An interesting contrast
July 1st, 2008 at 6:33 am by David FarrarAs far as I can tell the Government is spending tens of millions of dollars through eight different campaigns to encourage kids to play more sport.
National is saying we’ll take that money and spend it directly on funding and facilities for kid’s sports.
I know which one appeals more to me.
A useful comparison:
One big cost for example is the Sparc website. This year Sparc will spend $5.5 million on its website. And between 2006 and 2010, Sparc will spend $11.5 million on its website. That’s enough to give almost $6,000 worth of sporting equipment to every primary school in New Zealand. Or to buy a decent cricket set for every family in Waitakere City.
That is a hell of a lot of money for a website!
Tags: National, obesity, SPARC, Sport
July 1st, 2008 at 6:41 am
Won’t encouraging kids to sit in front of the computer playing interactive games keep them fit and healthy?
I’d love to know how much they’re planning to spend on consultants for the site.
We, in NZ, seem to have developed some strange anal fixation in the last 9 years, as in, staring up our own bums looking for answers. Go figure.
Edit: My other name is Sarky
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 6:51 am
“Sparc will spend $11.5 million on its website.”
Another pc feel good fuzzy failed attempt by a dismal government that is sadly lacking any credibility or understanding of the mounting problems facing kiwi society. These political nutbars have completely lost the plot and the moronic kiwi public are proving wimpish by allowing this criminal government to serve them shit day after day. The childless Clark lives in utopia which is far from the sad realities of the concerned kiwi communities. What a cess pit country, who condemns our children to difficulties. Labour hate sport, as they selfish mongrels who aren’t team players!!
Give a kid a rugby ball not a mouse Helen !!
Get real New Zealand because OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER than this Clark government !!
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 6:55 am
Over in the UK the Labour government has thought it a great idea to give poor families £200 to be better parents/caregivers.
As Jimmy Carr noted £200 is the difference between a family being brought up in poverty and a family being brought up in poverty with a playstation.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 7:22 am
This reminds me of the response to the Boxing day Tsunami. The UN was off talking about how to get organized. Meanwhile the “conservatives” of the United States were getting their boots muddy, flying supplies in and actually making a difference on the ground.
It seems to me that conservatives are, generally, more hands on and wanting to do something about the problems. The socialists? They seem to be more about talking a lot, spending money on studies and websites, and then blaming the conservatives when they fail
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 7:31 am
Labour takes my money and gives it to others.
National takes my money and gives it to others.
What a choice we have this year.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 7:43 am
Its telling that until recently the contract rates for IT people was higher in Wellington (cost centre) than Auckland (profit making centre) due to Gummint Depts spunking loads of cash on (mostly) stupid web based initiatives.
That trend is now tapering off, wonder what will happen post election this year?
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 8:02 am
Anti-obesity schemes are rubbish. Their silliness is only equalled by recent ‘maori badges’ campaign. Where the government spent 65,000 on printing badges with tags such as ‘wassup bro’ in order to make maori feel better about themselves.
If a bunch of government wallies invent some grandiose scheme to fix the obesity problem , and it fails, they should be fired for non-performance.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 8:30 am
DPF: Spending $11,5M over 5 years on a major public initiative isn’t huge money. Sports gear is gathering dust all over the country. There is usually no need to buy more. What IS needed is to kids off their arses and out playing. Judging by performance to date, many parents aren’t able to make that happen. maybe they are worried about their kids’ security, Maybe they work long hours and tell the kids to stay home. Maybe the kids just like playing conputer / console games or vegging in front of NickleOdeon or cartoon Network.
My youngest daughter hates TV, doesn’t play chip-based games but DOES love spending hours on Bebo and MySpace with her friends both local and global. She’s been using GIMP to compose original graphics and skins for her friends and I have to say she is doing some impressive work. I know that when her mother and I tell her to do things for “reasons”….like get off her arse,…..she does go away and research what we say via Google and Wikipedia so she can have the debating points all lined up for next time.
I can understand how an online resource aimed at kids and young people would be an important presence. If it proved useful for just 1,000 kids in any year, the long-term savings in health costs would more than justify the $2M / year.
