Dont like to sound heartless, however as others have pointed out, there are many people who would like the house they grew up in, however are not in a position to do so. And when people die, other people (strangers) move in. Very few are taken over by family. Regardless of whether the home was owned or rented. And this does look like a home that could be useful to families of over 3 people, regardless of fact it is only 3 bedrooms. And I suspect this lady would also like to keep it for life also, despite the fact that her children are not likely to stay more than 5-6 years.
How can a guy with that attitude be the technical directer of football in this country? It suggests he does not have the skills to coach an allround gameplan. NZ football should buy him a one-way ticket - to anywhere.
This is what I suspected all along. Give the surfaces a good wash with sugar soap, and if necessary paint with a pigmented sealer, and its fine. Carpets could be replaced if usage was heavy. Unless it has been used as a meth lab, thats something else. So who is going to pay compensation to people who have spent a fortune on unnecessary remediation, or sold their houses dirt cheap as meth contaminated?
ha, you had me for a moment with that headline. I was thinking geez, did not know that Shane Jones was that rich! Now I understand that it is us taxpayers who have lent this business some money. Hope that they are good for it.
cant recall anything difficult about that road when I was down there. Used by a lot of buses now. Could run a ferry from Kingston - that would be spectacular. And central to a lot of SI attractions. And Invercargill. People need to think outside the square.
I cannot understand all this garbage saying Akira Ioane needs to give up & go overseas. he is a 23yr old with huge potential, and some work-ons. Nonu and Kaino were the same at a similar young age, they worked on their work-ons and became great All Blacks. Even if he misses next years world cup, and he is by no means out of the picture, there is 2023 and 2027 that he still could make. There are only 2 specialist 8s ahead of him, Reid is 31 and Whitelock 27, he could quite possibly overtake the latter during 2019. And Reid wont be around for 2023, he is slowing down now.
This is like Lotto where the prizes are paid by the taxpayer, and the tickets are free if you are not too rich or too poor. The winners have an immediate equity gain. In the case referred to, the winners of the lotto may not have been in a position to buy a reasonable house in Auckland right now, however they had very strong prospects that would not be the case in future. Not quite what we were expecting, and I am not clear on how this is working to solve the housing problem. The govt will say they are building 100k extra new houses, I doubt that they are extra to what would be built anyway.
Why I will not buy an EV. 1) Can only afford a weird looking old Leaf with limited range. 2) Garage full of other rubbish so cant charge it there. 3) Cuing in public with a gaggle of Leaf owners & then 30 mins to charge would make me suicidal. 3) Current ICE car costs 20-25 a week in fuel in town, and when I go on long trips (500k plus a few times a year) will run all day maybe one quick stop . 4) Would have to become a self righteous EV fan boy and at the mo think I can still beat them so dont need to join them, yet.
One of the most bizarre claims was the Mitchell is somehow responsible for the ABs ability to shift from defense to attack. And this was the guy who sacked the greatest counter-attacking fullback in NZ history. Ans as Barnes has pointed out, he has achieved nothing since.
Unfortunately there are people who make up their mind about a player & then take a trench warfare approach to defending their position, as if admitting they were wrong is a personal failure. I think admitting you were wrong sometimes is a sign of strength, I sometimes even have to resort to it occassionally with the wife. OK, OK, fairly regularly.
I think what is missing from the understanding here is that there is, to every public holiday, a recognition of an element of history and tradition that is important to society and the nation. This would be lost if everyday was the same. I understand that he is proposing replacing 9 of the days with an extra 9 days annual leave, but no Christmas, no Labour day, Queens Birthday etc., how boring. Regardless of personal views or religous afilliation etc, these all represent something that have had a significant influence on where we have now got to as a society. Personally, I think we should look at Parihaka day.
I say that you have no understanding of the proud history of the NZ Maori Rugby team, and no understanding either of the difference between a team picked to enhance the mana of an indigenous minority, and a team picked to place one race of people in a superior position to another. As a pakeha NZer, I am a proud supporter of the NZ Maori rugby team, they represent more than Maori, they represent us as New Zealand.
If we are going to play the definition game, Political is described as relating to governmental or public affairs of a country; done to gain power or influence in an organisation. In my view gangs are very much political, in that they aim to gain social and public influence. They do not put out candidates for election, neither does the Taliban. They just want control through violence, intimidation, and other means. Sounds like a terrorist outfit to me, lets call evil for what it is.
I am amazed that I have never heard of this before, & that it seems from the comments below that there is a massive variation in their approach. Some it is a one off, others three or five years, some want a weeks information others want information over a full year. Can take anything from 15 minutes to 5 hours. Makes me wonder how accurate the summation of the data provided can be, and how useful the results.
yeah I am a huge fan of mac & think he has equal potential at first five but we need 3 for a world cup & I think Mounga also needs development opportunities at test level, so I would go for him & have mac still off the bench.
I think if any of us were beneficiaries of the estate, we would expect the executors to get what the market says it is worth. Could be someone who just needs that boost to get into their own home.
Thats is great, but after what he was doing for North Harbour last year,the question has to be asked why the Blues did not snap him up from the beginning. Part of the reason probably is that there is such a race to sign squads before the rep season really starts, that first year rep players who are making an impression do not get a look in. And I suspect he would not have got so far with the Blues, Carl Hoeft would have had a lot of input at the Chiefs.
Good question. Australia lose 2 games out of 3 to Ireland (could have gone either way), and England lose 2 games out of 3 to SA (convincingly). Ireland are rated higher than SA. So how are England suddenly higher than either Australia or SA? And how have Ireland closed the gap on the ABs when they only won 2/3 in the series (just), when the ABs convincingly won all 3 games? Agreed Aus were more difficult than France, but???
ACT have always had a reasonably strong rugby following, have won the comp before, and were historically no. 3 in Aus behind Queensland & NSW. For that reason I disagree, felt that the Rebels should have gone since rugby has no visibility in Melbourne, and it was probably only contractual issues that caused it to work out the way it has. I agree the Force should never have been kicked out.
The cases you have referred to may relate to properties that were used as meth Labs, or where usage was heavy and have not had proper cleaning or replacement of soft surfaces. There may also be other reasons for health issues.
