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December 29, 2015 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 29 December 2015

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General Debate

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mikenmild

Up and at ’em!
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December 29, 2015 8:16am
Chuck Bird

Is the following an acceptable statement from a Member of Parliament – a lawmaker? He is saying he does not condone serious lawbreaking but comes very close to condoning it at the same time. If Labour wants to get into power they should dump this thug and hypocrite.

Cut off, and shot twice: Is this the country’s most hated new speed camera?

JOEL MAXWELL
December 28 2015

Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard said he had little doubt the cameras were positioned “more with a view to revenue than safety”.

This, he said, was especially the case with the camera near the Griffin’s factory at the base of the hill.

Mallard said he could understand how people got to the point of vandalism through frustration, “but you cannot condone it”.

He said the accidents on the hill tended to occur on bends where there were no cameras, particularly on the Wainuiomata side. “In my view the placement’s just stupid.”

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/75491037/cut-off-and-shot-twice-is-this-the-countrys-most-hated-new-speed-camera
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December 29, 2015 8:17am
jcuk

I started to listen to the RNZ ‘outspoken’ featuring the three top Auckland Mayoral candidates and progressively got more dissatisfied with them Goff, ???, Crone … nothing to do with their politics simply their diction, compared to the announcer Goff was fine , ??? passable, But Crone dreadful … I simply stopped trying to work out what she was saying. Fortunately I do not have to vote for one of them living in Dunedin as I do 🙂
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December 29, 2015 8:18am
Brian Smaller

The camera at the bottom of the Wanui hill is a crock. It gets people coming down the hill trying to reduce speed off a very steep gradient and also people who speed up to get a run up the hill. Mallard is right – the problems with accidents are nowhere where the cameras are located.
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December 29, 2015 8:21am
jcuk

The local speed camera in Ravensbourne so rarely has a camera in it it is a joke and judging by the speed of traffic I would guess most agree.
I would suggest anybody shooting at a camera make sure they do it while there is no speeding traffic 🙂
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December 29, 2015 8:24am
wiseowl

jcuk
Of course you have a great option with Cull.
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December 29, 2015 8:25am
peterwn

@Chuck Bird – Interestingly Trevor did not campaign against the old speed camera in Wainuiomata – Helen Clark’s Labour Government did not direct the police to ‘tone down’ on speed cameras, I concluded at the time there was little political traction to be gained – in other words it was a small number of loud mouths vocally opposed to speed cameras and speed enforcement, otherwise Labour would have listened. Simon Power (when opposition) mouthed off about speed enforcement briefly but soon went quiet no doubt realising the same (the cops in his neck of the woods are pretty serious about speed enforcement – such as the Taihape sergeant who dished out 100 speeding tickets a day on SH1 as well as keeping the local crime rate down). Then there were the dummy speed cameras erected by locals at Taupo, Ophir and Palmerston in a bid to slow traffic down. So it is basically heavy footed motorists v the locals.
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December 29, 2015 8:29am
jcuk

You’re joking of course Wiseowl 🙂
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December 29, 2015 8:29am
BeaB

Labour MP criticises Tory PM’s choice of honours recipient.

Yawn.

How can this even be a story?
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December 29, 2015 8:30am
Padriv Ustoev

Got pinnged for doing 85 in an 80 zone. Much sadness and gnashing of teeth.
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December 29, 2015 8:33am
Hugh Pavletich

Trump voters are not just angry … they want revenge … Zerohedge

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-12-27/trump-voters-are-not-just-angry-they-want-revenge

The phenomenon of “The Donald” is rooted in a psyche far deeper and more consequential than next November’s presidential election. His support denotes an abiding distrust in – and disrespect for – the governing elite. These individuals do not like being told by Washington or Wall Street what is best for them, do not like the direction America is headed in, and disdain President Barack Obama and his (perceived) circle of self-righteous, tone-deaf governing partisans. Trump voters are not just angry – they want revenge. … read more via hyperlink above …

DONALD TRUMP: IS THE PUBLIC TURNING ON THE TROUGHER ELITES ?

Gingrich explains why Trump is a ‘big asset’ to the GOP … Fox News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yQdFZUpItk
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December 29, 2015 8:33am
Chuck Bird

@Brian Smaller

I have no idea about the camera. I will accept you are right. I can also accept Mallard is right about the position and the revenue gathering. However, there is no way an MP with Mallard’s time in Parliament that he should make a statement saying while I do not not condone serious lawbreaking but I can understand people’s frustration. It does not matter it he he referring to a speed camera or a abortion clinic.

