General Debate 8 March 2011

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big bruv

Yes!
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March 8, 2011 8:04am
Murray

Da!
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March 8, 2011 8:06am
All_on_Red

Looks like Gillards lie about not introducing a Carbon Tax is starting to bite her not inconsiderable arse. How long before one of the Independants supporting her bails, and a new election is forced?
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/labor-falls-to-historic-lows-newspoll/story-fn59niix-1226017343696
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March 8, 2011 8:06am
Fletch

What is quite galling is that Kiwis are paying this pie-in-the-sky carbon tax for an imaginary threat, when we could be using the extra tax money on Christchurch. I think it’s time to lean on Nick Smith to dump it.
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March 8, 2011 8:09am
Murray

Owwww maaaan now I have Gillards backside as my morning mental picture.

Thanks so much for that.
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March 8, 2011 8:14am
Viking2

Its never good or bad out there, its only what you thnik it is.

In Smiths case I think its bad.
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March 8, 2011 8:20am
Bobbie black

Stop mentioning pies.

I miss Kiwi pies.

Could go one right now, matter of fact.
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March 8, 2011 8:31am
Bobbie black

Am watching The Stoning of Soraya M.

Pretty good movie.

Makes you realise that probably the downfall of Iran, like many Muslim countries will be at the hands of their women.

Funny that.

Anyway, here is the file if anyone is interested.

http://v.ppvod.cn/video.aspx?uid=274bc5c1cae0f3603ed04bf033218969
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March 8, 2011 8:54am
James Stephenson

I think it’s time to dump on Nick Smith

Fixed for you
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March 8, 2011 9:08am
Bobbie black

It’s a bit like China, any nation that fears to give it’s female population equal rights in the modern world is in for some serious trouble.

Mark my words, China.

Yeah and that the national men’s volleyball and rugby teams have no real guarantee of winning against the women.
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March 8, 2011 9:45am
pdm

JS – too subtle for me.
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March 8, 2011 9:45am
3-coil

I’ve noticed that the mainstream media, in their rush for trite slogans, have started to label the recent Christchurch earthquake “E2” (…will any future one be the “three-peat”?)

At least TV reporter Jessica “E2” Mutch will be glad to see someone/something else take over her nickname 🙂
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March 8, 2011 9:55am
Pete George

As it’s Christchurch it’s a wonder they haven’t tried to label it the Second Coming.
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March 8, 2011 10:06am
Viking2

Makes you realise that probably the downfall of Iran, like many Muslim countries will be at the hands of their women.

Funny that.

Send them Hulun, that’ll do it.
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March 8, 2011 10:16am
Viking2

So despite all the smiling and waving and gonna not do’s its happened as predicted.

Crown accounts $14bn worse off

Tuesday, 8, Mar, 2011 9:52AM

New Zealand is more than $14 billion worse off than it was at the same time last year.

The Crown account books show gross debt for the seven months ending January stood at $63 billion, or 33% of the country’s worth.

The cost of servicing the debt was $1.7 billion, $400 million more than the same period a year earlier.

These figures are before the devastating Christchurch earthquake and the next set of accounts is expected to show a much worse situation.
http://www.telstraclear.co.nz/news/news-story.cfm?content_id=805295
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March 8, 2011 10:17am
Viking2

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/4742995/Satellite-shows-Christchurch-earthquakes-ripples-in-earth
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March 8, 2011 10:41am
dime

100 state homes are toast. i guess that means its a priority that they are rebuilt first? urgh

why the hell does the government own 6000 homes in christchurch?

how many do they (sorry, i mean “we”) own nationally??
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March 8, 2011 10:44am
Bobbie black

@Viking2

Yes, it will be people like Helen Clarke that the Muslim women will hold up as role models to hopefully overthrow a ridiculous oudated sexist religion.

You should be proud of her and what she has already achieved.

By the way, you spelled thnik wrong.

It is spelled this way, I think.

You thnik do you?
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March 8, 2011 10:46am
dime

Looks like the yanks (good guys) are getting ready to intervine in Libya.

Not sure if it will be a no fly zone yet or if they will just hunt down any Helicopter gun ships causing havoc.

