Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A different kind of country

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  • Sara Bee,

    Right bloody on!

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 67 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Curran,

    It's not so much the actions themselves that bug me (though they do), it's the general disregard for the rule of law that really gets me - hell, if the law commission are worried ...

    The even bigger worry though is the number of people around me in day to day life that don't seem to think that it's relevant to them, or important enough to even be a little outraged by it all.

    Since May 2011 • 47 posts Report Reply

  • The Ruminator,

    Wow. This is a call to arms if ever I saw one. Nice piece Russell.

    Edit: just so we're clear, I don't mean a literal call to arm oneself and start a militia.

    Since Apr 2013 • 54 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Reading that section, I was wondering if MED had even heard of the Bill of Rights Act. Its certainly a sign that it hasn't sunk as far into the policy-making process as we would like.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Poor little Sky City getting victimised again? How do we get people to stay away from that place? We could ask professional groups we are involved with not to hold events there eg SPADA conferences.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Allan Moyle,

    NZ starting to look like that other pacific island nation with a belligerent leadership, cast aside democratic processes and decreasing free speech/freedom of assembly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Taken as a part with John Key’s dimissive (and deceptive and bullying) swatting away of concerns about the GCSB bill from the Human Rights Commission – and the Privacy Commsssioner and the Law Society – this latest insult makes it feel even more as if New Zealand is turning into a different sort of country. And not a good sort. Singapore without the duty of care? Certainly a country that has begun to move away from basic norms of free speech.

    It's caled il-liberal democracy.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Isn't it a bit dumb of MED to try and get the government a veto function? After all, at that point, it's clearly subject to BORA, but if you just let Sky City handle it, that's an arguably commercial issue, and not really a BORA thing.

    Also opens up hilarious can of worms about what's damaging to NZ etc -- suppose there's a Greens/Mana government, would an arms conference be the kind of thing that might be problematic?

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Grant Taylor, in reply to Ben Curran,

    Prism, GCSB, Sky City, to name just the most recent betrayals of democracy by this government that come to mind – and still the mainstream media are calm and hardly any one sees the relevance. What are they putting in our drinking water?

    Auckland • Since Jul 2012 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • bronwyn,

    I have many, many thoughts on this convention centre, which I'll come back to when I've got a bit more time, but just quickly - I'm surprised at people thinking Sky City's original demands were actually anything they thought they'd be able to get. It's a pretty standard negotiating procedure for some companies to ask for something outrageous in order to get to what they're actually happy with - that way they can say they conceded so much, and the other side can feel like they really beat them down.

    tamaki makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 86 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac,

    Maybe some professional groups might be amenable to pressure, but I'd say the majority (e.g. Microsoft TechEd, which is a fairly large event) won't give a single shit.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Farrar's line about SkyCity getting 'a quarter' of what they sought is an outright lie that only works if people focus on the headline pokie numbers and not the extra spots at automated gambling tables in the deal.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    would an arms conference be the kind of thing that might be problematic?

    surely more likely to damage our international reputation than a biodiversity conference would

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Grant Taylor,

    What are they putting in our drinking water?

    Whatever it is, I just hope it's not Kool-Aid.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Kendall,

    About now the main parties need to declare precisely where they stand in regard to citizens’ rights and the values and practices of the community. Let’s aim for a fair go for all, a Switzerland with a commitment to care (and a cherished head of state like Anne Salmond).

    Auckland • Since Jul 2013 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • boonman,

    I just did a search to see if the Kiwiblog webpage had been chached somewhere - no luck. We'll just have to remember back to the good old days...

    New Zealand • Since Jul 2013 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    Farrar’s line about SkyCity getting ‘a quarter’ of what they sought is an outright lie that only works if people focus on the headline pokie numbers and not the extra spots at automated gambling tables in the deal.

    Yeah, it's 100% made of spin.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Aston,

    I heard a chilling take on all this from a key person in Horizon Research ( sorry can't name them) . All the Nats need is to do is keep 30 - 32% of the voting population happy, if they get their votes they will get a majority of seats in parliament . The other 70% is split between the other parties and non voters. The 30 - 32% really like what the Nats are doing , all of it and the Nats PR machine knows this very well.

    Northland • Since Nov 2006 • 510 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    if you just let Sky City handle it, that's an arguably commercial issue, and not really a BORA thing.

    Maybe not BORA, but still Human Rights Act in relation to discrimination in the provision of services. The entire veto concept is a ticking bomb for everyone. Just shows the utter arrogance being engendered by the current regime that it's even been considered.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • "chris",

    Kick-ass post Russell =D Early birthday salutations to ya, you good thing!

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • Trevor Nicholls,

    The current regime acts as though it believes the law is the no man's land which separates the people from the rulership. We are responsible to the law, they are not. We are responsible to them, they are not responsible to us.

    How many law changes in the term of the John Key 'presidency' have made life easier for the citizens, as opposed to those that have made life easier for the gummint?

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report Reply

  • Tristan,

    It struck me that these little laws chipping away at our freedom and privacy can all be escalated in the blink if an eye. One event being labeled a terrorist attack in nz would be enough to send this govt in to over drive.

    I think we should all send a copy of smiths dream to the PM for Christmas.

    For the first time in my life I'm a little Affriad of my government :(

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 221 posts Report Reply

  • Barnaby Nicholls,

    There's nothing more disturbing than a government granting itself more power and failing to construct adequate accountability or oversight mechanisms.

    Marriage equality aside, I'm having trouble thinking of any legislation this government has passed which hasn't aided the privileged few at the expense of the rest. Tertiary education cuts, charter schools, welfare "reforms", and so on. National is the party of freedom - freedom to fall in the absence of a safety net, with the predators less constrained when hunting in the jungle.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2013 • 19 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Barnaby Nicholls,

    National is the party of freedom

    That would be the kool-aid. They've been far from 'hands-off' for the whole time - despite what leftist dunces were running around saying until recently.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Barnaby Nicholls,

    There's nothing more disturbing than a government granting itself more power and failing to construct adequate accountability or oversight mechanisms.

    Lack of proper opposition disturbs me more.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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