These sort of statement are perfectly acceptable by a blogger but not an MP.
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December 29, 2015 8:33am
calendar girl

I lost a much-loved first cousin to prostate cancer over the weekend. Again one wonders when the policy-makers / funders in our health system will find a way to deal with this killer disease as seriously as (for example) breast cancer.

As a starting point, why isn’t it made automatic for every blood test of an adult male (over 40?) – for whatever purpose – to include a PSA result, the first analytical indicator of the possibility of a patient having prostate problems. As an extra reading of an existing blood sample (the collection of which has already been paid for), its cost would be negligible. My limited understanding is that a ‘positive’ PSA reading will be far from infallible, but it seems to be able to provide an early warning of the need for a proper physical examination and diagnosis.

From those who know much more than I do about health, and prostate cancer in particular, are there any other thoughts about how its early diagnosis can become a more effective element of standard primary health care (without crippling the national health budget)?
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December 29, 2015 8:34am
Manolo

Can mikenmild deny or confirm?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/75437271/ho-ho-no-public-sector-deprived-of-xmas-parties

Christmas party budgets released under the Official Information Act reveal a sad lack of celebration for many public servants in 2015.

While some government department workers were shouted a fair Christmas party, with budgets up to $25 per head, others were forced to pay for their own Christmas parties this year and others went without completely.
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December 29, 2015 8:37am
Hugh Pavletich

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY … WHY YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP … YOUNG ECONOMISTS EXPLAIN …

BOOK EXTRACT … GENERATION RENT … ECONOMISTS SELENA & SHAMUBEEL EAQUB … NZ NATIONAL BUSINESS REVIEW

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/book-extract-generation-rent-%E2%80%93-does-housing-affordability-really-matter-ng-183299?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NBR%2520Heads%2520Up%2520-%2520Holiday%2520Review%2520Edition

Sydney Housing Affordability … Young Economist Eliza Owen … TedxYouth@Sydney

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzzHawjP648
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December 29, 2015 8:39am
minus

As of June 30, she [ Penny Bright ] owed $34,182 in unpaid rates and penalties on her freehold home, which the council seeks to recover.

Last week she delivered a partially completed rates postponement application, along with a list of demands of council, Auckland Council said in a statement.

However, the application will only be processed once she has completed it in full, the council said.
http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/reserved-decision-on-activists-rates-bill-2015122120#axzz3ve4AJp8w

Penny Bright has, ad nauseam, assailed kiwibloggers with so-called press releases, ‘open’ letters, repeated official information questions, and other items for our information, so I keenly await – in the interests of transparency, honesty and intergrity – a copy printed here by Penny of the list of demands which she has made of Council, as is referred to above.
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December 29, 2015 8:44am
stephieboy

BeaB ,yawn how can an ancient titular honours system be a story ?
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December 29, 2015 8:46am
mikenmild

Manolo
As you know, I no longer comment on my employment status, so you will have to imagine what kind of taxpayer-funded party I might have enjoyed.
As a general comment, I have never seen a lavish Xmas work party or lunch. There is usually a subsidy of $20 or so per head for a lunch or an after-work function. Mostly, these are exceptionally tedious affairs at cheap restaurants.
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December 29, 2015 8:46am
Newbie

If the police really, really deny that speed cameras are used for revenue gathering, then why not impose non financial penalties?

Such as community service, impounding the car (bit of a logistical nighmare), immediately forbidden to drive for a period of time (another tricky one), imposing higher demerit points (leading to, perhaps, lost of licence), etc.
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December 29, 2015 8:48am
Peter

Mallard is right, although the fact revenue gathering speed policy was implemented under a Labour government is curious.

It’s time they stopped this fixation with speed, except at the margins. The results are statistically insignificant and the public is in no doubt it’s just another tax.

Time they moved onto “driving to the conditions” and “keeping your eyes on the road” campaigns.
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December 29, 2015 8:52am
Manolo

PC imbecility:
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/dec/28/sydney-to-hobart-organisers-accused-of-racism-over-indian-reservation-tweet

Organisers of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race have been accused of racism after a tweet posted from its official account about the yacht Indian warned, “This is what happens when you stray off the reservation.”
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December 29, 2015 8:56am
Manolo

@stephieboy: I do not believe you said the same the day your hero Michael Cullen was given a knighthood. It was a big story for you, wasn’t it?
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December 29, 2015 8:59am
Longknives

I’m no Angel- Have had my fair share of Speeding Tickets.
But you know- It kind of makes sense to slow down just a little and drive a bit more carefully over the Chaotic Christmas/New Year period..
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December 29, 2015 9:00am
stephieboy

manolo, actually no it wasn’t a big story . Consider how even your heroes Ben Carson , Ted Cruz and Donald Trump live in a land that does not need the crutch of antiquated honours system.

