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August 5, 2020 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 05 August 2020

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General Debate

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wimpston peeeders

well a sad story of how jacinda lost an extremely staunch supporter, one that ironically praised her greatly during covid lockdown.

the person in question is one of my wifes good friends who found a lump a month or so prior to lockdown had a mamogram, biopsy etc and was awaiting a specialist appt then lockdown kicked in.

she tried tirelessly to get seen urgently since restrictions eased but a huge backlog and delays caused by jacindas harsh restrictions pushed the date out and then a few weeks ago swelling under arms etc not good…

finally got that appt monday and urgent scan to find its spread rapidly throughout her body and the outlook is very grim.

id like to thank jacinda ardern for saving dementia patients on their deathbeds and giving them a valuable few extra weeks/months, thanks a fucking lot for overlooking wonderfull young people with families that are now about to be shattered.

sadly I know that this lovely lady along with her husband and 4 young children are just the tip of the ice berg of the devastation of hundreds if not thousands of similar premature preventable deaths of young people as a consequence of one womans ego and her desire to get worldwide recognition and some sort of saviour status.

I havent been genuinely this angered and disapointed in a very long time and find it utterly disgusting that our PM thinks shes doing a great job and deserves praise for causing these sad and unfortunate outcomes.
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August 5, 2020 8:00am
- Blackbob
  
  Same kind of thing happened to my Mother in law, went to hospital just before lock down and they discovered aggressive tumours causing her problems. The hospitals were so focused on the upcoming lock down they were unwilling to progress anything for her. Fortunately, in this case, my wife is an experienced nurse who knew how to get the system moving and she started receiving treatment during the lock down. I despair for others in the same position who don’t have that resource available. Our hospitals were staffed by medical people with very little to do during the lockdown except wait and wait…
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:20am
  - Jules99
    
    My mum’s neighbour is a doctor who works in a main hospital. During lock down mum called out to her to ask how things were going, and she said quiet due to the virus no ops were happening.
    
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    August 5, 2020 8:37am
  - yossarian
    
    Yep, during the lockdown my wife (a care assistant at Waikato Hospital) was recieving texts every few days asking for people to please take annual leave because there was no work for them.
    
    Ironically now they are pleading for people to take on extra shifts as they are so busy
    
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    August 5, 2020 9:36am
    - artemisia
      
      Why would staff take annual leave when they can be at work reading the waiting room magazines and doing their nails. And that’s just the guys.
      
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      August 5, 2020 9:44am
      - Close Hen Counters
        
        Times were tough arty – all the magazines were taken away as they held a huge covid risk … all those thumb lickers who turn the pages eeewwwhh. So had to find something else to fill their time
        
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        August 5, 2020 2:45pm
  - Tomtoddy
    
    These are distressing stories and you have our sympathy.
    
    Despite it sounding insensitive these stories need publicity and public questions being asked of the PM. NZ’ers need to know the high price that was paid. They need to know the grief and pain that was caused by a massive over reaction by an inexperienced politician.
    
    Yes, we do not want our grief dragged through the media and I understand that but there is a bigger picture to be seen that is vitally important to our nation. The shallow, thoughtless adulation of the PM needs arresting by sober facts that have been carefully overlooked.
    
    Please consider handing on the details to those who can use it strategically and sensitively.
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:04am
- fightingtemeraire
  
  W P
  
  I am sorry to hear about your friend. I lost my wife to BC 12 years ago,
  
  I honestly wonder how many people who have had treatment for Non CV19 delayed will die compared to those who actually die of CV 19. I beleive that the vast majority of the deaths reported to be CV 19 are actually people who are in poor health and the CV 19 just pushed them over the edge.
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:31am
- Lee C
  
  I fear that for many former and current supporters of Jacinda Ardern she will end up as validating the old advice “Be careful what you wish for.”
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:32am
- KevO'Brien
  
  My deepest sympathies to those affected.
  
  The COL don’t know what they are doing, never had any ability above groupthink. Could Twyford be PM? No, he’s not pretty enough.
  Now we are having another fear round to prepare us
  for the selection.
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:34am
  - sooty
    
    No. It would be Megan (Jack of All Trades) Woods. I think she will trump Robbo and partner as I don’t know if NZ is ready for him yet. But then they did have the mad queen and partner which is not far off the samething!
    
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    August 5, 2020 9:14am
  - IC5000
    
    > The COL don’t know what they are doing, never had any ability above groupthink.
    
    What’s Nationals solution so far? Cut tax rates, cut benefit rates, reform the RMA and get the country into debt by building some more roads. I can see this is a master plan for getting NZ out of recession.
    
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    August 5, 2020 11:05am
    - Ian Boag
      
      Apparently we can expect a drip feed of policy during the campaign so that Labour will not have a chance to steal any of the good ideas ….
      
      Will the second Mt Vic tunnel be a rerun of the 10 bridges for Northland? Who knows? Tenancy law repeal may have merit (depending on your viewpoint) but it will not exactly set the electorate on fire.
      
      Apparently tax cuts (except for the Auckland fuel tax) are off the table and benefit cuts are on the table.
      
      Good luck with RMA reform – it seems to have been a sticky one for both governments over a long period of time. Might finally happen.
      
      That’s as much as I have managed to decode …
      
      Whatever.
      
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      August 5, 2020 11:31am
      - IC5000
        
        From what I can gather National are selling themselves on competency.
        
        Unfortunately this covid crisis has presented NZ with events which it has not previously encountered and the old National playbook to slash and burn public spending is simply not adequate. I think the public senses this and sees its policy response as manifestly inadequate.
        
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        August 5, 2020 11:48am
  - slightlyrighty
    
    They have no plan going forward. This is why they have no policy announcements.
    
    Forget Plan B. Where is Plan A? This is how Judith will get traction during the campaign.
    
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    August 5, 2020 11:25am
- Swifty
  
  What a very sad story – thanks for posting it.
  
  It has been a constant failing of socialist governments that they don’t think things through.
  
  They think that societal ‘ills’ can all be solved through interventions and institutions – when often they can’t or not without often equally as bad ‘unintended’ consequences arising as a result of the intervention.
  
  I am of the firm belief that, as but one example, the latest bashing of landlords will end up exactly the same way – in an effort to make things easier for renters their interventions will have the effect of driving landlords and rental properties from the market, will drive up both the cost of providing rentals and of rents themselves (all of which won’t be ‘unintended’ consequences, they are rather entirely predictable consequences if they only took the time to think about it). All of which then require a new campaign of interventions to combat. And on and on it goes – endless whack-a-mole and with taxpayer money.
  
  But then what should we expect when the majority of Labour and Green supporters, when confronted with these repeated social policy failings and entirely predictable negative consequential outcomes, merely reply “oh well, at least they tried…!”
  
  We get the government we deserve.
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:35am
  - Chris R
    
    Swifty: Winston gave us the “government” we certainly did not deserve!
    
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    August 5, 2020 9:40am
  - Ruawai
    
    A bit like the housing problems. Labour have created more problems for renters than before they interfered.
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:04am
    - Swifty
      
      Exactly Ruawai.
      
      You want to alleviate rental constraints and rising rents? Don’t punish landlords and further restrain supply – rather, alleviate the constraints and costs to supply! Encourage supply don’t bloody reduce it!!!
      
      Fools.
      
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      August 5, 2020 10:21am
      - Ian Boag
        
        Supply ultimately means building more rentals. Not just one lot of M&D investors selling them to another lot.
        
        In the current market, net rental yields (after rates insurance and maintenance) on new purchases or new builds don’t always get as high as zero …. so naturally there are not a lot of people building rentals as an income proposition …
        
        You probably have a solution to that …
        
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        August 5, 2020 10:41am
      - Swifty
        
        I do as a matter of fact Ian – “alleviate the constraints and costs to supply”, as I said, and reduce demand through lowering low-value immigration.
        
        Low yields are not a problem in themselves – they are a symptom of upstream problems; the high cost and difficulty of building in NZ.
        
        That’s if we are really serious about resolving this problem of course.
        
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        August 5, 2020 10:50am
      - Ian Boag
        
        alleviate the constraints
        and
        low yields are not a problem in themselves
        
        So low yields have no effect (ie not a constraint) on the supply of new rental housing …. ? Really?
        
        And a significant amount of upcoming “low value immigration” will be returning NZ citizens who are back because they have noplace else to be.
        
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        August 5, 2020 11:09am
      - Swifty
        
        You misunderstand me, perhaps I should have been clearer.
        
