JONES NO JERK.

So its a 3 way race as we predicted. The surprising thing is that Cunliffe has hoodwinked so many people. We thought his narcissistic traits would have put a off a lot of punters.

Jones has never lifted his pedal from the metal. He has shown that he is wily, smart and honest, well as honest as you will get any poly to be.

He deserves to carry the red banner.

SHOO SHIMI - MAORI FISH KOHA TO NIPPON?

Well we hinted at some issues within Maori Fish interests. Someone has laid down some pieces of the puzzle..

Anyone else out there who has more? Will iwi see the great Sealords deal skelatonised like a filleted Hoki?

Codename 'Mata' - concerted effort from some Maori fisheries 'leaders' to give the Japanese more fisheries assets for no greater control of Sealord. Here Nissui-san, please have some more of our assets... The relationship with Nissui has never delivered the promised benefits back to iwi and one wonders of the idiocy of those in control about this deal. Shane Jones will no doubt be in support though... Another nail in the coffin of the collective model. 2016 - give the assets back to iwi; many will lose them but at least it will be through their own incompetence, not the incompetence of a bunch of nobodys. By Anonymous on WHY SUBSIDISE THE UBER WAKA? on 4/7/11

UBER FACTS - FOR THE UBER WAKA

The UBER WAKA FACTS

• The Waka is actually a funkily designed pavilion that will seat 200 people and has room for a 1000.
• It is made from the same materials as the Cloud Pavilion. A PVC Covered Frame – to ensure that it is portable.
• Creative NZ funds both the Ballet and the Symphony orchestra to the tune of $4m a year.
• The Waka is being built for less than $1 million
• $1.1 million is for events and cultural performances and entertainment. Its funded from the Cultural Diplomacy fund. That Fund is normally used to “take” Nz Arts to the world – like subsidising the NZSO tour of China. All iwi will be invited to submit proposals.
• As its the RWC 2011 year the funding is being spent in New Zealand because of the Foreigners who will come here.
• The $1.1million for events at the Uber Waka pavillion will have to be applied for in the normal way for each performance.
• But its been set aside for performances in and around the Waka.
• And most of the Cultural Diplomacy fund is being used to fund other RWC projects around the country not on the Waka entertainment.
• So we think that for a tourist they have some choices – food, fashion and industry in the Cloud and Maori Culture in the Uber Waka on the Auckland waterfront. We reckon there will be queues at the Waka and the Cloud. Similar structures are used around the world for Expo type events.

So what its not:

-A plastic canoe

-Something for only one iwi.

-Expensive

-Silly

WHY SUBSIDISE THE UBER WAKA?

Well as taxpayers you subsidise the symphony orchestra and the ballet.

They are both a net burden on the taxpayer. People are saying the last big Maori cultural centre went bust. It did - probably because some skinny arsed pommy sheila wanted to showcase brown people.. And it was all too twee.

The Uber waka is about Maori showcasing what they think is the essence of their culture , both traditional and modern. It is their story.

So to all those who say that NZ should not fund the waka. Well apply the same logic to the Ballet and the Symphony orchestra and chop their funding as well.

Orchestras and ballets are not unique to NZ. Maori are. They are a selling point for the country.

Will the Waka get tourists to come here - of course not. Will it get them to come again and have a longer lingering look. If its done right - yes.

Will it showcase something that is uniquely NZ? yes. Can it be used again? yes.

Each iwi has the chance to promote its region. I think that Ngai Tahu will be all over this opportunity as it gives them a unique spring board to promote their growing network of tourism ventures in the South Island.

Maori have the drive and passion to make this a success.

And can some journalist with a bit of time on their hands please ask Shane Jones to provide evidence of where he has added value to any Maori owned assets. He has always played with other peoples money. And we want to see the evidence where his "skills" have added value.

The kumara vine is awash with concern for the Maori fisheries enterprises.

Go on- have a look - ask some hard questions - there is definitely something fishy going on.

ANTI WAKA WANKERS NEED TO TAKE A GOOD HARD PULL.

We suppose that there is no surprise that the fact a huge waka was to be built as part of the Rugby World Cup 2011 was greeted with derision from across the political spectrum. ACT, and Labour both hate it.

But it is Labours Shane Jones who is looking silliest.

He was first out of the block this morning claiming it belittled Maori. No he belittled Maori by showing that he was wanker who wanted the ratepayer to pay for his guilty little pleasures.

He called it a plastic waka. Its not. Its a grand showpiece for Maori culture. But the Government and the Maori Party were slow to react to the instant media storm he created. It has undoubtedly been the populist story of the day.

