General Debate 22 September 2020

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Tony Stuart

A very interesting tale of over-promising and under-delivering from David Williams at Newsroom this morning:

The West Coast was promised $140 million from the provincial growth fund. David Williams asks how much has been spent

The need is great, and it has been for years.

The Pancake Rocks, at Dolomite Point, the foot of the Paparoa National Park, is a must-see natural attraction for tourists heading to the South Island’s West Coast. But the nearby town of Punakaiki, population 100, and the Buller District itself, home to almost 10,000 people, can’t be expected to pay for the facilities catering for up to 6000 visitors a day.

Water and wastewater systems are struggling, leading to the odd sewage overflow. (In April, even with the borders closed, Punakaiki residents had to boil their water because of potential water quality issues.) Parts of the coastal town and state highway are vulnerable to damage from the Coast’s extreme weather and storm surges – even before sea levels rise. Mobile phone coverage on the West Coast is patchy.

In November 2018, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and two ministers trekked to Cape Foulwind, near Westport, to announce a $140 million windfall for the West Coast, including Punakaiki. At the time, it was one of the biggest announcements from the Government’s $3 billion provincial growth fund, overseen by Shane Jones, the Regional Economic Development Minister.

“Some of the initiatives you’ll see today, particularly around tourism, will make a huge difference,” Ardern said. Jones, a New Zealand First MP, added: “We, quite frankly, put our money where our rhetoric is.”

Westland Mayor Bruce Smith called it a turning point for the Coast.

Three projects accounted for 70 percent of the money: $40 million to upgrade KiwiRail’s TranzAlpine service between Christchurch and Greymouth; $32.8 million for extended broadband and mobile networks; and, lastly, a $25.6 million redevelopment of Punakaiki.

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/what-became-of-pms-140m-pledge

That’s all well and good, but what has happened is that very little of the promised money has actually been spent; the details are in Williams’ very detailed piece.

And as National’s Michael Woodhouse notes, this situation is unlikely to be confined to the West Coast:

Michael Woodhouse, the National Party’s spokesman for regional economic development, is scathing of funding delays – although they are surely a regular feature of any government – and pins the blame on Jones.

“It’s of no surprise that PGF has not paid anywhere near the amount that has been given out, this story is just being replicated across the country. The PGF has simply failed to deliver.

“Of the $3 billion fund that was given to Shane Jones only $511 million has been spent. This isn’t helping the regions, the money isn’t going where it needs to.”

if there was any doubt as to the effectiveness of Jones’ flagship pork barrel, this piece helps to erase those doubts. Even worse for Jones and NZF, the voters in Northland have seen through his supposedly transparent intentions, and he’s coming third in the race for the Northland electorate.

David Williams deserves a pat on the back for exposing this rort for what it really is; pork barrel politics by announcement, with an underwhelming track record of deliver.
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December 22, 2019 8:10am
- Loddenthinks
  
  A bit like Ardern’s announcement of the “salary cuts” for her and her MPs. Still not sure if that ever happened, it would be very easy to implement but it seemed to always be in the too-hard pile.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:21am
  - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
    
    It never happened.
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:28am
    - C J Southern
      
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12351018
      
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      September 22, 2020 3:18pm
  - Tony Stuart
    
    I did happen, but not for about three months after it was announced. And even then, it was voluntary.
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:50am
    - herb1
      
      do you know who or how many accepted it?
      
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      September 22, 2020 9:00am
      - Inandout
        
        herb1, it is classified.
        
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        September 22, 2020 9:24am
      - pdm
        
        No Greens.
        
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        September 22, 2020 10:23am
    - Bullion
      
      Yes it happened, no its not voluntary.
      
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      September 22, 2020 11:44am
  - Bullion
    
    Yes, salary cuts are in effect for mps and ministers since July.
    
    The pay cut – 10 per cent for MPs and 20 per cent for ministers – officially took effect on July 9.
    …
    But MPs are only just receiving theirs despite the fact Ardern made the pay cut announcement on April 15.
    
    This is because the process of cutting MPs’ pay is long and complicated, and involves many legal loopholes.
    
    The Remuneration Authority, which is independent from MPs and Parliament, has the final say on pay levels.
    
    A bill to made changes to the law governing MPs’ pay had to be drawn up and voted on before any changes were made.
    
    Asked about why it was taking so long to put the changes into effect, Dame Fran Wilde – chairwoman of the Remuneration Authority – said there was a significant amount of work that had to be done.
    
    The bill related to not just MPs, but also public sector bosses, mayors and councillors and that amounted to “many hundreds of people” receiving the pay cut.
    
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12351018
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:43am
- KiWombat
  
  “$40 million to upgrade KiwiRail’s TranzAlpine service between Christchurch and Greymouth”
  
  – alas this service seems to have ground to a halt. It could be argued that NOW is the right time to spend this allocation, whilst the TranzAlpine is not running, and have it ready for when the tourists decide to come back – wishful thinking I suppose !
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:23am
  - odysseus
    
    It is running, I am booked on it next month!
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:29am
    - Inandout
      
      ody, a nice slooow trip. Take a good camera.
      
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      September 22, 2020 9:25am
      - Flossie
        
        I’m sure it’s lovely but is $40m really needed? Are there not more pressing issues?
        How many passengers per annum?
        
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        September 22, 2020 9:39am
      - Ed Snack
        
        Indeed, would seem to be a complete waste of $40M, there must be far superior ways to spend. Why not a roll out of mobile coverage by subsidising the mobile providers installing additional masts ?
        
        And as for paying for services needed to support tourism, that should be through a charge on the tourists surely – maybe helped by loans to start the installation of, say, a decent water supply system and sewerage system, but recovered through targeted charges.
        
        Actually plan to travel up the coast next year, and it is low enough cost that a small local levy on, say, accomodation or whatever to help fund necessary infrastructure would seem reasonable.
        
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        September 22, 2020 10:34am
  - DeepBlue
    
    Someone should ask the real question which is ‘What did KiwiRail actually spend the PGF money on after it was allocated?’.
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:16am
- Swifty
  
  It’s the deceit around proposed benefits that really gets me.
  
  You regularly hear from Jones and others that “Oh, this project will create 100 jobs” or “200 jobs” or “10,000 jobs have been created” – and one thinks of a a new or existing company beavering away with 100 or 200 full time employees and who will still have the same jobs in years ahead. But when you scratch the surface, as is certainly the case with the Green School, you actually find that a large proportion of the jobs are absolutely temporary with some lasting weeks or some months (like school construction) and with only a minority having any longevity whatsoever.
  
  Also, what is NEVER mentioned is the loss of jobs arising from taking the PGF funds out of the pockets and therefore the spending of NZers in the first place.
  
  Up to $3Bn has been earmarked for PGF – how many jobs are lost by the removal of that $3Bn out of taxpayer spending?
  
  Looking at the PGF critically I fully expect the overall NET effect will be zero or negative – especially when you factor in the cost of administration and the inevitable white elephants which will have been established.
  
  The whole thing is nothing but a NZ First and Labour (and now Green) election bribery fund. And all paid for by us.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:31am
  - alphabeatrium
    
    Yeah, isn’t there a parable along these lines? A shoemaker whose window is broken, and someone celebrates that with the window broken it will employ a glazier! Well sure, but the shoemaker had better things to spend that money on, like leather for his shoes. So sure, the glazier is up, but the leatherworker and shoemaker are down, and the net effect is negative since the money was more efficiently spent on leather. So it is with taking money out of my wallet to pay for some “green school” in Taranaki, or planting a billion trees, or paying for some horse racing thingamy. That’s money that I’m not spending on things I want, to the absolute detriment of the businesses I would have gone to.
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:58am
    - Swifty
      
      The broken window fallacy.
      
      Yes, it’s something not talked about and understood nearly enough.
      
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      September 22, 2020 10:17am
      - Nickc2
        
        It’s probably understood by bean counters and that’s why it’s not talked about.
        
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        September 22, 2020 11:05am
  - Swifty
    
    *beavering away with 100 or 200 new or extra full time employees
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:19am
  - Paulus
    
    And it is working for Labour – All bribes appear to be so.
    NZ First- Not so !
    
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    September 22, 2020 1:59pm
- krazykiwi
  
  I expect Jones is still working out how to get a portion of that spend back to his party and/or boss. Is local officials had been, ah, ‘forthcoming’ the spend may well have progressed
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:36am
- Paulus
  
  It doesn’t matter it is only lip talk – she will be supported by her millions of fans at the election then she will do whatever she wants – remember Kiwibuild, Child Poverty, etc.
  The media are helping to see National Party eliminated as quickly as possible in accordance with instructions.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:42am
  - hullkiwi
    
    Yes Paulus, and to quote another parable, someone always has to pay the ferry man once you get to the other side. Cindy’s debts will be large after this election victory, someone will have to pay, and when the sheeple learn it is them paying, the sheeple will be none too happy with Jacinda and her rag tag group of sycophants.
    
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    September 22, 2020 2:47pm
- cas
  
  I heard on talkback yesterday that the PM is going to Westport but it is invitation only to meet her.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:45am
  - Charmaine Hawke
    
    Much like everything with the PM, this may backfire on her as she will not be hearing from the majority of the electorate just her fans.
    The greater the heights to which we soar the further we have to fall.
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:25am
  - wimpston peeeders
    
    shes lucky, I know a few upset coasters that will literally shit in their own hand and hurl it at her if given half the chance. invite only is probably a good idea in feral parts of the country.
    
    on a side note I wonder if shes guna help the folk of methport tackle the extreme addiction and crime issues in the region, without a doubt its probably got the highest meth use per capita in the south island, terrible shithole to be stuck in
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:59am
wimpston peeeders

so the reasoning for lack of polls has just been made clear.

dirty trick, the latest polling is said to be released tonight prior to the debates to “set the tone”. The lack of polls is nothing to do with labour dropping support and everything to do with maximum effect and embarassment.
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September 22, 2020 8:00am
- pdm
  
  With Campbell moderating TVNZ need all the props that they can dig up to get people to watch.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:23am
  - wimpston peeeders
    
    state media with a state media paid for poll with a loyal lefty moderator all bribed by 1 of the debate participants im sure there will be no bias… quite china like isnt it
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:28am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Campbell = Cathy Crowley
    Be warned
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:39am
    - pdm
      
      Who or what is Cathy Crowley?
      
