Women to be asked about abuse at hospitals

Personally, I don't mind that women presenting at hospitals will be questioned about family violence and abuse. If it saves one life then it will be worth it. Already Midwives do this with all pregnant women and I'm sure that teachers, nurses and other people who work with vulnerable people act on their suspicions.

It is helpful to bear in mind that family violence is typically found among low socio-economic groups, and is usually perpetrated by men, it is not always the case. You sometimes meet families that on the surface, look as though they are perfect, but there is a dark and sinister side.

I know of one woman I worked with who had been physically mistreated - I'm not sure if there was punching, but definitely pushing and shoving over - she was married to a senior bank executive. But she did leave him (eventually).

And another was a man who was getting scratched and punched by his tiny wife - she probably was half his weight. He never hit back because he knew he could really hurt her if he did, and he never left because he was afraid that she would do it to the kids if he wasn't around.

Baroness Thatcher

Maia is getting stuck into Maggie Thatcher, celebrating that a frail, old lady is in the twilight of her life.

And while Thatcher closed uneconomic mines and put miners out of work, I don't remember her dropping concrete blocks on workers she disagreed with.

A quick look at the brilliance of Britain's best post-war PM:

The Daily Show

Last month I commented that satirical news shows like The Daily Show with John Stewart and Eating Media Lunch use politicians own words to make fun of them - so banning the use of satire from Parliamentary broadcasts was ineffectual as it was their own behaviour that makes them targets.

Well, thankfully - America John Stewart comes to the Rescue! (Although it's kinda lame)



Hat tip: DPF at Kiwiblog.

A definition of Irony

David Benson-Pope is sacked from cabinet for musing aloud that it was an error of Judgement that Hugh logan thought that Madeleine Setchell was suitable for employment - although Employment matters are not the premise of Ministers.

Helen Clark is musing aloud on Agenda TV that Hugh Logan has made a error of judgement and inferring that he should be dismissed or fall on his sword and resign - once again, Employment matters are not the premise of the Prime Minister.

Sick, sick, sick.

These people are sick. I could not imagine doing some of the things they are accused of doing.

It makes me very sad to see the ages of the people charged - two are 17, one 19 and other is 21. How all these people were raised to see a little child as they would a toy, incapable of feeling pain is beyond comprehension. Why they didn't stop the torture fellow residents and friends were inflicting but instead joined in is disturbing.

I can't think of anything redeeming about these people - if they are guilty I hope they are imprisoned for a long time.

Pay it Back! With Interest! And Penalties! And Fines! Plus go to Jail!

Labour's Northcote electorate committee have been accused of rorting their tax liabilities, by their own Treasurer.

While not explicitly outlined in the article, my pick is that the committee has been declaring income from fundraising activities as 'donations', to avoid paying a nineth of the amounts raised. But here's the rub - for these fundraising activities, the commitee would have been claiming the GST portion of the expenses they paid and getting a refund from IRD.

Because of this mistreatment, the IRD should be able to determine the amount that of GST that the Northcote Committee own and then add penalty interest on the amount owing, which will be calculated at the - according to the IRD website, the current rate 14.24%.

Plus, there are criminal penalties - the IRD Website says "Criminal offences relating to evasion include knowingly intending to evade tax by ... not making a legally required deduction or withholding of tax."

And:

"The penalty for evasion offences is imprisonment for up to five years and/or a fine of up to $50,000."

But given the current environment, in which any civil servant who is not friendly to Labour gets the boot, what's the chances of an investigation and prosecution?

Why I won't join a Union

When I was young and wanted to save the world, I joined a Union. All along I'd laboured under the impression that Unions were an insurance against being unfairly treated by your employer.

Then every three years, my union dues were spent on propaganda for the Labour Party. Every meeting one of the Union agitators would yell out "Let's Strike!" - probably in the hope that there would be an uprising and we'd overthrow the capitalists. Frankly, all this workers of the world unite under the socialist/communist jackboot made me ill, (especially as it was at the same time Europe was throwing off the shackles of socialism) so I grew up and quit the union.

So it is no surprise that the Service and Food Workers Union is using it's members to push it's communist agenda - that all Healthcare workers are employed by the Goverment. If the Union it got it's way, then all the workers it purports to represent at Spotless Services would be redundant, with no assurance that they would be able to work in the Hospital.

Why are these workers paying union dues?

Rabble Rousers, Racists and Xeonphobes

Once again the Rabble Rousers, Xenophobes and Racists are clammering against private individuals being able to sell their property to whomever they choose - this time the shareholders of Auckland Airport.