Sometimes – when you don’t think about things – they do look stupid. But if you stop and think about how people actually behave in real life….and that there are 4.3 million of them in this country…..what at first looked daft may not actually be daft at all. My own kids’ behaviour tells me this web site may prove to be an important resource to enable children in New Zealand to do their own research on things Mum & Dad are telling them and have the good reinforced.
Pascal(1512): Your fantasy about US Conservatives in the Tsunami zone is bizarre at best. I’m sure they were there, but to pretend no one else was or that they were the majority (what census measured that?) is wrong in fact and reflects very poorly on your own credibility, I have to say. The worst sort of self-deluding party hack would still have more integrity than you showed in that comment.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:10 am
I agree entirely with Berend. If the Nationals were true to there traditional principles and convictions, there is no way they would be taking money from families and spending it on any kind of government directed initiative. Such schemes always fail to deliver, and if the Nats truly don’t know this its another reason why this country is up shit creek with out a paddle.
What’s the point of having an opposition when they’re as deranged in their thinking as the gummint? (and especially this gummint). Here’s a message for the Nats, (and Jezuz H christ on a bike, I’m damned if I know why its necessary- this should be a natural for them)- Don’t TAKE the damn money in the first place. Leave it with the parents, and they can decide whether they want to spend it on sport or further education or a new bedroom or clothing or whatever.
*** I do not need either Helen Klark or John Key or Sue Bradford or any of you bastards taking my fucking money and spending it for me…!!!****
What does it take to get through to you fucken dimbulbs???
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:25 am
Damn- “their” traditional principles.. and I didn’t notice until the editing time had expired.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:31 am
“An interesting contrast”
Not really. This is just another aspect of National’s Crosby-Textor Public Relations campaign (CT are a dodgy PR company who specialise in racist smear campaigns, which the National Party leadership is refusing to acknowledge as being in their employ – as opposed to National Party staffers who, according to G Espinar, confirm that CT are working for them). They’re looking at a tiny 0.01% of government spending and saying “we’d spend it more pragmatically”, all because their approach is, more tangible in terms of results, and therefore more “common sense”. Whether or not it would reduce childhood obesity more than the Labour approach is a moot point. But that’s not the point of this press release. The point is to continue its branding the government as “wasteful and out of touch”. The more the National Party does this with vague and insignificant “examples”, the more the media repeats the line, and the more it becomes a “truism” or “common sense” in the public consciousness.
The fact that so far, National hasn’t been able to prove that it can cut “waste” in the public service to fund larger tax cuts than Labour is offering is niether here nor there to Crosby-Textor. Their campaign isn’t about reality, it’s about abstract “branding”.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:37 am
Dear Mr. Key, given you personally have acknowledged the importance of price in youth decision making, and that the National party is committed to privatising ACC, what impact do you think sports clubs passing on to children hiked up private insurance fees before they can play sport have on the obesity epidemic?
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:38 am
“This is just another aspect of National’s Crosby-Textor”
Flog your dead horse and your worthless smears elsewhere embecile.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:39 am
I’m a bit cynical about this.
Vote:If Labour wants to encourage kids to play sport and Key wants to fund schools to pay for sports equipment and the like, he`ll have to fund schools properly and let us know if the money he puts into school for sport – like sports equipment and gyms etc – is more than the amount that parents are paying in school donations – the “donation” donations, not the “fee” donations – because if it is less, then parents are practically funding Nationals policy twice out of their own pockets, which is worse than parents funding 20 hours not really free at all for childcare.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:42 am
How to blow all credibility in one fell swoop. Steve any-one who spend over 11 million on a website is either having the wool pulled over their eyes or doing the pulling. What a crock! Your credibility is shot trying to defend that one. Even at $250 per hour it would mean in excess of 46 000 hrs were spent on this site. We have been involved with a full feature animated film due for release in the states in two months at a cost of just over 6.5 mil and 20 months worth of work so do have some idea of what we are talking about.
And the idea that providing entertaining computer driven programmes will make kids spend more time outside being active is up there with the prospect of Helen Clark being an honest politician . It simply defies logic.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:45 am
“I do not need either Helen Klark or John Key or Sue Bradford or any of you bastards taking my fucking money and spending it for me…!!”