Or are they missing something ?
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December 29, 2015 9:07am
Longknives

While I have no problem with Coppers ticketing speeders- I do not agree with the lowering of the Drink Driving Limit though, that makes no sense whatsoever…(The Guy who has two or three quiet beers after work is NOT the problem)
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December 29, 2015 9:08am
SGA

calendar girl at 8:34 am

I lost a much-loved first cousin to prostate cancer over the weekend. Again one wonders when the policy-makers / funders in our health system will find a way to deal with this killer disease as seriously as (for example) breast cancer.

I’m sorry for your loss. By way of information, breast cancer receives special attention, I think, because although all cancers (e.g., prostate, bowel, stomach) can strike younger people (say <50ish), breast cancer really stands out that way. Happy to be corrected.
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December 29, 2015 9:09am
Manolo

To be made compulsory by a future Labour-Green government:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/27/north-koreas-computer-operating-system-revealed-by-researchers

The Red Star operating system makes it very hard for anyone to tamper with it. If a user makes any changes to core functions, like trying to disable its antivirus checker or firewall, the computer will display an error message or reboot itself.

Red Star also addresses a more pressing concern – cracking down on the growing underground exchange of foreign movies, music and writing. Illegal media is usually passed person-to-person in North Korea using USB sticks and microSD cards, making it hard for the government to track where they come from.

Red Star tackles this by tagging, or watermarking, every document or media file on a computer or on any USB stick connected to it. That means that all files can be traced.
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December 29, 2015 9:11am
Kimbo

@ stepieboy

BeaB ,yawn how can an ancient titular honours system be a story ?

Yawn. More ancient 1960s reactionary left-wing university common room anti-elitism out of step with the current generation.

Because in the UK, as in New Zealand, it is also the contemporary means of publicly acknowledging achievement. Indeed, the fact that its roots are ancient confers more weight on the achievements of the person receiving them. And whereas they often used to be bestowed on account of the accident of the recipients’ lineage and birth, the wide variety of modern beneficiaries shows they are an institution more than capable of being in step with the modern socially-egalitarian age.
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December 29, 2015 9:11am
stephieboy

Hugh Pavletich (993 comments) says:
December 29th, 2015 at 8:33 am

I don’t believe Newt Gingich is in a good a position to make a political assessment of anyone least of all Donald Trump

“Adultery For Me, But Not For Thee: A Master List of Gingrich’s Hypocrisies”

“Newt Gingrich is no stranger to hypocrisies. It’s just that his own self-righteousness often gets in the way of admitting to them: “There’s no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate,” the family-values candidate once famously said about his multiple extra-marital affairs. So in the service of airing out other yawning gaps between Newt’s words and deeds that may have emerged when the candidate was too…”

https://newrepublic.com/article/98097/newt-gingrich-scandal-hypocrisy
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December 29, 2015 9:12am
B.L.Zeebub

There have been road fatalities since humanity learnt to ride the horse then invented the wheel,they will increase as the population expands.
What passes for driver training is pathetic and will remain pathetic until the driving “schools” and “instructors” stop teaching how to get a licence and begin to teach how to drive.
On a daily basis I see drivers unable to corner,unable to keep a car in a straight line and unable to look further than their hood ornament and react accordingly.
The cops mantra ,speed kills is only a small part of the overall problem.
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December 29, 2015 9:13am
Chuck Bird

@calendar girl

It is nice to see a woman show concern about men’s health. I agree PSA testing should be encouraged. I get tested annually. I am fortunate to have a very competent doctor who understands PSA testing. I got a high reading recently. Instead of sending me straight to a urologist he suggested I wait and get a second test to see if came down. I followed his advice and it did come down. Elevated PSA levels can occur for things other than prostate cancer so one looks at a trend and not just one reading. One should not go ahead with a invasive test unless there is a good reason.

Sadly, I think health funding on gender specific complaints is political. We see the case of National funding a drug for breast cancer back in 2008. Men are not as likely to switch their vote on these sort of issues.
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December 29, 2015 9:14am
Paulus Gnome

Same as yesterday Hugh, maybe the day before as well . . .
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December 29, 2015 9:16am
Andrei

Is the following an acceptable statement from a Member of Parliament – a lawmaker? He is saying he does not condone serious lawbreaking but comes very close to condoning it at the same time. If Labour wants to get into power they should dump this thug and hypocrite.

Nonsense – he is saying the right thing.

