THE GAMBLER

There are bits of the budget we don't like but understand and agree with like the reductions of govt contributions to kiwi saver which puts the onus back on the individual to take more personal responsibility for their future.

We like the continual pressure to find efficiencies in the public service sector. From within its great to see how this pressure has meant that departments have developed better approaches to service delivery. In plain English, they are just a whole lot better at doing more for less. But still more can be done.

But we reckon that the big flaw in the budget is that it is a plan for the best and hope like frikking hell the worst doesnt happen. Whereas we have always believed in the business planning maxim of plan for the worst - hope for the best.

The only people who ever consistently base their future on the "plan for the best" approach are gamblers.

So while we think that the budget offers up some good bits, it doesnt do enough hard enough and fast enough for us. Leaving most of the changes to the next year and using the election as a mandating approach is fraught and again a gamble.

So to our PM - heres our song for you - courtesy of our favourite country crooner - Kenny Rogers - The Gambler. F**k we hope ya got it right mate - otherwise we will be joining the PIGS at the trough of economic despair.

OFF WITH HIS PECKERHEAD

We have never supported monarchies. We are hardcore republican.

Either has Ngai Tahu for that matter. They pay deference to the role of the Tainui King as a mark of respect to Tainui but Ngai Tahu have never believed in the sanctity of the Maori monarchy.

Ngai Tahu supported the notion of tribal chiefs and the paternal role they played but at any time they could be replaced if their leadership skills were found wanting. The mere fact that these days - the tribal chief - the Kaiwhakahaere is subject to a vote bears that out.

Tainui's "king" Teheitia seems to be drawing inspiration from that well known bunch of inbreds the Windsors - in a bid to ensure that his primary role is to provide light entertainment to us all. He is fast becoming a mirror image of that other overblown wanker full of his own piss and importance - the King of Tonga - who is the laughing stock of the Pacific.

Now Teheitia was born into Tainui "royal" family but in the real world he was a former truck driver. By all accounts he is a nice enough bloke but he is not up to providing the pomp that one expects from a "king."

And rumour has it he loves travelling more than a muttonbird and adores all the scraping and bowing that goes with his title when he goes overseas. He apparently gets a far better run from foreign dignitaries than he does in NZ.

The latest leaking of some poorly constructed advice about how "commoners" are expected to look and behave in the presence of the "king" shows how silly, and frankly insulting his reign has become to the rest of us who descended from a mix of waka bailers and chiefs.

Funny thing is - in times of old - crap "royals" usually got the arse from the general populous if they started to act like dickheads.

While we don't advocate a beheading, its time that Tainui had a good look at the external damage this anachronistic institution is doing to the tribes mana. So maybe its about time that Tainui looked around their whanui for a better leader and got all modern and scrapped the King thing.

If the tribe really want respect they need to get rid of the silly fatuous monarchy that does little but bleed the coffers of the tribe and that does little but reinforce the commonly held pakeha view that Maori are a bunch of uppity dumb arses who like shiny things.

WHAT WE WANT IN THE BUDGET

1. A clearly articulated economic vision for the future
2. Clear rationale for public service cuts and reorganisation
3. Some economic goals we can all understand and relate to.
4. Some bold and innovative thinking re R and D.
5. An initiative that fosters productivity
6. A clearing of the decks of all " nice to haves" so we can concentrate on the "must haves"
7. Some initiatives that show this government has steel balls.

SOMEWHERE OVER THE MOONBOW

We thought we were seeing things tonight but no we were lucky enough to see something truly beautiful. There was a full moon and clear skies to the east and a stormy  bank of clouds over the Tararuas at about 6.40 this evening - it was past dusk. So there must have been enough light off the big ol' moon to create a rainbow to the west. Im a dork with a very good camera and I have only fiddled a little bit with this image ( its actually a lot darker outside that it appears here). Anyway its bloody cool to see such beautiful and fairly rare natural phenomenon - a Moonbow - in our own back yard. Ya gotta love living under the clear skies of rural New Zealand

PONCING RANCID OLD BOILER -TITEWHAI GETS THE BIFF

We have waited albeit rather impatiently for the keepers of the kawa of Te Tii Marae to give Titewhai a bollocking and boy it may have taken a while but its an epic bollocking that does Nga Puhi proud .