Course, if the colonel manages to shoot down a US plane.. it will be all on.

How ya feeling Luc? youre for the rebels, but against the yanks?
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March 8, 2011 10:52am
emmess

Why aren’t those Unite Union pricks who protested against Mubarak protesting against Gaddafi who is employing a level of brutality is several orders of magnitude higher?
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March 8, 2011 10:53am
Bobbie black

Our families, members of democracies (well mine did) fought against fascism/nazi-ism, then communism (weak) and now it seems the new enemy is the bigger one Islamism/fundamental religion.

Watch the above movie and realize why we need to fight again.
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March 8, 2011 11:11am
Viking2

You should be proud of her and what she has already achieved.

You are pulling your tit too much. Utter disaster for NZ as time will show.
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March 8, 2011 11:12am
Bobbie black

I think the utter disaster for New Zealand is pretty much down to nature now.

Earthquakes, floods, solar flares, alien worms in meteorites.

Increased number of sharks, melting ice-bergs.
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March 8, 2011 11:18am
Bobbie black

Ssshh, Viking2, I am just watching the bit where they stone her to death.
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March 8, 2011 11:20am
Fisiani

Trevor Mallard is a bare faced liar. He has no shame.
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March 8, 2011 11:21am
Bobbie black

A bit like the Egyptians celebrating their independance, what better way to celebrate, than to beat and gang-rape a white journalist almost to death?

Nice religion, the Muslim one isn’t it?

[DPF: Not all Egyptians are Muslim. How do you now the religion of the mob that attacjed her? Also sadly sexual assault is hardly unique to Egypt]
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March 8, 2011 11:34am
coventry

Congrats to Jerry !

“Former Defence Force head Jerry Mateparae is the new Governor-General.

The Government revealed his selection a few moments ago.

Mateparae will replace incumbent Sir Anand Satyanand. “
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March 8, 2011 11:43am
Bobbie black

Good point DPF but she wasn’t covered, hence suggests Muslims?
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March 8, 2011 11:44am
Bobbie black

I just want to make the point watch the movie, treat it as fantasy or what Muslim’s are about in the modern world, hard to believe.

Do we want to go back into the dark ages with females?

Personally, no, sexually I am usually holding them off, but on equal rights, no they are are equals.
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March 8, 2011 11:56am
Bobbie black

Watch this movie:

http://v.ppvod.cn/video.aspx?uid=274bc5c1cae0f3603ed04bf033218969

It will show what we face in the future.

Just like Hitler’s Nazism.

Don’t be stupid, open your eyes.
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March 8, 2011 12:09pm
Bobbie black

Anyway, sleep time for me.

Out.
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March 8, 2011 12:13pm
adze

Jerry Mateparae has just been named as the next Governor General.

Did not. See. That. Coming.
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March 8, 2011 12:28pm
Viking2

Why the Govt. just should not involve itself in business.(or Sport).
More losses for the taxpayer.

World Cup ticket sales set to stall – Government
TRACEY WATKINS AND ANDREA VANCE
Last updated 11:06 08/03/2011

LATEST: The Government is bracing itself for a downturn in international Rugby World Cup ticket sales in the fallout of the Christchurch earthquake.

Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully admitted today there was likely to be “a pause” in international ticket sales.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/4741728/World-Cup-ticket-sales-set-to-stall-Government
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March 8, 2011 12:35pm
MT_Tinman

I’m effing sick of it!

The slime-led whingeing and whining that is.

Yes we had a bloody earthquake – very bloody indeed although it pales in comparrisson to Pakistan or Haiti (among many others) for bloodiness.

Yes people are displaced, distressed and uncomfortable.

Yes many businesses (including, probably, mine) are shagged.

BUT

The world hasn’t ended!

People are remarkable creatures and they (we) will overcome these obstacles and come again.

Already people are returning to normal, albeit with a new story to tell and alrteady there seems to be competition to tell the most horriffic story.

I was one of the lucky ones, changing my normal routine and consequently saving my own bacon (and probably my ass) by being nowhere near central Christchurch, Lyttleton (where I’d been until 11:30 that morning) or the Port Hills when calamity struck and so I have to listen to theirs.

That’s not what I’m sick of.