D4J/Redbaiter – given that you’re a lowly tech support drone, and not earning a lot of money I wouldn’t think you’d mind. i.e. the richest 30% pay 70% of that tax – so the bottom 70% of taxpayers (that would include yourself no?) are always going to receive far more money, directly and indirectly, from the govt during their life time than they’ll pay in taxes. Think about it. It really isn’t that bad a deal for you. That is of course unless the government is running a huge structural deficit that will ruin the economy – i.e. George Bush, and the prospective National Party-lead Government.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:48 am
Jesus now we have the Liar becoming an economist. RN go back to telling lies. At least they were sometimes amusing. You are to thick to know anything about economics and to dishonest to be of any relevance.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:49 am
Bok:
You’re too thick to know how to spell “too”, now go back and fix your mistake.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:58 am
So is this the Nats plan, “if elected we will shut down Sparc”?
I assume John Key will deny any plans to shut down Sparc by 4pm today.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:02 am
Steve Withers:
> DPF: Spending $11,5M over 5 years on a major public initiative isn’t huge money. Sports gear is gathering dust all over the country. There is usually no need to buy more.
Just speaking for my son’s decile 10 school, we had to personally buy soccer balls to allow them to play soccer. If there was sports equipment gathering dust, then the dust must have been pretty thick.They are hopelessly ill-equipped even for basic games.
> Maybe the kids just like playing conputer / console games or vegging in front of NickleOdeon or cartoon Network.
Or perhaps browing the spark web site?
Neither my son nor me has looked at this web site. It is possible that it is the best web site ever, and for that money I suppose it would have to be.
But it doesn’t compare with a soccer ball and a 1/4 acre of grass outside. From memory, environmentalists and socialists are opposed to back gardens, so I suggest they spend $11.5m and a good few weeks spent getting their priorities straight.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:08 am
“given that you’re …. not earning a lot of money I wouldn’t think you’d mind.”
Another remark that like so many of them shows the corruption of the thinking of the left and demonstrates their constant inability to come to grips with the concept of principle. No matter how much money is involved you amoral power obsessed sleazebag, its still as wrong.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:10 am
I just love it when I hear dumbarses saying Oh its only $10 million or $20 Million what the heck
Well dipsticks all these $10m and $20m add up to large sums. And the dimbulbs spending (wasting) the money have an extreme cavalier attitude I know because I come into contact with them.
Their attitude is Have Budget Will Spend Make sure ALL Budget is Spent before Year End. Fight to Get Bigger Budget Next Year.
This scenario is played out in every government department
Its a mind set of staggering negligence. Non KPIs set so that the result whatever it is can always be manipulated to be seen to meet the non KPIs.
The Agean stables need a high pressure clean out
I volunteer to direct the hoses.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:27 am
um..I..just in the service of accuracy..the website amount is $5 million..which is mind boggling in itself..
(and how is that not a clear example of the downright lies/bullshit you righties spin..?..that you have to inflate that amount to $11 million..?..sad..eh..?..)
and key was on nat-rad..and when asked what he would actually do..he delivered a classic key-performance..he actually said nothing..
and then..after that sad showing..
an obesity expert came on..and blew any faint shreds of an argument he may have had away..
..by noting that the only way to end the obesity epidemic..is to sin-tax the unhealthy fat/salt-laden crap disguised/marketed as food/drink..
..and to incentive-tax the healthy/good food..
..she also noted the joke of telling children at schools to eat healthy food..then allowing them to be bombarded by advertising/exhortations to eat/consume said crap disguised as food/drink..
..she said we will do nothing about obesity..untill we start treating ‘bad’ food like tobacco..
(namely..ban advertising of it..and tax it out of existance..
she was adamant that nothing else will work..
(textor-crosby probably told key to ‘float’ this ‘distraction’..eh..?)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:34 am
“an obesity expert”
Leftist code for another ignorant of history deranged leftist fuckwit who typically thinks bigger government more regulation and less freedom of choice is the only answer. They should be sent back in time to the Soviet Union.
..and take your off topic dead in the water Textor Crosby smear somewhere else bludger.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:35 am
“demonstrates their constant inability to come to grips with the concept of principle. No matter how much money is involved you amoral power obsessed sleazebag, its still as wrong.”
