General Debate 20 February 2020

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Notsofast

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Slipped quietly into the Mark Lundy supreme court decision is the following sentence from para 122

“……..If it made the secret return trip it likely
travelled 520 km on the Naenae tank and used 58 litres at an average rate of 11.15 litres
per 100 km.”

This of course included known travel of sales trips around Wellington and to Johnsonville roundabout of 83 kilometers, and a known trip averaging 100 km/hr from the roundabout to the police cordon of 137 kms. The first of this the supreme court said used at least 12.5 liters / 100 kms and the second at least 16.44 liters/100 kms. Their figures.

This leaves 8.33 liters/100 kms for the secret 300 kms in a 4 liter straight 6 automatic Ford sedan on on 91 unleaded, and not 11.15 at all.

Don’t get in a private plane with these guys calculating fuel needs.

hahahahaha.

On a serious note, only trained lawyers on the bench, and at the highest level, seem permitted to statements totally irreconcilable with scientific truth to lock up a citizen. In fairness to them they were merely repeating exactly what the chief justice said, and it would be unseemly to suggest she might have been wrong would’t it?
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February 20, 2020 8:01am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  He’s guilty. Give it up and get a real job.
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:30am
  - Notsofast
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    So you say, but note this is a direct attack on his alibi by the supreme court. Obviously the matter does not rest there, as the chief justice would obviously prefer. And the whole system of politicians police prosecutors and judiciary. I am trying to keep it simple, their statement is false and shows he has an alibi as he has always stated.
    This is how debates proceed, I make a claim and you show how I am wrong,
    
    I just showed my working for your delectation.
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:41am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      This is how debates proceed, I make a claim and you show how I am wrong,
      
      For months, you claimed the Supreme Court would uphold Lundy’s appeal and free him. You were wrong; the Supreme Court ruled so.
      
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      February 20, 2020 10:08am
      - Notsofast
        
        Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
        Yes, I should have taken more notice of an international expert in these matters who wrote half way through 2018
        
        “My guess is this: They realize the case is pure bullshit but they are going to quash his appeal anyway, and they are trying to figure out how to word their ruling and when to announce it.
        
        Maybe then people will realize that debunking the evidence is not enough. Someone has to solve the crime.”
        
        He was right then when Winkelmann was in charge and the comments carried through.
        
        My god you are a bunch of suckers….
        
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        February 20, 2020 10:20am
- PaulP
  
  Clearly someone else did it based on the spate of unsolved violent murders of complete strangers that has been going on in Palmy and wider NZ since they locked up this innocent guy /sarc.
  
  What’s the theory on who else did it? As far as I can tell all other suspects were eliminated.
  
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  February 20, 2020 11:24am
Sir Cullen's Sidekick

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/02/jacinda-ardern-hailed-as-a-g-for-helping-man-open-beer.html

My God, Cindy is eliminating child poverty in our country! I am voting her for sure. She is so nice.
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February 20, 2020 8:02am
- Tarquin North
  
  Any credibility Newshub had has flown out the window in style.
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:10am
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    ~~HuffPo~~ Newshub? editorial team https://bit.ly/2SVYfpb
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:05am
- Bill felt
  
  She may not have helped children in poverty but she has helped a man with his beer and a woman in the supermarket! Well done. The year of delivery is real!
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:11am
  - Jade Warrior
    
    It’s probably the most productive thing she’ll do this year.
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:44am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Wow, that was an overwhelming story.
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:13am
  - sooty
    
    What no baby handy to pimp!
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:17am
    - sooty
      
      There’s proof, some people should not be on twitter!
      
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      February 20, 2020 8:27am
      - Charmaine Hawke
        
        It is proof the media get their stories from Twitter. If they got out from behind a desk occasionally they might discover that woman being kind is something that happens on a daily basis.
        
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        February 20, 2020 9:04am
      - Tall Man
        
        Women Charmaine, unless you really did mean “that woman”…… 🙂
        
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        February 20, 2020 9:14am
    - Paulus Gnome
      
      She is expanding her skill set and appeal to voters now she realises that kindergarten children cannot vote, yet . . .
      
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      February 20, 2020 8:40am
      - alloytoo
        
        Vocational training……planning for the future should be applauded.
        
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        February 20, 2020 10:22am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    I don’t have the time to read about the dribbling of a baby politician.
    
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    February 20, 2020 11:58am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  Wow! So much helping going on! Wonder how the poor dear fits in her day job?
  
  Bwuhahahaha!
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:13am
- Right of way is Way of Right
  
  Did she use her teeth to open the bottle or something? How in hell is this even news FFS!
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:14am
- G152
  
  Associating with grown men who cant open a beer says something…
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:14am
  - Inandout
    
    G152, one of the reasons I relinquished my Koru membership was the amount of MPs and iwi elite inhabiting the lounges. The private bars littering airports are far more inviting.
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:17am
    - Ruahine
      
      I have noticed the same thing re the Koru Club. My word are they not a happy bunch of look at me’s. I think it probably should be renamed the Koha Club.
      
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      February 20, 2020 9:34am
- Surely Knott
  
  Jacinda passes man a beer opener. The year of delivery hits the big time!! Gangsta.
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:15am
- Tall Man
  
  You beat me to it. I was just so overwhelmed by the quality of the journalism I had to have a wee time out.
  
  What a pathetic world we currently inhabit.
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:27am
  - Michael NZ
    
    TM
    What pathetic Media and comm specialists inhabit our world and have access to us. 16:52
    
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    February 20, 2020 4:28pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Amen to that.
      
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      February 20, 2020 9:32pm
- freethinker
  
  Sir C
  Wow our Assistant PM has achieved a new high, Two fish and a scoop now relegated, using a can opener on a beer bottle, what next – counting to five in Te Reo?
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:30am
  - Paulus Gnome
    
    To ten when the Kelvinator whispers the words in her lugs . . .
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:42am
    - Biscuit
      
      Or has Willie Jackson standing two steps behind her reciting the gen she needs…
      
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      February 20, 2020 9:05am
  - Two fish and a scoop thanks Cindy
    
    Your choice of normal, or chicken salt!
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:42am
- mark15
  
  This is parody or satire surely.Does the Dailymash have an NZ site?
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:52am
- Rich Prick
  
  “Javed” sounds like a union organiser.
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:05am
  - Two fish and a scoop thanks Cindy
    
    Or, if you’re a 12th Man fan, a Pakistani cricketer:
    Javegemitefor Meandad
    
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    February 20, 2020 12:24pm
- MCos
  
  Tweet of the day (so far)
  
  “ Jacinda Ardern hailed as a ‘G’ for helping man open beer
  Right wing trolls are going to have a melt down …”
  Greg Preston
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:06am
- tf78
  
  She learned that from opening envelopes – she is truly amazing!
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:04am
- alloytoo
  
  Enabling Alcoholism.
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:19am
- oldfella
  
  The Spinoff jumped in this morning and posted a p*sstake suggesting Cindy once offered a man a banana, and he was overwhelmed by her gesture.
  https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/20-02-2020/exclusive-jacinda-ardern-offered-me-a-banana-says-man/
  I wonder if the man who got the banana from Cindy was … black. Wow, that would be an even better Newshub scoop. /sarc
  
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  February 20, 2020 11:47am
  - Two fish and a scoop thanks Cindy
    
    Transblack.
    -Scoop of the century.
    
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    February 20, 2020 12:27pm
- LTA1955
  
  Ya NZ punters will interpret this for what it is….absolute desperation by the Mt Albert Muddler. Everyone knows that’s what ya gold tooth is for or a set of fangers like the incumbent… and yes it’s MSM flaunting their bias
  
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  February 20, 2020 1:06pm
- Scooter
  
  Well as they say I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy. Are we sure it was the former with JA?
  
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  February 20, 2020 4:59pm
- Old.Mickey.Blue.Eyes
  
  and in the meantime, simon bridges signing something that can be used as drug paranaphlia. anyone would think its election year????? baby pictures next……
  
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  February 20, 2020 7:02pm
mandk

How many times does Counties Manukau DHB have to say they did not have sewage running down the walls of Middlemore Hospital before the CoL, and Ardern in particular, stops lying about it?
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February 20, 2020 8:06am
- Tall Man
  
  ardern stop lying?
  
  Surely you jest.
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:28am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Can’t wait for the day she is caught out telling the truth. That will be news worth reporting
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:54am
- Michael NZ
  
  or better still Apologies publically!
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:35am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Lefties NEVER apologise, never.
    
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    February 20, 2020 5:49pm
- Raphael
  
  Our Glorious Leader maintains that she is not lying because she is merely repeating what some else said….even though the other person was lying….
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:07am
  - alloytoo
    
    sort of like receiving stolen goods……
    
    “I didn’t steal them….”
    
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    February 20, 2020 12:23pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      “I did not steal it, I took it ehoa”
      
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      February 20, 2020 5:44pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Prime Minister proving once again that she is ill-informed about matters that she should know about.
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:23am
- Classic Liberal
  
  Can Middlemore Hospital management take a defamation case, or not, because no specific person was accused of causing the ‘sewer down walls’?
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:45am
- tf78
  
  Maybe people with shit for brains can’t see past it.
  
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  February 20, 2020 11:08am
- LTA1955
  
  Basher Nash dropped the sewage line into Hosk’s Wednesday Politics yesterday….its goto line for the incompetent COL
  
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  February 20, 2020 1:08pm
Yvette

Cannabis “confusion”–
The latest Newshub-Reid Research Poll showed support for the legalisation of cannabis has dropped since June last year with more people now saying they don’t know if they will support the cause.
“That speaks volumes about the confusion,” political editor Tova O’Brien told The AM Show.
That confusion has spread to Government with MPs seeming unsure if the legislation will be adopted as a Government Bill or a conscience vote. [1]

By definition, can legislation tied to a referendum ever have a conscience vote?
In fact, can it have any vote subsequent to the public having already passed it?

I had understood the law is ready to go and the referendum simply confirms it becomes law or does not.

But it seems the Referendum Website does talk of the Draft Law.
It seems to not be final legislation, and is still to have public submissions.
So is there indeed confusion as O’Brien claims?

