Open mike 24/09/2022

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 45 comments
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45 comments on “Open mike 24/09/2022”

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      1. 1.1.1

        NZers do not know what true courage is. It applies to all first world countries. And it is nearly always the women who stand up to the oppressors. Bravo to the women of Iran and lets hope the West will finally stand with them and support them in every way possible.

        1. 1.1.1.1

          yes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_movement_in_Iran
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_in_Iran

          Women's rights and freedoms were established through the leader's wishes for Iran to become a more modern, European-style country, although that was mostly applicable on the country's elites, disregarding the majority of the population. These freedoms were retracted after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Human Rights Watch said in 2015, "Women's rights are severely restricted in Iran". Under Ebrahim Raisi's tenure, Iranian authorities have increased policing of women's dress code, leading to decline in women rights.

  2. 2

    Funny how Nicola Willis was left out of the Uffindell saga??? Does this hint at trouble in the Luxon mill?

    Willis, who has more political experience than most, was excluded from the conversations and decisions about what conclusion would ultimately be presented to caucus.

    Jo Moir is onto it. Something smells.

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/nicola-willis-strikingly-absent-from-uffindell-report?utm_source=Friends+of+the+Newsroom&utm_campaign=64d36aac60-Week+In+Review+17.09.2022_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_71de5c4b35-64d36aac60-95522477

    1. 2.1

      Yes, good piece.

      I’d say that NZ politics and thus the country would benefit from Willis as LOTO. Problem is that National are not ready for this by a long shot, it seems. National will always be guided by the [Curia] polls and they seem to think that on current trajectory they’ll take the Treasury benches next year with Luxon as the next CEO of NZ.

    2. 2.2

      Strange how Willis didn't mention she went to Kings to finish her education. She's only 2 years older than Uffendell so could have had something to say about the culture there.

      https://www.magzter.com/stories/Womens-Interest/Australian-Womens-Weekly-NZ/NICOLAS-SECRET-TO-SUCCESS-Attitude-is-e-everything

      "Her high school years were spent initially at the elite all-girl Samuel Marsden Collegiate. Nicola would commute in the car with her dad, listening to Morning Report on National Radio. The pair would debate the issues, a sign of things to come perhaps.

      Nicola was, even then, a strong character. She decided she wanted to spend her last two years of school boarding at King's College in Auckland. “I liked the idea of being independent and, frankly, having boys in the class.”

      It didn't go well. “After two weeks, I called Mum in tears and said I wanted to come home. She told me, 'You've made the commitment – get on and make the best of it.'”

      Nicola continues, “I was raised a feminist, then suddenly, in that environment, boys were in charge. There were different expectations. I'd never been pretty. I wasn't cool or the most popular. All of a sudden, I felt judged differently." Her obvious intelligence wasn't rated."

      Also, I hope we're not getting the British disease of conservatives preferentially selecting private school people as MP candidates.

      1. 2.2.1

        Also, I hope we're not getting the British disease of conservatives preferentially selecting private school people as MP candidates.

        Its always been there in the National Party miravox. Private school education was – and to a certain extent still is – a favoured prerequisite for candidate selection. The conversations would go something like this:

        Member 1 "So and so went to [insert name of private school of choice] you know."

        Member 2 "I didn't know. That makes all the difference. I'll vote for So and so."

  3. 3

    Maybe, maybe not. It seems to me a similar situation to Jacinda cutting down her exposure to situations, that for whatever reason, she doesn't want exposure to. The question about Willis is: was it self imposed exile? If not, something more than smells.

    1. 3.1

      Finn. I watched Nicola's face while Luxon was giving reporters his day after speech to justify his actions and she was deadpan except a tiny nod at the claim that he wanted to get to the bottom of it all. And he has not got to the bottom of a satisfactory answer for me.Perhaps Uffindell was banging on the wall and not the door so that would mean he is off the hook.

      2. 3.1.2

        Willis is way more politically savy than Luxon.

        She is the perfect foil for Ardern…and will attract women voters.

        I expect her to get the leadership before the next election.

        1. 3.1.2.1

          Willis also comes across as more considered than Luxon and also kinder, a better bet apart from her awful tone of voice. Luxon is unappealing all round. I'm not a National voter but think she is a better choice for the Nats.

          1. 3.1.2.1.1

            Yes what is it about these Nat voices? Apparently the Nat parents have money and could afford to help children speak clearly, carefully and not harshly. Simon Bridges also had a hard to listen to voice.

            NW voice is a turn-off to me, I cannot listen to it and I went to a private school as did my sister and father's family and none of us speak like that.

            1. 3.1.2.1.1.1

              Helen Clark was wise enough to have media training, I would imagine Nicola Willis would likewise benefit from some elocution training. Although Jacinda Ardern is a natural communicator I have noticed her tone is becoming less effusive with more subtle tones of gravitas.

              For whats its worth my thoughts on the coming election is that Labour will win a third term, Luxon will be moved move on and Willis to lead National.