This demonstrates your inability to form a coherent argument. You whined about the government taking your money, then I pointed out to you that you probably aren’t even a net-tax payer. The government is probably in fact giving you money, so your whine was illogical. That was my point. Is it really that hard for you to understand?
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:38 am
Government spending on websites and computers generally is always wasteful irrespective of whether it’s National or Labour leading government.
The next Government will be caught exactly the same way.
On this occasion National’s proposal is to give the money to primary schools.
National will now decide the sports equipment needs of Children.
But they won’t bulk fund schools or provide for school choice through individual entitlements. They won’t empower parents or the schools they choose to buy the equipment.
They will continue to charge rent for classrooms used for the one-day-a-week programme for gifted children because the government provided education is inadequate for the needs of these children.
After all gifted children are like kids who are good at a sport and parents have got to pay their child’s way in sport.
National again fails to address the real problem in centrally controlled and provided state education – it simply proposes to extend this failed approach to sports gear.
More petty hucksterism from National.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:39 am
Yes, for heaven’s sake, let’s get rid of the dreaded sausage sizzle! The wee bit of good it does in terms of fundraising is phenomenally offset by the irreparable damage done to the minds and bodies of kids who consume those sticks of death. And pies! Pies! Don’t get me started. Evil. Evil food. Pies could be a great little revenue spinner if they were properly taxed. As could lollies! And cake! And chips! Lettuce for everyone, I say. Organic lettuce.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:42 am
in future..when key ‘pops off’ to make an ‘urgent’ phone call..
..will people nod at each other knowingly..
..and say..’he must be going for his textor’..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:43 am
I’m partial to a bit of muffin myself….
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:45 am
have you heard about that new song we’re being ‘sung’..?
..it’s the same as the old song..
but this time..instead of being ‘sung’ by crosby textor and brash..
it’s by crosby textor and key..
(i think brash has gone off to do a solo album..eh..?..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:46 am
Two quotes from Roger Nome that demonstrate his typically leftist pathological lack of concern for truth.
First-
“the bottom 70% of taxpayers (that would include yourself no?)’
and second in a remark concerning the very post the above phrase is taken from-
“then I pointed out to you that you probably aren’t even a net-tax payer.”
Exept he didin’t. Just made the usual hollow assertions. Lies are all the left ever have, and the brain damaged loser Nome has more of them than most. The left have absolutely no regard for truth.
..and thanks for the smile Franky. very good.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:48 am
Ratbleater loves it when the thread becomes about him!
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:50 am
One part of Key’s speech struck a chord…..
“I think playing sport is an important part of growing up in New Zealand. Kids who are out there playing rugby or netball or soccer or cricket, or any other sport, aren’t just getting fitter and healthier. They are learning about teamwork and co-operation, about playing fair, and about winning and losing.”
I’ve always been very aghast at the attitude of schools to competitive behavior. The concept of not keeping score so there is no winner or loser. The idea of not being able to fail an NCEA subject seems to be an adjunct of this. The upshot of all of this is that our young people are sheltered from losing. They do not learn that failure and losing is a part of life and how you deal with that is a learned behavior.
My question is what happens when a young adult leaves school and is exposed to failure and loss for the first time in his or her life?
Why do we have a high suicide rate again?
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:51 am
The faux outrage from the left and right is predictable and sad. From the right …. Government should abrogate all its social responsibilities in favour of the market in the certain knowledge that all families are capable and willing to ensure their kids get the best start possible in life … and pigs fly. From the left …. (Sonic) “if elected we (National) will shut down Sparc” …. now, even a dumbarse like Sonic knows in his/her heart of hearts that isn’t true.
Point is. No-one can deny that under Labour the Public Service (oxymoron surely) has grown out of all proportion to supposed improvements at the coal face of service delivery. National has seized on a very obivious example of that and is proposing to rebalance the equation in favour of the taxpayer.
Tax cuts yes; improved service delivery yes; less Wellington based pen pushers yes; vision yes; more of the same no.
And if Actoids can’t see the difference then that Party is destined to remain marooned on 1%.