The Government is there to serve the people, not the other way around

And it is beyond disgraceful the the Police are used as a vehicle for gathering Government revenue rather than a force to protect the people

This obsession with speed to “lower the road toll” has more to do with increasing the revenue generated from fines than increasing road safety and as the lowered tolerances have amply demonstrated it doesn’t work! to reduce accidents but it does work magnificently to increase revenue.

We need to stand up to our Government and Authorities to prevent us living in a tyranny – something we are well on the way to
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December 29, 2015 9:19am
SGA

Chuck Bird at 9:14 am

Sadly, I think health funding on gender specific complaints is political.

It may be in some areas. However, in terms of prostate and breast cancer, say, I can understand some difference in approach given the “profile” of these diseases (fwiw, my opinion was initially closer to yours, but some independent reading softened my stance).
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December 29, 2015 9:25am
stephieboy

Kimbo so the US, Canada and now Australia are full of “More ancient 1960s reactionary left-wing university common room anti-elitism out of step with the current generation.” ?

It’s the government and yourself that are out of step. The fact the US has never had to use the medieval honours system for acknowledging high achievement speaks for itself
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December 29, 2015 9:25am
mikenmild

The US has its own system of honours, stephie. They just don’t have our titular honors, which are specifically prohibited by the constitution.
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December 29, 2015 9:27am
stinkypete

simon prast seems like a nice guy

http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/12/27/tdb-top-10-politicians-of-2015/

highlights

9. John Key: for being an easy, sleazy, smug rich prick who makes fun of those less fortunate, for using his considerable talents for the betterment of the wealthy at the expense of the poor, for being a royal-name-dropping-All-Black-arse-licking-star-fucker (and these are his good points). Makes me ashamed to be a New Zealander. Should be sent to the shower block on Christmas Island immediately.
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December 29, 2015 9:29am
Captain Mainwaring

“However, the application will only be processed once she has completed it in full, the council said.”

So Penny will stay in her house until she can be bothered completing the rates postponement application.
What’s wrong with the spineless Auckland council? Why can’t they just empty the bludger out on the street and sell her house?
The mad cow will string them along for ever, and it’s the honest ratepayers who will bear the cost.
And she wan’t to be mayor, Jesus H. Christ.
The whole thing beggars belief.
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December 29, 2015 9:34am
starboard

simon prast..aint he the washed up old ex shitland st actor? I note one Phil Ure on the site as well..says it all really. Bumsville.
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December 29, 2015 9:38am
Captain Mainwaring

Ah, I see Gabby has been reincarnated as stinkypete, complete with a terminal case of Key Derangement Syndrome.
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December 29, 2015 9:42am
stinkypete

my comment was intended as irony, im just horrified that stuff like that is seen as acceptable political discourse on the left
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December 29, 2015 9:43am
Peter

Should be sent to the shower block on Christmas Island immediately.

Weren’t the luvvies scweaming about how simply awful pwison jokes are?

Who is Simon Prast, anyway?
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December 29, 2015 9:44am
flipper

Hugh P ….

Yep.
I made the same comment several days before Xmas, namely that Trump has trumped the political establishment and the ordaining media, and they do not [EDIT: like} it one little bit. Then add in the cracademics, the wimps like (well sometimes) DPF, and stupidboy…..

Long may that continue. It has already happened in NZ with the emergence of KDS and J Key.
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December 29, 2015 9:45am
Captain Mainwaring

Sorry stinky, irony accepted, but it did sound like Gabby being serious.
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December 29, 2015 9:50am
SGA

stinkypete (4 comments) at 9:43 am

my comment was intended as irony, im just horrified that stuff like that is seen as acceptable political discourse on the left

Well… hang around Kiwiblog enough, and I fear you may be similarly horrified by what some see as acceptable political discourse on the right as well 🙂
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December 29, 2015 9:55am
kowtow

“Padriv Ustoev (470 comments) says:
December 29th, 2015 at 8:33 am
Got pinnged for doing 85 in an 80 zone. Much sadness and gnashing of teeth.”

Shit Padriv , you should enter that camel in the Dubai classic. You could retire to the desert on the winnings…….
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December 29, 2015 10:03am
Manolo

You could retire to the desert on the winnings…….

With a harem of 40 virgins at your disposal. Mohammad and Reverend Capill would approve.
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December 29, 2015 10:13am
minus

Captain Mainwaring – “However, the application will only be processed once she has completed it in full, the council said.”
_____

That Penny Bright could even contemplate completing a rates postponement application would seem a total capitulation to Council demands that she pay her rates and arrears, whereas – confirmed by her so often expressed opinions.
That Penny could be pay rates for that period of time for which the Council has been errant in providing her with the information, which is the bottom line condition for her to pay rates, is surely now beyond belief ?.

