Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Politics of Absence

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  • 3410,

    It is a disaster economically for the region...

    I have a close relative whose Mount Maunganui-based and entirely sea-dependant business will, I'm guessing, be wiped out by this.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to DexterX,

    If it goes badly for the Nats it is not as if Labour, in its current form, would be able to govern competently. They just don’t appear as a government in waiting IMHO.

    Because, whether you can believe it or not, Crosby Textor told you so.

    Breaking Bad News...
    John says ship might sink
    Considering that the ship is sitting on a reef this is impossible, goes to show that John is clueless.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    whether you can believe it or not

    Discussed extensively in previous threads.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to DexterX,

    The scorn being heaped on the govt is a trifling matter in the wider impact of the issue, and it would not have been so invited if they had not behaved so churlishly in the house in response to the “jumper” last week.

    Wouldn't you say it's more about people making those links with the government's performance around Pike River and Christchurch?

    Faith in the market is a poor substitute for decisive and inclusive leadership at times like these. This government has shown more than enough authoritarianism at other times - just not when it counts, it seems.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Despite claims to the contrary equipment could have been in Tauranga in about 6 hours, the bulk of spill equipment is stored at TeAtatu less than 200Km from Tauranga by road and around 250Km by sea (about 10 hours @ 25 knots)
    It would have been a start, at least on the oil spill side, container shifting equipment has the difficulty of having to operate in shallow water but hey 4 days?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    250Km by sea (about 10 hours @ 25 knots)

    Try 5.4 hours. 25 knots is 46 km/h.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Because, whether you can believe it or not, Crosby Textor told you so.

    Not likely - The only person that gets away with telling me how it is going to be is aged 4 years.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Sacha,

    Wouldn't you say it's more about people making those links with the government's performance around Pike River and Christchurch?

    This crisis could have been a cumulative strike three event - but when you call, "batter up" who is up next?

    I would link in the tax reforms that sank the recovery.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to DexterX,

    I would link in the tax reforms that sank the recovery.

    And I'd say you're stretching to explain the broader public mindset around this event. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to DexterX,

    Actually, the abortive mining in National Parks proposal seems to tap the same widespread visceral connection with the environment.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    It seems Rena-gate - and the whole flags-of-convenience model - has spanned the whole gamut of issues, unlike everything that has come before it. Pollution, outsourcing, labour exploitation, corporate greed, corner-cutting, denialism, turd-polishing - you name it.

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

  • Sacha,

    Attachment

    Smart

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Sacha,

    Actually, the abortive mining in National Parks proposal seems to tap the same widespread visceral connection with the environment.

    Did it what.
    Despite Brownlee being used in his usual steamroller role, and David Farrar’s sneering attempt to portray the protesters as mindless dupes, it was white-knuckled fists to the panic button from Key’s minders.

    Smart

    Like +++

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Sacha,

    And I'd say you're stretching to explain the broader public mindset around this event. :)

    The Nats poor performance would have been a gift to a credible opposition - but we haven’t got one - IMHO.

    As an aside - a friend of mine went along to get involved in the Labour Party at a local level and found himself feeling shut out and belittled by what he describes as a gaggle of intellectual and theoretical snobs.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/rena-crisis/5776790/Chemical-in-toppled-cargo-containers-at-Mt-Maunganui

    Looks like the Toxic Avenger is going to have some nice surf breaks all to himself for a few years.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to 3410,

    What is this yellow stuff coming out of Rena?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • hamishm, in reply to 3410,

    What is this yellow stuff coming out of Rena?

    Might be some reconstituted milk powder. Or lord knows what strange chemical mix that is not going to affect anyone for 20 years.

    Since Nov 2006 • 357 posts Report Reply

  • 3410, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Haha. That's been an earworm for a few days now. I really should've seen that coming.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Hasn't improved with age.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to DexterX,

    we haven’t got one

    Not sure that's true in this case. Greens seem to be doing a solid job with this as you'd expect. Russel Norman even makes the case for government to step in with local economic relief.

    "The rescue package can be similar to what happened in Christchurch where people lost their businesses and income due to a disaster outside of their control.

    "The owners and insurers of the Rena need to ultimately pay for the costs of their gross negligence, but that process could take years to work through, so the Government needs to act and give people whose livelihoods are now on the line certainty about their futures."

    The Bay of Plenty's fishing sector employed 303 people in 2006 and was worth $24 million in 2006. The Bay's tourism sector was worth considerably more at $435 million in 2009.

    "Fortunately, the Bay of Plenty has a diverse regional economy, but the local fishing and tourism sectors will be hit hard by this disaster and compensation from the Government is entirely appropriate," said Dr Norman.

    Labour in there too.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • hamishm,

    Why has this story not got more play.
    Possibly it's Steven Joyce's masterful analysis

    Transport Minister Steven Joyce says while “these matters are raised from time to time” he doubts the vessel would have had any “significant impact” on the situation.

    Edit: I see now that Sacha put up a link to that story last night.

    Since Nov 2006 • 357 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Rena made me want to go back and see the Furys - Time Machine on loan to a friend in another dimension - this is the best I could do:

    They sounded alot "harder" live.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to hamishm,

    . . . he doubts the vessel would have had any “significant impact” on the situation.

    Like the thermos flask, that most marvellous of all inventions that keeps hot things hot and cold things cold, while somehow mysteriously knowing which is which, Joyce just knows.

    Tenth-longest coastline in the world but hey, who needs an emergency cleanup boat? Ffs.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to 3410,

    What is this yellow stuff coming out of Rena?

    paint?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

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