Challispoint

At last! Some good news on the housing front. We need to be working to halve the price of homes and stop using them as the country's most important business. Perhaps we could invest in export generation, instead of selling each other houses.

Alternative story: Highly skilled team, using very expensive equipment, do what they have been trained to do.

The Western economy in one sentence - "We're planning to increase our revenue - while decreasing our number of people".

And they look nothing like that when they are mature.

The sad thing for me is that he is right. The "unit standard" basis for NCEA is not what's needed, but his proposals will make the problem worse not better. Kids need to be prepared for the future, not be more accurately measured against yesterday's standards.

Sorry - wasn't I supposed to say anything?

And he conveniently forgets that the exploration planned for the Southern Basin was halted well before the ban. The cost/benefit didn't stack up, even if they had found gas.

Shhhh - don't tell them about the new RED kiwifruit. Then everyone will want one and we'll miss out.

I know that all exploration stopped in the Southern Basin well before the exploration ban came into place.

Please tell me that hat has been photoshopped on! Surely a New Zealand government minister hasn't descended this low?

I think I must have got yours - as I received two.

No one is interested in your prejudices. Go away.

So, I can't have a sausage after voting but Seymour can accept hundreds of thousands from tobacco companies? If I can be bribed with a sausage, what does he give for his bribe?

Otago once attracted the brightest students from round the world - who made a huge contribution to New Zealand's economy in return for a tiny scholarship. There were literally hundreds of valuable research projects which generated millions in income - with long term benefits. Gone.

I understand the Coalition of Cruelty have just released their housing plan for the homeless - or people who chose an alternative lifestyle according to Seymour.

Many of us have you sane Americans constantly in our thoughts. I can't imagine what you are going through. It's bad enough from here.

I certainly include the "u". Don't want to be considered American.

Only some of us live in hobbit houses. Many of us have to get by with orc caves. Not so many bloody flowers.

I was a reporter for the local paper at the time and was in absolute awe of Marilyn. I had never met anyone so thoughtful, intelligent, well-read, capable and caring. She should have finished up our first woman Prime Minister.

I still feel this whole thing is a distraction. The farmers get $5 for 500gms milk solid. Fonterra turns that into butter and sells for the bulk price of $6.25. The supermarket retails for about $7.50 and adds $1.50 GST which it sends to the government. Who makes the most?

As with so many of this government's policies - it lacks any understanding of business or finance. Businesses have to recover the $160m the banks charge. That money comes from customers or their income. No wonder businesses have lost faith in the Coalition - they lose either way. So do we.

"The trial is simply looking at the potential for using images gathered by these cameras to be used as proof of the location of a particular vehicle at a point in time." What could that info be used for I wonder?

Easy street - I think it's more that their culture. As an old white guy, it genuinely thrills me to see politicians who still understand that they are in parliament to represent their constituents. Not their party structure, not their power grab and not the cash which has bought their votes.

I guess I am your generation Hippie Grandpa. I didn't get free school lunch either but my parents did get Family Benefit - paid tax free for every kid every week, a 3% State Advances mortgage, fixed for 30 years on a house which cost less than two years of dad's wages. Want me to go on?

But remember - 15% of the sale price in New Zealand goes to Nicola in GST.

More excellent policy from this government to reduce the cost of living and improve health, education and housing. What I would say to you, is that it's good to see that at last, we have a government which knows what is really important to the average Kiwi battler.

It's all part of the Coalition of Cruelty's laser focus on the cost of living, improving health and reducing housing issues. It must be - that's what they promised to do before the election.

I know it's not a cargo bike - but close. In Vietnam earlier this year.

Oh - I certainly get the environmental concerns as I live in Canterbury. I'm just saying that the price of butter is being used a distraction away from this government's failure to act as good stewards of our resources - like people, land, water and air.

Can't see what's wrong with America's hormone pumped patties from processed-food fed beef living in factory farms. They sound delicious.