Muldoon nostalgia

With Che about to make a tidy profit out of Muldoon, I thought I’d at least get a post out of the him. 

With an election on the way what better piece of Muldoon nostalgia is there than the announcement of the 1984 election.     Whatever damage he did to New Zealand, you have to admire being able to come up with such a quick (ish) comeback while clearly three sheets to the winds.

100 Word Blog: The first six months

I’m a bit surprised I’m still going.  The 100 word limit’s helped keep my interest, harder work to write than I thought (word count – edit – word count -edit) but less content restricting.  

Looking back at my first post, I think the question of can a blog of short posts be interesting seems to be yes (if only some of the time judging by incoming links).  Certainly the word limit prevents much depth, but I’ve generally said all I’ve wanted to.

One surprise has been what turned out to be my top post, I wouldn’t have picked that one.

Obituary: National Democrats Party

While a party comprised of former National Front members was never going to win many votes, the National Democrats Party’s demise seems due to a lack of effort. Its leaders kept the National Front in the news up to 2004, but appear to have not put in the effort for their new party. Their only activities appear to have been their half-hearted local election campaign and six news releases (only found on their website); and at least one ‘politicle‘ meeting.

Also, neo-fascists that reject racism won’t appeal to the skinhead constituency.

Looks like they’ll just play soldiers instead.

Woman wants government to make life fair

An interesting case before the High Court has a sufferer of multiple sclerosis suing the government, claiming it discriminates against her by not providing equal benefits as it would to someone who was similarly debilitating injury by an accident. 

In most countries this case wouldn’t be an issue, our ACC model is rare.  In the US you’d have to be insured or be injured by someone worth suing.

Ultimately, she’s claiming that if we choose to have the benefit of universal accident compensation, the health system must provide equal services.  This seems even more arbitrary than the alleged discrimination.

Real estate industry reform

The submission by REINZ on real estate industry reform provides a number of insights into why reform is needed. 

First REINZ state they need to remain central to regulating the industry, then say the proposed Bill doesn’t go far enough in not regulating residential letting, leasing and property management.  So having failed to do a decent job of protecting consumers and lifting industry standards, REINZ wants to expand the scope of its influence!  Consumer concerns are notably absent.

The sales pitch for their submission is like a description for a do-up; overstatement combined with the main problems glossed over or ignored.    

Knights of the Sky

If you’ve had enough of vineyards while in Marlborough there are geeky thrills at the Omaka airstrip.

The Knights of the Sky exhibition isn’t your run of the mill aircraft museum.  What sets it apart are the diorama sets for many of the WW1 aircraft.  Rather than just showing the planes the museum seeks to show their role and that of their pilots in WW1.

Amongst the memorabilia related to aces such as Richthofen, there are some  New Zealand tales such as Keith Logan Caldwell’s close shave pictured below.  

I also learnt that Australians souvenired the Red Baron’s fluffy boots.

New Zealand Liberal Party

Another minnow party, another poor start.  As per usual, there’s an incomplete website that lacks the launch press release and the party’s core documents (provided on Scoop), every indication of a one man band. 

‘Party Convenor’ Jonathan Lee’s involvement in public life includes campaigning for the British SDP, multiple roles in the NZ public service, assisting the United Party in 1996 and a rather unsuccessful candidacy in the recent DHB elections. 

The party’s policies are largely detailed in its draft NZ Constitution.  NRT gives an overview of some of its interesting policies, including radical changes to the structure of government.  

Don’t let the scammers win!

As my contribution to Fraud Awareness Week I would like to repeat the message, if you get an email from a Nigerian scammer just delete it and don’t reply.   But if you must reply, get them to send you pictures of them doing stupid stuff.

Like holding up signs with ’secret security phrases’ relating to your local pub – The Golden Shower and The Buck in these cases.

Or even better, say you can’t send them money until they are initiated into your church – the Young Madonna Catholic Agency.

Neo-fascists give up

Economic and social liberals will be pleased to know that New Zealand now has no active neo-fascist political parties.  Although over the past few years they’ve been easy to ignore.  

The National Front appears to have been largely inactive since the departure of Kyle Chapman.  Kyle’s latest political venture, the National Democrats Party, has now ‘given up’ due to lack of support.  The party’s only activity had been standing two candidates (in Canterbury of course) in the 2007 local body elections.  They did very poorly.

All in all, it’s good to see we lack motivated skinheads in New Zealand.

The Kiwi Party: Acting the goat

 The Kiwi Party’s tactics are hard to fathom. 

I think they have two points of difference.  One, they’re Christian (and not followers of Bishop Brian) and, two, their leader is instrumental in organising the anti-section 59 petitions.

Their less than overt Christianity leaves chasing the same voters as NZ First or UnitedFuture; but without a high profile leader.

Not revolving their campaign around the anti-section 59 movement and petitions leaves them, again, undifferentiated from established parties.

And what’s Copeland doing wasting his parliamentary time with goats?  That’ll win fewer votes than ‘Save the labradoodle‘.