Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie

Hebe

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:47:56 +1300

That photo says fucken heaps.
What a strong woman.

Onya Helen. If Gerry'n'Bob were really serious about sorting out the city they would install Helen Gatonyi in a position of power.

Joe Wylie

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:29:52 +1300

The former wannabe nemesis of lightbulb obsessives doesn't appear to have changed his ways. Thanks to secret high-tech methods employed in the CBD red zone, Christchurch central area commander Inspector Derek Erasmus is winning the war against real crime, namely the flagrant dissing of CCTV cameras:

[[http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5832434/Red-zone-intruders-pinpointed|CCTV cameras were used…

Steve Barnes

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:17:27 +1300

I wonder if it has a certain McMansion devleoper's fingerprints all over it.

I found this interesting, Capitalism at its finest, with a bit of help from the Government of course.
HOUSING: Up from the Potato Fields
Monday, July 03, 1950
To a man, Bill Levitt and all…

Kumara Republic

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:29:46 +1300

Gerry to the rescue, overriding urban planning to allow more old-style sprawling suburbs for 45,000 houses. Let the land-bankers and developers rejoice. Pork for Christmas.

I wonder if it has a certain McMansion devleoper's fingerprints all over it.

Sacha

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:05:53 +1300

Gerry to the rescue, overriding urban planning to allow more old-style sprawling suburbs for 45,000 houses. Let the land-bankers and developers rejoice. Pork for Christmas.

Steve Barnes

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:01:12 +1300

*I wonder if it is a piece of ironic commentary that these tours begin on November 5 – Guy Fawkes day
We used to call it "Firework Night" when I were a Kid...
Te Herald, on the other hand, would call it something like...
[[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby-world-cup-2011/news/article.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10759229 | **A huge fire and light…

Ian Dalziel

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:41:56 +1300

WhiteShake – dirty rock n roll...
I work on the edge of the cordon
That triggers a name for the inner city area
Cordon Blue – or too many cooks!

Just thinking

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:18:28 +1300

Ian, I work on the edge of the cordon. Our colour code is white. Meaning they won't say. They know as a block either side is green.
Our concrete columns go into silt.
Next shake what will happen?

Just thinking

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:55:29 +1300

Guy Fawkes or Parihaka invasion?
http://www.parihaka.com/About.aspx

Sofie Bribiesca

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:54:35 +1300

Good to see that the antiseptic of media

” the manager of the building has urged tenants not to talk to the media.”

And this gem
“CCHTT believes it is important for the process [that] an investigation is carried out without the involvement of the media”.
A tenant, who asked…

Ian Dalziel

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 08:01:17 +1300

Central City is NOT a Red Zone...
CERA goes into the bus tour business soon*, but I just wish they would stop referring to the central city demolition area as a 'Red Zone' – I don't believe anyone's land is being forcibly purchased and remediated/strengthened by the government, sure they…

Just thinking

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:34:49 +1300

If you wondered what these men look like:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5124667/Red-zone-work-pauses-for-fundraiser
Buzz March is considered one of the good guys, but fuck, where are we now?

Islander

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:23:01 +1300

And that monstering man needs to be brought to heel. Fucker.

Just thinking

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:16:21 +1300

That photo says fucken heaps.
What a strong woman.

Joe Wylie

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:11:46 +1300

To be fair I suspect Dean Kozanic has been voicing these sentiments since they were initially excluded, but photographers usually don't get a word in the papers, just a byline. I cynically think that it probably only now serves his masters' purposes to publicly air them, after trying all other…

Ian Dalziel

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:49:16 +1300

Salvage messiah...
it was looters wot got in first. Honest guv.
Looks like the 'looters' moved everything to the back of the building!
Very interesting body language in the photo that goes with this story...

Ian Dalziel

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:42:18 +1300

depressed photons...
To be fair I suspect Dean Kozanic has been voicing these sentiments since they were initially excluded, but photographers usually don't get a word in the papers, just a byline. I cynically think that it probably only now serves his masters' purposes to publicly air them, after trying…

Joe Wylie

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:32:40 +1300

Staff photographer, Dean Kozanic, has a great piece in the Press today about the exclusion of Media from the Chchch Central City Red Zone – makes many good points, methinks...
So he does, but I think we're entitled to wonder why he's waited until now to voice his frustration. The…

merc

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:14:11 +1300

The department has put about 200 households in contact with private landlords.
I hope they review their responses some day, http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5782843/2-84m-spent-on-scrapped-housing-scheme

Kumara Republic

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:18:58 +1300

Introducing Instant Manifest Destiny, the one-stop confiscation kit from CERA and Dooh Nibor Enterprises!

Your IMD kit contains:

– 1x tailor-made business suit
– 1x key to the latest model BMW 5-Series
– 1x fake MBA
– 20x Condemnation Notices with official seal – guaranteed to keep out any irritating…

Just thinking

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:44:22 +1300

Watched our city as infotaiment last night.
http://www.throng.co.nz/spca-rescue/spca-rescue-christchurch-earthquake-special-on-one

I'm too worn down to be mad that the SPCA, Police et al have used this as there PR/revenue drive focus.

