when I start listening to question time, I will be beyond help

I consider it (fortunately infrequent) penance

Just as we are seeing in the House at the moment with the 2nd reading of the Waikato- Tainui Raupatu Claims(Waikato River) Settlement Bill.

The Tuhoe Urewera claim settlement should be interesting. Secession is always a juicy topic for discussion.

With due respect to those who might do this for self-betterment or as part of their job, when I start listening to question time, I will be beyond help.

I'd agree (being an avid watcher) that watching PTV can at times test ones patience, because when it's bad ,it's very…

Listening to Question Time should help you with that

With due respect to those who might do this for self-betterment or as part of their job, when I start listening to question time, I will be beyond help.

my sense of decorum is preventing me

Listening to Question Time should help you with that

Being ugly and useful does not prevent something having heritage values.

I so want to drop a former politician in this conversation,

I so want to drop a politician (heritage value or not) into the long drop.

Being ugly and useful does not prevent something having heritage values.

I so want to drop a former politician in this conversation, but my sense of decorum is preventing me. Carry on.

700. Meh.

But to call them heritage seems a real stretch?

I think we need to remember that the humble long drop loo is as much, if not more, part of our NZ heritage than any other building around the country. Being ugly and useful does not prevent something having heritage values.

But to call them heritage seems a real stretch?

According to heritage experts like the Historic Places Trust, they are. Working class heritage perhaps, but we haven't preserved much of that or anything else in this city.

If there's a proper planning process that decides to pull them down, I'm…

Totally agree about the cruise ship barrier to the view (the transparent ghost ship is hilarious). But I'm not really against the overall idea here – even the pulling down of the sheds, an architectural form that I quite like because…

Unless they can make them conveniently transparent as in the artist's impression.

Arrrrgh, those not be transparent, they be ghost! ships! With the legion demon crew they call the CitRats, captained by The Foul Beast that goes only by the name Rodney, and a cargo of lost! souls!

They say…

To say nothing of hurriedly knocking down more heritage buildings before integrated masterplanning is completed – because that respected urban…

Seems like a good-enough result for me. Necessary upgrade work gets done for any eventual permanent space, but Central Govt pays for their fancy tent.
The focus on this cruise ship terminal as a definite eventual outcome kinda disappoints though

Can we talk about the fact that the Penguins won last year yet?

Shush. Go back to your internet wireless radio thingy. How 1950s of you.

I had to have stern words with Giovanni last season. I download the game video, which takes a couple of days by the time I get to watch it.

Can we talk about the fact that the Penguins won last year yet?

I was under the impression there was a more or less routine stand-down period, but I am happy to be corrected.

I think the stand down is a couple of weeks. It gets longer if you receive a redundancy payment.

I protest! There are no spoilers in any of my posts for any of the four games played tonight!

Just laying down firm ground rules. I had to have stern words with Giovanni last season. I download the game video, which takes a couple of days by the time I…

Why would you have to wait 6 months? Immigration reasons? It's not the routine stand-down.

I was under the impression there was a more or less routine stand-down period, but I am happy to be corrected.

My reason for posting the life insurance stuff was just to point out that…

EI is largely for those who have been made redundant, or whose fixed-term contract has ended, as opposed to those who…

The maximum EI contribution paid by employees now is just over $730 per year.

So, that'll be almost $1000 a year out of my paycheque, then.

?

Also, for a bit of perspective, I pay around $1700-1800 p/a for a life insurance policy that pays out not only if I've…

Canada's budget watchdog says employment insurance premiums are going up, and by a lot.

The parliamentary budget office estimates that EI premiums paid by workers and employers will need to rise by the maximum allowable limit of 15 cents per $100 of insurable earnings to return…

I was expressing my surprise at the topic being raised at all! I agree that nothing has been spoiled.

Canadian EI was raised and, oddly enough, PAS-ers such as you and Kyle are the only NZ-based hockey fans I've come across. I takes my chances to talk hockey!

I assume you've yet to see it and are hiding from the results?

I only finished listening to the game myself. I really would not expect to have the result of a freaking NHL playoffs game spoiled in a Hard News thread! Hadyn's blog, I'd understand...

Looking forward to soccer scores when my Bs play Buffalo (even though I…

(Meanwhile, really exciting start to the playoffs!)

Just stop right there and zip it.

Though my team had a bad season, and didn't make it, I'm transferring my support to the penguins and looking forward to seeing Giovanni's Sens go down.

(Meanwhile, really exciting start to the playoffs!)

Sounds like it would make a good voluntary scheme, which the government might support in the…

I've no idea why NZTA would want to play this down, other than some fear that Mr Steven 'holiday highway or hell' Joyce will cancel future cycling projects.

Which is odd given that he's opening it, but this government is stranger than most.

The minister behaved himself very well in…

Memo to Mike Lee, who I heard on b this morning, and anyone else involved in RWC 2011: Please avoid saying that you'll be

down at Queen's Wharf in 2011 partying like it's 1999.

1999 + Rugby World Cup + NZ +…

I've no idea why NZTA would want to play this down, other than some fear that Mr Steven 'holiday highway or hell' Joyce will cancel future cycling projects.

Which is odd given that he's opening it, but this government is stranger than most.

The minister behaved himself very well in…

Hey Andin! Give me a recent Buddhist saying! Or even one of a modest vintage. I tire of these old Buddhist / Sufi / Daoist sayings.

Spikehegan, I can help you here – my sister runs one of humanitarian Jane Goodall's schools, and some of the students – none of…

what happens when the dole runs out?

I should have been a bit more nuanced. In Belgium where I lived, your dole was a (from memory) 60% of your wage for about 12 months. Then it dropped to the minimum dole (paid to people who have never worked and the…

Hey Andin! Give me a recent Buddhist saying! Or even one of a modest vintage. I tire of these old Buddhist / Sufi / Daoist sayings.

