tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post7284588562172466265..comments2024-03-26T10:03:51.827+13:00Comments on Karl du Fresne: Yes, the Uffindell affair is a sideshow - but that doesn't let National off the hookKarl du Fresnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-86014069724713682332022-08-16T13:54:00.439+12:002022-08-16T13:54:00.439+12:00@rouppe geothermal sites should come under the cus...@rouppe geothermal sites should come under the customary usage precidents of common law, which unfortunately Helen Clark decided to run roughshod over as it might have stopped her and cronies going for a tramp. Geothermal sites are tightly coupled with traditional habitation sites and the accomanying burial sites. Any Kiwi with Scottish ancestry that experienced the Highland clearances should understand the sense of dislocation and loss.<br /><br />On the otherhand, radio spectrum allocation is an odd thing to be considered a toanga. I've never quite understood how Mātauranga Māori explains it.R Singershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13688410341414457249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-25839799002889344722022-08-14T20:39:48.738+12:002022-08-14T20:39:48.738+12:00It's not just water.
Read something today abo...It's not just water.<br /><br />Read something today about geothermal plants looking to cut emissions. At the bottom was the statement that Maori class geothermal as a taonga.<br /><br />Seems like a taonga is now anything they can extract a free from.<br /><br />Geothermal activity was something Maori took advantage of if it made its way to the surface. It wasn't something they controlled, harnessed, possessed or took with them anywhere.<br /><br />I'm not sure I can last in this country long enough to take national super somewhere else. Its getting very scary. rouppehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07446734587426078093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-63259291184590158782022-08-14T10:28:06.408+12:002022-08-14T10:28:06.408+12:00Let's be clear, 3 Waters involves the expropri...Let's be clear, 3 Waters involves the expropriation of community owned assets and their handing over to control by iwi corporates. Expect water royalties to follow. And absolutely no accountability to the public as the Auditor General has recently warned.<br /><br />But the implications of the project are far wider and even more disturbing. Kaipara Mayor Jason Smith captures the essence of the 3 Waters project when he says, "“Having worked in the engine room for the Three Waters reforms, it’s clear to me they are a Trojan Horse for ending democratic rights. Major constitutional reform wrapped up in a set of busted pipes.”Trev1https://www.blogger.com/profile/00271717267778957672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-6099667263875067792022-08-14T09:49:01.078+12:002022-08-14T09:49:01.078+12:00* I think not.* I think not.Karl du Fresnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-6156697378384780982022-08-14T09:47:58.105+12:002022-08-14T09:47:58.105+12:00I've given some more thought to my response to...I've given some more thought to my response to Ben Thomas (above), and it's inadequate. It's true that in local government especially, lines of responsibility have become more blurred and more diffuse - I suspect deliberately so. Those in control of public assets have become steadily more remote from, and hence less responsive to, the public they supposedly serve. ("Council-controlled organisation" is a brazenly dishonest misnomer.) One result is that when things go wrong, everyone runs for cover and no one takes the rap - the Wellington fluoride fiasco being a case in point. Does this trend mean we should meekly accept Three Waters, which takes the hijacking of public assets to a new level? think not.Karl du Fresnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-62052721328239538052022-08-14T08:47:13.496+12:002022-08-14T08:47:13.496+12:00Ben
I agree with you that accountability is often ...Ben<br />I agree with you that accountability is often scandalously lacking under present arrangements, and you chose an obvious example with Wellington Water. But it seems to me that accountability is lacking in such cases not so much because of a structural deficiency in the governance mechanisms but rather due to a disgraceful failure to comply with them. <br />The other point you omit is that in the case of Three Waters, a race element is introduced into the governance arrangements. That's new and different.Karl du Fresnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-50877780536558017442022-08-14T08:39:39.724+12:002022-08-14T08:39:39.724+12:00Thanks Andy, but I must correct you on two points....Thanks Andy, but I must correct you on two points.<br />1. As of last month, I'm 72. Unfortunately the passage of time doesn't slow down.<br />2. I'm intrigued that you say I'm usually known to support Labour. While it's true that I've sometimes voted Labour, I couldn't be described as "supporting" either party. The best I could say for Labour is that I usually have a better grasp of what the party stands for (even if I don't agree with it) than I do in the case of National.Karl du Fresnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-25979028449037604092022-08-14T04:25:55.125+12:002022-08-14T04:25:55.125+12:00It is weird to accuse Karl du Fresne, a 70 year ol...It is weird to accuse Karl du Fresne, a 70 year old New Zealander, of being "anti-National" - just because he is known usually to support Labour. He has been an adult during 17 general elections in his life - and, as a matter of fact, we all know that "tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee" have for ever been basically the two only political factors in our democracy. Nobody really worried that much which was in power. And, looking back at this half-century, I actually think they both did marvelously well. The proof of the pudding is in the eating!<br /><br />Once before did we see one of these two otherwise stable political forces go complete out of its usually cautious, political mind; namely under Muldoon - when we experienced a similar period of political tyranny as now, when total power went to Government's head. To our delighted surprise we then were rescued by Labour! In hindsight we found that National had become ultra-socialist and, as a consequence, Labour metamorphosed to become ultra-right! <br /><br />Will we experience a similar result in the 2023 election? Will the conservative, political forces in New Zealand come to the correct this ugly period in the life of the Labour party - as it has veered from its usually free, idealistically democratic ways?