The shareholders are motivated by maximising return for themselves. They are picking the investments that give them the right mix of risk and reward. If the shareholder chooses to sell, it will because they see the rewards from selling and reinvesting will be greater than the rewards from holding onto the shares.

This is not a question of sovereignty - unless our Parliament, Cabinet and Judiciary were abolished without anyone telling me. They continue to be sovereign, and lose no power by anyone selling shareholding in Auckland Airport. If a strategic threat to New Zealand arose out of the way the airport was operated then the Government could enact legislation or issue regulation to counter that threat, right up to nationalising the Airport without compensation (As our Bill of Rights doesn't include a clause protecting private ownership).

This is not a question of strategic interests - New Zealand has another commerical airport capable of handling large passenger movements in Christchurch. And there are other International Airports in Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Dunedin and Queenstown.

Winston Peters raises an issue with Airport Security - having been through Dubai Airport the operators know about security and it will not be a problem. It's the only airport I've been to where you get x-rayed before you check-in, then x-rayed again when you go to the departure gate. And unlike New Zealand, everyone must remove their belt, shoes and jackets to be x-rayed before going through the scanner themselves.

This is not a question of the company performing against it's commercial interests in New Zealand to the benefit of the Dubai based shareholders. Companies Law, (Companies Act 1993) requires the directors of a New Zealand company must run the company in must act in good faith and in what the director believes to be the best interests of the company - not the shareholders, not the community, not the Government's policy priorities. If they fail to do so, they run the risk of fines or even imprisonment.

So what's left to object to - the fact that the buyers are:

1. Foreigners - therefore any objection is based on an irrational fear of Foreigners (which is the definition of Xenophobia.)
2. Arab - therefore aby objection is based on an irrational fear of brown-skinned people (which is a definition of Racism.)

Unfortunately, the mistruths that the Rabble Rousers, Xenophones and Racists put out about National Interest and Soverignity makes those who are ignorant of NZ Companies law afraid.

It's about time we had some intelligent debate about foreign investors, and what the difference between a foreign owner and a New Zealand owner is - the accent.

Auckland

If there is one thing I hate about going to Auckland it's that to catch the 6.30am flight you have to be up at 4.45am, and leave for the airport at 5.20am. By the middle of the afternoon all you want to do is have a nap, but you've got to keep concentrating until the day is over - and then you fly home and get home later than usual.

And then you disappear to bed by 8.00pm because you are so exhausted from the early start and from trying to pack lots of meetings and work in your day. At least what I worked on has been moved significantly along.

And another thing you can rely on in Auckland - it will rain at some point. Yesterday, it was just as the plane was taxiing to takeoff back to Wellington.

You can also rely on the traditional welcome to Wellington for all air passengers - full reverse thrust, maximum brakes.

Finished!

Just as the All Blacks were doing the Haka as well!

I'm not going to give away the ending as it was an interesting twist, although it was exactly as .......... had planned (again!)>

Just after buying the book I got approached by TV3 (who thought I looked like a Rugbyhead) and asked whether I would be reading or watching rugby. I did suggest that instead of filming me they could film Bevan as Chaucey had dressed him in a Potter outfit (complete with Harry Potter backpack that she bought off Mr Whaleoil on Trademe). They made me read from the book but it never made the final cut on the news.

Labour's next Candidate for Rimutaka

It looks like Moana Mackey will not be Rimutaka Candidate for Labour next election, but Paul Chalmers. Who?


Labour looks likely to select a candidate for the upper half of the Hutt Valley who is chairman of their Whangarei Electorate committee, their candidate at the last election in Whangarei (but not ranked on their party list), and lives in Northland "to be nearer to crayfish" - okay, but Rimutaka is a landlocked electorate, and there are not many Crays in the Hutt River.

I checked to see what I could find about Mr Chalmers - there is nothing unusual - he has previously been an education officer in a Union and now owns and runs a Private Training school in Auckland aimed at foreign students.

However, I checked out the driving distance from his home (according to a public register) to Upper Hutt, according to Wises, the shortest route is a mere 808km!

Who now for Rimutaka II?

I speculated earlier this year on who would be the candidate for the Labour Party in Rimutaka when Andrew Little stepped aside from the race.

Despite speculating on Paul Tolich, I got a response from 'Dave' who said:

"Anyone with any knowledge of the EPMU would realise that ... Paul Tolich is not going to stand in Rimutaka."

