Need any help? :-)

Thanks for the offer, but I prefer to do both the S and the M. That's about the only multi-tasking I should try and do on the way out the door. :)

Oh, shit. Please ignore my last par

I was just thinking... umm, no you've missed my point there Craig. [Click for page 8] Ah :)

Oooooh yes it does (ad infinitum).

Heh... I just though Rich didn't need — and, quite rightly, wouldn't have welcomed — the 'Budget for Dummies' slideshows. :)

Labour has released more National Party policy this election cycle, than they've released their own policy.

And that's rather silly hyperbole, Kyle. I…

No it doesn't.

Oooooh yes it does (ad infinitum).

But Labour really have lost that whole "National party aren't willing to tell us what their policy is" thing that they were running with a couple of months ago, by not having any out themselves.

Labour has released more National Party…

I think in some respects a complete Budget counts as fairly detailed policy

No it doesn't.

Labour — which has, as yet, released precisely zero policy

I think in some respects a complete Budget counts as fairly detailed policy, especially when the opposition is proposing to change it.

And offhand I think there are some other plan-to-do-going-forward that have built up.

Actual 'election policy' is a bit…

I don't see the connection. Merkins?

Wrong page – last option

"alteration of obsolete malkin, lower-class woman, mop, from Middle English; from Malkin, diminutive of the personal name Matilda."[citation needed]

No, Steve, I'm comparing low quality non-news with low quality non-news. I guess the difference between Brt's map of Tassie and an actual election policy is that the latter matters.

Is that the connection?
Sooo confused now.

A news article based on the reaction to National's policy of the sort of people canvassed in that story is... well, it's news .

For a less than glorious moment in media history, Britney Spears' twat — and the utter train wreck it was attached to was the biggest quote…

I was contrasting it in that sense with the page one story based on the reaction of some of the commentors in stuff's comments section. I feel the latter is dangerously close to the media saying something's now a public discussion because they say it's a public discussion.

Absolutely. I…

Labour's already made it abundantly clear that any new spending beyond what's already been announced will be paid for through deficit expenditure.

Care to give me a source for that, Matthew? Fifty million fell out of the sky this morning into David Cunliffe's lap, and apparently that came out of…

From here on in, if any party wants to increase spending they better have a clear and bullshit-free explanation about how it's going to be paid for. AFAIC, both National and Labour are getting an F, and don't have a lot a time left to improve their grade.

National hasn't…

Kris Gledhill, of Auckland University's law faculty, said the policy seemed to target a group of people unlikely to be released anyway.

Well that comment seems pretty likely to be a reaction to the actual policy, as Gledhill understands it, rather than a reaction to a summary provided by the…

A news article based on the reaction to National's policy of the sort of people canvassed in that story is... well, it's news .

For a less than glorious moment in media history, Britney Spears' twat — and the utter train wreck it was attached to was the biggest quote…

"were they commenting on the actual policy, or the reporter's gross misunderstanding?

Kris Gledhill, of Auckland University's law faculty, said the policy seemed to target a group of people unlikely to be released anyway.

Well that comment seems pretty likely to be a reaction to the actual policy, as…

Craig, yes Cullen's over-reached. But at least he's admitted that he's over-reached.

Remains to be seen, Matthew. When Labour starts releasing policy, let's just hope for some tough questions about where the money is coming from. David Cunliffe managed to "reallocate" fifty million today in response to the pretty horrible…

BTW, folks, am I the only person who thinks both National and Labour need to borrow David Cameron's spine

While I don't believe he's gone as far as Mr Cameron, Mr Key has at least acknowledged the change in economic cricumstances and is claiming they've dialled back the tax cut…

But the…

Corrections Association president Beven Hanlon, who represents prison guards, said the policy would make prisons unmanageably violent because inmates would no longer have the possibility of release.

"As soon as you take that glimmer of hope away, what else can you do to them? You create animals."

There is some…

Now that story is a valid news story about the reaction to National's policy announcment. That was on page two of the Dom Post today.

No. The Story began:

National says the "two strikes" plan, which denies parole to anyone convicted of two violent offences, would put an extra 572…

__Corrections Association president Beven Hanlon, who represents prison guards, said the policy would make prisons unmanageably violent because inmates would…

So anyway, I for one am glad that the NZ Herald is making good use of the internet and all it offers for the election campaign.

