Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Letter

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  • linger, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Awesome. That’s a greater Auckland city vision by far than the names now on the map. (& what most non-JAFAs have always thought about it!)

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh,

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    it’s … Auckwood

    ’Tell you come from Cripescrutch
    Up here we call our supburps by their proper names…
    Moaningsnide,
    Manurewa (pronounced Manure waa)
    Poncybay
    As for your burbs…

    Merisnail
    Papanubie
    Ricecarton
    Fondalton
    Bumside
    Bryndwr (thats Welsh for “itsquitenicehereomasunnydayyoucanseethehillsanshit”
    Belfarts (ding dung)
    New Brighton, a place without pier.
    Avonside (now partly known as Underavon)
    Mairehau (and how)
    Shirley (might as well call it Brian)
    Edgewhere?
    Burntwood
    Heathcliffe (not far from Wuthering heights I guess)
    Hoon Hay needs no change whatsoever…
    Halswell, that ends well?
    Horny
    Spreydon (see Hoon Hay)
    Cashmore
    Addledtown
    :-]

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to linger,

    a Grater Auckland city vision

    fixed that for you!

    how else would you get 'zest' in a city
    but by grating a lemon...

    :- )

    </recycled pun - save the wails!>

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Attachment

    You appear to have overlooked the most dynamic part of Chchch.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    You appear to have overlooked

    Hei Hei, I missed that. :-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • linger, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    how else would you get ‘zest’ in a city

    By taking the pith?

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Attachment

    the most dynamic part of Chchch.

    Surely that would be.
    Damn you Joe with your Photoshopfoo
    I now have a headache and achieved nothing but an ugly mess trying to edit this to say Kaiapoi.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to linger,

    the pith?

    That's the bit inside the lemon Hide eh?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    When life gives you lemons, you make Lemonhide.
    Grate.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh,

    Ooooh, is there now something to get excited about? Well, almost, perhaps. It's nice to see somebody actually looking at the really obvious Labour MP to target re: Donghua Liu. Finally. But something big is still missing here: Motive. Why did Damian O'Connor intervene in Donghua Liu's application for residence? Three times? For what?

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    He was probably offering to log native forest and create jobs on the west coast in double figures. Maybe dig up a national park to mine coal as well.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    At a glance, this doesn't quite seem the smoking gun either.

    What O'Connor waived was the English-language requirement. He still made it clear Liu had to pass the character test. And he pointedly stepped back when there was some weirdness with the incorrect photo being supplied.

    The real story here may well be the fact that wealthy would-be immigrants can hire experienced and persistent agents -- a former National minister, in this case -- to pursue their applications. And that's still a story.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Russell Brown,

    No, but there still seems to be a whiff of smoke floating about:

    There is no explanation of the "previous intervention" of Mr O'Connor,

    Also, that English language requirement for his category of visa is not exactly strict or strenuous or tough. I find it very hard to believe that he could not have afforded the minimal time and fees (IELTS is expensive for ordinary mortals like us, but if he's got Investor category-sized nest eggs stashed away... ) needed to get an IELTS 3.

    And I'm a little confused, I thought Liu had failed the good character requirement. Or was there some other reason Immigration advised against his being granted residence that I missed?

    So no, no smoking gun, but this certainly looks to me like a more likely tree to be barking up.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    So no, no smoking gun, but this certainly looks to me like a more likely tree to be barking up.

    You may well be correct.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Tim Michie,

    An Associate Immigration Minister making immigration decisions versus a Minter advising the police a sexual crime suspect may be a politically sensitive subject will, my pessimism says, be lost on the those just attuning to politics ahead oh election. I would loved to be proved wrong. But I do appreciate both parties dealings are coming to light.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Sounds like the equivalent of my fairly non-existent skills in German, and way below my not-particularly good French.

    Why would you want to live in a country where you can't converse with most of the population? Or is "residence" about having a bolthole and a convenient way to dodge Chinese taxes by claiming to live overseas?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Why would you want to live in a country where you can’t converse with most of the population? Or is “residence” about having a bolthole and a convenient way to dodge Chinese taxes by claiming to live overseas?

    Two very good questions.

    1: Beats me, but plenty of people do. Just pop down to Sanlitun on any given evening and you'll see the Beijing edition of people who move to a far off land and make no effort to learn the language or fit in to the local society.

    2: Can't comment on Donghua Liu's case, of course, cos I don't know the guy, but there's no shortage of Chinese people who can afford it getting out, or at least, getting their families out of China. There are many reasons for that, having a convenient little bolthole is one. There are worse reasons (fleeing likely arrest for actual crimes) and better reasons (preferring the better environment or more relaxed pace of life). Liu's involvement in a corruption case in Chongqing has been reported, though it should be noted he was a witness and wasn't prosecuted. So let's give him the benefit of the doubt for now and assume he just finds NZ a more pleasant place to live than Chongqing.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

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