Posts by RaggedJoe
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@ BenWilson
Thanks, good effort representing the cycling, driving, motorcycling view.
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Random
Sand art - just stunning!
http://www.wosu.org/blogs/arts/?p=353
Sorry no idea how to post a link properly, so you have to cut and paste to enjoy.
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Russell, I don't tweet or Facebook or MySpace cos I can't be bothered. But I do religiously follow Hard News. That's because I've been listening to you since you started on BFM and I have followed you to PA. I have shortcut straight into Hard News and have no problem with clicking from there to the comments. The site is easy to use and is successful and popular because of what you all have to say. Fine tune if you like but PA like the content the way it is I suspect.
What he said..
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Have recently changed my commute from Sthn mtwy madness to cycle- ferry- cycle to the office, shower on arrival. It's early days but feeling great even though it is slower and (personaly) more expensive..Cool to be on the harbour every day, always something different to see. Highly recomened to those who can make it work.
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Don't flatter yourself on your ability to deliver innovative genius.
Actually reults of our company in delivering new business is pretty good. Entrepreneurship is alive and well in our little corner.
Your cynical view of leadership and it's ability is a little dissapointing. Please don't misundersatnd, I am not looking for salvation in the form of leadership from our politicians.
However commercial leadership has real potential to drag us out of this recession, what we need is a supportive and sustaining commercial environment, for that we are reliant on our politicians.
I am not in marketing, and do not use a white board. I am in real world commecrial day to day trading of products. It is a bloody tough grind and we work desperately hard to survive AND to innovate. Fail in this and we sink and dissapear.
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All those old "heresies" need to be dusted off and applied judiciously and intelligently to help our productive export sector
Sorry Tom, can't agree. Backwards to the future doesn't work for me. We need inovation and new ideas which will come from constructive leadership. New initaives not old solutions please.
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Kiwis abroad have a wealth of experience, networks and time spent in foreign markets - we need to use these "feet on the ground" more.
and a hear hear back to you. Couldn't agree more.
I've been to the largest healthcare show in Europe, the NZTE-sponsored stand looked shit-hot compared to the Aussies, the British and the Yanks
Perhaps Healthcare is more sexy or financial than us poor primary product exporters. But I suspect the sad truth is that the industry is better organised. The primary types tend to get stuck in the trenches fighting commodity wars, which NZ is less well placed to win that in days gone by.
On a positive note we have grown our fresh organic exports exponentialy in the last 10 years, huge delopment in production, great market returns, no government help at all to speak of. That wave may be cresting but it has been great fun.
I beleive we all have opportunities every day to influence this issue, whether buy local or recommend a career to the young up and comers, we can all play our part IF we understand the issues.
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The dichotomy between exporter and hanger on is a bit harsh.
Agreed, however unless we balance the books as a country, we will go backwards. The fact I am an exporters is a lucky chance rather than wish to
earn the country some export dollars
However as a country we need to recognise the current trade imbalance and act upon it. Buy local is as good as exporting, I was delighted to buy a reflective cover for my cycle commuting backpack, that was made in NZ.
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you need to inject new wealth from somewhere whether you lure it from elsewhere through tourism, or create it by adding value to dirt, sun and water to make meat wool and milk, or by turn random bits into music or websites or programs of beauty or making widgets from raw iron etc etc we need to focus on those sorts of things - if you're good at that all the cool cafes and bars will come for free
Amen to that. A few less real estate speculators and a few more entrepreneurs are a large part of the solution. Why can we still see new homes being built on spec on new subdivisions? Because NZers are in love with bricks and mortar for good reasons. In boom times one gets capital growth, and pay no tax on this.
There is valid argument that one does not pay tax on capital growth in shares either, however it seems NZers do not rush to shares as readily (now) and an increase in shares does not undermine our ability to offer new entrants (young and immigrants) the opportunity to own their own home.
My family and freinds group is the same, no exporters, lot's of service industries and importers. It is a snap shot of the country.
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Having spent 25 years expoorting primary products from NZ (fruit and veg) I am right behind you here.
When we go to the market we are overwhelmed by the efforts competitor country's governments make to promotre their industries. Chile, Australia, Argentina, South Africa are our main competitors and the advertising, trade show support etc they give their exporters makes us look like bloody amateurs.
We are used to it, we live by our wits and performance, but a government that paid more than lip service to export would make a real difference to our growers.
I am not promoting handouts, and have no desire to return to the days when all the profit in export was from the Government export subsidies (80's), but if we are going to get through this in any sort of shape, our esteemed leaders need to start paying attention to the fact that our productive sector is sick and it will be fatal for a few. That means less exports, more imports, more unemployment relief, and the spiral continues.
Lastly (and apologies for the rant), capital gains tax on residential property would fix a lot of ills, but no government has the balls it seems........