Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Debate like it's 2008!

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  • Che Tibby,

    I'd rather have one $300 shirt that feels good, looks sharp and lasts for years than three $100 shirts

    lots of people can afford neither, because $300 is their total weekly wage. and their jobs making shirts here will disappear.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    If anyone's making shirts here on $300 a week then their management should be in jail for paying under minimum wage.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    $12.50 an hour, less tax, part-time. ~$300-$350 p/w.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I was commenting solely on the way Locke worded his question - to imply that at a certain number of people tortured, Cullen would say "oh right, that 100th one really put the nail in that trade agreement. was happy with 99 though".

    Actually, I'd hope that there is a point at which we'd stop trading with a country because of their human rights record. If, for example, China was killing thousands of people each year, would we still trade with them? Hundreds of thousands? Clearly at some point a moral stand kicks in.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    I doubt our bicycle ownership is the issue in bike crime. It's bicycle usage. Got a lovely shot on holiday in Holland at the Central train station in the Hague of about 2 acres of parked bikes. The bike I hired had 3 locks and the insurance they made me take was entirely against theft.

    Most bikes in NZ are probably locked up in garages most of the time.

    Same exact thing applies to car crime, in reverse.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    A workmate tells me that after a year in Amsterdam and his third bicycle theft, he broke down and bought a dodgy second-hand one from a drug addict, just like everyone else.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • 81stcolumn,

    But the moonwalking bear did make a good metaphor for cyclists. I notice the bear was not wearing any reflective clothing, just black fur, whilst intermingling with a swirling mass of black. Still, I suppose it's okay to be camouflaged if you're a bear. Not so good for cyclists.

    I/O You are trying to wind me up right ?

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • 81stcolumn,

    I'm a cyclist I too counetd 13 and saw the bear....

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • samuel walker,

    I believe Trelise Cooper is having her kit made in China now. I'm told the price hass dropped markedly.

    I would be surprised if her retails have dropped, costs would have though. Its all part of the 'implication of luxury' market. If it costs more it must be worth more.

    I'd rather have one $300 shirt that feels good, looks sharp and lasts for years than three $100 shirts

    I fully agree, however, It gets trickier and trickier to tell what is what. it seems a lot of people have made a quick buck on the high street lately by selling 'itallian quality' shoes for what seems to be a good price (three for $200 etc) only to find that while they were well finished and merchandised they were totally worn out within months and are constructed in such a way as to make them un-resoleable. Whereas you can buy a decent pair of ecco, thicker leather, just as smart, resoleable, will last longer before wearing down anyway, more comfortable (im liking my ecco's at the moment). ultimately a LOT cheaper. yet the people buying the italian are still making a decision to buy supposedly upmarket of hannahs etc.

    You see similar 'scams' across almost all markets now, a lot of the clothing sold in mall factory outlets is benifiting by quality and savings by association, yet is often actually worth less than you will be charged.


    rant over, manufacturing prices in china actually seem to have jumped considerably in certain locations/meduim [in china] over the last few months, and companies seem to be applying more and more ethical pressure on both their suppliers [directly] and the government [indirectly], which is good to see. however I do believe we need to put our foot down a little more firmly in some cases, by allowing certain actions we ARE implicit in them.

    Since Nov 2006 • 203 posts Report

  • David Ritchie,

    Interestingly I know of one high-profile NZ clothing brand who have recently migrated most of their manufacturing to China, and are happy to claim (in private) that the sewing of the Chinese-made garments is superior to the locally-made versions.

    Since Nov 2006 • 166 posts Report

  • Rob Hosking,

    I counted 14 but I'm claiming one of them was the bear.

    Officer.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report

  • samuel walker,

    Interestingly I know of one high-profile NZ clothing brand who have recently migrated most of their manufacturing to China, and are happy to claim (in private) that the sewing of the Chinese-made garments is superior to the locally-made versions.

    Im sure thats the case, if they have the systems in place to ensure it. Huffer, for example, have had their clothing made "by our friends in china, peace to the east" [from the label copy] for quite a few years, and in my experience the quality is very high.

    Since Nov 2006 • 203 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    I would be surprised if her retails have dropped,

    20-25% apparently. The NZ made at the usual priice.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    by selling 'itallian quality' shoes for what seems to be a good price (three for $200 etc)

    Somebody tell Jake the Peg!

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    A workmate tells me that after a year in Amsterdam and his third bicycle theft, he broke down and bought a dodgy second-hand one from a drug addict, just like everyone else.