Nothing at all wrong with you taking your $200 a month power bill. However some people have to make choices, like for example, saving $150 a month on power, or not eating.
Well fair enough, I can see that is a real problem. If only 1 team, they have no development pathway of their own. And players who may be late developers are left out of the system, which is a serious problem for Auckland and NZ rugby. You have changed my mind on the issue.
Cannot comment on the others but Queen Charlotte is sensational. Why are they only looking at adding 1? No reason why not to add 3 and share the tourism benefits around, if they all pass the standard required.
Why? It means two people can go to the toilet at the same time, or if someone is in the shower, another person can go. What I dont understand is ensuites. Who wants to have their partner going to the toilet 2 feet away from where they are sleeping?
Midfield is becoming a concern & we have been comprehensively outplayed there by both SA & Aus. SBW looks on the decline, Crotty maybe too but he is a better 2nd/5. ALB is also a 2nd/5 in my opinion. If Goodhue is not back in 2 weeks perhaps should use Ioane at center, or Proctor but I have never quite seen why he is so highly rated by some. TJ Faiane & that young Waikato center look great in Mitre10 but they need to bring it first in Super rugby of course.
Many people share common names and are not scarred for life. I joined a company once where half the female staff seemed to share one name. None of them seemed concerned about it. Self worth is not determined by having a unique name. I like names that have history (especially family connection) and meaning, and deteste the current trend to make up new and often absurd names in an attempt to be unique. They are just a noise, and sometimes also a joke.
Look it is free in Gisborne, I can understand from comments why there is some charge in Auckland but really should not link it to other central city car parks which are run by businesses making a profit. It is easy to offer discounts for genuine hospital visitors, like they do at Waikato.Auckland is a disgrace.
Coltman & Drummond both deserved better than 5s. Coltman has actually played very well in his limited opportunities this year & to me looks better than Harris. Funny thing is, I have never rated him that highly from super rugby. Hemapo may be a bit small for lock against top tier teams, but he sure is a rugged fella. Bridge is good on attack but needs to improve his D.
I dont have sympathy for residents moaning about the rugby & cricket, because that was there when the bought their houses. I do understand though the objections to extending it to an entertainment venue, that is something new. Not sure there is any spiritual connection to the site, and even as a rugby supporter it is hard to see as the center of the rugby universe. I think they have to move on, as they have with Cardiff Arms Park, Athletic Park, and many other iconic venues. Leave the past in the past, it only stays on in memories.
Eales is right. The best team does not always win knockout competitions. The ABs do lose occasionaly. And if one of those occasions happens to be a world cup knockout .game, it could go to any of the other teams in the top 8. Including Australia. So I do not think their prospects are particularly bright, but not non-existent.
I think sometimes we get locked into the past about a player, without thinking about potential or where they are now. We all used to write off Tuangafasi. The fact is, the Canes scrum has not been too bad, and it did hold the Crusaders for a while. He may just be the third best available right now at TH, & a reasonable long term bet. Meeuws was a bit of a beast himself for the ABs, & I would trust his judgement. You have an anology, however wingers generally do not get faster, props do get stronger & better technique.
I would not dispute that old cars are not as safe as new. However, 50% of deaths & injury in cars 15 years and older. Average age of cars in NZ 14 years. So where is the statistical correlation they are trying to make? I suspect an issue may be that newer cars are easier to drive and feel safe at higher speeds. Plus the high number of tanks, I mean SUVs & utes, on our roads. Not safe to hit any of those head on at virtually any speed.
Nothing wrong with this, they are providing a service for people who are on holiday themselves but want houses and pets looked after. Called a win-win arrangement. And not taking up a house someone else could live in. Might take it up myself on retirement -just need a caravan to live in between house sits.
I am going to go against the flow here. Regardless of intent, having your legs taken out when you are jumping for the ball and landing on your head is a damn dangerous part of the game. Someone could get paralysed or killed. So it is quite a simple formula when chasing a high kick, eitherjumpfor the ball so that your body is on the same level as the other guy, or make sure that you stay well away from someone who is. How a team is penalised for the event, and whether a substituteshould be allowed after 10 mins is arguable, however the ref followed the rules & the guidlines set out by the IRB, and as he made clear was left with no choice but a red card in those circumstances.
I dont hate him, in fact I rate him quite highly. However, he has had no game time for three months and historically needs some game time to get up to speed. And the guys playing in his place are going very very well. So I do not see why he does not get a couple of mitre10 cup games, like everyone else who comes back from long term injury seems to be told they need.
All teams strive to play the perfect defensive games, and to pounce on opposition mistakes. 6 tries to 1 indicate they are quite good at that, and you have an unusual definition of boring. They have said themselves that they were a disappointed in their attacking play off forward dominance. So, yes, room for improvement in some areas. God help any team if they do strike a perfect game, and it will not be a close contest so you will think that a bit boring. Do you think they should throw a few tries away if they think they are getting away from a close contest? Stop tackling & let the opposition score some? Last game was pretty easy so we wont train much this week? If the opposition makes a mistake give the ball back? What will make you happy?
Have to wonder about the wisdom of Council accepting this contract. Would have to ask who is going to do the work?. They have undercut locals, so it is going to be far too expensive to send skilled people from Auckland. Skilled locals have already been priced out. They are going to want to pay peanuts, and we all know who you get if you pay peanuts.
I cannot believe those costs for such a small stadium. At least the Council gets back the 2.7 to 3.8m in consent fees. Really, how many man hours (sorry person hours) does that represent? Even at say $200 an hour (which is a rip off), that is ten years work or more. Really?
If a Linux operating system is too techy for someone, it is still easy to download a free version of an open office equivalent of Microsoft Works. Apache is good, and it has all the spreadsheet and writing functionality you need for home. Operates fine on a Windows Operating system, most people dont need to pay the extra for MWorks. Can even open & save files in MW formats (eg Excel)
Bruce Robertson is still the greatest of all AB centers in my opinion. All of the intelligence for the position that Smith had, but much much faster, close to Cullen. Most wingers he played with had trouble keeping close, but he would make them look so good if they could.
In fact, I would go so far as to say Goodhue is the only centre in the squad right now. Laumape, SBW, ALB, & Crotty are all second fives, with the latter two having enough utility value to cover off the bench.