They have accused the scrawny old harridan of "rancidification" of Marae protocul and "political poncing."

Its about time someone stood up to this ex con who has been a puffed up old chook with too much to say for herself for way too long.

Trouble is people forget that this old bully once served time for assaulting a mentally ill patient and told them to "kill a white and die a hero."

So its good that the people of the Far North have called time on the old crim.

DOWN ON MAUI STREET

There is a new blog worthy of a read leading up to the election. Its Maui Street. We have been watching it for a while to see if the writer Morgan Godfrey was going to stick with it. He is an open supporter of Harawira and the Mana party.

There isnt much he writes that we agree with but he articulates his position well. Most New Zealanders are open to hearing dissenting views. The more we talk and listen, the more we learn and understand. So we think that Maui Street is a welcome addition to the colourful rainbow that is the NZ political blogosphere.

DIRTY DAIRYING NEEDS TO CLEAN UP ITS CRAP

Half of all dairy farms inspected by Environment Southland are polluting rivers and waterways to such an extent that they are liable for prosecution.

Dairy Farmers seem to have grown in arrogance because of the important place the industry holds in our economy. Dairy farmers are making good money and there is no excuse, that in the race for bigger profits, the amenities the rest of the community own and enjoy are degraded in the process.

Tourism is also a vital income stream for this country and fishing is a big drawcard- in fact its a poster child for the tourism industry. But the arrogance of the dairy industry is squashing the face of tourism deep in a muddy green eutrophic mire.

Environment Southland has a obligation to get tough with dairy farmers. This level of non- compliance is not acceptable. If it is possible for half of all dairy farmers to comply then it is possible for all dairy farmers to comply.

WHY?

We run a post saying that current Te Ohu Kai Moana chair Ngahiwi Tomoana was about to be rolled and on Friday it was made official. Blogger - the platform that runs our blog got tangled up in some Google maintenance issues and was broken for much of Friday and Saturday so hence we could not update.

The TOKM trustee company is essentially the legal repository for all Maori fish assets.

Te Kawai Taumata, the Electoral College whose role is to appoint directors to Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited, has appointed three new members and re-appointed one existing member to the board.

Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited is the corporate trustee for Te Ohu Kai Moana, the Maori Fisheries Settlement Trust and the Takutai Trust - the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement Trust. Directors are appointed to four year terms.

The Chair of Te Kawai Taumata, Naida Glavish, a former Commissioner on the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission, said the decision on who to appoint to the board was difficult because there were a number of excellent candidates who offered a mix of sound business and commercial skills and commitment to tikanga Maori.

The new directors are:

Mr Matiu Rei, the Executive Director of Te Runanga o Toa Rangatira;

Ms Hinerangi Raumati, currently an alternate director of Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited, a trustee for the Public Trust and recently appointed the Chief Financial Officer for Te Wananga o Aotearoa; and

Mr Jamie Tuuta, Ngati Mutunga, a self-employed business consultant.

The directors replace the late Sir Archie Te Atawhai Taiaroa, Hon Koro Wetere, who is retiring, and Mr Ngahiwi Tomoana, the current chairman.

Current director, Mr Rikirangi Gage, the chief executive of Te Whanau a Apanui, was reappointed for a second four-year term.

Ms Glavish thanked Mr Wetere and Mr Tomoana for their service and commitment to the Maori seafood industry. "Maori own or influence almost half of New Zealand's commercial fishing industry, have sole interest in our country's customary fisheries and are active recreational fishers. They are also increasingly involved in aquaculture. Through Koro and Ngahiwi's constructive, collaborative leadership over the years, Maori involvement in the fishing industry has been strengthened considerably."