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      September 22, 2020 8:56am
      - RW Capitalist
        
        look her up under Obama Romney debate.
        Where she inserts herself in defense of Obama.
        
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        September 22, 2020 9:06am
      - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
        
        the moderator who intervened in the Obama-Romney debate to debate Romney on Russia.
        
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        September 22, 2020 9:10am
      - Ed Snack
        
        Not just intervened but actually promulgated a falsehood (or more directly, flat out lied) to support Obama when he was on the ropes a bit against Romney.
        
        Often seen as a potential turning point where Romney’s half-hearted rally against Obama turned sour.
        
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        September 22, 2020 10:37am
  - Paulus
    
    Why am I reading that Much McKay is now at tonight’s party !
    Three lefties against one about right.
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:43am
    - RW Capitalist
      
      Maybe they are under estimating Judith?
      
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      September 22, 2020 9:07am
      - Unity
        
        I hope Judith makes mince meat of Cindy. Please, Judith, don’t disappoint us!!
        
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        September 22, 2020 11:01am
      - RW Capitalist
        
        Over the past year or so, Judith has been a much gentler version of herself.
        Still steely, but more “girly”.
        a story
        When I worked in pubs in London (some pretty rough ones), you knew who the most dangerous guy in the place was. He was the one sitting in the corner, quietly drinking with 2 big, much younger, bruisers. It was never actually the load drunk in the middle of the bar.
        I hope we see the big change,back to the old Judith, take the “shotgun” (metaphorically speaking) out of the coat and give her both barrels.
        Now, that, they won’t be expecting.
        
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        September 22, 2020 11:18am
  - lastmanstanding
    
    I suspect he will shout and shut Judith down and allow Cindy to ramble on without addressing the issue.
    
    Expect plenty of slogans from Cindy she will be working on them right now.
    
    Expect Covid to be blamed for the non delivery over the past 3 years.
    
    Alas the Sheeple are so dumb and ignorant they will buy it and elect a Labour only Government so a single party Government for the first time since FPP.
    
    The good news is hopefully NZF and Greens are below the 5% Chole wont win Auckland Central so they will be gone NZF implodes when Winston leaves and The Housewives of Remuera Khandallah and Fendalton leave the Greens and go back where they belong the Nats (women get back in the kitchen!!!)
    
    Labour will complete its destruction of the economy over the next 3 years its supporters will wonder how its happened and Nats/ACT will govern from 2023 well into the 30s.
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:26am
    - wimpston peeeders
      
      yup the only benefit of a cindy govt re election is that will be the last labour govt for at least a decade.
      
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      September 22, 2020 10:01am
      - Bob
        
        If NZ has to wait until 2023 for a competent govt, it will then take National a lot longer then a decade to recover the economy from the wreck that six years of communist mismanagement will have bequeathed the nation …. our grandchildren politicized into poverty.. sorry poverdy.
        
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        September 22, 2020 12:05pm
- DeepBlue
  
  At least Judith has been warned.
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:18am
PhilBest

From today’s “Spectator” Newsletter. This is good journalism, asking the right questions. Whether they will ever be answered, or even asked in a forum that embarrasses the official “experts”, is another question.

Five questions for Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance
by Ross Clark

The chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, and chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, made a statement this morning on the latest data from Covid-19, laying the groundwork for new restrictions the government is expected to announce tomorrow. It wasn’t a press conference with questions, so they could not be challenged on what they presented – and there were plenty questions to ask. Here are five.

1. Sir Patrick presented a graph showing a frightening exponential rise in cases to 49,000 cases a day by mid-October – if, he said, cases continued to double every seven days. He emphasised that it wasn’t a prediction, yet only presented one scenario. The idea that cases are doubling every seven days is based on data from a very brief period in late August and early September. But in France and Spain – which are being watched closely, under the assumption that the UK is following the same Covid-19 trajectories – cases took three weeks to double. Moreover, the graphs presented to us show that cases there are no longer rising at an exponential rate – in fact, the rise is starting to level off. If the UK is following France and Spain, this does not support a scenario of Covid-19 infections doubling every seven days. Why didn’t he also show a graph with this scenario: that we follow either Spain or France?

2. The graphs they showed of rising cases and fatalities in France and Spain were framed to illustrate what appeared to be a dramatic rise in deaths, responding to a dramatic rise in cases. What they didn’t show – because the graphs only started in July – was that in the second wave of Covid-19 in Spain and France (and this applies to many other countries, too) deaths are not rising by anything like the same proportion they were in the first wave back in the spring. In France, for example, recorded daily new cases are higher now than in the spring – 13,498 new cases were recorded on 19 September, compared with a peak of 7,578 on 31 March (looking at these graphs, we must remember that at the height the pandemic, testing capacity was significantly lower and only a fraction of cases were being detected). Deaths in France reached 153 on 18 September, compared with a peak of 1,437 on 15 April. Does Whitty think it’s significant that deaths are nowhere near the levels they were in the spring?

3. Sir Patrick said that ‘fewer than 8 per cent of the population has developed antibodies to the virus’ and therefore the vast majority remains susceptible. It is true that studies to screen the population for antibodies have shown results in the 6-8 per cent range. However, Sir Patrick did not reference research elsewhere which suggests that many more people might have gained some degree of immunity to the virus from their T-cells, some from previous exposure to other coronaviruses – covered here the other day. Is he discounting the idea of mass T-Cell immunity and, if so, why?

4. Chris Whitty spoke of the threat of the NHS being ‘overwhelmed’. The Nightingale hospitals remained virtually empty. Why does he think there is a serious risk of hospitals being overwhelmed – and if so, why hasn’t any data been made publicly available to discern capacity in NHS hospitals?

5. Chris Whitty spoke of deaths from three different causes: direct deaths from the virus itself, deaths as a result of the NHS being overwhelmed, and those from the NHS spending so much of its resources on treating Covid-19 patients that it was forced to reduce treatment for other conditions. What he didn’t mention, however, was deaths caused by fear: people dying because they were too frightened to go to hospital or seek medical attention for heart attacks and the like. Recent data shows that the number of heart attacks detected and treated fell by 40 per cent during lockdown. He has a ‘scenario’ for direct Covid-19 deaths. Has any attempt been made to draw a ‘scenario’ for deaths that would undoubtedly be caused by another lockdown?
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September 22, 2020 8:00am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  Yup. This is why I switched my subscription from the Economist to the Spectator. The Speccy is really on a roll at the moment.
  
  Whereas Zanny has turned the Economist into the Guardian Weekly with graphs.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:21am
  - krazykiwi
    
    I too have ditched The Economist. Their once-balanced journalism is lying on its left side at the bottom of a muddy creek.
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:39am
    - johnbc
      
      Zanny has fully embraced WOKE Davos man from the big end of town. The Economist’s anti Brexit hysteria and Boris hatred finally did for me. Hopefully when Zanny buggers off to some liberal thinktank the magazine will regain some balance again.
      
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      September 22, 2020 8:56am
Maggy Wassilieff

What else can go wrong in Auckland?

https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal-articles/erionite-in-auckland-bedrock-and-malignant-mesothelioma-an-emerging-public-and-occupational-health-hazard
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September 22, 2020 8:02am
- KevO'Brien
  
  They are just going to have to close Auckland down. We can’t have them wandering around NZ breathing out erionites and making others sick from asbestos like particulate diseases.
  
  Auckland is dead anyway. It was built on the hills around the sea and just growed. You ought to expect ports where the settlers once put in their boats. They may need longer wharves for the newer large ships. They should have thought about that earlier.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:12am
  - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
    
    Cindy was in full-bore Mike!Mike!Mike! this morning. Denied everything he said…
    
    So he laid a trap and suggested Auckland was munted – she denied that too!
    
    Bwuhahahaha! That is a sound clip that bears a second listening.
    
    All you jaffas, don’t worry about the water, the housing, the infrastructure, the bridge, because Cindy says its all fine, and if its not, Phil Twyford and Phil Goff will soon have “top people” on the case…..
    
    Might as well all close up and piss off now.
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:24am
    - cas
      
      I missed the Mike Mike Mike Mike show ( have I missed out any Mike’s?).
      
      Can someone more savvy than me please post the link thank you.
      
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      September 22, 2020 8:44am
      - Loddenthinks
        
        Just Google Mike Hosking Jacinda Ardern and take your pick. Here you are (this time 🙂 )
        
        https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jacinda-ardern-and-mike-hosking-go-head-to-head-on-new-zealands-covid-response/
        
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        September 22, 2020 9:58am
      - cas
        
        Sorry I reported you by mistake loddenthinks when I was trying to reply to say thanks. Mods pse note.
        
        I only counted 16 Mikes and thought once again that she must have had ballet training as she pirouettes away from questions so skilfully.
        
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        September 22, 2020 10:18am
    - Loddenthinks
      
      She disagreed with Greg Foran right out of the blocks, in her whiney kindy voice. I read the Greg Foran article and can’t disagree with anything he says. But then again, I’m not running for election and I don’t have to convince a ‘team of 5 million” that I know what I’m doing.
      
      https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/air-new-zealand-boss-says-no-trans-tasman-flights-until-march-20200919-p55x9i.html
      
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      September 22, 2020 10:17am
    - doggone7
      
      Don’t worry they can give John Banks a go at Mayor he’ll be great for the development and setting a great base for infrastructure. A couple of terms following another great Nat Christine Fletcher should do it.
      
      And then Rodney Hide can get Super City going which will cement the great advance and foundations.
      
      Is Auckland munted? Yeah, and it’s Ardern’s fault not course.
      
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      September 22, 2020 3:03pm
  - Jack5
    
    Good post, Maggy.
    
    Auckland sitting not only on a field of active volcanoes, but on asbestos-shedding rock, too!
    
    Hive Auckland off from New Zealand, Singapore Republic style from Malaysia, while we can still get a buck for it.
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:36am
- Ruahine
  
  Obviously we are all going to die.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:17am
- Simon
  
  “What else can go wrong in Auckland?”
  