How many hundreds of column inches on kiwiblog, and strained scroll-down cursor wheel manipulations by so very many readers, and chronic down-ticking would a change now render as an absolute and utter waste of effort, not to mention the momentous height of hypocrisy that it would amount to ?

To be asked to vote for a Mayoral candidate who doesn’t pay rates is an anathema to most, but to have a candidate cave and pay at the last moment, after taking such a self-styled stand with all its angst, opinions and Council cost – would surely affront everyone.

Just saying … 🙂
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December 29, 2015 10:16am
notrotsky

Penny bright is a madwoman who smells of cats pee in my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiacX5WJr_A
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December 29, 2015 10:42am
Grant

She will be Mayor this time next year. Just you mark her words!
//
G
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December 29, 2015 10:46am
fernglas

The fact that we see an application for rates postponement as an acknowledgment of liability will be lost on Ms Bright and her unique world view. After all, she seems to feel comfortable running on an anti-corruption platform while at the same time declining to confirm that she will not interfere in her own debt to Council. It is not a great step from there to filing what is in effect an admission of liability as a way to put off payment, so that she can then claim another victory for transparency. I am convinced after what I have seen and read that she has no genuine belief that she is entitled to withhold rates.
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December 29, 2015 10:49am
Kimbo

@ stephieboy

Kimbo so the US, Canada and now Australia are full of “More ancient 1960s reactionary left-wing university common room anti-elitism out of step with the current generation.” ?

The US, Canada and Australia are, like us, sovereign nations whose peoples can make up their own minds. And as anyone with some experience of the two nations is well aware, the media in Australia has successfully – and falsely – linked honours to the endemic anti-British Irish Catholic “fuck you” sentiment that is much stronger there than here.

It’s the government and yourself that are out of step. The fact the US has never had to use the medieval honours system for acknowledging high achievement speaks for itself

Ho, hum. So the guy who rattles on continually about American cultural imperialism…now says we should follow the dictates of American cultural imperialism?! We, unlike America, never had a Revolution that caused them to purge many aspects of the previous regime. But if you want to be consistent, and you really think it is necessary to use the term “Episcopalian” rather than “Anglican” to describe the primary Protestant church here in New Zealand, good luck persuading them.

Helen Clark, without referring the matter to the electorate (shame!!) abolished our inherited honours system, and then, to widespread acclaim among the general populace, young and old, brown and white, poor, middle class and rich – with the exception of the aforesaid ancient 1960s reactionary left-wing university common room anti-elitists – it was restored by John Key. That you have a problem with his decision and the public reaction simply confirms what most of us have known for a long time – Clark and her ilk are actually elitist intellectual snobs who can’t handle true democracy because they think they know better than the dumb sheep in whose name she governed.
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December 29, 2015 10:57am
Andrei

Penny bright is a madwoman who smells of cats pee in my opinion.

Wrong she is a patriotic New Zealander who holds our ruling elites to account for their actions.

There is an old saying “you can’t fight city hall” – well sadly their is some truth in that perhaps but if there were more Penny Bright’s in this world we might get a better class of politicians
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December 29, 2015 11:02am
B.L.Zeebub

Now we know what happened to Helen Clarks teeth.
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December 29, 2015 11:09am
igm

Mallard once again shows he is nothing but a dumb arse Labour trougher. He cannot be referred to as a thug; thugs do not attack someone they know has serious coronary problems. He has shown time and again he is unbalanced, this latest outburst over Wainuiomata’s speed cameras showing how inappropriate arseholes such as he are anywhere near the halls of power. Hopefully voters will tip this weasel out next election . . . he was lucky last time.
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December 29, 2015 11:24am
publicwatchdog

Just wondering, Kiwibloggers, upon what basis, Radio NZ decided Phil Goff, Victoria Crone and Mark Thomas were the ‘leading Auckland 2016 Mayoral candidates’?

Penny Bright

2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
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December 29, 2015 11:33am
Maggy Wassilieff

@Kimbo

Clark didn’t abolish the Honours system as such…. There were still awards of the NZ Order of Merit (established in 1996)…. She just determined that the 2 highest levels of the NZ Order of Merit wouldn’t be Knights or Dames.

But most of those meritorious folks rushed for their titles as soon as they were reinstituted.

In 2009, Prime Minister John Key restored the honours to their pre-April 2000 state. Principal Companions and Distinguished Companions (85 people in total) were given the option to convert their awards into Knighthoods or Damehoods.[18] The restoration was welcomed by Monarchy New Zealand.[19] The option has been taken up by 72 of those affected, including rugby great Colin Meads.[20] Former Labour MP Margaret Shields was one of those who accepted a Damehood, despite receiving a letter from former Prime Minister Helen Clark “setting out why Labour had abolished the titles and saying she hoped she would not accept one”.[21] Clark’s senior deputy, Michael Cullen, also accepted a knighthood.