Would you vote for a man who seemed to have a penchant for little old ladies?

Unfortunately, Corrections could be described as a basket case, if that wasn't such a grotesque libel on baskets.

Meh. Corrections has to be near the top of the list of 'government departments that the public is least well-informed about'. Starting with parole, but correctional facilities not far behind.

Some of…

I know it’s your money. I know you want some of it back. And I want to give it to you. It’s one of the reasons I’m doing this job.…

As far as I'm aware, outside of some of the comments, there hasn't been a recent call for the reintroduction of the death penalty.

One of the topics that regularly comes up on the message boards of a site I frequent is reintroduction of capital punishment, and it does actually…

Oh, you clearly missed the Herald's 'Your Views' around the time of the South Auckland killings. That got really mediaeval, really quickly.

My producer was flicking through it and made a crack about sharia law. And the next page he clicked actually had someone proposing that thieves should have their…

I have simple desires. I wish every time there was a panel debate about a proposed policy like this they'd replace the guy from Sensible Sentencing with someone who's worked in Corrections.

Unfortunately, Corrections could be described as a basket case, if that wasn't such a grotesque libel on baskets.…

I wish some of these people would go see a prison & get some reality check that they aren't holiday camps.

I have simple desires. I wish every time there was a panel debate about a proposed policy like this they'd replace the guy from Sensible Sentencing with someone who's **worked…

I should be working. Instead I'm fixing your links:

Whack a poll

How about whack the alleged editor of the Herald until a couple of working neurons shake loose?

some cushy cell with underfloor heating and widescreen television.

I wish some of these people would go see a prison & get some reality check that they aren't holiday camps.

BTW – I worked for Corrections for years & the underfloor heating (pretty much hot water pipes sunk in concrete for the…

You were being ironic, some people aren't...

There's a cheery bunch of folks:

Oh, you clearly missed the Herald's 'Your Views' around the time of the South Auckland killings. That got really mediaeval, really quickly.

My producer was flicking through it and made a crack about sharia law. And the…

Are we all familiar with the number of people currently in prison for murders committed after they served time for an earlier murder?

I believe it's three.

According to this, Burton is the only one ever?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10432311
__Burton... is believed to be the first New Zealander to have been sentenced…

Whack a poll

You were being ironic, some people aren't...

There's a cheery bunch of folks:

"I would like to see our government reintroduce the death penalty. It's simply not good enough locking the grossest offenders up for life in some cushy cell with underfloor heating and widescreen television. The most serious crimes…

I want to say "what the fuck?"

You were being ironic, some people aren't...

How far up on the Allport scale would these fellas be? I'd estimate a 2.5.

Prison's too good for 'em. Prepare the miniature guillotine.

You were being ironic, some people aren't...

That's because most core public spending is on essential services like health, welfare and education. Most public…

you've got to wonder if the only way you last in Winston First is having any sense of irony, or shame, surgically excised.

Or a brave, Python-esque commitment to spreading ironic political humour whilst maintaining a straight face...

Take it up with Russell I/S, I was commenting on his going hyperbolic over the 2004 version of the same table.

I think "colourful" is a better description than hyperbolic ...

But the point stands: Prebble said NZ's govt spending as a proportion of GDP was almost the highest in…

I reckon he would have been much more effective had he incorporated some policy on preventative solutions as well. For all his twaddle on 'boot camps' in the past, he should know that there…

Take it up with Russell I/S, I was commenting on his going hyperbolic over the 2004 version of the same table.

you might be more wise taking on prebble on his making shit up.

That, and his album is freaking lovely....

Thought the first 2/3s or so was pretty good but it kind of tails off in the end like he didn't quite know how to finish it.

Based on figures from 2004? Try 2008 Annex Table 25.

That would be total, rather than core crown figures (the difference is explained well upthread). Try again.

Take it up with Russell I/S, I was commenting on his going hyperbolic over the 2004 version of the same table.

Yes, I got your point, Craig, and I agreed with it.

Good. :) Sometimes it's hard to tell, but you've got to wonder if the only way you last in Winston First is having any sense of irony, or shame, surgically excised.

I was making a joke to the same effect: i.e., that his mentality would vastly increase penalties for offenders like himself.

Cullen rains on Key's parade

Because, of course, the sun's a ball of butter for Cullen...

