Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Still not all that Super?

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  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    the more I think about the story the thicker the stench of bullshit becomes.

    Yeah I agree Craig. Did Banks feel the need to touch base with "the people" once realising his ship might have run aground? I am starting to think it looks like the casino too. Bit of red paint... or even central Police Station.Can you imagine what the views would be like if the windows weren't frosted? Prime real estate,I tell you!
    Normanby Rd of which the entrance to the Mount is situated has been gentrified, with C.A.C now a desirable restaurant and Sabato across the road just up,to the gym and design stores before the stroll up to the park and Mt Eden itself. I reckon I could sell it as an apartment block. :)
    Of course the follow up must say it's all Labour's fault. A story to run along side key's accusations of muckraking. By golly, I am starting to believe we have a right wing newspaper.

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

  • Sacha,

    Got to love the opportunistic hand-wringing when the super-prison has been known about for ages. You'd almost think there was an election coming up.

    Like rail corridors, the govt-owned property in question is outside some standard planning controls - like height in this case, it seems. As the Herald story notes, the Council could not appeal the consent once the independent commissioners had granted it.

    It's just another example of our warped planning laws that have contributed to the cheap ugliness and disrespect for surroundings that have characterised much of central Auckland's development for decades. That's a problem that straddles the political spectrum, as do the answers.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    If the reaction of the people I know was any guide - a quizzical "but HE has been the mayor for six-seven of the last ten years??" - Banks has scored an almighty own goal grandstanding on Mt. Eden prison.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    But it fits the narrative of standing up for Auckland against bloody-minded government interference.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    But it fits the narrative of standing up for Auckland against bloody-minded government interference.

    It might seem that way if you are an Aaron Bhatnagar who fancies himself as a fiendishly clever Mordor McCully clone, plotting subtle combinations that will undoutably lead to Bankie's re-election and the end of whaling in the Southern Ocean.


    Most people just blame the incumbent, and think killing whales is a bad idea.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Bank's absurbly hyerbolic rhetoric is just plain annoying.

    I mean, he uses the same boilerplate speech for everything - here is talking about a discarded Trumpet wrapper left on the motorway verge:

    “an literring monstrosity”.

    “For people coming into the city, it says: ‘Welcome to the aspirational capital of New Zealand, where you dump litter … and it’s great’,”

    “It just should not have happened and I railed against it before it was thown onto the ground.” “What that wrapper rising from the grass does is clearly remind people travelling through Spaghetti Junction in particular that there are litterers in the neighbourhood.”


    I heard on the news that Manakau city council had voted to accept the government's leaky home package. Len Brown was then quoted saying he wanted to make sure no builder responsible for the mess profited from the repair work. To my mind, this much more accurately captures the anger and sense of frustrated resentment and resigned acceptance of leaky homers than the soap box blow-hards of the Remuera chocolate soldier.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    Manukau

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Manukau

    You all look the same from tastfully renovated inner city Edwardian villas.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    they're full of tast, you know

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    Who's "you"? I'm a westie!

    I see Manukau spelt Manakau all the time, including on the tellie. A good example of how something is pronounced (incorrectly) influencing how it is spelt I suppose.

    Although at least we don't see Papatoe and Otahu in print :)

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Ae. Not to forget "Paraparam"

    pronounced (incorrectly)

    manner-cow

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    geez, Para-para-umu (Pakeha preference for correct pronouncing on RNZ) versus Para-parau-mu (Maori understanding of how their word was said) was a tiny battleground waaay back in the 1970s...
    *it's not a hard language to learn the basic constructions and meaning of words therein...*

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Om-a-roo

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Which is a far far cry from
    "0-oha- a- Maru"...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Knew you'd correct that one correctly

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

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

  • Danielle,

    Not to forget "Paraparam"

    Someone of an older generation used that around me the other day, and I was all 'whut?' I suppose we can be glad that I'd never heard it before...

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Or, indeed, Manure Wa, which means "Crying about Shit" but anyway...

    Len Brown was then quoted saying he wanted to make sure no builder responsible for the mess profited from the repair work.

    Builder??? FFS. When Carters, Feltchers, Hardies and an assortment of developers/finance companies lobbied their mates, Jim Bolger's Fourth National Government, to allow substandard techniques and materials in order to increase their profits is where the blame lies. A Builder is a Builder FFS , an Architect and or Developer tells the Builder what to build and how, what materials to use etc. The Council inspects the new building to assure compliance to standards, both local and national. Those national standards are set by Government and materials standards set by BRANZ (previously known as ?). All this turned to custard under the Fourth National Govt. Why aren't these people held liable? did they lie to BRANZ about the suitability of their products? Did they make those profits?. I'm sure that under the proceeds of crimes act we may have a way of recouping some of the cost but... maybe when Hell freezes over, that law was passed to "Protect" us from all those dangerous drugs. innit?
    So, would Mr Len Brown like to make sure those companies do not profit once more from that crisis?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Agree there's a world of difference between "builder" and "property developer" or "large materials supplier".

    The disgrace over the way this fiasco was handled falls on both Labour and National governments - especially given that Canada had already provided an example of both problem and solution if only our leaders had bothered looking up from enriching big business or covering their arses.

    Sofie, that's a more constructive sounding McCarten - and the debate sure sounded like an interesting one to be at.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    More about property market and wealth trends - streets with median house prices of $1m go from only 15 a decade ago to 352 five years ago to 535 today (with 230 of them in Auckland).

    Herne Bay is the new 'winner' with seaside Cremorne St boasting a median of $5.6m. For a house.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Sofie, that's a more constructive sounding McCarten - and the debate sure sounded like an interesting one to be at.

    Matt mightn't get it right all the time, (let's face it nobody is perfect) but y'know, .. a tryer innit. and his heart seems in the right place.
    I suspect we will hear about the next debate on the b as they did last week. My friend was at the last one and said it was good.Might mozy on up there if Roger Douglas is gonna debate in the next one, although Act supporters can be a pain in the arse. I remember the last time we ended up being harassed by them at the Backbenches election game show in Kingsland but it was to their detriment if I remember correctly. :) So may go.

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

  • Matthew Poole,

    The first comment on Matt's column says it all:

    You sound surprised that you defended socialism in front of a room full of probably drunk students receiving interest free student loans, and won?
    I'd love you to do the same debate with the same students in 10 years, once they've moved to high paying jobs and are actually paying for all this crap, rather than receiving it.
    Bet they've swapped sides.

    Nothing changes an Alliance/Labour voter into a National/Act voter faster than a pay increase. Rampant self-interest - the fires of which are happily stoked by a media that peddles the message of neo-liberal consumption as the remedy to society's ills - wins over caring for others when you're constantly told that looking out for anyone other than number one is weak and undesirable.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Nothing changes an Alliance/Labour voter into a National/Act voter faster than a pay increase.

    Have you just discovered the concept of class?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Why aren't these people held liable? did they lie to BRANZ about the suitability of their products?

    does the Government/country still own any forests? - perhaps they (and other timber suppliers who profited) could supply the right timber free of charge to sort this, lesson learned, moving on...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Nothing changes an Alliance/Labour voter into a National/Act voter faster than a pay increase.

    That transition has been seen to take as little as the time it takes to get a hair cut.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

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