Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Sunday Capers

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  • philipmatthews,

    Gareth Morgan also had his views on global warming aired on TV1's Sunday and in the Herald on Sunday. Yesterday must have been the book's embargo date. On Sunday, the premise was dodgy -- no one anywhere has made clear sense of this climate change business so we needed straight-talking Morgan to step in and sort it out -- but at least he came down on the side of "the alarmists" (his term) not the sceptics.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report

  • Carol Stewart,

    The guy really is a national treasure.

    Aye.

    Here he is laying down the lhaw:

    Which is why medical authorities and the media need to get a grip. Their insane and unnatural desire to always adopt the worst-case scenario is eroding our confidence in both them and their judgement. Mexico is a dirty, dirty country, like most of the Third World.

    Take that, WHO!

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    $1995? who was the advisor on this? Stephen Tindal?.

    What's wrong with that, it seems fairly reasonable if they are doing some diligence as to whether the advisers a crook or not? A lot of advisers *have* turned out to be pretty dodgy, and it gives the country a bad name if there are people out their ripping people off.

    I guess they have to draw the definition pretty tight or people would try and pretend not to have charged, or something. I very much doubt it'll catch anyone passing on knowledge freely to friends or others.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    there, etc.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • HORansome,

    I imagine that when Lawh's uses 'dirty, dirty country' that he can't but help have dirty thoughts.

    Which means that he must find (most of) the Third World terrifically exciting.

    Tāmaki Makaurau • Since Sep 2008 • 441 posts Report

  • philipmatthews,

    Laws: "sexual revolution ... preserve virgins ... modern Sodom ... San Franciscan bath-houses ... surf internet porn ... you need relief ... other bodily fluids ... unnatural desire ... dirty, dirty country ..."

    Someone needs a cold shower.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    $1995? who was the adviser on this? Stephen Tindal?.

    What's wrong with that, it seems fairly reasonable if they are doing some diligence as to whether the advisers a crook or not?

    My point was about the price point. Why not just call it $2000? I mean its a bit $9.95 instead of $10. Very Warehouse.
    But. What got me most was the actual definition of what now constitutes an offence. It would seem that giving the phone number of the Immigration dept. to a friend to help his Auntie come over from China could cost you $99,999.95 and 7 years of your life.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Paul Williams,

    OK... so the story actually seems to be Nat MP seems to be a pretty decent landlord.

    Ah, but you have to read the story to find that out ...

    No, I get it; a National MP who does not exploit sex workers by over-charging rent in hovel really is news. :->'

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Steve, I think you're mistaking the Herald for a source of information.

    From the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act:

    In this Act, immigration advice—
    (a) means using, or purporting to use, knowledge of or experience in immigration to advise, direct, assist, or represent another person in regard to an immigration matter relating to New Zealand, whether directly or indirectly and whether or not for gain or reward; but
    (b) does not include—
    (i) providing information that is publicly available, or that is prepared or made available by the Department; or
    (ii) directing a person to the Minister or the Department, or to an immigration officer, a visa officer, or a refugee status officer (within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1987), or to a list of licensed immigration advisers; or
    (iii) carrying out clerical work, translation or interpreting services, or settlement services.

    and also

    The following persons are exempt from the requirement to be licensed:
    ....
    (a) persons who provide immigration advice in an informal or family context only, so long as the advice is not provided systematically or for a fee:
    ...
    (g) persons employed by or working as volunteers for citizens advice bureaux:

    Remember, the newspapers are for amusement only. Any congruence of their content with truth is coincidental.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    Rich, I was about to post much the same thing.

    For the record, here is the full text of the section 11 exemption

    The licensing requirement has been around for months. You do have to wonder why so few advisers have bothered to register.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Tom Beard,

    'dirty, dirty country'

    I just couldn't help recalling the episode of Black Books with The Cleaner: "Very, very ... DIRTY!". But back to the topic: that "leaning on lattes" piece was the most transparent, egregious piece of cynical non-news that I'd read in a long time. We've all come to expect some sensationalism and sexing up, but that was dangerously close to blatant untruth.

    Headline "X!". Story: "not X".

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    The guy really is a national treasure.

    More like fool's gold. I've suspected for some time he gets his radio listeners to compose his opinion pieces.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    Steve, I think you're mistaking the Herald for a source of information.