  Currently as Auckland Shitty Council are insolvent they are price gouging the various consent processes.
  
  If only NZ had an opposition party with Auckland MPs to hold the Auckland Shitty Council accountable for their horrible failed decision making and resulting price gouging.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:25am
- wimpston peeeders
  
  a different fear angle to push normalised mask wearing?
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:29am
- Paulus Gnome
  
  Goofy gets reelected, that is what else!
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:32am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  On the up-side
  
  Only 3 more lockdowns till Christmas!
  
  🙁
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:24am
- Sacha
  
  Aha!
  The city is built on Rotten Rock. No wonder it’s falling into wrack and ruin.
  
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  September 22, 2020 11:47am
gorse

A Colmar Brunton poll out tonight. Must be bad for National, otherwise they wouldn’t release it an hour out from the first leader’s debate.
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September 22, 2020 8:02am
- Tony Stuart
  
  Yes indeed. I guess the intention is that at least one leader will start the debate on the back foot, and you don’t need to be Mastermind to know who it’s more likely to be.
  
  Then again, perhaps a poor poll result might be just what it takes for Judith Collins to let the handbrake off.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:19am
- bruceavon
  
  They always release them then. Been looking forward to the debate, I hope the poll doesn’t ruin it. Ardern has a huge advantage and Judith will be the underdog. Ardern’s done it before so she won’t have the nerves Judith will deal with. And they are ahead in the polls. Judith’s problem is attacking Ardern without bullying her. A fine line. If the poll before the debate shows Labour still miles ahead then Collins has no option but to go for it a attack. Because it will mean the ‘nice’ soft image she has been putting out for weeks is not working. Ardern did pretty well against Bill English who is no slouch. She was nervous in the first one but I think the public forgave her because she was new. She got better, and pundits thoughts she won the last two. Well she is much more experienced now. Her problem will be being too confident and looking arrogant. Judith is an excellent debater. But her natural style is to go for the jugular, which could backfire if she seems mean. As I said before, if National are still behind in the polls she should just go for it. Nothing to lose. Excited. Go Judith!
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:26am
  - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
    
    No point in gaming this – Judith needs to be herself, and back herself. If Cindy needs the support of the compere and a sympathy vote because Judith is mean, then what sort of leader is she.
    
    My hope is the facade breaks and we see the real Cindy. Pouty, Stampy, Angry Cindy, who can’t do her homework or manage her team.
    
    Smily patronising, tilty Cindy isn’t a bad second – enough people are over the kindy teacher demeanour by now.
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:49am
    - DeepBlue
      
      Jacinda said today the debate is an opportunity to talk to the public. Seems she doesn’t want to actually debate Judith.
      
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      September 22, 2020 9:24am
      - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
        
        So she signals the strategy – a conversadion with the compere.
        
        Campbell will be so excited he won’t notice he’s being fucked with. All she needs to do is congratulate him on his new suit fitting better, and he’ll be off!
        
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        September 22, 2020 9:41am
      - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
        
        I guess the “podium of truth” ™ just isn’t cutting it anymore?
        
        How much more kindy hectoring must we have to take?
        
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        September 22, 2020 2:24pm
    - Boomer Bad
      
      I would like to hear Judith define the way they will make Covid economic response decisions along the lines of:
      1 Is it essential and/or beneficial to the country or only nice to have?
      2 Will it result in economic stimulus/export income?
      3 Is it Covid-safe or how can we make it Covid-safe?
      
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      September 22, 2020 1:14pm
  - rouppe
    
    Won’t be the poll that ruins it, John Campbell will do that just fine by himself.
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:26am
- KevO'Brien
  
  This govt calls itself honest?
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:13am
- Tomtoddy
  
  Too many people are underestimating Ardern and dismissing her abilities. She is an excellent publicist, her PR is superb, she has a sharp memory, she exudes pathos and understanding of people’s problems. I dislike her party, her policies, her philosophy and dislike them intensely but dismissing her fails to deal with the problem realistically.
  
  I believe Judith will struggle to outsmart her and win the debates much in all as I would love her to do so. Of course Judith is a better person and has a better grasp of the important issues but TV savages people sometimes undeservingly – I am not looking forward to tonight and hate the thought the media see Ardern winning and crowing loudly about it.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:42am
  - ex-golfer
    
    Indeed. Many on the right are falling into the same trap that John Key laid for the left. They under-estimated his laid back “man of the people” style as flaky, yet it would have won him three terms if he hadn’t got bored and quit.
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:55am
  - DeepBlue
    
    I dislike Jacinda for all those reasons. She is excellent at what she does, but this doesn’t make a whole government. I detest all her Ministers. Without Jacinda Labour would be on mid 20%, so no I don’t underestimate her and I am apprehensive for tonight and the future of NZ.
    
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    September 22, 2020 3:12pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Does anyone know where the PGF money goes?

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/what-became-of-pms-140m-pledge
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September 22, 2020 8:07am
- Tony Stuart
  
  Great minds think alike Maggy!
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:10am
- pdm
  
  NZFirst election campaigning maybe.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:11am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  Takes an awful lot of “administering” I guess?
  
  Thousands of new administrators?
  
  Look at Wellington house prices. There is your answer. It is a literal happy time for bureacrats.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:25am
Maggie Pie

But imagine the outcry had OT moved early to uplift the baby 🙁

https://twitter.com/NZStuff/status/1308121702539300864
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September 22, 2020 8:10am
- wimpston peeeders
  
  No doubt a systemicly racist systems failures to act will be blamed 🙁
  
  Why the fuck has the family not been charged with perverting the course of justice? Its disgusting behaviour to hide the murder/abuse/manslaughter of a child, jail the lot of the scum and I hope like hell any other children in that house have been removed!!!
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:23am
  - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
    
    Charge them all with murder, let their lawyers plea bargain it down.
    
    This is the true face of the Feral underclass – aided and abetted by middle class squishies convinced this is systemic racism. No its not, its systemic farming of children for benefits.
    
    The endemic sadistic cruelty, is a byproduct of treating women and kids as having no value other than a benefit.
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:27am
  - Paulus Gnome
    
    ah yes, the Kahui effect . . .
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:34am
- Loddenthinks
  
  Poor little bugger, Silly First Name Syndrome strikes again.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:26am
- Maxx
  
  No doubt Marama Davidson will emerge from her pit to slam Oranga Tamariki for not acting sooner, spouting it’s a clear case of colonialism, letting poor Maori children die needlessly
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:06am
- RiP NZ
  
  Family probably have BLM t-shirts.
  
  Fkn disgraceful
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:31am
Yvette

“I will stand in front of you any time you ask me and acknowledge when there’s been a mistake or a failing, and I will take responsibility for fixing it. I know what New Zealanders are sacrificing, I know what they’re having to give up, I know what Aucklanders have had to do over the last couple of weeks, and I know it’s been hard.
“We will be accountable. We will never shy away from standing in front of you and answering the questions, and equally – the most important thing – we will always fix it.” – Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Why will the Government not correct the Taranaki Green School mis-funding issue?
Either Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s above statement is true, or it is a lie.

[1] Ardern, in response to the error made when the Government’s official social media channels and website urged everyone in south and west Auckland to get a test, whether they had symptoms or not – https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/08/we-will-always-fix-it-jacinda-ardern-s-promise-to-nz-over-covid-19-mistakes.html
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September 22, 2020 8:10am
emmess

Good article from the BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54228649
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September 22, 2020 8:13am
- Classic Liberal
  
  Thanks, this article is a must read:
  
  “ In fact, Prof Robert Dingwall, a sociologist and an adviser to the government, believes the public may well be now at the stage where it is “comfortable” with the idea that thousands will die from Covid just as they are that they die of flu.
  He believes it is only a particular element of the public health and scientific leadership who worry about driving down the infection level and is critical of politicians for not being “brave enough” to be honest with the public that the virus will be around “forever and a day” even with a vaccine.”
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:50am
  - cmm
    
    The only reasons that the public is not comfortable with it is due to the bullshit that has been fed to us:
    * 80,000 will die etc. Complete rubbish, yet these people are still the go-to “experts”.
    * All the fear factor that CV19 is completely different and attacks the body in very different ways – when in fact it is nothing remarkable.
    
    Humans are irrational. They freak out about a 0.001% chance of dying by shark attack but don’t worry about 100x as much chance of dying in a car crash.
    
    The only person who seems to have been brave enough are:
    1) Sweden
    2) The Norwegian PM who admits they panicked.
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:35am
Maggy Wassilieff

Mike King commissioned a report on Suicide… based on Suicide letters.

It seems to have created a stink in the Ministry of Health
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/122835394/mike-king-blasts-ministry-of-health-for-burying-1000-letters-suicide-report

I’ve read the 1000 letters suicide report… which can be accessed from this link:
https://keytolife.org.nz/1000-letters

There’s nothing controversial there as far as I can see.

I have my mother’s suicide note left to my father…it would seem to be a carbon copy of the points highlighted in “1000 letters”.
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September 22, 2020 8:17am
- cmm
  
  That must be a really tough thing for a daughter to read.
  
  My condolences although I suspect it was some time ago now.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:24am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    It was 57 years ago….
    I’ve had time to process it and observe the repercussions that flowed from her death.. and thank my lucky stars every day that I’m not a depressive.
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:39am
  - Dave Mann
    
    Well said cmm.
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:40am
    - Harriet
      
      I left NZ over 20yrs ago — and King was the one maori who talked a lot of sense……and to young maori from memory…..”Don’t copy African americans”….I’m glad he’s still doing it.
      
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      September 22, 2020 4:25pm
wimpston peeeders

just watching cindy on the am show, shes had training to stop the head tilt, nodding and frowny face responses… now she rolls her eyes into the back of her head and looks at the roof, also helps a great camera angle to minimize headtilt.
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September 22, 2020 8:18am
- gorse
  
  Was Cindy cocky on the AM show? If so she has tonight’s questions and the poll results slready.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:27am
  - wimpston peeeders
    
    tvnz is releasing the polling and hosting/ moderating the debate not newshub/am show
    
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    September 22, 2020 8:48am
    - Loddenthinks
      
      The observation still stands
      
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      September 22, 2020 10:33am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  She still tries to put the silly happy voice on when she is bullshitting or patronising though. Must have focus grouped up well.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:29am
- Paulus
  
  Her many many lady fans just love whatever she does on screen.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:47am
Simon

The cure was much worse than the disease. Thats the reality. This was apparent in March but now its becoming mainstream.