Prison's too good for 'em. Prepare the miniature guillotine.

My point, red, is that it wouldn't hurt Ron Mark to have a little think about how he was the beneficiary of exactly the kind of wooly-woofter "liberalism" he's now decrying.

a convicted statutory rapist calling me a soft cock.

Prison's too good for 'em. Prepare the miniature guillotine.

And someone tell the "upbeat Prime-Minister-in-waiting" (yuk) that this policy will go down a treat.

And what happens if you take the second derivative?

He mails you another copy of his book...

Based on figures from 2004? Try 2008 Annex Table 25.

That would be total, rather than core crown figures (the difference is explained well upthread). Try again.

Anyway, thanks to Tiki for getting in touch (and sending me a copy of his track!). I have a lot of respect for the way he does things.

That, and his album is freaking lovely.... Was listening to it on the weekend, and it'd make such an excellent live show.…

Either way it is emphatically not the second lowest in the OECD, and saying he is "raving, drooling out of his tiny mind wrong ..." on that basis strikes me as a little unfair.

You've found a sense in which Prebble might conceivably be right, and decided that must be…

Granted the numbers are small if…

So perhaps Prebble was referring to the rate of growth and was misquoted. Either way I think you owe him an apology.

Eh?

Prebble said "Government expenditure as a percent as GDP is now one of the highest in the OECD."

The table you link to (thanks, by the way)…

Either way I think you owe him an apology.

Alright, I'm sure we're all very sorry that Richard Prebble is drooling and has a tiny mind.

We're so fucking sorry.

I've often heard that said, but what statute is it in? I can't find any mention of photographs taken in a public place in the Copyright or Privacy Acts.

This is from that wonderful other source of law, case law. Anyone (to wit, Mr. Poole and myself – yes and…

Bingo! And Prebble is not just wrong, he's raving, drooling out of his tiny mind wrong ...

"New Zealand has [the ] second-lowest government spending in OECD"

Based on figures from 2004? Try 2008 Annex Table 25.

Not only has NZ government spending as a percentage of GDP gone from…

Short version: $6 billion deficit next year, no room for further spending, and we're in the red for the better part of a decade. Aren't you glad Dr Cullen saved for this rainy day?

Well, let's see if Labour puts out policy that says "no room for further spending". After…

Short version: $6 billion deficit next year, no room for further spending, and we're in the red for…

I've often heard that said, but what statute is it in? I can't find any mention of photographs taken in a public place in the Copyright or Privacy Acts.

That Clendon Feeny document is pretty good. As I said, it's a "technical" breach, meaning that to try and argue it…

I read that as suggesting that if there was no model release, both sides are on shaky ground, but the balance is probably that the filmed person would't win.

If the TV company signed a model release that stipulated a particular usage, then use outside that…

And I understand it's not retrospective in any respect.

Surely if that were the case they would have time to generate any extra prisoners by 2011?

Great Lyndon.
It follows then that if a person had to serve even three/five years, National would not have to front up with the…

Technically, that's misuse of your likeness. If you're identifiable, there should be a signed model release.

I've often heard that said, but what statute is it in? I can't find any mention of photographs taken in a public place in the Copyright or Privacy Acts.

And I understand it's not retrospective in any respect.

Surely if that were the case they would have time to generate any extra prisoners by 2011?

An excellent point. I suspect I've been misled on that point. Ignore criminal A in my above examples.

you're at a public even enjoying yourself and TVNZ cover the event and 10 years later you're on a Telecom commercial laughing it up so you ring Telecom who put you on to Saatchi's who tell you they bought the 'stock images' from TVNZ so as far as they're concerned…

Just listening to news now and golly, when Ron Mark takes his angry pills and starts foaming you don't need your dose of the Daily Show to get parody at its finest.

Then again, if I was John Key I'd be very happy hearing a convicted statutory rapist calling me…

In the end, I suspect the Police decided to charge the Otara liquor store owner on the basis of information that isn't (and shouldn't be) in the public domain, but will form the basis of a case that will be fully tested at trial — where the defendant will…

Are we all familiar with the number of people currently in prison for murders committed after they served time for an earlier murder?

I believe it's three.

According to the Herald, murderers imprisoned under the proposed legislation will need a new prison, costing $314 million.

