For this Government there has only been one national disaster under its watch that has been deigned worthy of a speedy response with unlimited resources: South Canterbury Finance investors were immediately bailed out with $1.7bn (double the figure of all Treaty claims,…

Mr Harawira said the Prime Minister is “telling a pack of lies” in saying there is no link between the effects of a shipping disaster and deep-sea drilling.

“He's a bloody liar, quite frankly.…

Oh, wait...

I didn’t find that particularly reassuring at the time, and find it much less so now given what is happening off Tauranga. We know some smart and dedicated people, both professionals and volunteers, are working…

Note the framing of regulatory arrangements as "extra". The man shows little grasp of proper governance. Like most of his business chums, sadly for our economy.

On 13 April, Hekia Parata said:

__Maritime New Zealand is responsible for ensuring New Zealand is prepared for, and able to respond to, marine oil spills. The Marine…

Panel Beaters to the Rescue
Meanwhile, after shooting the rapids down Pike River and laying Christchurch to rest, Sub-Prime Minister John pours oil onto troubled waters to…

"The funding has been frozen at the same level it was when Labour left office. But that funding is not the operational funding that's paid for by…

The one-off John Key hour on RadioLive suited him perfectly – a place where he can say what he likes with guests fed to him by the Prime Minister's office.

On that radio show Key pronounced himself a great…

You mean we shouldn't wait for a report or have an enquiry or something before we do anything?. What a radical idea.

Why thank you. ;-)
My point was that Key is not a seasoned Politician and it shows, the gaffes, the playground phraseology and the rejection of facts does not look good in my book. Goff may be "Old Fashioned" but he is…

Apparently they don't work with…

If a new thread is not started as news develops, old ones get re-purposed. Or something.

Man, those are some good drugs you're on.

FFS, Paul, and if he hasn’t been briefed yet should he just pull something out of his arse?

Why would the PM go on Morning Report to talk…

It made him Minister of Finance. It just took 6 years longer than he'd hoped.

The first being someone from MNZ (I think) saying that they needed to establish if all the oil appearing around the striken ship was actually coming from said ship. That took about 24 hours or more.
Yes, I think emergency teams for…

You might want to ask how getting smacked around for charity worked for Bill English. :)

How the hell did we wind up here via Tauranga?

Free association that would make Herr Doktor Freud drop his…

This post opened with Bradbury's banning.

How the hell did we wind up here via Tauranga?

I suspect there's quite a few heads of government asking themselves"what the bugger was I thinking?" nowadays. :)

Plus one of the worst ANZ domestic air accidents (Fox Glacier) and a financial meltdown, still progressing...if I was superstitious I would say John Key attracts bad luck...but I'm not…

+1.

NZ's had a terrible time of late and any government, any PM, would be struggling just as much as the public.

I don't think Hamish…

Yes, heavy fuel oil. Which I gather is nastier than crude.

I believe he was expressing sympathy.

Hey, Hamish, thanks for leaving the Muslims, queers and godless liber-uhls out…

University of Otago Professor of Epidemiology Julian Crane, who is also the director of the Wellington Asthma, Allergy and Respiratory Group, said he expected any health risks related to the fuel to be minimal.

People with healthy respiratory systems would likely feel little effect…

I'd really like to see this one cleared up. I saw a doctor somewhere (can't find it anymore) say that breathing in the oil is extremely dangerous. What does Maritime NZ have…

And I’ll concede my comment could reasonably have been read that way, and that’s unfair to Goff,

Meanwhile, I wish I wasn’t watching Key and Goff waving their cocks at each other on One…

Their CEO was saying "we might hand them out" on the tv news a couple of nights ago. You'd think that would be an early part of the developed-beforehand plan for such predictable…

Crap luck to some extent, yes, but ironically also the inevitable legacy of previous bursts of free-market madness, putting short-term profit and convenience for lazy managers above broader long-term wellbeing.…

I concede the point to Craig, and give Goff yet another facepalm.

Perhaps where he is pictured leading by example, cleaning up in a business suit with no protective gear and (I'm confident in claiming) no training?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/rena-crisis/5776792/Visiting-politicians-dig-in

Masks are essential, apparently. MNZ should be spelling that out, rather than just saying "don't do it".

