The Standard

Open Mike 27/06/2026

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 27th, 2026 - 17 comments
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17 comments on “Open Mike 27/06/2026 ”

  1. PsyclingLeft.Always 1
    27 June 2026 at 9:08 am

    Chris Luxon is apparently "constantly underwhelmed" ? Well Luxo,we at the lower end of the table (aka bottom feeders) are maybe feeling constantly overwhelmed by you and your NACT1 cronies.

    Anyway…here is the man hisself garbling as he attempts to have rapport ?!….And this somehow connects Business/Govt to AI ?

    "We're really stuck in a 1995 way of doing things. Why can't a 32-year-old mother who needs eyeglasses for the nine-year-old daughter and wants to understand your tax rebates for the, you know, with an 11-year-old and nine-year-old daughters actually be able to just do an inquiry rather [than] have to go to MSD and IRD and all that stuff?

    And the did he say that out loud bit ?

    Luxon said the goal was to "brutally commercialise our science system".

    And well…yeah…

    There has been mixed evidence to date on whether adopting AI tools – which include other types of AI than just chatbot-style LLMs – boosts productivity, with varying results in different sectors.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/620498/luxon-constantly-underwhelmed-by-slow-ai-uptake-in-nz-businesses

    And on the AI Pyramid scheme…..(whereby the Tech Oligarchs still make billions)

    Wall Street was mixed on Friday, with gains in Moderna and other healthcare stocks, while AI-related chip stocks tumbled from recent highs.

    The PHLX chip index sank more than 4 percent, underscoring recent volatility among AI-related chipmakers that have fuelled much of Wall Street's gains in recent years. While some investors remain optimistic about the potential for AI to fuel higher profits, others worry that massive spending to build AI data centres may take too long to pay off.

    "It's too early to conclude that there's a major correction brewing in tech, but what I would say is that the questions around profitability and the capex story are certainly not going away," said David Stubbs, chief investment strategist at AlphaCore Wealth Advisory.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/627337/wall-street-mixed-as-moderna-rallies-and-chips-tumble

    Wall Street is getting trampled by an AI sell-off. South Korean market plunges 10 percent

    Whatever the cause, with AI companies' sky-high valuations and incredible growth trajectories, it doesn't take much to set off investors. The Kospi is up more than 90 percent this year, so when the wind blows in an unexpected direction, it can lead traders – and, often more consequentially, trading algorithms – to head for the exits. They fear the top of the Jenga tower could tip over.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/618670/wall-street-is-getting-trampled-by-an-ai-sell-off-south-korean-market-plunges-10-percent

    Reply
  2. Dennis Frank 2
    27 June 2026 at 10:10 am

    Labour UK seems to be grappling with problem bureaucrats:

    At the heart of the problem are the various pieces of legislation which offer protections to migrants in certain circumstances that prevent their deportation. The most important of these is Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), and the Modern Slavery Act brought in under Theresa May. Article 8 means that deportations can be challenged on the grounds that it would violate an individual’s fundamental right to family life. Meanwhile, the Modern Slavery Act says that those who have been trafficked into the country or forced into work should not be deported.

    Countering or disproving claims made by migrants under these rules is exceptionally difficult and time-consuming for the Home Office. This is true to the extent that they appear to be judging that around half of them are simply not worth the effort at the outset. https://unherd.com/newsroom/bureaucracy-is-stifling-labours-migration-agenda/

    Score the devil 1, bureaucrats 0. Then there's a focus on percentage ratio of the situation:

    This leaves the Home Office treading water against a tide that shows no signs of abating, and ultimately being forced to decide what percentage of its workload it has the capacity even to attempt.

    So in the math dept of the civil service, boffins will be reaching for their slide rules. The kiwi way is that near enough is good enough, so probably best to save time by using a guesstimate: "We reckon that more than half our workload lacks service capacity."

    Sir Humphrey gazes blandly at the minister who goggles back at him. "You mean we need that many more public servants??" Later, Burnham: "Cite public/private partnership theory to the media. Get all qualified managers off the streets and out of dole queues, shove a Lord Kitchener poster from WW1 at them so they get the picture, tell them to head for the dept's recruiting office."

    Reply
    • greywarshark 2.1
      27 June 2026 at 11:39 am

      By George Dennis Frank I think you have put your finger on our problem – out of slide rules. But we have No.8 wire mentality with its inventiveness, when we want, and will slither our way around in a fashion that fits the VIPs if not Others – we having a split personality as a nation.

      So in the math dept of the civil service, boffins [in UK] will be reaching for their slide rules. The kiwi way is that near enough is good enough, so probably best to save time by using a guesstimate: "We reckon that more than half our workload lacks service capacity."

      I found a quote that amuses:

      "The most important thing is honesty. Once you can fake that, you’ve got it made." https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/12/05/fake-honesty/

      Reply
      • alwyn 2.1.1
        27 June 2026 at 6:21 pm

        The variant I preferred was the one by Alan Shaw in the series Boston Legal when he was talking about Trial Law..

