Posts by Steve Curtis

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  • Speaker: Look in the Mirror, New Zealand, in reply to Howard Edwards,

    he applied for asylum in NZ

    Well he did have a death sentence passed back home, so your point is ? If those who claim asylum and then obtain citizenship, suddenly find their home country isnt persecuting them after all, we can revoke their passport and that allows some one else to come instead.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: Look in the Mirror, New Zealand,

    Just this week we have a person who was acepted as a refugee in NZ, went back to Iraq to join the miliatry in the fight against ISIS.
    Australia found that Man Houris, the Sydney gunman, was acepted as a refugee, but after he recieved nationality made frequent trips back to iran.
    It seems like the circumstances why they cant return to their own country are a sham, and are used because thats whats needed to become a refugee.
    Im sure there are many more that are genuine in their need and dont abuse the system, but could this be the reason why the numbers mentioned above have fallen. There are larger numbers of those that leave their own countries but can return ?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: Christchurch: how did it come…,

    Just went through the backup story on the proposed Christchurch Frightful...sorry Convention centre.

    The thing that sprung to mind, would they at some stage announce a 'cornerstone tenant' that would take up a chunk of the space. And that tenant would be:
    Christchurch Casino !
    Location Location, as the real estate agents say.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: Christchurch: how did it come…,

    "Lancaster Park was sum insured for $143m but three loss adjustment firms had each determined the stadium could be restored for less than $50m, Sole said.
    The reinsurers are most unlikely to agree to pay Christchurch City Council almost three times that amount just so the council can demolish the current stadium and build another elsewhere."

    Is this another version of the common house insurance dispute, the council wants it restored 'as new' while the insurer wants to make it 'fit for purpose'.

    Its a stadium for goodness sake, while the siren song of a glam $250 mill stadium closer to town in one of the 'precincts' seems to be seducing the council ( never mind they would need another $100 mill if they got the full payout)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Envirologue: What has Neoliberalism Done…,

    What large civic infrastructure programmes have been carried out – publicly funded and publicly worked, and publicly owned when completed?
    Well there was the Auckland rail double tracking and electrification and the new electric trains that finally are coming into service.
    The Auckland Hospital was totally rebuilt to replace 3 smaller ones
    At the moment there are 100s of millions spent by Watercare on new sewer and freshwater mains- largely out of sight, but still happening.
    There was the $700 mill 700KV main powerline from Auckland to just norh of Taupo, and big upgrade of the Cook St cables and substations.

    As for the lovely 1980s, a smalll business owner told me it used to take 2 weeks to get a delivery by rail from Auckland to Napier, werent allowed to use trucks that would come down overnight and would get it a day later. Not only were the railways protected, but many business had special licenses to shut out competition. Prices for a lot of items were in the exorbitant category.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Envirologue: What has Neoliberalism Done…, in reply to WaterDragon,

    but I can assure you it was happening- my mouth is testament to this.

    Its not to say it doesnt happen for special groups, mental patients, special needs patients, those with cleft palate and others with face or neck surgery.
    Oncology and pediatric patients and those injured in accidents. and similar.

    A complex or rare dental requirement in adults with no other medical issues havent been treated ( except pain relief). To somehow think this relates to a neo-liberalism is bizarre. There is no cause and effect here.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Envirologue: What has Neoliberalism Done…,

    There doesnt seem to be any indication that DHBs provided these sort of dental services back in 1984.
    The reality is that newspapers and tv dont have the audience they once had for current affairs. Pete Sinclair and Mastermind would have once had an audience number around 18%. Thats wasnt that high. Today if a show, any show gets 12 its a sensation.
    If I have the TV on at 8pm,I am looking on a tablet at tomorrows news. Some sort of talking heads show just doesnt cut it anymore

    Guys wake up, its been 30 years since the mid 1980s, but some seem to blame every change or undesirable feature on neo- liberalism

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Up Front: Reviewing the Election, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    , David Farrar used the National Party’s copy of the Roll to try to look up a female MP’s home address in order to pass it on to Cameron Slater

    I thought Farrars prime role for national in the election area, was in the drawing of the electoral boundaries.
    Now theres an area of political maneuvering and skullduggery that could be an episode of Game of Thrones ( but with a bigger cast)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Up Front: Reviewing the Election,

    Is the voter turnout graph based on 'all voters' or those 'enrolled to vote' voters.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Legal Beagle: Somewhere* it's National…, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Also, I have heard that the earthquake damaged National Library building in Chchch was demolished with all the books and photo collections etc still there

    The story is here, and far more interesting than you would think
    300 Manchester St

    But it appears that despite the red sticker they were able to retrieve the collection

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

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