So with Swain, Tolich and Little out of the running, that leaves Moana Mackey (who lives in Petone, and has done nothing to upset anyone) and Charles Chauvel (who lives in Oriental Bay, and has done nothing to upset anyone).

Of the two, Mackey would be the more likely candidate as Rimutaka is a conservative dormotory of Wellington, whereas Chauvel would be more suited to the more cosmopolitan Wellington Central electorate.

This, of course, does not rule out a non-MP parachuting into what is a reasonably safe Labour seat.

However, I would not think that Rimutaka is a safe Labour Seat at the moment. Paul Swain was well respected as the local MP and his personal vote reflected this at the last election. With the big swing away from Labour, I would think that a strong National Party candidate would win.

Labour's sneaky spending

Is it just me, or did Labour's 'ruled okay' advertising stop being published on the 30th June - right when the validating legislation came to an end?

I think this proves that Labour was using the cover of it's own legislation (which it passed against strong opposition) to produce electioneering material.

A difference worth noting

Chris Carter could probably lay claim to being the person in New Zealand most dispised by Catholics as he is:

• an unrepentant, practising homosexual
• Was a prominent promoter of Civil Unions
• Was a prominent promoter of the reform of prostitution laws.

But when he turned up to support a Mass and rally of Iraqi Christians, he was welcomed.

Some other religions would probably have stoned (or beheaded) him on the spot.

Not Exactly Kings Cross

Spotted this at Wellington Railway Station yesterday - don't know how long it's been there!

Anyway, I did manage to see the latest Harry Potter movie - I sat next to a group of kids who obviously haven't bothered to read the books (at the end of the movie they thought Harry and Luna were an item).

I was amazed at how the plot remained reasonably intact despite vast parts of the book being cut (including all the Quidditch, ghosts, house-elfs, and St Mungos - even Hagrid gets only one scene the entire movie), but movies never live up to the original books.

Another thing I saw was that Phillip Pullman's novel the Northern Lights has been filmed (as "The Golden Compass") with Nicole Kidman playing Mrs Coulter (an inspired choice!). Presumably the Amber Spyglass and the Subtle Knife will follow next year and the year after.

Another commentator that I wouldn't usually agree with

I tend to agree with Hone Harawira that John Howard's police and welfare reforms in the Northern Territory are racist. While good intentioned, Howard's proposals are clearly targetted only at Aborigines - not at all families who have problems with alcoholism, long-term welfare dependency, and child abuse.

While Australian Aborigines do have high rates of abuse, alcohol and drug abuse, and child abuse it is more due to poverty, having no oppurtunity to improve themselves, and the self-esteem issues that follow on.

(One of the biggest barriers to ending the poverty cycle is the average Australian. More than once have I heard that the solution to "Aboriginal problems" is to "line them up against a wall and open fire".)

I'm no fan of Race Based funding - and Howard should not go down that path either. What the Australian Government should do is admit that dysfunctional families need help - regardless of race - and start programmes that will end the poverty, dependency, and abuse.

This is not how one spellz!

I know my spelling is not great, but if there is one thing that grates with me is when people substitute 's' with 'z' when they pluralise.

As an example - Winston Peters put out this press release referring to "Godzown" in the title.

It's meant to be "God's own", which is what Richard Seddon telegraphed before boarding a ship to return to New Zealand. (Although he died in transit.)

The world is not quite right today

First I agree with the thoughtful piece from Winston Peters about Fiji in today's Dominion Post. (There's a sentence I would never have thought I'd be able to say!)

Then I agree with the EU (!) that anyone who complains about "Let's Come Together" should get a sense of humour - YouTube is not a outlet that old fogey conservatives use.

Michael's Rules for investing

1. Don't invest in a company that incorparates 'Corp' in it's one word name - Equiticorp, JudgeCorp, now BridgeCorp.

2. If you don't know that a 'first ranking debenture' doesn't necessarily put you first in the queue when a finance company collapses then you deserve to lose it.

3. Finance companies generally lend money to the people the banks won't lend money to.

More of your money wasted

This arrived in the post yesterday - still inside the period set by the validating legislation. Apart from being a complete waste of time sending it to me - if the Labour Party don't know how anti-big Government I am then they (or at least the local electorate team) must be incompetent.

What this is telling me is that Labour knows it's in big trouble - in a near fatal nosedive in popularity, mismanaging its policies to make them into liabilities - and is desperate to arrest the trend.

But this also tells me that the Labour party is also broke. It must have used all its funds to repay the costs from the last election that its willing to use taxpayer funding to promote itself - the very thing that started its nosedive in the polls.