The sole function of Te Kawai Taumata is to appoint and remove the directors of Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited. It is made up of 11 members appointed by 10 regional groupings of iwi and one member on behalf of Representative Maori Organisations.

Te Kawai Taumata Members are: Naida Glavish (Chairman) representing Taitokerau; Na Raihania (Deputy Chairman) Takitimu; Graeme Morrell, Ngapuhi; Chris McKenzie, Tainui; Willie Emery, Te Arawa Waka; Tamati Cairns, Mataatua; Api Mahuika, Porourangi; Sam Tamarapa, Hauauru; Ngarongo Iwikatea Nicholson, Te Moana o Raukawa; Maui Solomon, Waipounamu/Rekohu; Sharyn Watene, Representative Maori.

There is huge discontent about the way Maori Fisheries assets are being handled. We have received a number of emails on the issue that indicate that Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd, the company that holds all the fisheries companies and Sealords may see some changes on their boards.

Maori are one of the big three in fishing now along side Talleys and Sanfords. The industry is worth about $1.4 billion a year. In any other comparable industry of this size there would be journalists all over this story as it has ramifications for all Maori and indeed all New Zealanders.

HONE IS A TAUTAUA (WIMP)

So Hone is terrified of a couple of dozen young nats.. Has he ever seen a young nat??? We love their little intellectual cotton socks but they are pasty faced ( from spending too much time in a computer room plotting and planning) and spotty and either stickman thin or puppyfattys. The girls are hot though...

While they are intellectually sexy, they have a very unthreatening physical presence. Sort of like a warm scone with jam and cream.

Hone has now become a complete joke. He has been spooked by some boys with bum fluff and a couple of hot chicks.

TRANS TASMAN - "MALLARDS A NOB"

Well they didn't say that exactly but thats the sentiment. What they did say is that its seems Mallard thinks his lifes ambition is to be a Labour version of Whaleoil. And they ask the question - why should the taxpayer pay his salary when he blogs?

HEY NGA PUHI - VOTE FOR A TINOPAI TANE

If Maori in the far north dont want to appear to be the silliest boiledheads in NZ then they should vote for Kelvin.

Strategic voting is Mean Maori Mean

WE WUDDA LET WILLS BORROW OUR ISLAND

So the Whales- Middletons are shacked up on some small atoll in the Seychelles after the big nuptials

We are miffed. While they are there they will have to stroll around on shitty sharp shelly beaches and get hot. Which cant be that conducive to a bit of royal slap and tickle of Mrs Wales underdone scrawny arse.

The hideaway also comes with its own chef and butler.

Why would newly weds want that? For starters we think that Katie would want to undress and dress Wills rather than leave that to some toffy poofy butler.

And how is she gonna cook him scones and eggs bennie for brekkie we wonder?

We would have been happy to offer up our muttonbird island. Its got a great beach, the bush is lovely and the ground is all spongy so if you dont mind they odd bite from a peat flea, its a good place for a bit of afternoon outdoorsy shagging.

However we would have to warn Wills that if he missed his flip mid shag his royal pecker might end up in a muttonbird burrow.

And there is a big ol coal range you have to keep stoked that cooks the best roasties and scones so Kate can show Wills her culinary talents. Lets face it - Wills old man got turned on by old mumsy house frau Camilla so its a safe bet Wills has the mumsy fetish as well.

And as its a bit nippy down south of Stewart Island, you have the inclination to spend quite a bit of time in the sack to keep warm.

It also blows a bit so you can stand on the westerly cliffs and lean over and the wind will keep you from falling over .. which is pretty cool - in fact its bloody cool.

And the beach is fantastic and secluded. The sealions regularly indulge in what is a rather lovely display of mega fauna f**cking that is inspirational to say the least.

Anyway if the Wales- Middletons want a second honeymooon we are happy to fix our place up real nice. We would even replace the apple box that doubles as a bed leg with a new one and fix the headboard to the bed so it doesnt bang when you bang.

We are convinced a bit of real living would bring the pair much closer together and then Kate would be able to relax, lie back and think of England.