        "Sincerity. Once you learn to fake that there'll be no stopping you".

        He was acting the part of a lawyer rather than a politician but I think the trait may be common to both professions and may be the reason so many lawyers try and become MPs.

        Reply
  3. Bearded Git 3
    27 June 2026 at 10:21 am

    Americans of all political stripes are protesting in their droves against chronically power hungry, water hungry and noisy AI mega data centres. The pitchforks should be out in NZ too.

    "Over the last week, local governments in at least three states have independently moved to pause hyperscale data center development – amid local revolts driven by the same three anxieties: water, electricity rates, and the suspicion that the deals were wired before anyone in town got a vote. One thing is clear; residents are pissed, and this pushback is bipartisan."

    https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/americas-data-center-revolt-goes-local-and-bipartisan-towns-slam-brakes

    Reply
  4. Ad 4
    27 June 2026 at 11:10 am

    The specifity, breath, and very short timetable of responses (July 7) shows the Fast Track panel has seen right through the bullrush tactic, and now very likely to lose the whole thing.

    We have a shot at killing this people.

    Reply
  5. Ad 5
    27 June 2026 at 11:40 am

    Sorry comment regarding Santana Bendigo mine proposal.

    Reply
  6. Drowsy M. Kram 6
    27 June 2026 at 11:53 am

    Road cone tipline – or should that be 'hotline'?

    Remuneration policies – repealing the Fair Pay Agreements Act 2022

    Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025 – the 'biggie' – https://www.payequity.org.nz/

    Holiday Act changes – “horrifying” and a “total attack” on workers rights

    Employment Relations Amendment Bill – "cuts to sick pay, pay equity, the 90-day fire at will law, weakening health and safety requirements for employers and the axing of Fair Pay Agreements"

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooke_van_Velden#Second_term,_2023%E2%80%93present

    In 2023, van Velden said "When it came to COVID, we completely blew out what the value of a life was, completely, I’ve never seen such a high value on life." ‘Values’ eh.

    One of Brooke van Velden’s final acts as a politician will also be her most dangerous [The Spinoff, 23 June 2026]
    But as with much Act policy it is evident, the moment one peers into the engine room, that this is an absolute trainwreck of a bill.

    The bigger picture here is that, even under the current laws, New Zealanders are six times more likely to die on the job than Brits, and nearly twice as likely as Aussies.

    [comment]
    An incoherent, self-serving ghoul to the end.

    All this unproductive Health & Safety malarky must be reigned in – to unleash something?

    Announcing van Velden's role [as ACT's deputy leader], Seymour described Brooke as the "future of the party". What's in Atlas-ACT's stars, now that van Velden is Move-On?

    Reply
  7. greywarshark 7
    27 June 2026 at 5:03 pm

    Kaitaia Juken wood processing plant. Seems to have gone. No buyers from all around the world. And none from NZAO I take it. Loss of jobs of main employment. I thought that some of those hearty business types with chests swelling from amongst NZ men, mostly men, would have got a consortium up to feed back some of their gains to where the people can get work, jobs from it. (Not even looking at Australia where Graeme and son Harry are booming. And billionaires. And so it goes.) Still I hope the kakapos are booming – that would be a joy.

    News – 27/6/26

    RNZ – https://www.rnz.co.nz › news › business › 618698 › shock-frustration-as-northland-mill-closure-confirmed

    Shock, frustration as Northland Mill closure confirmed | RNZ

    3 days ago A Kaitaia resident and former newspaper editor said the looming closure of the town's mill was "the worst possible news". Former editor of the Northland Age Peter Jackson said he had hoped a buyer ,,,

    * The Post – https://www.thepost.co.nz › business › 361030893 › dozens-jobs-set-go-juken-flags-closure-process-kaitaia-timber-mill

    PM rejects union's request for help to save Kaitāia timber mill jobs

    4 days ago Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has rejected a request from the Workers First Union to step in to prevent the loss of dozens of jobs at another wood processing mill that is slated for closure. Juken New…

    *Wood Central – https://woodcentral.com.au › juken-reviews-bids-kaitaia-mills-locals-rally-timber-jobs

    Juken Reviews Bids for Kaitāia Mills as Locals Rally for Jobs | Wood …

    Jun 1, 2026 The Kaitāia mills opened 37 years ago and have been Japanese-owned since, manufacturing sawn timber at the Northland Mill and engineered wood panels at the adjacent Triboard plant for residential …

    *Wood Central – https://woodcentral.com.au › juken-northland-sawmill-closure

    Juken to its Close Northland Sawmill, Triboard Spared for Now | Wood …

    3 days ago Juken's Northland sawmill will close at Kaitāia after a tender drew no buyer, with the union warning the Far North now exports raw logs unprocessed, whilst the 140-job Triboard plant remains on the market for a…

    * archynewsy.com – https://www.archynewsy.com › kaitaia-mill-closure-owners-say-no-buyer-found-despite-government-help-offers

