Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Whankernui Factor

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  • Rich Lock,

    Rodney Hide, Rodney Hide, riding through the woods.
    Rodney Hide, Rodney Hide, and his band of hoods.
    They steal from the poor, to give to the rich.
    What a bitch, what a bitch, what a bitch.

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

  • Jake Pollock,

    There are, apparently, two interpretations of the badly-worded legislation. One says that the legislation is a return to the pre-lapsarian days of the 1867 Reform Act that McCarten talks about. The other says that land-owners are able to choose one ward or borough or whatever it is in which they own property, and vote in that. So, one vote, but it can be in the electorate of your choosing. Which makes a bit more sense, but is probably a pretty bad idea as well.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Does anyone have any thoughts on this Matt McCarten opinion piece in The Herald that suggests the next supercity bill will have a provision for landlords to have an extra vote for each property they own?

    I'm looking for the evidence - a reference to the bill or law. Without that, it's big scary smoke signals, I'd struggle to see even Hyde try to return voting rights to property owners only.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    It can't be true.

    If it was, the Herald would have banner headlines of "DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK".

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Mr Mark,

    (RICH LOCK):"... What a bitch, what a bitch, what a bitch."

    Reminds me of Monty Python's old "Dennis Moore" skit from the 1970s...."Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the Glen/ Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, with his band of men/ He steals from the poor, and gives to the rich/ Silly Bitch,... Silly Bitch,... Silly Bitch." At which point, Dennis Moore (played by John Cleese, riding a horse and in full highwayman gear), turns to the camera in shock and mouths "What th' ? !!!".

    Wellington • Since Dec 2009 • 128 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Ahem. Yes. Of course, I couldn't possibly comment on where my 'inspiration' came from until I've talked extensively with both my publisher and my legal team.

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

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I think that *all* NZ councils have ratepayer electors.

    However, the linked FAQ suggests that a single person/entity can only vote once for any council, but may vote for multiple community boards. So, if you have a business in the CBD and live in the Coromandel, you can vote for either council but not both? But is Rodney changing it so that the ANZ bank can have hundreds of votes for all the properties they've repossesed?

    Together with all the other measures that make up the Rodney-mander of course: FPP, huge election spending limits, tacked on rural areas, a separately elected "Lord" Mayor, many of the councils decisons made by appointees, etc...

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

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

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Oh, I'd forgotten limiting the number of councillors to an absurdly small number to force the LGC into setting boundaries that under-represent urban voters. Not to mention limiting the amount of scrutiny of the many unelected managers the new system creates.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Mr Mark,

    (RICH LOCK)

    No problem, Rich. A formal apology and agreement to buy back any unsold copies of your poem will do the trick.....Unless, of course, you wanna go for the full Witi defence and claim some sort of 'cutting-edge' innovation ?

    Something along the lines of: "So I think what my Rodney Hide poem is, is the the beginning of a new hybrid poem in which you have the problematics of acknowledgement of Monty Python material and inspirations.....I'm having to try and figure out creative ways of addressing all this and I think that what we will end up with is in fact a very, very exciting new approach to creating a framework to these new Rodney Hide/Dennis Moore hybrid poems.....and, I mean, what I really like about this whole controversy is that it has engaged me in issues of ownership of property..."

    Wellington • Since Dec 2009 • 128 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Idiot/Savant reminds us of a likely feature of absentee landlords voting in local govt elections:

    people will be disenfranchised in their own communities, outvoted by absentees with a strong interest in undermining the services they depend on in order to minimise their rates bills.

    Not clear how far this will go but it doesn't look pretty when put together with Hide's other moves to restrict Councils' incomes and scope of activities, or with Auckland's history of under-investing in our future to keep rates down today.

    And everyone has a swimming pool and tennis court in their own backyard, right?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Andre,

    "It can't be true. If it was, the Herald would have banner headlines of "DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK".

    Well they did publish McCarten... so they're covered (wink wink)

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report Reply

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