Planes, Trains and Bicycles (and Hotels)

Planes
I saw Chaucey for dinner on Friday, it was kinda weird to see her arrive at the airport then leave later on - we managed to entertain all the passengers on the flight by blowing kisses and playing games through the glass in the waiting lounge.

Trains and Bicycles
Today I biked from Harcourt Park to Hikiokio Reserve - a mere 25km as part of the WRC Bike the Trail event. My sister Catherine had registered for the event (her name was above mine on the list) but I didn't see her or Norm.

I caught the train from Epuni (the guard didn't charge for the bicycle, saving $4) and cycled to Harcourt Park through Totara Park, and then cycled home afterwards. Total distance 40km, done in just under 2 hours.

Trains and Hotels
I also managed to get a lot more done for the honeymoon planning - I've now booked accomodation for:

Dartmoor, Prague, Krakow, Vienna, Salzburg and Venice. We're staying with friends in London and Chaucey's brother in Manchester. All I've got left to take care of is Edinburgh, York, Rome and Paris.

Gareth from House of Travel Plimmer Steps has found a good railpass for us - $630 each for 5 days travel in 5 countries. Matches our needs exactly.

Kerre Woodham and the Wrong Assumptions

Today's Herald on Sunday includes a reaction piece from Kerre Woodham (to Don Brash's speech). She shows herself to be a Remuera chardonnay Socialist.

First off says she knows no-one who is 'bludging' on a benefit, but doesn't disclose how many beneficiaries she knows. Hmmmmmm. But her "blood boils when I hear of slappers producing a brood of five different kids to five different dads while camping on the benefit. And fit and healthy young men who would rather sit on the dole than work as labourers, infuriate me too."

I think that was Don's point.

She then goes on to say that White Collar crims who commit tax fraud are just as bad as any bludger - too right. I always think it's a mistake of right-wing politicians when they announce tougher sentencing for young men who beat up old ladies (making them too scared to leave home) that they don't announce tougher sentencing for middle-aged white blokes who rip off old ladies so that they lose the home.

(A little aside, for all the noise the Green Party make about white collar crime their policy is that all non-violent offenders should not get custodial sentences. Bank robbers still go to prison.)

Woodham then says "Our welfare system, according to the 1972 Royal Commission on Social Security, is supposed to ensure that, within limitations which may be imposed by physical or other disabilities, everyone is able to enjoy a standard of living much like that of the rest of the community, and thus is able to feel a sense of participation in and belonging to the community.

People who feel they have a stake in the community are unlikely to commit anti-social crimes and are more likely to strive to return to the fold where possible."

So we're tied to the ideas of 1972 - break out the psychedelic ties, platform boots and hippie hairstyles everyone (or the nappies in my case). She gets it completely wrong - people are motivated by self-interest. If welfare provides enough support to be able to participate fully in society then it is too much. Welfare is a mechanism to allow people to survive until they get back on their feet.

And as for not committing crimes - check out the tagging in Naenae then compare it with Woburn where there is none.

Kerre should live in the real world sometime - it's so much better.

Simply the Best in Wellington

I'm a born and bred Wellingtonian - I remember being fascinated by the Bucket Fountain in Cuba Mall when I was a kid. I was a little disappointed by Elijah Wood's antics.

Chaucey is from Christchurch and can't see it's charms.

But yesterday I saw a little girl about 3 squealling in delight when the biggest bucket tipped over and splashed water all around making her run away to avoid getting wet. Then she groaned when her mummy dragged her away. So it must be official - the Bucket Fountain is still the best public art in Wellington.

More Reflections on Orewa II

Don Brash achieved a lot - he is setting the agenda, getting media coverage, being criticised by radical opponents. All good if you're one of his media minders. Last year his Orewa speech lasted for 3 months. This time it will probably would have lasted 3 days, except the Government went into overdrive on this - the best thing would have been to comment and leave it at that.

So far we have had a Race Relations speech that Richard Prebble could have written, a Law and Order speech that Stephen Franks could have written and a Social Welfare Speech that Muriel Newman could have written. Maybe National should employ Heather Roy to write the Health speech that Don will be delivering in a couple of months.

Wgtn Bloggers Drinks

Perhaps the most popular blog topic of the day - Drinks last night at the Backbencher. Met an interesting bunch of blokes (no girls turned up!) and there was wide dicussion on a number of very interesting topics. Interestingly Orewa II was not mentioned - perhaps for the better - as it would have been like a hand grenade going off. Different opinions were not limited to the drinking and camraderie. I was pleased to find that some people are reading my blog - so I'm not doing this for my own benefit.

Only disappointment was the kumara chips I ordered never turned up. But the Brash Venison Pasta (roaming in the provinces) was very tasty.

Visible in the Picture are Jordon Carter of JustLeft (in white shirt on far side of table) and David Farrer of Kiwiblog (closest to the camera). I'm not sure who is next to Jordon but Gavin Middleton (Darkness Network) is visible next. By David is Nigel Kearney (Kiwi Pundit). Michael Collins (he just comments) is visible down the back underneath Ruth Richardson.

