It's like we've all woken up to find the country has fallen down the rabbit Warren in Alice through the looking glass. I use the phrase 'I have discharged my duties today', to my partner, said in jest after cooking a meal. But for a minister of the crown to declare this is plain barking mad! I can picture Willis wandering around the beehive screaming "off with their heads!!!". In what crazy parallel universe did kiwis EVER believe this nutter and her entourage ever deliver a fiscal policy to serve our best interests? How do you maintain your himour and sanity Nick? I just can't keep up
I overlook the Wellington Harbour entrance so count the comings and goings of Ferries as part of my day. I worry for those who will have to work on these ships as we move to 2029. K can't believe the incompetence of NW. It seems obvious she could find a ''toyota'. She gets an A for spite, She failed all other competencies.
Such glaring, unforgivable, incompetence but Willis must be fulfilling "someone's/something's" agenda for her to be able to still be there. I've never been a person to swear, but lately?
Talk about the light and dark of - it the yin and yang of it .... reading yet again the full measure of the nastiness, arrogance and incompetence of Willis v the pleasure of reading about your parents' lovely marriage and anniversary and your happy childhood, I was so fortunate to have had the same, you draw strength from that your whole life I've found especially when times get grim. PS why is it the National Party attracts narcissists? although my Mum used to say "Tories are the same the world over!"
I have started calling her Wicola Nillus, sorta fits alice In Wonderland kinda genre, and wondering htf she got there in the 1st place. Thank goodness her hair style didn't catch on..........and I love hair and self expression..........but imagine being in town and seeing a lot of hair like that..........I would go into town even less..........just coz of the trauma of association with that look. BUT, I don't think thats gonna happen. Wicola Nillus will forever be Nicky No Boats or in a contemporaily acceptable revision Nicky No Nuts.
Yeah, nah. The ship building company had allowed us to LOCK IN pre-inflationary era prices in 2021 and surely CHEERED when Nicola officially notified them WE WERE the misguided ones reneging on the deal. They’d maybe let us back in the cue at TODAY’S PRICES which all agree are 35%-40% higher than what we had shrewdly locked-in 3+ years ago…
This will go down in Finance Minister history as one of the top bone-headed moves ever.
Early this year (6+ months back) some of us were advocating for just that. Asking incessantly if we had, indeed, OFFICIALLY, broken our contract. And it all fell into that long stretch of silent months from the Finance Minister. We predicted then that the builder would have SWIFTLY and graciously accepted our intent to withdraw so they could get out of pricing disadvantageous to THEM. And fill the production slot with someone else’s order. So now our 2026 delivery window has certainly passed.
My prediction? The break penalty will be at least $225 million. Add that to the $551 million originally agreed to and the new price implied is ~$775 million. Maybe we could plead financial malpractice, stupidity and massive economic ignorance and they’d give us the pricing. And delivery like 2+ years later than the original contract…
right Mark, and I had heard that we had paid upfront for some of the materials to get the project underway…..I wonder if we still own that, or forfeit that that material on cancellation. Being a mad welder, steel is gold. Appreciate all your info and knowledge around this. I have an American chapter to my life…..and a few sayings of an ex from that time………….relating to a sexual act with the horse you rode into town on………..I would use that of this government….but the pleasure would be all in the saying of, there are too many horse they rode into town on. If ya get ma drift LOL.
A great read Nick, and yeah the really important stuff is at the end, about your mum and dad, 60 years and honouring family and aroha. Wicola Nillus off the hook, a cunning duck, and 60 years down the track it could become the biggest fiasco and stupid move of the century. Njoy that family celebration. What a lovely tribute.
Well said, Nick - an unbelievable lack of info in the ferry announcement! Willis is certainly away with the fairies - Willis should resign after that. How ridiculous if there isn't a rail link - it's essential. Of course we loved the final bit - thank you for tribute. In my later years I've begun to see how vitally important family is and how grateful we are to have an amazing family who care and share ideas. It is possible I was an influence from my Labour grandfather, on some left-wing views? Just a thought.
Talk about shipwrecked! What a farce. I'm just a little worried that some will see Winston as the saviour in his new role as Minister of Rail, including the Maritime Union. It's obvious there's been a shitfight between Seymour and Winston and WP got a new bauble as compensation because Luxon is just so scared of him. The sucking up of WP from Willis and Luxon yesterday was just awful. Winston doesn't give a shite about workers ; we know that from many years - he just has his eyes now fixed on populism for the next election. But anyway, happy anniversary to your parents Nick. They did good.
Loved this one, perfect fairy tail, just waiting for Labour to be the white knight!
If only it wasn’t true 😣
Congrats to your parents. I, too, was privileged to have amazing parents and totally understand the depth of your feelings and pride.
Enjoy the celebrations 🎉🥳
I agree Jo!
We hope to have 60 years next May. It is a marvellous milestone.
All the very best to them, and to the wider family.
It's like we've all woken up to find the country has fallen down the rabbit Warren in Alice through the looking glass. I use the phrase 'I have discharged my duties today', to my partner, said in jest after cooking a meal. But for a minister of the crown to declare this is plain barking mad! I can picture Willis wandering around the beehive screaming "off with their heads!!!". In what crazy parallel universe did kiwis EVER believe this nutter and her entourage ever deliver a fiscal policy to serve our best interests? How do you maintain your himour and sanity Nick? I just can't keep up
We watched the announcement on the news last night , and it was a real WTF moment..