And if Labour can’t see the difference then 29% is an own goal to be repeated come the election.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:52 am
“Ratbleater loves it when the thread becomes about him!”
So then why do you and other pathetic brain dead leftists with no real argument make it so???
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:54 am
“make it so”
Turning into Captain Picard are we?
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:55 am
They join the Labour Party.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:55 am
as a ‘bran dead leftist’..i don’t mind if you just stay at home..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:55 am
” even a dumbarse like Sonic knows in his/her heart of hearts that isn’t true.”
May I ask then what is the piont of this Nat press release then? What were Crosby Textor thinking of?
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 10:56 am
“Redbaiter”
You idiot. The first was a question – which you still haven’t answered (you are just a lowly tech drone aren’t you?). If you are then you probably aren’t a net tax payer. There’s no lie.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:05 am
Two quotes from Roger Nome that demonstrate his typically leftist pathological lack of concern for truth:
The first-
“given that you’re a lowly tech support drone,”
and the second, in a later post referring to the post from which the above quote was taken-
“The first was a question – which you still haven’t answered (you are just a lowly tech drone aren’t you?).”
Of course it wasn’t a question. Once again, Nome lies through his teeth and demonstrates his own remarkable degree of stupidity in lying so openly and not expecting it to be exposed. Low IQ dysfunctional loser and liar. Typical Labour Party/ Green supporter.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:07 am
Bok: I was speculating based on personal experience. I am also mindful of similar “common sense” outrages that later proved to be wrong-headed when the full story was looked into. So I am reluctant to declare an effort like this a waste based on the sound of a thousand knees jerking and little else. I’ll go away and find out the whole story. I’m sorry if you think such a measured approach to (frequently spurious) “outrages” isn’t credible or appropriate.
The Optimist: I agree. Not all schools / teams have all they need. made worse by equipment being damaged or stolen. Distribution of sports equipment won’t be even. Sorry if I implied there is equipment going to waste everywhere. It wasn’t my intention to say that. On the other hand, I have seen recent news items about sports teams and leagues being in danger of folding altogether for lack of interested players. The resources are there, we just need to make sure they are located and utilised. On the other hand, I have little interest in tax-funded subsidies to create talent for hugely profitable businesses like the Rugby Union. I’d side with anyone said that was a waste of my hard-earned tax dollars. Much better to encourage walking, cycling, running….just geting off one’s arse.
As for the web site, SPARC looks like it is focusing on providing a community-based web site to support people interested in supporting and organising sports and activities for people – children and adults. It’s about facilitating communication among and between the people working to get kids off their arses AND provide (voluntarily) opportunities for them to be active and healthier.
If you think about that, it makes a LOT of sense. It isn’t for kids to sit and gaze at instead of doing something. It’s a site full of information and contacts for people who want to help people become more active and more fit.
Looks like money well spent in that case. Volunteers trying to make life more active and healthy for our kids can probably use all the support they can get in finding each other and sharing ideas.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:09 am
Just as the Wellington High School children wouldn’t eat the healthy food mandated by government (see today’s DomPost), neither will they pick up a bat and ball if they don’t want to, which is the assumption underlying John Key’s new big idea – spending more on sports equipment and sports clubs.
What this observation illustrates is that New Zealand under National will differ little from New Zealand under Labour. All National is promising is better management.
But as National have spent as much time in government as Labour for the past forty years of steady decline in personal responsibility and prosperity, the prospect fills me with little joy. All we are going to get is a switch from Nanny Red to Nanny Blue.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:14 am
Bok at 9.48 a.m was absolutely correct, except for one minor grammatical error.
Vote:And that immaterial error was seized upon by that runt who leaves the G off his surname.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:14 am
Ross Miller- Go and join the Labour Party. We need a real opposition in this country, not a collection of lick spittle no idea inarticulate socialists who can apparently only argue over how much money should be stolen and where it should be spent and are virtually indistinguishable from the gummint.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:21 am
“Of course it wasn’t a question.”
That’s just moronic bleater. How is “that would include yourself no?” not a question? God, yet another thread about redbaiter’s stupidity. Great.
Now do you have anything to say that’s on topic, or are you just going to keep on trolling?
