Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: Key and the 'nesians

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  • Che Tibby,

    an under-assistant for inter-departmental liasons

    i think you'll find that "political advisers" held by minsters are actually *extremely* powerful gatekeepers in relation to their typical age and experience.

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

  • Gareth Ward,

    i think you'll find that "political advisers" held by minsters are actually *extremely* powerful gatekeepers in relation to their typical age and experience.

    I don't doubt it

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Can't say I'm impressed with the weather under this National Govt.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    I don't doubt it

    in fact... it might have been two political advisers assisting the guards i dodged this morning...

    better take the town-belt to get home, after dark.

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

  • Terry Baucher,

    Can't say I'm impressed with the weather under this National Govt.

    At least it's still free.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2008 • 91 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    remember I predicted 3 years of winter ..... (mind you it's a lovely sunny day to day, I can see right out to the horizon .... but it feels like winter)

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    On a related topic, how does redundancy work for ... the MPs and/or Ministers themselves?

    Retiring and losing MPs keep getting paid for three months' from polling day.

    Those ceasing to be ministers (etc.) get paid their ministerial salary until they cease to be ministers (which hasn't happened yet), and thereafter get paid as MPs.

    Those ceasing to be ministers, and ceasing to be MPs get paid their ministerial salary until they cease to be ministers (which hasn't happened yet), and thereafter get paid as if they were MPs until three months after polling day.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • donna,

    Putting aside output gaps (don't worry, we'll have our own in short order), please tell Ben not to fret. National might be a bit slow to get into gear but there's no doubt the Auckland City Council is actively fulfilling its promise not to upgrade footpaths, improve public transport or spend money on social amenities in low-income areas.

    Since Nov 2008 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Dude, you've been away too long. We all have two votes under MMP. One for each arm.

    From memory my electorate vote was on the right, so that was sweet.

    My party vote was on the left however, and my left-handed ticking is pretty shocking. Might have voted Alliance, but could have accidentally been Act. So I should probably apologise for any part I have in Roger.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Krugman's blog has more on this including his calculation of the fiscal stimulus required US$600 billion.

    Oh good god. Is the man in a competition for "most boring blog"?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • jon_knox,

    i think you'll find that "political advisers" held by minsters are actually extremely powerful gatekeepers in relation to their typical age and experience.

    Hmmm, has stem cell researched progressed that much that they can bring back Milty?...surely there must be a risk that he picked up something in the nearly 2 years down there, other than a really nice tan.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    "not because it does not work, but because it was not tried."

    Always interesting to see that form of argument used against libertarians.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    better take the town-belt to get home, after dark.

    It is I, Leclerc...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • James Francis,

    remember I predicted 3 years of winter ..... (mind you it's a lovely sunny day to day, I can see right out to the horizon .... but it feels like winter)

    Paul, you will be reassured to know that in the dark days of winter there is no point in insulating your house to keep warm. There's an opinion piece in today's Dom Post (I can't find it online, alas) that asserts that health records fail to show any substantive health benefits from insulating houses. He also calls global warming a "contentious theory" which gives you a bit of a clue.

    Who the heck planted this story given that the guy is from an American-based think-tank I can only guess. But we're obviously being warmed up (no pun intended) for Nick Smith or whoever to can the free insulation scheme.

    God, but I love the objectivity of our newspapers.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • linger,

    I should probably apologise for any part I have in Roger

    Ah! That goes a long way towards explaining his demeanour at that press conference.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Savidge,

    Can't say I'm impressed with the weather under this National Govt.

    Good God man, have you looked out the window? It's one of those days in the capital and I have just had to remove shoes and socks*.

    Whaddya want? Pony showers?

    *Dinnae panic - I work solo.

    Somewhere near Wellington… • Since Nov 2006 • 324 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Gracewood,

    We've actually had two wars this decade but unfortunately they've been the wrong sort of wars

    I did wonder about that. But I really can't see that the US spending more money on up-armoured Humvees and decent body armour would help the situation?

    ...the Auckland City Council is actively fulfilling its promise not to upgrade footpaths...

    Excellent! So I can have fibre to the doorstep, but the council won't repair the footpath after Telecom dig it up?

    Orkland • Since Nov 2006 • 168 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    goddamnit...

    i just popped upstairs to see about getting something done and comms have barricaded themselves into the 5th floor... they're bombarding finance with copies of the hansard and yelling, "my freedom or my death!"

    it's going to be an extremely long day...

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

  • Stewart,

    James, I have long-since given up the newspapers here - the lack of reportage with any substance or depth becomes depressing after a while. I think I have bought a copy of the Herald about twice in the last 6 years and I was looking for a job at the time. Otherwise I would have avoided it as usual.
    Not sure about the quality in other centres, but the Herald having a monopoly in d'Auckland is just wrong.

    Maybe I am too misanthropic about the abilities of the upper Nth Is population to critique what they read in that rag, but it is unadulterated crap.

    I'll browse the on-line editions for news (mostly just Herald & Stuff websites) but avoid editorial like the plague.

    </rant>

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    There's an opinion piece in today's Dom Post (I can't find it online, alas) that asserts that health records fail to show any substantive health benefits from insulating houses.

    Ironically this is on the same day that NZ's leading researcher into the health benefits of insulating is in the media for receiving research awards for the opposite:

    The Liley Medal, jointly awarded by the Health Research Council, is for research which has made a clear difference to people's lives. One of the policy consequences of Professor Howden-Chapman's work has been quantifying the benefits for the recent one billion dollar Government initiative to retro-fit low income houses with insulation and more sustainable heating.

    Professor Howden-Chapman is internationally recognised for her research showing for the first time links between New Zealand's cold and thermally inadequate housing, health outcomes and energy use. She has authored 150 publications on this and other public health issues.

    Wonder what the Dom will make of the apparent contradiction.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I couldn't resist getting my lolcat on with the bag lady photo: lolbag!

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    i just popped upstairs to see about getting something done and comms have barricaded themselves into the 5th floor... they're bombarding finance with copies of the hansard and yelling, "my freedom or my death!"

    Che Tibby, you should have your own TV show. A couple of funnies in one day.

    Or, be taken away for treatment. Whichever suits you ;)

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    you should have your own TV show

    heh. i've recently tinkered with the idea of rewriting market forces for the noughties.

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

  • Paul Campbell,

    James: originally I was more referring to a metaphorical winter of the political soul - predicted by 3 days of actual snow here just prior to election day

    I am happily double glazed and batted to the hilt and laugh at the climate change deniers who can't decide if it's getting hotter or colder but do know it isn't doing what the other guys say

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

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