Playing politics. Have been getting so much stick about price differentials that for now they are passing it on to the national price - the price Wgtn & SI pay. It has not dropped by much where I am either. So we cannot complain too much, however the average drop is not the 28c they are getting credit for here. Just the games they play between us.
Highly doubtful counter attack is an old concept, it is just NZ does it a bit better at the moment than anyone else because they have good confident decision makers. And if so, how has it taken Aus 16 years to catch up onto it especially since they had Deans for a good while after that. Slow learners? And why has it not been seen so effectively in Mitchells other appointments since then? Is he angling for Mitchell to take over from Cheika after 2019? Good luck with that.
The only thing I would be concerned about if renting a property was that the applicant is not one of these people who is constantly going into unauthorised overdraft and having payments bounced back. So if you apply for a benefit, Winz staff look at your bank statements. So do the bank staff if you apply for a bank loan. Dont have to provide it, but you dont get the benefit or the loan if you dont. So why would you not show landlord or their agent? What are they going to do with it? If I wanted to rent a property & thought showing my bank statement would help, I would definately show them.
Yes lets become a republic & then we could ask Trump to be President after US kick him out. Then spend the millions on security to stop some lunatic shooting him. Or not. Point is - always something to waste money on, so lets welcome the manuhiri tuarangi.
Agreed, except I do not see a weakness in the positions you have identified. SBW is out of form, but to be fair he has only had 2 part games after a lengthy lay-off. I hope if his form does not improve, they will move past him. In my view, Crotty, ALB, Laumape are all 2nd fives. Goodhue is only real center in squad, Aso or Proctor may be needed as back-up. The depth at Blindside is just ridiculous at the moment, but perhaps just missing a bit of experience behind Squire. Would not like to see multiple injuries at 1st five if Cameron is no4.
To be fair, Brodes looks like a lumbering giant but he covers the ground pretty quick. And from where the 13 was, his name would have to have been Usain Bolt to have a hope of making up that difference in ground. But would have looked better if he tried anyway. Perhaps.
Mitchell does deserve some credit for recognising past mistakes, and acknowledging he was too young for the AB appointment. However, I think Jones is clutching at straws here claiming he has improved every team he was associated with. Western Force, a couple of goes with SA sides, USA international team? He has made no impression with any of them, and Barnes is entirely correct.
Confirms my feelings. However, who is suggesting low income households should subsidise rich greenies for power, and why? It is like this hoo-ha over EVs. Only the relatively rich can afford them, and they pay no RUC while the low income earners, who cannot afford them, do pay RUC plus high costs & taxes on their fuel.
Might want to sell due to a change in financial circumstances or priorities, or because of concern over the changes the Labour govt are making to the laws.
Yes I can see why SBW appealed to AB selectors, I was willing to forgive a couple of patchy performances coming off a long injury break, however his pace was always marginal at best and if he has lost a bit of it as it appears, he is a busted flush. I disagree with you and the AB selectors, I think ALB is better at 2nd 5. Would be happy with ALB/Goodhue or Crotty/Goodhue, perhaps the latter combo presents more experience at this point. Anyway, we are agreed about SBW.
Two big boys in the midfield I like that combo but would have been tempted to include Crotty beside Goodhue to give him a player he is familiar with in his test debut. I think it is an exciting looking backline but combinations could be a bit unfamiliar.
It could also be that they were over-trained as part of Cheikas brutal fitness training leading up to the 1st test. As any marathon runner knows, you need to allow enough time to wind down the training before the race.
I think that the issue with fleet buyers, why they buy autos for safety reasons, is that the have a lot of drivers who are unused to or even unable to drive manuals. I do not think that autos are inherently safer. I know what nick.aldwell is saying about the feeling of control, however you do need to have an understanding of when to change gears which if you have not learned in a manual is difficult.
There is literally no way to pass any legislation that cannot be changed by the next government. A constitution would be the closest - however we dont have one & this is hardly a constitutional issue anyway.
That is a very good question. There is a lack of transparency in this process, and no clear proof all costs have been allocated. My view is that property development is a very tricky business, and a lot of developers get into a lot of trouble. I have no confidence that the government has the skills to manage this business on behalf of tax payers.
Presumably that was the tactics they were given, however the other question I have from reading this is why is not J Kriel starting rather than cover? I have not taken any notice of their selections or watched the game, however I would have thought hard to leave out. Similar with Kolbe & le Roux -who was starting in their place?
Pretty much all either ABs, playing for someone else (Zac Mercer is in England squad!), or retired or injured. hard to see your point. Certainly not omissions.
It is not a weird reason really. He appears to be slightly small to compete against SA & other tier1 nations at lock. Has been played at 6 previously by Hanson, however stepped into lock here because Romano was injured. He appears to play well above his weight however, so perhaps this may be re-evaluated.
Reply to CHL - there was nothing in Beatles post denying climate change is happening. However, in this case Beatle is quite right. I grew up in Hawkes Bay & the Haumoana beachfront properties were notorious 50 years ago for getting pounded like this in a storm. I am surprised they were not gone 40 years ago.
Without an unlimited budget, you cannot keep everyone. And cant do anything about injuries. These guys deserve their chance based upon fronting up over the super rugby season, and wont let us down. Who would you pick in their place? KT looks like he will be an AB for some time. I think you can pack your alarm bells away.
The point is that if we were awarded a dubious penalty at the last minute to win a game, we would kick the dumb thing. So I cannot see the objection to winning the game by a drop goal. Next time we are 30 points ahead, we need to repeatedly practice the forwards setting up the boys up for a drop goal in front and all kickers have a practice. Instead of scoring another 3 tries. BB has never kicked one, so obviously he had no confidence to try in a pressure situation. They need to get over that.
Actually you used to spend less than half that amount on fuel, the rest you used to pay in additional taxes. And, if everyone changes to electric, the gummit will quickly work out a way of getting it back off us. I would love to give the gas companies & gummit the bird & get an electric car. But I live in Gisborne & my Civic uses $20 a week around town. then if I go to Auckland or New Plymouth can drive straight there with no undue stops or range anxiety. So does not make sense for everybody.
