Just because Russell is in a drunken stupor mumbling about MLK and Obama, don't think that he doesn't provide the forum.
David just provided the spark?

David is the application, I'm just the platform.

And dude, getting tiddly yesterday was actually my job. Although I had to concentrate throughout. Turns…

So why not "rent" that empty space during the day with the subsidies you are handing over anyway? That way we stimulate the economy, effectively for free.

And if you can't get to the bar, be assured that the ferry company is making money there ...

Would the release of money from the Super. scheme in 1975 have been the kick-start that drove the mid 1970s house-price boom and the rampant inflation that followed?

No. The inflation began before the housing boom – mid-1960s – and the housing boom really crested early seventies. Muldoon deep-sixed the…

A cousin of mine grew up in Howick. From there Waiheke is the horizon.
When she moved to Waiheke she lived where…

I assume this is the Jetraider you mean. Why is it so bad? Please post the horrible details for my edification.

Oooh, Sam, let me count the ways!

1) Orrible design – she’s all narrow gangways, low ceilings and cramped, weirdly located decks. I’m told it was originally built in…

Quite. but like someone said above, I'm not convinced having another operator or two will make any difference.

Agreed. It was before my time, but another operator – called Pacific – did try and take them on. Didn't work out very well from what I gather (rows over berthage, scuffles…

I've only been using the ferry for three months and I cringe every time I see it!

I assume this is the Jetraider you mean. Why is it so bad? Please post the horrible details for my edification. (Does this finally qualify as genuine schadenfreude, Giovanni?)

even if we're saddled with the Tomb Raider again tonight!

I've only been using the ferry for three months and I cringe every time I see it!

but it's also a monopoly and at the moment, we simply have to take their…

these plans do not and cannot create extra wealth

but they provide a pool of investment funding for ventures which certainly do create wealth.

Go for it – I only require a 6 figure concept fee. (10% of that goes to David for providing the forum for the brilliant idea .:)

Just because Russell is in a drunken stupor mumbling about MLK and Obama, don't think that he doesn't provide the forum.

David just…

And now that I think about it a bit more, now that the buggers are mobile instead of sitting in front of daytime TV, perhaps we have lost…

OK.

Now I'm not thinking that.

Ever again.

I bags the copyright for "World's Greatest OAP Race" – what a gripping TV series this would be!! Formulaic television and a chance to sell New Zealand's green and pleasant scenery to the world when the series gets sold abroad!!

Go for it – I only require a 6 figure…

Maybe someone could organise a race.

I bags the…

No thats not what I meant!

Ha, wish it was – "Oh yeah Australia? Well you're just getting all our liquid above our solid crystallised residue. Sucks to be you!"

I'd be interested in how far a card carrying OAP could get in one day – the length of the country?

Maybe someone could organise a race.

They could be fueled by Mad Butcher saussies and McDonalds' tea.

Was going to pop over to Waiheke this morning using my Gold Card, but um hard to access from Blenheim.

I'd be interested in how far a card carrying OAP could get in one day – the length of the country?

Maybe someone could organise a race.

She could never believe us that the Quickcat was actually a pleasant form of transport. Kids these days will never know (or care) how much things have improved.

Not me. I count a school trip on the Kestrel to Motuihe on a rainy, stormy day as my lowest point in…

I have a distant memory of the superannuation traditionally kicking in at age 60, and being incrementally raised to 65 in the 1990s?

Yep. Muldoon moved it to 60. Before that it was 65. The Bolger govt gradually moved it up to 65 again, over the decade.

I don't know…

With regard to the subsidy, I guess you're either down with it or your not. Subsidise one form of public transport, subsidise them all.

I agree – but I can appreciate the political issues around selling such a particularly nice route.

I've always had a hankering for the "ratepayer discount'…

The age was set at 65 in 1898 when the average mortality age was 59.

I have a distant memory of the superannuation traditionally kicking in at age 60, and being incrementally raised to 65 in the 1990s? Precisely to address the increased cost associated with longer lifespans?

With regard to the subsidy, I guess you're either down with it or your not. Subsidise one form of public transport, subsidise…

So its quite wrong to attribute any strong Australian fiscal position to this.

Should have been a bit more precise – compulsory saving bolsters the general economic position (thanks Gareth) which (admittedly arguably) assists with the balance sheets of major beneficiaries of that cash floating around – the banking and…

Mind you, I use the free buses at both ends,…

What should be happening, right now, is an agreement to slowly lift the pension age to say, 70. Promise those over, say,45 or 50, they will still get super at 65, but send a message to all those under that age to plan on the pension at 70.

Oh,and absolutely…

Excellent summary of the system, BTW.

So its quite wrong to attribute any strong Australian fiscal position to this.

I certainly wasn't directly attributing fiscal strength to this. Just general economic strength – although there is a pretty strong argument that gets you (lagged, indirect) fiscal strength.

A lot of discussion on super gets confused because people get the three 'tiers' of savings muddled up.

Tier One is the state pension. It's what the NZ Super Fund is set up to help pre-fund.

Tier two is workplace savings. This is what Kiwisaver is part…

If you have more than 3 people it can prove a whole lot cheaper. It's also longer, but then you…

One of the major reasons Australia is in an outstanding fiscal position is that they have 9% mandatory contributions. Yes, 9%.

All of which is directly from the employer – there is no delineation like here. And it is then taxed at 15%, making it extraordinarily tax positive.

National goes…

National are opening up lower band option for KiwiSaver, makes it a affordable to a larger number of people. More people saving the better it is, longterm or shortterm.

2+2 scheme already exists, has been in play for a while so they haven't opened up anything. At best they have…

1. We're not paying twice. Our current payments pay for current retirees. Everything else is for the future (it's called savings...)

2. And thank god someone was saving. The only reason we're not in the same boat as Iceland is that Cullen realised we were stupid (like…

Well so long as you leave after 9 & get there before... ?? You should be OK.

Last ferry to the Island is 11.45pm. Great service. And cheap (not that some of the residents think so – but they can't seem to grasp that we don't pay for our tickets in…

But that nice Mr Key thinks it would be a good idea to dial back the amount people will have deducted from their wages.

National are opening up lower band option for KiwiSaver, makes it a affordable to a larger number of people. More people saving the better it is,…

Was going to pop over to Waiheke this morning using my Gold Card, but um hard to access from Blenheim.

Well so long as you leave after 9 & get there before... ?? You should be OK.

In 1975, my granny said she had decided to vote for the nice Mr Muldoon because he was offering her a very good pension. That worked out very well for her, but not so well for her six great grand-daughters.

Selfish OAPs, always thinking only of themselves.