        Low yields are a function of high housing values relative to rents.
        
        Yes, low anticipated yields are a factor in rental supply and it is the cost of provisioning new rentals that should be attempted to be addressed – freeing up new land, making it easier to intensify, lowering regulatory compliance etc.
        
        “And a significant amount of upcoming “low value immigration” will be returning NZ citizens who are back because they have noplace else to be.” No, I’m referring to the student/work visa rort among other areas.
        
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        August 5, 2020 11:25am
      - Ian Boag
        
        I’ll put this in simple terms. One of the reasons for rental supply issues is that rental yields are too low (close to zero) to encourage construction of new rentals as an income proposition.
        
        So either rents have to go up – a bit hard as they are pretty much set by what people can pay and the perfectly reasonable desire of landlords to always have them as high as is feasible.
        
        So prices need to go down. The biggie here is land price. Free up more land! Just don’t do so at less than market price. Reward the land bankers at the urban boundaries. Residential land price falling is never going to be allowed to happen.
        
        Prices are also set by what people can borrow – low LVR, low interest and “rat your Kiwisaver” all pour petrol on the house price fire. So price-wise we are sort of painted into a bit of a corner which owners all approve of and would not want to disturb
        
        The only reason for a rational investor to build or buy a rental is the prospect of future untaxed capital gain ….. This relies on prices continuing to rise which will drag up rents … and … and ….
        
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        August 5, 2020 12:48pm
    - artemisia
      
      “The only reason for a rational investor to build or buy a rental is the prospect of future untaxed capital gain …..” 12.48 pm
      
      That is not the only reason, though it is an important one and the rental environment would change with a CGT or similar.
      
      There is also the ‘time passes’ reason whereby the breakeven point is reached and profit starts to increase with a little bit of luck.
      
      Then there is the leverage reason, where banks are more willing to lend OPM for property. Related to capital gain but not only.
      
      Then there is the exempt from the Residential Tenancies Act reason, whereby a whole lot of costs and compliances are not required, yet the rent can still be set at or near to market.
      
      Three off the top of my head.
      
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      August 5, 2020 1:00pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        Starting to look like a “debate” …. 🙂
        
        .. capital gain … important
        In the absence of any income, very important
        
        ‘time passes’
        Over time as the value increases (that cap gain thing again) the rent may be dragged up to something that generates net income
        
        leverage … related to capital gain but not only.
        Like related to what else?
        
        Three responses off the top of my head 🙂
        
        Bottom line – if you build a new rental there will be – for some time – zilch net rental income.
        
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        August 5, 2020 1:46pm
      - artemisia
        
        Ian, not just value rising – it might or might not – but the usual biggest ticket item is mortgage interest. If a table mortgage, that falls slowly at first, and then faster. And as you say, rents rise, and faster in a rental shortage other things being equal. 10 years makes a big difference, and then it is rent income that can be used to pay down principal. 10 years is not necessarily an issue for those working towards a future goal, often retirement.
        
        Ringfencing of rental losses has recently changed the income / expense situation. Making it harder to achieve net rents in early years (negative income not zilch), but will offset tax payable after breakeven point is reached. Can be so for years. Not equivalent dollars present v future though but not nothing either. (National has announced ringfencing will be scrapped.)
        
        Leverage. Borrowing for property usually more flexible than borrowing for other purposes eg business, vehicles, startups. Lower interest rates, less ingoing required, easy to use other real property as security. Expected income from rents.
        
        Most of my rentals are now sold or exempted from the RT Act. I am fairly familiar with the Act’s requirements but frankly not interested. Won’t be adding to that portfolio.
        
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        August 5, 2020 2:19pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        Arty
        
        I understand all that gearing up stuff.
        
        But – to stand this on its head – well before the RT Act was a gleam in someone’s eye, there were essentially no new private sector rental houses being built.
        
        Any idea why?
        
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        August 5, 2020 3:59pm
  - gorse
    
    “We get the Government we deserve?” I don’t believe I deserve this Government. In my small way I earn some export Dollars for the country, so do a raft of people I know. All decent hard working people. Non of them deserve this Government.
    
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    August 5, 2020 11:46am
- JackRabbit
  
  W P, I’m sorry to hear about your friend also, and the others on here with similar stories.
  
  It raises the relevant points of unintended consequences and choices. If you choose to lock down to save a few close to death people from Covid-19, you are also choosing to delay treatment for others. I think most people get that.
  
  Understanding the impact of important future decisions requires understanding cause and effect. Which is something socialists are very poor at, or do not want to face, and that applies equally to socialist citizens or socialist leaders.
  
  Socialists look at the different families, groups, or races and conclude that there is racism, unfairness and disparity because there are haves and have-nots, more Maoris per head of population in prison. They therefore demand equality of outcome in the form of payouts, subsidies and special treatment.
  
  What is missing from all this is cause and effect, and choices. This most people understand.
  
  It is an immature spoiled child attitude that somehow everyone and everything else is to blame. It is an adult attitude to not blame others for our outcomes in life, good or bad. An adult is person who has matured, embraces life and the responsibilities it brings. An adult learns to see reality as it is, and acts accordingly. An immature child resists reality, blames others, and throws tantrums when they do not get their own way.
  
  Some young people are mature well beyond their years. Many older people are still children, demanding freebees, and reacting when they are confronted with reality. If in a position of power, they will try and shape the world around them to conform to their immature emotional needs.
  
  We have a PM that essentially has never grown up and is still a spoiled child who is re-arranging New Zealand to match her child like view. Thinking you can keep endlessly borrowing without consequence is on par with the mental age where children still believe in Santa Claus.
  
  -Where it doesn’t matter if you break your toys, because Santa will bring new ones next Christmas.
  
  -Where the world seems a hostile place. Perhaps the child got in trouble with parents, and you feel emotionally injured. So you build a fort out of wood, or even a clothes horse with sheets draped over it. The world is shut out, and no-one is allowed in or out.
  
  -Where negative gossip is believed and repeated without any inspection or getting facts to see the true reality.
  
  No doubt some parents will have seen this behaviour in their own young children. It is harsh to realise that a child is currently in charge of the house, which she and her not so nice friends have completely trashed and that adults will eventually have to clean.
  
  From a physiological point of view, the best outcome is that Cindy the child, is put in her place by Judith the adult. There will be tantrums, and gnashing of teeth by the child. Whether it is in September or in 3 years time, the child will be gone, leaving adults to clean up the trashed house.
  
  By all accounts Judith is in this for the long haul.
  In the mean-time, like a thrashing fish on a line, Judith will be slowly reeling in Cindy, until Cindy has run out of fishing line.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:42am
  - Ruawai
    
    They could have kept hospitals open with the proviso that if covid got bad they would switch to covid care.
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:05am
    - JackRabbit
      
      And before that they could have started by getting the key metrics on Covid in NZ. What is the spread rate, and what is the actual mortality rate. Now, at least 8 months after our Government knew about it, still no key metrics.
      
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      August 5, 2020 10:23am
    - artemisia
      
      Couple of months ago it was reported that private hospitals changed to meet government requests to be available. Then the government declined to pay. Did they get paid?
      
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      August 5, 2020 11:21am
- Isobar
  
  Sorry to hear about your friend mate. That just sucks.
  
  It’s a classic example of how badly funded our health system is. If we had a proper system she should have got seen during the lockdown or at least on day 1 after it was lifted.
  
  Its no secret that our health system fails us so regularly, especially compared to similar comparable countries.
  
  I dont think is should be a game of sending three old people to their deaths to save one younger person, if the system was fit for purpose and properly funded it should work for everyone.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:56am
  - Brian McDonald
    
    The public were told this by the Director General of Health at the outset of lockdown, that beds were being vacated and surgeries delayed. I recall writing here about a surgeon required to do critical care training in preparation for a potential critical situation. Whether it was a mistake or not is debatable. I don’t think it was but accept that others will have good reason to see it that way, what isn’t debatable is that our medical services were not stretched but were prepared for the worst. Polls showed the majority of Nzers supported the steps taken.
    At the time the oppostion made no protests about the steps and in some cases criticised what they saw as delays.
    I had a experience of knowing someone in remission unable to take have a follow up scan done at the time – sadly there will be 10s of 1000s that were in that catagory, or with developing symptoms.
    Can’t have it both ways.
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:49am
    - wimpston peeeders
      
      yea but the big difference is these are real lives on the line and not a scaremongering line on a graph that was grossly exagerated.
      
