3191 comments by HC

Member since Sunday, January 31, 2010
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  1. Bob Jones: Currency a dead duck but union can still fly Monday, June 10, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 2:49 PM
    Well.
    the Euro will stay, I am afraid, as abolishing will lead to so much disaster, it will lead to yet more political radicalisation and a return to the Europe of before WW2. So all key decision-makers in Europe, and especially the ones being from countries that are part of the Eurozone, will do all necessary to save it. There is even Lituania intent on joining the Euro, whether Bob believes this or not.

    The Brits are always treated as a bit of an odd lot, by most continental Europeans, always wanting to have special preferences and special arrangements. So nothing is new in that regard. UKIP is a party that can shake up the politics there, but hardly for the good. As much as some have reason to be critical of mass migration of past years, a return to the glory of the Empire is not going to happen. So they are yesterday minds.

    How great is the UK doing? Hardly thrilling, just escaping recession recently.

    The mistakes made with the Euro will gradually be dealt with, and that requires fiscal and monetary alignment of all Eurozone states, and an effort to bring in structures of a truly more united Europe, not just for trade, rules and currency.

    It's too early to cheer, Mr Jones
  2. John Armstrong: Forced exit adds a scar but it won't destabilise Govt Monday, June 10, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 2:13 PM
    "Much hinges on the level of pressure Winston Peters and Labour are able to place on Dunne to get him to quit as an MP altogether.


    Dunne faces a potential hearing in front of Parliament's privileges committee. That is never pleasant."

    Well, yes, this is the question, what has Peters got up his sleeve, and is there material he has in his hands or on a computer, that is the question here. I would not rush to make early judgments on any consequences Dunne may yet face, and how this will affect the government.

    So we need to wait and see, and the story will continue in Parliament, as early as this afternoon.

    While National is likely to win a by-election, any further exposure of embarrassment and more of Dunne's actions could also rub off negatively on National, perhaps leading to a by-election not being a foregone conclusion. Key may in the case of Dunne resigning, due to the pressure getting too much, also decide for an early general election.

    In any case, it is harming the government, for sure, as trust in Key is also declining. Key backed Dunne, but then he had to let him resign, as otherwise Dunne would have to be sacked.

    But the opposition truly must refocus on policy also.
  3. John Armstrong: Get-tough Greens preparing for battle Friday, June 7, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 1:15 PM
    HC
    MCT: If you think the Greens are "communists" or "socialists", you have never seen communism or socialism in action. Coming from near what used to be the Iron Curtain in Europe, I have, and the Greens are anything but what you describe them as. They are indeed rather "centrist", albeit tending to some moderate interventionist policies, when compared with parties in comparable democratic countries in Europe. But then you will probably call all European parties, those right and left of centre as being "socialist", right? That exposes either your lack of insight, or your own political bias. Of course the Greens need to develop their policies further and apply pragmatism, where it is justified, but we have had decades of laissez faire neo capitalist policies from National and Labour now, which have benefited mostly only an upper third of the population. Jobs and opportunities have gone off-shore, particularly manufacturing of value added products, and living standards have slipped behind those of other comparable countries. NZ depends on dairy and other primary production, low or no value added exports, and slowly this place is sold out to foreign interests. Greens oppose this trend
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    MCT
    Most people would consider both National & the Helen Clark's Labour Government to be politically centralist governments, and followed similar policies that are been followed in most western governments, for example Australia under John Howard's conservative government or Britain under Tony Blair's Labour government. I did travel to the USSR in the eighties and observed how socialism destroyed the spirit of the people, because people were not able to make decisions about there own future. Russel Norman and the Green/Communist party wish to remove the ability of New Zealanders to make decisions about their own future by stripping people of their assets and not allowing individuals to trade in an open market. A clear example of this, is the single government buyer model for electricity proposed by the Greens, this will destroy innovation in the energy sector because who will bother if you cannot control and profit from your own ideas.
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    MCT:
    So Norman and the Greens want to strip people off their assets? Where did you hear or learn that? If anyone stripped 49 per cent of Mighty River Power's collective state owned ownership (in which all NZers had an interest), it was the National led government, selling it to a few thousand who bought the bulk of the shares.

    That is redistribution to serve the investment interests of a few and disowning the rest, who will pay higher power prices, from which those new few owners will earn dividends to serve their investment interests.

    The Greens opposed the sale, as also the continued shift of income and wealth from the bottom to the top.

    As for NZ Power, it does not strip anyone of assets, it is only a wholesale purchasing approach to get the best economical electricity delivery for end users, private consumers and business consumers, thus the latter to operate more economically.

    Innovation will still happen, likely more so, as the Greens do not just want to bring in a NZ Power agency, they want to create incentives for new, alternative energy generation on a larger scale. Indeed what the Greens are proposing is along what "communist" Denmark and Germany do to some degree.
  4. Should Peter Dunne leave Parliament? Monday, June 10, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, June 10, 2013 at 3:35 PM
    Peter Dunne has been in many ways a self-serving opportunist, once unbelievably a Labour Party member, then trying other fortunes with own parties, then succeeding with United Future, being opportune to work with the Clark led government, after the 2008 election suddenly joining in to support a rather opposite National led government.


    He supported the sale of about half of major state assets, voted for the most draconian, in part very inhumane and even illegal social welfare reforms soon to kick in (sadly not mentioned much in the media), supported the extension of the GCSB's powers to spy on NZers, supported other laws of questionable purpose and quality, and he has ignored the concerns of many affected by policies just mentioned.

    He arrogantly tried to portray himself as a clean, decent and fair MP and minister, but he had also his own personal agenda, and was keen to keep his cosy seat and privileges.

    While he now claims to not want to disclose emails citing privacy concerns of constituents and a journalist, he had no problem serving a government with a Paula Bennett, who rudely ignored privacy law and leaked personal details.

    He has to go as he lost all credit now.
  5. Bernard Hickey: Blind spot on our economic highway Saturday, June 8, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, June 10, 2013 at 12:38 PM
    Grant
    Fonterra and its investment in China is not part of "our economic strategy." There is no call for regarding NZ companies as if they are somehow "ours." They are not. They belong to their shareholders' only. No-one knows how China works, because China has no rules restraining its rulemakers. China's govt is untrammelled, and so its ambit is entirely arbitrary. "Shared" is not the specific quality of an institution that "smooth troubled waters." It is the quality of having the defence of rights, as a raison-d'etre, which does that. Our govt's unease about van der Heyden's comments was due to its desire to remain at table, supping with the you-know-what, without being seen to reach for a longer spoon. Knowing in his bones the dangers of the whims of unaccountable leaders, Bernard ought not be constantly exhorting govt to act on such whims - exhorting use of its legal force to implement his preferred whims regarding his problem-of-the-day (which seems to be either interest rates, exchange rates or house prices).
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    Grant:
    "No-one knows how China works, because China has no rules restraining its rulemakers. China's govt is untrammelled, and so its ambit is entirely arbitrary."

    Well it is not as simple as you say. Yes, they have a one party system, but they also have laws that officially apply to all. In practice that is not always the way things are.

    China has moved on from the Manifesto of the Chinese Communist Party in 1920 and has its own legal body. See some info here: http://www.lawinfochina.com/

    Naturally no-one has deep and thorough insight into the workings within the party, especially not the core leadership and decision-makers, but still once can see some consistencies and patterns of how they work.

    In any case, New Zealand is a tiny nation, very exposed to nations it trades with, and dealing with a complex and sophisticated power structure, be this state administration, regional administration or business management, I can confidently say that most New Zealand politicians and business people are somewhat naive about the long term prospects for New Zealand.

    It is silly to think that NZ is amongst equals with China, same as it's not with the US.

    And investment in China has risks.
  6. Bernard Hickey: Blind spot on our economic highway Saturday, June 8, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, June 10, 2013 at 12:37 PM
    "New Zealand is betting its economic future on a country with which we have few durable cultural or political ties.


    We don't know its history, we don't understand its political system and we don't really know how it "works". "

    Well, this comes a bit late, and should perhaps been given some more consideration before that FTA with Mainland China was signed.

    Indeed, China is a different culture, with the largest population of any one country, with strong desires and need to import more resources and use them to develop their own economy.

    They are keen for know how, technical and other, and they go to great lengths, including of course intelligence gathering, to obtain it. Most cyber attacks on local computers come from there, and it surprised me how trusting NZ politicians and journalists have been to welcome Huawei here, to build parts of phone networks and get involved in the ultra fast broadband roll out.

    One Fran O'Sullivan is mighty quiet on Huawei at present. That company is shunned by an increasing number of countries and businesses, due to suspicions of spying.

    It may be exaggerated, but the US know well, how much effort China makes to get know how.

    Kiwis wake up late.
  7. Damien Grant: Human tragedy lost in cash rush Saturday, June 8, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, June 10, 2013 at 12:29 PM
    Damien, I quote you from your opinion article:


    "The ministry should have ended the discrimination by refusing to pay anyone, but this obvious and elegant solution has, sadly, been overlooked."

    "We have arrived at a place where parents are suing the Government demanding to be paid for caring for their children. And winning."

    Thank you so much, for exposing yourself for the kind of person you are. Compassion and a true sense of justice are certainly attributes you are lacking.

    You don't even understand and interpret the law correctly.

    The carers have won their case, because they have the law on their side. It is certainly not just about money, but also of money, what is at issue.

    Parents, siblings or other relatives of disabled, who care for them, are not like parents performing their usual duties to raise healthy children. Caring for a disabled person is in many cases a full time job, which means giving up own employment that may earn an income. And that is what those claims are based on.

    Do you really think those relatives should forgo own income and care for disabled persons free of charge 24/7 ? Are they meant to live off manna from heaven and live under bridges? Silly!
  8. John Armstrong: Gravity of situation seems to escape Mr Sensible's notice Friday, June 7, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, June 10, 2013 at 11:10 AM
    "Dunne and dusted", or "Dunne" is "done" and "gone" for good, even if he tries to hang on a few more days or weeks, the pressure will not lessen, he will be attacked, challenged and exposed bit by bit, as Winston Peters has copies of the emails.


    Is it possible tthat Andrea Vance has "leaked" them to Peters? If it was not someone else in the know. So Dunne may suffer from amnesia too now, or whatever, he has lost the trust of the PM, and I cannot see too many of the up to 500 remaining United Future members wanting to remain signed up as members to a party led by a questionable personality as Dunne has become.

    I see Dunne resign soon as MP also, as he will not be able to handle the continued pressure and public questioning, and his wife will not want to put up with more either. Hence he will call it quits.

    He could have presented the emails to Henry under conditions, I presume, that they remain confidential in some ways, but that Henry would at least have a proper look at them. But clearly, Dunne is trying to hide the true leaker, private flirtations and much other embarrassments.

    A sad end to a long political career. I have little sympathy. Dunne supported a sell out government!
  9. John Armstrong: Get-tough Greens preparing for battle Friday, June 7, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 3:13 PM
    MCT
    Excellent article, the so called green party is a misrepresentation, it should be called the New Zealand Communist party, but then the truth never concerns socialists.
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    MCT:
    If you think the Greens are "communists" or "socialists", you have never seen communism or socialism in action. Coming from near what used to be the Iron Curtain in Europe, I have, and the Greens are anything but what you describe them as. They are indeed rather "centrist", albeit tending to some moderate interventionist policies, when compared with parties in comparable democratic countries in Europe.

    But then you will probably call all European parties, those right and left of centre as being "socialist", right? That exposes either your lack of insight, or your own political bias.

    Of course the Greens need to develop their policies further and apply pragmatism, where it is justified, but we have had decades of laissez faire neo capitalist policies from National and Labour now, which have benefited mostly only an upper third of the population.

    Jobs and opportunities have gone off-shore, particularly manufacturing of value added products, and living standards have slipped behind those of other comparable countries. NZ depends on dairy and other primary production, low or no value added exports, and slowly this place is sold out to foreign interests.

    Greens oppose this trend
  10. Matt McCarten: Wily Winston strikes fatal blow Saturday, June 8, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 2:51 PM
    Dunne is done, and he is likely to not last much longer, as the pressure on him will continue unabated over the days or even weeks to come.
    He has been exposed as an old fool, falling for the charms of a leading female journalist, disclosing information, as it seems, that he should not have talked about. Whether he actually leaked the whole report remains speculation, but him having lost the trust of the PM, and having had to resign as minister is close to the end for him.

    I see Dunne resign as MP also soon, as it will be too much for himself, let along his wife, to handle. Key and his government face highly unstable weeks and months ahead, and I do not rule out an early general election. Dunne will possibly escape criminal prosecution as the report was not directly secret service information, it was about internal issues with GCSB, and them acting on uncertain territory.

    What will be more of a concern for Dunne is, that Peters has the emails, probably from Vance, and sooner or later more embarrassing stuff will come out, some probably more critical than what has been revealed so far.

    I do not think Peters should cheer too early, as his voters are only a fair few : 5 per cent.
  11. John Armstrong: Get-tough Greens preparing for battle Friday, June 7, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 2:41 PM
    "The new rules mean getting a remit on to the floor of the conference will be a logistical nightmare as all remits will require endorsement by two other branches, one of which must be in another region than that of the branch promoting the remit.


    Branch remits will be subject to stricter vetting and potential redrafting by the party's standing orders committee."