Apparently –
If more than 50% of voters vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum, recreational use of cannabis won’t become legal straight away. After the election, the incoming Government can introduce a Bill to Parliament that would make recreational use of cannabis legal. This process would include the opportunity for the public to share their thoughts and ideas on how the law might work. [2]

Before the last Election, an eagerness to place a royalty on water being bottled and sent to China, led to talk of also taxing irrigation water, but when there was some nastiness and uncertainty over actual rates – 1c or a threatened 2c per cubic metre – Ardern suddenly realised she’d be asking people to vote on a matter without detail, and pushed the whole mess sideways into a Tax Working Group, promised “no new taxes” for three years and any Tax Working Group decision would take effect after this upcoming 2020 Election.

Now Parliament does seem to be asking the eligible public to vote on a draft legislation without full detail.

For example, a person aged 20 years or older may grow not more than 2 cannabis plants on a property they have legal access to, while 2 or more qualifying persons may only grow 4 (in aggregate).

However there seems to be no consideration of seedlings versus mature plants which would be perhaps solved by stating the limit to be two producing plants.
The difference between having calves, not yet milking cows, or chooks but all roosters.
So what is the stand-by time waiting for a plant to grow.
And a prohibition of “public view, or access” will likely bugger any planting around any retirement homes.

See, confusion already. Before we have even cooked or smoked anything.

[1] https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/02/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-needs-to-grow-some-balls-and-reveal-how-she-will-vote-in-cannabis-referendum-says-duncan-garner.html
[2] https://www.referendum.govt.nz/cannabis/index.html
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February 20, 2020 8:08am
- Michael NZ
  
  Yvette
  err..
  This is the same people that closed down a regions economic activity in Taranaki with NO CABINET PAPERS!
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:37am
  - Yvette
    
    Michael NZ
    Agreed. Noting, of course, the NZ First item in the Coalition Agreement –
    • Record a Cabinet minute regarding the lack of process followed prior to the National-led government’s sponsorship of UNSC2334
    – “lack of process” being “not considered and approved by Cabinet”.
    Which does ” quite demostratively” make Winston an utter hypocrite.
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:21am
    - Michael NZ
      
      Yvette
      wow didn’t know.
      This sort of stuff just makes me more embaressed I voted NZF last time.
      never never again.
      
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      February 20, 2020 11:36am
      - double d
        
        More fool you
        Tell anyone you know who voted that way – enough already
        
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        February 20, 2020 5:10pm
- Ruahine
  
  The brainwashing and propaganda is about to begin.
  Telling us how to become drug addicts with our own money because they the politicians pushing this latest agenda of society breakdown are too lazy to do it themselves or just to lazy to go to the trouble of trying to present a good enough case to justify a law change or just to ashamed to stand up publicly to even defend what is policy.
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:20am
  - sooty
    
    What happened to the medical marijuana?
    The druggies got hold of it!
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:42am
    - Sofia
      
      Sooty
      The products are rather limited in numbers, count them on one hand, and cost an arm and a leg, or about $250 a month. They are not subsidised … yet
      
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      February 20, 2020 9:59am
    - alwyn
      
      I was at a reunion over the just past weekend. This was about 20 people who all started University together in the early 1960’s. All of us Oldies of course.
      The subject of the Cannabis referendum came up and I was fascinated by the unanimity of views. Everyone was strongly in favour of legalising medical marijuana for pain relief. However because the bill was going to allow open use for recreational purposes nobody had decided to vote for it and everyone said they were currently going to vote no.
      I think it is going to fail, probably because Chloe whatever is pushing for open slather in usage.
      
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      February 20, 2020 3:21pm
      - Michael NZ
        
        Alwyn It’s our position as well.
        We’ve been following the Israelis as they are way ahead of the game on this.
        
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        February 20, 2020 4:30pm
Right of way is Way of Right

I see the UN is now branding the housing crisis as a Humanitarian Issue, that successive governments have done nothing to correct.

The one thing that would have gone a long way to redressing the issue would have been the changes to the resource management act that the National Government under John Key tried to introduce, but this was scuppered at the last minute by United Future’s Peter Dunne.

This is a sad indictment of the power imbalances created by MMP, where the minor parties have more power than they should have, and it is an imbalance that continues through to this government, where NZ First have managed to parlay 7% of the vote in to over 20% of the cabinet, the Deputy Prime Minister’s job, total control of the NZ Racing Industry, all power over fisheries, and the blatant attempt to set up a fiefdom in Northland.

We were sold a bill of goods under MMP. FFP was not perfect by any means, but it ensured that ultimate accountability was held by the electorate, not the party!

We need governments who enact policy and make decisions, not governments that compromise policies for the sake of power.
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February 20, 2020 8:10am
- Tall Man
  
  I wish these bleating twats would watch a few of the housing shows on the living channel.
  
  House prices throughout the world are high. Average house prices in many suburbs of Adelaide are way over $1,000,000 yet is a “crisis” in NZ.
  
  Fuckwits the lot of them.
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:30am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    And Hawaii – and that is US dollars
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:56am
  - hilaryt
    
    Our young adult children cannot afford to buy in Auckland or Welington, as I did at their age. They are young professionals on reasonable incomes. THey are no alone in this. The ratios between income & housing are much higher these days. I call that a real problem for those wanting to establish a home, then a family.
    
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    February 20, 2020 10:44am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      And it is likely to get worse. The money being created by the FED finds its’s way into our asset prices. Commonsense will eventually be restored. Meanwhile it’s going to take a lot of extra skill to run the country. (Sorry a diploma in fish & chip wrapping does not count.)
      
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      February 20, 2020 12:02pm
    - Tall Man
      
      I do understand that Hilary but …… where in the world are houses in capital cities or major cities houses not expensive.
      
      However, in saying that, we have many clients in the Wellington area who have bought their first homes over the past 12 months. We have also seen quite a few in excess of $1.5 million but at the moment a $1,000,000 property with 80% finance has a repayment around $830 per week which is approx 35% of a joint semi professional couples weekly income. Yes, a few assumptions there but close to the lower end of semi professional’s incomes that we see.
      
      Under h1 and h2 in 1999, the same house was approx 375,000 giving a mortgage of $300,000 with repayments @ $790 per week. Even worse in 1989 when a $200,000 home was financed @19% ish.
      
      Things look tough but one of the issues that we see is an unwillingness to compromise and buy something that needs work.
      
      I have two of my kids remodelling homes to increase equity right now and a third building a second home from scratch.
      
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      February 20, 2020 2:16pm
- Michael NZ
  
  Right
  Just read an article about the UN special raporteur coming here and opining on our housing crisis.
  She soon morphed into Maori and their right to the land and their self determination.
  
  I don’t understand why we can’t provide plots and build 7.5m x 7.5m 2bed, 2 story house for $200k.
  Sell the houses but retain the land and charge a rent on it yearly.
  Simple basic houses like the one below, but only half the foot print. 56M2 for $200k=$3500 per m2
  
  https://fraemohs.co.nz/house-plans/olearia-99/
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:32am
  - Ruawai
    
    And on the radio this morning they said her written report would be out in February 2021, so a whole year to put pen to paper!!
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:04am
  - Tall Man
    
    Have a look at the NZ house kit prices then have a look at the Aussie ones.
    
    You’ll soon see where we are being screwed.
    
    https://imaginekithomes.co.nz/plans/?product-page=3
    
    https://imaginekithomes.com.au/plans/?product-page=2
    
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    February 20, 2020 2:30pm
    - Michael NZ
      
      wow TM
      double the size for half the money…
      Why isn’t HNZ building a 1000?16:74
      
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      February 20, 2020 4:34pm
      - Tall Man
        
        Fletchers & Branz.. Say no more.
        
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        February 20, 2020 9:34pm
- artemisia
  
  I’m sure her report will include a rigorous cost benefit analysis considering various impact scenarios.
  
  Right?
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:33am
  - Ruahine
    
    Just another know all bludger this time a foreign one spouting the usual double speak and euphemisms that the bureaucratic classes excell in. Translated it means; I am the clever one. You are the stupid ones. Do as I say.
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:46am
- Classic Liberal
  
  Communists just don’t get it: nobody is going to invest in real estate and *build more housing* if their laws make it increasingly unattractive.
  The US Rapporteur’s Communist gems:
  “imposing a capital gains tax on the sale of residential properties,” – so people’s homes and rental properties would have their inflation taxed. That does nothing to motivate the building of new homes. Nor does it motivate people to sell – since there is a huge tax looming.
  
  “In Germany they are looking a five-year rent freeze.” – again no motivation to build new rental properties. And if it caused a few landlords to despair and sell up to first home buyers, still no *new* homes built!
  
  “What if every time a landlord had a vacant property they had to offer it to the Government who could rent if or a person in need?” – note “had to”. So basically government seizing your property!
  
  You can bet Taxinda will use this UN woman’s bullshit as leverage to push her IUSY manifesto socialist ideals.
  
  People who have lived in the old Eastern Bloc countries tell how it took *years* of being on waiting lists and having the best Commie Connections for a couple to rent their own place. Single people could basically forget it and lived with their parents! *That’s* what happens when there is no free market and people have no motivation to build.
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:58am
  - greybeard
    
    Do we know exactly who it was who invited that UN woman here?
    Ardern ?
    Helen Clark ? This is my pick, she has been increasingly visible recently, in direct proportion to the downward Ardern spiral.
    
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    February 20, 2020 1:25pm
  - Classic Liberal
    
    Hop onto Twitter, Greybeard, and give Golriz a few comments she needs to hear. She thinks this UN woman is the ‘world’s leading expert on housing’!
    
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    February 20, 2020 2:47pm
- jonnycomelately
  
  Well said.
  
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  February 20, 2020 12:45pm
- pb
  
  RMA should be deleted and replaced with nothing but local council oversight. Home owners should prepare for house prices to halve. Builders $ per sqm needs to halve too. Deflation good. Usury needs to take a hit. Key’s banking bail out law should be deleted now, and Bankers made to sweat and take a hit for not sharing risk. Close down immigration now, before we get a dose of China Clap. Budding Kiwi entrepreneurial companies should get ready to build cheap chinese imports locally. Diversify your supply chain immediately. Get out of debt now. Or not.
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:00pm
Simon

CCP been buying off both National & Labour using money laundering schemes to get avoid political reporting laws. (is there anything the CCP doesn’t touch which doesn’t turn into utter shithouse.)

What the SFO has just uncovered will have been going on for years.
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February 20, 2020 8:16am
- Michael NZ
  
  Why the downticks, what he is saying is true!
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:33am
  - Paulus Gnome
    
    Tribal trolling by illiterates
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:47am
  - Tall Man
    
    No he is not Michael.
    
