General Debate 8 April 2019

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment277

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (277)

Login to comment or vote

mikenmildagain

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Happy International Romani Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwgg1Pu6cNg
7 44
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:02am
- Maggie Pie
  
  I suppose some people find this ‘Happy International Day’ schtick mildly entertaining.
  
  30 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:21am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    This one seems to have attracted some negative sentiments, Maggie. But what does your partner think?
    
    7 33
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:40am
  - Tall Man
    
    Only the children.
    
    9 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:15am
- RW Capitalist
  
  Unless this labour youth camp sex offender is a gypsy….I’m not interested
  
  40 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:22am
- SGA
  
  You still tinkering with us, mma.
  A younger Cher – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOSZwEwl_1Q
  
  13 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:30am
  - Overworked
    
    Much better.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 11:53am
- cmm
  
  I don’t give a tinker’s toss about the Romani.
  
  11 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:48am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    ‘tinker’s cuss’?
    
    5 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 10:21am
    - cmm
      
      That neither. Nor a tinker’s tonk.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 12:58pm
Tony Stuart

Yesterday is was Kiwibuild; today it’s light rail in Auckland. How much longer can the PM afford to retain confidence in Phil Twyford?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12220122
60 1
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:02am
- Chris R
  
  How long can the PM retain confidence in herself? She cannot mask her stupidity behind her Muslim garb indefinitely.
  
  80 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:06am
  - Overworked
    
    Don’t worry, she genuinely believes in herself.
    
    17 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 11:54am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  So Twyford’s talking about scaling back the slow tram project.
  Can I respectfully suggest to him that scaling it back to zero is the only viable option.
  
  72 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:08am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    You can indeed. Running a tram rail corridor down Dominion Road is going to be a complete and utter clustershambles.
    
    65 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:12am
    - DigNap15
      
      Yes how much congestion will they cause to cars trying to drive down the road?
      A Monorail would be a bedda idea.
      
      24 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 8:51am
      - Tall Man
        
        A bike lane………
        
        Joking but…you never know…..
        
        16 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 9:17am
      - Rachael Membery
        
        Mono is never a good idea.
        
        10 1
        Report
        April 8, 2019 9:26am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      Don’t buses work without having to have rails and can’t they be re-assigned to other routes on demand?
      
      33 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 8:51am
      - hullkiwi
        
        Why do you think they also got rid of trolley buses.
        
        6 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 11:23am
    - Rich Prick
      
      For a taste of what it will be like, take a drive up Albert St. If you can.
      
      18 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:08am
  - hullkiwi
    
    Captain, the truth is, NZTA are have problems writing a business case to justify it.
    
    They know CRL is running late and over budget. Then they have the example of Sydney where their light rail project is billions over budget and years late.
    
    50 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:20am
    - thetiedarch
      
      NZTA are struggling to write business cases for anything these days. Not a lot of funded work in their pipeline…..
      
      It all dried up after the election.
      
      34 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:10am
    - Tall Man
      
      We were in Brest (France) a few years ago and they were putting in some sort of light rail through the centre of the city.
      
      They were years behind due to the continuing issue of unexploded shells from WW2 being found every time they dug a hole.
      
      20 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:19am
      - Rich Prick
        
        Taniwhas are far more expensive to remove.
        
        43 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 9:32am
      - Classic Liberal
        
        Wash your mouth out, RP: the taniwha always has the right of way!
        
        9 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 12:48pm
  - RW Capitalist
    
    I would suggest this “scaling back” is a direct response to the govt. running out of money.
    For comparison, look at their response to all other requests for funds…eg St. Johns Ambulance.
    Steven Joyce’s $11billion hole may be closer to $33bill
    
    56 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:25am
    - kowtow
      
      Wait till the bill for the gun buy back and introduction of a firearms Registry is presented.
      
      40 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 8:33am
    - Rachael Membery
      
      The St Johns case is compelling. Not changing their name though.
      
      28 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:28am
      - RW Capitalist
        
        https://www.stjohn.org.nz/About-St-John/History/The-Order-in-Detail/
        Considering they were at the crusades.
        
        12 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 10:33am
    - cmm
      
      Scaling is a very appropriate thing to do with a train set.
      
      Scale it down to 87:1 and he can have it by Christmas (HOHOHO)..
      
      17 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:55am
      - sooty
        
        Twyford could play train sets with Cullen!
        
        9 1
        Report
        April 8, 2019 11:32am
      - RW Capitalist
        
        sooty
        “Twyford could play train sets with Cullen!”
        God, I hope that’s not a Euphemism.
        
        4 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 12:57pm
      - Engelbert Humperdink
        
        We see what you did there 🙂
        
        1 0
        Report
        April 9, 2019 1:13am
  - JB.49
    
    Perhaps a recalibration is in order?
    
    30 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:41am
    - Tall Man
      
      Early election?
      
      16 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:20am
      - freethinker
        
        Hope so.
        
        7 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 10:55am
  - Raphael
    
    It’s like they are completely bewildered by the fact that wild promises actually cost money and aren’t deliverable outside of fairy tales.
    
    23 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 10:04am
    - sooty
      
      Well none of them were even in parliment when the last lot were in power!
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:34am
  - Rob2
    
    the funds for this were to come partly from NZTA and partly Auck. City council among others.
    NZTA is motorists money and should be spent on roads.
    
    What are Labours plans for the money that NZTA collect from the motorist??????
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 12:24pm
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Sheeple voted for them. Jacinda according to media is the saviour of this world. So the sheeple of NZ will vote for her again in 2020 big time. CoL can get away with murder easily.
  
  53 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:10am
  - Prince
    
    Are ballot papers being changed to vote for the PM ?
    Or will we still vote for the party best suited to government ?
    
    24 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:35am
    - Tall Man
      
      When did that last happen?
      
      Certainly not 2017.
      
      12 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:21am
    - Paulus
      
      Remember she only has one seat in Parliament – bequeathed to her by her earth mother – Helen Clark, who would love to have it back.
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 1:38pm
  - Rachael Membery
    
    Good thing is that there are so many poorly written laws that there should be little difficulty reversing or getting rid of them.
    
    16 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:34am
    - freethinker
      
      You mean like one line bill – all legislation passed since xx Oct 2017 are repealed Ab Initio.
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 10:57am
  - Overworked
    
    Unfortunately, a lot of women who should know better can’t see through the PM. Some can be excused as idiotic readers of womens’ magazines, but the under-50 arts-educated still seem to be in thrall.
    
    14 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 11:57am
    - Classic Liberal
      
      A generation totally fixated on identitarian politics. They can’t see past her gender and age.
      
      7 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 12:52pm
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Wait for it! Here is what is going to happen.
  
  Phil Twyford announces another 10c/Litre to fund the missing light rail link and people of Auckland are happy to pay a little extra to get light rail in another 10 years time to solve the congestion problem. Phil Goff immediately announced that this is a game changer and added an additional 3 cents on top of it to fund for growth projects along with a modest 7.5% rate increase in the next budget. Jim Moron of Ponsonby told NZ Herald – “We are happy to pay more taxes to get additional public transport. I am even prepared to pay another 20 cents a litre”. This comment was echoed by most of Aucklanders NZ Herald interviewed. Even Wellingtonians were ringing NZ Herald office to say, they are also interested in paying additional levy to keep our big city moving. PM Ardern was so overwhelmed by this willingness to pay tax, she went and paid for groceries of all the people queuing up in Countdown in Mt. Albert. By sheer coincidence, Newshub crew were there with cameras to catch this act of generosity by the PM. When asked by the reporter, why she did that, PM responded – “They are us”.
  
  77 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:18am
  - Simon
    
    MSM committed to balanced reporting also interviewed the Greens who said the new petrol taxes didnt go far enough.
    
    34 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:14am
    - Tricati
      
      Because of colonialism
      
      19 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:55am
    - Overworked
      
      And the people most impacted, as always, are the beneficiaries and especially the working poor, who need petrol to make it all work – kids, work, and living a longer distance from work. Without affordable petrol, they don’t have enough hours in the day to compensate.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 12:00pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Oh god…… satire becoming reality…..
    
    I can seriously understand why Kiwis are starting to head overseas again.
    
    32 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:23am
    - RW Capitalist
      
      “…. satire becoming reality…”
      “….farce becoming reality…”
      There fixed it
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:57am
      - Tall Man
        
        Yep, much better.
        
        2 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 1:51pm
  - LTA1955
    
    I challenge Jacko to go fund the groceries for the downtrodden in a Venezuelan supermarket. After all her Marxist dogma leads us to a queue eventually.
    
    13 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 10:21am
- alex Masterley
  
  With Mr Twyford in charge the project will be reset and all we will get is the restart and repackaging of the trams that used to tootle around the Viaduct.
  
  26 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:31am
  - sooty
    
    They would get patronage with a horse and cart!
    
    13 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:56am
- septic skeptic
  
  So is this the year of delivery, or the year of re-calibration?
  
  33 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:41am
  - sooty
    
    The year of recalibration to zero, so they can deliver.
    Name something that they have delivered that is fit for purpose!
    How many deliveries have been recalibrated?
    
    26 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:00am
    - calendar girl
      
      That’s not entirely fair – Twyford did deliver the first KiwiBuild ‘affordable home’ to a couple of young professionals who (unless the whole country is doomed) should have been well able to take care of their own housing needs.
      