    So you raise this about the Greens, dear Mr Armstrong, but what are National and Labour doing in this regard within their membership and processes? It is absurd to criticise this as stopping grass root level input into Green Party policies, they just want to apply a bit more scrutiny on remits, as otherwise they will likely struggle to develop and move policies forward.

    In the days of internet and also mobile phones there is no need to travel hundreds of miles across the country to seek consent by other branches of the party.

    As for Norman's criticism of Key, it was Key and other National ministers who taunted and insulted the Greens repeatedly during question time, which the public know little of. So Norman was pushed to take a stand against Key.

    And criticism of Brent Layton was justified, given his personal bias!
  12. Rodney Hide: Norman so (un)like Muldoon too Saturday, June 8, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 2:19 PM
    "Muldoon was condemned for brawling in the streets.
    But everyday Kiwis liked the guy for his belligerence. They saw in him a man who would get on with the business and who could stick up for himself."

    "Muldoon knew New Zealand was a trading nation. He knew we needed to trade to make our way in the world. He got us free trade with Australia."

    What a bizarre twist you choose to spin on this admittedly a bit over the top comparison Norman made between Muldoon and Key, Rodney. Here you go and choose to compare Muldoon to Norman and try to distract from what Norman tried to suggest.

    As I have quoted you above, Muldoon was in some ways similar to Key, that is not so much in personality, but in the way he applied some authoritarian leadership and arrogantly rubbished and ridiculed his political foes.

    Key started the insulting by calling Greens and Labour a kind of "Devil Beast" coalition. Key has during question time repeatedly thrown insults at the Greens and Norman during Parliament's question time, a matter many not watching or listening to that Parliamentary forum would not know about.

    Key basically provoked and challenged Norman, so Norman dealt back, quite understandably.
  13. Matt McCarten: We may hear that penny drop Saturday, June 1, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 9:56 AM
    Yep, one had to fear such developments in this!
    Wait, next after the new convention centre will have been built by Sky City, they will also jump on the "welfare" do-gooder bandwagon and contribute to the kick start feed the school kid program, putting their brand on toast and cereals they will buy and "donate".

    A corporate approach in welfare and other social areas has virtually been announced by this government, and the welfare reforms to be implemented shortly will be part of it.

    It is all to do with ideology and cunning marketing, plus a bit of self promotion, to perhaps get a knighthood and a place in history books.

    And this country has lost its way a long time ago, just too few have realised it.
  14. Bernard Hickey: Housing's holy grail overflows with problems Saturday, June 1, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 11:51 AM
    "The only balance sheet with the strength to fund a huge increase in Auckland house building is that of the Government, which has no appetite to borrow to build those houses.
    "

    Stop importing so many foreign made cars, use more energy efficient transport, do a bit for health, like people in Copenhagen, Amsterdam and other places, perhaps get a bicycle or motor bike. Stop importing expensive fuels to run cars and the still so frequently seen SUVs and 4WD vehicles in the cities.

    Yes, stop this life on credit, and spend the money on what is important, on local production, perhaps invest it in affordable housing, have the government do a little bit of quantitative easing, in moderation, others do it to stimulate the economy, why is NZ so "virgin purist" on that side, but sluts around with taking on debt loads?

    NZers are not really smart enough to plan beyond the tip of their noses, so they borrow, work 50 to 60 hours a week, some work in two or three jobs, they pay higher interest than in so many other countries, as debt is part of the national psyche, it is dumb, dumb, dumber.

    The Greens may have a housing program to look at. This stuff Brown and Smith agreed on is nonsense!
  15. Brian Rudman: Forget revolution, progress will do Sunday, May 26, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 1:13 PM
    The people running Auckland Transport and who separately operate the buses and related services are as hopeless as can be.
    How often have I caught buses that were on time? Rarely, I must say, as delays between 5 and up to 15 minutes are common, where I live, and that is not that far from Central Auckland, near a supposedly good, busy bus route.

    The electronic signs are so often as unreliable as the buses themselves, and one can often not even use the indicated buses and arrival times as slight indications.

    Add the hop card issues, and matters like windows covered in advertising, so one cannot see much by looking out become side issues.

    With this going on, with the train services also still having issues at times, how is this city supposed to function with built up areas 3 or 4 storeys over much of Auckland, and higher in pockets, with another million or so people?

    I think more and more will opt out, if they can, and move elsewhere, as the future of Auckland with the "great" Auckland Unitary Plan will turn out to become a total disaster.

    Trying to create a world city with number eight wire mentality does not seem to be too inspiring and promising to me.
  16. Fran O'Sullivan: Time for Key to spread the success story Friday, May 17, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 11:12 AM
    Fran O'Sullivan is the incessant cheer-leader of Key and government.
    Yeah, Key was speaking to the selected few, the business leaders and their associates, and they are the ones that will somehow manage anyway.

    But tell the kids of parents on minimum wages, on benefits that in many situations cannot cover basics, no matter how hard people on such incomes try, all this. They will shrug their shoulders and simply realise, they are living in another country altogether, maybe on another planet.

    And then offering a mere 9 million of "contribution" to food in schools for those kids that get no breakfast over 5 years, this is almost an insult to the poor, the disconnected and left behind.

    Seeing Paula Bennett and Key stand there, announcing this, I was feeling sick and angry living in a country that exports so much food, to be processed and turned into value added products overseas, and in part getting re-imported, as the manufacturers have shifted their operations off-shore.

    Yes, keep up with this, and in 5 years we will be poorer in living standards than Chile, I suppose.
  17. Andrew Geddis: We owe it to ourselves to be outraged Tuesday, May 21, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 12:43 PM
    This National led government is to me nothing more or less than one, which is intending to gradually and sneakily disentitle, disenfranchise and disown the people of New Zealand.


    A law such as this, and passed under urgency, with no input given to the wider public to scrutinise the bill, to make submissions to a select committee, and thus denying reasonable democratic debate, is the kind of stuff that happen in dictatorships.

    And that is where New Zealand is slowly and sneakily being led to, a form of pretended "democracy", where the majority, even of just one vote, can make any law it wants, and gets away with it, even now daring to stop the judiciary, a core element in the balance of power in Westminster tradition!

    Indeed, the public aren't getting informed about many other bills that have been presented and passed.

    They could and should have been informed better, and they could have exercised more power and made submissions in some cases, but we even have some serious issues with the 4th estate also, the media now being overly commercially dependent, with public media reduced to tiny remnants.

    Who read much about the draconian, illegal welfare law passed just 2 months ago?
  18. Brian Rudman: Law protecting Government, not disabled Tuesday, May 21, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 10:07 AM
    This government does not give a s*** about poor, disabled, sick and homeless, that is my conclusion when looking closely at it.
    This bill that Geddis and others rightfully criticise, is appalling, and it displays the contempt of the government towards the disabled and those caring for them.

    We get also white-washes and cover-ups in many areas, even by cimmissioners and the likes supposed do be independent and caring for citizen's issues.

    With draconian, unfair, even in part illegal welfare reforms to kick in from July, more injustices, stigmatisation, treatment with harshness and contempt will follow in that area.

    Sadly the public was not being informed about what really is involved in the background, like extreme, unjust ,draconian and likely biased work capacity assessments UK style that are planned to be brought in to supposedly "assist" sick and disabled into "open" employment on the market, to compete with fit and healthy.

    This will harm especially mental health sufferers.

    Expect more homeless in the streets, NZ is joining the less caring world by the day. Sadly the hard struggling public has little sympathy, as it is everyone for themselves now. Traditiobnal NZ is dead!
  19. Brian Rudman: Law protecting Government, not disabled Tuesday, May 21, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 12:28 PM
    This government does not give a s*** about poor, disabled, sick and homeless, that is my conclusion when looking closely at it.
    This bill that Geddis and others rightfully criticise, is appalling, and it displays the contempt of the government towards the disabled and those caring for them.

    We get also white-washes and cover-ups in many areas, even by cimmissioners and the likes supposed do be independent and caring for citizen's issues.

    With draconian, unfair, even in part illegal welfare reforms to kick in from July, more injustices, stigmatisation, treatment with harshness and contempt will follow in that area. Sadly the public was not being informed about what really is involved in the background, like extreme, unjust ,draconian and likely biased work capacity assessments UK style that are planned to be brought in to supposedly "assist" sick and disabled into "open" employment on the market, to compete with fit and healthy.

    This will harm especially mental health sufferers.

    Expect more homeless in the streets, NZ is joining the less caring world by the day. Sadly the hard struggling public has little sympathy, as it is everyone for themselves now. Traditiobnal NZ is dead!
  20. John Armstrong: Gamble pays off for SkyCity Monday, May 13, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 1:38 PM
    New Zealand as a people and nation are being prostituted and rights, lands and entitlements are being sold off daily.
    So future generations will be servants and peasants in their own land, catering for wealthy East Asian gamblers and tourists to swarm here, to serve them meals and drinks, to mix the cards at the poker tables at the casino, to count the chips and serve the deals.

    They will be cleaners cleaning the homes bought by new migrants and foreign investors, perhaps work as nannies, be workers and tradespeople earning pittance for delivering labour and services for the new masters running the show.

    Forget your "Kiwi lifestyle" all those less enlightened ones here, who think this is great. You are perhaps the ones who will be the first moaning and selling your real estate, to pack your bags and run away to the Gold Coast, to leave these shores for the rest to slave and suffer in.

    NZ is a divided nation, not a real nation anyway, as the people do not even know what such collective belonging may mean.

    Every one to their own, sell stuff, take deals from foreign corporate investors, kiss boots and turn your backs on others. As long as your feathered nests are warm, right?!
  21. John Armstrong: Gamble pays off for SkyCity Monday, May 13, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 1:37 PM
    "What has really stuck in Labour and Greens' craws is the 35-year extension of SkyCity's casino licence, including its existing site, plus a stipulation that SkyCity will be entitled to compensation if it is disadvantaged by changes to gaming laws during that period.


    Neither the licence extension nor the compensation provision were mentioned by the Government prior to the recent resumption of negotiations."

    Talk about cronyism and shady deals! This is in many ways one of them. From the start the government only really favoured Sky City Casino. The Auditor General let the government off the hook, but gave some stern warnings about processes not being followed as they should have been, and a few other details.

    Different forms of negotiation were conducted with Sky City, and now this, terms to the agreement to vastly extend the licence agreement AND to basically keep out of it all any real public input or rights to raise concerns.

    This is stuff you get in certain Asian countries, where the rule of law is one dependent on who has the stronger arms.

    Key and his government are dodgy! All the ramming through of other legislation has shown it. The public is being rolled over here!
  22. Rodney Hide: Proposed power plan full of holes Saturday, May 11, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 3:48 PM
    With most power generated by hydro electric generators NZ electricity is to be higher than it should be, even when considering that some thermal generation, which costs more, is necessary at least at times.


    Rodney is of course listing up his own "flawed" preferences, not arguments. So I say to that:
    1) An existing oligopoly with generators also owning most of retail and having led to price increases high above inflation the "market" is NOT working.
    2) All prices are set high at thermal generation costs plus across the board when they kick in, how can that be fair overall?
    3) "Rich" will always be able to afford more power, a silly point really.
    4) New generation will be tendered out, so will be provided, no argument there, Rodders.
    5) YOUR voters will pay higher taxes anyway under Greens and Labour, and rightly so, as a top income tax rate at 33 per cent is insane.
    6) Lower electricity prices will enable more business activity across the board.
    7) An ETS will only hit fossil fuel generators, not hydro, solar and wind.
    8) Switching amongst oligopolist robbers is a "great choice", is it?
    9) Yes, a bit over the top for Greens and Labour there, I admit.
    10) Hah, been waiting for that!
  23. Bernard Hickey: Interest rates the pin that will prick bubble Saturday, May 11, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 3:39 PM
    "All that cheap money is blowing up bubbles in bond markets, stock markets and property markets.
    "

    Yes, and we can see it by looking at the leading sharemarkets worldwide, where shares have gained value almost across the board. So traders, share-holders and investors are getting high and dream of more growth and gains.

    The "printed" money is going to the banks of course, who then lend it out at favourably low interest rates to businesses and private investors.

    Some of this is flowing into New Zealand, and it is the relatively easy money on good terms that is feeding the housing bubble.

    The main issues that arose during the GFC and that were the result of bail-outs was increased public debt in the countries most affected. Most of that debt is still sitting there, in part in specially created banks or institutions keeping bad debt. So the growth created so far, which has led to improvements in the US and is is slowly showing some moderate stabilisation in Europe, is coming as intended. Questions remain, whether it will be sustainable to allow the debt mountains to be paid off.

    Nothing much else has changed after the GFC, so we must prepare for future booms and busts, for sure.
  24. Damien Grant: So many newly-minted lawyers, so few job opportunities Saturday, May 11, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 3:16 PM
    Further to my comment just made, it still offers any person better job prospects when they have a university degree.
    They may end up doing something else than what they studied for, but they are more likely to end up in employment than those doing no additional, formal training after school. By this, though, they drive others out of jobs that perhaps should not necessarily be done by uni graduates.

    I have met an economist selling train tickets on trains in Auckland (a migrant by the way), same as I meet graduated accountants and business degree holders serving at the counter at the banks.