This morning’s The Press headlines a family who say they are constantly scared. They’re not alone for christs sake, the whole bloody province stiffens up when the pre-quake rumble happens. Then we let our breath escape, think “that was a good ‘un” or “tiddler that time” or similar and carry on with whatever we were doing.

No news there at all.

Stuff today (and probably The Press) carried a story of how Shirley Boys High was now combined with Papanui High School but did not comment on the good deed by Papanui that saw that possible, did not remark on how, now, Papanui High School will be able to field a competitive rugby team.

No, it whinged about how SBH boys have to travel across to Papanui (Not, incidently, a hell of a long way).

Other news today has been about the City Council attempting to make CHCH safe by “deconstructing” dangerously unstable buildings but being thwarted by the Save Our Dangerous Buildings So They Can Kill Someone Else crowd, led of course by the bloody Red party nutters.

I could understand them if they were protesting about the term “deconstruct” being used instead of demolish but no, they’re stopping CHCH people from moving safely because their building is old or, in one case, because they don’t know where they can set up again – Green/Red wankers!

Only the stupid bloody slime would side with anyone against getting CHCH safe and working again.

No bloody more! Let’s just get on with rebuilding Christchurch, getting people into employment and getting Christchurch’s biggest industry, tourism, restarted.

Fuck the slime, fuck the communists, full speed ahead!
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March 8, 2011 12:44pm
big bruv

adze

Are you taking the piss?
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March 8, 2011 12:46pm
big bruv

I am starting to think that the appointment of Jerry Mateparae (while merited) is racist.

When was the last time we had a white male in that role?, Sir Wilson Whineray would have been perfect for the job.

[DPF: A white male was GG from 1996 to 2001. Note white males only comprise 36% of the population so you would expect them to be GG only 36% of the time. They were 100% of the GGs up until 1985.]
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March 8, 2011 12:53pm
MT_Tinman

big bruv (8,703) Says:
March 8th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
I am starting to think that the appointment of Jerry Mateparae (while merited) is racist.

When was the last time we had a white male in that role?, Sir Wilson Whineray would have been perfect for the job.

I don’t.

Whineray is 74 from memory, Mateparae is 56.

For that reason alone I like this appointment although both are, I believe, deserving of the honour.
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March 8, 2011 1:00pm
Nookin

I think Whineray is 76. He would have been my pick (and has been for some time) but I gather he was sounded out and declined a few years back. I imagine that he declined this time as well. Pity. He would have been the man for the job. Don’t know Jerry. Wish him luck and hope he fills expectations. For those into type-casting — what white males with appropriate qualifications have been overlooked? Whineray is the only one I can think of who has a completely clean slate. Murray Halberg? Maybe a bit old. Me? Well there’s a thought, but no – I’m busy for the next 3 years. Bruv lives near Wellington (?) and if we believe Dad and Baiter, has his own car and won’t need the limo.
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March 8, 2011 1:17pm
georgebolwing

big bruv.

You are an idiot. Just because Lt Gen. Mateparae is maori doesn’t make his appointment racist.

It would be racist if his appointment was just becuase he was Maori. But he is clearly perfectly qualified for the role. He is a distinguished New Zealander, who has served his country in highly dangerous situations, with dintinction.

Sir Wilson, although perhaps slighly too old for the job, is also qualified. There are many others equally qualified.

And BTW, from 24 November 1840 to 22 November 1985, the 14 Governors and Governors-General were white guys. Then we had a maori guy, a pakeha women, another pakeha guy, a pakeha women, then the current holder, who is technically a pakeha (non-maori) guy, but is of indian decent.
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March 8, 2011 1:19pm
big bruv

georgebolwing

My comment was made in jest, but seeing as you have taken in the wrong way then I feel that I need to point out that you are a dickhead.

Anybody who does not think his race played a part in this appointment (which I said in my original comment is merited) is indeed an idiot.

And by the way George, who says he is distinguished?, until he awarded Willie Apiata his VC I had never heard of Mateparae.