      The PM has alot to answer for here as she was warned of this and also told here scary 80k deaths line was bullshit.
      
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      August 5, 2020 12:44pm
    - Doc Holliday
      
      If our hospitals had been overwhelmed by Covid-19 cases, and the evidence strongly suggests they would have been, how many operations would have been possible? They would have been full of people dying in the corridors.
      
      Possible the carcinoma had metastasised before the lump was noticed, but hey, let’s jump to conclusions and make a ding-ding-dong in this echo chamber of loonies.
      
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      August 5, 2020 2:15pm
      - Blackbob
        
        Bullshite, there was never ever going to be “people dying in the corridors” The evidence didn’t support that unless you believed the since discredited computer modeling they based the precautions on. I do hope you have a plastic sheet on your bed to prevent accidents.
        
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        August 5, 2020 2:44pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Our Min of Health (and Victoria’s) made the mistake of thinking that Covid-19 would overwhelm our Hospital system so placed all their focus there.
  
  They overlooked the fact that Covid-19 is also dangerous for the enfeebled elderly in retirement villages/ rest homes.
  
  That’s where they should have directed their attention and efforts from the start of their attempts to control the virus.
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:25am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Once the virus was here
    The should have moved all relevant equipment to the old folks homes and turned them into critical care units.
    Leaving hospitals to deal with the rest of the problems.
    Increased all required PPE and equipment as fast as possible.
    Therefore keeping the disease AWAY from hospitals.
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:33am
  - Doc Holliday
    
    Yeah, you tell them!
    
    What do the experts know, eh?
    
    Another vast conspiracy. Ha ha ha.
    
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    August 5, 2020 2:18pm
- cmm
  
  Firstly my sympathies to this lady, her family and friends.
  
  There was never a solid reason to go to Level 4 apart from the ego-rush of power.
  
  Level 4 was supposed to be for when the hospitals were overrun with CV19 cases and all health resources were to be re-focused on CV19.
  
  Those conditions were never met. The hospitals never came anywhere close to capacity,
  
  Instead, hospitals were shut down when there was no CV19 risk. Christchurch Hospital only had any CV19 cases on a handful of days, but the whole hospital was shut down.
  
  People like me had cardiac assessments delayed by 4 months. Luckily, in my case, it did not matter.
  
  But for many it will make a material difference.
  
  There are also many side effects that are harder to measure because impacts will only be felt many years down the line. For example, a simple tooth infection can put strain on your heart and increase your chance of heart failure – shortening your life by a few years. Many people would have skipped the dentist and suffered a sore tooth. There will be many people who have lost a few years of life due to this.
  
  We have not “saved” people. We have just traded who has, and will die earlier. We have nothing to show that we made the right deal.
  
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  August 5, 2020 12:02pm
Happychappy

Clare Curran bows out of NZ Politics calling Parliament a “Toxic” place, Curran also took swipe at RNZ who she said was not doing its job properly in holding the media and MP’s to account.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12353734
I would say Clare Curran is a hypocrite and should go take a very good look at herself in the mirror for the lies and bullshit she produced and caused at RNZ when Minster in charge of the portfolio.
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August 5, 2020 8:08am
- Swifty
  
  Ignore Curran, of greater concern to New Zealanders is how we have a system that inflicts such poor performing politicians such as her on the long-suffering NZ public.
  
  Shreiks, screams, attacks and yells at National for years and years and then when finally appointed to Government folds like a paper cup the first time any heat is applied to her while wailing about “National and media bullies’.
  
  I remember her personal attacks on National politicians during the years 2008-17 – does she think we’ve forgotten?
  
  Piss off Clare. This was the life you chose. No sympathy from me.
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:42am
  - Bobba Fret
    
    Totally agree. No sympathy from me for Curran either. She was always well out of her depth. Also good riddance to ILG. Now need a few more like Twyford (god knows how he is still there), Kelvin Davis (well he’s only there because he’s a Maori), and numerous other useless ‘cant get a job in the real world’ Labour MP’s to have some heat applied to them to get rid of them as none will go willingly as they all know this is as good as it gets.
    
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    August 5, 2020 9:24am
    - The Boss
      
      Bobba: Please add Willie Jackson to you useless list.
      
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      August 5, 2020 10:15am
      - Bobba Fret
        
        Yes he should be on the useless list.
        I am not much of a typist and it would take too long to list them all!
        
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        August 5, 2020 4:31pm
      - Nickc2
        
        I think silly Willy would probably add himself if it meant getting his name in the media.
        
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        August 5, 2020 8:35pm
- JackRabbit
  
  I would say Clare Curran now has misgivings about the bullshit she bought into. Swept up into the emotional train wreck of the CoL, things have gone too far, and even she is appalled by Cindy’s maniacal behaviour.
  
  It doesn’t excuse her past misgivings, but if Clare Curran is uncomfortable with politics and sees Parliament as a ‘toxic’ place, perhaps there is an ounce of goodness left in her.
  
  Perhaps as a mother, the coverup of the rapist and sexual assaulters, and the debauchery within the halls of power especially the Labour party, sickened her. Perhaps there is a story to be told.
  
  If a Labour Stalwart like Curran has doubts, there is hope. She would however be a hypocrite if she voted Labour this election. She could gain a gram more credibility if she voted National/Act and declared that publicly.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:58am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    I doubt that she will be voting National/Act.
    
    She made a point of blaming National for much of the Trauma she suffered.
    However, the same could not be said for the Opposition.
    
    “I imagine the National Party are clapping themselves on the back.
    
    “I am not accessing social media much these days as I have found some of the comments from a band of Opposition supporters who hunt as a pack too vile and personal.”
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107683474/clare-curran-traumatic-time-for-myself-and-my-family
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:30am
    - Brian McDonald
      
      Curran was a contrast to ILG. He blamed nobody and shed no tears, I had no opinion of him previously (not that it would matter to him), thought his “Raptor” thing was silly but he didn’t depart as a cry-baby blaming the press or someone else. Curran blamed the media for being caught out, the exact opposite.
      
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      August 5, 2020 10:53am
  - Paulus
    
    Probably like her predecessor Benson-Pope who she shafted to get to Parliament she will join the Dunedin Council plus some other sinecures – like Lees Galloway will get a couple of well paid Government peripheral jobs – Mayor of Palmerston North probably.
    
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    August 5, 2020 1:48pm
- Rich Prick
  
  Clare Curran has a point, after all, she was one of the toxins.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:59am
  - JackRabbit
    
    But she fell out of love with Cindy.
    Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
    
    She was thrown out of the inner circle.
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:25am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Clare Curran was in the prime position to demand that RNZ and TVNZ operate to high standards…. but she blew it.
    
    Remember that Clare Curran is a Communications/PR expert.
    
    In 2006 she delivered a paper to the Otago/Southland Labour Party RegionalConference – May 2006 entitled “Language Matters: setting agendas – taking charge of the language
    https://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0605/Language_Matters.pdf
    
    “If you control the language, you control the message.
    The media doesn’t create the message, they run with it.”
    
    Seems Clare lost control of the message.
    
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    August 5, 2020 2:05pm
- cmm
  
  Clare was well suited to the life she had made before she became a minister.
  
  Invisible backbencher with no responsibilities who has sucked hard on the taxpayer’s tit doing SFA for 12 years.
  
  Top shelf bludger that squeals as soon as she’s expected to actually, you know, work!
  
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  August 5, 2020 12:06pm
Luke Piewalker

Labour election strategy: Covid, slogans and hiding from Judith Collins

National election strategy: Rebuilding NZ
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August 5, 2020 8:09am
- KevO'Brien
  
  National will rebuild anyway, it’s in their nature.
  
  Labour will require talkpests and further reviews of their ideas before they become submissions to the Taniwha Approval Reconstruction Commission. That will need following submission to the Grand Waitangi Gravy Train and Ticket Clippers and ultimately to the PM’s Office for consideration on how it may affect her aspirations to become Head Poncho of the UN.
  Getting things done by the COL is a tortuous process.
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:45am
- Bobba Fret
  
  I have no doubt that National (man for man) are a far better team than Labour/Greens alternative and will do well in the debates etc.
  But National are also up against the media. Judith will destroy Labour in debates and on policy and having a vision and a plan, and knowing the numbers.
  The biggest hurdle will be the media who will protect the princess at all costs.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:28am
  - wimpston peeeders
    
    agreed, nats need to dangle a carrot to grab the attention of the media. dismantle/sell off tvnz would be a great 1st step.
    