      19 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:29am
      - Rob2
        
        But it was already in the build process so doesn’t count as a new start under his watch.
        He is an unmitigated failure.
        Another religious pious bullshit artist.
        
        7 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 12:27pm
  - freethinker
    
    No this is the year of misery and realization – I hope the latter at least.
    
    9 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 11:00am
- alien
  
  Is the future in trains, I think instead of investing in this we should seriously look at what China is developing with the ART
  
  https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a26782/china-built-a-self-driving-something/
  
  9 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:18am
  - Overworked
    
    Population density is all wrong.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 12:01pm
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    Have a look at the latest self driving videos from Tesla – they have just upped their onboard computer power by 10x and expect the improvements from here on to be rapid with further neural net training on the new hardware. https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-3-model-s-model-x-no-confirmation-navigate-on-autopilot-video/ In 3-5 years they will be piloting taxis, minibuses and bigger busses, at much high frequencies (ie 5-10 minute waits) without incurring the huge manpower costs to make public transport actually useful. Commuter trains/trams are nearing obsolescence.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:34pm
- RightFirstTime
  
  Nah nah. Not a problem. This light rail thing just needs some recalibration.
  
  11 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:27am
  - Tall Man
    
    Narrower guage you mean?
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 10:48am
NZpatriot

The Select Committee considering the Arms Bill is due to report back to the House Of Representatives today I understand, after an unreasonably short period to consider important legislation about a complex topic.

I know from close experience that rushed legislation is never a recipe for success.

The committee must report back saying that further consultation is required and that therefore more time is needed.
58 1
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:04am
- kowtow
  
  The same media praising her fast response to the gun laws ( we did it in 72 hours , Oz took 12 days ) are calling on the govt not to rush “hate speech” laws.
  
  Be careful who you shill for , they may eventually come for you.
  
  48 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:20am
- RW Capitalist
  
  Labour have always been the Govt. of “unintended consequences”.
  
  37 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:27am
  - Tricati
    
    Look at the cock up over the supplemental heating allowance – Poor legislation badly implemented that cost the tax payer and those inappropriately paid, can keep their windfall – unbelievable
    
    24 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:58am
    - freethinker
      
      With Sepuloni in charge are you surprised?
      
      16 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:03am
- hullkiwi
  
  Michael Woods on Red Radio telling the listening audience all 12,000 written submissions will have been analysed by a team over the weekend and considered. Yeah right, the man speaks cobblers.
  He either doesn’t know what happens or if he does he lied.
  
  Of the 12,000 most will be identical and so all but 1 can be discarded.
  The rest usually about 25% will be valid submissions and take some reading. Even for a team to do it on behalf of the MPs means the work has to be done in an unbiased way and reported back. Given the nature of the legislation, will it though?
  
  36 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:34am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    “….a team to do it on behalf of the MPs…”
    Meaning the MP’s did NOT consider the submission, some un elected employee did.
    Surely that is not how bills are supposed to be considered.
    Remind me what WE are paying these MP’s for?
    
    33 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:22am
    - freethinker
      
      We are supposedly paying them to run the country but due to a spelling error they saw the instruction to ruin the country by being as transparent as a concrete block and no reason to lie except …… fill in desired word.
      
      13 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:06am
  - Kevin Herlihy
    
    You flatter yourself by claiming 25% of the submissions are valid.
    If you have read submissions which I doubt you have, then you would know that the overwhelming majority of them are crap, spiteful, ill thought out and hastily written nonsense.
    Out of the 12,000 you would be lucky to get less than 100 which are on subject, informative technically and raising genuinely valid points.The submissions would also include many in favour of legislative change.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 2:05pm
- tf78
  
  Hence the saying “only Fools rush in”.
  
  26 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:53am
- Lizziep
  
  NZ patriot 8.04 I am wondering who the hell would down tick on that? Seriously are there people out there that will take the word of the seriously impaired?
  
  13 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:38am
secondcumming

BREAKING…..

Armed police enter UK *Ecuadorian Embassy*……is Julian Assange fucked?

https://twitter.com/Ruptly/status/1114942955385757702
36 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:05am
- SGA
  
  That’s what got him into trouble in the first place, wasn’t it?
  
  19 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:32am
  - harvey wilson
    
    I hear Leavenworth is nice this time of year .
    
    19 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:55am
- wreck1080
  
  He should have faced the music 7 years ago. He has just wasted 7 years of life.
  
  Unless the US is planning on imprisoning him for life?
  
  And , what happened to the rape charges against him? It was very strange they were dropped.
  
  23 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:34am
  - harvey wilson
    
    The rape charges reached the statute of limitations, one of his victims lives in hiding due to Assanges rape apologist supporters hounding her.
    
    He still has to face his bail jumping charges then he gets to wear an orange jumpsuit courtesy of Uncle Sam
    
    25 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:21am
- KevO'Brien
  
  I see no confirmation of that at 8:52 am.
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:53am
Happychappy

You promise to do these tasks over ten years to get elected and one by one you find out that your costing are all wrong so you then say you can only do half the job and expect https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12220122
to say that’s fine.
How many of their election promises have they got right,very few I would suggest.
39 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:05am
- sooty
  
  I would say none!
  They stuffed the lot up!
  
  21 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:11am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    over promised and under delivered.
    
    18 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:28am
    - sooty
      
      Where’s the money, honey?
      
      16 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:03am
    - freethinker
      
      What have COLL delivered of any practical value??
      
      7 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:11am
- Simon
  
  ” your costing are all wrong.”
  
  Comrade they knew the real costings they just didn’t want the public to know.
  
  20 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:17am
  - hullkiwi
    
    Speaks volumes for the economist from BERL.
    
    20 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 10:13am
waikatogirl

Will the CoL’s upcoming promise of a “well-being” budget be skewed without the correct census data? Simon said this morning on the AM Show that individual well-being will be assessed following 100 questions, including “how is your spiritual well-being?” Are the CoL planning on holding another “census” before they implement this new airy-fairy well-being policy which presumably is tailored for individuals. Am I paranoid in believing this well-being budget is an excuse by a bunch of Marxists to gather personal information? As is said, information is king. Either way, their attempt at improving well-being for everyone (lol) will be another CoL fustercluck. And they will still have your personal feelz information. ?
40 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:07am
- krazykiwi
  
  A census gathers facts. Fact are troublesome for those that prefer their version of reality to the one the rest of us live in. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the government is a best leveraging, or at worst manipulating our census data for their own ends.
  
  For example, the recent ‘Child Poverty’ stats showed the CoL in a poor light, but one they could try to pin on the previous government given it covered only 11(?) months of them in office. Next year there’s zero chance of that sidestep, and so I’ve diarised to get details of the methodology they used this year, and to confirm that same methodology is used next year. I rather suspect the results will be worse, and their inclination to lean on Stats to change the methodology will be high.
  
  37 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:28am
- Surely Knott
  
  Stuff article yesterday, Too Much Wellbeing is making us Sick – “Wellbeing seems so self-evidently good that it escapes scrutiny, enabling it to slide from useful tool to expectation; of ourselves and of others. In fact, wellbeing has taken the place of morality. Instead of working to improve the world, we work to improve ourselves.
  This narcissism is actively nurtured by social media. Instagram and Facebook in particular are devoted to creating and sustaining the fiction of each body and life as a locus of perfection.” Is the well-being budget just an instaworthy narcissistic modern buzzword being used to to sell in the budget with less scrutiny. I mean if it’s wellbeing then it must be good right. No other thought required.
  
  27 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:48am
sooty

Right now it is 9.11 on my spark mobile phone!
14 2
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:09am
- waikatogirl
  
  Sooty, it is your phone. Our IPhones are with Spark and were reset when I woke up yesterday morning. Have you tried going into your phone settings and manually changing the time?
  
  15 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:17am
  - JibberJabber
    
    Or a hammer?
    
    12 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:28am
    - waikatogirl
      
      Or just wait six months and the time will be correct again. ?
      
      16 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 8:44am
      - sooty
        
        Why has it changed by it self, with no input by me, every other daylight saving change?
        I only have a dumb phone, but is not the clock time included in all the data that is sent from spark to my phone and returned to spark?
        
        6 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 9:07am
  - Tall Man
    
    As was my MI.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 7:24pm
- freethinker
  
  Spark are usually behind the times.
  
  1 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 11:15am
hullkiwi

They will retain confidence in Tywford to the bitter end, unless:
1. He scores an own goal, and the press hound him until the boss has to act;
2. They need his skills else where.

In short, the available gene pool of potential cabinet members is not great & there is neither or the experience or talent available to promote (except Mr minister for everything Chris Fafoi).
27 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:11am
- sooty
  
  He has no skills!
  He’s shown that countless times every week.
  
  26 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:18am
  - hullkiwi
    
    I didn’t say what or how good his skills are.
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:24am
- krazykiwi
  
  They need his skills else where
  
  I have a few suggested roles for him.
  
  12 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:20am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    I like #1….1. Professional Pusher
    But don’t they already have the “Bad cheque” for that?
    
    14 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:32am
- waikatogirl
  
  The excessive rates charged by “shark” money lenders is the main issue Chris Faafoi has been working on to protect naive and economic illiterates, but he has failed to put a legal cap on their exorbitant lending rates.
  Another CoL policy fail.
  