    Kaitāia Mill Closure: Owners Say No Buyer Found Despite Government Help …

    3 days ago While the mill itself is closing, the company continues to operate other forestry interests within New Zealand. The closure is part of a broader trend of consolidation in the timber industry, where high energy...

    and this refers to biomass a lot – what? https://www.bioenergy.org.nz/jnl-juken-new-zealand-limited

    Cheaper, greener energy: Biogas could far outshine imported LNG by 2050, report suggests

    • Govt to quietly scrap looming ban on coal boilers
    • Bioenergy Association welcomes Government decision to transition schools from diesel boilers, using homegrown energy that helps NZ’s fuel resilience
    • also
    • Pre-election message to political parties
    • Genesis and Nature’s Flame in biomass supply negotiation
    • Lease agreement for Kawerau site a major step forward for integrated biomass manufacturing facility

    I wonder if Kaitaia is to be left in the lurch because bigger things are being talked about with wood, elsewhere, biomass, biogas? This government does not feel responsible to the people. The report card is all that bothers them, and cheating us of our lives and jobs so they can get good marks; our 1-and-half listed nation is nothing to those who fancy themselves.

    Reply
  9. tWig 9
    27 June 2026 at 9:54 pm

    Busy with rw media UnHerd again, Dennis Frank posted some gibberish on the lack of bureaucrats to process all those pesky UK asylum seekers.

    https://thestandard.nz/open-mike-27-06-2026/#comment-2065843

    The quotes seem to jumble metaphors of mountains of applications hindered by boring old eu human rights considerations. It looks like a ruling class bolstering of anti-migrant feeling under the pretence of societal cost.

    The Starmer govt proposes changes to asylum seekers rights that would mean, says Dubs, a 93 yo UK former Minister who arrived on the Kindertransport, that

    "children like me arriving in the UK seeking sanctuary would be left out in the cold. Worse, they could be handcuffed and deported, even if they have family here ready and willing to care for them. Those are not British values and they are certainly not Labour values."

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/26/remove-home-secretary-shabana-mahmood-and-rip-up-her-asylum-plans-says-alf-dubs

    Reply
  10. Ed1 10
    27 June 2026 at 10:28 pm

    So the Road Transport industry are upset with Chris Bishop because he won't let trucks carry larger loads. Oh Dear! I suspect the reality is that major weather events are not allowed for sufficiently in Road User Charges, but also that at the top end (about 55 tonne?) the rates are now insufficient for normal road repair including materials even without weather complications. It would be worth finding out when RUCs were last revised, and just what those calculations showed. I suspect that at high weight levels road should be uncompetitive with either or both Rail and Coastal Shipping, but the Road Transport organisations have been strongly linked to National for many years, and in any event getting rail loads across Cook Strait may be getting more difficult . . ., and in this case it may be that the road transport operators cannot compete with other donors to Atlas or even just National to buy the policies they want.

    Reply
    • PsyclingLeft.Always 10.1
      28 June 2026 at 9:52 am

      This ?

      Chris Bishop turns down easing truck weight restrictions

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/627789/trucking-lobby-group-outraged-after-transport-minister-rejects-bid-to-allow-heavier-loads

      IMO Bishflap Bishop and other GNats (incl but not limited to pushup/pushout Potaka, et al) have tested the wind…and the results were not looking too healthy Election wise.

      Hence the We have listened to the Public BS line. Which of course is easily, and IMO definitely, a gone burger if they somehow slime back in, November.

      We absolutely must make sure that does not happen.

      Ditch the pricks '26 !

      Reply
    • greywarshark 10.2
      28 June 2026 at 3:55 pm

      This from Ed1 above reminded me of Oz: 'but the Road Transport organisations have been strongly linked to National for many years…'

      In Australia the link with a government party was strong but was with Labour; Bob Hawke and Sir Peter Abeles went forward together. https://www.abc.net.au/pm/archive/articles/1999/06/25/s31447.htm

      …His [Abeles] was a classic rags to riches story. A penniless Hungarian migrant who arrived in Australia in 1949 and achieved more financial success in Australian and international business than anyone but his friend and business partner, Rupert Murdock.

      A big man who spoke with a soft lisp and appeared a little dishevelled at times, Sir Peter Abeles once described himself as nothing more than an emotional Jewish man. He had some emotional friends, too. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke told the world today he was with Sir Peter Abeles just before he died…

      https://theconversation.com/australian-governments-have-a-long-history-of-trying-to-manipulate-the-abc-and-its-unlikely-to-stop-now-110712

      …When it’s Labor, the sharpest tensions arise when the ABC’s journalism harms the party or its mates.

      For example, during the Hawke-Keating years (1983-1996) there was fury about the ABC’s treatment of a Labor icon, Neville Wran, and Hawke’s mate, the transport tycoon Sir Peter Abeles…

      So transport moguls here in our wee country are no doubt aware of how to elevate their interests being aware of how Oz proceeded, a bigger country that could be contained – conquered, so why not NZ. We have powerful adversaries who know how to play Monopoly.

      Reply

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