    And AUT is not as bad as Damian tries to portray it as. They admittedly are not of the same calibre as those that go to Auckland Uni, but they still also have great talents and skilled people that leave AUT with degrees. They simply diversified years ago and were allowed to call themselves a "university". Whether that was justified can be debatable though.

    But there are some good study options in many fields offered at AUT.
  25. Damien Grant: So many newly-minted lawyers, so few job opportunities Saturday, May 11, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 3:16 PM
    Isn't this trend for young ones to try and get popular degrees at all means not simply being encouraged and fed by so many well-meaning, supporting middle class parents, who want their off-spring to do better than they may have done?
    While I disagree with Damien on most he writes, I must with caution agree on this opinion piece by him.

    In New Zealand it used to be common in many years gone by to have young people enter apprenticeship and various technical and other training, to pursue a career path. It was widely accepted that different people may well have different talents and abilities, so pushing ever more into going to university to get degrees does not make that much sense, unless New Zealanders want to continue "exporting" much of their young graduates.

    Accounting and law are very popular, and business studies are also much cherished and completed. With the IT improvements now in place, many doing such degrees will struggle finding work in the areas they chose.

    More should be encouraged to enter science, and apprenticeships should become the standard alternative for others, like it's the way they do it in much of Central Europe.

    I met over-smart students unable to spell!
  26. Kerre McIvor: Blame offenders, not police Saturday, May 11, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 3:04 PM
    It is stupid to take sides in such debates.
    The police can of course not be blamed for every fatality resulting from runaway drivers, trying to escape possible arrest, so it is silly to generalise and ask for a stop of pursuits by policy on the roads. But at the same time, it is equally biased to justify everything the police do and have done.

    There certainly have been cases, where police car drivers could have taken a different approach, but maybe the testosterone and adrenalin pumping through their veins got them excited or motivated to keep racing after a pursued car of suspected offenders at extremely high speed in road conditions that were too dangerous to drive in.

    It seems to me that the police have largely learned from past rushed decisions and mistakes and are now taking a more balanced and cautions approach. In this particular case that just happened in South Auckland, it appears they had stopped the pursuit.

    Hence I would look at every case in detail before making rushed judgment s and decisions.

    Of course "debates" will continue, but some objectivity and careful analysis is the best way to go.
  27. Matt McCarten: Another crisis, another Key bumble Saturday, May 11, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 12:48 PM
    Well, maybe the PM has something worse to hide, and that may well be the reason for not having dealt with the Gilmore embarrassment full-on from the start.
    It required another guest at the Hanmer Springs hotel to present contradicting text messages to expose that Gilmore was convenient with the truth. He was initially more or less let off the hook by Key, and the PM even said, behind that guy and the scandalous conduct while drunk in Hanmer Springs was actually "a smart guy".

    So questions arise, why was Gilmore put on the list of National in the first place? It appears that he met the requirements and favoured personal CV for an up and coming poltician with career prospects. Key likes people that have proved to be successful in business. Gilmore boasts with having made lots of money in a short time.

    Perhaps Gilmore also has been social and close with Key at times, and he may know some stuff about the PM that could turn out to be highly embarrassing to the PM himself? In any case, there seems to be more to this story, and it will come out.

    The Nats have resorted to dirty tactics, letting MBIE release private emails. I never have seen an OIA responded to so quickly. Dodgy stuff!
  28. Brian Rudman: $59 billion plan enough to give you road rage Sunday, April 28, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 11:25 AM
    Aucklanders, like most New Zealanders are stuck in the mental past, like modern day Neanderthal people, wanting it both ways.
    You will not have a modern day transport system while you complain about congestion, traffic, parking problems, aggressive road rage behaviour and what else there is, and at the same time cling to your suburban lifestyle in an urban spread, where you see a need to drive everywhere.

    New Zealanders are casual folk, easy going, wanting things to be uncomplicated and convenient, and with the urbanisation and spread in the 50s, 60s and 70s the then "modern" American lifestyle took hold. Drive everywhere, enjoy cheap fuel and space and own homes to raise your kids and enjoy life.

    I am afraid those days will soon be over, no matter what calculations are done to try and justify that it could go on.

    Better use of fuel, energy as a whole and also transport will be inevitable. All modern cities have better public transport than Auckland, which is decades behind, since mayor Robbie had some plans that were put back in the drawer.

    So face the music, get out of cars, use buses and trains, cycle perhaps (it is healthy!) and pay for it with money so far spent on cars!
  29. Are congestion charges the fix for Auckland's traffic woes? Monday, April 29, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, April 29, 2013 at 2:36 PM
    It would either be an administrative nightmare, or if GPS connectivity will be made mandatory to all vehicles driven, to allow for a modern, electronic surveillance system, where it could be checked who drives into inner city areas prone to congestion, it would require high set up costs.


    Why not just increase parking fees across the whole city, which could be done by forcing parking space providers to pay extra levies or taxes, and which could for council land with parking spaces be done directly?

    Higher costs to access the city may harm city business and commuters, surely, but spreading costs across the whole of Auckland Council by way of higher parking charges, that will bring revenue, and at the same time motivate more to use public transport.

    Transport ticket charges should not be increased as much, as that would nullify any incentives to move people out of cars.

    The problem with most Jafas and Kiwis as a whole is, they tend to want it both ways. They want better public transport to perhaps use it now and then (which will not be economical), but they want their cars for other times and not pay for public transport.

    Some pressure and force will be needed, no matter what!
  30. Rodney Hide: Trains over buses - It doesn't add up Saturday, April 27, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, April 29, 2013 at 2:07 PM
    Yeah, right, Rodders, from "climate change expert", who denies human impact on global climate due to immense pollution by burning of fossil fuels that took hundreds of millions to form into coal and petroleum under the earth, to "transport expert" now!
    ?

    I thought we had April Fool's Day, but maybe I missed it.

    Even if there may be some questions re that 2010 report and spreadsheet, what about waking up to the future, and to accept, that growing population, more cars and more sprawling and motorways will not resolve the transport crisis in NZ's largest city?

    I may trust that Rodney is a reasonable DIY man, possibly would do a fair job as a doorman outside a nightclub, a chauffeur or so, but being told by him that trains are a waste of time, in a city wanting to measure itself with similar sized world cities, that is too much for me.

    How many bus loads can fit into a train? A few, I suppose. Do trains have to reach every door-step? No, as feeder buses do such jobs of reaching spread out locations rather well in other cities. And the Harbour Bridge will not last forever, so build a new crossing, allowing for rail on it.

    If we'd listen to Rodney, London would not have the tube!
  31. John Roughan: It's the roads not the motorway Friday, April 26, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 1:15 PM
    John Roughan, smart "traffic engineering" can only take improvements so far, and as a matter of fact, the existing Harbour Bridge will NOT last forever.
    Bridges also suffer wear and tear, and while it may presently function ok to handle the existing traffic flows, the bridge is ageing and will need replacing in the coming decades.

    So a second harbour crossing is necessary, be this a tunnel or another bridge. And while a new crossing will need to be built, for the longer term future, it is a no brainer to also provide space and structures for a future train link, which will better be a double track, as it is highly likely that future prohibitive fuel costs will mean that a train link to the shore will make sense.

    And what is needed also on the expansive North Shore suburban sprawl is, that better feeder bus-services get established, so that suburbs get more frequency and better connectivity to various routes and modes of transport. Park and ride is the way to go also, and whether you like it or not, the future will mean more and better public transport.

    Re public transport Auckland is decades behind, when compared with similar sized cities in other parts of the developed world.
  32. Fran O'Sullivan: Groser in running for top trade job Tuesday, April 16, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 11:45 AM
    One can see again, that Fran is dreaming of the "free trade" equals "fair trade" and "purist trade" world.
    "On merit", she hoped that Groser would make it to the final for WTO leader.

    Well, wake up, dear old Fran, the world you dream of has never existed and will never come. The purists in free trade and economic laissez faire application are the outsiders, and a tiny economy of the size of New Zealand, with just 4 and a half million citizens and residents, will not play such a key role as you may wish.

    It is politics again, that comes into play, and the emerging markets are now keen on senior roles in such organisations as the WTO. Hence it was the Brazilian and the Mexican that made it into the final now. Other developing countries and their representatives appears to understand that the emerging markets deserve more integration and respect. So they will not go for an outsider purist, who likes to play disciple of free market, neo capitalist gurus.

    John Key and his government meanwhile were hopeful as Fran, the outsider. They allowed Groser to run up close to a quarter of a million in travel expenses, trying to lobby and chase the job. Tax payers paid for fools' games again!
  33. John Armstrong: Labour's two fingers draw the battle lines Friday, April 26, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 10:30 AM
    Labour is finally realising that they must deliver some policies that make a difference to people's lives.
    Such tinkering with small bits here and there, as they did in the 2008 and 2011 elections does not reach and convince enough people and prospective voters. I have a different view to GST on vegetables and perhaps other basic foodstuffs and also electricity and the likes, but yes, same sex marriage and Mondayising some holidays, that is all perhaps making sense in ways, yet no party will win elections on such policies.

    I also feel that Labour wasted many golden opportunities last year, having a weak leader fail too often, and rather embarrass himself and his party, while the government was really stuffing-up and backing down incessantly. It was a golden year of golden opportunities that Labour failed to take advantage of last year. Now the Nats are back in rather aggressive modus operandi, as the rush of anti worker, anti environmental and anti welfare policies of recent have shown.

    It is overdue for Labour to start cracking their whip. While NZ Power will need some work and fine-tuning, it is a game changer. Kiwi Build also needs a redoing, but voters may see sense in this.
  34. Fran O'Sullivan: Political capital costs Shearer market trust Friday, April 26, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 9:56 AM
    Oh yes, Fran, sure, this must be nothing but "envy politics" by Labour, right?
    Those poor, so hard working, well deserving and self sacrificing superbeings that are CEOs and claim they need a salary and top ups per year - to the value of an exclusive house in the best areas in Auckland or Wellington.

    And they surely need and deserve the latest BMW, Mercedes or Lexus or whatever nice "racer", as that is what such "hard working" folk just need to not stand out amongst the elite as "paupers"! These honourable men and women must be protected, right?

    Hah, what a joke, human beings, no matter how smart and capable, can only do so much. These CEOs are not half gods deserving a multiple of incomes that others get for working hard, even doing overtime. CEOs have their consultants, secretaries, their various other staff doing hard work also.

    To "manage" and "lead", and to be smart and diligent does of course require certain good skills and experience, but hey, decades ago such people were not getting rewarded so exorbitantly, and society was more equal, and things worked well then also.

    As for NZ Power, Chris Trotter revealed that Robertson arranged this with the Greens, not Shearer!
  35. Editorial: Appointment smacks of jobs for girls Monday, April 22, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 3:10 PM
    "The new director of human rights proceedings, Auckland lawyer Robert Kee, is a friend of her husband, David Wong-Tung.
    "

    This is truly disgusting, what is going on. It is such a blatant selection of "old boys" and "old girls" that Judith Collins and for that this government is responsible for.

    They are filling roles to ensure that future decisionmaking will tend to be more along the lines that National would love to see things move.

    The appointment of the Health and Disability Commissioner Anthony Hill a couple of years ago also raised questions. Also ask about Dr Gorman leading HWNZ, the Nat. Health Board AND ACC!

    National is pulling strings to put people in high offices, who will ensure that decisionmaking and leadership in their areas of responsibility will not pose any "challenges" to whatever this government does.

    It is time to establish a different system for appointing commissioners and similar office holders, to ensure the government of the day does not have too much influence. Competency, experience, qualifications and a sound track record in key transferable and essential core skills should be more of a criteria than political party membership, or the who knows whom.
  36. Bryan Gould: Key's legacy leaves us with grim future Thursday, April 18, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 1:32 PM
    "To paint this picture is not to speculate in pessimism;
    it is merely an extrapolation of trends that are already long-established. Those who resist such a scenario should ask themselves which part of it is not already familiar. If these trends are allowed to continue for much longer, our national future is grim."

    You're so right, Bryan Gould, and your article highlights the very worrying trends that this government chose to follow. NZers are now allowing Chinese dairy giants to set up factories here, thus taking over most of the supply chain. We have in the past had foreign foresty companies and wood chip and log processors take over large parts of the forestry industry. Foreign interests are moving into horticulture and viticulture. Fishing is contracted out to foreign vessel operators, raw fish gets processed in China, and local production of more and more is closed down, and moves off-shore.

    NZers are ending up as tenants in their once owned country, forced to work longer hours, for comparatively low pay, to meet high living costs, borrow from foreign banks to buy what they feel they need, and end up worse.

    Working poor and beneficiaries get hit so the rest can survive.
  37. Brian Rudman: Volcanic views an Auckland right Thursday, April 18, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 12:50 PM
    Auckland's volcanic cones are landmarks typical and unique for the Greater Auckland City region, and the debate about the view shafts raises further serious questions with the Unitary Plan as it has been proposed.


    To even allow up to 8m high buildings (likely apartment blocks, towers of flats) at the bottom of the volcanic hills is unacceptable. Allowing up to 8 or even 18 storey buildings in selected areas in Greater Auckland will also distort the views, having some impact on views of scenic volcanoes.

    Keep construction limited to 3 to 6 storeys in good distance away from volcanic cones, so that the vista of this unique city will not be destroyed. Perhaps go a bit higher to 8 levels in places further afield, where volcanoes are not so prominent (e.g. parts of Manukau, New Lynn and Takapuna).