  19 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:25am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    He could start with the IRD.
    about 35% in fines and interest, compounded, if your payments are late.
    
    17 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:33am
- Tony Stuart
  
  Without wishing ill on Kris Faafoi, the portfolios allocated to him thus far have not been the most onerous. Could he sort out the shambles that is Kiwibuild, and is Ardern prepared to take the risk of another Minister failing?
  
  24 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:25am
  - Rich Prick
    
    Indeed, he possesses Labour’s only talent. Why he only has customs, commerce and consumer affairs and broadcasting (Clare really was a waste of space) is a mystery.
    
    13 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:42am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      He is also the Minister of Civil Defence ….(thank goodness).
      
      7 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 10:28am
      - Rich Prick
        
        Oh yes, forgot about that. Meanwhile Twyford can’t even nail two bits of four by two together.
        
        7 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 10:35am
      - waikatogirl
        
        Twyford has others for menial tasks such as nailing bits of wood and other hard stuff like that. Thinking up brilliant and affordable schemes is more Tywford’s forte! ?
        //
        
        6 1
        Report
        April 8, 2019 11:00am
- Rob2
  
  Best left right where he is. ccccockup after cockup
  
  5 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 12:31pm
Scott

It’s very hard to read the newspaper right now as every journalist is on a crusade to get rid of the Canterbury crusaders, include Islamic prayers at the Anzac day service and find racism in NZ wherever they look.

If you ever wanted confirmation that every NZ journalist is a leftist who wants to see the overthrow of Western civilisation then you only have to read the newspaper.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12220125

How about being proud of your country? How about understanding that this country was founded on the principles of western Christian civilisation that has brought us the rule of law, democracy and an ordered and civilised society?

We need to rediscover the soul of this nation. Not pander to malcontents who despise our country and its history and traditions. Some people are unworthy of their ancestors who laboured to build this great nation. Let us not be like that.

Let us defend our nation and its rule of law and freedom of speech and our heritage which was handed down to us by our forefathers.
65 1
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:15am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Now wait for calls to increase refugee intake to 5000 per year or even match Australia’s number, all in the name of “love”. I blame John Key for this. Had he not run away, there will be glorious 4th term by National now and the fragmented Labour party and a non-existent NZ First and Greens.
  
  22 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:21am
  - septic skeptic
    
    John Key would have been doing now as always did then, implementing these policies and being hailed as a political genius for stealing Labour’s thunder.
    
    5 14
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:34am
- G152
  
  But you have to admit they are no longer concentrating on the US president and his alleged somethings or nothings
  
  17 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:25am
  - hullkiwi
    
    He managed some good something’s at the weekend to the Republican Jewish Congress at Las Vegas. His speech highlighted either he or others in his administration are more than a few sandwiches short of a picnic. Classic:
    1. Lambasting those assembled (remember they are Republicans) for voting for Obama in the 2008 & 2012 elections to cries of we didn’t; and
    2. Then telling them that Netenyahu is their Prime Minister, to cries that he is not. Remember those gathered are US citizens who happen to be Jewish, they are not Israeli citizens.
    
    With this level of understanding in the White House, it must leave senior GOP members scratching their heads trying to work out what to do.
    
    5 8
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:03am
    - Tall Man
      
      Or…you could focus on dipstick politicians here where they are really really stupid.
      
      Trump….who cares.
      
      10 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:35am
      - hullkiwi
        
        I agree, usually I leave talking about Trump alone and let others see him for what he is.
        
        0 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 11:39am
    - Classic Liberal
      
      hullkiwi, I can’t be bothered listening to that speech. But every time before his election and since that I actually listened to what he said vs. what the MSM *claimed* he said, they had lied and lied and lied.
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 1:10pm
- Andrei
  
  Let me amend that for you lest you be accussed of being patriarchal
  
  Let us defend our nation and its rule of law and freedom of speech and our heritage which was handed down to us by our fore~~fathers~~people.
  
  And you have omitted Stuffs ~~crusade~~ mission to make abortion more easily obtainable.
  
  13 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:31am
  - Paulus
    
    NZME has again the pontificating in allowing Bryan Gould. the failed ex UK Labour MP, being weekly allowed, once again to glorify Cinderella and why we should worship her personage because she went to China for the day.
    Why every week is Gould allowed, and paid for, to show his and NZME’s bias.
    Similarly is the Rotorua lesbian rich girl who thinks she can sing.
    These biases is unheard of in former life.
    Sooner NZME go out of business the better.
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 1:52pm
- kowtow
  
  The Turks cleared the Gallipoli peninsula of the indigenous Greeks , no mention of them by the expert historian and opinion maker Roughan , or the Armenian genocide…….
  
  32 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:35am
  - Justitia
    
    While the ANZACs were spending their last evening on their transport ships in the Aegean, preparing to land at Gallipoli the next morning, the Ottoman muslims were rounding up Armenian leaders and intellectuals to begin the slaughter of nearly 2 million Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Christians. The word “genocide” was coined to describe these events. While many decent countries like Canada and most of Europe have recognized the genocide officially despite Turkish protests, New Zealand remains a “genocide denier”. An Islamic prayer at ANZAC services would be offensive to many because of the genocide.
    
    30 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:54am
    - Kevin Herlihy
      
      The Turks don’t have a problem with Christian prayers and hymns being performed at their Gallipoli service. A rather generous gesture considering what the ANZAC’s were attempting to do.
      The sad fact is 100 years ago nation states behaved badly, millions were pointlessly killed. We have to move on, learn from those mistakes and pay homage to the many that perished needlessly.
      
      1 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 2:21pm
      - Justitia
        
        The service at Gallipoli for the ANZACs is conducted by New Zealand and Australia, not Turkey. The Turks had entered WWI as a combatant allied to Germany. Shortly before Gallipoli they had raided Russian territory on the Black Sea. The Dardanelles campaign was an attempt to force a supply route to Russia. Two million murdered is more than a “mistake” .
        
        0 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 9:20pm
- RW Capitalist
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_To-cV94Bo&feature=youtu.be
  Some historical context.
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:40am
- DigNap15
  
  @Scott
  Your 2nd and 3rd paragraphs are pieces of majestic prose and wisdom.
  They should be repeated in the media ever day fro the next ten years!
  
  12 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:44am
- Souvlaki
  
  Yep ..Roughan has sure jumped the shark ! Previously ,a reasonably “balanced “chap with a saturday column…now veered radically woke (uncharacteristically)with a down at heel ,intermittent, Monday (slow news day ) one..I smell a rat . Is St J now dictating editorial policy at NZ Herald AND Stuff who are on the same Crusade ! FFS !! 🙁
  
  23 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:46am
- MCos
  
  It was the Titahi Bay RSA that wanted to include a Muslim prayer in their dawn service until they got shouted down.
  
  So much for freedom of speech.
  
  2 29
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:50am
  - Tall Man
    
    Hang on, the prayer being blocked as “offensive” considering the current stance of the Turkish leader is “free speech” being “shouted down” yet the rule of the majority shouldn’t apply?
    
    Which is more important to you, your right to offend me or my right to downtick you into oblivion?
    
    16 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:39am
  - Harlequin
    
    The resistance was to the inclusion of yet another commemoration of the Christchurch massacre. It is not appropriate that Anzac Day be usurped for that or for anything else. It has happened too often in the past.
    
    It had/has nothing to do with religion, Muslims, Turks, Gallipoli or who served where, with whom and when. These are all ‘red herrings’ which have been drawn across the discussion to obfuscate it.
    
    One of the Vietnam veterans who took issue with this is married to a Muslim, his children are all practicing Muslims who worship at the Mosque where it happened. They lost 3 close friends. Does anyone think that he is ‘racist’ because he wanted to keep Anzac day relevant?
    
    Of concern is that every dissenting voice, any attempt to discuss this in even the most rational manner, was rapidly deleted from the Titahi Bay Club Facebook page. Why?
    
    19 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 10:11am
  - rangitoto
    
    I personally don’t mind the Islamic prayer in remembrance of the Turks who died. A lot more of them than the Allies. If the RSA members disagree with it then that is their right. they aren’t required to provide a platform.
    
    9 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 10:36am
  - freethinker
    
    Freedom of speech includes expressing your own opinion and shouting may be necessary to be heard, its an almost daily occurrence in the Beehive and occasionally accompanied with physical reinforcement.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 11:34am
  - MCos
    
    “Simon Strombom, a veteran of the more recent Afghanistan war and organiser of the Titahi Bay service, said he was shocked at some comments on the club’s Facebook page after he announced that the Muslim community “will conclude the ceremony this year with a prayer from the Koran”.
    “We are inviting him to say something. I think it’s more than appropriate given the circumstances,” Strombom said.
    But he had received “some really nasty emails” about it.”
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12218989
    
    2 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 12:58pm
  - Kevin Herlihy
    
    My facebook page was flooded with moral indignation from Australians bitterly opposed to an Islamic prayer being included in the Titahi Bay Anzac services. I also received an unsolicited post from that Aussie wowser Anning who made ridiculous claims post the mosque attack. He was in full flight thundering on about how the memory of Aussie Anzacs was being besmirched. At the end of the day threats of violence won and the prayer was cancelled. So much for free speech and inclusiveness.
    
    0 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 2:29pm
    - Tall Man
      
      So, we’re having a BBQ next weekend, should I, in the spirit of inclusiveness, invite someone I’ve never met and share no commonality with to come around and say a couple of prayers?
      