I just won't watch main media news coverage. I'd have to keep buying new TV's!
Good read Nick. I weep with you about the incompetence and celebrate your parents anniversary.
I'm going to spend Xmas actively not thinking about our disastrous gummint. 60 years married that's momentous what a fabulous family you have ❤️❤️❤️
I overlook the Wellington Harbour entrance so count the comings and goings of Ferries as part of my day. I worry for those who will have to work on these ships as we move to 2029. K can't believe the incompetence of NW. It seems obvious she could find a ''toyota'. She gets an A for spite, She failed all other competencies.
Such glaring, unforgivable, incompetence but Willis must be fulfilling "someone's/something's" agenda for her to be able to still be there. I've never been a person to swear, but lately?
Talk about the light and dark of - it the yin and yang of it .... reading yet again the full measure of the nastiness, arrogance and incompetence of Willis v the pleasure of reading about your parents' lovely marriage and anniversary and your happy childhood, I was so fortunate to have had the same, you draw strength from that your whole life I've found especially when times get grim. PS why is it the National Party attracts narcissists? although my Mum used to say "Tories are the same the world over!"
Maybe, with her Uni studies in English Lit and Journalism, Nicola can WRITE her way out of this fiscal mess she’s created for us?
Nicola Willis = Liz Truss
I have started calling her Wicola Nillus, sorta fits alice In Wonderland kinda genre, and wondering htf she got there in the 1st place. Thank goodness her hair style didn't catch on..........and I love hair and self expression..........but imagine being in town and seeing a lot of hair like that..........I would go into town even less..........just coz of the trauma of association with that look. BUT, I don't think thats gonna happen. Wicola Nillus will forever be Nicky No Boats or in a contemporaily acceptable revision Nicky No Nuts.
Let's hope see has the same luck as Liz Truss. Two peas in a pod....
Maybe Winston can revive the original iRex deal - a big win for all of us and especially for him!!
Yeah, nah. The ship building company had allowed us to LOCK IN pre-inflationary era prices in 2021 and surely CHEERED when Nicola officially notified them WE WERE the misguided ones reneging on the deal. They’d maybe let us back in the cue at TODAY’S PRICES which all agree are 35%-40% higher than what we had shrewdly locked-in 3+ years ago…
This will go down in Finance Minister history as one of the top bone-headed moves ever.
Thanks for that Mark, I can put that hope to rest. Yup it will be blooper of the century kinda fodder.
yes, I have been wondering if that is still possible.......penalties and all.
Early this year (6+ months back) some of us were advocating for just that. Asking incessantly if we had, indeed, OFFICIALLY, broken our contract. And it all fell into that long stretch of silent months from the Finance Minister. We predicted then that the builder would have SWIFTLY and graciously accepted our intent to withdraw so they could get out of pricing disadvantageous to THEM. And fill the production slot with someone else’s order. So now our 2026 delivery window has certainly passed.
My prediction? The break penalty will be at least $225 million. Add that to the $551 million originally agreed to and the new price implied is ~$775 million. Maybe we could plead financial malpractice, stupidity and massive economic ignorance and they’d give us the pricing. And delivery like 2+ years later than the original contract…
We screwed the pooch as we Americans used to say.
right Mark, and I had heard that we had paid upfront for some of the materials to get the project underway…..I wonder if we still own that, or forfeit that that material on cancellation. Being a mad welder, steel is gold. Appreciate all your info and knowledge around this. I have an American chapter to my life…..and a few sayings of an ex from that time………….relating to a sexual act with the horse you rode into town on………..I would use that of this government….but the pleasure would be all in the saying of, there are too many horse they rode into town on. If ya get ma drift LOL.
Kōrero perfection - nothing to add
Enjoyed your post Nick. Congratulations to your parents. The Finns are National treasures.
A great read Nick, and yeah the really important stuff is at the end, about your mum and dad, 60 years and honouring family and aroha. Wicola Nillus off the hook, a cunning duck, and 60 years down the track it could become the biggest fiasco and stupid move of the century. Njoy that family celebration. What a lovely tribute.
Happy anniversary Mr & Mrs Rockel
Now THATs a love story! 💚💙🩵 for your whole whanau. Beautiful
Well said, Nick - an unbelievable lack of info in the ferry announcement! Willis is certainly away with the fairies - Willis should resign after that. How ridiculous if there isn't a rail link - it's essential. Of course we loved the final bit - thank you for tribute. In my later years I've begun to see how vitally important family is and how grateful we are to have an amazing family who care and share ideas. It is possible I was an influence from my Labour grandfather, on some left-wing views? Just a thought.
I think that is a safe bet. 🙂❤️
Talk about shipwrecked! What a farce. I'm just a little worried that some will see Winston as the saviour in his new role as Minister of Rail, including the Maritime Union. It's obvious there's been a shitfight between Seymour and Winston and WP got a new bauble as compensation because Luxon is just so scared of him. The sucking up of WP from Willis and Luxon yesterday was just awful. Winston doesn't give a shite about workers ; we know that from many years - he just has his eyes now fixed on populism for the next election. But anyway, happy anniversary to your parents Nick. They did good.