    Do you really believe that a few hundred thousand would “buy” a major political party?
    
    labour receive millions in the way of money and “volunteers” from unions so I doubt a few bucks divided amongst the “decision makers” would influence anything.
    
    Same goes for National with large sums of money via local donors plus a very “liquid” foundation.
    
    Now a few bucks to a minor party that doesn’t share the bucks around can make a difference if that party controls a government but the current situation is rare.
    
    As I have said before, point to the “results” of any outside government influence on our legislation that could have possibly been bought by any outside government.
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:56am
    - hullkiwi
      
      TM it has been buying NZF.
      
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      February 20, 2020 9:37am
      - sooty
        
        Yep, it sure did!
        Lock, stock and leader!
        
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        February 20, 2020 9:45am
      - alloytoo
        
        Certainly offers bang for buck.
        
        You get Labour and the Greens for free.
        
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        February 20, 2020 10:27am
      - Tall Man
        
        Maybe but they only have to “buy” one man, albeit a very short one ….
        
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        February 20, 2020 2:02pm
    - Michael NZ
      
      but it is not a few hundred thousands is it?
      
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      February 20, 2020 4:35pm
  - RoboRob
    
    What he is saying may or may not be true. But comments around the ccp are being posted all over the place as a way to distract away from the NZF foundation issues. They are different issues. One is actually with the SFO the other is a rumor / theory based around people with chinese sounding names donating to all parties.
    
    The tactic of posting the words national and ccp is clearly a stratagy being implemented by NZF and its media arm TheBFD to distract away from and Winstons problems and to smear national.
    
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    February 20, 2020 10:18am
    - alloytoo
      
      It’s also raciest and potential slanders New Zealand citizens simply because of their surnames.
      
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      February 20, 2020 10:29am
  - Michael NZ
    
    probably. 😉
    
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    February 20, 2020 11:39am
- Tall Man
  
  [ – snipped mod.]
  
  Would you sell your soul and country for a few hundred thousand dollars, if so you must be “what’s in it for wynston”.
  
  If the Chinese communists wanted some sort of Machiavellian control over NZ, wouldn’t they just start and finish with the “selected” communist PTPM?
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:34am
  - Tall Man
    
    Moderation … [ Mod : take it up with DPF again ]
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:16am
  - Ian Boag
    
    I looked up “obsession” … “the state of being obsessed with someone or something.”
    
    I haven’t bothered to count the number of occurrences of “what’s in it for wynston” today – or yesterday – or last week – but it does sort of fit the above ..
    
    I await my slap from “Tall Moaner” … 🙂
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:48am
    - Two fish and a scoop thanks Cindy
      
      Larger numbers can be found for WRP, Unemployed Pensioner of St Marys Bay by one C. Slater…
      
      Whats your point again?
      
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      February 20, 2020 10:42am
      - Tall Man
        
        I have tried to respond but I am on a mod’s hitlist today.
        
        All my responses to boggy and Michael have been “snipped” or deleted as this one is likely to be.
        
        Not a single abusive word was posted by me, not a swear word (I think 😉 ) yet I have ruffled a mod’s feathers and so must be eradicated.
        
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        February 20, 2020 11:52am
      - Tall Man
        
        Last time I was “snipped” … I needed a bag of frozen peas!!!
        
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        February 20, 2020 12:25pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        @scoopy-doo
        Can’t say I’ve read any of the references you allude to. Putting it into Google turned up zip. Your point (if I got it right) is that Slater seems to be (a bit) obsessed (too). Nothing new there.
        
        Mine was that “what’s in it for wynston” is a bit of a fixture on KB. Brilliant satire uniquely brought to you (over and over) by the Tall Moaner. Obsessional.
        
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        February 20, 2020 3:53pm
      - Tall Man
        
        Jesus ian you do need help.
        
        I know wynston .. do you?
        
        “what’s in it for wynston” is accurate and if you can’t get your head around that … who cares.
        
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        February 20, 2020 7:14pm
  - hmmm82
    
    Well, I’m not saying she is….
    You can read about CCP influence buying all over the world. Sri Lanka didn’t hand over sovereignty of a port because an honest politician made a mistake, and neither did Kenya, and neither will Greece or Victoria. The NT is about to make the same ‘honest mistake’, and I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next 3-years, so do we.
    As long as National have an MP who ‘was’ a CCP member of high standing, and chase that influence, it will happen sooner or later.
    
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    February 20, 2020 12:47pm
    - Michael NZ
      
      Hmmm82
      Once Intelligence always Intelligence……16:36
      
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      February 20, 2020 4:37pm
  - Michael NZ
    
    TM
    How many few Hundreds of thousands did it cost for the Unions with Labour?16:88
    
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    February 20, 2020 4:36pm
- Justitia
  
  Yes Simon, hopefully more will be exposed in the near future. To say it is a disgrace is not sufficient, it’s far worse than that.
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:49am
- Happychappy
  
  That’s a bit rich Simon especially from one coming from the fishing industry, where corruption is some believe rife.
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:54am
  - Colville
    
    if you need evidence of corruption in the fishing industry you need to look no further than the recent sentencing of (good friend of Stuart Nash) Hawke’s Bay Seafoods Ltd director Giancarlo “Joe” D’Esposito purchased thousands of kilos of illegal paua and was only sentanced to home detention.
    This is after his company was convicted for hundreds of illegal acts as comercial fishing.
    
    Its not what you know but who….
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:28am
    - artemisia
      
      Esposito is a common Italian name, originally given to foundlings left on the church steps.
      
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      February 20, 2020 9:37am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Agree it’s a big problem. Driven by the fact that if National can’t get sufficient donations for advertising – to match unions funding Labour and zealots funding Greens plus all the free positive exposure our heavily left biased media give them gratis, then they can’t win the treasury benches.
  
  Really starting to think that providing politicians advertising budgets of $2 per party vote and $2 per electorate vote and ban donations would clean things up and level playing field. How else to you get the pay-for-play corruption out of our system?
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:15am
  - SGA
    
    zealots funding Greens
    
    If by zealot you mean individual NZers putting their money where their mouth is, then I see fewer problems with that than unions, industries, and overseas interests?
    
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    February 20, 2020 10:38am
    - UrbanNeocolonialist
      
      I see a lot of problems with extremist fringes dominating politics, tails wagging dogs, which happens a lot in our comfortable and generally apathetic society. Left wing zealots and single issue nutters insinuate themselves into local bodies, quangos, ministries, NGOs and use their positions to fuck over and impose their lunacy on everyone else and damn the cost – ecan, cycleways, sky bridges, bag bans, mining bans, forestry bans, development bans, the list is endless. A few motivated nutters can do a lot of damage to civil society (Eg jihadis), limiting their power and influence as much as possible is a good thing.
      
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      February 20, 2020 4:11pm
      - SGA
        
        Extremists and “single issue nutters” come in all sorts of political shapes and stripes, UrbanNeocolonialist. Die-hard environmentalists, cyclists, anti-abortioni, anti-immigration, whatever – we just are more accepting of the extremists whose views we might have some sympathy with.
        But more generally, if these people are willing to get involved in politics, that’s their right. You might even say good on them for getting off their backside and getting involved. The answer is for others to get off their backsides and run against them rather than complain about their determination.
        
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        February 20, 2020 6:10pm
  - alwyn
    
    It is the Greens of course who are trying to get this taxpayer funding of political parties. The problem they have is that the number of idiots, or zealots if you prefer, has fallen off as they discovered the fact the party had a crook as their XX chromosome leader and then has demonstrated just how inept they are as Ministers. They can’t raise enough money anymore and want to be able to raid the Public Purse.
    
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    February 20, 2020 3:35pm
- MCos
  
  It would seem that if Jamie-Lee, former National Party insider, hadn’t fallen out with Simon Bridges the donation rort wouldn’t have come to light.
  I wonder if the National Party admin is going back over the years to see if there’s potential for surprises.
  
  The SFO will need to be very astute to unravel all this given the nature of the various individuals and organizations involved.
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:38am
- Ruahine
  
  Simon you have made a mistake. It is not Labour using money laundering schemes. They are Open And Transparent.
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:49am
  - Simon Gotlieb
    
    I suggest you save your sarcasm for when the SFO charge Labour … if it happens.
    
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    February 20, 2020 10:55am
  - Michael NZ
    
    no it’s all under the table in kind
    
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    February 20, 2020 4:38pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Bryce Edwards opines:

Vested interests in New Zealand politics are now too big to hide or ignore. Over the last two decades, the country has seen political donation and election spending scandals come and go on a regular basis. They’ve involved every party and are clearly systemic.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/19/vested-interests-in-new-zealand-politics-are-too-big-to-ignore-we-need-a-royal-commission
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February 20, 2020 8:17am
- sooty
  
  Working up to government funding are we?
  I would agree to government funding if it was three dollars each per party!
  There’s a reason why MPs are thought of as low as car salesmen and reporter’s, the public don’t trust any of them!
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:22am
- Michael NZ
  
  Maggy, I notice he omits the Unions and other “In Kind” support that Labour gets each year.
  Love to see that properly costed and taxed….
  08:28
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:28am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Oh, he omits outing Labour all together….just provides us with a cover-all that all political parties are involved… but doesn’t name Labour as being the Party involved in this recent behaviour (which is “illegal in comparable countries”) :
    
    We have professional lobbyists employed to help run the government and ministerial offices, and senior government staff moving from negotiating coalition agreements one week to heading up lobbying firms the next.
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:46am
Ruahine

The Media Party doing great work for Labour and the Greens on softening us up to vote in September to become drug addicts.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/119647209/what-if-we-threw-a-cannabis-legalisation-party-and-everyone-still-turned-up-with-their-25-tinny
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February 20, 2020 8:17am
KevO'Brien

An informative backgrounder on recycling. Truth once again seems to be being distorted-
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2020/02/18/wash-your-trash-is-recycling-working/
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February 20, 2020 8:17am
- sooty
  
  Burn, baby burn.
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:25am
  - Tall Man
    
    Get some CO2 out there for the trees.
    
    Stop hugging the trees, feed them 🙂
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:35am
    - sooty
      
      Throw some more tires on the fire!
      
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      February 20, 2020 9:49am
    - Two fish and a scoop thanks Cindy
      
      Stop hugging the trees, feed them
      you’re not suggesting we burn the tree huggers, are ya TM???
      