      Maybe a buddhist or a pastafarian if I can’t grab a muslim?
      
      Why don’t you, when you’re next planning a few beers with the boys, pop down to the local sikh temple and see if a couple of the lads wants to come out with you or maybe even join you and the family for a curry or something?
      
      There is a time and a place for all things and while I don’t personally have an objection to what was proposed, even though I am an RSA member, I can understand why those with a little more invested than I, and quite probably you, do object.
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 5:38pm
- Nukuleka
  
  A mate who drinks a couple of times a week at a local Working Men’s Club in suburban Christchurch tells me that resentment amongst the regulars is running high. People are tired of the media trying to pin blame for the terror attacks on ordinary kiwis. He tells me that both the language and the sentiments uttered are strong and bitter and the very people the media are trying to shelter and protect (use your imagination) are the ones being held to blame for the growing divisions in our society.
  
  48 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:52am
  - Kevin Herlihy
    
    I am in Christchurch this week and have not encountered any of the claimed antipathy. The working man’s club I had a drink in was so noisy it was impossible to have a conversation. People here are getting on with their lives as per normal however I would pay homage to the 20,000 Cantabrians who turned out for the Remebrance Service.That is the true face of this great city, compassionate, caring and community focussed.
    I have also visited the Al Noor Mosque in Dean St, but elected to view it from across the road at Hagley Park. There still are Police at gates keeping an eye on things.In the park floral tributes have been placed around the tree trunks in the park, there are dozens of folk who have come to pay their respects as well. Looking at the mosque has that surreal feel to it, knowing that only days earlier a crazed gunman stood at the front gates firing indiscriminately at people who had come to pray.
    Christchurch has endured a lot but full credit to the resilience of Cantabrians.
    
    1 10
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 2:41pm
- wreck1080
  
  The christchurch murders were appalling. My view is that it doesn’t seem appropriate to continue using the crusades as a symbol for the Canterbury super rugby team.
  
  But, I’m also sick to death of the white guilt being expressed on a daily basis. We have shown as a nation that we condemn the killer and will not tolerate violent extremism.
  
  https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2019/march/radical-muslims-murder-32-nigerian-christians-torch-church-in-brutal-attack
  
  Where are all the weeping, hand wringing Nigerians? What are they doing to prevent such atrocities? Nothing! Nigeria appears intent on wiping out every single last christian in Nigeria , and succeeding.
  
  33 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:03am
  - fernglas
    
    I’m white. I didn’t walk into a mosque with a gun in my hands and kill innocent people. I’m white and I don’t disseminate white supremacist propoganda on the internet. I’m white and I don’t believe that I am a member of a master race. I’m white and I had nothing to do with the shootings, and nor do I bear any responsibility for them. I am appalled that a human being could behave in such a way, but it is not my fault.
    
    55 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:44am
    - Paulus Gnome
      
      j’suis blanc
      
      14 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 10:50am
      - Tall Man
        
        ardern’s mind is blanc..aussi vide!
        
        6 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 1:48pm
    - waikatogirl
      
      I’m white, and I concur.
      Well said fernglas
      
      17 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:06am
    - Justitia
      
      It’s okay to be white.
      
      10 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:47am
      - Engelbert Humperdink
        
        It’s great to be white European.
        Just like…
        It’s great to be brown Maori.
        It’s great to be green Martian.
        It’s great to be pale Nordic.
        It’s great to be a star-bellied Sneech.
        
        It’s great to be alive. Why look for points of difference?
        
        1 0
        Report
        April 9, 2019 1:26am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    Interesting wreck, that you don’t think the Crusaders should retain their name. FYI, the term “Crusades” wasn’t used at all during the Holy Wars. It was coined in the mid 1700’s. And wasn’t used to solely refer to the wars in the middle east between Muslims and essentially Catholics.
    If there is going to be a removal because it offends some in the community, then perhaps the words “Muslim” and “Catholic” should so be removed. After all, it was they that were proponents.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 1:51pm
krazykiwi

The tree deficit counter. DPF, could we rename it ‘The Number of Atoms in the Universe Counter’?
21 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:16am
Maggy Wassilieff

Some things never change, it appears.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/111267288/former-staff-claim-bullying-at-wellington-zoo-prompts-exodus-of-key-staff

I worked at Wellington Zoo as a part-time Education Officer… Worst place of employment I ever had the misfortune of enduring..

Its time for zoos to go. They are such bullshit spin merchants….
I once believed Zoos performed a conservation role… They don’t..as the recent killings of Wellington’s Baboons illustrates:
The zoo’s baboons could not be sent to live in the wild, as they were born in the zoo.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12207036
23 2
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:17am
Yvette

Pike River – Emergency Exercise Only
Media release # 4 – 12.30pm, Friday 8 March

Due to this morning’s seismic event on the West Coast, an incident has occurred at the Pike River Mine. The Agency has made contact with the six men stuck underground on the inward side of the Hawera Fault at the end of the drift, who are alive but two are injured.

A Rescue Plan based on one of two options is being developed to free the six men trapped near the end of the Pike River Mine drift.

Four miners and two police officers were working underground when the seismic event on the West Coast caused them to be trapped. Two of the men have sustained injuries – one a suspected spinal injury and the other a broken leg.

[ Emergency Exercise Only ]

The two options being considered by the Agency in conjunction with emergency services on site are developing are to rescue the men:

1 Via supported access through the Portal, to create a safe entrance. This option would also mean finding a way to get through a roof fall in the Hawera Fault area which is trapping the men on the other side

2 By developing a large diameter borehole for access into the area where the men are trapped.

The drift is a 2.3km tunnel which culminates in a roof fall. On the other side of the roof fall is the mine workings area.
We will continue to provide updates on our website and to media as they come to hand.

Lee Harris
Pike River Recovery Agency
https://www.pikeriverrecovery.govt.nz/news/emergency-exercise-media-release-4/
_______

Isn’t there a requirement for an underground mine to have a second means of egress?
The Health and Safety at Work Act (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations) Regulations 2016 require that by 2024 that will be mandatory. [1]

Since earthquakes can happen at any time, why is a second means of egress not mandatory now?
What changes between now and 2024?
Earthquakes, being somewhat random in occurrence, can of course happen at any instance, and that won’t change.
________

5.2 magnitude quake hits Fiordland overnight
It was centred 40km west of Te Anau and registered at a depth of 64km, about 1.40am
– RNZ, April 7, 2019 – yesterday

What magnitude earthquake is anticipated to be enough to endanger the Pike River Recovery?
What magnitude will “rupture the ventilation system” as outlined in this exercise – “Media Release #3
________

Why can’t you put fresh air up to the roof fall?
The roof fall occurred inbye the Hawera Fault (just before the mine workings) in an area of the drift that was built in coal measures (at the edge of the coal seam). The fall has previously been on fire and consequently has the potential for spontaneous combustion. Because fresh air and methane create a potentially explosive mixture, it is essential therefore that fresh air (oxygen) is kept away from the roof fall. This will be achieved by a constant flow of nitrogen, introduced from the mine workings, over the roof fall, and vented through designated boreholes. The roof fall itself will be constantly monitored for any signs of spontaneous combustion and the atmosphere monitored to ensure that it remains inert. [1]

Could an earthquake alter the atmosphere surrounding the roof fall and therefore alter the potential for spontaneous combustion?

And if the above exercise scenarios men trapped by a “new” roof fall, how likely does the Agency think further roof falls might occur in locations other than the Hawera Fault, or – of course, being unexamined – is that unknown?

Why propose such an Emergency Exercise unless it is realistic, and if the above scenario is realistic, how really safe is attempting re-entry?
________
[1] https://www.pikeriverrecovery.govt.nz/background/faq/
27 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:19am
- RW Capitalist
  
  BUT BUT angry andy recons it’s safe.
  
  20 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:44am
  - Paulus
    
    So does his entry colleague – Peters by name.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 1:56pm
Happychappy

Would it really surprise anyone when Labour is the culprit. “Overly complex and full of loopholes” – budgeting group slams supposedLoan Shark Law.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/04/overly-complex-and-full-of-loopholes-budgeting-group-slams-proposed-loan-shark-law.html
22 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:23am
- RW Capitalist
  
  Every time Labour have anything to do with govt., this is how they write laws…incompetently.
  
  24 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:56am
  - sooty
    
    Wait till you see the gun laws. You would think that Twyford had written them!
    
    24 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:15am
JibberJabber

A voice in the wilderness,

https://quadrant.org.au/magazine/2019/04/climates-uncertainty-principle/
12 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:24am
Captain Mainwaring

I’ve got to say that the moderation is happening in a much more timely manner this morning.
Well done DPF and team, sanity is returning.

(Mod: Thank you, but it may not last; I need to go and shower!)
34 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:27am
- SGA
  
  Too much information 🙁
  🙂
  
  15 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 8:34am
  - DigNap15
    
    What if the mod was a young hot female!
    
    8 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:04am
    - Tall Man
      
      Then “far” too much information…
      
      9 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 9:44am
- Nigel Kearney
  
  Don’t worry. It’s understandable that moderating Kiwiblog comments may cause a need to shower more frequently.
  
  23 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:11am
  - freethinker
    
    Possibly a cold shower.
    