    I am against creating little pockets of Little Manhattans or Hongkongs in the Greater Auckland region, which would destroy the image of the city. Intensification should not go insane and destroy such irreplaceable qualities and assets that we have. Newmarket is in part already a small, ugly, concrete, steel and glass jungle, which has destroyed the atmosphere of that suburb for good.
  38. John Drinnan: Radio NZ looks at pictures Thursday, April 18, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 12:42 PM
    If Radio NZ will turn Parliament TV into such an informative channel, that would be GREAT!
    It would be first hand "current affairs" focusing on politics. I really hope that the present CEO will move on, and that Griffin and the ones supporting his plans will succeed with this.

    So instead of just getting the sessions and question time live and replayed on television, we would actually get a good selection of political reporting and broadcasting, which is really needed, given the useless "news" only offering bits of items on politics, with usually no background info of substance.

    It is time to bring back information on television, and to turn infotainment into a silly passing phase.

    As for 3rd degree, yes that double moderation is silly, and one of the two should start his own show, of a more informative, more serious type, also covering REAL current affairs, including political issues. The present format only has the odd good story and discussion of issues.
  39. Fran O'Sullivan: Left's power plan a bid to plug back into office Friday, April 19, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 9:28 AM
    ".
    .generously forgo dividends and tax flows from the three predominantly state-owned generators (in other words, run them at a loss) and force the entire sector to split into generating and retail arms if they don't get the required results."

    Good, Fran, you HATE it, right? That is because you are a National Party and government political facilitator, nothing else. When someone throws the spanner into the works, and that justifiably, then you do not take kindly to it.

    Fact is, this does have nothing to do with de-facto "renationalisation", although that may not even be such a bad idea after all, if that was the goal.

    Having an agency scrutinise the conduct and performance of generators is reasonable, but I personally think, that Labour and Greens need to do some more homework before they can get this working (similar to Kiwi Build).

    But such arrangements are common in the US, Europe, South Korea and other countries.

    What has this to do with Hugo Chavez, by the way? You are being dismissive to insulting with that comment.

    Cheaper power, with less dividends, does not mean running generation at a loss, maybe at cost and just above. It will benefit private and business consumers!
  40. John Armstrong: National gobsmacked at Labour idea Thursday, April 18, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Friday, April 19, 2013 at 2:40 PM
    This is in part at least very smart operating by Labour and the Greens.
    To put out this announcement for establishing a Pharmac like agency to buy all generated power, and "regulate" by paying suppliers "fairly" only just above costs (allowing a reasonable margin), and offering cheaper retail for consumers, that is stuff that the Nats never expected. This is why they are like possums staring into the headlights.

    Yes, this will drive shares in already privately owned, listed power companies like Contact down, and it will scare prospective buyers of shares in Mightry River Power, and this can seriously upset the sales plan of the government. That is why Joyce, and the young wannabe, acting Deputy PM Ridges are so furious.

    But one also needs to look at the figures, they don't quite stack up. The proposed changes will result in losses of dividends and taxes, both from SOEs and part or fully owned other enterprises. So the government will on one hand lose revenue, but of course consumers and businesses will get a bit cheaper electricity. That may increase a bit of business activity and result in more taxes.

    But stated figures for forgone dividends and taxes don't match cost savings!
  41. Peter Lyons: Teaching's public face needs makeover Monday, April 15, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 1:53 PM
    While in some respects you may have a point, Peter Lyons, professional organisations like the Medical Council, the Law Societies and others, they also have their "flaws" and failures.


    For instance if a doctor does something wrong in NZ, her or his colleagues do hesitate to speak out, as it is like an unwritten law, on top of part of their "code", to not discredit their "colleagues".

    So people who may suffer at the hands of a doctor stuffing up, or behaving inappropriately, are usually forced to go to the Health and Disability Commissioner, who only really investigates the more extreme cases.

    Then the result is often just a warning and/or additional training to be enforced, and not much more. While the Council, same as other professional organisations for counsellors, psychologists and so forth expect their members to follow their code of ethics, it does not enforce it, unless the Commissioner makes a determination that may lead for the professional body to also look at professional failings of a member. The way to get there is arduous.

    So while you suggest teachers organise similarly, this would only result in some positive changes. And school competition will not solve much.
  42. John Armstrong: Key terrorist warning a 'reality check' Monday, April 15, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 1:15 PM
    So how far goes Key's interpretation of WMDs?
    Does it perhaps include fertiliser? That is what Breivik used to bomb the centre of Oslo. You may call that "mass destruction", right? I think Key is stretching a very wide bow, to justify more spying by GCSB and SIS, intending to scare people, so they say, yes, we need to be spied on.

    To me it is a distraction from the stuff ups that happened in the Dotcom case, and to also cover up and justify the spying on 88 NZers that occured.

    I see a need for an effective, yet independently scrutinised intelligence service, but let us keep the debate within reason, thanks!
  43. John Armstrong: Key terrorist warning a 'reality check' Monday, April 15, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 11:19 AM
    John Armstrong and others:
    Those that need a "reality check" may be certain people representing the NZ mainstream media, and in some part also social media, to seriously feed us such over-sensationalised, distracting bits of info that are a non story!

    Hackers are active all over the gloge, and strangely most cyber attacks in NZ come from our "new" "big friend" in trade and tourism, Mainland China!

    While some hackers may try accessing NZ companies and government agencies, now come on, which here do actually hold key technology know how and systems in place, that can be used for accessing, obtaining and creating "weapons of mass destruction"?

    Or is this some hyped up stuff that is "created" upon some info that may be available on some hackers, spies and "terrorists" accessing know how from small component manufacturers for certain weapons systems like Raykon?

    It is flabberghasting how the media and public here fall for every reason or excuse Key and his ministers give us, to bring in more draconian laws in various areas.

    If GCSB may need to work with SIS and the police, a minor law change will fix this, but proper, better control and oversight is needed.

    The rest is much BS!
  44. Are there too many people asking for money on Queen St? Tuesday, April 9, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 12:52 PM
    Margaret
    Yes! It ruins what is supposed to be our nicest street. Although I don't know their situations, I can't help thinking they should be using services like WINZ and city mission instead.
    show more
    Rock'nRolla
    Couldn't agree more mate.. I cannot stand those people. Specially because I know for a fact that most of them are already on tax payers money. It's not that they cannot afford a place to live, but more like every benefit day, all they can think about is Tobacco, Alcohol or whatever substance they can get their hands on, in order to make them forget what total failure and lazy bunch of losers they are. I know my friends cousin is one of them and he is a lazy bugger.. that's it and that's all!
    show more
    Hey if your life is s***, and I have been there once, briefly, any cigarette, can of beer is only moderating and calming your nerves and disaster.
    So while you do the blame game, what about taking away your home, income, beer and wine, even food, to see how you would damned well cope then?
  45. Are there too many people asking for money on Queen St? Tuesday, April 9, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 8:22 AM
    Margaret
    Yes! It ruins what is supposed to be our nicest street. Although I don't know their situations, I can't help thinking they should be using services like WINZ and city mission instead.
    show more
    Margaret:
    When did you go to WINZ lately? They fob people off en masse these days. Even when people lose jobs, they get told (sometimes misleadingly) they have no entitlement due to a partner working, them having redundancy pay, them having to use up savings or holiday pay, them having to face a long stand down period, and the list goes on.

    Would you like to go to the City Mission? Have you ever seen what it is like there? Homeless choose not to go there, because of the stress, issues, drama and some people getting plain nasty and dishonest. Some rather sleep in parks and wherever, because they do not want their last belongings pinched.

    And if people have health issues and want to see a doctor at their new "medical service", they get told stuff about better getting off their benefit, as it is not healthy to live off a benefit:

    Auck City Mission link

    Their doctors even tell them what to do, quoting Dr David Bratt, WINZ and MSD Principal Health Advisor, who compares benefit dependence to drug dependence!

    We live in a non caring society, that starts looking Nazi like!
  46. Deborah Hill Cone: Girls, it's time to face real world Sunday, April 7, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 10:37 AM
    There is one personality trait I come across when meeting women, and it seems to be part of almost all of them, no matter what background.
    They have such a tendency to be "wanted", admired, adored and "liked". It appears they somehow feel a "deficit" and insufficiency if they do not get attention, get praised, commented on favourably and kindly. Few women are the ones who simply get on disregarding, like perhaps Deborah Hill Cone may do, same as some other more "emancipated" females.

    But I ask myself, after decades of emancipation, efforts to treat women equally, to accept women want to work, follow careers and also run businesses, in essence, most women do still see a need to be admired, praised, commented on by their partners of choice that they "love" them, without it they seem to not feel "complete".

    There seems to be an inherent genetic factor to consider, being gender based, creating a difference between women and men? Men rather get on with stuff, and they still also tend to take first steps and chase women, if they want a partner. If it does not bring results they chase the next one.

    There is a difference that will never be changed, I am afraid. Better accept it now.
  47. Bryce Edwards: Political round-up: NZ's integrity under threat Monday, April 8, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 8:49 AM
    Oh my god, the reputation of the NZ political system and financial and business management practices is indeed only held so highly by so many key positioned New Zealanders, who present themselves in the best of light in reports the various government and other organisations file to international agencies and organisations.


    Also are many of the NZ public poorly and superficially informed about what goes on in their own country, they have not got sufficient insight into what really goes on behind the many scenes.

    I doubt whether local residents and citizens, same as other citizens of other developed countries would think so highly of the systems here, if they were better informed.

    The NZ government and Parliament are in my eyes so often a laughing stock. They only can save their reputation by having mainstream media focus on selected, high profile and otherwise often glossed over matters, and not dig deep. Big business is as corrupt and tax evading as internationally, and it is largely the small and medium size operators and their staff that save the general reputation of NZ business.

    Finance is another matter on its own, and Hagar and co just exposed more of the real scenario.
  48. Bryce Edwards: Political round-up: New Zealand's power elite Thursday, March 28, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 3:00 PM
    Bryce Edwards, why are you so apologetic about an "elite" holding the power, and certain politicians, including of course John Key, being on close talking terms with leading business persons and senior administrators?


    Yes, it is nothing new, but especially a small country like NZ should have systems in place, where such old ties, whether loose ones from school, or closer ones over years, are kept in check, so that there is not much chance of favouritism, back-scratching and perhaps even backhanding going on.

    Is it perhaps, that in some ways, people like you, a uni lecturer and part time journalist, also belong to this "elite"?

    I see very worrying developments in the media world also, with increased corporatisation, commercialisation and job cuts forcing journalists and editors to think more than twice, before writing something critical.

    Why is there for instance NO reporting at all about the most draconian, radical and in part even illegal welfare reforms for more of over a generation?

    One would think that such "reforms" would be intensely debated and reported on. But I know so many people, who know virtually nothing about the proposed changes. This is scandalous and bizarre!
  49. Media: TVNZ replaces BBC with infomercials Wednesday, March 27, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 2:43 PM
    "TVNZ insists the move downmarket will not harm the TV One brand, which was built on its record of producing high-rating local content.
    Interbrand branding consultant James Bickford agreed TV One's brand would not be hurt."

    Yes, the brand of TVNZ ONE is already one covered in manure, albeit "scented" with some strong artificial "perfume" to cover over the stench underneath. There is not much room below to fall and sink, I am afraid, maybe turn it into another channel like 2, or that U channel, that used to be TVNZ 6.

    NZ is heading into new territory, the dumbest place to be for people that want to be informed. There will be little chance here in future, to learn what goes on in the wider world, apart from perhaps using some internet news sites overseas.

    No, baaah, baaah, baah will be the call from the newsrooms in future, none else. And the space between the ears of those left working in "current (non) affairs" will be full of holes like the most hollow block of Swiss cheese.

    Sad, shocking and abysmal indeed.
  50. John Armstrong: How brand National survives the follies Saturday, March 23, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 2:00 PM
    HC
    Digby Green: Well has it ever passed your mind that the export sector in NZ is still exporting, due to quantitative easing and similar measures applied in a whole number of NZ's export market seeing to it, that the goods exported are still purchased and being paid for - with so-called "printed money" by the way? It is the lack of education and insight in the wider parts of NZ's populace that they tend to give credit to their governments, when they simply do stuff all, or nothing that smart or sensible, and earn the benefits of what other governments in more powerful economic regions actually do! So Key and Nats get credit for doing NADA. Sounds convenient and dumb to me.
    show more
    Rodney
    You missed the most important part of Your own comment. You say that Key and the Nats are doing NADA. Dead right and thanks G*D for that. It's your preferred interventionist. "The government knows everything and the people know nothing and need to be controlled" approach is the real problem. Unlike you, I want to rule my destiny and not have it rammed down my throat by any Government.
    show more
    Rodney:

    ""The government knows everything and the people know nothing and need to be controlled" approach is the real problem."

    Well, is that not how your preferred government is behaving? They don't do much in economic policies, but they interfere with certain groups of people all over the place, telling them what to do or not.

    Look at the "social obligations" that are actually discriminatory and therefore illegal, that they are hammering through as part of their welfare reforms.