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      February 20, 2020 12:53pm
Paulus Gnome

The Angry one locks horns with Sean Plunket.

https://www.magic.co.nz/home/news/2020/02/sean-plunket-and-justice-minister-in-fiery-argument-over-right-t.html

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/02/andrew-little-has-fiery-debate-with-sean-plunket-over-right-to-silence-laws.html

Great listening and all the convincing why this man is unelectable, unfit for his office, a bully and a union thug.

#votelabour2020foranauthoritianfuture
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February 20, 2020 8:18am
Komata

Umm, I noticed the words ‘Koru Lounge’ in the ‘Beer bottle opening’ article; does that mean that her PrNZessness had once again deigned NOT to mix with the ‘Common Herd’ (Those who traditionally support ‘Labour’)?

Just asking…
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February 20, 2020 8:18am
- Colville
  
  Have you been in a Koru lounge lately?
  
  They even let lawyers in there!
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:35am
  - lifesgood
    
    I had a membership and cancelled. The place is full of riff Raff. Unionists, politicians, young entitled and their screaming brats. It’s also packed out and hard to find a seat. I Really enjoyed finding a quiet spot out with the hoi polloi last time. Koru has shot itself in the foot by allowing too many in. It’s no longer a quiet haven and people are pulling out in droves.
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:58am
    - Lance
      
      Agreed
      Unless it’s like late at night on a business day, the Koru lounge SUCKS at Auckland International.
      Overrun with restless kids, bugger all seating and depleted food warmers.
      I usually just go out and wait in the public area. It’s quieter and a few bucks for food is a small price to pay for actually having something palatable to eat.
      It used to be soooo much better even a few years ago.
      
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      February 20, 2020 9:22am
      - Michael NZ
        
        Lance I can understand your feelings on that.
        My wife thinks it’s thanks to Mr Luxon but she’s still 2 ticks blue.
        As for Whangarey airport and leaving little New Zealand hanging in the Wind well Mr Luxon has shown his colours, why would anything be any different if he were National PM?
        
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        February 20, 2020 11:44am
      - tui47
        
        Did they not introduce new regulations for bringing children into the Lounge? We used to take ours in when they were young. They were told to be quiet, no shouting or crying, and sit still (no running) otherwise we would have to leave. Last year we headed off to an adults only resort in Fiji. Unfortunately our trip hit the school holidays. We had to wait to get into the lounge because it was so full. One mother had brought five children in all whom took a seat each and ran around the lounge. We had to get bused to our Fiji plane. Parents let their children take the seats whilst older people stood. The plane was a nightmare full of screaming children. The parents did nothing to stop the bad behaviour. This year we will make sure we miss the school holidays!
        
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        February 20, 2020 2:12pm
- hookerphil
  
  Long time since I was ever in a Koru Lounge but why would one be given an unopened bottle of beer?
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:50am
  - Tall Man
    
    Self help bar.
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:08am
    - sooty
      
      Here’s an idea AirNZ, put an opener on a strong chain or better yet screw a proper opener to the wall, or just stock the bar with bottles and cans you don’t need openers for! There is people getting the big bucks for not doing their jobs, it’s not bloody that hard!
      
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      February 20, 2020 9:58am
      - Tall Man
        
        I think there was an opener but ardern was blocking it momentarily.
        
        All but one of the lounges I have been in recently are self service on the booze.
        
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        February 20, 2020 12:28pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Poor emasculated snowflake can not even open a beer without help. Setup really, the bar staff would have opened it. More PTPM bullshit
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:59am
  - rockape
    
    I have never been in any bar where my beer wasn’t opened for me.
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:08am
- peterwn
  
  The PM is entitled to some privacy and her use of the Koru Lounge is quite reasonable. Indeed in most countries the PM would enjoy a much higher level of privacy and convenience such as a very exclusive lounge area or being driven straight to airside to board an aircraft.
  The Gerry Brownlee incident a few years ago clearly illustrates NZ’s egalitarian nature. Ministers in many countries would either be allowed to bypass airport security completely or at least use a private security facility with no queuing.
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:02am
  - MCos
    
    Depends which airport you’re talking about.
    At the small regional airfields there’s no choice, but mingle with the plebs and quite frankly, that’s what Kiwis expect.
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:49am
Simon

Police continuing to investigate complaint about Christchurch mayor’s electoral return

Dalziel, who in October won her third term as mayor, initially failed to identify donors who made significant contributions to her campaign at a fundraiser dinner and auction.

Candidates must disclose the names of donor who contribute more than $1500.

Dalziel later revealed the names of six people who donated between $1700 and $17,000 by buying auctioned wine for prices higher than market value. All have connections with her lawyer husband Rob Davidson, who hosted the fundraiser, and many have links to China.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119588461/police-continuing-to-investigate-complaint-about-christchurch-mayors-electoral-return

Bent. They dont want you to know who owns them.
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February 20, 2020 8:18am
- freethinker
  
  Surely another case for investigation by the SFO!
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:35am
- Michael NZ
  
  Ahh,, Labour do as we say not as we do…..
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:38am
Poppa

I have noticed of late that the MSM are calling the PM by her surname now. Previously they referred to her by her first name

I detect a shift in their support for her

There are now more negative stories about her as well which never happened before. Very interesting
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February 20, 2020 8:19am
- MT_Tinman
  
  The PTPM backed her boss when he attacked the slime.
  
  That’s a serious crime in the eyes of the slime.
  
  They’ll hate her until election time.
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:38am
  - Tall Man
    
    “Some” will hate her, most will not as they are as mature as she is which means they are kindergarten heavyweights.
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:58am
- peterwn
  
  I think it is common editoral practice to give the full name of the person initially but use the surname subsequently as a tag. I consider this is discourteous and disrespectful. For example “X appeared before Judge Tony Blogs charged with theft. ….. Blogs sentenced him to …. .” This is IMO quite disrespectful. ” …. The Judge sentenced him to …” is far more appropriate.
  Same with the Prime Minister. Referring to her as ‘Arden’ is disrespectful even if you hate her guts. She deserves the courtesy of Jacinda Arden or The Prime Minister.
  
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  February 20, 2020 2:00pm
Michael NZ

Posted 08:10
so all the above 5 have no moderation, incl the nom de plumes?
08.25am now.

This is worth a read.

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/15600/intolerant-left-liberal-democracy

[Mod – Moderators have lives outside Kiwiblog Michael NZ. They also have normal human emotions and reactions, and your constant sniping at them could just have unintended consequences 🙂 ]
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February 20, 2020 8:26am
- Tall Man
  
  I think Michael’s point is that maybe the topic should be “closed” until we have moderators available. Maybe defer GD until 9 to allow those mods to have a cuppa and become cheerful 🙂
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:44am
  - Simon Gotlieb
    
    Nah.
    
    At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if you can’t use your real name you wait for moderators to approve your posts.
    
    Simple solution really. What are you hiding?
    
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    February 20, 2020 10:58am
    - Classic Liberal
      
      That’s just naïve. Anyone who has been watching what Antifa get up to in Europe and how increasingly authoritarian and censorious the Left are getting knows that revealing one’s real name on this board could lead to violence, threats to self and family, and job/businesses consequences.
      
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      February 20, 2020 11:17am
    - Tall Man
      
      You do sound like a broken record and my suggestion that the blog awaits available moderators is a reasonable one and is not designed to antagonize them, yet it still seems to have.
      
      There are many reasons why I choose to keep my identity private however David Farrar is aware who I am as all my correspondence with him has been in my full name and clearly showing the name of my company.
      
      I am comfortable with moderation, I do wish it was faster sometimes, but I am annoyed at the inconsistency especially when a comment is passed and then another moderator has a second crack at it.
      
      The offending phrase today was “sad wee man” and every post I have put up has been deleted. In my opinion that is a very innocuous phrase and far milder than some of the comments that have been directed at me.
      
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      February 20, 2020 12:21pm
    - mara
      
      Simon “what are you hiding?”) Gotlieb, are you related to Adam Schiff? Asking in a kind and caring way.
      
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      February 20, 2020 5:09pm
  - Michael NZ
    
    No that isn’t my point, tall man
    as the particular MOD knews as he/she has not allowed my return reply on the blog.
    It was not rude, nor against any rules and I ask DPF to put it up to show you.
    11:30
    
    I understand the process and expect it. BUT:
    I expect the comments to be cleared in order.
    That’;s why I wrote the original snipe.
    
    However that was overcome by the comment by the MOD which I then replied to.
    
    “[Mod – Moderators have lives outside Kiwiblog Michael NZ. They also have normal human emotions and reactions, and your constant sniping at them could just have unintended consequences ? ]
    Thumb up 6 Thumb down 4REPLY REPORTFEBRUARY 20, 2020 8:26AM”
    
    which they then deleted and wouldn’t post…..
    It refered to the way Maggie had been treated by the Mods.
    
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    February 20, 2020 11:31am
    - Tall Man
      
      OK, apologies for the assumption.
      
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      February 20, 2020 12:22pm
    - peterwn
      
      If you do not like the way this blog is run, start your own blog. Alternatively post on The BFD (and see how far you get if you get up their noses).
      
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      February 20, 2020 2:09pm
      - Tall Man
        
        That’s a bit tough Peter. There have been issues with moderation and I think David and the mods would acknowledge that but hopefully they will be ironed out before the first anniversary.
        
        Today, I responded to a comment that was again harping about CCP donating to National with the phrase “You must be sad wee man”. That phrase was “snipped” (no frozen peas needed … yet ) and I think that was unnecessary. Now it’s not the end of the world even though every subsequent post was deleted when I questioned why this was being done.
        
        I did misunderstand Michael’s post and I have apologised for that but I do think if no mods are available then perhaps wait until they are before starting just to avoid the “pause” that does arise between non moderated comments and moderated comments. I for one would not object to GD being delayed for an hour to allow our mods to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and pleasant coffee 😉
        
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        February 20, 2020 5:55pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  For the nth Time:
  
  if you want to avoid moderation and continue using a nom-de-plume, then you have to email DPF directly and request permission to comment here unmoderated (and supply a good reason why you don’t comment under your full name).
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:51am
  - Frank Thomas
    
    Exactly!!! If you want to hide behind a nom de plume, that’s fine, but don’t bitch and moan about having your comments put into moderation when everybody has been told endlessly as Maggy states how to avoid this. Geez…..
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:41am
  - Raphael
    
    This. I use a non-de-plume (because I work with local govt a lot).
    I emailed DPF my info, and bang, I can comment without going into moderation (although there was and may still be a bug that meant edits went into the mod queue)
    
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    February 20, 2020 10:13am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    “supply a good reason why you don’t comment under your full name”
    
    I’ve listed some reasons above that apply to most people commenting here: the Left are increasingly authoritarian, moderate people in Europe are being dragged to court for ‘hate speech’, Antifa are threatening and physically attacking people, people are losing business and jobs because of wrongthink.
    