-from Wikipedia: NZ Order of Merit
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December 29, 2015 11:40am
starboard

Intelligence and saneness Penny.
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December 29, 2015 11:41am
publicwatchdog

I haven’t completed my Auckland Council Rates Postponement Application, because Auckland Council (and Auckland Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs), have not yet completed providing the following information about ‘awarded contracts’ and making it available for ‘public scrutiny’ on their websites:

1) The unique contract number.

2) The name of the consultant / contractor
(including sub-contractor).

3) Scope (brief description of contract).

4) Term of contract (start and finish dates).

5) $ value of contract.

6) Method of awarding contract ( whether or not it was put out for public tender/ direct appointment).

This information to apply to ALL contracts.

Hopefully – this information will help?

Kind regards,

Penny Bright

2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
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December 29, 2015 11:43am
Johnboy

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/75491037/cut-off-and-shot-twice-is-this-the-countrys-most-hated-new-speed-camera

I can’t believe the forces of incompetence that signed off on this!

They should have used a 7mm Rem Mag not a popgun.

They go through 10mm steel plate at 25 metres, leaving the copper jacket behind while the molten lead drills the hole.

Just like a mini shaped charge.

🙂
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December 29, 2015 11:51am
Johnboy

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/75480763/decrepit-boat-sunk-in-kilometredeep-cook-strait-waters

For a moment I thought Penny had come to Wellytown for her holidays! 🙂
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December 29, 2015 11:53am
sooty

Oh,Oh! Looks like Penny’s losing the house! She thinks that delivering a partially completed form will stop the court action. Its the same as no form.
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December 29, 2015 12:20pm
Captain Mainwaring

“Just wondering, Kiwibloggers, upon what basis, Radio NZ decided Phil Goff, Victoria Crone and Mark Thomas were the ‘leading Auckland 2016 Mayoral candidates’?”

Easy really, their criteria excluded fruitcake rates-dodgers.
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December 29, 2015 12:29pm
minus

Penny Bright –

You are again being less than transparent, dishonest or lacking in integrity by what you omit from your information demands. You want –

1) The unique contract number.
2) The name of the consultant / contractor (including sub-contractor).
3) Scope (brief description of contract).
4) Term of contract (start and finish dates).
5) $ value of contract.
6) Method of awarding contract ( whether or not it was put out for public tender/ direct appointment).
And this information to apply to ALL contracts.

However you have in the past also indicated you will be happy with nothing less than a register of all contractors and contractees and their pecuniary interests.

Why not honestly include this point as being as vital as any other information you ask for ?
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December 29, 2015 12:39pm
twofish

publicwatchdog – Just wondering, Kiwibloggers, upon what basis, Radio NZ decided Phil Goff, Victoria Crone and Mark Thomas were the ‘leading Auckland 2016 Mayoral candidates’?

RNZ would appear to be basing their decision on what they would hold as their considered opinion, that they are right, just as you question that decision as being implicitly wrong … in your opinion.
It’s as simple as that.
Bloody good show that you no longer are required to hold a television / radio licence, eh? 🙂
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December 29, 2015 12:46pm
Johnboy

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/75501743/motorists-can-expect-upper-lambton-quay-diversions-during-crane-operation

Getting ready for Mr Speaker to overheat in 2016? 🙂
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December 29, 2015 1:03pm
Don the Kiwi

What sort of air conditioning are they going to install to require such a bloody massive crane?

The Ross ice shelf ????
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December 29, 2015 2:22pm
Johnboy

Did you have a nice Christmas Mass Don? 🙂
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December 29, 2015 2:27pm
DJP6-25

Hugh Paveltich 8:33 am. Thanks for posting it.
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December 29, 2015 2:48pm
Don the Kiwi

I tentatively answer yes, JB, depending on your connotation of ‘nice’. 🙂

But yes, for the five Masses held from Christmas Eve through to Christmas Day, the church was chocka full, and the commemoration of the birth of Jesus was joyful, enthusiastic and very happy.

Most enjoyable aftermath as well with sons, daughter and daughters-in-law; good food, great beer and wine and a relaxing afternoon in the sun by my son’s pool with evening bar b q. 🙂
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December 29, 2015 2:48pm
nasska

We didn’t get a lot of action round our way Don. I decided to set up a Nativity scene but we’d ditched the manger at the last Lion’s auction. The closest I could get was to park the feed out wagon next to the woolshed.