Bastaraeud has been spending a lot of game time outside of Nonu over the last couple of years and I think he will be a far better player than he was last time he was here. And they improved consistently through the 6 nations, so I think they will be a fair challenge, the ABs will have to be on top of their game.
You are correct, he was & still is a young guy & I thought that his stint in the last test was an improvement. Aumuas potential is just huge but there are question marks about how quickly he will harness that. I would throw Ricitelli in that mix & say that our cover at third hooker is not looking too shabby.
Surprising the Aussies have not stolen it. Must be better than being young and fair and girt by sea. Ask an 82 year old Aboriginal living in the desert in central Australia how they feel about that!
Sad, not being allowed inside means it can only be priced at a total demolition & rebuild. It could be worth a restoration, but who would know? So as others have pointed out, they are reducing the sale price which will work against the owner. Cutting off yer nose to spite yer face, as it used to be known. And if people think they will have legal costs to get the occupier out, that will reduce the price further.
Dont know why you have all those downvotes. Clearly manufacturers only care what drives buyers of new cars. And plenty of buyers of new cars are buying cvts. Otherwise, manufacturers would not continue making them. Personally, I think the haters are living in the 1990s. I actually enjoy driving my wifes Honda Jazz.
Yeah you are right it is less than ideal and I am a dumb old fella. However, in my defense he has played in that position before for the Blues, he has the skills a shown in offload for Barretts try, and our other wing options are not bad. And from where I am sitting, sticking with what is not working, or introducing a guy who has never been in the system before, may be slightly dumber alternatives. Lets just hope Goodhue is back and fully recovered from his illness.
Woman's request to swap her state house for childhood home declined
Dont like to sound heartless, however as others have pointed out, there are many people who would like the house they grew up in, however are not in a position to do so. And when people die, other people (strangers) move in. Very few are taken over by family. Regardless of whether the home was owned or rented. And this does look like a home that could be useful to families of over 3 people, regardless of fact it is only 3 bedrooms. And I suspect this lady would also like to keep it for life also, despite the fact that her children are not likely to stay more than 5-6 years.
Abby Erceg reveals why she 'couldn’t stand to wear that fern on my chest any more'
How can a guy with that attitude be the technical directer of football in this country? It suggests he does not have the skills to coach an allround gameplan. NZ football should buy him a one-way ticket - to anywhere.
The meth house is a myth: Theres no risk from drug smoking residue, Govt report finds
This is what I suspected all along. Give the surfaces a good wash with sugar soap, and if necessary paint with a pigmented sealer, and its fine. Carpets could be replaced if usage was heavy. Unless it has been used as a meth lab, thats something else. So who is going to pay compensation to people who have spent a fortune on unnecessary remediation, or sold their houses dirt cheap as meth contaminated?
Government and district councils to finance Whakapapa gondola
ha, you had me for a moment with that headline. I was thinking geez, did not know that Shane Jones was that rich! Now I understand that it is us taxpayers who have lent this business some money. Hope that they are good for it.
All Blacks glamour boys Beauden and Jordie Barrett join the 'mullet movement'
Thats not a mullet just an old school haircut like my dad had. Liam has a mullet. It has to be long at the back not just short on the sides.
Mixed response to call for new Central Otago airport
cant recall anything difficult about that road when I was down there. Used by a lot of buses now. Could run a ferry from Kingston - that would be spectacular. And central to a lot of SI attractions. And Invercargill. People need to think outside the square.
Poll: Record-high 60 per cent disapprove of Trump
Trump is very certainly not the second coming, my concern is the number of people who seem to think that he is.
Ex-England captain: Supersized All Blacks squad 'smart thinking' by Steve Hansen
I cannot understand all this garbage saying Akira Ioane needs to give up & go overseas. he is a 23yr old with huge potential, and some work-ons. Nonu and Kaino were the same at a similar young age, they worked on their work-ons and became great All Blacks. Even if he misses next years world cup, and he is by no means out of the picture, there is 2023 and 2027 that he still could make. There are only 2 specialist 8s ahead of him, Reid is 31 and Whitelock 27, he could quite possibly overtake the latter during 2019. And Reid wont be around for 2023, he is slowing down now.
KiwiBuild: Not for low-income families, says Housing Minister
This is like Lotto where the prizes are paid by the taxpayer, and the tickets are free if you are not too rich or too poor. The winners have an immediate equity gain. In the case referred to, the winners of the lotto may not have been in a position to buy a reasonable house in Auckland right now, however they had very strong prospects that would not be the case in future. Not quite what we were expecting, and I am not clear on how this is working to solve the housing problem. The govt will say they are building 100k extra new houses, I doubt that they are extra to what would be built anyway.
How much will an EV really cost to run?
Why I will not buy an EV. 1) Can only afford a weird looking old Leaf with limited range. 2) Garage full of other rubbish so cant charge it there. 3) Cuing in public with a gaggle of Leaf owners & then 30 mins to charge would make me suicidal. 3) Current ICE car costs 20-25 a week in fuel in town, and when I go on long trips (500k plus a few times a year) will run all day maybe one quick stop . 4) Would have to become a self righteous EV fan boy and at the mo think I can still beat them so dont need to join them, yet.
Stuart Barnes' scathing take on John Mitchell's England job
One of the most bizarre claims was the Mitchell is somehow responsible for the ABs ability to shift from defense to attack. And this was the guy who sacked the greatest counter-attacking fullback in NZ history. Ans as Barnes has pointed out, he has achieved nothing since.
All Blacks first-five McKenzie reflects on improved performance and controversial try
Unfortunately there are people who make up their mind about a player & then take a trench warfare approach to defending their position, as if admitting they were wrong is a personal failure. I think admitting you were wrong sometimes is a sign of strength, I sometimes even have to resort to it occassionally with the wife. OK, OK, fairly regularly.
Former All Black Kees Meeuws: Don't rush Dane Coles back into the All Blacks
Bit small for the Front Row. However, at 1st five I am coming around to that thinking also.
Sonny Bill Williams' shoulder is sweet but sickness has now kept him from ABs training
Should start ALB & Goodhue again, they are developing into a great combination. Crotty on the bench, and give SBW a game or two in mitre10.
Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism: Macron lectures Trump
None of that matters. What matters now will determine our future, and for now we would do well to remember not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
David Seymour wants to cancel public holidays - Anzac and Waitangi can stay
I think what is missing from the understanding here is that there is, to every public holiday, a recognition of an element of history and tradition that is important to society and the nation. This would be lost if everyday was the same. I understand that he is proposing replacing 9 of the days with an extra 9 days annual leave, but no Christmas, no Labour day, Queens Birthday etc., how boring. Regardless of personal views or religous afilliation etc, these all represent something that have had a significant influence on where we have now got to as a society. Personally, I think we should look at Parihaka day.
"NZ MÄori coach Clayton McMillan surprised at Akira Ioane's availability",
I say that you have no understanding of the proud history of the NZ Maori Rugby team, and no understanding either of the difference between a team picked to enhance the mana of an indigenous minority, and a team picked to place one race of people in a superior position to another. As a pakeha NZer, I am a proud supporter of the NZ Maori rugby team, they represent more than Maori, they represent us as New Zealand.
Crying on a P pipe: Rachels life on meth
If we are going to play the definition game, Political is described as relating to governmental or public affairs of a country; done to gain power or influence in an organisation. In my view gangs are very much political, in that they aim to gain social and public influence. They do not put out candidates for election, neither does the Taliban. They just want control through violence, intimidation, and other means. Sounds like a terrorist outfit to me, lets call evil for what it is.
"NZ MÄori coach Clayton McMillan surprised at Akira Ioane's availability",
Or he could do what the likes of Nonu & Kaino did at a similar age, work on fixing his weaknesses & become a great All Black.
Sack Michael Cheika and his Wallabies staff now, says Australian rugby writer
Great player, has not done anything noteworthy as a coach yet.
Tenants, we don't care about your KFC habits
If Outgoings exceed income it is highly likely they will not continue to pay rent.
Couple say compulsory government survey an intrusion
I am amazed that I have never heard of this before, & that it seems from the comments below that there is a massive variation in their approach. Some it is a one off, others three or five years, some want a weeks information others want information over a full year. Can take anything from 15 minutes to 5 hours. Makes me wonder how accurate the summation of the data provided can be, and how useful the results.
"Damian McKenzie shows selectors he's ready to kick if called upon",
He can smoke a cigar while taking the kick for all I care. It is the end result that matters.
'Judith' the 50 tonne crusher key to concrete recycling company's work
Great idea very hard & expensive to get rid of unwanted concrete.
Beauden Barrett concussion set to open All Blacks door for Damian McKenzie
yeah I am a huge fan of mac & think he has equal potential at first five but we need 3 for a world cup & I think Mounga also needs development opportunities at test level, so I would go for him & have mac still off the bench.
Agent expects bids over $750k for uninhabitable two-bedroom house
I think if any of us were beneficiaries of the estate, we would expect the executors to get what the market says it is worth. Could be someone who just needs that boost to get into their own home.
What the Productivity Commission's 'feebate' could mean for car prices
LOL. Lets just call it something else, then we can say it is not a tax. Maybe it is an ice-cream.
Priority 'investments' in warmth and wellbeing for renters and homeowners
I have found that sealing gaps between windows & frames using those rubber strips has made a big difference in our old house.
From bouncer to the All Blacks, the remarkable rise of Karl Tu'inukuafe
Thats is great, but after what he was doing for North Harbour last year,the question has to be asked why the Blues did not snap him up from the beginning. Part of the reason probably is that there is such a race to sign squads before the rep season really starts, that first year rep players who are making an impression do not get a look in. And I suspect he would not have got so far with the Blues, Carl Hoeft would have had a lot of input at the Chiefs.
Ireland boost World Rugby ranking following series victory against Australia
Good question. Australia lose 2 games out of 3 to Ireland (could have gone either way), and England lose 2 games out of 3 to SA (convincingly). Ireland are rated higher than SA. So how are England suddenly higher than either Australia or SA? And how have Ireland closed the gap on the ABs when they only won 2/3 in the series (just), when the ABs convincingly won all 3 games? Agreed Aus were more difficult than France, but???
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson lauds Western Force owner and World Series Rugby
ACT have always had a reasonably strong rugby following, have won the comp before, and were historically no. 3 in Aus behind Queensland & NSW. For that reason I disagree, felt that the Rebels should have gone since rugby has no visibility in Melbourne, and it was probably only contractual issues that caused it to work out the way it has. I agree the Force should never have been kicked out.
The meth house is a myth: Theres no risk from drug smoking residue, Govt report finds
The cases you have referred to may relate to properties that were used as meth Labs, or where usage was heavy and have not had proper cleaning or replacement of soft surfaces. There may also be other reasons for health issues.
Nelson pensioner fights the power to keep his bills to less than $50 a month
Nothing at all wrong with you taking your $200 a month power bill. However some people have to make choices, like for example, saving $150 a month on power, or not eating.
NZ Rugby offers to broker deal between Auckland schools warring over player poaching
Well fair enough, I can see that is a real problem. If only 1 team, they have no development pathway of their own. And players who may be late developers are left out of the system, which is a serious problem for Auckland and NZ rugby. You have changed my mind on the issue.
Hunt for new Great Walk down to the final three
Cannot comment on the others but Queen Charlotte is sensational. Why are they only looking at adding 1? No reason why not to add 3 and share the tourism benefits around, if they all pass the standard required.
Kevin McCloud asks just how may toilets do we need in a house?
Why? It means two people can go to the toilet at the same time, or if someone is in the shower, another person can go. What I dont understand is ensuites. Who wants to have their partner going to the toilet 2 feet away from where they are sleeping?
How the All Blacks players rated against the Wallabies in Bledisloe III in Yokohama
Midfield is becoming a concern & we have been comprehensively outplayed there by both SA & Aus. SBW looks on the decline, Crotty maybe too but he is a better 2nd/5. ALB is also a 2nd/5 in my opinion. If Goodhue is not back in 2 weeks perhaps should use Ioane at center, or Proctor but I have never quite seen why he is so highly rated by some. TJ Faiane & that young Waikato center look great in Mitre10 but they need to bring it first in Super rugby of course.