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    August 5, 2020 12:48pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122347796/election-2020-auditorgeneral-takes-provincial-growth-funds-fund-within-a-fund-to-task

NZ First : corruption central
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August 5, 2020 8:10am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  It is like the Auditor-General has woken from a 3-year-long coma.
  
  Because it was set up so quickly, with pressure to get money out of the door, transparency and reporting has not been sufficient,
  
  Why the hell doesn’t MBIE, MoT, and MPI require tight records and frequent reporting from each of the slush-fund projects?
  
  Clearly nobody is going to be held to account and nothing is going to be done about the wastage of $$$$$ associated with the PGF.
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:58am
  - sooty
    
    I wonder where all the splash from the sloppage ends up?
    
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    August 5, 2020 9:18am
    - wimpston peeeders
      
      In the pockets of shane and willies nephs of course, it will likely weigh them down and keep them stuck on the couch tho.
      
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      August 5, 2020 12:50pm
- Prince
  
  This isn’t solely an NZ First slush fund.
  Labour and the Greens are up to their necks in it, both using the fund as a cash fund to reward their mates and quickly shut down anyone protesting too much.
  The detail of this fund needs to be exposed – $3 Billion of corrupt bribery and corruption.
  
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  August 5, 2020 12:26pm
Yvette

Judith Collins needs to keep pointing out Labour is all slogans covering up non-performance.

‘No one has the luxury of copping out’: Jacinda Ardern speaks to the UN about climate change
In a keynote address she said, “We aim to plant one billion trees by 2028 – 150 million are already in the ground.”

However while Shane counts Forestry’s 95% replantings into his total, he doesn’t acknowledge a related 100% felling rate of mature trees elsewhere in their forests.
Like adding new recruits to Police numbers but not subtracting those retiring, jquitting or leaving for other reasons.
So rather than 150 million trees, honesty and transparency gave Ardern only about 18 million trees to virtual signal about.
And a total that is just one fifth of what you claim, is rather a cop out – in addition to how they cop out counting police.

In a Cabinet paper Shane Jones stated … if the recent 95% replanting rate was maintained over the next decade, this would equate to 770 million trees.’’ [1] planted by commercial Forestry agencies.
Eager to count their number in with his, but, as indicated above: not acknowledging that 95% replanting rate means that for every 95 trees they plant, they fell 100 mature trees elsewhere.
In fact if they re-plant 770 million trees they will be replacing an estimated 810.5 million harvested trees. Doesn’t leave too many off a Billion Trees by 2028.
______

However, as a seperate issue, on MPI’s Forestry website, accompanying their information on the One Billion Trees, a Progress Chart “as at 7 January, 2020”, so related to Ardern’s United Nations statement timing said –

Trees Planted 149,174,000. See? – that was close to her “150 million in the ground”
and Trees directly funded by Government 24,681,000 – just under a sixth are the Coalition’s.

But the current Progress Chart, “As of 30 June, 2020” [2] says –
Trees Planted 149,399,000
Trees directly funded by Government 101,690,000

So the total has increased by 225,000 trees (not quite a quarter million), but “Government paid for” trees are up 77,009,000 (77 million)

With someone having Twyforded the figures, it no longer makes any sense.

That’s independent of all the crap above about a replanting rate of 95% meaning having to detract from the Government total, rather than add to it.

This of course is one matter that needs a little sunlight rather than the only Election topic being covid-19.
That’s just another cop out.

[1] https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12200823
[2] https://www.teururakau.govt.nz/funding-and-programmes/forestry/one-billion-trees-programme/about-the-one-billion-trees-programme/ bottom of the ‘page’
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August 5, 2020 8:11am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Explaining is losing bro. Cindy with a one liner will strongly refute that and move on and Sheeple will nod their head in appreciation. Watch the next poll and Cindy and Labour will be 65% support.
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:47am
  - hookerphil
    
    I watched Question 1 yesterday as someone said Collins was giving it to her. All I saw was a very clever media person batting away all the questions with a continuous stream of numbers that may or may have been correct along with references to how little National had achieved in their 9 loooonnng years. And the adorning followers will watch the debates and nod approvingly.
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:26am
    - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
      
      Yes. Cindy had made mince meat of Judith Collins in QT. No knockout punches from Collins while Cindy managed to land some knocks on Judith. QT is a waste of time.
      
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      August 5, 2020 11:06am
Simon

AstraZeneca has been granted protection from future product liability claims related to its COVID-19 vaccine hopeful by most of the countries with which it has struck supply agreements, a senior executive told Reuters.

“This is a unique situation where we as a company simply cannot take the risk if in … four years the vaccine is showing side effects,” said Ruud Dobber, a top exec at AstraZeneca.

“In the contracts we have in place, we are asking for indemnification. For most countries, it is acceptable to take that risk on their shoulders because it is in their national interest,” said Dobber

31 July 2020

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-astrazeneca-results-vaccine-liability/astrazeneca-to-be-exempt-from-coronavirus-vaccine-liability-claims-in-most-countries-idUSKCN24V2EN

New Zealand has joined a global initiative that aims to enable all countries to access a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced today.
The COVAX Facility was recently launched by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The Alliance includes the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The details of the COVAX Facility, including financial contributions, are still being determined. By joining the Facility now, New Zealand will be able to help shape the way it works and how a vaccine is eventually distributed.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-zealand-joins-global-facility-pre-purchase-covid-19-vaccine

Significant progress has been achieved by the COVAX partners to date, with seven of the nine candidate vaccines supported by CEPI already in clinical trials. A memorandum of understanding with AstraZeneca also commits them to supply 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to COVAX

https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/15-07-2020-more-than-150-countries-engaged-in-covid-19-vaccine-global-access-facility

Side effects in four years time. Lol.

Rather get Covid19 than trust a vaccine process via the Wellington clown show.

There aint much in MSM about vaccines. NZ the loser hermit nation needs either herd immunity like other countries or a vaccine. A very frightened general population in Ardern’s herd of 5 million are going to go for a vaccine.

NZ will be desperate for a vaccine and the clown show will pump anything into people to get through a 3 year election cycle.

MSM will cover for them.

If only NZ had an opposition party that wasn’t so fucking utterly useless.
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August 5, 2020 8:11am
- KevO'Brien
  
  No liability: no use.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:05am
peterwn

National has promised a new Mount Victoria tunnel for 2023. However many eastern suburbs voters will probably still blindly vote Labour. If they still cannot bear to break old habits, they could ease their consciousnesses by one vote National and one vote for the Labour candidate.
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August 5, 2020 8:13am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Wellingtonians have no brains. Otherwise why will they vote for Robberson and Eagle that never soared?
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:48am
  - Bobba Fret
    
    Eagle is more like a turkey!
    
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    August 5, 2020 9:32am
    - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
      
      He will win with an increased majority this time.
      
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      August 5, 2020 11:08am
  - Jimmy White
    
    Sidekick I assume your are a Wellingtonian
    
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    August 5, 2020 11:16am
- MCos
  
  Don’t hold your breath.
  Talk of the dire need for a second Mt Vic tunnel has gone on for at least fifty years with the pilot tunnel pushed through back when Keith Holyoake was PM.
  Nothing will happen before the RMA is replaced, I’m picking, no matter which party(s) wins the election.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:24am
- Isobar
  
  National Promised a new Stadium in Christchurch by 2017. Labour promised a heap of houses in Kiwibuild.
  
  I am sorry but don’t believe everything you read. With a lot of projects on the go the construction industry will be stretched, a lot of people will lose their houses and properties which all need to be consulted with. Not to mention the design and tendering process, which will be complex in an earthquake risk area such as wellington.
  
  There is no way a major project like this will begin ‘construction’ within three years. Hell National (should they win) after the time it takes to thrash out a coalition agreement between them, act and NZ first (there is no other way to power really) will barely have a handful to sitting days before Christmas.
  
  Next minute it is February and more or less six months is gone.
  
  And ‘Construction’ is not a photo op of politicians turning the first sod.
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:05am
  - kloyd0306
    
    Explain how National needs to form a coalition with a party that gets 2% of the vote.
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:30am
    - peterwn
      
      Perhaps Shane may win Northland.
      
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      August 5, 2020 11:33am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    National Promised a new Stadium in Christchurch by 2017. Labour promised a heap of houses in Kiwibuild.
    Not the equivalent at all…
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96109546/national-pledges-120m-extra-for-new-christchurch-stadium
    To correct your statement
    National Promised a new Stadium in Christchurch IN 2017 not by2017. This was during the election.
    Labour became the govt. on a promise of kiwibuild….FAILED to deliver.
    National didn’t become the govt. and therefore had NO opportunity to build the stadium.
    