    They're not accountable for stuff ups, they say, they blame everything that goes wrong on operational matters. Then they restrict the Official Information Act, interfere with the Privacy Act, reduce legal aid to levels that no lawyer is prepared to work for, bring in more police and other surveillance, and otherwise "allow" people to eat unhealthy food and drink excessively cheap alcohol to have the rest of society pay for the later health costs.

    Some laissez faire here, more restrictions and taking away of citizen's rights there, which also will happen with the RMA.

    And your "purist" economic managers are going to spend taxpayer dollars on making Rio Tinto keep the smelter down south running now?
  51. Diana Clement: KiwiSaver rise no guarantee of happy retirement Friday, March 29, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 11:27 AM
    Well, in Germany the compulsory retirement levy is close to 20 per cent, for those that may be interested.
    That is only for those earning up to a certain amount of income per month, and those earning higher, they can opt to look after their own affairs.

    So how does NZ compare with that? Of course the guaranteed retirement income in NZ is still largely tax funded. Unless NZ governments want to let elderly of coming generations live in abject poverty, once they can no longer work, they will have to make sure enough is either saved, or paid for and put aside as taxes.

    I dare to suspect, the days of offering tax cuts to the better earners will soon be over, unless social unrest and worse are to come.

    In any case, there is NO absolute security for retirement savings, for tax money put aside and invested by governments for that purpose, or whatever, because in the case of real economic disasters, like debt ridden governments not being able to create growth, like energy crisis leading to economic slowdown, like wars, natural disasters as consequences of global climate change (e.g. more droughts), we will surely be "stuffed".

    I think that most are nowadays living in total lala land!
  52. Fran O'Sullivan: Govt intervention doesn't cut mustard Friday, March 29, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 9:19 AM
    "But the truth is what the Government is proposing in its secret talks with Rio Tinto (Meridian's board is not part of this play) is merely a transitional taxpayer subsidy to keep the smelter owners in New Zealand until the aluminium price recovers and they can run the asset from their own balance sheet.
    "

    Fran is disappointed and angry, that her laissez faire government and favoured PM John Key are now showing that they are not the "purist" market believers and players anymore. They are grudgingly happy to intervene with foregoing tax revenue or whatever, to please a poker playing multinational to stay in operation here.

    So talk about limp "d****", yes we now see, who is the "limp" one, or perhaps has such one: The leader of the government and his out of wits know it all Tony "Rile" (aka Ryall).

    This is entertaining stuff, but then again also damned serious stuff.

    Rio Tinto is determined to re-arrange their investments and assets, to prioritise and eventually close the smelter for good in the foreseeable future. They can build a new, better one anywhere in South East Asia - using cheap labour.

    The government is cracking up, doing all to save face, for their asset sale agenda!
  53. Bryce Edwards: Political round-up: Explaining the puzzles of political success and failure Monday, March 25, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 11:38 AM
    Lack of transparency and accountability, inability to prove government failings and stuff-ups, due to fobbed off OIA requests and other attempts to stop the truth to come out of government departments and ministers, combined with an increasingly corporate style, career minded, not bothered with detail journalistic profession, that is the reason.


    We get served more infotainment and trivial reports on weather, road accidents, crims on the run, VIP dramas, sports, bickering between ego centric pollies and mostly other nonsense, rather than in depth reporting, so the people become ill informed and dumbed down.

    The dictatorship of Aoteaoroa NZ is working well, it seems. No matters of substance get reported on, that is mostly. So nobody gets any "silly" ideas to question Key as leader and an inept government covering up as much as they can.
    A bumbling leader in the opposition does also not help.

    Hence poll results that are nearing former communist regimes approval ratings of decades ago!
  54. John Armstrong: How brand National survives the follies Saturday, March 23, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 25, 2013 at 3:17 PM
    Digby Green
    I think voters are seeing whats happening overseas when governments try to boost the economy by throwing money at things and then look at what happens. Distortion, high debt and no growth. Amazingly our government debt is coming down. Labour and the Greens just want to spend huge amounts of money we don't have. Lets hope our exporters keep exporting.
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    Digby Green:
    Well has it ever passed your mind that the export sector in NZ is still exporting, due to quantitative easing and similar measures applied in a whole number of NZ's export market seeing to it, that the goods exported are still purchased and being paid for - with so-called "printed money" by the way?

    It is the lack of education and insight in the wider parts of NZ's populace that they tend to give credit to their governments, when they simply do stuff all, or nothing that smart or sensible, and earn the benefits of what other governments in more powerful economic regions actually do!

    So Key and Nats get credit for doing NADA. Sounds convenient and dumb to me.
  55. John Armstrong: How brand National survives the follies Saturday, March 23, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 25, 2013 at 3:17 PM
    John Armstrong, you are so predictable and somehow cynical with quoting David Cunliffe commenting on the National led government in a recent speech in Parliament.
    Well, why do you not write more about what Cunliffe and a few other more articulate and competent Labour MPs and spokespersons say and do, rather than focusing on bumbling Shearer?

    Is it not exactly this reason, why Labour is still lingering at rather low to moderate popular polling rates, and while Key and National get away with so much incompetence and even dodgy actions? The media is so kind to Key and this government, and there is little if no reporting on what goes on in Parliament and what various oppostion MPs say and stand for.

    If this is called balanced reporting, I am called the Pope.

    And it was a media hype and circus, that created a so-called "leadership challenge" by Cunliffe to Shearer late last year, which was all made up by a few cutting words and comments out of context. It never was on then, and the demotion of Cunliffe, helped about by certain edia personalities, has caused exactly a major disadvantage for Labour.

    You never send your most capable pollies into Siberia or the wilderness.
  56. Matt McCarten: Big tick for new TV debate show Saturday, March 23, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 25, 2013 at 1:22 PM
    Well, so far I have not been that impressed by what Espiner and Garner have delivered in that new supposed "current affairs" program at 08:
    30 pm on Wednesdays. But if they come up with some "real" political topics on "The Vote", including sensitive, important ones that are relevant to every day NZers, then I will wait with keen anticipation to see how this evolves.
  57. John Drinnan: Maori funds for The GC Thursday, March 21, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 2:02 PM
    Renae
    Im Maori and I do not want to watch another episode of this crap ever again. Why cant they Televise real Maoris in NZ? let alone Maori Wannabes over the ditch? If Te Mangai Paho give funding for the crappiest show ever made then I would be highly disgraced. Focus on something positive in our Own country rather then watching plastic Maoris go on about how cool it is living in the GC. NEXT!
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    Renae:
    You speak like a real Maori, and we need more Maoris to get real and take a stand against dumbing down.
  58. John Armstrong: How brand National survives the follies Saturday, March 23, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 9:40 AM
    With the mainstream media in NZ doing all but inform the public, they do not know what rot is behind so much that goes on under and within this government.
    Maybe that is why Key and Nats are doing so reasonably well in polls, being given a soft ride by journalists?

    And what has happened to investigative journalism, I see almost NONE of it these days, in an ever s more commercialised media world.
  59. John Armstrong: Unflashy Shearer starts to turn the numbers around Wednesday, March 20, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Friday, March 22, 2013 at 2:33 PM
    Tony
    I'm inclined to disagree on all counts. This "forgetfulness" on Shearer's behalf shows a lack of attention to detail and brings into question his financial skills. Shearer didn't just forget the one time. He forgot four times in a row - 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Yet he remembered to declare his Westpac account and he remembered to declare his offshore funds to the IRD each year. And putting Banks to one side Key has been remarkably gracious about this. He's said only that it's "unfortunate' that Shearer forgot about his account - given what Shearer and co have dished out to him over the past few years, Key could have said a whole lot more! Frankly the lesson here is all about people who throw stones from inside a glasshouse.
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    nzimport
    Do you remember the fuss the Labour Party made over Phil Heatleys omission he forgot to declare 2 bottles of wine worth less than $50.00. He paid the money and still handed in his resignation until after he had been officially cleared of wrong doing. My husbanb would like to work for the U N why because of the $500,000 a year salary Mr Shearer enjoyed. Please tell me how you can forget year after year you have $50,000 in a bank account and profess to be on the side of the poor and working class in this country.
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    Nzimport:
    Well, "true" Labourites and socially minded persons have never believed that Shearer was for helping the poor and working class.

    His speech re the "Heartland", quoting the "sickness benefit roof painter" revealed his true views, beliefs and intentions. While sickness beneficiaries are not considered able to work full time, at least some of the, at some time, may be able to spend a bit of time doing some roof-painting.

    That does not mean they are bludgers, malingerers or cheats, as Shearer clearly tried to suggest. But so many Kiwis are falling for lies and deceipt. He is just another one joining the masses there.

    No, I never believed that Shearer is the right person to lead a party like Labour. Those that go t him there have a lot to answer. Best bet is he will resign mid year or late this year, to make room for a more competent, capable and convincing opposition leader. While I am no Cunliffe fan, he would though be one of the major candidates to look at.
  60. Brian Rudman: We have Waikato water - so let's use it Tuesday, March 19, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 12:40 PM
    The Devil's Advocate
    I lived for 10 years in drought, with one period of 5 years continuously with out ever seeing rain. To me this has been the best summer we've had in New Zealand for years. A month without rain and all of the Water experts are out in force pushing their water carts about how important blah. Blah is and blah. Blah about blah. The farmers would love a drought declaration, it means Drought relief aid packages and financial assistance from the Government, Never mind that they have been enjoying record profits over the past 5 or 6 years. Two to Three weeks from now it will be p****** down continuously for weeks on end and cold as a witches tit, So enjoy it while it lasts.
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    The Devil's Advocate:
    You obviously have never been too occupied with farming or gardening. Such thinking is short sighted and dumb. Yes, the sun hungry city dwellers love to enjoy the sun and rain free season, but at the same time expect supermarkets to sell the food they need and the fridges to be full. But who has ever worked on a farm these days? Few I know. So this is the language of a blind person telling other blind persons what things look like.

    This country still lives off farming, and if there is no rain for so long, you will all pay for it, believe it or not. Ah, hey, yes, I can hear the moaning already about high dairy and meat prices.
  61. Brian Rudman: We have Waikato water - so let's use it Tuesday, March 19, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 12:40 PM
    Rudman, at times I give you credit, but I ask, what is this about?
    Water may now come from the Waikato River, but do not bloody take it for granted, please. If Len Brown wants to put another million into Auckland, where is the water going to come from?

    Ultimately, if it gets dryer and rains less, you will have to build desalination plants. Also more infrastructure costs will come in other areas. It is dumb, dumber and the dumbest to rely on economic growth simply based on population growth.

    Needs and resource depletions will increase also. But as supply and demand will then offer greater prices for those offering, there will always be those idiots wanting to sell anything at a higher price.

    No matter whether people consuming may benefit, the population growth agenda is primitive economics. Do you want to turn NZ into a Bangla Desh or India?
  62. Colin Hogg: Maori TV hits current affairs sweet spot Monday, March 18, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 10:12 AM
    Yes, and I started to watch Native Affairs more frequently a couple of years ago.
    It is not always reporting on what interests me, but while being non Maori, I like to be informed on what Maori people are concerned about and doing. It is certainly one of the best programs, if not the best current affairs program on Freeview, but given the lack of quality in the competing shows, this is also nat that hard to achieve.

    I still watch the odd Q+A program, and 3rd Degree has so far mostly disappointed me. I have little time for 60 minutes (now on Prime) and other programs like Sunday, that come with too much emotive and also foreign reports.

    There is a real lack of investigative journalism going on in nz, and the reporting on the news on the various channels never compares with what face (follow up to Triangle and Stratos, now also via sky) can offer, coming from some European news channels and Al Jazeera.

    So good on for Maori tv to keep us informed in a sound manner, but why should this only be happening on Maori tv. Bring back a channel like tvnz7, as that is what nzers with a desire for real information, news and quality documentaries are desperately hanging out for.
  63. Neil Miller: Hidden benefits of beer drinking Saturday, March 16, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 10:07 AM
    HC
    "Beer" brewed in NZ is mostly p***. Only over more recent years have there been some improvements due to boutique brewers entering the market. When I first came to NZ in the 1980s, it was shocking what was on offer in pubs. To enjoy "real" beer one needs to pay a little extra and drink good, real imported beer, or travel to Central Europe and savour the hundreds of types of beer on offer there. Only beer brewed well and at a high standard according to the "Reinheitsgebot" (purity law) is truly enjoyable to drink. Beer not brewed like that is noticeably "different" and does not taste that great at all. The after effects tend to be worse for those beers also. So Neil Miller should note, there are "beers" and "beers", not always the same, and some better and more enjoyable than others. It pays to bear that in mind.
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    Alastair
    The German Purity Law is a load of bollocks in that it allows only water, barley and hops to be used. The most vital component of beer, the yeast, is not permitted. And even if you follow an amended version of the law which allows for yeast and other "nasties" such as sugar, wheat, fruit etc, the law itself is no guarantee of quality. The law does not demand that only the highest quality ingredients be used, and the beer made love and passion. In fact, the Rheinheitsgebot was enacted not for the benefit of beer-drinkers, but for the benefit of bread eaters, in that it was designed to prevent brewers from using up grain which would otherwise have been used to make bread. Finally, you don't need to go overseas to find the world's best beer. You can find it right here in NZ, made with the freshest, most delicious hops and malts available on the planet. Imported beers, no matter how good they were at source, are fighting an uphill battle against kiwi brews that haven't travelled halfway around the world and are still bursting at the seams with fruity hop goodness.
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    Alastair:
    You are right about the yeast, but originally brewers were not aware that they needed at least some traces of "yeast like" micro-organic sediments to brew, which they did use after all, without knowing. Apart from that I refer to the Reinheitsgebot primarily for the reason that there is a strong tradition in Germany, to not use "additives" like sugar, flavour enhancers and preservatives.
    The latter are used in many countries. Also was there a lot of reluctance in Germany years ago, when the Reinheitsgebot was loosened, to allow some other grains and substances for brewing, which was largely due to pressures from the EU and other beer producing countries.