    Everyone knows this. A fair and much easier system would be this: if you’ve commented for a certain amount of time without ever needing to be censored, you should be able to comment without moderation.
    
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    February 20, 2020 11:33am
    - Michael NZ
      
      I did.
      
      2 0
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      February 20, 2020 4:41pm
  - Michael NZ
    
    Maggie
    I don’t mind commenting under my name, but my family work in Govt and would be vulnerable.
    
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    February 20, 2020 12:13pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      @Michael NZ
      
      I well understand why people don’t comment on this blog under their own name.
      
      I have on a number of occasions said that this is not a safe blog-site.
      
      Anyone can look back at the treatment meted out to me on this blog by anonymous abusers to gain some insight as to what may happen.
      
      I am in the fortunate position of being retired, financially independent, and fairly thick-skinned.
      
      But to protect people associated with environmental groups and businesses that I have had dealings with, I have resigned from most of them and have refused to take up an any official position in any of them.
      
      I have an uncommon surname and all folks in NZ with that surname are descended (or married into) a family of displaced persons from Germany who arrived in NZ in 1951.
      
      I have been disgusted that stephieboy’s assertions that I am a racist and an alt-right adherent have been published on this site.
      
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      February 20, 2020 1:37pm
      - Greg Ettridge
        
        Maggy, I find it sad that people are actually frightened to publish their opinions in their own name.
        If real names were used, I think the really offensive and dumber and dumber posts would almost dry up and disappear.
        Posting in one’s real name, really does make you think about what you are saying, going off as an anonymous, appears to have little or no consequences.
        Your posts are always well thought out, you and no one deserves any abuse simply because you have beliefs that differ to others looking for comment and debate.
        If we sacrifice open debate to abuse and to shut people down, it will be a very sad day.
        Stephieboy2 is a classic example that needs to resort abuse and innuendo to make their point. Just change your non de plume and keep charging ahead.
        The left must be heard at all cost, no differing opinion will be tolerated.
        
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        February 20, 2020 3:06pm
      - Michael NZ
        
        It’s not that the blog isn’t safe, it is the liberal left who aren’t safe.
        
        I value that we can have a voice here, but having been denied a reply wonder what else is omitted as I don’t go back and look at my comments.
        
        I was appalled at the Mods ignoring Stephie1/2/3 whatever and you and said so in my omitted comment. I still think they owe you and apology.
        
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        February 20, 2020 4:45pm
      - mara
        
        Hi Maggy, I came to NZ from Germany in 1951 as a displaced person too. On the boat Goya. My surname was probably less common here than yours but for no particular reason I would rather not use it. My married name is as common as muck and it is easier that way.
        
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        February 20, 2020 8:09pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Yep, the in-laws came out on the Goya. but I don’t think they were on the 1st boatload (May 1951).. I think they came on the 2nd or 3rd trip.. arrived later in the year.
        The M-inLaw was meant to be one of the translators on the voyage (as she spoke 6 European languages fluently) but she reckoned she was seasick most of the time.
        She met F-in-law at Paihiatua Camp…and they married after knowing each other for 6 weeks!!!!!
        
        The marriage might have survived if they hadn’t settled in Palmerston North…
        
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        February 20, 2020 8:58pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    @TM
    
    David Farrar is aware who I am as all my correspondence with him has been in my full name and clearly showing the name of my company
    
    I’m a bit confused (I confuse easily) – Maggie notes above if you supply that info plus a reason for anonymity, DPF can allow you to comment unmoderated. Did you ask him that?
    
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    February 20, 2020 4:00pm
    - Tall Man
      
      I did not ask as I am happy for moderation. I have referred specific instances of weird moderation directly to David Farrar without response so I assume he is happy with the level and probably agreed with the phrase sad wee man being snipped.
      
      Also, I imagine they would be unlikely to grant me free posting on the offchance I revert to type and call ardern a liar inadvertently.
      
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      February 20, 2020 4:44pm
      - Michael NZ
        
        🙂
        
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        February 21, 2020 8:02am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Yes,
      you are confused…
      It was Michael NZ (8:26am) who was querying why some folks with nom-de-plumes are not moderated.
      
      https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2020/02/general_debate_20_february_2020.html#comment-2646465
      
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      February 20, 2020 4:47pm
- Biscuit
  
  Not good enough, Mod.
  
  I propose a new scheduling routine:
  
  …
  
  Discuss! [ Mod: Take it up with DPF. ]
  
  8 7
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  February 20, 2020 9:01am
  - Tall Man
    
    You are cruising for a “dunking” bikkie…..
    
    15 3
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    February 20, 2020 9:11am
    - Tall Man
      
      Told ya.
      
      5 1
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      February 20, 2020 11:59am
  - MCos
    
    Sounds perfectly unreasonable to me.
    
    If a moderator is caught short [ Mod : find something important to complain about ]
    
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    February 20, 2020 9:59am
yossarian

Great to have hosted Phil Twyford here in the Waikato for the opening up of the Taupiri part of the Waikato Express Way…that guy has no shame.
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February 20, 2020 8:31am
- Tauhei Notts
  
  Phil Twyford opened the Huntly-Taupiri by-pass last Friday. It will be open for traffic in about four weeks.
  I wonder if Phil Twyford could get the opening of an envelope correct.
  
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  February 20, 2020 11:18am
  - tui47
    
    Ardern is apparently opening the rebuild of Western Springs College. The rebuild was announced by Nikki Kaye in 2015. I thought National ‘did nothing’ for nine years, yet here we have another school opening started by National.
    
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    February 20, 2020 2:15pm
Yvette

Will Ihumātao still bite Ardern in her Electoral seat?

Fletchers is warning the Ihumātao protestors and the Government that it can’t held off on developing it’s legally held land indefinitely.
[Fletchers chief executive Ross Taylor] says the Prime Minister requested Fletchers paused its planned housing development on the land in July last year and he’s confident a solution will be found in the short term.
“While this is encouraging, the reality is that we are the legal owners of a piece of land which is fully consented, that is empathetic to iwi considerations …and which we are entitled to develop,” he told media on a conference call.
Mr Taylor said the company was certainly not willing to wait “another seven months” for a resolution to the dispute. [1]

So Fletcher’s RossTaylor’s message to Ardern is don’t try to hold any solution back until after the Election.
He also uses the phrase “requested Fletchers pause” in referring to Ardern’s Captain Call on stopping building. Did she in fact have absolutely no legal backing to do that.

And is Ardern actually now awaiting the Heritage New Zealand upgrade of Ihumātao to Level 1, due by the end of this month, to hang her spin on.

[1] https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/fletchers-warns-ihum-tao-protestors-government-cant-hold-off-development-indefinitely
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February 20, 2020 8:33am
- Poppa
  
  This dispute would have never been as bad as it is if the PM had not stuck her nose into it
  
  This will bring down the Govt as the average kiwi will not tolerate a bail out here
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:04am
  - Michael NZ
    
    It won’t but it should, imperial dictats overuling private property right should.
    
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    February 20, 2020 4:46pm
- MCos
  
  Nowhere near Mt Albert electorate, it’s in Mangere, where I live.
  I doubt there’s much sympathy for Fletchers in either, but it’s not going to be a big election issue.
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:14am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    So you mean people in Mangere don’t want more housing built? For Nimby reasons (I.e. don’t want more housing full stop) or just because it’s an evil capitalist company wanting to build (i.e. they don’t mind if it’s social housing paid for by taxpayer)?
    
    That’s a genuine question. Because, you know, we have a housing crisis.
    
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    February 20, 2020 11:39am
JibberJabber

Imagine the media hysteria that would happen now if a National party donor dropped $500k trying to buy an “Honorary” consulship to Monaco?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10495716&ref=rss
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February 20, 2020 8:37am
- hullkiwi
  
  …ahhhhhh but CoL parties (esp. Labour) are completely honest and transparent about where their funding comes from…..ohhhhh quick look National corruptly received 2 x $100,000 donations and Bridges knows everything…….
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:50am
Simon

CCP wants travel between NZ & China to open up.

Best ex-China data: if asymptomatic level is true, seems like can’t be contained. #diamondprincess
454/1,723 positive ~ 26%
19/454 critically ill ~ 4%
181/454 asymptomatic ~ 40% (!)
Leaves 254 symptomatic,
19/254 (7.5%) critically ill.

https://twitter.com/rtnarch/status/1229794079434772482

CCP vile scum as are their NZ lickspittles.

Anyone who supports the CCP is a quisling.
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February 20, 2020 8:39am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Reports from multiple anonymous connected sources in China that true infections there are closer to a million, and at least 50k dead. It’s totally out of control. Letting people travel to and from china now will kill 10’s of millions world wide. https://bit.ly/2Pbtxr4
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:12am
  - Michael NZ
    
    Urban
    I have three friends in China, none in Wuhan and they have been sending me cell phone footage that they get.
    I don’t know how to take it off of messenger and put it here, but the last one had security personel shooting people whilst doing rounds with medical vans and people. (at least that is what the soundtrack is meant to convey).
    I don’t speak Chinese and cannot verify it, but I trust my friend.
    They says whats going on in the rural areas is horrible.
    They are welding flat entrance doors up so no one can go out in some places.
    