Look, I'm going to give you half a point for that. Spending five minutes with a spade doesn't make you look like you're helping to fix the situation; it makes you look like a craven opportunist, and not a very…

Is it? What is actually involved? It looks…

Which is a marginally more useful argument to have than bitching the Prime Minister for admitting he didn't know specific answers to…

I have low expectations of coffee, but very high ones of PMs at times of national crisis. I did not criticise him during the Pike River crisis, nor particularly during the earthquake, but they were both events for…

Yep, attempting to clean up without safety equipment and training is a bad idea. Just remind where Goff said that locals should do that.

Succinctly put, as always. I have to agree (people…

Well, shoulda woulda coulda and $4 bucks will buy you a coffee. But you know what, Paul, I bet Stephen Joyce wishes he wasn’t all over the media yesterday (over-)…

Craig, he should get briefed and inform the public at any and every opportunity, this isn't something that's developed overnight.

ETA:

I didn't hear him on the radio this morning, but I…

I didn't hear him on the radio this morning, but I did catch him on Checkpoint yesterday. I though he sounded very well-briefed about the grounding. Even to the point I found myself wondering who…

It would also have the benefit of pointedly showing who isn't there....not that I'm looking at anyone in particular, John.

FFS, Paul, and if he hasn’t been briefed yet should he just pull something out of his arse? I remember similar bitching after the second Christchurch Quake, and it was actually pretty important that people…

Sorry, added a reference to #eqnz for that reason. Pike River mine also similar, though less visible widespread impact as you say.

Be interesting to see how it plays with traditional right voters looking for decisive leadership.

Sure, but this is several orders of magnitude more serious no? The Mount's not my favourite spot, but I know it is for many. Thick black smelly oil, dying bird life, cordened off beaches and depressed…

I find it a damn less infuriating than (and you might like to go make a cup of tea before reading the rest of this, Paul) Clark’s near…

Based on polling, the usual misdirection worked a treat over the RWC opening night, as with #eqnz and other matters.

Not so much the national park desecration that was very…

I've often joked that Clayton Cosgrove should have got the role: he was the most vocal Labour MP in the first few months after Goff was chosen and Clark stood down.

I think that the choice was only ever between Goff and Maharey and after Maharey retired, I don't…

C/T isn't known as the Aussie Karl Rove for nothing.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2500087/the-prime-minister-responds-to-criticism-about-rena.asx

I suppose you could say that Goff is too old school for that sort of carry on, guess you have to have had years of experience in rorting people to acquire that Teflon® coating that…

Should someone with 42 years experience have learned how to outmanoeuvre CT by now? Discuss.

It was Simon Bridges to the left, Todd McClay to the right. Key was back in the middle again. Would have been good to hear from the Tauranga MP.
Meanwhile there was a diesel/ milk spill in Rotorua. where Todd McClay represents.

Lying again on TV3, on Campbell Live

There was some kind of downward-lipped dour faced mutt in the background. Reminded me of those rear window ornaments, popular a while back.
That nodded approvingly at each lie and poured visual scorn on the questioner.
Yeah I know who it was, I…

It's already been christened: Rena-gate.

[citation needed]
And that's my point, you will be hard pressed to find one that hasn't come from Nationals spinmeisters.
I would, in fact, say that it is the other…

I heard that from someone who inferred it while working for a major bank. A major one, mind.

Story on TV3 news tonight was telling – government decided a year ago not to buy a dedicated fast response vessel for oil spills. That's more active than just not being prepared.

Exactly, last time (2008) it was Clark they were targeting, this time it's Goff. I found it not that hard to pin down last time but this time it's more subtle. We…

Not a true Scotsman, then?

Bradford is a regular on Nine to Noon. JLM is right that on The Panel (weekdays, 4-5 pm) there are no Green voices among panellist (though occasionally, you'll get a phoner from 4:57-5:00).

Frankly, if RNZ is concerned about balance, they really need to…

Sue Bradford is a regular panellist.

You are closer than you think.
Public Relations, eg. Crosby Textor is the game invented by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays Edward Bernays
In…

A robust Wha?

ETA, I see PP has mentioned.

Geez , maybe he could be a little more like…

Oh well, I guess you get to meet a better class of person (people) that way. Grin.

