John Key's "Positioning" Speech

John Key's speech today sets out a position that the left should be uncomfortable about - Key is reminding them that National is not the mythical heartless, cruel beast they spend a lot of time telling all those who listen. National's vision is for "a safe, prosperous and successful New Zealand that creates opportunities for all New Zealanders to reach their personal goals and dreams". And amen to that.

(Incidentally, Labour's first objective in it's constitution is "to elect competent men and women to Parliament and local authorities through free elections for the purpose of giving effect to Party policy and principles".)

I'm encouraged by most of the speech was spent dealing with those who are persistantly poor and have no options to change their lifestyle. Most middle-class New Zealaners would be shocked if they went to Cannons Creek every day (and night) to see teenagers hanging around with nothing to do. And the devil makes work for idle hands.

As a positioning speech, this is an encouraging sign for National and it's aspirations for 2008 - it's a less controversial tone than Don Brash's Orewa Speeches - and it shows that while National is known as being strong on economic and law and order policies, it is also willing to tackle harder social problems that other parties gloss over.

Cuteness Alert!

Bevan's Blog. It's not all cute though, there's the full story of his birth, complete with gross bits.

And here's Bevan doing hiccups.

Affordable Housing in Wellington

Picking up on my earlier post about the unwillingness of today's generation to be realistic about home buying, here is ten homes for sale right now in the Wellington region that I would at least ring the agent and look at if was looking to buy a home for less than $250,0000:

Wainuiomata - contact Jit Govind.


Akatarawa - contact Nina Guthrie



Kelson - contact Trevor Adams


Birchville - contact


Stokes Valley - contact Jessie Batchelor


Fairfield - contact Oscar Davies


Trentham - contact Phil Cooke


Kelson - Contact Trevor Adams


Fairfield - Contact Natasha Gilmour


Ascot Park - Contact Glenn Miller


Okay, these aren't in Thorndon, Karori, Miramar or Brooklyn - but if you were wanting a first home in these suburbs you'd be dreaming anyway. These houses would get you into the property market, build some equity and then think about upgrading to more fashionable suburbs.

UPDATE: It looks like the Trentham property has sold! Oh well, that's still nine to look at.

Buy multi-national cereals - for the sake of your kids health!

Having just returned from the supermarket, I made time to compare the nutritional information on a number of childrens cereals. My interest was a result of this article.

I can report that the Nestle Milo Cereal is just under one third sugar - the info is available online here (on the Nestle Australia website).

But does anyone want to guess which product, not in the survey, was right next to it and was almost 50% sugar?

Hubbards "Bugs'n'Mud" - for every 100gms of cereal, there is 46.7gms of sugar.

But somehow, Hubbards manages to claim that his cereal has less energy - only 1600kj per 100 grams versus the Nestle Milo Cereal's 1670kj per 100 grams.

Interesting!

Unaffordable Housing? Or A No Saving Lifestyle?

Much is being made of the latest report saying New Zealand's urban housing is among the most expensive, relative to average New Zealand incomes. When you strip back all the spin there is one reason for this - Demand for housing is exceeding supply.

What won't make housing more affordable is the Government providing low (or no)deposit housing loans or savings schemes with cash bonuses for first home buyers. All that does is increase demand, so any gains will be wiped out after a year or two. The only winners will be those who already own a house.

People who make out that our generation can't afford housing should ask their parents about how they got their first homes.

One solution parents did was to buy their first houses that weren't in fashionable addresses in Brooklyn or Khandallah. They bought in cheaper areas like Wainuiomata and Porirua. They then paid off the mortgages (yes, plural) and used the increased equity to buy in the better suburbs. And you can still buy houses for under $200,000 in those areas!

The next step is to stop putting your hand out, live a more frugal lifestyle and save your pennies - while trips around Europe and to lie on some Asian beach are good fun, that money can be saved for a deposit. Once you are in your own home the holidays can begin. Our parents rarely went out for dinner, grew their own vegetables and ate home made sandwiches for lunch - all money savers that are less commonly done nowadays.

But if you're not willing to put the hard yards into saving then you can't expect to get into your own home.

A final piece of advice is to look at how much the Government takes from your pay-check. And think how you could save every year if they took a bit less.

Labour pays, Winston delays ...

Congrats to the Labour Party for raising half the funds it needs in the "Big Whip Round" to refund taxpayers for the Pledge Card and other election material charged to Parliamentary Services.

According to my maths, the 5% MP salary levy should have only raised just over $100,000 so that means up to $300,000 as been raised through other methods. Although, some MPs may have just paid the total 5% of salary upfront. (Only the stupid ones - I'd leave it in my Bank Account earning interest and wait until it was due before handing over.)