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    February 20, 2020 11:27am
    - UrbanNeocolonialist
      
      Given rate of spread essentially everyone in china will be infected within next two months. Probably 20-30million are going to die. It’s starting to take off in other asian countries too – they will be in the same state in 3months. Batten down the hatches 🙁
      
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      February 20, 2020 8:54pm
Happychappy

NZ First to give green light to gun law reforms, including National gun register.
Am I right in thinking Peters is about to punish those that used to support him and those calling for his head that want his NZ First Party extinguished from Parliament for what many voters are calling corruption over the news of a Foundation that is seen to be hiding Large donations.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12309787
The firearms community has been pressuring NZ First to oppose the bill and after meeting the group opposing the gun laws Peters assured them he would listen to submissions during the select committee process.
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February 20, 2020 8:43am
- Tall Man
  
  The only think “what’s in it for wynston” listens to is the rustle of large denominations…..
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:03am
Nutz

Cameron slater, if you are reading reading this you should be ashamed of yourself. your hatred of national and bridges has landed a so called friend facing serious charges. one day national will change their leader, you’ll hate him. JLR will still be in jail. let’s hope your other mate, Peters goes down to.
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February 20, 2020 8:49am
KH

Help! I can’t stop laughing about Jamie Lee Ross.
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February 20, 2020 9:01am
- Tall Man
  
  And yet the trolls are still pointing to Simon Bridges despite the “secret tapes” showing him to be acting properly.
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:10am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Clair Curran (AKA…idiot)
    Is sending out EMails to her twitter account saying..read this…the transcript of the tape that clearly exonerates Simon.
    
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    February 20, 2020 10:14am
    - Lance
      
      Not the sharpest tool in the shed.
      
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      February 20, 2020 10:30am
RW Capitalist

I see that the AM Show is still talking about “National’s donation scandal”..when it has been shown that it is Jamie Lee Ross’ scandal.
BUT absolutely no mention of NZF’s actual donations scandal.
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February 20, 2020 9:02am
- Lance
  
  They are consistent on the AM show. Sinking the boot in to National at every opportunity and mocking Mark Richardson if be objects.
  The really obscene part is they are practically right wing compared to TV1 Breakfast.
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:33am
peterwn

So Bary Soper is licking his chops in anticipation of the JLR et al trial thinking that National will be squirming at the revelations. He presumably thinks JLR will use it as a soapbox to try and inflict further damage on National.
Possibly the three others will plead guilty and would be out of the picture fairly quickly (apart from being possible witnesses). JLR will presumably try and go for a full on jury trial. Trouble is, it is unlikely that such a trial would be before the election.
Barry Soper is wrong on the name suppression issue. An ethical journalist would would appreciate that name suppression would probably be sought and not try and jump in before suppression is sought. Any lawyer in similar circumstances would hopefully jump in and deliver a strong warning to a journalist or media to respect suppression. So JLR cannot be criticised by Barry or any other jorno because his lawyer was properly exercising his duties as an Officer of the Court. Barry should know better.
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February 20, 2020 9:17am
- sooty
  
  Soper has been creaming his jeans with all of his snide national remarks, he has had orders from Whinestone!
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:08am
- MrTips
  
  I would hold my powder if I were Barely. The thing is:
  1) the charges relate across two Nat leaders (English/Bridges) so they are not the common element
  2) the Chinese will have done what they are told
  3) JLR is not smart enough to come up with a plan to entrap both Nat leaders
  4) I can think of at least one bankrupt former blogger and his pantaloon sidekick who may be dragged into this more than they desire if JLR is questioned accurately enough on the stand
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:39am
  - peterwn
    
    That blogger will argue mental and physical illness as a reason not to be dragged into the witness box. This is what was pleaded when the three health professionals wanted him to succumb to ‘discovery’ last year.
    
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    February 20, 2020 11:03am
- hmmm82
  
  Ethical. Barely. I suppose if your definition is staying bought.
  BS is just doing as much damage as he can to National with innuendo, before he gets the hard word. The interesting part will be who has better threats, National Lawyers or Winston?
  
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  February 20, 2020 1:09pm
- tui47
  
  JLR clearly has no more dirt on National as he has clearly had the opportunity to reveal it. The problem is that whatever rubbish he comes out with will be repeated by media without verification. The left wing will lap it up and repeat it constantly. The truth does not matter to them. If he comes up with more dirt there is no time for National to rebut it if it comes up in the court case.
  
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  February 20, 2020 2:21pm
Monique Watson

So it’s all bullshit byArdern saying there was sewage flowing down the walls of hospitals.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/119656710/middlemore-hospital-denies-prime-minister-jacinda-arderns-sewage-down-walls-claim

I’ve heard it suggested earlier in the government’s term that Ardern is a liar. It would seem that high level public servants believe so too.
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February 20, 2020 9:18am
- peterwn
  
  Tell a big enough lie often enough and people will believe it. COMM[unications]101.
  
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  February 20, 2020 11:01am
  - Tall Man
    
    Stupid people Peter.
    
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    February 20, 2020 12:30pm
- Michael NZ
  
  Thank you Tall man for being so honest so long!
  
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  February 20, 2020 11:19am
Jack5

The United Nations tells NZ what’s needed in housing.

The special “rapporteur” making the comment, ,Leilani Farha, is a former executive director of Canada Without Poverty, an activist charity that says poverty is an infringement of human rights. Leilani also wants NZ to take a “human rights approach” to what is being described as a housing crisis.

Poverty is more complex than such activists would have us believe. It’s the state of being poor, but what is “poor” varies with time and place.

The New Zealand Government is putting homeless people into motels, and some local bodies have been seduced into using ratepayers cash to subsidise social housing.

The NZ Government does needs advice on housing given it’s failed extravagant promises. Central to the advice would be that the housing problem is being driven by the population rising too quickly. This is because our immigration rate is the the highest, or second highest, in the developed world.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/409900/un-special-rapporteur-calls-on-nz-for-bold-human-rights-approach-to-housing-crisis
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February 20, 2020 9:27am
- peterwn
  
  NZ is a nice easy target to pick on by the UN and its staffers. They will happily have a go about NZ housing, prisons, etc, but will dare not criticise the likes of Saudi which would haves far crappier prisons and probably the less said about some of the housing the better.
  
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  February 20, 2020 11:07am
  - alloytoo
    
    NZ is also a nice Junket for these O2 thieves.
    
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    February 20, 2020 1:05pm
JibberJabber

LoL, definitely a Green MP in the making, start as you mean to go on,

https://twitter.com/SteveHWrathall/status/1230227016894439424
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February 20, 2020 9:34am
lastmanstanding

Can anyone explain to me the TV advert that shows babies on a conveyer belt with ( I think) every 4th one being diverted off the conveyer belt. I was only half watching the ads as you do so didnt get the meaning or who placed the advert.

But it seemed a strange advert.
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February 20, 2020 9:45am
- sooty
  
  Were any babies hurt in making that advert?
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:10am
- Tony Stuart
  
  They’re trying to get superannuitants to part with some of their super to lift kids out of poverty. Good luck with that!
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:27am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    Yup, most superannuitants are doing exactly that: it’s called making a will and contributing to your kids’ and grandkids’ financial wellbeing in the future.
    
    Plus, of course, having made sure the kids got a decent education and can support themselves properly.
    
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    February 20, 2020 11:54am
    - peterwn
      
      Like Celia Lashlie’s description of father and grandfather in two different families discussing son’s future. One family (lawyers) – son will go to Christs College, then a law degree and then join the family’s law firm. The other family (gang members) – gang – prison etc.
      
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      February 20, 2020 3:22pm
  - Jude
    
    My first thought seeing that ad was there should be way less babies on that conveyor belt!! If you can’t afford to provide for them , why have so many children.
    A bit rich suggesting the elderly should provide for your excessive breeding!
    
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    February 20, 2020 12:44pm
  - lastmanstanding
    
    Do you know whose placing the adverts.
    
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    February 20, 2020 12:49pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    The COL is sooo fucking desperate they expect retirees to pay for kids in poverdy. Always got the hand in my wallet
    
    8 2
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    February 20, 2020 2:50pm
    - Classic Liberal
      
      I don’t trust their definition of ‘poverty’ anyway “households that make less than 60 per cent of the median disposable income.” It’s so relative that my childhood with a few Op shop clothes and plenty of books would be considered very impoverished. It wasn’t, especially intellectually.
      
      I know, sounds like the Monty Python skit…
      
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      February 20, 2020 3:45pm
lastmanstanding

Be careful. IMHO the current political donations scandals will lead to a move to have YOU fund political parties.

The Greens want this. Their case is if they dont have to seek donations they dont have to offer political favours.

At present we have at least 2 parties caught up in pay for plays and I suspect they are all at it.

Forget what you call it. Its bribery and corruption.

End of story.

New Zealand politicians are the best money can buy.
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February 20, 2020 9:48am
- DeepBlue
  
  Time for independent blind trust for political parties.
  
  No knowledge of donors, no favours.
  
  Probably fewer donations overall, so less advertising and hoardings, which would be a good thing.
  
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  February 20, 2020 10:16am
  - Tall Man
    
    No, just list all donations and amounts.
    
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    February 20, 2020 11:57am
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    *ring ring* ” Hello Mr National party secretary, just want to let you know that I will be depositing $100k in your blind trust, providing you promise to help my interests after the election.”
    
    What is the point of a blind trust? So much of donor money (eg unions) comes with strings attached.
    
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    February 20, 2020 2:55pm
- Michael NZ
  
  Lastmanstanding
  
  I beg to differ on your last statement.
  If they were the best, we wouldn’t be in the shit we are right now…
  
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  February 20, 2020 11:17am
Ruahine

Claire Trevitt

https://www-pressreader-com.aucklandlibraries.idm.oclc.org/new-zealand/the-new-zealand-herald/20200220
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February 20, 2020 10:15am
MT_Tinman

There is apparently a prisoner in Rimutaka gaol on a hunger strike because he wants more apartheid introduced into New Zealand.

I hope prison management are monitoring his weight – based on previous hunger strikes in New Zealand prisons his increasing obesity could cause medical problems.
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February 20, 2020 10:27am
Bobba Fret

You certainly wouldn’t want this lady as your neighbour.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/latest/119614237/napier-neighbours-receive-restraining-orders-against-each-other
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February 20, 2020 10:33am
- Tall Man
  
  She’s not a mod is she?
  
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  February 20, 2020 11:56am
Fletch

You probably won’t hear much about this in the MSM. Traitorous Democrat Senators (including ex-Senator, and Secretary of State John Kerry) bypassing Congress, the State Dept, and the Executive to meet with the Iranian Foreign Minister in Munich.

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and other Democratic senators had a secret meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during the Munich Security Conference last week, according to a source briefed by the French delegation to the conference. Murphy’s office did not respond to repeated requests for comment by press time.

Such a meeting would mean Murphy had done the type of secret coordination with foreign leaders to potentially undermine the U.S. government that he accused Trump officials of doing as they prepared for Trump’s administration. In February 2017, Murphy demanded investigations of National Security Advisor Mike Flynn because he had a phone call with his counterpart-to-be in Russia.