    Saying that NZ has the best beers is just over the top like so much that NZers like to claim. There certainly is not the variety, nor the quality of beers made by some particular small breweries in Central Europe (not just Germany). The imports available here are large brands that are not really such great beers, and much is now brewed under licence and never tastes like the original anyway.
    Centuries of experience in European breweries are hard to match by smallish NZ operations, still experimenting and learning.
  64. Is Auckland planning heading in the right direction? Friday, March 15, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 18, 2013 at 3:21 PM
    As much as I am for some densification of dwellings, and a city with better public transport and more efficient use of existing resources and added infrastructure, I oppose these mad plans to turn some centres like for instance New Lynn, Newmarket, Henderson, Botany, Takapuna and so forth into 8 to 18 storey islands of Manhattans.


    It is ok to have high rises in limits in the CBD and directly next to it, but building up so high in those other pockets of Greater Auckland centres is madness.

    My option is to have more 2 to 4 level small apartment blocks, blocks of flats and units, mixed with terraced housing, town houses and so forth. Building small to medium size sky scrapers here and there will ruin the Auckland landscape, and going by similar concrete and glass blocks overseas, I cannot see this enhancing lifestyles much.

    The obsession with growing the population is sheer madness. Migrants mostly come here for lifestyle choices, for the environment, the open spaces and the low density of population. Planners and some politicians, Len Brown included, are setting the agenda to destroy what is left of traditional NZ. Regional development is called for, not megalomaniacal planning.
  65. Daniel Kelly: A call to arms to protect Godzone Sunday, March 17, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 18, 2013 at 2:04 PM
    The natural environment is only left in remnant areas like national parks.
    There are many pests that endanger native flora and fauna. Every year new ones (plants, insects, shellsfish and so) are brought in by negligence or accident. Climate change will see to it that NZ will in large parts become drier and less fertile, in other parts there may be more rainfall and erosion.

    Intensive farming has led to serious pollution of many waterways, insecticides are suspected to destroy much of the bee population. Native birds are found in only selected places.

    If it was not for the hard work of conservation staff and volunteers the picture of NZ may not look that nice anymore.

    And yes, it is mainly due to the low population density that pollutions and destruction of the environment have not taken a greater toll. Given the fact that NZ has only been populated by Europeans for about 200 years, and a fair few centuries more by Maori, the human migrants have done a substantial amount of damage to the actual native environment in a short time.

    Give it another century or two, more migration and population growth, and NZ may start looking like the barren islands of Greece.

    Stop romanticism.
  66. Ruth Money: Harder line needed to prevent madness Saturday, March 16, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 18, 2013 at 11:31 AM
    JC
    Yep the solution of course, according to Ms Money of the "Sensible" Sentencing Trust is to throw more people into cages for ever longer amounts of their lives at the expense of the taxpayer (just look how well it's worked in America over the last 30 years!), or dope them up with ever more powerful psych drugs to render them sufficiently docile that they can be "managed". It's so much easier for privileged WASPy middle class types to write these human beings off as just plain bad/mad and conveniently sweep them and their problems under the rug than to ever take a step back and ask how/why our society drives these people to the state of desperation and hopelessness that leads them to run amok in the first place.
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    JC:
    You are right! Mental health care in NZ is much neglected, and only over the last 5 to 10 years have there been some improvements. Sadly though, under this government, there have also been cost cutting and other restrictive measures, so that previously free counselling (up to 4 or 5 sessions) offered by Procare Psychological Services in Auckland for mild to moderate sufferers, have had to be abolished. They are charging fees now, and hence those without means have to beg WINZ to get some of this paid.

    Other services have also had budget cuts or caps applied, so there things are being neglected again, just so that Tony Ryall can trumpet around about more elective surgery having been financed and done in such other health care areas.
    I suggest you read the new mental health and addiction care plan (2012-2017) by the Ministry of Health, called "Rising to the Challenge".

    It shows that not more will be spent on mental health, and that sufferers will be expected to help themselves. Also will there be more medicating of sufferers, same as "e-treatment" (online "treatment" and the likes). Already now many services give patients a pat on the shoulder and handouts to read. Much BS!
  67. Ruth Money: Harder line needed to prevent madness Saturday, March 16, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 18, 2013 at 11:31 AM
    What a rather short and unenlightening opinion article this is.
    Does anyone ever bother to look at the reasons for so much unaddressed mental illness in NZ? Do we always need to wait until things get out of control and end in courtrooms, prisons and coffins for that sake?

    NZ has an appalling record in mental health care, and having had a flatmate that was so poorly treated while suffering from a number of serious psychotic periods, I know what I am talking about.

    GPs and psychiatrists are quick to prescribe medications, often "cocktails" of the stuff. Sometimes it is not even the right medication, and side-effects often make it hard to accept by sufferers to continue taking medication, even when it is recommended and necessary.

    Psychological and psychiatric care, same as addiction treatment, is either highly expensive, or hard to access for those needing it. So we have many "treated" with pills and little supervision and support, living out in the community, and nobody really cares much.

    I've lived and been to a number of countries, and it never ceases to shock me, how much mental illness there is in NZ. Harsher penalties for offences won't solve this shameful situation!
  68. Neil Miller: Hidden benefits of beer drinking Saturday, March 16, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 18, 2013 at 10:22 AM
    "Beer" brewed in NZ is mostly p***.
    Only over more recent years have there been some improvements due to boutique brewers entering the market. When I first came to NZ in the 1980s, it was shocking what was on offer in pubs.

    To enjoy "real" beer one needs to pay a little extra and drink good, real imported beer, or travel to Central Europe and savour the hundreds of types of beer on offer there.

    Only beer brewed well and at a high standard according to the "Reinheitsgebot" (purity law) is truly enjoyable to drink. Beer not brewed like that is noticeably "different" and does not taste that great at all. The after effects tend to be worse for those beers also.

    So Neil Miller should note, there are "beers" and "beers", not always the same, and some better and more enjoyable than others. It pays to bear that in mind.
  69. Rodney Hide: The underclass have no hope Saturday, March 16, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 18, 2013 at 9:46 AM
    Such a twisted logic that is behind the summarised points Rodney has listed can only come from a right wing, laissez faire above all else loving twisted mind like the one Rodney has.


    It can be compared to a member of the "flat earth society" reasoning about why the earth must be flat and not a globe, or to a creationalist trying to reason that human beings were created from clay and have only existed a few thousand years.

    Bizarre logic this is, indeed no logical and analytical thinking at all is behind what Rodney is portraying as the reasons for the poor not succeeding in NZ.

    If Rodney had made a sensible, fact based attempt, then one could take him serious, but this is just all biased, unlogical drivel of the worst type.

    We know Rodney and ACT supporters want ideally no laws protecting workers from low pay and exploitation, want to abolish the RMA, want to abolish the welfare system, want to have a dog eat dog society, where everyone will compete at the lowest common denominator, that is those who are underskilled, poor and disadvantaged.

    Yes, they would say start your own business and work for next to nothing, until you can underbid the other competitors. Madness this is.
  70. Bernard Hickey: Hard talk on housing Saturday, March 16, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 18, 2013 at 8:25 AM
    MsFire
    I have this figure at 1 in 10 homes being brought by overseas investors (who incidentially don't solely consist of Chinese). The Standard
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    Obolensky
    " The Standard" is left wing propaganda and only to be read if you need to know and understand the enemy.
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    Obolensky:
    Hah, ignorance is a wide-spread disease in NZ, I know this.

    The Standard is of course to the left of the political spectrum, but at least at times they write some damned interesting stories, which never get reported on by the mainstream media. It takes a bit of intelligence and independent mindedness to realise and accept this.

    The site is run and operated by Lynn Prentice, who is a programmer or systems administrator, and he runs the site, supported by a collective of authors and moderators, rather independently, not needing to compromise to advertisers or other "paymasters".

    It's not propaganda, it is a forum offering rather independent and smart views on subjects. Naturally the fact that most posting and commenting there are to the left, does mean that the government of John Key does not get much sympathy and the soft touch treatment some other media give it.

    Having read on TS about housing, I have seen some intelligent suggestions and idea written there. I am sure that Bernard is also respected by many who comment on The Standard, given he has some sensible, smart ideas to address housing and related issues.

    Until recently the government cared little re housing.
  71. Bernard Hickey: Hard talk on housing Saturday, March 16, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 18, 2013 at 8:25 AM
    Bernard:
    Although you make some interesting and in large part sensible suggestions as to how resolve the housing situation in Auckland and a few other places, I fear that the majority of middle class and upper class Kiwis do not want any of this. Too many home-owners and prospective investors have no interest in risking their homes losing value, so they would not be that keen on building too many homes, which would in consequence put pressures on house prices.

    The problem is there are too many thinking only of their personal agendas, their own home, their security, their investment, their finances, their advantages, their mortgages at lower interest rates and what else comes into play, the NZers are not united and rather divided. So few think of the benefit of the nation as a whole, and nobody wants to sacrifice, pay extra or forego any perceived advantages or privileges.

    And although some moan about migrants, when it comes to selling homes for a good price, they do not care who they sell to.

    A divided country of rather self focused individuals will not vote in governments that will introduce the painful steps to get things in order again. Nobody wants to pay or sacrifice.
  72. Bryce Edwards: Political round-up: The SOE political battlefield Monday, March 11, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 9:14 AM
    HC
    The sudden hype and rush with those interested to register for shares in Mighty River Power shares shows, that the division of NZ is near perfect for generations to come. The upper middle class and some in the middle class, that have a bit of "investment money" have decided to go and buy their "stakes" in what so far has been state run and state owned, thus practically "owned" by all NZers. It is taken off them now, and redistributed to those that have earning and savings capacity that allows them to "buy" into assets and the businesses administering them. Those working poor, without jobs, and even those who have decent jobs, but not managed to save enough, they will be left out and stakeless in this regards. Future assets sales may just reinforce this increased division, where around 50 to 60 per cent of the population are happy with things, as long as their jobs, businesses, incomes and "investments" allow them to continue their lifestyles and maintain their living standards. The rest will sink into powerless insignificance, same as a fair share of the resigned population in the US. Hence it'll be right of centre parties like National and Labour caring after the haves only!
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    R.I.P. Rugby
    "It is taken off them now, and redistributed to those that have earning and savings capacity that allows them to "buy" into assets and the businesses administering them". Perhaps , but is it not fair to see income redistribution going the other way for a change rather than the one way street it has been for so long? I have paid many many times the average tax amount for many years. The country benefits so much from the work-horse golden goose small businesses that are the upper middle and middle class as they are taxed to kingdom come and back again. If i and others are able to invest and then consequently re-invest some or all of those investment gains in more businesses , thereby creating more jobs and more taxable income then why the heck not ? Then the income erdistribution is going both ways.
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    R.
    I.P. Rugby: "If I and others are able to invest and then consequently re-invest some or all of those investment gains in more businesses, thereby creating more jobs and more taxable income then why the heck not ?".

    So tell me then, what "businesses" is the money that the government get for the shares sold re-invested in then? I thought they want to use it to build and repair schools, hospitals, highways, and spend it on sundry other things, which usually are covered by the government through taxes.

    Is it not rather a case of the government selling assets (up to 49 per cent) to fill the gap left by giving tax cuts a few years ago, that benefited higher earners but not low earners?

    That is how I see it, and you are just trying to spin things so that it gives you a clear conscience and makes you feel good about spreading investment to ensure dividends going into your pocket in future. Therefore you are playing the monopoly game that this government wants people to play. It is a bit like the American Dream, which most dream about, but only one in so many thousand actually ever can achieve.

    Selling assets to fill the pockets of the few - and leave others disowned is BS.
  73. Sue Kedgley: Future of open government eroded by secret squirrels Sunday, March 10, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 1:00 PM
    ARH
    Its disgusting. An informed public is nothing to fear - it strengthens a government's legitimacy and ability to govern. Why are the powers that be so afraid of us?
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    ARH:
    I can give you one example: Since 2008 MSD (Ministry of Social Development) went about to "train" their so-called "designated doctors" to conduct and complete medical examinations and assessments of sick and disabled under the Social Security Act in the way, that they would "expect" them to. Training sessions were held all over the country by Dr David Rankin and the new Principal Health Advisor Dr Bratt.

    The latter in "presentations" to GP conferences and other meetings has repeatedly compared "benefit dependence" to "drug dependence", used very selective "pseudo scientific" references to justify his staunch "work ability" focus, to get sick and invalids into some form of work again. Also was the plan to stop GPs issuing medical certificates "too liberally".

    I know few doctors that do the latter, and GPs and other doctors are bound by their code of ethics. Yet there are about 290 designated doctors who are prepared to risk compromising their professional ethics by putting the patient first and work to do the job for WINZ and MSD.