    Yes, they're big on their re-cycling there :-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    (im liking my ecco's at the moment)

    I'll echo that - checking my blog, I note that it was July 10 last year I gave up on the eccos I'd been wearing for... must have been 3 years or more (must have been an exciting day to report that). I'm not a practised shopper & I ended up buying hush puppies in a hurry.

    I noticed today that the HPs are warn through already. I will buy eccos again.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Brent Jackson,

    Kyle Matthews wrote :

    Actually, I'd hope that there is a point at which we'd stop trading with a country because of their human rights record. If, for example, China was killing thousands of people each year, would we still trade with them? Hundreds of thousands? Clearly at some point a moral stand kicks in.

    If that were the case, then surely we wouldn't still be trading with the USA.

    (Instead the Govt seems to make discouraging but polite comments, and waits for their regime to change).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    If that were the case, then surely we wouldn't still be trading with the USA.

    Well I don't support what the USA is doing/not doing in various parts of the world.

    But America diving into the Middle East and getting involved in/helping cause a civil war and thousands of deaths is a different than a government killing thousands of its citizens in political repression.

    In one, civilians are bystanders/collateral damage. In the other, they're the targets.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • samuel walker,

    Somebody tell Jake the Peg!

    HAH, pairs, three pairs.

    there were even a couple of reasonably well fitted out stores in newmarket doing it.

    bought a dodgy second-hand one from a drug addict, just like everyone else.

    my theory is, if you ever buy dodgy knowingly; you lose all right to feel upset when you get ripped off. the emotional cost, and lost of precious items far outweighs any justification you could ever offer.

    Since Nov 2006 • 203 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Incoming!! Heh. You guys probably know this already...

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4447173a10.html

    Key says Sir Roger will never be in a National government cabinet post & ACT won't be coalition partners if Sir Rog is in their ranks.

    Mentions the Radical Right Wing Agenda. Confesses there is one I guess.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Bob Munro,

    As I noted yesterday, I have some qualms about Locke's unwaveringly negative views about interacting with China. Sometimes it seems like the acceptable face of xenophobia.

    This on The Guardian site shows China not doing PR very well and providing plenty of ammunition for their critics.

    They are probably already on their way to guaranteeing some sort of boycott of the games with the whole carry on of taking the Olympic flame through Tibet and to the top of Everest still to go.

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 418 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Hmmm. I think I'll spend the long weekend reading up and developing a view.

    I'm often suspicious of zeal driven by today's headlines. There was huge outrage about the extensively televised events of Beslan that wasn't there when the Russian government was massacring Chechnyans in their homes. And we never thought about boycotting the Russians.

    (Although we did join the Moscow Olympics boycott Ironically, it's hard to not to think that if the Afghanis had just waited till the Soviet Union broke up it would have all worked out much better.)

    I find the arguments against a trade relationship less convincing than the qualms about whether the PR opportunity of an Olympics is due that leadership.

    On trade, frankly, we're there already. Our economy is so entangled with theirs, there's no going back. And for at least some Chinese, economic openness has brought material improvement and new freedoms. There is a sense of emergence.

    In the past, I've tried to apply a test: does the wealth reach the streets? Trading with a nation in which change can occur outside government is different from doing business with a plutocracy that keeps all the money.

    OTOH, spending a little while reading humans rights sites makes me wonder how that government got the chance at the Olympics anyway. But what would be the effect of a boycott? Would the leadership recognise the error of its ways, or just seek vengeance?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Bob Munro,

    But what would be the effect of a boycott? Would the leadership recognise the error of its ways, or just seek vengeance?

    Yes - probably have no positive effect at all. But that's the beauty of the sports boycotts. They make people feel good without it affecting them directly. Trade sanctions of course can hit us in the pocket so we don't do them so well.

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 418 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    But what would be the effect of a boycott? Would the leadership recognise the error of its ways, or just seek vengeance?

    I don't know if I'd argue for a boycott of the Olympics. But Mandela has spoken positively about the impact of sports boycotts on his country's struggle. Whether it would have an impact in China, who knows.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Russell and All:

    Bloody great points raised, which I'll pay the respect of a decent response when I'm not such a blot head.

    But, once more, for thoughtful discussion of a contentious issue: PAS, 1; MSM, nil; Parliament, red carded and sent from the field seconds after kick off. Doctor Cullen, you're not even useful enough to qualify as a douche bag.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

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