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    August 5, 2020 11:28am
Loddenthinks

I read an interesting article on Stuff this morning (I know) about women going through perimenopause and then menopause, and the physical and chemical changes in their brains as they went through these stages.

Fascinating it was, all about how very different men’s and women’s brains are, in terms of oestrogen receptors and chemical changes as they go through life.

Very hard to reconcile these incontrovertible physical, biological, chemical and hormonal differences between female and male brains, when for the last several years we’ve been told that a man that decides he’s a woman is actually a woman.

Anyone daring to suggest otherwise, citing inconvenient yet incontrovertible scientific evidence that when you’re born a female, every single cell of your being is female and always will be, is labelled a bigot, transphobic, exclusionary or (if you’re a female) a TERF. I love how inclusive the people that are shouting at us to be more inclusive are, don’t you?
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August 5, 2020 8:17am
Maggie Pie

My partner re-tweetd……leaves me a bit confused?

https://twitter.com/philquin/status/1290735861424771073
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August 5, 2020 8:21am
- pdm
  
  Maggie I see Neale Jones tweeting in that group of tweets or twitters.
  
  Attacking Judith Collins and no mention that he is a former Chief of Staff for Jacinda Ardern.
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:30am
  - Jules99
    
    That guy has a lot of hate in his heart. Not much for brains though.
    
    25 0
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    August 5, 2020 8:41am
  - Happychappy
    
    I wonder if he knows the sexual predator out of the PM’s office as his post suggest he is a very bitter individual.
    
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    August 5, 2020 8:57am
    - sooty
      
      Of couse he does and did nothing about it!
      
      20 0
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      August 5, 2020 9:20am
      - RW Capitalist
        
        Since nobody knows who this predator is.
        Maybe he needs to plead the 5th?
        
        4 0
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        August 5, 2020 11:32am
- Tall Man
  
  Isn’t that “hate speech”.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:04am
jimbo3

Just had a thought. If it is our right to return to nz and have taxpayers fund our quarantine I wonder if I need to pay my road user charges. Surely it is my right as a citizen to drive on the road. I wonder if I should have to pay for a passport, drivers license, firearms license etc. Surely must be my legal right to just have one.
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August 5, 2020 8:25am
- fernglas
  
  The Government doesn’t force you, on pain of criminal sanction, to drive on the road, have a passport or own a gun.
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:44am
  - Albert_Ross
    
    They don’t force you to come to New Zealand either
    
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    August 5, 2020 9:55am
  - herb1
    
    no and the government didn’t force people to get a passport and travel.
    if they didn’t voluntarily get a passport then they wouldn’t have to pay the quarantine fee would they
    
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    August 5, 2020 9:58am
- Loddenthinks
  
  Give it a go and report back as to how you get on. Pro tip: tell the police you’re a “sovereign citizen” and none of those rules apply to you.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:07am
- MCos
  
  It’s like this, Jimbo.
  The reason why people are isolated when they turn up at Auckland Airport, or some other point of entry, is to protect the general population from COVID-19.
  Most people would just as sooner go straight home and carry on a normal life without the annoyance of being sequestered away in some hotel for a fortnight, flash and all that it might be.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:46am
Lee C

Is the 2020 election going to go down in history as the one no one wanted to win?

Will the panic and apocalyptic reportage about covid magically dissipate the day after the election?
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August 5, 2020 8:29am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Cindy is sleep walking to victory and she will tax you to death in the next three years.
  
  25 2
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  August 5, 2020 8:49am
  - Paulus
    
    Somebody has got to pay for all the handouts.
    
    6 0
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    August 5, 2020 9:46am
  - gorse
    
    Shouldn’t you say “tax us to death” ie include yourself, or are you exempt taxation?
    
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    August 5, 2020 12:36pm
- herb1
  
  you mean like the housing shortage apocalypse from the last election
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:07am
- Paulus
  
  Should Labour Greens win which is likely might be the best thing for New Zealand as after 2023 they will never be heard of again.
  But of course Cindy would have done a bunk overseas.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:45am
JibberJabber

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/122337409/coronavirus-nz-could-end-up-like-melbourne-experts-warn

Heh.
Jacinda’s media setting us up.
She needs this.
We should run a sweepstake when the next lockdown will occur.
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August 5, 2020 8:31am
- KevO'Brien
  
  15th September.
  
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  August 5, 2020 8:49am
  - Ruawai
    
    She will introduce community transmission just before the election and then tell the people to vote for her to save us all over again.
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:16am
  - Flossie
    
    That would be far too late. Needs to be the day before early voting starts.
    
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    August 5, 2020 12:01pm
- Tauhei Notts
  
  To maximise media coverage it will be announced on 13th September to commence Monday 14th. Kev O’Brien’s suggestion would not have the same impact. A day too late.
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:15am
- wimpston peeeders
  
  even duncan garner read emails today along those lines that lockdown week prior to election.
  
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  August 5, 2020 12:58pm
Paulus

Lee
Of course our Great Redeemer and Saviour wants to win otherwise she doesn’t get to the UN.
She is so arrogant that she believes she is Invincible as all her sycophants tell her.
We can only hope that New Zealand wake up to what will happen before the election but as so much early voting is going to occur I doubt it.
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August 5, 2020 8:35am
- Bobba Fret
  
  It wouldn’t surprise me if Jacinda wins this election for Labour, but I honestly can’t see her lasting another three years as its going to be a very tough three years for whoever wins. I think she will be looking to leave for that UN job before December 2021.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:39am
Maggie Pie

Is it just me – or does it look like John Campbell’s smelt a fart?

https://twitter.com/1NewsNZ/status/1290475816824893443
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August 5, 2020 8:40am
- herb1
  
  bit ironic that Sarah Campbell calls out sean Plunkett for having a go at Ardern instead of her policy.
  FFS Sarah , perhaps he would if Ardern stopped tearing the team of 5million ,with contempt, and actually released some policy
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:05am
- Ruawai
  
  I never liked John Campbell, I find him annoying and aggravating to watch as it is all about him rather than who he is interviewing.
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:18am
  - kloyd0306
    
    The true meaning of “aggravate” is to make worse.
    
    But, you are still correct. He does.
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:35am
emmess

What just happened in Beirut?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53656220
The explosion looks like the size of mini-nuke, obviously not though.
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August 5, 2020 8:42am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  ~2700 tonnes of confiscated/impounded nitrate accidentally ignited. Nitrates are the oxidiser in most explosives, and also used a lot in agriculture.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:29am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Fertilizer “bomb”…
  
  remember the Texas Fertilizer Plant explosion?
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzDC3iKbTzY
  (from about 1:24 )
  
  2NH4NO3 → 2N2 + O2 + 4H2O + (Heat)
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:40am
  - Ed Snack
    
    Indeed, the dark copper coloured cloud pretty much defines this as a nitrate explosion. As UN above notes, apparently a shipment of 2,750 tonnes of NaNO3 bound for Angola (or nearby) as fertiliser stock was on a ship in 2013 that called into Beirut because of problems with the engines. It was prevented from leaving because it was in such a bad condition that it was deemed unsafe to sail. The charterer and the ultimate owner abandoned the ship, and after a while the cargo was unloaded and stored in the port by the port authorities while the ship I believe was towed away for salvage.
    
    It does appear that rather carelessly the nitrates remained in store and were next to a warehouse used to store fireworks, which seems to have caught fire and exploded itself, a serious incident but not on its own catastrophic. The fire however reached the stored nitrates, and that was one BIG explosion with a mighty shockwave. Likely huge casualties and massive damage to Beirut.
    
    But almost certainly accidental although I suppose someone could have deliberately started the chain of events. Also probably did not directly involve ammunition or weapons though some may well have been affected by the main explosion. Though maybe the initial explosion wasn’t fireworks bu a (minor) arms storage depot. There are secondary minor explosions visible in the fire before the big bang which could be fireworks (though they seem a little muted) or ammunition cooking off.
    
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    August 5, 2020 12:17pm
    - Ed Snack
      
      Actually, the first report I saw said NaNO3 but the consensus is as Maggie puts it, Ammonium Nitrate. That’s far more common and is what is usually manufactured.
      
      If you watch some of the videos carefully, it does seem like there’s a fire after a preliminary explosion, then a second serious explosion and that triggers the Nitrate bang immediately after. And that is what generates the very distinctive shockwave.
      
