John Key's REAL Tax Speech

“New Zealand, we are in crisis. As a nation we are rumbling down the path of economic doom. We are spending and planning to spend so much of your money on sustaining our 2nd world status that to do nothing would be immoral.

A land of such potential.
Forget Australia – we could be the Switzerland of the Pacific.

New Zealand, further to our election promises, today I am lowering your tax rates dramatically, and comprehensively.

How do we do this?

We are cutting huge swathes into the lumbering unproductive behemoth that are New Zealand state services.
We are offering you the option of deciding which state services you wish to pay for – and – receive. Subsequently, they will right-size, offering real competition and choice.

We believe you are best placed to make decisions on how to spend your money.

After all – it is your money.”

John Key

Sometimes - Even a little knowledge is a VERY GOOD THING

How to keep the Invercargill Council out of your Rubbish...

Worried about the Invercargill City Council forcing their three-bin dream on to you?

Here is how to keep them out:

Curse that Invercargill Weather

Just for the books, forecast tomorrow is 27 degrees.

At 19 today it feels like a heatwave...

Roundup of my Favourite Blog Entries for the Week

Heres a quick roundup of the blog entries which have tickled my fancy in the past week:

Southern Squall (one of our new local blogs - its great to have company) doesn't see the proposed merger between Southland & Otago District Health Boards as the foregone conclusion that it is...

Liberty Scott points again a finger at the woeful embarrassment which has become the National Government meddling into our financial affairs. Liberty Scott: Land tax - short memories.

Peter Cresswell shows us why Avatar is NOT the biggest grossing movie of all time.

Lindsay Mitchell in her often chillingly insightful way shows us how in New Zealand, more is broken than the tax system.

With Labour's strategy to challenge for the throne neatly in the bag, we look to the The Standard's frankly embarrassingly throbbing pontificating about the date for the next general election.

The boys and girls over at Motella tell us which hotels to avoid...

And kiwiblog had absolutely nothing of any interest. Honestly. Just go do that course you called me about, David. It will give you something interesting to say.

Congratulations to Invercargill Brewery!

I have long been a fan of Invercargill Brewery's fine produce, my own favourite being Stanley Green (at room temperature), particularly when pulled - on tap - by one of Alan's 'dream team' girls at Buster Crabbes.
Just found this from "Real Beer New Zealand", with our local boys PITCH BLACK beer getting a placing in their top ten beers for 2009!

"8. Invercargill Pitch Black (10) – From the country’s southernmost brewery, Pitch Black proves that beers do not need to be strong to have flavour. It showcases a wonderful balance of chocolate and coffee notes before a clean finish."

Well done lads!

Epic Invercargill Roading FAIL

Seen this evening driving towards town on Dunns rd in Otatara.

Both a 70 & a 30 sign for the same stretch of road.

Help yourself fellas.

Epic FAIL

The Pessimists Mug

Not sure if any of you have ever come across this site before -

As a purveyor of

"The Creators of Demotivators:

this website and company is well worth a look.

Despair.com

Fabulous merchandise - t-shirts and laptop skins etc:

MacDonalds - POTENTIAL - Not everyone gets to be an astronaut!

Love it.

Website here.

It is already our hospital. (Updated)

A recent proposal to provide some private health services from within Southland hospital is more of the disease, and is just exacerbating the condition.

The main reason that private health care is so inaccessible to so many is, well, because of the existence of public health care.

It is virtually impossible to enter the monopoly which is New Zealand health care. The barriers to entry are so great.

Todays news indicates that the person who suggested the scheme, Dr Chris Jackson, is defending it.

However, the provision of that care within public health system just makes the opportunity for genuine competition even more difficult.

How about we the taxpayers - who own the assets of the hospital, biff out the wasteful government management team and put it out to tender?

Its our hospital, not theirs.

(UPDATE)

MacDoctor has an interesting take

Who was that man who unmasked socialism in Invercargill...?

Read recently in the Southland Times, one of the letters to the editor I believe, a councillor from Environment Southland attacking Senator Piercy's stance as "socialism". Bravo that man, and kudos to whomever can advise me as to their identity!