Orewa II from Don Brash

Don Brash speech here or PDF.

It's not as tough as I thought. Although it sounds like it could have been written by Muriel Newman.

Glad to see vaccination is not compulsory for parents who object.

Best point - "I’ve heard advocates for those on the DPB say that they would like to look after their children full time. Well, there are tens of thousands of parents in New Zealand who would love nothing better than to stay home and look after their school-age children, but they would never dream of expecting other taxpayers to carry the cost of their doing so."

Like the goal - reducing beneficiaries by one-third.

This will certainly stir up a reaction similar to last year!

Orewa II Preview

Jordan at Just Left has written his preview of Orewa II, Don Brash's State of the Nation address. He outlines his picks for the National Party Social Welfare Policy.

I am a child of the DPB - it was used in my family for a year or so to allow itself to get back on its feet after a unpreventable disaster struck. Most beneficiaries are in the same posistion - they need to use it to cover them until they are capable of returning to independence. But the hard-core who have (more many reasons) allowed themselves to be dependent on welfare need to be moved off it, for their sakes.

Jordan's Policy picks (and my reaction) are:

Work for the Dole: Just say yes! Work for the Dole builds work ethics and provides motivation to get out of the unemployed low self esteem trap. It also prevents the Devil finding work for idle hands.

Benefit Reductions for Out of Control Kids: This ones a little tricky, but if the state is paying for you to bring up your kids you should provide proper parenting. Like to see more carrot in this one (Warnings, then parenting skills help and counseling, then reductions coupled with more help).

Making child immunisation and health checks compulsory for parents on benefit: Don't agree with this one. Some parents choose not to have immunisations for a number of reasons, not because of ignorance.

Single Parents Work Tested once youngest is six: Don't have a problem with this - if they can't organise proper childcare they won't have to look for work.

Work Test for Sickness and Invalids: Absolutely agree with this. I do volunteer work with a Intellectually Handicapped group. While some in the group are not capable of working, some are! Simply writing off people as not capable of working just because they have a mild handicap is being patronising.

Time Limits for Welfare: It would work if at the end of time limit for your benefit (e.g. six months) you are put into a education to work programme with a job at the end of it. Once you hit your lifetime welfare limit, you just go straight into the programme, instead of being starving in the streets. Otherwise it will not work.

The other policies I would like to see announced are:

Subsidised Childcare: For a one-year period after returning to the workforce, with income-related testing after one year. (Also available to non-beneficiaries.)

One-off 'back to work grant': A one time only grant for those who have been on DPB for over 3 years or unemployed for 2 years of up to $500 to help get workclothes, transport, etc. sorted. You could only get this once a life time.

I find this disturbing

The Government is giving Tsunami Aid to Sri Lanka on the basis of the number of runs and boundaries scored during the World XI series.

I could understand a private company associated with Cricket doing this to highlight their involvement, but when the Government is giving aid on the basis that the better the cricket team bats the better the aid, one really doesn't know if they're taking it seriously at all.

All shook up

After the eleventh quake in Wellington over the past week hit last night I think I've had enough now. We haven't had any damage but the shake yesterday morning started my Grandmothers old clock.

Did go and play some mini golf today at Porirua. Chaucey and I used the coupon we recieved in the mail so we got 2 for 1 entry.

I scored 50 (par is 42) and Chaucey scored 52. But Chaucey got the only hole-in-one!

NZ's Next MP

This is hardly an expose, anyone who can use Google can find this out:

With Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt ONZ departing to a diplomatic post in an English Speaking country that plays cricket (They should have chosen Pakistan) the next candidate on the Labour Party list (Number 42) will become an MP - Lesley Soper.

Soper is a good Labour person, she works for the NZEI (Union of Primary School Teachers) is the CTUs man in Invercargill, Deputy Chair of Southern Health Board and even finds time to be Womens Vice-President of the Labour Party. But just where do her politics really sit:

Ray Fife of the Maritime Union had this to say about comparing new Labour Invercargill Candidate Wayne Harpur in the Dec 04 "Maritimes" Magazine (Magazine of the Maritime Union):

"As our branch is affilated to Labour Party we were able to attend the selection meeting to pick the next candidate to represent Labour at the elections next year. [2005]

"Our union, and most other unions at the gathering supported Leslie Soper, a centre left candidate who got the floor vote and also the vote of the local union rep who was voted onto the selection panel by the floor.

"We were disappointed when we found out that a centre right candidate got the nod by the selection panel."

So Wayne Harpur, a Labour Party candidate is 'centre-right' when compared to Lesley Soper. I'm sure this is news to Wayne and the Labour Party Executive who supported him!

One last thing ...

One of the worlds sexiest men has written an excellent article on 'Peak Oil'.

McDonalds, Company of the Year

Green Party killjoys have named McDonalds as one of their winners in the bad food awards for it's advertising.

