OnPoint by Keith Ng

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OnPoint: What Andrew Geddis Said, But Shorter and With More Swearing

235 Responses

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  • Sacha,

    I should also note that this case is about the interests of non-disabled family members. The disabled people involved fit society's stereotypes pretty comfortably, so the story gets more coverage, such as it is.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Graham Dunster,

    Draft Unitary Plan

    Um Draft

    It's a plan and it's going out for open, wide consultation. That it has problems is what is expected - that is the point of consultation - to identify problems that can then be fixed in the final plan.

    I do understand your confusion however, since most organisations seem to believe consultation is a formality where you pretend to accept input on a decision you've already made.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Withers,

    This is why I have never voted for National. They don’t understand democracy and never have. They talk about limiting state power…and then massively expand it. They are irrational, incoherent…and therefore incompetent.

    To be fair…so are their voters.

    It might be worth talking this up in Epsom and Ohariu-Belmont. I assume Peter Dunne and John Banks voted for it, too.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Sacha,

    It's quite complicated how the HRC process works. The IHC has been developing their case over education exclusion over many years, and has testimony from many families. But it has been stuck in the process for a year or so while the Human Rights Review Tribunal (which is in the Ministry of Justice) decides whether to put resources into the case. The new director, Robert Kee, is currently on a bit of a learning curve (I think he was impressed with Giovanni's story at a meeting I was at recently). But the Disability Commissioner in the Human Rights Commission, Paul Gibson, has spoken out against the limits of the Budget announcement.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Graham Dunster, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    My beef with the DAUP is that is has not had wide, or any in my experience, consultation. The planners, from my privilged Grey Lynn redoubt (which ajudged a slum when I moved her 24 years ago), seem to have created an intensification future without reference to local topography, history, culture or reality. They even use a map that is incorrect, probably in more ways than I can identify. Check out Grey Lynn Park and see that they show roads that don't exist and miss out others that do. If I and my suburb are to be used as the crosscheckers on this procedure then I would like to be certain that our responses are included. If the rest of the DAUP is as badly done as this area Auckland is in big trouble.

    If the national government operates this way too then we are really in a bad space.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2009 • 184 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Fooman,

    Any idea where and what? I know about various cases where a *state* governor or a colonial governor has vetoed something, either because it's ultra vires or simply because Britain (or Canada/Australia) didn't want it.

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

  • Kumara Republic,

    Not even the Ombudsman can do anything? If worst comes to worst, what possibility of going to the UN Human Rights Council or the World Court?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    You think a government that doesn't respect its own institutions is going to be worried about those ones? Now if the US or China threatened our trade or banking in any way..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    some of his attitudes are “of his age” but otherwise reasonable.

    As in the 'bring back Rob Muldoon' age? If so, some old dogs can't be taught new tricks.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Greg Wood, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    The parliamentary term would end, sure, but the government could just prevent any election from taking place and a new parliament being summoned.

    That is fucking scary talk. That is also the reason I broke out in a cold sweat on reading Smith’s Dream last year. And now the question: what can we do? What can one person, or all of us together, do, right now? How do we break this down into indigestible chunks for our mothers- and fathers-in-law? How do we get the Herald to scream about this across its front page?

    Now back in Aucktown • Since Dec 2006 • 86 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    You think a government that doesn’t respect its own institutions is going to be worried about those ones? Now if the US or China threatened our trade or banking in any way..

    We have to start somewhere. The Black Triangle Campaign in Britain offers a pointer in the right direction.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Graham Dunster,

    I recommend this latest and other posts on TransportBlog about the Unitary Plan. Relying on media coverage will give a rather slanted picture, though I certainly agree the communication effort about it has been poor.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    We are a very short way from Fiji in that sense. Beware McCully getting ideas..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Cecelia, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Even though disabled people make up about 20% of the population and the likelihood that everyone will probably either require care or be a carer sometime in their adult life, we have no academic departments focussed on disability policy.