In short, pull your head in George.
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March 8, 2011 2:02pm
starboard

MT_Tinman @12 44

I agree totally. Lets move forward now. Time for moaning and groaning to cease. Everyone in Christchurch needs to take a deep breath , organise themselves and start again. It will be difficult but lets go.
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March 8, 2011 2:08pm
tristanb

“I’m not an arsehole, I’m an aspie.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10710927

He goes and loots after an earthquake that killed people. And then uses the fact that he is a nerd to get bail.

Next we’ll be letting Clayton Weatherston off because he’s a narcissist, and Graeme Burton off because he is a psychopath!
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March 8, 2011 2:24pm
Still_Watchin_Ya_All

Rod Oram had a message for Christchurch on Radio NZ tonight (well today, NZ time).

He wants new buildings with Green roofs, for power generation and such, and a change in the genetics of the city. He said as the white people move out they will be replaced by “new people” and they will change the makeup of the city. In a diplomatic way he suggested Christchurch had been much too white and now would become more appropriately multicultural.

Oram is the man! He’s marvellous, especially for an Englishman.

If he’s still alive when the white men’s turn comes again for Gov-Gen, even if he’s on a walking frame by then, he just might be worth considering.

H1,

Manhattan
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March 8, 2011 2:26pm
Chthoniid

@tristanb

Having aspergers is not equivalent to being a nerd. It can be an incredibly socially isolating affliction with behaviours that are incredibly difficult to manage. These are kids that are likely to grow up without ever getting invited to someone else’s house after-school, or ever getting invited to someone’s birthday party. Even with plenty of support, people with aspergers have it hard. Burt Bacharachs’ daughter committed suicide as a consequence of it.

He’s not getting let-off, he’s just getting bail. It’s something I can live with.
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March 8, 2011 2:37pm
Manolo

More platitudes from Double Dipton English, while what is required is less talk and more action and decisiveness:

Quake effects yet to show in Crown accounts

Government financial statements for the seven months to January 31 are broadly in line with forecast, but this will change significantly in the coming months as the impact of the Christchurch earthquake becomes clear, Finance Minister Bill English says.

While the latest accounts show spending and revenue consistent with forecasts in the Half-Year Update in December, tax revenue was still about 4 per cent behind Budget 2010 forecasts.

“This result reflects the relatively flat economy in the latter part of 2010 and reinforces the need for sound fiscal management as we tackle the effects of the Christchurch earthquake in the coming months,” Mr English says.

“As I’ve previously said, the earthquake will have a significant impact on the Government’s finances and the wider New Zealand economy for years to come.

Hat Tip: TrueBlue NZ
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March 8, 2011 2:48pm
BeaB

“In a diplomatic way he suggested Christchurch had been much too white and now would become more appropriately multicultural.”

What a load of balls.
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March 8, 2011 2:59pm
backster

Still Watchin////////”He said as the white people move out they will be replaced by “new people” and they will change the makeup of the city. In a diplomatic way he suggested Christchurch had been much too white and now would become more appropriately multicultural.”

The problem is the first ones out on the free flights after the quakes were the Somalis.
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March 8, 2011 3:08pm
Manolo

A bunch of Somalis in Timaru trying to get groceries from a supermarket without wanting to pay! The buggers claimed they were refugees who fled Christchurch after the quake and were entitled to free food.

Some quality refugees we have imported.
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March 8, 2011 3:15pm
starboard

Sensible stuff from Red at Trueblue..

“Bill English issues another press release today which is notable for saying nothing. Meanwhile, we fall further and further into debt in order to fund highly over paid and unnecessary government. Bill needs to wake up to the fact that having people working for government departments that do not add to productivity (practically all of them) is the same as having people on the dole. The productive sector is the only part of the NZ economy that can return us to prosperity but it cannot do that if it is shackled by a legion on non productive NZers. NewstalkZB reports-

New Zealand is more than $14 billion worse off than it was at the same time last year. The Crown account books show gross debt for the seven months ending January stood at $63 billion, or 33% of the country’s worth. The cost of servicing the debt was $1.7 billion, $400 million more than the same period a year earlier. These figures are before the devastating Christchurch earthquake and the next set of accounts is expected to show a much worse situation.