    1 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 11:41am
- Dafixeruppa
  
  And there you have it folks, our moderator is not a rabid lefty after all, he/ she/ it showers. ?
  
  16 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:01am
pdm

It says a lot about the competence of COL Mininisters when Mr. `I was every opening’ Faafoi is their best performing Minister.
13 1
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:32am
- Bill felt
  
  Do you mean Chris Faafoi whose is not even in the Cabinet?
  
  16 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:00am
  - pdm
    
    Good point Bill – and what doesthat say about the rest ofthem?
    
    14 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:10am
Maggie Pie

Has Shari Law already come to the North Shore?
When this popped up on my facebook yestreday i could hardly believe what i was reading! Yvette is a FB friend of mine. I would have thort those parents who let there out of control kids shite in the pool was a lot more offensive than her wearing a bikini!!

https://twitter.com/nzherald/status/1114752170300203009
31 1
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:33am
- alien
  
  No where in the article did it mention anything to point to the woman complaining were Islamic, and since the woman said she felt body shamed. Reading her social media I would say it was overweight woman jealous of her size
  
  13 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:37am
- Tall Man
  
  https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2019/04/this-is-not-body-shaming-mark-richardson-defends-pool-s-decision-over-bikini.html
  
  I find it quite offensive when an extrremely large woman decides to show off her body as many seem to want to do these days but it’s not my bodu so move on.
  
  When a good looking and well constructed woman chooses to do the same I have no issue with that either.
  
  Why can’t people just mind their own business?
  
  In Tonga a few years ago, there was a track from the village to the resort that ran through the middle of the island. The bulk of the workers, male and female used that track daily…until 3 women from Auckland arrived and decided to do the topless sun bathing thing.
  
  All the men then decided the beach walk was a much better way to get to work so the big fatties from the village made it their business to complain then begin to abuse the kiwi girls and yes you guessed it, the big fatties were the women.
  
  11 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:46am
  - Lizziep
    
    Their village their rules Tall man.
    
    0 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 3:52pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Not when I’m paying the piper plus, if they had stuck to the usual route to and from the village the women would not have had a problem would they.
      
      We also had the occasional peeping tom stalking around the villas but that stopped when a certain “tall man” chased the little shit all the way back to the village. Their rules? I don’t think so. Fat ladies jealous of attractive slim white girls.
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 5:44pm
Swifty

I encourage KBers to familiarise themselves with the aims, intentions and office holders of a new lobby group, Tax Justice Aotearoa NZ:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12220113

I intend writing a post raising a few issues with this group, what they’re calling for and how they’re doing it, but in the meantime just think about their name – i.e. a taxation status quo, or calling for something different than them, is inherently an ‘injustice’.

Welcome to newspeak 2019 style.
37 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:38am
- Stars And Stripes
  
  As MM would say this is just an astro turf gig for the Labour Party.
  Some of the financers are one and the same.
  “Tell Jacinda we want a CGT”, no need just get the CTU to ring her as you have a hotline to her office.
  
  20 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:40am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Not really an ‘astroturf’, as the article lists the backers as:
    
    the Public Health Association, New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, Council of Trade Unions, Public Service Association, Hui E! Community Aotearoa, Equality Network, Closing the Gap, Poverty Action Waikato, and UCAN (United Community Action Network)
    
    An ‘astroturf’ organisation is one that pretends to be grassroots, membership based, but is actually organised and funded by other individuals or organisations.
    
    1 18
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 10:44am
    - Stars And Stripes
      
      Actually I’m surprised Labour felt the need to help establish this group as a front for their policies because it’s far easier and cheaper to just get the
      taxpayer to shill on your behalf in the form of Michael Cullen.
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:35am
    - sooty
      
      Who’s paying the bills and not trying to elimating poverdy!
      I those outfits are sucking too much money, if they can fund this. Cut their funding!
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 12:17pm
      - waikatogirl
        
        If “poverdy” was reduced there wouldn’t be a need for so many funded charities to be run by troughing administrators. Poverdy will never be reduced.
        
        4 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 1:46pm
- alloytoo
  
  It is amusing and sad that these people use the words fair and justice in conjunction with taxation.
  
  They clearly have no idea what any of those words mean nor how tax works or should be efficiently implemented.
  
  18 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:51am
- hullkiwi
  
  With a name pike Tax Justice Aotearoa NZ, you can guess what it is about without asking any questions.
  If you read the article you find:
  1. That the group is launching at parliament (so it has to have political backing); and
  2. The supporters of this group look like a who’s who of lobby groups that support the Labour party.
  
  This group are backing CGT and claim they tax reform.
  
  Imposing the recommendations of the TWG is not tax reform, it I’d merely lumping more tax raising schemes on to New Zealanders.
  
  The last meaningful tax reform was the introduction of GST/FBT in the 1980s, since then it has been one way traffic. As I’ve argued here in the past until there is a meaningful review of how big we (the electorate want local & central govt) the argument will remain “how much more blood can be squeezed out of the stone that is the NZ taxpayer”.
  
  26 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:03am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Tax Justice Aotearoa
    Straight out of the green/commie playbook.
    We should expect a refund from Cullen for plagiarism. The TWG’s work is not original.
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 5:30pm
- Tony Stuart
  
  I am automatically suspicious of any group with “Aotearoa” in its title.
  
  48 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:17am
- septic skeptic
  
  Pretty much all of this new group stand to gain financially themselves through a big increase in taxation. Join the dots:
  
  More tax>bigger budgets for whatever they do>higher pay for themselves.
  
  Some of us create more in order to get ahead. Others lobby harder to increase the size of the trough.
  
  17 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:28am
- Rich Prick
  
  Christian Social Services, Council of Trade Unions, Public Service Association, Hui E! Community Aotearoa, Equality Network, Closing the Gap, Poverty Action Waikato, and UCAN (United Community Action Network).
  
  And I’ll wager not one of those outfits pays any meaningful tax. Funny how those who participate the least in paying tax are most vocal about what others should pay.
  
  33 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:31am
- In Vino Veritas
  
  You have to laugh Swifty, “its well known there is a stubborn gap between the rich and the poor”.
  Straight from the TJANZ. What a bunch of inept buffoons. Of course there is a gap. And its not stubborn, its reality. Unless of course everyone earns the same amount of money no matter how feckless they are. What makes me think that TJANZ is just another bunch of misfit socialists trying to appear as if they have and answer to a non existent problem?
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 3:33pm
  - Swifty
    
    If by stubborn they mean that it’s been a feature, and quite possibly a good one, of humanity for thousands of years – then they’d be right Vino.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 5:57pm
Gravelroad

Jane Bowron – as with Sam Neill last week- another aging, authoritarian, privileged, white person telling us what to do and how to think. This time about rugby.
Ms Bowron obviously an expert in this field.
Must be to be so confident with her instructions, opinions and insults directed in her Stuff column to players and administrators.
32 1
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:47am
- harvey wilson
  
  Jane Bowron refused to support the all blacks at the 2015 rwc because the team was announced by Key at the beehive .
  Never mind the likes of Little and Mallard were there for the event.
  
  Biycotts go both ways, I haven’t read a word she’s written since then .
  
  25 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:43am
  - Tall Man
    
    Bet you haven’t missed much.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 1:45pm
Yvette

Christchurch terror attack: Investigators explore links with Europe’s anti-Muslim anger

A spokesman for the French wing of the Identitarian Movement told The Washington Post that the Christchurch suspect had sent an unsolicited donation of about $1200 in September 2017.

… the Identitarian Movement promotes an alarmist message that Muslim migrants will one day overrun Western culture.

That is the second European group to acknowledge receiving money from the suspected attacker. Last month, Austrian authorities raided the home of an Identitarian-linked leader, Martin Sellner, who was given a donation of nearly $1700 by the suspect more than a year ago.
Sellner said his goal now is to stop what he fears is an “Islamisation” in Europe.

He uses scaremongering phrases such as “mass immigration” and “population replacement” – a reference to the title of a 2012 book by right-wing French polemicist Renaud Camus. In his book, “The Great Replacement”, Camus writes that Europe’s white majority may eventually be replaced by immigrants from North Africa and elsewhere.

The New Zealand Censor’s press release confirms the Christchurch terrorist’s “manifesto” is called “The Great Replacement”

So Marama Davidson has said –
New Zealand was founded on the theft of land, language and identity of indigenous people. This land we are standing on is land we were violently removed from to uphold the same agenda that killed the people in the Mosques yesterday.

To the contrary, if “the land being stood on” was the Manchester Arena, Tarrant would be on the side of those killed, not the killers – not to justify in any way Tarrant’s utterly vile actions, but to wonder about Davidson’s exploitation of them.

Can Marama Davidson not see the forest for the trees?
Were she to write a manifesto, could she call it “The Great Replacement”?
37 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:51am
- Inandout
  
  Marama should watch ‘Hotel Mumbai’ to get an understanding of how terrorists on all sides are devoid of usual human compassion. When Tarrant did his killings he merely copied the Pakistani Muslim element, less killings perhaps and shorter in length, but equally as appalling.
  
  20 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:47am
  - simpleton1
    
    Well traveled, up through Pakistan and would have known of Pakistani thinking.
    Tarrant would have been aware of ‘Hotel Mumbai’ and possibly watched it.
    
    With the current censure-ship one wonders if everything that has been searched, phone records, computers, files, etc.. will ever be released.
    
