Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: It's not funny because it's our money

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  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Genter is addressing it now

    Quite - here she is from today's general debate.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Sacha,

    Quite – here she is from today’s general debate.

    And here is Brownlee with those caring thoughts for Cantabrians, none.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    Awe. (Genter clip).

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    From Sofie's Brownlee link,,,

    "We probably buy a lot of nails as well, you buy a lot of things," Brownlee said. .

    So, he bites his nail too?.

    Earlier this week, Fletcher Building's chief executive Jonathan Ling denied claims from the Council of Trade Unions that it's profiting from cutting rates for painters and plasterers by about 20 per cent to $19 a square meter.

    New Zealand's largest construction company said it is simply a matter of supply and demand, with the supply of people greater than the amount of work, while CTU president Helen Kelly has labeled it "an abuse of contracted labour."

    More greed, more workers than work in Christchurch my arse.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • webweaver, in reply to Sacha,

    Gosh - I think I have a girlcrush on Ms Genter - that general debate speech is really spot-on.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    You see one reason they're dragging the clearance/rebuild out? Keep wages down, make bigger profits.

    (For instance, if they blew up all the hazardous buildings a year ago, as they're doing with this one, most of the CBD could have been reopened.)

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

  • Kumara Republic,

    How did Fukushima handle its insurance claims, given it managed to rebuild relatively quickly despite the massive costs? Insurance gridlock seems to be the big bottleneck in ChCh.

    The City That Sued God, indeed.

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

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    Go Julie Anne ! In the first video she holds Brownlee to task over what is clearly an ideological road-building programme. My take on the RONS is that they are there to improve property values and lifestyle options for those that have the money to invest in lifestyle blocks.

    In the second video, she extends her herself into the territory of being a high-performing "Shadow Minister". This is exactly what the Greens need to prove we are ready to govern. I'm keen to see what else Julie Anne is going to deliver.

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to webweaver,

    perfectly understandable :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Mikaere Curtis,

    I expect great things. That's a nice feeling.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX,

    This is what the big guy really wanted to say and how he wanted to say it:

    Is that Lockwood Smith playing the pink pasiley telecaster at 1.18 or thereabouts - worth a look.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX,

    The most not funny jokes have to be the Pacific Rim free trade agreement with the US dictating NZ Law and the Judge to hear the Dot Com extradition stepping aside.

    at last week's NetHui conference, Judge Harvey cited a tweet by journalist Russell Brown: "We have met the enemy and he is [the] US."

    That referred to a quote by American cartoonist Walt Kelly - "We have met the enemy and he is us" - in an argument over international copyright. - NZ Newswire 18/07/2012

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Cameron Pitches,

    Gerry regularly gets a pasting now in question time, and rightly so. I'm hoping we can get to the bottom of this response pretty soon as well.

    Phil Twyford: Did his predecessor intervene on behalf of Infratil to pressure the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, and, subsequently, Auckland Transport, and the Land Transport New Zealand boards to allow the Snapper card to be rolled out in advance of the integrated ticketing system?

    Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: No, that is not my understanding. The member may want to take that up with Auckland Transport.

    Not exactly an outright denial that there hasn't been political interference in the integrated ticketing fiasco in Auckland... Phil Twyford probably has good reason to ask the Auditor-General to investigate.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 21 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to DexterX,

    the Judge

    Russell |is writing a post about that one, he says.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Sacha,

    Russell |is writing a post about that one, he says.

    Looking forward to it, because this is a plot that thickens so steadily that I suspect somebody's cornflour silo may have sprung a leak.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Looking forward to it, because this is a plot that thickens so steadily that I suspect somebody’s cornflour silo may have sprung a leak.

    I've been swigging cough syrup for the last three days and it still doesn't make any sense. Never a good sign.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Terry Baucher,

    That really is a terrific speech by Julie Ann Genter. Logical, constructive and fact based. Everything Brownlee isn't.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2008 • 91 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    You see one reason they’re dragging the clearance/rebuild out? Keep wages down, make bigger profits.

    Dragging the rebuild out increases their fees if it makes the work cost more. Keeping wages down, however, will reduce their "profits" since they're being paid a percentage-of-costs fee rather than getting a lump sump and doling it out with their fee being whatever margin remains.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Terry Baucher,

    Terry Baucher, about an hour ago

    That really is a terrific speech by Julie Ann Genter. Logical, constructive and fact based. Everything the current National government isn’t.

    There, fixed that for you.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    More greed, more workers than work in Christchurch my arse.

    Close family member is working for a EQR contractor. Work is not steady -- gaps of a week or two at times. He is not paid for down times, supplies his own tools, works on contract, self-employed so he covers all taxes, ACC etc. He's not getting rich, sometimes he's not getting by. When the rebuild of residential houses happens, work will happen more steadily. but the money will be in working long hours, not in the hourly rate.

    Peter Townsend of the CECC mentioned a couple of weeks ago as an aside in a news story that the requirement for workers could be as low as 7500, not the 20 or 30,000 often quoted.

    The rebuild is a decades-long project: in general the plan seems to be first under 100k repairs on TC1 and TC2 land, then rebuilding homes on good land, then in over five years repairs and rebuilds on more difficult land, meanwhile the CBD commercial reconstruction happening, but much more slowly.

    The CBD is not Christchurch , many seem to be assuming that the CBD is integral to people living here: it's not. We're here, working, living, going to school, we have all changed where and how we do the stuff of life. 80 per cent of the buildings in the CBD will come down: even if they are repairable the land underneath means the seismic work required makes demo a better option for many owners.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    You see one reason they’re dragging the clearance/rebuild out? Keep wages down, make bigger profits.

    (For instance, if they blew up all the hazardous buildings a year ago, as they’re doing with this one, most of the CBD could have been reopened.)

    I'm happy that the rebuild is slower than the council and pollies try to make out; there's more chance of better buildings and a better city. If it were all rebuilt now the place would be appalling -- insurers are not in the business of green, or pretty when it comes to rebuilds.

    As for the explosion option, the three males in the house are rapt: better than a Crusaders win apparently. We'll be watching.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe,

    Apologies to all for the threadjack: Christchurch is the only thing about which I know anything of general interest to comment on these days apart from cats and teenagers. I read the rest. I'll try to keep it to the two tales of city thread so youse in the rest of the world can avoid it.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Hebe,

    As for the explosion option, the three males in the house are rapt: better than a Crusaders win apparently. We'll be watching.

    Hopefully enjoying from a safe distance, whatever that might be. Hope to hell they know what they're doing, because sometimes they don't.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • mic weevil, in reply to Sacha,

    One of these days people will notice that the Greens are an exceptionally competent party.

    And it is certainly a breath of fresh air to watch people engaging in the parliamentary process in good faith.

    auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 52 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to mic weevil,

    Yep.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

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