      Apparently felt/heard as far away as Cyprus and Damascus.
      
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      August 5, 2020 4:01pm
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  “fireworks” hahahahahahaha
  
  Not a Hezbollah munitions factory, oh, no not at all, couldn’t possibly be……
  
  … “I wonder if this wire goes here….. oops
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:43am
  - Albert_Ross
    
    Absolutely hilarious. Oh my aching sides.
    
    6 1
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    August 5, 2020 9:54am
  - JibberJabber
    
    Right Lads, I’m only going to show you this once…
    
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    August 5, 2020 11:49am
  - emmess
    
    You can see fireworks going off before the main explosion
    
    Scroll down to the third video
    
    https://www.fox23.com/news/trending/massive-explosion-beirut-captured-videos-throughout-city-number-injuries-unknown/XNVEJPKBYNB6XJB2GEJ7XIWFZU/
    
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    August 5, 2020 2:31pm
- LTA1955
  
  Trial of a few Hezzbummers for an assassination in 2005 begins this week in Beirut….the copper colour of the cloud aftermath is nitrates…fav compound of bombers
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:11am
- virtualmark
  
  2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. It was taken off the M/V Rhosus in 2013. The Rhosus had collected it in Georgia and was taking it to Mozambique, but had to stop in in Beirut and was impounded. The cargo was offloaded and stored in a warehouse.
  
  Some interesting estimates that it was equivalent to about 250 tonnes of TNT. See https://twitter.com/GeorgeWHerbert/status/1290714453189603328
  
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  August 5, 2020 11:43am
  - virtualmark
    
    Very similar to the largest ever non-nuke explosion in the USA … https://timeline.com/texas-city-explosion-grandcamp-6c08615fc898
    
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    August 5, 2020 11:45am
herb1

Im fed up with the Labour funded media ,calling themselves journalists.
with the odd exception they’re simply”social media influencers”, getting paid for their clicks and likes.
No different than Kim Kardshian , except the vast difference in success
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August 5, 2020 8:43am
- rockape
  
  I had to laugh when I saw to apply for training as a journalist the mail address is NZ BS.com! Maybe BS has a different meaning to my usage!
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:21am
I remember when

Urgent information just made available by the AM Show.
By the end of the century, 73 in every 100,00 will die as the result of Climate Change.
Thus Climate Change will kill more people than all the infectious diseases combined.
Is it time to start clearing available space in hospitals so that we are able to cover this eventuality?
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August 5, 2020 8:48am
I remember when

No John Campbell doesn’t smell a fart!
He believes in high vitamin “C” cures so sucks a lot of lemons.
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August 5, 2020 8:51am
Maggie Pie

‘The fear is real”
A law student from China studying in Oz …

“If you are of Chinese ethnicity and protest against the CCP abroad, they will find people you love and hurt them to make you pay”

https://twitter.com/Anne_MarieBrady/status/1290694822706044929
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August 5, 2020 8:53am
- Loddenthinks
  
  And break into your house and steal laptops and hard drives. And cut the brake lines in your car.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:11am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Frightening what’s happening with the Chinese these days Lodds. My partners mum remembers when all they did was grow cabbages out at Pukekohe.
    The world was such a happier place.
    
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    August 5, 2020 9:25am
  - Nickc2
    
    and they will do your kids homework and feed the dog on the way out.
    
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    August 5, 2020 12:07pm
    - Loddenthinks
      
      You mis-spelled “eat the dog”
      
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      August 5, 2020 6:52pm
      - Nickc2
        
        Sorry. my kids are members of the RSPCA.
        
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        August 5, 2020 8:40pm
- tom hunter
  
  Former National MP Wayne Mapp does not believe Anne Marie-Brady.
  
  So there!
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:20am
Lee C

Just watched a great Ted Talk by Simon Senec about why people buy stuff I’d recommend Judith watches it.
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August 5, 2020 9:02am
RJ

And this is with the hospital going flat out to catch up with the operations that were delayed because of COVID, renting out the private hospital and pushing people through both private and public.

A third straight South Canterbury District Health Board financial year surplus has set an example that other DHBs around New Zealand should follow according to the New Zealand Taxpayers Union (NZTU).

Timaru Herald
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August 5, 2020 9:08am
- [email protected]
  
  If the COV19 virus starts running amok in New Zealand, I hope that whoever is in power learns from the previous mistake in closing down all the hospitals and makes other provisions that keeps the hospitals open as much as possible.
  
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  August 5, 2020 12:22pm
- Ed Snack
  
  As I’m not sure, do DHB’s use cash or accrual accounting ? As the government now uses accrual methods almost exclusively I would guess that the DHB’s do too.
  
  An awful lot of the “profit or loss” announced would depend on the depreciation policies used, but at least capital replacements would be excluded from the “profit” figures. They would affect cash flows of course.
  
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  August 5, 2020 12:22pm
Lee C

Ardern will go big on vague assertions about what she ‘believes’ and knows this is a passport into the hearts of the fearful. Such is the subtle psychology behind her ‘We have no policies’ assertion.
The trap Collins may fall into in debates is by trying to trump ‘beliefs’ with ‘plans’.
People don’t buy plans. They buy into ideas which say things about themselves.
In the leaders debate if Collins says (for example) “I believe in a society in which people are free to worship as they choose.” it would be better than “We plan to pass laws to make freedom of worship absolute.”
A clunky example but you get my point.
Ardern essentially skewered Bill English with her ‘Beliefs’ in the last debates.
Think about it.
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August 5, 2020 9:11am
- David George
  
  Good points Lee.
  There’s an old saying in sales and marketing: sell the sizzle not the sausage.
  Judith needs to emphasise core values that chime with most reasonable kiwis. Personal responsibility and aspiration, freedom of speech, liberty and prosperity.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:22am
- marcw
  
  Ardern’s Party got 37% of the total vote last election (2017), English’s Party got 44%. Skewered? A term more suited to what Winstone created.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:26am
  - David George
    
    You’re correct M. but that’s not a useful or reasonable way to look at it. Perhaps if Bill had been a bit more aspirational (and inspiring) he might have been able lead the Nats to govern alone. We’ll never know for sure but there is definite value in what Lee has said above. Plans, with facts and figures, are meaningful to some but never underestimate the human attraction to a good, believable story.
    
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    August 5, 2020 9:55am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  Yup, she is selling emotion. Much easier to like emotion than facts, logic, reason, competence.
  
  Hugz trumpz Brainz?
  
  A lot of Kiwis in Womens Refuges at the moment, dying on waiting lists, killing themselves because their businesses have collapsed because of the lockdown, losing houses and livelihoods. 200k unemployed, 450k on income support….
  
  This is truly a Wile-E-Coyote government, it’s off the cliff, but still pedalling like mad. Hoping gravity doesn’t strike before September 19.
  
  Time for Dr Judith to offer reassurance,a cup of tea and a biscuit. Its all going to be alright, the grown-up team is here.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:49am
artemisia

LOL, the biter bit. Coco’s Cantina considering a name change after being accused of cultural appropriation. The ‘kingi’ restaurant guys will be well pleased with all the free publicity Coco’s Cantina served up.
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August 5, 2020 9:19am
Tony Stuart

From Colin – leader of the Turn Ardern movement – on Twitter:

Twoticksblue
@Coltheman1
· 9h
PM Ardern says that more #COVID19NZ testing had been done under her govt than the National government did in their whole nine yrs in power. #nzpol

Col’s tounge may be firmly in his cheek, but he’s hit the nail on the head. The PM’s office recently sent out an email, by mistake, saying there was no need for the to defend their record. The same arrogance applies to Labour’s reluctance to release election policy.

Labour may be riding high in the polls this morning, but a whole series of obstacles lie ahead. The PGF has been exposed as dodgy, unemployment figures will be out today, but that’s just the tip of the employment iceberg, and the economy is poised to plunge south very quickly. What is Labour going to do, and how long can they hide behind cries of “nine years of neglect!”?
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August 5, 2020 9:21am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  how long can they hide behind cries of “nine years of neglect!”?
  