The clown from Akl univ that come up with 80,000 deaths is a clown. Wiles is a partisan Labour hack. Ardern and that selfie means the rules are for thee not thou. So the rules that fuck everyone around are political.

National are of course asleep at the wheel. The mood is changing and National has not picked up on it. National can say they made a bad mistake supporting Labour back in March and get on the right side. But just not up to it.
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September 22, 2020 8:20am
Maggie Pie

What’s eating Marcus Lush?
He seems to have trouble saying “David Seymour”
Twice last night he referred to him as “…the Act guy”
On one occasion asking…”what’s his name again?”

God he can be SUCH a dork!!
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September 22, 2020 8:26am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  There is a solu…….. click
  
  Read a book. The only thing worse than the losers who go on talkback, are the losers who listen.
  
  🙂
  
  I have to say I’m getting a bit over Ryan Bridge too – he is wasting his talent turning the drive show into a magazine show. I find my needle drifting back to ZB, where HDPA at least tries to have a bit of news content….. I hate the evening commute now the cars are coming back!
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:31am
- Paulus Gnome
  
  Almost MP, Lush is a dork
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:36am
  - Allan
    
    I dont know why they persist with that clown. His show is nothing but a venting platform for the great unwashed and unintelligent. A total waste of time and I do not know how they manage to get Companies to buy advertising time during the 3 hours of utter drivel that is broadcast.
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:13am
    - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
      
      to be fair, there was a brief pucker of a grin from me when the clown locked himself out of the studio – shows how low rent the gig is – all alone!!!! There is probably a producer on minimum wage in Auckland trying to stay awake, and a phonebooth in Bluff or wherever it is cheapest to hire one.
      
      Must cost about $200 an hour tops to broadcast. Cheap as and it shows.
      
      Call it essential NZ content, and charge NZ on Air $5,000 an hour. All sorted.
      
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      September 22, 2020 2:29pm
- Steve Todd
  
  Okay, Maggie, you’ve set me off.
  
  Another example is his gratuitous mispronunciation of Meghan Markle’s name, referring to her as Meegan Mar-kell, instead of Meggan Markill.
  
  I do not understand why Newstalk ZB continues to employ him. He knows nothing, almost no-one can be bothered ringing in – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, given that cellphone technology has ruined talkback radio – and he restricts what discussion that does take place (around reading out texts) to specific, boring, non-topics that hardly challenge the braincells.
  
  One can only assume that he does have some sort of audience, and that the advertising revenue is holding up. Amazing really.
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:02am
  - sooty
    
    Was he the one that had a big taddy over maori proncenation.
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:34am
    - fernglas
      
      Does everyone who comments on this blog listen to talkback radio?
      
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      September 22, 2020 10:32am
      - Loddenthinks
        
        NO!
        
        The uninformed speculating on the unchangeable.
        
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        September 22, 2020 10:35am
      - Steve Todd
        
        Back in my younger days – a long time ago now – I used to go to bed and listen to talkback for an hour or so. Nowadays, I listen for 10 or 15 minutes, before giving up in disgust – not only because I cannot tolerate Marcus Lush, but because the callers continually fading, cutting out, whatever, infuriates me.
        
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        September 22, 2020 11:10am
- graham
  
  I occasionally listen when I’m working the late shift and driving home – which only happens every two or three months, and as I’ve been working from home for a good deal of the last six months, it was probably nearer the beginning of the year.
  
  On the odd occasions when I did listen to him, I found him to be dreadfully unprofessional. It always seemed like he did little or no research, his ‘preparation’ consisted of making a few notes about topics which just happened to interest him at the time – which would generally have very little relevance to anything that was actually going on – and his presentation style was very rambling with lots of pauses and umms and dead silence.
  
  He must have his fans, I guess. Probably they lovingly think of him as ‘quirky’ rather than just completely unsuitable for a job in broadcasting.
  
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  September 22, 2020 11:34am
- rockape
  
  Whats eating Marcus Lush- thats easy, his own irrelevance.
  
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  September 22, 2020 1:11pm
  - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
    
    talk radio is where dinosaurs go to reminisce about when the coulda been a contenda!
    
    Plunket, Lush, the two afternoon dweebs on ZB, there are probably others too, a place where former TV hosts go to vegetatively decay…
    
    To be fair, the two who have come to terms with their fate appear to be Peter Williams and Kerre thingy.
    
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    September 22, 2020 2:32pm
Loddenthinks

Wiles is a self-promoting, clearly self-loathing and insecure partisan Labour hack.

Fixed it.
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September 22, 2020 8:28am
- fernglas
  
  She is the antithesis of an expert. Not only is she unqualified in the field on which she comments, but she is biased. Witness her recent appearance in Stuff “slamming” some poor GP who had the temerity to point out that the current test for Covid 19 returns false positives. Wiles said they had a high level of accuracy, but even the Harvard Medical Centre puts the false positive rate somewhere below 5%. Needless to say, the Stuff reporter was to0 obsequious to ask what the statistic was for the “high degree” of accuracy. Conduct 200 tests with a 0.5% rate of false positives and you get one. Amplify that to 10,000 tests per day, and it becomes a statistic you can’t ignore.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:33am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    She just needs to learn one thing.
    
    Because I say so, is not a scientific argument.
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:44am
  - namron
    
    That Wile “creature’s” name and hair is working!!
    We are noticing her.
    She was named Susanna [not Siouxie] by her parents and was not born with that obscene hair colour.
    
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    September 22, 2020 1:13pm
artemisia

I suppose it is very slightly possible that the Maori Party will be Queenmaker next month and push hard for their goodies.

I have a real issue with the Maori health policy, some 20% of the total health budget ‘to Maori for Maori’.

I could easily play that race card if I needed fast and expensive health care. I wonder if I would, given my strong objection to the policy. Hmmm.

A chap I worked with did some technical work with his local iwi. Was very concerned to watch the process of hiring – wrong affiliation, application went straight in the bin. Seen similar but less blatant. Jobs for the approved coming right up.
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September 22, 2020 8:33am
- herb1
  
  So if Maori health needs exceed the 20% are the Maori Party suggesting Maori don’t get treatment .
  Are they suggesting Maori then get access to the funding for non Maori.
  If so do they propose the opposite should that be required, kind of like the system we have now
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:09am
  - Flossie
    
    “The funding for non Maori”?? There is no such thing. There’s funding for New Zealanders and I’ve always presumed that includes Maori, the on top of that there is funding exclusively for Maori.
    For heavens sake what more do they want??
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:59am
    - Paulus Gnome
      
      What more do they want?
      
      Anything you have left now and anything you may accrue in the future.
      
      It’s not their fault you colonised them, doubled their life expectancy, brought metal, the wheel and freedom from slavery, being dinner, KFC, maccas, ad infinitum . . .
      
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      September 22, 2020 2:14pm
- Loddenthinks
  
  Not sure that 20% would be near enough. Maori are over-represented in obesity, Type II diabetes (caused by obesity and lack of exercise), smoking, heart disease (caused by all the previous ones) and cancer (etc etc).
  
  All surely examples of the systemic racial health system in this country that unfairly disadvantages useless fat fuckers who feed their kids on KFC, lollies and fizzy drinks.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:40am
  - artemisia
    
    The Maori Party also want more funding for Maori mental health. The top reason appears to be addiction, and the list continues with stress , depression and suicide.
    
    Some of us might consider there is some correlation there, which might indicate where funding should be targeted. Like an enhanced methamphetamine policy for example..
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:21am
  - namron
    
    Our lives and dependent on the CHOICES we make.
    The result of one choice may result in further choices being necessary. We are able to see the results of the choices others have made and be influenced by these.
    The comment above is just leading to consideration of the choices made by some [eg Maori] that have negative results and therefore require more assistance of various kinds.
    I suspect we make many subconscious decisions based upon the results we see, – good or bad – of others.
    I’d be keen for you to have a bit of a cogitate on the above perhaps comment further.
    
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    September 22, 2020 1:27pm
- Unity
  
  I’m fed up with ‘Maori’ anything. What on earth is Maori Health and Maori other things? Surely we are all human beings. It’s long overdue that we stop putting ‘Maori’ in front of anything. We are all New Zealanders and anything done should be based on need with no mention of race. Let’s all be New Zealanders. Ethnicity shouldn’t come into it. There are plenty of part Maori out there who just get on with life like the rest of us.
  
  Anyway there are no Maori today but if their Maori side is giving them problems perhaps they should elevate their other side??!! Problem solved.
  
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  September 22, 2020 11:20am
RW Capitalist

Ardern says sorry on AMshow…”OK then…I’ll say it now…” how long has it been?
Claiming they built more house……forgetting the Kiwibuild and hollow promises they are again making.
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September 22, 2020 8:33am
- Flossie
  
  Sayin it, and meaning it..
  She might be sorry it caused controversy but basically she can do no wrong in the eyes of so many.
  We are on a hiding to nothing.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:01am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Also running the mantra……National sold state houses…..
    Jacinda….finish the sentence
    National sold state houses…..to other non government social housing providers….so by and large no real loss in social housing.So the waiting lists are ALL yours.
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:33am
I remember when

Is there a danger that the Greens constant overstating of cyclist needs, will stop us building useful cycleways.
Cycleways in the right places have many benefits for our health, fitness, family activities, adventure….
Instead of these advantages, we find ourselves arguing against extravagant or unnecessary ‘white elephant’ crusades.
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September 22, 2020 8:35am
- burt
  
  Who needs cycleways when we can have elite private schools.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:51am
  - sooty
    
    Mommy can’t drive her SUV on a cycleway, they are for other people!
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:37am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    Obviously we need both – how else are the macrobiotic lentil-eaters Cassandra and Tarquin going to get to their elite, private, funded-by-the-taxpayer Green school, for goodness’ sake?
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:03am
- RW Capitalist
  
  Remind me…
  weren’t the Greens opposed to the cycle ways when John Key first proposed them?
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:47am
Maggie Pie

Heard that Goof on the News earlier saying…” Auckland could have a second harbor crossing by 2035.”
Guess that would be some solace for those motorists listening on their car radios still stuck at Silverdale.
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September 22, 2020 8:37am
- Loddenthinks
  
  It’s true though Maggie. Also, I could win Lotto Powerball tomorrow.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:05am
- Nickc2
  
  That fool Goff has been the Mayor of Auckland for close on four years and what has he done for the people/ratepayers of Auckland? Fuck all but put up rates!!
  Now, he wants to talk about a 2nd harbour crossing. No mention of it previously until this one got broken.
  
