A post for social chat. You can still chat socially on other posts if it happens in relation to other discussions but if you simply want a bit of social chat start here.
The usual guidelines apply as to respecting others, behaviour and avoiding legal exposure. An emphasis on ‘social’, not ‘anti-social’.
Posted by Pete George on September 28, 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/09/28/social-chat-wednesday-7/
28 September 2016
Facebook: NZ politics/media+
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Posted by Pete George on September 28, 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/09/28/open-forum-wednesday-98/
The ‘mood of the boardroom’ survey has rated the Cabinet Ministers, scoring them out of 5. Finance Minister Bill English was rated the best, scoring a fully 5 out of 5 for 55 chief executives.
1=Not impressive to 5=Very impressive – where known the 2015 rating is shown.
Opposition MP ratings – Labour:
Not flash for the Labour leader.
Greens:
NZ First:
Posted by Pete George on September 27, 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/09/27/boardroom-rates-ministers-and-mps/
Update #1 from Missy in the UK:
Conservatives:
The honeymoon is over for Theresa May as it appears that Cameron’s supporters are starting what one journalist has described as a concerted attack on May in order to destabilise her Government. It started with a speech given by George Osborne the other day criticising the Government’s economic policy and their response to Brexit, but the weekend is when it got interesting as David Cameron’s former Communications director, Craig Oliver – sorry make that SIR Craig Oliver (more on that later) – started flogging his book on the EU referendum, and parts have been leaked to the media.
Along with the predictable stuff about Johnson and Gove betraying the PM, and how they underestimated people’s views on immigration, and how they thought the economy would win it for them, there were a couple of pointed comments on Theresa May. For anyone here who has read my views regarding May’s referendum presence (or lack of) this will be no surprise.
According to Oliver it was suggested that May would back Brexit, so the PM called her had words and hung up on her, apparently satisfied he had made an impact. May then released a statement offering muted support to the Remain campaign.
Oliver accuses May of being a submarine during the referendum campaign – basically nowhere to be seen. She is being accused of not really supporting Remain, offering lukewarm support, and all the time plotting to bring down Cameron. Essentially he now believes that she only offered lukewarm support to the Remain side as she could not be seen going against the PM as Home Secretary.
Now, what the truth in this is, is anyone’s guess, but the idea that May was a Brexiter, but only supporting the PM as he was the PM is one that I have heard a number of times from UK people. Most say that May is a Brexiter from way back, and has always been a eurosceptic. This is leading some in the media to speculate it will be a hard Brexit, not a soft Brexit that many want as it will be almost like Remaining.
Another allegation in Oliver’s book is that May tried to stonewall the PM on the issue of immigration, he claims that she blocked his plans for an immigration brake, supposedly to help the leave campaign – and her future ambitions of being PM. However, many of her allies / supporters have come out today and denied this, saying it was May that wanted a brake on immigration and the PM ignored her.
One thing that is also notable is that May was apparently supposed to go with Cameron in February to try an negotiate a deal with the EU to try and stop the referendum, however, she ended up not going because she had a weekend away with her husband planned. This was when Cameron failed to get any significant concessions – especially in terms of free movement. Oliver suggests that this was deliberate so that she wouldn’t be tainted with the expected failed negotiations.
Book Controversies:
With regards to the book itself there are a number of controversies around it – and the author, summed up below:
Posted by Pete George on September 27, 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/09/27/uk-update-conservatives-2/
I wonder how the pakeha versus brown justice debate will treat this story.
Stuff: Wellington rugby player discharged without conviction
Wellington rugby player Losi Filipo was discharged without conviction following the assault of four people, including two women.
Police charged Filipo with assault with intent to injure, two counts of male assaults female, and injures with intent to injure following the incident.
However, Newshub said the judge opted to give Filipo a chance despite the charges demanding a starting point of at least one-and-a-half years’ imprisonment.
The Judge ruled Filipo should be able to fulfil his potential, saying “I have to ask myself are the courts in the business of destroying people’s career prospects?”, Newshub reported.
This is not long after the much discussed case of a ‘rich white person’ who was convicted – see The Delegat sentence.
The Wellington Lions player is continuing to play for the Wellington Rugby Union after he was discharged without conviction over the assault of Greg Morgan and his three friends.
Morgan, 21, said the assault happened in October at about 3am on Wellington’s Wakefield St.
“We heard footsteps running up behind us and it was three guys looking for a fight. We repeatedly told them we didn’t want to fight and to just let us go to our car which was around the corner.
“And that’s when it started, I don’t remember much but I do remember being smashed on the ground and my head being stomped on.”