The Jones boy has harped on saying it is not " traditional." As a Ngai Tahu muttonbirder we have replaced kelp bags with plastic buckets to store our muttonbirds in. Traditions are not static. We build on what we learn.Traditions evolve. Poi are made out of all sorts of modern material theses days as are piu piu.

So his assertion that it fails for not being "traditional" are spurious.

Not sure where watching porn in a hotel room fits with Traditional Maori practices but maybe Jones Dalmation ancestors were voyeurs...

And perhaps if the Honourable member for the Far North goes in and out of the Uber Waka a few times he might find it is a pleasurable experience.

We think that the Uber Waka or ( Wakanui) is an inspired concept. Its a big idea. Its fun and it represents the pioneer spirit of Maori who travelled huge distances to call Aotearoa home. We are a people of the water. Its our playground, and its our food basket and Waka were the transport so what better way to transport visitors to the past to show our story. It is the very embodiment of modern thinking coupled with a nod to a rich past.

And $2 million is not a hell of a lot in the scheme of things. Especially if it offers Maori the chance to showcase their traditions old and new and offers the chance to develop work skills and jobs.

Maori own the tourism scene in Rotorua - may they give Auckland a shake up.

After all there are by our reckoning a fair few Maori in the All Black Team. They have adopted a traditional Haka as their own. The World Cup imagery is laced with a modern take on traditional Maori designs.

So to say that we shouldn't have something tied to the Rugby World cup that is uniquely Maori is just silly.

 Think about the possibilities of the Big Waka for jobs and for promotion of this country. Remember tourists come here to get a taste of the essential New Zealand - Not all of them will be able to make it onto a real Marae. So the Uber Waka has a place to play in whetting their appetite for more exposure to the many facets of our culture.

Anyway, we think that the Uber Waka is bloody fantastic. So everyone needs to take a bloody big deep breath.

BEST BLOG OF THE DAY

Lindsay Mitchell always has a considered take on political events and today is no exception.

She puts politics and the Darren Hughes Affair in its place.

Read it here.

We also watched Goff on Q and A today - he was not impressive. And tonight TVone news focussed on the disconnect between Goff and party prez Andrew Little.

While we think that Labour would be stupid to replace Goff leading up to the election we were quite surprised to see a clip on Marae of Shane Jones in a potae and a tie today -and he was minus the humourous banter. He was all serious and statesman like. So what, we wonder is he up to?

He has been a numbers man in the past and will be again. He is one of the few in Labour to have an ok relationship with Cunliffe.

And of course the Tizard factor is delicious.. We are confident that she will not step aside.

One thing we think is for certain it aint over for Labour until the fat lady sings

HONE AINT GOT THE MANA

So Hone is up against it. He talks up the fact that he has all this support in the far north. So how many turn up for the meeting to show that Hone is "their" man?

100. Just 100. That in the scheme of things in the far north is a big fat nothing.

About 100 of Mr Harawira's backers attended and the outcome was rejection of the complaint, a demand that constitutional law expert Mai Chen be sacked from her role as an advisor to the party and that Mr Harawira should travel around the country to find out how much support there was for his concerns.

The trouble is the media didnt get it. They think that Hone has heaps of support. He has support alright. A whole heap of people who love him and respect him so much they couldnt be arsed going to a meeting . The National Council of the Maori Party will now know that the far north may be a noisy whingey lot but the reality is the same apathy that sees them locked into go nowhere blame everybody else lives is the same lot that cant be arsed making an effort to give Hone a decent show of support.

If Hone really did have support - attendance at that meeting should have been measured in the thousands.

And we all know how good Shane Jones is at wanking on and here he is at it again - He reckons that Hone will be Sharples in any political showdown.. Crap. Maori party followers are not that stupid.

Hone is toast.

LESSONS FOR LABOUR

Simple PR lesson for Labour. Ignore Carter. Keep talking about him and you give him something to talk about. And the media are in ecstasy over every hissy spitty comment from either faction. Goff engaging in some puerile swipe at Carter does him no favours - its not the sort of behaviour you would expect to get from a leader.

Obviously he is being very badly advised. He seriously needs a new PR team.

Being ignored would be Carters greatest punishment.

However, we do like Shane Jones comment when asked if he was one of the MP's who was plotting against Goff as Carter had suggested.

Mr Jones expressed disbelief, saying, "I fear that Chris Carter's illness is worse than we expected."

Jones has never lacked for a good turn of phrase.