Key point to remember USAR rescue dogs are just pets whose powers to assist are oversold like their powers to paint.…

Ian Dalziel

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:26:18 +1300

a broken record...
Not sure which thread to put this on...
Maybe we need some specific disaster threads to keep things all together?

Staff photographer, Dean Kozanic, has a great piece in the Press today about the exclusion of Media from the Chchch Central City Red Zone – makes many…

Sacha

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:36:04 +1300

turned up at a demo firm’s salvage yard

No doubt hoping no one would notice that inconvenient fact – and unlikely to be any consequences anyway with the porkmeister in charge.

Ian Dalziel

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:43:38 +1300

grassroots and groundswell...
...and was probably not the right sort
of activity for the Botanic Gardens.
What better place to plant the seeds of a revolution?
I suggested that they move it on down to the Council funded Fanzone for the private company IRB's Rugby World Cup, people are allowed…

Joe Wylie

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:17:59 +1300

Though missing red zone items turned up at a demo firm’s salvage yard, it wasn’t them, it was looters wot got in first. Honest guv.

Outside the red zone, Sunday’s protest against CERA’s woeful lack of communication with orange & white zone residents will go ahead in the botanic gardens, despite…

Just thinking

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:04:57 +1300

Purely conspiracy theory developed in the smoke and mirrors of CERA with the assistance of booze and half truths passed on from mates.

CERA who represent the Govt. interests in Christchurch, that being 60% of the below ground infrastructure, are aware that CCC 40% owner have put off a decade…

Sacha

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:23:59 +1300

CBD building owner Ben Kepes tells of what seems like demolition rorting.

Subsequent to the September earthquake, but prior to the February event, we had made the difficult decision to demolish our building. We actually obtained a quote from a demolition company for effecting the works for the sum of…

Joe Wylie

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:04:39 +1300

I can’t see waiting for JK to listen being on his mind right now and now is imperative.
Understood, which is why we can't simply wait. Key's only a politician, and there are more ways to bring influence to bear than the ballot box. Brownlee's been deliberately presented as an…

Sofie Bribiesca

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:57:22 +1300

My sadness and frustration stems from the damage done , physical and psychological and impending doom that will come with the new year. I can't see waiting for JK to listen being on his mind right now and now is imperative. I think Christchurch is a case study in how…

Joe Wylie

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:01:20 +1300

Well all I can say to Mike Coleman there is “Good luck on that front ” cos
Key hears exactly what he wants to and it generally is just his ego.
While the good wishes are appreciated, luck, in the form of an impending change of government, doesn't appear to…

Sofie Bribiesca

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:31:09 +1300

We need to challenge John Key to start hearing.
Well all I can say to Mike Coleman there is "Good luck on that front " cos
Key hears exactly what he wants to and it generally is just his ego.
Even Simon Power used an interesting choice of words…

Just thinking

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:13:02 +1300

Salvage rights were extinguished by Prince Gerry.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5763240/Demo-crew-didn-t-recover-personal-items

I am adverse to revolution but ....

Joe Wylie

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:07:32 +1300

Sorry Christchurch but it aint over 'til you get rid of Brownlee.
When your opponent presents insurmountable mass but little manoeuvrability, perhaps the best strategy is to go around rather than over.

While this might be better posted in Dr Haywood's marathon ongoing insurance woes thread, an excerpt from [[http://publicaddress.net/speaker/sharks-dine-out-on-christchurchs-red-zoners/|Mike…

Sofie Bribiesca

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:25:49 +1300

Sorry Christchurch but it aint over 'til you get rid of Brownlee. He firmly believes in their right to the spoils of the Natural Disaster. Like Vultures, carrion. Carry on Vultures.

Kumara Republic

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:38:36 +1300

I don’t understand how people are so dumb as to tolerate this until it hits them right in the face.

Big Lie politics, and the narrowing attention spans of society. Living to work to pay for said McMansions and 4WDs is one likely pull factor. And a likely push factor?…

Rich of Observationz

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:45:22 +1300

Democracy is supposed to provide that. Which is why Key & Brownlee got rid of it.

I don't understand how people are so dumb as to tolerate this until it hits them right in the face. Look at the Taurangans – staunch Tories, against government intervention in their McMansion and 4WD…

merc

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:10:33 +1300

Seems like there is a total lack of oversight and responsibility.

Rich of Observationz

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:04:37 +1300

Seems to me that demolishers have interesting clauses in their contracts:
– employee is entitled to steal anything they can carry
– employer is not to remove any loot the employee might have their eye on

Do other jobs have such terms and conditions? Apart from being a National Party…

merc

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:04:38 +1300

If those records appear in the wrong hands, there must be a case to answer. Govt. has a responsibility to collect and maintain private data securely, as do we.

Sacha

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:59:20 +1300

If you can't sell it, it's worthless. Just ask Gerry.

merc

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:53:52 +1300

I would have thought salvaging important public records to be a very high priority, this red zone has a wild west feel to it.

Kumara Republic

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:19:38 +1300

Looks as if Christchurch has its very own thieves’ market. Somehow I’m not expecting anyone involved to be given the perp walk for the media anytime soon.