More – https://thefederalist.com/2020/02/17/source-democrat-senator-held-secret-meeting-in-munich-with-iranian-foreign-minister-zarif/

He has now confirmed it himself, and doesn’t see anything wrong with what he has done –

https://thefederalist.com/2020/02/18/after-stonewalling-for-days-sen-chris-murphy-finally-admits-he-secretly-met-with-iranian-regime-in-munich/

Of course, it’s not his damn business or within his job description to be holding such meetings, especially with regimes like Iran.
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February 20, 2020 10:39am
- KH
  
  Sorry Fletch. As many people as possible should meet the Iranian Foreign Minister as often as possible.
  Best way to prevent the US from starting another stupid war.
  
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  February 20, 2020 5:28pm
igm

Is this real news . . . the police were lenient with the little thug. These scrotes are supported by “Fairfax Filth” almost daily. Hope when one of these so-called journos needs a cop they are convenienly busy.
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February 20, 2020 11:15am
curry4me

https://nypost.com/2020/02/14/handling-the-huawei-threat-safely-means-ditching-free-market-foolishness/
They aren’t just another communications company.
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February 20, 2020 11:28am
curry4me

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/02/17/viktor-orban-proclaims-hungary-first-in-state-of-the-nation-speech/
He has taken a leaf out of President Trump’s book.
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February 20, 2020 11:29am
Maggy Wassilieff

is it the Minister of the Environment confused about the difference between climate and weather events?

“The key is actually protecting the climate, but yes these climate events are having a significant effect on the department and tracks and huts.

[That is] why this government is doing so much to get our emissions down, because these extreme weather evens [sic] that we saw in Southland, Otago, do major damage because they’re more intense.”

She said it the department was looking at preparing for such weather events for other tracks around the country.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/409940/southland-cleanup-highlights-climate-change-threat-conservation-minister-eugenie-sage
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February 20, 2020 12:05pm
- Gravelroad
  
  Southland floods in 1984.
  https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/floods-devastate-southland
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:04pm
Jack5

Michael Reddell, at his CroakingCassandra blog, is underwhelmed by National’s economic plans.

I found interesting Reddell’s suggestions, when answering a commenter’s question on how best to improve the economy:

… cut the immigration residence approvals target to 10-15K per annum, with supporting changes in work visas etc. Doing so would, over time, reduce the cost of capital, lower the real exchange rate and remove the policy-led skew inwards of our economy.

https://croakingcassandra.com/2020/02/20/nationals-economic-plan/#comments
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February 20, 2020 12:07pm
Chuck Bird

Unfortunately, this is paywalled. This shows was I am unhappy with National and ACT calling for knee jerk legislation before they know the facts of the case.

There may well need to be a law change but it should be based logic not on emotion. I expect better from the party I am an active member of.

Beaten Flaxmere boy: Some family opposed Oranga Tamariki returning him home – report

“Oranga Tamariki has been accused of returning a 4-year-old boy, who had been previously injured, to his Flaxmere household, where he was then seriously injured.

It allegedly did so without full consultation with the wider family, with some opposed to the boy’s return, Newsroom reports.

The boy had been removed from his immediate family after an incident in June last year that hospitalised him in Wellington – and placed in the care of a grandmother in Auckland.

Without consultation with key family members, Oranga Tamariki returned him to his “immediate” family before Christmas, Newsroom reports.”

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12310081
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February 20, 2020 12:29pm
- Komata
  
  Chuck B@1229
  
  But, but, only MAORI really know how to look after ‘Maori’, only THEY can do things the MAORI way…
  
  They INSTINCTIVELY know what’s best for the child….
  
  Evens such as this latest murder would seem to indicate otherwise.
  
  BTW; It’s noticeable (AFAIK) that (as always) NO Maori tribal leader has made any comment condemning such violent occurrences …
  
  Perhaps they agree with the practice?
  
  One wonders.
  
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  February 20, 2020 3:36pm
  - GoVege
    
    Yes, Chuck, they organize huis to complain about “their” babies being taken off their mothers because of worries about the environment those babies are going home to.
    But when does the Maori leadership EVER address the level of violence against Maori children?
    
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    February 20, 2020 6:08pm
- Michael NZ
  
  Chuck
  Someone here said it, is it racist to take them off of the family or racist to leave them there to be killed by the ferels….
  
  OT may make mistakes but they don’t go to work to do a bad job.
  wouldn’t want their job in a month of Sundays, with what they have to carry in their heads….
  
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  February 20, 2020 4:51pm
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Michael, I am argueing against knee jerk legislation. I do not know if you were able to read the whole article as it is behind a pay wall.
    
    In the article it is claimed only the father and step mother were the only ones there and there is no cone of silence.
    
    Although it is almost certain the involves a Maori family the law should be colour blind. Have you heard of a group called grandparents raising grandchildren? This covers all races.
    
    For different reasons grandparents raise their grandchildren becuase their children are not doing a good job. Sometimes the children ask for the grandparents to take care of them. Other times the children are removed.
    
    It appears that those in charge ignore the grandparents and otherss in the extended family who warned the boy would be in danger and took him from the grandparents and it was only weeks till he ended up in hospital.
    
    This is far from unique. In one case a real father warned authorities his daughter was a risk and was ingored and his daughter was murdered by his mother’s druggie boyfriend.
    
    This is the law that need looking at not taking away a person right to silence.
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:29pm
    - Michael NZ
      
      Chuck thank you for that, I couldn’t read it because of the paywall.
      I had a tenant who had a six yr old who was with Mum by order of the court, so am aware of some of the family dynamics.
      
      I hope the true story comes out.
      It would be nice if both the Mother and step father could be charged with contempt and jailed.
      
      But that does open a can of worms which without specific defining terms like the SFO and Tax, makes us all vulnerable.
      Cheers
      
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      February 21, 2020 8:11am
Fletch

Kids getting “free” meals in schools, and probably soon they will pay for girls sanitary products. Where does it all end? We all know there is no such thing as free. It is us the taxpayer paying for food for other people’s kids. I’m not against govt agencies helping those who are not well off with grants etc but a blanket programme of “free” school meals just doesn’t seem wise. It’s more woke, socialist bullshit.
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February 20, 2020 1:07pm
- sooty
  
  All females of any age, I think you will find!
  
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  February 20, 2020 3:20pm
- artemisia
  
  Pack of own brand 20 sanitary pads – $2 at Countdown. That should see a teenager through. If parents can’t spring for $2 a month, and choose for their girl to stay home from school instead, have to wonder whether Oranga Tamariki should be rocking up to their door.
  
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  February 20, 2020 3:51pm
  - GoVege
    
    Many of the the girls are probably staying home anyway to look after their younger siblings.
    This is the age-old way huge families cope, and the reason so many kids are semi literate, despite free education.
    We really owe it to our kids to invest in more truancy officers.
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:36pm
Jack5

Police Minister Nash has his head buried in the Beehive sandpit when it comes to the gangs which are scaring New Zealanders.

From a Radio NZ report on Labour talking with NZ First on changes to coming firearms legislation:

“I refuse to be the former Minister approached by victims’ families in 20 years’ time and asked why didn’t you change the law, why didn’t you take guns off gangs and bring in tougher penalties for gun crime.”

The gangs don’t get firearms licences, they have illegal guns. The firearms legislation will change nothing for the gangs.

Nash and the police are still intent on tightening up on law abiding citizens who own firearms, and it is Nash and the police who are letting the gangs run rampant. It looks as though they are looking for an out on their failure with gangs: “they wouldn’t let us tighten the firearms legislation enough.”

Either Nash is as thick as a brick, or he thinks the public are.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/409958/further-changes-to-firearms-bill-likely-before-becoming-law
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February 20, 2020 1:59pm
- MCos
  
  No doubt there are some people genuinely scared of gangs.
  I’ve never had occasion to scared of gangs, that I’m aware.
  I’m scared of more mundane things, like bad drivers, speeding trucks, the Royal Oak roundabout . . .
  Unhygienic public toilet users.
  
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  February 20, 2020 2:30pm
Paulus

What Children’s (and Teachers’) Free Meals ? – it is the Taxpayer who pays for these things – like in Tauranga Free School buses now.
Who is going to pay from these children’s free lunches in the school holidays ?
There is no such thing as Free anything !~
Load of crap.
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February 20, 2020 2:01pm
- GoVege
  
  Look on the bright side, Paulus.
  It said on the news that school attendance had gone up since the free meals were introduced.
  Obviously the poor little beggars know there’s one place they are guaranteed to get a feed….
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:31pm
- Ian Boag
  
  Sort of like giving free (super) money to farmers who have never paid a cent of tax …
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:33pm
Maggy Wassilieff

RNZ applying pressure for tax-payer funding of Political Parties

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/409959/cat-maclennan-time-for-state-funded-political-parties-to-replace-donations
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February 20, 2020 2:03pm
- fernglas
  
  McLennan’s opinion does not qualify as RNZ’s position, any more than Chris Trotter’s occasional pieces reflect the political inclinations of interest.co.nz
  
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  February 20, 2020 2:45pm
  - Swifty
    
    Yes, fair point, but in 30 years of being an almost daily listener to Radio New Zealand I’ve never once heard the strong arguments put for the existing system nor the risks, perils, burdens and weaknesses of a move to the public funding of political parties.
    
    We are witnessing a coordinated campaign of advocacy for public funding – and the other side is just not being put nor heard.
    
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    February 20, 2020 4:37pm
- sooty
  
  Will labour get not so much seen as they are funded by the unions with goods in kind?
  
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  February 20, 2020 3:19pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    Nah, goods in kind don’t count. The entire plan is to severely handicap the parties on the Right.
    It’s yet another move by the Left to undermine democracy.
    
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    February 20, 2020 4:09pm
- Swifty
  
  MacLennan’s arguments are threadbare – and, I would note, that this is probably the 20th thing I’ve seen her call for the public funding of over the last couple of decades or so.
  
  There isn’t an apparent societal problem that she doesn’t think can’t be solved by throwing large amounts of taxpayers money at. But, please note, she’ll never, ever be able to point to any issue whatsoever that actually HAS been solved by doing so.
  
