Posts by Paul Williams
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I'm prepared to respond to this, but are you really serious? It would be interesting to see what would happen if the express power for student bodies to require membership was removed, and universities were instead able to use general powers to decide for themselves, but I'm not sure it addresses the real question.
What they did do, well Lincoln Uni were I did the work, was charge a levy for the provision of certain services that the university deemed essential. Membership of the SA could then be voluntary or otherwise, services continued.
I should clarify what I said earlier about granting exemptions, it doesn't necessarily follow that the fee is not still charged - a partial discount could ensure that the dissenting student does not pay for Political activities will still contributing to the cost of various services.
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1. to secure and maintain adequate state income, welfare and employment support for students...
6. to promote discussion and action as appropriate, on issues concerning students as citizens.
Ahhh, we've got to the nub of the issue, the so-called mission creep of students' associations. Were they simply academic and welfare advocates, and sometimes providers, you'd have no objection, is that right? It's their political, national particularly, activities you object to funding compulsorily? You might want to dig out the NZUSA Independent Review from '87 (I think) or read Grant Robertson's Honors dissertation...
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National are going to humour Douglas and support it as far as select committee stage, but I doubt they'll have much interest in it after that.
It was their youth wing that generally press-ganged the caucus on this issue; usually it was a pretty average backbencher leading the charge (looking for relevance with the kids having failed with the caucus... sorry...) such as Laws and then Steel (what lauded company Douglas joins and is this what his supporters hoped he contribute to NZ society?)
I've read the thread, it's good to see the discussion mostly pretty reasonable. In the end I can't distinguish the principles from the practice and so am attracted to a long forgotten view in favour of universal membership. The difference being an automatic exemption from membership on application. It was the position VUW adopted in the '90s. Sadly, some (myself included) were a little to zealous in our thinking to apply it elsewhere. I'm sure there'll be well made points arguing universal membership is no different from compulsory, however in practice it did address moral objections.
I might make one other observation having been around this debate at various points in time (including as president of WSU before it went voluntary and president of NZUSA when the Laws bill was introducted) ~ it seems to me that compared with when NZUSA first encountered this issue (circa '91), when it resurfaced in '95/'96 the student population had changed as a result of the experience of user-pays. Simplistically, I observed that many of the newer students were less interested in capital P student politics and hence less inclined to support the status quo.
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It's different of course, but Helen Clark took New Zealand to war in Afghanistan in the knowledge that it would split the Alliance, and then used the opportunity to declare an early election (despite having the confidence of the House).
George, that might be something you genuinely believe but absent some evidence of Helen's knowledge that Harre et al would divorce Jim, it seems to unduly harsh to impune her motivation. She might have felt it was the right thing to do regardless of the internal issues. Of course, it might also be the case that Harre saw the opportunity to rid herself of Anderton... gotta say I think Labour would've been far better of had they shed Anderton and kept Harre.
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Tempting offer -- a bit of F2F argument would be a delightful novelty. We might even teach the baby diva a trick or two. Shame next month's visit to Oz is going to revolve arount the BH's brother's 80th birthday party in Mount Gambier, with some chillax time in Melbourne. (Anyone have any recommendations for cheap and cheerful eateries and good bookstores there?)
Craig, I pay the admission fee to hear you read my oldest Alice in Wonderland... that'd be a hoot.
As for cafes and bars in Melb, I'd recommend heading to Brunswick St, Fitzroy (just north of the CBD) for any number, Mario's is good. Most of the cafes just north of Flinders St station in the laneways are pretty good (and the laneways are fun themselves). Also, St Kilda's got some cool eateries.
I used to spend a lot of time in Melbourne, it's my favourity city in Australia. For bars, try Cookie Bar (252 Swanston st in the city, good for cocktails), St Jeromes (7 Caledonian Ln - hard to find, young and loud but cool), The Standard Hotel (293 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy, live bands, more a trad pub). Federation Square's got some cool bars/cafes too.
There's a great bookstore on the city corner of Lygone St though I can't recall it's name (the only decent thing on Lygone st which should otherwise be avoided).
I loved that series. Did you see the TV adaptation? It wasn't half bad - it had Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis (as Anna Madrigal, of course) which is something.
Seen them and own the DVDs. I'm only sorry they didn't adapt more of the series. Dukakis is truly fantastic. I insisted that a friend who recently transited through San Francisco take photos of Russian Hill.
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Ahh Sofie, that's very kind of you. My family will be touring NZ, the North only sadly, for a month this Christmas. My older girl's been several times, the new bub never. I hope my anticipation of the visit is matched by the experience. Oh could Matapouri ever disappoint?
I too offer any PAS regular a meal and entertainment should you have spare time in Sydney and a tolerance for infant screeming... it lasts only a few hours generally.
Coming in the next few months ,playing with Jarvis Cocker. Can't help but think of "Cunts are still running the world"
With Jarvis Cocker? No fucking way. That could be cool. So much better than had you said Joe... you didn't mean Joe did you?
It was Cooder and Ali Farka Touré that my late friend introduced me to... very very cool.
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We arrived back in Christchurch yesterday morning, and attempted to ward off our jet-lag with a stroll along the promenade at Sumner.
I just read this entire thread but can't quite get over this statement from David's initial piece... Sumner, love the place dearly, would live there again in a heart beat.
My dear dear friend Jenny Rockel cooked me many a beautiful meal, recommended many superb books (none more so that the Tales of the City series) and introduced me to some wonderful music (Ry Cooder's world stuff in particular). She's gone now, very sadly, but always remembered and much loved.
How's that relevant to the discussion? It's not, but I'm feeling very sentimental and not unusually homesick.
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My tattooist of choice is a half hour drive away, so I get the fun experience of driving home through rush hour traffic afterwards.
Jack (and TracyMac), so reading your discussion, shoulder and outside bicep are tolerable and possibly pleasurable for newbees to tattoos? Any recommendations for artists in Akl? What's the consensus on pain of line-work vs. colouring?
PAS, I've missed you all and I recently started a new job in an open plan setting... first time in something like 12 years... I've not yet worked out the culture of "my online time".
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Rich, oh yes please. Bling-glish and Lhaws ought to be admitted to the PAS lexicon.
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I was under the impression that the NZ Government was therefore interested in what the public had to say. Is the PM all of a sudden NOT interested in public input?
Nicely put.
It's a bad look. First English gives rise to the do as I say, not as I do charge and now Key's punctured his charm-veneer.
As you said, for this to be scripted suggests serious misjudgment by Key.