It sounds like the polar opposite of Mugabeism if there's a name for it. A form of eminent domain but without the compensation.…

Joe Wylie

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:16:45 +1300

Looks as if Christchurch has its very own thieves' market. Somehow I'm not expecting anyone involved to be given the perp walk for the media anytime soon.

Just thinking

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:14:40 +1300

Trucks of salvage look a bit different to trucks of rubble.
Please remember this area is under martial law, policed by our military to keep the owners out.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5757572/Demolition-company-salvage-comes-under-fire

Islander

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:06:37 +1300

Not wrong, Just Thinking-

Ngati Tuahuriri are strong, and Rik & others *will* do something about it.
Unfortunately, Kai Tahu arnt having a huaitau this year, so wont be able to gauge
just how much strength the tribe will put behind them...

Just thinking

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:07:05 +1300

Islander, it struck me today the what an insult Gerry has made to Ngai Tahuriri and their Maori Reserve of Tuahiwi.
For those who don't know, this is north of Kaiapoi (outside of any noise contour), a reserve set aside for Ngai Tahu with the sale (issues still exist here)…

Islander

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:09:08 +1300

Who does Gerry think he is?
Who knows?
The suspicion is that he is a toy, a puppet, a muppet for bigger guys to play with-
I dont think he will ever come back to live in Chchch (except in a gated razor-wired 'community." And, good luck with that, mate-)

Kumara Republic

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:58:34 +1300

Now Gerry has over ruled decades of planning by letting Green Field development inside of the Christchurch International Airport noise envelope.

Land banking is rightly frowned upon – but airports are a justified exception. ChCh certainly doesn't need any further Suburbistanisation (sic) as it is.

Who does Gerry think he…

Just thinking

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:55:30 +1300

Now Gerry has over ruled decades of planning by letting Green Field development inside of the Christchurch International Airport noise envelope.
The key issues are noise & international.
Christchurch knows it's at the arse end of the international market place, & we have space a plenty.
As people sleep & vote, over time…

Joe Wylie

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:47:28 +1300

Gerry Brownlee has told red zone homeowners that they’re not to remove fittings before vacating their homes, as such things are considered part of the spoils of demolition. [[http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5191905/Homeowners-will-get-less-if-they-strip-properties|"It costs a minimum of $15,000 to $20,000 to demolish a house. The demolition contractors will expect to get some salvage out…

Just thinking

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:08:58 +1300

A tactic designed in part to halt demolition, is to call a building a crime scene because of looting. That salvage/looting is openly happening has a direct implication on the remaining insurace industry. As to demolish and claim for all content being destroyed is fraud.
Unless declared not to be…

Islander

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:21:14 +1300

When I first read this I thought, Hell, *someone* is going to have to do something now!
Because clearly 'emergency services *were* involved.'

Silence from teh Authoritays, just silence-

Just thinking

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:05:09 +1300

It's a pity you didn't read it.

The military charges (& the lack of them from the Commander) have not made the mainstream media.

Key to this are the out of town/country services and their actions. None of the local services are mentioned. Of course local police were assigned the city…

Sacha

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:59:19 +1300

We know there were looters – I linked to that Portobello story myself. The allegation that any were emergency services is new.

Just thinking

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:48:25 +1300

A couple of articles.

http://www.starcanterbury.co.nz/news/copper-dome-from-anz-bank-chambers-disappears/1058523/

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5039343/Looters-steal-the-kitchen-sink

Most importantly: http://portobelloantiques.blogspot.com/search/label/earthquake

Buildings demolished by mistake.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/4777427/Christchurch-earthquake-cordon-breach-essential

Russell Brown

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:57:19 +1300

If Doc Newbold had gone back for a sabbatical in the form of experience that once underpinned his academic credibility, he might have been better placed to provide some form of citation for his anecdotal allegations.

Newbold: "It was just a loose comment I made. I've got no evidence of…

Sacha

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:32:19 +1300

I got to sit in on some of his classes 20 years ago, and the cell cred was fading even then. Interesting angle though. Presumably informant networks would be relaying some knowledge to the boys in blue.

Joe Wylie

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:56:25 +1300

Good guess Sacha. To give the worthy Doctor his due, it’s encouraging that he seems to have taken the initiative on this. While his own once-vaunted first-hand cred in such matters is now a bit too distant to dine out on indefinitely, it might have helped Arie’s case if he’d…

Sacha

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:46:51 +1300

Chch always had an underground economy based around that. Do you reckon it's where the good Doctor is hearing about it? And why he'll never be able to name sources.

Joe Wylie

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:38:20 +1300

Sacha

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:24:00 +1300

Link to any coverage of or evidence for that claim?

Just thinking

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:14:14 +1300

Jackie, your heart is too kind to see fault in those who knew better. There was no need for masquerading. This was done in the open.

Jackie Clark

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 06:56:07 +1300

I would have said demolition works, ppl masquerading as "emergency personnel" etc. There's a lot of construction ppl around. Those wld be your culprits, I would guess.

Islander

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 23:07:13 +1300

Especially given the nature of the contents of some buildings – antique shop anyone?

