Conservatives and Winston Peters’ NZ First to get on board. He went on to encourage “Dr Sharma Drama”, now an independent MP, to “give me a call”.

            Tamaki’s lengthy address to the crowd included verbal attacks on politicians, a denouncement of the charges against him and a lament to the demise of various values such as freedom, being able to leave your door unlocked and Waikato Draught.

            https://thespinoff.co.nz/live-updates/23-08-2022/tamaki-announces-new-freedoms-party-calls-for-gaurav-sharma-to-join

            Well this is all looking great : ) And seriously how could any reasonable Person… not lament the demise of the "various values" I mean cmon…it wuz Waikato Draught !.

            1. 3.3.1.1.1.1

              Waikato draught? That's the craft beer drinkers vote gone. Tamaki is in the hands of the corporate beer barons!

              Or does he have a sense of humour? You can't see the twinkle in his eyes behind the dark glasses……..

              1. 3.3.1.1.1.1.1

                lol. But I do think Bish Bri is pretty much a nonlol person. And behind the dark glasses….to actually look into his eyes..might be disquieting. Or not : )

          2. 3.3.1.1.2

            (to DBB)

            Exactly. Nobody knows who the other parties' leaders are, whereas 99% of NZ knows Pope Brian.

            His ego means he gets all the media coverage, and that kills their chances.

        2. 3.3.1.2

          Observer-yes given other posts today I think I am probably wrong here re Tamaki.

          Though the point still holds that a non-Tamaki party/umbrella group of parties with "freedom" in the name could well poll 5% and it appears that Luxon is willing to govern with the help of these weirdos.

    4. 3.4

      The 'eftpostle' appears to be suffering from from premature exaltation – he should see a doctor about that.cheeky

    5. 3.5

      Just waiting for Tamaki to jump the gun and announce National will be joining his party umbrella now. He can just wait a week or two (so as not to annoy everybody) and then say how Chris likes the freedom he stands for (from the podium on Parliament steps) and then its a done deal (with nothing formal involved of course). And voila, Tamaki now leading National.

  5. 5

    Those disparate all-fit-in-an-old-back-country-dunny tragics will all end up knifing each other well before any vote is held. The major problem is that the parties all contain more individuals who think that it is they who should be leading the the whole deluded mess

    Freedom to Tithe to Brian is hardy a vote catcher,

  6. 6

    Not sure of the accuracy but it seems that Trump cannot find an attorney to state his case re the FBI raid on his house, so he is prosecuting it himself. If so, that would be weird.

    1. 6.1

      During its search the FBI seized 11 sets of classified materials at Mar-a-Lago, some of which were labeled "top secret" – the highest level of classification reserved for the most closely held US national security information and which can only be viewed in special government facilities.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/473337/trump-seeks-to-temporarily-block-fbi-from-reviewing-items-seized-from-florida-home

      There is no limit to the Weird World of Trump ! Be interesting to see how far this goes…

    1. 7.1

      Good. There are articles floating about how 'not affirming' children in OZ can result in criminal persecution, children being uplifted, leaving the state might be considered a criminal act, etc etc etc.

      trigger warning: this is a religious publication – from a few days ago

      https://decisionmagazine.com/australian-parents-fearful-of-prosecution-under-victorias-new-transgender-law/

      this is the link leading to the government rule changes :

      https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-02/21-3aa001%20authorised.pdf

      and here from the Human Rights Law Alliance – no idea where they would self ID on the right / left spectrum – from 2021

      https://www.hrla.org.au/not-affirming-transgender-children-is-family-violence-in-victoria

      here from a few days ago, the Daily Fail

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11101415/Parents-counsellors-face-prosecution-gender-transition-children-suppression-law.html

      under these circumstances yes, every single time they should sue, and they should start with government.

      1. 7.1.1

        Thanks Sabine……the left have really dropped the ball on this, with the exception of Gender Critical feminists who have been smeared as transphobic bigots rather than whistle blowers.

        I read an article last night by Graham Adams wondering if the MofH in NZ could be suied because of the advice it gives on Puberty Blockers as being fully reversible. Very different from what the UK are saying now. Chop chop Andrew Little and Ayesha Verrall. better get on with sorting this out or we could be facing legal action losing valuable tax dollars because you both had been sucked in by gender ideology, seeminly having lost any ability to think critically. But of course if people do sue the M of H. Little and Verral will likely be long gone.

    2. 9.2

      "In his sermon to protesters in Wellington on Tuesday he suggested the government was responsible for cancelling ferry trips from Picton to prevent people attending the rally. This is obviously untrue."

      Shades (heh!) of Winston Peters claiming the grounding of the ferry in QC Sound.

      "Never lie!" I was told in a political briefing. "You will be found out!"

  10. 10

    Rightly bashing National for their benefit sanction proposal, the Labour government could well look at the fairness of their own policy:

    The Labour Government has cut the benefits of around 4000 sick, injured or disabled jobseekers in the last five years because they weren't preparing to return to work fast enough.

    …

    Sepuloni said the Government only sanctions people if medical advice shows they are fit to return to work.

    https://www.renews.co.nz/nz-government-sanctions-sick-jobseekers-for-failing-to-prepare-for-work/

  11. 11

    Making Kiwibank stronger and meaningful.

    At the moment schools receive their government funding and put it into Aussie banks.

    What say schools were required to put all of there operational accounts through Kiwibank. (They can leave their fundraiser/PTA profits in the Aussie banks).

    And then why stop at schools. Mmmm hospitals, police, councils – progressively move them all across.

    Just saying.

    1. 11.1

      My google search for 'nz school bank account choices' indicated schools have discretion of who to bank with.

      Unless Kiwibank is offering a particularly low fee package is it really helping schools to limit their choice? If it is a low fee package, well the profit rate on a customer who doesn't use credit facilities will be low anyway.

      1. 11.1.1

        I understand schools raise loans all the time for projects.

        And why give any profits to an Aussie bank when Kiwibank would benefit

        anyway.

        1. 11.1.1.1

          1) This may not be net profitable for Kiwibank. Banks sometimes offer such deposit accounts as loss leaders anyway. Are Kiwibank going to be required to undercut something which is already a loss leader?

          2) I don't think we need to be operating public schools in ways which are obtaining economic policy benefits. What are the public education benefits of this policy?

      1. 11.2.1

        There is a govt contract with Westpac. This could be changed after that gets re-tendered.

        Under the contract the govt (and IRD) accounts are kept strictly separate to Westpac account (at the RBNZ). Westpac operates the infrastructure around that so providing the banking services (credit and debit cards, bank accounts) needed to facilitate the public service being able to make payments. Since the public service tends to operate in surplus this activity is not very profitable for Westpac and probably most of the profit is due to direct payments agreed under the govt banking contract.

        The contract was originally awarded to Westpac because they had a strong ability to provide this payment infrastructure to the scale required by the public service. Kiwibank may be up to scratch there now, it didn't even exist when the first such contract was tendered.

  13. 13

    IMHO Seymour is a prick!

    Just watched the welcome for the new Speaker-elect. He (Seymour) couldn't resist a dig at the outgoing speaker – quite inappropriately so!

    I note also that the new speaker closed down Sharma when he strayed way off topic – cries of bullying in the wings??

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