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  September 22, 2020 11:42am
cmm

On the weekend someone challenged me saying that the rest of NZ should not have been in any lockdown/alert levels just because Auckland was.

They said that that would have been unfair to Auckland to only have them at an alert level and we’re all in this together etc.

My retort: Next time there’s an EQ in Wellington or Chch we should bulldoze a few buildings in Auckland because otherwise it would be unfair.

No doubt they are right to an extent – if the rest of NZ was not at L2 then the people of Auckland would have felt it was unfair and compliance would have been more difficult to achieve.
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September 22, 2020 8:38am
- wimpston peeeders
  
  ppl are slowly getting brainwashed to accept “equality of outcome” and thats where the “we’re all in this together” mantra stems from… “Equality of outcome” = Authoritarian
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:44am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    Equality of outcome = communism, and it’s deadly.
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:06am
    - Nickc2
      
      Get used to it! We will be in good company though. America may beat us to it if Biden gets elected or takes over by force. (sarc)
      
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      September 22, 2020 11:49am
  - cmm
    
    Equality of outcome means loss of value in a society because there are far too few ways to improve outcomes but it is much easier to reduce the outcomes of others.
    
    If an (insert person who needs a boost) gets given preferential treatment over someone that is capable, then it is not really boosting that person but is instead holding back the capable person. Society loses out on the services/value generated by the capable person. Everyone loses.
    
    If Christchurch/Wellington get a stick through their spokes to make things fair for Auckland, then everyone loses.
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:07am
Catgurl13

I really feel Cindy is dragging out this lockdown nonsense as much as she can, so as to stop the other party’s campaigning. Does anyone else agree?
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September 22, 2020 8:39am
- burt
  
  I doubt she thinks about it anymore than a good opportunidy for actividies like taking lods of selfies.
  
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  September 22, 2020 8:46am
- RJ
  
  But it isn’t stopping anyone campaigning.
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:42am
  - Flossie
    
    You don’t think National having to put off their launch then eventually settle for an online launch was any impediment to their campaign?
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:13am
    - RJ
      
      You don’t think national dumping two leaders then having a late campaign launch wasn’t an impediment? Auckland was shut down, the rest of the country politicians were out campaigning.
      
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      September 22, 2020 11:25am
  - Catgurl13
    
    So the second lockdown was called just after Jacinda had her big fancy Labour campaign launch party that was a big affair…..then oops we are in lockdown……..Nats had to cancel theirs and do an online one…..that was definitely planned to cut them off.
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:27am
    - RJ
      
      And yet national, nz first, labour, greens, etc are all out campaigning, this lock down hasn’t stopped that. National would of had their campaign launch long before that locked down if they weren’t playing musical chairs with their leaders.
      
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      September 22, 2020 11:24am
- Unity
  
  I absolutely do Catgurl13. She’s very crafty and tries to distract us so we don’t see the real issues clearly or are too busy with Covid to see what’s really going on.
  
  If they get back in, the rest of us are going to have to hunker down, let Labour finish the destruction of our country and that should then be the end of them for any more elections in my lifetime at least. Or better still, let’s have the Sheeple finally wake up and start marching in the streets demanding another election. Pigs might fly and dreams are free!!??
  
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  September 22, 2020 11:25am
burt

Bet this guy being named and shamed on stuff wishes he had Labour Party membership so he could get name suppression.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/122833802/man-with-sexual-assault-conviction-renting-room-to-unsuspecting-tenants
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September 22, 2020 8:40am
RF

Any updates on the SFO investigation into the NZ First cluster.

Maybe they are waiting until Election Day…..
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September 22, 2020 8:42am
- sooty
  
  They are holding off as a lot of new evidence came in!
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:39am
Dave Mann

Couldn’t TV1 have found a proper presenter to front tonight’s Leaders’ Debate?

Surely that sanctimonious little lefty Campbell prick is so openly biased that it will make a total mockery of the programme.

TBH I’m not a big TV watcher…. but isn’t there anyone in our media who is genuinely impartial, or are all of them Marxist ecofucks?
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September 22, 2020 8:51am
- adaman
  
  It’s funny you say that as lefties were bitching about Mike Hosking due to his political leanings last election but it turns out he was a really good moderator (words from the left).
  
  Perhaps Campbell may surprise us.
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:15am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    I’m not overly worried about Campbell. His political leanings are well known, but L\like Hosking in 2017, he should be professional enough to do an even-handed job. I have less faith in Paddy Gower and Jack Tame.
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:35am
    - bruceavon
      
      Yeah. Campbell will be fine. My father is having a tantrum and refusing to watch. It is ridiculous. Campbell’s a real journalist whose annoyed Labour members plenty in the past . I doubt if he’s on Helen Clark’s Christmas list. I would be more worried about Jessica Mulch. Jacinda aged fan girl whose inexperienced. And if National are really low in the polls it will ruin it. They should really have delayed the announcement. Mind you, it might allow Judith to go for it, with nothing to lose.
      
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      September 22, 2020 1:46pm
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  To ask the question is to answer it, Comrade.
  
  $50 million reasons why. Ah, who am I kidding, they would do it for love!
  
  Have to remember that these are the podgy, whiny, entitled, but slightly thick kids from school, that now have their chance to “prove” that they were really always the smartest kids in the room!
  
  It doesn’t matter, we still know who and what they are.
  
  Judith is a genuine Alpha dog who has made her own way. Cindy is the groupie who always gets selected runner-up because she will do as she is told, and can read a script.
  
  Maybe we should give her an achievement award?
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:21am
  - sooty
    
    I agree totally, maybe the arse card!
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:41am
- RJ
  
  Personally never found there to be any problems with who ever hosts the debate, left or right journalist, they have always done a good job and left their views at the door. I expect the same will happen tonight.
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:40am
- Paulus
  
  Shorty Street will be better – more sex !
  
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  September 22, 2020 2:12pm
Catgurl13

Watched that prog about Cannibis last night with Patrick Gower for a laugh…..OMG it showed many reasons NZ is not ready to legalize the stuff. They featured quote a few of life’s drop kicks who want to be able to smoke and grow the stuff no worries. We would have so many able to claim sickness/ invalids bene being addicted to it not being able to work without much effort. It affects the poorer areas more. I wish these Numpty TV presenters and politicians came and lived out in the poorer areas to see what it’s going to do….and that’s nothing good!!!
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September 22, 2020 8:55am
- wimpston peeeders
  
  all the muppets that were growing it are guna vote yes so they can make a legal living from it… morons are guna be disapointed when they realise that 5 or 6 big companies swallow up the 120ton quota and the lil guy gets left hung out to dry.
  
  nz need to decriminalize for 5+yrs to witness and study impact and then proceed with legalisation pending the outcome and taylor that for nz.
  once the cats outa the bag its hard to put back in, obviously theres a push to max out the thc limits too as gowers lab test just made a mockery of the 15% limit.
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:16am
  - Catgurl13
    
    I live in a low socio economic suburb in Auckland.There is lots of HNZ housing and lots of parties, overloaded houses,boy racers….one hit a parked car in our street. Lots of drop kicks out of work…..Im so not looking forward to life here if dope is legalised…it will be really turning into slum if that happens….I would love to sell my house and move away,but can afford to at the moment.
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:30am
    - wimpston peeeders
      
      alot of them will be growing and selling to fund their lifestyle.
      
      unintended consequences will be all the poorer ppl (dole, pensioners and working poor) that grow to supplement their income will be in the shit when their lifeline dries up, Some will turn to peddling meth and other drugs and others will endure hardship.
      The proposed tax windfall they expect will be easily swallowed up trying to remedy other problems legalisation will make.
      
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      September 22, 2020 10:08am
  - Catgurl13
    
    Who is even going to check the THC levels in anyone’s stash?
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:51am
    - wimpston peeeders
      
      Only applies to retail. black market and homegrow is a free for all so a major flaw in the legalisation. why pay 450 for 15% when hemi down the road has mean 21% hydro at 400 bux, george has 80% rosin dabs and gummies for sale too, cant get that at the shop either.
      
      black markets guna boom with Gowers advertising show.
      
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      September 22, 2020 10:11am
      - Paulus
        
        Who is going to tell whether the Cannabis is infused with P as is currently available I’m told.
        Too late when it happens as P is so much worse than just Cannabis of unknown strength.
        
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        September 22, 2020 2:15pm
- surfing
  
  Can’t stand Patrick Gower. Gower is barely fit for writing a column in the womens weekly. Check the Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux interview.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUR9U6Srj7g
  
  Gower admits his stupidity….
  
  I am also more than happy to admit that Southern and Molyneux got on top of me. So what? They do that for a living, it’s their job.
  I hadn’t spent much time preparing, I hadn’t read their stuff thoroughly and I am happy to admit I don’t spend any time thinking …
  
  Stupid man, didn’t prepare. That was his job!
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:46am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    It was pretty stupid, gifting those frauds an easy media win.
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:13am
  - C J Southern
    
    I remember that interview. “Lamb to the slaughter” is a phrase that came to mind.
    