    Now OIA requests to dig into this have so far been fobbed off. What MSD did was interfere with natural justice. They're scared the truth comes out!
  74. Sue Kedgley: Future of open government eroded by secret squirrels Sunday, March 10, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 1:00 PM
    Lunar One
    It makes for dictatorship and irrelevant undemocratic government. Why then do these parties keep on winning election?
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    Lunar One:
    Truth is, most Kiwis are quite happy living in a dictatorship, although they would stubbornly refute this. The apathy, roll-over-and-take-another hit mentality of so many in NZ is the perfect fertile soil for dictatorial form of government. And the most sophisticated and successful dictatorship is the one, that is never perceived as such.

    A bit of dumbing down, a bit of populist feeding, a bit of distraction, a bit of misleading, a bit of pre-occupying people with consumerism, careerism, commercialism, the "can do it" competitive spirit, and most Kiwis are too busy to outdo each other, to grab each other's throats, there will never be enough common sense and unity to create a "popular force" to be reckoned with.

    Hence we have what we have: Divide and rule, keeping secrets, top to bottom governing, parties never keeping many promised policies when in government, and one man or woman for him-/herself, and the worst example is still held by most as the best performing PM for a long time.
  75. Bryce Edwards: Political round-up: The SOE political battlefield Monday, March 11, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 11:08 AM
    The sudden hype and rush with those interested to register for shares in Mighty River Power shares shows, that the division of NZ is near perfect for generations to come.


    The upper middle class and some in the middle class, that have a bit of "investment money" have decided to go and buy their "stakes" in what so far has been state run and state owned, thus practically "owned" by all NZers.

    It is taken off them now, and redistributed to those that have earning and savings capacity that allows them to "buy" into assets and the businesses administering them.

    Those working poor, without jobs, and even those who have decent jobs, but not managed to save enough, they will be left out and stakeless in this regards.

    Future assets sales may just reinforce this increased division, where around 50 to 60 per cent of the population are happy with things, as long as their jobs, businesses, incomes and "investments" allow them to continue their lifestyles and maintain their living standards.

    The rest will sink into powerless insignificance, same as a fair share of the resigned population in the US. Hence it'll be right of centre parties like National and Labour caring after the haves only!
  76. Claire Trevett: Key courts Chile with tipple tale Saturday, March 9, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 11, 2013 at 11:55 AM
    the old chook
    No self respecting kiwi bloke would have worried about the taste of wine in the late 70s, early 80s. Real kiwi men drank beer. If Key was out looking for a good wine instead of a good time, it's no wonder he is out of touch and looks down his nose at working people.
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    the old chook:
    "Beer" you call it what was common then? I called it p***, like most Kiwi drinking mates I had then in those years! And that is what most NZ beer used to be like.

    Only those that ever went to the Octoberfest in Munich would have known what real beer would taste like.

    With the advent of boutique beer brewers things improved in NZ. Sadly most has been and still is highly over-priced. So that spoils a lot of the beer drinking here, which costs less than half, or a third, in Central Europe (being real there, brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot).

    So talk about "free market" and competition. There still is none here, as almost all main imported brands have now been bought as licences, to brew here by NZ brewers, the end product never tasting like the real original drink now.

    NZ's large brewers still cannot brew such good beer, even after being allowed to do this under a licence.
  77. Sue Kedgley: Future of open government eroded by secret squirrels Sunday, March 10, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, March 11, 2013 at 11:37 AM
    Having launched a few OIA requests to a number of government ministries and departments, I have become very disillusioned and even angry about the handling of these, and the contempt shown towards the public in regards to timely responses, true, substantial information not being delivered, much being withheld for all kinds of reasons.


    The reasons given include such as "too time consuming and difficult to collate", not able to be disclosed due to "privacy reasons", and what else comes to mind. There are already many exemptions possible under the Act, but the government wants to add more to protect SOEs and government run, managed and funded entities from having to disclose information that could compromise commercial interests.

    The OIA was introduced to ensure public scrutiniy, to offer transparency, accountability by government and agencies where the government is involved in. We get less and less of this.

    Once the Social Secufity (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill will have been passed, and once MSD and WINZ will outsource various "services", including work capacity and medical assessments of sick clients, the providers doing all this will also be OIA exempt.
  78. Fran O'Sullivan: Challenge to ride Mexican wave Tuesday, March 5, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 10:32 AM
    Yeah, I am sure that the South Pacific version of "Mexicans with cell-phones" will just feel at home there, doing great new deals with the new Mexican government.
    And given it is such a land of contrasts, with a huge gap between the better off and the many poor, it will serve as the future social model for NZ also. Key is really onto it.
  79. Brian Rudman: Labour should be making inroads Tuesday, February 26, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 2:36 PM
    The "rewards" of selling your country from under your bum still seem to be paying the bills, that is why this survey is so unreasonably positive.
    I doubt though, what exactly was asked and answered, as with many polls or surveys, the way things are asked, they are often loaded questions.

    This one seems to fit such "survey" perfectly ("loaded questions").
  80. Brian Rudman: Labour should be making inroads Tuesday, February 26, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 2:36 PM
    The vast majority of born and bred Kiwis never struck me as having that much of insight and understanding of economics and what sensible policies may be.
    Hence I am not surprised by your comments that few see this country heading into difficult times.

    The reality is much different. It is a bit like Kiwis using the ostrich approach, by sticking their heads in the sand, clinging to outdated lifestyles, dreams and unaffordable expectations, and believing that somehow all will go on as usual, so they will not be negatively affected.

    We also have a rather useless opposition and especially a useless opposition leader, so there is NO leadership on the other side of the House (Parliament).

    As a migrant my absolute conviction is that the "Kiwi battler mentality" is a mental illness, as it expects people here to put up with any s*** that no other people anywhere else would put up, and continue to "struggle" disregarding any severe, inhumane and mad challenges.

    In other countries they would have general strikes, revolutions and similar, but most Kiwis are too scared to take any courageous actions or challenge the nonsense and lies pretended. They rather roll over and take another hit.
  81. Is the minimum wage too low? Wednesday, February 27, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 1:04 PM
    Those that say it is high enough already, claiming "international comparisons" on a percentage base, they should perhaps think and accept that NZ wages are in general rather low when compared with other OECD countries.
    Also one needs to look at more than nominal figures and bear in mind the excessively high living costs in NZ.

    To say that the minimum wage is good enough based on comparing it with too general low wages here is absurd. NZ is a rather low wage and salary country, and sadly it is this government and their supporting employer lobbyists that want it that way.

    Lies, lies and more lies come to mind, when National MPs and ministers portray this as reasonable. They themselves would never work for the minimum wage, let alone be able to survive on it. Hypocrisy galore this is.
  82. Bryce Edwards: Political round-up: Fallout from SkyCity deal Friday, February 22, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 1:14 PM
    chris
    The hypocrisy from the lef is astounding. SkyCity was granted an extra 230 poker machines and 12 more gaming tables in 2001 to pay for a $37 million convention centre in Federal St. This was opened with great fan fare in 2004 by Helen Clark. Twelve years later, the casino company is seeking a similar deal with the Government - to build a much larger $350 million international-size convention centre in return for gambling concessions. It wants an early renewal of its licence, more gambling machines - one report suggests between 350 and 500 extra pokies - automated gaming tables and an increase in the number of other table games. But in contrast to the strong public and political backlash in the latest deal, the former Casino Control Authority received only one public submission in 2001, from the Problem Gambling Foundation. Also there were 24,000 pokies machines approximately back in 2002 when Labour were the Government. Today, under the National Government, there's a lot less. at around 17,000. Now the left and the other various do gooders are hand wringing and becoming hysterical. Hypocrisy any one?
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    Gandalf
    This deal was not mandated by the Labour Government or Helen Clark. Heres the full story from the 3 news website. "In 2001, Sky City was allowed to install an extra 230 pokie machines and 12 gaming tables in exchange for a $37 million convention centre in Federal St. At the time, current Justice Minister Judith Collins was chair of the former Casino Control Authority, and allowed the deal to go ahead for its "substantial positive effect on tourism, employment and economic development. In 2003 Labour introduced the Gambling Act, preventing the introduction of more gambling facilities."
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    Gandalf:
    Thanks for that. There is so much mischief going on in the government at present, it is not funny. Misprepresentation, blatant lies before Parliament, backroom-deals with no paper trail, I wonder now, does Key somehow benefit himself from the Sky City Casino convention centre plans, perhaps? I would not put it past him, and like it is common with the old boys and old girls networks they belong to, the shoulder scratch may not be a written contract, it may be a favour done a few years later.
  83. Brian Gaynor: Mainzeal camp left investors in the dark Friday, February 22, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 11:43 AM
    "I forgot about the shareholding because almost no correspondence has been received from Richina since it delisted from the NZX in December 2008.
    " And: "This raises the issue about the requirement of directors to regularly report to shareholders, even if a company is no longer listed."

    So shareholders agreed to the reorganisation of Regina into 4 divisions (one is Mainzeal) and also delisting it from the NZX, accepting all the small print. Safeguards for minority interests were apparently ensured in the bylaws of the resulting entity. No annual meetings were held in Auckland since 2008, apparently because NZ shareholding must have dropped below 15 per cent.

    Certain rules and laws have since then not been followed, suggesting also there may also be loopholes for Richina directors being able to use them. Yes, this makes you wonder why Richina Pacific spent heaps of money on legal and accounting fees in relation to its 2008 amalgamation and delisting proposals.

    This exposes the "skills", expertise and "reliability" of former PM turned company director Jenny Shipley, I am afraid. And does she not also earn a $ 1,000 a day or so advising or supervising CERA or so in Christchurch?
  84. Matt McCarten: Time to expel education minister Sunday, February 24, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 10:57 AM
    This whole "reform program" in the education area, with the introduction of charter schools and the likes, it is to a large degree also aimed at breaking the last still significantly unionised work-forces in NZ, those of teachers.


    The NatACT government, and of course the increasingly apparent prion disease suffering persons like Hide and Banks (memory loss is a clear symptom), they do want to turn the education sector into another sector employing "competitively priced" (low paid) teachers, so they can in future save costs and ram down any policies they want.

    There is nothing much more to this.

    Look at the rest of NZ, and where many workers are left, earning just a bit above minimum wages, finding little incentives, feel urged to go overseas to live and work, where so many can now not afford housing in areas where remaining employment may be found, and where rents are using up half or more of many people's income.

    That is the NZ the neo liberal right wing economic policies of the last 3 decades have taken NZ.

    Of course some reforms were needed in the 1980s and 1990s, but it largely went wrong, did not deliver as promised, and it's become a curse for NZ. Get rid of this lot.
  85. Fran O'Sullivan: Slump, green energy burying coal mines Friday, February 22, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 10:46 AM
    "What is obvious from this vignette is that political interventions cannot hold back a remorseless market tide.
    "

    On this one, Fran, also acknowledge the fact, please, that in the end it is the state (i.e. the taxpayer), who picks up the fall-out costs of unemployment, by paying those in need the unemployment and other benefits to simply survive.

    So the government will pay something anyway, and a well operated and planned SOE could perform just as well as other enterprises, if management adhere to smart and careful planning and strategies. Keeping the jobs by having the government offer some assistance may be wise, also given the fact that coking coal will recover in price and enable Solid Energy to get back into positive figures.

    Apart from that, yes the markets will be unforgiving, and ups and downs will continue. But also bear in mind, the demise of many western enterprises is also due to competitors having outsourced to low wage economies for production, so competition is happening at the lowest common denominator.

    You promote FTAs with Mainland China and low wage, low standard economies, so accept some of the blame, thanks. But coal is not the future. China sees it, not NZ!
  86. John Armstrong: Nats battle hard to tame report Friday, February 22, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 10:38 AM
    "Joyce has gone out of his way to avoid even acknowledging, let alone accepting some of Smith's criticisms, particularly those concerning the lack of fairness and transparency in the crucial "expression of interest" phase of the selection process.
    "

    "Rather than treating the public's watchdog on the spending of public money with respect and take some remedial action, Joyce has treated an officer of Parliament almost with disdain. That is behaviour which is constitutionally unacceptable coming from a Cabinet minister.."

    Indeed, it was a disgrace what came from Joyce and Key during Parliament's Question time this week! They were twisting words, interpretations and facts beyond the wildest imaginations of anyone listening and watching them. What a disgrace for a government this has become, it brings great shame over all of NZ.

    And this endless reference to the Deputy Auditor-General having stated that there was no evidence that the final decision to negotiate with SkyCity was influenced by any "inappropriate considerations", that is raisin picking and ignoring the damning criticism of other parts of the report.

    No paper trails or any records were left on purpose it seems. Why?
  87. James Dann: Two years, little progress in Christchurch Friday, February 22, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 9:55 AM
    "The whole of New Zealand should be outraged that a country with delusions of first-world grandeur is less able to house its own people after a natural disaster than one of the basket cases of the Third World.
    "

    Well, with that number eight wire ingenuity, the in large sections of society rather "casual" approach to so much in daily and not so daily life, and above a very useless governments, I am not so surprised, to be honest.

