Posts by Sam M

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  • Speaker: The Voyage: Dutch Disease –…,

    Which is why land taxes are the answer. Changes economics of what you do with land in favour of capital investment and away from low value use or seeking capital gains.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: The Voyage: Dutch Disease –…,

    Land taxes combined with reduced income taxes. Broad based and universally applied (ie few exceptions)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Do Want?,

    When are they going to announce the real name? IPad is surely just a gag.

    I (an unashamed mac fanboy) could hardly sleep last night, such was my excitement. However, I have to say I'm a little disapointed.

    I think they could do so much more if they were less focussed on locking users into captive marketplaces and more focussed on functionality.

    Wont stop me plumping down the cash.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: The World Is Full of Cu*ts,

    How much tax revenue do we all think the Crown is actually missing out on from mainstream religions due to their charitable status?

    They take in donations (lost GST maybe?) and use it to pay staff, keep buildings and do other stuff?? The staff pay income tax and presumably the organisation pays GST on any goods or services it buys.

    The only other tax that springs to mind is tax made on profits. I don't think many religions in NZ are exactly minting it in this regard.

    My experience of religion is of a very valuable community service to those who desire it (often elderly and/or infirm) performed by selfless individuals who ask for nothing in return (oh, and very old fashioned and hard to sing hymns). Granted, I accept there are those who use religion for their own purposes, but I do not see those as being truly godly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Where your money goes,

    The thing I don't get with all the street charity worker people is that if I want to donate to a charity, why don't I just go to its website and sign-up there - no commission to pay. My wife and I make monthly donations to Women's Refuge and Oxfam, and both were easy as pie to set up directly. No involvement of a paid intermediary necessary.

    I remember when I lived in England that a new government run scheme was set up where folk could nominate charities through their workplace to donate to and the donation was automatically taken out of your wages - PRE-TAX! I could donate 20 quid at a cost substantially less than that. Sure beats remembering to do tax returns here to achieve the same result. I would love to see that in NZ.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Drugs and Sex,

    Off Topic

    I watched Media 7 for the first time last night (now it is on Sky) and the bits I heard (through crying baby) were really good.

    In fact, we've only had TVNZ7 for a couple of days and I have already watched an interesting documentary, Media 7 and seen some other upcoming docos that may be worth a watch. That is a vast improvement on most of the tosh on TV these days.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: What to Do?,

    I'm also in the 'Yes' camp. My own view is that the wording is intentionally dicky as it discourages voting from those of us who are happy with the law as it stands but are not as engaged in the debate as those opposed.

    A non-vote (in my view) plays into the hands of those who framed the question. I also fear they will easily achieve their goal of a large majority (though, hopefully, not an actual majority of electors).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: The Telecom XT Discussion,

    @Paul Brislen - Great stuff to see Vodafone here gatecrashing the party. Competition should be cheeky! Fair enough re the visual voicemail. I've always just put it down to kiwis missing out again because our market size isn't worth the effort. Glad to hear that you guys are working on it.

    @Rebecca Smith - Thanks for the response. Good to see your participation. I grudgingly understand the need to do as the corporate lawyers tell you, though we must all keep pushing back on them!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: The Telecom XT Discussion,

    Next iPhone question - who is going to be first in NZ to offer the visual voicemail controls? I understand that Vodafone couldn't be arsed offering that but it seems to me a real drawcard.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: The Telecom XT Discussion,

    I don't like to complain, but the answer to the question on iPhone compatibility was a bit of a corporate spin non-answer. The kind of thing I would expect from the FAQ on a website.

    This kind of interactive thingy is an opportunity (I would have thought) for someone in the know to say "well, we're not supposed to say, and don't tell anyone I told you, but, yep they work SWEET!".

    Other than iPhone compatibility, I'm only interested in pricing to be honest. I've used both a Telecom 3G card and a Vodafone vodem and my non-scientific testing suggests the current Telecom technology feels much faster anyway (and it seems as fast for browsing the net as my home broadband connection).

    Therefore, I am happy with the current thing that connects me to the net, but it would be nice if I could afford to actually use it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 72 posts Report Reply

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