OnPoint by Keith Ng

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OnPoint: Rational, then

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  • Kumara Republic,

    So what the hell is this?

    I'd say that our dear leaders think Kath & Kim is a training manual. The sort of stuff David Harris and Germaine Greer have previously warned about.

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

  • Sacha,

    Detailed Herald backgrounder (ta Peter McLennan).

    In his now-infamous speech, Brownlee talked up natural resources as playing a big role in improving economic growth and raising living standards. He didn't mention that the industry rates the odds of a new mineral prospect proving economic at 1000 to one.

    ...

    [Forest & Bird's Kevin Hackwell] doubts the economic benefits of mining would outstrip the tourism gains of leaving Schedule Four areas untouched. He points to the tax losses which exploration companies declare and the small numbers employed in mining compared to tourism. For Waihi, having a gold mine on the doorstep has not proved a path to riches, with welfare dependency higher than in neighbouring towns.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    For Waihi, having a gold mine on the doorstep has not proved a path to riches, with welfare dependency higher than in neighbouring towns.

    Republic of Nauru, anybody?

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

  • SteveH,

    So what the hell is this?

    Copy Australia day?

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Speaking of ambitious, Fran O'Sullivan wishes John Key would act more macho like Gordon Gekko - because mining our conservation land for a pittance is really attractive to young folk who might otherwise move overseas (or perhaps work in tourism).

    Some $80 billion of the NZ's estimated $194 billion estimated onshore mineral wealth (apart from hydrocarbons) sits on Conservation land. Accessing even 10 per cent of that would give the NZ economy a fillup in coming years by bolstering our balance of payments, creating new jobs and earning royalties for the taxpayer.

    This is exactly the kind of diversification we ought to be considering if NZ is to grow to the point where young New Zealanders decide they can build a future here.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    And sez Fran

    New Zealand – just like Australia – has the potential to be a lucky country.

    Wish these idiots would stop" banging on" like this.
    Australia isnt lucky, so stop looking in that window with a mindset that we're beggars on a street and all we need to do is ape them over there.
    When you're really just shitting in your nest like all good conservatives.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    back in the 80s my uncle travelled from perth back to new zealand to work in waihi. they were reopening the martha hill mine to extract gold out of the quartz there.

    turns out that the mine was reopened, but he promised jobs simply weren't there. modern methods meant only 5 guys were employed, all americans.

    what waihi got was s stinking great hole and quartz dust over the town. they still have that shit, and she's not exactly booming 30 years later.

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

  • Hadyn Green,

    Waihi has become a wee bit nicer recently. But this is mainly due to being a major arterial route on SH2 between Tauranga and Auckland (and the road to Whangamata during New Years).

    I suggest that to boost revenue in small towns like this the Government re-route SH1 so that it winds through every single town in the country. Problem solved.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    Accessing even 10 per cent of that would give the NZ economy a fillup in coming years

    Sacha: I thought that you'd made a typo with "fillup", but it seems that Fran really wrote that! Actually, conflating a "fillip" with "filling up" the economy is a pretty classic eggcorn.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

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

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Republic of Nauru, anybody?

    Let's stripmine the Republic of Brownlee,
    he's full of **it...
    Open cast or tunnelling - either way it
    looks like we're getting shafted...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    it seems that Fran really wrote that!

    Could have been one of those outsourced work-experience subeds, to be fair...

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Jeebus -- is John Banks worried about Len Brown's polling or what?

    His high-pressure anti-mining stream of consciousness on Nine to Noon just now was quite something.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Could have been one of those outsourced work-experience subeds, to be fair...

    Or the outsourced subbing sausage factory had closed down for the evening. Her reference to the Green Party co-leader "Norman Russell" is still there too.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Jeebus -- is John Banks worried about Len Brown's polling or what?

    Heh. Yes. Yes he is. I wonder if he realises just how obvious that was.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • JLM,

    Beautiful Russell! Banks is working hard on broadening his appeal, isn't he? The irony is delicious, but I had to turn the radio off, I can't listen to him saying anything.

    Judy Martin's southern sl… • Since Apr 2007 • 241 posts Report Reply

  • Cecelia,

    I'm glad you posted on this Keith because I am so disturbed by it that I want to do something irrational like move to Australia. How can it be that a person like Gerry Brownlee can have any sort of control over what makes NZ precious to so many of us.

    The early settlers did enough damage but in probable ignorance of the future impact of their devastation of the magnificent forests that once covered this land. We should not be so ignorant now and trying to be like Australia is like me trying to be like Megan Fox. We're no Australia and our future has to lie somewhere else rather than drilling into high grade conservation land for God's sake.

    I'm going to read all the links y'all have suggested to try to calm down and not explode into a million tiny little pieces.

    Hibiscus Coast • Since Apr 2008 • 559 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew C,

    Nearly choked on my cornies (actually I was on the way to work, "nearly infarcted on the ferry"?) when I heard on National this morning that the govt royalties for extracted gold are in the order of 1%

    Was enthralling to see the politicians and the mining advocates evade and basically point blank refuse to confirm/voice this figure when asked.

    That's, like, low right?

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Copy Australia day?

    Nice one :-)

    I vote that instead of mining we start our own car manufacturing industry, and force all the locals to drive them with huge tariffs. This could potentially employ hundreds of thousands of people. Perhaps we could make our own international racing event, around some open cast mine, which carefully exploits non-tariff barriers to keep all the competition local. We'll invent a V9 engine, the extra chamber taking only biofuel made from kumara. It could also become a local drink, so we'd need to increase the tariffs on imported spirits too.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • JackElder,

    Was I mistaken when I heard someone from the government on Morning Report this morning describe mining as "sustainable"? If so, it's a pretty radical redefinition.

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Gordon Campbell:

    This is where the further problems with the maths kick in. Within the discussion document, the estimated value of the main ingredients of the mineral wealth of New Zealand are said to amount to $194 billion. Yet, as Brownlee has said, the allegedly surgical exploitation (the access roading and millions of tons of toxic waste? Why, you won’t even notice them!) of this tiny Schedule 4 area to be infringed is estimated to be worth $60 billion – which is nearly one third of the estimated value of the mineral wealth of the entire country.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Anything's sustainable if you can get away with it long enough. Certain political careers come to mind.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Mr Brownlee said the Government's books were in a parlous state and it needed money, which mining could help generate, to help families under pressure.

    Thank goodness someone's thinking of the children. The ones whose parents the Nats must give tax cuts too. Got to pay for them somehow, so why not hock the family silver even if it means despoiling the dining table forever?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew C,

    Was I mistaken when I heard someone from the government on Morning Report this morning describe mining as "sustainable"? If so, it's a pretty radical redefinition.

    wtf?

    from the online dictionary:

    sustainable [səˈsteɪnəbəl]
    adj

    1. (Economics) capable of being sustained
    2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Environmental Science) (of economic development, energy sources, etc.) capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage

    (leaving the severe ecological damage bit just hanging there... )

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Lone wolf?
    Over at Red Alert they do think this is just their tactics to move from "no mining"to "which ones should we allow so the Nats appear to be "listening" to the people.I suspect this also.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

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