Just thinking

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:24:27 +1300

That's a great part of the problem, who had control?
This is a very hairy beast, with multipal failures and abuses of power.
Buildings knocked down because of mistaken identity. I kid you not.
This is a mess and the best way to cover up the looting is to drop…

Sacha

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:15:29 +1300

all under watch and guard of the Police and Army

It's not like they had the resources to check every demolition truck that left the CBD. I reckon you're stretching unless you have some evidence the services were involved. Occam suggests a simpler target for suspicion.

Just thinking

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:01:37 +1300

This was and is wholesale looting, the Copper Dome off the old ANZ Bank is missing. That's got to be tons of copper and heaps of cash. Commercial kitchens were stolen, all under watch and guard of the Police and Army. How does a whole hotel in Cathedral Square get…

Islander

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:53:50 +1300

Demolition crews however?

(The other suggestions are bait-)

Jackie Clark

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:06:05 +1300

To be fair, JT, I think you'd need some pretty hard evidence to back that one up. Are they talking about demo workers? I find it very hard to believe that police, or fire personnel, or ambulance staff would be involved in looting.

Just thinking

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:48:42 +1300

"We have no information of any sort, other than rumour or innuendo, of any emergency service workers have been involved in any form of theft or burglary," said Christchurch police commander inspector Derek Erasmus.

Notice how this is a qualified disclaimer "Emergency Service Workers". He knows damn well wholesale looting…

chris

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:14:46 +1300

If I’d seen that AOS-swoop picture twenty years ago there’s no way I would’ve believed this could be the New Zealand of the future. Seriously, what happened? the Brazil production designer deserves full credit. I pity any paramilitary outfit lacking becoming dayware.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm0t99WmSCM

Just thinking

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:10:38 +1300

Another silencer on the guy in black pjs here too.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/5714004/Three-arrested-in-AOS-swoop

Why don't the Police want the shots fired to be heard?

This is new & I can only assume it comes from wanting to avoid questions of how many shots were fired. This leads to the question, where are all…

Sofie Bribiesca

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:05:12 +1300

(Love the ‘Tuhoe much’ by the by-)

The mist.... I will go there one day and say hello to them. What a stunning looking place. The privacy until of late.
Do know that silencers are desired for really different reasons, and reasons (for other reasons) are interesting military firearms history…

Islander

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:35:27 +1300

The fixed light and scope make sense, but a silencer. That’s just Tuhoe much.

Very interesting....I wonder whether that is standard issue for urban situations?
Anyone knowledgable willing to comment?

(Love the 'Tuhoe much' by the by-)

Just thinking

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:08:48 +1300

Can anyone explain why the cop in this photo has a silencer on his Bushmaster?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/5691442/Court-appearance-over-gang-shooting

The fixed light and scope make sense, but a silencer. That's just Tuhoe much.

Sacha

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:49:44 +1200

Been working in that space since 2003. Not a one-off effort. Wholesale issues.

Hilary Stace

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:30:39 +1200

What happened? Didn't a recent Listener say they failing first time at something was a good thing, rather than a disaster?

Sacha

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 09:40:54 +1200

Just needs someone entrepreneurial, enthusiastic and knowledgeable to initiate a project here.

Tried. No support. Had enough.

Hilary Stace

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 09:29:38 +1200

Pleased to see that an article on Aspiritech has made it to Stuff. It’s one of the companies that has been inspired by Danish Thorkil Sonne’s Specialisterne intitiative and now goal to employ 1 million autistic people worldwide in software testing by franchising this model.

There are a few…

Rob Stowell

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:45:43 +1200

Not aiming at derailment, just a little side-tracking: anyone heard of Aspiritech? It’s an organisation/company in Illinois that champions the unique concentration and detail-oriented strengths of its 15 employees, all of whom have been diagnosed with disorders on the autism spectrum.
More at TPM.

Just thinking

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:25:33 +1200

Well said.

Sacha

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:33:08 +1200

The one who advocated attacking opponents on your own weaknesses as well as theirs.

Sofie Bribiesca

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:21:15 +1200

And that smiley wavy hand job man wants to give them more powers to do as and when they please. Urgency is not the place to be eroding our civil rights, especially when law already exists to allow surveillance. Plus, Greg O'Connor should be fired for misleading the public.Hrrrumpf!…

Kumara Republic

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:18:47 +1200

Obviously a fan of Rove.

The good Rove or the bad Rove?

ChrisW

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:30:08 +1200

Obviously a case against the police for attempting to pervert the course of justice and wasting Police time would have much greater chances of success.

Sacha

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:44:00 +1200

Obviously a fan of Rove.

Russell Brown

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:34:13 +1200

The concerns included “whether their actions may have constituted an attempt to pervert the course of justice by placing undue pressure on the property owners to stop them acting as complainants and whether there was a potential breach of the rules of sub judice, as the matter was at that…

Sacha

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:31:04 +1200

Police had concerns over the actions of TVNZ Sunday staff and that was why they investigated the show, the spokesman said.