Mother upset by own name now wants to change 4-year-old daughter's
Many people share common names and are not scarred for life. I joined a company once where half the female staff seemed to share one name. None of them seemed concerned about it. Self worth is not determined by having a unique name. I like names that have history (especially family connection) and meaning, and deteste the current trend to make up new and often absurd names in an attempt to be unique. They are just a noise, and sometimes also a joke.
Hospital car parking slammed as unfair, as woman pays up to $200 a week
Look it is free in Gisborne, I can understand from comments why there is some charge in Auckland but really should not link it to other central city car parks which are run by businesses making a profit. It is easy to offer discounts for genuine hospital visitors, like they do at Waikato.Auckland is a disgrace.
How Steve Hansens inexperienced All Blacks rated against Japan in Tokyo test
Coltman & Drummond both deserved better than 5s. Coltman has actually played very well in his limited opportunities this year & to me looks better than Harris. Funny thing is, I have never rated him that highly from super rugby. Hemapo may be a bit small for lock against top tier teams, but he sure is a rugged fella. Bridge is good on attack but needs to improve his D.
Kevin McCloud asks just how may toilets do we need in a house?
Yes! All landlords should be required by law to provide at least 2 toilets as well as heat pumps in both.
Eden Park: Stadium of the future or housing site?
I dont have sympathy for residents moaning about the rugby & cricket, because that was there when the bought their houses. I do understand though the objections to extending it to an entertainment venue, that is something new. Not sure there is any spiritual connection to the site, and even as a rugby supporter it is hard to see as the center of the rugby universe. I think they have to move on, as they have with Cardiff Arms Park, Athletic Park, and many other iconic venues. Leave the past in the past, it only stays on in memories.
John Eales has 'no doubt' that Wallabies will be World Cup contenders in 2019
Eales is right. The best team does not always win knockout competitions. The ABs do lose occasionaly. And if one of those occasions happens to be a world cup knockout .game, it could go to any of the other teams in the top 8. Including Australia. So I do not think their prospects are particularly bright, but not non-existent.
Former All Black Kees Meeuws: Don't rush Dane Coles back into the All Blacks
I think sometimes we get locked into the past about a player, without thinking about potential or where they are now. We all used to write off Tuangafasi. The fact is, the Canes scrum has not been too bad, and it did hold the Crusaders for a while. He may just be the third best available right now at TH, & a reasonable long term bet. Meeuws was a bit of a beast himself for the ABs, & I would trust his judgement. You have an anology, however wingers generally do not get faster, props do get stronger & better technique.
The case for tolling Transmission Gully does not add up
A road toll where one was not previously planned, for a project that is already well underway, is nothing more than a NEW TAX.
Sonny Bill Williams' shoulder is sweet but sickness has now kept him from ABs training
I agree entirely, especially when he does not have a good history of form when coming back cold in the past.
Simple mistakes such as a driver dropping a hot pie can kill, crash data shows
I would not dispute that old cars are not as safe as new. However, 50% of deaths & injury in cars 15 years and older. Average age of cars in NZ 14 years. So where is the statistical correlation they are trying to make? I suspect an issue may be that newer cars are easier to drive and feel safe at higher speeds. Plus the high number of tanks, I mean SUVs & utes, on our roads. Not safe to hit any of those head on at virtually any speed.
Family home? Who needs one?
Nothing wrong with this, they are providing a service for people who are on holiday themselves but want houses and pets looked after. Called a win-win arrangement. And not taking up a house someone else could live in. Might take it up myself on retirement -just need a caravan to live in between house sits.
Phil Gifford: France fullback Benjamin Fall had to go
I am going to go against the flow here. Regardless of intent, having your legs taken out when you are jumping for the ball and landing on your head is a damn dangerous part of the game. Someone could get paralysed or killed. So it is quite a simple formula when chasing a high kick, eitherjumpfor the ball so that your body is on the same level as the other guy, or make sure that you stay well away from someone who is. How a team is penalised for the event, and whether a substituteshould be allowed after 10 mins is arguable, however the ref followed the rules & the guidlines set out by the IRB, and as he made clear was left with no choice but a red card in those circumstances.
Musk tells fans 'full self driving' Teslas are near. And the roadster will have rockets.
Why the down votes? That is quite humorous.
Community fights to save Kiwi tradition of wharf jumping
Why are you more entitled to fish off the wharf than the yobs are to jump off?
Sonny Bill Williams' shoulder is sweet but sickness has now kept him from ABs training
I dont hate him, in fact I rate him quite highly. However, he has had no game time for three months and historically needs some game time to get up to speed. And the guys playing in his place are going very very well. So I do not see why he does not get a couple of mitre10 cup games, like everyone else who comes back from long term injury seems to be told they need.
New Zealand driver Scott Dixon wins IndyCar Series for the fifth time
And if he ever mis-times a sneeze he will be sent straight back here.
Sack Michael Cheika and his Wallabies staff now, says Australian rugby writer
All teams strive to play the perfect defensive games, and to pounce on opposition mistakes. 6 tries to 1 indicate they are quite good at that, and you have an unusual definition of boring. They have said themselves that they were a disappointed in their attacking play off forward dominance. So, yes, room for improvement in some areas. God help any team if they do strike a perfect game, and it will not be a close contest so you will think that a bit boring. Do you think they should throw a few tries away if they think they are getting away from a close contest? Stop tackling & let the opposition score some? Last game was pretty easy so we wont train much this week? If the opposition makes a mistake give the ball back? What will make you happy?
How much will an EV really cost to run?
I did not see capital costs and associated depreciation even mentioned in the article, although they should have been.
'Shoddy' workmanship claims at Stoke's Greenmeadows centre
Have to wonder about the wisdom of Council accepting this contract. Would have to ask who is going to do the work?. They have undercut locals, so it is going to be far too expensive to send skilled people from Auckland. Skilled locals have already been priced out. They are going to want to pay peanuts, and we all know who you get if you pay peanuts.
Former All Black Kees Meeuws: Don't rush Dane Coles back into the All Blacks
You obviously never saw me throw to the lineout for the first fifteen.