  Labour no longer has to use that excuse…
  
  Listen to Robbo… it’s a once in a 100-year pandemic they are dealing with… or we are doing better than the rest of the world…who are DYING.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:49am
- Paulus
  
  As part of the Government you cannot believe that the PGF is in any way financially corrupt – how can that be ?
  Like the Government it is noted for its transparency.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:52am
- MCos
  
  Turn again Colin is off his game.
  I saw a couple of Ardern publications in a St Luke’s Mall bookshop the other day that hadn’t been ‘turned’, plus Golriz Ghahraman‘s book, which I would have thought would also be a target.
  Then again with all the election hoardings around with Ardern’s picture it’s a bit pointless anyway. I notice the Nats are covering all bases by leaving Judith Collins’ picture off most of theirs in case there is yet another change.
  BTW
  There’s no way I’d buy one of those Ardern books, Ghahraman‘s autobiography, I should imagine would be much more interesting.
  I bought, instead, Oliver Stones’ book. The guy’s a bit of a conspiracy theorist these days, but his early life was less than run of the mill.
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:12am
  - hilaryt
    
    In case yu missed it..Kim Hill interviewed him last weekend. Good listen.
    
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    August 5, 2020 11:23am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Link here:
      https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018757526/director-oliver-stone-on-his-rocky-road-to-platoon
      
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      August 5, 2020 3:58pm
- gorse
  
  While the unemployment figure is listed at 4%, my ANZ daily briefing said that in the last week of the quarter the figure had risen to 6.2%.
  
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  August 5, 2020 12:27pm
lastmanstanding

Political debates are and always should be about debating policy. Thats what voters want to know. It should be a contest of ideas.

So the Labour leader fronting up to the debates without any policy is like the Emperor without any clothes.

Collins only needs to point that out at the start of the first debate and Cindy is stuffed. She cant argue a policy if she hasnt stated one.

In the past Parties put out a Manifesto setting out their policies and these were the basis of the debates.

So how can the media justify having political debates when one Party doesnt have any to be debated.

Its a farce and a signal of the totalitarian regime Labour intends to impose if they win.

No policies until after you elect us. Then you will find out how we will govern you.

A joke and anyone who cant/wont see this deserves to suffer the consequences.
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August 5, 2020 9:26am
- Libertarians are right
  
  I did note that there hasn’t been a finance spokesperson debate announced. There usually is one because it’s actually really important to debate the fiscal ramifications of policy. I can definitely understand why Labour wouldn’t want to do that.
  
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  August 5, 2020 9:32am
  - Bobba Fret
    
    I would feel far more confident if Steven Joyce was there for National to do that.
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:11am
    - Prince
      
      I think Joyce was the biggest disappointment last election.
      – He headed the Nats election bid, and was out-thought by Labour. Despite having a huge war chest, Nats were dogged by the lawsuit over the previous election song. Labour was everywhere with ‘Let’s Do This’.
      – He could not find one economist to support his claim of a $12B hole in Labour’s plan. Inconceivable that the Minister of Finance could not find anyone to support him against a range of (Labour-friendly) economists.
      He seemed to think National would sleep-walk to victory.
      
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      August 5, 2020 5:28pm
  - MCos
    
    Last time the finance debate was on Morning Report.
    No doubt there will be something similar this time.
    I doubt if TV1 or TV3 see much value in that sort of Battle of the Bland in prime time.
    Who wants to listen to two walking spread sheets outside of political junkies?
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/338857/video-fiscal-hole-truth-joyce-and-robertson-clash
    
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    August 5, 2020 10:23am
- kloyd0306
  
  Despicable Democrat and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used the same tactic in 2009. “We have have to pass Obamacare so as to find out what’s in it.”
  
  Socialism is communism in slow-motion.
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:39am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

https://babylonbee.com/news/biden-excited-to-find-out-who-he-picked-for-vp?fbclid=IwAR1ROLo407CIlb20iQn3YnU4bFHdHZNMxLeeIcSJ1e-kNEj5Rwyz-KF7mn8
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August 5, 2020 9:39am
- Ed Snack
  
  I thought he was so close to a pick that he could smell her hair.
  
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  August 5, 2020 12:25pm
Yvette

Coronavirus: The plan for ‘when’ COVID-19 re-emerges in the community – Dr Bloomfield
New Zealand’s leading health officials believe it’s inevitable that COVID-19 will re-emerge in the community, despite it being 95 days since a case was acquired locally from an unknown source.
“Not if, but when” was Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield’s response when questioned on the likelihood of a COVID-19 resurgence in New Zealand.

All New Zealanders are urged to register and actively record their movements to ensure they can be easily identified in the event of a future outbreak. – Newshub

Regarding this last sentence, how many people (like myself) do not have a cell phone?
And how many in this group (like myself) are in the older age group, already afflicted with at least one medical condition and so supposedly more susceptible to covid infection and complications.

And regarding a resurgence of infection in New Zealand, how many (like myself) believe Dr Ashley Bloomfield before Saviour Jacinda Ardern.
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August 5, 2020 9:55am
- Durden
  
  Not good enough to just say “not if but when”
  
  Will anybody ask Dr Bloomfield, how he thinks Covid will get into the community in the first place.
  
  Potential risk paths and likely probabilities please. Instead of fire threat/prediction he needs to share more info to get the team of five million to help him.
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:59am
Maggie Pie

Ever since she had her Rhytidectomy, my partners mother couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome. So much so, she still wont use her Super Goldcard on the Waiheke Ferry.
Ma has just forwarded this link of Presidential consultant Kellyanne Conway – appears her results are as equally fabulous.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EawTdsWWoAA1Cai?format=jpg&name=small
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August 5, 2020 9:55am
- Fletch
  
  Maggie, it’s just different lighting. Harsh sunlight always makes a person look horrible which is why photographers outside will photograph someone in the shade and use a fill flash or reflector for lighting, or even hold a scrim above them to soften the light.
  
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  August 5, 2020 11:35am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Bet ma wishes she knew about that.
    Could have saved her 35k
    
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    August 5, 2020 4:09pm
Swifty

Shot in to town last night (Auckland CBD) and had a feed with my daughter at Tanuki’s Cave, just alongside the AKL town hall.

Great to see Tanuki’s is still a place to go but boy was town dead. Hardly anyone around, bugger all traffic, lots of restaurants boarded up or at the very least closed when I thought they’d be open.

Oh, and roadworks EVERYWHERE and, it seems, not all CRL related given their location.
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August 5, 2020 10:18am
- Maggie Pie
  
  Banksy was just saying that Mayor Phil Goff spoke of “….how proud he was that the Council’s top achieving Meter Maid, issued more than 14,000 tickets and had 420 cars towed from Queen Street in the last twelve months”
  
  Imagine the joy city retailers must be feeling at this news when they pay their rates 🙁
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:43am
MCos

I see the Irish cricket team went one further than our team, by thumping England.
Well, in one game out of three.
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August 5, 2020 10:31am
Tauhei Notts

I have been very critical of Emmerson’s cartoons in the NZ Herald; their Labour bias has been appalling.
But today’s cartoon features Judith versus Jacinda at chess.
Judith is planning a long term strategy involving each of her back line. Jacinda is planning to checkmate Judith in two moves.
The cartoon suggests that Jacinda knows as much about chess as she knows about governing a country. The fool’s checkmate at chess requires four moves, not two.
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August 5, 2020 10:36am
- Libertarians are right
  
  Actually, Jacinda is utterly self obsessed and the Fool’s mate is only two moves for the person playing Black so it does make sense for her to consider it to only be two moves (even though the White player’s moves are actually more important as they need to make a huge mistake).
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:56am
- burt
  
  Imagine Jacinda playing chess, she’d loose all her major pieces and celebrate how 1 pawn is holding everything together for her while completely oblivious to the impending checkmate.
  
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  August 5, 2020 12:54pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Many pawns, she does not play fair – just uses pawns —– who are they??
    
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    August 5, 2020 6:13pm
BAM

If National wants to have any chance they have to put up policies that target
people DIRECTLY

If you can’t do it with tax cuts, do it with health care like dental, etc, big infrastructure projects are good, but they’re a bit meh if you want to capture peoples attention.
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August 5, 2020 10:40am
- burt
  
  National should announce all of Labour’s policies from the 2017 election as their policies for 2020. None have been delivered and apparently the public wanted them all.
  
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  August 5, 2020 12:53pm
fernglas

Bloomfield says:
“Over the last few weeks because the airlines stopped the flights coming in our managed isolation facilities have only been at about 50 to 60 percent capacity, so that’s reduced the numbers of people being tested there.”
Why aren’t they at close to full capacity when there are New Zealanders trying to return home? Can’t this lot organise anything properly?
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August 5, 2020 10:43am
Tony Stuart

Massive transport announcement for Wellington from Judith Collins this morning, including a second Mt Victoria tunnel:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300074120/national-promises-early-mt-victoria-tunnel-second-terrace-tunnel-in-4b-wellington-transport-policy

Wait for the howls of outrage from Julie Anne Genter and her public transport-loving mates!
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August 5, 2020 10:52am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  A second Mt Victoria tunnel will be built in year 2203 when Winston finally becomes the PM.
  