Anyway it turned out a bit of a fizzer. All the local shepherds were in town on the piss while the bright lights & knockshops of Wellington have lured all the wise men.

I’ll give it another crack next year. 🙂
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December 29, 2015 3:05pm
jcuk

With the exception of Jaffas who get pinged and fined for doing 1 or 2 k over the limit I think people who get speeding tickets are fools. I was a fool to take my supervisor seriously when he created a deadline which in turn in youthful dedication caused me to speed … that was back in 1964 … never since have I been caught 🙂

The trouble is all these sealed boxes on wheels with powerful motors so smooth and quiet, and CD/radio blaring the drivers do not realize when they exceed the limits. Whereas I have always either had old vehicles in which it was an effort to reach the limit or else I sensibly used a 50cc scooter then motorcycles to commute to work … it helps with parking costs too, I have had five parking tickets in sixty years of driving/riding in NZ. Four in my early days in Auckland.

So there you have it and think of all the money you have and are paying to the bank to ride in your mean machine which also costs you fines … as I said people who get tickets are fools.
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December 29, 2015 3:32pm
stigie

“I’ll give it another crack next year”.

I would imagine you would give everything a crack next year wouldn’t you Nasska ?
No use going into next year half hearted ole chap !~
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December 29, 2015 3:33pm
Keeping Stock

@ calendar girl – sincere condolences on your recent loss. My father also died from prostate cancer, sadly detected too late. By the time it had metastasized to his spine, his fate was sealed.

Sadly, prostate cancer is low on the political agenda because it is not one of the “sexy” cancers. It affects men, usually in to 70-plus age group, most of whom will die WITH it rather than OF it. It doesn’t kill actresses, media personalities and businesswomen like breast cancer does, and so it receives little priority in the scheme of things.

Around 70% of men aged 70 will have some malignant cells in their prostates, and this rises proportionate to age. For most men there will be few symptoms, apart from the normal “Woolworths bladder” in the night.

In my father’s case, the tumour was already advanced when detected, to the point where it was initially thought he had bowel cancer. One the prostate cancer was confirmed, he had a course of radical radiotherapy to shrink the tumour, but the intent of the treatment was palliative only, and a surgical cure was unrealistic.

There is still some debate in the medical profession over the effectiveness of the PSA test, but surely it has to be better than nothing. Yes; these “old men” are all going to die at some point of some thing, but surely if early warning is possible, it should be available.
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December 29, 2015 3:33pm
MickMac

calendar girl (1,636 comments) says:
December 29th, 2015 at 8:34 am

Sad for you loss.
I asked the same question of one of the Rad Oncs at Wellington Hospital.
He said that there were too many false positives, so to do it early would be counter productive until a better test came up.
Similarly to KS, he said most men die with it not because of it so that drove clinical thinking.
It is a political decision and had no traction at Ministry level.

Edit:
It can be treated by radioactive pellets. Cost $20k private.
Only one guy in Wellington does it, an Assoc Prof in Marjorie Banks Street.
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December 29, 2015 3:52pm
DJP6-25

I understand some Taliban law makers recently beheaded some Daesh guys in Afghanistan. “Hey, who’s that wearing my shirt”? “Oh, bugger, it’s me” “Hey, where are my 72 virgins”? “What’s wrong with the aircon”? “Oh, bugger, that’s not where I expected to end up”? I guess the incident was as much to do with turf wars as anything else.
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December 29, 2015 4:06pm
fernglas

The PSA test has caused many men who would otherwise have survived with prostate cancer to undergo radical surgery with all its nasty side effects. The new thinking is to manage the disease if detected. To some that means not having the PSA test at all.
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December 29, 2015 4:27pm
calendar girl

Thanks to those who have taken the trouble to respond to my 8:34am comment relating to prostate cancer – SGA, Chuck Bird, Keeping Stock, MickMac and fernglas, plus any others whom I may have omitted inadvertently. I appreciate all of your thoughtful comments – much to muse on.
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December 29, 2015 4:45pm
Don the Kiwi

nasska (15,083 comments) says:
December 29th, 2015 at 3:05 pm

😆
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December 29, 2015 4:50pm
blazeoflight

Does anyone know if DPF knows that the DPRK tweets that DPF retweets are parody?

I suspect not, as DPF has a history of falling for hoaxes!

PS Try saying the top line quickly ?
http://www.vox.com/2014/12/24/7443639/north-korea-fake-twitter
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December 29, 2015 5:16pm
nasska

blazeoflight

Don’t take things so seriously. DPF doesn’t, we don’t & as you may have noticed this is not The Standard.

By way of proof I offer the tweet by Redbaiternz immediately above the DPRK quote. Baity is a parody of a conservative & so unhinged that he gibbers like a retard on bath salts.