Soon that debt servicing will be around $2 billion, and not long after that it will be $3 billion, and then $4 billion. Given that there are probably less than 1 million productive workers in NZ, you don’t have to be a genius to work out that we are facing bankruptcy. NZers have to start picking fruit, producing goods in factories and otherwise making things. Taxes have to be reduced and government departments have to be cut and salaries in those that remain reduced substantially. The Department of Womens Affairs, The Human Rights Commission (for two examples) and all such stupid insane unaffordable socialist inanities have to go.

This has to be done not only to stave off coming bankruptcy but also to pay for the Christchurch earthquake. (and on that subject can we stop using GDP as a measure of an effective economy??? This is the biggest con out and only designed to trick people into thinking socialism works.) NZers pay a high price to keep an army of unproductive NZers in a style that is unaffordable, and the longer Key and English refuse to deal with this problem, the worse things are going to get.

At the every least they could cut the taxes on fuel. This is the life blood of our economy and to take more than half of every dollar spent on this commodity and use it unproductively is madness.

Of course the big problem is National’s political confusion and lack of commitment to a political idea. They might even know what needs to be done, but they cannot put a saleable argument into words because they lack the conviction. They don’t believe in the solutions because they are all at heart the socialists that Sid Holland way back in 1936 warned us would destroy the country. Bad global financial situations and earthquakes are not to blame. They’ve only made the descent a bit steeper. The National Party is to blame, for so completely failing to stand by its founding principles.”
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March 8, 2011 3:18pm
Manolo

Excellent closing paragraph by R.B.

Of course the big problem is National’s political confusion and lack of commitment to a political idea. They might even know what needs to be done, but they cannot put a saleable argument into words because they lack the conviction. They don’t believe in the solutions because they are all at heart the socialists that Sid Holland way back in 1936 warned us would destroy the country. Bad global financial situations and earthquakes are not to blame. They’ve only made the descent a bit steeper. The National Party is to blame, for so completely failing to stand by its founding principles.
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March 8, 2011 3:24pm
Manolo

A pacific local gets sentenced:

Man who kicked toddler to death jailed for at least 17 years

A Whanganui man was today jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years for kicking to death his partner’s two-year-old son.

Rikki Ngatai-Check, 23, was sentenced in the High Court in Wellington after earlier being found guilty of murdering Karl Perigo-Check in October 2009. He had been in a relationship with the toddler’s mother, Lilah Terelyn McGregor, 31.
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March 8, 2011 3:35pm
Manolo

While a Greenie gets handcuffed.

Keisha cuffed after bar stoush

Oscar-nominated actress Keisha Castle-Hughes was taken away from a prominent Auckland nightclub in handcuffs after a bar fight sparked by a “crude” comment about her acclaimed movie Whale Rider.

The 20-year-old star and her agent say she was not arrested in the weekend incident, but confirmed last night that police removed her from the scene.

http://msn.nzherald.co.nz/crime/news/article.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=10710819
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March 8, 2011 3:38pm
Pete George

This is the real deal on Amazon.: Pawmistry: How to Read Your Cat’s Paws

Authors Ken Ring and Paul Romhany apply age-old tools of divination to teach you what kind of cat owner you are, based on what astrological sign you are, and what kind of cat you have, based on it’s sign, helping you to understand how to maintain a happy, harmonious relationship with your feline friend. Pawmistry will reveal just about everything you’d want to know – and some things you might not – about what goes on behind your cat’s mysterious eyes.

Ken Ring is a mathematician and a long time magician, mind reader and public speaker with a passion for the ancient discipline of palmistry. Ken stumbled on his peculiar calling at a psychic party several years ago, where he was able to deliver a reading of a cat’s paw that proved to be uncannily accurate.

(from the back cover of ISBN 978-1580081115)

What next?
Predict weather by the alignment of cud chewing cows?
Predict earthquakes by how your dog wags it’s tail.
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March 8, 2011 3:39pm
Chuck Bird

Soaring HIV rates concern

This year could be the worst on record for ga…y and bisexual men contracting HIV, the New Zealand Aids Foundation says.

Though there has been a sharp decline in numbers of heterosexual people diagnosed with HIV, NZAF says it still has grave concerns for gay or bisexual men.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/4740263/Soaring-HIV-rates-concern

When will the NZ AIDS Foundation realise the best way not to become HIV+ is not to have sex with someone who is likely to be HIV+ condom or no condom?