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:22 am
Tauhei Notts:
“except for one minor grammatical error”
Actually there were at least two. Sharpen up.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:24 am
Ross Miller:
I would actually be happy with SPARC wasting 20million if that were all that it was on computers and websites.
But National proposes to spend $1.5billion on a fibre think big project – SPARC is nothing in comparison. Watch for the cost blow out, the acerbic treasury papers, the black mail by different parts of the tech sector, the millions wiped off TVNZ.
The reality is Ross, National isn’t even brave enough to offer bulk funding of schools this time.
They seem ready to continue with the same one-size-fits-all centrally controlled education system – they simply propose to extend this approach to sports gear.
The reality is that children have more choice in fast food outlets than they do in types of school.
The most individual unique thing – and we largely offer that child the same service as every other child, largely blind to their particular learning interests or needs.
There is again nothing from National that shows any sign that they are prepared to do something about this.
You clearly cannot see that National’s short term political tactic to match Labour by offering the status quo approach in large areas of public policy is a strategic political disaster waiting to happen – the status quo only worked for Labour because times were good – now we are entering touch times.
Winning elections is actually the easy bit – the tough bit comes after.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:30 am
Two quotes from Roger Nome that demonstrate his typically leftist pathological lack of concern for truth:
The first-
(you are just a lowly tech drone aren’t you?).
and the second, in a later post referring to the post from which the above quote was taken-
“How is “that would include yourself no?” not a question? ”
when the second phrase was not attached to the first as Nome vainly tries to imply. It was in fact a question in regard to whether I paid tax at a certain rate or not. Quoted in full “so the bottom 70% of taxpayers (that would include yourself no?) Unquote.
Three lies in a row. Nome lies through his teeth and demonstrates his own remarkable degree of stupidity in lying so openly and not expecting it to be exposed. Low IQ dysfunctional loser and liar. Typical Labour Party/ Green supporter.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:40 am
Give it up fool. The questions are just that, not lies, and the bottom 70% of taxpayers probably aren’t net tax payers, given that as a group they only contribute 30% to government tax revenue. So you “Low IQ dysfunctional loser and liar” do you have anything to contribute that’s at least vaguely on topic, or are you content to continue parading your stupidity by making patently false smears?
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:46 am
“do you have anything to contribute that’s at least vaguely on topic”
That’s rich coming from a low IQ pathologically dishonest liar who tried to convert this thread into a discussion on the left’s latest attempts to smear John Key. The issue is spending on sport in schools. Or not spending as your position may be.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:49 am
Chris said
Ross Miller:
“I would actually be happy with SPARC wasting 20million if that were all that it was on computers and websites.
But National proposes to spend $1.5billion on a fibre think big project – SPARC is nothing in comparison. Watch for the cost blow out, the acerbic treasury papers, the black mail by different parts of the tech sector, the millions wiped off TVNZ.”
So spending 1.5 bil to make NZ more viable for investment and development of projects (We had to do most of our animation out of Sydney to LA)is stupid, but it is a stunning idea to buy a clapped out train set (paying 1.5bil to get it moving) to ship stuff that we will not be making because of Emission problems to people who cannot afford to buy it. Mmmm, yep Chris, makes perfect sense to me.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Bok
No train sets are dopey too. But most things that governments do are dopey.
And you prove my point exactly – as a tech business you seek out subsidisation in the public interest like transport operators do with rail.
As for fibre – if your business really needs it make your own arrangements with your own money – you carry the risk the get the benefit and your provider carries their risk and gets the benefit..
That’s what free enterprise is – National supposedly supports it.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Before anyone posts another word, you all best go have a look at the SPARC web site. I have now had a good look.
It’s not for kids to gaze at instead of being active. Not even close.
It is a vehicle for enabling anyone to get involved in helping make activities and sports happen locally.
There is advice on how to be healthier yourself, how to become a coach, where to start, what to do.
There is advice on how to start a sports club or other local fitness activity. Where to start. What to do. How to get funding.
…and so on.
In short, the SPARC web site is an easily accessible, comprehensive resource for enabling people and communities to initiate and fund activities in their area.
http://www.sparc.org.nz/investment/active-communities/overview
Go look now. Before you post another word out of ignorance.