DPF is merely showcasing the nuts for the Xmas silly season. 🙂
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December 29, 2015 5:59pm
mikenmild

Is Redbaiter’s campaign on Twitter showing more signs of success than his previous attempts to convert us all to fascism, nasska?
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December 29, 2015 6:08pm
blazeoflight

But redbaiter is not a parody. He really is looney tunes.

The DPRK tweeters are not nuts. They are sanely parodying Nth Korean propaganda.

I believe DPF believes it really is the DPRK!
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December 29, 2015 6:08pm
mikenmild

I’m not 100% sure, but I believe DPF may have fallen for some hoaxes in the past.
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December 29, 2015 6:09pm
nasska

I don’t follow Twitter Mike but I seem to remember Baity skiting that he’d gained about 500 ‘friends’ in the first month.

At least it keeps him off the streets. 🙂
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December 29, 2015 6:12pm
mikenmild

I don’t really get Twitter either, nasska, and if Redbaiter thinks it will help turn NZ into Singapore then it is probably best avoided.
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December 29, 2015 6:17pm
blazeoflight

@mike

Your style is Twitter to a T.

140 characters is heaps for you work with. ?
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December 29, 2015 6:24pm
Awww C-mon

MM is GD’s Twitter while Starboard is its Tinder and Mad Dad it’s Grindr
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December 29, 2015 6:45pm
blazeoflight

I imagine Mr DPF won’t be commenting in his usual parsing, partisan style on this article

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/75497858/Editorial-Shameful-denial-of-Canterburys-growing-mental-health-issues
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December 29, 2015 6:54pm
starboard

http://purebangkokescorts.com/rates/

Nah..this is my style..just bootyful
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December 29, 2015 7:03pm
nasska

Starboard

I noticed from your link that fetish uniforms are on offer along with anal.

Naughty School Girl
Police Officer
Air Hostess
Nurse
Seductive French Maid

Next time you’re making a booking see if they have Labour Dept ‘ealth & safety officer dress ups bent over a greased goat.

I may be interested! 🙂
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December 29, 2015 7:11pm
starboard

“Labour Dept ‘ealth & safety officer dress ups bent over a greased goat.”

Nice..something to vomit over, kinda kinky I suppose.
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December 29, 2015 7:13pm
starboard

I can recommend Faline dressed as an Emirates air hostess..just damn fine..
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December 29, 2015 7:15pm
starboard

filthy vermin natives, like feral inbred dogs hunting in packs..

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/75512335/six-teenagers-arrested-after-brutal-attack
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December 29, 2015 7:19pm
publicwatchdog

“However you have in the past also indicated you will be happy with nothing less than a register of all contractors and contractees and their pecuniary interests.”

What I have requested regarding the information I am seeking about ‘awarded contracts’ before I complete the Auckland Council ‘rates postponement application’ is that which I have stated:

“I haven’t completed my Auckland Council Rates Postponement Application, because Auckland Council (and Auckland Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs), have not yet completed providing the following information about ‘awarded contracts’ and making it available for ‘public scrutiny’ on their websites:

1) The unique contract number.

2) The name of the consultant / contractor
(including sub-contractor).

3) Scope (brief description of contract).

4) Term of contract (start and finish dates).

5) $ value of contract.

6) Method of awarding contract ( whether or not it was put out for public tender/ direct appointment).

This information to apply to ALL contracts.”

Yes – I do believe that it should be a mandatory lawful requirement for a ‘register of pecuniary interests’ for both elected representatives at local government level, and local government staff (including CCOs) responsible for property and procurement, but that is not what I am requesting before I complete the Auckland Council ‘rates postponement application’.

Got it?

Kind regards

Penny Bright

2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
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December 29, 2015 8:32pm
nasska

So you never had the rates money after all Penny? All a sham! 🙂
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December 29, 2015 8:36pm
Awww C-mon

Nasska, she had them until dot crim got the bad news by the look of things.
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December 29, 2015 8:43pm
nasska

You’re probably right there Awww C-mon. I mean, surely Penny hasn’t based all the ‘Transparency’ campaign of withholding her rates when in actual fact she was too poor to pay them.

Penny’s not like that! 🙂
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December 29, 2015 8:50pm
RF

Penny penny.. For Christ sake get some dental treatment for your ugly choppers. They look like Helen Clarks hand me downs

If you hope to be mayor suggest you sharpen up your act and try and be photogenic..
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December 29, 2015 9:02pm
Awww C-mon

Self funded watch dog = someone’s pet plaything

Only person to stupid to see it is Penny
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December 29, 2015 9:05pm

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