The government could save a lot of money if they stopped funding NZ AIDS Foundation as well as other quangos.
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March 8, 2011 3:39pm
mattyroo

Interesting excerpt from todays Herald;

Treasury figures for the seven months to January 31 show that tax deductions at source from wages and salaries were 2.6 per cent higher than forecast for the second month in a row, suggesting that “the income tax cuts in October may have less impact on source deductions than expected,” the commentary accompanying the figures says.

Yet again Treasury fucked up their calculations and we should have got bigger tax cuts.
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March 8, 2011 3:41pm
Viking2

A long post but please read it.

A DANGEROUS LAW

After nine months of campaigning to raise public awareness about the dangers of the Marine and Coastal Area Bill, the National Party is on the brink of passing it into law. While the country is still in mourning over the shocking Canterbury earthquake, Parliament’s Order Paper shows that National intends pressing ahead on Tuesday with the second reading of what has been called the most controversial bill of modern times.

Please read An Open Letter to Kiwis. John Key promised he would not push this bill into law unless there was widespread public support. Those people who have studied the bill are overwhelmingly opposed. It would introduce a gross public injustice that would deeply divide New Zealand society. John Key must honour his promise and withdraw the bill – it is a matter of trust.

To appreciate how bad this bill really is, it is important to reflect on the Court of Appeal ruling in 2003 that sparked the whole controversy: the judges indicated that iwi might have customary title to some of the foreshore and seabed, but that if any such title still existed, it would be rare and remote. They explained that the test was so high that few if any iwi would qualify.

Instead of using that as the guideline, as Labour did with the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act – which has resulted in only one claim being progressed over the last seven years – National has done a deal with the Maori Party to repeal Crown ownership of the entire coast, so that it can be progressively privatised to iwi. To add insult to injury, the bill reverses the burden of proof, so iwi no longer have to prove a customary title exists – the Crown has to prove that it doesn’t! But given that most claims on matters dating back over 170 years will not be heard in a court of law but will be negotiated in secret with a friendly Minister, the whole process is clearly a farce. Effectively National’s bill is a mechanism to affect a massive transfer of wealth, power and resources from the public of New Zealand to the elite of Maoridom.

The reality is that John Key and his sycophantic MPs are privatising our coast to stay in power. Their present coalition deal to secure five Maori Party votes will cost the country 2,000 km or 10 percent of our public coastline. And National doesn’t even need the Maori Party this time around! Imagine how much more they will give away if they have to depend on the Maori party’s support – quite possibly as soon as November this year!

National’s whole campaign to remove the foreshore and seabed from public ownership has been an absolute disgrace. The powerful iwi elite, who claim to control wealth equivalent to almost half of the value of the New Zealand stock exchange, have the ear of the Prime Minister. They stand to gain immense riches from this deal and cannot believe their luck. The valid concerns raised by the Coastal Coalition – a grassroots movement of tens of thousands of New Zealanders who believe there is no justification for the wholesale repeal of Crown ownership – have been countered by an orchestrated litany of lies.

It is only now that Chris Finlayson, the former Ngai Tahu lawyer and one-eyed architect of the bill, has been forced to admit that our concerns are justified. However, with the iwi leaders pulling this government’s strings, the promised concessions are likely to be more form than substance. This is undoubtedly one of the reasons why the bill was rushed back from the select committee to Parliament early, before it was amended – if the amendments had been inserted into the bill, as is standard practice, the public would have had an opportunity to examine the detail. Like the amendments regarding Maori representation on the Auckland super city council, there are likely to be a number of very unpleasant surprises in store for an unsuspecting public.

Knowing that some iwi have openly stated they intend charging the public for access to their coast, the Coastal Coalition questioned whether the bill really does guarantee “free” access. After much abuse the Minister agreed an amendment was needed – but after six months, we are still waiting to see the wording!