    Neglecting apprenticeships, neglecting the local economy, encouraging tens of thousands of NZers (including many now needed tradespeople) to head to Australia to work and live, and running a country primarily on primary products exports, low paid tourism enterprises and training overseas students (by often foreign, migrant teachers), this country is fast becoming Third World!
  88. John Roughan: SkyCity deal insight into PM's mind Friday, February 22, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 9:15 AM
    "The Deputy Auditor General has found nothing wrong in principle with trading social regulations for an economic asset.
    She was concerned only that rival bids were not told the Government preferred not to put in money and could offer regulatory concessions instead.

    I doubt there's much room for concessions in social regulation of anything except gambling, where there must be plenty of ways to help those with a problem."

    Dear John Roughan, do not distract from the condemnation the Auditor General's report expressed about the lack of processes followed, and the lack of transparency and equal treatment of tenders in the whole consultation process, please.

    Of course gambling is a serious problem "only" for a small minority of the population, same as alcohol and drug addiction is, but the damage caused by all those problems is enormous to the whole of society, besides of harm done to families, lives taken and what else not seldom happens in lives of heavy gamblers.

    Also did TV One News recently expose that Sky City Casion have a rather "slack" policy when trying to detect and deal with problem gamblers, only looking at such spending over 12 hours non-stop on gaming machines or so!
  89. Bryce Edwards: Political round-up: Fallout from SkyCity deal Friday, February 22, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Friday, February 22, 2013 at 3:40 PM
    Quoted from above:

    "It isn't, however, all just opposition outrage. The Dominion Post's Disregard for the rules is alarming is scathing of the Government's process, saying such rules are vitally important because 'adherence to proper process helps to ensure that public moneys are spent wisely and that New Zealand remains relatively free of corruption'. It concludes powerfully against the way that John Key has been doing deals: 'That is the way politics operates in Russia, China, India, Africa and other parts of the world in which corruption is endemic. It is not the way it should operate in New Zealand'."

    And that is exactly also my view on the Sky City saga, if one can describe the whole process as such.

    Having read enough of the released report, it is quite damning what the government, the ministers and their staff have allowed to happen during negotiations with all tenders, especially while preferring to deal with Sky City Casino.

    So I am mystified, as to how the Auditor General's office could come to their conclusion that overall there is insufficient evidence to lay any blame on Key and his lot.

    NZ is increasingly becoming the laughing stock of the "developed world".
  90. Andrew King: Slash house prices? It would be a disaster Thursday, February 21, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Friday, February 22, 2013 at 3:14 PM
    Dee
    Funny that everything Andrew King wrote further substantiated Alan Dudson's point - he just doesn't like the conclusion.
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    Dee:
    You are absolutely right. Andrew King has a very clear interest in defending property investors, as he is the head of their federation! First he lashes out and tries to tell us that what Alan Dudson wrote on 18 February was supposedly all rubbish, then bit by bit he concedes that in general Alan Dudson was absolutely correct with his comments in his article.

    What is happening in property investment is a growing gap between the bigger ones and the smaller ones, like in much of commercial activity in most areas. If an investor can present a good business plan, can prove to a bank that he or she have secure tenants (not difficult in Auckland these days of accommodation shortage and high demand and rental incomes), will operate smartly in declaring expenses, the banks will lend the money to go and grow the portfolio step by step.

    It is these often well advised portfolio investors that are driving up home prices, combined with "investors" and ordinary buyers for own homes from overseas, that cause the bubble.

    This way more and more will be driven to become renters to feed the investment frenzy going on, concentrating property ownership in ever fewer investor hands - and pockets.
  91. Brian Rudman: Getting high rises right is the trick Thursday, February 21, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Friday, February 22, 2013 at 3:03 PM
    Honatana Zedong
    Indeed. But why do we want or even need another million people? Who decided this, and what is the rationale and where is the public consultation?
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    Northbloke
    Another million people are going to happen if you like it or not...
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    Northbloke:
    Hah, yes, if NZ carries on as it does, it likely will.

    Certain minority groups have higher birth rates than the average, creating the larger share of population "growth" inside NZ. Then there are also many Mainland Chinese so happy to come to NZ, not just for a better life and more space in general, but also, because here they can have more babies than in their own country.

    NZ is one of the less populated places on earth, with fertile lands. It lives larglely of exporting primary products grown here. If the population is allowed to grow further, you will soon have the same over-crowding, pollution and other social issues, as most other more densely populated countries have. Also will more of the primary products be consumed here, which means less exports then to earn a living with.

    What jobs would there be, or do you suggest sweat shops competing with low wage factories in some Asian countries?

    The globe is already having too many hungry and wanting humans in general now, do you want to destroy one of the few places not ruined so much yet, to also be just another over-crowded, polluted and unsustainable place here?
  92. Brian Rudman: Getting high rises right is the trick Thursday, February 21, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Friday, February 22, 2013 at 3:02 PM
    Who really wants to live in an Auckland City of the size of 2.
    5 to 3 million, in a country barely touching 5 million by 2026? I think the whole planning is just not sufficiently considering the impact on infrastructures in general, as well as on the environment.

    The costs to build a modern, efficient and economical train system, to improve bus transport, to upgrade certain roads, to build a second harbour crossing or tunnel, to build hundreds of extra schools, larger hospitals, to put in new water pipes, to lay fibre optic cables, to do all else needed, that will be shockingly enormous.

    Yes there will be those saying more people will mean more workers, more output, more efficiencies, more economic use of infrastructures, and more customers in a growing economy. But what jobs are supposed to be created here? Tens of thousands of Kiwis are moving to Australia for jobs. Primary production of milk powder, baby formula, timber, raw fish, fruit and so only create so many jobs, tourism creates mostly lower paid jobs, many are losing jobs, companies are closing down, manufacturing is moving off-shore, I feel the planners are living in another world.

    Settle migrants in other centres!
  93. Brian Rudman: Getting high rises right is the trick Thursday, February 21, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Friday, February 22, 2013 at 3:00 PM
    "But as set out here, the transition from the old to the new will occur at random, apartment blocks of varying heights, popping up in the midst of existing houses, in no particular order, anywhere they're allowed.


    For the next 30 years, old suburbs will be pocked with eruption after eruption of new developments, as erratically ordered as Auckland's volcanic cones. Remnant existing householders will be left to await the knock on the door from a cheque-book-waving developer."

    This is exactly the kind of scenario that will not appeal to the wider public, whether renting or owning homes all over Auckland. Ok, those already living in one of the large apartment blocks in Central Auckland or here and there outside that area, will know nothing else.

    I am concerned about having up to 18 level apartment blocks built in "centres" outside the CBD. If these are built amongs standalone houses on ordinary sections, there will be endless legal and other challenges, as views, noise and other issues will impact on the existing residents.

    Such large blocks may be ok in areas like the former quarry in New Lynn (Crown Lynn Pl), Auckland, and so, but why not have more 2-3 level blocks of units?
  94. Dame Anne Salmond: Separating free market wolves from the lambs Monday, February 18, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 8:49 AM
    And your next column contribution will hopefully on Marx's 'Capital', or another one of that man's work, I presume?
    That is to keep a balance, which is much needed in NZ media.
  95. Colin Hogg: Current affairs experiment gone wrong Monday, February 18, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 12:56 PM
    Kiwi
    Over in Australia they have "The Project" which is what I assume TV1 are trying to emulate with Seven Sharp. Australia also has 60 Minutes, Sunday, & Four Corners, all 1 hour long news/current affairs programmes. They even do investigative journalism. Why is it that in New Zealand we are treated like adolescent school kids? The constant dumbing down of the media in NZ is an absolute disgrace.
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    Kiwi:
    Thanks, I have nothing much more I can add to this comment, yes, you raise on of the biggest issues NZ society has these days: Dumbing down everywhere!
  96. Colin Hogg: Current affairs experiment gone wrong Monday, February 18, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 12:55 PM
    Seven Sharp is a waste of time, and TVNZ better pull the plug on it now, rather than embarrass any further the presenters and the whole station as a whole.
    I only tuned in briefly for the 2nd and 3rd shows, then over recent days had another glimpse at it, and I see, how they are desperately making some changes, to give a bit more focus on current affairs topics.

    Yet it does not fit with the attempted jokes and light hearted bits that usually start the show off, and that are interspersed.

    Either you have light hearted infotainment by convincing, well connecting presenters, or you have proper current affairs. I would opt for the latter, as NZ television is far too short on that.

    The 60 minutes now on Prime is new there, but it was on another channel before, too often presenting stuff that was not related to NZ.

    There is enough happening in NZ at present, there are real issues, and we do get too little reporting on them. The main news are just touching the surface of most news items, and the incessant commercial interruptions turn me off.

    Bring a real show at 7 pm, and also turn TVNZ inside out, and bring back TVNZ7 or something similar, so we get real news and reporting!
  97. Paul Casserly: Triangle's successor is DIY TV at its best Monday, February 18, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 9:54 AM
    "Public television" via private Sky channel, that will not go well for that long, I fear.


    Face is still available in the Auckland region via analogue transmission, but as analogue transmission is due to be phased out soon, this will force many thousands or tens of thousands to sign up with Sky then, I presume.

    Sky will get more subscribers and viewers, so they have got it made there.

    Face will eventually be presented with conditions to accept a more commercial approach, to pay higher fees, or whatever, it will not remain to be as independent as it has been, so one must expect.

    NZ needs some proper independent broadcasting, that is not private, and if state funded and/or operated, a proper public channel along the lines of former TVNZ7 is a total must, or 99 per cent of NZ's population will end up like brain-washed 21st century style Neanderthal beings, or even less "developed" and enlightened.
  98. Alan Dudson: Let's stop subsidising property investors Sunday, February 17, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 8:16 AM
    Well, well, well, this is a new view on this property investment business in NZ, is it not?


    I am already expecting one of those many pro real estate investment, pro developer, pro bank and possibly also pro self interest motivated commenters to write the next column on this, trying to "rubbish" all that has been stated here.

    It is the sob story of the desperate, suffering landlord, who has to pay all those expenses, has ungrateful tenants, has no funds left after paying rates, to do repairs, renovations and to put in insulation in the homes they let out.

    Apart from addressing the various issues by introducing a CGT, by creating competition on the building materials wholesale and retail sector, by reducing some bureaucracy or by streamlining construction and developments, what is also needed more again in NZ, is to have the state, whether central government, Housing NZ Corporation, local councils, or whosoever involved in alternative housing, to provide affordable rental homes for those that will never ever be able to afford their own homes.

    Some are and will be left behind so much, they will not get own homes no matter what. In much of Europe social housing is still wide-spread.
  99. Tapu Misa: Moral pressure drives fight for living wage Sunday, February 17, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, February 18, 2013 at 3:30 PM
    the old chook
    While some employers would sign on for a minimum wage I suspect that most would not. The strident calls from business and employer groups to reject any increase to the minimum wage shows that ethics and morals are sadly lacking in the business world. Employers have developed an attitude that sees them view staff not as people but as units of economic productivity. They believe that employees should be grateful just to have a job; to expect a decent wage as well is asking too much. Despite these well meaning calls for liveable wage, nothing will happen. Working class NZ was disenfranchised decades ago. No NZ political party speaks for them. MMP allows the chance to form a true NZ Workers Party. Backed by those who need it, such a party would enter Parliament with numbers large enough to force change on any government very quickly. Change will come with power and it is there to take. No one is listening to us so we must unite, win power and force change on those who treat their fellow NZers with such disrespect.
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    'the old chook':
    You are right with that. The present Labour government is a gutless, side issue nurturing, clinger on MP led and totally useless party, when it comes to take real, resolute actions for workers and those unable to work, be this for genuine illness, disability or having to raise kids in absence of a partner.

    There is the Mana Party, but sadly most will associate it with Hone and not much else, although they have a wider policy agenda these days. It just will not appeal to enough prospective voters, many of whom do not bother to vote anymore at all.

    The Greens are only so much pro worker and disadvantaged, as they often just use it to present themselves as a "fairer" party, which primarily still focuses on the environment, but increasingly on some selected economic and fiscal issues. Most of their members and supporters are comparatively well to reasonably well off professionals.

    So there is a definite vacuum for a new party, that represents true interests of the majority of working people and disadvantaged in NZ. It could with the right people and organisation get at least 15 to 20 per cent of the total vote in the coming election if started now.

    It is overdue.
  100. Tapu Misa: Moral pressure drives fight for living wage Sunday, February 17, 2013
    HC (Onehunga)
    Monday, February 18, 2013 at 3:30 PM
    Tapu - and to all who may read this:
    Mere "moral" claims and justifications will not achieve a living wage or an affordable, decent lifestyle for those you are talking about. It will only be achieved if workers learned once for all again, that they must join their forces and act collectively to get better pay and conditions.

    That though has been undermined since the Employments Contract Act was introduced by a National government in 1991, and it was never mended sufficiently by the last Labour governments, who simply only changed bits of anti union and anti worker legislation by creating the more moderate Employment Relations Act.

    Also has this trend of dividing, outsourcing and disowning workers and poor in general been followed globally, and NZ is sadly linked into a global economic system, which has major affects on local economic and social standards.

    We hear and see every day, how value added manufacturing gets closed here, how many lose their jobs, and such work is shifted to cheap labour countries.

    Service jobs do in most cases not pay well, but that is what is left for too many, apart from the welfare benefit.

    I see all this lead to nothing unless workers take action!

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