Cost of Christchurch stadium options range from $384m to $561m
I cannot believe those costs for such a small stadium. At least the Council gets back the 2.7 to 3.8m in consent fees. Really, how many man hours (sorry person hours) does that represent? Even at say $200 an hour (which is a rip off), that is ten years work or more. Really?
How Mount Maunganui turned from paradise to prison
Yeah, you can come to Gisborne, just dont tell anyone else.
A desktop computer can be a better option than a laptop
If a Linux operating system is too techy for someone, it is still easy to download a free version of an open office equivalent of Microsoft Works. Apache is good, and it has all the spreadsheet and writing functionality you need for home. Operates fine on a Windows Operating system, most people dont need to pay the extra for MWorks. Can even open & save files in MW formats (eg Excel)
"NZ MÄori coach Clayton McMillan surprised at Akira Ioane's availability",
Both, obviously.
Phil Gifford: Jack Goodhue's All Blacks heritage is deeply traditional
Bruce Robertson is still the greatest of all AB centers in my opinion. All of the intelligence for the position that Smith had, but much much faster, close to Cullen. Most wingers he played with had trouble keeping close, but he would make them look so good if they could.
Phil Gifford: The 10 lessons from the Springboks loss
In fact, I would go so far as to say Goodhue is the only centre in the squad right now. Laumape, SBW, ALB, & Crotty are all second fives, with the latter two having enough utility value to cover off the bench.
Petrol price falls on the back of sliding international oil price and strong New Zealand dollar
Playing politics. Have been getting so much stick about price differentials that for now they are passing it on to the national price - the price Wgtn & SI pay. It has not dropped by much where I am either. So we cannot complain too much, however the average drop is not the 28c they are getting credit for here. Just the games they play between us.
All Blacks' lethal counter attack strategy 'due to John Mitchell's basketball background'
Highly doubtful counter attack is an old concept, it is just NZ does it a bit better at the moment than anyone else because they have good confident decision makers. And if so, how has it taken Aus 16 years to catch up onto it especially since they had Deans for a good while after that. Slow learners? And why has it not been seen so effectively in Mitchells other appointments since then? Is he angling for Mitchell to take over from Cheika after 2019? Good luck with that.
Petrol below $2 sign of downward trend
Hold on. is the Auckland Transport tax not 10c plus GST? Therefore should be a 11.5c price differential in Auckland.
Tenants, we don't care about your KFC habits
The only thing I would be concerned about if renting a property was that the applicant is not one of these people who is constantly going into unauthorised overdraft and having payments bounced back. So if you apply for a benefit, Winz staff look at your bank statements. So do the bank staff if you apply for a bank loan. Dont have to provide it, but you dont get the benefit or the loan if you dont. So why would you not show landlord or their agent? What are they going to do with it? If I wanted to rent a property & thought showing my bank statement would help, I would definately show them.
Oscar Kightley: The royals should have at least gone halves in the Pacific tour
Yes lets become a republic & then we could ask Trump to be President after US kick him out. Then spend the millions on security to stop some lunatic shooting him. Or not. Point is - always something to waste money on, so lets welcome the manuhiri tuarangi.
Ex-England captain: Supersized All Blacks squad 'smart thinking' by Steve Hansen
Agreed, except I do not see a weakness in the positions you have identified. SBW is out of form, but to be fair he has only had 2 part games after a lengthy lay-off. I hope if his form does not improve, they will move past him. In my view, Crotty, ALB, Laumape are all 2nd fives. Goodhue is only real center in squad, Aso or Proctor may be needed as back-up. The depth at Blindside is just ridiculous at the moment, but perhaps just missing a bit of experience behind Squire. Would not like to see multiple injuries at 1st five if Cameron is no4.
For sale: Could historic Warwick House be NZ's biggest home?
Clearly, only needs to be BELIEVED by one person, and the statement as it stands is correct.
Sack Michael Cheika and his Wallabies staff now, says Australian rugby writer
To be fair, Brodes looks like a lumbering giant but he covers the ground pretty quick. And from where the 13 was, his name would have to have been Usain Bolt to have a hope of making up that difference in ground. But would have looked better if he tried anyway. Perhaps.
John Mitchell claims his All Black job came too soon but he is ready for England
Mitchell does deserve some credit for recognising past mistakes, and acknowledging he was too young for the AB appointment. However, I think Jones is clutching at straws here claiming he has improved every team he was associated with. Western Force, a couple of goes with SA sides, USA international team? He has made no impression with any of them, and Barnes is entirely correct.
Solar power systems take decades to pay for themselves, Consumer NZ says
Confirms my feelings. However, who is suggesting low income households should subsidise rich greenies for power, and why? It is like this hoo-ha over EVs. Only the relatively rich can afford them, and they pay no RUC while the low income earners, who cannot afford them, do pay RUC plus high costs & taxes on their fuel.
Life on the pension is tough, but you can make it work
Might want to sell due to a change in financial circumstances or priorities, or because of concern over the changes the Labour govt are making to the laws.
"Air New Zealand does deal for autonomous air taxis",
Yeah it is Bruce working in the software development company that worries me.
How the All Blacks players rated against the Wallabies in Bledisloe III in Yokohama
Yes I can see why SBW appealed to AB selectors, I was willing to forgive a couple of patchy performances coming off a long injury break, however his pace was always marginal at best and if he has lost a bit of it as it appears, he is a busted flush. I disagree with you and the AB selectors, I think ALB is better at 2nd 5. Would be happy with ALB/Goodhue or Crotty/Goodhue, perhaps the latter combo presents more experience at this point. Anyway, we are agreed about SBW.
Test caps for Shannon Frizell, Jack Goodhue as All Blacks make mass changes
Two big boys in the midfield I like that combo but would have been tempted to include Crotty beside Goodhue to give him a player he is familiar with in his test debut. I think it is an exciting looking backline but combinations could be a bit unfamiliar.
'They're not fit enough': Dwyer takes aim at Wallabies players, not Cheika
It could also be that they were over-trained as part of Cheikas brutal fitness training leading up to the 1st test. As any marathon runner knows, you need to allow enough time to wind down the training before the race.