To maintain the free and unfettered access to the coast enjoyed by generations of Kiwis, free access should include free vehicle access as well. However, when asked at a recent public meeting whether free access would include free vehicle access, Chris Finlayson refused to answer. That the architect of the bill couldn’t state categorically that vehicle access will be free, should concern the many New Zealanders whose regular use of the coast involves a vehicle for launching a boat or travelling to a favoured fishing or surfing spot. If Chris Finlayson is planning to allow the new Maori owners of our coast to charge for vehicle access he should say so, instead of continuing with half-truths and deception.

The Coastal Coalition raised concerns that the bill allows claims to be settled through ‘secret’ negotiations with a Minister, rather than requiring legal proof in the High Court (the present system). Chris Finlayson accused us of misleading the public – but after thousands of submitters on the bill raised similar concerns, he has been forced to concede another amendment is needed. However, instead of requiring iwi to prove their claims in court – which most submitters recommended – he announced that negotiated deals will be ratified by Parliament. This is a smokescreen since it fails to rectify the intolerable situation whereby millions if not billions of dollars worth of public assets could be transferred into private hands, through cosy deals with friendly Ministers, instead of requiring legal proof in an open court of law.

The Coastal Coalition found that the new bill significantly lowers the threshold tests for customary title – a move that will open the floodgates for claims. Chris Finlayson again claimed we were misleading the public, yet in a
briefing paper to iwi outlining how much they will gain from the new bill – including the fact that taxpayers will be required to fund the claims preparation process – the Maori Party describes a dramatic lowering of thresholds. From the current requirements that claimants must own the land adjoining a claim and prove in the High Court that they have used it continuously and exclusively since 1840, the new thresholds drop the need to prove claims in court, they drop the need to own the adjoining land, they drop the need to have used the area continuously since 1840, and they drop the need to have used it exclusively. In addition iwi who allege their coastal land was ‘confiscated’ will now be able to make a claim.

The briefing paper also highlights the importance of ‘customary interest’ or “Mana Tuku Iho”. This is a new Maori privilege created by Chris Finlayson that will affect every coastal community throughout the whole country. Customary interests give local iwi special rights above all other citizens to be consulted on local conservation and resource management issues. In addition, the briefing paper states it gives them the power to designate wahi tapu around the whole coast, which effectively bans public access. Iwi don’t need to prove anything to qualify for these new rights, they just have to apply. This means is that every coastal community in New Zealand will be impacted by this bill, not just those in areas where iwi are claiming ownership rights.

The Coastal Coalition has continually pointed out that the Prime Minister’s assertion that the bill would provide an ‘enduring solution’ is propaganda of the worst kind. The Maori Party has always said they will not stop until the whole coast is in Maori title. In their briefing paper they say, “The bill does not settle the issues, but keeps them alive”.

And so it goes on. We have continually raised concerns but rather than honestly addressing them, the National Party have used their propaganda machine to counter them through gross misrepresentation. Those National Party MPs who have turned their backs on the very serious concerns of their constituents and gone along with their Party lies, deserve to be ousted at the next election – unless of course they discover a spine and stand up for those who voted them into office by opposing the bill.

Political commentator, Chris Trotter, this week’s NZCPR Guest Commentator, has condemned National’s bill as a dangerous piece of legislation.

“The government’s decision to rush through the remaining stages of the Marine & Coastal Area Bill is as ill-considered as it is dangerous. For this is no ordinary piece of legislation, easily repealed by a newly-elected House of Representatives. It is a bill which confers upon Maori, by virtue of their indigeneity, a new kind of property right (Customary Title), along with a powerful new set of legal powers to enforce that right – powers which the legislation’s many critics believe will undermine the generally accepted principles of liberal democracy.

“The formal equality of all citizens lies at the heart of the liberal-democratic state. Indeed, any state which invests one part of the population with more rights than another, or strips a minority of citizens of rights enjoyed by their neighbours, is quite rightly condemned for promoting inequality.” To read the full article click the sidebar link>>>

The actions of the National Party in betraying the New Zealand public so they can satisfy their political ambitions is an utter disgrace. Those good Kiwis who have had the guts to stand up and speak out against this racist bill should be congratulated, as should those National Party supporters who have said enough is enough and are prepared to withdraw all of their support if this dreadful bill is passed into law. National has a responsibility to serve the public who voted them into office, and while John Key has already announced he will not stick around if he loses the next election that lack of principle is not what builds a strong and resilient nation.