THE FUNNIEST TROUGHING

Cop this wee gem among commenters at Kiwiblog who are trawling through the ministerial receipts.....

krazykiwi (5588) Says:
June 15th, 2010 at 11:46 am

Judith Tizard takes 3 staff to The Thistle Inn for a ‘Performance Assessment’

No wonder Goff is willing to deep throat dead rats Carter and Jones if Tizard is the result of either of them departing the round house....

Boootiful!

BLUE MOON

For Shane Jones......

I also wonder if his expenses while he was a Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commissioner were ever subject to much scrutiny....

Personally I think Chris Carters massages are way sadder.

All this sad sorry chapter shows is that Parliament fosters a sense of entitlement which you wont witness anywhere else in the community.

Pornography is a legitimate expense for an MP

There can be grey areas over what you can charge – such as meals etc. But no one could have a reasonable expectation that hotel porn is a legitimate work related expense.

Kiwiblog

When your employer requires you to travel away from home as part of your employment it seems reasonable that they meet those fundamental human needs that are reasonably expected to be met at home. Why is it any less important for a persons sexual needs to be met than their need for shelter and food ?

Paying $19.90 for a pornographic movie seems a bargain in comparison to the alternative.

PAY AND CONFIRM

Oh dear.

Poor Shane Jones has admitted he booked up blue movies while he was a Minister on government business. Now, its not all that hard to imagine that away from his wife and probably with only the company of such socialist sex bombs as Judith Tizard and Ruth Dyson, that he should resort to a bit of cinematic slap and tickle. The frequency of the hires means he must have been sporting some big blisters on those big Dali mitts of his! Shame is that Shane booked it up to the taxpayer. Funny thing is that in certain quarters the revelation that he watches porn will help his popularity.

However, the fact that we paid for his titillation will be his downfall.

THE CHANGELING

We have been waiting for the Bill Liu court case to come up. Keeping Stock has good roundup here

And we have covered the issue in depth in the past.

Definitely a story to watch.

DIRTY LAUNDRY

What OIA's have some former Ministers heading to their lawyers?

Is Matterhorn up for sale and what will this mean for Wellington diners?

Did Shane Jones have a hand in Goff's Nationhood speech?

Will Maori TV change the way rugby is broadcast?

Is Gerry Brownlie going to add more value to our country than any previous Minister?

Is Xmas here yet?

NOW WE KNOW THE TRUTH

Labour are a bunch of soft cock mealy mouth hypocrites. And one could contend they have become all they once despised. Racist even.

It appears that despite Goffs mirror Orewa speech sending shivers down the lefty backbone of the party, MP's are suddenly having a Goff love in.

He is stuffed. This is not a show of unity but a show of desperation.
It is the sort of thing that normally happens just before a coup.

Be afraid Phil.. We can hear the knives being sharpened from here.

DISAPPEARING MAN

Goff looked pale on TVNZ tonight. He is fighting for political relevancy and even his speech that took him to the bottom of the bait barrel of politics has not made a wit of difference.

He is slowly disappearing.....
















In contrast to this man....

MELTING POT

We are heading up to parliament tomorrow for a bit of a do. We have been invited by the most unlikely of people - It's a leaving do for a good bugger who is loved and admired by many. We met him once, we have followed the same kaupapa around some issues and we have many friends in common. Those friends are definitely more red that blue but politics does not divide us.

We will go because the events of the last few days have us wanting answers and some korero with those who can shed some light on the dark decisions made in the name of climate change.

HEY LABOUR, BILL LIU GOTCHA.

Well well , it seems some of our old snouts have been leaking to Whaleoil over at Gotcha. He has the Blog of the week here with some interesting information on Bill Liu.

We have covered this story often over the last year. We always reckoned it had serious legs and whales blog adds some more pieces to the puzzle.

We think there is a serious possibility that this story will outrank Philip Fields on the scandal scale.

TALKING ABOUT THE JONES BOY

National 60%, Labour 27%, Key 56%, Goff 5%, Clark 8% in latest TV3 poll.

We think the result of TV3's poll is enough for Cunliffes numbers man , Shane Jones to start working the phones tonight.

Who will it be - Annette King at one ? Trevor "Putin " Mallard at two ?

Or Cunliffe at one and Mallard at two ?

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

What did McCully and Brownlie yack about over Satay sticks at Chow in Woodward Street tonight.

What does Rick Ellis have against helicopters?

What is Mark Ellis doing in Wellington?

Is the fact Shane Jones is seeking the limelight have anything to do with the fact the Goffs position as leader of Labour is looking tenuous?