The concerns included "whether their actions may have constituted an attempt to pervert the course of justice by placing undue pressure on the property owners to stop them acting…

Hilary Stace

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:29:24 +1200

Hasn't quite finished. Here's the police report on the Sunday programme

Hilary Stace

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:04:33 +1200

Just before the Arie post fades away some good news. We finally have a Disability Commissioner, and such a great appointment in Paul Gibson. This role (in fact a whole disability commission) was something the disability sector asked for in the select committee on the quality and care of…

Just thinking

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:56:55 +1200

Absolutely

Russell Brown

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:03:13 +1200

Library? Archives New Zealand?

They have all those documents. Publishing them online, or detecting demand for them to be published online is a different matter.

I shall now jump on my perennial hobbyhorse about the need for a small, contestable fund for digitising heritage documents on demand. Giddy-up.

Rich of Observationz

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:21:29 +1200

Library? Archives New Zealand?

Kumara Republic

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:33:48 +1200

Out of 1.0 ?

If the Arthur Allan Thomas case is a 1.0 for police misconduct, then yes. And the Arie case is steadily rising – it could even surpass it with newly emerging evidence.

Russell Brown

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:05:36 +1200

I’ve been doing my bit for Thomas by hosting the Thomas Royal Commission report on the web for years. Until I recently uploaded it to Wikipedia it was the only copy available in cyberspace. What are you doing for Thomas?

Well, I bought a print copy in a second-hand bookshop…

Richard Christie

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:56:11 +1200

Out of 1.0 ?

Does it need to reach some sort of threshold score on your personal importance scale before people are justified in trying to rectify a wrong.

I've been doing my bit for Thomas by hosting the Thomas Royal Commission report on the web for years. Until I…

Sacha

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:49:33 +1200

Nice work, and good to see you here.

JordanTCarter

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:48:04 +1200

It's all so frigging predictable isn't it. sigh! I really hope that Len and the Council stick to their guns on this stuff.

Sacha

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:47:59 +1200

Snap

It has been a longstanding habit of the National Party to favour the developers who think they own Auckland. Whether it is holiday highways to boost land values in the North, or the constant expansion of the city limits to let farmers sell land for housing, the pattern is…

Hilary Stace

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:44:42 +1200

Good response to the Brian Rudman piece here from Jordan Carter about politicians squabbling over Auckland.

merc

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:39:38 +1200

Not for me, no.

Sacha

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:32:25 +1200

What, hearing the member from Albany getting misty-eyed over quarter-acre sections and carscarscars wasn't a clue?

merc

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:13:31 +1200

Sadly we can't know they are visionless hicks until...

Sacha

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:04:02 +1200

That's an interesting (non-Arie) story which must be campaigned on as a clear choice for voters. Do Aucklanders want more bland 1950s suburbs with long commutes to get anywhere, or a real city with more public transport, apartments and terraced housing as well?

Senior National Party ministers have long fought against…

Sacha

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:50:22 +1200

About that dodgy bail document being "investigated" we're told (emphasis added)..

There is now an inquiry being undertaken by the police prosecution section into the presentation of the bail document to the court.

Well that won't be a whitewash then. I'd assumed it would at least be an IPCA investigation.…

Kumara Republic

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:46:22 +1200

No wonder the police are continuing to lie and indulge in self serving obfuscation, they face serious questions and with serious consequences.

How many points would the Arie case be worth on the Arthur Alan Thomas Index? To me it’s currently looking about 0.8.

merc

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:34:44 +1200

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10748079
If they don't have an agenda then they just appear to be very very thick.

Sofie Bribiesca

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:28:16 +1200

Leopards, spots, dogs, tricks. Let's face it, to put business men in charge of a Town planning exercise, business men with property developer mates? Go figure. I said it somewhere before, the little peeps are mere fodder. The Demo guys are just doing what they always do, so I don't…

merc

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:54:26 +1200

That is chilling, for me it points to a profit driven outcome rather than a people one.

Sofie Bribiesca

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:31:08 +1200

As if on cue this article commenting on the Doughnut effect pops up today in the Herald.

Sofie Bribiesca

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:53:22 +1200

These commercial looters and those who oversaw it must be brought to justice. This is still going on and is into the millions. The copper dome of the old ANZ building and a few commercial kitchens is only naming those in the public domain.

Well Brownlee is the overlord. Demo…

Just thinking

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:12:48 +1200

Thanks for the link.

It's a shame the Judge mentioned below wasn't interviewed.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10709042

Once the word on looting got out I thought the guns would be on the street. But the cordon and the military stopped that.

Alas it didn't stop the looting and I'm not talking of this…

Sacha

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 22:20:13 +1200

Watch tonight's Sunday story (10 minute clip).

Richard Christie

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:50:27 +1200

Intentionally misleading the Court strikes at the heart of the judicial system.
What I watched on TVNZ tonight suggests that is exactly what NZ Police did in regard to the nonexistent "victim" and the necessity to keep Arie off the street in custody.
No wonder the police are continuing to…

Sacha

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:22:14 +1200

Yes, great work. The Inspector came across as a self-serving, dissembling scumbag who quite possibly believes that the Police themselves were the 'victims' that the initial prosecution document falsely claimed had opposed Arie's release on bail. Interviewer Janet McIntyre didn't let his attempts to lie about the timeline go unchallenged…

Hilary Stace

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +1200

Impressed with Sunday persisting with this story tonight and bringing all the threads together. What the Minister said and tried to retract, the poisonous Laws reaction, the sorry police saga including apparently creating a false document to keep Arie in jail, and fighting diversion. Good interviewing. Worth finding on TV…

johnno

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:45:21 +1200

Reports about the Inspector Dave Cliff interview on Sunday have reached my delicate little ears. It seems like he was (kindly) incredibly "on message" throughout the interview, or (more realistically) incredibly intransigent, and deliberately misleading. When asked about the possibility of diversion for Arie's first court appearance in March, he…

Islander

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 01:19:31 +1200

Right. In-deed.