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  August 5, 2020 11:09am
- gorse
  
  A brilliant interview of Judith and her team. These people are clearly onto it. What a refreshing change from watching the current Government team, who are incompetent by comparison.
  
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  August 5, 2020 12:18pm
Frank the tank

4% Unemployment – what a load of ****.
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August 5, 2020 11:15am
Jack5

Reserve Bank Governor Orr and one of his deputies, Bascand, have been telling the trading banks they should lend more.

Orr and Bascand perhaps should start their own bank, says Michael Reddell.

https://croakingcassandra.com/2020/08/05/perhaps-they-should-start-a-bank/
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August 5, 2020 11:21am
doggone7

Unemployment figures out. Through the roof but “However, it looks like unemployment may not rise quite as high as our forecast of 9.5 percent” ? Or reaching the 11% area?

Not quite. some will be very upset.
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August 5, 2020 11:24am
MT_Tinman

Lies, damned lies, statistics and the Labour Government announcements!

C/- TVNZ:

Unemployment numbers fall, but it doesn’t mean improvement
…..

The unemployment rate has improved in the three months to June, falling to four per cent from 4.2 last quarter…..
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August 5, 2020 11:25am
- Fletch
  
  This Newshub story from 2017 explains the trick they use to get the low unemployment figures. When added to the unreported “underutilisation rate” it’s a lot higher.
  
  https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/08/unemployment-bad-news-nz-it-s-much-worse-than-you-think.html
  
  The underutilisation rate is 12% which reflects the real number of unemployed.
  
  https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/underutilisation-rate
  
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  August 5, 2020 1:05pm
- RW Capitalist
  
  from stats nz
  In the June 2020 quarter:
  
  unemployment rate fell to 4.0 percent
  underutilisation rate rose to 12.0 percent
  hours worked fell a record 10.3 percent
  the number of people not in the labour force rose 37,000
  the number of employed people fell 11,000
  the wage subsidy scheme was in place from 17 March 2020.
  What kind of cockameme numbers?
  How can unemployment fall when the number employed fell and those not in the labour force rose?????
  What numbers are they NOT counting?????
  
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  August 5, 2020 2:25pm
  - rockape
    
    You need to be looking for work to be unemployed. No hope of getting a job now so why look?
    
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    August 5, 2020 5:25pm
Swifty

The PSA calls for NZers to be taxed even more and the money given to their members:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/122346336/new-zealands-largest-union-backs-call-for-50-top-tax-rate

No talk of trimming government budgets. No talk of making NZ a better place to do business. No talk of moves to attract more foreign capital and talent. No talk of moves to decrease regulatory barriers to business. No mention of poor or wasteful government spending. No talk of growing the pie.

No, just more tax, more tax and more tax and irrespective of the results the government delivers with it.

A more barren economic philosophy I am yet to come across.
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August 5, 2020 11:33am
- Batman
  
  Amusingly, there’s probably a large cohort of their members paying the top rate who are probably a bit pissy about this.
  
  As for that group, it’s made up of union officials and academics, plus a former Green Party Secretary. It’s a con! They’re endorsing each other to give an impression of support.
  
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  August 5, 2020 1:32pm
oldfella

Author Salman Rushdie warns that Left-wing ‘cancel culture’ is a threat to literature and freedom of speech. (Rushdie knows a thing of two about this stuff.)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8593441/Salman-Rushdie-warns-Left-wing-cancel-culture-threat-literature-freedom-speech.html
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August 5, 2020 11:46am
Cinematic

Wow, unemployment in NZ has decreased due to Covid. Remarkable.
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August 5, 2020 12:24pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Literally unbelievable.
  
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  August 5, 2020 2:12pm
- greybeard
  
  The MSM got $50m.
  Stats NZ must have been paid a whole lot more !
  
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  August 5, 2020 5:11pm
Inandout

20,000 this week, but hidden by welfare.
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August 5, 2020 1:04pm
bennerg

Interesting interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger about the problem with environmentalists shutting down growth in the 80’s and 90’s, and how that’s coming home to roost for California now with all their homelessness issues.

Read further down and ignore all the kindergarten stuff!

https://www.foxnews.com/us/kindergarten-cop-screening-canceled-police-brutality
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August 5, 2020 3:29pm
Jack5

And now from the Political Correctness Asylum …

“Whanels”. These are panels where all the speakers are white.

These are just not on. Whanels must be avoided.

Also to be shunned are “manels”. A manel is a panel in which less than 50 per cent of the panellists are female.
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August 5, 2020 3:36pm
- Batman
  
  I thought it was only a manel if all or 99% the panelists were men?
  
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  August 5, 2020 3:44pm
  - Jack5
    
    That was in the early days of ~~emancipation~~ efemalcipation.
    
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    August 5, 2020 3:50pm
- wimpston peeeders
  
  and then there are wankers, which 100% of them would make it law to ban manels and whanels
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:58pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Notice how media have stopped calling AR-15s assault rifles now that Antifa and BLM carry them?
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August 5, 2020 3:40pm
- MCos
  
  No
  
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  August 5, 2020 3:49pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Then you are clearly not paying attention man
    
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    August 5, 2020 5:17pm
Antoine

Pathetic performance from Kelvin Davis:
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August 5, 2020 3:44pm
- RJ
  
  Be fair, if he is out of witness protection and talking any performance is an improvement of 3 long years of hiding and ducking
  
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  August 5, 2020 6:33pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa7DeDHJibA
Citizens 1 BLM 0.

Peaceful rioters have been confronted by armed citizens who
don’t want their stuff trashed. It looks like the suburbs and
exurbs will be ground zero for the resistance to the
peaceful rioters. Some police chiefs are calling out the
‘peaceful demonstrators’. Residents are protecting the
Homes of user friendly police chiefs. BLM have been shaking
down businesses. It’s classic racketeering. Time for RICO
prosecutions.
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August 5, 2020 3:53pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xfyROnTTKk
No Deal Brexit says Barnier.

It looks like there will be a clean Brexit, and no extensions.
Barnier said the Fourth Reich should prepare for ‘chaos’.
Well, I guess the derailment of the gravy train is ‘chaotic’.
The UK is well prepared for a no deal scenario. The
Fourth Reich isn’t. Teachers Pet is rather cross, and won’t be
exchanging Christmas cards with David Frost.
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August 5, 2020 3:53pm
Fletch

And yet the Dems still think mail-in voting is a good idea.

A staggering 25 percent of mail-in ballots cast in Brooklyn for June’s primary elections were declared invalid, it was revealed on Tuesday, as Mayor Bill de Blasio called on the Board of Elections to shape up by November.

https://nypost.com/2020/08/04/25-percent-of-ballots-in-brooklyn-june-primaries-invalid/

A full twenty five percent – invalid.
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August 5, 2020 5:16pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/122357203/privatise-covid19-quarantine-to-address-capacity-choke-point-helen-clark-says

Why is this bloke still being given air time ?
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August 5, 2020 5:23pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  She is guiding the queen of NZ
  
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  August 5, 2020 6:43pm
Prince

Under the heading of ‘Things you can’t believe just happened…’
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/122357203/privatise-covid19-quarantine-to-address-capacity-choke-point-helen-clark-says
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August 5, 2020 5:30pm
- wimpston peeeders
  
  The rise of covid cronyism? Or is it welfare for hotels:
  
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  August 5, 2020 10:53pm
Cobolt24

Regarding unemployment figures, it takes 1-2 months for redundancy to be completed legally so expect to see more, especially after the wage subsidy ends in September.
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August 5, 2020 5:33pm
Kiwi_in_Paris

The madness continues. UK govt says councils have the power to demolish flu contaminated homes. Meanwhile, UK judge allows Simon Dolan appeal which challenges UK lock down and so on.
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August 5, 2020 6:57pm
Kiwi_in_Paris

Rik Mayall knew. He died a month after he made this film:

https://www.bitchute.com/video/pnGA57oI447v/
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August 5, 2020 8:27pm
Kiwi_in_Paris

Mandatory Bill Gate’s DNA altering vaccines are coming!

https://childrenshealthdefense.org/child-health-topics/mandates/covid-19-vaccines-an-alarming-update-from-europe/
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August 6, 2020 2:41am

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