Are the tories expecting a…

FWIW I am currently working off the 2008 OECD numbers here. If anybody fancied re-working them into that nice tidy format it would be gratefully received!

Of…

According to the Herald, murderers imprisoned under the proposed legislation will need a new prison, costing $314 million.

Yes, the extra prison is for everyone that's covered;

"people who commit a violent offence that earns them a prison sentence of five years or more – regardless of whether or not they…

An artist (for example) can't sell a work, then take a photograph of it, and publish that photograph, without the permission of the owner of the work.

That may be so, but it's more likely to be related to copyright in the frame than in the work itself. Easy to…

s52 and s53 of the Crimes Act, which provide for "defence of movable property" by way of "reasonable force", but require that the defender "does not strike or do bodily harm to" the offender. So beating someone with a hockey stick doesn't count.

That's the bit I was thinking of.…

Where would the Garth McVicars and Peter Lows of this world draw the line…

Ian: there may also be a question of proportionality. People are allowed to use reasonable force in defence of their lives or those of others. They're not allowed to use force to defend property, because we're Not Bloody Merkins.

From what the Police have said, some degree of force in…

Are we all familiar with the number of people currently in prison for murders committed after they served time for an earlier murder?

I believe it's three.

According to the Herald, murderers imprisoned under the proposed legislation will need a new prison, costing $314 million.

Are the tories expecting a…

I wish anyone good luck should they try and explore any copyright held by the Oxford Union.

And just to deal with this, the odds are that the answer is "none, whatsoever". Unless it was a scripted debate, and OLU wrote the scripts, they're simply a venue. A debate isn't…

Bingo! And Prebble is not just wrong, he's raving, drooling out of his tiny mind wrong ...

"New Zealand has [the ] second-lowest government spending in OECD"

That's a very uncharitable conclusion, Russell! Prebble obvious had some other OECD in mind, one consisting exclusively of such well-known countries as Friedmania,…

I've sent through a few photos of Bowenvale Track & Godley Head Track in Christchurch.

They have serious erosion problems along with cattle crossing the stream which goes through Christchurch polluting and silting the Heathcote River and the esturay.

Not up to loading them here as a comment.

Depends what you mean by "they made".

In this case, that they showed up to the debate with a mic and a tape recorder, and actually took down the audio signals themselves (or by way of an agent).

If they have a copy taken off a TV feed, then it…

Why are the police, no matter how "unlightly" they work, charging a person for protecting themselves, their family and their property?

We will doubtless find out once the case has been to court. Their reasons are sufficiently compelling to made a retired senior detective retract his earlier statements on the…

If a talk is taped by a media organisation, does the copyright sit with the media or the speaker. Do groups like the Oxford Union have their speakers sign a release that transfers the copyright?

Or is the "creative input" of turning up and getting the levels right enough to…

Are we all familiar with the number of people currently in prison for murders committed after they served time for an earlier murder? I believe it's three.

That would make it at least three innocent people dead that shouldn't be...

Why are the police, no matter how "unlightly" they work,…

Take for example an artwork. The artist paints it, they have copyright. Someone buys it, they have copyright. A photographer takes a photo of it, they have copyright. A book publishes the photo, they have copyright. All four of those people/organisations have copyrights over the version that appears in the…

Oh well, back to the day job...

Mr Brown, is similarity of name an important factor on your show when you are picking guests?

Not at all. Indeed, I can see it's going to make things tricky ...

Mr Brown, is similarity of name an important factor on your show when you are picking guests?

Just wondering…

OECD figures from Stats NZ.

Bingo! And Prebble is not just wrong, he's raving, drooling out of his tiny mind wrong ...

"New Zealand has [the ] second-lowest government spending in OECD"

Rich, want some coffee? Email me.

Are we all familiar with the number of people currently in prison for murders committed after they served time for an earlier murder?

I believe it's three.

The policy apparently is for violent offences with penalties of more than 5 years, 2nd time around.

This will affect 'about 100' people…

Are we all familiar with the number of people currently in prison for murders committed after they served time for an earlier murder?

I believe it's three.

I remember that some modelling was done in the mid-'90s by the Ministry of Justice in contemplation of Neeson's Degrees of Murder bill…

The topic is Fonterra — and whether its (ahem) sacred cow status in the media has been foreclosed by the milk scandal. We're looking at shit going into streams and…

Logically you'd think that Treasury should produce something, but it's considered to be too political. The difficulty is how you categorise public and private expenditure for comparative purposes: the classification can be argued to be Politically driven.