Just thinking

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:27:57 +1200

Karma – a light blew and darkened the stairs to just-us that day.

Hilary Stace

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:06:16 +1200

Sunday on Sunday has update on Arie/Michael case.

Ross Mason

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:00:14 +1200

Haiku rules?
Why?
Conformity.

They autistic to form.

Sofie Bribiesca

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:29:07 +1200

Thanks Rich :)

Steve Barnes

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:08:54 +1200

thought we were going forward
back to the future
there is a tear in our time

Rich Lock

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:23:16 +1200

Will tonight, but it will
prob'ly be late. Gotta fly
now have a nice day

Sofie Bribiesca

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:39:18 +1200

Will tonight, but it will probably be late. , gotta fly now, have a nice day :)

Ian Dalziel

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:16:12 +1200

5/7/5...

winter stars wheel west
light years from blue mother earth
captain kirks shirt rips

Islander

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:32:41 +1200

I purely love haiku – and think it a fluid adaptable medium *provided we acknowledge it’s form*.

I mean, who’s going to write a free range sonnet?

Hey, I’m this side of the hill, facing a hard decision – but I’ve still got time to go get cheeses good friend-…

Sofie Bribiesca

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:15:57 +1200

Ta, I geddit now.

Islander

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:37:47 +1200

The only leaf-fall
here- kotukutuku leaves
-yellow, dying, dead

(whatever your whimsy, haiku has a *strict structure*: this one is correct & does a cross over from our autumn unto our coming spring.)

Steve Barnes

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:44:08 +1200

what a lying, weaselly [pre-emptively deleted]!

That's stunningly written [negating expletive]

Carol Stewart

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:31:03 +1200

Statistical claims
unsurprisingly
lack support

Did you, Bart, not know
Sixty-five percent of stats'r
Made up on the spot?

Sacha

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:26:32 +1200

But which mix?

That's what
caused me
pause

Rich Lock

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:12:57 +1200

Coldcut? But which mix?
For serene contemplation,
irresistable....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkHHdfPWj0w

Sacha

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:09:00 +1200

A clip would be
worth seventeen
syllables

Sofie Bribiesca

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:49:11 +1200

The leaves came fluttering down,
seen through cold frosts of the morning light,
hoping to miss the snow

Bart Janssen

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:45:16 +1200

Most haiku are about Autumn

Statistical claims
unsurprisingly
lack support

Rich Lock

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:25:24 +1200

I miss you most of
all, my darling, when autumm leaves
start to fall. Not right? :)

merc

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:00:28 +1200

Most haiku are about Autumn.

Rich Lock

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:50:51 +1200

The most often quoted haiku did not follow haiku form.

A clue is given,
but no link. Deeper knowledge
from our own efforts?

Hilary Stace

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:25:23 +1200

Disabled toilet
still working

sudden cold spell –
cupboards full of warm air

(examples of two line haiku(s) from Green Tea by Jeanette Stace)

And re the Arie stuff, thanks for the nice comments. I think this is an area of public policy where we are steadily progressing, even though…

Sacha

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:25:31 +1200

Potentially?

At best, I'd read that as misinterpreting Arie's demeanour under stress. Easy enough in the initial arrest situation but should have no influence on Police actions after that.

At worst, this character assassination in passing betrays the attitude of top brass at having to let this go. Wounded pride,…

Rich Lock

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:20:15 +1200

How many hipsters does it take to change a light bulb?

I knew this number before everyone else did. It's quite an obscure number, I think I have it on vinyl somewhere.

Heather Gaye

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:55:17 +1200

Q: How did the hipster burn his mouth?

A: He was eating pizza before it was cool.

Jackie Clark

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:41:43 +1200

I know quite a number of police officers. Fine people too, most of them. But like in any profession, there are idiots. Unfortunately, unlike most professions, the power they wield can override common sense, and as in Arie's case, human decency.

Kracklite

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:31:07 +1200

Yes, I'm glad to see that reported in the general media. Their bullshit needs to be exposed promptly and clearly.

"and potentially drugs" Potentially? Jesus Henry Fucking Kerrrr-ist, what a lying, weaselly [pre-emptively deleted]!

Ben:

Yup, I know of plenty of people who aren’t autistic, who have been roughed up…

Sacha

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:09:15 +1200

For the record, Arie's lawyer denies Police claims of intoxication. And their bollocks about diversion.

Kracklite

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:00:12 +1200

Brilliant!

Have you seen this?

http://www.elsewhere.org/pomo/

Oh, and...

Q: How many hipsters does it take to change a light bulb?