I don’t believe anyone is saying anything to the contrary. But I’d respectfully suggestion RNZ also has a public obligation to include a range of voices that actually add some value to the marketplace of ideas.…

If RNZ is to be…

The Nats loathe Nat Rad, have done so for decades.

Griffin was appointed to oversee its demise. This is just the beginning.

Ministers and…

In my New Zealand, the whole rationale for the government owning radio and television networks is to supposedly do things that the Darwinian marketplace, red in tooth and claw, can’t. Or won’t. Perhaps I’m just a snotty pointy-headed elitist…

She was told it was an interview about GM policy…

You listened to our leader while naked? That's all kinds of wrong.

Oddly (or not) the main reason I remembered the SAS one is because I had a "Good Heavens, is that John Key being interviewed on Morning Report" moment while in the shower.

He was interviewed following the recent SAS death – 29 September?

Here's the link.

Here's another from 23 September on Pike River

You can apologise to Craig now.

Not surprising when there's a fiscal sword of Damocles hanging over RNZ.

Yeah, it sounds like he's learned from the experience…

Craig might've meant that; she did front that interview, she just thought it was about something else (if I've recalled this correctly). She might also have avoided Campbell for a time after that too, whether that was justified or not...

True. I missed it because I incorrectly assumed it was the previous post, which I'd already read.

Anyhow, good to see. Here's my advice, FWIW:

1. Stop shouting
2. Ditch the ghastly fake laughter
3. Take more care over…

She did that quite a…

Same. Last date when Key was interviewed live on RNZ Morning Report would do.

+1

Hard to disagree with Bradbury about how the ban happened, too.

I just don't think there was any direct pressure from the Government at all, and I say that as someone who clearly can't stand this Government and…

I don’t think anyone here…

How about Clark’s response to Hager’s GM book?

(And everyone knows hardly anyone ever comments on blogs…

Don't you get it, Sacha? Both Clark and Key have declined to appear on Morning Report on more-than-zero occasions.

The more I think about it, I lean towards "Good Fucking Riddance".

His horrible approach has probably sent far more "swingers" right than left.

I simply think you're wrong. I'm certain Clark will have refused an interview with NatRad and or some other major news outlet at various points in time, I'm simply saying she didn't do it on a regular basis and…

Well, there’s no point in continuing this since you’re convinced I’ve lied. Repeatedly. In extreme bad faith.

What, so Key *has* appeared on Morning Report? when?

And I'm out...

Actually, NBH, if you and Paul want to call me a liar please…

Craig, I'm not. I don't recall Clark avoiding media or being criticised for avoiding media. I don't think you're right.

By contrast, I do think Key has a clear strategy of (a) not recalling (b) not having the detail…

I agree Paul, and the idea that the previous government used to engage in behaviours like refusing…

No I don’t, Paul as I think you’re perfectly well aware.

so Key’s perfect 0% attendance record says what?

That you might want to qualify that statement so it's true?

I would really love to not become disillusioned with radio nz

Radio New Zealand received many complaints from listeners regarding Mr. Bradbury’s comments on The Panel during Afternoons with Jim Mora last Thursday.
The decision to withdraw Mr. Bradbury’s invitation to take part in future editions of The Panel was made by the programme’s Executive Producer immediately after…

so Key's perfect 0% attendance record says what?

I don't think that's correct Craig, I can't recall Clark dodging interviews on any significant issue but it was a while ago…

Good for preaching to the choir...but not persuasive to anyone else.

Balls – Clark was pretty damn good at being “unavailable for comment” when…

Although…

Agreed. I think his approach appeals only to those…

Is conveyed well enough at your own blog – and I quote your most recent post in full:

The common-sense nihilist political programme is that everyone in the world should become their own independent sovereign republic. And, while we're at it, we should all fuck off…

Now there's a slogan.

Compulsory philosophy of science FTW! :-)

If…

And, if I have my way, everyone will have to read it.

Muhahahaha.

Whoops, seem to…

Off-topic sure. Derail, really?

All I'm doing is putting forward my point of view and seeking a response. I don't think that's…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2S9rwyQkJE

fuelled by an effective opposition to help make the arguments, yes

Normally, the reason politicians would go on a show where they're going to be asked hard questions (apart from serving the electorate, lol) is because they know…

Well, except that as it's a philosophy thesis, some sentences might take several tweets...