    This is an important point. I'm a carer now for my husband who is sinking deeper and deeper into dementia. We are being helped by a variety of organisations both public and charity-based. They are all stretched - aged care is a growth area - but I've found them good so far. It breaks my heart to think that disabled children and their parents have to struggle more than I do for assistance, so much so that when my husband goes into care I hope to be able to use my teaching experience to help disabled children in some way.

    Yes, there should be academic departments devoted to this area.

    Hibiscus Coast • Since Apr 2008 • 559 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Withers, in reply to Sacha,

    Sacha: National's voters don't pay attention to any of this. A vast proportion of them wouldn't understand the constitutional issues here if you explained it slowly with few words and short sentences. They don't care.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Sacha,

    But closer to Italy or Greece. It's entirely possible that if and when the Chinese economy crashes, the NZ financial system is going to come under a lot of stress, and a government might feel justified in extraordinary measures to restore "stability".

    The CERA law could be seen as just a dry run in that context.

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

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Withers,

    I reckon some of the genuine conservatives who vote National would find this stuff troubling. And those cries of 'nanny state' about trivia like lightbulbs seemed to energise them.

    But there are plenty of others who can be mobilised to get out and vote, and to take action in the meantime to force a backdown if people genuinely want that enough. I doubt the leadership is there, frankly.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Keith Ng, in reply to Peter Graham,

    Does anyone know why the redacted parts couldn't be got by an OIA request?

    It's legally privileged - they don't have to provide it under the OIA.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 543 posts Report Reply

  • Euan Mason, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Tom, none of that works against a determined government. Parliament is sovereign and can override any previous legislation, including the 1689 Bill Of Rights.

    To illustrate what our unconstitution allows, you might think that there must be an election in 18 months and that's entrenched? Nah. The government could, in response to a 'crisis', pass a CERA-style measure allowing it to raise taxes and legislate by edict, prorogue the now redundant parliament and continue in office indefinitely. The parliamentary term would end, sure, but the government could just prevent any election from taking place and a new parliament being summoned.

    And the GCSB could let the PM know who to lock up in order to mute protest. Yeah, wonderful.

    Canterbury • Since Jul 2008 • 259 posts Report Reply

  • Lou Cyphre, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    The doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty/supremacy is precisely that, a doctrine. It's not enshrined in law. The Courts could, in a suitable case, actually strike down legislation as being unconstitutional. This is probably a suitable case. The issue then becomes, of course, whether there are any judges in NZ with the necessary cojones.....

    New Zealand • Since May 2013 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • James W,

    National's supporters don't care about the urgency thing. They voted for a Government to get things done, and they are. Democratic process is for pussies.

    Also, unless conservatives know someone who's in the position of caring for a disabled person, they don't care. So obviously the solution is to kneecap every National voter's child.

    Since Jul 2008 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Sacha,

    genuine conservatives who vote National would find this stuff troubling

    Yes. I’ll be writing to my MP (Amy Adams, who is/was a lawyer) to ask for an explanation.
    But. Chris Findlayson, for example, seems to have ‘found it troubling’. He concludes this limitation of rights is unjustified… However it would seem he has voted for it anyway.
    How does that work? I’m not relaxed about it.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    some of his attitudes are “of his age” but otherwise reasonable.

    As in the ‘bring back Rob Muldoon’ age?

    No. More along the lines of views I would describe as racist, yet he does not consider himself racist and when challenged he is willing to change his views but his defaults are defined by the era in which he grew up.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    The issue then becomes, of course, whether there are any judges in NZ with the necessary colonels…..

    The way things are going, edited for truth...

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

  • Graeme Edgeler, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    But it has been stuck in the process for a year or so while the Human Rights Review Tribunal (which is in the Ministry of Justice) decides whether to put resources into the case.

    I think you mean the Office of Human Rights Proceedings. And it's an independent office within the Human Rights Commission.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

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