A: It's a very obscure number; you wouldn't have heard of it.

Sacha

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:50:19 +1200

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit
Nah you can do better than that these days.

Kracklite

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:37:30 +1200

I can pad it out beyond that with compounded qualifiers, or...

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure…

Sacha

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:52:14 +1200

I'm sure that was less than 140 characters :)

Kracklite

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:49:23 +1200

Prepare to be disappointed. The very concept of making a concise and focused statement is entirely against my nature.

...um, maybe I just did that? In which case I wish to subvert it by adding an unnecessary qualifying statement.

And I don't wish to undermine or distract from my earlier…

Sacha

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:33:36 +1200

I'd love to see you on Twitter, sir. Seriously (pachydermously, even).

Kracklite

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:24:48 +1200

Yes, further kudos to Hilary.

And me? I might as well use this big megaphone I’ve got.

I believe “Bomber” Bradbury said “Foghorn”? :)

I’m afraid that I’ve been highly sceptical of MPs who’ve been perhaps sincerely concerned about people or issues, but all too eager to throw them under…

merc

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:30:20 +1200

Prosody http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosody_(poetry), can also tie in with intonation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intonation_(linguistics) which may tie in to the speech of a person with Asperger’s syndrome.
Just to link some stuff.

Rich Lock

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:27:35 +1200

It's not a trivial problem.

Yes. I just found Merc's comment somewhat cryptic, and I wanted to pick that up and riff on it a little bit.

Steve Barnes

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:02:45 +1200

Haiku, Shmiku.
It's all boody
Greek
to me.

Steve Barnes

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:54:07 +1200

Once they get it in their heads that you’re a villain, it becomes us-vs-them.

Villain=not a Police Officer

merc

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:45:38 +1200

The most often quoted haiku did not follow haiku form.
Prison statistics 2010 http://www.corrections.govt.nz/about-us/facts_and_statistics/prisons/march_2010.html
I am trying to find inmate literacy rates, http://www.corrections.govt.nz/cgi-bin/htsearch

Rich Lock

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:44:16 +1200

Although, in English
apparently, right form
not strictly needed.

Rich Lock

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:39:59 +1200

Can you have,
Two line,
Haikus?

If merc's original
line is included, my form
is five-seven-five

BenWilson

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:32:23 +1200

Ponder this, we should.

It's not a trivial problem. I don't think putting it down to pure jealousy of youth is really on the money. A lot of it comes to a real disconnect in thinking processes. As adults, I mostly see a world for kids which is much easier,…

Ross Mason

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:31:17 +1200

Can you have,
Two line,
Haikus?

Rich Lock

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:19:37 +1200

Build prisons, fill them

Why do we hate young people?

Ponder this, we should.

Bart Janssen

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:14:38 +1200

not as consciously awful as what senior officers did later

Yeah this is the bit that worries me the most.

Bart Janssen

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:13:01 +1200

which is also not just a matter of handing around a few factsheets

Yeah I don't believe it will be that simple either. I don't think changing attitudes is easy. But I really do think at least at the very front line it was mostly just complete ignorance, they simply…

merc

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:45:33 +1200

Build prisons, fill them.

Sacha

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:31:00 +1200

Ignorance seems to have been the problem

From the higher-ups rather than the original arresting officers, really – and a fair degree of knowing pig-headedness. Needs more than a brochure to fix that. Attitudes, processes and behaviours must improve across the whole Police force, which is also not just a…

BenWilson

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:26:11 +1200

How about you stop dealing out summary justice and treat all your suspects with humanity and respect, regardless of who they are or the alleged offence?

Yup, I know of plenty of people who aren't autistic, who have been roughed up badly by the cops, and then persecuted for years…

Russell Brown

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:13:11 +1200

As I said going on a hunt to find the particular officers involved might be fun but it isn’t likely to engender any kind of willingness for the police to learn from their errors.

Given the quite highly-charged nature of the discussion here over the weekend, it’s worth noting that…

Rich Lock

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:50:05 +1200

I'm open to being persuaded that an internal police witch-hunt may not be the best way to proceed.

However, surely the better point would be 'you're the frontline guardians of law and order. How about you stop dealing out summary justice and treat all your suspects with humanity and respect,…

Bart Janssen

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:37:25 +1200

Much as I'd personally like to smack someone over the back of the head for what has happened in this case, I think there is probably a good case for proceeding in a measured careful way from here.

The aim surely is to create understanding and awareness in the police…

Russell Brown

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:17:17 +1200

David Clarkson has updated his story on Christchurch Court News:

The case was heading for trial and came to a pre-trial session before Judge Stephen Erber at the Christchurch District Court sitting in the Maori Land Court today. Judge Erber was one of the judges who had earlier advised the…

Russell Brown

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:58:02 +1200

Not to overlook others, but all of you and especially Russell and Hilary, deserve to be heartily congratulated for your unrelenting and passionate efforts here on this case.

It's probably fairly obvious that I'm motivated by the knowledge that my boys are at the same risks out there. I'm feeling…

Rich Lock

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:50:52 +1200

Not to overlook others, but all of you and especially Russell and Hilary, deserve to be heartily congratulated for your unrelenting and passionate efforts here on this case .

