Hard News: Auckland: where only one man votes
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report emblazoned with "Draft". Apparently that makes the document outside the sphere of the requests.
Can't the OIA/LGOIMA request include the phrase "and any drafts" or suchlike?
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replaced by a local income tax
You mean a poll tax, then?
Councils have largely focused on managing use of land and what's built on it, hence their income levies being based on those things.
I'm sure Act would love to replace that with a flat tax on people, to fit with their flat earth thinking. Didn't work out well for their hero Thatcher, though, and at 2% of the vote there's hardly a local mandate is there?
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Yes he does, I reckon. If a person is an official of a party (especially a really small one like ACT), their opinions, like it or not, are pretty much representative of how the party "thinks". It's not a hat you can take off (even if local councillors often try to con the electorate that they're "non political").
Oh dear. How to control one's exasperation.
I have opinions separate to my party's, and the individuals involved in it, beliefs, strange as that may seem. We are not all drones. In fact in this government, ACT is allowing its MP's free votes on most matters: see http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10561882
I am also not an elected official of the party. I volunteered to be the party secretary, mostly because we are short on people and I thought this would be "doing my bit". I am not on a payroll, let alone the taxpayers - I am a volunteer. It is a hat you can take off - maybe not for the Prime Minister, but certainly for someone like me. Otherwise you're suggesting every lighthearted humourous comment a volunteer makes is attributed to the government. Seriously. Please. Otherwise the very democracy you pretend is being subverted will be under threat as people will be too scared to speak.
Time to stop being serious 24/7. As I have tried to suggest three (four?) times now!
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I'm not talking about local body, though. This shit is all about national politics
Boy, you're really lucky my cranky pants are at the cleaners -- but you're being rather naive if you think the lines between local and central government have ever been that tidy.
Yes he does, I reckon. If a person is an official of a party (especially a really small one like ACT), their opinions, like it or not, are pretty much representative of how the party "thinks". It's not a hat you can take off (even if local councillors often try to con the electorate that they're "non political").
I reckon calling someone a liar and a sock puppet is a pretty shitty thing to do, no matter how many word-weasels you release into the room.
Still, nice to know that it's total waste of time assuming anything I say around here is going to taken in good faith.
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3410,
No one's pretending, Nick. Your man is subverting democracy.
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I reckon calling someone a liar and a sock puppet is a pretty shitty thing to do
Agreed. Nick has made some substantive comments here and a single off-hand one which I personally had no trouble reading as sarcastic and ironic. I appreciate his clarity about his relationship with Act as I did Mikaere's about his with the Greens.
Your man is subverting democracy.
However that's true as well. Company we keep, etc.
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Boy, you're really lucky my cranky pants are at the cleaners -- but you're being rather naive if you think the lines between local and central government have ever been that tidy.
Then pray tell, Craig, which of our local body polly tubbies is behind this nefarious scheme? Hint: Rodney's my MP, not my councillor. Select committees and submissions and legislation are all being done at a national level, by Parliament, not by the local bodies. That's why I say this is all about national politics. Whether or not some members of the local bodies think it's a good idea, and certainly some of them do, most of them seem to be far from impressed at how little say Aucklanders are getting into how it's all going to look in 12 months' time.
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I'd like to know why his cranky pants are at the cleaners? ;)
So the next bit for me is, that I get the impression our new found friend who, we actually have suggested is welcome, is only visiting because he is interested in this topic also. and fancy that, it does involve the small group of peoples he sometimes supports. That is fine, but hey why not thrash out the objectives. So, are we supposed to just have this blind faith that Mr 2% and a bit knows what the rest of 25% of the country want?Shit, I should have voted for this man. Oh,
now I feel as dirty as Craig's cranky pants. As you were... -
Nothing wrong with promoting and debating political ideas that most don't support - or we'd be stuck with mob rule and nothing much would change. However, it's perfectly fine to apply informed criteria about what makes sense to any party's utterances and while they all fail the grade from time to time, this report is exceptionally poor.
I'd like to know why his cranky pants are at the cleaners?
Overcranked? :)
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Nothing wrong with promoting and debating political ideas that most don't support -
Well of course Sacha, I was trying for anyone to explain why this is a good idea, and as you probably remember ,I have been against it for some time. This isn't debating political ideas, it is democracy under attack by the Act Party with the National party kissing their arse.
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Wasn't Datamail also responsible for a horrible screwup on behalf of Studylink a few years ago, too?
Datacom I think you'll find. Although both have NZ Post as a significant shareholder though IIRC.
Datamail are the dominant player in the print and mailhouse space but have been looking to expand into other areas as snail mail decreases.
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I'm glad to hear from Nick every time. Whatever he gets in arguments here will surely find their way into arguments with his colleagues. So the aim is surely to make those arguments high quality - if it helps to make ACT just a little bit more moderate or realistic, then real good is served.
But naturally he has to expect to be treated as a hostile witness a lot of the time.
Nick I've been wanting to ask this for ... ever. Is there waterpolo in your family?
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My source tells me that the collection function will also be taken over by Datamail. Very juicy contract with no need to undergo a tender process. Not saying anything illegal, immoral or underhand went on in deciding on Datamail, but the lack of transparency and the attractiveness of the work lend themselves to allowing that sort of behaviour.
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Is there waterpolo in your family?
Somehow in my mind this came across as enquiring about a STI.
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Is there waterpolo in your family?
On the tax cut waterbed? Whoops, cross-thread.
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Very juicy contract with no need to undergo a tender process.
So long as it's only for that first election - watch for creeping attempts to embed cosy deals and self-serving arangements beyond the next one too.
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Is there waterpolo in your family?
Strangely enough I get asked that a lot. The answer is no, but I am an avid swimmer.
I hear the mysterious Kearneys who played (very well I am told) waterpolo were from Takapuna Grammar. I was a Westlake "boy".
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One of them was also named Mick, so your name kind of jumps out. Most likely they get asked if they have anything to do with you a lot too. Had to ask, as you were, everyone.
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I have a problem with water polo, will somebody please think of the horses.
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I have a problem with water
It dilutes te whisky (good deal).
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you can lead a horse to water...
will somebody please think of the horses.
jus' sayin' that
in the main
the rein falls
on the mane
of the playin'poollooppolo
plop -
Heh! That's good wordplay-
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The damage (her job) is done now.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10627133
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The damage (her job) is done now.
This person has just told Bfm, it is their fault they let Phil Goff say what he wants, when asked to comment regarding her stepping down,of which she has refused.
Sometimes the strangest of things can make ones day :)
BFM ,the Bomb! -
report emblazoned with "Draft". Apparently that makes the document outside the sphere of the requests.
Can't the OIA/LGOIMA request include the phrase "and any drafts" or suchlike?
You're right, Sacha; drafts are covered by the OIA/LGOIMA. You just have to ask for them. Getting drafts can be uesful sometimes, especially when you suspect a major position has suddenly changed in the middle of the policy development process.
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