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Open Mike 25/01/2026

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 25th, 2026 - 15 comments
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15 comments on “Open Mike 25/01/2026 ”

  1. Macro 1
    25 January 2026 at 9:40 am

    Remembering a true leftie born 25 Jan 1759

    This poem says it all

    Is there for honest Poverty
    That hings his head, an’ a’ that;
    The coward-slave, we pass him by,
    We dare be poor for a’ that!
    For a’ that, an’ a’ that.
    Our toils obscure an’ a’ that,
    The rank is but the guinea’s stamp,
    The Man’s the gowd for a’ that.

    What though on hamely fare we dine,
    Wear hoddin grey, an’ a that;
    Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;
    A Man’s a Man for a’ that:
    For a’ that, and a’ that,
    Their tinsel show, an’ a’ that;
    The honest man, tho’ e’er sae poor,
    Is king o’ men for a’ that.

    Ye see yon birkie ca’d a lord,
    Wha struts, an’ stares, an’ a’ that,
    Tho’ hundreds worship at his word,
    He’s but a coof for a’ that.
    For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
    His ribband, star, an’ a’ that,
    The man o’ independent mind,
    He looks an’ laughs at a’ that.

    A Prince can mak a belted knight,
    A marquis, duke, an’ a’ that!
    But an honest man’s aboon his might –
    Guid faith, he mauna fa’ that!
    For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
    Their dignities, an’ a’ that,
    The pith o’ Sense an’ pride o’ Worth
    Are higher rank than a’ that.

    Then let us pray that come it may,
    As come it will for a’ that,
    That Sense and Worth, o’er a’ the earth
    Shall bear the gree an’ a’ that.
    For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
    It’s comin yet for a’ that,
    That Man to Man the warld o’er
    Shall brithers be for a’ that.

    Reply
    • greywarshark 1.1
      25 January 2026 at 3:22 pm

      Good remembrance Macro. I looked up the poem, Robert Burns – the more I read of him the more I like.

      Reply
    • Hunter Thompson II 1.2
      27 January 2026 at 10:12 am

      Great poem.

      Every NZer should read Tony Simpson's book "The Sugarbag Years". It is a collection of oral histories recording the experiences people in this country had before, during and after the 1930s depression.

      It makes you realise how fortunate we are these days, and also the huge difference between human wants and needs.

      eg Wanaka now is to have a McDonalds outlet, available 24 hrs a day. A real advance for the nation.

      Reply
  2. SPC 2
    25 January 2026 at 10:06 am

    ACC poorly run.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360928364/damning-feedback-acc-bosses-tried-keep-secret

    ACC government

    1.The Min of Finance has changed the way it is represented in government accounts

    2.It is reducing its support to workers to act as agent of corporate interest – lower levies.

    Reply
  3. Stephen D 3
    25 January 2026 at 11:23 am

    https://theplanet.substack.com/p/the-week-europe-stopped-living-the?

    Interesting read.

    Aotearoa is not a “middle power” as such, but a lot of this pertains to us. My worry is our current govt is still entrenched in the world governed by America. With Winnie as Foreign Minister, Seymour/Farage owned by Atlas, and Luxon such a Trump sycophant, nothing will change, unless we have a change of government.

    Reply
  4. Stephen D 4
    25 January 2026 at 2:02 pm

    I don’t always agree with Bryce Edwards, but he’s on the money here.

    https://open.substack.com/pub/theintegrityinstitute/p/democracy-briefing-shock-turns-to?

    ”The Otago Daily Times editorial suggests it is “finally, definitively, time” for governments to “wake up and realise climate change is the most important issue facing us all.” It even throws down a challenge to Labour, noting that National plainly will not lead on this: “It would be refreshing to see one of the larger political parties place climate change at the top of its election agenda. We already expect that from the Green Party, although it has allowed itself to be diverted into other matters. National clearly isn’t going to. But how about it, Labour?”

    Reply
    • greywarshark 4.1
      25 January 2026 at 3:34 pm

      Yeah. what are ya Labour? Show us your muscle, if you have any, either Rosy the Riveter type, the hardworking labourer sort, or the principled, thinking pragmatic sort – putting all others aside, holding to what is needed by all for living rightly.

      We are looking for firm commitment here – like a marriage vow – '“Will you love, comfort, honour and keep her [NZAO] in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others' [seductions] be faithful to her so long as you both live?”

      Reply
  5. SPC 5
    25 January 2026 at 3:32 pm

    Did Peter’s diss WHO as NZF party leader (is it policy) or as FM (is this government policy)?

    Does the PM have anything to say on the matter?

    Or is a tweet, just a tweet – even when it is on X, if it is election year?

    https://x.com/winstonpeters/status/2014495337281683946

    Reply
    • Incognito 5.1
      25 January 2026 at 3:53 pm

      As WP and not as Leader of NZF (@nzfirst) or FM (@NewZealandMFA).

      The letterhead is telling.

      Reply
    • Karolyn_IS 5.2
      25 January 2026 at 4:56 pm

      Helen Clark, in an interview on TVP World, said NZ should not sign up to the Board of Peace. She reckons the BOP won't last for 3 years, and that the UN has way more legitimacy, though it's overdue a need to be reviewed and updated.

      Clark dated the decline of the UN when the US attacked Iraq during her term as PM. That set a bad precedent for states illegally attacking/occupying countries as with Venezuela, Ukraine, etc.

      At the end of the interview Clark said NZF is a MAGA supporter, and that it would struggle to get into double figures.

      The description of the interview:

      The U.S. Board of Peace, the future of Ukraine, the Polish success story, UN reform, and the voices of smaller states: Urszula Gacek talks to Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), at the Leaders Forum powered by Poland and the World Economic Forum 2026, in Davos.

      "If we want a world that has run basically according to the rule of law, then powers have to set an example," Clark says, reflecting on the responsibilities of the largest and most influential states in upholding international norms and protecting the credibility of multilateral institutions.

      Clark also talked about 5 Eyes. Said it was good back when it was secret, but has gone downhill since it became known publicly. I don't agree that it should ever have been secret.

      Clark said that now the other 4 in 5 Eyes have moved to inoculate themselves against the now unreliable US on 5 Eyes.

      Reply
      • SPC 5.2.1
        25 January 2026 at 5:12 pm

        The 4 (of 5) Eyes group should look at forming a Diplomatic Advisory Council to support the veto moribund UNSC.

        It might be as important as a reboot of the WTO, as ITO (MFN trade rules for membership – thus no USA).

        Reply
  6. SPC 6
    25 January 2026 at 4:30 pm

    Winston Peters

    @winstonpeters

    Leader of New Zealand First. NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Racing, Minister for Rail. Authorised by H. Howard, 91 Makino Road, Feilding.

    https://x.com/winstonpeters

    Reply

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