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    September 22, 2020 3:25pm
    - Nermal
      
      Shooting fish in a barrel
      
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      September 22, 2020 6:06pm
Sir Cullen's Sidekick

Bros – The resident commies at TVNZ have timed the ONCB poll to be out today just before the debate to trip up Judith Collins. My spies have leaked the results to me:
Labour – 53%; National – 28%; ACT – 6%; Toxic Greens – 6%; Winston First – 3%; rest of the waste elements – 4%
Leader of the resident commies John Campbell will start the debate by asking Judith Collins – “Judith is it all over for National right?”
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September 22, 2020 9:01am
- RW Capitalist
  
  My guess
  Labour ….47%
  National….32%
  Act………….9%
  Greens…….4%
  NZF………..3%
  MP………….1.5%
  rest………….3.5%
  
  10 3
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  September 22, 2020 10:07am
  - gorse
    
    RW Capitalist would be closer to the mark than sidekick.
    
    7 1
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    September 22, 2020 10:20am
    - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
      
      Gorse boy – let us see. Sidekick’s spies are better than GCSB.
      
      1 0
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      September 22, 2020 10:44am
      - RW Capitalist
        
        are you suggesting I am actually the GCSB?
        I don’t know what to say (unusual for me)
        But
        Thanks?
        
        4 1
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        September 22, 2020 11:07am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    If Judith can escape the covid fan girls (the moderator etc)
    Move the subject to competence and broken promises.
    She may be able improve these numbers, by reminding everyone of 2 things
    1. There was life before covid and they CoL were screwing up the country then.
    2. The disease did NOT cause this economic meltdown, it was this govt.’s response to it.
    Get the 2017 pandemic response document on the table to emphasize that there was another way, that did not involve destroying our economy.
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:28am
    - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
      
      Judith cannot string two sentences together. How is she going to beat the best communicator in the world?
      
      2 17
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      September 22, 2020 10:45am
      - Inandout
        
        SCS, we all heard Obama was the best and he delivered jack shit. Jacinda has given us nothing but Covid scare. I do hear some pundits saying ‘would you really want to take over from this lot now’ and I tend to agree. The MSM bribe will end if Labour gets returned and the fumbling by Grant with an ever increasing debt won’t be pretty to watch. I have hedged against the coming recession.
        
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        September 22, 2020 11:49am
      - lifesgood
        
        I know you are a parody account SCK but really, that is going too far. Judith runs rings around Jacinda “Mike, Mike, Mike, again Mike” Ardern.
        
        6 1
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        September 22, 2020 12:57pm
  - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
    
    I would take that result any day. That means NAT+ACT is very much in the picture to win 2020 election. But my results are more accurate than yours. You will see today.
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:48am
    - RW Capitalist
      
      Knew I should have put money up.
      
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      September 22, 2020 6:21pm
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Labour – 48
    National – 31
    Act – 7
    Greens – 6
    NZ First – 2
    New Conservatives – 2
    Not a bad prediction
    Maybe I should take up covid19 modelling?
    
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    September 22, 2020 6:14pm
    - RW Capitalist
      
      Labour loses 5%
      or 10% of the voters who said they would vote for them.
      Nation have 10% more people saying they will vote for them.
      Next time
      Labour down to 43%
      National up to 35%
      ACT up to 9%
      Greens below 5%
      National/ ACT govt.
      The shift isn’t that big with 14% undecided.
      
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      September 22, 2020 6:20pm
- doggone7
  
  “The resident commies at TVNZ have timed the ONCB poll to be out today just before the debate to trip up Judith Collins.”
  
  When you come in from crappy calves and see that, you forget you’ve not still out there.
  What a lot of tosh.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:17am
  - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
    
    If that is the case why can’t they release the poll tomorrow? Why today?
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:46am
- DeepBlue
  
  I’m interested in the % undecided.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:21am
  - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
    
    Everybody has decided to vote Labour.
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:46am
- KevO'Brien
  
  The polls are not. Dishonesty perpetuated gets ignored.
  Standby for for the biggest rout against the COL. It’s happened to Labour previously when their economic mismanagement was self demonstrated.
  NZ can’t afford a second round of second rates.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:59am
  - wimpston peeeders
    
    the bulk of polling would have been deliberatly conducted prior to prefu etc.
    
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    September 22, 2020 12:15pm
Rusty

So Auckland goes down to level 2 in two days time and maybe to level 1 in a couple of weeks time.

My question is — if Auckland gets to level 1 and then the next day a community spike occurs again — does the govt put Auckland up to level 3-4 again?

What if every time Auckland or anywhere else in NZ drops down a level but then later a covid outbreak happens again?

This could go on forever!

A vaccine may never be invented or in 2-5 years or whatever!

What are future NZ govts going to do —keep locking down on and off indefinitely?

How can any business operate under those conditions or Kiwis way of life?
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September 22, 2020 9:01am
- Dave Mann
  
  What are future NZ govts going to do —keep locking down on and off indefinitely?
  
  Yes, Rusty, that’s exactly what will happen. Our country is completely fucked.
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:23am
  - wimpston peeeders
    
    im interested to know if there will still be lockdowns POST vaccine, what happens if covid still pops up? Antivax or even just a shitty vaccine or a mutation that renders it useless?
    
    Logic would say fuck it just get on with life but we are talking labour leftards that will double down and not admit defeat.
    
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    September 22, 2020 10:20am
    - RW Capitalist
      
      The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.
      
      Vladimir Lenin
      Maybe we need to add regulation and covid19 levels?
      
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      September 22, 2020 10:55am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    The way out is to vote National.
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:00am
    - Dave Mann
      
      The way out is to vote ~~National~~ ACT.
      
      There. Fixed it for you Kev!
      
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      September 22, 2020 11:10am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  Course it will, as I said earlier. Only 3 more lockdowns to Christmas.
  
  This is the only tool Cindy has. She will have to use it.
  
  This is why any sensible government would have left itself an off-ramp. But not our Cindy. All in on eliminadion! Made it into the election issue:
  
  “Vote Cindy or Die of the ‘Rona!”
  
  Bugger the consequences. Feel the “kindness,” good and hard.
  
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  September 22, 2020 2:39pm
Critical Thinker

FBI Agent Who Uncovered Weiner Laptop with Hillary’s Emails says FBI Leadership Told Him to Erase All of His Findings

“I possess — the FBI possesses — 20 times more emails than Comey testified to.”

“They found State Department emails. They found a lot of other really damning criminal information, including money laundering, including the fact that Hillary went to this sex island with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Bill Clinton went there more than 20 times. Hillary Clinton went there at least six times,”

“The amount of garbage that they found in these emails, of criminal activity by Hillary, by her immediate circle, and even by other Democratic members of Congress was so disgusting they gave it to the FBI.”

Top FBI leaders (including fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, fired FBI agent Peter Strzok, and former FBI counterintelligence chief Bill Priestap) took little to no action to investigate.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/09/fbi-agent-uncovered-weiner-laptop-hillarys-emails-says-fbi-leadership-told-erase-findings/
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September 22, 2020 9:02am
- Critical Thinker
  
  Logs have been subpoenaed for every flight made by Jeffrey Epstein’s aircraft over 21 years. Sparking panic among many of the rich and famous.
  
  Attorney General Denise George has sued the late pedophile’s estate, subpoenaing logs for each of his four helicopters and three planes from 1998 until his “suicide” last year at a Manhattan federal jail,
  
  George’s suit alleges 22 counts, including aggravated rape, child abuse and neglect, human trafficking, forced labor and prostitution.
  
  Pilot David Rodgers provided logs in 2009 showing Prince Andrew, former US President Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey and Naomi Campbell were among those who flew on Epstein’s “Lolita express” jet.
  
  A legal source said: “The records that have been subpoenaed will make the ones Rodgers provided look like a Post-It note. “There is panic among many of the rich and famous.”
  
  Nothing can stop what is coming.
  Enjoy the show ??
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:03am
  - wimpston peeeders
    
    Suprised Ghalaine maxwell is still alive…
    
    wonder if biden or obama are on the list? bet a few senators from both sides will go down aswell.
    
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    September 22, 2020 9:22am
- Critical Thinker
  
  Bank stocks fall after documents allege $2 trillion laundered to terrorists, human traffickers and other illicit operations.
  
  The DOW was down more than 800 points today led by losses from major banks, after news reports detailed how Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, HSBC and others laundered $2 trillion in sketchy transactions.
  
  The banks reportedly flagged the transactions in more than 2,100 “suspicious activity reports” filed from 1999 to 2017. Banks file those reports with the US’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network when there are signs of money laundering or other potential crimes — but they went ahead with most of these transactions anyway.
  ?
  https://nypost.com/2020/09/21/bank-stocks-tumble-after-leaks-detail-2-trillion-in-sketchy-transactions/
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:15am
Happychappy

One News continues its ridicule of Simon Bridges and his spelling mistakes and still says nothing on the blatant lies and school girl mistakes she made at our border. A Prime Minster that never takes responsibility but sees the need to blame others something Simon Bridges still does not do or cover up his mistakes.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/simon-bridges-distributes-piles-flyers-his-name-spelled-wrong
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September 22, 2020 9:11am
- RJ
  
  Nothing wrong with the article, no beat up and Simon handled it very well. You are making more of it than the media.
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:36am
Tony Stuart

Hell hath no fury than a renegade, scorned Shane Jones going troppo on the Greens:

Shane Jones has conceded New Zealand First’s future can’t be dependent on him winning the prized Northland seat.

Northland has become the next best thing to a safety net for the party, which polled just 2 percent in the last Newshub-Reid Research poll – under the 5 percent needed to get back into Parliament.

If Northland’s a battleground for New Zealand First, these don’t sound like the words of a victor.

“Despite my ego and big words I can’t match the mana of my leader,” Jones said on Newshub Nation on Saturday.

“The reality is for a minority party like NZ First we harvest our votes in the four winds. We don’t rely on one candidate like myself.”

Jones is conceding New Zealand First’s future can’t rely on winning Northland.

“I do believe I can be a magnet up north but in order to achieve the perpetuation of our political movement in Parliament we need to gather votes from everywhere,” he said.

Key to his party’s strategy is killing off their unwanted sibling in Government.