Paula Bennett is not a sacred cow.

By Nick Beams
12 April 2010

__ We can see more clearly the meaning of the fiscal crisis of the state. All government spending on social services, health, education etc. is, in the final analysis, a deduction from the surplus value available…

10:30am, at Nixon Park in Kingsland.

why is it impossible to find any official info about this event on the web? or am i using the Goooooooooooogle all wrongly?

For the simple reason that there isn't any official information.

I've no idea why NZTA would want to play this down,…

10:30am, at Nixon Park in Kingsland.

why is it impossible to find any official info about this event on the web? or am i using the Goooooooooooogle all wrongly?

Growing numbers of people were coming on to SB and IB with a mental illness. The increase is consistent with trends in other developed countries. Comparisons of the prevalence of mental illnesses over time are difficult to make but rates may have been rising.…

Is angry Russel back ready to smite the evil f@# who somehow seem to be running our country once more?

Mining national parks, cutting back national radio, privatising prisons, probably welfare, cutting work rights, raising GST to cut top tax rates, asailing ACC and biggest crime of all…

a situation that politicians (who are paid for, by us all, an exorbitant salary) have created.

That's what I think is the one thing entirely that I despise about this Government. No empathy.
Sue, if you ever make it to Auckland, I'll have you over for a drink or 2.…

You are very brave to expose yourself like that.

This beneficiary bashing makes me so sad and angry. There is no rational basis to it and I have experienced the "dream" of DPB and unemployment benefit up close and personal myself. Well, those that voted for National should…

Not everyone can work -as you so movingly tell; and when you are ill, longterm, life gets very…

There's definitely a story there. I do sometime feel that there are a lot of sick people who need to harden up a bit.

yes becuase being a sickness or invalids beneficiary is sooo much fun. Trust me it is not a ticket to great money, it is not an…

Whatever happened to just putting the elderly out on the ice

As long as it's cubed, and in a tall glass smothered in alcohol, no problem!

"...go with the floe..."

Yeah, well, some don't have the strength of mind
Others mistake piety for strength.
Old Buddhist saying.

"The prospectus was prepared by management, commented on by the auditors and solicitors and then accepted by the Companies Office. The document was sent to the trustee. None of these advised the board of any…

next up from Frau Paula: Investigating moving our undeserving poor to Scott Base, where winter will impartially deal with them as God intended.

At approx $1000 a day to keep someone at Scott Base – that'll save em heaps!
Whatever happened to just putting the elderly out on the ice,…

Sickness beneficiaries up 26,000 in the ten years to Dec 09. Invalids up 33,000. Unemployment down 95,000

A relative of mine suffering from severe schizophrenia was on the dole for years during the 90s, faithfully attending workshops on CV writing and applying for jobs although she was totally unemployable. In…

I'd donate – to a worthy cause – quite a bit to see Paula B et al swim in something unsavoury – we have suitable settling ponds just outside HK-

Next stop: It's The Economy, Stupid!

But perhaps I just want to see Paula Bennett tipped into horse pond.

What happens when your dole runs out?

Then you get starve, as befits the undeserving poor.

I haven't lived in Canada for 21 years so I'm not sure what's in place now, but back then you went on UIC benefits if you were unemployed, and when it ran out (which…

Christopher — I tried to email you, but perhaps had the wrong address. When and where is the NW motorway cycleway opening tomorrow? I'd like to get along!

Have emailed you the opening details, but it is on tomorrow (Thursday 15th) at 10.30am, at Nixon Park, just off Central Rd,…

When and where is the NW motorway cycleway opening tomorrow? I'd like to get along!

10:30am, at Nixon Park in Kingsland.

(I have the morning off work – see you there?)

What ever happened to social security?

The government wants to wash its hands of it.

This isn't just a cost-saving effort, or another play to give windfall tax cuts to the rich by fucking over the poor. This is an attempt by the government to abdicate responsibility for a core…

What ever happened to social security?

What happens when your dole runs out?

...you turn to crime cos prison is not a deterrent compared to living rough on the streets.

What happens when your dole runs out?

Then you get starve, as befits the undeserving poor.

next up from Frau Paula: Investigating moving our undeserving poor to Scott Base, where winter will impartially deal with them as God intended.

I echo Uroskin – EI…

the longer you have contributed to your schemes, the longer your dole lasts, plus the dole and your pension is a percentage of your last wage, not a flat pay out as in NZ

What happens when your dole runs out?

It sounds like a scheme that is pretty harsh…

Regards unemployment insurance, it's not jujst Canada that should be considered.

Yes, Charles Waldegrave made the same point this morning.

Fairer, perhaps. Expensive, certainly.

Interesting.

That was a dirty little secret of US welfare reform. In most of the places regarded as success stories, the government was paying for childcare…

One day we will realise that that those with the real expertise and wisdom are the consumers and those who live with the consequences of poor policy every day.

I once had a boss who reckoned we should build more malls so poor people have more places to go and…

There is an obvious challenge here,…

Society tends to treat the symptoms not the causes, and then shoots the messenger as well...

Demonise the beneficiaries, make a case for them being the bludgers and then every person who has effectively got poorer since the last election will look to blame the helpless instead of those who going to get rich…

I do sometime feel that there are a lot of sick people who need to harden up a bit.

That's brilliant! So insightful! Wait here while I get John Kirwan!

To stay on the Invalid's Benefit when you're not sick requires the connivance of two doctors, one of whom is…

There's definitely a story there.

But it might be one of an ageing population and the de-institutionalisation of the most needy.

http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/statistics/benefit/2009-national-benefit-factsheets.html

There's definitely a story there. I do sometime feel that there are a lot of sick people who need to harden up a…