I'll +1 that.

Hilary Stace

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:00:50 +1200

Thanks 'Chris' but the real work came from the aspie self advocacy sector itself. They were on to it as soon as the story broke, found the first lawyer, set up a Justice for Arie-Smith Voorkamp page that has been very active and has gathered support internationally, went to the…

"chris"

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 03:49:50 +1200

Not to overlook others, but all of you and especially Russell and Hilary, deserve to be heartily congratulated for your unrelenting and passionate efforts here on this case . It's empowering when this technology helps to make the world a better place, and that's only possible when people are prepared…

Richard Christie

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:36:39 +1200

here's the police press release http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/29154.html

arseholes

Phil Lyth

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 22:15:56 +1200

I would like to know who the psychiatrist was who wrote the report.

The Official Information Act is your friend. Wriggle as they may, the Police cannot avoid responding to a request.

Hilary Stace

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:47:58 +1200

I would like to know who the psychiatrist was who wrote the report. Forensic psychiatrists with detailed knowledge of autism are very rare in NZ. Perhaps that was a reason for delay – they had to import one?

Russell Brown

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:56:16 +1200

That was his original lawyer. Do you mean him or the current one, Jonathan Eaton?

No, this was really early on.

Sacha

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:54:42 +1200

When Simon Buckingham took up the case

That was his original lawyer. Do you mean him or the current one, Jonathan Eaton?

Hilary Stace

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:45:58 +1200

Meanwhile, politely and graciously, Arie and Michael thank people for their support.

Russell Brown

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:08:37 +1200

I’d welcome clarity about how much of this was disclosed to the prosecution, and when. Whether it would be understood or not is another matter (see previous comment).

When Simon Buckingham took up the case, there was a meeting he described as “sensitively” handled, and apparently Arie’s treatment improved for…

Sacha

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:59:28 +1200

More from RadioNZ Checkpoint – Arie's lawyer disputes Police version of events (4 mins, listening options).

Sacha

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:38:53 +1200

a partner who acted as his caregiver

I'd welcome clarity about how much of this was disclosed to the prosecution, and when. Whether it would be understood or not is another matter (see previous comment).

Sacha

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:36:13 +1200

Hopefully, someone will see fit to finally apologise fully and compensate.

I'd like to see them order proper training about autism spectrum for all their frontline and senior staff.

Sacha

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:33:37 +1200

A black eye tends to be a punch to the nose or an elbow in the face as one walks past, but not really a bang on the side of ones face.

I can imagine having your face pushed into a kerb or suchlike might do the trick too. Easy…

Sacha

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:32:38 +1200

Police spokesperson tells Radio NZ Checkpoint that delay in psych report was the court's fault but claims no knowledge about timing details (4 mins, various listening options – thanks so much Mr Hulse).

Sofie Bribiesca

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:43:22 +1200

Yeah, that’s linked above.
Ah, suspected it may have been upthread and I want to know while we're at it, Arie had a black eye. How did they explain that away? A black eye tends to be a punch to the nose or an elbow in the face as one…

Russell Brown

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:37:35 +1200

Because there might be a defence, not because there was a defence.

And, while having reason to believe there was a defence, they secured and maintained a non-association order between Arie and a partner who acted as his caregiver.

I guess the point is, do you believe the police acted…

Craig Ranapia

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:31:45 +1200

Yeah, that’s linked above. It’s the one where the police explain that it took them six months to establish there was a defence of diminished responsibility, during which time they had to repeatedly refuse diversion because – wait for it – there was a defence of diminished responsibility.

Kafka, call…

Graeme Edgeler

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:30:43 +1200

It’s the one where the police explain that it took them six months to establish there was a defence of diminished responsibility, during which time they had to repeatedly refuse diversion because – wait for it – there was a defence of diminished responsibility.

Because there might be a defence,…

Bart Janssen

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:29:16 +1200

Seems to me they simply got it very wrong at the time. Which given the time is something that humans can be expected to do, even if we hope our police are better than that.

And then could not dredge up the strength of character to admit they made a…

Russell Brown

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:23:03 +1200

Herald again

Craig Ranapia

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:17:00 +1200

Honestly, just how hard is it for these people to put out a politely-worded ‘yeah, we totally fucked up this whole thing’?

Nigh on impossible, really. And while the O'Connor-McVicar axis of stupid will dismiss that as 'cop bashing', it really is well past time for usual suspects to ask…

Sofie Bribiesca

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:16:47 +1200

Herald again

Sacha

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:12:24 +1200

So if he wasn't impaired he couldn't be granted diversion?

And if he was impaired he couldn't be granted diversion?

Arie in Wonderland

Graeme Edgeler

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:11:14 +1200

They were astounded by the police’s actions.

As are we all. I was simply responding to your request for an explanation about diversion.

Graeme Edgeler

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:08:38 +1200

When they are partners and live together?

On occasion, yes.

Russell Brown

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:03:09 +1200

Well, yes. If the police at the time didn’t think he was impaired in a manner likely to provide a defence, why would they divert? Diversion would be very very unlikely for a burglary charge.

So if he wasn't impaired he couldn't be granted diversion?

And if he was impaired…