“I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure the Greens do not survive,” he told Newshub.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/09/nz-election-2020-shane-jones-concedes-nz-first-can-t-rely-on-northland-seat-vows-to-kill-off-green-party.html

I fervently hope that New Zealand First will disappear into the ether on election night. But I certainly won’t be complaining if the Greens get caught in the crossfire, and go down with him!
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September 22, 2020 9:17am
- Albert_Ross
  
  Really? You’d rather have an unfettered Labour party in Government, than one that is crippled by having to keep ideological opposites on board?
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:48am
  - ex-golfer
    
    Yes – having the Greens, even in confidence and supply support to a Labour Govt, will mean Labour can push through more unpalatable extreme left things and parry them off as being Green policy and required under the support agreement (think wealth tax, transaction tax, increased marginal tax rates, increased welfare, more free housing for life for the non workers etc).
    This means Ardern can implement things she “said” she doesn’t want to (but really does) and blame the Greens for it.
    
    Without the shield of the Greens, Ardern is restricted to maintaining the centre support and not implementing radical policies that she knows will be the death knell for Labour in 2023.
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:08am
  - Flossie
    
    I would be kind of okay if NZ First were in a coalition with Labour (not wishing to encourage that!) as they have provided some sort of handbrake on the more out there ideas. This arrangement would be infinitely preferable to having the Greens in government – make that ‘in parliament’.
    However the latter is the more likely result.
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:13am
    - taxationistheft
      
      This is why we need to bring back the Legislative Council
      
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      September 22, 2020 2:08pm
  - Prince
    
    ‘Unfettered Labour’ ? What does that even mean in 2020 ? Their manifesto is virtually non-existent. Tax increase for 2% of population, which will be easily brushed aside by the truly wealthy.
    Labour has lost its soul, which is good news for us right-wingers.
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:30am
    - Flossie
      
      It means that once they win they can do what they damn well like… never mind what they may or may not have said in their campaign. Just like last time really.
      
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      September 22, 2020 12:22pm
  - RW Capitalist
    
    The main intellectual cripple here, is the Labour party.
    
    2 1
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    September 22, 2020 11:34am
Deagle

https://youtu.be/MMVfyHhfjF8?t=2824

“Have an enforcement body .. provide some muscle .. to actually be a little bit more punitive and create a little bit of fear ..”

“as someone who studies persuasion .. I do know that fear can work as an appeal”

Meng Foon talking to Chris Galloway (Senior Massey Lecturer) about enforcing hate speech laws.
Is it ironic that Foon starts by talking about witch hunts, whipping people and capital punishment, then go on to talk about using fear to silence people?
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September 22, 2020 9:27am
BAM

I’m convinced National has no interest in winning the election.
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September 22, 2020 9:27am
- wimpston peeeders
  
  would you wana win it and inherit the shit storm thats brewing?
  
  the sheeple allow this to happen, no resistance to the lockdowns no outrage at massive failures huge debt and tanked economy, the sheeple deserve whats coming.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:15am
- Tony Stuart
  
  That would be why I spend two and a half hours at a campaign committee meeting last night BAM.
  
  Don’t believe the media narrative; National MP’s and members right around the country are working bloody hard to rid the country of the scourge of the coalition.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:22am
  - BAM
    
    I have no doubt you’re working hard Tony.
    The problem is that I’m seeing nothing from National that is going to win the election for them.
    Everything thing seems very conservative and middle of the road, same old same old, it’s like National is still stuck back in the early 2000’s.
    Roads, new bridges, etc are nice but they won’t win elections, it’s all about what’s in it for me.
    You have to target voters with policy that will have a direct impact on them, Labour seems to understand that now which is why they’re doing/ have done policy like.
    
    Doubling sick leave
    Changing sick leave so you can use it straight away instead of waiting a year
    Extra holiday
    Upping minimum wage
    Free tertiary
    Heating allowance
    Making it harder to evict tenants.
    
    All these policies target people directly and make people want to vote Labour because they can see that they’ll get something positive and helpful in return.
    I’ve seen nothing like that from National and I find it hard to believe that national is that out of touch with how most people operate.
    
    Unless National can come up with policy ideas that do the same, you and National are wasting your time and it will be a landslide win to Labour
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:11am
    - RJ
      
      Yes, it’s like their campaign is old and not modern. Don’t even seem them around our town campaigning. If they don’t change soon they won’t win.
      
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      September 22, 2020 1:03pm
    - Harriet
      
      “….Everything thing seems very conservative and middle of the road, same old same old, it’s like National is still stuck back in the early 2000’s….”
      
      Safe hands/small target.
      
      “blah blah blah” doesn’t give the quiet achievers much confidence.
      
      I’m still picking a win for ACT and National.
      
      And she WILL concede on the day – just like Jumb’lin Joe WILL! 😎
      
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      September 22, 2020 4:04pm
- bruceavon
  
  No way. Judith Collins knows this is her one and only chance. There is no way she isn’t trying to win and become PM. If she loses she will be gone forever.
  
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  September 22, 2020 3:15pm
Critical Thinker

Over 500 doctors have now endorsed the open letter written to Premier Daniel Andrews. The letter highlighted the alarming human toll caused by the lockdown measures being used in Victoria for the management of Covid-19.

Victorian doctors, in large numbers, can see the significant harm these measures are causing. These doctors fear that the physical, psychological, social and economic damage is a health crisis. This is far worse than any good that may come from the lockdown.

“It is our view that the Victorian Government’s current strategy for managing Covid-19 can no longer be tolerated.”

https://www.coviddoctorsnetwork.com/
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September 22, 2020 9:34am
DeepBlue

Monday 19 October 2020 will be the start of hell in NZ, the tap is being turned off with great speed and all the sheeple will wake up with one mighty hangover and regret:

Newsroom ‘A Government plan to charge people for emergency housing like motels was derailed by Covid-19, but will now come into effect two days after the election.’
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September 22, 2020 9:38am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Ardern’s setting an early plan to embarrass her successor Govt. National will fix those traps smartly and then call the retirees to account.
  The COL may act like children but they’re not too young to punish.
  
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  September 22, 2020 11:06am
Jack5

Kiwiblog access slowed down yesterday, the NZ Stock Exchange hit, and now companies on the exchange being targeted. A few weeks ago it was the Met Service site.

A hacking class in a spy school in China or Russia is playing with New Zealand.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/426618/publicly-listed-companies-face-cyber-attacks
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September 22, 2020 9:45am
- Ed Snack
  
  And some non-public companies as well. I know of one company that has suffered serious problems, really serious problems. It used a cloud based server for its ERP, and that server was compromised and the hackers used that as a gateway to the computers and servers on site as well.
  
  The odd thing is that they were patient, and stealthily encrypted files so all the back ups were compromised as well (unfortunately no checks on the impact that this had on backup volumes which would have picked this up); and then smacked the current files over one night. But no ransom demand, and the target has found it near impossible to reconstruct a lot of information including quite a bit critical to the ongoing business. Nasty stuff, the target will survive but a some significant cost.
  
  Interesting how the weak point into the system was a cloud hosted server, those were often thought to be more resistant, but in this case, apparently not.
  
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  September 22, 2020 11:03am
Loddenthinks

Oh this is just too funny. An anti-Trump “protester” in a group that surrounded a California Highway Patrol car going about its lawful business, decided that climbing on top of the (still-moving) car was the way to show those pesky cops.

The officer kept moving, and sped up when it was clear the loon was still on the car. What happened next was as predictable as it was hilarious.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2020/09/anti-trump-protester-climbs-onto-police-car-thrown-to-the-ground-as-it-drives-off.html
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September 22, 2020 9:46am
- Deagle
  
  **Sorry I reported by mistake.**
  
  But I wonder where the cop cars were going? I’m assuming they had a callout, would the person who had called them appreciates these protestors cause?
  
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  September 22, 2020 9:51am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    They were on duty at Sacramento Airport as Trump flew in to meet with state leaders about the wildfires.
    
    What kind of mentally-retarded loonie would you have to be to protest against that? Wait, don’t answer – starts with D?
    
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    September 22, 2020 1:00pm
Critical Thinker

Coronavirus pandemic likely ‘could have been prevented’ if China, WHO acted differently, report says

“It is beyond doubt that the Chinese Communist Party actively engaged in a cover-up designed to obfuscate data, hide relevant public health information, and suppress doctors and journalists who attempted to warn the world.”

“Research shows the CCP could have reduced the number of cases in China by up to 95 percent had it fulfilled its obligations under international law and responded to the outbreak in a manner consistent with best practices.”

“It is highly likely the ongoing pandemic could have been prevented.”

The report says on Jan. 1, Chinese officials ordered that the Wuhan wet market where the virus is believed to have come from “be closed and sanitized, destroying forensic evidence that may have provided insight into the origins of the outbreak.”

https://www.foxnews.com/world/coronavirus-outbreak-china-who-us-government-report

‘This Virus Is Not From Nature’ Says Virologist Li-Meng Yan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NVp9Xnbr9Y

China Lied
WHO Complied
Press Denied
People Died
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September 22, 2020 10:07am
- oldfella
  
  Remember, CT. ‘Don’t trust China. China is asshole!’
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:54am
Maggie Pie

And talking about council imposed ‘Residential Rates’. It would be interesting to know what the total GST take on them is for the government each year.
A free-standing Townhouse not far from us sold last week for a tad under 4mil. Rates were $7747 +gst.
Another property on the same side as ours is currently on the market, i see their rates are $22,000 +gst.
https://www.bayleys.co.nz/1671453

Yet we all get exactly the same services. How fair is that?
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September 22, 2020 10:20am
- DeepBlue
  
  Everyone in your street could go up to $22,000.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:23am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    True dat 😀
    
    6 2
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    September 22, 2020 11:14am
- RJ
  
  Wow that’s expensive for Manurewa, you must be located near McDonald’s or KFC to be paying that much there
  
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  September 22, 2020 11:08am
- wimpston peeeders
  
  yup, a retired couple in a 10mil mansion vs a pasifika family of 14 crammed in a house and garage.
  With rates 20x as much the retirees dont get much bang for their buck.
  
  as ive said before ive always loved the idea of a poll tax but bludgers would scream bloody murder if they faced the prospect of actually contributing to the tax take.
  