Is the manual gearbox dead? Numbers seem to hint our love affair for stick driving is over
I think that the issue with fleet buyers, why they buy autos for safety reasons, is that the have a lot of drivers who are unused to or even unable to drive manuals. I do not think that autos are inherently safer. I know what nick.aldwell is saying about the feeling of control, however you do need to have an understanding of when to change gears which if you have not learned in a manual is difficult.
Super-regions or a special tax - how the Government plans to fix New Zealand's broken water systems
There is literally no way to pass any legislation that cannot be changed by the next government. A constitution would be the closest - however we dont have one & this is hardly a constitutional issue anyway.
KiwiBuild 'significantly cheaper' than other smaller-scale developments, Colliers says
That is a very good question. There is a lack of transparency in this process, and no clear proof all costs have been allocated. My view is that property development is a very tricky business, and a lot of developers get into a lot of trouble. I have no confidence that the government has the skills to manage this business on behalf of tax payers.
MPs criticism of cycle rail route near her property plain wrong
hey, she is entitled to make a submission just like anyone else. If she wasnt an MP this would not even be a news story.
Government stamps out performance bonuses for public sector bosses
Not that I disagree, however is this legal? I thought an employer could not unilaterally alter the terms and conditions of an employment agreement?
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus teetering towards the exit
Presumably that was the tactics they were given, however the other question I have from reading this is why is not J Kriel starting rather than cover? I have not taken any notice of their selections or watched the game, however I would have thought hard to leave out. Similar with Kolbe & le Roux -who was starting in their place?
"NZ MÄori coach Clayton McMillan surprised at Akira Ioane's availability",
Pretty much all either ABs, playing for someone else (Zac Mercer is in England squad!), or retired or injured. hard to see your point. Certainly not omissions.
How Steve Hansens inexperienced All Blacks rated against Japan in Tokyo test
It is not a weird reason really. He appears to be slightly small to compete against SA & other tier1 nations at lock. Has been played at 6 previously by Hanson, however stepped into lock here because Romano was injured. He appears to play well above his weight however, so perhaps this may be re-evaluated.
Steve Hansen and Michael Cheika agree: Dumb things cost the Wallabies
A shove in the shoulder does not get a yellow. A shove in the face does.
Dramatic footage shows waves hammering Haumoana, Hawke's Bay
Reply to CHL - there was nothing in Beatles post denying climate change is happening. However, in this case Beatle is quite right. I grew up in Hawkes Bay & the Haumoana beachfront properties were notorious 50 years ago for getting pounded like this in a storm. I am surprised they were not gone 40 years ago.
How much will an EV really cost to run?
Y.es, and they are using the profits on oil to subsidise the cost of EVs. Meanwhile, in NZ...
All Blacks players and coaches being inspired by their late-blooming props
Without an unlimited budget, you cannot keep everyone. And cant do anything about injuries. These guys deserve their chance based upon fronting up over the super rugby season, and wont let us down. Who would you pick in their place? KT looks like he will be an AB for some time. I think you can pack your alarm bells away.
Tony Smith: NRL teams aren't afraid of field goals, so why are the All Blacks?
The point is that if we were awarded a dubious penalty at the last minute to win a game, we would kick the dumb thing. So I cannot see the objection to winning the game by a drop goal. Next time we are 30 points ahead, we need to repeatedly practice the forwards setting up the boys up for a drop goal in front and all kickers have a practice. Instead of scoring another 3 tries. BB has never kicked one, so obviously he had no confidence to try in a pressure situation. They need to get over that.
Title of cheapest fuel in New Zealand goes to tiny hydro power community Atiamuri
Actually you used to spend less than half that amount on fuel, the rest you used to pay in additional taxes. And, if everyone changes to electric, the gummit will quickly work out a way of getting it back off us. I would love to give the gas companies & gummit the bird & get an electric car. But I live in Gisborne & my Civic uses $20 a week around town. then if I go to Auckland or New Plymouth can drive straight there with no undue stops or range anxiety. So does not make sense for everybody.
No regional development cash to breed the 'perfect' varroa-resistant honey bee
This guy has been breeding Bees for 70 years & I would suspect he knows a thing or two & may know some things the highly paid uni people do not.
France have a Nonu-Smith combo of their own in lessons learned from All Blacks midfield
Bastaraeud has been spending a lot of game time outside of Nonu over the last couple of years and I think he will be a far better player than he was last time he was here. And they improved consistently through the 6 nations, so I think they will be a fair challenge, the ABs will have to be on top of their game.
How much will an EV really cost to run?
Yeah I think I only saw electric hoverboards not cars when they went into the future. Proves these EVs have no future.
All Blacks hooker Dane Coles is about a fortnight away from playing provincial rugby
You are correct, he was & still is a young guy & I thought that his stint in the last test was an improvement. Aumuas potential is just huge but there are question marks about how quickly he will harness that. I would throw Ricitelli in that mix & say that our cover at third hooker is not looking too shabby.
Our anthem 'God Defend New Zealand' is a radically subversive challenge to tradition
Surprising the Aussies have not stolen it. Must be better than being young and fair and girt by sea. Ask an 82 year old Aboriginal living in the desert in central Australia how they feel about that!
Wellington house for sale, 'kerbside viewing only'
Sad, not being allowed inside means it can only be priced at a total demolition & rebuild. It could be worth a restoration, but who would know? So as others have pointed out, they are reducing the sale price which will work against the owner. Cutting off yer nose to spite yer face, as it used to be known. And if people think they will have legal costs to get the occupier out, that will reduce the price further.
Why Forester SUV is the most important new Subaru in ages
Dont know why you have all those downvotes. Clearly manufacturers only care what drives buyers of new cars. And plenty of buyers of new cars are buying cvts. Otherwise, manufacturers would not continue making them. Personally, I think the haters are living in the 1990s. I actually enjoy driving my wifes Honda Jazz.
How the All Blacks players rated against the Wallabies in Bledisloe III in Yokohama
Yeah you are right it is less than ideal and I am a dumb old fella. However, in my defense he has played in that position before for the Blues, he has the skills a shown in offload for Barretts try, and our other wing options are not bad. And from where I am sitting, sticking with what is not working, or introducing a guy who has never been in the system before, may be slightly dumber alternatives. Lets just hope Goodhue is back and fully recovered from his illness.