On the other hand, I see Winston Peters and NZ First are still disputing the amount. The article claims NZ First are still in discussion with their lawyers before deciding what steps to take.

Personally, I think that's bullshit. Peters and NZ First wouldn't be running up big legal bills when they know the decision to pay back Parliamentary Services is primarily a political one. I bet Winston Peters will be hoping that the story goes away quietly before anyone asks for proof it's been refunded.

Chainsaw for Sale

I disagree with TradeMe's decision to withdraw Mike Smith's infamous chainsaw from sale. I feel that the on-line poll that was conducted was a kneejerk reaction against Mike Smith, his politics, and his actions.

There is no legal barrier to the sale of the chainsaw. While it was used in the commission of a crime, it had been returned to the owner by the police. Plus it was Mike Smith, not the chainsaw's owner, that attacked the Pine on One Tree Hill.

I have very little, if any, political outlook to Mike Smith. His beliefs and goals are probably the direct opposite of mine. One of my beliefs is that censoring something that cannot injure another person is wrong. Another is that property should be able to be freely traded.

While I respect TradeMe owns the method of trade and has the absolute right to determine who can use their services, I believe there has been an over-reaction by cancelling the on-line auction in this case.

In Memory of Jan Palach

Today is the 38th Anniversary of the death of Jan Palach.

Palach died of injuries caused by self-immolation on 16th January 1969 protesting against the Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia in Prague's main square.

Lest we forget.

On Bail

It disturbs me that Tony Takiari is out on bail, as he has admitted to raping a disabled girl to fill in the time it took his takeaways to be cooked.

Takiari is going to jail - I can't see how a rapist will get a community sentence - so why leave him in the community until he his sentenced in March?

England wins ...

Did you know that "Andrew Flintoff" is an anagram of "Dwarf let off inn" and "Michael Vaughan" can be rearranged to "Vagina Heal Much".

No, I'm not upset.

Random thoughts ...

Why is every article about rising petrol have a soundbite from Jeanette Fitzsimmons or Greenpeace about how we're running out of oil, but when petrol falls 40c (not including the up to 10c Supermarket discount) in since October no-one asks them for comment?

And why haven't the Greens put out a press release about "Peak Oil" for 3 months, co-incidentally when Petrol started falling in price?

UPDATE: Russell Norman gave his 'State of the Planet' speech today and didn't use the phrase 'Peak Oil' once!

Brett Lee Strikes Fear into the Hearts of Music Lovers Everywhere (and an Indian Mother-in-Law)

Brett Lee was known as one of the worlds fastest pace bowlers, using speed as an intimidaing weapon against batsmen the world over. Until this:



Unbelievable! What was he thinking?

Police Cars Everywhere!

Yesterday afternoon was spent with hundreds of police cars whizzing up and down the street. I wondered what was going on until the breaking news report came on at 9pm and annoucned Graeme Burton had been captured.

This morning I see Burton was captured in Summit Road, which is less than 100 metres from our home. I can see the firebreak he was captured on from the backdoor. Scary!

But what is more scary is that Burton was let out of prison at all. You read the media reports quoting associates and it sends a chill down your spine. How could a reporter easily dig up these people at short notice when the Parole Board couldn't do it when they must have known about his hearing for months?

Inciting Murder and Racial Hatred

In February, Umran Javed led a protest outside the Danish Embassy over the infamous Mohammed cartoons. He led the crowd in chanting "Bomb, Bomb, USA. Bomb, Bomb, Denmark."

Today he was convicted in the Old Bailey of inciting murder and racial hatred.

Below is his speech from that day, as reported by The Times:

"My dear Muslim brothers and sisters, we need to understand why we are here today. To declare that we will not stand for what Denmark did . . . We will not stand for what France, for what Europe, for what the whole of the disbelievers and the Western world are united for.

"You have declared war against Allah and his Messenger. You have declared war against the Muslim community, for which you will pay a heavy price. Take lesson of Theo van Gogh. Take lesson of the Jews of Khaybar. Take lessons for what you can see, for you will pay with your blood. Denmark, you will pay. Denmark, you will pay, you will pay. With your blood, with your blood, with your blood. Bomb, bomb Denmark. Jihad is the path of God.

Democracy, hypocrisy. Democracy go to hell. Denmark go to hell. Freedom go to hell. Bomb, bomb Denmark. Denmark watch your back. Zarqawi is coming back. Bomb, bomb USA. Bomb, bomb Denmark."

Bevan Lachlan Ellis

Born Yesterday (1st January 2007) at 7.31pm at Hutt Hospital.