    I am sickened by what he did, and also just as sickened by what Mohammad “the perfect man” also did.
    
    25 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 10:18am
    - Inandout
      
      In the case of the Mumbai massacre it belies belief that special forces took nearly 10 hours to reach the hotel. If that was transposed to Christchurch, Tarrant would probably have just driven away from the mosque to create more havoc elsewhere. Anyway, a synopsis:
      http://time.com/5556215/hotel-mumbai-movie-true-story/
      
      9 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:15am
    - Maria
      
      Why would a white supremacist go to Pakistan?
      
      5 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 12:47pm
      - Tall Man
        
        The only people calling him that are the media and the coalition.
        
        Risk imprisonment and read the manifesto…he looked more like an eco warrior to me much like the “1080 activists”.
        
        7 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 1:44pm
      - UrbanNeocolonialist
        
        Or if you’re interested read it when overseas – where this unwarranted and chilling over-reach in censorship, such as is seen in far more repressive regimes, doesn’t apply.
        
        0 0
        Report
        April 8, 2019 9:23pm
- mandk
  
  “theft of land”
  
  Stop whining. Maori were always stealing land from one another. And worse.
  
  They also dispossessed and slaughtered the Moriori.
  
  36 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:15am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Something to bear in mind if anyone is ever concerned about white framers losing ‘their’ land in Zimbabwe or South Africa?
    
    0 20
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 10:58am
    - alloytoo
      
      If I was living in South Africa and looking at the example of Zimbabwe I’d be very concerned about something called “Food Security”.
      
      9 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:27am
    - kowtow
      
      Yep whites are being framed.
      
      9 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:48am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      Edit: ‘farmers’. Apologies to any framers out there.
      
      1 8
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 11:49am
    - UrbanNeocolonialist
      
      It is wrong to judge the actions of the distant past by the standards of today, the wrongs of the many generations distant past cannot be corrected in the here-and-now, doing so only punishes the innocent by rewarding the undeserving. BUT. It is entirely right to judge the actions of today by the standards of today and not create further injustices.
      
      13 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 12:01pm
    - cmm
      
      Many black tribes were very happy when the boers moved into their areas because the boers had guns and gave them some protection from the marauding bands of robbers and killers.
      
      There was heaps of land – enoough for the black tribes and the boers and Brits.
      
      The Mfecane – when the Zulus ran amok in a massive genocidal killing of others, killed and displaced somewhere near 2 million people – over half the population of the area now known as South Africa. The boers moved inland shortly after that and the people that were left quickly sought alliances to protect themselves.
      
      The impacts of the Mfecane continued for a few decades and the boers and Brits brought relative peace and stability to the region.
      
      Exactly the same likely happened in NZ. Brits brought stability. They took up some lands, but so what?
      
      Nothing new. Exactly the same happened in Britain when the Romans moved in and stopped the Britons from beating each other up.
      
      We (of British stock) gained from colonisation by the Romans. Why should we not pass the favour on to the Maori?
      
      10 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 1:18pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Something else to bear in mind is the vast majority of land obtained by settlers was as a result of “willing seller and willing buyer”.
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 1:42pm
Fletch

Meanwhile in Kenya, Islamists kill 147 Christian students –

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/kenya/11513626/Kenya-attack-147-dead-as-Islamist-gunmen-target-Christian-students.html
34 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 10:06am
- big bruv
  
  Don’t worry Fletch, no doubt the Airhead will wear a huge crucifix in solidarity with Christians.
  
  29 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:34am
  - sooty
    
    Can she ride in on an ass, like Mary!
    
    7 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 12:21pm
- krazykiwi
  
  The analysis I read suggested that more than 90,000 Christians have been killed because their faith in the 10 years to Dec 2018. Christians are now the most globally persecuted religious group.
  
  So when our appointed PM dons a hajib, turns national radio into a 4.5-million reach minaret, and speaks of Islamic prayers at ANZAC day services I feel physically sick.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:53pm
Maggie Pie

Ive got one of those stickers on the rear window of my Q5 that sez: “HONK IF YOU THINK I’M SEXY” I often just sit at green lights until i feel better about myself.
28 2
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 10:07am
The King

Hilarious. “scaremongering phrases such as “mass immigration” and population replacement”

This is literally on the UN website it says: “Replacement migration” There is no scaremongering mass migration and replacement is an actual policy we signed up for. You’re just not allowed to question it…

https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/ageing/replacement-migration.asp
20 1
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 10:10am
- simpleton1
  
  This is another way to “improve economy” in the name of diversity.
  
  the report considers replacement migration for eight low-fertility countries (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States) and two regions (Europe and the European Union). Replacement migration refers to the international migration that a country would need to offset population decline and population ageing
  
  Another way at trying to get at western countries after trying the racism button that are considered to have too much homogeneity. Now “population decline”.
  
  A series of ratchets, taking small bites in turns, of racism, culturalism, diversity, religiosity, correctness, speech ‘levels’ etc..
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:49am
- freethinker
  
  The word mass a large number so that bit is correct in terms of people moving to Europe & USA. migration is different as it implies entry with permission so mass migration without permission is actually an invasion. Historically invasions have been repelled using deadly force so no surprises should the average citizen repeat what History teaches?
  
  5 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 12:00pm
big bruv

Interesting going’s on at the Nations Airline. It appears some cabin staff have been let go for partaking of illicit substances whilst on a stop over in the USA. Will the Labour party hack Luxon care to comment about that?
16 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 10:33am
- Rob2
  
  Nothing new under the sun then.
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 6:53pm
Tall Man

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/04/labour-mps-publish-near-identical-opinion-pieces-in-local-paper.html

But they wrote their own columns…really.

Looks like ardern is not the only liar in the labour caucas……
32 1
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 10:33am
MCos

An interesting article about the physical disrepair of the UK Houses of Parliament.
NZ faced the same problem awhile Bacall and moving the debating chamber to a building across the street.
https://www.lrb.co.uk/v39/n22/contents
5 1
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 10:45am
- MCos
  
  If they dither around as they have with Brexit the place will come crashing down on top of them one day without the help of a Guy Fawkes.
  
  6 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 10:49am
howitis

Perhaps it is a good time to remember that the only domestic violence murder in NZ this decade since 2010 in which a firearm/rifle was used to kill a partner/spouse and attempted double murder was by a serving NZ police officer.
This was constable Ben McLean on 25 April 2017.
A reminder of facts:

…On April 25, carrying out a careful plan, McLean bound and gagged Verity and shot her in the head, then lay in wait for Duggan to return home from work. He shot Duggan twice but the injured Duggan overpowered him after a vicious fight….

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/99268147/invercargill-policeman-ben-mclean-admits-killing-wife-shooting-her-new-partner
…His plan to kill his wife and her new partner and make it look like a murder/suicide was in desperate trouble….
…Verity’s bruised and beaten body was propped up on the couch in the flat. She had been bound and gagged and shot under the chin….
…In the early evening McLean, who held a firearms licence, dressed in black and donned a backpack containing the Plinker rifle, a long baton, disposable rubber gloves, a pair of black police issue plastic handcuffs, hand sanitiser, towels and a New Zealand police portable radio tuned to the frequency of the main Invercargill police communications channel….

You can read the rest.
It is sickening reading about a serving NZ police officer carefully planning and trying to execute 2 people by rifle.
He only managed to kill a bound gagged woman as the man he attempted to murder fought back and lived.

This was in Invercargill and that is where police union( association) president Chris Cahill comes from.
Cahill has wanted to arm the NZ police from day 1 and that was the main theme from Greg O’Connor his predecessor for 2 decades and a now a Labour Party MP.

>>and STILL, the proposal is to arm the police – well not a proposal, it has happened by stealth – while disarming the non-police.
Phase one is on operation now.

The irony is that in the Ben McLean murder + attempted murder he was armed with a gun and shot his intended second murder victim twice and yet this shot man, Garry Duggan, still overwhelmed the well armed, serving, police officer Ben McLean.
Does this not make people uncomfortable?
It sure makes me uncomfortable.

Anzac Day 2017. Less than 2 years ago. Lest we forget.
McLean got 17 years.
Andrew Little possibly thinks 2 years Home D would be appropriate.
The police want to disarm ordinary people, while making squeaky noises about gangs with illegal weapons, yet permanently arm themselves.
The future does not look bright especially when a creepy-unionist- turned-Labour-MP like Greg O’Connor finally gets his way.
21 4
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 10:46am
- freethinker
  
  This does not demonstrate that Police are unsuitable to be trusted with firearms but that even Police vetting of their own officers cannot guarantee that the license holder will never commit an unexpected violent act.
  
  12 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 12:05pm
  - Tall Man
    
    That is correct and any procedure implemented can always have failures however, the changes introduced by the coalition prior to Christmas 2018 whereby you were abe to purchase a MSSA online without personal intervention were absolutely idiotic and it will be interesting to see if that enabled tarrant to get his firearms.
    
    The Rpyal Commission will deal with that but I guarantee any culpability attached to “what’s in it for wynston” and the pr girl will be well buried.
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 1:34pm
    - Rachael Membery
      
      But will they tell us? I doubt it.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 4:05pm
- Tall Man
  
  On a motorcycle message board I belong to based in the US one of the members posted that he had been accused by his ex wife in family court that he had abused her. His firearms license was immediately withdrawn as well as his firearms.
  