Morgan said he had a potential contract with Wellington Rugby, but following the assault he was told he could never play rugby again.
He was devastated to see the guy who took away his dream go without punishment.
“We had the same potential and it doesn’t feel right that I’m still dealing with migraines and fatigue, and he is enjoying playing rugby.”
“It’s still affecting my work and put a big dent in my builders apprenticeship.
“I feel he should have got some jail time because he’s a ticking time bomb and if he does it again he might kill someone.”
I presume this was a ‘first offence’ for Filipo that went before the Court.
But there was a white male who have Filipo a character reference – the mayor of Upper Hutt.
Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy wrote a character reference helping a promising rugby player to be discharged without conviction for a brutal assault.
Guppy declined to say who had asked him to write the reference for Filipo, but said he did not speak with the rugby player himself at any time.
I don’t know if the timing will help Guppy’s re-election chances.
Posted by Pete George on September 27, 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/09/27/discharged-without-conviction-for-4x-assault/
The annual ‘Mood of the Boardroom’ survey gets extensive coverage today in NZ Herald, with Leaders show more optimism looking like the lead article (I’ve just heard a pessimistic sounding Andrew Little on Breakfast).
Strong GDP growth in the past two quarters has put New Zealand near the top of the OECD pack for annual economic growth, but the good data has been tempered by concerns about growing inequality as house prices continue to soar.
Global worries also continue to undercut the optimism as nervous sharemarket investors brace for a lift in United States interest rates.
It’s an economic outlook broadly reflected in the results of the Mood of the Boardroom survey.
On the local front there is some serious optimism breaking out and that can’t be a bad thing.
Last year’s gloomier Mood of the Boardroom outlook results came as we were bracing ourselves for a dairy downturn.
There was some real concern about how the fragile economy would cope.
But with a bit of a nudge from record immigration levels, we’ve managed to keep growing through the worst of it.
Liam Dann concludes:
In the end, despite increased concern about social issues such as housing, the Government can still feel comfortable about its support base among senior business leadership.
An overwhelming majority agree the Government’s current economic management is good.
Judged on the economic environment in which most companies are doing their business this year, it is not hard to see why.
More:
Posted by Pete George on September 27, 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/09/27/mood-of-the-boardroom-2016/
Grant Robertson has tweeted this so I’m not sure where it is from but I presume NZ Herald.
Robertson used a #moodoftheboardroom tag. The Herald uses #boardroom2016 except there seems to be nothing new on that yet.
A site search finds all their ‘mood of the boardroom’ articles:
Posted by Pete George on September 27, 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/09/27/boardroom-advice-to-government-english-and-robertson/
A post for social chat. You can still chat socially on other posts if it happens in relation to other discussions but if you simply want a bit of social chat start here.
The usual guidelines apply as to respecting others, behaviour and avoiding legal exposure. An emphasis on ‘social’, not ‘anti-social’.
Posted by Pete George on September 27, 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/09/27/social-chat-tuesday-11/
27 September 2016
Media Watch is a focus on New Zealand media, blogs and social media. You can post any items of interested related to media.
A primary aim here is to hold media to account in the political arena. A credible and questioning media is an essential part of a healthy democracy.
A general guideline – post opinion on or excerpts from and links to blog posts or comments of interest, whether they are praise, criticism, pointing out issues or sharing useful information.
As usual avoid anything that could cause any legal issues such as potential defamation or breaching suppression orders. Also remember that keeping things civil, legal and factual is more effective and harder to argue against or discredit.
Sometimes other blogs get irate if their material is highlighted elsewhere but the Internet is specifically designed to share and repeat information and anyone who comments or puts anything into a public forum should be aware that it could be republished elsewhere (but attribution is essential).
Posted by Pete George on September 27, 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/09/27/media-watch-tuesday-24/
Grant Robertson responded to:
nzherald @nzherald
A man with a one-inch-long micropenis has opened up about his one sexual encounter http://nzh.nu/E33E304y9nE
With:
I mean seriously, do I now have to stop following one of our major news organisations because this is what they tweet out?
Robertson makes a fair point, the Herald seems to have been lowering it’s standards somewhat recently. Why? From Facebook:
Someone recently said that the Herald got a lot of clicks from Facebook, and this supports that. It may ell be good for advertising revenue.
But I don’t think it’s good the the herald’s credibility.
As someone recommended, I have stopped following @nzherald but have stayed with @nzheraldnznews and @nzhpolitics for now.
I can understand if politicians despair about competing for attention with click bait like this.
Posted by Pete George on September 26, 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/09/26/within-an-inch-of-their-credibility/