It's hellishly difficult, even within countries. There's a range of publications in Australia…

The surprising thing is how few offenders this will affect

Are we all familiar with the number of people currently in prison for murders committed after they served time for an earlier murder?

I believe it's three.

In my experience, the cat would have licked its arse then fallen asleep, while the dog gnawed through the mic cord. That would have been infinitely more informative.

I LOL'd.

This webpage reflects the policies and actions of Labour in government. Labour’s detailed policy for the next parliamentary term and beyond will be released closer to the election, and…

Did Cullen plan on spending 15.6% of GDP or was his planned spending percentage level based on previous GDP figures

not sure i could answer that, doubtless kiwiblog and the standard would have obviously divergent views.

what it indicates to me is the wisdom of the old saying, 'lies lies…

I know that there are always forecasts and budgets for the future, but it always seems that the media talking-head economics "experts" spend the majority of their air time explaining why things didn't happen as they were expected to.

Yes. Because it really undermines your authority when you have to…

You might as well have expected a cat and a dog to have a reasoned, open-minded and courteous discussion.

In my experience, the cat would have licked its arse then fallen asleep, while the dog gnawed through the mic cord. That would have been infinitely more informative.

However, current Labour Minister of Finance Michael Cullen has kept his spending even lower: 15.6%. Of course, he has actually spent more, because the economy has expanded.

This is where economics does my head in. Did Cullen plan on spending 15.6% of GDP or was his planned spending percentage level…

If a talk is taped by a media organisation, does the copyright sit with the media or the speaker. Do groups like the Oxford Union have their speakers sign a release that transfers the copyright?

Copyright for such things typically rests with multiple people and organisations.

Take for example an…

can anyone help with definitive, up-to-date numbers and any relevant commentary?

Information on the size of the NZ state is in any Budget; recent figures are here. Core crown expenditure was forecast to be a mere 31.8% in 2008, about the same level it was in 1997 (I can probably…

Whatever the rational questions to be asked about such a policy, it will play well, especially given that the verdict on one shocking murder case is likely to come down just before polling day.

I was talking to my father about this in Wellington airport this morning. He and my…

Or is the "creative input" of turning up and getting the levels right enough to…

Release Date Oct 1 2007

So it appears that Prebble is just pulling numbers out of his ass, but can anyone help with definitive, up-to-date numbers and any relevant commentary?

If it's any consolation, you're not alone in struggling to find stuff.

Logically you'd think that Treasury should produce something, but it's considered to be…

I am looking here only at central government current spending (which excludes social security transfers). We all know National’s Sir Robert Muldoon was a big spender; he outlaid 16.6% of GDP on education, health and the like. Labour’s Roger Douglas and David Caygill cut that back…

But did you like the track?

Yes!

Praising a muso for his PR skills is like praising a writer for his penmanship.

No, I mean for the whole way he does his art and owns his own stuff. Jeez, picky ...

if you spliced the DNA of McVicar and Peter Williams you still wouldn't come up with a decent half-wit.

I groaned when the interviewees were announced: how could it not have been a trainwreck? You might as well have expected a cat and a dog to have a reasoned, open-minded…

Anyway, thanks to Tiki for getting in touch (and sending me a copy of his track!). I have a lot of respect for the way he does things.

But did you like the track? Praising a muso for his PR skills is like praising a writer for his penmanship. Where…

So it appears that Prebble is just pulling numbers out of his ass, but can anyone help with definitive, up-to-date numbers and any relevant commentary?

no. but i did enjoy reading the brian easton column in listener where here argued that public service spending relative to GDP is lower now…

Um, where's my tequila salt? :) But, seriously, kudos to you for trying to make sense of that interview — as far as I can tell, if you spliced the DNA of McVicar and Peter Williams you still wouldn't come up with a decent half-wit.

Quite. Williams just sounded batty…

and according to Garth McVicar on Morning Report today, other parties will announce Sensible Sentencing Trust-approved policies before polling day

Um, where's my tequila salt? :) But, seriously, kudos to you for trying to make sense of that interview — as far as I can tell, if you spliced the…