It has been said that National is only pushing ahead with the bill because they think the public will have forgotten about it by the time the election comes along. But that is incorrect as political parties are already lining up to campaign for its repeal. The Coastal Coalition is committed to campaigning on this issue right up to the election and we are considering launching a Citizens Initiated Referendum to immediately call for the repeal of the Marine and Coastal Area Bill if it is passed into law. As you know collecting 300,000 signatures for a referendum is a big challenge, so please contact us here>>>
if you would be prepared to help.

This foreshore and seabed debacle is a symptom of a far deeper malaise that is now afflicting New Zealand society. At its heart is an entrenched policy of racial separatism that is being perpetrated by the New Zealand state. The race-based seats are the power base, and, if the Maori Party retains its influence after the next election, it is highly likely that the Treaty of Waitangi will be entrenched into a new constitution. And if you think that could never happen – think again. This bill to transfer New Zealand’s coastline from public ownership into the private coffers of the Maori aristocracy is about to be passed into law. Most of us thought that could never happen in our beach loving democracy. These matters are insidious – with Maori separatists intimidating opponents and self-interested politicians ridiculing them, it is time we stood up to fight for our rights as New Zealanders to be treated equally. It’s time for people with courage to act.
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March 8, 2011 7:34pm
Viking2

And I guess this fountain of wisdom of things green will be deleted from Johnkeys Xmas Party list this year. But probably no as he might not have one if the foreshore bill goes ahead as it is currently.

Keisha Castle-Hughes handcuffed
Last updated 07:48 08/03/2011

POLICE TROUBLE: Keisha Castle-Hughes and her boyfriend Michael Graves.

Whale Rider star Keisha Castle-Hughes was led away from an Auckland nightclub in handcuffs after a bar fight at the weekend.

The incident apparently started when a bar patron made a crude comment about the movie for which Castle-Hughes was nominated for an Oscar, the New Zealand Herald reported today.
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March 8, 2011 7:39pm
calendar girl

DPF: Trouble loading the Kiwiblog home page again, just like 2 or 3 weeks ago. Are you able to apply the same fix, please?
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March 8, 2011 8:45pm
Bobbie black

FANTASTIC KNOCK BY ROSS TAYLOR!

CONGRATULATIONS AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Ranks right up there with Lance Cairns and Richie Blackmore side stepping and setting up Jarrod McCracken for the try.

Wonderful moments for me watching here in Europe.

28 and 30 off an over!

Unbelievable.
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March 9, 2011 1:58am
Manolo

Do we need more confirmation the United Nations is a pathetic organisation?

Group Calls for Libyan Envoy’s Removal From Post as U.N. Investigator of Human Rights Violations

A watchdog group is asking the U.N. to immediately remove a Libyan envoy from her post as an investigator on human rights violations by mercenaries, saying that as a mouthpiece for a regime that’s “deploying hired guns to massacre its own people” it’s “outrageous” to have her in that position.

Najat Al-Hajjaji has been one of five members of “The Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination” since its inception in 2005.
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March 9, 2011 7:26am
Manolo

Why are we propping TV3? Why the differet treatment?

Your $43m lifeline to TV3 owner

The Government has thrown a lifeline to ailing private media company MediaWorks, which owns TV3, Four, and about half New Zealand’s commercial radio stations.

MediaWorks’ latest accounts show it has essentially received a $43.3 million loan from the Crown to enable it to renew its radio broadcasting licences for the next 20 years.

According to the accounts, which MediaWorks is obliged to file with the Companies Office because it is overseas-owned, the private company is paying 11.2 per cent interest on the money, which has been granted for just over four years.

Telecommunications Minister Steven Joyce yesterday said the money was not a loan, but a deferred payment system to help the radio industry during tough times in 2009. Earlier reports said MediaWorks had been due to pay the Government the $43m in October last year to renew its radio licences for the 2011-2031 period.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10711051
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March 9, 2011 7:34am
KiwiGreg

@ Manolo – can’t you see it’s not a loan it’s a “deferred payment system”, entirely different thing, not corporate welfare at all….
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March 9, 2011 8:45am

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