<br /><br />The Labour party will take years to recover from Jacinda Ardern's leadership. She has ruined this once proud political party.Andy Espersennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-66969561672903801842022-08-14T02:57:47.922+12:002022-08-14T02:57:47.922+12:00It is interesting to see the contrast in the media...It is interesting to see the contrast in the media's reaction to Sam Uffindell as compared to Gaurav Sharma. With Uffindell it is clear the media are going to milk everything possible from his situation. What on earth has the unkempt condition of his flat got to do with anything.<br />With the Sharma allegations it's amazing how quickly it has been bumped down the order or the media try diminish his credibility. Take Stuff. They refer to Sharma as "little known"- I presume to diminish his profile. Then they write a long article parroting Arden's statement, quoting other labour MP's who haven't been bullied (surprise, surprise) and then reporting that Sharma hadn't responded to interview requests (clearly has something to hide).<br />They then incredulously say that no evidence was provided to back up his claims. What is he expected to produce - secret tape recordings, whip marks where he has been flogged for his impudence. <br />Yep the media in full damage control. NZ is incredibly poorly served by it's media. They are a disgrace.<br /><br />Frederick Williscrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15922198045123534424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-91377485183650141982022-08-13T22:12:52.158+12:002022-08-13T22:12:52.158+12:00" the Three Waters proposal would allow the f..." the Three Waters proposal would allow the four so-called water “entities” to operate without proper accountability"<br /><br />Where exactly is the accountability now? We have the Wellington Water fluoridation shambles. Every week in Wellington there is another water/sewer main collapse. WW now warn us to expect water restrictions in the summer. How many WW employees have lost their jobs? The same time servers are standing for re-election and will no doubt be there post election. So I repeat; where is current accountability?Ben Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06273773374616566109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-74191242322112682282022-08-13T17:21:06.161+12:002022-08-13T17:21:06.161+12:00I for one are glad you are off the topic of irrele...I for one are glad you are off the topic of irrelevant opposition back benchers, especially when your local MP is apparently part of a campaign to bully Labour's own back benchers.R Singershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13688410341414457249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-32547848527453220732022-08-13T09:22:22.060+12:002022-08-13T09:22:22.060+12:00Maybe it's true, as John Lennon sang, that &qu...Maybe it's true, as John Lennon sang, that "instant karma's gonna get you". Now we have allegations of bullying against the Labour Party from MP Gaurav Sharma and an anonymous senior staffer for Anna Lorck.<br /><br />I was intrigued by something Sharma is reported to have said by the NZ Herald. He revealed it had been made very clear to him by Labour's Senior Whip Duncan Webb that, " Government means Labour. So the Party comes first and foremost before the country'." I find the implications of that kind of thinking, that the Party's interests rank higher than the country's, very disturbing. It's something a member of the Chinese Communist Party might say.<br /><br />But perhaps it explains why Ardern seems ready to go to the brink in destroying our democracy? Does keeping her Maori caucus happy and her party intact rank higher than equal suffrage and good governance? It certainly looks like it. This could make an important and timely topic for a column Karl.Odysseushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745489060434244478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-28117257622532652402022-08-13T03:07:26.452+12:002022-08-13T03:07:26.452+12:00One ought not forget the blatant nepotism as also ...One ought not forget the blatant nepotism as also an indictment of the corruption within this Government and, as an aside, what a toady bunch of sycophants our msm have become. As for Rangitane o Wairarapa, if consensus isn't their way then one must assune it can only be by decree? With 40-odd Iwi in their catchment I'm sure that will run like a well-oiled machine and we will be making those reputed savings in no time - not! If one ever needed proof of why tribal governance is not the way, there you surely have it.<br />And, as for Jackson, the racist who wants us all to re-live and apologize for past wrongs everyday, yet disavows any responsibility for his own tribe's genocide of the Moriori. If ever there were an empty vessel lacking principle... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-22557673839429584492022-08-12T19:04:20.760+12:002022-08-12T19:04:20.760+12:00In the future there could potentially be scenarios...In the future there could potentially be scenarios like Iwi receiving multi billion dollar grants from a foreign government conditional on blocking the NZ Government's decisions on particular policy. It is disturbing that NZ media can't see the danger ahead.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05289240834173890159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-21995219129464176002022-08-12T18:32:53.158+12:002022-08-12T18:32:53.158+12:00A "conspiracy theorist" is simply someon...A "conspiracy theorist" is simply someone who arrives at the truth before everyone else gets there Karl. There is documentary evidence Labour MPs had the Uffindell story at least 2 months before it was leaked at a highly propitious time for Labour. Uffindell is as you say a sideshow; the point is not to join in the merry go-round.<br /><br />A coup against democracy is now well underway. On 3 Waters we are on track for civil disorder not seen since the 1981 Springbok Tour if Ardern presses ahead with the expropriation. The livelihoods of many people and the good governance of vital assets, as the Auditor General has signalled, are directly threatened. Labour will continue to deploy diversions, let's not be sucked in.<br />Trev1https://www.blogger.com/profile/00271717267778957672noreply@blogger.com