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  September 22, 2020 12:22pm
- Loddenthinks
  
  Tax on a tax
  
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  September 22, 2020 1:15pm
RW Capitalist

Level 1
Social distancing and mask wearing only now required when when in close contact with a Labour MP…….the stupid may be catching.
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September 22, 2020 10:21am
- RJ
  
  Completely disagree, it should be worn when around a labour supporter as well.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:52am
burt

Another one who will be wishing they were a Labour Party member so these charges could be discharged and name suppression granted.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/122832101/blenheim-nurse-who-stole-dead-womans-credit-card-convicted
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September 22, 2020 10:37am
- RJ
  
  Are you claiming our justice system has been corrupted by the government? That is a pretty serious claim to make.
  
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  September 22, 2020 10:39am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Well, it is burt…
    
    8 6
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    September 22, 2020 11:05am
    - Jimmy White
      
      Mike… (going to love this) Show us your proof and not quotes from the Fraser House staff news letter, Stuff or the communist manifesto please!
      
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      September 22, 2020 11:47am
      - mikenmildagain
        
        You want me to prove that our justice system is not corrupt?
        
        4 1
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        September 22, 2020 2:33pm
      - RJ
        
        What’s to prove jimmy? Your comment is just as stupid as burt’s. or should we then wonder if the comedian who sexually assaulted his 4 year old in 2011, got name suppression and discharged without conviction was a national party member? No because that would be a stupid assumption to make.
        
        Time people just realised our justice system is a joke, it doesn’t matter who the government is at the time, crap judges make crap decisions.
        
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        September 22, 2020 2:36pm
adaman

Ardern’s in Auckland. Where the fuck is her mask.
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September 22, 2020 10:55am
- Maggie Pie
  
  Would you like to buy a vowel?
  
  https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ef-OgmQU8AEWLzJ?format=jpg&name=medium
  
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  September 22, 2020 11:41am
  - RJ
    
    Hmmm, o for owsome please….
    
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    September 22, 2020 11:48am
- doggone7
  
  Easy, Tiger, the poll results aren’t out yet…
  
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  September 22, 2020 2:56pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WdzMVekUBU

Spectator TV.

This is the opposite of TV for stupid people. No ads for a start.
Journalists, and interviewees who can both read and write on the
Same day. All over 12, and mostly far from breathless. In other
words; the news for adults. Enjoy. There is also this if you
are short of time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4i5r-1kIUc
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September 22, 2020 12:20pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e11QhN5nNQw

Chinese Investors Leaving Malaysia.

Many Chinese people are selling their second home in
Malaysia. Prices have fallen. Most will have to sell at
a loss, or remotely. Many had taken advantage of the
Malaysia My Second Home program.
It has since been suspended. There are problems
in Australia too.
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September 22, 2020 12:21pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYS2t4x7Joc

Epsteins Flight Log Names Subpoenaed.

The names of passengers on Mr Epsteins Lolita Express
have been subpoenaed. Logs for other planes and helicopters
have been requested too. Records dating back to 1998
have been requested. Flight crew have been asked about any
suspicious conduct they observed. Some of the rich and famous/
beautiful people may be feeling a tad anxious. One or two might be
Republicans. The others, not so much.
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September 22, 2020 12:21pm
- RJ
  
  One or two. Na quite a few from both sides of the house will be involved.
  
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  September 22, 2020 2:31pm
  - curry4me
    
    R: Wouldn’t surprise me.
    
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    September 22, 2020 6:01pm
Maggie Pie

I realise it’s no longer Maori Language week – but can anyone tell me what a ‘Mooree’ is?
There’s some guy talking to Shorn Plunket that reckons he is one.
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September 22, 2020 1:18pm
- Inandout
  
  Maggie, and will Joan Campbell bring up the subject of child murders and bashings to the leaders?
  
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  September 22, 2020 1:28pm
- 70andstilllearning
  
  A resident of this place perhaps:
  http://kaniva.info/mooree-reserve.html
  
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  September 22, 2020 1:35pm
  - 70andstilllearning
    
    Does auto down ticker #1 want to reply – nah didn’t think so! To subtle for you.
    
    2 5
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    September 22, 2020 2:41pm
I remember when

The number of covid-19 cases are growing in the UK and with them the rise in fear levels.
It may give some substance to the number of deaths recorded to remember these facts.
The UK has 8,769,122 people aged over 70: 3,200,000 are 80 and over: 1,600,000 are 85 and over.
So from these figures 1,600,000 of those who reach 80 will die in the next 5 years.
This means 320,000 people aged between 80-85 die every year. Every week there are nearly 6200 deaths in this age group.
England and Wales make up 89% of the UK population.
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September 22, 2020 1:19pm
Local Miller

We had an interesting discussion around a group morning tea at work today. Of the 18 people in the group, not one is voting Liebour or Greens or NZ1st this year. Admittedly this is a small sample, and since we are all IT specialists, the average IQ is probably a good bit above the national average, but it was interesting to see how adamant everyone was that the current gubernment is not fit for purpose.
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September 22, 2020 2:48pm
- Inandout
  
  LM, interesting, but doesn’t explain why Silicon Valley IT people are almost total leftists.
  
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  September 22, 2020 3:37pm
  - cmm
    
    That’s very easy to answer.
    
    It comes down to mutual back scratching.
    
    Who do you think gives them the best deal for:
    1) Hiring cheap employees through H1B visas etc?
    2) Offshoring development in India etc.
    3) Allows in lots of Mexican illegals to mow lawns and such.
    4) Is easiest to manipulate.
    
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    September 22, 2020 4:50pm
- Libertarians are right
  
  That’s actually quite strange. Most IT people I know are quite far left.
  
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  September 22, 2020 4:27pm
softail 1450

Where can I purchase the “I survived the first debate” T shirt ?
3 1
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September 22, 2020 3:07pm
Fletch

Mark Levin’s full 38 minute interview with President Trump broadcast yesterday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfz1bJnc4WE
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September 22, 2020 3:16pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  Why does Trump sit so weirdly in in those interviews?
  
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  September 22, 2020 5:49pm
cmm

How low can you go.

Bare handed potential Covid vector fiddles with food parcels for a photo op.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_cid=1&gallery_id=224296

She’s not adding any value by touching food items and pretending to be packing them and “caring”.

Didn’t she earn anything from Selfie-gate?
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September 22, 2020 3:49pm
lifesgood

I don’t think I can face the leaders debate tonight. I feel ill just thinking about that Jacinda boot licker, Campbell, orchestrating the show. Might be Netflix tonight for me.
2 2
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September 22, 2020 4:12pm
- softail 1450
  
  Lifesgood ,anybody that can watch that shite from start to finish will qualify for a purple heart because you will be permanently injured from it, luckily for you its “mental health week”so any psychological injury will be treated quicly ,LOL…
  
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  September 22, 2020 4:41pm
ex-golfer

Interesting how regular its become that a babys death at the hands of its family doesn’t really dominate the news as much as it used to.
Its an indictment on NZ that politicians are not even making this an issue.
Removing the right to silence would be a good start – I don’t care if it means you may prejudice yourself or a member of your family.
Wasn’t Sue Bradfords much debated “anti smacking” law meant to put an end to these regular deaths – rather than making common criminals out of parents that have the gonads to discipline their children?
As usual, lots of talk, little result.
And politicians too sacred of the PC crowd to actually do anything about it.
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September 22, 2020 4:17pm
- RJ
  
  The question that needs to be asked is if they were advised several weeks earlier this child was in danger why was the child not removed from the home.
  
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  September 22, 2020 5:17pm
- Inandout
  
  ex-golfer, Plunkett was onto this today and got people to put pressure on TVNZ to include questions about why babies are bashed to death and what the leaders will do about it. Of course Campbell won’t go anywhere near the cone of silence killers.
  
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  September 22, 2020 5:25pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

This morning on Red Radio the PTPM said (paraphrased) “Eliminate is not a strategy for getting rid if Covid from NZ”
So I repeated it at work. They looked at me like I got 3 heads. I thought someone would understand Jacindaspeak, but nope. Still don’t know what the fuck she meant
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September 22, 2020 5:45pm
Jack5

Politicians and lobbyists are talking up growing the economy on technology industry.

Michael Reddell takes a realistic look a the hype:

https://croakingcassandra.com/2020/09/22/technology/
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September 22, 2020 6:02pm
- Jack5
  
  A Croaking Cassandra reader might, from Reddell’s analysis of the technology-exports hype, realise how naive has been the immigration policy that was to transform NZ into a high-tech power.
  
  That is: settling many thousands of young Asians in NZ to study IT, but who have mainly ended up selling electricity, making pizza, driving taxis, or selling appliances at Noel Leeming and Harvey Norman.
  
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  September 22, 2020 6:24pm
ex-golfer

Not a great poll result for the right.
Although with Labour dropping 5% is it a trend that may continue – or will they just bleed votes to the Greens, meaning a left bloc will remain?
National has zero momentum – and its concerning the amount of wasted vote to NC and TOP. Did people not learn from the NZF experience of 2017?
If you want a change of Govt, there is no point voting for parties that will do zero to effect that change.
2 votes Blue or include Act.
Don’t waste your vote on the fringe right of center parties.
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September 22, 2020 6:14pm
ex-golfer

Appalling story on NewsHub tonight.
Man in MIQ is declined compassionate leave to see his dying father.
He has been in MIQ for a week – and has returned 4 negative tests over the last four weeks.
Even if he was positive, whats he going to do, pass it on to his Dad who is dying anyway?

Cindy parties with her sycophants for selfies and families are being torn apart by an unkind and uncaring bureaucracy. Disgusting.
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September 22, 2020 6:24pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

TDS? Go to mummy’s basement and cry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLNU__B4ZX8&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR10nOLqKsHgcdl6uW3ezduGCFozKAQe6w8zY0BOnYh_g-qWZ0acr6WsHbg
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September 22, 2020 6:38pm
RW Capitalist

So far in the Debate
Campbell has allowed 1 LONG speech by ardern and then allowed ardern to interrupt colins.
Re boarder control and bringing in foreign workers.
Colins got in (twice) a good hit on the leaky boarder control.
People tested before boarding a plane…no answer for Ardern.
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September 22, 2020 7:16pm