I think McDonalds is great - they provide:

- An almost 100% guarunteed sucessful business for local businessmen (just add hard work, a bit of smarts and a fair whack of capital.)
- Pay above market rates for it's staff in restaurants (and it shows when you compare service with other chains). Most of the staff are teens who are studying or trying to prove they can work.
- Sponsor Road safety, temporary accomodation for families with kids in hospital, environmental projects and help fundraise with hundreds of community groups.
- Provide cheap food, quickly. And the hygiene standards they have are second to none.
- Make their restaurants child friendly with safe playgrounds for the kids.

I don't remember Colonel Sanders doing any of the above.

What about the other 63%?

According to two internet tests I am 27% Loser and 10% Nerd. I think I would have been happier if it was the other way around.

Death by Referendum

Don Brash has recently called for social and constitutional changes to be implemented only after a referendum. As Brash's critics on the left have (gleefully)pointed out, this is political populism. I do agree that constitutional change can only be done by referendum, but to have social legislation voted on by the public would be a backward step.

Social change happens faster than Parliament can comprehend - homosexuality has been around since before man evolved, but the fact that it was not harmful to anyone was not recognised in law until the mid-1980s. Gay (and straight) couples who chose not to marry held 'commitment ceremonies' before the Civil Union Bill was ever thought of.

Imagine the frenzy from both sides of the Civil Union debate if a referendum was to be held! We'd end up with a nation divided like it was by the Springbok tour, or a nation of people completely turned off politics forever.

Both would be a shame.

Favourite Christmas Present

My favourite Christmas Present has to be "A Dictionary of NZ Political Quotations". It contains some pearlers:


"It's said there were only two shades of opinion in Sir Robert's caucus: 'yes' and 'yes, sir'.
Paul East on Muldoon


"Of course he understands the ordinary New Zealander. He asks the maid, 'How are they getting on?"
Mike Moore on Doug Graham


"I always thought there was a real chance I could get to number two because I'm a number two sort of person."
Michael Cullen comments on his attributes.


And my personal favourite (because it features the deputy principal of my college.)

David Lange was speaking at a Labour fund-raising debate in Porirua. His team leader wanted to scotch the suggestion raised by their opponents that they were killjoys.
He asked, "Is there anyone here over the age of 50 who is unhappy with their sex life?"
One hand shot up. "What is you name?"
"Sister Anne," said a stong chaste voice.

You heard it here, first!

Okay, with the elections looming in 9 months ones mind is casting towards the outcome.

One thing we can be sure of is the minor parties will do better than current polling. I remember sitting in the ACT Caucus Room the day after the election was called in 2002 with the Leader and campaign manager making sure we were motivated to at least double the ACT opinion poll of 3.2% (ACT ended on 7.1% on polling night).

So I make these bold predictions:

- ACT will be back with a similar number of MPs as it currently has. (Maybe 1 or 2 less)
- National will get more votes than Labour. (But not many more)
- NZ First will be the biggest minor party.
- United Future will be back with a similar number of MPs.
- Maori Party will create an overhang by getting 1% of the popular vote and winning 5 seats.
- Progressives will have 4 MPs

One things for certain, Winston Peters is going to be the King/Queen maker. Without him, no Government will be able to be formed. Damn!

For your interest

I thought you may want to see these - these are the photos I grabbed last week of a crash on Corner Ghuznee and Victoria Streets. A police car responding to an emergency call (sirens and lights on) was T-boned by a motorist coming down Ghuznee Street. No-one was hurt, and I saw the crim getting carted away in Manners Mall later on.

Here's the Honda, with the front end damaged:



Here's the Police Car:

Hon Jim Anderton, MP for Multi-Nationals

Isn't it great that we have a Minister who campaigned against foreign ownership of New Zealand assets going into bat for (yet another) overseas owned company. Yes, in yesterdays Hutt News, Hutt City Council development manager Gary Craig credits Jim Anderton "who was able to cut through a lot of red tape and access the finding to make it all happen in a very short time frame", with obtaining $137,500 worth of funding for Orica NZ.

Orica is an Australian Multi-National, with offices in 30 countries including Australia, NZ, North America, Euope, Asia and Latin America. (Only Africa and Antartica miss out) and made a A$326 million dollar profit last year. Orica's annual revenue is A$4 billion.

Amazing how you never hear about Jim Anderton helping out the small struggling kiwi company.

New Year, new blog

Welcome to Michael's Weblog.

In just 5 months and 10 days I will be married. Right now I've done about zero planning for what the guys are going to do and about 50% of the honeymoon planning. Got to get some bookings done.

Anyway, plan for the honeymoon is:

London 1 week
SW England (Dartmoor) 1 week
North via Manchester to Edinburgh 1 week
Back to London for flight to Prague
Prague 3 nights
Krakow 2 nights
Salzburg 3 nights
Venice 3 nights
Rome 3 nights
Somewhere in southern France 1 night
Paris until we leave (probably 4 nights)
There will be a couple of days where we will be travelling long distances (Krakow to Salzburg, for instance) so that will make up the other days.

Possibly we could head to Amsterdam if we manage to squeeze an extra two days in.