Blogged on this one. It’s a classic attempt to mislead people and build on the meme that this government is wasting money doing exactly the same thing National will do.
Simply: Will National NOT have a web site helping people gain access to their sports programs?
Even shorter: SPARC is already doing what National say they will do.
But to learn that, you have to go look for yourself. If you didn’t, “Crosby / Textor” tactics have worked on you and you’ve been stroked – again. .
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 11:59 am
“The questions are just that”
A fourth lie. There’s only one question, and it relates to whether or not I am in the bottom 70% of taxpayers. Quote “the bottom 70% of taxpayers (that would include yourself no?)” Unquote. Too stupid to even stop digging his own grave. How brain dead is that?? Typical low IQ leftist.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 12:14 pm
The issue is not that Sparc has a website. The issue is that it spent that much money on one.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I can’t even begin to imagine how any organisation could come close to spending even $1M on a website, let alone $5.5M.
That just smacks to me of some consultants absolutely reaming the department.
I wonder how much it would cost to build the Trademe site for instance – I reckon it could be done for a couple hundred thou easy.
Not that I have any experience in this… NOT… I’ve been associated with building a heap of sites over the last 13 years. It’s inconceivable that any site could cost that much.
As for dealing with the obesity issue… maybe they should start out by desisting from putting thyroid suppressors in our water supply. Standard treatment for hyperactive thyroid (which governs metabolism amongst other things) is fluoride. It prevents iodine from being absorbed. People used to be treated for hyperthyroidism with 6mg fluoride a day.
We get 1mg from every litre of water we drink, plus other sources (toothpaste and foods, and other products made from fluoridated water). We are all effectively on medication for hyperthyroidism that we don’t have, which suppresses our metabolism, immune system, mental state etc etc.
Consensus amongst dentists is already that fluoride is only of any use as a topical – to ingest makes no sense.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 1:24 pm
“National is saying”.
Exactly.
Talk is cheap when you’re the leader of the opposition.
But yes it does seem an expensive website. mates of mine who are that way inclined can whip up pretty flash looking websites for themselves in a matter of hours…
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Chris said
“And you prove my point exactly – as a tech business you seek out subsidisation in the public interest like transport operators do with rail.
As for fibre – if your business really needs it make your own arrangements with your own money – you carry the risk the get the benefit and your provider carries their risk and gets the benefit..”
Hate to say this but you miss the point. We did pay for it ourselves. We asked for no subs from any-one. The point that we could have spent that money in NZ, but decided to spend it somewhere else because of infrastructure. NZ has some amazing animation setups such as Weta and Oktober, yet we spent our money where we felt we could have better tech support. I can promise you that with the talent available in NZ, with the right infrastructure the possibilities are endless.
Steve, I have had plenty of looks at the site. Nope still cannot see the benefit. And you could have had some credibility or argument until you started the snide little politics of sleaze again with you juvenile statement “but to learn that, you have to go look for yourself. If you didn’t, “Crosby / Textor” tactics have worked on you and you’ve been stroked – again. .” You are surely not that bereft of ideas on the left surely. Your spin doctors comes out with ” cancerous and corrosive” and “ask Dianne” Wow. Crosby / Textor needs to get down in the gutter with your consultants. They obviously are pretty light weight in the sleaze department.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Redbaiter … fine by me if Actoids like you want to consign your party to irrelevance … much like Jim Anderton’s Progressives. But in burning your bridges with National but you run the risk of being sidelined from the political process …. but I guess in your lexicon its preferable to remain pristine pure rather than having to do the hard yards.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Bok:
“I can promise you that with the talent available in NZ, with the right infrastructure the possibilities are endless”
Yes and you don’t need the taxpayer subsidising your technology infrastructure choices.
Better to get the size of government down and thus the taxation burden on your business. Then you make whatever decisions (technology and otherwise) are best in your own circumstances.
Ross:
A Nat saying ACT policy is like Jim Anderton’s policy just shows how little you know.
Freedom and free enterprise matter. Its time National supported it.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 2:50 pm
The born to rule tories in the national party wouldn’t know free enterprise if it bit them in the arse.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Chris … nothing to do with policy old son. It’s just that some Actoids with their sneering attitudes towards National are ensuring their Party becomes as (ir)relevant as the Progressives are to the body politic.