  To get them all back he had to appear before a judge for a “review” hearing that would be at least 90 days away.
  
  He was happy with the process as he was able to clearly demonstrate that he had not been abusive and that the accusation was malicious. Where have we heard that before?
  
  Anyway, he was a police officer and so was unable to carry his service firearm either so got 90 plus days “office leave”.
  
  He was not unhappy about the process and as a police officer he supported the idea he was just a little bemused by the inability to retain a firearm for his job during work hours.
  
  Having never had such an issue, I wonder if we have a similar procedure in NZ.
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 1:30pm
Lipo

Anybody else think it is ironic that the Privacy Commissioner is demanding Facebook hand over private information
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12220247
25 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 11:11am
- Inandout
  
  Is this the Privacy guy who refuses to be interviewed on Shaun’s radio show?
  
  16 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 11:40am
graham

Just received this via email … I’m still trying to work out if it’s a joke or a real announcement!

Latest news from the UK Minister of the Navy…….

The Royal Navy is proud to announce its new fleet of Type 45 destroyers.
Having initially named the first two ships HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless, the Naming Committee has, after intensive pressure from the European Union in Brussels, renamed them HMS Cautious and HMS Prudence.

The next five ships are to be HMS Empathy, HMS Circumspect, HMS Nervous, HMS Timorous and HMS Apologist.

Costing £850 million each, they comply with the very latest employment, equality, health & safety and human rights laws.
The Royal Navy fully expects any future enemy to be jolly decent and to comply with the same high standards of behaviour.
The new user-friendly crow’s nest has excellent wheelchair access. Live ammunition has been replaced with paintballs to reduce the risk of anyone getting hurt and to cut down on the number of compensation claims. Stress counsellors and lawyers will be on board, as will a full sympathetic industrial tribunal.

The crew will be 50/50 men and women, and will contain the correct balance of race, gender, sexuality and disability. Sailors will only work a maximum of 37 hours per week as per Brussels Rules on Working Hours, even in wartime. All the vessels are equipped with a maternity ward, a creche and a gay disco.
Tobacco will be banned throughout the ship, but recreational cannabis will be allowed in wardrooms and messes.
The Royal Navy is eager to shed its traditional reputation for “Rum, sodomy and the lash” so out has gone the rum ration, replaced by sparkling water. Sodomy remains, now extended to include all ratings under 18. The lash will still be available on request.
Saluting of officers is now considered elitist and has been replaced by “Hello Sailor”.
All information on notice boards will be in 37 different languages and Braille.
Crew members will now no longer have to ask permission to grow beards and/or moustaches. This applies equally to female crew.
The MoD is inviting suggestions for a “non-specific” flag because the White Ensign may offend minorities. The Union Jack must never be seen.
The newly re-named HMS Cautious will be commissioned shortly by Captain Hook from the Finsbury Park Mosque who will break a petrol bomb over the hull. She will gently slide into the sea as the Royal Marines Band plays the Village People’s “In the Navy”.
Her first deployment will be to escort boatloads of illegal immigrants to ports on England’s south coast.

The Prime Minister said, “Our ships reflect the very latest in modern thinking and they will always be able to comply with any new legislation from Brussels .”

Her final words were, “Britannia waives the rules.”
20 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 11:42am
- cmm
  
  Considering the latest British sub compromises its military performance for environmental standards I would not be surprised.
  
  They no longer discharge sewage and gash into the sea, but instead store it all in tanks for processing in on-shore facilities.
  
  This makes the subs bigger, slower, noisier and less able to do all the things subs are supposed to do.
  
  So if they replace depth charges with cuddle bombs I would not be surprised.
  
  11 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 1:03pm
- calendar girl
  
  Brilliant, graham! A good laugh now, but let’s not assume it couldn’t happen (in this country anyway).
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 1:06pm
mikenmildagain

I see Trump is continuing to drain the swamp:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/111868675/us-homeland-security-secretary-kirstjen-nielsen-resigns-amid-growing-border-tensions
MAGA!
7 14
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 11:53am
- Tall Man
  
  And yet here we happily retain the grossly incompetent departmental heads here and you’re worrying about Trump?
  
  17 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 1:16pm
WaveyDavey

And so it begins…

https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2019/circuit/seeking-an-abortion/

Now, firstly, I am not anti-abortion.

Secondly, however, this article, as well as being an abomination to one’s eyes, is spinning a story from nearly 30 years ago as though it happened yesterday.

Totally disingenuous of Stuff to imply that the same views hold today as they did in the 1990s, especially that they are the norm.
12 1
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 12:51pm
- Tall Man
  
  “And so it begins”….
  
  Yep.
  
  8 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 1:14pm
Hugh Pavletich

… AUSTRALIA …

The Sydney suburbs where buyers are paying 2014 prices … Aidan Devine … News com au

https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/sydney-nsw/the-sydney-suburbs-where-buyers-are-paying-2014-prices/news-story/4c5cce1a7990af0a5a760c8877180e11

It’s 2014 all over again — just without the ice bucket challenge.

House hunters in multiple areas across Sydney have been purchasing homes at or close to prices last recorded five years ago as sellers continue to slash their asking prices to counter the current market slump.

CoreLogic figures showed the areas with the biggest reversal in prices were spread across the southwest, Western Sydney and the Hills district and Ryde area. … read more via hyperlink above …
.
.
IMF hits Aussie house price crash panic button – MacroBusiness Australia (behind paywall)

https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2019/04/imf-hits-aussie-house-price-crash-panic-button/

Via the AFR comes the IMF in an unusual break with the tradition of agreeing with whatever the locals say:

Australia’s housing market contraction is worse than first thought, says a top IMF analyst, leaving the economy in what he called a “delicate situation” that boosts the need for faster infrastructure spending and even potential interest rate cuts. … read more via hyperlink above …
.
.
… Pity about the grossly excessive dwelling and therefore lending multiples stretch … now … understandably bursting …

Definition of an Affordable Housing Market … Performance Urban Planning

http://www.performanceurbanplanning.org/affordability.html
1 13
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 1:24pm
- Cobolt24
  
  AUSTRALIA: Macrobusiness
  .
  One in five auctions pulled by “under stress” vendors
  .
  https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2019/04/one-five-auctions-pulled-stress-vendors/
  
  partial extract…
  
  The small seasonal bounce in auction clearances can seemingly be attributed, in part, to a surge in homes being withdrawn prior to auction
  
  2 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 4:00pm
JibberJabber

What do you reckon the chance of reading about this in the NZ media is?

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/04/new-zealand-police-confiscate-airsoft-pellet-guns-crossbow-from-man-because-he-supports-trump/

a..50/50
b..5/8ths of fuck all
c…zero
10 2
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 1:42pm
- JibberJabber
  
  Addendum,
  I`m sure there are bigger arseholes with heavier weaponry out there, the person in question from 2 years ago.
  https://thespinoff.co.nz/auckland/18-10-2016/that-obnoxious-drunk-driver-mayoral-candidate-hes-also-an-islamaphobic-antisemitic-trustafarian/
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 1:52pm
  - mikenmildagain
    
    And you wonder why his latest Facebook claims are ignored by the NZ media?
    
    3 8
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 2:45pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Appears the Golriz Gharaman -Stephen Franks TV interview has been through the censorship mill…

This transcript is of the edited version of the full interview. In the full interview (which we do not have access to) Stephen pointed out that Tarrant described himself as a Greenie and an eco-fascist.
https://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2019/04/whaleoil-transcript-golriz-ghahraman-stephen-franks-on-free-speech/

Imagine 2 lawyers needing a bunch of lawyers to edit their ” debate”.

How privileged some MPS are, eh? Good to have mates in the media.
24 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 1:57pm
- sooty
  
  Who would have thunk that hate speech, is alive and well in NZ!
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 2:34pm
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    Well the Green caucus is alive and well in NZ and they are most well known purveyors of bigotry/hate speech in NZ (the ‘diversity approved sort’ of bigotry/hate speech obviously) at the moment…
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:02pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  Stephen pointed out that Tarrant described himself as a Greenie and an eco-fascist.
  Tarrant indeed do that.
  Why is the truth about Tarrant being hidden? In his Manifesto he presents as a megalomaniac homicidal nutter who would foster some strange beliefs–its far from solely white issues or racial issues.Stephen pointed out that Tarrant described himself as a Greenie and an eco-fascist.
  Tarrant indeed do that.
  
  Why is the truth about Tarrant being hidden? In his Manifesto he presents as a megalomaniac homicidal nutter who would foster some strange beliefs–it’s far from solely white or racial issues. He expects a Nobel Prize in due course and lines himself up with the greats in history.
  
  10 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 5:15pm
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    Tarrant says he’s an ethno-separatist and eco-fascist who doesn’t hate other races or religions and enjoyed his time and the hospitality he received while travelling the world – but believes there shouldn’t be mixing of cultures via immigration. Has that ethno-separatism in common with a radicalised Maori in NZ like Hone Harawira etc. While the the Greens do a stirling job of pushing the thought policing eco-fascist line in NZ. In my view they are all idiots.
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 8:57pm
JibberJabber

Why are New Zealand taxpayers contributing to this scam?
https://twitter.com/JohnRuddick2/status/1114949318312517632
6 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 2:45pm
Andrei

Do you ever have the feeling that humour in 21st century New Zealand might be dead
7 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 4:39pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  No. Lots of lulz on Kiwiblog.
  