              Thats not too bad an outcome if it happens…..is it?

              2. 3.1.2.1.1.1.2

                Let us hope that she does does get elocution lessons, they would be of benefit. For instance after I heard her once I reminded myself not to listen to her again. Same with Bridges. I just watched them with subtitles and the sound off. Yet I don't find Luxon's voice difficult nor Ardern's.

                For whats its worth my thoughts on the coming election is that Labour will win a third term, Luxon will be moved move on and Willis to lead National.

                Thats not too bad an outcome if it happens…..is it?

                I'll drink to that with the caveat about media or elocution training.

            2. 3.1.2.1.1.2

              Given the way that the right make fun of Ardern's accent, I find it better to concentrate on policy, rather than the way people speak.

              It's almost as bad as commenting on the appearance of female politicians.

              Surely what they have to say is far more important than the way they say it, or what they wear.

              1. 3.1.2.1.1.2.1

                Surely what they have to say is far more important than the way they say it,

                Of course.

                Voices (accents, inflections, diction) are important though and can 'interfere' with a person receiving the message, hence my desire to find out about the message by looking at the written word rather than the spoken word when Bridges and Willis are/were speaking. I rarely listened to Paul Holmes either because of his mannerism of moving the intonation and stress in a sentence, that screwed up meaning When you are busy trying to 'translate' these sounds it does detract.

      2. 5.1.2

        On trusses and tomatoes [for Tomato(es) read Tory/Tories, throughout]:

        Considerations
        In the case of larger tomato varieties, the fruit can become quite heavy on the vine, and in some cases, the weaker stems of the trusses can't support it. Truss ties and clips are available that reduce the burden of weight on the trusses and help hold them up until all the tomatoes have been harvested, says Helpful Gardener. Clips extend from the truss to the tomato plant's main stem or to the support system, such as a cage or other structure, holding the plant up.

        The full flavour of Truss Tomatoes and their bright red colour is 100% natural (no artificial ripeners), so every Truss tomato tastes and smells just like a tomato should.
        https://australiantrusstomatoes.com.au/

        Shame about the colour.

  6. 6

    Jacinda Ardern is a treasure. Her address to the UN was delivered note free and with clarity of conviction.
    Perhaps someone would kindly put that up?

    3. 6.3

      I agree completely Patricia regarding the suburb calibre of our PM but the reality is she will have been reading her speech from the lecture on glass teleprompters. Not detracting from her speech though. ❤️

      1. 6.3.1

        Wouldn't looking down, even occasionally, be part of reading from the glass teleprompter, watching the speech I didn't notice Jacinda doing that.

        1. 6.3.1.1

          The teleprompters are at eye level. You will notice any speaker looking from left to right as they flick between the two. When looking at them from the audience they are see-through. Forgive me if I'm wrong but I think that is pretty standard speech making at that level.

      2. 6.3.2

        She may have had some key words on a prompter to ensure she stayed on track but it looked to me like she was speaking with such conviction that it was coming straight from the heart. Jacinda doesn’t need a prompter for such messages. The ChCh massacre was a good example.

    4. 6.4

      I used to think she was special but no longer. She can perform on the world stage – great. Christchurch Call – sweet. Hammer Russia as it rightly deserves – well done.

      But fix ANZ's problems and do something meaningful about the climate crisis? Nah, not so much.

        1. 6.4.1.1

          ?Air NZ?

          I don't know sounds a bit like the moaners who used to hold her personally accountable for delays and shortages in the supermarkets at the beginning of Covid as if she swung herself up in the cab of a truck and did a stint of long distance driving restocking supermarket supplies.

          Perhaps she is expected to singlehandedly find the delayed luggage from the NY/NZ flight after she spoke at the UN, heft it onto the next flight out, catch the same flight back and be on he tarmac to unload it?

          1. 6.4.1.1.1

            Perhaps she is expected to singlehandedly find the delayed luggage from the NY/NZ flight after she spoke at the UN, heft it onto the next flight out, catch the same flight back and be on he tarmac to unload it?

            Our PM continues to meet my high expectations. Meanwhile, if Luxo's good for anything then ideas for fixing Air NZ's problems should be right up his alley.

            In November 2013, the New Zealand Government reduced its share in Air New Zealand from 73% to 53% as part of its controversial asset sales programme.
            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_New_Zealand#21st_century

            Gnats eh – what will they think of next? I'm guessing tax cuts and asset sales.

            1. 6.4.1.1.1.1

              Gnats eh – what will they think of next? I'm guessing tax cuts and asset sales.

              that's the trouble they don't think. Their book of economic management for countries has two sentences on the one page

              1 tax cuts especially for the very wealthy

              2 asset sales as the very wealthy can then then buy them with their tax cuts, hock off bits and then make concerned NZ citizens or later NZ govts buy them back.

        1. 6.4.2.1

          References help ie the link to Idiot Savant’s column first off.

          Silly confusing shortened versions don't. How difficult is it to write Aotearoa NZ or Aotearoa New Zealand? Not very.

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