    Yes. Silly me.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • JackElder,

    Immigration advisers: in my distant past, I had occasion to see the work of a number of immigration advisers. Based on what I saw, I have absolutely no problem with a reasonably punitive licensing fee for them. My only qualm is that I think that it'll lead to some of them ripping people off even more. Bearing in mind that the plural of anecdote isn't data, and for fairly obvious privacy/professionalism reasons I'll leave it at that. Except to point out that a lot of the worst problems I saw came from immigration advisers who were offshore, who people had engaged locally outside NZ to help them get into NZ. If you don't speak English, don't know a huge amount about NZ's culture, and come from a country where using professional "facilitators" to access services is standard practice, you're very vulnerable to some wideboy who speaks your language, talks a good line, and can drop hints about needing to give "extra processing fees" to expedite your application....

    Disclaimer: there are some very good immigration consultants who provide a lot of help for people.

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    Jack, the new regime is supposed to ensure that applications won't be accepted unless they've come from licensed advisers. In theory this will make it harder for unlicensed advisers to make a living. So I suspect your local wideboy won't be able to "help" very much.

    I don't have any involvement with this area of law, so I'm not sure whether it will address the problems. But something has to be done.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I used an adviser, largely because I needed advice on what was expected in terms of the many things I needed to prove to NZIS to get residence. Much the same as you have an accountant to tell you what IRD will and won't accept as deductions. Mine did a reasonable job.

    However, a simplified system would remove this - the current system seems to be mostly about trying to second guess employers as to who is and isn't employable here.

    I'd suggest a better approach:
    - anyone who meets criminality, health and English standards can get a year's trial visa, like a working holiday visa but for any age group.
    - any permanent job that pays above average wages or is in an obvious shortage area like nursing or teaching (where average wages should be paid, but aren't) qualifies one for a work permit and residence after a year.

    That would remove much of the need for advisers.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Average wage or median wage? :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    OK... so the story actually seems to be Nat MP seems to be a pretty decent landlord.

    Depends whose reading the story init? If I was living in his flat, I don't think I would consider my landlord evicting me a decent chap. If one of the clients was reading the story, doubt they consider him a decent chap. For someone about to loose their job at said premises might not find him such a decent chap either.
    Article today in the Harold (was only glancing) where Tony (the vile) Ryall called pharmacists "underused tools" could be taken different ways also. I collected my prescription and imagined my pharmacist as a tool. Was about to ask him if he felt like a tool, then thought otherwise.:)

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

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Average wage or median wage?

    Mean I guess.

    (Ideally, i'd support a completely open border. However, in the present world, it's likely that employers would import cheap workers if we had no form of wage/skill floor. Also, it's not in the best interests of migrants to encourage them to come here when we haven't got good jobs for them).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Peter Ashby,

    And is there a word for the sin of pride in one's own comprehensive ignorance?

    I knew Mr Laws slightly at Uni, he was arrogantly leaving as I arrived and his arrogant ignorance was on fine display in the debating society. Part of the reason I gave it up as a bad joke early in the year. 'Twas ever thus.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report

  • Kerry Weston,

    Last night, TV3 late news devoted time to Tony Ryall's dress sense, particularly his predilection for colourful ties and mismatched shirts. To the point of interviewing some male fashionista about this worrying state of affairs - who got free advertising for his 3 shirts for $300 deal emblazoned on his shop window beside him.

    What can this mean? Can we trust Ryall more, or less, because of his ties? Is he under stress and getting dressed in the dark?

    Manawatu • Since Jan 2008 • 494 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    What can this mean? Can we trust Ryall more, or less, because of his ties? Is he under stress and getting dressed in the dark?

    I suppose it's altogether possible the Minister has more important things to concern himself with than what colour tie he is wearing. I didn't see the story, but clearly Campbell Live has decided serious journalism is old hat.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    Oops - just reread your post - you said late news. Sorry John Campbell...

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    To the point of interviewing some male fashionista about this worrying state of affairs - who got free advertising for his 3 shirts for $300 deal emblazoned on his shop window beside him.

    That was actually not-publicity-shy Cameron Brewer of the Newmarket Business Association. He'd probably agree to being interviewed naked if it got him on the telly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    What can this mean? Can we trust Ryall more, or less, because of his ties? Is he under stress and getting dressed in the dark?

    Hah, It's precisely ties and trusts that I 'm suspicious of. He has always worn over the top combinations of attire. No stress just bad dress?

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

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