Take for example your comment about bulk funding. I support bulk funding and indeed it would be suprising if someone with my background didn’t. But the reality is that the political Left have successfully demonised the concept for it to be a political non-starter. The PPTA and NZEI would go to the wall over this if we tried to implement it and they would turn schools into battlegrounds with the kids the loosers. Politics 101 is to pick the fights you can win and the Mao Tse Tung dictum of two steps forward and one step backwards ensures you are one step ahead has always resonated with me. Better than two steps forward and mis your footing and end up at the bottom of the cliff.
And that’s the reality of MMP politics; doing deals that your coalition partners can live with and bulk funding ain’t one of those deals.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Ross Miller:
My my unsurprisingly you quote Mao is your political strategist.
Actually what you have said is that National has caved in to teacher unions. That must make you proud – so staunchly standing up for improving quality in education like that. Empowering parents and the schools will make for a better education for most children – National sells them out.
Good ideas have merit irrespective of whether or not someone opposes them.
The solution is not to give up advocating for good ideas – but rather to step up one’s efforts.
The problem is Ross is that politics is about the contest of IDEAS is pays not to have the same ones as the left.
How about trying some freedom and free enterprise ones.
What you are also saying is that the left have won the public policy debate – it’s not a concession I am prepared to make. Whatever the Nats and Labour say, privatisation is mainstream everywhere else except here.
National’s problem is that it needs to seek a mandate for tougher times – it appears to be unwilling to do so – it will pay politically later for its lack of courage now.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 5:29 pm
The teachers at our kids school lock all balls up at lunchtime, it seems the boys were playing to many rough games and we can’t have that. Yes folks the joys of glorious socialism and the screwed up sisterhood that comes with it, mos well spend a $100 million on a fucking website won’t make a scrape of difference whats reguired is a fucking revolution.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 5:57 pm
‘free’ enterprise..is pollution-welfare..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 6:47 pm
“But the reality is that the political Left have successfully demonised the concept for it to be a political non-starter.”
..and that is because the Nats are so weakly unable to articulate any kind of counter argument, or even believe in a counter argument, or even, because there are so many idiotic politcally confused leftists still in the party, have any real fucken idea whether they want a counter argument or not. Hopeless hopeless hopeless. Utterly utterly hopeless. The attitude that has allowed NZ to incrementally fall further and further into the abyss of leftism. As an opposition, you are a disgrace.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 7:11 pm
This whole issue reminds me of an utterly unconnected matter, but which I feel vindicates my pre-existing world-view and reinforces my impeccably orthodox right-wing credentials among my peers.
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:07 pm
The website IS very good, but the question is: do websites help?
Apparently, we used to play a lot of sport, even before the internet.
Wonder how those teams managed to compete, get coached, formed…
???
Vote:July 1st, 2008 at 9:30 pm
My question is How many hits does it get?
It would be nice to say that is was hugely popular of indeed it is or if it is an expensive waste of tax payers money it would also be nice to say “the tax payer paid $2,145 per visitor.”
How do we find out? Can we use the official information act?
Vote:July 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 am
Surely if you want to play rugby you go to your local rugby club and enquire? If you want to play soccer, you go to your local soccer club and enquire? Etc, etc. It’s not hard, they are generally in the parks with goal posts on the playing field, and if not you might see groups of people all wearing the same clothes kicking or throwing a ball around. I’ve done it in numerous suburbs, cities, countries, continents and all without mummy, daddy or Unkle Hellbeast holding my hand.
Are the kids and/or parents in this country so fucking thick that it is beyond them to achieve this without the aid of a website or government assistance?
Vote:July 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 am
Steve Withers: Pascal(1512): Your fantasy about US Conservatives in the Tsunami zone is bizarre at best
You might want to educate yourself on those matters before sprouting your ideological babble.
Check the U.S. Pacific Command Fact Sheet and consider that the “conservative” US had air support, helicopters and an aid package totalling $5 million a day in expenditure (People on the ground) from the carrier fleet that was in port in Hong Kong up and running in the disaster zone.
Like I said. Socialists talk big. Others DO big. And you talk a lot.
Vote: