I was surprised by how shabby and basic their schtik was and how poorly prepared for NZ Context the ugly little circus act was. Also disappointed that such easily refuted nonsense was enough to seemingly discombobulate Paddy Gower - maybe there wasn’t enough time to really get stuck in.
Very appreciative of learned and well expressed commentary from various sources that has given me material to draw on in a couple of awkward discussions socially.
I hope the joining-together of political and social movements i.e party in Aotea Square will gain strength so that NZ is ready for when Nigel Farage turns up. The tide has begun to lap on our shores let’s not underestimate it’s reach.

Angélique Kidjo’s Remain in Light is a really rich listen. I had it in high rotate for quite a while and heard more with each play.

All good. I wrote “Peking Duk” on a greasy old ham bag and threw it onto a rubbish fire. Feel much better now, it may have lifted their curse for a while.

What Bruce said except for the bit about what the younguns are listening to. We all did our time loving shit we’re happy to forget about now.
Also, so what if she was 15 mins late. She cut her set short and just a couple of minutes between acts would not have hurt anyone. It was obscenely rude.
I know what it’s like when the schedule gets out of hand but come on.

May as well have flung excrement in Grace Jones and her utterly superb band’s faces. I clench with shame on all NZ’s behalf every time I think about it.
Happy to be a witness for the prosecution if you press charges.

I'm calling myself the fibrolite (1/2) millonaire. Apparently a 2 bedroom 1950's cottage untroubled by the renovator's hand on a small cross lease in a West Auckland backwater is worth a lot! Me and the neighbours have been amusing ourselves with visions of what we'd do with it if anyone was mad enough to pay that sort of money for our shacks.
Going to object via the official process, just for the fun of it.

Well there was more I wanted to say but I approached the keyboard glass in hand and all was lost

Cheers Andin, may I use that as my default disclaimer from now on?
I too thought JC (JC, haha how apt) a bit over excited but whatever, don't give a shit about whether Density are getting a fair suck of the sav on current affairs shows.
Might not articulate this very clearly (glass in hand and all) but will try. What I saw in the footage was people who perceive themselves as powerful interacting with other people who perceive themselves as powerful. Losing insight. Basking in the glow and then some rationalisation afterwards to justify getting so into it. Had a very masculine flavour to it. "laid-back, double-chinned complacency", where have I seen that before? Oh yeah, everywhere men who perceive themselves as powerful congregate.
Very fragile interaction of course cos throats getted ripped out at the drop of a hat, them competing to stay powerful and all. Lions on the Savannah. Course they went to the weird cult ceremony. Bishop Density powerful. Source of power irrelevant.
Happy to recant theory if Maori Women's Welfare League issue invite and they all line up to go and make impassioned speeches.

Precisely. Seemed an apt username.

Long time reader, love Public Address, never posted before, probably never will again, but can't help myself. I thought I'd overcome the frustration and despair I feel when reading things like this, but sadly no. So here's my rant.
I worked at Waitakere City Council and was made redundant. I loved my job and was very good at it and it was a core local govt. job, had to be done, part of statutory local govt. requirements. Word is it's being done very badly now - spread across departments and poorly coordinated. I've got another job now outside of the council and based on my frequent conversations with ex colleagues who are in the belly of the beast I've had a lucky escape.
Right from the very beginning it was clear to me and every single one of my colleagues, regardless of their political leanings, that a shit storm of ballooning costs, incompetence and an unworkable structure was inevitable. We laughed about the November 1 deadline when it was first announced, surely they're joking? Then we cried. There has never been anything but utter contempt for local government behind the amalgamation - wasn't that crystal crystal crystal clear from day one?
I know this post is about the IT costs but it may as well be about every f*ing thing that has happened since the amalgamation.
Where were the articles uncovering all the lies and bullshit when the ATA was making us dance before shooting Auckland local government and kicking it into the grave?
You can add Mark Ford to your roll call of accountability; that repulsive sociopathic clammy handmaiden gleefully implementing Rodney's every vain imperious command.
Auckland we were all robbed in our sleep, we all chose to snooze rather than do anything and I include myself and my colleagues. I could have tried being a whistleblower and taken one for the team by getting fired early for blabbing. I was going down anyway.
End of rant.
Not quite
Penny Hulse is to be commended for her honesty with Aucklanders by publicly pointing out the size and scope of various problems. Hearing Debra Hill Cone quack on (a while back on Jim Mora I think) about how it's a bad look cos she's been elected to the council so she should only ever be a cheerleader for the new Ankh-Morepork (or something like that, coherence and Debra are not exactly lovers) was something I didn't need. Fuck you Hill Cone you are palpably the stupidest person who has ever had airtime on Radio NZ.
I feel a bit better now, thank you for your time.