Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: Key and the 'nesians

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  • Tom Beard,

    Who the heck planted this story given that the guy is from an American-based think-tank I can only guess.

    He goes on to say that if inefficient use of energy causes global warming ("contentiously", of course) then what are we worrying about? People's houses will be warmer and so they'll all be healthy.

    Sigh. Because we all know that climate change is all about making us nice and toasty.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • James Francis,

    James: originally I was more referring to a metaphorical winter of the political soul

    It's okay, I knew that, Paul. I was just trying one of those segue things. (Waits for applause. Not a sausage.)

    I spotted the word 'denier' and immediately (sadly) thought of stockings. I've just looked it up. A denier is a unit of weight for silk equal to 1.18 grammes. So that makes a climate change denier's argument lightweight?

    Sorry, I'm bored.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Good God man, have you looked out the window? It's one of those days in the capital and I have just had to remove shoes and socks*.

    You're right, it's much improved. Key must be hitting his stride.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    You have to be fair - Key may be responsible for us not getting our fibre yet, but I don't think we can blame him for whatever happens in Wellington when you take off your socks

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    but I don't think we can blame him for whatever happens in Wellington when you take off your socks

    and none of you will ever know, because there will be no-one to communicate the outcome.

    bring back the pony expresso

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    O hai - I made another one.

    The guy behind her (on her left) with the dark grey shirt, looks like a guy I know down here.

    In which case, I believe he's actually an Act activist.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • B Jones,

    Pony Expresso? Is that when people meet and exchange information at a café?

    I predict a rapid phasing out of Communications Advisers and a correspondingly rapid increase in Information Transmission Specialists, Stakeholder Liaison and Consultation Facilitators. They're nothing if not clever with words.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report

  • Ben Gracewood,

    There was a bit of interesting "Yes We Can" commentary about FttH on TV3 this morning.

    Or perhaps is it was more "Yes We Should"?

    Orkland • Since Nov 2006 • 168 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    The guy behind her (on her left) with the dark grey shirt, looks like a guy I know down here.

    In which case, I believe he's actually an Act activist.

    Unless she's moved in the last year or so, that photo would have been taken in Auckland somewhere.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Unless she's moved in the last year or so, that photo would have been taken in Auckland somewhere.

    It's varsity holidays, there aren't many students still left in Dunedin. I don't know where he's from, but I presume Act pulled a bunch of activists into Epsom to make sure that Rodney got in.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    It's varsity holidays, there aren't many students still left in Dunedin

    Roger that.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    er.. let's avoid the accidental double entendre & settle for 10-4

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • David Cormack,

    I'm a communications advis**o**r.

    With an O.

    Will I be safe from the cull?

    Suburbia, Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Will I be safe from the cull?

    depends what you mean by "safe".

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    Professor Howden-Chapman is internationally recognised for her research showing for the first time links between New Zealand's cold and thermally inadequate housing, health outcomes and energy use. She has authored 150 publications on this and other public health issues.

    That Key is thinking of scrapping insulation funding is criminal. That Helen Clark blocked the issue for 8 1/2 years, and then fought the Greens vigorously over the table on this issue in ETS negotiations is proof that she too is insane. To their credit, once they realised that the policy would be popular with low income potential Labour voters, and an issue to attack National with, they parroted it as their policy all along.

    New Zealanders leave because they can't stand the cold, wet horrible conditions, and seek somewhere warm and dry. A pity that place is not their house.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • David Cormack,

    depends what you mean by "safe".

    Well I'm hoping that they'll cull the public service comms team, then we can be rehired as contractors at twice the rate we were on.

    Yay business efficiency!

    Suburbia, Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    Will I be safe from the cull?

    No.

    they'll be hosing comms advisors out of your workplace in no time.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • David Cormack,

    No.

    they'll be hosing comms advisors out of your workplace in no time

    but i'm a necessary evil! I help people speak good.

    Suburbia, Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    but i'm a necessary evil!

    Lose the "necessary" part & I think we can find you a place in IRD.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • B Jones,

    I understood the going rate was three times what you were on. There used to be a flourishing private sector in Wellington providing comms consulting to govt departments, until the departments found out that in-house was cheaper.

    If that doesn't work out you could use your skillz to produce lovely "Will write press releases for food" signs printed in 2 colours on 250g Harvest Recycled Silk.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    i was just glad to make it past the guards loading public servants into railcars...

    An acquaintance of mine updated his Facebook status to say that he was being taken on a nice van ride with some fellow policy analysts. I am very worried.

    I keep picturing the Wellington of 2009 as a kind of Lovecraftian wasteland populated only by the insane, the deformed, and the ACT staffer. The weirdly untenanted state of the Thorndon shops is a harbinger of things to come, I tell you!

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report

  • John,

    Donna,
    Banksie is also , most importantly , cutting funds to sort out the combined stormwater/sewage network that they have lots of , so Aucklanders will be assured of pollution in the harbour for some years to come particularly the Eastern Beaches such as St Heliers.
    Okahu Bay used to be called Shit Bay before the Mangere Treatment plant was built.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2007 • 21 posts Report

  • Paul Litterick,

    Apparently, all the Private Office staff were called to a meeting on Monday and told they would all be out on Friday. They get three months paid, but they are still out in a cold, cold world.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report

  • Paul Litterick,

    There used to be a flourishing private sector in Wellington providing comms consulting to govt departments, until the departments found out that in-house was cheaper.

    I think we will soon find that, once again, out-sourcing is more Efficient. This does not mean that the job will be done more cheaply or better, but it will allow more private sector snouts to get into the trough.

    When I was working for the British MOD in Whitehall, we were afflicted by a Public Private Partnership, to rebuild our main building. At one stage, I was under pressure to find "revenue streams" for the Private Partner; that is, I was expected to hand over my section's work to a business so that they could make profit from the Partnership, regardless of whether they could do it better or cheaper than we could.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report

  • simon g,

    If Key was going to dump Keynes and follow Roger (and TINA), today was the day to do it. But ...

    The Treasury opened the books for incoming prime minister John Key today, and he was not greatly concerned by what he saw.

    After meeting Treasury secretary John Whitehead and senior officials, Mr Key told reporters the situation had deteriorated "a little bit" since the pre-election fiscal update.

    "They are more pessimistic but I wouldn't describe it as Armageddon," he said.

    "In broad terms I believe we're on exactly the right track. Our plans for a stimulus programme are right."

    (NZPA)

    So Labour & Cullen are off the hook. Should we be thanking Ruth Richardson (i.e. Fiscal Responsibility Act) for saving us from Roger's medicine?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

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