  Let’s be absolutely clear about this – the electoral donation laws are working. They’re working fine. New Zealanders are voluntarily supporting their parties of choice, the vast majority of electoral donations are being properly recorded and donors named where called for. And, as we’ve seen, where people have transgressed they are being investigated by our agencies and will be charged where warranted.
  
  Please name me any other laws which lefties are shouting from the rooftops must be abolished just because the cops have caught some transgressors (except smoking pot which shouldn’t be a crime anyway).
  
  There are none. Lefties want the public to pay for their parties because it means less work and risk for them. Well fuck that. This whole issue is a beat up. A beat up to compulsorily lift even more money from New Zealander’s pockets – to pay to keep the left in power.
  
  If the NZ Left use their power to enact laws to institute the forced public funding of their party machines well I’ll just call it for what it is – state corruption.
  
  If we read about it in some Zimbabwean newspaper we’d say “Oh, there’s old Mugabe stealing from the country yet again….”
  
  They want the state funding of the news media, they want the state funding of their party machines – hell, next they’ll be arguing that the ‘essentialness and criticality of strong unions’ require the public funding of them too.
  
  Just you wait.
  
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  February 20, 2020 4:26pm
MCos

Number one monk at the Golden Mount Temple in Bangkok was convicted of stealing three and half million dollars from the temple.
He received a nominal fine and a suspended prison sentence.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1861089/ex-golden-mount-abbot-gets-suspended-sentence

Contrast that with this story of two elderly people who were imprisoned for five years for encroaching on a forest to pick mushrooms.
They were originally sentenced to 30 years for felling logs, which they obviously were incapable of doing.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/1242397/supreme-court-5-years-prison-for-elderly-mushroom-pickers
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February 20, 2020 2:09pm
Prince

It seems cricket commentaries are to be axed next season, as Radio Sport (NME) have not reached agreement with NZ Cricket.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/119676729/radio-cricket-broadcasts-up-in-the-air-after-radio-sport-decides-not-to-renew-rights

In light of the Concert Program hubbub, can I suggest those of us with memories of the ‘Great Days of Summer’ in the 1980’s and the ‘Sports Roundup’ of the 1960/70’s, take this opportunity to demand this Govt take us back to those halcyon days.
For those non-boomers among us, let me recap.
In the 1960’s the YC network would carry Sports Roundup from 10am to 6pm each summer day (and later if there were test matches in Australia).
Mostly this consisted of ball by ball commentary on test match and Plunket Shield (first class) cricket. Two commentators were stationed at each ground. Commentary at, say, Lancaster Park would be interrupted by ‘A wicket at the Basin, over to Trevor Rigby’, and we were advised of the dismissal of a batsman there.
I recall the Aussie vs Pom test when John Snow wrecked havoc among the Aussies – the commentary would fade in and out from the roar of the crowd. Great days, the tranny (er sorry, transistor) being stashed behind the apple-box stumps at the park or beach.
We were also treated to softball, lawn bowls (Percy Jones from Otahuhu Railway being a personal favourite), and tennis.
Anyway, here is a chance for the CoL to gain my vote, and the votes of many boomers who still retain a memory.
Bring back Sports Roundup, and all is forgiven.

As a footnote, will we now get 14 hours of non-stop talkback on Radio Sport in the summer ?
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February 20, 2020 2:44pm
fernglas

Eight shot dead in attack on two hookah bars in Germany. Moola or mullah?
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February 20, 2020 2:47pm
hullkiwi

….and here is one to shift the blame of what happened to the 4 year old in Starship Hospital. It is all the fault of Oranga Tamariki

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/409963/oranga-tamariki-had-prime-role-in-events-leading-to-flaxmere-beating-kaumatua

The ethnic people of Hawkes Bay can never accept responsibility!
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February 20, 2020 5:08pm
- Prince
  
  I thought Little, Nash and co had decided it was all ‘our’ fault. You know, the community.
  No wonder this happens when the perpetrators are protected by those who make the laws.
  
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  February 20, 2020 6:53pm
hullkiwi

….The day job and the mess artound her are clearly getting too much for PriNZess.

So, after helping opening a bottle of beer, it is back to the job she is truly qualified for….

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/409952/pm-jacinda-ardern-serves-up-first-of-many-free-school-lunches-in-hawke-s-bay
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February 20, 2020 5:11pm
- Swifty
  
  A note to New Zealanders – there is no such thing as a free lunch……..
  
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  February 20, 2020 6:18pm
- Komata
  
  Hk@1711
  
  Isn’t Flaxmere where that 4 year old was assaulted by his whanau last week? I wonder if she visited the ‘Family home’ to show her empathy for the lad, or to give the grieving parent ( dad being inabstentia) some hugs and headnodding?
  
  (Complete with photostops of course)
  
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  February 20, 2020 7:26pm
  - Paulus Gnome
    
    She forgot her feather cloak and poi’s . . .
    
    1 0
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    February 20, 2020 11:42pm
GoVege

Fellow free-speech supporters!
Let’s show SkyCity they can’t just shut down free speech whenever they feel like it.
Let’s all contribute to “Room to Read”, the charity which helps young people in poor countries get an education, and which Peter Singer cane here to fundraise for.
Stand up for free speech…and for educating the world’s children! 🙂 🙂
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February 20, 2020 5:22pm
- Suze Wainwright
  
  Is this the same Peter Singer who’s also got a soft spot for veganism, animal rights and other green leaning causes etc?
  Interesting…
  
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  February 20, 2020 8:44pm
Monique Watson

And she took time out from peeling Clarke’s banana to hand this guy a banana, “once”:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thespinoff.co.nz/politics/20-02-2020/exclusive-jacinda-ardern-offered-me-a-banana-says-man/%3famp
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February 20, 2020 5:58pm
Maggy Wassilieff

The Serious Fraud case concerning the JLR- Donation saga won’t be heard until 2021, according to this Stuff article.

The case is not expected in court until next year, meaning it won’t be heard before the election on September 19.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119681317/who-are-the-people-at-the-centre-of-the-sfo-political-donation-row
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February 20, 2020 6:04pm
skyblue

Nor will NZF donations.
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February 20, 2020 6:12pm
Hugh Pavletich

NEW ZEALAND …

Auckland Council tells govt it is ‘strongly opposed’ to its planned model for the housing crisis … Phil Pennington of Radio New Zealand … Stuff NZ

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/real-estate/119675082/auckland-council-tells-govt-it-is-strongly-opposed-to-its-planned-model-for-the-housing-crisis

Auckland Council is warning government officials of the risks of disastrous housing developments like some seen in the United Kingdom.

It is facing off over the way the government plans to get thousands of prefabricated homes built here to tackle the housing crisis.

An email sent last week by council building control officers to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and obtained by RNZ, said: “We are strongly opposed to the planned model.”

After the failures of KiwiBuild, the government wants quick changes to building regulations to streamline prefabricated housing, and has made that a top ministry priority this year. … read more via hyperlink above …
.
.
Why is the New Zealand government repeating the historical mistakes of the British ? …a BBC documentary classic …essential viewing …

Inquiry. The Great British Housing Disaster (Adam Curtis, 1984) … Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch5VorymiL4&fbclid=IwAR1Q8ahxSqCoz4MbY0SnxJ99ciUSmckOFOrCdxVjqaxqWfQH2YmhRli-sxE
.
.
When can we expect land supply and infrastructure debt financing to be sorted out, so that like the Americans, we can have serviced lots / sections at or below $50,000 ? …

Lot Values Hit Record Highs … NAHB

http://nahbnow.com/2019/11/lot-values-hit-record-highs/
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February 20, 2020 6:40pm
- Michael NZ
  
  Hugh
  Why not HNZ own the land and rent it out, but build the houses and the hoi polloi own the buildings and can sell on at a later date?
  
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  February 21, 2020 8:13am
Cobolt24

Staff numbers at the RBNZ bank rose by 19 to 274 in the year to the end of June, with a $5 million increase in its staffing expense to $36.5m.

Governor Adrian Orr has told MPs the bank is anticipating “a much more significant increase”
Why do they need that many people to analyse the economic conditions for their primary job of setting the OCR?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/119676171/reserve-bank-governor-adrian-orr-begs-for-more-resources
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February 20, 2020 6:55pm
- sooty
  
  Average pay of $293,157 each!
  
  5 0
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  February 20, 2020 8:40pm
- Tall Man
  
  Faaaaaaaarkkkk.
  
  1 0
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  February 20, 2020 9:22pm
Rodney Randall

“It’s impossible to incriminate yourself if you tell the truth to the police” -Sean Plunket Radio Magic 20.02.20

That’s a special type of retarded statement Plunkett made today on the air, and probably the reason he is a talkback host and not a criminal defence lawyer.

When a caller challenged him he responded aggressively by attacking the caller as anti police.

A woeful understanding of the right to silence.

Plunket went full retard.
NEVER GO FULL RETARD:)
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February 20, 2020 10:15pm
- Paulus Gnome
  
  Yes, more so when Plunket complained that Little had disrespected him on the Wednesday clash, yet then dishes the same oafish and boorish behaviour on a caller that he had complained about!
  
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  February 20, 2020 11:46pm
Hugh Pavletich

CHINA CORONAVIRUS … EARLY CONSIDERATION OF SOME OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS …

Coronavirus outbreak in China spurs supply chain shifts that began during trade war … Huileng Tan … CNBC

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/20/coronavirus-outbreak-spurs-supply-chain-shifts-started-by-us-china-trade-war.html

KEY POINTS

China’s Council for the Promotion of International Trade has issued 1,615 force majeure slips to help companies avoid penalties for not being able to meet contractual obligations amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The new coronavirus outbreak in China has hit global supply chains hard with the impact starting to show as inventories run low amid prolonged citywide shutdowns and factory closures. … read more via hyperlink above …
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February 21, 2020 2:09am
Hugh Pavletich

AUSTRALIA …

David Jones in ‘robust’ discussions to close stores as profits plunge over 50pc … Dominic Powell … The Age

https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/david-jones-in-robust-discussions-to-close-stores-as-profits-plunge-over-50pc-20200220-p542vi.html

The chief executive of struggling department store David Jones has said the company’s aggressive discussions with landlords have been going “quite well”, as the business hopes to arrest its falling profits through a reduction of 31,000 square metres of floor space by 2022. … read more via hyperlink above …
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February 21, 2020 2:39am
- Michael NZ
  
  Hugh
  Is that local or because of COVID19?
  
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  February 21, 2020 8:15am

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