  1 7
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 4:54pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Well you do seem incapable of not sticking your neck out… it would sacrilege to not chop it really.
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 5:14pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      He just can not help it, Tall Man.
      No matter how many downticks, he is a legend in his smoko break
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      April 8, 2019 6:34pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Only when the comments are from the loony left Mike
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 6:32pm
- simpleton1
  
  N.Z. humour?
  Bring back Mr, Gormsby!
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 4:56pm
- Tall Man
  
  Humour is ok in NZ but faux outrage is very prevalent and this “wannabe” is just getting the attention she deeply craves.
  
  Basically she is just a fucking bully and like most bullies needs to be publicly smacked down but everyone is too frightened these days of responding on the off chance they get labelled racist.
  
  As a predominantly European I have been using chopsticks since I was a very young kid and while I haven’t seen the ad why would I be offended..I am just as likely as her to use chopsticks and in fact yesterday used one to shove some glue down a hole in a very difficult place to reach under my pantry base units.
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 5:12pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I have a brother that lives in Oz. Last time here at a Caucasian/Asian meal I picked up chopsticks. He said “you can’t use those”
    Me “Why not? have you Aussies made another Law?”
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 6:41pm
simpleton1

.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 4:55pm
alex Masterley

Larry williams retiring shortly.
Bugger.
Thats Newstalk ZB stuffed for my demographic.
16 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 5:07pm
- Rachael Membery
  
  Is he being pushed?
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 6:57pm
- Ross12
  
  alex
  It will be a real test for Newstalk ZB to see who they replay him with. If they do not get someone with some intellect, an understanding of business and at least in the centre politically then they will be dead as a radio network.
  As greybeard mentions below Magic talk is waking up to the reality of the radio market.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 7:04pm
Captain Mainwaring

Looks like the leftist takeover of the media is almost complete.
I just heard that Larry Williams is about to retire. That will leave Hosking as a lone force standing against the Marxist hordes. I wonder how long he can hang in there.
18 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 5:09pm
- greybeard
  
  Magic Talk is picking up the baton.
  Hosking 6am – 9am, then Peter Williams & Sean Plunkett from 9am – 3pm.
  Not bad radio at all.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 6:35pm
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Ratings reports say otherwise, but Magic does seem to have appeal for the Kiwiblog niche market.
    
    0 8
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 7:22pm
Happychappy

Now they want to stop travel to help save the environment .
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2019/04/auckland-professor-says-kiwis-should-quit-air-travel-to-protect-the-environment.html
Is there anything the fun police won’t try to stop.
14 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 5:21pm
- sooty
  
  No kiwis don’t need to sto travel. The idiot prof should stop travel. The idiot should notb e allowed to set foot in another country as he gives us a bad name!
  
  10 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 6:43pm
- Rachael Membery
  
  Only if it applies to Green Mp’s, they wouldn’t want to be hypocritical.
  
  10 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 6:56pm
- Tall Man
  
  I’ll stop when all green mps stop. They can ride their bloody bikes to work…..
  
  No I won’t 🙂
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 6:58pm
- The Heat
  
  Grounding all academics, Green voters and Green MPs would certainly be a benefit, and a great show of leadership for the people who take them seriously.
  
  I’m all for it. When will they start?
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 7:14pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Yep, they’re great believers in having ~~us ordinary taxpayers~~ NZ setting an example for the rest of the world,
    
    But couldn’t they go a step or two further into the Greenery by giving up their life in the industrial-capitalist complex and retire to a cabbage commune?
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:23pm
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  This clown probably has no idea that today’s aircraft carry three times as many passengers twice as far on half the fuel than the planes of 40 years ago did.
  It’s called progress.
  And in the name of progress he sits all effing day on his employer (indirectly the Government’s) time going from Wellington to Auckland on a bus.
  What a bloody virtue-signalling plonker.
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:17pm
ABS

This place sucks with moderation.

[For the rest of the post indicates you probably should look to set up a blog that meets your standards – Moderator]
3 3
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 8:07pm
- ABS
  
  By moderating my post you prove my point. Like I give a fuck [ Door – slam – don’t – Moderator]
  
  2 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 8, 2019 9:07pm
  - ABS
    
    25% decrease in traffic in a month lol
    Good luck with your ad income stream
    
    1 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 8, 2019 9:21pm
ABS

[For the rest of the post indicates you probably should look to set up a blog that meets your standards – Moderator]

Perhaps you guys should grow the fuck up and stop acting like New Zealanders perpetuated the massacre. Or in any way condone it.
That’s it from me. Instead of restricting speech, post my out. Or dont you have the balls?
5 3
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 9:35pm
- alien
  
  I’ve never seen a single post that said anything other than a foreigner did this.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 9, 2019 6:27pm
  - mikenmildagain
    
    ABS, like a few others, is disappointed that DPF has chosen to actively police his long-standing comments policy.
    Maybe his juvenile rantings will be missed. Maybe the moderation will allow more mature exchanges of views.
    There still seems to me to be plenty of scope for stating opinions and poking fun at people, without the overt nastiness.
    
    1 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    April 9, 2019 7:14pm
rightoverlabour

I see the teachers have rejected the offer from Hipkins. They say there is no more money…. except to pay millions or Billions for what were legal firearms, and the Kiwibuild homes that won’t sell, or the stupid light rail that will cost much more than originally thumb sucked. I am generally anti union, but in this instance, I hope the teachers’ unions bring the government to its knees.
6 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 8, 2019 11:03pm
DigNap15

Where do we get to see radio ratings?
1 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 9, 2019 6:15am
Rob2

Lot of yatter the other day about Wellington going under water with so called Global warming. Well here is a link to a pic of Island Bay 1912. Shows the sandy nature of that ground. Before 1856 it had a sea channel through there. Next big one will lift it further. When well any old time soon.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2365739496771549&set=p.2365739496771549&type=3&theater
3 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 9, 2019 6:20am
Rob2

As per normal for news these day and govt, deptments nothing is as it seems at first light.

Northland’s largest log hauler Stan Semenoff Logging has hit back at criticism of its road safety record by the NZ Transport Agency, saying it has only had four speeding tickets in four years.

A statement from a spokesman for the company, headed by former Whangarei mayor Stan Semenoff, challenged the agency’s legal action, indicating the business was obeying road rules and ensuring its drivers performed their duties safely.

Semenoff’s statement said the business only had four speeding tickets in four years, claims of logbook offences were invalid because drivers were taking breaks, the business had a four-star rating and, instead of the 116 offences the agency claimed, the business only had nine traffic offence notices in four years.

“NZTA legal counsel Steve Haszard has stated Stan Semenoff Logging has been guilty of 116 ‘speed and traffic-related offences’ over a four-year period. Fact: SSL notes nine traffic offences: four speeding tickets, two for not wearing a seatbelt, two for not displaying the [license] number on the windscreen, one for failing to give way,” the Stan Semenoff Logging statement said.
more;
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12220293

Very discouraging reading and it seems on the face of it that the Lawyers at NZTA are out of line by their own standards.

Perhaps this huld be a todays post given that the post the other day appears to contain erroneous information.
Right of reply and all that and certainly IMHO based on today’s info, Jones was well within his rights to question NZTA. ( the Cabinet manual, according to the cabinet, not withstanding)
These Nazi organizations need much better over view and if you doubt it follow the behavoir of Tauranga City Council over the Bella Vista housing debacle. It is atrocious what the local body has done.
You can follow that here.
https://www.facebook.com/taurangacitycouncilX/

Now I don’t have an axe to grind in either case except that I despise unethical behhavoir such as carried out publicly by these organizations.
1 0
Log in to Reply
Report
April 9, 2019 7:07am
- mikenmildagain
  
  How do you think these organizations are like Nazis?
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  April 9, 2019 7:16pm

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« Stats NZ refusing to answer parliamentary questions

The cost of a CGT »

Donations

You can now donate to Kiwiblog

Exclusive content from DPF on Patreon

Become a Patron!

Never miss a post

Email Address

Join 37.4K other subscribers

Highlights

Health Target 5 – elective treatments
Health Target 4 – Specialist appointments
Health Target 3 – Emergency Dept Waiting Times
Health Target 2 – Immunisations

Links

"Seymour is only doing openly what M?ori nationalists and their Pakeha allies have been doing, quietly for the past 50 years."
Not PC
Sharp departure in child poverty approach
Point of Order
Continuous Process Improvement
No Minister
New Zealand government urged to back ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders without equivocation
The Daily Blog
Popuphobia’s Javier Milei Problem
Utopia
Woman of the day
Hompaddock
Open mike 22/11/2024
The Standard
Drawn
No Right Turn
The transgender agenda sunk Kamala
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
No Punches Pulled (Bob Jones)
What does “reciprocity” mean in New Zealand laws?
Croaking Cassandra
A Day of Reckoning
NZCPR
This will not end well
Offsetting Behaviour
Top 14 Predictions for Round 10
Stats Chat
Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet
The Civilian
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker
Angie Warren-Clark: Meet the Newbies
Dan Moskovitz

editor@kiwiblog.co.nz

PO Box 12270, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

Facebook
Twitter
FourSquare
Instagram
LinkedIn
Google+

Archives
Disclosure Statement
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Complaints Policy
Comments Policy

Design by cre8d